Terrill's feet burned and ached with every step along the stone road. He had not been given a carriage or even a cart for his journey, nothing at all, not even coins for supplies.

"I think you've learned your lesson." A gentle voice spoke from his side. "Right?"

The vampire twins, Brayko and Preslava, walked either side of Terrill, Brayko with his hands resting on his head, Preslava on her hips.

"What do you mean?" Terrill only asked because the mist appeared to stretch on indefinitely, just like the road.

"When you're making deal with a vampire make sure you specify everything." Brayko smiled. Small fangs, the distinctive trait of all vampires, glistened in the dull light. "We've been alive for a long, long time. So we know how to be real shits about deals and agreements."

"One reason it always takes so long." Preslava sighed. "Unlike you humans, who just assume so much, we fight and nit-pick over everything."

"And Dorchick is no better?" Terrill glanced behind. The floating skull wraith, Zvezdelin, floated several feet behind them. No matter how fast or slow they travelled he always maintained the same distance.

So we're in perfect strike range if we mess up. Or, perhaps, if these twins try to flee.

"Since we've got a long walk ahead of us." Terrill lazily withdrew the map.

A nearby signpost indicated they were making good progress but they would not reach their destination before nightfall. Terrill was not looking forward to sleeping rough in these lands. The meter thought of sleeping under the stars brought back the memories of the harsh nights he had spent with Lila. Those brief moments of levity were replaced with anger, anger over Leo's betrayal.

"What was that?" Preslava asked. "You just sort of stopped before."

Brayko smiled. "You haven't gone senile, have you? It's going to be really difficult to complete our mission if you have."

"It would make things easier," Terrill said softly.

Neither of the twins knew of his circumstances and merely shrugged.

"Regardless...Regardless-"

"See?" Brayko frowned lightly. "You're doing it again."

"Be quiet, brother." Preslava sighed. "What were you trying to say, Terrill?"

"What sort of beast are we hunting?" Terrill checked the maps again. "He didn't say and there's nothing here but a location."

"Would the other humans consider vampires beasts?" Brayko wondered aloud. "Probably. But that's what this beast is." Brayko pulled close to Terrill, pulling his cheeks down hard with both hands. "A Horasiu. A vampire-"

"Stop that!" Preslava threw a stone at his head, one he easily dodged. "Honestly. It's so difficult to focus with him. Sometimes I can't believe I have him as a brother, especially when we're trying to talk about serious matters and you're acting like a fool!"

Brayko merely shrugged and continued pulling faces. Preslava grumbled and stared into Terrill's eyes, pointedly ignoring her brother.

"A Horasiu is a vampire that has fed too much on the blood of human children," Preslava explained. "All vampires require blood but the older one becomes the less they need and the weaker the desire becomes."

Brayko began to pout as he was being ignored. Both Terrill and Preslava made a point to not acknowledge his behaviour, it was attention that he craved in the first place.

"But new Vampires do not have that level of control." Preslava rolled down her collar.

Two small puncture wounds lay on her neck, long since healed but the scars remained. Terrill was certain Brayko was doing the same, a tiny glance from Preslava all but confirmed it but he still chose to ignore him.

"They are more wild and uncontrollable than the most deranged human. Lashing out at anything they can see in an attempt to quench an insatiable thirst."

"An insane vampire." Terrill nodded thoughtfully. "Were you two like that when you became..."

"Yes." Brayko chuckled. "But it only lasts a few days, if you're lucky. But a Horasiu continues drinking too much blood. They drown in it. Children's tastes the sweetest..."

"But if you kill the child they stop producing blood," Preslava said dryly. "Better to keep them alive, for a time."

Brayko skipped ahead. "Do you remember Amura? Those kids could scream so loud as we-"

"Brayko!" Preslava's yell was almost deafening.

Brayko quickly realised they were not alone and clamped his mouth shut. "Sorry sis."

Clearly you're no better than this beast. I wonder if Lila will become the same.

"I..." Preslava ran a hand through her hair. "We had a phase. But it's over now."

Something tells me it's really not.

"Regardless, a Horasiu has physically transformed. To a thing that doesn't even resemble the person."

"In body or in spirit." Brayko quietly added.

"They are extremely fast and powerful but they have lost the ability to use any kind of magic." ¥ smiled. "So it'll be easy for us. You just need to worry how you'll convince Dorchik's son to return home."

A silence descended upon their small group, with only the patter of soft boots and the rustling of clothes to break the monotony.

If we have to walk the entire way I might actually die. Then brought back as whatever monstrosity takes a vampire's fancy.

"Is there any way we could get a carriage, or even a cart?" Terrill asked. He even looked back to ¢. The wraith simply continued floating behind him, its flaming eyes unblinking and unmoving.

"We could steal one." Brayko offered. He scoffed at the thought a moment later. "Only if we want a horde of angry humans chasing us down."

"Are...Are you honestly threatened by a gang of humans?"

Brayko scoffed. "No! Absolutely not. But if we just kill them it'll make things a lot more difficult."

"How?"

"Vampires are not just predators." Preslava began. "We are also protectors. We defend the people and they provide us with goods and corpses."

"I'm sorry?" Terrill almost tripped on a small rise on the road. As he staggered he felt an impossibly cold hand holding and supporting his shoulder. Zvezdelin's ghostly hand extended from his cloak, far longer than a human’s but no less strong.

"Thank you." Terrill dusted his front down. Zvezdelin released his hold and continued to float behind them, like nothing had happened.

"I don't know how to grow crops." Brayko shrugged. "Nor how to cut wood, fashion stone or lay roads. That's what humans are for."

"Some vampires tried to rule through fear." Preslava continued. "They killed and butchered anything and everything."

"For some reason, the humans fled those lands." Brayko giggled. "Then they had nothing but rats and vermin to infest their lands. And were easy prey for those that treated their humans with respect. Well, there are times when you just really, really want to rip someone apart and drink their blood."

"Only criminals." Preslava waved her hand to reassure Terrill. "So most humans behave themselves."

"And without them, we wouldn't have a supply of corpses." Brayko nodded to Zvezdelin. "Even Dorchik would have serious trouble trying to make something like him without a human corpse. Well, at least a skull."

"Do you remember anything of your past?" Terrill asked the floating skull.

The flaming eyes narrowed but nothing escaped its blackened teeth. Terrill didn't even know of it could talk.

"That would be the first time I've ever seen a wraith talk to someone." Brayko smiled, resting his hands on his head once again. "That alone would almost make this trip worth it."

Terrill glanced back again at the floating skull. He was sure the flaming eyes were actually looking straight into his own but it was difficult to tell. Doubly so when the skeletal wraith never gave any outward emotion.

“How do Vampires, like Dorchik, create something like Zvezdelin?”

“Do you understand how magic works?” Brayko asked. His voice and demeanour held no malice.

“No…”

“It would be too difficult to explain how Vampiric Necromancy works,” Preslava said softly. “Necromancy is bad enough. Then you have to try and understand...No. No. It would take too long and distract you from trying to think of a way to return Dorckik’s son.”

“Any idea why he left?”

“None.” Brayko shrugged. “But I’m sure he’ll tell you.”

They continued to walk, with nothing to see in the endless fog and only their boots landing on the rough stone road. Eventually, something emerged through the fog. Terrill knew they were nowhere near their destination but anything to break up the monotony was more than welcome.

Zvezdelin floated in front and raised his shadowy hand. A cart lay before them, a wheel had broken and nearly dragged the cart into the soft dirt. Four people tried their best to lift it back onto the road but they were having little luck. Terrill immediately wondered why they hadn’t removed the goods to lighten the load.

“See?” Brayko laughed. “You wanted a cart, and now we’ve got one.”

“We’ll see if we can help and get a ride to the nearest city,” Terrill said. Brayko slowly nodded, clearly not what he originally meant. “But I haven’t seen any since leaving the port.”

“They are here,” Preslava said. “It’s the fog, it obscures nearly everything. But you’re right there aren’t many roads leading to them. Sometimes it’s best if no one knows they’re there.”

What a horrifying way to live.

“Hello.” Terrill waved at the stuck cart. “Do you need a hand?”

The four people stopped and jerked suddenly to face him. Terrill stopped in his tracks; three were human but one was clearly something similar to Zvezdelin, albeit with more flesh, rotting flesh at that.

“They don’t seem too happy,” Preslava muttered. “Though they probably think we’re going to attack them.”

“Yes...Yes, we do.” One of the human men stepped out of the shallow ditch, rubbing his hands against his thick pants. “Our wheel fell off and we’ve been having trouble getting it back on.”

Terrill tried to step forward but Zvezdelin refused to let him move. Before he could ask the smoky wraith simply pointed to something beside the cart. Poorly hidden underneath a large bush were three bodies, actual corpses that were not moving. They had clearly been hacked to pieces with axes, the same type of weapons that hanged from the three humans.

“Oh dear,” Preslava smirked. “You’re nothing more than dirty bandits. Are you crazy? You know what will happen to you when they catch you?”

“Three humans,” Brayko smirked. “You know that’s a major crime. Right?”

The undead creature pointed to the bodies. “They were already dead when we got here.” It’s wet voice was barely understandable but it spoke very slowly to compensate.

“That’s why you’re trying to save the cart rather than the bodies?” Terrill was surprised that he was actually speaking. “People are worth more than just some...What. Wood? Cut wood? That’s what’s more important to you?”

All three shared a worried look.

“Already he’s doing pretty well,” Preslava whispered to her brother. “So how about you three surrender and come-”

The undead creature pointed its hand at Terrill. A black smoke coiled around his arm, Zvezdelin darted towards the creature. The cloak moved as if he still had legs but there was nothing there other than thin wisps of smoke. The creature did not try and stop but it was too late. A smoky blade cut the undead creature perfectly down the centre. All three of the humans lunged at Zvezdelin but the smoky wraith backed away, dodging and weaving its ethereal body from every frenzied attack.

“I think it’s our turn now.” Preslava quickly unbuttoned her shirt and held it up for Terrill. “Could you please hold them? We don’t want them to get dirty.”

“O...Okay.” Terrill gently took Preslava’s shirt, followed by Brayko.

While Brayko was topless, sporting a decent build for a child, Preslava wore a type of singlet. Though she was likely many times older than Terrill she was still a woman and wanted some measure of dignity.

Zvezdelin, still dodging the three people's attacks, retreated towards them. Terrill knew that it could have killed them easily yet it had chosen not to. He presumed that it was to give the twins a chance to show off.

“Thanks Zvezdelin!” Brayko cracked his neck. “But we’ll take it from here. These Lessers aren’t worth your time.”

The smoky wraith did not acknowledge his words but darted away regardless. The three, Lessers, spun towards the twins. For a moment they looked happy, happy they were fighting children, but they quickly realised that the wraith had backed away to let them fight.

“I...” The Lesser at the rear raised his axe, holding it loosely with his thumb. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”

You were more than willing when you had that creature with you.

Brayko had the same thought. “Really? Then do us all a favour and cut your own head off! Save us the trouble.”

The Lesser’s face dropped and he began to run, leaving the remaining two to fight the twins. For a moment they considered running but the Vampire Twins were upon them. Terrill expected them to fight with magic, he had never seen Vampiric magic nor had the book he had read spoke much about them, but he was a little disappointed that they fought with their firsts. They dodged the mad swing of the Lessers and struck them deep into their guts. The sickening crunch of broken bones and torn flesh echoed throughout the air.

“Pretty weak for a Lesser.” Brayko jumped back, running a hand through his hair as he bounced from one foot to another. “I don’t even need to use any magic.”

Both of the Lessers groaned, trying to stand on their feet but simply unable to find the strength. Preslava sighed, ran towards her target and kicked his head backwards. With a sickening crack the Lesser’s head flew backwards and to one side. Only the Lesser’s skin stopped his head from flying off.

“Playing?” Preslava skipped back as the remaining Lesser tried a swing at her, missing her completely and digging deep into his companion. “After all we’ve been through?”

“When was the last time we could?” Brayko smiled at Terrill. “Besides, I think he wants to see what we’re capable of. Probably thinks Vampires are worth more than just some punches and kicks.”

Preslava shrugged as she returned to Terrill’s side. “You know that last Lesser is still getting away.”

Terrill could just make out the outline of the fleeing Lesser, running through the thick fog in a blind panic.

“Umm... Zvezdelin? Can you please...Deal with him?”

The smoky wraith gave an imperceptible nod and flew towards the fleeing Lesser. He moved even faster than before, the black smoke barely contained within his cloak while none of it touched the ground.

“He seems excited.” Preslava smiled. “Come on Brayko! Show us what you’ve got!”

Brayko smirked and clapped his hands together. The remaining Lesser finally staggered to his feet, a hand held his stomach which was now slick with blood and something much darker.

Brayko ruptured his insides. He won’t survive this, even if he does manage to kill us.

The Lesser readied a shaky stance and slowly advanced. Brayko muttered something under his breath, Terrill could not understand a single word but it sounded ancient and wrong. A red mist began to coil around Brayoka, slowly condensing into a type of blade, long and thin it looked like it was capable of cutting through anything.

“So long since I’ve had to use this.” Brayko nevertheless smiled. “But Terrill deserves to see us at our best!”

The young Vampire ran forward, holding the thin sword high above his head. The Lesser swung his axe but Brayko caught it with his blade, sending both of their weapons tumbling away. The Lesser drew a small blade from his waist and thrust towards Brayko’s neck. For a moment he looked hopeful, in the way a dying man looked to strike back at his killer, but it evaporated when he realised Brayko was smiling too.

The red mist forming Brayko’s blade dissipated and coiled back to his hand, forming nothing more elaborate than a spear. He thrust the blade into the Lesser’s throat before punching him in the stomach again. Terrill involuntarily wretched at the sight of bone and a spinal fragments flying free. Brayko skipped back, proudly watching as the Lesser fell dead.

“There!” Brayko smiled as he returned to Terrill’s side. “So, what do you think?”

“I...I didn’t know how Vampires fought.” Terrill found himself frowning. “I thought there would have been more magic. Vampiric magic.”

Brayko nodded. “We can do that. But that takes a bit of time. And you saw just how effective it was. There wasn’t a need to use all of our magic on these Lessers.”

“And they are?”

Brayko stopped before reaching for his shirt, still in Terrill’s hands. He sighed as he saw the droplets of blood covering his chest but his eyes widened seeing the blood staining his fists. Shakily, he began to lick the blood from his fingers. Preslava groaned and rolled her eyes, taking back her shirt with a harsh yank, while Zvezdelin watched on in silence.

Brayko said nothing until the blood was gone, all the while his eyes were filled in ecstasy. “How long has it been since I’ve tasted blood?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“I don’t know why you enjoyed that.” Preslava shook her head. “The blood of a Lesser is disgusting. Perhaps you’re like a dog, you can eat offal and think it’s a gourmet dinner.”

Brayko ignored her and finished licking his arms. Terrill still had no words to describe what he was witnessing. He took the shirt, gave a small smile, and hastily put it on. After giving his front a quick patdown he smiled at Terrill once again.

“So what are these Lessers?” Terrill asked, if only to distract himself from what he had just witnessed from Brayko. “Are they something like new vampires?”

“Failures, mostly,” Preslava said. “Humans, and other creatures that have been made into Vampires. Especially from a Vampire that isn’t very powerful. They have some strength…”

“But stronger than a normal human?”

“A little. But a trained human soldier could easily beat them.” Preslava shrugged. “There is almost nothing left that can suffer a severed head and survive. We are no exception.”

Brayko glanced to the cart. “Actually, there might be a way to show you some Vampiric magic. There’s nothing to haul the cart, and I’m not going to. Neither are you and Zvezdelin’s never going to do something like that.”

Brayko looked to the smoky wraith. “I don’t even think that he can.”

Zvezdelin remained motionless.

“Not unless you want him to try and make his sword push...No. That’s a terrible idea.” Despite Brayko’s words he still seemed a little interested in the possibility.

Preslava merely shook her head as they approached the cart. Much to Terrill’s dismay there was nothing more than freshly cut logs, ready for processing into timber planks, nothing worth murdering three people over.

“I agree,” Preslava said softly. Terrill doubted they could read his mind, but she had probably been around long enough to pick up on his facial expression.

“I’ll do it.” Brayko sounded less confident than before as he looked to the dead humans. “I’m sure Dorchik will understand, at the very least I’ll give them to the local Vampire. He can deal with it afterwards.”

“You can just give your creations from one Vampire to another?” Terrill ran his hand over the timber logs.

“Of course.” Brayko stopped before the dead humans. “It’s not that difficult. But turning up with three dead humans is going to cause a lot of issues. Thankfully Zvezdelin should be more than enough to make them understand.”

Is he famous amongst the Vampires, or will they simply feel some of Dorchik’s magic on him?

Brayko clapped his hands together and began to speak in the same ancient language he had before. The red mist settled over the dead humans, slowly they began to stir and twitch. A few breaths later and they shambled until they were standing. Unfortunately they were not alive, in the traditional sense. They had the same flaming eyes as Zvezdelin but slightly more dim. Brayko was nowhere near as powerful as Dorchik after all.

“Alright. They’ll pull the cart for us.” Brayko stepped to the side as resurrected humans slowly trudged towards the cart. They easily pulled the damaged cart back onto the road. “So we don’t have to worry about it. Come on. We don’t have all day.”

Neither of the Vampire twins paid the dead Lessers any regards. Already he could see movement in the fog, shadows slowly drawing closer. Creatures drawn to the smell of blood. Zvezdelin followed the twins so Terrill made sure he was close behind.

---[]---

Terrill did not know what to feel as they approached the human village. Relief, to some degree. The ride on the cart had lessened the aches and pains travelling across his body, though the cart was certainly not that well built or maintained. If he had a choice he would have preferred to keep walking, just much slower. Regardless, there was little for him to do but deliver the cart to whoever passed for leadership in the little village.

“This isn’t a particularly big town.” Preslava stood next to Terrill, resting her shoulder against his head. “But we should look towards the building with the Vampire’s Crest on top. It always houses the leader of the village.”

“And the place where they store the blood and corpses of the dead.” Brayko, sitting at Terrill’s other side, pointed to the outer buildings. “See? They’ve got a few guardians.”

Preslava snorted derisively. “If you can really call them that.”

Brayko pointed to a large wooden post rammed deep into the ground, onto which a large creature had been tied, really chained. It was little more than a horrific chaotic amalgamation of rotting body parts, held together with grotesque metal bands and pieces of bone. Compared to everything Terrill had seen so far in this land it was this that made him want to wretch. The guardian shuffled about aimlessly until they came to close. It stopped suddenly, every part of its decaying body fell completely still before it launched itself towards them. Zvezdelin readied his weapon but the guardian could not reach them. Its metal chain bit hard around its neck and caused its body to lurch to a grinding halt, the myriad of disjointed limbs and protrusions tried to fly forward but couldn’t.

“Calm down.” Brayko laughed. “We’re friendly. Right?”

The guardian gave no sign it understood or cared. Its teeth gnashed angrily while its limbs flailed wildly, some ripping at the dead flesh surrounding the metal chain around its neck. Never once did it stop its furious assault until they passed the outer wall of the town. The moment they did the creature stopped, uncaring of the wounds it had inflicted upon itself and returned to its previous behaviour, idly mulling and shifting through the foggy ground.

“Do I even want to know what that was?” Terrill muttered.

Preslava shrugged. “Every Vampire has to start somewhere. Even Dorchik was a novice, at one time. Some of the more successful failures are kept, to keep the towns and villages safe.” The young Vampire smiled at him. “Despite everything that we’ve seen there are many things that are very dangerous, even to us. Just be thankful that they only come out at night.”

Terrill tried to look up at the sun, obscured by the thick fog. He didn’t want to know just how dark it became in these lands.

The human village was far more squalid than the most of the worst villages in Qaiviel. The buildings were in decent condition but the people, the people were pathetic. All wore ragged clothes and glared at them with a mixture of terror and awe.

Must be Zvezdelin.

“Where is your leader?” Brayko asked the nearest human. He whimpered and scurried away, holding his cloak even tighter as if to protect himself.

Brayko frowned at his sister. “They’re not normally this bad. Honestly, Terrill, they’re not that bad.”

“The people in the port were a little strange,” Terrill muttered. “But these people are not well.”

“Perhaps it has something to do the beast Dorchik has us hunting?” Brayko shrugged.

Finally Terrill was able to get a direction, predictably to the largest building in the village. They didn’t even have the chance to exit before the village mayor emerged. She looked a little better, more confident than the rest.

“Greetings, esteemed Vampire Masters.” The mayor bowed low. “What brings you to our village during such terrible times.”

“We don’t make them call us that.” Brayko laughed nervously. “Some Vampires do, but they’re the strange ones.”

Terrill cleared his throat, as it was clear that the Vampire twins were going to wait on him. “Dorchik has sent us here to deal with a Beast that is haunting these lands.”

Haunting is almost certainly the wrong word.

The mayor’s body relaxed. “Then...Then you are most welcome.”

The way she’s speaking...Sounds like she’s being overly formal. Probably incredibly cautious of who she’s speaking with.

“The Beast roams the fields to the north of the village. It has killed nearly everyone trying to tend to the crops, but we are too weak to defeat it.”

“Not surprising.” Preslava muttered. “A mere human couldn’t probably deal with an empowered skeleton.”

The mayor didn’t respond.

“Very well.” Terrill began. “We will deal with this creature and make your lands safe.”

The mayor said nothing, staring unblinkingly at them. She, nor anyone else, had said anything about the zombies dragging their cart. Neither of the twins had anything to say so they directed the cart towards the north. The human villagers once again gave them a wide berth Terrill silently sighed. Everything in this land was so strange. And yet, despite his discomfort, it was the only way to get Lila back.

---[]---

“That...That was disappointing.” Brayko wiped the sweat from his brow. “Very disappointing. Probably could have done this with just Zvezdelin.”

He stood on top of the dead Vampiric beast, torn to bloody shreds and its limbs severed. Originally it looked little more than a giant human, warped with cancerous growths and an impossibly long tongue. Despite all of its terrible visage it was surprisingly weak. That alone made Terrill far more worried than anything the beast could have done to them.

“I thought it would actually pose a challenge.”

“It did.” Preslava spat on the ground. “But we’ve been through worse.”

Terrill sat in the cart, too terrified to move or respond. The beast had attacked them but a few moments after leaving the village. Zvezdelin remained next to him but hovering nearby with his shadowy sword drawn.

“So…” Brayko jumped from the dead beast's head, not before giving it another slice with his strange vampiric magic. “Did Dorchik say this was meant to be a serious test of our ability?”

“He…” Terrill gripped his hands tight. “He said it would be impossible for me. That it would be some sort of test...But I don’t understand what he wants me to do.” Terrill waited until both had returned to the cart. “Said it was something to…”

“So long as it’s dead.” Preslava reached out and took back her shirt. Her singlet had become covered in blood, not that she seemed to mind. “Then we can move onto the next thing.”

“I still don’t understand.” Terrill held his head in his hands and rubbed his wrinkled face up and down. “What was the point of this?”

“Dorchik has many peculiarities.” Preslava put on her shirt, uncaring of the blood underneath. “But he doesn’t lie. Brayko? What do you make of this? Zvezdelin isn’t…”

Brayko still stood at the dead beasts head. He peered close at something lying between the beasts' destroyed eyes.

“What do you have, brother?!”

Brayko raised his hand, telling his sister to be quiet. She threw Terrill a bemused look before impatiently tapping her boot on the ground. Brayko cut deep into the beast's skull before stepping back with a smile on his face.

“That’s why it was so easy.” Brayko laughed as he returned to the cart. “There was this little guy feasting on his mind. That’s why he was so weak, poor thing could barely think.”

“Poor?” Preslava raised a brow.

Brayko held a small wriggling creature between his fingers. It looked surprisingly like a centipede but with more pincers and antenna.

“And this…”

“I don’t know who made it.” Brayko smiled, he knew but refused to say. Terrill presumed that it was Dorchik, somehow. “But it’s been there for a while.”

He glanced back to the dead beast. “Otherwise it would have taken out the entire village. No way this thing would have just been lingering on the outskirts.” He pointed to its chest. The skin had collapsed but even so, it was clear the creature had not eaten much for a long time. “It’s starving. That’s why it was so easy to kill.”

Preslava spat on the ground. “Another one of Dorchik’s little tests.”

Terrill glanced at Zvezdelin. As ever the smoky wraith did not move or show any emotion.

“But…” Preslava shrugged. “Nothing more that we can do now. Suppose we should go to the next task. What was that again?”

“Finding his wayward son.” Brayko winked at Terrill before clambering onto the cart. “I’m sure that’ll be fun.”

“Shouldn’t we alert the village that everything’s safe again?” Terrill tried to look towards the village but the fog was simply too thick to see anything more than a faint glow.

“No.” Brayko chuckled. “They didn’t even offer us anything, not even food, for our good deed. Nothing. Like it was expected. Besides, they’ll find the corpse soon enough. I’m sure they’ll sell it to some aspiring Vampire for a decent amount of money.”

“Remember when we were like that?” Preslava laughed. “Those were...Interesting times.”

The twins began to laugh and reminisce about their past, leading the zombie driven cart forward. Terrill simply watched the beasts corpse slip by in silence, knowing full well that his involvement was worth less than nothing. Dorchik was testing him for something else, beyond what he simply stated before. Terrill wondered what it could possibly be. It certainly wasn’t his mental fortitude or martial skill. Perhaps it was simply being gullible enough to agree to a Vampires bargain? He dared not ask the twins with Zvezdelin present.

---[]---

“This is the place.” Terrill checked the detailed section of the map once again. “At least...I think it is.”

“You honestly can’t feel that magic?” Brayko frowned. “I can feel so much of it, and yet you can’t?”

“I don’t have any magic,” Terrill said softly. “None. I’ve been checked, and I don’t have any.”

Brayko gently rubbed his chin, only for a moment before turning his attention to an errant speck of dirt that had somehow stuck to the collar of his expensive shirt.

“When...When we were still human, we didn’t have any magical power. But after gaining these bodies…” The young vampire glanced at Terrill. “Perhaps you should consider becoming one of us too, before it’s too late. Your body may be old but the transformation-”

“Brayko.” Preslava gently sighed. “There’s enough time for that later. Right now we need to deal with this.”

Brayko quickly agreed and focused on what lay before them, a modest house seemingly built in the middle of nowhere. The everpresent fog surrounded the house, just like it did everywhere in these strange lands, but it was somehow lighter. Dead trees and bushes lay everywhere, like something had ripped the very life from the plants. Even some of the dead creatures appeared to have suffered the same fate, their glowing eyes having been snuffed out and their bodies withered.

“No point in waiting then.”

The moment Terrill took a step forward Zvezdelin raised his smoky hand to bar his way. Terrill did not think the creature, such as it was, would ever do something in jest or to be annoying. It didn’t want him to take a single step further. When he looked down it became painfully clear; the dull grass had died a few feet before them, forming a perfect line, a circle all the way around the house.

“Some...Some sort of life-draining field?” Terrill murmured aloud.

“Of course it is.” Brayko began to frown. “But that’s...Normally a spell that Vampires use. Life drain.”

Terrill looked down at Brayko.

“It’s not very imaginative.” Brayko clicked his tongue. “But it’s not an easy spell, nor has a very large range. Normally it’s barely a foot or two, three at the most. This is clearly much, much larger.”

“Far too large.” Preslava clicked her tongue, almost identically to her brother. “It’s like he’s channelling it through something. But what, I don’t know. What could possibly be compatible with Vampiric magic? I’m sure the human nations haven’t been working on anything like that. We haven’t left our lands in generations...Vampire generations.”

The door to the house creaked open. A dim orange light leaked out, it too looked like it was somehow being drained of life, of strength. A young man emerged, wearing simple and well-worn clothes. Despite the distance, Terrill immediately knew he was a Vampire.

“Hello.” Terrill waved, feeling that they all knew why they were here. “May we speak with you?”

The young man sighed and slowly approached. Terrill was extremely glad to see that the land did not die around them, but he could not shake a chill feeling running down his spine. Zvezdelin appeared to be slowly growing more annoyed as the young man approached, even pushing back on Terrill’s chest.

“Of course.” The young man spoke with a gruff voice, unbefitting his fine and delicate features. “I mean no one any harm.”

“Well, that is good news.” Terrill smiled at the Vampire twins. Neither appeared to have much faith in his words. “We have come-”

“I know that my father has asked for you to bring me back to him.” The young man sighed. “But I fled to these lands to be rid of him. I do not mean him, or anyone in these lands any harm. So I do not understand why he has sent someone to collect me.”

His eyes narrowed. “Especially a human. A human without magic, armour or any sort of weapon.” A faint smile crept over his face. “Do you think that you can talk me into coming with you?”

“I...Was hoping that you would.” Terrill took a slow, deep breath. “But...But I must. I have someone that I must help. And following Dorchik’s instructions is the only way.”

“You could help me escape,” Koshelev said flatly. “Away from these lands. I’m sure that I could easily help you.” He smiled, but something within Terrill was deeply unsettled by it. “If it’s material wealth I can procure it.”

Terrill glanced at Zvezdelin. The smoky wraith said nothing, somehow Terrill doubted it would just let him betray his master, or whatever relationship they actually had.

“It’s far more than that,” Terrill said. Koshelev’s eyes wandered away from Terrill towards the track they had originally taken. “Far more than that. She was betrayed by her brother, someone she foolishly trusted even after everything I said to warn her. And I will bring her back.”

“Seems foolish to me.” Koshelev’s frown continued to deepen. “You seem like you could find a better master, though I know that word isn’t appropriate.”

“So will you come?” Brayko asked. “Dorchik already knows where you are. He gave us a map after all. It was very accurate...”

“Two Vampires and a Black Smoke Wraith...” Koshelev clicked his tongue. “I think I might just be able to win this.”

“I don’t think so.” Preslava began to unbutton her shirt. “But-”

Terrill placed his hand on her shoulder. She stopped and glanced up at him, like a beggar had just touched a Queen.

“We do not wish to fight.” Terrill began. “But whatever your issue is with Dorchik I’m certain that it can be amended.”

“Are you serious?”

Terrill smiled. “Absolutely. Absolutely. Family is very important. I lost mine...Twice, really. But I know that if they were still alive I wouldn’t want to be hating them, living in fear or hiding in the wilderness, waiting for some punitive strike from someone who is probably just as terrified of being hurt as you are.”

“You clearly don’t know my father very well.”

“No. I don’t. But I know what drives people.”

Is this actually having any effect on him?

“That they want to be loved and to love.” Terrill took a slow breath, hoping his words would sink in, at least a little. “So...Please come with us. If you willingly return I’m sure that Dorchik would see you in a better light. I know anyone would.”

Koshelev still seemed hesitant to agree to anything. However, a faint rattling had made up his mind for him. Out of the fog a large carriage emerged, far larger than the carriage that had taken Terrill to Dorchik. Behind the four horses sat a human driver and two skeletal crossbowmen, covered in thick armour with only their jaws showing. On each corner of the carriage sat an armoured humanoid torso, seemingly bolted to the roof and unable to move other than twisting. Those too had loaded crossbows which they pointed outward into the fog. As they lacked a head Terrill did not understand how they could see or hear but knew the Vampires would not overlook something so obvious.

“He expected...” Koshelev shook his head. “He must have sent this straight after you left. They are comfortable but not fast.”

The human driver, for now Terrill was going to presume it was a human, tipped its hat towards him as the carriage quickly came to a halt.

“Terrill, I presume?”

“It is.”

“When you are ready.” The human driver nodded at the nearest armoured torso. “We will return you to Dorchik’s castle at all possible speed.”

The armoured torso placed its weapon down, leant over the edge of the carriage and unfastened a specially designed lock before opening the door. It remained perfectly motionless as it held the door open.

Koshelev shook his head once again. “Is he trying to impress me?”

“Seems like he wants you to come back.” Terrill gestured to the carriage. “And he wants you to come back safely and in comfort.”

Koshelev ran his tongue over his vampiric teeth. Terrill briefly wondered what they would feel like, so long and sharp. He would probably be biting his tongue more times than not.

“Alright. It seems that my father isn’t going to let me live in peace.” Koshelev turned side on to his small house. “Is it alright if I finish up before I go? I don’t want anything to go wrong while I’m away.”

“Of course.” Terrill paused. “You wouldn’t want your house to burn down and set this forest on fire. Especially...”

I haven’t asked about the dead grass and trees. Would asking about that ruin what we’ve done? I get the feeling it might. Brayko and Preslava didn’t seem to be worried when he approached us.

“I won’t be long.”

Koshelev briskly walked back to his house and closed the door. Preslava made a face at Terrill.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Just letting him go? He could be trying to cast some kind of magic.”

“Or run away,” Brayko added. The young Vampire frowned and stepped closer to Terrill. “Did you actually mean any of what you said? About family and all that nonsense.”

“I do.”

Because it’s what people always screamed for when they were dying, either in the battlefield or under the torturer’s blade.

Koshelev emerged but a few moments later. He rubbed his hands with a rough piece of cloth, removing the water covering his hands.

“There were a few more things that I needed to take care of.” Koshelev stepped over the dead boundary. Zvezdelin continued to keep himself in front of Terrill. “But I’m all done now.”

He stared at the carriage and sighed once again. “I wonder if my father will say more than hello to me. That would be a nice change.”

Terrill shared a worried glance with Brayko and Preslava. Perhaps the family was truly beyond repair. But there was only one way to find out.

---[]---

The carriage finally rattled to a halt before the outer gates of Dorchik’s castle. Koshelev had said nothing since he had been captured, silently looking out into the everpresent fog. Brayko had tried to get something more out of him but the Vampire simply ignored him. Terrill knew the look, he had seen it far too often. The look of resignation, accepting the inevitable. Though Dorchik had asked for Koshelev to be returned to him he did not understand why it was such a terrible fate.

“Here we are.” Brayko smiled at one of the Wraiths that floated by the glass window, the creature’s skull slowly rotated as it drifted past. “Home...Well, it’s not for us. But I’m sure that it’ll be yours. Right?”

Koshelev softly sighed, his eyelids dropped slightly as he leant into his seat.

The Wraiths moved away from the carriage and it began to roll forward once more.

“It took him an age to build this.” Koshelev looked through the glass window to the highest of the stone spires. “All by hand. Every piece, even the tools.” Koshelev smiled. “Every piece...It’s incredible. Really.”

Terrill continued to feel more than a little conflicted about bringing Koshelev back, but Terrill had something greater in mind. Already his thoughts were turning to Lila and what should be done about Leo. Would it be enough to simply remove Leo and place her on the throne? Or would she want something more, being brought back from the dead and changed, according to Dorchik? Terrill simply had no idea, his thoughts remained unanswered as they stopped at the final gate.

The door slowly creaked open and the woman stood just beyond. Terrill smiled, he didn’t know why, but it was not returned. Just like Koshelev he did not know what relationship she had with Dorchik. Considering that he was an incredibly powerful vampire, if not the eldest in the world, he seriously wondered if he wanted to know.

“Let’s get this over with,” Koshelev grumbled.

Dorchik waited within the castle, dining at his long and extravagant table. Terrill glanced at Brayko and Preslava. Neither had eaten anything during their brief time together, yet Terrill had only seen Dorchik eat, only a small amount, admittedly, but he was always eating.

“You’ve returned.” Dorchik continued looking towards the large clear glass window. “Far sooner than I thought you would. Less than a day, actually.”

“You were waiting for us,” Terrill said. “The carriage was not ours. It simply emerged from the fog.”

Dorchik waited until they were within his sight before speaking. “I didn’t wish to wait forever. Besides, this was merely a test of your determination, rather than anything.”

Honestly, it feels like you get enjoyment out of seeing me struggle. But you have lived for...I don’t even know how long. Is that the only thing that interests you anymore? Seeing people dance about? Perhaps you’ve seen everything else.

“I did surprisingly little-”

Dorchik waved him down. “Don’t be too critical of yourself. You didn’t flee and you managed to talk him into returning. That deserves some recognition. Strength is easy to come by, after you’ve lived as long as I have you’ll know that, but a...Strength of character is far more rare.”

Terrill didn’t know if Dorchik was playing with him, he almost certainly was in one form or another, but Terrill let it slide. There was little else that he could do.

Dorchik’s attention quickly shifted from Terrill to Koshelev. The two locked eyes and the room suddenly felt very cold. Dorchik softly sighed and beckoned the young vampire closer.

“Fa-”

Koshelev’s head fell from his shoulders. His entire body fell limp and to the ground. Dorchik’s sharp knife, once slowly cutting a succulent piece of steak, now remained embedded in Koshelev’s neck, clattering loudly as he head hit the floor and rolled about aimlessly.

“I must improve my aim.” Dorchik waved a servant closer. A few droplets of blood had stained his face. “I normally would do so much better. Don’t you think, Zvezdelin?”

As ever the smoky wraith said nothing and stared blankly and unmoving at Dorchik.

“I must find a way to make you more communicative.” Dorchik pulled his chair forward. The servant offered a fine white silk piece of cloth, Dorchik mouthed a silent thanks and wiped away the blood. “Might actually have someone intelligent to talk with.”

“Why did you do that?”

For a terrifying moment Terrill thought the words had escaped his mouth but Dorchik raised his brow towards someone behind him. Brayko stood dumbfounded by what had just occurred, his jaw open and his vampiric teeth wet from his gasp.

“Why?” Dorchik frowned. “What do you mean, little brat?”

Brayko’s former shock rapidly vanished when he realised just whom he was speaking with. “Wasn’t he your son? And you sent us all that way to get him for you?”

“Yes. He is, was, my son.”

Dorchik frowned at Koshelev’s body. He whispered something to the servant, who bowed and scurried away.

“But he was also killing humans. Lots of humans. Far too many for my liking.” Dorchik shook his head and returned to his dinner. “Even you two didn’t kill that many before I grew annoyed.”

“Really?” Now it was Preslava’s turn to look incredulous. “But he said he wanted to get away from you...”

Dorchik leant into his chair. “I take it you two understand the concept of lying, no? Did you actually look inside that house of his? If you had you would have discovered the hundreds of small skulls, infant skulls. Among other collections. A few things you two are all too familiar with.”

Preslava fell incredibly silent, her body slightly collapsing in on itself to make her presence smaller.

Just how many people did you two kill? And why did it upset Dorchik more than his own son...

Terrill paused. He looked at Koshelev’s body. The death of a vampire was surprisingly easy and quick, nothing like the drawn out battle they had endured against the robbers. Either that, or Dorchik was that powerful that a normal vampire simply couldn’t compare.

Maybe this was truly a mistake...Too late to back out now.

“But you have done what I have asked.” Dorchik smiled. “The beast is dead, and so is my murderous son.”

Four servants emerged, carrying a large silvery cloth between them. Brayko and Preslava angrily barred their teeth while Zvezdelin backed away. Without a word or an kind of ceremony they placed Koshelev’s head and body into the silvery cloth. The moment it touched the fabric the skin began to blister and boil. A thick smoke emerged but Terrill could not smell anything, no moke or the repugnant odour of human flesh. All four bundled the parts together and left without saying a word.

“Silver can still work wonders on a vampire.” Dorchik smiled at Terrill. “Even though Silver cloth is extremely expensive to make, it can well be worth the investment. Even a little small handkerchief is more than enough to down most Vampires and our creations. Something to keep in mind should those around you get too rowdy.”

“This...” Terrill coughed lightly. “Is nothing like what I was expecting.”

“If it was I would be most interested to hear why.” Dorchik chuckled. “But, again, you have hold true to your end of our little agreement. And provided me with a small measure of enjoyment.”

Dorchik delicately placed his cutlery onto the table. “First, you must find Lila’s ashes. Brayko, Preslava and Zvezdelin will travel with you, since there is no possibility of you making it there on your own.”

“How will Zvezdelin travel with us without causing a riot?” Terrill asked. “Any human city would rally their entire might if they saw him.”

“It’s very difficult for steel spears and arrows to do much to a wraith.” Dorchik smiled. “But there are ways for a wraith to move undetected. Zvezdelin? Could you show them please?”

Zvezdelin gave the first sign of a word, perhaps a weak ethereal grunt, before his smoky body began to transform. It collapsed towards the floating skull until it was nothing more than a black sphere. It floated towards Terrill and slipped into the small pack on his waist. Terrill was most surprised that it didn’t weigh anything, rather than something as powerful as Zvezdelin was essentially resting beside his hip.

“See? Only a very talented Mage would discover Zvezdelin. However, know that he cannot attack or defend himself when he is like that. He is strong but...It takes time to shift from one form to another.”

Zvezdelin acted only on Dorchik’s behalf. As do the twins, in their own way. I must be careful that I don’t say anything too negatively about him, unless I want my head separated from my shoulders. Just like Koshelev.

“I hope that we won’t need him, but I fear that we will,” Terrill said. “So long as Lila returns I’m not truly bothered about what I have to work with.”

Dorchik nodded slowly. “I understand. Brayko and Preslava will provide you with the funds necessary to return to Qaiviel.”

“We will?” Brayko asked softly.

“You will. Otherwise you can join Koshelev. You two still owe the people a great debt. Remember?”

“Of-Of course.” Brayko nervously giggled. “I was merely asking. I’m sure that we have something that can sell for some gold and silver. Right? Sister?”

Preslava nodded, but her usual confidence had disappeared.

“I look forward to hearing of your success.” Dorchik turned his attention to his meal. Though Terrill had known him for a very short time he knew it was his way of saying the conversation was over.

“Bring back her ashes,” Terrill muttered to himself. “That doesn’t sound too difficult.”

He glanced at Dorchik, who completely ignored them. The blonde female servant, who Terrill still did not know the name of, silently ushered them out.

“So what’s the plan?” Brayko asked, looking over his shoulder to Dorchik. “He might have said that but we don’t actually have that much. A few trinkets...And I seriously doubt Zvezdelin has anything to sell.”

The black sphere remained motionless in the bag.

“We’ll figure it out. First we need a ship and a captain that’s willing to take us. You two definitely look like Vampires.”

“And to any outsider it would look like you’re a creepy old man kidnapping two beautiful young children.” Preslava’s words were not matched by her tone. She kept most of her attention focused behind, to where Dorchik continued to delicately cut his food.

“Perhaps.” Terrill clicked his tongue. “But we will have to deal with that when the time comes. Nothing can be done about it now. We just need to find the fastest ship that we can.”

“Shouldn’t be too difficult.” Brayko rested both of his arms on top of his head, returning to his normal gait and demeanor. “We’ll just get some more money in Qaiviel...Still feel bad about Koshelev. Do you think he knew what was going to happen?”

Terrill glanced back to Dorchik. The tiny stain of blood on the otherwise immaculate floor was already being attended to by yet another servant. Terrill wanted to say something, about how harsh this Vampire society was, but he had done and ordered worse. Much worse. He did not answer Brayko’s question as they left Dorchik as he stared through the giant glass window in perfect silence.