Terrill softly thanked the captain for the safe journey before passing over what little remained of his money. For the first time in nearly all his life he had nothing to his name other than the clothes on his back. It was a frightening prospect but also one that was strangely relieving. He could start afresh anywhere in the world, no one was looking for him outside of Qaiviel. If he was several decades younger. And if a cold fury no longer burned in his heart.

The captain mumbled something under his breath, Terrill didn't care to ask what it was, as he left the ship and walked down the plank to the dock. His feet and body still swayed with the swell of the sea, he had been told it would take some time but it would fade.

"Now what?" Terrill asked aloud. "I didn't think this all the way through. Well, I did. But-"

Behind a sailor cursed at him to move. Terrill moved as fast as his old bones would allow, just letting the man pass with a large bundle on his back. The sailor grumbled and continued past to the port beyond.

Terrill took a moment to allow the scenery to truly sink in, nothing to do with his aching bones. A light fog covered the port, not that unusual given it was early morning, but something felt off about it. Something with the colour, a shade too blue for normal fog. The people working the dock were also strange. Compared to the unruly sailors they were beacons of upstanding behaviour and politeness. Too polite. Invisible strings pulled at their facial muscles, constantly forcing them to appear to be happy. It wasn't magic, Terrill had no way to verify that, but he had seen this before. In The Church of The Holy Father, sycophants putting on their best airs to convince a superior they were brilliant and generous, even when they and the people were breaking.

I've never seen this land before. Only the stories. They said that it was a twisted land, where the dead preyed on the living, where monstrous creatures roamed free and children abducted for vile experiments.

Terill began walking towards the port town, since he had no other idea of where to go or what to do. The fish and food on display, merrily hawked by their owners, were far better than what Terrill expected.

Should all be half-rotten and moving. But I've learnt not to trust stories. Most turn out to be lies.

A hand moved to the cross he still carried around his neck, hidden underneath his clothes should it alarm someone. He had not cleaned it since the coup in Qaiviel, yet he had not disposed of it either.

Perhaps that time will come soon. I have no money for food, and it was slim pickings on that boat.

Port guards, wearing light armour and no forced smile, quickly searched Terrill and allowed him in. He presumed they were looking for something more dangerous than a small dagger, nor what appeared to be stolen jewellery. The small necklace, the only thing Terrill had that once belonged to Lila, was firmly secured around his neck, beneath his dirty cross. It was far safer than leaving it in his pocket. Twice someone nearly stole it. Twice Terrill had witnessed a brutal beating.

Terill made but a step into the city before he was stopped. A middle-aged woman, wearing a sheer black dress that only served to accentuate her blonde hair and pale skin, wearing a small black hat, stepped out to block his path.

"Inquisitor Terrill?" Her voice was soft and incredibly cold. "Of Qaiviel?"

"And who might you be?" Terrill's resisted the urge to place a hand on his dagger. He was too weak and arthritic to use it effectively against someone, he presumed at least, to be somewhat skilled. The woman had no visible weapons but two long straight lines running along her legs underneath her dress gave Terrill other thoughts.

"My master is waiting for you." The woman's eyes glanced behind him. Four people now stood behind him, all large men wearing heavy armour and wielding menacing cleavers. The port guards were exerting extra effort not to notice. "And you will accompany us."

"Does he or you have a name?"

Terrill had read as much as he could, he knew the names of the most famous vampires, though it would do him little good against one.

The woman said nothing, unblinking staring into his eyes. Terrill knew he would not be receiving that answer anytime soon.

"How does he presume to know what I want?" Terrill looked back. "I have barely spoken a word since I left Qaiviel."

The woman smiled, a black carriage, pulled by two magnificent pitch-black stallions, crested with red feathers on their golden harnesses, gently rolled to a stop behind her. The hooded driver slowly turned to the woman but said nothing.

"My master knows many things. Things that would drive you mad if he were to merely tell you."

A bit dramatic. A few sentences couldn't drive someone mad, but it could drive them to confusion.

"I..." Terrill looked to the armoured men. Only then did he realise they had no faces, just bleached white bones with a dim red fire in their eyes. "Necromancy...There's little choice in the matter. Is there?"

A giggle escaped the woman's lips, one she immediately regretted and acted like nothing happened.

"No. No there isn't."

---[]---

Terrill barely felt the dips and small rocks as their carriage snaked its way along the single width paved road. Whomever he was to meet, they had wealth and very good taste. The blonde woman sat opposite, hands clasped in her lap as she looked outside, careful to always keep him in view. Terrill looked outside as well. The further they entered this land the stranger it became. Strange in that everything seemed perfectly normal, apart from the fog that refused to lift or burn away. Trees and shrubs grew normally, as did the animals and birds. None looked alarmed by the presence of the slightly blue fog. The few other travellers gave the carriage a wider berth the moment they saw it coming, even carts that would have a difficult time remounting the road were well clear when they passed. And the strange smiles returned.

Terrill tapped the glass window, a glass so pure and smooth at first he thought it was magic.

"Do you know who made this?"

The woman turned to him, no expression on her face.

"The glass. Who made it?" Terrill ran a hand along his legs and shuffled closer to the window. "Something of this quality would sell for many gold coins. More than that, probably. Even if just for the novelty."

"My master made all of this."

"The whole carriage? Not just the window."

The woman smiled. "When you no longer need to eat, drink or sleep, you will find yourself with considerable spare time. Better to..."

The woman coughed and resumed looking out the window. Her words wormed their way into Terrill's thoughts.

Would Lila hate me for doing that? Bringing her back to a state where she cannot die? Leo still needs to be punished for what he did to you.

Terrill wrangled with a thought that he had yet to answer properly.

Is that the only reason I'm doing this? To get revenge? And not see you alive, back, to rule the Qaiviel Kingdom just and fairly? But if I don't no one will.

"It's too late to change your mind." The woman whispered, barely noticeable above the faint racket of the carriage. "You couldn't outrun his creatures even if you tried."

"Can you read my thoughts?" Terrill tried to clear his mind but it was no use.

The woman moved closer to the window. "I could see it in your eyes. You aren't the first to try and resurrect a loved one. Many...Many change their mind just before reaching his castle. And my Master does not like his time being wasted."

"Is that what happened to you?"

For the tiniest moment, her icy facade dropped, immediately restored the next. Terrill said nothing and rested his elbow next to the window. Something moved in the thick fog, long and squat, like a snake with short, stumpy legs. It veered suddenly towards the carriage, Terrill jumped back out of shock. It was a snake, at least it was once, but it had long since died. All but a few tattered pieces of rotting scaley skin had rotted away leaving nothing more than a shambling pile of bones. Eight sets of stumpy legs, all bar two were skeletal, worked in perfect harmony to propel the creature forward. Terrill almost wretched when he realised the two intact legs were from a wolf and a human.

"Your dead love will be able to create that." The woman clearly forced herself to speak without any wavering. "No. She will be made to create it. And in time she will be made to love it." She looked Terrill dead in the eye. "I hope you understand what you have chosen."

The creature scurried back into the mist, a terrible crunch followed, as they rode in total silence.

Terrill was not sure how much time passed before the woman moved again. She bobbed her head back and forth, looking for something in the fog. For a moment Terrill thought the snake creature had returned. He wasn't sure if the reality was worse. At first, it was only a massive blotch in the fog, slowly it grew features and clarity. The carriage rode alongside a castle, the size of which Terrill had never seen before. It dwarfed the central castle of Cloussone, which was far larger than anything in Qaiviel or Bebbezzar, in both width and height. He tried to count the number of spires but quickly became confused.

"Eighty-eight spires." The woman said calmly. "And seven walls."

"Did your master build those himself too?" Terrill immediately regretted his smug sounding tone, albeit completely unintentional.

"No." The woman said nothing more.

The paved path split, one leading in into the fog, the other towards the castle. Strangely the road to the castle was far bumpier than the main road. Terrill wanted to ask but her attention lay elsewhere, at something hidden by the fog.

The carriage lurched to a halt. Terrill fell back into his seat while the woman gripped onto the seat with both hands.

"Why are we stopping?" Terrill asked. "Do we walk the rest of the way?"

"No. They are searching for any potential intruders."

"They?"

Terrill's whole body felt instantly cold and devoid of any warmth. A wispy black shadow moved past the window, a floating skull, skull, with red glowing eyes, heading a body of smoke that filled out the cloak. It stopped near the window, crouched low and searched underneath. It returned a moment later with a small diseased rat in its hands. This rat's eyes glowed with a hint of green.

"Master's rivals are always seeking to infiltrate his castle."

The smoke skeleton lifted the rat high and dropped it into its maw. It did not fall through, rather it was consumed by the smoke. Judging from the rats screeches it was not pleasant.

"To kill or to steal?" Terrill asked.

"Neither." The carriage began to move forward, much more slowly this time. "Immortal beings do become bored after a time."

Heavily armoured soldiers, like those at the port, flanked their carriage as they rode in deeper to the castle. At each of the gates they were stopped and searched. Other than the rat they found nothing. Terrill hoped that they wouldn't descend upon him the moment he exited the carriage, not that he could do much to defend himself against such creatures.

Finally, the carriage stopped for the final time. Terrill heard the cloaked driver step from his position and slowly approach the door. At least he wasn't a floating skull.

"We have arrived." The hooded driver's voice cracked and gurgled, a rotting tongue forced itself to articulate words. Terrill began to wonder if anyone inside this castle was actually alive, he had serious doubts about his travelling companion.

"Thank you, Ekil." The woman took his hand and dismounted the carriage. Her hand sunk deep into his leather glove, down to a few pointed bones pushing against the glove.

Ekil waited until the woman had exited before turning to Terrill. Though he wore a hood his face should have been visible. Instead, he was greeted by nothing but a vague black outline of a face, two glowing red eyes staring into his.

"T-Thank you."

Ekil did not offer his hand but held the door wide open until he was clear. Terrill took one deep breath, the air itself felt dead somehow, devoid of life. However, the vibrant garden beds, filled with flowers and birds, told him something else entirely. Exactly what that was he could not be sure. More armoured skeletons patrolled the grounds, more on the high walls but these all had bows of sizes no human could hope to draw. Unless they were moving they stood perfectly still. And silent.

"This way, please." The woman waited until Terrill began to follow before moving herself.

The carriage door closed, Ekil took his position and rode the horses away. Terrill kept close to her as they entered the central keep. Two skeletal guards pushed the heavy doors open, revealing the opulent hall within. Plush furniture, giant immaculate paintings and marble floors lay within. If Terrill was being honest it all looked a little garish. More importantly he saw the first living people since being forced into the carriage. Groups of servants, men and women of all ages, walked through the hall, some cleaning and rearranging furniture, others escorting apparent lords and important guests. Each servant looked remarkably similar to the woman; pale skin and wearing long black clothes. The guests wore more vibrant clothes but they too had the same pale skin, except all bar a few moved and acted like they were the most important individual to have ever existed.

"My master's other guests." The woman said softly, leading a path to avoid the groups. "Many lesser vampires seek his approval and assistance for their games and ventures. Not many are granted an audience, less receive what they want."

"And I'm that interesting to just jump to the front?" Terrill whispered.

"Indeed." The woman smiled. "You are the first human to seek his help for someone else's gain in a long time. I hope that your tale will entertain him, at the very least."

Terrill caught the attention of one of the lesser vampires. Though he knew not all of the stories to be true there was always a kernel of truth. The vampire frowned, looked Terrill up and down and began to laugh. The woman ushered him forward, turning so the vampire wouldn't see her face and silently told him not to speak.

"Another sacrifice?" The vampire stifled out between forced bouts of laughter. "I thought his fetish was young boys?"

"Remember whose home you are in." The woman did not stop, nor visually acknowledge his existence. "I'm certain my master will enjoy hearing you've slandered his guests."

"You’d better watch your ton-" The vampire stopped.

A shadowy hand gripped his shoulder, the ghostly hand connected to a floating black skull supporting a simple cloak. The empty skull stared into the vampires face. His lips trembled and sweat ran down his face.

"I-I'm very sorry." His voice was but a whimper. "I did not mean to offend you or your guests."

The smoke skull stared at the vampire, he began to truly panic, until it removed its hand and moved away. The smoke ghost had no legs but its form moved as if it still did. The vampire shuddered, his fingers flexed as he ran a hand through his hair. His eyes swivelled to check who had seen but no one was paying any attention. Except for Terrill. He glared angrily, never blinking nor breaking contact until Terrill was led through a small side door.

I've met children scarier than you.

"Please wait here." The woman motioned to a large couch, a bowl of fresh fruit and a cold glass of wine on a table beside. "My master will receive you shortly."

Terrill did as he was bid. Aches and pains lifted from his body, he hoped it wasn't magical but didn't care either way. It was the first in a long time that his bones didn't hurt. The woman bowed her head and passed through yet another door, this one guarded by another pair of skeletal warriors.

The longer that Terrill sat and thought the more a niggling doubt, that he was making a mistake, wormed deeper into his mind. However, he knew his path was already chosen. He had no resources to go or do anything else, nor any way to get more. If he died at least he would have a measure of closure.

"Terrill?" A man spoke to him.

Terrill jumped to his feet, immediately the weight and aches returned, but he wasn't greeted by a vampire. Instead a male servant, with the woman just behind. Anyone would be hard pressed to think they weren't related.

"Our master is ready to speak with you."

"Do you not want me to get refreshed?" Terrill patted down his sleeves. "I've spent some time in these clothes. If nothing else I'd like to remove the salt."

"That will not be a problem." The male servant bowed. "Our master does not care for appearance, as many here should already know, but the strength of their character. And..." The man smiled. "Truth be told, you do not smell that bad."

Terrill took a calming breath. When that didn't work he quickly sculled the poured glass of wine. He didn't have time to taste it, his calmed nerves were far more important.

The male servant opened a small door at the end of the room, different from the one he entered. The hinges barely made a sound as his slender frame pushed open a solid iron door. Beyond lay a simple dining table, comically small for the giant room it inhabited. Two seats had been prepared, one already occupied by a man similar in appearance to the lesser vampire outside. Terrill could only see the back of his head, long flowing black hair covered his skin as he looked out a massive near perfectly formed glass window.

The male servant ushered Terrill forward, throwing a glance at the woman who walked a few paces behind. Terrill's old and dirty boots clacked loudly on the immaculate stone floor, every step loosening a small deposit of dirt and stone.

"Do not concern yourself." The seated vampire spoke loudly, a commanding voice, never shifting his eyes away from the window. "It'll give the servants something to do for once. Keep them occupied, rather than spending all their time gossiping and rumour-mongering."

Neither servant gave any inclination to whether or not the man spoke the truth.

The male servant rushed ahead and pulled out Terrill's seat. Only when Terrill sat did the man turn to face him.

Terrill's breath was stripped from him. The man opposite was impossibly beautiful. Perfectly smooth pale skin, immaculately maintained flowing black hair, even his eyelashes were perfect, with a piercing set of green eyes that looked right through Terrill.

Obviously appearances do matter to him. Unless, unless this is a fake. A stand-in. A test. For all I know that male servant, or even the woman, could be the one that I seek.

"How was your journey?" Now the Vampire spoke more softly, almost like he knew Terrill a from the day he was born.

"Long." Terrill's eyes quickly flicked over the cutlery before him. All were made from gold and some white ceramic, nothing of silver.

It is supposed to be their weakness.

Terrill locked eyes with the vampire, clearly waiting for a continuation.

But I'm starting to doubt if he could be slain so easily.

"And tiring." Terrill shifted in his seat. "And I have used all of my funds to get here."

The vampire nodded, closing his eyes in deep thought. "It has been a long time since I've left these lands. It appears that customs have changed. When I was young, travellers would be offered food and lodging along their journey. Even if it wasn't the best, every house welcomed strangers."

"I imagine...How long ago was that?"

Terrill instantly regretted his words. A strange cold sensation wrapped itself around his throat, his body prepares itself to be torn asunder but the vampire merely stared out the window.

"A long time ago. A very long time. Before the third..." He smiled at Terrill. "Forgive me. I usually don't receive human guests. Most of mine already know me, but I do forget how fleeting human life truly is."

Again his face grew listful, a great longing for a distant memory. Terrill presumed it was some lover or great friend but was not brave enough to ask.

"I Drochik. The first Vampire." Beneath Drochik's predatory smile Terrill saw the tell-tale markings of a vampire, four enlarged canine teeth. "Well, the oldest surviving Vampire, at any rate."

"Why, how, did you know that I was coming?" Terrill asked. "And why did you agree to see me, when there are so many...vampires out there that want to talk to you."

Drochik's scoffed. "They can wait. And most of them are so...Boring. Absolutely boring." He slumped back into his chair. "They only want me to increase their own power in their games. Who is to be ruler of this little morsel of land? Or of this? Who do we gang up on to rip apart and share the spoils? I must admit that I too once played but once you have everything." Drochik's laughed. "What's the point in anything?"

The vampire's smile returned as he leant forward. "But it's been a very long time since a human wished to speak with me, for my help but not for their own profit or advancement. As for how I know? Let's just keep that a secret for now, shall we?"

"Can it be done?" Terrill's fingers gripped tight. "Can she be brought back?"

"Depends entirely by what you mean when you say back." Drochik's leant forward. “Are you prepared for what she would become?”

“I…”

Dorchik smiled. He reached for a glass of wine, at least Terrill hoped it was wine, and took a slow sip.

“Vampires, or Vampirism, whatever you really want to call it, is not something-”

Someone knocked loudly on the door, Dorchik sighed dramatically, drooping his head as he waved to the male servant to answer the door.

“First time in generations when I actually have something interesting happen to me and someone tries to interrupt it.”

Terrill was too nervous to say anything. He instead stared at the table, not to focus his thoughts but so he would not do or say something stupid. The servant opened the door just enough to peer his head through. He began murmuring something, Terrill glanced and saw it was the wraith creature holding a small tightly bound scroll in his hand.

“Who is it?” Dorchik did not look away from the giant window.

“Zvezdelin has a message from The Hunters.”

“Zvezdelin actually interrupted my meeting?” Dorchik raised his brows. “That’s a surprise. Bring him in. I know he won’t be saying much but I can still sort of get a read off him.”

The male servant bowed and allowed the smoky skull wraith, Zvezdelin, in. He waited until the gap was as wide as his skull, the only solid part of his body, and floated in. Zvezdelin kept his head bowed down slightly as he stopped a meter to the side of Dorchik.

“This is unusual for you.” Dorchik shuffled in his chair. “Normally you would wait for days outside, if someone didn’t let you in. Just like the last time.” Dorchik smiled. “When they thought you’d fallen asleep and left you alone until someone bumped into you.”

Zvezdelin remained motionless, his flaming eyes unblinking at Dorchik.

“Good talk, Zvezdelin.” Dorchik clapped his hands. “So where’s the message you have for me?”

Zvezdelin pointed a black smoky hand at the male servant. He stopped by Dorchik’s other side and passed over the scroll. Dorchik cut the seal with his nail, Terrill knew it was a very thick wax and shouldn’t have broken with such a dismissive movement.

Dorchik coughed softly as he read the scroll. Terrill couldn’t make out exactly what it said but there wasn’t much written. Nevertheless, Dorchik poured over the words, his eyes narrowed slightly and the corner of his mouth twitched but he said nothing. He wrapped the paper up, hard enough for some crinkles to form around his hand. He passed it back to the male servant and remained silent. Something flashed through his mind and he returned to his normal, almost jovial, demeanour.

“Children.” Dorchik smiled. “They can always find a way to...Amuse you. Not that you’d know much about that...But I’m certain you can appreciate it.”

“I did work in an orphanage for some time,” Terrill said softly. “Children always found a way to misbehave.”

Terrill hated this subject, the memoirs of what he had lost, rightfully so, tried to come back. A phantom itch afflicted his groin, one he tried to scratch but couldn’t.

“As I was saying…” Dorchik looked at the scroll. “Becoming a vampire is not something that one should take lightly. Especially when one is in an emotional state.” Dorchik leant forward and rested his elbows on the table. “You can be granted immense physical strength, even a person devoid of magic can compete with a master mage...But you never age. Have no need for sleep...Among other things.”

“Lila is already dead,” Terrill said softly. “She’s been dead for some time, murdered by her brother for the throne.”

“Exactly the problem.” Dorchik glumly nodded. “Creating a vampire requires a living human. Or...At the very least they need to be alive.” Dorchik held a finger to his lips. “Come to think of it I wonder if any of the Dwarven or Beast Vampires still live? I haven’t spoken to them in a long time. Anyway, you can’t turn a corpse into a vampire. Especially a pile of ash.”

“What?”

Dorchik smiled. “After you left Qaiviel, King Leo organised a large funeral for Lila. Instead of burying her in the royal tombs, he had her body burned and ashes kept in an urn. I thought he would have wanted those ashes scattered to the winds but even his advisors told him no, that it would be sacrligage. Or something.” Dorchik shook his head. “Seems that Leo has an unnatural fear of his sister returning. I doubt that he would think that you, a man of The Church of The Holy Father would come here, or whatever you humans are calling its latest iteration.”

“I…” Terrill’s mind was filled with the image of a dusty urn, filled with ash and tiny bones. “He didn’t even bury her?”

“No.” Dorchik sighed. “That would have made things easier. But...No. She was burned to ash. Currently, her urn resides in a secluded area of the central castle of Cloussone. It will be difficult to acquire it undetected. Not that it would be much of an issue for me, but killing hundreds of elite human soldiers does get tiring. And you never know what tricks they’ve discovered. Humans have a tendency to experiment with things they definitely shouldn’t.”

Terrill could not help but agree. Dorchik certainly knew about the Stitch Soldiers and the continued experiments, like Caiden and Harold. He wondered if they would actually be a threat to this ancient creature or would merely delay him for a few more breaths.

“So I came in vain?” Terrill slumped into his chair. “I have no money, resources or titles to my name. If I have I ask that you make my end quick-”

Dorchik laughed and raised his hand for Terrill to stop. “There’s no need to go that far. Lila can be brought back. But not as a Vampire, as she’s not alive, not as a ghoul, because there’s no corpse. Lila could only return as a wraith. Not even like Zvezdelin here. No, more like a ghost. The question is, are you prepared for it?”

“Serving a wraith?”

“She won’t be the same,” Dorchik said softly. “Returning from the other side...It does things. She will be colder, callous and far more violent than before. Suffice to say she will be a completely different person. If she’s still sane. The more degraded the body the less there is to anchor the soul to this world. And as nothing more than a pile of ash you can imagine how damaged she will be. So, do you really wish to inflict such a thing upon her? And the people of Qaiviel?”

Terrill took a deep breath. “I...I don’t know. I have nothing else to live for, after everything I’ve done I cannot let Leo get away with murdering his sister.”

“So the people of Qaiviel should suffer for what one man has done? Even if he is their King? It would be easier to send some vampire assassins rather than raise a tortured soul from the dead.”

“I…” Again Terrill fell deeper into his chair.

He was truly regretting making the journey and not dying in the flames of his hidden hideout, not that Dorchik was an unreasonable being but he was making sense. Innocents should not suffer because of one horrible man.

“I know it sounds stupid but I want to see her again.” Terrill hung his head low. “It was only a few days really, but I felt more alive than I had in my entire life.”

He looked up. Dorchik said nothing, patiently listening to his words.

“Fighting, I didn’t actually do any fighting myself, but being with her made me feel like I was actually making a difference. And...I want to feel that again. Before I die.”

Dorchik stared at Terrill. Slowly he began to smile and nod.

“Alright. I’ll help you.”

“W-What?”

“I said I’d help you. You haven’t gone senile in just a few sentences, have you?”

“No. But-”

Dorchik raised his hand. “I will help you. I will help bring back Lila from the dead. But I want something from you. Something now, and something once you have finished.”

“What could I possibly have that you could want? Apart from my body or soul?”

“I.” Dorchik laughed. “It’s almost funny that you think I want your old body for something. No. For starters, I want a demonstration. A demonstration of your commitment. You travelling across the seas to meet me, which you feared would result in death, is a good start, but want something more. Something entertaining?”

“You’re helping me because you’re bored?”

“Of course!” Dorchik slapped his legs. “Life becomes so boring after living for so long...But.” Dorchik’s face hardened. “But things are moving once more. Things that are beyond the memory of such short-lived people. Even the Dwarves and Dark Elves do not remember what is to come, but I do. And so do the Wood Elves. I will survive it, just like the last three times, but would like to not have to rebuild the castle each time.” Dorchik sighed. “It is a good chance to renovate but I’d rather not have to.”

What is he talking about? Something that could threaten him? So rare that human civilisations rise and fall between them? A battle of the Old Gods?

Before Terrill could ask Dorchik placed the scroll on the table.

“Since Lila is unable to act you will speak on her behalf. Will you become my ally and aid me in defending against The Revival?”

“I...What is that?”

“The end of civilisation and order as you know it. A force that will destroy everything in its path. An army that will break the back of even the Wood Elves or the long gone United Empire. And this will be the fourth time it has happened. Each time it becomes larger and more dangerous. This time I wish to try something different. I want allies throughout the world, and your Lila would be a fantastic start.”

I have no idea if you’re lying. You probably are. But, what choice do I have?

“So long as Lila is free of anyone’s control, I agree.”

“From my control, you mean? But I won’t control her. Takes too much effort to control her every action and thought. I don’t control any of my creations, not directly at least.” Dorchik smiled at Zvezdelin. “I just top them up with mana, from time to time. They stay because they wish to.”

Dorchik tapped the scroll. “This is my first test for you. Two acts in one. First, there is a beast in the northern mountains. It is killing the humans that live here and making lives very difficult. I don’t think I need to tell you that without humans continuing to have children and invariably dying of old age we’d eventually fall as a species. Not to mention we would run out of soldiers.”

“You want me to kill some wild beast?” Terrill raised his arthritic hands. “Me? In this body?”

“I won’t send you alone. That would be decidedly unfair. But perhaps the quick death you so desire.” Dorchik signalled the male servant to his ear. “Let’s give them a chance to redeem themselves. Both of them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. They cannot remain moping around my castle forever.”

The male servant hurriedly left the room. Dorchik waited until he was gone before speaking again.

“The second is more simple, at least in theory. I have sired many children, sired after I became a vampire. Vampires find it extremely difficult to have children but with multiple attempts it is possible. Again, when you live forever you become bored.”

Dorchik slid the paper to Terrill. “One of them, one I thought that I could trust, has turned his back on me. I want you to...Convince him to return to me. I care not the method, only that results are made.”

“Surely you could bring him back,” Terrill said softly. “If you are as powerful as you seem.”

“I could. But I want to see how you perform.” Dorchik’s face hardened. “This will seem like dealing with a delightful puppy compared to what is to come.”

The piece of paper contained two maps, one crude of the Vampire lands and the other intimately detailed of a northern mountain range, two markers lying very close to one another.

“I would suggest dealing with the beast first,” Dorchik mumbled. “You don’t want to have to be worrying about my son running off during the middle of battle.”

The large door opened. The male servant entered with two children by his side, vampire children. A brother and sister judging by their appearance. Unlike Dorchik their hair was short and grey, their eyes the same piercing green as his. Their clothes were rugged, designed for long adventures but were also incredibly expensive.

“These are Brayko and Preslava.” Dorchik beckoned the two forward, the male servant remained behind. “A distant relation of mine. They were not born Vampires, rather transformed when they were young. But make no mistake, they are incredibly powerful in their own right.”

“Thank you, uncle Dorchik.” Brayko, the young boy, bowed deeply in a well-practised motion. His voice was very light and soft, befitting his physical appearance but not his true age, whatever that would actually be. “You are too kind-”

Dorchik threw his cup at his head. Brayko dodged at the last moment, the metal goblet clanged loudly onto the ground. Brayko held his bow, Preslava kept her face straight as well.

“You two haven’t earned your redemption yet.” Dorchik scoffed. “Remember that you two live at my discretion. After all the chaos that you two left...Never did find your collection. Did we? Did you dispose of them just before you were captured or do they still exist?”

“Of course not.” Preslava smiled, her thin lips pulling back in a way that greatly disturbed Terrill. “We understand how wrong we were.” A soft sigh escaped her mouth. “Only when we were shown that humans were not mere playthings did we actually understand…”

Preslava tapped her brothers' side, who remained in his bow.

“That they are not things. It sounds stupid, I know, but-”

Dorchik raised his hand. “There’s no need to peddle your prepared speech to me. I’ve heard it all before. Whether or not you believe it is up to you. But if you want to demonstrate your resolve you will help Terrill.”

Terrill felt a mild level of discomfort when the twin’s gaze fell upon him. Their eyes were raking him over, judging and evaluating him for something he could not understand.

“A human?” Brayko raised a brow. “He looks like he’s from the north. Graterious?”

“Qaiviel, actually,” Dorchik said. “But that is irrelevant to you two. You will assist him in any way he deems fit. Understood?”

“Understood.” The twins said in unison.

“Good.” Dorchik glanced to the wraith still hovering at his side. “And take Zvezdelin with you. He’ll keep Terrill safe. And an eye on you.”

The floating skeleton wraith gave no indication it heard, understood or even cared that it received such an order.

“If that is what you wish.” Brayko smiled. “But I’m sure that he won’t actually need to do any fighting.”

“I certainly hope not.” Dorchik shook his head as he turned to Terrill. “Good luck on your journey. Remember to not act foolishly. You are only human, frail and weak in comparison. If talking fails you do not hesitate to throw those two idiots into the fray.”

Brayko and Preslava smiled. Terrill still did not know what to make of them. When he turned back Dorchik refused to look him in the eye. His order had been given, it wa now up to Terrill to carry it out.

Somehow...Somehow it is a little reassuring to have a direction again.

“I will return when I have completed the tasks.” Terrill rose from the chair. “Thank you, Dorchik.”

The vampire gave Terrill a tiny nod and resumed eating his food. The wraith, Zvezdelin, followed Terill closely and without a word. The twins smiled at Terrill.

“So what is a human doing in these lands?” Brayko turned to leave. “And one that could see uncle within one day of arriving.”

“I have a mission,” Terril said. “A sort of...Redemption. For myself.”

I mustn’t treat them like children. They’re far, far older than I am.

“Wow.” Brayko laughed. “That sounds interesting. At least it’ll be something to talk about on the journey north.”

“At least the roads will be easier on our feet.” Preslava held her hands on her head. “Dorchik has been insistent on making sure the roads are maintained-”

“We won’t be using the carriage?” Terrill turned to Dorchik but Zvezdelin stood in his way. The wraith stared blankly at Terrill with its flaming red eyes.

“Did he say you could?” Brayko shook his head, a wicked smile crept over his face. “Then you won’t. Maybe you should have asked for it before you agreed.” Brayko patted Terrill’s side. “Don’t worry. You’ll learn. We did...Well, we learned to be smarter about it.”

Terrill managed a final glance back. For a moment he thought the female servant, the one that had collected him from the port, might have something to show on her face. Something. But it was devoid of emotion, like she was watching another lamb being led to the slaughter, one that she had brought to her master.

We’ll see if this Dorchik will hold true to his word...Not that I have much recourse if he doesn’t. Maybe these two might reveal a weakness only vampires know.

As Terrill walked through the door a great weight fell over him; the realisation that he was still alive, he had met an incredibly powerful vampire and survived. And that he was now working for him.

Gods only know if I’m making the right decision. If nothing else you’ll pay for what you did, Leo. You have to pay. You must pay.