Vampire Heart 2

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Scroll 03: The Vampire Hunters
Dimitri smirked as his team of vampire hunters graced him with their presence. “You’ve really found traces of vampyric activity in the cities near us?”
Todd, the talkative blonde nodded as he slid his coat off, “We’ve interviewed skeptics and believers and they’ve given us hope that we’re on the right track.”
Roy, the intimidating muscular man simply sat on the couch that mirrored the fireplace. He took a long sigh before adding anything, “What did you want those books on the Vampire Heart for, boss?”
Dimitri turned around to face the five of them, “I’m going to rid the world of vampires by force.”
Dane, the magic practitioner laughed, “You can’t wear the Vampire Heart. You’re both not a female and definitely not of the blood line.”
Chris, the feisty one joined Roy on the couch. “I can’t picture you as a lady either,” he said with a toothy grin.
Marc, the superstitious one shuddered, “Vamps aren’t really real…are they?”
“You doubt these creatures of horror?” Dimitri asked. He slid an enlarged photograph from the desk he was reading at before his company arrived. He held it at eye level for his mercenaries to see. It was the cadaver of a young girl with bite marks covering her neck and arms with several puncture wounds lining her body near the bruises.
“No sir!” Marc glowered at the photo, turning away in disgust. He sat forward and tightened the ponytail that fastened his long brown hair in place.
Chris began nervously stroking his own sandy hair, forming the tips into spikes, then flattening them as he tried to avoid the photo album their boss had of vampires’ victims.
Dane stared in disbelief, not knowing how to take what he was seeing. As a practitioner, he never thought of the consequences that would ensue summoning such a wicked creature.
Roy and Todd watched the different men and women’s cadavers in fascination—morbid fascination with why they chose vampire hunting as a career. “You said by force?” Roy asked.
“Aye,” Dimitri held up a book that depicted the ritual that created the Vampire Heart. “A necklace more powerful than Vampire Heart…and we will create this necklace as the Vampire Heart was created.”
“We’d need a female from the Valentine bloodline…a virgin at that…” Dane reminded the group. “That’s how the first set of pendants was created.”
“There would be a set? Of pendants?” Chris asked.
“Well, surely we’d all need one for our protection,” Marc suggested.
“Yes, indeed we would,” Dimitri folded his hands into his lap.
“How do you plan on tracking down the Vampire Heart?” Todd asked.
“Well, we’ll need to monitor for vampire activity first. So keep track of missing persons’ reports. Dane and I will take to reading more on the Vampire Heart, its creation and its companion,” Dimitri said simply.
“Sir, little is known of the master pendant…even less of the slave pendant,” Dane responded, unsure of where their knowledge would originate.
“I’m aware of that. That’s where observation comes into play,” Dimitri said with a sly grin.

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Vampire Heart 4