Blood and Smoke – Highlands by Night
Story One – The Sacrament
Chapter Three – Midnight Mass
Landon of Wiltshire's home was quaint and well kept. They slept in a root cellar made comfortable by draperies and furs with small simple chairs. There were two beds, a smaller, obviously rarely used, bed was pressed to the farthest wall. Before they slept, Landon offered her the larger bed, nearly insisted upon it, but she refused. She was content with the smaller bed.
Though not pleased that he was enjoying the comfortable bed, Landon strung up a curtain between the two to help maintain some form of privacy. It did not take long for the day sleep to claim Lilliana, exhausted as she was from her trip and the excitement of Court. Stretching, she nearly moaned at the comfort of soft furs and the mattress giving way to her small body. It was nothing short of glorious to no longer be pinned in a hidden wooden compartment with no comforts. She slept easily through the day. Waking, she pushed the curtain away to reveal that Landon was already gone, his armor and weapon laid to the side of his portion of the room.
Lillie dressed quickly enough, choosing a gown of soft blues, leaving her hair loose for now. She was certain he was still here, somewhere. It was doubtful that he went out into the town without his armor, knightly as he was. She didn't have many options of where to go, not knowing of any places beyond Bernard's Domain. Hunger clenched in her gut tightly, her fangs pressed against her lip on instinct alone. Pushing open the the cellar door, Lillie wandered around to the side of the house where she found a simple wooden door. She moved quietly, nearly an instinct by now. As she opened the door, she heard a strange murmuring, breathy sounds coming from somewhere within the home.
Lillie didn't think much of it as she walked in. The room she entered was a small kitchen, herbs strung about. The space had the look as though it was used often, and not just a show for a Kindred. As she walked further in, she discovered a small sitting room, flowers nuzzled into the windowsills, a small fire burning in the hearth. As she moved to walk into the room, the sounds she heard increased. Looking to her left, Lilliana discovered a small ladder, leading up to a loft that stretched over the kitchen.
Cocking a brow, she contemplated her options for a moment. If Landon was discussing private matters with someone she didn't wish to be rude … but she also didn't want to leave and cause him worry, he seemed the type. It would be equally rude to just leave without a word when he had been so kind as to host her. Hiking her skirt a bit higher so she could climb the latter silently, Lilliana peaked over the edge of the loft, her mouth falling open at what she now saw.
Landon, or she assumed it to be Landon based on the general height, build, and hair color from behind, was between the bare thighs of a gorgeous woman stretched across a table. Her legs wrapped about his waist as he thrust into her vigorously, his buttocks clenching with each movement. Her hands scraped down his back, leaving small, red welts in their wake, overlapping others that already existed. The brown hair upon her head was still wrapped in the bun she had worn through the day, though small strands fell out from the movements, the remaining bound locks frizzing with each thrust of friction against the table. Plump lips wrapped about Landon's fist where it clenched on the table, teeth biting his flesh to muffle the sounds.
Lilliana should have scurried down the ladder as she as she saw Landon's back exposed to her, but she watched for a small minute, her mouth dry as need, strong and violent and wholly different from the hunger she woke with, coiled within her, pulsing between her thighs. Swallowing, she moved down the ladder, thankfully she was able to maintain her silence as she scurried out of the house, still uncertain of what to do. She couldn't rightly just sit in the living room and await him to finish. She did not know anything of this place, and it would be foolish of her to just wander off into the dark and hope for the best.
So, instead, she curled into the grass, watching the wilderness that the house was pressed up against. She picked small white flowers, intertwining them together has she lost herself in her thoughts. She didn't think she was out there long until Landon made his way out of the house, dressed in simple clothing, his hair a tousled mess.
"I hope you rested well."
Climbing with grace to her feet, she brushed her skirt off. Fighting to keep most of her blush at bay, she nodded as she smiles nervously. "I did, indeed. Thank you. Vastly better than aboard that ship."
Landon eyes the pink tinting her cheeks, smirking at her. The expression seems quite at home on his face. As she begins to take a step towards him the woman from the loft emerges from the door as well. Clothed in a woolen nightgown, she wraps her arms around Landon's waist. "So you're Landon's sister?" Her voice, like all of the women she has spoken to tonight, was thick with her Scottish heritage.
Shoving the filthy images from her mind, Lillie nodded as she shifts on her feet. "I am. Lilliana, but my friends call me Lillie."
Those plump lips curled into a toothy smile. "Lillie, I do hope we can be friends. Finella. Was Landon as stubborn as a bairn as he is today?" She playfully punches his side, Landon, for his part, winces in mock pain. Laughing, before playfully shoving her.
The easy movements between the two tugs at a piece of Lillie's heart. Grinning, she shrugs her slim shoulders. "As much as I can remember, yes. Though, they never change much with age, do they?"
The air seems to change somewhat as Finella cocks a brow, still grinning as she shares a look with Landon. "I'd've believed her, if I didn't know better."
Realization dawns on the young Daeva as she flushes, her fingers toying with the flowers she still holds. If she had not felt like an outsider before, she certainly did now. Lillie hated this, having none to rely on. She could not help but feel as though they were playing games with her, a small mouse caught between two house cats.
Landon watches his sister of the blood, his look bordering on pity. Finella looked to her as well, the smile remaining, though it softened around the edges. She looks up to Landon, leaning her head on his arm. "I suppose you have business to attend to?"
Kissing her forehead, Landon pushes the stray hairs from her face, looking down fondly at her. "For a bit. Try to get some sleep."
Lilliana watches them say their goodbyes, desire and envy for what she did not possess for herself. Landon wraps an arm around Lillie's shoulder, beginning to walk as Lillie returns Finella's wave, a smile stuck on the mortal's mouth.
"What do you plan to do with your fortnight of hospitality, Lillie?"
She looks up, pulled from her thoughts, when Landon speaks. "I don't know yet. Enjoy the view I suppose. Explore a bit, see what the town has to offer."
"And do you plan to swear fealty to the King, when your time is up?" They continue to walk, though his hand left her shoulder, both hands folding behind his back as he walked.
"Oh, I don't know about all of that. I suppose, if I found something worthy staying for, but as for right now, I will leave when his hospitality expires, find my next small adventure. I don't like to be tied down, unnecessarily."
Landon lifted a brow at her words, his expression showing that he may not believe her, though he did not speak of anymore of it. "Care for a tour of what's safe for most English?"
A bright smile stretched across her face at the idea. "Yes, very much so. I received a few warnings from Bernard but...I would rather not be locked up in a cellar for entirety of my stay."
"A small exchange then. I give you some information, and you keep some to yourself?"
She watches him carefully. "Certainly, I can keep some secrets."
"Tell no one of Finella. They believe her to be a thrall but...I could never do that to her, not to someone I love so much, nor can I keep secrets from her." The smile stay etched in place, the happiness left his eyes as he spoke, though it stayed carefully stitched onto his mouth.
Lillie smiled sweetly, nodding. "I hadn't planned to speak of it anyways, your secret is safe with me. Consider yourself lucky you've found such companionship with her."
The handsome Daeva, of which Lilliana had seen too much of already, released a breath. Looking out unto the town he nodded. The fortress stood in the middle, separating the Scottish residents from the English. In the fog that moved to cover the land, nearly all in the distance was blanketed in darkness, though a few patches of lantern light persisted. "Where shall we go first?"
Lillie shifted, clenching her hands in her skirts. "Well, to be frank, I still find myself quite weakened from...everything. I wanted to leave earlier, as to not bother you further, but I realized I do not know where anything is. Where would be the best place for me to … sate such a desire?"
"You could easily be sated at Midnight Mass, I'm certain Silas would be more than happy to have you take part in the nightly sacrament as our newest arrival. Or, if you prefer, the north side is the easiest place to hunt. There are a few places here, in the market square that could provide subsistence as well. Whichever you prefer."
Curling her nose at the idea of Mass, she shook her head. "I'd rather simply hunt, I don't wish to draw such attention to myself at Mass, if I can help it."
Landon smiled at her, canting his head before he turned and begun escorting her around the square. Most of the shops were closing for the evening, extinguishing their lights. A moderate Inn that seemed just large and well to do enough to host wealthy merchants, or perhaps a small noble, was the busiest at this time. Bustling with drinks and dinner for folks coming in for the evening, ready to spend their hard earned coin.
Following Landon, she kept a tight grip on her skirt, the only control she felt she had now as she mingled among the Kine, the Beast prowling beneath her flesh.
Leaning close to whisper in her ear, Landon pressed a hand softly to her back. "The Golden Hind there is an Elysium, should you need a place to socialize. Feeding there is forbidden, but it is safe enough. Anything you do, you will have to do in the public, so use caution." Graciously bowing, he smirks at her once more, the light returning to his features. "I'm going to prepare myself for the mass, it would make a good impression with the Priscus if you were to attend on your first night."
Lillie smiles gratefully at him, inclining her head. "I'll see you at Mass then."
Once he leaves her, Lillie turns towards the Golden Hind, swallowing the thirst that rakes at her throat. Psuhing her way through the door, she scanned the room for anyone alone, or easily hidden enough that she could take care of her needs quickly. Midnight approached, and she did not have the time to spend seducing them. As she walked, her steps felt as though they were entirely too slow and too quick all at once. As though she looked too paranoid and too excited.
Glancing about the room, she was faced with disappointment. All seemed to be sectioned of with friends, enjoying their meals, none appearing to be easy pickings. Sighing, she turned on her heel, looking out into the square.
Perhaps she could find someone here, someone she could lure away...though the crowd was small, and quickly diminishing.
There was a small gathering of people, only a handful of shops still lit against the growing fog of the night. A plain couple leaving a general store, arms full of necessities. Four women, linked arm in arm, scurried away from an apothecary shop, headed off of the main road towards the west. It didn't take her long to spot her prey.
He stood alone, by a window. Well groomed, the young man was dressed in a fine tunic and trousers, a dagger hanging by his hip. He didn't seem to notice her, or anyone else for that matter. Gripping his chin in his hand, he looked nothing less than pensive. Thick brown hair was parted in the middle of his head, tucked behind pale ears. The locks curled slightly around the edges, pointing towards his chin. Even from here she could see the fine dusting of stubble.
Relief, sweet and swift, swept through her. This would be easy enough. Midnight was quickly approaching. Twisting her face into something she hoped was soft and full of worry, she approached him, clearing her throat softly. As she grew nearer, Lilliana noticed the broadness of his shoulders, a sort of hidden strength. That need coiled tighter within her, vile images flashing in her mind.
"Excuse me, sir..." Lillie's voice was soft and lilting, bells on the wind. "I am sorry to trouble you, but, well … " She gave a small laugh. "This is horribly embarrassing. I seemed to lost something on my way, a necklace. I was trying to catch up with my brother in the darkened way, and it must have fallen off and now I can't find it anywhere." she tilted her head as she spoke to him, meeting his dark eyes.
He doesn't answer her for a moment, staring longer than one might anticipate before answering. His mouth stretched in a warm smile as he spoke with an English accent. "Well we can't have that, can we Ms … ?"
"Godfrey. Ms. Godfrey." She inclines her head slightly, fluttering her eyelashes as she turned towards an alley, slightly away from the shops.
He nodded, glancing out at the street. He was handsome, small crinkles formed around his eyes. He raised his dark brows, looking back to her apologetically "It's getting a bit dark to find a necklace, but I will try. I'm Tristan, pleased to meet you, Ms. Godfrey." As they begin to walk, a leisure pace, he looks over his shoulder at her. "I'm looking for something myself, you know. Well, rather someone. What did the little bauble look like?"
She smiled, working to keep the hunger off of her face as they grew nearer to the alley. It seemed to claw up her throat, scratching at her in a painful manner. "Oh, it's the most darling collection of emeralds, a gift I just couldn't bear to lose...Who were you looking for? Perhaps I saw someone in passing."
Tristan cocks a brow at her interest. "My brother Marrock. He's a couple years older than me, but you'd notice the family resemblance. He left home three years ago, and we never knew what happened to him. The trail led me here, to Edinburgh, but it has gone cold now."
She nearly jumps him as he rounds into the darkened corner, facing away from her. Swallowing, she shakes herself from the desire. "I'm afraid I've not seen such a man. I'm certain I'd remember such a face as yours." Moving around him, Lilliana doesn't stop until she stands directly in front of Tristan, calling on her own gift of Awe as she cups his cheek. She stands close enough that she has to tilt her own head back to meet his gaze. "You're the only one who has been kind enough to help me, dear. You're so very sweet."
His wide eyes hold hers as he is swept up in her presence, leaning into her gentle touch. Stretching on her toes, Lilliana kisses him, her fangs already eagerly extended. As Tristan returns her kiss, his arms wrapping tightly around her curved body, Lilliana allows her teeth to tear through the flesh of his bottom lip. His hands clench against her back, pushing her body against the stone wall in the alley as she drinks.
She moans as the vitae rushes forward in her mouth, the unholy sweetness coating her tongue. She arches against him, just barely containing her Beast. Tristan reacts how any man would to such pleasures, swaying slightly as his manhood swells, pressing against her. Sighing, she licks the wound close, careful to not harm him anymore, despite herself. She kisses him once more, leaning back on the wall.
She had fought off her Beast's hunger, sated it enough it did not roar at her in neglect. But now, something wholly different called to her Beast. Some were easier to give into their Beast's desires for violence, for blood, but Lillie...oh, Lillie's Beast wanted those things, of course, but not nearly as badly as it just wanted to feel. To feel another body against her, inside of her, to rend and tear and fuck. Leaning there, against the wall, as she stared up at Tristan...it twisted sharply, the need coiling between her thighs.
Tristan released a breath, heavy and ragged, causing a stray curl to twist across her face. As he stared down at her, she saw that hunger there, the same hunger matched in her own eyes. Whether from the intense rush from the Kiss or the power of her Majesty, she couldn't tell. He was smitten with her, desperately so.
Lifting a hand, he cupped her cheek, his thumb running across her plump bottom lip. She felt a small grin tug at her mouth, the feral need climbing to surface, dangerously close. She wrapped her lips around the digit, her tongue pressed softly before he tilted her head back, lowering his mouth the crook of her neck, kissing softly before he moaned, his other hand running down her side, settling on her hip, clenching in her skirts.
Arching at a sharper angle away from the wall, she wrapped her arms around him, a soft growl – far from humane- mixing with her moans as her hands clenched in the fabric that stretched across the skin there. Her control was slipping, and fast. It took all of her will just to put off what the Beast wanted for a few moments. She just needed to...to hide it.
As her own ecstasy and want rises, the moans echoing around them, Tristan presses harder into her. Kissing along her pale neck, at first with a tenderness before it gives way to roughness, his own harmless teeth nipping at her. Slowly, as though in a haze, he makes his way back to Lillie's mouth, his tongue battling with her own as one of his hands coil in her mussed curls, tugging at he pushes her skirts higher.
Lillie had nearly had complete control over herself once more, the Beast nearly shoved back into it's chains until she felt him press his hips to her own, his hardness grinding against her. Something about the feeling of his flesh, hard, wanting, and pulsing with life utterly snapped her control. Snarling viciously, she meets his kiss with a passion bordering on violence as she bites at his mouth again, though she takes no blood. Pushing the leather tunic up his back as Tristan wraps her leg about his waist, her nails cut through the fabric of his undershirt.
All of it was intensely erotic to a woman of her class, though she seemed to have next to no control in the matter. It was as though she was the one trapped in chains, watching her own actions. Her stocking clad leg wrapped about his waist tighter, pulling his hips to hers. The flash of pale skin against the ribbon that held the fabric in place had the young mortal grinning as he gasped into her mouth, the flash of pain lighting his dark eyes. Tristan allows the frenzied Daeva to do as she will, meeting her predatory gaze before tugging her head back harshly by the blonde curls, a hand coming to pull the fabric of her dress away from her shoulder. As her shoulder and more of her heaving cleavage is revealed Tristan gives into his own baser urges, biting her hard enough to leave a bruise.
Lilliana watches with intense fascination as he licks at his swollen mouth. He pulls away from her long enough to loosen the laces of his breeches, allowing them to fall around his ankles, casting his weapons aside before he is upon her again. As he draws close, Tristan grins, staring down at her with a heat that rivaled her own. The Beast would have what it wanted tonight, and he was its willing victim. Both of them have abandoned their sense in favor of the overwhelming lust.
Pulling him close once more, Lillie wrapped her leg around his waist, pulling his cock close to her waiting wetness. Groaning, she bit softly at his mouth. His hands wrapped around her hips, her other leg wrapping automatically around him. He pushed through her wetness, but did not enter her, driving her mad with want. The angle was nearly perfect as she thrust towards him, a deep snarl pulling its way out of her chest as he suddenly entered her. Wrapping a hand in his dark locks Lillie stifled her scream of pleasure against his shoulder, groaning as he shuddered against her.
Clenching his hands against her ass to support her weight, Tristan rolls his hips against her, thrusting with a surprising force. She met his thrusts with a unexpected amount of strength, far beyond what a woman of her build should be capable of. Tristan's moans are soft and hot against her neck. Her body shrugged off the feel of the rough bricks that dug into her back, her Beast lending her the durability to feed its hunger. She kisses along his neck, biting as snarls mix seamlessly in with her moans, not caring of what marks she may leave upon his flesh. Feeling the promise of release build within her, Lillie's thighs clench around Tristan's hips, pulling his mouth to hers to muffle her escalating moans. Her climax moves slowly as it builds, like honey dripping through her veins before it lashed out with great force. Tristan breathes heavily against her mouth as his own orgasm builds, nearly in time with her own. Groaning, he pushed against her hips with a final, powerful thrust as he releases himself.
The Beast eases, nearly completely, as her orgasm rushes through her. As Tristan holds her there, she stares up at him with wide eyes, horrified with what she has done. A complete stranger...Relaxing her legs, she pathetically slides down, swallowing, the taste of regret choking her. Tristan allows her to move, his own eyes wide and panicked, the wild hunger no longer found in his gaze. He stumbles away from her, suddenly feeling the pain of the wounds Lilliana had inflicted upon as the adrenaline left his body. Holding himself against the stone wall opposite of her, he continue to stare at her, as though he could not comprehend the night's activities with the girl he saw before him.
They were both snapped from their horrified reverie as a voice sounded down the alley, gruff and loud. "Eleven O'clock and all is well!"
Lilliana could not help but feel horrified at what she done to poor Tristan, and terrified of her own self. She had only meant to feed … Pressing her skirts down, she attempted to fix her mex of curls, but she knew it was useless. Their … lovemaking, if you could call it that, was ruthless, animalistic, and it showed. A heated blush covered her cheeks, moving over her lifted breasts. Moving quickly to Tristan's side, she scanned him quickly for any type of serious injury, knowing how easily she could hurt a mortal man when she lost control.
Whispering quietly, she was careful not to draw more attention to herself, handing him his weapons."I should, um, go. My brother will be searching for me" Her eyes darted around the alley, uncomfortable. She was unusually awkward, her movements uncertain as she pressed a chaste kiss to his mouth. "I'm sorry … for everything. Thank you. I hope that you, um, find your brother."
Offering a tight smile, she moves away quickly, leaving poor Tristan still drowning in the effects of her Awe, battered and half dressed in the alleyway. Pausing once she is far enough away that no one will ask her questions, Lilliana takes her time to fix her skirts, cleaning the mess of Tristan from between her thighs, pulling her top properly back into place. Her hair is hopeless, though she tries to tie it into a decent enough bun. The post-orgasm ecstasy that she still felt in her veins only increased her guilt as she walked to the Chapel.
Landon was waiting on her, there on the Chapel steps, two guards standing at the doors behind him. He smirked as he saw her, his eyes raking over her disheveled appearance. "Nice to see you sated, dear sister...shall we?"
Lillie stood straighter as he talked to her, cocking a brow as she shoved her shame away. "Kind of you to wait, brother."
Landon nodded, not questioning her further as he offered her his arm. Pushing open the Chapel doors, the jovialness that seemed so at home on Landon's face faded, leaving only a mask of harsh indifference in its place. It was a quarter until midnight and there was already an air of expectation.
White candles were in the process of being lit as they entered. A gathering of young men, all dressed in pristine white robes stood on either side of the sanctuary, duel choirs that awaited the time for their prepared performance. The polished pews had been moved, stored in a corner. The Kindred would be standing for tonight's Mass.
The entire Court was gathered as Lilliana walked with Landon. They all were dressed in simple elegance, none favoring armor or weapons, standing near the front of the room in perfect order. King Cedric stood at the head of the congregation, the perfect picture of a man in charge. To his right stood Adrastus and to his left Sigfried. Malvina, who Lillie had learned was the quiet Master of Elysium, stood to Adrastus' right, just as he stood to his Sire's right. Guy lurked to the left and rear of Sigfried, his mop of curls bouncing as he shifted.
Landon pulled Lilliana behind the gathered Court members, nearly fifteen feet back, releasing her arm. The cold mask stayed in place at the bells chimed, loud, so very loud they seemed to cause the noise to vibrate through her entire body, signaling the midnight hour. Each strum of the bell seemed to grow in volume, each intensifying the hollow feeling that seemed to fill the Chapel. As the twelfth bell struck, all of the choir begun singing in unison, their songs sung in perfect Latin. As all watched the room with expectation, she could not help the fear of the unknown that coiled tight beneath her skin. She glanced to Landon, careful to read his cues to know what she should do.
The rectory doors swung open, revealing a orderly line of robed figures, though all of the cloth. The first carried a decanter, and incense drifted up from the golden orb as he swung it from left to right. The smoke wafted with the movements as the figure led those behind him.
Next in the procession was another hooded figure. He walked with his arms crossed. In his right hand he held a aspergilum, a long rod about the length of a man's forearm, the top which held a silver orb the size of a man's fist. As he walked by the first group of choir boys, he shook the staff in their direction, splattering their faces and fine robes in crimson. They hardly flinched, continuing with their song. The procession continued, four more hooded figures with Bishop Silas, in full regalia, making up the rear. They walked clockwise about the room, moving closer to the waiting Kindred.
Lilliana shifted closer to Landon in her nervousness, the sound of the ominous choir boys splattered in crimson causing goosebumps to rise on her flesh. The procession moved to the King first, the smoke of the incense framing his figure, making him a truly imposing creature before the haze moved out among the rest of the Court.
The man with the incense burning pauses, waiting for the holder of the aspergilum. The keeper of the staff shook the crimson blessing upon the King, then Adrastus, then Sigfried, following the order of importance until all of the Court were baptized in those scarlet markings. The smell of blood was heavy, mixing with the smoke. The hooded men paused, waiting as Bishop Silas stood before the King. Raising his hand, Silas pressed his fingertips lightly to Cedric's forehead as he closed his eyes and whispered a prayer in Latin. Crossing himself, those intense eyes opened once more and Silas moved towards Landon, Lillie, and the remaining half of choir boys.
The staff shook at first Landon, then Lilliana, coating both of them in the hot, freshly collected blood. Thick, forbidden want slid up her throat at the smell of the blood covering her face and neck, staining her fair hair. Silas lifts his hand and whispers another prayer before the two Daeva before he moves to join the four hooded figures once more.
Lifting a hand, Silas does not utter a word, but the entire choir falls silent. Still, he says nothing as he stares at the gathering of Kindred. The silence lingered uncorfotably, but none dared to speak. Finally, Silas lifted his voice in an obvious melodious manner and sang his words. "In nomine Longinus, et Sanguinous."
He paused, allowing the gathered to respond in time with his tone as he chanted "Amen". Even Sigfried echoed the Bishop in his croaked, broken voice, leaving only Lilliana and Landon as the silent Kindred.
As the voices echoed, Lilliana's fear only grew, her body pressed into Landon's side by now. Her hand curled into her skirts, a nervous habit.
Silas looks to the those standing before him, his voice soft and powerful. "Brothers … sisters … Kindred … We gather this evening to give thanks for the blessings that the Lord bestowed upon of forebear, the great Longinus. We gather beneath our shared curse, to look toward the Heavens fulfill our Holy purpose!" His voice rises with the passion of his words, his Majesty washed out over the congregation. Th children stood in Awe of the vampire before them, the hooded figures turning to watch the Bishop with intensity. "When our forebear stood upon Golgotha, staring up at the blood of the holy sacrament running from the crucified Christ, he bathed in divine blood … "
Lifting his hands in a grand sweeping motion, Silas' voice only continued to rise. As the words continued, Lilliana could not help but feel that her fear was justified. Her hand moved from her skirt to wrap around Landon's arm. Maybe it was her own weakness, maybe it was the pull of the blood sympathy, but she wanted someone to hold onto and Landon was the only person here she could trust right now.
"When Pontius Pilate called upon Longinus to examine the bodies of those he hung, he broke the legs of the thieves with his hammer, mercilessly sending them into the oblivion of death and the fires of Hell that await all who have sinned!" He lowers his head as he takes a breath before continuing. "When he came to the crucified Christ, he found the Son of God already dead, the spirit departed. So we became death. He lifted his spear and driving it into the side of the messiah, bringing forth blood and water!" Silas continues to stare ahead, focusing on the Court, but Lillie can't help but feel as though his eyes bore into her. "The blood bathed Longinus and he became...Sanctified..." He pauses and the four hooded men all intone "Amen."
Silas draws another breath, turning his eyes to Lilliana. He reads the fear there, his voice softening, as though he means his words to comfort her. "We have naught to fear. For though we are damned, cursed to feed from the living, this curse does not come without its blessings. We are stronger, faster, we are hardy. We have been blessed, gifted with dark gifts by God to a divine purpose...Tonight we have come to commune with God, to accept our dark purpose, to not deny what we have become, but to embrace it unto our salvation. As Satan was cursed, so are we. Not to the fires of Hell, but to walk eternal until the judgment of the Lord befalls all."
Raising his head to the ceiling, Silas' voice is calm, and gentle. "We are the spear … we are the righteous … and tonight, we take part of the Holy Sacrament."
The rectory doors are pushed open once more as a scream fills the room, high pitched and desperate. A young woman, the woman she had seen in passing outside of the Dripping Wench is forced forward by the young nun. "Our beloved Abbess, Logan, has secured for us on this very night a sinner. A fornicator. A seducer of men for the love of money." Logan continues to drag the woman forward until they stand before the cloaked men and Silas. Using brute force, she forces the young girl to her knees. As her knees hit the stone floor, she screams in terror but it stops half way, jilted and broken and wholly wrong as she is wrapped up in Silas' Majesty, made tranquil by his mere presence as her fear fades into stupefied fascination.
Pity and fear for the woman grips Lilliana tightly as she stares at the others, worse than anything she felt for the mad woman. Landon stands with his hands coiled tightly into fists and Malvina stares at her feet. Beyond that, the others gave no reactions. Lilliana bites her lip, knowing she cannot act out against this order. Silas continues as though this is common, and acceptable. "This whore walks among us, a vessel of sin. She brings damnation not only to herself, but to the desperate and the lonely. She takes body, the very image of God, and defiles it night after night. She has cast aside salvation in favor of temporal pleasures."
As though a silent command has been given, Logan reaches forward and a clawed hand shreds the back of the mortal woman's back, exposing her white flesh. She makes no move to defend herself, only continues to stare at Silas. One of the hooded figures approaches, handing Silas a coiled scourge as he speaks. "In his innocence, Christ was scourged forty lashes. And in his communion, he blessed the bread and brake it. Saying take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you..."
Letting the scourge unravel, he moves to stand behind the woman, cupping her cheek as he passes around her. Raising his arm high, Silas cracks the scourge across her back with a force only Vigor can muster. She utters not a sound as the barbs hook into her flesh and tear, revealing the deeper tissue as the blood wells. Lilliana jumps, her hand covering her mouth to keep the whimper from escaping, her nails digging into Landon's arm to keep herself in place. Bloody tears well in her eyes at the thought of such pain, such torture. She could do nothing to save her. Her eyelids fluttered, a lone tear falling, staining her cheek.
The lashes continue as more blood wells, pouring down her back and still not a sound, even as muscle and bone was exposed. The sound of the scourge was thunderous, Silas' robes now splattered in crimson too. "YES!" He cried out, looking to Lilliana. "Behold our beloved visitor, who is so moved she cannot contain her tears of reverie!" Silas points to her and every eye, save for Malvina as she continues to stare at her feet, turns to watch Lillie. Guy looks to her, sympathy plain on his face. Cedric and Adrastus seem indifferent to her display of emotion. Sigfried, though, he grins, a disgusting, wide thing, at the tears, revealing his black stained gums and pointed teeth. Lilliana doesn't meet any of their eyes, shaking in her fear. Every inch of her being told her to run, run as far as she could get.
Within moment, the woman swooned and fell to her hands and knees, the blood pooling around her. "Then he took the cup … and when he blessed it, he did give it to his disciples and said take, drink, this is my blood which is shed for the remission of sins … Who among you wishes to take of the Holy Sacrament tonight?"
Another robed figure moves forward, offering a golden chalice, decorated in fine, glittering jewels. Silas took it, gathering the blood that poured from the wounds. The woman's clothing clung to her body, stained with her life as it flowed out of her. Silas walked towards the Court, and starting with Cedric, each member took of the blood, until the cup was empty. The woman was nearly unconscious as she quivered upon the cold floor as Silas refilled the cup and moved before Landon and herself.
Lillie watched her brother, knowing, hating, regretting, that she would have to take part of tonight's activities. Landon drank with a mask of stone before Silas stood directly before her, all of his attention upon the young Daeva once more. "Drink of her life … drink to her damnation … drink to your own sanctification..."
She forced her own features into cool blankness despite her rapidly increasing levels of anger at him for this monstrosity, and at herself for partaking in it as she swallowed the blood. Silas moved once more, offering the cup to Logan to drink before offering the scourge and and cup back to the hooded figures. Kneeling before the broken woman he looked towards the Heavens, speaking his prayers. "In nomine Longinus, et Lancea, et sanguinous..." And suddenly his fangs descended. He bit deeply into the woman's neck, draining what little was left of her life until she collapsed entirely on the floor, her eyes wide and empty.
The choir begun once more as the woman died, their voices swelling into crescendo. Lilliana nearly shook where she stood. How could she ever swear fealty to … to such cruelty?
Landon's body was tense, every muscle strung tightly as Logan moved forward to drag the corpse away. Soon, the clergy departed, and the Court did not take long to follow. Lilliana stayed at Landon's side, not willing to leave alone. As the members begun to pass her, Sigfried pulled his mouth back, revealing that wet, black, ooze as he spoke. "Enraptured by the display?Wrought with religious ecstacy?" His chortle, shaking his entire plump body, made it clear he expected no response.
Once the Court was gone, well on their way to their own paths for the night, Landon guides her out into the night, his shoulder slumping some as he walked. Once they were out of view, he looked down at her, his features twisting with anger and sadness. "This is the Lancea et Sanctum in every corner of the world, Lilliana. This is not what we were meant to be."
Lillie met his gaze, her terror obvious. "How can … anyone be meant for this? It's so horrible, every moment. I've never witnessed anything so cruel."
He only sighs, shaking his head as he pulls out an opened letter, one with Eleanor's seal. "I read it but … it's meant for you."
Frowning with confusion, she takes the letter turning it in her hands. "Why would she have me deliver my own letter to you?"
Landon shrugs. "Read it. I'll be waiting for you at home, sister." He turns, not giving her a chance to respond as he begins his walk.
Alone with the moon shining down on the nearly vacant field, dried blood on her face, neck and hair, and the night's events seeming to crash down upon her small shoulders, Lilliana heaves a sigh as she opens the letter, reading it quickly.
"My dearest Childe,
I am sorry to have deceived you, but it was necessary to fulfill my request of you now. I have long worn the masque of the Invictus, but I am not one of their number. I must conceal my true feelings in order to pursue the greater good, and now, you must do so as well. King Cedric has called upon me, as a member of the first estate, to send you to his court to fulfill a service. You will witness the cruelty of the Invictus, the depravity of the Lancea et Sanctum, and will be exposed to a world to which you are greatly unfamiliar.
I do not know what task King Cedric calls you for, but I know that you must now conceal your true feelings for your own well being. Like Landon, I see a world wherein Kindred are free from the tyranny of the Invictus. A world where they may defy the Lancea et Sanctum without fear of reprisal. Until now, this has only been a dream, but it is a dream shared by more and more Kindred. We call ourselves the Humanists. A covenant that believes that the free will of individuals should not be infringed upon by nobles or the church, and that in light of this freedom of will, people will choose to do good without any directives to do so.
I do not expect you to join us, but your refusal to align with any of the covenants makes you a valuable asset to King Cedric. Take care in his court, do as he bids, that I may be free of the boon that I have long owed him. Do the most good that you can do there, do not bend for the will of any save your own and follow your heart. King Cedric is soon drawing into the lethargy of Torpor and will sleep. When this happens, Bishop Silas will control the domain until he awakens. I would that you should take steps to prevent this, if at all possible, but above all, remain safe.
With love, Eleanor.
She reads the letter over three times, not seeming to quite understand what she's being told, thoughts spinning in her mind. Running a hand through her hair, the bun falls, making her look distasteful and and tousled, but she cannot seem to care. As she finishes her third run through the letter she looks up to see Bernard approaching her, the swagger of his walk giving him away more than anything. There is no joy to be found in her face, splotted in crimson, as she watches him approach. "Bernard. What can I do for you?"
He grins at her, a rakish, dirty thing, though it never reaches his eyes. "Evening, M'lady. I scratched your back … and truth be told … mine's a little bit itchy ..."
