Staring at the checkered marble floor, Nero Blackwood, head of the House of Blackwood, imagined himself playing a game of chess along the black and white marble tiles. Sitting on his throne, in the main chamber of his castle, he sipped his blood wine as he contemplated where he would move his next pawn.
Of course, to him, this was more than just a game of chess. The pieces on the board simply represented the various people and resources he had at his disposal. After deciding to send his pawn further into enemy territory, he took another long sip of his wine. Oh, how I enjoy the sweet taste of elven blood, far richer in flavor than lowly humans, certainly less earthy than a dwarf's, Nero thought to himself as he enjoyed the smooth sweet taste as it flowed through his lips. Now, where to put my bishop, returning his attention to his game. Perhaps I will send him to my pawns, after all, I've let them wander off the board for far too long, he pondered thinking of his brother.
After deciding it was a prudent strategy, he stood from his throne, casually glancing back at the family crest embroidered in the tapestry that hung over his head. The dark red tapestry hung just behind the throne, the house crest proudly displayed in the middle, a black oak, with its branches stretching to the corners of the tapestry was intricately embroidered in the middle.
Nero casually walked through the halls of the castle, embracing the chilly draft that flowed through various shutters along with the windows. His cloak softly billowed, as the breeze caressed his milky white skin. Dear brother is probably holed up in his study again. He thought to himself as he passed his brother's empty bedroom. Why must he insist on having that infernal room at the top of the tower? Nero asked himself as he began climbing the spiraling stone steps leading to the top of the castle's main tower.
Finally coming to the last step of the enormous tower's seemingly never endless staircase, Nero knocked on the door to his brother's study. After a few moments of waiting, he grew tired of waiting and opened the door. Inside, the room smelled of dusty old tomes, as well as a slight sulphuric smell in the air. Another one of his experiments, no doubt. Nero assumed as he stepped inside. He discovered his brother deeply engrossed in another one of the various tomes that filled the shelves throughout the room. His back to Nero, he didn't even cast a glance towards him, his black robes and hood hiding him in the shadowy corner of the room.
"Dear brother, I have something to ask of you," Nero stated as he began casually glancing at the various experiments on the dissection table.
"I can't," His brother promptly replied, never taking his eyes off the page he was currently reading.
"Come now, it is but a simple task," Nero answered back, now perusing the various books open on a table.
"I'm busy Nero, I haven't time for your games. Leave me to my work," his brother replied, turning the page.
" Ah yes, you're busy with your work, which I currently am paying for. Perhaps you should indulge me for a moment. As you always say, family is important is it not? Dear Alucard," Nero replied with a crooked grin, many that knew the man, often stated that the grin was a sign of trouble.
Alucard promptly placed the cloth bookmarker attached to the tome in-between the pages. After carefully closing the book he let out a sigh.
"What is it this time? Has Perseus gotten himself into trouble again? Perhaps bedded the wrong noble's wife? Or no, let me guess, you need me to make you a potion to allow you to walk through walls," Alucard grumbled as he turned to face Nero, who was currently staring into a cauldron, watching as the dark black liquid inside bubbled, though there was no fire lit underneath.
" I wouldn't stand too close if I were you, liquid death potion I've been brewing, a single whiff could have you paralyzed for hours," Alucard cautioned as Nero stood a little too close to the boiling potion.
Taking a step back, Nero looked over at his brother. His glowing red eyes pierced through the shadows of his hood, shadows concealed the other features of his face.
"Nothing as trivial as that dear brother, when I refer to family, I'm speaking of my sons. I believe it's time they come back home. I dearly wish to see them, it's been what twenty years? " Nero replied, giving his brother his best fatherly smile." Oh, and House Blackwood will be needing them for some of our more, how shall I put it, clandestine ventures." His smile slowly turned into his more familiar crooked grin.
"Absolutely not! They despise you and House Blackwood! Perhaps if you would have spent any time with them, instead of traveling throughout Koruo, they might be willing!" Alucard exploded as he stood from his desk.
" Calm down brother, sure I was gone a few years, but they'll come. I'm sure of it. If it was from dear uncle Alucard's request." Nero responded, keeping his composure as his brother angrily glared at him from across the room.
" And what makes you think I'd be willing to send for them to return?" Alucard growled as he continued to glare at Nero.
"Well brother, let's just say I have what they've been looking for all this time," Nero responded, his crooked grin growing farther across his face as he reached into his pocket.
"Don't tell me, YOU'VE HAD THE AMULET OF BLOOD THIS WHOLE TIME!" Alucard practically seething with rage yelled.
"Again brother, calm down. And no it hasn't been in my possession the whole time. I quite recently acquired it on one of my expeditions to the nation of Runeholm. By random chance, a friend of mine had it in his possession, you remember Dread King Gygax don't you?" Nero said as he pulled the ruby amulet out of his pocket, letting it dangle from his fingers.
The Amulet of Blood was both beautiful and extremely rare. A dazzling fang-shaped ruby clasped in gold, glowed softly as it swung from Nero's fingers. The thin gold chain it hung up on wrapped twice upon his index and forefinger as he swung it into his palm.
Alucard was nearly ready to tackle his brother, after all these years, he had raised the Twins on Nero's behalf, kept castle Blackwood in order while he was away, and now he wanted to extort his sons into doing his bidding. On top of all of that, he wanted Alucard to be the one to do it!
"If you can get them here and make them agree to my plans, I'll let them have the amulet. Hell! I'll even let them keep the boat you so rudely let them steal," Nero said as he placed the amulet back in his pocket.
"And what if I don't?" Alucard replied.
" You know very well what will happen, dear brother," Nero stiffly responded, his grin disappearing quickly, suddenly replaced with a malicious leer, making it quite clear it wasn't a hollow threat.
Alucard battled with his inner turmoil. He is a bastard! Ever since that damned witch of his died, nothing but the desire for power had consumed him. If I don't do this Wayne and Devyn might never find another amulet. On the other hand, I'd be leading them into his twisted machinations. I can't face him head-on, he's too powerful even for me. On top of that if he goes through with his threat he's got Perseus, our younger brother, thoroughly under his command, along with the rest of House Blackwood.
" Fine, what is this scheme of yours anyway?" Alucard grumbled as he silently added to himself, I'll play along...for now.
"Don't worry yourself about the finer details just yet, perhaps your focus would be better suited on finding my dear sweet sons," Nero replied, his glare quickly evaporating and his twisted smile immediately replacing it. "I'll leave you to do just that."
Nero casually walked towards the door, he could almost feel Alucard glaring at his back as he left. As he climbed down the stairs, Nero envisioned his chess board in his mind. His imaginary hand moved two pawns onto the board. Now, what pieces do I need to move next? He pondered as he stared at the imaginary enemy across the board.
Alucard was seething with rage. He had to drink blood from his flask, a habit his nephew Devyn had picked up from him, in fact, Alucard had given Devyn the flask he carried when Devyn was a small child. Remembering this, brought a slight smile to his face as he downed the flask's contents. I'll play along with Nero's schemes for the time being until I find a way to get the amulet from him, but first, he's right I need to find out where the Twins are. Alucard thought to himself as his mind began to clear.
Pulling an old tattered map of Koruo from its scroll case, Alucard unraveled the map onto his desk. He quickly rummaged through his collection of jars containing certain rare spell components, finding the eye of a griffon, he plucked it from its jar. Quickly he went to his dissecting table grabbing a small scalpel, with the eye in his hand he cut his hand and allowed the blood to drip onto the eye, while doing this he placed his bleeding hand and the eyeball above the map's surface.
As the blood dripped onto the map, carefully aimed to fall on Bloodheim, he began to chant a spell, droplets of blood trickled from his hand and the eyeball onto the parchment below. As he continued reciting the enchantment, the blood began to move along the parchment, slowly trailing its way through the nation of Thrallheim, passing through Valoria, then cutting its way across the Sanguine seas. Nearly finished, Alucard squeezed the Gryphon's eye, feeling it pop in his hand. The last words of the enchantment flowed from his lips. The blood-streaked it's way across the Sanguine Sea, pooling and absorbing into the parchment. Alucard looked down at the map, throwing the remnants of the squished eye out of the window. They're in FrostHold. Good that gives me time to think of a plan while I travel.
Alucard knew he could cast a complex spell that could get him there in an instant, though it was quite costly and he only had one of the ingredients left to do it. He thought to himself, but Nero doesn't know that. He'd simply tell his brother they were on the other side of the world and it would take a few weeks to get to them. Afterward, he'd use the spell to get them back to Bloodheim quickly, and secretly investigate what Nero's plans were.
All things considered, I should be able to reach FrostHold in 2 months. Alucard planned on using a bit of magic to speed his journey along, he didn't want to arrive there and the Twins already have left. He checked in on them from time to time, they usually stayed in large cities like FrostHold for at least three months searching for the Amulet of Blood.
He quickly began to pack his thing as he shuffled around the room, grabbing various spell components he might find useful or need. After a quick visit to his room, he left with a hefty, backpack full of supplies. After explaining to Nero the whereabouts of his sons, Alucard left castle Blackwood, just as the sun set upon the city of Bloodheim.
Don't worry Nero, I'll bring them home, and when I do, I have a feeling the family reunion will be truly one to remember.