The Hut looked smaller from the outside but inside it was almost livable, it almost felt like home from before… Marcus shrugged and turned towards the tied down Druid he had his undead warriors tie her to a chair and for good measure stand next to her with blades drawn. Marcus had relieved her of the staff and the pouch of magical seeds, Marcus lifted the staff weighing it in his hands, Inspecting It. It was of remarkably good quality craftmanship and inside the Ram head he could spot a green nature crystal it gave of a powerful magical aura.

The pouch was also interesting there were several different kinds of seeds inside Marcus assumed they were all tools for her to use like the spear she had thrown at him.

He handed both items to his Ghoul lieutenant Magog and started inspecting the Hut there was a small campfire burning but remarkably there was no firewood inside interesting and very typical of a druid.

Marcus could see a table with two chairs and a bed but the wood was carved weirdly the wood looked like it had grown into becoming this certain item. Druids Marcus scoffed and continued his inspection he recognised several plants and herbs on a nearby shelf he knew them from his days as a farmer some of the ingredients were quite rare at least back in his day they were not they could be the most common plant around..

Marcus turned back to the Druid her head was slumped forward but Marcus could hear her heartbeats they were intensifying she was obviously masquerading as being asleep. Marcus pulled up one of the chairs and sat down in front of her.

Marcus snickered “My dear it is bad manners to doze off while entertaining guests don't you agree?”

Her head lifted and looked Marcus straight into the eyes “I don't remember inviting you”

Marcus smiled showing his large white fangs “oh how rude of me i haven’t introduced myself, you may call me Marcus” Marcus put some emphasis on the name to make it clear to him that he was that MARCUS.

She spit on the ground in disgust “Vile Vampire i thought the brotherhood of light hunted you to extinction and yes i see your look i don't know who you are!”

Marcus was shocked but he maintained a complete stoneface. she must be lying he listened to her heartbeat it was regular no sign of lying. But she could have anticipated that.. I can't believe her not yet i would need proof.

Marcus stood up and turned towards the monument “I have been asleep for sometime fill me on the last...hundr no thousand year?”

She simply looked away “i’m not giving you anything you might aswell kill me now and get it over with”

Marcus turned and walked closer he pulled her face towards her and kissed her she tried to evade but Marcus gave her a kiss then he looked into her ice blue eyes “Give me what i want or i will burn this forest to cinders and sow it with salt i shall erect a new monument commemorating your failure for all eternity then i will hunt down all your brothers and sisters, burn down your temples and rape the earth mother herself if i have to!”

He stood up took the sword of the left guard held it to her throat and asked “what will it be?”

The druid looked at Marcus with utter despair he wasn’t bluffing he would actually do it and somehow i really believed him!

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“Where should i start” she replied defeated

“Start after My Empire the Eternal Empire fell what happened afterwards also what is your damn name woman!”

The druid adjusted her seat “my name is Helen and i have never heard of your so called Eternal Empire”

Marcus flew up in anger he kicked the chair sending it flying into the wall shattering it into splinters. Then almost whispering “don't test me… my Empire was the greatest the world had ever known it took the combined strength of the dwarfs, Elfs and humans to even challenge me and yet i still live!”

Helen looked nervous maybe he was lying but was believing his own lies?

“Eh… Marcus you are immortal yes? Well then maybe you’ve just slept a very long time maybe even too long?”

Marcus stood still in his tracks maybe just maybe it had really been that long Marcus knew that the history was written by the victor. The Eternal Empire is no more he must find one of his children one of them must be alive! He then looked at the ground and with a renewed smile he turned towards Helen.

“What do you know of this battlefield?’

Helen looked at Marcus trying to figure out his angle. “I don't know much more than what the monument says good guys vs bad guys, Bad guys lost”

Marcus took out a knife and walked towards Helen she closed her eyes accepting her end instead she found herself free.

“Follow me”

Helen didn’t think she had any chance against this very powerful vampire he was probably an ancient of sorts but she had never met one so it was a vague guess at best.

Helen had been assigned this forest only 5 years ago by the Druid council to watch and protect it from evil forces oh boy had she failed.

Marcus led her to a small hill in the middle of the Gorge Marcus turned to her

“Give me your hand i have need for your blood”

She reluctantly put her hand on his he held it up taking his knife he sliced a her hand and the let the blood drip onto the small hill.

As soon as Marcus had left the Hut he had started to search the surrounding for a presence any presence all of the combatants of this battle were all decomposed beyond resurrection except maybe one if Marcus was lucky he was still here.

Marcus felt the presence get stronger and stronger before finally arriving at a small hill but Marcus recognised a burial mound when he saw one.

I saw the blood drip from her hand onto the ground the ritual would be easier with Druid blood they had a connection to the earth and blood helped smooth the process

I kneel down and put my hand on the earth i smear the blood and i start searching.

I feel him my child Haldiram he is dead but his connection to me and the dead will help him rise again it will take all my strength he has been dead for a long time i can feel it and bringing him back will be a huge strain on my powers. I need a buffer i will only take what i need i look upon Helen and smile kindly before leaping with my fangs ready i plunge them into her neck she screams but i ignore it and i drain her to the brink of death and then let her drop to the ground she would live barely.

I continue the ritual i find Haldiram buried down there i start pouring my energy into him rejuvenating him i can't stop no matter how hard it becomes. I can hear his soul screaming to let him stay dead he was happy there he wants to go back but i know Haldiram better than he knows himself. I am his father and my family will be whole again even if i have to drag them from hell itself i will have them all back!

The ritual feels like days the Undead even have to put up a tent around me lest i become incinerated by the sun. They hunt for animals and bring me rabbits, beavers and even an elk animal blood is weak but it can sustain you if the need arises.

I feel the last of my energy go into Haldiram body i have felt his bones regrow, his flesh knitting itself into a tapestry. I pull on his soul one last time and finally it gives i hear him scream, I scream back and like a newborn baby Haldiram claws himself out of the earth i look at him proudly.

He looks at me in utter shock and then collapses i catch him and his first words before falling unconscious is “father you have returned?”

I lay him down and as i slit the throat of a rabbit to pour in his mouth i say “i have my son”