Drac took a step back as he flung his arm in an arch, slamming down the incoming beast. Where one fell two more took its place and jumped at him from both sides. Drac dropped his swords; momentarily freeing his hands, to punch their faces. Despite crushing their skulls the bodies still attacked, but his armor allowed no more than two centimeters of their nails to pierce through before the force of his arms threw them away. However the nails did not budge from their positions and kept the hands hanging loosely from his breastplate.

Momentarily the fighting seized. The undead began prowling in unnatural wolf-like stature, slowly encircling him. He slowly etched his foot forward until it rested just beneath the blade all the while ignoring the shouts from behind. When he made to address their calls the undead took this as an opportunity to attack. He kicked his sword and caught it in one hand before parrying the first undead to pounce. As it was forced back, Drac kicked up the second sword and launched himself to stab at the enemy at his front. When those were also blocked he used the momentum of his top sword to stab at its belly and slash down until he hit the pelvic bone. Quickly changing his stance Drac pushed his weight on the strike and cut through the bone. The beast lost support in its legs and was about to have it’s face stomped when the rest of the undead attacked.

The other beasts had followed his movements and surrounded him completely. So while he was busy crushing the first one’s head the rest attacked from the sides. One of them was able to latch itself on his back and bite at his neck. While the undead struggled to dislodge its teeth from his armor Drac busied himself to ridding the two similar enemies off of his arms.

It started off as a slow ach, before it quickly accelerated to a scalding sensation causing him to drop his sword and act more feverously towards unlatching undead. It wasn’t until the orange sticks littered the ground before him did he realize what was happening.

“Argh” Drac grunted as he brushed off the burning body of the undead on him. All around the black giant arrows struck flesh and bones; causing the former to catch fire and the latter to break off. The defiled women screamed hoarsely, straining their vocals in synchronicity as they burned with greater speed and heat than possible for any human.

Drac made an effort to not scream as he pulled off the flaming body part one by one. He stayed in a kneel as the fumes rolled off his back. It was soo tempting to rest, but out here was dangerous…and he had a promise to fulfill. He picked up his swords and headed towards the gates. A large pyre was slowly growing behind him as he walked in his shadow ever stretching.

*Crunch*

Drac stopped in his steps as he stared at the ashen body he’d crushed. It was still burning, albeit very slowly and seemed to have grabbed the leg of another. Drac sighed when he saw green fabric on the latter’s body burn away to the spreading fire. He gave a silent prayer for the woman as he continued onwards, but not before separating the kind receptionist from the bestial one.

‘Another day, A thousand losses’

He was in a foul mood; even the usual surprised gasps from others praising his stature did little to please him. He was hurt and felt scalded beneath his armor but most importantly he was angry. These men standing before him tried to kill him off with the other undead. These weak looking, puny creatures wanted him dead for trying to protect the children-

‘No!,’ he thought. ‘They feel weak and helpless. They don’t know me. What they did is justified.’

He was protecting the children and they tried killing him off with them, he needed to show them their place-

“Grmm,” Drac growled as he lulled his head around. The gate was raised and he entered, a hand rested beside his head in the memory of massaging it.

‘These voices…,’ he thought as he looked around for something to attract his attention.

From where he stood at the barbican he could see a small bailey filled with armed soldier, spreading a few meters from him to up the stairs and onto the balcony of another building that overlooked the small inner yard as well the outer courtyard. The stairs leading to the rampart stood at his left where two soldiers stood making way for an incoming man with a limp.

“You there, burning charcoal.” He called out as he sized up Drac. The man was a head shorter than him and despite the limp still challenged him. He was a wearing full set of black armor and had a large black mustache that curved from the sides providing a much more fearsome face than what it already was, with that scar on the check and the snarl he was giving Drac.

“Where are they?” Drac responded to his challenge by towering over him.

“Hmph, follow me armors.” He said as he took stair leading to the balcony. Soldiers parted in his way like water as he led Drac to one of the room directly overlooking the barbican.

“Name’s Strompf big fella’”

“Drac…the guard trainer?”

“Aye, ya heard of me?” The man asked, pleased.

“Rumors, none good,” Drac said ducking under a flag of the local earl or duke’s crest smeared in blood.

“Good, that means I’m doin’ ma job right.” The man stood in front of the door and turned towards Drac. “Thanks fer saving the little Mina, boss’s real fond of her…Well? In you go, Karl the Butcher’s waitin’ for ya.”

“Noted,” Drac nodded at the grinning man before ducking under the doorframe into a large, well lit stone room. Strompf shut the door behind him as Drac took in his surroundings. On a large bed off in the corner lay the injured receptionist to whose bedside, propped upon a stool, sat a large man arguing with the children. The room itself was quite bare, except the multiple lanterns on the walls and the furniture currently in use.

“Drac,” the children all announced. They came over to him with a glint in their eyes and smile playing on their face, the past ordeal almost all but forgotten at the idea of being in such a place. Mina immediately hugged him on the leg catching him slightly off guard.

“You’re warm,” she purred.

“So you’re the one who saved her,” the bald man came over. He was a middle-aged man of large stature, wearing leather armor over a red coat, with a similar mustache as Strompf. His head was an elongated oval shape and as smooth as an egg, even the long face was unnaturally clear of any soot or dirt he’d come to expect from dungeon keepers.

“You must be the warden,” Drac said.

“Yeah,” the man said clasping a hand on Drac’s shoulder. The children, ever so slightly, shifted towards him and eyed the bald man with hostility, all the while nudging drac in the back of his leg.

“You can’t help?” Drac asked shrugging off the hand.

“We’re strained enough as it is,” the warden crossed his arms. “Can’t be protecting everything that comes our way, can we.”

“Of course not, you only protect those you care for,” Drac motioned to the injured receptionist. “Beside’s I’m not asking for protection for me, it’s them I’m worried about.”

“The children?” Karl frowned. He looked at the unconscious Mina for some time before deciding. “Fine, I’ll protect the kids, but they’ll need to help out too, earn their keep just like the rest of the men here. It may have been different on any other day but I lost too many good men today to those beasts outside to just give charity. They work and I give them protection, got it?.”

“No! We don’t need protection” the smallest of the children shouted. Mina then glared at Drac and pouted, “You promised.”

“Are you sure?” Drac said, leaning down. “Once you choose this path…there is no going back and it’s not just you who has to decide.”

Drac nodded at the other two children who guiltily looked at the ground.

“Come on, tell him sis…sis?” Mina said. “We want revenge right? They killed momma and papa; they need to suffer just as we did…please Zach, sis Rina, please.”

After some more coaxing from the little girl the two slowly began to nod their heads. By the end of her persuasive speech they were vehemently agreeing with the girl and spoke in turn for her of their wishes to fulfill his promise.

‘I can’t do anything. They chose this.’ He thought as he kneeled into a hug. Savoring the last chance he’d see them innocent. Eventually he broke off the hug and turned towards an amused Karl.

“The child’s right, they don’t need protection, they’ve made their choice. They’re after some of your prisoners, two soldiers bearing Alexandrian arms?” Drac said.

“What about the ‘two Alexandrian soldiers’?”

“Tell him,” Drac motioned to the children.

“We’re survivors from the village they pillaged-,” Zach said.

“-And we want revenge for what they’ve done,” Rina finished.

“Hah, so you’re setting up children huh? You really thought it was gonna’ be that easy? Ya’ come here saving my lass and think you’re gonna’ get a free pass at my prisoners, in my prison.” Karl challenged his formality all but gone. “You know why this place is so well guarded? ‘Cause it’s got a ruler like me to make it work and I ain’t gonna’ let some nobodies just flounce in here demanding a whip at my prisoners in my own castle, got it.”

“I promised them revenge,” Drac stepped forward. “And I intend to keep my promises.”

It seemed that a fight was about to ensue when the groans of the injured person caught their attention.

“Hmph,” Karl broke the stare and returned to Mina’s bedside. “You alright lassie?”

“Warden Karl,” she whispered.

“Just Karl lass, company ain’t important now.”

Drac and the others also joined him at her bedside, relief washed over her face at seeing the children before a frown took over.

“Where is Miss Misvo?” She asked, sitting up.

“Here let me help,” The warden said, helping her to sit against her headrest.

“They got her,” Drac said, refusing to meet her eyes.

“What?”

“No, it’s our fault,” to everyone’s surprise Rina spoke up. “We were too slow…and we kept her behind.”

“No…,” tears began forming at her eyes as she covered her face. The warden gave his shoulder for support as she sobbed for her mentor.

“No indeed,” Drac interrupted. “I told her to take care of the children; she died protecting them as I ordered. The fault lies with me, not the three of you.”

“What? No mister-” they began.

“Silence!” Karl shouted. “Y’all can assign blame outside; let the girl mourn in peace.”

Leading them out the room Drac came to face a wall of guards grouped in front of the door. Seeing him come out the guards quickly dispersed down the steps and onto the wall walk, but not before stealing a glance at Mina crying on their boss’s shoulder. Drac waited with the children beside door watching the men runaround from the balcony.

“Rest at the walls,” Drac pointed from his position overlooking the small, pseudo bailey.

“We don’t need rest,” Mina said, stifling a yawn. “Not until we see them suffer.”

“You’ll need rest to do them any good harm,” Drac said. “But suit yourself.”

The older two took up resting positions at the wall beside the door and after a moment of communications held onto one another for support. Mina, however, stood with Drac overlooking the scene downstairs. She held onto the railing for support, looking between the beams, along with Drac for sometime before another yawn pushed her to make a decision. She slowly walked back and joined the others in their slumber along the wall. Sometime later his deep thoughts were interrupted.

“What’s going on ‘ere?” Strompf said, making his way towards him.

“They need time alone,” Drac pointed back at the door.

“Heh, I’m sure they do,” Strompf leaned against the railing, eyeing Drac. “You can fight.”

“…”

“I haven’t seen anyone fight against them screamin’ wenches and win. So tell me, where ya learn to fight so well?”

“There are others stronger than me, the Full strikers.”

“Pah, when’s I ever gonna see ‘em fight against those monsters. I’ll make do with you for now.”

“Travel then, you’ll learn.”

“Not my style…A’ight, listen.” Strompf leaned closer. “You’ve been up close to ‘em, so tell me; were they…maternal?”

“Yes,” Drac sighed.

“…Fuckin’ dammit,” Strompf cursed. Turning around he slammed the railing before sighing in defeat. “Makes ya’ wonder where god is, huh?”

“Why would God help? Would you help insects?”

“Wha-”

“Strompf!” The warden suddenly shouted from inside, awakening the children.

“Dammit,” Strompf whispered as he ran inside, slamming the door behind him.

By the time Strompf came out the children had joined Drac in maintaining a steady gaze at the door. Strompf came out with a frown directed at him but he didn’t elaborate any further than motioning for him to follow.

He led them down the stairs and beneath the balcony where a large wooden door stood. Opening it, Strompf led them down further stairs; the passage was too narrow for Drac’s large stature forcing him to move sideways down the stairs. Torches lit the walls so it was easy to find the steps, however they were too big for the children causing them to stumble down, maintaining their balance with difficulty.

Eventually they reached a long underground hallway with jail cells lining each side. The cells were small, allowing only enough space for one to lay in only one direction. Most of the inhabitants of the cells were bruised and cut, their ribs showing lacerations and flesh wounds upon them. Seeing Strompf they either crawled away to the wall only to scream and fall away, or ran to the front asking for forgiveness.

The drowsiness of their sleep quickly left them and unknowingly, Zach and Rina drifted closer together for comfort. This place was a surprise to him and an even greater surprise was the reaction of the smallest child.

“It’s hot,” Mina complained. It was indeed hot, the whole room was boiling and the walls seemed to be the origin of it.

“Welcome to Purgatory.” Strompf smiled as he came to the end of the hall. There were two wooden doors on each side next to the last cells, the armless men in the cells beside the doors tried to profusely get away from Strompf as if he was a demon incarnate…much to the man’s delight.

He opened the door to his right and stepped through with a dagger in hand. Drac pushed the children behind him as he followed Strompf warily.

“Hmpf, good,” Strompf murmured, sheathing his dagger. “Three prisoners, two alive, 1 dead. The ones alive ‘er Jerry Hegelochos and Henry Jakov, both Alexandrians. They belong to the 5th squadron under commander Alketas, in Earl Thomas ‘Tom’ Catlier’s territory. Jerry is a womanizer with a drinkin’ addiction, a thinker of crazy ideas while Henry is like a priest with a family and a child on the way. Heh, and get this their commander’s Heck Thomas! Haha, If that's true then I'm George Maledon. How you like me now boys? Me and yer boss are gonna be best buds, don’t ya think!?”

Strompf yelled as he had led them to a torture chamber where the said men wriggled in their suspended chains. The wall opposite the cells had inbuilt mud stoves where the fire cackled, hungry for more. At the adjacent wall to the stoves hung different torture devices all dried with blood from their recent use. The room was larger than the hall way, perfectly square with two bodies, muffled and binded, hanging from the straps bolted to the stones on the ceiling.

They were badly beaten, scarred, cut and had multiple burn marks running along their bellies. Strompf made his way towards one of them and picked up a whip at their feet. He struck them a few times, relishing in their screams.

“Torture,” Strompf stopped whipping. “It’s to wring out the truth from the frail, it breaks the weak, and it floods their mouths with secrets, spilling at my feet. If done right all their thoughts can be yours…so you wanna’ have a go then?”

“Who told you that?”

“Master Karl,” Strompf said. “Now normally I wouldn’t bring ya kids down here ‘cause…well you know and they still got some secrets to give up, but Mina thinks ya deserve whatever reward you want. I guess watching it isn’t too bad, right? Anyway, I’ll look over your work, makin’ sure ya don’t kill ‘em. So enjoy yourself, and don’t kill ’em.”

“Not me, them.” Drac motioned to the children edging towards the bodies. He noticed the something seemed to have changed within them upon seeing those who destroyed their village reduced to such a…prepared state. The scared children from before, their guilt ridden selves seemed to be a fleeting dream compared to real anger they now exuded.

“What is this joke?” Strompf frowned. “I ain’t runnin’ a show here-”

“Where’s the other one?” Mina said angrily.

“…In the stoves,” Strompf pointed at the fire. True enough, when Drac looked over to see an ashen skull protruding above the wood, almost hidden in the fire. “Fine, you wanna’ have a go? Here’s your chance.”

Zach slowly took the whip Strompf was offering, testing the grip in his hands before staring at the gagged individuals scarred backs. He hesitated, fidgeting on the spot and for a moment it seemed to Drac that he may turn back from it all.

That’s when the crackle of the black strips of leather striking their backs echoed in the heated room. The blow had struck with sound but didn’t leave any marks. In desperation for a better result Zach struck again. Then again. And again and again.

The sounds of the leather slapping against the puffy, meaty skin disgusted him, but he was not their parent, he made a promise and he was going to see it through. Despite knowing the consequences the children went ahead with this, boxing themselves in a hot orange room filled with all sorts of curses springing out from the man and child alike. The red marks of the lapels spread like a water entering a hot barren land of his back and quickly faded away, evaporating to leave the same grounds as before. Soon the child was tired, as he panted and gasped for breath that was scarce in the hot room.

“You had enough?” Strompf said, bored. He took the whip from Zach’s hand and placed it back on a slab on the wall. “Heh he, Imagine Mina’s surprise when she learns this is what you had in mind.”

“I’ve, I’ve had enough,” Zach clutched his stomach as he hunched over.

“Shit,” Strompf kicked a bucket at Zach which slid to stop at his feet. Zach bent over and hurled all his contents into the container in one swift lurch.

“I’ve had enough too,” Rina said. She looked at the men with displeasure but a new emotion of pity had embedded itself in her eyes. Strompf gave her a look before looking at Drac for confirmation.

“Alright, out you go,” Strompf said with boredom. He waved his hands to urge the children out.

“No!” Mina screamed, halting him. “They need to pay, I have to avenge father and mother.”

“Mina, they’re already caught,” Rina said. “They’ll die soon anyway.”

“So!? They killed uncle Misha, Mr. Robill, dad, mom, everyone. I haven’t had enough.”

“Mina!” Rina said in shock.

“Alright kid, I see that ya got the bigger pair.” Strompf smiled. “If you wanna’ make ‘em suffer, then ya gotta do it right.”

Mina stared at the men’s gagged and beaten faces a moment before asking. “How?”

“Com’ere,” Strompf motioned to the shelf behind him. He looked at it a moment before picking up a bulb like object on a long poll. “What ya gotta know is ta let ‘em live while ya work. If ya cut too much off, or shock ‘em too much then they’ll die, we don’t want that-”

As the man explained the methodical approaches of torture the defeated children gathered around Drac and sat by his feet in attempts to recover their energy. Drac observed the youngest of the children as she stuck the bulb part into the man’s bottom. She showed disgust at first, but when the screams rung through the room it turned to elation. Drac, however made no move to interfere, instead turning to the children by feet to gauge their reactions.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline wearing off, or perhaps it was that they were also enjoying the screams but they made not move to stop Mina from turning into the person Strompf was trying to form her into.

“Now ya twist here and hear ‘em sing,” Strompf explained. The stick had a knob at the bottom which Mina started to twist. Soon another round of screams spread throughout the chamber as the man’s asshole widened and blood began pouring onto the knob. However she didn’t stop, despite the blood she didn’t stop twisting till she couldn’t anymore.

“Now what,” Mina asked.

“Now you push,” Strompf held the stick and pushed the stick up the man causing the screams to intensity. The gag had been bitten off in his struggle as the stick kept getting pushed up, Mina stumbled back however Strompf stood his ground. “Don’t worry, this man ain’t gonna’ move ‘em legs. Jerry, here, loved getting between the ladies legs. So that’s what I took from him first, cuttin’ the nerves…you gonna push?”

Mina took the stick and pushed along with him till he told her to stop. The bulb was closed once more and was swiftly pulled out the rod, taking the shit and blood clumps along with it. Strompf took the instrument from Mina and pushed it in the stove.

“There’s more than one way to use this instrument,” Strompf explained. “Ya’ take the coal in here and…put that stand under him, would ya? Good.”

Stompf took the hot iron and carrying it place the tip of the hot bulb on the stand. Opening its bulb he deposited the coals on the stand.

“Now ya’ put this stick in him,” Strompf said. He ripped the knob out, along with the grips to reveal the stick hollowed. “Stick it in him.”

Mina took the hot iron with the cloth Strompf offered and rammed it in the other man’s hole. The man was quivering with fear from what he couldn’t see, having his eyes gouged out beforehand, but the recent treatment of his partner had him shaking about uncontrollably. He struggled to keep the iron from entering but a huge slap from Strong had him momentarily rigid, in which time the hollowed rod found its way in. Mina, having understood, positioned the open bulb on the coals watching with intent as the smoke rose from them into the instrument. Strompf had an iron grip of both of the man’s legs and watched with pleasure as Mina progressed without instructions, a complete opposite reaction to her siblings. However despite the horror befallen her sister, Rina was unable to stop the newfound interest her sister had taken.

After sometime the coals had died down and the smoke stopped rising. Mina didn’t look to Strompf for further instructions, instead opting to try her best to make the captive suffer on her own. She closed the still hot bulb and waited for something to happen. Soon enough the man’s muffled screams intensified as he too bled from the ass, this time from the gaps between the plates of the bulb.

“Let it go.” Stormpf said. Mina did as was instructed and watched as blood fell on the cool coals from inside the bulb. As if in synchronicity, Jerry also screamed in terror as he watched helplessly on what was happening to his friend. Mina was a child of no more than 10 or so years yet she was able to cause such suffering to his friend that Jerry cried in fear of what more she may do-

“She’s done.” Drac said.

-But by the way she was wobbling on her feet, pushing herself to stay awake; it was indeed the end of her wrath.

“I’m done,” Mina said. Innocence laced in her voice, as if she was not just the person who had just mutilated a man’s privates.

“We’ll be leaving then,” Drac said, pushing the other up. Mina nodded as she followed in step behind her sister; no longer holding her skirt for support as they made their way outside. While Strompf locked the main door, Drac lead the children to rejoin the receptionist. Who was too engaged in admiring the warden’s face and lips to notice the others approach. The children stood off to one side as they continued staring at the struggles of the couple, enwrapped in their follies.

“Who’s winning the fight?” Mina said whispered.

“Arrhm,” Drac cleared his throat, catching the lovers attention and ending their follies.

“Uh, Thank you,” Rina said in embarrassment, mirroring the red face of the receptionist. “Fo-for letting us down there.”

“Think nothin’ of it,” the warden laughed as Mina hid her face in shame. “You’ll be safe here.”

“Thank y-”

“I’m leaving,” Drac announced. “The children will now be in your care.”

“Oka-what? Hey wait, hold on a minute,” Karl slowly stood up. “Why’d you want to go in that hell?”

“Yeah, mister*Yawn* mister Drac stay here with us,” Zach said.

“The earl of this dukedom is making a move,” Drac said. “He’ll need the help.”

“Hah, you think you’re enough.”

“If I don’t do anything who will? You? Who protects himself behind the walls of his self made dungeon while the rest around you die?”

“Oi,” Karl stood up but before he could make a move Mina placed a hand on his arm, bringing him back down.

“Thank you what you’ve done for us mister Drac,” She bowed her head slightly. “I’ll make sure to take care of the children.”

*Sigh*“Just make sure you get my pay when this is over,” Drac turned to leave. However before he could take a step the children suddenly clutched his legs causing him to become stiff. They stayed like that for a while, until Drac placed a hand over their heads. He turned to look at Zach and Mina, who were smiling tiredly while Rina stepped away, looking troubled.

“You’re unhappy,” he commented.

“No…It’s just,” She wrung her hands, nervous at being the center of attention.

“I understand,” Drac nodded after some time.

“Wh-Why?” she asked nervously.

“She chose her path and you did nothing to stop it. Now all you can do is either support her or make sure you don’t lose her on her path or hope you can change her course along the way,” Drac placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Wha-why didn’t you do anything?” Rina accused, tears threatend to spill.

“What’re you talkin’ about?” Karl stood up, frowning.

“Not my place,” Drac hesitated before continuing. “Even then…if I had stopped her, I fear I might’ve taken over.”