🪻《Master of Apocalypse》🪻

🥀Continuation of Claude/Amadeus' backstory

After Amadeus casted his enchantment, Clodette's body grew limp and slump on top of Claudius. Vladimir sprinted toward Clodette, who was unconscious. He swiftly swung his sword at Amadeus! However, the boy caught the blade in between his two fingers with ease, Vladimir's eyes widened with shock!

This tiny boy could render a moving blade immobile with a mere touch?! Vladimir was stupefied.

At the same time, Seraphiel shifted his colossal wings simultaneously changing its soft feathers to an adamantine blade! It swung toward Vladimir, he immediately took out his dagger and blocked it however, it had an immense strength! It broke the dagger into pieces and sent Vladimir flying!

Vladimir pivoted mid-air and swiftly landed beside Clodette! He hurriedly carried her away. "Shouldn't we catch them?" Tia asked, Amadeus shook his head and looked down at his brother's corpse.

"No need! We will get our chance soon but for the meantime, tell the villagers to gather all the corpses in the village center." Amadeus bent over and closed his brother's eyes. Tia could imagine the grief of losing someone for she too, had lost all her friends in this war. She quickly turned to the surviving weavers and instructed them to bring the corpses.

The seraph whispered softly to Amadeus, he told the boy to conjure a resurrection magic, however the payment for this spell will be grave. As payment, Amadeus' soul will not reincarnate in this life or the next.

Amadeus nodded, he didn't care about the punishment waiting for him as long as the souls could be saved. Afterwards, Amadeus raised his hands and a purple barrier appeared!

"This will keep the souls inside." he then looked at Claudius. "Though my brother's soul cannot be redeem." he quietly said to himself.

It was already dawn when the villagers gathered the corpses and laid them in the village center in rows. The seraph whispered the incantation and Amadeus spoke it loudly, the purple barrier gleamed and all ten star symbols appeared, gathering all fragment souls into a massive silver ball. The seraph quickly devoured it, their souls will once again reincarnate. Upon seeing such magnanimous display of power, the villagers were again hopeful!

Subsequently, Amadeus finished the chanting and turned to Claudius' corpse. The seraph whispered, "it is time!" as he handed him a book made of melted gold. The boy without hesitation bound his brother's soul into a golden book. It was the only way to save his brother's soul by being devoured by demons.

The book of golden roses.

Claudius' soul will forever reside into this book, it will be his haven. "We have to bring him with us to Atalanta, nobody should be left behind."

"What about Claudius' body?" Tia asked.

"His body shall be buried there." Amadeus spoke, tearfully. He curled his hands into a fist. "I swear to the heavens, the House Ambrogia will burn to ashes! I will not rest until the last one of them perishes!"

He looked up to the heavens. "I swear it!" he turned to his people. "I swear it! I will torn them limb by limb, I will bathe them in their own blood and scatter their ashes in the air! I swear!"

The people howled and murmured in expecting hopeful voices! The seraph couldn't comprehend why this gentle boy's pure heart turned blackened but no matter how high the tide rises, he will ride the tide with Amadeus.

"Revenge is not the answer, young one"

"but it's revenge that will keep me alive!" Amadeus replied.

"The world should be rid of strife!"

Amadeus remained silent and after awhile, he pulled out his purpurite crystal and started to write a symbol on his right arm. A five pointed star, a pentagram!

"Stop! that is the sigil of the fallen! stop!"

"Sigil of Kokabiel, I beseech thee, grant me the power to strike thy enemies!"

The pentagram gleamed brightly and scalded into black hues. "This is my reminder of my revenge!" Amadeus spoke. The seraph took pity on him and enveloped his massive wings around Amadeus. He chose this boy and because of his decision, the boy will forever walk in a difficult path.

"—and I will be with you, young one!" 

A hundred years had passed and the perfect revenge had been planned out, a man wearing a purple tunic strode along the seemingly long hallways of the palace in Atalanta, his golden himation was long enough to touch the marble floor. Upon hearing the waves carelessly hitting the edge of the cliff, he paused and looked at it. He absentmindedly played with his silver earring, when a ghastly shadow suddenly appeared behind him, the shadow quickly evaporated and revealed three wrinkled women.

They were dressed in black veiled gowns, the hems were torn and they stood, barefoot. They bowed low to show their respect, they were once beloved for their beauty, now their youth forever forgotten and will never return, this was the punishment given to them and they upheld to it.

The old woman in the middle was named Clotho, she spoke. "My lord, everything is prepared. We have found a family that will foster you for the time being."

Amadeus arched his brow. Foster? "Do they know of their roles?"

"Oh yes, my lord! They are already in contact with the French man." Clotho replied.

The old woman in Clotho's right spoke. "Apparently, he took the bait!" Lachesis smirked.

"The only thing missing is your presence, my lord." The old woman in the left, Atropos spoke. "The young daughter of the Smith family can be of use, my lord. She can be easily seduced because her heart is weak." Atropos said, pleased with herself.

Amadeus waved his hand and immediately he materialized a golden book. "Give her the book."

"Oh! this precious book, my lord?" Clotho said, uneasily.

"If you want to gain an ally, we should at least be sincere but do not be mistaken I would like to have this book return to me." Amadeus looked at the golden book. You've been missing her too right, brother? You will meet Clodette soon. Amadeus thought.

"Give this to the Smith girl, tell her to create an opportunity to meet the vampire princess of the crescent coven, it would be easier if we have someone within their territory."

Atropos carefully received the golden book. "Yes, my lord" she smiled broadly, for she was given an important task.

His eyes glanced up, "everything should be a perfect stage for a fine performance." Amadeus gave an eerie smile. "Then let the show begin!"

The three wrinkled women exchanged eerie smiles.

🥀 30 minutes after Claude/Amadeus left the mansion

Claude rode his horse swiftly to Marvius Woods, a warlock whose the high priest of Sodom had many connections and knowledges about Claude's origin and by now, Marvius might have collected a lot of intel.

He remembered the look that Marvius gave him during the funeral. It wasn't friendly, Claude had a hunch that Marvius knew.

He knows!

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden eerie silence of the woods, there were no birds nor small animals that could be seen. It was strange, Claude immediately urged his horse to run faster!

Being in the woods without any animals or sounds was not a good sign at all! While he was engrossed on his thoughts, his horse suddenly came to a halt!

"What is it?" he caressed the horse's mane. The horse puffed nervously, a chill in the wind began to resurface and the thick fog surrounded him, he looked up and two shadow figures came to his sight.

The figures came closer revealing two wrinkled women, they were bony to the extend that you could see their bones protruded under their scaly skin and their hair were long and ashen. They wore black dresses with a translucent veil that hid their terrifying faces. They didn't speak but only stood quietly,  Claude dismounted and approached the beings carefully, knowing that he was in a middle of the forest with no eyes watching him. Claude's lips slowly curled to a smile, "What took you so long?"

His facade has come to a halt. He no longer needed to pretend to be a helpless boy!

"Our apologies, my liege!" The women spoke in unison.

"Why did you come?"

"The warlock knows of your secret—" The woman on the right was called Clotho, she spoke carefully. Trying to avoid her master's stormy temperament.

"—the idiot witch of Gomorrah has confessed." The woman on the left continued, Lachesis spoke quietly. "She told the warlock council of your movements and she also told the council that she and her sisters were brainwashed!"

"Ha!" Clotho snotted, "the audacity to lie where they, themselves committed to an alliance."

"That means Marvius, as one of the high priest of Sodom knows." Claude spoke calmly.

As I have guessed, he knows everything. Claude thought deeply, he needs to be rid of!

"Aye, my lord." Clotho confirmed. "and, Marvius is also one of Marcus' closest aids!"

"It is only a matter of time when the vampire prince will know of your movements." Lachesis spoke, carefully.

"Then, we need to visit Marvius in haste." Claude smiled. "It is actually a good excuse to get rid of that warlock!"

"He eyed you like an experiment, my lord. Would you love to pluck this eyes out?" Clotho suggested.

"It would be showing mercy if I do that, besides they were convinced that I was nothing but an innocent bystander." Claude continued, "Clodette is in the palm of my hands now."

"Clodette is in your grasp, my lord." Clotho said, "I think she has already given you her heart."

"—and such an easy feat as well!" Claude spoke, merrily. "If we have her, we have leverage over Marcus and the Crescent coven."

"Yes, my lord!" Lachesis spoke, "Atropos is already on her way to fetch the vampire princess!"

"We need her alive!" Claude turned to face them, "—and, tell her to go to the Monique Mansion."

Her. The Smith girl! Clotho thought, "Yes, my lord!"

"She was indeed useful but anyone's usefulness would abruptly end." Claude spoke without remorse. "Clodette would be so surprise to know she is surrounded by enemies."

"She has no choice but to cooperate with my lord." Lachesis spoke, merrily. "The smith girl was useful in creating strife between the Marcus and Clodette. I gave her the dagger as a bonus!" Lachesis giggled.

Clotho narrowed her eyes and Lachesis swallowed her laughter. Claude gave them a faint smile, looking at these women, reminded him of a long forgotten past. The moirais were known for their beauty and fortune telling, though they were the deities of fate, they weren't able to sever the string of fate without killing either him or Clodette, but they became useful in other ways.

"Go." Claude turned away, "and remember, I need her alive."

"Understood, my lord!" The two women quickly bowed and disappeared with the dark fog.

Claude looked at the dark sky, the clouds moved slowly as the wind blew it, the leaves rustled and the birds began to make their chirping sounds. His mind that once was clear of his resolve now clouded with the thoughts of Clodette.

It will be over soon. He thought, I will finally find Lucius and destroy his coven. Although this was what he wanted, Claude grew hesitant. Clodette was just a piece of the chess that he was playing but this was the only chess piece he couldn't let go.

"I need to sever the thread—" Claude placed his hand on his heart and smiled. "After I sever our bond, this feeling will soon be gone."

"String of fate cannot be easily destroyed, young one." A mellifluous voice spoke.

Seraphiel.

"I need to get rid of this, it is the only way."

"The only way for the string of fate to be destroyed is either one of you dies."  The seraph continued, "But I doubt you can kill her."

Claude remained silent. Either one of them dies, "that is out of the question."

"If you keep on fighting it, you will hurt yourself."

It's better than hurting her, Claude thought.

"Enough of this! We have to prepare for Marvius!" Claude closed his eyes, as he tried to enter his mind.

"And, that we shall do!"

When the seraph's voice suddenly disappeared! Claude entered his mind, he opened his eyes and felt serene, enveloped by nothing but darkness.

He whispered, "come out."

Horses' hooves quickly moved, echoing within the darkness. Clunk, clunk, clunk!

Four horsemen came to his sight. They all dismounted and kneeled before him, it took him a hundred years to finally become the perfect vassal for the four harbingers of apocalypse, he had truly became their master.

The white horseman wore a radiant white robe and a silver bodice, adorned with diamonds. It looked like an armor, her long while hair swayed loosely behind her and on her head sat a white crown, which covered her eyes! She held a bow and arrow, she bowed low and spoke respectfully. "My lord, I am Step—" before the white horseman could finish, Claude already spoke her name.

"Stephanos"

The white horseman nodded and smiled. "I am at your service, my lord!"

Claude turned to the others. The fiery red horseman bowed low. He wore an adamantine armor adorned with black obsidian stone, his helmet covered his whole face and his eyes gleamed brightly with excitement! He held his mighty sword 'Machiara', legends surrounded this sword, it was said that his sword was so powerful that it could split a mountain!

"Prryhos" Claude called him.

"Yes, my lord."

Claude turned to third horseman, the dark horse. "Zygon" the dark horse wore a dark tunic with intricate patterns woven on the hems, his black himation fastened neatly on his shoulder by a zirconia pin. He held a golden weighing scale on his hand, it was said that his power could control the dead.

And lastly, the defiant one. "Thanatos!" Claude's voice was clouded with authority. The pale horse bowed low and spoke. "I am in my utmost best behavior!"

"I didn't say anything." Claude rolled his eyes.

The Pale horse, the defiant had finally met his master! He wore an off-white tunic, with a black and azure robe covering his body, adorned with precious zirconia gems, and on his hand he held the famous adamantine scythe! The strongest of the horseman and now, the most loyal. Gone were the days of his defiance, he served his master with loyalty, not because of love but of fear!

Claude was the only one he feared the most. The memories of him being devoured was still so fresh in his mind!

"If you have called us all I reckon it is time, my lord!" Stephanos exclaimed.

"Yes, we shall begin soon." Claude spoke.

"The destruction of House Ambrogia!" Prryhos howled.

"Quiet yourself Prryhos!" Zycon retorted him.

"It is alright to be excited," Claude spoke "for my revenge will be entertaining!"

"The little vampire has already fallen for my lord," Thanatos spoke. "plucking her whole coven is like taking a candy from a baby!"

"She is just another chess piece!" Stephanos said.

They all turned to Claude, who stood quietly. Another chess piece, was she really?

"My lord?" Zycon spoke.

Claude turned to them, their eyes looked at him with expectation. "Prepare yourselves, for we shall declare war!" Claude turned away. "We will know of where Lucius' precious coven soon."

And my revenge will soon end after I pluck Lucius beating heart!

🪻《Author's Note》🪻

Hey lovely People🥀

Claude/Amadeus has now started to his revenge! I hope that this chapter can justify why he became our antagonist/deuteragonist of the story.

Chapter 21 will start on Claude and Marvius meeting.

🍂 Questions:

What do you guys think about the appearance of the four horsemen?

Where you surprised of Claudius new appearance as the golden book of roses, will he be crucial to the story? Find out more!

Please do not forget to vote and leave a comment!

Love you all,
Julia 🥀