The night air was crisp and clear, the full moon blanketed the forest scenery before me like a thin, silk sheet, covering every inch in elegant silver. I could hear the crisp crackling of the leaves and twigs beneath my feet and the soft whispers of the wind as I carried the dying body of Sable away from that hellish compound. I could feel the sweat coursing down my body, and a sharp pain from my lower abdomen now replaced the dull ache that was once there.

I found a clearing a few feet away, far enough to not be spotted if any chose to pursue us, and signalled the other four to rest up. I gently slid Sable off my body and propped her on a tree. Her breathing was shallow and irregular, and her pulse was getting weaker. She was alive, but I feared that that won't be the case for long.

“Please... please don't die on me.” I grabbed her and pulled her body to my chest, “You still owe me dinner, you hear me?”

Sable didn't answer. I rolled up my sleeves, and with wild savagery I dug my nails into my wrists, drawing a deep well of blood. I held my bleeding arm up to her lips, urging her to drink, but the crimson liquid simply spilled out of her mouth.

“You have to drink, Sable, you'll get better like before, ok?” I said, still holding my arm uselessly to her mouth, “I didn't bring you out here just so you could die! So drink, damn it, please drink!”

I knew that it was no use, I could see that, but I didn't except it. I just help my arm there before succumbing to the fatigue and blood loss. I didn't care if I was to die, but my only regret was that I died a useless death doing nothing.

* * *

I regained consciousness and realized I wasn't dead. No, it'd be too easy if that were the case. I guess whatever creator out there enjoys seeing my suffering and torment, and no matter how badly I fail I'll be pulled back up to entertain again. I don't even know how many times I've ended up unconscious lately.

A man greeted me when I awoke. He looked to be in his mid 50's and was wearing a well fitting black suit, and even in his advanced age the air of power and authority that he gave was unmistakeable. He smiled a thin smile, and from the looks of his teeth he was another vampire – a powerful one at that.

“Greetings, my lord,” he said, his voice a deep tenor with a trace of a slight British accent, “I am glad to see you well.”

I sat up – shocked that I wasn't in any pain – and checked the wound on my side. It was bandaged up, with just a little splotch of red dying the spot where the gunshot wound was.

“Thanks,” I muttered, trying to figure out the situation, “where am I? And who are you?”

“Ah, forgive my rudeness;” he said, bowing, “my name is Robert Innsworth, and you are currently housed in my manor, just west of the town of Cinderford. I hope everything is to your liking.”

“Cinderford? Where's that?”

“It is a small town west of Gloucester, my lord.”

“Wait, Gloucester... as in the one in the UK?”

“Of course,” he answered, looking rather puzzled, “is something the matter?”

“No... nothing.” Shit, I guess that portal has taken me to England.

“Of course, my lord. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Why do you call me that?”

“Call you what, my lord?” He said, arching an eyebrow.

“That! The “my lord” bit.”

“Because you are the lord of our race, it would be rude to address you in any other way.”

“I'm the what?” This whole experience is getting to be more and more confusing. Yet somehow, the title seemed to fit me. It felt natural, as if it belonged to me all along.

“Ah, perhaps you are confused as to why I know?” Robert said, still standing a respectable distance away from me.

I went with the flow and said, “Yes, how do you know?”

“My apologies for saying this, but the aura you emit is unmistakeable – I know not of any other being that can give off such a dominating presence. Of course the survivors also documented your actions at the human facility, and if their words are to be believed then you are one who possesses the power to manipulate the energies of the Earth. If that is true then you can not be anything but our lord. Forgive me for asking, but was it your intention to hide your true nature?”

“Er, yeah, I was hoping to keep it a secret... for uh, personal reasons.” I said, hoping the excuse was good enough. I didn't want to attract any attention until I could figure out the situation I was in, however, it seemed that being the Vampire Lord or whatever was a sure way of keeping safe. Plus, I wasn't going to give up the chance to have that kick ass title, even if it wasn't true. I'll figure a way out of this mess later, but for now, I had to make sure that I'm not dead.

“Unfortunately, my lord, the majority of the residents of this manor already know. I also suspect that some of the survivors who have left may be suspicious of your identity, but with no means of confirming their suspicions they would not have told anyone else. If you wish it I will keep my lips shut and tell the others to do so as well.”

“Yeah, do that.” I said, “And as for the survivors...”

Shit, Sable! I forgot about Sable! I bolted upright and flung the sheets off me.

“Where's Sable?” I asked, the panic in my voice made Robert back off a few feet, “She was with me when I left the compound. Where is she now?”

“Do you mean the young brown haired girl?”

“Yes, her. Is she ok?”

“She was in critical condition when she first arrived, but she is now well fed and will heal in a couple of days. If you wish it I can take you to see her.”

“Good, take me there.” I grabbed my ruined shirt hanging from a chair and gestured Robert to lead the way.

“That shirt does not befit your status, my lord. I have many more suitable attires that can fit you at this moment, and I can arrange for a tailor to come and-”

“No,” I interrupted, “this shirt is fine for now. Just take me to Sable, and remember, I'm supposed to be a normal guy.”

“My apologies,” Robert said, nodding, “what should I call you when we are around the ones who do not know?”

“Oh, just call me Frank, it's my name.”

“Of course, my lord Frank. Now then, if you'll follow me.”

Robert lead me through a couple stunningly decorated hallways and down a set of giant marble stairs. I must have passed a dozen servants and rich, important looking people along the way, and even in my haste to see Sable I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the mansion – this baby must have cost millions! The entire place was filled with expensive paintings and decorative objects of all sizes. This Robert Innsworth person must be really rich, and probably more powerful then I initially imagined. Was he perhaps some vampire noble or something?

But despite the beauty of the mansion I found that something was ascetically off. I only realized after arriving by the front door that the strange thing about the place was the lack of windows. The only one I saw was a boarded up window by the front door, and even that was tiny. Of course, this was a place for the supernatural, so the place was probably built to keep the sunlight out.

When we got to a little door in the east wing of the home, Robert said, “This is where we are keeping Sable, she is still recovering from her wounds and is unlikely to be conscious. If I may advice, my lord, it would be unwise to disturb her from her rest.”

I walked into the room and saw Sable lying down on the bed. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw her well. Looking closer I saw that her colour was a lot better, the wounds on her face was all but gone and Sable's breathing was stronger and more regular. Apparently someone cleaned her up a bit too, because the dirt and grime were all gone and her once dirt brown hair now shone under the lights. She looked a lot better.

It was just a few days ago that she was trapped in that hellish compound, fighting for her life. I remembered how she was when I first saw her, broken and beaten. Now she looked absolutely healthy. Her lips were full and pink instead of cracked and purple, the bruise on her cheek was gone, and now that her hair was cleaned I could see that it was indeed a brown colour. She looked lovely, and I would even go so far as call her beautiful. She didn't look like she's been through all that now, she almost seemed... delicate.

“If it isn't too rude to ask, my lord, but is she someone of importance to you?” The voice of Robert broke my trance.

“You can say that... but we've only just met.” I said, still staring at her, “Can you tell me if she's better?”

“I shall have a servant notify you immediately.”

“Thank you,” I said, “and are the others fine as well?”

“The other survivors are faring better, and many are meeting back up with their families as we speak.”

“Good,” I said, leaving the room with Robert, “but not good enough. We have to get the rest of the people – no, the rest of our people out.”

“I understand, I am currently in the middle of organizing a party of skilled individuals to look into the matter, and with you leading them I have no doubt that we can rescue the remaining prisoners.”

“When can you get these people ready?” In truth I wanted to go right that instant, but going in without a plan or any backup was suicide. It was because of my inability to plan ahead that got all those people killed in the first place... I wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

“It shall take some time to convince the necessary authorities... but if I tell them that you, our lord, is the one taking the charge then they will listen. If the reports are to be believed, then it is clear that the problem with the barrier preventing a frontal assault is no longer a threat with you here, so things should be fine now that you are here. If things go well this should take no longer than a weeks, a month at the latest.”

“Good, tell them whatever you need. Just get it done.”

“Of course, my lord. If I may I excuse myself, I have to get back to the matter at hand.”

“Of course, and you really don't have to be that polite to me.”

“Thank you, but it would be anathema to treat you any differently. Of course, in public I will change my way of speaking, since you are hiding your identity. And if I may say, it would be wise to get more rest, for you are not yet fully healed. Your quarters is located upstairs, the room that you stayed at before. Do you need me to guide you back?”

“No, I'm fine. I can go back myself and get some sleep, but uh, do you have any food? I'm pretty hungry.”

“I shall send someone to your room immediately. And if you wish I can ask for someone to guide you around town on the morrow, there is quite a wait until things are prepared and it would do my lord good to enjoy the night.”

“I would appreciate the company outside, thanks.”

“I shall arrange it, and if there is anything you need please ask anyone in this manor, and you can always call for me if anything arises. Now then, my lord, I shall be off.” Robert bowed one more time and left.

I walked back up the stairs, and I gotta say that it was pretty awkward to see everyone that I passed by bowing at my presence. It was unnerving, yet despite all that I was kind of happy, like I was finally getting the treatment I deserved. I opened the intricate double doors to my new room, and for the first time I realized just how exquisite the place was. It almost looked like my old place back at SIDNA HQ, but about 10 times bigger.

I took off my ragged shirt and dove onto the bed, almost falling asleep before gentle knocks pierced my daze. Was it Robert again?

“Yeah, come in.” I said.

The door gently opened and it definitely wasn't Robert that came in. It was a girl so beautiful that it was almost breath taking – almost, because the only person who ever took my breath away was Rose... I shook my head from thoughts of her and looked closer at the girl. She couldn't have been older than 16 at most, she had beautiful flowing locks of gold and crisp blue eyes. She was wearing, well, she wasn't wearing anything. There was nothing to hide that figure.

“Hi?” I said, confused.

“Good evening, my lord,” she said, bowing deeply, “I am Elizabeth and I sent here for your entertainment and nourishment. I shall be responsible for your well being from now on.”

Nourishment...? Oh shit! They thought I was a vampire, so when I asked for food... Shit, shit, shit! I didn't think this through!