Post by Lestat on Oct 31, 2006 13:06:57 GMT 10
The land of Nullius was once deemed a beautiful sight. Never, even my death, will I forget the meadows of long, lush pasture that would stretch forth for miles, the cool, clear water that the Carmine river once contained. The trees covered with leaves that blew gracefully in the wind and the sky that was eternally azure. I can still hear the songs of the spring birds in the trees that sung happily...the sounds of life and happiness that bustled all around me and sent my spirits high...but that land is no more...
...Ever since the butterfly was set free...
My name is Logan, and I was once the king of these haunted lands. Nullius was united in the kingdom of Vecta, there was no war here...only peace. I owned and resided in Vectra, which, in it's time, was a powerful and rather grand vampire kingdom indeed. I lived only for my two daughters, Audrina and Lilith. The two girls had been rivalling since they learnt to talk. Lilith was always jealous of her sisters' gentle beauty and grace...even though Lilith was quite beautiful herself...and hated the fact that everybody seemed to enjoy Audrinas company more-so than hers. Audrina loathed Liliths' quick tongue, harsh temper and impulsivity, although these qualities can make for a strong leader.
Being the fair ruler and father that I considered myself, I had arranged for my eldest daughter Lilith to be wed first, to my most loyal and noble knight, Lestat. Lestat had fought at my side in many battles and had always been patient and understanding...which I believed was the type of vampire that Lilith needed. I was correct in estimating that Lilith would be overjoyed with these plans...but I had forgotten my other daughter...and had been too distracted to see that she and Lestat were falling hopelessly in love. Lestat agreed to marry Lilith, out of respect for me...even though I could see his heart breaking through his dark eyes...and I didn't understand why...
Not long after the planning for Liliths' wedding began, Audrina fell inexplicably ill. This illness that she possessed seemed straight from the depths of hell. I did not even believe that vampires could fall ill, but I was mistaken. Audrinas beautiful pale skin became covered in what looked like painful cracks and crevases...her wrists, arms and face all began to show mysterious slashes that weren't inflicted by anybody, veins came out of nowhere and looked like they could burst...I witnessed her radiating violet eyes turn to a dull gray...I was so desperate to help her but did not understand how...
One fine evening, I overheard Lestat in Audrinas' chambers. Their voices were so full of love for each other that I felt my heart ache at the final realisation of what I had done. I had arranged the wrong marriage! I heard Audrinas gentle plea, her 'last request' as she called it...She was convinced that she was going to die quickly from the illness that contaminated her. I heard her voice come out sweet, soft, pleading with Lestat.
"Lestat, there is nothing more you can do for me. And all that I will ever want from you is purely your love...it keeps me brave. But if you insist on bringing me a gift from your long journey...I would really appreciate a rose. I miss the presence of beauty ever since I gained this...disease...and nothing could be more beautiful than a rose from the forest."
That night Lestat and I set out on our scouting mission. I finally got to discuss his feelings for Audrina with him, and we came to the conclusion that it would be better for everybody if the wedding was cancled so that he and Audrina could enjoy their last moments together. Suddenly, something caught my eye...ahead on the path was a...butterfly. This was not an ordinary butterfly though, it glowed a beautiful red and it seemed unafraid of our presence. As we rode closer to the creature, I saw that it was sitting on a note...addressed to myself...I opened it to read...
"Your highness,
I have been examining your character from the shadows and trying to decide whether you are worthy of my help. My name is Quicksand, and I have reasonably summed up your situation and have decided to help. Your daughter is ill, and I have the cure. The butterfly before you can cure anybody it lands on, forever, which also brings eternal life to those who are touched by it. Try it, your majesty, but I heed you one warning...don't let the butterfly free...
-Quicksand"
I looked to Lestat and he at me. Who was this Quicksand? And why did he want to help...what was in it for him? I allowed the dark thoughts to disappear, as I concentrated on the joyful news. A cure! Audrina could be saved! We raced home on our horses and headed straight for Audrinas' room. After Lestat handed her the rose he retrieved, sure enough, the butterfly touched her finger and straight away her health and beauty returned. Audrina was overjoyed in the knowledge that she would live, and also the fact that Lestat would wed her and not Lilith. When I broke the news to Lilith I saw the hate dwell in her eyes. A hate for her sister that would only brew up more inside of her.
Liliths' anger drove her to snatch the butterfly from Audrina and jump on her black mare. She darted towards the outskirts of Nullius with Audrina and Lestat chasing at her tail the whole journey. Once she reached the edge of Nullius, Lilith got off her horse and walked to where Audrina dismounted her steed. Face to face, the siblings stared hate into each others eyes. Lilith then broke the silence by screaming,
"Where do you stop, Audrina? Firstly, you steal the heart of Father, then the hearts of all those in the castle...and finally, my future husband! If this butterfly didn't exist in the first place this wouldn't be happening to me! I wish Father and Lestat had never found this stupid insect! I wish you'd die!"
And with those shrieks of anguish still ringing in the air, Lilith released the butterfly into the wilderness. Audrina screamed as she turned to face the direction of the castle. Tears began to form in her violet eyes as she shrieked back at her sister.
"You fool! Do you realise what you have just done? You have killed everything! Now the land will begin to decay before our eyes, nothing beautiful will ever grow here again! Father is dead, our friends are all dead too. It's just us three left alive! I hate your selfish ways Lilith! And I never want to see you again!"
Lestat had already been waiting for Audrina on her mount. Audrina quickly got on the beast and galloped in the direction of home. On that short journey, everything around Nullius changed. The grass dried up, the trees lost their leaves...the river ran red...And when Audrina arrived at Vectra castle she broke down from the sight of hundreds of dead vampires...including myself. The castle began to deteriorate as if over a period of thousand years. Audrina and Lestat fled Vectra, to begin their own kingdom in honour of it. But their plan was short lived as Lilith also began to construct a castle of her own. Her reasoning being that if Audrina hadn't stolen her everything...she would not have broken down and acted impulsively. Lilith did regret her actions, but used them as motivation in the plans of ridding Nullius of both Lestat and Audrina forever.
The canyon that splits down the middle of the two covens was created that day, the earth could not take the stress and cracked in it's own frustration. Now the land is truly divided. There is Lilith's Guerra coven, who fight for revenge of her misfortune. Her ways of war are much more harsh and controlled than Audrina and Lestat, who fight for their own revenge, but their tactics of war are much more civilised and gentle...though effective still.
Now the hunt for the butterfly is on. Both sides desperate to find it, both sides wanting to restore beauty back to Nullius and have the power over the other side. Neither side ever learnt who Quicksand was, and what his significance in this dividing...Is he the key to finding to the butterfly? Who's coven will you support in the search? Who do you believe has the right to declare revenge? Make your decision wisely and follow your leader eagerly...good luck...
