Ancient Shadows

TWENTY ONE

The party was moved from the lounge to a show room with seating and a small stage. There were more than fifteen people seated in the room. There were the four blood drinkers- Walter, Augustus, The Count and Kellandra. Four of the guests were what are called domestics. These were mortals who drank small amounts of blood from a vampyr. This blood caused their aging to temporarily stop and gave them limited powers similar to what blood drinkers had. They were stronger and faster than ordinary humans. The domestics also formed a bond with the blood drinker they fed from making them loyal and bonded to their master.

There were over half a dozen regular humans there as well. How privy they were to who they were keeping company with was unknown. Perhaps they suspected something or maybe some were oblivious to the existence of immortals among them. It was well known that many mortals were guests of Dimitri's. They were on hand for many of his parties and spectacles. Count Lewellan loved to entertain. Tonight he had a special show for his guests.

Most of the lanterns not used to illuminate the stage were hooded to reduce their light. Also many of the torches were extinguished. The lanterns along the base of the stage were unhooded causing them to shed their light on whatever production was being shown. Their illumination also cast eerie shadows on the very edge of the platform. The back of the room, behind the stage, was as black as night. The spectators looked on with great interest. What would be the entertainment tonight?

A small cage began to be lowered down from the ceiling. It was held by a large strong chain hooked to the top of the cage. There was a person inside the cage. It appeared to be a boy of no more than 16 years. He had a most fearful look on his face and he looked dirty and unkempt. As the cage lowered into and the prisoner inside could be seen better, it became clear to the few blood drinkers in the audience that this boy inside the cage was indeed one of their own. Also it appeared as if chopped wood and kindling lay in the bottom of the cage.

Why was he in this cage? What had he done? Was this just cruel sport? No one was quite sure what was going to happen. But it wouldn't take long for some explanations to be given. The Count
walked casually onto the stage and faced the small crowd watching the "show". He explained to the audience that the boy in the cage was indeed one of the undead. One that Count Dimitri Lewellan himself had sired. He continued saying that the vampyr in the cage had attempted without his permission to make another of their kind.

This mortal that he was attempting to turn was loved dearly by the Count. The Count had been hesitant to bring him over to become immortal due to the risk of him dying in the process of being turned. He reminded everyone that less than half survived the process. The mortal died in the attempt to turn him.

It was for this reason that the Count had made him a prisoner and he was in a cage. He uttered a pronouncement that sent chills down the spines of many of the spectators present. The immortal boy was to be destroyed in front of everyone, by use of fire. The Count warned any that dared to cross him or break his rules. He declared himself to be the leader of Vienna, second to no other undead blood drinker.

Dimitri signaled to two of his domestics standing to the side of the stage. They walked over to the cage carrying torches. The boy in the cage began to scream, he cried out for mercy. He wailed like a banshee. Gasps were heard from amongst the spectators. One member of the audience cried out for mercy to be shown for the poor boy. Dimitri shook his head vehemently. He screamed "no" in response to the spectator's plea on behalf of the condemned blood drinker. The boy blood drinker would never drink blood again.

The torches were moved along the base of the cage making contact with the kindling and the chopped wood in the bottom of the cage. It was clear now exactly what the wood was there for. The flame from the torches took immediately to the kindling. Flames rose up inside the cage. The boy blood drinker's cries became more pronounced and increased in volume. His screams became louder with every passing second. The flames had not yet touched his flesh but he obviously knew what was coming.

Count Lewellan stood with his arms crossed watching his prescribed execution beginning to take shape. A sinister smile was plastered on his face. It stayed the same not altering or changing. He did not look at the spectators, all seventeen seated in front of the stage that rose about four feet off the floor. It was about thirty five feet from side to side and was over twenty feet long from front to back.

No one from the audience dared to interfere with Dimitri's sadistic plan. Some of those observing were sickened, some were frightened, some angry, while more than a few were excited or taking pleasure from what was occuring.

Hurst Von Kessler and Yorn Wallvitria (Walter and Augustus respectively) were more shocked than anything else. They weren't afraid. Walter was a little more disturbed than his older brother but that didn't mean that Augustus was ok with what he saw. They were in no real position to interfere. After all the fledgling vampyr had broken the rules set by Count Lewellan, no matter how minimal it may have seemed compared to the severity of the punishment. The Count was the ruler of the undead in the city of Vienna. He made the rules.

The fire grew quickly. The kindling caught fire rapidly and then that burning kindling set the larger pieces of wood ablaze. The wood layered the bottom of the cage that boy vampyr was trapped in. Before long the boy could no longer avoid the fire. The heat from the fire alone was enough to cause him immense suffering. This resulted in his screaming increasing and at such a high volume that it hurt the ears of the immortals present. Due of course to their heightened senses. These heightened senses could be very advantageous to the undead. But there also could be a downside to these acute senses.

The doomed blood drinker became crazed. His cries were unbearable to listen to. Except for Dimitri who had not moved. He was still standing there with his arms crossed. Still wearing that malevolent unchanging smile. He ignored the reactions of the audience he had prepared to watch this exhibition. His lack of empathy and compassion was a frightful thing to behold. He likely enjoyed having others witness his ability to inflict suffering without a hint of sympathy.

The flames began to make contact with the boy's flesh. He danced about in that small cage banging against the sides. Involuntary jumping so high that his head smashed against the roof of the cage. All while still screaming like a wild banshee, so engulfed in unthinkable pain his actions had become a matter of instinct. The only actual words that could be made out were "help" and "please" in addition to a litany of curses and blasphemies.

The fire whipped up his legs and struck his crotch and backside. His skin has started to blister up and melt off his body. The sight of this was too much for the Count's guests to behold. Many had taken to covering their eyes or looking away. Walter was thoroughly disgusted. He had considered doing something, making at least some kind of effort to ending this creature's needless suffering. He just couldn't take it. Walter yelled out at the demented Count to put an end to this pageant of demented horror. But the Count simply ignored his protests. He stood motionless as a statue, still in that same pose. Arms crossed with that maniacal smile stuck on his face.