The stony chambers had always been quiet as death itself. Not today, however. There was no silence, not even in the deepest corridors, near the dungeons where criminals and beasts were locked away.

He could hear it. There were echoes of hurried steps, worried calls. Armours were being worn, and swords were unsheathed. Many voices flowed before the bloodshed, full of fear. All tried to ignore it, to overcome their own dread.

Bastian stared down at his own claws, silently. He outstretched his sharp fingers, to tense them after. His hands were covered by two open-ended gauntlets, and he was wearing light armour. He stopped making sure all was tied correctly when she spoke, after a long tense pause.

“Will you be alright?”

Her voice was always aflame with hopeful confidence, but not today. He took a deep breath and turned around to face her, displaying the same apprehension.

“Well…” He laughed sharply and tiredly, while they both stared at the red banner on a nearby table. “As long as I wear that, I should be. I trust that they keep their word. To be honest, I am more worried about you two.”

He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he would be allowed to roam. They had let him out of that cell, and he was let into a chamber with many weapons, near the military district.

Now, everyone could hear their approaching doom. Soldiers ran about all over, preparing themselves for a deadly siege. Meanwhile, the commoners hid in the deepest areas, to be safe when the real chaos struck.

Lyssa glanced at the ceiling of the small room, frowning deeply. She whispered after a few seconds, dreadfully, because she could hear their troops gathering multiple floors above.

“I’m glad that they listened. Now we simply must… go through this. All will be fine afterwards.”

“We will, god willing.” He grabbed the banner, which displayed fiery maws, to tie it over his right shoulder. “We can’t know if this will work, so we need luck.”

Lyssa felt fear, but her heart was hopeful. She stepped closer to Bastian and gave him a very serious glance, one he returned more firmly as she warned.

“Remember, keep a clear distance. I don’t want them to mistake you for an enemy.”  

Bastian huffed with a raise of eyebrow.

“While you get all the glory, right?” He fastened a sword onto his belt, having made his mind already. “I must do something too.”

He did not wish to hide, not while others fought. Still, she saw much more clearly than him.

“You’ve done your part already, Bastian.” She nudged his shoulder playfully, shaking her head. “Just keep yourself safe now. If you must act, simply watch over the tunnels that lead to the civilians, to ensure that they are not attacked.”

Bastian opened his mouth to retort, but he shut up. Both looked at the door, hearing the unmistakable yell of an official, who directed the troops that still roamed.

“All men to the bridge! They are closing in!”

Many hurried steps echoed away. Their gazes met again, intently. She was the first to say anything, looking carefully into his sharp silver eyes, noting how he had barely slept.

“Are you sure you don’t need to?”

Bastian sighed tiredly, once more. Ever since they arrived at Hollowgrave, she had tried to offer it, and he always answered with the same conviction.  

“No, Lyssa. I do not. I’m sure.”

He would never take her blood, no matter what. She could only worry, for they had been here for many days. The flasks they had carried with them had only been enough for the long journey. Right now, he was himself, but he was surely hungry. Not enough time had passed for him to lose it, yet it was still weakening.

“Hunger heightens your senses, in a painful manner. Will you really go on like this?”

Bastian smirked tiredly, dismissive.  

“You could ask her the same. She is out there.”

Lyssa shut up at last. She knew well that Nerys was in the fields that surrounded the fortress, ready to raise her sword. Both were sure that she had refused to drink any blood since she left her castle, unnerved by what she would do.

Bastian double-checked that his armour was well fastened, to then whip back the banner on his shoulder, stepping out of the room sharply. He whispered as he headed for the darkest corridors, leaving her behind.

“Stay safe out there, Lyssa. Don’t be too harsh with her, alright?”

“Right…”

They lost sight of each other, and both hoped that they would be able to meet again. She stood there in the room, surrounded by weapons and armours. It took her a minute to take hers, for she had to drown her dread first.

She soon marched out, in a different direction than him. Her determined steps led her above, near the bridge. She soon saw the glint of flames, invoked outside on the fields. The fire surrounded the river, acting as a second wall against their foes.

Her comrades were gathered past the huge bridge, right behind the fire they lit up to block any access into the underground fortress. Ahead stood a horde of vampires; there were far more banners than any human had ever seen, an unending army.

It was an ominous sight, yet she did not fear those beastly figures. She stood bravely on the bridge, knowing she would soon face them all… including one she loved dearly.

In the distance, two sharp emeralds glinted. Nerys glared at the army of insurgents that stood by the bridge, past the wall of fire. The light that surrounded them was almost blinding, for the sun shined strongly over Hollowgrave. The bright glimmers reflected on every armour and blade, grimly.

Nerys knew that Lyssa was there. The notion made her heartbeat fasten, dreadfully. Still, she stood tall in the frontline. Behind her, a huge gathering of clans awaited, summoned by her sire.

Even Lochan had obeyed the summoning. He and his brethren fidgeted nervously between their numbers, for he did not look forward to the siege. Although he believed their race to be superior, he did consider this attack disproportionate.

Their forces were calm for the most part. They were not attacking yet, merely observing their prey from the fields. The humans would not be able to resist their numbers, not for long. This would be no fight, but a massacre.

One tall figure stood in front of all, proudly. Alaric contemplated the army the insurgents had gathered, hoping to shield their haven. He covered his vile grin with a claw, chuckling in amusement.

“I must say, they are either foolishly valiant or they do not know the meaning of capitulation.” Alaric leaned slowly to look over his shoulder. His bloody eyes pierced Nerys darkly, and his next whisper made her shiver. “So… where is that opening you told me about, dear?”

Not only Lyssa knew of that crack on a wall past the river. She remembered it, for she had crossed it herself many times when she was human and loyal. The words escaped her, echoing with a dark firmness past her helmet.  

“Let me guide you.”

There was no doubt in her tone. She was willing to lead him inside, while all the rest fought to breach the gates that stood past that bridge. The insurgents had gathered almost all their troops outside to confront their huge vampiric force.

While the clans struggled to advance, the two would roam aside, with her brethren and a few of his henchmen. They would cross the fire and enter those ancient tunnels. He would find weakness inside, and she would fulfil her treason.