Chapter 41: Book II: Chapter 20: Choices and Consequences

Chapter 20: Choices and Consequences

“The Red-Soaked Queen stood upon the Zaqar-mount. Crowned in Red Night, the blood of nations in hand. Fell things whispered in her ears while Nine unholies lapped at her offerings. Oh lady of betrayal! Breaker of the first oath! We look upon your works and despair for you. Can any kingdom of blood and bone compare to what you sacrificed to gain it?” - The Apocrypha of Red Twilight

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Natalie covered her nose with a handkerchief and grumbled to herself. The odor of dusty parchment and flaking vellum assaulted her senses like a rancid army. She was deep inside the Temple archives, following Keeper Glynn towards where books on Stigmata were hidden. Glancing around, Natalie rubbed her face. Despite not breathing, the smell had managed to cram itself into her mouth and nose with violent intent.

“Are we almost there?” she asked, trying not to let any more vellum-stained air into her mouth.

Glynn held up the glowstone he was using to navigate and made a vague gesture with his free hand. “I think so? The Archives are never easy to navigate.”

An honest, if underwhelming, statement. They’d passed through the Temple Library and into the labyrinthian Archives hidden below. The Archives were a massive basement structure filled with row after row of bookcases and scroll racks. It was dimly lit by shaded glow stones and kept cool and dry by careful engineering. The whole place reminded Natalie of the Glockmire tunnels, which added to her tense mood. With her Vampire's eyes, she could see farther than Glynn’s glowstone could illuminate and see the full harrowing scope of the Archive.

The corridor of bookshelves they walked through stretched far in either direction. The lines of shelves only broke every fifty paces or so at an intersection. Creating a monumental grid pattern that Natalie hoped Glynn knew how to navigate.

They reached one of these intersections, and Natalie stared down the seemingly endless shelves while Glynn tried to find their bearing. Tapping a faded glyph on one of the nearby bookshelves, Glynn spoke. “Aha! The books should be here.”

Wordlessly, Natalie followed as he stepped down the hallway and reached the Tome he was looking for. It was a large leather-bound beast of a book chained shut by a silver lock. Instead of producing a key, Glynn placed his finger on the lock and channeled his power into it. The lock clicked, and the chain fell away. Picking up the hefty book, Glynn flipped through its vellum pages and nodded to himself.

Holding it out, he set the book in Natalie’s arms. Looking down at the text, Natalie could see its title in archaic font. ‘Records of known Stigmata and their Meanings.’ Just as she finished deciphering the title, Glynn dropped two more Tomes into her arms. ‘Famous Bearers of Stigmata’ and ‘Holy Portants’

Annoyed by the weight of vellum she was carrying, Natalie asked. “Is there a reason I’m carrying these?”

Glynn smiled slightly. “I may look young, but the years are starting to weigh on my bones. Besides, you are strong enough to lift an Ox. Humor an old man, will you?”

Sighing, Natalie grumbled. “I also have a nose capable of smelling every year these books have existed. It's wretched.”

Looking at the books, Glynn winced. “Uh… that's not just the vellum you are smelling. We… we treat the books to resist age and vermin.”

Looking at the books with mounting dread, Natalie asked. “What do you do to them?”

Glynn idly traced the spines of nearby books before he answered. “The compound is an interesting bit of Alchemy and-”

Natalie cut him off. “Keeper Glynn… what do they use?”

Sheepishly, Glynn answered. “Cat Urine is a key ingredient.”

Looking down at the stinking books, Natalie kept her mouth shut tight and glared at Glynn. Hoping to change the topic, the Keeper kept moving, forcing Natalie to follow him. “Those three should give you answers on the Stigmata. Next, we’ll get some texts on the Rabisu and her scions. Those will be deeper but shouldn’t be hard to find.”

Holding the three books away from her chest, fearing the smell would get on her clothes, Natalie gritted her teeth. She missed Stockings, her old cat, but hadn’t missed whenever the furball had decided to mark something at the Silly Goat. Following Glynn, Natalie paused upon seeing their destination. They’d reached the furthest depths of the Archives and a huge vault door. Similar to the one protecting the Anchorites and Fane, the door was a slab of carved stone. Glynn slid it open and revealed a dark chamber filled with chained and bound books.

Looking back at Natalie, Glynn hesitated. “On second thought, how about you wait out here. Some of the Grimoires we store can be temperamental; let me get the texts we need.”

Frowning at that, Natalie tried to get comfortable with her carried texts, hoping the stink wouldn’t get into her clothes. From over her stack of books, Natalie watched as Glynn entered the vault. As he did, Natalie swore she heard whispers at the edge of her hearing. Words in some foreign tongue echoing from the vault. Whatever Grimoires the Temple kept locked away were powerful. Not something Natalie had any desire to tangle with.

Natalie glanced around the Archive and mused how Isabelle’s plans had been grossly insufficient. The Archive was much larger than either Vampire had imagined and not nearly as well staffed as they’d feared. If she’d followed Isabelle’s advice, Natalie might have spent days stuck down here trying to find a book locked away in a vault she’d never be able to access.

“It pains me to admit you were right.” said a voice right behind Natalie. An undignified yelp escaped Natalie as she spun to see Isabelle leaning against a nearby bookshelf.

Glynn’s voice echoed from the vault. “Everything alright, Natalie?”

Glancing from the spectral Vampire to the vault, Natalie said. “Just jumping at shadows.” then mouthed at Isabelle. “What are you doing here?”

Looking around the surrounding shelves, Isabelle smiled and shrugged. “Secret knowledge protected by the Temple? How could I possibly resist? Besides, you need someone with more experience to help decipher all this. We can’t just rely on Glynn’s word and interpretations, can we?”

Before Natalie could answer, Isabelle started to peruse the nearby shelves. “Also, I wanted to thank you for trusting me with your body. Having flesh again was fun, even for a short while.”

Uncertain and not wanting to let Glynn know she’d smuggled Isabelle into the last place the Temple would want her, Natalie stayed silent. Isabelle slipped closer and looked at the books Natalie held.

“Interesting choices but not what I’m here for,” she muttered. Looking up, Isabelle saw the annoyed frown on Natalie’s face. “Think what you want to say to me, and mouth the words. The connection we share will let me understand you.”

Trying this, Natalie mouthed. “How does it work?”

Isabelle kept her mouth shut, but her words came to Natalie, whispered right next to her ear. “The bridge between our souls lets us share our surface-level thoughts. You are an amateur. So a crutch is needed until you improve your Telepathic skill.”

Still studying the books, Isabelle asked. “Open them up and flip through them if you would. I can pull the images from your mind and save them for later.”

Natalie complied and asked. “How can you do that?”

Isabelle’s eyes unfocused, and she absently answered. “If you want to actually remember everything you learn in a centuries-long lifespan, then certain skills must be acquired. I can pick the images from your memory and place them into my palace.”

“Palace?” Natalie questioned as she flipped through the pages.

Isabelle clicked her tongue. “A mental construct, useful for memorizing information. Combined with the interesting relationship Souls have with memory and I can do all sorts of impressive things. Now please be quiet; this does take a bit of concentration.”

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Natalie kept turning the pages of the Stigmata record. Pausing when a familiar symbol came into sight. The labyrinth mark the Anchorite had given her. It took up most of a page, the ornate sigil put to parchment with exacting detail. Staring at the symbol, Natalie felt her eyes pulled to its center, the hourglass at the labyrinth’s heart.

“I believe that’s everything,” said Glynn, startling Natalie. Shutting the book a little too quickly, Natalie held out her arms for more tomes. The Keeper obliged her and placed four large texts into her arms. An impressive feat considering he kept a scroll and fifth book in his own grip.

Natalie could understand why he’d carry the scroll. Balancing it on top of her pile would be arduous, but why was he carrying the fifth book? “Taking mercy on your pack-mule?” she asked, pointing her chin at the slim text Glynn held.

The Keeper looked at the fifth book and held it up for Natalie to see. The cover and binding shone slightly in the dim glowlight. A metallic sheen clear to Natalie’s sharpened eyes. Glynn tucked the text under his arm and said. “More than you know. It’s covered in silver foil.”

Wincing, Natalie nodded in appreciation. Of all the Vampire banes, silver still held true for her. Burning her skin like a hot iron. Taking a moment to look at the new texts, Natalie could just see the title of the top one. ‘Origin of Vampiric Bloodlines.’ Something about that pulled up a memory. Natalie asked Glynn. “Keeper, have you ever heard of the Strixscion family?”

Shutting the vault door, Glynn turned back to Natalie and frowned. “It doesn’t sound familiar. Where did you hear of it?”

Uncertain of how much to share, Natalie split her coin. “The Vampires of Glockmire mentioned it once while I was… captive. Something about Vampires grooming better scions and blood magic.”

Glynn frowned and started walking, gesturing for Natalie to follow. “I’m no expert on the Blood Duchies and their methods. The Paladin is a better resource and failing him, Morri might have some insight.”

Accepting that, Natalie nearly stopped mid-stride upon seeing Isabelle walking beside her. A curious frown on the Vampire’s face. Phantom words reached Natalie then. “Strixscion? I know of them. Let's learn what we can from these books, and I’ll tell you about that abhorrent experiment.”

It had never occurred to Natalie that Isabelle would know about the Strixscions, but in retrospect, it seemed obvious. As that truth sunk in, Natalie wondered exactly how bad the ‘experiment’ had to be for Isabelle to be disgusted. Considering what little she knew about Isabelle’s own pursuits, the very idea something might disturb her made Natalie uneasy.

As Natalie followed after Glynn, she mentally asked Isabelle. “What type of Vampire are you anyway?”

Turning her nose up with the arrogant air of any noble whose lineage was questioned, Isabelle answered. “I am an Eighth generation Strix. Scion of the Youngest Sister, if you must know.”

Not particularly impressed but a little interested, Natalie added. “And what exactly does that mean?”

Slightly annoyed at Natalie’s ignorance but never willing to forgo an opportunity to lecture, Isabelle explained. “I am of Nontho’s blood, carrying her will to experiment and alter the world. She was on the three original Strix, and her gift has been transmitted seven times to reach me.”

Frowning at that, Natalie was annoyed at how little she knew. The Vampires worked hard to keep their livestock ignorant. She had a lot of learning to do if she wanted to wrap her mind around the mess of monsters and myths she’d gotten herself into.

Glynn and Natalie reached the archive exit, taking the staircase leading up to the Library proper. Unlike the musty dark book-tomb she’d just escaped, the Library was a surprisingly bright place. Great glowstone lamps hung from its ceiling, illuminating the reading tables and chairs scattered around the chamber's center. Smaller bookshelves lined the walls, holding more common texts than the Archives stock. A few Librarians and Temple Scriveners milled about, but the large chamber was mainly empty. Upon seeing Glynn, the workers offered short bows and, on seeing Natalie half-concealed warding gestures.

Isabelle, still hiding in Natalie’s peripheral vision, sneered. “Temple Mice. They are always so certain they know everything. They decry us as Abominations but keep the Anchorites as favored totems. We may be altered by the Beyond, but we are still ourselves at our core. Their ‘oh so sacred’ relic-priests are utterly destroyed. Sacrificed to the Gods like so much livestock.”

Natalie ignored this. Getting into a philosophical debate with a possibly insane, partially dead Vampire wasn’t something she had the time or energy for. Instead, she focused on Glynn and the side room he had led them to. A small chamber set aside for private research. Upon entering the chamber, Natalie felt a slight pain go through her. A numb ache like she’d swallowed snow. From inside her throbbing skull came a startled gasp. Looking over, Natalie saw Isabelle bent over in pain. Red, confused eyes darted around the chamber.

Glynn frowned on seeing Natalie’s discomfort and went to the study room door. Placing his hand on the frame, he traced the runes etched there. “Curious, the secrecy spells activated. The eavesdropper set especially.” looking at Natalie, Glynn mused. “Perhaps the Alukah’s presence was enough to trigger them?”

The image of Isabelle flickered like a dying candle, and the dull throb in Natalie’s skull got worse. With a word and a gesture, Glynn released whatever spell had ensnared the two Vampires. The pain faded, and Isabelle came back into focus. Setting her stack of books down on the reading table, Natalie gasped. “Thank you, that wasn’t fun.”

Face still creased in a frown, Glynn idly said. “I imagine it wasn’t. Still, it is strange that particular defense activated. I’ll have to be more careful. Many of the Temples wards are designed to stymie the Undead. The blood you provided us was added to the wards, so this shouldn’t have happened. I’ll double-check all of that when we are done here.”

Eyes flicking to Isabelle and back to Glynn. Natalie was tempted to tell the Keeper about her ‘passenger’ but decided not to. Isabelle was technically Cole’s secret. Even if she wasn’t, some Vampire instinct told Natalie to keep a few cards to herself. The Temple leadership was warming up to her, but not enough to fully dissuade Natalie’s worries. Her meetings with the Keepers and Anchorites had enforced exactly how tenuous her position was. She lived because a God’s mercy and machinations decreed it. Even Cole wouldn’t be able to save her if his God decided she was no longer needed.

A hint of bitterness still flavored Natalie’s mind when she thought of Master Time. The Tenth God had used her like a tool. Pushing her and Cole together for reasons as noble as they were duplicitous. It irked Natalie something fierce. Being manipulated by powers outside her control while also agreeing with the choices those powers made. Master Time had used her, true. But Natalie couldn’t exactly fault the logic of his actions. The God had averted a nation-ending catastrophe with minimal collateral damage. It just happened that collateral damage was Natalie’s father and her life.

Retreating from that dark line of thought, Natalie refocused on Glynn. The Keeper was setting down his own texts and grabbed one of the books Natalie had carried for him. It was ‘Records of known Stigmata and their Meanings.’ Flipping it open, Glynn said. “Morri said you wanted access to the Temple Archives. Even with your Stigmata, I cannot give you that. But I believe having me as a guide and escort is a fair compromise.”

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Setting the book down and gesturing to the others, he continued. “These are what I thought would be most pertinent. Containing information on Stigmata and the origin of Vampires. I’ll aid you the best I can in your research.”

The Quarter-Elf’s words were polite and silken. Lacking any of the aloof airs Natalie had felt when they’d first met. Deciding this was a more pressing concern than the ancient texts before her, Natalie asked. “Why are you being nice to me?”

Glynn blinked, his large eyes dilating as he considered the question. It had clearly surprised him. After a moment's consideration, he picked up the Records book and flipped to an early page. Tapping it, he handed the book to Natalie. At his prompting, she read the line he’d pointed out. It was an old dialect but still readable.

“Do not envy the Bearers of Stigma. Those selected by the Gods are not blessed. They are cursed in the most tragic way. A mighty doom lies upon their shoulders, and the Gods give them this mark to merely lessen that burden a fraction.”

Natalie read the paragraph twice over and looked up at Glynn. The Keeper smiled, his too-small, too-white teeth showing in a mournful crescent. “Stigmata marks a person who is key to major events. Someone the Gods believe will face great challenges and tribulations. By giving you this mark, Master Time is proclaiming your importance and warning you of what is to come.”

Reaching up to her neck and the cold mark there, Natalie hissed. “Why me? Why choose me for this?”

Glynn shrugged. “If my understanding is correct, you weren’t so much chosen as at the right place at the right time. Or at least you will be. Some crux of fate will fall to you, and the Gods want to ensure the best path is taken.”

Rubbing his face in an uncharacteristic display of weariness, Glynn added in a softer tone. “You have a difficult path ahead of you, child. Vampire or not, I’d be a failure of a Priest if I didn’t try and help.”

Natalie felt like she was going to be sick. Of course, she really couldn’t, but her mind wanted to express the stress in something as familiar and soothing as vomiting her guts up. Looking at the Priest and trying not to see the pity in his eyes, Natalie rasped. “I got this Stigma after I became the Alukah.”

Glynn nodded, and Natalie whispered. “Does… does that mean whatever crux I’m connected to is yet to come? That it's worse than a mad Vampire gaining the powers of a nation-eating monster?”

Her last words came out higher and shriller as fear sunk its claws in. Natalie had assumed the Stigma was just a way for Master Time to keep his chosen ‘container’ safe. Not the portent of some future calamity she was doomed to be caught up in.

Again Glynn nodded. Sadness etched into his face. His ethereal youth bent and warped by the expression. Taking the Stigmata book back from Natalie, Glynn flipped through it until he found a familiar page. The one showing her Stigma. Tapping the image and looking at the cramped notation surrounding it, Glynn said. “The Maze of Moments is a harsh Stigma.”

Setting the text onto the table, he picked up ‘Famous Bearers of Stigmata.’ Flipping through it, he continued speaking. “The Maze shows its bearer they have a long and very arduous path ahead of them. Their choices will be complicated and crucial in ways they cannot easily imagine.”

More than a little panicked, Natalie snapped. “So does this mean I’m some sort of ‘Chosen One' like out of the stories?”

A slight snort escaped Glynn. “No, it means you are the one who gets to choose. You aren’t some prophesied hero or destined-doomseeker. Just someone who made choices and will have to keep making more important ones. Important enough for Master Time to interfere with.”

Trying to process this, Natalie asked. “So you are being nice to me because you pity my possible future?”

Glynn made a gesture with his hand, indicating she was partially correct. “I’m being nice to you because you have a difficult path ahead of you. And because you will be able to do a lot of good on that path.”

Shutting the book he’d been holding, Glynn spoke softly. “Something else you should know about the Maze of Moments. It does not predict a hopeless path. A labyrinth of choices and consequences await you, but at its end is happiness or something close to it.”

A God’s words from a half-remembered dream surfaced in Natalie’s mind. “In all the futures I can see involving you, Natalie Striga. Ones where your story has a happy ending, are not uncommon. You can make a life out of your undeath, and a good one at that.”

A good life and a happy ending? Natalie thought about her Father and Mothers's death. Of Felix, Gurni, and every other horrible end she’d known. A God promised her a good life and a happy ending? Part of her wanted to spit on that idea. Where was that promise for everyone else? Where had it been when Petar ripped her father apart or when she’d killed Cole? Yet, for all her spite, Natalie couldn’t cast away those words. They carried power in them she dared not dismiss. A good life and a happy ending. Those were hopeful words.

Clenching her jaw, so tight fangs bit into her gums, Natalie sucked in a pointless breath. Ignoring the stale odor of the books, she centered herself and found her path. That was what had started this story. She’d made a choice and saw it through to its end. Nothing had changed; she’d just keep doing her best and hope that was enough. Which, Natalie reflected, was all anybody could really do.

Nodding and letting her jaw relax, Natalie said. “Thank you for being honest with my Glynn. That means a lot.”

Looking at the books and the silver-coated one Glynn had collected from the vault, Natalie tried to find her path. “My Uncle once said knowledge was key to making the correct choice. So I guess I need to start learning all I can.”

Glynn’s smile turned genuine, and he said: “Wise words, Natalie. Now how can I help you learn?”

Eyes still on the silver book, Natalie said. “For starters, help me with that one.” she pointed, and Glynn nodded solemnly.

Picking up the text, Glynn traced its engraved cover. “By showing you this, I’m extending considerable trust, Natalie. Please do not make me regret it.”

Curious, Natalie asked. “Why? What is important enough to bind in silver?”

Opening the book, Glynn showed Natalie the first page. It depicted a grotesque image. A nude woman atop a stepped pyramid Nine tendrils of blood and viscera spooled out from the woman, congealing into nine monsters in supplication before her. A red sigil crowned the Woman’s head, and blood poured from her hands. A red waterfall reached the base of the pyramid where countless corpses lay. Natalie was drawn to the image; her eyes couldn’t leave the intricate illuminated page, while at the same time, she was repulsed, wishing she could touch the book just to shut it.

The more she looked at the page, the more detail Natalie could see. It wasn’t a stream of blood pouring from the woman; it was being pulled from the corpses and feeding the Woman. Finally pulling her eyes away from the page, Natalie whispered the woman's identity. “The Rabisu, the first Vampire.”

Glynn nodded. “This book is the Apocrypha of Red Twilight. Or at least a copy of a copy of a copy of the Apocrypha. It documents much of the Temple’s knowledge on the Rabisu and Alukah.”

Natalie felt a flicker of excitement that was not her own; Isabelle ‘sat’ next to her, eyeing the book with predatory intensity. Sudden caution prompted Natalie to ask. “I’m still confused about why this is so important. I thought until my…transformation, the Alukahs were thought to be all dead. Shouldn’t this book be more of historical interest than anything else?”

Pointing to the nine monsters surrounding the Rabisu, Glynn explained. “Five of the Alukah are truly dead. Two were sealed away, and two were lost to history. Or, well, one is lost to history now.”

The idea another Alukah might unlive had never occurred to Natalie. Now with Glynn’s revelation, the idea scared her to the bone. She’d seen the Alukah within her soul. Even while dying, its malice and power had been incredible. Could another one still stalk the night? One not drained and chained by enterprising Leeches, a true Monster free and furious.

Stuttering slightly, Natalie said. “Wh-why tell me this? Shouldn’t keeping this secret from me be crucial? Wh-what, what if I lose control? What if the power corrupts me?”

Seeing her rising panic, Glynn gently asked. “Why did you want to know about the Alukah then? Why did you want access to the Archives and our secrets if you feared what you might do with them?”

Looking to where a mildly disinterested-looking Isabelle sat, Natalie barely mouthed. “Sorry, talk later.” and banished the Vampire back to her skull. An act Natalie had forced Isabelle to teach her the day after the Riot and Possession. A stipulation if Natalie was going to let the other Vampire borrow her senses occasionally. Isabelle let out a startled noise as her illusionary self disappeared. Turning back to Glynn, Natalie swallowed uselessly. She’d started to trust Isabelle some, but letting her learn more about the Alukah seemed like a bad idea. Natalie didn’t even trust herself with what Glynn was saying; Isabelle could wait for her to share what she would.

“I was hoping for a way to seal it away or cure myself at first,” Natalie said to Glynn. “But then I started to wonder if I could use the power for good.” shutting her eyes and leaning back in her chair, she added. “Now… now I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to know what I’m supposed to do.”

Tapping his fingers on the table, Glynn answered. “I’m taking a leap of faith in telling you this. My God sees you playing an important role in things to come. Events I have a hard time thinking won’t involve that darkness you’ve taken on.”

Natalie started to say something, but Glynn cut her off. “The fact you fear this knowledge is a good thing. If you grasped and begged for it, I’d be much more concerned. You came looking for hope, and when you saw the magnitude of the knowledge you seek, it scared you. That is not how a monstrous Vampire reacts.”

Smiling slightly, Glynn added. “So let me take my leap of faith and try to enlighten you, child. Besides, it's better for secrets to slip free than ignorance to guide us.”

Accepting his logic, Natalie looked at the Rabisu in her tableau of slaughter. Reaching out, she pointed to one of the Alukah. This one was a mass of black feathers, cruel talons, and countless eyes. The rune for seven crowned it, and it sat amidst a ruined city. “The seventh Alukah. That is… me?”

Glynn took the book and turned to another page. “Annoch the Binder, Seventh-born Alukah and one of the two thought lost.” scanning the page, he elaborated. “Annoch was feared for his cruel intellect, dark charisma, and mastery of Blood Magic. When the Rabisu and his older kindred, Mazkim the First, were destroyed, Annoch fled north. Never to be seen again…till now.”

Part of Natalie was annoyed she had to rely on Glynn to read the Apocrypha to her. While another deeper part was glad to not have to look at the book. Something about it pulled at her mind, bewitching and befuddling in equal parts. Natalie had heard ancient Tomes could gain a presence in the Aether. The knowledge and emotions connected to the text give it magical ‘weight.’ As her eyes flicked to the Apocrypha, Natalie wondered if that was the case here. Or was the power inside of her reacting to the text? Like a sleeping bear noticing a familiar scent in early spring.

“Annoch isn’t mentioned by name in the Book of Miracles, right?” Natalie asked. “Is there a reason? I’ve heard of Mazkim and Daru but not Annoch.”

Glynn reached to the book stack and pulled out one titled. ‘Commentaries and Apocrypha on Lamentations.’ It was a hefty text, and Natalie’s nose wrinkled at the smell. Handing it to Natalie, Glynn said. “I suggest you look there. You said you wanted to learn, now is the time to start.”

Looking at the large book and others Glynn dredged up, Natalie briefly considered calling Isabelle back. The idea of dealing with the older Vampires' inevitably smug reaction to Natalie needing her help was enough to quell that wish. Letting out a sigh, Natalie opened up the first book and got reading.

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The day burned away as Natalie poured over the texts Glynn had supplied. Trying to absorb every bit of Vampire lore she could. It was staggering how the information could go from frightfully boring to just plain frightening. One chapter would be a list of suspected and known Vampire Lineages in great chains of undead genealogy. While another would be first-hand accounts of a city butchered by an insane elder Strigoi.

In this great haystack of blood and boredom, she did occasionally find precious needles. To her surprise, Lord Glockmire was mentioned in one history. Having been one of the first Vampires to join the Archduke’s conquest of what was now Zaubervold. While Isabelle even got a passing mention in another paragraph about talented Vampire Magi. Something Natalie decided she wouldn’t share with her spectral mentor. Isabelle was arrogant enough without learning she was documented as ‘one of the most dangerous flesh-crafters and arcane researchers known to Vampirekind.’

Aside from getting a better grounding on the different types of Vampires and their history, Natalie had mainly read about the Alukah and its past. Annoch, her predecessor, had been one of the more subtle of the nine. Preferring to manipulate and subvert instead of simply slaughtering and dominating like his siblings. This made researching him annoyingly difficult. His life before the Rabisu embraced him was a mystery, and his later actions were barely recorded.

One thing that did stick out to Natalie was Annoch’s title, The Binder. It had taken Glynn some time going through the Apocrypha to find the origin of that epitaph. What he found disturbed Natalie. Annoch had been a master of ensnaring and enslaving people. Using magic and his knowledge of the mind to make thralls of any who opposed him. The Seventh Alukah had taken a perverse joy in reducing any opposition to fanatical worshippers. It was said he only fed on people who once hated him. Only devouring them once they’d been broken into a being of unquestioning adoration.

On principle, Natale found the whole thing revolting. It reminded her of the thralls she’d seen in Glockmire and the way the Vampires treated people like toys. A fell tradition that seemed to start with Annoch. But mere principle wasn’t the only thing that worried Natalie. When the Hunger was out of control, Natalie felt some very dark urges. To manipulate and subjugate everyone and everything out of some self-obsessed malice. Shameful memories suddenly took on a new and worrying light. She’d inherited the Alukah’s power, and what else?

Other than that, Natalie had learned the answer to a question that’d long nagged her. Where were the Alukah’s scions? The Rabisu’s reign had been nearly a century long, surely the Alukah would have sired more Vampires in that time?

Well, they had, and they’d all been devoured. Any Vampire the Alukah sired was a stunted mutant thing. Few were sapient, let alone comparable to their primogenitor. It was the same for any new Alukah the Rabisu tried to spawn. Her children were nine in number, and that would not change. No matter how she or the Alukah tried. The ‘Edimmu’ or Alukah-spawn were little more than blood-drinking beasts. Gifted with a twisted array of powers but still pale shadows of their Sire. Shadows the Alukah had taken to consuming, hoping to regain the energy expended on their creation.

All of this information swirled inside Natalie’s mind. Something about it nagged at her subconscious, some theme to the whole bloody history barely escaping her. Before she dived into trying to figure out why later Bloodlines could reproduce, Natalie decided to ask Glynn something that was bothering her.

“In all this, I keep seeing references to the Rabisu’s betrayal. Saying she committed some sort of crime so heinous the Gods cursed her. But I can’t seem to find out what exactly happened.”

Glynn picked up the Apocrypha and winced. “She broke the first oath. The oath a Mother swears when she holds her babe for the first time.”

Phantom cold flooded Natalie’s chest as she understood what Glynn was saying. Looking down at the book, the Keeper said. “The Rabisu was a Priestess-Queen of Akzad. Mother to nine children and ruler of a kingdom. She offered both up for power and spent the rest of her existence trying to replace what she sacrificed.”

Looking at the book, Natalie let a hand rest on her Stigma. It's silver-lines glowed at the touch. This was a story straight from the Book of Miracles. A story long thought over. But it seemed the next chapter was for her to write. Fear bubbled up in Natalie, but feeling the mark of a God’s trust, she found her courage. So many people had put their trust in her, Priests, Paladins, and Gods. While she might doubt herself, maybe she could try and return that trust a little. If the next part of the Alukah’s tale was hers to tell, then she’d make sure it was a happy one.

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