"Terence West - Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (West Terence)

little more than a blur as he passed by, but his fellow vampires saw him coming and easily moved out of
the way. As he turned the final corner, his shadow danced in and out of the moonlight spilling from the
open windows as he headed toward the large, gilded doors at the end of the hall. The contents of the
cylinder were far too important for electronic transmission. It could only be relayed by hand.

Slowing, he spotted two of the master vampire's more trusted men standing guard outside the door.
These men had declared their loyalty to their master centuries ago and had never wavered in their
resolve. Both were dressed in the same uniform-a long black coat that buttoned up the chest to the
collar, yet hung loose past the waist down to their ankles-and were impressively imposing. With shaven
heads, each wore a dark pair of wraparound sunglasses. The man on the left, a Caucasian standing close
to six feet, had a long, red goatee that brushed against the collar of his coat. Dark tribal tattoos stretched
from his temple down the left side of his face and disappeared below the collar of his coat. The other
guard, a six and a half foot tall Asian man, had no facial hair but was covered with piercings. He had a
row of sterling silver spikes implanted Mohawk style from the top of his forehead back to the base of his
skull. A large silver ring hung from his nose and was connected by a chain to another in his bottom lip and
three in his left ear. Both men looked as if they could kill with a single blow, although the courier knew it
was only what they wanted him to see.

Stopping short, the courier lifted the embossed cylinder and showed it to the guards. "I have a delivery."

Steel Face nodded. "Our master is expecting you. He has been made to wait for some time."

"It wasn't easy getting here," the courier replied. "It is imperative that I be granted an audience with your
master."

The two guards looked to each other, then stepped out of the way. Reaching back, they each pushed
open a door with one of their meaty paws, revealing the chambers within. Golden flickering candlelight
filtered over the immaculately decorated room. Rugs tastefully littered the floor among gothic furniture.
Deep red and black, set against the white of the marble floors and walls, were the two overriding colors
of the master's chamber. Several vampires stood around speaking in hushed tones, while numerous
beautiful, scantily-clad women attended the Vampire Lord seated in a black throne at the rear of the
room.

His throne was tall and thin, matching the vampire's own gaunt features. Its dark maroon and black
veneer was intricately carved with images of death and lust. Two fanged skulls at the top of the throne
stared down through ruby eyes at anyone who dared to stand before it. The Lord looked more like a
grotesque statue than a living being. Not blinking, not breathing, the creature did not move. Swathed from
head to foot in black silk, he was the very essence of regality and dignity. At his age, it was easier to
wear actual clothes than to mentally project them. He did not even bother projecting a human form to
those who looked upon him. He wore his vampirism like a badge of honor. A silver crown sat lightly
upon his forehead and vanished into his wispy, graying hair that hung straight and long down over his
shoulders. Several small, tight braids, created using tan twine, were hanging from his temples on both
sides. His long, thin features and yellow eyes made him look more like a wicked farce of a human rather
than one.

Rushing into the room, the courier's footsteps echoed loudly off the marble walls and floor. Quickly
adjusting his leather coat and pushing his chin-length hair out of his face, he stopped just short of the
throne and dropped to one knee. No guards approached him. He knew the master vampire had no true
need for them, but they were a formality of his position. The master vampire could shred the courier
before he had a chance to attack. Lifting up the cylinder, the courier presented it in his outstretched hand.