Sarpen

"Where is my mother?" The words were spoken devoid of any emotion. By the shocked look on Cerubian's face, he had no idea whom he was fucking. "Go tend to my horse I need to speak to my mother in private."

His hands were trembling, it has been years since he has laid eyes on his mother. Father strictly forbid it after her infidelity, but father was in no condition to ride a horse and some messages can not be sent by post.

Sarpen held the letter tightly wishing to be rid of it as fast as possible and out of this place. So he can store his mother and her disgrace to the furthest reaches of his memory.

She emerged from her sleeping chamber looking the part of an austere holy woman. This charade might fool everybody else, but Sarpen knew the true extent of mommy's deceptions.

She used this convent as a base of operations, moving whatever chess pieces she still controls. "Hello son, it has been too long, you should visit your mother in this prison your father and uncle built for me more often" she spoke tersely.

"This place and all it represents sickens me I wish to be gone as soon as possible" Sarpen was trying very hard to keep his emotions in check. His mother was an intimidating presence; he always felt like a little helpless boy around her. He reached for the security of his Colt, which was strapped to the inside of his jacket.

"I received news of the wedding, it saddened me that I was not able to witness my son's happy day. How is the bride is she a lovely girl?"

"Pfft she is a Jew, but she is pretty enough I guess, and her father gave me this" Sarpen pulled the gun from its hiding place, hoping he could alarm her.

But to his disappointment she didn't even flinch, she just casually took it from his grasp to inspect the workmanship.

"American made! They know their firearms, this must have cost a small fortune. So it looks like your father in law is a wealthy Jew." She stated with admiration.

"Mother drop the bullshit I know you were the instigator behind the arrangement. My wife even told me it was your idea to win me over with the Colt." Sarpen turned away from her suddenly embarrassed.

"Sarpen, my love! You know I only want you to be happy. Your father never had the head for strategy. Which is why it's surprising the idiots named him The Postnelic. Maybe deep down they knew I was the only qualified person for the position. Heaven forbid a woman be given such a prestigious position."

"My wife...", Sarpen found himself struggling with words at the moment. "Has been given an education" the last word spoken with disgust, laced with venom.

"Good for her! That is one of the reasons I chose her, a man can only truly be great with a strong woman behind him"

"Hmmmph"

"You will see in time what an asset she will be. Now why don't you tell me the REAL reason you are here? Certainly not to escort a wayward soldier home"

"The blood cult, who are they? What do they want? What is your connection to them?" Sarpen asked but was not entirely certain if he wanted to hear the answers.

"You think I have something to do with them? I am hurt Sarpen" mock indignation displayed on her holy face.

"Mother your web is spun through every corner of Romania. The Danubian Sich is practically run from here" Sarpen declared this bombshell lugubriously.

Mother Talyssa whistled as a response, "okay, I might have accidentally encouraged them. At the time I thought they were a simple Druidic sect. They are called Copiii Sângelui meaning Children of the Blood. If I knew what kind of zealots they were I would left them in Transylvania."

"From what Cerubian told me, they carry a mummified corpse of an infant. Most likely the second child of the one and only Vlad Tepes. Rumour has it that before attacking the Ottomans Vlad was sent a vision. In this Vision it was prophesied that in order to obtain victory in battle; he must sacrifice his newly born son Justin in a vat of blood."

"Vlad's wife Justina never forgave him for this act, she stole the tiny body away. She told the monks she entrusted the babe with to protect it with their lives."

"Vlad was outraged by this deception and attacked the monastery and burned it to the ground, slaughtering everyone inside."

"But the few remaining monks exacted revenge by luring Vlad into a trap; where they stabbed him to death and bathed the child's body in his father's blood."

Sarpen listened to this tale in silence , by the time Talyssa finished she disappeared into a blurry haze. A single tear fell from his cheek on to the gun he was holding....He then pulled the trigger.