< Back Idina Melissenos Other names: ? Situation/Profession: ? Born: ? Zodiac: ? Age: ? Height: ? Species: ? Bloodline: ? Previous Next

< Back Alucard Aleksei Reiner Aleksei, Caedis Luciferson, Luca, Ezra Wright Lord of the Nosferatu, Creator of vampires Born: Decem 31st 532(TG) Zodiac: Scorpio Age: 428 (looks 28, stopped ageing at 26) Height: 185cm (6ft1) Species: Sangdevoro, Meridian witch, Numen Bloodline: Lucidian Previous Next

Arcana-Science & Nature Arcana‑Science & Nature encompasses works dedicated to the study of ethos as a natural and measurable force within the world. This category includes texts on Arcanean reactive materials, elemental phenomena, Arcana‑infused flora and fauna, alchemical compounds, and the interaction between Caeleste energy and the physical environment. Volumes within this category often combine empirical observation with arcane theory, serving scholars, practitioners, and researchers seeking to understand how Arcana shapes biology, geology, climate, and matter itself. Whether documenting the properties of enchanted minerals or charting the behaviour of ethos in living systems, these texts form the scientific foundation of Caeleste knowledge. ⏎ Return to Lore Directory Arcana Materials Metals & Natural Composites, Crystals & Gems & Stones, Rocks & Minerals, Arcana Compounds, etc. View full material index Arcanean Metals and Natural Composites Metals and natural composites with Arcanean properties and abilities & 'mundane' metals with anti-ethos abilities Class: Indicates Arcana potency. Lower classes (I–III) are minimally reactive, while upper classes (VIII–X) exhibit intense Arcanean resonance or volatility [see below for expanded term descriptions] ✵ Rarity: Specifies the rarity of the material, with higher rates (V-VII) being rarer than lower ratings (I-IV) ✵ Arcana Affinity: Lists the dominant Arcana type the material interacts with (eg. Fire, Ice, Nether, or Numen, Demon, Vampire, Lycan, Mage etc.) ✵ Reactive Behaviour: Describes how the material behaves when exposed to Arcana [see below for expanded term descriptions] ✵ Resonance Rating: Measures the material’s raw Arcanean 'aura' on proximity scanners or thaumic resonance meters (lower ratings mean that the material is less likely to be detected) ✵ Regulatory Status: Indicates whether it’s legal to possess, trade, enchant, or use this material in Nosferatu and Consortium-monitored territories [see below for expanded term descriptions] ✵ Constituents: Lists the individual substances that make up a natural composite Demonbone Class: VIII Rarity: VII Arcana Affinity: Demon Reactive Behaviour: Thanocidic Resonance Rating: 4-5 Regulatory Status: Unknown Constituents: N/A Read More Deridiuz Class: X Rarity: VII Arcana Affinity: Numen, Demon Reactive Behaviour: Thanocidic Resonance Rating: 0.5-1 Regulatory Status: Prohibited Constituents: N/A Read More Ebonsteel Class: V Rarity: IV Arcana Affinity: Enchantment Reactive Behaviour: Stable Resonance Rating: 8.5-10 Regulatory Status: Free Trade Constituents: N/A Read More Gold Class: I Rarity: III Arcana Affinity: Aegis Reactive Behaviour: Inert Resonance Rating: 0-0.5 Regulatory Status: Free Trade Constituents: N/A Read More Lunacite Class: IX Rarity: IV Arcana Affinity: Biological Material Reactive Behaviour: Stable Resonance Rating: 6-7 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Mortem Metallum Class: X Rarity: VII Arcana Affinity: All Reactive Behaviour: Thanocidic Resonance Rating: 0 Regulatory Status: Prohibited Constituents: N/A Read More Platinum Class: III Rarity: IV Arcana Affinity: Demon Reactive Behaviour: Inert, Stable Resonance Rating: 7-8.5 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Quicksilver Class: IV Rarity: IV Arcana Affinity: Caeleste Reactive Behaviour: Inert, Stable Resonance Rating: 6-7 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Rhodium Class: II Rarity: V Arcana Affinity: Demon Reactive Behaviour: Inert, Stable Resonance Rating: 6-7 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Silver Class: II Rarity: II Arcana Affinity: Caeleste Reactive Behaviour: Inert, Stable Resonance Rating: 0.5-1.5 Regulatory Status: Free Trade Constituents: N/A Read More Sunroot Gold Class: VII Rarity: VI Arcana Affinity: Mage, Witch, Seer Reactive Behaviour: Volatile Resonance Rating: 2-2.5 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Tenebricite Class: IX Rarity: VII Arcana Affinity: Enchantment Reactive Behaviour: Stable Resonance Rating: 6.5-8 Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Constituents: N/A Read More Varyn Brass Class: II Rarity: III Arcana Affinity: Heat, Strengthening Reactive Behaviour: Stable Resonance Rating: 8-9 Regulatory Status: Free Trade Constituents: Etheric gold, cryptic iron, arcane steel Read More Vendite Class: IX Rarity: VI Arcana Affinity: Elven, Enchantment Reactive Behaviour: Inert, Volatile Resonance Rating: 0-1 Regulatory Status: Restricted Constituents: N/A Read More Reactive Behaviour Terms Inert: Non-reactive. Either fully immune to Arcana or nullifies nearby effects. Common in containment units, prisons, or environments where ethos suppression is needed ✵ Stable: The material interacts predictably with Arcana. It may store, channel, or amplify ethos, but without unexpected side effects. Preferred in enchantments and long-term Arcanean constructs ✵ Volatile: Highly reactive. The material may cause surges, Arcanean feedback, explosions, or corruption if mishandled. Dangerous to untrained users. Often used in destructive rituals or unstable weaponry ✵ Leeching: Drains ethos from the caster, user, or targeted organism or object over time, leaving them/it weakened but alive/intact. May cause fatigue, temporary loss of abilities, or long-term depletion in living organisms ✵ Thanocidic: The material kills or severely harms the organism and or ethos it is interacting with. Sometimes compared to an Arcanean poison or reflective death-curse trigger ✵ Catalytic: Doesn't store or use ethos directly, but triggers or enhances other Arcana reactions. Often used in potion-making, alchemical rituals, or Arcana-fusion processes. Often compared to an ethos conductor or amplifier that needs a second component to function Regulatory Status Terms Free Trade: The material is legally available for public or commercial use. No special license or clearance is required to acquire, use, or transport it, though export laws or safety protocols may still apply in some regions ✵ Restricted: Legal to use, but only under specific conditions, such as medical use, licensed enchantment labs, government contracts, or with direct oversight. May require special clearance, guild approval, or Arcanean regulation tags ✵ Prohibited: Fully outlawed. Possession, usage, or trade is criminalized under international Nosferatu and Mage Consortium law. Typically applies to materials tied to forbidden rituals, historical atrocities, or dangerous properties (e.g. mind control, necromancy, divine interference) ✵ Designated Use Only: Legal only for authorized individuals or species, such as Nosferatu Divisions and agents or Consortium-sanctioned mages. Handling outside of one’s designation is punishable by fine or imprisonment, depending on the severity ✵ Unknown: Regulatory status has not been formally declared, either due to rarity, recent discovery, jurisdictional disputes, or lack of documentation. Usage is risky, as enforcement can vary drastically Class Terms Lower Classes (I–III): 
These materials exhibit little to no Arcanean resonance. They are considered non-enchantable or only enchantable through highly specialized or brute-force methods (e.g. rune branding, blood-binding). Ideal for containment, insulation, or mundane reinforcement. These materials are also ethos-resistant, some more than others; they slow or negate ethos altogether ✵ Middle Classes (IV–VII): Moderately reactive, these are the standard-grade enchantable materials. They can absorb enchantments with relative ease and stability, making them ideal for weaponry, tools, charms, or reinforced architecture. Some may require runic primers or elemental alignment to hold advanced spells ✵ Upper Classes (VIII–X): 
Highly volatile or hyper-attuned to Arcana. These materials may amplify, corrupt, or even warp enchantments, making them extremely powerful but dangerous to work with. Enchanting such materials often requires master-level spellcraft, rare catalysts, and protective rituals. Improper handling can result in ethos blowback, sentient artifacts, or enchantment decay Arcanean Crystals, Gems, and Stones Crystals, gems, and stones with Arcanean properties and abilities Conduit Materials (CM) → Generate energy capable of powering structures, vessels, systems etc. Invoke Materials (IM) → Used primarily as weapons or to create bursts and surges of Arcana Hybrid Materials (HM) → Produces balanced results as both a conduit and a weapon Mnemonic Materials (MM) → Capable of containing non-physical and physical essence alike Harvestable Mnemonic Materials (HMM) → Contained essence can power Arcana structures The following statistics were gathered from average-sized and average grade (Refined) materials Statistics for all sizes and grades can be found on each material's chapter page, found on the index page Crystals, Gems, and Stones Index ➣ Material Statistic Definitions Average Arcana Capacity: Indicates the raw Arcana capacity of the material, measured in morsums (Mr). This Arcana can be utilized in Arcana-Powered Structures, as well as recreationally, or it can be weaponized OR Average Essence Capacity: Suggests how much essence a mnemonic crystal can store, measured in remis (Rm) Approximate Mrh/Sri: Suggests the hourly morsum power output or the seros usage per invoke ('activation') - or both if applicable Recharge Rate: Specifies the morsum-per-hour rate at which the material's Arcana recharges Learn more about how Arcana is measured ➣ Rarity: Specifies the rarity of the material, with higher rates (V-X) being rarer than lower ratings (I-IV) ✵ Arcana Type: Lists the Arcana type that the material possesses (eg. Fire, Ice, Nether, etc.) ✵ Resonance Rating: Measures the material’s raw Arcanean 'aura' on proximity scanners or thaumic resonance meters (lower ratings mean that the material is less likely to be detected) ✵ Regulatory Status: Indicates whether it’s legal to possess, trade, enchant, or use this material in Nosferatu and Consortium-monitored territories ✵ Origin/Environment: Where the material originates from/which environment it is found in ✵ Check below the material list for expanded term descriptions ✵ Aetherstone Type: Invoke Material Average Arcana Capacity: 250-600 Mrs Approx Mrh/Sri: 3-5 Sri Recharge Rate: 20-35 Mrh Rarity: IX Arcana Type: Erichdian Resonance Rating: V-VII Regulatory Status: Designated Use Only Origin: The Purgatory Border Read More Aqualis Crystal Type: Conduit Material Average Arcana Capacity: 500-780 Mrs Approx Mrh/Sri: 190 Mrh Recharge Rate: 110-145 Mrh Rarity: III Arcana Type: Water Resonance Rating: VIII Regulatory Status: Free Trade Environment: Waterfalls, Floating Islands Read More Arcana Flight-Stone Type: Hybrid Material Average Arcana Capacity: 840 Mrs Approx Mrh/Sri: 32 Mrh / 6 Sri Recharge Rate: 26.9 Mrh Rarity: IX Arcana Type: Gravitational Resonance Rating: 1 Regulatory Status: Unknown Origin: In proximity to void gems Read More Fierite Crystal Type: Hybrid Material Average Arcana Capacity: 3150 Mrs Approx Mrh/Sri: 120 Mrh / 20 Sri Recharge Rate: 55 Mrh in standard kiln Rarity: IX Arcana Type: Fire Resonance Rating: VIII Regulatory Status: Free Trade Environment: In and around to volcanoes Read More Illuminare Crystal Type: Conduit Material Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Luciferium Type: Hybrid Material Average Arcana Capacity: Unknown Approx Mrh/Sri: Unknown Recharge Rate: Unknown Rarity: X Arcana Type: Lucidian Resonance Rating: 0 Regulatory Status: Prohibited Origin: Hell and the Underworld Read More Repono Crystal Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Revelite Stone Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Sélaphine Quartz Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Sensus Stone Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Severium Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Sonivite Crystal Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Tempus Stone Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Void Gem Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Voidstone Type: ? Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Wendric Gem Type: Hybrid Material Average Arcana Capacity: ? Approx Mrh/Sri: ? Recharge Rate: ? Rarity: ? Arcana Type: ? Resonance Rating: ? Regulatory Status: ? Origin: ? Read More Regulatory Status Terms Free Trade: The material is legally available for public or commercial use. No special license or clearance is required to acquire, use, or transport it, though export laws or safety protocols may still apply in some regions ✵ Restricted: Legal to use, but only under specific conditions, such as medical use, licensed enchantment labs, government contracts, or with direct oversight. May require special clearance, guild approval, or Arcanean regulation tags ✵ Prohibited: Fully outlawed. Possession, usage, or trade is criminalized under international Nosferatu and Mage Consortium law. Typically applies to materials tied to forbidden rituals, historical atrocities, or dangerous properties (e.g. mind control, necromancy, divine interference) ✵ Designated Use Only: Legal only for authorized individuals or species, such as Nosferatu Divisions and agents or Consortium-sanctioned mages. Handling outside of one’s designation is punishable by fine or imprisonment, depending on the severity ✵ Unknown: Regulatory status has not been formally declared, either due to rarity, recent discovery, jurisdictional disputes, or lack of documentation. Usage is risky, as enforcement can vary drastically Arcana Strength Interpretation in Arcanean Crystals, Gems, and Stones A material’s Arcana output, intensity, or capacity is expressed in either morsums (Mr), seros (Sr), or remis (Rm), depending on application. The Units of Measurement These units of measurement apply only to non-sentient Arcana The energy/power of living things (ethos) is measured in copias, a separate unit tied to DNA Morsum (Mr) Morsums measure how much stable arcane energy a material can generate, store, or channel, either for use in Arcana-Powered Structures (such as Arcana Ships or Fierite Heating Systems) or for manipulation in Invoke Materials Seros (Sr) Seros apply to Invoke Materials, measuring how much of a material's Arcana is used to invoke it ('wake it up') Crescere (Cr) A crescere (Cr) provides the average output of morsums in both Conduit and Invoke materials, and acts as a buffer by reducing the seros cost required to activate Invoke Materials Remis (Rm) The containment capacity of a Mnemonic Crystal is measured in remis (Rm), which quantify how much essence, whether Arcana, emotion, memory, or physical material, a crystal can securely hold ✵ If a material best suited for Arcana-Powered Structures is invoked, it gives out significantly less power, uses a very high amount of seros, and easily becomes unstable and dangerous Some materials can be used for both Conduit and Invoke purposes. These are called Hybrid Materials Very rarely, a Mnemonic Material can be used as a Conduit Material. They are referred to as Harvestable Mnemonic Materials How is Arcana Measured? And what is it Comparable to? These scales help determine a material’s role in infrastructure, combat, containment, or hybrid use, and they aren’t always directly correlated. A crystal may hold high morsum capacity yet require minimal seros to activate, or vice versa. Seros refers specifically to the internal expenditure of morsum used to invoke an Invoke Crystal—for example, a crystal with 50 morsum may cost 4 seros to activate, leaving 46 morsum available for function. Crescere ratings help quantify amplification potential across recharge and output, while remis are used to measure the total essence capacity of Mnemonic Materials, including both physical and intangible contents Morsum (Mr) Morsum is the standardized unit of measure for stable Arcana output in material-based magic—particularly crystals, enchanted metals, and natural composites. It functions similarly to how humans once measured electricity using watts, though Arcana is vastly more potent. As a result, even a single morsum represents a much higher energy threshold than mundane electrical units. 1 morsum (1 Mr) = 50 watts 100 morsums = 1 CenMorsum (1 cMr) = 5,000 watts (5kW) While human systems once relied on crude wire-conduction and fossil-based generation, Arcana-Powered civilizations harness morsums directly from crystalline structures and aether-rich materials, yielding cleaner, more potent, and far more adaptable energy. Arcana output is measured using a device known as a Metracant, a wand-like reader often used by engineers, mages, and regulators. At its core sits a verispect crystal, which reacts to Arcana flow and emits resonance pulses. These pulses are translated by the Metracant into a visible morsum rating, typically displayed via glyph-etched dials, embedded screens, or projection glyphs. Verispect crystals require periodic cleansing and re-attunement to ensure accurate readings, especially when exposed to volatile or soulbound materials. High-end Metracants are capable of distinguishing between external morsum flow (e.g. passive emission from Conduit Materials) and internalized morsum use (e.g. pre-activation seros output), making them essential for fieldwork, spell-tech maintenance, and legal Arcana trade.

Back to Demons Index Back to Treatise Categories Taxonomy & Classifications The official classifications of the species within the Caeleste ecosystem. Associated Volumes and Records This section highlights related records and supplementary texts that provide additional context, expanded research, or alternate perspectives relevant to the subject of this chapter. These volumes are recommended for readers seeking a deeper understanding or cross-referenced material within the archive. Fie⌊d ʍage$ ⊥racking $ouɼce… I⥏n∫or₥₳tion tɍαn$ℓa⊥iθ∩ ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω en⊢ɍy a∨äiℓâbįⱠï⊥ÿ ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩ $ome ⍴ageş $⊥i⌊ aωãťi∩ǥ Fie⌊d ʍage ɍeco∨eɍy ➤ Read Volume Fie⌊d ʍage$ ⊥racking $ouɼce… I⥏n∫or₥₳tion tɍαn$ℓa⊥iθ∩ ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω en⊢ɍy a∨äiℓâbįⱠï⊥ÿ ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩ $ome ⍴ageş $⊥i⌊ aωãťi∩ǥ Fie⌊d ʍage ɍeco∨eɍy ➤ Read Volume Fie⌊d ʍage$ ⊥racking $ouɼce… I⥏n∫or₥₳tion tɍαn$ℓa⊥iθ∩ ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω en⊢ɍy a∨äiℓâbįⱠï⊥ÿ ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩ $ome ⍴ageş $⊥i⌊ aωãťi∩ǥ Fie⌊d ʍage ɍeco∨eɍy ➤ Read Volume Nosferatu Sanctioned Amendments and Updates ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω. ⊔pdα⊥ed en⊢ɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩...

Back to Arcana Bestiary Index Back to Arcana Bestiary Categories Hollow-Eyed Batrin A reclusive cave-swimmer with echo-sensitive fins; some say it remembers faces. ◈ Quick Stats ◈ Fie⌊d ʍage$ $⊥i⌊⊥racking ∇he $ouɼce... Preferred Habitat Field Notes ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... Tɍαn$ℓa⊥iθ∩ øƒ $¢Ɽip⊥ ⍴en∂inǥ. ⊂he¢k ⊏a¢k ∩ex⊥ ⓛunaɍ ¢y¢ℓe... ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... Size and Mass ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω. ⊔pdα⊥ed en⊢ɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... Tracking Signs ⍴age ∪∩ɍeco∨eɍabℓe—øɍiginaⱠ ⊥ex⊥ beℓie∨e∂ ¢o∩sumed ⊏y sen⊥ie∩⊥ i∩k. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... Repellent Methods ∪ndeɼ s¢hθ∩αɼly Ɽe∨ieω. ⊔pdα⊥ed en⊢ɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... - Previous Next -

< Back to Index Page Mortem Metallum Fie⌊d ʍage$ $⊥i⌊⊥racking ∇he $ouɼce… Tɍαn$ℓa⊥iθ∩ øƒ $¢Ɽip⊥ ⍴en∂inǥ. ⊂he¢k ⊏a¢k ∩ex⊥ ⓛunaɍ ¢y¢ℓe... ʍi$si ∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco ∨eɍy ⓔ xpe¢ ⊥ed $oo ∩... Previous Next

Editorial Note “To know one’s nature is a form of power. But to deny it is to become prey to it.” — Archivist Haren Vosk, Department of Species Ethics ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩...

CHAPTER THREE ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー THE CAUSE | Elvin | Elvin scribbled in his notebook, glancing over at the boat in the distance every so often while he waited for the vampire to return. But as each moment passed, he grew more and more impatient. He slammed his notebook shut and tucked it into his pocket along with his quill. What could be taking Alucard so long? Why did he have to fly over to some ship? Who was he talking to? The bard rolled his eyes and pouted, resting his chin on his knees as he wrapped his arms around his legs. How much longer was he going to have to wait? It was cold, damp, and miserable. He wanted to go home; he wanted to hear about what Alucard had been up to tonight. The bard pondered. Alucard told him to come up with a new name for him; many people knew the vampire as Vuuren—pretty much everyone called him that. There had been times Elvin heard people call him Alucard, but he rarely let anyone use that name. Vladimirescu was the name Damien called him by, so Elvin wouldn't use that. A totally new name: he'd think of something eventually. Alucard suddenly emerged on the beach with an aggravated look on his pale face. Elvin pounced to his feet. "So?" he asked excitedly. "How did it go?" The vampire glanced at him and rolled his eyes. "Fantastic," he grumbled. He frowned at Alucard's answer and followed him along the beach. "Are you going to tell me about your night? What happened?" he asked eagerly. "Stuff," he muttered, following the stone path that led away from the beach. The bard pouted and stared ahead, following Alucard in silence as they approached a tall, black-brick manor in the distance. It consisted of a four-story building standing within its centre, two smaller sections made up of two. The black-tiled roofs were tall, sharp and pointed, sinister shadows creeping across the flat-grass lawn, shrouding the majority of it in darkness. Every light within the rectangular-shaped windows was off, the only light coming from the six moons above. A large city sat a few miles in the distance, its glow emanating through the grassy hills. The collection of trees the pair had earlier walked through was a small cut of a much larger forest that surrounded the huge, vast area of open grassland, separating it from the rest of the world. Black, nightmarish mountains towered in the distance, bestowing a dark shadow over the manor up ahead, cobblestone walls surrounding its grounds. They reached the black steel gates which sat between the walls, and as they opened, Alucard led the way through the grounds towards the manor's doors. "Okay, what stuff?" Elvin then asked, hoping that his few minutes of silence would help get the vampire to answer his questions. Alucard rolled his eyes and snarled irritably. "I met some demon." "A demon? But...demons and vampires are enemies; that's like getting you to meet a werewolf." "Well, I'm supposed to be helping him move some vampires from his world to this one." "You're bringing vampires from some other world...to this one?" He nodded, reaching the manor's black front door. "Is...it really a good idea to bring more vampires here? It's only been six months since you outran the Diabolus—what if they find you again? What will you do with all these vampires?" Alucard sighed. "The Diabolus won't find me here; the last place they would expect to find me is living among humans." Elvin reached into his pocket and pulled out his notebook. "True...." He nodded but then shuffled around excitedly. "A whole new world?!" he squealed, scribbling onto the paper as he followed the vampire into his house. "What was it like? Was it like Alvenguard? Was it magical?" "One moon," Alucard said with a shrug, taking off his cloak, hanging it on the coat rack. "Some...eroded castle, not much to see." Nodding, Elvin followed him through the dark entrance hall and into a lounge. "And these vampires; why do you have to bring them here?" Alucard clicked his fingers, the candles lined around the room atop each shelf instantly lighting with small flickering flames. He then slumped down onto the black-leather, red-cushioned couch. He rested his right leg over the arm and looked over at Elvin as he slowly sat in the same-styled armchair opposite him. He took a moment to rest, looking around the black-adorned room. All the furniture was dark in colour and looked to be antique. The walls were black with oak-brown panelling lined around them; the front wall possessed three tall, arched windows, lantern-like lights hanging from the wall space between each of them. The vampire looked over at Elvin. "Damien wants to undermine his brother, Letholdus." "The...god?" Elvin frowned, looking over at him. He nodded and looked over at the silent fireplace. "The first step in doing so would be to fill this world with ethos that is not of his origin, therefore not of his control. So, we are starting vith these vampires. He has me helping some demon that apparently wants to help the vampires of his world because they were loyal to him throughout a war. Now, I have this night and half of tomorrow to find somevhere to put them and to try and hurry up this treaty I have been working on with the humans of the city." Nodding, Elvin scribbled in his notebook as Alucard spoke. "The human-vampire cohabitation treaty?" The vampire nodded. "Da." "I don't know if they'll hurry that up...so, you're helping a demon transport vampires from another world to this world because Damien wants to overthrow his brother, aka, the god of this world. Well, they're not really brothers, are they? These god people just call each other brother and sister—kinda weird. Anyway, why does Damien wanna overthrow Letholdus?" he asked, looking over at the vampire. Alucard shrugged and flicked his hand, the fireplace lighting with fire as crimson as his hair. "Damien hates his siblings, he wants to be on top; nothing more to it, really." "He wants to be in charge...so he's gonna...what? What's he doing once he has ethos that isn't Letholdus' in this world?" Looking over at him, Alucard shrugged again. "Outside ethos will corrupt the ethos here. The more there is, the more damage is done. I gather that Damien wants to weaken Letholdus and then kill 'im." Elvin wrote it down. "Kinda barbaric." "Eh, not my problem. Gods will do what gods want to do," he grumbled, staring into the fire. The bard then looked over at him. "So, are you gonna do it? Help the demon?" Alucard sighed. "What choice do I have? Damien asked me to do it; I can't exactly say no." Scribbling in his book once more, Elvin nodded and looked back over at him. "What about this demon?" he asked with a smirk. "He? She? What was it like?" The vampire scowled. "Must you know?" "Well, yeah. I need all the details. How else am I supposed to write this book? Could this book...possibly become a story of romance?" he teased. "A love triangle!" Rolling his eyes, he glared back into the fire. "Insufferable, stuck up businessman type; suit, blazer thing...I think he had a tie. I actually met him first outside a tavern; seems like Damien sent him to meet me on his own—I don't know why he thought that would work." "What happened?" "I told him to fuck off." Elvin sighed, but there was amusement in his voice when he said, "Oh, Vuuren. Perfect description, though. Love that." He wrote it down. "Seems like Damien loves him," the vampire grumbled. Elvin then stopped writing and looked over at Alucard. "From what I've heard, I really don't think that creature of a man could ever love anyone; he probably loves the fact that this demon guy does what he's told," he assumed. "Da," Alucard mumbled. "Okay, do you have a plan?" The vampire looked over at him. "For what?" "The whole...moving vampires from there to here thing." "What is there to plan? Go there, bring them here. Simple." "Okay, but where will they live? You haven't got the treaty sorted yet with the humans in the city, so they can't exactly live there, can they?" "My castle, I guess." Writing it down, Elvin nodded. "And the treaty?" "I'll try and sort that tomorrow; humans sleep the night away like babies," he grumbled. "So, you'll use tonight to prepare the castle, I assume?" "Da," he confirmed. Elvin smiled. "See, why can't you be like this all the time? You only seem to answer me when I'm asking for the book—you really do believe in me, don't you?" He grinned from ear to ear. Alucard rolled his eyes. The Bard sighed and closed his notebook. "Well, are you okay?" he then asked, concern in his voice. Alucard frowned, glancing over at him. "Why would I not be?" The bard shrugged. "I worry about you; you never really talk about how you feel, and you always look miserable when you get back from seeing Damien." "Don't you have a home to get to?" Alucard dismissed. Elvin frowned. "Well...yeah, but...don't you want me to help you tonight? I don't really have anything else to do." "No," Alucard denied. "Go home." The bard stood up and sighed. "Will you let me get chased by wolves? Attacked by pirates? Walk me home...please?" he pleaded. The vampire looked over at him. "No, no, and no," he grumbled, scowling. "Sergiu is outside with the carriage; tell him I told him to take you home." "Mean," Elvin mumbled as he turned around, heading for the door. "Where should I find you tomorrow?" he asked, looking back over his shoulder at the vampire. "The city, outside the house of commons," he instructed, looking over at him. Sighing, Elvin turned around and made his way over to the door. As he left, he glanced back at Alucard, watching him as he made himself comfortable on the couch. He was worried about him—he knew how much Alucard despised Damien. But as much as he wanted to try and be there for him, he knew Alucard didn't want his company right now. Elvin knew him well enough to know that he wanted to be left alone for the rest of the night. With a pout on his face, Elvin pulled the door shut behind him and started searching the courtyard for Sergiu. ⤝❖⤞ | Alucard | As the bard left, Alucard looked back into the fire. Tonight hadn't been what he expected. This was the first time Damien sent an associate to find him on their own, and the first time he'd forced Alucard to work side-by-side with someone, too. At least all their working together involved was meeting to drop off and pick up the vampires, though. Alucard was glad, however, that he didn't have to see Damien alone. The last thing he wanted was to be in that creature's presence by himself. But the meeting had been somewhat humiliating; this new demon—Zalith—clearly thought that Alucard was incompetent and that he couldn't do what Damien asked of him. But Alucard was undoubtedly going to prove them both wrong. There had never been a time he failed at a task—not since...then. But he didn't want to think about that. Then, he scowled. Zalith had mentioned 'the cause'—what was the cause? He hadn't been made aware of any cause, something that the demon seemed to be familiar with alongside Damien. Clearly, Alucard had been left out of something once again. Did he care, though? Yes, he did. Damien made sure to always involve the vampire in some way or another. So, why hadn't he been told what this cause was? Not only did he have that to worry about now, but it looked like the werewolves were testing the waters. They hadn't set foot in any of Dor-Sanguis' towns or villages ever since he'd scared them off, so why had one been brave enough to hunt in Wrodiff tonight? He hoped it was just a stray desperate for food, but part of him knew things could never be that simple. The wolves were up to something...and he needed to find out before someone was killed—that would ruin everything he'd been working so hard for. "Don't you have a job to do?" came Damien's harrowing voice. Startled by his appearance, Alucard sat up straight and looked back over his shoulder. "Vampires need moving," Damien said, standing behind him. He made his way over and slumped down in the chair Elvin had been sitting in. "And yet, you sit around here like some useless fool. Not a surprise, though." He sighed, tapping his claws on the arm of the chair. Staring over at him, Alucard frowned cautiously. "I will be starting tomorrow; I need time to prepare a place for them to stay." Nodding slowly, Damien glared at him. "You still keep that human around—why?" "He's...my familiar," Alucard answered. "Hmm...." He nodded. "You tell him an awful lot, don't you?" "He's writing a novel." Damien scoffed. "Pointless frivolity. To sit somewhere for hours looking at written words when you can simply speak from memory. Human minds don't have such a capacity, though. Do you, Vladimirescu?" he asked as a smirk crept across his face. Keeping his eyes on the Daegelus, Alucard frowned slightly, unsure whether he was meant to answer or not. But Damien then sighed. "You heard Zalith and I mention the cause; I suppose I should tell you since I'll be needing you for it." "What is it?" he asked—he wasn't surprised Damien knew he was thinking about it. The Daegelus never requested permission to peer into one's mind. The Daegelus grinned and grabbed his shirt—Alucard did his best not to panic...and stared into his eyes. "If you speak a word of this to anyone...." His eyes wandered down to Alucard's chest. "It's a fascinating organ—the proselytes. It gives you mortal creatures the ability to harness the energy you were graced to have been born with. I've heard it's such a painful existence to have had one...and then to have lost it." Alucard understood his threat. "I won't tell anyvone." Damien scowled and let go of him. Then, he looked over at the fireplace. "I want everything my siblings have. I want access to their bloodlines; I want dominion over what they have come to make, to build, to own. I want all of it, and to do so, I need to possess their blood, their ethos, and I've found a way to do so." The vampire frowned. "You said that one day you would initiate the creation of another Daegelus—a child." He nodded. "Yes, I will need to create another creature quite like myself—another Daegelus. But when I do so, I will carefully craft into it everything I will need. I will make sure it possesses the blood of each of my siblings, the ethos of everything and everyone that I require. And then, when it has grown, I will simply absorb it, thus gaining everything it possesses, granting myself what I need." "Why do you need me?" "I need four fathers." "What?" "Four males of each bloodline—Lucifer's, Lilith's, Ephriel's, and Erich's. You so happen to be Lucifer's son, so what better choice for Lucifer's bloodline? Yes, you are incompetent, insufferable, but I simply have no other better choice. Zalith is of Lilith's bloodline. I am in search of an angel from Ephriel's, and I have one in mind. Then one of Erich's. Once I have found them, we will all meet to discuss preparations." "And...I gather you need a mother, too? For this child." "Yes," Damien answered, looking over at him. "Whilst you assist Zalith, I will be searching for a suitable mother—do you have any more stupid questions?" "No," he said, looking away from Damien's evil stare. Damien then smirked. "I have heard of an angel sent by my sister to keep an eye on Letholdus. I have thought about asking him—I will steal him from Ephriel, as I have stolen you from my brother." Alucard glanced over at him. "Now, get to work. I want those vampires in this world by this time next year, as I said. If you falter, you'll suffer." As Damien stood up, a look of angst appeared on Alucard's face. "I won't fail." "Good." The Daegelus smiled, placing his hand on Alucard's shoulder, digging his claws into it. The vampire scowled, keeping his eyes focused on the fire. "Remember what I have taught you, Vladimirescu, and don't let me down—again," he warned, letting go of his shoulder. Then, as Damien left as silently as he had arrived, Alucard stared sullenly, watching the flames within the fireplace. At least now he knew what this cause was—the cause that Zalith had mentioned. Damien was planning to create another Daegelus; he wanted to give it the blood of all the other Eternal Gods so that he may absorb it, thus absorbing the power he would give it. What was he going to do once he had access to the other Eternals' bloodlines? He knew that Damien wanted to kill Letholdus; that had to be why he didn't want someone possessing that Eternal's blood—if there were even any people out there descended from Letholdus. But what were his plans for his other siblings? Did he want to kill them, too? Or did he really just want access to their lineage? It wasn't really Alucard's problem—or his business. He had to do what he was told, and that was all he knew. He stood up and waved his hand, all of the flames within the fireplace withering. He made his way over to the door, irritably snatched his cape and left, setting out to begin preparations for the new task he had been given. ⏎ Back to Nosferatu ➲ Want to read a little more? Chapters 1-10 are available on Wattpad!

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CHAPTER ONE ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー UPON THE TOWER This story's main character has a written dialogue accent. There is a version of the story available to read without the accent. ▶ Click to read 'No Accent Edition' | Alucard | Alucard flicked the blood from his rapier and watched the werewolf's severed head drop to the ground to join the beast's twitching body. A satisfied smirk stretched across his pale face, baring the tips of his fangs. It brought him relief knowing he was closer to his task's completion, and all he had to do now was face the Alpha. With a vicious snarl, the white-furred beast which stood across the field from him rose to its hind legs in a display of threat. But Alucard wasn't unnerved. He extended his claws from his fingertips and awaited the beast's charge. And when it burst towards him—kicking the ground beneath its feet up in its wake—Alucard sprung forward much faster than the beast could comprehend. He arrived at its side before the grass where he'd been standing settled and gripped the wolf's throat, digging his claws into its skin. It yelped when he lifted it off its feet and slammed its back into the ground, and before it could attempt to defend itself, Alucard sliced the Alpha's head from its body. It was done. He flicked his sword, removing as much of the blood from it as he could, and then with the crimson, white fur-trimmed cape he wore over his shoulders, he cleaned his blade and sheathed it at his side. From his pocket, he pulled a folded sack large enough for the beast's head, which he picked up by its muzzle with a disgusted grunt. He unfolded the sack, eased the head inside, and glanced at each dead wolf. They were all there, and with a jerk of his hand, he sent them up in blood-red flames. Although he'd severed their heads, he wanted to ensure none of them would become hellhounds. That was the last thing he needed. Killing werewolves for the people of the city was tiring enough; if he had to deal with their reanimated corpses, too, he'd feel as though his work was worth more than the treaty he was trying to create with the humans. He headed into the woods and navigated the late-night gloom to where he left his black stallion. Its crimson eyes shone like a beacon, and from its nostrils oozed dark, twisting fog. "Vank you vor vaiting," he said, his Dor-Sanguian accent thick and distinguishable. In response, the possessed horse snorted and waited while Alucard attached the sack to its saddle. Then, he mounted the horse and took hold of the reins. "Let's go." The horse carried him through the murky fir forest and into the open fields lit by the kaleidoscopic light of the six moons. In the distance, the glow of Dargamoore City cut through the fog. Alucard made the horse move faster across the farmland, following the dirt roads until he reached Dargamoore's black iron gates. That was where he dismounted and escorted the beast over to a tavern. He hitched the stallion and took the bloody sack from the saddle. "Vait 'ere," he said and then headed inside. The place reeked of beer, cigarettes, and piss. It was a place he'd only ever visit if he had no other choice, and in this case, he didn't. Alucard approached the bar and reached into the sack. He pulled the werewolf's head out by its muzzle and slammed it on the bar, ensuring that the collision splashed blood in every direction, which sent two patrons running, made another retch, and the bartender dropped the glass he was cleaning in startlement. "Zhere you go." Alucard patted the wolf's head. "I even brought you zhe 'ead so you can put up zhere vith zhe vest of zhem." He nodded at the display of taxidermy wall mounts behind the bar. The bartender snapped out of his state of stupor and shook his head. "Are you fucking serious?" He chucked the bloody sack at the man's face. "You vanted zhe fucking ving." "Not literally!" he exclaimed. Alucard reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of crumpled paper. He laid it flat on the bar and pointed to the words as he read, "Vanted, dead and 'ead severed. Is not to your satisvaction?" With an irritated grunt, the man turned around and went into the room behind the bar while muttering, "Fucking psycho." Alucard waited, ignoring the murmurs among the crowd—murmurs which he heard whenever he walked these streets. 'Vampire freak' and 'undead monster' were just two of those things. He was used to the berating stares, too...but he wasn't familiar with the look he was getting from the man sitting in the far-right corner. He didn't recognize the guy, but he evidently wasn't from around here. He was wearing an expensive suit, his dark hair was combed back over his head, and although his eyes were black, Alucard noticed a red shimmer when the light hit them. And his sulphur-like scent was hard to miss. That man was a demon; Alucard could feel the creature's power like a bitter breeze in the night's air. He didn't like the smirk on his face, nor did he like the fact that his eyes were looking him up and down as though he was sizing up his next meal. "Here," the bartender uttered. Alucard snatched the coin pouch from the bartender without a word and headed for the door. "Hey!" the bartender called. "You're just gonna leave this here?!" Without answering, he left the tavern and headed to his horse. His job was done, and all he wanted to do was finish his patrol of the surrounding woods and get home before daylight. He'd had enough human interaction for one night. But just as he was about to get on his horse— "Excuse me," came a smooth, silvery voice. "Sorry to interrupt whatever it is that you're doing, but are you Alucard?" Alucard let go of the saddle and turned to face whoever said the name very few knew him by, and when he saw that it was the demon who smirked at him inside the tavern, he scowled. "Who's asking?" he questioned cautiously. The demon held out his hand, which possessed claws in place of his nails. "Zalith. I assume Damien told you about me?" That was how he knew his name. Damien told him, but despite that this demon knew Damien, Alucard wanted nothing to do with him. "No, 'e zidn't," he replied, ignoring his hand. Zalith lowered his hand and frowned. "Well, in that case, I suppose he's expecting me to fill you in. I've come from Eltaria to meet you and discuss a relocation mission involving the vampires of my world. He mentioned that you're the Lord of the Nosferatu—the vampire society—right?" The vampire looked him up and down. "I zon't vork vith ozzer people and I never 'ave. Zamien vouldn't suddenly change zhat." He climbed up on his horse. "Well, it would seem that he had a change of heart," Zalith said, glaring up at him. "I'm frankly a little surprised that he hasn't said anything to you yet." "If zhis vere true, 'e vould 'ave said someving." He made his horse turn towards the city gates. "Good luck vith your vampire mission." Then, he headed for the exit. The demon walked at the horse's side. "Can't you take my word for it and reach out to him to make sure?" Alucard glanced down at him. "No." And once he was past the gates, he tapped the horse's side and took off, racing away from the city and Zalith. "Lives are at stake!" Zalith called. He wouldn't tell himself that he didn't care; whenever vampires were involved, he couldn't help but care. But what he didn't care about was that demon, and he wasn't interested in working with him. If there really was a mission involving vampires, then he'd do it alone, just as he'd always done things. As he rode towards the forest, Alucard reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his colts. He ensured the barrel was loaded with silver rounds, reloading those he used fighting the werewolves. He wasn't sure whether he'd come across more tonight, but he was ready either way. When he reached the tree line, he climbed off his horse. But as he was about to head into the murky woods, a cold shiver ran down his spine, and the scent of ash and sulphur snatched his attention. With a quiet whoosh and crinkle of the leaves in the grass, something landed behind Alucard. He wasn't afraid, though; he knew who had come. "He wants to see you," came a cold, slithering voice. Alucard turned to face the faceless spectre hiding under draping black robes. "Vhere?" "Eltaria. Five minutes." With a heavy sigh, Alucard nodded. The spectre wordlessly transformed into a whisp of black smoke and raced off. "You can 'ead 'ome," he told the stallion. "Somevone vill put you in zhe stables." The possessed beast grunted and headed back home. Alucard had five minutes to get to Eltaria and he'd not risk being late. So, he morphed into a vermillion smoke-like apparition and, much like the faceless wraith, he sped up and through the sky. He moved quicker than any creature could, flying over the farmland and the dark sea, heading towards the island in the distance. When he landed on the black rock, he was greeted by the endless rainfall and rhythmic cracks of thunder. As he made his way towards the darkness-filled archway sitting a few feet from the water's edge, he glanced at the skyfish and watched them swim around inside the storm. He wasn't sure why he was being summoned to another world so late, but considering what happened in Dargamoore, he felt it was safe to assume that it had something to do with that demon. Was he going to have to work with someone else? And not just anyone, but a demon? He snarled quietly and clenched his fists. There was only one way he'd find out. The moment he reached the archway, he walked through the darkness and emerged on the other side, finding himself in the gloomy, eroded hall of an old castle. The damp smell was disgusting and burned the insides of his nose. Vines had twisted their way through the crumbling white brick, which was covered with leaf litter and dried dirt. It wasn't that which made him grimace, though. A sudden ache spiralled through his head and throbbed behind his eyes. Could this pain be a result of his transition through worlds? He pulled a small steel flask from his pocket. As he made his way down the hallway, he unscrewed the lid and took a sip of the blood that was inside. He hoped that it would help with this pain just as it helped with any other. And to his relief, it did. The hallway took him to a staircase, and while he climbed it, he glanced at the silvery moon out through the windows. What kind of pathetic little world possessed one moon? Once he reached the top of the tower, he saw that he was alone, so he wandered to the edge and stared at the world below. The empty grassland went on as far as his eyes could see, as did the forest on the other side. Alucard's attention was snatched by approaching footsteps, but he didn't bother turning to face whoever walked onto the tower. He knew it wasn't his boss. But when he noticed that their aura wasn't human or vampire, he scowled irritably. It was the aura of a demon...and one he'd felt before. He glanced over his shoulder and saw him. Zalith, the demon who approached him outside the tavern. His dark eyes shimmered crimson while he looked Alucard up and down, and as he approached, a pleasant smile appeared on his face. "Hello again," Zalith said with a quiet laugh. The vampire scowled at him. "Vhat are you doing 'ere?" he asked, but he was already sure that he knew the answer. "I'm here to meet with Damien, which I'm sure isn't far off from what you're doing here yourself." His scowl thickened, but angst accompanied his aggravation. If Damien had sent Zalith to meet him in Dargamoore, then he was certain that he was about to receive an earful. But it wasn't his fault. He'd worked solo for four hundred years. Why would his boss suddenly change that without warning him? He wouldn't have time to reply even if he wanted to. The sound of incoming wings made them both turn to face the east; a feather-winged man flew over the forest, breaking through the clouds above, and it sent fear spiralling down Alucard's spine. Damien was coming. Zalith moved closer to him, but much too close for Alucard's comfort, so as Damien soared down and landed on the tower, Alucard took a few steps away from Zalith. With a condescending glower, Damien folded his dark, purple-tinted wings against his back. His perfectly centre-split black and white hair floated in the breeze, and his four charcoal-black, foot-tall horns shimmered in the moonlight. "You found your way here, then," he said, shifting his red and blue eyes from Alucard to Zalith. They bowed respectfully; Damien wasn't only Alucard's boss, but also a demon god. Damien smiled amusedly. "I'm surprised you haven't torn each other apart—disappointed, even," he said, walking to the edge of the tower where Alucard had been standing. He leaned against the wall and glared at them. Alucard frowned cautiously, trying his best to remain calm. "You...sent zhis zemon to vind me in Dor-Sanguis, vight? Vorgive me, but I 'ave vorked alone vor vour 'undred years; I zidn't vink zhat vhat 'e vas telling me vas true." His boss held out his hand, and as he did, Alucard flinched. He expected Damien to scold him, but the man instead scoffed and pointed at him with his black claw-tipped finger. Damien told him, "You upset one of my favourite demons." Alucard kept his eyes on him. "I'm sorry." Damien's sights shifted to Zalith. "Do you accept his apology?" "Of course I do," Zalith replied. Alucard didn't have to look at Zalith to know he was smirking. He could hear it in his voice. But he kept a vacant expression, waiting for Damien to continue. Damien said, "Good. Now, I have a job for the two of you." Zalith and Alucard glanced at one another. While Zalith looked skeptical, Alucard adorned a confused frown. The demon took his eyes off Alucard and looked at Damien. "I assume this is related to the cause. The child?" "Of course," Damien said with a shrug. Alucard's look of confusion thickened. Cause? Child? "Vhat cause?" Zalith rolled his eyes. The vampire scowled irritably— "One day, we will initiate the creation of another Daegelus," Damien announced. "You are aware of my plan to overthrow my brother, and the best way to do so is to fill his world with creatures not of his creation. It just so happens that Zalith possesses what I need, and I possess what he needs," he said, slowly shifting his gaze from Zalith to Alucard. "Vhat...is zhat?" "Well, you are the Nosferatu's leader. You are the only one with the resources to assist Zalith." Alucard didn't want to help Zalith—he barely knew him—and in the short time they'd interacted, he was sure he was going to hate him. He wanted to ask Damien why he should help this demon, but he knew better than to question his wishes. "A war has broken out in this land," Damien continued, nodding over his shoulder at the world below, "and it has endangered vampires. Zalith wishes to save them, and the only other realm that can harbour vampire ethos is Alvenguard. You will assist Zalith in transporting his vampires to your world since your aura will mask theirs from Letholdus' detection." Zalith looked at Alucard. "We must begin momentarily," he said with the same supercilious tone in his voice as Damien. The vampire scowled irritably. He hated that they were both talking to him like he was incapable; if the circumstances were different, he would have hit this demon by now, but he had to contain his frustration. "I vould like to know more about zhis plan bevore vushing in like a moron. Vhat are zhe visks?" he asked, looking over at Damien. "If Letholdus finds out, I'm sure he'll kill you. But that wouldn't be such a tremendous loss, would it?" Damien uttered. Alucard tried to keep an embarrassed frown off his face, but he struggled when he saw Zalith smirk amusedly. Damien continued, "Letholdus is aware of your existence, so I'm confident that he'll think nothing of you travelling back and forth from Eltaria." "It's a simple plan," Zalith said, glancing at Alucard. Alucard glared at the demon. "Vhy do you care so much about vampires? You are zemon; ve are natural enemies." "I owe it to them," Zalith answered. "They remained loyal throughout the war, and their numbers are withering. Those who remain deserve to survive, and I want to find a safe place for them until I can make everything right." Alucard had no choice but to do what Damien said, but he wasn't finished with his questions. "You never 'ave me 'elp anyvone vithout zhem giving me someving in veturn. Vhat vill zhat be?" he asked Damien. "Zalith will play a part in creating a bond between two people who will one day save your life," Damien grumbled. "Your father is still after you; you are only safe because I am keeping you hidden. Perhaps Zalith will play a part in your father's demise. Or perhaps...something else that causes your life to be in danger. That wouldn't surprise me. You often get yourself wrapped up in things I'd rather not deal with." Alucard looked at Zalith, ignoring Damien's derogatory speech. "And you are on board vith zhis?" "I am. But if you need more time to understand, please...it's not like we're in a rush," he uttered sarcastically. With a vexed frown, Alucard set his sights on Damien. "Who are zhese two people?" Damien shrugged. "You'll know when you see them, I'm sure. And when they come, I'll be rid of you at long last." A chance to be free of Damien? That sounded so relieving—so relieving that Alucard required no further convincing. But having to work with someone would be frustrating, especially when that someone was a demon. However, if completing this task would give him freedom from Damien, then he'd put up with Zalith. "Vine," the vampire muttered, holding his hand out to Zalith. "Let's start again." Zalith smirked and shook his hand. "I look forward to working with you." Alucard knew that was a lie. "Likevise." Damien sighed deeply. "You'll remain here until you discuss a plan. I want all those vampires in Alvenguard by this time next year. If Letholdus catches on, you're on your own," he muttered, pointing at Alucard. He glared at Zalith. "And you...be careful. If you lay a hand on him, I'll cut it off—permanently." Then, he aggressively flapped his wings and raced up into the sky, disappearing through the clouds. Alucard snarled. "Dracului...arrogant...fuck." The vampire caught a smile of amusement leaving Zalith's face when he looked at him, but before he could tell him to stop smiling, the demon adorned a firm glare. Zalith told him, "There are one hundred and fifteen vampires. We'll meet here before each transferal; Damien may have given us a year, but I need them moved as soon as possible—over the course of a month would be preferable." Alucard frowned disapprovingly. "Ve vere given a year, and I can only take vifteen a time at most. I vill also begin no earlier zhan tomorrow; I 'ave someving to clear up bevore I start bringing vampires 'ome. Vhether zhat is okay vith you or not, I'm now leaving." Zalith sighed tiredly. "He left us here to discuss a plan." "Zhere is noving more to discuss." The demon scoffed. "Logistics, meeting places, plans for if things go wrong. I'd like to know more about this Nosferatu, too. Unless, of course, you'd rather play things by ear and deal with the repercussions of fucking up Damien's orders." Glaring at him, Alucard clenched his fist. "Zon't talk to me as if I zon't know vhat I'm doing. I've vorked vor Zamien all my life. I zon't need to stand avound discussing anyving vith you. Ve vill meet 'ere, I vill take back vampires, and zhat's all. If zhere is anyving to discuss, ve vill do so only vhen I'm 'ere." Zalith frowned condescendingly and slowly shook his head. "When Damien told me he had an answer for my problems, I didn't expect to be lumbered with such an arrogant fool." Alucard scoffed, looking him up and down. "I could say zhe same ving." Then, he headed for the stairs. Zalith didn't say anything else, nor did he follow, and Alucard was glad. If that insufferable ass said one more thing, he was sure he would have broken his jaw. He didn't understand why he had to work with a demon, but it was Damien's order, and he knew that if he didn't do as that creature asked, he'd be the one with the broken jaw...or worse. With an irritated sigh, he made his way downstairs and towards the portal. This was the strangest assignment he'd been given, but there was no point questioning it. Damien wanted to undermine Letholdus by bringing outside ethos into Alvenguard, and he was certain that this was going to be his first of many missions involving that goal. ⏎ Back to Nosferatu ▶ Next Chapter

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CHAPTER THREE ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー THE CAUSE | Elvin | Elvin scribbled in his notebook, glancing over at the boat in the distance every so often while he waited for the vampire to return. But as each moment passed, he grew more and more impatient. He slammed his notebook shut and tucked it into his pocket along with his quill. What could be taking Alucard so long? Why did he have to fly over to some ship? Who was he talking to? The bard rolled his eyes and pouted, resting his chin on his knees as he wrapped his arms around his legs. How much longer was he going to have to wait? It was cold, damp, and miserable. He wanted to go home; he wanted to hear about what Alucard had been up to tonight. The bard pondered. Alucard told him to come up with a new name for him; many people knew the vampire as Vuuren—pretty much everyone called him that. There had been times Elvin heard people call him Alucard, but he rarely let anyone use that name. Vladimirescu was the name Damien called him by, so Elvin wouldn't use that. A totally new name: he'd think of something eventually. Alucard suddenly emerged on the beach with an aggravated look on his pale face. Elvin pounced to his feet. "So?" he asked excitedly. "How did it go?" The vampire glanced at him and rolled his eyes. "Vantastic," he grumbled. He frowned at Alucard's answer and followed him along the beach. "Are you going to tell me about your night? What happened?" he asked eagerly. "Stuff," he muttered, following the stone path that led away from the beach. The bard pouted and stared ahead, following Alucard in silence as they approached a tall, black-brick manor in the distance. It consisted of a four-story building standing within its centre, two smaller sections made up of two. The black-tiled roofs were tall, sharp and pointed, sinister shadows creeping across the flat-grass lawn, shrouding the majority of it in darkness. Every light within the rectangular-shaped windows was off, the only light coming from the six moons above. A large city sat a few miles in the distance, its glow emanating through the grassy hills. The collection of trees the pair had earlier walked through was a small cut of a much larger forest that surrounded the huge, vast area of open grassland, separating it from the rest of the world. Black, nightmarish mountains towered in the distance, bestowing a dark shadow over the manor up ahead, cobblestone walls surrounding its grounds. They reached the black steel gates which sat between the walls, and as they opened, Alucard led the way through the grounds towards the manor's doors. "Okay, what stuff?" Elvin then asked, hoping that his few minutes of silence would help get the vampire to answer his questions. Alucard rolled his eyes and snarled irritably. "I met some zemon." "A demon? But...demons and vampires are enemies; that's like getting you to meet a werewolf." "Vell, I'm supposed to be 'elping 'im move some vampires vrom 'is vorld to zhis vone." "You're bringing vampires from some other world...to this one?" He nodded, reaching the manor's black front door. "Is...it really a good idea to bring more vampires here? It's only been six months since you outran the Diabolus—what if they find you again? What will you do with all these vampires?" Alucard sighed. "Zhe Diabolus von't find me 'ere; zhe last place zhey vould expect to vind me is living among 'umans." Elvin reached into his pocket and pulled out his notebook. "True...." He nodded but then shuffled around excitedly. "A whole new world?!" he squealed, scribbling onto the paper as he followed the vampire into his house. "What was it like? Was it like Alvenguard? Was it magical?" "Vone moon," Alucard said with a shrug, taking off his cloak, hanging it on the coat rack. "Some...eroded castle, not much to see." Nodding, Elvin followed him through the dark entrance hall and into a lounge. "And these vampires; why do you have to bring them here?" Alucard clicked his fingers, the candles lined around the room atop each shelf instantly lighting with small flickering flames. He then slumped down onto the black-leather, red-cushioned couch. He rested his right leg over the arm and looked over at Elvin as he slowly sat in the same-styled armchair opposite him. He took a moment to rest, looking around the black-adorned room. All the furniture was dark in colour and looked to be antique. The walls were black with oak-brown panelling lined around them; the front wall possessed three tall, arched windows, lantern-like lights hanging from the wall space between each of them. The vampire looked over at Elvin. "Zamien vants to undermine 'is brover, Levoldus." "The...god?" Elvin frowned, looking over at him. He nodded and looked over at the silent fireplace. "Zhe virst step in doing so vould be to fill zhis vorld vith ethos zhat is not of 'is origin, zherevore not of 'is control. So, ve are starting vith zhese vampires. 'E 'as me 'elping some zemon zhat apparently vants to 'elp zhe vampires of 'is vorld because zhey vere loyal to 'im vroughout a war. Now, I 'ave zhis night and 'alf of tomorrow to find somevhere to put zhem and to try and 'urry up zhis treaty I 'ave been vorking on vith zhe 'umans of zhe city." Nodding, Elvin scribbled in his notebook as Alucard spoke. "The human-vampire cohabitation treaty?" The vampire nodded. "Da." "I don't know if they'll hurry that up...so, you're helping a demon transport vampires from another world to this world because Damien wants to overthrow his brother, aka, the god of this world. Well, they're not really brothers, are they? These god people just call each other brother and sister—kinda weird. Anyway, why does Damien wanna overthrow Letholdus?" he asked, looking over at the vampire. Alucard shrugged and flicked his hand, the fireplace lighting with fire as crimson as his hair. "Zamien 'ates 'is siblings, 'e vants to be on top; noving more to it, veally." "He wants to be in charge...so he's gonna...what? What's he doing once he has ethos that isn't Letholdus' in this world?" Looking over at him, Alucard shrugged again. "Outside ethos vill corrupt zhe ethos 'ere. Zhe more zhere is, zhe more damage is done. I gazzer zhat Zamien vants to veaken Levoldus and zhen kill 'im." Elvin wrote it down. "Kinda barbaric." "Eh, not my problem. Gods vill do vhat gods vant to do," he grumbled, staring into the fire. The bard then looked over at him. "So, are you gonna do it? Help the demon?" Alucard sighed. "Vhat choice do I 'ave? Zamien asked me to do it; I can't exactly say no." Scribbling in his book once more, Elvin nodded and looked back over at him. "What about this demon?" he asked with a smirk. "He? She? What was it like?" The vampire scowled. "Must you know?" "Well, yeah. I need all the details. How else am I supposed to write this book? Could this book...possibly become a story of romance?" he teased. "A love triangle!" Rolling his eyes, he glared back into the fire. "Insufferable, stuck up businessman type; suit, blazer ving...I vink 'e 'ad a tie. I actually met 'im virst outside a tavern; seems like Zamien sent 'im to meet me on 'is own—I zon't know vhy 'e vhought zhat vould vork." "What happened?" "I told 'im to fuck off." Elvin sighed, but there was amusement in his voice when he said, "Oh, Vuuren. Perfect description, though. Love that." He wrote it down. "Seems like Zamien loves 'im," the vampire grumbled. Elvin then stopped writing and looked over at Alucard. "From what I've heard, I really don't think that creature of a man could ever love anyone; he probably loves the fact that this demon guy does what he's told," he assumed. "Da," Alucard mumbled. "Okay, do you have a plan?" The vampire looked over at him. "Vor vhat?" "The whole...moving vampires from there to here thing." "Vhat is zhere to plan? Go zhere, bring zhem 'ere. Simple." "Okay, but where will they live? You haven't got the treaty sorted yet with the humans in the city, so they can't exactly live there, can they?" "My castle, I guess." Writing it down, Elvin nodded. "And the treaty?" "I'll try and sort zhat tomorrow; 'umans sleep zhe night avay like babies," he grumbled. "So, you'll use tonight to prepare the castle, I assume?" "Da," he confirmed. Elvin smiled. "See, why can't you be like this all the time? You only seem to answer me when I'm asking for the book—you really do believe in me, don't you?" He grinned from ear to ear. Alucard rolled his eyes. The Bard sighed and closed his notebook. "Well, are you okay?" he then asked, concern in his voice. Alucard frowned, glancing over at him. "Vhy vould I not be?" The bard shrugged. "I worry about you; you never really talk about how you feel, and you always look miserable when you get back from seeing Damien." "Zon't you 'ave an 'ome to get to?" Alucard dismissed. Elvin frowned. "Well...yeah, but...don't you want me to help you tonight? I don't really have anything else to do." "No," Alucard denied. "Go 'ome." The bard stood up and sighed. "Will you let me get chased by wolves? Attacked by pirates? Walk me home...please?" he pleaded. The vampire looked over at him. "No, no, and no," he grumbled, scowling. "Sergiu is outside vith zhe carriage; tell 'im I told 'im to take you 'ome." "Mean," Elvin mumbled as he turned around, heading for the door. "Where should I find you tomorrow?" he asked, looking back over his shoulder at the vampire. "Zhe city, outside zhe 'ouse of commons," he instructed, looking over at him. Sighing, Elvin turned around and made his way over to the door. As he left, he glanced back at Alucard, watching him as he made himself comfortable on the couch. He was worried about him—he knew how much Alucard despised Damien. But as much as he wanted to try and be there for him, he knew Alucard didn't want his company right now. Elvin knew him well enough to know that he wanted to be left alone for the rest of the night. With a pout on his face, Elvin pulled the door shut behind him and started searching the courtyard for Sergiu. ⤝❖⤞ | Alucard | As the bard left, Alucard looked back into the fire. Tonight hadn't been what he expected. This was the first time Damien sent an associate to find him on their own, and the first time he'd forced Alucard to work side-by-side with someone, too. At least all their working together involved was meeting to drop off and pick up the vampires, though. Alucard was glad, however, that he didn't have to see Damien alone. The last thing he wanted was to be in that creature's presence by himself. But the meeting had been somewhat humiliating; this new demon—Zalith—clearly thought that Alucard was incompetent and that he couldn't do what Damien asked of him. But Alucard was undoubtedly going to prove them both wrong. There had never been a time he failed at a task—not since...then. But he didn't want to think about that. Then, he scowled. Zalith had mentioned 'the cause'—what was the cause? He hadn't been made aware of any cause, something that the demon seemed to be familiar with alongside Damien. Clearly, Alucard had been left out of something once again. Did he care, though? Yes, he did. Damien made sure to always involve the vampire in some way or another. So, why hadn't he been told what this cause was? Not only did he have that to worry about now, but it looked like the werewolves were testing the waters. They hadn't set foot in any of Dor-Sanguis' towns or villages ever since he'd scared them off, so why had one been brave enough to hunt in Wrodiff tonight? He hoped it was just a stray desperate for food, but part of him knew things could never be that simple. The wolves were up to something...and he needed to find out before someone was killed—that would ruin everything he'd been working so hard for. "Don't you have a job to do?" came Damien's harrowing voice. Startled by his appearance, Alucard sat up straight and looked back over his shoulder. "Vampires need moving," Damien said, standing behind him. He made his way over and slumped down in the chair Elvin had been sitting in. "And yet, you sit around here like some useless fool. Not a surprise, though." He sighed, tapping his claws on the arm of the chair. Staring over at him, Alucard frowned cautiously. "I vill be starting tomorrow; I need time to prepare a place vor zhem to stay." Nodding slowly, Damien glared at him. "You still keep that human around—why?" "'E's...my vamiliar," Alucard answered. "Hmm...." He nodded. "You tell him an awful lot, don't you?" "'E's vriting a novel." Damien scoffed. "Pointless frivolity. To sit somewhere for hours looking at written words when you can simply speak from memory. Human minds don't have such a capacity, though. Do you, Vladimirescu?" he asked as a smirk crept across his face. Keeping his eyes on the Daegelus, Alucard frowned slightly, unsure whether he was meant to answer or not. But Damien then sighed. "You heard Zalith and I mention the cause; I suppose I should tell you since I'll be needing you for it." "Vhat is it?" he asked—he wasn't surprised Damien knew he was thinking about it. The Daegelus never requested permission to peer into one's mind. The Daegelus grinned and grabbed his shirt—Alucard did his best not to panic...and stared into his eyes. "If you speak a word of this to anyone...." His eyes wandered down to Alucard's chest. "It's a fascinating organ—the proselytes. It gives you mortal creatures the ability to harness the energy you were graced to have been born with. I've heard it's such a painful existence to have had one...and then to have lost it." Alucard understood his threat. "I von't tell anyvone." Damien scowled and let go of him. Then, he looked over at the fireplace. "I want everything my siblings have. I want access to their bloodlines; I want dominion over what they have come to make, to build, to own. I want all of it, and to do so, I need to possess their blood, their ethos, and I've found a way to do so." The vampire frowned. "You said zhat vone day you vould initiate zhe creation of anozzer Zaegelus—a child." He nodded. "Yes, I will need to create another creature quite like myself—another Daegelus. But when I do so, I will carefully craft into it everything I will need. I will make sure it possesses the blood of each of my siblings, the ethos of everything and everyone that I require. And then, when it has grown, I will simply absorb it, thus gaining everything it possesses, granting myself what I need." "Vhy do you need me?" "I need four fathers." "Vhat?" "Four males of each bloodline—Lucifer's, Lilith's, Ephriel's, and Erich's. You so happen to be Lucifer's son, so what better choice for Lucifer's bloodline? Yes, you are incompetent, insufferable, but I simply have no other better choice. Zalith is of Lilith's bloodline. I am in search of an angel from Ephriel's, and I have one in mind. Then one of Erich's. Once I have found them, we will all meet to discuss preparations." "And...I gazzer you need a mother, too? For zhis child." "Yes," Damien answered, looking over at him. "Whilst you assist Zalith, I will be searching for a suitable mother—do you have any more stupid questions?" "No," he said, looking away from Damien's evil stare. Damien then smirked. "I have heard of an angel sent by my sister to keep an eye on Letholdus. I have thought about asking him—I will steal him from Ephriel, as I have stolen you from my brother." Alucard glanced over at him. "Now, get to work. I want those vampires in this world by this time next year, as I said. If you falter, you'll suffer." As Damien stood up, a look of angst appeared on Alucard's face. "I von't fail." "Good." The Daegelus smiled, placing his hand on Alucard's shoulder, digging his claws into it. The vampire scowled, keeping his eyes focused on the fire. "Remember what I have taught you, Vladimirescu, and don't let me down—again," he warned, letting go of his shoulder. Then, as Damien left as silently as he had arrived, Alucard stared sullenly, watching the flames within the fireplace. At least now he knew what this cause was—the cause that Zalith had mentioned. Damien was planning to create another Daegelus; he wanted to give it the blood of all the other Eternal Gods so that he may absorb it, thus absorbing the power he would give it. What was he going to do once he had access to the other Eternals' bloodlines? He knew that Damien wanted to kill Letholdus; that had to be why he didn't want someone possessing that Eternal's blood—if there were even any people out there descended from Letholdus. But what were his plans for his other siblings? Did he want to kill them, too? Or did he really just want access to their lineage? It wasn't really Alucard's problem—or his business. He had to do what he was told, and that was all he knew. He stood up and waved his hand, all of the flames within the fireplace withering. He made his way over to the door, irritably snatched his cape and left, setting out to begin preparations for the new task he had been given. ⏎ Back to Nosferatu ➲ Want to read a little more? Chapters 1-10 are available on Wattpad!