“I don’t know if I can do this long enough to build an army to go after Tanyth, no matter how good it feels.”
Sure you can. You just have to hate him enough and want to protect your interests enough to keep doing it. It gets easier over time.
“Are they all men or do women do bad things too?”
Women are just as guilty, don’t worry.
Thessa grinned, “Then I want to turn one of them next.” She started toward the tavern entrance.
You are still the pretty Zarina.
“Yes, I know. You catch more flies with honey. Why should I change?”
Well, because the power was given to you to change, so no one recognizes you as some crazed vampire and hunts you down. You can still be a pretty woman.
Thessa hesitated, “Maybe you’re right.” She used the power and changed her appearance into a lovely young blonde woman. She looked for Sarren in the shadows, and they had gotten a bit dimmer. “A moment ago I could see you as if you were in broad daylight, but now the surrounding darkness is dimmer.”
You only created two blood feeders. If you want to keep the power, you can drain it from them or keep adding more. The more you have, the longer your power will regenerate and the more power you will retain.
“Stay out here. I doubt you would last long inside.” Thessa entered the tavern. The place was loud, smoky, and smelled of old boots, ale, and unwashed bodies. She immediately stood out. All eyes seemed to turn to her. She tried to hide her nervousness behind a wide smile.
“Ay, you lost lady?” A near toothless man shouted at her from somewhere left of her.
“Yeah, you must ‘ave lost yer way.” Another said.
Not knowing what to do, she let the red mist flow along the floor of the full tavern. No one seemed to notice at a first until it began to ensnare people.
“Hey, what is this on the floor?” A woman shouted as she tried to pull free. Others looked upon Thessa in terror. She let the mist gather quickly around the tavern. She had not intended to turn a whole tavern, but this was her first time and she didn’t know what kind of person she needed to look like to blend into a place such as this. Besides, Sarren said, the more she turned the more power she would have. She let her fangs grow, and she bared them instinctively.
“Oh, by the two hells and the gods, what are you?” The barman said from behind the counter.
“Cursed!” It was all Thessa could think if to say. She moved at lightning speed as the charged red lighting around her also struck and numbed the patrons around her as she went. She was made to take on as many people as she wished, and she did. She let their shouts and cries fall on deaf ears as she worked her way through the tavern. A new patron entered as she did her work, and he was ensnared as soon as he entered the mist. She turned on him and made him her last victim. Sarren rushed into the tavern from outside before the doors closed her out.
What did you do? Look at all this. You were supposed to be discreet. As soon as the people of this city realize a whole tavern full of people are missing, they will know what you have done!
Thessa stopped, “Let them know!”
But you can’t hide from this.
“Let Cassany worry about that. She made me the way I am.” The people began to awaken as blood feeders. “Go to the clearing and wait for me! Go to your brethren.” The people began moving toward the door. Thessa followed to dispose of any guards or people who should show up and get in their way as they traveled through the north gate and into the forest beyond. Sarren sighed and followed after.
Chapter 23: Life and Death
Before dawn, Thessa had created a small army from the two taverns of Talt to Sarren’s utter horror. Even though the people she converted were criminals and the like, when the city wakes for the coming day and discover what has happened, they will be livid. Thessa joined her converted blood feeders in the clearing where she had sent them. She moved them through the forest for the rest of the night until first light to the southern gates of the city of Ironhold. There, she found a soot to hide among some trees for the day.
Did you forget I was the Black Mage? I know what I am talking about! Sarren said to Thessa when she was settled for the day.
“I hear what you are saying, but you’re wrong. I have thought this out. These were truly bad people. The city leaders will do nothing. They will be glad to get rid of them.”
You assume a lot. People don’t like a lot of former criminal vampires roaming their kingdoms.
“There’s nothing they can do about it. I am the Black Mage and I am in control of the blood feeders. Nothing will happen to me until after the tournament. Cassany and the Tourney Master will see to that, and if one of the city’s wants to hang me for cleaning out their criminals, the one whose hand does the deed will be the new Black Mage. They wouldn’t dare! Even if someone did take my place, this would all start over again, only this time it may be their sons and daughters rather than their criminals. When you talk to Cassany before I do, tell her to have a talk with the civic leaders and explain it to them. This will solve a lot of their problems.”
You have really lost your mind. I was not even this blatant. These were people, and the civic leaders will still condemn it.
“They are too
