Sojourn of Shadow

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri eyed their escort warily.

"We won't be staying here for long, good man. As you said, the meeting is at dusk, and it is only a few hours until that very time. You can be assured that should our room accommodations be the same that we will be completely platonic in our proximity with one another. Lady Gabrielle and I have fought many battles with one another and know our limitations. If you will allow us to be roomed together, nothing unworldly will occur, of this I vow upon my knighthood."  

[Zulma san]

A soft smile came to Gabrielle's lips at Dimitri's answer.

Brother Georges had not expected such a reply and he frowned. However he decided that it would be wiser not to create an incident previous to the meeting with the Theocracy.
"As you wish Lord Solidaris." he answered politely, yet his tone was a little too sharp to disguise his annoyance.

The two Holy Knights were led to a room in a higher level of the building.
"I will send refreshments." offered Brother Georges before disappearing.
Gabrielle thanked him as she entered the room. The fact that two 'brother knights' stayed on each side of the door did not escape her.

The room was the usual two bed cells for two monks to cohabit. Gabrielle walked to the window and looked at the beautiful view of the Holy City.
She then let herself drop on one of the beds. She felt tired, both physically and mentally. The sun was painful to her eyes and skin.

She waited for Dimitri to be in and the door closed to speak up.
"Poor Brother Georges..." she sighed.
"Thank you for answering...I must admit that I did not know what to say." she looked up at Dimitri with a soft smile on her face.  

[Tonash Drahow]

"Think nothing of it, Gabrielle."

Dimitri smiled in response, running an ungloved hand through her hair and resting on her cheek.

"Know that whatever comes, I will be beside you. I fear that the Theocracy will not see past the paranoia, but I have my hopes and faith that they will use their intelligence to see what they do not wish to admit."

He paused and glanced at the window.

"If the worst occurs, and they condemn you, then I will not allow it to pass."  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle took the hand which was brushing her cheek. She squeezed it gently, slowly bringing it to her lips. She kissed it, her eyes closed as she listened to Dimitri's voice.

For a moment she stayed immobile, refusing to listen to the content, concentrating only on the soft melody of his deep voice. But she had to come back to the reality and let go of his hand, breathing a little faster than she thought. She longed for him...

The knight let the words sink in.
"I do not possess your faith..." she finally said darkly. "We shall see..." she forced a smile on her face as she laid on the bed. She needed to relax and sleep a little. Despite her desire to speak with Dimitri, she soon fell asleep.


"They're here!" a young brother was running across the hallways, shouting around. He slowed down at the sight of the cold Azimeana who was just back from her mission.
"Who?" asked the first rank without a smile.
"Camille and Solidaris. They are staying in the same room!" added the young one frantically before rushing to cast the news all of the place.

Azimeana's eyes had widened for a moment.
"...the same...room?" she was surprised that they had been allowed to.
She directed her footsteps in Brother Georges's quarter direction.
She knocked at the door.
"Brother Georges?" she asked.
The man stood up with a sighed. "I know...I know..." he was a little agitated. "Ah...Azimeana my dear."
The knight disliked when he addressed her that way.
"You should go to the Holy Room. Knight Camille's case shall be discussed in fifteen minutes."
Azimeana did not answer and headed for the room. She reached it quickly and sat into the already crowded room. She had not expected so many people to be there.

Someone knocked at the door of Dimitri and Gabrielle's room.
"It's time!"  

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri awoke his dark love and nodded to Gabrielle as they quickly gathered their things and made their way to the council hall of the Grand Theocracy of Light. The walk was short but felt as though time stood still, as countless eyes stared at their every movement, as though they were some exotic animal being paraded around.

As they arrived at the Council Hall, the scenery was no less inspiring as it had been in ages past, untouched by the conflicts that had risen from the strife caused by the numerous struggles of the age. It gave Dimitri some form of hope that perhaps, there resided some sense of order still remaining within the halls of Light.

Upon entering the grand halls, however, he felt some of that confidence fade. The weight of the judgemental stares and muted whispers became more than evident.

Always a pleasant sign.

It was then as the pair stood in the center of the room that the man seated in the largest pulpit of the Theocracy stood up, and with him, the entire audience.

"Council members, lords and ladies, knights of the Holy Light, we are gathered here today to discuss the fate of Gabrielle Camille. She has been infected and evidently succumbed to Porphyric Hemophilia, otherwise known as the Vampire disease, and has since become a vampire herself. I, Lord Marius Ironfist will be leading the prosecution. 'Lady' Gabrielle, you may proceed with your opening statement."  

[Zulma san]

Being awaken by a beloved face felt good to the vampire. Gabrielle smiled as she got quickly ready. She was calmer.

She could not tell to Dimitri how important to her it was that he was there, walking by her side. As they crossed the building, she could not help but feel the eyes on her...worse she could feel their feelings, emotions. A mixture of curiosity, repulsion, disgust..anger even for some. She was keeping her breathing under control to calm herself.

Another trial was the smell. Human smell, even blood here and there. Her nose was now over sensitive to the scent.

As they reached the Council room, she could not help but shiver. Even if she had barely crossed his path once, she knew by reputation the man sitting in the main seat, Lord Marius. She wondered if this prosecution was nothing but a farce.

"Lord Marius, Members of the Council, I thank you. I am Lady Gabrielle Camille, first rank amongst the Holy Knight. I am a knight of the Holy Light and have battled many wars to ensure the protection of the Holy City and of the Light."
Gabrielle's voice was loud and clear as she spoke, yet the vibes coming from the crowd were not comforting.

"I might have become a vampire, but it does not change that I remain first and foremost a Holy Knight and as such I shall keep the precepts of the Holy Light as guidelines for my life as they have been in the past. Please be assured that I shall always serve the Holy Light."

Gabrielle had finished spoken. The room was silent. The air was heavy. Everyone was waiting.


From where she was Azimeana had a good view of both the Council and the two first ranks. She was sitting in the middle of the other first rank knights who had also been called to witness the trial. Some seemed to have met Gabrielle or Dimitri in the past.

The young knight listened attentively as the vampire spoke. She could feel some darkness around her, yet the Holy Light was still upon her.

Azimeana's eyes drifted towards Dimitri, his silver eyes surprised her. He was the only person outside of her who possessed such eyes. She was impressed by the aura surrounding the Knight, he was truly strong.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Dimitri recognized the prosecutor.
Lord Ironfist had been in nearly every crusade led by the Holy Knights, leading many of them. All were victorious, at a cost. He was as cold, calculated and ruthless as could be acceptable within the divine ranks. He had at one point been an inspiration to the younger knight, appearing as an unwavering figure of strength and determination, but as age granted wisdom, he saw that those very virtues belied their true intentions of paranoia and zealotry.

After Gabrielle's opening statement, Marius stood once again.

"Members of the Assembly: Before you now stands not a Knight of Valor, not a weapon of justice, but a creature of darkness and evil. All the knights of our order have, since the arrival and fall of the Chaotic Twins, been informed to take their own lives if infected with a similar disease to avoid succumbing to the vile taint that had the potential to create another being of destruction as the catastrophe that has only so recently ended. This thing is a perversion of nature and life. It exists solely by feeding upon the life force of others. Regardless of whatever deeds Gabrielle Camille may have accomplished during her life, she is dead now. This is no longer the knight who stood for justice, but an aberration of that former shell which is now since left bereft and abandoned."

"How can you even say that?" Dimitri called out in a loud but still reasonable tone, "You, who sit behind your lecterns and pedestals; you, who hide behind robes and 'duties' while the men and women who fight for the safety and security of your very lives for naught but a meager pay and the satisfaction of serving the Light: you know nothing of the trials and horrors that we have faced in this time, this age! I have stood beside Gabrielle since before even the stress of the Twilight Tournament was placed upon our shoulders. She fought the darkness both within and their physical manifestations just as fervently as any knight of the Order, if not moreso, if not more than even you during your crusades!
Yes, she may have succumbed to an illness which has changed her body and how it operates, but that does not change who she is. She is still the same warrior who represented the Knights in the Twilight Tournament, she is still the same defender of this very city during the demonic invasion. She is still the same banner-carrier in the struggle against the Chaotic Twins. She is still Gabrielle."

Dimtri settled then. To his surprise a single set of clapping was heard in the seated rows above.

"Aye! Here, here Lad!" Lord Grimand, of the Proudanvil dwarves cheered on as his young friend passionately defended the dark maiden,"The lad is right, Ironfist, regardless o' what shape or form ye take, if ye're fightin' fer what's right, ye cannae be wrong."  

[Zulma san]

The immediate blow thrown at her by Ironfist hit Gabrielle deep in her heart. She had to contain the rage and anger growing within her. This is what he wants...

For years she had fought against this darkness growing within her body and her own soul. For years, she had fought the urge of ending her own life. She valued Life above all and had decided to lead the life of a warrior of the light until the bitter end.

When that end had come, she was ready to leave...but something happened. Someone was there to show her that despite her transformation, she remained who she was. That despite the darkness, she was stronger and she was worth loving.

When she had accepted to live as a vampire, she had accepted to defend that cursed life, whatever the price. She was still human, she was still Gabrielle Camille. However she did not know what to say. She was not a public speaker. While she was lost in thoughts, she felt Dimitri moving and she heard him defend her.

A gentle smile came to her pale lips as he spoke. I am still Gabrielle... What proof of love did she need when the man she loved was defending her in front of everyone when all hopes seemed lost. As he finished, her cold hand reached his in a thankful squeeze. She could feel his skin burning against hers.

That was when Master Grim spoke up. Gabrielle turned her amber eyes towards the dwarf and gave him a bow as a thank you.

The female knight looked again at Ironfist with strength.
"I remain a Holy Knight, as such I value Life today and tomorrow as I have in the past." She knew that most of their fears were linked to her diet, so she had to address it, but how...?
"I might be a vampire but I do not need the blood of humans to survive. Like a human, I can... "
She was about to say 'feed on animals' but the term would have been interpreted as bestial.
"Animals are my diet too." she concluded before remaining quiet.


Some whispers came here and there. The assembly did not know what to think. The civilians had no idea what being a Holy Knight meant. They had no idea what those men and women were doing to insure that they were able to sleep at peace. What they saw was a vampire, a monster, able to kill them and drink their blood.
Amongst the Holy Knights, the opinion was undecided. They were aware of who Gabrielle Camille was and more she was defended by both Dimitri Solidaris and Lord Grimand. They knew what it meant to be a Holy Knight and how much the woman had probably sacrificed to accomplish her duty. Yet, none really wanted to oppose Ironfist.

Azimeana disliked the vocabulary used by Ironfist, however she could not understand why Gabrielle had not ended her life before turning into a vampire. As a Holy Knight, the young woman was well placed to know that the worse monsters could be human as such calling Gabrielle a thing was just an useless way to trigger her animosity.
She was puzzled by the reaction of Dimitri. If he knew her before, he knew how dangerous it would be to have such a powerful knight becoming a vampire. Why didn't he end her life before the turning? He loved her so much that he would rather have her cursed than dead?
Azimeana sighed. Gabrielle had done so much as a Holy Knight, yet, she was too strong and being driven by uncontrollable instincts was not something that could be allowed.  

[Tonash Drahow]

The zealous prosecutor was unmoved by the demonstration of passion and loyalty displayed. Lord Marius Ironfist was known for his unbridled determination and obsession with a target whom he had already condemned within his own mind.

"Lord Grimand, your input is welcomed, however, the only time you had seen this woman was after her infection. Thus making any conclusion regarding her current mental state irrelevant when coming from your judgement...
Sir Solidari, First Rank Holy Knight, valued member of the Order. Your testimony means nothing. There is no way to determine if the vampire has control of your mind and you are nothing but a puppet of the witch in question. Your views are biased and tampered with through emotion-"

"Are you not the same!? You all live in a fear-induced state of delirium, allowing panic to hamper your wisdom and permit these witch-hunts to go unabated without regard to the cost! How long will the Holy City stand when you openly persecute its most loyal defenders? Almighty preserve us should you have your way and destroy this Order from its very foundations!"

"That is enough, Solidari!"

"I'm not nearly finished-"

"You will stay your tongue,knight, lest you be stripped of your title, honor and rank!"

The crowd gasped at the heated exchange but it only took a moment before Dimitri responded again.

"Then let it be done! This is not the same Order that I once believed so fervently and served with undying devotion."

Marius' face was crimson with anger.

"You will not walk from this city with that creature at your side!"

Dimitri laughed very robustly at the statement.

"Who said anything about walking?"

With a smiling but apologetic gaze towards Gabrielle, his left hand glowed brightly as fire formed in his palm and sent a soaring ball of flame towards one of the large stained-glass windows, shattering the passage.

"Guards! Restrain them!"

Before they could apprehend the pair, Dimitri scooped Gabrielle quickly into his arms then in a burst of wind from the opened passage, he took off carrying them both out of the Hall and disappearing into the clouds.  

[Zulma san]

As Ironfist was pouring his hate and anger against Dimitri, Gabrielle's heart was started boiling. Each word said against the man she loved, who was innocent and defending her, was feeding her ire.

When she realized what was happening it was too late, Dimitri had just been banished from the Holy Knight for trying to make Ironfist hear reason.
Her fists were closed, yet she could feel her nails and teeth aching, begging to be let loose on that man who was tormenting someone so dear to her heart. She did not care about her own fate, but Dimitri's was her main reason for living.

Dimitri did not noticed that when he grabbed her, she was about to latch at the prosecutor. As he lifted her towards the ceiling, Gabrielle spoke in a deep voice.

"Ironfist, you just banished an innocent man who had dedicated his life to the safety of this City and the ideals of the Holy Knight. You are not worthy of being a Holy Knight anymore, you are filled with hate and anger..."

Her voice resounded against the walls of the room long after the couple had disappeared.

This time Gabrielle was using her manipulation of the winds to enable them to go faster and higher.

"I am sorry..." whispered the woman at Dimitri's hear while fighting the latest urge of turning back and open the throat of Ironfist.

Azimeana followed the scene with great attention. She had not thought about the possibility of Lord Dimitri being under the mind control of the vampire. Yet, the more she looked at him, the more it seemed plausible. At first she had thought that his personal feelings were the cause of this fever in his eyes, but now she was not so sure, he looked like under a spell.

If this is so, then I shall not allow Gabrielle to curse such a great knight as Dimitri Solidaris.

When the couple sprang away, she lifted herself with ease to the roof and looked at the sky, searching for their direction. She spotted them easily, going eastward. Flying after them was useless. First she was alone. Second they were going too fast, probably due to the vampire's powers.

Azimeana flew lightly back to the room. She stood at the center and bowed at Ironfist.
"They are heading east Lord Ironfist. Please allow me to be part of search team." she spoke with her clear young voice, yet her determination could be heard easily.

If for a moment when Gabrielle and Dimitri had spoken, she had had a doubt, now they were washed away. She would find Gabrielle, kill her if need be and free Dimitri from the vampire's mind.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Lord Marius Ironfist was absolutely furious. They had not only allowed the rogue vampire to escape but they had allowed her bewitched ally to escape with her.

As the young knight called out, volunteering for the opportunity to pursue, Marius could barely compose himself as he responded.

"Yes, Azimanea, you and myself shall seek out these traitors to the Light and should they resist further, they shall both feel the reckoning of the Light. We will not allow this... sacrilege, this insult to go unpunished! I will not allow the mockery of this trial to go unanswered, nor the honor of this court be tarnished. Come then young knight, let us depart within the hour! We shall not allow them to get far!"  

[Zulma san]

No one in the room dare speak up when they saw the state of Lord Ironfist. They all whispered to one another but no one spoke their true mind.

Azimeana bowed and disappeared at once. She had to prepare a few things in order to be ready. It took her but half an hour to have her bag ready. She did not bring much, but she brought what she needed.

Brother Georges waited with her for Lord Ironfist at the main gate. He was squeezing his hands together, obviously nervous and somewhat scared.

The young knight gave him a gentle look, which was strange as she possessed cold silver eyes. Contrarily to Georges, Azimeana was very calm. She had no doubt as to why she was going on a mission. She needed to rescue Dimitri from the dark power of Gabrielle. With some luck, she thought that her redemption technique could save the vampire knight too, yet she doubt that the strong mind of the former first rank would bend to the light.

All dressed in her whites, the young woman waited on a bench by the main entrance, the very one by which Dimitri and Gabrielle had entered hours ago.

"Where should we head?" asked Gabrielle as they were still flying.

If Dimitri was doing most of the work, she was using her powers too, in order to increase their speed. It was an interesting exercise and she was paying attention not to push herself too hard. She did not want to risk casting them to the moon or exhausting herself which would led in her requiring feeding...  

[Tonash Drahow]

"I would think for now the best idea is to blend with the local populace. The Crossroads would likely be our ideal option at this point."

Dimitri referred to a moderately sized settlement which sat at the center of the world essentially, as it stood between the four former great factions of the land.

The sun began to set as the pair finally touched down on the outskirts of the town. Dimitri helped Gabrielle stabilize herself. His eyes were very apologetic.

"Gabrielle... I did not think... The council has become unjust and corrupt. I never wanted..."  

[Zulma san]

Gabrielle had nodded in silence.

The Crossroads indeed seemed like the better option. The town was big enough for them to appear almost unnoticed and it was filled with people from all over the land and all factions. The result was a unique settlement where light and shadows were coexisting. They would not stand out in the mist of this heterogeneous mix.

As they landed, the woman felt a strange feeling in her body. Was it because she used energy or the proximity of some many humans? She did not know, yet she shivered...the strange thing was the pleasure she took in shivering. It was not fear.

She blinked as Dimitri spoke to her. Turning empty eyes towards him for a moment, then the woman smiled gently. She even chuckled.

"Dimitri...you have nothing to apologize for." at that moment, she wanted to take his head in her hands and to pull him towards her. His eyes were so sad, she did not want him to be sad. She wanted him to happy and she dared hope that a kiss would bring back a smile on the knight's lips...yet she did not dare touch him. She just looked at him, amber in silver eyes, with a gaze filled with love.  

[Tonash Drahow]

Arriving in The Crossroads mid-day, the pair set down in the outskirts of the town. It was not long before the mayor of the town, a portly mustached man, made his way across the road to greet them.

"Why hello there! Knights of the Order?"

"No... No we're just travelers." said Dimitri with some measure of sadness.

"Well, no matter! Crossroads accepts all visitors. The name's Olaf. I'm the mayor of the town and if you need anything during your stay, please let any of the fine folk in the village know."

"Your hospitality is greatly appreciated Olaf."

"Is your friend alright? She seems a bit pale.."

"She's more than alright... She's just a bit tired from the long journey."

The mayor eyed their weaponry and decorative armor, particularly Dimitri's large broadsword.

"You folks seem fairly well armed to just be travelers... I hope you don't intend to stir up trouble here."

Dimitri took his un-gloved hand extended it to Olaf.

"I guarantee you, sir, we have no intentions of causing trouble or any form of notoriety while we remain within the confines of your humble town."

"Fair enough," said the mayor," Go ahead and check in at the inn. We always have fair prices and clean rooms for single or double bedrooms."

Dimitri nodded and smiled, then took Gabrielle's hand once more and made steady strides towards the inn.