CHAPTER 5
****
"I must say, your men have each a reputation of blood fever." Said zephons second lieutenant to Niccolie. It was mid day and the lieutenants and the lieutenants men walked around the top floor of the city. The place where no one who was of lesser rank was aloud to enter. It was a meeting of the prime vampires of the Zephonim clan. Only Zephons lieutenants and all or any of their appointed men were welcome. Niccolie was wearing a dark blue silk tuxedo like outfit, sewed by Sara in her spar time; armor would be inappropriate for this form of an occasion. He listened intently, as shark stood next to him.
"But I choose my men not by how strong or how fast, just on how much they are feared by the enemy." Niccolie said with a smile.
"Interesting strategy, and your riders are wanted by all for their fear inducting affect on the battlefield?"
"Maybe, fear can quickly cripple a man but perhaps it's because we do happen to be one of the most skilled cavalry units in all the empire." Niccolie said sipping his blood wine.
"And you Shark, do you believe that this brutality is need to show the humans our true power."
"Of course, humans fear not only what they don't understand, but also they fear a agonizing death, especially in a gruesome fashion. The combination of both fears would a shatter their nerve in battle giving us a high advantage," Said shark
"Niccolie." Came Zephons voice. "There is some one I would like you to meet." He said as he walked up to his two luitenants.
"Ahh, my replacement" Niccolie said turning to join Zephon. "Shark you have no need to join me."
"Careful Niccolie, she can throw punches." Said the lieutenant as Niccolie left.
"She can throw punches?" Niccolie questioned Zephon
"He had an argument with her. He regretted it."
"Humm"
They walked down a series of hallways till they got to the balcony over looking the cities interior market. There sanding among some other people was a tall, slim lady. With hair that was an odd dark, dark, navy blue color to almost black. She had a calm, friendly face with winter blue eyes and dark red lips. Niccolie stuttered for a moment in his steps but attained his pace.
"Kyla, there is some one I want you to meet." Said Zephon directing a hand to Niccolie.
"Ahhh, the much feared Niccolie Lehethess, I have heard many tall tales about you and your riders." She said in a friendly but bold voice.
"And I assume you are the one that has taking my place as forth." Niccolie said as he took her hand and gave it a kiss.
"You sound as if I had robbed you of it." She said with a friendly laugh.
"Niccolie enjoyed his umm...how did you put it? Simple place?" Said Zephon sarcastically.
"Simple? A strange way for a man with such a complicated and busy schedule." She said rising an eyebrow at Niccolie.
"It is but one step closer to simple is it not?" Niccolie smiled
"I guess it is."
"Well, I have others to attended to. Niccolie, Kyla. Enjoy your day, the meeting is tonight." And with that Zephon left.
"Such a busy man" Kyla said.
"Indeed."
"I must say that of all the things I have herd about you, seem to be quite a gentle, and polite soul." She paused to look at his attire "I wasn't expect something so...soft hearted"
"All depends on who tells the story"
"Aw yes, the Turelim and Razileim don't fancy your tactics, yes?"
"They just respect my past as a vampire hunter. But you, I have heard about you."
"Me?" she said flattered
"Yes, you. First female lieutenant, and teaching lessons to those of higher rank already." Niccolie spoke of the second's lieutenant's comment.
"Oh, heh. He had the sensation that a female lieutenant would prove to be a weak spot in the clan's reputation."
"Well you sure showed him, gave me a warning he did."
"I supposed I went a little to hard on him," she laughed and Niccolie laughed along with her.
"Tell me lady Kyla what made Zephon pick you for my position?"
"Well, I was hand picked by him because he felt that the female population was getting left out of the war. Zephon, besides the fact of his large ego, does feel every one should have equal opportunities."
"Sounds very odd coming from Zephon."
"Yes, it does, but he is a genius and all ways has a calculated reason. Whether he likes it or not."
There was a moment of silence, Niccolie looked into her eyes and she looked back. He felt some thing in his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time. An odd placed thump of life, it took him in a disturbing realization. He found his lungs empty of air, unable to speak.
"Um," she said breaking the silence. "I am sorry, but I am sure there are more people I must meet, I am fairly new here, and Zephon says it is important I know everyone." She said in a strange tone like she regretted the meeting in some strange fashion.
"Yes, I am sure you are right." Niccolie said like he was encouraging her.
"I will see you around Niccolie." She said slowly walking out.
"Indeed you will, the meeting," he reassured her.
She was half way out when she stopped, turned her head and smiled at him. Then continued walking out in a slow smooth fashion.
Niccolie finished his drink. And went to find shark.
*****
*Thunk*
*Thunk*
*Thunk*
"STOP THAT!!! IT'S ANNOYING!!" Karie screamed.
Everyone was inside the detention cell; a 15' by 10' steel box in the training grounds basement. as Punishment for sneaking out of training grounds many where sentenced to the detention cell for weeks at a time. Everyone was tired and pissed, one of the other training boys snitched on them. EL stood next to the wall, banging his head into it. Moemie lay on the bench, head to head with Karie. Ariel was in the middle of the cell picking at the string on her boot. Thresh and Vic where lying down on the other bench head to head. And Shila was sitting back to the door, wallowing in boredom.
"Well" began EL
*Thunk*
"If Vic's..."
*Thunk*
"...Good friend..."
*Thunk*
"...Didn't snitch..."
*Thunk*
"...On us..."
*Thunk*
"...You wouldn't have..."
*Thunk*
"...To suffer..."
*Thunk*
"...Like me!"
*Thunk*
"You know El, you don't have to bang your head in to the wall if you are afraid of small rooms" said Vic.
"It distracts me with pain rather then fear." Said EL continued his banging.
"Where's your dad? Karie he'll get us out." said Ariel.
"My dad probably will let us rot in here."
"Why?"
"He probably thinks it's safer in here."
"There you go again about your dad and him trying to imprison you or some thing." Said Moemie with a groan.
"Hump. Well some day I will show him. After all these years in training I could probably take any slayer who walked in here." Said Karie waving her fist in the air.
"Well don't get to cocky. We already had one bad coincidence."
"Yeah. I guess this was the day my dad felt it necessary to show up and let his daughter know he's still alive."
"He seems like a friendly guy." Thresh paused "not"
"No one really knows what he is really like Thresh. He is one of those ones who you cant tell any thing about. One moment Mr. Sunshine, next werewolf with no hair or so I have herded."
"Yeah, what about those stories, about your dad being some kind of psycho." Said EL stopping for a moment "skinning his lessers and what not"
"Well, my dad says it's mostly nonsense, just stories that go to far."
"I herd he once cut out one of Turels eye balls." Ariel said grimly.
"Well that's not Turel. Turel would have killed him." Thresh defended his clan leader.
"Or it was some body else."
"The only part I herd my dad say was true was that he does happen to lop off peoples heads when he rides. He says it's 'convenient' because he doesn't have to stoop down and cut them at the waste. He says all riders often do so."
"Well, that has to be true, but these stories about massacres, and blood baths and all this gory, gut ranching, make you want to puke stuff seems to surround him a lot."
"I am hungry," whined Arial at the thought of blood.
"Well, we have...what? is this our third time? what is three times three days?" asked Shila
"That's um...nine" thresh said the only one withg good math.
"We have nine days in here, they feed us once every day. So it's like noon or lunchtime so, we wont expect it till tonight. And by the time this is done El will probably be dead or brain damaged" said Shila glumly.
"Well, some time soon your dad will walk in here and scold the fangs off old teach." Said Moemie tying to get comfortable on the bench.
Suddenly the doors pull open and Shila fell backwards. And found her self-looking up at Niccolie, shark and two other riders behind him.
"Huh, hi" she said waving a hand at him from her place at his feet.
Moemie got up in an instant.
"I AM GOD!!!" she screamed while throwing her hands in the air.
"Hum..." Niccolie stared at them for a moment "maybe I should come back later when you are all more settle." Niccolie said slowly closing the door.
"NO!! Wait! we're settle. We're settling!" Said Karie toning down her voice.
El jumped over to Niccolie and got down on his knees.
"Please don't go, I hate this small tiny place."
"Well, I guess I could get you out of here..." niccolie said as if he consider it himself.
"Yes!!" everyone said.
"...If Karie can beat me at my test."
"No!!" everyone said.
****
"I must say, your men have each a reputation of blood fever." Said zephons second lieutenant to Niccolie. It was mid day and the lieutenants and the lieutenants men walked around the top floor of the city. The place where no one who was of lesser rank was aloud to enter. It was a meeting of the prime vampires of the Zephonim clan. Only Zephons lieutenants and all or any of their appointed men were welcome. Niccolie was wearing a dark blue silk tuxedo like outfit, sewed by Sara in her spar time; armor would be inappropriate for this form of an occasion. He listened intently, as shark stood next to him.
"But I choose my men not by how strong or how fast, just on how much they are feared by the enemy." Niccolie said with a smile.
"Interesting strategy, and your riders are wanted by all for their fear inducting affect on the battlefield?"
"Maybe, fear can quickly cripple a man but perhaps it's because we do happen to be one of the most skilled cavalry units in all the empire." Niccolie said sipping his blood wine.
"And you Shark, do you believe that this brutality is need to show the humans our true power."
"Of course, humans fear not only what they don't understand, but also they fear a agonizing death, especially in a gruesome fashion. The combination of both fears would a shatter their nerve in battle giving us a high advantage," Said shark
"Niccolie." Came Zephons voice. "There is some one I would like you to meet." He said as he walked up to his two luitenants.
"Ahh, my replacement" Niccolie said turning to join Zephon. "Shark you have no need to join me."
"Careful Niccolie, she can throw punches." Said the lieutenant as Niccolie left.
"She can throw punches?" Niccolie questioned Zephon
"He had an argument with her. He regretted it."
"Humm"
They walked down a series of hallways till they got to the balcony over looking the cities interior market. There sanding among some other people was a tall, slim lady. With hair that was an odd dark, dark, navy blue color to almost black. She had a calm, friendly face with winter blue eyes and dark red lips. Niccolie stuttered for a moment in his steps but attained his pace.
"Kyla, there is some one I want you to meet." Said Zephon directing a hand to Niccolie.
"Ahhh, the much feared Niccolie Lehethess, I have heard many tall tales about you and your riders." She said in a friendly but bold voice.
"And I assume you are the one that has taking my place as forth." Niccolie said as he took her hand and gave it a kiss.
"You sound as if I had robbed you of it." She said with a friendly laugh.
"Niccolie enjoyed his umm...how did you put it? Simple place?" Said Zephon sarcastically.
"Simple? A strange way for a man with such a complicated and busy schedule." She said rising an eyebrow at Niccolie.
"It is but one step closer to simple is it not?" Niccolie smiled
"I guess it is."
"Well, I have others to attended to. Niccolie, Kyla. Enjoy your day, the meeting is tonight." And with that Zephon left.
"Such a busy man" Kyla said.
"Indeed."
"I must say that of all the things I have herd about you, seem to be quite a gentle, and polite soul." She paused to look at his attire "I wasn't expect something so...soft hearted"
"All depends on who tells the story"
"Aw yes, the Turelim and Razileim don't fancy your tactics, yes?"
"They just respect my past as a vampire hunter. But you, I have heard about you."
"Me?" she said flattered
"Yes, you. First female lieutenant, and teaching lessons to those of higher rank already." Niccolie spoke of the second's lieutenant's comment.
"Oh, heh. He had the sensation that a female lieutenant would prove to be a weak spot in the clan's reputation."
"Well you sure showed him, gave me a warning he did."
"I supposed I went a little to hard on him," she laughed and Niccolie laughed along with her.
"Tell me lady Kyla what made Zephon pick you for my position?"
"Well, I was hand picked by him because he felt that the female population was getting left out of the war. Zephon, besides the fact of his large ego, does feel every one should have equal opportunities."
"Sounds very odd coming from Zephon."
"Yes, it does, but he is a genius and all ways has a calculated reason. Whether he likes it or not."
There was a moment of silence, Niccolie looked into her eyes and she looked back. He felt some thing in his heart that he hadn't felt in a long time. An odd placed thump of life, it took him in a disturbing realization. He found his lungs empty of air, unable to speak.
"Um," she said breaking the silence. "I am sorry, but I am sure there are more people I must meet, I am fairly new here, and Zephon says it is important I know everyone." She said in a strange tone like she regretted the meeting in some strange fashion.
"Yes, I am sure you are right." Niccolie said like he was encouraging her.
"I will see you around Niccolie." She said slowly walking out.
"Indeed you will, the meeting," he reassured her.
She was half way out when she stopped, turned her head and smiled at him. Then continued walking out in a slow smooth fashion.
Niccolie finished his drink. And went to find shark.
*****
*Thunk*
*Thunk*
*Thunk*
"STOP THAT!!! IT'S ANNOYING!!" Karie screamed.
Everyone was inside the detention cell; a 15' by 10' steel box in the training grounds basement. as Punishment for sneaking out of training grounds many where sentenced to the detention cell for weeks at a time. Everyone was tired and pissed, one of the other training boys snitched on them. EL stood next to the wall, banging his head into it. Moemie lay on the bench, head to head with Karie. Ariel was in the middle of the cell picking at the string on her boot. Thresh and Vic where lying down on the other bench head to head. And Shila was sitting back to the door, wallowing in boredom.
"Well" began EL
*Thunk*
"If Vic's..."
*Thunk*
"...Good friend..."
*Thunk*
"...Didn't snitch..."
*Thunk*
"...On us..."
*Thunk*
"...You wouldn't have..."
*Thunk*
"...To suffer..."
*Thunk*
"...Like me!"
*Thunk*
"You know El, you don't have to bang your head in to the wall if you are afraid of small rooms" said Vic.
"It distracts me with pain rather then fear." Said EL continued his banging.
"Where's your dad? Karie he'll get us out." said Ariel.
"My dad probably will let us rot in here."
"Why?"
"He probably thinks it's safer in here."
"There you go again about your dad and him trying to imprison you or some thing." Said Moemie with a groan.
"Hump. Well some day I will show him. After all these years in training I could probably take any slayer who walked in here." Said Karie waving her fist in the air.
"Well don't get to cocky. We already had one bad coincidence."
"Yeah. I guess this was the day my dad felt it necessary to show up and let his daughter know he's still alive."
"He seems like a friendly guy." Thresh paused "not"
"No one really knows what he is really like Thresh. He is one of those ones who you cant tell any thing about. One moment Mr. Sunshine, next werewolf with no hair or so I have herded."
"Yeah, what about those stories, about your dad being some kind of psycho." Said EL stopping for a moment "skinning his lessers and what not"
"Well, my dad says it's mostly nonsense, just stories that go to far."
"I herd he once cut out one of Turels eye balls." Ariel said grimly.
"Well that's not Turel. Turel would have killed him." Thresh defended his clan leader.
"Or it was some body else."
"The only part I herd my dad say was true was that he does happen to lop off peoples heads when he rides. He says it's 'convenient' because he doesn't have to stoop down and cut them at the waste. He says all riders often do so."
"Well, that has to be true, but these stories about massacres, and blood baths and all this gory, gut ranching, make you want to puke stuff seems to surround him a lot."
"I am hungry," whined Arial at the thought of blood.
"Well, we have...what? is this our third time? what is three times three days?" asked Shila
"That's um...nine" thresh said the only one withg good math.
"We have nine days in here, they feed us once every day. So it's like noon or lunchtime so, we wont expect it till tonight. And by the time this is done El will probably be dead or brain damaged" said Shila glumly.
"Well, some time soon your dad will walk in here and scold the fangs off old teach." Said Moemie tying to get comfortable on the bench.
Suddenly the doors pull open and Shila fell backwards. And found her self-looking up at Niccolie, shark and two other riders behind him.
"Huh, hi" she said waving a hand at him from her place at his feet.
Moemie got up in an instant.
"I AM GOD!!!" she screamed while throwing her hands in the air.
"Hum..." Niccolie stared at them for a moment "maybe I should come back later when you are all more settle." Niccolie said slowly closing the door.
"NO!! Wait! we're settle. We're settling!" Said Karie toning down her voice.
El jumped over to Niccolie and got down on his knees.
"Please don't go, I hate this small tiny place."
"Well, I guess I could get you out of here..." niccolie said as if he consider it himself.
"Yes!!" everyone said.
"...If Karie can beat me at my test."
"No!!" everyone said.
