A Sanguine Moon (Aeneus x ProxyZero)

[Matthias]

The city had been conquered and the kingdom had fallen. It had been only a few weeks since the last stand of the forces of light, their defeat at the hands of the Vampires and their armies. Soldiers now lined the streets to maintain curfew, clad in black armor and wielding halberds. Their patrols were often and thorough, anyone caught this late at night on the streets was thrown into the large cages down by the docks or slain without mercy on the spot. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a large sanguine moon rose from the East, a triumph to the Vampires and their dark gods. It rose above the spires of the once great city and squashed any hope from the people of Aethalia still had.

"The war is not over. Several pockets of resistance still remain in the mountains and isolated areas of the kingdom. The Western coast of the kingdom is littered with several islands that may serve as rally points for the resistance. We believe several have castles constructed on them to hold out against extended sieges." An Adviser spoke to Lucius Domitius, current provincial ruler and overlord of Aethalia, hand chosen by the emperor. His accomplishments included defeating the armies of light in the final battle and annexing the province in just a few weeks.

"They have little in terms of magic. Most of their mages were killed in the last fight. The holdouts themselves are poorly fed foot soldiers held up in small forts." Lucius replied, his voice echoing of the marble of the great hall. He sat upon the throne of Aethalia drinking a chalice filled with the blood of recently sacrificed virgin. The palace of the recently deceased king had become his new place of residence. Banners of the Empire hung from every pillar and flags fluttered in the wind on the ramparts. His personal guards at every entrance and threshold.

Lucius took a long sip from the chalice then wiped his lips with his fingers. His gaze shifted from the great hall to the adviser. A warlock from the Heartlands, old and dressed in black robes. Despite the Nechepsos Empire being ruled by Vampires, most of its people were humans who lived as serfs and slaves. Only those who could wield magic, served as soldiers, or were priests to the dark gods could call themselves citizens or freemen. Vampires were the noble elite ruling the provinces and holding the offices of state, commanding their armies. "Word has reached me from our spy master several priestess escaped into the wilderness." He commented finally, his voice hinting disapproval.

"We sent scouts to hunt them down-" The adviser was cut short by Lucius lifting his hand for him to stop speaking.

"Do not let them lure our men in small numbers out into the more rural areas of the countryside where they can be picked off one by one." Lucius said. "They will return to the city, soon enough."

 

[ProxyZero]

Sapphire kept close to the outskirts of the once beautiful kingdom, but now it was tainted by the blood of fallen citizens and the vampires that drank them as well. She was cloaked in a dark brown cape and let the hood cover her eyes. Not like they weren't covered already by her helmet though. The cape was also tattered and coated in blood of a dead dog as well, She couldn't have those vampires finding her out by the scent of blood already!
She was practically holding her breath as she walked about quietly. One hand stayed behind her back and the other right at her side. She wasn't exactly looking to kill... No... Killing right now would be too sloppy and noticeable for those damn vampires. She only had to kill when she needed too, but then again the more dead vampires the better right?

"Well then... They've swarmed this place like insects... This will not be an eaay task, but I must retrieve my armor set... these light pieces will only get me killed against these... these things..." Sapphire sighed heavily and continued to close in to the closest entrance. She had to get past them some how.

Her thoughts drifted over to the vampire that had taken this place over. She only heard his name once or twice too. It was hard to remember, but the name Lucius did ring a bell.

"Let's see here... ugh... what's that horrible scent?" A lower vampire had been patrolling the roads and she knelt down once she saw something rather put of the ordinary... at least for being on the ground. It was a golden necklace with a sapphire pendant. "Now that's a rather interesting find..." She chuckled and picked it up and brushed the dirt and dried blood away. "It must have been lost in the battle~" She chuckled and slowly stood up.
"Something to show Eri- ack... ulp... W...What...?" The vampie started choking... on her own blood. A silver knife made it's way around her neck and sliced right into her throat.

Sapphire never liked killing people, but then again these monsters weren't people to her. The vampire turned around and tried to throw a quick jab her way. Her hands had a red glow to them which was the only magic she could use in such a state.
This didn't matter to Sapphire though, with a side step and a swift slicing motion she had gotten her right in the face.
"AAAACK!" She screamed loudly, and with that Sapphire attenoted not to curse but finished the vampire off with the silver dagger plunged into her heart.
"Mother of... this could be bad... lady Merideth I pray you deliver me from this... I need to flee immediately!" She spoke to herself and retrieved her knife and the sapphire pendant. She put it on quickly and sighed in relief.
"Huh... thought I would lose this little thing forever... welp."
There wasn't any time to stay relieved though. Sapphire quickly fled into the darkness to stay hidden. All she needed to di was scout for information and somehow get her armor set back, she had hoped that they didn't find her secret room within the temple.
Althought even uf they had it woukd be tough getting in without the key and since dark magic was mostly nullified within it's walls it wouldn't help, but that nullification was only temporary now and was dwindling down.

So Sapphire continued on her way to the temple, the temole she watched over for so long. She couldn't be too hasty or rush, that would only get her struck down by lord knows what.

The vampires that took over really were like ants though, she would watch them patrol the streets and even wondered if any heard the blood curdling shriek of their own being slain. Perhaps vampires of the other side went instead to investigate? Or maybe they didn't care about their own enough to check it out.
No matter the situation at hand here she couldn't be off focused at all.

Her very life would depend on getting inside that temple, she was just one simple woman too. Harmless to the eyes, but underestimation would be anyone's number one mistake half the time. She was no warrior goddess, she was no knight or queen, But Sapphire was strong and drermined to protect her holy siblings and any who needed the guiding light of her and her goddess.