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Nocturnal Bloodlines Main page Nocturnal BloodlinesFEEDBACK - Oh Yes Please -You can email us docwho2000@hotmail.com author: docwho2100 and mightygupo Consensual relationship depicted between adult women in this story. If you have a problem with that or are under 18 please do not read.
Prologue Transylvania 1568 Tara slowly made her way deep within the catacomb’s walls underneath the old abandoned monastery, pulling her weary body over to a small alcove that was once used by the priests when they entombed their saved and sainted. She fell wearily to a bench, and took off the heavy boots, wondering, hoping that this would be the last time she would ever have to perform this task. When her shoes were off she leaned heavily back against the stone walls while she pulled the rags from her wounds that she had received fighting her father Dracula, and once again defeating him and sending him to what might or might not be his eternal rest. Throwing the bloody rags aside, she was about to lean back when she heard a frightened whimper outside the door. Grabbing her sword and forcing herself up, she called out. “Show yourself, thief or demon which ever you be.” She was amazed when a small man-child, no more that ten entered the room. “What business have you here?” She demanded. “I-I… I’m Jacule, ma’am. You saved my village from Dracula, but not before my family was k-killed.” He stammered out. Once he realized that she wasn’t killing him and had relaxed her stance slightly and lowered tip of her blade, he went on. “I wish to repay you for your kindness, and I have no other place to be. I figured out who you are. You’re Tara Vlad Tepes, dhampyr daughter to Dracula.” Jacule stated taking a knee. “I offer myself and my line to the protection of you until such time you're needed for the land again, in the event your father arises again. You are the woman of legends are you not?” “I am, Jacule. Go leave this place. Your vow puts much upon you and your lineage, you are a boy you have no idea of what you are promising me.” Tara said, making her voice harsh, even though she found that she respected and liked the young man. “I will not wish that upon anyone, much less someone whose life hasn’t started.” “Please ma’am, I do know what I am saying, what vow I am making. I may be a child in your eyes, but this is what my heart tells me I must do, my lady.” Jacule said jumping up and looking into Tara’s eyes. “I do not fear my fate.” Tara sighed and sat back down, looking at the boy. She studied him for a few moments, “So be it, boy. This place is safe, most think it is a haunted, though sacred place. So many will not venture here. Take this land and make it your own. I have money stashed all throughout this place. Take it and build your future.” Tara nodded. “Before you go give me the food you have that you don’t need to make it to the next village for supplies.” When the boy tossed his food to her she smiled and began to eat, replenishing herself so that her wounds could heal as she slept. When she was done she nodded at the boy. “Fare thee well, Jacule, for hopefully this is our last meeting.” She got up and went and stretched out on the makeshift bed. Closing her eyes she began the process of the Sleep, relaxing her body. Jacule watched over her until her breathing deepened, then over a period of hours went shallow, almost as if she wasn’t breathing at all. Only the periodic twitch of her chest every hour or so, was what told him that the woman maintained some life. As night darkened he left the chamber and returned to the chapel, surrounded by the holy relics of the church, and making a comfortable palate fell asleep thinking of the travel he would be making the next morning at sunrise. England 1668 Buffy walked through the rose garden noting each flower as she let her senses idly track the overwhelming fragrance coming from the flowers. They would be leaving tomorrow. She had a strange feeling this was different from their other trips and missions. Since being called last year, Giles had taken her on more and more trips around the countryside and even branching out across the water a few times. She had spent her whole life behind the walls of the Council. She had been sent her when just a young girl for special training, something to do with her family heritage. Training had consisted of fighting styles, weapon training and demon recognition and lore, most of which Buffy struggled to retain. The fighting always came naturally, the book learning was worse than facing down five hungry vampires for Buffy. She had always felt there was more to be learned, but the Council trainers assigned to her would school her in the basic subjects and then leave her the rest of the day to simply explore the woods or grounds or whatever Buffy could find to occupy herself. She would write and detail what she did to her family, but the return letters always seemed to indicate that was exactly what she was to be learning. What neither Buffy nor her family knew was every letter in and out was carefully read, rewritten and censored so Buffy's true destiny and training remained hidden from her and her family assumed the next Belmont champion was being tutored and strengthened to continue the fight. What neither side knew was that agents in the Council were working to keep Buffy's training and skills to a minimum, to weaken the Belmont lineage and to make sure when Dracula arose again, there would be no one to stand against him. The Council had been surprised when the slayer had died and the new slayer was called. They had not expected the slayer to be among their ranks, they had never suspected the next slayer would be a young woman named Elizabeth Buffy Belmont. When she had awoken with her knew skills, she had been assigned a Watcher, Rupert Giles. Giles had been different from her other teachers and mentors and Buffy had found for the first time in her 16 years someone who cared about her not just as a tool but as a young woman. He had started to school her in the ways of a slayer, things she had not considered or been taught earlier. They had also started patrols, first around London, then branching out to the countryside and the last six months Giles had taken her to wonderful places. New places full of people so different from what she had been exposed to. For the first time she had not fully resented being Buffy Belmont. She had always hated her destiny and her family for giving her that destiny. She would see other women and men and the lives they had and she would dream of being able to wake up without thinking how many vampires she would kill today or if today would be her last. She plucked a rose as she stood contemplating her life and how she had arrived to this day. The thorn did not even hurt and it was not until she smelled the coppery tinge of blood that she realized she had punctured her finger. She held up the finger seeing the blood bubble and coalesce on her fingertip. She had to laugh that the things she slayed were consumed with this substance. That the parasites she hunted dreamed of this red liquid that coursed through her body. She rubbed her fingers together smearing the drops and then looked at her red fingers. "How close and alike in many aspects and yet how far apart we are my prey." She commented to the air. She shook her head and headed back to her room. She had to finish packing, tomorrow they were starting for a town called Brastansia, Giles had heard of an uprising of vampires and had also wanted to research the possible existence of certain ancient texts.
Tara slowly came up to the surface from the comfortable blackness she had been in. As she became more aware of herself she could feel the deep hunger exploding from her stomach. Her eyes flew open as pain wracked her body, and she hurled herself up gasping heavily. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a human shape. “Jacule?” She said disoriented with where and when she was. “Sorry my lady. I have brought you food. I am James, great grand son of Jacule. You are safe ma’am.” James said bringing over the plate of beef and bread and some ale. “Eat, then I can tell you the rumors that have started across this land.” Tara sat up grabbing the food and ale and began eating, feeding her century starved body. She bit deeply in the very slightly cooked meat, the blood still flowing as if the animal was just slaughtered, and as far as she knew it probably had been; the fresh blood helping to stave off the pangs of hunger. Finally she slowed enough to actually be able to talk while feeding. She asked the question, even though she knew the answer, because she could feel him. She knew that Dracula had once again had come to the land of the living. “What are the rumors, James?” “They say your father has returned. A village to the south and east has been under attack and there have been reports of a castle appearing in the mountains above it.” James reported. “I have brought your weapons and your clothing. We have kept them safe for a hundred years, waiting for your arrival if needed.” “Thank you for watching over me.” Tara said before taking deep drinks out of the mug. Soon she had finished her repast and stood. She took her clothing and weapons from James then followed him up to the monastery. Pausing to glance out the windows into the setting sun, she allowed a brief smile at the beauty of the land. “I must go soon. Your service to me is over. Jacule promised his line until I arose again. And that time has come. The vow is paid.” Tara said with a bow. “I thank you. Fare thee well, James.” “Fare thee well, Mistress Tara. This is our home. And we will be here when you return.” James said with a smile. “May God be with you.” He turned and walked out of the chapel doors and headed towards his manor. Tara nodded and with one last look, she slipped out into the darkening world. Going through the woods she came to a small stream and after a quick bath, drew on the clothing that she had taken when she had left her father’s castle when she had chosen to follow her own path. The clothing was her brother's, though much more suited to her life than
the dresses she had worn as a young lady. She strapped the weapons to
her body, and with one last look at the thick forest around her, the forests
she and her brother had played in when they were children, she turned
and began running towards her father’s castle. contact: docwho2000@hotmail.com page last modified - January 22, 2006 graphics from www.eosdev.com |