The Vampire Prince, The War That Started It All. Options

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter Ten

Acerbus woke from his sleep, feeling a tiny bit better from yesterday. The silvery moonlight shone through the window, but would fade in and out every so often, stating that there were dark clouds looming above in the sky. Acerbus truly loved the feel of moonlight on his skin, as cool and embracing as though he were being hugged by his once loving mother. He grabbed his hooded cape, clicking the silver clasp in place and straightening it to wrap around his shoulders. He pulled the sapphire hood over his head, leaving his deep crimson red eyes glowing in its shadow.

Heading over to the bed, Acerbus gently nudged Jena awake. “Let’s go. We have several hours before the sun rises,” He whispered quietly in her ear. Jena stirred and rolled over onto her back, wiping the crud from her eyes and sitting up on the edge of the bed.

Acerbus looked down to see that Octavian was not lying on his bed roll, or anywhere else in the room. His childish ways are beginning to bother me. He thought as he opened the creaky wooden door and glanced down the dimly lit hallway.

He motioned for Jena to follow and she silently padded along the floor to rest her hand on his back. Acerbus moved forward into the hall, seeing everything as though it were broad daylight.

As they entered the room below, Acerbus caught glance of Octavian, swapping a small bag of gold with a rough looking man who handed him two minute bottles. Skooma! What in Vile’s name is he doing? Acerbus thought as he stormed towards the dealer.

“What the hell is this?” He demanded, Jena standing next to him, looking a bit shocked. As Acerbus neared the dealer, he swung at him with a clenched fist. The dealer fell cold to the floor, all the while Acerbus snatched the bag of gold and the skooma given to Octavian and threw the skooma against the wall, smashing the bottles.

Octavian stood up and took a swing at Acerbus, who dodged the poorly thrown punch. Acerbus grabbed his hand and twisted it behind Octavian’s back. “I’ll not have a friend do drugs under my nose. It is as though you were spitting on the life you have established,” Acerbus whispered forcefully, making sure he made every word sink into Octavian’s head.

“I was just going to AGHH!” He was interrupted as a sharp twang of pain shot through his arm. “I was going to try it, Ace! Calm down.” Acerbus twisted harder, threatening the snap of Octavian’s arm. Acerbus didn’t like to be so violent to someone he has known since he was just a child, but he knew it had to be done.

He gave Octavian a little push, releasing his arm and standing resolute and cold in front of everyone in the village. Acerbus ignored the stares and jeers of the bar patrons and said quietly, “Come on, Jena. He no longer deserves to be a part of this.” He turned and left the tavern, Jena in tow.

Acerbus rounded the corner to the back of the tavern, its shadows enveloping him as he unleashed Fidelis from the stump and scratched him behind the ears, making Fidelis give a warm growl.

As they walked from the edges of the village, the sound of a door being slammed resounded out over the night, shattering the wonderful silence that the night always gives to the people of Nirn. Fidelis began to bark madly and Acerbus had to throw a calm spell at him. Octavian ran up, his eyes glowing with anger. Acerbus stood his ground as Octavian pushed up against him, they stood shoulder to shoulder. “That sort of embarrassment was uncalled for, Acerbus. All you care about is poor Jena! She’s really no better than me, seeing as though she immediately changes her personality whenever you’re not around. Jena has her secrets, that, I can tell you. You’ll see them come out in due time, my ‘brother’,” Octavian declared as he stormed off into the forest, but not before throwing a suspicious smirk back at Acerbus.

This was the time that Jena decided to speak, “Why’d you do that, Acey? I fear that you’ve just made yourself an enemy. He did not deserve the pain and embarrassment that you gave him back there. Sure, he was about to become an addict, but you should have talked him out of it, not scare the living hell out of him.” Acerbus shook his head, too disgusted to say anything.

--------

“Where are we heading now, Acey?” Jena asked after an hour of seemingly undying quiet. Acerbus looked down at the wolf treading lightly next to him, being very calm and content, his tongue hanging from his mouth and his tail wagging in the warm breeze. Then, Acerbus glanced back up at Jena.

“We’re still heading towards Cheydinhal, but we are not going to stop there. I’ll buy all of our supplies, along with food for Fidelis,” Acerbus said, Fidelis giving an approving bark of the word food. “But you can do whatever you please when we get there, just don’t get into any trouble please.” Acerbus laughed, patting his wild dog on the head and re-clasping the sapphire amulet he was given around his neck.

“Yes, sir. I promise on Bal himself,” Jena said jokingly.

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter Eleven

Acerbus had been very quiet since the fight between him and Octavian, which was only a few short hours ago. He had been through a lot in the past few days and losing his closest friend was a major blow to his mentality. Acerbus wanted more than anything to stop where he was and write a poem, but he knew very well that he and Jena had to keep moving.

As he walked, he began to think up a poem, wanting to say it aloud, but he didn’t want to erase the silence. Acerbus began to recite it in his mind.

In the darkness, he fled
Unknown to me whether we shall meet again
His terrible temptation
Is the end
Of such a strong and powerful brotherhood
My feeling is that
If and When we shall meet again
He will be my foe
That is when I shall hold
The most dangerous hesitation of all

Yet again, it wasn’t his best piece of work, but he knew it would have to do until he could refine it. Acerbus looked over to Jena, who in turn looked back. She leaned down to pet Fidelis, only to be snapped at viciously.

“Easy, boy!” Acerbus said to the wolf, scratching the tip of his ear.

“How do you do that?” Jena asked, amazed at his ability with animals. “You’ll have to teach me that one day, Acey.” She laughed, giving Acerbus a gentle pat on the back.

But Jena immediately became serious and spoke, “Did you not know, Ace, that Octavian was addicted to Skooma?” Acerbus glanced at her with his deep crimson eyes, reading her facial expression and then again admired her body.

Acerbus couldn’t believe she had just said that. “I… I had no idea. Nothing seemed wrong with him,” He answered solemnly, trying to hold his anger.

“Well, I’ve read somewhere that it affects us differently than mortals. Since we have barely any pulse at all, it takes longer to flow throughout our bloodstream, which means, I suppose, no visual differences. But the effect of addiction stays with him and leaves him to strive for one more fix of his beloved drug,” Jena said rather intelligently, yet another reason why Acerbus admired her. “I’ve never understood why it never affected him mentally. Probably from the century of Skooma than flows through his veins right now; he’s gotten used to it, is all.”

“I do not wish to speak of this any further,” Acerbus replied politely, attempting not to anger her.

--------

As they neared Cheydinhal’s gates, Acerbus noticed they were locked tight. Archers patrolled the battlements and two soldiers guarded the gate. I did not realize that it was this late into the night, He thought to himself and then he said, “We’ll have to keep moving. The guards won’t let us in this late at night.”

Jena nodded and replied softly, “Should we head to Harlun’s Watch then? That would be the next best place to go. They might have an inn or general store.”

“Yes, that’s where we should go next.” Acerbus turned to his right, Fidelis still trotting merrily by his side.

The walk to the small village east of Cheydinhal was an uneventful one at most. But Acerbus had looked at the surrounding nature, taking in the smells, sights, sounds, and the crisp feel of the chilly wind on his face. The trees knotty branches and supple leaves swayed in the breeze, making a pleasant ruffling noise that made him nearly forget where he was going and why he needed to get there.

Acerbus neared the perimeter of Harlun’s Watch, noticing a very large log wall extending all the way around the small town. What’s going on here? Acerbus thought to himself as they stopped at the wooden gate.

“Who’s there?” A voice called out in the darkness, startling both Jena and Acerbus. An old man stepped out from the shadow of the wall, crossbow loaded with a silver arrow in his right hand and a silver longsword sheathed on his right hip. “You’re not one o’ them beasties are ye?” He questioned, shoving the crossbow at them.

“What are you talking about, ‘beasties’?” Acerbus asked while he tensed himself in case a fight broke out. The elderly man looked at Acerbus and let out a laugh.

“Hahaha! The Lycans, the werewolves. You know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout? If ye don’t then I’d say you’re an idiot!” He laughed again, this time shorter and more seriously. “If ye are, I suggest that ye get teh runnin’!” The man steadied his crossbow, but was stopped cold by Fidelis, who pounced on the man. He began to tear at the old man’s shirt and flesh.

“Fidelis! No! Get off of him, now!” Acerbus shouted, shooting a smooth green haze from his fingertips at the wolf. Fidelis stopped biting and scratching at the man, leaving the man bleeding only a little. The man sat up, nursing his fresh wounds.

“Damn! I just got this shirt!” He shouted, grabbing a pink bottle from his bag and pouring it on a rag from his pocket. The man began to dab his nicks and cuts, watching them heal slowly. “Thank ye. At least now I know ye don’t wanna kill me.” He stood up.

“Can we please enter into the town? We need supplies before we keep moving,” Acerbus queried, grabbing Fidelis by the scruff of his neck and gently pulling him back to his side.

The man nodded and then said, “Yeah, you can. But I’ll need a favor from ye.” Acerbus nodded, waiting for the man to open the large wooden gate.

[redsrock]

Acerbus had been very quiet since the fight between him and Octavian, which was only a few short hours ago.

I don't think the "which was only a few short hours ago" is necessary. It's not wrong or anything like that, but it just takes up space and offers no purpose. Those following the story are already well aware of that.

*Poem Snip*

Me likey the poem.

Everything else was fine. I liked it a lot, V. You did a nice job.

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter Twelve


Acerbus and Jena sat at the back of the old man’s house, doused in the flickering candlelight. The house was too dark to see anything of importance, but the Minotaur head on the wall explained what the old man’s occupation once was. The man was pouring himself a glass of mead.

“What is this favor you ask of us?” Acerbus questioned. He saw the man pour something into the mead. Some type of flavoring perhaps? He paid no attention to it, looking back up to the man.

“Shh! Keep ye damned voice down. Me wife’s upstairs sleepin’,” The man whispered. He took a large gulp of the mead and then reclined back in his chair, sticking his booted feet on the table.

“Sorry,” Acerbus replied and then he whispered, “Are you going to tell us what you want or not?”

“Well yeah. That’s why I let ye in the town,” He said, returning back to the normal position in his chair and leaning forward on the table. Acerbus could smell the liquor on the man’s breath, but the man didn’t seem to be the least bit drunk. “The town’s been needin’ someone to get rid of the ruffian werewolves and you’d do us fine. They been attackin’ us every night since the Cheydinhal Guard’s been dumpin’ all their dead criminals in the lake a little ways north of here. What do ya say?”

Acerbus glanced over at Jena, giving her a chance took look back and then said, “Do you want to do this? I can do it alone, if you don’t want to.”

Jena nodded and patted the throwing knives on her belt. She had around twenty hid on her body, she had one glass one with a silver tip and all the rest were silver or steel. The handles were worn, stating that they were used quite a lot. Acerbus gave a small chuckle and said, “We’ll do this one for free.”


------------

Acerbus, Jena, and Fidelis were standing at the base of the northeastern wall of Cheydinhal Castle, pondering how they would infiltrate the city. We could always try the sewer system. That’s obviously how they got the bodies in the lake. But there’s a chance it will be locked. He thought, glancing down at the sewer grate.

He knelt down to the small sewer grate and gave it a small tug. Luckily, the grate was unlocked and it opened rather easily; it must have been used recently. Acerbus slipped down into the damp and mucky sewers, the smell of the city’s waste hitting him with amazing force. He felt as though he were about to vomit all over the room. He took the end of his cape and wrapped it around the bottom half of his face, blocking those nasty smells from his sensitive nose.

Jena crouched low, holding her nose closed with her index finger and thumb and staying near the wall. She looked up at Acerbus and asked, “Why aren’t we going to kill the wolves? Isn’t that the purpose of us coming this far?”

Acerbus said, muffled through his makeshift mask, “I want to keep as many of them alive as I can. We won’t discuss this here, Jena, so let’s continue onward.” She nodded and stayed close behind Acerbus.

In the darkness, Acerbus found a wrought iron ladder leading up and out of the sewers of Cheydinhal. He motioned for her to follow, making sure to wipe the mossy scum from each rung he had stepped on so she wouldn’t fall and hurt herself.

The sewer cap was flung from its resting place near the Count’s home, hitting the soft dirt with a thud, and Acerbus and Jena emerged from the horrible stench of the sewers. “Good Gods! It smells like the bowels of a dead guar down there. I honestly hope we won’t have to go through there again,” Jena whispered under the thick brush of an evergreen.

Acerbus looked at her and said, “We won’t have to. Someone from the guild came back from an assignment in Cheydinhal and had gotten the property records from the guards’ barracks. Several of the houses were deemed condemned by the city and were boarded up. I’m positive we’ll be able to stay in one of them.” He gave her a warm smile and nodded.

“But what are you planning, Acey?” She asked, glancing nervously about as though she had done something wrong. Acerbus shuffled his feet and wiggled his fingers. His attempts at lying would most likely fail; Jena knew him like the back of her hand. But he decided he would try it anyway.

“Well, I was going to leave the Count a lovely note in his quarters. You shouldn’t worry yourself, Jena. I’ve got this under control,” Acerbus lied. He wasn’t necessarily lying, just giving her a bit of the truth to ponder. Then Jena gave him the look that she had always given him when he lied.

“We’re going to kill someone aren’t we?” She questioned jokingly, but then growing serious when the length of time widened in which it was answered.

“Uhh… Yeah, sorry.”

[Lord Veneficus]

Chapter Thirteen


Inside the warm castle of Cheydinhal, Acerbus stayed hidden among the many shadow covered walls. Jena was trailing behind, her eyes skittering from one wall to the other. This would be her first real killing, as far as Acerbus knew, because he had never seen her leave the sanctuary.

Acerbus twisted around and questioned, “Are you nervous?” She nodded slowly. He smiled at her and then motioned for her to follow him. “Come on.”

They eased their way into the great hall of the castle, all the while the guards walked right past them without even as much as a glance in their direction. Acerbus made his way towards the Count’s private quarters, but made a detour to the guard captain’s quarters, instead.

Jena was told to stay behind and watch Acerbus’ back.


Acerbus entered the captain’s quarters to see the Dark Elven captain sitting at a desk, writing something indistinguishable from Acerbus’ position. The Elf put his quill down and said, “Acerbus, it is good to see you again.”

Acerbus took a few steps back and replied, “How do you know who I am?” The captain chuckled and stood from his chair, turning to face the shocked vampire.

“I am Galvon, former member of the Esoteric Fangs and current captain of the castle guard here in Cheydinhal,” He said, baring his teeth for Acerbus to see. “I knew your father when he was around. Shame he’s dead. You were just a baby then and you look very different now, but your scent is… unique.”

Acerbus relaxed at the mention of his father and then said, “What?” Galvon laughed again and motioned for Acerbus to sit, which he did.

“You shouldn’t worry yourself about it,” Galvon assured. “I assume you came here for something else?” Acerbus nodded and told the Dunmer about the problem that the small village was in.

Acerbus then realized that killing this elf would only set his problems in deeper, especially due to the fact that he was once a respected member of the guild and he may be a bit more powerful than Acerbus. Farwil Indarys, newly appointed Count of Cheydinhal and son of Andel Indarys, he will be the next one.

“… and they would like for you to stop throwing the bodies in the lake. Does that sound fair enough?” He asked.

Galvon shook his head and replied, “But then, where would we put the bodies, youngling?”

“You could eat them.”

Galvon was in a laughing mood, obviously, as he let off another chuckle and then lowered his voice, “My, my. Acerbus, I am a vampire not some cannibalistic Bosmeri tribesman. I can drink the blood, yes, but I refuse to eat the body.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Don’t fret, youngling. We could burn the bodies, though. But that would produce a nasty smell. I, for one, don’t like the smell of burning flesh and the fire wouldn’t be friendly to my body either,” He stated.

“I suppose the people of Harlun’s Watch will have to deal with the Lycans for a while longer,” Acerbus replied, a bit of frustration fighting its way out of his mouth. He stood and turned towards Galvon, “I hope we have the pleasure of meeting again, Galvon.”

**********

Outside the room, Acerbus moved towards Jena, “Let’s go.” She hurriedly fell behind him.

They made their way towards the Count’s Quarters, dodging guards and servants along the way.

At the door of the Count’s quarters, Acerbus once again told Jena to wait outside and he entered the dark room. He wanted to make sure that Galvon hadn’t followed them down the hall and Jena’s excellent eyes would prove a good help.

He could smell Farwil from the other side of the room, sleeping calmly and not stirring at all.

Acerbus eased his way up to the count, seeing his beautiful Altmer wife lying next to him. A feeling of sadness crept up inside of him. What if he had children? He has a wife why not children? Acerbus shook the thoughts from his mind and slid his newly acquired blade from its sheath; it moaned slightly and Acerbus nearly felt like crying at that moment, but he knew it would do him no good.

He stood and lifted the blade into the air. He brought it down with enough force to puncture the throat and not disturb his sleeping wife. It slid into the neck as easily as a hot knife through butter and blood began pouring from the wound. Acerbus began having the same dreadful feeling of remorse. He was sad for the Altmer woman lying next to her now dead husband. I know he felt nothing. He thought to himself.

Acerbus pulled a quill and a piece of parchment from his pack, dipping it in the blood of Farwil Indarys. The remorseful vampire began writing a poem.

Into the void he goes
Unknown to him who took his life
Take this opportunity to accept the offer I have made
And leave the dead within
Burn their corpses with the fires of hell
And let them not float into the murky waters

He laid the parchment on the bedside table and crept from the room.

[redsrock]

Very nice, V. I don't have a whole lot say, other than I can't wait to see where the murder takes us. Excellent work.

[minque]

Yes....this is getting better and better! I like it...So Mr V..continue please!

[Lord Veneficus]

Yes, mam!