Chapter 9

"now..." Akher turned towards the figure that got his attention the most. "how can I help you, O'Slothful King ?". 

Jack walked down towards the throne and knelt once he was close to the podium and besides the four figures. 

"I am Jack Luca Don Zugravescu. Here from the house of Don Zugravescu to serve the future king of the Unseen Forces". 

"..." Akher tilted his head to the side, a little lost and a little understanding. 

"Why do you refer to me as your king ?" 

"At first...I thought the rumours were truly just rumours but then a thought came to me. A man that even the Queen herself is afraid of, there must be something to it". 

"and for a mere reason like that, you dare to betray your country to serve me ?" 

"As you must know, My Lord. Our Kin believe in the powerful and the possibilities the powerful can achieve''. 

"....but this is treason to your country".

"for a matter of fact, My Lord. It is not. For countless centuries I have stayed away from Adenila, the present Queen because of her method in ruling the Kingdom. Though I may have left them I am also here as an offering to prevent the annihilation of my brothers and the Queen herself". 

"....." Akher chuckled. "the rumours about you are truly inadequate". 

"...surely, My Lord believes in the sight of things rather than the warning that comes with it". 

"....A truly splendid way of saying it. I hear you leave with the humans ?" 

"I do. Humans are interesting figures that tend to be....unexpected".

"a truly wise description but I must concur that humans are very much very predictable"

"....if you say so my lord". 

Akher stared at him. 'of course even vampires are predictable'.

"My Lord, if I may...." Cosmina spoke up.

"Is there something you wish to say ?" 

"indeed there is". 

"then speak". 

"This man....three days ago on his arrival, attempted to murder me. I ask that you punish him". 

".....what is this I hear of ?" Akher asked, his eyes glowing a little brighter than usual. 

Jack felt an immense pressure around his body as it slammed continuously into the ground causing a small body sized crater. 

"Urrgh...."   

FLASHBACK.

It was a bright afternoon where the ladies  holding their Maids outfit were gathered just outside the castle. 

Cosmina was seated enjoying a cup of tea under  a shed while Patricia and Elena stood by her side. 

She enjoyed the view, feeling satisfied with herself and the people amongst them. She dropped the cup of tea on the table after taking a sip and turned towards Elena. 

"Your tea truly does wonders. May I ask where you got such a splendid recipe ?" 

"Hah, your praise brings great joy to me. My parents were strict in the Kitchen so I got quite an earful from them". 

"...I see, tour parents must be wonderful cooks" 

"Indeed they are" Elena said while she poured another cup for her. 

Cosmina took it, taking a sip as she turned towards Patricia who had been  quiet for a while now. 

Patricia, noticing her gaze, looked down while fiddling with her fingers. 'I'm such an embarrassment,' she thought. 

"Patricia, do not let yourself falter..." Cosmina said as she held her hands in her palms. 

Patricia could feel her Madys sharp nails softly touch hers and she appreciated the feeling. "Your skills are not required in the Kitchen after all". She chuckled. 

"....ye...yes my Lady" she blushed slightly. 

Cosmina took another sip of her tea when she noticed an uncomfortable feeling. 

'An intruder ?'she thought, dropping her cup and standing up almost immediately. 

"My Lady ?!" the two ladies chorused. 

"I must apologize,ladies but I must take my leave". She stopped midway as she turned towards Patricia. "take charge while I'm gone. O my. I want you to instruct the Maids on what to do next....I'll be right back". 

"Yes, My Lady !".

Cosmina nodded her head as she turned around and jumped into the air  disappearing into the clouds. 

She crashed into the ground in the forest some few seconds after causing an explosion and a large crater. The snow melted due to her touch as she slowly walked out of the small out she made for herself. 

"It seems hiding my presence from you was truly a foolish choice". An unfamiliar voice said as a Male figure walked towards her. His white hair nearly mistook her for her lover but his red eyes snapped her out of her thoughts. 

"how dare you look like my Husband !" she glared at him furiously while the man chuckled.

He stretched out his hand as a thin fine rapier appeared. A silver dragon on the hilt. He held it up letting the tip face the sky as he placed his left hand besides his back and his right leg in front of his left. 

"calling out your blood weapon even without introducing yourself ? How discourteous can you be ?". 

"I heard the former Queen came to the bran castle with a man never mentioned in histories to ask for the throne back. That was truly discourteous if I do say so myself". 

"...your impudence makes a mockery of all proud people out in the world. If you drop your weapon now I will let you go with a slight warning". 

"....release the humans you have held captive or I shall take your head. Let's see what that husband of yours is truly capable of if he finds the head of his beloved on a stake". 

".....captive ? They are not captive. They are here because they wish to serve us" 

" and you think. I, a vampire that has seen all, will believe you ?" he muttered. 

"....I see....you must be  Jack of the Don Zugravescu household. Does your father know of this ?" 

".....I find it hard to believe that my father was once a student under your tutelage.  It makes me doubt the appearance of yours". 

"....what can I say ? Beauty lies in the hands of those that deserve it". 

"Would you free the humans ?" 

"like I said....they are not in any way captive". 

".....it's truly a shame..." He muttered.

He closed his eyes as he took a brief breath in and opened it while he breathed out. A crimson red aura suddenly busted out of his body as he suddenly disappeared, reappearing besides Cosmina his rapier pointed forward towards her face. 

Cosmina slowly turned towards his direction as her body disappeared from its position leaving Jack nothing but the snow to clash with. A loud explosion occurred due to the impact. 

Jack slowly got out from the crater he had formed and swung his rapier down as he charged again disappearing into the unknown. 

Another explosion occurred as they both appeared in different positions disappearing again almost instantly and then another explosion occurred  

With an explosion they reappeared in a new position while another formed nonetheless. 

It seemed like they were simply disappearing and reappearing but what they did was actually far more than that. Jack was simply running towards her with his rapier intending to stab her while Cosmina jumps into another location dodging the attack and the impact of his rapier causes an explosion. 

All this done in the span of seconds which would make it seem like they disappeared and reappeared to the human eyes. 

Cosmina appeared in the air this time while Jack stayed still on the ground. He thrust his rapier forward, his left hand still at his back. "dancing waves". He muttered as spams of crimson red waves shot out from the air towards her. 

She flew around dodging them as they caused explosions in the air.

She landed on the ground when Jack suddenly appeared in front of her, his rapier aiming for her face yet again. 

She attempted to dodge when she felt something holding her. Looking down she saw his leg stepping on the hem of her dress. Truly irritating. 

BOOM.

A larger explosion than before occurred as Jack jumped out of the smoke and onto the ground, holding onto his rapier firmly and strongly. 

"Do you wish to die ! JACK !" Cosmina could feel her patience running thinner as the smoke cleared. 

Her clothes were nearly ruined by the explosion and scars of fire were freshly printed on her body. She was perplexed. 

"you're weaker than your daughter ?" 

"..no...I just wished not to battle you". Her eyes glowed with a deeper shade of red as sparks of lighting ran out her pupils. 

"blood weapon.....". She stretched forth her hand to her side. Blood ran down her body as she glared intently at Jack. "...Crimson Bolt". 

Red lightning sparks began to form on her hand as she drew out a red large sword almost 7 feet large. It had a dragon's skull as its hilt and two red gems on the skull's eyes. 

It glowed as she pulled it out and stretched it towards Jack. Lightning strikes resounding around her body. 

"Come !" she yelled as Jack charged in for the attack. 

Just as he aimed for her face once again, he stopped midway when he felt a familiar force coming towards him. He quickly jumped away as a large red lightning bolt struck from the sky to his former position. 

He appeared in the sky when he felt a powerful force hold him in place. 

'What is this ?' he thought, struggling to get free from the force. 

Four thin lightning bolts appeared around him and the current spread through his body. He felt an inexplicable shocking pain and being unable to get loose from it made things worse for him.

"it's over now". Cosmina's harsh tone resonated in the forest and she stretched her thunderbolt shaped large sword to the sky. She was about to ascend into the sky and cut him off when a familiar presence held her  from doing anything further. 

"My lady !". Elena's familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

Cosmina, confused, turned to her side to see her standing, her hands placed together in a praying position. 'How long has she been here ?' she thought first. 

"Elena ?" Jack muttered through gritted teeth. His expressions bowing signs of pain. Just not the physical pain....emotional as well.

"Do you know this man ?" Cosmina asked as she lowered her blade. 

"..yes...I do....I beg that you please let this one thing slide, My Lady. I know that I'm asking too much of you but...this man means alot to me".

Cosmina tilted her head. She was truly confused. "you do know he's a vampire right ?" 

"....of which I just realized but I know he must have had a reason to keep it from me". 

Cosmina observed her carefully and quietly. She was more concerned with how she didn't notice her more than the fact that they knew each other. She sighed in defeat as her sword slowly disintegrated into lightning sparks and disappeared.

Elena stared at the lightning sparks as a shiver of fear ran down her body. 'blood weapons.....weapons that are said to be the shape of a vampire's destiny. A weapon that assumes the shape of their will and serves only them through their lives'. She then stared at Cosmina. 'and this woman's weapon....blood and lightning were its innate ability...how terrifying'. 

Jack slowly fell to the ground with a thud as he struggled to stand back up to his feet. "Wh.....why are you with her, Elena ?" 

".....I think questions like that should be left unanswered until I hear your reason for keeping your secret as a vampire from me". Elena answered strictly. 

Jack stared at her as blood dribbled down his body. His black leather clothes were now a torn mess and his beautiful face was full of scars. He was a mess from the short battle. 

"hm hm" Cosmina echoed, getting their attention. "like I said, Jack. They are not slaves but rather servants that have wilfully accepted the occupation".

"hah....I'll like to be the judge of that". 

"....oho...you very much will. I intend on keeping you with us until my husband arrives. He shall deal with you accordingly. Please prepare yourself...". 

Cosmina tried to walk away. "Come, Elena, I must have that serving of tea again". 

"Yes, My Lady". Elena bowed as she quickly walked up to her. She slowly turned back, staring at Jack with a sad smile. 'I guess even I have secrets so why should I persecute him?'.

"please be well, Sir Jack". She waved at him as she turned back.

Two familiars suddenly landed on the ground next to Jack as they picked him up and flew back into the air. 

FLASHBACK END.

"hmm.....so that's what happened". Akher calmly said while he stared and the screen floating over Jack. 

'amazing.....he can even see the memories of people...' Cosmina thought while she stared at the screen as well, marveled at her husband's powers. 

They were all bewildered when the screen first suddenly appeared at his command but now nothing seemed impossible for him. It was like standing face to face with a god. 

"Jack....surely, you must know that you're a fault right ?" 

"...." Jack muttered to himself. His words refused to come out due to the pressure. His breathing was steadily and steadily decreasing. It was almost like being suffocated with no chance of getting air. 

Akher sighed and turned towards Cosmina. "Cosmina darling, can we let this one slide. Having him on our side would be beneficial for us"  

'Darling ?!!!!' Her cheeks blossomed red as she stared at the ground. "...I...I know My Lord,....but..." 

"of course...." Akher lifted his index finger up and Jack's body floated into the air. "for touching what I hold precious...punishment is inevitable". With a flick of his finger, Jack's body twisted in ways not meant for the human body and it was a sight too terrifying for the human eyes. 

The four figures found themselves completely down casted as the hollow body fell to the ground. 

"How's that ?" he asked Cosmina. 

Cosmina nodded in satisfaction with a bright smile on her face. 

Akher's attention went to the knighted guards that had been standing on every corner of the throne room. Exactly 20 in number. 

"they're your familiars, aren't they ?" 

"Yes. They are". 

"you two, take him to the Dungeon. I hope you refurnished it as I instructed ?" 

"Yes, I was sure to attend to all the matters you assigned to me while you were gone". Cosmina nodded. 

"Good..". Two of the knights quickly picked Jack's body while one led them to the door. 

The four figures watched them until they left the room while Renfield the butler walked in just before it was closed. 

Renfields glanced  at the body with a sight as he continued walking towards the throne room. 'His powers never cease to amaze me'.

"Do not fear. He's not dead though it'll take a while for him to regenerate to his original form". 

"Master, was that truly necessary ?" the female in white and pink cloak said.

"hmm....of course.....this woman you see is more precious to me than all of the creatures of the Unseen Forces...." he rubbed his temples trying to ignore her remark. "anyways....take off your hood now". 

At his instructions the two ladies pulled down their hoods. 

"Cosmina, Renfield.....let me introduce you to our generals and generals, let me introduce you to My wide and head butler..." he said with a smirk resting his head on his hand again. 

"This is Chiphon, leader of the Centaur Tribe. It took a while for me to find their home and even more to get their stubborn leader to join forces with me"  

"I am truly sorry for my misconduct of that time"  the Centaur said, kneeling one of his horse's front legs down in a bow. 

"balderdash ! Your stubborn race knows no sincerity when it comes to apologizing". 

The Centaur chuckled, getting back up. "you are truly vested in our culture". 

"of course, I was there when your race began". 

The Centaur, Chiffon laughed out loud. "that is truly so". 

"onto the next..." Akher sighed ignoring him. 

"I am known as Elven of the Dark Elfen tribe. It truly is a delight to be in your presence, My ravishing lady" he bowed as well.

"Tch....What did I say about your greetings, Elven ?" Akher glared at him while Cosmina chuckled.

"I'm sorry, great Dark Lord ! But it is absurd to not appreciate such beauty when seen for the first time". 

"May I not remind you that our master is also beautiful !" the woman in the dirty brown cloak said with a hush and annoyed voice. 

"Hah ! How can such a lowly race as the Elfs know what true beauty is, Gorgonna ?" the female in the pink cloak nodded in agreement as they folded their hands.

"How dare you !" Elven yelled in annoyance. 

"Enough !" Akher commanded and in a span of a second, they all went back to their expressions void of emotions. Cosmina was chuckling the whole time.

"I'm not even done with the introductions yet, can't you guys keep your bickering to the lowest minimum?" 

"will do, Master". Elven nodded.

Akher sighed as he continued. "this is Karin and believe it or not but from the horn on her forehead"-"I'm a UNICORN !". The girl in the pink cloak chorused as she held her hand to her face in the peace sign.