Fantasy Bloodlines

[St. Boethius]

Benton smiled curtly and nodded as he lead Lanton into the living after shutting the front door behind Lanton and Myrtis. With the leader safely in his home Benton would allow his creations to destroy any reinforcements Lanton attempted to bring in.
“ I am doing quite well. Both of your gifts have yielded some very interesting results in my research. I hope you are enjoying the fruits of my labor.” Benton said as he took a seat in his chair and offered the couch to his guests.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

As soon as his escort is attacked, Lanton turns his head toward the door, his eyes widening slightly. Then he turns his head back to Benton, eyes narrowed with anger. He sits down calmly, Myrtis sitting at his side. “It’s good to see you again, Doctor. I apologize for not announcing my visit, but this is an urgent matter. Some of my servants sensed the presence of a very dangerous witch coming in your direction. Of course, you must already know that, if your defenses are already in place.” He sounds pretty peeved about the death of his own.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nodded as he relaxed in his chair. “ I am well aware of the witches arrival. Had I more time to prepare for your arrival maybe I could have greeted you and your men more warmly. As it stands I can’t take any chances against intruders. “ Benton said not even the smallest bit concerned with the death of Lanton’s men.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Lanton hums. “I see. I do hope you realize, that woman is a wanted murderer. Every vampire that’s entered her forest has either died, or wished they had. Once she sent a servant back with a disease she engineered to wipe out vampires en mass, and every house for several states was put at risk. She’s unstable, unpredictable, and exceptionally vicious.” He takes a deep breath. “She must be brought to justice, and if she was convinced to leave her home, now would be the time.”
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton couldn’t help but laugh at the tail end of Lanton’s little speech. “ She sounds just like that gift you gave me. A feral little thing ive had to keep under lock and key.” Benton leaned forward to Lanton, “ And what’s this about a little disease? Pah, when was this 30 years ago? If you want that old witch Lanton you can have the body once I’m done with it. I’ll handle it the same way I always do. Who knows. Maybe I’ll send your foot soldiers back while I’m at it. “ Benton chuckled and leaned back “ just look how well it worked for Myrtis. It’s that right messenger boy? Feel like a brand new man doncha?
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Myrtis nods. “Very much so, Doctor.” He says, smiling. “The numbness hasn’t faded, but I feel much more relaxed than I’ve been in decades. Lanton chuckles softly. “Ah, I see. I suppose that’s what drew her here, isn’t it? She knew her child was here, and couldn’t resist.” He shakes his head. “Humans can be so predictable when their own are in danger.”

He considers that. “Well, I suppose I can let you take care of the witch. However, in the event that she ever escapes you, she will be hunted down. She would make a fine servant.” He says, smirking at the thought.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton shrugged, “ A fair agreement. As a curtesy I’ll even call you when she leaves. “ Benton made no remarks about Lanton’s comment about predictable humans. He knew that would do the same should his life be drawing to an end. “ If there’s nothing else I’ll show you to the door. It’ll take quite some time to put your men back together I think.”

Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Lanton smiles, dipping his head. “Very well. I look forward to seeing what you learn from these specimens.” He says, getting up. Myrtis stands with him, smiling at Benton. Frankly, he much prefers Benton. He’s more caring, and treats his servants more fairly than Lanton. He’s surprised Benton didn’t ask him to subdue Lanton. A vampire lord would probably be useful to him.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton could tell what Myrtis was thinking and shook his head slightly at him. There would be a time and a place for Benton to take center stage, but it wasn’t now. Benton wanted to be sure that he was fully prepared for that moment. That would take time, planning and the small army of undead vampires he was about to plant in Lanton’s home. “ Have a safe trip home Lanton, and next time... warn me.” Benton said before closing his door.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Lanton chuckles, and he and Myrtis leave the house. Myrtis glances down at the bodies, hoping that they’ll be made like him. He wants there to be more like him. It took him a while to figure out that he still does have desires, they’ve just changed. He has a deepset loyalty to Benton of course. He’ll obey him before pursuing any of his own desires.

Kora can sense that they’ve left, but she’s still afraid to leave her mother alone. Mena is asleep now, and Korvashta is holding her hand, making sure that her pulse stays strong. She’s afraid that this darkness will harm her mother.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

With the threat now subdued Benton deactivated his defenses and recalled his creatures, having them bring the mangled remains of the vampires as they returned to the lab. Benton would make his way up to them, following the faint traces of Mena’s power. “ They are gone, but it seems the damage incurred by her stay here has been severe. She may need to leave.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora nods. Mena opens her eyes, feeling the darkness recede. “Don’t worry about it.” She whispers. Kora opens her mouth to object, but her mother interrupts her. “I won’t leave you.” Mena insists, forcing herself to sit up. “That said, I am dying. Assuming that amount of dark magic doesn’t happen again, I have weeks. Maybe not even that.”

She chuckles tiredly, looking up at Benton. “I think we all know there’s only one way I’ll be able to survive at all, much less stay here.” When she was young, she never would have allowed this. But she’s grown to understand what might drive someone to cling to life so doggedly. She won’t allow herself to die if she can help it.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton smiled, “ Bring your mother to the lab. “ he ordered as he made his way down. While they were in the elevator Benton made a point of saying, “ You know that Death is a patient one. We all die one day, even I will. There’s no need to cling so desperately... perhaps it is your time.” Benton was tell Mena what he essentially wished he had told himself so long ago. When they got down to the lab doctors and nurses were stitching together the vampires. Sometimes the wrong limbs would go on the wrong body, but thier sutures were good enough to bind the bodies together. The operation table was kept clear for such an event as this. “ This is your final chance... walk away, and join the Lord in Heaven.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena looks up at Benton as her daughter gently lays her on the table. She smiles sadly. “My daughter has already decided to follow you. With what she is, I don’t know if she’ll ever make it to heaven at all. I… I want to do this.” She whispers. She’s pale, and obviously afraid, but her daughter is in need of her.

Kora is worried, holding her mother’s hand, taking a deep breath. She hopes this will work, so she can spend the rest of her very long life with her mother, and make up for all the time that was taken from them.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nodded and gently helped her onto the table. “ I’m afraid even if I were to put you under any drugs your heart would still give out. Not to mention it would do nothing for the pain. In the interest of the most desired outcome rather than adding my blood through transfusion I will be adding my magic directly. No matter how your magic fights the corruption will take hold eventually.” Benton said as he cut his hand and drew a magic sigil over Mena’s heart. Before he began Benton strapped Mena into the restraints. “ Once we start there isn’t any stopping it. So we’re strapping you in for the long haul.” Benton said as he tightened the last strap. Well then... let’s begin.” Benton placed his hand over the sigil and poured a fair amount of magic into it. The sigil glowed as did the array on the floor as the two resonated and Benton’s magic seeped into Mena’s blood and body.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena allows herself to be restrained, and closes her eyes, trying to control her breath. She can feel him painting on her, and smell his blood. It has a distinct scent, even to her human senses. Then there’s a swell of magic, and she screams, her body convulsing in pain. She can feel it seeping into her, seeking out veins to take control over.

Kora is holding her hand, trying to comfort her. She can see things seeming to go well thusfar, but too much strain could put her into shock, or cause her heart to stop. If Kora can help to comfort her, she’ll do what she can.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton stepped back as the process began to accelerate on its own. From here on it was a matter of how Mena’s magic interacted with his own and if her body would survive the process. Of course if she simply died that wouldn’t be too much of a problem. His magic would bring her back, but the snag would be what he magic did at her death.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Her body is spasming as she shrieks in pain, her eyes glowing bright green. Kora’s eyes widen, remembering something. “Mama, your wards!” She yells, and Mena seems to realize what she means, screaming out in what sounds like Irish Gaelic. A sigil on her shoulder glows into existence for a brief moment, then fades, and Mena proceeds to pass out.

Korvashta holds her wrist, relieved to still feel her pulse, and lets out a long, relieved breath. Mena’s magic shouldn’t be fighting back nearly as violently now. “Mama works with a lot of very dangerous diseases and poisons, so she likes to have some protections in place.” She explains as easily as she can. “They must have triggered.”
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton watched as his magic seemed to sped throughout Mena’s body with nowhere near the same amount of resistance. “ that seems to be the case. Looks like the sigil I made is still in place... now it’s just a waiting game. My magic will infect her blood through the heart. Then attack her bones so that any new blood made is already infused with my magic. From there her body will saturate with my magic until either her organs begin to fail or... something new happens.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora nods, still holding her mother’s hand in her own, rubbing the back with her thumb. “Come on, mama.” She whispers, looking at the old woman as she lays still on the table, her chest rising and falling gently. Korvashta is glad she isn’t in pain anymore, whatever happens. She feels Mena’s hand twitch slightly, and tilts her head. The old witch looks like she might be dreaming, or perhaps it’s just the magic getting acquainted with her nervous system, and causing her to twitch. Either way, Korvashta doesn’t want to leave her alone.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton turned and started heading over the the doctor and nurse. While they were waiting he might as well start the process of converting the dead vampires. It would take Benton quite a while to start to process for all of them. So unless Khora needed him all of his attention would be focused on that.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Kora just stays with her mother, wanting to know the moment anything goes wrong, such as her pulse stopping. But that never happens. In fact, it seems like her heartbeat is growing stronger, and while she is cooling a bit, she seems to be in very good health as the magic continues to take its hold of her. After a long time, Kora finally loses the fight against her stress induced exhaustion, and falls asleep in the chair she moved next to the table, still loosely holding Mena’s hand.

And that’s how the witch wakes up, hours after the ordeal began, gasping in air like she had just spent a minute underwater. Her eyes fly open, shining green irises surrounded by black. She can feel the magic surging through her, the two energies swirling and intermingling chaotically. The raw power of the combination is exhilarating, but as she tries to sit up, her bonds hold her firmly to the table.

The movement immediately wakes Korvashta, who gets up immediately, cursing herself for falling asleep. “Mama! Are you alright? How do you feel?” She asks, looking Mena over. Mena looks up at her, and sighs, slowly remembering where she is, and what happened. “Korrie… it’s ok. I’m here, I’m good.” She says, still breathing heavily from her sudden snap back to reality.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton managed to piece together all the corpses and start the conversation process on at least half of them before Khora started making a fuss and it seemed that Mena had come through better than expected Benton walked over and looked Mena over before undoing the restraints. “ Looks like the process is complete. Welcome to the eternity of perpetual decay. We’ll have to get you all new set of organs, muscles, etc. looks like I’m going to have to put an order in with the vampires for a batch of criminals. “ Benton said as he made the note to himself. “ Once we get you set up Mena we can start on Khora.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Mena sits up slowly, stretching out her muscle. “Thank you.” She says, grinning after a moment. She hasn’t felt this strong in… at least fourty years. And this is still with the body of a fragile old woman. With some younger parts… well, that’s going to be fantastic.

She takes a moment to check in with herself, and decides after a moment that if her personality has been changed at all, it’s a small adjustment. If she had to guess, the transformation lowered her inhibitions towards violence, to make the process of replacing parts easier for her.

Kora is grinning, glad to know that her mother came through okay. She looks to Benton as he gives the plan, and nods, a lot more confident about her own procedure.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Benton nods to the both of them. “ let’s head back up. I’ve got some calls to make and I’m sure you two can find something to do.” Benton said as he made his way to the elevator. The process went off much more smoothly than Benton had hoped. He wasn’t really sure what would be able to stop him from a hostile take over at this point. Of course before he tried such a thing he wanted to bring Khora into the household properly. Especially since it went so well with Mena. Mena, now connected to Benton through his magic would be able to contact him from anywhere.
Eliasdagood