"Raise your glasses gentlemen. Here's to the dawn..."
Three simultanious wine glasses were raised in the air, shortly to be brought down to their drinker's lips. The small group sat clustered about crackling fireplace within the Common Room of the Bastion. Hardly a word had been spoken all evening between them. Their thoughts belonged not to the evening they were in, but the dusk of tomorrow.
Pacing slowly before the fireplace, Throm took a drink from his glass.
"I am going above for a short while..."
Recieving no response he turned to the elaborate spiraling staircase and made his way upwards. Slowly finding his way about inside the darkened Command Deck, he wandered over to the open hatch and leaned against the bulkhead to stare out over the water far below which cast the moon's reflection up at the airship.
~Tomorrow we strike?~
Throm nodded, stepping backwards from the hatch. A sudden gust blew into the moonlit compartment as the large reptilian form emerged from the skies and entered the ship. Folding back his wings, the young Shou Dragon stretched his neck to remove the kinks that came with flight.
~Yes Avalon, tomorrow we strike. Tonight we will remained anchored and enjoy that which only relaxation can bring.~
A low chatter came from the dragon, signifying that relaxation for him meant none other than sleep. Taking Avalon's hint into consideration, Throm threw a small lever placed on the bulkhead and the large hatch shut heavily, followed by a slight hissing noise as it sealed and locked. Taking another drink of wine, he carefully stepped around the dragon to find the stairwell, lit now only by a thin shaft of moonlight originating from the Observation Deck.
Finally reaching the bottom deck, Throm once again found himself within the warmth of the Common Room. Mavin sat upon the couch facing the fireplace. Looking up from the lute he was tuning he nodded to his older brother.
"Where did Lithanus go to?"
Mavin shrugged, turning back to his task at hand.
"He made his way to the Crew Quarters I think. He must have had a tiresome day with you dragging him across New Thalos."
Smirking, Throm sat down next to his younger brother. Gazing into the flames he spoke outloud.
"He knew...Mavin, he knew that I was his father the entire time. Yet he said nothing."
"Neither did you. In his eyes you were the one who knew unbeknownst to him. And in knowing, you failed to reveal the truth. You stand equally as guilty brother."
Nodding, Throm continued to gaze into the flames in a trance like state.
"It can't be easy. During our lives we have known the opposite. Most of our lives we had a father only to lose him. Lithanus has never had a father, and only when his mother died has his father appeared."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes. A silence broken only by the occassional strum of the lute, as Mavin tested his tuning. Finally finding his efforts satisfactory, Mavin set the instrument aside and turned his head to Throm.
"Why is it that we wait? If it were me who did not return from The Den would we still be waiting?"
Sighing, Throm drew another drink from his glass.
"It is because it is not you who did not return, that you seek to rush out without regard to consequence Mavin. Darius was the team lead...I trust he knew what he was doing. Our crew is exhausted...as such we will leave tomorrow night. I promise you, all will be set right."
Patting Mavin on the shoulder, he stood catching his balance as he felt the effects of the wine begin to take form. Turning he made his way through the doorway, and began to head towards the berths only to stop short as he found Lithanus in the Parlour staring up at a long wooden rod mounted upon the wall. Lithanus jumped a little, startled by the sound of another voice within the room.
"A rod belonging to none other than the gods themselves. The power to wield it does not rest within mortal capabilities...so I have placed it here."
"How did you come across such an artifact?"
Throm chuckled as he shook his head.
"I'm afraid that tale you may find less exciting than one might hope. I found it discarded in Westbridge. Divination has proven this item beyond the make of even the most powerful of mortal wizards. And so I hold it in trust, until the day I have oppurtunity to return it."
Lithanus gave a short nod and stepped backwards from the wall on which the rod was mounted. Nodding to Throm, he made his way for the Crew Quarters. Clearing his throat, Throm called out after the young man.
"I would not ask to be considered a father to a boy whom I never had the chance to raise any sooner than I would ask you to be the son to a father you never had."
Lithanus stopped in his tracks but did not turn around as Throm continued.
"However it is my greatest desire that we may call each other friends...perhaps in time I could find myself a father to a man whose mother would be proud of."
A long silence fell as both stood motionless. Again Throm broke the silence.
"Well, a hot jacuzzi and a warm bed call to me. I bid you good night Lithanus."
Throm set his wine glass down on one of the many pedestals that lined the small room and turned to the doorway leading back into the Common Room. This time it was he who stopped short as Lithanus spoke softly.
"Hemelia..."
Throm turned slowly back around.
"Pardon me?"
Lithanus turned in his own doorway to face Throm.
"You wanted to know how she died. A rare strain of Hemelia took her life. Her last wish was that we meet..."
Throm's brow furrowed for a moment, deep in thought. Then, lips pursed, he gave Lithanus a single deep nod. Turning he left the Parlour.
Some Time Later...
Great beams of light shown down from the heavens, splitting through the night sky like arrows through water. The four massive columns of light searched the ground below for a moment before focusing on a large darkened house surrounded by the small forested area. The beams of light intensified even further for a moment as if finding their mark before returning to their original state. A low rumble slowly began to shake the very ground. From the cloud cover above, the source of the lights was finally revealed in the form of a massive airship which dwarfed the house.
Looming low over the structure, a single barrel slowly extended from the bottom of the ship's hull, pointed directly at the house.
A small explosion was heard as the barrel fired a shell directly through the front door. Two seconds passed before a larger explosion came from inside the house. Blowing out the glass windows, fire leapt out at all angles from inside the house. The peaceful still of night had been turned to carnage.
Inside the house, the few remaining eyes were turned to the front door. The front wall to which the door was connected exploded in yet another burst of flames as the large form of a dragon shot past the multiple bodies lying on the floor, landing upon the still sitting form of the Guildmaster. A large body guard curled his lip around his pointed teeth and began to move forward to assist the incapacitated Guildmaster, but was stopped short as another figure shot through the large fiery hole that was once the front door. The tattoos on his bared arms glistening in the firelight, Lithanus raised the sword in his hand and rushed forward to intercept the large vampire. A few well placed swings of the sword missed the vampire as it moved with a speed unfitting of a mortal. Circling behind Lithanus, the body guard shot a quick kick to the boy's sword hand causing him to cry out and drop his sword. Snarling the vampire, rushed forward, pinning Lithanus against the wall. Drawing his head back, the guard exposed his fangs preparing to bite. Lithanus pushed as hard as he could trying to push the bulky form off from him. Flinching as blood splattered across his face, he looked up to see that his opponent had been beheaded. Again Lithanus pushed, this time the body fell to the ground with ease to reveal Mavin standing beside him, his blade covered in black blood. Mavin turned on his heel and pointed the tip of his sword directly at the gaunt man who was pinned into his chair compliments of Avalon.
"Where is he?"
Smiling unpleasantly, the Guildmaster replied.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand..."
Slowly, the man began to dissolve into a green smoke-like cloud, whisping away from the dragon with ease. Avalon snapped at the cloud with his great maw, but his efforts were in vain. The cloud gained form and began to drift through the flames towards the former doorway.
A heavy gust of wind blew the cloud straight backwards, pinning it against the demolished staircase on the far end of the entryway. The gust continued, causing the flames to intensify and spread. The green cloud finally began to draw closer together to form the image of the Guildmaster before gaining full corpereal form. In less than an instant, Avalon rushed forward, snapping the man in half at the midsection with his jaws. Blood covered the walls, running across the far wall as the wind spread it. The Guildmaster gasped on the floor, his entrails hanging from the point in which Avalon had cleaved him. All at once the wind ceased. Through the smoke, yet another form took place, gaining clarity as it approached. Choking on his own blood the Guildmaster spoke out, causing flecks of blood to splatter from his mouth.
"Ahh...Throm...I've heard you were recently promoted into leadership within the Guardians..."
The broken man coughed, spreading a thin layer of blood upon the floor as it dripped from his chin.
"Congratulations are in order..."
Stopping just short of the man upon the floor, Throm gave the Guildmaster a slight bow.
"My thanks..."
Adjusting himself as best he could, the Guildmaster propped himself up against the wall to look up at his 'guests'.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? The last time you were here you killed my favorite guard and sent me on some fool's errand with false information on The Book of the Dead. Tonight you kill nearly my entire enclave and destroy my home."
Shadows began to writhe as the remaining members of the enclave took note of the conversation. Yet they moved neither to help nor hinder their master. Nodding Throm draw his sword from beneath his cloak and placed the tip underneath the Guildmaster's chin.
"Where is Darius?"
The Guildmaster sniffed, wiping what he could of the blood from his chin with a single shaking hand.
"Bah, that is what all this commotion is about? Why didn't you spare yourself the trouble and just say so in the first place? Darius! Your friends are here!"
From the shadows leapt Darius...yet not the same Darius known by his companions. His skin pale as the moon, and his teeth bared into wickedly sharp fangs he seemed not to be aware of his surroundings. His reddish eyes fixed upon Throm, Darius rushed forward with a speed of such force that the flames nearest him were put out.
With the tip of the blade still held study beneath his charge's chin, Throm flicked the wrist of his left hand releasing a throwing blade bearing the crest of the Crimson Guardians. His eyes never leaving the Guildmaster, he threw the knife which found it's mark directly amid Darius' chest. Stopping short, as if he had hit a brick wall, Darius' eyes went blank as he hit the floor. The Guildmaster grinned up at Throm.
"Well, I certainly....didn't see that coming..."
Trying to laugh, again blood foamed out onto his chin. His laughing stopped short however as his gaze looked beyond Throm, to the body of Darius upon the floor. The crest upon the knife sticking from the chest of Darius began to glow a brilliant blue. In yet another great flash both the knife and Darius vanished from sight. Turning ever so slightly Throm spoke to his companions.
"Mavin, Lithanus. Return to the ship and lay out a course for Westbridge. Darius is at the Morgue there, we will return him to the Manor and await his recovery. Avalon and I shall board in but a few minutes."
Silently the two left the burning building leaving only Throm, Avalon, the Guildmaster, and the enclave. Staring up at Throm, rage and hatred filled his face.
"I took you in! Before any! Before the Syndicate, before your beloved Guardians, there was me! I was as a father to you!"
"No Guildmaster....you were nothing like my father."
Throm thrust the blade forward, severing the Guildmaster's head. The shadows that had remained at bay, began to once again writhe. Avalon reared back, preparing to attack. Throm's voice rang through his mind as it often did.
~No Avalon, they are free now...they will not attack us.~
To Throm's credit, the shadows began to dissolve as the enclave began to leave the house. Turning on his heel to leave he stopped short as Avalon's voice rang back within his own mind.
~Vectorian survivor...~
Throm turned his head slightly to spot the young vampiric boy, crouching near the staircase. Jerking his head towards the burning opening of the building, he spoke calm words.
"Well lad. Are you coming? Unless that is of course, you'd rather remain here..."
Continuing Throm left the building which he once had called home, the Shou Dragon following shortly behind.
Looking about at the vacant house, looking at the bodies upon the floor, looking at the dead Guildmaster, the boy stood and ran after the pair.