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Post by Lizzie on Apr 2, 2011 22:40:50 GMT -6
Prologue Set in the day's of Knights and honor, King's and Queen's, the land known to all races as Menatira was split in half, its rolling hills, deep forests, prairies, and deserts cut down the middle by a thick wall of tree's and mountain ranges called Arboribus. On one side of Arboribus sat Ludzi, the human nation. On the other sat Set de Sang, the vampire nation. Its small villages and towns scattered as far as the eye could see centered around the kingdom, the population growing thinner as it moved farther away from the castle. In each town, thriving and lively with its race of people, any vampire could look inwardly and see a glimmer of white on the horizon. For those who lived more centrally on the land though, they would be able to see the castle, clearly. It was magnificently built, its walls forged from Lapis, the strongest stone in the land. It was nearly impenetrable. It needed to be. Inside its walls lived the strongest, and most treasured family in the kingdom. The Royals, or as they were known by humans, The Pure Bloods. The king, Konig, had been the last of the pure blood males for centuries, and hope for an heir dwindling. The queen herself had even begun to lose hope, wondering if she was barren. But one hot summer evening the whole vampire race celebrated the birth of two children. After two centuries of waiting and hoping Konig's queen, Regina, became pregnant and brought twins into the world. A little boy and a little girl. Some humans rejoiced as well, others plotted. Deep in the castle, near Konig's chambers, Regina rested in the birthing room, maids and nurses milling about and murmuring joyfully about the two new additions to the royal family. Within minutes Konig stepped hesitantly inside, going straight to Regina the moment he laid eyes on her. A young servant girl that had been tending to Regina watched quietly as the queen stirred and opened her eyes, giving Konig a half smile as she sat up, her sharp little canines flashing as she handed the newborns to their father. Konig, huge for a vampire, held them gingerly and with awe. He was completely taken by them and Regina's happiness seemed endless, the glow about her becoming ever brighter. The servant girl smiled, feeling pride swell in her own chest. She was honored to be in the presence of the Royals, and had worked hard for her position in the castle. Finally the moment ended though when Konigs second in command glided into the room, a worried frown creasing his otherwise smooth features. Konig handed the newborns back to Regina and looked to his second, a frown forming on his own face as he was informed that rebellious humans were attacking Sang's borders. He ordered his second to inform and gather his Blood Knights, then to wait for him in the great hall to receive further orders but as he stepped away from Regina's bed he hesitated. The young queen laughed, the sound clear and as beautiful as the bells that chimed in the streets. She leaned up and Konig bent down to hear her whispered words. The servant girl barely caught them from where she stood gathering laundry. "Go Amor, I will be here when you get back." The King chuckled and leaned down to kiss her tenderly before he swept quickly out of the room. The servant girl wondered idly for a moment about how terrible the attacks from the humans might have been but the problem was far away at the edge of the kingdom. So she didn't bother worrying about it as she hefted the load of clothing she had been about to take out to wash before the king had arrived. Humming quietly to herself she went back to work, throwing herself completely into her task. An hour later..... Screams wrenched the silence, throwing the castle into chaos as a servant ran through the castle, narrowly missing walls as she rounded corners and burst into the great hall. The king, along with his Blood Knights, who had been sitting at a large oak table sprang to their feet as she fell to the floor, shaking and sobbing as she tried to force out words. The men were at her side in an instant. Konig frowned, leaning down to try and catch her words, mangled as they were by her tears and wails. "The queen! The queen and the newborns! Blood everywhere-" a roar left the kings lips as he dissolved, the very ground shaking with his rage as he burst into the birthing room that he had left not too long ago. The sight before him brought the great king to his knees. Lying on the bed, covered in blood lay Regina, holding tightly to her young even in death. The two little bodies in her arms just as cold and lifeless as their mother. ~ ~ ~ "Who could have done such a horrible thing, certainly the guards would have noticed something was amiss....wouldn't they? As a Blood Knight you know more about all of this than us simple soldiers." .... "Caelum? You even here still? Can't go off thinking too hard right now brother, not when rumors are flying around that the Kings sanity is shredded." Caelum blinked and looked at his friend and greatest ally, his little brother Pheral, who also happened to be one of the king's soldiers. He blinked again and shook his head, gripping the parchment in his hand more tightly as he looked down at the scripted words. "No Pheral, every one can make mistakes, it's what makes us...well, nearly human." He said with a tight lipped smile. Pheral nodded, grimacing. He looked down at the paper Caelum still held tightly in his hand. "That's from the King, isn't it." He said, not really asking but Caelum nodded anyway. "Yes, it is. The King has asked that all the Blood Knights assemble for the funeral." Pheral paled and closed his eyes. "So much death, how he managed to survive the loss I'll never know." He said with a shake of his head. Caelum nodded. "The funeral is open to the whole kingdom of Sang and is being held outside the castle. As is custom, the bodies will be burned." Pheral sighed and nodded, clapping Caelum's shoulder. "I'll see you there brother." [All characters join in as whatever you wish, human or vampire, evil or good at the funeral]
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Post by Sasha on Apr 4, 2011 12:58:56 GMT -6
Nightingal walked slowly through the mourning crowd, her long silver hair tied back with a black sash. Seeing as it was a funeral, she'd made sure she looked her best, dressing in her finest (and only) dress, and even spent an hour finding three lovely flowers to lay at the Queen and her children's coffins.
She didn't know much about what happened, only that it was tragic, and left the king in endless grief.
"The queen is a lovely lady, Nightingale. One day, maybe you'll get to see her."
Nightingale doubted that Lidia, the kind old human that took her to live with her and her husband, had meant anything like this. She could hear the quiet voice, like dried leaves, talk quietly lament the passing.
"Such a pity, and right after giving birth. And the king, oh he must be simply broken, the poor thing."
Well, that's what she would have said if she hadn't died the night before the queen had. The nightmare forced its way through her mind and she shuddered, rememebering the fire that took everything she knew from her.
She shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts as she tried to weave her way closer.
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 4, 2011 14:23:41 GMT -6
Storm weaved his way through the crowd, irritated with the bodies that continued to bump into him in their attempt to view the funeral. It never ceased to amaze him at how everybody always turned up to see the gruesome events such as this, but who was he to complain? Wasn't he here for the same purpose. A chance to understand more about what happened here and this group of vampires so different from his own?
He growled with annoyance when another stranger bumped into him, shoving him forward in an attempt to see better. He only wanted to know more, not witness a king's sorrow at the loss of his mate and children. But how was he supposed to do that with everybody surrounding him, pressing in on him until he thought he would never breathe fresh air again. It was difficult to be so close to everybody but he could stand it just a little bit longer if he really tried.
He spied movement to his left and caught sight of a small female watching the events as well. Another vampire. Interesting. Maybe he should make her acquaintance....
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Post by Sasha on Apr 5, 2011 10:26:50 GMT -6
Nightingale flinched as a man pushed pass her to get closer, knocking the flowers from her hands. She picked them up quickly and brushed dirt off the fine petals, then sighed. There was no way she would be able to get close enough to the coffins to offer her gifts right now. She would have to wait until these horrid onlookers had their fill of death.
"Disrespectful," she whispered under her breath. This was a funeral, not a freakshow for them to point and gawk at.
Sighing again, she turned and walked, only to bump into another man, though he didn't seem to be moving like the others, so this was her fault.
"Please excuse me," she said quietly, not looking up at him, but waited for him to accept her apology and move on. It was only good manners.
(that's storm mama.)
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 5, 2011 15:34:23 GMT -6
Storm arched an eyebrow at the smaller female. Flowers for the dead, he thought. How odd. He met her eyes and tilted the corners of his lips into a semblance of a smile. It surely wouldn't make his face break if he attempted manners. "There is nothing to forgive," he said. "With this crowd pushing and shoving to view what should be a respectful moment, it is difficult not to bump into somebody. I am Storm Santaria, a vampire not unlike yourself. And you would be?"
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Post by Lizzie on Apr 5, 2011 18:12:19 GMT -6
Caelum stared on in disgust as he watched the hordes of people, human and vampire alike, shove their way closer. He had expected at least some form of self control from these people. A man had just lost his mate and children, and not just any man. Their King. It was wrong in every way. His gray eyes were bleak as he ran his left hand through his wavy black hair, letting the pieces fall back and settle on his shoulders again as he grimaced, gritting his teeth. Today the sun shone brightly, birds chirped and a cool wind wound its way through the streets. This should never have happened on such a perfect day, on any day for that matter.
Caelum, along with the rest of the Blood Knights, stood on a raised platform, the King ahead of them and facing the crowd. In front of the King his mate and children were laid out, their bodies wrapped in the finest silk. Caelum swallowed, almost losing his grip and letting the torch in his right hand fall to the ground. He looked left and right at his brothers, all holding similar torches, and then closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. For someone hardened from war he was having an amazingly hard time dealing with these deaths. Everyone had been so happy when the news that Regina was pregnant got out and now everything had gone so horribly wrong. He and Regina had been best friends as children for crissake! Things weren't supposed to end this way for her, or her two children.....
The King stepped back and made a movement with his hand, snapping Caelum out of his thoughts as he and his blood brothers stepped forward with their torches. Caelum cleared his throat when the King's gaze flickered to him but before he could speak the words died away at the sight of the King's lifeless eyes. Once a clear blue, Konigs eyes were now misty and unfocused. He looked away and into the crowd, ashamed that he couldn't look his King in the eye. His gaze slid over the crowd, finding his brother near the front. So many of the people that were there were talking and shoving, trying to get a better look. It made him curl his lip in anger, baring his teeth, he couldn't force the anger to slid away so he used it to make his voice boom over the din of the crowd.
"Silence!"
For a moment it looked like he might have to yell again but then the crowd's chatter lulled and slowly quieted. He glanced around, his gaze filled with fire. "Those of you with gifts," he said, no longer having to yell as his voice carried over the courtyard, "come forward now to place them. The rest of you let them through. There is no reason for unwanton crowding." He said, bitting back all the other comments he wanted to throw out there as well."
He stepped back again and the King gave the sublest nod of approval.
~ ~ ~
Leeta sucked in a breath as a man's elbow jabbed into her ribs. She blew the breath out and hissed at him, making him jump. She glared at the human as she walked past, holding her prized possession against her breast. Her thick brown curls bounced and shook in the wind, blowing tendrils across her face and into her purple eyes. She frowned and blew upwards to get them out of the way again as she pushed her way through the crowd. It was hard not to roll her eyes or bare her fangs at the way the people around her seemed excited about was going on. Her brother was a Blood Knight, she knew and felt the sorrow, shared it with the people up on that platform.
When Caelum, her brother's best friend, roared to be heard over the chatter she stilled and looked up to see that the Blood Knights had all stepped forward, the flames on their torches flickering in the wind. She felt an ache at the sight of him. The man who broke her heart in so many ways. He looked horrible, his face drawn in tight lines, deep creases etched into his face that made him look so much older and weary. This trajedy was hard on all of them.
When he gestured for people with gifts to come forward she weaved through the crowd, holding her box ever tighter. In front of the platform there was a raised step, a place for people with gifts to stand so they could place their items more easily on the bodies. Since Leeta was shorter than most this was greatly appreciated.
As she stepped up onto the raised step though with the other gift bearers her unusual eyes misted over and she quickly tried to wipe away the tears that were suddenly falling down her cheeks. Against her will images of Regina began to form. She hadn't known the woman too well, but she could remember spending an afternoon or two with her, hearing her laugh. The memories, she knew, would haunt her for years to come.
Leeta sniffed and opened the box, pulling out a beautifully carved statue of Regina that she had done almost a year ago and never had the courage to give to the queen. Now she never would.
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 5, 2011 18:45:05 GMT -6
Storm lifted his eyes to the man standing on the platform. Like his race of vampires, the bodies were nestled on the funeral pyres waiting to burn. He wished he had a gift to honor the dead, but he had been unprepared for such a thing.
Then he felt the dagger at his side. It was one of his most prized possessions, given to him by his blood brother, Korvin. Pulling it from its sheath, he stared at the small dagger for several minutes. It was perfectly balanced, the golden hilt encrusted with several jewels, but the ones that truly meant anything was the large ruby and sapphire. The ruby represented him while the sapphire represented his best friend in the entire world. Korvin.
His blood brother had given him this dagger as a gift the day they mingled their blood to become brothers. The day Korvin swore to follow his Prince in life or death. A promise that no longer mattered, for Korvin was dead by Storm's own hand. It was either that, or allow his blood brother to turn into one of the monsters he and his clan hunted. He couldn't bear to see that happen. Korvin begged him to end his life before the venom took hold, and so with tears in his eyes, he'd held his friend, his confidante, his friend, and ended his life with this very dagger.
He glanced up at the platform and on wooden legs, moved forward. The dagger had meant much to him so many years ago, but now it was nothing more than a symbol of lost hopes and dreams. It was only fitting that it die here today with this beautiful lady and her small children. A kings hopes and dreams had died here today, much as Storm's had done long ago.
Climbing the steps, he stood beside the woman who placed a small wooden figure on the queen. He glanced at the man who had called for the gifts, bowed his head briefly, and then laid the dagger inside the queen's hands.
"I hope I haven't offended anybody, but it is a gift worthy of her and it will allow her to do in the next world what she wasn't able to do in this one. To protect her children from any harm." He glanced at the king, but there was no life left in the ruler's eyes. They seemed lost and void of all emotion, all light, all life. He shook his head sadly and stepped aside so others could offer their gifts. At least the crowd had quieted and treated this as the solemn occasion that it was, and not a freakish sideshow.
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Post by Lizzie on Apr 5, 2011 21:02:21 GMT -6
Caelum watched Leeta and a stranger head up with others to the step and place their gifts. He nodded, meeting the stranger's gaze. "Thank you. Your gift is greatly appreciated." He said, meaning every word. His gaze went to the King and worry trickled through him. He'd never seen a man so broken. So lost that he could not even speak. It made Caelum uneasy.
~ ~ ~
Leeta swallowed hard again as she adjusted the figurine into the crook of Regina's arm, blinking back more tears and gritting her teeth angrily at the failed attempt. As she was moving to step down a mans arm came into her view and placed a dagger in Regina's hand. Her eyes widened slightly at the remarkable craftsmanship of the knife and then she was overcome with gratitude toward the stranger.
It was obvious that he was not from this area, and that the knife was dear to him, but he'd given it up regardless. She followed the arm up to the man beside her as she wiped the last stray tears off her cheeks.
She sighed, feeling empty of emotion and tired. She hated crying or being sad at all. The feeling seemed to suck the life right out of her, but at this moment she could do little more than ride it out. She kissed her palm and then held it out in front of Regina and her children, moving her hand in the fluid movements of the Blood Knights. It was a sign her brother had taught her that meant 'never forgotten'. Without glancing at anyone she finally stepped down again.
"It is a good gift," she said to the man beside her as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked up at him. Her purple eyes were puffy, she was sure, but at the moment she could care less.
"It obviously meant a lot to you. I'm sure if the King were in a better state of mind he would have thanked you for it." She added.
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Post by Sasha on Apr 6, 2011 9:01:27 GMT -6
Nightingale followed Storm beside the bodies and laid her gifts, the three white flowers with black tipped peatles and bright orange and pink stems, over the chest of each body.
"These are Day Moon Flowers. They induce peaceful sleep and the sweetest dreams." She bowed low to the royals, then looked to the king. She had a fourth, one just for him in hopes to ease his pain to some point, but she wasn't sure if she could approch him. In fact it didn't seem to be a very good idea, seeing him now.
Instead, she turned to the Knight who had spoken to the crowd and handed it to him. "Will you please see to it that the king gets this? It'll help him sleep, if it's brewed into a tea." She handed it to him and stepped down beside Storm.
She sighed as she looked at the sadness around her. She felt odd, not crying with them, but her tears had been spent on Lidia and her husband, Rahge. They were all she'd known for the only year of her life that she could remember. The rest was a blank, say for the nightmares that plagued her.
That was how she knew about the Day Moon Flower. Lidia often brewed her a cup before bed to keep away nightmares.
At that thought, a single tear slid down her cheek. Well, perhaps they hadn't all been spent.
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 6, 2011 13:55:55 GMT -6
Storm nodded his head to the woman, his golden eyes briefly filling with tears for his lost friend. At six feet six, he felt like a giant next to these two women but he knew strength came in all shapes and sizes. This woman had her own share of strength and courage. Not to mention a heart that unlike himself, was still able to care about others. Perhaps she was even stronger than he was. He had given up his heart and tears the day he killed his best friend, his brother in arms, the one who had taught him to fight. Korvin would be disappointed in his lack of emotions, telling him that he was wallowing in his own self-pity. Truthfully though, it wasn't self-pity that he lived with everyday. It was self-loathing.
"Yes, it was dear at one time in my life. However, that time is over and now it seems foolish to hang onto forgotten dreams. If it will give the queen a little peace, then she is more deserving of it than I am," he said solemnly.
He sighed and glanced at the woman who put the flowers on the bodies. Flowers that help induce peaceful slumber. The queen would definitely need those, as would the king. Storm didn't know what it was like to have a peaceful night sleep anymore, but he wasn't sure he wanted to know. It was only his nightmares that reminded him that some part of him was still alive, still able to feel something beside mind numbing nothingness. Perhaps it was for the best.
He moved away from the two women and started down the platform. He'd offered his condolences to a crime that should never have been, but then, it always seemed loved ones were burning those that meant the most to them. Why was it the ones who deserved life so much, were the ones that perished first in a war against an enemy? He'd lost all there was in his war, including his own heart and soul. Why did this King's enemy have to take what was so obviously the only thing that truly mattered to him?
It angered Storm, but who was he to voice such outrage. He was a stranger in a strange land and if it was anything like most places he travelled, he would be as unwelcomed here as everywhere else...
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Post by Lizzie on Apr 7, 2011 20:24:18 GMT -6
Caelum bent down to take the offered flower, tilting his head respectfully to the young woman. "I will make sure he gets it," he promised her solemnly as he straightened again, holding the flower in his left hand. He'd recognized what it was the moment she'd stepped forward to lay the plant on Regina and her children and he'd been grateful for it. The Queen and the King would both need the peace this flower would bring them tonight.
Standing back again Caelum straightened to his full height and directed his attention back to the King, awaiting the order that would put an end to this stressful afternoon.
~ ~ ~
Leeta smiled slightly as she watched the other woman, a year or so younger than herself, place Day Moon flowers over the queen and then hand another to Caelum for the King. The plant was an amazing relaxant and exactly what the King would need to get through the night. When she saw a tear roll down her face though she stepped forward and lightly squeezed her hand. It didn't matter why the girl was crying, Leeta couldn't leave her there to shed her tears alone. No one should have to deal with their grief by themselves. She knew first hand how destructive that would be.
Out of the corner of her eye though she saw the stranger she'd been talking to only a moment ago walking away and she almost said nothing and let him go. At the last moment she changed her mind. Before he could disappear altogether she called out to him.
"Wait, please stay for the rest of the funeral." She called, staying by the other girls side. "No one should have to walk the streets alone tonight." She added, more to herself than anyone else.
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 8, 2011 16:46:25 GMT -6
Storm stopped. Turning, he gave the woman a brief smile. "But I am alone," he said and gave her a bow before turning around to blend into the crowd. Once he was out of sight, he turned to finish watching the funeral, what little was left of his heart clutching in his chest with its own pain...
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Post by Sasha on Apr 8, 2011 18:23:38 GMT -6
Nightingale smiled as sweetly as she could at the girl, then watched Storm walk away. She wondered what pain he held. She would find him again after the funeral. He had a particular scent to him, so he would be easy to find.
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Post by Lizzie on Apr 10, 2011 19:30:21 GMT -6
Leeta sighed as she watched the man bow and then go, she was shocked and sad by his words. That was a man that knew pain well. She blinked and ran her hand over her eyes as she turned back to watch the end of the funeral with the other young woman.
~ ~ ~
The King watched silently as more people came forward to place their gifts and then stepped aside as well. Once all the people that would had come forward he took a step back and raised his bleak gaze to Caelum, the head of his Blood Knights. Caelum blinked and paled, his head moving slowly from side to side but the King held his gaze.
Caelum took a shuddering breath, wishing for all the world that he wasn't about to send his playmate to the next world, but there was no changing the past and after another moment he seemed to collect himself and raised his torch, straightening as he strode forward, the rest of the Blood Knights following behind him.
He glanced down at the people before him and then cleared his throat to speak loudly so his voice would reach the people even at the back.
"Thank you all for coming today to say goodbye to our Queen Regina and her newborn children." He said, "Know this though. If the killer is here now, watching, I warn you to run as far and fast as you can stranger, just for the fun of chasing you down. For we will search the world over until we find and kill you." He said with a snarl on his lips. Behind him the Blood Knights let out a war cry of agreement and with that Caelum bent down and touched his torch to the billowing white cloth that was lain over the dead queen and her children. The other knights followed suit.
Within moments the small bodies were engulfed in flames. Wails of sorrow could be heard all around the city as the fire burned brightly against the evening sky. It grew unnaturally high, taking on the shape of a pyre.
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Post by Urban Bucket on Apr 11, 2011 15:42:23 GMT -6
Storm said a final farewell to the beautiful queen and her tiny children. But the man's words stirred his own anger. He may not be one of them, but he knew an unbending need to seek retribution for these deaths. Vengeance was cold and hard, but at least it gave a man a purpose, one to keep going, even if it meant living only half a life. Hatred made the heart beat. It gave one who couldn't feel anything but pain, something to work for, a goal, and the expectation that one day, vengeance would destroy the one who had taken so much from him.
He snorted. These are strangers, Storm, he thought to himself. Why would they be interested in your need for revenge? Sighing, he continued to watch, but the need to help these strangers obtain their revenge only grew. Crouching, he pulled one of his many daggers out of the scabbard at his boot. He held it in his hand and sliced it across his right palm. Blood, dark red and rich pooled in his palm. "I may not be of your home, but my heart still beats in this chest of mine. I swear I will do whatever I can to help destroy those that have taken so much from you."
He replaced the dagger and stood. He'd just sworn a blood oath. Now all he had to do was learn who would kill such beauty in her prime, in her childbed at that. He looked up to the platform again. The only one he knew that could give him the answers he sought was the man who had grudgingly started the funeral pyre burning. He narrowed his eyes on him. He would seek him out and learn what he could...
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