Meetings and Reunion
Vorador's Mansion
5: 35 A.M. Arithanid Time
She cried out in her sleep suddenly as she felt hands- no, claws- tending to her wounds. Something was applied to them, and then wrapped in something soft, all the while being gentle with her. Never had she felt such a gentle touch in years; always, she had been carelessly thrown about as though she was a ragdoll, smacked, tortured, and brutalized with such hate that she thought she would die. But each time she thought that each moment was to be her inevitable doom, her brother would always bring her back to safety, wrapping her in his arms and telling her that the nightmare was over.
But just as soon as it ended, it would start again. There was never a moment that she was given peace; there was always a foe that wanted to see her dead more than anything. There was danger at every turn, fights that often resorted in her killing, and killing that made her look like the evil one. And the more she killed, the more she became the people that she had sought to wipe out; the Sarafan.
However, there was something different about this touch. It made her feel at peace, safe, and well taken care of. There was a strange sort of warmth in the touches she received. Whoever was helping her certainly wasn't human, nor were they an Arithanid. She struggled to open her eyes, trying to sit up, trying to speak, but her throat felt as though it had swollen shut and only soft moans escaped her lips. Gentle but firm hands were placed on her shoulders, forcing to her to lay back down before a soft breath whispered into her ear.
'You are safe, child. You are much too weak to move about right now, but in time, you will be healed. Now rest," a deep voice ordered softly. She obeyed without question and felt herself drift back to a merciful sleep, visions of her mother flooding into her memory.
~*~*~*~
The faint light of candles woke Julie much later, and sighing quietly, she opened her eyes, taking in her new surroundings. She could feel something soft beneath her, a warm blanket covering her. Above her was a silk canopy, making her think of her bed at home. But when she glanced about at the lavish decorations about her, she knew that she wasn't at home.
Red and gold seemed to be the colors of choice about the room as every piece of furniture and tapestry seemed to have some sort of style in those colors. A large elaborate rug lay on the floor and an even larger fireplace was situated a few feet away from the bed, the fire crackling happily while providing its gentle warmth.
'Where… am I?" she wondered aloud, sitting up with great difficulty against the large but soft pillows. The movement of something beside her caught her eyes, and slowly she turned her head. And that was when she saw him, for the first time.
He was like no one that she had ever seen before; skin a dark green with eyes that burned gold, gold as her mother's finest jewels. His ears, though strange, made him look even more interesting, his clothing marking him as a noble of some sorts. There was a kind look in his eyes, but he remained silent as he looked at her.
'You're awake. I was beginning to think that you were never going to wake up," he finally said in a deep but gentle voice. She raised a hand to her head, feeling that it was slightly hurting.
'Where am I? I don't remember anything." she inquired, seeing that her arms were bandaged up, as was her abdomen and shoulders. He nodded in understanding.
'It's alright, child. There is nothing to fear. You are in my mansion deep in the swamps. I found you not far away from here almost near death. You are very fortunate to have not been found by the Sarafan." he explained.
'Mansion? Swamps? How…I thought this was only a forest! I had no idea there was a swamp here." she exclaimed, looking about her once more before turning her attention back to her host. 'Then, if you don't mind me asking, who are you? You're not human, clearly, nor are you an Arithanid. So that makes you a..." she continued. He chuckled quietly, looking into her dark eyes.
'I am a vampire, yes. But you have nothing to worry about, I don't bite. Not unless you want me too." he replied. She couldn't help but notice that his fangs were longer than any other vampire's she had seen. She looked down for a moment, taking in everything.
'So tell me, what is your name? Surely a lovely girl such as yourself has a fitting name to suit you." he continued on. She couldn't help but let a wave of frustration cover her; clearly this vampire thought that he was going to woo her somehow. Keep on dreaming, she thought to herself.
'I'll reveal mine if you reveal yours," she replied, looking at him without a trace of feeling. The vampire let a hearty laugh escape him.
'You have a fearless spirit behind your exterior, young lady. I admire that. But I will tell you my name. I am Vorador," he answered. The girl stared at him for a long time, not sure whether to stay, or kill him where he sat.
'I've heard of you before. You’re the one that killed Malek after learning that your sire had been murdered."
'Ah, I see that I'm known even in your world."
'My world? Are you insisting that I'm-"
'No, dear girl, I'm not calling you an outsider. I consider you more of a visitor. But how is it that an Arithanid like you came to be in Nosgoth?" Vorador said soothingly, remaining calm and composed. Once more, the girl's eyes started to shine, and he couldn't help but note that she was even more beautiful when her eyes were filled with light.
'I hardly think that's any of your business," she replied coldly, looking away. Vorador nodded, not pressing her any further.
'Very well then. But you've yet to reveal your name to me." he started once more. The girl glanced to him once more.
'Oh? Haven't I?" Her voice caused a stirring in his loins, but Vorador shook it off as though it were nothing.
'That was your end of the deal. If I told you my name, you'd tell me yours."
'Who said it was a deal?"
'Well, what is your name?" He pressed on. Just as the girl was about to answer, the door to the room opened.
'Her name is Julie Dashara," Jenna answered, striding into the room and stopping just at the foot of the bed. Vorador couldn't help but let out a low growl at Jenna. The girl that had been addressed as Julie looked at Jenna with a look of silent acknowledgment crossing her face.
'Your reputation precedes you even in Nosgoth, old friend." Jenna began with a smile. Julie nodded, casting her eyes down for a moment.
'It has been a long time, Jenna," she replied after a few minutes. Julie's voice worried Jenna, and she wondered what had made her change so.
'You're looking well," Jenna began, trying to avoid asking what was wrong. 'You've changed since we last spoke to one another." Julie glanced up at her, no feeling showing on her pale face.
'Yes, I know," she replied. 'Everyone tells me that," she couldn't help but add. Jenna gulped and looked down, feeling a bit nervous in Julie's presence.
'So…I see that you have met Vorador." she said, trying to keep the conversation going. Julie nodded, then looked back to the much older vampire beside her before glancing back to Jenna.
'I have," she replied. Jenna nodded, and noted that Julie had many bandages on her.
'Julie? Are you ok?" she asked, rushing to her friend's side.
'I'm fine," she replied, looking away as Jenna looked at each tightly bandaged wound.
'What happened? How did you come about getting so many injuries?" Jenna asked, seeing that Vorador behind her was shaking his head at her, almost as though he thought that her being worried was unnatural. Julie sighed and jerked away quickly.
'It was the Sarafan, Jenna. I was going to look for the Sarafan Lord…but I was found out before I could get to him. Now would you stop touching me? I'm alright." she hissed. Jenna backed off right then, looking down.
'I'm sorry, Julie. I didn't know-"
'Just forget about it, Jenna. It's not important." Julie snapped, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Jenna looked to Vorador, almost to ask what was wrong. But he only held up his hand to silence her.
'But there is something that you must know about the Sarafan Lord, my dear." he started.
'Don't call me that. I have a name and I would appreciate it if you called me by it." Julie said angrily. Vorador was silent for a moment, then continued.
'Alright, Julie. I'm afraid that you are a little late in claiming the Sarafan Lord's death." he started, doing his best to keep from making her angry once more. Julie stared at him, almost as though she was angry once more.
'How so?" she asked coldly. Vorador looked to Jenna, wanting her to finish. Jenna took a long, deep breath and looked to Julie once more.
'The Sarafan Lord was killed many years ago in the Hylden City. I'm afraid, my friend, that someone beat you to him." she replied tentatively. Julie's eyes grew slightly wide right then, not daring to believe her.
'What?" she started quietly. Vorador nodded.
'It is true, Julie. I was present at the time that he was killed. Another vampire, who's hate for him rivals yours, was responsible for the deed."
'Hate that rivals mine? Ha! You have no idea what that man took from me! He killed my mother and tried to kill me! Where is this vampire that took my prey from me? I'll take my revenge out on him for the deed!" Julie yelled, standing up quickly. Jenna quickly backed off as Julie glared at both of them before storming out of the room, grabbing her guns on her way out.
Jenna looked at Vorador, almost afraid to speak. Vorador had not moved nor had he been startled by Julie's outburst. They silently agreed with each other on one thing; Julie's hate for the Sarafan Lord was greater than his murderer, and she would stop at nothing to get her revenge.
'Now you see," Jenna started, crossing her arms in front of her as she leaned against one of the bedposts. 'Now you see what I meant when I said she had a vengeance that has no depth." Vorador nodded in agreement.
'Yes, I see that now. But tell me Jenna, does she know that Kain is responsible for the fall of the Sarafan Lord?" he inquired, standing and walking slowly out of the room with Jenna beside him.
'That I do not know. Something tells me that there is only one place that she'll go to get her answers though." Jenna replied, looking down at the floor for a moment as they walked through the halls.
'Where is that, pray tell?"
'Her brother, Mesalx. He's the one that she always goes to for information. But knowing Julie, she won't go back to the Arithanid Realm, not until she's accomplished what she's set her mind on."
'So until she's gone, Kain will be have to deal with not only her, but her brother as well?"
'Not necessarily. Mesalx and Julie share one thing in common; they both fight alone. Neither of them work well together due to their different approaches to danger." Jenna explained. Vorador nodded in understanding.
'Hmm…she's quite the complex character, is she not?" he asked. Jenna let out a small laugh.
'You have no idea."
~*~*~*~
Even though Julie had never been in the mansion before, she had no problem getting out. She merely looked for the largest staircase in the mansion and followed it down to the front door. Being of royal birth taught her that all large staircases led to an entrance, even if it was hard to find out where it was.
'Thank God I'm away from there," she began, finding her way easily though the swamps towards the place where she had entered the Human Realm. She liked it because it was like a little hideaway tucked in the far corner of the swamp; a thick mass of roots from a tall tree. To get into it, one had to crawl through small hole that even the smallest of men could not squeeze through. Julie, however, could get in quite easily, even though it was a bit painful with her wounds.
She breathed in the evening glories that had been growing away from the surface, filling the underground with a pleasant smell. Earlier that day, Julie had set up a 'control center' so that she could fill in her brother on how she was doing. Her computer was set up on a root that stretched out like a table, another root being her chair. Books, a headset, and a blanket were also in her hideaway. Picking up the headset, Julie situated it over her head and touched the touchpad on her laptop to wake it up. Once the login screen popped up, she quickly typed in her password.
No sooner had she settled herself on the 'chair', a screen popped up. Julie looked at it with mild surprise, seeing her brother's beautiful face staring back at her. His long black hair was pulled out of his deathly pale face, his eyes black as night. She couldn't help but notice that he didn't have a shirt on.
'Julie, there you are. I was beginning to think that you weren't going to check in." he began in his low monotone voice. She smiled slightly, lowering her head slowly.
'Nice to see you too, Mesalx," Julie began, rolling her eyes. Mesalx glared at her for a moment, then continued.
'I'm sorry, my sister. I was worried about you. You know that I don't like the idea of you being in the Human Realm... without me." he added.
'My apologies, brother," she began, wrapping herself in the blanket. 'Something came up and…I wasn't able to get back to you sooner."
'Oh?" he began, resting his chin on his right hand. 'What was it?" Julie thought for a moment, not sure how to describe her encounter with not one but two vampires.
'Well, let's just say that I found out something that I didn't quite see coming. It would appear that the Sarafan Lord has already been killed, and not by my hands."
'Really now. And who was it that told you this?"
'Jenna, a vampire that I met while in the-"
'You mean that purple wolf? That vampire that was supposed to be in the Shadow Realm as I had ordered?"
'Yes, but anyways-"
'Stay away from her Julie." Mesalx started with a serious look on his face. 'You know that she can't be trusted." Julie started to say something back, but she bit her tongue in silence.
'I know. But there is something that I need your help on." she finally said. Mesalx looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
'Anything for you, my dearest sister. What is it that you desire?" he asked in return, his eyes filling with lust. Julie glared at him, her eyes turning red slightly.
'I do wish that you would stop that," she murmured, turning away from the computer.
'Is it because you are getting aroused by your brother's voice? Or perhaps my appearance causes a stirring in you?" He asked in a husky voice, causing a tremor to go through Julie.
'Mesalx…" she started warningly. Mesalx chuckled darkly.
'Come now, sister. You can't tell me that you don't think of me when you are alone, that you don't think of being in my arms as my fangs graze your skin. Ha, I bet you even think about me suckling softly on your neck, watching as you writhe in absolute pleasure."
'Mesalx, stop it! Just stop! Please!" Julie cried out, his voice making her uncomfortably moist between her legs, and Julie could not help but touch herself slightly as he said this to her. A satisfied smirk crossed Mesalx' face as he saw his sister shuddering, saw that she was breathing heavily.
'It doesn't look like you want me to," Mesalx noted. 'Turn around, my lovely Julie. Let your King see what it is that you are doing." Julie glanced over her shoulder, knowing full and well what her brother wanted, and she was more than determined to put him in his place as she had many times before.
'Listen, now is not the time for you to have me fulfilling your carnal pleasures Mesalx! Just do this one thing for me and let our conversation be done!" Julie hissed in anger, turning and facing the computer once more. Mesalx watched her for a moment and quickly decided to back off on his longing for his sister.
'Very well. What is it now, Julianna?" Mesalx asked coldly, his smirk disappearing into a look of absolute distaste.
'I need you to do some digging and see what you can find on a 'Hylden City'. That's where the Sarafan Lord was apparently slain." she inquired, hoping that her brother would do so without asking anything more.
'Now Julie, you know that I don't do these things without being... compensated. You'll have to-"
'How about I not come back at all? You seem to hate it when I don't come back after a certain amount of time." Julie snapped, but then adding more calmly. 'Mesalx, this is important to me. I need answers now before I lose the chance to redeem my mother." Mesalx was silent for a long time before he finally sighed.
'I'll pull a few strings and see what I come up with. In the meantime, keep checking in with me; I lost you once, I won't lose you again. And Julie," he replied, leaning forward slightly. She looked at him straight in the eyes, hoping that Mesalx wasn't scheming something. 'Don't think that I won't know what you're doing when I'm not around. We share a strong blood bond, and as such, I will always know what you are doing." Julie stared hard at him before she nodded and clicked out of the window. She never did like conversing with Mesalx a lot. Julie sighed and closed her eyes as she rested her head against the dirt wall of her sanctuary before something from the outside caught her attention. Taking out one of her guns, Julie cautiously walked towards the hole, taking care to stay out of sight. Looking up, she could see something blue move past her.
'What the hell?" she murmured quietly, and with ease, pulled herself up through the hole, immediately taking cover behind the tree. Peering around the corner, she could see what it was that had passed by her. Whatever it was, it was not human, vampire, or an Arithanid. It was more skeletal than anything, a bright blue figure with claws and cloven feet much like the first vampire. This one, however, had short black hair and a brown drape with strange markings thrown around the lower half of his face. What used to be wings hung from his back, making Julie think that this was something that was not of the Human or the Arithanid world.
'Is that…a demon?" she wondered, drawing out her other gun. Julie distrusted this creature's origins, and she wasn't about to be caught off guard by whatever it was. Slowly, she crept out of her hiding place and aimed both guns at the blue figure.
'You, turn around." she called, flipping the safety switches off her guns. Slowly, the creature turned to look at her, his eyes a bright white. Her own eyes crinkled a bit, staring him down carefully. 'Who are you?" she demanded.
'Why?" the creature asked in a mild voice, the voice sounding almost like that of a man's. He sounded so familiar yet Julie couldn't place where she had heard him before.
'Because I don't trust strangers. And strangers rarely last long in my presence." she replied. The creature said nothing to her as he walked a few steps closer, apparently interested in her. And that's the last thing I need, she thought. I don’t want some…alien following me around wanting to be with me.
'Well, it seems that we have something in common then, human. Now what brings you hear in this forest?" he asked, almost kindly.
'What I'm here for is my business. If you find me ignorant, then I'm afraid that's your problem. I'm not paid to be a sweetheart." she couldn't help but snap. The creature stared at her, his brow suddenly furrowing.
'I see, you're one of the Sarafan, are you?"
'Absolutely not! Why would an Arithanid like me want to fight alongside humans anyways?!" she hissed, angry that this creature would dare to call her a Sarafan. They stared at one another until a large purple wolf leapt between them, growling at the blue creature in front of Julie.
'You shall not harm her, demon!" Jenna's voice rang out, catching Julie by surprise. The creature stared at her, almost as though he knew her from somewhere.
'Jenna? Could it…actually be you?" he inquired, walking a little ways closer to her. Jenna growled in warning, her powerful jaws snapping at him when the creature got too close.
'Keep away! You've no business with me or the girl! Now go!" she ordered. The creature stared at her for a long time, wondering if she actually meant it.
'You have forgotten me…? Jenna…don't you recognize my voice? It is I…Raziel. You remember me don't you?" Jenna growled once more.
'How dare you profane his name in front of me! You are not Raziel! You are a demon! Now leave this swamp! I won't tell you a third time!" she barked. The demon that had called himself Raziel backed away from Jenna, apparently shocked at what she had said.
'Very well…but this won't be the last that we see of each other." he replied, rushing away into the thick trees. Jenna watched him leave before turning back to Julie, her tail wagging happily.
'I was wondering where you ran off to," she began, shifting back into a vampire. 'I thought for a moment that you had left for the Sarafan Stronghold again." Julie said nothing as she reholstered her guns, leaning against a tree for support.
'I thought about it, yes," she began, breathing heavily. 'But then that… thing showed up and I couldn't… go…" she whispered, her voice fading.
'Julie!" Jenna cried, rushing to her friend's side. Julie had passed out right before her, the wounds on her bleeding once more. Jenna examined each and then looked about, hoping that there weren't any other vampires in the area. She had to bite her lower lip to keep herself from attacking Julie. Jenna knew that there was only one way to keep Julie's wounds from getting infected.
Vorador, she whispered, hoping that he was somewhere nearby.
Yes, Jenna? his deep voice replied.
I found Julie. Her wounds are bleeding once more. I need you to retrieve her… I don't know if I can… Jenna tried to explain.
I understand. Wait for me, I shall be there shortly. he answered before cutting off their mind link. Jenna stood and walked away from Julie, trying to hold her bloodlust in. Her lovely violet eyes turn red as Julie's blood filled her nostrils once more. Slowly, she turned and looked at Julie, fangs growing to a frightening length.
'Forgive me, Julie," she started, kneeling beside Julie. 'But I can't… take anymore!" she let out a feral growl as she started to bite Julie before being thrown back violently. Julie was sitting up, water dripping from her hands. Jenna realized that she had been hit with water, and her skin instantly began to burn. Screaming in pain, Jenna shifted into a wolf, glaring at Julie.
'I'll kill you for that!" she roared, leaping at Julie, who had quickly moved out of the way.
'Jenna! Snap out of it!" she ordered, trying to keep the wolf away from her. But Jenna would hear none of it as she tackled Julie to the ground, fangs snapping dangerously close to Julie's neck. She's not herself, Julie thought, holding Jenna by her neck in an attempt to keep her at bay. But with so many injuries already, Julie wasn't in the position to fight. She tried to reach for one of her guns, but Jenna's claws kept swiping at her hands, keeping her in a state of helplessness. Julie would've used her water power once more, but she didn't want to hurt Jenna; she knew it was the bloodlust that controlled her.
Just as Julie thought that she could hold Jenna off no longer, a green wolf charged out of nowhere, tackling Jenna head on while violently slashing her with it's claws. Julie sat up, surprised to see yet another wolf enter the picture. Jenna managed to fight to her feet, growling at her attacker. The green wolf, in return, snapped its jaws threateningly, standing protectively in front of Julie. Jenna looked once more at Julie and made one last attempt to attack before the green wolf jumped up, grabbing her by the throat. Jenna yelped in pain as the wolf's fangs dug deep into her throat, her claws flailing as she tried to rise once more. Julie wanted to help, but another wave of dizziness washed over her as she felt herself passing out once more, falling to the ground just as the green wolf tore out Jenna's throat...
