ARA' MANTH
Secret Witch Council Meeting held at the house of Emile. In attendance: Emile, Illile, Altheya, Magda and John.
"I say it is time we gather our kind and make our journey back to ANVARD" said Emile who was a small man of stature, olive skin with intelligent looking brown eyes.
"Such nonsense" said Illile. A big man with a beard and puffy face. "Have you forgotten how good they have been to us. Embraced us in their realm. There is a truce Emile. The Emperor honored that truce" Illile said. Small droplets of sweat forming on his upper lip that he kept wiping off with a hankerchiefe.
"Emperor Vladimire is dying Illile", Emile said calmly. "They drain fifthy humans a day just to feed him and him alone and still the blood flow from his orifices and I'm not just talking about his ears and mouth alone. No my friend the emperor is a dead corpse."
"And it's talks like this that will start something better left alone and if you value your tongue you will mind what you say" Illile said clearly annoyed with Emile.
"Who will they turn to when the humans aren't enough to sustain them anymore. Are you that blind that you can't see these vampires already feeding from our sons and daughters. Luring them with blood play and lust. This is not the natural way" Emile said looking at each council member.
Everyone in this secret council meeting knew Emile was talking from his own personal pain. His beloved daughter Elizabeth had fallen in love with a vampire. She ran away to be with him against her father's wishes, he turned her and now she is embracing vampirism openly.
"At least their not being killed" Illile said nonchalantly.
"For now" said Emile brown eyes fuming.
"Enough you two" comes the soft voice of Altheya. Let us not fight amongst each other. If what Emile is say is true than we must be prepared."
"Maybe my fellow council member Emile does have a point" John said in a baritone voice. "I have noticed that the teaching in schools contains less and less lessons of witches, werewolves, elves and goblins. They are trying to make our history look like some fantasy tale made up by an old man on lotus."
"Not another one" Illile said iritated throwing his hands up.
"We have witches and humans on the Emperor's council for us. I'm sure they will tell us if anything was wrong" said Magda. A small woman with hair the colour of a raging fire , freckles and big green eyes.
"They are being told what they only need to know Magda" Emile said.
"Why can't we practice our magic openly anymore? How many of our children know their true heritage?" Jonh asked.
"And all I'm hearing are complaints and accusations" Illile said. This time wiping the hankerchiefe over his sweaty face.
"No my friend these are valuable facts. It's time we wake up before it's too late." Emile said handing Illile a clean hankerchiefe which Illile took with a mumbled thank you.
Mother had a dream said Magda suddenly eyes big as saucers. "She saw the High Goddess leave this world."
"And what else did she see?" asked Altheya worried.
"Darkness" Magda said.
"This is it. This is the sign" Emile said as leaned back in his chair deep in thought.
"I still think this is nonsense and with that you will have to excuse me" Illile said as he gets up.
"Let's hope when the time comes you will remember which side you choose Illile" Emile said.
"And let us hope I don't have to" said Illile.
ARA' MANTH
OPEN COURTYARD AT THE EMPEROR'S CASTLE
Focus Elena and keep steady. Remember your enemies won't miss. Strike before they strike. The voice came to Elena through a thick fog that surrounded her.
Clear your mind Elena. Silence your thoughts the same voice said.
Standing at a right angle to the targets with her back foot slightly forward. Her feet shoulder-width apart. She gripped the bow handle and present the bow to her targets. With her bow arm straight, she raised the bow to a point that her arm is parallel to the ground, while simultaneously draw the string back to her anchor point with her shooting hand and aimed it securely at where she can hear the faint heartbeats.
It is just you Elena. Release. The voice demanded.
Elena closed her eyes and released three arrows vampire speed at her targets. When she slowly opened her eyes the fog had cleared away.
"You hesitated a little, Elena. That can cost you your life" Lucian said as he walked up to Elena hands behind his back. "We can't lose focus now" he said as he looked at the three young women each tied to a wooden pole. Three blood red apples on each girls head with a arrow in each apple.
From where he was standing he could smell their fear. The one in the middle even wet herself he saw with morbid amusement. This gave him sadistic pleasure seeing them tremble in fear. Yes, he will have the one in the middle for tonight. First have his wicked way with her before draining her slowly and painfully Lucian thought to himself with a sadistic smirk.
"It won't happen again Lucian" Elena said with a stern face.
"I'm deeply sorry to disturb you, Your Empress, but your father wants to see Your Empress." A servant said behind them. His head bowed.
Elena turned around and looked at the man. "Tell me slave is Vladimire finally on his last moment?" Elena asked with a cold expression on her beautiful features.
I … I … my … Empress … I … the servant choked on his words.
Elena kicked the servant and he went flying through the air. A sickly sound could be heard when his head hit one of the castle's pillars.
"Oh well better go see what my dear father wants" she said in a mock voice.
Lucian smiled. "You do that. I will clean up here." His eyes going back to the tied up young girl.
Elena's stunningly long Ruby red dress flowed gracefully behind her as she walked the long corridor in the east wing to her father's Chambers.
Stopping at her father's chambers. She opened the door without knocking.
Lurid pictures of vampires in their demon-like state feasting and in various erotic positions with humans decorated the walls. These pictures were loomy and depressing.
Vladimire's coffin stands on a stone pedestal in the center of the room. A red velvet cloth blankets the pedestal. Free hanging curtains – like those surrounding a four poster bed – screen the vampire's coffin from casual view.
Several plush rugs cover the floor. Underneath each lies an ironbound trapdoor. Elena knew the bloodless remains of Vladimire's victims can be found within. The smell in the chamber was nauseating.
A set of bookshelves line one wall. They hold no books, but rather display a number of grizzly trophies taken from the bloodless corpses of his victims. The ceiling depicts an amazing detailed painting of a clear, blue sky complete with several small clouds and a blazingly brilliant sun. Several chests stand against one wall. They contain various jars and bottles each filled with blood.
The Emperor was seated on a chair near the window. The once mighty Emperor who was feared by most men was now a gaunt looking rat like creature hideous with a sunken face and yellow eyes. The inside of his mouth was pitch black and blood dripped out of it. His fangs that rested on his lower lip can't be retracted back at will anymore. It became dissolved from overfeeding. His skin was a sickly grey and slimy. He was covered in a long purple robe.
Elena felt utter disgust for this creature infront of her. Keeping her distance, she said "you asked for me father."
THE OUTSKIRTS OF ARA'MANTH
"I can't believe you brought me here" Meredith lauhingly said to the petite beauty next to her.
"Awe live a little Mer and love a lot more." The petite beaty said with a naughty smile.
From where the two girls were standing they could see all the young people enjoying themselves and getting drunk on honey beer.
"Do you see him?" Meredith asked over the noise.
"No I don't, but he is here." The petite beauty said with a smile.
"So are we finally going to taste honey beer?" Meredith asked with a mischievous smile.
Before the petite beauty could answer she heard his voice in her head. "Come to me"
"Where are you?" Bonnie asked back in her mind.
"It's him isn't it you have that look" Meredith said looking around to try and spot him.
Yes it's him the petite beauty said with a twinkle in her emerald eyes.
"Go to him and be careful" Meredith said. She quickly hugged her friend. "Oh and come find me I don't know what honey beer can do to a first timer like me" Meredith called over her shoulder.
"I will Mer" the petite beauty said laughing happily.
"Im waiting" the voice said in her head.
"Then tell me where you are?" She replied back.
"Just move your pretty little feet and let your heart do the rest."
The petite beauty smiled. Her untamed midnight – black curls whipped cheekily and adorably on her head and framed her face beautifully. She was by far one of the most beautiful woman in ARA'MANTH. The envy of girls and the fantasy of men.
A path was cleared for her as she walked to him, oblivious of how radiant and captivating she looked.
"I see you Damon" Bonnie said in her mind.
"And I always see you Cat eyes." Damon said softly.