“I have decoded the letter you gave me.”

Drac leans on the side of the operations room beneath Gove’s Tavern.

“It's a location. And flirting…” Gove handed back the letter. It was sealed closed as if it was never opened at all.

Gove’s still good.

“Near Duke Danor’s Castle.”

“Danor?”

“Yes. What is it?” Gove said.

Drac creates a copy to put the letter back where he found it.

“Toren’s Guard. Called himself Alfred Danor.”

Goves puts a hand to his face, groaning loudly. Then a grin grows on his old face. “The Duke's favourite cousin and puppy. A warrior of the elite, with sword style praised around the north, died by the river protecting a slave buyer! Hahaha! No wonder he has been missing for quite a while.” Gove walks back to his map table. “If the Duke knows you’re the cause for all of this…”

“He does know. The stoppage at the Gateway was proof of that. But that's an issue for another time. Tell me more about the letter.”

Large grey clouds cover the night sky above the city. The city air smells moist. Drac crouches down on the ledge of a building by the City walls on the southwest side of the river. Hood and mask up, he spies on the party-loving viscount he met yesterday. The middle-aged man looked around with a nervous smile as he looked around his vicinity like he was to meet someone of his fancy.

Hide in the shadows!

Drac follows the Hood’s panicked instruction, scampering behind a chimney.

Two buildings to the left.

The man stood looking down at the viscount, dressed in a black suit and a white shirt adorned with a large collar and red ascot. A strange white mask covers their whole face, leaving their long, black, straight hair hanging to their neck. The white-masked man droppeded down and crashed on the ground, walking as if he merely tripped. The viscount starts shaking.

Drac activates Auditus.

“Oh…no…Uuuh, Good evening, Sir. Didn't expect to meet you here…” said Viscount Ulgar. Although smiling, he cannot hide his fear.

“Where is the produce?” said The white mask. His voice was crackly and cold. White mask exploded into motion, pining the viscount by the neck on the city wall. “Where?” His mask was close to Ulgar's face. Black circle eyeholes peered at the victim.

Save him?

No. Let the Viscount suffer. We are here to observe.

“Did you know? The cowardly duke of yours stop replying. So we sought you out next. Too horny to realise the bait.”

“The Produce is getting prepared!”

The white mask squeezes Ulgar’s neck. “Prepared? They should have been packed on the ships. Now we are left starving. How are you going to rectify this issue?” the white mask puts a bit more strength in his hand. The viscount turns red struggling to speak.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“We have a solution. Please be patient.”

“Patient we certainly are, but our hunger can't be sated. Prepare our meal, and you get your calm. Fail and we come down this city and take.” The White mask draws close to Viscount's neck.

“Maybe we could sample some of the well-fed animals in the pen. Haven't had ripe aristocrat in years.”

Viscount Ulgar paled. The masked stranger laughed at the sight of liquid flowing from the noble’s breeches. Ulgar was thrown to the side on the dirt.

“Let the boy duke of this conversation. His father was so much more stable. Tsk tsk.” Shaking his head, The stranger jumped, leaping over buildings till he disappeared into the night.

For fuck’s sake.

Later the same night the group met at the operations room. Each sitting down with a cup of ale in their hand.

“Meal? You have to be fibbing.”

No, Gove. They were very adamant about being fed.”

“Vampires,” Bob said. He sat on the small stool bear-like. The group looks at him. Marina continues drinking.

“Makes sense. Meeting at night, Human-like, love to consume the bodies of people, especially young girls. Bucha perverts. The church fought them regularly but like a tick, they will keep hiding and suck society dry till it's nothing but bones. They multiply like pests and live extremely long lives. Only known weaknesses are the sun and-” Marina pat Bob on the shoulder. “Holy Powers.”

Gove groans loudly. “Even more bullshit!”

“It's okay Father. We will deal with it as it comes. Plus, we have Drac here to help.”

Smoke!

Drac smelled around. The smell came from above. The room grows hotter. Drac ran to the door. Smoke flowed from his cracks. He opened the door to reveal hell. Flames cover the stairs and walls. The others got out of their seats, slowly coming into realisation, and they dropped the drinks on the table.

“No… NO!” Gove screams.

We need to leave before the fire collapses the building on top of us!

Marina stands still with Bob covering her from the heat, her eyes fixed on the fire.

“Snap out of it, Marina!” She looks at Drac shouting her name. “AQUA!”

“A-a-alright!” Marina concentrates as she gathers water. Drac Flares is Aura. He controls it around his body. He tunes into Ventus.

“Ready?!” Drac shouts again. Marina nervously nods her head. Hundreds of litres of water float about Marina.

“Straight to exit. NOW!”

Marina pushes a jet stream of water through the door on the stairs. Drac creates two copies. They carry Gove and Maki, Bob lifted Marina as she pushed water. The Dracs and Bob blitzed through the wet doorway. Up the stairs, Marina continued to push water on the flames while Drac was in front extinguishing the fire with air. They reached the middle of the Tavern. Red hot flames dance around them. The heat makes the runners sweat, and the smoke chokes the lungs.

Marina’s Aqua weakens, and the water is evaporated by heat. She was losing strength, unable to keep the spell up for long.

The last of Marina's water evaporates. Marina faints in Bob's arms. The group is near to the front door. Flames covered floors, walls, and tables. Glasses and cups melt and bun. Alcohol explode. Gove watched his life work burn to dust.

“Almost there…”

I will help.

Drac burned his soul. The aura around him outshined the Fire around him. He tunes in to Ventus. He collected his aura in both hands and PUSHED.

All the flames were set aside, leaving a way through to the front door. Drac slams through, letting everyone exit the Tavern. From a safe distance from the fire, everyone looks at the Fire. Goves stared. Tears fall.

Keep Guard.

Exhausted, he almost didn't notice a Fireball coming after him. He rolls to the right. He burns his soul again. A crack in the stone and with a stab to the body, a mage dies. The other dies by a chop to the collar by the giant.

“Everyone! Disappear!” Drac screams. Drac friends hear his call. One Drac left with Maki and Gove and the other went with Bob and Marina and disappeared into the night.

Drac's breath is hard and guttural. His eyes were bloodshot. Sweat drops from his smoke cover brow. Drac puts on his mask and hood.

In the distance, rhythmic thunder hits the Ground. Comes closer, the vibration felt under Drac's feet grows.

City Guards appear at the entrance on the exits of the alleyway. Hundreds march from each side. Swords and shields on each person. Burgundy surcoats cover the chainmail. A flag moves in the wind over them. The Crest of the Damor. Two snakes intertwine with a sword.

A raindrop hit the tired man’s jacket. He breathed in and out and became Shaanti. Drac burned his soul and took his stance.