Book of Lhorre Snipet

Snow drifted down in soundless waves as the thunder of hooves broke the night's silent appeal. Feeling the heels of his cohort dig into his sides, The Ly'Rouzon* dropped his massive head and launched into a full out gallop across the frozen,desolate fields. The stallion jerked his head in an attempt to gain freer reign, laying his ears back as he sounded his agitation with a rebellious snort. Strings of saliva dripped from the corners of the beast's jaws and with each exhale a jet of white fog lifted from his flared nostrils.

They were being chased. Alaric could feel it, though their pursuers had yet to show themselves. Glancing over his shoulder, the vampires dark eyes glittered as the moonlight struck his soulless eyes, a roguish grin flashing across his youthful bloodstained features. Bring on the chase…he lived for it.

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It was well into morning hours before horse and rider thundered through the gates. The twin moons had rose several times and were starting to wane over the course of his venture in to enemy territory and Alaric was quite glad to be back on Klique soil. Sitting deeper in the saddle, the dark haired vampire pulled back on the reigns bringing Draven into a sliding stop as he caught sight of the guard trying to flag him down. The agitated horse danced and tossed his head in annoyance as the Citation bit cut into the corners of his cheeks and the roof of his mouth. The bit was in effect, cruel and over the top, but it did little to stop an over-excited Ly'Rouzon when the mood hit.

Draven's ears pinned back as he spotted Stephen, an obstacle between him and home in the Ly'Rouzon's mind. Chest heaving, the ill tempered beast attempted to throw himself forwards and upwards, hard hooves striking the air in an attempt to trample the wary vampire. Jerking the horses head around cruelly as Stephen backed away in alarm, Alaric gave him a good kick, not missing the scent of blood as it dripped from the corners of the Ly'Rouzon's mouth and stained the fresh white snow. Alaric paused only long enough for Stephan to wave him through before he let loose the reigns, freeing Draven's massive head and let him break into a slow trot as they entered the main yard.

The weather had no real effect on him, but he had never liked snow. It was drab and inconvenient. Pushing his way through heavy doors, Alaric Brushed the stray flakes off his shoulders with a hand and gave his head a small shake to rid his dark hair of the slowly melting snow. Once satisfied, the vampire glanced about the foyer with a slow sweep of his chocolate eyes, curiosity growing at the deathly silence filling the hall.

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"Get off of me damn it!" Scolex snapped as he roughly shoved Will away from him with his uninjured arm. "My legs are fine idiot…I can walk by myself." He added in a low growl as he stalked from Deacon's chambers towards the staircase leading down to the main foyer. He had a determined set to his shoulders that warned that this was not over just yet but he cradled his wounded arm close to his chest.

Will and Patent glanced at each other for a brief moment before they both followed after their lord with a dejected but hurried air. The ride home was going to be long…and uncomfortable if Scolex was in a sour mood.

"Lord Scolex…don't you think that was a bit over the top? Maybe an appolo-"Will started but a glare from Patent made him pause. "I'm just saying…That Klique is spooky…I don't think he was even trying in there..." He added under his breath with a curse as shudder ran up his spine. The look on the Kliques face was going to be burned into his subconscious for years, not to mention the way he had effortlessly tossed Scolex around. Spooky indeed.

Darian was not amused by the developments as he closed Deacon's door behind himself and the Tudors, nor was he particularly pleased to be running around as Deacon's minion. Apparently he had chosen a particularly bad night to come here. The thought made him pause and he wondered just exactly how often these occurrences happened. His mistress would want to know about this. Not only about the proposition the Tudor's had brought tonight, but also on the state of the Klique clan itself. It would be interesting to see what would happen when news spread of the Shadowdancer taking on a childer.

"Who are you?"

Darian stopped stalk still as the unfamiliar voice broke through the Tudor's squabbling and Darian's private thoughts. He hadn't felt the stranger's presence until the voice had reached him, but a quick glance towards the Tudors confirmed he wasn't the only one to be deceived. All three of the Tudors had fallen silent and were looking upwards towards the stone statue the Cere'kai had been passing under.

Casting his blue eyes upwards, Darian paused, a slow scowl crossing his features. It was obvious that he was the one being addressed, though why he was being singled out was beyond him. The shadows prevented him from seeing much more than a silhouette poised rather tediously on the edge of the statues folded hands, but as he watched the figure suddenly dropped from his perch to land directly in front of Darian less than an arm's length away in a rather cat like fashion.

"Wait...let me guess." The stranger added before Darian could respond.

Darian blinked once, unable to keep a look of astonishment from crossing his face. As the vampire straightened slowly Darian was startled as the light fell
across the stranger's form revealing his features. His face was young, more boy like then that of a man, but more startling was the dried blood that stained the right half of his face and much of his upper body and arms. Vampire blood thought Darian, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

The boy was not tall, certainly not as tall as he would have been had he been left to fill into himself completely but he shared the same lanky appearance ofmost boys entering manhood. His dark hair was pulled back, the long strands nearly reaching his waist. Darian could imagine he would look almost femininewith it loose. Despite the outward façade, the vampires' movements were lithe and silent, his posture resembled more a soldier then a greenhorn.

Lifting his blue eyes back to the vampire's face, Darian lifted his chin slightly noting that the boy was careful to avoid his eyes. The twisted smile on the unfamiliar face only confirmed that behind the child's mask, something older and darker lurked now. He could sense it past those dark ominous eyes that were now drinking in his own appearance.

Darian was well aware of the Tudors watching them silently with an air of excitement, but the Cere'kai didn't dare take his eyes off the boy in front of him, and the vampire seemed content to pretend they didn't exist. Staying silent as the stranger slowly circled him with a finger pressed against his lips in mock concentration, Darian followed him with his eyes as far as he could without moving his face.

While he was not particularly concerned, there was tenseness about him that he wouldn't have worn had he been on his own territory with roles reversed. The good mood he had been in earlier was quickly evaporating, leaving him on edge and rather touchy.

As the vampire returned to his former position in front of him, Darian scowled at him. That only seemed to widen the boys smile until he revealed a hint of fang and reached out a hand, waiting for Darian to shake in greeting. Taking his hand, Darian felt the faint tingling start at the tip of his fingers and make its way up through his hand.

" Oh my my…such a dark look for a Cere'kai. That expression doesn't suite your features I'm afraid."

Darian let out a small growl at the banter as he jerked his hand away but before he could respond with a retort the boy turned away from him, his dismissal clear. Shock once again flitted across his face and Darian felt his fists clench tightly as his annoyance grew into anger.

"Lord Ryobi…the guest wing is in that direction." The boy said with a glance over his shoulder, a slender hand lifting to point in the direction of the catwalk that led towards the other side of the foyer and another smaller set of stairs that led to another level above. The smile had disappeared from the boys face, leaving his features almost somber. "…The Klique look after their own. I'll deal with the riffraff."

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Alaric had been unsure on if the Cere'kai would take his advice and a tense moment had past before the blue eyed man had tossed his arms up in the air and stalked off. Typical Cere'kai…never could go against the rules. Rules were everything to Sala, even if she had to enforce things herself. Alaric had no tolerance for such naïve thinking in most cases, of course there were some
boundaries that couldn't be touched for good reason.

"And since when have you ever been a Kliq-" Scolex sneered in a boisterous tone but he paused as Alaric's gaze flashed back to meet his gaze with a murderous glint in their dark depths. An almost animalistic snarl rumbled in Alaric's chest, a twisted smirk giving his features an ominous glare.

"Wait! Stop!" Lifting his arms in defense, Scolex took a step back the sneer disappearing from his face. Neither Will nor Patent made a move, seemingly rooted to the floor where they watched with a certain awe and respect for their seniors.

A loud crack resounded in the silence filling the foyer with echoes and shards of wood as Scolex went crashing through the railing and down over the edge of the landing. Alaric wasn't far behind, his movements not much more then a blur as he followed Scolex over the edge, refusing to give the vampire an inch of space to correct his fall.

Scolex landed hard, the tile cracking under the impact but he didn't get a chance to move before Alaric was ontop of him, pinned by the neck in an iron grip as the smaller man straddled his waist.

"Don't move Chauni*" Alaric purred next to Scolex' ear as he reached down to the man's belt. "I see you've come to return my property." He added before drawing the dagger Deacon had used to assault him earlier. "She's tasted your blood too! How convenient."

Without warning, Alaric gripped Scolex' wrist before yanking up, drawing the man's arm up above his head, using the dagger, he jammed it down through Scolex' hand effectively pinning it to the floor. Alaric's smile twisted more as blood splattered across his cheek and bridge of his nose but he placed a hand over Scolex' mouth to stifle the cry of pain. A small chuckle escaped him as Scolex' eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Oh come now Chauni. You seem surprised…but then you never were the brightest. Waltzing into the dragon's den, no doubt uninvited... " Taking Scolex' free hand he flipped it gently between his fingers as though inspecting it.

"Ah…very good, your guard has grown much stronger." Alaric murmured quietly but he didn't seem perturbed. Drawing the vampire's bloody sleeve back, he inspected the wound on his inner forearm before gradually working his thumb nail down into the cut, widening and stretching the lesion until the blood started flowing freely down over his fingers.

Scolex let out a shriek as Alaric started tearing at the wound, his body thrashing until a stunning blow to the side of his cheek had him fall still momentarily.

"Come now Scolex, such dismal behavior from one of your rank? Such disgrace. Now tell me, just what are you doing skulking around here...Deacon went soft on you I see."

Bringing Scolex' arm up to his lips, Alaric slowly ran his tongue along the bloody gash, his eyes closing momentarily as a look of elation crossed his face. Alarics eyes snapped open, fixating on Scolex's wide, alarmed gaze as the vampire shifted under him. Without warning his fangs sank into the tender flesh of Scolex wrist, his glare paralyzing his prey. Slowly he drank, stealing
Scolex' secrets through a talent that was his own.

When he finished, Alaric stood, Scolex' arm falling limply back to the tile. It
would take several days for him to recover from being drained of that much.

"Will...Patent. Get him out of my sight. I'm done here."

Will and Patent had watched the scene frantically, unable to rescue their lord. They knew better then to interfere. This is what they had been dreading, more so then their meeting with Deacon. As Alaric released Scolex, Will rushed forwards to asses damage while Patent paused, his focus on Alaric.

"Mas - Lord Alaric.." He started waiting until Alaric's attention was on him. "...do you have any messages you wish to send back."

Alaric watched Patent a moment, his gaze and features stony. Abruptly he turned away waving his hand nonchallant as he headed towards the stairs leading to the abandoned dungeons he had inhabited below. "Tell him his days as Lord Tudor are numbered. Sending Scolex with such a message  here has sealed that.  "
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THIS IS A SUBPLOT IN THE NOVEL and does not contain the main characters, only Alaric as a secondary.

*Ly'Rouzon - Type of Equine creature created by myself and my co-author. Illustrations will be available for these beasts.

*Chauni - An affectionate Tudor term for 'Brother' or 'friend'