After the villagers left, the group got to work on their plan. They knew they needed to prove that the rumors were false without drawing too much attention to themselves. It was going to be a challenge, but they were determined to succeed.

The group couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculous sales pitch and exaggerated stories that the tour guides had spun. They knew firsthand that the villagers and the vampires were nothing like they were being portrayed, and it angered some vampires to be painted as bloodthirsty monsters. As they discussed their plan of action at the Inn, Seain suggested they gather evidence and expose the lies to the world. “We need to show the truth, that we’re not the monsters they make us out to be,” he said determinedly.

The group met with the tour guides the next morning, as the guides claimed it was the safest time to go. However, Niles was surprised to learn that this was a different tour guide group than the one they had originally encountered. “How many groups are leading villagers and tourists to the castle?” Niles muttered to himself, incredulous.

The group couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the multiple tour guide groups and their intentions. They wondered if there was some sort of organized effort to profit off the castle’s notoriety.

The next morning, they met with the new tour guides, who seemed just as prepared as the previous group. Seain and Niles kept a close eye on them, watching for any suspicious behavior. As they walked towards the castle, Seain noticed that one guide kept checking his phone, glancing up at the castle every few seconds.

“What are you doing?” Seain asked, narrowing his eyes.

The guide looked up in surprise. “Oh, just checking the weather forecast. It’s supposed to rain later,” he said, showing Seain his phone.

Seain didn’t buy it. He could tell there was something off about the guide’s behavior. He made a mental note to keep a closer eye on him throughout the tour.

As they neared the castle, the group noticed a commotion up ahead. They could hear raised voices and the sound of breaking glass. The tour guides quickly herded them off the main path and towards a secret entrance.

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“What’s going on?” Niles demanded, but the guides just kept pushing them forward.

As the tour guide led the group of vampires and four tourists through a secret entrance to the castle gate, Seain could sense the heightened alertness of the other vampires and the tourists.

Niles queried the tour guide, Nate, “How frequently do these tours enter the castle gate through this secret entrance?”

Nate chuckled, “We just started last week and we’re going further and further each time. We only do it during the day when the vampires are sleeping, and we don’t want to risk waking them up.” Seain looked up at the sky, noticing that it was cloudy and not particularly sunny, which meant that they weren’t at risk of being harmed by the sun’s rays.

Seain made a mental note of the information Nate had provided. They continued walking through the gardens, observing the tourists’ reactions to the enormous castle ahead of them. Seain couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride as they looked at the carved wooden door and the centuries-old tapestries that hung on the outside walls.

Seain couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. He had always been protective of their clan’s secrets and seeing humans so close to their home made him nervous. He also noticed that Nate was leading them to the door which the previous tour guides had at least did not enter the gate.

Seain whispered to Niles, “I don’t like this. We’re going too far in.”

Niles nodded in agreement. “We need to find out what they’re up to.”

As they continued walking, the group suddenly heard a noise come from the castle. The tourists panicked and ran in different directions, while Seain and Niles quickly assessed the situation. They realized the leaders made this noise, and they needed to handle the tourists.

As they regrouped with the other vampires and the tourists outside the castle, Niles couldn’t help but feel relieved they had avoided a disaster. He knew they needed to be more careful in the future, and he silently vowed to protect their clan’s secrets at all costs.

As they exited the gate, their hearts were racing with a mix of fear and excitement. The group of vampires was relieved to have the humans out of their grounds and away from their homes, but they knew it wouldn’t last long. They needed a more permanent solution to protect their clan and their home.

After the tour, Seain and Niles met up with the rest of the group at the inn.