The dim light of the sun arced it's way through the black curtain coating Emperor Envor with it's presence. Emperor Envor opened his eyes and groaned in pain as he sighed. It wasn't even Near morning yet.
Near morning is the time in which one would wake and eat their meals before starting their morning tasks. The time after Near Morning was, Mid Morning. Mid morning was when the daily tasks at hand would be finished and the start of important events. Important events would last usually through Mid morning to High noon. From which one would have lunch and tea time between high noon to Mid Evening till the End of Mid Evening to Low Noon it was time for one to take upon a hobby or finish the work not done during Mid Morning and High Noon.
Where am I?
Emperor Envor looked around the room to see the black furniture that adorned the room and flopped back on his pillow. Last night wasn't a dream.
Emperor Envor sighed gratefully as he glanced around his room, it was rather detailed for a dream. He sighed gratefully "Maybe being a puppet isn't so bad."
Usually during his reign over the Empire his near mornings to Mid Mornings were consumed with sword practice and political disputes. That was till high noon. From High Noon to Late Evening he would once more look over the piles of needless paperwork that fifty page reports could be summarized in a few words like "Refused to pay taxes." or "Secret mobilization of an army."
He looked around the room to find not a single book or paper and narrowed his eyes. What did my brother do all day?
Emperor Envor had never considered what the actual Prince Hagar did during the day in his youth, in fact he had refused to know what his half brother did with his time. After all who really would care about a Puppet?
But now that he was Emperor Envor it would be difficult to portray he was a puppet if he didn't know what the puppet did. However that would not take place for another few hours and Emperor Envor was more than willing to wait till the servants entered to find out. He slowly closed his eyes letting the darkness of the room consume him once more when a sudden knock only seconds later made him open his eyes again.
Emperor Envor sighed as he said "Enter."
The light footfalls as the owner entered made Emperor Envor sigh again "I thought I told you to rest."
"I must arrive early in the morning, your highness." Said Sir Rohin stiffly.
Emperor Envor sat up and turned over to look at Sir Rohin "Well you woke me up."
Sir Rohin blinked several times and Emperor Envor leaned against the bed post and sighed "Sir Rohin, do you happen to know my schedule?"
Sir Rohin blinked several times when he asked "Your Highness, do you not know your schedule?"
Emperor Envor narrowed his eyes but shook his head "It would seem you don't. I guess I'll have to wait till my other aids come."
Sir Rohin cocked his head "So you truly don't know your schedule?"
"No." Said Emperor Envor definitively only to see the suspicion on Sir Rohin's face.
Emperor Envor cleared his throat as he lazily said "Not particularly. However is that not why I have aids? So that they can keep me on schedule?"
Sir Rohin looked around the room as he said "Yes. But your highness has had the same schedule since you were a child-"
Emperor Envor chuckled "How would you know my schedule has never changed, if you yourself do not know it?"
Sir Rohin went silent as Emperor Envor turned his head and looked at Sir Rohin "Well?"
Sir Rohin was silent for a long moment but just as he opened his mouth there was a sudden knock on the door.
Emperor Envor smirked as he lazily looked away from Sir Rohin to the canopy above him as he said "Enter."
The double doors opened as Alon and Leon entered into his room and bowed in unison "Your Highness."
Emperor Envor lazily flicked his wrist as he said "Forgo the titles, after all you seemed to have forgotten them quick enough to get drunk in my room."
Both vampires glanced at one another nervously but Emperor Envor smiled "So who knows my schedule?"
Alon was smart enough to only raise an eyebrow in surprise but Leon was the one to blatantly asked "You don't remember your schedule?"
Emperor Envor sighed as he said "Have I ever?"
Leon and Alon looked at one another before Leon said "Well…no."
"Then what's the big deal in me asking about it?!" Scoffed Emperor Envor as he sat up to look at all those present.
Alon's eyes went wide while Leon bit his cheek and Sir Rohin just sighed but remained silent. Emperor Envor scratched the side of his head as he said "Since your not going to answer my question then answer the one before it."
"You have your etiquette lessons this morning." Said Alon as he sighed.
Emperor Envor nodded as he uncovered himself and moved to the edge of the bed. He sighed as he said "Okay what's after that?"
Emperor Envor looked around the room for a moment in search of attire but seeing none he looked at Leon expectantly. Leon quickly went to the table where the large gourd filled with wine sat along with a chalice, Leon went to begin pouring the wine only to hear Emperor Envor cough. Perhaps Prince Hagar drank before his daily routine, but Emperor Envor refused to turn into a drunkard again.
Leon seeing Emperor Envor shake his head quickly nodded and ran into the servant quarters.
"You then have to check with Lord Draco before you go out and greet the people in the streets." Said Alon as though if it was a list.
"I have to check in with Lord Draco?" Asked Emperor Envor skeptically, was this what his brother always had to do? Ask for permission for everything?
Alon nodded and suddenly Leon appeared with a large bottle of wine and three golden chalices, showing Emperor Envor its very fancy design. Emperor Envor rubbed his eye as he felt the cues earlier fall short of his expectation and said "Leon, though I am thankful for you satiating my thirst, I need clothes."
Leon looked at Alon with a sad look on his face but Alon quickly shook his head. Leon sighed as he placed the wine bottle and chalices on the table and picked up the large fancy towel Emperor Envor had used the night before .
Emperor Envor narrowed his eyes but as Leon walked up beside him and unfurled the towel he saw it wasn't in fact a towel. It was a toga.
"He wore this?" Emperor Envor scoffed but seeing the confused glance from Leon he snatched the toga away.
"Thanks." sighed Emperor Envor as he put it over his white clothes he wore to bed.
"Yes, your highness." Said Alon snapping Emperor Envor back to his previous conversation.
"huh." Was all Emperor Envor said as he stood up and made his way to the door barefoot with his cane in hand.
"Your Highness, where are you going?" Asked Alon in confusion.
Emperor Envor shrugged "The garden I suppose."
Alon glanced at Leon who just stared at Emperor Envor, while Sir Rohin glanced between the two servants for help in understanding why the Prince was not doing his classes.
"Barefoot?" Asked Leon quizzically.
Emperor Envor glanced at his feet which had grown accustomed to the cold of the floor and shrugged "Why not?"
Without another word Emperor Envor opened the doors of his room and stepped out of the room nodding to the guards on either side of the door. Both guards nodded in response only to stare wide eyed as they watched Emperor Envor's bare feet slap the stone floor.
Emperor Envor smiled to himself as he strolled through the halls nodding to servants and nuns as he passed. All of them bowed but seeing his feet they would all stay bowing staring at him as he passed, what a amusing feeling.
He suddenly heard the running shoes against the stone floor and sighed. He did not stop to wait for the three vampires in his room to catch up so by the time they realized he wasn't coming back they raced after him.
They strolled for a long time and before long they came to the royal gardens where Emperor Envor walked out onto the grass. He remembered this green garden years ago and how quickly it burned to ash when Prince Anvar returned to claim the throne. He glanced behind him to see the others had remained on the path walking after him as he made his way across the grass.
Emperor Envor sighed as he looked up to the clear blue sky only to have the light scent of rotten eggs touch his nose. He looked about the area to see a pond, curious he slowly made his way to the pond where to his surprise was a small swarm of Koi fish swimming in the depths of the pond.
Koi fish were not indigenous to the continent of Angmar as such they had to have been specially delivered to the palace from the human realm. He watched the fish swimming happily when one seemed to notice his presence, he sighed half expecting the fish to scatter but much to his surprise the fish swam their way to the edge of the pond.
How odd. Thought Emperor Envor as he watched the fish with interest. Animals from the human realm are naturally repulsed by the smell of vampire, as such animals had a tendency to avoid the race as a whole.
Emperor Envor cocked his head as he whispered "Who feeds the fish?"
Emperor Envor almost jumped out of his skin as Alon's voice suddenly came from next to him "A servant I think."
"Huh then why do they come to me?" He said louder this time and he glanced at Alon.
"I don't know." Said Alon. Emperor Envor could almost feel the smirk upon his lips. How courageous of Alon to walk upon the grass.
"Well that's odd." Emperor Envor went to lean down towards a small little red and white fish when suddenly Alon cleared his throat.
"Lord Draco ordered you to not feed the fish but said you could kill them if you wanted." said Alon as he looked around the garden for any servants prying eyes.
Emperor Envor shrugged disinterested as he stood up when a large white fish slowly made its way to the edge of the pond. It was larger than the others but it carefully made its way between the fish till it was before his feet. He smiled as he crouched down and quickly grabbed the white fish.
It thrashed under the water scattering the other fish into the depths of the pond. Emperor Envor smirked as he jerked it out of the water to see it gasping for air even though it was surrounded by it, he cocked his head as he looked into its blue eyes.
But as he stared into those blue eyes his smile slowly fell from his face. Those innocent eyes held fear and betrayal as they looked at him and suddenly he felt his heart ache. He sighed and slowly put it back in the water to which it quickly went into the depths of the pond.
Why would he pity a fish? wandered Emperor Envor as he saw the white fish looking at him from the depths of the pond.
"I see the puppet is alive." Emperor Envor's heart jumped as he heard the voice. Could it be?
Emperor Envor slowly turned his gaze from the pond to the owner of the voice and he choked as he said "Brother"
There standing arrogantly on the path watching him with those brown eyes as the sun beat down upon them. Emperor Envor had not even entertained the thought of Dorian being alive, but now that Dorian was before him he wished he had.
The whole garden was silent as they heard Emperor Envor choke on the word Brother.
Dorian took a step back in surprise when suddenly a very familiar voice came from Dorian's direction "Brother? Shouldn't that title be given to me?"
Emperor Envor felt lethargic as he looked at the face of a person he had only seen in his reflection. It was Prince Evero or to be exact his younger self.
Emperor Envor felt his knees buckle a little as he looked into those red eyes, those were his. That arrogance was his. This weakling of a corpse he had possessed was nothing compared to the strong presence of his past self.
He was no longer Emperor Envor, and he was no longer Prince Evero. He was the puppet Prince, a weakling and coward.
"Besides… why would I want to be your brother? You already killed your other brother." Growled Dorian.
Emperor Envor looked away from himself to Dorian to see the rage in those eyes, and his heart cracked. He knew that Dorian didn't mean Prince Anvar he had killed to get revenge, but even though he knew that he felt guilty before his greatest friend.
"But you are my brother…" whispered Emperor Envor and Dorian's eyes went wide.
"Let's get out of here." scoffed Dorian who turned and walked past the trio of vampires who had remained silent.
"Take the puppet back it seems he hasn't regained his rationality." Prince Evero smirked as he said this to Alon before he followed Dorian, leaving the four vampires alone in the royal garden again.
Since the moment Emperor Envor had woken he had still considered himself Emperor, but now that he just watched himself walk by he had to accept it. He was no longer an Emperor, and he was no longer Prince Evero, he was the puppet Prince. This was his life now, and he would have to once again watch as his dearest friend and brother die.
Emperor Envor crumpled to the ground as the tears streamed down his cheeks and he began to weep. He wanted to go back, he wanted to be himself. Just so that he could once more see the brotherly love in Dorian's eyes, as they teased one another over a glass of whiskey.
Suddenly he felt a pat on his shoulder and he looked up to see Alon and Leon stand beside him, they wore concerned faces as they looked at him but they did not ask him questions. They simply sat on the ground next to him patting him on the back like you would a small child who scraped their knee.
He glanced up to see Sir Rohin was the only one who remained the path as he watched him weep. However even though he saw the concern in the two vampires patting his back he knew they weren't for him. They were for his brother, he was the one who belonged in this body not Emperor Envor.
He was truly alone.
Emperor Envor slowly got to his feet and made his way to the path where he followed it around till he was out of the garden.
"Are you not staying in the garden Prince Hagar?" Asked Leon sympathetically.
Emperor Envor glanced back at the garden through the arches and shook his head "I'll be returning to my room."
"Your teachers will be there soon, your highness." Said Alon.
Prince Hagar turned away from the arches and slowly made his way back to his room "No. I won't be doing any lessons today."
Leon gasped and Alon quickly shook his head "No your highness! You can't otherwise Lord Draco will punish you."
Emperor Envor stopped just before his bedroom doors "Who cares?"
Leon's jaw dropped and Alon's eyes went wide "We do!"
Emperor Envor scoffed "No you don't, otherwise you would have tried to stop him from punishing your master before."
Alon's face went pale and Leon's shoulders dropped but Prince Hagar didn't turn back to apologize all he said was "Get out of my sight."
Leon's eyes began to water but he turned and stormed off followed by Alon, who glanced back over his shoulder as he walked away.
Emperor Envor sighed as he growled "Why are you still here?"
Sir Rohin who had remained silent since the garden had remained even after the others had left. Sir Rohin said simply five words that made Emperor Envor's heart clench "Where you go I go."
Emperor Envor scoffed "The loyal dog follows the master's puppet."
Sir Rohin sighed "I will tell no one to disturb you, your highness."
Emperor Envor looked away from his doors to Sir Rohin to see the vampire had placed his fist to his chest, and Prince Hagar nodded. That was true loyal knight, if only he did not serve Lord Draco.
Emperor Envor turned away as he went through the door's and closed them behind him, but not before he saw Sir Rohin stand with his fists clenched behind his back before the double doors.
Emperor Envor slowly walked to the windows that had been opened and closed them enclosing his room in darkness. He sighed and felt his way to the bed where once he found it he flopped upon it.
Just like the darkness consumed the room, he was once more consumed by grief and fell asleep.
Emperor Envor opened his eyes to see blood stained stone pillars lined a throne room he had seen many times before. This was his throne room and as he looked where his arms rested he saw he was sitting upon his tall backed white stone throne. He wasn't in control of his body as his legs parted allowing him to place the tip of his blood drenched sword on the blood covered floor.
He smiled as he looked down upon a white blond vampire with gleaming red eyes. The vampire smirked as he looked up at Emperor Envor.
"Have you come to kill me with your own blade, Prince Anvar?" mocked Emperor Envor.
Emperor Envor felt his heart grip as he looked down upon the vampires before him. This was all too familiar, and he knew why. He had witnessed this scenario every time his eyes closed two years before his demise.
Prince Anvar's red eyes gleamed as he brandished his sword and said "How else should a traitor die, Evero?"
Emperor Envor watched as Prince Anvar glanced at one of the rebel armies vampire who happened to survive the butchery Emperor Envor had dealt. Prince Anvar looked away disinterested and Emperor Envor sighed. If only those loyal to this vampire had seen that whether a vampire wore red and silver attire or black attire, it was a sacrifice Prince Anvar was willing to make without an ounce of regret.
Emperor Envor growled "Its Emperor Envor to you, Prince Anvar."
Prince Anvar smiled "Not to me Prince Evero. You'll always be my traitorous younger brother, as I am the one named Emperor by father."
"You were supposed to be dead Prince Anvar." Growled Emperor Envor.
Prince Anvar laughed before his red eyes narrowed "Yes.. that was your intention ten years ago."
Emperor Envor sighed "It was the puppet that planned your death. Not me."
Prince Anvar smiled "Of course it was. However it's your word against his and to be quite frank, I would not care believe either."
"What?" Asked Emperor Envor who choked back a gasp as he tried to stop the shock of pain he was suffering from his multiple wounds across his body. He could never show the enemy before him he was wounded.
The vampire standing upon the white stone floor before him smiled "Because in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter. I am standing here due to all my hard work for the last ten years and I intend to take back what is rightfully mine and deliver a vengeance upon you."
The double doors opened and a brown haired vampire was dragged by two vampires within black attire into the throne room, leaving a trail of blood where the limp vampire's black boots dragged upon the ground. The two vampires dropped the brown haired next to Prince Anvar before standing a few paces behind him.
Emperor Envor grew stiff as he looked at the heap of a vampire who slowly came to his knees smiling "Your Majesty"
Emperor Envor looked down at the vampire and nodded "General Dorian"
Dorian smiled charmingly as blood soaked his brown hair and his soldier's tunic "Told you I would see you after all this."
Emperor Envor looked past General Dorian making the general look over his shoulder at Prince Anvar "Long time no see, Prince Anvar."
Prince Anvar cheekily smiled "Hello Dorian, I see you haven't changed your sarcastic nature in the last ten years."
"Why would I?" Asked Dorian curiously when Emperor Envor cut between the two as he growled "What is it you want brother?"
Prince Anvar smiled as he held up his hand as a fist and flicked his pointer finger out "Well for one I would like you get out of my chair." He pointed at Emperor Envor with the same hand before flicking out another finger "Second I would-"
"Your chair?" Interrupted Dorian sarcastically.
Prince Anvar kept his cheeky smile planted upon his face as he said "Well I am now Emperor Anvar, General Dorian."
Dorian chuckled "What? You? I don't see you sitting on that god forsaken throne."
"Fair point, old friend" Emperor Envor smiled at Dorian before he turned his cold gaze upon Prince Anvar "I am still alive and kicking, so it's still my throne."
Prince Anvar shrugged "It will be mine regardless if it is now or in a moment. We all know that one of us is going to meet our maker and it's not going to be me."
"Then why have you brought Dorian?" Asked Emperor Envor as he cocked his head.
"I thought it would be a great start to my reign if I allowed the two traitors of this empire to die before the people." Prince Anvar smiled and General Dorian scoffed.
"Gee thanks."
Prince Anvar turned his toothy grin at General Dorian "You're more than welcome."
Emperor Envor's eyes narrowed as said "We both know Draskar calls to the traitor of this Empire and it is not me. For I am their Emperor."
Dorian looked over his shoulder smiling at Prince Anvar "I'm dying anyways, so your threat of public execution doesn't shatter my resolve that Envor is my Emperor."
Emperor Envor looked down at Dorian touched by his old friend's resolve when Dorian began to cough dryly into his hand. Emperor Envor tried hard not to cry out as his heart clenched watching the blood splatter upon his friend's hand as he coughed.
Dorian's coughing finally subside when Prince Anvar shrugged "It's not a loss on my part if you die Dorian, now or later. After all your death is nothing more than an appeasement for the Wolves within my army."
Dorian laughed "All you royals are the same. Whether is be a tool, object or a soul you see it only in its usefulness to you. Even in death I am being used."
"That's funny coming from you Dorian. You butchered the Somar packs in order to let my covetous brother sit on my throne." Prince Anvar smirked.
Emperor Envor spun his sword on its blade tip for a moment before he stopped his sword spinning. He closed his eyes as he painfully sighed "I ordered it. Do you blame the soldiers of an army for following orders of their commander?"
Prince Anvar's smirk slowly turned into a grimace "Have I ever?"
"Yes you have, in fact you are doing that very thing now." Emperor Envor saw Dorian shiver as the blood loss took ahold of him.
Prince Anvar cocked his head as he said "How so?"
"You plan to kill Dorian because he followed my orders." Stated Emperor Envor.
Prince Anvar cackled "Oh no. That's not why I am going to kill him. I am going to kill him because he is the only thing you have left in this world."
The silence within the room settled upon the three vampires when Dorian said "My life is not even worth half that throne in Emperor Envor's heart."
The silence once again settled upon the room when Dorian slowly turned to Emperor Envor who was looking only upon Prince Anvar who was smiling as he asked "Well brother? What is his life worth?"
Emperor Envor grimaced as a shock of pain rippled through his ribs into his spine as he remembered Dorian's words years ago "Is it worth it though?"
Emperor Envor looked about the corpses surrounding him to see his people laid next to those who followed his brother, and he began to wonder if the seat he sat upon was worth the butchery. He looked into Dorian's eyes to see the sadness within them as he said "It's worth nothing compared to this throne."
Dorian's eyes filled with tears as he smiled at Prince Anvar "See?"
Prince Anvar smiled "Oh brother you cannot fool me. I have seen your bond with Dorian, and to say you are friends would do no justice to describe your relationship."
Emperor Envor smiled "Oh? How would you know of such a bond when you have never taken notice to me when we lived under this very roof?"
Prince Anvar smile never faded as he unsheathed his broad sword "Because he was the brother I could never be."
Emperor Envor bolted from the stone throne as Prince Anvar plunged his bade in the back of Dorian just between the spine and shoulder blade into his left lung. Dorian spat blood as the sword was jerked out of his back coating Emperor Envor just as he fell before him.
"Dorian!" Cried Emperor Envor as he lifted General Dorian into his lap to hold him close to his chest.
Prince Anvar grabbed the vine like crown from Emperor Envor's head as he silently walked to the throne and stood before it. The two vampire soldiers remained behind Dorian and Emperor Envor as they watched Prince Anvar in awe.
Emperor Envor watched as blood erupted from Dorian's mouth and nose while he choked on each breath he took, the tears streamed from Dorian's brown eyes when suddenly he stopped choking upon his own blood. Emperor Envor's tears never ceased as he looked into his friend's sightless eyes, and he held Dorian close his him as he closed his eyes.
Emperor Envor opened his eyes again only to see he was no longer kneeling on the stone floor, but laying upon the black bed. He was still Prince Hagar and he was still alone. He laid his arm over his eyes and sighed.
Even after seeing that event so many times he still felt the guilt for not being able to protect Dorian from his brother's blade. Maybe if he had been faster he could have stopped the blade from going into Dorian's back, maybe if Dorian had not remained at his side he would not have died.
Maybe if I had just- he suddenly sat up. Wait I could save Dorian! I could save Dorian far long before the events take place!
Emperor Envor felt a pang of pain in his heart as he knew Dorian would never want to accept his help as he was the puppet Prince Dorian hated. But that would be alright, as long as Dorian was able to live.
Prince Hagar smiled to himself as he whispered "I will save you my brother."