Brianna wiped crimson from her lips, wishing she had malted spirits or potato liquor to wash out her mouth. After two years as a vampire, she had grown used to the taste of blood, but the most recent lot of prisoners all had crippling Pink Sellis addictions. The drug made them taste and smell rancid. She hated it. Her new master convinced her that it was necessary fuel, and there was no arguing with her. So, she clamped down on the weakly squirming man’s neck and drank, slowly pushing him to the brink of death.

The clanking of metal interrupted her feeding. “The master wants to see you,” one of her many nameless colleagues said. The faces changed regularly as everyone got moved around Terrastalia. Despite the giant black crystal spheres planted in everyone’s chest and head, the domain’s master didn’t trust them not to band together and revolt. As a result, no one stayed in one place or worked with the same people for long. Her two years in the mountain had only resulted in two acquaintances. “It seemed urgent. I’d hurry if I were for you.”

“Thank you,” Brianna said, dropping her victim and rising. Her colleague eyed the keys jealously as she locked the cell. As one of Terrastalia’s top jailers, Brianna was among the few who had real keys. She doubted the master needed them to keep the prisoners secure. Instead, the arcane device seemed to act more as a symbol of status and superiority. “How long left in your shift?”

The man didn’t answer. He moved on, a giant spear of twisted metal and flesh resting on his shoulder. It was a vile creation, and Brianna suspected its use was part of the reason he had ended up in the mage prison. She didn’t care. They were all vile criminals, murderers, and criminals. None had the moral superiority. Flashes of her actions while under Warmonger’s control still haunted her. Brianna remembered the feeling of fresh blood running down her chin for the first time. It belonged to a little boy attending her older sister’s graduation ceremony.

Brianna had blamed misfortune, Nox Ratra, and everyone in the world for quite some time after she ended up in Terrastalia. She had paid her dues, and things were going well for once in her life. Everything taking a sudden downturn didn’t feel fair. Her perspective had changed since. Now, Brianna understood the importance of her work. She kept the world safe by helping contain and tame its most dangerous criminals. If she weren’t so weak and negligent and successfully staved off the vampires who jumped her, Brianna would’ve remained free. As a result, none but she and Warmonger were to blame for her current status.

The grand structure that was the mountain’s central column awaited Brianna as she exited the cell block. The sight had fascinated and amazed her when she first encountered it. Now, after seeing it for the thousandth time, she sighed. Reaching the master meant scaling the endless spiraling steps up to the mountain’s heart. Much to her relief, she arrived just as the crystal-carrying elevator was passing. It carried the materials mined by prisoners deeper in the mountain to the surface for trade with passing cities.

The key dangling from Brianna’s belt marked her as a jailer, and the woman manning the arcane platform paused, letting her hop on. They ascended through the many levels, passing other cell blocks, tunnels to the neighboring mountains, crystal clusters or magical metal veins, and the dungeon’s more bestial residents. Her hands moved to the weapons hanging from her belt when they passed a confrontation between a jailer and three prisoners. But when the trio advanced on their superior, they all spasmed, clutching their chests and falling to their knees.

“No need to get involved so close to the master’s lair,” the elevator operator said, shaking her head. “Only idiots don’t realize that. So much for kitchen details. They’re going to get sent back to the mines for sure.”

“Or serve as blood bags for a while,” Brianna replied. She hoped for the latter. The current choice of nourishment was disgusting.

The other members of the Warmonger coven agreed with her. There were several other vampires in Terrastalia, but they were the only ones Brianna still felt at the back of her mind. They often conversed, but she drowned them out, refusing to get involved. The more mental blocks she put between herself and them, the more she progressed through the ranks within Terrastalia. However, they forever spoke and thought at her, vying for her attention, trying to decide how best to break free of the master and continue Warmonger’s mission—whatever that was. Some part of the curse seemed to know, but Brianna failed to decipher it, and her interactions with Liesel Wyrd and Kurosaki Hinata—the coven’s former leaders—were short. She hadn’t learned much from them.

The elevator paused a couple of times during its ascent. Carts laden with ore and crystals replaced the empty ones. The people moving them shot Brianna, and the weapons she carried a wary look. The only other people allowed such were the individuals made to fight each other in the dungeon’s lowest levels. She didn’t know their purpose, and the master never explained it. All residents knew better than to question the lord of the domain.

Foot traffic increased higher in Terrastalia. More people milled around working, and the number of guards also increased. Brianna stiffened as the number of eyes on her increased. Many of her colleagues enjoyed boasting about their crimes and escapades. Even though she was technically stronger and more accomplished than most of them, their presence and glares struck fear. Brianna liked to think that she knew better than to make impulsive, stupid decisions, unlike most of them. She liked her position. Others seemed willing to spend an eternity in the mines, pits, or worse, for the sake of their pride.

The ascent was long—Brianna couldn’t be sure how long since tracking time within the mountain was challenging—but it took half the time it would’ve taken her to use the stairs. Her cold heart beat faster and harder as she approached the mountain’s heart where the master resided. Interacting with the Lord of Terrastalia always terrified her. Brianna struggled to believe that the master and Nox Ratra had been friends once upon a time and delved together. The fact that she was a dungeonborn was even more concerning.

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“Ah, good, Brianna Alfson,” Lillin Grey said from atop her crystal throne. “I was wondering when you’d show.”

“I’m sorry for the wait.” Brianna bowed. “I was—”

“Feasting in the depths. Yes. I’m aware of your routine. Please rise.” Lillin waved at the stone benches sitting in rows before her. The setup made her think of a temple awaiting a sermon. “How is your current detail?”

“Better than the last, master. I’ve been keeping the new arrivals in line and broke up a few fights recently—”

“Your performance has been satisfactory,” Lillin interrupted. Whenever Brianna got summoned to the master’s chamber, the talks were short. It never felt like Lillin Grey’s attention was truly on her. Things appeared different now. “Better than satisfactory, in fact. You’ve done well to distance yourself from the rest of Warmonger’s coven and the other vampires. Your behavior has also been excellent.”

“Thank you, master,” Brianna said. “I’m ready for greater commitment.”

“How would you like to leave Terrastalia? Be one of my agents on the outside?”

Brianna’s eyes widened, and her heart skipped the beat. She never considered the possibility of ever getting to leave the dungeon and had settled on trying to build a quiet life—or the cheap imitation of one—within its towering, mountainous walls.

“Of course! I’d do anything—”

“Nox asked me to keep an eye on you,” Lillin Grey continued. “He said you were a hard worker and good-spirited. Having you locked away after getting hurt at the party’s time broke his heart. He asked me to make things better for you and look into the possibility of becoming one of my agents on the outside. That’s assuming I can unentangle you from Warmonger’s curse, after all.” The woman paused. Goosebumps prickled Brianna’s skin. It was the first time her body had reacted in such a way since before she became a vampire. “If I were to set you free, your duty won’t be like the rest.”

“As I said, master.” Brianna struggled not to let her excitement show. She wanted to jump out of her skin. “Whether it be hunting for criminal mages, communicating with city rulers and councils, or simply keeping an eye on you, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“I suspect Calamity is on the move, and her target is the City of Ygg. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s also going to go after Nox. I want you to watch and protect him. The protection would also extend to his new wife and any offspring they might have. Would you be willing to accept the responsibility? Given everything that’s happened, I know your feelings toward him might not be particularly kind, but—”

“I’ll do it,” Brianna replied without hesitation. “Anything you want, master. But what happens if Calamity or another Warmonger agent appears? I’ve pushed back the other’s voices, but that's not enough. If another member of the coven emerges, someone capable of overpowering my mental blockades, I’ll become a puppet again. Placing me in close proximity to Nox in such a situation wouldn’t be the smartest move.”

“That’s where the complication comes in,” Lillin said. “Unwinding you from the curse is beyond me. However, there might be a way to dampen it with my influence.” She pointed at Brianna’s left breast, where the fist-sized black crystal sphere resided. “By empowering that. It won’t be easy or safe. But if it succeeds, you can return to the outside world.”

“So you want me to be the subject of your experiment. That may or may not succeed and death is a possibility.”

“All freedoms come with a risk here, Brianna Alfson. If you’re not willing, you could always return to your detail, and I’ll try to find someone new for the job.”

“No. Death would be an excellent release from this curse. I tried freeing myself, as you know, but it didn’t work.” It was the first time Brianna had admitted it out loud. Her cold heart slowed. Even though she no longer needed to breathe, she inhaled before slowly releasing all the air from her lungs. “I’ll do it. Whatever it takes. If you can replace the voices in my head, it will be even better.”

“They might become a dull murmur,” said a woman emerging from the throne room’s shadow. She was tall and pale and carried classic Imperian features. It was strange seeing someone without the crystal sphere within Terrastalia. As far as Brianna knew, no one but Nox had been allowed the privilege. “Chances of success are higher than what Lillin said. Although, I might need to replace a few organs with those of dungeon creatures. You’d be less human than you are now.”

“Brianna, meet Michelle Beaufort,” Lillin announced. “She was a target of the Cabal for the role of Pestilence, just like our friend Nox. Her old allies failed to protect her, so she’ll be seeking refuge in my halls for the time being. As long as she’s the one working on you, the chances of success are high.”

“I’ve heard the name.” Brianna frowned. She didn’t expect the deal to involve ending up at the mercy of a necromancer. The concept terrified her. Then Brianna reminded herself that she was already undead and there wasn’t much to lose.

“I hope you didn’t believe everything you’ve heard,” Michelle said. “I’m a healer, alchemist, and scientist. The ignorant and orthodox might say differently. I promise you, you’re in good hands. If you’re still willing, we’ll protect that idiot of a Ratra together.” She waved to a corridor leading away from the throne room toward the master’s quarters. “I’m happy to start straight away if you are.”

“Why delay?” Brianna asked, resolving to do what was necessary. Michelle nodded, leading her into the darkness.

“I’ll send up a few blood bags. Just in case anything goes wrong.”