Crimson Rain

So, Oliver the Earth Mover's reaction to the killing of his lamia is to whine to the council. Pordiero, a minor street thug of mine, has also disappeared. What great consequences; it is a joke. He may cast aspersions on my character all he wishes, without proof, then I am not guilty. Pordiero was nothing to me, and Oliver choosing him for the response is clearly a sign that the Earth Mover is afraid of this escalating between us. I understand how much pressure there is from our peers to answer every challenge, but I think that I will let Oliver off of the hook on this one. My manhood is no longer in question within his eyes.



Lubo and Hanjak performed their duty very well. They have returned with what I demanded of them. The artist had just at that moment finished another masterpiece, now his last. Pascal also had three of the most darling daughters and a niece that has already earned me three wereleopard siblings in trade for her from Morte D'Amour. The rotting master has no one to call leopards, and even if they are smaller than the cats that I normally favor, I will take them. Belle would likely have been Morte's only other destination for trade, so to keep her from having them and for the reason that it was a great deal, I have adopted them to my family. The beauty and purity of the niece was a formidable asset, but three animals is worth more to me. Two brothers: Phillipe, and Paul, and a sister, Bellina, will aid in replenishing my depleted servant corps. Bellina serves underneath me, even now, as I lay here and organize my mind.



She whimpers and cries, and makes it obvious that not many real men have bedded her before. The cat bleeds well though, I prefer an animal that doesn't immediately heal the damage that I give and Bellina still, an hour later, bears the gash on her shoulder where I bit through and tore it open in my lust-addled haze. She does not have the innocent appearance of the niece, and it annoys me that I again must accept less. Just another insult to heap upon all of the others that I have suffered. But even considering that, Lubo and Hanjak have performed well, so well in fact, that I have allowed them to keep two of the three sisters. I laugh with the thought that Hanjak probably ate his already.



The third sister, Leala, is a dark haired virgin. Her name means: the loyal one, and it is a sign I think. She reminds me of Rain and one day may take the status I had almost been fooled into giving the Betrayer. She is only ten years of age though, so I will let her grow into the pure beauty her face now promises. I am a patient man and a generous one. I long for the day that the prophecy of my son comes to fruition and I believe that Leala is the one. I can hardly be blamed for confusing the child with Rain, they have a similar look, though I am fairly positive that Rain was never as pure as Leala.



Bellina whimpers something that I cannot understand, so I will assume it is a request for more passion from me. I give it to her of course, but no one could blame me for thinking of the future Leala as I do and the son she will give me. My esteemed father will be proud to see my achievement when I have raised a son to become a decent and honorable man, just as my father accomplished with me. First though, I still have debts to settle before my father will accept me as an equal.



I am eager to send Belle my gift of Pascal's last painting and his sacrifice to its value. I wish there was a way to see her reaction to it without her immediately knowing my involvement. The best insults are subtle, not thrust in one's face but allowed to build in the back of their mind until one day, they realize just how much they had been insulted. Much like the blasted phrase that I had been manipulated into saying. Maneuvered by Belle to shame myself in front of Rain. Devoted servant indeed! Oh, what evil I have suffered, but I sober when I think that this game with the painter is certainly not enough punishment for the French whore.



I have recalled two of my loyal children from foreign lands. The American Civil War officer Simon, and Arturs, a former British armored knight, will both add a great deal of flexibility to my plans. I think that I will offer the first one of them to kill Belle's worthless child Valentina, my full support in becoming a master of the city somewhere in the world. Valentina's death will both be wonderful pain for the Betrayer and a serious embarrassment for Belle. For a vampire of her inner court to be slaughtered would be a delightful disgrace.



Just now, I notice that Bellina's body seems to be cooling. It appears that she has died while I mused atop her. Oh well, while a waste, it is an honorable death for a woman. To give her life in service of pleasure for a man is to be honored and I will allow her brothers to bury her if they wish, instead of having her fed to my more feral children. I doubt the niece would have died so easily. Again, it is another insult that I must bear until the day when all debts will be settled.



As I finally reach my satisfaction within Bellina, I know momentary happiness. I imagine that it is Rain's lifeless face, contorted in ecstasy, looking up at me.