Haloise Dark Short Stories
The Lonely Path
He had followed her all across Europe keeping an eye upon her like an eagle might its prey but he was not hunting her, not in any malevolent way in any case. His soul kindled with life just knowing he was in proximity to her yet he knew better to confront her and so like an eagle he soared above unobserved but always watching. She was the blood of his blood and his wife in the night despite their present estranged relationship. Her name was Selene Giovanni, she had grown to be an Ancilla in their decades apart, she had parted company with her Coterie and remained independent of any Domain or Covenant. He was Haloise Giovanni, an Elder whose name both evoked hope and dread in those who knew him, he was one of the pillars of the Invictus with access to Contacts and Resources needed for a Vampire of his age to so freely travel.
They resided in some nameless city whose residents would be forgotten by the first hint of Torpors fog at least as far as Haloise was concerned. During this time he could easily enough move his pawns around the board to further his machinations and proximity to her was her prerogative.
She was growing anxious, he could tell, he had long learned to read her body language, she would soon depart the city for some unknowable location. So it was that he casts his net wide for there was no telling where they would stop once they began, regardless he would be prepared.
He sat in his Haven, sitting in silence a single candle burning as he watched the listless crowd moving behind his window. He pitted them, the thought crossed his mind, they had such a short time to find happiness then again they need not live an eternity with grief.
“Sire.” A nameless thrall disturbed his silence.
Haloise looked at the Ghoul but said nothing his eyes were enough to command him to get to the point.
“The lady has contracted movers for her belongings sire, we believe she shall depart the city by the end of the evening by train.” The servant spoke with urgency.
“Do you know where it is that she is ending this journey.” His voice sounded as alien to himself as it did to the ghoul, he could go nights without speaking as he watched the mass of human cattle before him
“We do not know.” The Ghoul reluctantly answered.
Haloise quickly came to stand striding across the room he looked his thrall in the eye.
“Have my belongings placed on that train.” He spoke what would seem a herculean task which was all to simple as he traveled lightly.
“After which I release you from my service, returned to your family with you compensation and live out the rest of you life as you wish.” This he enforced with a command that only a Vampire could deliver.
Haloise had little use for servants with such a limited skills and thought it better not to keep one to close for his own purposes.
He put on his long coat as was the fashion at the time and made his way to the train station. He stood there the last of the crowd was boarding the train cars when caught a glimpse of his beloved. His chest raced with anticipation at the sight of her but he could not bring himself to approach her. She made her way on to the train as did the other passengers.
As he made his way to the boarding platform he felt a hand grab his shoulder.
“Haloise?” A female voice chimed.
For a moment he thought it might have been her yet he knew better she was already on the train and the voice was certainly not hers. He looked over his shoulder to see a familiar face but also a ghost from his past.
“Marzanna.” Haloise said in a flat way.
The coldness in his voice struck the women by surprise but it had nearly been five centuries since their last encounter. She understood the weight of time as well as him and they had once been friends.
“I have been looking for you, it has been very difficult to find you, I was beginning to think you were dead..” She spoke in an amicable almost friendly way hoping it would rekindle that spark of mutual friendship they once had.
“Hmm.” Haloise obviously cared little for his wayward friend in the moment.
She was shocked at his response, they had fought alongside one another and bleed together. She gave patients another try.
“I need you to come with me, I need your help.” She said matter of factly.
“Bother someone else.” Haloise said eyeing a clock which sat in the distance the train warming up and getting ready to depart.
She was shocked by the coldness in her friend, she sacrificed for his benefit and to be so discarded brought her to the verge of rage.
“I want you to honor your promise.” She growled clenching her hand in to a fist several stones sharpened themselves to be like spikes.
“Do not follow this path child, I have no desire to harm you.” Haloise spoke sternly.
She had always looked up to him when she was younger, he was an ancient mystery to her but now what was the difference in a few hundred years.
“I have watched that cursed place for you for centuries, I sacrificed my freedom for your peace of mind.” She spoke over the sound of the engine staring up.
“How about you find one of the others to pester with your problems.” Haloise proposed the waning time taxing his mind
“Others!” Her rage slipped not at the idea of asking one of the others but for being abandoned by a friend.
One of the spikes thrust forward but fell to ash before it could reach its mark.
“I have no desire to hurt you.” Haloise spoke as a warning.
She was in a rage now, her sense of betray called for revenge, she would make him help her.
Several more stone spikes shot forward, the vampire dodged the first but he knew he had no time to keep at this. He had no weapon but he had his power. The second and third ran him through as he brought himself to concentrate.
A circle of silver and black materialized just at his feet and several chains shot out from
It cooling around the mage and pulling her through the dark door.
“I said I would not hurt you but you left me no choice …” Haloise said between gritted teeth as he pulled the spokes from his form. The dark door to the underworld closed beneath him but he had not acted quickly enough, the train had departed.
He did not know where she was going and for a first time the depth of the separation set in as he fell to his knees on the boarding platform.