Ch 7: True Culprit
While we thought the world would succumb to us in a matter of time, a human resistance factor remains. As we let our guards down, the Blood Hunters once again struck another blow. This time, they invaded the Avernus Cathedral, and had Rahab badly wounded. At once, all six generals were assembled at the pillars, and again, war was to be raged.
"Rahab, you have been attacked?" Kain asked him.
"Yes, my sire. All my fledglings were killed, and I barely escaped."
"And what of your human ranks?" Nathaniel asked him, first time present at a war conference for a very long time.
"They have been overwhelmed."
"You left your generals behind?" Dumah asked him in disbelief.
"You saved your own hide!" Zephon mocked him cruelly.
"Sire, may I be so bold to ask if I could lead troops into Willendorf and destroy them once and for all?" For three centuries we fought these accursed humans. Even if Kain wasn't tired of this, I certainly was.
"You may, Raziel. Anyone else who wished to sent out their forces?"
"I will, Sire." Turel volunteered.
"As will I." Dumah followed. I could sense a bit of rivalry between us. Only Zephon didn't say a word. He was more into his own interests and benefits. He would rather be enjoying himself in his house of wenches then to defend the honor of our race. As for Melchiah, he offered to have his troops ready if we need reinforcements, which was very unlikely to happen. Out of Kain's blood, he received the least amount of the gift, as such, his fledglings were hardly stronger then an average mortal.
We gathered our troops at Uschtenheim.
"First we claim back the Avernus Cathedral, and then we will flatten Willendorf City." Proudly I announced to my soldiers. Dumah, Turel, and I rode at the front of our joined force. Each of us wearing our clan banner draped over one shoulder, while we wore leather pants and black boots. We also forged our whole sets of weapons. I had a shield bearing my clan symbol, mounted on my back, while a broad sword, decorated with my name etched in red runes, hanged at my side, ready to use.
Soon we approached the front gates of the Avernus Cathedral, the Blood Hunters was ready for us. But with our three armies, of one hundred men each, and probably seven vampires among us, it was overkill. But it is always better to over estimate our enemies than under estimating them.
Within moments, we claimed the Cathedral, and for every one of our men killed, we decapitated ten captured vampire hunters. We found the sub-captain of the invasion and I questioned him about his leader.
"Tell me, is your leader in Willendorf City?" On horseback, I held him up by his collars.
"I don't know where he is!" Like a frightened child, he cowered and hid himself with his arms.
"Tell me now, you pathetic dog, or I shall beat the answer from you."
"No no! I beg of you, spare my life~!" He begged. Like a worm on a fishhook, he squirmed helplessly in my clutches.
"You're not answering my question, you vampire hunting dog."
"My leader is in Willendorf City, but you can't get in, it's heavily armed!" He screeched. "Please sir, spare my life."
"Ha, and let you live to warn the others?" I unsheathed my sword, itching to use it. "You are of no use to me, dog." I held him up with one hand, and with the other, slit his throat swiftly and noiselessly. To the rest of the captives, I yelled. "We are vampires, the natural rulers of this world. You are now given a chance to either surrender to Kain's empire, or die." And at the sound of my announcement, all the captives kneeled down before us. "To Willendorf!" We rode towards the south.
As we advanced onward, Willendorf came into view. It's centuries old castle walls, now modernized by steel and reinforced not only with skilled archers, but also with catapults. Surrounding the castle wall was a wide moat, deadly to vampires. And the only way in was through the main entrance, but since we weren't invited guests, it would take some persuasions before they let down the drawbridge. Lastly, the entire complex was decorated with red banners showing the Lion of Willendorf. Nearly six centuries ago, Kain had his audience with King Otmar, and learned of his daughter's tragedy, who would've known that King Otmar's descendent, King Otmar XIII, was now aiding the Blood Hunters in their cause. How long ago was this pact made? How many generations has it been since they have forgotten Kain's deed to save Willendorf's royal daughter? Perhaps today, my brothers and I will refresh their memories.
As we emerged from the foliage and approach the castle wall, the castle guards were already on alert. War trumpets were blown, as archers and catapults lined up to defend our invasion. We lined up our archers and had them ready with fire arrows, but I finally realized that the war at the Avernus Cathedral was merely bait. Just moments ago, I boasted about an overkill of a victory, when I suddenly noticed that the actual battle was here, at Willendorf. Our army was efficiently armed, and our vampire portion was skillfully trained as well. Yet, in front of us was this edifice, with its insurmountable wall, and a wide moat. We tried to fire our arrows over the castle wall, and very rarely did we hit the enemy. We retreated and regrouped. Turel, and Dumah both agreed that we should contact Kain and asked for guidance. I, on the other hand, was hoping we could derive a better solution, but it seemed asking Kain for advice would have been better.
After telling Kain of our situation, he had decided to gather his forces and join us near Willendorf. At last, I felt that the final stand against these accursed vampire hunters has come. And shortly within one day, Kain has arrived with his forces. Mounted on his steed, with the Soul Reaver clinked to his war armor, he led his army to us.
"Sire." Turel and Dumah bowed to him, after I paid my respect.
"So this is the new Willendorf." Kain beheld the fortress.
"It appears the leader of the Blood Hunters have allied themselves with the latest King Otmar XIII." Turel pointed at Willendorf's banner.
"We cannot cross the moat, sire." Dumah reported. "And our own archers cannot shoot arrows over the high walls."
"Should we surround the fort with our forces, and wait until they run out of supplies?" I asked Kain.
"No. They have an underground passage. I have been there myself."
"Then what should we do, my lord?" Turel asked him.
"Wait here, have your forces gather at the opposite side of the drawbridge." He walked towards the edge of the moat.
With that said, Kain ducked down on the ground, and with one tremendous leap, he soared through the sky and crossed over the castle wall. A gust of wind and dust kicked off the ground as soon as he took flight. The rest of us watched blankly at this feat, not everyday did we get to see Kain displays his powers. And within moments, we heard screams and smelt the spilling of blood from over the walls. At once, we gathered our armies to prepare for the invasion.
Kain landed on the castle wall lightly on his hoofed feet. It has been so long since he has used this dark gift. For a mere second, he was concerned if he might not make it and die of self humiliation in front of his army and his sworn enemies by falling into the water. But that thought fled quickly. Now, he began his one-man onslaught with his Soul Reaver at the castle wall. Soldiers and vampire hunters of all ranks swarmed around him, charging and gnawing like mad guard dogs. Pikes and swords jabbed at Kain's side as he overcomes his enemies one by one. Any other vampires, even Nathaniel, would have been defeated the moment they land on the wall. The odds were clearly stacked against him. As soon as he cut down an enemy, two more filled the gap. Was it a fool's stand? No, Kain would never enter a battle unprepared. As the soldiers thought he was utterly surrounded, Kain concentrated his will and formed a blast of telekinetic energy ring around him, sending the enemies flying great distance.
'So, the heirs of Otmar were ungrateful hounds after all. I should've burn Elzeviar's doll than saving his daughter's life.' Kain thought to himself, as he carelessly swiped down one soldier after another. Finally, when he reached the bridge tower, he brought down the guards, cut loose the dead weight, and let the bridge fall.
As the drawbridge fell, we knew Kain have succeeded. Like a tidal wave, our conjoined army poured into the inner castle walls. In the haze of the fighting around me, I found my master. Kain was a visage of a conqueror, cutting down and adding up the pile of corpses he was standing on. As more of our soldiers charged into the city, the odds are beginning to tilt as our enemies began to thin. Knowing that the odds were starting to become their disadvantage, the commanding sergeants of Willendorf and their associated Blood Hunters retreated into the inner castle, heartlessly leaving their lower ranks behind.
Dumah instructed his men to create a battling ram, with Turel's troop, they heaved a thirty feet long ram and struck down the castle door. Once again, we engaged the enemy, Kain led my brothers and I into the inner sanctum of the castle. There, we confronted the latest Blood Hunter commander, and King Otmar XIII.
King Otmar Willendorf the XIII, a gray haired man, looked at us calmly. He was strongly built, and as he stood up, he had all the features a proud king would carry. Like a lion's mane, his gray beard connected to his hair, and his calm blue eyes watched and studied us like a lion to his prey. He sported a set of pure white armor, encrusted with a golden lion on his chest, and a majestic looking crown on his head. The Blood Hunter wore a set of silver plated armor and a brown cape. He was well concealed; strips of leather cowl his face and head, leaving a pair of gleaming eyes.
"You ungrateful king." Kain pointed at Otmar, who slowly withdrew his sword from its jeweled sheath.
"So, you are the vampire who saved our blood line?" said Otmar in his deep majestic tone.
"If I have known of you ancestor's treachery, I would have let Elzeviar kept the soul doll as he pleased."
"The story of how you saved Otmar's daughter has not been forgotten, vampire. But your act of heroism is but a deed of your own ambition. My ancestors knew that long ago."
"Perhaps you have forgotten the price Otmar made for saving his daughter, he would give up his kingdom if needed."
"We know of that too vampire, but you have declined the offer. And we have never made another such bargain since." Otmar XIII debated. "Aside from that, you murdered our ally King William just merely fifty years prior."
"I saved your pathetic kingdom from the Nemesis, you ignorant fool."
"We've never heard of such blasphemy. The only 'nemesis' I see is you. And as long as I draw breath, your parasitic race shall never set foot in Willendorf!" King Otmar took stance, ready to duel Kain.
"It seems my tolerance of your little kingdom has been a mistake. Tonight, you and these Blood Hunters die, once and for all!" Kain withdrew his Soul Reaver and charged at him.
Seeing their king in danger, the castle elite guards came in to aid Otmar. Turel and Dumah fend them off.
Strangely, unlike the previous leaders, this Blood Hunter commander didn't say a word; we neither heard a threat nor an insult from him. While Kain and Otmar had their own debate, the commander just stood still by the throne, like a sentry. But as soon as the fighting started, the commander moved swiftly and silently to aid the king.
Before he came within close distance to attack Kain, I confronted him. Like before, he silently pulled out his sword from behind his cape, and took stance. I looked behind me and saw that both Turel and Dumah were still occupied with the enemies. I had no other choice but to fight him on my own.
I strike at his torso, and he blocked it off. His sword skills were like the previous leader I have fought so many years ago, but his movements were rigid, slow, and blocky. It almost looked as if he was a life size puppet hung by strings. But, his sword was still a very tangible threat. I parried forward, and he blocked it with his gauntlet, the metal clanged loudly at impact. I took on a different approach; I stood with my sword in front of me, and waited for him to attack. As soon as he came within range, he swung at my head, which I ducked. I saw his stomach was now vulnerable to attack, and seized this opportunity. With much effort, my blade penetrated the armor and struck his abdomen. Just when I thought he would go down in pain, he stood his ground. Oddly, the sword did not produce the flesh cutting feeling I had so expertly encountered in my battles, but a dull thud as it strikes into his flesh.
Wide eyed, I withdrew the sword, and was even more surprised when there was no blood at the edge of my blade!
"What madness is this?" I declared. Again, the commander did not laugh, nor did he say a single world. His eyes stared at me dully, like a pair of eyes on a frozen corpse. I started to wonder what manner of creature this is, not a vampire, and certainly not human. What abomination have the Blood Hunter accepted as their leader?
As the commander approached me again, not fazed at all by my previous attack, he took a swing at my side. Knowing his speed was slower than mine, I dodged his attack and strike at his head this time. Again, I didn't hear the satisfying sound of cold steel biting into warm flesh and blood, but a dull thud as my blade strike at the side of his head. However, I managed to cut off pieces of the leather that was shrouding this face. And to my surprise I didn't see any skin. All I saw was wood.
I stood several feet from this monster, sword gripped tightly; I took my shield from my back and armed my left hand with it. I was still skeptical about whether my opponent was really some unknown abomination, or if he was but one of man's contraption. I intend to find out. With my full force, I charged forward. He brought his sword down onto me, and I blocked it with my shield. I was grinning my teeth as I knocked him down. He lost his balance and crashed onto the floor. Landed next to him, I disarmed him of his own sword and quickly hacked away the leather covering his face. When at last I exposed him, I was again, dumbstruck. For indeed the Commander of the Blood Hunters was but a wooden puppet. A skilled artisan painted his eyes, and his wooden face, was but a brown sphere cruelly resembling the face of a man.
I bought down my sword onto his head, and sliced off a big portion before he had the chance to fling me aside. Dumah, who have slaughtered the castle guards he encountered, came up beside me and stared at bewilderment. Turel was left behind to prevent any more of our enemies from coming into the castle.
"What kind of demon is this?" Dumah asked.
"No demon Dumah, just a puppet." I answered. "We need a way to destroy it. Hold him!"
Dumah approach the puppet, now staggering a bit from the fall. Perhaps its joins were slightly out of place. With his strength, Dumah wrestle him to the ground again. I searched frantically for a way to destroy this monster. I remembered last time Kain used his powers to incinerate the Blood Hunter leader. Perhaps this time, I should use the same approach. I looked at the side of the throne, and there, lying beside it were two tall candle stands, lit by its lively dancing flames. At once, I took one of the stands and return to the puppet. Dumah had him pinned on the ground by its head; the puppet pulled and yanked at Dumah's armor, but was without success to break free. Quickly, I jabbed the candle flame into the puppet's sheared off head seconds after Dumah let go of him. The puppet's head caught fire, it staggered around the room until finally, it fell and burnt into a lump of blacken dead wood.
We returned to Kain to see King Otmar lied on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. Kain then walked up to the corpse, and decapitated it. We marched out onto the balcony of the castle, and see the overview of the courtyard. The soldiers were still fighting, unbeknownst to them that their king is dead. Until Kain held up Otmar's whiten bloody head and showed it for all to see. Dumah carried the burnt lump of the Blood Hunter commander, and let it fell onto the courtyard. Everyone in the courtyard stop the battle. The remaining soldiers of Willendorf dropped their weapons and kneeled before us, as did the vampire hunters who realized that their leader was but a life size puppet. At last, the war against the vampire hunters has ended.