The Crimson Fang

“Allison? I didn’t think your kind stooped so low as to use human names, especially when it comes to your High Lords.” Geoff was taken aback. “Yeah, that sounds a little too human for the Altros,” Sakura said, sarcastically. “We don’t really have any females among us, as we are more gender neutral, so we’ve never had any reason to come up with a female name. Besides, she was human herself once.” Everyone’s eyes went wide, in shock and confusion. “What do you mean by ‘human once’? Since when have the Altros been able to convert humans to their ranks?” “Allison is a special case. She committed acts of evil great enough to warrant her transformation.” “What did these evil acts consist of?” “She has used her feminine charm and wile to gain the trust and hearts of many kings and emperors. Once she was inside the royal families, she destroyed their kingdoms from the inside. Many of the most spectacular kingdoms have fallen to her schemes.” “Where is this harlot?” “She is currently an, ahem, ‘honoured guest’ of the Lord Drexel. She pretended that she had been injured by wolves, in the forests near the city. When Drexel came across her during a hunt, she turned her charms on him and he ended up bringing her home to nurse her to health. While she was his guest, she murdered his wife, but she used her powers to make it seem like an accident. With his wife out of the picture, she began to seduce him. They have actually entered discussions about marriage.” Upon hearing the report, Joseph turned to the others. “I want you to send the prisoner back to Crimsonia. I am going to go to the Drexel manse and pay the man a little visit. Have a messenger inform King Albert that the High Lord has been dealt with, and that I am following a lead on another one. He may have more orders for the messenger to pass on. I will meet you back at Blood Crimson, once I have finished my reconnaissance. The Altros know we are on the move by now, so be careful and watch every shadow.” They nodded and he watched them leave with their prisoner. Once they were out of sight, he shadow-walked to the surface.

After half an hour of walking, Joseph reached the Drexel manor. He had not been to this estate since Robert had taken the reigns as head of the Drexel family. This was long ago, and Robert had long since passed. Following his untimely demise, which many had believed to involve foul play, the Drexel household had declined greatly; none of his descendants seemed to have the capability to follow in his footsteps. The Crimson Fang, known more commonly as the Crimsoni family, had also had a hand in the family’s demise. They had been an extremely respected family in Carten, and since they turned down numerous invitations to join the Drexels for dinner parties, tea and other gatherings, so had many other great families. Over the years, the neighbourhood around the manor had also declined, with more crime and gangs moving into the dark alleyways. Many of the family’s servants had been afraid to leave the estate, especially at night, so the family had accommodated them by allowing them to stay in the empty rooms. This had gained them a small amount of favour, particularly with the poorer families in the city. They had managed to stabilize their assets before they had to sell their home, which was a great relief to the current head of the family. Once Lady Drexel had perished, however, things began to decline once more, as nobody had seen Lord Drexel since then. As Joseph approached the main entrance to the estate, he noticed that the garden out front had recently perished; he noted this as being odd. In his experience, Altros had the ability to make plants grow better, as a means to mask their evil presence. Perhaps she had even greater evil in her soul than the prisoner had informed them. Before he could knock, the door flew open. “I don’t care what is expected of me! I will not stand idly by while you degrade her memory, and I will not be staying for this farce of a dinner!” The young heiress of the household came rushing out and, as she was not watching where she was going, crashed right into Joseph, sending the both of them to the ground.

When Joseph opened his eyes, he saw the young woman scurrying toward him. “Oh my goodness! Are you alright, my lord? I am so sorry! I am such a klutz!” He sat up, hoping it would help to calm the maiden down. “I am fine, no need to fret. Are you hurt, my lady?” She blushed. “Oh, you needn’t worry about me, Lord Joseph.” “How did you recognize me? I am not wearing my fine clothes, and the ones I am wearing are…less than presentable, now that I look at them.” “It makes no difference to me. I could recognize you, even if you were covered head to toe in mud.” She blushed again. She hadn’t meant to reveal that. She had been watching the young lord for years. He had helped her once, some time ago, when she couldn’t find her way home. She had gone out for a walk and travelled much farther than she had meant to, and became lost. As she was crying by a fountain near the Blood Crimson, the young lord had approached her and offered his handkerchief. He introduced himself to her and asked if she needed help. When she revealed what had happened to him, he offered to bring her home, after bringing her to Blood Crimson for something to eat. She was amazed that he had helped somebody who was considered so far beneath him, finally understanding why people spoke so highly of him. She had fallen in love with him that day, and she had taken every opportunity since to see him. She attended public events that she knew he would be at, as well as some private ones. Oh no! He’s staring at me weird! I have to say something! “I am Freya, daughter of Frederick Drexel. At least, I was.” Her gaze fell to the ground. “I apologize for prying, my lady, but what do you mean was?” “I have denied my father and denounced my family, due to his decision to marry that vixen, Allison.” She practically spat as she said her name. “So the rumours are true,” Joseph replied, looking deep in thought. “Yes they are, my lord. Unfortunately, my father does not see for she truly is.” Joseph’s ears perked. Does she know? “What is she?” Freya’s eyes narrowed. “A whore.”

“I want her gone, before she drains my father of his very life.” Joseph smiled at her, taking her hand in his. She began to blush even more. “I can take care of that. Shall we make a deal?” How is he going to take care of her? It doesn’t matter. “Anything to rid my father of her.” “Excellent, then in return for helping me, I will not only take care of the vixen, but I will offer something more to you.” “What more can you offer?” “It is a gift that I cannot reveal to you until after we are finished.” That is an odd thing for him to say. “Very well, I agree. What is it that you need me to do?”

The two of them entered the manor. “Father!” Frederick Drexel entered the foyer immediately, hearing his daughter call for him, with Allison hanging from his arm. So, this is Allison. She looks human, more so than any Altros I have encountered. Frederick stopped, his eyes going wide, at the sight of the heir to the Crimsoni line standing in his home. “Look who I happened by, father. I invited him to dinner; I hope you do not mind.” Freya smiled politely as she said this, knowing that he would not refuse. “Of course, by all means!” he stumbled. “As long as Lord Joseph accepts, that is.” Joseph nodded, much to Frederick’s delight. I cannot believe that after all these years I finally get to rub elbows with one of the Crimsoni! The group retreated to the dining room, and a place was set for the young lord, next to Allison. Everything was going according to plan.

As the meal went on, Allison learned that the young lord was not only single, but that he was heir to the noble Crimsoni family. She could not be happier. With the money and influence that family had, toppling this empire would be even swifter, perhaps even easier. Perhaps I should try my luck with the young lord, instead of this fool, she thought. She reached under the table, touching his leg. To her surprise, he didn’t even flinch. She touched his leg again, tracing the large muscles that were hidden by his pants. That is an amazing amount of tone, for a pampered little lord. She began to feel a burning inside; a burning that she had not felt in centuries. The feeling was reminiscent of the first king she had been with.

She remembered the sensation of the king’s touch. He had been the first man to ever touch her, back when she was innocent. His personal force had been fighting a horde of invaders who had been attacking her village. When they had been victorious, the king had found her hiding in her house, trying to get away from the killing. He was struck by her beauty, and he immediately dropped to his knee, asking for her hand in marriage. The eve of their wedding, while everyone was celebrating, and they were consummating their love, the invaders attacked again. This time, the unprepared defenders lost horribly. The leader of the invaders, after killing the king before her eyes, took Allison by force. Afterward, he took her away to force her to be his wife. After four months of pure torment, she managed to kill her husband and she fled from the horde. She returned to the kingdom of her love, which had perished quickly, without their leader. This was the first of many lands that would fall, due to her. She closed her heart off to everyone, coming to the decision that if she could not have happiness, nobody would.

“My dear, are you quite alright?” Frederick’s voice cut through Allison’s thoughts. “I am fine. I just remembered something from long ago.” “Shall we retire to the study then? There is much that I would like to discuss with you, Lord Joseph.” “May I ask where the restroom is, first? I need to freshen up.” “Of course, my young lord. Jenkins, please show Lord Joseph the way. We will meet you in the study after you have finished.” Jenkins, a man who had stood silent through the entire meal, led Joseph through the manor.

“I know what you are up to, and I will not stand for it,” the man spoke. “Excuse me?” “You seek to make Lady Allison you own.” Joseph was taken aback. Wow, he is way off. “I assure you that I have no idea what you are talking about, sir.” “Do not play dumb with me. You heard of her beauty and decided that Lord Frederick is not good enough for her. You want her for yourself. Well, I am not going to allow that! This family has been through enough misfortune, due to your family. I will show you out now.” He placed his hand, forcibly, on Joseph’s shoulder. Joseph, operating on instinct, grabbed his hand and threw him against the wall. He made an exaggerated motion to brush his shoulder off. “Firstly, I will not be ordered about by the butler. Secondly, I am the heir to the Crimsoni line, one of the highest class households in Carten. A lower class marriage is of no consequence to me. Thirdly, I can have any lady that I wish; why settle for one such as her? And lastly, and this one is very important, I was invited here by Miss Freya. I would have had no intention of coming here, otherwise. Now, the washroom?”

Joseph released Jenkins, as Allison turned the corner. “I came to inquire what was taking so long. Is everything alright?” Jenkins bowed to her. “I was just showing the young lord the way to the washroom, when he tripped. All is well, madam.” She walked over to them and flashed Joseph a seductive smile. “I will show him the way, Jenkins. Please go see to the lord in the study. He seems to be unwell.” Jenkins’ eyes went wide, and he rushed away.

Allison turned back to Joseph. “This way, young lord.” She turned and walked away, Joseph following. The two walked through the manor for a while, until Joseph asked, “Is the washroom not in the other direction? It seems as if we are just wandering aimlessly.” Allison stopped and turned to him. “It is. I just wanted to get you alone so we could speak.” “And what is it you wish to speak about, that we needed to be in private for?” They began walking again. “I felt something at dinner; something that I have not felt in some tie. I’m sure you felt it, too.” The two of them entered a room. “Indigestion? If Lord Frederick is feeling it as well…” “No, not indigestion! Love! I felt it. We must be meant for each other!” “A feel I must apologize. I did not feel what you did. Instead, I felt the hatred inside you. The hatred, which has over the years, transformed you.” Her eyes went wide. “The hatred that transformed you into an Altros.”

Freya entered the room that she had watched Joseph and Allison enter. She gazed at the dagger clenched in Allison’s hand, which was covered in blood. She looked down at Alisson’s feet and saw Lord Joseph, a look of terror in his eyes. She screamed and Allison turned to look at her. “It appears I have a witness. That will not do at all. I’m afraid you will have to die, as well.” She moved toward Freya, with the dagger drawn. As she was about to strike her down, she was stopped by a feeling of incredible fear. She turned back to the dead lord, watching him stand up. “Allison, for your crimes against the world and its inhabitants you have been judged and found guilty. By the power bestowed upon me by Albert, the Crimson King, I sentence you not to death, but to eternal torment. Your soul, or what is left of it, will be sent to where it should have gone long ago. You are hereby sentenced to Hell, where the memories of what you have done will be the only company as you endure eons of torture. Enjoy your stay, Seductress.” Freya watched in horror as Joseph’s blades appeared and Allison’s head hit the floor. “Miss Freya, she was not human. At least, not anymore. Our deal is now complete, except for the gift I offer.” “What is the gift you are offering?” Freya’s curiosity was piqued. “A choice. I can make you forget this ever happened, and you will be placed somewhere far from here, living a different life. The alternative is that you may come with me, to my kingdom. There, you would become what my family and I are.” “What are you?” “We are an ancient race known as the Crimson Nobles.” Freya looked around, thinking. She smiled at Joseph, knowing her answer. I have to help my father get back on his feet. Now that his mistress is dead, he will need my support even more. I need to apologize to Lord Joseph, she thought. He nodded, and the two of them turned to leave the room. They paused when they saw Jenkins standing in the doorway, staring at them. “After all my years of service to your family, you would leave with the man who killed my lady?” “She was deranged, Jenkins. She wanted to kill my father.” “I know, you fool. Who do you think arranged for the Two of them TO Meet? I really expECTED a Crimson Noble TO be able to detECT my presence. EspecialLY one who HUNTS my KIND!”

“Jenkins! What is going on? Is my father…?” Freya began, but was interrupted. “My name isn’t JENKINS, FOOLISH GirL. I AM GOURMANTHOS! AS for your FATHER,” he began to expand and grow. “HE HAS OUTLIVED HIS USEFULNESS. HE WAS DELICIOUS, BY THE WAY. YOU CAN TAKE SOME SMALL COMFORT IN THAT, AT LEAST.” Freya fell to her knees. “Father, no.” She began to weep. “YOU WILL TASTE EVEN BETTER. VIRTUOUS SOULS ARE MUCH MORE SUCCULENT THAN THOSE THAT ARE CORRUPT.” Joseph stepped forward, complete calm on his face. “Am I correct in assuming that you are one of the High Lords?” “YES, FOOLISH NOBLE. IAM GOURMANTHOS, THE GLUTTON! I BELIEVE THAT A CRIMSON NOBLE WILL BE AS CAVIAR!” The giant mass’s tongue flew out of its mouth, attempting to grab the Crimson Dragon, but he managed to shadow-walk before it made contact. He was now standing on the Altros’ shoulder. “Then, I sentence you to death.” A flash of light shot out of his hand, and directly into Gourmanthos’ head. The Altros High Lord’s life left its eyes, and it was no more.