Nightfall [NERO]

[NINA DAYIZ ABRAS]

( TO ME YOU'LL BE FOREVER SACRED )
{ you hand above, like a dove, over me }

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Nina looked around her, tense. She was in fairly safe grounds, most humans who loved about here usually were fighting for the Queen of Light. But still- despite it all, there were some who gave into the Queen's sister, and if not that, thieves and robbers run the roads as if it was their territory. She pulled the hood over her head down some and craned her neck so she stared at Nyx's mane, not wanting others to know what the Elf Queen's adviser was on her way to see the Queen Pandora herself. Perhaps the fading lights was the cause behind her behavior, mostly Nina liked a challenge, she used to love to travel the land and visit people and socialize with them. But it was nearing sunset, and often, around this site, the humans would lock their doors and turn an blind eye to others outside, and she needed a place to stay until morning, or maybe for anther few days, since by looking at the bleary sky- it was going to rain. She knew of once place that would welcome her, but the question was if it still was there. The friendly hamlet of Aeroch Nor.

Lately, she had come to find that most people aren't very open anymore, most of them were closed off, no longer friendly species the coexisted next to each other (it wasn't peaceful, but it was stable- somewhat). People raided others, robbers ran loose, and fear run through Rendora like a disease. It saddened her to see it come down to a war torn land- ruins where beautiful thriving cities once stood. Only Areoch Nor seemed to remain stable and keep calm despite what was happening around them- maybe it was because the population was so small that no one really cared about it. If that's the case- it was only a matter of time.

Clicking her tongue lighly, she urged Nyx to quicken his pace. Hooves pounded the road as he galloped forward, not stopping until the familar homes were in sight. Like always, she was greeted with open arms and a smile. She had stopped by once in a while, mostly dressed in worn, cheap clothing- something she would never be seen in at home, but they didn't bat an eye at her condition as the ushered her into a large dining area, taking her horse into the stable. She wished many places was like it was here.

Sitting alone at one of the 'taverns', nubbling on a piece of bread and having distastful stew. She looked out the window absently- wondering when will things turn out for the better. Wasn't there always a right at the end of a tunnel? She hoped it would come soon.

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( TO ME YOU'LL BE FOREVER SACRED )

(454) teardrops fell for (Nero). I just wanted to let him know that (it's bad, I'm sorry!).

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[nero]

Nero let a wicked grin slide across his lips as the powerful howl of wind whipped across the night air. A storm was brewing, one of strength and size; how perfect. From behind bone face-plate of his war armor Nero watched as the Crimson Dragoons drew swords and waited. The Vampiric Cavalry was one that Nero commanded with precision and supreme skill; the Dragoons forming the tip of the spear that he was thrusting into the Land of the Light in his invasion. Another powerful gust of wind came tearing through the trees, bringing with it the groans of tree limbs and the rustle of dying leaves. Turning his gaze forward again Nero watched the narrow pathway, his body relaxed as he sat upon the massive war-horse, Karnack. The mount was covered in plate-mail designed for the Dragoons which gave even Nero's horse a fearsome and dangerous look.

As Nero and his troops stood there in waiting, as if they were Wraiths in the shadows, the man found his mind going over things for the thousandth time or so. A caravan was on its way through, inside of it resided Baron Kriton and his family; his wife and three children. The Baron was known as a military genius and was regarded as one of the key officers within the Kings army. He was a key component to the Human war-machine, and that little fact made him the perfect person to send screaming into the after-life.

The plan was simple enough, though lethally effective. Kriton and his family were moving by carriage, fifteen soldiers on foot were moving with him as a personal guard as well as three inside the carriage with him and his family. Eighteen men in total, not a terrible force for such a short journey, though it wouldn't be enough. Nero had brought half the Crimson Dragoon with him. Thirty mounted vampires waited, their stained black armor shining in the moonlight and their silence more terrifying than any battle-scream. The pathway that Kriton would be traveling upon was nearly one hundred yards away from the laying in wait Dragoons, the point they had chosen was that of a sharp curve in the road. Arrows would rain from the trees to pepper the caravan before Dragoons rode from the trees to mop up survivors. Numbers, skill, and sheer dominating force were the factors Nero and his men were relying on; and no one dared to question Nero.

Then it began, and the sight of the approaching caravan brought a smile to Nero's cold face. To any that looked upon him in that moment they would have seen something that fit the nightmares of battle-hardened warriors. A man in black plate-mail, a full helm crafted of human bone, a war horse larger than most cavalry could dream of breeding their own mounts. Drawing his sword slowly from it's sheath, the action being repeated by the mounted Dragoons, Nero watched through amused eyes as his plans unfolded before him. As the center of the caravan, the very carriage containing Kriton and his family, rounded the turn it began. Silence turned to loud screams as viciously barbed arrows exploded from the darkness to strike the soldiers wherever they could. Those that survived the sudden assault of projectiles were faced by Nero and the Dragoons as they exploded from the trees up the trail, the powerful horses bringing them down upon the caravan in but a few heart-beats. Resistance didn't matter, the surviving Humans already had their spirits broken and their moral destroyed. It was a massacre, not a skirmish.

Jumping from Karnack's saddle Nero landed upon the ground ten feet or so away from the carriage. As he approached the doors suddenly swung open, the three soldiers that had been hand-picked by the Baron himself rushing out to face their attackers. However, what they instead saw was that of Nero standing before them, the cursed blade Drevan in his gauntlet covered hand, and the Dragoons sitting upon their horses with the carriage surrounded. Escape wasn't a possibility, it's wasn't even a dream. Death had found these men, and that fact was impossible to escape no matter what they did. However, much to the pleasure of the cursed General, they stood and fought instead of begging for life. Slamming Drevan back into it's sheath, Nero raised a single hand which brought two Dragoons to his side in a moment.

Bringing his hands to his head, Nero pulled the helm away to expose his face to the Humans. His hollow and dead light blue eyes starred at the three of them, a sick smile playing its way across his lips. The two Dragoons set to work undoing the clasps and buckles that held the plate-mail to his frame, and after a few minutes the protective metal was peeled away to expose Nero's tattooed flesh to the three of them. Unbuckling the sword-belt around his waist, he handed it off to a waiting Dragoon as well. Standing before them, clad only in a simple pair of buckskin leggings and boots, he made his move. Despite the scent of a Human he carried Nero moved quicker than any Vampire, reaching the three of them before they could blink, before they could draw their weapons. Bringing his knee up into the stomach of the nearest soldier, the blow landed with the force of a warhammer and the man doubled over in shock and pain. As the second managed to draw his sword, Nero side-stepped a vicious slash and brought his fist across in a hook that took the man n the jaw shattering it instantly.

Looking to the third soldier, Nero ducked a wild slash that aimed to take his head off. Bringing his fist up into the man's stomach, which caused the fool to stumble and fall backwards in pain. Drawing himself back up to his full height, Nero walked to the Dragoon that held his sword, and ripping Drevan from it's sheath, turned to finish the Humans and get on with it. However, as he turned back to face them he was surprised to feel a sword slam into his stomach, the momentum of the barbaric stab carrying the blade all the way through him to explode out his back. The Human soldier allowed a smile of satisfaction to grace his lips, however, it was quickly replaced by terror as he realized Nero was starring back at him without any trace of pain in his eyes. Wrapping his free hand around the hilt of the sword that was currently embedded in him, he only smiled before viciously slammed his skull forward to break the soldiers nose. As the Human fell back to the ground in a bloody mess, Nero tugged the blade out and tossed it aside, the wound closing up slowly before the last able soldiers eyes. Fear gripped him entirely in that moment, so much so he dropped his sword and fell to his knees in terror.

Kneeling down before the terrified soldier, Nero only smiled as his free hand reached out to stroke his cheek softly. "Like lambs to the slaughter, lad." With those simple words Nero pointed to the carriage, a moment later the Dragoons ripped the door off and tugged the patrons out. His wife screamed in terror as she saw the dead and dying all around them. She pleaded and shouted for the life of her children, begging the soul-less Nero for mercy. The three children, the oldest of which was only twelve, had tears running down their faces as they looked upon the tattooed man that had brought all of this upon them. Patting the cowardly soldier on the cheek, Nero stood to look upon the Baron Kriton himself. The Baron starred back proudly, his eyes holding only hatred for the twisted Human. "Baron Kriton, a pleasure." The words of Nero were mocking, his tone practically laughing at the Baron and his family.

"The pleasure is all yours, monster." The Baron's words lashed out at Nero like a whip, and a look of mock sadness washed over his face at them. "Your words hurt me, Baron. I'm simply here to make sure nothing terrible happens. These forests, as you know..." Nero trailed off as he walked closer to them, his free hand running through the hair of the Baron's youngest son. A boy that was merely seven. "Get your damn hands off of him!" The Baron's shout went ignored as the cursed blade Drevan was suddenly thrust through the boys chest, impaling the child. "These forests hold monsters, Baron!" A sadistic laugh danced from Nero's throat as he placed a boot to the boy's chest, shoving him off the blade to the ground, blood pumping from his chest.

The night continued on like that, the Baron forced to watch as Nero went along slaughtering his family one by one. He came last, and by the time it was his turn he no longer cared. The sword had sliced his head from his shoulders cleanly, his lifeless corpse falling to the ground in a heap. Tossing Drevan to the Dragoon that carried his sheath, Nero grabbed the head by it's hair and walked to the terrified soldier that had watched everything. Shoving the head into his hands, Nero pulled the man to his feet. "I let you live, and you take this head to your precious King. Tell him of everything you saw, tell him Nero is coming. Tell him his walls won't hold me back, his soldiers won't stop me. Tell him I'll burn his city and pillage his lands. Tell him the woman of his kingdom will be raped, their children made into slaves, their men slaughtered. Tell him no mercy rests in my heart." With that Nero savagely shoved the soldier, the man taking off at a sprint down the path clenching the severed head against his chest as if it were a means of survival.

A few hours later found Nero riding into the town of Aeroch Nor, alone. The Crimson Dragoons had ridden back to the fort they'd constructed in the nearby forests. Now clad in buckskin leggings dyed black and a cotton shirt similarly colored, the large war-horse Karnack no longer clad in his armor either. In the moments he had entered the sleepy town a loud clap of thunder had shaken the very earth, a streak of lightening illuminating the dark sky as rain began to pour. Nero had his reason for coming to the sleepy town, and his reasons were never well-intended or good. Drevan still hung at his hip, the malicious longsword already lusting for blood once again. Nearing a small Inn, the Human jumped from the saddle of the massive beast. Walking towards the doorway, Nero tossed a pouch full of silvers to a stable boy who could hardly comprehend the payment. "Only the best, got it?" The young boy immediately grabbed the reins, leading the large beast towards the barn. As if the coins hadn't been reason enough to take care of the beast, the murderous tone of the man had been.

Entering the small Inn, Nero drew the hood of his cloak away from his face, those light blue eyes scanning around for a moment as he stood there. From his body emitted a sense of dread, of horror. It was something that was easy to pick-up on. Something that was terribly noticeable, not that he cared. He was here because reports had told him of another emissary in these parts. Baron Kriton had not been the only one on the move. He had been told of an Elf as well, a female. The news was worth personally looking into, and as his heartless eyes fell upon Nina a malicious smile danced across his lips.

The night was young, it was time to see what else it had in store for him.

[NINA DAYIZ ABRAS]

( TO ME YOU'LL BE FOREVER SACRED )
{ you hand above, like a dove, over me }

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Nina wasn't really there. Anyone looking at her could tell by the way she stirred her warm stew and picked at the bread that something else was on her mind, and it wasn't dinner. She looked at the white liquid in her bowl, not content to have any at the moment.

Her thoughts were back- all the way back to the castle, where she hoped everyone was doing alright- and discussing about politics and war. She kept repeating the same thing, but discouraged that no one agreed to her. And she didn't understand why though. The elves were the first one to be in Rendoria, how can they not take action when the races that came after them was destroying the land that been living peacefully on for centuries? Were they not bothered at all? Yes, without the light races who wanted peace- there wouldn't be the darker race who craved blood. But it doesn't mean they should sit back and watch. Besides the fairies, who were too busy having parties to care- it was the biggest war and the most bloodshed yet. Why weren't they doing anything about it?

She sighed, reaching for the glass of water to take a sip; however, as her fingers brushed the smooth surface, it cracked right under her touch. It wasn't enough to shatter and have water come pouring out, but enough for it to make a noise and put her under the light as people turned and looked at her curiously. She frowned lightly as a waiter came, apologizing quickly and promising another one. She wasn't the type to believe in superstition, but it didn't seem good.

But it wasn't until the incident that sharpened her instincts before she realized there was a stir in the air, a discontented hum of the wind, the cries of the trees outside. Oceanic blue eyes glanced to the window, shifting uncomfortably before she reached back and pulled the hood over her head, hiding her pointed her ears and silvery hair. She moved to the back into the shadows as much as she could, her fingers already on the hilt of her weapon. She didn't like to fight much, it was difference when on the training field and on the battle field. She did what she had to to win, but she hated the thought of taking a life.

She stiffened, humans weren't as sharp as other races, but they shifted, feeling the air around them thicken. They couldn't hear it, but the young elf could. Someone was coming, the distoriented auror around him stretched out and about; almost like a storm cloud following a sad person. If only it was that comical. Her head bowed, she didn't look up as he entered, she merely just picked at her bread with distaste. Of all the days she wanted to come alone. This is what happened. And the prickling feeling of her neck increased as she felt his eyes land on her. Caught red handed. Like a deer in the spotlight, he picked her out so easily.

Silent, she looked at him evenly, waiting for him to say something. She wasn't here to make a mess, and she hoped he wasn't either.

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( TO ME YOU'LL BE FOREVER SACRED )

(531) teardrops fell for (Nero). I just wanted to let him know that (ily).

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