buffy: king of the dark: interlude 6

7/31/2019 Buffy: King of the Dark: Interlude 6

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King 6

Near Harpers Ferry,

South Carolina1849

Most nights the King just liked to sit and listen to them talk, listen to them sing their

spiritual songs about deliverance from their chains and the hard work they did for others. He

rarely mingled with them. It seemed unfair to him that these people, strictly not his people, but

they looked like him, or more like him than the people who owned them, should toil in bondage

while so very few of the white-skinned overseers watched them. The King had known slaves

before he had owned them at various points in time but never had he seen the mass

importation of one type of people before to serve another. Hed seen the Egyptians use the Jews

for labor, but they also used their own people, his people, anyone they could get. And he, aeons

ago in Erech, he had used Hittites, Assyrians, even the rough northern tribesmen with theirfurred hats and their yew-bows. But hed heard tell of ships that traveled to Africa and filled

themselves to bursting with these people, half of whom died on the return trip. And the wise

among these humans call vampires the real monsters. Look to your own kind first.

He ate from them only sparingly. There were many more of them than there were the

whites, and they were easier to get to. But for some reason he couldnt quite understand, he felt

some sort of kinship and sympathy for these people. Not because he had any compassion; that

emotion had died in him while these peoples ancestors had been using flint-tipped spears. But,

he suspected, it was because he could move among them so freely, that none of them suspected

what he was, or if they did, they didnt care. They would invite him into their hovels and force

human food down his throat and warn him to be careful, that a big man like him would be easy

to spot, and they all told him to head north, to places called Pittsburgh and Chicago, so that hecould walk free among men like they all longed to. And he had listened politely and smiled, not

really having the heart to feed from them after they had shown him such kindness. No one had

treated him this well since he was a king back in Erech, thousands of years ago. And these

people didnt do it out of fear, they did it out of a sense of community, out of hospitality, out of a

need to protect one of their own. He found it odd, but after a while, he began to accept it, and

enjoy it.

Hed been at this particular plantation about a week. The slaves here readily accepted his

story that he was a runaway, that he couldnt be seen during the day with the other laborers or

they would lynch him. So he hid during the day in a shallow dirt grave underneath one of their

houses, and at night, he sat with them and told tales of the ancient world, swapping his history

with theirs, and, surprising to himself, helping out with whatever needed doing around theirquarters. The King remained impressively strong, and he didnt mind carrying heavy loads from

one hovel to another, or moving an injured or beaten slave to a more comfortable resting place.

They began to accept him as one of their own, and oddly enough, he had begun to feel like he

belonged. This particular farmstead was so large and had so many slaves that he would never be

noticed, and he could visit different areas at night, different small communities, and so keep his

presence unknown to the plantation owners.


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He sat around a low fire in an earthen pit, talking with the other men. Most of the women

busied themselves with sewing old clothes together or taking care of the children. On occasion

one of the women would lean in and add something to the conversation, but only the older ones,

and only a few words before they retreated again. The King noticed, but he didnt much care

how they wanted to run their society. He was a visitor and he knew after a while he would be

moving on.One withered old woman leaned over toward him, her face close to his. One of her eyes

had gone rheumy and white, and she had hardly any teeth left. Her breath smelled of some kind

of liquor as she wheezed, I know what you is, massuh. I know you not onea deez men. I knows

you summin different. She fixed him with her good eye. Whens you gonna do summin for

us?

The King stared at her. I dont know what you mean.

Yaz you do, the elderly woman insisted. We feed you long nuff. Git off yer ass, boy,

and help deez people here. She raised her hand, pointing at him, though it trembled noticeably.

We glad you here, but you done seen nuff. You knows what needs to be done. Now gowan,gitchye doin it.

What are you talking about? the King asked her.The woman reached in her threadbare tunic and removed a necklace, holding it up to

show him. On a tattered leather thread hung a small crows foot, holding a glass eyeball. You

da Baron. Why else you come here and hide yo face from de daylight? She shook the totem athim. Now you know dey have dat girl up dere in dat house. Onea our girls. Ol Tobys

daughter. An you know dey doin tings to her dey shouln be. So git on up dere and kill dem.

She glared at him. Dats why you here. So git to it.

The King sat up. Who isOld Toby?

The woman laughed, the sound like the rasping of dry papyrus being opened. He dead

now. He try getting his daughter back, dey strung him up from dat ol willow tree. She

coughed, covering her mouth with her hand until the rattle passed. Then she stared at him again

and grumped, Well?Who can show me to the house? the King asked her.

You got eyes, the woman spat in response. It be de one wit doors on it insteada

curtains, and dey got da big porch and de men wit de guns. She gave him a knowing smile.

You find it easy nuff, I tink.

The King frowned, wondering why this woman thought he would be interested in their

problems, when she leaned closer to him and whispered, Or do I gots to go up dere myself and

tell dem we got a freeloader here, maybe dey drag yo ass out in de sunlight, see how you like

dat?

The King glared at her. Are you threatening me?

If dat what it takes, the woman responded. Now go!The King thought it over briefly. He didnt care one whit about the hu man woman or

what the men in the house might be doing to her. It wasnt his concern at all. But he did enjoy

moving among these people without worry, and he wouldnt want to lose that, not yet. And

despite all of his powers, all the things he could do, he knew that the simple fact remained that a

group of mortals armed with guns could wound him enough so that they could drag him into the

sunlight and kill him. Thousands of years of living, all gone, and he wouldnt have that. I didnt

become immortal just to get killed, he mused, and this helpless old woman could actually cause

me some trouble.


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Im going, he told her, standing up. Whats her name?

Kasinda, the woman told him.

Wait a minute, a burly man named Carl spoke up. You cant have him goin afterKassie. Massuh took her from Ol Toby, we aint none of us happy bout dat, but dont you go

sendin some man to his death, Nellie, just to settle accounts. Dis man dyin aint gon bring Ol

Toby back, and you know it.You hush up, now, Carl, Nellie grunted at him. Dis man here, he da Baron. I don

know why yall don see it, but he is. Dem men up dere in da house, dey aint got the mojo tokill de Baron. Aint no one round dese parts can harm dis man. She looked up at the King.

Now go on, git, bring dat girl back.

Carl began to speak, but the King interrupted him. The old woman is right. I do have

powers Ive hidden from you. Ill go have a look up in the house, and if I can bring the girl back,

I will. He pointed a long finger at Nellie. But Im not going to die for you.

You da Baron, she reminded him. You no gon die.

That much youre right about, he agreed as he slipped through the curtain and out intothe warm foggy night outside. The dew had already fallen and the grass was wet as he made his

way away from the slave quarters, cutting through one of the large cotton fields and watching thedirt road carefully before he bolted across. Nellie had been correct; the house stood out huge and

white in the dark, lit up with lanterns and candles, like a glowing beacon high on the hill, even

with the patchy fog. Briefly he was reminded of the shining ziggurats of Babylon, glowing

similarly at night, but he banished that thought from his head as he neared the edge of a cotton

field; he faced a long stretch, perhaps a mile, of empty space with nothing for cover but a tree

here and there. You could see an enemy coming a long way away from that house. He scratched

at the beard growing in on his chin.Maybe thats the whole idea.

He couched over low and began to run, faster than any mortal and speedier than most

immortals too. He reached a tree quickly and darted behind it, glancing up at the house. If

anyone had seen him, they gave no sign of it. He waited a moment and continued onward, his

dark form slicing through the night like a shadow, heading straight for the house, smiling as itdrew closer, when suddenly he heard a dog barking. The King swore and headed for the noise.

Dogs didnt like vampires, and as far as he was concerned, that was a mutual feeling. He came

up on the dog and grabbed it, avoiding the canines attempt at biting. Quickly he snapped its

neck and set it down on the ground. He looked up at the house, but again, no one seemed to

notice the noise. He lowered his head and sped forward, feet churning through the grass, when

he came to a creek, about a dozen feet across. He hopped it easily and continued on, scrambling

up toward the porch. He was about to hop the high rail and glance inside the windows when

another dog began to bark. He flattened himself on the ground, but the dog slipped out of its

leash and came after him. He heard a door open and close, and he rolled over quickly toward the

porch.

What is it, boy? a man called, and the King could tell he held a lan tern. He heard theclick of a rifle. Somebody comin to visit, boy?

The dog continued to bark, nearing him, and the man padded down the stairs, barefoot.

We dont take kindly to visitors, do we, boy? Now show me where he is.

The dog led the man right to the King, who lay prone on the ground. He heard the human

ready the gun and growl, Git up, blackie, before I blow your leg off.


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The King stood up, slowly, pretending to be afraid. He towered over the man, a young

white male no more than twenty or twenty-five, with short hair and a dark tan. I sorry, massuh,

the King spoke, imitating the slaves.

You gonna be sorry in a minute, blackie, the man concurred. What you doin comin

up to the house at night?

You have something that belongs to those people down there, the King spoke,dropping the act of submission. And youre going to return it to them, or I will kill you and

every other person in this house. Understand?The man raised the rifle. You crazy, boy, he spoke. Im gonna whip the skin right off

your back.

The King snagged the rifle from the mans grasp and bent it in half easily, the iron barrel

bending in an arc and the wood splintering. Then he revealed his hunting face and bit the man,

sucking down his blood quickly. Careful not to take too much, he stopped and pulled away,

shifting his features back to normal. Now, go up into the house and invite me in, or else Ill kill

you right now. He lifted the man up off the ground easily. You are nothing to me. If you betrayme and warn the others, I will burn this place to the ground and scatter the ashes of everyone

who dies within.The man nodded, weak from the wound, and the King set him down. The two of them

moved toward the stairs when the dog began barking again. The King reached down and silenced

this animal as he had the other one, and the two of them proceeded.

Everything okay out there, Jed? a voice called from the doorway. Edwin, Jed returned.

What the hell you doin with this big ass slave? Edwin wondered. You wanna bring

someone else to the party, Jed, bring a damn woman. He gave the other man a lewd smile.

This one wants to see Pappy, Jed explained.

I bet he does, Edwin agreed. Say, Jed, what the hell happened to your neck? Jed snapped. This son of abitch bit me! Hes a crazy ass! Go tell Pappy he

The King moved swiftly, snapping Jeds neck and grabbing Edwin by his suspenders. Isuggest you invite me inside before I have to do the same to you.

Edwin drew a long Bowie knife and slashed at the King; the tall warrior backed away

from the clumsy blow easily. You want me, you black son of a bitch? Come on in and get me.

He held the knife up menacingly.

The King tore the door off its hinges and reached right past the knife. He grabbed

Edwins shoulders and pulled him close, sinking his long teeth into the mans jugular, and began

to drink. Edwins wail of terror died quickly, and in moments the King had drained him. He

dropped the corpse, picked up the knife, and continued into the house.

Two women sat in the next room, fanning themselves in the late evening heat. The older

of the two looked up at him, at his hunting face, the dead yellow eyes and the wrinkled brow,

and passed out straightaway from fear. The younger one, a chubby blonde woman sweating

profusely, set down her brown glass bottle and looked in his general direction. Who the hell are

you? You dont belong here.

Wheres the girl? he asked. Kasinda.

They gonna let you have a turn? the woman snapped at him. Bad enough everybody

here has their way with her. Now they gonna be lendin her out to yall darkies?

The King reached down and grabbed the woman by the top of her dress. Where is she?


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The woman stared up at him with pale eyes, and he saw that she was blind, unable to see

his hunting face, unable to fear him, unable to know the mortal terror that others felt when they

saw him. Shes upstairs. I think its Pappys turn now. She frowned in thought. How comeyoure in here without Edwin and Jed?

The King had never much cared for those who questioned him; he leaned forward and bit

the woman, draining her blood, but again, leaving enough in her to keep her alive. He snappedhis head against hers, rendering her unconscious, and he bolted up the stairs, three at a time, his

huge feet flapping against the wood. He paused for a moment, listening, and then he could hear

it, the sound of bodies moving, a man grunting. And he could smell them, the sickly stench that

perspiring humans gave off. The King moved to the roomthe door was open, not even closed

and tried to ignore his revulsion as a bloated old man sat atop a young slave girl. Her hands and

feet were tied to the bedposts, and the old man gyrated disgustingly as he forced himself upon

her, chuckling to himself as he gasped for air in the heat.

The King moved to him and lifted him bodily off the girl. The old man let out a yelp,

swearing, and the King spun him around, opening his mouth to reveal his long fangs. The old

mans mouth dropped wide open in shock, his voice gone. The King slugged him across the jaw,

and the fat old man sank to the floor in a heap, sweat dropping off his body and pooling on thewood beneath him.

The King moved to the young woman on the bed. Her wrists and ankles were rubbed raw

from struggling with the rope, and he could see bloodstains on the sheets. One eye was bruised

and swollen, and there were marks around her neck and shoulders, as if she had been held or

beaten there. With one good golden-brown eye she gazed up at him. You gon take me too?

she wondered.

The King drew the knife from his belt and slashed the ropes around her wrists and ankles.

Are you Kasinda? he inquired.

She nodded. Who you?He lifted her from the bed, but his hand came away wet with blood. Im here to take yo u

away from this place.She smiled up at him, her face contorting because of the bruises along one side. You

mah angel. You come take me to da Lord.

He set her back down on the bed, turning her over on her side. The skin along her back,

what was left of it, was welted and bleeding. Apparently the old man had beaten the young

woman first, or someone had. The King put his fingers to her neck and felt the pulse fluctuating.

The woman began to cry.

I tought dey was gon kill me, she wept. I guess dey did, huh? And now you takin me

to Heaven?

The King shook his head. No. Im no angel. He cleared his features back to human.

Far from it. He looked down at her. But you are going to die.She hugged herself. Anyting be better dan livin like dis, she rasped, tears sliding down

her cheek.

The King knelt down. I can help you, he spoke, his voice unused to saying those

words. I can end all the pain for you. I can make it better. Make you strong again.

You mus be an angel, you can do dat. She tried to smile but couldnt. Go on, den. I

be dyin anyway.


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The King leaned in, brushing her matted hair away from her neck, and bit into the soft,

tender flesh there. The girl cried out, hands grasping his shoulders, and her body stiffened. She

closed her good eye and sank against him.

He took the knife and sliced his palm open, pressing it to her face. Drink, girl, he

instructed her. Youve lost a lot of blood. Drink from me, quickly, or youll die.

She did, her tongue lapping at his hand, the tip penetrating his wound, drawing moreblood out. She drank greedily for a minute, and then she passed out, falling back in the bed. The

King realized he had gotten here too late to save her, and he sat down next to her, covering her

body with the bloody blanket.

Her unswollen eye opened up suddenly, and she gasped for air, though her body no

longer needed it. Im hungry, she growled at him.

He smiled at her. Theres plenty here to eat. Starting with that fat old man who was

forcing himself on you.

Kasinda sat up, stretching, as if she were testing out her body for the first time. As she

stood, the King noticed nature had endowed her with a very healthy physique. Pappy, shecalled out, moving around the King to his unconscious body. Kassie got a lil somethin for

you, you fat bastard. And she reached over to the King and took the knife from his lap. Imgon enjoy this, she purred as she sat down atop his inert form and went to work.

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buffy: king of the dark: interlude 6

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