Tales of magic: grimoire of transmogrification
Interlude
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Opening Arc- "Crow and Quill"
Chapter 13½- "Vampiric Odyssey."
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Blood rained from the crimson skies, each droplet heavy with the weight of the tormented souls and their immense agony and suffering.
He stood within the embrace of the bloody rain, his arms stretched wide as the torrent of trauma poured down on him.
'Yes. Pain. More pain. Pain is the evidence of life. Blood is the essence of life.'
'And life is full of suffering.'
He smiled, basking in the agony of thousands, not only in joy and gladness, but in reverence.
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11th September,1508.
Ancient Castle of Europe,
Pridon.
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In a dark crypt underneath the Castle, where several fallen vampires slept, a ritual of infernal magic had just been undertaken.
"Sire, the ritual has been completed. Lord Dracula has been put to rest." A male demonoid bowed before a Vampire. The demonoid had small horns on his head, and a tail with a pointed end. He also possessed fangs not unlike those of a Vampire, and had a pale red skin. He was dressed in clothes fitting a butler in the 16th century.
"Good work, . You have done well, Iadis. My legacy as the new lord of vampires shall now commence." The muscular vampire replied. He wore a lavish black robe, with golden trims. He also carried a small silver rapier.
"Oh you arrogant newborn. You believe that a mere tiefling's sorcery is capable of withstanding my power?"
"Even If you sent a genuine demon, they would never kill me."
Vincent Vlad Sinclair was gobsmacked.
The 'dead' Vampire broke out of his silver tomb, and flew towards the vampire that ordered his death.
Vincent didn't dodge. Dracula landed inches away from him, and put his hand on Vlad's left shoulder.
"My blood gave you life. Now you return my benevolence with..."
"Death, Dracula. Death. That is all I wish upon you." Vincent interrupted. He appeared to be calm and collected, a feat not many were capable of, when standing in the presence of the god of vampires.
'The imprudence...' Dracula thought.
Dracula was silent, his hands softly touching the other Vampire's shoulder.
Iadis was trembling.
"I have lived for this. The day you die. I have killed for this, and I have bled for this. I will not rest, even if it means I may have to die for this."
"Tell me. For what reason do you defy me?"
"I stand in your presence only because I have proven my worth to you. And I did so, because I wanted you dead. My name is Vincent, not Vlad. The name you gave me, is meaningless to me. All that matters to me, is seeing your end."
"Would you shed tears for me, friend?"
"Tears! What tears? I only met you because I wanted you dead. I was a human warrior - A high Paladin of the Sanctuary of the Light. And I only let you find my bleeding corpse, so you could change me and so I could enter your castle as one of your own."
"But the humans you fought for, you still fight for them?"
"No. I have killed so many of my brethren, that I do not have the right to identify with them. My soul shall be sent to the innermost depths of purgatory where it belongs... But that is a fate we both share, don't we, Lord of Vampires?"
"You still believe in the Creed of Tyr?"
"I believe in Justice for the innocent and Woe to the wicked. And for that belief, for that love the humans had gave me, for the Creed, I shall take your life. Dracula!" Vincent drew and pointed his sword at Dracula's neck, with such speed that it appeared to be done in one single movement.
"You have learnt nothing from me, child. As far as one has power they decide what is right or wrong...The humans you care for so much have gone against their own rules time and time again. A vast majority of them are vile and savage beings who would do anything to sate their unholy hungers. Another portion of them are fakes and liars who are far worse than some demons. Only such a small group of them holds these ideals you cling so tightly to."
"But they exist! Because they exist they have hope! They are just ones among them. Because they are just and innocent they do not deserve the suffering and pain you inflict on them! You abduct thousands and kill them, drinking their blood as if it is some kind of wine. You slaughter them- not for sustenance- but for your amusement alone! Now what difference lies between you and the depraved humans who are crushed under your feet?"
Veins bulged out of Dracula's forehead. He crushed Vincent's shoulder, prompting a scream from him.
"This is the difference! The difference between us and the humans is our strength! Our power sets us apart!"
Vincent gritted his teeth, enduring the pain and pushing his rapier into Dracula's neck. The silver sword connected with Dracula's skin, but did not draw blood. It was only on his skin for a fraction of a second, because the Vampire lord had stepped out of the rapiers way, using his fist to smash the other Vampire across the tomb.
His sword fell off his hand as he flew due to the impact of Dracula's attack. Dracula kicked the sword as he advanced towards Vincent.
"You're slower, Dracula." Vincent managed to say, coughing a mouthful of blood. His internal organs were crushed under his lord's power.
When he got close enough, Dracula jumped forward across the room, landing on Vincent,and pinning him down to the ground. He began to crush his neck with one hand, while keeping him pinned down under the weight of his other arm and legs.
"And you must be weaker still. Human? No. That is impossible."
Dracula release his grip of Vincent neck. The smaller vampire attempted to wriggle away from his master's hold, he was unable to.
"I decided even though my transgressions as an unholy parasite are great, I could have some reduction on Tyr's punishment if I died a human rather than a Vampire. Alas, the new sorcery has not yet brought forth results. I have greatly reduced my Vampiric abilities, but they are still there."
"So you willingly reduce your power, for the love of humanity? Of worthless humanity?"
Vincent kept silent. He was still dauntless.
"You were undeserving of my care, Vincent."
Dracula pierced through the vampire's chest, using only his right hand.
Vincent screamed, as Dracula groped inside his chest, before pulling out his heart.
In the corner, not far from their battle, Iadis screamed.
"Lord Vincent!"
The door to the crypt burst open with a loud dull clang. A squad of Vampire Knights marched in, a female Vampire leading them. She was dressed in a long black dress that hugged her tightly accentuating her figure, wearing with high heels studded with gold and her neck was also adourned with jewelry.
Dracula held Vincent's heart in the palm of his hand, turning his head to look at his wife.
"Let him go, my love."
"For what reason do you interfere with this worm's execution? You know what he was planning, don't you?"
The female sighed. The knights exchanged glances with each other.
"I only recently got wind of his plans. It appears that Claus and Leon speak the truth. Vincent had planned to destroy the entire Castle after he is made the new lord. He would attempt to kill all the vampires using a powerful alchemical weapon known as 'The chalice of the sun'. In the process, he would kill himself."
Vincent couldn't speak. He could only scream in agony.
"Great reason for me to end him, like he so desperately wanted to end me."
"I believe that will not work, my love. The chalice of the sun, will be activated the moment he dies. It is tied to his soul. If you take his life now, you might unknowingly doom the entire Vampire race. Please stay your anger."
Dracula bit his lips with his fangs, drawing out blood. He let the blood drop on Vincent's chest, which started to glow crimson immediately afterwards. The vampire lord got up from his apprentice's body, and turned towards his wife.
"Aurora, I told you not to come out from my chamber, at this time of the night. You have begun to disobey me as well. Listening to the words of That Brute Leon and the jester Claus."
"My love, It is not like that, there are.."
The Vampire lord touched her lips with his hand, stroking her hair with his other hand.
"But Count, there are others here." She blushed.
'Abalone is still young. She was barely eighteen when I took her from her village and into the Castle. It has been only a century since that day. Now she is growing into a fine lady. And she is my beloved queen.'
"Shall we not kiss when my servants are in our presence? Tis my Castle after all. It is our Castle."
He held her close and kissed her lips.
Suddenly though, the Vampire lord's expression changed from that of bliss, to that of pain and shock. A dagger had been pierced through his heart, by none other than his love Aurora.
He let go of her immediately. But the damage was still done.
"You trained me well, my love."
"Who knew the great Lord of Vampires could be killed by the blow of a woman? Indeed the world isn't as it seems." A knight laughed. He was shorter and skinnier than the rest.
"Claus?" Dracula exclaimed. He wasn't standing as tall as he normally did. The 8ft tall vampire lord, was bent down, with his back arching downwards. Blood poured out of his wound. He didn't look disturbed by it.
"Your tyrannical reign has come to an end, oh great Lord Dracula."
Leon mocked. He had pulled off the heavy helmet, veiling his face. He had a bigger build than most Vampires. He was big, and he was muscular, but he was usually insulted for his brazenness.
"In case you have not realised it, my love, there is no 'chalice of the light' anywhere near this Castle. The dagger I used on you, is one blessed by the sacriment of Tyr. It is one of your greatest weaknesses...You see, 'my love', we just so believe that a king with a soul deserves the throne far more than you."
Dracula's face hardened.
"You not only wish to take my Castle and my life but even my woman. Vincent!"
Vincent stood up, with a broad smile across his cheeks.
"You promised me, that I would inherit your Castle. But If Aurora had given birth to your son -which she would soon enough- you would never fulfil your promise."
Vincent paused for a moment, and then continued.
"This Castle never belonged to you, Dracula. It was just one of the other things you pillaged and plundered from the humans you slaughtered. I do not have any grand illusions as to where I stand in Tyr's eyes. But I know now, that the only way to die as a human, is to continue my research using the Castle."
Aurora rolled her eyes as Vincent continued his monologue.
'They are familiar with each other...so I was right.'
"You see, I was researching into the source of your powers, and to do that, I even required human sacrifices. But I did not dismay as I committed atrocity after atrocity. It was necessary to change my soul."
Dracula held his chest, trying to command his blood to go back in. His body betrayed him. To his dismay, even more blood poured out of the wound.
"Where are your ideals now?" He managed to say, his voice trembling. The Ruler of Vampires was trembling.
Dracula fell on the ground, weak. Blood dripped from his open wound, forming a pool of blood. He attempted to get up, but was but was unable to. He was only capable of wriggling around like a worm.
"They were lost forever the moment I became an undying blood-sucking demon."
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