Blood the Eternal Struggle: Chapter 6 The Unholy Ordos

[Stormtrooper1990]

Following the successful arrest of former Colonel Xander Hargrove, the Sanguinis High Priest by Anna and Katrina. Tensions between the Holy Church and the City of Stormward have reached breaking point, since the appointment of Colonel Calantha Jordis the first vampire to hold the post of Watch Commander. Now Duke Allenby as a new mission for his Hands, they must return to the Holy District.



" And I don't ever want to see you in The Wracked Man again, am I clear? Or I will do a little more than just break your sodding lute over my knee." Said an angry Katrina as she manhandled a garishly dressed Minstrel out of the pub, as an amused Anna looked on. " But please, my fair Katrina. The song was for you. The public love you, I love you. I only wanted to--ugh." Katrina threw him bodily out of the pub. " I'am already taken, arsehole. I don't need any man, I have the only woman I need right here." With that Anna got up from the table and passionately kissed her lover. " Flatterer." Anna said with a smile as they caressed each other, with the patron's of The Wracked Man cheering them on. " But I love both of you, can I not have both of you?." Cried the Ministrel as he grovelled in the frozen mud. Anna turned and walked to the Ministrel, a mischievous smile on her face. " Derrick Tarovsky, YOU love US. Yes? You would do ANYTHING for us?" The minstrels eyes glazed over, a vacant expression on his face. " Yes, mistress Anna. I would do anything for you." Katrina come over, encircling her arms around her lovers waist. " You see that MANURE TRUCK, across the street? To PROVE your LOVE for us, I want you to DIVE in it." The Ministrel got up off the ground. " Yes mistress, I will prove my love." It was an amusing sight as the man ran over and dived into the back of the shit wagon, rolling in the muck, as a crowd of onlookers either laughed or called for the city watch. Anna turned and passionately kissed her lover, as they walked back into the pub. " I love it when you that, I always have." Said Katrina as they reached the bar. Syrion smiled as he put down the glass he was cleaning. " I have said it before, Anna and I will say it again. Remind me never to get on your bad side." Anna laughed as she looked around the bar. " Drinks are all on me! To the finest public house, in all of Stormward." The patron's cheered as Anna sorted her Sovereigns. I had been three days since their success at Fort Razorcat, and like everyone else in the city, the couple were watching the escalating tensions between the Church and State with concern. As Anna picked up her glass of courtesan blood, she handed a glass of brandy to her lover. "Do you think we have seen the last of the Sanguinis, Kat? I have a bad feeling about this whole situation with the Holy Ordos." Kat looked darkly at her, as she swirled her brandy gently. "If I know anything about the Church, Jospheia will be planning something. And besides, I saw Hargrove at the Cloister. That confirms that perhaps the Church is involved with the cult. It seems unthinkable, but after what we have seen together..." Anna took a measure of the courtesan blood, feeling the heavy aftertaste of arousal in the back of her throat. "I hear you Kat. What do you say, my love. We finish these drinks and have an intense session of exercise." Katrina took a snifter of her brandy, her eyes scanning Anna's curves. " I love it when you drink Courtesans blood, you get all... Frisky." As the two lovers let in to kiss, they were interrupted by the sound of the door bell ringing. Half expecting to see the Dukes Messenger, Anna turned to see a young woman with long black hair done up in a braid wound around her head with sharp but beautiful features, slightly squared jaw and glittering emerald eyes, her pale complexion and fanged teeth marked her out as a vampire. " Hello, Kat, Anna. I told you that I will be in touch." Anna did a double take, she thought she recognised the voice. " Rowan? What are you doing here? Nocturne hasn't found you out have they?" Rowan hugged both of them in turn. " Unfortunately yes, my cover has been blown. Could I have a place to stay here? I don't have anywhere else to go." Anna turned to Syrion. " Any friend of Anna and Kat's is a friend of mine." He said as he glanced over. Rowan smiled at the pair, seeing the smile Anna understood how Kat fell for her. "There is one other matter. I need to see Allenby right away, I have critical information. It's about the Church and Nocturne." Anna and Katrina shared knowing looks. " I will grab our gear, Kat." Katrina walked over to Syrion's phone. " I will hail us a cab."


" That is disturbing news indeed, Rowan. But it corroborates what we have long suspected, Nocturne have penetrated the Stormward chapter of the Holy Order. We also have the Ambassador's testimony from the listening device Anna and Katrina planted in his office last week." Katrina squeezed her lovers hand. " By the Holy Eve. Such a thing is unprecedented, how could they have abandoned their vows so readily. This is not only threat to Stormward, but the entire world." Anna nodded. "I did notice some strange things, during Katrina's rescue. I read a couple of the Novices minds, they are innocent, they seem to have no knowledge of this corruption. But the Templars, I thought it was just their training blocking me out, now looking back I wonder if they were ensorcelled or perhaps vampires." Rowan turned to look at Anna. "You haven't spent much time among our people, Anna. They could well be ensorcelled the older a vampire gets, the stronger their power grows. Even the mental training of a Templar, cannot withstand the mental powers of a 300 year old vampire. And General Sturm is 500." Anna frowned " Looks like I have a another century to wait, until I can make Templars strip for me." She quipped, the tension was such that nobody laughed. " Either situation is bad enough. If they are ensorcelled then Nocturne as an army of mind controlled fanatical women under its command. If they are Vampires, then it's the end of Stormward." Sighed Allenby as he poured himself a glass of Brandy, looking every summer of his 65. Anna gulped down her maids blood. " There has to be something we can do? We cannot just give up. Stormward is our home. We have to fight for it." Anna turned to Katrina, passionately kissing her on the lips. "Anna and I will do what we can for Stormward." She said as they pulled out. Rowan smiled wistfully as she saw them kiss. "Me too. Its the least I can do." Allenby took a sip from his brandy. " Rowan, I hereby offer you a position with the Hidden Hands. Do you accept." Rowan nodded. Allenby turned to the couple, swirling his brandy. " Anna, Katrina. You have already done so much and risked your lives for this city for than once. This will undoubtedly be your most challenging mission to date. I need you both to infiltrate the Holy Church, ascertain the nature of Nocturne's hold on the Holy Church. Find any evidence, and escape with your lives. If you are discovered, then I expect you to defend yourselves but no bloodshed, the last thing Stormward needs is the entire Holy Church descending upon the city in a Righteous Crusade." Anna and Katrina swapped glances, both had heard from history the fury of the Holy Church during one of its Crusades. Anna sighed, she even had to escape one once. " If I'am a betting vampire, and I like a little flutter, I would say the culvert is out. The Order isn't exactly a fool me thrice institution, they would have sealed it by now." Katrina squeezed her hand. " It's worth a look, the order I was a part of often overlooked the small things." Rowan looked at Anna, taking a measure of blood from her decanter. " If you cannot go, under Anna. There is always over." She flashed the couple a mischievous grin. Anna nodded, catching her thread. " The Clocktower of the Craftsmen, in the Artisans District. It overlooks the Southern Barbican wall of the Holy District. It's tall enough, for us to fire a line into the District and we slide right in. Find a couple of Novices, steal their clothes." Rowan smiled "That's your infiltration covered, but how do you plan on getting out." Katrina and her lover swapped grins. " By using a little vampire magic."



As it turned out the Ordos did seal the culvert they had used during their escape a week before. " Come on Kat, you owe me fifty silver. I said they would have sealed it up, come on sweetheart cough it up." Katrina flashed her lover a scandalised look. " Here you are, don't spend it all at once, smug-face." She said as he turned out her pockets, handing Anna her winnings. " You know you like it, lover." Katrina gave Anna a passionate kiss. "The Clocktower then?" Anna caressed Katrina's arm. "Come on Kat, you will love it. You remember the blimp right, the night we first met." Katrina smiled her heart warming at the memory. They both turned to glance at the Clocktower in the distance. "You know since I was a little girl, staring at it through my cloister window. I always wanted to climb it."


While not as tall as the 1km Ice Spire that dominated the Stormward skyline, the Artisans Clocktower was the oldest human building in Stormward. Build shortly after the human conquest of Elven Stormhaven, for the craftspeople that had accompanied the human invaders from the Northern continent of Volant. It was the oldest working timepiece on Darala. The tower itself stood almost 100 foot, overlooking both the Crafter's Square and the Southern Barbican wall. And it was the perfect infiltration point for the two Hidden Hands. As both expert climbers and free runners, it didn't take the couple long to ascend the 100ft to the summit of the tower which they did in relative silence, to avoid attracting the notice of patrolling Watchmen on the streets below. "See Kat, what did I well you. Wasn't that fun?" Anna held out a hand to pull her lover up. As soon as she drew level with her lover, Kat and Anna shared a passionate embrace. "Thanks for this Anna. That's two things off the bucket list." The two women laughed as they turned and for a second took in the view of Stormward, silhouetted by the setting of the White Sun. " It is beautiful, I'am glad you walked into The Wracked Man two weeks ago, Kat." Katrina laid a arm over her lovers shoulder. " There is nowhere else I would rather be, then here risking life and limb with the vampire I love." Anna kissed her on the cheek. "Come on, that's enough sight seeing." She took out her crossbow, aiming for the one of the towers and fired. Seeing the bolt hig home, Anna pulled on the wire, testing its weight. Satisfied that it would hold the weight of two people, Anna took out one of daggers and rested it on the wire. Kat grabbed her lover around the waist. " Ok Kat. You ready?" Katrina gave Anna a determined nod. Smiling, Anna simply said. "Let's do this." She kicked of the roof of the Clocktower steeple, beginning their long descent.


Novices Amandine Vossler and Beatrice Holstein, stood on guard on the Southern Barbican wall overlooking the cities Artisan District watching out for signs of movement from the Stormward City Watch, both were attired in the standard novice uniform of chainmail shirt and breeches, matching black gloves and boots with a white tabard with the symbol of the sacred feminine flashed over their breasts. A task in which they were doing without any form of backup, as the Knight-Commander had judged the Watch would be more likely to attack the Northern Gate. This left the Southern Gate manned by only 4 Novices, and their shift wouldn't start till morning. Amadine sighed, while she considered this assignment boring it wasn't her place to question the will of the Knight-Commander. At 20 Amadine was in the second year of her five long Novitiate, she had high cheekbones, angular features and pale green narrow eyes, and was considered one of the most eligible bachelorettes in the repressed barracks of the Novices. Her raven hair done up in a sensible bun on the top of her head. She glanced at her friend, Beatrice or Beautiful Beatrice as she known in the cloister. At 19, Beatrice had only just made the jump from Initiate to Novice, and was wet behind the ears, despite this Amandine had taken the girl under her wing seeing herself in the nervous twitchy Novice. Beatrice had more slender cheekbones that complemented her rounded features, with a light freckled complexion that highlighted her beauty, with big blue eyes. All framed with her ash blonde air, done up in braided pigtails that hung from down her shoulders. Yes thought Amandine, Beautiful Beatrice indeed. The woman herself was bouncing on her heels. "I don't like this, Ammi. We are sitting ducks out here, what if that vampire shows up with her girlfriend. We could end up unconscious and naked, stripped of our uniforms." Amandine gently caressed her face. "Don't worry B, I will protect you." That only served to increase her anxiety. "No you don't get it. Eloise was found bitten and naked under the wall, Anna Volker got to her. Then poor Tabitha, she was found naked in Katrina's cell. She spent the last two days after muttering "Pretty eyes" over and over. Mind control, Ammi, I tell you Volker can get in your head, make you do...things." Amandine's eyebrows raised. " Someone's been reading the Herald too much. Look, if Volker comes by or the traitorous bitch Katrina, we will be ready, B." Before Beatrice could reply the two women heard the most beautiful voice from behind them. " Novices Amandine Vossler and Beatrice Holstein. Our names are ANNA and KATRINA we are your FRIENDS." The two young novices, completely under Anna's sway simply said. " What can we do for our dear friends Anna and Katrina." In unison.


" Please, welcome US into your TOWER. We should get to know each other more INTIMATELY." The two young novices completely under Anna's sway obeyed with out question. " Yes friend Anna, we welcome you into our tower." After locking the door behind them, Anna ordered the pair to turn around. "Bloody hell, Anna they are cute. I will take pigtails, she is my size. That leaves the hot brunette for you. Actually, I have an idea." A mischievous grin flashed across Katrina's face as she whispered into Anna's ear. Chuckling she turned back to the ensorcelled pair. " My dear novices, would please STRIP each other of your uniforms and undergarments. And GIVE them to US?" The two young novices turned as they began to strip each other of their uniforms. Both Anna and Katrina undressed themselves as the two novices stripped each other, first of their boots and gloves, then their tabards and chainmail under armour. Both Anna and Katrina were becoming aroused as the two ensorcelled Novices had removed their white sashes and loincloths, now standing totally naked. Katrina, panting with sexual desire passionately kissed her lover, before she turned back to the naked novices, Anna took in the brunettes toned and athletic body, with well formed and springy C-cup breasts with full perky dark pink areolas and shaven small vulva and the smaller pigtail blondes more petite and slim figure with small but buoyant B-cups with rose petal light pink areolas, with a fuller pink shaven vulva. As Katrina with a huge grin on her face scooped up the clothing of the blonde novice, Anna walked up to the naked women. " Thank you so much for that display ladies, it was riveting. Now listen when I command you to sleep. You will fall into a deep blissful 8 hour rest, and when you wake you will both forget our faces and what has transpired here. Now go to SLEEP." The two naked novices collapsed to the floor fast asleep, Anna picked up the brunettes uniform and undergarments and walked over to an already half dressed Katrina. " I won't forget what has transpired here, I will tell you that." She said as she glanced down at the naked sleeping novices. She turned to Anna. "Could we try that when we get back to The Wracked Men, two other women..." As Anna slipped on her stolen undergarments, she flashed her a suggestive smile. "It wouldn't be my first time, I would certainly be game to do it, with you my love." Katrina kissed her the cheek, as they both finished getting dressed in their stolen uniforms. When they were finished, they stashed the two naked sleeping novices into an empty crate. " They look really cosy in there, I'am really tempted to join them, my love." Said Katrina as they closed the crate on the sleeping beauties. As they both pulled the chain coifs over their heads, Anna chuckled. " It wouldn't be the first time either, I mixed business with pleasure." The two lovers now dressed in their stolen novice uniforms, exited the tower, and into the Holy District.



" Ok Katrina, this is your territory. We would we find the evidence that we would need." As the two women garbed as novices, walked through the central courtyard passing by other novices, Priestesses and a few templars, Katrina nodded. "There are two areas we can try. The first is the archives, it as everything in there from what each Grand Divine had for breakfast to correspondence between Ordos Chapters and itineraries of the Knight-Commander. Then failing that, there is Josephia's office but that is a definite last resort. If she is present then we are screwed, royally." Anna frowned at that assessment. "I have heard she is a formidable warrior, and a student of the Hi-Chan like I was. It's better we keep to stealth, if we don't find anything..." Katrina glanced sidelong at her lover. " We will find something. I have a feeling something is about to reveal itself." As the two women entered the archive area, Anna was amazed by the sheer scope of the library. On two separate floors in a room, itself the size of a cathedral were rows upon rows of parchments, tomes and records of every thing anyone would want to know about the Holy Ordos in Stormward and beyond. " Bloody hell, Kat. You never said anything about how big it is. How in the five hells are we supposed to find what we need, it's like looking for a needle in a stack of needles." Katrina squeezed her arm. " It's the largest collection of religious nonsense in the Northern Kingdoms. Mostly very dull stuff, I was forced to read a lot of it in my Initiate days. I used it as an excuse to fall asleep." She smiled at the memory, as they approached the reception desk. Manned by a single, bored looking pretty young woman dressed in the white robes of a Ordos nun, her hair covered by a matching wimple. " Evening, Novices. How can I be of assistance to you?" The nun said as they approached the desk. " Wait a minute. I know you the traitor Ka-" Anna cut across from her. " Evening Sister Agatha, my name is ANNA. You are mistaken, this woman is not KATRINA her name is BEATRICE." Agatha's eyes glazed over, a vacant expression appeared on her face. " I was mistaken, yes very mistaken. It must be my tired eyes. Sorry Novice Beatrice. So how can I help you." Anna lent on the desk, further deepening the mind manipulation. " We are LOOKING for anything about the recent travels of Knight-Commander JOSPHEIA. Is that something YOU could HELP us with, my dear AGATHA?" Further under Anna's sway, Agatha got up smiling from her desk. " I would love to help you, Novice Anna. Please come this way." The two women followed Agatha to a tall library stack to the left hand side on the ground floor. " Here is the stack with the relevant information you seek. If you require any further assistance, Novices, I will be by my desk." Before she turned away, Anna gently pulled her around. " Dear Sister Agatha, when you RETURN to your desk you will fall into a deep SLEEP. Upon waking, you will forget our faces and our visit. Now go and I thank you for your aid." As Sister Agatha returned to her desk, they heard the brief sound of a body falling to the floor. " Ok, Kat let's find what we need and get out of here."


As the two women searched for what seemed like forever, growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of turning up anything interesting, Katrina picked up a journal, as she leafed through it her eyes widened. " Wait Anna, look at this. This was dated over 6 months ago, apparently she received a summons from the Grand Divine herself. To discuss the future of Stormward, I remember that day she set out with an honour guard of Templars, they returned without incident. But there was a marked difference in her behaviour, she was less inclined to train the novices and was often not seen during services. And the most strangest thing, there are no more journals after that. I knew Jospheia, she trained me, she was a prolific journalist. She wouldn't just stop, unless..." Anna looked at the date, her mouth opened in shock. "That's when my dreams started, intermittent at first but they became more vivid." She told Katrina about her dreams and her sire Matriarch Gisella. " Then this cannot be a coincidence, your dreams, the Knight-Commander. Something is out of place." Anna nodded, the pieces were finally coming into place. As she looked down at a pile of loose documents, she noticed a series of letters, one of them was dated the day she had met Kat. She picked it up scanning it. " Kat look at this. It's dated the day we first met, when we infiltrated the Sanguinis. Do you know what " Night Maneuvers" are? There are several documents here, dating all the way back to the week after the Knight-Commanders return. All calling for novices to commit to nightly training. Not huge numbers, one or two at a time." Kat took the document. " No we didn't even do drilling at night, we spent it in prayer and contemplation of the word of Darala, the Great Eve's prophetess." Her mouth widened in shock, a realisation dawned on her. " Five hells, Kat. The sacrifice on that night, she wasn't a civilian. That was a Novice. They all were, by the Sacred Eve! Nocturne as penetrated the Holy Ordos in Stormward." Anna nodded. " This is what we need, Kat. This proves at least the Ordos as been corrupted. Take the journal and these letters th--" The sound of armoured feet clanking off the marble floor of the library interrupted her. Anna looked up to see five Templars, all armoured in steel plate, the symbol of the sacred feminine on their chests and shields, their faces covered by the beaked full face helms they wore. But that wasn't the most curious thing about them. "Kat, they have no heartbeats." Katrina her eyes wide in shock drew her silver sword. " No they cannot be..." She stammered. The lead one opened her visor, Anna recognised her she was the sacrifice from the night of the Sanguinis gathering. " Silence, human. Our mistress wishes to see you. Anna Volker. It has been a meeting 200 years in the making." Two of the vampire templars advanced on Katrina, she dropped into fighting stance. " If you don't come with us willingly, we will filet your lover in front your eyes. And drag you to her." Anna fixed her with a cold stare, before turning to Katrina. " Do you trust me, my love?" Katrina without taking her eyes off her opponents, answered. "Always, we can take them." Anna put down the documents, a plan forming in her mind. If her sire was here then it would be all the information they needed, plus if there was a chance to strike her down, Anna was going to take it. " Come on Kat. Hand over your weapon, they win this round but we will win the next." Reluctantly Kat surrendered her blade, as did Anna as they were manhandled out of the library by the vampire templars. Towards a fateful meeting.



Novice Jana Goldstein kicked her feet wearily, it had been 4 hours since she was ordered to stand guard at the east wall and she grew increasingly bored. Then it was the fact that they were missing evening service, it wasn't the first time the Knight-Commanders increasingly erratic behaviour had given her cause to doubt, it had all started 6 months ago when the Commander had returned from her visit from the Holy Capital. Then there were the disappearances of some novices during the "night maneuvers." Jana had known some of those girls, good devout girl's who were selected seemingly at random for these special assignments and never seen again. Jana shook her head, no she thought cleanse yourself of doubt, it's just your imagination. At 23, Jana would soon be ready to begin her aptitude tests to become a Templar, a holy warrior. For Jana there was no higher calling. She had slender cheekbones with a heart shaped face and almond blue eyes, her long red hair done up in a ponytail. A whistle from the other side of the wall drew her attention, Jana walked over to look over the side of the wall. She saw the face of a beautiful brunette woman. " Hi, I just need a couple of things from you. I like your uniform." Before she could cry out, she felt a gloved hand clamp over her mouth and a sharp pain as she was bitten on the neck. Jana could feel her consciousness fade, as she was yanked over the wall.


As Rowan teleported to the bottom of the wall, she drained the young red headed Novice till she felt unconscious, then dragged her body into the bushes. She stripped off her cloak, sword and leather armour and underwear. When she was finished, she knelt by the unconscious novice began to strip her. She first removed her leather boots and gloves, then unbelted her sword, pulling the white tabard over her head. Rowan than stripped off the girl's chainmail, first pulling off the shirt over her head, then the chain breeches down her long divine legs. Rolling the sleeping girl over, Rowan unhooked the white sash from around her chest exposing her well rounded and firm C-cup breast with perky pointed circular red areolas. After clasping on the sash around her bare breasts, Rowan unknotted the white loincloth from between the novices legs, slipping it free revealing the novices small clean shaven vulva and pert firm ass. Rowan quickly got dressed in her stolen uniform, buckling her sword to the tabards belt and teleported to the top of the wall, in a cloud of shadow. Leaving the naked body of the sleeping Novice in the bushes. Know it was time to find Kat and Anna, Allenby had grown concerned for their whereabouts. Despite the fact she told him not to worry, He had sent her anyway. Rowan was more than happy to do it, she would do anything for Kat and perhaps more for Anna, the only family she had left. She quickly made her way to the central courtyard.


As Anna and Katrina were led into the central courtyard, by their vampire captures, they saw a tall woman garbed in golden armour with a red cape, embroidered with the symbol of the sacred feminine on its back. Her long golden hair crowned by a golden plain crown. With sharp but beautiful features of a woman in her late 30's, she was surrounded by at least 10 vampire templars. It was Katrina who spoke up first. " I would call you Jospheia, but you are not that woman. Who are you?" Jospheia merely smiled, looking at Katrina if she were an insect. Anna shrugged off the vampire that was holding her. " I know, exactly who she is. Come on bitch, stop with your illusions. Face your child, the one you left for dead 200 years ago." Katrina's mouth opened as the woman in front of them changed in front of them. Her skin turned white, eyes from piercing blue to Amber, her golden hair to a lank curtain of raven black hair and her face became sharper more pointed as did her ears. The Vampire Matriarch Gisella, walked towards Anna, caressing her face as she got close. "Is that any way to talk to your mother? You ungrateful child." Anna pulled away from her touch, repulsed. "You are not my mother. You killed her, along with the rest of my family along with my home." Gisella shook her head. " Foolish child, I gave you new live. Eternal youth, a reward for your help in helping me take my revenge." Anna shook her head. " Enough talk of the past. You must have killed the real Jospheia and her guard, on the road, luring her out with a false letter. You and your lackeys killed them, took their armour and identities. For what? Conquest? Nocturne not big enough for your ego?" Gisella smiled. "You have grown smart after all, not bad for a pathetic little chamber maid. I desire Stormward yes, it's port's will serve in transporting the gift of vampirism across the world. And soon the whole world will be one kingdom, ruled by Vampires, Nocturne!" She opened out her arms, circling around. " You are insane, Gisella. Do you think the humans will let you conquer them without a fight." Gisella pointed a finger at her. "That's where your wrong, child. They will if their Church tells them it's the Great Eve's will. Stormward was to be the first city to fall without a fight. A test case if you will, using the humans weak and insipid faith against them. It would have taken years of dedicated planning, but you and your little human pet have interfered with my plans, so I must move forward the timetable. Which brings us to you, Anna my child. I have an offer, you would do well to hear it"


As Rowan neared the courtyard, she could see Kat and Anna surrounded by corrupted vampire templars, a figure in golden armour that could only be her sire, Gisella. If see had to act, she had to act now. She drew her swords and charged into the fray.


" Anna, you are a 200 year old stripling of a vampire. You use your powers for what? Trifling things, you don't even kill to feed. Pathetic, really. Join me Anna, and together I can show you the true power of what you are capable of." Anna glared at her, pure hate in her eyes. "Fuck off, bitch. I will never join you. I have all I need right here." Her and Katrina swapped glances, smiling despite their situation. Gisella looked at Anna then at Katrina. " You lay with a human --" Katrina shot her a savage look "Half-Elf, you bitch." She spat. The Vampire holding her punched her in stomach. She yelped in pain as she doubled over. "Do not interrupt your betters, Churl." Gisella shot back. " Touch her again, bitch, and I will tear out your fucking throat! " Anna snarled at the Templar that hit her. "Love is a weakness, Anna, a fleeting thing. Something to be exploited. Here let me show you. How about this. Accept my offer, or the girl dies." The Templar holding Katrina, forced her to her knees, and held her sword to Katrina's throat. " Don't do it Anna. Don't sacrifice our home, what you are for me. Kill them all." Anna gritted her teeth and turned to face her sire.


But before she could answer, Anna thought she saw a blur in the corner of her eye, she turned around to see the Templar holding Anna transfixed for a minute, before her head tumbled from her shoulders. Her headless body crumpled to the ground, under a geyser of blood. There, it was a Novice, but as she beheaded the other vampire templar, Anna saw the dark brown braided hair of Rowan. " Come on, Anna, Kat. We have to get out of here!" With that all five hells broke lose. " Don't just stand there, you fools. Kill them !" Screamed Gisella. Anna picked up the sword of the fallen templar and tossed another to Katrina. Together, with the help of Rowan the couple had beheaded a total of 4 vampire templars, as they pushed them back towards the gates. Anna ducked as a corrupted templar swung with her mace, the swipe had left the woman unbalanced her armpit exposed reacting quickly Anna stabbed her blade through the chainmail under the armour plate. The silver blade found its mark, piercing the vampires dead heart she let out a small grunt as Anna withdrew the blade falling to the ground dead. Anna turned to see where her beloved Katrina was, fearing the worst but she needn't had worried, Katrina was in middle of besting her opponent. She dodged the swing of the vampires pole arm rolling to the right, cutting the vampires knees from the rear. The vampire yelled in pain as the blow sent her on her knees, Katrina swiftly struck a fatal blow decapitating the female vampire with a single blow. Katrina caught her lover's eye, smiling as her novice uniform was covered in blood, as Anna ran to her lover a shadow enveloped Katrina from behind. " No Kat! Behind you, run!" It was too late she had been seized by Gisella, she twisted Katrina's wrist dislocating it causing her to drop her blade, Katrina screamed in pain. Rowan rushed to Anna's slide. " Ahh, it all makes sense now. My two wayward daughters have finally found each other, and the sweetest thing is you both love this pathetic little mortal." Anna walked towards her, but Rowan pulled her back, tears of blood welling in her eyes. " Shut your mouth, bitch. Let her go and fight me! You coward." Gisella licked the side of Katrina's face, causing her to grimace. " Coward! How dare you?! Have been fighting for countless centuries for our kind, before you were even a speck in the primordial muck." She bit Katrina on the neck, causing her to scream in pain. Anna fought to get to her, as Rowan held her back. " Anna, we have to go. More are coming." Anna struggled to get to Katrina. "No! You will not have her, Katrina look at me, I will save you." Katrina had already fallen unconscious. Gisella laughed, her mouth wer with Katrina's blood. " She is quite sweet, your paramour. If you both want her, come and claim her. Return home both of you come back to Nocturne. Let us see which as more power, love or blood." As her remaining disguised honour guard filed around her, Gisella closed her eyes and the group along with Katrina, disappeared in a cloud of shadow. Anna screamed in torment as Rowan held her shoulders. " Come sister we have to go know." She gestured to a group of five novices running towards them, swords raised. "Anna we will get her back, but we cannot stay here. If I know Kat, she would want us to live to fight another day, we need to get back to Allenby and mobilise the vampire regiments of the guard.". Anna tears of blood streaming down her face nodded, she turned to the group of novices. "I will handle this." Using her mind manipulation, she entered their minds learning their names. "Sisters STOP." The group of five young novices stopped in their tracks, now under her sway. She pointed to a group of vampire templars bearing down on them. " WE are not your ENEMY. They are. They are NOT your sisters. FIGHT them, buy US time to flee." The group of novices turned to look at the templars, then their leader a pretty brunette cried. " For the Ordos! Purge the sinners." With that they engaged the templars. Buying them time to flee, Rowan grabbed hold of Anna. Teleporting them to the Southern Gate, where Anna retrieved both her and Kat's gear. Then they both felt the Holy District into the night.



"I don't believe it, Gisella was masquerading the whole time as Jospheia. Corrupting the Stormward Chapter from within, seeking to conquer the city from the inside out. Using our faith against us and she has abducted Katrina." Both Rowan and Anna were in Allenby's study, delivering their report on the nights chaos. " The Sanguinis was her way to corrupt both the Cities youth and recruit an army of vampires to strike when we least expected it." Said Rowan as Anna sat in silence, brimming with rage at her sire. " Through the actions of Katrina and Anna, the Cult was destroyed and it forced Gisella to move up her operations." Allenby paced around his office Anna could see behind him the Holy District was aflame, the vampire regiments of the guard had already moved in to contain the invasion. "How could we have been so blind, so self-absorbed that we didn't see this coming. I knew it was a mistake to allow Nocturne to set up an embassy, now they attack us." Anna turned to Allenby, drinking a measure of blood from her glass. "It's what she does best. Gisella destroyed Winterberg, by murdering me and assuming my identity. Now I'am the only child of that doomed kingdom left." To her surprise Rowan took her hand. "No, not the only one. We are both daughters of Winterberg, both Gisella's children. My name is not Rowan, that is my middle name." She took a deep breath. "I was formerly Princess Serena, daughter of King Oswald." Anna and Allenby's eyes opened. "Princess? Why didn't I see it before. That's why you seem so familiar. My lady." Anna bowed her head in respect. Rowan shook her head. "No, it's just Rowan now. You see Anna, we are both sisters in a manner of speaking. And we will get Kat back, then finally right the wrong done to both of us." Anna smiled as Allenby turned to them. "So what you intend to do, both of you?" Anna and Rowan shot each other determined glances then turned back to the Duke. " We track the bitch down, we save the woman I love and end this once and for all." Anna said after she downed the last of her blood.

[simon4242]

wow just wow. outstanding ......do we get an epic epilogue

[Stormtrooper1990]

wow just wow. outstanding ......do we get an epic epilogue

Thank you.

One report from the Herald, coming up.

[Stormtrooper1990]

STORMWARD HERALD

Chaos in the Holy Quarter


By Calista Mayweather Local Correspondent


The city awoke this morning to fires over the Holy Quarter, as the brave men and women of the 52nd vampire regiment, Stormward City Watch, fought to contain an insurrection by the forces of Nocturne upon the Holy Quarter. Many novices surrendered their weapons upon seeing the display of force arrayed against them, but later assisted the 52nd in culling the last of the Nocturne insurrectionists, unfortunately many were killed during the fighting. A source from inside the Holy Quarter confirm that several of the bodies recovered of the templars after the fighting were vampires. Following this startling revelation, Colonel Jordis led a troop of elite vampire troops to arrest General Sturm, the Nocturne Ambassador and seize the Nocturne Embassy, but when they arrived they found the building destroyed and all documentation destroyed. Colonel Jordis commented to reporters " We can confirm that General Sturm and his embassy guard had fled the scene, while we have no idea how they retreated so quickly rest assured that the Guard, human and vampire alike will track them down and make them answer for the atrocities committed in the Holy Quarter." During the press conference this morning, a spokeswoman from the office of the High Chancellor delivered the following statement. " We can confirm that the Reich of Stormward as officially declared war upon the Vampire Nation of Nocturne. Steps are now being taken to mobilise our vampire regiments, to launch a counterattack into Nocturne to avenge the unprovoked and dastardly attack on our Holiest of Institutions."




And what of our brave Hidden Hands agents, we can confirm that they did indeed infiltrate the Holy Quarter as the unconscious naked bodies of two Novices were found in the Holy Quarter Southern Gatehouse. And in a surprising twist, a third novice was found naked and unconscious, stripped of her uniform in the bushes in the shadow of the eastern wall, traces of vampire venom in her system. This can only mean the presence of a third vampire agent. Witnesses report Anna Volker and an unknown second vampire fleeing towards the ice spire, but no sign of Katrina Vandenburg, Anna's paramour. The Herald can only hope and pray that she as not perished in the fighting. We tried to send word to Anna Volker to make a comment on the nights chaos, but we were unable to reach her. The Herald can now confirm that Anna and the unknown female vampire had left the city for parts unknown, riding hard from the Southern City Gate. The Herald prays for her and her paramours swift return.


Stay strong Stormward, and pray to the brave men and women of the City Guard for fortune in the coming war.

[simon4242]

superb can vampires in your series also be killed by fire ?

[Stormtrooper1990]

superb can vampires in your series also be killed by fire ?

Yeah, the free main ways to slay a vampire are

- Fire

-Beheading, either by sword or heavy mace.

- A stab through the heart with a silver stake or sword.

The final story will feature a uniform theft from vampires, that will be lethal. But will feature the stab through the heart.

[simon4242]

any chance of a bit of fire lol

[Stormtrooper1990]

any chance of a bit of fire lol

Perhaps even with disguises Rowan and Anna will need to fight their way to Gisella.

I could write in a classic vampire slaying by fire scene a kicked over brazier during the fight.

The final chapter will be action packed.

[simon4242]

we love to burn vamps lol anna and karina could form their own group with all those poor misguided novices lol

[meditions142]

Fantastic, amazing chapter!

Love the infiltration starting with the Amandine and Beatrice scene. Both young, very pretty women assigned to guard duty. I love the touch that Amandine is bored and thinks nothing will happen but Beatrice is nervous worried about a vampire attack (which of course is exactly what happens).

I love the discussion by Beatrice: "No you don't get it. Eloise was found bitten and naked under the wall, Anna Volker got to her. Then poor Tabitha, she was found naked in Katrina's cell. She spent the last two days after muttering "Pretty eyes" over and over. Mind control, Ammi, I tell you Volker can get in your head, make you do...things." We get both an update on Tabitha as well as Beatrice’s fun little mention of the mind control’s effect.

It is fun the way Ammi tells B she will protect her and that they will be able to handle Anna and Kat but then, seconds later, with just a mention of their names from Anna, both woman fall deeply under Anna’s mind control. Both women are immediately under Anna’s full control and are powerless to resist her commands.

Love Katrina giving Anna the idea to have girls strip each other. I like too Katina’s comment: “Bloody hell, Anna they are cute. I will take pigtails, she is my size. That leaves the hot brunette for you.” This is fun as it shows the women are basically tools to them but they will still have some fun.

And given you explanation of how the mind control works my guess is Ammi and B got a little turned on while stripping each other.

And of course we get the great scene where with the simple sleep command both women slump to the ground deeply unconscious. And of course the image of the two naked women stuffed in a crate together. Wow.

The Agatha scene was awesome. Thanks for doing my idea. Love the idea of her sitting at the desk bored when Anna and Kat approach. Just as she recognized Kat, Anna takes control of her mind. With a simple comment from Anna, Agatha is under complete control.

Love the idea of Anna giving her the sleep command for when she returns to the desk. Love them hearing the thud of Agatha’s body hitting the floor after she returned to her desk, sat down and immediately fell asleep due to Anna’s command to the entranced woman.

The Jana take out by Rowan was also great. Love the “Hi, I just need a couple of things from you. I like your uniform." comment from Rowan. She then attacks so quickly poor Jana cannot do anything. Rowan drinks a bit of the pretty redhead’s blood while she gives her a good dose of vampire venom that will keep the woman asleep for hours.

Just so many nice touches in this chapter! Thanks for posting. Just continue love to see Anna using her mind control. Has such a great effect on the women she uses it on.