The smoke consumes everything around Triad as it disapates, leaving nothing behind but a shallow crater where his parents room once was. Triad scrunches his face before letting out a scream that disturbs the wildlife around the small cottage. The sound of animals fleeing filling the air as the boy clutches at his right arm. With a hard swallow the boy looks down, “No, no, no, no.” Triad says as he sees that his hand has been replaced by his mothers sword. The boys breath catches in his throat as he turns his arm, the sword quivering as Triad tries to comprehend what’s going on.

“It’s a fallen! We need to get out of here!” A voice in the Darkness screams, breaking Triad’s concentration and causing his head to flick towards its source. There, in front of the boy, are 5 men dressed in black, one holding a short copper sword, the blade wet with blood. Triad’s breaths become more steady and his eyes widen. This man has something he needs. There is something around the man’s neck that calls to him, he wants it, he NEEDS it. “Son, No!” Triad’s father calls out, but the sound of his voice doesn’t even register in Triad’s mind.

The boy takes a single step forward, his arms falling to his side as his body twitches in an unnatural way. “Give it to me.” Triad growls, his voice much deeper and rougher than a Boy of his age should be able to make. The bandit takes a few small steps backwards, his sword falling from his hand and landing on the grass with a dull thump. “Stop, you can have it, just don’t…“ The bandits words are cut short as Triad lerches forward, his sword arm driving itself through the bandit’s chest. “Mine.” Triad says as he grabs the small black stone hanging around the man’s neck with his left hand. The stone sinks into his palm and imbeds itself below Triad's pinky finger.

Triads head swivels in a series of small flicks towards the rest of the bandits. “Worthless.” He says, pulling his blade from the bandits chest and letting the corpse fall to the ground. Triad takes another step towards the group, letting out a low growl as he does. “Contol yourself Triad. The blades blood lust is controlling you!” Triad’s mother yells as she dashes past him holding the fallen bandits sword. Triad blinks a few times, his head jerking from side to side as he fights for control of his body. “I can’t” He says through gritted teeth, his body lurching forward as if pulled by wires towards another bandit.

Triad closes his eyes, resigned to his fate, when his blade is deflected upwards. His eyes spring open to see his mother has not only stopped him from killing the bandit but also removed the bandits head as well. “What am I going to do with you.” She says with a tear filled smile. “Looks like you’ll be starting sword training tomorrow.”

Triads mother lets out a long breath and with a series of graceful motions decapitates two of the three remaining bandits. The remaining bandit falls backward, his eye’s wide in disbelief. Triad’s mother stands over the man, the tip of her sword now pointed towards his neck. “I am Zuthi Dekrehd of clan fang, leave this place and tell you’re leader that I am the master of this domain. Should you return I will bring my full rage down on clan Paw.” Zuthi says, pressing the tip of her blade into the man’s neck just hard enough to break the skin.

“I will tell my master of your words, but he has sworn to retrieve Vampires fang from you my lady.”

“The blade is no longer mine, as you can see, my son now wields it. You would do well to remember that child of paw.” Zuthi says slashing the blade across the bandit's cheek and leaving a shallow cut along it. “Leave your coin and weapons behind and flee with your life, know that you will not receive this mercy should you return again.”

The bandit throws is coin pouch and blade onto the ground and scrambles away, like a frighten rat from a tiger. Zuthi lets out another sigh before turning back to Triad’s father. “They know where we are now, our son is a fallen, and both you and I have lost our sacred treasures. I don’t see how that could have gone any worse.” Zuthi says walking over to her husband who is holding a bloodied rag against his shoulder.

“At least we are all still alive and it was always our intention to let triad decide which treasure he would claim for his own.” Triad’s father says, giving his wife a beaming smile. “This way, he doesn’t have to choose.”

“There is such a thing as being too optimistic Vom.” Zuthi says helping Vom to his feet. “But that blind optimism is why I fell for you in the first place.”

“Umm.” Triad says as he takes a hesitant step towards his parents. “Mum, Dad. What's happening to me?”

“I’ll explain it all to you tomorrow Triad, you’re about to fall asleep.” Zuthi says as she walks over to the boy and wraps her arms around him.

“But I don’t…” Triad’s words are cut off as he falls unconscious, his mothers embrace the only thing keeping him upright.

“Poor kid. Vampires fang bloodlust effect really sucks the first time you use it. Took me a good month to get used to it.” Vom lets out a snort of laughter through his nose and Zuthi rolls her eyes at him. “Yes, yes very funny, Vampire, sucks. When did you become such an old man Vom.” Zuthi asks, the sides of her lips curling upwards against her will.

“Not my fault you’re accidentally one of the funniest people in the world.” Vom replies, as he walks past her into the wreckage of their home. “Come on, lets get Triad to bed and see if we can find a healing potion for this wound of mine.”