Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I am sorry that it has been so long since I last updated and I hope that this makes it up to you. As always I own nothing. WARNING: GORE.
Elsa smiled as she removed her hand from the girl's mouth. The girl, for her part, stared at the zombie which Elsa had summoned. Elsa was rather proud of how easily she could summon and control the creature, in fact, she could do it almost without thinking. She was sure that it would not be long before she could summon and control whole armies of undead servants. The mere thought of it made her quiver with anticipation, but those pleasant thoughts would have to wait. There were other pleasures to be had first. She returned her attention to the terrified girl.
"You said that you were devoted to me correct?" The girl nodded in mute agreement.
"And you would like to prove that to me wouldn't you?" Again the girl nodded.
"Well, here is your chance." She indicated the zombie; "When this creature tries to kill you, don't let it." With that she stepped aside and sent a command for the zombie to attack. The girl's eyes bulged with terror and she backed hastily away from the creature.
"Mistress please!" She shrieked, giving Elsa a pleading look. Elsa's only response was to laugh.
The zombie continued to advance and the girl had nowhere to back up to. Seeing this the girl made a dash for the door. Unfortunately for her this took her past Elsa. Elsa gave a sigh of mock disappointment and, with speed and strength that she had never had when she had been a mortal, she interposed herself between the girl and the door. With a simple shove she sent the girl flying back into the zombie's arms.
"Silly girl," Elsa chided the girl as the zombie tore her throat out; "Running wasn't an option. I suppose that you were not as devoted as you claimed to be." As soon as the zombie dropped the dead girl to the ground Elsa reached out and commanded the corps to get to its feet. She wiped some of the blood from the wound on the zombie's throat and licked it. It was rather disappointing if truth be told. While it still carried tinges of the woman's fear, it was dead blood and already carried a stale element to it. In future she would have to make sure to feed from live fearful people. Bored, she turned calling over her shoulder as she went.
"Clean up the mess."
Downstairs she found that a human servant awaiting her. At least Elsa thought he was a human, it was rather difficult to tell. He was living, Elsa could sense the living blood flowing through his veins, but in truth he looked more like a mutant than a pure human. He was stooped and a hump on his back drove his left shoulder lower than his right. He had a lazy right eye and a hanging lip. Why De Mont would have such a creature around him was beyond Elsa, her master seemed to be as refined and sophisticated as herself, if no more so and the mere sight and smell of the creature was revolting to her. As she drew near it the creature bowed to her.
"Misstress." He said, slurring the words and causing Elsa to recoil slightly from his breath, which stank as much as the rest of him.
"Masster wishes to ssspeak to youuu. Pleeasse follow mee." With that the creature turned and shambled away. Elsa bridled at such abrupt treatement by a creature which would, in any civilized place, have been killed as a mutant; or at the very least been shunned as a freak.
He led her into a room which appeared to be a study, with shelves containing books on two of the walls and a table with a map in the center of the room. De Mont and Gaspar were at the table staring at the map. Elsa could see that her master was clearly angry, his fists were clenched tightly and he seemed to be controlling himself only with great difficulty. Gaspar on the other hand, while appearing frustrated, also seemed to be slightly amused by whatever was bothering De Mont. They both turned as Elsa and her guide entered the room. De Mont ignored her at first, instead focusing on the creature.
"Well done, you may leave us." The creature bowed.
"Yess Masster. Thank you Masster." With that he turned and was gone. Elsa cast look of distaste in his direction.
"Why in the name of all the gods would you keep such a disgusting thing around Master?"
"Do not presume thrall!" De Mont snapped at her.
"Despite his appearance he has served me faithfully for many years. More faithful than some." This he said with a look at Gaspar.
"And more usefully than others." This was said with a look at Elsa. This caused her to flush with anger. How dare he compare her to that thing! Before she could say anything; however, De Mont turned back to the map on the table, leaving it to Gaspar to inform Elsa of the proceedings.
"It appears that, despite our best efforts, it would appear that the forces that we now command are still insufficient to confront those of Van Opfer. Furthermore, we dare not gather any more in order to avoid alerting the Empire." Elsa came up to them and looked at the map.
"Where are we?" She asked. This time it was De Mont who answered. He stabbed his finger at spot on the map.
"Here, more or less." Elsa looked at where he was pointing.
They were south of Altdorf and they were indeed close, far too close for comfort. There were also several small villages located near where they were. As she stared at the map an idea began to form in her mind. She looked up at De Mont and Gaspar.
"Where is Van Opfer now?" At her question Gaspar looked at her in a way that he had not since they had met. De Mont, clearly enjoying having someone new to rant at, failed to notice the exchange. Instead he tapped a spot on the map north of Altdorf.
"There, about four nights march from us and he has a force far larger than our own." Elsa was slightly confused. She was not a military expert, but even to her there seemed to be something wrong.
"Surely, if his force is so large, Van Opfer will be discovered by the authorities in Altdorf?"
"Oh, the Empire will mobilize certainly. However; it does not matter. By the time Van Opfer is uncovered and the forces in Altdorf mobilized and march out we shall be dead and Van Opfer shall be long gone." De Mont slammed his fist down on the table, causing it to crack and Elsa to jump.
"This is intolerable! I will not have that Marienburg fop destroy me! I have worked too long and too hard for it all to be undone like!" Elsa waited for it to become clear that he was done speaking before she spoke.
"Master, if I may be so bold, I believe that I may have a suggestion as to how to use the situation to our advantage." While Gaspar looked intently at her De Mont snorted derisively.
"You? You've been one of us for less than a week! And before that the closest you ever came to military matters was to seduce officers! But please," here his voice grew sarcastic; "Enlighten us. Share your great wisdom with us." His words stung her, but Elsa forced herself to continue.
"Does Van Opfer know exactly where we are located?" Gaspar gave a slight nod of his head. At his affirmation Elsa continued speaking.
"If we can determine the rout that he is most likely to take then we strike at the villages ahead of him. This will allow us to build up our forces and it will alert the authorities in Altdorf. They will, as you said, marshal their forces and march out and they will indeed find a vampire, Van Opfer. If we are lucky they will destroy him, or at least drain his strength sufficiently that we can destroy him ourselves." For a moment neither of the other two spoke, they merely stared at her, then Jaspar began to chuckle.
"It seems that our little vampire has the mind of a strategist after all." Elsa smiled with false modesty.
"Not strategy necromancer, it is simple manipulation of others. A skill which comes naturally to any Von Carstein." This last was said with a flattering smile at De Mont. He master was silent for a moment and then he began to speak.
"It might work, Van Opfer is certainly foolish and arrogant to fall for such a ploy." He paused for a moment and then he turned to Gaspar.
"Gaspar, you and the thrall will go immediately and raid the villages that she indicated. Raze them and raise the dead. However; be sure to let one or two survive with sufficient strength to make it to Altdorf to spread word of what has happened." He paused and smiled.
"We'll let the humans do the work while we reap the benefits and then, we shall return to Sylvania. We shall return home.
Author's Notes: Hey every, how are my efforts to make her hated going? I will try to make the next one longer and sooner. Till next time please pray for those who need it and I will see you soon. May Jesus bless you.
