Death Advances (Open)

[Vlad Drăculea]

As always it was a dreary evening in the land of vampires, yet there was much excitement to be had this night. While the vampires toiled about with their nightly tasks, something wicked marched towards their city. The creatures of the forest fled in every direction, even the nightmare beasts that inhabited the petrified forest fled in sheer terror of what was coming. Onward the black cloud moved through the trees, it was undiscernable what it truly was that moved within the cloud, just that everything that was caught within it came out the other side as nothing but a pile of bloody pulp. This was a nightmare that no one would wake from, terror that had returned to this planet.

Coming to a halt just beyond the tree line of the forest, the living black cloud would seem to be sated for the moment. This was but a momentary illusion, it was simply waiting for the guards among the walls of the city to take notice of it. It was not long before that happened, either, as the panicked shouts and calls to arms started within in seconds. Not a single soul would rest well tonight knowing this cloud of death was out there, this unknown evil lurking just beyond their sanctuary. As hundreds of soldiers gathered to watch the cloud, Virulia decided that enough was enough, it was time to end the theatrics.

Dropping the shroud from her own soldiers, an army of ghouls was revealed to the vampires. Zombies, skeletons, and other inidescribable horrors stood baring tooth and fang at the men and women atop the wall. The entire cloud would receed until it ended in the form of a hooded cloak surrounding a black rider, sitting cloaked upon a horse that was naught but rotting flesh and rusted black barding. Her face was veiled from the men, they could not get too good of a look at her from where they stood. Their first instinct was to draw back their weapons, they were not going to risk this happening once more to their homeland.

Immediately a runner fled the walls, running through the city with all his speed in search of the queen and the young prince. They had to be informed of what was happening here, they needed to know that the city was in peril. Blurring through the streets, it was not long before the man came bursting into the castle, right into the audience chamber where he assumed he might at least find the queen. He seemed weary, though not from running, his mind seemed weary of the battle he surely thought was to come.

"My queen! A vast army of undead ghouls is standing outside of our gates! The dead walk again, in numbers! I fear that we may not be able to hold them back!" he informed Mari as he fell to one knee awaiting orders of some kind.

Meanwhile, Virulia simply waited for her mother to come out, knowing she was the only one left to guard this city. Would the soft woman be able to ride out and meet her now? There was a sort of swelling irritation in her breast, as if she was annoying by the fact that her mother was not able to save her from what had happened. Pushing back thoughts that she believed weakned her, she was her for one thing, and one thing only.. her people. This was her kingdom, a kingdom of death that she was destined to rule. Nothing would stand in her way and those who did not surrender to her demands would be shown no quarter.

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Once the messenger was tended to Mari began preparations to meet this advancing army that had ended up on their doorstep. She had Rinae on her left and Lucien on her right, guarding her back as always ready to come out when they saw fit. Even Jon would not let the kingdom fall to the insanity of Zombies. He knew where his bread was buttered on and could tell that it would be better to bide his time and back the Queen.

Mari made sure her horse was ready. The armor she wore gleamed black in the moonlight with the crest of the realm as she made her way through the troupes to see who this new threat was. The reality was that she knew and just had to confirm that her daughter had become The Lady of Nightmares. It stung her heart to know that it was so when she looked out at daughter. Inwardly she sighed and slid off her horse to advance the rest of the way on foot.

She finally came face to face with the hooded figure. She stood there and waited to see just what would happen. She didn't care that she was standing and the figure was on a rotting horse. That wasn't the point. She didn't want her daughter to think she was going to attack her. She waited quietly to see how her daughter would respond. That was key.

Mari stood there, a red cape blowing in the breeze as her armor gleamed. Her hair was braided in a crown around her head, her skin as pale as any vampire. While she herself didn't style her makeup she had enough on so she could be seen and not fade into the background. The ball was in her daughters rotting court.

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[Vlad Drăculea]

Just as she assumed, they would gather, and most likely someone would go running to the person who currently wore the crown. There was an amused smirk on her face as she sat there, incredibly still. Yet it seemed that some of the vampires on the wall wished for something more, they wished for the upper hand. She could tell that they wanted to open fire, thinking they had the advantage from their high walls. There was a smirk, followed by a short laugh as she could now see the outcome of a clash, the lives that would be collected. Part of her wished to spark it, yet for some reason she held back, as if she was listening to some other voice in her head.

It was not long until the gates opened, her eerie green eyes shifting to watch as a woman in black armour and a red cloak rode out. This woman seemed familiar to her, causing the black rider to tilt her head to the side as she examined the woman. Such a graceful gait, even in the face of her own possible death. What was this woman? Virulia's memories were not gone, they were merely swirling in her head with thousands of years of knowledge that had been imparted to her all at once. Her brain was in overdrive, trying it's hardest to sort everything out, past and present.

With a loud whine, Virulia's horse reared back as if it was uneasy around this woman. It had every reason to fear the holy radiance this woman could command, but then again there was no way she could stop them all by herself. Raising a hand beneath her torn, shadowy cloak, Virulia pointed a slender finger at the woman as the cloak whipped behind her as if it had a mind of it's own. There was a brief moment of silence, followed by the dull moans of the zombies drooling on themselves behind her. "Do you come to surrender to me?" she asked, her voice full of an arrogant confidance.

These peope, these vampires, they were undead creatures. This was her domain, and something in her head told her that she had a blood right to command them. Still it seemed like they were not going to welcome her with open arms, not after her pissing contest. "It seems I have gotten ahead of myself. I presume you are the queen, yes?" she asked, lowering her hand back down to the saddle horn.

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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The stench was unbearable. The smell of decay wanting to make her humanoid form gag. Still, she had seen hell unleashed on earth at various points in its existance. Seeing it released here would be just as terrible but it gave her a certain distance. Given how her first husband had died the least she could do was honor him by standing in the center of battle unafraid to face what had brought Israfel's death. There was no doubt that tonight she would grieve him after this was all over, assuming she didn't end up joining him.

It seemed she had come full circle. At least in part. That time she had lost someone dear and this time she may yet lose someone as well but this time, it would not be for lack of trying. It would not be because she had let others fight for her. She would do her best and see what came of it. Holding her head high she ignored the ragged undead. Mindless minions, they could be controlled but she doubted they had enough sense to be loyal, at least the ones that were not newly dead.

When she addressed Mari arrogantly, the angel just raised one arrogant eyebrow. Refusing to answer the question. Her daughter may be the Queen of Nightmares but she had her father's impulsiveness and it showed. She knew somewhere inside this being was some remnant to prove she hadn't been hewn from the thigh of her father. "Yes, I am the Queen, my daughter." she said gently to her, "Though you may not remember me." she amended to her politely. She wasn't going to play games. It was beneath them both. "You didn't have to bring an army to escort you." she said gently.

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[Vlad Drăculea]

It was apparent that she was making the queen uneasy, it was easy to read from her expression. There was a smirk beneath her cowl as she decided that enough was enough. She loved to toy with people, sure, however she had come here with one goal in mind. They were going to surrender the keep to her tonight, that was the end of the discussion. One way or another she would sit on that throne as it's rightful ruler and the rest would bow to her. Yet, something inside of her told her that this was no longer her path in this realm, that she was working against the hand of fate here. Regardless, Virulia loved to play games and this was just one of many.

It was the next statement that sent her spiraling into memory lane, however. The declaration of her being Virulia's mother sent her searching in the recesses of her mind for some kind of proof of this connection. There had to be some image, some strand of proof that this was not a lie meant to put her off guard. Yet while she searched for this, her army was let loose from her control which was made apparent in the way they barred their teeth, snapping them at Mari. Loud snarls filled the air as the zombies parted, a rather large creature stepping out from between them carrying a large hammer.

The monstrosity was nine foot tall, looking as if it was made of several corpses sewn together. It's flesh was rotted and it's belly was slashed open revealing it's innards. This monster stepped right up to Mari, moving with a surprising quickness as it raised the weapon above it's head. With a loud roar, it lurched forward as it meant to bring the weapon down and smash the woman. Though as the blow was about to connect, Virulia came to from her little day dream. The scene seemed to move in slow motion around her, watching the hammer descend at an alarming pace. Raising her hand, the beast stopped the weapon right before the womans face, breathing heavily into the night air.

"Halt." she said softly, causing the beast to lower it's weapon. Sliding out of the saddle of her horse, she came to stand before Mari. A single thought would force the mantle to shift from a cloak to a gown made of crimson silk, a pendant showing their house hung from her neck. This would be the first time in ten years she would look upon her daughters face, yet not much had truly changed beyond her aging. She still held the same arrogant gaze, still had silver eyes, though now they seemed to be stuck the way they were when she was feral back then.

"It is my right mother, to rule. Please, step aside. I will send my army away, but you cannot stop me without a son." she said, offering only once. Something prevented her from simply striking out at the woman, though that feeling could be torn aside on a whim. "With father gone, I am the sole remaiing heir to the crown of Sylthanus."

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Grandstanding was a traditional Sylthanus play for power. She'd seen the Elders taunt her with it and when she was married to Dameon she had played along, flinching as was expected for her place. She knew this dance better than anyone and so when the hold on the rotting dead began to waver she said nothing. She wanted to lay waste to every single filthy one of them. The urge to summon her bow and put an end to the souless dead practically screamed at her to end them. But it would not give them peace. Her daughter had seen to that. These bodies were in eternal torment and would remain so until she decided otherwise and let their bodies fall to dust.

She wished she could claim this was well played but she could not. It seemed confused and disjointed and even as she watched the hammer swing towards her she stood her ground. This time she would not flinch. She'd win this game of chicken and she'd see if she could reason with her daughter, although the urge to put her over her knee was still present. Scaring her own people like this was exactly what she had not wanted. "You have a brother Katia. He was born after you were taken away. Your kingdom doesn't exist solely in Sythanus any more, although given your mantle you do hold sway over it. Your realm encompasses all of Yalanze. Why would you want something so small when you have been given a greater task. It is like saying you want to wear the shoes that hurt your feet rather than the ones the cobbler made specifically for you."

She looked at her, "You know I speak the truth. I would not lie to you. You are the judge of the dead. Your place is greater than it was. Honor that and take up your mantle with same pride that you would have ruled Sylthanus. After all this realm was merely a stepping stone for you. One that you outgrew almost from the moment of your first cries." this was said with sorrow for what her daughter had suffered but also with pride. She didn't want her daughter to think she was ashamed of her ever. She loved her no matter what happened to her. "Listen to your heart. You know it will lead you true."

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[Vlad Drăculea]

Her entire world seemed to come unglued with the sudden revelation that she was no longer alone. They had another child despite being unable to protect their first one? There was a powerful rage swelling within her at the mere thought that they could replace her so easily. She struggled for what seemed like an eternity, surviving off of the souls of those wretches to come back to this realm. Yet, here she stood proclaiming that they had yet another, she took it as a sign of them moving on. Spoiled rotten, that was how she was treated her entire life, it was no surprise that the lady of death now felt threatened by his mere existance. The brat would take from her what would be an anchor, her kindgom!

"..so when you lost your heir the two of you simply made another one." she said quietly, almost sounding as if she was in disbelief. It was a slow burning fire, one that was building to a violent climax. Though she was a god, the lady of death, and ruler of the underworld what she percieved as betrayal did not sting any less. Silver eyes flashed dangerously as she hung her head for a moment, seeming as if she was ashamed to even look towards the kingdom anymore after the lecturing. Virulia started to shake, her muscles showing the tell tale twitch signs of a deep laughter that threatened to consume her entire being. Even the undead behind her took a step back, unnerved by their goddess.

"I remember this, mother. The lectures, the analogies. You make it seem as if I ask for something that is not mine to ask for. I will not see some boy king ruin this bloodline." she said, sounding as if she was not going to give him a chance. Her words made sense but she did not wish to hear them, she had no desire to listen to the truth of the matter. Why did everyone always oppose her? She was ridiculed in the childhood stages, destroyed. Why did everyone seem to stand in the way of her simply living a life? Her fist clenching tightly, but unclenched only moments later as she finally raised her gaze back to her mother.

"..I do not have a heart anymore, mother! It is broken, shattered, destroyed with my body." she replied, shaking with anger. She felt anything but loved, unable to fully grasp the bigger picture yet that Mari had surrendered herself to from the moment Katia's first cry had filled their chambers. "I cannot feel anything anymore. All I have is the company I keep, corpses, wraiths. I am but a ghost of who I used to be.." she said, her hand going to her sword instinctively. With that came the whistling sound of an arrow, pinning it's self right in her stomach though the goddess did not seem to flinch.

There was a long silence, but it was clear someone had stirred the hornets nest. They fired without order, angering Virulia, and if she could not be consoled she would be lash out like a wounded animal.

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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"No, Katia. I was not trying to get pregnant and your father was not trying to get me pregnant. It was the will of the heavens that your brother be born just as you were. You cling to a destiny that is not yours. Let it go. You only hurt yourself by insisting your way is the only way. If I had not had another child you would not even be welcomed back as you are. You would be banished by whomever replaced your father. Your brother saved this kingdom and you owe him gratitude for that not hatred. He never even knew you. Your brother is no boy but a man forged of difficult times that have shaped him differently than your own journey. I am sorry I could not save you from your destiny but you must come to terms with things as they are, not as you wish they could be."

She exhaled as Katia went on her rant, granted she had cause but she was pushing the line raising a sword to her own mother the hiss of an arrow caused Mari to flinch, Damn grandstanding. Enough was enough, she walked towards her daughter and did her best to try to heal her wound "Peace! Hold your fire! There will be no bloodshed this night." she called as loudly as she could, "You may not want it child but you have me. You will always have me. Even when you don't want to I am a part of you. Had I not been you would not be as you are. You would probably have been a vampire princess wed to a duke to secure a family fortune or appease a council elder. Are you telling me you would rather be locked in a loveless marriage to some ancient vampire than standing as your own woman? A goddess in her own right. THINK Katia. I raised you to think not just act on impulse like your father.

She did not know what her daughter would do but she had to try and stop her. She just prayed that if her words were not enough someone would stay Katia's hand.

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[Vlad Drăculea]

"I could take your kingdom at the tip of a sword, I owe him nothing." she said dryly in reply to her mother. She was not going to allow herself to be indebted to some child she never knew. To be honest she was threatened by him, the goddess of death was a fickle and jealous creature by nature it seemed. Kat was no exception to this true nature, she was born and raised to be that way by the surroundings she grew up in. Withdrawing the arrow from herself, there was little to no wound to begin with as the shadows started to pull themselves together on that singular point. She wasn't lying when she said she couldn't feel anything anymore, pain was one of those things that barely made her flinch even if she could interpret it.

So that was it, she surrendered her daughter to destiny without a fight? The fates could be tempted, they could be changed. That was what she was lead to believe, what she was attempting to do herself without even truly realizing it. If she was loved so much, how could any of this have ever happened? She didn't understand, after all the time she spent down there, she had no idea what love truly was. Survival, that was the only thing that had mattered, that was what she was good at now. Though she was trying her damndest to reach the woman with her words, most of them were only making the confused woman even more angry.

"Had you not been then I could have been saved from that hell?" she asked, staring in disbelief. Did she think what happened was a good thing? How could she come to terms with something like that, something that evil happening to a little girl! She was outraged, not thinking about the long term like her mother, only the pain. Ignoring the rest of her mothers statement she said something incredibly cruel, something that she didn't even truly think about before it left her lips. "Then I wish you had died with your husband! Then I could have had a life where my friends didn't either shun me or die!" she spat back defiantly.

After she said it, some part of the small girl within triggered inside of her. She was immediately ashamed of the words she spoke, even if she was beyond them all now as a goddess. Even a god could be ashamed of what they had done, afterall they shared the same flaws as everyone else no matter how much they didn't want to admit it. "Mother.. I.." she started, there was a moment of concern in this deadly eyes as she reached out a hand and rest it upon her mothers cheek. "Help me. I do not know what I am suppose to do.." she said, allowing the child to resurface only for the moment. She hated them, the gods, and the living. She envied them and that envy would push her to do her job, perhaps over step her boundaries often even.

"All I feel is hate. Hate for the gods, hate for the living, for you.. and father.." she said, drawing a deep breath.

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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"You are entitled to your opinion." Mari said to the arrogant reprisal she got at the mention of Katia's brother. It was a polite way of saying she thought Katia was dead wrong but would let it drop. She had no time for family drama but it seemed like Katia was going to aire their flaws to the world. Inwardly she groaned.

The words Katia spoke felt like a bucket of ice water. It hurt but it was not something she hadn't felt herself at first. "For the first few hundred years with your father I grieved Israfel. He allowed me that time because he understood it and saw what had happened to Israfel. No one on Sythanus would begrudge me grieving my dead spouse at that time." she said quietly. Her voice was raw and she blinked back tears.

When she felt Katia touch her cheek she moved forward and hugged her daughter, "Help the dead find their place, Katia. Yours is a hard but necessary job but it does not mean you have to be alone. I will always be your mother and love you. Even though your road is hard you have survived it. And for that I am proud of you." she said gently.

She took a step to her daughter and hugged her, "Then feel the love I have for you." she said as she projected the love she felt for her daughter at the lost Goddess. "If I could have saved you this pain I would have. I cannot undo the past but I can help you in the future. You are my daughter. My ONLY daughter and that makes you special. You can always visit me. And this kingdom will honor you above all others because you represent them in a place where many believe they should be forgotten. YOU are Sylthanus when you interact with the Gods. You walk in the footsteps of all the great leaders of your people. You lead the way for the future where Vampires are not just looked at as mindless blood drinkers but beings capable of greatness. You are the hope of everyone that stands here today. Remember that." she said as she looked at her and stood to the side, "These are your people in a way that no physical kingdom can match. You know my words are true."

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[Vlad Drăculea]

It drove her mad when her mother did that, conceeded to something she said, though she knew it was simply to appease her. Things were quickly becoming familiar once more to her which she supposed was alright since it meant she could more easily gain her bearings in this world. Her abilities were still very new to her, as was this body. It felt strange to be so tall, to have a more developed body than her previous one, as if she fell asleep ten and woke up an adult. Waving her hand to pass off her mothers statement, she narrowed her eyes upon the man who took the shot at her. The mans body would go rigid as she lifted him off the wall and pulled him towards the two of them.

"It would have been a greater mercy to send you along for the journey." she replied coldly, though perhaps that was not Katia and more the power of the mantle speaking through her. She didn't just help the dead find their place, she delighted in it happening, even causing it. It wasn't a comment she could take back and she was not sure she would even if she could. She felt empowered, drunk with the new gifts she had recieved. "An eye for an eye." she said simply, before causing the man to scream in pain. The rest was too gruesome for anyone to truly retell, but Virulia would wear the blood of the vampire who shot her as a warning.

Her cold silver gaze snapped back from the wet grass that used to be a vampire back to her mother. "You are wrong, mother. The path I walk, no one can follow me. I am alone, for now, and always." her voice was lowered this time, so that no one else could hear them. It was her weakest moment since she emerged, her inner survivor quickly worked to fill the void so that she would not be taken advantage of. "Where I walk, no family can follow, no love. There is nothing but death, the wails of the tormented. This morbid serenade is what I hear at all times, this planet is swamped with the tormented souls of the dead." she said, looking around as if she was seeing spirits everywhere.

Virulia was trying to hear her mothers words, she was trying to hold on to them. Closing her eyes, she turned away from the people of Sylthanus, though it did nothing for her. She could see them, hear them, they would always be there. Sanity was a rare commodity for those who were in her position, for no sane person could truly handle her job and remain so. There was a small laugh in reply, her head slumping forward. "To them we are a joke, a plague upon this soil. Where we tread, nothing grows. If they had their way, our kind would not exist." she said.

"The people of Sylthanus must worship and adore me. Without their worship, I do not have the strength to protect our people, mother. He would see you all destroyed, Lucius, our "fearless" leader. He fears that as long as we exist, feeding on anothers life, we are a threat." she said, turning back to face Mari. "You must make them see that or else it will be too late."

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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Mari watched as the archer was murdered rather brutally and sighed, "You think that now. You may not always think it so. Many times I have been alone in my existence. I did not always have a husband and I had to carry on the work alone. I cannot picture fate being so unkind to you, Katia." she said gently as she looked at her daughter.

"You will learn how to walk your path, Katia and you will find that your people will worship you so long as you give them the hope they seek. I do not know this Lucius you speak of but if he wishes to speak with me I would be happy to hear his reasons for disliking a whole people. Regardless of whether or not people like the Sylthanans they are here now and they will be heard. They help keep the planet in balance for without decay there can be no life. Without the cycle there can be no appreciation for the hereafter you know it as well as I. I will do my best to see you are worshiped but it is a task that you must willingly take up as well.

"Choose your priests and priestesses, guide them and they in turn shall guide others. You have my blessings, for all that you do not need them." she said with a gentle smile, letting her daughter know that she supported her without talking down to her. "I will always be here if you need to talk, Katia. We can make the announcement from the castle if you wish to tell the people of your arrival. Your rooms are still there, though they may need to be updated to suit you better. You are welcome regardless. This is your home." She glanced back at her people and sighed softly. They were such a young race. They did not ask to be as they were and while they could be brutal they still had merit.

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[Vlad Drăculea]

There was a long pause as she considered her mothers words - though she knew there was no way that she could truly relate. The differences were too overwhelming in this case - even if the situation was almost the same in some ways. She was death - wherever she walked the very life force of most of creation was drained and absorbed into her empty soul. She was the void that all souls were doomed to be trapped within - she was the final resting place for all and so it was that she was not truly her own person anymore. It was this loss of individuality that made her seem unsure - she was clinging to the person she used to be.

"The people will resent me. My ways are cruel - I cannot help this. It is what the mantle wills upon me - it makes me do things I would not have otherwise done." she said softly. Somehow Virulia knew that her mother was aware of this - that the power of death was more like being chained to a rabid dog. She could not stop the desire to kill even if she wanted to - it would just keep dragging her along until it found the victim it was satisfied with. The path she was chosen for was the ultimate sacrifice and she was still too selfish to truly make it.

A simple smirk appeared on her lips - she was amused by the fact that she was being given permission. For once she held her tongue - bowing her head only slight to acknowledge the fact that the queen was heard. It was strange to see the woman before her acting so bravely - so outgoing with her words. From what she truly recalled - her mother had always seemed so submissive to the will of her father. With him gone was she finally seeing what the woman who birthed her was truly like? It was strange to feel as if you never truly knew who your parents were - even with your memories.

"I do not need to announce it - I am sure they can all feel the silent call. They are creatures of death - the undead which is why they are on edge." she said. There was a laugh - dual toned in nature as her eyes seemed to glow that dangerous pale silver as usual. "They can feel my presence because they have passed beyond the veil - yet your kind cannot until their time has come." she said - only meaning those with still beating hearts. "You have become different from the mother I once knew. Your words are full of conviction - you stand your ground." she said - tilting her head to the side. It was quite curious - the change that had come about.

"Take me to my brother. However I must ask - did my father's absence truly change you this much? Was it he who kept you seemingly pacified? I recall a woman to timid to act unless there was true danger - yet here you stand speaking with autority."

[Merry Noelle Lovelace]

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"You walk a difficult path, Katia. I am sorry, you should never have had to bear this burden." she sighed softly, "Your father did many things the people did not like that they thought were cruel but in the beginning their had to be discipline or Sythanus would have fallen to mindlessness. Your father created something where no one thought anything could exist. He wasn't always kind about it but he did it."

"The body I reside in now is living but it is just what people need to understand me. It is no more me than a duke is his crown." she said gently. Probably the most cryptic thing she could say. This body lived, it was true, it could die. But when needed it would be back. She had spent many millenia living on Earth and Yalanze intermittently. It was the way her life was. She was often lonely and felt like she was just one more cog in the great whirl of life that never seemed to end.

She listened to her daughter speak and she nodded her head in acknowledgement, "Come with me, Katia. We shall see your brother." she said gently as she turned and walked back to her horse. The black steed stood placedly enough for her. The only thing that showed he was a warhorse was just how massive he was compared to other horses. Getting assistance from one of her soldiers to get into the saddle she nodded her thanks to him. Then waited for her daughter to ride over to her before turning the animal in the direction of the castle. Her army fell in step behind once Virulia decided to do with her army of zombies.

"Your father did not make me pacified per sec. He held the reigns to my power very tightly it is true and he kept me a prisoner of sorts but he needed me. I was passive because it was needed and expected. I was not going to undercut the throne; it was never my intent and has never been so. I always advised your father and spoke to him as I am speaking to you but my place in the kingdom demanded I stay one step behind your father instead of beside him. I understood that, after all I am an outsider that the people of Sylthanus graciously allow to live in their lands with the title of Queen until such a time as a new ruler is announced." she looked out ahead of herself a bit, "The people allow me to serve because I honor their ways. I did not evoke massive changes that were unwanted. I made certain that the rules were constant and the people were cared for." she looked at her daughter, "A ruler has to be many things, a queen moreso sometimes. We have to not only be a wife, but a diplomat, a teacher, a councilor and the final defense should something befall the kingdom. The reason I was never deposed or cast aside was because I know the lines and what they are. It took me time, many of the council did not want me to be with your father, but he insisted. I could not break the spells he cast on me so I did the best I could given the situation. I tried to make certain there was something left of your fathers legacy. I didn't ever expect things to happen the way they did."

"I am sorry my actions lead to the situation you found yourself in. After your father disappeared I feared a coup and that you and your unborn brother would be hurt. You were 14 and I was afraid what the male counselors would do if they found that the king was gone and you and I were left. The two senareos I could see was that I would possibly be put to death and you forced to marry a stranger or I would be forced to marry and you would be betrothed to some monster to appease the masses. I was afraid for you, Katia and for your brother. I had barely found out I was pregnant. Your father told me. He gave me permission to go home and recharge my energies so I could survive birthing your brother and then he was gone. I was too weak to survive the birth if I had stayed on Sythanus. My energies were waning. Your brother was taking the majority of them to grow and survive."

Sadness filled her eyes, "I never wanted things to be like this. It was not the future I wanted for either of you. I am lucky Lucien has helped your brother to know what he needs to to survive. Many would not be so honorable. I just wish I could have done more for you."

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[Vlad Drăculea]

At least the woman was agreeable, not even asking the woman what she intended to do once she reached her brother. Was her mother naive enough to believe that once she met him she would not strike out at him? Even Virulia was truly unsure of what she would do, though a voice in the back of her mind called for blood. The boy was still a threat in her mind, someone who might take from her what she had achieved. Afterall, the boy was like she once was, he had the right creation to achieve her power if he tried to one day take it from her. It was this line of thought that put it in her mind that she had to kill him, though much more subtlely than running him through with her blade.

Turning to face the horde of rotting corpses, Virulia said nothing but they seemed to be listening none the less. Turning, they seemed to wander away from the clearing as if they were heading somewhere. Their shambling could be heard as one loud din as they wandered away, their chains rattling loud as well as their weapons. The giant sewn together corpse, however, remained as if waiting for his queen to return. Standing at the ready, he raised his giant hammer and placed it over his shoulder. It was a warning to those on the wall, one more shot and he would be unleashed upon them.

"My destroyer will wait here as insurance. While I trust that you won't harm me personally, I cannot say that the people of Sylthanus won't try to banish me." she said, smirking dangerously. Part of her hoped she would have a reason to make the destroyer do it's job, she had yet to ever unleash any of her minions in open warfare with someone.

As they rode into the kingdom, her mother tried to explain her fathers actions to Virulia. Now that she was older, however, she could see it for what it truly was. What her father had done was no better than what her mother claimed to have been protecting her from. He may have saved her, but containing her here out of fear and controlling her power was nothing more than placing shackles on a slave. She was never a wife, she was a trophy, that was how Kat saw it now. Anger swelled in her breast as she held the reigns to her undead steed tightly.

"So you were nothing more than his trophy, a physical reminder of his greatness. He bound and shackled you, the very thing you claimed to be protecting me from." she said, her tone cold and uncaring. "You defend a man who did nothing but stop you from being what you were. A man who created a race of brutal killers." she said, her eyes flashing dangerously for a moment. She could not see any sort of rhyme or reason to the way her mother felt or spoke of her father. It made no sense why she had never attempted to break free of him.

Virulia snorted, so he gave her permission did he? The more she spoke, the more she felt like she hated her family. If you were on the outside you could have seen immediately how screwed up they were, it was becoming more and more apparent to her that she needed to rely on herself for answers to the questions she had. "So you didn't want me to have your life is it? Were you too not married to a monster?" she asked, twisting her mothers words like a knife. Either way she would have been a queen amongst her people, now she was a queen over a silent kingdom of the dead. Nothing but rotting corpses and screams for company.

"The two of you have literally condemned me to hell. I am not sure yet how I feel about the two of you." she said with the same icy tone. It was to be expected after all she had been through. If it was up to her she would have struck Mari down at the gates, yet the small girl inside of her still held love for the woman who gave her life. There was a long moment of silence as Virula drew her mantle about her. The crimson gown she was wearing moments ago shifted to a tight black leather suit, a dark cloak covering her form. The end of the cloak flowed as if it were alive, having a mind of it's own. Even with no breeze it moved, seeming as if it was made of a dark mist.

"You have managed to gain the councils trust and for now that is useful to me. I have not truly decided where I stand with this disfunctional family of mine." she said, falling silent once more to hear the rest. Her mother was always resourceful, even she knew that. There had to have been some way to break the spell, there had to have been some way she could have saved the both of them from this.

Deciding to turn the conversation away from her hate as it would go nowhere productive, Virulia feigned interest.

"Tell me about my brother. I would like to paint an image of him before I see him."