Savage Worlds, page 9
part #3 of Savagery and Skills Series
Several vampires hissed at the mention of his name. Good, I wanted them to be angry, but Nathaniel’s warning that they might not being so willing to fight once they heard everything stayed with me. It might seem easy now, but I had to keep my hopes in check.
“Rudarius’s forces breached the outer defenses,” Nathaniel explained as a hush fell over the room. “His army was greater than we anticipated, and he attacked without warning. You fought with us on the front line until we received word a smaller force pushed their way inside.”
Glimpses of that bloody night came to mind, the screams of the dying, the rage burning through me to not let our coven fall. But it’d been a fool’s hope to hold onto.
“You grabbed me by my shirt and yelled at me to get the people to safety. All of them, as many as I could. The guard was going to follow you, but you made us swear to put the coven first. Then you blurred away, not even giving me a chance to argue,” he ended with a quiet laugh. “That was always your way though, putting the rest of us first.”
His shoulders sagged with a sudden heavy emotion that obviously weighed him down. A feeling he failed me that night. Failed my father, our leader. He wasn’t the only one. As I scanned the gathered crowd, I spotted the rest of my guard carrying the same guilt.
“You endured for years at his hands,” Nathaniel whispered. “I would understand if you could never forgive us.”
“Why wouldn’t I? There’s nothing to forgive. You followed my orders.”
“And you were lost in the process, so was the coven.”
I spread my arms wide. “Look around you, Nathaniel. You and the other guards saved our coven. You kept it alive and safe, away from Rudarius. I never dreamed so many remained alive. Now there’s hope again that we can finally put an end to that monster. We can destroy him for what he did to us. We have to.”
The anger I saw only seconds ago began to shift into hesitation and fear. They’d faced down Rudarius and lost, maybe not their lives, but certainly their coven. Their family and friends were torn away. If they went up against him now, it could be the end of the Bleeding Crown coven for good.
“There’s much we need to talk about,” I announced. “And I hope by the end of it, you’ll stand beside me once again.”
Nathaniel had seemed more on board after he spoke with me and Seneca, learned how strong she was. But I’d seen the indecision lingering in his facial expressions. She was strong, but if she couldn’t find rings, have a way to control that power, it could all backfire. Not to mention, Rudarius had turned her. That in itself was cause to worry. Nothing I said would convince them she would stand with us, no questions asked.
Standing there surrounded by them all, my own doubts about her staying good rose ready to strangle me. Rudarius had his hooks in deep. The longer she acted like it wasn’t an issue, the deeper they’d go until she’d be tearing herself in two.
“Draven?” Shane nudged my arm. “You alright?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” I stepped forward and motioned for everyone to take a seat. “It’s going to be a long night,” I informed them. “A very long night indeed.”
Silence filled the cafeteria as my last words faded away. I told them about my time with Rudarius and all I had to do to survive under his watch. I told them about finding Seneca and how our relationship came to be. The more I talked, unable to stop after a certain point, the more faces turned dour and solemn. Nathaniel appeared to be right, after all. Despite all Rudarius had done to me, to Otherworld and our coven, my people didn’t seem ready to jump into battle. They looked more than ready to continue hiding here, where they’d been safe for decades.
“Why should we care about the fae kingdoms?” a voice yelled from the back of the room. “What have they ever done for us?”
“He’s right,” another chimed in. “When the vampires were first attacked, the fae stood by.”
“They did nothing.”
“They could have joined us then.”
The complaints across the room picked up, and I had no argument.
“You’re right,” I finally shouted, and they quieted down. “The fae, the shifters, the demons, they all told us Rudarius was our problem to deal with. He took over the covens in Otherworld, wiped out our numbers. You have every right to deny them aid now.”
The vampires nodded.
“But we can’t,” I said, and they froze. “I will not stand by while that monster continues to draw strength from those he’s captured. He won’t stop with the fae. He’ll take over the rest of Otherworld, our rightful home. He’ll go after Valesk and then he will come here.”
“We can’t stop him,” someone cried out. “He’ll kill us all!”
“I will not lie to you.” I marched to an old table and climbed atop it. “Rudarius is strong, far stronger than he was when we faced him the last time. He’s found a way to use the fae and mage power against us.”
Whispers erupted in the crowd and panic probably wasn’t far behind. I raised my hands, and they fell silent again.
“But we will not stand alone against him, not this time. Just as I’m here with you, Prince Marlie of the fae is building an army of his own to join us in this fight.”
“Will it be enough, us and them?”
“No, but I’m going to do something we should’ve done a long time ago.” I looked around, locking gazes with as many as I could then said, “I’m going to unite the vampire covens.”
I hadn’t told Nathaniel that part of my plan. He seemed as shocked as everyone else, but if the other covens didn't stand with us, our chance of defeating Rudarius would be gone. His army was vast and his power growing stronger every day that he stood unchallenged.
“What of Seneca?” Nathaniel asked. “You said she’s strong.”
“She is, but she will not face Rudarius on her own.”
“She’s fae, how can you trust her?” a woman asked, arms crossed. From her arched brow, it was clear she did not enjoy the idea of her leader being with a half-fae hybrid.
I hadn’t told them anything of Seneca’s time with Rudarius yet and hoped to avoid it. If it made them trust her motives, then I had no choice. She’d forgive me, maybe. “Seneca has suffered at the hands of Rudarius as well. He tortured her and torments her even now. If there is anyone aside from us with a vendetta against that monster, it’s her.”
“She’s still part fae—” the woman insisted.
My hand cut through the air, shutting down whatever arguments she was about to make.
“Her people spurned her. Cast her out for who she is. It no longer matters if she is fae or not, she stands by my side and I by hers.” My loud proclamation had several more vampires mirroring the one who spoke out against Seneca. “Look, I understand your hesitation, I do, but Seneca has saved my life on more than one occasion. And I hers. We share a bond I can’t even begin to describe, nor will I try. She is fae royalty of a different sort, and she is part vampire. She is one of us.”
Great, it seemed I was closer to turning my coven against me than I was for bringing them together to follow me into battle. They whispered and talked quietly to each other, some glaring openly at me. Why had I ever thought I could be a leader as my father was? I’d changed too much. And Seneca wasn’t the woman they wanted to see by my side. She wasn’t like them. I spent years believing I was all that remained of my coven. Turned into a cold-hearted bastard until Seneca crashed into my life and nearly killed me.
At the same time, those who had survived spent those years in fear, looking over their shoulders. Eventually, they realized they could have peace for the rest of their days if they simply stayed out of the way. Stayed quiet, kept their heads down.
My coven might’ve survived, but their spirit was long gone. Rudarius had seen to that.
Bitter laughter bubbled up within me, and all I could do was let it out.
Shane and Nathaniel exchanged a worried glance as the vampires behind them looked like they’d missed the joke.
“You all are right to want to stay safe and alive,” I told them, stepping down from the table. “Your location will remain safe with me. I am elated to see you all survived, but clearly, the fight for you is over, and I won’t drag you unwilling into another one. May you all stay safe.”
“Draven? Where are you going?” Nathaniel fell in step beside me as I exited the cafeteria.
“Onward to seek out the other covens. Thank you for bringing me here, but you’re right, I’m asking too much of them. They won’t trust Seneca, and they haven’t even seen her in action. Shit, that would probably make it worse.”
I followed the old EXIT signs hanging from the ceiling, all from back when this place was a functioning asylum. Once we reached the front doors, I squeezed Nathaniel’s shoulder.
“Rudarius is coming. You did it once before and I ask is you do so again. Keep them safe as long as you can.” I turned to go, but he caught my arm.
“Draven, I-I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I wish they felt different.”
“I do too, but it is what it is. Maybe I’m not meant to lead them anymore. I’m merely the broken and beaten version of my old self anyway.” I didn’t say aloud that I might not even survive this fight, but from the serious glimmer in my old guard’s eyes, I didn’t have to. “It was good to see you again, old friend. Do as I said and keep them safe. Swear it.”
“I can’t do that,” he called when I walked away. “I left your side once. It won’t happen again.”
“Nathaniel—”
“No,” he interrupted me fiercely. “If you’re going to stand against Rudarius, then so am I.”
“Us, too.”
Behind Nathaniel, seven more vampires strode out of the asylum. My old guard. All who lived. One by one, they approached, crossing their arms over their chest and bowing in tribute to me.
“I can’t ask you to fight with me,” I said. “I won’t.”
“You’re not. We’re joining you whether you like it or not.” Nathaniel took a firm hold of my arm as he whispered, eyes glowing red, “You are right. It is high time that bastard paid for his crimes. We fight with you. No matter what anyone believes, you are our rightful leader. And we will follow you to whatever end.”
My guard nodded in agreement, and as we stood there, more vampires exited the asylum, some holding old swords and daggers, others with their fists clenched. It was a far cry from the whole coven, but it was a start.
Their loyalty touched me, and I hissed loudly in approval of their decision.
They joined me and together, we followed the gravel drive away from the asylum into the night. We’d make our way to the nearest coven. I hadn’t been able to convince my own coven. An inner voice mocked me, saying I wouldn’t get the others to back me either. But I had to try.
As we made ready to blur to the next state, pushing ever westward, I glanced toward the stars and thought of Seneca.
You better make it back to me. And it better be you. Don’t make me hunt you down, Seneca, please for the love of the gods, do not make me do that.
Chapter 8
Seneca
A cool hand touched my forehead.
I turned toward it, straining to remember what caused me to be knocked out. The beasts on the road, they surrounded Macron and me and then… then what? I shifted, and another cool hand touched my shoulder, pushing me back down gently.
“Draven?”
No, that wasn’t right. He couldn’t be here. Macron and I weren’t home, were we? How hurt was I? The fight came back to me in snippets, but not enough to tell me how it went. I moved again. There was a bed beneath me, but it wasn’t mine. My fingers spread out slowly. Definitely not mine.
Pretty damned sure I’d never buy silk sheets.
My body stilled as I opened my eyes tentatively, unsure of what I’d see. The second his face came into view, I groaned in annoyance. “Really?”
Rudarius’s brow was drawn together. “What were you thinking?” he countered.
“You first.” I stayed on the bed, in the room we continued to come back to, with Rudarius sitting on the edge.
His hand left my shoulder, but the one on my forehead stayed. I considered swatting it away, but never made an effort to do so. The coolness of his hand, unfortunately, felt nice. I was flushed, and the more I focused on the state I was in, I cringed. It was like someone replaced my blood with a slow burning fire that smoldered just beneath my skin.
“Not sure I can reply to really,” he commented wryly. “You nearly got yourself killed. I told you to run. Why did you not listen?”
I smiled as that slow burn turned hotter. “I’m surprised you even have to ask.”
“I do not want to see you dead.”
“No, you just want to kill the vampire I love, make me your bride, and take over the world.” I tried to sit up, but the room spun, and I sank back to the pillows. “Shit. What hit me?”
Rudarius lip curled in anger. “The mage.”
“Macron? Why?”
Another glimpse of the fight burst to life inside my head. We were surrounded on the road. Maron was too weak to outrun them, so I turned to face them alone. They attacked and then…
I slammed my fist on the bed in annoyance. Why couldn’t I remember? How hard had he whacked me over the head and why? I licked my lips, and the strong taste of copper had me reaching up to feel. When I pulled my hand back, blood dotted my fingers. Was it mine?
“You don’t recall the fight?”
“No,” I replied quietly, not really concerned anymore about Rudarius being here with me. If he wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done it by now. Or taken me captive. I was damned sure he couldn’t. All he could do was annoy me to death by talking. I was more worried about the fight and why Macron felt the need to hit me over the head. “The beasts came at me.” Dull pains started on my back and side. “I was wounded.”
“Severely,” Rudarius muttered with a hiss. “You could have died.”
“How do you know? Did you see it?”
“No, but I felt your pain, all of it. Sensed your fury as you clung to life and your confusion in the end when Macron acted against you.”
This time I did shove his hand away and sat up. “Why?”
I wiped at my face again, and he presented me with a wet cloth. I almost thanked him but swallowed it back just in time. What was wrong with me? This was the vampire who tortured me and almost killed me, who turned me into a monster. Where was my rage? My urge to see him dead, then bring him back to life, just so I could have the pleasure of killing him again? I took my time wiping off my face, waiting for those emotions to make themselves known.
Only they didn’t. They stayed tucked away out of sight, and I chucked the cloth angrily across the room. I tried to swing my legs around on the bed, but Rudarius easily shoved them right back.
“Really?”
“Again with the really. I’m not certain how you wish me to respond.”
“How about by remembering that I am not your bride and I never will be and none of this makes up for what you did to me. Got it?” I pushed against his hand, and he finally gave in. My feet touched the floor, and I stood.
Or thought I did. Somehow, I ended up back on the bed with Rudarius sighing as if he was dealing with a child. “Honestly, you must rest.”
“Just stop, alright?” I glowered at him, but all he did was sit back on the edge of the bed. “You’re not Draven.”
“Nor do I wish to be, as I’ve said.”
“Then what are you doing? I’m not going to suddenly forget everything you did to me.” I shoved at his chest, but he made no move to back away. “You did it, you hear me? You turned me into this… this thing. Into a freaking monster.”
“Who said you were a monster?”
“Everyone,” I seethed.
“What about you?”
“What?”
He stood from the bed and walked away, hands clasped behind his back. “How do you see yourself, Seneca? Do you see yourself as a monster? As a freak of nature? Or do you see yourself as something so much more?”
I cursed him out quite vividly in response, not that it phased him at all. Another glimpse of the battle came back to me, and as I glanced down my front, my clothes seemed to shimmer in and out of view. Each time I blinked, they changed. One second, they were clean. The next, they were drenched in blood and gore.
Seneca? Can you hear me?
Macron? He sounded weak, very weak. I needed to get back to him.
Rudarius faced me again, standing tall, his shoulders thrown back and his eyes filled with that look of concern.
The urge to return to Macron disappeared in a shot.
“You are thinking quite hard about something,” Rudarius mused.
“Yeah, and?”
“Simply wondering if you wish to talk about it.”
“Talk about what? Nothing to talk about.”
He shrugged as if it was of no consequence to him. He picked up a glass pitcher on the table filled with a thick, red liquid. Blood. I sucked in a breath, and my own vicious snarl came back to me, as did a vision of my tearing into those beasts with my bare hands. I held onto the bedpost as the images assaulted me. I downed one beast, but the other three moved in too fast. Macron was on the ground, his magic all but drained. They came at us, slashing with those massive claws. I’d screamed, crawling to get to Macron and save him.
The blood spilling from the dying beast called to me, and with what strength I had left, I buried my fangs in its neck, searching fervently for a vein.
And I drained it dry.
The room came back into focus, and I lowered my head between my knees, waiting to be sick. Shit, this was almost as bad as the first time, with the shifters. Then I had Draven to keep me from falling apart. Now I only had Rudarius who simply held out a goblet of blood to me.
“I don’t want anymore, not now.”
“It’ll help ease the blood-rage. Trust me.”
“Trust you, huh? Just like that.” I cackled darkly. “You’re a real piece of work you know that?” My stomach roiled, and I slapped a hand over my mouth, waiting for the nausea to pass.
