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Jan. 26th, 2007 04:57 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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fksqueeTitle: War, chapter 5/?
Rating: Strong PG-13, maybe a possible R
Pairings: None, really.
Author's note: Previous chapters have been posted here, and you may want to read those first before this part if you haven't already. The devious plans begin now. Bwahahahaha.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^103 A.D.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rome had never seemed so lovely. The full moon had just reached its peak, and most of the nearby houses were dark with their residents fast asleep. As the unclouded moonlight washed over the stone roads, the General took a moment to admire the night’s quiet beauty.
The journey from the Valley of the Kings had been a pleasant one. By slipping a few coins into the right hands, he had managed to find passage upon a trade ship bound for Capri. He passed the days sleeping in a crate labeled “papyrus,” only emerging at night for a quick meal from some unlucky rowing slave.
Upon dry land again, General Lucius of Pompeii was ready to begin a new life in Rome. His duties in the Emperor’s army had brought him here on occasion, so he was familiar with the opportunities the city provided for even the common man. He could only imagine how wonderful it would be for vampires.
A strangled scream from the alley behind him drew his attention. Curious, he moved toward the noise. He had not taken more than two steps before a young girl came dashing out of the shadowed alley. Her raggedy dress, already stained with dirt, was covered in blood. Her eyes were wild, and she seemed to be running blindly until she crashed into him. Gazing briefly up at his face, she immediately clutched at his robes, knuckles turning white as she grasped the fabric.
A man’s voice came from where the girl had run. “Oh good, you caught her.”
The General watched as a man stepped from the shadows. The stranger flashed a smile, and moonlight glinted off a sharpened fang. “Do be careful,” he warned. “She kicks, and she has amazing accuracy for someone so small. Her father and brother gave me no trouble, but that one…” In a blink, the man was at Lucius’ side, grabbing the girl’s wrist.
“You are new, both to Rome and to the night. I can tell.” The man’s smile widened. “I love seeing new faces around here. Please, join me in a drink.” He proffered the girl’s wrist to the General, who took it with a nod. “Welcome to Rome. My name is…”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Caelius.” LaCroix barely whispered the name.
“So, you _do_ remember. I thought the years might have wiped your thoughts of me,” the man said. “However, that name is so archaic in these modern times, so I’m just called Caleb now.” He took a quick step back, widening the gap between LaCroix and himself. “But please, I have interrupted. I believe you were busy warning your latest audience about the dangers of the Enforcers.”
The doors to the Raven suddenly flew open, and two men were thrown inside. As they landed on the floor in front of the bar, the surrounding crowd exploded in an uproar. Nick’s heart jumped into his throat, and memories of his time in the Civil War leapt to mind. He had faced these two vampires before, and seeing them lying on the floor in their current state illustrated the severity of this situation. Whoever this newcomer was, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Each man’s ankles were bound with what appeared to be twisted car fenders, and their arms were pinned behind their backs. The stakes that skewered their hands together were indicative of their station in the vampire Community. In the turmoil, only a few people noticed the mountain of a man that followed them, dragging in two unconscious bouncers and closing the door behind him.
“We ran into these two on our way here.” Caleb jumped off the bartop and crouched between the two figures on the floor. Leaning over the man on his left, Caleb twisted the stake piercing the Enforcer’s hands. His scream echoed off the club’s walls, and his eyes burned red in agony. “They wanted us to stop for a chat, but then we would have been late for your little meeting. So we brought them along. I hope you don’t mind.” He gave the stake another twist and grinned as the helpless vampire screamed again.
“Leave him alone.” Without knowing it, Nick had started working his way through the crowd. His outburst startled everyone into silence, and all eyes were on him as he pushed forward. “Let both of them go.”
“Nicholas, don’t.” LaCroix’s words stopped Nick in his tracks. The Enforcers both raised their heads to face their would-be rescuer, and even through their pain, Nick noticed a hint of recognition in their eyes.
Acknowledgement appeared on Caleb’s face as well. “This is Nicholas? My dear Lucius’ golden child? I guess the rumors were right; you _are_ quite brave for one so young.” Caleb stood and smoothed the wrinkles in his suit. “Of course, they said you were also weak and foolish.”
Nick never saw the punch coming. He was flying through the air before he even realized he had been struck. The wooden table he landed on never stood a chance; it crumbled beneath him, sending shards and splinters in every direction. One piece of the table punctured his thigh just above the knee, and another jutted into his lower back. Vachon, Urs, and Screed were by his side in an instant.
Caleb’s laugh was deep and rich. “I guess those rumors were right as well.” Caleb’s escort, still standing near the bar, broke into a high-pitched cackle.
LaCroix launched himself between Caleb and Nick and faced the elder vampire. His normally ice blue eyes were now feral yellow. “Stop it. Explain yourself. Why are you doing this?”
“Always with the orders, right General? I guess it’s boredom. Disappointment. Any number of reasons, really.” Caleb rested his hands in his pants’ pockets and began pacing the floor. As he came to the Enforcers, he nonchalantly stepped over one then the other. “It took quite a while to recuperate after our last meeting, so I have had nothing but time to think of how the world must be changing. I had such high hopes. Imagine how upset I was when I finally faced the future and found it was nothing like I had dreamed.
“I was expecting a world where our kind ruled over the humans, not where we hid from them. We have to lurk in the shadows, step carefully so not to arouse suspicion. We even have rules where we cannot kill our prey. And for all our trouble, we are nothing but whimsical stories to the humans. I have even been told that we are mocked annually on some holiday called Halloween.” Caleb’s eyes started fading in a golden hue. “I cannot believe you let something like this happen, Lucius.”
“This isn’t about what I ‘let happen,’ Caelius. The Code is in place for our survival. The mortals are resourceful, and they are good at hunting us when they put their minds to it. You weren’t around for the Inquisition—“
“And whose fault was that?” Caleb interrupted. LaCroix’s stony silence was his only response. “My point is that human hunters are still, big surprise, human. Easily handled, especially when we put _our_ minds to it. What exactly are you all afraid of?
“As for the Enforcers…” The vampire stopped mid-stride just as he was about to step over the body in front of him. Caleb carefully moved his foot so it hovered above the Enforcer’s head. “Are you aware of just how much pressure it takes to crush a vampire’s skull?”
The crowd’s horrified gasps only made Caleb smile. Almost everyone looked away as he stomped his foot to the floor with only minimal resistance.
“Things are going to be changing, Lucius, and you may want to, I believe the phrase is ‘get with the program.’ Keep hiding if _you_ want to, but do not expect me or anyone else to live by your rules from now on. The humans will know we exist, and they will cower. And Lucius,” Caleb sobered immediately and glared in LaCroix’s direction. “Do not get in my way.”
Caleb pivoted and stormed toward the front door. The room was silent as he and his two companions stepped out into the night and slammed the door behind them.
Rating: Strong PG-13, maybe a possible R
Pairings: None, really.
Author's note: Previous chapters have been posted here, and you may want to read those first before this part if you haven't already. The devious plans begin now. Bwahahahaha.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^103 A.D.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rome had never seemed so lovely. The full moon had just reached its peak, and most of the nearby houses were dark with their residents fast asleep. As the unclouded moonlight washed over the stone roads, the General took a moment to admire the night’s quiet beauty.
The journey from the Valley of the Kings had been a pleasant one. By slipping a few coins into the right hands, he had managed to find passage upon a trade ship bound for Capri. He passed the days sleeping in a crate labeled “papyrus,” only emerging at night for a quick meal from some unlucky rowing slave.
Upon dry land again, General Lucius of Pompeii was ready to begin a new life in Rome. His duties in the Emperor’s army had brought him here on occasion, so he was familiar with the opportunities the city provided for even the common man. He could only imagine how wonderful it would be for vampires.
A strangled scream from the alley behind him drew his attention. Curious, he moved toward the noise. He had not taken more than two steps before a young girl came dashing out of the shadowed alley. Her raggedy dress, already stained with dirt, was covered in blood. Her eyes were wild, and she seemed to be running blindly until she crashed into him. Gazing briefly up at his face, she immediately clutched at his robes, knuckles turning white as she grasped the fabric.
A man’s voice came from where the girl had run. “Oh good, you caught her.”
The General watched as a man stepped from the shadows. The stranger flashed a smile, and moonlight glinted off a sharpened fang. “Do be careful,” he warned. “She kicks, and she has amazing accuracy for someone so small. Her father and brother gave me no trouble, but that one…” In a blink, the man was at Lucius’ side, grabbing the girl’s wrist.
“You are new, both to Rome and to the night. I can tell.” The man’s smile widened. “I love seeing new faces around here. Please, join me in a drink.” He proffered the girl’s wrist to the General, who took it with a nod. “Welcome to Rome. My name is…”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Caelius.” LaCroix barely whispered the name.
“So, you _do_ remember. I thought the years might have wiped your thoughts of me,” the man said. “However, that name is so archaic in these modern times, so I’m just called Caleb now.” He took a quick step back, widening the gap between LaCroix and himself. “But please, I have interrupted. I believe you were busy warning your latest audience about the dangers of the Enforcers.”
The doors to the Raven suddenly flew open, and two men were thrown inside. As they landed on the floor in front of the bar, the surrounding crowd exploded in an uproar. Nick’s heart jumped into his throat, and memories of his time in the Civil War leapt to mind. He had faced these two vampires before, and seeing them lying on the floor in their current state illustrated the severity of this situation. Whoever this newcomer was, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Each man’s ankles were bound with what appeared to be twisted car fenders, and their arms were pinned behind their backs. The stakes that skewered their hands together were indicative of their station in the vampire Community. In the turmoil, only a few people noticed the mountain of a man that followed them, dragging in two unconscious bouncers and closing the door behind him.
“We ran into these two on our way here.” Caleb jumped off the bartop and crouched between the two figures on the floor. Leaning over the man on his left, Caleb twisted the stake piercing the Enforcer’s hands. His scream echoed off the club’s walls, and his eyes burned red in agony. “They wanted us to stop for a chat, but then we would have been late for your little meeting. So we brought them along. I hope you don’t mind.” He gave the stake another twist and grinned as the helpless vampire screamed again.
“Leave him alone.” Without knowing it, Nick had started working his way through the crowd. His outburst startled everyone into silence, and all eyes were on him as he pushed forward. “Let both of them go.”
“Nicholas, don’t.” LaCroix’s words stopped Nick in his tracks. The Enforcers both raised their heads to face their would-be rescuer, and even through their pain, Nick noticed a hint of recognition in their eyes.
Acknowledgement appeared on Caleb’s face as well. “This is Nicholas? My dear Lucius’ golden child? I guess the rumors were right; you _are_ quite brave for one so young.” Caleb stood and smoothed the wrinkles in his suit. “Of course, they said you were also weak and foolish.”
Nick never saw the punch coming. He was flying through the air before he even realized he had been struck. The wooden table he landed on never stood a chance; it crumbled beneath him, sending shards and splinters in every direction. One piece of the table punctured his thigh just above the knee, and another jutted into his lower back. Vachon, Urs, and Screed were by his side in an instant.
Caleb’s laugh was deep and rich. “I guess those rumors were right as well.” Caleb’s escort, still standing near the bar, broke into a high-pitched cackle.
LaCroix launched himself between Caleb and Nick and faced the elder vampire. His normally ice blue eyes were now feral yellow. “Stop it. Explain yourself. Why are you doing this?”
“Always with the orders, right General? I guess it’s boredom. Disappointment. Any number of reasons, really.” Caleb rested his hands in his pants’ pockets and began pacing the floor. As he came to the Enforcers, he nonchalantly stepped over one then the other. “It took quite a while to recuperate after our last meeting, so I have had nothing but time to think of how the world must be changing. I had such high hopes. Imagine how upset I was when I finally faced the future and found it was nothing like I had dreamed.
“I was expecting a world where our kind ruled over the humans, not where we hid from them. We have to lurk in the shadows, step carefully so not to arouse suspicion. We even have rules where we cannot kill our prey. And for all our trouble, we are nothing but whimsical stories to the humans. I have even been told that we are mocked annually on some holiday called Halloween.” Caleb’s eyes started fading in a golden hue. “I cannot believe you let something like this happen, Lucius.”
“This isn’t about what I ‘let happen,’ Caelius. The Code is in place for our survival. The mortals are resourceful, and they are good at hunting us when they put their minds to it. You weren’t around for the Inquisition—“
“And whose fault was that?” Caleb interrupted. LaCroix’s stony silence was his only response. “My point is that human hunters are still, big surprise, human. Easily handled, especially when we put _our_ minds to it. What exactly are you all afraid of?
“As for the Enforcers…” The vampire stopped mid-stride just as he was about to step over the body in front of him. Caleb carefully moved his foot so it hovered above the Enforcer’s head. “Are you aware of just how much pressure it takes to crush a vampire’s skull?”
The crowd’s horrified gasps only made Caleb smile. Almost everyone looked away as he stomped his foot to the floor with only minimal resistance.
“Things are going to be changing, Lucius, and you may want to, I believe the phrase is ‘get with the program.’ Keep hiding if _you_ want to, but do not expect me or anyone else to live by your rules from now on. The humans will know we exist, and they will cower. And Lucius,” Caleb sobered immediately and glared in LaCroix’s direction. “Do not get in my way.”
Caleb pivoted and stormed toward the front door. The room was silent as he and his two companions stepped out into the night and slammed the door behind them.
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