Disclaimer: duh.
I know that the DD would have been able to ride horses, but w/e
January 18
All yesterday, while sleeping, I couldn't get the image of the lycan fleeing from my flames out of my dreams. I ended up not getting much sleep, waking myself up by sniggering too hard. Over and over I saw the lycan running away, the fur on his tail and butt end singed bare. It is hilarious. Kahn and several of the other Death Dealers thought so too. I rarely ever have a funny story to tell of my nightly hunts. Mine are often serious.
The train through Buda and Hungary was uneventful. We were in a large, unwindowed boxcar, letting us travel in the daylight as well as in night. There was cattle many cars down in the following train, providing us with fresh blood. The drivers of the train were aware of our kind, even though they were mortals, humans. They treated us with respect, trying not to gag when we drank the blood in front of them. They made me extremely self-conscious, as I was new at drinking blood. Of course, the other Death Dealers, quick to notice this, made me open the door to their knocks.
I soon got to know all the Death Dealers. My favorite, besides my friend John, was a man named Dante. Dante had infectious laughter. He was quiet and reserved at times, serious. I took an immediate liking to him. The other Death Dealers taunted him about how he never took part in the orgies and how he had no mate. Dante would just roll his eyes and sit back, making fun of them in turn. Dante was like me when I was human. I was serious but still fun. I liked him. He was cute. He didn't seem to like Viktor though. Every time he caught sight of him, his eyes turned the angriest blue and his hands clenched. I ignored it though, thinking it was something else.
We rode nonstop for several days before it was time for us to get off. We stayed in an inn, and due to the innkeeper and guests' making numerous signs of the cross over their hearts, we left their early, after only one day. As we left, John and Dante threw cloves of garlic at the people and various crosses made out of twigs tied together with string. It was a sick joke, but assured the humans that we were not vampires. Which we were. But they didn't have to know that.
When we were closer to England, it was time to ride. I was excited, looking forward to this moment. I loved horses, and couldn't wait to get back on one. We were led to a corral where there was one horse per vampire. We were told to choose one. I visited each horse, waiting to see in any would come up to me. None did, till I got to the last stall. There was a beautiful stallion, completely snow white, but for brown markings around her legs. She was tall and sturdy, a perfect horse or riding. She came up to me when I stuck my hand out, sniffing at my palm, and licking it briefly, her tongue feathery. I opened the door and led her out to where the other Death Dealers were, some using a rock to mount, like the little kids.
A man was bringing out saddles, handing them to the Death Dealers. I saw John struggling with his and went over to help. By the time I was done helping him, there were no more saddles left. "Sorry miss," the stable hand told me.
"You may use my, Selene," Viktor called out, sitting proudly on his horse.
"No thank, my Lord. I do not need a saddle." And I didn't. I preferred riding bareback. That was how my father taught me. I took several steps back, entwining my fingers in my horse's mane. I took several quick running steps and threw my leg over the horses back, swinging to a sitting position, my posture perfect. I took a moment to get my bearings, noticing everyone was looking at me. I was after all, small, and my horse huge compared to my slight frame.
"I learned how to ride bareback when I was three and rode ever since," I explained, wanting them to look away. Viktor rescued me from their stares.
"Hah!" he called to his horse, starting at a gallop. I immediately spurred my horse, joining the stampede of hooves thundering loudly against my eardrums. I soon began to relax, settling into the motion and sway of my horses' gallop.
John rode up beside me, breaking his silence. "You ride well," he shouted into my ear.
"Thank you," I replied over the thundering of hooves. I was obviously the best at riding, besides Viktor and some of the older Death Dealers. As we neared Marcus' castle, I saw several vampires wince as their horses slowed down. They apparently weren't used to riding and would be sore.
I suppressed a gasp as we came in sight of Marcus' castle. It was a large stoned castle in the country with Gothic windows. Shutters could just be seen in all the windows, ready to be pulled shut tightly against the sun's deadly rays in the morning. We rode up to the gate, a Death Dealer challenging us.
"Lord Viktor or Malaya, the ruling Elder greets you, with his most trusted Death Dealers."
"Please name your trusted Death Dealers."
"John, Dante, Selene…" Viktor rattled off the names of all the Death Dealers, including mine.
"You may enter." The huge doors opened and we rode through, dismounting in the courtyard. A few young vampires came over to assist us and took our mounts to the stables. Another led us through the second doors and into the castle itself. He led us down a few passages and up several flights of stairs before stopping in a long hallway.
"You may rest here until tomorrow," the vampire said, bowing to Viktor. We each chose our rooms and soon enough, another vampire servant entered, carrying a goblet of blood. He placed it by me and exited the room, pausing to tell me that Viktor requested the presence of all of us in his room. Picking up my blood, I carried it with me, walking with John to Viktor's room.
There he gave us our instructions. Viktor split us up, sending a few to guard the outside of the castle, and some with him in the council room. John, Dante, and I were to be stationed above the council room, on a balcony. We were to watch what was going on and stop anyone if a fight broke out. I was excited.
Viktor was sitting in a tall, throne like chair, dressed resplendently in his Elders robes. Beneath him, positioned in a circle, sat the council. On a chair in the middle of the circle, sat the accused man. Viktor started speaking, and immediately, several vampires began taking notes and copying down what he said.
"We are gathered today, in Lord Marcus' coven to review and determine the verdict of this accused vampire, Jonas. The accused is indicted of the murders of several fellow Death Dealers. How do you plead Jonas?"
"Innocent, but guilty on orders." The council murmured.
"You plead that you are innocent because ordered to break the covenant rules?" A short vampire with red robust cheeks spoke out.
"Yes."
"Tell us what your orders were," Viktor said, narrowing his eyes at the quaking vampire in front of him.
"I was ordered to blow up this castle, killing all the vampires inside," Jonas started. "I couldn't do that though, kill all of the vampires close to my heart, so I just killed the ones I didn't like."
"You killed the strongest of the Death Dealers, maiming our ranks, giving the lycans a better chance in our war. Who gave you these orders?"
Jonas shut up, then thought for a second. "I'm not sure."
"You don't know who gave them to you, and you still followed them?"
"I had to follow the orders, they came from a high ranking person."
"What did this 'high ranking person' look like?"
"I'm not sure, it was dark."
"Oh, I see. It was too dark to see, even though you are a vampire, with the ability to see well in the dark. You couldn't see the person, yet knew that whoever it was, was high ranking."
Jonas started to nod, but then stopped, looking confused. "How then, did you know that the person was high ranking?"
"I assumed the person was."
"And what species was this person? A vampire? A human? A lycan?"
"I don't know that, sir," Jonas said quietly.
"What? Did you have a cold?" Jonas flushed.
"I can't remember."
"Can't remember what?"
"Who and what the person was."
"But I thought you just said that it was too dark to see the figure. Now, you can't remember who and what the person was." Jonas looked upset, his lies pulling him in too deep. "I will only give you one more chance to tell the truth. "Who was the person who gave you your orders?"
"I'm not telling!" Jonas burst out.
He sat there, shaking, while Viktor and the council members spoke with one another. Viktor stood up, raising his voice for the whole room to hear. "The accused vampire Jonas is found guilty of killing his fellow Death Dealers, and breaking covenant rules. He is to be put to death, unless he can tell us who or what gave him the orders."
Viktor dismissed everyone, a group of Death Dealers taking Jonas and escorting him downstairs. Viktor nodded at us to follow them, which we did. I wasn't sure what was going on, but had a good idea. Torture was to follow, and then death. I didn't want to have to watch but knew I had to. Steeling myself, I followed them down the stairs and into the dungeon.
The next chap will be much better! I took longer to write this one b/c my grandmother was sick and I had to help her. Sorry.
dreaan- thanks. Its just that if no one reviews then I don't know if they want me to continue…I just got done taking achievement tests. At my school, we take iowa's, which makes no sense because we are in illinios. In grade school, I took california's…go figure. ;)