Author's Notes: Hello again here is the beginning of a new adventure in which Marx is sneaky, Wilhelmina is rude and Karl does most of the work. Don't worry if you have been missing it. Karl's werewolf form will be making an appearance in the next couple of chapters. Oh yes as always I own nothing but the creations of my own mind.
The ride south to Nuln took the better part of a fortnight and was uneventful. Karl and the silent groom, if in fact that what the man was, rode along the main road from Altdorf to Nuln. This was well used and patrolled and almost every night was spent in an inn. The man rarely spoke and when he did he did so in as few words as possible and Karl eventually gave up trying to speak to him.
After having been to Altdorf Karl was not as taken aback as he would otherwise have been. He was ready for the size, sights and sounds of the city. What was different was that the clouds of smoke hanging over the city were even thicker here. Also more prevalent were the smells of soot, oil and black powder as well as other smells he could not identify.
His guide seemed unaffected by it all and Karl imitated his manner. They rode through the streets till they came to the front of a dilapidated house in the cities slums, though the tingling of Karl's witch sight told him there was more than met the eye. "He awaits you inside." The man said who then turned and rode off.
Karl dismounted, tied his horse to a rotting post and then knocked on the door. It was opened by Marx himself. The man gave Karl a welcoming smile that lacked any real feeling. "Karl my boy, how good to see you again. Come in. Come in."
He bustled Karl inside and took him into a back room. It was as run down as the rest of the house and gave no sign that anyone lived here. "Nice place," he muttered dryly; "You seem to have gone down in the world since Altdorf."
"Oh," said a voice he would quite happily have never heard again; "The doggie is trying to be funny. A word of advice, stick to mutilation and leave humor to those with the wit for it. By the way, I hid your horse in the back. Around here you aren't the only one who might mistake it for dinner." Turning his head wearily he saw Wilhelmina enter the room, her usual sneer firmly in place.
"Enough," said Marx impatiently; "We have important work ahead of us and I will not have it endangered by your childishness." Wilhelmina sat down abashed and did not look at Karl again, as if it were somehow his fault she had been chastised. Marx looked at them for a moment and then, apparently satisfied that his point had been made, began to speak again.
"As I was about to say we have an important task to perform tonight. Its success could go a long way towards neutralizing a great threat to the Empire."
"Does it have to do with what I did for you before?" Karl asked. Marx shook his head.
"No; this is another matter entirely. Tonight I shall be attending a ball given by a friend of mine. Among the guests are two individuals of great interest to me. They are the Lady Maria DeMark of Bretonnia and her ward Helena Schmitt. At least, that's who they tell people they are." Here Marx's voice turned solemn. "They are in fact vampires of the Lahmian bloodline."
Karl shuddered. He did not understand what Marx was talking about when he spoke of bloodlines but he knew what vampires were well enough. He remembered the tales told of the Aristocracy of the Night and the wars they had waged against the living in the past. He did not like the thought of sharing a city with them.
"I see you appreciate the severity of what we are up against." Marx said. "But in truth; the danger they present to us is not terribly great. DeMark is very low in the ranks of their dreaded sisterhood and Schmitt, as her get, is even lower."
"Her what?" Karl asked.
"Her get," said Marx; "It means DeMark was the one who turned her into a vampire. Now as I was saying they shall be at the ball and so shall the three of us." The next hour was spent making plans.
An hour or so before sunset Karl went to the address of where the party was to be given. As instructed he went to the back where he found a door unlocked. Inside was a silent boy of about ten who guided him to an upstairs bedroom. At the back of the room was a large wardrobe; after the boy had left he changed into his wolven form and climbed in and settled in to wait.
He did not know how long he waited there. Below he heard the sounds of music and laughter as the ball got underway. It seemed so odd to Karl that in one part of the Empire people were barely clinging onto their lives while at the same time people feasted and made merry in others. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, it was almost time.
As he had expected when the door opened he could hear Marx's voice. Crouching down, he could look through the keyhole and see into the room. There was Marx dressed in the colorful and flamboyant garb which was all the court fashion at the time, he was even wearing cosmetics. With him were two women.
Karl suppressed the urge to growl. They were not human. The smell was all wrong. Oh, it was so faint no human could smell it and they covered themselves with perfume, but he could smell it, the smell of decay, of the grave they had cheated. Their smell was not as rank as that of the Beastmen but it was just as unnatural.
He studied them as they down on couch facing Marx who took a chair opposite them, perfect. The one closed to him looked about forty or so. She had wheat colored hair elaborately made up and wore a dress of deep blue which was not complementary to her slightly stout figure and an abundance of jewelry. The other looked about twenty or so. She was far slimmer than her companion and slightly taller. Her hair was jet black and done in a long braid down her back. She wore a dress of light green and little jewelry.
"Well," said the first with a strange accent; "It has been a pleasant evening but you told us you had something of importance to tell us; one would almost suspect you of luring us here for immoral purposes." All three laughed, though none with sincerity.
"Indeed I did," Marx said; "And indeed I do." Here his voice lost its tone of joviality. "I fear Madam DeMark you will not be finishing your trip to Marienburg."
That was the signal. Karl burst from the wardrobe and hurled himself towards his target. The vampires were fast, the fastest things he had ever faced. The distance was less than ten feet yet still DeMark managed to dodge his first attack and began hissing as magic gathered in her hands. Then Marx threw a piece of paper into the air and chanted a quick phrase. The paper instantly crumbled to dust but the magic faded from DeMark's hands.
Before she could react Karl was on her. With his left hand he grabbed her right forearm, his head shot forward to bite down onto her skull and his right hand he thrust, fingers straight, into her rib cage. It broke through the bones to grasp her heart. He tore it out at the same time he ripped off her head.
He had no time to savor his triumph however. Turning, he saw that luck had favored him. Helena had frozen when he first appeared, apparently undecided whether she should help her mistress or run. She now tried to run, but it was too late. Karl bounded up and was after her. She turned and slashed at him with fingers that had suddenly produced claws. The blow was surprisingly strong, but it was poorly aimed. They racked his muzzle, which was quite painful but did no real damage, rather than going for his eyes or throat.
He ignored the pain and tackled her to the ground. They landed with him atop her. He quickly straddled her; pinning her arms while he latched his jaws on her throat. Per Marx's instructions he did not snap his jaws shut, in fact, the teeth did not even break the skin.
Marx walked up to them calmly, as if a life and death struggle had not just taken place. "Fascinating creature isn't he?" He asked, reaching out to stroke Karl's fur. Karl growled in irritation which seemed to further frighten the vampire in his grasp. "Now then," said Marx as he used a handkerchief to wipe the cosmetics from his face; "I was hoping we might have ourselves a little chat. You see, I know you and your mistress are not stationed here in Nuln. That you two are in fact couriers of your Queen; so tell me, who were you delivering messages to? Where are the members of your coven in this city?"
"Go to hell!" She spat. "I will never tell you!" Though her words were defiant Karl could smell the fear on her. Even if he had not been able to the fear was evident in her eyes and voice.
"Oh dear," said Marx, effecting a sorrowful tone of voice; "I really did not it to come to this." He nodded at Karl who began to slowly tighten his jaws. Her skin was elastic and gave way as his teeth came closer together; the smell of her fear was almost overwhelming. Finally her skin could stretch no further and his teeth punctured her skin with a series of small pops.
"It was too much for her. "Call it off!" She screamed wildly.
"You are ready to answer my questions?" Marx asked in amiable tone of voice.
"Yes! Yes! Just call the beast off!"
"Very well." Marx said in a cheery voice. He made a gesture with his hand and Karl let go of her throat. He could not resist; as he pulled his head back he suddenly shot it forward to snap his jaws shut inches from her face, causing her to flinch back. He rose to his feet and went to stand behind Marx, who indicated for Helena to return to the couch. Slowly she did so, keeping as much distance between herself and Karl as possible, and sat down rubbing her throat.
"Now," said Marx briskly; "I believe you were going to name some names?" For a moment she looked as though she might refuse to speak after all; but the sight of Marx beginning to make a gesture towards Karl changed her mind. She began to speak in a defeated voice.
"We were sent here to deliver messages to three of our sisters here in Nuln. Margret Hildar, wife of the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Gunnery School. Erika Holst, who is posing as a Sister of Shallya at one of the city's poorhouses. Finally, Elisa Roseanna, the mistress of General Hobbs. We delivered the last of them tonight and were to travel on to Marienburg tomorrow night."
"My, my," said Marx with a sigh; "It really is enough to make you despair of the men of my species. Well, regardless, you have been most helpful and for that I thank you."
"What happens to me now?" She asked nervously, eyeing Karl.
"Oh yes, I suppose we really must discuss that." Marx said. "Well things will go on much as before, you will continue on your way and deliver the messages you were told to deliver; and you will continue to deliver messages until you are given a new assignment. You shall do that one as well and so, in the nature of your kind, work your way up the hierarchy of your sisterhood. There will, in fact, be only one significant difference." Here his voice turned hard and cold. "You now serve me, not Neferata. When you receive messages to deliver you shall report to me their contents. If they are sealed, you shall tell me where and to whom you delivered them.
"If and when you are promoted you shall report to me your assignments and where ever you go you shall report to me all of the vampires you meet."
"Why should I do any of these things?" Helena hissed; though her voice still held fear her body shook with outrage and her eyes blazed with hate.
"It is quite simple." Marx said calmly, completely ignoring her rage. "While I keep you company tonight our friend here," he reached over and stroked Karl's back like one would a dog; "Is going to create three vacancies here in the city." Her eyes widened in horror. "Oh, don't worry; I'll make certain that no blame attaches to you. When the other Lahmians investigate they will find evidence that the work is the Von Carsteins, no one will suspect you.
"However," and here his voice grew hard again; "If you ever attempt to betray me, you will regret it. If I am in a good mood at the time I will kill you myself. If I am not in a good mood I will send the beast; and if I am angry I will ensure that word of your treachery to the Sisterhood reaches the Silver Mountain." Helena's pale face became even paler and her eyes revealed a terror that surpassed that elicited by Karl. "Yes," said Marx in a dark voice; "I doubt your former queen would take your betrayal of her at all well. Now, do we understand each other?"
"Yes." She said in a defeated voice.
"Yes what?" Asked Marx; in the tone of a schoolmaster addressing a slow pupil.
"Yes," she paused and forced the next word out; "Master."
"Very good," said Marx cheerily; "Now one more introduction is required." He raised a small bell from the table and rang it. A side door opened in walked Wilhelmina. She had donned a wig of blond hair that came down to her shoulders and she wore clothing that made her look like a lady's maid. "This," said Marx to Helena;" Is my apprentice Wilhelmina. She shall be accompanying you for a time to set up channels by which I can contact you and you can send messages. Before you get any ideas in your head; she may only be an apprentice but I can assure you she is more than capable of handling herself."
"Wilhelmina walked up to Helena and curtsied, all the while giving her an evil smirk. "Please believe me 'My Lady,'" the bit last was delivered in a tone of mocking reverence; "I am ready, willing and able to kill you in ways far beyond the beast's dull mind." Though the vampire was taller and stronger than Wilhelmina she shrank back, clearly cowed by the smaller woman.
"Well that's all settled." Said Marx I believe it is best if you two go and begin making sure all necessary arrangements have been made." Wilhelmina gave a short bow to Marx and then glared at Helena till she gave one as well. Once they had departed Karl changed back into his human form.
"Well done my boy," said Marx handing him a small glass of wine; "Things could not have gone better."
"You're taking a big risk with her." Karl said, made uncomfortable by the fact he was stark naked. "You should have just let me kill her once she told you what you wanted to know."
Marx gave a mock sigh. "My dear boy at times you and Wilhelmina are so much alike." This remark caused Karl to growl in annoyance and grip his glass harder. "If we did that then we would lose a valuable source of intelligence. These creatures have eyes and ears in the places of power throughout the Empire and beyond; controlling that thing will give us the ability to learn where they are and move to thwart their schemes."
"Creatures, thing? Karl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." Marx said and there was both hate and loathing in his voice. "Don't be fooled by their appearance they are as much monsters as the demons of the Ruinous Powers."
"You said I was a monster as well." Karl said, slightly taken aback by the venom in Marx's voice.
"Yes, you are a monster, but not in spirit. These creatures have forsaken their humanity, many willingly, and some even now plot the destruction of the world of the living. Even those who don't seek to enslave us and rule from the shadows and behind puppets. That is why we must fight them with every tool we have. If we do not we shall fail and the world will plunge into eternal night."
He paused and when he spoke again his tone was lighter. "But enough of such grim talk; there is work to be done. The night is still young but you have three vampires to slay. I would get to it."
Author's Notes: Well what did you think? A bit low on action but more is coming promise. Now for a bit of a lesson. Bretonnia is the Empire's neighbor and at times rival. The vampires are divided into five bloodlines, actually this got changed a bit but I am sticking to the original. Each has its own goals and characteristics. The Lahmians are primarily female and seek, like those named to get into positions where they can control the world from the shadows. The queen mentioned is the first vampire and created the founders of the other bloodlines, thus she considers all vampires her subjects and this has caused much strife with the other bloodlines. The Von Carsteins are the Lahmians main rivals; they are based on Count Dracula. They also seek to rule the mortal world. Though they favor more direct methods at times, the launched the War of the Vampire Counts, three invasions of the Empire that Marx mentioned. They spend much time trying to hamper each other, even exposing the each other to witch hunters. Now just a quick question for you all. Do you think Karl is having it all his own way too easily, should his opponents be harder to beat? Please give me your answer in the reviews. Bye for now, please keep praying for Shawn and all who need it and may Jesus bless you all till next time.