Eternal Crimson

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

??? "You did what!?"

Vanessa and Tendo stood before the leader of the Vampire Brotherhood; Count Verona, she was a tall imposing figure whose beauty radiated throughout the entire throne room, she usually had a warm smile on her face most of the time, but due to the events that transpired, her face was full of rage.

Verona "I send you Vanessa, my best soldier, and you come back with nothing! And with Takara dead and the Lycan general still alive!"

Vanessa "It seems we ran into some complications"

Tendo turned to Vanessa angrily.

Tendo "Complications? It was your arrogance that caused us to fail! It was all your fault!"

Vanessa "Tendo I-"

Tendo "Because you would not listen to my warning! All of this could have been avoided! And Takara.... she was so young... so innocent... my sister would still be alive if it wasn't for you! Your arrogance nearly cost us victory today! You should be stripped of your position and-"

Verona "ENOUGH! I understand your frustrations Tendo.... but I will decide Vanessa's punishment, go to your room Tendo.... take the night off"

Tendo reluctantly walled out the room, Verona then walked up to Vanessa and slapped her.

Verona "You disgraced the Brotherhood tonight you know that?"

Vanessa "It was not my intention"

Verona "But it still happened didn't it?"

Vanessa "Takara..... she.... I didn't mean to...."

Vanessa's voice started to break at this point as she was trying to fight back tears.

Verona "Tell me Vanessa... do you remember the motto of the Brotherhood?"

Vanessa "We enjoy the night, the darkness, where we can do things that aren't acceptable in the light. Night is when we slake our thirst, where we hide in the shadows and dissappear"

Verona "Exactly, but it seems you forgot that last part, where you revealed yourself and compromised everything.... I did not raise you to be like this Vanessa... not at all"

Vanessa "I'm sorry"

Verona looked at Vanessa with sympathy, she then sighed and sat back down in her chair.

Verona "I should kill you for the embarrassment you brought upon us. Tendo thinks it only fair--your life in exchange for Takaras. But this would be a waste of my time and your skills and frankly... I've become too attached to you. Instead you'll be stripped of your position as master Vampiress, as well as your armour and weapons being taken away as well, you are now a novice, a child once more, as you were on the day you first joined our brotherhood and became a Vampiress. I am offering you a chance at redemption. You'll earn your way back"

Vanessa "I see... thank you"

Verona "Go back to your room now, and prepare for the worst"

Vanessa nodded and left the throne room, on her way there she saw a few other vampires looking at her and talking behind her back, she chose to ignore them and head straight to her room.

Once she got there she decided to take off all her armour and clothes and pass out on the bed, during her sleep she saw images of Takara in her head, begging for her to save her.

The Next Night

Vanessa woke up when someone knocked on her door.

Vanessa "Enter"

The man opened the door and came into the room, his name was Adam Edwards, he was a young man who unlike most of the other vampires who usually wore black armour, Adam wore long white hooded robes with a red sash, leather armor, and sheaths to store his weaponry and pouches, Adam was almost never seen without his hood covering his face, despite being young  he was considered the wisest out of all the Vampires and the most solemn.

Adam "Count Verona wanted me to accompany you throughout your path to rejoin the Brotherhood, she thinks it unwise for you to act by yourself anymore, tonight we begin that path"

Vanessa "I see... what does the count wish for me to do? Does she want me to go back and kill the Lycans"

Adam "No. Not yet, at least. For now you are to become a student once again"

Vanessa "There is no need for this! Im strong enough to kill them"

Adam "These are not my orders, it is what the Count wishes"

Vanessa groaned and got up from her bed.

Vanessa "Fine, what does she want me to do"

Adam "For now, she wants you to track down a lead that will aid us in our work"

Vanessa "You know who it is? "

Adam "Perhaps..."

Vanessa was now started to get frustrated

Vanessa "Then give me a name and let's be done with it."

Adam "That's not the way it works, Count Verona would like you to track this person down yourself, I can offer aid and nothing more"

Vanessa rolled her eyes

Vanessa "Fine, now can you get out so I can get changed?"

Adam nodded and left the room as Vanessa was forced to don the her trainee outfit instead of her luscious black and red armour she so proudly wore before hand.

She jumped out the window and made her way to the rooftop were Adam was waiting, he beckoned her to follow him and they both started to leap from rooftop to rooftop, this was usually Vanessa's favourite part of going out at night, however... there was an air of tension tonight as she followed Adam.

They soon made their way towards city Square, Both Vanessa and Adam perched ontop of a gargoyle.

Adam "Now Vanessa... use your echo location to try and weed out the person we need"

Vanessa "I see... ok"

She began to focus and closed her eyes, soon enough she was able to single out a conversation in an alleyway where two people seemed to be talking about the events that happened last night.

Vanessa "Adam, I think I found him"

Adam "I see"

Vanessa then decided to bite the bullet and ask Adam why they were doing all this, she expected Adam to get angry however he merely closed his eyes and explained.

Adam "The count would like you to eliminate 5 targets that are fueling the Lycan armies power, as soon as they are finished, you are then allowed to kill the Lycan general"

Vanessa "5 lives in exchange for mine."

Adam "A most generous offer, I think. Have you any questions?"

Vanessa merely laughed

Vanessa "Only what I need to do next"

To Be Continued