The women landed at Cadiz, one of the oldest cities in all of Europe. The city lay on a narrow piece of land surrounded by water on 3 sides. To the west lay the Mediterranean Sea, on the East a safe harbour. It had been founded by the Phoenicians in ancient times, inhabited by the Greeks who claimed it as the site of one of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. It was ruled by Carthage and Rome for 800 years and had seen many wars. As the principal port of the Spanish Empire in the Americas it had been very wealthy a benefit which still persisted and to the delight of Cassandra, boasted a large Irish enclave.
There were of course many older vampires within the city but Sabine felt the two of them could hold their own should any hostilities commence. They need not have worried. The ancient vampires required little blood and there was plenty for all.
They quickly found some ancient crypts in some of the cities old ruins and by nightfall on their second day they found the cities night life in the bars. They were looking for a little blood after their ocean voyage and male sex would be a good way to satisfy several urges at once. The dark men of Andalusia held an immediate attraction for Cassandra. She had never seen so many in a single place; she had never been with any other than the fair men of Britain and France.
The women went out looking for a meal and sex. They met two men that were from Madrid and staying at a local parador. Cassandra and Sabine joined them in their separate rooms. Miguel, the man that went with Sabine was very macho and led her by the hand into his room and quickly closed the door. Once inside he grabbed Sabine and pulled her close, kissing her hard on the mouth. at the same time he twisted her arm behind her back and pulled up, causing Sabine a bit of pain. She enjoyed the roughness of his manner and when he released her, he pushed her down on the bed, tearing the shoulder of her blouse. It would have been alright had he not slapped her face and yelled “¡En tu puta espalda!” On your back, whore!” The slap could have been fun but no one called her a whore.
“¡Hijo de perra!” You son of a bitch! In a flash she held Miguel in her deadly embrace, a hand at his throat. “You like to inflict pain, do you? Let us see how you take it!” Miguel wet himself as he looked at Sabine’s glowing green eyes and exposed fangs. She pushed his head to the side and with her hand over his mouth to stifle his screams, she sunk her teeth into him. After a few swallows she remembered Cassandra in a room with the other Castellano. If she killed this one they would have to kill the other, then dispose of the bodies. She stopped and making a scratch on her finger she used her own blood to seal the wound. She glamoured him to sleep but left the memory of the attack in his mind. He would think twice the next time. Leaving him asleep on the floor she went to find Cassandra.
The following night night they went to another inn, this one frequented by Romany, Gypsies, whom they heard did a fabulous dance called Flamenco.
They entered the room where the dancers lined the walls of the room. In the centre of the room stood a man in tight black pants and vest, as black as the hair on his head. He also wore a white shirt, ruffled at the front up to the open collar. He made rapid steps, creating a loud tapping sound with the broad high heel of his leather shoe. A woman in a bright red dress with three ruffles around the skirt and one at the hem advanced toward him and replied with her own stamping steps. He took her hand and around the room they whirled stopping with the music and repeating the stamping steps, advancing on one another, closer and closer until they were practically wrapped around one another. As the music came to an end the man dipped the woman backwards until her long braid touched the floor. The room applauded and the pair left the stage only to be replaced by another pair of dancers squaring off as if preparing for a fight. The music started and off they went around the room.
Cassandra and Sabine were fascinated by the beauty of the steps. Cass had always loved to dance. Perhaps she could persuade one of these beautiful men to teach her how to do this Flamenco dance. When the musicians took a break the two of them worked the room in search of and eventually found the man who did the wonderful first dance. His name was Daniel, Daniel Flores. They decided he would fulfil all their desires for this night. After last night’s fiasco neither wanted a repeat. Let a single man think that tonight had been very fortunate for him.
They let Daniel think that he had charmed them both and convinced the at his throat. “You like to inflict pain, do you? Let us see how you take it!” Miguel wet himself as he looked at Sabine’s glowing green eyes and exposed fangs. She pushed his head to the side and with her hand over his mouth to stifle his screams, she sunk her teeth into him. After a few swallows she remembered Cassandra in a room with the other Castellano. If she killed this one they would have to kill the other, then dispose of the bodies. She stopped and making a scratch on her finger she used her own blood to seal the wound. She glamoured him to sleep but left the memory of the attack in his mind. He would think twice the next time. Leaving him asleep on the floor she went to find Cassandra.
The following night night they went to another inn, this one frequented by Romany, Gypsies, whom they heard did a fabulous dance called Flamenco.
They entered the room where the dancers lined the walls of the room. In the centre of the room stood a man in tight black pants and vest, as black as the hair on his head. He also wore a white shirt, ruffled at the front up to the open collar. He made rapid steps, creating a loud tapping sound with the broad high heel of his leather shoe. A woman in a bright red dress with three ruffles around the skirt and one at the hem advanced toward him and replied with her own stamping steps. He took her hand and around the room they whirled stopping with the music and repeating the stamping steps, advancing on one another, closer and closer until they were practically wrapped around one another. As the music came to an end the man dipped the woman backwards until her long braid touched the floor. The room applauded and the pair left the stage only to be replaced by another pair of dancers squaring off as if preparing for a fight. The music started and off they went, whirling around the room.
Cassandra and Sabine were fascinated by the beauty of the steps. Cass had always loved to dance. Perhaps she could persuade one of these beautiful men to teach her how to do this Flamenco dance. When the musicians took a break the two of them worked the room in search of and eventually found the man who did the wonderful first dance. His name was Daniel, Daniel Flores. They decided he would fulfill all their their desires for this night. After last night’s fiasco neither wanted a repeat. Let a single man think that tonight had been very fortunate for him.
They let Daniel think that he had charmed them both and convinced the Inglesas to come see the harbour on this beautiful night. Who knows what else may happen later?
They were moving toward the door, Daniel making his goodbyes to his admiring male friends as they did. Without warning, one of the women dancers in a long grey and red skirt grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the women. Sabine and Cassandra thought it must be a wife or fiance and were shocked when she shouted at him, “Aléjate de los dos! ¿No ves que ellas son muertas? Son ángeles del infierno aquí para llevarte de vuelta con ellos! " - Get away from those two! Can’t you see they are dead? They are angels from Hell here to take you back with them!”
A deafening quiet came over the room that only moments before had been full of laughter and the sounds of merry making. Now all eyes were on the fair women near the door.
Nothing like this had ever happened to them before. They backed slowly toward the door. Speaking in English so as not to be overheard Sabine said to Cassandra, “Once we make it to the door, run to the right, toward the centre of the city, I’ll go left.” They heard the sound of swords being drawn. “This is getting dangerous,” said Cassandra remembering all too well the vampire Sabine had decapitated back in Dublin so many years ago.
“We may be able to take them but one or both of us could be killed if the swordsmen are lucky. Better to make an escape. Break to the door. I’ll meet you by the church we passed just up the street.”
They ran, breaking the door into splinters as they passed. Cassandra had drawn a small crowd of pursuers; the bulk followed the bruja chasing Sabine. Cassandra took to flight and landed by the church. Looking back from the church where they stopped, 400 meters from the cantina. They turned and were surprised to see the Romany in pursuit. The woman with the sight was in the lead. They heard her cry, “¡Ahí están las mujeres muertas!” there are the dead women!” and the crowd came running for them
Cassandra looked up and Sabine caught her meaning. They turned on the, crowed, spread their great black wings and took to the air. as they gained altitude they heard what sounded like incantations and a force seemed to be pulling them back toward the ground. Embracing each other they flapped their wings in tandem with all their might and finally broke free of whatever was pulling them back. Once they had altitude they turned north and headed for Seville.
Safely away from Cadiz and the Romany they found an ancient crypt below a church to spend the day. Once they had settled down, Sabine began to speak. “Witches! That woman was a witch and gifted with the sight. She can see what we are and is powerful enough to impede us from flight. Had one of us been alone it would surely be the day of her true death. We were fortunate this time but if there is one witch there are surely more. A full coven of thirteen working together would be the end of us. We must leave Spain as soon as we possibly can. They know we are here and will surely come looking for us.”.
“But there are others of our kind, many in Cadiz. Why do they not go after them?”
“They must have some agreement where they leave each other alone. The Romany loot the Spaniards for booty and the vampires take their blood. If only we had known.”
It was not yet dawn when they heard the door to the crypt opening. They blew out their candle, and took positions on either side of the entrance, ready for mortal combat. They heard the soft footsteps of a single person. A woman’s voice spoke, “You need not fear me for I am not Romany nor a witch. I am like you, vampire.” The woman lit a candle and before them stood an elegant woman dressed in Spanish attire.
“Who are you?”
“You have some cheek! You come into my land, set the the natives in an uproar and then try to interrogate me? The question is who are you!”
Sabine took a step towards the woman when Cassandra put out a hand and bade her to stop. “Please, begging your pardon, dear lady. We have had quite a fright tonight and I fear we have lost our manners. May I present to you Sabine Metzger of Lower Saxony. I am Cassandra Flynn, late of Dublin Ireland. May inquire who you might be?” She gave a curtsy as she finished
The lady smiled, curtsied and said, “I am Angelica Rylan, late of Sweden. I am spokeswoman for the vampires of Coastal Andalucia. I have come to discuss the trouble of earlier this night. I wish you had come to us upon your landing. While there is plenty for all in our land there are certain rules we all follow. The most important is to stay away from the Romany for the reasons you discovered tonight. They have sight and they know how to use magical powers. Had you actually killed one of them we would all be in trouble.”
“It was never our intent to kill anyone we were simply looking for a man to play with. Daniel is handsome and strong we would have taken nothing more than a taste and given him a night he would have cherished the rest of his life.”
“Esmerelda, the witch you encountered tonight is very angry. She want’s tribute to assuage this insult to the Romany people. Her words, not mine.”
“And what would it take to soothe her anger?” Sabine jumped in.
“That diamond necklace your friend is wearing would probably do it. Oh, she also want you to leave Andalusia forever.”
Sabine laughed, “Forever is a very long time. Far longer than she’ll be around. I believe those terms are agreeable to us, Cassandra?”
Cassandra nodded her head in ascension.
“Good! The time till dawn is short. Would you be so kind as to allow me to stay with you for the night?”
“Of course you may! Sabine and I usually lie together. You can have a tomb to yourself or join us.” Sabine invited.
“Together sounds wonderful!” chimed Angelica and began to undo the buttons on the back of her dress.
Soon all three were naked and had used straw and some blankets to fashion a crude bed. They laid down, and Angelica extinguished her light. Had anyone been listening, giggling, cooing and the sounds of passion would have been all they heard.
