The people of Nachtholm heard an unnatural sound, as the sun set that evening. One of the town guards, nervously wishing he were one of those that could barricade themselves into their homes, whispered to his companion, "What manner of creature makes such a hellish noise!"
His fellow guard, older and wiser in the ways of the world, stroked his beard as he listed to the fluttering, squeaking sound. "Bats," he said at length. "That be the sound of bats. And a whole lot of them, I'd wager."
"But... what would bring so many bats here? All at one time?" the younger guard asked frightfully.
The older guard just tightened his grip on his sword. "Dark times, Lad. These be dark times, indeed."
Fortunately for the guards, these bats had nothing to do in Nachtholm itself...
_-=^=-_
The bats gathered by a cave to the south of the city, there transforming back into Kain and Seras. Seras quickly glanced around to make sure no people were in the area. She stoically ignored the scent of fresh blood she smelled from Kain. She understood that after sleeping for eight days, he did need to feed... but at the same time, she did not think it right to casually take a human life. "So," she said at length, "This is it?"
Kain nodded. "Within this cave is the first Blood Fountain I have found. Drinking from the Blood of Ages that flows in the Fountain imparts greater physical strength."
Seras nodded, and they entered the cave.
A female voice echoed in Kain's head as they entered the cave. "The Blood of Ages flows so sweet. Come... drink from us." Kain resisted the siren's song of the Fountain, and looked around the cave instead.
It was just as Kain remembered. A large cave, lit with a soft red light that came from no detectable source. And in the center, stood the Blood Fountain. Carved from stone and decorated with bone, the Fountain flowed with black, viscous blood. Kain had learned from painful experience that such blood was poisonous... a direct indication that he may sample the Blood of Ages only once at a single Fountain. By the same token, he figured that for Seras, the blood must flow red and pure. Speaking of which...
Kain turned to Seras. "Well?" he asked, "Will you not drink?"
Seras turned from her own examinations and gave him a cross look. "I would... if there were anything here to drink! Is this some sort of joke, Kain? Because if so, it is in very poor taste."
Kain was confused. "What do you mean? The fountain is right there!"
Seras looked at the edifice Kain pointed to. To her eyes, it was just a gaudy statue, made in poor taste. She supposed it could be a fountain... if there was any sort of liquid flowing in it, but to her, it was dry as stone. "There's nothing there, Kain. Nothing but a very poor sculpture, at any rate. 'Course, it might look better if there were more light in here..."
Now Kain was truly confused. "Did you not here the Fountain's call?"
Seras just shook her head. "The only thing I've heard, Kain, is you."
Kain stared at the fountain again, and asked out loud, "What manner of trickery is this?"
He did not expect an answer, and so was truly surprised when he again heard the voice of the Fountain sing to him. "The Blood of Ages flows for the childer of Janos Audron."
Kain stared at the Fountain in shock. He had not thought them capable of speaking anything beyond their siren's call. "What do you mean? Speak, if you are able!"
"The Blood of Ages carries the lore of vampires long dead. This lore may be passed on only to those descendants of Janos who find their way to us."
Kain blinked, but figured that the Fountain referred to vampires, in general, as descendants of Janos. For he could think of no other way there could be a connection between himself, and the most infamous First Vampire. "My companion is... different, but she is a vampire. Why will you not let her sip from you?"
"The living dead your companion may be... but she carries nothing of Janos within her. She is not one of his childer. There is nothing here for her, and there never will be."
Kain frowned. "I see." He turned away from the fountain, to see an irate blond vampire waiting impatiently.
"Well?" she asked. "I figure something strange was going on, since you don't strike me as the type to hold half a conversation with yourself."
Kain sighed. "The Fountain won't let you drink from it," he said as an explanation.
Seras rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I figured that out for myself. So I take it this was a waste of time, then?"
Kain nodded. "Indeed. As such, let us make haste for our next destination."
"This Malek character's place?"
Kain shook his head as they left the cave. "Not... directly. First we should make our way to Coorhagen, the place of my birth. It lies to the north, beyond Vasserbünde."
Seras frowned. "Why not just fly there?"
Kain snorted. "I have never seen Malek's bastion. It is hard enough keeping control over my destination when it is clear in my mind. I'd never find it simply by transforming and hoping for the best."
Seras wanted to argue... but couldn't. He was right, after all. If neither of them knew where they were going, then their bat forms would only get lost trying to get there.
With no other options, the pair transformed again, flying north, toward Vasserbünde once again.
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(Posted Mon, 06 Jun 2005 03:17)
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