Chapter 4
Alexander Rising
Unlife is boring was what crossed his mind as he, Najir and Khalid sat at the bar. He had lived in Persepolis for two years now and he was bored. He wasn’t really a planner or a builder; he just never had any need for those skills. He never learned how to read so all the writings Khalid would come back with to their haven were worthless. He basically protected them both from fights, which he was good at. However, the Prince technically protected vampires in a city so there was rarely any vampiric fighting. Fights with mortals had gotten way easier now that he was a vampire.
As a vampire he realized pretty quickly that he couldn’t eat or drink anymore without making a mess of the table and room. He came to bars to socialize and give him something to do. Khalid and Najir thought it would be best to interact with other vampires, perhaps get boons or gold to start building a warren. He also thought this was a good idea, but most of the vampires of the city didn’t need the assistance of neonate vampires with no special abilities to call upon. With his Eye of Arrgos he was the only one in his coterie to see vampires, which came in handy, but their attempts to gain boons from them were poor to say the least.
Turning to face Najir and Khalid he spotted a female and three other men sitting at the far end of the bar. Vampires, the whole lot of them. Giving Najir a quick jab he whispered the information to him almost to late as the four of them moved closer. Uncertain of their intentions he moved forward and pulled his sword slightly from its scabbard.
“Aww, a coterie of neonates” the female said casually. The three men spread out around the bar. Glancing around Jaffar saw at least three mortals at tables now looking their way. They couldn’t be thinking of attacking us in front of mortals…
“Yes?” Najir said as he stood up from his chair. His robes covered his bodies from head to toe but his mouth was visible.
“No need for hostilities, I am here to offer you a proposal” she moved closer and looked to each of them. “I’m here to offer you a place at my side. Join my group and together we will remove Enki from his position as Prince and rule Persepolis ourselves.”
He stifled a laugh. Attack the Prince? A vampire who has lived 300 times longer then himself? A 4th generation Toreador with a warrior Salubri by his side? Nah. He might be bored but he enjoyed his unlife so far. Thankfully Najir said exactly what was on his mind.
“I feel no need to displace the Prince. Why would I join with you? What do you have to offer to fight a 3000 year old Toreador?” The woman looked slightly annoyed. The men seemed to be reaching for their weapons and he knew this would end in a fight.
“Well, neonate, you either join my organization or face the consequences.” She took a step back and waited.
“I think I speak for us all when I say no” with that Jaffar drew his sword. His speed landed him a slash to one of the male vampire’s chest while the other two drew their swords.
“So be it,” she muttered. She lifted her hand into the air. Orange and red flames seemed to sprout from her palm. A second later she threw it full force toward Jaffar. It hit him square in the chest. Heat washed over him. Panic flooded his mind. The burning pain across his skin and his teacher’s warnings rang clearly in his mind. You can hide from sunlight but fire will catch hold and won’t let go.
Run.
His body spoke to him. He needed to get away. He was still young, in vampire terms at last, the urge to survive was more important then anything else. He was sprinting toward the door at full speed, his only thought that he needed to find a place to hide. He slammed his way past a table and almost threw the door off its hinges when he opened it.
Two steps out the door before he even realized someone was there. To late to act as the man’s sword came down fast into his gut. Again and again he slashed away at his chest and upper legs leaving him disemboweled. He sagged to the ground trying to hold in his now slashed up guts but it was like trying to hold water in his hand. He looked up at his attacker. He knew at once it was the sheriff, Ecrib. Whenever he had seen Ecrib he would be strolling the city, relaxed and almost carefree. Tonight Ecrib had three eyes. One eye in the middle of his forehead glowing with a soft light, his sword a masterwork piece now stained with his blood. He stood with a warriors grace and looked more like an ancient Macedonian God then a vampire. Ecrib entered away from him and entered the bar. Jaffar watched in silent awe. He could see Najir and Khalid fighting the vampires. They were struggling to keep them at bay when Ecrib walked into the bar.
Walking his way toward them Ecrib sliced two of the male vampires head’s clean off in a matter of seconds. The third was caught in panic; the girl was summoning more flames. By the time the third decided to run and the woman threw her flame they too were headless. Jaffar focused on healing. Pushing the blood toward his innards. He gathered up his now dirty innards and felt the skin knitting itself back together. He could feel the organs connecting; he could feel his body returning to how he remembered it.
Jaffar turned back to see Ecrib leading Najir and Khalid out of the bar. Jaffar quickly stood and picked up his sword.
“W-why did you attack me?” He stammered as his anger rose. He wasn’t doing anything that warranted his blade.
“It was easier then chasing you.”
He has a point he thought as his anger subsided. With a slight slump of his shoulders he looked to his coterie. He liked this sheriff. At least he was honest.
“The Prince wants to see you. Don’t worry about the mess,” He said as he led them toward the palace, “I’ll take care of it.”
The trek to the Prince’s chamber was full of worry. The Prince would have very little reason to want to talk to a coterie of neonates. Had he known through some vampiric power that they would be fighting with other vampires of the city and so they were to be punished?
They came to the palace near the North end of the city. It stood, rather impressive, alongside small buildings. Guards could be seen standing out front but Ecrib lead them around the side of the building to a side door. In he led them towards a back chamber; the same one Jaffar had been in when he was first introduced to the Prince.
Upon walking into the audience room he spotted Enki in his throne. The Toreador was a beautiful man, like nothing he had ever seen. More beautiful then some women he had known and with an air of dignity about him. Upon reaching the area before him Najir and Khalid bowed. He followed suit.
“Aww, kindred, I’m glad you could come.” His voice echoed throughout the room.
“We didn’t start the fight. The woman did, she wanted to displace you,” he blurted out before he could stop himself. Najir gave him a stabbing look and Khalid almost laughed. The Prince gave a slight blink before turning to Ecrib.
“The Ravnos. She had embraced without your consent three times and was causing trouble at the bar. I took care of it.”
The Prince let out a sigh. “I have brought you here for a different reason. I wish to employee you. Have you heard of Alexander’s army?” Jaffar stood still. He had never heard of Alexander and now that he knew they weren’t in trouble decided it was best if he didn’t speak.
“No,” Najir said, “I have never heard of this Alexander.”
“He is leading an army out of Greece and down the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. From what I hear he is a great military commander and hopes to spread Greece’s influence into Persia.” He paused a moment as if to let them catch up. “He is being controlled by Greek Brujah and we fear that Alexander will lead his army into the heart of Assamite territory. I want the three of you to act as messengers. The Assamite Princes and I have formed an agreement we think will interest the Brujah in charge. In exchange for giving up seven major Persian cities to the Brujah they will leave Assamite territory alone.”
He paused again letting the information stick. Alexander must have a great army to instill fear in clan Assamite he thought as he listened to Enki continue his speech.
“I want you three to bring this message to the Brujah in charge and bring back his response. I will not be expecting this deed to go unrewarded. I will grant you each territory in the city and gold to start your own power here in Persepolis along with a slot for a childer.”
Najir stirred, “I want to control a slums district in the city,” he said clearly. Enki thought about this for a moment.
“Done.”
Khalid rubbed his chin, “For this task I would like a manse,” he paused and then continued with, “with a large basement.”
Enki laughed slightly. “That is not unreasonable.”
The Prince turned to him. The silence stretched on. Something I have never had before… “I want to control some noble families.”
Enki paused for a brief second “How many?”
“However many I can get?”
Khalid rolled his eyes. Najir gave him another disapproving look.
“I’ll give you four nobles from the city.”
He thought about this for a moment. “Thank you, Prince.”
“I have your word then? You will deliver this message and return to Persepolis with their answer.”
Najir nodded and that was all he needed. He agreed, what else would he be doing anyway? Khalid nodded in agreement and the three of them turned to leave. Ecrib met them outside the door to the audience chamber. He pulled a pouch from his robes and threw them to Najir.
“For the trip.” He turned and walked off. A few feet away he turned back. “Take Ghouls, you will need them.” Inside the pouch was a 1000 gold pieces. I need some ghouls he thought to himself. Ghouls was the term given to humans that drank the blood of vampires. According to his training if a human was given blood at least once a month they could remain immortal, but never truly gain the powers of the vampires. Najir counted the money in the pouch and placed them back into the bag. They returned to heir haven and sat down to discuss their preparations.
“Tomorrow we will leave for Susa. From there we will travel to Babylon traveling northwest till we reach the Mediterranean Sea. We will then set sail for Halicarnassos. Hopefully we will catch up with Alexander’s army there.” When Najir concluded the summery of their 5-hour discussion the sun began to rise. They agreed and retreated to their rooms.
He would enjoy the trip. He had never traveled much and the thought of using his powers in battle excited him. Unlife is good he thought as the morning sun dragged him into a dreamless sleep.
Kakeyo Silverton Community Member 
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