Book I: The Three Dynasties
Chapter XII
Life after William
Constantinople 582 AD
Surrounded by all the opulence of his Imperial palace, a once powerful man knows he is on borrowed time. He seems blissfully unaware of his luxurious surroundings as he listens to the sound of his last breaths escaping him. His frail hands feebly clasp at his bed sheets as he patiently awaits the inevitable. However he is grateful for the small mercy that he does not have to face death alone. "Sshhh." A tender and youthful voice soothes him "Are you in a lot of pain?"
The dying man allowed himself to smile as he cast his glance to the beautiful woman that sat at his bedside. She was truly a sight to behold, a Slavic beauty with all the grace of a Roman Lady, her pale ivory skin, seemingly indistinguishable from the snow white toga that adorns her Venus like frame, he was so grateful that she was here with him, dressed all in white, she was like an angel, she even had her own halo, a golden laurel reef rested perfectly still atop of her head. But more captivating than the shimmering head piece was the alluring emerald glow of her eyes. "Amelia." He whispers wearily.
"Sshh Tiberius." She smiles sweetly as she runs a gentle hand over his ageing flesh "Save your strength."
"Still so beautiful." He smiled, perfectly content in his twilight hours "You have not aged a day in all these decades."
"You flatter me Tiberius." Amelia grinned as she wiped the hair from his brow "You always have."
"You have brought me so much." Tiberius told her, as he swallowed the pain that began to coarse through his body "Your assassins of the night have dealt death to my enemies, you have brought me wealth and power… you helped me take the throne…"
"My sweet emperor." Amelia smiled, as she did her best to comfort the dying man "You have served me well."
"You have given me so much Amelia… I pray you will give me one last thing, before it is too late."
"Tiberius I will not share my Immortality with you. I have taken an oath, never shall I sire my own progeny. If I break my word and Viktor ever finds out… well I would not like to end up like Markus."
"I was not going to ask for that." Tiberius laughed slightly as he entwined his aged fingers with her own slender digits.
"I am confused." She spoke softly "If you do not want my bite, what do you want?"
"Your kiss." He sighed wearily "Permit me one more taste of heaven… just in case I am going to the other place."
"Oh Tiberius, you fool…" She smiled widely as she leant over his frail form, her soft moist lips made contact with his chapped and dry mouth and lingered there, periodically pursing so that she could bring the old man one last moment of pleasure. As his breathing became faster and heavier she allowed her tongue to dance around his mouth, massaging his own tongue, making him remember his youth. "How was that?"
"I have always loved you Amelia." He told her genuinely.
"Sshhh." She Whispered as she left a final lingering kiss on his lips "You should say goodbye to your wife."
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As the doors to the Emperors chambers opened Amelia found herself face to face with a middle-aged woman, she paid the beautiful Immortal no heed, except for a split second look of contempt, before brushing past her, and entering the Emperors chambers. Amelia did not let it bother her… it was understandable. As the doors closed behind her several men stood to attention, two of them, armed with bows shared the same deathly pale complexion as Amelia herself, the rest were soldiers of Constantinople, the Emperor's personal guard. "She did not seem very happy to see you Princess." A confident voice called out, "Though I suppose it is understandable, after all, she is his queen and yet her husband's heart beats only for you."
"General Maurice." Amelia speaks coldly "I am surprised you are here."
"Tiberius is a good man." The General answered her "Besides we both know that I will be needed here when the time finally comes."
"Hhmmm yes." Amelia grinned mischievously "But remember Maurice, you are not Emperor yet."
"I am well aware of that." Maurice nodded "But when I am Emperor… I trust I will have you for an ally?"
"Of course Maurice." Amelia nodded "I have already invested too much in you to allow you to rule on your own. Were it not for me you would never have defeated the Persians, you would never have been considered for Emperor."
"You have been most helpful Amelia… but tell me… just how deep does will our alliance go?" The General leant forward and caressed the bare flesh of Amelia's arm with the back of his hand. "Tell me Princess, will I have all the benefits that Tiberius had?"
Amelia's eyes flashed with rage as she clasped a hand around the General's throat and hoisted him into the air "Now you listen here Maurice, Tiberius was a very special man… you are just a tool." The beautiful immortal Princess quickly composed herself and released the terrified man "Is that in anyway unclear my dear general?"
"No Princess." He replied somewhat flustered "I think you have made your point."
Before Amelia could reply the doors to the Emperor's Bedroom again opened, and that same middle aged woman who had brushed past her stood in the doorway "The Emperor's time is coming to an end… you should both be here for him."
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Amelia and Maurice sat at the Emperor's bedside alongside his queen, the old man seemed totally unaware of his visitors as he spouted a string of incoherent nonsense to some invisible companion. A priest also stood at his bedside now, offering the promise of heaven, with the priest came a handful of courtiers… nobles who wanted to make sure that the Emperor was indeed dying.
There was a final muttering of words before the Emperor's life faded away into a desperate rasp… and then there was silence. After a moment of uncertainty one of his physicians's stepped forward to check for any signs of life, he turned to General Maurice and shook his head. "Flavius Tiberius Constantinus Augustus" is dead, one of the courtiers exclaimed as he lifted the Emperor's crown from a velvet pillow at his bed side and placed it firmly on the head of the young General sitting at the former Emperor's side "Long live Maurice Constantine… Emperor of Byzantium"
"Long live the Emperor." Everyone spoke in unison/
"Long live the Emperor." Amelia added half heartedly.
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As the night began to dwindle, facing its inevitable defeat to the sun, Amelia sits in her lavish Constaninople apartment, twidling a coin emblazed with the image of Emperor Tiberius. She suddenly felt startled, there was a knock at her door, she was unacustomed to visitors at this hour. "Who is it?" She called out wearilly.
"It is Ino" A prim and proper voice answered her.
"Do come in." Amelia replied instantly. The doors to Amelia's chambers swung open, and there stood the woman she had passed at Tiberius's door. "Empress." Amelia greeted her cordially.
"No more it would seem." Ino replied coldly "My husband is dead, and I am sure that Maurice will want his own queen… a younger one. There is no place for me here."
Amelia smiled slightly as she turned away from her window and procedded to enter a sitting area, motioning for her guest to follow "Maurice may be a fool Ino, but he is not heartless, there will always be a place for you here."
"Alone." Ino added as both she and Amelia reclined onto sepeate couches "My husband loved you." She suddenly blurted.
"I know." Amelia nodded
"Did you love him?" She demanded
"I… was very fond of Tiberius. He was a good man." Amelia smiled slightly, rembering the good times.
"Did you love him!" She snapped, unacustommed to repeating herself.
"No." Amelia said simply. "Not in the way he wanted me to."
"Foolish old man." Ino muttered to himself "All those times you shared his bed, he never even realised that he was nothing more than a pawn to you."
"It was not enriely like that." Amelia spoke softly, trying to calm her guest. "I had a genuine affection for him."
"Affection!" Ino spat "How can a demon know of affection."
"I am no demon Ino." Amelia reassured her.
"Really." Ino laughed to herself "I remember when you first came here, all those years ago. I was just a girl then, I watched how Justinian fawned over you, an empoer enthrawled by the Magyar Princess of a barbarian Kingdom. I watched as you positioned Tiberius to be his successor… how the two of you defeated the Persian's… and kept the Barbarians at bay. I was just a girl then… now I am a woman, but you, you have not aged a day. Your Immortality is no secret Amelia, you poison the ears of those in power, a single whisper from your eternal lips can shake an Empire."
"It is true I do not age, nor will I ever." Amelia conceded "But that is the only truth to the rumors, I am not a Demon, nor an angel nor a Goddess, I am just a person, I am trying to make a life for myself."
"By stealing other womens husbands?" Ino demanded.
"I am sorry you were hurt by my actions, that was never my intention."
"I curse the day you came to Constantinople Amelia Vorenus, was your Kingdom not enough for you?"
Amelia allowed herself to drift for a moment, focussing on a non-specific point of the room as she remembered the land she had left behind "Mine is a dead Kingdom." She finally answered "The Romans called it the savage land, even the most baberous of the uncivilized tribes could not conqer it. It is the most unforgiving landscape you can imagine, merely trying to survive is hard work for most of my subjects. And then the beasts came… the only way to stop them was to become as strong as them… to forsake the daylight… do you know how quiet it is at night in that place? No laughter, no life. But here in this city, the night comes to life… I do so love Constantinople."
"And what of your lands Princess?" Ino asked unfeelingly.
"My army remains there, under the command of my Viceroy… he rules in my place until I decide to return."
"And you have no family?" Ino asked her "No reason to return?"
"No." Amelia aswered simply.
"You are a beautiful woman Amelia, am I to believe that your Kingdom provided you with no husband, no suitors?"
Amelia swallowed hard as she rose from her couch and turned her back to Ino, she thumbed at the silk of her dress for a moment before closing her eyes slightly "There was one." She finally answered.
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Northern Hungarian Territory, Ördögház: 582 AD
He sits in a room decorated with all the splendor this land could muster, all the comfort a man could ever want, but he his far from comfortable, he paces clenching his fists, he slams it into the wall, the brick crumbles slightly, he can tell from the outline that there used to be a window here, not any more, bricked up, no windows no escape. He punched the wall again, more dust crumbled away, he could punch it forever, but what would be the point, he knew it was reinforces with iron, he collapses in a comfortable chair and watched as his knuckles healed. Running a hand through his fiery red hair he charges at the door an begins to bang on the solid iron portal "I want to speak to Viktor!" He demanded "Let me speak to Viktor!"
Then he heard a key turning, latches being undone, finally the formidable door creaked open, a short man stepped inside, the Hibernian, the one who insisted on painting his face blue. Then a small group of men, Viktor's personal guards entered,… and then someone who he had rather hoped he would not have to see. "Kraven." He sighed in annoyance.
"You seem upset Lord Markus." Kraven bowed "What seems to be the problem?"
"I want to speak to Viktor now!"
"Ah.." Kraven hesitated "Alas Lord Viktor is not here. But I am yours to command."
"Then perhaps you can tell me why I am being kept prisoner here."
"My Lord we have already been through this." Kraven replied in an overtly patronizing tone "You are not a prisoner here, these measures are merely for your protection, after all if you die, we all die."
"I am more than capable of looking after myself!" Markus spat venomously.
"That's our job now My Lord." Kraven smiled smugly "Now can I get you anything?"
"No thank you servant." Markus replied in contempt, he then paused "Has there been any word from Amelia?"
"No word My Lord. It would appear that Constantinople is a more entertaining place than these savage lands. Will there be anything else My Lord."
Markus merely shook his head and watched as Kraven bowed to him and turned to leave with his men. "Kraven!" Markus called after him. "It is only a matter of time before the beast that dwells within my brother is defeated, and when that happens we will be reunited… and I only the hope the God that we have all abandoned shows mercy to all of those that have betrayed us… for we shall surely show none."
Kraven swallowed hard as he turned to Soren for reassurance "My Lord, it has been more than three decades since we locked William in that sanctuary, no progress has been made. The hell spawn that he sired have either been exterminated or reduced to cattle… an entire Generation of mortals have been born and died since your brother last roamed these lands, he has been forgotten, our kind now exist only in rumor. What makes you think the two of you will ever be reunited? You are alone My Lord, your fiancé is in Constantinople, William, a prisoner, your father Lord knows where… and your other brother… well he wants nothing more to do with you. Are you really in any position to makes threats My Lord?"
"Mark my words Kraven, you will live to regret your disrespect. As for Henry, he was an old man thirty years ago, how many mortals do you know that live that long?"
"What are you saying?" Kraven asked nervously.
Markus allowed himself to smile widely, "I am saying that you and your master can not even begin to understand the power of my families bloodline. You can leave now servant."
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Eastern Hungarian Territory, Magyar- Germanic Boarder: 582 AD
A small group of Armored men sit around a fire talking loudly, sharing drunken stories of war and debauchery, once upon a time this would have been a dangerous assignment, the boarder region between the savage lands and the Germanic tribes had seen some of the fiercest fighting following the fall of Rome. Once upon a time hundreds of fighters would have crouched in silence ready to defend their boarder from the Germanic invaders. That was no longer the case. These few men were more than enough to secure their boarder… for they were not ordinary men, they were immortals. These men now feared nothing, they were the immortal soldiers of the Vorenus Clan, and since the capture of William Corvinus more than three decades previous, they had dealt death to every enemy they came across. As the sound of their drunken laughter filled the landscape, that was until the sound of approaching footsteps brought them to their senses, their eyes simultaneously turned a shade of cobalt as they got to their feet and readied their weapons, all except one of the men who carried the standard of Amelia and the Vorenus clan. "Who goes there?" The lead man bellowed into the darkness.
His question was answered as a small unit of armed soldiers marched into their camp, their eyes glowing the same shade as the Vorenus soldiers, however the standard they carried bore the emblem of Viktor and the Teleki clan. "What are you doing here?" The lead Vorenus man demanded.
"I could ask you the same." His Teleki counterpart responded.
"This land belongs to the Vorenus clan!" The first leader spoke firmly "We do not need you to secure them!"
"In the absence of your leader, Lord Viktor has claimed these lands for himself, their security now falls to us. You will have to leave or it will be considered an act of aggression."
"I can live with that!" The leader of the Vorenus soldiers spoke coldly "Archers, ready your arrows." At his command three of his men drew back their bow strings and took aim at the Teleki clan soldiers.
"Are sure you want to do this?" The leader of the Teleki forces hissed as he allowed his fangs to extend "You are out numbered."
"That has never stopped us before." The commander spat as he poised his sword for battle.
"I was hoping you would say that." His counterpart grinned slightly.
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Southern Hungarian Territory, Vorenus Estate: 582 AD
"My Lord!" A young squire screams as he bangs heavily on a strong wooden door. "My Lord!"
To the squires surprise the door swung "What is the meaning of this?" An ancient looking figure demanded "It is the middle of the day!"
"Apologies Viceroy." The squire bowed "But there has been another skirmish, eight of our soldiers were killed by Viktor's men."
"Not again!" Eli spat slamming his fist into the wall as he did
"It gets worse sir, our commanders are gearing up for war, they made a raid into Viktor's territory took out a mortal village and a small garrison of Vampyres. They have had to take shelter now on account of it being daylight, but we're expecting severe retaliations come nightfall. There have been reports that both sides are gathering Lycanthropes to use as weapons."
"This is all we need." Eli sighed, "Send peace envoys to Ördögház, I must speak with Viktor and try and put an end to this madness. And send a messenger to Constantinople, tell Amelia that the Kingdom her Father and Grandfather worked to build is falling apart."
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Dacia (Modern Day Romania): Foothills of the Carpathian Mountains: 582AD
A cloaked figure stands at his work bench mixing all sorts of potions and elixirs. He writes frantically, moving his quill across the parchment like a man possessed, this quest of his to quell the beast that dwelled within William Corvinus was all consuming. He was the greatest alchemist in the land, a man who had learned both the Roman and Eastern arts of healing… and some even more ancient than that, yet he could not fathom the curse that had taken hold of William's blood, still thanks to the gift of Immortality bestowed on him by his patients brother, he had all eternity to figure it out.
"Excuse me…" A nervous voice interrupted him "…um sir."
"What is it boy?" The alchemist demanded, as his eyes glowed blue beneath his velvet hood.
"There is a visitor sir… at the sanctuary."
"Who?" The Alchemist asked half interested as he went about his business.
"We do not know sir… he speaks in a tongue I am not familiar with."
"Hardly surprising boy… you can barely speak your own language. Is he alone?"
"He has two guards with him, both mortal."
"Bring him in." Holtz sighed.
"He will not come in sir."
His curiosity tweaked Holtz nodded "Very well boy, lead the way."
"Um… it's daylight My Lord." The boy replied nervously.
"Is it." Holtz asked in a confused tone "How long have I been at work here?"
"A couple of weeks."
"Oh…" Holtz nodded "Tell him I will meet him at sun down."
"How will I tell him if I do not speak his language sir?"
"Just because you do not understand him, does not mean he will not understand you."
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The living enigma that was Holtz had torn himself away from his studies, it was rare that his curiosity got the better of him in this way, it was even rarer that a human would venture to the sanctuary for an audience. He found himself wishing the day away so he could he find out what this stranger wanted… perhaps it was a message from Lord Markus, it had been so long since he had heard from his patron, Viktor was far less interested in his work, he only wanted to know how to hurt these poor creatures… how to kill them, that was not something that Holtz was interested in. As the day died and the glory of the night enveloped the landscape Holtz made his way out of the sanctuary, the foreboding fortress that dominated the landscape cast a shadow over the region. Holtz was surprised to see all of the Vampire soldiers that Markus had sired turn out, perhaps they were just as curious. Then Holtz clocked the visitor, a young and handsome man, clearly of noble blood, he wore a flowing blue tunic, with a ceremonial gold sword fixed to his belt, his hair was long and jet black, tied loosely behind him, his features were not local, he was clearly not Slavic or Magyar.
"Who is this man?" The captain of the Sanctuary's Vampire guards questioned Holtz, "He wears strange clothes, speaks a foreign tongue, and I have never seen those standards before."
"Standards." Holtz spoke to himself as his eyes drifted to the large men that flanked the stranger, each one carried a pole with a fixed standard, flapping in the wind "Oh my…" Holtz exclaimed in a tongue alien to his men "…you are a long way from home aren't you stranger."
"You know this man?" The captain asked him.
"Not him personally." Holtz smiled slightly. "But I know who he represents."
"Who?"
"He's a Merovingian."
"You have heard of us." The young man spoke boldly as he approached the assembled Vampires.
"Heard of you." Holtz grinned "I lived in Gaul for a time, I served Childebert. But something tells me that you already knew that,"
"Forgive the deception." The young man smiled slightly. "I needed to know that you were the great Holtz, the alchemist that has found Immortality, I was sent to find you."
"For what purpose?"
"My King desires your gift, as you know ours is the Holiest of blood, imagine if we could preserve that for eternity."
"Yours would be a great dynasty indeed." Holtz nodded "But alas the gift of immortality is not mine to give. Only my patron may bestow that gift on others."
"Then may I speak with him?" The young Merovingian asked politely.
"Unfortunately young man, my Patron is currently being held prisoner far from here, in the Savage Lands."
"Why do you not free him?" The Merovingian probed, trying to take hold of what were fast becoming negotiations.
"I along with the men you see standing behind me are immensely powerful." Holtz spoke ominously as he extend his fangs "But we are severly outnumbered, even if we were able to free my Patron, it is unlikely that we would be able to protect him for long enough share his gift with your king."
The young Merovingian smiled and nodded "You know Holtz, on my way here, I heard rumors of Immortal armies in the savage lands of the Magyars, would it be my understanding that your Patron played a hand in creating these armies."
"That would be correct." Holtz nodded
"And would I be correct in thinking that if some mortal men were to assist your patron in his escape from confinement, then said Patron would also bestow upon said mortal men the same gift of Immortality that you and your comrades already enjoy."
"That would be a safe assumption, but I fail to see what you and your two bodyguard can help us accomplish."
The Merovingian did not answer the Alchemist's question, instead he simply turned to one of his men and gave a slight nod. The man pulled a horn from his belt and blew into it. There was a ripple of unease amongst Holtz's men as the sound of more horns came from the woods, followed by the thundering gallops of horses. As the vampires readied their weapons, a group of riders emerged from the trees, then another, and another, soon hundreds of armed riders stood in the shadows of William's gargantuan sanctuary. "As you can see Mr. Holtz…" The young Merovingian began with a smile "…I have not come alone."
"No you have not." Holtz whispered in amazement "Is this a threat."
"I do not make threats Mr. Holtz, I am not a warrior, I am an artist… however I am willing to propose an alliance, my army, your immortal warriors, what do you say we go and get your patron?"
"You are an impressive young man Merovingian. What is you name?"
"Lestat…" The young man smiled "…you may call me Lestat."
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Southern Hungarian Territory, Vorenus Estate: 582 AD
Viktor stormed through the corridors of the Vorenus's Romanesque villa, flanked by Kraven and a group of his soldiers. He did not care where Eli wanted the meeting, he would have gone to Hell itself to get his hands around the Viceroy's neck, how dare his soldiers invade his lands. The party came the doors of Throne room "Wait here!" Viktor snapped at Kraven as two of Eli's soldiers opened the doors for him , closing them as soon as the old Warlord had crossed the threshold, cutting off his men from their master. "ELI!!" Viktor bellowed as he entered the throne room "IF YOU THINK THERE WILL BE PEACE…"
"I am sorry Teleki…" A soft and alluring voice spoke from the shadows, stopping Viktor in his tracks, the Old warlord was humbled as he was faced with a pair of glowing Emerald eyes staring at him from beneath a golden Laurel reef, a native beauty with the ability to command like one of the Goddesses from Roman legend… a dark Helen of Troy… "but Eli could not make it toady, perhaps I could be of assistance."
"Amelia…" Viktor spoke in astonishment
"Hello Viktor…" She smiled sweetly "…did you miss me?"