Blood:- The Eternal Struggle: Chapter 7 The Final Battle

[Stormtrooper1990]

Following the decimation of the Stormward Chapter of the Order of the Sacred Eve, and the abduction of Anna's beloved Katrina, by Gisella. The vampires Anna and Rowan have travelled South, to the Vampire Nation of Nocturne, to rescue Katrina and bring the Vampire Matriarch, their sire, to justice for her crimes.



They had been riding south for the last two days, passing lines of military convoys and the Vampire soldiers of the Stormward City Guard. All part of the mobilisation for the preparation of the invasion of Nocturne. Duke Allenby had given the two Anna and Rowan leave to travel to the military checkpoint, that separated the only land border with Nocturne. As they reached the checkpoint, manned by Vampire troops from the guard, sithout getting down from her horse, Anna handed the Sergeant Allenby's letter. " So your both going into Nocturne on a secret assignment, from the Duke himself. Would you like any assistance, Hands?" She asked as she handed Anna back the letter. Anna glanced at Rowan who shook her head. "No Sergeant. How does the situation look down there?" She gestured with her head at the country beyond the barrier. "Well ma'am. It's quiet for now, but I expect in the next days that won't be the case. We are fortifying this checkpoint and our outposts in the mountains, just in case those Nocturne bastards launch a preemptive strike." Anna nodded as the guards raised the barrier. " Good luck." The sergeant said as Anna and Rowan reared their horses and galloped into Nocturne, the barrier closing behind them.


"It feels strange to be back here, after so long. And look at it, I can't even hear the sound of birds." Said Anna as she rode alongside her new sister Rowan. "You do get used to the quiet, but I miss the hustle and bustle of Stormward. The energy, the life of the people there." Anna looked around their surroundings everything, the trees the earth looked as if they had been drained of life, leaving behind only blackened husks. "If this is the future that Gisella wants for the world, then all the more reason to end her." Rowan nodded. "We will need to find a place to camp, and plan for how we are going to get down to Castle Winterberg, with an army of vampires between us and Gisella." Anna smiled as she turned to Rowan. "We do it the old fashioned way. We find a couple of Gisella's soldiers and steal their armour. We could walk through the front door." Rowan laughed. "Well that shouldn't be too difficult, they practically comb the countryside looking for escaped mortals... Or vampires." She added with a grin. As they rode down the road, Anna spotted a small clearing in the forest to the right of the road."Look there, Rowan. The clearing over there.That would be a good place to set up camp." Rowan agreed as they dismounted from their horses, and proceeded to the clearing.


Anna took out her canteen of blood as they sat down upon a fallen log in tne clearing."There as been something I have been meaning to ask you Rowan?" Said Anna as she passed the canteen to Rowan, who took it. " What do you want to know?" Anna looked at her. " When did you decide to escape from Gisella?" Rowan took a swig of blood, as she recalled a memory she had buried for a long time. "Too long. For the first 50 years, I felt a like a prisoner. Of the woman who had murdered both my family and my kingdom. I refused to be her pawn. But in 150 years, I waited biding my time for chance to escape. I learned everything from sword play to honing my vampiric abilities. Finally, I saw my chance, during one of the "tours" of the countryside, I slipped past my guards and escaped over the border. Nocturne have been tracking me ever since." She handed back the canteen to Anna, who took a swig. "So how did you make it all the way to Stormward?" Anna handed Rowan back the canteen. "I walked, the south road is very long on foot. I heard that Stormward was a haven, of a sort, for our people. What I found of course was a city where as long as you were a registered Vampire, you could go about your business, so long as you don't kill." She took a small swig of blood, as she continued. "As I had no money for a license, I had to steal one of course from a female vampire. Of course what I didn't know was that she was connected to five murders, and that is how I met Kat." Rowan handed Anna the canteen, which he stoppered. "You must have fallen for her the same way, I did. Love at first sight." Rowan smiled, a small tear of blood ran down her cheek. "She is very remarkable young woman, she is very easy to fall in love with. Wearing that Novice uniform." Both women looked at each other and laughed, then shared an awkward silence. Before it was broken by Rowan. "First time we met, she kicked my arse. Just before she could haul me towards the Holy District, I told her who I was and my story. Well parts of it, she never knew about Giselle or my heritage." Anna chuckled in spite of her internal pain. "That's our Kat, she doesn't judge, and she as a thing for vampires." Rowan took a deep breath. "We were able to hide our relationship, but a year with Kat was the most mortal I felt since Gisella turned me. Then after that wonderful year, I discovered that Nocturne had an embassy. Knowing I had an opportunity to do something against Gisella, I broke up with Kat to to protect her, telling her the lie that I was going back to Nocturne." Anna nodded. "So the embassy, You must have killed an embassy guard, assumed her identity and worked their for an entire year before we met." Anna took the canteen of blood, and unscrewed it. "I believe Allenby called it deep cover. I approached him as a informant and here we are." Anna had to admit, she was impressed with Rowan's patience and forward planning. As Rowan took the stopper from the flask the sound of rustling from the bushes in front , caused them to hop over the log. Using their vampire senses, they could detect three heartbeats.


The two vampires using the darkness to cloak themselves peered over the top. Emerging from the bushes appeared to be be three mortals, one elven girl and two women, they all looked disheveled and malnourished. Looking around they made a break from the treeline towards their log, until one of time was tackled to the ground by a red armoured Nocturne soldier, with black chainmail underneath, her face covered by a silver face mask. " Hey Lysa, I got one. Looks like a group of three runaways. Three pathetic little mortals thinking they could make dash for the border." One of the mortals, the human woman attempted to run back into the trees only to run into a sword being held by another female soldier. "Well that makes two." She laughed as she withdrew her blade from the woman's stomach. The woman fell down dead to the ground, her blood pooling around her. " Bring them out, Helga." They watched as the Nocturne soldier hauled the two struggling elven women to their feet. Anna turned to Rowan. "There are our uniforms, are you with me?" Rowan nodded. " I will take the one on the right, she is exactly my size. Does the one on the left work for you, Anna?" Anna smiled looking the vampire up and down. "This is the first time, I have stolen plate armour." Anna and Rowan drew their blades as they hopped over the log. "Hey bitches, why don't you pick on someone who can actually fight back." Yelled Anna. The two Nocturne soldiers threw down the two elf's, who scampered away into the trees, and walked towards them drawing their swords. "What's this, two runaway vampires? That's treason bitches." Lysa turned to Helga. "What say you Helga? Shall we show these treasonous whores, what we do to traitors in Nocturne?" They could hear He!ga's laugh from under her helmet. "It would be my pleasure." Reacting quickly Anna parried quickly, sending Lysa recoiling back, seizing her opportunity Anna stabbed her through the weak point under her shoulder, piercing the mail undershirt and into the vampires black heart. Lysa let out a grunt of pain, as Anna withdrew the blade, the vampire fell to the ground dead. "No! Lysa. You will answer for that." Seeing the death of her partner caused Helga to attack Rowan with anger instead of control, Rowan easily parried her strikes, then Inna feat of swordsmanship parried Helga's blade up exposing her weak spot. Rowan lunged with the sword, piercing the chainmail underneath the armpit and straight into Helga's heart. After Rowan withdrew the blade, Helga the vampire, crumpled to the ground dead." Anna and Rowan panting from the adrenaline of the fight, sheathed their blades. Anna looked down at the dead woman. " Ok let's get them out of that armour." Rowan smiled as the two began to strip off their leather armour.


Now both naked, Anna and Rowan began to strip the dead vampires. Anna started by removing the dead woman's helmet, she was surprised to she that the vampire must have been turned young, at least 22 summers. She had high cheekbones, an angular face and almond shaped eyes with her light brown hair braided into strip at the back of her head. Anna glanced over to see Helga was a shoulder length blonde with slender cheekbones and a squared jaw, with narrow brown eyes. Getting back to her corpse, Anna unstrapped the various pieces of armour from the vampires body, including the boots. When she was finished, Anna flicked up the dead vampire's arms pulling off the black chainmail over her head, her C-cup breasts covered by a black sash. Rolling the corpse over, Anna unclasped the strap holding the vampires breasts, pulling it loose. Revealing a firm and well rounded pair of C-cup breasts with pale pink areolas, remembering that Kat had better, Anna unfastened the chainmail breeches at the sides and peeled them of the vampires corpse. Next came the black loincloth that protected the vampires modesty, Anna untied the garment from around the dead vampire's legs, exposing her pale vulva crowned by a thin strip of dark brown pubic hair. As Anna and Rowan get dressed in their stolen armour, with Rowan helping Anna with the straps, Anna glanced at the naked blonde vampire. Her C-cup breasts where well formed and buoyant with circular light pink areolas, with a clean shaven vulva. Both dead vampires had looked after themselves in their unlife, they were both toned and athletic. When they were finished, they dragged the naked bodies of the dead female vampires into the bushes and they put their helmets on. "Ok Anna these suits should get us the rest of the way on foot. But remember once we reach the castle, it's her domain. Gisella will know we are coming and so will her soldiers. These suits will protect us from most blows but..." She made a blade with her arm and stopped it at Anna's neck. Anna nodded. " Yeah once the head tumbles it's all over." Rowan flashed her a dark smile. "And stay away from fire, that doesn't do us any favours either." They strapped on their weapons, including the swords taken from from the vampires. After they stashed their gear into their saddlebags, they mounted their horses. "Ok, Rowan. Let's do this." Said Anna has they got back onto the road.



Wearing their stolen armour the pair rode past more signs of vampire occupation humans and elves being herded in chains in blood farms their blood being drained by the drop, with their vampire overseers cruelly watching on, taking in turns to whip them. "This goes on here? In our home? It's monstrous. Why treat them so cruelly." Anna said as she turned to Rowan. "This and more, Anna. You can understand why those mortals ran, and why I ran." Anna began to cry tears of blood. "We need to make her answer for this, we need to get Kat out of this hell." Rowan touched Anna's arm. "We will Anna, today we will see Kat safe from here, and back in your arms." Anna smiled under her helmet. "And we avenge our lives and Winterberg together." They clasped wrists as they rode towards Winterberg castle.



Anna had a strange feeling of deja vu, mixed with the feeling of someone walking over her grave as she approached the grounds outside Winterberg castle. As they both dismounted their horses Anna walked over to the tree line where she died."It was over there." She pointed to a small clearing, as Rowan stood beside her. "Gisella had drained me dry, stripped me naked and stole my identity. Then dumped me in the those bushes. I woke up naked alone and afraid. I had to kill to feed and steal the clothes from the girls corpse. As I stood on the boat to Stormward, watching my home burn, I resolved never to be helpless again." Rowan drew her into a hug. "I remember when I saw you during my name day. Except it wasn't you. Gisella tore out my father's throat in front of us all then ensorcelled the soldiers guarding him. They turned their weapons on us, and she either turned us or rose the corpse's of the dead. Just like that the Doom of Winterberg, destroyed the mightiest kingdom in Darala." When they pulled out they clasped each others shoulders. " She dies today and we save Kat." Said Anna as they loosened their weapons and walked up to Castle Winterberg.



As Rowan had said their disguises got them past the sentries on the old gatehouse, and the courtyard where Anna could remember playing as a little girl, so long ago. They both entered the imposing double doors and into the great hall. You had to say this for Gisella, she knew how to redecorate. A long red carpet led to the throne room beyond. For Anna the room reminded her of the undercroft in the Sanguinis temple, the same grotesque and chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. Only between each grotesque were lit braziers, from the entrance to the throne room. As they took one step into the hall, Gisella appeared in front of them, in a glimmer of shadow. " I see you took my invitation. Welcome to your former home." She circled them arms wide. " The princess and the chamber maid, it sounds like the start of a bawdy romance story." Anna tore off her helmet, casting it to the ground. " Enough, games Gisella. Where is she? What have you done to Katrina?" Gisella smiled, pointing at the throne room. " She is right through there. In my throne room. Waiting for you both." She clasped her hands together. Suddenly, at least ten black armoured men and women entered the room behind her. There faces covered by great helms fashioned in the likeness of a giant grimacing bat. All accept one, a bald headed vampire with squared features, and narrow almost black eyes. With a greatsword on his back. Gisella turned to him. " Please make our quests feel welcome, General Sturm." With that she disappeared in a cloud of shadow. Rowan threw off her helmet, as she and Anna drew into combat stance. "Bring it on bitch. We will be seeing you again!" Rowan cried as they charged into battle.


Anna immediately parried the sword slash meant for neck, slashing down at her opponents knees sending him to the ground as another slashed downwards. Anna was too fast, she dodged as the slash decapitated her first opponent, sending his head spinning across the carpet. The Vampire shocked that she had killed one of her own, struggled to pull her greatsword our of the stone floor, Anna flashed the woman a smile, before she beheaded the vampire with one swift stroke from her two swords. Her body falling under a geyser of blood. There was no time to waste, as Anna was charged by three additional vampire Knights.


As Rowan saw Anna, despatch her opponents with daring and flair, she was set upon by three vampires, two male and one female. As they advanced upon her, Rowan was hit with an idea. Fire. She kicked over one of the braziers, the two male knights dived out of the way, but the female wasn't so lucky. She began to scream as the flames licked up her body, desperately trying to pat the flames out. Her fellow vampires looked on in horror as she was cooked inside her own armour. The Vampire ran screaming into the opposite wall, where she hit the far wall, she bounced off and remained still. The two Knights did not see not Rowan, before it was too late. Using the distraction, Rowan quickly teleported towards the first decapitating him followed by his partner. When she was finished both vampires fell simultaneously headless.


Anna glancing at her sisters handiwork, quickly parried the first blow aimed for her throat, then rode the blow sending the vampire knight reeling. The second a woman with a pole arm tried to slice Anna in two, but she quickly dodged the blow, causing the blade to become lodged in the stone floor. As the female Knight tried to pull the weapon out, Anna quickly advanced on her, decapitating her with a scissor cut from her double swords. The other two had recovered, Anna twirled her swords around gouding her opponent, her lunged at her with his greatsword but become overbalanced after slipping on the pool of blood. Anna jumped into the air, plunging her sword down the vampires neck and into his heart, then withdrew with lightning speed. Anna landed perfectly, as the dead vampire clattering into a brazier, setting him afire. The third looked ready to charge but before he could, Anna saw a blur behind him and smiled, as Rowan teleported beside her. The Knight looked bemused for a second, before his head tumbled from his shoulders. That left General Sturm, and one additional vampire knight, a female.


The Female Knight glanced at the General then at the pair, covered in the blood of her comrades, she threw her sword down. "Fuck this, Gisella isn't worth this." She looked at the pair, before she could take a step the general decapitated her with a single stroke of his sword." Cowardice will not be tolerated. Useless! All of you!" He yelled out to his dead knights. He turned to the pair. "You think parlour tricks and reflexes with help you eh?" Rowan raised her eyebrows to Anna. The general continued his rant. "I have 500 years of combat experience and you are both 200. Do you think I should be afraid of two little girls? Prepare yourselves." However during his rant he did not see Rowan teleport to a brazier behind him. "Hey, general. You should be afraid, of Fire!" She kicked the brazier over. He couldn't move out of the way fast enough, owing to his heavy armour and greatsword. He began to shreik as the flames reached his body, his greatsword clattered to the ground. Rowan picked it up and with a huge swing decapitated the flaming general. As she rested the sword on her shoulder, Anna walked up to her, clasping her wrist. "That was awesome, Rowan. I haven't had a fight like that in a century, I forgot what it felt like." Rowan turned to the double doors. "Just one more fight.' Anna fell into step behind her. " Together" She said as they kicked open the throne room door, leaving behind the great hall aflame littered with the bodies of dead vampires.



They found Gisella seated in her throne, in front of her kneeling could only be Kat, still dressed in her stolen novice armour. Gisella looked nonchalantly behind the pair."I see that I need to redecorate, again. No matter, But I see you both despatched the General and my servants. This only proves to me your value, join me my wayward daughters, with your gifts and mine we can rule this Continent and the world." Anna shook her head. "Yes Yes. "Under one Vampire Nation. Nocturne." Anna span around as she mocked her sire. "Enough, Gisella. Kat is right there, hand her over." Gisella smiled as she looked at Katrina "Katrina, turn around and greet your lovers." As Katrina turned around, they're mouths opened in shock. Katrina had the look of one ensorcelled, her eyes were glazed over her beautiful face vacant face, but Anna could see something in her eyes, pleading. Gisella looked at Katrina, a wicked smile played across her lips. "Kill them, my dear Katrina." Rowan looked at Anna. "Save Kat, I have the monster." Rowan charged Gisella with her greatsword. Anna turned to Kat, an idea formed in her mind. She sheathed her weapons, and held out her arms. "Your name is KATRINA VANDENBERG, and you are the LOVE of my life..."


As Katrina advanced towards her lover, her sword raised she tried hard to fight the compulsion. When Gisella had drank her blood. She had learned everything, her time with Rowan and her relationship with the beautiful Anna. Wait, Anna was there in front of her, why would she be armed? Ready to kill her beloved. No Anna would never hurt her, she stopped in her tracks dropping her sword. Closing her eyes Then she could hear a voice, Anna's beautiful voice. Katrina pulled on the thread as it lead towards her love, she saw flashes of images; the blimp swing, the first they had sex, the Clocktower. Katrina smiled finding strength her love for Anna. " NO KATRINA, KILL THEM, I COMMAND IT. Came the voice of Gisella. It was Katrina who spoke. "No, I will not be your puppet, get out of my head! Katrina could feel the spirit of Anna next to her. As she shouted again. She could feel the dark hold of Gisella's psyche fleeing from her body. Then she opened her eyes, to the three special words. "I love you."


"I love you." Said Anna, as she Kat open her eyes. Katrina laughed she was crying with tears of joy, as they both passionately embraced. "I love you too, Anna." Katrina said huskily as she pulled out. "What that cannot be!? That's impossible, you cannot break someone out of another compulsion. What are you?" In her moment of confusion. Gisella didn't see Rowan charge at her with her greatsword. Rowan plunged it into her chest, pinning her to her throne. She coughed and spluttered black blood, as she tried in vain to pull the sword out."No, I ..It cannot end like this. S...slain by a Princess and a...a chamber maid" Anna and Katrina walked to her dying body. Anna held a sword to her throat. "Do you remember what you said to me, Gisella, back in Stormward? About which one will triumph, love or power." She drew the blade back and with one swift stroke decapitated Gisella, her head rolling down the aisle coming to rest by the open doors. Anna took a deep breath. "That was for love." Katrina next to her said. "For love and for Stormward." Rowan appeared beside them. "For love, Stormward and the lost of Winterberg." Anna turned to her lover. "Ready to go home?" Katrina passionately kissed her, nodding. The three of them, exited the throne room, not sparing the head of Gisella another glance.


As the three of them exited the castle, now aflame. They were surrounded by a troop of vampire troops from the 52nd Vampire Regiment of the Stormward City Guard, led by Jordis. They had just finished off the stragglers of Nocturne's soldiers "We saw fires on the road, but never expected to see this." Anna smiled, pleased to see a familiar face. "We've done a little redecorating. The bitch is dead, Jordis, and we have saved Kat, here." She drew a smiling Kat into a hug. Jordis eyes opened wide in surprise. " You mean, you three have singlehandedly killed a powerful vampire Matriarch, destroyed a nation and ended a war before it properly got started." The three of them nodded then laughed as the soldiers around them cheered."Not to mention, saved Stormward. " said Katrina. Jordis took off her hat. "Well, there will be celebrations, medals and perhaps a villa in Spire Top. There is a a few going spare, thanks to you both." Anna looked at Katrina, then passionately kissed her. "You can keep your fancy Spire top villa, I have all I need, with Kat and The Wracked Man." The group laughed as their honour guard turned about and escorted them, with Anna, Katrina and Rowan on horseback, up the road to Stormward and a heroes welcome. Leaving the burning remains of Castle Winterberg and Nocturne behind. Framed by a blood red sun