VR III: Darkness is Eternal

[Valgoth]

Valgoth watched Scythe leave, shaking his head. My, he thinks highly of himself, doesn't he. Ah well, time to finally collect my reward. Nearly giddy with excitmen, Valgoth began to run again. I short order he reached a large country estate, the home of his employer. Moving silently from shadow to shadow, the assasin made his way inside to the master study, where he could hear his employer waiting. Good eve my lord. Your little job has been accomplished, the princess Iris is no more. Grinning, his fangs fully extened, Valgoth bowed deeply. He kept his injured arm behind his back, hoping the man sitting by the fireplace wouldn't notice. I have come for my reward.

[*Kain*]

The Noble stood up and turned to Valgoth. No need to hide your arm. I told you not to get caught skin-shifter. Oh well, you got what you deserved, that sword stings does it not? Here. A pouch appeared in the Nobles' hand and he tossed it to Valgoth. Leave now, I am done with you mercanary. Yes get lost. With that the noble turned around to stare at the fire. Fire, such a beautiful thing

[Mordraken]

There were few books that did more than mention the art of Spirit magick, and it rather irritated Magnus. One book was written denouncing all of the magicks, most of all it. Another was an encyclopedia, listing it very briefly, next to the statement, "This is the art of communicating and controlling etheral beings, called spirits or ghosts." That was all, and he already knew that. There were some rituals listed in a beginner's girmore. He felt like that was the best place to start. The one listed first, he tried first. It was called, "Haerizuki", or, "Summoning of a Spirit of Light". It entailed a set of meditation and slow breathing, and then a ritual set of gestures. Since there was no one in the library at the time, he sat down in a lotus position, and calmed his nerves. He breathed in, out, and then a half breath, twenty times and let his mind picture the spirit as he thought it would look like throughout the exercise. He stood up, and began the intricate hand and arm motions detained in the manual. He then said the command word, "Gha'rae, Sha!", and it echoed throughout the immense room. He looked around. Nothing seemed different. He turned back to the book on the table, studying it again. Then, the room seemed to flicker, and grow darker for a moment. He turned again, and a small sprite, a pinpoint of light floated about chest level in midair. It glowed brightly, and seemed to sway like some small insect. The room returned to normal light level, brightened by the presense of the light spirit.

To Be Continued...

[Talione]

Talione listened to Magnus' confession, his face set like stone. When the monk admitted to being a vampire, Talione felt his nails cut into the palm of his hand from. Desperate for an anchor in the growing tide of rage trying to swamp his mind, he latched onto the pain as a drowning man holds to a piece of wood. When Noah drew his sword, Talione couldn't help the grim smile that blossumed on his face, and he almost screamed when the prince witheld his strike. KILL! Destroy the Unclean One! Talione raced from the room after the prince left, thinking to take solace in Nell's presence until he heard Noah asking directions to her room. You swore by your blood, in our NAME! Clutching his head, groaning at the agony that seemed to split it in two, Talione stumbled through the castle halls, leaving a wake of terrified servants. His face was locked in a rictus grin, the skull-like image heightened by his bone colored skin. Magnus may well be a vampire, but he is a Hunter! I can't simply kill him! He is one of the Damned! Already you have failed us once this night, do not try us again! Have you forgotten that night already?

A wave of darkness crashed into Talione's mind, bringing with it memories of pain and death.

He had seen the flames ravaging his old village while hunting at the forest edge, and he had heard the screams. Cries of terror and agony, pleas for mercy that fell on deaf ears. Running as fast as his young body could carrie him, Talione streaked toward his parent's home. A body jumped out at him, but he batted it aside with frenzied strength, never noticing that the body burned to ash almost instantly when it fell into a nearby fire. When he reached his parent's small dwelling, it was already aflame. Heedless of the fire, Talione rushed inside, only to be forced out again by the smell. Like burnt pork, only somehow wrong. Screaming his mothers name, he again threw himself inside, only to find the blackened husks that had been his parents.

Stumbling from the burning ruin, Talione vomited, feeling almost numb with sick horror. A scream penatrated his stuper, pulling his streaming eyes to a new horror. His sister, clutched in the embrace of a pale man, blood gushing from her torn throat to stain her simple dress black in the flickering light of the flames. Something snapped inside Talione, bringing with it a terrible calm. Picking up a burning brand, the youth stalked his sisters murderer. The man looked up at him, smiling with blood soaked teeth. What do you think your going to do, eh puppy? The vampire dropped the body of Talione's sister, contemptously flicking her blood from his hand. The nightwalker attacked without warning, slashing Talione across the chest with nails suddenly grown long as knives. Biting his cheek to keep from screaming, Talione thrust with the torch, only to have it stripped from his hands. Then something clubbed him on the side of the head, and the world went black. As his mind faded into darkness, Talione heard the vampire speak. Too bad puppy, you failed. Just think, if you had been here, none of this would have happened. Cruel laughter followed the boy into darkness.

When next Talione awakened, he was liying amidst the charred remains of a once prosperous village. The wounds in his chest bled sluggishly, thier edges grown red and swallen. Pushing himself to his feet, Talione touched his hand to the blood. By all the gods be they of Light or Darkness, and by the names of the dead, I swear, I will never allow this to happen again. I swear I will destroy them all!

The memories stopped thier flood, releasing Talione from the past. We hold you to your Oath! You will destroy them all! Or die trying. The cold contempt in the voice cut at Talione like jagged glass. No, I will not be controled by you! [i]WE HOLD YOU TO YOUR OATH! KILL!

NOOOO! Screaming like a damned soul, Talione raced through the suddenly deserted corridors, unconciously heading toward Nell's room, and the only refuge his shattering mind could think of.

[Nell]

It was a moment of stillness and peace in the long day they had shared. Both covered in grief they stood still and let their minds unbend. Finally Nell brushed the tears to one side and swallowing any more, she let out a long sigh.

Perhaps we both should rest now. If tomorrow is anything like today, then sleep is needed.

She straightened her back and flexed her shoulders. Tiredness was nudging her body and she knew it would be the sensible thing to submit. A quiet smile played on her lips. No more emotional outbursts, no more terror and paranoia. Sleep would bring some sense to this business..

Except there was a crashing coming from down the corridor. Someone running carelessly, heavy footsteps, a deathly screaming echoing off the stone walls ...

She turned to the door that stood ajar. Oh gods .. what is coming now ..

[Valgoth]

Shrugging off the Noble's rude dismissal, Valgoth tore at the sack like an child at a special present. He pulled out a piece of parchment as he left the house. Written in a crooked, spidery hand, were the directions to a small... warehouse owned by the noble. Inside the sack were the keys to open the heavily locked door. And inside the warehouse waited Valgoth's pay. Grinning in satisfaction, the vampire followed the directions, arriving at the remote building after a short hike. Unlocking the door let the sounds it had trapped inside loose into the night. Soft moaning, a whimper. Valgoth reveled in the bloodscent that flowed from the room as he stepped inside. Chained to the wall were five young women, all pretty, but more importantly, all virgins. Ah, the finest vintage!

Smiling a cruel smile, Valgoth closed and locked the door. After all, we wouldn't want anyone to interrupt our fun now would we? The smile became a leer. Outside a cold wind blew by the building, carring with it the whisper of women screaming.

[*Kain*]

She straightened her back and pulled away slightly. Perhaps we both should rest now. If tomorrow is anything like today, then sleep is needed. Noah just came to the realization that he enjoyed that moment of silence. Being so close to her awoke something inside of him. He almost wished that moment had last forever. But he also knew that what she said rang true. They were both tired, and the fatigue was just catching up with Noah.

Then she pointed out the footsteps approaching the door. Noah heard it to, the pattering of footsteps hard on the stone floor of the hallway. He put himself between Nell and the door. He drew his blade. With all that has been happening tonight, I don't want to take any chances. He waited there, ready for whatever was to come through the door. It was then that Talion burst in, with a crazy look on his face. Noah sheathed his blade immediately and was nearly bowled over by Talione. Talione? What happened? Noah was puzzled, what would make Talione freak out like he was?