Clearly, therefore, Aria was a heretic. She had to die and so did Eileen.
And so here they were, running for their lives. Or rather, Eileen was running, and Aria was throwing signs, warding off attacks, and hurling the occasional insult. If they were going to try to murder her, then she wasn’t about to hold back on what she thought about their haircuts or their tendency to resort to violence at the first possible opportunity.
A ripple ran through Eileen’s flesh, and Aria gasped. “Please, tell me you can transform into something else now because now would be a really, really good time.”
Hold on. There was a muffled cry of outrage from behind them as they leapt over a tree that had fallen across the path. We’re going to fly.
“Wait… you can fly – ah!”
Aria would forever deny it if anyone asked, but she may or may not have screamed like a little girl when Eileen leapt over the side of the road. They plummeted toward the forest below, and then Eileen was an eagle, a great, majestic eagle, a perfect copy of one of the titanic birds that could occasionally be found lurking in the clouds around the very tallest peaks. Aria’s scream reached a new – and most likely, ear-destroying – pitch when Eileen banked sharply. Fur was easier to hold onto than feathers, and she would have fallen if not for several of the small, shadowy creatures grabbing her. In the end, though, they weren’t able to steady her. She tumbled off, but Eileen was ready. The shape-shifter seized her in her massive talons.
Relax. Another sign appeared, held upside down by one of the creatures, so all Aria had to do was to turn her head to read it. I won’t drop you. Her grip tightened, and Aria screamed again. Unless you keep squirming. Please, stop moving.
They eventually landed not far from another town, and Eileen changed back into her bear form. A bear on its own would undoubtedly be an object of concern, but they’d agreed that she would play the part of a tamed animal, if only to avoid questions. For the time being, Aria was still in her uniform too, and the familiar colours and patterns would grant her some measure of authority until her order was able to spread the news of her heresy. They couldn’t stay long. They’d managed to get away this time, but they’d also been lucky. Her order probably hadn’t known what Eileen could do. What they needed was to find a place where her order couldn’t follow, but the only place that came to mind was the Blood Alliance. Paladins weren’t welcome, but former paladins had their uses, and she had always wondered about life as an adventurer. They might not welcome her in the Blood Alliance, but she should be able to get by, and they wouldn’t even look twice at Eileen.
So that was what they did. It took them almost a month of careful sneaking around to finally reach the Blood Alliance, and it cost Aria a lot of the money she had left to bribe her way in and to secure the necessary papers to avoid any future trouble and join the Adventurers’ Union. Work wasn’t easy to come by, not at first. She and Eileen took whatever jobs they could get. She didn’t have any references, and she was too new for people to think much of her. All she had was herself, her armour, her buckler, her sword, and some odds and ends. She had Eileen too – a shape-shifter who couldn’t take on a humanoid form. It was a recipe for disaster, but they managed. Not everybody disliked them, and there were some friendly vampires who helped them get started. Thankfully, there was always work to be done in the Blood Alliance, and her tendency to abide by the rules of her contract made her a valuable commodity – hired help that stayed hired was not easy to find.
Somehow, they got by. Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, they managed. They weren’t comfortable, at least to begin with, but they were alive, and that was something. They made a name for themselves as a strange but reliable pair who could be trusted to see jobs through to the finish. Eventually, they ran into two other people they could trust: a werewolf and a merman.
If someone had told Aria that she would one day leave her order and lead a team of a shape-shifter, a werewolf, and a merman, she would have called them insane. That was the sort of thing Marcus would have done, not her. But the gods had a sense of humour, and for all their faults and quirks, her teammates were good people. Sure, Eileen could be extremely mischievous, Eric disliked wearing clothing, and Blue Scales enjoyed dancing in pouring rain, but they were her friends. The only thing they needed now was a sponsor. That would really let them move up in the world.
And then Janice sent her a message, and Aria had a meeting with a vampire noble who needed money. Things were looking up.
Part Two – On The Road Again
It did not, in fact, take long for a job to come up. It was a good thing too. Despite having a place to stay with Martin and a crate to sleep in, Jonathan could ill afford to go much longer without a better source of income. His work for Martin combined with Miles’s savings would keep them afloat in the short term, but he was merely treading water. If he wanted to eventually get his castle back, then he needed to make more money. Although Martin said he wasn’t imposing, he also didn’t want to burden his friend any further if he could avoid it. On the upside, the job they’d been contacted about sounded promising, at least when it came to payment. If the payment was even half as large as had been hinted at, he would be making a fine start to recovering his castle. Of course, such a large payment also made him wary and suspicious. Nobody would be offering so much money if what they wanted was easy to do although he could hardly afford to walk away just because it was risky. He didn’t have the luxury of being picky.
“Do you know anything about him?” Aria asked as they made their way toward the Adventurers’ Union. It was customary for potential clients to meet teams there since it was secure and considered neutral ground by the city’s various factions. He and Miles had met up with the others beforehand, so they could speak along the way.
Jonathan took a moment to adjust his clothing. He had used an advance from Aria and the others to purchase some proper clothing. He might not look eminently fashionable – he doubted he ever would – but it was critical he not look like a vagabond. Aria had given him a nod of approval. He now looked every inch a vampire noble, albeit one of middling standing, which should allow him to play the part of their sponsor perfectly.
“Yes, I do. The House of Darkletter is a Noble House that is known for the quality of its merchants and scholars, as well as its penchant for collecting things. Most of its members go into mercantile and academic fields, and they have arguably the most extensive collection of artefacts and relics in the Blood Alliance, possibly even the world.”
Eric grinned toothily. “So you’re saying the offer he hinted at… he’s good for it, right?”
“To the best of my knowledge, they are in excellent financial shape. They are not the wealthiest of the Noble Houses, but they are definitely in the top ten. A great deal of their wealth comes from the quality of their investments and businesses, which are spread across a diverse range of areas. It’s hard to imagine a situation, short of the complete collapse of the Blood Alliance, that would severely hamper their finances.”
Could the mission be related to artefacts? Eileen held up a sign. There are plenty of cursed artefacts floating around, and we do have a former paladin as our leader. As a large bear, she was perfect for clearing a path through the crowded street, which was why she walked at the front of the group. Jonathan bit back a smile. He could get used to not being shoved around.
Blue Scales gave a deep, booming laugh. “You’d be amazed by how many people think throwing a cursed artefact into the ocean solves the problem. But how could it? My people live there. The problem isn’t solved – we still have to deal with it.” He rubbed his chin. “In fairness, we do often send our cursed artefacts to wash up on your shores, so perhaps it evens out in the end.”
Eric snickered. “It makes you wonder who started doing it first. Did we throw cursed things into the ocean for you to send back, or is it the other way around?”
“It is entirely possible that we’re simply cycling cursed artefacts back
and forth,” Jonathan said. “It would explain the periodic appearance and disappearance of certain, especially famous, cursed artefacts.” He nodded to Janice as they entered the Union. He owed the woman a debt for helping him when no one else would. Their meeting would be taking place in one of the private rooms on the upper floors. “By the way, Eric, I don’t mean to offend you, but you might want to skip this meeting.”
“Oh?” The werewolf had his spear slung over his shoulder. Although it had clearly seen heavy use, its quality was undeniable. “Why is that?”
“The House of Darkletter has a fairly horrible and gruesome history with werewolves.”
Eric stilled. “Is that going to be a problem with regards to hiring us?” His voice was light, but the look in his eyes was not.
Aria frowned. “We can wait for another –”
It spoke well of her that she was offended on Eric’s behalf, but this time, Jonathan had good news. “I don’t think so. He’ll have done his research. He has to know you’re a part of this team. Every member of the House of Darkletter that I’ve met has been ruthlessly pragmatic. He might not like werewolves, but if you can help him, he’ll overlook it. However, it might be best for you to skip the meeting to allow him to save face.”
Eric smirked. “I can do that. But why do they hate werewolves so much?”
“It’s not just werewolves. It’s also your clan in particular. Your leader may have, well, eaten the founder of their House.” There was no ‘may’ about it. There were ballads – dozens of them, and most of them incredibly gruesome – about how Alaric the Great Silver had devoured the founder of the House of Darkletter on the field of battle. To make matters worse, the legendary werewolf had commented quite audibly on how the poor fellow had tasted like chicken – perhaps in reference to the way the vampire had, quite smartly, tried to run from him.
Eric had to fight to hold back his laughter. “Oh, I get it. I’d be mad too if I was in his position. I’ll wait outside.”
“Thank you,” Aria said. “I appreciate you making this easier for us, and as long as he pays us what he promised…”
“Yeah. He doesn’t have to like me.” Eric ran one hand through his unkempt hair. “Plenty of people don’t like me. As long as he pays us, I can put up with some dislike.”
“Should Eileen and I wait outside too?” Blue Scales asked. “Amongst my people, it is customary for nobles to discuss important matters amongst themselves.” He paused. “Also… Eileen and I have a history of breaking furniture by accident during negotiations.”
You broke some furniture. Eileen huffed. You’re incredibly large for a merman whereas I am the perfect size for a bear.
“Couldn’t you shift into something smaller like a ferret?” Jonathan asked.
And risk getting eaten by a dog? Not a chance.
“Then it might be for the best. He is a vampire noble, so he’ll expect to meet with a fellow noble and the leader of the team.” Aria smiled. “But if you just so happen to be close enough to listen in, well, that would save us some time later.”
Jonathan took a deep breath. “Miles, how do I look?”
The old man examined him intently. He was dressed immaculately in his butler uniform. A small smile crossed his lips. “You look the very picture of a nobleman out for some adventure with the riff raff.”
“I’d object to being called riff raff if it wasn’t true.” Eric chuckled. “Go ahead, you guys. The three of us will hang around out here. Good luck.”
The room Jonathan, Miles, and Aria entered was furnished in the classical style favoured by many vampire nobles. It was just shy of being ostentatious, and the many shades of red that dominated the room were a clear reference to their client. Red, after all, had always been the colour associated with vampires. Jonathan was forced to concede that even with his castle, he would not have been able to offer such a grand place to host a discussion.
Almost all of the furniture was antique, and the art on the walls was by acknowledged masters. As someone who knew how much all of it was worth, he was hard pressed not to wince. This room alone would have been a very, very nice start to reclaiming his castle. It was a big change for him. His castle had never been furnished this way. He was, in most respects, a simple vampire. A chair was a chair, provided he could sit in it. In contrast, the Darkletters were a noble family with a long, illustrious, and wealthy history. Appearances were important, and the Union was smart enough to maintain them. As Jonathan and Aria made their way to the exquisitely crafted table where Baron Darkletter was already seated, Jonathan nodded at Miles. His servant understood immediately and swiftly moved to begin preparing some of the refreshments that had been left on a nearby trolley. It was telling that the only other people in the room were servants and bodyguards in the colours of the House of Darkletter.
Baron Darkletter gave a small nod of approval at how quickly and efficiently Miles got to work. He was a tall, thin vampire with a well-trimmed but light beard and a small moustache. He did not exude power and majesty the way some vampires his age did – Jonathan knew he was well over five hundred – but that was probably due to his specialisation in things other than magic or combat. His dark brown hair was still rich in colour, and his crimson-tinged blue eyes were razor keen. Jonathan also took careful note of the book on the table. It was an incredibly valuable copy of a truly priceless text, an ancient tome that he had long wished to read. It had to be relevant to the mission because even a copy was so valuable that it would only have seen the outside of a vault or private library for a very, very good reason.
“Good evening, Baron Darkletter,” Jonathan intoned formally, bowing slightly in acknowledgement of the other vampire’s higher status. “I trust the night has been kind.”
It was an old greeting that had been used amongst vampire nobles for centuries. The other vampire’s lips curled ever so slightly. He must want to get down to business, but there were appearances to keep. “For the most part, it has been, Lord Bloodhaven.”
“Please,” Jonathan replied. “If we are to do business, call me Jonathan.”
“Then address me as Daven.” The baron smiled thinly as he followed Jonathan’s gaze to the book on the table. “Ah, you recognise this? Good. Despite your… poor choices in politics, your scholarship is well known to me. I have even read several of your works. Lack of political acumen aside, your scholarship is sound. Your treatise on the fall of the ancient vampire duchies prior to the rise of the Blood Empire was exacting in its detail.”
Jonathan smiled in genuine delight. It was always nice to talk shop with someone well versed in his field of expertise. “I am honoured that it pleased you. It was difficult to obtain information, given how many of the Houses from that era perished. I was rewarded for my persistence as much as my scholarship.”
“Modest too.” Daven gestured languidly at Aria. “Yet I do find myself curious. Although not… wealthy, it seems odd for someone of your bloodline to be looking for work at an academy or university for anything other than amusement, to say nothing of you consorting with adventurers.” The distaste was obvious in the way he all but bit off the last few words. The Darkletters had produced prominent scholars, true, but none of them had ever relied on their studies to produce money. Likewise, vampires tended to be wary of former paladins. “There have been… rumours.”
“I will not deny that there have been some problems,” Jonathan conceded. He had talked this over with Miles, Aria, and Martin. Lying outright would be a terrible idea. Daven was well informed. He had to know something. It was better for Jonathan to address the issue in time-honoured fashion: by massaging the truth a little, like so many impoverished nobles before him. “I will soon be aided by some investments I’ve made, but you know how those are. It may take some time for those to bear fruit. In the meantime, I find myself restless.” He laughed self-deprecatingly. “I’m only two centuries old, and I could use a bit of adventure. Given my House’s history, teaching or adventuring both seemed interesting. Besid
es, adventurers can only benefit from having a vampire to guide them.”
Daven accepted a goblet of blood heated to body temperature from Miles and took a long sip before chuckling. “Ah, yes. We’ve all been there. I too wandered for a while in my younger days. My father was not overly pleased, but I think it was for the best. A noble should see more of the world.” He waited for Jonathan to accept a goblet of his own before he continued. “As for the book, I can understand your curiosity. It is only a copy, but it is still worth more than everything else in this room combined. I’d prefer not to waste any more time with pointless chitchat. I am a practical man, so allow me to cut straight to the point.”
“By all means.” Jonathan had never been good at making small talk or exchanging pleasantries. He had always felt so awkward. He was at his best when he could talk about something he was studying. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Miles take a position by the trolley, ready to serve them at a moment’s notice. It also put him in a perfect position to watch all but one of Daven’s bodyguards.
“As I’m sure you know, my House has long held an interest in artefacts and relics of various kinds. As scholars, the fragments of the past have always interested us. And as merchants, those same fragments have often proven to be exceedingly valuable. Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to locate an incredibly rare and exotic item.” Daven’s gaze flicked to Aria for a moment, and he took a second to ponder something before pressing on. “My servants were able to retrieve the object – a relic tied to the Blood Emperor.”
“Ah.” Jonathan tried and failed to keep his expression neutral. Relics associated with the Blood Emperor could be enormously valuable – and incredibly dangerous. The Blood Emperor had not only been the greatest vampire warrior in history but also one of the greatest vampire mages of all time. Most of his relics had either been destroyed for being too dangerous without him around to control them or locked away in vaults because they were too precious to risk losing. “Were there complications?”
Attempted Vampirism Page 10
