Book I: The Three Dynasties

Chapter IX

A Third Bloodline?

Northern Hungarian Territory, Viktor's Kingdom: 546 AD

A group of armed men creep through the Hungarian countryside, they all hated hunting at night, but everyone had to take their turn. The leader of these men clutched a sword tightly, as a young noble he had to lead by example in order to make a name for himself… that was the only way to gain advancement. They were getting used to hunting the creatures now, weeks had turned to months, and the months had inevitably turned to years, two to be exact, since that fateful night he had seen many of these beasts, yet there were still more. However in recent weeks that had been less of a problem, it's like there was something else hunting them, something else in the night that had these creatures scared. The men had fanned out, and their leader felt a little exposed, and then he heard something, something he had not expected. "Hello Kraven." A cold voice spoke from the shadows.

Kraven and one of his men span round to face the mysterious voice. "Lord Markus." Kraven breathed in relief as he indicated for his pike wielding companion to stand down. "What are you doing here; our scouts reported that your forces abandoned your lands."

"I am still here." He told him dryly.

"Of course My Lord." Kraven nodded

"I need to speak with you alone." Markus insisted "Send them away."

"My Lord… should we not all stick together, it is night after all."

"We will be quite safe Kraven, I assure you." Markus spoke firmly, intimidating Kraven a little.

"Go on ahead." Kraven instructed his men "I'll catch up."

Markus waited until Kraven's men were out of range "All of them." Markus sighed in frustration.

Kraven swallowed hard before nodding to someone just over Markus's shoulder, a slight man with blue face paint silently emerged from behind a tree clutching a hand axe. "It's okay Soren." Kraven sighed.

"The Hibernian is very good." Markus nodded "Any normal man would not have heard him."

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Kraven asked nervously.

"Word has it that your master is not long for this world, if he dies without a male heir, what will become of his vast army."

"Sonja will lead." Kraven swallowed hard.

"Sonja is but a girl." Markus smirked slightly "Do you really think Viktor's commanders will continue to follow her… no Viktor's army will wither, it will split into different factions and fight each other. And then the beasts that my brother has spawned will lay waste to all of our lands, nothing will be there to stop them."

"What do you suggest?" Kraven asked him.

"I have recently undergone a change…" Markus twisted his neck slightly as his eyes glowed blue and his fangs extended "…do not be alarmed Kraven, I do not intend to harm you. Like my brother I have the ability to pass on my gifts to other people… my strength… my power… my immortality."

"Immortality?" Kraven asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I no longer have an army Kraven, nor do I have my fathers natural talent for warfare… your master has an army, he has a knowledge of warfare like no other… and he is close to death. I am willing to grant him a reprieve from death, to make him immortal, I would of course extend that offer to his army… and certain members of his court."

"That is a most generous offer." Kraven replied in an excited tone.

"You will take me to your master Moldovan, we have much to discuss."

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Northern Hungarian Territory, Ördögház: 546 AD

Kraven and his party escorted Markus to the gates of Ördögház, only to find them firmly shut. "What is the meaning of this!?" Kraven called to a guard in a watch tower.

"Our spotters saw you coming up the road sir." The guard called back. "We have orders not to let Corvinus through the gates."

"He has a proposition for Lord Viktor!" Kraven called back.

"The orders come direct from Viktor's chambers My Lord!" The Guard told him.

"Who issued those orders?" Kraven demanded.

"The Lady Sonja!"

"Tell her that I will personally vouch for Markus Corvinus, Lord Viktor must hear this proposition."

"Wait there." The guard called to him "I need conformation."

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Sonja Teleki sat perfectly upright in a comfortable looking chair, her hands clasped gently in her lap, dressed in a flowing lilac gown and headdress, she looked very much out of place compared to the armoured men that surrounded her, they were Viktor's advisors, old military men that had spent a lifetime fighting the Corvinus clan. The doors to the room opened and Kraven entered, followed closely by Markus.

"May I present to you Lord Markus Corvinus." Kraven introduced him.

"Thank you Kraven." Sonja smiled sweetly as she brushed a ringlet of blonde hair from her face.

"You may go now Kraven!" One of Viktor's advisors dismissed him.

"But My Lord…" He pleaded.

"Thank you Kraven!" The other man barked "But the Lady Sonja has all the Council she needs." As the man finished barking at Kraven four men with long bows entered the room and took aim at Markus "As well as all the protection she needs."

"My Lords… My Lady." Kraven spat venomously as he bowed and left the room.

"Is this really necessary?" Markus asked as he looked upon the archers unimpressed.

"Yes it is." Another of Viktor's advisors spoke up "We know what your kind are capable of, do you really think we would allow you to be in the same room as our Lady without taking precautions."

"No I do not suppose you would." He replied dismissively "My Lady I really need to speak with your father."

"Ha!" One of the advisors laughed "You think you can just barge in here and…"

"I was talking to her." Markus snapped, trying to remain polite.

"My father is very ill, Lord Corvinus." She spoke softly "I fear that… I fear that he is not long for this world, and I will not have him disturbed for matters that his wise Council is more than capable of dealing with."

"What if I told you that I could take away your father's sickness. What if I told you that I could keep him from death forever."

"How?" Sonja asked full of hope.

"Do not listen to him My Lady." One of Viktor's advisors interrupted "The Corvinus are liars… it is in their blood."

"I assure you My Lady I am not lying." Markus spoke humbly. "I am sure you are aware of my families reputation, that we do not die. Well My Lady that reputation is true, however we never had the ability to pass on our immortality to others. Well… all of that changed the night William turned into a monster, every single one of those mindless beasts is immortal. Recently I underwent a transformation of my own, yet no where near as monstrous as William." Markus allowed his Vampiric features to show causing Sonja to gasp in fright "Now I also have to ability to pass on my Immortality."

"Demon!" One of the advisors cried as he drew his sword.

"Nosferatu!" Another called out.

"My Lady stop listening to his blasphemy." One of the men pleaded.

"Get out." Sonja cried.

"My Lady reconsider."

"Get out!" Another man called "Leave these lands… or we will declare war on you as well as your brother."

Markus closed his tightly in frustration "If I leave these lands there will be no one strong enough to fight these creatures."

"We will manage." A member of Viktor's Council spat.

Markus let out a sigh, first Henry took the bulk of his army, then Amelia refused his alliance, then his father took the rest of their men… and now this, Markus Corvinus was running out of armies…"Very well." Markus nodded as he stormed out of Ördögház.

"Did I do the right thing?" Sonja asked nervously.

"Of course My Lady." One of her companions assured her.

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Hungarian Territory, Pest Settlement: 546 AD

Henry Corvinus let out a deep sigh as he untied his graying hair and allowed it to fall about his shoulders, he scratched at his beard before falling onto his luxurious bed, it had been a long day he thought he deserved a rest. "Hello brother." A familiar voice greeted him. Henry sat bolt upright and reached for his sword "Please brother…" Markus pleaded. "… I am not here to fight."

"Then what do you want Markus?" Henry asked him as he lit a small lamp "How did you even get in here?"

"I have my ways." Markus smiled slightly "How are you brother? How is my nephew."

"We are both fine Markus. Now what do you want?"

"Father has abandoned his kingdom, taken what is left of the army and set sail. Amelia does not want an alliance, and neither does Viktor."

"Brother I am not coming back, my son and I have a good life here now. One day this settlement could become a thriving city."

"What if I told you I could make you like me, like father and William, what if I told you I could make you and your son Immortal?"

"You can not… the only time father was able to pass on his immortality to someone who was not a blood relative was to out mother… and I am no doctor bother, but I do not think you are going to be able to get me pregnant."

"There have been other cases of Immortality being passed on… William."

"You want to make me a monster?"

"No…" Markus spat "…do you remember what caused William to turn into a monster?"

"Of course." Henry shrugged "He was attacked by a wolf in the woods… it caused him to transform."

Markus said nothing he merely reached onto his belt, pulled off a leather pouch and threw it to his brother. Henry cautiously emptied the contents of the pouch onto his bed, a winged furry rodent fell out onto his bed. "A bat?" Henry asked with a raised eyebrow "What is the significance of this?"

"William was bitten by a wolf, and I…" With a slight twist of his neck Markus again allowed his Vampiric face to show "…Henry I am not like William."

"Markus you are exactly like William… I know you always thought that I was jealous of your immortality, but I always hated it, it has torn our family apart, do you really think that I would willingly subject myself to that fate. Please brother just leave me be… kill William and just get on with your life."

"I can not kill them all by myself Henry."

"I know." Henry sighed "Goodbye brother."

Markus left as silently as he had entered leaving Henry alone again, he walked to the bed and picked up the bat his brother had left "Jesus!" He cried as the bat began to shriek and tried desperately to flap its wings. "Typical Markus." He spat as he tightened his grip on the creature and headed for a window, the creature clearly startled by its surroundings began to panic, and in its struggle to escape sank its teeth into Henry's hand. "Damn it." He spat as he released the creature and allowed it to fly out of the window.

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Hungarian Territory: 546 AD One Week Later

Markus finally made it back to his home, fortress Corvinus. He was alone, and yet he had such a terrible burden to bear. For one brief second he wanted nothing more than to accept Amelia's offer… maybe he should give her his brothers head as a wedding present, at least then he would have her army to help him kill the rest of them. No. He put that thought out of his head right now, he had a mission, one he must carry out. He would have to carry on killing them one by one, and hope that Viktor's forces would be too busy to worry about him. His one man war would start tonight.

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Hungarian Territory, Pest Settlement 546 AD, one week later

Henry Corvinus held his hand to his head, as a splitting pain shot through it, he knelt by his wash basin and frantically splashed his face with water. He brought his face out of the water and looked upon his features in the looking glass "No…" He breathed heavily, as from beneath his long graying hair a pair of brilliant cobalt eyes and a set of ivory white fangs stared back at him "How can this be… I am not immortal."