Chapter 12 – The Bloodletter's Trial

The last known letter by Greeshawn Chase – Written September 4th, 1635.

I have had a terrible dream. I spoke to god the night before. I refuse to call him by name, for he has refused to call me by my title. He came to me in the darkness.

In my dreams, I returned to my palace; this new world and beyond, living below my heel. Men, beast and spirit alike living in slavish devotion to their new lord. They caved to my every whim and desire, many of whom where once my prisoners. The rest, my enemies slain and left as eternal testaments of my will.

But as soon as my god returned, my palace, my kingdom, all my devoted subjects collapsing into ashes. Only my former lord alone remained as he alone spoke to me, as he stood in the darkness.

“So much time. So much hard work, wasted with you.“

“I don’t understand. I built this new world on prosperous land! I” I would argue back to him “I am the son of Minister Benjamin Chase, he brought his people here to bring the Kingdom of God. I laid the foundations for you!”

It laughs, if one could call it that, echoing through the empty sky and fields, and shook what had to be the trees around it. “No, you and your people build on my home and I let you stay. I even gave you food and riches, hoping you’d make something from it. As the first born of your colony I had such high hopes for you. But now my eyes have been on someone else. And you tried to kill her.“

He spoke of Edith Mueller.

“She lives ?”

“Despite your best efforts. And now as the sun sets on your time, the sun will rise on hers, and I will have a new queen on my ever empty thrones. As soon as this kingdom of your burns, I will arise a new one from its ashes.” He says.

“You need me on your throne! I need to be on your throne! It is my destiny!”

“That is what they all say.” He mocks.

“I don’t understand. Am I not the master of the beasts ? The wolves, the apes, the giants even ? Have not made them into a stronger better image ? Do they not serve me because they fear me ? Am I not following the example of Lycaon of Arcadia ?” I was dumbfounded. The lord I served under for my whole life, who gave me my strength and power, now looks down on me and sees me as weak. A failure.

“Ah yes, the mighty wolf king! A savage one he was, but his time came too. Like him, your conquests failed and continued to fail, and now the wolves are coming at your door.“

After all these years, dreams and servitude, I was confounded. So many years of promises, and now he betrays me “Have I not served you faithfully oh lord, did I not preform miracles in your name ? Did I not build an empire to your name ?”

“You and many others, and many more. Just how special do you think you are ? How far do you think my branches or roots reach ? Did you really believe I couldn’t just take another child and name them my prince ? All you have done for me is kill and torture, most of it over the desires of a woman, and through all of you failed to kill a single vrykolakas. All I have to do is whisper, and entire villages will slaughter their own. What makes your loyalty special ? Have I not told you, there is another that will serve me ?“

“You promised me!” I beg the lord.

“I promised you nothing. I owe you nothing. I have given you a taste of what you want and you become greedy like the rest. So you enjoy your day, because soon the sun will set, and never rise again.”

—-

I awoke to a grey day. It has rained heavily here for weeks, and when it doesn’t rain, mist blankets the area. I decided to take a walk, and rid my thoughts of the night before. Most of our people were put in their place. The pits of penance, and they shall remain there until they paid for their treachery. This left everything calm and quiet, save for the beasts who watch an snarl at me. They turn in fear when I look at them.

It has been like this for weeks. Nothing to trade, no more hunting parties, and my scouts keep disappearing on me. This left me virtually alone in an empty village. A hungry village, with so much bodies to spare.

I found myself at a tree just off my childhood property. My only companion was the lords blood, and the greatest gift given to mankind; wine, whiskey, rum. I had developed a habit of drinking these for the past few years. I had to drown out what I call the “Silent Voices”; the names I have given my failures, and I spent my time mulling over my thoughts.

I have taken in people from other villages to grow our numbers, and yet the population of our own village depletes in numbers. I have spent years searching for a savage woman to tame her in a way my father couldn’t, and learn whatever spiritual secrets she and her “people” kept from us.

And what do I have to show for it ? Bumbling savages, many of which are born dead, and a place where everyone fears me, and is yet, so empty. I must have sat by that tree for hours to a day, before someone awoke me from my train of thought.

One of the few people who’d walk out and about approached me. I was told that Erik Mueller was still trying to end his life; much like my mother, he wasn’t appreciative of my hospitality and my company. For seven days, I kept him in isolation, my way of giving him the special treatment.

I kept Erik in a make shift cell, in the same pit my father died. He’d refused to eat until forced, goes to sleep in his vomit, had to be kept awake. He tried cutting himself on a broken piece of glass. He is constantly watched by my creatures. I was reminded of what I was told in my dream, and figured at the very least he should know the truth.

—-

I made my way to the mines. So hungry was my prisoners, that my disciples have taken to butchering one per day. The fat ones where the usual targets, and everyone was to be given the smallest piece. Just enough to stay alive, but not strong enough to try to fight. It was a hive of misery and darkness, the same kind Christ would cast the harlots and the tax collectors and all the unworthy, to be tormented by the creatures of our lords making.

I walk to Erik’s cell and enter.

“Erik ? It is I.” I say as I close the door behind me. As expected, he was wallowing in misery, like a pig among the mud. “I take it you are not ready to repent ?” He gives no response. “It is of little matter or relevance.” I shrug “But Erik, my brother-” I start before he interrupts.

“Don’t you call me that!” He shouts to me, looking as if he’d try to kill me if he could “Those words, like everything from your mouth, are nothing but horse shit.”

I couldn’t hide my thoughts to myself, nor did I have any reason “So this is your gratitude ? All I ever did for you was try to make you strong, make you worthy for the world to come. Anyone who does not find their place in the world, they all die. Now should you walk on the backs of others, or be walked upon, is of little of matter. You choose your own path in life, as we all do. But I will not let you walk down a path that will destroy you. For what I have done recently, is purely to get obstetrical out of your way.” Erik wasn’t paying attention. In fact he was stroking a piece of red fabric; the sleeve one of my wolves stole from Edith. “She lives, you know,” I start. That got him to turn and face me “I received word from above that she escaped my flock. And as long as she breathes she is a threat.”

Erik looks as if he did not believe me “Why should I believe you ? Everything you have ever said or taught was a lie.”

“Would I deny you a second chance on a lie ? The lord has plans for her my brother, and I cannot allow them to come true. I am giving you this opportunity, to repent, to save yourself from the lords wrath, and Edith from his plans. I want you to be the one who does it; as her father, it is you who must atone for the sin you cast into the world-” I start to say, crouching down to his level. I pull a dagger from my pocket “It was your lust that led to the idolatry of a heathen, one born to you, and one who must die to you. You can save yourself by undoing your sin. I am giving you a chance to reap what you sow, and have a life in the new age. What say you ?”

I looks at me stoically and calmly. He holds his hand out and I hand him the dagger.

“I see you are finally beginning to see sense.” I take him by the hand, and as a good leader, I guide him from the darkness, and to the surface.

—-

As soon as we resurface from the pits, we heard the calls from the trees. It was the giants, they have claimed another.

I and my scouts reach the villages gates, to see four giants, and my creatures leading a caravan of men. They where soldiers. I recognized their insignia’s as the British and the Spanish. They will surely join the others. But among them, was one I prayed was dead for years; Jaralath Caulfield, the Bloodletter.

As the gates opened, and the prisoners ushered in, I approach them and kept my eyes on Jaralath in particular “You continue to disappoint me boy. Your defiance is quite, quite annoying. You can not even die at my will. What kind of example can I make of you ?”

When I was close enough, Jaralath spat in my eye. I indignantly hit him in the stomach. I roll him onto his stomach with my foot, and start again “Anything else you wish to say ? Or-” Once again, he spits up at me into my other eye. Anger took hold of me, as I continued stomping, and kicking him into the ground until blood came from his mouth and nose. Just as it was when I first found him “Care to use words this time ?” I ask.

“I…have…one function. in life you motherless cunt,” He gets up to his knees, and staggers back to his feet “It is to see you die Greeshawn. To see every drop of blood, your bones and entrails spilled onto to the ground. Feasted upon by the creatures you breed, and return you to the earth by way of their waste.” Jaralath sneers at me, almost sounded like he was growling. His bloody visage, reminded me of seeing him in battle.

“Charming.” I reply.

“You realize, you are not leaving this village alive. There are armies in different empires, that will see this place burn.” Jaralath continues.

“Is that so ? And I take it this dreaded army you speak of ?” I gesture to the disheveled, wounded and weakened soldiers. Many of whom are already dying. I turn my attention to a British soldier in the group. “And what is your name, you valiant patriot ?”

“Corperal Elliot Nor-” the soldier starts, before I put my hand in his face.

“A name that means nothing, I’m sure.”

“Do you know where I have been Greeshawn ? I have been working at a docking village, just where this country meets the ocean. I have heard and spread word from many a ship, working for many a empire. They know of this land, they know of what’s happening here. If word does not come back from these soldiers, they’ll send more. Do you think you can survive this bloodbath Greeshawn ? Your creatures are all starving, and weakening.” Jaralath speaks up.

It finally dawn upon me “It is amusing you bring that up Bloodletter. I recall a lot of the fighting in our sieges where done by you. You where among our greatest weapons, and true my brood have not had their armor in recent times, but your bloodlust and ferocity more than made up for that…and as I recall, my sins have been made your sins.”

I turn to one of human followers “Take them to my church. I believe a trial is a long time coming.” I turn back to Jaralath “You called me motherless. I’m sure you have been thinking about her. I say we reunite with her.”

….

That night, my followers and dozens of my hostages where gathered in my church. My human followers stood guard at the doors, and my non human ones awaited outside for a potential next meal. A bound and chained Jaralath stood before me on an alter. We placed a leather gag into his mouth to keep him from running it. I had my mother sent for, and brought to her. Her wrists and ankles still scarred, by her own bindings, and she was thin and disheveled from the years locked in her room. When my mother and Jaralath spotted each other, they both looked like the wished to embrace, but held only back by my gaze.

“Good evening, harlots and sinners. This is truly a blessed night, the prodigal son has graced us with his presence.” I speak out to my followers “And it is now time for him to give penance.” All eyes where on me, by I kept directing my attention to Jaralath and my mother. “I must forewarn you, my lambs; this may not be a proper trial in the laws of the land, but this land is for the righteous, it’s laws are made by the righteous, and as the righteous, only I can give a proper judgement. Jarlalath Caulfield, you have already been seen as guilty for crimes against the Holy One. You stand accused, and yet the chance to recant your sins.”

I get up from my altar to circle Jaralath. I had Erik there too, almost sulking in the corner, keeping his eyes on the dagger he cradles. “You’re charges ? Mass murder; the slayings of sinners; bloodletting, and consumption.” I couldn’t help but smile as I continue listing what he is condemned for. “As I recall, on the battlefield, you had a taste for children; your bloodlust was uncontrollable. I should know, I have tried. You also have a disappointing defiance when it comes to death, we’re going to have to remedy that. Which brings us rebellion against the Holy, and an attempt to murder his holiness.” I snap my fingers, and my followers open the doors, ushering in dozens upon dozens of my prisoners.

I notice Jaralath’s face pale and eyes widen, before he looks down in shame.

These where not just any prisoners, but the survivors; refugees of villages I have lead raids upon- raids that Jaralath took part in as my weapon. Grieving widows, widowers; traumatized orphans; soldiers we have taken captive. What else can break a man’s spirit than the grief of a mother ? Luckily I was beyond human, and perhaps Jaralath wasn’t the supernatural threat many said he was; the sight of his shame against their accusing eyes and voices was all the confirmation I needed.

On that night, sixty three men and women, young and old, of differing ancestry spoke of how the dreaded Bloodletter brought with him famine, death and pestilence upon their villages, heralding an army of beasts. Many spoke of how Jaralath was the one doing most of the killing; how he’d pick of families; how he’d cripple those who fought him and fed upon their blood; how many would burn their homes in an effort to deter him; how twenty men fighting him at once where helpless to his frenzy.

Oh, the names they called him; lilu, draugr, strigoi, vrykolakas. At no point do they call him human.

Finally there was the soldiers, from the very caravan brought in today. Had they spoke only what he did as my weapon, that would have been enough. That is when one Captain Sanchez spoke on behalf of his men.

“We set up our village for the purposes of establishing new land for our royal family. We where expected to host the princes following the winter.” Sanchez spoke up “I have heard of these raids, but believed them to be little more than superstitions. Perhaps propaganda meant to scare off the royal family. For the past couple of years, we have had refugees enter our settlement telling the same tales of abominable wolf and ape men burning their homes, and feeding upon their people.” The good Captain spoke before the church.

“And the dreaded Bloodletter ?” I ask gesturing to Jaralath.

“A walking corpse drinking up blood ? A constant in their tales.” Sanchez answers “I believed them little more than wives-tales before someone has been stealing from our trading vessels. Instead we would have received the severed heads of these creatures, as well as confession letters by the one you call Jaralath Caulfield.”

I ask three more questions of him “Where did it bring you ? What did you find ? Why where you there ?”

“There was a village just on the ocean shores. Vessel’s of all nations would make port there for the sake of trade and transfer of goods. We have heard word of pirates making their way into the village for raids and rest, and at first assumed the thefts were their work. When we arrived at the village, we saw a disease have taken the folk living there. They should have been dead, and yet they where walking, and talking to us. They told us to leave, before they tried to feed upon my men, and that of the British. We slaughtered every living soul in that village. If you could call them living. Our intention was to reclaim our stolen property and to arrest the thief.”

“Jaralath Caulfield,” I finish for him “The same living corpse who took so much from these people. How unfortunate that my own people happened upon you aiding him.”

“We were told that you were the one behind the raids on the villages, and that the price of our trade was not only his life, but the emancipation of his people. I am sure that many of these people would testify to that.” Before Sanchez could speak further, my mother approaches the alter, staring at me with a look of hatred and anger.

“Greeshawn Thomas Chase,” She spoke through her teeth “For too long have I stood silent, for too long have I watched you kill everything you father tried to build here! This farce of a trail is just another means of humiliation and murder towards those who aren’t treating you like a king! My husband built this land with the dream of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth, a dream that got him exiled from his church for how he reached out to heretics, the harlots and the-“

“Do you have a point here ? This is the most I’ve heard you speak in so long; use you’re words wisely mother.” I warn her sternly.

“Mother ?” She pauses on the word “That is what my son would call me. My fear son has died the day he was born. Something has been wearing his hide. I do not know what you are, but you may call me Angelica Chase.” She glares at me. She turns to Jaralath and asks “Jaralath, I know when you were a child, you never found your home in church, so I forgive you if you do not remember; but my husband would use his position to allow sinners to testify on their own behalf; to get their side of the story. My authority does not matter here, only that of this churches true leader. So please, speak.”

Jaralath nods and begins to speak, turning to face the people who once accused him “I do not expect your sympathy of forgiveness. I know saying that my hunger drove me to do the horrid things I have done under his banner, and that my weakness is no defense.”

“Touching words, I think we heard enou-” I start, but am silenced as my mother holds her hand to my face.

Jaralath continues “But know this, I never wished any of that happened. Every day I wish I could have undone, and every night I have saw the faces of the very loved ones you describe. Do you not think I would gladly spill all the blood from my body if I could make it all right ? To give them all back to you ? But I know that it won’t be enough. I spilled my own blood everywhere I went, and all it does is spread my disease. I tried everything to fix it, but neither my wife or I could cure it. I do not ask for your forgiveness, only understanding. And I understand that my own life will not be the only one that can fix everything. So I ask, if I am to die, my last request is to take this one with me.” He finishes his speech, pointing towards me.

I couldn’t help but laugh a little at his speech “You are hardly is a position to be making demands. What is the leech to demand of the Lamb when he has taken so much from him ? Especially the heart of a woman that never belonged to him in the first place ?” I say as I glare towards my mother.

“Do not presume this one speaks lies boy. Your life is owed to these people, perhaps even more than that of Jaralath Caulfield’s.” I heard Captain Sanchez speak up and circle me. “Many of our own refugees could attest to a pale, gaunt man dressed in robes of gold and white. A description that matches you.” Sanchez walks up onto the alter and begins to circle me “I fail to see how such a thing could be a holy man, let alone a man of justice. You clearly know not of a proper trial, or of making sure that no man in your so called court, is in fact armed.”

With that, Sanchez unsheathed a small knife from under his sleeve, and drove it into my lower back.

A small pandemonium ensued, as I tried to shake him off of me. He pulled his knife out from my back, stabbing me three more times, and held it to my throat. I took hold of his wrist, just holding his knife away from my face. At no point in this fight did anyone step forward to help me. I was strong, but he had stronger resolve. I turn to Erik, silently asking for my brother to help me.

Erik finally took his eyes off his knife and lunged forward, and drove his dagger into my chest. I could feel both the sting next to my heart, and Sanchez, slashed his knife across my jugular. He whispers to me venomously “This one is for Anya and Edith. You won’t be harming anyone else.

Had it actually killed me, I would not be writing this testimony, would I ?

As soon as Sanchez released me, I stare at the knife just two inches from my heart, and pull it from my chest, and plunge it into Erik’s knee. “Is that something you’re sure of ?” In the confusion I turn towards Sanchez as he backs up, preparing for a proper fight.

I must have blacked out, but as soon as my mind cleared, my mother was looking over Erik as he was groaning on the ground. Jaralath and I continued to glare at eachother, and I held the severed head of Captain Sanchez in my hand. This time, his knife was now in my shoulder. The congregation was is a panic as my soldiers held them at bay.

As I tossed the Captain’s head into the crowd I spoke over the shouts of the crowd “It seems some order its to be made here! When this session began only one man stood condemned, but now that it seems the lord himself has turned against me…it is only fitting that this entire land must be condemned.”

I snap my fingers towards two of my men before pointing to Erik “This one is to be taken back to his cell. He is among many who still haven’t learned their lesson.” I turn my attention back and forth between my mother and Jaralath as I continue to speak “As for you two, I have a whole new lesson to teach.”

….

The screams and shouts I heard from Jaralath that day are something I’m not going to get used too. I recall some of the visions my former lord given me of the past; how criminals were nailed upon trees, their limbs on different branches. The branches would grow for months at a time, and with them would stretch out their limbs, until they’d rip off. We placed Jaralath on a tree, the same one that was on my property. The same one that, from a distance, curiously took the form of my former lord. I found it pretty fitting.

I don’t know if this tree would still be growing, and didn’t think anyone could survive that due to exposure or the blood-loss, but having a waking corpse on my hands, I finally had the means of finding out just how accurate these execution accounts where. I had my knife and hand and buckets set beneath him. We had his shirt torn from his body, and I find myself looking up and down his torso. One hand was on one branch, the other hand on another, forming an almost perfect cross. It’ll take a long hard winter

“Now what was it you said in there ?” I say to him “You would give you’re very life to make things, right ?” I ask him. I found myself licking my lips a little was I pull the tip of my knife across his ribs, the blood spilling down his stomach and legs “That you would give you’re blood for them ? Every drop ?”

I slit a long line, from his wrist to his elbow, keeping the tip one particular vein. “Well, luckily for them, I am restricting their fill of meat and bread. And luckily for you, you can’t seem to die.” I cut the same line into his other arm, before lazily stroking the around his chest and stomach. One cut – two more – eight times – twenty seven.

With every cut more of it spilled into the buckets below him. Oh he said the usual things, defiance here, curses there. I must have came short of flaying the skin from his arms and torso. “I find my people, are needlessly defiant. I have more prisoners among my subjects than soldiers. Even the beasts stare at me in hunger.” I note how as soon as the cutting was done, his skin always seemed to grow and hold together at a momentary rate “I’m a pretty simple man-“

“Ain’t that the truth ?” He coughs out. More of his blood splatters upon my face.

I wipe and lick up the blood off as I say “And that is why nobody is eating in my village – for the most part at least. You said yourself that others know of what’s happening here, and intend to kill me. Many here fear and resent me, so unless anyone is willing to kill or die for me, they have only blood to feed off of.” I pull the knife once more from his shoulder to his elbow, just to see if I could get him to scream again.

“But at the very least, the blood will not be human.” I say as I turn towards my mother. She herself was chained by the neck and ankles to a metal spike we placed just a few yards in front to the tree.

“As for you, Angelica” I address her “I am sure you are wishing father left you in the gutters of France. You’d die of disease, or to drinking, exposure. Unable to save your sister or yourself from that life, but you wouldn’t have had to feed upon her flesh. Maybe it would have been better had a disgruntled client murdered you, and you’d join your unmourned kin.”

I walk up to her, and stick my knife into her thigh, and ignored her squeal as she collapses to her knees “Would it have been better that you died with your sister ? Had I not been born ? Or maybe you’d prefer if you had this leeching thief as your son ?”

I look back and forth between Jaralath and my mother “Well, I think it’s only fair that you spend you remaining days with this leech. At the very least you’d have some gratitude in me for once.” I turn towards and make way to my house, addressing them a final time “You two keep each other warm now, you hear ? It’s going to be a long winter .”

I had other business to attend too; there was going to unwanted visitors on my land, and I promised myself a bloodbath.