Thankfully, the servants were in another room, and Aria quickly used some generic magic to make sure they didn’t hear anything. They could not afford to have this information leak out. “That’s enough.” She scowled at Jonathan. She wasn’t truly angry with him, but this was going to be very, very troublesome. “Fine. I’ll talk to him. If we’re going to be stuck with him, we might as well hear what he has to say.”
“Okay.” Jonathan made a face. “You might want to brace yourself. The manor was built on some powerful currents of magic, so he’s been replenishing his strength.”
Red light spilled out of the dagger, and they all tensed. It solidified into the shape of a tall, broad-shouldered man. No, this was no mere man. This was the Blood Emperor. The stories had always spoken of his presence and charisma. They had badly understated it. The Blood Emperor was a warrior through and through, and he towered over everyone except Blue Scales. Even so, his presence alone made it feel as though he was a giant – no, a titan – in the presence of ants.
Yet it was his eyes that had the greatest effect. They were twin pools of bloody crimson that grasped everything around him in an instant and analysed it all without a moment of delay. This was the legendary vampire who had wielded awesome power with the skill of a master craftsman. He was not some blundering ancient, relying more on brute force than skill. Aria shivered. He must be unbelievably powerful. The Word he’d unleashed had been incredibly devastating. Eric had admitted that only the very mightiest of his clan could have survived the attack, and only the very greatest of that elite group would have been in any condition to fight afterward.
“So,” the Blood Emperor began, shimmering like a mirage in the desert. “This is what I have to work with.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aria asked, raising one eyebrow.
The Blood Emperor mirrored her expression. “I think you know.”
“Do you really think we’ll just go along with this?” Aria asked with genuine curiosity. “People say you were a tyrant. Even other vampires rebelled against you.”
Jonathan looked aghast, but the Blood Emperor merely smiled. If anything, he seemed impressed. “Vampires rebel against each other all the time. The tendency toward treachery is one of our less, shall we say, helpful characteristics. But you’re right. I was a tyrant. It was the only way to unify my people. So let me ask you a question: can you think of any large nations that are not currently under the control of tyrants in some form or another?”
Aria chuckled. Tyrants were plentiful. There were benevolent ones, true, but the major nations were either ruled by tyrants or by groups of tyrants. “Point taken.”
“Indeed.” The Blood Emperor looked into the distance. It gave him the appearance of a wise, thoughtful leader. She wondered if he’d practiced the motion. “I’ve seen into Jonathan’s mind. I know what has happened since my fall. The empire I built is fractured and divided. The land is riven by constant war. Did you know there was actually less war when I was in charge?” He shrugged. “Or rather, there was less war when people finally stopped questioning if I was in charge.”
“Really?”
Eric laughed. “You know he’s right, Aria.”
“Ah, yes, a werewolf. You’re too young to remember my time, but I’m sure some of your elders have taught you. The thing is, I might be a tyrant, but I’m a rational one. If you want your empire to last, then you need happy, productive citizens – either that or you need to use mind control on everyone, which is both impossible and a recipe for disaster. If you put food in their bellies, coins in their pockets, and roofs over their heads, most people will be more than happy to follow you. Moreover, constant warfare is draining. An emperor – a true emperor – must leave his empire in better condition than he found it. Can you honestly say that the petty, squabbling aristocrats of today have done a better job than me? I might not be the best ruler who has ever lived – although I’d argue that I’m at least in the top three – but I am several steps above the fools running the show today.”
Aria had to concede the point. She had only lived in the Blood Alliance for several years, but she had studied it extensively as a paladin. It was, quite frankly, a mess with the alliances between its various factions tenuous at best as they bickered for power and prestige. An empire might have been capable of war on a grander scale, but what historians had pieced together was unequivocal: the Blood Emperor had called his forces to a halt after securing the vampire homelands. He’d even parlayed with some of his opponents to secure buffer zones rather than simply declare war on everyone. He was a tyrant, but as he’d said, he was a rational one. If he went to war, it would not be on a whim.
“Think of the great roads that spanned the Blood Empire. Who ordered those to be built in the first place? If Jonathan’s memory is correct, then many of them still exist and are in wide use. Who put Blood Law in place to guarantee basic rights?” The Blood Emperor clenched one fist. “It was I! I did those things because I wished to forge a real empire – one nation with one people and one ruler. As a young man, I saw the constant, raging war, and I knew it had to end. You could do far worse than me for a ruler.”
“We could,” Aria conceded. “But do you realise the position this puts us in? You still have many enemies. Most of the nobility will oppose your return. If they realise that we’re helping you, we’re all dead.”
“Hah! That’s only if they notice. I can conceal myself, and now that I’ve recovered more of my strength, I can do something about the dagger too.” The dagger dissolved into motes of light that faded into Jonathan’s body. “Tell them the dagger was destroyed along with the manor. If I devote my full strength to concealment, then not even one of the ancients who knew me will be able to sense me unless Jonathan calls upon my power in their presence.”
“But can you even bring yourself back?” Eric asked. “I’ve heard there are vampires who can regenerate from fragments of their soul, but doesn’t that take ages?”
“It has been a long time since I fell,” the Blood Emperor replied. “And I left several contingencies in place.” He smiled toothily. “I might have lost, but I had suspected someone would betray me. I’m not strong enough to activate those contingencies yet, but if I continue to travel with you, especially in certain areas, I will regain more and more of my old power. Many believe that ancients are the most powerful vampires. I am far beyond any mere ancient. Every foe you slay will only increase my power, and every day that passes will only strengthen me. Besides, what do you have to lose? You have no lands to call your own, and you all seem to love adventure. What grander adventurer can there be than this? And when I succeed, have no fear. I do not forget my friends and allies. You will be most richly rewarded. An emperor does not abandon those who demonstrate true loyalty.”
“And if we don’t succeed?”
“Have you forgotten the cavern? Could any of you have slain that beast so easily?”
“No. But we would have worn it down in the end.”
“Perhaps. How many of you would have lived to tell the tale? I am a generous ruler. If you need my aid, then I will offer what power, wisdom, and knowledge I can.” He gazed at each of them in turn. “I am no paladin, but I have faced more of them than you could imagine. I could teach you many things, Aria. Blue Scales, I don’t go near the ocean much – no vampire does – but I know many spells and techniques you might find useful.” He smiled warmly at Miles. “I commend your loyalty. It is truly worthy of praise, and I wonder what I could have achieved if I had more men like you serving me. You have been trained by a warrior monk but only in a handful of styles. In my youth, I learned from many warrior monks. Think of what I could teach you.”
“Thank you,” Miles replied. “My master deserves my loyalty.”
“Indeed, he does.” The Blood Emperor’s gaze shifted to Eric. “And you, werewolf, I’ve forgotten more about your kind than even your wisest shamans can remember. The only one still living who could match my knowledge is my old enemy,
Alaric.” His eyes gleamed. “Jonathan is my anchor, and he works with all of you. If I wish to return, I cannot allow him to be slain, and it would be in my best interests to help all of you reach your potentials.”
Aria sighed. “I’m not sure we have much of a choice. Even if we did try to betray you, people might think we were conspiring to help you. It sounds like we’re stuck with you. We might as well make the best of it”
“Yes,” the Blood Emperor replied. “You should.”
* * *
“So the dagger is lost then? It was sucked into the Beyond during the battle?” Daven sighed and shook his head. “A pity – but perhaps it’s for the best. Given how troublesome even one of the things sealed into it has proven to be, I can scarcely imagine what would happen if anything else escaped.” His lips curled. “The loss of my manor is unfortunate, but given what both you and my servants have told me, it was the correct decision.”
“Even so…” Jonathan said. “I had hoped to resolve this matter without destroying your manor.”
Daven waved one hand in dismissal. “Manors can be rebuilt. Its loss is a small price to pay to ensure my reputation and other holdings remain safe. Had such a creature managed to escape and spread its corruption further, I would have faced far worse than the loss of a manor. The destruction of my manor might even prove fortuitous.” He chuckled. “As you so kindly pointed out, it would be easy to attribute the destruction to my enemies – a failed assassination or some other plot. I now have the perfect excuse to move against my enemies. After all, what sort of vampire noble would tolerate such an insult?” Daven folded his hands together. “You have done well. You and your team shall receive the payment we agreed upon, along with a bonus to show my appreciation and good will.” It went unspoken that Jonathan and the others would keep the true nature of what had transpired at the manor to themselves.” He smiled. “You do your House proud, Lord Bloodhaven. Regardless of your political affiliations, you are a vampire who gets things done. Should I have further need of such a vampire in the future, I shall seek you out.”
“You are too kind.” Jonathan nodded and extended one hand. “Until the next time, Baron Darkletter. May the night watch over you.”
The baron shook his hand. “Indeed, although I do hope it is some time before we meet again.”
Jonathan and Aria waited until the baron and his retainers had left before they invited the others in, so they could open the chest he’d left behind. It was considered extremely poor form to count payment in front of the baron. It was akin to saying they didn’t trust him. A search of the chest proved their concerns were unfounded. The chest contained the promised payment – along with an additional twenty per cent.
“I’m guessing the extra is hush money.” Eric grinned. “I can do that.”
“I hope so,” Jonathan said. “The last thing we need is an angry noble coming after us. The baron is not a vampire to take lightly.”
Someone knocked on the door. “Lord Bloodhaven,” one of the staff members of the Union said. “There is another request for your team. Would you like to review the mission request? We have it downstairs.”
“Your team?” Aria chuckled. “It’s our team, but let’s see what they want.”
As they moved toward the door with the chest – they would have the Union transfer the contents to their banks of choice – Jonathan felt a fresh stab of hope. His share of the reward wasn’t nearly enough to get his castle back, but it was a good start.
Small steps. The Blood Emperor chuckled. Even my empire wasn’t built in a day.
Epilogue – Imperial Analysis
The Blood Emperor rested. Despite the awe-inspiring display he’d put on for the group in the cavern and his bold words afterward, he’d used far more power than was wise. It was a testament to his acting skills that they hadn’t noticed. Setting aside his need to keep his anchor – Jonathan – alive, he had also promised to help the others. He was not the sort of man to let an eldritch abomination consume his future subjects either. One way or another, he’d get his empire back, and he would have been a poor emperor indeed if he didn’t have any citizens to rule.
There was also a certain level of irony to the whole matter. He’d met more than one of Jonathan’s ancestors. Those fellows had rightfully earned the nickname ‘fence sitter’ due to their indecision. Whether it was coffee and tea or rebellion and loyalty, they’d never been good at making decisions in a timely manner. The Blood Emperor would have found the whole thing hilarious if that indecision hadn’t, at least in part, contributed to his own demise. Jonathan, for all that he resembled his ancestors in many ways, at least had the guts to make a big decision, and that was worthy of praise.
For all that he was quiet and reserved, the younger vampire also had a goal, something he was willing to risk his life for. The Blood Emperor could respect that, and if helping Jonathan get his castle and his stuff back came with the opportunity for some revenge, well, so much the better. Perhaps it was petty to think of revenge after all these years, but he’d have to go through the descendants of his betrayers if he wanted to get his empire back. The Blood Empire had been the culmination of his life’s work, the result of years of effort and a monument to his patience and foresight. To have it taken away by people driven by petty jealousy, needless greed, and unrivalled stupidity was galling in the extreme. He could have accepted it if he’d been defeated by a worthy opponent – Alaric the Great Silver would have been one such enemy, and he was pleased to know the old werewolf was still around – but the bunch of backstabbing cowards who’d done him in had proven utterly inadequate as rulers following his demise.
Maybe it was just bad luck.
His father had always called him unlucky although who was really unlucky was debatable, given his father’s horrible and very fiery demise. Yet his father had been right about one thing. Only a fool left success to chance. The key to success was to remove luck as a factor as much as possible. If he had to carve a path of blood through the world, then he would – but only after taking the most rigorous and thorough preparations. He would eventually regain his full strength, but until then, he needed to be careful. It was not only his life at stake but also the lives of Jonathan and the others. His mother had once told him – while brandishing her sword at him as she usually did – that it was fine for him to be reckless with his own life, but he needed to be more careful with the lives of others.
He had no doubts whatsoever that at least a few of his ancient enemies had faked their own deaths. They might not have been much good at ruling, but they could be cunning from time to time. They were likely biding their time, just waiting for him to reveal himself while they ruled from the shadows. For the time being, he could not announce himself. Otherwise, his enemies would band together and destroy him. Vampires might be a fractious bunch, but they could work together if they were worried enough. His best bet would be to pick them off one by one as opportunity allowed. If he was lucky, he might even be able to turn them against each other. Mere rumours of his return might even be enough to have the most cowardly amongst them rushing to throw the others into the line of fire to ensure their own survival. Hmm… he’d have to consider that possibility. He’d won plenty of battles with his power, but he’d won even more through tactics and strategy. His enemies didn’t know he was back, and they didn’t know how weak he was. If he controlled how and when they learned of his existence, he could tip the odds in his favour.
At the moment, however, his foremost concern was Jonathan. The other vampire was a noble, but the Bloodhavens had never been powerful. Jonathan could not channel anything close to his full might, and even smaller portions of his power were likely to leave him dead or catatonic if he didn’t use them sparingly. That was simply unacceptable, and the Blood Emperor needed to find a way around it. There was little he could do to boost Jonathan’s innate power. Bloodlines mattered, and Jonathan’s was not suited for combat the way the Blood Emperor’s was. However, he could help Jonathan reach
his full potential, and he intended to put the other vampire through as rigorous a training regime as possible. The effects should be impressive, and they would last for a lifetime, a suitable reward for a loyal follower. The Blood Emperor smiled. Perhaps he could recruit Miles into helping Jonathan train. The butler was clearly loyal, and he would likely aid the Blood Emperor in anything that could potentially help Jonathan.
There was also the question of what to give Jonathan when he made his return. The Blood Emperor knew how precious and rare true loyalty was. It would be nice to have someone around who wasn’t likely to stab him in the back or succumb to ambition. Jonathan was not like most vampires. He did not want to become some mighty and prestigious noble, which made getting him a suitable gift difficult. A second castle might be nice. Alternatively, he could pay to have Jonathan’s castle renovated. From what he’d glimpsed of it in Jonathan’s memories, it was more shabby than cosy. At the very least, he could expand Jonathan’s library. The younger vampire was a scholar at heart, so more books should appeal to him.
There was also the group he’d joined. Put simply, the group was full of weirdos. A troubled shape-shifter, an exiled paladin, a wandering werewolf, and a merman who seemed far too comfortable on land, alongside a landless vampire noble and a butler with a dark past – they were not the team he’d have picked if he had a choice. However, he did not have a choice, and he couldn’t argue with results. Unconventional or not, they’d managed to get this far, and trust and camaraderie were invaluable on the battlefield. There was also a part of him that found the whole thing amusing. His enemies would never even dream of looking for him in a group like this.
Sooner or later, as his power grew and he acquired the artefacts and relics he needed, his enemies would notice something amiss. But given the prejudice many older vampires held toward humans and other races, they would never consider the possibility that the group was involved. No. They would look for him amongst vampires of high standing and grand ambition, vampires who they already saw as threats. They wouldn’t realise the truth until it was too late. He hadn’t been lying earlier. With his help, everyone in the group could grow stronger – and they would have to. There was no way he could get his empire back without some bloodshed.
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