Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 13

Chapter 13

Camrad_RIP 17.02.22 в 21:15

Her sister reacted to the news as expected, that is, severely. Three centuries had passed, life had changed and become different, Medea was used to her condition, but Carlon frightened her as before. Even more so - now in her eyes the priest looked not just like an outcast from that, old and cruel time, but the very real returnee from the hell realm. And that was too bad. The hysterical Medea was becoming a serious problem in itself, infecting those around her with panic.

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:20

"You look disgusting," Celesta remarked, assessing the state of her confidante. "Why did you disperse the servants?"

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:21

For the past six years, Medea had lived in her mansion, a gift from her former lover. Today the house was empty. The mortals, frightened by their mistress' inadequate behavior, had scattered.

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:21

/My slip-up, Celesta admitted to herself. But when I told her about Carlon, she didn't shake like that.

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:22

She walked through the bedroom, ignoring the naked body of the young man on the bed with his throat torn open, and sat down next to her friend. She leaned against the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees as she did, and mentally cringed-it was unpleasant to see Medea like that. Scared, crushed, stiff with shock, her hair tangled and her nightgown drenched in blood. Fear paralyzed the vampiress, forcing her involuntarily to her dark form and filling her eye sockets with scarlet, extending her fangs and adorning her fingers with powerful claws.

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:28

"You chose the wrong time to be hysterical."

Camrad_RIP 18.02.22 в 07:29

Medea finally looked at her, turning her head and resting her cheek against her knee.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:03

"Do you think he didn't die then?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:03

"We didn't see his corpse, but the ashes could have been left by someone else," Celesta realized instantly. "Artak, Paltin, Tick... There were plenty of vampires in the monastery."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:04

"And what if not?" The singer whispered feverishly and frantically. "What if he isn't? If he really is the chosen of Lord of Wickedness? The Older brother had served him faithfully, he knew secrets unknown to us, he said he could hear the voice of the Master! He disappeared for three hundred years - and suddenly he came back out of nowhere!"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:05

"Yes, I wonder where he's been all this time," agreed the mistress of the city. "And why he decided to come back."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:25

Celesta pulled her friend closer, wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and stroked her tense back. Medea broke down, and she broke down at the wrong time. Despite the demonstrated public impulsiveness and emotionality, which is considered an inherent sign of a creative person, she rarely made very rash actions, even in the most brilliant moments, maintaining inner equanimity. She simply felt powerful support behind her back and therefore did not always correctly assess the risk. But Carlon... Perhaps the old priest was the only creature she truly feared. He had too much effect on her destiny.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:26

"I'm scared," Medea admitted quietly. "He's going to kill us."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:26

"Let him try," the little vampire stretched her lips in a dry smile, feeling her fangs come out into the light. "I made the mistake of not making sure my enemy was dead. I should have searched the monastery more thoroughly. My fault, I admit. I won't do such a foolish thing again."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:27

A long silence.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:27

"Do you think it will work?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:27

"At least I'll try very hard," Celesta assured her friend. "Stop whining. If you want things to go our way, you have to act, not cry against the wall. Why did you kill a mortal?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:33

"Accidentally. He was worthless anyway," the beauty was relieved to switch to another subject. The hysteria had passed, and her appearance was returning to the familiar, human image. "I came home, sat down in an armchair, wanting to think quietly about the news. Then Donnis came in and started yelling that I didn't love him. I snapped and started yelling, too. So..."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:34

Celesta just shook her head.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:35

"Hustin claims to have sensed a stranger in the city, and it was not Kalderan. It is more likely that stalkers were sent after the defector."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:57

"It doesn't get any easier."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 19:59

"Calmed down?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:58

"Yes. I think so," Medea smiled awkwardly. "Thank you for coming. I don't know how long I would have sat like this."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 16:58

"Good." The mistress of the city stroked her friend one last time on the sticky hair and stood up. "Tonight rest and fix yourself up, and tomorrow go scare Tulak. He must realize that an ancient mad vampire, a priest of Morvan, is coming to the Capital and wants to create a plague epidemic here. Press the threat to the ruling house and the chancellor personally. We are doing our best to catch his scouts, but we need help. Do not speak of Kalderan. In a word, make our amiable baron shake - he mustn't get under my feet."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 17:44

"And you?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 17:44

"And I really want to catch this or those vampires who came to my town without asking," Celesta replied dryly. "I have some questions for them. And besides, we need to prepare for Carlon's imminent arrival. Hide the youth, make arrangements with the allies... Distract the palace scum - I can't be bothered with them right now."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 17:48

"I'll try," Medea finally smiled.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 17:48

Events so far were proving the old adage that trouble never comes alone. The vampires, or more accurately, the top of Taleya's undead, were preparing to pull off the most complicated and dangerous intrigue of their existence when news of the appearance of a peculiar "tribute from the past" arrived. The leader of the risen doubted whether they would be able to solve each problem separately...

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:04

There is no choice, we will have to take a risk. First to deal with Carlon and his henchmen, at the same time hiding behind the hunt for a priest from the scrutiny of the Secret Service, then throw all the resources to free themselves from slavery. And the word "all" means absolutely all resources accumulated over the centuries: knowledge, allowing to blackmail officials documents, money, connections in the commercial and military environment, acquaintances in the circles of priests and magicians - any advantage must be used. Even if their forecast of events is correct, it is not certain that it will be possible to get out of the forthcoming bloody squabble without losses.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:05

We need allies, even if temporary and unreliable.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:06

It may seem from the outside that it is difficult to find a person in a big city. In a large crowd, it is supposedly easy to hide, to pretend to be an ordinary gray philistine, busy exclusively with his affairs and carefully not to get involved in other people's. In fact, it is not so - inconspicuous without a long preparation is difficult to become. Any newcomer becomes the object of intense interest of old ladies, neighborhood watchmen, neighbors, kids, a romantic girl from next door... And if he stands out from the crowd in any way, soon enough rumors about him will reach the guards.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:11

It's even harder for vampires. In theory, they can get lost among humans, but in practice, they need long, painstaking work to create a suitable legend. This is possible only in a quiet environment, in their territory. Otherwise, the rebel would have to seek shelter for a day, feeding on a certain contingent of mortals, carefully hiding the corpses, and trying not to come into contact with the spheres of influential people. If they notice, they will be hunted down; a loner cannot fight the system (unless he understands the mechanism of the system in detail).

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:13

The web of search weaved quickly and inexorably. Street thieves, beggars, owners of posh taverns and eateries, bribed guards, merchant guards, bandits, prostitutes, market keepers... Everyone knew of the two risen who dared to go against the Night Mistress. The flow of information was increasing, and the four of Latham periodically took off and went to check on the reports they had received from informants. So far without success, but Celesta was not worried - if the enemy was still here, it was only a matter of time before they were caught.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:14

The main trump cards have not yet come into play. Hastin had already arranged with the leadership of the Academy, and in a few hours, the mages will perform a ritual, casting a network of tracking spells over the city. Whether or not the outsiders can hide from the sorcerer's gaze is not so important - in any case, they will give themselves away. And there are still stirring temples, by this time surely aware of the actions of the undead and wishing to join in the game. Under the guise of catching the "wild" undead, you can pull a lot of combinations, and just a reputation among the lower classes to improve.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:15

/Using card terminology, Celesta habitually analyzed her condition. So I'm worried.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:15

The official authorities also promised help, not wanting a repeat of the Lascaris incident. At least in words. In reality, there was a lot of confusion among the various parties, and the help from the city guards was late. Looks like someone would have liked a little street rioting. A predictable course of events.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:27

/There may be more than two scouts, the vampires pondered. Hustin sensed one, and Kalderan claims that Carlon truly trusts few and tries not to let his "flock" leave him. Still, I'd send a larger unit ahead, at least three of the older ones, with mortal support. Though it's unlikely this lunatic would use humans, except for one-off actions.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:28

On the whole, the search did not bother her and served as a distraction. A decision had to be made, a difficult one, one that might jeopardize everything she had achieved over the past centuries. The emergence of Carlon forced her to take a step more dangerous than trying to throw off the yoke of the secret service. The force she was about to turn to for help was far more unpredictable and old.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:29

The vampiress leaned back in her chair, watching the man before her from beneath half-closed eyelids. No matter how you deny it, being does define consciousness. The activities that require meticulousness and precision inevitably affect the performers - just as artists need constant emotional turmoil. Being surrounded by general hostility for so long and always being ready to stab in your back also takes its toll. In the after-life of any risen, there are enough complications to make the habit of not trusting anyone second nature, and Celeste was no exception.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:30

The circle of people she really trusted was not wide, and strangely enough, it was more than half - human. A special place in it was occupied by Shorgot, who was now writhing before the night mistress of the city, awaiting orders. The man was not accustomed to urgent calls and now wondered what the mighty patroness would require of him.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:32

In the minds of the vast majority of people, the word "magician" was firmly associated with a noble origin. Among commoners, bearers of the gift were extremely rare. Despite the abundant bloodletting received by noble families during and immediately after the Plague, aristocratic women still bore children capable of performing miracles for their own needs. Not as often as before, and mages' abilities were now severely limited by their reserves, but wizards continued to play a significant role in Taleya's life. However, life does not want to submit to the frameworks established by society, and so there are mishaps. For example, some baron will have fun with a pretty maid, and she will have a child who can read the mother's aura from the cradle. Or, say, a noble lady has an affair with a brilliant officer of the Guards and gives the unwanted child to the faithful nurse. And so the child will grow up not knowing about his origins and sincerely believing his stepmother to be his mother.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:34

The blood made itself felt, and wizards still appeared among the lower classes. As a tendency, their fate was not the most enviable. Commoners harassed the gift holders, there was no one and nowhere to learn them, but most importantly, the aristocrats were afraid to lose their monopoly on sacred knowledge. Therefore, the found practitioners were either killed on the spot or transferred to the Academy, where noble magicians had long cherished the idea of developing a ritual to take someone else's power. Until now, no one had survived the experiments.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:36

Shorgot was lucky twice. His gift manifested itself at a mature age, and the boy was smart enough not to tell anyone about the noticed feature. The second time luck smiled on him was when a small merchant, fighting off bandits, caught Latham's eye. The undead warrior quickly chopped up all witnesses to the incident and delivered the lad himself, who was trying to frighten his attackers with simple tricks, to the dark eyes of his mistress. Celesta, naturally, was interested in the rare mortal - she had long wanted to start something like a pocket sect of mages, but the opportunity never came. She offered Shorgoth training and seed money to get things rolling in exchange for faithful service and complete secrecy. The man, after brief deliberation, agreed - and in time became one of Mistress Thaleya's confidants. Despite Hustin's efforts, he did not become a particularly skillful magician, but he always used his abilities effectively and to the point.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:39

"There's an assignment for you." Celeste considered one last time whether she was doing the right thing, and cast aside her doubts. Hard times call for hard decisions. "You go to Leatherman Street, find Master Garresh there. Do not hide yourself, but try not to draw too much attention. You will tell Garresh... Tell him that the risen Celesta asks for advice and is ready to come for him at any time convenient for the master. That's right, word for word."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:40

In addition to his other virtues, Celeste valued Shorgot for his ability not to ask unnecessary questions. Despite the intense amazement in his eyes - the Dark Mistress herself would humiliate herself before a mere commoner. - he confined himself to asking:

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:42

"Will he does not call the guards, Mistress?"

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:42

"I don't know," Celesta admitted. "So be careful. I have no idea what to expect from him. Go ahead."

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:43

The man bowed and left, leaving the mistress alone to ponder whether she had just made a serious mistake.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:44

The door opened, and a lightly armored figure appeared in the opening.

Camrad_RIP 19.02.22 в 18:44