Years marched on from the time Ryance had been re-abducted by Vynera. The world looked and felt like a different place, but everyone still tried their best to persevere. One day Klarn, Larxer, and Cesorpha were caught in a terrible rain storm; they had become more common in the recent years, a product of the endless stretch of dark clouds. Seeking shelter they stopped at the first structure they could find: a grim castle, isolated in the country side. Not knowing who lived there, the three of them decided to brave the unknown and ask for protection from the storm.
As they approached the castle door, something caught Cesorpha’s eye. In a quick movement, Cesorpha bent down and picked it up. Examining it, clearing the dirt from the surface, she found that it was suspiciously similar to the medallion she had given Ryance, right down to a mild imperfection on the back. She wondered why the tarnished medallion was lying in the dirt in front of the castle, but she said nothing to her companions. Instead she put it in her cloak and stood at the door with her brother. Klarn grasped the heavy knocker and banged three times on the door, then waited for an answer.
“Come in,” snapped a male voice from inside. The three travelers stepped inside. They saw a hooded man standing at the top of a grand staircase. They didn’t recognize Ryance for his face was deeply receded into the hood; the place was poorly lit and seemed to have more shadows than light. Ryance wasn’t thinking pleasant thoughts as he stood there; he was only thinking of easy prey. He didn’t recognize any of them, for they also wore hoods, heavily drenched by the rain and weighted down. “Who are you and what do you want?” he said hoarsely, his tone unwelcoming. The three travelers thought the voice was familiar, but none of them could place it.
“We’re three travelers who are in need of shelter from the storm. May we stay here?” asked Klarn, his own tone polite, but distant. The crabby voice wasn’t encouraging, but Klarn new better than to irritate the person he was asking aid from.
“No; go away,” snapped Ryance, changing his mind. Time had been less harsh on his old friend; he recognized the voice of Klarn and wanted nothing to do with him. He didn’t even want to feed off of him. Ryance just wanted him to leave.
“What have we ever done to you Stranger? We are only weary travelers asking for your protection from the storm. Please let us in,” said Cesorpha. Ryance softened at the sound of her voice. There was silence as he considered letting them stay. He remembered that Cesorpha had also rejected him, but he couldn’t resist wanting to see her again, be near her again.
“More than you think, travelers,” Ryance said, his words cryptic. “Wait there; I have to ask the master of the household for his permission,” Ryance finally answered. It didn’t bother him to lie, especially since it gave him a moment to step away from them. He wore simple clothes; there was no reason for them to believe he was in charge here, or that someone dressed so poorly was the sole occupant of a castle. Even as worn down as it was, it was still a grand structure.
Taking time to calm down, Ryance thought over what he would tell them. He had been completely taken off guard by their appearance in his home after all this time, and he realized how far he had let himself fall. But he couldn’t take back everything he had done, nor could he completely banish the resentment he felt towards them. Yet, he had no real reason to turn them away that wouldn’t reveal who he was. He waited enough time to have an imaginary conversation with his make believe master, before he walked back onto the secondary landing of the grand staircase.
“You may stay. I’ll show you to your rooms,” said Ryance, motioning for the travelers to follow him. “You must keep things quiet; the Master is old and ill. It is not likely you will ever see him.”
“Thank you,” said Cesorpha gratefully. Ryance showed his guests to a hall on the next floor. Not once did he remove the hood from his face. The others took off their hoods though, and Ryance was dismayed to find Larxer to be the third traveler, but he said nothing. He only led the three on in the darkness.
“Isn’t it hard to see without a light?” asked Cesorpha, who didn’t like to be in the darkness.
“No. I’ve lived here for many years. I could find my way if I was blind. Besides, the loveliness of your face lights the way for me,” said Ryance, taking a chance with a compliment. He made is voice a little on the wistful side, making it sound as if he hadn’t seen a woman in a long time. He simply wanted to see how the three would react.
“Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking to!” objected Larxer sourly, speaking for the first time.
Ryance felt a deep rage at this news, but he kept that to himself and schooled his voice. He only said, “A lonely person who lives in the middle of nowhere usually doesn’t see many women, especially ones of such noble looks. I’m sorry if my words are offensive.” His kept his words low and humble. In Ivelcour, if not in Solumina, it was common for people to compliment women of high rank.
“I don’t mind Larxer. He’s just a lonely servant. His compliments don’t bother me,” said Cesorpha softly. She was actually quite touched by the words of her host.
“What are you doing in such a desolate place? Many evil creatures live here and the people don’t take kindly to strangers. Most people who come this way, never come back the other way. Some say Vynera herself lives near these parts,” said Ryance. He decided to sound hospitable. It had been so long since he had talked to anyone, and he found that he missed it. He never stopped to talk to his victims; he was generally a silent terror.
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“We are in these parts to hunt vampires. Over the past five years they have been a plague on the people, and we of the Solumina have a solemn duty to seek out and destroy them,” explained Klarn. By then they had reached the guest rooms. Ryance was glad that he had somewhat kept them in good order; he had tended them at the beginning as a way to stabilize him, and had continued the practice as a mere habit. All the furnishings were old, from when the castle was new, but everything was much better than what the guests had expected from the lonely man in his lonely castle. It was certainly better than staying out in the rain.
“Here are the guest rooms. Take possession of any ones you want. I will come to get you when I have prepared your meals,” said Ryance, watching as his guests entered their rooms. Then he left the castle for a nearby village. Even in the height of his anger and his despair, he kept a few of the villages close to the castle largely untouched. He didn’t want his whereabouts to be traced too easily. He knew of a blind woman there who knew nothing of what he was. Using the remains of a treasure that was left in his castle, Ryance bought enough food for the three humans. Ryance had never thought much about who had owned the castle before he was ‘gifted’ it by Vynera. Frankly, he didn’t care. Whoever it was had probably died a long time ago, possibly to Vynera herself.
When he returned to the castle, he found Larxer snooping around in the kitchen. Almost immediately he pulled himself to his full height and looked down on Ryance, who still wore his hood. Larxer, as always, was looking for trouble.
“Listen you! I don’t care how lonely or harmless you are, don’t talk to her that way. Ever. I’ll not have a shabby servant who works in a decrepit castle speak so familiarly to a lady of her class,” demanded Larxer.
“Very well,” said Ryance, bowing. It took a lot of effort to restrain himself from killing Larxer on the spot; he hadn’t put that much restraint in for years.
“Good; I’m glad we understand each other,” said Larxer, giving Ryance a steely glare. With a haughty gesture, he returned to his room. Ryance growled low in his throat and started to put away the supplies he had bought. It had been a while since he had to prepare food, but not so long to have forgotten how. The smells of the meal didn’t entice him one bit, but he had to fight down memories from the days when his body would have craved such things. Such thoughts were not welcome, especially not now.
Later Ryance served dinner to his guests. The food was humble, but it was warm and there was plenty of it. The sight was pleasant to the three travelers, who even after changing into dry clothing, were chilled from their trek in the storm. As Cesorpha approached the table, Ryance pulled out a chair for her and helped her into her seat. Cesorpha murmured a word of thanks, but Larxer seemed less than impressed at this show of manners. Angrily he lept to his feet and advanced towards Ryance. He was about to hit Ryance, but the vampire was too fast. Quickly he picked Larxer up off the ground with one hand. With the other hand he reached into one of his boots and pulled out a dagger. He was about to strike Larxer, but Cesorpha’s face caught his attention. Her eyes were cold and she looked at Ryance and Larxer as if she didn’t care.
“Your wife seems to be a sympathetic lady,” said Ryance sarcastically. He dropped Larxer on the ground and tucked the dagger back into his boot. In his mind, there was no way that Cesorpha would have looked that way if she had any sort of soft feelings towards Larxer. Even a distant respect would have earned more of a reaction than that dull expression. As much as killing Larxer might have given him some satisfaction, Ryance was more interested in watching him squirm after being caught in a lie.
Larxer picked himself off the ground, dusting himself off. With a stony expression, he returned to the table. Seeing the look on Cesorpha’s face he asked, “What’s the matter?”
“You don’t believe we’re married, do you?” asked Cesorpha of Ryance, ignoring Larxer’s question.
“No, I don’t.”
“You’re right,” Cesorpha said, letting out a sigh that sounded suspiciously like relief. “We thought it would be safer for me if people thought we were married. It would be less likely that anyone would hurt or harass me. I doubt you would do either of those things though.”
“My dear lady, in this dark day and age, I wouldn’t assume anything about a stranger. I might kill you all, though this is highly unlikely.”
“I don’t think you would; you’ve been so kind. I don’t think you would kill anyone,” said Cesorpha gently. Her words hurt Ryance more than any insult ever could; he was doubly grateful for the cloak that hid his face.
“He’s right Cesorpha. Have you forgotten Ryance? He seemed kind, and look how he turned out,” said Larxer. He was being more cruel than he usually would have dared to Cesorpha, merely for outing the lie that they had been telling.
“No; I haven’t forgotten Ryance, though I wish I could. Maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so much,” said Cesorpha, a tear running down her cheek. Klarn bristled faintly at Larxer, putting a protective arm around his sister. This reaction touched Ryance, but it hurt him too. He hated the fact that he had brought tears to her eyes, yet it gave him some hope that Cesorpha didn’t hate him the way he had believed. Although he knew it would hurt Cesorpha further, he decided to question her. It was the only way he could find out how she really felt about him, after all this time.
“Who’s Ryance?”
“He was the one I loved. Vynera turned him into a vampire and now he’s gone. No one’s seen him since he left Solumina, and I haven’t seen my heart since. He took it with him,” said Cesorpha, a trifle bitterly. More tears followed.
“Now look what you’ve done! Have you no heart? Why would you ask such a foolish question?” asked Klarn, angering at his sister’s distress. He rubbed soothing circles along her back. “It’s okay Cesorpha.”
“Sorry I hurt her. Excuse this old servant’s ignorance,” said Ryance with a low bow. He left the room, having heard all he wanted, or all he needed. It wasn’t with disgust or anger that she spoke of him, only sorrow. And it sounded as though she still considered her heart as his. It was a relief, but at the same time, it made the past few years harder to bear. Cesorpha hadn’t turned her back on him completely, but he hadn’t trusted in her affection enough to hold onto that hope. Yet, the evidence had been strongly against her, just as she had believed it had been strongly against him. Ryance felt his anger stir against Vynera again. If only she hadn’t shown him those words exchanged between Cesorpha, Larxer, and Klarn. If only he had kept to his beliefs instead of letting them fall apart at the slightest hint of damage.