Book I: The Three Dynasties
Chapter VIII
The Second Bloodline
"Viktor was not the first of our kind as we were led to believe, he was human once, the ruler of these lands. Markus, he's the one, the source, the first true Vampire"- Andreas Tannis, Official Coven Historian (In Exile 2002).
She sits atop her throne… her Throne, her father was barely cold in the ground and she had already made herself more than comfortable on his seat of power. Still, no matter how bad she felt she was resolute, she would not show her grief. Her pastel coloured gowns were gone, replaced by elegant black mourning attire, her beautiful and delicate features concealed by a thin black veil, on top of which rested the golden laurel reef. "Princess." A voice called to her.
"Yes Viceroy." She answered coldly,
"You have a visitor Princess, he has just arrived at the gate, he is insisting to speak with you."
"Who is?" She asked, her eye brow raised beneath her veil.
"Your fiancé."
Amelia rolled her eyes slightly at the Viceroy's revelation "Is he alone?" She asked in boredom.
"He is." Eli nodded
"Well then send him in."
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Markus Corvinus strode through the halls of what was now Amelia's estate, however he did not walk alone, flanking him were four armoured men, each one watching every one of his moves. Two of them carried long bows, the other two carried cross bows, each mans weapons poised and ready to fire. The flame haired warlord made his way into Amelia's Throne room, only to see the young Princess flanked by even more of her archers and bowmen. "Amelia." He bowed.
"Lord Corvinus." She replied
"Must we be so formal, mere weeks ago you were to be my bride, I thought we were both happy."
"A lot has changed Markus." Amelia spoke in a condescending tone.
"Yes it has." He nodded "I would like to offer you my deepest condolences on the loss of your father. I know what it feels like to lose a parent."
"What do you mean?" She asked suspiciously.
"My mother… my mother died, probably killed by your father or one of his men. It's okay I'm not here to make trouble."
"Markus I am so sorry…" She spoke warmly.
"Thank you." He nodded "I need your help, my brother Henry has left the Western and Carpathian Kingdoms, taking a rather large portion of our armies with him, and my brother William… well… he's also taking a toll on our armies. Together we can bring an end to all this suffering… Marry me Amelia."
"You still want me." She smiled slightly.
"Of course." Markus returned her smile holding out his hand "I can still make you happy."
"Markus…" She whispered as she placed her delicate porcelain hand in his "… I can not marry you… not now."
"What must I do Amelia." He almost pleaded.
"If you want my hand in marriage… then you must give me your brother's head as a wedding present." She spoke coldly.
"What?" He choked.
"My father will be avenged." She told him firmly "And if you will not deliver him to me, the Emperor Justinian will certainly find me a suitable husband."
"How can someone so beautiful be so cold?" Markus asked in horror.
"I am but a product of my environment." She dismissed him "Now if that is all I have a Kingdom to rule."
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Markus Corvinus galloped away from Amelia's Estate muttering and cursing under his breath. He rode his horse off of the beaten tracks, into the woods of the savage lands, he rode like a man possessed before bringing his horse to a violent stop. He heard something that enraged him, that tore through his very soul. It was one of those monsters… one of those things his brother had helped create. He leapt from his horse and charged through the trees in the direction of the beast. "Monster!" He screamed at the huge wolf like creature, its matted fur covered in blood and dirt. "This is your fault!" He screamed as he lunged at the wolf, punching it square in the jaw. "Damn you!" He sneered as he began to rain blow after blow on the beast. The mighty beast was no match for his Immortal strength. Weakened from the Immortal Warlords assault the Lycan tried in vain to struggle free, staggering back into the trees, the beast frantically tried to catch its breath. "Oh no you don't…" Markus screamed as he pounced on the creature, tackling it to the ground, the two landed in a pile of leaves, hitting the ground with a thud, however to Markus's alarm the fall did not end at the ground, there was a momentary pause as the ground began to creek, then a snapping sound, before he could react he was falling again, this was a great height… both Markus and the Lycan landed with a thud. The warlord shook his head clear… it was dark… pitch black in fact. "Damn it!" Markus spat, he knew where he was, a mine shaft. The landscape of the savage lands were littered with these tunnels, poorly built by stolen Roman equipment, the many Warlords of these lands would strip the resources, metal mainly, and then seal up the mine when they were done… however they did not always seal them well.
Markus quickly drew his sword as his eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness, he followed the sound of the creatures whimpering, it was on the floor, clearly wounded from Markus's assault. Markus drove his sword into the beasts side causing it to let out a tremendous howl… and it was that howl that would change Markus's life forever… for Markus and the Lycan were not alone in that mine shaft, the creatures howl had awoken its other inhabitants… the soul splitting howl sent a wave of alarm through the slumbering bats that clung to the roof of the shaft, there was an unbearable shrieking sound, muffled only by the flapping of leathery wings. The bats numbered in their hundreds, they descended on the two intruders like a dense cloud, Markus panicked waving his sword around furiously as the creatures of the night encircled him like a cyclone, he let out a cry of pain as he felt the needle like fangs of the bats pierce his flesh, first his neck, then his face. After what seemed like an eternity the furious living storm moved on to another area of the mine. As soon as the cloud was gone Markus lunged forward with his sword, severing the beasts head from its shoulders. "Damn it." Markus spat as he brought a hand to his face and wiped away some of the blood "Filthy creatures."
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Markus finally dragged himself out of the mineshaft after an excruciating climb. His body was aching all over, all the years he had lived, all the battles he had fought, he had never felt anything like this, he felt like his ribs were being crushed, that his blood was boiling. The short walk back to his horse was hell, he climbed back onto his steed and headed for the nearest village. As his horse made the short journey to the village the glare of the sunlight forced him to squint, the light hurt, a feeling he had never experienced before... and then there was darkness.
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His eyes fluttered open, he was in a strange place. He sat up and looked around, his armour had been removed, it lay resting in the corner along with his weapons. Letting out a low groan he pulled himself off of the uncomfortable straw bed he had been resting on. He was a very Spartan room, aside from the bed the only other furniture was a small wooden chair. Sitting back down on the bed he buried his head in his hands as the pain continued to stab at him. He heard something… a key in a door, a single figure entered the room, an old man with a grey beard, he wore long black robes and a square hat. "You are awake?" The old man exclaimed, a little surprised.
Markus brushed the fiery red hair from his face and glared at the old man "Where am I?" He demanded.
"You are in the village of Pécs My Lord." The old man replied.
"Are you a healer?" Markus asked.
"Yes My Lord." He bowed "You were discovered by a hunting party, they brought you to me, I have been treating you ever since."
"How long?" Markus asked with a hint of concern.
"Four days My Lord… I tried to send word to your fathers castle however more and more of our messengers are being picked off by the beasts."
"Four days…" Markus spat in disbelief.
"I have tried to treat your injuries… but there has been some cause for concern."
"Such as?" Markus swallowed hard.
"I was trying to bleed you My Lord, to let out any infected blood so that you may be able to heal, however no sooner had I made the cut, it healed itself again."
"Ah…" Markus nodded "…my family and I… lets just say we heal very quickly."
"I am well aware of your families reputation My Lord, it is not my place to judge… however I did treat your father once… although he healed quickly, it was nothing like you."
Markus walked over to the corner where his weapons had been stowed and drew a dagger from his belt slicing open the palm of his hand he watched in amazement as the cut healed almost instantly. "I see…" Markus nodded.
"There is one more thing My Lord…" The Healer spoke nervously
"And what might that be?" Markus sighed in frustration
"Your heartbeat My Lord…"
"What of it…"
"Well its not there… not really."
"What do you mean?" Markus demanded.
"It is slow My Lord… too slow… no living creature could have heart beat so slow."
"Is that all?" Markus sneered.
"Yes My Lord." The healer bowed.
"Then leave me, and fetch me some water, I have a terrible thirst about me… such a terrible thirst."
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"MORE WATER!" Markus bellowed as he slammed his fist against the wall. A moment later his door opened and the healers young servant girl entered with a fresh jug of water. "Quickly!" Markus hissed.
"Forgive me My Lord." She mumbled as she poured the water into his cup. "This is the fifth jug in an hour My Lord… is there anything else I can get you."
"No." Markus snapped as he gulped the cool liquid down "Just another cup." He leant back in his bed as the young girl leant over to pour him another cup, she was a beautiful young thing, her blonde hair tied back, her cleavage bountiful, yet Markus's eyes remained transfixed on her neck.
"My Lord…" She mumbled, as Markus's eyes turned an electric shade of blue, Markus knew she was scared, that she was speaking to him, but all he could hear was the deafening sound of her pulse, it rang in his ear like a war drum. The girl tried to run, yet the patient had an iron like grip on her arm, she screamed… not that Markus could hear, all he could hear was the thunder of her pulse beneath her trembling ivory flesh. As the girl squirmed Markus tilted his head, allowing his teeth to extend, to elongate into ivory white fangs… and then he lunged… it was not malice, nor lust, but rather it was instinct… the inescapable, irresistible need to feed that caused him to plunge his newly developed fangs deep into the jugular of the beautiful servant girl, a fountain of blood erupted, so that only the Markus's now piercing cobalt eyes were visible beneath his crimson mask and flame red hair. After what seemed like an eternity of feeding, his terrible thirst was finally quenched, he allowed the lifeless deathly pale body of the girl to fall to floor.
"My God…" he breathed in disgust as he saw what he had done "…My God what have I become." A million images flashed through the Immortals mind… followed by a sudden wave of realization… he remembered his hunting trip… he remembered the image of William being bitten by that wolf… then the mine… he had been bitten by a bat… one bitten by bat, one by wolf… and now both of them were monsters. "No…." Markus hissed as he looked upon his blood stained features in the blood splattered glass.
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He had dressed hastily, the pain he had been feeling had eased off since he had fed from the girl, he cautiously left the scene of his crime and headed down a small wooden staircase. No one had seen him, he made a dash for it, forcing his way to the door he ran… he ran outside. He had barely made it two steps before he felt his skin burn, then he could smell the burning of his own flesh as smoke bellowed from his body. The pain forced him to his knees as his flesh began to blister. He scrambled along the ground, back to the safety of the open door, the dark corridor was like paradise compared to the hell he had just been through, he kept crawling, up the stairs clawing his way into the blood soaked room he had previously occupied. He managed to pull himself back to his feet, slamming the door behind him.
"My Lord what have you done?" A voice asked in horror.
Markus turned around with a start to find the old healer standing over the girls lifeless body. "I did what I had to." Markus told him.
"Your family is cursed…" he breathed. "I will see to it that you do not hurt anyone else."
"I am afraid I can not allow that doctor." Markus spoke in a menacing tone, as he glided across the floor and grabbed the doctor by the throat. "I am sorry good doctor but I need to test a theory... and you are the only one here." Markus tilted the doctors head violently and sunk his teeth into the old mans neck before letting him drop to the ground. Markus let out a sigh and sat down in the small wooden chair "And now we must wait."
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His eyes fluttered open, he was in a familiar place, he sat up bolt upright, he was resting on an old straw mattress.
"You are awake?" A slightly surprised voice exclaimed.
"Corvinus…" The old man breathed as he saw Markus standing in the corner.
"Forgive me healer, but I needed to test something. You see those people my brother bites, are reborn in the same way he is… as monsters. And the turning process is a lot quicker. Now thanks to you I know it is possible for me to create my own army…"
"I am not a monster!" The old man snapped "I will not be like you!"
"I am glad to hear you say that doctor." Markus nodded "For there is one more thing I must test." In the blink of an eye Markus had run his sword through the healers stomach, as the old man doubled over Markus grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hurled him through the door, the doctor tumbled down the stairs, crashing through the front door of his building, falling into sunlight. Markus watched from a safe distance as the old man flayed about in agony, counting how long it took for the unfortunate man to be reduced to a pile of ash. "Just a matter of seconds…" Markus sighed "… It would appear that daylight is going to be a problem."
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Fortress Corvinus, Western Hungarian Territory 546 AD
"My Lord!" A guard exclaims as he rushes into Alexander Corvinus's Throne Room.
"Is there any word on my son?" He asks cautiously.
"He has returned My Lord… your son is here."
Alexander breathed a sigh of relief as Markus entered the Throne room just behind the guard "Hello father."
"Markus…" Alexander exclaimed as he rushed to embrace his son "…oh thank heaven, I could not bear to lose you as well. Where have you been boy, you have been gone for weeks."
"I went to see Amelia, to rekindle our hopes for an alliance."
"And?" Alexander encouraged him.
"She is unwilling." Markus nodded simply. "However fortune is finally favoring us father… I am not the man I was when I left."
"What do you mean?" Alexander asked him nervously. Markus allowed his eyes to turn an electric shade of blue as his teeth elongated into fangs. "Oh not you to…" Alexander sighed.
"Do not be alarmed father." Markus reassured him "Unlike William's unfortunate condition I am in complete control of my new gifts."
"What gifts?" Alexander demanded
"I am stronger, faster than before, I can move along vertical surfaces as easy as most men move along the ground… and I can pass on my gifts father."
"Pass on…" Alexander swallowed hard "…you mean like the poor innocent souls William has infected?"
"Yes father… but unlike William's, my progeny is in complete control of their abilities."
"Are you such a fool Markus? Can you not see that this is just another curse on our family? Do you not realize there will be a catch to this?"
"I am well aware of that father, there are two in fact, two catches."
"What are they?" Alexander demanded through gritted teeth.
"It would appear that I am never able to look upon the sun again. The last few times have been painful to say the least."
"And you are willing to accept this?" Alexander pleaded with his son.
"It seems a small price to pay father."
"What other catch is there?" Alexander asked him, almost as if he were afraid to know the answer.
"I have a terrible thirst about me father." Markus confessed "It would appear that I no longer need food to sustain myself… but rather blood."
"Blood… I thought you said that you were in control of your urges?!!" His father bellowed at him.
"Be calm father…" Markus snapped back "…the blood of animals is more than sufficient; no people must die to satisfy my urges."
"Markus listen to yourself… you have become as much a monster as your brother, but do not worry my son, your transformation is not as severe as William's, perhaps we can help you. I will hire the best alchemists, mystics, healers and Holy men in all the World, we can change you back."
"Change me back?" Markus laughed "Father with your strength and knowledge, and my ability to bestow our strength on our soldiers, we could create an unstoppable army… we could wipe William's progeny from the face of the earth."
"And what then!!" Alexander demanded, "What then?"
"Then we take our armies and march, the night will be the only weapon we need. Father you have spent your whole life fighting for control of these lands, well now we can have it, we will march out of these savage Kingdoms, to Rome and then to Constantinople… even the Emperor will bow to us."
Alexander fell silent as he sank back into his throne and buried his head in his hands "Markus how many have you turned?"
"Just one."
"And where is he now?" Alexander asked coldly.
"Unfortunately he is dead."
"Good." Alexander nodded "You will not turn my army, nor anyone else, William's curse is bad enough we do not need to add you to it as well. Your brothers curse has given him delusions of beasthood, but yours Markus, yours has given you delusions of Godhood. Will you recant these sinful new abilities and allow me to help you?"
"I will not father." Markus replied defiantly.
"Then I wash my hands of you." Alexander told him, his voice as cold as ice "From this moment on you are unwelcome in my presence."
"I am not going anywhere." Markus laughed slightly.
"You will not have to." Alexander sighed emptily "My immortality has brought nothing but pain and sorrow to these lands, I lost my first family, then William, a daughter in law… your mother, my mortal son and my grandchild… and now you. Well no more Markus… no more, if you want to keep William alive you will have to find your own way. But do not expect me to help, I am taking what is left of my army and I am going to set sail."
"To where?" Markus asked
"Nowhere." He replied.
"If William and I mean that little to you, why not just kill us?" Markus spat at him.
"Because no matter what you have become you are still and will always be my sons."
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Hungarian territory: The docks of the river Duna, feeding to the Black Sea- 546 AD
He stands on the docks watching all that is left of his army load their supplies onto a few long ships, he listens to the flowing of the ancient river as the wind disturbs his hair. Finally he climbs aboard the lead ship and takes his place at the front of the vessel, gripping to the decretive dragon at the front. He feels the oars hit the water as the vessel begins to row away from the docks. The men shout and row in unison as he glides away from his home of so many years.
"Lord Corvinus are you sure about this?" An aide asks him, as the docks become further away.
"My sons can clean up their own mess." He speaks coldly before cutting himself off mid-sentence, he was drawn to something on a hill top, a faint blue glow in the night, he remained transfixed for a moment before redirecting his icy gaze to the river ahead "Goodbye Markus." He sighed.
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He stands on a hill top overlooking the docks, his fiery red head blowing as three longboats leave undercover of darkness, his eyes remain fixed on the lead ship, its sails bearing his fathers ancient seal. He swallows hard as the ship sets sail, a single tear running down his cheek, he closes his eyes tightly to compose himself, when he opens them they are a magnificent shade of cobalt blue. "Goodbye father." He whispers as the longboats disappear from view. He stands in perfect silence for a moment until the familiar sound of howling in the distance brought him to his senses. He let out a frustrated sigh and turned away, he was the only one strong enough to stop them now… but without his father, or an army… he had much work to do.