Book 1: The Rebirth of the Aztecs

Chapter 4 Part 3: The Jade Dragon and the Vampire

The mismatched trio of man, monster, and servant soon found themselves at a simple cabin door with a roomy, but austere interior. The only sign of modern technology was a panoramic view of the makeshift mountain that passed into endless basements and bunkers below. There were no wait staff on this level or in the facility. There was a cleaning crew, but only once a month, and never in Cohen’s private chamber. His demons, literally and figuratively, wouldn’t allow his space to be sullied by other hands.

Besides, slaves waiting on you hand and foot made you soft. Made you weak. Made you malleable, and thus useful tools to be discarded by the powers that ruled the world. Edward Cohen had chosen another path. His peers were as terrified of him as they were jealous of his capabilities. Let them burn with envy for what they could never understand, or have the sustained will to obtain let alone maintain.

Cohen began to levitate into the air as the pent up power of endless sacrifices and curses flowed through the chamber, and into his being. Walking through the air Cohen flicked his hand sending a thousand candles nestled amongst the rafters to light. From the glow of their flickering fire the shine of a gold and jade idol leered down upon the simple wood floors.

Edward folded his legs into the pose his teachers had taught him before their untimely demise in the monastery of the trillionair’s youth. He rose till he was right under the golden image of a buddha in the same position. The eyes of the idol burned a bright red making the rubies burn like twin suns, and a jade snake dragon that wrapped around the torso of the buddha began to move with the twisting fire light.

The now living jade dragon flew in a rush around the spiritual mountain man’s shoulders till its tiger sized head found a place above Cohen’s head. The emerald eyes flashed into green flames, and a voice deep as the earth and old as the rocks making up the foundations of the physical world spoke.

“Leech slave, what does your master want with an aging dragon?” Edward kept his face a stone, and his self control an impeccable shield. He had never been given the name of the entity his father’s distant ancestor had sold their genetic line to so many centuries ago. The trillionaire only knew him by his spiritual entity type the Di Long. Earth Dragon.

Edward wasn’t a fool. He knew he was being used even as he used his master back. Over the years the cultist had learned and confirmed that dragons and other spiritual princes could not read your thoughts, but were very perceptive, old, and experienced with humanity. They also had the ability to intrude on your thoughts with ideas of their own. Of course, the demons and spirits attached to Edward’s being had more knowledge of his mind than most, and they ever were willing to tattle on him to their master. Some fools of the occult world actually believed the lies of the spirits when they told you they were there to protect you like this was a YA novel full of friendly talking dragons and demons that would be your perfect companion for life.

Edward would’ve sneered at the naivety of the fools desperate for every once of power, and corruption they could grasp at if he could afford the emotion in his master’s presence. These beings were never your friends. They were a fact of life, and either they had the better of a relationship or you did. That was just the way it was. The man who saw through the lies lived longer in these circles of power.

Still, the slave of leeches was an interesting line that Edward filed away for later use. No one knew who Kiss served, but if one would know whether mortal, monster, or immortal the Supreme Di Long Dragon would. Not much happened in this world that his jade eyes had not ferreted out. For a lowly slave like the trillionaire such knowledge could mean life or death in any potential power struggle. The house of the god of this earth may not be against itself, but the members operated on a stick survival of the fittest strategy. Fall behind and you were thrown from the high horse without remorse or pity.

“Oh, I think even an unrefined simpleton knows what we want Mr. Long. The real question is what do you want? And I think I can answer that too,” Edward twitched as Kiss stared right into his master’s eyes without a care in the world. More and more Cohen was convinced his instincts were right about Kiss. He was no normal Vampire. What that made him or how the immortal had come into being were burning questions that made the trillionair’s mind swim.

“It’s been so long Mr. Long. So many years since the Prince of Darkness smiled favorably on the Middle Kingdom’s watchers. Even now, yes, even now when the world shifts and the powers that be via for control over your lands the great Longs are sidestepped for the current, and recently failed, favored lapdogs,” Kiss said with expansive motions as he paced back and forth.

With each pass he became more animated, and his face more sadistic. Edward noticed a look of almost euphoric joy and hunger from the maid, and perceptible power flowed from her to the mysterious vampire. Odd, Cohen knew his master well. If the dragon had perceived the spell he surely would’ve expelled his rude guests. Yet again did Kiss warrant more attention.

“So my Lord has a simple offer for you. Be his favored servants.Turn to him for your power and ambition and see Shambhala rise ahead of Zion once more in the spiritual realms. All that you wish for a simple price,” Kiss stopped and showed off his full set of fangs. Every tooth his mouth turning to serrated daggers the size of Edward’s forearm, the beast’s jaw snapping wider to accommodate the horrific smile that crossed the ancient serial killer’s face.

“Hmmm a sacrifice then,” rumbled The Di Long who neither denied the hunger and desire in the dragon's emerald fiery eyes nor affirmed it with his words. Edward had a sinking feeling, and realized the charm spell had succeeded in swaying the dragon. What power could affect the ancient ones themselves was a terrifying prospect in and of itself. No charm spell of normal creation should have any affect on the princes of the world. This decision was beyond the trillionair’s ability to change no matter how dangerous. If the Supreme Prince of Darkness discovered their ploy, all of the Di Long’s servants would pay the price with the greedy dragon.

“Yes, a simple plot of vengeance that I think we all can agree upon, and the means to see the deed through that only require your support on the physical plain,” Kiss paused, and then with a snap glared right into Edward’s soul holding him their with twisting curling will that chilled the bone.

“The destruction and consumption of the Catalina Republic.” The words slammed into the Trillionaire like a stampeding elephant on each syllable. Cohen managed not to squirm as his soul was prodded by the empty nightmare in the pits of Kiss’ black pupils. This had to be the power of the vampire’s master at work, and they were far less subtle or gentle with him then they had been with the dragon. Edward was acutely aware of the spell changing focus to him. Truely, an unnecessary precaution. Cohen wanted revenge bad enough to risk everything for. Or did he? Was that the spell talking in his head?

There Edward teetered on the edge struggling with his own will and the power blanketing his mind. Foreign, powerful, old beyond belief, and an empty gnawing hunger were it’s defining traits. Something about this warned the savvy cultists of a power not showing their hand. Still, he could not openly defy his master on this or even influence him, and Cohen’s own desire for revenge weighed heavily on his mind. The only answer was to give in partially, but watch.

Kiss raised an eyebrow, and cocked his head at Edward. For a moment the trillionaire was worried that the Vampire would insist on breaking his mind completely till he was a raving lunatic, but then the immortal turned his attention back to the jade dragon in its stupor of lustful power and envy.

“All we need from you is a little support in the coming days. My master has chosen his servants for the dirty task. Now all he needs are the tools for the deed that fall under your domain. What do you say Mr. Long?” Edward knew what the answer would be before his master spoke. Just a taste of that charm had almost driven Cohen mad. That power was dangerous. The kind of power that could defy the current order of. The thought made a half smile sail across the trillionair’s face. Yes, he would get his revenge against that upstart island after all, and maybe much more in the process.

The Story Will Continue Every Monday

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