Lacrimosa dies illa

Qua resurget ex favilla

Judicandus homo reus.

Huic ergo parce, Deus:

Pie Jesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem. Amen.

But how does one judge the undead? There you go again, restless child of oblivion, taking away the simple pleasures of the Lord. Was it  not enough for you to sleep endlessly? Was it not enough to live more than several lifetimes. Ungrateful child of the night, it is not that master you serve but remember - a woman will never be God.

Still gonna work on it or write a better one eventually. This does not showcase that seamlessness, brutality or kinetic fluidity I wanted to get across or the way that these guys are in sync with each other. Doesn't highlight the small differences in how they fight as well. Ah, well. Next time. Must stop writing at the wee hours of dawn.

This is actually an absolutely beautiful traditional Hungarian National song written by Sándor Petofi (1823-1849). I used it in a thread but just wanted to share it here. I'll change a few words around because I'm going to have it as the anthem/prayer/song/oath of Amelia's Royal Knights. Just continuing to develop the Knights since they weren't even in the movie but are apparently in the canon (third times a charm?). *Still working on the modified version.

Rise up, Magyar, the country calls!
It's 'now or never' what fate befalls...
Shall we live as slaves or free men?
That's the question - choose your 'Amen"!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

For up till now we lived like slaves,
Damned lie our forefathers in their graves -
They who lived and died in freedom
Cannot rest in dusts of thraldom.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

A coward and a lowly bastard
Is he, who dares not raise the standard -
He whose wretched life is dearer
Than the coven's sacred honor.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Sabers outshine chaine and fetters,
It's the sword that one's arm betters.
Yet we wear grim chains and shackles.
Swords, slash through damned manacles!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Magyar's name will tell the story
Worthy of our erstwhile glory
we must wash off - fiercely cleansing
Centuries of shame and condensing.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Where our grave-mounds bulge and huddle
Our grandson will kneel and cuddle,
While in grateful prayer they mention
All our sainted names' ascension.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Lothoro’s fist slammed into the metal and glass gates covering the main door. Running a hand through his hair, the highlights glimmering off of the usually caramel covered hue seemed to shine more red. Glaring over the security panel he considered showing it what he felt about its insolence. Kicking at the door once in anger,  he looked out of the black tinted window barely making out anything outside.

“Lothoro, thank you for testing our security system but we had already made sure that the glass and metal could withstand a great deal of force.” Matayas piped in sarcastically as he folded his arms across his chest. Lothoro looked back and paced in front in front of the door in short strides like a panther, which was desperately trying to get out of a gilded gold cage.

“Open it,” commanded Lothoro, the patience clearly gone from his voice. Matayas glared at him from under scolding eyes. He, too, was not in the mood to deal with these matters. It did not take long for him to realize, however, that this was his brother-in-arms and he was in also in pain, though he masked it well under layers of anger and the need to act quickly to alleviate the situation.

“To what end, Lothoro? The sun has come up. She is not your ally and would consume you in the time it took for you to reach the gates of the manor.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat. “Selene is not in the manor. I must talk to her. I must make sure that she is alright under the circumstances and that the thing which held her mind does not come back to take her. Not to mention, brother, that I must go figure out what actually held her mind.”

Matayas put out his hand in a ‘stop’ position in front of him. “And none of those things will transpire if you are dead.”

The pent up frustration was written in shades of red on Lothoro’s face. Cursing his disease, he sighed deeply to try to clear his mind.

“Lothoro, Amelia had Selene’s mobile number. The phone is most likely in her room on the dresser closest to the door. Get it. Call Selene. Tell her what you will. Then, go to the library and see what our books say about this.”

He was giving him something to do knowing that the knight needed to act and that he would not be content waiting for the sun to die for the night. Softly bowing his head, Lothoro's heavy boots thundered up the stairs and walked into Amelia’s wing without looking around. His hand swiped at the dresser, grabbed the phone and he stormed back out and made a beeline for his chambers. Flipping the phone open, he searched the numbers on Amelia’s phone. He dared not think of the elder. Not now. Not yet. Selene.

His eyes landed on the still rumpled sheets on his bed. The scent of her lightly wafted out through the air, possessing his own soul. Yet, she had that along time ago.

“Sir!” Christian, the Death Dealer in charge of the security camera’s thundered into his room. “Sir, I am with you!”

He didn’t turn around to face the Death Dealer. “With me?” His husky voice was low as he paid the Death Dealer less then a ounce of attention as his eyes lingered his bed.

“Yes. I saw everything, Lothoro. Everything! We must hunt her and bring her back to face our good justice. Finally! We have her for her crimes. She will surely burn for them.” Lothoro considered what the fine Death Dealer said. “Hunt her?” He pressed his lips together as if in thought. “Well, that’s a bit of a problem.”

“Lothoro?” Confusion spread on the Death Dealer’s face. He didn’t quite get it. Not yet anyway. The knight sighed, closing his eyes before opening them again and focusing on nothing. “Have you told the others?”
“No,” said Christian proudly. “I overheard Matayas’ telling the Thasos that he does not want anyone to know yet.” The Death Dealer chuckled sadly. “I do not know what he hopes to accomplish.”
“That is why you are not a leader Christian, but a follower.”
“Wha-”
The sword was out of its scabbard faster then than a flash of lightening. The sound piercing the heart was enough to make the Knight grimace again but he held the memories fback. He shut out the memory as best he could so that he could do his job. Turning the handle once and keeping the pressure on the gapping wound open while the Death Dealer bled out, was enough to kill the young one.
“I am sorry Christian. Truly.”
It was in his last breath that Christian got a whiff of her. Selene. His eyes screamed ‘traitor’ before they glazed over with death.
The body finally dropped to the ground.
“Damnation.” What now? Eh. It didn’t really matter. Matayas would scold him on the finer points of ‘follow through’ later for sure. But that was later. This was now. Lothoro took one last look at his bed as the images of her softly brought him back to only a short time ago. He picked the number out from mobile phone and dialed from the phone in the library. The last thing he wanted was to have Selene’s phone flash with the name ‘Amelia’ on it. He got a voicemail. Sometimes he really hated technology, enough to throw it across the room. Amelia used to laugh at his impat-

No. Not yet. Honour her memory by catching her killer. Clear Selene’s name and help Matayas. Help your family.

When he got the annoying beep he sighed letting the words carry him forward. “’I have loved you for so long, my goddess. I will continue to love you until time stops.’” He quoted himself from the time they were together. “Nothing has changed that. Nothing at all. Forgive me, my love, as I cannot stay here and wait for answers. I am stubborn, like you, and must go find them for myself. Selene…I know you ache, please call me. To know that you are out there, hurting, and not to be able to be there is a crueler fate than looking upon Hades himself.”

He left his own number and hung up.

***Later that day, still no sleep***

The book, older than he in years, flew across the room and hit the ancient red wood oak bookcase which tethered dangerously on its outer edge before slamming back down on its flat base.

“What good are these books if they do not tell me what I wish to know?”

Throwing on his long leather brown coat, he looked menacingly at the black sun setting through the black volcanic-like glass.

“Alright girl, it’s you and me. Be gentle, it’s my first time.” The look on his face was menacing, but he could not wait a moment longer. As he walked passed the dark window he noticed that Matayas’ car was gone. “When? How the hell? Well, he could at least offered me a ride,” he quipped to himself. The body on the floor of his room was also gone. Matayas knew the layout of the mansion and its hidden passages better than most. “Ah. Now I see. Best be going then. He won’t be in the best of moods when he gets back.”

Walking though the tunnels to the garage, he wished he had parked his car in it. Would have made more sense. The sun was creeping away but still shun on his car as if daring him to make a move. He walked forward bravely into the shadows as the sun retreated but stopped at the edge where it still kissed the ground.

“Taking your time this evening, are you?” He seethed at it. Waiting. Then he spotted Thasos’ sports car just sitting there. “Well, since he is not using it.” He waited until he could no longer see the last rays of the sun and tore forward, hoping that he wouldn’t be caught in whatever rays might still be lingering passed the hill they lived on.

Lothoro was a ‘tracker’ by nature. It was only strengthened by Amelia’s bite. Relentless in his pursuit, he was driven now to find whatever it was that possessed Selene even if it took him to the ends of the earth. That meant, he had to allow the impressions of Amelia from days passed to wash over him. However, before he did, he checked his mobile phone. Nothing, not yet.

As the car hugged the curves of the ground he bid the memories to come to him.

You started with the wrong people. Now you have a war that you will not be able to turn away from.