Dominick stood in the moonlit clearing, a new strength coursing through his veins. The two Sunspawned looked uneasy, like mice before a cat.

The woman in the cloak hissed, her eyes shining in the moonlight. "A moonspawned, out to be our meal?"

"Please," Dominick scoffed, a sardonic grin spreading across his face. "You couldn't catch me on this fine night if I were standing still. It's dark, remember? I'm at my best." He relished the flicker of annoyance that crossed their faces, feeling a surge of confidence.

"Tell me why you're here," Dominick pressed, his voice hardening as he grew bolder. "Is this some kind of twisted game? Do you think this is a joke?"

"We have nothing to tell you, moonspawned," the other cloaked figure snarled. "Leave, or we'll eat you alive."

"Oh, I'm shaking," Dominick mocked, walking around them with a newfound swagger. "Now, tell me what I want to know before I break your bones. Your healing doesn't work at night, does it?" After reading the journal, Dominick knew how to play on their weaknesses, and it made him feel powerful.

The Sunspawned stayed quiet. Dominick's confidence grew with each passing moment.

"Is your master here?" he asked, moving quickly, enjoying his speed. "Come on, speak up before I-"

One of the Sunspawned jumped at him, trying to catch him off guard. Despite his growing confidence, Dominick felt a jolt of fear.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Dominick yelled, his voice booming. His heart raced, fear gripping him for a moment as the Sunspawned lunged. But instinct took over, and with a quick move, he sent the attacker flying. The Sunspawned hit a tree with a loud thud.

Dominick blinked, surprised at his own strength. The fear melted away, replaced by a rush of excitement and confidence. He looked at his hands, a slow grin spreading across his face.

"Well, that's new," he chuckled. "I feel like I could lift a horse!"

The other Sunspawned looked worried. Dominick's smile grew wider. The sunspawned might be powerful, but they were no match for the moon's children under the cover of night.

"Right then," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Answer my questions, or you'll join your friend over there."

The forest went quiet. You could hear a leaf fall.

"Cat got your tongue?" Dominick teased. "One... two... three... Don't make me count to trouble."

The Sunspawned said nothing. Dominick's eyes narrowed, a spark of fun in them.

"How nice," he whispered. "Looks like we're in for a long night."

Suddenly, the air filled with dust and leaves. The sound of footsteps broke the quiet, like a group of people trying to sneak and failing badly.

"More company?" Dominick grinned, rubbing his hands together. "And here I thought the night couldn't get better. Let's give them a proper welcome, shall we?"

The footsteps grew louder, and soon enough, three more cloaked figures burst into the clearing. They stopped short, taking in the scene before them - their two comrades looking worse for wear, and Dominick standing tall with a grin on his face.

"Evening, friends," Dominick called out, mock cheerful. "Come to join our little party?"

The newcomers glanced at each other, clearly unsure. One of them, taller than the rest, stepped forward.

"We've come for our brothers," the tall one said, voice gruff. "Step aside, moonspawned."

Dominick laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. "Step aside? My good man, I'm just getting started. Why don't you join your friends here and we can have a proper chat?"

The tall Sunspawned's hands clenched into fists. "You don't know what you're dealing with, boy."

"Oh, I think I do," Dominick said, his voice dropping low. "Five of you, one of me. But it's night, and I'm feeling quite... invigorated."

Without warning, two of the newcomers rushed at Dominick from different sides. But Dominick was ready. He moved faster than the eye could follow, dodging one and catching the other by the throat.

"Now, now," Dominick tisked, holding the struggling Sunspawned aloft. "Didn't your mother teach you it's rude to interrupt?"

The forest erupted into chaos. Cloaks swirled, fists flew, and the night air filled with grunts and the sound of impact. But through it all, Dominick moved like a shadow, striking hard and fast, always one step ahead.

As the fight raged on, Dominick couldn't help but feel a thrill. This was what it meant to be a vampire lord. This was power.

The fight was over in a flash. Five sunspawned lay sprawled on the forest floor, blood oozing from their wounds like broken fountains. The sun was hours away from rising, so if they were lucky, they might survive. If not, well, they'd become fertiliser for the surrounding trees. Nature has a funny way of making things last, doesn't it?

A rustling of leaves behind him signalled the arrival of another presence. A woman emerged from the shadows, her long white cloak trimmed in gold billowing around her. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, framing a face of ethereal beauty, marked by crimson lips and striking eyes. The scent of burning wood hung about her, the same scent Dominick had detected in the Duke's room.

Without a doubt, this woman was no ordinary sunspawn. Her aura crackled with power, making the hairs on the back of Dominick's neck stand up. Yet there was something familiar about her face, a ghost of a memory he couldn't quite place.

"You must be the new Vampire Lord," she said, her voice soft as honey.

Dominick's guard went up instantly. "Why?" he demanded, suspicion lacing his tone.

"I simply wanted to offer a greeting," she replied with a disarming smile. "That's all."

"Liar," Dominick spat, his suspicions growing.

"Explain the barn incident before I make you join your minions," he demanded, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in his stomach.

"Ah, the moonspawned are always so quick to anger," she chuckled. "Just like Lucy."

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Dominick lunged at her, fury clouding his vision. "Don't you dare speak her name, you foul creature!"

She merely laughed, sidestepping his attack with an unnerving grace. "I hear you two were quite close, is that right?"

"None of your business," Dominick growled. "Answer my question, or die here."

The woman chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent chills down Dominick's spine. "Very well," she conceded, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "You may be able to defeat me in the darkness, moonspawned. I'll give you that. Your kind are indeed formidable at night."

"We merely wanted to send a message," she said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.

"To you, of course," she continued, her smile widening. "We knew you were hiding here."

"I'm not hiding like your kind," Dominick retorted, the memory of his time in the bear cave flashing through his mind. "Not anymore."

"Then why did you slaughter those animals?" Dominick questioned, his voice hardening. "They were villagers' livestock."

"What about it?" she shrugged, her indifference chilling. "We don't care."

"But you cared enough to visit the Duke's room, I suppose?" Dominick pressed, suspicion gnawing at him.

"You have a good nose for these things," she said with a chilling smile, her eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Like a hound on the scent."

"And like you, a parasite that likes to make a mess everywhere you go," Dominick retorted with a frown, his voice laced with venom. The air between them crackled with tension.

"Now that you've received the message, I'd like to make you an offer," she said, her voice as smooth as silk despite the threat in her eyes.

"Don't want it," Dominick retorted, his face a mask of disdain. "Whatever you're peddling, I'm not buying."

Her smile widened, a predator's grin. "You don't even want to hear it?"

"Nope," Dominick replied, pinching his nose. "You smell like... well, I won't say it, but it's not pleasant."

Unfazed by his insult, she tilted her head. "So you're not going to end me?"

Dominick's eyes narrowed. "Is that what you want? To die here? Because I can certainly help you do that."

"Thank you for your kindness," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "but I actually want your help with something."

"Not happening," Dominick retorted, waving her off dismissively. "Leave before I lose my patience."

A chilling smile spread across her face. "Very well. But remember, our paths will cross again." With that, she turned and vanished into the shadows of the forest

Dominick watched the woman's figure retreat into the darkness, the sound of her footsteps fading into the night. He turned back towards the castle, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Despite the moon's empowering glow, the encounter had drained him.

He dragged himself back into the castle, descending into the cellar and collapsing onto his bed. The familiar scent of herbs and the warmth of the room enveloped him like a comforting blanket, lulling him into a deep sleep almost instantly.

For three days, Dominick slumbered, lost in a world of dreams and shadows. It wasn't laziness, per se, but rather a necessary period of hibernation, like a bear retreating to its den to recharge after a long hunt. His confrontation with the sunspawned, though brief, had drained him like a leech sucking lifeblood. This method of recuperation, however, came with a price: an insatiable thirst for blood that grew with each passing hour, a ravenous hunger gnawing at his very core

"Dominick, are you planning on sleeping the week away?" The whispered voice roused him from his slumber.

The voice was soft as a cloud, warm as a mug of mulled wine on a winter's night. It was familiar, and he knew exactly who it belonged to.

A smile crept onto Dominick's face as he opened his eyes to see Marcus sitting beside him, the dim light of the cellar casting long shadows on his face.

"I was hoping you would come, but I didn't think you actually would," Dominick confessed, his voice raspy from sleep.

"I didn't want to come either," Marcus replied, his gaze fixed on the stone wall opposite them.

"Liar," Dominick chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes.

"What brings you here, then?" Dominick asked, sitting up on the bed, curiosity piqued by Marcus's unexpected appearance.

"Must I always have a reason?" Marcus countered, glancing at Dominick before quickly averting his gaze, a faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"No need," Dominick replied with a gentle smile, "but I'm curious."

"I was just..." Marcus hesitated, his eyes searching the floor. "I'm leaving."

"Leaving?" Dominick's hand shot out to grab Marcus's arm, his face suddenly pale. He fought the urge to sink his teeth into the warm skin, a desperate hunger gnawing at him.

"I won't hurt you," Dominick said through clenched teeth, his voice unnaturally cold.

"I... I just wanted to know about the night you were out," Marcus confessed, a hint of concern in his voice.

"Are you worried about me?" Dominick asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Don't be ridiculous," Marcus retorted, shaking his head.

"So, what happened?" Marcus continued, returning to his seat on the bed and looking at Dominick expectantly.

"What do you think happened?" Dominick countered, his gaze locking with Marcus's.

Before Dominick could continue, Marcus interrupted, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Why are you sweating?" He reached out to touch Dominick's forehead but stopped mid-air, unsure.

Dominick grinned, leaning closer. "Do you really want to know?"

"Must you always answer a question with a question?" Marcus snapped, annoyed.

"My apologies," Dominick replied with a sheepish grin. "I really can't help it. It's just... my condition. It's always been like this, even before I became a Lord."

"I need to regain my energy by sleeping," he continued, his gaze meeting Marcus's. "And every time I do, I crave blood." He held Marcus's gaze, a silent plea in his eyes. "But as I said before, I won't hurt you. So please, stay." He wiped the sweat from his brow, his hand trembling slightly.

"Would you like me to fetch you some animal blood?" Marcus asked, his voice filled with concern. "The kind you usually drink?"

Dominick shook his head, a small smile gracing his lips. "No need. Just rest is all I require."

"Are you sure?" Marcus asked, a hint of concern in his voice as he looked at Dominick.

"Quite sure, Marcus," Dominick replied, settling back onto his mattress.

"Get some rest," Marcus said, turning away to avoid Dominick's gaze. "I'll stay until you fall asleep."

Dominick couldn't help but grin. "Then I won't sleep," he quipped, watching Marcus's reaction with amusement

"You're being too obvious, Dominick," Marcus sighed, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. He grabbed the edge of Dominick's blanket and pulled it up, tucking him in with a gentle touch that belied his words

"Just sleep," Marcus said, a hint of exhaustion in his voice. "I want to rest too."

Dominick's smile softened. He understood. Marcus always worked tirelessly for Velor, day in and day out. He had to be exhausted. But the sight of Marcus, even in his sweat-stained clothes with dust clinging to his hair, sent a warmth through Dominick's chest. Perhaps this unexpected visit was a sign of progress, a thawing of the icy distance that had settled between them

"What are you grinning about? Get some rest, Dominick," Marcus said, flicking Dominick's forehead playfully before settling into the armchair.

Dominick's smile widened. "If you want to rest, why don't you join me?" Dominick asked, pulling the blanket up invitingly.

"Not likely!" Marcus retorted, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched Dominick's face fall in mock disappointment.

"Well, then, I'm going to sleep," Dominick declared, his gaze lingering on Marcus for a moment before closing his eyes. Despite his declaration, his heart pounded in his chest.

"This is definitely something," Dominick thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips even as he drifted off to sleep