“You should strangle their spirits, and leave no trace of will in their hearts.”

Her green eyes narrowed, and she did not miss how the servant hurried away after presenting them a tray with two goblets of blood. Alaric held his chalice with elegance while they walked through the corridors. His eyes did not look much at the blood, for he kept eyeing his surroundings instead.

He admired the grand banners that loomed all over, the many humans that roamed to serve her clan, and the grand halls. Her castle was indeed worthy of a lord, but he considered that it could aspire to be the one of an empress.

Nerys kept following Alaric towards the throne room; she answered his grim comment plainly, as to not showcase her repulsion.

“There is no reason for me to mistreat them; they obey without dispute.”

He hummed, pondering her words disapprovingly.

“Yes, one must keep their cattle healthy. I am not simply suggesting wounding them and tearing them for blood. They should keep it in their veins, most of the time, for it grants them the vitality you could exploit.” They walked by a huge window, and he halted in front of it. “Look outside, child, and tell me what you see.”

Nerys stopped and did as told, reluctantly. She could see the far fields, and past them, a small village. The sky was clear, and the sun shined brightly over her domain.

“I see a vigorous land; there are lush hills, and a prosperous town stands on the horizon.”

Alaric replied with a chiding whisper.

“There should be so much more, yet I see nothing of it…” Nerys felt a shiver with each word he said. His eyes were examining the surroundings of the fortress, and it was clear that he despised their humbleness. “All your subjects should be traversing that road, diligently. There should be carts, full of tribute for you and your court. Your humans should be working in those fields until exhaustion, to bolster your dominion. They should display more respect, adoration; you are a supreme being. Statues should be raised in every trail and settlement, for you should be seen as a god. They should venerate you, or bleed to death in their insolence.”

She hated his words, and she did not doubt to hint it subtly.

“I owe you loyalty, sire. However, I shall choose how to treat my humans, for they are mine to rule.”

“A shame, truly… yet I’ll let you do as you please.” He smiled, letting his long viperine fangs peek. “If they were mine to control, I would force them to strengthen this land with their blood and sweat.”

He did not bother to lead a domain of his own anymore. Humans had short lifespans, and their fear had to be restored, time and time again.

If only other vampires could also envision or aspire for such greatness…

Alaric turned slowly to look at Nerys with a grin, one that she did not like at all.

“Child, I shared my gift with you, hoping to see my bloodline thrive. Your claws shall enforce my will in this world. I must guide you, for I do not want you to perish like my first fledgling. You must outlast the passage of time and submit all who roam in this world, because they will eventually seek your blood. Humans can’t grasp the true meaning of loyalty or nobility.” He waved one of his huge claws for her to follow, as if he was the one to lead them through the castle. “Come. The matter I want to discuss should be presented before your court. Even if I admire how you confront other lords, it is something you should not have done. That vampire you killed was a weakling, but still one of us; we should not attack each other, not until all humans are kept in chains. I will help you understand this.”

Nerys resigned and obeyed. She followed, but not before looking back at the end of the corridor, frowning. After a couple of seconds, she moved ahead, with a sigh. An hour ago, Bastian had understood her with just a look; it helped that Alaric unnerved him to no end. He went away, to keep an eye on what was most important to them: Lyssa.

Both caught how her ochre eyes had looked at their guest, with an expression they knew well. Lyssa was surely battling many thoughts, because she knew that their guest was of importance, an ancient vampire. The two could not help but worry that she could still decide to attack other vampires, even if she had let go of her hate for their clan. Alaric was someone worthy of her loathing, one that she would wish to see burn, not only because he sired her.

Bastian expected Lyssa to be angry, to see her trying to control herself. While he could not attack that beast due to his instincts, she could; she was not bound by blood and lineage. That was why he was surprised when he found her.

“Lyssa?”

As vampires, they could find her anywhere. He trailed her scent, and that led him to the library, the place where they always went to when they wished to talk. When he entered, she flinched, and that made him realize that they were not alone.

“Bastian…”

He did not look at her when she whispered sadly, but at the old mage that sat in a far corner, hidden between tall bookshelves. If he was not able to sense heartbeats, perhaps he would not have realized he was there.

Sergius was staring at his hands, giving the two his back. He always displayed a proud stance, so now that his shoulders were slumped he really looked old and worn. Bastian broke the tense silence, not without looking into her ochre eyes. Lyssa’s expression hinted dread, and that worried him greatly, because it was something she rarely felt.

“What are you two doing here?”

Lyssa opened her mouth to reply, but it was Sergius who did first, with a snarl.

“This chamber is isolated, easily sealed. I thought that the heavy door and thick walls would conceal my presence, yet I see my hope was futile.” He finally leaned to look at them, his expression resentful. “You vampires can find any prey you have sensed before, no matter how much they may try to conceal their scent and heartbeat.”

Bastian crossed his arms with a groan, tired of his chiding comments.

“If I find her easily, it’s because she is always summoning flames in her hand, and that gives her a heavy smoky scent. For your information, I have never thought of her blood or-“

“Now it’s not the time for quarrels, Bastian.”

He blinked when she put a hand on his shoulder, to ask him to stop. She pulled him away from the door gently, deeper into the room. He frowned when she began to whisper, like if she could be heard at any moment.

“He is not trying to reproach you. It is that fiend what worries him.”

Bastian looked at Sergius again, with a little trace of sympathy. He wished that he could lash out against that monster, as much as them. Sadly, the disease made him feel a horrible pressure, which kept him bound. Still, his loyalty towards them was stronger.

“I understand that you loathe that son of a bitch; believe me, I hate him too, with all my soul. However, as you already know, he is her sire. She can’t confront him. He is like a goddamned king in vampire hierarchy. If she dared speak against him, we would all bite the dust. As long as she plays along for a while, he will go away. Hold on for now, please; he won’t be able to do anything to you, I promise. I have come to understand vampiric politics, and there is no way he can harm you in her castle. If you don’t step out of line, you don’t need to hide.” He noticed how Sergius snarled silently with those last words, so he pleaded kindly. “I beg you, swallow your hate for now. Do not attack that beast, no matter how much you wish to. If you simply ignore him, you can-“

“You say you understand your laws now. Tell me, what would a lord do if it found a human that escaped its grasp?”

Bastian blinked. He was confused by the intense look he was being given.

“What?” He knew exactly what punishment a fugitive would receive, but he did not know why such a law was mentioned. “Why are you asking…”

Lyssa decided to be blunt. Bastian tensed, because he recognized the tone in her next words; she only invoked it when something worried her a lot.

“That monster has not only bitten her, Bastian. We are not hiding here due to hate, even if we wish to run a stake through his heartless chest.”

He began to ponder her words, very carefully. The two had known the mage since they were children, for he found them in that basement. He had taught them a lot, all that he knew. His lessons were firm and harsh, but true.

Bastian would never forget the tales Sergius would narrate, of how slavery could be. The memory of those anecdotes made him look at the door slowly, with a haunted expression.

“So you are saying that-?”

“It’s him, yes. I thought that I could not feel more loathing after knowing he bit Nerys, yet here I am.”

Bastian could only say two words, paling.

“Oh god…” He raised a hand to his head and began to speak fast, something that he always did when he felt anxiety. “Okay, alright, this is… something I couldn’t have imagined either. A-are you sure it’s him? Maybe it was another vampire!”

Lyssa leaned her head and gave him a look.

“Of course, Sebastian, it surely was another leech. Sergius must be misremembering that stony skin, and the cold harshness he endured. And let’s not forget, ancient vampires are so abundant…”

Sergius spoke up, keeping Lyssa from admonishing Bastian’s nervous question.

“Before, you weren’t aware of it either. Only I can recognize that beast inmediately, thanks to my memories. His name is one I will never forget.”

Lyssa frowned, realizing that she had scorned Bastian unnecessarily due to her dread. She felt impotence, and she had no idea what to do. That fiend would be dead right now if it would not bring trouble for Nerys.

Bastian gulped and looked at the two nervously. He understood Lyssa’s temper, even if he did not like it much.

“Alright, it is him then. Please, don’t berate me; it’s not like I was the one to summon him.”

“The very moment Nerys accepted his affliction, she did beckon him.”

Both men exchanged soft glares, slightly bitter.

“Blaming her again…” Bastian asked, derisively. “You surely would have chosen death, right?”

Those old eyes pierced him, with an angry scowl.

“I would have, if he had offered it with no conditions. He offered me freedom many times, but through his bite, either in death or vampirism. How he loved to toy with my hopes and fears… He enjoyed keeping me at his side, as a human, because the mere thought of surviving his bite and becoming his fledgling disgusted me. My plight amused him, and having me under his claws was his most favored entertainment. He would keep me away from the sweet release of death, at any cost.” Bastian looked away when the next words were said, because they were full of resentment. “I wished to die, at an age that many would pity. In my youth, I was fond of thoughts that only the elderly should find comforting. No matter what, he would not allow me free will. I could not let my fate be gambled with, not for his enjoyment.”

Lyssa was glancing at Sergius sadly, while Bastian did not know exactly where to look. She was the one who dared speak.

“You escaped.” She leaned her head, frowning. “You never told me how.”

“Does it matter?” Sergius shrugged, finally standing to face them. “I gained his trust after years of submission, and when he let his guard down, I ran away. Yet it seems that I could not run forever, hmm?”

There was pride in his voice, but also resignation. He stepped towards the door, affirming grimly.

“Vampirism always finds a way, no matter what. There is no point in hiding. He will never forget the taste of my blood, not after my escape.”

Sergius was going to walk out the door, but then a claw grabbed him. He glared sideways, very angrily, yet Bastian did not cower or let go of his arm. His sharp eyes showed worry, but not for himself. Nerys had told him what Sergius did when he fainted. He whispered, for he felt gratitude for that gesture.

“How many years has it been since you’ve seen this bastard?”

Sergius snarled, but he did not yank to make Bastian let go.

“Many, but not enough. He will sense me if I dare roam near him.”

Those silver eyes glinted.

“Well, then we know what to do, don’t we?” Lyssa smiled and nodded, seeing Bastian smirk sharply. Both began to plot, and Sergius did not like how he was pointed at with a nail. “I know we have sharp senses, but that beast can’t have remembered your scent all these years…”

Sergius was no longer aggressive towards Bastian, but he still was capable of scorn.

“He surely remembers. Believe me, he is spiteful, and I wounded his pride for sure. He may be able to hide his anger like no other, but it’s there, always.”

“You said vampires always find a way, didn’t you?” Bastian finally let go, seeing that Sergius was listening. “Well, leave it to me. I’ll put a big hood on you, cover you with coal and some aromatic ointments, and there will be no way for him to recognize you! I heard that he is just staying for a day, so I won’t have to sneak you out; it’s safer to stay in the castle.”

“I said that vampirism always finds a way, not vampires. And don’t you dare-“

Lyssa interrupted.

“We just have to keep him far from that monster! Make him look like all the other servants!”

“I’m not a serv-!”

“Right, and make sure he does not do anything stupid! He has a short temper!”

“I don’t have-!”

Bastian did not let him finish, because he added.

“Let me go grab a tunic from the quarters! Keep an eye on him, Lyssa!”

“I’ll take him to the kitchens! No noble enters there!”

She began to pull, and that did not fail to prompt an angry yell.

“Lyssa, let me go! You, Bastian, come back here! Don’t you-!”

“Shh! He’s going for some big robes! That bloodsucker won’t see your face even if you walk right by him!”

“I don’t want to wear the clothes of a servant! And I do not fear that beast! I won’t hide, no more! Stop pulling at me, Lyssa!”

“I’ll stop dragging you when you stop mumbling like a stubborn old man! Just do as we say!”

She took him out into the courtyard, knowing that Nerys was keeping Alaric busy in the throne room. Meanwhile, Bastian was already in the quarters, fetching some robes.

If he listened to them, he would be alright. Sadly, he was prone to snapping, even if he always demanded diligence from them…