Chronicles of Contessa: The Tale of Ventroth

The castle was still dark when I arrived at the rear gate, darker then usual, as though the clouds from Lucifer’s wake hung in the night sky still. I walked through the halls by myself, still feeling cold and unsure about the future, steps were following me, it was Max… I could smell him and his fear. He wanted me to console him and tell him all would be well, but I could not bring myself to lie to him. He followed me not saying a word and I stopped.
“Master…” he says, and I continue to look forward.
“Yes, Max?” I reply turning to him.
“What shall we do… our kingdom? It has been so long since war was on our very doorstep, I was an infant at the time. How will we defend ourselves against an army with a sorceress and a vampire of light…?” he says coming closer now.
“If all you hear is rumours, then it is what you’ll believe… they have an army, and nothing in this world that is flesh is indestructible” I tell him and he nods.
“Come then” I say, “You are tired with worry, it is time for sleep”
“I do not want to sleep…” he says looking at me with that all too familiar look. I smile, humans are insatiable. I walk on and he follows me when a voice comes from the shadows,
“Max? why aren’t you… oh!” he says when he sees me standing there. I look at him in a friendly manner, my eyes with their seductive power make him shy and he looks away.
“Taylor… why did you follow me?” Max says somewhat disgruntled.
“You are always gone in the night, I worry…” he says and looks at me quickly.
“Young Max is near me always, as I am his master”
“He has told me of you” Taylor says looking at Max with hidden meaning and Max gestures for him to be silent. How endearing, I think, two slaves with tendency to gossip. I chuckle to myself.
“It is unfortunate that after all my time in the council you and I have not properly conversed” I tell him and he bows suddenly, I walk over and lift his head to my eyes with my finger beneath his chin.
“There is no need for formalities in the dark of my world, all things are welcome here” I say and he struggles to look away, until he accepts my eyes looking into his. Max becomes slightly fidgety with a jealous stature.
“Come master, I want to speak with you more”
“Would you mind if Taylor joined us?” I say looking at them both. They look at each other and Max rather perturbed says,
“Yes” meekly. Taylor smiles and the three of use retreat to my living quarters.
I light one candle while they both sit on my bed rather happily, for Max he remembers the nights that have passed and I can hear his heart beat rather rapidly. Taylor’s hear is similar in pace though only from my presence, he shifts often with nervousness.
“We have but one more night after this to be carefree under the rule of our mistress, I am not certain but will you fight?” my question stuns them both and they look at each other,
“We have been friends for many years my lord, in all that time we have never been in a battle… you know our purpose” he says and Max nods,
“We can fight, but poorly” Max adds leaning on my sheets.
“Very well, I don’t know if I can protect you when the fray begins… I want you both to be sure of yourselves and know who you fight for, it is then you will find your fighting spirit, let the blade swing with all your emotion for whom you fight”
“I will fight… for you” Max says and I smile at him, I put my hand to his cheek.
“I know you will fight, and if it is for me then you will fight well” I tell him.
They smile,
“So Taylor” I ask sitting on my bed resting my head near the wall, “what has my, rather talkative servant told you?” I say closing my eyes and listen to them silently argue.
“Well… that you are a very powerful lord, worthy of respect-“
“It is unbecoming to lie…” I say still smiling, there is a pause and I feel Max climb toward me and rests his head near my chest.
“He says you are a lover beyond all he has known” Taylor says climbing in a similar fashion to my left side while Max is on my right.
“How very flattering of him” I say stroking his hair and Taylor’s. I let my power flow into their skin and they shudder from the heat of the touch.
“I have… longed to disapprove his theory” Taylor says stroking my stomach, Max joins the caress. I smile from the very quick change of direction, I pet them both while they begin to kiss my chest.
“It’s astute of you young one, to say such things” I say, and Taylor is already perspiring.
I take them both, as they would want to be taken… my eyes are not easily ignored. Using my power of darkness and lust, they are worn out in merely a few hours. Mortal humans, the only one who could contend with my ever hungry appetite for love was her. My Contessa with her hair of gold. I looked upon the slave boys as they slept, entwined with each other nude as their birth, and I as well. They are the images of innocence and I am taken with their forms glowing from the sweat in the moonlight. The room hot with our bodies, making the window drip moisture as though it were watching us all along. I walk to that window where the moon sits in the sky, I can see Lucifer in the clouds as I open the glass. The cool air makes me shiver, not only from the cold, but the hordes of white ships that bring the country’s doom on their swords.


It was the following day, I walked along the castle corridors, thinking like I have the last few days… months now actually. My thoughts are rampant, perhaps Nelchael is right… I have gained my human heart again. I do not know if my power is weakened because of this, or has it made me stronger? I sit in my council chair in the main hall, looking at the empty seats my ears fill with the sound of silence. It is uncomfortable but I cannot bring myself to leave. I know this… never have I made love with one so passionately and strongly as that night, I have craved her flesh ever since, it is almost a curse. Like a story my master once told me:




There was a man within a cave, he was but alone. All he had were his great murals he crafted with the white rocks from his desolate land. He would draw and draw, praying that his images would come to life. He drew the most beautiful maiden on his canvass of rock, were one to look upon her they would kiss the cold stone in spite of themselves. He was the greatest artist to ever live, and no one knew he even existed.
One night while sharpening his stone, his pencil for the rock the maiden came to life. He thought he was in a dream as he walked to her glowing body, they knew what they were meant to do. In the night they made love with all the passion mankind could offer, the moon glared into the cave with jealousy; the sea crashed against the shore for them to stop but stop they would not.
Once they had given all the love they could, she told him she could not stay… the loneliness of the man earned him this gift but it could only happen once and nevermore. The man cried his soul for his true love to stay, but she had no choice and walked into the crashing waves never to be seen. The man cried for days and nights, and the moon and sky cried with his grief for his maiden drawn of white rocks. One night the man’s tears stopped and his longing for his lost love would claim him. He cut himself with his own rock and wrote on the cave with his blood:

Farewell my love for thee
As you walk into the sea
My loneliness behind
To your beauty I am blind
Gone with the night
Your wings hath gave you flight
And so I die for you my love
In the land of the dead you are the dove…


I could only think of that story, how the man gave his life only for a hope that he would find her in death. Have I become so devoted, do I share the same fate? Questions always questions, I have no answer that the days ahead will tell. Fear the stab of love, for it pierces too deep to heal. I look about the room, and in the corner near the curtain where I first saw her, she stands watching me. I look at her and my questions, my uncertainty melts in the air. I walk to her, each step bringing me to absolution, my answer my reason to not be afraid. Her eyes told me this, when I was in front of her, and she knew what I thought.
Her lips and mine connect near the crimson curtain, in the shadows where prying eyes do not cast their all-knowing glare. I embrace her as we kiss, the soft velvet of her green dress making my fingers tingle with peace and soft. Like the down on an owls chest, it welcomes me to tranquility. Her words are few, but in them I find myself…

“Do not fear my love…”

And in her arms… I fear nothing.


SECTION II: BELLUM INFIT HODIE (War Begins Today)

The steps lined in a circle, growing upward to the top of the tower I climbed. My boots clomped on the cold stone and echoed through the walls and down to the many stories below. My robe was heavy this day, it clung to me like guilt and dragged along behind me as I stepped onward relentlessly. Yondaime was forever attempting to create potions for me, the daylight tonic that had allowed me to see the horrors of the Pillar of Light was the toil of his chemistry. He was still fascinated with the vampire ways, more of a breakthrough was a liquid that could make my blessed curse lift for the eyes of the sun. The sun no doubt scowled at my face in it’s purity but bared me in its sight, one day at a time.
If I were to be of any use in battle I could not wait to join the fight when Hodur pulled his shroud over the sky. Death was on the sea air and carried the foul smell to all corners of the kingdom. He sat on his horse on the hill, waiting for the first shot, the first scream, the first to fall with his arrows loose in his quiver. But Death would find enough blood this day, with the many days to come for his endless watch over the field of battle. And the Vampire of Luminarium that stood on the bow of his ship would no doubt lay waste to this mortal army.
I had reached the top, it was a surprise to me that it didn’t continue to heaven. An ironic thought and I smiled at it, the door before me was wooden and ancient. The cob webs hung from the ceiling drenching the handles, they were iron rings loose in the center of the door. She had been through here, the webs were ripped in some places and floated in the air. I opened the door with a loud creak and stepped forward, it an open courtyard. The sky above was ashen with the burden of knowing what was happening on the earth’s face. I walked forward a little further, the courtyard extended in a circle and then led down a small path to a smaller stone circle.
And there she stood, her green dress still like steel even as the winds were blowing fast at this altitude. Her hands were almost as grey as the stone she laid her hands upon, her breath was quick and panicked as she gazed at the scene before her. I approached beside her and looked out to it as well.
It was a vast army, all the able bodied men and women were on the shore beneath us. To our right and left were men with arrows and silver armour with their eyes on the sea, every vantage point outside the castle was cluttered with soldiers. The beach was no longer the tan-like color of sand, it was swarmed with multicoloured banners representing the various countries flocked under Contessa Alexandria. The beach went beyond what human eyes could see, for me it was endless, an endless horde of people reaching to the ends of the earth. All eyes were on the ocean.
Just on the horizon, covered by a fog were the sails of white that lined all along until the very curve of the earth, only me and my Alexandria could see just how far they stretched. With my vampire eyes I could see the White Queen standing on her bow all those many miles away, standing beside her the Vampire of Light smiling at me his hand on the handle of his blade on his back. The wind making their garments of silver and leather flutter in the wind.

Alexandria looked out on the scene with pride… and horror. I looked at her eyes, and they told me all her fears were realised, no peace, no friendship… just war. Behind me the members of the council were slowly forming, Dark Lord Veeba, Crystal Moon, Lucca of Lizaberian Shadows, Enea the warrior, Abraham Brunelle, Yondaime, Andrea Kimoto, Aisha Maretto… and far into the corner hunched over and looking about nervously was Boris the snitch. Alexandria knew they were there but couldn’t pull from the sight of her country united for her kingdom, it almost brought a tear to her eye… and mine. That all before her was in defence and protection of her kingdom, and they all answered her call.
Veeba floats to her and places a cold hand on her shoulder, she puts her hand on his and he is taken aback. Veeba smiles in a way I had not seen, it was a comfort smile one that knew of how she was feeling and I was rather dumbstruck. Veeba leans his cloaked head to Alexandria’s ear,
“They wish to hear the voice of their ruler… address them as the leader we all know you are” he says and floats back to the council that watches on in pride. Alexandria takes a breath and sighs a heavy sigh. Veeba ignites a green flame from his palm and lets it flicker through the air to Contessa, the green flame envelopes her and makes her hair float as though she were under water. Her eyes glow white and I take a step back, Veeba empowered her to speak to all who were beneath her on the battle field. She lifts into the air from Veeba’s field of energy and the green flame flickers all around her making a beacon for all the soldiers. Beneath us the men and women taking arms against the threat from the sea were looking at her, even many miles down the beach all were watchful.
The she spoke and the sea rippled back from the force of the power,
“I see great strength in my country before me, we face a threat like never before… not even as great as when war rocked the country under my fathers rule. If he could see the unification of the field I see today, he would be proud. Know who you fight for, all of Thosaea, do not fight for me or this kingdom, but fight for your country… this one day will affect us all and today we take to war as siblings. Let us show the enemy why this country has sustained peace for these many years, for the last to take up arms against us were decimated, as will these foes. Do not falter, do not slip, hold steady aim with precision and your strikes will always land, always know whom you fight for with each swing of your sword… for Thosaea, to arms!” she cries out and the galley before us ignite with passion and roar in approval.
Veeba nods as the noise of the crowd chant “Thosaea, Thosaea!” and the clanging of swords on shields rise like a storm across the beach and the fields of reinforcements behind us. They all give out their war-cries and even the heavens are forced to look on the brotherhood of battle. Alexandria returns to the stone ground as the green flame evaporates into the air and she looks weak but she hold her ground. Lucca and Enea walk forward from behind her, she turns to see them. The brothers of the Contessa kneel and kiss her green dress, she smiles at them not knowing if she will see them again after this moment.
“We go to meet them my lady” Lucca says
“Do not fear, they shall be reckoned with” Enea adds and they stand, Lucca and Enea look to me.
“We fight alongside at last Ventroth, leave the Vampire of light to me” Lucca says his voice echoing in that frightening way.
“May it be the first… and last time we fight, and he will fall this day” I say and bow to him, Lucca bows as well.
“I shall who you the true way of the blade” Enea says and the brothers leave, Alexandria watches them go.
“They are strong my lady” I say
“I know… all is still uncertain” she says. Veeba bows behind us,
“I shall greet the White Queen my lady, and show her hospitality of Thosaea” he snickers and floats to the door.
All the members of the council have gone leaving me with my Contessa. She turns all at once at the sound of the door and embraces me,
“I will not lose you to the country of light…” she says squeezing tight and I return the motion, “if all is lost I will ride with you in the path of shame… just to be by your side” she tells me as we hug before the army beneath us. I hold her and the warmth from her body, like flames touch my chest through my robe, the cold air could not sweep away that feeling.
“You will lose me to no one, and I will make them wish they never set foot on those boats of white” I say and she squeezes even tighter. We hold each other for a moment longer letting all our feelings come together as one, then I kiss her as though it would be our last time… and very well could be”, we separated and looked into each others eyes. Then I left and did not look back, and she turned back to the sea to watch the outcome from the greatest view, but also the very worst.

The boats were so very close now, their white sails in clear view and their helmsmen as well. Their armour and shields with the emblem of the Pillar of Light could be distinguished, and the white army was ready for battle. Their boats were turning exposing their sides to the beach where I stood with Lucca and Enea, both with their swords drawn. Lucca was clothed in Lizaberian armour of black, even his blades were coated in ash only the edge had a silver shine that glittered, no doubt sharpened with diamonds. It was a Kriss style sword slightly wavy with a very wide tip that spelled death to the foe who faced it. He wore a helm with a single horn just long enough to reach a man’s heart, spikes were on all the parts of his body he could strike with he was the essence of a soldier. He had a deadly axe of more mass then a cannon ball on his back to cleave away the enemy… he was a killer at his Shadow heart.
Enea was the opposite of his brother clothed in silver shimmering armour, he carried two swords one broadsword over his shoulder that was nearly nine feet long; as well as a short sword at his side for the close combat battle this was going to be. He had a quiver of arrows with a golden bow across his back for the distance fight that would begin any moment. He wore no helm, for him it was an intimidation technique and well founded he lived by the thought that “if the enemy could strike a blow to my head I was dead to begin with”. He also had a small axe just hanging from its head at his hip, ready to be pulled.
I was prepared for all forms of battle, I had my bow as well, my sword was sheathed at my side I had brought all my daggers for the attack. My hidden sword in the middle of my back if I was ever disarmed, and I had one blade in the armour of my sleeve that if I arched my hand upright as fast as I could would shoot out and I could strike with it. All of us were made to shed blood, and it would be spilled… the beach of white sand soon to be stained in the books of history. Veeba stood nearby on a mound of sand, he wore no armour but as a magician it was not like them to do so. He did carry a sword though, a thin sabre with a handle of a snake that was long enough to make one think it were a staff. His dark hand was loose at his side, occasionally gesturing for the enemy to some already and begin the battle. All was silent on the beach, except for the waves crashing on the shore, begging us to end the conflict before it began.
Lucca was tapping his heavy sword on the sand and shifting his weight, thinking of every move he could make when the first man faced him. Enea was firm and ready, he would choose a single man from the front line to attack like a falcon and strike just as swift. The boats in the distance were opening small holes on their sides and pushing forward their cannons.

“What do we show the enemy of Thosaea!” Enea cried at the crowd of soldiers behind us.
“Our sword… our sword!” they replied holding their sabres high. Enea repeated this chant while they all clanged their swords and shields together. The morale was growing despite the immense sight of the white boats before us, and I’m sure the Contessa could hear the war cry of her countrymen.

The cannons began to fire, he boom of each one was clear in the calm air. Each explosion shook the sea as the iron balls were no doubt flying at insane speeds toward us. The smoke from the shots were all along the horizon and steadily crept to the sky. Then the whistle, that heavy whistle of death that sung it’s lonely song through the sky. The iron balls struck the sand in front of us only mere meters from where we stood, all of us squinted as the sand shot at our eyes from the upheaval of the strike. None of us were injured in the first attack from the sea, and once all was calm we cheered and mocked them. Then came the second shots, once again the shots went one after another down the line on the boats all along the coastline. The iron balls flew over our heads hitting the very middle of the army, soldiers were struck with the steel ripping them apart sending limbs and entire bodies into the air. The three of us in the front line turned to look at the dying men behind us.
Each one was thinking of how they were special, how it could never be them who was hit, all their dreams dashed with that millisecond from where they knew they were wrong, to when they were standing before death on his pale horse. The explosions went along the line behind as far as the eyes could see, but I could see further as they continued to rock the shore and vibrate the sand. This went on for an hour and a half, the cheering of still being alive to the shots and eventual booms and blasts of the sand where our men stood. Once their ammunition was lingering the boats that were firing the shots were moving away to make room for the next offensive. Now was the time, Lucca drew his bow and Enea signalled back at the castle.
Behind us every single window in the castle opened revealing our cannons. Lucca was already firing his arrows of fire that ignited in the air from Veeba’s magical assistance. He was a remarkable marksman, I followed one of his shots fly all the way to the man at the helm of a cannon boat and cut through his eye and into their deck. The cannons went off behind us at that exact moment, hundreds of shots on the castle then behind all the infantry every cannon on the coast line fired and went all along in a line until it was out of sight. The boat that was now missing a man at the wheel began to turn into another ship, the crash brought a smile to our faces and we all held our swords in the air. The two boats would be the first to sink, while the others were being hit by our cannons. The merciless balls of iron smashed against the frail wood of their boats and splintered away into the water at incredulous speed. The line of cannon frigates were being ripped apart by our shots from the shore, paying the price for striking first and having little to show for it. Lucca was out of arrows, but a young servant ran up and dropped another quiver off taking the empty one back up the beach to the camp.
Once what remained of the cannon boats were sunk or fleeing to the back of the line there was something I had not seen before emerged. It was a wooden buoyant plank… but massive, it was like an island coming toward us and growing in size as the other boats made way for their attack. It was approaching our shore from so far away we could not see the boats that brought it, it was coming though. The other boats were lining along it’s immense side to drop their men onto it, they were already filtering out onto it preparing a line of infantry. The fight would take place on their artificial battleground, it was almost an ally and far more easier to fight upon then sand.
“I like it when they welcome death…” Lucca says, his warrior heart aching for the first strike. Enea was watching, not saying a word… he was a strategist and studies the situation.
“An enemy’s land is filled with treachery… tread carefully” he says. The plank is now a leap’s distance from our soldiers.
Their army was forming into groups in the distance, the plank was long and wide enough for them to move in formations. I was preparing myself for hidden attacks, Enea made hand signals to the battle guards on the beach that told them only half of the men and women would enter the plank. Our soldiers were moving into formation behind us. I was preparing myself for hidden attacks, Enea made hand signals to the battle guards on the beach that told them only half of the men and women would enter the plank. Our soldiers were moving into formation behind us. The soft steps were still loud on the sand of the beach, Lucca, Enea and myself walked on the plank first. The rest followed slowly forming groups of long swords, archers and spearmen… the battle axe’s were to our right and those with heavy weapons like the mace were to our left.
After a moment of walking the armies were not far from one another, Veeba was floating overhead, both his hands engulfed in green flame. From within the centre of the army a single man stepped forward, I knew who it was from the black and red eyes. His robe was slightly different from before, merely a black leather chest-plate and a long flowing white garment that shone in spite of the dark clouds hanging over the galley. His white hair fluttered but his gaze was absolute, they were fixed on the front line where the three of us stood.
He knelt suddenly and bowed to us his army did the same, then majestically he reached ever so slowly to his back where the hilt of his sword jutted from the robe. He pulled it inch by inch letting the sound of it sliding against his leather scabbard strike our ears. The sword was rather long, not ornate by any design but elegant in it’s presence and slightly curved. The hilt itself was extravagant, hundreds of small threads of metal flew all over the handle and made a cage for his hand, either for protection or some other use. Circling the black handle was a thread of silver that corkscrewed to the ball at the end of the sword , the ball had a deadly looking spike and I scowled when I saw it. He walked along the line of his army looking at Lucca, and Lucca was becoming restless with his sword tapping on the wood.

“This is the hilt you left me with Lucca!” Andrastos declared, “with my broken sword and life… I brought it back so that you may reap what you have sown!” he said and took a stance never yet witnessed to mine eyes. His sword overhead, the point directly aiming for us and his feet ready. Lucca smiled in anticipation and pointed his blade to the vampire of light,
“Oh… I shall reap… fear not of that, and I shall leave you begging for death a second time!” Lucca says. Our soldiers bellowed a cry and the white army was ready, Lucca ran forward first with his brother and I behind him. Our army was running at top speed at the enemy, when we saw the trap.
It was slow for me once I realised it for my reaction time was that far beyond human ability Lucca and Enea could only sense it from their training. We were all running when Andrastos moved like lightning across the plank to one end where a tightly woven rope was laying, he cut it with intention. At our feet spikes of wood from the plank shot up at our faces, Lucca leaped them and continued to run at the army, I used the spike to catapult myself to Lucca’s speed and was running alongside him. Enea actually did the same and was at my side now as well, I looked behind us the poor infantry were struck by the millions of wooden pokes that shot out mercilessly from the plank that we were lured on.
It was not in our wildest dreams to assume such a dishonourable move, hundreds of thousands were dying… impaled behind us. The spikes shot all the way to the beach and the first half of our army killing many. Blood was already staining the wood, but the first three ran on to our enemy, Andrastos stepped forward sword at the ready. Our men at the rear who were still living were cutting through the spikes so the rest of the army could pass.
The white army remained still and watched their master prepare to fight the three of Contessa’s greatest warriors. Lucca struck first a direct stab at the white warrior, Andrastos deflected and parried the attack and Lucca soared past him, Enea made a spin attack slicing for the assailants chest Andrastos sliced upward and sent Enea into a flip over the white haired man. I struck next with my sword still sheathed I pulled it and slashed for his sword, a move I had first done against Lucca. I hit the sword from his right hand but he caught it with his left and slashed at me with the blade held in the underside position. I ducked the strike and rolled near his feet, I turned a full one eighty degrees and stood at the ready.
We were surrounding him… but it was us who were surrounded, by only his blade. He was at the ready and we circled him, Enea threw his axe while running at him, Andrastos caught the handle and blocked Enea’s attack with it. I charged next and swung a direct strike for his head, without looking at me his blade blocked the attack and held my sword in place while I pressed downward. Lucca lunged at his chance and flew straight at Andrastos’s midsection, Andrastos leaped upward missing Lucca’s blade and sending Enea and I flying backward. In the air Andrastos flipped backward and kicked Lucca in the back of the head firmly and he then landed perfectly still, like a drop of rain pausing before striking the water. We all looked at him as Lucca regained his footing and stood ready.
“This is all the kingdom of Contessa has to offer?” he says placing his sword into his sheath on his back, “it’s not worth it… you don’t deserve to die by my sword” he says and Lucca screams a war-cry.
“I’m not through with you yet!” Lucca says and throws his short sword at him, Andrastos dodges the attack by flipping backwards over thirty times before he stood just in front of his army that staggered back at his oncoming presence. He stopped there and watched us, his red eyes mocking our ability. Lucca’s sword curves in the air and returns to his hand, he places it back in his sheath. Andrastos smiles and laughs slightly “Deal with them…” he says and walks into the masses of his soldiers.
There we were, the three of us standing rather desperately against the white army’s force of millions. Our injured force behind us slowly catching up, they were cut, slashed… some gouged but they were resolute as were all who fought with us. Our men and women were alongside us now all of them; I suppose the white knights before us were knowledgeable of some type of honour, as they waited for our broken lines to form again. They were fearsome looking, white full-face covered helmets with dark rectangle eyes and the darkness within was plotting our doom form only a stones throw away. One look from Lucca’s eyes would be enough to strike fear into anyone, the dark mask covering all but his eyes of pure hate as he glared into the back of the Vampire of Light.

Enea held his sword high and shouted, “Show them the blade of Thosaea!”

It was then that we charged…