Lacrimosa
Janos's return to Kain and Vorador was not the most pleasant of occassions. Shortly upon his arrival, Janos had to duck under a swipe to his face from Kain's clawed hand. Rather than countering the attack, Janos kicked off the ground, leaping backwards at a safe enough distance. Though it was not his intention to fight, his wings and muscles were tensed should Kain continue the assault. Vorador, on the other hand, did not keep his annoyance a secret.
"Kain!" the vampire hissed, fangs exposed. Upon his reaction, the brides in the room immediately shifted their bodies in Kain's direction. If he were to attack their leader, they would have no choice but to defend him.
"He trusts a human's word over that of his own kind!" Kain snapped, pointing directly at Janos. "And yet this act of treason does not seem to phase you, Vorador."
"I put my trust in my sire and know better than to question his motive." was the hasty response. Despite the firmness of his child's tone, Janos could tell that there was some doubt in Vorador's statement. "If you so much as lay a hand on him-"
"You will what?" at that, Kain turned his attention completely onto Vorador. The tension in the room, strong as it already was, increased within seconds. Vorador's muscles flexed just as every bride in the room drew their fangs and claws. "Do you so wish to return to your grave, old friend? You are in no position to challenge me."
"You dare-!"
"That is enough!" with that, Janos took a step forward. "We are in no position to be fighting amongst ourselves. We may as well be slitting our own throats."
The truth of his words did not sink in just yet. The eyes of all the vampires, save for Kain and Vorador, fell onto him. Janos could feel their doubt just as he could feel the brewing hatred between Vorador and Kain. Everybody in this very room had wholeheartedly believed that he had made the wrong decision in trusting that human woman. This was not the homecoming he had expected.
"She will return to us," he reassured. "I have made her an offer that she could not refuse. In time, you will see that this was the right decision."
With that statement, Vorador shifted his eyes towards his sire. His entire body was still tense; if Kain was still going to attack him, he wasn't about to relax. "Sire, surely you realize that once the woman is without the stone, she will no longer be of any use to us."
"Is that how you repay those who help you?" was Janos's response. "Is it really your intention to kill her the moment she hands us our very salvation?"
"Salvation." Kain snarled. "The witch would rather our kind be wiped from this dying world. We owe her nothing."
At that, Janos glared hard at the creature before him. If this being was to be Nosgoth's savior, his hope was greatly shaken by the fact. "If you are to kill her, there is nothing I will be able to do to stop you. At the very least, save your petty revenge for after our battle with the Sarafan Lord."
In that instant, Kain's body shifted away from Vorador and turned to face Janos. The vampire approached him, his fingers curled into tight fists. Although his demeanor was threatening, Janos did not feel that Kain was going to attack him. When the younger vampire was standing at least a foot away from the ancient, he leaned his face in close to Janos. His eyes were burning with an unspeakable anger.
"If that human does not return, you have doomed us all," venom dripped with every word he spoke, and Janos could feel the very hatred radiating off of him as he continued, "And I will kill both of you."
Using the Nexus Stone, she transferred herself from her laboratory into her former quarters. The room had remained untouched and perfectly intact, as if she had never left it at all. This had actually surprised her: if she had been branded a traitor, the contents of her room would have been removed completely and another person would be living there. Keeping the room and it's belongings intact was the sign of someone who had died honorable, either in battle or in some noble manner. It would stay this way for at least a year in the deceased person's honor before the contents were auctioned off and the room was prepared for a new owner.
He made it look like a vampire attack. A terrible accident... does that mean that they do not hate me?
"The judges saved my life... I was at their mercy."
...But they will hate me if I kill our men... Hylden or no Hylden, their blood will be on my hands...
With a glare, she shook her head and proceeded to the wardrobe. "I'll worry about this for now..."
As the Seer had made her appearance much younger and healthier, Holly assumed that fewer people would recognize her here. After undressing, she pulled open the doors of the wardrobe and pulled out a fine, green gown. It was modest and would cover her scarred arms, chest, and neck, though it looked a tad old-fashioned for her new rejuvenated features. Still, she looked uncharacteristically lovely in it. Given her occupation, she never had an opportunity to dress particularly ladylike. She doubted that many people would recognize her in it, especially when she decided to wear a rather unflattering bonnet over her hair. As long hair was no longer in the fashion, she would stick out like a sore thumb.
Before leaving her room, she opened a small box on her dresser. It contained a variety of cosmetics that she never had much time to put to use. There was no need to make herself look lovely if she was only going to be covered in grease, soot, and sweat afterwards. It was a rare occasion for anybody to honestly see her wear the make up. Perhaps it would add to her disguise. Within moments, her cheeks were rosy and her lips were a dark wine color. She barely recognized herself when she looked in the mirror.
The last time I remember looking like this was on my wedding day...
It was not the last time she had worn make up, nor was it the last time she made an effort to make herself look lovely, but the memories of her on her wedding day came rushing back to her. The ceremony, with all the Sarafan Knights and their wives present. The swords, the flags, the shining armor, and her groom's gentle smile. His face was forever etched in her memory: those intense, dark eyes, his olive-toned skin, his wild black hair, his beard and moustache that always scratched her when he would kiss her. In the past, she would always scold him for not shaving it off completely. Now, she would give anything in the world to feel it again.
If I go through with this... I will be turning on him and everything he fought and died for.
That horrible stab of betrayal was one she could not shake. She had given her word to Janos that she would help him under the terms that he would help her undo their deaths. But the blood of those soldiers would be on her hands. Realistically speaking, how would Kain even begin to infiltrate the Wharves without killing them? There was no way she could evacuate the Wharves in time, and even if she could persuade them to issue the order for an evacuation, many soldiers would stay their ground out of their own code of honor.
But if you don't do this... the Hylden will take over...
At that thought, Holly turned away from the mirror. Her hands cupped around the Nexus stone. The true power and value of this stone came into full realization for her: she had in her possession the key to both salvation and destruction of three species. This choice, as hard and as horrible as it was, was hers and hers alone. The stone was what kept her alive and what kept her valuable to the vampires, yet it marked her for extermination.
She stared down at the stone, seeing her reflection on it's blue surface. The face of a younger woman, beautiful yet troubled, strong but tormented.
...You know what you have to do.
She released her hold on the stone. Moving over to a coat hanger, she pulled a very long cloak from it and threw it around her. In a hurry, she rushed towards the door and exited her room.
Four days had passed.
The ward gates were still operational.
The security at the Wharves had doubled, if not tripled, in that time.
Holly never returned to Sanctuary.
