Chronicles of Contessa: The Tale of Ventroth

It was blinding, though I had not been in the sun since the day I was created. The warmth was actually quite enjoyable, but it was the moon I had grown to love. Yondaime did indeed furnish me with this potion, I was standing on the dock about to board the Contessa’s flagship. But we were not going alone, I looked down the wharf and saw too many sails to even count… they were warships. Negotiations may not end well, and if that is the case, the canons will fire… I wouldn’t have a problem leaping from ship to ship but my powers are not at their peak. My sword in my belt is always ready, and I grip it tightly.
The Dark Lord Veeba sidles beside me.
“A magnificent view, is it not vampire?” he says looking at me.
“It is… is the Contessa aboard?” I say. The Dark Lord looks around, hissing similarly to Nelchael’s snake form.
“She is on her way accompanied by her brothers, I did see you fight the Lizaberian… that sword of yours is strong” he admires and steps in front of me.
“It has helped me through man adversities… do you wield a sword?” I say and Veeba smiles crookedly, making my hairs rise.
“My blades are from magic, and I find their power more comforting then any steel mere humans can make” he says, “I shall see thee aboard” he tells me and begins toward the boat. I watch him go, his torn and shredded cloak following him helplessly.
I turn back at the castle, and I see a rather sad looking Max standing there very lonely. I walk to him,
“I am still here, yet you look as though I am already buried” I say smiling at him. He looks away, he is upset …it is apparent and rather endearing.
“You will return tomorrow?” he says avoiding my gaze.
“Fear not young one, I shall indeed return… and we shall celebrate my return” I say perhaps adding incentive for my trip. He at last looks at me warmly,
“I have not seen you in the sunlight before” he says smiling
“It is not my time of day” I return. He runs into me and embraces me, I pat his head and back.
“You always strike me my Lord, the same as when I first saw you” he says and I hold him close.
“Only a day or so Max, I shall see you soon” I tell him and we separate. He watches me go, and I board the ship.

Once I am on the ship I notice a rather ill-looking Abraham Brunelle hugging the rail and ready to lose his rather expensive meal of only a few hours. I approach him smiling.
“Does the tide surge so heavily! We have not left port yet secretary” I laugh and he looks at me with death in his eyes.
“Go to hell” he whispers and continues holding the rail.
“Well I believe that is inevitable kind sir, a fallen angel tells me every so often” I say and walk to look back at the dock. Brunelle watches me go with the oddest of looks. Then I notice someone I have never even spoken with, the young Crystal Moon holding the rail very delicately and not as stomach wrenching as Brunelle’s unfortunate position. She looks out to the ocean with no fear, and I step beside her watching her face as her eyes are closed to the warm ocean breeze.
“It is a beautiful day” I say and she looks at me, not surprised by my presence.
“You would know the difference?” she says almost with an air of apprehension in her voice.
“I have not seen such a day in over three hundred years” I say, and she is rather shocked I feel she wishes her words were not so hostile.
“I am sorry, it must be terrible to not feel the sun” she pities and I merely shrug slightly.
“The moon is my guiding light, some nights I feel it as warm as the sun once was”
“What do you feel of our journey?” she says
“I cannot form a conclusion on those I have not met, I feel the journey is necessary”
“I feel the same, though I wish it were not so, I wish we had not met them”
“All things must change Moon… if you are as comforting as the moon truly is, for me at least, I know you will accept my words” I say, and she nods.
“Perhaps the Contessa is right about you, you are wise old vampire”
“Thank you, though I am not that old in the world of vampires, my master is nearly nine hundred” I say and she gasps aloud.
“He still lives!” she exclaims
“Four years ago we parted ways and he was that old… I know he still lives, his power is without equal… created by an Antediluvian Vampire” I say
“What is this word you speak of?” she inquires now very intrigued.
“Children of the first vampire ever created, they say they are gods… though I have never met one” I say and she is still interested.
“You are an intriguing race” she says smiling warmly.
“Humans are no slouches, if only they lasted longer” I say and grin, she snickers at the pun.
The young announcer girl steps aboard the boat,
“Her majesty Alexandria!” she says. Then comes the Contessa, the most extravagant gown I had ever seen. It was as though beauty itself had swallowed her and the result was this, a brilliant blue dress, as dark as the sea with emeralds of green hue on her neck. She looked at me and I melted away, her brothers were alongside her Enea looking at Crystal Moon beside me and she shyly met his eyes. I smiled at the tension and walked over to the Contessa.
“Ventroth”, Enea says cheerily and I bow to him.
“Master Enea”
“Please, I am no ones master” he says
“Oh but you are, you are my master good Enea and it is good to see you”, I say and he accepts the compliment, the sun reflecting off his armour with blinding light. Lucca simply bows at me in his dark shroud and I bow to him.
“Thank you for coming Ventroth” Alexandria says breaking our silence, “we depart at once, the council room is below… Enea show our captain his seat”
“Yes sister” he responds and walks to the aft with me at his side.

Enea leads me below to a large round table, the likes of which even Arthur would admire.
“The captain’s seat is here Ventroth” he says, seeming happy as he always is and even in my dark disposition I can’t help but seem jovial.
“Thank you, what do you wish to see in the upcoming days?” I ask him and he is taken aback by the question.
“Well… I would hope for nothing but the continuation of my sister’s rule… I hope the newcomers are able to accept us in their world”
“And if they don’t?” I ask, rather curious. He pauses and his face goes dark, a side I had not seen.
“They would rue the day they crossed swords with our kingdom… especially mine” he says and bows to me leaving the room. Perhaps the blade I should fear is his, I think and relax in my chair.

The rest entered momentarily, the room seemed to grow darker when Veeba entered smiling slyly at me and the others. Such a moment made me wonder what his real purpose is and how it is crucial to the kingdom. Once we were all around the table, which reflected from coats of finish that would always make it look as though untouched; the Contessa spoke.
“I fear this moment… uncertainty, it is humanities greatest fear” she says, “But without adventurers, there would be no advancement”, she tells us. The table is unanimous in the favour of her words and nods and verbal agreements come from their mouths including mine.
“Though, if it is war, do not assume they will wait until we are back safely at our shores… I want all of you to be ready” she says, and we bow, “are there any concerns that my great council wish to express at this moment?” she questions and we look from one to another.
Enea speaks out,
“Should the enemy… pardon me, the foreign people foolishly wish to attack the five hundred of our ships at port will turn to cover this our Contessa’s ship which will immediately about face and flee back to our native shores”
“What if their ships attempt to surround us?” Brunelle says looking at Enea with unwavering support.
“We must pray the wind is on our side, all cannons have been prepared… our thousand ship fleet will prevail, take courage in that” he says looking at each of us.
“Should they board us… kill without hesitation” Lucca says adding finality to the conversation. We all nod sincerely, and the council is dismissed.
Evening comes as we all walk around the ship, probably the largest I have ever set foot upon, and the least treacherous. In the past I have had to sneak aboard ships, all at night and hide during the day, killing those who take midnight walks and feeding on the immense rats. I always shudder at the thought, they make a most unpleasant sound when dying. The worst of all my troubles on ships were when they were cargo carriers, immediately leaving port even at midday and I would have to leap off in the night and swim back to shore. And my worst fear, the black oceans eye staring at me in its domain… was watching me paddle to land.
Brunelle lit a cigarette and puffed happily, looking at me and offering me a draw from his smoke. I take it and puff, feeling the smoke within my dead lungs take it in hungrily. I pass it back and he smiles,
“Ever smoke when you were human?” he asks
“I was too young, my father forbid it”
“Tough break, how’d you get around a strict figure like him”
“I killed him” I say looking darkly at Brunelle, his face grows serious but then smiles,
“I wish I knew you many years ago, my father was not a kind hearted man”
“My mother was kind… though she wished for death after my fathers unfortunate passing, and took her life, I’ll never know why she did that for him, that loathsome man”
“Have you ever been in love Ventroth?” Brunelle asks.
“No”
“Perhaps you’ll know when the bells ring in your vampire heart”
“We do not love anymore”
“Then I take some pity in you… some” he says, “Yondaime has one more potion for you, took him nearly four hours to mix, it’ll most likely be day for the negotiation” he tells me and walks down below.
“I look out to sea, and to my insurmountable surprise Lord Veeba is hovering above the waves directly beside the boat. His cloak flutters in the wind, and to me it seems more like it was trying to escape. He let his pale feet skim along the water as he looked around… as though expecting attack.
“My lord, we share a similar feat!” I say to him. In an instant he is gone, vanished a slight puff of smoke. I look overboard for him when his cold hand slides on my shoulder, had I been human again I would have been in cardiac arrest.
“Flying… is an ability of the damned, good vampire” he hisses at me, and I turn to face him.
“It’s more then a useful skill, but I don’t use it so often anymore”
“Soaring through a silver sky… is most breath taking, but I have other skills that have helped me in the past” he says, in his hand he holds a small amount of water that levitates in his palm. It was as though he had a small invisible box in his open hand. Using his power the water stretched and expanded, and I was indeed mesmerized. The water then shot at me making a spike, and stepped backward as Veeba smiled at me.
“The world is a weapon, it is good to make use of it” he says giving the water to me, which momentarily becomes liquid again. He turns and the sun shines brighter on my pale skin, to face him in battle, would be a formidable day.

Night falls on the ocean, and the council sleeps. I suddenly realize that I have lost sight of my plot, it has been a very long time since even in this journal I have not spoken of my plans. The kingdom… my ascension as its ruler, perhaps I should set the scheme in motion after this negotiation and possible war. Have I gone soft in my stay at this castle, the kind people, my kinds words to them… my master would strike me in my current state. But that Contessa, my powers of seduction do not seem to shake her will… instead I long for her like the cold night for that glowing sun. The times I see her, the utter and complete desire to rip the shrouds from her body to expose her true nature and take her like she has never been taken… damn Taylor and his slave duties. I would take his place in a moment… it is now I realise my folly, it is her beauty, Nelchael I need your wisdom.
Only he could truly know her thoughts and tell me of them, and this is why he does not answer me now… I told him she would be mine of my own power and word is stronger then any mountain. How it would be my true passion, to soar with ashen wings and have power over all the creatures and things of Lucifer. I smile at my thoughts, perhaps a visit to the lady’s lodging is in order. In her fragile state it would be easy to make her feel inept about her reign, and implant the idea of having a king at her side.

On either side of the door are glowing candles, the emblem of her kingdom etched and painted by a most skilled artist and shines in the light. I knock once and open the door,
“Do come in” she says, like she knows who beckons. I peer in, the lady is in her night wear and I smile at her, she replies with a grin. An innocent girl grin and melts my cruel intentions, I close the door behind me and walk toward her. She looks so very pleased, even at my dark shadow creeping toward her… like a lost child who peers at the lecher wanting to steal her from her parents completely oblivious. Yet so very all-knowing to me, and my approach becomes more of a caring advisor then the villain in the classic play, setting one against the other to hope the winner would fare him well. I am right before her now, and we gaze into each other knowing and not knowing, feeling without sentiment, a touch without contact.
“I… I know a big day lies before your majesty, I was wondering… if you are troubled” I say almost shakily and she can hear it no doubt.
“I was, until you entered… you always seem to know when something is on my mind Ventroth Mephistos” she says smiling again. Of all things in creation, I beg of her in my mind to say my name once more.
“Does the night air trouble you, the window lies open…” I say trying to find ay reason to stay in this room.
“You may close it, the curtain is not down either” she tells me, sitting on her bed. The slight side-to-side movements of the boat shift the small chandelier on the ceiling. I close the window, and pull the silk string allowing the curtain to fall soundlessly covering the dark eyes of the ocean. I move to her and sit beside her,
“Had you no words to say at the meeting” she asks curiously,
“It seemed your brothers had the idea of war well in hand”
“Please do not say it”
“I am sorry”
“No it’s okay, the word brings memories of nothing but fear… the books I have read and the things I have seen to attain peace, I only wish it to last”
“It shall your grace”
“Please… I have everyone else to refer to me as their leader, if you could just call me Alexandria… just for now” she says looking into me. I would do whatever she asked, I would give my all for her.
“Alexandria” I say, and she looks happy at me, “I care for you, and your kingdom”
“I care for you and your words… sending that invitation to you, I did not know what to expect”
“Am I what Alexandria wanted?” I say rather curious.
“You surpass my greatest thoughts…” she says placing a hand on my arm. Little did her and I know, we had been moving closer since we had sat on her bed, perhaps my seduction was still as potent as it always was.
I do not wait any longer, I take her arm and my hand becomes warm like I was nearing it to fire. She seems surprised I would have the courage to touch her, but she allows it without words but in her eyes. I am now facing her completely, with my right hand I slide across her cheek letting my fingers slip through her golden hair. Her eyes close at the intensity of my touch and her breathing grows heavy, with my vampire strength I pull her to me. She slides along the bed a short distance as we were already very close, then she is right before me. We are looking at each other, like we were waiting for too long for this moment. I release her right arm from my grip, and she moves it around my shoulder and I can feel it on my back. It has come, this glorious moment when not even Nelchael with all his powers could pull me from her eyes. I lean toward her slowly but she is the one who leaps forward to my lips and we are locked in a kiss.
I had been with many over my life and none ignited my soul like she did this night. We were hungry for each other, separating then connecting again exploring, I moved to her neck and she breathed like she was about to climax. I wanted to bite for a moment, but I could never my fangs retreated from her pure skin and I returned to her lips again. I laid her down on her bed from where we sat, kissing evermore, that is when I pulled up for a moment my black hair falling in her face. Her blonde hair was loose and streamed from her head flowing to her bed like rivers of gold in a red velvet valley. My heart beat like it were ripping in half and we stared at each other for an eternity.
“I am sorry” I say at last and she looks at me with some question.
“If you had offended me, I would have reproached good Ventroth” she tells me leaning forward to kiss me once more.
“I do not know if we should…” I tell her and she sends her hands through my dark hair.
My words falter…

It is she that pulls me now and we kiss once more, even the brief seconds we were separated it was as though I were condemned for the second time in my long life. With one finger I drag it ever so softly across her skin from her forehead around her cheek with our lips still entwined. I can hear her breath quicken from my touch while we kissed, my finger moves on its own slipping down her neck to the middle of her chest teasing between her breasts. She inhales so deep, it is as though her very last breath, her nightgown is so loose upon her frame it seems to fall away from my touch. And I was there, her nightgown having left her upper body baring her naked chest to me and my eyes that hungered for them. We still kissed, and I suddenly thought of the threat of war the next day and I think she knew what I thought. I pulled away so slowly that it was many minutes before our faces were looking into each other once more. I reach down and pull her nightgown back to her chest letting my knuckle graze her breast and she smiles seductively.
“A leader must have a clear conscience, if the threat of war looms… I feel I have done more harm then good this night” I tell her. I rise and she stands right next to me, placing her hand on my cheek.
“That moment was… unavoidable”
“Some things are wordless… and this, was one of them” I pull her at me and we kiss once more, we embrace this time as well I could feel her body against mine. I held her as tightly as she did me, and her strength from this embrace was more then human capacity like I was loving a kindred with a mortal body. Her nightgown so very thin I could feel her chest upon mine, piercing me and making me want to take her to bed yet again.
The candles bloomed green and soared from their wax prison from the forbidden love they witnessed, our powers were too great for the mortal plane. We separated at the same instant, looking at each other still, I step back. We are both breathing like fear took hold of every facet of our being, but it was passion and it would not subside… she may not be able to sleep tonight. I walk to the door and she follows me. I open it and check the corridor for onlookers and that deviant Boris, having stepped outside where the air is cool from the heat of her body. I turn back to her,
“Good night… Alexandria” I say
“Good night… my dear Ventroth” she says, at my name I kiss her without even knowing. She is surprised but accepts and we separate for the last time, she closes the door with a smile, never looking away until the abhorrent wood prevents us from seeing each others eyes. Within the candles glow their yellow light, Alexandria leans against her door with her eyes remembering each passing moment I was in her arms. In the cool air of the sea I lean against the wall, my muscles seizing as though I had fought a hundred years without a taste of blood.
My steps feel heavy with an undying and unsatisfied love, I walk up the moonlit stairs to the deck, the ocean was not helping my stride. I finally arrive at the bow and look into the night, the ocean blushes a white glow from the moon above glittering and knowing what I had just been entwined with. She cannot be human I think… Jason and his Argonauts would be no match for this Siren. The moon calms me, and my heart returns to normal, inching its way to my pattern. My skin becoming cool from the perspiration of lust, it relaxes me… in one instant all I had planned all I had desired were shot down from only her eyes. And how I longed for her to look at me… once more…