Surrounded by trees stood a small castle. The facade of black stones interrupted by either colourful glass panels or the old wooden windows. You could see people working outside the castle from afar. The small hill it was built on made it stick out of the forest.

"Your command?", the minotaur asked as he eyed the fortification. Certainly old, probably the old winter residence of a noble house.

"Deimos you and your men will have to wait in the forest. Make sure you are not seen", Alaric stated.

"You think your guards are enough. I can see at least twenty-five men patrolling outside. You have five, six if you fight yourself", Deimos advised.

"We are not here to fight my entire family estate", Alaric corrected. "And you are here to obey and follow instructions, not to question your superior."

"The only superior I have is Cycnus. Be careful with your words, arrogant 'boy'", Deimos closed the distance between them. Looking down on Alaric from up close. Alaric's guards had their hands on their swords. The rest of the minotaurs just watched, looking relaxed and satisfied with observing the situation.

Alaric held the minotaur's gaze for a moment then he turned to look at the castle.

"Getting inside will be easy without your presence, getting outside is another story", Alaric explained. "I need you to create a diversion. Pull their attention outwards."

Deimos continued to stare at the vampire's back.

"Are we allowed to kill?"

"Yes."

"Arson?"

"No, I prefer to escape alive."

"Anybody, who should not be harmed?"

"Ignore those that don't fight back."

"And what is with those ridiculous clothes? We look like vagrants."

"That is the point. Nobody needs to know house Vespasianus supported this action."

"Not many minotaurs in Italia. Won't be hard to connect the dots."

"Every bit helps. Now hide. When you see one of the windows break, attack. Focus on the main entrance."

Deimos turned around to his men. Whispering a few curses before addressing them. "You heard the boy. Silence till the signal, then chaos. Any questions? No? Good. We will attack in two rows. Kar and Tak will cover us with their slings."

Alaric took his personal guard and left the planning minotaur behind. Nine people were following behind him, while one moved by his side.

"Luna I want you to find my sister. Check her room first", Alaric instructed.

"What if I don't find her scent?", she asked.

"You must", Alaric answered. Sounding desperate.

They continued to walk through the forest. Reaching the foot of the hill after an hour. The hill itself had been culled from trees. The guards noticed him immediately. Two dispatched to confront him.

"Alaric Dracula, your father has forbidden everybody from entering Castle Blackstone. This includes you, unfortunately, as well", the armoured woman said. The man next to her eyed Alaric with suspicion.

Alaric didn't stop his ascent. Moving straight towards the guards. He would run into them if neither party stepped aside.

In the last moments, the guards made way for him. Though they ran to stay in front of him. Repeating themselves.

"Hold!", the man tried to intimidate Alaric by pulling his sword out of his sheet. He held it in front of him. Pointing it at Alaric's approaching chest.

Again Alaric moved on. The sword was withdrawn at the last moment. Scenes like this repeated themselves until Alaric reached the main entrance. The guards looked relieved when a figure stepped outside the castle. Inspecting the repeating commotions.

"Brother! What brings you here into our humble home?", a figure resembling Alaric leaned against the doors. Same skin, same hair and eye colour. Though the facial features and clothes showed their differences. His sibling was also shorter and younger. Around fifteen.

"And you are?", Alaric asked. Stopping in front of his sibling. "Out of which womb did you crawl out? Wife four or wife three?"

The smaller boy seemed to take offence. His face became red as he shouted his reply. "You are only jealous that father likes me more! Your days as heir are numbered. Father doesn't care about a failed experiment. There are others to replace you. And this time we can control them."

Alaric's eye colour darkened, though his brother didn't notice. He continued with insults and highlighting that Alaric was no longer necessary for their house.

"And that is why you should just leave. Give up your name and roam the world for I...", Alaric's brother froze. Breathing stopped, eyes remained ever open.

"I will give you exactly one chance here. Where is Lenora?", Alaric's voice betrayed nothing but determination. The guards of their house on high alert. But they again did nothing except ordering Alaric to stop and leave.

Alaric's eyes turned back to the normal red. His brother collapsed and gasped for breath. Fury masked his face when he looked up. "Father will not..."

He froze again. A minute passed, then three, then eight. Alaric entered the castle with his own men. The guards of his father stayed outside. Protesting, but not daring to enter themselves nor to lift a hand against Alaric and his men. Nobody moved to the body of Alaric's brother that now laid still on the grass of the hill. This time he didn't get back up.

"Luna search for my sister", Alaric ordered. She split from their group. Taking the stairs quickly. "The rest of you stay with me."

They asked the servants for the whereabouts of Alaric's father. It quickly became clear where he was. In the library. And they also said that he didn't want to be disturbed.

The door to the library was kicked open. Alaric's father looked up from his position. Sitting on a couch, a book in his hand. Father and son looked much alike. Sharing white hair and pale skin though his eyes were brown, not red. Sunlight entered through the single big window in the room. It was a colourful glass panel. Only a few sections allowed to look outside into the forest.

"My son, do you understand the meaning of not wanting to get disturbed?", he asked, shifting his attention back to the book. Two people stood to his sides next to the couch. The real family guard. Cladded in red armour and carrying numerous daggers and short swords.

"Where is my sister?", Alaric asked stepping forwards. His guards tried to follow.

Alaric's father raised his hand. The guards at his sides puller their weapons. "I am afraid your guards have to wait outside. Tell them to close the door when they leave."

"Do you not trust your son?"

"Of course. I know you better than you think I do."

The room was emptied until only father, son and two guards were present.

"Where is she?"; Alaric repeated.

"Who again?"

"Don't play dumb!", Alaric exploded. His father smiled.

"Bella, Thalia, Wren, Jevera?"

"Lenora! Where is she?"

"Ah, the little one. Why that one? Is it because you share the same mother? Now that I think about it, I haven't seen your mother for a long time. Is she even still alive? Anyway, what do you even want with your sister?"

Alaric starred at his father. Muscles and expressions tensed. His heart beat rapidly. Not like his father. The man sat relaxed on the couch. Flanked by guards watching his son with a smile. "You promised you wouldn't experiment on her! That was the deal, I take part in it and she gets to avoid it. You broke the deal therefore I take her back."

The man on the couch laughed. He laughed and laughed. Taking a while to collect himself. If looks could kill Alaric's father would be dead. Though without his bodyguard present that would already have happened.

"You and which army? You have neither the leverage nor the power to demand anything child. Be grateful that she received the gift as well."

Alaric exploded. "A gift! You call it a gift! I can't wake up in the morning without getting a seizure, I will never be able to have my own children and I will never know what sleep is like without endless nightmares because of your stupid GIFT!"

"It seems you are unable to see the doors I opened for you. All of what you have achieved so far is my work. And what do you give in return? You help the heir in diminishing our power. You are worthless Alaric, you are a failure, maybe your sister can redeem your mistakes."

Alaric took a step forward. The guards pulled their swords out. He eyed them. Gauging his chances in fighting the two and his father alone. "I am the right hand of the next duke. Is that not enough?"

"It isn't", his father answered. Putting the book down on the table. "Though there is a way to free your sister. The question is are you willing to do anything for her?"

"What do you want me to do?", Alaric asked, sounding resigned.

"Kill the heir and support the next in the line of succession. This time make sure she improves our family's standing."

"You want me to kill Lucius? Are you mad?"

"Who do you value more? Him or your sister?", his father asked. "Chose wisely my son."

Alaric was about to explode again. Strangely though he didn't. His eyes closed and he took deep breaths. Then he turned around and moved to the window. He spoke while looking outside. A needle found its way into his hand. Hidden from his father's and the guards' view his hand began to bleed.

In the distance, down the hill and near the forest he saw Deimos. The minotaur saw him as well. Deimos nodded once.

"No", Alaric stated calmly. Hiding the growing pool of blood in his palm.

"Is that your decision?"

"Yes."

"Take him away. Put my son in the dungeon. I will find a use for him later."

Both of the guards moved to Alaric. They readied their swords. One attacking from the left, the other from the right. His father pulled out a crossbow from under the temple. Loading it and aiming at his son.

"Don't resist or it will hurt", Alaric's father advised.

"It gets easier to ignore with time", Alaric answered. The guards struck at the same moment.

A blood whip coiled around the arm of the first one. Alaric pulled him forwards, using the surprise factor to his advantage. He then kicked the guard and the man flew through the window. Glass shattered and the first attacker fell into the bushes in front of him. Shards embedded into his skin.

Alaric's father fired. The bolt hit his son in the back. The second guard hit as well. Hitting Alaric's shoulder. Alaric fell onto one knee. "Hastam Crepitus!", he shouted with laboured breathing. Numerous small spears formed from the shed blood. Exploding outwards and hitting all present people inside the room.

His father was hit by a few shrapnels. Alaric and the remaining guard took most of them. Though he was bleeding far less than the guard was. The man tried to stand up. It ended with him collapsing. He turned paler and paler, weaker and weaker with every second.

"What do you think you are doing Alaric? You are alone. All guards in this castle listen to my command!", he was no longer calm. Afraid, confused, cornered. "Stop this right now and I will let you live."

Alaric slowly stood up turning to his father. The vampire took slow and steady steps towards him. Wincing when the bolt in his back made its presence known. A trail of blood followed.

"Alaric! Stop!" His father began to reload the crossbow with shaky hands.

Alaric got closer. His father dropped the bolt in his hand. He cursed and tried again. "Come on, come on, come on!"

The crossbow was loaded. Alaric's father looked up and aimed. His son stood a metre in front of him. Laboured breath and bleeding. His eyes dark and red. "This ends here and now", Alaric's father stated.

His fingers found the trigger and … he froze. His eyes widened. Slowly the crossbow was aimed at his own heart. Tears began to run down his face. Alaric breathing became irregular. His focus began to slip. His father pulled the trigger. Bolt entered heart.

"It does end here father", Alaric said. Collapsing to the ground.

For a while, nothing made a sound except the fighting in front of the castle. Then the guard that had landed in the bushes stood up. He eyed the figure of Alaric and his father. The man stood up and climbed back into the library, moving towards Alaric with sword in hand.

"No you don't", Deimos' voice came from behind. The guard was impaled on a spear and went limp. "Greet Hades for me, okay?"

Deimos moved to Alaric checking his wounds and his breathing.

"Dammit. Urmir, get your arse here. I need your magic", he shouted and two minotaurs joined him in the room.

Urmir kneeled beside Alaric, his hands began to glow in white light.

"Bandage his wounds. I don't know if my magic will be enough. He is wounded badly. It seemed he was poisoned as well. Lost too much blood."

They got to work on Alaric. First, they bandaged his wounds while Urmir helped with his light magic. Then they put him on the couch. Throwing the body of Alaric's father aside. Only the slow rising and falling of Alaric's chest confirmed he was still alive.

"Never saw such a light reaction to this amount of blood lust. What now Deimos?", Urmir asked.

Deimos looked conflicted. He looked between Alaric, the window and the door. The sound of fighting still audible. His men were still distracting the guards.

"Curse the boy. I am never gonna hear the end of it if I let this girl behind. Urmir, take them man and leave with Alaric. Tak you and me search for the girl."

His men nodded and split up. Urmir carefully carried Alaric outside. Signalling the troops to retreat. The house guards pursued until they entered the forest, then they watched if the attackers retreated further.

Deimos left the library and searched for clues. They found one. Bleeding and sitting against a wall.

"Hey you, you are one of Alaric's men. Where is his sister?", Deimos asked. Steadying the head of the man with his hand. He wouldn't have long.

"Upstairs, Luna can find her", the bleeding man answered with difficulties.

"Who?"

"The werewolf", he clarified.

"Should we … end you? We can make the pain stop", Deimos offered. The man nodded. The minotaur embedded his sword quickly into the heart. The man's life ended quickly.

Deimos and Tak went upstairs. They were no longer alone. The guards were returning to the castle. Searching for their master. Fortunately, they didn't start on the first floor.

The minotaurs checked room for room. In some were other children, servants, wives or no one. Then there was a body. A guard cladded in red laid dead on the ground. His head was hidden by the bed frame

Tak went towards it to investigate. He pulled the body out from under the bend. Then somebody pounced on him. Silver claws hovered over his throat. A maw full of sharp teeth opened in front of him.

"Found her Deimos", Tak informed without a care in the world.

Luna began to recognize them. She stood up and offered a hand to the minotaur. Tak eyed the silver claws and the blood on them and came to the conclusion it was better not to touch them.

"So Luna, where is that sister we are supposed to rescue?", Deimos asked. The claws retreated. There were several red spots on her clothes. The holes suggested she was stabbed. Though no blood was flowing. "You good there?"

"Yes, just hungry. We need to get downstairs. She is there", Luna said.

"How do you know?"

"Her nursemaid spilled the beans, she was the one that convinced her to go down there."

"Good. Where is that mother now?"

"Dead."

"Lead the way downstairs. I fear we have not much time left", Deimos informed her. The trio left the room and sneaked downstairs. Luna led them through rooms and floors. Managing to avoid all patrols. They reached a thick wooden door with a lock and an iron chain.

"Give me a moment. I can lock pick...", Luna started.

Deimos grabbed the chains and pulled. His head went red. Under Luna's wide eyes the iron snapped. Loudly.

"You idiot", she whispered.

"We don't have time for stealth. Get down and get the girl!", Deimos ordered. Taking up position with Tak in front of the door. Luna nodded and descended into the darkness. The absence of light didn't slow her movements.

She reached a corridor. To her left and right were several rooms with locks. Her nose guided her forwards. Luna ignored the sounds coming from them.

The werewolf came to a stop in front of a door that wasn't locked like the others. It smelled of blood, drugs, herbs, medicine and Lenora.

She entered. The room was lit with several torches. Lenora laid in a tube filled with blood. Chest rising lightly, eyes wide opened, but otherwise, nothing indicated that she was aware of her situation. Her body was covered with shallow cuts. Herbs and medicine were swimming in the pool.

A woman sat next to the tube she was holding something like a pill in her hand. She was in the process of opening Lenora's mouth. She looked at the werewolf with a questioning gaze. "If master sent you to increase the dose again, I have to decline. We have to wait till she is conscious again. She has to be awake if this is to work. We can already control her with the drugs but that only works if she is, as I said, awake."

The woman didn't give Luna a second glance and returned to give the girl her pills. A mistake. Hands closed around her head and with a snap she was dead and laid on the ground.

Luna carefully tried to lift Lenora out of the tube. As the girl left the blood she began to shout and squirm. Tears ran down her face.

"Put me back. Put me back. Put me back!", she cried out. Trying to re-enter the tube. A maniac expression on her crying face.

"I am sorry for being late", Luna said. Not having a problem with holding the girl. A quick hit on the right body part made the girl lose consciousness. Luna wrapped her up in rags lying around the room and went upstairs.

The sight that greeted her was less promising.

"Hey, you are back? Got the girl?", Deimos asked. He was bleeding. Tak was leaning against the door. Bleeding as well.

In front of them stood twenty people in red armour. Another five were on the ground. Dead or bleeding out.

"Yes", Luna answered. Thinking about a way to escape this situation.

The guards surrounding them didn't make a move. But they did stand in front of all doors that lead to the outside. There wasn't a window in this room. All exits were occupied.

"Tak, sorry for pulling you into this", Deimos said with a smile. "It seemed this is where it ends for us."

"Ares is smiling upon us Deimos. I wouldn't want to end it in any other way", Tak added his own smile.

"On three. One, two thr..."

One of the doors opened. Luna's and the minotaurs' eyes opened wide. Urmir stood in the door with Alaric leaning against him.

"Your master is dead, the new one stands in front of you. I relieve all of you of your duties. Your debt and that of your families are repaid. You are free to go and take from this castle what you want. If you know somebody inside the dungeon feel free to take them with you", Alaric said. Clearly strained by the act of just staying conscious.

The guards looked at Alaric. Then at each other. They dropped their weapons one for one. Until only two remained armed. They approached Alaric with drawn swords.

"Three!"

Deimos and Tak threw their swords. Impaling both of the guards that had turned their back to them. They collapsed and were finished off with a hoof to the head.

"Is she alive? Is she okay?", Alaric asked. Trembling in the arms of Urmir. The strain too much for his body.

"Alive yes. But she will need help. A lot of help. I am not sure...", Luna answered.

"I understand. Let us leave this place", Alaric said and collapsed after a few more moments in the arms of Urmir.

"Deimos?", Urmir asked.

"You heard him. We leave. Back to the next settlement and then towards Roma", Deimos answered.

They regrouped outside. Luna was the only one that survived from Alaric's guards. Five of the minotaurs lost their lives. They began to head back. It didn't feel like a victory to any of them.