“Do you have to rub it in my face.” I pleaded with my comrades.

The pair were deeply enjoying the band's signature stew. Eating slowly, enjoying every sip, every piece of juicy meat. The mouth-watering food was right before me, yet I could no longer partake.

I learned that lesson the hard way shortly after my turning. I was so hungry I cleaned out my rations before violently expelling them. My dear vampiric siblings neglected to inform me of this and had a good laugh.

Still, I got mine, while in a blood craze, I broke Sven’s arm and bashed his skull against a tent post. It was hilarious but ever since then, the vampire has hated me.

“By the gods, it tastes so good. You should try this, you're missing out.” Edmund offered the extra bowl, with a shit-eating grin.

“Get that out of my face before I tear off your arm.” I threatened, unsure whether or not I was kidding.

I was getting hungry, or perhaps I was thirsty. I have transitioned to a liquid diet, so did that mean it was food or drink? I think I will go with thirsty and use hungry interchangeably.

“Just try it fang boy.” He countered.

We glared at each other for a moment before both of us burst into laughter. Neither of us was serious but still, I was very thirsty. With time I may in fact want to tear off an arm or tear out a neck.

“Jokes aside, you do look a little piqued my brother.” Sig observed, genuinely concerned.

“Doesn’t he always look that way ever since he joined the ranks of the undead.” Edmund crudely added.

“Yes but he looks a shade paler, when was the last time you fed?”

I looked back and only recalled that ill-fated encounter with the carriage. That wasn’t a full feeding and it seemed it was wearing off.

“Last night, it wasn’t much now that I think about. I had stopped halfway and have since exerted myself.” I explained.

“Probably need more, how are you planning on getting blood. Going to buy a slave or hire one of those girls for the night.” Sig suggested.

“What you guys not going to offer?” I said mockingly.

The two blanched, clearly neither liked the idea of surrendering blood. I didn’t blame them, it was a big ask and not something typically requested.

“I’ll figure something out.”

I pondered where I was going to obtain blood. I could go begging my siblings but they would just hold that over my head. There was however the slavery idea, but that would be a last resort. Never much liked the practice and wasn’t eager to contribute.

There were camp followers around servicing the men. Some of them had started selling themselves to vampires for greater coin. I did have the money for it and after marching for the entire day, the camp was settling in for the night.

We had arrived at a clearing just outside Wildhold. If I stood up, I could see the mighty castle just over the tents. I could only speculate what the inhabitants were feeling as our army slowly took root on their doorstep. But we were not set to attack yet, probably not until tomorrow night.

“Any of you boys looking for a good time?” A feminine voice, seductively offered.

The three of us looked to the side in unison, finding a familiar woman dressed in a rather revealing red dress. Her warmth was only kept by the blanket she had wrapped around her.

“Always little lady, you want a drink?” Sig offered his ale, he was oddly quite good with women, despite being a scrawny wizard.

She smiled, possibly taken in by his charm or the offer of free booze. It was hard to tell, but thinking back, Sig could be a charmer or had a penchant for showering his women with gifts.

Well, it seems this time it worked and she dropped onto his lap with a mischievous smile. Grabbed his ale and chugged it like a professional.

“You are that girl Sven was.” I gestured to her neck.

“I am a woman, not a girl.” She replied haughtily and then grinned. “And yes that would be me. Jessica is the name.” She offered her hand.

I shook it with a smile, and she giggled, not from me but likely from Sig. She was sitting on his lap, perhaps he got a little too excited.

“So how did you end up with that poor excuse of a blood sucker?” I questioned.

“Coin of course, vampires pay well and they don’t even want to screw me.” She answered.

“Is that better, I would think fangs to neck would not be pleasant.”

She shrugged, leaning back as Sigfried gave her a peck on the cheek. “It’s fine, but I will admit Sven gets a bit to rough.” She explained, taking a newly refilled mug of ale. “Thank you for the help and the coin.” She nodded.

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“You didn’t seem like you were enjoying yourself, as if anyone would really enjoy someone sucking there blood.”

Tilting her head to the side she tactility agreed before grinning. “I will admit, I’m not a fan but I’m sure some men and women are that kinky.”

She did have a point, I had met several people attending the local brothels that had some weird fetishes. Perhaps vampires would be a unique fetish for a certain clientele. It makes me wonder if there is such a thing as a vampire brothel.

“I will concede to your point my lady.” I grinned.

“I am no lady, but I thank you for thinking so, gentlemen vampire.” She said sarcastically.

The four of us laughed at that, the idea was absurd. None of us were gentle, as Edmund said we are killers for hire and now a lady of the night joins our circle of brigands.

“You look paler then normal, have you fed?” Jessica abruptly asked.

“He is not feeding well, a bit squeamish at the idea of sinking fangs into people. We might need to bleed a goat, if that even works.” Sig suggested.

I was not keen on that idea, animal blood was not appealing. But desperate times may call for desperate measures. Jessica was shocked and then looked at me with a strange expression. Was that worry? Odd since we only met once. And those circumstances involved me paying her to leave. Of course, most would probably leave Sven’s presence for free.

“Well, that just won't do.” She proclaimed, rising from Sig’s lap, much to the wizard's dismay.

Confused, I observed her travel around the campfire and seat herself on my own. She smiled pleasantly, not the seductive smile she flashed Sig or Edmund. Just a genuine and caring smile, I could not help reciprocating. But the moment she withdrew a hidden blade, my grin turned to a frown.

“Your not planning on stabbing me?”

“Not if you want me to handsome.” She cheekily replied.

I was so transfixed by the dagger, I didn’t notice her pluck the empty mug out of my hands. Before I could stop her, she cut a deep gash in her wrist and then proceeded to pour her own blood into the mug.

“What are you doing?” I demanded.

“Relax, I have done this many times, I barely feel it anymore.” She reassured me, yet I didn’t feel so.

The mug filled with blood, her dagger went away and a bandage was wrapped around the wound.

“This bandage is enchanted with a healing spell. I gave a certain thaumaturge a real good time and he made it for me. Perfect for healing minor cuts.” She grinned mischievously before offering the blood. “You must be famished, this should do you good.”

I was hesitant to take it, but the thirst nudged me forward and before I knew it, the mug was in my hand. Resisting the impulse to down the lot, I made a tentative sip. The blood was not as warm as it usually was straight from the source, but it was still quite pleasant.

“Do I taste good?” She teased.

“Yes.” I answered without thinking, before realising. “I mean your blood taste good.” I corrected.

“I will take that as a compliment.” She grinned, giving me a light slap on the cheek.

“How much do I owe you?” I questioned her, half serious.

“Consider it a freebie.” She looked to the others. “You two however will have to pay.” She mocked, and the two shrugged, probably because they had the coin.

“Jessica!” Somebody yelled from the side.

The moment that voice reached us, I could feel her wince in my arms. I looked to the source and found Sven angrily approaching us, his human toadies following behind like obedient sheep.

“Get off of him!” He commanded.

“I can sit in any lap I want. You purchased my body, not my soul.” She countered angrily.

The vampire seethed, his glare now barely registering the woman, they fell upon me as if she didn’t exist. I could guess what he was thinking, she was a prize to him, a toy he didn’t want anyone else to play with.

“Get your hands off her, you lowborn scum!” He snapped.

I ignored him, taking a sip of her blood and smiling as if it was the best drink in all of Mylon. I could tell he knew, his nostrils flared in anger but also from the scent.

“I should cut out your tongue for daring to taste what is mine.” The petty little vampire growled.

I noticed Edmund reach for his axe, smiling like he had just handed a present. I suppose he was, based on his barbarian sensibilities. Blood and death were synonymous with a good day for his people. I wonder if he would be a better fit as a vampire. I then thought better of that, the horror he would unleash.

Sven noticed the lug reaching for his weapon. The vampire sneered distastefully as if he had just smelled something foul.

“Will you let your humans fight your battles?” He spat.

“Oh we are enough for you bloodsucker.” Sig declared as he rose to his feet.

I could see the wizard make a few gestures behind his back. Little Sig was readying a spell and I wondered what he could bring to bear that could harm a vampire.

Smiling at Jessica, I gestured for her to get up. She got the hint, hopped off and went to stand beside Sig. Cracking my neck, I rose to face the interloper. Approaching him, I smugly drank Jessica’s blood right before his eyes.

It was not wise, I knew it. But this vampire punk was on my last nerve. Just as the lost drop of her delectable blood fell down the back of my throat, I could already see the lunge. The moron leapt towards me, trying to wrap his hands around my throat.

I sidestepped and delivered an uppercut to his stomach. If he could breathe, I would have knocked the wind out of him. He stumbled back, unable to keep his balance. While dazed he hastily ordered his human servants to attack.

Despite being clearly outmatched, the fools attacked four armed opponents. Before I could speed forward and send them flying. Edmund barreled after them and tackled the biggest one. Like a mad bull, he smashed into the man and sent him flying.

Just as the body landed, Edmund howled like a wolf and beat his chest. I was pretty sure that guy would not get back up in a while. I passed a glance to the other one, noticing Sig just standing there smiling at Jessica. Was he flirting in the middle of a fight?

Looking down at his hands, I could recognise the somatic gestures and soon his opponent stopped in his tracks. Sig blew a kiss to Jessica before waving his left hand and encasing the man's legs in ice.

Sven managed to get back to his feet, his eyes glanced to his immobilized servants. Giving the pair disgusted looks, he turned to me with fangs bared. “You will not have her!” He declared bitterly.

“I don’t have her, she belongs to herself, seems like you don’t get that idea.” Despite the rationality of my words, it only seemed to anger him more.

He lashed forward with all his vampiric strength and speed. He was older than me, but not by much. His skills were sub-par and I managed to get around him. He struck me with claws, trying to tear my face apart. His savage ferocity made any attempt at strategy pointless.

I easily got an arm around him, pulling him into a headlock. He struggled violently, but superior technique kept him in place. All the while he screamed, she is mine over and over. Each time I could see Jessica flinch while trying to keep a straight face. Wanting this to end, I promptly snapped his neck and he went limp.

I let him fall face-first into the ground. “Well, this is not going to end well,” I said before looking at Jessica. “I would probably get out of here. He seems intent on getting you.” I told her.

“I can take care of myself. But perhaps you are right, maybe I should move on.” She reluctantly agreed.

The four of us sighed, what were we going to do now?