The Bane of Existence

Published: 7 May 2018

Erika, Lady Bane, started pacing back and forth the entire length of her sitting room waiting on word of how the two hit squads did. After five to ten minutes she glanced at the marble clock sitting on the mantel and began to chuckle lightly. It hadn’t even been two hours yet since they had left on this mission. She had told them to make sure it looked like a vampire attack. They were probably still enjoying their victims.

Erika stretched her body and limbs then settled into her large comfortable chair to relax. Sitting all the way back into the chair she pulled her legs and feet effortlessly into the lotus position and began the deep, slow breathing needed to enter into a meditative state. Fully centered she channeled her thoughts to build her inner power as she waited for her soldiers to report back.

As his projected “NO!” reverberated across the hill, Zane used a speed not available to even the strongest of normal vampires to seem to appear in front of the two newcomers who had just emerged from the cave. Arriving there, he immediately raised a shield around the three of them not letting anything in or out.

Having kept their attention on their brother, Zane, Zach and Derek acted in tandem as soon as Zane yelled at those assembled there to throw their own shield over themselves and their friends also preventing anything from going in or out. By the time the others had calmed down Zander had already shrunk his sword back to a knife and had it put away having seen what Zane did just before everything came to a head.

With the initial showdown stopped, most of the participants began to calm down, relax and take the time to find out who the two interlopers were. In front of the cave Zane’s attention was on his friends below while Drew had been quick to recognize the vampire who had been kind to him many years ago and dropped his aggressive stance. However, Karl only knew a vampire had rushed the hill towards Drew and himself and he had no intentions of allowing his life partner to be harmed in any way.

Before anyone else could make another move, Karl concentrated his icy stare at Zane’s back and let his magic free. As soon as he realized what was happening Drew tried to stop his husband but it was too late. Zane, Rinaldo’s Child, was now an ice sculpture.

An incensed Drew smacked Karl hard across his upper arm while everyone else stood as frozen as Zane in shock. Just as a couple of the guys were coming out of their stupor a green glow could be discerned radiating from within the ice surrounding Rinaldo’s Child. Less than a minute later the icy shell exploded out away from Zane and amazingly only one person was struck by any of the ice shards and pieces as they raced away from the small, blonde vampire.

Naturally, the one person struck was Karl who had to take a step back from the impact of a baseball sized chunk to the chest. He glared at Zane again but was stopped by the wagging finger in his face as Zane admonished him, “Don’t even think about it, Karl. As it is you’re not even getting as much as a hug in greeting.”

With that Zane turned to Drew and pulled him to a tight hug saying, “It’s good to see you again, young man.” Then he gave the fiery redhead a peck on the cheek and added, “I love your hair!” Zane turned back toward Karl grinned then stuck his tongue out and raspberried.

Karl was momentarily shocked then a huge grin spread across his face matching Zane’s as he realized everything was good between them. “Sorry about trying to freeze you,” apologized Karl sticking his hand out. “All I could think about was that a vampire was coming after Drew and reacted.”

“No problem,” started Zane before he was interrupted by an approaching Grayson.

“Exactly how was he able to freeze you? Didn’t you have your shields still active?”

“Yes, actually, Grayson, my shields were in place and the ice formed around the shield which was why I was able to break out so easily,” answered Zane haughtily then looked at Karl again. “That ability must come in handy against Rogue vampires.”

“It certainly has, many times,” spoke up Drew slipping his arm into Karl’s.

“Hey! Let me introduce everyone,” Zane said with increasing excitement.

After the introductions the group retired to the common room of the cave to get out of the slight drizzle that began to fall. In the dry comfort of the cavern stories were exchanged about how each individual or couple came to know the two Z’s. A few moments elapsed once the tales were finished then Drew asked about the emotion and magical blast that had grabbed their attention and brought them to where they now were.

With a sigh and running his hand through his blonde locks Zane slowly and quietly relayed the tale of how he became a vampire, discovered he was a descendant of a great mage named Rinaldo and learned that he was part of a prophecy describing a war between good and evil. He fell silent until prompted by Karl to reveal the prophecy which Zane did woodenly in a flat voice.

Before Karl or Drew could ask any more questions Zander began speaking disclosing his own connection to Rinaldo, how he found Zane and his part in the prophecy. At the end of his narrative they all sat in silence mulling over the chronicles of Rinaldo’s Child and Samhain’s Son. For two this was their first time hearing any of it but, even for the others who knew most of the story, this was the first time it had all been laid out at one time and in order.

After a while Drew and Karl looked at one another and Karl nodded to Drew letting him take the lead. Drew cleared his throat then proceeded, “Have you figured out any of the rest of the prophecy?”

Grayson spoke quickly to answer the inquiry, “Yes, we are fairly certain I am the Dark Hunter. A Dark Hunter is a vampire trained in battle and magic to hunt down and eliminate Rogues.”

“And I would be his Mark since I‘m named Marko,” added the young vampire as he joined the conversation.

“What about where it mentions Fire and Ice?” asked the redhead looking around the group before stopping at his husband’s icy eyes.

“You and Karl had come to mind,” replied Zane joining the gathering group. “With your bright red hair and his ice blue eyes. Now that I’ve seen your abilities I’m quite sure you two are the ones in the prophecy especially since you’ve managed to find your way here just like the others.”

“So, what does that mean?” questioned a cautious Karl.

“It means; welcome to the gang!” Zander returned with a grin and a clap on Karl’s back.

Everyone congratulated the couple on their inclusion to the group then began setting new training pairings and groupings to include Drew and Karl. Toward evening Drew and Karl wondered where they would spend the night and were told they could stay in the cave or go with Zach and Derek to the new house. They were only mildly surprised to discover the new house was the one they had stopped in front of and began their journey on foot from.

Zach and Derek led them into the house and gave them a quick tour of where everything was. Then showed the couple the two rooms they could choose from to use for themselves. Once they chose a room Zach took them to the linen closet to get sheets and blankets for them to put on the bed and showed them where the towels were if they wanted a shower.

The four guys got settled in, had supper then went to bed. The next morning they rose early and headed to the cave and began their training. Drew and Karl thought they were in pretty good shape from their three times a week trips to the gym but soon realized they were outmatched with this group. Even the eighteen year old, Derek, pushed well past what the two of them could manage. The couple resolved to catch up as quick as they could.

The routine of training and retiring at night to the house with Zach and Derek continued for several months until one evening in June. The four guys and just returned from a rough day of training; Zach and Derek had already gone into the house since it was their turn to cook. Drew and Karl had parked themselves in a couple of lawn chairs to relax a bit when a strange car pulled into the driveway.

Out of the back doors hopped two apparent teenagers and at a slower pace two older guys exited from the front doors. Seeing two strangers rising from lawn chairs in front of the house the two older guys pulled swords out of the car and looked ready to use them. Drew raised his hand to head level and filled it with fire while Karl’s icy blue eyes turned white.

The teenagers stepped up and each laid a hand on the back of the older guy in front of them. When they did this the swords began to glow bright orange. Karl sent a small ice shot at the nearest sword to see what would happen. Except for a short sizzling sound there was no reaction and the sword’s glow was undiminished.

However, the older guys advanced a step taking more aggressive stances and the younger guys could be seen readying spells. There was a definite standoff developing and the tension was so thick the charmed swords might have a tough time cutting it. Before things could deteriorate more the front door banged open and Zach and Derek burst into the yard yelling, “Stand down! Stand down! They’re friends!”

Standing between the two groups with Zach facing Drew and Karl and Derek facing the new arrivals they brought tensions down to a manageable level. When Zach turned to face the ones just out of the car the two teens rushed forward causing Drew and Karl to tense again.

“Relax!” grinned Zach turning his head toward the couple. “This isn’t an attack . . or . . at least not the kind to worry about.”

With that he turned back barely in time to greet the body rushing toward him in a huge hug as the same happened between Derek and the other teen. Then they switched places and hugged the other. Meanwhile, the two older guys had relaxed and put away their swords and walked to where the boys were gathered and shook hands with Zach and Derek.

Zach turned everyone around to face Drew and Karl and began introductions, “Karl, Drew, let me introduce you to Zane’s other brothers, Duncan and Thomas.” He pointed at each as he said their name.

“And these are their guardians while their dad is on the run from the Bane, Jordan and Matthew Knight-Warner,” finished Zach gesturing at each. “They are friends of Zane’s and Zander’s as are the two you see here-Drew and Karl Clery.”

The four exchanged handshakes, greetings and the story of how they met Zane and Zander but soon Jordan and Matthew announced they had to get back home. Soon goodbyes had been said and the Knight-Warners got in their car and headed for Tennessee. The others went into the house where Zach and Derek finished cooking a supper that thankfully wasn’t ruined by the short break.

The talk after supper was eaten consisted mostly of the two sets of Zane’s half-siblings catching up on one another’s lives. That in itself didn’t take all that long considering they conversed online fairly often but it quickly revolved into reports of the different magic groups they each had reached, warned and exchanged spells with.

Meanwhile in a three-story house with basement in Virginia, Lady Bane eventually gave in to her anxiety and sent a couple of Rogues to each location to find why they never returned nor reported back. It had been two weeks since she originally sent out the two parties of raiders and they should have been at least heard from by now.

Three days later the four Rogues returned but didn’t have much to report except for the pair where one came limping back. Neither twosome were able to enter the buildings that were attacked due to some very strong shields being in place so they learned nothing. However, one pair assumed the group sent by Lady Bane had been destroyed based on the reception they received after hanging around outside the building.

They were surprised by a wizard who very nearly blasted one of the vampire’s legs off. It might have been even worse had the wizard’s wand arm not been bumped by a witch coming to assist him just as he released his spell. The vampires had fled then with only a hastily thrown fireball that was stopped easily by the barrier raised by the girl.

Erika paced a few steps in each direction before noticing her messengers were still waiting at attention. She waved them off to refresh and heal themselves then paced some more. After a few minutes she sent her aide to fetch the three Ancients and send them to her sitting room.

When they arrived she was seated in her favorite chair and had them remain standing while she outlined her new training strategies and the new groupings she wanted formed. The training regiment was to be tougher than ever before and she wanted the vampires to train together in groups of ten with one of the new, tougher Rogues as the leader. Having her minions wiped out so easily was going to end.

The now six residents of the house, Zach, Derek, Drew, Karl, Duncan and Thomas, rose in the mornings, had breakfast, went to train at the cave, returned for supper and spent time together playing games or watching television. This was the routine for all of the ones gathered around the two Z’s for the summer.

With the four younger humans spreading word to other magic using groups via the internet the Z’s didn’t have to chase down every instance of a Rogue attack. Most of the groups with fore planning and warning were able to withstand the vampire attacks on their own. Occasionally, Rinaldo’s Child and Samhain’s Son had to intervene or send a group of two or three of their pals to help out a coven or club.

Near the end of the summer with only two weeks until Thomas, the younger of the Renoldo brothers, had to go back home and get ready for the new school year, several of the guys were tossing around ideas for a name for the gang following Zane and Zander. After nearly thirty minutes of discussion, the boys had settled on four names to put to the whole bunch for a vote. Those four names were Z-Troupe, Z-Crew, Rinaldo’s Rangers and Z-natics. The next afternoon when training was finished they brought their ideas to the whole gang.

“We have something to put to everyone,” started Duncan who had been chosen to speak for them. “Several of us think our group needs a name so we put our heads together and came up with several ideas that we’d like you all to vote on. That is if you agree to naming our little band of fighters.”

“I think it would be good for morale and bring a sense of belonging together,” spoke up Grayson who then turned to the Z’s. “What do you say, Zane, Zander?”

The two looked to each other for a moment then Zane answered, “Sounds good to us. What names did you have in mind?”

“We settled on four possibilities to get everyone else’s opinion on,” replied Duncan. “They are; Z-Crew, Rinaldo’s Rangers, Z-Troupe, and Z-natics. We have paper slips for you to put your choice on. Then we will count them and the name with the most votes is the one we will use.”

Thomas and Derek quickly handed a slip of paper to each person and offered pens to those who needed them. Most chose to use magic to make their choice on the paper. When everyone was done the two retrieved the papers and gave them to Zander to count after Zane waved them off.

Zander read off the names and placed the votes in a pile with like votes together. When he finished reading the last slip and placed it in the appropriate stack, the voting sorted out like this: Z-Crew=1, Z-Troupe= 5. Rinaldo’s Rangers= 2 and Z-natics=4.

Zane stood catching everyone’s attention and announced, “According to our vote the name of our group is Z-Troupe. However, some spelled it t-r-o-u-p-e and some spelled it t-r-o-o-p. We need to decide which way we want it spelled. Any thoughts?”

Clearing his throat Shayn waited to get Zane’s acknowledgement then spoke, “T-r-o-u-p-e can mean a bunch of entertainers like singers and actors.”

Jumping in Gavin declared, “If we’re a group going to war I think it should be the other spelling, t-r-o-o-p.”

Seeing more people about to assert their opinions Zane held out his hands to get them to settle then asked, “Who wants to use t-r-o-o-p like a group of soldiers? Raise your hand.” Looking at the results he knew he wouldn’t need to count since well over half had their hands in the air.

“Well, it’s official,” proclaimed Rinaldo’s Child. “We are . . .” The blonde vampire paused, whispered some indistinguishable words, pointed a finger and moved it as if writing.

On the wall glowing a bright green were foot high letters.

Z—TROOP

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