Shadow War

By Austin Findley

Trevor and his group of mages, have stolen immortality from an Elder Vampire. Their souls have been destroyed, and the only thing left to do, is to watch the world burn. Will they be successful in their endeavor?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359640027

Book preview

Shadow War

Shadow War

By:

Austin Findley

Chapter 01: Trevor and the Soul Stealer

In the outskirts of the Fifth City, a caravan will ride; as it had for many years The day was warm, but the night was cold. The moon shone like a star: brightly. There were four hooded people on horseback. One of them stopped; signaling the other three to stop. That man was Trevor, mage and Head of House Trevor: From the Order of Mercury. Trevor had black hair with brown eyes. His skin was white with wrinkles on his eyes and head. Trevor appeared to be thirty-five years of age.

Trevor saw a petite deer, with reddish-brown fur; and no antlers. Her face was greying, belly and rump dotted with white.

Tis that the sight of wonder? Trevor asked a member of his party. This is Edric, Trevor’s promising student. Edric had long black hair with a pagan star necklace. His nose was big, and he was slightly overweight. He had brown eyes and looked to be thirty.

Magister, it’s the Antonian Roe Deer! Edric spoke.

The Roe Deer is intriguing. Trevor stated while scratching his chin as a hooded woman looked at him. Her name is Miranda, the voice of reason. Miranda was an average build woman with long, wavy brown hair. She had a hood made of lion fur, that hid most of her silky hair. She had brown eyes that appeared to have spirals of green and blue. Her skin was fair; she had a majestic feel to her.

Magister, our task is to cannibalize Zhaolot, shouldn’t we be focused more on the task on hand, rather than observing a deer? Miranda asked while calmly holding in frustration.

As Head Mage of the branch of Trevor, Order of Mercury, Student of the Customs, I believe that making a hypothesis, observing, and experimenting on this deer will prove useful in the near future.

How, magister? Edric asked.

It’ll help with our flesh-crafting abilities. Trevor snapped his fingertips to each other and plotted to skin the animal; alive. Trevor got off his horse and got out his book from the saddle pouch. He began walking towards the animal.

In order for magic to work, you need Quintessence, which vampires don’t have. Quintessence is the material that makes up reality; it makes performing magic possible. Magic, can be performed by scientific experiments, certain words or phrases that are spoken, rituals, etc.

Vampires use Plasma, which is like Quintessence but not Quintessence. Plasma sustains the vampiric body, but it is not generated. Because Plasma isn’t manufactured in the vampire’s body, the vampire, has to take blood from other people; these people could be anyone from: Mages, Werewolves, Fae, and Humans. Plasma, like Quintessence, is supernatural in quality. Plasma can be used for Teachings, which are vampiric abilities that originate not from the stars, spirits, or Earth, but from the blood of another person or animal.

The Roe deer stopped and gave Trevor a look of apprehension. The deer began to prance away from Trevor swiftly. Trevor shouted at his group as he spoke.

Men, we used to be mages, from the respected Trevor branch of the Order of Mercury, Student of the Customs. But our Souls are gone; forever! I think, we can trap the gazelle if we make a pentagram of the Earth. My plan is to use our Plasma to trap the animal, while we use Hermetic Magic to help us understand our new, undead status.

Trevor took out a piece of chalk from his saddle and began to draw a circle, with a triangle and a line between the triangle. Trevor got out a dagger made of steel and a wooden hand with occult letters. He sliced his wrists and let the blood flow down on the pentagram. Trap the deer, Trevor thought as the wind was blowing his direction. The deer let out a high pitched cry as she flew and rag-dolled from the force of the wind. When the gazelle was trying to get up, like a week limp, Trevor remarked while taking out a knife.

Hello, my pretty! While grinning, Trevor stabbed the animal repeatedly. He held the animal in place, so it couldn’t escape. Trevor moved the flesh like clay, with his fingertips. The deer became a deformed, piece of rotting carcass. Trevor licked his blade before he sheathed it back. With a look of satisfaction, Trevor walked back to his saddle to be dumbfounded by an ambitious woman named, Miranda.

Miranda rushed to the animal’s aid with protest.

Trevor, how could you? Miranda was hugging the deer as the deer began to let out a cry of help.

What do you mean, how could you? Trevor remarked.

You tortured this animal for no reason.

Well, you should see how the Tzimeshi apply sadomacism to their…calendar.

That isn’t a valid reason to torture an animal that didn’t show any signs of aggression. Miranda spoke as Trevor began to remark.

Your kind heart will get you killed!

Your coldness will be your downfall. You’re bold Trevor, for you have stolen immortality from a Tzimeshi Elder. Now, you’re trying to lower our generation by the cannibalism of Zhaolot.

You partook in the ritual, now you point a finger and accuse me of crimes you committed yourself... Trevor pointed directly at Miranda with a knife. Miranda looked at her hands; they didn’t feel as warm as they used to, nor did they look like any blood was still pumping.

We have done the experiment with the deer, I say we move on. Trevor spoke.

We’ll go after we have helped this animal. Miranda spoke calmly. Trevor began to look up at the sky and said.

Fine. Miranda touched the animal’s body and began to restore what was lost. She molded the flesh, not by moving it roughly like clay, but tenderly. She moved the flesh of the deer back to the original condition. She took the fur from under the muscles and began to pull the skin back into place. When the deer was repaired to godly condition. Miranda kissed the animal on the forehead, saying.

I’ve got to go now. Miranda stepped away from the animal as she was crying. I’m going to miss you. Miranda watched as the animal walked farther into the desert. The deer turned her head and looked back at Miranda, with a thankful look upon her face.

So, ready to go? Trevor asked Miranda.

Yes. Trevor and Miranda got back on their horses and the horses began taking them to their destination. Before them, they saw this huge tan colored building that was built from a mountain.

You see that place? Trevor asked Edric.

The resting place of Zhaolot, Magister?

Yes, there it is. The horses took them to their destination.

Good sir, Edric, how do you fare against me? Another hooded man asked Edric. This is Gotrius, rival to Edric. Gotrius is a man who appears to be in his sixties. He is of slender build and wears a hooded garment, most of the time. He is clean shaven and has grey colored eyes.

I don’t know, maybe I’ll ask a Malkhavian if I could rearrange your face! Edric jumped at Gotrius as the force pushed Gotrius off of the horse. Gotrius smacked Edric in the mouth with a wooden staff. Trevor jumped off of his horse and shouted.

Enough! Gotrius and Edric looked back at Trevor. I deserve cooperation from the likes of you. When we became vampires, I planned to restructure House Trevor. In order to do that, we need to have cooperation. I’m on top, you are all on bottom. Trevor lifted his hands up as Edric, Gotrius, and Miranda began to feel sharp pains as they screamed at the moon, wishing Gaea would remove the Wyrm-taint that was Trevor. Edric, Gotrius, and Miranda, you three are going to be referred to as Councilors, members of the Inner Circle of Trevor. Edric, when we’re done with this, Zhaolot business, you are going to get Vienna to rule; that would make you in charge of interest in Eastern Europe, and ruling Cleorius, House Trevor’s first chantry, located in Vienna. Gotrius, you’re going to be in charge of expanding Trevor territory into Africa. Miranda, you are going to direct your attention towards France, England, and much of Western Europe. Each of you are going to be responsible for recruiting seven Pontifices. A Pontifex oversees a large region; pontifices recruit seven lords, which are responsible for small areas of land. Lords then recruit Regents that oversee an individual chantry in a major city. Regents are responsible for training Apprentices, which will make up most of our ranks in the near future. My plan is to bind all three of you via a blood contract. From there, our future members will need the blood of three Elders to become a vampire. I put responsibility on all of you to slowly turn House Trevor from a respected branch of the Order of Mercury, into a vampire clan that will stand the test of time. You are all released from my grasp.

Edric, Miranda, and Gotrius dropped down from their elevated positions and began to gasp for air. Edric, Miranda, and Gotrius began to follow Trevor into the building made of rock as they hitched their horses. Trevor spoke to Edric.

I’m not a mage anymore, I’ll tell you that. When I became a vampire, I felt a door close to the Ombro.

The Ombro is the spirit realm, right? Edric asked.

Right, a Soul is like a cosmic being that can alter reality, but that cosmic being is you. Most people would go throughout their whole lives and never be Enlightened; because the Soul in most people is dormant. You have to have the conviction, the thinking, and the mindset for becoming an Enlightened Mage.

What if you don’t have those three things? Edric asked while Trevor replied in a serious tone.

You don’t become Enlightened! Edric was walking through cobwebs, trying to burn them with his torch. Edric began to look down at the ground and asked.

Why did we trade our lives for an eternity of unlife? Edric asked.

We traded our Souls for vampirism because our magic was dying out. A year ago, I felt that our potions were getting more diluted. We became addicts, junkies, daredevils in the eyes of humanity. We might have outlived most mages we have ever known, but immortality comes at a cost. Qayin must drink blood to maintain their undying bodies. Goules have to be fed blood, so they don’t crumble to dust. Some people have to feed off people’s souls in order to survive. Others have to die in order to become a wraith, which battles between its personality, called Anima, and its split personality that wants them to fail, to surrender and become part of Oblivion.

We’ve fought a wraith before. Edric spoke.

Are you really going back there? Trevor was getting annoyed by Edric’s question.

We’ll, Gotrius emasculated himself when we founded Cleorius, one hundred years ago.

What are you talking about? Gotrius questioned Edric with a stern expression.

Remember, Gotrius, I can unmake you, anytime I want. Gotrius gazed into Trevor’s eyes and began to walk back to his position.

When Gotrius chopped his man parts off, the blood flowed on everything that was there. he saw this one mage named, Postius; he was throwing up. When Gotrius saw that Postius was throwing up, he knew that any alterations to the original experiment could prove fatal; for everyone there, and for the mage himself. So Gotrius decapitated him and placed his own man parts in the Postius’s mouth. Then, through some kind of miracle, Postius turned into a tree. We fought him, branch by branch. Until the tree came tumbling down. That, was a terrible accident indeed.

Edric spotted corpse-looking people rising from their graves.

Kapodokyans, I knew we should’ve gave Kapodokyan a call!  Edric spoke to Trevor.

Edric, when we’re through, we’ll have no need for necromantic power.

Magister, how do you figure we would have the power to absorb souls? Edric asked.

The Zhaolists will be reduced to a fairy-tale level. If we go with the plan to cannibalize Zhaolot, we’ll be higher up in the vampiric underworld. The combination of Zhaolist and Tzimeshi blood will make Thaomaturgy, Blood Magic, our most prized and valued possession. Vampires can claim to have been descended from either: Qayin, Lilith, or a man named Seth, we don’t care! Trevor took out his sword and shouted. We will shake the fabric of Qayin society forever! Men, charge! Trevor’s men ran towards the Grave Robbers, a nickname for Kapodokyans. The Kapodokyans are clan members of Kapodokyan, a clan based on death that are also, scholars of Mortis. Trevor looked around to find himself surrounded by corpse-like individuals. He found that the building was made of skulls and bones.

Magister, what do we do about these Kapodokyans? Edric asked.

We fuck them bloody! Trevor used a sword and chopped a man’s head off. Edric reached around and stabbed a fleeting man from running away. An old man shouted,

Stop this madness at once! Kapodokya spoke. Kapodokya had the appearance of a monk with a hooded robe. He had white hair that could fall off at any given time. He had blue eyes that seen age wither them away. His skin felt weathered by time. His face was frail, but his body was bloated, making his skin smell like a pungent perfume poured onto a sickening scent of skunk spunk.

Kapodokya, is that you? Trevor asked.

Yes, my son it is.

What are you doing down here? Trevor asked.

I might ask the same of you.

I’m just, enjoying the view. Trevor smiled slyly, his eyes began to twitch into a grin, and his cheeks began to get red by the touch. Trevor spoke those words weakly, while avoiding Kapodokya’ gaze.

I take it you wanted to see where Zhaolot was buried? Kapodokya asked Trevor.

What makes you say that?

You find a random building made of rock, somewhere near the Fifth City, Constantinople. How do you do that?

I really don’t know; you seem to have been expecting me. Trevor spoke.

We were expecting you to come all the way from Transylvania to Constantinople. What other reason would you have to cannibalize Zhaolot? Kapodokya interrupted Trevor. Besides, wanting to gain recognition from other clans. Your so-called clan, is nothing more than a bloodline.

We might be a Tzimeshi bloodline, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to stay that way! Trevor responded angrily.

"There’s always another day, I suppose. But what happens when you cannibalize another vampire? You gain his strengths and weaknesses. I’ve never delved into the disgusting act, but I’ve heard rumors. Some say it gives the perpetrator a feeling of euphoria; while the victim is screaming for his unlife.

Others say that a portion of that person’s soul lives on through the person. So is the person you plan to kill dead, or still undead? It’s rumored that the use of Obia renders the Zhaolist to be nothing more than soul-stealers. For a cost to use Obia, one takes part of your soul, making redemption very difficult. Some would say, that after a period of time, you would become damned to eternity in Hell or have your stay at Purgatory. Those, are just rumors though."

How did you know that I was coming here? Trevor asked Kapodokya.

I found out that you were coming from an informant, by the name of St. Germaine, a local Malkhavian that has been guarding this place since the time of Jesus’s Crucifixion.

I assure you, that the Malkhavians are unreliable storytellers. Malkhavians are gifted with an insight of how the world really works. But the truth is maddening, Malkhavians could be interpreting the message in the wrong light. So instead of cannibalizing Zhaolot, I could be looking at the building, wondering what’s inside?

Trevor heard the ground above his head shake. A man with brown pants