Part Two of The Lost Children of Guérande
Things seemed to move slowly at that point. Reginald could see Andre’s outstretched hand ready to accept his sword. The knight stepped around him – knowing how the Frenchman would react. An affirming rasp of the sheriff’s sword leaving its scabbard warned Reginald. (more…)
Part One of The Lost Children of Guérande
Reginald stared into the polished metal hanging over the basin. Its dull reflection captured his troubled image. A man of 24 years stared back at him. Unkempt brown hair and several days’ worth of stubble covered his face. It had been seven months since the events of Bern and his arrival in Dijon. Reginald had sought a quiet retreat within the city’s walls. He was utterly disappointed.
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By Jason Zapata
Armed with stakes and rituals Helsing brought
Morris, Steward and Holmwood entered the fight
Filled with resolve these men attacked forthright
The demise of all vampires Van Helsing sought
So across London our secret war was fought
My strongholds were exorcized and set alight
In pyres that illuminated the fog swept night
As I reveled in the chaos our battles wrought
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By Jason Zapata
In Mina’s loving company I became immersed
Felt the pulse of her blood as I held her hand
A temptation I intractably fought to withstand
What remained human of me feared the worst
So her friend Lucy served to quench my thirst
Fearful men strived to disrupt what I planned
Knowing nothing of the power at my command
They failed I feasted and Lucy became cursed
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Part Seven of The Necromancer of Bern
Albrecht Von Zähringen crawled through layers of loose cemetery soil until he was finally free of the suffocating earth that buried him. The Necromancer’s right arm was all but useless. The knight’s blade had cut deep into his bicep and forced him to claw at the cold earth with only one arm. Albrecht had been compelled to retreat. As the manor started to collapse around him, the Necromancer had fled down one of the tunnels leading to the cemetery. (more…)
Part Six of The Necromancer of Bern
Reginald guardedly descended into the cellar’s first chamber. The odd bit of rotten flesh and stale blood on the earthen floor marked the recent passage of the undead. Brackish light illuminated the scene. Its source was burning pitch held in metal brackets fastened to the walls. The manor’s foundation was built upon crude stones. A haphazard masonry that divided the cellar into separate chambers.
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Part Four of The Necromancer of Bern
The sun shined through a stand of evergreens on the outskirts of Bern. It was welcome relief from the endless rain and snow of the previous days. Cloudless blue skies stretched overhead. Bird song could be heard from adjacent trees near Sir Reginald. The knight camped at the base of a towering pine tree. Its snow-encrusted branches sagged to the ground and formed a natural shelter from the wind.
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Part Three of The Necromancer of Bern
Deep lines gouged into the Saracen’s face tell Sir Reginald that his enemy has seen many battles. Further confirmation comes in the form of his foes scimitar strikes. It’s all Reginald can do to intercept the blows with his battered shield. A cold certainty fills the pit of his stomach as the battle wears on.
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Part Two of the Necromancer of Bern
Reginald was half dead when he limped into the city of Bern. The wounded knight had walked several miles in the brutal cold seeking shelter. Even for being so late at night, he was surprised to find the streets deserted. He could not explain why – but the very air was filled with deep and pervasive dread.
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Part One of The Necromancer of Bern
It wouldn’t stop raining. For the past six days a steady downpour fell on the covered wagon Sir Reginald rode in. But the heavy canvas top was already soaked through. Cold rainwater dripped onto him – waking him when he occasionally managed to doze off. As it did now.
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