Tower part 8

Well It's up later on Wednesday than I wanted, but better late than never right? Anyways this is part 8 of the Tower story. I'll try to get things up in a more timely manner next time.

Tower part 8

Across the arena a group of armed vampires walked into a large padded booth taking up positions before a white figure walked slowly and gracefully into the booth to sit down. The white figure pulled back the cloth veil to reveal a beautiful woman whose mere presence caused the entire chamber to fall into silence. The woman raised her hand and a loud booming voice told everyone that the auction would begin momentarily.

“Who’s that?” Trell leaned forward to whisper to Kaitlyn.

“Our leader, the White Queen.” Kaitlyn replied simply eyes shifting from the arena floor to the White Queen briefly.

Trell looked across the arena at the White Queen as another woman of equal beauty joined her. There was something about the White Queen that was both entrancing and terrifying. Before he could turn his attention back to the arena floor where the auction was starting Trell found the White Queens gaze on him. Her eyes from across the room where powerful and almost demanded that the person they fell upon speak the utmost truth to her. It was difficult but Trell managed to tear his eyes away from the White Queens powerful gaze and focus on the auction that had now begun.

There was a half naked man that was holding up the first item for sale, a book that had been written some five hundred years before by a monk. Kaitlyn expressed no interest in the book and sat waiting and watching as other people bid for the book. At first Trell couldn’t tell why Kaitlyn had called the auction barbaric. It didn’t seem like there was any strange things happening, but then it happened. The winner of the book descended down a set of stairs to the arena floor to claim his prize and without warning grabbed the slave holding the book and tore into his neck. The book fell from the mans hands but was deftly caught by another vampire standing nearby for just such an occurrence. The auction winner drank his fill from the slave and took the proffered cloth to clean himself with. The scent of blood filled the air as the vampire collected his book and returned to his seat.

“What in the hells was that?” Trell hissed leaning forward to talk to Kaitlyn only to have her shove him back into his seat giving him a very angry look.

“That’s part of the auction.” Selena whispered to Trell. “The winner of the item can do whatever they wish to the slave that holds it.”

“That’s horrible!” Trell said watching two vampires move the slaves body off to one side as another slave came out holding a glass urn.

“It is why Mistress does not like coming to the auctions.” Selena said watching Trell closely to make sure he didn’t do anything foolish.

Trell was about to say something to Kaitlyn when the bidding for the glass urn started. Kaitlyn showed no interest at first, but jumped in when many of the other bidders were shaking their heads at the price. Looking around to where Trell had seen Gelt sit down he found that he wasn’t there, it would seem that Kaitlyn had waited for him to leave before bidding. The bidding war ended with Kaitlyn victorious as was expected, she quickly got up and walked down to the arena floor dragging Trell and Selena with her.

Kaitlyn accepted the urn and handed it to Selena before eying the slave that had been holding it. The girl was young and clearly terrified of what was going to happen to her. Trell wondered if she had seen the other slave get killed before she entered the arena, he hoped not. Kaitlyn seemed to think about what to do with the girl for a moment before holding her hand out to the guard standing by the slave girl. Trell thought Kaitlyn was offering him the girl for some reason and was about to protest when the guard took out a collar and fitted it around the girls neck. He then handed the leash to Kaitlyn who nodded her thanks and led all three of them out of the arena and back towards the outdoors.

Delay

Sorry for the delay, but I will be posting something new on Wednesday. Things tend to get in the way whenever I want to sit down and write some things to post.

Verum post Veritatum
-Botched

Tower Part 7

Trell stepped out into the sunlight guided by the metallic leash that was attached to his collar. The leash was made of the same material as the collar, supple and stretchy like fine leather, but as strong as steel. Standing next to him with her eyes glued to the ground in front of her was the maid Selena. By the look of it she was used to being led around by Kaitlyn. Shifting his gaze from Selena he took in the city of Triest.

It was a magnificent city with stone buildings that were tall and intricately designed. Trell had been to the city near his home once before, but it was not nearly as grand as this. People were bustling about ignoring the large floating tower that had set down next to the city. Feeling a yank on his leash he obediently walked down the staircase leading from the tower to the edge of the city. It was then that he realized that the tower had not actually landed next to the city, rather it had docked with the city as it floated. Another yank on his leash nearly sent him tumbling forward. Kaitlyn was indicating that his time of admiring Triest had come to an end.

“Don’t make eye contact with anyone but the pets and slaves here.” Selena whispered to Trell keeping her eyes firmly on the ground.

“What would happen if I did?” Trell asked glancing around and finding many of the people that he had seen were either carrying leashes like Kaitlyn or were collared and leashed like he was.

“Bad things. Please don’t do it.” Selena whispered keeping her eyes low and focusing on keeping the steady pace Kaitlyn had set.

Trell wanted to defy the advice that Selena had given him, but he could feel his strength drain from the simple task of walking. From time to time he snuck a glance at the others that were in the same predicament he was. Every time he regretted doing so, many were very thin and the look in their eyes told him that they had been broken. He imagined that when they looked at him they were reminded of what they once were, strong, proud and defiant. All of which was stripped from them over the years until they were nothing but the husks he saw now.

When Kaitlyn came to an abrupt halt Trell nearly ran into her back, but Selena grabbed him before the collision occurred. Looking past Kaitlyn he found a large building with dark red flags hanging in front of it obscuring any and all entrances. Kaitlyn looked at the building for a moment before beginning her ascent up the stairs towards the dark red flags.

“Kaitlyn my dear. What brings you to Triest?” A vampire in a nice black suit said appearing from behind one of the dark red flags. Trell looked over him without making contact with the vampire’s eyes.

“Oh I’m just here for the auction Gelt.” Kaitlyn said turning to look at the vampire with an obvious look of disgust. “Where are your pets today? Dead again?”

“They just don’t last like they used to.” Gelt replied waving his hand as if they were insignificant. “I don’t see you at auctions very often.”

“My pets tend to last a long time.” Kaitlyn said off-handedly as she walked past Gelt to move aside one of the dark red flags to see a set of dark red double doors.

“As I recall you called the auctions ‘barbaric’.” Gelt said following her to the door and proceeding to make a move to open it.

Trell got there first and yanked one of the doors open for Kaitlyn much to her surprise. He didn’t like her because of what she did to him, but he knew that he liked this other vampire less. He had encountered people like Gelt in his childhood and never liked them.

“Your pet is well trained.” Gelt said glaring at Trell who kept his eyes locked firmly on the ground.

“Yes he is.” Kaitlyn said glancing at Trell and motioning him to follow her inside and not hold the door for Gelt. “I still do believe these auctions are barbaric, but an item has come on the market that I cannot pass up.”

After Selena made her way inside Trell stopped holding the door to go inside nearly letting it slam on Gelt who flashed him an angry look. Trell ignored Gelt and followed closely behind Kaitlyn wondering why these auctions were so barbaric. A part of him knew that he didn’t really want to know the answer to that question.

Beyond the doors was a large lobby full of vampires and their pets talking or waiting for the next auction to start. A sign over a stairwell told him that the next auction would begin in ten minutes. Trell was startled when he heard a loud snap as a vampire off to his left broke his slaves arm. He could overhear the man telling his slave that it was the lowest form of punishment for disobedience. The leash attached to his collar was the only thing that kept Trell from walking over and getting the vampire to stop. Judging by the fierce tug on the leash, Trell guessed that Kaitlyn had noticed his intentions.

“What item are you looking to bid upon?” Gelt asked trying to resurrect the conversation they had been having just moments before.

“If I told you that then you would get into a bidding war with me for the sheer fun of it.” Kaitlyn replied not even bothering to look at Gelt when he spoke to her.

“Can I help it that you are being so resistant to my charms?” Gelt asked as they reached the red carpeted stairs and began to ascend. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

“No.” Was the reply from Kaitlyn, equally blunt and cold at the same time. She sounded bored, as if she had done this whole dance one too many times and judging by Gelt’s words she had.

“You know I won’t stop asking until you accept.” Gelt replied without missing a beat.

“And I won’t stop saying no until you leave me alone.” Kaitlyn responded in the same bored tone as before at which Gelt just sighed. They had reached the top of the stairs and were now looking down on what looked like an arena of some kind. “If you will excuse me.”

Gelt only nodded as Kaitlyn led Trell and Selena off to one side of the arena to a section of reserved seats. When Kaitlyn sat down in one of them Selena immediately took the seat behind her. Trell sat down next to Kaitlyn looking at the rough stone walls of the arena and the bloodstains that adorned them. The stains were old, but it told him that something messy happened in the arena on a regular basis.

“This isn’t a good time to act defiant.” Kaitlyn said motioning for Trell to move to the other seat behind her.

“Why does Gelt want to have dinner with you so badly?” Trell asked curious and enjoying the slight annoyance he was causing Kaitlyn.

“That is none of your concern. If you do not move to your proper place behind me I will be forced to punish you in public.” Kaitlyn said the annoyance in her voice was growing stronger. “I do not wish to do such a thing, so move back.”

Trell looked at the serious look on Kaitlyn’s face and decided that he didn’t want to push her too far right now. Getting up he moved to the seat behind her to find a worried looking Selena sitting next to him. He nodded knowing what she would tell him, not to aggravate her while he was still weak. 

Verum post Veritatum

-Botched88

Tower part 6

Kaitlyn rang the bell once more waiting patiently for her maid to arrive. Moments later she came in out of breath and curtseying before standing still waiting for orders. Kaitlyn looked the girl up and down, she still marveled that after four years in her service the girl’s spirit had not yet been broken. Usually they would last for a year or two before killing themselves or becoming so distraught that they couldn’t perform the simplest of tasks. This girl however had walked into the tower with her head held high and never let it drop, Kaitlyn liked that about her.

“How is my pet doing?” Kaitlyn asked lounging about on the couch.

“He has just woken up and is eating.” Selena said maintaining eye contact with Kaitlyn.

“Excellent. We will be setting down soon in the city of Triest.” Kaitlyn said looking out the window at the looming towers of the city. “I want him to be ready for a trip through the city.”

“Yes mistress.” Selena said curtseying again before turning around to leave and find Trell.

“One more thing.” Kaitlyn said waiting for Selena to turn around. “You will be joining us as well. Make sure both the collars and leashes are prepared.”

“Yes mistress.” Selena said in an almost uncaring voice, but a quick flash of emotion on her face betrayed her. She was frightened, and Kaitlyn knew it.

Trell had finished his meal by the time Selena came in again, he watched her as she nervously approached the bed. She was holding something behind her back, almost as if it was some kind of gift. There was something different about her, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. After a few moments of nervous silence on her part Trell cleared his throat and she jumped slightly.

“We will be setting down in the city of Triest in a few minutes.” Selena said nervously running her fingers over the collar held behind her back. “The mistress will be taking us into the city.”

“And?” Trell said sensing that there was something more. The knot in his stomach told him that whatever she wasn’t telling him wasn’t good.

“You need to wear this.” Selena said bringing the collar out from behind her back and showing it to Trell.

The collar looked like it was made of leather at first, but the material caught the light and Trell saw that it was metal of some kind. Fashioned in the same way as a collar for a pet with etchings to make it look fancy as well as identifying who the owner was. After staring at the collar for a second Trell realized what was different about Selena, she was wearing one as well.

“I am not wearing a collar.” Trell growled getting up and fighting back the dizziness that came with his abrupt rising. “I am not some kind of pet!”

“I’m sorry, but you must.” Selena said backing off a little at the anger that was coming off of Trell.

“I told you I am no pet!” Trell yelled feeling all of the anger he had had the previous day return tenfold.

“Yes you are.” Kaitlyn said walking into the room with her whip curled around her waist like a dormant snake. “Be a good pet and put on the collar.”

“No!” Trell growled directing his attention to Kaitlyn now. Balling up his fists he readied himself to strike before she could uncurl that whip of hers.

“Please don’t.” Selena said rushing forward to stop Trell from attacking. “You don’t have the strength to fight her now. Please just do as she asks.” She whispered to him as she brought the collar up towards his neck.

As angry as Trell was and as much as he wanted to kill Kaitlyn, he knew that Selena was right. As it was he might have enough strength to swing at her once, after that he would be at her mercy once again. He bowed his head letting Selena slide the collar around his neck and felt a mixture of anger and shame as the collar snapped shut. He was now a pet to Kaitlyn, but even pets could find a way to harm their owner. That thought was what was going to keep him going through it all, he would get his chance to attack and kill her. He just needed to wait.

Verum post Veritatum

-Botched

Tower part 5

I would first like to remind everyone that anything you read here is my own thoughts and stories unedited and raw. Not that I don't think you would imagine otherwise from the sometimes horrifying grammar and typos, but I figured I'd say it anyways.

Tower part 5
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Tossing and turning as memories of his family and his home, Trell awoke to find himself in a strange bed. His neck throbbed as he turned to see one of the maids he saw earlier sitting by his bedside nearly asleep herself. Sitting up and feeling the pain in his neck he groaned before reaching his hand to gingerly touch the bandage that covered the wound Kaitlyn had given him.

“Don’t touch it!” The maid said reaching out to grab Trell’s arm. “Removing the bandage may cause it to start bleeding again.”

“How long have I been out?” Trell asked trying very hard to not touch the bandage. A rumbling in his stomach made him think that he had been out for more than an hour or two.

“Three days.” The maid said standing up and walking to the ornate door. “I will fetch you some food.”

Three days. The thought of being out for three days was enough to keep him from realizing what had happened to him for a moment. The maid returned with a tray of food just as he remembered where he was and what had happened to him. Kaitlyn was a vampire, a creature out of stories told by the local bard of dark times. He had never thought they could be real or that he would ever meet one. Or he thought bitterly be enslaved by one. Looking at the food that was fit for a lord didn’t raise his desire to eat any of it, not anymore.

“You should eat.” The maid said pushing the tray forward.

“I don’t really feel like eating right now.” He said turning his head away from the food to examine his prison.

The bed that he had slept in was enormous with very soft silken sheets, he quickly stopped himself from admitting that it was a very nice bed. On the walls hung paintings and rugs with foreign designs on them, he had never seen such things before. How many slaves like him had stared in awe at all of this he thought bitterly.

“Please you will need your strength.” The maid said standing up and watching him survey the room with a frown on his face.

“I don’t want to simply be fattened up for her enjoyment.” Trell said with conviction that quickly faded as he felt himself grow dizzy. Nearly falling over he felt the maids rough yet gentle hands catch him and guide him back to the bed and the plate of food.

“If you don’t eat then you will die and she will find another.” The maid said offering the tray of food once again.

“I suppose I will need my strength to escape.” Trell said feeling his resolve begin to crumble. He wasn’t going to be broken by the vampire so easily, no he would fight her and escape. He brushed aside the notion that it was what every slave that had been here thought. “I won’t let anyone else get taken.”

The maid opened her mouth to say something when a bell somewhere in the castle rang and she took off running in the direction of the sound. Trell watched her go before digging into the plate of meat, cheese and bread before him. It was delicious even though he didn’t want it to be, he would rather it taste like ash so that he would not enjoy it. It wasn’t long before he finished the plate of food and decided to look around the castle for a possible exit.

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Will our hero escape the vampire ruled floating tower? Find out next Monday in part 6...

Verum post Veritatum
-Botched

The trip that inspired the restart

I recently traveled to St. Louis, Missouri to visit my penpal of the last couple of years. I decided to go by train to avoid the hassle of airport security and because I've never traveled by train before. The journey was long and arduous, but well worth it. I was finally able to meet my penpal in person for the first time and see the city of St. Louis. During my stay there my penpal reminded me that I have not posted on this blog in quite some time. I was wondering if anyone ever read any of my few ramblings, apparently there was one or two. With that in mind and with the hope that trying to keep up my blog it will help me continue to write. So this will just be a note that I am restarting this blog and will hopefully update it at least once a week with writing samples and random musings on life, the universe and everything. Bonus points to anyone that knows that reference.

All the luck in the world
-Botched

The Perfect Pint

The Perfect Pint

My friend is a homebrewer and a beer enthusiast, when he drinks a beer he can tell you of the great many minor tastes that have so far mostly escaped my notice. He had been telling me to come over and help brew a batch of beer, but I had put it off for various reasons that is until last saturday. I went over to my friends house to get a lesson on brewing beer. Like many people my knowledge of the process of brewing beer was limited at best. I also made a mistake in my assumption that homebrewing was something similar to baking. You put together the ingredients and wait while it "bakes", but in this I was dead wrong. My friend took me on a journey through the process of making a batch of beer and when the ended my journey I found something I didn't expect. Every step of the process he walked me through like a master showing his apprentice what he would learn over his stay. With his instructions we began to craft a drink that at some point I hope to try. Mixing ingredients in one pot and transferring it into another pot for a brief stay over the fire made me think I was watching a modern day apothecary at work. Unlike an apothecary he was not making this to cure a cold or stop a headache, but to drink for the sheer pleasure of it. Finally showing me some of the different styles of beer he explained that homebrewing was not just about the brewing but about patience. The sour beers he showed me needed to be aged for years to achieve thier best flavor. As he had said, homebrewing was truly a mix of science and art and I was watching a master of it. After the lesson was all said and done we sat back to have a couple of beers while watching the world go by on his back porch. For a time as we sat there it was if the world around us had stopped, that nothing was happening outside what we saw. We talked for a while about his blog and the quest for the Perfect Pint. That's what he said was part of homebrewing, to work your entire life towards that goal of perfection and know you will never achieve it. Sitting there with him enjoying a few beers I came to a realization about the Perfect Pint. It's not just about how enjoyable the beer is or the complex mixture of flavors and aromas, it's about the people you enjoy it with. In my mind at least, that very afternoon we shared the perfect pint as we sat there. It was an experience that I shall treasure and never forget. Nor is it a memory that will ever slip from my mind, a Perfect Pint with a great friend.

Here's to great friends and the quest for the Perfect pint!