“Did sirens exist on your Earth?” Rachel asked as we continued onward.

“They did, once,” I nodded. “All gone now. Or so diminished as to be virtually extinct.”

“What happened to them?”

“They were extremely imperious creatures,” I said. “With no respect for the boundaries that separate our respective domains. If they’d kept to their own territory, we would have been happy to leave them be. Preserving the lives of sea farers isn’t a great priority for us. But as you know, most human beings spend their lives on the continents, not crossing the oceans. The songbirds grew jealous of the ease with which we could feed and reproduce, so they sought to expand their reach into our lands. They had to be disciplined for their temerity.”

“The vampires wiped them out?” asked Rachel. “That seems so excessive.”

“Sirens are troublesome things,” I said. “The values of the world beneath the waves are not the same as ours. Although they require male humans for reproduction, they view them through the same lens as a female spider. Once the act of love is concluded, the feast begins.”

“So, they choose their prey, dominate their minds and have a snack once their done?” asked Rachel. “How’s that any different from us?”

“I complained to you earlier about the voracious appetites of a vampire population,” I said. “But we’re nothing in comparison to the wasteful excessiveness of the sirens. They are truly creatures of the moment, living only for the pleasures of today. Torturing their prey mentally even as they devour them alive.”

“Are you seriously condemning other people for playing mind games?” Rachel snorted. “That’s pretty rich coming from you, Kyler.”

“Don’t make such absurd comparisons, Rachel,” I said huffily. “The only person I enjoy emotionally abusing is you.”

“Abuse is wrong!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, everything is wrong nowadays,” I complained. “When did people become so sensitive? I swear we were made of sterner stuff back in the old days.”

“It’s not being too sensitive if I want to be treated respectfully,” Rachel groused. “Surely you can see that?”

“When have I ever not shown you the respect you deserve?” I asked with a wounded voice. “It greatly hurts my feelings when you cast such aspersions on my character.”

“You’re always teasing me!” she said.

“Never, not even once!” I replied. “Daughter, have you become delusional?”

“Did you just gaslight me? Is this what gaslighting means?” Rachel asked. “You know exactly what you’re like!”

“I have no idea what you’re speaking of,” I replied. “You must be confused.”

In response, Rachel frowned and muttered under her breath for a time. I thought her reaction was funny, but opinions may vary.

__

The sound of steel clashing against steel signaled that we had arrived at our destination. We were now in an open area which apparently led to the bed chamber of the lady of the castle. Two large doors barred our entry, and standing in front of them was a knight covered from head to toe in gleaming silver armor, wielding a sword and shield.

At his feet were dozens of dead ghouls. Although they’d once been fellow members of his knightly order, he’d dealt with them mercilessly. I was impressed by his prowess despite my distaste for those of his ilk. All along the walls, I saw blood splattered in such large quantities that I realized he’d also destroyed the blood orbs I’d created.

Truly, a formidable challenge had presented itself.

“Kyler, that’s a paladin,” Rachel said in a voice that was breathless with excitement.

“Yes, it certainly is,” I said with disapproval. “What’s your point?”

“Kyler, it’s a paladin!” she repeated more loudly.

Ah. Rachel had taken so splendidly to being a vampire that I was beginning to forget her mortal origins. She’d been part of some religious army, had she not? I suppose the sight of an actual holy knight filled with divine purpose with a shining sword would have been like seeing a rock star in person.

I hated the reverence for him that I heard in her voice. I quietly used [Stealth] to hide my final orb from sight. Then I stepped forth to offer my challenge to the castle’s final defender.

“My name is Lord Kyler Stragos,” I informed him. “Brave knight, will you introduce yourself to me?”

“I have no obligation to offer my name to an invader,” he said. I couldn’t see his expressions through the helmet he wore, but his tone was haughty. “You are a trespasser, a murderer, and a thief. That is all I need to know of you.”

“Sir, your chivalry is lacking,” I replied with an offended tone. “What manner of discourteous warrior refuses to name himself to his opponent? Are you lacking in valor? Or have you no merits worthy of my attention?”

“Do not speak to me of chivalry or discourtesy,” he said angrily. “You stole into this castle in the dead of night and with vile sorceries, you infected my poor brothers in arms and robbed them of their senses. Do you deny it?”

“I may have done so, yes,” I said to him with a sneer. “What of it?”

“Necromancer,” he spat in disgust.

“Hold your tongue!” I shouted, outraged by his accusation.

Necromancers are vile things. I will not tolerate a comparison to them.

“I will not!” he shouted back. “You have defiled the bodies of these honorable men. Brave souls pledged in service to a great cause, despite the long years of suffering they were forced to endure. And now you question my conduct when yours has bordered on the infernal? To the abyss with you, blackguard!”

“Enough,” I warned him. “Get out of my way. My challenge is to the owner of this estate. I won’t banter any further with a mere underling.”

“Why have you come here?” asked the knight. “By what right do you assail this noble home?”

“That’s no concern of yours, you presumptuous churl,” I said. “Stand aside! I have no business with the likes of you. The mistress of this castle is the one I seek.”

“Go back,” he said. “My lady is in the grip of a terrible curse. Surely, you’ve witnessed its effects on my poor brothers. Until her father returns with the cure he seeks, no man is safe in her presence.”

“She is not under the effect of a curse,” I corrected him. “She is the cause. Are you not aware of what a siren is? She must be disposed of.”

“We were told not to step from this place until her father returns,” the knight replied. “I will keep my vigil. I will not stand aside.”

“Why aren’t you affected as your brothers were?” I asked.

“My faith is stronger than theirs,” he said humbly.

Ugh. Paladins.

“Your fealty is preventing you from doing what must be done,” I said. “Because of that, a breach has opened into my new homeland. If your lady were to escape through it, the people I’ve claimed for myself would be endangered. The risk is intolerable.”

“She will not escape,” he insisted. “See to your own lands and begone!”

“She has to die,” I said with growing anger.

“What gives you the right to decide that?” he demanded.

“What gives me the right?” I laughed. “The right of conquest! The right of strength! The only right that matters in this or any other world! I’ve been called to settle this matter that you’ve failed to contain. Clearly because you are incapable of the deed! And in so doing, I will claim a great personal reward. What of it?”

“So, your cause is greed then?” he asked. “For the sake of your loathsome avarice my comrades had to die? And my mistress as well?”

“Yes,” I said. “For that reason alone. Does that knowledge upset you? I hope it does!”

“Come meet my steel, and find the answer, brigand,” he replied.

What had he just called me?

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Brigand?” I sneered. “You dare call me a mere brigand? I’m afraid I’m far more than that. You forgot butcher, bandit, blood drinker and bane.”

“Whose bane? Not mine,” the knight calmly replied. “Speak as loftily of yourself as you like, cur! In my eyes, you’re just another thief. One more of a lowly legion I’ve put down throughout the long years of my service and worthy of no greater remembrance than the least of them.”

“Fucking paladin,” I said hatefully.

Rachel stared at me in astonishment, in seeming disbelief of her ears.

“Kyler…did you just use profanity?” she asked.

“Of course, I didn’t,” I glowered.

“You did! You cursed at him! That’s so weird, you never curse,” she said.

Now the irritation coursing through me suddenly billowed into a raging torrent of flame. This petty little holy knight had made me lose my cool in front of my child.

Paladins.

Paladins!

I hate them so much.

I loathe them!

Always so sure of themselves.

Always so certain of their righteousness.

You can never kill enough of them.

Fill the graveyards with them. Fill all the mausoleums!

It’ll never be enough. NEVER!

“Impudent,” I laughed. “Impudent! I’m warning you, dog. If you anger me any further, I will be your death! Your long service is concluded. Are you so dense that you can’t realize this is your opportunity to escape? Move aside, boy!”

“I will not,” he said. “And I do not fear you.”

“Fear requires intelligence. A trait that’s obviously lacking in one who wasted his life in service to a pointless cause,” I said. “You’re an utter joke, do you know that?”

“That’s not the truth from where I stand,” he said.

“From where you stand? I think you meant from where you kneel,” I snarled. “You’re a slave wearing chains of his own making. Do you even realize the dark power you’ve been bound by? Are your eyes so blinded by your own radiance that you can’t perceive the truth of the monster controlling you?”

“I swore an oath of service. Of fealty and obedience,” he said. “My liege commanded me to guard his daughter. To protect the nation from her curse and to protect her from herself. My brothers and I have obeyed that command for the last twenty years at great personal cost. And I would gladly continue for two hundred more, if that is what is required of me.”

“Because you’re a fool,” I said. “Because you have no will of your own.”

“Because I am faithful,” he said. “Because I gladly serve a cause greater than myself.”

“I’ve heard that delusion spoken so many times and it never fails to revolt me,” I said.

“Of course it does. Because you’re a coward who can’t commit to anything,” he replied. “Because you fear that the greatness of others somehow diminishes you. I hear the hollowness underlying your boastful words and I find them pitiful.”

Okay.

Enough was enough.

“Face me,” I challenged him. “One-on-one in fair combat. If you win, we’ll depart this meager place and no one from our world will ever return. Your precious sea-witch will be spared.”

“And should you win?” asked the knight.

“Then I’ll take your lady's head and make you watch while I do it,” I said with a cruel smile. “Do you have the courage to accept?”

“Only if our duel is to the death,” he said wrathfully.

“That suits me just as well,” I said. “Rachel, stand back,” I told her as I tossed aside my coat and drew Spiteful from its scabbard. “This fight is mine alone. Don’t interfere.”

“I thought we were supposed to stand back and destroy our enemies from a safe distance?” she asked as she lifted my coat off the ground and backed away. “I thought fighting on the frontline was for our servants?”

“Regrettably, a lord is occasionally required to step forth and settle matters with his own hands. Especially when a particularly irksome individual presents himself,” I said.

“Kyler, this guy is just a dungeon boss. He’s no one,” Rachel said. “Why are you so angry?”

“He’s an impediment,” I told her. “His very existence disgusts me. I won’t suffer a true knight’s defiance. I will put him in his place!”

“But why?” she asked. “We don’t even know him. Just send in more orbs and be done with it.”

“I don’t want to!” I snapped. “He’ll be punished for his obstinance by my own hand.”

“Why does it feel so personal?”

“It is personal,” I said coldly. “His values contradict my own and his self-confidence offends me. That’s reason enough for me to crush him where he stands.”

When Rachel opened her mouth to protest again, I held up a finger to quiet her. “That’s enough, daughter. Be silent and watch.”

“Arguments, eh?” taunted the knight as I walked to his position with my sword at the ready. “As always, evil remains quarrelsome and divided. Your inability to truly unite is why the light will always triumph.”

“Not today, it won’t,” I seethed as I gave a few practice swings of my sword. “You really should have just stood aside.”

“That will never happen.”

“I demand to know your name,” I said.

“Still? Why does it bother you so? Didn’t you say I was a fool?” he asked mockingly.

“Tell me your name!” I yelled.

“I am Sir Euon Graham,” he replied. “A proud servant of my king. A proud defender of his daughter.”

“Too proud,” I said. “Far too proud.”

“When his cause is true, even the cock may justly crow.”

“I’ll give you something to crow over,” I said.

Gripping Spiteful with two hands, I aimed the sword at his head, intending to cleave it in half at the crown of his skull. But before I could connect, he blocked my strike with his shield and retaliated with a thrust aimed at my throat which I narrowly avoided.

Sir Euon smirked at me when I realized the edge of his sword had left a mark.

“First blood to me,” he said.

“Pure luck,” I retorted.

In response, he feinted with another thrust. When I moved to parry, he lashed out with his shield, smashing it directly into my face with a painful crunch as it broke my nose and shattered my front teeth. As I stumbled backward, he repeated the motion twice more, ruthlessly battering me with it before sweeping my feet from out beneath me.

“You fight like a tavern brawler,” I said as I spat out blood between the gaps in my teeth. “I challenged you to an honorable duel!”

“The only honor is in victory,” he said before kicking me in the face. “Now stop appealing to formality, you bastard!”

“You’re just a guttural brute,” I said as I stood up. “So much for the proud knight of the kingdom. What sort of a paladin are you, anyway?”

“Stop embarrassing yourself,” Sir Euon taunted. “You know, it’s never escaped my notice that appeals to etiquette and pedantic adherence to formality are made most often by those with no genuine respect for others. Your kind uses sophistry to manipulate events to your favor and claims victimhood whenever your underhanded methods are exposed. Truly, you disgust me, my lord.”

Before I could answer him, he delivered a backhanded blow with the pommel of his sword that sent me spinning into a wall.

My face at this point had been beaten into an ugly mass of swollen skin over broken bones. From behind, I heard Rachel gasp when she saw what he’d done to me. I could feel her anger surge, but before she could strike, I waved her away, signaling for her to stand down.

“Stones in glass houses, knight,” I retorted. “Stones in glass houses! Aren’t you the one deliberately ignoring the unspoken rules of formal combat to indulge in this disgracefully brutish display? It’s wrong for me to appeal to formality; but it’s perfectly all right foryou to use such shameful tactics because you're the hero? Now who’s the one using sophistry to justify their behavior?”

“You came here to kill a helpless girl!” he roared as he came in hard, alternating shield strikes with sword thrusts, using movements that were so quick even my seasoned eye could barely follow them.

“She’s not a girl,” I said as I backed away from his flurry of attacks, barely fending him off. “Look at what she did to your friends. It’ll happen to you as well! Can’t you see what she is?”

“She’s as much a victim as anyone else!”

“She’ll get free,” I insisted. “You can’t hold her back forever. Have you even seen the state of this castle? You’re failing! She’ll escape, and when she does, she’ll breed and feast and turn this entire land into her own charcuterie!”

“I WILL NOT FAIL!” he bellowed ferociously before pressing his attack.

As I avoided his last lunge, he pushed past me and made a sharp pivot to smash his shield against the back of my head. I made a pained gasp as I was driven to my knees. Spiteful clattered to the floor from my limp hand as Sir Euon pressed his advantage by piercing my back with his sword.

“It would seem that the duel is mine, brigand,” Sir Euon said coldly. “Wouldn’t you say?”

“I fought fairly,” I rasped through bloodied lips. “Unlike you, I’ll go to my death uncompromised.”

“Shut up,” he said. “Stop your rambling.”

“You didn’t even have the courage to show me your face,” I murmured. “Coward.”

“Look at me then,” he said as he yanked his helmet free of his head, revealing a youthful face covered by graying blonde locks. “Look at me! The last sight you’ll ever see, you arrogant fiend. Die knowing that you lost and I—”

“—should have kept your helmet on,” I said with a triumphant smirk.

I curled a finger and the blood orb that I’d earlier hidden from sight quietly positioned itself behind Sir Euon’s head and fired a single volley that blew through the back of his skull, killing him instantly.

He fell to the ground, dead as could be.

“Too satisfying,” I said as I stood up and allowed my wounds to heal. “Well, Rachel? Did you learn anything useful from this little event?”

“What the hell was all of that?” Rachel asked with equal parts confusion and annoyance. “I thought you said this was an honorable duel?”

“I challenged him to a fair fight. Not an honorable one,” I said, correcting her. “As you saw, he was quite the dirty fighter, wasn’t he? Which meant that turnabout was fair play. So, in a sense, our bout was as honorable as could be.”

“Ha!” Rachel laughed. “That poor bastard was right. You do use sophistry to justify some twisted values.”

“Hey, he stabbed me in the back, so I blasted his head off,” I said. “That’s a perfectly valid reprisal as far as I’m concerned. Remember, daughter: when they throw rocks, we hurl boulders. That’s the Stragos way.”

“Awesome,” Rachel nodded giddily.

“More importantly, I wanted you to see how a so-called paladin truly behaves,” I continued. “They wrap themselves in virtue, but they’ll do anything to win. Anything. No matter how much it contradicts their supposed values. In other words, never pity them. They’re as awful as we are, but they refuse to acknowledge it. Did you hear what he said? The only honor is in victory. You have now seen the beast unmasked, and it wears a white cloak.”

I gestured to Sir Euon’s corpse as I picked up Spiteful.

“Loot his armor and shield. I’ll keep those for myself.”

“What about his sword?” Rachel asked.

“I’m not so cruel as to relieve a warrior of his blade. Even one as blinded by duty as he was,” I said. “He was loyal to his cause. I…do respect that, despite my criticism. It takes resolve to live as he did. An unfortunate end, indeed.”

“Kyler, can we pick a lane please?” Rachel asked. “I’m going to get a crick in my neck from trying to follow your mood swings.”

“Daughter, can’t you see the string of tragedy here? All these men were ordered to throw their lives away. All for the selfishness of one weak leader,” I said. “Their king who couldn’t forsake his siren daughter. He was going to seek out a cure for her? What an obvious lie! You can’t cure someone of their natural condition. There was never going to be an end to their vigil.”

“That does sound monstrous,” Rachel said. “Trading dozens of lives for the sake of one creature. But…wouldn’t you do the same if it was your family? Doesn’t love blind everyone in that regard?”

I considered her words carefully before responding. Then I said, “Would I do such a thing? Perhaps I would. But I’m a selfish monster. Why should I care about the consequences of my decisions? These people are meant to be better than the likes of me.”

With that said, I pushed the door to the final chamber open and stepped inside.

It was a large bedchamber with curtains that billowed with the passing of the wind, illuminated by soft moonlight. On the bed, with her eyes closed, there lay a pale, beautiful woman who was fast asleep under her covers.

Locked in her dreams and dead to the world.

“She looks like an angel,” Rachel whispered.

“Angels belong in heaven,” I said grimly. “So, let’s be sure to send her there.”

As we quietly approached her bed, the siren predictably leapt into the air and began screeching at us a discordant song filled with all her hatred and lust for death. It was an amazing display of inhuman hostility.

However, she would have fared far better if she'd had a sword.

[Congratulations! You have reached level 20!]