"I guess I should leave now, but is it worth the effort to purge that fool Erik?" I wondered as I prepared for my escape.

I had commanded my daughter to hunt down the last remaining rogue vampires before she would return to my side. Sven was added to the list and that whore he made vampire. They would soon be destroyed, I was sure of that.

I was ready to leave, the sound of screams and the dying told me the plan was in motion. Titus was protecting the entrance, he was a loyal dog, and he would ensure no one bothered me.

"Soon everything would be mine. All I have worked for is within my grasp. Just one final push." I spoke to no one in particular, packing several arcane items in a bag.

Normally I would have undead servants do this. But I was going all in on this plan, so they were added to the growing horde. I shrugged, undead can be easily replaced.

My vampires, on the other hand, had some worth. Of course, I could just as easily set them up as scapegoats if the need arises.

I commanded them to go to the ground and await my return. Like Titus, they were loyal pets, easily charmed by the allure of immortality. I thought about how easily they succumbed, forsaking their mortal lives and families.

Titus on the other hand was different, he was one of the few not motivated by such trivial greed. No, it was love that swayed him and a promise I will keep, as long as I was obeyed.

"Were are you off to?" An unfamiliar voice spoke behind me.

Abruptly I turned to face the intruder, and what I found was a zombie. A simple undead made from the corpse of a useless peasant. One of the many nameless victims I personally ordered killed and raised.

"A zombie?" I said, puzzled.

"Accurate, but appearances can be deceiving." The corpse replied, grinning at me with a row of rotten teeth.

"Talking undead, that's new?" I was confused, yet curious.

I wondered if this zombie somehow turned into a Wight or perhaps a Revenant. This could be an interesting line of experimentation.

"I remember that look, back in the old days before you sold out to a vampire. The curiosity, the desire to know more and delve the deepest, darkest, recesses of the human soul." The zombie spoke in a way that brought back memories.

I had heard these words before, from a very specific person. Their appearance flashed across the corners of my memory. It was him, I should have known.

I was foolish to think it would be anyone else. This was his favourite trick, though it had been many years since I had seen it done.

"Hello Belus, new look?" I said dryly, guessing it correctly.

The zombie looked at himself, tracing his gaze across his torso and arms. "It's not my best meat suit, but it does have a certain charm." He joked, being sarcastic.

"So why are you here, I assume you have seen my work, do you like it?" I smirked, biding time to make my escape.

I recalled he loved to talk, a bit too much in my opinion. I sensed Titus was engaged in battle, probably some of the remaining sellswords.

"It's a bit sloppy, but I would expect nothing less from someone like you." He spat those words and a slight tinge of anger began to well up.

"Sloppy, my plans are genius." I retorted, letting some of that anger rise to the surface.

"Genius you say, killing a bunch of sellswords and turning them into undead, just to scatter them across the country side. Your aim is utterly transparent." The zombie sighed, shaking his head. "All of this just to placate the baron so he can invade his own lands under the guise of saving it from an undead horde. Seriously, is that the best you could do?"

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Belus laid out my plan entirely and I was mildly annoyed that he figured it out so easily. Well, not that it was a secret, anyone with half a brain could discover my plot.

I was banking on most of these people being dead by the end of it. But I would settle for most of them dead and the rest unable to do a thing.

"So what you know, it's not like you can do a thing. I will soon be gone and you can stew behind your castle walls. Unable to face the oncoming death." I approached the walking corpse, getting in its face.

"You are correct, I cannot face such a mighty army. Even with all my power, I cannot contend with a force so large." He admitted and I was surprised.

I half expected him to boast of some grand plan. Maybe this time he was outmatched? Oh, that would be the cherry on top of my scheme.

Still, it is too bad he is not here in person. I would have loved to have said all of this to his face, before cutting his throat.

"If you can't stop me, why bother coming. Do you want to beg me to stop?" I grinned, hoping that would be the case.

He shook his head in the negative. "There will be no begging, in fact I'm not here to stop you. Merely to perform a few experiments." He explained and I was confused.

"Experiments?"

He nodded. "Indeed, your little war has been the perfect venue for new advancements in the field of necromancy. In fact it has even led to advancements in demonic Wizardry, who knew?" Belus chuckled and I was even more confused.

"Demonic Wizardry? What in the Abyss are you talking about?" I queried, getting annoyed.

"He calls it Infernomamcy, interesting stuff. But I think my new advancements in necromancy are of greater interest." He paused before raising his finger like a teacher to a student. "Did you know, that if you have a ghost hanging around, you can with a few experimental spells, have them repossess there body, even if it was raised as undead." He explained.

I was flabbergasted, the idea was sort of brilliant, but I would never tell him that. Though I wondered why he was telling this to me. That was until it dawned on me.

Panicked I quickly looked around, inspecting my surroundings for enemies. What I found was several shadowy figures spaced evenly around the tent. I could see them through the fabric, their shadows loomed.

They had to be undead, no other way they would be left alone. If they were alive they would have been killed on sight. But undead can pass through since they are meant to serve me.

"Your little massacre has given me several eagre volunteers. They are uniquely motivated in the pursuit of your suffering and death."

I was boxed in, with enemies on all sides. And yet, none of this mattered. What could a bunch of up-jumped zombies do to me?

"Oh I'm so scared, what will I ever do against your formidable force of a few undead peasents?" I exaggerated, pretending to be helpless in the face of such incredible odds.

Belus chuckled, it was a dry raspy laugh only an undead could attempt. Once he was finished, he spoke. "You are correct again. But I forget to mention, I have been experimenting with another spell." He grinned maliciously. "Do thank some of your vampire lackeys, they were good test subjects." With those words, he reached out and tapped me on the shoulder.

I didn't stop him, I mean what could he do with that rotten flesh bag? But the moment he made contact, I felt my body lock up, at that moment I knew only one thing, I couldn't move.

"Looks like the spell worked, it won't last long, not with someone of your power. But undead is undead, even if they are a vampire."

I was stuck, immobile and barely parsed his words, nor the smell of smoke as it slowly seeped into the tent.

"Don't worry I'll stick around while you burn, that's as much as I owe you." He stated, smiling like he had just given a great gift.

The flames slowly surrounded us, and yet I couldn't move, couldn't speak. Merely watched as death, true death crept ever closer.

"I have waited for this day my old friend. To watch you die has been a distant dream, now made reality. It was foolish of you to willingly become a vampire. You should have known it was a matter of time before I developed a spell to control you?" He explained matter-of-factly as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

All I could do was listen, so confining was the spell. I couldn't even block out his annoying voice. I racked my brain for an answer, trying desperately to find a way out of this.

My salvation came from a shadow descending over Belus's puppet. I witnessed Titus, enter the tent, ignoring the flames. His fist smashed into the back of the zombie's head, sending the decapitated member flying away.

"Master, are you alright?" He asked a stupid question, but I was frozen stiff and couldn't answer.

I gestured with my eyes, the one part of my body I could vaguely control. It seemed like he was able to identify my intentions quickly.

"Even if your brute kills this body, I'll just grab another." Belus was yapping at the side, I ignored it, focusing on resisting the spell.

With a supreme force of will I spoke. "Teleport device." I managed to mutter and my loyal dog answered.

He ran through the fire and retrieved the arcane device, setting it in my hand. I could feel the device activating and soon a blinding light enveloped me. I managed to let loose booming laughter as the fire engulfed the tent and vanished from view.

"Run while you can Drelem, I will kill you!" I heard the voice of my rival shout, just as I escaped.