Destruction Cometh; And They Shall Seek Peace, And There Shall Be None.
AN: I was planning on using this chapter to show Seras adjusting to her new role as Queen, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that that would take at least three chapters and would probably take the readers out of this fic. It's a story that I think would just work better on its own, so I'm going to skip it... for now at least. Maybe after this is done I'll go back and write a short companion piece about Seras adjusting to her new role. But for now, I think it's better to focus on this story and its plot. Hope you all enjoy and don't mind - too terribly - the 'jump' from the last chapter to this one.
It had been a month since Seras's appointment as No-Life Queen, and though she'd originally had some trouble adjusting to the diplomatic responsibilities, with the help of a tutor, she was making great strides in that area. Even still, she preferred the courtroom over the fancy parties with stinky cheese - even if she sometimes had to get a little... 'creative' in her interpretation of the laws of the land to keep those motivated by simple desperation from winding up alongside the hardened criminals dangling from the gallows.
Truth be told, she wasn't quite sure how the King was going to react to a few of her rulings when he returned. But then she'd been careful not to actually break any of the laws, just creatively bend them. So she figured - hoped - he couldn't find too much fault with her management of the kingdom while he was away. She supposed she'd find out soon enough. She'd heard that the King was already on his way back to the capitol city, and would likely reach it by sunrise.
It seemed a little odd to Seras that the King would be returning so quickly, given the strength of the enemy he'd left to fight, but she'd been unable to obtain any information about the campaign, other than the fact that the King was already on his way back. Perhaps the enemy had not been as well prepared as everyone had thought.
Still it would be nice to have the King back, and Seras found, much to her surprise, that she was actually looking forward to him seeing how well she'd managed the kingdom in his absence. Crime was down slightly and she'd handled herself well in a number of diplomatic negotiations. Sure, she hadn't originally wanted the job of No-Life Queen, but she recognized the trust he'd placed in her by bestowing it upon her. And she was pleased by the idea of showing him how well she'd repaid that trust. She wondered if she should call forth the dignitaries and nobles and throw a party for the returning King. She imagined that he would like that, a celebration of his victory and triumphant return.
The first light of dawn was just starting to streak the night sky as Vlad arrived back at his palace. And for the first time in more than a century, he was not returning a conquering hero. His army had been beaten. Not destroyed, but they had been fought to a standstill and then driven back. It was not the much lauded Chinese numbers that allowed them to do this, however. They'd fallen by the thousands while battling on Russian soil and Vlad's forces had easily succeeded in protecting the kingdom's latest acquisition from those intent on stealing it away from him. No, the trouble had not started until Vlad moved his forces to counter attack.
The Chinese were one of the few nations still not ruled by vampires. In fact to maintain her power in the face of what seemed to be a world-wide vampiric uprising the Empress Dowager had declared all vampires traitors to the nation in 1901 A.D. As a result all domestic vampires were hunted down and exterminated, and more than a hundred years later the Chinese army still lacked a single vampiric soldier. This had allowed Vlad's smaller but more powerful army to push the Chinese troops out of Russia with surprising ease.
The enemy did, however, have one ace in their hole. And Vlad's forces met it when they began their counter invasion. Chinese sorcerers had learned how to briefly summon up the spirits of the dead, their own ancestors, long since past. And as Vlad's forces began their push into the ancient holdings of China, they were brought face to face with a force unlike any the centuries old vampire had encountered: spectral soldiers who neither bled, nor suffered wounds as a fleshy creature would. They were the honored ancestors of the Chinese and they defended their descendants and their ancient land with surprising tenacity. And Vlad's own forces were left decimated in their wake and forced to retreat.
Now there was a new balance of power in the East. The remaining Russian soldiers and what was left of Vlad's own forces dug in along the border between Russia and China, and the Chinese, unable to summon their spectral forces on foreign soil, waited just out of reach.
Thus Vlad returned to his capitol, bruised, disheartened, and enraged. He had failed. For the first time in centuries, he had failed. He had once more felt the venomous string of defeat.
Vlad entered his palace, dejected, surly, and alone. And as he moved through the palace heading towards his chamber, where he could find some solace from the light beginning to pour in through the windows, he heard the sound of music and revelry in an adjacent section. Allowing himself to be momentarily sidetracked, the King headed into the ballroom. And there, there amongst all the other party goers on the morn of Vlad's retreat home he saw her: Seras Victoria, his No Life Queen.
She looked graceful as she glided through the crowded ballroom filled with dignitaries. She carried herself proudly, regally, as befitting her position. She smiled, laughed at some jest one of the dignitaries had made, and then she caught sight of him and began to draw near.
Vlad turned away and began heading back to his personal chambers. But Seras was already to him. "My king," she called, "do you like it?"
Vlad turned back towards the girl. "Like what?"
"The party. I invited all the nobles and ambassadors."
"Oh, did you?" The King asked, his tone neutral. "Why?"
Seras looked confused for a moment. "To celebrate your return of course."
And Vlad's eyes suddenly narrowed. "I did not call for a celebration, did I?"
"Well, no, bu-"
"Then why would you think I wanted one?" he growled.
"Well, I just thought it would be a nice homecom-"
"Nice, NICE, you thought it would be nice?" the King shouted and suddenly the music stopped and all eyes turned to the two. The King quieted as he felt the gaze of everyone upon him. How could she do this? Was she an idiot... or did she intend to rub his nose in his defeat. He had sent no word of victory, why would she gather everyone together, all the power in his kingdom and call them to witness his failure like this? To mock and point and stare?
Suddenly an overpowering rage filled the King's heart as he looked out upon the sea of judgmental faces, all of them reveling in his defeat, called there by his own queen. Laughing at him. And in that moment Vlad wanted nothing more than to tear every last one of them apart. He wanted to rip into them and shred their mocking faces as he feasted on their blood. He wanted them dead. Dead, gone and forgotten.
And the monster's jaw opened, exposing his fangs. His eyes glowed, and his mouth began to water. This would be fun. But a small voice seemed to call him back from the brink of insanity, just before he snapped completely.
"My king, what's wrong?" Seras asked, concern evident in her voice.
And Vlad's attention shifted from the staring faces of the diplomats and noblemen to the innocent, almost cherub-like face of the girl looking up at him with such concern. Her small hand was upon his arm, as if holding him in check, though that was not her intention.
"Nothing's wrong," the King replied roughly. "Enjoy your party. Whittle away the hours with endless dancing. Get yourself drunk off the best blood wine in the kingdom. Show off your silk gown and other decorations! Eat, drink and be merry. But leave me out of it! Some of us have important matters to deal with." And with that the King turned away once more and left.
Seras just looked on, stunned. What had she done to make him act like that? She'd only tried to do something nice for him; she didn't deserve to be treated like that for trying to do something nice. Seras's cheek was suddenly wet, and as she wondered about this, she realized that she must've been crying. Wiping a finger under her eye confirmed the suspicion. She was crying.
Somehow this monster, who she'd always told herself she didn't really care about one way or the other, had made her cry. Well, he'd never get the chance to do that again. That was it; she extended an olive branch to him, and in return he'd ground it under his boot. She was done with him.
After seeing the King's reaction to the party the previous night, Edward had decided it would be best to wait until the next evening to approach him about the 'Christian plot' the Grand Vizier had 'uncovered'. Edward hated having to delay his plan longer, especially after the Chinese had begun attacking the recently conquered Russians and had drawn the King and his forces away from the capitol right when Edward had finally gotten all of his ducks in a row. The Grand Vizier's plan had already been on hold for nearly a month, though the extra time did give him the chance to strengthen his case and even incorporate in a few modern developments. Still, Edward was getting antsy for his theological cleansing, but he didn't want to run the risk of an enraged King Dracula shooting the messenger when he tried to bring the 'insidious Christian plot' to the King's attention. So he'd waited just a little bit longer.
But now, his time had come. "Great King, live forever," the Grand Vizier greeted, bowing low as he did so.
"Yes, Edward, what is it?" the King replied as he remained bent over a large table upon which rested a map of his territories and those belonging to the Chinese. The Grand Vizier had requested and audience; and, being the King's most trusted advisor, he'd gotten it. But Vlad's mind was still preoccupied with the war. "Hmmm, I wonder. Maybe if I sent the Lycans to infiltrate?" Vlad mused aloud as he tried to figure out some way of quickly eliminating the enemy's sorcerers and thus sabotaging their ability to call forth the spirits of their ancestors. There were still a few shape-shifters in China, perhaps the Lycans would have better luck infiltrating the area than his Vampiric assassins had had. Vlad then rejected the idea as he realized that all of his Lycans were of European descent and would thus only be able to blend in as long as they remained in animal form, which would preclude them from interrogating anyone in order to gather information.
"A matter most grave, my liege," Edward replied, ignoring the King's musings on the Lycans. "It seems we have traitors in our midst."
Now that got the King's attention and he sharply turned to the Grand Vizier. "Who?"
"The Christians, your grace. They are plotting to overthrow you."
The King's expression betrayed suspicion. "The Christians have been contributing citizens of the kingdom for more than eighty years. Why would they suddenly start trouble now? They have their right to worship same as anyone else, and despite their initial fears, I never culled their babies for human sacrifice... or engaged in any of their other absurd theories." The King seemed slightly amused as he thought back on the 'predictions' many religious leaders had made when he'd first seized the throne.
"To be honest, their motives baffle me as well, your grace. The only explanation I can offer is that old prejudices run deep. Perhaps they have merely been biding their time. But their motives are hardly relevant. Only the fact that they're plotting against you and your kingdom is important. And as to that matter, there can be no doubt."
"You have evidence then?"
"Yes, substantial evidence, your majesty. Intercepted communications, contracts, sales slips for massive amounts of silver, and high powered, armor piercing rifles, recorded correspondence with several rival kingdoms - including prolonged negotiations with the Chinese. Even a confessing co-conspirator, one of the men involved in that plot to kidnap one of your brides a couple months back."
"I see," the King replied and then sighed, surprising the Grand Vizier, who was expecting a more volatile reaction to the 'revelation'. "This is grave news indeed," Vlad continued almost solemnly.
"Your grace?"
"My forces are stretched thin as it is. I don't have an army available to deal with these traitors. I could use the town guards, I suppose, but they're not as well trained or equipped. And who would maintain order while they're hunting down and eliminating the traitors?"
"Surely you're not considering postponing dealing with the Christians, and letting them continue in their work?" The Grand Vizier exclaimed in astonishment.
"Of course not!" the King spat out angrily. "In more than five centuries, I've never allowed a traitor to go unpunished, and I'm not about to start now! I just don't relish what this is going to do to the stability of my kingdom. Right when I need unity and strength the most, I'm going to have to put down a revolution... The Chinese may get the upper hand as a result, and if they do... Well, that's bad news for us all." The King sighed. "Still, what must be done, must be done, and I cannot fight a foreign power with an enemy festering at home."
Edward was stunned for a moment. He hadn't considered that. The Chinese' hate for vampires was well known, and if they were to get the upper hand over the most powerful vampiric kingdom in the world they could pose a serious threat to all vampires everywhere. Was he sacrificing his own safety and that of his family simply to get back at someone who'd failed to show him the proper respect? No, there had to be a better way. And then the corner of Edward's lip curled as a thought came to him.
"Great King, I believe I have the solution. Rather than diverting your forces to deal with the traitors simply make a proclamation removing your protection from them. Let your own loyal citizens demonstrate their loyalty by dealing with the traitors themselves. Offer them the right to loot the bodies and claim the possessions of the Christians they kill, grant them the spoils of war and let them wipe out the Christians themselves. All you need to do is remove the protection of the law from them and your own loyal citizens will cleanse this land of the Christian contamination!"
And at this suggestion the King perked up. "Yes, there is wisdom in what you say. Bring me the evidence to review, and summon the confessing co-conspirator. Then draw up your proclamation. If everything is as you've said, I'll seal it with my ring before the next sunrise! And then you can begin distribution immediately."
Well, I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter. Next chapter will have the proclamation and Integra's reaction to it... as well as Seras finding out about it. Hope you all continue to have fun with this.
Have a good day, and God bless.
Metropolis Kid.
To Larisa: Thanks for the review and the encouragement. :) I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the last chapter so much and liked Seras's attention to detail what with her questions about both the requirements and expectations of her new position. Also glad to hear that you're so looking forward to Mr. Sparkle's fall. 'Tis coming, Larisa, 'tis coming. ;) Oh, and you're right about the last war not being too long ago, but this time Vlad actually wasn't the aggressor. He was pulled into the conflict by the fact that the Chinese kept attacking his most recently conquered province. ;) Well, anyway, thanks again for the review, and I hope you continue to enjoy.
To Wolfie: Glad to hear you're having so much fun with the story and are becoming so interested in Mr. Sparkle's plot. :) Thanks for the review, and I hope you continue to enjoy. ;)
