The Pale Web: Book I

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 17

Niklaus blinked. He had barely had the strength to limit himself to a small portion of his latest victim's blood before releasing them. He had been awake for weeks, hiding from the dream he had realised was coming. The dream he could not face. But his lack of sleep was starting to weaken him. He needed to sleep, otherwise he would be incapable of performing his duties. Reluctantly he went to his coffin and pulled the lid shut, dreading what was about to come.

He arrived at the scene. It was the day he had joined the Shadow College. He was looking at himself as he said goodbye to Charlotte in private. He would not return for weeks until he was deemed worthy of being an acolyte. He was only 18, Charlotte 14.
'Niklaus, please, don't go!' she was begging. 'I can't...face life without you...for the next month. And what happens if you fail?'
'I will succeed. Don't think about that.'
'What am I to do?'
'You have our parents.'
'They are always busy! They may as well not exist!'
'Find something else to do.'
'Well, I could always play with my friends...oh, that's right. You don't let me have friends!' Charlotte said, sarcastically.
'And for good reason. Who knows what dark creatures twist magic to evil purposes, what terrors stalk the streets,' Niklaus said.
'You're talking like everyone is some kind of daemon!' Charlotte said.
'I'm not saying that. I just think that the less people you know, the less dangerous it is. Besides, you have your paintings.'
'They don't talk, Niklaus!' she snapped with all the force a 14-year-old can muster.
'I know that, Charlotte. But they're something to do. And you like painting, don't you?'
'Yes, but...it's not the same without you.'
'I will return. Stay safe until then.'

The dark rider appeared. 'Reliance upon family is weakness! The Undying King has no room for family. He buried alive his brother to be king, and destroyed his wife, his brother's widow, to break the power of the gods. His servants must have no connection to family. Hail Nagash!'
Niklaus wanted to say something, ask the rider who he was, what he wanted, but his lips were sealed. Literally. So instead he stared at the rider, trying to drink in everything he could sense - appearance, magic signature, voice - to try to remember him. Why hadn't he noticed the first time around? Probably because the rider had hidden his presence from him.

When he awoke, he remembered whispered words, but not exactly what they were, and some evil presence. There were no more dreams. He could not force himself to remember the presence. He would have to wait, and continue his search for the dream wizard, Annabella, and Lucinia.

--

Circa 2100

'So, what's our plan?' Hadria asked. it was night, and they were hiding some distance from the prison where Hadros' birds had followed Annabella to.
'We can't use Necromancy - that would expose what we are - but I can become a flock of bats. I could fly in through a window - I'm sure I'm strong enough to break glass, and individual bats can get through bars,' Hadros suggested.
'And how do you propose to get her out?'
'I'll find a way.'
'I don't like the sound of that,' Hadria said.
'I could break her chains.'
'She's our age, or just about,' Hadria pointed out. 'And she's still trapped.'
'I could use a strong wind to help me.'
'Then what?'
'She told us she can turn into a cat. We smash the door down, she transforms and runs out, I transform and fly out the window, and we meet you at the seaside mansion.' The Brettonian house was too far for a quick regrouping, and Hadros didn't want to take Annabella too far before she returned home.
'Good idea,' Hadria said. 'I'll see you soon.'

Hadros transformed. he enjoyed using his power, freeing himself from the limitations of ground travel and giving him the exhilaration of flying through the wind. A swarm of bats was not entirely unheard of, and hopefully wouldn't be paid attention to.

Annabella rattled her chains. She was hanging above the floor of the prison, the ground having been scraped away enough so that her feet dangled. She was alone, with a single barred window above her, too small for egress. She could have changed into a cat, climbed the uneven wall and squeezed through the bars, but the chains holding her were made of silver and contained potent magic that stopped her transformation. Someone knew what she was, which troubled her.

She had been sitting in her house, planning, when a group of soldiers, led by a Light wizard had entered. Rendered powerless by the Light wizard, who had ignored her desperate attempts at seduction, she had been helpless to resist capture and imprisonment. She had been told a special guest who the group's master would be interested in meeting would come soon. She had no idea who that was, so here she was, hanging with arms stretched, legs dangling, and hissing in rage, and pain as the combination of silver and magic burned her. It wasn't fatal, at least she hoped not, but was irritating.

Hadros flew into the prison room, seeing Annabella chained in a painful and humiliating fashion. He saw her smile and bare her fangs in delight. he flashed his fangs at her in return when he changed back to human form, and then used a small storm of wind to break the chains. Annabella dexterously landed on her feet.

'Thank you, Hadros. I knew you'd rescue me.'
'Well, it was either this or sit in a ruin of a house, so...'
They laughed, and then Annabella turned serious. 'How we get out?'
'I'll smash the door down, then you change into a cat and run out. You'll be small enough to go unseen, and fast enough to escape anyone who does see you.'
Annabella grinned. She could turn into a small black cat at will, and sometimes lived as a cat for a few nights before returning to human form. It was useful for sneaking into places, and she had to admit she liked being stroked. 'Good plan.'
Hadros sent a blast of wind at the door, smashing it open. As he transformed, he saw a small cat run out the door.

When Hadros arrived at the seaside mansion, he knew something was wrong. It was surrounded by soldiers, well armed soldiers as well. He resumed bat form and flew around the mansion. He realised what was wrong when he saw into the room that had contained their coffins. Hadria was there, gagged and bound to a chair. He could sense her magic had been nullified.
Forgetting reason in his rage, he flew into the room. He easily killed the half dozen guards in the room with his bats, but that alerted the rest of the soldiers, and a few wizards. Who could have prepared this? Who could have known?
A blast of Light magic interrupted his thoughts, rendering him unconscious.

The next he knew was that he and Hadria were locked in a small room, and he was feeling a gentle rocking motion.
A door opened, and a robed wizard entered, staff emitting white light.
'Welcome aboard the Regent, Vampires.'
A ship? That explained the rocking motion. He was lying on the floor, beside Hadria, who was un-gagged by now.
'Where are we?' she asked groggily.
'Nearly within sight of Nehekhara.'
'It's good to be almost on-' she stopped, realisng what the wizard had said. 'Where?'
'Yes, the Land of the Dead. Mannfred sends his regards.'
'Mannfred?' Hadros repeated. 'He put you up to this?'
'We were only too happy to rid the Empire of two Vampires.'
'You...' Hadros growled.
'Save your strength. We make landfall soon.'

Soon the wizard had returned, and ordered them on deck. With no choice they obeyed. They saw the approaching desert shore, rotten docks jutting out from a ruined port. The whole place reeked of death. Hadros felt a twinge of sadness for the Nehekharans, their civilization destroyed by one man's determination to be a god.

When they disembarked, they were greeted by a shockingly familiar Vampire.
'Hello, son, hello, sister,' Mannfred von Carstein said, with a horrible grin on his face.

--

Lucinia stared at the terrified Bretonnian, wondering how to explain her presence in a way that would calm her down and still allow her to take the gemstone when she needed to.
'Hello,' she said as kindly as she could, smiling. 'I'm sorry to have startled you. My name's Lucinia, from the Empire. I might ask yours in a minute, but you have to promise not to scream for anyone. I promise I won't hurt you,' sh said, pouring all her honesty, integrity, honour and whatever innocence she had left into it.
Louise nodded slowly, and Lucinia removed her hand. 'Good. Now, my presence must be confusing and terrifying, so I'll try to explain. I've heard of your problems and am here to help.'
'How do you know of my problems? I've never met you,' the Brettonian lady said, both suspiciously and fearfully. Despite her fear, she sounded strong.
'Don't worry. That's not important. What is important is what kind of help you need.'
'Like?' Louise sat up and folded her arms.
'I am aware you are about to be forced into a marriage you disagree with.'
'Yes.'
'What is your name?'
'Louise.'
'What a lovely name. I'd call my daughter that.'
'I'm honoured,' Louise muttered. Lucinia detected the sarcasm, but decided not to pursue it.
'So, Louise, when is the wedding?'
'Next week.'
'I can stop it.'
'How?' Louise asked scornfully. 'You're a stranger.'
'I'm not talking about negotiations. Your 'boyfriend' won't dare marry you when I'm finished with him.'
This brought a smile to Louise's face. 'Really?'
"Yes, really.'
'Is there a price?' Strangers usually didn't appear and offer help for nothing.
Lucinia reached down and touched the gemstone. 'What's this?'
'A gemstone. It helps me sleep.'
'Why?'
'Sometimes I have nightmares. But I'm growing out of them.'
Good. Lucinia would hate to live in the knowledge of having caused a lady to have nightmares, no matter how she was meant to behave as a honourary Lahmian.
'That is my price. Do we have a deal?'
'We do,' Louise said.'

The next chapter will feature the last Hadros/Hadria scene. I'm taking it this far because I want to talk about Nehekhara, having just finished reading the Nagash trilogy again and feeling the tragedy that was the Rise of Nagash (although I mainly read it again for the Eekrit/Eshreegar scenes. I love the self-destructive intrigue and sometimes outright humour of the Skaven).

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 18

There were no more dreams to come, Niklaus knew, so at last he could sleep without fear, a chance he relished.
That, however, still left the problem of finding the dream wizard, a task that his agents had still not collected a shred of rumours for. It was frustrating, but there was nothing else he could do.
And there was still no trace of Annabella and Lucinia. Or was there? He had reports of a pale, red-haired lady in a border region of Bretonnia, around about the same time a daemonic apparition had frightened someone out of going through with an arranged marriage to a local noble's daughter. Also the noble's daughter had somehow lost her gemstone at that time. Red-haired? That sounded like Lucinia, but he needed more to know for certain. Still, it was a lead, so he set more agents in that region.

That day, he had another dream, but not a memory-dream. He was sitting at his office desk, and a cloaked figure - more like a walking cloak, for he could see no body inside - approached him.
'Who are you?' Niklaus demanded.
'I am the Dreamer. Your pathetic attempts to find me will never succeed,' the figure said in a grave-like voice.
'You're the dream wizard?'
'Yes.'
'What are you doing?'
'Reminding you that when the Undying King comes you must leave all behind, sever all emotional ties, all regrets, and serve him utterly.'
'I serve myself, not Nagash.'
'You would destroy all the Vampires. Nagash can help you achieve that.'
'And then destroy me. No. Go back to him and tell him I reject his offer.'
'Very well.' The dream ended, and this time Niklaus remembered clearly everything that had passed.
That meant Nagash was rising again. he had to stop him. Could not let the Undying King stride forth. But what could he do?

--

Circa 2100

'Welcome to Nehekhara,' Mannfred von Carstein said. 'I knew you would go looking for your friend. Honestly your devotion to friends disgusts me.'
'You knew?' Hadros spluttered.
'Of course. I planned it all. After I kicked you off your battlement, I found out where your friend lived, and had her captured later. Then I made sure the prison guards wouldn't notice your rescue.'
'You mean...'
'Yes. I let you rescue her. My men - well, hired Imperials, but still - were waiting where you would regroup. An educated guess, perhaps, but one that paid off. And now, you're here.'
'You..' Hadros snarled.
'This ruined port once belonged to Zandri, a port city,' Mannfred said. 'The Nehekharans still wander, so you were landed in a more...abandoned part of the city.'
'Why are we here?" Hadros asked.
'My master Arkhan requires your presence, Hadros.'
'What for?'
'You'll find out when we get to Nagashizzar.'
'Why didn't we just arrive there?'
'My master Arkhan wishes you to see the glory of what his master Nagash did. Also it is far inland.'
'Glory?' Hadria spat. 'This is the greatest tragedy to ever happen in the world, all because some high priest was jealous of the succession order.'
'Even now the Nehekharans wander, 3000 years after the Ritual. Does that not show Nagash's power?'
'It shows his cruelty,' Hadria said.
'We will talk as we move,' Mannfred said.
The soldiers pushed the captive Vampires, encouraging them to follow Mannfred.
They walked past what had evidently once been glorious, the ruins of great ports and trading places. Hadros could almost see the ancient Nehekharans going about their business.
'Zandri was a great city. Their patron was Qu'aph, who represented serpents and subtlety. Zandri provided the fleets needed for the country's overseas affairs. Now, of course, they have ships of bone. Surely you can appreciate Nagash's glory.'
'His evil,' Hadria said.
'We have far to walk. We must go east of here for several weeks until we reach the Sour Sea. From there it is a short distance to Nagashizzar. I presume you are well fed.'
Three weeks. A long time to go without blood - assuming the worst possibility, as Hadros suspected they wouldn't be allowed to eat their guards - but for one of his age a survivable length of time.
'We can survive,' he said.
'You may, of course, drink from your guards. You don't have anywhere to go, and I am your guide, so their loss is of no concern. If you do try to escape, I can restrain you.' Mannfred turned, bolts of black magic spewing from his eyes to burn the wizards. 'Now you can drain the rest when you need to. My master Arkhajn has no desire for you to arrive too depleted for the task.'
'Thank you...what task?' Hadros asked.
'It will be explained.'
The soldiers, upon hearing the exchange, swallowed, each hoping they would last the three weeks before being drained. They themselves had enough sustenance, but if the Vampires got thirsty...
'Let me tell you of Nagash's deeds, that you may see his greatness. This is second hand from my master Arkhan, so do forgive me for any mistakes.' Mannfred smiled. 'Nagash was grand hierophant, or high priest, in Khemri, the Living City, the greatest of them all, of the mortuary cult. In ages past, Settra, king of Khemri united Nehekhara under an iron fist, the first and only to do so, except for the brief moments Nagash ha dof life after the Great Ritual. But I will get to that.' Mannfred explained about Settra's wish to avoid death, of the formation of the mortuary cult, of Nagash wanting to be emperor of Nehekhara, of how eh found the answer, built the Black Pyramid, made Necromancy, and broke the Covenant with the gods, the sacred covenant granting the gods power of Nehekhara. Of how he built a kingdom to the north after being defeated, how he forced the Skaven to accept terms, how he poisoned the River Vitae, how he conducted the Greta Ritual, binding all the Nehekharans under his skeletal grip. And then, the last Nehekharan, a king named Alcadizzar, burst into the Throne Room and, somehow protected from Nagash's desperate curses, killed him.
'So he died, just as Settra had,' Hadros said. 'And against Sigmar the next time, that makes twice. Not that great. And binding all Nehekhara? He's evil, not great.'
Mannfred turned and glared at him. 'He is great! He did all this to be the Lord of Undeath, the Undying King! He is immortal. Is that not great?'
'Not with what he did to achieve it. Think of the Nehekharans, think of what he did to them. Poisoning them all, raising their skeletons. He was evil!' Hadros said.
'My master Arkhan will change your mind, I hope. Otherwise it will be more painful than it needs to be.' Mannfred pointed at Hadria. 'For her.'
'Get away from me, you monster!' she screamed, but he grabbed her, preventing her from escaping.
'Is that any way to treat your brother? And anyway, where could you go? There are no land marks here. No mortals. You would quickly get lost and starve.'
'Better than going with you!' This brought a concussive punch from Mannfred.
'She'll recover when we get there.'
Hadros picked her unconscious form up and kept walking.

After three weeks of hard walking, the group, by now reduced by Hadros' hunger to just the three Vampires, Hadria recovered to see a great lake before her.
'Where are we?'
'The Sour Sea. Just beyond here lies Nagashizzar.'
Hadros helped her to her feet, then they approached the lake. A ship of bone was waiting.
'The walk is even farther. May as well save what time we can,' Mannfred said.

After disembarking on the other side, unnerved by the bones that made up the ship and the skin that made up its sails, combined with the eerie creaking, Hadros and Hadria saw an impossibly large fortress.
When they reached the gate, a skeletal figure appeared. His words grated in their minds.
I am Arkhan the Black, First of the Dreadlords and greatest servant of Nagash. In my master's incapacity I am regent of Nagashizzar. Welcome to the Glory of Nagash, he said, translating the Nehekharan word to Reikspiel.
A group of heavily armoured wights appeared from the darkness.
They will escort you to your prison chamber. The moment you step inside, a trigger will be set giving you half an hour to say goodbye.
'And then what?' Hadros asked, struggling not to be scared.
Laughter echoed around their heads. You will see.
As the wights led Hadros and Hadria away, Arkhan turned to Mannfred. You have done well, Vampire. I hope you will not abandon us as your kind did long ago.
Mannfred hurriedly bowed. 'I will not, Master.'
See you do not.

--

Lucinia waited for Louise's arranged suitor to arrive to much fanfare, and then, at midnight, sneaked inside the guest room he was staying in.
He looked up to see Lucinia standing in the door way.
'Who-who are you?' he whispered, looking nearly as pale as Lucinia.
'I understand you are to be married to Louise?'
'Y-yes.'
'She does not approve of the marriage. You will end the arrangement, or ask your father to, or talk to whoever arranged it. The marriage must not go ahead.'
'Or what?'
Lucinia slowly walked across the room to him. She bared her fangs and turned her face bestial. 'Or I drain your blood. Once I'm finished scaring you.'
'Yes-yes. I-I understand. Please go away. I will cancel the arrangements.'
Lucinia slipped away, her face quickly returning to human form. She had enjoyed that - though a part of her brain said she shouldn't have - and tapping into the beast did give her a rush of adrenaline. But she must be careful not to overuse it, she cautioned herself, lest she become something else.
Next she sneaked into Louise's bedchamber and placed he hand on her. She jumped.
'It's me. He won't be marrying you now.'
'Thank you. Take my gemstone. Use it well.' She took it off, and gave it to Lucinia.
'Thank you.'

Lucinia returned home wearing the gemstone. She knocked on the door. Annabella looked delighted to see her.
'Lucinia!' she exclaimed.
'Annabella.'
Annabella embraced her in a tight hug. 'I knew you'd do it. Come inside and tell me about it.' She released Lucinia.
Once inside, Lucinia related what she had done.
'I should warn you, be careful showing your true face. He may have been too scared to tell anyone, but you may show someone who's not.'
Lucinia nodded. 'So I'll be able to sleep peacefully now?'
Annabella touched the gemstone. 'It's not as strong as I would have liked, but it should do.'
'And, well, I know you told me to forget my honour.'
'Yes?'
'Well...I could have just taken the gemstone the first time, but my honour obliged me to have a justifiable reason to take it.'
Annabella shook her head. 'I thought this might happen. You still got it in the end, but you need to try harder to not let your honour compromise you.'
Determination burned in Lucinia's eyes. 'I'm sorry. It will not compromise me again.'
Annabella laughed. 'How do I know that?'
'You have my word as a Blood Dragon.'
'If you're going to set aside honour, you can't very well swear it on your honour, can you?' Annabella was smiling, and Lucinia realised she was trying to be funny.
'I wouldn't expect a Lahmian to know the first thing about honour.'
'And that would be? Give your enemy every chance to respond? Not likely!' Quicksilver, she grabbed Lucinia and started tickling her, careful to avoid her scar. 'Didn't see that coming!'
Lucinia laughed. 'I suppose not!' she said, before tickling back. She was relieved to be able to escape the awkwardness that the conversation was giving her.

Afterwards they needed several minutes to calm down from their laughter. 'Thank you for that, Annabella. I was starting to feel awkward.'
'I could it again,' Annabella offered, eyes gleaming.
Lucinia smiled. 'That was enough for now. But seriously. I will try to not be held back by my honour.'
'Yes. Do try,' Annabella said. 'I would hate to have to give you up because you can't bear to steal something without reason.' Annabella didn't laugh at that, and Lucinia knew she was being serious.
'I promise.'

So, no more Hadros/Hadria scenes. Sorry if they were your favourite characters. Hadros may appear in TVCII later in some twisted way, and if I keep writing here I'll give away who he is...though I may already have.

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 19

The visit from the Dreamer had been enlightening as to the purpose of the dreams. They were supposed to have made him regret what he had done, cast aside his humanity, and follow Nagash unswervingly. The Dreamer have been less intelligent than he presented himself to be, because Niklaus had no intention of serving Nagash, and regretted nothing. But that left the problem of Nagash rising again. The first time, the Fellblade had been necessary. After Nagash had drained himself by casting the Great Ritual. The next time it had taken Ghal Maraz, and a distraction. The Fellblade was lost somewhere, and Ghal Maraz was in the possession of the Emperor, someone Niklaus couldn't begin to know how to approach. So what weapon could be used to stop the Undying King this time?
He hissed in rage. All this time he had been chasing bloodsuckers, mere pawns to Nagash, whilst the Dark Lord himself regenerated in Nagashizzar. And what was worse, Nagash could regenerate infinitely, at least as far as he was aware. So even if defeated this time, he would be back, again, and again, until he finally won.
How to defeat Death itself?

He shook his head. he had more immediate problems. Nagash could wait.
So, a pale, red-haired woman had stolen a gemstone from the daughter of a Brettonian noble, and terrified another noble's son out of marrying her. That had to be Lucinia. The Living Shadow smiled. He had found her. Or, at least, one place she had been to. Why had she stolen a gemstone? It didn't matter.
It wasn't worth travelling the breadth of the Empire for a trinket, so either she was living close to Brettonia, or it had been particularly valuable and she was living far away. He would send some agents disguised as witch hunters and have them ask what had happened, and what was important about that gemstone. He would find Lucinia, and Annabella, and destroy them both.

He summoned his spymaster, the Hooded One. 'Lucinia was recently seen. Send the agents who saw her back to the town disguised as witch hunters. Find out what that gemstone was.'
'Yes, master.'

--

Lucinia woke. For the first time in weeks she was feeling completely refreshed by her sleep, untroubled by dreams, nightmares or otherwise. She fingered her gemstone lovingly. 'Thank you for letting me sleep peacefully,' she whispered with a smile.
You are welcome.
Lucinia blinked. Gemstones didn't talk! It must have been her imagination. Forgetting the gemstone's talking, she exited her coffin.
'You're looking bright this evening,' a sweet voice said behind her.
She spun to see Annabella standing behind her. 'I'll catch you sleeping one evening,' she said.
'Try,' Annabella said, her voice sounding like it was inviting a challenge.
'I'm bright this evening because of the gemstone. I didn't have any nightmares.'
'I'm delighted to hear it,' Annabella said. She briefly hugged Lucinia before releasing her. 'Because today, you start your- '
'Lahmian training,' Lucinia finished for her, interrupting Annabella in her excitement. 'That's the other reason I'm feeling bright.'
Annabella smiled. 'The first lesson is not to interrupt me.'
Lucinia grinned and said in a playful tone. 'Sorry!'
'Don't get cheeky with me!' Annabella said, still smiling. Then her smile vanished. 'Seriously, your real first lesson is that half of being a Lahmian is about looking the part.'
'What's the other part?'
'The deception, which I'll cover later.'
Lucinia was not looking forward to that.
'There are also two parts to looking the part. it is about looking as attractive to others as possible, so that they would kill themselves if you told them to.'
Lucinia's eyes widened.
Annabella's smile returned. 'I was exaggerating. There are two parts of that. The first part I call passive attraction, which simply means looking as beautiful as you can.'
'Does that mean I have to get rid of the armour?' Lucinia quite liked her red armour, and would hate to have to get rid of it.
'No. Even as a Lahmian you'll still need to fight sometimes, and I'll shwo you Lahmian techniques later - you'll have to try not to get caught between fighting styles, because Blood Dragons rely on skill and strength, whilst we Lahmians rely on agility and dexterity. Now, your current clothes do look somewhat bland.'
'Bland?'
'Well, they are decent, but we Lahmians have very high standards. I'll show you my wardrobe, see what I can put you in.'

Eventually Lucinia was dressed in something Annabella was happy with. It was red, of course. It didn't quite cover Lucinia's scar, but that could be fixed later, and was a size too large, but that could also be fixed. It gracefully melded with Lucinia's body, not quite perfectly because of the size difference, but enough to know that it would once altered.
'It's unfortunate we don't have reflections,' Annabella said. 'Because you do look beautiful.'
'Thank you. And what about my hair? Does that need to be changed?'
'Not really.'
'Good, because I like it this way.'
'Excellent. I'll send this to a seamstress later to get it to fit you properly, and hide that awful scar. It's one of mine, so I'm not surprised it's too large.' Lucinia was slightly shorter and a bit slimmer than Annabella.
'Thank you, Annabella.'
'And now for what I call proactive attraction. The use of magic.' She brushed Lucinia's cheek. Lucinia felt a rush of excitement.
'That's exactly what I'm talking about,' Annabella said. 'I will teach you how to make an aura as strong as mine. Perhaps stronger.'
'I would like-' Lucinai stopped as she realised what this would involve. 'This is magic, yes?'
'It is.'
'Well, I was taught-'
'Lucinia, forget what you were taught,' Annabella said, trying to be kind but stern. 'I know you loved Luis, and he was your father, but now he is dead, and I am your mother. If only you were my daughter. Then you might still be young enough that I could force you.'
'You would?' asked Lucinia, horrified.
'I might have to. Here, my word is law. You're not even of my bloodline, so I have no actual family obligations to you.' She sighed. 'The only thing is, if I can't make you abandon your honourable ideas, I'll lose you. And if that happens, I won't have another daughter for centuries, as it would be my second mistake in weeks.' She looked into Lucinia's eyes, and the Blood Dragoness could see a mixture of sadness and longing in the Lahmian's eyes. 'And..I love you as my daughter. Even if you aren't really. And I couldn't live with myself if I lost you.'
Lucinia held Annabella's hands. 'And I love you as my mother. You should have been my sire.'
Annabella sighed again. 'I wish that too, my daughter, but we cannot change our fate.' She removed her hands from Lucinia's grip. 'Despite that, you must learn to use magic. All Lahmians have at least some ability.'
'What about the Invocation of Nehek?'
'I mean magic like my aura.'
'As you said, I'm not Lahmian. I'm Blood Dragon.'
'Yes, but you will be living as a Lahmian for the foreseeable future, so you must make sacrifices. And what is so wrong with using magic?'
'Father-'
'Oh, that. Well, he's dead. I make the decisions for you, as far as being your sire is concerned.'
'It would be a dishonour to his memory.'
'Oh really?'
'Yes, really.'
Annabella could sense she wouldn't make any progress tonight. 'Take your mind off it. I'm doing a performance tomorrow. Would you like to come and watch?'
Lucinia nodded, relieved that the subject had changed. 'I would. What exactly do you do?'
'Tight rope, illusions.'
'I'd like to see that.' Lucinia realised something. 'Wait. You said tomorrow.'
'We'll go tonight. The stage itself has no windows. Once it's done, we wait for night then go home.'
Lucinia tightly hugged Annabella, needing comfort after the heavy conversation they had just had. 'I love you, Mother.'
Annabella stroked Lucinia's soft hair. 'And I love you too, my daughter.' They remained this way for some time, then Annabella said. 'Now, let's go to the theatre.'

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 20

Despite the promising lead from Bretonnia, Niklaus had come no closer to finding Lucinia. However, he had received information on exactly what she had taken. It had been a gemstone, which helped the wearer sleep peacefully, and had been given to Lucinia in exchange for scaring a suitor out of going through with an arranged marriage.
So Lucinia was having bad dreams as well. But she was Blood Dragon, and honourable, at least until Annabella convinced her to embrace the more deceitful and manipulative side of being Lahmian, so she wouldn't just go and take something like that. If she was truly determined to be a Lahmian, she would be taking orders and missions from Annabelkla, so this had to be a mission from her, which meant that Annabella knew Lucinia was having bad dreams. Nightmares, probably, because it wasn't worth taking something like that just for the sake of a small, easily forgotten, dream. Was it a nightmare similar to his? Niklaus shook his head. He did not want Lucinia to be a Dreadlord. That would simply worsen his problems. He needed to find her, and soon. He had refused the Dreamer, but he was strong, cold and determined. Lucinia was also 6 years old, it seemed, but was more...emotional. Certainly not as bad as Charlotte, but capable of feeling emotions, and wanting people for reasons other than just usefulness. And should the Dreamer promise to return Luis to life...
He had to find her, had to find the Dreamer. He had to stop this before anything developed.

--

Lucinia, having calmed down after the argument over using magic, had gone with Annabella to the theatre, and had enjoyed the performance, envious of the abilities that Annabella displayed.
The unnatural activity of staying awake all day had tired her, so the moment she got home Lucinia went into her coffin and slept, still wearing her day clothes.
After Lucinia went to sleep, Annabella stayed awake to reflect on the previous night. That Lucinia was opposed to using magic was to be expected from a Blood Dragoness. Indeed she was surprised Lucinia even knew the Invocation. So at least she could heal. But she needed to convince her to use her magic to improve her appearance. That was one of the most important parts of being a Lahmian, and she had to accept that she was now, for all intents and purposes, a Lahmian. Certainly her adopted sire was a Lahmian, her own sire dead.
Annabella would need to show Lucinia the benefits of using magic. She had to. If not, she would lose her adopted daughter, who she had to admit she loved as a real daughter, and would not get another chance at being a mother for centuries. Two failures in a row would not be tolerated.

Lucinia awoke later in the night to see Annabella positively radiating beauty, her aura working overtime.
'You seem..ah...' she began.
'Yes, I am beautiful, aren't I? You could be like this too if you would only use magic.'
'I won't,' Lucinia said immediately in a tone that suggested she was finsihed with the topic.
'Don't be obtuse,' Annabella said, equally firmly. 'You're essentially a Lahmian now, so you really should behave like one. That involves developing some kind of magical attraction.'
'Annabella, you're my best friend and I want to be like you, but in this my mind will not be changed. I am a Blood Dragoness in my blood, a granddaughter of Abhorash, who resisted to the end.'
Annabella sighed. 'That again? I know your bloodline. You're going to have to accept that you're a Lahmian now.'
Lucinia crossed her arms. 'No.'
'I could force you, either through hypnosis or using my aura to make you want to do it for me, but I know it wouldn't be fair on you.' Annabella was a Lahmian, and was trying to raise Lucinia as a morally flexible, not entirely honourable, trickster, but could not find it in her to force her daughter to do something she clearly did not want to do. How would she explain this to Neferata? That she gave up? She shook her head. 'I won't force you. If you don't want to, I won't make you. I know the Queen will relieve me of your care if I fail in this, but I'll take my chances. How about this. I forget I ever tried to teach you magic, and we start work on the Lahmian fighting style.'
Lucinia's face lit up, and she uncrossed her arms. 'You'll forget trying to teach me magic? You would risk this much for me?'
Annabella shrugged. 'The Queen will have my head for this, but I think this is the right decision. You're my best friend, my daughter.'
'You promise?'
'I promise.'

There was a short amount of time before dawn came, so Lucinia quickly donned her armour and followed Annabella outside.
'The hardest thing, I think,' Annabella said. 'Will be changing the fighting style. Blood Dragons focus on strength and skill to smash down the enemy's guard. We Lahmians use our speed and agility to simply weave around it.' Annabella moved into her battle stance, sword ready. 'I'll show you what I mean. Attack me.' She smiled. 'Don't worry. You won't break my defence.'
'We'll see about that,' Lucinia replied, beginning her attack.
Lucinia had 6 years of Blood Dragon training, plus a few years of impromptu mortal fighting with family, but Annabella had 800 years of skill and Lahmian speed. So as she had said, Lucinia never even looked like getting through her defence.
Then she attacked. Lucinia could see her flowing fighting style was different from her own, almost brute-force based style. The Lahmian's blade flashed almost too fast for the Blood Dragoness to see, and quickly found a way around - around, not through - her defence. In seconds Annabella's sword was held a short distance from Lucinia's throat.
'Do you see what I mean?' she asked as she lowered her sword.
'Yes,' Lucinia answered, emulating an exhalation as she calmed from the dizzying speed of Annabella's attack.
'You can fight like that, too, with enough training. Well, not quite as fast, because a lot of that was my bloodline's natural speed, but training should make up for some of that.'
Lucinia practiced until the sun forced her into her coffin.

That day, Lucinia had a dream. She was on a pitched battlefield, fighting her way through hordes of...Daemons. She was enjoying it, testing her skills to the limit. Then she saw a familiar magic signature. Luis!

Annabella is risking her neck because she believes she knows what's best for Lucinia, and is more than willing to do things her own way if she feels the need. She is quite ready to go off on a tangent and operate her own way, not always asking permission first. She has something of an independent streak.

 

[TMS]

I like the way your plots are developing. I'm not sure if Mannfred was actually ever considering himself to be a servant of Nagash (or Arkhan for that matter) but in the End Times he seems to have fallen underneath the whip despite his best efforts to take power for himself. That is set about 400 years after your storyline, though, and before that I've no idea what Mannfred might've been up to.

 

[Count Vashra]

Well, the army book mentions him as having gone down to Nehekhara whilst Konrad is on his rampage, and I'm thinking that you don't go the Nagashizzar for no price, in this case handing over one of his first gets, Arkhan not realising Mannfred doesn't even consider himself Hadros' father, thinking of himself as simply having been a proxy for Vlad in the siring. He still called Hadros his son, though, to reinforce his superiority.
In actual fact Vlad was meant to be Hadros' sire, but as I'm planning to put some form of Hadros in TVCII later on I decided it would be wise to limit myself to 3rd generation.

Chapter 21

It was the gemstone, Niklaus was sure. That was the key to where Lucinia was. If eh could stretch his will and trace the gemstone's signature, he would find her. And Annabella.
But as for the gemstone itself...from what he had gathered from that poor lady, Louise, it prevented bad dreams. So Lucinia must be having bad dreams as well. And truly bad, as well. Because given her bloodline, and assuming a certain level of actual honour beyond combat, Lucinia wouldn't steal something like that just a for a few bad dreams, he thought. This suggested dreams actually forced upon her. Like his, Niklaus realised. Was that how she was being corrupted to being a Dreadlord, or Dreadlady? what dreams could convince her? What could Lucinia want most? She had a mother, even if adopted. She had shown no inclination to visit her family. What else? It must be Luis, her original father-in-darkness! She was being offered him back! Of course, Niklaus doubted very much Nagash would give Lucinia her father back, but she might be desperate/hopeful enough to believe the dreams. He had to stop her. Kill her? Not yet. if he were to destroy the dark rider, he would need help. Annabella would still hate him for killing Charlotte, but hopefully she hadn't told Lucinia, or at least the young Blood Dragoness would put that aside for the current mission. Killing her would remove an easy source of assistance, and enrage Annabella further, neither of which he could afford at only 6 Vampiric years.
The matter decided, Niklaus stretched out his will, and soon found Lucinia. Well, the gemstone, but it was a safe assumption she was wearing it. He merged with the shadows, and sped through them, faster than he could have if he had been in human form.
He reformed in front of the startled Blood Dragoness, who was relaxing on her back on the beach. She was wearing her red armour on top of a casual red dress.
'Greetings, Lucinia,' he said, smiling. 'I am Niklaus. You may have heard of me?'

--

'Father!' Lucinia called, fighting her way across the battlefield, through a mass of claws and talons and creatures which hurt her sanity to look at. When she reached Luis, though, the creatures disappeared.
'My daughter.' Luis was looking as darkly majestic as ever, eyes glowing, fully armoured.
'I'm so delighted to see you again!' Lucinia said, grinning with happiness. She retained the sense not to try to hug him, however. He was a Blood Dragon through and through, not a playful Lahmian like Annabella was.
'I too, my daughter.'
'Why does this feel real?'
'Because it is, in a way,' Luis explained. 'My blood is in you. It's why you're a Vampire. Some of my consciousness must have survived in you. I am in your mind, but with nothing to do I simply imagine battlefields and fill them with the deadliest creatures I've heard of.'
'What were those things?'
'Daemons, manifestations of emotion and born to be evil.'
Lucinia swallowed, slightly nervous.
'Don't worry. You have your life to live. How is Annabella?'
'She's fine. I like her. Thank you for giving me to her care.'
'I thought that was the right decision. I'm only happy I was right.'

Lucinia felt herself waking up. 'No! No!' she screamed desperately as the dream world faded. '1 more minute! Please!'
But to no avail. She woke to see Annabella standing over her, concerned.
'Lucinia?'
'Yes?'
'Are you alright?'
'Yes. Why?'
'I sensed dark magic writhing in your coffin.'
'I am a Vampire,' Lucinia reminded her.
'Another magic. Something more evil. When I opened your coffin green magic was swirling, your gemstone was flaring. I had to shout your name a dozen times before you woke.'
'Why didn't you just shake me?'
'I wasn't going to put my hands into a raging tempest!' Annabella exclaimed. 'But the magic is gone and your gemstone is normal now, so I can touch you, if you would like that.'
Lucinia smiled. 'Yes, I would like that.'
Annabella reached down and stroked her daughter's cheek, comforting her immensely.
'I...I was dreaming. I saw Father on a battlefield filled with Daemons, which vanished when I reached him. He said...he was still alive in my mind.'
'No, that's impossible,' Annabella said, shaking her head.
'Why?' Lucinia demanded, clutching onto the thread of hope.
'Vampires do not live on in their children. The blood they give does not contain their consciousness. They can only come back if their body parts are put back together.'
'I know that was Father!' Lucinia insisted, standing up and getting out of her coffin.
'It looked like him, perhaps. It wasn't him.'
'You have no idea,' Lucinia muttered, stalking out to find Annabella's wardrobe.
Annabella sighed. The hope of a young blood.
Lucinia returned wearing casual clothing. 'I need to think. I'm going to the beach.'
'Can I come?'
'No. I'll think better alone.'
'What do you need to think about?' Annabella asked. She couldn't imagine anything Lucinia had to think about.
This would be hard to explain. 'I...just need to think...about how real...these dreams with Father are.'
'That wasn't Luis!' Annabella snapped, exasperated. She sighed. Obviously Lucinia was desperate to hold on to hope that her father was still alive, in a way. 'Lucinia,' she said softly. 'My daughter. Luis is gone. I'm your mother now, and you just have to accept that. It must be the dream wizard tempting you.'
'No! I know what Father is like!' Lucinia screamed, clinging on to this chance of resurrecting her father.
Determined that it was Luis she had been seeing, despite her mother's reasoning, she argued with Annabella for quite some time. Finally she grew frustrated and said, 'Annabella, I just want some private time to think this over.'
'I...understand. Take as long as you need. I still refuse to believe it's Luis.'
'Well, it is.'
Annabella shrugged. 'Just be careful, and put your armour on.' That was probably unnecessary. What predators would be on a beach at nighttime? Excluding her daughter, of course.
Lucinia nodded, relieved to be able to go now, though she had failed to convince Annabella. 'I will.'

Lucinia lay on the sand. One advantage, at least, of being nocturnal was that the beach was empty at this time.Of course, she couldn't wait to begin her sun training - she would not burn like Luis had, she promised herself - but this was okay.
She came to the beach to think because she was soothed by the waves and wind, and the soft sand running through her hair. She also liked that stargazing.
It had been Luis! He was still alive! Annabella was just worried that she would have to return her to her father. She liked Annabella, but would be delighted to return to Luis.
Then Lucinia saw shadows rippling before her. She blinked. Shadows didn't do that. Then a human form appeared. Was she seeing things? Then the form resolved itself as a tall, pale man - no, Vampire, she sensed - who was smiling.
'Greetings, Lucinia. I am Niklaus. You may heard of me?'
'No, I haven't.' Lucinia was somewhat scared at this point.
'There is no need to be scared. I've come to help.'
'Help? Help me with what?' Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. 'How do you know me?'
'I have sources. And you need help with your gemstone.'
Lucinia's eyes relaxed. 'Why do I need help with the gemstone?'
'It is giving you illusions, visions of the father you cannot have.'
'Cannot have? He was right there!' Lucinia said.
'That was a clever copy. Your real father is dead. Someone is stalking you.'
'That...was...Father!' Lucinia screamed, leaping up and attempting to punch Niklaus. A tendril of shadow coalesced and wrapped itself around her hand, stopping it. She punched with her other hand, but Niklaus turned to shadow and reappeared behind her. She turned, to see him smiling.
'You can't defeat me. I am the Living Shadow.' Then he stopped smiling. 'And we don't have time for this. have you been having dreams?'
'I..yes, I have. Scenes from Father's past he is ashamed of. And then Annabella tells me I've yelled things.'
'I've been having similar dreams about my own sire. Then one day a dark person calling himself the Dreamer appeared.'
'Who?'
'I have no idea. He came in a dream and offered that I serve Nagash. Have you heard of him?'
'Yes.'
'I refused, of course. Nagash has no place for Vampires in his plans. We are simply a means to an end.'
'Are you saying...?'
'That wasn't Luis. That was an illusion created by the Dreamer.'
'No! I refuse to believe that!' Lucinia shouted.
Niklaus touched the gemstone. 'I sense dark magic.'
'It flared this evening. Annabella said she sensed evil magic. But it was meant to protect me!'
'Then the Dreamer must have found a way to operate through the gemstone.'
That hadn't been Luis, but an illusion? But...it had been him!
'Go away. I don't believe you.'
'You should. Do not give in to temptation. And do not tell Annabella we have met.' Then the Living Shadow vanished.
When she was alone, Lucinia curled up, placing her head in her hands and closing her eyes, badly wanting to cry, and refusing to accept she hadn't been seeing Luis but instead a servant of Nagash.

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 22

Niklaus reformed in his office. Shadow-merging was a useful ability, and, he had admit, enjoyable, melding him with the shadows he so loved. There was a price however, as it caused a drain on his energy, depending on the distance. Also two relatively long and one short shadow-merge had been tiring. Still, he could find refreshment later, and he was confident Lucinia had gotten the message, even if she had been unwilling to begin with. She should have known that a dead Vampire does not live in another's blood, but then she was young and adored her father, and he had no idea what Annabella had taught her.

That someone was impersonating Luis was concerning. And that they knew so much about memories he doubted Luis would have told her was even more worrying. Who was this Dreamer? Who knew what a wizard under Nagash was capable of? He needed to stop the Dreamer, and soon. Being a servant of Nagash, operating from dreams, meant he was most likely in Nagashizzar. Which would make it almost impossible to reach and destroy him. Nagash was not back yet, but Nagashizzar was a fortress, and defended by who knew what dark sorcery, let alone terrible warriors. If he could not kill the Dreamer personally, he would need to find a way to break his connection with Lucinia. Himself as well, but he was immune to the temptations, whereas Lucinia's desire to have her father back made her vulnerable. Of course, he could just kill the Blood Dragoness, but then there would be discreet whispers in high-up ears and a massive witch hunt would be launched, which he could hardly afford. He could move, but it would simply be too hard working with the fear of witch hunters gnawing at him.

So, he had to break the connection. The gemstone. Did that have to be destroyed? It did. But the Dreamer had entered Lucinai's mind before she had taken it. What he needed to do was wait for an opportunity to get Lucinia on her own, away from Annabella, take the gemstone, then tell her to tell Annabella to put a protection spell on her mind. Or find someone to do it for her. That way, he foiled the Dreamer without having to expose himself, and without having to kill Annabella's daughter. Well, stepdaughter.

--

Lucinia remained still, curled up on the beach, listening to the waves crashing into the shore before her, for a long time after Niklaus had left. He had given her a lot to think over. it was Luis she had seen in her dream? He had been so...real. But then, it had only been a dream. And she should have been suspicious about him living in her blood. The idea was disgusting, and now she thought of it, ridiculous. She would have felt his presence.
That forced her to accept that it wasn't him. Someone, this Dreamer person, whoever he was, was trying to manipulate her into becoming a servant of Nagash. She almost screamed 'No! Can't I just have my Father back?!' But just in case anyone was listening, she whispered it.
But who was to say Niklaus could be trusted? First, he seemed to know more about her than he should - they had certainly never met - and why had he told her not to tell Annabella about him? They must have so history between them. If their history meant it wouldn't be safe for Lucinia to tell Annabella about Niklaus, then was it even safe to believe him? he could just be planting his own seeds of corruption. This was so unfair! All she wanted was her father back, and now she had an impossible decision whether to trust a shadow mage who knew more about her than he should. She was going home. It was too much to think about. She still wanted it to have been her father, and would accept any proof it was. What was a mysterious shadow mage to her anyway? And Annabella was probably just worried she would have to return Lucinia to Luis.

Lucinia brushed as much sand off her clothes and armour as she could, and knocked on the door.
'Hello? Oh, hello, Lucinia.'
'Hello, Annabella.'
'Come inside.'
'I need a drink,' Lucinia said.
'Well...I always keep some blood stored away.'
Annabella searched around in her kitchen - unlike Niklaus, she had chosen to keep her house as normal as it could be - until she found some containers filled with blood. She poured a glass for herself and one for Lucinia, and then they sat at the bench.
Lucinia took a good long drink. It felt good, and helped clear her head of some of her worries. 'Thank you. It's refreshing.'
Annabella took a sip, her 'talents' making even this simple action look cute. 'It's good, yes, but I'd rather fresh blood. Now, I can sense emotions radiating off you, and your eyes look red.' She placed the glass on the bench and stared into Lucinia's eyes, making her somewhat uncomfortable. 'What's wrong?'
What could she say here? She didn't want to lie. Neither did she want to reveal Niklaus' visit. So she compromised and told a half-truth. 'I was thinking and I thought about how I can't ever have Father back. He said in the dream he's in my blood, but now I'm not so sure that's right, and if it's not...'
'I understand.' Annabella removed her gaze from Lucinia's eyes. 'Knowing that must be hard.'
'It is.' She smiled. 'But at least I have you as my mother.'
Annabella returned the smile. 'You do.' She touched Lucinia's hair. 'And if there's anything I can do, just tell me.'
Lucinia nodded. 'I will,' she promised. She would have to make a decision soon.

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 23

Satisfied he had sufficiently warned Lucinia, Niklaus went to sleep. He was surprised when he awoke to find himself standing outside, in the sun. In the sun? As he realised that, he caught fire. Desperately, he looked around for somewhere to go inside, but there was no where.
Then he saw the cloaked form of the Dreamer approaching. 'You have interrupted my plans, my master's plans, by telling the girl that her father is an imposter. You have also broken her heart, to an extent. But then, you have no heart to speak of, some you wouldn't know about that.' The ancient, withered form of the Dreamer laughed.
Niklaus struggled to speak through the pain of the flames, which he now realised, because of the Dreamer's presence, were simply of the imagination. 'Nagashi scum. Lucinia is a fully developed adult, not 'the girl'. And I told her that because that's the truth. You're behind this, aren't you?'
'Of course.' the Dreamer smiled. 'How else would she dream of that?'
'Let her go.'
'Why are you so concerned? You killed your sister/mother easily enough when you realised she was a danger. Your assassins may have killed Lucinia if they had been lucky enough. Or do you hate Vampires no more?'
'Listen, Nagashi, I do this not for her, but because I can't risk you making a Dreadlord of her.'
'Then kill her. I can't make a dead thing a Dreadlord. Well, my master made Arkhan a Dreadlord, but I'm not him, and he wouldn't waste energy making this girl a liche.'
Again, why hadn't he killed her? As the Dreamer had said, he'd killed Charlotte easily enough. What was so hard about a Blood Dragoness he had no connection with? He came up with a reason to silence his doubts and satisfy the Dreamer.
'Because she's not a threat yet.'
'Tell that to Louise,' the Dreamer challenged him. 'I can read you. That's a lie. You don't know why you are preserving her. Protecting her. Is she not in the care of Annabella?'
'Yes?' Niklaus gasped through the pain.
'I thought you hated that Vampiress.'
'I do.'
The Nagashi reached out with a withered hand. 'Take my hand. You could be useful.'
'Dreadlord Niklaus?' the Living Shadow spat. 'You expect me to follow you?'
'We can help you against the Vampires.'
'Then kill me afterwards. And make a world of the dead.'
'We might. Come on. Until then it'll be fun.'
'Really? I refuse your offer.'
The Dreadlord retracted his hand. 'What a shame. You've had your chance. You will die, though the offer remains until that point.'

Hissing, Niklaus awoke, feeling himself burnt all over, though not seeing any flames.

--

It was nearly morning. Lucinia and Annabella were having a practice duel. As usual, Annabella was winning. But Lucinia didn't mind. Annabella was 800 years old, and it was useful practice. Also, unlike Luis, Annabella actually told her that she would, if mortal, be almost at the skill level of the more elite soldiers in an Imperial army. She loved the praise.
Annabella flicked her wrist in a deft move that was almost too fast for Lucinia to see, and somehow her sword touched Lucinia's neck.
She smiled as she withdrew it. 'I think I won that round.'
Lucinia laughed. 'Yes, I think you did.'
'Now, what would you say to learning hypnosis?' Annabella asked.
'No. Trickery is bad enough. Forcing someone to do something is just...'
'I was just asking.' Her eyes gleamed. 'I could make you learn.'
Lucinia grinned. 'Don't even think about it. And how would I learn if I'm unconscious?'
They laughed. 'Dawn is almost upon us. I'll see you tomorrow night.'

That day, Lucinia had another dream with Luis. or, at least, she thought it was Luis. Oh, why had Niklaus told her that? He could just have been deliberately torturing her with the knowledge. This was impossible!
'My daughter. I'm pleased with your progress so far.'
Lucinia smiled in delight. 'Thank you, Father.'
'There is a way we can be together again.'
'Really?' Lucinia was too delighted with the prospect to be suspicious. This was Luis, she was sure. Niklaus and Annabella had been wrong. Luis was still alive, and he could return.
'Yes, really. Assuming you would still return to me. You seem to like Annabella quite a lot.'
'She's just my best friend. She's not really my mother. Only my stepmother. I'd much rather have you.'
'Are you sure? I detect something of a maternal bond between the two of you.'
'Do you? I...I mean...we...' Lucinia stammered. She didn't know what to say here. It was true she regarded Annabella as her mother, and her best friend, but a bond? She was a Blood Dragon, not a Lahmian as Annabella was.
'I sense your indecision. I shall simplify your problem. Which of us would you prefer to live with?'
'Well...I...I want you back, of course, but...' Lucinia simply could not decide between her father and her best friend.
'I'll give you some more time to think.'
Lucinia nodded, relieved she didn't have to decide now. 'Yes. Thank you, Father.'

Then the dream ended, and she slept through the day, at peace from the knowledge there was a way to bring Luis back.

 

[Count Vashra]

Chapter 24

Nights passed before Luis returned to Lucinia in her dreams.
'Have you made your decision? I want an answer, my daughter.'
'I...I want you back. They tried to tell me you're an illusion, but I know it's you, Father. What must I do?'
He told her.

Lucinia woke to see Annabella standing over her as usual.
'Good morning, Lucinia.'
'Good morning, Annabella. Do you have any missions for me today?'
Annabella shook her head. 'No. Why?'
'Good. Because I need to go back to Bretonnia.'
'Why?'
Lucinia fingered her gemstone. 'I need to return this. And I don't feel comfortable just dropping it somewhere.'
Annabella's eyes widened and she gasped in horror. 'Why would you want to do that? It's protecting you!'
'Actually, it's not. The dream wizard is linking into my mind through the gemstone. I can't keep it on.'
'I understand. Take your armour, and stay safe.'

Her alibi established, even if she had felt uncomfortable lying, Lucinia went to Bretonnia. Luis had told her of a ritual she could conduct to bring him back. She generally didn't like using magic, but this was for her father, so she was prepared to make an exception.
Luis had said that the best place to conduct the ritual would be in a temple, so she spent several nights searching for one, sleeping in out-of-the-way, if not entirely clean, places at day, and challenging wandering knights for sustenance.

Lucinia arrived at a large temple, and climbed the stairs. Inside the great doors was an altar at the back of the temple, and on the walls were stained glass windows of various heroes of Bretonnia. On the wall behind the altar was a saintly looking knight dressed in shining armour that was as majestic as Abhorash was dark.
'Giles Le Breton,' Luis whispered in her mind. 'My homeland's founder, and blessed to gaze upon the Lady of the Lake, our goddess, and drink from the Holy Grail, a cup filled with divine water that empowered him to unite the country.'
Lucinia felt honoured to stare upon such a person. She knelt and bowed her head in respect.
Luis allowed her a brief moment to honour Giles before telling her to get to the altar.
'Now comes the hard part. If you're not careful, this could ruin you,' Luis warned.
'I would suffer anything for you, Father,' Lucinia said resolutely.
'Eat half the gemstone. Place the other half on the altar and cut yourself. Let the blood run into the gemstone, and pray to the Lady that, looking past her knight's darkness, she may give him a second chance to serve him.'
Eat it? Lucinia retched, but she had just said, truthfully, she would suffer anything for Luis, and so took half the gemstone, and ate it. The taste was awful, but it invigorated her, empowered her. She felt stronger than ever before. Then she placed the remaining half on the altar and, drawing her sword, cut her other arm and let the blood flow into the gemstone, delaying her regeneration as long as she could.
She knelt, and prayed. 'Lady of the Lake, you are not my goddess, indeed I had barely heard of you before this hour, and we are creatures of the night, but forgive Father his darkness and grant your fallen knight a second chance.' She couldn't resist adding, 'Please.'
'Lucinia! Stop!' She spun at the emotionless voice and was horrified to recognise Niklaus, fire in his eyes, shadows swirling around him. He looked like a Living Shadow now.
'All I want is Father back! Can't I have even that?' Lucinia screamed in rage, and a little despair.
'That's not Luis.'
'It is!'
'You should have listened to me that night on the beach. The Dreamer is in the gemstone. Or, at least, part of him.'
'No! I've been talking to Father in my dreams!'
Niklaus began walking towards her, darkness billowing around him. 'That is the point! He is manipulating you into become a dread servant of Nagash. A Dreadlord!'
'I refuse to believe that. I know my Father when I see him.'
'When you think you see him. Destroy the gemstone, before it's too late!'
Lucinia turned. The remaining gemstone was pulsing a sickly mix of red and green, bathing the temple in its hellish light.
She turned back, to find Niklaus had almost reached her. She point her sword at him. 'Interrupt Father's resurrection, and you will die.'
'You do not have the abilities to kill me, Lucinia, and even if you did, it wouldn't help. How many times must I tell you? That is not your father.'
Lucinia lashed out angrily. Niklaus shadow-merged and reformed, easily avoiding the attack.
'Get away from the altar. I'm coming, my daughter.'
Lucinia smiled with relief and stepped away. 'He's coming.'
'It's not him!' Niklaus insisted, but Lucinia forced him to shadow-merge again and again, so he could not reach the altar.
Then the gemstone reddened, and grew, and grew, until the altar collapsed under its weight. It continued to grow into the shape of a large man, until it exploded, blinding both Lucinia and Niklaus in a flash of red and green light. When their sight recovered, they saw Luis standing before them.
'My daughter!'
'Father!' Lucinia smiled and wrapped her arms around him, forgetting that Luis did not take well to such physical gestures. He let it pass, for now, however. 'Is it really you? I never thought I'd see you again.'
'Yes-'
'Of course it's not him,' Niklaus said, interrupting Luis.
Luis' eyes glowed dangerously. 'You dare question my identity?'
'A fake identity.'
'Niklaus, how can you not see this is Father?" Lucinia was almost pleading with him to stop whatever game he was playing.
'Because it isn't. I'll prove it to you. Luis, if that is who you truly are, I challenge you to honourable single combat.'
'I accept your challenge.' He drew a sword, whilst Niklaus spoke a word and a sword made of physical shadow appeared in his hand.
'It's just like the real thing, except made of shadow.' He began his attack.
Luis easily parried Niklaus' attacks, but found it near impossible to hit the Lahmian back, such were Niklaus' speed and reflexes, even if he was only 4th generation.
Through the fight, however, Niklaus slowed down. Lucinia was suspicious, however, as not having to read every movement for a sign of weakness or attack, she could discern that this slowing down was deliberate, and not caused by fatigue. What was Niklaus playing at, she wondered?
Then Luis' sword went through Niklaus' heart. However, instead of collapsing to dust, Niklaus smiled. 'You can't hurt me, Dreamer.' He clicked hie fingers, his opponent too stunned to prevent his sword from being dispelled.
'What-what just happened?' Lucinia asked, confused. How had Niklaus dispelled Luis' weapon? It had been a physical weapon, hadn't it?
'His weapons cannot hurt me because they are phantasmalogical, not physical.' Seeing the blank look on Lucinia's face, he added, 'He is a master of manipulating perceptions. That wasn't a real weapon. It was designed to make me believe I had died. If I had thought it real, I would have died instantly. But fortunately, I know things, have sources, and have done some research. So it was a simple matter of provoking a duel and then calling his bluff by allowing him to cut me. So now I hope you realise this isn't your father.'
Lucinia blinked. 'I do.' She wanted so badly to believe it was, but one thing she did know was that Luis did not approve of magic, and definitely would not use a phantasma-what-was-it weapon.
The Dreamer looked at her. 'I'm not your father, but I can still restore him to you, or ask my master to.'
'I want nothing to do with you, or Nagash! I hate what you made me do!' Her voice broke with grief as she understood now those dreams had been a trick, and knew she would never have her father back. She plunged her sword into the Dreamer's heart. He looked surprised for a moment, then light poured out of his eyes, nose, mouth, every orifice.
'Lucinia, pull your sword out and get away,' Niklaus warned before shadow-merging, knowing that light escaping from dying body usually indicated an imminent explosion.
Lucinia took his advice and, removing her sword from the Dreamer's body, fled from the temple.

The explosion was massive, tearing chunks out of the temple of the Lady of the Lake. Niklaus, well dispersed as darkness, felt nothing of the explosion, but outside the ground trembled and Lucinia was knocked from her feet by shards of glass and other debris, her armour protecting her from injury. She landed unceremoniously on her front, believing she thoroughly deserved the humiliation for what she had done.

When the explosion finished, nothing was left of the temple but shattered glass and broken wood. As she painfully climbed to her feet, Lucinia was relieved to see Niklaus appear before her, resolving into his normal form.
Unsteadily, she knelt and lowered her head. 'Niklaus, I thank you for saving me from the error of what I have done. I am sorry for not listening to you. My reason should not have been overcome by my emotion.'
'I accept your apology.' Niklaus knew all too well what could happen when reason overcame emotion. He was a Vampire exactly because that had happened.
'Niklaus..I...on my honour, and my late Father's honour,' Lucinia began solemnly.
Niklaus sighed, suspecting what was about to happen.
'I owe you my life. If you need me to do something, you have the word of a Blood Dragon, a granddaughter of Abhorash, I will assist you in whatever way I can.'
'I would say there is no need, but I know that as a Blood Dragon you mean this. I accept your debt to me.'
'Is the Dreamer dead?'
'I don't think so. A Dreadlord can't be killed by a mere 6-year-old 3rd generation. That was just an avatar. He'll be back at some point.'
'I'll be ready.'
'I know you will.
Lucinia smiled. 'I want to go home. Annabella will be worried.'
'She will.' Niklaus turned himself and Lucinia to shadow and took her from Bretonnia.

Epilogue

Niklaus took Lucinia to the beach they had first met on. 'This is where I leave you. I may see you again.'
Lucinia nodded. 'If you need me, just ask!' she shouted to the dispersing shadow.
Relieved that her ordeal was over, but dreading her punishment from Annabella - she would find out, and Lucinia couldn't really hide something this big from her. Lucinia would deserve what she got as punishment - it was with some trepidation that Lucinia sheathed her sword and knocked on the door. Annabella was pleased to see her.
'I'm glad you're back, Lucinia. Now I have a mission for you.'
Lucina sighed. She'd just experienced a mission's worth of excitement, and had been looking forward to a relaxing break, drinking from wandering travelers, practicing her swordfighting and generally having a good time with her best friend.
'Don't you want to go on a mission?'
'Well..I'll tell you inside.'

Lucinia told her everything. Annabella's eyes burned, and she struggled to keep her face from turning too bestial, such was her anger. As it was, her fangs were bared, and she looked terrifying.
'You didn't tell me about Niklaus, you ignored his advice - even if I hate him, I know he's usually right - and then you lied to me, your mother, your best friend?'
Lucinia hung her head in shame. 'I'm sorry, Annabella.'
'Sorry doesn't cover half of it! And look at me!' Lucinia raised her head, forcing herself to look into her friend's terrifying gaze. 'Is not the basis of friendship, family, trust?'
'Yes.'
'And are you not a Blood Dragon?'
'Yes.'
'Then why did you lie about returning the gemstone?'
'You would have stopped me. I thought it was Father.'
'You absolute idiot! Blood does not contain a Vampire's consciousness, or spirit. Well, it does, but not enough for those dreams.'
Idiot? Annabella had never called her anything so negative before. In fact she'd never called her anything other than 'Lucinia' or 'my daughter'. She really was in trouble.
'I'm sorry,' she whispered dejectedly.
'And my grandson, my renegade grandson, had to save you? Did he tell you why?'
'No.'
'You're just lucky no one else has heard of this, and that I'm your best friend, or you'd be out of the Sisterhood before you could say treachery. Be that as it may, it cannot go unpunished. How did Luis punish you when you misbehaved?'
This was cruel. She would both be punished by the method, and by the painful memories dragged up.
'He...he would fight me like a beast during training. My body would run red with blood, and I would hurt. Really hurt.'
'Then that's how I shall punish you. For a month.'
'As you decree.'

--

Niklaus was exhausted when he returned to his bedchamber. He had shadow-merged far too much over the night, and now he was feeling it. He was completely drained. Still, it was worth the price. He had stopped a plan of the Dreamer, and warned Lucinia to be careful about letting emotion come before reason. As an added bonus, she owed him his life. Now he could return to his usual activity of hunting Vampires. But for now he needed a good long rest, and refreshment.

The Pale Web is now completely finished! Lucinia's adventures, however, are far from over. Soon I will continue her story with Blood Maiden (in reference to how she is a Blood Dragon living as a Lahmian). Niklaus may also appear later.

 

[TMS]

I've been meaning to give you some input on this but things kept popping up!

The progression of your plots have been good but one thing has been naggin me. The fast pacing is good to avoid getting bogged down in details but it leaves the dialogue a bit lacking. The best example for me is in chapter 21 where Annabella lets Lucinia go alone to the beach after having sensed strange magic about her. In my mind she should've been more suspicious and harder to convince than that. And also how quickly Niklaus' words were taken at face value throughout the story, despite him just popping out of the shadows.

One tip I can give for this instead of just making the dialogue longer is to pad it out somewhat with regular text. "They argued back and forth...", "Lucinia stubbornly held to her hopes despite her mother's insistence...", things like that. Such text can cover a lot of in-story time with little space and then you add the actual dialogue at key points to add real emotion and progress the plot.

 

[Count Vashra]

Thanks for that. I'm quite aware of what I might call an 'impatience' to get the story moving forward, and I'll go through and see what I can do about this.

How do the changes look?