Chapter 7: Ash
The wailing of children, the tormented screams of the women, the battle hardened cries of the men, everything was so familiar. Seras closed her eyes, she closed of her heart as she steeled her composure as she listened to the cries of the weak and victims of Vlad's onslaught of soldiers. It would be a solid victory for them, but it was a terrible price to pay. She had cast her God so many centuries ago, but yet she prayed for the lost souls of this dark and terrible night. The only light on this moonless night was the blazing flames burning on the thatched houses and on the villagers.
This was the third village that they had devastated, and there was more to continue. Slowly opening her eyes she saw a peasant woman crawl up to her with a small child in her arms, an arrow protruding from her back as she struggled to maintain her breath. She looked up to see the cool blue eyes of Seras as she watched her with a placid expression. She shielded her child the best she could, streams of blood leaking from her mouth. Her eyes wide and desperate, as she silently pleaded for mercy.
Seras's heart felt the stabbing pain of guilt and self-accusation, she instinctively knelt down and held out her hand to the young child. The young child looked up at her, with the same blue eyes which mirrored hers. A flood of unwanted memories came crashing down her, ones that she had locked away so long ago. She flinched as she suddenly drew back her hand, the woman looking at her with such wide and terrified eyes as she tried to pull her daughter away. Distrust, hate, sorrow. All these emotions swirled around in this woman's eyes and Seras understood them well. The smell of burnt flesh and ash clouded her senses as another wave of nausea hit her, everything seemed too familiar. This scene, it had happened before so long ago. When she was still human.
Suddenly the woman gasped out in pain, the child wailed in pain, and then there was silence from both. Seras felt a looming shadow over her and as she drew up her eyes she saw him. The Dark Prince of Wallachia. Vlad Tepes, a name given so freely by the citizens of his land and the enemies of his country. He sat upon a black haired mare with pitch black eyes, his inky black spilling over his shoulders as he flicked the sword to rid the blood on it. His black armour glistening with blotches of blood staining his sleeves. She felt warm blood trickle down from her face, she looked down at the now dead child and mother. She took deep and steadying breaths as she calmed herself of the inner turmoil which was ravaging the inner most thoughts of her mind. She didn't want to even think about her past.
Without a word spoken between the two, she walked over to the steed and pulled herself onto the mare. Letting Vlad wrap his arms around her waist as he let her sit at the front, Seras took one last look at the two lost souls, knowing they could avoided their deaths if they hadn't come up to her. She could only surround herself in death and suffering, knowing that it was a vicious cycle which could never end. After all, she was the one who abandoned God, casting away humanity and everything that made her human.
The siege on the village had ended with great big cheers erupting from the soldiers of Wallachia, but the true objective of the mission was not fulfilled. Invading Bulgaria and laying siege to their land and people was a factor based of fear and terror, but the people would rise again if their leader was not killed, Mehmed the Second. It was a failure. Vlad was calm and unnerved by the fact that he had slaughtered thousands. Seras didn't look down, wanting to spare herself the gore and blood. She merely looked at the blood streaked sky, as if it was mocking her. The dawn sun peeking through the horizon, casting long shadowed figures through the barren landscape. The shadows danced, making crude expressions as they laughed at her. Seras narrowed her eyes, "Begone pests", with a small wave of her hand they squealed out in pain as they saw their bodies disappear. These small little demons always swarmed around where there the scent of death and blood. Disguising themselves as birds, rodents, or simply hiding in the shadows. Low level and no real power, simply there to feed off the negative feelings such as hate and despair and perhaps every now and then there would be one strong enough to eat up the stray souls of the deceased. But that so rarely happened around her, such a high level being they didn't dare come even near her.
"What is wrong?" Vlad murmured in her ear, his arms circling around her waist protectively. Seras shook her head in disagreement and watched the soldiers' part way for their lord. Seras let out a long sigh, her thoughts tracing back to Wallachia, a few brief visions showed her the imminent attack on the capital Târgoviște but Vlad had a very cruel and disgusting way of defending the city. It wouldn't be long before that the Sultan tried to take over the city before seeing what Vlad had done to defend it.
Twenty-thousand Turks impaled hanging high in the air, with their commander on the tallest pole. Displayed proudly by Vlad who had the pleasure to watch over the work done to get them up so high, all twenty-thousand Turks surrounded the capital, the continuous flow of blood stained the soil red. And the stench was unbearable, but it did its job. Horrified, the Sultan withdrew his soldiers and retreated. Vlad took in the cruel pleasure of his to extreme, even impaling his own citizens. And Seras could merely watch, but she knew this was to only become worse. His wife as well was slowly falling into the pits of insanity, she was no longer the beautiful young woman that Vlad had married but a haggard and half insane woman who screeched and yelled at random times of the day. Attacking those who came too close to her, only Seras was able to approach her as Elisabeta was scared of this ancient being. The hierarchy of power was clear.
Seras was strangely becoming more and more tired, sleeping for long periods of time and her complexion was slowly turning paler. The rosy red cheeks and fare skin was turning blueish at areas and she was constantly tired but she never said anything. It was unclear to Vlad why this was happening as he knew nothing about her, so he could only continue to worry and fret over her health but she always dismissed it as a cold or flu. A blatant lie but Vlad truly did not know was going one. He couldn't even call for a physician for her, as she wasn't even human anymore.
Seras was tired and worried for the future of Vlad, and she couldn't even confide her problems to Vlad. How could she, it would break his heart to hear what she had to say. So for now she would have to hold it off for a couple more years and even decades if needed, but even she didn't know how much she hold it off. She was growing weaker.
And it was evident as another year passed as the war continued and it continued to grow worse. Vlad's forces were wearied and tired and he was running out of money. Seras's power grew weaker and weaker, and despite her best efforts she couldn't keep up with the change of technology. She disliked the smell of gunpowder and how much damage it could create. So many times had she healed Vlad only to fall into state of weakness as she didn't even have the power to defend herself from small preying demons who tried to take down the once powerful witch. Vlad was helpless as he couldn't even help her. His arrogance and pride cost them so much and it would be soon before everything came crashing down.
Seras tied a thick scarf around her neck and mouth, hiding the fact that when she breathed out there was no steam coming out in the frigid and cold weather. She rode next to Vlad who sat tall with a self-satisfied expression, they were finally heading back home. They had spent five weeks negotiating alliances with Matthias Corvinus and finally making battle plans at Braşov, but Seras could never take the feeling of suspicion. And no matter how many times she reached out to her visions she could never see any harm befalling on Vlad or her. But there was a gut feeling that was something was bound to happen.
"My Lord, we are to soon reach Castle King's Rock", one of the men guiding his horse said. Pointing at the looming castle ahead, they were soon to cross the border but a tingling sensation crawled up Seras as she tightened her hold on the horse.
Pulling the horse closer to Vlad she quietly whispered in his ear, "My Lord, be prepared to run", she said. Vlad gave her a puzzled look but took her advice in consideration, his handing reaching for his sword and keeping his eyes out for anything out of the ordinary. She said nothing more and pulled her horse back, letting herself hang around the back. It was an incredibly cold day, despite only being autumn and her nose was numb. She couldn't smell much as there was no wind to blow past her, a bad omen. And she could hear nothing, the frost covering the trail and the trees were dampening her ability to hear properly. Everything seemed wrong, not only that but she was terribly weak, she had been holding it off for too long and now she was paying the consequences. Her eyes dilated looking around the surrounding scenery, trying discern anything manmade from the nature.
As they rode closer to the border and the castle Seras tensed up, she didn't have any weapons herself. Only a small dagger, but she suddenly wished she had something bigger and possibly more poisoned. The shadow of the castle cast onto them, hiding them from the sun momentarily and it was then something caught Seras's attention. A glint of silver and the hint of bloodlust. The straining sound of a bow being drawn and the faint trickle of sweat. Seras's eyes widened, an ambush!
"Duck Vlad!" Seras shouted, she leapt from her saddle with inhuman speed. She sailed through the air for a moment before crashing back down onto the horseback of Vlad's mare, pulling Vlad down with her before he could register what was happening. She and he were swung off the horse before a distinct twang of arrow hit the horse and several men around them. They cried out in shock and pain. More arrows came hailing down and men hiding in the shadows of the castle walls. Seras shielded Vlad from the rain of arrows by forcing the horse closer to them, letting the mare take the brunt of the arrows. However one managed to hit Seras, but she ignored the pain travelling up her arm. Seras panted in shock, how did she not see this?!
Looking down at one of their dead soldiers, she pulled out the arrow which protruded from his back. Wiping away the blood she growled in anger, the Hungarians! She showed Vlad the arrowhead, as she pulled the arrow in her own arm. The blood seeping out from the gash, slowly closing up. Their soldiers took cover in the trees, but the force around the surrounded them. Wasting no time she used every single last bit of her power in an attempt to transport them away. At this point she couldn't care less who was watching, but before she could gather enough energy Vlad hoisted her over his shoulder.
Narrowly dodging a sword, Vlad pulled out his own sword roaring out loud his swung the blade violently down severing the Hungarian in half. "That traitor…" Vlad growled as his eyes darkened impossibly. Seras could feel the raw power vertebrate from his being, she still continued to gather her energy. Sucking the energy from any living being around her. The trees started groaning as their bark began falling and the remaining leaves turning into an ashen brown. The plants began wilting and the surrounding forest land turning silent as every animal in the vicinity started dropping dead. However it was soon turning winter and there was not enough life around to support the heavy task of transporting both. She was left with one option.
She would stay behind.
She felt the splatter of blood, she didn't have much time left. She would have to hurry it up, as strong as Vlad was he was losing against the masses of soldiers tasked in capturing. Alive or dead she did not know. Everything Vlad and she worked for would mean nothing if he died here, so she made it her number one priority to get him out of here. But the capital was far and she feared that he might even be stranded in the middle of nowhere. But she was willing to take the risk, better than here she surmised.
"Vlad. Do you get travel sickness?" Seras whispered as she twisted around placing her hands on his face. He was facing away from her but he clearly heard her. Why would she be asking that? She let the power swirl around his body, the wind shifted around them and for a moment time seemed to slow down. She concentrated her power solely on Vlad but this was her downfall. Vlad bewitched this display of power didn't even think of defending them. He didn't think that the Hungarian's would actually continue to attack them. One soldier lunged forward with his sword drawn out, and despite not knowing was happening he swinged the heavy blade.
It was an instinct. To kill the unknown.
The swirl of power dispersed suddenly and there was nothing, Vlad felt a warm liquid drip down from his neck, travelling down onto his arms and breastplate. The familiar smell of blood flooded his senses. There was a thudding sound of something falling from the sky, Vlad felt Seras slump from his hold. The flow of blood continued to increase, the smell of ash and burnt wood began to intensify.
Vlad's blood went cold, he didn't dare look down nor behind him. The Hungarian soldiers simply stood around him with their weapons drew out, and finally one walked past Vlad, still was frozen in his spot. The man bent down and grabbing by the hair he picked up the head of a woman. The hair dirty blonde with streaks of red, the severed neck dripping heavily blood. Her eyes hazy, still in state of shock. The bright clear blue eyes which was usually filled with mischief and good humour was now muddy and clouded.
Soulless.
Vlad felt sick. He couldn't think. His muscles tensing, and finally he took a look at the body which was slumped over his shoulder. The head was severed roughly, bone protruding from the neck. Her arms were still wrapped around his neck, and the warmth which he felt from her body was fading. He dropped his sword and brought the body around his arms, pulling the body into his chest. Still in a state shock he refused to believe what he saw. This wasn't happening. This was a dream and he would soon wake up to see his beautiful Seras sitting by the windowsill. Her bright smile would be the same and her wretched bird would also be there. She would laugh at his silly thoughts and continue to water her plants.
Nothing was wrong.
'Wake me up now!' Vlad screamed out in his mind, in the state denial he refused to even look at the head. "Wake up Seras", his voice soft and cracking up at places. "Stop playing around", he pleaded as he clutched onto her headless body. She was the great witch Seras, the one that had accompanied him in his conquest since he was a child. She was there every important stage of his life. When he escaped. When he became Voivode. When he helped his cousin Stephen ascend his throne. When he married. When he devastated Bulgaria. Every single point of his life she was there. Never did she leave him. Never did she betray him. Never did she disappoint him. His one and only constant companion. Through life and death she was there. And the only one he cared for. The only one…
"You cannot leave me…" Vlad whispered. Everything he had worked for, despite knowing it for his own benefit, he also did it for her. He wanted to repay everything she did for him. She gave him hope. She gave him a new purpose. She gave the love that he was never given. She gave him everything and yet he had nothing to return but himself. And despite that, she accepted him for who he was. She never changed who he was. Who he really was.
"Look at this, Vlad Tepes has finally gone insane. Talking to a dead person", one of the soldiers said with a sneer on his face. "Take a look Dracula!" He snatched the head from his companion's hands holding the head close to Vlad. "She is dead! You have nothing left Dracula! Your one last aide is gone!" The man roared at Vlad. Vlad slowly looked up with sullen eyes, it was unnatural. There nothing reflected in his eyes. Completely black and in an almost trance like state he staggered closer to the head. Releasing his hold on the body and reached out for the head. The men surrounding him couldn't help feeling fear. This man was unnatural. The Devil incarnate himself. Despite having their weapons drawn out they shivered, as if they were naked. With nothing to defend themselves with, the very presence of this man was overpowering and overbearing.
He took the head away from the Hungarian soldier. He brought the head right up to his eye level, looking straight into the eyes of the head. Blood seeped from the mouth, staining the lips into a sinful red. He brought the head closer and gave her a chaste kiss, the Hungarian's coughed out in revulsion. This man was kissing a severed head. What was this devilry? This man was truly insane.
Vlad kissed her blood staining lips; it was strange. He had never kissed her while she was alive, he had so many opportunities. And yet here he was kissing her, but it wasn't warm as he thought it would be. It was cold, and she didn't even give him a blush or a shout of protest. A rumble of laughter erupted from his chest, his rich baritone voice sounded hollow and cracked at places. His black hair swirling around in the gust of wind. He looked up at the sky, as if it was mocking him, the sun began to set. The night was approaching.
"Seras! You lied to me! You promised that you would never leave my side!" He roared out in anger, with a sudden burst of speed and power he pulled out his second sword and beheaded the man right in front of him. In accordance the soldiers around him swung their swords at him, but he using his brute strength his cut through their iron. His sword shimmering an strange red, Vlad glanced down his swords blade to see a trail of blood carve out a path through the blade. Strange runes writing itself on the blood.
One last gift from Seras.
Vlad widened his eyes, he felt a surge of power flood into his body, the power itself channelling from the sword itself. His grip on her head tightening, with his eyes glowing a crimson he leapt into the sky with a terrifying speed, bringing his sword down onto another man. Cutting him from head to toe, dancing through the several of men, gracefully dodging their blades and letting the sword guide his body. He weaved in and out of the tress, using the darkness of the night to his advantage. On that night, blood rained from the sky. And it wouldn't be the last time that would happen.
The ungodly power which surged through him was unexplainable, and those who tried to flee he would cut down without a second thought. Seras couldn't dodge the incoming attack nor have enough time to transport him away but transferring the last of her power into his sword was the best she could. And Vlad did not waste it. Finally when he was finished he walked up to that last one, the man was trembling so badly that he couldn't even hold his sword properly. The man soon realising his end was near, let go of his sword and pulled out a dagger to stab himself in the neck. Vlad stood there for a moment, a low growl reverberated from his chest. The man immediately stopped, lunging forward Vlad punched the man. Merely knocking him out.
"Pathetic. Your job is not yet done", he muttered. Slouching down against a tree stump he took her head and held it close to him, the heat had already long gone. And her blood had already dried, but yet he couldn't part with her. But he soon realised he couldn't keep her head with him, the smell of ash and smoke became so strong that he had to look up and suddenly he realised her body which he left behind was bursting into flames. There was stench of burning flesh, simply ash. And the head that he was holding burst into flames as well, he almost dropped the burning head. Ignoring the pain of his burning skin he continued to hold the head.
"Are you planning to leave me with nothing, Seras?" Vlad whispered. He gently placed the head next to her burning body, the flames burning strong. Flashes of red and purple streaked through the flames, and for a moment he thought he was hallucinating. From the smoke which rose, a faint figure but unmistakable figure gathered. His Seras, and for a moment he swore he saw her give him a faint smile before the smoke rose up into the distance.
The flames disappeared, leaving nothing but ashes. Vlad kneeled next to the ashes, a smell which he had familiarised with Seras. Pulling out some leather he made a small leather pouch, and gathered some of the ash into the pouch. He pulled the makeshift necklace over his head, at least now a part with her was always with him. Despite it being pathetic and weak of him, this was the closest thing he could get to being with her. He wouldn't be able to hear her voice or see her smile. But the scent of her ash would comfort him.
But it was far too late for him, his sanity had gone with the death of her. And now there was no turning back. He turned to the unconscious soldier, taking some melted snow he splashed it onto the man.
"Wake up you bastard. Your leader wants me? Then I'm coming to him", Vlad said dully. His eyes laced with boredom. There was simply no point for him to return to Wallachia, when there was no-one to even greet him or smile. There nothing left for him there, and perhaps when he was to return he would bring back something. There no room for any sort of emotion, any sort of love he had was now gone along with her.
He clutched onto the pouch with a tightened fist, "I'll be coming soon Seras. In Hell for sure".
Yep. I killed her. Love me? Yeah well what am I supposed to do. Besides it's not like as if she really died, well actually she did. But think of the concept of a phoenix, and if you don't know what's a phoenix, mate do your research. That's what I'm basing her immortality off. But I'm still in the stages of changing some things.
I think it will be another two chapters before kill Vlad. But even then I won't jump to the nineteenth century or the twentieth century, that would be too boring. So bear with me. I will try to have the next chapter up as soon as possible. But no promises.
Well that's all I have to say I think. No flames, everything I write has a purpose. I don't do things without reason. Any spelling errors will have to be bared through. I'm tired and my beta reader is kinda lazy.
Fave, follow, review.
Peace out.
