“You made the right choice.”

Those words, they hurt in a way she could not imagine, but at the same time, they lifted a heavy weight from her heart. She had feared her judgment, more than death itself.

Her green eyes looked all over the courtyard as they stepped through the gates. It took her time to answer, because explaining what had happened in those ruins had left her shaken.

“Maybe I lived, but look around you, Lyssa.” She was very careful of not making any sudden moves at her side, because that scornful gaze kept a relentless watch over them. “I have propagated and sheltered this affliction, willfully. That is a great sin, but it can’t be compared to the atrocities I’ve committed. I have brought suffering to many, Bastian included.”

Lyssa ignored how Sergius glared when Nerys said those words. Her ochre eyes fixed on Bastian, who was following close by; she then attempted to reassure her.

“Oh, Nerys, I’m sure you exaggerate. You would never lay a claw on him, so those scars-“ She blinked, because the two suddenly averted their gazes awkwardly, suddenly anxious. “Wait, did you-“

Bastian coughed and interrupted, trying to dismiss the matter with a smile, which he could not keep steady.

“She didn’t, not directly. We found each other, uh, by chance.” She caught immediately what he really meant with the word chance: a skirmish. “Y-you know, there was fire, swords slashing about… It’s easy to lose an eye in such chaos.”

By looking at his expression, she knew that she should not ask much about their clash. She had guessed that they had met in battle, for his entire squad had been taken down.

“We did not know we were on the same battlefield, not until the fight was over. My troops acted fiercely, and as a captain, he was the last one to fall.” Nerys sighed loudly and refused to look at them while she marched, ashamed. “Perhaps I did not intend to scar him, but his imprisonment was purposeful.”

Lyssa raised an eyebrow, surprised by her words.

“You locked him away?”

Nerys opened her mouth to confess all that she did, in great detail, not wishing to conceal her culpability. Luckily, Bastian moved in between and spoke before she could, so rapidly that there was no chance to stop him.

“She did, yes, but it’s alright! There was a very understandable reason for her to do so, and no ravenous instincts were involved in it! As we have told you already, a damn vampire dispatched my scout and expedited a fake report, causing me to send her to those ruins. Now, when she was ambushed there after I told her that no beasts lurked, she was rightfully angry! She thought I wanted her dead, and I can’t blame her for believing that! Neither of us knew what happened, not for a very long time. Although she was furious with me, she didn’t do anything serious, I swear! We just had some… small quarrels. In the end, we did clarify that I was innocent! We only discovered that a spy was at fault when another clan came to visit, because their lord was that bastard. He tried to kill me multiple times, to prevent me from recognizing him. I evaded his grasp until the castle suffered an incursion, and he managed to snatch me in the chaos. Of course, he gloated about his doings, but Nerys caught up to him before he could end me. Once she discovered he was the one behind everything, she proceeded to rip him apart, of course. Sadly, she then had to turn me into a vampire, because-“

Bastian could ramble very fast. Lyssa had managed to understand his words, but not easily. And so, Nerys laid a claw onto his shoulder and coughed, asking him to stop with a nervous look.

“I think that she won’t be able to ponder our circumstances if you speak this quickly and skip so many details…”

He bit his lip and groaned, frowning.

“She does not need to know everything, you must agree.”

Nerys contemplated her options, carefully. There was curiosity in those ochre eyes. Lyssa was looking at them in question, hopeful that they would explain their struggles. Her expression hinted worry and care.

While Lyssa trusted them, another did not. Sergius was looking at everything in the castle, yet his piercing gaze was always attentive of her claws and fangs. If they wanted to have a thorough discussion, the old mage would have to be confronted first. And so, Nerys whispered sadly, but firmly.

“Bastian…” He looked up at her, for she suggested with a tone he knew well, urgent and serious. “Why don’t you lead Lyssa to her chambers? You can explain anything you want on the way there, without hurry. I need to do something.”

He would have argued, but he too felt those eyes on the back of his neck. For once, Sergius did not mind to leave Lyssa alone with a vampire, because he wanted to confront Nerys as well.

Lyssa was the one to protest, because she did not enjoy the idea of leaving Nerys alone with a very fanatical rebel, even if she trusted he would not kill her.

“No, wait. Nerys, I want you by my side. I thought you would show me everything and-“

Both vampires spoke, with different tones. She did so firmly and darkly, while he whispered nervously while he pulled at her gently.

“I will, later. Give me a few minutes, and then I will dedicate every single second to fulfil your wishes.”

“But-”

Sergius watched silently while Bastian led her away, struggling slightly against her reluctance. She kept looking back until both crossed a door and went inside. He did not follow them, even if he distrusted him too. There was a bigger threat in his mind, which he proceeded to approach, finally alone.

“Tell me why I should let her stay in this den.”

Nerys stepped towards him as well. The surrounding guards laid their claws on the handles of their weapons, sensing an irregular heartbeat. Their sire hated her honour being questioned, for she had nothing but good intentions.

“If I wished to harm you, I would have done so long ago. I would not allow her to be here if she could encounter any danger. My horrid hunger shall never threaten her, I’d rather perish. You can hate me, but let her be. Why are you here if you feel such repulsion towards my kind?”

He laughed with a grimace, gripping his whip tightly below his coat. Her imposing stature and inhuman features did not intimidate him, so he did not doubt to lean closer, having known her as a human. His eyes looked carefully at her sharp ones, and even if he could still see a trace of her past self, he warned.

“I’m here to make sure she is safe. Sadly, she is not.” Nerys growled, because Sergius gave her an ultimatum. “You can approach and welcome her into your filthy den, Nerys… But I swear, if you ever lose control of that thirst of yours and you lay a claw on her, I’ll burn you. Perhaps you may resist fire, but I promise there will be nothing but ashes when I’m done with you. If a single drop of her blood falls, you will. Do I make myself clear?”

She took a deep breath and clenched her claws, to then affirm.

“Clear as the most pristine river.”

“Good.” He moved his hand away from his whip, his stance relaxing faintly. “I’ll keep my eyes on both of you. Even if I felt sympathy for you, I care much more for my oath. Prove to me that you really retain a trace of your humanity, or else.”

She watched as he walked away, with a slow pace. There was no point in telling him where to go, because he would find her anywhere. His gaze pierced every single vampire he crossed paths with, and he had scorn for any servant he saw.

His hate did not matter to her, she could endure it. There would be no bloodshed, for no harm would befall her beloved. She was safe.