It had been two hours since she had been given the news about the threats to her city. Antia, the Vampire Queen paced in her throne room, awaiting her assistant along with the detachment of Moroi she had demanded. To Arawn's Vault with the lot of them, Antia needed to get the Hell out of there. She had just returned from a failed assault on the Spiritbane Tribe of Werewolves when she was informed that the Bannor and the Infernal both had their eyes on her gem of a city, Lacuna.
She stopped pacing and looked up as her assistant walked in with six men carrying leather sacks on their backs. They were all pale, kept in the darkness and training to become the top of the Moroi military branch. "Is this everyone, Lanthis?" Lanthis nodded to his queen. "Yes, milady. I chose to keep our group small as to avoid detection. We've brought gear to set up camp and the items you requested." True, Antia had requested some items, but they were necessary. Despite being undead, she was still a woman and wanted her new home to lavishly decorated as well. "Yes, well, I need my belongings. No questions. Now, who are all of you?
Each Moroi looked similar, pale with long hair, either dark brown or black, and large muscles. "Vimoce" "Ota" "Jennus" "Nethel" "Juthyn" and "Elyan" they claimed to be. "Alright, then. Ota, Vimoce. Lead the way. The rest get into formation. Lanthis and I shall be in the middle." The small group passed through the door behind the throne into the servant's quarters. It was a dark place with shabby furnishings. Lanthis approached a wall and drew a rune on a brick and the wall swung outwards. "This is the passage. It should lead us out into the forest."
Then Antia turned as she heard a commotion behind her and realized the Bannor had entered the Palace. "Agares be damned. They've gotten in. Can we shut this door behind us?" Lanthis looked at the door then back at his queen. "Yes, I believe we can. It might take some time however." "I don't care, do it" snapped Antia. She passed through the archway followed by Ota, Vimoce, Elyan, and Juthyn. Jennus and Nethel stayed outside the passage waiting for the Bannor to arrive while Lanthis cast the rituals required to shut the passage door again. A small Bannor attachment came bursting through the servant's quarters door and shouting "Halt, demons!". Jennus and Nethel picked up a large dining table and threw it in the Bannor's direction. Several dodged, but two were crushed by the weight of the table. The two Moroi unsheathed their swords and ran to meet their Bannor enemies.
Jennus drove his sword into the heart of one Bannor soldier, pulled it out, and swung it at another who barely avoided the swing. Jennus swung his blade again and the Bannor ducked, driving his dagger into the Moroi's side and ran behind a table to put some distance between him and the Vampire. Jennus gripped the hilt of the dagger and yanked it out with a loud roar and advanced on the Bannor soldier. The Bannor threw a large chair at the Moroi, but it only added to the rage of the Vampire. Jennus leapt over the table with a loud shriek and landed on the Bannor soldier. He clawed at the man's face, drawing blood with each contact and relishing in the screams of the dying man.
Nethel jumped up onto a table and threw one of the daggers in his belt at a Bannor soldier, scoring a successful hit in his forehead. He pulled out another one and prepared to throw another before the remaining Bannor men he was facing grabbed the table and flipped it over, causing the Moroi to fall to the brick floor. One man pinned the vampire under the table and the other drove his sword through it, impaling Nethel on the other side before withdrawing the sword and driving it through the Vampire's head.
Jennus grabbed the soldier's head and twisted it, snapping his neck then turned to see two more soldiers running towards him. He roared and raised his sword before they were on him, hacking at him with their swords. Antia shouted to Lanthis "Close the door! There's nothing we can do for them!" Ota protested and tried to get through the passageway, but was restrained by Vimoce and Elyan. Lanthis close the door behind him and sealed it before summoning a ball of fire in his hand to light their way. "We are off to a very bad start." sighed Antia.
Captain Orgerd stood atop the battlements of his newly won city. He regretted the loss of life involved in the conflict, but the Vampires are an abomination and require extermination. His liutenant, Mabrid, approached him. "Sir, we've dispatched the last of the Vampires in the city, but we couldn't find Antia. Do you want us to sweep the city again?" "No. No, she's gone. Don't underestimate a Vampire, Mabrid. They are cunning, smart. She probably had a back up plan. We'll find her. Hire one of the Nightwatch Assassins that came with us to hunt her down. She should be in the forest soon enough.
Mabrid bowed and strode toward the town center. He saw several citizens thanking the soldiers for freeing them from the Calabim, soldiers exaggerating their part in the fight, and, staying to themselves, the Nightwatch that accompanied them. He approached the dark alley they were congregated in and bowed. "We thank you for your help. Speak to Captain Orgerd and he shall give you your payment. However, we need one of you to track down a person of interest. The Vampire Queen, Antia. Are there any willing?"
The Nightwatch looked at eachother and seemed to be arguing silently before one stood. "I shall do it. I am Rilvia of Gaudium and I expect double payment for this witch's head." "Yes, yes. You shall receive extra for this mission. Captain Orgerd expects her to be in the forest by dusk. I suggest you head out." Rilvia nodded and bolted out of the city. Mabrid watched him leave then turned to address the rest of the Nightwatch only to find the alley was empty. "Damn Nightwatch.."
Juthyn and Ota gave the all clear and the rest of the survivors exited the passage into the forest. Antia looked around her and saw trees, plants, and animals of all kinds. As she approached a deer it ran away, sensing what she was. She sighed then turned to Lanthis. "Ok, Lanthis. Where to now?" "I'm not quite sure, milady. I'm sure we can find a cave in the mountains to hole up in and rebuild our strength..I hear there are many near the Clan village of Hezic'kul." Antia looked at the surviving Moroi and nodded. "Alright. The mountains outside Hezic'kul. It's almost dusk so we should have at least two hours of sunlight to travel by. After that, we camp for the night. Continue travel in the morning." The Moroi all nodded and picked up the remaining leather sacks. Juthyn and Elyan led the way with the rest of the group behind them. Ota kept looking back to see if anything was falling, but aside from a falling leave for a branch swaying in the wind, there was no sign of life.
"We'll need to be careful out here. These forests are infested with Muris Clan Goblins. We're bound to run into a few sooner or later." warned Lanthis. The Moroi vocalized their understanding and continued marching on. Antia looked at the trees and the plants as they traveled and soon got lost in thought.
"I left my wife back there. To be slaughtered by those heathen Bannor..I should've stayed. I should've protected her.." The group stopped and looked to Vimoce. Finally, Juthyn spoke up. "Vimoce.."I, too, had a wife..And a daughter..Three winters old..I saw her..Crushed. By the door when the Bannor barged into our house..I hurled myself through the window and tried to pull my wife through but the Bannor got her first..I ran and I ran until I ran into Lanthis..He told me we were getting the Queen to safety..I wanted to save my family, but I knew my duty was to the Queen..So I followed..And..Well..You know where the story goes from there."
All were quiet for a moment as Juthyn sat on a nearby stump and weeped tears of despair. "I could've saved them..They could still be alive if I had just believed the warning that the Bannor were here.." Vimoce patted him on the back and attempted to improve his mood. "I understand how it feels..I too lost family and friends.." Antia looked to Elyan as he spoke up. "I was..In the pub..Drinking with my friends. Having a good time. Laughing about old times..Ribbing Tholek for losing the bet on the Bloodpet Race..And then the door came crashing down and men in armor swarmed the room. They cut down all who stood in there way and those that merely watched..I managed to somehow fight my way out, but not before seeing Tholek's face as a spear was driven through his chest..It a look of pure pain..Pure despair..All I could do then was run..I saw..I saw a group Moroi running to the Palace so I followed them..And now I'm here hoping to save the Queen and save the legacy of Lacuna."
Antia fought back a few tears after they had told their stories. She had never cared for the people in her city, but now being equal with them and hearing their stories of heartache made her despise the way she used to be. "I..I should have been ready..For the Bannor..Instead I was carrying out a personal vendetta against Werewolves that had done a thing to us in the 53 years that I've run Lacuna and my only passion was to wipe them out..Now the entire city of Lacuna was destroyed." Vimoce patted Antia on the back. "Can I ask why you wished the Werewolves harm?" She pushed his arm away and glared at him. "Because they are abominations. No natural being would exist the way they do. What they are is a curse, a blight on Erebus. I say the Gods should have killed Halfmorn before he created more." All were silent as they continued on their way through the forest in a somber mood.
Rilvia hung onto the tree branch, holding his legs up in the leaves with all his strength so that the Vampires wouldn't see him. Their stories were very saddening and, if he wasn't a Nightwatch or getting paid this job, he probably would've spared them. But it was his job to eliminate them so he assessed the situation. The Vampire in the rear seemed to be aware of his presence, he'd need to be more careful. As soon as the group continued, he pulled himself up and jumped to a branch on the next tree. He'd have to take them one-by-one. A direct attack on Antia would only fail. He'd have to take out the attentive Vampire first and possibly the Orc mage. He would be trouble. Rilvia planned out his attack as he continued to follow the group through the trees.
Antia sat on a log by the campfire as Ota poked at the embers with a stick. "We're going to need more wood soon.." "It can wait. We need to decide how we're gonna survive tonight." replied Antia. They all looked to Lanthis and he looked up from the fire. "Ok. I guess I'll come up with the ideas..We'll sleep in shifts. Two at a time. Tomorrow we'll see if we can catch a deer or two for blood. Keep an eye out. The Muris Clan may seem stupid, but they're cunning. They could sneak up on you." The group nodded in assent and quited. "Ota. I sense you're troubled. You've had that same mournful look on your face all day." Ota looked Elyan "Jennus and Nethel were my brothers..While the six of us were marching to the throne room we had made a pact..To protect eachother..We promised that all of us would make it out of this alive and I failed them..Even if I do survive this, there's no way I can forgive myself..It's just..I need some time to myself..I'm going to get some firewood so we don't sleep in the dark." Ota stood up and nodded at Elyan. Elyan nodded back and took up the task of poking the fire with a stick. Antia watched him leave then looked back into the fire.
Elyan sighed as he watched him leave. "I've known Ota for years..He was always such a spry, happy person. If something needed to be done, he'd have it done twice as fast as most. If there was unruly bull, he would be able to wrestle it down and tie it up to take care of it. But now..Now he seems..Empty..As if the Elyan I once knew is gone..He was a simple iron smith that doubled as a back up Moroi..That was his passion. He would create the finest swords and test them himself. Take them into the wild, to the lands of Goblins and test that sword to see if it broke or if it cut flesh. If it did, he kept it and ran back to Lacuna. I don't know what would happen if one didn't, because not a single sword, spear, shield, or breastplate he made ever broke or cracked..He was a good man and now..I don't know.." Elyan went silent again and stared back into the fire.
Ota walked through the dark, seeing better than most with his Vampiric eyes. He kicked a few loose rocks as he mourned his lost friends. He sat on a rock nearby and remembered all the times they had. Playing in the house, their parents scolding them when they did bad, the first time he was fed Vampiric blood..The first time he picked up the hammer and forge and created the very sword he carries with him. He sighed and stood to complete his task. He picked up a few fallen branches when he heard a crunch. He dropped the branches and drew his sword. He looked around in the darkness, holding his sword before him. He saw movement to the right and swung his sword in that direction, hitting nothing but air. He turned back around and scanned his surroundings, trying to find the source of the commotion when an arrow pierced his throat.
Rilvia sat on a log next to the dying Vampire. He was annoyed with himself for making noise and alerting him, but the job got done. He looked down at the Vampire. "I am truely sorry for your losses. I would feel the same way if I lost my brothers as well. But, unfortunately for you, I was contracted to kill the Vampire Queen and her entourage. And you're part of her entourage." He jabbed Ota's neck, causing more blood to seep from the wound. "Oh, you have something in your neck. Let me get that." Rilvia pulled the arrow out of Ota's neck and blood began pouring out of the open wound. "I know right now you're boiling with hate for me. I can't ask for foregiveness, but at least I can tell you that now you can go to Camulos's Vault with your brothers." He bent down and yanked out one of the creature's fangs which he put in a bag hanging from his belt. He looked up at the moon and looked at the dim light coming from the Vampire's camp fire in the distance. "Well, it was nice chatting with you and I thank you for the parting gift, but I gotta get going. You know, people to kill, heads to take." He dragged the now-dead body to the nearby river and dumped it in before climbing back up into the trees and out of sight.
The next morning Antia and her group searched for Ota, calling his name before giving up after an hour. "I guess the Goblins got him or he fell into the river. We need to keep moving. The Bannor could be searching for us." Antia nodded at Lanthis's statement and the group set off again, heading in the general direction they were headed the night before. Elyan sniffed the air and cringed "I smell Orcs. We must be close." Lanthis sniffed the air as well and nodded. "Aye, we must be close. Keep your weapons at the ready, if they see us, they might attack." Elyan took up the front as the rest followed behind him.
They pushed branches out of their way and chopped away the ones they couldn't pass. Juthyn surveyed the surroundings, ready for anything ready to attack them. Because of this, he didn't see the rope hanging in front of him and walked into it. Before he could make any noise he was lifted up into the trees as Rilvia tightened the rope around his neck. Juthyn struggled with the Assassin before finally falling limp after a few minutes. Rilvia tied the dead Vampire to the tree with the rope and jumped to the next tree limb.
Vimoce turned around and called to the group. "Wait! Where's Juthyn?" Antia walked up next to him. "Wasn't he right behind you?" "Last time I checked, yes. He was right here and then he just vanished." Elyan looked around. "Something's following us. We need to stay aware. Let's keep moving." The group continued on, more cautious than ever now that they were aware of a follower. After a few hours, they stumbled upon a Goblin Fort. Antia and Lanthis stepped forward and looked at the fort. "Lanthis." "Yes, milady?" "Why are all the Goblins dead?"
It was true. Goblins lay strewn about the fort, hanging from the sharpened sticks of the palisade, crumpled on the ground with their throats slit, and several more with their skulls caved in. "I don't sense anything alive inside, but anything could've happened here." Antia glanced at the several Goblin corpses. "We could use this as a temporary camp. Vimoce, Elyan. Sweep the fort. Lanthis and I will remain outside." The Moroi nodded, unsheathed their weapons and entered the fort, unaware of a green figure climbing over the side of the palisade.
Vimoce and Elyan lit a torch and opened the door to the inside of the fort. They peered inside and, satisfied that there was nothing waiting, entered the building and began their search. They found several more corpses, all killed in similar fashion to the Goblins outside. They found chests full of stolen valuables, jewelry, and gold. Elyan found an oil lamp on the table and lit it, holding it up as he searched the room. Vimoce exited the room and entered the room across the hall and began his search. He realized he must be in the armory because their were weapons and armor hanging on the walls. As well as more Goblin corpses. He bent down and lifted one of the Goblin's heads and saw its throat was slit.
He heard the door shut behind him and spun around. Before him stood a tall, lizard-like creature holding a sword he must have stolen from the armory. It shrieked and lunged at him as Vimoce dropped his torch and held his sword upwards. The Lizardman swatted the Moroi's sword aside and drove his sword forward, puncturing nothing but air as Vimoce avoided the strike. Vimoce swung his sword at the Lizardman's leg and sliced its hamstring, denying it use of that leg. Vimoce brought his sword back up to deal another blow when a large stone mace caved in the back of his skull.
Enyal heard the commotion and went to the door that Vimoce entered. He stood to the side of it and opened it quickly. He started as a Lizardman lunged out expecting to find prey but finding nothing. Enyal drove his blade into the Lizardman's neck then kicked it off his sword. He entered the room and saw another Lizardman race towards him. He saw Vimoce dead on the floor with his torch laying next to him, still burning. Enyal unlit his lamp and dumped the oil on the Lizardman. The creature swung its mace at the Vampire, but Enyal rolled over to Vimoce's corpse and picked up his torch. He spun around and held the torch to the Lizardman causing the oil on its body caused it to burst into flames. He watched as it screamed in agony before finally falling to the ground dead.
Antia looked to the fort and saw Enyal exit. "Vimoce's dead..Lizardmen. We didn't see them come in. Didn't look like they came from the Cualli or the Mazatl so they must've been wild." Lanthis cringed. "Then this place isn't safe. Now that they know about it, there'll be more. We need to get as far away from here as possible." He heard a loud shriek followed by several more. "Now." The three remaining Vampires began running through the forest, avoiding low branches and jumping over rocks before coming to the entrance of a cave. Enyal looked back and saw the Lizardmen weren't following them.
Lanthis looked inside the cave then turned to Antia. "This cave will do as a haven. This can be our new home until we figure something out." "No. No, it won't." The Vampires looked up and saw a Nightwatch Assassin standing on a rock above the entrance. "I've been hired to kill you, Antia, and I intend to do so." Lanthis lifted his staff and a flash of blinding light went off in Rilvia's face. The Vampires ran into the cave and down the corridors. Elyan somehow became seperated from Antia and Lanthis in the escape and began searching for them.
He headed down a corridor, holding his sword at the ready in case the Assassin came after him. He came up to a corner in the passage and stopped. He bent down and picked up one of the many stones on the ground. He threw it around the corner and awaited a reaction. After a few moments, he was satisfied that the Assassin wasn't around the corner and turned right into Rilvia's sword.
"Where's Elyan?" Antia looked around frantically. Lanthis lit the area with his staff and glanced around. "The Assassin must have got him. Come, there's a large chamber ahead. Maybe we can catch him off guard." They entered the chamber and climbed up behind some rocks and awaited the Assassin's arrival.
Rilvia stalked slowly down the passageway, wary of the Vampires hiding around every corner. As he entered a large chamber, he lit a Glow Stone and held it up. He looked about the illuminated chamber and saw nothing but dust and rock. He strode slowly into the center of the room and narrowly avoided Antia's lunge. Antia rolled on the ground and leapt to her feet with her blade drawn. Rilvia ran at Antia as Antia ran at Rilvia, both of them ready to strike with their daggers. As Rilvia swung, Antia ducked and cut out the tendons in Rilvia's ankles with her dagger. Rilvia fell to the chamber floor and screamed in pain. He reached for his dagger, but Antia placed her foot on his arm and grinned at him. "You've given me a lot of trouble, Nightwatch. I don't like trouble." Lanthis strode up beside Antia, grabbed Rilvia by his arms and stood him up. Antia ran her hand across his cheek and dug her fangs into his neck. Rilvia began to scream, but stopped as he began to feel pleasurable sensations coming from his neck. He felt listless, calm and content. He felt tired. So very tired.
Antia and Lanthis stood at the entrance to the cave and looked out into the forest. "So, Lanthis. What do you know?" "Well, we're where we planned to be. Hezic'kul is just through the trees there so we can abduct some of the Orcs to supplement our forces." "And our guest?" "Still sleeping. He is changing however, but he won't be able to do anything about it." "Good. Do we know the name of this cave?" "Yes, we do and it suits us perfectly." "What is it called?" "They call it Blood Den."