They headed out at first light, or at least shortly after, allowing sufficient time for Janaxia to “prepare herself”, by which she meant “getting dressed”, although at least this time it was something vaguely martial. The city was starting to rouse itself around them, workers getting their morning food, carts and wagons coming in from the farms.

The grand market lived up to the name, a large covered space of market stalls surrounded by elegant arcades and colonnades for more permanent shops. Traders and merchants were opening up, shutters being put aside, a few early risers starting to trade already, wagons rolling into warehouses.

Inside, the place was mostly open, and the warehouses were far too utilitarian for a vampire. There was a wide ramp angling downwards beneath the shopping arcades, brightly coloured murals of gods fighting demons, brilliant blues and reds in the morning light. Rich scents of spices drifted out, and several guards, albeit nicely dressed, could be seen loitering with decided intent, blocking casual shoppers from shops not yet open.

‘Janaxia, is that the fanciest bit of the market?’

Janaxia nodded. ‘Yes, it is. Should you be wishing to acquire any more particularly choice jewellery, then this would be the place to come. While I wouldn’t want to be gaudy, I would appreciate gems, possibly a few rubies or some black opals, set in silver? Maybe amber, to complement your hair?’

‘Focus, Janaxia, we’re not here to get you jewellery. I can’t see many other places a vampire lord might have a lair, unless he’s hiding out in a fish warehouse or something.’

Janaxia browbeat the guards into allowing her access, a masterclass in indignant and affronted nobility, Stathis doing what she could to look like a guard. They moved into the underground space, lit by multi-coloured magelights, most of the stalls still closed. Hakara summoned up a divining spell, sphere flickering into life above her hand. All it showed was a torrential black storm, tinged with red. She dismissed the spell apologetically.

‘So much for that. It’s going to need to be somewhere at least slightly out of the way, he’s not going to want random traders and merchants to interrupt him.’

Semari had wandered off a bit, towards cross-roads within the underground bazaar. There was a raised circular stone wall, carved with ancient warriors, most worn to vague smoothness by years of rubbing hands. Beneath was a metal grille with a dimly-lit chamber beneath. ‘Down here?’ Without waiting for a response, she reached over and grabbed, metal screeching against stone as she wrenched the grille upwards. ‘I’ll check it out.’

She jumped over, dropping out of sight. A moment later, there was a loud sound of impact, followed by Semari’s groan. ‘Found him!’

Stathis ran over, glanced down and then vaulted over the edge. Partway down, magic took hold of her, slowing her fall, mystic energy streaming from Hakara’s hands. Semari was already fighting beneath her, a billowing cloud of darkness flowing around her, blood appearing from her arms as it scoured her flesh. Stathis drew her blade and charged as soon as she touched the ground, Yeros right behind her. As the cloud of night expanded, Stathis focused her own power, her blade glowing with sunlight and banishing the thick darkness, revealing the vampire lord.

He looked annoyed as he hammered at Semari with his bare hands. She was trying to dodge and block, but wasn’t quite fast enough, several injuries oozing blood already. The vampire gestured, blood pulling itself from her wounds and towards himself, vanishing into his skin as it touched him.

Semari made a disgusted noise. ‘Ewww!’ Then she flew backwards as the vampire punched her in the chest, sending her smashing against the wall. Stathis charged, blade slicing through a retreating tendril of darkness, before cutting at the vampire’s flesh. His skin burnt as she sliced into him, flesh charring black.

‘Child of the light, I should have killed you before. But you won’t claim my head today!’ Shadows flickered around his arm, forming into a dense black barrier that he used to block another strike, the darkness deflecting her strike. Yeros attacked as well, blade singing through the air, inflicting another wound, the edges already starting to close as the vampire healed.

Semari vaulted over their heads, landing a solid punch beneath the vampire’s ribs. He spun, smashing at her again, then attacked Stathis. A block slammed into her armour, forcing her several steps backwards, but her answering strikes kept him from following up, sweeping her blade through the air, his eyes narrowing in the bright light.

Another punch struck Yeros, knocking him against a wall and dazing him. Parth stepped around, her sword cutting into him, just above the waist. He twisted and grabbed at the blade, pulling Parth closer towards himself and off balance, jaw opening as he moved to bite her neck. Several darts of fire shot through the air, popping and bursting against him, followed by bolts of darkness from Janaxia.

He hissed and pushed Parth away, throwing her into Semari. The two tumbled to the ground in a heap. Stathis landed a heavy strike, cutting through his skin and feeling her blade lodge against bone. Tendrils of shadow emerged, fading in the light shed from the sword.

‘Accursed child of light! I have not survived the long years to be killed by such as you.’ He spun, backhanding Semari who barely blocked in time, still getting knocked off balance and dropping to one knee. ‘I would relish breaking you over long nights, until you beg for death.’

Semari kicked out, flipping her body horizontal to strike with both feet, enough force to stagger him. The darkness flowed over his hand, shaping itself into a blade, a rapier made of solid black. He flicked it, slicing at Semari and cutting her leg, blood flowing from the wound into the weapon, black shadows tinting red.

Stathis glanced at Yeros and they moved together, blades flashing as they attacked at the same time. The vampire dodged Yeros, parrying Stathis’ attack, the shadow thinning but not fading under the light. He was stronger than she was, slowly pushing her back. She flared energy through the blade, forcing him to close his eyes and jump back, blade flicking defensively.

‘The years shall grind you to dust, and I will take my vengeance upon your children!’ He stabbed at Semari, slicing her arms as she blocked, then threw the blade, darkness shooting past Stathis as he began to fade into mist. There was a strangled groan as Hakara staggered backwards, blood trickling down her robes, face going pale. Parth’s own body was already turning ethereal to give chase, Semari fading as well, grabbing onto her leg.

Janaxia caught Hakara as she fell, fingers scrabbling against the wound while the blade faded away. Stathis took her hand. ‘Hakara, stay with me. That probably hurts a lot but focus through it.’

Hakara coughed up blood, pulse racing, breath coming in pants. ‘I didn’t think it… it would be so cold. Am I…’

Janaxia tapped her on the forehead. ‘Worry not, my dear. You will be quite alright soon enough. Although that dreadful robe of yours will, rather thankfully, need replacing.’

Stathis did what she could, not enough to completely heal her, but at least to get her on her feet. Golden light flickered, some colour returning to her face. ‘Thank you. That hurts rather less now.’ She regained her feet, Janaxia keeping a hand on her. ‘Do we need to follow him?’

‘Yes, we should. Semari and Parth went after him but can’t defeat him alone. He fled though, so must be worried. He went through there.’

There was a narrow, cramped tunnel at the back, not high enough for Stathis to stand fully upright, her armour scraping against the walls. She moved as quickly as she could, the others behind her, into the old tunnels beneath the place. They were too irregular and mazed to be used as warehouses, so must have been blocked off years ago. She started at a shadow, the light from her sword banishing the darkness. There were three passages, all winding at different angles.

‘Shit. Hakara, any idea?’

She still looked drained from her recent injury but was managing to keep up. She glanced at Janaxia before speaking. ‘I believe this area may contain, um, ancient magic that would make such magic, uh, imprecise.’

‘OK. Yeros, go with Hakara. Janaxia, you take one, I’ll take the other. Scream really loudly if you need to.’

Yeros and Hakara squeezed past, heading down one of the passages. ‘Sorry Janaxia. If it comes down to it, try and dump him into that creepy empty space of yours until we can catch up. Don’t be heroic, you’ve not got the armour for it.’

‘Yes, I very much prefer being behind someone wrapped in rather sturdy material.’ She rapped a knuckle against Stathis’ breastplate. ‘Do try and stay safe yourself, as you do owe me a debt still, and I would quite like it to be repaid.’

Janaxia took off down another passage, moving briskly, the closest to a sprint that Stathis had ever seen her use. Stathis ran down the final passageway, hoping no-one was going to die. The passageway was uneven beneath her feet, worn and uneven. The murals here were old and faded, faces worn away by time. At least there were no junctions, but that passageway twisted and wound, angling downwards. She heard a shout from somewhere up ahead, out of sight. She ran faster, ducking as the ceiling lowered.

The space opened into an octagonal chamber, the once-neat walls now rough and worn. The vampire was fighting Parth and Semari, his shadow-blade formed again. Semari was bleeding from several wounds, movement slowed as she and Parth fought together, Parth’s elven blade flashing and cutting him, the wound swiftly healing. Light was still shining from Stathis’ sword as she moved to join them.

He snarled again, knocking Parth’s sword aside before thrusting at her, stabbing through her armour, blood flowing along the blade. Semari retaliated with a combo of punches, smashing against the vampire’s chest, with little effect. He smashed at Parth, driving her off as Stathis moved to attack, blade cleaving the air. It cut into his chest and she twisted, slicing away a hunk of flesh.

He took the blow and stabbed her back, sudden chill biting through her chest. ‘Just goddam die! Again!’

‘I have endured long years, and intend to endure many more. I have slain your kind before, and thought them long vanished from the world.’ The blade flicked again, this time she managed to block, although she could feel the impact. Parth tried casting something, green light forming around her fingers, sudden darkness sprouting from her chest. Stathis thrust again, stabbing him through the heart, flesh sizzling and burning. He groaned in pain, jumping backwards and stamping down onto Semari, her bones crunching.

Stathis stabbed at him, and he turned to flee again, darting down another passageway. Semari slowly rose, dazed and wounded.

‘Fuck me, this guy’s tough.’

‘He can’t have that much left. I hope. Parth, you OK?’

She was even paler than usual, but nodded, and they gave chase. Another scream came from somewhere ahead of them, this one long and drawn out, ending in a drawn-out whimper. Stathis ran ahead, Semari and Parth’s injuries keeping them behind. She ran around a corner to find Aimodia, stood above some bones, rapidly fading into dust and ash. Her mouth shut, but not quickly enough to hide fangs, gleaming white in the light from Stathis’ blade.

Stathis pointed her glowing sword at Aimodia. ‘Did you just eat him?’

‘You have no idea how many centuries I’ve been wanting to do that. I don’t suppose you would believe that I just got lost and happened to end up down here?’ She fluttered her eyelashes at Stathis, who didn’t lower the blade. ‘Thought not. Although you look battered enough that I would advise against fighting.’

‘Who are you? What are you doing?’

‘I was his. He turned me, centuries ago. And now he’s finally dead, so I’m free. Yeros seems pretty nice, so I think I’ll stick around, I always have liked older men.’ She smiled. ‘Well, older-looking at least.’

‘But you’re a vampire! You eat people.’

‘Well, yes, but only a little. And he doesn’t seem to mind, he finds it quite enjoyable. Just a little nibble, now and again, that’s all I need.’

‘What is it with the biting? I really don’t get it. So does he know? How do I know you won’t kill anyone?’ Stathis made sure to keep the blade raised and between them, in case Aimodia suddenly attacked.

She giggled, strangely girlish, as she cracked the bones into dust beneath her feet. ‘I rather like it here. I’ve had my fill of death. And Yeros is a kindly enough “master”. I rather doubt you stand a chance, in your current state.’

‘Does Yeros know?’

‘I would certainly hope so, unless he thinks I’m just an overenthusiastic kisser with some odd tastes.’ She smiled.

‘OK, that’s more than I need to know.’ Stathis focused, a golden light forming around Aimodia, her eyes glazing over. ‘Are you any danger?’

Her voice was slightly flat and toneless as the magic took hold. ‘I like it here, and have my needs met. After so long in the darkness, to be in the light is all I desire.’ Her voice turned strangely desperate. ‘So cold, for so long… And then a single glimpse of light.’

‘And you won’t kill anyone?’

‘My hands are red with blood, old and dark. But I have no need to kill again, at least now my master is dead, and I have no other threats.’

‘How can you walk in the sunlight?’

‘I am old enough that it supresses my powers, but does not kill me. Your tactics were sound, but you should have lured him into true sunlight.’ She opened her mouth and licked her lips, tongue flicking over fangs, eyes tinting red. ‘Yeros’ blood is like a summer’s day, calm and peaceful. I wonder what yours would be like.’ She stepped closer, opening her mouth, Stathis backpedalling.

‘You don’t need to do that, I’m not really into biting!’ Stathis grabbed Aimodia by the shoulders, trying to hold her back, struggling against her inhuman strength, Aimodia pushing closer.

‘Well, what is going on here. Stathis?’ Janaxia stepped out from a passageway, dark energy flickering around her fingertips. ‘You appear to be getting overly familiar with the help.’

‘It’s a spell, she’ll be out from it in a moment.’ She pushed Aimodia away, glad that the vampire wasn’t using her full strength. ‘Could you dispel any magic on her?’

A warping, twisting chill washed out, making Stathis shiver. But Aimodia backed off, eyes returning to normal. The dust left by the vampire lord stirred, an unfelt wind pulling it towards Janaxia. ‘Ah, my apologies. I don’t know what came over me. Now, I have bought some food if the beast has been destroyed? As you started so early, then I thought you might need some supplies.’ She brushed aside the dust with her foot, then grinned at Stathis, fangs sliding away. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’ She handed over a roll, fat lump of bread stuffed full of meat. Motes of dust were swirling along the ground, falling onto Janaxia’s feet and fading away. Her lash throbbed in satisfaction, red tinging the cavern an unnerving, bloody shade.

Stathis spoke. ‘I’m not hungry, but thanks. Can we head up now? Be nice to get into the sun again.’

Semari staggered around a corner, grabbing the sandwich. ‘Hey, did we win? Awesome. Can we get out now? This place is kinda crap. Parth’s all busted up as well. And wouldn’t share her berries.’ She was talking while eating, making swift work of the sandwich.

‘Sure, let’s go find Yeros and Hakara. Aimodia, if you could lead the way?’

Stathis didn’t let the glow fade from her sword until they reached the surface, making sure to stay behind Aimodia, just in case. It would make sense that even a vampire could get bored of murder, and Yeros could look after himself, but even so! As they stepped into the sunlight, Aimodia paused and tensed before stepping into the full light, but didn’t start to melt, although looked uncomfortable. It was tempting to get Hakara to dispel magic in the area and see what happened, but Janaxia probably wouldn’t appreciate being stripped naked in public. Stathis walked close to Aimodia, carefully checking her over.

‘I could have resisted that spell, you know. But I really have no desire to hide in the shadows again. A place full of earnest and chivalrous men?’ She licked her lips. ‘While I prefer a little more experience, sometimes someone raw and unpolished can be a pleasure as well. And Yeros is certainly experienced in the arts of love as well. A welcome change from drunken sots and those drawn to drinkers of blood.’ She nodded at Janaxia and Semari, currently bickering. ‘Although I wonder what those two taste like? Drinking down lightning sounds interesting, don’t you think?’

‘No, not really. So how old are you?’

‘I don’t know. A thousand years or more, I think? I was raised in a village that probably doesn’t exist anymore. There was a plague, a vampire turned me, and so the years passed. My master’s master was slain by someone, now a saint, so I’m told, and I passed the centuries amongst the darkness and the blood. And now, finally, a snatch of sunlight. What is Yeros? Tasting him is like a sunny day, flowing down my throat.’ She gave a shiver of delight, eyelids fluttering.

Stathis winced, really hoping she was talking about drinking his blood, and not anything else. ‘He’s got some unusual heritage.’

‘Yes, and you smell the same, but stronger.’ Her fangs slid out and she grinned. ‘If you ever want to see how… talented someone can be with a few centuries of practice, you know where I’ll be. Although it seems another has claimed you. Or you’ve claimed her, I’m not sure which.’

‘It’s that damn choker isn’t it? That wasn’t my idea! So you’ve, what, just given up on killing now? A happy retirement with Yeros?’

‘If you wish to strike me down, then you are certainly welcome to try. In this place, beneath the eye of Heaven, you may even succeed. Or at least, banish me back to the darkness. But, should I endure, you think I will be passive? No, I will hunt down those you love, and bind them to myself.’ Her eyes were tinting red now, grin turning feral. ‘Far better to allow me my peace, do you not think, and hope that I may fall fully to the light, rather than punish me for crimes you know nothing of, from centuries before you were even born? What do the laws of heaven say on such matters?’

‘Probably that no effort should be spared to destroy you, they’re generally pretty absolute on stuff like that. So you’re really going to just stick around the chapterhouse as a maid?’

‘Well, those young men could do with some training on what to do with the maidens they rescue. Consider it my service to them – if I’d just been rescued from some savage monster, I’d rather it be by someone with some proficiency, rather than a sweaty, cack-handled tumble on the ground. And so many books! To simply have the luxury to read, without worrying that some hunter will burst through the door, flaming torch in hand. No, I think this will be quite a pleasurable place to stay. And Yeros assures me he is of a vigorous blood, so I do not have to worry about fleeing for quite some time. Although I can probably “take service” with a travelling knight, when that sad day dawns.’

Stathis sighed again. ‘Just don’t eat anyone that doesn’t want to be eaten, OK? Or transform anyone else into vampires. Most are rather more murderous than you.’

‘Yes, the darkness always takes a price. Power and immortality, but a cost, always paid for by another. Most are drawn in by such promises, power paid for by another.’ She looked at Janaxia, her hand shrouded in crackling black energy as Semari dodged around a bolt of energy. ‘What price has that one paid, I wonder? Drenched in darkness, yet walking in light. And she seemed to be happily collared as well, despite her pride.’

Stathis managed not to blush, looking up at the sky. ‘It’s not a collar! And she’s from an old wizarding family.’

‘Yes, I know. Even I, the simple village girl, knew the stories of the founder! Both in combat and… elsewhere. One wonders if he would approve of such things.’

‘Yeah, he does. She’s his favourite. That was a weird conversation, believe me.’ That seemed to shock her into silence, disbelief trickling over her face. ‘Ask Janaxia if you don’t believe me. If you want to write him a letter and talk about the old days or something, he’d probably appreciate it, must get boring being stuck in a basement all the time. He might know some magic to help get energy or whatever you need without the biting as well.’

Now she looked offended. ‘The biting’s the fun part, just draining energy, where’s the pleasure in that? But to feel, flesh-to-flesh, ah, that is the delight!’ They slowed, passing through a fancy shopping area, Janaxia looking at the clothing on display, shifting her own slightly. Aimodia chuckled. ‘Perhaps I should have tried walking in the light many years ago, even through the pain? It makes me envious, almost, to see her not knowing what she has. But she is young yet, and there is always further to fall. The darkness always takes a price, and the longer delayed, the greater the cost.’

Janaxia turned to look at Stathis, gesturing meaningfully at a suit. It was well-cut, but then Stathis looked at the price-tag, and shook her head, Janaxia looking disappointed.