Chronicles of Contessa: The Tale of Ventroth

I was walking in the wood, a new vampire at the side of my master and all was new and incredible. He walked along smiling evermore at my youth and inexperience but always a supportive mentor. I was walking when I did see an owl, I walked to it carefully noticing it was watching me, but there was no apprehension in its eyes. My master spoke from behind me,
“All that is of the night is our friend now young one” he says looking at me lovingly. I smile back and approach the owl with no fear. It coos and waddles to my side and I smile so widely I hurt my cheek. The soft down of its feathers were comforting and warm, and the owl allowed me to pat its all-seeing head. My master smiled looking on in approval and pride at his creation. I let the owl fly away as a mist began to filter through the trees.
I pranced in the field of mist leaping higher then any mortal when I noticed my master was gone. Fear took me, I could not survive without his guiding hand I ran in one direction then another calling his name. When I stopped and nearly cried in dismay I heard his voice, speaking all around me.
“Do not be afraid my child… this is a power of the nosferatu, to become like mist and melt away from the world”
“How do I do it?!” I say so happy to hear his voice that I nearly trip over a dismembered branch.
“Think of the water touching you, think of how you love the feel of it… and let yourself fall into it and welcome you to its cool arms” he says, his voice chilling me yet making me feel good inside. I did as he said, and closed my eyes thinking of the cool air around me, the flow of the wind and how it carried the gentle mist. I fell back not of my own will and became that of fog and mist. I could see all things in the reach of my mist body, I could float and hear all I could see the small animals fleeing along the trees from my all seeing eyes.
A deer stood looking at the fog without twitching one nervous ear, I snuck up to it and embraced it stood still evermore even when I did bite its neck and take it with the mist. I was satisfied, and the wolves howled at my ascension as a creature of the night. Within the mist my master smiled.

I remembered his words as I walked through the forest outside of her majesty’s castle. The mist surrounded me and I fell back into its arms. I became it and it me, and I could see all again when I did hear the rustling of underbrush the sound of someone trying to move quietly. I had to investigate this night walker.
The footsteps led to an old log which lay helplessly at its side, the sneaking man was nervously looking about. He was a small pathetic looking man, who writhed his hands together ceaselessly adding to his anxiety driven posture. I was all about him and took notice from the mist, I had not seen him before. He sat still looking about rightfully and I knew why when I did hear that voice… that sounded like rising noise over a hill.
“Why do you shake Boris?” Lucca says from the shadows scaring the man now called Boris from out his very skin.
“Because you always do that!” he shouted back letting his heart settle within his chest. Lucca was smiling because I could feel him grin.
“Many apologies… you have news for me yes?” he says sitting on the log near Boris. Boris sits beside him.
“We’ll I’m here aren’t I?” he replies still somewhat cross. His mannerisms and speech are those of one raised in the street or farm, by himself a lot I gather. He was a lonely man, and he spoke the words of the commoners.
“The vampire still shows no signs of any sort of treason… I’ve hit a wall again Lucca” he speaks looking out into the mist. I am surprised, Lucca does not trust me nor I him… his eyes are wise but I am not for letting him suspect me.
Lucca sighs with his voice of a thousand men, and places his hand on Boris’s shoulder.
“You must try harder, discover what you can… there is more to that man then he pretends to be” Lucca says looking into the forest for eavesdroppers.
“Well I’m trying, the guy’s clean as a whistle… he’s quite the lover too, if you’d only hear the noise coming from his chamber”, Boris chuckles and I am furious. How dare he speak of Max in that callous manner. My mist arms surround Boris’s neck so that he can feel my anger. I relax, I must not pounce so readily. I did not know what I felt that moment… I care for Max but only as a tool for my ascension… do I not.
Boris clears his throat when he feels my cold hands on his neck, but I do not kill him Lucca would know I was here.
“Woman or man does not matter to vampires… he looks at my sister, not with eyes of love, but eyes of a conqueror” he says, “But I am not confident… he mystifies me and until I know his intentions I welcome him as a brother” Lucca at last says.
Good, he does not know my plan and I have an ally… a dark one but an ally nonetheless. Boris nods to Lucca, and I realize I must first trick the trickster and spy known as Boris. Boris stands and dusts his ratty pants.
“Well, I’ll let you know what I find” he says
“What do you know of the people beyond the sea?” Lucca suddenly asks. Boris looks to him.
“Well… to tell the truth I know a little” he says a little scared. I listen intently, the forest feels colder suddenly and I was not the one who caused it. Snakes slithered from their hiding places, frogs did leap from their marshes. The moon beamed through my body of mist and shone in rays across the dark forest floor, the blue light looked like Alexandria’s room when she spoke of the foreigners.
“Well…?” Luca says feeling impatient. Boris comes close as though he were afraid of any and all onlookers, even ghosts lurking through the trees in unrest of their troubled lives.
“I stowed aboard the first ship to see them, massive ships, the color of the clouds I tell you… and marvellous white sails as well. On the helm of their ship was a woman clothed in white, it was almost blinding from all the light of white shades” he says, his words seem more well crafted, “and she had a gaze of pure ice… even her hair was the color of snow and she spoke, I looked with my eyeglass I did to see if I could read what she was saying but there was no use, after but a moment of her speaking her voice boomed across the sea and nearly hurt my ears!” he exclaimed.
“A pity… what did she say?” Lucca requests, he seemed interested enough he was a little too proud of his warrior background to be looked down upon by anyone.
“She said only a few words, you’re not welcome here, is what she said… I feel a war is indeed coming” Boris says. Lucca looks at him closely.
“Thank you Boris… interesting days ahead” Lucca says standing and leaving.
“If you say so” Boris replies and leaves the scene.

I stay in my mist body a moment longer this queen did not seem to extend the hand of peace, perhaps we should not go to their mysterious isle. If we leave them alone, it is conceivable the kingdom will be spared and my rule assured. I became my vampire form and walked again, slowly to collect my thoughts, an entity did approach from the mist then instantly I could feel his cold lips near my ear.
“The plot thickens vampire” the fallen angel says laughing his deep evil laugh.
“Indeed it does… what do you know of the people beyond the sea?” I ask him, Nelchael walks alongside me. The moisture from the mist turns to steam when it touches his helm of blue glowing embers and they steam interminably.
“I know all Ventroth… I am bound to the rule of all angels not to share the fruit with that of man” he says evermore knowing what he knows and refusing to tell me.


I sigh frustrated,
“Aren’t the ones who fell allowed to break the rules of God?” I ask looking at him angrily.
“Not even I can go against the code of the ages… it is how it is done and cannot be changed”
“Do you come just to torment me then?”
“In part… it is what I do, but I wish you all the best in the future”
“Somehow that is not so comforting”
“I am not meant to be… so tell me, do the loins of your beautiful heiress look as good uncovered by satin?” he asks licking his lip and smiling freakishly.
“I do not know, and your words do not help my already disturbed mind… it seems my plan will take some time, I had not expected all of this”
“You expected ease to your journey, nothing gained in your respect is attainable without misery, but that is a lesson for all things… the bird for its nest, the spider for its web, the siren for her men” he adds the last one smiling again.
“I thought you were on my side”
“I am and will always be, please accept my jests as signs of love” he says looking sincere.
“Isn’t that what Loki said?” I say looking at him seriously.
“You are right old friend, the treasure you seek is not of a laughing matter… but again I wish you luck” he says stretching his wings and letting them fall back behind his black robe.
“Bid Lucifer a fond evening” I say to him as he leaves. He leaves laughing as he always does. I walk into the mist leaving my worries in the wood, and my mind on the prize.

It was later into the night that I did run into the one called Abraham Brunelle, idly enough he was smiling when he saw me. I thought there was something afoot, but then he said something that he would only say if one were in the wrong,
“I’m sorry” he told me suddenly. I was in surprise to say the least and he invited me to a walk on the terrace. He sat at a small outside table and I stood looking at him from the balcony where the calming noise of the surf set the mood rather nicely.
“I am rather suspicious of newcomers vampire, I meant no offence in my accusations… and the part with the crossbow fills me with embarrassment” he says smiling at me. I raise my eyebrows.
“Is that because you thought you had a ghost of a chance at killing me?” I say smirking in the shadow of the moon. He clears his throat and smiles again.
“Partially, but her majesty was right… it is unwise to threaten guests, and as your intentions are pure, I have no quarrel with those brimming with honesty and integrity” he says still smiling as though he were laughing inside at his sincerity. I am content with his words, perhaps I was too quick to judge as well.
“Well good Abraham, if I were you, told to guard the Contessa… I would have acted the same” I say. He nods and looks at the sea.
“I hope you can forgive me” he says with an air of finality. I smile and walk over to him placing my hand on his shoulder.
“It is accepted my friend, let it be behind us like the past itself, truly is” I say and he rises to his feet and walks with me to the edge of the terrace.
We stare out into the deep, only seeing so far into the sea and the white crest of the waves that come tumbling into our shore. It is no wonder as to the many horrific stories of the ocean, a silent and great entity, taking life without reason and then leaving us with its dark gaping mouth to fill our nightmares. Water always terrified me in some way, the stories my master shared of the ancient sea gods and demons that would snatch people from out their boats without a trace. The silent abyss, where no air to fill ones lungs could be found… where a lurking monster was watching you and the cold water was all one could feel. As you can tell I was unsettled standing at this terrace, and Brunelle could feel my discomfort.
“What have you heard… about the new people beyond that great darkness” he spoke suddenly and looked over to me expecting wisdom from the ages; I hope he would not be disappointed.
“Very little… and what I have heard disturbs me, it is as though they want the anonymity, which is worse for ones mind” I say and shift my posture to a more relaxed stature. He looks back at the sea.
“There has been peace for some time… I do not wish for another war, that mad one Lucca yearns for it”
“He is… a warrior, some feel they need bloodshed to feel alive”
“No one should feel that way, you take life because you have to… those brought up to kill do not play with a full deck of cards” he says smiling at his gag.
“He is a dark one, I do not want a trifle with him”
“Is the almighty vampire afraid of a human?” he says pulling a canteen of water or perhaps ale from his belt and drinking hungrily.
“It is not so simple as humans anymore, in three hundred years you humans have gained powers on par with my own… and there are sorcerers to fill the void, witches and demons and other ethereal beings” I say scaring him a little.
“You know this?” he says looking at my eyes while my gaze is still out to sea.
“I know a few… Lucca and his followers of the Lizaberian Shadows are among them”
“I see… well, there is only so much point to conversing about the unknown, there is a training area where Lucca demonstrates and sometimes instructs the young in the way of the sword, perhaps you should come and watch” he says before lifting himself off the terrace and walking into the castle. I stay out a little longer and watch the ocean and feel the breeze upon my face. I know the feeling to be human once more, to feel afraid.