Two hours before midnight and the courtiers had finished with their meals. They were now socializing, just like they had done over the whole day.

"Might I ask, Druscilla, what are you planning to do?"

"Make you Queen of Boshamia, of course. Haven’t I made that clear?”

"But how will you do that?"

"When your father dies, I intend to put the crown on your head and fight off whoever objects. The Grand Duke of Euwaine is of the same mind and is your biggest ally at the moment."

"Even though we have never met or communicated."

"He wants you to be Queen for his own purposes. He would make a puppet out of you, which is why I'm making you a competent."

"And you? You're not doing this for yourself?"

"I want the same thing you do; the best for the Kingdom. Though I admit, title and land wouldn't hurt."

"I don't believe you - you're a foreigner. The risk is too great for a simple title - I hope you know that a county is the absolute best I can give you should I come to power."

"I know – but I’m doing this because I got banished from my home. This is my home now. And I firmly believe that you are its best hope for the future." Gwen probably knows I’m using her – but with enough repetition and the truth will be blurred.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. “Odd, I wasn’t expecting guests.”

“It’s probably your mother.”

“Come in!”

A maid that Druscilla had never seen before came in with a tray of glasses and a crystal pitcher. “Who are you? I thought I knew all of Gwen’s maids…”

“I’m new – brought on by the Chancellor’s orders.” She was cocksure and upright unlike any of her peers. She also had no discernible scent.

Druscilla narrowed her eyes at the maid. “What’s your name?”

“I must say I am a bit disappointed that you are present, Miss Druscilla.” She set the tray on the table. “The lady Susan believes that you can be trusted – though I must say I do not share the sentiment. Go home and pretend you never saw me.”

“Why would I do that? My place is with the Princess.”

“In this water pitcher is poisoned by an odourless toxin that stops the heart. I was told to make your death painless, your Grace.” She turned an icy glare at Druscilla. “Now that you know of the plan and who sent me, I must say you must drink as well.”

“Why?” Gwen croaked.

“The king died earlier this afternoon – I must say it is only a matter of time until the fighting begins. Thus, I was sent here to nip out the conflict before it blossomed out of its bud.”

“Oh dear, that was sooner than expected,” said Druscilla. She took the pitcher by both hands and upended the contents down her throat. The water had a smooth taste; like sugar water. “I must say that was very refreshing.”

The would-be assassin wrinkled her nose slightly like she had just encountered a minor inconvenience. “I must say the Princess’ death will be more painful now – and messier.” She took out a dagger from the small of her back. “Fret not, I will make this quick.”

I don’t think so. “Look into my eyes.” False Death. The maid crumpled to the floor like a mound of jelly.

“Well, Gwen – looks like our schedule just got pushed forward.” She slung the maid across her shoulder. “We should leave. Staring at me like a fish doesn’t help.”

Wordlessly, the princess followed Druscilla.

The corridors were all deserted. She must be responsible for this. No one would have heard Gwen screaming out. Ugh – what a pain. Druscilla had laid out long term plans but now things were moving at a pace beyond her control.

The mismatched trio finally emerged onto the Palace ramparts. The night sky sprawled above them – pretty as ever. Druscilla would have taken a moment to appreciate the sight, were it not for the fact that there was another person on the ramparts. It was yet another woman who was just as surprised as Druscilla. The two stared at each other for a second as they recognized each other.

That’s Dixie Blackstone. “It’s – uh – not what it looks like. I can explain.”

“I see what you’re planning… Throw them off the parapets and then claim suicide. You might even get away with it.”

A horrified look came over Gwen’s face.

“Why are you even here Dixie? You don’t look too good.”

Dixie had dark bags under her eyes and Druscilla could smell the alcohol. “I’m not entirely sure of that. Someone had promised me death – but they are a bit tardy.”

“Shouldn’t you be overjoyed at, you know, not dying?”

“To be honest – I was hoping for the sweet release of death. I’m exhausted by the double life I’ve been living.”

“Ah, well, I don’t know anything about that. Now if you’ll excuse me…”

“Wait – tell me, those men I sent to your house, how did they die?”

“So that was you, huh. Well, there are arcane enchantments on the house. So I guess they dropped dead – I was at the ball and not present at the time. Now you tell me something: where is Morrigan?”

“Who?”

“Morrigan; the antisocial mermaid in the basement? One of your men set her free.”

Dixie looked like she might vomit. “That man died and his corpse left in my back yard. His brother found me and promised to kill me in vengeance after he dealt with Morrigan.”

“He went after Morrigan? Alone? Then he is most certainly dead. I’m surprised no one’s found a body.”

“Maybe he succeeded.”

“Unlikely, seeing as you’d be dead. You must be content with your inevitable demise – otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so open with me.”

“And you must not see me as a threat for you to be so free-flowing with information.”

“hah, true.”

“And no, I am not content with my death. If there is an afterlife I will be plagued with regrets.”

“In the afterlife, your mortal life will be the least of your concerns. Say, Dixie, isn’t your father a Duke? A Royalist, no less. Having you as a hostage would mean one less enemy for young Gwen here. Why don’t you come with us?”

“Go with you where? The only place to go is the flagstones far down below.”

“Not quite.” Druscilla furrowed her brow in concentration. The action was much more relaxed now that she had practised before. Her mental capacity had increased. She could now vividly picture a swarm of about two hundred bats. The tulpas burst out from beneath her skirts, clogging the air like a venomous dark mist. After each successful summoning, she couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. She had done this multiple times in the confines of the mansion. Her tulpas were familiar to her – so she had taken to calling them, familiars.

Gwen was screaming, arms crossed over her face. Her voice was barely audible from all the screeching bats. Druscilla gave the mental command and Dixie, the assassin and the princess were taken afloat by the swarm. Druscilla herself changed to bat form and led the procession to the Clearwater manse.

Despite their altitude, someone was bound to notice two hundred bats blotting out the moon. It doesn’t matter – the world is about to end. Druscilla planned to leave for Euwaine before the suns rose.

It had taken every iota of restraint Morrigan had in her body not to kill her assailant. When they had met a few days earlier, the man had given her a run for her money. He was quick on his feet – the worst opponent for a lumbering Morrigan. None of his crossbow shafts pierced her skin – in fact, they all shattered into splinters on impact. He had taken out a pair of thin, pointy daggers that looked like oversized needles and coated them in what he called ‘Seventh Blessed Holy water’. Morrigan was not a fan. When the man lunged for her, she enveloped him in a lover’s embrace. The man pierced Morrigan’s abdomen, while she broke the man’s ribs and spine.

She had promised herself not to feed again while she was out of water – so she and the man, Kranjis, languished in the dilapidated gatehouse. Morrigan was bleeding and the wound was not healing.

Whenever Kranjis regained consciousness he passed out immediately due to the pain. He had said that they would not allow Morrigan out of the city but he did not say why. Morrigan was sure he had not been lying.

But why won’t they let me out? Try as she might, she could not figure it out. Loathe as she was to admit it, she had to go back to Druscilla. So that man died for nothing.

Things would be different this time around – Morrigan had not been soaked in Holy Water, and the pain in her side was manageable. That said, Druscilla would not be pleased to see her; which was why Morrigan was taking a blood offering to the Vampire.

She slung the unconscious man over his shoulder and carried him out of the gatehouse. It was nighttime, so Morrigan did not have to worry about getting seen. She could feel Desmona’s charms as a pressure behind her eyes. All she had to do was follow her senses.

She limped forward, thinking about how this might play out. It was a second opportunity at making a first impression. Morrigan would have to restrain herself, again. Druscilla did not appreciate wanton violence. That was something Morrigan never understood about Druscilla. The two of them were stronger beyond measure – yet Druscilla surrounded herself with humans like Clementine.

Like any other chain of thought that occurred to Morrigan, this one made her miss the sea even more. She had had an easy life. It pained her how much she had taken it for granted. For the millionth time, she vowed to herself to swim as far away as possible as soon as possible. But first, she had to leave the city.

Eventually, she came upon the estate. The gates swung open as if they had sensed her. She went into the spacious front yard. “Hey!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. A moment later, she felt a presence behind her.

She turned to look; it was the blonde Vampire, Druscilla’s companion. “What are you doing here?”

“Where’s Druscilla – I need to speak to her.” If it came down to it, Morrigan would not lose a second time.

“She’s not here. You should leave.”

“Morrigan, you came back!” It was Desmona. Morrigan was not entirely sure what she was, but she vaguely remembered seeing her in dreams. She had tried to persuade Morrigan to do as she was told, to submit like a child would to a parent. Morrigan had violently refused, and she had been left for dead. “Who is that?” Desmona asked, referring to the human sack on Morrigan’s shoulder.

“My business is with Druscilla.”

“She can’t stay here, Desmona.”

“And where would you have her go? She’s wounded.” Desmona approached Morrigan. She placed her palm on Morrigan’s side and did her thing. There was a faint purple glow as Morrigan healed. It felt good like a back massage after a really long day.

“Somewhere that is not here – Druscilla won’t be happy.”

“I say we wait and see what Druscilla has to say.”

“I say she has to go.”

“Well, I outrank you, so she stays.”

“Since when??”

“I am your maker’s peer, you’d best remember that.”

The young Vampire angrily stalked off into the shadows.

“So Morrigan, did you finally come to your senses?”

“I want Druscilla’s help getting out of the city, nothing more, nothing less.”

“She’ll want something in return, she never does anything but for her own gain.”

“I know, I brought her some blood.”

“Is that what this is? Hmm, I suppose it might work.”

“Do you know why they won’t let me out of the city?”

“You’re barefoot and barely dressed. You look destitute and desperate. The city guard would probably take you to a temple to be taken care of.”

Morrigan did not know what ‘destitute’ meant, but it didn’t sound like a good thing. “I had no idea.”

“Morrigan, you were meant to fight – if you listened to me in the first place you wouldn’t be in this mess, and we’d all be safer against the angels.”

“Nobody tells me what to do – even now I just want Druscilla’s help, then I leave for the ocean.”

“Why doesn’t anybody ever listen to me – you’re going to die alone Morrigan, we have to stick together!”

“No.”

“Whatever – here comes your knight in bloody armour, with some guests it seems.”

Morrigan followed Desmona’s eyes to the sky. There was a large swarm of bats descending to the ground. Once they touched down the bats disintegrated into nothing, leaving only three humans and Druscilla. Morrigan’s eyes met the Vampire’s, and both of them tensed, ready for a brawl.

“Why is she here?” Druscilla hissed.

“Because I need your help getting to the sea. I even brought you a gift.” Morrigan dropped Kranjis to the ground. His wheezing breath was audible in the night.

“Another human – you should know I have enough of those, and there is an endless supply out there.”

“I need your help.”

“I heard you the first time. I’ll deal with you later I have more pressing concerns. Desmona where’s Penelope?”

“Here.” She had a habit of just popping out of the darkness.

“Good.” She turned to the young human she had brought. “Your Grace, this is Penelope, a good friend of mine – that there is Desmona and that there is Morrigan, not so good friends of mine.”

Morrigan was slightly annoyed at being ignored. “Druscilla, I said I need your help. Should I beg?”

“It certainly wouldn’t hurt – but as I said before, I have more pressing concerns. The King is dead, his Kingdom is about to fall into a war for the first time in centuries. The people may not know it yet, but this is their darkest hour.”