Vorg(1)

The night was pitch black with no moon shining. Clouds covered the sky and a thick fog surrounded everything on the ground.
A few miles away to the north the titanic shadows of the mountains were visible and a wolf howling could be heard.
The dark soil crackled and split in many parts as a monstrous figure rose from inside that cursed ground.

-HAIL lord Vorg, warlord of Transylvania and ruler of Karpathia! said a hooded figure a few meters away from the monster.
The monster grabbed the hooded figure from the neck with superhuman speed and lifted him from the ground.
-WHO DARES WAKE ME?
-You 've been asleep for so long lord Vorg. My name is Aris and I work for a lord that claims your friendship and alliance.
-WHAT IS THE NAME OF THAT SO CALLED FRIEND AND ALLY?
-His name is lord Byron of Thessaloniki, said the suspended hooded figure while his neck begun to crack under the pressure of the inhuman monster's strength.
-I RECALL THAT NAME, A BROTHER OF MINE RULED THESSALONIKI.
-Not anymore my lord, an usurper murdered your brother and took over the city.
-PREPOSTEROUS! WHEN AND HOW?
-Three hundred years ago, no one knows how...
-I HAVE SLEPT FOR SO LONG THEN, said the monster and let the figure drop, AND WHAT DOES THIS LORD BYRON WANTS FROM ME?
-He asks for your help so as to punish this usurper and see you take your rightful place as ruler of Thessaloniki!
-WHY SHALL I WANT TO RULE A CITY SO FAR AWAY FROM MY BELOVED SOIL?
-Lord Byron wanted me to inform you that Thessaloniki has several warlocks assisting this usurper and that a traitor of your own clan has taken refuge in the city with the approval of the usurper.
-WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE TRAITOR?
-He calls himself Voevod Ilai...
-THAT WORM! INFORM YOUR BYRON THAT I WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS AND I WILL COME TO YOUR CITY TO PUNISH THE USURPER AND RULE IN PLACE OF MY BROTHER.
-As you wish my lord, one more thing, lord B... Byron asks only that when you come you do not contact him until the deed is done so he can be able to assist you without everyone knowing he is involved.
-OF COURSE HE WOULD, BLUE-BLOODED BASTARDS WITH NO HONOR AND FIGHTING SPIRIT...NOW LEAVE DOG BEFORE I SATISFY MY THRIST WITH YOU!

A few days later in a luxurious house in the outskirts of Thessaloniki that hooded figure was standing in front of a middle-aged man dressed in a fine, dark blue suit.
-Is it done?
-Of course my lord, Vorg is awake and preparing to come here.
-Judging by your auras he must be impressive...
-My lord he is a pure monster from Hell, are you sure you can control him?
-Control him?HAHAHAHAHAHA a whole cabal of madmen were not able to control him some time ago so I have no delussions that I can.
-Then why unleash him upon our city?
-If someone could take care of James that's Vorg.
-So you want this monster to rule Thessaloniki?
-Rule? Who said anything about ruling?
-Then?
-Ari my friend you must learn many things in politics, don't bother your mind with political plots. After all I like you for your other skills, not your brain.
-Glad to be of help my lord.
-Vorg will be unleashed upon Thessaloniki only to dethrone James and after that he will disappear.
-How are you so sure, I mean...
-DO NOT INTERRUPT ME! I have already arranged it, I am not that insane as to unleash this monster without already having a countermeasure.
-The snake?
-Not only, the less you know the better for you.
-Is it true that Vorg is insane?
-At least the rumors say so...some time during the 16th century a cabal of madmen managed to ambush him and for many decades experimented with his body and brain. I am sure even you could understand what the madmen are capable of.
-Is he so potent?
-Legend has it that Vorg is one of the few creations of Vlad Tepes himself.
-Vlad Tepes?
-Oh in Cain's name Ari, Vlad Tepes the impaler, ruler of Transylvania also known as ...
-DRACULA! Aris realised.
-Exactly, the only problem is that after so many experiments on his brain Vorg now believes he is the legendary Dracula and not his creation.
-Are you so sure that this Vorg is able to kill both ''Faceless'' and James?
-I doubt he could do it at the same time but I have recruited other allies as well plus I do not intend to lead him into a direct confrontation. Vorg will fight them separately one by one, first ''faceless'', then that scum Amadeus and finally this ''James''.
-You believe the warlock could die by Vorg?
-Amadeus? Of course, his magics cannot protect him from the centuries old fury and hatred that monster carries for the warlocks.
-How can I help, my lord?
-Here is a list of prostitutes and a list of different houses owned by several mortal servants of mine. I want you to find all the women and place them in each house.
Aris looked at the lists.
-My lord are all the women called Mina?
-Some yes, some others I had to rename them.
-Why rename them?...Just a moment I get it, the classic legend about Dracula's love?
-I am impressed Aris, maybe your brain is finally of some use. Now leave and do as I told you. LET US PREPARE THIS CITY FOR THE COMING OF ''DRACULA''!

Aris left in a hurry while an evil laugh spread throughout the huge, luxurious house.
Byron stared outside his window, finally his plans for revenge were taking form.
-I would be stupid if I believed that James would not be able to handle Vorg but I have many more aces up my sleeve ''beloved'' prince. When you are done chasing your tail I will strike with full force, I did not spent a millenia in this city to bow before a clanless dog of no known origin!

Byron laughed one more time while looking at the city below him.
Thessaloniki was his legacy and he had waited long enough to embrace it.

Anageropoulos(16)

Paul spent the next three nights alone, locked up in his appartment.
He was afraid to go out, he was afraid to meet Suzan, he was afraid to meet Roxanne cause he was sure that his mentor would discover what he had done and he was deeply afraid to meet Sarah. That woman could read him like an open book not that she would punish him but he could already see the disappointment in her face and disappointing Sarah was the last thing he wanted to do.
So he lied. To his servant he said he was tired and to Suzan he said he had some unfinished business.
Each day and every lie made him suffer even more.

He spent the night hour's in grief, not that he loved Nansy or that he liked Narssel but in a way they were his family and he had committed the ultimate crime against them.
Sure he had fought for his life but such things rarely mattered in the vampiric society.
Cannibalising other vampires was the ultimate crime and the day someone would find out, Prince James would ask for his head.
He may had won against Narssel out of pure luck but Narssel was weakened from his fight with Nansy and he may had earned new powers from their cursed blood but neither luck or power would be enough to help him against that masked assasin. ''Facelless'' could kill him as easily as Paul could kill a child.

At the fourth night he made up his mind, he had stayed hidden for a long time before and he was determined not to hide ever again in his life and he also needed to see Suzan and try to explain to her and to Roxanne as well.
Those two women deserved the truth for all the things they had given him.
As for Sarah, Paul could only hope that she would forgive him some day and that she would eventually smile to him again.

So at that night he dressed up and went out, he also had to feed and after that accursed night his hunger had grown to new levels.
He believed he knew the answer to that, devouring ancient blood empowers your own blood but you inherit the ancient thirst too.
And both his victims were ancients.
He may be a youngling according to vampire traditions but the blood in his veins was now potent giving him new powers and also enhancing the effects of the vampiric curse on him.

He found an easy prey in a dark alley and he welcomed the feeling of warm blood running down his throat.
Before he could stop himself he drank the human dry and now he was holding a soulless body in his hands.
-DAMN! Am I becoming an emotionless beast? Why on earth could I not stop? Now I have to hide this body somehow.
He evoked his clan's unique power and vomitted a quantity of blood upon the dead body. In that way his blood acted as a strong acid and in some seconds the body was a pile of meat and bones.
There was no way someone would understand this was a human before.
Paul looked at the pile once again and he was surprised to find out that he was not sorry about the lost life, he was just angry with himself losing his self control.
''I am losing my humanity'' he realised.
Roxanne and Sarah had warned him about this, the more beastial a vampire would act the less human he would appear and the more inhumanely he would think and act.

-Nice mess you've created there!
Paul heard an electronic voice coming from behind him and he knew damn well who used voice distortion.
He turned and saw ''faceless'' only a few meters away.
-I had no intention to kill him...I lost my self but I believe I took care of the remains so there is no threat to masquerade.
-I am sure the ''shadow'' taught you well how to cover up your tracks and I am not here for a homeless scum.
-Then?
-Prince James sent for you, dead or alive.
Paul felt a growing fear but at the same moment he decided to face James and face whatever punishment would come.
-I don't see many choices then other than coming along.
-Well most of the time when Prince James asks for someone in that way he leaves out the ''alive'' part so here is your choice.
-He knows?
-No crime can remain hidden under the sun or the moon in our case.
-How?
-Come and ask him and please don't try anything stupid, the Prince said he would prefer to have you brought to him alive but I won't hesitate to kill you.
-I know, take me there.

''Faceless'' lead Paul to Jame's office but not the usual one at the hotel.
He led him to a basement in a building near the hotel where they found James in a dark room full of maps of Thessaloniki and multiple screens showing real time videos of Thessaloniki.
Around the room were shelves full of books and parchments.
The only door to this place was guarded by a titanium door with a lock that required both a password and a voice scanner.
Not that many would be crazy to attack James in his lair.
As they entered the room James turned towards them. Paul bowed feeling that growing fear again.
-Mr. Anageropoulos I am glad you decided to come alive.
-My prince...
-Don't! When I need you to speak I will let you know. Did that woman teach you our laws? Did she tell you that only a prince has the right to kill in a given city? Did she inform you that cannibalising your own kind is a crime even for princes? SPEAK!
-The answer is yes to all your questions, my Prince!
-Do you know what punishment awaits you?
-I know!
-And yet you came willingly...interesting!
''Er...he doesn't seem mad at me'' Paul thought.
-I had no intention to insult or defy you my Prince. May I say something though before you pass your judgment on me?
-Speak, youngling!
-I had no intention to fight those two but they gave me no choice and I had to fight for my life. They even said that you had no right to interfere so I couldn't ask for your protection. As for the cannibalism I admit I am guilty of it and I can only say that I had no control over my self when I did it.
-What about the lies about the ''shadow''?
-From the first time I saw you my Prince I didn't want to have to lie to you but she gave me no choice.
-Why? What does she want from you?
-I honestly have no idea but I owe her because she really tought me how to be a vampire.
-Anything else before I pass my judgement?
-I take full responsibility for what has happened, I am really ashamed for lying to you but if i am to die I would really like to ask you not to punish Roxanne for my crimes nor tell her what happened of me.
-Ha ha ha ha you see my sheriff! When someone is young he is not afraid to die, he doesn't even beg for his life, he still cares for the woman, such altruism! Okay Mr. Anageropoulos here is my verdict. You murdered two of my allies and you committed the ultimate crime amongst our kind. The penalty for your actions is death...BUT...if I kill you I will have lost two allies and a potential third.
Paul looked at James and in his face he could recognise sympathy and not hatred.
-Can you be that third ally Paul?
-My Prince...
-I am willing to let you go, to forget what you have done to your clanmates as long as you agree to take their place at my side.
-I can't betray Roxanne.
-Who said anything about betrayal? Do you really think I am that low of a leader to ask you to betray your mentor? You will be on my side as far matters of the city are concerned, as a helper to our sheriff or sometimes as the hand of the prince.
-I don't understand...
-Paul what do they say for our sherriff?
-Roxanne?
-NO! The others...
-They fear him and distrust him especially the younger ones.
-And here is your part, you are young and new and you have a mentor of respected status, where ''faceless'' is distrusted you will not be. Also I need him on more important tasks rather than investigating the death of a ghoul. Also when things go bad I don't want to have to involve him, they hate him enough as it is. But you are new and they won't even expect it.
-In other words, you want me to do the dirty job for you.
-You can put it that way, that was the agreement with Nansy and Narssel and that's why they had a bit more freedom than others in the city. I am willing to give that freedom to you if you choose to take my offer.
-And I won't have to betray Roxanne?
-No you won't and I hope that after some time you will find out that I am not that kind of leader. I earn the respect of others, I dont just ask for it.
-And what about the act of cannibalism?
James said nothing, he turned to his office and wrote a quick note which he passed to Paul.
-That will do. Also you will keep this position as my helper one year for each murder. After that I hope I will have earned your respect and that you would like to keep your spot out of respect and loyalty. Do you agree?
''My prince you have already earned them'' Paul thought.
-I agree!
-Nothing more to be said then, you may leave Paul and remember, when I call you drop everything and come as fast as possible to me.
-At your service, my Prince!

Paul walked out relieved of the fear that had taken over him before. He checked out the little note.

"What happened and what I did was for the good of the city and with the agreement of the true ruler of Thessaloniki'' and it was signed by Prince James himself.

Paul felt a weird laugh climbing his throat...
-It seems I am a sheriff now! Paul said with a bit of pride and joy.
Time and again he would regret that pride and that joy in the nights to come.

Prince James(2)

The two men were standing in the dark roof of ''Astoria'' hotel watching the night sky reflecting the multicolored lights of the town.
-My lord, may I speak?
-You know you can always speak your mind especially when we are alone.
-Why did you give permission to that rotten necromancer? He will probably cause many problems during his stay here.
-I know...
-Then...why? You surely knew he is old enough and his partner is one of the most powerful lords of Europe...
-Do you know who is the sire of our lovely Sofia?
-Of course, the prince of Paris!
-Then maybe you know who the major enemy of the prince of Paris is.
-...can't be anyone other than lord Victor vice king of France... The man's eyes suddenly opened.
-That's why you accepted him...as a countermeasure against Sofia and her sire.
-Wasn't it too obvious?
-You never cease to impress me, my lord.
-Though I had a few more reasons to accept him , I don't know why but I strongly feel that this man would be of great help in the times to come. Voluntarily or not!
-Ha! I suppose you want me to monitor him?
-From a distance, give him some space, let him believe he is safe enough and never forget that he is a skilled necromancer even the shadows can't really hide you from his spies.
-Are you teasing me, my lord? You know damn well I dabble in the necromantic arts myself or is it another test of cunning and necromantic prowess?
-....
-Damn! I was sure!
-I don't doubt your powers my sheriff, I just don't want you to become rusty if everything stays calm and quiet. And now you better get to work...
-Always at your service, my lord!

Prince James was left alone on the rooftop, he breathed the air around him. For him it was like recharging his batteries, his destiny lay in this town waiting for him to grasp it.
All these years he had created a unique web of allies around him without them even knowing it.
Whenever someone aproached him he cooperated with him and at the same time he made sure he would contact his enemy to score an agreement with him too.
Everyone believed they were expanding their influence while in fact they were just expanding Jame's.
''Divide and conquer''. This ancient quote was his guide.
His centuries old plans had started paying off and he only needed time and he had an eternity to spend.

His mind travelled several centuries ago before he came to Thessaloniki.
Where he was, he was worshipped as a god but it was not enough. He knew the that times change and he felt vulnerable there.
He was always a fighter but not a stupid one. Why fight a lost war when you can fight and win another day.
He knew he had to stay low and get used to his new status, where he was going they were not in need of a god but in need of a charismatic leader who would climb the ladder of leadership slowly but steady.
He was familiar with that place of course but many centuries had passed since the last time he had been in Greece.
He knew his sire and his ''sister'' were the shadowy rulers of that place but that was aeons ago.
As far as he knew his sire was burried deep enough having surrendered herself to the long sleep and his sister was nowhere to be found since the dawn of the Roman era.
Even if they were to return he would have established his reign and his powers to levels that even they could not surpass.
But he had one more reason to come to Greece and specifically in Thessaloniki.
When you have thousands of nights to live and thousands of days to hide from the sun, reading and researching becomes your best friend.
He read and collected so many documents about his kind, its lore, its origins and its occult.
He specifically paid attention to prophecies about the future of the vampiric kind.
So many signs were foretold about Greece, what would define the Vampiric kind would most propably happen in Greece sometime in the future and he was determined to be there and gain as much as he could.

Fate and luck were in his favor but he knew that he would need more if he was to win this nightly war.
He would need allies of any kind and power. After all you can't become a leader if you have noone to lead.
And his first ally proved to be the most unexpected one, the sheriff of the previous prince of Thessaloniki.
Through the years he continued to collect a wide variety of allies and sometimes even his most trusted allies doubted his choices but until now he had never been proved wrong.
Even that youngling that had lied to him about his origins had his place in Jame's plan.
Jame's didnt know what this place would be but he knew that this Paul Anageropoulos would make a fine ally one day.
He interrupted his journey through his memories, this was not a time to relax, war was coming and he still had many things to prepare for.
He gazed one more time at his beloved city, the city he had been ruling for the last 300 years.
-One day Thessaloniki I will reign supreme above everyone and I promise that whoever believes in me will never be alone again!