The Vampire Queen's Mate

Chapter 6: A Trip to the Morgue

The morgue was not Sascha’s favorite place to frequent. The stench of death was surprisingly one of Sascha’s least favorite scents. It aggravates her stomach and nose. Some vampires not so keen on the killing of living victims aspect of vampirism, actually work in the morgue because they have easier access to a human blood supply. Even vampires have radicals and vegetarians so to speak. Some will only feed on animals, or blood from blood banks, of course vampires run the blood banks and donation companies. Many work in hospitals feeding on blood bags or dying patients. They all choose this rather than feeding on fresh kills while the blood pulses through a familiars body. These particular vegetarian vampires that Sascha was about to visit drink the blood from the victims in the morgue. No one has ever asked what happens to the blood. It seems to be assumed it just goes down a drain never to be seen again. In all actuality though there is a market for this kind of blood and the vampires even store it for emergency purposes. It isn’t as potent as blood still pumping and unoxidized, but it gets the job done. Sophie, Sascha’s cousin, was embarrassingly mixed up with this type and has been for some time. It started a few centuries back on a visit to America. A friend of a friend introduced her and now she swears by it. Claiming she is at peace knowing what she is will not make her morally responsible for ending a life or some garbage like that. 

Sascha smoothly stepped out of the street car supplied by Igor, she would never be caught driving herself anywhere. Her heels dragged against the coarse sidewalk making a scratching sound. Sascha had spent the better part of the drive mentally preparing for her family reunion. Her and Sophie always used to be close until their food choices drove an awkward wedge between them. They still got along very well of course, just not inseparable like they used to be. She tipped the driver to wait for her then headed off towards the entrance to the morgue. Sascha had beat the elders, which was actually a good thing just in case these bodies really did end up belonging to her. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Sophie has helped out her cousin the Queen. Oh well time to go play nicely and get to the bottom of this. The sooner it’s handled the sooner Sascha can grab a bite to eat and call it a day. 

Inside the building is desolate and dreary. The stench of sadness and death hang in the air. Sascha walks up to the reception desk and stares hard into the man’s eyes compelling him. 

“I’m here to see Sophie, I have an appointment, you will lock the door and take me to her,” Sascha commands. 

The man stares back and says in monotone, “You must be here to see Sophie, I will escort you to the appointment, give me just a moment to lock up while I am away from my desk.” 

With that he walked to the doors in a daze and slowly twisted the lock then walked off down the hallway saying nothing. They walked down a hallway then a set of 5 steps, turned a corner and stopped in front of yet another reception desk. The desk was empty.

 Sascha turned to the pitiful human and compelled him again, “You will go to the bathroom, then take the long way back to your desk. When you return to your desk you will unlock the door. When the lock clicks you will forget everything about this encounter and realize you fell asleep at work again and had a very strange dream that unfortunately you can’t seem to remember.” 

The man turned and walked off. Sascha rang the bell on the desk and waited for Sophie to pop her head out from the back.

Sophie walked out from the door leading to the actual morgue. She was wearing a smock and gloves covered in well, who really knows what. Her face instantly fell a little when she spotted. 

“Hello Sophie darling, I think you might know why I am here,” Sascha teased. 

“I can’t keep covering for you Sascha, geez,” Sophie gushed ushering me behind the desk and through the back doors looking around suspiciously. 

“Oh no cousin, I wish that was the reason for my visit. It would be much simpler, but no I am here because I think someone is trying to frame me, and I don’t want to worry you but I think it’s Allijah. You know it wouldn’t be the first time he violated his pledge as an elder to serve unbiased and without malice towards the ruling family,” Sascha confesses, her eyebrows furrowing with frustration. 

Sophie’s face changed instantly to anger, and she snarled, “Of course I will help you then. You know how I feel about Allijah’s games. I will never forgive him for banishing Alexander to rot with Dimitri for all eternity. You should know, I am worried he is turning Augustus on us.” 

Sacha raised an eyebrow intrigued, “What do you mean dearest cousin, has he done something?” she asks perplexed. 

“Yeah, Augustus called it in and told me to make sure the bodies are not tampered with. He also said if I saw you before they had a chance to look at the bodies I shouldn't let you see them,” Sophie divulged. 

Then she let out a wicked laugh as she turned to Sascha and said, “But what Augustus seems to forget is that our bloodline runs pure and loyal and I would never disappoint my Queen.”

“Excellent,” Sascha cackled, “Let’s go take a look shall we?”