With the information they gathered, Seain and Niles discovered that while the clan had made a point of not harm villagers or village guests to avoid raising suspicion, they needed to instill fear into the people to keep them away from the castle. They were also warned that the vampires must not be disturbed.
The following day, the town was shrouded in dark clouds, which was perfect for Seain and Niles to venture out and explore without drawing too much attention to themselves.
Seain and Niles received information that a group of tourists was going to be guided by a few locals who charged a fee for tours to the castle, allowing visitors to get up close to the gates and glimpse the vampires.
Seain and Niles found the news absurd. Having grown up in the castle their entire lives, they knew no one could see inside the windows or get close to the castle gates. The brothers suspected that the locals leading the tours were using it as an opportunity to scam gullible tourists.
Upon finding the group of villagers, the exorbitant price of the tour took aback, offering tours to the castle, Seain, and Niles. However, the tour leader warned them of the acute danger of encountering vampires, recounting a recent attack that had occurred just days before. Despite the warning, the brothers couldn’t help but think the villagers were exploiting the rumors to make a quick profit.
Niles became enraged by the false claims of a vampire attack, as he knew their clan had strict rules against harming anyone who came near the castle or ventured into the village. He couldn’t believe that this group was spreading lies about their home, friends, and family. Despite his anger, he knew he must also remain calm and not overreact and cause a scene.
Seain paid the man, and they all agreed to meet up at a specific time and place where they would begin the hike to the castle.
As they walked away, “I can’t believe this. We’re the monsters and they are just looking to make a quick dollar by lies.” Growled Niles.
Seain nodded in agreement. “We have to put a stop to this. We can’t let them continue to spread these false rumors and put people in danger.”
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Niles looked at Seain with a hint of admiration. “But how do we do that without revealing who we are and our true intentions?”
Seain thought for a moment. “We’ll have to be subtle. Let’s follow them on their tour and see what they’re telling people. Maybe we can undermine their credibility without giving away our identity.”
Niles nodded in agreement, and they followed the group from a distance.
When they met with the tour guides later that evening, Seain and Niles were surprised to see the amount of gear they had brought along. There were vials of holy water, strings of garlic, silver jewelry, wooden stakes, and other mysterious items that they couldn’t identify. The guides assured them that these were necessary to protect the group from the dangers of the vampires.
Seain found it amusing that the guides thought their weapons would protect them from the Midnight Origin vampires. However, he knew it was better to play along and not draw attention to themselves. The group of travelers comprised a mix of people, including a young couple, a group of friends, and a lone adventurer. Seain and Niles kept to themselves, watching their every move. They made sure to stay at the back of the group, away from the guides and the other travelers.
The tour began with a hike through the dense forest surrounding the castle. As they walked, Seain and Niles noticed the guides were taking the group on a circuitous route, avoiding certain areas that were too close to the castle. It was clear to the brothers that the guides were misleading the tourists, trying to make it seem more dangerous than it was.
Despite their skepticism, Seain and Niles couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement as they neared the castle. It had been years since they had seen their home from the perspective of outsiders. As they approached the gates, Seain noticed one of the tour guides slipping a small vial of liquid into his pocket.
“What’s that?” Seain asked, pointing to the vial.
The guide looked startled for a moment before composing himself. “Oh, just some extra holy water,” he said with a nervous laugh.
Seain narrowed his eyes, suspicious of the guide’s explanation. He knew their clan did not believe in the superstitions of holy water and garlic, as they had never posed a threat to vampires. He glanced at Niles, who had also noticed the exchange, and they exchanged a knowing look.
They continued to look through the gates and into the castle courtyard. The group was in awe of the towering castle walls and the eerie silence that surrounded them. Seain and Niles knew the vampires were watching them through the windows, but they remained calm and watched as the tourists took pictures and marveled at their surroundings.