Ancient Shadows

ELEVEN

On the lessons continued for the brothers under their dominus Rundolph. Questions began to arise about the one whom they would go to contain. It was Augustus who demanded this knowledge from Rundolph. Shouldn't they be preparing their minds for the inevitable? Surely they should be ready armed with all information about their quarry.

Rundolph was moved by the enthusiasm of Augustus. While Walter had not spoken about this he was nevertheless interested to know more. Walter was much too reserved to vocalize this. But he showed a keen interest in his response to Rundolph after hearing Augustus voice his interest.

Rundolph explained that his former fledgling was a good attentive student who he turned at the age of 19. They remained together for nearly four years after his turning. His name was Seth Von Hundenberg but he was now known as Count Ditri Lewellan. Rundolph looked pained as he espounded these things. His eyes showed age and sorrow when he recounted what happened to bring him and his student apart.

Rundolph and Seth had enjoyed a propitious existence together. Living in Linz they had established a prosperous home together. They were surrounded by loyal mortals and even entertained a couple of vampyr as guests to the city. Rundolph
went on to annotate how he had established himself as the premier vampyr of Linz, a leader of sorts though no other blood drinkers were known to be in the city.

Walter interrupted kindly to make an inquiry. What was this term blood drinker? Rundolph told the brothers that it was an old term for those of their kind. He had heard it from an ancient, one who had been turned in the fourth century. Rundolph said he had made his acquaintance with this ancient some thirty years after he'd become a blood drinker himself. That was in 1271.

Rundolph involved himself in mortal affairs in Linz. The reason for doing so was to make life better for those who breathed air. Seth helped him in all things. He was a loyal fledgling and a wonderful companion. Rundolph expounded how he never foresaw anything so dreadful happening as what was to come.

It seems that Seth had fallen for a mortal boy. A boy not even 14 years old. He came to Rundolph and asked him if he could bestow the gift of immortal life on this boy. Rundolph admitted that he was wounded that Seth so quickly wanted to add a third number to their household. There was jealously over this. And a mortal boy of such a young age no less! Yes this wounded Rundolph deeply!

Rundolph elucidated to his young student that such a thing could not happen. He explained to Seth that the number of people in Linz was much too small for three immortals. As it was the two of them were putting a strain on the secrecy that they must keep. Mortals could not know that they existed in their midst, as they fed off their blood. No, no. They mustn't be discovered. If the mortals became aware of such a nightmare they would hunt them down seeking to destroy them!

Seth was not accepting of Rundolph's verdict on this matter. He cried tears of blood for three days. Rundolph had further forbid him to see the young boy again. Rundolph confessed that he wasn't sure if he did this for their own safety or if he did so out of jealousy. Seth was his. He couldn't bare to think of this child interrupting the world he and Seth occupied.

So it was one week later than Seth simply left one night never to return. Rundolph was heartbroken and distraught. He had made him four years before but he feared for his well being. But Rundolph resolved not to go hunt his companion down. Rundolph assumed he would return in time. But the months went by and Seth did not come back.

After a year had passed Rundolph could take it no more. He couldn't stay in their house any longer. Not with the memories it held constantly reminding him of Seth. The chairs that Seth had sat on, the table where he took quill to paper, their tomb beneath the house that Rundolph had fashioned into their sleeping chambers. All of it was just too much. He determined to leave Linz altogether.

Rundolph said that a couple of years later when he was living a few days ride from Linz he began to hear strange stories. Stories about a nocturnal noble in Linz who catered to many mortals. This man supposedly threw extravagant balls and entertained dilettantes with different forms of entertainment. He put on plays and hosted orchestras. He hired esteemed artists to paint the walls of his villa. He was also known to be a prosperous business man. Rundolph took note but thought not much of it.

Then a blood drinker came passing through Rundolph's locale with news of a character matching Seth's description. The blood drinker was sure this was a vampyr. As it turned out he was the individual that Rundolph had already heard about, the nocturnal socialite and businessman. The wealthy noble that he had rumors about.

But this visiting vampyr had a darker tale concerning Seth. Apparently he had been recklessly killing mortals in Linz. This lady blood drinker relaying this information to Rundolph was older than Seth, perhaps a century older. Feeling superior, she admitted that she considered slaying the younger vampire. She did not appreciate the negative attention he was drawing. It was bad for their kind everywhere. Rundolph understood her plight.

Rundolph was at least glad that she had not destroyed his fledgling though later he questioned his feelings on this. Then later Rundolph heard more rumors about this eccentric lord. He was referred to as a madman. Rumors said this Lord was buying up slaves only to kill them behind the walls of his lavish compound. People claimed he was protected from the rule of law by crooked rulers he'd paid off. One lord who had remained anonymous said this man's compound sported a small auditorium where he hosted spectacles of death. The Lord said not only slaves fought there but the arena was open to both rich and poor, free and slave. Even men of noble blood were said to fight in these gladiatorial contests. According to rumor sometimes the wicked Lord forced men to fight and often the contests were to the death.

If it was Seth and it was looking like it was him, he appeared to have created for himself his own little empire of death. Rundolph resolved that it was his responsibility to do something about this.

Rundolph was considerably sad about these developments. Rundolph brooded on until a few more years passed. That is when he decided to make another blood drinker to keep him company and help to deal with his problem. He couldn't bare to do it himself, to kill Seth were it to come to violence. He didn't expect to find the brothers and that his adoration for them would lead to him creating two companions rather than one as he had planned. So that is what he did.