As they made their way around the outside gates, Seain noticed that one tourist, a young woman, had strayed from the group and was headed towards an area that she might fit through. He motioned to Niles, and they followed her at a distance.

“Excuse me, miss,” Seain called out, approaching the woman. “The group is over here.”

The woman jumped and turned to face Seain, her eyes wide with surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I just got lost.”

Seain smiled. “No problem. Let’s get back to the group because of the potential dangers out here.”

As they walked away, Seain and Niles couldn’t help but wonder how many other tourists had tried to sneak through the outer walls and how many had been successful. They knew they had to be vigilant and protect their home and clan from outsiders who sought to exploit it for profit.

The brothers could see their fellow clan members watching from the top of the castle, knowing that their vampire eyesight was far superior to that of the humans in the group who could not see them.

Seain exchanged a smile with his father and Killian, who were watching from the top of the castle.

The solo traveler noticed Seain’s smile and started looking where he was. “Oh man, do you see something? What is it?” He started questioning Seain.

Seain took a few steps back, away from the traveler. “No, I don’t see anything. I was admiring the castle and the architecture.”

The solo traveler looked disappointed, but Seain didn’t want to give any more attention to the matter. He knew that if the humans caught wind of any suspicious behavior, it could cause trouble for their clan.

As the group continued their tour, Seain and Niles couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over them. They remembered the times when they would sneak out of the castle at night to explore the village and surrounding forests. It was a different time, a simpler time.

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As the tour came to an end and the group began their descent back down the mountain, Seain and Niles made eye contact with their fellow clan members once more. They exchanged a silent nod, acknowledging the success of the tour and the continued secrecy of their existence.

Seain and Niles couldn’t wait to return to the castle and share their adventure with their clan. It was a reminder that, despite the challenges of their lifestyle, they were proud of who they were and the unique bond they shared with their fellow vampires.

Upon returning to the inn, Seain and Niles were taken aback by the stark contrast between the villagers they met and the way they were being portrayed. They couldn’t believe how unfairly the people of the village were being characterized.

Niles couldn’t shake off the feeling of disgust. “They lied about everything, the danger, the attack, the entire tour was a sham.”

Seain nodded in agreement. “It’s just a way to make money off of our clan’s reputation.”

Niles clenched his fists. “We need to do something about this. We can’t let them get away with this.”

Seain put a calming hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’ll talk to Killian about it. Maybe he has a plan.”

Niles nodded, the idea of revenge simmering in his mind. They made their way back to the castle to speak with Killian. As they entered the throne room, they could see the tension in Killian’s face.

“What is it?” Seain asked, sensing the unease.

Killian sighed heavily. “The council has issued a warning. They suspect humans have become aware of our presence and are trying to find us.”

Niles spoke up, the anger in his voice contained. “That’s because of the lies they’re spreading about us. They’re charging people to take a tour of the castle, claiming they’ll see us and even saying one of us attacked them.”

Killian’s eyes narrowed. “I see. We cannot allow this to continue. We need to find out who is responsible and put an end to it.”

Seain went to his chambers and stared at the black wall in front of him.

Seain sat down on his bed, staring at the black wall in front of him. He had a lot to think about. The tour of the castle had been eye-opening, and he couldn’t help but feel frustrated with the way humans portrayed their kind. It was all too common for them to be seen as monsters when, in reality, they were just another species trying to coexist in the world.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he heard a knock at his door. It was Niles.

“Hey, mind if I come in?” Niles asked.

“Sure, come on in,” Seain replied.

Niles sat down on the bed next to Seain, looking at him curiously.

“What’s on your mind?” Niles asked.