BLACKEMBER ACADEMY:

BASEMENT: STUDY

Just past midnight, Retribution Blackember sits in his study, alone in the basement of Blackember Academy. He is seated at a large, wooden desk. The black varnished desk and taught leather of his seat look like an authoritative throne, compacted in an underground fortress.

He sits with one leg crossed over the other, and lounges back in his chair. His pale hair is elegantly swept behind him, and his expression is severe in its seriousness. He is silent in contemplation.

The buttoning of his sleek vest and shirt tighten as he breathes deeply. He closes his eyes and tries to fight off the pleasure that comes with peace and quiet. Even a man like him cannot help but consider the ways in which he is perceived by others.

His relaxed mood is interrupted, as multiple individuals enter the room. Retribution’s face twists into a slight scowl. He opens his eyes which resume menacing at once.

The figures of four men and one woman are before him, standing in the doorway of his study, and around his desk.

Retribution: “Monty, what are they doing here? I thought it would be obvious that madnesses would not be tolerated by the likes of me at an hour like this…. What is your reasoning for being here?”

Monty: “A reason! Yes! Of course there is, Boss! Sorry for bothering you and all, but I just figured you’d want to hear this. Alright you nutcases, get to the point! Don’t waste the Boss’s time!”

A man with stringy, waved hair and a petite woman with a thick fringe step forward. The man’s movements are rigid but animated. The woman smiles but her expression is cruel, as she holds her hands behind her.

Retribution: “Houndz, Doroda, explain yourselves.”

Houndz: “Montgomery, how dare you for not informing Retribution about our exceedingly important revelations! Retribution, my dear fellow, do not fret. We shall please your ears with some information that surely is privy to your interests!”

Houndz closes his eyes in a moment of pride, as a tight smile spreads across his face. He folds his arms in front of him, the action is so unnatural it is almost comical.

Monty: “Ugh…. Give me a break….”

Monty puts a great deal of effort into rolling his eyes with a brief slumping of his shoulders. The spikes of hair on his head bounce with the shake of his annoyance.

Retribution: “If it's important, then you’d best get to the point. I want the time I must spend wasting on you all to be kept to a minimum….”

Houndz: “Naturally! Sir, myself and Doctor Scaley are most pleased to enlighten you that we believe we are getting ever so close to, at last, discovering a method to finally eliminate the few roadblocks that have been placed before us….”

Retribution is silent for a moment.

Retribution: “…. Which means….?”

Monty: “Oh for goodness sake! Doroda, you explain it to him!”

Houndz raises a gloved finger as if to retort; however, one of the other males, a young, boyish vampire, steps on his foot to quiet him. Houndz makes a show of grabbing his booted foot in pain.

Doctor Doroda Scaley steps forward with a quiet smirk.

Doroda: “The roadblocks Houndz was referring to, you remember don’t you? The vampires. The ones you say will try to stop us from going through with the plan. The vampires who incessantly torment humans….”

Retribution: “So, you’ve found a way, have you?”

Doroda: “Well, not yet…. We just need some more time, and we’ll need to conduct a few experiments….”

Retribution: “I see…. In that case then, we’ll start the first phase of the plan on my orders. In fact, I know of someone and their vampire who can help us….fundraise…. Doctor Scaley, Houndz, you go and do whatever you…scientists do…. Francis and Fang….”

Retribution addresses the two male vampires who have been quiet for the time being.

Retribution: “…. The pair of you will keep them in line, yes? To think I am asking that from two….vampires.”

Francis: “You best believe it, old man…. Don’t worry, I know how to keep that incompetent dog on his leash…. It's amazing how useless humans are, even with all of their precious machines….. Anyway, Houndz won’t blow anything up this time around. I’ll make sure of it! Ehehe!”

Retribution: “Refrain from calling me an old man, vampire…. Fang, don’t hesitate to scare anyone off, if they get curious about our business here…..”

Fang: “Doctor Scaley made me a new poison…. I’d like to try it out….”

The foursome turn to leave R. Blackember’s study at once. The boyish vampire, Francis, and the mad scientist Houndz, walk with a playful kind of cockiness. At the same time, Doctor Doroda Scaley and her serpentine vampire, Fang, command the room with a silent power.

Monty makes a slow turn to leave with his dusty boots digging into the floor.

With his spiked hair, plus the chains and studs that adorn his attire, he looks like any other punk from the street. Although, he’s likely too old to be considered cool… But an evil henchman? That’s still to be determined….

He has an uncertain look on his face, as he stares with attentiveness at nothing in particular.

Retribution: “Monty. You stay back.”

At Retribution’s command, Monty turns again and looks his leader in the eyes.

Retribution: “I have an important job for you. Get Octavia and Venus to help you carry through a little….retrieval…. Those lunatics need subjects for their experiments.”

Retribution hands Monty a document.

Retribution: “Follow these orders. The particular location and circumstance of the retrieval should make it relatively simple. However, keep your eyes peeled for any disturbances…. Also, my son….”

Monty: “Oh yeah. Your son…. I wonder what that brat has gotten up to…. No problem, Boss! The retrieval will go smoothly….Uh…. Do you think Dagger would like to…. Never mind. She won’t be interested….”

Monty turns to leave, but stops himself this time.

Monty: “Hey Boss, can I ask a question?”

Retribution: “What is it?...”

Monty: “Well…. I was just thinking, is all this really necessary? Do we really have to go through all the effort to kill off those vampires, they’re technically immortal, you know? And well, most of them seem harmless…. I mean, why would they just submit to humans like that….?”

Retribution: “You have the nerve to ask such questions…. You really don’t understand, do you?”

Retribution stands from his chair. He leans his body closer to Monty, showing him the flames in his cold eyes. The room seems to darken with his inner fury.

Retribution: “The vampires who follow humans around for no good reason, other than to unleash their tainted ways onto innocent people. They are simply nuisances. I don’t know how they could ever be viewed otherwise.”

Retribution walks out from his desk to stand in front of Monty. He places his right hand on Monty’s shoulder.

Retribution: “Those vampires must be eliminated…. The world will finally be a tolerable place, when that happens. The vampires who know how to use their downfalls to gain power, they are the only vampires worthy of life. That is why I have included vampires as some of the top members of the ROA.”

Monty: “Uh…. I think I get what you mean, Boss. But, I’m a human, and you’re a human. Where do humans fit into all of this….?”

Retribution: “Your worries are pointless, Monty. If the humans among the ROA aid in handing power over to the vampires, won’t we become the most powerful men in this world?”

Monty thinks over Retribution’s words for a moment.

Monty: “…. Alright Boss! I see what you mean…. I’ll get right to work!”

Monty makes a swift twist and exits R. Blackember’s study. Retribution returns to his desk, as a pleased expression spreads candidly on his face. He forms a wide grimace, as smiling feels too uncomfortable for him.

Peace dies however, as the study is occupied again when a tall female vampire enters the room.

Her mouth makes a tight line, but her fangs break through like razors. Blood red hair sweeps over the woman’s face. She is dressed in all black and is bound by the cloth’s tight threads. The uninformed passerby might consider this vampire beautiful, but her beauty is the frightening and handsome kind. Her appearance speaks of danger and mystery.

Retribution: “Dagger, you have come out from your room…. Is everything alright?”

Dagger stands next to Retribution’s desk. Her dark figure towers over him, like a reaper looming over a tombstone.

Dagger: “It almost sounded like you were being honest just now…. How do you not gag on your own words as they are coming out of your mouth….?”

Retribution: “Lying works wonders, does it not?”

Dagger: “... Damned idiots…. How can they be so foolish for believing you….?”

Retribution: “They are an unfortunate set of idiots, but you cannot be ungrateful for that. Don’t worry any longer, I promise we shall begin soon, then our plan can finally be realized…. It is as we agreed all those years ago, we have the same goal albeit for different reasons.”

Dagger: “I really don’t care how…. I just want it done. I don’t care about anything anymore. I am only driven by my own suffering…. I need it to end….”

Dagger closes her eyes and her nose contorts like that of a gargoyle.

Dagger: “...My fate is death….and theirs will be Hell….”