A/N: Hey everyone, I hope all of you have had a good Christmas, and an even better new year (I cant really remember much of mine) Anyways I don't know about the rest of you but I've just about had enough of Santa and snowmen and all that other happy Christmas stuff, I reckon its time we get back to the good stuff… like Vampires and Lycans knocking seven shades of shit out of each other… so here we go.
Book I: The Three Dynasties
Chapter XI
The Capture of William
Hungarian Territory, Northern Kingdom: 550 AD
It's howl was deafening, the hulking Lycan flexed it's massive limbs, and shook the blood from it's coarse black fur. Leaping from the ground, it tore through the air, with an unholy strength the beast found its target, plunging its claw through the face of a mounted rider it wrenched the unfortunate soldier from his saddle, slamming him into the frozen ground below. The creature withdrew its claw, bringing with it a paw full of gory flesh and fragments of skull. The fallen soldier writhed in pain on the floor, as the lycan once again went to pounce, however this time it would not be successful, an axe exploded through its wolf like skull, splitting its head in two, exposing the creatures now bloody grey matter. The wolf had been felled by another rider, an anonymous face in this war, he took a second to see if his comrade was alright before riding off to find his next quarry.
The entire battlefield was filled with scenes like this, the pale riders mercilessly hacked a path through the unfortunate pack of Lycans. One man found himself cornered by a particularly large beast, having fallen from his horse some time ago he drew his sword and instinctively hissed at the approaching animal. Swinging wildly the young man was eager to prove himself to peers, thrusting the blade he pierced the bests side, sending the weapon exploding through the creatures flesh. With one primal scream a swung the blade as hard as he could severing its head from the body. As the young man savored his victory, a huge black steed trotted up behind him, it's rider an imposing figure with an icy cold stare. The rider looked down at the young man and allowed his mouth to form a slight smile "Nice work Kraven." He exclaimed.
"Thank you My Lord." The young courtier replied eagerly.
"Have you seen Amelia?" Viktor asked sternly.
"Yes My Lord." Kraven nodded as he pointed to the other end of the battlefield "She seems to be holding her own."
"So she does." Viktor smiled to himself "Watch your back." He nodded to Kraven before riding off in Amelia's direction.
"You to My Lord!" He called back proudly.
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Amelia brought her horse up on its hind legs as she hacked away at the snapping beasts below. Her blows were so powerful, her blade tore through the Lycan hides like a hot knife through butter, and one by one they fell to her rage. As her bodyguards struggled to keep up with their mistress Amelia continued to exert her dominance over the beast, every blow she reigned down, every howl and whelp of pain she heard brought an image of her father to the forefront of her mind, as if it had been burned into her consciousness.
"Amelia!" A voice called out as a Lycan seized the distraction and scurried away from the horse bound Princess.
"Viktor!" She called back in excitement "We have them on the run."
Viktor looked away from Amelia for a moment, his attention drawn to the mounting pile of Lycan carcasses, many of whom had already reverted back to their human state. Amelia brought her horse to a trot, coming up alongside Viktor and Markus with a beaming smile.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Markus spoke coldly.
"I have never felt so alive…" she breathed euphorically "…so powerful."
"Just remember not to kill them all." Viktor said sternly "There have to be some left to protect us."
"Viktor is right." Markus agreed.
"I know Viktor is right." Amelia snapped at him "And as satisfying as it is wiping this plague from our lands… we have a more pressing matter to take care of."
"William." Viktor proclaimed, as Markus shifted his weight awkwardly in his saddle "Is he nearby?"
"He is." Markus replied somewhat reluctantly "But remember our bargain Viktor."
"Do not fret Markus." Viktor sighed in annoyance "Your savage brother will not be killed, however you must realize that he will not be restrained without a struggle. We will have to fight him… we will have to hurt him."
"I am aware of that." Markus nodded
"Good." Viktor snapped "Stay here a moment, I do not want anything to happen to you while I rally the men."
Markus rolled his eyes in frustration as Viktor rode off, before turning his attention to Amelia "I know that things have been… a little awkward between you and I recently. I just want to know where you will stand should Viktor decide to betray me."
"Viktor was my father's closest ally, that means a lot to me." She spoke coldly, causing Markus to hang his head slightly "But you and I were engaged to be married." She told him, her voice taking on a softer more compassionate tone as she reached out a gently caressed Markus' hand with her own "And that means a lot to me as well."
Markus managed a slight smile as he returned her gesture, taking her slender hand in his own.
"That's better." Amelia whispered, returning his smile "Do not worry about your brother, we will get him to your sanctuary and then we will find a way to help him. You just make sure you stay close to Viktor and I, after all if you die, the rest of us die to."
"The Princess is right Markus." An ominous voice bellowed as the two were once again joined by Viktor and his bodyguards. "Can you track your brother from here?"
"Yes." Markus nodded
"Then let us move out."
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The ride had not taken long, once Markus had gotten the scent of his brother it was as if the two were somehow connected. The formidable army of the night rode hard through the cold winters night, deeper and deeper into the savage forest.
"Perhaps we should turn back My Lord." Kraven suggested as he rode up along side Viktor. "So we do not get caught in the sunlight."
"No!" Viktor snapped "We may never get such a chance again, we still have hours before sunrise… we press on."
"Wait!" Markus called out, as he brought his horse to a stop. "He is here."
"I do not see him." Amelia panicked as she looked around frantically.
"Trust me… he is here." Markus spoke nervously.
"Is he alone?" Viktor snapped
"No… No he is not."
As soon as Markus finished his sentence an untold number of howls filled the night air, as the biggest pack of Lycanthrope ever assembled began to leap from the tree line, many of the riders were taken by surprise, pulled from their horses and torn to pieces. The other men loyal to Viktor and Amelia began to break formation so that they could engage the attacking beasts. "My Lady this way!" One of Amelia's soldiers called "Please pull away from the monsters!"
Amelia looked around her and reluctantly took her soldiers advice "Viktor get Markus out of here!" She screamed as one of her men lunged between her and a pouncing Lycan "No!" She screamed as the soldier had his head torn clear off "Archers!"
At Amelia's command a lethal hail of arrows was set free, driving back the Lycans if only for a moment. "Regroup!" She screamed as her and a small band of her men galloped away from the carnage to a safe distance "My Lady I beg you to retreat!" One of men pleaded with her as he rode at her side.
"There will be no retreat soldier!" She chastised him "We just need to regroup." As Amelia finished her sentence a huge white blur shot out from the tree line, it slammed into the side of he horse, sending it crashing into the horse of the soldier riding next to her. They both fell to ground with a thud, their armour and equipment becoming entangled in the limbs of the powerful steeds, after skidding for a couple of feet the two came to a stop. Amelia winced in pain, more out of habit than anything, her wounds were already healing. "Are you alright?" She asked her soldier as the two helped each other up.
"Yes." He answered her before his expression turned to one of complete terror, he looked up only to find himself in the shadow of a near nine foot hulking Lycan "Sweet Jesus… Is that…"
"William." Amelia answered him in terror.
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"He is close!" Markus swallowed hard "Very close."
"Excellent!" Viktor snapped before turning to one of his men "Bring up the cage."
"Yes My Lord. BRING UP THE CAGE!" As mounted soldiers and infantry continued to battle the beasts around them, another unit came into sight, it's riders dragging a huge cage, it's bars made of gleaming silver. The cage was heavy, mounted on wheels it took four horses to drag it, behind the cage another cart was being dragged.
"Will that cage be strong enough My Lord?" Kraven asked nervously
"Of course." Viktor replied confidently "That cage could stop an elephant. At least I hope so." He added with a smile. "Come now Markus, let us find that brother of yours."
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Amelia lunged out of William's path as he came towards her. The men she had been riding with were already dead, there was nothing she could have done for them. Instead she scrambled around frantically trying to recover a sword. It soon became apparent to her that she would not be able to avoid William forever, she would have to stand her ground. Leaping into the air she thrust her sword towards William, however his strength was more than she could have anticipated. With a single clubbing blow he sent the Princess flying, however her new abilities allowed her to land perfectly. Her eyes glowed with an emerald ferocity as her fangs elongated to their maximum, she let out a sinister hiss, that caused William to tilt his head like a curious dog. She again lunged forward, this time slashing at William, making wide arks, with her long cavalry sword. The silver etched blade singed William's flesh causing the beast to whimper slightly. In an act of pure instinct he grabbed at Amelia's sword arm, his claws plunging deep into her flesh, with a cry of pain Amelia allowed her sword to fall to the ground, however she was far from beaten. She delivered a kick to William's stomach forcing the creature back several feet. Both of them seemed amazed by her raw strength, however Amelia knew she did not have long to revel in it, she again surged forward delivering a clubbing blow to William. The beast seemed shocked, no one creature had ever been able to stagger it with a single blow, out of fear and confusion he pounced pinning Amelia to the ground she had to use all of her strength to avoid William's snapping jaws… however even with all of her strength she knew she would not be able to keep it up for long.
"Brother no!" A voice screamed as Markus leapt from his horse and tackled William, the immortal twins rolled a short distance before both leapt to their feet "Please be still brother." Markus pleaded as he purposely stood between William and Amelia.
William outstretched his limbs and let out a massive howl before growling a mere inch from Markus's face.
"I know you can hear me brother… please." William stopped in his tracks as he brought his snout to Markus's face, he sniffed him for a moment before finally licking the face of his brother "Yes brother Markus Smiled widely… I knew you would remember."
Before William could soften further, the mighty beast's attention was drawn by the sound of Amelia coming to her feet and reclaiming her sword. William let out a mighty roar, knocking his brother to one side he again pounced at Amelia, his jaws poised to deliver a deadly blow. As the beautiful Princess was again pinned to the ground she could not help but feel that all hope was lost.
That was until a single pair of hands clasped William's shoulders and wrenched the beast from Amelia with an almost impossible strength. The animal was stunned as a claw like hand clasped around his throat and began to squeeze "Filthy creature." A cold regal voice spat.
"Viktor." Amelia breathed heavily as she leapt to her feet and joined her fathers oldest ally. She delivered a kick to William's side, doubling the beast over, as Viktor slammed his boney fist into the side of the creatures head. The wolf rocked as Amelia kicked it's leg out from under him, now they both began an all out assault of on William beating to the creature to the ground, not letting him recover.
"That's enough Viktor!" Markus yelled.
"Archers!" Viktor demanded. On their masters orders the bowmen let loose their arrows, a length of rope tied to the end of each so that the mighty beast would become entangled. As William flayed about wildly, another group of men hurled a thick rope net over William, each of it corners weighted with a heavy rock. However their attempts to restrain him seemed to only infuriate William more, he easily snapped through the ropes that entangled his body, sending Viktor's men scattering left and right.
"Well this does not seem to be working to well." Viktor observed dryly as he watched his men try and subdue the mighty creature.
"Your powers of observation are nothing short of astounding Viktor." Amelia replied just as dryly as an armoured soldier was flung past her.
Viktor let out a slight laugh at Amelia's comment before turning to one of his soldiers. "Get the chains." The man bowed before running off to round up some of his comrades.
"Those chains are coated in silver Viktor!" Markus spoke ominously "It will be torture for him."
"Markus! We agreed that hurting William may be necessary."
"Very well." Markus sighed reluctantly as the immortal soldiers began to hurl heavy silver plated chains over William, entangling the mighty beast, and sending waves of excruciating pain through him. As William howled in agony, Markus too flinched, as if he could feel his brother's pain. The more William struggled against the chains, the deeper they cut into him, searing his flesh, almost causing his blood to boil. Yet despite all of this the might beast fought on, barging into Viktor's and Amelia's men, so as to prevent them from subduing him further.
"MUST I DO EVERYTHING MYSELF?!" Viktor bellowed, as he leapt high into the air, in mid flight he balled up his claw like hand into a fist and came crashing down on William with all of his might. He felt the creatures massive jaw crack as his fist exploded through his face, causing bone to fragment and leaving bloody knuckle marks in William's thick white fur. "GIVE ME THE MUZZLE!" Viktor demanded as William finally fell to the floor. One of his soldiers threw Viktor the heavy metallic object, that Viktor quickly attached to William's snout, clamping his mighty jaws together. The mighty beast was finally subdued, his imposing body wrapped in chains, his snout clamped shut and his mighty howl reduced to a mere whimper. "Filthy creature!" Viktor hissed as he raised his foot above William's head and prepared to bring it crashing down.
"That is enough Viktor!" Amelia called out "Just get him in the cage." Viktor said nothing, he merely took a step back and allowed the soldiers he commander to hoist William's bound form up and dump him in the cage they had brought.
"He is in the cage now Viktor…please take the chains off of him." Markus pleaded.
"Absolutely not!" Viktor snapped "He stays in full restraints until he is in your sanctuary."
"It is for the best Markus." Amelia said softly.
Markus let out a frustrated sigh before approaching William's cage "This is just a temporary discomfort brother… I give you my word."
William's only response was a low whine as his onyx black eyes filled with pain. Markus reached through the bars, and placed a hand on William's arm, in a vain attempt to comfort him. A single tear rolled down Markus's face as he heard the sizzle of William's flesh beneath the unforgiving silver chains. "My Lord!" A voice interrupted him.
"What?" Markus snapped as he turned around to see a man wearing one of Viktor's uniforms.
"You have to step away My Lord." He said firmly "We are about to seal up the cage."
"What do you mean seal the ca…" before Markus could finish, the immortal soldiers began to lift huge sheets of iron off of the cart that had been following the cage. The sheets fit perfectly onto the sides of the cage, encasing William in a dark box. Markus could only watch in horror as the final iron sheet was slid onto the roof of the cage, leaving William in total darkness.
"VIKTOR!" Markus bellowed as he turned to face the old warlord "This is completely unacceptable!"
"Markus." Amelia spoke softly as she placed a delicate hand on his arm "The longer we argue about this, the longer your brother remains in agony. Please let us just get him the sanctuary." Markus hesitated for a moment, a murderous rage still boiling in his blood, however a soft smile from Amelia seemed to soften him slightly. With an exaggerated gesture he left Amelia's side and withdrew from the scene.
"Amazing." Viktor smiled slightly as he walked up behind Amelia "You can do with a single smile what I would need an army to accomplish."
Amelia grinned deviously as she turned to face Viktor "Do not forget it Viktor."
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Dacia (Modern Day Romania): Foothills of the Carpathian Mountains: 550 AD, Two Weeks Later
The march from Viktor's territory to Dacia seemed to take forever, although the immortal soldiers moved at an incredible speed they were limited to marching at night, and they had a rather delicate cargo to transport. Everything Viktor and Amelia had feared was coming true, the locals, the mortals of the towns and villages they marched through were suspicious of them. And the further away from their territory they got the more they realized that their reputation proceeded them. "Das Wampyr" The locals called them, not to their faces course, always in a hushed whisper. Amelia was glad that William was boxed in, what would the mortals make of him had they seen his cage, the sound of him was terrifying enough… two weeks of constant whimpering, two weeks of having to listen to the sound of his flesh burning beneath his chains. Still, they were here now. The immortal army were slightly in awe of the structure that stood before them. William's sanctuary. It was even more imposing than Markus had described, it's wooden walls must have been a hundred feet tall, the thickest strongest oaks imaginable, reinforced by iron bolts and supports. Inside was no different, Viktor was a little disconcerted to find that Markus had already turned a small number of guards to watch over William at night, not to mention a rather large number of well armed humans to watch over him during the day. The walls of this fortress must have been worth a fortune, all of them adorned with silver spikes and plates to stop William scaling them.
"We should be inside the fortress." Viktor snapped, as he and Amelia sat on horseback ahead of their army.
"You have got to be joking." She said cynically as her eyes remained transfixed on the gate "You really want to be in there?"
"What if something happens to Markus, William is uncontrollable…"
"Viktor…" Amelia interrupted him "…We have had William locked in their for two weeks, if he sees any of us when his restraints are removed… well at least Markus stands a chance on his own."
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Markus stands nervously before his brothers cage, however is fear is not enough to prolong William's suffering, he tears the iron sheets from the cages side, and then from it's roof. His heart almost breaks as he sees William bound and broken on the floor of the cage. He quickly opened the door to the cage and dragged his brother out onto the floor. The first thing he did was to tear the oppressive silver muzzle from his brother snout and discard it, allowing William full motion of his jaws again. "Sshhh brother." He whispered soothingly as for the first time in weeks his flesh did not burn. He quickly began to unlock the chains that bound his brothers mighty body, discarding them so that his brother could stand again. "It is alright William. The pain will be gone soon."
William let out a mighty roar as he flexed his limbs, the wounds on his body finally being able to heal. William began to advance on Markus who merely held out a hand to try and halt his advance, he did not say anything, for he knew William would not understand him, he just knew that on some instinctive level his brother still remembered him. William looked around the artificial forest his brother had created for him and seemed to find peace. "Go brother." Markus said softly "I give you my word that this will not be forever."
Markus watched as his brother scurried away into the trees, trying to find place to lick his wounds. He turned and headed back to the gate of the massive fortress where his horse awaited him. However it was not just his horse, next to the black steed, stood a small wiry man with long hair, a beard and a flowing crimson robe. "Lord Corvinus."
The man bowed.
"Holtz." Markus acknowledged him. "You are by all accounts the greatest healer and alchemist in the world… they say the emperor himself has called upon you in the past."
"I know my trade." He bowed humbly.
"Well I have bestowed on you a great gift."
"Yes." Holtz agreed as he allowed his eyes to glow blue and his teeth extend "Immortality."
"Now you must live up to your end of the deal… cure the rage that has taken hold of my brother, free him from the beast within."
"Before I can cure a sickness I need to understand it… it will take time."
"Well then…" Markus smiled slightly "…it's lucky you have all eternity."
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Markus rode out of the fortress, as soon as his horse was clear of the threshold soldiers closed the huge wooden gates behind him, and held them in place with a thick iron bar. Markus rode the short distance to where Amelia and Viktor were waiting, stopping just before them.
"My brother is secure." Markus told Viktor.
"Good." The Old Warlord barked. "Your brother is secure, our men are taking care of the rest of his progeny, domestication of the beasts has already begun…"
"Well then…" Amelia interrupted as the three most powerful immortals exchanged glances, "… that leaves us with a question. Without an enemy, where do we go from here?"