In the morning I awoke with clarity in my mind. The strange dreamy feeling that shrouded my thoughts was somehow clearing up. But it was still hard for me to think ill of Kain and it was draining me so. I tried to act normal, though the keep started to seem frightening to me, like the first time I've saw its dark chambers. I had my breakfast and with plenty of smiles went to the garden. On the way there, I asked a few questions to one of the Dumahim. She was a guard that was standing before those large red wooden door that my… Kain said not to pass trough. She guarded there for a few days and has gotten used to me constantly heading through that corridor. Fortunately, she was very informative. I guess that she didn't expect me to pose any trait. She told me a most disturbing thing, though I kept my coolness ; Kain and his sons went to prepare some troops for battle and won't be back until the sunset. Afterwards they would leave again, and take care of something that night. It had to be for an attack on my home. I've gotten away from her and headed to the garden.
Alone now, I pretended to be working in case that someone was watching. And all the time I taught about the attack ahead. I was afraid that it could come sooner than Ariel and I had guessed. Perhaps even tonight. Worry overcame me that anything we would do can be too late, and I tried to think of something to gain some time. But there was nothing that would make him delay the battle. Unless…
Than I saw it amongst the herbs ; Maculatum. A very toxic and poisonous plant. The smallest drop of its juice was enough to make a grown man dangerously ill. I guess that I missed it when I was clearing the weeds. And my lord was now away. Just the absence I needed to broom some potions. I couldn't wait for Ariel anymore.
I told the guards I needed a fire and a pot of water and they heeded my demands, as their lord told them to do. Whole day I worked adding flavors and spices to make it undetectable and deadly, and somewhere in the afternoon, I had a small wail of an extremely powerful poison to pore in a goblet of his favorite red vine.
Cold sweat was showering me as I worked, and by the strength of its beating, my hart wanted to jump out of my chest. I was to take a life. A foul act I couldn't imagine in the past. I doubted the ghost of Ariel again, but I heard his intentions from Kain's own mouth. I knew that she had no reason to lie to me now that I know the truth.
That evening I prepared everything perfectly. I cleaned my room, took a bath and dressed my self in a pretty and tight dress, he seamed to like. I've placed two goblets on the desk, one with his red thick wine and a deadly potion, and my goblet of white wine. And just as I got ready, I heard him speaking to someone, in a slightly angry tone. My knees were shacking and nervous overwhelmed me. I came to the window and took a deep breath. I told my self that I'm strong enough, and repeated the reasons why I had to do this. Just as I was done, Kain entered the room. He tossed a penetrating look on me, but I managed to cower most of my face with loosened hair :
" You seem to have had a difficult day my lord. "; I said easily.
Thank all the gods for that haze in my mind. It was making me relaxed in his company.
" You could say that. "; he answered and stepped closer to the desk :" There are many stupid people living in this world with us, and frankly, I'm sicken that we share the same air. "
" Well it's all ended now and I hope that the rest of the evening shall relax you, and refresh you. "
He smiled, pleased by my performance :
" You princess always make my day. You are a symbol of everything that Nosgoth should have bean. Not even in the eyes of children is there such innocence as the one I've planted in you. You are one of a kind princess. "
As he was speaking, I suddenly felt guilty and burdened by my sinister plot. A large part of me was still against it, perhaps because of pity or remorse. I came to the desk and lifted the goblets, offering him his :
" Thank you my lord. I hope that you shall never have a day like this again. "
As he took it, I've raised mine and said :
" For the rest of the evening. "
He took it to his lips, and suddenly stopped it. It seamed as though he'd smelled the true liquid contained in the goblet. For a moment he stood there, somehow slightly sad. I tried not to notice. I smiled at him, and drank my wine. He was looking me as if he knew it was the last time, and than he instantly lifted the cup upwards, poring it all down his trout. I stepped back, suddenly changing my face from marry, to sad frightened and anticipating. And after a moment of chocking, he fell down and staid lying there.
Grief and guilt were my only two companions now. Grief for the death of my lord who I loved so much, and guilt for my foul doing. How could I've done such a horrible thing ? My stomach was twisting and turning in loathing and horror and I mourned for his death, eating my self inside with despair. It was an act which I shall newer forgive myself as long as I live.
I collected my self. I had to go back to Ariel now, and fast, before they notice what I've done. I stepped out of my room, locking the dour behind me and headed for the stables. But as I turned around the corner I find my self face to face with Raziel. I was shocked by his sudden grumpy face, and fear exposed it self nakedly all over me. I could tell that he instantly suspected something :
" Are you alright princess ?"
" Yeas… I was just heading out for some fresh air. "; I answered the best I could.
Suddenly he acted as if he was listening to the draft caught in curtains on the windows. For a moment he was somewhere else, and than he looked back at me with a fade smile :
" Alright princess. Don't let me keep you from it. "
He passed by, and went on his way. I was certain that he suspected something, and I headed on as fast as I could to the stables. As I rode out of them and into the keeps front yard, I've noticed that the gate was opened and that there were no guards anywhere. I didn't dwell on this thing and grabbing the chance, I rode out of the keep, heading for the sanctuary. Gate there was opened to and I easily stepped inside. I used the same way I used before and finally entered the throne room. The pillars were still as they were. It gave me some doubt in Ariel's word. Perhaps it needed some time, or perhaps she has no intention of getting me home. I approached :
" Ariel ? Ariel, can you hear me ?"
She appeared before me with a smile :
" My child. I can not tell you how good it is to see you safe. But we have no time for welcomes right now. Here is what you must do …"
" I've done my part. "; I said demandingly :" I… I've killed him. Now you must get me home. "
Suddenly she was shocked and filled with despair :
" What have you done ! Please child, tell me that you did not act on your own hand. "
" I've put poison into his vine… he's…he's dead… "; I was still shaken by it, but Ariel suddenly cried :
" Nooo ! It is all lost ! All the hope ! It's over !"
" What are you saying ?"
" Kain can not be poisoned child ! He still lives !"
I was suddenly terrified :
" But… But he fell… He couldn't survive that amount… "
" Yeas I could. "; I heard his voice behind me
I turned pale as the rock and saw him standing there with his large sword on his back. His face was so cold, it chilled my bones with a mere gaze :
" Oh Ariel, Ariel… Will you ever learn ?"; he sighed calmly and stepped closer :" Still the same games, and lies, and plots !"
I looked at her :
" What is he saying Ariel ? "
" She deceived you Princess. She hid the truth from you. "; Kain said :" Just like she deceived me, a long time ago. "
" Spare her Kain ! I beg you ! It was all my doing… "; she cried
But he took the sword from his beck, and pointed it at her. Suddenly, the sword started flashing with magic, like a lightning stroke it, and a tear-like bolt fled from the blade dispersing Ariel to glittering dust. She faded away and I was now left with him, who was not just a simple lord. I was stunned by his magical powers, which I saw for the first time. It seamed that the same fate awaits me, but he lowered the blade :
" Why Princess ? Haven't I been straight with you ? Haven't I bean honest ?"
I felt like I could say anything now :
" No, you haven't ! All this time you've schemed treachery behind my back! I've heard you last night, while you planed it with your sons ! Do you deny it ? Do you deny that you said, you plan to have all of Nosgoth in the end ?"; I almost forgotten my place
His face was now serious :
" So you've taught I was going to attack Willendorf, and you tried to poison me to prevent it ? How sad that it was your false belief that led to this. "
" I herd you…"
" I said in the end. I would have let you live here, in peace and happiness until the end of your mortal days, before I'd even begin to consider that conquest. What you heard princess, was planning to remind your father where his place is. He's become an arrogant old man. "
" U…until the end of…of my mortal days ? "; it was then that I realized that he wasn't what I taught he was. He raised his hand towards me :
" Let your thoughts be free, and truth exposed. "
Instantly a sharp pain passed trough my head. A flash of white light blinded me, and I felt the fog inside fading away. As it subsided, I saw him. His skin was pale gray, with veins all over it like canyons. His palms were claws, his hair was white as snow and two giant fangs flashed on yellow torches. Before me was a vampire, with eyes of red malice pointed at me.
I screamed and fled for the door, but as I approached them, they opened and Raziel stepped in. A flash of white light again, and instead of him was that monster from the cocoon I saw last night. I screamed in terror and tried to flee, but Turel jumped before me, and than Rahab, and than Zephon hanging from the ceiling, and Dumah, and Melchiah. I was surrounded by these horrors. They grabbed me and dragging me across the room, thrown me before the throne where Kain sat. I sobbed and was so afraid I wasn't able to look, but I heard them around me, hissing and circling around like hungry wolves. It lasted for eternity, and than they stopped on Kain's hint. I looked at his demonic face, with my eyes filled with tears :
" (sob) Why have you done this to me ?"
" It was you who offered your self to me. It was you who gave me your self to do with as I pleased. "
" You took my mind !"; I cried :" You took my will ! You turned me into your doll ! You…(sob) made love to me…(sob)."
" Don't be a fool princess. Vampires and humans can't mate. You only remember that we did. "
I felt less hurt in that instant, but I was still in his mercy. He got up :
" I did it all to make a point. To see if your kind is wordy of innocence. All our existence is a battle of our two races and now your actions have marked the end of it. Your race has nearly exterminated us twice before, you genocidal monsters. And you call us fiends. "
He approached me and lifted my head to see my face:
" I have honored my part of this deal because unlike you, we have honor to follow. You've betrayed me princess ."
" (sob) I'm sorry …(sob) "
" It is too late for that now. "; he got up and turned away :" I condemn you Sellinna, princess of Willendorf, to be banished from this world… to the edges of insanity…"
For a moment I was confused, and than he spoke to Raziel :
" It is time Raziel, to show us your new gift. "
Raziel kneeled before me, wit demonic and cunning face :
" Look into my eyes, you traitorous wench !"
And his eyes grew so deep… I was slipping away…so deep… deep…