Hello everyone!
Now we are ready to go to Asia. I hope you will like this update ^_^ Thanks again for your great reviews.
I was checking that I have had to put this chapter like 4 chapters ago, but I forgot. So here I come. Beware, this is another crazy vampire chapter.
Now, another message for our sponsors… or again you can skip this and read and enjoy.
Hi Sophea: Thanks a lot for your lovely message and your words about "my" Hephaistion. I haven't notice that Leon's daughter has the same name as you ^_^, I was smiling when I read it. I hope you will like this update too.
Disclaimer: I borrowed 3 fictional characters for 3 books I like very much: Anaxagoras, from Cristina Rodriguez' Thya from Sparta. Lucius Cornelius Macro, from Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle series and Eric Northman from Charlaine Harris' The Sookie Stackhouse novels. These are not mine, and all credit goes to their gifted authors.
Warning: Again, the use of bad words was necessary in this chapter.
CHAMPION ETERNAL
Blood like rain come down
Drawn on grave and ground
Part vampire part warrior
Carnivore and voyeur
Sing to the death rattle
(Tool, Vicarious)
Kyoto, 1550
- I hate this place –Lucius complained. The Roman had been complaining since they left Europe almost a year ago.
- I know –said Hephaistion tired, walking with his friends on the narrow streets of that foreign city.
- How can you hate this place? We have been here only 3 nights –said Eric excited, he loved to travel and to meet new people and places.
- I'm not happier than you, Lucius –said Anaxagoras, the Spartan didn't like this new place either—But we couldn't stay in Europe, you know that. It was far too dangerous.
- Oh, come on! –said Eric, smiling at the 3 ancient vampires that were with him with faces that said: "I want to die, now"—How can't you be exited? We are in Japan, at the other side of the world. When I was mortal, I didn't even know there was land here.
- Why we didn't go to America? –asked Lucius, brushing his hair back—At least that is an European colony, not a complete strange place like this.
- We have already discussed this –said Hephaistion, watching fascinated the houses, the people's clothes and especially their swords—Almost all the members of the Sabbat went to America.
- This is safer –said Anaxagoras.
- And more interesting –said Eric.
- Oh, please. For fuck's sake! Stop smiling, Eric –exclaimed Lucius.
How did I end in Japan? Well that is a long story. There are 13 vampire clans as I said before; until now you have heard about the Tzimisce, my clan, the Ventrue, my friend's clan, the Malkavian, the dream gazer, Light's clan, the Tremere, the wizards and witches' clan, the Cappadocians, the tomb thieves' clan and the Toreador, the artist's clan.
There are many others and there are 2 sects that contain almost all the clans: The Camarilla and the Sabbat. The differences between them are quite simple, the Camarilla is a conservative sect, control by the most ancient vampires and defends 2 important principles: first, vampires must hide from human eyes following the most sacred of the rules, the masquerade. And the second, vampires must honor their ancients.
The Sabbat is the opposite, the Sabbat is full with young vampires who loathe their ancients and who think that they don't have to hide from humans, they laugh at rules like the masquerade and every city controlled by the Sabbat has a high level of violence. You see, the Sabbat hides behind a curtain of blood and gore. Who pays attention of a body without blood in a city where fights among gangs is something common?
But why did we ran away from Europe? Well, the Camarilla was founded in the XVI Century after the Anarchist revolt…what's the Anarchist revolt? You truly know nothing, do you?… In old times the ancient vampires were like feudal lords that control their Children as if they were slaves. Of course the young vampires got angry and started a revolt against their masters. The first 2 clans that started the revolt were the Lasombra, the ones who can control the shadows, and my clan, the Tzimisce; many vampires of thousands of years found the final dead in those nights and as you can see, it was very dangerous for vampires as old as us to stay in Europe.
The young and rebellious vampires founded the Sabbat and the ancient ones the Camarilla. And since those bloody nights the 2 sects have been fighting each other. Nowadays are cities control entirely by the Camarilla others by the Sabbat, and others like this one, New York, that is in dispute. Of course there are independent clans, that don't pledge loyalty to the sects…
So, we ended in the newly discovered island of Japan, the Portuguese claimed it as their own, according to the partition of the world made by the infamous Pope Alexander VI, also known as the Borgia Pope. You have heard about the Borgia family, don't you?… Of course I knew them, Lucrezia Borgia and her brothers but that's a story for another time. Where was I?...After the discovery of America, the Pope divided the world between the 2 rising powers Spain and Portugal, and according to his division, Japan was on the Portuguese side.
But when we arrived at Japan, we found something we didn't expected…
- Are you sure about this? –asked Hephaistion and Eric nodded.
They were sitting in their newly acquire house. Never before buying a house had been so difficult, but they were strangers in a land that didn't like strangers and if it hadn't be for a Portuguese priests they wouldn't have a house.
- This country is going to be in civil war –said the Viking.
- How did you find out? I don't understand a damn thing of what people speak here –said Lucius, arriving with a sword in his hand.
- I was talking to our Portuguese priest –explained Eric—What is that? –he pointed at the sword.
- Oh, this? –the Roman gave him the weapon—It's a Japanese sword, I took it from my meal tonight.
Want to know something funny about the Ventrue clan? Every vampire clan has a weakness, the Ventrue, like Lucius, Anaxagoras and Eric, can only feed on one type of human. For example, Lucius only eats warriors, Anaxagoras only drinks the blood of religious people and Eric… well, Eric only feeds on blond women; which was very funny because in that time in Japan weren't blond women, so his Sire, Lucius, had to feed him with his own blood.
Want to know the weakness of my clan? Tzimisce can only sleep on the earth of our birthplace. Which means that I always travel with 2 little sacks of earth from Pella.
- They called these swords: katana –explained the Roman, and Eric checked it.
- I have never seen a blade like this before –said the Viking.
- May I? –Eric gave Hephaistion the sword and he saw his gray eyes on the blade—My grandpa would have loved to see a sword like this –he said after a long silence.
- The one who gave you Castor and Pollux? –asked Lucius, taking a seat at Hephaistion side—Damn houses without chairs.
- Yes, him –it was strange that Hephaistion talked about his mortal family, and Eric and Lucius saw him in silence—But I no longer used his swords –he said, putting the katana aside.
- Too old? –asked Eric and the Macedonian nodded.
- Too old –Hephaistion repeated in a low voice—I don't like this place, I need to go back to Europe as soon as the revolt ends.
- Are you concerned about Alexander? –asked Lucius.
- You know I keep his body in Illyria… I'm sorry the Ottoman Empire –said Hephaistion—I feel uneasy if I'm not close to protect him.
- You worry too much –said Eric—You put a lot of spells and stuff like that to protect him.
- Nonetheless I don't want to be so far from him –said Hephaistion.
- And speaking about your King, why did you choose Illyria to keep him? –asked Lucius.
- Because when we were mortals, we spent a wonderful time there… just the 2 of us –Hephaistion smiled—Besides, nobody will look for him there.
- Good point… I have another question –said the Roman—What did you do with his body?
- What do you mean?
- He has a spell and his body isn't going to decay, but you put the spell 3 days after his death, so when he wakes up, he will be in a body slightly decay? –said Lucius.
- No, I modified him –said Hephaistion, catching his friends' attention—Using Vicissitude I…changed his body to eliminate all traces of decay. If you see him now his body is perfect shape, he just needs his soul.
They fell silent again.
- I missed gladiators fights –said Hephaistion suddenly—That was one thing I truly liked about Romans, they knew how to have fun.
- The gladiators were as described in books? –asked Eric with curiosity.
- Much better, but almost all vampires avoid those combats –said the Macedonian.
- Why?
- First, almost all the gladiators' fights were during the day –said Lucius—And second, the strong smell of blood could make the weakest vampires attack the mortals around them.
- I'm bored –said Hephaistion, stretching his arms on the table in front of him—Lucius?
- Mm?
- Do you want to have sex with me? –asked the Macedonian, as if he was asking for walk in the park.
- WHAT? –the Roman exclaimed in astonishment and Hephaistion laughed.
- I'm just messing with you.
- You will never guess what I saw tonight –said Anaxagoras, entering the room—A member of the Assamite clan.
- No kidding –said Lucius, unimpressed—And what are the Assassins doing now?
- They are involved in this country's civil war.
The Assamites are the clan of the Assassin vampires; if you want to kill someone, hire an Assamite, but beware, they charge in blood.
- How do you know? –asked Hephaistion.
- I asked him –said Anaxagoras, whose ability to control others' mind was great—he said his name is Delta, and apparently his clan is pulling the strings here.
- I hate to be involved in politics –said Lucius, frowning.
- Me too, we should leave as soon as possible –said Anaxagoras.
- I agree –said Hephaistion. Only Eric was sad to have to leave so soon.
But as things were we ended staying in Japan for almost one hundred years. We didn't like the place at the beginning but at the end we loved it; there were still the kind of values we learned when we were mortals, and honor was something very respected there. In one word we stay because of the Samurai. The 4 of us had been warriors in our mortal days and we wanted to know more about these mysterious warriors with 3 swords.
My grandpa would have loved to be there during Nobunaga's war to unify his country and latter during the period known as the Tokugawa Shogunate. I kept thinking about him and my Alexander during my time in Japan…what would have said my King if he knew how big was the world? We thought the end of the world was in India… I smiled every time I thought about that.
And luck kept smiling at me, because I found another fragment of Kaine's sword in Japan, hidden in Himeji castle. I don't have to tell you that it was an adventure to enter the castle and take the fragment, but thanks to my friends it was possible.
I had 3 of them by then. Now I have 4, just one more…
XXX
New York, 2010
- You know where is the last fragment of Kaine's sword? –asked Zophiel, as usual, sitting on the sofa.
- Here, in New York.
- Where exactly?
- That I don't know –said Hephaistion, walking around the small room.
- Well, maybe I can help you –the Macedonian turned to see her with curiosity.
- You? And how is that child?
- Have you ever heard about a member of the Followers of Set named Isis Mubarak? –asked Zophiel.
The Followers of Set, also called Setites, was another vampire clan, an independent one.
- No.
- She owns an antique shop in the city and she has a fragment of what appears to be a sword –said Zophiel—The description matches yours, a blue blade with engraving letters.
Hephaistion's gray eyes shone with excitement.
- And why will you help me?
- You are telling me your story, and I… I don't know, I would like to help you, even a little –Zophiel was excited too, being able to help him—Do you have a car?
- No, I don't drive. I don't…like those… things –she laughed.
- What about a cell phone?
- I don't have one. I don't like those either –said Hephaistion, grumpily.
- You should get one, it would make your no-life easier –Zophiel was fascinated, for once she knew more than him.
- Whatever. When are we going to see your Setite? –asked Hephaistion.
- Let me talk to her first. Mm…What about tomorrow night? I can pick you up –the Macedonian nodded.
- Fine.
- So, aren't you going to keep telling me your story? –she asked sweetly.
- If you insist. But first… –said Hephaistion watching her for a long moment and making Zophiel uncomfortable—You said you were a soprano in your mortal years.
- Yes, I was –said Zophiel, not understanding what he wanted from her.
- Do you know the Aria of the Queen of the Night? –she smiled.
- By Mozart? –he nodded—Yes, I know it. Do you want to hear it?
- Yes, please…I went to Vienna to see that opera the night of it's premier. It was one 30 September of 1791, at the suburban Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden –said Hephaistion, taking a seat in front of her—Mozart himself conducted the orchestra.
- It must have been wonderful to be there –said Zophiel.
- Those were good times.
- Well, when your King awakens you can take him to the opera –those words made him smiled, a sincere smile like the one he used to have when he was mortal.
- I will like that…
XXX
Again, all credits to the vampire information here goes to White Wolf's Vampire the Masquerade.