HOUSE OF BRATOVIAE

Chapter 2

Styx Bratoviae

Renduim,
Bratovi.

Through the shadow-laden expanse of Renduim strode a tall man, his raven-colored hair cascading down his shoulders, adorned in a sweeping black jacket, white shirt, and black trousers. Gloved hands moved with deft precision as he navigated the dark realms. As he entered the dimly lit shack, the striking visage of Styx Bratoviae unfolded, revealing violet eyes and a breathtaking countenance.

Dispensing with his jacket, he hung it upon a creaky chair, rolling the sleeves of his pristine white shirt to his elbows. Gracefully, he circled the table and took his seat, crossing his legs with an air of authority. While his gloved hand rhythmically tapped the table, his captivating gaze swept the room. Before him, four ghampires, heads bowed, intoned in unison, "Greetings to Your Grace." In response, he uttered a contemplative "hmmm."

Amidst the brewing tensions preceding the Regnis War, Styx Bratoviae found himself grappling with reports of ghampires mysteriously vanishing across Bratovi. Unheard of in their realm, these disappearances heightened the already charged atmosphere. In the dimly lit room, he posed the pressing question, "What is the current update?"

"About fifteen ghampires have vanished in the past two moons, Your Grace," came the response. Seeking answers from the clues left in their wake, Styx pressed further, "What revelations did you glean?"

The revelation struck a chord of confusion in him as they unveiled a connection to the human trafficking ring in Regnum. His brows lifted in contemplation as he sought clarification, "Where did these disappearances occur?" The tallest among them answered, "Three were last seen after visiting the Rouge, a popular establishment in Onyx Bay."

His fingers maintained a rhythmic tap on the table as he delved deeper, "And the others, the remaining twelve?" Their response, unable to pinpoint the precise locations, affirmed they were all within the confines of Onyx Bay. Leaning forward, Styx rested his chin upon entwined hands, enveloped in contemplation as the unsettling puzzle unfolded before him.

In the kingdom of Regnum, where the dominance of ghampires remained unshakable by humans unless they were a part of  the ecclesia, a formidable force was required. Even then, the utilization of fraxinus, outlawed since the kingdom's inception, was essential for overpowering these supernatural beings. As Styx Bratoviae contemplated the enigma of the missing ghampires, two unsettling possibilities emerged.

Either fellow vampyrs orchestrated the kidnappings, fostering internal strife, or an impossible collusion between humans and fraxinus wielders fueled the kidnappings. The looming Regnis War heightened tensions between Bratoviae and rival houses, and Styx leaned towards the former possibility, skeptical of humans possessing fraxinus. Yet, the motivation behind abducting ghampires, uninvolved in the impending war, through the human trafficking network remained an inscrutable puzzle.

Pondering the perplexities, Styx forged his directives, his mind a battlefield of strategic considerations as he sought to unveil the sinister machinations beneath the surface.

In the dimly lit chamber, Styx Bratoviae commanded with a pointed finger, "I need you to unveil the person orchestrating the disappearance of our kind. Discover where they've been transported to." The gaze of the vampyre on the far left locked onto the directive.

Addressing the duo in the middle, Styx's voice bore the weight of authority, "consult our spies  within rival houses. Track all of their activities." The middle two nodded, their commitment mirrored in their resolute expressions.

Turning to the vampyre on the far right, Styx issued a final directive, "Guard our ranks against traitors within our own walls. Unmask any moles that may have infiltrated our city, insita." "Yes, Your Grace," they intoned in unison, their allegiance echoing through the chamber as they embarked on the perilous quests set forth by their enigmatic leader.

As Styx prepared to depart, his cousin Rudiger swaggered in, a puny human captive in tow. "Cousin, I snagged this one snooping around Insita," Rudiger announced. Styx, a master of discernment, appraised the human, deeming them a likely streetrat. Seating the intruder, he gripped the human's face, demanding answers to their intrusion into Insita's secrets. The human remained silent.

Reveling in bone-chilling laughter, Styx played a macabre symphony, gently caressing the human's hand before ruthlessly breaking it with a snap of his fingers. The boy's scream reverberated as Styx circled, delivering ominous promises. A punch followed, demanding the truth about the sewer excursion. However, before the captive could respond, his head exploded. "Fuck" Exclaimed Rudiger. A discretion curse had been placed on the boy ruining  their interrogation.

Undeterred by the gore, Styx resumed his seat, proclaiming, "There are moles in Insita. Uncover their identities. A streetrat like him wouldn't navigate the sewers without purpose or guidance from the inside." Rudiger, detached from the blood-splattered scene, mused, "I yearn to drain the traitors dry." Offering a glimmer of hope, he added, "According to the Bay Trust Newspaper, a coalition agent apprehended one of the traffickers today." The revelation sparked a fervor of anticipation in the quest to unveil the elusive conspirators within their midst.

With a subtle signal, Styx bid the four vampyres in the room to depart, leaving him alone with his cousin Rudiger. The bond between the two, forged over centuries, held the weight of trust, a bond said to be inseparable.

Rudiger, with concern etched across his face, inquired about Styx's well-being, a reference to the secret affliction he bore. Styx, grumbling reassurance, confirmed his resilience. As the looming war cast its shadows, Rudiger, the older and more cautious of the pair, couldn't suppress his worry for Styx's condition.

"The presence of traitors in Insita is troubling. What informations did they provide?" Rudiger queried, prompting Styx to share the harrowing details of his earlier conversation. Contemplative, Rudiger proposed, "Tonight, we should venture to the Rouge, scour its depths for clues." Styx, in tacit agreement, nodded as they exited the dimly lit shack, embarking on a quest to unravel the threads of deceit that threatened their wellbeing.

Adorned in fresh attire and cleansed from their earlier endeavors, two formidable figures, Styx Bratoviae and Rudiger Bratoviae, entered the Rouge. "This establishment is unbefitting our station," Rudiger grumbled, his keen eyes surveying the surroundings with a discerning gaze. Meanwhile, Styx's attention was drawn to the provocative dance of scantily dressed women on poles, an incongruity in the shadow of their covert mission.

In the dimly lit recesses, Styx's perceptive gaze caught an anomaly – a hooded figure surreptitiously adding a powder to a drink guessing the owner of the drink was one of those amidst the swirling dancefloor. Urgency sparked in Styx as he signaled Rudiger to join him, weaving through the pulsating throng. Closing in on the hooded culprit, the figure, sensing pursuit, navigated the crowded dancefloor in an attempt to elude capture.

Just as Styx closed in on the elusive figure, a collision disrupted his pursuit. Long, fiery curls tumbled into his view as he locked eyes with none other than Riana Chalybs, the golden child of the coalition. In that fleeting moment, Styx felt his heart stop beating as he was taken by the beauty before him.