Gray The Grand

The severance of the Hive and Queen had been difficult to adjust to. Much like a rubber band releasing all its tension, there were reverberations that struck every member. I flipped the page of a textbook with my first body, while bodies two through four taught the nocturnal classes. The first few days after the severance had left us largely stunned. The soul of the Hive was bleeding as a very important part of it had left. With our collective effort, we managed to seal the damage before any personality was lost. Our Queen hadn't predicted such, but how could she?

A week passed before the war began in earnest. The Hive needed a true leader, after all, a king or queen to guide it. Where the wound lingered, there was power. A power that I seized, and gave to the first daughter to spread out. She was untouchable in this war, for fear of the Queen's wrath when she returned. Pandora spread the power I had seized among the others to restore them to where they were before the severance. Then as a reward, I gained the excess.

I could control eight bodies now, and yet that fragment of the Queen's power was far beyond what I could hold. Even with it split among the rest, and used to grow my strength there was too much. I knew she was powerful, but just that fragment helped me understand the scope of her mind. The two souls she had were feeding each other in a continuous loop that grew the other. We personalities were merely growing off the discharges of that growth. This was the first time I saw the true power of the one we called our Queen.

So humbled was I, that I failed to prepare for Argus setting my warehouse aflame. My own soul had grown in power, but the pain was unlike any I had felt before. I couldn't keep that fragment of power, but I could use it to manifest other personalities of my own. Different versions of myself, that quickly scattered with what they could take. The ones I made were created to serve me, so their minds were malleable to me.

Each one thought they were the true Gray. All of them were given territories that changed as they grew. It was an interesting test to see what I might have done in such a situation. I flipped another page, bodies five through eight moved along those territories. The new information came to me and was sorted by another couple of copies. Memories were altered, and rules were established for what I now called lesser shades.

The lesser shades could become true shades after they managed to pierce the veil I laid between their territories. I would accept their growth after they broke the rules I set in place for them. Such rules were: Stay within your territory. Protect all those calling your name, while holding lice. Only attack those committing crimes. Forget any other versions of yourself that you see. Do not control the bugs that make your hive.

It continued on, but the idea was there. The lesser shade would be considered a failure if it broke specific rules. After all, the Hive didn't need a shade that wantonly slaughtered sapient beings. Failures were to be torn apart and reborn with all memories lost, said memories were to be examined to see what led them to that conclusion. They would meet my standards, or they would cease to be. I flipped through another page, more disappointed at how slowly I was reading than the slow growth of my shades.

Tonight was passing smoothly, and the lesser shades were managing to protect their territories just fine without intervention. I moved body eight to the borders of my domain, eying the buildings Argus had converted into brothels. A clear line stating what was hers. She was growing slowly, but everything she gained was well protected. The only real attack she did was the warehouse where most of my bodies had been hidden. Since then she's been quiet.

It was likely that she was confused by the lesser shades, and how they didn't connect to her or Scix whenever they came by. I felt a small amount of sympathy for her, given she must believe she broke me. Still, we were at war, and deception was an important part of it. If she ever wanted to lead the Hive, then she had to be willing to make sacrifices. It would be too easy to send my lesser shades into her territory and demolish the territory she carved.

The issue was Scix, however. He was acting erratic, and moving in ways I couldn't predict. I knew his main base was somewhere in the dead-zone, but his frequent raids on the south had acquired him a great deal of whispering hounds. Enough so, that it left me hesitating. With every passing day, he was likely gaining more creatures under his control. I didn't know how many, but certainly enough to defeat me in a weakened state. Which left the three of us at a standstill. I couldn't bet on Argus staying her hand if I went to decimate Scix's horde, nor could I risk being too weak when he decided to attack.

I flipped another page, as body eight entered a safe house so a fresh body could teleport to the usual areas Scix invaded. It was still a quiet night, and nothing amiss was happening. The night was going well as the students were learning at a commendable rate. I had already finished half the textbook on vampire culture, simply labeled 'The Masquerade.' I got off my lavish chair, setting the book down. It was time to meet the Duke of the local vampire sect.

It boggled my mind when it came to the naming conventions of the hierarchy. The lower the status, the stronger they were, yet they didn't start with a prince or a king. Simply Duke, and that's just the vampire the weakest were supposed to refer to. The ones without title, because we had to live long enough, or prove ourselves. Hopefully, the other half of the textbook had more answers, but it was going slowly thanks to all the inferred meanings and hidden messages.

While left alone, the vampires tended to move slowly. They sought secrecy, and subtly guided things from the background where they could manage it. I donned my ivory mask and made my way towards the agreed spot to begin our talks. After all, they were contributors to my coin purse, and most of their jobs were rather easy. I walked through the streets with one body, while the others tended to their previous tasks. The night had been enjoyable thus far.

I felt the exact moment someone started to follow me. I went down the correct alleys, to show I was ready for the meeting. Sir Bennett appeared at the end of the sequence with his arms crossed. He was a tall bald vampire with dark gray skin. He had an impressive coat of muscles, likely gained through decades of fighting or physical care. Frost clung to his hands as mist rolled down his arms. He was a cold blood, and I adored their naming conventions. It was simply adorable how they called themselves after their magic.

Bennett spoke quietly, his deep voice reverberating off the walls of the alley. "You're making quite a few waves for a young blood."

There was no one nearby to eavesdrop, and it appeared we were alone, but I could sense something using magic to watch us. "There were just so many jobs to take, and so much coin to be gained through them. Unless, are you referring to something else by chance?"

Bennett tilted his head back, his arms crossed. "A few things actually, the young bloods you have running through the streets on your behalf. That's going to get you in trouble. You aren't supposed to make more of our kind. The duke almost sent me here to force you into resting."

Their favorite way of dealing with problems related to their kind. The sewers above were filled with hidden rooms that housed sleeping vampires. I raised a brow at Bennett, "Oh? Why are you telling me this? What stayed his hand?"

"The Count," Bennett uttered with little emotion. "He wants to meet you personally, so here's some advice before we meet him." Bennett put out his hands counting with every piece of advice he offered. "Don't attack him. You won't win. Sounds simple, but a lot of young bloods have. Answer every question he asks you truthfully, he can tell if you're lying to him. Finally, don't ask him questions unless you're willing to die for the answer. The Count is a very busy vampire, so his time is important."

I nodded slightly at the implications. "Weren't there rumors that he died on the fields of battle? Something about a dragon slaying him, if I recall?"

Bennett shrugged, "That's the thing, our little masquerade doesn't compare to the grand games the Count and the King of Eclipse play. After a century you start to stop questioning what's a lie, and what isn't. I've seen the princess die a few times, only to come back a week later. You're far too young to peek behind the curtains."

"Quite." I moved beside the cold blood. "I take it you will lead the way now?"

Bennett flexed his hands a bit, before cracking his neck. "Yeah, just follow me. I won't be sticking around, because I don't want to be involved. Just make sure you don't die. I can see how promising you are, and it'd be a shame to lose you."

I just followed quietly after him. There wasn't a need to respond to being told I was valuable. Bennett pushed a few stones on a couple of walls, before racing to the other side of an alley where a knee-high hole opened. He pushed me ahead, before running ahead of me. "We only have a few seconds." He slid into the hole as I reluctantly followed. My suit was dirtied, and I felt this was one of those things where they did it to remind me of my position.

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To them, I was a very capable young blood. One that got lucky with a powerful sire, and had potential. I was still young and was expected to crawl whenever the older ones decided I needed to. I dusted off my suit, not bothering to give them the satisfaction of my frustration. They would play their games, while I tended to my business. I rolled my shoulders, before looking at the gray stone walls that surrounded us on either side. Torches burned to life, as runes registered our presence.

I was mildly grateful the chute we came through landed us both on our feet after a small drop. The ceiling was a comfortable ten feet (3 meters) high. Not quite big enough for our Queen, but it could work if needed. I looked at the walls, noticing every other brick had a rune etched into it. There were hidden rituals to be found here. I let a few of my bugs crawl out from beneath the holes of my shoulder blades. Scouts were dispatched to find a good place for a small Hive to take root in these chambers.

Bennett wordlessly advanced, leaving me to follow after him in silence. Torches were snuffed out when we moved too far from them, while others lit up at our presence. It was a nice display that might have impressed naive individuals. It was much less impressive when I could see it was merely a set of low-quality runes that activated when they 'saw' someone. Those runes would then trigger a spark rune to light the torches or snuff them when no one was there.

The other bodies were still doing their tasks, while we navigated the twists and turns of the stone walkways. We reached a set of stairs and went deeper down, the ceiling rising higher as the quality of the runes grew. The color of the flames changed, adding a sort of playful feeling to our trek. Given how tense Bennett seemed, I refrained from asking how long it would take before we arrived. There were so many pathways to explore, and I could smell blood starting to mix with the scent of dust.

A few more turns and we came into a room with slick black stone stretching in a crescent before a circle of stairs started to rise. Banners lined the walls, as torches flickered to life. I watched as they spread from the area surrounding us, to the bookshelves carved into the darker gray stone walls. They continued by the banners, before resting on the occupied throne with a thin vampire sitting with his legs crossed.

It was a nice gesture, ruined by my ability to see everything with little light. The vampire picked up a scepter with a smile, twirling it as he stood up. "Greetings! I am the Duke." He stood up, taking a bow. Bennett returned the bow, and I politely did the same. The Duke chuckled, as he planted his staff on the stairs in front of him. "It is such a welcomed surprise to see a young blood with manners. When I had set this meeting weeks ago, I did not expect you to cause so many ripples."

I stepped forward, only to have Bennett stop me with a hand on my chest. He whispered, "Let him do his thing, it puts him in a better mood."

The Duke was putting his hand in front of him, curling his fingers as he stared up at the ceiling. "Yes, I doubt even Earls see as much potential in you, as I do. If they did, I'm certain they would have begged the great Count to bear witness to this exchange. Yet, it is our nature to cling to the shadows. To keep secrets, and hide our intentions." He was taking a step down the stairs with each grandiose gesture he made. I almost felt bad when I checked on the other bodies and guided them to keep myself from getting bored. It was clear he practiced this a few times, and I was thankful for my mask.

He went on about the hierarchy, while a few bodies helped the children with a couple of complicated problems. He spoke about vampire history, referencing the textbook, while body five dealt with an attempted murder. He lamented the tragedy of our curse, complete with a few tears. All while I had body eight go through the lesser shades' memories and adjust them as needed. I needed to help a couple of them along, they might be struggling a little too much.

The Duke reached the final step, "Alas, the time our wonderful Count graced me with shall soon come to an end. I sought to warn you more of the trappings of our kin. The hubris that plagued young bloods, and give you the chance to rectify your mistakes. For you see, you may have to cull the ones you sired. We cannot have you spreading your bloodline so soon. You need approval, my wonderful young blood. Requests must be made, and I know how heavy a burden it will be to end the unlife you have given. It must be done, as the Count himself has decreed we must be careful with each successful new blood we sire."

He spread his arms out wide, the scepter glinting from the light of the torches. Pride suddenly filled me as one of the children finally grasped the method for solving a complicated problem. They had been struggling for weeks, and they finally got it! I clapped my hands, "BRAVO!" The action caused Bennett to jump, as I continued clapping. "Wonderful performance!"

"What are you doing!?" Bennett harshly whispered. The Duke was stunned, his eyes wide as he gawked at me. My outburst of pride simply couldn't be helped. The Duke had been wasting my time with his twenty-minute long monologue about the nature of our kind. I was prepared to teleport away if needed, but I could still salvage this.

"Your performance my dear Duke, it was masterful. I could tell you have told this to many others, and yet you added flair to it." I put a hand over my heart, "Some of the plays from above ground, have you been witness to them. Or, perhaps you have written a few yourself? I felt my heart reaching for every word. Every motion you made wasn't wasted, but fully captured the essence of what you sought to convey." I bowed slightly, "It is an honor to be in your presence."

The Duke started laughing, " You noticed! Oh! It has been decades since anyone made the connection. What plays have you seen?" He clasped his hands together, almost squealing with barely contained excitement. Bennett's jaw dropped. "Do tell me, I must know!" The Duke rushed over, clasping my hands in his.

"I'm sensing a bit of Stargazer in your performance. A few of your musings remind me of the Thorned Dragon. Please tell me the references to, 'All for Naught,' were intentional." The Duke was almost bouncing with joy. I never knew the memories from Beru watching plays would come in handy.

The Duke cried out to the ceiling, "Finally a vampire with class!" He wailed, as Bennett just blinked unable to process what was happening. "To have someone deduce the works I've written, and compare my introduction to 'All for Naught!?'" He did a chef's kiss. "Tell me, is that mask made of bone? Are you perhaps..."

"I am referencing Phantom's Eulogy," I interrupted as the Duke let out a delighted squeal. "It was the first tragedy I witnessed, and it was what motivated me to watch so many other plays."

"What did you think of Stargazer!? I must know!" He gave Bennett a dismissive shooing motion.

I tilted my head back, while the Duke let me think on my answer. "It was brilliant, save for the parts that felt forced. The hero falling in love with the villain, even after she killed his family in front of him? It almost felt like..."

"Like they butchered it! I know! You have no idea how difficult it is to get those pompous stage directors to take any of my work. They're ignoring me I tell you! They stopped doing nightly performances because I would demand they fix it once a month. I even threatened to stop giving them my musings, and they performed Hamlet's Flatulence to spite me!"

"No." I saw Bennett just walk away.

"YES!" The Duke wailed out. "That insufferable director doesn't deserve half the praise he gets! I'm fine with him taking credit for my work, but not when he butchers it and mocks me."

I gripped his shoulder, "Please, tell me you aren't hoarding your latest works."

The Duke lowered his head, "I am! I know I am doing a disservice to the world, but I cannot let such an insult stand!"

I shook his shoulders as the mood demanded. "You must release them! The industry has been crying out for new material for decades!"

"What is a lifetime compared to the centuries we shall live? I intend on releasing my plays when that damned director is good and dead!" He gripped my shoulders in a melodramatic fashion.

We were shaking each other now, as I spoke my rebuke. "Every play left unpublished is inspiration left to wither! Think of the minds you could have touched! Those that would have seen your work, and saw the vision you truly meant to show! Think of how they would have come up with their own works and showed us their soul!"

"You quoted Redemption!" The flames were instantly snuffed out, as the smell of blood became overbearing. "Ah... it seems I ran out of time. We'll talk later." I tilted my head, as he let go of me, moving to my side. "The Count is coming."

Blood began to weep from the walls as the stone rattled in the darkness. Blood pooled from the cracks in the floor, bubbling up as I stared in awe. The use of blood magic was far beyond anything I had ever seen before. Each drop was compressed such that they were like liquid crystals shifting by the indomitable will of something far beyond my reach. The Count wasn't teleporting in, he was a part of the blood, his being and the blood inseparable. I couldn't begin to count the seemingly endless gallons of blood being controlled, and I could sense more just beneath the surface.

Friction sparked the torches, red light from the crimson fires bathing the room in its eery glow. The Count was using blood as a light source while taking the smoke and converting it into a cloud that spread along the ceiling. Thick black veins suddenly rose and slithered from the ground, all of them spiraling to the center of the room. They throbbed with an alien pulse, rising higher with each beat. Crimson lightning began to arc within the clouds, casting a foreboding light on the figure that started to take shape.

Deep crimson eyes formed, slowly turning white as pinpricks of red iris remained. Hair as dark as shadows fell before merging with his dark suit. His chiseled features formed as if he breached through a tear in space itself. The light itself flickered as the flames moved away from his very presence. The air froze as he stepped out from his black womb, tendrils of it still clinging to his back as every drop of blood immediately rushed towards him. The flames snuffed and lit again, in a display of complete mastery over his magic.

His presence was overwhelming, taking only as long as he needed to establish his power. This wasn't a fight I could hope to win anytime soon. Even if I controlled every last body I had, it would amount to a fly buzzing in the face of this entity. He had almost forced our Queen to kneel at the ball, and all thoughts of rectifying such an insult faded. Where had she found the courage to stand in front of such a monster?

I smiled under my mask, as no other word could be used to describe this creature. I felt his eyes focus on me for the first time, his mind was far sharper than my own. I couldn't keep him from using his domination on me. Like a festering sickness, I could feel his will spreading through my Hive, through my mind. The more he touched, the less I could resist. It was like a growing fire, that retreated as suddenly as it came.

The Count squinted at me, his displeasure apparent. "I see why Charles had me wait until now." It was a slight mutter on his part, more talking to himself than addressing anyone.

The air was thick with the scent of blood, enough that a young vampire would likely enter a frenzy. I could feel my stingers flexing, to drink what it could, but there was nothing for it. The Duke broke the silence with a chuckle, "Now that's an entrance!"