Evil Reborn
Part VIII
Nights came and went as Tiberius made preparations for the upcoming fights he was confident in his own martial abilities, he would easily overcome the rank and file Kindred that he was likely to contend with. Luka wishing to aid his master in every way which he could continued to recruit from the cities Blood Dolls so as to feed the elders boundless hunger. The blood dolls also proved to be the perfect spies their constant pursuits Kindred made them privy to privileged information, most of which was useless to the Ancients cause they did eventually learn where these games would be held.
The night of the first game had come at long last and Tiberius was eager to achieve his first triumph he stood in the apartment with candles lit and incenses burning. He stood before a small desk with a mirror laying upon it. A small bowl filled with oil sat beside a bowl of water. He conservatively applied the oil to his skin whispering a silent prayer to the spirit of war. He then gestured for Luka to come over, the Ghoul held a small razor like knife and gently began running it over the Vampires skin bringing the think layer of oil off of his skin.
“Every ounce of blood spilled is a foundation towards my glory.” Tiberius began to speak as Luka diligently combed over his regents body.
“Victory or death is all that awaits us down a road paved with the crushed bones of our adversaries.” Tiberius continued even as Luka continued his diligent work.
“Blood shall be served to us as wine at the table of triumph by our adversaries. With their defeat my destiny is affirmed.” Tiberius continued and lifted the bowl of water as Luka finished his work.
“Victory or death, battle shall free my soul.” Tiberius tilted his head up slightly poring the water over his face washing the fluid over his body.
“Blood shall be my price, blood shall by my victory” Tiberius finished his prayer gathering the candles and ashes of the incense in to one of the bowls smothering the embers in Vitae.
“Are you ready.” Luka whispered confidently as he saw the grim seriousness of his regent.
“I can not be denied, I will have victory.” Tiberius looked squarely in to his reflection in the mirror.
The first game came and went and Tiberius effortlessly bested his opponent, night after night came and the violence was like a storm and like an angry God the Ancient cut his way all of his opponents. The violence was so prolific that word began to circulate through the city even beyond the cities acolytes. Stories of a risen horror began to circulate the Kindred started traveling in groups as half frenzied and hysterical acolytes routinely spreading stories in Elysium.
Another lunar month was coming to a close and the hierophants of the Circle of the Crone gathered deep below the city conjuring another flood. So prolific were the rumors that the normally isolated Keto became intrigued and ordered the greatest champions of the Circle to gather for one final round of great games. As the flood waters came in Tiberius and Luka began to descend in to the most ancient parts of the city long since buried beneath the modern city and even older then the Roman Ruins. The place was dimly lit the occasional torch offering the only light through the damp paths. The pair made it to a large balcony which overlooked a flooded amphitheater. They came in from the places right flank a large iron door bared them from proceeding any further, this had to be the spot.
As their eyes adjusted to the dim light they could see bodies hung by chains over the amphitheater their blood allowed to drip to the waters bellow. As time went on the Acolytes of Istanbul began to fill in to the foreboding structure taking their place where they belonged. Beyond the iron doors Tiberius could hear the rapidly beating heard of this months catch fall still. It would seem the festivities were soon to begin.
The waters began to bubble and Keto emerged from the mired waters, her pale gaunt form gripped with water and cold blood of her victims, her hair ran dark and long nearly the length of her body while her eyes were as if one had never been allowed to sleep. She was dressed in a revealing drape of copper links akin to to those of a belly dancer yet they had long turned green due to exposure. As she emerged from the waters the crowd of Acolytes seemed struck by reverence. Tiberius could feel her Potency she was closer to his power then he might like given the situation but ambition came with risk.
“Well, well, if it is not our nameless champion come to face the final trial to prove himself worthy of being one of the chosen of Ruby.” She spoke to the crowed but there could be no denial that her attention was fully fixed on the Ancient in her midst.
“Let us illuminate this glorious occasion so that the triumph of combat can be seen by all the gods.” She continued speaking she clearly beloved fervently in whatever alien religion filled her head she slit one of her wrist open flicking her blood on to the ground three times.
“May the great goddess drink of the blood spilled here in her name.” She ended her fiery sermon as two Acolytes walked behind her carrying a torch each bringing them to the waters edge igniting a great inferno behind her as the waters burned like fire. Some of the Acolytes flinched at the sight of the flames but the Elders remained undaunted.
“Tell me what is your name, nameless one so that upon your Final Death I might inscribe it upon the walls here.” Keto approached Tiberius with a wicked smile.
“I am Atticus Giovanni and I will have you write my name in victory.” Tiberius lied using a name had had used as an alias in the past, he wanted to obfuscate his trail as much as he could for when Haloise sent out his investigators.
“Ah what a bravado you have, it will be amusing to watch it broken.” Keto was amused as she made her way now to the iron door gesturing for it to be opened.
With a loud creek the rusted iron doors began to slowly open and as they did a ferocious howl echoed from the chamber. No less then six Kindred walked out each holding a strong chain which were coiled around a young man, obvious scars littered across his body and yet an untamed ferocity gleamed in his eyes as he writhed about in his chains. Tiberius could hear a strong heart beating in the captives chest, in the first instant he though he was to face a mere mortal but that would be foolish, his eyes then began to recognize a certain pattern to the scars, this was no mere mortal Tiberius knew already that he was facing a werewolf of a potent caliber. The Ancient had experience fighting these creatures before he had hunted them for centuries but he had always been far more prepared to face them then he was now.
“The goddess sends her fiercest hound o be your final test.” Keto resumed her sermon as the six handlers pulled the chain taught.
“May the fury of the underworld echo in your blood as you send another soul to Hades.” She cuped her hands slowly exhaling a crimson gray mist bringing it to her captives face and he inevitably took a deep breath of the mist.
As soon as the mist filed the captives breath his muscles tightened, he growled in discomfort as his scars began to glow as his body surged with essence. Keto began to step away joining in to the ranks of the Acolytes the six handlers struggled to keep their captive restrained. His muscle mass quickly began to build as bones twisted, snapped, broke, and repositioned themselves. In the blink of an eye he was two heads taller then a man with wolf like features roaring through his eyes glaring like a snake.
“Die!” The man howled as his transformation came to fruition.
Surging with power the beast easily broke free of its chain and charged in the direction of Tiberius with all of its wide eyed fury. Tiberius braced himself to receive the charge putting his arms up in a defensive posture, he knew if its mouth got near anything important he could be stricken with disaster. It closed the distance with him and his hungry jowls roared towards him, the Ancient put forward his arm using all of his unnatural endurance to keep his arm from being torn off. Before so much as an instant passed the creatures massive claws came crashing down upon the ancient. Tiberius was forced to his knees, Tiberius underwent his own transformation his hands coming to claws themselves, he slashed at the things belly opening up with ease. The creature let out a cry of agony giving Tiberius time to put distance between himself and it, as it regenerated so to did he use Vitae to knit his wounds back together.
“Surly you can muster more fury then this!” Tiberius mocked it unleashing his command over the beast upon the thing though to no avail.
In a flash of fur and fury the creature hurled a large stone at the Ancient taking him by surprise he could feel several bones snap in his chest as he was propelled some distance because of the objects velocity. He could not afford to let his guard down, he conjured a bold of black fire throwing it at the beast inflicting superficial harm at best but it bought him enough time to stagger to his feet and count the rabid things charge.
Claw meet with claw as each combatant struck at one another with ruthless abandon. Tiberius knew though that this was not the way he would win, for all the catastrophic damage his claws inflicted on his adversary it simply enough regenerated his wounds while his Vitae was dwindling. Calling upon his great strength Tiberius kept away from the beast its fangs and claws dripping with his Vitae, the Ancient was impressed with the unbridled fury he was contending with. His blood ran through it he could sense it and in an expression of his rage caused the blood to burn and lash out.
As the creature howled in pain, Tiberius took the opportunity to further alter his Protean form two massive appendages emerged from his back like massive wings but in place of feathers there ran four massive spines. Just as he was ready the creature again came charging at the ancient and as it came within reach the wing like weapon swung down one spine impaling the creature in the arm two others finding purchase in its torso. As Tiberius moved to drive the second wing of spines in to the beast the werewolf reached out with its clawed arm grabbing hold of the wing and with titanic strength it snapped the extremity ripping it off of the Ancients back. Tiberius screamed as the limb was pulled off though he recovered quickly enough and just as he did the beast sank its jowls in to the area between his shoulder and his throats pinning him to the ground.
Tiberius was surging the area with Vitae just to keep the wolfs jaw from snapping through every bone, he was in the brink if he ran out of Vitae he was sure to die. Resisting was pointless between the position and the sheer ferocity of the wolf he could not overpower it. He was nearly frantic until he observed one of the chains that had restrained the beast earlier. He grabbed hold of the iron wrapping it around the werewolf throat and began to squeeze. This would be it one of them would relent in just a matter of moments the contest would be settled.
Tiberius could feel hunger welling up within him the beast wanted to assert itself though that would be his doom. A few silent moments passed and eventually the werewolf began to shift in to its human façade passing out of consciousness and collapsing upon the exhausted and taxed ancient. The battle was. The room fell silent as the spectators looked on uncertain who the victor of the contest was, Luka was on the verge of a panic attack as he looked for any signs of life from his master, while Keto stood impressed with the battle she had just observed. Reprieve came when Tiberius heaved the werewolf from atop him bringing himself upright.
“The goddess has spoken!” Keto roared as the crowd rejoiced.
“Let there be no doubt that this is the chosen of Ruby, a kindred fit to serve the goddess. Let the Feast of the Foolish begin.
Keto flicked her wrist and a flock of simple humans were escorted in to the room while others descend from chains. An orgy of hunger and blood commenced as the Acolytes gave in to their hunger in celebration of victory. The Ancient drank one of the mortals dry to ensure he had Vitae enough to recover from his wounds and then proceeded to meet with Luka.
“You won!” Luka exalted his master.
“Did you ever have any doubt.” Tiberius said with a blood coxed smirk.
“Chosen one, within the next moons cycle I shall bring you to the goddess. For now revel in your triumph.” Keto smirked before vanishing in to a flock of her Acolytes.
“You almost have what you want master.” Luka seemed to ride the High of the Ancients triumph.
“Yes Luka, but at this moment there is something I want.” Tiberius said with a grin flashing his fangs as he pined Luka beneath him.
“And you’re the one I want to give it to me.” Tiberius sank his fangs in to his thrills throat the pair laid beside the conquered beast as the revelry of the Acolytes celebration went on around them.