8: New body-old soul
Veax lay in her bed. She was still scared to go to sleep, despite Dorran's encouragement. In all honesty, Veax was not scared of Elleron, but scared of dreaming. She had dreamt once before and that had not ended well. It was before her mother's death. Veax shivered at the memory. Her mother had died of starvation, a long and horrible death for a Vampire. It was just a few months before the clan moved out of the city manor and headed out to the country.Veax's mother, Raina, was a beautiful Vampire with the reddest hair you have ever seen and golden eyes. She was very much against the war, Raina saw no meaning to it. She had tried to use logic and history onCarthem, but logic was a stranger to Carthem and he thought nothing of history, be it Vampiric or not. Veax remember covering Nasya's ears as her parents fought. Her mother had tried to tell Carthem, for the millionth time, that Vampires and Werewolves had once lived beside one another under Elleron's rule, along with many other races. Carthem never listened to Raina, and that was half the reason she allowed herself to die such a death. Raina had love Carthem, but when his love for her died, so did she.
Veax shook her head, trying to wipe the horrid memory from her mind. Then it came to her. "King Elleron once ruled over all creatures, Vampiric and Werewolven alike." Veax whispered. "Then he died -supposedly- and everything fell apart. He might have been a tyrant, but he was a good king. He kept the peace! Maybe...."Veax hesitated before continuing, "Maybe he could keep the peace again. Maybe he could come back and end the war." she laid down on the bed, curiosity replacing her fear.Veax closed her eyes and repeated "Let me talk to Elleron." over and over again. Slowly but surely, she fell asleep.
She was in the main hall of the Obsidian castle again. Veax looked to the tapestry. It was different somehow. Veax could not see how it was different, she just knew it was. It told a different story. Veax dismissed the tapestry and walked down the hidden stairway. It seemed to take longer this time.
When she reached the bottom, there was no one there. Veax took in a deep breath. "Wait." she paused. "I'm controlling myself. Does this mean I'm still dreaming? Or can you control yourself in your dreams sometimes?"Veax asked herself. "Yes. You can control yourself in your own dreams." a voice spoke from behind her. Veax spun around, it was Elleron. His emerald robes contrasted well with his white skin. "Did you see the tapestry?" he asked in a cool voice. Veax shook her head. Elleron looked disappointed. Veax noticed that he stood out from everything. Everything around him seemed slightly blurred now. "Thats a bummer. I thought you might like it. You can see it in the morning though, so all is well." he said shrugging.
Veax did not know how to start. How should I ask him? she thought. "Ask me what?" Elleron asked, his eyebrow raised. "I thought you could read my mind deeper than that." Veax said, looking up to his eyes. They were as icy blue as her own, if not more. Elleron chuckled. "I could. Last night you were sleeping with no control over your dream. Since you had no control, I filled that spot and learned what I could. But now that you are more or less awake, I can only see so deep. And I feel like being polite, so I'm going to let you decide to ask me whatever it is you want to ask me or not."Elleron explained. "Aha..." Veax nodded. "How did you know that I could read your thoughts deeper?" Elleron asked. Veax looked in the direction of the library that the journal was and before she could think twice, she was standing in front of the old desk andElleron was seated in the large armchair. The book was opened to the page with Elleron's previous entry that told of his seeing Veax.
Elleron ran his fingers over the writing. "I thought you couldn't read goblin." he said. Veax guessed that Elleron made sure that she could not read goblin, for the sack of her not reading the journal. "I can't, Vance read it to me." she explained.Elleron looked up at her. "Vance Warxen?" he asked. Veax nodded. Elleron seemed to turn this fact over in his mind and Veax saw a small gleam shine in his eyes.
"Elleron...." Veax started. Damn. I still don't know how to ask. I don't want to do anything that would hurt anyone else. she thought. "Yes?" Elleron looked up at her. "Um.... How do you plan to "come back", pray tell?" Veax asked, her voice low. Elleron looked down at the journal. "I said what I was going to do. Whats bothering you?" he asked, the gleam gone from his eye. "I don't want you to hurt anyone coming back. I don't want anyone close to me having to do something against their will or being promised anything that won't be fulfilled." she said.Elleron stood and smiled warmly at Veax. "I give you my word, no one will be harmed or given any false promises." he said sincerely as he placed a cold hand on her cheek. "But how do I know you're not lying now?" Veax asked, biting her lip. "Because I don't want to scare you. I don't want to loose you." Elleron spoke with the sort of longing that Veax had told of in her bedtime story to the young ones.
Veax pulled away from Elleron's hand, as comferting as it was. "Do you have any idea who to choose?" she asked, turning away. Veax could feel Elleron's despair at that action. "Yes." he said. Vance... Veax thought. "Yes." Elleron confirmed. Veax turned back around. "You'll keep your word?" she asked, just once more. Elleron nodded.
Veax was about to say something more, but she heard a sof t voice calling to her from the outside. "Veax, c'mon you sleepy head, get up." spoke Nasya's voice. Veax smiled at Elleron and allowed herself to return to consciousness.
"Hm?" Veax mumbled as she opened her eyes. Nasya giggled. "You've never slept this deep before." she said. "I did notice two shadows passing my door last night." Nasya smiled. "You didn't sneak off with somebody last night did you?" she asked with giggling curiosity. Veax blushed. "No! What makes you think that?" she asked, sitting up in bed. Nasya only giggled more. "That was so totally a yes! C'mon, tell me who the lucky guy is." Nasya asked, her big eyes batting at Veax. Veax rolled her eyes. "I did not sneak out with anyone, and there is no lucky guy, Nessie." Veax said, annoyed. She had wanted a different welcome back into the world of reality. Did King Elleron and I just have a long and meaningful conversation in my dream? Veax thought, remembering the whole meeting with perfect clarity. Elleron had expressed the feeling only two other women had felt towards Veax just a moment ago.
Nasya nudged Veax about the previous night over and over again. "No, Vance and I didn't sneak off!" Veax said, turning to her little sister, quite annoyed now. "How many times to I have to tell you? Nothing happened last night! I was just wandering 'bout the manor like I used to before we moved. 'Kay?" she snapped at Nasya.
Nasya backed off after that, just one more complaint away form a smack in the face. Veax stood on a one of the five third floor balconies. She was trying to figure out who to see first; Dorran or Vance. It might be best to see if Dorran's doing alright. Then I'll go see Vance..... I wonder what he'll be like after Elleron. That is, if Vance accepts Elleron's offer-proposal-whatever-it-is-thingy. Veax thought as she headed for the unused wine cellar. Oh damnit! I didn't get any blankets for Dorran! He must be misrble. Veax realized. Veax grabbed a few good spare blankets as discreetly as she could and headed back down to the cellar.
Almost everybody was out of the manor and back in the city. This was a good thing. A very good thing. Veax reached the door and knocked. "Mixed." she said. There was a moment of silcnce and then the sound of the lock clicking open. Dorran stood at the door, he looked horrible. "Did you sleep at all?" Veax asked, feeling so bad that she had not gotten him a blanket sooner. Dorrn smiled. "I got a few hours. How about you?" he asked, taking the blankets. Veax took a deep breath. "I guess I slept..." she said, locking the door and then helping Dorran lay the blankets out for his makeshift bed. "You guess?" He asked, confused. Veax sighed.
Veax told Dorran everything about her meeting with Elleron. It was nice having someone to talk to. Someoen who would not look at her like she was an idiot or traitor. "Well, now you know what you wanted to know. The question now is: what are you going to do about it?" Dorran spoke Veax exact problem aloud. Veax lay down. "I have no damn idea." she said. Every time Veax had tried to think of something to do, her mind had gone blank. That always happened to her when she tired to think of one specific thing.
They lay in silence for a moment, but that silence was broken by Dorran's loud stomach. Veax giggled. "I'll go get you some food" she said, standing and going to the door. "Would you like some "wine" as well?" she asked with a smile. Dorran's eyes lit up. "That would be the best thing in the world to me right now." he answered.
Veax casually walked to the newer wine cellar and got her and Dorran a bottle of blood-wine, which was the same thing as wine, but it had the one special ingredient that all Vampires craved; human blood. When she got a fresh bottle, Veax headed up to the kitchen. Memly, the head chef and cook, was busy cooking some soup for lunch. "Ey, Memly?" Veax asked, half in and half out of the kitchen. Memly, a stout auburn-haired Vampre, turned to face Veax, her beady green eyes kind. "What can I do for you dear?" Memly asked with a smile. "Do you perchance have any meat left form last night's dinner?" Veax asked in her usual way. "Hiding up in your room again?" Memly asked, moving over to a large cabinet. "More like up on the roof, but you were close enough." she said with a smile. Memly handed Veax a pile of sliced and uneaten pork wrapped in a large napkin. "Well wherever you are going to be, it'll be nice to have somebody eat this meat." Memly said, returning to her stew.
Veax grabbed to cups before she left the kitchen and then headed back to the old cellar as fast as she could, she too was hungry. When she reached there, she again knocked and spoke the 'password' and Dorran let her in. They sat down and Veax set the two cups down and poured Dorran a drink before she did anything else. "Be careful when drinking that," she told Dorran as he picked up the cup. "It's like wine so if you drink it to fast you'll feel sick." she explained. Dorran nodded and sipped in down as fast as one could sip wine.
They had a nice brunch of pork and blood-wine. Dorran most of the blood-wine, which helped his sleeping problem and his feeding problem. Veax left the empty wine bottle with Dorran as well as the last few pieces of pork. "I'll be back later tonight with some more to eat, okay?" Veax asked as she was leaving the cellar. "Thats just fine." he said, locking the door behind Veax.
Veax walked out into the daylight. The sun felt nice on her skin. "Oi! Veax!" a femiliar voice called. Veax turned to see who it was. Culdo was running towards her. Veax waited for him to finally reach her. "You know, " he paused to catch his breath "You could've, done something, along the lines, of running to meet me." he said, panting as be spoke. Veax giggled. "No when had I ever done that you silly red-head?" she asked, scuffing up Culdo's shaggy red hair. Culdo laughed. "Never I guess." he said. Veax let her own red-brown hair down and then put it back up in a pony. "So why'd you run all the way over here?" she asked. Culdo heaved another breath. "My wife, Linlic, would like to have you over for dinner tonight." he said. Veax blinked her eyes at Culdo in surprise. "You can little Lin got married? For real this time, right?" Veax teased. Culdo rolled his eyes, "Haha," he said, sarcastically. "Can you come?" he asked. Veax smiled. "Why not. When should I show up?" she asked. "Sundown." Culdo responded.
Veax shook her head, trying to wipe the horrid memory from her mind. Then it came to her. "King Elleron once ruled over all creatures, Vampiric and Werewolven alike." Veax whispered. "Then he died -supposedly- and everything fell apart. He might have been a tyrant, but he was a good king. He kept the peace! Maybe...."Veax hesitated before continuing, "Maybe he could keep the peace again. Maybe he could come back and end the war." she laid down on the bed, curiosity replacing her fear.Veax closed her eyes and repeated "Let me talk to Elleron." over and over again. Slowly but surely, she fell asleep.
She was in the main hall of the Obsidian castle again. Veax looked to the tapestry. It was different somehow. Veax could not see how it was different, she just knew it was. It told a different story. Veax dismissed the tapestry and walked down the hidden stairway. It seemed to take longer this time.
When she reached the bottom, there was no one there. Veax took in a deep breath. "Wait." she paused. "I'm controlling myself. Does this mean I'm still dreaming? Or can you control yourself in your dreams sometimes?"Veax asked herself. "Yes. You can control yourself in your own dreams." a voice spoke from behind her. Veax spun around, it was Elleron. His emerald robes contrasted well with his white skin. "Did you see the tapestry?" he asked in a cool voice. Veax shook her head. Elleron looked disappointed. Veax noticed that he stood out from everything. Everything around him seemed slightly blurred now. "Thats a bummer. I thought you might like it. You can see it in the morning though, so all is well." he said shrugging.
Veax did not know how to start. How should I ask him? she thought. "Ask me what?" Elleron asked, his eyebrow raised. "I thought you could read my mind deeper than that." Veax said, looking up to his eyes. They were as icy blue as her own, if not more. Elleron chuckled. "I could. Last night you were sleeping with no control over your dream. Since you had no control, I filled that spot and learned what I could. But now that you are more or less awake, I can only see so deep. And I feel like being polite, so I'm going to let you decide to ask me whatever it is you want to ask me or not."Elleron explained. "Aha..." Veax nodded. "How did you know that I could read your thoughts deeper?" Elleron asked. Veax looked in the direction of the library that the journal was and before she could think twice, she was standing in front of the old desk andElleron was seated in the large armchair. The book was opened to the page with Elleron's previous entry that told of his seeing Veax.
Elleron ran his fingers over the writing. "I thought you couldn't read goblin." he said. Veax guessed that Elleron made sure that she could not read goblin, for the sack of her not reading the journal. "I can't, Vance read it to me." she explained.Elleron looked up at her. "Vance Warxen?" he asked. Veax nodded. Elleron seemed to turn this fact over in his mind and Veax saw a small gleam shine in his eyes.
"Elleron...." Veax started. Damn. I still don't know how to ask. I don't want to do anything that would hurt anyone else. she thought. "Yes?" Elleron looked up at her. "Um.... How do you plan to "come back", pray tell?" Veax asked, her voice low. Elleron looked down at the journal. "I said what I was going to do. Whats bothering you?" he asked, the gleam gone from his eye. "I don't want you to hurt anyone coming back. I don't want anyone close to me having to do something against their will or being promised anything that won't be fulfilled." she said.Elleron stood and smiled warmly at Veax. "I give you my word, no one will be harmed or given any false promises." he said sincerely as he placed a cold hand on her cheek. "But how do I know you're not lying now?" Veax asked, biting her lip. "Because I don't want to scare you. I don't want to loose you." Elleron spoke with the sort of longing that Veax had told of in her bedtime story to the young ones.
Veax pulled away from Elleron's hand, as comferting as it was. "Do you have any idea who to choose?" she asked, turning away. Veax could feel Elleron's despair at that action. "Yes." he said. Vance... Veax thought. "Yes." Elleron confirmed. Veax turned back around. "You'll keep your word?" she asked, just once more. Elleron nodded.
Veax was about to say something more, but she heard a sof t voice calling to her from the outside. "Veax, c'mon you sleepy head, get up." spoke Nasya's voice. Veax smiled at Elleron and allowed herself to return to consciousness.
"Hm?" Veax mumbled as she opened her eyes. Nasya giggled. "You've never slept this deep before." she said. "I did notice two shadows passing my door last night." Nasya smiled. "You didn't sneak off with somebody last night did you?" she asked with giggling curiosity. Veax blushed. "No! What makes you think that?" she asked, sitting up in bed. Nasya only giggled more. "That was so totally a yes! C'mon, tell me who the lucky guy is." Nasya asked, her big eyes batting at Veax. Veax rolled her eyes. "I did not sneak out with anyone, and there is no lucky guy, Nessie." Veax said, annoyed. She had wanted a different welcome back into the world of reality. Did King Elleron and I just have a long and meaningful conversation in my dream? Veax thought, remembering the whole meeting with perfect clarity. Elleron had expressed the feeling only two other women had felt towards Veax just a moment ago.
Nasya nudged Veax about the previous night over and over again. "No, Vance and I didn't sneak off!" Veax said, turning to her little sister, quite annoyed now. "How many times to I have to tell you? Nothing happened last night! I was just wandering 'bout the manor like I used to before we moved. 'Kay?" she snapped at Nasya.
Nasya backed off after that, just one more complaint away form a smack in the face. Veax stood on a one of the five third floor balconies. She was trying to figure out who to see first; Dorran or Vance. It might be best to see if Dorran's doing alright. Then I'll go see Vance..... I wonder what he'll be like after Elleron. That is, if Vance accepts Elleron's offer-proposal-whatever-it-is-thingy. Veax thought as she headed for the unused wine cellar. Oh damnit! I didn't get any blankets for Dorran! He must be misrble. Veax realized. Veax grabbed a few good spare blankets as discreetly as she could and headed back down to the cellar.
Almost everybody was out of the manor and back in the city. This was a good thing. A very good thing. Veax reached the door and knocked. "Mixed." she said. There was a moment of silcnce and then the sound of the lock clicking open. Dorran stood at the door, he looked horrible. "Did you sleep at all?" Veax asked, feeling so bad that she had not gotten him a blanket sooner. Dorrn smiled. "I got a few hours. How about you?" he asked, taking the blankets. Veax took a deep breath. "I guess I slept..." she said, locking the door and then helping Dorran lay the blankets out for his makeshift bed. "You guess?" He asked, confused. Veax sighed.
Veax told Dorran everything about her meeting with Elleron. It was nice having someone to talk to. Someoen who would not look at her like she was an idiot or traitor. "Well, now you know what you wanted to know. The question now is: what are you going to do about it?" Dorran spoke Veax exact problem aloud. Veax lay down. "I have no damn idea." she said. Every time Veax had tried to think of something to do, her mind had gone blank. That always happened to her when she tired to think of one specific thing.
They lay in silence for a moment, but that silence was broken by Dorran's loud stomach. Veax giggled. "I'll go get you some food" she said, standing and going to the door. "Would you like some "wine" as well?" she asked with a smile. Dorran's eyes lit up. "That would be the best thing in the world to me right now." he answered.
Veax casually walked to the newer wine cellar and got her and Dorran a bottle of blood-wine, which was the same thing as wine, but it had the one special ingredient that all Vampires craved; human blood. When she got a fresh bottle, Veax headed up to the kitchen. Memly, the head chef and cook, was busy cooking some soup for lunch. "Ey, Memly?" Veax asked, half in and half out of the kitchen. Memly, a stout auburn-haired Vampre, turned to face Veax, her beady green eyes kind. "What can I do for you dear?" Memly asked with a smile. "Do you perchance have any meat left form last night's dinner?" Veax asked in her usual way. "Hiding up in your room again?" Memly asked, moving over to a large cabinet. "More like up on the roof, but you were close enough." she said with a smile. Memly handed Veax a pile of sliced and uneaten pork wrapped in a large napkin. "Well wherever you are going to be, it'll be nice to have somebody eat this meat." Memly said, returning to her stew.
Veax grabbed to cups before she left the kitchen and then headed back to the old cellar as fast as she could, she too was hungry. When she reached there, she again knocked and spoke the 'password' and Dorran let her in. They sat down and Veax set the two cups down and poured Dorran a drink before she did anything else. "Be careful when drinking that," she told Dorran as he picked up the cup. "It's like wine so if you drink it to fast you'll feel sick." she explained. Dorran nodded and sipped in down as fast as one could sip wine.
They had a nice brunch of pork and blood-wine. Dorran most of the blood-wine, which helped his sleeping problem and his feeding problem. Veax left the empty wine bottle with Dorran as well as the last few pieces of pork. "I'll be back later tonight with some more to eat, okay?" Veax asked as she was leaving the cellar. "Thats just fine." he said, locking the door behind Veax.
Veax walked out into the daylight. The sun felt nice on her skin. "Oi! Veax!" a femiliar voice called. Veax turned to see who it was. Culdo was running towards her. Veax waited for him to finally reach her. "You know, " he paused to catch his breath "You could've, done something, along the lines, of running to meet me." he said, panting as be spoke. Veax giggled. "No when had I ever done that you silly red-head?" she asked, scuffing up Culdo's shaggy red hair. Culdo laughed. "Never I guess." he said. Veax let her own red-brown hair down and then put it back up in a pony. "So why'd you run all the way over here?" she asked. Culdo heaved another breath. "My wife, Linlic, would like to have you over for dinner tonight." he said. Veax blinked her eyes at Culdo in surprise. "You can little Lin got married? For real this time, right?" Veax teased. Culdo rolled his eyes, "Haha," he said, sarcastically. "Can you come?" he asked. Veax smiled. "Why not. When should I show up?" she asked. "Sundown." Culdo responded.
Veax waved bye to Culdo and then head off to see Vance. Had Elleron already made his move? Veax was anxious. She walked to the building that Vance was staying in as fast as she casually could.
When Veax reached the extra manor, Vance was not there. Veax asked around, and a few Vampires told her that he had gone to see the castle garden again. Veax went to the gardens strait away. She did not know why she was so worried, maybe it was just the fact that the most powerful Vampire in all of history was going to possess her friend. Maybe it was the fact that the most powerful Vampire in all history was in love with her. Or he at least felt connected to her.
Once at the gardens, Veax looked around. Vance was nowhere to be found. Veax quickly went to the hidden tunnel. She almost ran down the dark passage, tripping more than once. Finally Veax reached the main hall of the Obsidian castle. She looked around. No guards. Veax went behind the tapestry and down the near invisible staircase.
Veax was out of breath when she reached the library. Vance was not there either, at least not where Veax could see him. Taking in a deep breath, Veax headed towards the journal. Her pace slowed as she came closer to the old desk. She almost did not want to know whether Elleron had taken Vance or not now. But it was to late to turn back and when Veax turned the corner, what she saw left her frozen.
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