Solum Reign discussion

A number of winding halls that lead through the fortress like a maze.

Leonard prowled the hallways of the fortress. His vampire master did not have any tasks for him and so he did as he always did when he had nothing to do. His shirt billowed around his thin frame as he moved in an almost cat like way. As he turned a corner he walked into someone. Leonard hissed and jumped back.

Cameron was in human form. His master, Valentine never provided him with clothes so he was left with wrapping a cloth around his waist. As he lumbered through the halls sulking at his master's hatred for him he could only think of one thing, if his master were stone at the morning hours were it possible to simply kill him? Cameron knew better than that. He was bound by powerful magics that forced him to obey his master. He disposed of the guard's body having it grinded into the meat grinder for the slaves and livestock to eat. He was told to remain outside the door. Which was one of Cameron's best ways of finding a loophole in such an order. He remained outside the door...he walked the corridors. When he bumped itno a person he had the instant reaction to roar out only to discover hismelf still human. "Watch it!" He said plainly knowing the body was warm...too warm to be a Vampire's. He then noticed it was Leonard. "Oh, um...sorry Leon." He apologizes.

"Oh, hey Cameron. What are you doing?" Leonard asked his fellow Lycan. He could smell blood hanging around Cameron. Perhaps he had disposed of a body for his master, Valentine. Leonard had never really liked Valentine. The man was cruel to everyone, even his own daughter.

Cameron gives a nod, "I am as well as I can be. What about you? I hear your master went personally to catch a fresh crop of people...I mean mortals, livestock." He says feeling pained at the thought of it all. He was once a mortal. He had a brother who was killed by the creatures that eh now serves. His only desire was to watch Xuin crumble under it's own weight.

((wait who is his master? I don't actually know who his master is *guilty look*))

((You lycan's master? I thought you and caitlin agreed was that both of yours were to be Markus's? I could be wrong though. I'm making the Principe if you would like to have it changed to him check him out in the workshop if you like.))

((oh yeah I forgot lol))

"Yes. He went to Vada and brought back more livestock," he said the word with a scowl on his face, "to work on the farms that he is planning on having built." Leonard shifted on his feet. "I heard your master went as well, Cameron."

((Alright sounds good, unless you would like it changed Impala?))

Cameron shakes his head, "From what I hear yes, but I have no true idea on it. Valentine treats me unwell and I fear that his rage upon me is all from what it may be that he experiences with others." He says with a frown, "I was told to await nightfall in the corridors. The sun is setting soon so I expect we should finish our chores?" He had an awful thought of walking into Valentine's room and shattering his stone form with a hammer, but he knew better than to act so rashly.

((Already posted here))

"Yes I expect we should. My master will be most displeased if they are not completed. Unlike Kayne, I am not a favorite of my master," Leonard said with distaste. If he was in his lion form, his tail would be twitching with agitation.

Cameron smirks, "Perhaps our chores get done faster if we assist one another...I have to carry the dead to the meat grinder for the slaves and livestock to eat." He says looking Leonard over. It was rather awful he was not treated as fairly as Kayne, but that tended to happen a lot with those having more than one Lycan. One Lycan was always considered...more special.

"I would not say not to that for night is coming soon. I believe that neither of us would wish to feel our master's rage at uncompleted chores." Leonard said. "How many dead are there to dispose of?"

Cameron frowns, "At least twenty...ever sense few have discovered we are feeding the dead to them they chose starvation over life. I expect that it will not be long before they all start starving, but I also think that is why Markus and Valentine have taken to building a house of glass to keep the air warm and the plants able to grow inside. I expect they need the mortals just as much as they need us." Cameron explains.

"I think you are right. I am surprised though that Master Markus did not make me help with the building of the glass house. I was almost a full blacksmith before I was captured and brought here." Leonard said. "Which way are the bodies?"

Cameron smiles kindly, "Perhaps markus does not ask too much of you because he still appreciates you...I would kill to be his Lycan." He begins walking to the dungeon halls. "I'm not sure what the royals are on edge for but they are draining more and more mortals." He explains as they walk.

Leonard snorted. "Being his Lycan is not as great as you think Cameron." Leonard glanced around them before leaning towards Cameron and saying quietly, "I heard a rumor that they brought back one of the princes of Vada with them. I don't know which one it is though."

Cameron nods, "Yes, according to many a prince is in our midst. I expect it is for loyalty purposes from Vada or maybe he came here out of free will to tie our kingdoms together in marriage or possibly he was brought here by force to ensure Vada stays in line, whatever the case just don't meddle in something that could get your killed." he says as they descended down a spiraling staircase.

"I do not plan in getting involved with whatever business my master has with the prince but somehow I feel as though I will get drawn into it," Leonard said. When they reached the bottom of the staircase, Leonard kicked a loose rock and sent it skittering down the hall.

{END SCENE}
[moving to dungeons]

Amelia walked down the corridor, lost in thought. She was thinking about what kind of memory she could put in Annabelle's mind to help bend her to her will. The girl may be strong but Amelia was stronger and she had centuries of practice and strength the use on her.

Jakub walked with only Kayne on his mind. He wished he could help the Lycan out and give him freedom and others like him. He couldn't explain his attraction to him, but he knew he wanted to be with him so badly. The halls were colder than usual which didn't mean much, but the fact that nightfall had at last come or someone left a window open. He heard footsteps when he saw Amelia. "Ah, the fair skinned daughter of Arbiter Valentine...how are you this wonderful night?" Jakub asked trying to be nice.

Amelia looked up started to hear someone speaking to her. She lips gave a small twitch at the hint of a smile before returning to their normal, neutral position. She bobbed a small curtsy to the son of the Dominus. "I am as well as can be expected Jakub. And you?" she asked politely in return.

Jakub smirks dangerously cold. "Well, I must say I have had darker days. I have been speaking to my father's lycan Kayne about a few issues. I also have a few words I would like you to ponder upon." He says sweeping by her side quickly before pulling her off to a corner where no one would see or hear them.

Amelia's usually blank face showed surprise as Jakub swept her into a corner. "And what is it that you would like me to ponder Jakub?" She asked, trying to sense with her power what his current emotional state was. If he tried to harm her, he would soon find himself unable to do so.

Jakub smirks, "I am sure you have no interest listening to a Witch, but as a fellow Immortal of Xuin I ask you do you feel that it's ruler is in a state of being able to lead us?" Jakub was about to burst in an upheaval of questions before he found control in himself. "Go on I ask you do you feel that my father and your father are level minded rulers that can lead us into a new age?" Jakub sought to have his father overthrown even if it meant taking down the otehr two leaders as well. He came to feel that all of them were dark and cruel and only cared for the benefit of themselves rather than all of Xuin and it's people.

Amelia stared at him. She felt as though her mouth was hanging down to her chin when it was really only slightly open. She shook herself, trying to regain her usual control. "Jakub, what you are suggesting...do you even realize what would happen if you were to fail or our fathers caught wind of this before you succeeded?"

Jakub shakes hsi head, "You do not understand that we will not fail for as long as we have allies working. My father and your father are pushing for war against Ӕldingar for an act that took place centuries ago not to mention ages before we were even conceived. My father plans to obstruct the balance of Solum for his own selfish needs and I'm sure your father holds an agenda of his own. I am gathering followers in other kingdoms to overthrow the three thrones held in Xuin and I want to know if you will stand with me?"

Amelia bit her lip. "I don't know Jakub. I'm sure you know, as does everyone in the fortress, that there is nothing I won't do for my father despite how little he cares for me." She met his eyes and said, "I bet your father has never told you the events that happened before and after my birth. If you do know, you might not suggest that we overthrow my father."

Jakub looks at her cautiously, "What are you referring to, Amelia?" He asks studying her closely. He normally kept out of the past for it only brought him sorrow. It was bad enough that recent events bestowed him motherless. His father always gave his children the option to become Vampires and all chose to, but Jakub and he knew deep down that he chose it for a reason greater than himself. "My father must be overthrown....tell me what makes it so great that it be questioned if your father follows behind mine?"

Amelia clenched her fists and looked at the floor. "My mother was a Vampire. Once of the first, before that were banished. She seduced my father, who was a great inventor. He did not know when she became pregnant and gave birth to me because he had had a break through. She was furious and tricked him into becoming a Vampire." She raised her eyes to meet his. "He killed her in revenge only to see me lying next to her when he was done. He changed me. I never had a choice. Though I expect in a way, he saved my life for it the Witches had discovered who my mother was, I might not have been allowed to live." Her shoulders slumped now and she leaned against the cold stone wall. "I owe him my life. I know he is possibly the worst father, yes worse even than yours, but I do not know if I can betray him."

Jakub nods, "If that is your decision I have nothing further to ask of you, but to stay out of my way when I collide against the thrones of Xuin." He felt sorry for Amelia to the extent of which her story was sad, but Valentine was no man of debt or grief. He probably turned her out of spite. If he was to go on as a Vampire he was not going to be punished alone and he turned an innocent to acquire darker powers than before. Jakub knew exactly how Valentine was and he was not abotu to side with him or anyone supporting him. He only asked Amelia to join his cause for the fact that he didn't want her blood spilt out of ignorance, but she seemed to knwo what she was talking about enough to believe that Valentine should remain on the throne. Unfortunately, he beliefs meant that Jakub was her enemy. "I don't want you hurt, so just stay back and hold your tongue to what we have discussed." He tells her his eyes cold and dead on her.

"Jakub, wait," she said, wondering what the hell she was getting herself into. She took a deep breath and said, "I might be able to help you. You're going to need someone who can change people's alliances and perhaps alter their memories. I can help with that." If he was going to do this, it was better she help for now she knew of his plot. She had felt her father's powers before and knew that even if she had no plans to help, she would be punished. In for a penny, in for a pound.

Jakub turned and looked at her oddly, "first you tell me you can't betray your father and now you offer to gather supporters?" He says looking at her oddly. "What made you change your mind, or have you taken up your father's attributes and decided to take in wht benefits you more?" He asks looking ehr over for a moment studying ehr closely. He was no Vampire and it was hard for him to fully get any mind grasps for eh had no pwoers over the mind.

Amelia gave him a withering look. "I don't expect you to understand the relationship I have with my father. I do not think that I have anything in common with him, except for the fact that he sired me. I have felt his powers before when I have displeased him. If he knew of what we speak, he would not hesitate to use them on me to find out all I know. I have thought and decided. Knowing more of what you plan to do will not make the amount of pain I will suffer great than if I just knew what you were planning." She raised her chin and looked him in the eye. "Will you accept my help or not?"

Jakub gives her a nod and sticks his arm out in front of her for ehr to grasp to seal the deal, "I accept your offer, but take heed to my warning when I say that your father has eyes and ears everywhere. If you do not desire to face his hand of wrath I advise you to work out of his earshot and out of sight. He will not be merciful if you do not work silently and swiftly to gather allies." Jakub never broke eye contact with the Vampire.

Amelia gave a cold laugh as she grasped Jakub's arm. "Dear Jakub, do you not know that I am almost always his eyes and ears? I know how to get things done without being seen. My powers are stronger than you know."

Jakub simply rolls hsi eyes with a smile, "thank you for your support, Amelia...I look forward to hearing your skills coming in handy. "He syas turnign from ehr in hopes to nto be seen with ehr for too long.

Amelia inclined her head ever so slightly. "Until the next time Jakub," she said and stepped out of the little niche they were in. She returned to her previous path of planning what she was going to do to Annabelle the next time she saw her.

{End Scene}

Markus walked through the corridor's with a cold expression. He was in complete debate about whether or not Valentien was pushing the boy and if the boy had truly exposed powerful magic with the intention to kill Valentine or not. It tasted in the air like powerful magic, but what bothered him was who he should trust. He sent Kayne to Gabriel, but that didn't mean the boy was safe. If Gabriel had power he was going to be something useful and that meant he would need to be trained. He paused for a moment in the corridor's only to smell blood in the air. Not freshly spilled or spilled at all, but blood was walking, fresh young blood. He stood silent and still as stone as Annabelle seemed to make a presence in the corridor.

Annabelle huffed as she rounded a corner, watching as a couple of lycans ran passed. The damn animals were trying to drag her back to some master of theirs for insulting him, though she didn't even do anything. She had just been going about her duties when she heard a glass shatter that hadn't been there before. It had been a set up. She slid down the wall, taking deep breaths, using her broom to keep herself up right. This broom of hers was coming in very handy. Not only was she not getting sleep but looking for a way out of her shackles couldn't have been more difficult. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up causing her to look down the hall to spot Markus. Immediately she got to her feet, wielding the broom like it would help shield her in anyway. "Evening." She murmured, feeling shaky already. She had gotten thinner since last time due to lack of nourishment. No matter how much she wanted to eat, every time she did eat the sludge they gave her she threw it back up almost immediately. The only thing she'd managed to get since then was a piece of old bread and some fishy looking water.

Markus gives a sly nod, "Yes, evening.....I expect you are finding your way around easily enough? I have received a few compliments on the new batch I gathered up from Vada and many seem to like your handy work. You keep that act going and you won't be anyone's meal and possibly given a promotion of sense." he says playfully as if speaking while playing with his food.

Annabelle managed to calm her breathing as she looked over at him dubiously. "Act? I have been doing the same job as I had been doing in Vada." She told him, taking a deep breath. "Those animals you call people are just plain monstrous." She grumbled. "Their masters are worse. Vada palace is a paradise compared to this place." She swayed slightly, vision wavering. She peeked her head around the corner, making sure her troubles were long gone. "I should't keep you from your duties your majesty, I should get back to mine." Though she wasn't sure what he meant by promotion, but was pretty sure she didn't want to know without feeling sick.

Markus nods with a smile, "Yes I will give you that we lack in cleanliness around here, but what we lack in our household work we make up for in our sheer willpower and looks of dominance."

Annabelle gave him a stony stare that said she was not amused nor impressed in anyway. "Well apart from your spider webs and dust bunnies, you hospitality is nothing if not worse than you would give to any insect. I suspect animals find the savageness of the wild more enticing than here." She felt a bout of dizziness overwhelm her, causing her to bow her head and take a deep breath, using her broom to keep herself steady. In fact she would prefer to be foraging and camping in the forest with just a fire and the music of the animals to comfort her right about now. "And your food is off." She told him.

Markus laughs, "I told them to give you fresh meals on accord to Gabriel being secure with your well being, but recently Gabriel has shown us promising events of power that could possibly force a change in him. Then I'm sure you would make a wonderful Lycan for him, my dear." His heart bursting to feed form her ripened flesh. "I'm sure our living conditions are not as adequate as you so desire, but all of Solum seems to think that we are savage beings. Would savages manage to create a thriving kingdom as this? Would savages truly honor such stresses as a Vadan Prince born a Witch falling for a mortal. I wonder if the king himself knows the secrets his mother and himself hold." He syas slyly. "Perhaps if I informed him of hsi wife's affair with a Witch he would have Gabriel'smother beheaded on the spot." He explains coldly.

Annabelle looked up at Markus wondering how much of a lie he was telling. She suspected 'what the prince didn't know wouldn't hurt him' was a rule somewhere in the demons rulebook. She looked a little wide eyed, what had happened to Gabriel? "Go suck an egg vampire, I'm not becoming an animal." She told him, feeling a chill of bloodlust roll off Markus, clutching the broom tighter. "I dare say that savages live better than this, I am sure." But what he said next struck her for a loop. "W-What?" She murmured. "Don't you dare! Prince Gabriel is not one of you monsters, he was just born with a miraculous gift, it does not make him one of you, leave him alone!" She told him. "Besides the Queen wouldn't do such a thing."

Markus laughs coldly, "I would not be so sure my dear. the King of Vada is blind to his wife having an affair with a Witch otherwise Gabriel being one would make no sense at all. Now if a little bird of my spies slipped their tongues and told the king of his magically inclined son I dare say the world may be twisted more so than what even I desire. I look to rule over Vada, but that doesn't mean I cannot send one of my own to truly rule it themselves. My son perhaps, but his line fo work makes me question his loyalties to me. Who knows. Perhaps we turn Gabriel and yourself making both of your dark immortals to rule over all of Vada in the name of Xuin.

Annabelle couldn't believe what she was listening to, how could the Queen be so cruel. Not only had she isolated her own son, but forced him to stay in a frozen state. The look he had given her after catching her had been something like longing, like he yearned for human contact. She thought he was just a sort of shut in, but now it made more sense. She wielded her broom and pointed it at Markus. "Don't you dare. If you make his world crumble, it will be your biggest regret and I dare say you won't be here to see him rule Vada and crush Xuin." She huffed. "So leave him alone! He is not a puppet, a toy, he is a human being, he deserves better. You were mortal once, having something forced upon you turned you into this..." She gestured the broom up and down. "You have no right to do the same to him just because you are trying to fill a void we both know can only be filled by one thing." She knew what she was doing would get her into trouble, but the monster before he needed to be set straight. Every noble and rich man needed to be brought back down to earth or lest they forget their own humanity.