Brynn knew he couldn’t get through the two, especially Helena. Miriam seems like and angel while Helena a caged animal set free. He also considered to be wary of Helena as she seemed to be one most prone to jump up for a fight.

Helena studied Brynn hoping he could be of any use, but she had no idea how she could use him. She had to learn more about the place they were heading to. “What is your name?” she asked showing genuine curiosity.

Brynn smiled happily that the most threatening one can be docile too “Brynn” he paused remembering the question he had asked Fred “Why do you have two names?”.

Helena looked at him confused “You don’t have two names? How do you differentiate each other from other families?” Brynn was happy to see her interest towards his hometown, knowing at the same time she might have underhanded reasons towards her questions. “No, we usually use our names and jobs to differentiate between others, but sometimes can be hard when some have the same name and job”. Helena got so confused by the logic behind this, through her studies she had not encountered a nation nor city that would have naming traditions such as these. But showing such knowledge, especially as a kid, and tried to dumb down some of her questions to fit her age. “That is weird, say Brynn are we far for our stop?” Helena wondered while she kept looking around, all she could see for the past hours were trees.

Brynn proudly answered “I am not sure; this is my first time out of the city” despite the small chit chat that Helena started he did not wish to divulge too much. And a dead silence laid between the three, Miriam fell asleep as soon as they stopped talking, she didn’t have to pay attention to Brynn or Helena. In case she spilled the beans, she’d have to kill Brynn and be ready to run, but all the tension dimmed down with the silence.

Fred rose his hand signalling to the men to stop, thereafter he spoke aloud “We will be camping in the vicinity, please start looking for the needed materials to set up camp”. He then walked to Brynn surprised by how he took care of the children. “You three will stay with me” he leaned closer to look at the girls. He could clearly see that Helena was not just look around amazed by the view, but rather studying, understanding her surroundings, would anyone expect such from a kid no more than five years. Whilst Miriam was the definition of a toddler their age.

Fred moved to Brynn’s left side, where he held Helena and asked her “Are you scared?” he asked to test her somehow, he somehow saw potential in her. He not only could see her as a hunter, but as a fighter to conquer many battles. Helena within an instant replied, “Aren’t you?”. Fred frowned upon this reply, as if the tables were turned around “Who knows?” he glared at her, intimidating her by leaning towards her. “Why should I be afraid?” he asked in a deep gruesome voice.

Helena was taken aback by Fred’s decisions; he was behaving like a dog marking its territory. It felt like he was trying to provoke her more than anything. “Us?” Fred’s frown faded away as he was struck by her honesty, she continued “I can tell you aren’t humans either” then leaned towards Brynn’s neck and smelled it “But I can’t tell exactly what, as you people are halflings”.

At this Miriam instantly straightened her hand and pointed it at Brynn’s neck. Her grey eyes turned red, glimmering despite the darkness that was slowly setting in, she was getting hungry. But also acted upon Helena’s stupid decision on taking the bite and getting ruled by Fred.

Fred just laughed at the sight of Miriam, while Brynn was just scared of the demons he was holding. “Well seems like your friend is more attentive than you are” Fred pointed at Miriam, showing it to Helena. Fred just chuckled as he looked at Brynn “Haha, don’t worry girl. We won’t fight you, unless you make us to. You would lose anyway with that weakened body of yours.” He waved one of the huntsmen to come over to him.

“Bill you’re a werewolf, can you smell these two and tell me what they are?” he looked around to see if the others found the necessary resources to start a fire. “I think one of them might be of your kind, since she was smelling Brynn”.

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The werewolf lowered his head to salute Fred. Thereafter without saying a word he headed for the girls, he was surprised as one of them was ready to kill Brynn anytime. Brynn face was screaming for help, yet his lips were sealed shut. Bill smelled Helena then moved to Miriam, she stood still, despite her being ready to kill. She was curious if they would stop her, but nothing happened. She almost started to feel sorry for Brynn. Whilst during this time, Helena just looked at Miriam. To Miriam it felt as if she looked down at her, as if she is disobeying unwritten rules. But at the same time seemed like Helena couldn’t care less if this led to Miriam’s death.

After a while of silence and Bill just trying to figure out what they were often switching in between the two of them. Miriam retracted her hand and hid away in Brynn’s chest, without holding back, almost as if victor Helena turned to Fred sometimes glancing over to Bill. He did not look the least like a werewolf, she had so many questions, yet none could’ve been asked.

Bill stroked his chin. Fred seeing this even the more it proved up to his decision of bring in the girls. Then Bill spoke up suddenly “Sir, they’re both vampires, but sir” he paused “Have you met any vampire children?”. Then again Bill pointed out “They also seem to be very well in control of their powers and to manage their hunger”

Fred instantly caught into Bill’s confusion “What makes you think they can control their power?”

Helena instantly interrupted them “We are here, just ask us. If you give us food, we will answer some of your questions” Fred just stared at her, knowing this could turn out to be a negotiation “We don’t have any blood and I don’t want you two to feed off of my men”.

This made Helena realise how unknowledgeable they were of her kind “We don’t feed only on blood and worry not, Cattle like your men is not something I’d feast upon” at this point Miriam realised Helena was at its end of her patience with these people’s secrecy. She cut off Helena “We eat human food as well, you seem to be preparing to make some” her words might have been directed at Fred and his men, but she looked at Helena wondering what is wrong with her. Why would she bring her pride into this, why now?

Fred realised there is more than it looks to these two girls. He sighed, he was tired from the long walk “Very well, we have an understanding” Miriam cut in again “Good, but the talk will only go between us and you” paused remembering Brynn carried them all this time “and Brynn”. Fred chuckled as soon as she finished her sentence “Well if you look at that Brynn, you are not forgotten”. Brynn tried to laugh it off as Fred agreed to Miriam’s offer.

In half an hour the camp was set up. It was nothing fancy, no tents. Blankets laying around messily and fire lit in the middle of an empty space they have found next to the road. Some men were working on the meal, while others were collecting herbs that could be added to the meal or eaten. Others were sparing while trying to warm up in this frozen time of the year. By the time the food was ready the sun has set, and it was pitch dark, yet everyone seems to have worries of wild animals coming from the smell of the food.

Fred brought food for Brynn and the girls. Sat down in front of them and muttered quietly “Enjoy”. The five of them quietly ate, while Helena just stared at her food. She cannot eat human food, if she were to do so, her instincts would kick in and would kill everyone until she found something or someone to satisfy her taste. Luckily without a word Miriam after finishing her food, she took Helena’s. Despite them being both vampires at root, they were quite different even within the vampire kin.

Fred seeing how they were almost done eating he started questioning the two “Are you two really children?”

Helena answered as Miriam was still eating “Yes and No, we were children once. If this helps you better, we were born vampires not made”

Fred was surprised, but he continued questioning them “Is this your true form?”

Helena replied smiling “Clever question, but I cannot answer this right now” Fred frowned but forcing something out of his interrogatee could ruin the outcome of the interrogation he continued “Can both of you use magic?”. Both nodded in affirmation.

Fred thought of asking how strong or skilled they were, but at this point it was useless. There was nothing to compare it with and he did not wish to spill blood unnecessarily. Then again, he grabbed his chin and sometimes stroked it as he was in deep thought into what to ask. He tried to remember how and where they found them “Why were you hiding?”

Helena was quite unsure to answer this question or not, took a quite glimpse at Miriam, which nodded. Helena leaned on Brynn’s arm as she started talking “Well this will take a while, better get comfortable”