Despite her previous assumption, and not for the first time, Vero woke up surprised to still be alive.

She was lying on a mattress. It felt wonderfully soft, so it must have been filled with feathers rather than straw. She heard the sound of women speaking and laughing nearby, so she tried to sit up and see who it was, until she found herself coming over faint.

“Oh! She’s awake!”

“Someone go- fetch Dora!”

Vero’s vision cleared, and she saw two perfectly formed breasts in front of her. They were attached to a yellow-haired woman of exquisite beauty. Vero looked around and found that she was in a lavish dormitory, and surrounded by half a dozen women of all different types and in all different states of undress.

“I’ve been swept out to sea… rescued by nymphs...”

The comely woman nearest to her checked Vero’s forehead for fever. “I knew that dirty old priest gave you too much poppy milk. I shudder to think of what he would have tried to do if we hadn’t insisted on staying during his examination- the way he was leering.”

“You’re as beautiful as a nymph.”

“Thank-you.” The woman did not seem to take the compliment very seriously, and continued her own monologue without breaking her stride. “With a little rest your head should start to clear. One of the girls has gone to find Dora.”

“She’s as beautiful as a nymph too. Or a dryad, which is much the same thing as a nymph, only inhabiting the land rather than the water. As Dora herself does, you understand.”

“I thought there were no such things as nymphs and dryads,” her nurse remarked casually, as she filled a goblet with water from a pitcher.

“There are. Only very few are left. Say, why are we talking so morbidly?” The woman returned with the goblet and helped Vero drink from it. The water was wonderfully cool. “You know in stories; heroes are awakened by nymphs with a kiss on the lips.”

The woman obligingly bent forward and kissed Vero, but only lightly and without much passion. Vero did not have time to register any disappointment before Dora rushed into the room, crossed the distance between them in an instant, and threw her arms around Vero to shower her in kisses.

Vero struggled a moment, until she found Dora’s mouth with her own and returned one of those kisses. She felt Dora suddenly tense in surprise, but she did not pull away.

A moment later, she began to respond in kind.

Vero was eager to explore Dora’s body, but in her drugged state, her pawing was clumsier than it was erotic. Dora broke away and quickly climbed off the bed, while blushing brightly and adjusting her dress.

“Well, you certainly seem very… vigorous, Vero. I’m glad to see you’re well, truly. I- we feared that you would die.”

“I thought I was dead. Why aren’t I?”

“I saved you.”

Vero motioned for Dora to sit down next to her. Dora did so, but just out of Vero’s reach- and she did check.

“I was furious when I woke up and saw that you left me behind, and I got even worse when I arrived.”

“It’s all that garum you eat, it’s unbalanced your humors.”

“Did you know that they were planning to set that entire place ablaze, without even checking if you were still alive?”

“That’s what I told your mother to order them to do.”

“Well, that was rather foolish, wasn’t it? You’re fortunate I was there then. I gave them such a tongue lashing… but once I told them that they had now let two women go where they were afraid to follow – and called them all cowardly eunuchs – they came with me down after you. You weren’t moving when we found you, I was terrified we were too late. If you hadn't managed to bandage yourself up as well as you did, we would have.” Dora moved closer and put a hand on Vero's shoulder.

“I don’t remember bandaging myself…”

“Well, you must have. We heard you moving, that was what led us to you in that horrible maze."

Vero put her arms around Dora’s waist, but did no more, so as not to frighten her off again. “Then you really have saved my life, it seems...” The priest must have given her a very heavy dose of poppy milk because she was feeling very blissfully sleepy. “I must find some way… thank-you… love to-”

And Vero was gone.

Once she had a chance to recover, Vero went to see Fatima.

Her hip was agonizing to walk on, so Dora needed to find her a cane before she could move.

Kitty was waiting for them outside the make-shift prison. Her long pipe was in hand. “Impressive work, for a laundress.”

“Thank-you, Madame. Any change?”

“See for yourself.” Cloves popped and Kitty stepped aside.

Dora opened the door for them. Vero let the two bouncers clear the way. The fellows were seasoned by their experience and watched their prisoner carefully, but not her eyes.

Fatima was pale as a corpse, but she smiled weakly at them. Vero watched her chest rise and fall with breath.

“You destroyed him, didn’t you…? I can’t hear him in my mind any longer… I’m free.”

Vero nodded slowly. Her mind was still slow from poppy milk, but the sharp spikes of pain in her hip kept her focused. “Yes, I suppose you are.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Thanks to you. Bless you, my Lady.”

“How do you feel?”

“Weak… weak as… as a kitten.” She laughed a little.

“Are you thirsty?”

“Yes… completely parched…”

“Dora, bring water.” Dora left Vero’s side to do as ordered.

“You are gracious, my Lady… as kind as you are beautiful.”

Dora returned with a pitcher and goblet. One of the bouncers took the goblet and Dora filled it with water. At Vero’s direction, he placed it to Fatima’s lips. She drank for a moment before beginning to cough and wretch.

“Is something wrong?” Vero asked.

“It’s foul, my Lady… too much sour wine in it methinks…”

Dora held out the pitcher to her and Vero drank from it directly. It was cool and clear.

“It tastes fine to me.” Vero felt for a heartbeat, and found it. But only a faint echo. Fatima looked at her hopefully. “She’s too far gone.”

“No! My Lady, please! I was possessed by the evil master of the coven. I never wished to attack you- or anyone else! I was forced! If you free me, I swear to you- I swear on my soul! I swear by all the gods- I will never kill again! I’ll take no more than a mouthful of blood, I need no more! I won’t take it from men! I’ll drink from rats, vermin! Please!”

Vero motioned for Kitty and they left the room together, once Dora helped Vero back to her feet. “After you take off its head, have your men bring the remains out into the sun to be sure it’s completely dead.”

If Kitty was troubled by her instructions, she did not show it. “Anything else?”

Dora was astonished. “Gods, Vero. Are you sure? How can-?”

“There is no way to return a vampyre to life. Do you remember what I told you about simple minded vampyres counting grains of rice?”

“Yes.”

“That is the natural state of a revenant on its first return to life. The human soul is meant to leave its body after death, it remains only if it becomes trapped for one reason or another. Gibbering undead like that simply wish to be put out of their misery, so that they may go to their rest. Vampyres in a coven only act as they do because the blood of their master compels them. If their master is destroyed while they’re like this, they’ll usually become comatose. Or return to their families in a daze, and attempt perform the rote action of their old routines. They’re not dangerous in this state, and can be given a chance to bid farewell to their family or acquaintances. I hoped we might offer Fatima that same charity…”

Vero turned to Kitty. “If there are any such strays left in the city, they shouldn’t be difficult to find. They'll make no attempt to hide their vampyric nature, and some may even be so wracked with guilt they present themselves to a priest for absolution.”

Kitty nodded.

“But what about her?” Dora asked. “Fatima appeared as though-”

Vero interrupted. She did not know a way to allow Dora to remain comfortably ignorant. She could only force knowledge on her quickly, so that the coldness would soon pass. “-It was clever enough to play human- to attempt to manipulate us into releasing it. Creatures this far gone must all be destroyed immediately and without hesitation. Young vampyres may have only killed under the duress of their master… but for a vampyre’s independent intellect to develop and reassert itself, they must integrate their new bloodlust into their own nature.”

By torturing her until she had been forced to break her master’s hold, it was Vero who had first separated Fatima from her master’s control. Was it then her fault that Fatima’s own soul was corrupted before her master’s destruction?

Perhaps, it was. But it had also been necessary for the hunt, so there was no use in making herself feel guilty for it after the fact.

“Once they've developed this individual initiative, they will inevitably attempt to form their own covens to keep themselves fat and sated. If any vampyres are found attempting to hunt for blood, or hide their true nature, they must be put to their final deaths at once. If they do not attempt to conceal themselves, they can be trusted to bid farewell to their loved ones. Though even those poor creatures must also be forced to meet the sunrise eventually.”

Kitty blew a final puff of smoke, before handing her pipe to a servant for refilling. “I will use my influence to see that it is done. You won’t receive any additional compensation if more do turn up, of course.”

“Of course. I’m sure you have a bill for my medical care ready for me as well.”

“Don’t trouble yourself. Besides destroying the coven you’ve also put my most distasteful competition out of business. Consider your doctor’s fees a bonus for a job well done.”

Behind them Fatima started to scream. Dora was gravely affected by the sound, so Vero put an arm around her and led her away.

Dora needed to help Vero manage the steps when they returned to their apartment together. Dora sat on the ground and looked up at her, while Vero deposited her weapons in her trunk. Vero sat down next to her, and Dora laid her head against her shoulder. She put an arm around Dora’s waist to pull them closer together.

“I don’t think I have ever met anyone quite like you, Veronique.”

“I feel the same about you.”

“You’re only being flattering, I’m sure. There’s nothing very special about me.”

“Not true.” Vero picked up Dora and placed the girl on her lap. It had been days since her injury, but she still felt a sharp pain in her hip until she adjusted her weight. She kissed Dora’s neck and took long breaths of jasmine. “You saved my life, no one else in this city would have followed me down into the sewers like you did.”

“You’ve already saved my life often enough. Watching you fight those evil things…” She felt Dora shudder. “I was so frightened for you. But you were rather marvelous. The greatest knight a princess could hope for.” She was silent for a little while. “You’ll be leaving soon now, won’t you?”

Vero nodded and kissed her cheek. “I suppose I will.”

Dora sniffed and looked away. “I will miss you- miss you terribly.”

“You could come with me.”

Dora turned her head with sudden hope, before questioning herself with indecision. “What would I do for you?”

“You could cook… and I’ve had enough of laundry work for a lifetime.”

“Like a helpmate?”

“I travel in men’s clothes; it would be a simple enough matter to pass you as my wife.”

“I’ve always dreamed of seeing other lands.” Dora gave her a coy look and bit the knuckle of her index finger. “Are there any other duties I would need to perform for you?”

“Perhaps you could find some other little ways to please me. Other wifely duties you might offer to me.” Vero pulled down Dora’s dress and massaged her breasts. It was not the slightest bit cold, but Vero could not help but notice that Dora’s broad nipples felt very hard between her fingers.

“When the slayers taught you to disguise yourself- how fully do you commit to your new identity?”

“Completely. The best way to tell a lie… is to make it the truth.”

“I-” Dora let the veneer of coquettishness she used as a shield drop, just for a moment. “I’m not mistaken, am I? You really do wish to go to bed with me? Not as we do every night- I mean as a man and a woman go to bed together.”

Vero’s heart was pounding in her chest. “I do very much wish so, my love.”

“I’m not- well, I know how a man goes to bed with a catamite… but Vero, neither of us has…” Dora’s voice was beginning to crack.

“Just relax yourself and do as I do.”

Dora’s breathing was shallow, and when she spoke again her voice was very small. “You said ‘my love’ to me just a moment ago. Did you mean that as well?”

“I would not say such a thing to you if I did not mean it, beloved.”

Dora reached a hand behind her and slid her fingers down Vero’s trousers. They snaked their way through her navel hair and Vero’s body felt like it was afire. She could feel the same heat radiating from Dora.

“Ah, Vero… Veronique, I-” At last Dora reached her sex, and Vero felt as though she might burst into flame at any moment.

Dora pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry Veronique, I can’t. Forgive me. I don’t know how to- not with another woman- I mean...”

Dora tried to stand, but Vero kept ahold of her wrist and she fell to land right back in her lap. Vero winced at the pain in her hip, but it faded in a moment.

“Call me Virgil.”

“Virgil?”

“My- it’s the name I travel under.”

Vero turned her around. They appraised one another with hard looks of plain desire for a single long moment, before pressing their lips together with such a tremendous passion that it staggered Vero in its intensity.

“Oh, Virgil! My darling handsome knight, Ser Virgil.” And Dora continued with further moans and sighs.