Redux One

...he was so tired now. He couldn't quite feel the blood flowing from a dozen wounds but he was having difficulty focusing his eyes. Still, he could see the bodies lying about the chamber, bodies both human and vampiric. He had killed them all, without a single thought but the hard part was soon to come.

"Where is she?" he screamed at the nearly dead vampire who was trying to crawl away on what was left of his arms and legs. Moebius wished he had kept some of the water for himself, he was quite thirsty.

The vampire only gurgled and increased his efforts at escape. He must get away from this monster; this man who was barely past being a boy, covered in blood and leering maniacally down at him. He was still holding the bucket whose contents had maimed him, the hammer whose end had taken his fangs.

"Where is she!" he screamed again and took the vampire by the hair. Finally, in an agonized

lisp the vampire replied,

"Tthe's in the Inner Thanctum!"

Moebius bent down, smiling politely and said in his ear,

"Thank you. You may be released now." A flash of metal, a spurt of blood and it was over.

Whistling a tune under his breath, he traveled down the labyrinthine hallways and staircases. The glow from the luminescent crystals set in the walls gave him a strange pallor only offset by the blood smeared on his face and arms. A chill was setting in but that wasn't unusual since the vampire architects of the Citadel didn't exactly have insulation in mind when they built it. As soon as he reached the Inner Sanctum's massive doors, he knew she was alone. Hopefully they wouldn't be interrupted. As he pushed open the doors, he tried to focus his thoughts. No doubt now, no hesitation. This was the only way and it was decreed by God himself, so no...more...weakness. This was the conclusion that was meant to be. This was...destiny.

Regardless of how prepared he thought he was, he still felt his heart pounding in his throat.

He could scarcely breathe as he looked in and saw her. She stood by the balcony past the giant seven chairs that served as the only furniture in the chamber. Her raven wings were folded neatly as always. She wore just a simple white toga despite the snow that was drifting in through the wide windows. Her dark hair was garlanded with tiny flowers.

"Moebius..." she said quietly. If she noticed the gore that slicked his face and arms, she made no sign. All she did was look at him, with a faint glimmer of sadness in her golden eyes. After a time, she said, softer than a creeping mouse,

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head grimly. A strand of hair, greasy with blood, fell into his face but he paid it no heed. He gripped the sword and pointed it at her heart.

"This goes beyond you and me."

"Oh?"

"God said it must be so."

Her laughter echoed throughout the domed chamber like little tinkling bells.

"So when you ran away you found religion?" she asked. "When you left, there was no sign of your escape. No guards saw you, no boat was taken across the lake. A fledgling said you ran into the forgotten sanctuary. Is it true?"

"Yes," Moebius replied, eyeing her suspiciously as she strode closer, "that's where He spoke to me."

"And what did he say?"

"The time of the vampire's reign was over. That I was to be the instrument of their culling."

"How exciting!" she smiled wanly. "Did He say that we vampires once worshiped Him?"

"He told me everything." Moebius said, the anger apparent in his voice. Her eyes narrowed at him and she opened wide her wings, somehow making her look bigger than she was.

"Do you know just how long you were in there?" she hissed.

"A few hours? I'm not sure," he replied as conversationally as he could.

"Fifteen years, Moebius."

For a second, Moebius faltered. Then a forced smile came upon him.

"What does it matter? He delivered me where and when I needed to be," he scoffed.

"I thought you were dead!" she cried suddenly. He was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

"Is that why the human blood trade has prospered so much?" he growled. "I was gone for so long. No more of my silly whims to work around! Why really work at a treaty, after all?" He began to gesture wildly and sheer rage made his voice tremble. "Humans die! Who will be left to remember the promises you made?"

"That's not how it is!" she cried. "I tried it the way you wanted. It worked for a while, having a human pair up with a vampire who's passed the tests. But the lines...and the waiting...people were dissatisfied with not getting fed enough. And what fledgling can really keep himself from killing his host? I mean really? So, yes I allowed the underground blood trade. Yes, I lied to you. I'm sor..."

"It doesn't matter! I told you! It's beyond all of this!" Moebius screamed suddenly.

He stepped closer to her, wielding a sword that was filthy with viscera. She did not step back but spread her wings wider, making her appear more fearsome in some subliminally divine way.

"God told me...He told me that I was a Guardian, part of the Circle of Nine. That I had much work to do if I was to truly serve Nosgoth, but that He would guide me," Moebius said, his breath becoming ragged and irregular.

"You serve nothing but your blind desire for vengeance." she said quietly.

She gasped as the sword slid quickly and easily into her.

"But I've already forgiven you," he said as he laid her gently on the floor, "Your soul will finally be released and sent to where it can be purified." He kissed her as she died, taking in her final breath. Even though eyes shone absolute fury and pain, he wore a cracked grin as if it were the only thing keeping him together.

"And one day I'll join you, Jadwiga," he whispered and closed her eyes. The blood loss had finally weakened him and he collapsed beside her, dimly aware of increasingly louder wingbeats...

louder and louder and...