Night had fallen upon the city Alcara.

Thick clouds blocked most of the light the moon and the stars had to offer, giving birth to gloom that lingered throughout the landscape. The temperature had suddenly dropped by several degrees, icy winds now blowing against any who dared step outside their homes.

Inside a two-person bedroom at the Inn, Bruna had called for a meeting. Iris, Alice, Leila and Annie were present— sitting in a semicircle on top of an old bearskin rug. Steinar was not there with them. Bruna said he wasn’t needed at the moment, so she had him go do something else. They had a weird relationship, for sure. Though Bruna seemed like the younger one, and even acted like a child in front of him, she was the one who was calling the shots behind the scene. Camille was at the Inn’s restaurant, likely stuffing her face with food and booze. Hopefully not to the point that she would pass out.

Sitting on top of the bed, legs crossed in an elegant manner, Bruna looked down upon the other girls. “Listen well, you uneducated fools.” She spoke, her beautiful crimson eyes practically dripping with superiority. “From now on, things will get awfully serious. We have to get some things straight.”

Her gaze met with Leila’s. “You.” She pointed at her, then moving her gaze to meet with Annie’s. “And you.” She scoffed, contempt evident in her delicate face. “My brother’s ‘pets’, are you?”

“I wouldn’t really say pets...” Leila muttered, kind of afraid of voicing out her opinion.

“We are together.” Annie answered, though she too felt a little intimidated.

“Is that so?” Bruna showed them a scornful smile. “I see that you have both grown well while partaking of my concoctions… Did it feel good?”

“It did not.” Leila stood her ground under the provocation. “It actually felt unbelievably painful, almost like I would die.”

“It felt as if my body was put into a meat grinder.” Annie followed, whimpering a little at the memory.

“Why, yes. Forcefully altering one’s constitution is known to cause severe pain.” Bruna crossed her arms in a disdainful manner. “Pray tell me, why do you think he carries such concoctions?”

They didn’t answer, or more precisely, couldn’t answer. Although they had spent almost half a year together— and many intimate moments, they didn’t really know Steinar all that well.

“You don’t know?” Bruna chuckled. “Well, let me tell you then.” Her gaze assumed a familiar coldness, much like Steinar’s. “My brother has a soft spot for unfortunate women, so he usually ends up with some tagging along behind him whenever he travels.”

Silence reigned for a few moments following Bruna’s words. The two girls already suspected that such would be the case. There’s no way Steinar wouldn’t have other women waiting on the side. They knew that they were not really special, and that Steinar was way out of their league. Just like Leila had assumed before, he just saw ‘something’ broken on the side of the road and decided to fix on a whim.

“Uhm…” Annie raised a hand. Like a student in class, asking for the teacher’s permission to speak. “Are the elixirs meant to help those women then?”

“Of course not.” Bruna was harsh in her answer. “Why would I ever want to help some unknown harlot? Those concoctions were made so that my brother’s toys would not break too quickly.”

“What do you mean?” Leila grimaced, biting her lower lip.

“My… Did you not grow stronger after drinking them?” Bruna inquired. “Did your body not become more muscular, more resilient?”

“T-That was because of the training!” Leila argued, her voice trembling a bit.

“The training is part of the process.” Bruna declared, her overpowering gaze making both Leila and Annie flinch. “Even if you had failed to awaken aura, your body would still have changed. Though if so, you would have your lifespan reduced by more than two thirds.”

Everyone’s face went pale at Bruna’s explanation.

“He only brought the two of you to his bed once your bodies had become stronger, am I right?” Bruna questioned them, though her smug face betrayed the fact that she already knew the answer.

“That is true...” Annie muttered, looking rather downcast.

“Worry not.” She still had that damn scornful smile on her face. “He likes the two of you, he will even keep you around and bring you back home with us— If you live long enough for him to do so.”

“Is that a threat, Bruna?” It was Iris that asked, in defense of her former servants.

“My, far from it.” Bruna batted her eyelashes innocently. “It is just that they seem to have a misconception when it comes to the kind of person my brother is.”

“Do explain yourself then.” Iris motioned for her to continue.

“I will.” She smiled and turned her gaze back to Leila and Anie. “He likes you, but he does not love you— he never will. Your fault lies in the fact that you are thinking of him as just any other man, when he is anything but.” For some reason she glanced sideways at Alice before continuing. “He is dangerous. He will protect you and give you warmth, but in the process he may also destroy you.” Bruna sighed, her cheeks blushing a little. “Tell me, how often do you end up injured or straight up passing out when… You know.”

“Ah… Well… He’s a little rough.” Leila’s face also flushed a deep shade of pink as she answered.

“T-That’s...” Likewise flushed, Annie averted her gaze. “Every time.”

“As I thought...” Bruna glanced towards Alice once more. “Alice, you should also pay close attention to what I am about to say.”

Everyone but Alice had a puzzled look on their faces, not clearly understanding what Bruna meant by those words.

“Steinar was born with a particularly powerful— yet troublesome— bloodline. We call it the Bloodline of the Vánagandr.” She closed her eyes and breathed out softly, as if recalling an old memory. “For that reason, he was taken away from us when he was only five years old. I still remember the day they took him from my arms…” Bruna’s expression turned gloomy as she continued. “He was raised by the elders of our clan— not as a human, but as weapon. You see, his bloodline makes him nigh invulnerable to curses as well as enhancing his senses far beyond what should be possible. Those made him the perfect witch-killing weapon that our clan needed in order to remain independent from the witch factions.”

Alice raised her hand, much like Annie had done previously.

“Yes? You wish to ask something?” Bruna inquired.

“Bruna… How old are you?” The other girls couldn’t help but cover their faces in shame at Alice’s question. From all the things Bruna was saying, she had chosen that to nitpick about?

Iris elbowed her sister from the side. “She meant to ask ‘why would your clan need a witch killing weapon?’ Right, Alice?”

“Not real— ouch!” Alice got elbowed again. “Yeah, sure. Why would you need it?”

“That is a stupid question, I expected more from the two of you.” Bruna spoke sternly, her tiny eyebrows frowning a little. “If you are having trouble with witches, is a weapon specialized to kill them not the best solution?”

Turning a child into a tool of mass murder doesn’t seem like a ‘best solution’ to me. Or so Annie wished to argue, but ultimately decided not to. It would be pointless, and she was a little afraid of Bruna as well.

“What I wish to know is how any of that affects our relationship.” Leila was brave enough to voice her doubts. “Nothing that you said seems to be related to it.”

“That is because you lack knowledge.” Bruna scoffed. “Do you even know what a bloodline is?”

Neither Leila nor Annie could answer. For them, the term only referred to something akin to a line of ancestors.

“Bloodline is a term often used when referring to special traits one has from birth, inherited or otherwise.” Iris intervened. “Don’t feel bad, girls. It’s something very rare even among nobility.”

“Very good, miss Iris.” Bruna clapped her hands thrice, showing an amused smile on her face. “Would you care to add anything else?”

“I...” Iris hesitated for a moment, her eyes wandering to her former servants before returning to meet Bruna. “I believe the term ‘Vánagandr’ refers to ‘the beast of the Ván river’. If so, then it’s a mythical creature known for it’s madness and endless hunger. An evil being in the shape of a wolf, that at some point tried to devour even the gods.” She grimaced, and then added. “I don’t think a bloodline that bears it’s name could be anything good.”

Bruna clapped her hands again, this time harder and louder than before. “Marvelous, truly marvelous. You are worthy of being one of us.” She shifted her gaze back to Leila and Annie. “You see, the only way to gain resistance to curses is being cursed yourself.” Returning to her scornful smile, Bruna continued. “Now, little pets, can you infer the rest? Or do you need the help of your betters?”

The two stood in a daze. They couldn’t fully understand the situation, nor what had been explained to them. They simply lacked the knowledge to read between the lines, like what Iris had just done.

“Ghghh...” Iris bit her lower lip, her gaze downcast as she knew that Bruna was doing that only to humiliate the two servant girls. Still, she wanted to answer. Not only because she liked showing off her knowledge, but because she also wanted to impress Bruna. “I assume that the bloodline is cursed, and since it bears the name of that beast it must have some sort of relation to it. A curse of madness and hunger, perhaps?” Iris continued with her musings. “He did seem a bit unstable to me, and as for hunger… From everything that you said, I can deduce that it may manifests itself in many different forms of ‘hunger’. Like hunger for another, a sexual kind of hunger, for instance.”

Bruna showed an ear-to-ear smile, her round pupils morphing into vertical slits and human teeth turning into serrated fangs. Everyone but Iris and Alice jumped back in a mix of surprise and fear, their faces completely pale.

“Ah, I am truly sorry about that.” Her appearance immediately returned to normal, like the sudden change had been only an illusion. “It tends to happen when I get too excited.” She got up from the bed and walked right in front of Leila and Annie.

“You have been fine up until now because of the concoctions I brewed and a bit of luck as well. If you happen to catch him on a bad day… Well, let us just say that he will ‘love’ you to death.” Bruna chuckled, looking down on them with contempt. “You know nothing and cannot even understand the simple information I laid before you, yet you claim to be ‘together’ with my brother? I will ask you again: You are my brother’s pets, are you not?”

Annie’s lips trembled as if she was about to speak, but the words never came out. Instead, tears started leaking from her eyes as she stood up and ran out of the room. Leila’s eyes were likewise moist, she couldn’t understand why that little girl was treating her like this. Was that maybe a way of saying they weren’t good enough to be by Steinar’s side? Was she jealous of her brother? Though what stung the most was the fact that Iris had indirectly helped Bruna humiliate them.

“I see...” Leila muttered, a few tears dribbling down her face. “I guess you’re right, we are his pets… Just dumb pets being used for him to vent out his lust, without even knowing the kind of danger this represents...” She stood up and faced Bruna. Thanks to her height, now she was the one looking down on her. “But guess what, you little bitch. We’re the ones that he embraces, we’re the ones that warm his bed at night. That’s not something you can take away from us.”

Bruna tilted her head sideways, an eyebrow raised as she gave Leila a puzzled look. “Is that supposed to count for something?”

Leila did not answer. She just went ahead and left the room.

“Well...” Bruna sighed, her eyes meeting Alice’s. “I hope this conversation has dissuaded you from going after my brother.”

“Eh—!?” Iris gasped in absolute surprise at Bruna’s words. “W-What!?”

“Not really.” Alice casually denied, playing with a lock of her shiny platinum-blonde hair.

“A-Alice!? You… You’ve gotta be kidding, right?” Iris asked in a panic. “That man is a savage! An animal! Didn’t you hear when Bruna explained how dangerous he is!?”

“Ah♥~” Alice let out a sugary moan while hugging herself. “Yes♥~! An absolute brute, just like in my novels!”

Bruna covered her face with the palm of her right hand, cringing at what Alice was saying. Iris just stood there in a daze, open mouthed like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I have been dreaming about that for so long♥~! Meeting a tall, muscular hunk like him. That can drag me by the hair and throw me in bed like a piece of meat...” Her face flushed as she rolled around on the bearskin rug. “I just want him to take me by force and mess me up beyond the point of no recovery♥~. I want him to make me submit and wear one of those pretty dog collars~♥”

“That is not good...” Bruna muttered, glancing at Iris. “I felt safe since the both of you do not have the type of body my brother likes, but to think that your sister—” Then she glanced at Alice, with certain disgust. “Would be such a masochistic slut…” Her eyes went back to Iris, as she grabbed her shoulders and shook her back into reality. “Listen, we cannot allow them to be alone together— even for a single a moment! My brother has some serious domination kinks, if such a willing female presents herself before him… Even if she is not his type, he will still eat her up.”

“My, and what is the problem with that?” Alice asked with the most innocent of smiles. “It just so happens to be exactly what I want.”

By this point, Iris was just pale and shaking. Still dazed by the sudden revelation of her sister’s exquisite preferences.

“Are you insane!?” Bruna uncharacteristically raised her voice, her face going red. “Have you watched yourself in the mirror!? You are small and delicate, like a frail porcelain doll! If he gets his hands on you… You will die. Without the shadow of a doubt, you will die. Even your friends, after taking my body reforming elixirs, still had difficulties handling him. There’s no way you would survive that.”

“Aww… How sweet of you to worry about me!” Alice’s expression was so innocent and chaste that one would never believe the absurd things that had just come out of her mouth. “But you don’t have to worry about that, my body happens to be just the way I want it to.” She stood up and whirled three times, like a ballerina. “You have no idea how afraid I was of growing up too much and losing the frailty necessary in order to achieve my dream.” She was starting to breath heavily, clearly excited by her own words. “This dream of having my small and delicate body thoroughly ravaged by an enormous, muscular hunk.” She gave them a smile, though one filled with lust and depravity— unbecoming of her usual sweet innocence. “Now I know that it is all thanks to my witch heritage. My body conformed to my desires of forever remaining in this petite, fragile form.”

“I see… I guess that explains why you look—“ Bruna’s face went a little pale as she stopped mid sentence, her eyes turning to Iris. “Wait… Don’t tell me... You are the same!?”

“Uh!? What are you talking about!? Of course I’m not!” Iris denied fervently, though her face was a little flushed.

“But you look exactly the same as her… And she just said the reason for that is—“

“I don’t care what she said! We’re twins! Since she didn’t change, on a subconscious level I also refused to change in order to remain identical to her.” Iris argued, her face flushing a deeper and deeper shade of pink. “That’s the only reasonable explanation.”

“My, are you sure, sister?” With a mischievous look, Alice skipped towards Iris. “We like the same kinds of food, of clothes and even of music. Could it be that our more intimate preferences are also the same?” Alice got close enough to whisper into her sister’s ears. “The thought of him just randomly bending you over, and fucking you into submission like a common whore… Doesn’t it excite you?”

“I am not like this!” Fists curling into a ball, Iris stomped her foot down in defiance. “I am not a pervert!” With her face red like a tomato, she then ran out of the room without looking back.

“My… I guess I bullied her a little too hard this time.” Alice shrugged, her expression returning to the usual angelic smile. “She’s been acting like the big sister for so long, it’s good to spice things up like this sometimes.”

“Is that really what all of this was?” Bruna glanced at Alice, her arms crossed and eyebrows frowning.

“Who knows~?” Alice answered playfully, closing one eye and poking her tongue outside of her mouth. “But what was the reason for the meeting again? It kind of trailed off..”

“Ah...” The weight of realization suddenly fell upon Bruna. “I was going to inform everyone that we will be staying in Alcara for the foreseeable future… Though it seems like it is a little late for that, now that everyone has scattered.”

“Are we going to remain at this Inn?” Alice inquired.

“No. I had my brother go buy us a house.” Bruna answered, as if it were just the simplest of matters.

##

Under the merciless blows of the cold nightly breeze, Steinar walked alone throughout the empty streets of Alcara. It’s poorly lit corners and buildings, made out of mostly sandstone and limestone, gave the place quite an eery feeling at night. It was not unpleasant though, for he did enjoy the look of gothic architecture. The feeling of someone following him, however, was another matter entirely.

“This is getting annoying. If you are going to attack then just do it.” He spoke to the darkness that surrounded him. There was no one there, no presence, no shape. Not the faintest trace of anyone besides himself, walking in those empty streets. But suddenly, a constant clacking sound presented itself. He recognized that sound, so very rhythmic… He could even say that it sounded erotic, since he was able to clearly picture the swaying of hips that would follow those clacking sounds. It was a woman, no doubts about that. His hearing was so good that from the clacking of her high heels alone he could already tell her height, weight and infer that the bone structure necessary to move in such a way could only belong to a woman. He could also tell that she was making an effort to move in a very suggestive way.

“Such a naughty boy.” A deliciously honeyed voice called out to him. As he turned back, he saw a woman in red. Fiery red hair, blood red eyes, long and very revealing red dress— with so much cleavage that it even exposed her midriff. Can that even be called a cleavage at this point?

“I do not intend to harm you.” Thus she spoke, while licking her lips with an exceedingly long tongue— exposing four oversized and sharp-looking fangs in the places where her canine teeth should be. “I was just passing by, but then I smelled something truly delicious and had to come see it for myself.”

Steinar gave her a quick look from top to bottom, as if checking out her ‘assets’, then unsheathed his sword and assumed a basic middle guard without much enthusiasm. “Pale like a corpse, seems obsessed with the color red and stinks of enough blood to account for over a thousand adult corpses. Orianna Vermilion, the Bloody Marchioness.”

“It feels good to be famous.” She smiled, with her abnormally long tongue hanging out of her mouth. “I know who you are too, Ashwall boy. That cow, Ingrid’s, second son, right?”

He did not answer, just stood at the ready without even blinking.

“I heard you were the type to rush for the kill without wasting time.” She giggled. “Are you perhaps afraid because you know I can wipe the floor with you?” Clearly provoking him, she walked a few more steps closer.

“I’m not stupid enough to simply rush an elder witch.” He remarked apathetically. “Besides, I can tell that you don’t really want to fight.”

Orianna moved close enough to be face-to-face with him. “I truly do not. Like I said, I just smelled something good and wanted to check it out.” She was so inhumanly beautiful that not even her monstrous tongue, hanging out from her drooling mouth, could detract from it. “Actually, now that I think about it… We could make a good trade.” Her lips curved into a full smile.

“I know what you want.” So Steinar declared. “But what is it that you have to offer in return?”

Once more Orianna’s enormous tongue licked her lips— actually, it was more like slobbering all over her face. “You see, I heard some interesting whispers from the circle. You know the Pope’s death? The daughters did it. They wanted to rescue someone that was being imprisoned at the Holy See— for a very, very long time.”

“Do you know who?” Steinar inquired further.

“I can’t say for certain, but from the sheer number of forces they used during the attack… If I had to take a guess, I would say it was a Harbinger.” Orianna spoke, while pulling Steinar’s body close to hers— her mouth aiming for the side of his neck.

“That can’t be. It’s too early for another harbinger, should still be a little over four hundred years until—“

“All the great elders of the daughters moved to attack the holy see. They killed everyone, even the saintess.” She whispered warmly into his ears, her tongue softly feeling for his carotid artery. “May I?”

“Shit...” Steinar frowned. “Go ahead, but try not to kill me.”

And so Orianna sunk her fangs into his neck. For that kind of information, she would definitely be drinking her fill.

End of Chapter 10: A Cold Night.