A Mistress and Her Swains

[Lene Renka]

She walked into her beautiful hall, the lights were dimmed and the air was cold.

Just how she liked it.

"Now..." she began. She sank daintily into the throne-like velvet chair she had commendeered from some delicious rich nobles. "Amuse me!!" she commanded.
Immediately, called like desperate addicts the swains snapped to attention. They gathered around her, showering her with expensive gifts and appraisal. One of them brought her a goblet full of fresh drawn blood, the lines of swains broke to let him through. She took the goblet from the swain but immediately cast it aside. Her hand was smoking and she grimaced in pain.
"Stupid swain!!" she shrieked and with the hand she didnt clutch to her chest, struck him across the face. "Stupid STUPID SWAIN!!"
"I'm sorry mistress, I'm sorry" he pleaded like a pathetic coward. Lines of blood appeared onto his cheek from where her nails had punctured the skin.
"Silver goblet?! Do you expect me to laugh?! Do not jest with me you weakling!"
"I....I...."
"Enough! Be gone with you!!" she waved with her hand in a bidding to go.

He didn't move.

"Didnt i just tell you to go?" she shot him an icy glare which curdled his blood and sent him running out of the mansion doors. Looking around he panicked.

What was that?

He felt breath on his neck but when he turned to see...there was nothing there...he turned to find the perpetually smiling face of a skeleton. He stumbled and fell back...he wondered why he had not fallen...only to realise that yet another had caught him from falling. The first instinct he had was to find a weapon. But with only the rusted blades of the skeletons (which he didnt want to try and take) he searched the floor.

Finding a beautifully crafted knife he picked it up and brandishing it defiently he stood his ground as the skeletons formed an unbreakable circle around him.......

[Lene Renka]

They closed around him forming the circle tighter and tighter. And all the while he could feel the wind brushing at his neck and the sound of a woman on the breeze.

Abruptly they all stopped, constantly smiling at him,

Dear god that was frightening!!

He felt fingers clasp around his shoulder and a voice speaking in his ear....
"I believe you have taken something of mine!!" the Lahmian vampire struck him hard in the neck with her nails and hot blood steamed from his main artery. She left him bathing in his own blood as his body twitched and convulsed. She turned her back on him and she vanished from sight...


Leaning back once more in her throne-like chair, she yawned and called for Yulienne. Her favourite swain. He sauntered out wearing fine rich material clothing in vibrant crimson and maroon. His beautiful elven hair cascaded over his shoulders. Kneeling before her he took her hand gently and kissed it, his lips were warm to her touch.

Lene tried to hide her delighted grin as best she could but not completely. Her elongated fands protruded from her crimson lips. Most of her swains who were still surrounding her were taken aback astounded but Yulienne just smiled back. He sat by her feet, slightly to the side of her chair, gazing lovingly at her as the expensive gifts continued to come......

[Ogreking]

Now this i like! keep it going luv. I cant wait to see what happens next!!

[Lene Renka]

Theirs was a special bond, not only that of mistress and swain. They had fallen for each other when Lene was still amongst the living....before the blood kiss. So charming he had been and of course, so devilishly handsome. For a while back, oh so many years ago, it had been as though he was the one with power over her and now, even though she held the reins, a part of her still wanted to succumb to those big beautiful eyes and his silvery voice.
"So my darling, are we feeling fabulous today?"
"My sweet, everything is perfect when you are near..."
"Come Yulienne, let us take a walk."
They strolled out of the hall and into the grounds of her estate. From a rose bush, he picked the most beautiful flower and placed it on her hand. As he did so, the petals wilted and died. Her face fell as the though of lost life reminded her of the family she once loved that had died many centuries ago. Yulienne simply picked another and adorned Lene's ornate circlet with it.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" he said a delighted tone in his voice......
_____________________________________________

It was a dreary day, the clouds were black and the world was unwelcoming. She struggled to move, her village had been raided by foul beasts just hours ago and she had hidden when a branched had pinned her to the floor. Her legs had been trapped and she had only just been able to remove them. Lene looked up at the sky and cursed the day, makeup streaming down her face as the rain washed it away and the tears fell down her face. She was nearing unconciousness from sheer pain when she saw something of pure white coming towards her...she was certain she was dying...but did death ride a white horse and did death look so fair and youthful and did death smile?

The next thing she remembered was all a blur. She woke up in a large bed with crisp sheets and the sun was gleaming. Had it all been a dream? She tried to stand...no definately not a dream. The dull throbbing pain returned but it felt milder. Who had that mysterious horseback rider been? And where was he now?

The door unlocked on the far side of the room and through the chiffon curtains, she saw a figure. Dressed in pure white with hair as sleek as gold he walked over to her.
"Ah so I see you're awake now?" his voice was smooth and calming "Its quite alright...you are safe now.."
She sat up straining to see what he looked like.
"Who...who are you?"
"Yulienne...Yulienne Iradia"
He came into her view and she saw him properly for the first time. He was an elf. And he was beautiful his blonde hair swayed in the breeze. His eyes were piercing but they were not harsh, they seemed to see deep into her soul and she felt as if she had known him for years. She kept staring and her mind wandered...she realised she had missed a question
"...me?"
"Yes, who else could i ask their name? do you see anyone else?" he laughed as she blushed and put her head down
"M..my name is Lene Khiranha...what happened back there?"
"I heard the fighting from miles away...a heard a woman scream...i had to help!"
"you...saved me?"
"I searched the village for survivors but i found none..."

Lene and Yulienne talked for what seemed like hours but was infact days. They got to know each other like they knew themselves. She never thought it odd that this elf who looked the same age as her could have seen so much and lived for so long.

With no where to return to...Lene moved into Yuliennes parents great mansion...he was the son of a noble by nature and they had surplus rooms so it didnt make much difference to them.

One day Lene went for a walk outside of the walls of the city... she thought nothing of taking protection nor telling anyone where she was going. She walked for miles it was such a brilliant day.

Then she noticed clouds building in the sky......

[Ogreking]

Well now this is getting interesting isnt it! You are certainly good at this darling! What happens next then? Does the elf save her again?

[Arguleon Veq]

Great work so far(as ive no doubt there is more to come), a very interesting read. I always like it when a story doesn't follow the normal chronological pattern, i like to see them go back to give more history and detail.

[Lene Renka]

The clouds gathered and formed a dark circle miles around where she was stood...
"Odd.." she thought "It was a beautiful day before"
From further down on the road she seen a beautiful woman walking. She looked very pale and she was dressed in the finest clothing. She walked up to Lene and halted her with her hand.
"You" she said
"What about me?" Lene asked confused
"You are so beautiful..it would be a shame to waste such good looks and let them fade away...."
"what are you saying?"

what could she mean and what did she want?

The mysterious woman began circling Lene looking her up and down, and as she did, Lene could only noticed that the clouds circled above also, like smoke upon water.
"My name is Cassandria....i can give you eternal youth...if you would join me?"
"Eternal youth isn't possible dont be preposterous!!" she laughed and turned to leave
"Do not turn your back on me!!" Cassandria's voice had turned to a snarl "Turn to face me.."
Lene tried to resist but something was talking inside her head a calming little girls voice telling her to turn around.
"Come..you must be parched...i shall get you something to drink!"
"From a horse she produced a beautiful cup made of gold. And a 'water' container. Cassandria did not let Lene see when she poured the liquid into the cup.

She handed to the frightened girl a glass of what seemed to be red wine. Lene (always a fan of the finest things in life) accepted it gladly. As she sipped she noticed on the forearm of this mysterious woman and unsightly gash on her arm, that began knitting the flesh and materials back together.

A sickening thought crossed her mind.

"May i just say...." Cassandria laughed "You are quite gullable my dear!!!" and as she laughed Lene noticed for the first time.....nauseatingly long fangs. Everything had fallen into place. The pale complexion, the wound re-healing, fangs.....

"Vampire!!" she exclaimed. She had only heard of such creatures in tales from her mother and father when she was young. She had never really believed them and now here she was drinking wine with one.

Another sickening thought crossed her mind.
Why had she turned to pour the liquid?
Why was it quite warm?
Why had the wound only appeared after the wine was poured?

It seemed as if Cassandria had been reading her mind as she spoke as if she had heard every single and last thought of Lene's.
"That my dear...is called the blood kiss. Your heart will soon stop functioning and your body will in most effect..die" Lene slumped to the ground not wanting to believe what she was hearing. "Your soul will not leave your body but will remain...you will not die if you feed on the blood of the living"
"No!! NO!!! This cant be!"
"Believe it my dear! You will soon become a Lahmian vampire....just...like....me!"
With that she vanished and the clouds began to dissappear.

Distrought and bleary eyed Lene began to stumble her way home....

[Ogreking]

Lookin good darlin. Dont want to think about what the eleves are going to say about that lol. Shes goin to be ok though rite?

[elflord9d]

cool story so far my blood sucking friend. and it has elves! which is another plus

[Lene Renka]

Lene struggled up the path, sluggish footstep by footstep. The path seemed like a thousand miles long whereas she has only walked down it just a few hours ago with such ease. What could be happening to her? Why did it hurt so much? The sunlight stung her eyes, it felt like millions of needles from the pale light were directing themselves at her eyes that grew ever more sensitive as the seconds grew on. She couldn’t see straight and obviously was walking in an erratic manner. Her steps were all over the place, it seemed like she was going backwards on herself sometimes and the mansion that ominously loomed over her seemed to sway with the breeze. The shape distorted as straight lines became curvy. But she was determined. Lene occasionally stumbled and fell upon the floor, she struggled with all her might but she willed herself to carry on; with some of her remaining but dwindling strength she hauled herself up and bade her legs continue. From falling earlier, her palms were cut and scraped by the sharp stones and blood had streaked itself down her forearms and stained her dress. The dull throbbing pain was ever-present. Even in her daze she could still tell the cuts healing. She felt her skin creep and the blood stopped.
“Dear god what has she done to me?!” Lene grew so weak she could barely stand she gasped as a pain so crippling engulfed her body, under the agony she collapsed to the floor. Still; she was determined to get to Yulienne. Dragging her limp and dying body along the floor, her dress shredded but she didn’t care. She could see him in the window brushing his beautiful hair, she reached in his direction and grasped at the air with wilting hands.

A tear of blood fell from her glass-like eyes, then her vision faded and Yulienne was the last thing she saw…<br>

[Ogreking]

What a way to go. Like the whole vision thing you have though luv. Its goin well!!

[Lene Renka]

She awoke with the scent of insence floating around her. It was sweet smelling and soothing. The last thing she remembered was painful gashes on her hands, she lifted her hands up, placing beside her the white lily she held and stared at her palms. They were as smooth as the day before, it seemed like they had never been cut. She remembered her dress being tattered and torn, but as she looked down at the rich coloured material of a purple and a bright red she saw it was made from the finest material and was beautifully crafted. She saw flickering lights around the bed she was lying on...but she couldnt see clearly, the chiffon surrounding the bed in huge sweeping drapes.

She realised that she wasnt in her own room, there was murals upon the high raised ceiling beautifully done of elves from Yuliennes family. But she couldnt recognise any of them. She read the writing on the ceiling...

"You were brave in battle...be brave in the far plane..."

She searched her memory banks and remembered...
"The far plane is where all the elves who die go to..." she spoke aloud to voice her confusion, "But so why am i lying here..? Unless; I'm dead!?!"
She stopped and rolled her eyes...
"Idiot...you cant be dead if you are awake and talking to yourself..."
She looked around the room through the chiffon drapes and seen something golden at the foot of the bed. Intrigued; she pushed aside the drape and saw it was a head of beautiful blonde hair. The long lushious locks covered the elven face, she pushed the hair to one side.............

She stopped

"Yulienne?!!" Her heart jumped up to her throat. She rushed and knelt down beside him. She stroked his face with her fingers. She saw slight drops of blood trickling down his cheek where she had stroked him.
"Oh my gosh! I didnt know my nails were so sharp!!"
She wiped the blood from his face onto her fingers and instinctively sucked it off them. She was taken aback...why had she done that?

And why did she want more??

She left him to go and splash her face with water she needed to calm herself after that incident. She walked to the basin and splashed herself with the cool water. She looked up at the mirror and froze.

Had she always been that pale?
Had her eyes always been so glazed?

She reminded herself of someone...who was it??

She closed eyes and yawned...as she opened her eyes and screamed aloud.

____________________________________________

Yulienne awoke with a start and drew his sword. He relaxed as he saw no one was there. He looked towards the bed where they had placed Lene's dead body.

She was gone!!!!!!!!!!

Where could she be? He wept tears of despair. Leaning on the empty bed. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and a womans voice.....

"Why are you crying?.........."

[Lene Renka]

Upon hearing a voice Yulienne spun and thrust his sword in the direction of where it came.

"Who are you?" he asked the shadowed figure slowly walking towards him
"..." no reply from the sauntering figure came
"I asked you who are you? What is your name?"
"What's the matter Yulienne?" Dont you recognise me?" the voice that came was strangely familiar but unrecognisable.
"Who areyou?"
The figure stepped forward into the flickering candle lights.
Yulienne gasped
"What? What is it? Do i look a mess?" she asked
"Your dead!" he said staring disbelievingly
"Dont be silly! If i was dead how could i talk to you?!"
"But...you havent moved for 3 days! I sat by your bed and wept and tried to wake you but you lay there..as cold as death itself!"
"I...must have been asleep then!" she said with flickers of doubt hinting in her voice.
"Lene.....your dead...you shouldnt be here...why are these images taunting me?"
She moved forward like mist over water...and reached out and touched his face with her palm
"You torment me..."
"Yulienne how can you say i'm dead when im here talking, breathing, i can touch you and my heart...."she put her hand on her heart and paused
"And your heart what?"
"My heart feels for you but yet it doesnot beat"
"Lene?"
"I feel alive but...why doesnt my heart beat?!"
She sunk to the floor her beautiful dress floated about her knees. Yulienne walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder. Taking hold of her hand he lifted her up.
"What happened that day?"

____________________________________________
After Lene had gone through the story of the beautiful woman and the 'wine'. She sat on the bed and watched Yulienne pacing.
"My love...she was a vampyre"
"I know that now!" she snarled "Im sorry..I didnt mean it!"
"Its ok!" he sympathised "it must be hard for you"
"What will i do? No one will want me now i am this beast she has created!"
"I still love you.."
"....." she looked at Yulienne with tears in her eyes "You mean it and your not just saying that?"
"I fell in love with you and i dont think i could have fallen out with you because of circumstance changing"
"But i cannot stay here, i will be hated, i will be hunted, what will i do?"
"...." Yulienne thought for a while "We...we can run away!"
"Run away?" Lene laughed the idea off, where could they go, what would they do for food or money or anything!"
"Yes...i have money, we can live off what we find and earn!" he was enthusiastic and unable to sit still "And by what i hear, the vampyre who siared you and gave you the blood kiss was that of the Lahmian bloodline...beautiful women who have the power over minds...we could use your powers to get what we need!"
"I dont know whether we should!"
"Come on lets leave her Lene! Lets leave!"

[Lene Renka]

As quietly as they could they stole away.

Yulienne astride a white mare and Lene sitting side saddle on a black stallion.

In the morning elves and servent folk awoke to find Yulienne....gone.....
his money and savings.....gone.....
Lene's body......gone.....
TWO horses.....gone......
Why two horses? Dead corpses cannot ride horses and there was no carts strong enough to carry the weight of dead flesh... only that to carry his money.
_____________________________________________

Lene smiled and looked down at the beautiful elf.

"How could i forget the day we met!" she stroked his cheek as she had done long ago. "I dream about it at night sometimes!"

As Lene and Yulienne giggled and talked together, back towards the house

"What's this?" Yulienne asked picking up a blood soaked dagger from the floor
"Dis-obedience has its price i'm afraid my darling!"
Yulienne saw a smear of blood from a bleeding body as it had been dragged across the courtyard floor. A couple of mundane skeletons happily knelt scrubbing the floor.
"I want it spotless! Dammit!" Lene cried to them "HA!" she laughed aloud "If they had eyebrows they'd actually look scared now!" as she laughed to herself, still walking back inside with Yulienne...a swain ran at her.

Pausing as he saw the vision of beauty before him...
"My preetyfullness...Ghian sends me to warns you that we have peopleses approacheling the castle wallses...they bear pointy sticks and things to shoost!!"
"Summon forth my people!" she cried
She dissappeared in an instant leaving Yulienne standing there alone with the dense swain.
"Isnt she preeety?" Dense swain #2 said salivating
Yulienne repulsed and ran to Lene's war council room.
_____________________________________________

Sitting there with many people around her...

Lene...
Ghian...her most powerful and trusted wizard...her Master Necromancer if you will....
Miho....her wight lord.....he wasnt too useful in a scintillating conversation but as for battle skills he was useful...
the rest she never really bothered to learn their names; tthey were inferior but had good ideas (when they wern't being pathetic)
But there were two important people missing...

Yulienne and her little neophyte vampyre.

She had found a young Brettonian girl of around 18 lying on a road complaining her life was not worth the pain of living that her lover had left her. Her wrists were split to her elbows. Lene found her...took her in and transformed her into a vampyre also.

Yulienne ran in; his pulse pounding in his ears from the sprint up the castle to the council room.
"Did i miss much?" he panted
"No darling...sit next to me.." she pointed at a chair "Where is she! Lilya! Venir ICI!!"
A girl stood at the door with a sheepish look on her face
"je suis désolé....pardon.... i am sorry my lady! i didnot mean to disobey you!"
"Sit then....what are we going to do about this..."

Lene stood up and at a window with valumptuous curtains and swept them back. For miles all what they could see were burning torches, 'pointy sticks' as Dense swain #2 had said and people marching towards the castle walls....

"It looks like a seige is upon us then...."


[This story will be continued on another thread ill make later when i can be bothered. But please check out the new story im making aswell]