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< 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

CHAPTER TWO ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー THE BARD'S TALE | Elvin | Elvin flew out of the tavern's wide-open door, grasping his beloved lute against his chest. His pecan-brown hair was scattered with pieces of rotten tomato and peanut shells, and as the crowd inside hollered in revolt, he pouted sadly. "You don't know a good story when you hear it!" he yelled, shaking his fist. "Get lost!" the doorman shouted, pulling the door shut. Alone on the street, Elvin scowled sullenly. He had so many other things he could say, but what was the point of wasting his breath? No one wanted to hear his stories; nobody wanted to hear the truth about the vampires they shared Dor-Sanguis with. He was the only one that could tell that story...but he'd not give another second to the hapless drunks inside that establishment. As he ruffled his hair with his hand and shook the food from it, he turned around and walked down the cold, lantern-lit cobblestone street. He pulled his feather-tipped hat from his inside pocket, and once he put it on, he glanced up at the star-filled sky. He admired the array of beautiful colours spread throughout it as a result of the six brightly glowing moons. The mixture of purple, red, blue, and gold shined like sunlight through a stained-glass window, and if there was anything Elvin found beautiful in this world of darkness and misery, it was that. He looked up and down the road, but there wasn't a single person in sight. The quietness sent a shiver down his spine, and he didn't know where he was going. He thought he'd be in the tavern much longer than he was, and for all he knew, it could be hours before it was time to meet Alucard. A small school of shimmering, silver fish swam around the lantern he was approaching. What were they doing out now? Skyfish didn't descend past the clouds unless it was raining. Was it going to rain soon? That was the last thing he needed. His hat wouldn't keep his head dry and he'd surely catch a cold. He started thinking about the tavern again, and it made a sour scowl warp his face. "I'm better than all the other bards," he told himself as he turned left at the crossroad. "All they sing about is nonsense about some ugly lady and her stupid man friend. No one wants to hear about that. Stupid love stories. Stupid bard. Stupid tavern. They should be pining after my stories!" He looked back over his shoulder as the wind raced past him, almost swiping the hat from his head. "I'm talented," he muttered, pouting. His words hadn't gone unheard. He sharply turned his head to stare ahead as a low growl ruptured the night's ominous quiet. The bard frowned and gripped his lute tightly, watching a pair of dim yellow eyes shimmer in the dark alley across the road. He tensed up and dropped his instrument as he screamed in horror, but before Elvin could flee, a blurred beast burst out of the shadows and crashed into him, pinning him against the wall. The bard let out a hysterical screech, and the wolfish monster snarled ferociously in his face. Elvin whimpered and cried as he tried to escape the monster's grip. He knew he couldn't do anything, though. What was a measly little human going to do against a werewolf? Suddenly, the sound of slicing metal silenced the beast. Blood exploded from the wolf's neck, spraying all over Elvin's revolted face, and as the creature's head slid off its body, Elvin squirmed around in revolt. The beast hit the ground, and as a river of red oozed down the street, the bard frantically dragged his hands over his face, trying to wipe the blood away. But then, he gritted his teeth in anger; he turned his head sharply and set his eyes on his saviour. "You always do this to me!" he exclaimed, stumbling back as he glared at the ice-pale man who stood with the dead beast at his feet and a bloody rapier in his right hand. While Elvin stood a mere five-foot-five, this man towered above six feet tall. Alucard took his hellish eyes off the beast and glared over at Elvin. The light of the lanterns shone oddly on his red-as-blood hair, which fell to his jaw in length, tied loosely behind his head—much like Elvin's. A small, gold-looped earring shimmered in his right, sharply pointed ear, and an irritated look clung to his pale face. He flicked his sword, banishing the beast's blood from its blade before sheathing it at his side. Elvin shuddered in fear, wrapping his arms around himself. "What the heck was it doing here?!" "Your guess is as good as mine," Alucard grumbled. His accent was thick, and he spoke much faster than anyone else Elvin knew. Alucard didn't hail from the same land as him, but he had been around him so long that he understood every word. "W-what if there's more?!" he shrieked, looking up and down the road. "There are no more." Elvin trusted him. He let his arms hang at his sides, stared down at the headless beast for a moment...and then gulped, looking over at Alucard. "R-right...okay, well...thank you, I guess." "What are you doing out here? I told you to stay in the tavern." He scoffed and muttered, "They kicked me out, that's what." Alucard smirked amusedly. The bard huffed in frustration. "You hate my stories, too, don't you? You should thank me, you know. I go out of my way to try and tell people your real story. The people here aren't so open to this whole 'become allies with the humans' thing you got going on with the city." "And do they listen?" Alucard asked, stepping away from the headless wolf. He pouted stubbornly. "No." "Then, I suggest you find a new hobby," he said, glancing down at Elvin's shattered lute. Only just coming to notice his precious instrument had suffered in its fall, Elvin screeched hysterically and dropped to his knees beside it. "Why must I suffer so greatly this horrific night?!" "You grieve for your lute, yet it doesn't matter that you almost became something's food?" Elvin looked up at him. "I almost become something's food every night, Vuuren," he said with a scowl. "That isn't my fault. You were the one that chose to follow me around," he mumbled, shrugging as he watched the bard climb to his feet. Wiping his trousers, Elvin sighed. "How else am I supposed to write a story?" he asked, walking beside Alucard as he led the way up the street, leaving the dead wolf on the roadside. Elvin glanced back at it and frowned. "And you're gonna leave that there? In the forest, sure, but here in the middle of the road?" "My people will come and get rid of it," he said dismissively. "No one is going to listen when you try to tell the better side of a story that has forever been told as a tale of horror and murder," he continued. "The people in this town can hate my plan all they want—it is happening, whether they like it or not. As for your story, if it means so much to you, have you not thought about making it about someone else?" "Well, you convinced the city to live with vampires, so I'm sure this place will come around eventually. And why would I want to write about anyone else? You're the greatest man I've come to meet! Where else in this boring world do you think I could find someone like Alucard, the son of a Numen; Vuuren, The Vampire Lord of the night, Vlad, the first monster to walk the land in the body of a man!" he sang. "There's no one else out there I could ever possibly want to write about." Alucard rolled his eyes in response. "That's not what I meant; my name has been spoken ill of for too many centuries. Write about me, but give me a new name." Elvin pointed at him as his eyes filled with astonishment. "You're right! No one would be none the wiser. But what to call you...A...something," he said, tapping his chin. "I'll think of the greatest name! I would call you Alucard—" Alucard scowled in hostility. "But...you don't let anyone call you that. It's either 'Vuuren' or 'my lord'." Sighing, Alucard shook his head. "Just...leave the backstory out, huh?" "Why? Your past is what got you to where you are now; how could I take that out?" "Because it doesn't need to be known," he snarled. The bard hung his head in shame. "Yeah, you're right." Then, he glanced back over his shoulder at the headless wolf. With his fear returning, he looked up at Alucard. "What do you think that wolf was doing here? They've not been brave enough to come out of the forests in weeks." "I don't know. I will find out, though. The last thing I need right now is for them to become a pain in my ass again." Elvin nodded. "Yeah. Maybe Tobias can help." He looked up at him, waiting for him to respond, but when he didn't, the bard swiftly changed the subject. "Did you get your things done for tonight? The things you refuse to tell me about." "Da." That meant yes. "So...will you tell me about them now?" He didn't reply. "Tell me...please?" he pleaded. "No." Elvin frowned irritably. "You never tell me anything." Alucard looked over at him and sighed. "I killed a werewolf Alpha for someone, and then Damien summoned me to meet him." "Oh, Damien, huh?" he asked with a look of angst smothering his once eager face. Even the slightest mention of that man discomforted him. "What did you have to do? Meet someone again? Even more werewolf stuff? Or...Diabolus?" "The first one," the vampire said, glaring ahead as they followed a dirt path out of the town and towards a small forest. The bard eyed him sceptically. "Did you...have a date, Vuuren?" "What?" he snapped, looking over at him. "I don't care what it was." A nervous laugh broke free of Elvin's sigh. "Yeah, true. Well, whatever it was—probably not a date...I want all the details when we get back home. I feel like this might be one for my manuscript." "If you are failing as a bard, what makes you think someone is going to want to publish your manuscript?" the vampire questioned. Elvin shrugged. "I'll make it one day; I gotta find the right angle, you know? And now, with your suggestion of a new name, I might be on my way." "Right," Alucard mumbled, glaring ahead again. "Well, good luck with that." "Aww, Vuuren." Elvin smiled, looking over at him. "You're so supportive." "Am I?" he grumbled, stepping aside before Elvin could place his hand on his shoulder. Elvin frowned in discontent, but then bounced up and down. "Oh, oh, can I write down that little rescue back there? I bet you were chasing that wolf for miles, weren't you? If it weren't for me being there at that exact time, you would have never caught up with it, would you?" Alucard glanced over at him. "That is not what happened at all." "Yeah, but...you told me to switch things up; people don't wanna hear about a scary vampire killing things and saving people, they wanna hear about a mere bard saving a vampire!" "Do they?" he asked doubtfully. As they came out of the other side of the forest and onto a white sand beach, Elvin nodded confidently...but then saddened. "You're always so mean to me, you know," he said with a frown. "Sometimes, I feel like you don't believe in me. I so happen to think this idea would make a great story." "You think everything makes a great story." "Well, it does—if you tell it right." The vampire rolled his eyes. "Wait here for me." "Come on, man, you're making me wait on a beach? What if more werewolves come? Or pirates? I could be mugged!" Alucard looked him up and down. "You wouldn't exactly make a gratifying snack for a wolf, nor do you possess much at all for a pirate to steal." "Wow. Crude as ever—please, can't I come?" he pleaded, holding his hands together. "I'll keep my mouth shut; I'll stand in a little corner and observe. You won't even know I'm there." "No," he refused again. Elvin crossed his arms and pouted stubbornly. "Fine, but if I get eaten, it's on you." "A lot of things are on me these days," he grumbled. "Sit over there," he instructed, nodding over at a single tree. "I won't be long, I just have to talk to them this time." Sighing, Elvin dragged himself over to the tree, slumped down and crossed his arms. Alucard then set his eyes on the open sea ahead. In the distance, a ship was barely visible on the horizon—that was where he needed to go next. Without much falter, he disappeared into vermillion smoke and sped across the water, leaving Elvin on the beach. ⤝❖⤞ | Alucard | Alucard reached the ship. He landed on the deck with a thump and waited impatiently as a tall, sleek man dressed in a black long coat stepped out from the cabin beneath the quarterdeck. Attila, one of Alucard's subordinates. "Long night?" Attila called, his face as vacant as Alucard's. "When is it ever not?" Alucard replied, glaring into the man's crimson eyes, much of his face hidden beneath his coat's hood. He smirked. "What's the news?" "I will be working with a demon," he mumbled irritably, taking his eyes off the man to glare out at the ocean. Just thinking about Zalith aggravated him. "I am moving vampires from another world—Eltaria. They will be staying here in Dor-Sanguis," he explained, slowly setting his eyes back on the man. "There won't be enough space here soon enough, so we need to hurry up and re-establish the empire I had before I disappeared back then. The Nosferatu needs to resurface" The man nodded. "Don't worry, I've got the king eating out of my hands." "Make him beg," Alucard mumbled. "He will not be our friend; he will work for me, not with me." "Of course," the man said, bowing apologetically. "I suspect the wolves are up to something, too. I just found one hunting the bard in Wrodiff. I will be heading to my castle tonight to tell my vampires to be cautious, so you should do the same." A look of concern sat upon Attila's face. "You are concerned greatly. Do you suspect another war?" "I really hope it doesn't come to that. I will get to the bottom of it." Attila then smirked. "Does it make you miss the simpler times, Alucard?" He looked over at him and frowned. "This treaty you have worked so hard for—you wouldn't have had to if our kind decided to stay hidden from the world." Alucard sighed. "There are some that might agree, but I do not. I believe it is better for the world to know about us and learn to live with us—less superstition and mysterious deaths that way, no?" Attila laughed quietly and nodded. "Of course." "Go," he then said. "I will see you in less than a month, no?" "I'll see you then." ⏎ Back to Nosferatu ▶ Next Chapter

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Caeleste Treatise A Extensive Guide to the Caeleste of Aegisguard “Peace is not built on trust, but on knowledge. Know your allies as well as your predators.” — Scribe-General Ilyen Ro, Nosferatu Archivist Compiled by Consortium-appointed anthropologists, ethologists, and interspecies historians, The Caeleste Treatise stands as the most comprehensive reference on the world’s Caeleste peoples. This extensive volume documents the origins, physiologies, cultures, and social structures of Caeleste species. Each volume explores the species’ known biological and metaphysical traits, behavioural tendencies, governing hierarchies, and recorded relations with both human and other Caeleste societies. Cross-referenced data from field interviews, bloodline records, and translated lore texts provide a unified understanding of each race’s place in the world’s delicate balance. Though intended for academic and diplomatic use, the Treatise serves equally as a practical guide for peacekeepers, envoys, and inquisitors navigating interspecies relations. To know the customs, laws, and temperaments of one’s fellow beings is to avoid conflict—and perhaps, on rare occasion, to build trust. All Caeleste peoples within this record are categorized by origin, domain, and Arcana composition. These classifications can be found in the section below. Back to the Lore Archive Validated by the Caeleste Council — Reviewed by Scholars, Envoys, and Arcanists Alike “At last, a record of the Caeleste peoples that favours truth over folklore. Equal parts revelation and reckoning.” — Doyenne Valtris Nheir, Senior Diplomatic Scholar, Hall of Arcanean Law ✧ “A vital tool for conflict avoidance—or escalation, depending on how well you read.” — Sevrick Ollenmar, Interspecies Negotiator, Consortium Council Tier IV ✧ “Some entries made me laugh. Some made me cry. All made me worried for my job.” — Inspector Helvid Marren, Department of Civilian Caeleste Affairs ✧ “Finally, a lore book that doesn’t treat demon culture as a footnote. Well done.” — Magister Kaelis Dorn, Infernal Ethnologist, Ashmark Institute Treatise Categories Demons Infernal or Netherborn humanoids Includes: Demons who have taken human forms Shadowspawn, ashmarked etc. Fallen celestials and nether hybrids Notes: May be tied to realms like the Underworld, Hell, Purgatory, or unique infernal planes. Often very territorial and dangerous, possessing their own rules and societal standards. ➤ Access Species Volume Vampires Hemovoric humanoids Includes: True Vampires, Vampiric Beasts Soul Leeches, Shades, Ghouls Notes: Defined by dependence on blood, nocturnal biology, and immortality via undeath or curse. Some variants blur lines with astrals or demons. ➤ Access Species Volume Lycans Moonbound (shifters bound to the moons) Includes: Werewolves, wolf-walkers, direbeasts Jackal, fox, coyote, or hyena shifters Big-cat shifters (panthera lineages) Ursine or boar shifters (rare or ancient branches) Notes: Always tied to lunar cycles, bloodline curses, or primal Arcana. Their hierarchy usually depends on dominance and territory. ➤ Access Species Volume Shapeshifters Polymorphic humanoids Includes: Animal Shifters (not bound to the moons) Mimics, Doppelgängers, Druids Entities capable of full-form replication or mutation Notes: Unlike lycans, they can assume multiple or non-animal forms and are not bound to moon cycles. Some absorb identity, others are illusion-based. ➤ Access Species Volume Elves Elven-blooded humanoids Includes: Elves of different regions and biomes Elves with different Arcana Notes: Beings infused with pure Arcana. They embody long life, beauty, and Arcanean resonance. Their traits and temperaments differ by elemental or celestial alignment, and their societies are often shaped by lineage purity, ethos strength, and ancestral tradition. ➤ Access Species Volume Fae ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Mages ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Seers ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Witches ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Astrals ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Celestials ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Undead ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Elementals ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Primordials ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume Hybrids and Constructed ʍi$si∩₲ ⥏n∫or₥₳tion. ɍeco∨eɍy ⓔxpe¢⊥ed $oo∩... ➤ Access Species Volume

CHAPTER ONE ー ⊰ ✟ ⊱ ー UPON THE TOWER This story's main character has a written dialogue accent. This is the version of the story without the accent. ▶ Back to Original 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. "Thank you for waiting," 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. "Wait here," 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. "There you go." Alucard patted the wolf's head. "I even brought you the head so you can put up there with the rest of them." 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 wanted the fucking thing." "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, "Wanted, dead and head severed. Is not to your satisfaction?" 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, he didn'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 don't work with other people and I never have. Damien wouldn't suddenly change that." 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 this were true, he would have said something." He made his horse turn towards the city gates. "Good luck with 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. "Where?" "Eltaria. Five minutes." With a heavy sigh, Alucard nodded. The spectre wordlessly transformed into a whisp of black smoke and raced off. "You can head home," he told the stallion. "Someone will put you in the 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. "What are you doing here?" 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 this demon to find me in Dor-Sanguis, right? Forgive me, but I have worked alone for four hundred years; I didn't think that what he was telling me was 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? "What 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. "What...is that?" "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 would like to know more about this plan before rushing in like a moron. What are the risks?" 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. "Why do you care so much about vampires? You are demon; we 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 have me help anyone without them giving me something in return. What will that 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 with this?" "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 these 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. "Fine," 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. "Likewise." 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. "We were given a year, and I can only take fifteen a time at most. I will also begin no earlier than tomorrow; I have something to clear up before I start bringing vampires home. Whether that is okay with you or not, I'm now leaving." Zalith sighed tiredly. "He left us here to discuss a plan." "There is nothing 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. "Don't talk to me as if I don't know what I'm doing. I've worked for Damien all my life. I don't need to stand around discussing anything with you. We will meet here, I will take back vampires, and that's all. If there is anything to discuss, we will do so only when I'm here." 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 the same thing." 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

UNDERSTANDING ALUCARD'S DIALOGUE ACCENT Alucard's dialogue in the original edition of The Numen Chronicles books has an accent. He doesn't pronounce Hs, THs and some Rs. Below are some examples to help you understand his dialogue: You'll see words like 'ead (head), 'ere (here), and 'owever (however), missing the H. THs are often ZHs, such as zhat (that), zhis (this), zhe (the), and zhere (there). In other cases, you'll see ozzer (other). Ws become Vs, such as vhat (what), vhere (where), and vhy (why). Some Ds become Zs, such as Zamien (Damien), zon't (don't), and Zetlaff (Detlaff). Fs also become Vs, such as vollow (follow), vriend (friend), and vor (for). And some Rs become Vs, such as vest (rest), Veiner (Reiner), and Remont (Vemont). Below is a more detailed guide: Vhat = What Vhen = When Vhere = Where Vhy = Why Vant = Want Voman = Woman Vomen = Women Vhatever = Whatever Vherever = Wherever Vhenever = Whenever Vrite = Write Vrist = Wrist Vrong = Wrong Verevolf = Werewolf Zhe = The Zhere = There Zhat = That Zhis = This Zhen = Then Zhan = Than Zhem = Them Zheir = Their Zhemselv = Themself Zhemselves = Themselves Zheirselv = Theirself Zheirselves = Theirselves Zhomas = Thomas Vree = Three Togezzer = Together Ozzervise = Otherwise Vight = Right Vest = Rest Vace = Race Ving = Ring Vace = Face Vorgot = Forgot Vinger = Finger Vor = For Virst = First Vree = Free Zoesn't = Doesn't Zamien = Damien Zetlaff = Detlaff Zemon = Demon Divverent = Different Brover = Brother Gazzer = Gather Accent Guide: Text

Back to Demons Index Back to Treatise Categories Behavioural Patterns How demons act, interact, and respond to stimuli.

Back to Demons Index Back to Treatise Categories Inter-Species Relations How they relate to other Caeleste or mortals.

Back to Applied Sciences & Technology Index Medicine & Biology Pharmacothaumaturgy Compounds, tinctures, elixirs, and how ethos-reactive ingredients are stabilized

Back to Demons Index Back to Treatise Categories Known Figures of Interest Key individuals from ancient or modern times.