The man got out of the cart, limping. Bastian looked all around, still wary, even if they were far away from the castle and village. No one should see them, not under the shade of the trees.

He had directed the cart away from the road, towards the edge of the woods, crossing a field. It was the perfect place for a fugitive to hide in, both knew it. He stopped glaring cautiously at the distance when he heard the rebel speak at last.

“I have no way to thank you enough.”

Bastian sighed tiredly, averting his gaze.

“Just say thanks and that’s it.”

Those icy eyes narrowed, giving him a strange look. He did not know how to feel when the next words were let out, far too reflexive and definite.

“This act will not be in vain, I’ll make sure of it.” He looked into the shadows of the forest, but then glanced back subtly at him, saying his farewells. “Be careful on the way back.”

He frowned, seeing him limp away into the woods, soon hiding in the darkness brought by the sunset. If his eye did not fool him, he could swear he caught a glimpse of a derisive smile…

He pushed those thoughts away, sure that he was just paranoid, far too alert and wary of everything. What he was doing was dangerous, and he was surely overthinking due to the risks involved.

Bastian sighed, unable to see the man anymore. He hit the reins softly, directing his mare towards the road, intending on reaching the village. He kept quiet all the way there, barely saying a word to the townsfolk while he unloaded the supplies they requested. Once he did what he had to do, he jumped again onto the cart, making haste towards the castle.

He wanted to return as soon as possible, for something felt off. What he had done was something to be commended, yet he did not feel satisfied. It was not his paranoia what was bothering him, but that, he could not know or imagine.

At last, he saw the castle, and then the gates. He arrived at dusk. As the courtyard came to view, he felt relief for a moment, thinking he was out of trouble. That thought did not last for long. He quickly noticed that there was a commotion, caused by a small crowd of vampires. They were not there only because the moon would soon rise… The empty cage had taken their attention.

He invoked the most impassive expression he had ever displayed, trying to contain his dread as he crossed the gates. Idris was screaming at his men and at a few of her guards, demanding.

“Gone! Don’t you keep watch during the day?! It was a simple slave! Only the most stupid of fledglings would fail to control such a weakling! Did the sun blind you or what?!”

Bastian hit the reins again, pleading his mare to move faster towards the stables, but without running. He could see how his underlings were searching around. A few were intruding into the quarters, making a mess and bothering the servants with daunting questions, trying to figure out how the prisoner had escaped.

He passed by some vampires, not missing how they gave him a sharp look. Their eyes watched him carefully, even as he stopped the cart by the stables. He decided to move as calmly as he could, jumping off slowly to the ground.

His best bet was to pretend that he had no idea what was happening and to not care about it. He untied his mare and then led her back to her stall, planning to get away as soon as possible. Sadly, Idris had other plans, since the very beginning.

Bastian shivered when he came out of the stables. He heard slow footsteps and felt many eyes glare at the back of his neck. His heart skipped a beat when Idris commanded his men sternly.

“Check that cart.”

It was fine. The man was no longer hidden there. He had just delivered some materials, his venture outside could be excused. They could not blame him, and if they did, Nerys would vouch for him. There was no way they could prove he was the culprit.

That was what he kept repeating in his mind while the vampires approached. He stayed calm, even if she was not around. They had noticed the open cage not too long ago, just as he returned. He took deep breaths and stepped away from the cart when they commanded him to do so, in order to inspect it. Still, they did not let him leave either, eyeing him suspiciously.

Idris smiled, because he sensed his fast heartbeat and sweat. He wished to lash out and accuse him already, but he waited instead. His men were searching between the crates and hay, and soon enough…

“Sire!”

Bastian paled and froze, shocked and horrified. One of the vampires raised a claw out of the hay, holding a shackle. It was the one the prisoner had worn. As panic struck his mind, he recalled that it was not around his wrist when he got off the cart near the woods.

He trembled, feeling all those sharp eyes glare at him maliciously. When they began to close in on him, he took a blind step back. He soon was surrounded, with no way out.

Idris was smiling with glee, for his human accomplice had kept his word. He looked into that grey eye, leaning his head with a condescending expression, feral.

“I think we found our thief, a little rat who could not keep itself away from my belongings.” He suddenly stopped smirking, saying simple words. “Let’s kill him.”

The guards nearby gasped, fast to dash forward once they realized what was happening. Sadly, Idris had planned this beforehand, knowing they would try to stop him and his men. Two of his underlings got in the way of her soldiers, letting out words that made them halt.

“He’s ours now”

In a split second, her brethren exchanged fretful glances, hearing a startled heave. They could do nothing as two vampires grabbed Bastian. By law, any human that was caught helping another flee was for the clan to punish.

An argument sparked instantly. Some guards appealed for his release, one of them bolting away in hopes of alerting Nerys. At the same time, Bastian struggled, yelling with anger as they forced him down to his knees.

“Let me go! I- I did nothing!”

Idris did not waste time in trivial monologue. He promptly stole a dagger from one of his officials, with a bloodthirsty look in his eyes. He said nothing while he approached his target, knowing his rights.

There would be no repercussions if he ended him right now. That chain they found in the cart was incriminating enough, and the law could be invoked. A human that betrayed a clan in any way… was a dead human. No question, no trial.

Everything had escalated far too quickly for Bastian. He had just wanted to do some chores that very morning, but he had somehow gotten involved in a getaway. He just came back from the village, and now there was a dagger on his neck.

The vampires smiled, but none as much as Idris. He enjoyed seeing him struggle in their grasp, unable to move away. He could do nothing but close his eyes as the blade began to pressure, cutting slightly.

“Idris!”

There was no time for any of them to react to the raging yell. In a second, they were all pushed off strongly and furiously. The dagger fell down to the ground as Idris stumbled back, shoved away by Nerys, who showed her fangs in a silent hiss.

Bastian breathed out, freed from their hold and the imminent slice. The vampires regained their balance quickly, however. Idris seemed to curse under his breath, but then stood tall and poised. Nerys was panting after her fast run, standing in between. She managed to make them all step away with a mere glare, intense and hateful. Her demand came quickly, with a growl and twitch of claw.

“Explain yourself, Idris, right now.”

She had heard the yelling, and as soon as she got out into the courtyard, she saw this. The soldier that ran to find her did not even need to get inside. She expected them to have disregarded her warnings of how Bastian was off-limits, wishing to have blood again… so she was rightfully surprised when Idris pointed at an empty cage, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

“Something of my property seems to be missing… But we have caught the filthy thief.”

Nerys glanced back and forth, baffled. She gave Bastian a look that asked what was happening and why he was the centre of the commotion. At first, she believed the accusation to be false, but then she saw his gaze. By now, she could read that grey eye like a book, and she knew instantly that he had indeed done something.

Bastian did not bother to stand or look up, in order to keep his guilty expression hidden while Nerys advocated for his untruthful innocence.

“You can’t prove his involvement. Perhaps he was outside fulfilling some tasks, but that does not mean he was the one. That slave of yours could be anywhere right now; he could have fled out the gates all on his own.”

Idris looked up to the sky with a smile, leaning slightly with a claw on his hip, sighing. Nerys snarled when he pointed a nail to the shackle one of his men held, displaying it scornfully.

“Oh, Nerys, I DO have ways in which to prove he is a repulsive traitor.” His sharp eyes moved subtly, piercing them both with a sick smirk. “Furthermore, I must remind you that you have no right to intercede so rudely, not when justice is being served. Step aside and let me establish some order, for you fail to keep it. This maggot’s life belongs to us now, as the law dictates. Our prisoner is gone, and a human that dares betray our rule is of no worth to you.”

Idris crouched and retrieved the dagger from the ground. He stood and got closer to Nerys, glaring at her, face to face. It was a stare she returned with hate, outraged by his next vile words.

“Move, young one.” Bastian gulped when those dusky eyes fixated on him intensely, looking past her. “I’ll end this quickly.”

Nerys did not step aside; she did not move at all in fact, still as a statue. Her expression was cold and unreadable, reflexive. Idris opened his mouth to complain, to remind her that she could not stop this and save the human. To his surprise, she spoke first.

“I’ll do it.”

Bastian blinked, baffled by her firm stance and resolute tone.

“What?”

Nerys stole the dagger from Idris, who was as surprised as Bastian.

“I’ll be the one to kill this human, no one else will.” She turned to face him, darkly. “I am his superior, and he has dared disrespect our sovereignty under my rule. He is mine to judge.”

Bastian stared up at her, mouth agape, bewildered by her stern words. It took him a few seconds to react.

“Nerys?!” She kept an impassive expression while he did what she expected: yell in baffled anger. “What the hell are you saying?! I may not want to end up killed by these beasts, but getting dispatched by you is not something I appreciate! How can you, after all that-?!”

He flinched and shut up, because she suddenly leaned very close and met his eyes intently, whispering and dragging her words with an exasperated tone.

“Roll with it, idiot!” She saw that everyone was confused by her strange move, so she stood tall and yelled again, overdramatically. “Your head will roll, I say! Roll on the ground, after I slice it off your shoulders, personally!”

Bastian still did not seem to get it. Nerys wanted to facepalm, because he just stared in disbelief. He only got it when she leaned subtly again, opened her eyes a lot more, and bit her lips with a small growl. Her two crossed nails did the trick, finally sparking his understanding.

“Oh!” That exclamation did not sound horrified, but gladly surprised, so he quickly coughed and tried to fake dismay. “Oh no.”

Nerys gave Bastian the most exasperated glare she could manage without dropping her furious act. His faked horror was very far from believable, but the fools around them seemed to fall for it. When she waved the dagger near him and kept yelling what she would supposedly do, he promptly threw his hands together and shook his head to try to look scared, even if he was anything but.

“I’ll drag your body and maul it until there’s no blood left! And then I will rip you to pieces and scatter them in the dungeons, to let vermin dispose of it all!”

He feigned a perturbed posture and pointed an arm at the northern wing of the castle, subtly, putting some emphasis in some words.

“No, not the dungeons, Nerys! I can’t bear the thought of crows lurking and pecking without hindrance! If you are going to take me out, at least give me solace in knowing there won’t be any scavenging!”

Idris did not know how to react while the two began to exchange glares.

“Your worry is pointless, because death will relieve you of all woes and burdens!”

“But-!“

Bastian couldn’t keep inferring what would be of Nadiya and him, because one of Nerys’ claws snatched the back of his neckline. He yelped slightly as she lifted him off the ground, very easily. Her green eyes looked deeply into his, leaning him close and screaming carefully.

“Now, for your insolent interjection, I will make your last moments torturous! No one should see the horrors you’ll suffer… so you shall take your last breath in my chambers! Only your lifeless corpse will leave them!”

Once she was done voicing her ultimatum, she bolted for the interior of the castle, dragging him behind her. He dangled from her claw like a ragdoll, letting his limbs brush the ground, without displaying any trace of resistance or care. He only began to feign some kind of fear when she raised her other claw and proclaimed for the baffled crowd they were leaving behind.

“Don’t bother screaming! It’s useless to beg for your life! There are many reasons for you to do so, but it WON’T make a difference!”

Bastian was a tactician, but that did not mean he was skilled in deception and direct trickery.

“Oh god, have mercy…!”

Her brethren exchanged rises of eyebrow, as baffled as the other clan. Idris stood there with a confused grimace, not quite knowing if she was serious or bluffing, having seen them act foolishly for many days. He would wait and see, for he could not oppose her proclaimed method of justice as long as it ended in death.

Inside, Nerys kept dragging Bastian along, striding through the corridors. Every time a guard stopped patrolling to stare at them in bafflement, he would just shrug with a sigh. He only faked distress if they crossed some of Idris’ men, proceeding to give her arm some weak punches. As soon as they were out of sight, however, he could go limp again with a frustrated snarl.

They soon reached her chambers. He winced a little when she opened the main door with a strong kick, causing a slam loud enough to reach the upper floor. She dropped him unceremoniously onto one chair and then proceeded to shut the door as noisily.

Both stared at each other silently, for a long tense minute. She had her arms crossed, and she was obviously judging his actions with her stern gaze. He was the one to break the awkward silence, with a somewhat guilty nervous whisper.

“Now what?”

She let out a loud sigh, extremely tired. Still, she walked towards a cabinet, rummaging through it to find something.

“Now we have to make them believe you are really dead. I will have to show off your corpse.” He leaned his head curiously, because she approached with something in her claw. “See this flask? Its contents will do the trick. This substance will slow your heartbeat and breathing so much that even vampires will be fooled.”

He gave her a raise of eyebrow, perplexed and wary of the concoction.

“Do I bother asking why you have such a thing?”

“Dammit, I have it for idiots like you, who need to vanish after messing with the wrong vampire! Do you really think I haven’t dealt with these stupid laws before? I have learnt to circumvent them as much as possible!”

Her words did not surprise him, because as much as she wanted to appear rough and stern, she could not avoid but be softhearted. He sighed and raised a hand, reaching for the flask.

“Fine, let’s get this over with. Give me the-“

She swatted at him gently when he tried to grab the substance from her claw. He grouched while she scolded him, pointing at him with a nail.

“You are not drinking it yet! Its effects only last for a couple of hours and I still need to make you look mauled and beaten! You don’t even know how I will bail you out of this mess, which you shouldn’t have even gotten yourself into!”

He sassed her, not liking her reproving tone.

“Oh, so you WILL maul me?”

“Sometimes you make me consider it, Bastian.” She shook her head, focusing on what needed to be done. “There won’t be any mangling, but I will bite you slightly. You can handle that. They need to see you very bloodied, so I will spread the blood that pours from your neck, and mix it with some I have saved in my room. Hopefully, the scents will combine and make it seem like you bled a lot. As well, you need to appear battered. And before you say anything, no, I won’t hit you in any way or form, so shut it.”

He did as told and closed his mouth, watching silently as she headed for a dresser. What she took out baffled him, for he did not expect it. She got close again, holding some creams and powders.

“You… have makeup?” She gave him a critical look, and he quickly reworded himself, speaking fast. “N-not that you can’t wear any! Of course, you can! I just never noticed, because you did not seem to care much about it and you are always-“

He shut up, knowing he was just digging himself a grave, for multiple reasons. She gladly ignored most of his nervous comments, admitting a little tiredly.

“Before changing, I did not wear any, and now I don’t use it much either… I simply hated how pale I looked in my first days as a vampire. If I still have some, it is for moments like this one.” She opened one of the containers, asking softly. “Hold still, I’m going to make you look dead.”

She got to work. He really did not enjoy having black and grey creams smeared onto his visible skin, but it was that or getting a real beating, so he kept quiet. While she painted some fake bruises expertly, she tried to explain her plan, as best as possible.

“Once I’m done, you’ll drink that flask. Don’t panic when you begin to feel dizzy and cold, it is normal. You will fall asleep. While you are out cold, I’ll drag you to the courtyard and proclaim your death, for all to see. With that bastard satisfied, I’ll take you to the dungeons and wait for you to wake there. I’ll explain further then, but to summarize… you will leave the castle.”

A faint trace of dread seemed to cross his gaze when he heard those last words.

“Leave? Fore-?

“No. Just for some days, until those fools go away. You won’t have to hide for more than a week, I promise. Don’t worry, not now.”

Nerys did as she said she would, and it only took her some minutes. Bastian frowned, looking at himself in a mirror. He was a real mess. It looked like his good eye had been punched, and his skin had many bruises. His clothes were stained with red all over, something that he found disgusting. She of course had bitten him, and the punctures were still bleeding faintly. She seemed satisfied, even if she disliked the situation as much as him. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and she let out a resigned sigh.

“Only one thing left to do.”

He looked at her, then at the flask. She was not handing it over.

“Shouldn’t I drink already?”

She shook her head, scoffing.

“They won’t believe I have inflicted those injuries if you don’t even yelp. I need you to scream, at least so that some in the castle hear it. Give me a real good shriek, pained and dismayed, if you can.”

He frowned, finding the request absurd. Still, he gave it a go.

“…Ah!”

“…”

“…”

He tried, but he failed miserably. His shout sounded more annoyed than scared.

“You would be the worst spy in history. You couldn’t fake if your life depended on it… which it does.”

“Nerys, maybe I devised many ruses for your campaigns, but I am not-“ He halted, seeing her raise a nail slowly, pointing it at him. “What are you doing?”

She stepped closer, giving him a firm intense stare.

“Scream for real… or I’ll make you.”

He called her bluff.

“Right, as if you would hurt or-“ Once more, he shut up, seeing her inch even closer. This time he noticed her faint grin and her small raise of eyebrow. Her stance was familiar, and he recognized that point of nail, even if it was no longer a finger. “No.”

She just nodded, towering slowly over him.

“Yes.”

That pose and expression… Lyssa displayed them often, when she wished to persuade him forcefully. It was something he dreaded, very much. He reacted accordingly, taking a step back.

“Don’t you dare… Lower your claw! Y-you don’t even know how she did it!”

As children, teens, and even young adults… Lyssa would not doubt to corner him and tickle him into submission if she so saw fit. It seemed that Nerys intended to follow her ways once more.

“I saw her attack you enough times to know how to make you crumble. Give me a good act, or I swear I will do it.”

He raised his hands in front of himself, cowering as she neared slowly, looming threateningly.

“No! Back off! I can’t j-just scream!” He tried to yell again to stop her, this time a little more anxiously, but it was still far from what she wanted to hear. “T-that has to be enough! You got your scream, so please, just- No! Dammit, Nerys! Let go! N-no!”

A few vampires in the nearest wing blinked, hearing the faint echo of screaming, short of breath.

“Ah-h! No, p-please, stop! Mercy! I can’t… b-breathe! No!”

Silence soon fell, and it lasted for a few minutes. Idris had been sitting by some arcs in the courtyard, waiting to see if she would do as she said. He really doubted she would kill him. He was pleasantly surprised when she stepped outside, dragging a figure behind her.

His dusky eyes glinted, seeing that it was his target what she hauled out. He was limp, and he took fast notice of the bite and cuts on his neck. The blood was all over him, and its scent was unmistakable. His skin was extremely pale, and it had many painful-looking bruises.

He would have suspected he was simply unconscious, if not for the fact that he did not move at all when she raised him up in the air with one claw. His chest was not rising and falling, and there was no heartbeat, not that he could sense.

Nerys did not lower Bastian as she snarled loudly, glaring holes through Idris, who contemplated her work with satisfaction.

“Here you have it, your damn justice. We both have lost a human… so we are even now, aren’t we?”

She wanted to insult and beat up the bastard, because she saw him tap his chin with a small smile. He ended up nodding contemptuously, turning sharply and leaving the courtyard smugly with some of his men.

Some of her brethren were nearby, and they all were looking at her in bafflement, thinking she had really killed him. It was something she disregarded, focusing on her thoughts instead. She stopped letting him hang from her claw and began to drag him away.

No one dared follow or question her while she headed for the dungeons, silently. She pushed the door open and only stopped dragging him once she closed it behind her. She held and carried him more gently, knowing that there was only another person that could see her, one that she trusted.

Her second in command knew her all too well, wise to her compassionate nature. She had seen before how she preferred to spare rather than kill, as long as it was possible. That was why she was waiting there, leaning calmly by a cell.

“Sire, you know you can get in a lot of trouble if this is discovered…”

Nerys sighed, eyeing Martha with a tired smile.

“That is why I trust you’ve done your part well, without my direct command.”

“Would I be here if I had not?” She stood off the wall pridefully, brushing her long curly hair. “I got to work as soon as I heard you yell the word torture, quite unconvincingly, I must say. His horse and two guards should be waiting out in the fields; he only has to get there.”

The taller vampire nodded, for no words would do justice to her gratitude. They said no more; one went deeper into the dungeon with the human in her arms, while the other went outside to make sure that no one asked troublesome questions.

———

All ever slowly, his mind began to wake. He could tell that he was lying against stone, which offered no warmth. Luckily, the coldness that had overwhelmed him after he drank from that flask was fading.

Nerys leaned her head to look sideways, feeling a small nudge. There was also a faint groan. She kept still while Bastian stirred awake at her side. His eyes opened slowly, hazily. Neither said a word for a while, seated side by side against the wall of the cell. He was aware now, but he was taking his time to speak, still dazed slightly.

“I really did not think I would wake in a cell again.”

She smiled tiredly, looking at the open door as well.

“This will be the last time.”

He sat up a little more comfortably against the stony wall, rubbing his side, which felt numb.

“So…” He examined the cell, noticing quickly that it was more decrepit than the one he was locked in. “How am I supposed to vanish from existence? There are no windows in here.”

She did not reply right away, and when she did, it was not to answer his question.

“Bastian, you have to promise that you’ll stop getting into trouble.”

He snarled with a sad smile, trying to justify his actions.

“Nerys, I was… I needed to do something. If I had not gotten-“

“You got yourself a death sentence.” He winced, because she stood and glared down at him, deadly serious. “Bastian, you may still hold sympathy for rebels, perhaps even feel like one yourself… But you must remember that I kill insurgents. That prisoner you helped could die under my claws the next time I head into battle. No matter what, there will be bloodshed. Things have changed, even if I wish they had not. With me, you can act like we’re equals, but don’t be fooled; you are now under vampiric rule, by your own choice. If you act out of line, you will end up dead. That is not a threat from my part, but a fact. Playing both sides is not an option, it has never been. You could still go back to her…”

She stared at him, sadly. His gaze held nothing but resolute conviction, even if he had understood well her words. And so, she sighed, smiling mournfully for his expressive silence.

“You won’t go back. Nor change or surrender.”

He watched as she walked to the corner of the cell, and then kneeled. Her claws brushed the floor and soon pulled at one piece of stone strongly. She revealed a small secret passage, which descended below the dungeons. While he stood and inched closer to peek down, she whispered calmly, placing a claw inside the pocket of her robes.

“This tunnel leads far from the castle, at the feet of a hill near the forests. The village won’t be far, and that is where you will stay until further notice. I will find you once these leeches go away. If you appreciate my aid, you will wait patiently and keep a low profile. Two of my soldiers are waiting for you at the end of the passage; they will watch over you and pay for a full stay in the local inn.” He blinked, because she handed him something. “Take this with you.”

He stared at the necklace with a confused frown. It was made of silver, its centre adorned with a small ruby.

“Why are you giving me this?”

His expression hinted that he knew the reason, and she noticed well that he was looking at the banner on her shoulder, which she could give him instead. She tried to explain, veiling one of her motives.

“A necklace is more significant than a mere flag, which can imply obedience and reverence towards a clan. You don’t owe me devotion.” She put it around his neck firmly, tugging at it softly as she continued. “This trinket is valuable, meant to be worn by nobility. A normal vampire would never wear this, much less a human. Seeing this, all will know that you are of high worth to me, someone to bow to and not only respect. I want you to keep this forever, so you are always safe.”

She did not wait for his reply, which she knew would come once he dealt with his own thoughts. With a small nod downwards, she commanded, averting her timid gaze.

“Go now, jump; it is dangerous for you to stay in the castle.”

He gave her a contemplative look, but he did not protest. As told, he jumped down into the tunnel, landing carefully onto one knee and hand. He eyed the depths of the passage, noting that it was fairly big, enough for him to not have to crawl.

Before moving away, he glanced back at the opening above, for she was looking down at him sadly. They spoke without words, their eyes meeting, showing gratefulness and care. She said her farewells with a sigh, reluctantly.

“See you soon, Bastian.”

With that, she slid the stone back to its place, closing the gap. Shadows engulfed him, but he would find his way easily, for it was a straight path. The tunnel did not seem to have an end, not even when his eyesight got used to the dark. It was probably a few kilometres long, if what she said was true.

He let out a sigh and then began to march forward. His hand clutched the necklace she gave him, a chain that offered him comfort. He would wait, and return to her once it was safe for both of them.

——-

There came the whisper, when he emerged from the shadows.

“You are alive.”

His icy eyes met the ones of his older sister, who seemed more surprised than glad to see him.

“Did you three presume me dead already?”

The three looked at him intently, not having expected him to have survived, much less find their hidden camp in the woods. He sat by their fire, allowing them to examine his bruises. A battle-axe was dropped aside, a question asked rather coldly.

“You haven’t confessed our location to those beasts, right?”

A scoff was her answer.

“I see you think very highly of me. I’ll let you know that no torture could make me surrender your whereabouts, dear…” He closed his eyes, whispering proudly. “Instead of giving up information, I gathered some from them. After enduring a beating in a cell, I discovered something. It may be of great aid in our efforts.”

Their icy eyes hinted interest when he said the next words.

“There’s a way in.”