In the castle the king is walking to his royal quarters.
He's growing weary of his counsellors, who just want to move war to the creatures living in the forest. He's ill and old, but he's always managed to hide his sickness to everybody. His good Queen had left this world not long before, because of a painful illness that doctors were unable to cure.
Only his vicious son Articus watches his pain with pleasure.
He's been trying to overtake his father for a long time. He's always hated anything not human. He considers anything different to be impure and a plague to be cancelled. The king knows his son's intentions.
The king's pace is heavy and his eyes are full of black wrinkles. One swift mistake and his body, too old and heavy to carry itself, falters.
Two young and strong hands help him up again, but not for a good heart.
-Let me help you up, father.-
With a slow but decisive movement of his arm, the king refuses the help of his son.
-I don't need any of your false courtesy.-
-Don't you appreciate your son taking care of you, father?-
Articus' small eyes challenge his father's authority. With a vile smile.-
-You cannot pretend with me, Articus. I shall never give up my throne for you. Even if I shall die prematurely, there always is and will be who will fight you.-
-Who, father? Your so loved leech-like creature poisoning our land? Their time is over, humans time has come.-
-So is ours, son. Our time has come. The questions is when?-
-Much later for us than for those you call...divine.-
-Careful, Articus. One day you shall regret what you say. It shall be too late. One day you shall be on your knees, begging for Death to take you.-
Articus turns his back to his father and leaves but his thoughts are for the most evil plan.
"You shall regret your words too, father."
Finally reaching his rooms, the king sits heavily on his chair, close to the fire, warming his cold hands and feet, resting his tired bones.
Rubbing his hands by the fire, a shadow is hiding behind him next to the door.
-I know you are behind me.-
Articus approaches his father, his heavy robes falling on the floor, his hands together on the back, a mocking smirk on his face.
-Soon you shall have nothing to suffer for, father.-
-You can kill me, if you wish it. You will regret it. You shall beg for mercy on your knees!-
Articus is laughing hysterically at those words.
-There will be someone begging on their knees. They will be begging for Death on their knees.
Eventually there shall be only one pure kingdom, with pure man who brings obedience and rule.-
The king looks at his son.
His eyes have no hate but sadness. "What did I do to you, my son? Where did I go wrong?"
-What you hate most shall rise and be shown for what it really is. One day it will be you who shall bow on your knee and obey those who truly rule this world. Or you shall fall!-
-Maybe I will fall, father. Maybe I will put those down to their knees. But until that day......-
Two hours later, the king summons the horns from the towers, for the whole town to gather for an important announcement.-
Strange for the king to give an announcement in such a late hour of the day.
The sun had already fallen on the back of the mountain and men had started making their way back from their work. Mefistofel was already making his way to town for his watch when he heard the horns.
In the Square the king had erected a platform, on which a royal throne would sit the king, with seats next to it to host the counsellors.
Last time an announcement was made, it was when the good king had declared Peace to all creatures living in the land.
The king's counsellors are the first to come out, standing next to the throne.
-SILENCE ALL! YOUR KING IS ABOUT TO SPEAK!-
A loud choir of voices expresses disappointment, guards look at each other, Mefistofel and his brethren look into each other's eyes, feeling danger.
It was not their King who came out, wearing the crown. It was someone with an evil smirk on his face.
-MY BELOVED PEOPLE!-
His words echo like thunder in a clear sky.
-Our beloved king, my father, is unfortunately no longer among us. His poor heart, so old and tired, has chosen eternal rest. He was suffering for a long time, but his heart was always towards his people. Now my heart shall carry the burden instead! I shall fulfil the dreams my father had. You are my people! With such a sad burden in my heart, a joyful one shall take its place. I shall take my father's throne. I shall make my father's wishes come true! We shall be the same, all of us. You know why, my people? I shall end the awful plague which spreads into our land, dividing us one another. No more we shall have creatures lurking in the dark, waiting to attack us in the darkness. Judging us poor creatures full of false gods! We shall put an end to these differences! We shall rise in a new kingdom! Incomparable to any other. Our kingdom shall have us all being equal, no superior or inferior, human or no-human. Those monstrous beasts hiding in the forests, sucking blood creatures gaining your trust to bite you when you're in their arms. These filthy creatures must be dealt with to assure a safe world for yours.... our children. If you want this Kingdom to be born, join me! Our Kingdom shall be the purest ever existed. Every land shall bind by our example of perfection and beauty!
Join me to carve the world in our image. In your image!-
As many people are excited by his words, as many others are scared, for some had known for a long time that sooner or later, Articus would have tried to overthrow his father and declare war.
-We shall build this world together, my people. As a start, we shall destroy all which is poisoning our land! My first step to the Perfect Kingdom shall be ordering that all dark creatures shall be imprisoned. All the man shall be called in our quest. Only human purity is the true one!-
Articus words sound like a storm in the sky. Everybody is whispering, but it's a whisper echoing into a cage of fear.
All the vampires are as steady as stone, their only feeling is hatred. In the depth of their spirit, they knew sooner or later that would have happened.
Ariel gets closer to Mefistofel, who instantly wraps with his arm around her. His clear eyes are ruby red with hatred and anger.
Articus' smiling with satisfaction.
Then Articus speaks again, yet another thunder in the clear sky.
-The first to be imprisoned shall be Master Feldor. The leader of all those who infest our land.
GUARDS! SEIZE THAT MONSTER.-
The guards hesitate for a moment, looking at each other.
They did not fear Feldor, but they had no reason to until now. The look in his eyes would threaten anyone trying to challenge him.
As their king gives the order again, they have no choice but to obey.
As they get closer to Feldor, the vampires stand around their Master, at the speed of a blink of an eye.
The look of their beastly eyes freezes the soldiers' limbs.
As light as a feather, Feldor puts his hand upon Mefistofel's shoulder.
His wise and powerful state does not allow any reply.
Slowly and gently, he pushes Mefistofel aside, who doesn't dare defy his master.
-I don't fear you, Articus. You know we mean no harm to humans. If you wish to challenge us all, the consequences will be severe!-
Articus' reaction is a laugh, equal only to a barking beast.
-You are just the first in a long list of things to be destroyed. Then, it shall be your clan's turn. SEIZE HIM!-
Guards fearfully grab Feldor by the arms, he does not fight back. Reluctantly, they lead him inside the castle.
He wouldn't ever try to escape, not because he couldn't. But because he wouldn't.
Another evil smile of satisfaction now lies on Articus' face.
Mefistofel stands there, surrounded by his brothers. Ariel doesn't understand why he wouldn't fight back.
-You must do something, Mefistofel. You can't let them hurt the Master.-
Ariel is right. Still, fighting the rage inside his lifeless heart, there is nothing he can do.
-I can't.....-
-What? You going to let him die?-
Ariel can't understand how he would do nothing to help him.
-What...What are you talking about?-
Mefistofel talks to her with the softest voice.
-Not here Ariel. We must go now. Trust us. Trust me!-
Grabbing her waists, gently but firmly they make their way out of the town. Quickly and silently.
Too many eyes, too many ears.
