Valkyrie Rising

by GR Griffin

  "When then?" Silmeria demanded.

  "Maybe soon." Brahms answered. He reached for her hand again, catching it though she tried to evade him. "There are things I want you to understand before I let you roam about the castle with me."

  "Things?" Her body was reluctant to his pull, Brahms leading her over to one of the room's chairs. "More lies about Lord Odin? About the war?"

  "No. Let us put aside that for now." He placed his hands on her shoulders when it became obvious she wouldn't sit of her own accord. "Here, sit with me." Gentle force was exerted, Brahms pushing her down onto the chair's cushion. He would use his preternatural speed to fetch a stool, sitting in front of Silmeria, so that their knees touched together.

  "Yesterday, I offered you a chance to learn about the vampires. To learn about us as a people." Silmeria opened her mouth as though to protest, but Brahms spoke over her. "I think it important you learn about your own kind."

  "The vampires will never be my people!"

  "You can say that even with those fangs in your mouth, and those claws on your hands?" Brahms challenged. She lowered her eyes, the only hint of her flustered state.

  "I have not fed. I will NOT feed. Ever." She sounded as though Silmeria was trying to convince herself of that too.

  "It is inevitable Silmeria. The time will come when you can no longer resist the blood's call. But lie to yourself if that comforts you now." He didn't mean to be unkind, but her adamant refusal of her new nature annoyed him. "Now...I can understand you might be scared to learn a different view of the vampires." Her chin lifted, Silmeria looking defiant.

  "Why would I be scared?"

  "It has to be difficult, to learn that which you thought as nothing more than monsters, might be more complex than that. That they might have real feelings and morals, real ambitions and dreams, hopes and desires." Brahms told her, watching as she glared once more.

  "You speak of morals and vampires in the same breath? Do you want me to laugh?" Silmeria demanded.

  "You have been conditioned to be prejudiced against my people. You hate and fear, and that will be tolerated only so long." Brahms told her, and she looked worried then. "You cannot rule what you despise..."

  "I don't want to rule at all!" Silmeria protested.

  "Maybe not now, but someday, once we are past this, and you accept your new life..."

  "That will never happen!" Silmeria exclaimed, and he felt the agitated tremble in her legs.

  "I would wager with you that you are wrong. But it would be an unfair gamble." Brahms did a half smile at her. She did not return it, looking distressed. "Silmeria, please. You just have to listen. It will cost you nothing to hear what I have to say. If your belief is real, is strong, than what I say won't change it."

  Her shoulders sagged, Silmeria giving a stiff nod. "Very well. I will listen. But it won't change anything!"

  Brahms hid how relieved he was by her acquiesce. He leaned forward, trying to gather his thoughts, trying to choose where to begin, what examples to give her. He thought again of how she and the other Valkyries referred to the vampires as monsters. That was hardly the truth, not entirely. "You often call our people monsters." Silmeria looked ready to object his calling the vampires their people. But he didn't pause for her protests. "But just as there are extreme differences between the vampires and the rest of the undead, there is another kind of vampire."

  "Another kind of vampire?" Silemria's brow furrowed.

  "Yes. And those are the true monsters." Brahms tried to settle his thoughts, his voice low and precise as he spoke. "Sometimes...something goes wrong with a vampire. Sometimes it stems from the attempt to transform a human, the vampire attempting such an endeavor not being powerful enough to convert a human completely. Other times, it comes from starving oneself. A vampire can only go so long without blood before he or she becomes mindless." There was a warning in his voice, one Silmeria acknowledged by shivering in fright.

  "Regardless of their origins, the mindless vampires become consumed with the need for blood. They drink without stopping if they can, bloating themselves on the blood. Killing the source, even making others like them." He paused to gauge her reaction. "We call them revenants, abominations that obey no King. These monsters have been responsible for wiping out whole villages, slaughtering indiscriminately. Much of the fear of the vampires come from the revenants."

  Brahms sighed then. "Of course we police our own kind. As soon as a revenant is learned of, a group of hunters is dispatched. The revenants are put down as soon as possible, but sometimes not before they have killed dozens if not hundreds of innocent people."

  She was hugging her arms around her, as though Silmeria was feeling a real chill from what Brahms had told her. "Revenants are a dangerous creature." She acknowledged. "I can only imagine the kind of devastation they could do if unleashed during a war."

  "We would never use them, not even for military purposes!" Brahms snapped with a low growl. "They are uncontrollable, and turn on each other, turn on anyone close to them. They care only for the blood. They would massacre both sides in a war!"

  "So it's self preservation that keeps you from making use of them." Silmeria decided, and Brahms growled again.

  "We do not use them because it is wrong!"

  "And you expect me to believe your people care about right from wrong?" Silmeria's disbelief was apparent. Brahms was almost tempted to run a hand over his face, feeling exasperated by her prejudice.

  "You forget, the vampires start out as mortals. Just because they have transformed into enhanced versions of themselves, doesn't mean they lose any of their morals. Any of their feelings, or even their soul. Vampires are very much like mortals, having the ability to choose between right and wrong, to decide between good and evil. It is up to the individual vampire to decide what force they will align themselves with. And many choose to do GOOD."

  "You said many, but not all." Silmeria was quick to note. "What of the vampires who choose to do evil?"

  "It is unavoidable. No race is purely good or bad." Brahms told her. "Not even the Gods." She huffed at that, not liking the perceived insult to the divine pantheon. "And just as no race is entirely one thing, a people shouldn't be judged based on a few bad seeds. Nor should they be condemned, wiped out for the crimes of a few."

  "You stress the vampire's origins are ultimately that of mortals. That they retain the mortals freedom to choose between good and evil." Brahms was nodding his head to what Silmeria said. "But unlike the vampires..." Silmeria had turned snide, haughty even. "Mortals do not hold such powerful destructive capabilities." A pointed look from her, Silmeria acting as though she was victorious. "What mortal can rival one of these revenants in slaughtering so many?"

  "You know better than that." Chided Brahms. "Beserkers lose themselves to a warrior's fury, turning on friends and foe when under the influence of their rage. They kill many when under the rage, sometimes not stopping until someone guts them dead." She actually turned sullen in response, not liking how he countered her feeble argument. "And what of the mages?" continued Brahms. "The mortals who are magically inclined, many of them align with Hel. And we both know what the evil they do in her name."

  "And yet you sometimes ally yourself with her!" Silmeria was quick to point out. "She gave you control of the rest of the undead."

  "I make use of the tools available to me, while protecting creation from the worst of the monsters." Brahms calmly explained. She snorted, even s Brahms corrected what he said. "At least the monsters that are not mortal."

  "What is that supposed to mean?!"

  "Just what it implies." Brahms said. "There are many of mortals that choose to ignore the Gods' guidance, that use the freedom of choice to choose evil. I'm not just talking about wars, which your Odin so favors for they give him new warriors. But the killings, rapes, and thievery. The countless and creative ways the mortals find to hurt each other. If you want to look at true evil, look at the examples the mortals set. Serial killers, rapists
, pedophiles. Some even attempt the complete genocide of an entire race. Much like Odin is trying to do with the vampires!"

  "I thought you weren't going to talk about my King?" Silmeria asked, annoyed.

  "Perhaps we can't avoid the subject of Odin completely." Brahms admitted. "I don't mean to bring him up with the intent to upset you...."

  "Somehow I doubt that..." She muttered.

  "After yesterday, I suppose you have a right to that thought." Brahms told her. "We've talked about the choice to do good or evil. Perhaps we can tone it down some, and speak more on the vampires as individual personalties. Just because a person is turned, doesn't mean they lose their feelings, their likes and dislikes. They are still passionate about things, still enjoy the same hobbies, still employ the same skills."

  Silmeria said nothing, but at least she was listening, her gaze focused on him. "When we are not engaged in war, we are living much like the mortals do. We have friends and rivals, we have businesses. We even have a social hierarchy, with levels of status assigned to each vampire. If Odin would let us, we would live out our eternity in peace...."

  "You can never truly be at peace." Argued Silmeria. "Not so long as you feed on the other races."

  "It need not be a forceful relationship." Brahms countered. "A vampire can feed without killing the donor."

  "Donor implies willingness to submit to this act. I think victim would be more appropriate."

  "Not all the mortals of Midgard are unwilling blood givers." Brahms saw the shock on her face. "Some would willingly submit, for money and favors, for even the chance to became immortal."

  Her jaw dropped for a moment, Silmeria sputtering in reply. "That is...unthinkable. Unforgivable!"

  "The mortals of Midgard do not have the best lives. Many are willing to do far worse things than give a little blood to escape the sickness, poverty, and desperation of their situations." He bit back a comment that it was Odin's fault. That it was Odin neglect that allowed such desperation to fester. There was much to blame Odin for, many wrongs that needed righting. But it would do his case no good to list them all to Silmeria now.

  "We vampires offer these mortals a deal that is mutually beneficial to us both. It costs them nothing but a few pints of blood now and then."

  "Are you done with your tales?" Silmeria asked. "Can I go outside now?"

  Brahms stared at her a long moment, feeling as though she had not truly understood anything he had told her. A keen sense of disappointment filled him, Brahms wondering how often he would have to repeat the discussion before it sank in to Silmeria. "Do you think you can behave yourself if I take you out of this room?"

  She gave him an offended look. "It is not I who have behaved badly."

  He didn't argue about that. "If I take you out, you will be sure to encounter other vampires. I am worried about what will happen."

  "You think they will hurt me?" Silmeria smirked. "Let them try."

  "It is you I am worried about. I don't want you ruthlessly killing our people!" A stubborn set to her lips, Brahms sighing. "Until you can promise me you will not try to kill the other vampires, I cannot risk taking you out of this room."

  "Fine. I promise not to attempt to kill anyone tonight." She paused, then amended. "Provided they don't attack me FIRST."

  He considered this. "I can allow that. But trust me Silmeria, when I say if someone attacks you, they will have to deal with my wrath first." His eyes blazed with a promised threat, his look both protective and possessive in the moment. He meant it too, Brahms protecting the woman he considered his. He would tolerate no attacks on her, would slip into a rage with ease. In fact, he would be hard pressed not to kill the offenders, Brahms recalling how brutally he had destroyed the vampires who had been responsible for Silmeria's debilitating injuries.

  If he had had any doubts that Silmeria was meant to be his, the killing rage that had come over him in response to her injuries had vanquished them. But Brahms didn't think it would help his case to admit to that just now. Perhaps in the future, when she was settled and had accepted the transformation he had forced on her.

  Silmeria had reacted to his look, seeming to shudder in place. He couldn't tone it down, eyes fierce a he rose. She stood as well, Brahms offering his arm to her. She hesitated but ultimately took it. It was silly, but just that she willingly touched him filled Brahms with immense pleasure. He wouldn't be surprised if he was glowing, the two heading for the door which he unlocked with a spell.

  Silmeria's eyes were alert, the girl watching how he unlocked the door. But just like the window was warded against vampires teleporting in and out, the door held a similar enchantment. She would not be able to break it, not until Brahms decreed her trust worthy enough to no longer be confined to this room.

  There was more than just pleasure in her touch. Brahms was thrilling at the thought of being seen with Silmeria on his arm, of introducing her to some of his people. He very much enjoyed the thought of showing off his beautiful bride, of seeing her interact with his vampires. He didn't have to think long on just where he would take her, Brahms leisurely leading her through the castle. Their destination was the old ball room, where many a noble socialized the night away.

  Their hearing was superior, but had they been mortal, they would have heard the loud music from as far away as one lengthy corridor. Brahms wondered how Silmeria was adjusting to the noise, knowing it could be overwhelming for a fledging as they struggle to filter out one too many sounds. It was easy for him to tune out the many conversations, knowing that at any point he could choose one to focus on. But he wouldn't eavesdrop on his people.

  They reached the grand doors of the old ballroom, two vampires on guard besides them. The doors' upper portion was glass, allowing the lights of the ball room to filter out into the hall. For one moment they just stood there, Brahms letting Silmeria peer through the glass at the partying vampires. He wondered what she thought of them, and even tried to imagine the sights through a fledgling's eyes.

  The ball room was as tall as it was wide, stretching up to the very roof of the castle. The ceiling was smooth, with an artful fresco painted on it's stone. It was all dark reds and black, with some white sprinkled liberally about. It was turbulent emotion translated by colors, the red reminding Brahms of the life giving blood that made up the vampires diet.

  The floor was marble, and to his regret, there was a few blood stains that hadn't been wiped away before the liquid had set into the stone. The walls had thick curtains of heavy velvet on them, hiding private alcoves from view. Those alcoves could be used for both a feeding, or a rendezvous with a lover, though most vampires preferred the privacy of their own rooms when it came to love making.

  There was no buffet tables in this room, the vampires having no use for food. But there were several humans intermingled with the vampires. These men and women were scantily clad, their arms, legs, and especially their necks bare. There were bite marks on much of their exposed flesh, the vampires not discriminating where they would sink their fangs in. Some of the bite marks were fresh, but many were older, healing wounds.

  A band played on stage situated in the eastern corner of the room. The musicians were all vampires, playing music in a way that their mortal counterparts could never hope to mimic. Some vampires danced to the tunes, but many stood in circles, conversing with one another. They were dressed in a wide assortment of clothing, many choosing to wear the fashions of their homeland, and the time period in which they had existed as mortals.

  There was not an overabundance of black clothing to be found. The vampires simply weren't that cliche. But they shined with the wealth on display, especially the women who wore thick necklaces, and jewels in their hair. Nearly every female had her hair swept back with a clip, leaving an unobstructed view of the sides of their necks. It was done on purpose, vampire males finding slender necks just as enticing as womanly curves. Some might say the revealed necks were the ultimate tease, and many vampiresses were attempting to attract a male
's attention with that display.

  Silmeria had yet to notice the humans. Brahms could tell by her lack of an appalled reaction. "It's...it's different from what I thought it would be." Silmeria admitted quietly.

  "Were you perhaps expecting a blood bath?" Brahms couldn't help teasing her. "Or perhaps an orgy?" She lowered her eyes, and that was signal enough that she had thought the worse of the partying vampires. He chuckled softly under his breath, and did not miss the question she asked.

  "What exactly is an orgy?" That gave Brahms pause, the vampire not sure how to explain it to a girl who was sexually naive.

  "Something I'm sure you wouldn't enjoy." He said at last. "Come." He glided them forward, the guards pulling open the doors. The motion drew the attention of some of the vampires, and they reacted to the sight of their King. Depending on their status, they did anything from a bow, to going down on one knee, all in attempt to show Brahms and his bride the proper respect.

  As they did this, a rippling motion spread through the crowd. The music stopped, as one by one every vampire turned to acknowledge the new arrivals. Brahms actually felt Silmeria tighten her fingers on his arm, but it was the only sign of her nervousness.

  For several minutes, Brahms just stood there, gazing out into the crowd. He could feel them assessing Silmeria, trying to ascertain the level of threat the former Valkyrie posed to them. He knew they would be surprised, surely underestimating her due to her fledgling status. But they were well aware she was under their King's protection, and thus would not foolishly make a move against her. Some might hate her, but only the insane and suicidal would attack her now.

  Satisfied all had seen Silmeria, Brahms gave a subtle nod of his head. It was enough to restart the party, many vampires resuming their previous activities as the music picked up. Silmeria was still clinging to his arm, but she moved when he did as though the girl feared being left behind. He wouldn't leave her to fend for herself, not without a good excuse and another protector ready to stand guard in his place.