Shadow of the Abyss

Sypher appeared as if he could barely stomach the words leaving his lips, "Young Master, surely you jest!" He forced a laugh as unbridled rage filled his cheeks. "You are not the Duke yet."

"And am I the son of the Second Infernal Monarch?" Altair asked in that calming voice deprived of humanity.

The Vampiric Lord gulped. "I-I—"

"My Lord," Bayra interjected with a smile. "It doesn't matter your identity. Whether it's true or not, it doesn't change the fact that you are someone with authority. I'm sure Lord Darkvien is aware of this fact."

"He'd be a fool not to," Ashara tacked on, singling out a red-colored cookie for her Master.

The surprising flavor of Red Velvet did not show on Altair's face, though the contentment did lessen his discontent toward the Vampiric Lord. He wasn't necessarily offended but rather annoyed by the arrogance the man portrayed. If anyone had the right to be arrogant, it was him. Not some measly vampire lord who didn't even understand his origins.

'The Pride of a King," the Vale King's voice echoed, dampening his mood.

Combatting the sweetness with something bitter, Altair was notably surprised by the bold notes buzzing about his tongue. It was a flavor he had not expected. It would seem he had won twice today.

"Do you like it, Master? It's made from the Navarsii Bean. Surprisingly, the secret lies in the water used. It is water that has been blessed by the Church of Sepeth. Holy Energy always seems to bring out the rich flavors in whatever it touches."

"Have some delivered to Medusa. I'd like to cultivate such a Bean."

"Of course, my Master," Ashara acknowledged, feeding him another pastry. Unbothered by the glaring look from Sypher. He probably believed Altair was going mad. Not that it mattered.

"Darkvien… quite the surname you have…" Altair began once more. "Are you of noble origins? Anyone with power can name themselves Lord these days or have you managed to fuck your way to the top. Not very noble, but whatever works."

The flush across Sypher's face was all the answer he needed. From the moment Altair sat down, he had known this man was not of noble origins. There was simply too much dirty blood in him. He was like a Vampire Spawn that somehow managed to become a man again.

"Your wife then… Perhaps she is the one I should be talking to." Altair said simply, sipping his coffee. "Perhaps she might be willing to kneel, or do you not realize the offense you've committed."

Ashara slowly glanced his way, the smile on her lips not quite reaching her eyes.

"You! You're actually! You're actually—" Sypher was saying before Altair cut him off.

"There isn't a need to blurt it out. What I am is what you think. It would seem you've not mastered the art of innuendos. A shame. I'd hope more from your species. Tasha, are they all like this?"

Ashara shook her head in disappointment. "The ones I've seen are truly spectacular, my Lord. Even the low-born ones are the pinnacle of nobility. Every action is graceful. Even in death or the way they fuck is graceful. It's rather impressive, though I can't say I approve. Fucking ought to be primal. Vigorous, if you will. Is should make you scream, and kick, and cum. Not—

"Tasha," Altair interjected on her tangent, resisting the urge to cup his face. He was so embarrassed.

"Sorry. Shall I reach out to Lady Darkvien for a meeting? I didn't realize we were speaking to the useless one. I should have known. A true Vampire Lord would never have such a big mouth."

Before Altair could acknowledge his agreement, a sudden BANG of Syphers fist striking against the table thundered, "I am the Lord of my House! What I say goes! Not my wife! Nor my child! ME!!!!"

"Oh? Can you swear on your blood that is true!" Ashara demanded. "Swear it, and we might believe you!"

"I swear that on the Blood of the Old House of Darkvien, that I, Sypher Darkvien, command the highest seat in his line!"

Three pairs of eyes seamlessly passed one another without the slightest notice of the Transcendent glaring daggers at Altair.

"My Lord!" Bayra floundered, grasping his waist from behind as her essence began to fill the air. It seemed almost obvious that she was doing something, but Sypher did not seem to notice, much less flinch at the sudden influx of demonic essence. Could he not sense it? "Please lower your anger… I'm sure the Young Master didn't mean anything by it. He was only curious if you had any power in deciding the fate of your family."

"Indeed," Ashara voiced. "My Master seeks not just a simple alliance that comes and goes but one that could last for generations. Vampires are, after all, a very powerful and noble race. Worth of being used by a Duketom."

Altair could vomit from the drivel Ashara was spouting. He was only glad one of them had to be shameless. Sypher and his entire lineage were nothing more than a means to an end. Exp to further his end goal.

"My Master is willing to offer you protection, Lord Darkvien, for you, your wife, and your child."

"And what would that cost me," Sypher demanded.

"That you bend a knee," was all Ashara could say. "Bend a knee and be made a vessel of House De Nier. You'll join his ranks and experience the luxury afforded by those in the North. And possibly… Well, you know where."

"Yes-Yes," Altair said, reluctantly rising. "Do speak it over with your wife… or not. You seem to keep quite interesting company." Bayra grinned deviously, brushing her lips across Sypher's neck. "I will have an answer by tomorrow night, or… you'll possibly have two enemies. Tasha."

Leaving the Cafe, Altair erupted into laughter the moment he employed a domain of silence. "I've never met a bigger fool. Have Bayra wrap her legs around him tonight. A few sweet words, and he'll break. His mental fortitude doesn't seem that great. Especially when it comes to who runs his household, that area seems a bit contentious. Look into it."

"Anything specific?"

"Hmmm, the Wife seems to hold more power than she has shown, and Spyher is rather insecure about it. His little tantrum proved that or at least alluded to it. Look and see if his wife has taken up a lover. If so, leverage it against him. I'd rather deal with a fool I can control than a woman who secretly holds all the power. That's not to say we don't play both fields. I'll leave it to you."

"And the kid?"

Altair frowned, thinking it over. "He could be a valuable tool in getting the wife. If we… let's say, disguise ourselves as a Lord of Genesis; we could kill the boy and gain the support of both the wife and husband. Right now, we have the husband. If the wife acts up, kill the boy and blame it on Genisis.

"I'm surprised…" Ashara said. "That's rather cold."

Altair ignored the comment. "Set it up. I don't like making assumptions with idiots. People like him seem to have some kind of plot armor about them in their daily life."

Pearly laughter filled the Dome of Silence, "And you don't, my lord?"

"I've been to the Lake of Rot… I'd say I have less than that bastard. Oh! And send me all you know about the Darkviens. That fool mentioned it was an Old House. How he became the head or at least the face of such a House is beyond me. Ask around. I'm a little curious. Perhaps we might get lucky."

"You think they could be True Noble Vampires?"

"What I think is irrelevant. What I need is facts and—"

The explosion that struck the Inner Wall to the noble quarter sent waves through the land as a mushroom cloud crest the horizon, billowing high into the skies, connecting heaven to Earth.

"Oh, what fresh hell have they gotten me involved in," Altair gaped. "Surely they're not that brazen."

"You're the son of the Second Infernal Monarch and Desiple of one of Lilith's Abyssal Generals. A true powerhouse. You'd be lucky if a god didn't descend to kill or challenge you to a dual."

Altair hooted a dismissive 'yay me' before lowering the domain of silence. "Let's get out of here. They must have discovered Raven in the carriage."

"Or… And here me out. We go to a hotel, and you screw the common sense out of me."

"Huh?"

Without the slightest hint of shame, Ashara gave a fanged grin, "Fuck me until I'm retarded"

"Hells! I have literally no words!" He had never seen a madwoman before, but Ashara really gave him an idea. Not that he would refuse such an interesting offer, but it still threw him off.
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"Ever heard a retard mo—"

"That's enough out of you," Altair said, pulling her along off to find a hotel to spend the night.

Raven would find him sooner or later…. She was always close.