TVC - Chapter 43 - A Thief in the Night

[Lord of Ravens]

Peter smiled at the young werewolf, all the tension in the courtyard disappeared as the assembled vampires and werewolves laughed at Muller.

"That is an important lesson young ones," said Peter to the gets, "Always be prepared to use all your "assets" to your advantage."

Peter turned to Akarin, "So, assasin, perhaps you would care to give these whelps a demonstration of your methods. I am sure a duel between us will allow the novices to see the many, varied techniques used in combat."

"All in the name of education of course," smiled Peter, although those present with any experience of the world knew that the Blood Dragon's desire to fight the von Carstein had little to do with teaching.

 

[Mr Nightwere]

Jason sat back, looking out towards his gets some, were at least proficient with a sword others, looked like they had never wielded one in their lives. No matter he thought, after all they were at least being well trained by the assembling vampire and werewolves who were quickly gathering within the courtyard. He looked to the werewolves as Hati revealed her self, giving a small smile at Hati's cheek he moved over toward the trio of werewolves giving them a small bow. "Greetings once again, Hati, Muller, Voluior. How has your night been thus far?"

He then looked to Peter over a few meters away, discussing with Akarin about how best to train his gets. This was why he had simply entrusted Peter to train them, his affinity for swords was proficient, yet training others was something he never enjoyed. So, better to leave it to more capable and experienced hands he thought.

________________________________________________

Harrindir had been wandering the castle for an hour or two after having a small feed on one of Simon's servants and resting from the many days of riding in a confined coach with the other high borne vampires of his house. He calmly walked through the halls until eventually coming to rest outside on a veranda, watching over his gets and Jason. He pulled from his back his enchanted Vihuela and began to summon the winds of magic to funnel through the instrument as he began to gently play upon its enchanted metal strings.

It started slow and soft the light sounds, drifting down into the court yard as some of the gets cheered for there master, it was always a treat when he plated the Vihuela something just stirred within them an untapped energy awakening within them as the music floated through the air.

 

[Count Erick]

Hati grinned at Jason.
"Oh I see how this works, I offered you a good time earlier and you shrugged me off, but now that you've had a look at the goods you come running?"

There was a flash of movement and suddenly Müller stood where Hati had been, the werewolf-girl being held on one of his shoulders.
"What!? Put me down damn you!" she protested. Müller ignored her and addressed Jason.
"Our evening has been very fine so far, and I hope it will remain that way." he said shifting Hati roughly for emphasis.
"Put me down and I'll show you what a good evening really is..." she said in a sweat voice.
"Not going to happen." said Müller without even changing expression.

"Tell me Lord Jason, how have you come to sire so many offspring of your bloodline?" ask Völundr, trying to block out Hati and Müller's bickering. "As I understand it, Vampires are weakened when they create offspring, no?"
"Fine! don't let me down, just turn me around and let me hang, I'm sure I can reach you're loins from here!"
Said Hati, overly loud. Völundr closed his eyes in embarrassment.

 

[Fishhead Slackjaw Mcgee]

Vekarin chuckled, the grating sound echoing about the stone hall.
"Untrap will I, Saurus. Maybe you want controlled Want kill Undead, maybe kill one equal good hunting." He spoke in Saurian, his balefire eyes fixing on the dejected figure in the cage. Huakroataxa bared his teeth in a warped mixture of smile and snarl. So the Vampire was willing to gamble his own life for the death of his half-ally's.

Huakroataxa knew that occasionally a risk could win a brilliant victory, but only a warm blood would genuinly enjoy the risk.

He had hunted the Vampires long enough to understand, in part, their petty politics. And as a stranger umonst his most hated enemies, he could do with an ally, even one as disgusting as this.

"Any in particular? Or do you wish for me to merely thin the ranks?"

Vekarin looked at him in a wry manner, than continued to spurt Gibberish. Mon-Ti crawled up Huakroataxa's body, and the hunter of the dead rumbled, even with the understanding that serpants have no ears.

"Nagash. Dine on Nagash, little-snake, and I shall be redeemed."

 

[Sweeney Todd]

WARNING: POST BELOW CONTAINS SOME CONTENT THAT MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS 'MATURE'.

IF YOU DO INTEND TO READ THIS, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT EATING, OR HAVE NOT JUST EATEN ANYTHING TO BE SAFE.





"Let's just prise open his head and be done with it." Todd said, supressing the rising choler in his gut with a visible shudder.

Together, the two of them gingerly peeled away inch after inch of skin. Every bit of raw and bloody flesh seemed to broaden Todd's sadistic leer as his face lit up with growing glee, as though illuminated by the light of revelation. The pain induced by application of red-hot poker to various orifices was nothing but a sideshow compared to what was next, he knew. Todd practically bounced as he turned to Mrs. Lovette, asking her to send for a wight and a ghoul.

The moment the man's skull had been precisely sawed away, Todd pounced upon his exposed brainpan with a speed that belied his combat prowess. Lucius reacted less than a second later, beginning a fight over (literally) the right to rape the human's brain. Their victim began to laugh, cry, wheeze, whinny, and sing as the appropriate centers in his brain began to be directly stimulated by external apparatus in rapid order.

"What is your name?" Todd asked over and over between grunts as he and Lucius von Carstein practically wrestled over a pink and crimson pincushion. What came out of the human's mouth was a single continuous sound of 'UNRGHHHAHAHAHEEEeHEEEHAHAHAOWWWWWFUCKUNHHHYEAHHHHWHATTHENOOOMEINLIEBEN'. Mrs. Lovette's curiosity got the better of her momentarily. From her position standing to a side of the entrance she took a quick peek, and could not help but laugh at the sight of the man's rapidly changing facial expression, like a cross between an epileptic fit of the face and a trained actor rehearsing.

At last, the nonstop nonsense was temporarily broken by a cry of 'FRIEDRICH KRALY!' The duo paused for a moment. They had found, or stumbled upon his parieto-occupital center, removing his ability to tell anything but the truth. Lucius and Todd stared daggers at each other, giving the poor fool a chance to gasp for breath before coming to a compact.

"We have the pure truth now." Lucius said coldly.

"Then I can take care of the painwork." Todd replied equally frostily.

"It is unnecessary." Lucius stated.

"I beg to differ. Your sire has many great works of fine art in his citadel, so why not tell him the same?" Todd replied with a sneer both visible and audible. It was a criminal travesty for a torturer to lack appreciation of the pleasures of inflicting pain and misery upon their 'interviewees', in his opinion. Turning away, he beckoned Toby to come forward and record everything the man said upon parchment.

"Where are you from?"

"Wissenland."

"How many of you are there?"

"I don't know exactly, but less than 10."

"How did you get insid-" Lucius question was interrupted by an extremely loud groan from the human and a large stream of reeking cum from his penis. Todd cut him off before he could continue the interrogation with a great cry of:

"EUREKA! I HAVE FOUND IT!" In rapture he raised his neural glove to a nonexistent light from the skies. The memories were coming back now. Just then, the wight and ghoul Todd had requested for earlier shuffled into the chamber

"Right on time." Todd grinned and exerted his will, enforcing his complete dominion over them. The ghoul loped behind the man and the wight strode to his front. They waited as Todd experimented amidst Lucis' questions, until a scream of pure pain once again interrupted his flow. Lucius stared at Todd coldly as Todd painstakingly marked the spot in his memory. He made sure to stimulate his victim's pain center as he carefully roasted the foreskin off his penis with the heated poker, exposing the raw glans beneath. The piteous scream that issued forth then could be heard by every creature living or undead within Nexternus, indeed no few human subjects of Simon's were torn from their slumber by that very sound.

At a subconscious signal, the ghoul and the wight went into action. From behind the ghoul proceeded to violate the man's rectum, alternating between a whole human arm bone(gnawed-off end first) and a rusty dagger with a pinch of warpstone dust. In front, the wight proceeded to stab his scrotum and perforate his urinary meatus with one of Mrs. Lovette's warpstone-laced blades. To Todd was left the dual task of stimulating his pain and sexual centers, whilst finding the right pressure points around his penis and anus to enhance his targeted suffering. He frantically dashed to Toby and took several more needles before running back to resume the task. With silent disapproval Lucius alternated between asking the questions, and attempting to wrest Todd's stimulus from him in an attempt to guide him to what he thought were the right spots.

Certainly nobody would get any sleep that night.

 

[Trevy the Great]

Another chuckle escaped from beneath Vekarin's helm, reverberating off of the stone walls of the dungeon. He hoped he had understood the Lizardman's offer fully.
"Perhaps if you wish to ingratiate yourself with the remainder of the Council is would be better to focus your attentions on the Lords of Nagash. What you do with the Council members after the war has concluded is your own business, although there are some here whose murders I would take more personally."
He turned to the assembled vampires.
"Now, we should open this cage immediatly. It will not do to have a servant of the Slann caged such."

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Lesa had remained silent has Vekarin has finished his discussion with the creature, but at his suggestion she felt she had to voice her concerns.

"If we release him how do we not know he will attack the Council? It is plain he detests our kind. Or perhaps do you offer to be his keeper?" Suddenly she felt a drop of water on her shoulder and irritably made to wipe it off. As she touched it she realised it was thick and sticky, and as she looked upwards she saw it was drool from Graveclaw's mouth.

"Ah Helena, how long will Graveclaw be like this?" Lesa asked, waving her hand in front of the Strigoi's vacant gaze,"as he is not much use as the moment........"

 

[Gree]

‘’I suggest we let him go, if he remains true to his word then we have another ally, if he tries to attack us then I think we can handle him in a fight, I would be mortified if I and my entire Order could not handle a single Lizardman warrior’’ Walach interjected.

‘’Besides, I trust Lord Banespike’s judgement, he is a fellow warrior.’’

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin shrugged stepping forward he unsheathed both the Dazzling white and Pitch Black blade;
"If that is your wish my Lord Dragon." he murmered humbly.
Turning the von Carstein glanced at the gets,
"Please step back young sirs." he asked, the younger vampires shuffled to obey.
Turning to the Blood Dragon he smiled
"To first blood my lord?"
To all assembled the von Carstein seemed relaxed and even happy to do as Peter had bid.

 

[Trevy the Great]

"The lizardman wishes to fight the lord of undeath alongside us, and while I cannot guarantee that he will not turn hostile to the Vampire Council after the war's course is run, I will take responsibility should harm befall any of us at his hands before its end. After all, it is my word you are trusting."

 

[Fishhead Slackjaw Mcgee]

Another chuckle escaped from beneath Vekarin's helm, reverberating off of the stone walls of the dungeon. He hoped he had understood the Lizardman's offer fully.
"Maybe want you be honoured survivors council maybe efficient meditate on venerated of Nagash. You do? with Council inhabitents aftermath is over, you own task-want. Maybe located close individuals heart-kill I recieve close to heart."

Huakroataxa nodded. Although veneration by the undead felt wrong in his head, he knew that respect and fear often walked hand in hand. Who knows? Thinking forward, with a healthy reputation umonst his foes live prisoners could be arranged for due sacrifice.

Of course, all of this was irrelevant seeing as he was about to die fighting Nagash, but He Is Lost Who Does Not Plan, in the words of the ancients.

Vekarin turned back to the assembled vampires, and said something that destroyed all of Huakroataxa's composure.
"Nun, wir sollten offene dieser Käfig sofort begeistern. Es wird nicht tun, damit ein Diener der Slann eingesperrt."

The Scar veteran threw himself at the bars in anger, and was thrown back by the shock. With a primeval face half pain and half rage, he bellowed
"How dare you roll the name of the Mage Preists around your black and corrupted tongue? How dare you insult those who warmed this world and shifted the continents into allighnment? You soiled and rotting scrap of void, your very existence is blashphemy! Come closer to this cage, I will offer your unbeating heart to the old ones!"

 

[Ghouly]

Graveclaw shook his head in an attempt to clear, looking at Lesa Graveclaw blinked blearily "Graveclaw going outssssside" shoving his way past Walich Graveclaw staggered from the dungeon.

 

[TMS]

Helena looked at the departing Graveclaw before answering Lesa's question.

-"I only imposed myself on him lightly, he was able to shrug it off at any point he wanted to. He did seem to be rather pleased with his state of mind though, judging by his expression.", referring to the toothy grin that had split the Vampire's visage before he had come to.

She then looked at Huakroataxa in his cell as he thrashed about.
-"Perhaps our new-found "ally" could use a dose of it as well? It might make him even more volatile once he awakens though..."

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

The Duke could not help but give a laugh full of joy and passion as their blades clashed time and time again. He was no longer testing Victarias, but fighting with a true measure of his skill, and he could see the same in her. She was like wildfire, flickering back and forth, a goddess of war come to life.

He could have sparred for hours, and in truth he would have loved nothing more to spend that time with Victarias. But already he could see the morning approaching, and with it a reminder that they were in the middle of a war. Focusing now, he drove out all distractions, all external influences, his vision becoming tunnelled as there was nothing in his mind but himself and his sword. Two fast strikes hammered against Victarias's blade, the vampiress still managing to block despite the immense speed the Duke struck at. As their swords clashed again, he slide his blade along hers, twisting a flicking it upwards before she could disengage. To her credit she managed to keep hold of her sword, but was not fast enough to stop the tip of the Duke's sword resting on her check. She felt a slight prick, and then the wetness of her blood trickling down her cheek.

"Concede milady?"

---

Lesa had been about to acquiesce and agree that the creature should be realised, but suddenly it leapt forward at the cell bars, roaring and snarling in rage. It was obvious that it's anger was directed at Vekarin, but Lesa was not taking any chance. A lash of flame struck out, hitting the beast and sending it sprawling back. It was no enough to really hurt the creature, but it was a potent warning nonethless.

"Are you sure of that Vekarin?" Lesa asked, gesturing as the lizard stood up once more, anger in its eyes, "it seems to me the first thing it would do upon release is to try and kill you.

 

[Lord of Ravens]

"To first blood, Shadow Lord," replied Peter, before launching his attack. In the blink of an eye he drew Soul Eater, and swung the magical blade high in a sweep that would behead the assasin. It was a dirty trick, but Peter knew that the von Carstein would be far from honourable.

Akarin ducked the blow, and drew his own two blades, before launching a counter attack.

 

[Trevy the Great]

Victarias used the force of the Duke's attack, the flick of his weapon propelling the point of her own. Her wrist was loose and the weapon responded easily to the forces acting upon it as his attack drove the point deeper within his defenses.
She felt a sliver of pain on her cheek, more of an irritation than a wound, and heard the Duke's words. She ceased movement immediately, her own blade stopping mere inches from the Duke's flesh.
Her hand flew to her cheek, her fingers bathing in the rivulet of blood that flowed from it, and she brought her hand to her eyes, looking at the crimson liquid as if disbelieving its presence there.
With a fluid motion, she sheathed her and raised her right hand.
"Dua netjer en ek." She spoke, "You are truly skilled and a worthy opponent, and I gladly submit to you under the terms of our duel. I thank you for this opportunity to train with you. I concede."

---

Vekarin turned again towards the Saurus in the cage as it railed against the bars.
"Perhaps my command of its language is not as firm as I once believed it to be." He commented, drawing himself up to the bars, face to face with the cold, yellow eyes of the enraged lizardman.
"You have a choice, Saurus. Stay here and rot, and never complete the task entrusted to you, or leave this prison and slay your enemies. What say you?"

 

[Fishhead Slackjaw Mcgee]

Vekarin turned again towards the Saurus in the cage as it railed against the bars.
"Vielleicht ist auch meine Befehl seiner Sprache nicht so fest wie ich einmal geglaubt, es zu sein. " He commented, drawing himself up to the bars, face to face with the cold, yellow eyes of the enraged lizardman.
"Decision, Saurus. Remain, corrupt, fail mission. Maybe exit trap kill foe. Reply??"

Huakroataxa picked himself up and glared with hatred towards Lesa. Twice the female had shamed him, twice!

He took his breath in, and spat.

"There is no choice at all. I will slay."

 

[Trevy the Great]

"But who will you kill Saurus? Nagash or us?" Vekarin questioned.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin leapt forward, both blades lashing out in a flurry of stabs and cuts that the Blood Dragon could barely turn aside the attack’s with his heavier weapon however he kept his balance and moved backwards waiting for the Assassin to step too close.
Akarin aimed a thrust at the Blood Dragons shoulder; Peter twisted aside and hammered the hilt of his blade towards Akarin’s face who danced away from the attack.
Akarin grinned
“Come now Lord von Krahe you preformed so much better in the First Vampire War.”
There was no answer from the Blood Dragon who instead launched a fresh attack, his heavier swings causing the Assassin to give way under the brutal attack, as Akarin dodged and weaved he sneered
“Blood Dragon, Blood Dragon I was trained for killing our kind…but I promise not to use the more brutal methods.”
Flashing the Blade of Day up he snapped the Soul Eater back and slashed the Blade of Night towards his opponent’s throat only for Peter to throw himself backwards out of the way.
Akarin stood up straight once more and grinned twirling the two blades lazily
“You do a service to your kind.” he said mockingly.
Peter barely caught the twist of Akarin’s hand as he threw a silver dagger towards the other vampire’s head, Peter smashed the projectile aside with his blade however even as he threw it the Assassin had jumped forward in a roll, coming out of it with his black blade flashing at Peter’s midriff and the second blade slashing at his sword to stop him from using a proper defence.

 

[Lord of Ravens]

Unable to parry both of the assasins blows, Peter instead shoulder barged the von Carstein, his momentum taking him inside Akarin's attacks. Peter's bulk knocked the assasin to the ground, but before the Blood Dragon could press his advantage, his opponant was back on his feet.

The Blood Knight spun Soul Eater over his head in a wide arc. Akarin brought both his swords up to block the powerful blow, but as he did so, Peter slammed his forehead ito the assasin's nose. Akarin fell backwards into a pile of boxes, smashing them to splinters.

Simon is not going to like this, thought Peter to himself.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

The only thing that broke the silence engulfing the courtyard was the clash of blades. With all eyes upon the exhibition duel between Peter von Krahe and Akarin von Carstein, it was easy for Geralt to slip in unnoticed.

For a moment he turned his gaze up at the shining Mannslieb that transmuted him into what was perhaps Muller's very distant kin. In the shadows near the three werewolves Geralt of Rivia slunk, moving discreetly but not really trying to remain completely undetected. He too watched the fight with no small interest, and recalled the last time he had asked his employer for a practice bout. Perhaps there was something he could learn here.

 

[Get of W'soran]

Akarin put his hand to his nose, smiling as he realised it had not bled
Thank all the dark gods for vampiric bleeding...or lack of such he thought with faint amusement.
Leaping back to his feet the von Carstein slashed his sword at Peters head, as the Blood Dragon ducked the attack the Assassin spun himself into a reverse-roundhouse kick his heel crashing into the side of his opponents head and throwing Peter from his feet, the blood dragon hurried to his feet expecting Akarin to make a finishing move...however such never came instead peter was surprised to see Akarin sheathing his swords.
The Blood Dragon lowered his blade thinking the other vampire had given up however in seconds the Assassin had flew forwards in a flurry of speed beyond that of even most vampires Akarin had flew forwards letting lose a series of punches and kicks that threw the Blood Dragon once more to the ground.
"Ever been to Nippon? Cathay? You would learn much in fighting." the Assassin asked seemingly as calm as ever, however Peter knew the vampire from years long gone...and he could recognise when the Assassin became coldly dangerous.

The two vampires where now fighting far outside of the Ring, indeed they where only meteres from one of the entrances to the interior of Simon's fortress itself.

 

[Lord of Ravens]

As the assasin loomed over Peter, he grabbed his arms and rolled backwards, like a wrestler, throwing Akarin through the air into Simon's door. The door shattered as the von Carstein hit it, although somehow Akarin managed to land on his feet.

Peter pushed himself up and turned to the assasin.

"Have you ever been to a tavern? A bar? You would learn much in fighting," the Blood Dragon mocked, before running through the door, sword drawn.

Akarin caught Peter's blow on his bracer. The Blood Knight was amazed that the sword had not simpley cut through the seemingly light material. But before Peter had time to comprehend the von Carstein's wonderous armour, his opponant was on the offensive again.

 

[Get of W'soran]

A hidden blade flashed out from under the right Bracer which slashed at Peter's face cutting a shallow cut in his cheek causing dark blood to slowly drip from it, however the rules of the duel had long been forgotten from the minds of the vampires and in response Peter slashed upwards catching the tip of Akarin's chin leaving a shallow cut of its own.

The Assassin backed away down the hall dodging Peter's attacks until they came to the bottom of a large staircase, Akarin ducked another of Peter's attacks and siezing the vampire by the scruff of his clothing he hurled him up the stairs and in seconds the shorter vampire was upon the Blood Dragon hammering kicks and punches into him before he could get back to his feet.
In anger Peter kicked out catching the side of Akarin's leg causing him to stumble backwards, the blood dragon wasted no time in getting up and slashing at the Assassin however his opponent summersaulted backwards out of the other vampire's range.

Peter growled and charged the von Carstein, at the last moment Akarin dodged his sword blow with speed that Peter found difficult to even follow, catching the blood dragon's wrist he twisted it back in a brutal gesture that would have snapped any mortals bones however it merely made the blood dragon grimace and drop his blade.
Before Peter could reach for his sword Akarin hammered his fist into the Blood Dragon's throat and with a series of high kicks forced him down the hall away from his weapon.

 

[Lord of Ravens]

Dazed by the hail of blows that smashed into him, Peter staggered back. He reached out in an attempt to find a weapon of some kind. His hands grasped hold of an antique oak chair. Peter took it up and smashed it over Akarin's head. The assasin swayed.

Peter nimbly dodged past him and took up his sword again. Akarin spun round and ran towards Peter. The von Carstein punched at Peter's face, who only just managed to parry the attacks. The Blood Dragon was forced backwards long a different corridor, which ended in an open arch way. From beyond the distant arch way, the Blood Dragon could here many voices, although he was too busy to note who they belonged to.