The earth, once dry was now sodden with a sudden rain, clinging to the bare feet of a man. Garbed only in a black drape he crept through the woods, the daunting towers of Kristopher's castle just visible. Rain sputtered from the heavens, and what had once been day was now a darkness fit for night. The trees surrounding Jacob were tall, but comforting. They offered him protection from the rain and from the vampires nearby. The shadows they provided hid his wounds, but did nothing to quell his rage.
Hours ago Jacob had been nailed to a cross, the wounds, still fresh on his hands stung madly. Only by chance had he survived. Conscious when he was being crucified he'd resorted to a darker of arts, feeding off the living like the pray he hunted. Except, he did not drink the blood, but drew power directly from the soul, stealing precious time from an innocent. Jacob was not grieved, nor did he feel guilt for his deed. It was all necessary. What was the importance of a mere mortal when it gave him the chance to overthrow one of the most renowned monsters.
When the coven had retrieved his thought to be corpse and brought him back, he'd slipped away, under the cover of the new dawn. With nothing to aid him and no one who knew of his escape Jacob faced the monsters alone, unless Maxine still breathed. It was his duty to protect her, his sole purpose, and he'd failed. Asking the coven for aid would only humiliate him more. So he left, alone, but unbreakable. Trained as the others were in the light, darkness, it's opposite was never far away. Before escaping from the coven Jacob had embraced power, accepting both light and darkness into his body. Two opposites became one. Perfect unity. The result was power that even the greatest of witches would revere.
Now nearing the castle of his enemy Jacob crouched by a tree. The wet bark scraped his bare back, but held an unexplainable comfort. Pushing away the fallen leaves he began to work on his spell. Pilling mud he muttered an incantation. Soon it took shape. Furniture and a fireplace, apparently alight as some of the earth was dirt, rather than mud. Water, drawn from the sky and earth formed a small figure, the visual features barely noticeable. Despite the flaw in his spell Jacob recognized the figure.
"Maxine." He whispered in an undertone, delighted that she hadn't shared the fate he'd barely avoided. A sigh of relief pushed free from his lips, but then the thought arose.
Why isn't she dead? It made no sense, unless of course she was a hostage. But even then, she wouldn't be in a chair, relaxing. She'd be chained, imprisoned and surely guarded. Yet as his spell remained active Jacob could tell she was alone, unguarded, as though she was a trusted member. Cursing under his breath he rose to his feet. He'd attempt to infiltrate the monsters home once more, and this time he would succeed.
Withdrawing a needle from the drapery around his waist Jacob reopened the wound on his left hand. Dipping the tip of his finger into the blood he began to write on his chest, until, finally the words formed a square.
R O L O R
O B U F O
L U A U L
O F U B O
R O L O R
Saying the words aloud Jacobs body began to twitch uncontrollably. He leaned forward, cries of agony pushed through clenched teeth as magic twisted the mans body. His arms outstretched like wings soon became them, his feet curled and grew into talons and his mouth, shut tightly was soon a beak. Within moments he'd changed. A man now raven spread its wings. Letting the winds ruffle the black feathers the bird exploded into flight. Circling about the area under the cover of the trees Jacob ensured there were no threats that trailed him before he soared towards the library, hoping there would be a window, even if it was bared.