February 14th 1831
Valencia. Spain. Road to Vampire Manor.
Personal Journal of Leon Wagner.
13th Entry.
This blasted collar is choking me to death.
I rode inside a horse drawn carriage dressed in ridiculous green finery, feeling naked without my armor and weapons. The road was bumpy and rough as Finnick relayed the plan for us during our long ride to the countess manor undercover.
Alright so here is how it's going to go down. Finnick spoke quietly to me, careful not to tip of our driver. " I'm senor Fernandez Chavesa. Wealthy handsome ladies man land owner from Madrid. You are Gustavo Henrico. My assistant.
Just assistant? I asked. Why not something else?
Because that's what it says on the invitation! He grunted annoyed. I didn't pick the dam names!
How did you even get these invitations? I asked curious.
Oh. A couple of weeks ago Me and my buddies just "Persuaded" other human guests to hand over theirs."
What do you mean by persuade? I asked angrily, leaning in closer.
Relax! they're not dead. Just....in dispose. Let's just say it took some effort to get these invitation's so don't lose them. I "acquired" a spare just in case but I got none left. You lose it. You're stuck outside. So don't leave me alone to entertain a nest of vampires by myself. I might as well give em my neck in that case. I'd be completely and utterly fucked fighting them all off alone.
I won't. I said assuring. So what do we do once we get inside?
Well. The doorman will check us for weapons. So we'll be pretty bare bones when we get in. All the chairs and tables are made of metal and fastened together pretty damn tight, so no hand made stakes to the heart sadly. Every time I've been there it's always been a packed house. Those vampires can party every night all the way till dawn. So we have got to be careful. My buddies looked around in every nook and cranny careful to avoid suspicion But never once did we see them feed on a single drop of blood! Something's definitely up. But I still can't find it. I'm counting on you to help change that.
What's my part in the plan?
I'm getting to that. So when we are in. We'll have to circulate around the degenerate fifth to avoid suspicion. Act casual and like you belong among the pampered elite. I'll say I forgot my hat from the carriage and send you to get it. You grab our weapons I'll go near the farthest window out of sight and hoist down a rope and we'll smuggle our gear inside.
Don't we need proof first? I asked cautiously. Not that I was complaining. As far as I was concerned I was happy to just start killing from the start, but from what he told me we also would have the authorities to worry about if we took that approach.
Yea we need the proof to get the go ahead and wipe em out. But I don't like the idea of not being able to defend myself should things go down the shitter quick. I know a good spot. Far way from the galley. We'll stash the gear inside the potted plant and we have a fallback in case we get into trouble. If you don't like it. We can always fight against hundreds of vampires with the silverware instead?
"No. Potted plant is good." I responded.
ALright then.. Oh! I almost forgot. The most important thing. The countess.
Yes? I leaned in. My teeth grinding in rage and anticipation.
Steer clear of her. She sensed my buddies were imposters and led them to a secret room. They were never seen again. Do not. I REPEAT DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO HER EYES AND KEEP YOUR DISTNACE FROM HER AT ALL COST. I can't help you if she snatches you up.
Don't worry. I said aloud confidently unafraid. She won't get me.
That's what each of my buddies said. I like your spirit kid. But.... just as a precaution.
Finnick then reached down into a small chest beside him and pulled out two extravagantly detailed masks.
They always have their parties as Masquerade balls. Probably to hide their ugly mugs and pretend their all still fuckable. I added a layer of dark cloth to the eye lids to help interfere with your vision. Will fuck with your sight a bit. But she won't be able to control you. Well not if you get close enough to kiss her. So don't. Do not take it off under any circumstances. It may be your only shield from their control.
I nodded.
Alright then.. Finnick breathed a sigh of relief. Let's put on a happy face.
"Finnick then donned his mask first. A flamboyant orange fox with whiskers. "Here. He said Cheerily, his handsome face completely covered. "Thought this would fit you and your personality. You're boring and quiet. A perfect choice.
I held the mask he had given me in my hand rather amused. Caressing it's narrow stern features rather fondly.
I was an eagle. A proud Prussian Eagle.
We both rode in anxious silence, our identities hidden for the next half hour until at last coming to a halt at the steps of the manor. The smell of freshly opened wine and a lush vineyard in the air. I stepped out first to be greeted with an astounding marvel of architecture. But it pained me to remember that it was wasted on housing this swarm of parasites coercing and fornicating inside it's glistening walls. It was a marble building with crimson red roses surrounding every square inch of it's perimeter. As if I hadn't already got the message. Lanterns lit up the outer interior with the playing of a proud cello being heard from deep inside it's walls. A magnificent gleaming palace of art and beauty.
One that would be these demon's tomb's by the night was done I hoped.
Now then! Finnick stepped in beside me. Cane in hand. Shall we good sir?
I grunted. I had a part to play. No matter how much I didn't want to.
Verily good sir. I replied. Wanting to kill myself.
We walked up the white marble steps with our heads held high before a large guard intervened in front of the doorway.
"Name?" He asked us both sternly. I could see his teeth barely through his crocodile mask and was appalled to see he was human. A human. Working for vampires! It made me sick thinking how he could betray his own kind. Before I could step forward. Finnick cleared his throat and stepped in front with an exaggerated bow and an even more exaggerated Spanish accent.
HELLO my good man! I am senor Fernandez Chavesa! Proud heir to the Chavesa family fortune! And this is my assistant Henrico. Pay him no mind for he is worthless.
Indeed I said.
I am here once again for a night of revelries and extravagance with my good undead compadres. Might you be so kind as to allow us passage into this humble abode senor?
That's Henrico? The guard asked more serious. Leaning in closer squinting his eyes at me. Doesn't look like him. Lot taller." Finnick suddenly gulped. I turned toward Finnick's nervous concealed eyes, Scowling at him for not being entirely truthful about something. But like a well versed swindler he recovered from his blunder of words marvelously.
Um Yes! This is his long lost cousin! They share the last famlily name. I am afraid my first assistant met a rather unfortunate fate during my last visit. A pain that shake's me to my core still." As Finnick managed a fake tear. The guard clearly growing board and disgruntled simply shrugged his shoulders, checked us for weapons, and moved aside to let us both pass.
Thank you my good sir!! Finnick bowed again and began to walk right through with me in tow. As we entered into the brightly lit hallways I pulled him aside by the shoulder up against a hidden corner. He had some explaining to do.
Alright soo.... he said rather nervously.
"Explain." I demanded. "Now."
Por que? He responded in a faint whine.
Now! I don't like not knowing every scrap of detail when it could save my life.
Alright alight! He gasped. My arm pressed against his throat. "After my friends got snatched up. I was desperate. I hired a local farmer to pass as my servant and help smuggle in my armor and weapons. But halfway through the party he chickened out and ran for the hills from seeing all the bloodsuckers. He was fleeing so fast he didn't look where he was going and ran right into a passing wagon. Happy?
I raised my eyebrow under my mask.
How was I supposed to know the guard would use his brain! I've come here five times already and I have proved myself quite trustworthy to him. I had to try to get my weapons in somehow!
"Well clearly not trustworthy enough. That was way too close. It would have been nice if you had told me that nugget of valued information.
Very well my friend. From here on. No more Lies. I Swear on my mother's grave. Finnick then straightened his jacket and stared me in the eye calmly like a gentlemen. "Now if you are quite finished we should probably get going to the main hall before we attract any more undesired attention. Pinning someone by the neck against a wall tends to be seen as poor manners, even among vampires.
I looked around and saw a few passerby's whispering to each other about our little scuffle and quickly backed off, my attention instantly diverted. I could see through each of their pompous clothing and detailed masks for what they truly were. It sent shivers down my spine. I hadn't seen one in years.
A sea of calm red glowing eyes stared back at me. My vision was hazy from the screen of cloth but they nonetheless made me enraged. Grey skin like smooth sturdy porceleon, long pointed ears like a bat. Serpentine fangs in-between a forked crimson tongue. Split chinned jaw that could open wide apart and back together at will. And all bald on the front of their foreheads donned with spiky devilish horns and jet black hair tied behind in either pony tails for the men or hanging long and loose for the females. They were even worse than I remember them. I would never get used to seeing them for what they truly were, but seeing them like this made me even more appalled. No matter how pretty they tried to make themselves look with their Jewelry, coats, and fancy dresses. They were monsters.
Monster's who had treated my family like cattle. And turned them against me.
As I continued to contemplate how I would slaughter them all before the night was done, one of the vampire whore's wearing an extravagant green and blue feathered peacock mask stalked towards me slowly. I could feel her revulsive undead presence coming a mile away. Her long clawed fingers getting ready to strike. I was shaking. I had a broch on me that I could stab her with. But I wouldn't get very far with the others. But I would go down fighting.
Heelllooo there...She said to me. Her voice cold and mesmerizing under her mask. I drowned it out and began to reached for my broch. Finnick intervened. And stepped in front before I could impale her.
Madam Corcheva! Is that you under there?! It's been too long!! You look lovely as ever! To my amazement and sheer appalment finick then actually approached and bowed his hand, allowing himself to actually kiss her boney cold hand as she reached it out to him.
"My my Gustavo! The vampire said wiley." Not taking her eye's of me hungrily while tapping her talons against her blood red lips. "Who. Is. this looovvleey new assistant of yours? I don't believe we've met?"
"Oh this? Finnick gestured to me. "This is just some poor relative of my recently deceased helper. Pay him no mind for he is worthless.
Hmmmmm. A Shame.. She unsheathed a vile smirk through her serpentine fangs "He is quite well built for someone who is worthless...But if you ever are interested in someone of far greater worth, find me upstairs handsome.."
To my disgust the vampire then actually winked at me.
"Never." I scowled enraged and spat at the floor.
The atmosphere immediately grew tense between the three of us.
WHAT. DID. YOU. SAY?? She hissed. Baring her fangs, just like a snake as her red eye's began to intensify on me. Only this time with murderous intent. I welcomed it and drew for my broch.
"Hahah! Oh forgive the idiocy of my assistant! Finnick interjected frantically shoving my backside away. "He is unfamiliar with the nature of such hospitalities. He did not mean it! Please excuse us for a second my lady! But a moment! Finnick immediately shoved me aside away from the small crowd and whispered into my ear.
Are you fucking nuts!!!Do you have a death wish!?? What part of undercover did you not understand?! A good part of not drawing attention is to refrain from insulting your hosts who could suck every drop of life out of you and me for having brought you!
"I will not negotiate with vampires." I sternly replied.
"It's not...UGH! Finnick slammed the side of his masked forehead. "She was just flirting with you. These vampire's are here tonight for three reasons. Dinner, Dancing, and fucking. You want to stay alive long enough to kill them all? You best get familiar with discussing those three particular topics with them in great excruciating detail even if you and I won't partake or else you and I are chow before midnight. Got it!!??"
I stubbornly nodded.
"Alright then." Finnick breathed a sigh of relief, straitened his hair flat, and clutched my broch out of my hand and and repined it to my vest. "Now then. On to the main hall."
We both passed by the narrow gleaming hallways, Finnick chatting and reacquainting himself all the while with vampires who's trust he had gained while I remained silent, nodding and smiling, watching and learning. Struggling to keep myself from strangling the parasites with my bare hands. I had begun to realize that in order for this hunt to succeed, I would have to outsmart these creatures. And in order to claim my prize, and more importantly my revenge I would have to play their game, molding it's outcome to how it benefited us both in end. In order to know you're enemy, you must be close to them. Very close.
After some time mingling outside among the other undead guests. The grand hall doorways finally opened to allow us all inside. I looked around to get a feel for my surroundings and of any strategic advantage I could employ.
An enormous gleaming ballroom shone like a spotless golden mirror beneath our feet as we entered. With our whispers and the laughing of eager guest's creating faint echo's that traveled and reverberated across the vast room back and forth. The walls were lined and decorated with red drapes on it's many windows that reached from the ceiling all the way to the floor. Closed tight as expected to not allow any sunlight to seep in and intrude on their sick nocturnal revelries.
If we could last till dawn, those would certainly be open on my account.
Within minutes the recently quiet and empty room was crowded to the brink with blood thirsty guests that surrounded us from all sides, completely unaware of the danger we posed. I was shocked to conclude a good ninety percent of the guests were vampires by my estimates, with the rest being foreign human dignitaries by their tone of voice, wealthy elite's, and even an assortment of waiters and servants passing around round after round of orderb's carefully placed on silver trays to any who asked. Which was many.
So what now? I whispered to finnick beside me. When do we get the bag?
"Patience He said calmly into my ear, still keeping an exaggerated and polite smile to all who watched us pass. "We'll get them soon enough, but we can't just slip away right at the moment, they're spread out all over the mansion. Wait until the feast when they're all in one place. Then I'll tell you to go to the wagon and you'll have a better chance of not being seen sneaking around back. So for now...Smile. Wave. Mingle. And don't provoke them. I'd like to at least live long enough to make it to desert with all my blood still inside me."
I nodded. Looking around the crowded room, not letting my guard down in the slightest. Despite most of the guests having the familiar dreaded grey skin. It was admittedly very difficult to tell them apart.
"What does the countess's mask look like? I asked suddenly. "I need to know what she looks like in order to avoid running into her."
Finnick rubbed his chin a bit troubled and answered truthfully.
"That....is a bit trickier than you would expect. The countess is something of a fashionista. She never wears the same dress or mask twice.
I rolled my eyes under my feathered mask and released a frustrated huff of air. That complicates things a great deal.
"Any idea what she might be?" I asked hopefully. "Does she have a specific preference?
"Not an exact one that I've been able to determine sadly. Finnick responded, thinking hard about any information from his past endeavors I could use. "First time I was here she went as a tigress. The next a lunar moth. Then a jaguar. Then a shark. Most of the male guests choose aggressive powerful beasts as their masks, while the women tend to prefer vibrant beautiful animals like your little admirer in the peacock mask from earlier. The countesses however is rather....unpredictable. She lies somewhere in between alluring beauty and overwhelming terror. That's the best I got. But just to be safe. Try not to lock eye's with any of the women up close if they corner you. If you have to. Just stare down instead. You might get a slap but it's better than the alternative of being found out and eaten.
I nodded in gratitude. This information would prove very useful.
Anything else I need to know? I asked him once more.
Yea. Just smile and be yourself. Well..most of yourself."
"Attention every one! A portly vampire in a frog mask said aloud while hovering above in the air with his arms folded behind his back. Thank you. He cleared his throat. Now is the time for the opening dance. Everyone grab a partner! Enjoy and introduce yourself! Let them see you as you truly are this wonderful night!
I watched in horror as each of the well dressed vampires lined up in sperate rows on opposite sides of the room facing a random partner of the opposite gender.
What?! I whispered to Finnick beside me angered. You didn't say anything me having to dance with these creatures!"
Oh come now! He scoffed. Stiffen your pride and rage for just this one dance. If you're the only one standing alone, that will most surely draw they're attention. If we find the evidence we need, then you can stake you're lady partner later as payback. But for now...Play along for both out sakes."
Before I could ask for more aid or another question. Finnick was then bricked away from my sight by Madam Corcheva in the familiar peacock mask from earlier, only this time raising her narrow chin high and mighty from me in regard's to my insult she was certainly deserving of earlier. Only responding with a loud disapproving humff!, of her voice before vanishing with my fellow huntsman into the crowd to dance.
There I was alone. The only one without a partner. Every bloodsucker's red eye's were watching me. I felt like the prime course at their buffet table. Trapped and unable to escape. As my heart began to beat in panic staring at my reflection from the polished golden ground. I saw the long looming dark shadow of the vampire opposite me growing in magnitude as it threatened to trap me in her presence.
I bit my lip in concealed rage under my mask and glanced quickly toward the demon on the other side of the room while she was still far enough away to have no power over me. I was only able to make out through the hazy shroud in front of my eye's a few things about her. First, that she was dressed in a long flowing magenta gown far unlike the lust filled lunatic in the peacock mask from earlier donned in an overstuff poofy pink dress.
This one was.....Different."
The vampre'ss approaching me was more plainly and more revealingly dressed in her choice of attire. Her grey shoulder's were exposed and she wore a black formfitting corset around her narrow waist Her long black reflective hair was tied and braided together in three unusual strands that reached all the way to her long pale thigh revealed by a faint slit in the cloth of her purple gown. But by far the most striking thing about this monster pretending and almost seeming to be human, was her choice of concealment from the world.
The top half of her grey soft face was hidden by the white shroud of an angelic feathered swan mask. It's sharpened black beak resting just above her nose and in-between her glowing narrow eyes. It was a strange sight to see. The image of an animal so lovely and pure pasted to a creature so foul underneath. I will admit that in that moment I strangely was almost tempted to keep staring at the abhorrent combination of heaven and hell, but quickly turned my gaze aside as the vampire stalked silently right up in front of me.
I couldn't even hear her footsteps.
"Care to dance?" I could hear her ask with a deceivingly gentle tone. Her voice was silky and ethereal as it collided against my ear. Her perfume overwhelming my senses, not in pungency but in a hellish yet pleasing euphoria. I hated her smell. I hated her and wanted to strike her down right then and there.
Despite my overwhelming fury, I managed to barely form a half-hazard begrudging smile off to the side which looked more like a snarl. I responded bluntly with a hasty and reluctant acceptance of her proposal. Grabbing her hand with much hesitation and disgust. It was skeletal, cold and...abnormally smooth. I felt a small wedding ring across her finger as it pressed up briefly against my thumb. I glanced toward the tip of her finger, expecting gold or solid silver, only to be surprised by her baffling choice.
It was made of cheap tin.
I shook away the thought and kept my mind focused and alert of her as we walked toward the dance floor together. Still I kept my gaze away from her deformed maw, not willing to look her in the eye even for a second.
She began to take notice of my aversion quickly.
Hmm.. not very polite are you...? She said aloud calmly as she directed me toward the dancing floor. "That's alright. I can work with that."
I heard the tapping of a conductor's baton above my head from the small orchestra hovering over the crowd in mid air. It was then the first song commenced. A somber, yet strangely spirited Walz. I watched the hundred's of guests surrounding me began to hold their partner's close and circle the room with them spinning in an abhorrent dance. I as well followed suit. Albeit with no enthusiasm about being stuck beside this walking, well dressed corpse.
I felt the faint tapping of sharpened claws sliding in against my shoulder, my finger's held together tightly in her unbreakable iron grip. My other arm rested beside my waist placed far away from her reach. One hand touching her dead skin was enough. I still kept my gaze far off to the side throughout most of the song, not just out of safety, but about not giving this creature the satisfaction of wanting to look at her as we danced together in silence.
"You're doing it wrong." She said aloud sternly.
"It's dancing. You just move back and forth holding hand's. What more is there to it?"
"You're supposed to rest your hand on my hip, not off to the side like a guard. She then made a series of disappointed tsks with her lips.
Just what I needed. A vampire lecturing me about etiquette.
She continued instructing my form and posture with a clear concise voice before then attempting to reach for my empty hand. I batted her cold palm away and quickly hid my hand behind my back out of her undead reach.
"Something the matter? She asked with a lively tone of voice she was undeserving of. "It's not my perfume is it?
I didn't respond. I just stared at the ceiling hoping to god this song would end soon.
My my a stubborn one aren't we? She said amused. "Are you really going to pass on a proper dance with me? Are you afraid?
"No."
"Then what prey tell is the problem? She then released a faint infuriating chuckle. "Don't know how to dance properly?"
"I do. Just not with you. You're the problem."
"Hmff." She shrugged her bare shoulders, Strangely unaffected by my words. "Well then. If you're not going to give a lady the decent respect of a proper dance. Then I am afraid I have no other alternative.....
A strange presence filled the air between us.
"What are you....?!
Shhhh. She said calmly. Inching in closer toward me. "If you are not willing to dance with the like's of me, then I'd very much like to know why. It's not often someone shows the courage to stand up to me. Least of all a human. You have peaked my interest, which I assure you is not an easy accomplishment." She smiled. Her long claws gently turned my chin toward her masked face.
"Oh no...."I panicked in the silence of my mind at the realization. But it was too late.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't speak. Her voice.. it was....Overwhelming.
Her black reflective eye's imprisoned mine in their icy gaze. A glowing red spiraling iris at each of their center's keeping me confined in a cage. Every second she looked at me was another of my secret's stolen. I could feel her burrow like a drill into the depth's of my mind for whatever she wanted as if I let her inside completely unopposed which I certainly didn't. I fought and fought for what seemed decades in that brief instant of contact between us. But it wasn't enough. Soon she had what she wanted.
Ahhh...She grinned in admitted surprise. Her blood red lip's curling to reveal her glossy perfect fangs underneath. "Another one."
"Hello...Huntsman." The countess smiled coyly at having me in checkmate. I had lost the game before It had even started.
I stood there standing frozen in a dazed trance as she looked me up and down as if wondering how much blood she could spill. The vampire lord then raised her polished talon's towards my chest. Ready to finish me off by impaling her claws right through me. I tried to close my eyes as I braced for the worst, but they were no longer mine to command.
Her hand instead stopped half way, centimeter's away from piercing my heart and slowly reached for my hand from behind my back, clutching it tightly to her waist from behind her back. Her spine was like solid steel as my finger's caressed across it's sharpened grove's, guided by her hand into a positions she deemed adequate.
"Now then. That's much better! She smiled happily. And if If you're quite done wasting precious time, we've got a dance to finish before daylight. The first of fifty seven.
I gulped. I could feel my knees shudder at the thought.
"I'll lead." The countess smirked before hovering weightlessly into the air with me alongside her.