RSK Chapter 12

Well... I was going to do just DR but since I did a double chapter on RRL, I'll throw down another here as well. 

Oberon POV~~~~

Alessa was gone for over half an hour. I wasn’t too worried. I had cast a spell that allowed me to hear much better so that I could keep track of her at least somewhat. I was currently testing the skeletons ability to adapt by having them play simple games with each other. So far I found they were quite intelligent. 

Undead were around when I was alive. I remember that much, but I couldn’t recall the specific details. They were uncommon back then, only appearing in areas that experienced terrible amounts of death. One such place was a city that suffered from a plague and was restricted by their neighboring countries from running or entering. 

“Master,” Sam said suddenly. 

“Yes?” 

“My Lord requests that we attack the barrier surrounding the temple,” Sam explained pointing at the breach. 

“And anger a Goddess?” I asked sarcastically, with a snort. 

“He says you have already angered her, or at least the girl has,” Sam said, shaking his head. 

“Alessa!” I growled the shouted, “Attack the barrier!” 

I channeled all my available mana into several spells at once. Two blade storms, several dozen fireballs and a multitude of other spells formed around me. Similar scenes happened around the casters of the group. The revenant was already sending a tide of arrows into the barrier, barely leaving a scratch. I gestured sending all my spells colliding into the barrier, that was quickly followed by the others. 

Needless to say the cave couldn’t support that many spells impacting the wall. I was able to see the barrier crack and bow from the continued impacts. We were forced to back away or get crushed from the falling debris. A few moments later I felt a surge of dark energy that reminded me of Sam. 

I moved out of the enclave we took shelter in to observe the damage. It was no surprise that the passage was completely caved in. I quickly constructed a spell that would turn the boulders into sand so that we could clear the passage quickly. I concentrated on the larger debris, while the skeletons moved the smaller debris out of the way. In a matter of minutes we made it back to the temple. 

The breach was much larger now, taking up a whole wall of the temple entrance. I reached forward tentatively but encountered no barrier. I made a fist then strode in. I was only able to view part of the temple earlier, but I was sure it had changed completely. I could only wonder what Alessa did down here. 

The sconces along the wall burned a deep sinister green color. Under them in enclaves along the walls were statues, of which I was sure used to be an elven woman. Now the statues were split down the center and skeletons were in various degrees of pulling themselves free. All the imagery appeared to be bastardized.

The rest of the undead made their way into the room. I found the only passage out of the room and quickly made my way towards it. It was behind the raised altar, which now took the form of an obsidian table held up by two skeletons on either side. A religious sigil much like the one Sam carried rested on its surface. I ignored it for now and hurried down the passage. 

A glance in the side room along the passage showed that Alessa wasn’t inside so I continued by. At the end of the passage was a large black door that looked to be made from Feaite, in this case Black Celestial Iron. I pushed it open with surprising ease. I glanced around and found Alessa lying at the feet of a giant statue of Siateth. 

I moved to her quickly, worried that the Goddess might have killed her. Just as I was about to reach down to check on her, Alessa’s eyes jerked open, a blazing red light leaking from them, and with inhuman movements grabbed ahold of me as she bites down on my collar bone. Even being made from only bones I could still feel her fangs pierce the bone by nearly two centimeters. Piecing together what I saw in the changed temple I was able to figure out what happened. I let Alessa bite until her rage subsided, while grabbing her in a bear hug so she could make a run for it. 

An hour nearly passed before the red glow faded from her eyes. Her consciousness returned and she released me from her bite. I had to give her credit. The bone was actually starting to crack. Green sparks cascaded along the bone easily repairing the damage. I released my bear hung around the girl. Confident she was back in control.

She leaned her body back to see what was going on. She was significantly changed. Her skin was pale white, and her hair was also a pure snow white. Her eyes shone red in the dim light. I could feel her hands now possessed claws that could likely rend a man to pieces. 

“Alessa. Do you know who I am?” I asked carefully. 

“Oberon… I’m so thirsty!” Alessa cried grabbing her throat. 

“I know. Once we leave the temple, I’ll get some blood for you,” I assured her. I knew a goblin that would be perfect for loaning some blood to a fledgling vampire.

“It feels so… different,” Alessa said looking around. 

“Want to tell me what happened?” I asked, standing up while holding her in my arms. 

“The Goddess didn’t take too kindly to the fact there were undead outside when was inside. Didn’t even give me a chance to explain before trying to kill me,” Alessa explained. Her body would jerk every now and then, but it was common knowledge that vampires possessed increased reflexes compared to the other races. 

“Let me guess. Siateth offered you a deal?” I asked seriously.

“Yes actually. He told me to change the temple so that I could live,” Alessa replied with wide eyes. 

“Damn the Gods and their games!” I would have spat if I had spit. 

“Did I do something bad?” Alessa asked nervously. 

“No. You took the right path for survival and I commend you for that,” I said then murmured, “At least you didn’t pledge yourself to him…”

“So… What does that mean for me?” she asked. 

“Well, you are now officially one of the night. Other than that nothing too much will change for you. Your diet will be all fluid,” I chuckled. 

“Will Yuin hunts us down?” Alessa asked. I felt her shudder as she remembered something. 

“Hmm. I have no way of knowing the current political standing of the Pantheon. A thousand years ago, Yuin would never have tried to kill you so out right that’s why I felt it was safe for you to enter. I apologize for that,” I said and bowed my head to her. 

“No! It wasn’t your fault, though you owe me some handsome men for my new diet,” Alessa poked me on my forehead. 

“Sure thing princess,” I chuckled. 

When we emerged back into the entrance chamber, Sam stood in front of the altar. He was examining the tool that formed in the altar with fervent eyes, though I wasn’t sure how I could tell that with him only having sockets. He placed it back on the altar then turned all the way to face us. 

“Master. I would like to be allowed to stay here for the time being,” Sam said, kneeling. 

“I don’t particularly mind. Its just none of the other undead can speak,” I replied. 

“The mage can speak only he chooses not to,” Sam said. 

“Then very well. Just send someone to check in every now and then,” I said after considering it. 

“Yes, Master!” Sam said bowing his head. 

Alessa POV~~~~

After Oberon finished settling things with Sam, we made our way back to the surface. I was still getting used to my new body and Oberon told me it would be safer for the cave if I waited until we reached the surface. I didn’t particularly feel like slamming my head into the wall anyways, so I agreed. While we walked, I decided to check my status screen. 

Name: Alessa Darkfeather

Age: 14

Race: Pureblood Vampire- “A little gift for the girl that let me one up that wench. I look forward to your achievements in the future.”

Level: 1

[Basic Sneak: Master] [Basic Magic: Adept] [Magic Resistance: Major] [Necromancy Magic: Adept] [Vampire Forms 1:1] [Blood Magic: Novice]

Sin: [Pride: --%] [Greed: --%] [Lust: --%] [Envy: --%] [Gluttony: --%] [Wrath: --%] [Sloth: --%]

Curses: Ancestral Curse. Undying

Boons: One With The Darkness. 

It had changed completely. For some reason the screen had turned a blood red color. I wasn’t sure why my sins were the way they were, but I could only wait to find out for now. There was a new curse, Undying, which meant I was technically alive, but the other races would still see me as undead. Finally, my race changed to Pureblood. 

Pureblood vampires were different than just regular turned. I would be able to command others of my kind unless they were equal to me, or much greater in level. I wouldn’t suffer from the Sun curse like my kin, though I would still find the night more preferable. 

I checked to make sure and was glad to find the links to all the undead still there. It was funny how much comfort they gave me now. I was almost starting to see Oberon as a grandfather I never had. 

“Oberon. Thanks for the…” I started to say when the pain in my throat reached an all new high. My gaze met Oberon’s collar bone and it looked like the most delicious thing I have ever seen. I moved my mouth forward, my fangs extending as I bite down on the bone without restraint. 

I vaguely heard Oberon sigh before he said, “Yeah. We’ll need to get you some blood otherwise I’ll have bite marks all over my bones.”

The sun shocked me out of my gnawing when we emerged on the surface. Gobluke and company were standing around the dying bonfire. There were a few more monster carcasses but nothing else was different. 

“You can put me down now,” I said, gazing up at Oberon. 

“Not yet,” he said then turned to Gobluke, “Goblins! I want you both to go around the bend and fill two goblets with your blood. I recommend you do this, or the girl will kill you.”

“Yes, Master!” Gobluke yelled then ran around the edge of the outcropping. 

As the goblins moved away from the pack of undead, I caught a clear view of them. Something inside me seemed to snap. I had to get to them, I had to drink from them. I was being held by something and it was pissing me off! I struggled against whatever was binding me, and vaguely heard something chuckle behind me as if mocking me for my weakness. 

I yelled at the top of my lungs. The muscles in my arms felt like they expanded as mana poured into them. I renewed my struggle fighting even harder to get free. To hunt my prey. Pain suddenly flashed through me as my muscles started to spasm from a shock. I fell limply in the bindings my limbs jerking randomly as I tried to regain control of them. 

A goblet was thrust under my nose, the copper scent making my mouth water. I fought against the spasms to free my arm when it suddenly shot forward as whatever was holding me vanished. My fangs nearly pierced the goblet as I bite down on the lip of the cup. When the first drop hit my tongue, the frenzy I was feeling intensified. I gulped down the first goblet in seconds. 

The feeling of the blood was the most pleasurable thing I had ever experienced. All I could concentrate on was drinking the blood and how my body absorbed it. My body became so sensitive that even the binding still around me felt amazing. I smelt another source of blood next to the empty goblet. 

When the second one was raised to my lips, some of my awareness returned but I still drank it like water I hadn’t drunk in weeks. Finally, the blood was gone, and I looked around for more. I still felt thirsty, unlike I ever felt before. I took a deep breath trying to find some prey, and I fully came back to myself. 

I looked around nervously. All the undead stared wordlessly at me and I noticed Gobluke and Gobrin staring at me nervously. I felt the desire to hunt them start to rise in my chest, but I forced it back down. I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about them, but they were the closest to friends I have had in a long time. 

“More?” I asked trying to sound cute. 

Oberon laughed. “Later. Let’s head back to the castle for now,” he said then turned to the gathered undead, “I wanted most of you to head back into the mine and start pulling up the ores. Bring them back to the castle. Mage,” Oberon turned to the mage skeleton, “I want you to gather some beasts that can handle the undead and get them fitted for hauling.”

The mage nodded then turned to start directing the other undead. I wanted to know how he did it silently. Oberon set me down carefully. I thought I would wobble but my steps were sure, so firm in fact that it took a moment to adjust to it. I started heading back to the castle as I got used to my new body.