Venatores Noctis: Consequences of Compromise: Chapter 2 – A War of Evils

*Symbol of the Corpus

Chapter 2 – A War of Evils

It’s now been a month since Thaddeus and the Umbra family declared war on the Meridies family and the Church. So far, Thaddeus and the Umbra family are winning without deploying any forces or engaging in any large-scale battles. Instead, their influences have started riots in the cities and towns of the Church. Once they arm the rioters and give them the plans they need to overtake the city or town, the rioters take to the streets and weaken the Church’s forces so that the Umbra family can easily take the location for themselves. Rarely does the Church strike against a place controlled by the Umbra since they have spread the Meridies family’s forces across many places and when the Meridies send their forces to retake their territory, they find that they do not face any Corpus. Instead, they face the normal citizens and soldiers trying to defend their home and if the territory is taken back, the Umbra use events such as these to convince the other territories of the mercilessness of the Meridies that never take prisoners since rebellion against the Church in any way is a crime punishable by death or cruel imprisonment where a person is worked to death.

As a result of their strategies, the Umbra have gained much support and territory. They’ve even managed to gain support from the few non-Catholic nations on the terms that they’d be left alone to believe and practice as they wish. Today, Thaddeus and Tinuviel move out with an actual military force to overtake a few strategic areas still held by the Meridies to solidify their control over an area. Before moving out, Thaddeus pays his little brother a visit.

He takes his smiling brother into his arms and says, “Good morning. Sorry for waking you up so early. I just wanted to say goodbye before I head off to battle, but don’t worry, I’ll come back to you like I always do. Victory will definitely be ours since we’ve been on a winning streak as of late. God is on our side and many are changing to our side and standing up for what is right. Before you know it, you’ll be living in a more peaceful world that you deserve. I’ll see you later, dear brother.”

After kissing his little brother on the forehead and laying him down, Thaddeus leaves the room and joins Tinuviel and the soldiers leaving the city for battle. They travel for a day until they come to their target. This place has swayed back and forth in terms of who is controlling it. The Meridies are holding it with an iron grip as a group of their best soldiers reinforces the Church’s soldiers that are stationed there. Even though the riots and influence of the Umbra have shaken things up in the city, it hasn’t been enough. While heading into the city via a secret entrance that’s mostly blocked by rubble, Tinuviel uses her superhuman Corpus strength to easily move the rubble aside while Thaddeus does what he can to help.

“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help,” Thaddeus says.

“You shouldn’t be. I’m happy to actually be doing something. This is way better than sometimes giving suggestions while you plan what to do to overtake the land with my family,” Tinuviel says.

“Speaking of plans, we should plan to do something about vampire cultists like the ones that tried to turn your family into vampires.”

“Why’s that? We already killed the ones that made us like this and even presented their bodies to you and your family as evidence.”

“I’m still a Meridies, a vampire hunter, despite being disowned and groups of cultists trying to grow their vampire ranks is a problem for the world. We should at least have something in place for it.”

“Your family did and look what good it accomplished. Our next priority is making sure we pick the right leaders to lead the cities and major regions of importance.”

“Your father is a good judge of character.”

“Heh, if you say so. The last leader he trusted to take this town is still hanging from the city gates.”

“That’s because he got too comfortable with his position and resources. This new one should be better. Speaking of which, we should be inside the city now and at the meeting point.”

At the end of the tunnels, Tinuviel and Thaddeus find that the exit is blocked by rubble.

“Tch, why did we have to go through the collapsed hidden entranceway again?” Tinuviel asks as she begins to remove the rubble.

“No one expects us to come through it besides the people we’re supposed to come through it,” Thaddeus answers.

“It was a rhetorical question.”

“Hmm. Hold on. Let me try something.”

“Be my guest.”

Tinuviel moves aside as Thaddeus walks in front of the rubble. He then says, “Guardian angel, clear our path that blocks the path to our destined destination.”

Out of a golden light, Thaddeus’ guardian angel materializes only in his sight. In Tinuviel’s eyes, she can only see a faint light and nothing more. Thaddeus’ guardian angel has each part of its body separated but floating together. It has four arms, four legs, two heads, and two sets of wings and has eyes and mouths all over its faces, body, wings, and limbs that look all over the place without concentrating on a single thing until all its eyes focus on the rubble that shatters into bits without the angel even touching it. The angel then disappears shortly after without a single word.

“Impressive. I keep forgetting you have your guardian angel to help you,” Tinuviel says.

“That’s because I rarely have to call my angel. God has blessed me with enough help in my life that I rarely need to ask for the help of my guardian,” Thaddeus explains.

The two then continue to the exit of the tunnel where they find a door that’s locked from their side. After unlocking it and going through the door, they find the people they are supposed to meet up with all of which appear to be normal peasants who are armed with the weapons and armor given to them by the Umbra.

“It’s about time you arrived,” their leader says.

“Show some respect and gratitude,” Tinuviel says.

“I would if your father sent us more support and weapons. We’ve been on the edge of defeat ever since you pulled back a majority of your soldiers.”

“Why you little unappreciative-”

Thaddeus interrupts the conversation by saying, “We did that because you had enough forces to control this place. We do that with every city so that the people who call this home can control it independently so they can practice what they believe is right. The only thing we ask is that you remember who helped you in your time of need and all that entails.”

“If you really want us to be independent, then you should’ve given us more.”

As a result of what the leader says, Tinuviel swipes his head off his shoulders decapitating him, and yet, somehow hardly shocking everyone else in the room.

“So, my father isn’t exactly the best judge of character,” Tinuviel says to Thaddeus.

“He can make mistakes like everyone, but he did have a backup plan, which is me. My brother here was chosen over me because of his ruthlessness against his enemies and his willingness to go to any lengths to achieve his goals. Me, I’m not as headstrong as he was,” one of the people in the room says.

“That’ll do you good so that you don’t end up like he did. Is everything else in place?” Tinuviel says.

“Yes, we are ready to take back our home.”

Once they leave the building, the new leader sounds a horn that makes groups of people come out of hiding. They ambush their enemies from behind who are focused on the Umbra army in front of them. The enemy’s surprise is compounded by their fellow soldiers and close friends and family turning on them allowing the Umbra a simple victory. After Tinuviel crowns the new leader of the city, their dead and still living enemies are burned far outside of the city while the city celebrates. Among those who are burning alive are the old leaders and their supporters some of which are the family of the new leader chosen by Tinuviel’s father.

“I may not be as ruthless as my brother, but I will do what is necessary when I need to. This display shows that close ties with me will not shield you from the justice of God,” the leader explains referring to the burning of his family, “I hope this will prove to you that I am worthy to lead my neighbors.”

“Yes, you’ve proven yourself without a shadow of a doubt,” Tinuviel says.

Thaddeus thinks to himself while staring out at the burning bodies.

“Does this display bother you? We are both children fighting against their families, so I do sympathize with what you’re feeling,” the leader says to Thaddeus.

“No, it’s just that I’m thinking about what would’ve become of my infant brother if I didn’t take him away from my family before I was disowned.”

“Then it’s a great thing that you saved him when you did. I wish I could’ve saved my brothers, but they chose their path and I chose mine. Thank you for your help. I’m sure you’ll be a good leader and do what’s right.”

With their job here done and their bodies rested after the celebration and a night’s rest, Thaddeus, Tinuviel, and the rest of the Umbra’s army move out to their next target.

Before they enter the city, Tinuviel says to her soldiers, “Go on ahead of us and make sure they don’t have any tricks up their sleeves. Meet up with our allies to find out what they know and check the surrounding area for anything suspicious, especially the rooftops for snipers.”

“Hopefully nothing will happen,” Thaddeus says.

“Do you really think these people want to talk after weeks of fighting against us and calling us monsters?”

“No, and I understand the necessity in doing this to be safe, but still, I’d rather think positively.”

“I get it, and I would like to as well. I wish I just shared your optimism.”

Once they let their soldiers go on ahead of them and secretly enter the city, they find that this place isn’t hostile in the same way the other one is. Instead, the Umbra are allowed in the city, but yelled at and accused of evil by one part of the city while being praised by another. Meeting up at the multistory cathedral, Thaddeus and Tinuviel sit down with Church leaders and members of the Meridies family while a crowd of civilians and soldiers from both sides watch and listen in silence for what’s about to be talked about.

“I must thank you for coming here, Tinuviel Umbra. You have proved to us that you are truly a Corpus by being where you are,” a member of the Meridies says.

“Tch,” Tinuviel says before getting up and grabbing a blessed dagger from one of the Meridies. “This you know is a blessed weapon.” She then cuts her throat with the weapon, but the weapon doesn’t even cut her skin. Instead, the knife’s blade is chipped and the sound of her cutting herself is the same as if the blade had cut stone. “Now you can see with your eyes that I am no vampire.”

Many in the crowd gasp with some on the Meridies and Church side changing over.

After Tinuviel sits down, another of the Meridies says, “We’ve heard rumors that some of you weren’t vulnerable to blessed weapons so we just wanted to confirm your purity through this test by meeting you and yours here where a vampire would typically burst into flames. Cutting yourself was unneeded.”

“I think it was since I have to keep doing it to prove to you people beyond a shadow of a doubt what I am. As you should know, being expert vampire killers, Corpus can be killed by blessed weapons if God allows it.”

“Anyways, with the pleasantries out of the way, can we continue with this meeting?” Thaddeus interrupts, “I’m sure because of what’s been shown to you that we can talk about how we can be allies and stop this civil war.”

“Don’t think it will be that easy. Your questionable actions have cast an unremovable stain on your reputation. We do know, as expert vampire killers, that the Corpus have no control of themselves and blamelessly do the same sinful actions they did in life, but the Umbra family have brought nothing but war upon the Church and profited off it. It doesn’t help that the Umbra family already had a reputation of deception and taking advantage of situations and manipulating them for their own gain.”

“Do I need to cut myself again?” Tinuviel asks.

“The fact that you’re immune to holy blades and places will change most minds but not all. There were vampire gods and devils who could break holy weapons such as the Meridies family’s whip, and there were even rumors that there were vampires who were unaffected by holy weapons since God let the world fall into the degeneracy it wanted as punishment. A majority of the Meridies family believe the Umbra to be this sort of vampire that rise when evil overtakes the world again.”

“You’re admitting that the world is degenerate?”

“No, I’m-”

“Before you start arguing with each other, let me say that the vampires you’re referring to are just that. Rumors,” Thaddeus states, “Holy weapons only don’t work against vampires when God wills it.”

“And why do you talk about our actions being questionable when you do the same yourselves for the same reasons?” Tinuviel says.

“Tinuviel.”

“We both do things for the greater good, and yet, the Church and Meridies are justified and we aren’t? Who decides that? It’s certainly neither of us, but God. Even so, we should both work together to solve the problems of the Church. Maybe by then, your holy weapons will work on me so I can die for good to prove to you my innocence.”

Many are moved to the Umbra’s side by Tinuviel’s words.

“I think my wife’s words are convincing enough to move to give us your support.”

“It’s not that simple,” a Meridies says.

“Then what is this meeting for? Just to try to see if we’ll die in this cathedral and tell us what we already know?” Tinuviel asks.

“No, we’ve come to talk about how there can be peace between our sides starting with you stopping your attacks on our towns and cities and ceasing your manipulations of the public.”

“And go back to being on the defensive against the Meridies?”

“It’s a start for us to consider that you want peace.”

“You may get peace, but the Meridies who want us dead will not give us peace. There are only two options here. Either you ally with us or you fight against us and continue this familial war. What you choose will decide if this meeting ends in bloodshed or not,” Thaddeus says.

A silence fills the cathedral until a body of a Meridies soldier falls from the upper chapel. This shocks everyone and puts both sides on their guard. Adding to the shock, Umbra soldiers come down carrying captured Meridies soldiers.

One of the Umbra soldiers claims, “We’ve caught these assassins with their rifles aimed at our people. You Meridies have a lot to answer for.”

“They are guards, not assassins, and we didn’t order them to aim their rifles at you. They are supposed to be here just in case something happened,” a Church leader counters.

“Something will happen in the next few seconds if you don’t decide to ally with us,” Tinuviel says as she gets up ready to fight.

Soldiers on both sides ready their weapons with even some of the people in the cathedral readying themselves while the others flee.

“You’re not making your offer any more appealing by doing this. Stand down and we may resume our talk.”

“You’ve been trying to kill us to begin with. We only dismissed your attempt to kill us with this meeting in the cathedral since we knew that we wouldn’t die but pointing your guns at those who can die with your fingers on the trigger is something else. You basically already fired the first two shots and our tolerance can last so long. Why should we listen to you now?”

A deadly silence fills the cathedral until Thaddeus’ perception allows him to see a Meridies about to pull the trigger. This forces him to take the first shot to start the fight. Since the Umbra soldiers outnumber and have the upper ground, they make short work of the Meridies and the Church leaders. They then go into the streets and throw the dead bodies of the Meridies leaders on the floor in front of the guards and soldiers outside. With the city’s citizens and the Umbra soldiers surrounding them, few of the soldiers fight to their last breath. Instead, most beg for mercy, and mercy is only given to those who Thaddeus and Tinuviel are convinced deserve it. Everyone who doesn’t get mercy from Thaddeus and Tinuviel is thrown into the crowd to do with as they pleased, which is a worse fate than being publicly hanged like the corpses of the Meridies and Church leaders.

A council of leaders is crowned to guide this large and important city and then a celebration is held for them, which Thaddeus opts out of. He sits far away from the party that is happening not too far from the hanging corpses as if they were just decorations.

Tinuviel joins him and asks, “How come you’re not joining the celebration? We deserve it after gaining this important city.”

“This was the only place that offered to talk to us to possibly end this war. I’m disappointed that this didn’t end differently.”

“The outcome we got is the best one possible. They wanted us to stand down and that would’ve led to us having to take the abuse of the Church and Meridies again with no possible guarantee that they would accept us in the future.”

“I know. It’s just that…”

“I know, I know.”

Tinuviel embraces Thaddeus and then kisses him to comfort him and ease his burden.

“This’ll be over before you know it and we’ll be living in a world that we imagined as children.”

Again looking out at the hanging bodies, Thaddeus remembers the happy memories he had with his family. Sure, they were strict, but they did love him according to Thaddeus. In fact, they probably loved their own a bit too much as they were able to take more plunder from their enemies than the Church allowed. This reminder sours his memories and feels like they were God’s way of hinting at the circumstances of what’s happening now. His past hand waving his family’s actions angers him.

“Are you still upset? I thought my embrace always calms you down,” Tinuviel says.

“It does. It’s just that I’m only now realizing the severity of my family taking advantage of the corruption within the Church and the status we had,” Thaddeus says before getting up. “Rest well because we won’t show our next targets any mercy.”

“Oh, I like whatever has awakened in you.”

Kindled by the fires of rage, Thaddeus moves the Umbra forces quickly to the next location. This farm town with the walls of a fort has already been ravaged by conflicts both from the outside and in. Originally, Thaddeus and his father-in-law planned to give enough aid to the town’s inhabitants over the course of three days, so they could take it back for themselves, however, Thaddeus’ rage makes him throw away the original plan in favor of brute force assault. Tinuviel and the rest of the Umbra soldiers agree with this course of action, especially since some of the soldiers are from this area and remember it being a quiet, peaceful, and happy land until the Church kept tightening its laws with the enforcement of the Meridies.

“I’ve blinded myself to my family’s crimes for too long and I’m beginning to realize what it really means to fight for the greater good instead of just talking about and fighting for it. But we shouldn’t worry about the mistakes and injustices of the past, because today, we are vengeance,” Thaddeus says.

Inspired by his words, the Umbra forces scream out before they assault the town head-on by first leaping on the walls to clear off the soldiers before going into the town. Thaddeus is carried by Tinuviel until they get into the town.

“Next time, you carry me into battle,” Tinuviel says.

Focused on the task at hand, Thaddeus doesn’t hear what Tinuviel says and charges into battle by himself, which makes Tinuviel go off on her own as well. Thaddeus uses his perception, his pistol, and the many dropped guns in the town to kill as many of the soldiers as he can by bouncing his bullets off shields, armor, and other surfaces the bullets can bounce from.  He rarely has to use his rapier, especially since Tinuviel is nearby killing each soldier by either quickly decapitating them or using the limbs of one to kill one soldier before killing the one she injured. The battle ends just as quickly as it started as the Umbra claim victory. With the dust settled, the town’s citizens peek their heads out to see what happened.

Most are happy to see they are saved while those who aren’t supportive of the Umbra are called out and brought before the soldiers where they are given back to the crowd before being given the same fate worse than death that befalls all who oppose the Umbra. When Thaddeus, Tinuviel, and the other Umbra come back home with news of their victory. The rest of the Umbra’s allies and family are happy to hear it. Thaddeus’ father-in-law hardly even minds that he didn’t follow the original plan caring only that he obtained victory. Thaddeus also tells his little brother what he went through before going to bed with Tinuviel for a well-deserved rest after a successful series of battles. Before going to sleep, Thaddeus notices that Tinuviel keeps twisting and turning.

“What’s wrong, my love?” Thaddeus asks her.

Tinuviel turns to him with a smile on her face.

“The world we dreamed of is here,” she says.

“There’s still a lot to do.”

“With all the places allied to us, all the places under our control. We basically have victory, so take it easy. Peace is within arm’s reach.”

“Yeah, you’re right and I’m happy to be living in it with you.”

Tinuviel snuggles up to Thaddeus who holds her in his arms. Despite feeling happy, Thaddeus still feels concerned about his family’s forces that are still out there, but for now, he enjoys this moment and hopes that his concerns are just him worrying too much.