LORE: End Game (MATURE)

Post by **Emora Deen** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:35 pm

Tenele held the towel tighter too her, the blood dripping down her leg mixing with the water on the floor. She didn't know what to say to him. He was blaming her? Was she really to blame?

He ordered her? Like she was his servant, not his equal. There we go again, Vladimir the vampire and his distrust of anything mortal.

"I didn't know he could regenerate a head, Vlad! He didn't have a head! I saw it lying next to his body. I didn't know it was that important. Usually creatures die after losing there heads!" she couldn't believe he was actually blaming her for Lothos's return.

She still felt sick from his touch and she wanted nothing more than to cleanse her body with soap and water, however that would have to wait. She raised a peice of the towel to her face and blotted the blood from her cheek, still ignoring what was dripping onto the floor.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:54 pm

"I knew," Vlad clarified hotly. "Or did you think I was just babbling because I was hurt, and it was ok as long I thought it would be taken care of? Just like the time with the pendant, you underestimated what I could do to you, and this time you underestimated him. I can smell you bleeding right now, and it makes me want to eat your flesh. We're monsters, Tenele, figure that out!" His roaring voice finally stopped, and he disappeared from the room without looking back at her.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:07 pm

Tenele stood there staring at where he had been standing. She didn't know what to think or what to say. She could only stand there numbly. She turned the running water off, leaving the bathroom and heading for the first aid kit. She cleaned her wounds and bandaged them, the cut on her cheek had stopped its bleeding.

Numbly she went to her wardrobe as the sun faded over the horizon outside. She slipped a silver silk nightgown on and pulled a silver silk robe on over that. She went to clean the mess up, not feeling like dealing with people at the moment. She decided to start with the first aid kit, she hadn't gotten it put together completely before she threw it across the room.

She knelt to the floor, her head in her hands as the memories flashed into her brain. Vlad wasn't completely healed and he was going to have to face Lothos again... all because of her. She was going to be the reason Vlad got hurt. Whatever happened to him, it was on her shoulders now. It was all her fault. He was right, she was to blame.

She stared at herself in the mirror, at her determined green eyes. Suddenly she was on her feet and moving towards her closet. She slipped a pair of silver slippers onto her feet and grabbed her sword from off the loung chair. Wrapping the belt around her slim waist the robe fell over it to hide the sword. She didn't even consider the fact she was wearing an elegant nightgown. She just had grabbed clothes.

Now she was heading out hte door. She remembered their names and she was going to find them. They would know where that weapon was. Tenele was going to get it back and stop Lothos. She owed Vlad that much.

* * *

She slammed him up against the wall. "I told you to burn his body!" she said, holding him by the collar of his shirt. He was too startled to do anything else.

His friend that had been with him that night stood by in idle shock. "We burned it," he lied.

"No you didn't!" she screamed. "If you burned him he wouldn't be trying to kill someone I love." She let him go and glared at them both. "There was a weapon next to his body. A silver axe. Where is it? You are supposed to bring those weapons to the Queen's armory if found. What did you do with it?"

The two men glanced at eachother then looked at her with rather fearful stares. "We sold it."

"SOLD IT?! A weapon like that? You sold it?" Tenele yelled. She couldn't beleive it. They sold it.... No wonder Lothos couldn't find his weapon, it wasn't in the armory. That would have been the first place he looked. "Who? Who did you sale it too?" she asked more calmly.

"To a man on the east side of town, he deals in artifacts and enchanted weapons," the thinner guard said.

"Lets go," Tenele ordered, motioning them to follow her. They stayed put. "Either you follow me or I have you arrested for involuntary treason."

"Involuntary treason? Is that a crime?"

Tenele glared. "It is now, so you better move swiftly."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:27 pm

Vlad ported into the Queen's chambers, much too angry to speak, but there was no time to risk waiting. He strode up to her throne like a winter storm, stopping in front of her and sweeping into a bow with violent grace. Sinead studied him with confusion, waving her hand to dismiss the advisors she'd been speaking with. Though Vlad had the floor to speak, he knelt there in silence.

"What is it, Vladimir?" she asked quietly, sensing that the vampire was ill at ease.

"Shea's No-life King has survived, he said, his voice like coarse sand. "He may take any form he pleases. I recommend all possible precaution toward your servants, including me. Accept no word from them until you have tested their identity."

"Then I should test you now, should I not?" Sinead asked sternly.

An added tension ran visibly down the kneeling vampire's spine, but he nodded.

"Why is Tenele not with you?" Sinead asked, analyzing his reaction.

"An altercation..." Vlad said carefully.

"Now that is not like Vlad at all. The last I knew him, he was loyal to a 'T'. Or did I not order you to conquer my assassin together?" Sinead said firmly, crossing her arms.

Vlad did not even bother to argue. He dropped his head an inch lower, and said nothing. "You mock me. I require no human partner," he said very, very quietly.

"You are walking a fine line, Lord Dracul. Make peace with Tenele and do as I've requested, or I will deem you unloyal and-..." her voice cut off as Vlad raised his eyes to meet hers. He looked astonished, betrayed. She'd never seen him give her that look before.

"Understood, my master. Guard yourself carefully," he said resentfully, and disappeared from the room.

He appeared next in his own quarters. Marching to his wardrobe, he threw it open and pulled an unshredded red and black tunic and a pair of black pants out of the drawer. He threw them onto the bed and stripped off his ruined clothing. Looking at the neatly made sheets set him thinking about Tenele's care the night he was hurt, and how she'd stayed up with him all night, helped him eat, bathe... He shook his head as he pulled off his clothes, ruining the memory by thinking of how she should have been burning Lothos's body like he told her.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:21 pm

“They sold it to you, so you know where it is,” Tenele said, leaning across the counter at the dealer. He was a bulking man with broad shoulders and a bald head. An eyepatch covered his right eye and he wore a furry vest over a bare chest.

“Well, I don’t recall...” He grinned, leaning forward, angling his head in a strange way. His eyes roamed up and down the silk gown. She hadn’t picked the most appropriate clothes to go out into the middle of the night, on the wrong side of tone, in. Though, she dared someone to mess with her in the mood she was in. His hand came out and laid gently on top of hers. “I’m sorry, m’lady. If there is something else I can supply you with..” His finger tips massaged her soft skin.

Tenele faked a smile, twisting her hand under his until her fingers wrapped around it. Like she was holding his hand. Suddenly she twisted and there was a sickening crack. He roared, bringing his other hand around to bat the woman away. She caught it with her other hand and lightly twisted, as if she were going to break it too. “Either you tell me where it is, or you’ll need to learn to eat with your feet.”

The two guards behind her shifted uncomfortably as the dealers pain filled eyes glared dangerously at them. Tenele twisted his hand around a little more. He winced. “Alright! Alright! Its through that door and down the steps,” he said, nodding his head behind him to an old wooden door.

“Watch him...” Tenele said, shifting away from the desk and going to the door. She opened it and the staircase leading down was lit by several torches. She looked back behind her, then headed down the rickety steps that creaked and groaned even with her small weight. Down bellow the cellar was filled with thousands of weapons. All beautiful, and some still covered in blood. She went to the one that was unmistakably the one she was looking for. Glistening in the torch light she lifted the heavy solid silver ax with one hand and then turned to head back out of the cellar.

Woosh! The torches fluttered and were blown out suddenly. The cellar was dark now, though pale light shown down from the room above. The beautiful silver haired woman stood very still for a moment, though she thought she could hear the eerie sound of breathing in the darkness around her. It sent the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Green eyes flashed around and the darkness was so thick that she couldn’t see behind the light that shown down the cellar steps. A low chuckle came from somewhere in the darkness and she knew that he was there.

Quickly she moved, running up the steps and carrying axe with her. At the top of the steps there was no one. The lights were gone there. She ran from the shop and there stood the two guards, quivering next to one another. “What happened?”

“He let us escape... He said he wouldn’t kill us because we were the reason he lived.” Ghildale said quickly and then stepped back in horror after peering at something that was behind her.

Tenele looked over her shoulder and there Lothos stood in the doorway of the shop. He was clad in the black clothes he had been wearing when he had attacked the Queen, minus the hood and face mask. Stands of dark brown hair fell in front of his red eyes, which were glowing demonicly. The shop keepers head under his arm. He tossed it carelessly to the side. Blood dripped down his chin and neck, he wiped it with the back of his hand. “You still smell of blood Tenele,” he said his eyes flashing to Tenele.

“Go! Run!” Tenele shoved the two guards, urging them to run. “GO!” The sound of Lothos’s dark laughed turned into something that sounded a creature. She looked back and black wings had sprouted from Lothos’s back. “Run!” she screamed, the sound of the wings beating fiercely coming from behind her.

She was running as fast as she could, holding the axe tightly against her. “Run! Run back to the palace,” yelled to the two men in front of her. She looked back, panic filling her when she saw how close Lothos was. He was flying just behind her, hands reaching out for her. “Get Vlad! Go to Vladimir. Don’t tell him I...” The last part was a faded scream. Lothos had reached her, slipping his arm around her. The next thing she knew she was flying through the air towards the palace. She struggled.

“I think you might want to be still, you wouldn’t want to fall,” he said gruffly, tugging her tighter against him. She noticed where they were heading, back to the palace.

He was heading for the roof, just over the fernus and kitchens. When he was about three feet from the roof he dropped her and she rolled down the slightly angled slope until she had the wits about her to use the axe to stop her decent. Scraping back to the feet the Queen’s Maiden did the only thing she could think to do, she ran. She ran straight across the roof thinking of a way to keep the axe away from Lothos. The only thing she could think of was to melt the thing down, but how was she to do that unless...

He struck her from the side, and she lost her balance, rolling again. His arms wrapped around her and she did the only thing she could think to do. She swung the axe and hit him in his side. He felt it, he actually felt it and it looked as if it did some damage. He let go of her immedately, doubling over. “So you can touch it, but you can’t have it puncture you, aye?” She pulled herself back up and was on her feet once more, heading for the fernus stack, which was billowing smoke and embers out. She stopped just short of it, holding the axe over the chimney, keeping her hand away from the heat boiling out of it.

Lothos landed on the roof, his wings flexing for a moment as he froze. “You drop it and there will be no reason to keep you alive,” he warned, though she knew better than that. He was holding his side, keeping it from her view.

“I’ll take my chances. I don’t care if this thing can hurt you, I won’t let you use it against Vlad.”
Tenele muttered. Her fingers unwrapped around the handle and the heavy silver axe fell down into the blackness bellow. The moment the holy item hit the fire an explosion erupted and fire shot up, the force knocking Tenele sideways. All she heard from Lothos was a roar of fury. She caught herself and suddenly he was on her. She drew her weapon, blocking his sword attacks.

“I knew you’d got after the weapon when I couldn’t find it. I knew you’d lead me to it,” he growled, acting all-knowing.

“Really?” Tenele asked, trying to keep up with him. He was just too quick and she found herself stumbling to block his attacks. “I bet you didn’t foresee me dropping your little toy, now did you?”

His claws lashed out at her and she felt the sting of it slice into her arm. She faulted and rolled to the side just in time to miss his lung. “Wow, I must have really ticked you off..” she said, gripping her shoulder tightly. She ran forward, faking a lung only to spin around and kicked him across the face. She spun around being her other foot out, which plunged into his gut and sent him flying backwards.

He ported away. She didn’t have time to turn. He grabbed her arm and the blade with his bare hand, snatching it from her grasp. “I realize now why you are the lover of that vampire...” he said, tugging her to him. “You need someone as strong as we to be equal to that passion that fills you. We are the only beings who could handle a woman such as you.”

“Vlad, is the only being who could handle me. As far as your concerned, I’m so far out of your league you look like star dust from where I am.” Tenele said, glaring defiantly at him. “Going to kill me now?” She leaned in closer to him, and it surprised him that she did this on purpose. She was beautiful with the moonlight shining down on her form, the silver hair and silver gown and robe shimmered. Then, all good thoughts of how beautiful faded into thoughts of how annoyingly cruel she was. Her knee came up as hard as she could ever manage to get it up and all he felt was pain after that.

She took off running across the roof, finally noticing the sound of yells. Three guards leaning over the balcony of a tower were yelling at her. She ran to the edge of the roof, and looked back to see Lothos taking to the air. He was taking his time, enjoying this.

“Jump! You can make it my lady. We’ll catch you! Jump to us. We’ll protect you!” They were screaming. Tenele looked back behind her and then the distance between herself and the soldiers leaning over the balcony with their hands out. She knew she couldn’t handle Lothos on her own. He’d end up killing her or something much worst. “Jump! He’s coming!”

Tenele took a deep breath, taking several steps back. She then sprinted forward and pushed off with one foot. She felt her finger tips touch their hands... and then it felt as if she had been hit by a log. Lothos had come from the side and caught her before she could get pulled to safety. He floated through the air, landing on the roof of the highest tower, which was steep. She was on her back and he was on top of her, the spikes of his wings planted firmly into the roof, creating a strange canape above them.

“You are the most defiant and aggravating woman I have ever laid eyes on!” he spat, gripping her throat tightly. “There is something else I realized, Tenele. The thing Vlad admires and loves about you, is your humanity. He doesn’t see that a woman like you deserves more. You should be as I. You should be as we are. Immortal. I’ve acquired a taste for your blood...” Tenele narrowed his eyes, not understanding what he meant. She found his wound and pried her fingers deep into it. He cried out and hit her hard against the face. She had to stop. She didn’t see anything anymore. Then she felt it. It was unlike the pleasurably prick of Vlad’s fangs. It was painful, like he was ripping her throat open.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:08 pm

Vlad was clothed and rushing from room to room looking for Tenele. He'd been somewhat reluctant to go to her quarters, and when he hadn't found her there, he'd nearly given up. But then he'd checked a few more places, and a few more, and gradually it began to bother him immensely to not know her whereabouts at a time like this one.

He was searching the library when he heard an explosion from the roof. Narrowing his eyes, he ported outside and tried to make out what had caused it. Then he saw it; Lothos, with a great pair of wings, and he smelled more than actually saw Tenele there trapped against him.

"Lothos!" he roared, jumping to the next rooftop and running toward them.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:17 pm

Lothos's head jerked in Vlad's direction. Blood ran down his chin and neck, his eyes glowed bright red, boring into the No Life King. He rose up, pulling Tenele's form with him. He held her in his arms, the wind tossing her silver hair and gown around. Blood stained the front of her gown, dripping from the two deep puncture wounds.

"Stop!" he warned Vlad. "Vlad. I like her, I don't want to have a reason to end her life." He grinned, and it was a horribly feirce grin. His skin looked white against the moonlight, the blood appeared black on his face. "Let's see if we can talk this out.... Save both ourselves a lot of trouble?" he asked, seemingly amused.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:27 pm

Vlad continued forward, but slowly this time. Seeing Tenele being held that way, knowing that Lothos had just tasted her, was in a way worse to him than if she'd been raped. Sharing blood with her was the most intimate activity he shared with her, and he'd made every effort to make sure it was as pleasurable as possible, never cruel, never painful. His anger toward her was lost in a rush of fury and panic, but his eyes were carefully neutral.

"What makes you think I intend to help her?" he asked coldly, raising his right arm out at his side to reveal the long blade of Tenele's katana. "Sure, she's pretty enough, but I lost interest when I learned she was too timid to finish you off." He was close now, only a few yards away, looking only at Lothos without a glance for Tenele.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:33 pm

Lothos watched Vlad for a moment, then glanced down at the half conscious woman in his arms. "Well, if that is the way you feel about it..." He sat her on her feet, she hadn't the strength to hold up her own weight. He held her with one arm, pulling her back against his chest. Her head hung and with one hand he tilted her head to the side, his fingers pressed smoothly to her chin. "I'll finish my meal." He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Vlad the entire time. "Unless you feel like cooperating with me." He made sure Vlad could see him sinking his fangs into her flesh this time, biting down hard.

Tenele wasn't completely out of it, but pretty close. The pain caused her to jerk against him, gasping involuntarily.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:40 pm

"S.....Stop!" Vlad called out, defeated. He couldn't overcome the twist of horror that was wrenching his insides into sailor's rope. His eyes had gone wide, and it was taking all his willpower not to try to teleport up to him. Now that his teeth were upon her, if Vlad tore him off her neck, he might slash open her artery. Vlad couldn't save her from that. "What do you want?" he said, hoping the question would force Lothos to get out of her. His cold rage burned into his eyes. No one entered Tenele that way but him. No one.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:48 pm

His teeth pulled from her skin, yet his lips remained as he smiled against her. He relished in the vampire's obvious tortured agony.

"What I wanted last time," Lothos said as he pulled his mouth away, licking his lips. "My Queen needs your blood to fuel her agenda... I've never tasted blood so sweet." He purposely went off topic to remind Vlad of the situation at hand. "So... you can either fill a vase full, or bring yourself bodily before my queen. Though, I can assure you that for the trouble she's been put through the draining of your blood will not be so easy. I'm sure she'll make it as painful as possible..." He leaned his head back down, pressing his cheek against Tenele's hair. "What shall it be?"

Tenele blinked her eyes open. She could fainly hear them speaking. She knew if they were talking without a fight then something was happening. He was trying to talk Vlad into doing something he didn't wish to do. Whatever it was, she didn't want him doing it. "No..." she whispered faintly. "No...."

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:57 pm

Vlad stared at Lothos, tension and power almost visible around him. Help Shea with her plans? Lothos was asking him to commit treason. Commit treason, or lose Tenele. Or was Lothos planning to turn her?

That could be just as bad. Vlad didn't want her to live that life. Especially not with Lothos's body crushing hers against the sheets, Lothos's fangs defiling her neck night after night. The thought of it was more than he could tolerate.

A vase of blood would be treason, but if he want along...there was still a chance he could break free later. As long as Tenele was out of the equation. Anyone but her.

No.

In a flash of lighting-fast movement, Vlad teleported directly behind Lothos's back and shoved the katana forward, aiming straight toward his heart.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:02 pm

He gasped in shock, stiffening. His arms slipped from around the young maiden and she slipped slowly to the roof, rolling until her body hit the uprazed eve that was used for drainage. It kept her from going over the edge.

Lothos stared at the moon. That weapon. That damned weapon. He should have taken it from them. Burned it as she burned his. "I guess that means no," he croaked out, pulling himself off the sword quickly, swining his claws out towards Vlad, trying to slice open his neck. His movements were more slowed now.

Post by **Soran Nightblade** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:19 pm

Vlad made the mistake of letting his gaze follow Tenele instead of his opponent. Lothos's swipe caught him off guard, shredding up his neck and jaw and sending him reeling. It hadn't been quite enough force to detach Vlad's head, and the wound began healing immediately. Confident that Tenele wasn't falling off the roof just yet, he whirled on Lothos with a glare that could stop the heart of a human being. He didn't need words or fancy comebacks; he needed Lothos dead, and he was going to pull all the stops.

Chanting a low mantra, he threw his arms above him and to the sides, hands upturned. A portal appeared beside him, and from the abyss of swirling darkness, his hellhound emerged, eyes glowing. It cast a worshipful stare at its master, who reached down and idly rubbed its ear. "Protect the girl," Vlad said. The beast turned loyally, though his request was quite against its nature, and loped over to where Tenele had fallen. Taking hold of her clothing, it began to draw her up and away from the precarious edge of the roof.

Vlad smiled darkly at Lothos and lunged in with the blade again. He raised it up and hacked at the side of Lothos's face, where the cheek was covered in Tenele's blood. With an accurate swipe, he lobbed off Lothos's cheek. The severed flesh fell to the ground. "I will wreck your face until you'll cry at the thought of touching her with your meager teeth," he growled, throwing a punch with his free hand squarely into Lothos's face. He smiled as he felt the nose crunch like so much glass. His next punch caught at Lothos's jaw, hard enough to rip the skin of his remaining cheek. "You'd better start healing, because I have a lot of frustration to get out," Vlad hissed.

Post by **Emora Deen** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:27 pm

Lothos doubled over, holding his face with his hands. His face began to meld and heal back together, all except the cheek that had been taken off by the katana. "Ahh, so that is what hurts you the most?" Lothos asked, already knowing the answer. "The fact I've tasted that sweet blood of hers? I've ate plenty and have never tasted anything as sweet. I think I shall feast on her every night." He laughed, his claws stretching out like long daggers.

He charged at Vlad, swinging out his claws before disappearing only to reappear in mid swing towards Vlad's back. "The girl and I have a history. The Queen herself gave Tenele to me. She's been mine along. You are an annoyance. Let me end you."