Many sharp eyes glinted as a claw grasped a warhorn. The sun kept rising, shining over the two armies that would soon collide and spill blood. The siege would happen under the daylight, as yet another taunt by the vampires. All clans had gathered their eldest, with no fledglings between their numbers.

The sound of the warhorn echoed loudly over the clans, travelling through the fields to reach their prey. Most insurgents were afraid, rightfully so, yet they did not flee in their reluctance. All men stood their ground, in front of the fire that they lighted by the bridge. They followed orders, knowing that they had to confront those beasts, or else. When the echo of the horn reached them, they trembled or shivered, for it signalled the inevitable.

Indeed, the tall banners that loomed in the distance were lowered. Weapons and claws were bared, while many fangs peeked in loud eager hisses. Even the humans that hid deep underground heard the sound of their growls, seconds before bloodshed. A couple exchanged a worried glance in a small chamber and hugged their daughter, who still wondered why they had to leave the upper grounds.

Above, two bright ochre eyes narrowed. She took a step back onto the bridge behind the fire, but her hands still smoked fiercely. Underground, two silver eyes glinted in the shadows. He roamed through the deepest corridors, near the ones that feared his kind. Far in the distance, those green eyes contemplated everything coldly. She pierced the rebels with her gaze, donning an armour that was as grim as her intentions.

The sound of the warhorn faded. And so, Alaric took a step forward. He did so slowly, keeping his huge claws concealed under his elegant robes, which he wore even in battle. His clawed feet moved forth, without hurry, while the rest of his kind lunged all around him. A smile grew on his lips, seeing all clans run ahead, feral in their wish to reach the humans in the distance.

He did not pay much mind to the insurgents. His attention was set on the walls of fire that they had lighted, to surround the watery and stony barriers of their haven. The elements could hinder him easily, much stronger than the efforts of those lesser beings.

Part of him wished to lunge at that excuse of an army as well. He would have made them kneel and bleed, to then march inside and chain all that were clever enough to surrender. It would have been a long battle, but one he could not lose.

He really could rip through those forces, thanks to the aid of all the clans he had summoned. Yet he wished to attain a clear direct victory instead, one that would inflict much more fear into those filthy rebels. He had her.

Alaric grinned, because he could hear those strong and decided steps behind him. Her huge armour clanked as she advanced to him, while her right claw tightened around her longsword, which a human would need to hold with both hands.

He leaned slightly to look behind his heir, and he could not avoid but chuckle silently. Many followed her lead, their jade eyes as focused as hers. All awaited his command, for her clan would not lunge at the humans, but follow another plan.

Nerys knew well how to end things quickly and efficiently. But her knowledge was not the only thing that would aid her efforts. She had his blood… which maybe had grown stronger in her time as a vampire.

Alaric did not feel anger when Nerys stepped around him, to lead him instead. They would leave the other clans behind, only accompanied by her brethren and his most loyal descendants. Their steps headed east, away from their forces and the ones of the insurgence. The humans were gathered by the bridge, too preoccupied with the attack to notice them, much less halt them.

After a few minutes, they reached the fire and river, where no one roamed. Their kind could not breach those barriers, for they posed a serious threat. That had changed, however.

The two lords stood in front of the wall of fire. They observed it, noting how it blazed, fueled by oil that the rebels had poured. The scent invaded their nostrils and mixed with the one of blood, which had begun to spill not too far away. This was an obstacle that any vampire would fear and flee from. It was dangerous, something that offered humanity hope. But they would soon steal it away from them.

Nerys was the first to jump. She outstretched her arms forward as she leapt, swinging them sideways to part the flames. Her claws slashed the fire in the air, and her body felt nothing but warmth as she brushed it. She landed strongly onto one knee at the other side. After a second, she looked over her shoulder at them all. That simple glance was an order, and her brethren leaned promptly. In a minute, thirty of her clan had crossed gracefully, unaffected by the fire that would weaken any other.

She would not feel any pain unless she stood right in its blazing core for a long time. Her descendants were affected by it as any human would, but they wore clothes that shielded them. They were unlike any other vampire.

Alaric was not hurt by the warmth or intense light, but he did fear brushing the fire, like any living creature. She was stronger than him in that sense. Her unique growth and evolution had erased the main weakness of their kin.

Nerys did not miss the concealed envy in her sire’s gaze. Alaric felt proud and jealous at once. Still, he said nothing, merely waiting for her to do her part. Her men moved fast, knowing they needed to be. The battle was raging on in the distance, and even some vampires were dying, because the humans struggled fiercely.

The fire was impossible to extinguish from the side they came from, but after crossing, a harmful element was now of use. Nerys stood tall while her troops collected water with buckets, which they had carried here with ease, given that they did not need to fight yet. She did not miss how Alaric smiled contently as the fire was doused, with another substance they usually avoided.

Once more, they did not only defy one of humanity’s shields but used it to their advantage. The river that protected that immense grave was the very thing that erased their fiery barrier. With the flames extinguished on one area, Alaric stepped forth slowly, followed by his own men. The descendants of his first fledgling were strong, even if they had been spawned after many generations of vampires. They had his blood, although faint.

Alaric gave a grateful nod to Nerys, who was his most capable creation. Then, he glared at the river. Any human could jump carefully from rock to rock, for they were aligned towards the opposite shore. Sadly for them, some were slightly submerged, and others very small. The path was not suited for a group of heavily armoured vampires. Those were facts that they had known beforehand.

Nerys took a deep breath, seeing her soldiers move again. They had been near Hollowgrave for enough time to prepare for this, collecting some timber from some nearby woods. Her clan carried forth some big wooden planks, heavy and long. They laid them on top of the rocks, one by one. They wavered and trembled, but stayed put above the water. In a matter of minutes, a bridge was made of them all.

If they were seen crossing the river, the sight would not concern the human soldiers. They could reach the other shore, but they would find tall unbreachable walls. Few knew that there was a small fissure and crack…

Once they reached the wall, a yell of alarm echoed in the distance, from the bridge. Nerys ignored whatever the humans shouted, even if she knew that they would send troops inside to halt them. She was sure of herself, determined to reach the core of this bastion and claim it for herself. There was nothing the insurgents could do to stop them from lurking into their haven and end this fight, because they had placed most of their forces outside. Few would be able to retreat back into the tunnels, due to the fact that many clans were leaping at their throats.

This is how it must be. No other way.

She brushed the small hole with a claw, noting how ancient the stone was. Her eyes trailed the fissure, which was big enough for them to cross in a crouch. For a moment, her cold expression faded slightly, because she recalled distant memories. She remembered the times in which she would get out of this very crack, to roam the outer fields in the nights, with two she loved dearly.

“You may step forth, child…” She escaped those bittersweet thoughts when he stepped closer, to eye her with a suggestive but firm stare. “I’ll let you be the first to breach their hideout, so you may attain the glory. Unless, of course… you have doubts.”

There it was. His bloody eyes were piercing her, accusing. She could see the disapproval for her past humanity. And so, she glared him down, even if it was not evident under her draconic helmet.

“I left my doubts behind. I’m sure of this.”

She had to do this, so she moved like a shadow. Her figure lurked into the crack like a beast that many children would fear, imposing and dark. He followed right behind, more slowly and cautiously.

Nerys traced the small passageway with her sharp gaze. With every step, she remembered other times, which were much simpler and cherished. Still, she did not halt. She even hurried, with a deep growled breath.

It did not take long for the passage to widen, for it led into a corridor, where they had more space. They all stood in the dark and took deep breaths. The scent of prey reached them, and they sensed many heartbeats. It was faint, however. The tunnel was on the upper floors, far from the core of the fortress.

Alaric was the one to break the silence. He spoke up with a condescending tone, looking at some of his men, rather harshly.

“Go. Seek the stables where the cattle hides.”

Nerys averted her gaze when some of his henchmen moved away, not to accompany them in their ploy. They ran off through the corridors, following the scent of humans, which hid away from the main areas of the underground citadel.

When Alaric said that they would strike the heart of the rebellion, he did not only mean that they would kill their leaders. He wished to carry through a disciplinary massacre, to bring dreadful obedience into the souls of their new thralls.

She did nothing to contradict or halt his command, allowing those vampires to creep and hunt civilians. There was nothing she could do as he turned to face her, with a look that was much more bloodthirsty than any before, even if he still smiled.

“Lead me to the council’s chamber. I wish to write my law with their blood.”

She was not able to say anything. Nothing escaped her lips. She simply bowed her head in submission, pointing ahead at the other end of the dark corridor. As she did so, the sharp jade eyes of her most loyal brethren glinted, for they too could remember the path.

It would take them a while to reach that huge room. Still, she could already hear the hurried steps of some human soldiers, who she would have to take down as they made way.

——–

He hid in the shadows, silently. His breathing was uneven, his mind anxious. He could not keep his dread under control. It was obvious that he was afraid, for it was hinted in his expression and stance.

Bastian closed his eyes for a moment. He tried to focus, on anything. There were many things that alerted his senses, and he would lose it if he kept acknowledging them all at once.

He could hear many heartbeats nearby, and all were beating fast due to fear. There were also steps, which were approaching them. As well, a few rebels were standing guard, to shield the commoners that hid.

His head was pounding, because he was overthinking. He could not avoid pondering the fact that he was near humans that would see no difference between him and the beasts that lurked closer. It was not easy to accept that he would shield them from his own kind.

He still wondered if the human soldiers would keep their word and not stab him in the chaos of the fray. They could possibly ignore the banner he wore and see him as nothing but another foe.

There was no way for him to know what would happen. All were presumptions, and their outcome would be determined by others. Still, this was better than being outside. The humans there would struggle to notice his banner due to the high number of vampires, and so, he would be struck without a doubt. Here, only a few beasts would attack. He knew it would happen.

He finally leaned, leaving behind his most human thoughts. For once, he welcomed his instincts, to be able to lurk as a shadow. He glared at the multiple dark corridors ahead, and his fangs showed as he exhaled.

Only he heard the shifty steps of those bastards, nearing fast even if silently. He soon saw a shadow sneaking behind an unsuspecting guard, who patrolled near the doors that led to small rooms, where many civilians hid.

Two claws loomed over the soldier, ready to sink and silence any screams. However, Bastian moved his sword before those nails could rip flesh, striking first. At last, the guards noticed that they were being attacked, because he dashed and slashed at the first vampire that dared approach.

The beasts realized that they had been spotted, in an unexpected manner. Their sharp eyes opened in surprise, for they were baffled to see one of their kind shield a human. They had not heard him, because he had been waiting for their arrival quietly.

Bastian panted and stepped back, much like the soldier he protected did. The vampire he slashed at retreated too, holding one of his claws in pain. Many red eyes glinted in the dark, piercing hatefully.

Even he felt a shiver when the vampires hissed and leaned to circle them like wolfs. His silver eyes hinted nervousness, because he sensed that they were not ones to mess with. He noticed their black and red robes, their sharp inhuman nails. His instincts were aware of their blood, which was like his, even if faintly.

There was another threatening factor. He looked sideways, noting that he was standing near the human soldiers, who had reacted quickly to the noise. All had gathered to fight; they were not many but enough to confront those vampires.

He stood frozen in between for a second, because everyone glared at him. The humans stared with their weapons in hand, while the vampires bared their claws. There was hate and wariness, from both sides.

The thought of him being stabbed by those blades crossed his mind and the ones of the insurgents. In the end, however, their eyes fixated on the banner he wore. They seemed to reconsider, for their glares softened all ever slightly.

Bastian relaxed faintly, because the soldiers did not push him away when he took two more steps back towards them, to put more distance between him and those beasts. They stood near him willingly, accepting his aid against their attackers. Neither liked the fact, but it was crucial that they cooperated.

He took a trembling breath and raised his sword in his hands, pointing it at those fiends. They of course leaned, ready to lunge, not only at the humans but at him as well. Those bloody eyes were staring at him as if he was something far more insulting than an insurgent.

A vampire was daring to shield their prey, which was to be theirs. The bloodthirst was so intense, that he too felt raw fear, as if he was still human.

——–

Her claw moved, once more. She let out a fierce growl as the rough handle of her sword collided with the face of a soldier. Her other claw dashed sideways, to punch to the ground yet another rebel that tried to stop her with a stab. One by one, all her foes fell, unmoving at her feet.

Nerys was huffing, advancing fiercely without halt. She was the first to step into those narrow and dark corridors, which were lighted by torches. Her mind did not keep track of how many insurgents she had sent to the ground, but more than anyone else, that was for sure.

She and her loyal troops led their march towards the chamber of the council, confronting any human that crossed paths with them. He was following close behind with his own, taking his time to observe it all, amused. A few soldiers laid dead at his feet, and all were left behind to bleed. They were not halting, not even to feed.

Nerys kicked and pushed another guard onto a wall, answering efficiently the slash of spear that was sent her way. Her green eyes moved side to side, contemplating which hallways to cross, for she had forgotten a few of them in her absence.

She had been gone for a very long time, but she still remembered. The disease could not steal that from her. It did not take long for them to reach a huge corridor, which was crowned by two huge doors.

At last, she halted. There was no one in front of the gateway, which led into the chamber they wished to enter. A tense silence fell, dreadful for her, entertaining for him. The doors were almost taunting.

Alaric stepped past her clan, to stand at her side. He leaned his head at the doors with honest interest. When Nerys spoke, she did so coldly.

“Behind this entry, hides the one that leads the insurgence. Many guards await our arrival, even if most fight outside.” She looked down at him, with an inquisitive glare. “If you kill them, all will fall defeated. This can only end with bloodshed, so step forth and witness the end of this war. Be careful.”

Her sire said nothing. He returned the cold look she was giving him. There was silence for a minute, in which all vampires sensed the tension between them. Two lords gazed sharply at one another, and the disease pulsed deeply in their veins, struggling to assert dominance in the presence of another strong being.

He finally looked away, piercing those doors instead. As always, he moved forward elegantly, as if he were to attend a coronation. In a way, perhaps he was. His huge claws laid softly onto the wooden and iron doors. Even if he could slam them open, he pushed slowly, letting them creak.

His figure and shadow loomed into the chamber, brushing all who stood inside. He paid no mind to the soldiers that pointed spears at him, glaring at the podiums instead. His sharp bloody eyes glinted, fixated on the man that gazed down at him.

He let go of the doors, to step closer into the chamber. The soldiers backed away from him, intimidated, even if he did not even glance at them. All left him space as he advanced to the centre of the circular chamber, to whisper there mockingly.

“You hide in the dark depths, like worms.” Alaric leaned his head at Rein, who simply stared emotionlessly when he laughed. “Have you accepted death during the time you’ve won with your vain struggles?”

Rein closed his eyes. He was the only delegate in the room. The rest of the council had not dared witness this moment, for they had known of their plan beforehand.

“Beasts lunge instinctively, while humans ponder before acting.”

All vampires had stepped into the room. Alaric blinked, not with bafflement, but with curiosity. He glanced at a corner and saw a figure pull a lever in the shadows.

Nerys looked back and frowned, seeing the doors creak loudly. A huge metallic grill lowered and covered them, trapping them inside the chamber with the humans. Alaric’s henchmen hissed, while her men remained calm.

The figure that pulled the lever moved away from the shadows. Her green eyes narrowed, for she recognized that flaming gaze, as bright as the torch she lighted with a hand. Lyssa stood tall and advanced slightly towards them, keeping a preventive distance. Alaric glared, for she lowered the torch to the ground and it was set aflame. A huge fiery circle sparked around the chamber, encircling them all in seconds. Those fingers smoked as a whisper echoed, hatefully.

“You may have reached the core of our haven, you bastard…” Her ochre eyes pierced him, with a sharp smile. “However, you have only entered your own grave. You will not steal our freedom so easily.”

Lyssa was standing inside the circle of fire, facing them all defiantly. Alaric returned her intense glare, unimpressed by her blazing hand. He could sense her fiery will, much more passionate than any other around them.

Perhaps he was trapped in the room by that fire and iron gate, yet he still had the upper claw. He stepped closer and loomed over her. Those ochre eyes met his bloody ones without fear, unfaltering.

“Brave words, spoken out of vanity or ignorance. What makes you think I will be the one to die here?”

Lyssa did not answer verbally. Alaric leaned to a side when she slashed up with a dagger, which tangled with fire. His sharp eyes narrowed, and he raised an arm to claw at her. She expected the slash, and so, she got ready to dodge. However, she was not the one to be struck.

There was a loud thud, and Lyssa’s eyes lost part of their flaming confidence. Alaric’s claw had not gone down, but back. It was now latched firmly around the blade of a sword, which had swung over him, from behind.

The ancient vampire did not stop smiling, but his eyes did hint rage as he looked over his shoulder. Nerys trembled, holding onto the sword with which she had tried to backstab him. There was raw hatred in his eyes, and that made her fear as he whispered menacingly.

“My child… Did you think I would not see this coming?”

He could always see the weakness in humanity, and she still held onto it blindly. Her betrayal was to be expected, for she was still sentimental towards what she should have left behind.

Nerys gasped, because her sire crushed her sword under his huge nails. She could only step aside, as Lyssa did. Alaric took a defensive stance and unsheathed two weapons from under his robes, with uncanny velocity.

Alaric struck the ground with two long metallic whips, which were layered with small blades. He proceeded to point them at Nerys and Lyssa, with a smug smile. Meanwhile, his henchmen hissed at her brethren, who were part of the ploy. He was not surprised when he saw yet another figure step closer from the shadows, finally revealed by the light of the fire. Their eyes met hatefully, and he admitted mockingly.

“Did you really think I would forget my prey?” Sergius stood near Rein and glared down at Alaric, wielding his own whip. The old vampire laughed, giving Nerys and Lyssa a taunting grin. “I remember the glances you gave him, Nerys. Although I consider all humans inferior, I do regard some with much more caution. Your reluctance was evident, foolish. Cornering me here won’t make any difference…”

Nerys readied her claws and stood with her brethren. Meanwhile, Alaric and his men circled them, surrounded by the fire. She met the eyes of her sire, dreadfully. He spoke, relaying the facts.

“You may have plotted against me to save this den, child, but by doing so you have only sealed your fate. I can bring you down, no matter how much you all struggle. You served your role, allowing me to reach this place with ease… but you are still human, Nerys. I have no way of voicing how disappointed I am. I had hoped that you would learn, rule with me. Sadly, you’ve chosen.” Lyssa felt a shiver, for she was pierced by a bloodthirsty glance. “You have decided to die for her kind.”

Sergius had neared slowly. He now struck the ground with his own whip, which he had learnt to wield decades ago, under Alaric’s instruction. He faced him at Lyssa’s side, prideful and fearless. His old eyes pierced his former master with all the hate he had swallowed during his life.

“You were a human once too. It is a shame that you were twisted, for your vileness has tainted many.”

Alaric answered with a feigned lament.

“Oh, morsel, you will never understand. None of you will. That is the real shame.”

Nerys grew tired of Alaric’s words. She had pondered that her backstab could fail, since the very moment she agreed to this. They all had reached an agreement in the dungeons of her castle, for she allowed Lyssa and Bastian to leave her domain. The only thing that mattered was that his sire was here, alone, without the aid of all the other clans. That fact gave her confidence, and so, she fought her own instincts and growled defiantly.

“Enough. You want me to learn, don’t you?” She grinned darkly, mimicking his ways. “Why, I have always admired how you killed your own brothers and sisters, to claim dominance over all vampires. I wonder what would happen if I slew you here, with all those clans to witness such an act. After all, I’m your heir…”

He simply chuckled when she said those words, waving a claw to beckon her closer. In his eyes, this was just a deadly game, which he was not scared to play.

This kind of dispute was not uncommon between vampires. However, this clash was different, more significant. The two were powerful, capable of commanding all the rest. The end of their fight was something to dread, for it would determine the fates of many.

Nerys glanced at Lyssa, who merely nodded back at her, with that care and trust she always gave her. Even Sergius hinted respect in his expression, no matter if he hated her kind.

She looked away from the two humans, to glare at her sire instead. He was plotting her death, for his stance hinted murderous intent. Such sight made her doubt for a moment, even if she was not afraid of dying. What scared her was the thought of losing, failing to take his place. If she perished, she would leave the world at his mercy. All the ones she loved would suffer, on both sides. She would not be able to protect anyone.

That dread made her want to cower, retreat from his inquisitive gaze. The disease flowed strongly in her veins, beckoning her to run, from a being that was much older, inhuman in his bestiality. Her whole being was under pressure… yet her heartbeat only fastened, compelled by the emotions that had kept her alive. She growled and lunged at him, baring her claws. Her brethren leapt as well onto his henchmen, following her lead.

Alaric just laughed and blocked the first attack that she sent him. Two humans tried to slash at him as well, yet he pushed them off with ease. His foes hated him with all their hearts, but he was amused by the fact.

The tall ancient vampire seemed to dance between them all, avoiding elegantly the encircling fire and their insistent lunges. Rein watched intently from behind the flames, dreading the end of the play.