Tales of the Amber Viper Chapter 386
The Ghostwind
Kazao slugged back the vial with a shaking hand. Rich Transhuman blood coated his tongue, granting a burst of visceral pleasure. Power cascaded into his veins, filling him with potency. The rush was incredible, but it didn't last, it never lasted. All too soon it faded, leaving him hollow inside.
"More," he growled.
"You've had enough for now," Larus chided.
"I want more," Kazao hissed.
"You'll get more when I say, not before," Larus spat.
Kazao glared, eyeing his Brother in sin. Larus and he were meeting secretly, in an abandoned warehouse somewhere in the depths of the Serpens Rex. The Starfort was vast enough to provide a multitude of hiding places, so they could afford to never meet in the same place twice. Kazao didn't like the cold or the way the air echoed, even in power armour it was distracting.
Larus' pulse boomed in his ears, promising the heady glorious of his veins. So tempting, so very tempting, for a moment Kazao thought about tackling his Brother and draining him dry. Something of his thoughts must have been betrayed in his mannerisms, for Larus placed a hand on his Bolter's grip in warning. Kazao had seen how lethally proficient Larus was becoming with that relic, how the two moved in unison. It was less that Larus wielded Chrysoar and more that Chrysoar wielded him.
"We are headed back to Imperium Sanctus," Larus stated, "Once there affairs can be put in hand."
"We are still planning to do this?" Kazao asked to distract himself from the noise of the pulse.
"We remain committed to the cause, Coluber must die," Larus affirmed.
"Why?" Kazao groaned, "That was Shrios' vendetta, not ours."
Larus' eyes narrowed in annoyance, "Shrios was a burnt-out old wretch, stewing on imagined slights and bitter over glories he thought should be his. His time was past, all the Old Seventeen's are. They are but lingering shades of yesterday, holding to forgotten dreams. The Amber Vipers are ready to walk without a guide, we can find our own way between honour and survival, but Coluber simply refuses to die. So long as he lives, we are crushed under the weight of his expectations. Look at this current mess, a score of Brothers killed, all for his misplaced pride. No more I say, no more."
Kazao sighed, "You realise he has Brother-Exemplar bodyguards?"
"Which is why we must move carefully," Larus agreed, "Wait for the time to be right and not blunder in like oafs, as Shrios demanded."
"And Ferrac, you know he will seek vengeance?"
"Ferrac isn't as scary as he thinks he is," Larus scoffed.
Kazao wasn't convinced, "There is a glaring flaw in your plan. To remove the Old Seventeen means targeting Reddam too."
"One thing at a time," Larus sniffed.
"You..." Kazao gulped, "You mean to kill Reddam, but he's our squad leader!"
Larus sniffed, "He will be given a chance to see reason, after the deed is done. He can comply with the new order or die."
Kazao hearts turned to stone, "Reddam will never forgive this. And to kill him, after all we've been through... no... I can't not Reddam."
"You will do as I bid," Larus hissed.
"I refuse!"
"Then you'll never taste Astartes blood again." Larus threatened.
That shut Kazao up. He couldn't risk that, not for all the Bolt Rounds in the Imperium. Already the need itched at his throat, demanding he taste that heady ambrosia once more. Kazao needed to drink, the craving had taken on a life of its own. Like living with an untrained Mastiff in a small apartment, one that was demanding and untrained. It would howl, and scratch and demolish everything, till he gave in to whatever it wanted. Kazao wasn't the master anymore, the craving was, and it would have its way no matter what.
Kazao lowered his head and whispered, "You win Larus."
"Do not be so morose," Larus crowed as he stroked Chrysoar's casing with possessive fingers, "It will all go as planned. Our destiny has been revealed to me, and it is glorious. I cannot see how it will come to pass just yet, but it will happen."
Kazao changed the subject, "Are the Blood Talons in your vision?"
"Them?" Larus scoffed, "No, not them. They have their own doom to pursue. They shall not impinge on our future anymore."
"I am not sure if I should be glad or saddened," Kazao sighed,
"Either way, it changes nothing."
Kazao thought about those strange Marines, and what he had learned of their secrets. They were like him, in more ways than one. The monstrous creatures lurking in the most hidden vault had looked upon him and seen kinship, a similar curse haunting their veins. Were they his future, Kazao wondered, would he become like them in time? He yearned for it not to be true, he swore not to allow it, but fear gnawed at the roots of his conviction.
The Blood Talons had dreamed of death in battle and for the first time he understood why. Looking back over his life there were so many times he could have died, and had he done so would have been remembered with honour. Kazao could have been a hero, dying nobly and well, but instead had lived and fallen from grace. Even as he mused on the idea of letting himself pass he knew he would not, the urge to live was too strong and the craving within demanded he continue. For good or ill, Kazao must live.
"Come," Larus intruded into his thoughts, "We must return before we are missed." Larus led them out, heading back to the more inhabitable parts of the Nest. On their way they passed many chattels, new and old. The press-ganged wretches from Dimmamar looked afraid, but resigned, they knew Imperial service was harsh and their lives would be bleak. The older Chattels looked like they were heading to a funeral, they had experienced the Ghostwind before, they knew they were unlikely to survive. The funeral they were heading to was their own.
Eventually their walk brought them to the billet and the pair entered. Inside Joffel and Tebes were idling, out of armour and taking their leisure. Joffel was playing some card game on a low table, Tebes was thumbing through a journal on ice-world campaigns and the strategies that best suited such environs. The others laughed at his obsessive study of minutiae in the billet, they didn't laugh so hard in the drills when Tebes consistently outpaced them.
"Where have you been?" Joffel casually asked as he pulled an Emperor of Diamonds card and laid it down.
"Looking for a new Apothecary," Larus covered, "Kazao needs someone to monitor his aberration."
"And idea whose taking over?"
"Not yet," Larus sniffed, "Could be anyone."
Tebes looked up from his book, "Without Shrios, implementing the Primaris tech will be challenging."
"Nobody has his genius," Larus concurred calmly as if it had not been he who killed the Apothecary. "Other Chapters figured it out, we will too," Joffel dismissed.
"Easy for you to say," Kazao muttered sullenly.
He turned from their faces and went to the arming servitor. In ritual fashion it stripped his plate, reciting ancient litanies throughout. Kazao waited patiently as his armour was reassembled on a frame, then stowed his grenade launcher on a weapons rack. The others averted their eyes, but Kazao lingered over donning his stormtrooper helmet. He found himself weary of hiding his face, of being ashamed of a mutation. He wished he would walk with his face exposed for all to see, damn the consequences. A soft cough from Larus reminded him that day was far away and he shrugged it on with a sigh.
"Anyone for cards?" Joffel asked.
"You think I don't know you watch the reflection in my visor?" Kazao jabbed.
"I won't this time, upon my honour I swear it."
"You expect me to believe you?"
"It's getting too easy otherwise; I want a challenge."
Kazao begrudgingly accepted and sat down at the table as Joffel scooped the cards up and shuffled. His hands were deft and the tattered cards danced in his fingers, as Kazao watched. Tebes returned to his book and Larus went to place his bolter on the rack. Kazao noted he lingered a little too long, as if troubled by the thought of being parted from his weapon. It seemed to take a visible effort to let it go from his hand.
"Imperium Nihilus will soon be behind us," Kazao commented.
"Shame," Joffel sighed.
"Are you jesting?" Tebes asked without looking up.
"We have done well here, it seems a step backwards to return to Sanctus."
Kazao was surprised to hear that, could Joffel harbour doubts over their course too? A chance to bring another Brother into the scheme was not to be missed. He probed, "You wish to roam among the wild phantasmagoria and battle insanity forever?"
"Well no... but in these wastes the Amber Vipers are mighty. Our starfort, our arms, our numbers, here we are among the strongest, back in Sanctus we are merely one more Chapter. A shabby and undergunned Chapter."
Tebes snorted, "You think we can be big fish in a small pond?"
"More or less," Joffel admitted.
"And our chances for glory scant. Our deeds will go unheralded, our missions insignificant. Under the Crusade we may be held in contempt, but at least we are counted as a real Chapter."
Joffel grinned, "True, the chances for glory are greater in the light of the Astronomican."
Kazao was disappointed, Joffel had no real vision for the Amber Vipers, he was only concerned with his own glories. He was content with his lot, so long as it led him to battles he could excel in. Limited imagination and an inflated ego were no use to them, Joffel wouldn't understand why Coluber had to die. He certainly wouldn't tolerate Kazao's cravings, he wouldn't part with a drop of blood no matter how it pained Kazao.
Joffel began dealing cards as Tebes read his journal and Larus went to fetch some beers. Kazao silently mused on the days to come and what sacrifices would have to be made. Joffel grinned at him as the hands were laid out, a smile of warm camaraderie and Brotherhood. For his part Kazao gazed with aching thirst at the pulsing jugular in his Brother's neck. Thoughts of the future faded from Kazao's thoughts, replaced with a burning question as to how good his Brother's blood would taste in his mouth.
Afterword
The Blood Talons began as a mere reference in an earlier story. I needed a dead Chapter and thought this was a cool name. My original idea for this story was to use the Lamenters Chapter. However a lot of people expressed interest in the name Blood Talons, sending ideas and suggestions for who they are. It got me thinking there could be something to them. Did i have a fourth Chapter in me, I wasn't sure, but I think it worked out. The Blood Talons will have their own stories in the future. Meanwhile the Amber Vipers are heading back to Sanctus for their epic conclusion.