The petite dwarven maids dressed in black guided me through the dark hall. The torches in the sconces could barely lit the place, making visibility very limited within the palace. Perhaps the palace residents didn’t even need the light to see at all. After all, they might be… well, creatures of the night.

I didn’t know why I accepted the invitation of the dwarves even when I knew of the danger lurking within. I found solace in clutching the coin that I found inside the ancient stronghold, giving me the courage and perhaps a bit of hope that whoever I would meet wouldn’t kill me.

I could be mistaken about the dwarves, though. After all, how could the dwarves not realize that a vampire had been ruling them? And for how long?

The maids moved silently in cohesion, making the whole trip awkward. Not only awkward, but also eerily creepy. The maids almost blended into the shadow, only being noticeable when passing through a lit torch. Their pale skin almost reminded me of the moon, mysterious and beautiful.

As I neared the throne room, I kept my diary hidden inside my satchel enchanted with Cahalotian spells developed to hide documents from enemy sorcerers. In turn, I discreetly took out some high level scrolls and tucked them into my robes, just in case. It was a good thing that I prepared thoroughly for this search.

When we reached the door to the throne room, the maids moved to each side of the door and opened it, revealing a throne room with a single figure sitting on the throne. Unlike the halls, the room was brightly lit, but with a reddish tint. Balls of red liquid floating around the room, mostly illuminating the raised platform the throne was on.

The figure was dressed in black and dark red. Red ribbons embroidered her dress all along in a captivating manner, like red wine flowing down her dress. Her long, silky black hair flowed against her back and sides, gently capturing red light. Resting on her head was a gold crown with a single gem.

Just like the dwarven maids, it was a pale short woman. But ‘pale’ didn’t describe her as sickly white, but as white as moonlight. Her eyes were closed, casting a mirage of tranquil calmness. Unable to say anything, I decided to simply walk into the room.

Upon my first step, I froze. The dwarf slowly opened her eyes, and her serene face slowly shaped into a benign smile. She looked at me, raised her hands wrapped around in a pair of black fingerless gloves, and beckoned for me to come.

I felt that I was in a trance; unable to resist or think of anything else but obeying her, but the grip on my coin intensified, stealing my consciousness back. I rubbed the ancient coin with my thumb, silently thanking the inanimate object, before placing it into my pocket.

I looked back at the dwarf to see if there was any reaction, hostile or otherwise. Quite unexpectedly, she didn’t even care. She patiently waited for me like an owner waiting for their pet.

I took a deep breathe and steered myself into a few steps away from the dwarf. I respectfully gave her a Cahalotian bow, one hand forward casting a light spell in the form of the symbol of Cahalot while the body leaned slightly forward.

No matter who the other party is, Cahalotians do not bow any lower for anyone but another mighty sorcerer.

I greeted, “I, Master Mauri of Cahalot, greet you, Queen Ellysa VI of the United Fortresses.”

Ellysa rested her hands upon the throne’s armrest and tapped her fingers against them. She tilted her head, examining me as I continued to cast my light spell. After a few seconds, she ran her hand against her hair, caressing it casually.

“I sense lingering presence of him on you, where you sent by him?” Ellysa abruptly asked.

“Him?” I asked back while resting my hands against my sides.

“Ah! Perhaps he reconsidered my marriage proposal! Yes! I knew my seduction skills would bear fruit! I didn’t spend all those years studying romance novels for nothing!” Ellysa balled one of her hands into a fist in a cheer.

“Wait, Your Majesty. I must apologize, who is him?” I inquired.

“You must be one of his eccentric vassals! They were all weird, I mean, so was he, but you know, I don’t mind that at all as long as I get to study greater powers!” Ellysa jumped off her throne and raised her hands into the air.

“V-vassal?” By now I was extremely confused.

“Yes. Or perhaps you prefer the better term, ‘thrall’? Just like my cute little slaves out there!” Ellysa tilted her head as she looked at me.

“Wait, thrall?” I took a step back.

Ellysa blinked then her smile slowly dissolved into a frown. “You carry his mark, but you do not know him, don’t you?”

“I…”

I noticed that the red balls floating around the room froze. I felt a chill coming from the front, and the darkness behind Ellysa was twitching.

I made a mistake. I should have just played along. Is this the end of my journey?

“Why did you break the spell around the palace?” Ellysa asked as she crossed her arms.

Before I could open my mouth, Ellysa added, “Speak truthfully lest you seek a painful death.”

I decided to fish the coin out of my pocket and present it to Ellysa. “I will be honest. I am looking for the owner of this coin.”

“Hm? Let me see that coin,” Ellysa demanded to which I complied.

The dwarven queen ran her thumb against the coin, knitting her brows before her expression changed to that of surprise. “So this was the mark I sensed on you. Where did you get this?”

“I was tracking a trail…”

“You can track the owner of this coin?” Ellysa interjected.

“I think it’s the owner of the coin,” I replied.

“So you’re not here for me.” Ellysa concluded.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since the person I was looking for is not you, I will respectfully take my leave and-...”

I was about to turn and leave but I was cut off by the dwarven queen. “No. It seems we have a common goal. You did break the spell keeping me locked here thus I owe you a favor. As a show of gratitude, I, Ellysa VI of the United Fortresses, allow you to accompany and guide me to him… I mean the owner of this coin!”

Somehow my lucky coin turned out to be an unlucky coin!