“What manner of evil are you?”

“Dead,” I gasped painfully.

The priest took a few steps back cautiously, still holding the icon of the Goddess in hand. He glanced at the two acolytes that flanked me, each held icons of the Goddess while muttering words of demonic binding. Beyond them, the other villagers had formed a rough circle around us to watch the proceedings. From the corner of my eye, I could see Ashton kneeling in the dirt, his hands bound behind him while a villager held him at sword point.

“This is most concerning,” the priest muttered. He cleared his throat and stood up a bit straighter, “I have a good memory, my lady. It's something that I have come to consider a blessing of the loving Goddess, and it sorrows my heart to say that I remember you. I remember when you and your companions first came to this village so long ago. I remember because I oversaw the oath you had made that day to the Goddess.”

I could faintly remember the day as well. Allen had insisted we enact the Goddess’s blessing upon our ambition to destroy the Dark Lord. Each of us took that oath, though at the time I believed only Allen and Clarice had taken any bit of the proceedings seriously.

“I also recall the day the Dark Lord fell. Though we the town folk had celebrated, our gallant heroes were in mourning,” the priest looked over the crowd as he said it, “in quiet confidence, they told me that they had lost one of their own in the fight and could find no sign of her.”

The priest looked down at me as I knelt there covered in blood, with my clothes burned and tattered. His expression was incomprehensible to me. I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me with judgment or compassion, disgust or fear.

“The teachings of the Goddess would have us destroy you for your very existence.”

A murmur broke out through the crowd, and someone in the crowd shouted, “Burn her!”

Soon the cry was taken up by others. The Burgermeister approached the priest from the chanting crowd and began speaking in a low whisper. The two conversed quietly for several long moments even as the chanting died down. Finally, the priest turned away from the Burgermeister and looked down at me once more.

“Bind her and take her to the chapel!”

A couple of the villagers grabbed me by the arms and lifted me to my feet. The priest’s acolytes followed the procession, while still chanting and holding their relics. I felt weaker than I had ever been since I had reawoken. Not to mention that every moment I was under the weakening power of the acolyte’s spell I felt the thirst getting stronger. It was nearing the point that if it wasn’t for the binding ritual, I would have slain everyone present for the want of blood.

The chapel stood apart from the village atop a small hill. As we drew near I could see the large statue of the Goddess atop the highest point, looking down with an air of judgment. A wooden fence surrounded the chapel and the graveyard with a small gate. The graveyard itself was a simple affair. I could see the crypts of some of the richer and more established families of the village surrounded by tombstones.

I felt a growing sense of apprehension as we drew closer to the chapel. It culminated with searing hot pain as I stepped across the threshold into the holy edifice. With a grunt, I fell to my knees and turned away from the burning stare of the stone-carved saints that stood watch over the entrance. I felt drained and lethargic, too weak to resist as I was tossed into the cellar. The door slammed behind as I tumbled down the stairs and hit the landing hard.

For a moment I was dazed before I felt the thirst boil up within me. I crawled, pushing myself up the stairs slowly. Partway up, the door to the church cellar open and I shied back from the priest as he stood within the doorway holding an icon of the Goddess.

“Please,” I begged, “release me.”

“What would you do if I did?”

“I would fight Richten. I would stop him from becoming the next Dark Lord.”

“And after that?”

“I…”

My thoughts became jumbled as I fought back the thirst.

“You must understand. I feel the honest intentions of your heart to defeat this Richten, but I fear you're inevitably going to rise to replace him and that of your creator. I must confer in prayer to the goddess to understand her will in all this. May she have mercy on you in her eternal judgment.”

The door was closed shut behind him and I slumped to the ground.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed as I huddled up in the cellar of the church. Occasionally I heard the sound of people walking past the door. I tried opening it a few times to no avail. Anger was boiling in the pit of my stomach as I considered my dilemma, it should have been Richten entrapped here beneath the church. Suffering for his blatant disregard for mortal life.

Every passing moment I felt increasingly lethargic and wondered if an undead being, like myself would eventually die if left here continuously, or would it just be an eternally suffering of starvation. Could I starve to death? I placed a hand over gnawing hunger that clawed at my stomach. Even if they did choose to release me out of the kindness of their hearts, I doubted I could stop myself murdering the first person I put my hands on to slake my thirst.

Frustrated I closed my eyes. I wanted to pace about the cellar to work out my anger but felt too lethargic to move. Another part of me made me wish I could punch someone. Instead, I rolled to my side and closed my eyes.

Something banged against the cellar door and I jerked my eyes open. I looked up as I heard some quiet murmurings followed by another loud bang against the door. Cautiously I reached for my sword. Such was the faith the priest and his followers had in the Goddess, that I hadn’t had the strength to wield with any real measure of strength, but if they or Richten were coming to kill me I wasn’t going to make it easy.

The door fell open and a narrow wooden crate was crashed down the stairs. I looked up to see someone stand at the top of the stairs. My body called for action and moved with an energy that surprised me considering my lethargic state as I charged towards the open door. I could hear the beating hearts of blood and almost taste the meal on my tongue. Partway up the steps, I was forced back when a splash of sunlight spilled across the threshold of the door.

Just out of sight someone whispered in a low voice, “Hurry, get in the coffin!”

I glanced back at the narrow crate. Then in a low anger voice, I whispered, “are you serious?”

Ashton stepped into the doorway, “It's our best chance to get you smuggled out.”

Apprehensively I reached out towards the lid of the coffin then stopped and glanced back at him. Behind him, I could see a few others of the Gypsy folk. Ashton took a step forward down the steps

“Don’t!” I hissed.

“What?”

“You can’t rescue me.”

I could hear the confusion in his voice, “Why? We just have to smuggle you out and-.”

“Ashton, I am cursed!”

“Kashmir and the others don’t care. You fight for others, you have fought for us.”

“Yet I am cursed to kill! Every other night I am cursed kill and drink the blood of the slain! I am compelled to kill you!”

Our eyes met on the last few words I spoke. Ashton took a hesitant step back, “Like the Dark Lord?”

I nodded.

“Could we bring you some pig’s blood or?”

This time I shook my head as I stepped back.

“Does it have to be someone you kill? Could we bring you enough from others?”

“I-,” I paused when I considered his proposal, could I drink someone’s blood and not kill? Would it work?, “I don’t know. I haven’t tried, but I doubt you could get anyone from the village to offer that much in blood.”

Ashton chuckled darkly, “your right.”

For a moment he looked like he was considering something and someone approached him, whispered in his ear. Ashton glanced at me with a confused look.

“Why aren't you attacking us now?”

“Sunlight burns, just like it did the Dark Lord. Fire and faith in the Goddess drives back the undead. Just being here makes me feel weak.”

“If we were to go in…?”

“I will kill you.”

The group stood there at the top of the stairs in a long moment of silence. Ashton opened his mouth to say something, and I interrupted him.

“Just go.”

With frustrated anger, Ashton smashed his fist into the doorway next to him, “Stop being so stupid. I- I can't do this without you! I can’t rescue Illiana! You said Kashmir has said it! I can’t defeat Richten. I’m just a mere mortal!”

“If I leave right now, I-. I honestly don’t trust myself.”

One of the others put a hand on Ashton. He shrugged it off angrily and turned to leave pausing only briefly, “If you can no longer help than I will just have to find something, or someone else.”

He left, disappearing out of sight. The others followed after and I was left alone. Abandoned to the darkness, I retreated to a far corner and succumbed to rest.

I awoke to the smell of blood. The door to the church cellar opened and I heard someone pleading before being pushed down the stairs. I moved sluggishly towards the sound of the whimpering morsel.

“Shush,” I whispered, and the whimpering stopped.

In the dark, I could see the girl was bound hand and foot with blood seeping over the rough bindings. She was bruised and frightened. Her heart beating in fear.

“I’m so thirsty,” I whispered, “I just need a small drink. Just the one.”

She flinched as I reached out for the blood on her hands.

“Don’t move. This won't hurt.”

“Please,” she whispered begging, “Don’t kill me.”

I looked up towards her face and placed a hand on her cheek.

“Sylvia, Sylvia,” I cooned, “I don’t want to hurt you. I just need a drink. Just look into my eyes and everything is going to be okay.”

She nodded almost absentmindedly. Gently I tilted her head to the side and leaned forward till my lips gently touched her neck. She shivered in reaction to the touch, even as my fangs lengthened. There was a small gasp once they pierced her neck. Blood fell and gushed down my throat.

Strengthened and rejuvenated, I could feel the ecstasy of the moment as I drank. The oppressive aura of the chapel was weakening as well, slowly as I stole the life of innocent Sylvia. Something whispered to stop, but I couldn’t. I needed the blood, needed every drop.

One moment Sylvia was gasping weakly for air, then she stopped. The chapel seemed to shudder as I leaned back.

“No,” I whispered as I clutched at Sylvia’s clothes, “Not again.”

I looked up to see a dark figure standing in the doorway to the cellar.

“Ashton…”

“My lady we have to hurry.”

I stood, feeling my a surge of rage boil over me, “You brought her here.”

Ashton looked at me with a look of confusion, “You needed blood and..”

“You brought her here knowing I would kill her.”

“I..”

“Run Ashton,” our gaze met as I started moving slowly up the stairs.

“Run because I will kill you for the innocent blood that was shed today!”

He took a few steps back until he stumbled into the wall.

“Gwen we don’t have time for this, we..”

I reached the landing. In the corner, I could see the limp forms of the priest and acolytes of the Goddess.

“Where are the others? Where are the other gypsies?

“Kashmir told them it was foolish to try and rescue you. They didn’t come they..”

I fixed Ashton with a cold seething stare. He didn’t move as I crossed the short distance to him and placed a hand on the front of his jacket.

“You vastly underestimated how much I dislike to kill for the blood I drink. I had warned you that I was desperate enough to kill. You bound her and brought her here to DIE!”

Angrily, I lifted Ashton off the floor and pinned him against the wall. He choked and sputtered.

“You didn’t have to kill her. You could have just taken what you needed and left her…”

“I pitied you, Ashton. I pitied you for your loss, and I agreed to join with you to kill Richten for you because I knew you were just going to die if you recklessly went at it alone. Now I offer nothing for you except death.”

His eyes widened in realization as my fangs lengthened and he grabbed helplessly at my arm. It was futile. He made an effort to grab his sword and I tore from his hand.

Once I finished, his body slumped to the ground, and I turned to face the threshold of the chapel. Darkness was starting to sweep the land as the sun began its final dip below the horizon. I turned my head at the sound of a muffled moan. One of the acolytes was stirring from his sleep. When he saw me standing in the foyer of the chapel he frantically tried to jerk out of his bindings.

“Hush,” I instructed him, “we have work to do.”

I picked up Ashton’s sword, “I have no intention of seeing this village fall. We will bind this self-proclaimed heir to the Dark Lord and I will see him burn!”

Priest Henderson stood before the door to the Burgermeister’s manor nervously fiddling with his prayer scroll. He glanced towards the now desecrated chapel that stood atop the hill, a once sacred refuge from the evil enmity of the world. It had remained even during the height of the Dark Lord’s reign. All that changed by the hand of one of the undead in killing two mortals. Another glance was directed towards the castle, a dark decaying place that loomed with its far-reaching shadow over the valley. A memorial to the reign of the Dark Lord.

The door to the manor opened and Meister Collins peered out.

“Ah, Henderson. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight. What business brings you around?”

“Terrible news Burgermeister,” started the Priest as he pulled at his collar nervously, “the undead woman escaped the chapel.”

The Burgermeister took a step back while placing a hand over his heart, “No... Is anyone? Did she kill..?”

“Two people were murdered by her hand tonight. At least so far as she had confessed.”

“I see. Well, come in then. We should figure out how to handle this.”

“Thank you. I brought an associate with me to help confer over the matter. I hope you wouldn’t mind?”

“Certainly. They are more than welcome to join us.”

With a grateful nod, Priest Henderson entered the house. I stepped out from the shadows and crossed over the threshold of the entryway, closing the door behind me as I did. The Meister Collins dropped the glass of wine he had been pouring as I removed my cloak to hang on the coat rung. I gave him a cold stare.

“Burgermeister, I’m going, to be honest with you. I have no intention of seeing your people come to harm if I can avoid it. We have a mutual adversary who has claimed to be heir to the Dark Lord. I want him dead. Do I have your help or no?”

“Um, lets... Let’s retire to the sitting room..."

The Burgermeister lead the two of us into an adjoining room. Nervously he indicated for us to sit. The priest glanced at me as I took a seat in one of the available armchairs that were offered, he chose to sit opposite me. I watched as he continued to fiddle nervously with the prayer scroll before I glanced at the Burgermeister. Meister Collins seemed to consider his options for a moment as he deliberated his choice of where to sit.

“While I am known to bite Burgermeister, I have already had my fill for the evening.”

“Yes, of course,” he chuckled nervously without any true mirth and took a chair close to the Priest, “if I may ask my Lady. What is your plan for the village? Are you planning to rule or..?”

“No. I have no intention of ruling. I want to see your people survive.”

“I see…”

“It's only been recently that I awoke to this curse Meister Collins, and I don’t reveal in it as others seem to want.”

For a moment the Burgermeister sat there as if trying to ponder my words before turning towards the priest.

“What do you think Henderson?”

The priest looked up from the prayer scroll he was holding.

“I have spoken at length with the Lady Gwenyth and I have given myself over in prayer to the goddess in seeking guidance on the matter. I am afraid that the choice has been left up to my moral conscience and I honestly can not say what is good or evil in this matter,” the priest looked up and met my gaze, “She has desecrated the holy chapel with her presence, though I acknowledge I had made the choice for her, and then further desecrated it by the shedding of innocent blood. The holy light of the Goddess no longer shines over our flock.”

“That is disturbing news,” said Meister Collins quietly as he listened to the priest. His head turned and flinched as he realized I was still in the room.

“I mean…”

“No,” I interrupted, “You are right Burgermeister. The Go-,” I choked on the word. After I cleared my throat, I continued, “a new chapel should be built. For now, we have more pressing concerns.”

“Um, yes, of course.”

“Richten seeks enmity with me and plans to hold the people of this village, your people as ransom if he doesn’t get his way. Ultimately I would like to see him destroyed, alternatively sealed or driven away.”

The priest nodded solemnly and the Burgermeister mimicked him.

“What do you have in mind?”

I leaned back in my chair, “I would like to bind Richten with the power of the-,” I coughed, “with the same method the priest and his acolytes used on me. Unless you have some conflict with that?”

“Not currently my lady. I am willing to support you in your endeavor in so far as no one else from this village comes to harm,” the priest put down his prayer scroll and firmly met my gaze unflinchingly, “However, I cannot endorse your presence here indefinitely. While you seemed to have been the person who had possessed a noble and morally conscious character in life, you are now animated by the powers of darkness. Even you can understand how that would be concerning to a man of my station.”

Silence hung over the room at the Priest’s declaration. The Burgermeister was shifting his gaze between the two of use in nervous, or perhaps in fearful anticipation of my reaction. Quietly I nodded.

“I can sympathize with your concerns.”

Truthfully I was trying to understand where I stood on the understanding of my mortality. I clenched my hands and resisted the urge to look down at them. People around me will inevitably get hurt. Tonight was an example of that. Would a good person let themselves continue living like this?

“Perhaps we should focus on the problem about this Richten character?” offered the Burgermeister, “we can talk about these matters latter?”

“Agreed,” I said followed by an affirmative nod from the priest.

“Yes, well then. How should we prepare?”

A knock came at the door that interrupted our conversation.

“Oh dear me,” the Burgermeister stood and put down the glass of wine he had been slowly nursing, “if you would pardon me.”

He made for the door leaving me and the priest alone together. I listened quietly as the door was opened. Someone was panting heavily as if they had just ran across the length of the village.

“Filip, what's wrong?”

“Its Marcel,” came the voice at the door, “and his family they’re…sir its...you have too.”

“Yes, boy catch your breath there. I can't understand a word your saying.”

“I sorry its Marcel,” the man panted, “my wife just got back from looking to trade eggs and found them like that.”

“Like what?”

“Dead. All of them dead. The whole family is..”

I stood and approached the entry hall while staying just out of sight of the door.

“Call the townsfolk Meister,” I ordered. The Burgermeister flinched and glanced at me before turning back to the man at the door.

“Whose..?”

“Nevermind that my boy,” said the Burgermeister, “gather the townsfolk at the tavern. Everyone you can.”

“Meister?”

“Goddess help us that we might live through this night. Just go and gather everyone. Go!”

The Burgermeister closed the door. He placed a hand over his chest and glanced at me.

“Your thoughts my lady?”

“Nothing certain but this might be the work of Richten.”

“Dear me…”

“With everyone gathered, you need to fortify the tavern. In the morning you can have someone look over what happened with the deceased family.”

There was a nod of acknowledgment from the Burgermeister, and he looked past me to the priest.

“Henderson perhaps if you would join us? The people would take kindly to your presence and your words. It would do my heart some peace of mind.”

“Certainly.”

The group of us gathered in the entry hall. The priest and I grabbed our cloaks to depart while the Burgermeister excused himself to gather his family.

“What are your plans Lady Gwenyth?”

“If Richten is involved and threatens to attack the village I will draw him out to give the people time to flee whatever he has in store for them. Remember he has followers and power to raise the dead.”

“I understand. I will gather my acolytes and we will offer solace and protection for our flock.”

I made to leave and felt the weight of the priest's hand on my shoulder.

“Do be careful and watch yourself carefully my lady. I cannot bear to lose more of the people I have come to care for.”

Without another word I shrugged off his hand and departed into the darkness of the night.