laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

William sat on the patio that overlooked the Merced River that cut through the Shadow Range and passed his duchy of Warwick. Sitting within the artful couch of mahogany and decorated with shades of deep green floral patterns, the same green that graced his daughter's eyes. Emotion welled at the memory of seeing Kailee enter the cave and disappear as the doors closed between them. He could still hear her voice, he reminisced as tears streamed down his face at the loss of his only daughter.

"It's too bad that she was so headstrong, don't you think?"

William jumped at the deeper, male voice that startled him from his thoughts as steel grey eyes looked up to the handsome man in maroon, blousy pants, long coat and tall black boots. His black hair was pulled back tightly on his head away from deep, black eyes and goatee and an odd, red fume clouded the aura of his body, as if a dream.

"Please, William, don't get up," a strong hand motioned as William could feel the heat emanate from his uninvited guest, flowing as from an unseen furnace. "I've been remiss about all the times you've offended me over the past four hundred and fifty-two years without any accounting. I've allowed you to have two large homes, a town and six gorgeous wives without asking you for anything. Unless I've missed my guess, I told you through your priests many times to thank me at least once. You couldn't even do that."

Unable to move, William watched as the man walked over, sat on the couch beside him and relaxed, looking out over the water and the distant, verdant slope and stone built homes picked out in the moonlight. "Such a beautiful view, don't you think? I always wanted something like this myself," he stated as solid black eyes turned to his frozen host. William tried his best to free himself and then realized whose presence he was in. Tanned eyes blinked and the vampire felt his torso loosen finally. "Sorry, I forget myself sometimes. It's hard for people to beg for their lives if they can't talk," he smiled evilly.

"I never asked you for these things," William pushed out finally. "I especially didn't ask to become this," he motioned to himself.

"Which is what makes the gesture on my part such an amazing act of mercy. Totally uncharacteristic of me. You prayed for Anita most of your life and did any of the others answer you? No. I did," he pointed to his own chest. "I've given you so much, William. I've kept you alive and made Idanac accept you into the Shadow Range where you could live out your pitiful existence in quiet," a strong hand reached around William's head and gripped his neck, then pulled it closer. "I could've stamped out your life with just a thought," hot, sulfurous breath nearly singed William's brows and hair as the Dark One pushed him away as William caught himself from pitching over the arm of the couch.

"What do you want now then?" William asked angrily as he glared back.

"Join me now and help in the war that's coming."

"I don't have a large enough army for this, you know that. These people in Warwick..."

"I'm not interested in your excuses! All I want is a yes or no and I want it right now!" Sater in his human form leaned forward, eyes aglow.

William sighed, then nodded.

Grinning, Sater backed. "See, was that so hard?" he asked as he stood and straightened his coat. "I'll expect you and your wives to join Idanac's army when they call. Nice seeing you,' he stated unemotionally, turned towards the river and his cloudy form disappeared.

William's legs and hip finally released from the unseen grip, snapped free as he concentrated and healed the ache within his bones and muscles. After a moment, he rose and stretched, then headed quickly downstairs to find his wives.

* * *

"My lord," Cynan, the bishop of Warwick to Sater began. "I need to claim the treasury to start purchasing arms and armor for the militia," he directed happily, thin book cradled in his left arm.

William eyed him askance. "When last I looked, William, not Cynan was duke of Warwick. I'll decide what is to be done and when, understood?"

Smile faded, the priest eyed him defensively. "Sire, you would recant the vow that you made to him? I implore you to reconsider this mistake. All of the people here that you've cared for could suffer for your decision."

"What's going on," Anita asked as she led his wives into the great hall.

"I've survived this long, priest. I'll not have you or anyone else telling me how to govern my home!" his eyes glared a hot fire as he leaned over the polished, cherry table. "Is that understood?"

Cynan backed, arms across his chest. "Then, you've killed your family and this town." As he turned to leave, Anita leaped over the table and backfisted the priest, sending him against the far wall in a sickening crunch and watched as he slumped to the floor.

She turned to William as Sarah, Catherine, Nellina, Bianka and Tasha all moved closer to William. "What's going on, my love?"

"We're going to be attacked by Idanac soon," he sighed as he straightened. "Sater visited me in a dream earlier and made me join his cause that I had no interest in. Now, not only has my poor judgement taken Kailee from us, I may have killed Warwick also."

"Then we need to gather our things and warn them to flee," Nellina stated, her light brown hair and blue eyes shimmered in the candlelight.

He turned to view all of his wives, then nodded. "Alright then." As he watched them leave to make preparations, Anita approached, took his face within her soft hands and smiled.

"Darling, when are you going to learn to be more diplomatic?"

His eyes glanced over her shoulder to the limp form against the far wall as Cesar walked in through the main door, then closed it with a reverberating boom. "The way you employ it?" He smiled as he hugged her. "You know he would've made me watch as he killed all of you before my eyes and I would've prayed for the strength to rip the life from him every moment," his eyes closed tightly. "That is a pain that I couldn't bare to view."

Anita held him tightly. "He can't kill what's inside our hearts, that will live forever even without us. I seem to remember my husband telling me that once," she chuckled.

He straightened and kissed her on the cheek, then eyed his obedient captain approached. "Prepare for the city's evacuation, my friend," he commanded as Anita turned to eye the black paladin.

"Where are we to, my lord?" the deep, grating voice asked from behind the steel helmet's visor.

"Our second home. Tell the men to divide the town into three parts and escort the people southwest and make their way to safety outside the Black Mountains."

He bowed, then turned to carry out the orders as William led Anita towards her wardrobe.

"I shall miss this home," she sighed as her brown eyes gathered their last visions of their castle. "Many fond memories here."

"We'll make new ones at the other."

As they walked towards the other five wives who gathered their clothes, muffled explosions ripped into the castle walls and bailey. William turned to look back towards the great hall just as a large portion spewed inward, casting stones in a shower onto the floor and furniture. "Now, teleport away from here," he yelled.

As William felt the others disappear, he hugged Anita as two more large stones blasted more of the far wall and he concentrated on their summer home, then vanished.

War trolls, orcs, goblins and grey dwarves mercilessly burned and attacked the citizens as flying demons threw javelins into those running for their lives below. Bolts of fire and lightning fired from mages under the command of their demon king lurched into buildings and homes, laughing as the peaceful town burned around them.

Towering over his army, Idanac stood and watched as the orders were carried out, fiery red eyes glowed and enjoyed the destruction as his ears filled with screams of the dying within the once green valley.

"He escaped, my lord," the muscled king stated, enormous axe hanging in his right hand.

"Not to worry, he got the message that I wished to send. Leave none alive," the ethereal voice commanded.

"Gladly."