It's 11 o'clock in the evening. The date is the 15th of March 453 AD, also known as the Ides of March and more importantly my trusted first general Julius Caesar's assassination anniversary.
He is of course now known as Joseph Kline, his personal name preference. I never asked him why. Friends don't pry, unless necessary. My hearty laugh at that thought, 'don't pry' broke my train of thought. I turned and gazed out over the vastness before me.
I found myself standing on the mammoth balcony of my treasured palace here in Easlum. I loved the coolness of the marble floor beneath my bare feet. This vantage point afforded me a panoramic view of this thriving, growing capitol city.
My balcony stretched over the wall that surrounded my palace and offered strategic viewing of the many small clumps of factories churning out whatever was needed to keep things going on the supply end. Weapons, ammunitions, uniforms. You name it, Easlum produced it.
The city had definitely grown since my first glance from this very balcony. It currently stretched back 56.6 miles from its original 28.3 miles and my palace now stretches 60.4 miles instead of the original 30.2miles. The Radius is now 200 miles instead of 100 miles.
Every 300 to 500 years, the city grew, just like Lander predicted, except for the amount. My thoughts were jolted.
The Easlum Public Announcement broke through my silent reflections blaring: "Earth's secret underground train system grand opening will happen in five minutes. Attention, Earth's secret underground train system grand opening will happen in five minutes…"
I felt another presence. I was no longer alone. Cain materialized about three feet from me wearing the same rugged clothes he had on the day I turned him into my fourth general. "Well, well, well," he boasted, "finally, the secret train and station you authorized one year after I became your third general is complete and ready for service."
Nodding, I said, "good. It's always a relief to have a plan come together without any issues."
Cain shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "The good news is that Atilla the Hun has invaded Rome per your orders and is currently in Hungary." He paused and looked down, "unfortunately, in a few days' time he plans to invade Rome," he looked up and finished, "and conquer it."
I balled my hands into tight fists and bellowed. "That's against my orders. I said to only attack, not conquer it. Does he not realize that I can easily kill him at any time." It was a statement not a question.
Cain weighed his answer carefully. "It would appear that he believes you cannot."
"Why? I made sure that he knew that I was a god!" I said angrily. He dares defy a god!"
Cain shook his head and replied. "I do not know but," he paused, "I have sensed that presence again."
That presence is not a good sign, I thought. A human getting turned into a angel at its birth is crazy. I don't think it's God. He would've made a move especially since I am in this world along with my dad Lucifer. If it's not God, then who? Cain doesn't know either. I guess that maybe Attila knows. I need to go and see him.
"Take me to Attila." I ordered. I thought for another moment, "but take me via the new train system."
The Public Address System shattered the moment with its announcement which was obviously operating on a loop giving constant updates. "Earth's secret underground train system is now open. Royals and those with high clearance who have been authorized to go to Earth and Earth to Easlum, may board."
I moved forward. "That's us, let's go." I turned slightly only to find Achilles standing as still as a stone statue. I, also, noticed that his heel was completely restored within a week of losing it. Not bad! He reached his full height of six feet. So why was he not moving. "You too, Achilles," I barked out curtly.
"Oh, of course."
I jumped off my balcony, swooped down at a curved arc with the Easlum and Earth train arrival-departure platform as my final landing spot. Flying could be so much fun! The facility had purposely been located next to the wall that separates the city from the training fields but on the training field side.
Achilles and Cain had both jumped simultaneously. They were following me in hot pursuit, but I could out fly them any day, at any time. I smiled just as I gently landed, one foot before the other on the long platform. Cain landed on my right and Achilles on my left.
Our train car was directly in front of us next to the platform. We entered. A group of empty chairs greeted us. I headed toward the stairs. The sign above announced: ROYALS ONLY. I motioned to my two companions and urged. "This way gentlemen." We climbed the stairs. I was the first to catch a glimpse of this unexpected sight.
Large glass walls, curved glass ceiling, one well stocked bar. Two mahogany wood pool tables and five rooms called private compartments with beds, a private toilet and sink.
I laughed, "What are the beds for? I don't sleep."
Cain had moved up beside me and laughed. "Come on Draven, you party, remember! You know how things can go. Also, most vampires and things like humans need to pee and rest up."
"You've got me there, Cain," I admitted. "I'm bit preoccupied with Atilla. I also keep forgetting that not everyone is as good as me." I then flashed Cain a smile that would put any toothpaste models to shame which he ignored.
"Back to the train for a moment," Cain attempted to stay on more neutral ground. "We curated the smartest people in Easlum to design the train for use here as well as the new trains on Earth."
Right at that moment I did not care. I asked, "How long will it take to arrive?"
"As long as you want Draven, but the least amount of travel time from what I have been told by the design engineers, "is five minutes."
"Five minutes it will be then," I confirmed.
Cain shouted. "Five minutes." One could hear the doors closing and locking downstairs. The train instantaneously moved forward, and Cain continued. "This is the most advanced train system, even better than the current Easlum's system which will be going through the self-remodeling phase in about three minutes. Oh, this train will not be making any turns." Cain fell silent.
I could feel the train's almost imperceptive curve downward into a tunnel while gaining speed. It was times like these that I really loved my super vision. I gazed down the tunnel and saw the end with my vampire symbol displayed on the wall. But what I saw alarmed me just a bit. "Um, where's the rest of the track."
Cain suppressed a laugh. He swallowed before answering. "It's easy to forget that this is a dimension like Heaven or Hell. You need to participate more in your own projects," He yelled, "open the portal."
He was right I have been in Easlum for to long.
Like magic, the portal opened. The sides of this new portal glowed the color of neon yellow. The track on the other side let out a few more feet of equidistant track and smoothly integrated (connected) with the track on Easlum's side.
"Great designers," I spoke to no one in particular. We zipped through the portal. I watched the track retract into itself. The portal closed behind us and the same symbol was here too. I felt the momentum of the train curve upward. Three minutes passed. And no muss no fuss, we had arrived at our destination.
Cain yelled, "we're here. We're actually here." I moved around Cain who seemed affixed to his spot, glowing with happiness.
"Did you not think we will make it?" I asked.
"I honestly didn't think the portal would work," he said casually.
I turned away and decided to take the stairs two at a time and exited the train. I really wanted to get going. The station did not disappoint. It was big, clean and quite nice.
It also came complete with a strange guy standing directly in front of me, grinning as though he knew me! He had wild, red curly hair. And, ironically, he was wearing an Easlum green shirt and stylish jeans, also, just produced in Easlum.
Achilles stepped next to me. "We definitely need to release the jeans onto the World market."
I waved my hand at Achilles, "No, not yet" And, turned back to address the wild redhead in front of me. "Who are you?"
Cain interrupted, "This is, er, he will be the vessel for Lucifer. The best we could find on such short notice."
Apparently, the man was unaffected by the less than sterling description of him. "Hi, I'm John."
I nodded. "Hi, John." I glanced around the area. There were only four vampires and one human guarding the station. I commented, "I thought there would be more security."
Cain lowered his head as if he was blaming himself for the lack of security, "we're low in numbers for the amount of area we have to cover. Right now, if we should be attacked, there is a low probability of survival."
"Well, that's troublesome."
I exhaled; it was better than throwing a temper tantrum in front of strangers in a new station. I thought a moment about it. I got it. I thought for a moment about the details then I telepathed to Joseph. "Come here, now."
Joseph popped in wearing a full suit of battle armor. "You want me to come with you?"
"No, actually, I am authorizing the production of a vampire clone army." Wait for it, wait for it. His jaw dropped open in shock.
"Furthermore, I'm putting you in charge of the operations. The strict requirements lie in the fact that the cloning factories will be housed under the capitol of Easlum. Next, and this is critical, you must find the 50 strongest and best soldier vampire fighters in Easlum and clone them. The Barons only 35. Alfas only 20.
For the Counts, for each General that I have find 5 Counts and ensure that each Count got turned by 1 of the Generals. Give the vampires that you select the most advanced rooms that we have and Royal status.
Joseph nodded while smiling like a madman, "yes, my Lord." And, vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
From seemingly out of nowhere Cain asked, "what was your price for accepting the Achilles heel?"
"If you must know," I began slowly, "Luck is no longer 1% of the central power core of Easlum."
He nodded. "Okay, that sucks, though."
Truth be told this matter is very troublesome but at least I got stronger in the process. I decided not to display what I felt onto my face and just move on.
I wanted this over with quickly. "Let's get Lucifer into his vessel." I then sent a telepathic message to dear old dad, Lucifer. "I have your vessel ready and literally standing by at the new Earth train station."
The Hell portal opened. Red smoked rushed out, swirled around and went directly into John's open mouth. His eyes turned red, and a slow smile formed across his mouth. He was John no more. Lucifer declared. "Finally, I'm on Earth once more. Let's go confront Attila the Hun. What a reunion!" He shouted like he was ready for anything.
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One chapter everyday at 10 AM EST (11 pm CST) if I happen to post a second chapter, I will post it 1 minute later.
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