Very Rough Material from "The Blood Crown" part 2

[tinhuvielartanis]

“More than ready,” Orphaeus replied with a conviction that surprised even himself.for what we are and take measure to end our lives. And there’s nothing worse than an angry mob out for blood.”

“You’ve surmised the situation surprisingly well,” Cadmus muttered. “And what conclusion have you drawn?”

“I think the safest route would be over water.”

“For once on this miserable trip, I’m forced to agree with you, opera fop. So tonight we fly, our destination Foggia, near enough for the Apostate to sense our presence. Vigilance is the word here, Orphaeus. He hates his creations as much as he hates himself for the imprisonment his final act of vengeance pulled him down with it. He won’t hesitate to send a legion of monks to kill us both. This is where you will come in handy…for once. You needn’t sleep, so I ask you now to stand vigil whilst I must sleep. As a return for the favour, I will carry you if you falter over the Adriatic sea. Can you achieve the Anubis of a mouse?”

“I think I can.”

“Very well then. Let me know if you can no longer fly and I will carry you to where we need to be. Despite my protestations, we are in this together and I can’t let anything happen to you.”

A long silence passed between them. Orphaeus broke it by quietly saying, “Thank you, Cadmus.”

“I don’t need your gratitude. Come, it’s time to fly.” Cadmus launched himself from the ground, immediately transforming into his favourite nighthawk. Orphaeus awkwardly followed suit, eventually following the hawk emitting the occasional caw caw that came naturally. His call was answered by Cadmus’ peent of the night hawk as they veered westward toward the Adriatic sea.

Soon they found themselves on the coastal town of A Muzsicus, which seemed like one big party at night. Orphaeus took in the lights and palm trees, the variety of music that could be found every few feet. He felt he could absolutely live here in pure happiness for the remainder of his Vampiric life, whether that be forever or until he was caught and murdered by an angry mob. Everyone should have the opportunity to die happy.

“We hunt separately here. The Vampire community is large in A Muzsicus and, as you see, the humans succumb to the hedonism most every human wished they could achieve. As soon as we fed, Orphaeus, we fly. Don’t be thinking we can spend time here. There’s much danger to be had.

“We shall meet back at this hotel, the Tara before the sun comes. Do not…screw up.”

With that, Cadmus whirled away in his priestly robes and walked away form Orphaeus without so much as a goodbye or a glance back over his shoulders. It mattered not to Orphaeus. He had his sites set for some beautiful local girl, to give her the thrill of her life and a matching scar to remind her that the world was not necessarily as it seems.

He soon came upon a Croation beauty, or at least he imagined, for she was cowled in the traditional wear of the devout female Muslim. She was waiting to cross the street in the pale twilight.

“May I join you?’ Cadmus asked amiably.

The woman said nothing, but peered warily at him through the slit allowed for vision.

“Please. Let me be a gentleman, good woman.”

The woman acquiesced and allowed Orphaeus to escort her across the bustling street. As they reached an alleyway, Orphaeus pulled her into an alleyway and pulling away her face cloth, silencing her screams with a fierce kiss used to paralyse the woman with desire. He then removed the head piece of the birka to display a beautiful young woman, her eyes classical Byzantium in nature.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed in alarm.

“What you want for me to do,” Orphaeus said, not wasting time for her to protest. In record speed, he bit viciously into the bared neck and sucked with abandon until the young woman collapsed from loss of blood. Orphaeus thoughtfully snapped off her left middle finger and cleaned the wound so that there would be no evidence of his existence around the woman.

Cadmus’ luck was not so successful. Vampires in the East were few and far between, so Cadmus had to depend on a human to feed the chalice for him to gain sustenance. Finally he settled for a young man just leaving a bar. Putting on his Glamour, he drew the drunk youth into the darkness of the buildings at which time he cut the man’s throat and fed him to the Chalice.

Well sated, if not a little tipsy from the alcohol content in the the party man’s blood. Wibbling back to the Tara, he found Orphaeus waiting outside, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Have…have you been drinking?”

“Inadvertently. Shut up.”

They entered the Tara and ordered a suite. Once in the room, they closed all the blinds and shades, placed the “do not disturb’ sign on the door, then lay down to experience the lovely nuances of the blood that coursed throughout their bodies.

Cadmus sat on his bed and watched Orphaeus breathe evenly as he slept. Satisfied he was asleep, Cadmus lay down, his bare head prickling in response to the soft pillow beneath it. Almost instantly he was asleep. And, this time, the Pariah dreamt.

He was running, but he wasn’t certain if he were running toward or away from something. The moon was high in the sky, but there seemed to be a shadow cowling it in some impossible way. Cadmus felt moisture on his face and he reached up, expecting to find Blood on his hands; instead, he found tears…his tears.

It was then that he heard them, the cries of a lynch mob. His judge and jury were hot on his heels, ready to exact a certain dreadful justice upon his body. It wasn’t meant for him to survive this gauntlet. They were herding him through a path of misery until it was time for them to end his life. He was more powerful than all of them, yet he was somehow unable to overcome them with what he had. Or was it something he did not have?

“You have all you need for now,” a familiar voice said to him in the dream. “You have come to the end of your journey and it is the end for everyone. These tears you cry are tears of redemption. Accept them when they come to you in your waking hours.”

“Who are you?” Cadmus asked the dream voice.

“You know who I am, Cadmus. And you know who I will be. It’s all been foretold. You’ll see the world victorious when the time comes.”

Deciding to stay the night until the sunset of the following day, Cadmus crashed on one of the twin beds, almost instantly asleep. Orphaeus watched him, wondering what dreadful things had been visited on a person in order to turn him into the wretch he was today. He figured he’d never know, but he suspected Kelat knew, and this was one of many reasons that she’d brought them together. Orphaeus was a hopeless optimist. One of Cadmus’ strongest philosophies was to expect the worst of any person or situation, thus stopping any development in its tracks before it had a chance to hurt him.

In many ways, Cadmus was still the child upon which horrors unmentionable were rumoured to have suffered. Orphaeus couldn’t help but to feel a wave of compassion in the Pariah’s direction. The Pariah moved in disturbance, even fighting the good will of another in his deepest of sleep.

Cadmus opened his giant eyes and turned them to the small window of their room. Sun still filtered in, but it was a late light. They still had two more hours to wait. Turning away from the offending light, Cadmus settled in to patiently wait until it was time to go. He’d slept for many hours and dreamt the majority of it. He felt more exhausted now than he did before he chased Morpheus. Needing mortal sleep was the one thing Cadmus hated about being a living Vampire. If he never slept again, it was suit him just fine.

He thought about the dream as he listened to Orphaeus sleep. Who had it been speaking to him in the dream? He did not know, despite the speaker’s assurance that he did. Not knowing anything vexed Cadmus more than anything in the world. His was a perfect mind that needed no prompting to know anything, or at least he liked to think it was. When coming against a thing that was unknown to him, Cadmus would usually either ignore it or kill it. If it were unknown to Cadmus, it surely deserved one of the two options, if not both. There was nothing in this world that Cadmus did not know.

But that voice, that voice… How vexing was that voice. It reminded him of a voice from long ago, one that put his teeth on edge and wrangled his last nerve. Who had that been? The dream and voice were fading, as dreams and their revenants tended to do, leaving Cadmus alone with unfinished thoughts and unresolved questions. And that vexed him even more.

The thing was done, save for wary and accusatory looks from some of the staff. Still, they left in peace and without incident. Even in this new age of modern enlightenment, that was a feat in the heart of Bulgaria. Cadmus had such an incredible ability to charm the masses, despite his complete distaste for them.

How heartbreaking, Orphaeus though. I understand now why he scalped me. There was no other way for him to hurt me, and hurt me he felt compelled to do, so entrapped in the web of deceit with which the Apostate had entangled his unwilling servants as well as himelf.

And it was at this moment, Orphaeus came to the realisation that he could grow to like Cadmus, despite the Vampire’s curmudgeonly disposition. He wanted to help the Vampire on whatever quest compelled him. It was of great import, not just for Cadmus, but for all Vampiredom. For the first time, Orphaeus was glad to have taken this job Kelat had committed him to completion. Just went to show, you could balk a Goddess all along but, eventually, you’d see the errors of your ways and return to her sage instruction.

The evening burgeoned with the lilt of Summer. Tourists walked to and fro along the various patios and outdoor food kiosks, enjoying the lovely strains of music and the balmy air.

“Your suffering will be more than apparent by the time we reach Viorë. It’s quite the trek, so we may want to anubis into birds,” suggested Cadmus

The raven and the nighthawk were soon aloft, speaking to one another in secret bird language.

“Once we reach Viorë, we shall be able to feed, yes? Sooner if need be?”

“And you will give me the final memory before we move onto Rome, our destination. It’s been nigh to a week I’ve had to put up with her shenanigans. My advice is that you run into the night once the crown is claimed, for I shall have no other use for you.”

Kelat’s voice ran through Orphaeus’ head that he would indeed be needed, but he kept that to himself, wondering what she could have possibly mean. And it was at this moment, Orphaeus came to the realisation that he could grow to like Cadmus, despite the Vampire’s curmudgeonly disposition. He wanted to help the Vampire on whatever quest compelled him. It was of great import, not just for Cadmus, but for all Vampiredom. For the first time, Orphaeus was glad to have taken this job Kelat had committed him for completion. Just went to show, you could balk a Goddess all along but, eventually, you’d see the error of your ways and return to her sage instruction.

They flew into the eternal sunset, its rays hardly damaging to even Orphaeus. The night would seem to last for ever for the two of them, until they veered south toward Viorë. About halfway there, Orphaeus began to complain of hunger.

“I’m not certain I can keep the anubis up, Orphaeus. It’s tapping my energy to the point I feel I should fall.”

“Very well then…” Cadmus grumbled, as he dipped downward in a sparsely populated section of Albania.

The two of them fed, Orphaeus on an elderly lady close to death, Cadmus on a young child, whose blood fortified the chalice like no other blood could save for the Blood of Vampires. The murders were not noticed until the Vampires were high in the sky once more, heading for the coastal town.

Two more hours and Viorë was in their sites. The journey close to over, Cadmus almost a felt a moment of triumph, although he could never be sure.

“Do you hunger once more, Swan?”

“Yes… the old blood did little to sate my appetite.”

“You should try young flesh sometime, Orphaeus. If I could feel euphoria, drinking a child’s blood would have such an effect on you.”

“Even among Vampires, that’s considered a sin,” admonished Orphaeus.

“Tell that to Eve,” who subsists almost completely on children by my hand. “I daresay she would agree with you, but would that stop her? I think…not.”

They landed on a precipice above the Adriatic ocean. Below them lay Viorë, the town that would make the final revelation to Cadmus before he went into Rome. It didn’t take long for him to find a fledgling Vampire couple which he drank and fed to the chalice, much to Orphaeus’ dismay and distaste.

“Must you always make them so young?”

“Youth enhances the effect,” Cadmus said flatly. “Now drink or die.”

Orphaeus downed the cup in just a few short gulps, then fell into the Blood Trance in order to tell his tale.

Ů sa dorken na’aaůlor kenropfehli

And I remember well in the deepest realm of memory…

Oh how hot the Summer grew in the first years the Tarmi and humans worked the Earth for their food! Every year, day in and day out, they would toil to keep their potatoes and grapes from floundering in the heat. But during one particular Summer, water grew scarce and the crops slowly began to die in the dry, dry heat. The people became worried, so the Solwdalno of the tribes of Eterah, Briachna Evolaideŋe, travelled to the tallest mountain in the world where a special waterfall cascaded.

Now this waterfall was a place of power for it was believed that it sprang from the souce of all the world’s water and was beloved of Mnemiva the Great Mother. Briachna had come here to ask for water and was shocked to find that the waterfall was itself nothing but a trickle. Nevertheless, the Solwdalno sat before the trickle of water and, going into deep trance, he waited.

Three weeks did he remain thus until the presence of Rhyllhyn materialized beside him.

“Greetings to you my friend Solwdalno. What brings you here to this place?”

The young god asked, a radiant smile on his face.

“I have come to ask for water, Lord, and to ask why the Summers have been so hot and long, enough to take away our crops.”

Rhyllhyn pondered Briachna’s question. “Alapedth,” he said. “I sense the Fire Queen is ill and Her fever has permeated Eterah. But worry not, Lord Briachna, for I will find a way to heal Her.”

And with that Rhyllhyn flew away on yellow wings to the laboratories of the God Sinta, who was an alchemist and the God of alchemists and alchemy.

“Lord Sinta, Rhyllhyn began. Do you know that is wrong with Alapedth?”

“Aye that I do. ‘Tis Her bad temper that consumes her and the Earth in her wake. “Turns out the Fire Queen grinds Her teeth when She’s angry, and She’s always angry. The Fiery Lady has a nasty fever caused by Her aching teeth.”

“Can you heal her?”

Sinta considered this as he juggled coal into diamonds. Then, with a twinkle in His eyes, He said, “Barley cures toothaches, but not bad tempers.”

“Can you make it so that it will?” asked Rhyllhyn hopefully. Our people, the Tarmi and humans are scorching on Earth.

Shrugging, Sinta said, “Anything is possible except maybe finding Alapedth. She is quite the recluse, don’t you know.

“Just leave that to me, Lord Alchemist,” Rhyllhyn smiled and shouted as He too His leave of Sinta, and headed for the mounted keeps of Artanis, Maiden of the Elderkin.

Artanis greeted Rhyllhyn and led him to a quiet chamber of wood where they may quietly converse.

“Lady, I have come to ask a favour.”

“Oh?” said Artanis, Her fierce eyes peeking good-naturedly from the depths of fur and feathers that made up Her snowy headdress. “And what can I do to help my brother and friend Rhyllhyn?”

“Could you ask the animals and plants to find Alapedth?”

Her blue eyes wide, Artanis asked, “Why would anyone want to find a fire mage with a temper that could with the strongest thistle and drive salamanders to blessed shade?”

“Because that is what Alapedth is already doing.” And Rhyllhyn explained to Artanis about the fever spreading to the worlds of Tarmi and human. Upon hearing this, Artanis agreed to ask the Elderkin’s help.

Before the day was over, it was discovered that Alapedth hid Herself in a cave beneath a volcano. So Rhyllhyn, accompanied by Artanis, raced back to Sinta’s laboratories where Sinta had conjured an infusion that would ease the Fire Queen’s volatile temper.

“At least for a while will this work, but it must be placed within the barley before the plant is taken for the toothache cure,” Sinta explained. “Would the barley accept the infusion?” he asked Artanis.

Artanis nodded. “But once within the barley, you potion will forever be a part of that plant.”

With that, Sinta spread His Creation over all the barley on Eterah, charging it with the potential to inspire mirth. Then did Artanis harvest an amount for Sinta to mix with honey and water. The concoction was then ready for the feverish Fire Queen.

The depleted tides hardly rose to greet the full moon in the sky, but the liquid fire of Alapedth’s volcano hideaway threatened to ascent and create trails of liquid fire, engulfing everything they touched.

Rhyllhyn, Sinta, and Artanis were careful not to disturb the temperamental Fire Queen’s fitful sleep as they crept into the blistering cave where she lay, the barley and honey potion in tow. There upon the floor of the cave, red raiment spread like fire and blood beneath her, lay Alapedth. Beautiful and harsh was She, Her feature not softened by sleep. Even in her troubled slumber did Alapedth grind her teeth. The suffocating heath of feather emanated from her.

Cautiously, Rhyllhyn approached the sleeping Goddess, opening her mouth only slightly, and wet her tongue and lips with the sweet concoction. Like lightning, Alapedth’s eyes flew open. The others jumped back waiting to be incinerated when, much to their surprise, the Fire Queen actually snickered and grabbed the potion bottle from Sinta’s trembling hands. Taking a long draught, Alapedth laughed heartily, and the heat of the cave subsided.

“This is…wonderful, Alapedth slurred and handed the bottle to Sinta, who was most perplexed.

“Perhaps the medicine is more potent than I originally though,” And he took a sip of the liquid which made him instantly double over in laughter along with the Fire Queen Passing the bottle on to Rhyllhyn, Sinta and Alapedth began to dance about the cave in a clumsy fashion.

Both Artanis and Rhyllhyn tested the drank and soon joined in the fun. And, as the deities danced in drunken glory, Eterah was bathed in a cool rain. The rivers ran and the crops revived. While Alapedth was under the influence, Sinta examined her teeth and removed the cavity bothering her so. The lone stone outside Stonehenge was once called Alapedth’s Tooth.

After the drunken reverie of the gods, the days were still hot, but Alapedth’s cure gave the air a warm moisture that nourished Eterah. The alchemy of the barley plant was given to the people that they may share the medicine and mirth, even unto today.

So it was the Tarmi call the Full Moon before the feast of bread, which is our full moon of July, Daen Luma Me’Adh or the Barley Moon.

There was a long pause as Cadmus stared at Orphaeus, his shark eyes piercing the young Vampire’s soul.

“So what is this supposed to tell me, Swan? That I should take a bottle of Stoli to dear old Dad and sit down for an evening of nostalgia?” Of course he was kidding, but the unprovocative humour made Orphaeus blow Blood out of his nose. Wiping his nostrils, the Vampire chuckled merrily at the unintentional humour. Cadmus studied the young Vampire’s fit of laughter with part irritation and part wonderment. He had no idea why Orphaeus was behaving so unpredictably.

“Maybe, just maybe, you can drug the Apostate. Maybe that’s one of the weapons against him. Make him drink alcohol to render him paralysed so that he cannot fight you magickally for the Blood Crown.”

Cadmus rested his chin in his hands and looked at Orphaeus with half-lidded eyes. It seemed perfect, all these stories. If they weren’t to expose the Apostate for what he really was, they held a seed of a weapon to use against him. Once again, the Swan earned his life for one more day.

“We’ll reach Rome tomorrow. Tonight we can hunt and do as we please, but tomorrow evening, it will be a non-stop journey to the Holy See. Are you ready to see this through?”

“As ready as you’ll ever be.:

“Very well, let’s try to get some sweet and dreamless sleep before we feed and take our leave of this vacationer’s paradise.