Rise of Saerloth Melrethis II (Preview)
Author - Oerath Windsoul
Written on - Sunday 4th November 2012 (09:05pm)
Alright, folks. I posted this one some months back, but it never did get recognized in any way, I think. So, I'd like to upload it as a journal entry. This is a small part of what will become my first official novella. I've written many, many longer works in the past, but none of those have been more than 5-7 pages long.
The idea is original, the tale works finely and I've already written some material. I'm progressing slowly due to school, irl stuff, gaming etc; but I think I can get all planned 20-30 pages done, before the new year is at hand.
I'll keep this journal up for 30 days, though if people want it to be left as it is, I may do that.
This is all due to the fact that I might try to publish the novella as a whole, when the writing process is complete.
Now, here you go.
Rise of Saerloth Melrethis II, Lord of the Dead
'There are many evils in this world. Some of them are visible through the eyes of mortals, but some of them.. Remain.. Unseen. Vampires are one of these unseen evils. Their race is not a myth, 'cause they've existed among us for a very long time. And the first vampire ever to exist was Lord Saerloth Melrethis II.. He died to a rare plague, and by dying, he became a vampire. And some people say that he's still out there.. Somewhere. Hiding in the shadows.'
This story tells about Lord Saerloth and about the day, when his life changed forever. It was his 39th birthday. And he wasn't celebrating it alone.
13th of May, 1737
Melrethis' Family Castle
Transylvania, Romania
Chapter I : A well-kept secret
It had been a splendid evening. Lord Saerloth watched through the windows of his dining room, as his quests slowly headed back to their chariots. Five chariots and five rider's stood near the gates of Melrethis' Family Castle. One for each of the visitors, or in this case, one for each couple.
Saerloth sipped last bits of wine from his glass, then he smiled and thought: 'What a nice day to spend one's birthday, and this night.. It definitely marks the magnificence of this day. It truly does..'
Then he turned around and shouted for Rosánn, his only waitress, one of the few servants of the house. Rosánn ran swiftly from the kitchen, and said: 'You called, my lord.'
By smiling slightly at her, he handed over his empty wineglass and said: 'Rosánn, take this glass to the kitchen, and oh, there's no need to wash the dishes this evening. I'd like you to take rest of the day off. You've truly earned it.'
Rosánn wasn't believing her ears. Lord Saerloth giving rest of the day off? Well, she surely didn't mind, and by bowing to his lord, she said: 'Thank you, my lord. You're all too kind, and oh, congratulations about the birthday.'
By cleaning his throat, Saerloth looked at her surprisingly and said. 'Yes, yes, khröm.. Thank you, Rosánn.. Go now. I do not tend to repeat my words.'
'Yes, my lord.' - And then she left. By walking down the long entrance hall, she thought: 'That Saerloth Melrethis. He sure is a strange man, but a handsome man at that, I must say.'
And so, she took her coat and opened the heavy front doors of the castle. Some snow blew in, as she shut the door behind her, and then made her way down the slippery and icy stairs.
Lord Saerloth watched as his waitress staggered a bit and fell down on the snowy ground, before finishing last steps of the stairs. She noticed that he was watching, and by smiling and waving her right hand at Saerloth, she opened the gates and left. Saerloth laughed a bit and thought: 'That Rosánn.. She surely is a bit clumsy, but she's an elegant woman, and a beautiful one at that, but oh, I must hurry. My research and studies cannot wait.'
So, he headed to the living room, where a very high bookshelf stood proudly in the corner, among with armored statues and rare and old paintings. And by putting out all of the candles, he ensured that none saw him doing what he was about to do. He reached for the highest shelf, and took off a large and black book, and then he pulled some sort of lever, and suddenly, the bookshelf moved and formed a narrow passage, leading to the attic of Melrethis' Family Castle.
Saerloth took an old candelabrum off the table, lighted all of it's candles, and closed the secret passage behind him. Then he pointed the candlelight at the wooden stairs and slowly climbed up. It was dark in there, just as always. And by pulling a strange switch, the room got filled with light. I wish you were there, then you could've seen all of those worktables, full of alchemy supplies, test tubes, different chemicals and other ingredients. And all of those bookshelves, full of historical, alchemical and other important and knowledgeable books. And at the far end of the room, lied the most precious table of all; an expensive wooden table with all of it's archives and secrets, all of it primly locked behind various drawer's.
This was Saerloth's secret Alchemy and Study Chambers, and none else knew about the existence of that place, not even his other family members, nor his closest friends. It was a secret that Saerloth wanted to keep, all the way to his cold grave. And that place was a well-kept secret for a good reason..
Because.. In that dark chamber, he did research and experiments about things that were highly forbidden during those times, and that thing has not changed. Lord Saerloth Melrethis II was a wise, gracious and noble man, but he had one secret that made all other secrets pale in comparison to his.
His only secret and his only obsession in his life was to find a way.. To become a vampire. An immortal being. A true lord of the night. A true lord of the dead..
And Saerloth was ready to do anything to achieve his ultimate goal.. For the sake of his obsession and secret, he would be ready to do anything.. Even if it meant that he would have to.. Kill.. Someone..
Written by: Otto 'Oerath Windsoul' Timonen
