Post by Nikolas Vogel on Dec 24, 2006 14:29:23 GMT
Brief Summary of the Thread: This thread contains the content of the vial that Nikolas sent Clemence in The Price of Justice.
[/u] It is explained here what triggered the spark for Nikolas Vogel to destroy the muggle race. Let it be known that he had hated muggles since he was a child, but it was this incident which was the turning point of his life.[/center][/color][/size]The night air was chilling. Clemence saw with her own eyes a younger Nikolas Vogel. An owl had just landed on his table; it came from a Lucius Gray, Duke of Hanover. Clemence watched from a distance as the calm face of Nikolas changed into an incredulous expression. Nikolas hastily balled up the parchment and threw it across the dimly lit room. She watched as he disapparated into the night, and soon found herself disapparating from where she was as well and following Nikolas down a darkened street. She glanced frantically for a street name and found one. She recognised it after a moment. She was in Salzburg. She followed Nikolas as he went barging inside an apartment and saw Lucius Gray there.
“Where is she?” Nikolas demanded.
“Nikolas, you should not have come.” Lucius replied flatly.
Clemence stood and watched the exchange, taking in every word.
“What do you mean by that, Lucius?” Nikolas raged. “You send me an owl telling me that the woman I love has been murdered because she was accused of witchcraft and adultery by those muggle fools and now you’re saying that I shouldn’t have come?” He turned around and punched the stone walls of Lucius’ parlour.
Lucius took up his coat with a sigh. “Very well, Lucius. If you insist.”
“I do.” Nikolas said as he followed Lucius out of the parlour.
Clemence stepped aside as the two stepped out into the biting night. They did not see Clemence standing there, even if she was right in front of them. She followed them into a darkened alley and saw a body of a woman sprawled on the snow beside the garbage of the city. The bright red blood surrounding the woman’s body was a stark contrast from the immaculate snow it was lying on. Looking closely, she saw that the woman was beautiful. Though her face was drained of blood, her eyes were of the clearest blue, and her hair the finest of ebony. Her skin was porcelain, mainly because of the lack of blood, but even if she weren’t dead, Clemence was certain that the woman’s pallor was impeccable.
She watched as Nikolas crumbled down beside the woman and fell on his knees, taking the woman in his arms.
“Victoria.” He cried, his voice breaking the stillness of the night. “Victoria.” He sobbed as tears flowed down his face, but his eyes burned intensely with hate and rage. His arms tightened around the woman, and he kissed her forehead gently as he laid her down on the pavement once more, stroking her hair.
Clemence turned her gaze to Lucius who was watching his friend with sincere concern. Lucius laid a hand on Nikolas’ shoulder.
“Come now, Nikolas. We must go.” He said quietly.
Nikolas shook off Lucius’ hand. “Take her body to her family. She deserves a decent burial. I warned her not to betray her puritan heritage for those muggles.” He looked down at Victoria. “I warned you!” he screamed, holding her even closer to him. “I warned you…” he sobbed. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”
Lucius picked up his friend, “We must go, Nikolas. They will come for her body any minute now. We must go.” He said tensely.
Nikolas looked up and wiped the tears off his face. He kissed the woman on her bloodless lips and stood up slowly. “I love you.” He whispered.
Clemence bit her lip as she watched the scene unfold. Never had she thought Nikolas Vogel capable of such fervent emotions.
Nikolas turned to his friend. “And the child?” he asked.
Lucius shook his head and walked out into the street. They walked silently, and Clemence followed. The imprints they left on the snow was cleared by a charm that Lucius had placed, thought it seemed like Nikolas did not seem to notice.
Lucius ducked into an even darker alley. “I found her here. She was left to die in the cold.” He said flatly. “She’s at my apartment now.” He said quietly.
Nikolas turned from Lucius without a word and walked back to the apartment with brisk, angry strides. Lucius followed suit and Clemence struggled to keep up.
Nikolas threw open the door and walked in, breathing heavily. Lucius led the way to a large room at the end of the hall and nodded to Nikolas.
Nikolas entered the room and Lucius stayed in the hallway. Clemence walked past Lucius to follow Nikolas in. She took a breath as she stepped into the grand room. Clearly, Lucius was from a very wealthy family, but she did not expect any less, since Lucius was a Duke.
In the middle of the room was a bassinet and Nikolas. She watched as the man took a crying baby into in arms and cradled it tenderly till it quieted down.
“Emelia.” Nikolas whispered. “I swear to you, I will not rest till your mother’s death is avenged.” He said tenderly as he kissed the infant’s forehead. He stood straight and walked out of the room.
Clemence stayed behind to take a closer look at the baby. She looked so much like her mother when she was asleep. Clemence could only assume that Emelia had Nikolas’ eyes.
She hurried out of the room as the voices drifted away from the hallway and followed Nikolas and Lucius into Lucius’ study, where the two men were sitting across each other.
“Vengeance is to be taken, Lucius.” Nikolas said tersely.
Lucius nodded. “Of course, Nikolas.” He said smoothly.
“I will need your help.” Nikolas said, standing up.
“You have it.”
Nikolas nodded and turned to walk out of the study. His hand was already on the doorknob when he turned back to look at Lucius.
“Thank you. For everything.” He said quietly.
Lucius nodded. Nikolas bowed out, walked back toward the room at the end of the hall, took Emelia, and disapparated into the night.