Nagasraka sighed as she stabbed the end of her dagger into the dining room table. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw that he was still standing by the window as he had for hours. The room was dark, save for the small candle that burned on the table in front of her. Outside, the rain came down so hard you couldn't see across the street and the droplets ran down the window's glass like thousands of tears. For a moment, she simply stared at him, her eyes filled with wonder and deep love. The way the shadows caressed his form made him look even more delicious to her than he usually did.
"Viladin..." she said softly in an attempt to gain his attention. She could tell he was completely lost in his thoughts.
A small grin graced her lips as he continued to stare out the window, completely unaware she had just called to him. Nagasraka slowly rose from the chair, her long black gown dragging slightly on the floor as she walked to the window. Viladin jumped a bit as she slide her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, love. I was just thinking," he said through a soft smile before kissing her forehead.
"I know. It's only a matter of time now before they come for me." Nagasraka gazed around at the interior of the dark house with her glowing eyes. She wondered if maybe they should run instead of staying to fight.
"It's not too late. We could still make it out of here, Naga."
"No, they'll be looking for me no matter where we go. The only way is to face them. They have no right to do this. Yes, I was their daughter once but that was a lifetime ago. They didn't care for me then and they shouldn't now." Her cold fingers reached up to touch his cheek before she kissed his lips softly.
"They want to destroy you to save the honor of their supposedly noble family. Do they not even realize what part they played in what you are now?"
"They will never take responsibility for what they did. All they see now is their daughter walking the earth after her death and they wish to put me out of my misery. Fools! They will never understand that my living form was the misery and it is only since death that I have found true purpose...and love..."
Viladin pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "I won't let them take you from me..."
Through the sound of the rain, the faint sounds of angry voices and footsteps could be heard outside. They were coming. Nagasraka quickly went to the table and pulled her dagger from its surface. She closed her eyes and began her summoning ritual. They would not go down without a fight and she would need her most powerful minion at her side. As the succubus came forth and stood beside her mistress, the voices grew louder. Viladin tightened his armor and held his sword ready for them. There would be bloodshed tonight, one way or another.
Nagasraka took her love's hand in hers and held it tightly. Viladin leaned close and kissed her firmly on the lips.
"I love you..."
"I love you too. They won't take you. I promise..."
As the lightning flashed against their pale faces, the door flew open...
Nagasraka opened her eyes with a start and stared up at the ceiling as the first rays of sunlight drifted through the window. After stretching her creaky bones, she rose from the bed and pulled her long black gown onto her small body.
"Stupid dream..." she muttered as she thumbed through the scrolls she had placed on the table the night before.
"Yes?" Nagasraka called out in response to the soft knocking on her door.
"Good morning, Mistress. I'm sorry to disturb you but they're ready for you downstairs."
"Very well," she nodded to the succubus and slowly followed her out the door of the small room she had claimed for herself at the inn.
Descending the stairs, a smirk came across her lips as she heard the idle chatter coming from her followers. In unison, they all looked over and watched her approach, bowing slightly in her presence. Nagasraka glaced around, nodding approvingly at those who had come for the event.
"Where is Viladin?" she whispered to her minion with a slight frown.
"I'm not sure, mistress. Would you like me to search for him?"
"That won't be necessary, thank you. I'm sure he'll be here shortly."
Just then, she could hear the clunking of his plate boots on the wooden floor as he entered the inn. They smiled at each other and shared a quick kiss.
"Ah, there you are. I was afraid you'd miss this."
"Miss this? Never! You know I love to watch you work and this is something you've worked towards for a very long time. I wouldn't miss this for the world!"
Nagasraka laughed softly as she looked into Viladin's glowing eyes and then motioned for everyone to follow her to the basment. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, the muffled shouts of the human she had bound and gagged there three days ago could be heard. The small group encircled the grey haired man. Terror filled his eyes as she approached him and removed the gag from his mouth.
"Good morning, father. Don't worry, this will all be over soon."
"Shi, this is insane! Look at you! You're...you've become..."
"What? Undead? Yes, I have, thank you for noticing. Oh and my name isn't Shi anymore, it's Nagasraka so please get it right."
"Whatever your name is, I'm still your father and I command you to stop this madness!"
Nagasraka laughed wickedly and shook her head at the man. She paced slowly in a circle, looking away from her father tied helplessly to a chair and grinning at Viladin. He leaned casually against the stone wall and toyed with one of his blades. She laughed to herself at her own impure thoughts that danced through her mind at a time such as this. She couldn't help herself. Most would look at him and see a rotting corpse, but to her, he was beautiful.
"When I was a young girl, I was terrified of you. I always watched what I said in your presence for fear that you would find any excuse to beat me. When I left your house, I warned you that your time would come. That time is at hand."
The succubus stepped over to the old man and dragged her whip across his shoulder as Nagasraka held her dagger to this throat.
"Any last words, father?"
"Light save me..."
"There is no Light here, old man, only death..."
Patrons of the inn could hear the old man's screams of agony from the basement and smell his burning flesh. Nagasraka smiled as she looked down at him, her glowing eyes filled with hatred.
"Pain. Pain is what you will know until I finish you. Do you remember the day I found you in Goldshire with that whore? I tried to run and tell mother of your dirty deeds but you stopped me. Do you remember what you did to me, father?"
The old man whimpered, the skin on his face bubbling with blisters in the aftermath of Nagasraka's immolation spell. She pushed her dagger against his throat, lifting his chin and slightly piercing his skin.
"Speak! I want to hear you say it. I want to know you remember exactly what you did to me that day."
Nagasraka growled and motioned for Bronthea to make him speak. The succubus lashed at him with her whip, tearing at his chest.
"I... I took you to the pond behind the inn and told you not to tell anyone..."
"Tell the whole story! It wasn't a friendly chit-chat. Relive it in your mind. Relive your fear, your anger..."
"You... you fought to get away but I couldn't have you telling your mother. I grabbed you by the arm and dragged you into the water. I held your head under while you kicked at me. I made you swear you would keep quiet. Eventually, you gave up and said you would keep the secret..."
Nagasraka pulled the dagger away from him and paced slowly around the cold, damp room. As she glanced over at her few followers she could see that they were both intimidated and in awe of her wickedness. This made her grin slightly to herself.
"Pay attention, gentlemen. This is what happens to those who hurt or betray me."
Casually she walked back over to her father, his helpless human form bound to the wooden chair and twitching in agony.
"There are many more tales such as that, aren't there?"
"Yes... I'm sorry for everything I did to hurt you. Please, let me go. Show mercy to an old man!"
"Did you show mercy to me when I was a young girl?! No! You shall find none from me either. You will pay for your crimes, father."
Nagasraka stretched her arm towards him, throwing her head back in a way that almost seemed erotic as she drained the life from his body. Bronthea lashed at the old man with her whip, beating him to a bloody pulp before Nagasraka lunged forward and drove her dagger straight into her father's heart. The room grew silent. All that could be heard was the quiet dripping of her father's blood onto the stone floor.
"Untie him and bring him to the cemetary," she said calmly as she wiped the blood from her blade with her black robe.
The group walked slowly through the Gallow's End Tavern, carrying the body of Nagasraka's father as if they were in a parade. A few patrons glanced over at the gruesome display but just as quickly went about their business as if it was something they saw everyday.
**************
As Viladin placed the last bit of dirt over the old man's grave, he stabbed the shovel into the ground and leaned against the handle. He looked over at Nagasraka and smiled softly as he saw the woman he loved, the moonlight casting a pale glow upon her rotting flesh. She looked so calm... so peaceful as she sat on the ground petting her black cat. Bronthea stood at the side of her mistress as usual, ready to lash anyone who dared show aggression.
"It is done now, love. He can't hurt you anymore."
Nagasraka nodded and looked up at Viladin. She couldn't help but smile at how good he looked in the moonlight, his slightly hunched form leaning casually on the shovel that had just buried her father.
"There is still much to be done. He isn't the only one who has to pay. There are others. There is also the finale which I so look forward to..."
"Milady? We await your orders."
Nagasraka turned and nodded to the youngest of her devoted followers. It was time to begin the next phase of their plans.
"Gather the others and go to the summoning circle. I will meet you there shortly. I have some... business to take care of first..." she said as she gave Viladin a sly grin.