The Carnival of the Damned

The scarlet eyes of Ancient Blood snapped open in a wide gaze of disbelief as he lounged within the seclusion of his darkened quarters.

"Rose..." The single word escaped from him in a breath of fear. He had felt something amiss, a vision perhaps or unconscious dread that had crept over him in the night only to reveal itself suddenly at the last in a full horrific countenance. The crimson unicorn rose from his position gracefully, pacing the stone floor as his mind formulated a decisive plan of action. The echo of the staccato steps served as a fitting accompaniment to the pounding of his thoughts, pausing only to dissolve into the gloomy silence as he came to a halt. "Luferius!"

In a single instant a shadow writhed from the nearby door to join his side, a dark unicorn with a fiery mane and tail stepping forward before the Lord.

"Lord Blood." He gave a swift salute, touching a hoof to the brim of his red beret as he stood to attention.

"Captain, something is not right in the land of Celestia's sun. What has happened, I cannot be positive...Rose, a pony of utmost importance to my kingdom... there is something wrong." His thoughts centered upon Immortal Rose. It had been a difficult task, if not one altogether impossible, to keep his mind from the mare since the eve of Dimitri's unexpected visitation. Since that time, and the chill of the gypsy's strange box, he had kept his senses carefully attuned to the Everfree while using the pendant's energies there as a way to better assess any lingering threats in the area as well as the mare's ongoing state of health. What he felt now however made his concern grow all the more. As far as he could sense, Rose had vanished from the immediate area of the Everfree as well as from the vicinity of the neighboring town of Ponyville. Faint traces of her aura remained scattered in the places she had frequented yet the source of it all, the mare herself, was gone. While there lacked a proper means of knowing what had occurred to cause this disappearance, or her current whereabouts, he could only fear the worst. The unicorn began pacing once more in an unconscious habit as the one known as Luferius raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"My Lord..."

The Lord shook himself from his thoughts to once again regard the other stallion in the room. Since Nicolae's death, Blood ha increased the security measures in the kingdom, employing extra guards to his keep. Among them was Luferius, a veteran of numerous wars across the darkened land and a strong, competent captain to his men. He had never questioned the authority of the Lord, nor a single order given. Even now he remained fully alert, his clear topaz eyes awaiting and prepared for any instruction.

"Tell your men to keep on full alert, extending their watch to the nearby villages and the main roads of the kingdom. If anything seems out of the ordinary, or if your men here anything dealing with a rose and blood,report it back to me immediately."

"It shall be done, my Lord." Luferius saluted once more and Ancient Blood dismissed the captain, his attention shifting to a slight movement outside the nearby glass doors that led to the outer balcony of his chambers. A small bat slumbered upside down in it's perch, occasionally shifting to regain a comfortable position of repose before settling down into silent dreams. The Lord opened the glass door that separated the two, crossing to be at eye level of the creature.

"Lazorus!" A high pitched squeak responded to the summons as the small creature jolted awake, losing it's grip upon the railing and falling headfirst to the floor below. The bat quickly righted itself, shifting to form a grey bat-like pegasus with strange markings below the left eye.

"Oww..." Lazorus rubbed his head, cringing at the impact from the fall as the Lord returned to his full height.

"I have another errand for you. I need you to return to the land of day to act as my eyes and ears."

The pegasus blinked, cringing as he shook his head and scrambled away from the Lord's gaze. "Oh! No no! Not again! Please, I beg you! The last time I was there, I was nearly trampled by a stampede of bunnies!" He shuddered at the remembrance and the strange orange pony who had caused it, but the Lord was not to be defied in his orders. A single glare caused Lazorus to whimper and cower before the other. "D-do I have to...?"

"This is of the utmost urgency. Attempt to locate Miss Rose. If you cannot, travel and inquire at the nearby town for any clues as to where she may have gone. Bring your findings to me as soon as possible. That is an order."

"R-Rose? She's missing?"

The sharpness of the answering glare upon the pony was more than enough to send the other scrambling. Lazorus hastily retreated with a yelp of fear, lifting into the moonlit night and shifting back into his batlike form before disappearing into the night. It was only when this was accomplished, and both orders carried out to his satisfaction, that Ancient Blood heaved a heavy although unneeded sigh as he ventured to the edge of the balcony to survey the land below. The horizon was teeming with villages and settlements, the gleaming lights from the nearby carnival reflecting upon the walls and roofs of surrounding buildings. The Lord sighed. So much had taken place within the last few years. With the return of life to the land, others had come to reside in the now fertile area. They did not fear the night, nor him or his ways. Indeed, most of the residents of the kingdom were of differing species of nocturnal beings, quite a few claiming to be blood drinkers as well. Still, a small twinge within his dead heart caused him sorrow. Many others may come and go, yet they were not her. Years had passed and yet his loneliness had only grown. It was apparent and obvious to all, even for Dimitri, who had not visited since before the kingdom's rebirth. He inwardly cursed the gypsy, glaring as he turned away from the balcony to once more enter his dark room in order to avoid the sight of the gypsy's carnival and all it stood for. It was only after the fair's arrival that these unusual circumstances had come to pass. Surely a connection must be found. His hoof involuntarily traveled to the place where the pendant once lay upon his throat.

"If only I had kept her here. If only I had let her stay..."Catching himself, he lowered his hoof and shook his head.

"No. As long as she remains safe...that is what matters. Even if I never am able to see her again..." The words scarcely left him when a loud crash and a shrill screaming echoed through the stone walls and resounding from the kitchen downstairs. Heaving a sigh of annoyance at the ill-timed interruption, the Lord made his way to seek out the cause of the commotion.