Blood:- The Eternal Struggle. Chapter 1:- Of Knights and Temples Pt 1

[Stormtrooper1990]

This is a brand new serial, in a world of my own creation. This is based on the short story I wrote for the "Blood' artwork by Lesther. This story features the Vampire Anna Volker, who 200 years previously, was an Innocent chambermaid murdered by a vengeful Vampire Matriarch for her uniform. During the fateful night that lead to the downfall of the Kingdom of Winterberg, Anna awoken to her new reality as a member of the undead. This is only the start of her journey.



She suddenly awoke, Anna Volker had no idea how long she had lain there, in the bushes on the hard soil, let alone now she got there. Anna could remember brief flashes, of a road, she was carrying supplies back to the castle, then a gust of wind had blown it from her hands. She had given chase , cursing the damn weather but then the shadow enveloped her, she had felt pain and arousal as her maids uniform was stripped from her by cold hands. Anna sat up, she placed her hands on her body touching her bare C-cup breasts and vagina, she was naked! Where were her clothes? Her undergarments? The shadow must have taken them, but why? Anna reached up to touch her neck, finding two small puncture wounds, she began to cry but no tears came from her eyes only blood. No! It cannot be, the Vampires had been hunted to extinction by the King himself. If she was a vampire, that would mean she was...dead. Anna laid back, on the ground screaming in torment. Why was she so damned hungry? The sound of hooves from the round snapped her from her thoughts, she crouched moving through the bushes, peering through the foliage. It was a young woman on horseback, garbed in the traditional outfit of a Winterberg minstrel, a red buttoned patterned doublet, with gold embroidery opened showing a generous amount of her C-cup cleavage, with a silver sign of the Sacred Feminine hung about her neck. Matching red hosen covered her long legs, with black knee length riding boots. A red cape hung from her back along with her lute, with a matching feather cap perched over her long dark black hair. Anna, appraised her, suddenly feeling an urge to tear the girl's throat out. The minstrel was a looker, with sculptured cheekbones, angular features and a heart shaped face. Her beauty highlighted by dark makeup around her eyes and dark lipstick. The minstrel slowed her horse, as she realised it had thrown a shoe, and dismounted. Anna felt hunger when she looked at her, plus she was wearing clothes that looked to be her size. Her new hunting Instincts, kicked in has she silently crept towards the minstrel.


Beatrice Fontaine, slowed her horse realising she had ridden him too hard and thrown a shoe. She dismounted and sighed at the damage, she would have to find a ferrier later, yet more expense on her already light purse. Beatrice was due to perform for Princess Serena's name day celebration tonight, and she was already running late, she doubted whether the Castle guard would let her in now, Beatrice cursed under her breath. Suddenly her horse, Quicksilver, started to whinny panicked by something close. Beatrice grabbed his reins, and tried to comfort him by stroke his main, but then felt the the sensation of a hand gripping her mouth,stifling her cry of surprise. Then came a woman's voice, young but wracked full of pain. " I'am so sorry, for this. But you have something I need. Believe me, this isn't what I want." Before Beatrice could struggle free, the woman bit her on the neck, and began to suck. Beatrice started to scream, but was muffled by the girl's strong vice like grip. She started to loose consciousness, as the woman sucked harder and harder, dragging her into the treeline. Beatrice could feel her strength fading as the girl drank her fill, she finally slumped dead in her attackers arms. Her final thought was "Why?"


Anna lowered the dead minstrel to the ground, feeling intense euphoria as her blood flowed through her body revitalising her. When she was finished, Anna looked at the dead woman, she was so young, barely 21 summers old. And she had just killed her, shaking the thought from her mind, but still feeling intense guilt, Anna started to strip the dead woman. She started by removing her hat, cape, lute and riding boots. Anna unbuttoned the dead girl's doublet, and after she pulled the corpse into a seated position, slipped it from her shoulders, revealing a white lace bra that covered her C-cup breasts. Anna reached around the dead minstrels back, unhooking the undergarment and pulling it loose from her shoulders, exposing her well developed C-cup breasts with slightly pointed full dark-pink areolas. Letting the half naked corpse, fall back to the earth Anna clasped the bra around her bare breasts, then peeled off the ministrels red hosen, from around her hips and down her long leg, and off her body. Feeling a strange sense of guilt, Anna pulled off the ministrels matching white lace panties, uncovering a small vulva crowned with a trimmed strip of black pubic hair, then pulled them on up over her vagina. " I'am sorry, please forgive me..." Anna pleaded with the naked corpse, as got dressed in the rest of the dead minstrels clothes. When she was finished, she tried to grab the sacred symbol from the dead woman's neck, but recoiled in pain as she felt the palm of her hand burn. Anna looked at the singed flesh, but her eyes widened as the burn mark knitted back together. Deciding that she wouldn't risk it again, Anna looped the lute over her head, deciding it would fetch a fair price. She said one final apology, to the dead naked woman then left the bushes, leaving her corpse behind.


As she walked back to the horse, the creature whinnying out of fear, suddenly she felt a strange sensation as she looked back towards Castle Winterberg, framed in the night sky, by a blood red moon. Then a shadow appeared in the middle of the road, it called out to her. " Anna, my child. Come back to Nocturne, come back home. It is where you belong." That was strange, thought Anna. That never happened in her memory. As the shadow flowed towards her, she held out her arms to shield herself and closing her eyes she awoke...


200 years later.


Anna awoke with a start, it took a moment for her to realise that she was not back in that damned forest. She was naked in her bed, intertwined with two very beautiful very naked women. One a luscious brunette with long brown hair and blue eyes, the other a lithe redhead elven girl, with piercing ice blue eyes, and long beautiful ears. She had met them in the bar of the Wracked Man pub, on the dockside. Anna had been paid a small fortune in her last job, and had spent it on these beautiful concubines, she had fed from both of them during their marathon sex sessions and they would be out for the next couple of hours. Anna reluctantly extracted herself, from their warm embrace, her mind still foggy from the memory of the night of her turning, or was it a memory, it felt more like a dream. That last part with the shadow never happened, she remembered that after she had killed the minstrel and stripped her, Anna had rode to the nearest town, only to hear the news from the castle, she had fled by boat to the City of Stormward in the frozen north of the continent of Darala. The event was called the Doom of Winterberg, Anna's home was overrun by a tide of the undead both newborn vampires and zombies, created by the vengeful Matriarch Gisella. She renamed the Kingdom Nocturne, a dark place that only allowed vampires into its borders.

Anna walked over to her wardrobe, as she got dressed in her black leather armour, she caught a sight of her reflection. At 200 years old, still considered a child by others of her kind, Anna was only 20 summers old when Gisella had murdered her, and stripped her, dumping her naked corpse in those woods like trash. She had long blonde hair, back then but with time and experience, she had shorn it to a pixie cut with a single braid wound from the top of her head to her chin, down her right hand size. Her hand caressed a face with high cheekbones, sharp angular features and cunning blue eyes. As she sheathed her twin daggers on her back, she regarded the two naked women in her bed. In her two centuries of unlife, Anna had many female lovers, but never any real relationships and had shunned the company of men, even for feeding, preferring the sweeter taste of the blood of young women. The minstrel wasn't her last kill from feeding, without a guide to show her the vampire basics, Anna had killed another 25, some male some female, over a course of 30 years before she mastered self control, using the faces of the people she had murdered as a focus. Now Anna only took what she needed to sustain herself, her vampire venom could keep a woman unconscious for a period of 6 hours, useful given her line of work as a thief, adventurer and mistress of disguise. Anna also was highly trained in combat, she had visited the far eastern continent, taking lessons from the sword masters of Hi- Chan. Her vampire abilities also gave her the edge over humans, and even some elves, utilising them for both stealth and combat. Anna holstered her dwarven made steam crossbow, then proceeded to her door, looking at the two beautiful naked women and smiled widely, baring her slightly pointed incisors, as she closed the door behind her.


As she came downstairs entering the bar of the Wracked Man, empty at this time of the morning, she was greeted by her friend and the only man she trusted, the elven bartender Syrion. " Anna! What are you doing up at this hour? You didn't over feed on those girls did you?" Syrion was old, even older then Anna. At 600 years old, Syrion had been there seen it all. He had been the regent of Stormward, when it used to be Stormhaven, until invading humans had sacked the city. Now he served drinks in his pub, handing out centuries worth of sage advice to those wise enough to heed him. He had longer ears then most of his kin, a mark of his age, and a shock of white hair above his wizened features. Anna flashed him a smile. " No, I treated them like a proper Vampire should. With dignity." Syrion laughed as he put down the glass he was cleaning. " What can I get you? Perhaps a pint of waitress, freshly donated from our lovely Eileen?" He gestured to a lovely blonde waitress, who Anna had spent a night or two with, who waved back at them." Anna smiled, toying with her braid. " Go on, then. Eileen's sweet enough. Besides, I need something sweet to wash away bad memories." Syrion placed his hands on the bar, fixing her with a fatherly stare from his deep green eyes. " You been having the dreams, again, Anna?" Anna nodded, Syrion was the only man she felt comfortable divulging her secrets to. " Yeah, but this time, it was different. The shadow it spoke to me, beckoned me to come home. Then I woke." Syrion busied himself with preparing Anna's blood, as her spoke. " According to Elven lore, Vampires could communicate with their sires, through dreams. Perhaps it is Gisella, reaching out to you." He handed Anna her glass of blood. " Well, I don't want anything from that bitch. She killed me, stole my dignity and murdered an entire kingdom, my home. If she was to walk in right now, I would cut off her head with my knifes and bathe in her blood." Anna gulped down her blood, as Syrion smiled at her. " The Anna, I know wouldn't do that. You would just cut her head off." They both laughed, as Anna took another measure of blood down her throat. " Seriously, Anna. Please be cautious, whatever Gisella is. She is an old and powerful vampire, not one to be taken lightly." Before Anna could reply, the sound of the bell to the pub door chimed, announcing a strange visitor. " Are you the vampire Anna Volker? I need to speak to you about an urgent matter." Even a hood, could not hide the uniform of a Novice of the Order of the Sacred Eve.


Anna turned around, gulping down the last of her blood, causing the novice to grimace." If you are here to persecute me, then get it over with. I have my Licence so I know my rights." The Novice pulled down her hood, revealing a comely young face, with slender cheekbones, smooth rounded face and big brown almond shaped eyes. Her long chestnut brown hair, braided in a long ponytail, Anna put her age at 21 summers. " No, that's not why I'am here. Please, can we discuss this in private?" She glanced at Syrion. Anna looked her up and down, liking what she saw. Her uniform consisted of a suit of chainmail, with matching black leather boots and gloves, over which she wore a white cloth tabard, emblazoned with the symbol of the sacred feminine, the symbol of the Church of Eve, the outfit really brought out her athletic curves. A silver short sword was belted at her right hip, and a dwarven revolver holstered in a rig under her left shoulder. As the girl was a Novice of the all female Order, she wasn't permitted to wear the sacred plate armour nor had she taken the vows of celibacy. " Your lucky I'am a sucker for a comely face. What's your name, little Novice?" The girl visibly frowned at the jibe. " I'am Novice Katrina Vandenburg. Now can we talk?" Anna gestured to her to take a private booth. " Syrion, fix the pretty Novice. With a drink, non alcoholic. Put it on my tab." She said as they sat down to talk.


" So how can I help the Holy Ordos?" Anna leaned back in her seat, as she regarded the pretty Novice. " I'am not here on Order business, I asked around the city and they all said you are the best mercenary in Stormward, perhaps in the North itself." Katrina took a deep breathe. "This is a private matter. Tell me, Anna Volker, what you know about the Sanguinis Cult." That got Anna's attention. " They are a crazy vampire worshipping cult, that's become a direct challenge to the Holy Church. They are connected with the Vampire Nation of Nocturne, it's their cult. Why do you ask?" Katrina took her tonic water, thanking Syrion. " I believe that they secretly trying to undermine the High Chancellor, and spread the curse of vampirism." She said the last part delicately. Anna frowned, that sounded crazy. It wasn't a secret that Nocturne was engaged in a cold war with the mortal races, trying to attract vampires from all over the continent, to join Nocturne. Vampirism wasn't even illegal in the Northern Kingdoms, as long as you registered and didn't kill to feed then the law would leave you alone, you were free to vote, or join the City Watch. But the Church, in it's narrow minded dogma still persecuted her kind. Anna drummed her fingers on the table. " What does have to do with me?" Katrina took a sip of her tonic water. "You are a registered Vampire, whatever the Sanguinis are doing in their temple, it will reflect badly on the Vampire community. You think the church is bad now. If they hear about this, then there will be burnings on the street. You have a duty to your kin, to prevent that." Anna raised her eyebrows, surprised. " I wasn't expecting that answer, from a Novice of the Holy Ordos. Why are you so concerned about the feelings of my kind?" Katrina took another sip of her water, then fixed Anna with a smile. " Let's just say, I have personal history with Vampires, and leave it at that." Anna's interested was piqued, but she didn't pry. " I assume that, you have more then prayers to shower me with, sister." Katrina put down her glass. " Does not the plight of your kin sway you? I have money if gold is all that interests you. But given your reaction to me when I walked in, I believed you were more then a common mercenary, or have I read you wrong, Anna." Anna had to admit, she was becoming more attracted to the novice, as she spoke. " So how we will this work then?" Katrina leant in with a mischievous grin. " We infiltrate the temple tonight, I believe you are a mistress of disguise, care to prove it." Anna threw the novice a frown. " If anybody around here, as told you anything about me. I' am not one to babysit, I do my best work alone." Katrina chuckled, leaning back. " I assure you, Anna. I can take care of myself. You think all this is for show?" She held her arms out. Now Anna knew she was flirting with her. " Alright, I can make an exception. This once, sweeting." Katrina smiled. " Excellent, I will meet you here at 7 o'clock. Then we proceed to the Warehouse District, that's where their temple is. We can make our move from there." Katrina shook Anna's hand. " It was a pleasure to meet you Anna, you were just as... beautiful as they described. See you tonight." With that she threw her hood back up and left the pub, Anna started at her shapely ass as she left. " What was that about, Anna?" Said Syrion as he walked over. Anna turned and smiled at him. " You better fix me up, with a large measure of Eileen, to go. Tonight's going be a very busy night."

[simon4242]

superb...really superb

[Stormtrooper1990]

superb...really superb

Cheers mate.

I really enjoyed writing this.

Part 2 will be a homage to Conan the Barbarian, featuring not one cultist replacement but two.

We also get to learn, a little more about Stormward, the Church. the Cult and the mysterious Katrina.

[simon4242]

when will we see annas maker so to speak ps sexy naked unconscious cultists marvellous

[Stormtrooper1990]

when will we see annas maker so to speak

She won't appear in the flesh until later, but Anna will still have recurring dreams about her sire throughout the series, representing Gisella trying to haunt Anna in her dreams.

Ultimately, she will have to face her as she and Katrina expose a conspiracy, to gift the north to Nocturne.

[simon4242]

oh well have to settle for naked unconscious cultists lol

[Stormtrooper1990]

oh well have to settle for naked unconscious cultists lol

Yep, but it's a hell of a bonus.