It was then, in this sitting area, that Lucifer told us the life of one Tullus Hostilius and how it connected to the Keepers of Three. Triplets that Lucifer admitted had been yet another failure,
“I soon realised where my past mistakes lay, for I had once believed that strength in battle would also mean strength of heart. Something needed to lead the next generation of vampires, who admittedly, before your rule, had been thorn in my side since their own creation… something, I will add, I did not have a hand in,” Lucifer offered freely, when looking at me.
“Why not just eradicate the entire race yourself then, and save yourself the bother?” Dariush asked and I had to admit, it was an answer to a question I too wanted to know, and had since the day he turned me. However, it was also a double-edged blade, for it was one I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to know, given its implications. For we were all Lucifer’s creations in a sense, and no one wanted to hear how expendable they were, no matter that the proof of such was currently being rubbed in our faces with the tales of his failures.
But then he surprised us both.
“Because the Gods that create life and then eradicate it when it is not to their liking, is no God worthy of the name!” Lucifer snapped, making me frown in question before asking,
“Is that not what you do?”
“No, it fucking isn’t, for if it was, then your second in command would have died centuries ago as a mortal man and without his beast, and your fucked up brother, Matthias, and his mangled Keepers of Three would have been dead the moment they proved themselves unworthy!” Lucifer answered with a bite of anger, and I had to say I was astounded. Perhaps because I had always been under the misconception that Lucifer was the very last God to have morals of any kind, or hold some form of concern for the souls he created or ruled over.
But then, it was undeniable, for Lucifer had kept these failures living. In fact, his solution had always been to cast out those that didn’t serve his purpose. Yet still, they lived none the less.
“So, the Horatii brothers sold their souls to you to win the fight their king was too cowardly to fight himself?” Dariush asked, only knowing half of the tale and getting back to the point we were here now, which was to learn more about the enemy we were soon to face.
“Oh, make no mistake, for Tullus Hostilius was no coward. In fact, it was his torturesome actions against another ruler that led him to me in the first place. This was shortly after my failing with the Horatii brothers. A misconception of mine in trying to merge three souls into one, believing this would be enough to make them the strongest of my creations yet.”
“More like the most fucked up,” Dariush muttered, making Lucifer concur.
“Yes, yes, I think we can all agree that it went wrong,” he said impatiently, with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Yes, and I think they'd agree with that every time they look in a mirror,” I said dryly, making Dariush scoff a laugh and add,
“Or tried to wipe their ass… or is it asses?” I gave him a wry grin in return before turning back to the reason we were here.
“I know of the story, what I am yet to discover is what happened next?”
“Indeed,” Lucifer answered with a knowing grin, one that made me grit my teeth at the mockery. But well, so long as it got the bastard talking then I didn’t give a shit. And thankfully, I got my wish, as after this, he went on to explain more of the tyrant king, Tullus. One whose name literally translated into the word ‘hostile’, unlike his predecessor Numa Pompilius, who was known as the king of peace, Tullus was known as the king of war. This was a massive contrast from the peaceful king, who promoted above everything the wealth and agriculture of Rome. Someone who had spent his entire rule working towards a Roman way of life where they would not need their swords.
Which meant that as soon as Tullus took the throne, he soon undid much of the good work Numa had put in place. This was because Tullus believed the more peaceful nature of his predecessor had weakened Rome, so