Alistair stood motionless for a moment, his senses reaching out to ensure no other demonic presences lingered. Satisfied that the immediate threat had passed, he allowed himself a moment of reflection.
The encounter had been brief but telling. The demons were growing bolder, testing the boundaries between worlds. His awakening had clearly sent ripples through the supernatural realms, alerting both allies and enemies to his return.
As Alistair stood at the forest's edge, contemplating the implications of the demonic incursion, a soft rustle in the underbrush caught his attention. His silver eyes narrowed, focusing on a patch of shadows that seemed darker than the rest.
"Come out," he commanded, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of authority. "I know you're there."
For a moment, nothing moved. Then, with a grace that rivaled Alistair's own, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was a woman, tall and lithe, with skin as pale as moonlight and eyes that gleamed with an otherworldly intelligence.
"My lord," she said, dropping into a low bow. "Forgive my intrusion. I am Selene, one of the few of our kind who remained awake during your long slumber."
Alistair regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "Selene," he repeated, testing the name. "And how is it that you managed to evade the great sleep that claimed so many of our kind?"
Selene straightened, meeting Alistair's gaze with a confidence that spoke of centuries of existence. "I was tasked with maintaining a vigil, my lord. A small group of us were chosen to remain awake, to watch over the sleeping ancients and guard against any threats that might arise."
Alistair's silver eyes narrowed slightly. "Chosen by whom? I have no memory of sanctioning such a group."
"By the Council of Elders, my lord," Selene replied. "In the final days before the great sleep, when it became clear that our kind needed to retreat from the world, the Council made provisions for a select few to remain."
Alistair's eyes flashed with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion. "The Council of Elders," he mused. "I was not aware they had taken such measures. Tell me, Selene, what else did this Council decide in my absence?"
Selene hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "The Council sought to preserve our kind, my lord. They foresaw a time when humanity's growing power and our dwindling numbers would force us into hiding. The great sleep was meant to be a temporary measure, allowing us to weather the storm of human expansion and technological advancement."
Alistair's expression remained impassive, but his mind raced with the implications. "And how many of our kind remain awake?"
"A few hundred at most, scattered across the globe," Selene replied. "We have maintained a network of safe houses and hidden enclaves, preserving our ancient knowledge and keeping watch for signs of your awakening."
Alistair nodded slowly, processing this information. "And the rest of our kind? Those who entered the great sleep?"
Selene's expression grew somber. "Many still slumber, my lord. Some... did not survive the centuries. The locations of the sleeping ancients have been fiercely guarded secrets, known only to a select few."
Alistair's voice carried a dangerous edge as he spoke, saying, "I understand now. But why was I attacked immediately upon waking up?"
Selene's eyes widened slightly at Alistair's question, a flicker of concern passing across her features. "Attacked, my lord? By whom?"
Alistair's silver eyes narrowed. "A group of priests and warriors, led by one Father Ignatius. They spoke of ancient prophecies and seemed intent on destroying me. You claim to have been watching for signs of my awakening, yet you were unaware of this threat?"
Selene's expression hardened, a flash of anger crossing her face. "The Crimson Dawn," she hissed. "They are a splinter group, my lord. Fanatics who broke away from the main body of watchers centuries ago. They believe that the awakening of the ancients will bring about the end times."
Alistair raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't think this information might be relevant to share immediately?"
Selene bowed her head, a mixture of shame and frustration evident in her posture. "Forgive me, my lord. I should have mentioned them immediately. The Crimson Dawn has been a thorn in our side for centuries, but we believed we had neutralized most of their leadership. It seems they were more resilient than we anticipated."
Alistair's eyes sparked with anger. "I thought they had won the war thousands of years ago. How is it possible that you have managed to defeat them?"
Selene's eyes widened in surprise at Alistair's words. "Defeated them? My lord, I fear there has been a grave misunderstanding. The Crimson Dawn never won any war against our kind. They are a relatively recent faction, formed from human zealots who learned fragments of our true history."
Alistair's face twisted into a scowl, his silver eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. "Are you telling me the Crimson Dawn isn't affiliated with the Great Cathedral?"
Selene's expression shifted to one of confusion and concern. "The Great Cathedral? My lord, I'm not familiar with that name. The Crimson Dawn is a rogue human organization, formed only a few centuries ago. They have no connection to any ancient conflicts between our kind and humanity."
Alistair's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and realization. "It seems I have been gravely misled," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "The group that attacked me upon my awakening claimed to be from an organization that had defeated our kind millennia ago. They spoke of buried histories and ancient conflicts."
Selene shook her head, her brow furrowed. "My lord, I assure you, no such defeat occurred. Our kind chose to enter the great sleep voluntarily, to weather the storm of human expansion and technological advancement. The history this group spoke of... it must be a fabric
"The history this group spoke of... it must be a fabrication," Selene said, her voice laced with concern. "My lord, it seems you were deliberately fed false information upon your awakening."
Alistair's expression darkened, his silver eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "Explain," he commanded, his voice carrying an undercurrent of danger.
Selene took a deep breath before continuing. "The group that attacked you - they were not representatives of some ancient order that defeated our kind. They were likely members of the Crimson Dawn, a fanatical human organization that has pieced together fragments of our true history and twisted it to fit their own narrative."
She paused, gauging Alistair's reaction before pressing on. "They must have known of your awakening and sought to manipulate you from the very beginning. By presenting themselves as victors of an ancient conflict, they hope
Alistair's face twisted with fury as his vampiric features emerged, fangs elongating and eyes glinting with a bloodthirsty desire. "But how could they wield magic?" he demanded. "In ancient times, it was said that only the Great Cathedral was capable of harnessing its power."
Selene's eyes widened in surprise at Alistair's reaction. "Magic, my lord? The Crimson Dawn should not have access to true magical abilities. They may use tricks and illusions to mimic magical effects, but..."
She trailed off, her expression growing grave. "Unless... unless they have somehow acquired genuine artifacts or knowledge from our ancient past. This is deeply troubling."
Alistair's fury seemed to radiate from him in palpable waves, causing the shadows around them to writhe and dance. "Troubling indeed," he snarled. "I was manipulated, fed false information from the moment of my awakening. And now you tell me these humans may wield powers they should not possess."
With a sharp look, he focused his gaze on Selene. "If your watchers have been guarding our secrets for centuries," he asked, "how is it that they allowed this information to be revealed?"
Selene's expression grew more troubled. "My lord, I fear the situation may be even more complex than we realized. If the Crimson Dawn has indeed acquired genuine magical artifacts or knowledge, it suggests a serious breach in our security measures."
She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "There is... another possibility. One that I hesitate to voice, but which we must consider. Is it possible that your memories of the ancient times, of this Great Cathedral, may have been... altered during your long slumber?"
Alistair's eyes flashed dangerously at the suggestion. "You dare to question the veracity of my memories?"
Selene stood her ground, although her stance showed a slight sense of fear. "Please forgive me, my lord. The great slumber was not without its dangers. Some of our kind woke with... missing pieces in their memories. Others with recollections that were fragmented."
Alistair's rage flared at Selene's suggestion, his form seeming to grow larger as shadows writhed around him. "You overstep, Selene," he snarled, his voice resonating with otherworldly power. "My memories are intact. The Great Cathedral was real, its power unmatched in the ancient world."
Selene took an involuntary step back, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. "Forgive me, my lord. I meant no offense. But if what you say is true, then we face a far greater threat than we realized."
Alistair's anger subsided slightly, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "Indeed. If these Crimson Dawn fanatics have somehow acquired true magical artifacts or knowledge from our past, the balance of power has shifted dramatically."
Alistair began to pace, his movements fluid and predatory. "Tell me everything you know about the Crimson Dawn," he commanded. "Their origins, their methods, their current strength. Leave nothing out."
Selene nodded, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "The Crimson Dawn first appeared about three centuries ago. They started as a small cult, led by a man who claimed to have uncovered ancient texts speaking of vampires and other supernatural creatures. At first, they were dismissed as madmen and fanatics."
She paused, her expression darkening. "But over time, they grew in both numbers and influence. They began acquiring artifacts and texts of genuine power, though we never understood how they located them. Their ranks swelled with zealots who believed vampires were demons sent to destroy humanity."
Alistair's eyes narrowed. "And your watchers did nothing to stop this?"
Selene's expression hardened. "We did not remain idle, my lord. We have waged a silent war against the Crimson Dawn for centuries, sabotaging their efforts and eliminating key members when possible. But they proved remarkably resilient, always seeming to have another layer of leadership ready to step in."
She hesitated before continuing. "There were... suspicions among some of our watchers that the Crimson Dawn may have had inside help. That perhaps one of our own kind was feeding them information."
Alistair's eyes flashed dangerously. "A traitor among us?"
Selene nodded gravely. "It was never confirmed, but it would explain how they acquired certain knowledge and artifacts. We've been searching for any sign of betrayal within our ranks, but if such a traitor exists, they have covered their tracks well."
Alistair resumed his pacing, his mind racing with the implications of Selene's words. A traitor among their kind, feeding information to human zealots - it was almost unthinkable. And yet, it would explain much about the Crimson Dawn's unexpected capabilities.
"This changes everything," he murmured, his silver eyes gleaming in the darkness. "If there is indeed a traitor among us, they must be rooted out and dealt with swiftly."
He turned to Selene, his gaze piercing. "Gather your most trusted watchers. We must convene a council of our own. It's time to bring the full might of our kind to bear against this threat."
Selene nodded, a look of grim determination on her face. "It will be done, my lord. But what of the other ancients still in slumber? Should we not awaken them as well?"