God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire) (47 page)

Coming to the Light

To recap, the Prometheus Protein is responsible for both the super-stimulation of stem cell production and directing where and how those stem cells react. There are three variations of the Prometheus Proetin: PPv in the vampire, PPf in the were and PPr in
H. robustus
. The Prometheus Protein variants are light sensitive in the vampire (PPv) and, to a lesser degree, in the were (PPf). When light interacts with the vampire Prometheus Protein (PPv) in the skin it creates reactive oxygen, causing blistering, massive skin trauma and abdominal pain. This process also destroys the affected Prometheus Protein.

The were variant of the Prometheus Protein (PPf) has a slightly different molecular geometry and is less reactive with light. Thus the were experiences are more along the lines of a sunburn. Continued exposure to sunlight will slowly deplete a were’s PPf levels, which will in turn slow the production of stem cells and further limit their ability to transform. The confirmation of the protein in
Homo robustus
(PPr) is non-reactive to light. It should be noted that projecting a strong ultraviolet or full spectrum light onto either a vampire or were would have the same effects as exposing them to sunlight.

It’s in the Blood

Vampires and weres can extract both stem cells (from all human subspecies) and Prometheus Protein from living blood. They can utilise the increased resources to supplement their enhanced abilities. The stronger blood (i.e. blood with Prometheus Protein in it) the greater the boost in their abilities. Ingested proteins are effective for about week or until utilised.

Vampires, with their razor-sharp retractable fangs, are capable of extracting blood without considerable lasting damage to their donors. Weres, on the other hand, are messier. It should be noted that neither vampires nor weres
need
to drink blood unless they are over using their abilities or are mortally injured.

Silver Lining

Silver toxicity in the average human is well documented. After absorbing a very large amount of silver, whether ingested, injected or inhaled, a toxic reaction resulting in death will occur within hours.

In human blood, silver is carried by albumin, a blood protein, until excreted in the urine and stool. In
H. robustus
, the process is identical as PPr is non-reactive with silver. In vampires silver prefers to bind to the PPv protein over albumin. This binding is reversible, but will temporarily inactivate PPv for a few hours.
During this period the vampire does not produce additional stem cells and cannot activate their regenerative and transformative abilities (they are effectively
Homo sapiens).
The silver-bound PPv, however, is protected from the photoreaction induced by sunlight, making it possible for vampires to function in daytime during this short period of time, though they are more vulnerable.

In the were, silver is attracted to the PPf, it preferentially and irreversibly bonds to it. As it takes three to four weeks for the body to break down all of the silver-bound PPf and replace it with new, healthy PPf, weres are effectively
Homo sapiens
for this extended period. In addition, metabolic breakdown products of the silver-bound PPf cause a systemic inflammatory reaction. This produces “Silver Sickness” a syndrome presenting a flu-like weakness and fever during the recuperative phase.

Methods of silver delivery are many and varied. From most efficacious to least they include:

• Injection of liquid silver via hypodermic needle directly into bloodstream
  
• Inhalation of atomised silver vapour by the lungs
  
• Ingestion of silver filings, salts or liquids
  
• Liquid silver coated blade or electrically charged silver blade (which will electroplate a wound!) Note: weres struck by silvered weapons will scar blue. Vampires do not scar
  
• Topical preparation (facial creams, etc….)
  
• A silver bullet that stays in the body and continually releases small silver particles
  

I wish the goblins would come and take you away

When vampires mate with other vampires the resulting offspring always inherit two copies of the v modifier gene, resulting in another vampire. Similarly, two were parents will always produce
a were child with two copies of the f modifier gene. If, however, one parent is a vampire and the other is a were then a vf modifier gene hybrid is a result. This hybrid is commonly referred to as a goblin. In addition to cross subspecies mating, in rare cases a male vampire or were can have temporary changes in the sperm due to an environmental factor which changes the v modifier to f or the f modifier to the v respectively.

A goblin pregnancy is a tremendous drain on a vampire or were mother’s body as it requires a great deal of Prometheus Protein and stem cells to sustain the infant to term. Once born, a goblin inherits all the benefits and limitation of both subspecies. Their bodies contain a full complement of both PPv and PPf proteins, effectively giving them twice as much as any vampire or were. They have the vampire’s remarkable longevity along with tremendous regenerative properties. Their transformative capabilities are so strong that they never appear fully human, usually opting to remain in super-enhanced hybrid states which are incredibly strong and fast. Due to their double complement of PP they also have the ability to shift more often than any were.

Goblins inherit the vampiric sensitivity to sunlight and given the increased amounts of Prometheus Protein in their bodies even moonlight is toxic. Like the were parent silver is toxic, negating all enhancements granted by the Prometheus Proteins, which are necessary to sustain goblin life. If they survive they suffer from extreme Silver Sickness and they effectively become bedridden humans for months. Goblins are the most efficient extractors of stem cells and Prometheus Proteins of all of the subspecies. They are so effective that they can extract these resources from eating flesh as well as drinking blood.

AC/A-cylinder – audio cylinder. A small metal tube used to store music and other electronic data.

aether – slang for airwaves, usually applied to telephone, telegraph and video communications not broadcast over private channels.

Albert’s fangs – a “curse” seen as taking the late Prince Consort’s name in vein … er, vain.

aristocrat – collective term for vampires and werewolves, particularly those of noble birth.

box – television.

Britme – electronic service provided by Britannia Telephone and Telegraph where people can leave a voice recording for the person they’re trying to reach via stationary line or rotary.

bubonic betty – a human who injects aristocrat blood to gain enhanced senses, strength and speed.

cobbleside – above ground.

courtesan – a human woman employed by the aristocracy to breed
half-bloods. These women are plague carriers, able to carry full-term, healthy pregnancies.

digigram – electronic text-based message sent between wireless devices and logic engines.

digital processing machine – device that scans and transmits documents’ digital files.

fang me – being “fanged” means being used for food by an aristocrat – a practice beneath most halvies.

job – to hit or get violent with. Associated with the violence often attached to halvie occupations: “He really did a job on that human”; “She jobbed the betty hard in the kidneys.”

halvie – a half-blood. Half vampire/were and half human.

hatters – derived from “mad as a hatter”. Slang for crazy, insane.

horror show – illegal spectacle at which vampires or weres consume a human or halvie victim for the audience’s titillation.

huey – slang for human.

logic engine/log en – electronic device that stores and processes information and allows for many kinds of digital communication over the aethernet.

meat – goblin term for anything warm-blooded, and therefore edible.

Met – name given to the Metropolitan Underground Railway.

mice – derogatory goblin slang for humans. As mice and rats don’t cohabit, neither do the plagued and humans.

motor carriage – modern carriage propelled by an engine rather than horses.

pay post – receptacle for money in exchange for a place to park a motor- or horse-driven carriage. The proceeds go towards paying government expenses.

Pax, the – name given to the law that all humans must be registered and DNA tested as children to determine whether or not they are plague carriers. Used to prevent unwanted
plagued births. This same law gives tax breaks to human families with only one child – even more breaks for those who have none.

plague, the – responsible for the Prometheus mutation that made vamps and weres, and goblins. Also the term used by goblins to describe a group of themselves. The London plague is used to refer to all the goblins in London.

privacy box – tall red box that affords the user privacy to make a wireless call or anything else that strikes his/her fancy.

rotary – portable wireless telephone. Has a rotary dial.

rut – vulgar, but slightly more polite than “fuck”.

tango – halvie slang for a fight.

underside – underground.

VC – video cylinder. Used to record and play back video, such as films.

Yersinia – from
Yersinia pestis
– the bubonic plague. The name of the goblin city.

This book started out as a project just for my own enjoyment – a “what if” moment that took hold of my brain and forced me to write the sort of story I wanted to read. However, no book makes it to publication by itself, so there are a few people I must thank. While researching, I discovered the music of the fabulously talented Emilie Autumn, whose
Opheliac
CD could have been a soundtrack for
God Save the Queen
. Thank you for the inspiration! Also, a big thanks to all the “Muffins” on Emilie Autumn’s forum, who gave me hope that there just might be an audience for this book.

I also need to thank my agent, the amazing Miriam Kriss. Without her support I don’t think
GSTQ
ever would have happened. Miriam, I adore you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know you have my back not only as an author, but also as a friend. That’s a rare combination and I hope you know just how much you rock. Thank you for all the butt-kicking and hand-holding!

Next I need to acknowledge my publisher, Orbit, and the
incredible people I work with, especially David Young, Tim Holman, Devi Pillai, Anna Gregson, Alex Lencicki, Lauren Pane-pinto and Ellen Wright – and others too numerous to name. Your enthusiasm and support for this project has been so fantastically overwhelming that I simply cannot articulate my gratitude. You are all fabulous, especially those of you who are British and indulge my inner Anglophile.

A big shout out to “plague masters” Eric Jackson and Emilia Agrafojo, who are not only fabulous, but who actually sat down and figured out how the mutation of the plague happened. They gave me science to back it up, making it so real I forgot the idea came from my head (and theirs!) and not a textbook. It has footnotes! They have incredibly rockin’ big brains that I would kiss if it wasn’t so unhygienic.

I want to thank my family and friends for being so patient when I’m full-on mental, especially my husband, Steve, who puts up with more than he should and supports me through all the craziness. Sometimes I forget that I wouldn’t have made this journey if you hadn’t been with me every step of the way.

And finally, I want to thank everyone who buys this book. I write because I have to, but I’m published because of you. Thank you!