TVC - Chapter 43 - A Thief in the Night

[Trevy the Great]

"I will accompany you, Lesa. I would gladly remove myself from the presence of my... colleagues." He shot a glance about the room at the assembled von Carsteins.

---

Victarias twisted quickly in midair, the force of her own body spinning her weapon and knocking the Duke's aside. She landed lightly, on two feet, her weapon already at the ready and striking like a serpent. The Duke, caught off guard by her quick recovery, hastened to deflected her snaking attack.
"My skills are not what they once were, Duke. Once upon a time I could best even your brother," Victarias said, striking again and again, every time at a different location, with a different stance, faster and faster.

 

[Ghouly]

"Graveclaw will come too" Graveclaw said, glaring daggers at Simon. "The Carssssstinesssss ssssstentch isssss making him ssssssick".

 

[Knightofni]

Saul watched the vampires leave the hall on their various excursions. He would have liked to sweep around the grounds as well but he was not about to leave a now unconscious Trinity in the company of the Council.. alone. Some things in this life are more important than the Count's cunning plans. Instead he sighed and slumped into a chair.. allowing Trinity's sleeping body to rest against his.

He figured that his bronze cuirass wouldn't be particularly comfortable for her to sleep against so he carefully removed it; trying not to wake the sleeping beauty. He placed it on the ground, at his feet, along with his favourite swords and Trinity's pistols.. keeping a watchful eye on both their affects.. don't trust the council with the swords nor the girl.

It wasn't until he'd done this that he realised that his naked torso was probably a no more comfortable surface to sleep on.. oh well, beggars can't be choosers. He wrapped an arm around the sleeping woman and ran his fingers through her hair; long-forgotten emotions coursing through his body. He shifted his weight slightly to make himself more comfortable.. it was looking like he'd be in this position for a while; and as he did so the light threw into relief a dense mass of silvery scar tissue just above his heart.

 

[Mr Nightwere]

Jason moved over towards Saul, giving a small smile as he spoke
"Might I ask why you haven't Sired this young Lady yet Saul, assuming you plan on doing it at all."

 

[Knightofni]

"A good question, and one I have asked myself a few times already.. I suppose the most obvious answer is that now isn't very convenient; things are complicated enough without a bloodthirsty newborn causing havoc.. it wouldn't be safe, not for her anyway." Saul's voice was quiet and an air of resignation crept into his tone towards the end.

"I don't think she is really prepared for it either.. espescially the feeding part.. We all know that it takes some time to get used to.." he hesitated and glanced around the room.. "well for those of us with a conscience at least. And there are so many things she will have to sacrifice; I want to make sure that she fully comprehends the choice she is making.. I had that choice taken from me, and I hated myself for it; I don't want her to feel the same."

Subconsciously Saul ran his fingers over the silvery scars.. memories of home and pain crowded his head, especially the memories of pain.

 

[Mr Nightwere]

Jason frowned "And what does she want? I doubt she appreciates being thought of as a light snack." As Jason spoke he looked to the servants waiting to be feed on, standing at attention like good little cattle.
"She wouldn't be here if she didn't understand, Better to do it here than any where else. It is safe enough and there is plenty of food to eat, willing food strangely? and It will be hard no matter where it happens."

Jason looked to the pain in Saul's eyes, in that moment there was a small connection between the two Jason recalling his own pain as he he felt his own scars burn the same burn as always and looked down to the sleeping Trinity.
"I'm not saying you should. but if its her choice then there's no other way she can be prepared for the life and knowing vampires, it won't be long until something unfortunate happens it her, its a fact you wont be unable to escape from I'm afraid."

 

[Lord of Ravens]

"I agree with Jason, Saul," said Peter, "The life we lead is dangerous, even for our kind. A human, even a skilled human, will not last long in this war. Plus, do you trust most of this Council not to feed on her as soon as your back is turned? At least as a Vampire, she will be safer."

 

[Knightofni]

Saul frowned.. both vampires made annoyingly valid points. He looked down at Trinity's sleeping face, struggling to find a reason to keep arguing.. but none was forthcoming. He knew she wasn't safe as a human.. but was she really any safer as a newborn vampire? Not in this company. He supposed that she did know what she was doing, otherwise she wouldn't have come here with him.. and in all honesty, there wasn't much time left if she wasn't one hundred percent sure.

This wasn't going exactly as planned. He sighed, the pain might not be evident on his face but he hoped that no-one would see it in his eyes.

"It would be more polite to wait until she is awake."

 

[Gree]

Mircea led the werewolves to a pair of large double doors. He opened it and led them inside the long treasure filled hallway. They gaze din wonder at the variety of treasure, weapons and paintings Simon had collected over the centuries.

At last they came to the place were the ruby lay, it’s cushion where it would have sat was empty, the depression in the red fabric clearly visible. Several of Mircea’s Dire Wolves where already bounding away form the spot, having already smelled it.

‘’Here you go’’

 

[Mr Nightwere]

Jason smiled slightly,
"I trust she will be fine. No matter what you decide." Jason said as got up and started moving towards the doorway to the court yard, hoping peter would join him, his gets could use the guidance of the blood dragon and perhaps he may be able to stop Jason from killing them in a fit of rage. It really wasn't his fault merely his nature to be aggravated by the lesser blood of his gets, their foolishness still lingering in his mind. He clutched his fists looking back at Peter and Saul before he entered the courtyard.

The gets were within the coaches all sitting at talking about their Sire Jason, they looked towards him and hurried to meet him one or two were badly wounded from Vaskatchi's anger limping or otherwise bleeding. His gets were at least a resilient bunch, he would give them that.
"Greetings, children, I am Jason, Nightwere." He said whilst giving them all a grim smerk As the doors closed on the court yard.

 

[Count Erick]

Moisture, filth and the unmistakable musk of human.
"Does this castle have any underground sewage system or cave network?"
Ask Völundr.
"If so, thats where the thief gained entry into the castle. We must be quick, show us a way into the underground."

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

"This way Mistress." Simon's servant was noticeably nervous, though he held himself with surprising poise. Lesa had noted during her previous visits that Simon had a few humans who performed the duties in his keep that were beyond the skills of the dead, and she assumed that over time they became used to their kind. The man scuttled along, making sure he kept his front turned away, an action which brought a wry smile to her lips. Her aura always had a strong effect on mortals, and she recognised the gait having seen it many times before.

Sure enough as they walked past him in the direction indicated she could see his hands attempting to cover his excitement, the man visibly gulping as her green eyes turned upon him,
"Thank you."

Through the stone doorway she walked down the steps, followed by the padding of Graveclaw's bare feet, the stomp of Vekarin, and the silence of Helena. Opening her magical senses to her fullest, she tried to feel ahead, glimmers of magic stretching forth. A picture of the layout appeared in her head, different shades denoting the things her sense had encountered. One thing stood out, something that was alive, and unless she was mistaken, powerful.

"I think I have found something," she whispered to the others, picking up her pace. Even as she did she realised that the others would not be able to keep pace, and she slowed, though the urge to run ahead and see what she had discovered gnawed at her. For the moment, having a purpose, something to do, was distracting her mind from what she had just suffered, and she could not bear to rest for a minute lest the thoughts came back.

A few turns later into Simon's dungeons revealed nothing but dank cages. The walls had guttering torches every ten footsteps, their flickering flames playing havoc with her nightvision. In the cells humans, dwarfs and other creatures huddled. Most had been broken a long time ago, but some still held a rebellious spirit, shouting at them as they went past.

Finally they came to one final cell, and through it's cages Lesa could make out the glint of scales. For a second she could not figure out what it was, until it shifted slightly and it became clear in an instant.

"It's him, the creature that attacked us during the battle against the Carsteins. How did he come to be here?"

 

[Gree]

‘’Yes it does, Simon was very insistent about that, a true patron of arts and advances’’ Mircea commented on. He could really care less. ‘’ I don’t usually make it a priority to know where the waste is dumped, but I’ve had a prior……….experience with the local sewage system here, come with me’’

And then he led them out of the room, down three levels until they soon entered a nearby hatch. The entrance to the sewer was dark and dank. Three dead bodies lay there, along with the door to the lower sewers open.

‘’It looks like our thief fled this way and killed these workers’’ Mircea commented. ‘’Perhaps you should come down there?’’ he pointed to the opened door. Beyond it led a long and dark cavern.

 

[Trevy the Great]

"What is this!?" Vekarin began, anger growing in his voice. He turned to the hapless Lizardmen as it stared back at him with yellow slits of eyes.
"Who are you, why are you here and, more importantly, how have you been imprisoned?" He spoke again in Saurian. It was broken and he hoped that the Saurus could understand.

 

[Ghouly]

Graveclaw glanced around at the dungeons of Nexeternus in disgust. Glaring into the last cage Graveclaw let out a growl of surprise "Why Lizardman here?" Graveclaw rummbled confused "They live in Lusssssstra".

 

[Knightofni]

Saul leaned back in his chair and gestured for two attendant humans to approach; and they did so with unnerving enthusiasm.. so eager to serve. Under different circumstances, Saul was sure that he would have found their servitor attitudes amusing.. it's just so unnatural; that said, so too was the human in his arms.. he would never understand humans eagerness to share company with his kind.

"This young lady is in need of a room. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to show us the way." His tone was quiet but not friendly; making it clear that whilst they weren't bound to serve the human, they would be in serious trouble if they didn't. The mindless servants practically fell over themselves in their haste to serve.. Simon's got his pets well train at least.

"Oh and pick that lot up will you.. don't lose or damage; or I will damage you.. you got that?" Standing up, he indicated to the pile of equipment at his feet and flashed a sardonic grin at one of the servants.. who didn't step back, instead submissively picked up the gear.. subservient and immune to fear, the Count's done a good job with this lot.

Saul shook his head.. this was just too bizarre. He gestured for the lead human to show the way.. and followed him out of the hall with Trinity still in his arms; a plan quickly formulated in his head.. I hope Simon isn't too fussed about interior design..

 

[Count Erick]

"It smells disgusting."Said Hati, holding her sleeves over her nose."There's no way we can track him through there."
Müller paused thinking.
"Mircea, lead Völundr to the main exit of this system outside the castle and have your troops block off any of the exits. Hati, come with me."
"WHAT!?" The girl shrieked. "You want me to go in there? Why? Send me with Mircea and take Völundr with you! I wont be crawling through the sewers!"
"Your the only one small enough to fit through some of the passages our thief might try and escape through." Müller explained patiently.
"B-But my clooothes! They'd be ruined!" Hati protested.
"Then take them off."Said Müller bluntly. He was already starting to undress.
Hati smirked and laughed.
"So you want the two of us to go naked into a dark cavern?" She glanced into the sewer. "You could have chosen a better place for our first time."
Müller ignored the comment and determinedly avoided looking at her as she undressed.
"See you on the other side."
He said to Völundr who nodded in return as Müller and Hati descended into the sewer.

"Eck!"
Said Hati as one of her bare feet slipped into the muck.
"Why are we doing this again?" She ask Müller. He didnt answer, partly because he was busy sniffing the air, partly because he didnt know exactly why either. He had transformed once it became apparent the main passageway was large enough to accommodate his massive form.
His low growling voice rumbled through the passageways. "Why dont you transform? Your senses are better than mine while your transformed." He ask Hati.
She rubbed her bare skin. "Are you crazy? I'm not going to get my luxurious fur filthy!" She shivered slightly. "Though it is rather cold down here..."
Müller rolled his eyes.
The pair reached a narrower section of the walkway along the tunnel and paused. It was to small for Müller to pass through. He motioned for Hati behind him to move up past him and continue along the smaller passageway.
The girl moved across Müller, pressing her body against his, looking up at his wolf-face, seduction in her eyes. Müller glanced away and was thankful for the dark fur covering his face, hiding the blush he could feel.

The two of them froze stock still as the sound of hurried splashing suddenly reached their ears. They turned and looked across the passage, and saw a man appear from an intersection not far ahead.
The man paused as he caught sight of them, clearly surprised.
In an instant, Müller leaped from the walkway and into the moving stream of filthy water.
Hati, precariusly balanced as she was stradleing across him was pitched into the sludge.

The sewage wasn't that deep and didn't impede Müller for an instant. The man, frozen with the shock of a massive monstrosity moving with ungodly speed towards him, was soon grasped firmly in Müller's massive claws.
The werewolf's eyes flashed in triumph.
"MULLER! I'M GOING TO SKIN YOU!!!""
The shrieking growl echoed across the walls.
Müller looked behind him, and his ears dropped flat against his face and his eyes widened with fear.
The sludge covered figure of Hati was emerging from the filthy water, glowing red eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"Oh...no..."

Völundr leaned on his massive hammer outside the main exit of the sewers, waiting quietly, looking into the darkness.
He caught the sounds of hurried splashing and brought his hammer up, expectant.
The transformed Müller, holding the passed out thief over his shoulder was running as fast as possible towards him.
"RUN! RUN VOLUNDR!"
He yelled.
"...What? why?"
He called back. He then was able to make out a stream of curses, angry yells and growls echoing back behind Müller, unmistakeably made my Hati.
"What did you do!?!" he yelled angrily at Müller.
"DON'T ASK! JUST RUN!"
Völundr thought for a moment, and decided that was probably a good idea.
Völundr and Müller ran as fast as they could back towards the castle, an exceedingly pissed-off Hati hot on their heels.

 

[Gree]

Mircea’s ire was raised as he heard the werewolf daring to order him, before be could say anything he went off with that girl. He turned and began to spend out a magical signal, stretching out with his mind to command the nearest wights to close off the place.

Then Muller came back running Mircea simply watched in a vaguely amused fashion as the werewolves left on their chase. He sensed they had the thief with them. Sighing in contempt he shifted his body into that of a huge black wolf and began speeding after them.

 

[Count Erick]

"Calm down! Calm down!"
Said Völundr, restraining Hati from ripping Müller apart.
"YOU DAMN CLUELESS IMBECILE!"
She roared at him, fangs flashing.

Müller was distracted by a large black wolf running upwind to them. From the smell Müller could tell it was Mircea.
Hati's rage cooled after a few moments and Völundr let her go.
"Your realize."
she said to Müller, running a hand through her now filthy hair, venom dripping from every word.
"I'm going to pay you back for this sooo badly."
Müller had to use almost all his self restraint to stop from laughing as he turned back to look at her.

As Mircea approached, Müller dropped the unconscious thief in front of him.
"There's your thief."
He said simply.
"I dont suppose you could show us to some bathing facilities, or our rooms for the night?"
Said Völundr, casting a wary glance at the still seething Hati.

 

[Gree]

Mircea shifted back into human form, fur and flesh turning into his armor and cloak. ‘’I’m afraid you will have to see Simon about that’’ he answered. He picked up the human thief by one hand and observed him, he was unconscious from the fear and shock.

‘’I suppose there are some public bathing facilities, I suggest you use those, or find one of Simon’s servants’’ he shrugged and then walked away, the prisoner slung over his shoulder as he left to seek his brother.

 

[Count Erick]

"If you think I'm walking back into that castle looking like this to beg that leech for a room your mistaken."
Said Hati scathingly to Völundr Müller.
"Then I guess we're sleeping outside tonight." said Müller.
"Fine." said Hati before she started walking angrily into the darkness.
"Where are you going?" said Völundr.
"To bathe. Theirs bound to be a lake or river around here somewhere."

Müller sat near the fire he had made near their wagon they had arrived in outside the castle. Völundr lay snoring nearby. He always could fall asleep at the drop of a hat. Müller looked up as he noticed a shadow detach itself from the night and approach the fire. He hadn't smelt or heard Hati approach, but she had always had a knack for stealth.
She stood in the light of the fire, looking over her (to Müller's discomfort) perfectly naked body, making sure she had cleaned all the filth off.
"How do I look?" she ask mischievously.
He grunted in response. The fire apparently wasn't warm enough to prevent the cool air from working its magic on her female body.
"You know" She said, a fake look of concern on her face as she glanced again over her form. "I'm not sure I got everything. Why don't you clean me? I suppose that tongue of yours can clean more than bloodstains, and from the way your eying me your wouldn't miss a spot..."
Müller stood up quickly, turned away and began walking away into the night.
"Whats wrong with me?"
Said Hati.
Müller stopped.
"I know...I know I'm not the most well endowed" She passed a hand over her chest and her voice started to break.
"and...I know I'm not the most beautiful person, and I'm not all that smart...but whats so wrong with me that you wont even look at me?"
She paused as if waiting for an answer.
"Is it something I do? Tell me and I can change! I can even see a wizard and change my body if that's whats wrong! What is it!?! Tell me!"
Müller stood still for a few more moments, and then walked into the night, leaving Hati to cry silently into the night.

The first rays of sunlight broke through the horizon, illuminating the smoldering remains of the fire. Hati's eyes slowly opened from under her blanket.
She didn't remember getting a blanket last night. She sat up and stretched, one arm outstretched and the other behind her head.
She noticed two things laying beside her.

One was a bouquet of flowers, morning dew still clinging to their fresh leaves. They where arranged apparently at random, and with all types and colors.
The other was a large chocolate cake on a chipped platter. The cake was crudely round at the top and didnt really have a definite shape near the bottom. Words in white icing where on it, she could barely read them.
Change Nothing

She smiled.
"Are you going to help me eat this cake or what?"
Müller, apparently sleeping nearby, had forgotten to snore for the last few moments.

 

[Fishhead Slackjaw Mcgee]

The blood-suppers gathered round, and Huakroataxa's heart filled with hate. He was too tired and vexed for anger or rage, but the bitterness rotted in his stomach, like a hot coal growing putrescent.

One spoke, seemingly in anger. What right it had for fury the scar veteran couldnt guess. Suprisingly, it began to speak the true language, or at least a brutalised form thereof

"Who you? What Exist? Very big, You trap why?"

The scar veternan stood and met his gaze. If not for the warped, unholy nature of the human Huakroataxa may have interpeted the tone as genuinly concerned. Yet Huakroataxa knew that the beasts blood did not flow, that what powerd its limbs was not muscle but some unnatural force of evil.

With nothing better to do, Huakroataxa responded, mustering as much dignity as he could within the bars of the cage.

"I am Huakroataxa, Servant of Lord Gargoq the Quaxocibiki, servant of Sotek, bound to no temple city. I am dread personified for those without breath, i return the dead to their natural state. I exist to terminate yours. Yes, I am large to your kind, you with the brain of a cold one, and I am trapped due to the dishonourable conduct of a female of your species! It is wise that the other one placed me in these enchanted bars, for otherwise I would cleave your skull!"

 

[TMS]

Helena watched the lizardman with silent fascination. She had read many adventurer's accounts on the creatures in faraway Lustria but she'd never actually been there herself, though the prospect of witnessing the wonders of that ancient race first-hand was something that she wouldn't say no to. The creature was bereft of the blazing sword that he had brandished during the earlier battle and thus seemingly unarmed but the Sarus' fearsome appearance made Helena decide to keep her distance all the same.

Vekarin had, atleast by the sound of it, started somewhat of a dialogue with the lizardman who had retorted back. Helena now waited to hear if Vekarin would be able to relay what it had said back to them.

 

[Trevy the Great]

Vekarin's ability to speak Saurian was mainly limited by the rather primitive nature of his speaking apparatus, however his ability to comprehend the language was still very rudimentary. He turned to the assembled vampyre.
"I don't believe he likes us." He told them.
Turning back to the caged Saurus, he attempted to speak to him once again.
"We have banded together to fight an even greater evil, one that eclipses our own many times over. We fight against the dread power of Nagash the Black, Lord of the Undead. Perhaps you would agree that, if your purpose is to slay undead, he is the greater target."

 

[Knightofni]

Saul reached the room that the human servant had stopped at and eased his way through doorway.. ghosting across the room to lay Trinity on the bed. Nice bed it was too, four poster mahogany with gauzy curtains and ivory sheets.. wow, Simon doesn’t do things by half’s does he. He turned and indicated to one of the servants to put their affects on a nearby table; the imbecile dropped one of the pistols on the floor.. apologising profusely as he bent to pick it up.

Saul strode across the room and drew the thick velvet curtains shut... that should keep the worst of the coming sunrise’s presence out of the room. The other servant went around the room and lit a few candles.. Saul nodded in thanks.. the whole eagerness to serve thing was really creepy. Trinity stirred on the bed; obviously the journey had woken her.. she blinked and started, suddenly confused by her unfamiliar surroundings.. Saul was there in a blink of an eye. He spoke slowly and calmly, trying to put her at ease..

“It’s ok, it’s ok.. You just dozed off a little. I thought you’d be more comfortable in a proper bed.. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She looked around the room, taking it all in.

“How long was I out for? Did I miss anything?” Her tone was worried.. she was genuinely concerned that she’d missed something important..

“Not long.. and no, you didn’t.. just some random arguments.” His tone made it pretty clear that he was hiding something from her; Saul looked up at one of the servants..

“Get me a glass and a knife... now.” More polite this time but still an order.. any normal person would get all offended by his tone but no, these weirdo’s were quite happy to do as they were told.