Cassandra Pendragon
"Children… burned," Will echoed. "Oh hells, no! Don't tell me… you're one of the vampires?"
Alassara smiled, but it wasn't reassuring, her long fangs turned the gesture into a barely veiled threat.
"One of them," she purred. "Hardly. I'm their leader, the last remaining master vampire in Free Land since my brother was killed. Why? Are you interested in becoming one of us?"
I had been focusing solely on their exchange, trying to puzzle out if she was being serious or if she simply acted the way everybody expected her to. Consequentially, the steely whisper of a sharp blade being pulled from its scabbard took me by surprise and I needed a few moments to understand what was going on. The bad tempered member of their illustrious group, Josh, who hadn't uttered a single word since I had mentioned vampires to them, had pulled his weapon. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, determined to bury several inches of cold metal in Alassara's chest. He was neither a mage nor was he exceptionally talented. I could have dodged his thrust, even without supplementing my muscles, and to the vampire queen, it must have felt like a crippled, old man was trying to pierce her heart. Embarrassing, rather than dangerous.
She didn't even try to move out of the way, but instead deftly grabbed the blade and pried it from his shaking fingers, as easily as she would have taken candy from a toddler. We could simply look on in silent awe, while she reversed her grip and, using the momentum of his swing, ran him through without so much as batting an eye. Half a second after his first, idiotic attack, he was on the ground, gasping for air, a crimson stain slowly spreading across his cloak. His death rattle reverberated through the air and before one of his companions could even lift a finger, his limbs convulsed one last time and he became still.
"Anyone else intent on testing my patience," Alassara snarled. "I've had a long and trying night and I'd just love some entertainment before I turn in for the day." The mercenaries exchanged a quick look and as if commanded by a puppeteer, they raised their hands, indicating that they weren't stupid enough to accept her invitation.
I shrugged, my pity for the dead bloke about as pronounced as my sense for the fine arts. I might not have killed him if I had been in her stead, but he definitively had it coming. Still, if possible, I wanted to prevent further bloodshed, so I quickly spoke up.
"If one of you feels an uncontrollable urge to test his strength against her, please, just walk away. I assume this puts an end to our conversation, but I would still prefer you to walk away from here on your own two feet instead of adding to the uncounted bodies that vanish, every night." Silence was my only answers, as their gazes travelled from Alassara to me, to the growing puddle of blood on the ground and back again. Anger, surprise, fear, the whole plethora of human emotions was represented in their rigid posture and their widening eyes, but when Will finally found his courage again, I thought I had misheard.
"Didn't like him, anyways," he grumbled. "As far as I'm concerned he's got what he deserved. You take a swing, you gotta deal with the backlash. Can nobody expect the missus to ignore a strike, aimed to kill. Why should I care? Unless… we're not on the menu, are we?"
"No, not for now," Alassara chuckle. She didn't seem perturbed, neither the sudden attack nor the admittedly strange reaction had fazed her. She quietly studied Will before she added: "we haven't met, as far as I'm aware. My name is Alassara, and I'd say it's a pleasure, but the first impression hasn't been outstanding. Still, hopefully we can find a way to leave this unpleasantness behind us. And I'd also like to know what you're doing in front of my home. I don't mind guests, but right now, I'm a little on edge… you've heard what happened, I think you can't fault me for being cautious."
"Not at all, milady. We wouldn't even be here if chance hadn't played us dirty, but believe me, none of us has any interest in starting a fight with you. Well, at least none who's still standing. Ain't that right lads?" The other three hurried to mumble their approval, the casual death of one of their comrades had shaken them much more than Will, but they had no intention of picking up where the corpse had left off. They valued their life more than their principles, a healthy predisposition, I could only applaud, since it also meant I wouldn't have to watch them die.
Vanya leaned over and whispered in my ear: "since… technically I'm already working for you, am I not? Does that mean you're going to protect me?"
"Of course," I smiled. "Unless you decide to take a swing at my friend, as well. In that case, you'd be all on your own. But you don't look like the suicidal type, but if I were you, I'd put a tight leash on my temper. This is one of those situations where you can only dig yourself a grave."
"Believe me, I know. I barely saw her move and if only half of the legends are true…" she didn't get to finish, because Lorain got to his feet, commanding our attention. He exhaled deeply and said:
"I'm not going to take what happened personally, but Josh was a friend, not the best one, but we've still known each other for years. We've fought and bled together and I can hardly sit around, drinking and talking with you, while his body is still warm. If you don't mind, I'd like to take him away and make sure he receives a proper burial." Alassara looked at me but I could only shrug. Letting him leave posed a whole variety of risks we could pick from, but I still preferred it to the alternative. I wasn't afraid of what he might do by his lonesome in the next hours and if he went to Captain Nightshade… well, the two of us probably wouldn't become friends, whatever the circumstances. Ultimately it was up to Alassara, but since her lair was already compromised, I didn't expect her to do something rash. After all, the fighting had already begun.
"Sure," the vampire replied. "But I'd like to ask you to keep what happened here a secret. It won't make much of a difference, but your silence would still be appreciated."
"Don't worry, I, not stupid enough to paint a target on my back. What about you two?" He looked at Malique and Vanya. "Are you coming?" The bearded man was the first to answer.
"I won't. I'm not thrilled Josh is dead, but Will is right. It was his own fault. This… Lorian, this is a chance. You've always been the one to talk about making a difference… now, I think, we actually can. We've met the most powerful people tonight we're likely to ever see and they're willing to talk to us. You shouldn't throw it away. I won't. I'm staying."
"I don't have much of a choice," Vanya added. "But even if I did… it doesn't matter. Of course I'm staying, a debt is a debt. But… do you know why he did? I never knew him as a moron." I had to suppress a smile, there hadn't been much love lost between the two of them, either.
Lorian sighed and slowly made his way to the corpse, studying his features. "I don't know, exactly," he finally explained, "but I think I can guess. He was an orphan and he sometimes talked in his sleep." He straightened again and focused on Alassara. "Don't bleed them dry, he used to cry. I think one of yours killed his family when he was young. He never talked about it, but I think that's the reason why he even became a sell sword. To one day find the people responsible. He did, but…" his expression became even more serious and he asked: "was it one of yours?"
Alassara inclined her head. "Most likely, it wasn't. Mine stay well away from families and children, that's a lesson I make sure every one of my children learns. But… we don't take kindly to being hunted or hurt, either. It's possible… I just can't say for sure. Why? Does it make a difference?"
"Not to him, but to me." He turned to me, his eyes sparkling intensely. "You know her better than us, you even called her a friend. Answer me this: was he right to raise his sword?"
"You can always fight for what you believe in, whether it's justified or not, but you also have to expect to suffer for your troubles. I don't know his past and I don't know him, but from where I'm standing, he attacked because she has fangs. That's about as good of a reason as having rounded ears or no tails… you remember what I've told you about the Pirate King? He's human. Does that mean I have the right to kill every human I see? Hardly. So… if you ask me, I wouldn't blame him for raising his weapon but likewise you can't blame her for defending herself, either."
"I see." He crouched and gently lifted up his former comrade. "I bid you a good night. Malique, Vanya, you're always welcome to look for me, but as long as you're dealing with… gods and monsters… I want no part of it." They started to protest, Vanya was even on the verge of grabbing onto him, but he calmed them down with a melancholic smile.
"I'm not mad, in a way, I'm even envious, but I'm not going to stay here and pave my own way to hell. Lady Alassara, I don't hold a grudge, in no way, but Josh's fate… I think it's a sign. We aren't supposed to meddle with things so much bigger than ourselves. I like my life, I enjoy living… I've got a wife and I don't think any one of us can survive your company. Or yours," he added in my direction, "and as much… I'm not going to turn into a forgotten, dead body at the side of your road, only to have a chance at glory. I wish you luck, I truly do, but I don't want to ever see you again." With a final nod for his friends, he slowly walked along the shadowy alley, until his cloak vanished around the corner as he stepped onto the brighter main road. A group of sailors passed the spot where he had disappeared and then, even his scent was gone.
"You're wrong," I whispered to myself, "and maybe you'll have the chance to see it."
"I don't think he is," Vanya quietly objected. "I wouldn't stay, either, if I had someone waiting for me. But my life… I'm willing to risk it… not for you, but to save our home from the flames."
"A bloody heroine," Will grumped. "I'm mainly here because I can't say no to girls, as pretty as you two. Right now, I do have a question, though." He looked at me, all mirth gone and asked, dead serious: "can you promise me, that everything you've told us is the truth? That you aren't trying to manipulate us to whatever end?"
"No, I can't. Of course I'm trying to manipulate you. And while I'm not trying my hardest, I do have a profound interest in what you might do, later on. What I can promise is, that I haven't lied. I might have omitted a few details, but everything I've said is the truth." I was curious what was going to happen now, since I didn't promise anything concerning the future, but rather the past. The sensation was similar, though. With a flash of silver light, I felt a band of transcendent energy settle in around my core, tightening for the fraction of a second before it dispersed again. If I had been lying, the outcome would have been much more spectacular, not to mention painful.
"What's was that," Vanya exclaimed, staring at my chest where the circle of light had suddenly appeared. "Did you just use a spell? Why?"
"No need to panic. It wasn't a spell. I'm bound by my promises and that was but a visible reminder I shouldn't take them lightly. Trust me, from the inside, it's much more… thorough."
"What do you mean, bound? Like a magical contract? Are you a fey?"
"I'm not, but I think it works the same way. As for what it means… I can try to break my word, but it'd be excruciatingly painful and most likely lethal."
"Is this… does every very kitsune have to deal with this?"
"If they did, I probably wouldn't tell you. It's not something you want everybody to know, is it? But no, it's unique to me and my fiancée. It can be a true pain in the ass, but it can also be quiet handy, when you've got to convince a bunch of stubborn humans that you're telling the truth, for example."
"Except," Will interrupted, "you could be lying about this, as well, for all we know. Don't frown, I don't say you are, I actually believe you, but I just meant… never mind. So what's happening now? Are we finally going to find out what you have planned, or are you going to beat around the bush for longer?"
"You're direct," Alassara replied. "I like that. To put it plainly, Cassandra wants the strength of Free Land united to fight against the Pirate King and I want the heads of those who are behind the attack on my home on a platter. Since the Captains, from what I've overheard, two of them, are most likely responsible, we have a common interest. She wants their fleets, I want their blood. Now," she focused on Malique and Vanya, "the two of you have signed on with one of the murderers who tried to torch my home. If he is the culprit, Nightshade will die, simple as that. Does that make you reconsider?" It was Vanya who answered first.
"He hasn't treated us badly, but there's no love lost between us and the Captains, much of what plagues this town is of their doing. You better be sure to win, though. If you don't and it becomes known that we knew, even helped to a certain degree, our lives won't be worth the dirt in the street. I'd rather not end up as a slave or killed outright."
"Don't worry," the vampire replied with an icy smile, that showed off her fangs more than anything else. "We were born to hunt humans and it's about time to make the Captains remember. I won't give them the chance to come knocking on my door again, bearing torches."
"That's all well and good," Malique interjected, "but what exactly does that mean?"
"Tonight, we will have our answers form the priests we captured. And tomorrow, we will pay a visit to everyone involved, be it the false saints of the churches or the ones backing them. They will die, their blood will will be spilled and when the crimson tide has cleansed the city, we will prepare for war. Our fleets will sail, united, and we will bring the fires of destruction to the Pirate Islands."
"And what do you want from us," Will asked. "The longer you talk, the more it seems like we're as useful as a fifth wheel on a cart. Neither do we have the influence to make the Captains see sense, nor do we have the strength to actually help you." He looked at me and added: "what have you been thinking when you dragged us into this?"
"I didn't do anything of the sort. You came up to me, remember? As for what you can do… I told you before, I'd rather not have to intimidate my way through a bunch of guards and servants. I understand that you're probably reluctant to introduce us to Nightshade, after everything you've heard, but there are 5 more of them and while we, most likely, won't have a pleasant chat with Brightblaze, the other four I'd rather convince than force. Besides, it's not really the Captains I'm interested in, it's their fleets, their sailors and their soldiers. People in your business, you usually have friends everywhere. Talk to them, convince them. Once their people know the truth, the Captains won't even have much of a choice but to take the Pirate King seriously."
"And how should we do that," he scoffed. "No offence, but if I hadn't seen rays of starlight shoot out of your back, I wouldn't have believed a single word. You're expecting us to tell a fairytale. I'll let you in on a little secret, we are no fairies and we have zero chance of convincing anyone."
"Maybe I can help you, there," a new, silky voice floated along the alley. "I've brought some crystals that might just make the difference," Ahri added, when she stopped at my side and blew a kiss against my cheek.