Chapter 9: Purgatory

I continued to make my way toward Orcshire. Traveling was slow going. I refused to use my Vampiric speed, just in case I came across an Orc on the way. Or better yet, the traitorous Thresh. I could not believe that he did not die after Harbinger feasted on his blood. Perhaps I should have done the same thing. Nevertheless, I was on my way to fulfill my destiny. I was on my way to eradicate the filthy animals called Orcs. Almost two years ago a band of approximately ninety Orcs slaughtered my family and friends that resided in Reign’s Hall. The capitol of Reign’s Reach. My homeland. One day I knew I would have to return, but I knew there was nothing there for me any longer. After I complete my quest to destroy those filthy beasts, I had but yet another quest to journey on. I had to find my half sister that I never knew existed until that fateful, bloody night two years ago. The last known location of my sister was Ohmanry Star, the capitol of the mountainous land known as Ohmanry Glen. Ohmanry Star no longer existed. It had been vanquished from this realm in the blink of an eye. I had friends there. I had to find out how that happened as well. I had seen it all happen in my dream before it had even happened. It was the only time I had ever dreamt in my life. With a firm grip on my demonic sword called Harbinger, I steadied on. Always under the blanket of night, I marched deeper into Orcshire. I was nearing the end of my quest. I wondered aloud, “After finishing my sworn duty, what is left for me? Cirania had abandoned me. Thresh had betrayed me. And Ohmanry Star had been blinked out of existence.”

I heard the softest footsteps to my left. I stopped dead in my tracks and sniffed the air. I could smell the foulest stench of Orc. But I could also smell flowers. There was only one person that smelled that way, Cirania. I stepped as lightly as I could behind a maple tree and ducked down. Her footsteps had stopped as well. I could no longer smell the flowers either. Was this some sort of a trap laid down by Thresh? Is he here to try to kill me again? HA! I would love to see him try. Lost deep in thought I had neglected my surroundings. My head smashed against the thick maple tree and I seen stars. The next thing I knew my shoulders were being pinned to the ground and I could smell dog breath. “Aerol, you must stop this nonsense.” I opened my eyes and sure enough, on top of me and restraining me was the traitorous Thresh. Fire burned in my eyes as I spoke, “You filthy swine. I knew you would try to kill me when my back was turned.” I struggled to try to break free, but the Alpha Male Wolf was much stronger than I. Something was certainly amiss with this creature. “Aerol, I am not here to kill you. I am not here to harm you.” He said. “I am here to try to stop you. What you are doing is wrong, and you are wandering down a path so dark that none can follow.” I struggled furiously to break free from Thresh’s grip, but it was no use at all. “What I am doing is right, and it is righteous. They all deserve to die!” I screamed at Thresh. He pushed harder upon my shoulders, nearly puncturing the skin with his claws. He looked me right in the eye and said, “Why Lartas? What did that old hermit ever do to you? He was locked up in his cave, and has been for nearly a century.” Thresh leaned in closer, his nose nearly touching mine and said, “He was a mage Aerol. He was a high ranking mage, and you destroyed him with no thought or consequence. But I am here to tell you that there are indeed consequences coming. The Mage’s Guild has learned of what you have done, and are amassing an army of battle mage’s right now.” I fumbled to find Harbinger, which had fallen on the ground when Thresh crushed my head against the tree. “I killed a high ranking mage? Then I can kill low life battle mages.” I said confidently. Thresh shook his head back and forth. “No Aerol, you cannot. They are not your typical battle mages. They are Dragon Battle Mages.” I stopped clambering for Harbinger and quit struggling as well. I sat silent and still for a short moment and contemplated the consequences of my actions. With the power that has been granted me from my sire Dante, and from Zeshua himself I am invincible. A few Dragon Mages cannot kill me. “Let them come then Thresh. These Dragon Mages cannot kill me.” I said. He loosened his grip on my shoulders and shook his head again. “No Aerol, they do not want your blood. And they will not send you to the afterlife. They will send you to purgatory where your soul will never be able to escape. Where it will be tortured for all of eternity, for what you did death is too light of a punishment in their eyes.” I kept searching the ground for Harbinger when I smelled the flowers again. “Looking for your sword Aerol?” I lifted my head to look past Thresh, “Cirania, you came back for me. I knew you couldn’t stay away.” Cirania stood about five feet away from me. At her feet lay Harbinger.

She knelt down to pick it up when Thresh released me from his hold and leapt at Cirania. “NO CIRANIA, YOU MUSN’T!” He yelled, as he tackled her to the hard forest floor. Seizing the opportunity, I dove at my cursed weapon until it was once more in my possession. As I wrapped my fingers around the hilt I could feel its power surge through my body, as well as the evil and hatred. I stood up and drew back my sword. I charged my newfound enemy at full speed. Just as I was about to swing with all my strength, I was blindsided from the right. I was slammed to the ground so hard that once more Harbinger had been jarred from my hand. For the next ten minutes I tried to defend my face and chest with my hands from gnashing fangs. I knew this wasn’t Thresh. This was Oases, and she was out for my blood. I blocked at least twenty attacks in only a few seconds, and then I threw the hardest punch I could muster right into her ribcage. She only let out a small “gruff” as the blow landed. Oases was causing more gashes to my body than I could heal. She meant to kill me. From beyond the growling and the barking I could hear Thresh and Cirania scream for Oases to stop. After the first yell she continued the assault. It wasn’t until the second time the two yelled at her that she finally ceased her vicious attacks. She strutted confidently over to Thresh and Cirania as I lay motionless on the ground. My wounds tried to heal themselves, but they were taking unusually longer than they normally would. Oases had cut deep to the bone with each gnash of her teeth.

Thresh and Oases stood over me as I continued to try to heal my wounds. Thresh had actually placed Harbinger upon my chest. I struggled to move my hand to reach up and grab it, but it was to no avail. It was as if I had been paralyzed. Thresh looked deep into my eyes and spoke aloud, “You will be able to move before sun up Aerol. Oases only meant to send a message to you, not kill you. You are too valuable to Her.” Oases moved in closer and spoke aloud as well, “Aerol, I beg of you to rethink your path. I cannot lose you as I have already lost Dante.” At the mention of my sire my eyes widened as much as they could. I tried to speak, but all I could muster for words was a grunt. “Yes Aerol, Dante has been corrupted as Zehan foreseen he would. But you, you Aerol Reign. You are a shroud for him. Your future is cloudy and cannot be seen to the God of creation. For that reason I fear I will lose you as I have lost many other Druids in my time.” After she spoke, Oases trotted off into the trees. Thresh looked down upon me as Cirania knelt down next to me and placed a hand upon my brow. “Aerol,” Thresh said, “we have done all we can for you. You have ignored our warnings and our pleas. We can do no more. There is only one last hope for you before your soul is lost to Purgatory.” Thresh ran off into the woods to follow Oases. Cirania remained behind to care for me. Ah, my sweet Cirania. My love, I have wronged you. I will make it up to you. Somehow, I will make it up to you. Cirania leaned in and kissed me softly on the lips and whispered, “Thresh wasn’t lying to you, the Dragon Mages are coming. And I have been instructed to lead the battle against you.” She kissed me one more time and then stood up and walked away. I lay there, stunned for nearly an hour before I could get up and find shelter before the sun came up. Once hidden from my greatest adversary, I closed my eyes and began to dream once again.

Chapter 8: A Thist for Blood

After gathering my things from my temporary home in Firecove I decided to make my way to the local trader to pick up a few small supplies. I entered the run down building to find an older man sitting in a chair behind the counter sound asleep. His legs were propped up on the counter and he was snoring loudly. I walked over to him and nudged him in the arm. “Hey buddy.” I said. I nudged him again, this time a bit harder. “Hey pal, wake up.” The old man stirred from his slumber and mumbled a few incoherent words before he looked up at me. “Eh, what do you want?” He made his way to his feet and leaned up against the counter. I set my pack down on the floor and said, “I need some meat. Fresh preferably, I’m going trapping and I need some bait.” He huffed at my request and said, “A strapping young lad like yourself should have no problems killing your own bait. Why do you intend to waste your money?” I reached into the pocket of my coat and pulled out a small cloth sack of coins and tossed it on to the counter top and said, “Because, I’m in a dead rush and can’t take the time to hunt before I go trapping.” He puffed once more at my response and turned to walk into the back of the shop. While in the back he yelled to me, “So whatcha trappin?” I replied, “The vilest, filthiest creatures to ever roam these lands.” He returned carrying a small stack of fresh bear meat and said, “You must be huntin’ them nasty Minotaur then.” I took the stack of meat and began to put it into my satchel and shook my head. “No my friend, these creatures are far more filthy than your Minotaur.” The merchant shrugged his shoulders and noticed for the first time that my eyes were red. He took a step back and grabbed his sack of gold as he did. “I…I don’t want any trouble mister. Whatever you are, and whatever’s wrong with your eyes I just don’t want any part of it.” I strapped my satchel to my back once more and said, “There is nothing to fear from me. I have seen my kind in this town already. It was last night as a matter of fact, so why do you fear me?” He stumbled backwards a bit more and grabbed hold of his chair. Working his way behind it he said, “Cause. Your eyes, the red that is in them. You are harboring a demon within you. It’s not just cause you’re a Vampire. It’s cause of your demons.” I stopped dead in my tracks. “I can assure you sir, I am harboring no demons. This was caused by a bite from a Necromancer’s liege.” The old man turned and ran into the back and said, “Go see Lartas in the Hermit’s Cave just west of town. He might be able to help you!” He was gone, and I was alone once more.



I made my way out of Firecove for the last time. I need to set my priorities. I have lost all ambition to find my sister, Catbriar. I have lost the desire to find out who destroyed Ohmanry Star. My wife Cirania and my friends have clouded my vision. I need to refocus. Kill the Orcs, find out who destroyed Ohmanry Star, and find Catbriar. Those are the things I need to do. Eventually Cirania will come around, once she discovers the kind of warrior I am becoming. But first I think I will stop and see this Lartas and find out what he can do for me. I walked for about ten minutes before I came to a faint beaten path jutting off to the right from the main road. This might lead to Hermit’s Cave. I followed the light path for another half hour before I finally came to a cave with a sealed off opening. I searched for a way in without causing much of a ruckus, I found none. I decided that the best way in was to just simply knock. I beat my fist on the stone that concealed the mouth of the cave. Within seconds the stone began to roll back out of the way. Once it had moved enough, a large hideously ugly woman emerged. “Whaddaya want?!” I suppressed the urge to laugh. Was this Lartas? Good Gaia, I hope not. “I, I am looking for Lartas. Would you happen to know where I could find him?” The large woman looked me up and down and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her shirt and said, “Yeah, I know where you could find him. He’s down in his cellar. Doin’ Gaia knows what.” I looked the ugly lady in the face and noticed her unibrow and moles that spotted her face periodically. A face only a mother could love. “Could I see him? I believe he can help me.” She stood to the side and motioned me to enter the cave. I entered the damp space and waited as the large woman moved the stone back over the opening of the cave. She led the way through a twisting maze of tunnels before we arrived at a closed door. The ugly lady knocked three times on the door and then opened it. She stepped back out of the way and motioned me in again. Once inside, she closed the door behind me. I looked across the dimly lit room to find a man with his back to me. He was wearing a blue mages robe and had the hood drawn up. I walked slowly toward him and said, “Are you Lartas?” He spun around on his stool and rested his hands on his cluttered desk and said, “Yes I am. And who might you be?” His deep, gravely voice caught me off guard and I said, “My name is Aerol Reign. I am a Vampire and I need your help.” I explained to him what had transpired in the trader’s house. Once I had told him what the old man had said about finding Lartas, the hooded man motioned me to sit down across from him. I did as I was invited to do. Once seated, Lartas removed his hood and said, “I’m not sure how I can help you. But I can see what I can do.” He leaned forward in to the candlelight. Lartas was an Orc.



I could feel the rage welling up inside of me. He had to die, but first I needed his help. I don’t like the fact that I have to do this. It makes me feel like a hypocrite. Lartas folded his arms on his desk and said, “I see now why Edson sent you to me. He believes you to be possessed.” His voice was deep and guttural, and it made my skin crawl. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and spoke, “Yes, that’s right. He made mention of me having a demon within me.” Lartas laid his oily hands flat on his desk and pushed himself away. He stood up and turned his back to me, facing his work area again. He spoke of unimportant things. When he finally found what it was he was looking for he turned back to face me once more. I stood just a foot away from him with my hand on Harbinger’s hilt. Startled, Lartas jumped back and bumped his work table. “My good man, you scared me. You moved right next to me and I never heard a thing. You are getting good at that. I was even listening for you to move.” I took a step closer to him, “Why would you be listening for me to move?” I asked. He shook his head and maneuvered his way around me to the opposite side of his desk. “Nothing, nothing at all.” He slipped something into his pocket, trying hard not to be noticed of his actions. I slid Harbinger out of its scabbard only a few inches and asked Lartas again, “Why would you be listening for me to move?” I made my way around the side of his desk closer toward him. He fumbled to find the right words to say, “It’s just, I know you’re a Vampire. And I didn’t want to get bitten is all.”



I slammed Harbinger back in to its sheath and forced a smile across my face. “Now Lartas, I would not harm you. You are my new found friend. So, are you able to help me?” Lartas clumsily grabbed hold of the seat that I previously occupied and scrambled his way to a sitting position. He adjusted his robe and said, “No, no I am afraid I am unable to help you Aerol.” I walked in front of him and sat down on the top of his desk and said, “And why not Lartas? When just minutes before you were more than willing to help me?” Lartas sat still for several minutes. He knows his life is coming to an end. Good. He fumbled the pocket on his robe before he finally spoke, “I knew someone was coming to kill me. I was warned this morning. I help people everyday, it is what I do. I never thought that it would be you who wanted to spill my blood needlessly.” I felt almost sympathetic for the animal. He knew he was going to die, but he seemed unfazed by the thought. I leaned closer to him, “I want what it is that you slipped in to your pocket, and I want it now.” I slid off the desk and placed my hand on Harbinger’s hilt again. Lartas reached into his robe pocket and stood up as he did. He began to remove his hand and said, “I’m sorry that it has come down to this Aerol. I truly am.” He uttered a word that I did not understand, but knew right away he was using magic. A light so bright flashed in my eyes, blinding me. My skin also began to burn. Had this animal somehow found a way to bottle up sunlight? I swung my arms furiously to try to keep Lartas from closing in and piercing my heart. I tried desperately to focus my eyes, but all I could see were spots. I calmed myself down and focused on my senses. I could hear Lartas moving closely behind me. I spun around and said, “What have you done to me filth?” His voice appeared over by the door now, “I have managed to give myself an advantage over you, Orc killer.”



Unable to see anything at all I had to dig deep into my knowledge and said, “MIST”! I swirled around on the floor and made my way over to a dark area of the room. I concentrated on healing as I seeped my spectral form into a jar that had been lying on its side. Once inside I doubled my efforts to heal my vision and my burning skin. I wrapped myself around a stone that lay in the jar. I could feel power emanating from the stone. I drew upon the power and healed very quickly. I also felt as though I had just fed on an entire village. The feeling was quite satisfying. I’ll come back for you in a moment. I reached out of the jar with my sense to find where Lartas was. He was only about five feet from me. I gathered up all the strength that I had and yelled, “AEROL”! I sprung up out of the jar and drew Harbinger. “Now you need to die you filthy creature.” I lunged at Lartas as fast as I could. He ducked the attack and spun to strike me in the back with a solid staff. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned back toward him. I held Harbinger with both hands and allowed my weapon to envelope me. I could feel all of the hatred that one being could feel. It gave me power like no one had ever known before. Lartas stood defensively and said, “Aerol, why do you do this? We Orc are a complex race to be certain, but we are not unlike you….” I had heard enough of what he had to say. I had buried Harbinger deep inside of the disgusting creature. Near him now I whispered, “We are nothing alike.” I reached inside of his pocket and pulled out a small glass jar. It appeared as though nothing was in it. But I was certain it had held the sunlight. Lartas dropped to the floor and I watched as Harbinger absorbed the Orc’s blood. I then turned back to the dark area and sifted through the shattered jar to find the power stone. Finally finding it I stood up and turned to leave. The ugly woman was standing in the now open doorway.



I put the power stone in my satchel and raised Harbinger at the woman. “Move or die.” She looked up at me from Lartas’ dead corpse. “It is you.” She then turned and ran into the dark tunnels. After ten minutes of getting twisted around in the dense caves I finally found my way to the exit. I rolled the stone back and emerged from Hermit’s Cave. I started to make my way west once more when I heard a voice come from my left. “You are lost to us Aerol Reign. But the man who has lost all can find you again.” I turned and seen Thresh and Oases standing just feet from me. Thresh had the single red rose in his mouth once more. It had been Oases who had spoken to me. The two of them always spoke in riddles. I turned away from them and sprinted off toward the west.




Author's note; if you enjoyed these writings, join our blog group or go to my new blog page. The address is http://aerolreign.blogspot.com/ I hope all will visit. By joining our blog group you can follow the Chronicles of Desidarious Devenshire, written by my friend Dustin Green. And the Tales of Paralay Vextar, written by Damon Tinsley. If you don't want to join the blog group, then at least go to their pages and read their stories. Desidarious' story has already begun. And Paralay's have only just begun. Eventually, all three stories will become one. So you'll need to stay in the know. I hope you all enjoyed the eighth chapter of The Adventures of Aerol Reign: A Thirst for Blood

Chapter 7: In the Face of Evil

Oases slammed the door as I was enveloped in the shadow that loomed behind me. With demonic speed the shadow carried me miles from the town of Firecove. Whatever this was that had me within its grasp was not being gentle at all. Nor was it caring for my wellbeing. After traveling for what only seemed minutes, we stopped. The shadow slammed me down against a mighty oak tree. Stars swarmed about my eyes and nausea began to set in. I shook my head to try to clear the cobwebs. My vision had a red tint to it. Confused, I sat up and tried to draw my wits about me. I place my head in my right hand and closed my eyes tight, hoping that my vision would fix itself. I opened my eyes once more and still seen red. What is wrong with my eyes? I jumped to my feet and drew Harbinger from its sheath as a voice spoke, “Nothing is wrong with your eyes. You are just seeing the way I see.” I turned around trying to find where the voice was coming from. I saw nothing. Turning again with my back against the tree the voice spoke again, “Do not be afraid of me Aerol Reign. You already know me.” I fell back against the tree once more as Zeshua appeared in all his splendor right before my eyes. Zeshua extended a long bony hand toward me. I looked at his offer, and reluctantly accepted his help up. He brought me to my feet and gently brushed the dirt from my coat saying, “Such a beautiful coat. It would be a pity to mar it with filth from the earth.” He spat on the ground as he spoke the word. I stepped back quickly and with shock coming over my face I said, “What are you doing? What do you want from me?” Zeshua stood up straight and said, “I have come to help you complete your quest. I have given you the necessary tools, now I will do what I said I would, deliver the Orcs to you.”

Harbinger hummed deeply in my hands as its creator spoke to me, almost as if it were smiling to be near Zeshua. I began to pace back and forth and sheathed Harbinger. “I don’t understand. This wasn’t supposed to happen for years.” I said. In a low voice Zeshua said, “Well my son, things have changed and I need to move quickly on certain things. More importantly, you and what I promised you.” Confused, I looked at Zeshua and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you mean you have to move quickly on certain things?” I stopped pacing and sat down against the mighty oak tree once more. Zeshua folded his arms inside of his cloak and said, “There is someone who is harboring the two Orcs that escaped you after your parents’ murder. He is a Ranger. This Ranger has befriended you. His name is Thresh, and you must kill him.” Upon hearing this I looked up at Zeshua with rage in my eyes. “You lie.” I said to him. Zeshua sat down directly across from me crossing his legs and replied, “Do I? You know what I speak is true. Thresh has betrayed the very trust you have given him.”

I pondered what Zeshua said to me for many long moments. Is this the truth? If so, how could Thresh do this to me? Does Oases know of this betrayal? Perhaps that is the reason she is so silent. She is harboring the Orcs as well. What about Cirania and the Shaman? Are they in on this as well? Surely my wife would not betray me as Thresh has. I looked up at Zeshua contemplating his words. He was the first to speak, “Yes Aerol, even she has betrayed you. She does not cherish you and your abilities the way I do.” I leaned back against the solid oak tree once more and closed my eyes. I could feel the rage building inside of me. My blood began to boil as I started putting the pieces together of my family and friends’ betrayal. Thresh was no doubt there to make sure I didn’t go off killing more Orcs. Oases was unable to speak to me due to her shame at hiding Thresh’s secret. The Shaman spoke in riddles to try to hide his knowledge as well. And Cirania, my sweet Cirania. She was the missing piece. How was she involved? I thought that she truly loved me. But lately I wasn’t sure. She seemed more and more distant. The only logical answer was that at some point in time Thresh spoke to her about his betrayal and he somehow tricked her into keeping it a secret. That was the only way.

I opened my eyes. I couldn’t see it, but I could feel them as they turned an even deeper shade of red. I could hear the smile in Zeshua’s voice as he spoke, “You must return home and kill Thresh. He is still there along with the rest of your betrayers. Kill them all if you must. But leave Oases for me. I will deal with that little jezebel on my own terms.” I stood up and drew Harbinger from its sheath and said, “Stay out of my way demon. I have a job to do.” I brushed past Zeshua and felt a surge of power enter my body as I touched his shoulder with mine. As I walked away from him I could hear him laughing. I turned to look back to where I was just standing and he was gone. Good riddance, I don’t need him anyway. This is my job, and I will do it alone. Along the way back to Firecove I encountered little to no resistance. A few wild animals who thought I could have been their dinner, but Harbinger slew them like a hot knife through butter. After an hour or so of running at top speed I arrived at the outskirts of Firecove. Zeshua had indeed moved faster than I could have ever imagined taking me that far out in such a short amount of time. No matter. It was time for me to exact my revenge on my betrayers.

I stood in front of the door that was up until very recently my temporary haven. I could hear voices coming from the inside. I slowed my breathing and focused on those inside heightening my senses. “…we need to go to them and instruct them to flee now. Aerol is a loose arrow and is very unpredictable. It is hard telling what he would do to them if he found them.” The voice that spoke was Thresh. The next one I heard was the Shaman. “Yes Master Thresh. I will go to them immediately and tell them to flee, yes. You are most correct. Aerol Reign cannot be trusted, yes.” There was silence for a short moment, and then Thresh spoke again. “Yes Your Highness, I understand what to do. You have nothing to fear. I shall not harm him.” My blood boiled even hotter than before. My eyes flew open as the door opened. The Shaman stood there in fear as he looked up at me. He tried to scream as I brought Harbinger down at an angle toward him. Faster than even Zeshua could move, there was a black blur that flew through to door and slammed me right in my chest. As I fell backward I heard Thresh yell, “Everyone get out of here! He is mine to deal with!” The other three occupants hurried out and scattered in three different directions. I kipped up to my feet and brought Harbinger in front of me and gripped it with both hands. Standing in an aggressive stance I said angrily, “You have betrayed my trust Thresh. You are hiding the very thing I have vowed to eliminate from this world. In order to complete my quest, I have to kill you.”

Thresh looked at me with his teeth bared and spoke out loud, “Aerol, you are a good person. Zeshua has filled your mind with lies. I am hiding nothing from you.” I lunged forward quickly with Harbinger in a stabbing motion. Thresh jumped straight up off the ground high enough to clear my attack. I stepped back to my original position and said, “No? Then why did you not tell me you were a Ranger? Things could have turned out very differently for me, and for you.” I lunged again, this time bringing Harbinger down in a slashing motion from right to left. Thresh dropped to the ground and rolled to the left to once again avoid my attack. This time I did not step back but continued the attack. I kicked Thresh hard on his underbelly. Thresh lifted up off the ground and went three feet before hitting the ground. He let out a yelp as he landed. I walked over to where he lay motionless. Holding Harbinger down toward the ground I said, “Now you will die my friend.” I brought Harbinger down as hard as I could. The blade pierced Thresh’s skin with such ease all the way through to the earth below him. He let out a howl that would bring even the most heartless to their knees. I stood up and pulled Harbinger from my betrayer. I looked at the blade, admiring its beauty. I watched as the blood on the cold steel seeped inside of the metal. “Feed on the blood of the guilty my friend.” I whispered. I sheathed Harbinger once more and began walking back to my temporary haven to gather my things so I could leave Firecove once and for all. As I approached the door I heard a female’s voice. It sounded as if it were directly behind me. “Aerol, how could you?” It said. I turned and drew Harbinger at the same time to find no one was standing there. I scanned the area for anyone that could have said it. There was nothing. I looked to the place where my enemy lay dead, so I could gloat once more. Thresh was gone. Vanished without a trace.

Chapter 6: A Much Needed Explanation

I sat motionless on the floor staring at my new sword Harbinger. Thresh and the Shaman conversed back and forth, but I tuned them out. My focus was completely on my weapon. I was right in accepting Zeshua’s offer. If he can help me, then I shall not turn him down. Thresh is wrong. They’re all wrong. I looked up at the Alpha Male and the small man in red. “What did I do?” I mumbled softly. The two of them continued on with their conversation as if ignoring me. My anger began to rise, “WHAT DID I DO?” I shouted. All eyes were now on me as I stood up and sheathed Harbinger. “Why is it so wrong to accept help from Zeshua?” I asked. “It is not like I swore fealty to him. I just accepted his help in eliminating the Orcs.” I walked over to Cirania and tried to reach out to her. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and moved to the other side of the room. She whispered, “I’m sorry Aerol. I can’t.” I turned and faced the jury of my peers. I never removed my hand from Harbinger’s hilt and said, “So what did I do?” The Shaman was the first to speak. “Aerol, you have to understand that we know you didn’t realize what it was you were doing.” I watched as Oases sulked toward Cirania and lay down at her feet. Thresh stepped forward and looked at my weapon, “Aerol Reign, over the past year you and I have built a friendship. It is one that I cherish.” He finally looked me in the face and continued, “So it is with a heavy heart that I must explain what it is that you have done.”

Thresh sat down on his haunches and began to speak aloud, “Your sword is not called Harbinger for nothing.” His voice sounding graver with every word he spoke. “You now possess the sword crafted by Zeshua himself. He forged this weapon in the fires of hell.” He stood up and began to pace. I said, “If what you say is true Thresh, then I will just dispose of the cursed sword. I will find a place to bury it where none can ever find it in all of existence.” The Alpha Male stopped in his tracks and said, “It is no use Aerol. No matter where you go, no matter how far away you try to distance yourself from his sword, it will find you.” He started pacing again and continued, “It is useless to try to run from the hell sword. It will always find you. It is now bound to you and you to it.” I glanced at everyone in the room. Their looks said everything. Thresh was right. I did make a mistake. “So what I do Thresh?” He stopped once more and said, “There is nothing you can do. Every time you try to draw a different weapon, there will be an internal struggle to draw Harbinger, and only Harbinger.” I lowered my gaze in shame. “How can that ensure his return to this realm?” I asked. Thresh shook his head, “I do not know, and neither does Oases.” The Alpha Female raised her head at the mention of her name. “But I can assure you Aerol,” he continued, “we will not rest until we find out why. And I suggest you do the same.”

I looked directly at the Shaman and said, “And what of you Shaman? What do you think?” The small man in red looked up at me and tilted his head to the side and said, “Me Aerol? You wish to know what methinks?” I nodded my head and said, “Yes, how do you think I can beat this?” He shook his head and said, “I do not know. Yes, that is right. I do not know.” He flailed his arms in frustration and continued, “Unleashing the most evil entity onto the face of this land is tricky business. Yes, tricky business indeed.” The Shaman stopped moving his arms and stepped forward even closer to me. Lowering his voice he said, “There are more questions that need answered before you try to defeat the evil of the world Aerol.” I grew increasingly frustrated with the way Thresh and the Shaman continued speaking to me in riddles. Angrily I said, “Why? Why can none of you just speak to me in basic? Why do you insist on…” Thresh cut me off, “Aerol, what the Shaman is trying to tell you is there is a more serious evil being unleashed right here in Firecove.” Thresh turned to look at everyone in the room except for me and continued, “Against Zeshua, you are no match. Even in his ethereal form he could destroy you with the snap of his fingers. What we are talking about is the evil that is growing inside of you.” My jaw hung loose at what Thresh said. I was stunned at the way my friends were speaking to me. I began to defend myself, “I…there is…” My anger never subsided, instead it rushed through me. “How can you? Any of you? You all are supposed to be my friends!” I continued yelling at everyone in the room. “How could you say that there is evil growing in me?”

It was Cirania who stepped forward and spoke first. “Aerol, I love you. We all love you. But what you are doing, killing Orcs that were not responsible for what happened to your parents. It is wrong. The way you justify what you are doing is wrong. That family that you murdered tonight, the Shaman told me that they are a wealthy family in Firecove. The male of the family named Uglarish was an ambassador for the Orcs. He reported to the Mayor of Firecove directly.” Cirania crossed her arms and lowered he head and continued, “Aerol, you are trying to fight a battle that is bigger than you. You have appointed yourself eliminator of a race that does not need eliminated.” I stroked the hilt of Harbinger. I could feel its power surging through me. Even now I could feel it calling me to draw it. To strike down those that do not share my vision of a world without Orcs. I opened up my senses and allowed the sword to envelope my being. I could feel the power begin to attack the wound on my left shoulder. My flesh began to burn and I could feel my blood rise into my eyes. The group of people stared at me in awe of what was happening. I could barely hear Cirania let out a scream. Harbinger had nearly healed my wound when I said, “You, Shaman. You could not heal my wounds. But Harbinger can. What does that say about you?” I pointed a finger at Thresh, “And you, you have told me nothing but lies this entire time.” I then directed my verbal assault at Oases, “Now I know why she refuses to talk. She is afraid of my power. She knows I can slay her with a single stroke of my blade.” Oases sat up on her back haunches and bared her teeth. “You know its true Oases. All of you know the truth, and that is why you are trying to stop me.” I walked backward toward the door and reached for the handle. “You aren’t trying to save me. You’re trying to save yourselves. You want to redeem yourselves from past failures. You’re afraid of the warrior that I am destined to become!” I opened to door and felt a large ominous shadow behind me.

Just I turned to look, Oases sprang in to action. She leapt at me with blinding speed and shoved me out the door. With me clearing the threshold she slammed the door and turned to the other three people in the room and said, “He is nearly lost to me. I cannot allow this to happen.”

Chapter 5: Needless

I watched as the small man in red untied the scrolls and flattened them out on the floor next to me. As he began reciting the scrolls in a language I did not understand, placed his hands upon my wound. His hands began to emanate a dim yellow light. I could feel intense heat coursing through my shoulder down to my arm then back up to the left side of my face. I howled in pain as the infected gash tried to repair itself. My Vampiric body had been working overtime trying to heal itself of the foreign disease that was beginning to take over. I was glad that I had fed on Ternay Darck before I left Matadonia. The Shaman continued his work feverously for going on four hours and the wound had still yet to heal itself. Sweat poured from the healer’s forehead, but he never quit trying. He continued on no matter how futile the situation appeared. It was nearly dawn when the man who called himself The Shaman collapsed over my chest in exhaustion. “I have done all that I can do.” He said. “Yes. Yes, I have done all there is to do for you.” The healer rolled off onto the floor and sat up on his knees. He gathered up his scrolls and rolled them back up. He found the three red ribbons and tied the scrolls back up. He stood up and turned toward the old wooden chests and stored the scrolls once more. Then the Shaman turned and looked at Cirania and I and said, “Yes, it is good that I found you. Good Ears I have on my head.” He walked over toward a straw filled cot in the corner of the room. The Shaman lay down and closed his eyes. “Stay here for about two weeks methinks.” He turned his head toward us, “Your wound will take a long time to heal. Yes. Yes, a very long time.” He closed his eyes and drifted off to visit his dreams.

As the sunset I stood at the back of the room looking toward the door. I was waiting for my ally the moon to defeat our worst enemy, the sun. My wife, Cirania was still sleeping on the floor next to the south wall of the room. I watched her sleeping. Her breathing had slowed as her body regenerated itself. I envied her. I envied how when she would wake up she would drink a cup of tea and have some breakfast. Those were just a few things that I missed about being alive. I turned my head and looked at the festering wound on my left shoulder. It had closed up a small bit. It still resembled a hole in the earth covered with bloodmoss. The moon had finally claimed victory over its rival so I walked out of my temporary quarters and into the street. The town of Firecove was bustling with an abundance of different races, Humans, Elves, Dark Elves, and Vampires alike. They all lived together in perfect harmony. I turned to the left and made my way to the center of town to watch everyone go about their lives. As I reached my destination I sat down on a bench on the side of the road. I remained in that spot for about fifteen minutes before I seen the one thing that made my blood boil. A family of Orcs was making their way out of a local watering hole and heading to an abode here in town. These people let those filthy animals mingle here? What kind of people would do something like that? I need to take care of this myself. All Orcs deserve to be punished.

I stood up from the bench and ducked into the shadows. I followed the family of filthy Orcs to the north side of town and to a dwelling. Once inside, I opened up my senses to feel anyone approaching. No one was coming. Good. I pulled Sableleaf and stalked to an open window to the animal’s home. I peeked in and left my senses wide open. I could tell that there was one male and three females in the house. I waited until they had all assembled in one room. Once they had gathered, I jumped into the house through the window. I extinguished the candles that were illuminating the room with my forefinger and thumb. I snuck down the hallway, eliminating the light as I went. With Sableleaf in hand I made it to the end of the long hallway. I peered around the corner and seen a large room ornately decorated with hand made weapons, large jewels and hand woven rugs. The four Orcs were sitting in front of a roaring fire speaking in basic language. They talked about organizing their chores for the next day. Who was going to tend to the milking of the cows, and who was going to harvest the crop so they could take it to the Everstar Celebration next month. I listened for about five minutes. For undomesticated creatures, they seemed highly intelligent. That doesn’t matter. They all need to die, and it is my job to eliminate them.

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. What I am about to do is right, and it is righteous. I leapt into action. Bursting in the room, I let out a war cry that would frighten even the hardest of warriors. With Sableleaf glowing in the dimly lit room I attacked. The male was my first target. I brought down my weapon with a slash. I cut him from shoulder to kidney. The blood stained my sword even further, making it even darker in color. The three female Orcs screamed in terror as I slaughtered their hierarch. Inside of my head I heard, Aerol, No! Don’t do this. You are better than this. I pushed the thoughts out of my head and closed off all of my emotions. I pulled Sableleaf from the fallen filth. Seething, I turned around slowly to the three females. Blood ran down to the tip of my blade and dripped to the floor. The three remaining victims cried for me to stop. They begged me to stop. I loved the way it felt to hold their lives in my hands. So this is what a god feels like? I love it. I looked at the elder female Orc and said, “No! I will not stop. Let your gods know when you get to the other side, that the one who sent you there was Aerol Reign, Orc killer.” With that I beheaded the females with a single swipe of my blade. I stood over the bodies and laughed. “No one can stop the inevitable.” I said. I walked out of the room and extinguished the remaining lights in the home. I exited the way I entered and walked back to my temporary quarters. I arrived to find the Shaman, Cirania with their backs to me. They were talking to someone but I couldn’t quite make out who. The two stepped aside and revealed Thresh and Oases.

I tried to warn you, The Alpha Male said stepping forward toward me, but you didn’t listen. You are starting to take a walk down the wrong path Aerol Reign. I closed the door to the quarters and moved to the west wall. Leaning against it I said, “What I am doing is right. It is what I was born to do.” I ran my hand through my hair and said, “Besides, you’re just a wolf. What do you know?” The conversation continued until near sunrise. Thresh relentlessly pleaded his case that what I was doing was wrong. He was not going to convince me. No matter what he said to me. Finally, frustrated Thresh and Oases stormed out of the house. Cirania had remained motionless and silent throughout the entire war of words. The Shaman had decided he had had enough of listening to me defend senseless killing, so he stomped out of the house. Now it was just Cirania and I. The way I wanted it, the way I liked it. I moved over to her and began to say something sweet to her. She cut me off, stood up and walked over to the door. “I can’t follow you down this path Aerol.” She said. “You’re not the same man I fell in love with. My husband is not a cold blooded killer.” She turned to face me, with tears streaming down her face she said, “You are not the same man.” And she hurried out the door, leaving it open behind her. I walked over and closed the door, the wind whipped up and tried to blow the door open once more. I latched the door and with my back to it slid down to the floor. What I am doing is right, and righteous.

I slept the day away, only vaguely aware of people coming in and out of the quarters. By nightfall however, I was alone once more. I stood up from the bed and put my trench coat on. Then I strapped on Sableleaf and the Mystic Bow of the Druid. I walked over, fully equipped to the door. From behind me a chilling voice said, “Happy hunting my son.” I stopped in my tracks and turned to face the voice. With my hand on the hilt of Sableleaf I said, “How did you get in here?” More confidently I continued, “And what is to stop me from gutting you where you stand?” Hidden deep within the shadows of the unlit room, a man wearing a solid black mage’s robe with the hood up walked toward me with three steps. Quietly the voice responded, “Nothing my son. Nothing is stopping you from killing me.” His voice was high pitched, almost snakelike. “In fact,” he said, “I won’t even stop you, and you see I am no match for someone with your blade skills.” The stranger folded his arms at his chest and remained motionless as I pondered my next move. I adjusted my weight to my right foot and said, “Who are you?” He sucked in a deep breath of air, “I am known by many, many names. But you my son, you may call me Teacher.” I took two deliberate steps toward the man and pulled Sableleaf from its sheath. I looked him right in his face and said, “Let’s make one thing clear. I am not your son, nor you my father. My father was a great man, and I am on a quest to avenge his death.” The man looked down at Sableleaf and said, “I know. Everything you just spoke of, I already know.” His head never turned from my sword as he continued, “I admire your blade. Tell me, where did you find it?” He looked back at me. Even though I couldn’t see his eyes, or his face for that matter I could feel his stare ripping its way to my very essence. I closed off my mind for fear that he was already inside. Searching, prying for every detail of my past that he could get his scrawny hands on. I turned Sableleaf over in my hands and said, “My sire gave it to me. I know not where he found it. But it was a gift from him.” The robed man reached his bony hand toward my sword and brushed his fingers across the hilt and said, “You have found the shell of my sword child. It is called Harbinger.”

I looked down at my sword and then back at him and said, “No!” I raised my arm level to his face. “This is Sableleaf, and it was my sire’s sword.” The Teacher brushed my arm away and let out a shrill laugh. “Yes, that is what you named it. It is quite silly really.” He glided behind me and reached around to pull the collar on my coat back. “Yes.” He said. “I would know that bite anywhere. I always wondered if Dante would release a spawn into the world.” He let go of my coat and made his way back in front of me. “And so it appears as though he has.” At the mention of my sire’s name my heart dropped from my chest into the pit of my stomach. This thing knows Dante. How? How is that even possible? “All things are possible through me.” The man said. “Anything you want, I can give you. Anything you need, I can produce it.” He extended his right hand, “And anything you wish to kill, I can send you to it.” My thoughts raced a mile a minute. There were so many things I could kill. There are so many filthy Orcs that I want to kill. And this man can show me the way. I don’t believe it. I looked at him with curious eyes, “What’s the catch?” I said. He laughed shrilly again, “Catch? Catch you ask? There is no catch. All I ask is that you let me restore my former sword to all its glory, so that I may see it once more with my own eyes.” I thought through every possible scenario. This has to be a trick. How is he going to spin this so he profits from it? After thinking for what seemed an eternity I looked at the Teacher and said, “If you can show me the way to the Head Chieftain Orc, I will return Sableleaf, my apologies, Harbinger to you.” I could feel him look upon me as he spoke, “No child you misunderstood me. I do not wish it to be back in my possession.” He reached out for my blade. “I just want to restore it as it was when I created it. Then you may have it back.” I raised Sableleaf to him hilt first and relinquished my weapon to the Teacher.

After one quick incantation in an undecipherable language, the cloaked figure handed me my sword back. The Teacher spoke, “There, there, now let’s see how Harbinger responds to you.” I grasped the hand and a half weapon with my right hand. In a dim flash of light the black blade became so dark that it was nearly invisible. In the middle of the hilt now sat a blood red ruby. The hand guard began engraving runes upon itself. When it was complete, the gold hand guards were now as black as the blade. And the runes seemed to glow like the pale moonlight. I could feel Harbinger trying to pry into my mind. Reluctantly, I gave in and let the sword bond with me. A few moments later, the weapon withdrew itself but remained aglow. I looked at the enchanter and said, “Now about what I want.” He turned his back on me toward the fire and said, “All in due time Aerol Reign, all in due time.” Suddenly, the door burst open and in barged Thresh and Oases. Aerol, what in Gaia’s name have you done? The Alpha Male spoke in a harsh tone. I spun around and said, “Only what needed to be done to complete my quest for revenge.” For the first time since I have known him, Thresh spoke. “Zeshua, you sack of wine! What are you doing here?” I was stunned. I had known Thresh for over a year now and he had never spoken to me. The dark robed man turned toward the two wolves and said, “Why Thresh, you little thorn in my side. I am just doing what is necessary for a triumphant return.” Puzzled, I looked at Thresh and then back to the Teacher and said, “Wait. Zeshua? The god of all that is evil?” He nodded his head. “Oh no, what have I done?” I backed up against the wall as Zeshua dissipated in front of my eyes. Thresh made his way over to me as did Oases. The Alpha Female sat down beside me and sniffed my weapon. She then hung her head and looked up with a tear in her eye. “What have you done Aerol?” Thresh said. “You have just guaranteed the god of evil his return to this realm. And there is no one to stop him.” Oases lifted her head to the ceiling, and howled. I looked over to the open door and seen the Shaman and Cirania standing in the opening. I exchanged looks with everyone and, over Oases’ howl I looked down at Harbinger and said, “What I am doing is right, and righteous.”

Chapter 4: One Year Later

My life in Darckston had become somewhat normal. I was making a living with my wife Cirania, my rescuer when I first arrived here. While she didn’t quite approve of the way I had to sustain life, she accepted me for who I was. She was probably the only one that ever would. I knew that she regretted the fact that I could never give her a daughter or son. But she had come to terms with that in her own way. We were happy together. Somehow we managed to keep my curse a secret, but people were beginning to wonder why I never showed myself during the day. Our work kept me busy at night, and that is what we always told people. We had a starsilk farm that was used for making expensive fabric, which had to be tended to and harvested at night. However, people still wondered.

Over the past year, I was able to make my way to Ohmanry Star four times to investigate what had happened the day of my only dream. Each time I went, the dozen wolves that I had met on the outskirts of Darckston always showed themselves to me. And every encounter grew longer. No words were ever spoken. But I knew that they were friends. The Alpha Male always had a single red rose in between his teeth. There was always a rose. On my last visit, I sat down in what used to be the middle of Ohmanry Star, where I had been held captive by the Piamrev Bectish. As I sat examining the earth, the Alpha Male and Female cautiously approached me. When they felt it was safe enough, they came and sat down next to me trying to observe what it was I was studying. Satisfied that I was indeed a friend, the Alpha Female curled up beside me on the ground and dozed off to sleep. The Alpha Male still managed to keep a close eye on me though, his stare never leaving my eyes. I never found any answers to my questions. And I never picked up on the scent of the rider, and her steed. Convinced that there were no answers to be had, I told my new animal friends that I was never going to return. The Alpha Male, rose still between his teeth nodded his head and bowed to me. I returned the gesture to him. However it was not the last time I would see them.

It had been over six months since I had last stood in Ohmanry Glen and I missed my new forest friends. I exited the door of Cirania’s and my home at dusk and made my way to the forest with my bow for some hunting. I knew that I wouldn’t need the bow; it was more for show than anything. I strapped the Mystic Bow of the Druid onto my back once I was deep in the forest. I climbed a larger than normal Birch tree to get a better perspective of the upcoming meal. Relaxing, I let my senses open themselves to the world around me. There is one, and a young buck too. He will serve as a decent enough meal for me this evening, and should last me for a few days. I jumped down from my perch in the tree and landed with a soft, quiet thud. I stalked my prey with great precision and stealth. The buck that was about to quell the hunger inside of me didn’t stand a chance. Twenty feet away from him I leapt. I landed squarely on his back and sank my teeth deep within his flesh. I was growing more and more accustomed to feeding, and not having so much time pass before my next meal. Fortunately for me, I had Cirania to remind me often to feed as I had a tendency to forget until it was too late. I nearly drained my prey and reared back my head to suck in a deep breath of fresh cold air. My eyes landed on the new moon. In the distance I heard the howling begin. I thought at first it was a group of Lupines. But after several minutes had passed, I seen my wolf friends emerge from the southeast. As was custom between us, the Alpha Male bowed his head to me and I to him. A single red rose still hung from both sides of his jaw. As the two dominate wolves had done during our previous meeting, they approached with caution while the other ten wolves stood guard, ready to pounce if need be. I knelt down and presented them with what was left of my meal. The Alpha Male and Female declined by moving their heads left and right. However they let the others in their pack consume what was left of the buck. The Alpha Male sat right down beside me, and stared at me with knowing eyes. The Alpha female as she had done during our previous visit curled up beside me and drifted of to sleep. I reached over and scratched the male on the scruff of the neck and said, “You two look so intelligent compared to the rest of your pack. It’s almost as if you can talk.” The Alpha Male tilted his head to one side. We can, Aerol. He said inside of my mind.

Startled, I jumped and said, “What…how…wait, animals do not speak.” The Alpha female never moved from her nap. It was if she knew what my reaction would be and just let it pass on as history. We can do a many number of different things that our pack mates cannot. Such as speak to humans. I sat and stared at my friend with confused eyes and said, “Well um, if you can talk. What is your name?” He bowed his head and said, My name is not of importance. But you can call me Thresh. Those who named me gave me two names, Thresh Woarai. I scratched my head and still puzzled I said, “Well Thresh, it is good to meet you. I guess anyway.” Thresh turned his head toward the Alpha female and said, And this is my companion Oases Gagidd. That is all I will tell you of our names at this time. And we are at your service Aerol Reign. Still having trouble wrapping my mind around this I said, “At my service? How? I mean, I don’t understand what you mean by that.” I stood up and paced back and forth. Oases lifted her head when I stood and watched me for a bit, then stood up and followed beside me as I paced. Thresh stood up on all fours and said, We are here to teach you Aerol. You have been living as a Vampire for over a year now, yet you still no nothing of you abilities. You have been raising yourself, and that could endanger us all. We are here to help you. I stopped and looked at my friend, “How though? I mean, what do wolves know about Vampires?” I said. “And why doesn’t Oases ever speak to me? Why are you the only one who speaks to me?” Thresh walked over to me and sat down directly in front of me and looked up at me and said, Oases will speak to you when the time is right, and when she so chooses. But take heart in knowing that she has only shown herself to three other people in all of existence. I sat back down in front of Thresh, and Oases lay down beside me again. She likes you. Said Thresh. She doesn’t like many Vampires. But you, she like. Consider yourself lucky.

I sat on the forest floor and chatted the night away with Thresh. Oases never left my side, and the rest of the pack never let their guard down. I had never felt so safe in all of my life. While talking Thresh mentioned a Vampires blood magics and how they worked. How, if I had learned to create a spell I could draw upon my blood to cast the spell. Also he explained how doing so too many times would inevitably kill me if I didn’t refill my supply of blood. Thresh also talked about how I could sustain myself for a while longer feeding off the blood of animals. But that there were risks involved. The risks included craving blood more and more, with shorter spans of time in between my feedings. Also how too much animal’s blood would cause me to go into a frenzied like state, where I would not be able to control my actions no matter what I tried to do. My new companion asked of Cirania, and how our relationship was holding up. I tried to explain the complex situation, but it seemed as though whenever I spoke to him I wasn’t making much sense. Perhaps I was still sort of in shock by what was happening. Then Thresh asked me if anything had happened to me that I could not explain. Like using a power that I didn’t know I had. I told him about the dream that I had had. When I had finished, Oases perked her head up and flattened her ears. She shot a look toward Thresh. I gestured toward Oases and said, “What? What is wrong with her?” He shook his head like he was trying to shake the cobwebs loose and said Nothing. Nothing at all is wrong with her Aerol. You should just leave her alone for now. I shrugged my shoulders and crossed my legs. Placing my hands on my knees I said, “Well it doesn’t look like ‘nothing’ to me Thresh. Something is wrong, I can tell.” I noticed that the rest of the pack were standing at attention now and said, “It was the dream wasn’t it? I knew there was something wrong…” Thresh cut me off. Like I said Aerol, it is best to just leave it alone for now. We finished up our conversation a few moments later, and I bid my friends farewell.

An hour just before sunrise I made it back home to find Cirania cooking a pot of breakfast stew. I strode toward her and gently kissed her on the back of the neck. “Ah my love, it is so good to taste of your flesh once more. I had the most eventful evening, and I cannot wait to share it with you.” I said. My wife pulled away and walked to the table and sat down and said, “We have to leave Aerol. Too many people are asking too many questions.” She continued, a tear rolled down her cheek. “The village sheriff and his men are coming to the house today to drag you outside.” I ran my hands through my long blonde hair and let out a sigh. “Let them try then. I have learned more about what it means to be a…” I was cut off by Cirania yelling, “You don’t understand. They will burn the house down if it means getting you out. They’re pretty positive that it was you who killed Ana Stein and Marko Swang.” She continued in a calmer voice, “They even think they know where the bodies are buried. They’re going to go out tonight and try to dig them up.” I made my way to the bed that Cirania and I had shared for the past year and said, “Alright, what’s the plan?”

She spoke quickly for about five minutes while gathering what few possessions we had. When she was finished I stood and grabbed her around the waist and kissed her passionately for what seemed like an eternity. When I let her go I said, “That is a fantastic plan my love, and I know it will work.” I relieved my wife of the belongings that she had gathered and strapped them to my back. She looked at me with loving eyes and said, “If they get to close to us, promise me that you will run ahead. When you are out of their sight, stop and then wait for me. I will come.” I shook my head as I reached to open the door, “No! I will not leave you Cirania. You are my entire life. You are all that I have, and I can never leave that behind.” I grabbed her hand and together we walked out of our home forever. We began to exit the northern part of the village when we heard people shouting my name. I spun around to see a mob of about twenty five people. All armed and prepared to fight. I glanced at Cirania and seen her close her eyes and mumble a few incoherent words before her eyes shot open. I had never seen my wife like this before. Her eyes had turned a deep blood red. The wind began to pick up, blowing stronger with each passing second. I could not believe my eyes, my wife was a mage. She was conjuring a cyclone right in the middle of town. Cirania spread her hands out to each side and said, “Aerol, you should be running.” Cirania began walking toward the mob and shouted, “Aerol, RUN!” I looked at her, knowing I was going nowhere. I dropped our belongings and sprinted toward the west side of town. I ducked behind the first hut, and concentrated on my abilities. Using celerity, I ran to the south end of town and came in behind the mob. There is no way I’m leaving you Cirania. I began to approach the mob when, inside my head I heard, You should respect your wife’s wishes. She is only doing what she has seen as the best path for you. I turned and seen Thresh and Oases and their pack of wolves. All of the pack with the exception of the Alpha Male and Female stood at the ready, and all of them frothing at the mouth in anticipation of a large feast. I pleaded with Thresh, “I can’t leave her. She is my entire life.” Thresh nodded in agreement, I understand Aerol. He said. My heart would be saddened if I were to ever lose Oases. But she would expect me to move on, and I would for the greater good of the land. I tried to come up with another argument. But Thresh was right, and besides who was I to argue with him?

I ran back to Cirania and told her that I loved her and I would see her soon. I picked up our belongings and dashed off into the woods. Behind me I heard wolves howling, then teeth gnashing, villagers screaming. Then I heard the air howl and whip. I continued running as Cirania and Thresh told me to do. About half way between Darckston and the Matadonia and Mitovia border I stopped to wait on Cirania. I found a large tree and began to dig underneath it for shelter for the day. I buried Sableleaf hilt deep into the tree so Cirania would know where I was. The day passed on without any trouble. When I awoke at dusk, I climbed out from under the giant oak tree and seen my wife forty yards away crumpled on the ground with gashes on her face and her arms. I ran over to her and held her in my arms. “My love,” I said, “you have to wake up. You have to get up. I can’t heal you.” Realization came pouring down upon me like a waterfall. Fumbling through my bag I said, “Yes I can! I can heal you!” Finding what I was looking for I pulled out a dull brass ring and slipped it on her ring finger. “I should have given you this ring a long time ago Cirania.” I said softly. I picked her up and carried her to where my resting place had been during the daytime hours. Knowing she was safe, I exited the underground crypt and pulled Sableleaf from the tree. I turned around to pick up our bag of belongings and seen the rest of the villagers, those alive and dead.

All 81 of the villagers stood before. Most of them were alive but some of them dead, including those that had just been slaughtered by the wolves and Cirania and the two that I had drained. Behind the group was the sheriff of the town, Ternay Darck, great grandson of the founders of Darckston. He had his eyes closed and was muttering an incantation that I could not make out. There was no doubt in my mind that Ternay was a Necromancer. All around me the villagers gathered, hurling insults at me about being a Vampire. Even the dead could speak. Already surrounded, the mob began moving closer to me. With no time to unstrap my bow, I held Sableleaf and said, “You want me, come and get me.” I pointed the sword at Ternay Darck. “I’m saving you for last.” The lynch mob came at me with their crude swords, staves, and shovels. I swung Sableleaf rabidly at the first two attackers, beheading them in a single swipe. Three of the dead came at me from the right. They were surprisingly quick. One of them, Marko Swang managed to duck the edge of my sword and tackled me to the ground. Within seconds the entire mob had engaged upon me and had me pinned to the ground. Marko Swang began gnawing on my flesh like hungry jackals. This will heal, but my god does it burn. His teeth feel like they’re on fire. I was able to break my left hand free and wrapped it around Marko’s neck. However he never slowed down. I mustered up as much strength as I could and squeezed with everything that I had in me. His throat collapsed within my grasp and his head severed just above my hand. With his head still attached to my shoulder, I flung the body to the side and pulled his head away from my flesh. The wound had already begun to fester. When Marko Swang fell, three more of the dead were on top of me. This is hopeless. Think Aerol. Think. I only had seconds to react. Then I did the only thing I could think of. I screamed, “KODIAK BEAR!” The horde of people flew off of me in each direction. I stood up on my hind legs. Now over eight feet tall and with fur as black as the night sky, I lunged at the person closest to me. With one swipe of my enormous paw I caved in his skull. With each step I killed another one of my fellow villagers. My fangs flashed in the moonlight as I took a bite out of another villager. When there was only about twenty people left standing I said, “Aerol Reign!” And I transformed back to my original self. I picked up Sableleaf that had fallen to the ground during my transformation to the Kodiak bear. I waved my black weapon at the band of people before me and said, “What is the meaning of this? Why do you attack me?” Ternay Darck was the one who spoke for the group of villagers. “We attack you because of what you are.” He said. “You have finally revealed yourself as being what we had thought all along. A Vampire.” I laughed an evil laugh. “Well Ternay, is what you’ve just seen is the power of a Vampire?” I said, growing more arrogant with each minute I stalled them. “Then you are gravely mistaken. That, my good sheriff was the work of a Druid.” I sheathed Sableleaf and put my hands up in surrender. Ternay Darck opened his mouth to speak. Before he could get the words out of his mouth I interrupted him. “THIS is the power of a Vampire!” I threw my hands down and shouted “DOMINATE!” The once powerful group was now under my control. I walked up behind each and every one of them and snapped their necks. Darck constantly watching me, knew, they all knew what was happening. They were in the midst of a Vampire. And tonight, the Vampire was proving his dominance over a lesser race.

After all had fallen except for Ternay Darck, I walked up to him and stood face to face with him. I quietly said, “I release you.” He began to run, but thought better of it. Instead he stood toe to toe with me. Defiant. He opened his mouth to speak, “I’m not afraid of you Vampire.” He spat on the ground at my feet. I looked down and seen that some of his spit landed on my shoe. I looked back at him and with a smile on my face I said, “You know Darck, I was going to let you live. Now I’m going to let you be my dinner.” I jumped on him and buried my fangs deep in his flesh. His screams only lasted a few seconds before they stopped and his body began to go limp. Before taking the last drop of blood, I pulled back and sucked in a deep breath of the cool night’s air. I let go of Ternay Darck and his body fell to the ground. I bent over the top of him and got right in his face, he looked back at me with his last stand, and I said, “Now you and everyone shall know that dark magic is no match for my power.” I stood up and turned to go get Cirania. I placed my right boot on Ternay Darck’s left cheek and kicked. Snapping his neck instantly.

I went to the hidden crypt and picked up a now stirring Cirania. She looked at me with her bright green eyes and said, “I told you I would find you again.” I looked at her and replied, “I know you did. But when you returned to me you were in no condition to do anything at all.” Walking out from under the earth I explained to Cirania what had happened to the villagers. She only nodded in approval and then rested her head against my chest before drifting off to sleep again. I picked up our belongings and flung them on my back, and we were off once more. After we had traveled about a league into Mitovia, Cirania woke up and insisted that she walk. I obliged and put her feet on the ground. She placed her hand on my left shoulder and said, “Thank you Aerol, for everything.” I winced at the pain in my shoulder. She removed her hand quickly and examined my skin. She asked what had happened and I explained very briefly. She asked me if I had tried to concentrate on healing, and I nodded my head. She then removed the dull brass colored ring from her finger and slipped it on mine. I felt the ring’s power course through my body and attack all of the spots that needed healing. The ring worked on every wound that I had. Except for the bite on my shoulder. The wound had managed to spread from my shoulder down to my wrist. Leaving me with no feeling in my left arm. It had also spread up to the left side of my face. I looked like I had bloodmoss growing, where flesh should have been. Cirania never let her eyes avert from me and said, “Oh my goodness Aerol. Your eyes, they’re…they’re turning red.” As we entered the town of Firecove just inside the border of Mitovia Cirania began to yell, “HELP ME! SOMEBODY HELP ME! I NEED A HEALER!” I seen a very small man wearing all red come running to me. He and Cirania helped me inside. In a high pitched voice with a thick accent he said, “Oh dear, it is a good thing that I heard you.” He and my wife lowered me to the floor and he began digging through various chests before finding a few scrolls that he wanted. “Yes, yes,” he continued, “tis a very good thing you yelled. Is a very good thing.” He made his way back to me holding three scrolls, each one wrapped with red ribbon. He knelt down and looked at me. In a more serious voice he said, “It is no coincidence methinks that you have found the Shahman.”

Chapter 3: Lost and Found

Four days had past since I left Ohmanry Star and I seem to have lost Catbriar’s scent. The trek down the side of the Ohmanry Mountains took three and a half days. I didn’t dare run for fear of losing my footing and causing harm to myself where, should I lose a lot of blood there is no one near for me to feed off of. I needed to preserve my energy. Along the way down I would dig out the hardened earth underneath rocks to rest for the day. I could feel the hunger starting to well up inside of me. I could tell that I needed to feed within the next three days, or torpor would be in my immediate future. Thus I preserved as much energy as I could.

I decided that I would make a stop in the small village of Darckston in northern Matadonia, just southwest of Ohmanry Glen to find myself a meal. Walking along the dirt road I did my best to avoid the ruts the wagon wheels had created from all of the importing of goods to Darckston. I heard a roar from what sounded like a lion overhead, and instinctively spun around to the direction of the sound and pulled Sableleaf from its sheath before I hit the ground. I stood motionless, and silent. I focused my ears to hear where the roar might have come from. I never heard another roar, but I did hear what sounded like the beating of massive wings. I looked up overhead and seen a silhouette of what I thought I had seen just one week prior. The Dragon with three heads. I closed my eyes to blink and when I opened them it was gone. This has to be a hallucination from the lack of blood. This is twice I’ve seen that thing while low on reserves. But what in the world is it? It’s big enough to be a Dragon, but it’s somehow altered. No Dragon has three heads. I don’t know what to make of it. Perhaps I should think on it later when I’m not so groggy. As I approached the outskirts of the small village of Darckston I crouched down and began to step lighter than I ever had before. Not even I could hear the crunching of the grass beneath my feet. I ducked behind a large barkless tree and put my back toward the village. I was distracted by movement in the woods. A pack of about twelve wolves were just inside the tree line, watching me intently. I could see that the alpha male was holding something in its mouth but I couldn’t quite make out what it was through the brush and foliage. The leader dropped its head toward me in acknowledgment, and I returned the gesture. As the pack turned to leave I was able to see what the alpha male was carrying in his mouth. A single red rose. Interesting, I wonder what it means. More than likely nothing, perhaps he just liked the flavor of the flower.

I peered around the trunk of the massive tree and seen firelights illuminating from the huts in the village. I moved quickly toward the closest hut that I could without being seen. I snuck around the south part of the abode to see into the streets. A few villagers walked from shack to shack, conversing with each other over this year’s harvest and the failed equipment used to plant the next season’s crop. I sized each of the five people up and decided that none of them would satisfy the hunger. All of them together? Perhaps so, but that would raise a huge alarm. And with me being this close to the Piamrev Bectish and Vontae Whiteraven still nearly three months before he carries out his orders, I do not want to be causing that kind of a scene. I snuck behind a shack quite a ways down. I opened up my senses to try to gauge if any were coming toward me. I leaned my head around the corner and seen a young woman of about eighteen sitting in between the two houses with her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She was singing an enchanting melody about Nymphs and flowers. I almost felt sorry for what was to come to her. But just then my vision wavered and my knees nearly buckled. I kept myself from falling by latching on to the side of the house on my right. Startled, the girl abruptly stopped singing her song and watched as I fell to the ground blacking out.

I was awakened some several hours later by the girl sitting next to me on a bed dabbing my forehead with a warm damp cloth. I looked at my surroundings to try to gather my wits about me. I seen a small round room crudely decorated with runes drawn all over the walls. To one side was a small fire burning with a kettle simmering over it. The only other thing that I saw was a small table with only one chair. I flopped back down on the bed as my vision began to waiver again. A quiet, beautiful voice spoke, “You should stay lying down. You’re as cold as ice, and I can’t seem to warm you up.” I reached down inside me again to access my power. With a rush of energy I sat straight up and said, “Thank you for taking care of me. But there is something you need to know.” She was as beautiful as her voice made her seem. Her eyes as green as the grass, and her brown hair waved like the ocean. She remained seated on the bed where she was. She slowly blinked her bright green eyes and said, “Tell me whatever it is you need to say.” I stood up from the bed and walked over to the fire and instinctively placed my hands over it to warm them. Realizing that my attempts were utterly hopeless I let my arms hang down at their sides. Continuing to watch the flames I said, “My name is Aerol Reign, and I am the crowned prince of Reign’s Reach.” I turned to look my caretaker in the eyes, “But that’s not the half of it. There is a reason why I won’t warm up. Why I can’t warm up.” She shifted on the bed and looked quite uncomfortable, almost anticipating what I was going to say. However she remained silent. I lowered my head and said, “The only reason why I am standing right now is because I am drawing on reserve energy so to speak. It comes from years of training to become a Druid.” I turned and walked toward the table and sat down in the small chair and said, “But there is even more still. I…” I struggled to find the courage to say it. What if she raised the alarm? I don’t have the strength to fight an entire village. “I’m a Vampire.” I said very quietly.

My rescuer remained motionless on the bed. Then she spoke softly, “I know Master Reign. I saw your bite marks when I was trying to warm you up.” She crossed her arms and cleared her throat. “We are fine Master Reign, so long as you do not attempt to bite me.” She never withdrew her gaze from me and said, “Besides, your curse does not make you who you are. You make the curse what you want it to be.” I hung my head not in shame, but because my reserved energy was becoming thin. I looked at her without lifting my head and said, “I give you my word as a Prince that I will purposefully never cause harm to you. But if I don’t get some blood soon, I don’t know that I’ll be able to control the urge.” She stood up from the bed and walked toward me. She grabbed me underneath my right arm and helped me to my feet, guiding me back to the bed. Laying me back down she asked, “Do you require only human’s blood Master Reign, or can you scrape by on the blood of an animal for now?” She leaned in closer, and I could smell her alluring scent as she did. “Because I don’t have the heart,” she said, “to take another person’s life.” Turning my head away to try to fight my cravings, I said, “The blood of a deer would work just fine. But you’d better hurry, because I’m only going to be able to fight this off for so long.”

With that she stood up and ran out the door. As the minutes passed, my mind began to wander. I wonder how Dante is doing. Is he having as much trouble feeding as I am? After all, he is alone now. Did my Mother and Father put up a fight before they were murdered? Did they die honorably? I wonder why so many different kinds of meat tastes like chicken. My garbled ramblings went on for nearly and hour before the door burst open. My new friend came through carrying a small, near deceased fawn. She laid it on the floor and then dragged me to the floor. As soon as I smelled the blood coming from the wound I drew back my head to reveal my fangs and sank them in to the main artery of the baby doe. Within seconds my veins filled themselves with fire from the blood of the young deer. I stood to full height and drew in a long, deep breath. I looked at my provider and said, “Thank you…uh…I don’t even know your name.” She grabbed a hold of each side of her dress and curtsied, “My name is Cirania Torani, at your service.” I returned the gesture by bowing to her and said, “My lady, I am the one that should be serving you. You have already provided a service to me this evening.” Cirania turned away, blushing. “You flatter me Master Reign, I…” I interrupted her and walked over and grabbed her right hand. “Please, call me Aerol. I am Master of nothing.” I kissed her softly on the hand. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she pulled her hand out of mine and moved away toward the fire place. “Is there any place you can go for the day?” She asked. I shook my head, “No, there is none nearby. And the sun is about to come over the Ohmanry Mountains.” I said. “Do not worry, I will find somewhere. Thank you so much Cirania Torani for your kindness and hospitality.” I turned and walked toward the door. As I went to open the door, she said, “Wait, Aerol.” I stopped and faced her. “You may stay here until sundown.” She said softly. “But after that, I wish for you to leave from here.” I made my way to her and placed one hand on her left shoulder and said, “Thank you my friend. I accept your offer.”

As my most feared enemy came up over the horizon, I looked out the window one last time before I pulled closed the shade. Goodness how I do miss the sunrise. I bid my hostess a good day and made my way to my slumber. As the day passed on, deep within my sleep I dreamt. For the first time in my life I dreamt. Flying high over the top of the Ohmanry Mountains I seen the three headed dragon again. Upon the dragon I had seen a rider, a female rider. Her face was blurry, always blurry. I could hear that she was crying. I could make out what the three heads of the dragon were. A goat, a lion, and a dragon made up the three. The rider turned her mount back toward the east, toward Ohmanry Glen. The female let out a cry directed to the heavens. The howl made me clutch at my ears in pain. Whoever this was, she was in distress. And I knew I could do nothing to help her. The rider spurned her mutant dragon toward the middle of Ohmanry Glen. She moved with great speed. She increased that speed with every flap of the dragon’s powerful wings. The flying pair came up over the highest peak of the mountains and aimed at Ohmanry Star. From a league away the female rider let out another howl, this time it represented pain. Ohmanry Star was gone. It had been wiped completely from the face of Allukra. Nothing remained of what was the capitol city of Ohmanry Glen. The rider and her mount flew even faster now. Landing only a few hundred feet away from where the city had been. The female jumped down from her steed and raced toward the barren wasteland that had been a city just moments ago. From the tree line the female seen a group of twelve wolves emerge, the Alpha male nodded toward the human. The other eleven was dragging two bodies in to the sunlight. The Alpha male walked up to the weeping human and dropped a single red rose at her feet. The female knelt down to pick up the offering. She looked the dominant wolf in the eyes, and with his mind he said “I am sorry for your loss. But this was necessary.” With that he bowed again and he and his pack ran off toward the tree line again. The rider approached the two bodies. She seen them stir and then seen their faces, one man and one woman. The man she did not recognize, but judging from his clothing he was a member of the Piamrev Bectish. The woman was her mother.

BOOM! A deafening crash woke me straight up from my deep sleep. I jumped up from bed and had Sableleaf ready and in hand by the time I hit the ground. I ran to the door and flung it open. I began to run at a dead sprint before I was attacked by my worst enemy, the sun. My skin began to light itself on fire. I scrambled as quickly as I could back inside the safety of my temporary home. Once inside, I slammed the door shut and focused on my body healing itself. The door once again flung open and Cirania raced in shut the door behind her. Breathing rapidly, she bent over and placed her hands on her knees. She slowed her breathing and stood up and said, “Aerol, Ohmanry Star. It’s gone. The mountains. They’re gone. I had never dreamt before.

Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins

Standing on the highest peak of Ohmanry Glen, I stare off over the many leagues in to the heart of Orcshire. My adrenaline surges, and my blood burns with rage. Upon the mountainous land the wind rushes, whipping my new green colored trench coat behind me. My sense of smell is overwhelmed with the stench of the vile race known only as Orc. My name is Aerol Reign, and my mission in life is eliminating them. Three weeks ago a band of about one hundred Orc slaughtered my family, and my friends. I am now alone. The sole survivor of the Reign legacy. Now I perch myself upon the pinnacle on the land of Allukra. The highest mountain range in the western part of the land. Ohmanry Glen rumored to be the homeland of my newly discovered half sister, Catbriar. I decided that since I was here I would try to find her. I could try to smell for her and find her that way. But I've never met her. I have no idea what she would smell like. So I have to do this the old fashion way. Hunting.
I make my way down from the rocky peaks to the rough valleys below. Once I reached the bottom floor I looked up and was unable to see the moonlight. The mountains stood so high that it blocked out the gift of the night. Just as I was about to pull my gaze away from the stars I thought I had seen a large creature, resembling a dragon with three heads flying high above the mountain tops. After taking a second glance I realized I was probably just imagining things. Perhaps I needed to feed, but I couldn't be sure. I took off toward the south in a swift jog. Occasionally looking up toward the sky to see if I could locate the large flying creature. My greatest enemy, the sun had just gone to sleep a little more than an hour ago. The night was still young, and perhaps I was a little bit hungry. I picked up the pace a bit so as to make good time in getting to the capitol of this land, Ohmanry Star. After running for only a few minutes I slowed to a normal walk as I could see the firelights of Ohmanry Star. Surely someone in there has heard of the name Catbriar before. I sheathed Sableleaf so as to not draw any unwanted attention to myself. Walking into the city I heard music coming from the south part of the city. The buildings were among some of the most impressive I've ever seen in a village. The stores were actually built from stone like a castle instead of wood. The stores' rooftops were made from wooden planks instead of the typical thatched roof. The homes were made from stone as well. The difference in the houses and stores was the color of the stone, black for the commerce buildings, and white for the individual homes. The masons who built these took great lengths to perfect their craft. The shutters on the windows of the stores were closed shut, signaling the end of the business day. But it seemed to me as though the day had truly just begun.
A half of a mile into the city I came upon a large group of about thirty five people making music, singing and laughing. They were having a celebration of some sorts. Men dressed similar to pirates, with earring hoops in each ear. A white ruffled collar shirt accented with gold embroidered trim and buttons. I approached a scruffy looking man wearing a black captain’s hat operating a portable mead trolley. “Excuse me sir,” I said. “I am new to these parts and am looking for an old friend. I was wondering if you might help me.” Skeptical, the man looked at me and gave me a sneer from the left corner of his mouth and said, “Then sir, you have most certainly never been to Ohmanry Glen before. Because our only friends are right here in this place, we never leave our country. Never.” I tried to backpedal and repair my mistake by fumbling over a few sounds. But it was too late; he already nailed me as untrustworthy. “You know sir,” he said quietly and leaning in closer, “we gypsies don’t take too kindly to those that try to mislead us.” I tried to apologize, as hopeless as it was. Then he screamed, “Piamrev Bectish!” the music stopped immediately, “He’s a member of the Bectish!” Quicker than I could react my hands were bound by invisible rope to my sides. I had become their prisoner, and I never even killed anyone. I attempted to explain my case, I opened my mouth to speak and with a loud thud everything went black.
My eyes creaked open to a bright light. I looked up to find my arms over my head being restrained by the invisible ropes once more. My head dropped to discover that my jacket, shirt and boots had been removed. From beyond the bright light I heard a male’s voice. Not the same one that I had previously spoken with though. This voice was much deeper and had gravel to it that the one before didn’t. “Are you a spy?” He said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said, noticing how weak I was and how badly I needed to feed. “I told you before, I’m looking for a….” “Yes! We know what you said” the voice scolded. “None from the Glen have friends on the outside of our ranges. Now,” he said, “try telling us the truth. Are you a spy for the Piamrev Bectish?” I allowed my head to drop once more, trying to go through my memories of who the Piamrev Bectish was. I know I’ve heard the name, I can’t think. My mind is befuddled. I need to feed, and soon. “Are you using magic on my head?” I asked, stumbling through the words. “I can’t seem to make much of a coherent thought.” The voice spoke again, this time more calmly. “No Vampire, we are not using magic on your head. You need to feed, which is why you are bound by magic. We will hold you here until Lady Athah can come and discover the truth for herself.” This could wind up being one of the longest nights of my life.
“…up! Wake up you spy!” I barely heard a female voice say. “You need to be alert,” she said, “when Lady Athah arrives. And she is nearly here.” I raised my head and noticed that the bright lights had been extinguished. The flap to the captives’ tent flung back to the side and a strikingly small woman burst through the tent wearing a black mage’s robe adorned with runes embroidered in gold. Her eyes bore through right to my soul the instant she walked into the tent. “So, you are the Vampire that has managed to weasel your way into being a member of the Piamrev Bectish.” She said with a gentle tone. “I never thought I would live to see the day when they would accept one of your kind as their own.” My head began to lower toward the floor. A surge of lightning was sent coursing through my body, sending me into convulsions. As the power decreased, my entire being sunk to the ground nearly tearing my arms from their sockets. “That is your only warning spy.” She said in the same calm demeanor. “Next time I will send lightning through your body that will put you in torpor.” I vaguely remembered my sire, Dante Vizjeri speaking of torpor. “It is what happens my son,” Dante said, “when a Vampire is running very low on blood and needs to feed, but can’t. It is a very deep sleep that you will not awaken from until someone gives you blood.” That was a place that I didn’t want to go. So I dug deep within me to find what my Master had taught me of the Druid magics. I found the hidden pool of power and released it into every fiber of my being. I was going to pay for this one later. I stood up straight as though I was tied to a tree, and lifted my head to meet my interrogator in the face. “No!” I said, “I am not a spy for the Bectish. They are my enemy as much as they are yours.” Speaking with more power in my voice I said, “My name is Aerol Reign. Crowned prince and heir to the throne of Reign’s Reach. I assure you, I am here looking for someone.”
“Well,” the woman said, finding a spot to sit on the ground just out of reach of my feet, “you have most certainly found someone. Whether it was the person you were looking for doesn’t matter.” She folded her hands inside of her robe and glared into my eyes directly to my soul again and said “I am wondering where you found your reserve strength Vampire. You should be near torpor by now. But here you stand in all your proud glory right in front of me.” She never broke her gaze from me, as if trying to put me under a warlock’s curse and spoke again almost in a whisper, “There are some men here that wish to speak with you. They arrived in our town two days before you did. I had to put on a show for them so they wouldn’t kill us all and kidnap my daughter Catbriar.” “CATBRIAR!?!?” I yelled loudly. “Shhh,” said Lady Athah slamming the index finger on her right hand to her lips, “they’ll hear you, and then the cat will be let out of the bag.” I lowered my head and my voice and leaned in as close as I could and said in a whisper, “Catbriar is your daughter?” she nodded in acknowledgment, “she is the one I’m looking for. She’s my…” I decided to let the next word just hang out in space as I realized that Lady Athah didn’t recognize the last name Reign. This wasn’t her biological mother. “She’s my friend from many, many years ago.” I said, “We were childhood friends ever so briefly, before she wandered out into the woods never to return.” Athah never altered her features. She must have known that this was an extreme possibility. Blinking very slowly she said, “My daughter is not of importance right now. What is important is you surviving what is about to happen.” She stood up and removed her black cloak to the ground, and took two steps toward me. Leaning her head to her left she said, “Drink, you’re going to need your strength.” She moved the soft, sweet smelling flesh of her exposed neck close enough toward me to touch my mouth. I part my lips slightly, and slide my tongue between them to taste her blood beneath the skin. I opened my mouth to reveal my fangs, “No.” I said, turning away from Lady Athah’s offer. “Put your clothes back on. I have an idea.”
Lady Athah held the flap on the tent back as three men of medium build walked in. They all stood shoulder to shoulder wearing blood red tunics with a large bright yellow sun over their hearts. The man in the middle snapped his fingers toward Lady Athah. With looks that could kill she exited the tent and closed the flap. I could hear her walk about thirty paces away and then stop. Looking at my now slouched, weak and weary body, and my arms that were about to be pulled from their sockets. The man on the right spoke in a high pitched nasally voice. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Aerol Reign, crowned prince of Reign’s Reach?” He laughed higher pitched than he spoke. “A Vampire of all things, you will be useful to the all powerful Piamrev Bectish.” The man in the middle, the one obviously in charge, snapped his fingers again and the third man produced a green tipped arrow and handed it to the leader. The captain stepped near me and got down on one knee. Leaning in closer he said quietly, “Do you know what this is Prince? This is a poisoned tipped arrow.” He rotated the arrow in his fingers. “But it’s not just any poison. This poison is straight from the blood of an emerald Dragon. Fascinating stuff that Dragon’s blood, it has many, many uses.” He continued, “Each color of Dragon has different properties in their blood. The emerald Dragon, we have discovered give us the ability to control peoples’ minds.” He grabbed the poisonous weapon like a dagger and stood up. “And what is going to happen is simply this. I am going to stab you at the base of the spine so the poison can attack your entire body. More specifically, the brain.” He walked around to the back of me. “Then you, the crowned prince of Reign’s Reach is going to journey to the City of the Kings and kill the Vampire King. Got all that?” I attempted to raise my head and speak at the same time. Incoherent babble was all that I could muster, and my head collapsed again. “What was that you’re royal highness?” Said the high pitched voice, laughing again. With the speed of a hundred horses, I jumped from a knelt position on to the man with the girly voice and sank my fangs deep inside of his flesh. Within a split second I drained the Bectish ambassador. I spun around toward the captain and flashed a grin. “I said, my arms aren’t really being restrained.” Horrified, the leader charged me with the arrow cocked back ready to stab me. I kicked the third man in the ribs so hard that I heard four of them crack. He fell to the ground clutching at his sides. In an instant, the one in charge was within six inches of me, bringing the poisoned tip aimed at the base of my spine. Quickly thinking back to my years of training with my Master, Dante Vizjeri I yelled, “MIST!” And the man’s arrow swung all the way around, stabbing himself right in the stomach. A green swirl of mist floated around the floor of the captives’ tent, making its way toward the fallen man with the broken ribs. The mist began to enter into the man through his open mouth and nostrils. Once the mist had completely disappeared from view, another shout was heard. “AEROL!” The man lying on the ground exploded like a watermelon with a shot of cannon power inside. Blood and body parts flew all around the tent covering everything including the walls and the leader. Who was now lying on his back gripping at the protrusion from his midsection. And there stood in the place of the most recently deceased, also covered in blood was Aerol Reign. I walked over to the last remaining ambassador and sat down beside him crossing my legs.
The flap on the tent flew back again. I spun my head around and seen Lady Athah gagging at the site of the gore that I had just caused. She tossed a small dull bronze ring in my direction and ran away from the tent heading south. I caught the ring, and slipped it on my small finger. I could feel its power resonating from my body. Healing all of my wounds and relieving me of the pain from my arms. This will certainly come in handy. I’m glad she recommended doing this. I was just going to kill them. I took the ring off and held it in my left hand. With my right hand I grabbed the arrow sticking from the dying man’s stomach and jabbed it further in. “Now how about you let me ask some questions?” I said in a sharp tone. “Let’s see if your theory is right. Do I really need to stab you at the base of your spine?” I asked. “Or will your placement suffice? But, first things first, what is your name?” I waited for a short moment. All the man did was moan. Grabbing his hand, I slipped the ring on his little finger for just a few seconds. “Now,” I said, “what is your name?” The man clutched at my wrists, trying to pry them from the still embedded arrow. “My…my name is Whiteraven, Vontae Whiteraven.” Hmm, either he is finally being polite or the penetration doesn’t have to happen at the spine. With laughter in my voice I said, “Kindly remove your hands from my wrists Vontae and start clapping your hands.” He did as he was told immediately and without question. A large smile crossed my face, “Now whistle like an owl.” Again the order was followed without argument. This is going to work. I can’t believe it’s actually going to work. “Stop clapping and whistling, who do you take orders from?” I said matter of factually. He let out a low groan, trying to resist the control that I now had over him. Finally giving in to the inevitable, he said “Eldon Crisp the Elder. King of Wellspring Island and secret leader of the Piamrev Bectish.” My thoughts began to race as to how I could spin this for the greater good of the world. How should I make this man do my bidding? Should I have him kill Crisp the Elder? Or perhaps I should have him be a spy for the Lady Athah. I could even order him to follow me on my own personal quest to eliminate the Orc from this world. Would I send him in to the walls of the palace in Piamrev Bectish and set flame to all of the cannon powder? Or maybe I could have him...Yes! That is what I’ll do! “Do you have another of these neat little arrows on or near you at the present time?” I asked. He tried to sit up to rest on his elbows, but the pain was too much. He replied, “Yes, I have one more. Just incase you were able to resist the poison the first time you were stabbed.” I laughed inside so hard that I nearly sent my chest heaving.
“Now pay attention Vontae Whiteraven. This is what you are going to do. You are going to stay in Ohmanry Star for three months time.” I said. “In those three months you are going to serve the Lady Athah. You will do her bidding without question.” I spoke now with more conviction. “When those three months are up, you are going to take your last poisonous arrow to wherever Eldon Crisp the Eldest is.” Excitement began to well up inside me as my plan began to unfold. For I knew that Vontae would follow these orders without question. “Then you are going to stab Eldon the Eldest with the arrow and demand him to convince his son to take control of the Piamrev Bectish.” I continued, almost as giddy as a child with a piece of rhubarb candy. “Afterwards, you are going to go to the armory on the palace grounds and, without being seen destroy every poisonous arrow.” I said with a smile on my face. “You will then leave the Piamrev Bectish and attempt to restore your name to your family by helping those who need it.” My smile turned into a thin lipped expression as I said, “You will go to every town that is controlled or occupied by the Bectish and offer your services whatever they may be to those that require assistance. Charging only two meals a day and occasionally some new clothes when you need them.” Slowly pulling the arrow from his abdomen I continued, “Once you are done with that, you will return to your homeland where you will beg for forgiveness from your King. If you are put to death for your crimes, so be it.” The arrow nearly removed, I slid the bronze ring on his little finger again. “If you are forgiven, then you will continue to serve your King as he sees fit. And you shall never return to the Piamrev Bectish again, understood?” Nearly healed completely he nodded his head, stood up and removed the ring and handed it back to me.
The two of us exited to tent and found two wash bowls and cloths to clean up with. Relieved, I also found my clothes and my weapons lying on the ground next to the wash bowls. After cleaning up, Lady Athah approached from the south looking a bit discolored. I relayed to her what Vontae Whiteraven’s orders were. She agreed, satisfied with the outcome of the situation and immediately put him to work cleaning up the captives’ tent and disposing the body of his companion. Lady Athah looked at me with knowing eyes and said, “You were asking about Catbriar.” I nodded. “Well,” she said, “she isn’t with us anymore unfortunately. She went on an excursion with her friends some two weeks ago and has never returned. So when you arrived, perhaps you’ll forgive the way we reacted?” I folded my arms and looked down at the Lady of the Star. “Yes my Lady, all is forgiven. But I would require your help if I am to find her.” She looked down at the blood stained earth, and a single tear ran down her cheek. She reached up to wipe it off, but thought better of it. “I will do anything it takes to get my daughter back,” she said, “You name it, and it will be at your disposal.” I let my arms fall to their sides. Excited at the chance of finally getting to meet my sister, if I could find her. “All I require is an article of her wardrobe. That way I can track her by scent.” Lady Athah nodded and ran off toward the largest house in Ohmanry Star with me in tow.
A day later I stood back on top of the highest peak in the western country. My body aimed straight toward Orcshire. She’s not dead. But she’s in Orcshire. And if I don’t find her soon, she will be. Let the hunt begin!