Lacrimosa
Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews and favorites! I'm very happy that you are enjoying the story. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
"Evenin', Mrs. Angela." said the tapster as Holly took her seat at the bar. "It's been a long while since we've seen you! They aren't keeping you too busy, are they?"
It had been three days since the incident in the Industrial Quarter. By that time, Holly had not only managed to get some rest, but also had enough work done to earn her a few days off. The Red Raven was a shady little place in the Lower City of Meridian. Though the food was overall unsatisfying, the drinks and the company was more than enough to make Holly return on her break. It also helped that this was the only pub in Meridian where the residents did not judge her for smoking indoors.
Holly smiled at the tapster and took her seat. "Oh, if they are, I'm the one who's been asking for it." she chuckled. "There's been a lot of my mind lately, it's been slowing down my work."
The tapster filled a pint of ale and slid it over to Holly. "Poor dear," she shook her head. "It's that time of the year again, isn't it?"
After taking a sip, Holly rose an eyebrow at the lady. "Hm... how could you tell?"
"Well for one, darling, you're wearing your wedding band. And you've seemed to be fancying darker clothes, lately. And you have such a grim look in your eye. It doesn't take much for an old friend to know when her girl is feeling blue."
Indeed, the wedding band. Holly sighed and glanced down at it. It was nothing more than a white gold ring, but still it meant so much to her. It was dark in the pub, yet this simple piece of jewelry seemed to shine. Almost immediately her mind was filled with thoughts of the past: her wedding day, the birth of her children, the life they used to live in that big house outside of Meridian. Holly sighed again, shaking her head slowly and returning to reality. After taking a small drink, she addressed the tapster again.
"Mind if I smoke?" she asked.
"Oh honey, you know you don't have to ask! Nobody in here cares what you do!" was the response. Holly chuckled and slipped out a cigarello and a lighter from her coat pocket. She placed the cigarello to her lips and lit it, inhaling then exhaling the smoke before allowing herself to relax.
"Yes, it's always hard this time of year...it doesn't hurt quite as badly as it used to, but still..." it was beginning to bother her that she came to this bar to relax, and yet all she was doing was depressing herself. Her eyes fell back on the pint of ale and she made a face at her reflection on the glass. Nobody liked a sad drunk. It would be better if they moved onto another topic. The tapster seemed to have noticed this.
"Have you heard from your little girls? How are their families doing?" she asked.
Holly chuckled. Her daughters certainly weren't "little girls" anymore according to the news she had recently received. "Magdalena is going to have another baby. Her third one. And Lilianna wrote to me the other day. Her little boy is learning how to walk."
Immediately the tapster was overcome with excitement. Holly actually couldn't help but laugh at the older woman, cheering and clapping her hands at the good news. The tapster quickly poured herself a drink and clicked glasses with Holly, and the two took a nice long drink together. Yes, bringing up her children was certainly a good way to lift the mood. If Holly was proud of anything, it was her girls. They had families and homes, they had given her grandchildren. Not a day went by where Holly was not entirely grateful that she had lived long enough to see her girls have their babies. The feeling was magical.
The beer sessions continued for more than a half hour when the door to the pub swung open. Immediately, the Tapster's face paled and any happiness she had a moment ago was completely drained from her face. Holly's eyes widened, and immediately her small hand moved into her robes. Her fingers brushed over the hilt of a small throwing knife, but she did not draw it yet. It was best not to react so quickly. She didn't know who had entered the room and did not turn to face whomever it was. The Tapster's eyes fell onto her face, seeing the look of tension in Holly's eyes. She tilted her head to the side, and Holly took the hint. Very casually, she rose out of her chair, leaving her money on the table, and then carefully moved across the room. The conversation between this unknown guest and the Tapster must have begun when she was out of hearing range. For Holly, that wasn't entirely too far.
"...I bloody hate getting old..." she muttered to herself.
Years of marriage to a Sarafan soldier had made Holly very aware of what to do in situations like these. She was not to draw any unnessisary attention to herself. She was to appear unknowing of what may happen, and yet have her guard up at all times. And although the Sarafan did not approve of civillians being armed at all times, it was a law Holly felt no guilt over breaking. These were dark times, and she would be damned if she was going to be the only unarmed person in a room full of troublemakers. Very carefully, she lowered herself into a seat at a table near the back of the room. She picked up a menu, slipping on her half-moon glasses to read the contents, but peered over the pages.
Her eyes widened and she kept herself from gasping, or making any sound that would indicate shock or fear.
Standing before the Tapster was a very tall, very pale man. His skin was as white as a corpse, his hair even whiter, and yet his body was young and strong. His attire was very unlike any clothing a Nosgothian man would wear in public, and the gauntlets on his forearms gave him a mark of a warrior. Living with the Sarafan for all these years allowed Holly to recognize a vampire when she saw one. However, she was not expecting to see the one depicting in the massive painting in the Sarafan Keep. The battle from 200 years ago. The Sarafan against the vampires, the defeat of the great vampire general.
Kain.
Holly glanced back at the Tapster. She looked frightened. With every word the vampire said, she only reacted with more fear. She was trembling, moving from side to side, her mouth moving quickly. And immediately Holly's eyes narrowed.
If there was one thing Vladmir had taught her, it was how to spot a snitch when she saw one.
The conversation was brief, and after a moment the vampire exited the pub. When Holly was confident he was gone, she rose from her table and rushed over to the Tapster. A look of fury was in her eyes.
"What did you say to him?" she demanded, her voice low but intimidating.
"I... I told him nothing...! He asked for directions, and-"
At this, Holly's hand lashed out and grabbed the Tapster roughly by the arm, pulling her towards her. "We have been friends. I have trusted you with my thoughts and feelings, and you are going to stand here and lie to my face over a vampire?"
The Tapster looked horrified, perhaps even ashamed. There was an intensity in Holly's voice and eyes, and yet out of some kindness in her heart, she had decided to keep this conversation quiet. If the wrong ears heard this conversation, it would mean the end for this woman and her establishment. After a moment, Holly released her hold on the Tapster, and the lady spoke again.
"...I heard a voice. It was dark, I could not see anything. It told me to give him a message. That is the truth... please Holly, it is the truth..." she whispered, and Holly stepped back.
"...Where is he going?" she asked. The Tapster shook her head. Holly's eyes narrowed again.
"I swear to you, I don't know where he is going! I know he must enter the worker's area to get to wherever it is he must go, but that's it... don't tell me you are going to follow him!" the Tapster pleaded when Holly began to turn away.
"...There is a vampire in Meridian. That means the security should be doubled in the Lower City. If I go now, maybe I can stop him." she said, only to hear the Tapster rushing to her.
"Holly, don't do this!" she cried, grabbing the woman's forearm. "I looked him in his eyes and I saw no pity. I saw no mercy. If you cross him he will kill you! I know this!"
Holly responded by tearing her arm from the woman. "You looked a monster in the eye and decided to aide him. I have too much love and respect for Vladmir to allow this monster the freedom to do as he pleases." she said, then glared back at the Tapster. "...Be happy that I do not inform the guards about this."
Without another word, Holly exited the Red Raven. The vampire was already gone, and on the move. She spotted a large ward gate nearby, and froze when she saw the bodies of two Sarafan soldiers laying there. In a hurry, she rushed to them and knelt down beside the bodies. Large gashes across the face and throat, yet there was no trace of blood within the body. Holly's eyes narrowed, and then she rose to her feet. She walked through the Ward Gate, keeping her eyes open and her senses sharp as she moved, and eventually found another warrior.
"Madam Angela..." he greeted, saluting her. "What troubles you?"
Holly inhaled deeply, then opened her mouth to speak. "...Send a message to the men posted in the Upper City. Even inform Marcus if you find it appropriate. I have seen the vampire, Kain. He is here..."