Chapter 136 – Attempted Murder

Chapter 136 – Attempted Murder

Napoleon’s right-sided claws dug into Piggy’s back flesh, further empowering the unholy writ embedded into her body as the tattoos along her skin glowed green with new power.  Every time she withstood pain or humiliation from Trey or his other minions under his order, she’d grow stronger, so the imp had been ordered to continue on with the regular torture of Piggy in Trey’s absence.

Riding her around the forest on a scouting mission wearing nothing but a customized leather saddle, hand-made by Izumi at Napleon’s request - he’d turned Piggy into something of a mount.  The half-demon, half-elf hybrid was rather fast on all fours… surprisingly so, and she could even fly at incredibly high speeds for a short time when her unholy writ was activated.  Keeping her power levels up by various means that’d been built into the saddle itself was just one of the many joys Napoleon experienced in his time with Trey away - though he did wish his master would return from his mission in Zekul soon… as his cousin Carol was getting out of hand.

The saddle had very short, ripping spikes built into its underside - creating almost a saw-like pattern in Piggy’s abundantly-tattooed and otherwise bare skin.  This extended along the strap that came around the front of her stomach and breasts as well, leaving bloody markings that would constantly heal and then repopulate themselves in a never-ending torture session.  Napoleon’s left hand pulled on the reins and sunk the horse’s bit into the back of her mouth as he spurred her along on all fours through the forest - easily bounding over rocks, boulders and streams with inhuman speed as her glowing red eyes took in the surroundings while they passed through.

Bodies littered the foothills.  The recent battle that’d taken place between holy crusaders - who’d somehow managed to find their small camp - and the demons had been rather one sided.  Carol’s Vetteresie warriors had also helped, but they’d been rather slow on the uptake - knowing full well that the devil or ifrit alone could have handled the incoming tide of armed soldiers.

Even now, miles of forest was still smoking in scattered patches where Atharost and Sithis had burned dozens upon dozens of them alive.

No doubt Taen would be working on acquiring bodies for more of the flesh golems he’d been making.  It was good material, so many fresh corpses like this, and shouldn’t go wasted.

Coming to the designated clearing where Rivia was waiting for his return, Napoleon was surprised to see Ashe and her new entourage waiting for him as well.  The blonde, Earthborn demihuman was surrounded by her three new minions after having finally obtained her summoner’s class.  She was still in the process of acquiring her pseudo-assassin subclass, as it would require an interview with Mortis herself to obtain it, but she had a priestess of Mortis with them even now… so Napoleon was rather certain she’d acquire the subclass within the next few days at most.

The three minions Ashe had procured were all hulking minotaur warriors with brown fur and large black horns - taken through the most basic of summoning circles.  She’d not been disappointed in her acquisitions, though she’d been hoping for more variety.  Aside from minotaurs, she’d gotten nothing.  No other bites, but she was prepared to try again later as her building excitement surrounding the new and improved class came to a climax.

“What did you find?” Rivia asked, turning from her conversation with Ashe under the shade of two trees and leaning on her crucifix staff with a tired yawn.  “Anything?”

“No no survivors that way!” Napoleon cackled maniacally while tugging on the reins, resulting in Piggy’s usual squeal.

Rivia glanced down at the shameless woman with a frown, then her eyes flicked back to the imp.  “Sithis tells me that none are left in the north either.  Have you had any problems with the vetteresies on your mission?”

Ashe and Napoleon both frowned at the question, but it was Ashe who began to speak first.  “Those religious nutjobs needs to be purged before they cause us more trouble.  Atharost thinks it was their sacrificial pyres that brought those crusaders to our doorstep, and frankly - I don’t like Carol.  She’s a real bitch, if she wasn’t Trey’s cousin I’d have killed her already.”

“Agreed.” Rivia stated flatly, winking Ashe’s way.  “Don’t tell Trey I said that though.”

The demoness pointed to one of the minotaurs who’d began snorting and stamping one foot.  It was common for minotaurs to do such a thing while restless, but Rivia didn’t much care for them.  “And you!  Stop that.  Your breath smells foul and it’s bad enough that I had to grow up with your kind back in Oblivion, and even worse now that I have to be in your stinking, ugly, bovine presence when I finally thought I’d been rid of it.  No snorting, no stamping.”

The large minotaur narrowed its eyes and rose to its full height of eight feet tall, but it knew Rivia’s position in the social hierarchy here.  It would not dare to challenge her even if that wasn’t the case, as he’d seen first hand the withered and mangled bodies afflicted with rot over the past day that were scattered across the forest floor.

Instead, it simply nodded.

“Good cow.” Rivia said with a slight snarl before folding her arms with a sigh.  “Ashe, you should really get new minions.  Your willpower won’t hold out for many more, and you know how Julia is about their stench.  She’s even more aversive to it than I am!”

Ashe frowned at this, adjusting her black hood to cover her eyes from the bright sun’s rays and fumbling with her crossbow absentmindedly with the other hand as she thought about it.  “Did Julia mention that to you recently?”

“Why?”

“Did she?”

“... Well yes.  She actually wanted me to talk to you about how you’re starting to smell just like them, and it’s turning her off during sex.”

Ashe let out a groan of embarrassment, hiding her face with both hands and shaking her head.  “I knew it… damn.  I don’t have anywhere to bathe though!”

Rivia grinned with a sly cackle.  “You could always steal that tub Carol uses for herself… it’s not like she didn’t steal it from some poor farmer after hanging him and his wife from a tree just for the fun of it anyways.”

To this, Ashe gave Rivia a smoldering glare.  “You know how well that went over the last time I tried to use her tub.  She got fucking furious!  Are you trying to get me worked up about her again!?  Because it’s already working!”

The priestess full on laughed this time, her brilliant white teeth a stark contrast to the royal purple skin, small black horns and dark red eyes of her culn ancestry.  “I’m sorry.  I’ll stop.”

There was a long pause, and the rustling of leaves amidst the shrill and brief wind was only broken by the occasional screaming of prisoners farther in towards their camp.

“How long do you think Trey will be gone?” Rivia asked absentmindedly while staring off across the scattered smoking husks of the distant forest to the north.  “I wish he was here.  It’d be a lot more sufferable, dealing with his cousin if he could intervene with her… decisions.”

Ashe nodded sullenly.  “Yeah… I have no idea.  You now, Taen almost got into it with her again just yesterday.  He and his undead minions almost had a full on battle right there in the camp.  It’s not safe with her crazed antics constantly causing us problems, and her self-righteous blabbering about the glory of Agnude just makes me want to vomit over and over again every time I hear it.”

Napoleon remained silent, listening to the two women complaining about the master’s cousin again.  His large impish ears went flat against his head, and a small frown creased at the corners of his lips.  When would master be back?  And what of Talsh’Noc’Un?  His two best friends in the world were now missing… and Napoleon would do anything in that moment to see them safely back here with him again.

***

The morning sun pierced through the clouds radiantly striking Yastiel’s figure, only to fade away and darken the landscape once more as the wind picked up to move the dark masses back over the sun.  A strong wind whipped the tent flaps and hair about behind her and the legion prepared for rain as the lightning off in the distance began to ripple across the sky.  Taking in a large breath of air and closing her eyes to enjoy the feeling of the moment, she exhaled and beamed happily.  Snatching her curved elvish blade from her side she took the very end of her hair, a little more than an inch, and cut the silky brown locks to let them fly upon the currents of the wind.  Gracefully they lifted off from her open outstretched hand and melted into the eastern sky.

A bird of prey flew by overhead and screeched out to echo its cry.  A clap of thunder from the western Kag Mountains boomed out as Lueth came up from behind to stand next to her in silence.  Together they looked out onto the many thousands of tents that dotted the plains before them, bearing Agnude’s mark alongside the white Star of Lumenorei flying high in the wind upon green banners.

[Elvish] “Prince Jak Mueniel of Lumenorei leads his army along the coast of Kag’Dul to Vardum.  Our navy has put up a blockade around the dwarvish city in preparation for his arrival,” said Lueth who still looked out upon the legion.  “He sends a message personally addressed to you, Yastiel, alongside notice of his advance.”

Lueth handed a bound letter to Yastiel who took it and broke the seal.  For a moment her green emerald-like eyes flicked back and forth over the words before she tore the letter into pieces and let them fly upon the wind as well.

[Elvish] “You are not pleased with his words?” asked Lueth, concerned.

The she-elf chuckled, [Elvish] “Actually I am more amused than anything else.  The prince thinks to woo me through acts of valor and pretty poems.  It will never happen, that privileged pretty boy should give up.”

Lueth grinned, wiping away the blonde locks that covered his face in the wind.  “In the past, the nobility of Lumenorei and the Vetteresies have often married one another.  Some expect a marriage between you two.”

“They can expect all they want, but not even the king has the authority to order the master of the Vetteresie Holy Order to marry whom she does not want to.”  Yastiel turned back to walk into the tent, throwing open the flap as Lueth followed behind.  The armored officers of her legion all waited around a large eight by eight foot map spread out along the floor with markings showing cities or armies.  The talking and joking stopped immediately as she approached them.

“What does our most recent intelligence tell us of the war?” asked Yastiel.

Lueth stepped forward with a wooden stick to point at a spot on the map.  “We are here, twelve miles north of the city we sacked over two weeks ago.  As you all know we have held our position here as forces from Lumenorei secure the land behind us.  We have awaited further instructions from the capital and now we finally have them.”  He took his stick and pointed to Vardum, “This dwarvish city along the coast has been blockaded by our navy as Prince Mueniel marches his army of 24,000 soldiers to lay siege.  He will be there within two days.  Up north on the Kag’Dul-Neirtho border we have a landing point where crusaders from various lands have come to heed the call of Agnude.  12,000 men are stationed there and more pour in as time goes on.  Their commander is Vresiz of Shrubeth, a fellow Vetteresie.  They have been engaged once already by forces from Kag’Dul but held them back at the loss of many men.  Here,” said Lueth as he pointed to a pass in the Kag Mountains between Kag’Dul and Lumenorei, “We had Commander Actas take a legion through the pass to meet us at this very spot we stand on now.  We never received word from him after and sent scouts to find out his whereabouts.  The scouts report that Commander Actas along with the 33,000 men he had with him have all perished in battle.  Kag’Dul has crushed them and retains control of the mountain pass.”

Yastiel frowned at this most recent news.  “How many men do we have now after last night’s reinforcements?”

“Almost 28,000.  We lost three thousand men during the battle to take the city of Covmore, and the reinforcements from last night only numbered a thousand.”

“Three thousand men is a small price to pay for such a great victory,” chimed in an officer to Yastiel’s left.

“Are we to expect more reinforcements from Lumenorei?” asked Yastiel.

Lueth hesitantly shook his head.  “Perhaps, but none in the near future.  An army from Lumenorei numbering 9,000 is being sent to hold the opposite end of the mountain pass in order to prevent a dwarvish counterstrike.  In the south of Lumenorei an army of 40,000 is on standby but have been ordered to stay put for now in case of outside aggression, the crown must have reason to believe Kag’Dul has allies that will come to their aid.  Yet another army of new recruits is being trained at the capital but are not battle ready.  The remainder of the navy that is not blockading as we discussed earlier is engaged in battle as mercenaries from Voc’Tule and the Soquel Empire come to fight for Kag’Dul, so they are not able to provide assistance.  Scattered groups of our men in the lands south of here are dealing with unrest of the conquered peoples there.  As for now the only other reinforcements we will receive are crusaders from other lands.”

Yastiel thought on this for a moment.  “Do we know who commanded the Kag’Dul forces in battle against Commander Actas?  Or how many forces they have left?”

Lueth shook his head again.  “We have no idea who leads them.  Our scouts guess that the enemy has ten to twenty thousand men left but couldn’t be sure.”

“And what of enemy positioning?”

Lueth pointed to the pass, “We know they have an army of unknown size here but scouts have not reported of any other armies south of Vardum or Tuk’Lek.  In the north we know of two, one of which is on its way south towards either Vardum or Tuk’Lek and the other retreats from engaging Zacu’s forces.”

“Very well, send word to Lumemor - directly to the king.  We leave for the pass to eliminate any possible threat of invasion into our homeland.  Let the legion know we march in two days, after the storm has passed and the fields have dried from the rain that is to come.”

The officers all saluted with two fingers from their foreheads down to their chests and excused themselves from the tent.

***

Ezdeath had done it. She’d won… but only barely.

Wheezing and falling into the home she’d occupied since coming to this hellhole of a city, she slammed the wooden door behind her and choked up blood to splatter it across the floor. She’d barely made it out in time after that ridiculously strong vampire had almost turned the tide in their battle on her – but looking down at the amulet she had in her open palm, she couldn’t help but smile.

The wounds would heal, her body had taken much worse. Surprisingly her armor had been unable to fend off the attack, and whatever weapon he’d used to puncture her body had been left with his corpse in the haste of getting out alive.

He wouldn’t be a problem again though. Devouring his soul had been the last thing she’d made sure to do before lighting the temple ablaze with a storm of chaos that left the entire vampiric city in an uproar.

The pounding of metal boots and shouting from all around the area could be heard as she slunk up against the door and groaned at the slow-healing wound. Her mind was foggy, and even the health potions she’d taken were slow acting on whatever kind of magic had been employed against her.

She needed to rest… then she needed to find Trey. Together they would get out of this place, and she’d be one step closer to making herself queen of the empire that the Vatosis Inferna would surely one day claim. Closing her eyes and slumping up against the wall, the last of her strength faded… and her mind slipped under the exhaustion into slumber – a keen smile playing at her lips as her chest slowly rose and fell amidst the frantic activity of the vampiric clans all around her.

***

Lord Okt lifted a goblet of blood to give a toast for the newly appointed member of their coven.  His wife and the two hundred other vampires present followed in his wake as Trey knelt before the head of the household in the great hall of their manor.  Candles had been lit and the banquet of corpses had been lined up ceremonially behind where Trey knelt, and Nothel stood next to Osi and Rusoe against the back wall with many of the other slaves.

Osi was just as pale as Nothel and about, but instead of long straight hair hers was up in a bun today and her brown eyes emphasized the fact of how pale she was compared to Nothel’s green. Rusoe was taller than either of them, abnormally tall for a woman even, and stood out amongst the slaves due to her long legs.

Even despite the uproar of Aktovan’s burning temple, House Okt was in high spirits. Trey’s performance at the games had been rather magnificent, and on top of that – the news of the high priest’s death could only mean more opportunities for their own members in the clergy to ascend to higher positions…

One man’s misfortune was another man’s benefit.

“It is my pleasure to present to the rest of you: Trey, the newest member of the Okt coven!” Lord Okt smiled widely with bared fangs as the coven cheered before they all downed the blood in unison.  After finishing he set his goblet down and walked to where Trey knelt.  “Stand, newblood, and be presented with our household ring.  It will signify to all others you are one of us… and that we are proud you bear our name.  Be one with our family, the greatest of the noble vampire houses.”  He presented a small gold ring with an insignia carved into it that matched that seen around the house and on the robes the vampires of Okt wore.  One small emerald lay embedded in the ring, and Trey quickly took it to stand up and shake Lord Okt’s hand vigorously.  The vampires all cheered in unison once more before many of them started towards the food laid out in celebration.

“WAIT!” commanded Lady Okt with a swish of her long black hair to stall everyone in attendance as they turned to her.  “There is one more item of importance that we must address!  Nothel, if you would please step forward!”

Timidly and concerned, Nothel made her way to the front of the room and prostrated herself before Lady Okt, her display of rags paling in comparison to the grandeur that the coven matriarch wore in her outstandingly lavish gold and red frilled dress. The slave glanced up at Trey for a brief moment as if to plead, but Trey had an equally concerned look across his features.

“Are you enjoying your new personal slave Trey?” asked Lady Okt as she circled Nothel and brushed her fingers through the slave’s brunette locks.  “Surely you deserve to be after that splendid performance the entire city is talking about.”

Trey hesitantly as Lady Okt grinned.  “Yes!  Nothel is amazing, she makes me very happy…”

“Do you know there’s a rumor going around?  The slaves were speaking of it… and one of us happened to overhear them before it was brought to my attention.  It would seem that Nothel here is the source of the commotion that had so many of these slaves gossiping!  Do you know what I speak of!?  What a surprise this is!” Lady Okt bared her fangs in a wide smile towards Nothel and then to Trey.

Oh shit.  Had Nothel told the other slaves that he had mentioned he wasn’t a true vampire?  Why would she have done that?  Trey tensed up and didn’t move.  He didn’t think he’d be able to fight his way out of the manor with so many vampires present, even if he was able to take a couple dozen with him, and Nothel would almost certainly die in the process if he tried to take her along.  His mind began to race and sweat began to accumulate across his brow.

“You seem nervous Trey…” stated Lord Okt as he circled the earthborn man, beginning to get closer as if to smell him for what he was – a traitor.  “I was going to save this for another time after I learned of it, but if my wife wants to display it for everyone here and now… I suppose there is no reason not to.”

“Stand.” commanded Lady Okt as Nothel rose to her feet with another pleading glance towards Trey.  Lady Okt slowly turned Nothel to face the room and lifted her chin so that Nothel was forced to look from the ground and into the faces of the vampire horde.  “Osi and Rusoe have even clarified it for me after hearing it muttered from the words of other slaves.  Why would you keep such a secret from us Nothel?”

Nothel would have paled if she wasn’t already as white as a ghost from living underground for so long, and she began to stutter before Lord Okt laughed and wrapped an arm around Trey’s shoulder.  Lord Okt then turned Trey around with him to also face the room – his broad chest proudly flexing underneath the trimmed robes he wore.  “Trey here plans to MARRY our sweet Nothel here!  Is this true Trey?”

The room was dead silent upon this question, and all eyes were on him.

Trey immediately calmed down after the initial shock of what had been said, and chuckled. He hadn’t been truly planning on marrying anyone, but he wouldn’t deny it now. No doubt Nothel’s hopes had been cast in another light, and people had taken it upon themselves to spread and magnify the rumor beyond what it really was.  “It… may eventually be true.”

A massive roar of applause and congratulations followed as Lord and Lady Okt laughed.  Lady Okt even gave Nothel a hug to surprise the slave.

“When do you plan on turning her?” asked Lady Okt.  “We have already prepared another ring for your soon to be wife!  You should turn her at once so you can begin mating!  To have offspring from one such as you will only strengthen the bloodlines of our coven in future generations!”

Furdom and Tenke – the two vampires who’d first introduced Trey to the coven – stepped in to swat Trey on the back, both of them laughing loudly as blood from Tenke’s drink dribbled down his face.

“Trey probably doesn’t even know how to turn her.  He didn’t even know how to draw out his fangs last time!”  Furdom smirked and Lady Okt frowned.  “Am I right?”

“Uh…” Trey hesitated and caught a glimpse of Nothel who seemed like a deer caught in the headlights next to him, her pale features now blushing a hot red which was rather unusual for her.  He reached out a hand and grasped hers in his own, then tugged her towards him to catch in in a half-hug embrace.  “Yeah.  I don’t really know how.  But I don’t want to turn her if she doesn’t want to do it… I can keep her like she is now-”

“Nonsense.” huffed Lady Okt.  “EVERYONE!  ATTENTION!  I would like you all to bear witness to what is about to happen!”  She smiled gently at Nothel as the room once again quieted down, with many of the vampires already stuffing pieces of bloody corpse into their mouths while they looked on reverently.  Lady Okt continued: “As you all know, Trey here is a newblood.  He even has trouble withdrawing his fangs!”

Many of the vampires chuckled at Trey’s expense and he scowled to get an even louder reaction from the group.  “He just told us that he doesn’t know how to turn his beloved here.  Giving the gift of a bloodline is not something to be taken lightly!  And we vampires of pureblood lineage do not often turn cattle without great reason - it is a great gift to give.  But today, I will be sharing my bloodline with Nothel.  May she bring many capable offspring into our coven with Trey fathering her young!  I give to you all - our OTHER new member of the house of Okt!  NOTHEL!”

Before Trey could protest, Lady Okt had sunk her long fangs into Nothel’s neck.  Blood trickled down Nothel’s neck as she shuddered and tried to stay upright amidst the applause Lady Okt’s actions brought.

Trey felt Nothel’s hand tighten around his own as her eyes made contact with his.  She smiled gently at him between the expressions of pain, and he felt somewhat relieved.  Thinking back to their conversation days ago, she had originally wanted him to turn her… so at least she was ok with it.  In fact it was probably Trey who had a bigger problem with what was going on, though he would still want her regardless.  Was it love that he felt for her?  He had known her for less than a month, and he wasn’t sure what it was he felt for her.  He knew he cared for her more than any other woman he had met before.  The thought of being with her made him extremely happy.  He thought it was love, but had never really experienced it before so he couldn’t be sure.  He wondered if she felt the same way about him, and hoped that she wasn’t just using him to get out of the shitty situation she was in as a slave.

Lady Okt remained with her fangs buried in Nothel’s neck for much longer than if she had just been feeding.  It looked as if the vampiress was concentrating hard, and Trey felt Nothel’s hand pulse in his grasp quite a few times before it was over.  Eventually Trey saw Nothel’s eyes light up a brilliant blue and her fangs exploded from her mouth.  It took a lot longer than what he had thought would happen, but was happy to see that Nothel seemed perfectly fine once the deed was done.  Lady Okt once again grinned and stepped back to look Nothel over as she nudged Nothel forward towards her soon to be ‘husband.’

Nothel slowly drew up a hand to touch her fangs as her eyes subsided back to their normal brown color.  Her fangs then withdrew too as she put her hand back down and squeezed Trey’s in her other.  “Trey…?”

Trey stepped in to hug her hard, and didn’t let go as she buried her face in the crevice of his arm.

“When can we get married?” stammered Nothel as she remained in her position.  “I’m so happy…!!! You really DO want to marry me after all!?”

Against the far wall, Osi and Rusoe were smiling - a feature they nearly never displayed.  They were very happy for their long time friend, and it showed.

Thinking long and hard about it as the Lord and Lady Okt approvingly glanced at one another before heading down into the banquet, Trey gave her an anxiety-ridden smile.  “Well, I’m still not entirely sure on it… but I think if things keep going the way they are – it’s a definite possibility. At least come and meet my friends in person before you decide.”

Trey had felt Furdom place Nothel’s right in his back pocket, and he took it out to hand Nothel the Okt ring signifying her acceptance into the coven.  He slipped it onto her finger and kissed her softly.  “That’ll have to do for now. Not as a promise to marry, but as a promise to at least give things between us a true try. Eventually if things get serious enough, I’ll get you a ring of my own choosing eventually.  I promise you.”

Even despite his admition that he wasn’t ready to settle down just yet, Nothel had streams of tears rolling down her face as she couldn’t contain her happiness any longer.  “I can wait!  Who are the friends you’re talking about? The ones I met through the amulet?  They must be important if you want them at the wedding!”

Trey laughed and picked Nothel up to kiss her again before setting her back down and leading her to where the tarts and chicken were set out just for him on a special platter.  “I’ll tell you all about them in time.  But for now, let’s enjoy ourselves.”

Minutes later and upon returning to the slave quarters, Osi and Rusoe were giddy discussing how lucky their friend had been.

“I can’t BELIEVE she was turned!” said Osi happily. “How lucky can she get!”

“I know.  I wish it were me, but I’m definitely excited for her!” exclaimed Rusoe as she cleaned up  what little belongings she had to store them underneath her bed.  “And Trey is very kind… she really did get lucky.  She’s going to be so happy.”

“Maybe we can ask her to try and make us THEIR personal slaves!” murmured Osi.  “We would be safe with them… I think.”

“I agree.” replied Rusoe.  “We would be safe with them.”

A malicious cackle sounded from behind them and they turned around to see Nami standing in the doorway.

Both slaves froze, immediately recognizing Nami’s intent as a malicious one. She even looked… angry, and for someone like her – that was never a good sign. Nami’s orange hair flowed about as she briskly walked up to Osi and slammed a fist against Osi’s face, felling her to the ground before doing the same to Rusoe.

Nami spat.  “Look at you two pigs, conniving together back here!”

Slowly Nami sank to her knees and drew out her long fangs to grin at the shaking, fearful girls who’d been celebrating just moments before.  “Your friend Nothel has caused me a lot of grief.  But now that she’s turned, I’m afraid I can’t take out my anger on her any longer.  So I’m going to take it out on you two instead!”

Nami drew out a long, wicked knife that gleamed against the candle light.  With a brisk motion she plunged the dagger into Osi’s stomach, causing the slave girl to scream in horror and agony as Rusoe began to hyperventilate and cry.  The vampiress snarled.  “YOU STUPID BITCH!”

Again and again she plunged the dagger into Osi’s gut, and the slave girl struggled to free herself as Nami sat on top of her to prevent her from moving.

A loud *THWAK* sounded as Nami’s head slammed into the wooden bunk bed next to her, causing her to cry out in pain and double over to clutch her bleeding forehead.  From behind her, Nothel had come into the room and kicked her as hard as she could.  Her new vampiric body made her much stronger and the blow had done more damage than she had anticipated.  Nothel was panting as the adrenaline rushed through her, and her mind was beginning to race at the thought that one of her friends was likely going to die.

Nami gave another snarl, picked up the dagger again, and rushed Nothel to plunge it deep into Nothel’s breast.  Nothel screamed and pushed the other vampiress off of her to scramble across the floor, trembling as she grasped the dagger to yank it out.  Blood was pouring everywhere from the wounds of both Osi and Nothel, and Nami began to laugh with an evil twinkle in her eyes.  No sooner had she began to laugh when Kagdor stepped in the doorway from behind her, became wide-eyed with surprise, and ran his own dagger straight into the side of Nami’s skull - killing her instantly as the metal penetrated through her brain.

Kagdor had heard the commotion and ran in to see her standing over a stabbed Nothel.  He had never liked Nami, but she was part of the coven.  This time though she had gone much too far.  Attacking another member of the coven out of jealousy was unforgivable, and he put an end to it all with the swift motion of his blade.

“Nothel!” exclaimed Kagdor as he bent his knee to examine the newest member of Okt.  “Shit, we need to get you to the healers before you bleed out-”

“NO!” screamed Nothel as she dragged herself over to Osi to try and cover up the bleeding.  Osi was going into shock with the hemorrhaging and it would be a matter of minutes before she was dead.  “SAVE OSI!”

“Osi is cattle-” Kagdor stopped himself as he remembered that he too had fallen in love with a cattle woman and married her.  What would his wife think if she heard him speaking like this? He grimaced, then turned toward the dying slave on the floor.  “Fine.  But you’re coming too.  Let’s go.”

“There’s no need for that, I can handle this.” stated Lady Okt as she, Furdom, and Trey  entered the scene from the hallway.  Furdom grimaced and Lady Okt shook her head sadly as they immediately understood what happened.

“Thank you Kagdor…” stated Trey shakily, partially in a state of shock, as he scrambled to Nothel’s side while Lady Okt began seal up the wounds on Osi.

Lady Okt continued holding her hand over the mutilated woman, muttering under her breath as the vampiress used blood magic to fuel rapid regeneration of the numerous stab wounds. When she was done, Osi remained gasping on the floor and covered in blood. The house matriarch then turned to glare at Nami’s corpse with a disgusted grunt. “How disappointing. What she did was unforgivable.  I cannot fathom her thought process behind attacking Nothel after I had just turned her.  Furdom, have her body burned without burial.  Inform the priests of what she did so her soul may be expunged from Aktovan’s afterlife.”

“Yes, Lady Okt.  As you desire.” replied Furdom, the blonde elf-like vampire, with a bow as his Aunt left the room to tell her husband of what had happened.  “What a stupid move to make. Nami really outdid herself this time.”

“She paid for it with her life,” muttered Kagdor, taking back his knife from Nami’s corpse and cleaning it off with her clothes.  “Such a shame.”

Before long Nami’s corpse had been removed from the room and Osi, alongside Rusoe, had been left to clean up the mess.  Nothel had not left their side and began to help clean up the blood beside her long time friends as Trey sat on one of the beds to think about what had just happened.

“Thank you, master Nothel,” muttered Osi as she wiped tears away from her eyes and choked back sobs.  “I appreciate what you did for me.”

“I as well, master Nothel,” stated Rusoe who was still shaking from the ordeal.  “You do not have to help us clean this.  You are above us in station now, and should not lower yourself to the duties of a slave.”

Nothel stopped wiping the blood from the floor and sat up on her knees.  She turned and stopped both Osi and Rusoe from what they were doing as Trey watched from a few feet away.  “I will always be here to protect you two.  Always.”

The two slave girls both burst into tears and loud sobs as Nothel soon did the same.  Trey got a lump in his throat while watching the three women embrace one another, but was very surprised at what happened next.

Nothel drew back from the two women and her fangs slid out from her canines.  “You two are going to join me.  They will never be able to touch you again.”

Without a second thought Nothel had bitten into Osi’s neck.  Trey made no attempt to stop her, but he wasn’t sure if what she was doing was allowed.  It probably wasn’t as these weren’t his personal slaves, they were owned by the coven, but he’d deal with whatever came and take the blame himself.  Within the next twenty minutes, both Osi and Rusoe had been turned into vampires as well - with Lady Okt’s bloodline coursing through their veins.  It took a lot of explaining, and Lord and Lady Okt weren’t very pleased, but by the end of the day it was known that the three women were to all be Trey’s charge.  He was also to be held personally responsible for any further trespasses that any of them undertook, and nothing more like what had just occurred was to be allowed - with the exception of this one time as an apology for Nami’s attempted murder.