Countess
02-22-2007, 01:19 PM
Next chapter in Black Panther - follows The Ennead (posted separately).
Feedback appreciated.
CHAPTER XIV - THE FOOL
My consort continued his lengthy explanation of vampiric culture, a task that took the following day, so that it was dusk before he grew silent. From what I gathered the subversive element of vampires had infiltrated the ranks of every major government, rendering them subservient to vampiric influence. Furthermore, this same group had set in motion a chain of events that, if altered in any way, could result in partial or even total destruction of mankind.
Their strategy betrayed an unrivaled genius and superior intellect: having gained nuclear intelligence for what was once North Korea (but was now part of Asia Major), they pointed their missiles toward Liberland in an act of aggression. In response, Liberland officials had also primed their missiles, directing them at Asia Major, and positioned themselves as if attack were eminent. Both sides were busy constructing a series of bomb shelters, oftentimes using subterranean transport as a launching pad for additional tunnels, which were interconnected at key locations. These key locations were the shelters themselves, allowing for transportation of supplies between shelters.
The export of La Rouge was the vehicle by which the core element communicated with other vampiric clans; the concoction contained a small trace of the master’s own blood, which conveyed knowledge of the conspiracy to any vampire that consumed it. Hence, worldwide distribution was never intended to make money, but rather unite the diverse families for the sole purpose of world domination.
Furthermore, due to this elaborate design, North Korea would launch the first of its nuclear weaponry in less than a year, effectively inciting a war with Liberland. But humanity would not die, for with the completion of the shelters, individuals would seek sanctuary within them, where they would remain until the danger of fallout had passed. However, in such a small area the population would be easy to control, and vampires were prepared throw a coup and establish a new government.
Meanwhile, on the surface, others would reconstruct the cities, establish blood-banks and feeding houses/clubs so that when humans emerged, they would find themselves pre-ordained sustenance slaves for an entire planet of vampires.
When he finished his discourse he asked “So, what are your thoughts?”
“I’m thinking of moving back to Welbeck Abbey,” I replied nonchalantly.
Tristan paused before he spoke. “That’s Dorian talking…”
”….you said it wasn’t possible,” I interrupted him, “that it would result ‘in the total destruction of mankind’…”
“…that doesn’t mean turning a blind eye. What about planning, resources…”
“Aren’t you presuming I care to save humanity? Dorian was right; the heart of humanity is black with hatred, sin, crime, decadence and degeneracy and bent on self-destruction. The effort required to revive such a dying race exceeds the worth of the race itself. It’s a bad investment, if you will, of my talents; I would do better to retire some place dependable and watch from my toppling tower of relative obscurity the species’s natural descent into extinction.”
Tristan stood up, strode across the ancient warped wooden floor towards the exit. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” he snapped, then disappeared into the hallway, slamming the door behind him.
I only half-cared about the preceding argument or the impending debacle, yet this compassionate part of me revolted against my previous reasoning, chastising the reprehensible phlegm of my soul and rallying my callous disposition towards a charitable defense. But I would not be moved by even the most potent of emotions to change my declared course of action, and it was now with a heavy heart that I called my attorney and requested he require Welbeck Abbey for me at
any costs.
Tristan did not return until the following morn and did so with blood on his lips. Although I had ventured out the previous night as well to feed, I had not intercepted him on my hunt and - not having much of an appetite - had retired early to my quarters. Thus my curiosity was roused by his solitary journey, and what - or who - he had found - to quench his thirst.
“So, what - or who - did you eat?”
“I dined on vampire,” he replied resentfully, advancing towards the bed with a scowl upon his face. “It was delectable. How about yourself?”
Twitching nervously upon the bed, I shuffled through some official papers. “Nothing. I hadn’t an appetite.”
“Your conscience is eating away at you; that’s why you couldn’t eat.”
“You hardly bore one yourself when you devoured an old flame some four hours ago,” I replied, having ingested his memories from the previous night. “So much anger.”
Tristan gazed at me steadily and I could discern a hint of shame in his demeanor. “We’re still headed for Welbeck Abbey, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” I shot back, somewhat surprised by his insinuation. “You’re going with me?”
“I could never leave you now Regina, even if I wanted to,” he murmured quietly. “You’re a part of me, and I a part of you.”
A smile waxed over my soul as well as my face. “Loyal to the end, even in treachery,” I repeated, remembering his faithfulness as a vampire. “It is good to know I have at least one companion who is dependable despite contrary inclinations. Were Dorian so inclined.”
Tristan turned away then to gaze at a small sketch that hung on the wall of the Inn. In it two dark-haired children, holding hands, ran carefree together in a field, evidentially unaware of the approaching thunderstorm behind them. Although his vampiric age permitted him to retain certain ideas to himself, I nevertheless gathered his thoughts were thousands of miles away, washed upon the shore of Liberland.
“You may yet be reconciled,” he answered, his eyes transfixed as if he were in a fugue. “Dorian is not dependable, but he may be unable to sever the ties that bind you eternally to one another. Perhaps familial compulsion will ultimately drive you together - or fate, which in both vampire and Noctor worlds, has a way of uniting relations.”
His manner of speech seemed exaggerated and unnatural at that moment, yet I detected he no longer walked upon land, but in some supernatural spiritual world, one which I constantly strove to attain through meditation but had yet to meet with success.
The sun was rising as we closed our eyes to sleep, and I wondered as I entered into my land of eerie visions, what the future held for the both of us.
Feedback appreciated.
CHAPTER XIV - THE FOOL
My consort continued his lengthy explanation of vampiric culture, a task that took the following day, so that it was dusk before he grew silent. From what I gathered the subversive element of vampires had infiltrated the ranks of every major government, rendering them subservient to vampiric influence. Furthermore, this same group had set in motion a chain of events that, if altered in any way, could result in partial or even total destruction of mankind.
Their strategy betrayed an unrivaled genius and superior intellect: having gained nuclear intelligence for what was once North Korea (but was now part of Asia Major), they pointed their missiles toward Liberland in an act of aggression. In response, Liberland officials had also primed their missiles, directing them at Asia Major, and positioned themselves as if attack were eminent. Both sides were busy constructing a series of bomb shelters, oftentimes using subterranean transport as a launching pad for additional tunnels, which were interconnected at key locations. These key locations were the shelters themselves, allowing for transportation of supplies between shelters.
The export of La Rouge was the vehicle by which the core element communicated with other vampiric clans; the concoction contained a small trace of the master’s own blood, which conveyed knowledge of the conspiracy to any vampire that consumed it. Hence, worldwide distribution was never intended to make money, but rather unite the diverse families for the sole purpose of world domination.
Furthermore, due to this elaborate design, North Korea would launch the first of its nuclear weaponry in less than a year, effectively inciting a war with Liberland. But humanity would not die, for with the completion of the shelters, individuals would seek sanctuary within them, where they would remain until the danger of fallout had passed. However, in such a small area the population would be easy to control, and vampires were prepared throw a coup and establish a new government.
Meanwhile, on the surface, others would reconstruct the cities, establish blood-banks and feeding houses/clubs so that when humans emerged, they would find themselves pre-ordained sustenance slaves for an entire planet of vampires.
When he finished his discourse he asked “So, what are your thoughts?”
“I’m thinking of moving back to Welbeck Abbey,” I replied nonchalantly.
Tristan paused before he spoke. “That’s Dorian talking…”
”….you said it wasn’t possible,” I interrupted him, “that it would result ‘in the total destruction of mankind’…”
“…that doesn’t mean turning a blind eye. What about planning, resources…”
“Aren’t you presuming I care to save humanity? Dorian was right; the heart of humanity is black with hatred, sin, crime, decadence and degeneracy and bent on self-destruction. The effort required to revive such a dying race exceeds the worth of the race itself. It’s a bad investment, if you will, of my talents; I would do better to retire some place dependable and watch from my toppling tower of relative obscurity the species’s natural descent into extinction.”
Tristan stood up, strode across the ancient warped wooden floor towards the exit. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” he snapped, then disappeared into the hallway, slamming the door behind him.
I only half-cared about the preceding argument or the impending debacle, yet this compassionate part of me revolted against my previous reasoning, chastising the reprehensible phlegm of my soul and rallying my callous disposition towards a charitable defense. But I would not be moved by even the most potent of emotions to change my declared course of action, and it was now with a heavy heart that I called my attorney and requested he require Welbeck Abbey for me at
any costs.
Tristan did not return until the following morn and did so with blood on his lips. Although I had ventured out the previous night as well to feed, I had not intercepted him on my hunt and - not having much of an appetite - had retired early to my quarters. Thus my curiosity was roused by his solitary journey, and what - or who - he had found - to quench his thirst.
“So, what - or who - did you eat?”
“I dined on vampire,” he replied resentfully, advancing towards the bed with a scowl upon his face. “It was delectable. How about yourself?”
Twitching nervously upon the bed, I shuffled through some official papers. “Nothing. I hadn’t an appetite.”
“Your conscience is eating away at you; that’s why you couldn’t eat.”
“You hardly bore one yourself when you devoured an old flame some four hours ago,” I replied, having ingested his memories from the previous night. “So much anger.”
Tristan gazed at me steadily and I could discern a hint of shame in his demeanor. “We’re still headed for Welbeck Abbey, aren’t we?”
“Yes,” I shot back, somewhat surprised by his insinuation. “You’re going with me?”
“I could never leave you now Regina, even if I wanted to,” he murmured quietly. “You’re a part of me, and I a part of you.”
A smile waxed over my soul as well as my face. “Loyal to the end, even in treachery,” I repeated, remembering his faithfulness as a vampire. “It is good to know I have at least one companion who is dependable despite contrary inclinations. Were Dorian so inclined.”
Tristan turned away then to gaze at a small sketch that hung on the wall of the Inn. In it two dark-haired children, holding hands, ran carefree together in a field, evidentially unaware of the approaching thunderstorm behind them. Although his vampiric age permitted him to retain certain ideas to himself, I nevertheless gathered his thoughts were thousands of miles away, washed upon the shore of Liberland.
“You may yet be reconciled,” he answered, his eyes transfixed as if he were in a fugue. “Dorian is not dependable, but he may be unable to sever the ties that bind you eternally to one another. Perhaps familial compulsion will ultimately drive you together - or fate, which in both vampire and Noctor worlds, has a way of uniting relations.”
His manner of speech seemed exaggerated and unnatural at that moment, yet I detected he no longer walked upon land, but in some supernatural spiritual world, one which I constantly strove to attain through meditation but had yet to meet with success.
The sun was rising as we closed our eyes to sleep, and I wondered as I entered into my land of eerie visions, what the future held for the both of us.