"Get up," he growls.

I stand with shaky legs.

He grabs my hair and twists my head to the side, facing me towards the trees where Soran gave his speech. I immediately shut my eyes. The sight makes me want to vomit. There's a decapitated human head on a post, the wood colored red with blood.

"Do you wish to end up like that?" he spits.

I shake my head as best I can under his grip.

He releases me, and I step back, keeping my gaze at his feet.

He leans in. I try take another step away from him, but he grabs my wrist. My sleeve is pulled straight, showing the scratches where the dog bit. Its teeth didn't even pierce the first layer of leather.

His hands land on my hips, and he twists me around to see my back.

"I assumed you were simply unlucky this morning," he says, "but in reality it seems you feel obligated to throw your life away." He pulls my tunic straight, knocking the dirt and pine needles off in the process.

I'm spun back around to face him. He points to my feet. "Move from this spot, and you'll spend the rest of the journey bound to a log."

I nod, holding one arm in the other. I know what I did was dangerous, but I couldn't just watch Jaclyn die. Risking my life to save her, a human, is incomprehensible to him.

He walks off, and I wait until he's out of sight before gently rubbing my tender neck. I hope it doesn't bruise. It'll be like wearing a sign saying that strangulation is just a normal part of my life.

I glance around the camp, careful not to look in the direction of the post. My weight shifts from foot to foot, but I stay in place. Vampires work around me, setting up tents and moving supplies. I want to check on Jaclyn, but I know Rahlan would be happy to follow through on his threat.

I sit down, keeping my boots in the exact same position. It feels odd sitting on my own as busy vampires walk around me.

A stocky man dumps a pile of wood in a ditch. It's Ohan. I'm glad to see one of the few friendly vampires.

I give him a small wave, and he chuckles. He taps Theron on the shoulder, and he smiles at the sight of me. I must look quite ridiculous with all these pine needles dirtying my blonde hair.

They lay down kindling and strike a fire. I watch them nurse the flame, absentmindedly picking the dirt and debris out of my hair.

My eyes wander around the camp. Many vampires are drinking from humans. I spot Jaclyn among the other prisoners, the ones who weren't selected to die. She made it back. Thank goodness.

A hunter emerges from the trees with a bag on his shoulders. The shape alone tells me exactly what's in it. The nearby vampires cheer, like this is some sort of victory.

The hunter takes a head out of the bag. I glance at the face for just a moment. I remember her. She smiled when taking a bite of the food I smuggled them. They took her home, her freedom, her blood, her dignity, and now her life.

The head is carried to a large group of vampires, blocking my view. Grunts and growls emanate from the group as money changes hands and debts are settled. These vampires are heartless.

I scan the group for Rahlan, looking for his distinct maroon cape. He's not there, which I'm grateful for.

"The flames ready?" Rahlan asks. I whip around. He's carrying a pig's leg leaking blood.

The image of the bloody head on the post jumps to the front of my mind. I press my fist against my mouth and rock in place.

"Perfect," Ohan says.

I keep my gaze on the dirt in front of me. Ohan and Theron take their seats around the small fire, and Rahlan sits beside me.

A new vampire steps into the circle, grabbing our attention. He hands Theron a small bag of coins before quickly disappearing again.

Theron begins funneling the coins into his own pouch, and Ohan shifts closer, "How much did ya' make?"

Theron ties his pouch closed and smirks. "None of your concern."

"Don't you owe-"

"I paid you off weeks ago, and I warned you against betting on Hans. He barely appears to have the strength to carry a head, let alone separate it from a body with the layers of tissue and-"

"Can you please talk about something else," I blurt out.

They pause. My eyes remain on my boots. I'm not trying to be fierce. I just want those images out of my head.

"Right, um, Julia" Theron begins, "I did not mean to scare you."

I hug my knees closer.

"So Rahlan, that's a peculiar sword ya' got there," Ohan says.

"I went through many before settling on her," Rahlan says.

"Wanted one to match the shape of ya' cock?"

They all laugh. It may be vulgar, but I'll take crude jokes over descriptions of human decapitation any day.

"So what does Lord Rahlan desire that he'd join our meager campaign? Fame? Riches? Slaves?" Theron asks. I feel like he glanced at me at the last suggestion.

Rahlan rests his chin on his hand, mulling it over. "Riches."

I look up at him, confused. He gives me a sidelong glance, silently warning me not to challenge him. Riches are the furthest thing from his mind.

Ohan hands him a chunk of pork. Rahlan takes a few bites, seeming to enjoy the taste.

His eyes land on me. "You hungry?"

I shake my head. My appetite disappeared the moment I saw the post.

"And what do you desire, Theron?" Rahlan asks.

Theron smiles. "Riches."

"And Ohan?"

"Fame," Ohan says, "Oh and slaves."

Rahlan raises an eyebrow.

"One slave. A cute one," Ohan says.

"I heard King Frode's assembling his army to the east," Theron says.

"Unlikely," Rahlan says, "he's a coward."

"Maybe, but a coward with many men."

"Humans are weak," Ohan says, "And I'm ready for a more challenging foe, wouldn't ya' agree?"

I don't know who they're talking about, and right now I'm too tired to be interested. I fought off a vampire trying to suck my blood this morning, and another one trying to kill my friend this evening. I'm exhausted. I've lost count of how many times I've been knocked off my feet today. If it wasn't for this armor, I'd be covered in bruises.

I want to sleep, but Rahlan threatened to tie me to a log if I moved from this spot. Does he expect me to sleep here until he's ready?

I yawn, waiting for a pause in the conversation before speaking up. "Lord Rahlan, may I go sleep?"

"Our tent is beside Mittens," he says.

"Mittens?" Theron smirks, earning a scowl from Rahlan.

I head towards the large tent, avoiding the other groups of less-friendly vampires. The further I go, the more it feels like they're watching me. It's dark, and soon Rahlan and the others are out of sight.

What if that vampire from this morning sees me?

I quicken my pace, stepping far from any trees or rocks which he could be hiding behind. I just need to make it to the tent, then I'll be safe. Just a little further.

I yank the tent curtain open. Three vampires inside instantly look at me.

I suck in a breath. Rahlan's sleeping pouch is just one of five. I back away, hiding behind the curtain.

I can't just sleep pretending those vampires don't exist. They could turn on me at any moment. And what if the vampire from this morning stumbles across me? What if Anker finds me?

I run back to Rahlan and the other two vampires I know. My boots skid to a stop just a few feet from him.

He looks up at me, raising an eyebrow.

"Will you please come to sleep?" I ask, trying to keep my voice low enough that the others can't hear.

"Later." He turns back to Theron. "He wouldn't go that far. His prince is wedded to one of our ladies."

I frown.

He continues his conversation with the others, losing me with names and places I don't know.

I sit beside him against the rock. The spike of adrenaline wears off, and soon I'm yawning again. I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Rahlan seems to notice. He puts his arm around me, letting me lean against his side.

Their murmuring conversation is almost like a lullaby, merging with the laughing and chatting around the camp.

My eyes close, and I snuggle up against him, resting my head on his side. I wonder if he's just feigning kindness in hopes that I'll turn against Ivan. It feels wrong to nuzzle up against a vampire, but I'm safer with him than any other place in this camp, at least for now, while he needs me.

Soon I'm crossing in and out of sleep, not sure which sounds I'm imagining and which are really there.

"Ya' human is adorable," Ohan says in a low voice. The word 'human' draws me back into their conversation.

Rahlan ever so gently strokes my side with his hand. "She has her moments."

"Where'd ya' get one like that?"

"She fled from a village I passed through. From the look on her face, I'd say I was the first vampire she'd laid eyes on."

The look on my face - he'd be terrified too if he was in my position.

Ohan chuckles, "Did she fight ya'?"

"She's no soldier," He draws a circle on my side, "but she did sing."

Ohan gawks. "She sang to you?"

"It was terrible. I think it's her weapon of choice."

Jerk.

"If a human sang to me, I'd do whatever they asked," Ohan says.

Rahlan sighs. "I gave in."

Ohan laughs again. "Did ya' pick her cause she's pretty?"

What?

"My choices were limited, but it didn't hurt," Rahlan says.

Rahlan thinks I, a human, am pretty? I thought he looked upon all humans with nothing but disdain.

"I think I'll grab one at tomorrow's battle. One like yours," Ohan says.

I'm not his.

Soon another wave of exhaustion washes over me, and I've lost track of their conversation again.

My thick clothes keep me warm and toasty, and though I don't want to admit it, Rahlan does make a good cushion.

* * * * * * * *

I'm moving.

My eyes peek open. Rahlan's carrying me in his arms. I relax again. I'm safe. Well as safe as I can be in a vampire camp. I close my eyes and hug my chest to keep warm.

He takes my boots off, then he lays me down in the sleeping pouch before crawling inside behind me. His arms wrap around my chest. I let my body unwind, comfortable in the knowledge that those other vampires in the tent can't touch me.

A few moments later, his hands cover my nose, making it a little harder to get fresh air. I ignore it, too tired to move away.

The stale air begins to build up, becoming irritating enough to keep me awake.

"What are you doing?" I mumble, exhausted.

"Cold hands," he says.

I take hold of his wrists and tug them away from my face. I move them down into the sleeping bag and thread them under my tunic, resting his hands against my bare side. They're freezing. If it wasn't for his pulse, I'd think he was dead.

His icy fingers annoy my skin, but they'll warm up soon enough, and it's better than having my breathing obstructed.

This is my last night like this. My last night with Rahlan. Tomorrow we meet the human army, and that'll be the moment I'll escape.