The Multiverse: Bad Blood

He was to be meeting a man by the name of Vincent this evening. Vincent; It was the name he'd repeat another four times before coming to a halt on the edge of the property. Here we Vincent are at last, he had arrived. The Victorian Manor had grown on the horizon as equally as quick as the sun had set. How the time -Vincent- flew away from me yet again, he noted in his head, flicking his wristwatch into visibility. Vincent. Right on time. Vincent. He thought the name again, noting the word's sharpness on his lips, it's subtle hiss of power.

Fixing a light smile on his lips, he cast a glance over the property, as well as a light sniff. Odd, there seemed to be not a man in smelling distance. Without another thought on the subject, he raised a wrist and wiggled his fingers, attempting to catch the Ladies' attention.
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“Bri dear? Will you take the children inside?” Sanina called lightly upon Casren's arrival.

“Of course m'lady,” Bri replied, setting her painting tools down to collect the children. The bundle in Sanina's arms was suitably passed across, and for a moment, a glimpse of the morbid sight would be caught. What lay within the bundle was the skeletal remains of an infant, carefully bound in a blanket with all the care of a mother for her child.

“I'll be along shortly,” Sanina explained as Bri escorted the young girls inside the manor.

Upon closer proximity, the initial portrait of peace and serenity seemed tainted somehow, with an eerie chill that overhung the place. Even the air held the faintest whiff of death. It wasn't the scent of Sanina's undead nature, but rather, the reek of the grave, and of rotting corpses.

Rising from her bench, she approached Casren with exaggerated and languid steps before greeting him warmly and offered a hand to him, though it was turned down, rather than in a traditional handshake. Sometimes you could get a feel for the age of a vampire, by simply prompting for old fashioned etiquette. “A pleasant evening... Casren? It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I trust your travels were uneventful?” she replied almost lyrically. As she spoke though, her eyes seeming to stare vacantly for a moment, as if she were looking through him rather than at him.

However a moment later she seemed to come back to herself and she smiled gently.

“I must regretfully inform you, that a matter of great importance has detained my father and he will not be able to attend, but he has asked that I meet with you in his stead. Do join me for a walk while we discuss what brings you here?” she inquired pleasantly enough, with a wave towards the vast manor grounds.

Overhead a keen eye might detect the subtle movement of Kyle, crouched atop a gargoyle and overlooking the happenings below. His full length duster and short spiky hair with white highlights marked him out as a more modernized individual against the old fashioned backdrop.

Scarcely a year into his unlife, he didn't seem threatening in nature, but rather, simply observant. With the eyes of a hawk, and the vantage point to go with it, it was unlikely any would intrude upon this meeting without him catching notice of it. Personally, though, he didn't like that Sanina was meeting with this man alone, as he couldn't suitably protect her from this distance, but orders were orders and the lady had instructed him to keep his distance and to let them converse alone.

Though with his heightened sense, advanced even for his kind, alone was mostly a matter of perspective. Even at this distance, he would be well capable of discerning their conversation.

He placed a hand on his chest, bowing deeply.

"The honor is mine," His weathered words brought forth by frothing humor, "If I may do as to request the name of a being so fair...?" Casren gestured towards her as he pulled himself upright, looking towards the grounds that his greeter had mentioned. Quite beautiful, he remarked to himself, turning a smile on the woman.

Casten's disregard of her hand seemed to go unnoticed as she simply withdrew it, retaining an odd sort of whimsical feel to her.

“Oh, do forgive my manners... I am Sanina, Sanina Lessard. Eldest daughter of my father, Vincent Lessard,” she explained as she turned to lead them along the stone walkways at a slow pace, each step seeming purposefully drawn out, so as to allow one to appreciate the scenery.

Small lanterns lined the pathways, casting a light glow across the carefully maintained grounds. It would seen that whoever had landscaped the place, had gone out of their way to accentuate the flora for evening viewing. Even the flowers bloomed beneath the silvery moonlight overhead, rather than the sunlight of day.

However, should one take a closer look, it would reveal that it was merely an outward facade of beauty, overlaying a backdrop of decay where little could survive for long. Beneath the surface, spots of decay could be seen, cropping up amongst the plants here and there. It was subtle, but given a few months, it was likely that this picture of beauty would be rotted out beneath the taint that was beginning to infect it.

It was a full time task to keep anything living within the vicinity, as everything that graced these grounds eventually withered and died. And yet, the facade was carefully maintained with great meticulousness.

“So, what business brings you to my fathers estate?” she inquired. The pace of the conversation so far, would seem unhurried. Casual even.

He kept her pace, hands clasped behind his back, listening and admiring the view. The Earth itself seemed to be alive, despite the scent of death that lingered so. Upon closer speculation of the plants, he noticed that Death did indeed have his fingers in this garden. At this he couldn't help but feel a tinge of joy. Death was, after all, just the beginning. A strange thought crossed his mind as he looked back to Sanina: He was finding striking similarities between her and the garden.

"One could dare say A boring and redundant subject; Politics if you will, but no doubt one that must be discussed," Laughter hid behind his words, for Casren was a ladies man before he was a politician.

“Ah... politics. A necessary evil I must say. After all, without them we would be little more than beasts, yes?” she replied.

The tone of her voice held an odd note to it that was hard to place. It was as if she was never fully there, always distracted or distant. Detached.

“It is one I am well versed in though,” she reassured him.

Turning down another pathway, the grounds grew no less beautiful, though one could swear that glints of eyes could occasionally be seen out of the corners of eyes from beneath the occasionally shrubbery or hedge. A second look would often reveal nothing, but the vague scent of decay was pointedly stronger here, exuded by Sanina's undead wolf pack, always lurking just out of sight.

“Father is often away on business,” she explained. “With no sons to call his own, such matters have fallen on myself during his leaves...”

The manner in which she spoke seemed to hold a touch of weariness, as if this were a grievous matter indeed, but a necessary one.

Casren chuckled at the relation, yes they were a type of evil weren't they. He supposed the real question was whether the idea in itself is evil or whether the idea is evil through influence. Glancing upwards towards the stars he tossed the thought around his head, supposing evil truly is in the eye of the beholder.

Falsely he sighed, enjoying air not quite as cool as him fill his lungs. He had no doubts in the female he strolled with, he dared not. Simply he smiled on her, giving a small nod of acknowledgement and faintly offering;

Well versed indeed.

Though, he would think to himself, she would be foolish if to assume that mere shrubs can shroud the reek of death, and more pungent the odor of wolf. Even though he could tell they weren't were-beings, the stink was unmistakably canine. Clever, he had to admit, adorable almost. Almost. He must not delve down that rocky road of horror. That is truly a fate worse than death He blinked back a shudder.

Casren turned his chin in her direction, hearing the exhaustion with her current task in her voice. No sons? Although it was peculiar, it was not the focus of his attention. In truth politics took from him what life he had left to enjoy, sucked his days dry of anything fun.

Sanina,

He flicked her name into the air with a voice as soft as rose petals, breathing life into the name and allowing the syllables to blossom. He vastly slowed his gait, as if they weren't going slow enough, and turned toward her. With the slightest of smiles he extended a hand towards her. There was a glimmer in his scab colored eyes as he gazed into hers.

What ails you?

Sanina's expression seemed to shift to one of peculiar speculation as Casren took her hand in his own. Her skin was cool to the touch, but betrayed none of the danger that lay beneath her finger tips, the capability to rot flesh from bone at a simple touch.

“Nothing ails me,” she said with a brief wave of her hand towards the grounds, and the city beyond.

Casren would have a hard time catching her gaze in his own, as she seemed to be taken more interest in their surroundings than him.

“I love my father, and we are well blessed to live in a place of such prosperity,” she explained. “But enough of me, you came here on business, and it is business we should discuss, yes?” she asked.

Slipping her hand free, she moved to continue on their way rather than linger and encourage further pursuit of personal matters. It was a subtle game, she was playing.

He was getting ahead of himself again. He had betrayed his thoughts, he had looked too closely at the beautiful woman. He enjoyed her the way he enjoyed the third day of fall. The way one enjoys the first turned leaf of the tree, or the way a glass of steaming apple cider made tolerable to drink by a freshly melted cube....ahhhh

Humbled, he cast his wary gaze towards the ground. Yes of course, here on business. Again he sniffed, around to the night, and brought himself down from his cloud.

"Business indeed," He truly despised being back on topic, "Do you know why I am here?"

Sanina seemed to mull the question over for a time before she finally responded.

“I was simply informed that you wished to discuss a matter of importance with father, the nature of the matter was not revealed to him,” Sanina stated.

"Ah!" He said, perking slightly. He did not remember being so vague. Oh well, time to fix that.

"Your family is weaved into the Tapestry of Wing City. Intricately, outstandingly so, you know this as well as I. Your family is very important to you, and to I as well. We are all together in un-death are we not? I have full comfort sharing these thoughts with you," He said the last part in a slightly lower tone.
"I thank you for welcoming me to this beautiful place you call home, and I wish to extend the arm of alliance to you and your family."

Their path had taken them further from the manor house and into more open ground. No longer blocked from view by the imposing building, an odd site could be detected well into the distance. With the dark of night settled over the place, even with the waning full moon overhead, it would have been beyond the view of a human, but perhaps not a vampire. What could be seen was what appeared to be a solid iron cage, well fortified and overgrown with an entanglement of vine growth. Only a small barred window would allow one to see what could be inside, but given that the door stood open, one would assume it were empty. Perhaps it had fallen into disuse and simply never been removed.

Meanwhile, Sanina was mulling over Casren's words, seeming to give great through to them. “Forgive me for being so blunt, but you offer an alliance, but for whom? You know of me and my family, but it would seem I do have the pleasure to say the same...” she finally replied.

Though it was a half-truth. She already suspected who this man spoke on the behalf of, given the other visitor they had only two nights past.

"The Vankoryth Detente," He pronounced delicately, "Although it sounds worse than it really is."

“The Vankoryth Detente...” she repeated softly, rolling the words off her tongue, as if trying them out for the first time. However, her following actions hinted that perhaps it was not the first time she had heard the name.

She had kept this card to herself until now, but perhaps, she could deal with two problems in one...

Carefully she withdrew from within the folds of her cloak what appeared to be a rolled up scroll. Intercepted from its delivery to Vincent.

Unfolding it she glanced over it briefly before offering it across to Casren, without breaking stride, as if the content within it were of no great concern to her. However, what was written on the scroll was a death count, involving a massacre that the Vankoryth Detente had been involved in recently. How Sanina had come to obtain this information was uncertain, and likely would be quite a surprise. And she so very much enjoyed surprises.

He cast a sideways glance at the scroll but payed it little heed. It was not becoming to pry into the interests of others. However he did not let slip through the way the lady pronounced it's name.
What could she be getting at.

"Yes, newer and yet to mature. Vankoryth, meaning Nightwalkers of the Forest, Detente, well I assume you know," He smiled, and gave a hesitant glance towards the scroll.

Parson was bored, and had finished the work Mother had set out for him to do, so was left on his own, without anything to do. This led to the boy seeking out his mother. Pehaps she had further tasks for him to attend to, after all. The girls had come in, and Bri had been keeping him from bugging them, so really, this was his only choice. Unless he wanted to go annoy the stupid jerk, that was.

No, he wanted nothing to do with Christian. Stupid taller brother.

Casren accepted and looked over the scroll, frowning at it's contents. Surely he thought this was taken care of...

"Have you spoken with Kaiser, Kaiser Zaun? Surely he closed all the necessary loose ends?" But he realized, as he spoke, that none of that mattered.
"As you can see, both sides have reasons for alliance." Yes, he was hinting at the fact that The Detente might need the Lessards.

Sanina let out a whimsical sigh before speaking again.

“Our family is very private you see, such public displays are a blight upon our lands. Missing persons reports are flooding the city even as we speak...” she explained lightly. “Surely you must realize that this will draw even more scrutiny and investigation into the occasional disappearance. My family will have to tread lightly for years to come...” she left it at that, trailing off and letting her words hint at her displeasure, even if her tone of voice remained amiable and whimsical.

“You come into our dominion, and cause such wanton violence... and then come to us speaking of an alliance, even as you harbor one who recently betrayed my family...” she continued, pressing her advantage while she had it. As long as she were the wronged party here, then perhaps she could make something of this... alliance.

Kyle dropped down from his perch as Parson seemed intent on heading in the direction that Sanina and Casren had gone.

“Hey hold up there kid. The lady says no disturbances, even you. Sorry,” he said with an apologetic shrug. “Business, you know the drill,” he added, as if that explained everything.

He bowed his head slightly, Of course. He had completely forgotten. And...
He listened intently.

"The one we protect is the same as you and I, a vampire," He figured he would tackle that one while it still rang in the air, "If all parties can let bygones be bygones, because really we do have more threatening enemies than eachother."
Casren was getting off of track, he knew it. He was deeply upset he had offended, if not threatened another family.

"Allow us, even I, to mend what needs mending, so that my Blood and your Family may be as one, yes?"

Inwardly, Sanina was well pleased with the state of the conversation. Having Casren on the defensive put her in a good position for negotiations. Outwardly thought, she would allow no sign of this to cross her seemingly weary expression.

“This one you speak of, even now betrays your numbers. He seeks to sow conflict between our groups. That scroll should be evidence enough of that...” she explained.

“Wrongs have been committed against my family and ramifications must be made... if we are to be sure that your intentions are... benevolent. Perhaps then, we can discuss... an alliance?”

Despite the seeming severity of the situation, Sanina had not shaken that sort of detached distracted aura to her. It made her very difficult to read.

Parson crossed his arms and peered at his Mother, trying to make out what was happening. Some man was there. Hm... "This isn't goign to end up like Christian and his jerk friends, is it?" He grumbled, referring to Christian, Varia, and Viktor. Viktor wasn't so bad so long as Parson avoided him, but Varia was a whore, and Christian needed to go away right now.

Still, he didn't try to go after Mother, even though he wished she would pay attention to him, not the girls, or the stupid adults.

Kyle tousled Parson's hair playfully. “Speaking of, how are the studies going. You won't get better than Christian if you don't keep practicing,” he said with a playful wink. He was well aware of Parson's dislike of Christian, but a bit of competition would be good for the kid.

It also would get Parson off the topic of Sanina's visitor, hopefully.

Inwardly, Sanina was well pleased with the state of the conversation. Having Casren on the defensive put her in a good position for negotiations. Outwardly thought, she would allow no sign of this to cross her seemingly weary expression.

“This one you speak of, even now betrays your numbers. He seeks to sow conflict between our groups. That scroll should be evidence enough of that...” she explained.

“Wrongs have been committed against my family and ramifications must be made... if we are to be sure that your intentions are... benevolent. Perhaps then, we can discuss... an alliance?”

Despite the seeming severity of the situation, Sanina had not shaken that sort of detached distracted aura to her. It made her very difficult to read.

Parson grinned. "I did everything mother wanted!" He said happily. "I've been working really hard on my studies. I think she'll be very proud of me. And I finsihed all my school work, and the apprentice work. So I got nothing to do." He admitted and sighed. "I suppose I could get Bethy something, but I don't feel like shopping."

"Not bad kid. Have anything new to show me?" Kyle asked. Though even while talking to Parson, he kept half an eye on Sanina and Casren in the distance.

"Define Ramifications, and I will see what I can do, however if it is out of my control then... I can, however, assure you that it will not happen again." Again Casren sighed, the unnecessary display of emotion.

“The one named Mariotto. He is a blemish upon both our families,” she explained with a wave of her hand as if were a simple thing she asked.

“He has betrayed both our numbers, and will do so again...” she continued carefully. “As long as such a poison exists, then an alliance is out of the question.”

"Is it true that you have wronged him as equally as he has wronged you," He spoke carefully, doing his best to appear neutral.

Parson beamed at the chance to show off, and summoned his new lesson. A capybara appeared quickly, scurrying to his side. "I made a familiar. His name is Babbit. Isn't he cute?" Easily distracted, the child switched topics, to something that had been bothering him. "Hey whatever happened to the werewolf, Kyle?" The boy asked, then grinned. "I wanted to poke it with a stick. It's funny."

“Even after his father attempted to kill my son, we generously gave him and his father safety within our lands...as is often our way with those who have no clan of their own... so long as they respect our dominion over the area and brought no harm to those in our care. However, his father betrayed and attempted a coup against my father, Vincent, in a bid to seize our family for his own. Mariotto himself had... inappropriate relations with my ten year old child,” she added, and for the first time in their amiable discussion, a hint of a chill reached her voice.

“Mariotto seeks the release of his father, and to that end, has tried to pit our numbers against one another, to get back into our good graces... to let him remain, is to welcome a viper into your home,” she explained.“I will not have him in mine.”

“Well ah...” Kyle began as he scratched his head. Cute wasn't exactly the word he would use for it, but hey.

“That's not bad. Not bad at all,” he continued, salvaging the situation.

“Oh her? Don't you worry about that none,” he added with a coy grin and another playful wink.

Of course, eventually they were going to have to go recapture her, but her predatory instincts would keep her to those woods for months if not years. They could afford to leave her loose for a while.

That wink was the most annoying thing ever sometimes. He got it when he complained about Varia's lack of clothes too. Or whenever soemthing was being hidden, and it made the boy merely want to find out more! It wasn't a fair wink, not at all. Parson pet Babbit and sighed.

"I feel it would please you to know that the "viper" has minimal power among the Detente. Your family has been exceedingly graceful, and I apologize on behalf off my Blood. I wish not to bring him here or disrespect your family. Mariotto is, in my eyes, touched with madness. His father has been a nuisance to you and what you do with him in not my business," Casren spoke carefully, almost under his breath. He had little opinion on Mariotto, for he was not Mariotto and neither was she.

"He seeks justice I cannot provide, and I am not one to stop justice where it is due. Again I fail to see how an Alliance would hinder...anything."

The loud cawing of a raven came from overhead as Carrion descended from his roost to land atop Parson's head, in a rather annoying fashion. However before the kid could get a hold on it, it let out another obnoxious caw and flew off in the direction of Sanina and Casren.

“Ah, well looks like your mother wants to see you after all. Go on now, and stay out of trouble,” Kyle said. As if that would ever happen.

Sanina blinked a bit as she seemed to come back to herself in time for the fluttering of feathers to reach the pair. Holding her arm out, a large black raven alighted upon her arm and she drew it close while crooning lightly. Running her hand down it she raised her arm back up and the bird took flight once more, leaving the pair to their discussion.

“You seem to misunderstand the nature of the situation. As long as the Vankoryth Detente call Mariotto one of their own, an alliance is out of the question.”

“I wish you to speak with my son, about the matter of Mariotto. Perhaps then, you will fully understand my ire at the situation, and the nature of the man you house,” she said simply. Parson would no doubt not be far behind Carrion.

“If you still will not comply with our request, I am afraid, that our business here is at a close...” she offered, sounding saddened by this fact.

Parson followed Carrion happily to his Mother's side, Babbit as hit side the entirely way. The boy beamed and stopped before his mother and their guest. "You wished to see me, Mother?" He said politely, and looked to their guest with some curiosity. Who was this?

Was Parson to act as an escort around the house, or off the grounds or something? Or maybe it was another tutor...

His brow furrowed, however he could only do what he could. He nodded respectfully towards the bird. Mariotto was seeming to be more a problem than anything. Hmmm... A voice caught his attention, and he turned his sharp eye on the boy. Casren offered a bow to Sanina's son before addressing the two.

"If you wish for the end of Mariotto, it cannot happen in my castle or by my hands. I would advise against the Cursed Wood," And this was all he could really say on the matter.

"I will not act to prevent the Lessard's revenge on Mariotto, provided we are aligned," He said this to both of them.

Parson blinked at the name of Mariotto and grabbed his Mother's skirt. "Mother, why are we discussing him! He's, he's vile Mother! Horrible!" He said and held on tight to her skirt.

Sanina could have taken the small win and called it quits, but no, the stakes weren't high enough for her to be placated with a small victory.

“You misunderstand my request. Your people have committed wrongs against the Lessard Family, your actions upon our lands have been deplorable, and you come to us speaking of an alliance, that it would seem you need, not us, while harboring that man... I said ramifications needed to be made. A gesture of good faith if you will. To reassure me that your intentions are benevolent. Should I act against Mariotto, what is there to stop your people from retaliating in kind? No, I wish for your people to deal with this matter personally... If they are indeed your people. If they are not, then you cannot speak for them, and negotiations are moot, yes?”

As Parson clung to her skirt, Sanina ran a soothing hand through his hair. “You see how even his name brings distress to my child?” she inquired.

"If you act against him, there will be no bad blood, for it is understood that he has wronged you and your family," He smiled faintly, growing tired of this charade.

"I, and my Blood, will not have his blood on our hands for a crime he committed against someone else. If you need the Detente to rid a pest for you, then perhaps it should be re-evaluated who needs who," His expression grew grave as he spoke, all the shine retreating from his eyes. No, he would not bring to the end of Mariotto, nor would he order for it to be. He had already stated that he would not let the Detente get in the way.

Casren turned his cold gaze on the child, "I apologize for disrupting your pleasant evening with a name so vile it pains you to hear it."

Parson sniffled and hugged his mother. "Mariotto is a bad man. He's a pedophile who...who..." The boy hid his face in his mother's skirt, trying not to cry. He didn't like Mariotto at all, that much was clear. quite snifflings could be heard as Parson cried, only feeling safe so close to his Mother. He didn't like this guest not at all. The rat sat at Parson's feet, staring at the man.

It would appear that the pair had reached an impasse, that neither of them were willing to give ground on.

“Then it would seem to me, Casren, that your people have no intention of making amends for the actions they committed against my fathers family... or the troubles you have brought over our number for the months to come... by your reckless actions within the city.”

“Such a relationship is not ideal for a prosperous alliance. You will be afforded safe passage off our lands of course... I will arrange an escort to see you to our borders,” she said. Even with her whimsical tone, it seemed to hold a note of finality.

Sanina was a patient individual, and her conditions were on the table. She was in no hurry.

“Come along Parson dear...” she said lightly, still stroking his hair soothingly as she turned to depart.

“A man will be waiting for you at the front entrance,” she called back lightly.

This was frustrating, to a fault, and Casren still sought compromise. He was starting to think that the woman wanted Mariotto's head on a pike, something he was not about to do.
However.

"Sanina, what exactly do you request?" Straight question, straight answer, and if she didn't respond there was always that man by the front entrance.

Parson held onto his mother as she moved, keeping his face hidden. Babbit continued to watch Casren though, and the boy allowed it. He had stopped crying to listen now. He wanted his mother to himself, couldn't the man just go away? The boy pouted into her skirt. He wanted... His head began to hurt and he backed away from thinking along that line.

Sanina didn't stop walking as Casren called to her, but she afforded him a parting reply before she was too far out of comfortable hearing range.

“Proof of his demise, or for your people to turn him over into my custody...” came the answer, in an oddly clear note. But then, just like that, her moment of clarity was gone again and she began to hum a lullaby softly.

Leaving Casren to find his own way back off the grounds, those same words from earlier would fill the evening air once more. "Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee. All through the night, guardian angels God will send thee..."

Yes, a head on a pike. He sighed again, turning to exit. He was unsure of what exactly could be arranged, but he was beginning to have an idea.

Vincent strode past Casren on the way into the structure, pausing momentarily in thought as he passed them, but not turning his head to stare. That would be impolite. "Ah..." he said, tiling his head towards Sanina. "Who was that?"

The Multiverse » Arcs » Bad Blood

As written by: lostamongtrees, Tiko, DemiKara, Patcharoo

50 pieces and 5 characters involved, written by 4 different authors.

1 places involved

So begins...

Bad Blood

Setting: The Lessard Family Manor