The echoes of clashing blades and claws flowed into the dark. Her steps were firm, her breaths deep, and her expression cold. She did not look at the humans she passed by. All who did not know of their ploy cowered, and the ones that did still hinted fear.

It was thanks to Lyssa’s presence that Nerys could march without hindrance. With her sire dead, Rein gave word. The soldiers that roamed in the depths managed to subdue the few vampires that remained loyal to that beast, so she and her brethren found no resistance. There was an unspoken deal, sealed with a mere sharp glance. She was allowed to traverse their haven to bring a conclusion to their ploy. There was something she needed to do, and no one else could.

The disease was a singularity that had never been comprehended completely, and no one could offer much insight into it. It was a sickness that cursed their blood, and it was as strange as magic. It had to be embraced within to be endured. Not even vampires could understand its ways, even if they felt it. They were creatures bound to instinct, woven into a horrible hierarchic ideology. The affliction dwelled in their veins, heart, and mind.

Nerys took another deep breath, to then glare at the light that shined at the end of the tunnel. Her heart was pulsing fiercely, and her mind was being twisted. She could still see those bloody eyes and hear those whispers and words.

Past the scorn of her affliction, she mourned a human, who she regretted not having saved. He had always supported them, even if in a harsh manner. She could feel the pain of her love, who marched at her side with a cold expression, which she forced on herself. Both knew that it was not over.

Another figure soon neared them from the depths, silently. Nerys felt how those silver eyes fixed on her and what she carried, with relief and shock. The two followed her without a word; Lyssa did emotionlessly, while Bastian did in conflicted tiredness.

Nerys could feel her own blood twist inside, having seen Alaric’s fall. Her instincts were trying to comprehend that she had asserted her strength to ascend in the vile hierarchy that the disease imposed.

She knew who she was and where she stood, and she would make sure that the affliction recognized it as well. It was time she took the throne.

She neared the bridge and stepped fiercely onto it, glaring to display firmness, no trace of doubt. Many weapons clashed in the field ahead. She could see the flames that surged from the wall of fire, which had been breached at the end of the bridge.

All rebels were gathered outside to form a huge army. However, they were less in number. There was no comparison with the huge horde of vampires that kept lunging against the blockade. There was no way for Hollowgrave to resist their attack for more than a day, not by human will.

Her green eyes glinted as the sunlight brushed her, no longer shadowed by the huge walls and arcs, which she left behind in her march. A few archers stood behind the frontlines, shooting at the vampires ahead. They were the first to be startled by her presence, for she came from the very bridge they were trying to defend.

Nerys did not flinch when they turned and shouted, pointing their bows at her chest. She felt how her fangs sharpened, while her body tensed, all due to the adrenaline that still flowed in her. The humans could trigger her anger easily, but luckily, she was not alone.

Lyssa stood tall by Nerys, even if she was utterly broken and defeated inside. Her expression and demeanour were unfaltering, her will flaming. She walked past the tall vampire to command the archers fiercely.

“Move aside and let her through.”

The insurgents were rightfully confused; not all had been informed of the ploy that both sides had arranged. They would have refused to obey her, if not for the fact that a few high ranked officials followed the two, backing their claims under Rein’s command.

Bastian watched anxiously as the rebels stepped aside, to make a small path for Nerys to traverse towards the clans. Lyssa led her safely past the army of the insurgence, making sure that no one would dare stab her.

All soldiers were shocked, for they were told to stop fighting and back away. After a few minutes, Nerys reached the frontlines, the edge of their blockade. Humans were clashing against vampires, so focused on their battle that no one noticed their approach.

Lyssa finally stopped following Nerys, and only Bastian kept doing so. The two would not gain much attention between the chaos, which they could not cross without perhaps being wounded. And so, she raised her voice, as feral and inhuman as possible.

“Move and make way. Now.”

She invoked something from deep within, which she had rarely made use of. Her brethren had always shown loyalty and respect towards her, and even if they obeyed out of care, there was also instinct. They were all bound by blood.

Her voice rumbled, and no one failed to hear it. Both humans and vampires jolted and tensed, hearing words that only a monarch could express with such firmness. All halted after a few seconds. The insurgents backed away, while the clans froze when they saw her there.

Her brethren ensured that all humans would stay off, efficiently, without force but clear urgency. In a minute, both sides were divided, to keep a few meters between them. All clans watched in disbelief as Nerys stood tall upon their eyes, prideful.

She had been sure that she would feel dread at this moment, overwhelmed by doubts and regrets. The thought of the clans judging her actions was enough to make her quiver before, but now she felt nothing but elation. She felt strong and indisputable.

Lochan had been one of the lords that fought in the frontlines. He had been trying to soar past the archers, to claim the bridge with his men. Due to his proximity, he was one of the first vampires that saw Nerys advance towards them from the den of their targets.

She was carrying something, which hanged from her right claw. When she had their unfaltering attention, she swung her arm strongly, letting that thing roll onto the field. It landed at the feet of some vampires, who gasped and flinched.

Their sharp eyes stared at Alaric’s scorched and severed head. It had been cut with a sword, yet it was so mangled by burns and slashes that it was almost unrecognizable. They knew it was his, however, because they remembered those long fangs and the striking scent of ancient blood.

Lochan’s wings slumped and trembled, causing him to land. He had always feared Alaric, terrified of his rage. Yet his head was now there at his feet, showing no hints of life or bloodlust. Even if he had known Nerys for a long time, now he felt a shiver when she proclaimed loudly, for all to hear.

“He is dead. Leave this place, all of you.”

It did not take long for a few lords to overcome their shocked trance. One of them glared at her, and all his spawns followed suit. They bared their spiked arms and hissed at her, furious.

“You and your clan murdered him!”

Nerys was not intimidated by any of them, even though a few took a step closer and snarled. She simply chuckled cynically and leaned to growl back, never showing doubt.

“I defeated him in a fair duel. My brethren only fought his weaklings.”

She looked sideways, because her most loyal aid backed her proclamation, commenting slyly.

“I wasn’t there, yet I can still recognize that only her scent emanates from his ashes… If we ignore the ones of a few humans, of course. No other vampire brushed him.”

Nerys smiled thankfully at Bastian, who was staring awkwardly at Alaric’s head. He could not believe that the one who sired her was dead; he felt a strange sense of solace in his heart, not only because he was freed from those oppressive instincts.

The lord that dared accuse her snarled nervously and took a step back. The thought of their king dying under the claws of his heir was shameful enough, but it was worse to imagine that he had been slain by humans.

Nerys took advantage of their doubt and judgement. She proclaimed for every lord to hear, to ensure that all clans would comprehend and admit her edict.

“I may have plotted against his life, but it was a fair strike. Do not dare say you have not witnessed such ploys in your own bloodlines. We fought, and while I lived, he perished. All his other descendants are dead, and only my clan carries on his blood. I have the right to assert my authority, for he is gone.” She cleaned the blood of her claws on her armour, commanding coldly. “Now… I want you all away. We should not kill all these humans, for we will end up with less blood in the long run. Ponder carefully if you must kill the ones that sustain you.”

Lochan gave Nerys an incredulous look, not angered by her words, merely surprised. He and his clan were the only ones who did not hiss or bare their claws. The other lords were not pleased to be told to retreat and miss a feeding frenzy, much less that she dared impose herself over them.

“You could never be as grand as him! Compared to us, you are barely a fledgling!”

“Traitor, you took advantage of this siege, expecting us to go away empty-handed!”

“We were promised slaves and cattle! I shall not retreat until I grasp them!”

“The disease may be pulsing for us to bow before you, but we won’t yield so easily!”

“We can’t allow a weakling to subjugate our will!”

Nerys tensed and looked sideways sharply, to glare at the one who said those last words. Her green eyes seemed to sharpen uncannily as she inquired darkly, with a faint yet loud whisper.

“You won’t allow it?” Lochan never saw a lord cower so much. Nerys neared the one that dared imply a revolt against her command, causing him to back away shakily while she loomed over him. She displayed her huge fangs in a grim smile, laughing as she outstretched her arms and claws to taunt them all. “You are allowed to dispute my rise in power. Fight me if you dare, now.”

She was not surprised when the lord retreated away from her, to hide between his brethren. That made a few soldiers of other clans laugh, amused to see a warlord hint such fear. Her own men stood firm while she marched strongly through the horde, boasting and yelling.

“Come on! Any of you are welcome to try! Steal his authority from me! It is easy, for I am only a weakling!” She grinned, seeing them all fall silent. “Dare… My brethren will take care of your men, while I’ll rip you to shreds.”

Nerys stood there, staring them all down, waiting for them to make a move. Bastian was not surprised when they moved further away, more scared than the humans that observed from a distance. After a long tense minute of silence, she grew tired of waiting. She lowered her arms and growled deeply, inquiring with obvious disappointment.

“No one?” She proceeded to close her eyes and lean her head, to then open them and point a claw sharply. “If you have nothing to say, obey and leave! Otherwise, I’ll break you and force you to crawl away!”

If anyone disagreed, they were free to object. Any vampire could defy one of higher blood, for it was allowed by law. However, such opposition would have consequences…

No one wished to confront Nerys, even if they wanted her dead. They could lunge and outnumber her, tear apart her clan. Sadly, their will was weaker than hers. Even Lochan felt how his blood pulsed, because the disease recognized a superior being.

All were prejudiced; she was young, yet they felt how their instincts strangled away their reason. The whispers came, creeping in their minds to assert that they should obey her will.

Bastian sensed it too, and he felt horrid fascination for the affliction, which always controlled its victims. He watched as the clans began to back away slowly, only able to display their anger with faint snarls or growls.

The huge army started to disassemble, gradually. Her word forced all lords to retreat, and in turn, so did their spawns. It was a butterfly effect, which soon brought safety to their supposed prey.

Lochan gathered his troops, but he sent Nerys a curious look before leaving. He pleaded wordlessly for her to clear things up later. Her expression softened for a moment, in which she answered with a tired nod. Neither had wanted to attend this siege; they knew that too much blood would have poured.

Lyssa finally surrendered her cold and unemotional mask. It took some time, but the horde that had threatened their home left. Their freedom and lives were not stolen but protected by a vampire.

The three stood there, watching the horizon breathlessly. They struggled to recognize that they had managed to pull off their ploy, something that they had doubted.

It was Lyssa who broke the silence. Nerys felt her heart sink when she heard her sob. She turned to look back and saw her sitting on her knees, clutching her chest with both hands. Loud cries escaped her, yet she was laughing at the same time.

Bastian saw Nerys dash, crouch by Lyssa in a second. It was thanks to the careful watch of her brethren that no insurgent dared lash out at her. Her big claws reached for her hands, to whisper as quietly as possible, hoping to comfort her.

“It’s alright. It’s over.”

Lyssa mourned. She raised her gaze slightly and gave Nerys a look that hurt them both.

“At a great cost… That disgusting beast has-”

Nerys pulled Lyssa closer against her chest, brushing her hair gently. She let her cry, but not voice painful laments.

“Shh…”

Many had died, too many. They had avoided a massacre, but not bloodshed. Bastian stepped closer, slowly. He had seen the two approach the surface, but a mage had not done so with them.

“Where’s…” Lyssa bit her lip when Bastian asked, with a haunted look. “Where is Sergius?”

It only took a glance from those green eyes for him to understand. Her clan managed to keep the insurgents at bay, for them to cry until Rein imposed order.

——-

“Your demands are too high, vampire.”

Nerys glared at that member of the council. Bastian contained a sigh as the argument continued.

“You are in no position to bargain, human.” She waved a claw, staring at her sharp nails to make a point. “Show more humility, not because I can bring all those clans back, but because I sent them away. I shielded Hollowgrave and its inhabitants, while you hid like a coward in a small dark chamber.”

That man finally shut up. Rein was the only one that displayed serenity between them all. What they were witnessing was unheard of. No vampire had ever spoken to the council, much less like this.

Nerys stood proudly in the centre of the chamber. She was not chained, and she was not wearing a muzzle to conceal her huge fangs. Her clan was nearby, keeping an eye for any possible attack against her.

There was hate in the humans that surrounded them. Many wished to burn Nerys alive. But that would not happen, not after what she had done. Rein tapped a finger on some documents, inquiring with a monotone tone.

“As far as I understand, you are asking us to stop attacking certain regions, correct?”

“You must also ban those damn muzzles.” Nerys gave Bastian a sharp glare, because he spoke out of turn. He only shrugged and complained, still resentful of the one he was forced to wear. “Don’t give me that look! They are humiliating and unnecessary! I cannot believe they tried to put them on us! Again!”

Nerys simply rolled her eyes and kept facing the delegates, having dealt with politics before. She was glad that Rein was unfazed by Bastian’s derisive statements, because she needed to be assertive.

“I want you to consider my domain off-limits. We do not want to be your foes, and an alliance is possible. Do not assault my land, for I don’t wish to bring you death.”

Rein looked around, to debate the opinion of his comrades. Most of the council was not pleased by those demands. And so, he closed his eyes and spoke honestly.

“We can’t promise that.” Nerys was tired of their stubborn words and affirmations. “We will fight against oppression, no matter its form. Any lord who chains humanity will be punished.”

“We agree on something then.” Nerys averted her gaze, conflicted. “There are many lands plagued by slavery. I have seen them. However, not all lords commit such beastly acts against humans. Now I hold more authority over my kin; if we collaborate, we can force other vampires to surrender their ways. Many on both sides would oppose our association, but with time, we could achieve peace. If you don’t welcome it, I can’t offer you the aid you need.”

Lyssa was not in the chamber to support her claims. If she had been by her side, the demands would have been more direct, and surely angrier.

The council argued for a while again. They finally reached an agreement, and luckily, it did not involve them being burned on a stake in the main plaza.

“You shall leave Hollowgrave unharmed. If you do return, you will do so when called by our emissaries. Our assemblies will be carried through in the fields, observed carefully by guards, for you will never venture again into these tunnels. Fail to attend any of them, harm any of the scouts we send to your land, or god forbid, kill any human… and you will lose our trust. You will be hunted down.”

She bowed, considering their harsh words to be a start.

“You are quite welcome in my land. Just make sure to not carry any stakes.”

Nerys turned around and began to leave the chamber. Her brethren made sure that the guards escorting them kept their distance, because their gazes were hateful. Bastian marched at her side, and when they crossed the doors, he raised an eyebrow at her.

“Good speech, but you should have taunted them a little more. Their ultimatum was more prideful than yours.”

She smiled down at him, finally able to relax slightly as those doors closed behind them. He always managed to ease her mind in the worst of moments.

“Ah, are you saying I should have threatened to bite them?”

“No, but an implication is always useful. We could be the ones to hunt them down, for lunch. They need to respect us. They act like we have not just saved their damn lives, which we could easily claim.”

“I can’t sound menacing, Bastian. They need to see me as more than a beast.”

“You are scary sometimes. However, when you need to be you prefer to act well mannered. A little display of anger would have not hurt. I mean, their demands were quite insulting.”

“One word: politics.”

He agreed, that word summarized their struggles quite well.

“I did not think I would have to deal with diplomatic treaties when I signed up for this war.”

“Neither did I. When we lost everything, I simply grabbed a sword, and I was a general before I knew it.”

There was faint regret in her words, yet they made him ponder.

“Hmm, not too long ago, I would have said that I shouldn’t have been a strategist. But now I am prouder of my ploys. Apart from that one that sent you into those ruins, of course.”

“Yes, effective and with minimal casualties, all of them.”

Nerys sighed, extremely relieved that luring Alaric into that chamber had led them to this outcome. The humans now trusted slightly in her, for they had seen her fight to shield them.

Bastian blinked when Nerys halted suddenly. He frowned when she laid a claw on his shoulder, because she averted her gaze as she asked, with an unreadable expression.

“Could you please… see how Lyssa is doing?” Her green eyes were fixed on a corridor, which led to areas in which she had lived once. “I want to check something before we leave. I won’t be allowed to return.”

He knew what lurked in her mind. And so, he agreed without a word. She was going through a lot, so he would try to help her as much as possible, even if it meant leaving her alone for a while.

Her green eyes hinted gratitude when he patted her shoulder as well, to then walk away. A few of her soldiers followed him silently, to make sure no one would corner him and stake him.

Nerys took a deep breath, tensing. She whispered to her nearby officials, who frowned due to her command.

“Follow if you must, but keep your distance.”

They understood, proceeding to hide more in the shadows, knowing she did not need to be escorted. Once she was seemingly alone, she began to march forward, firmly. She traversed the military district, passing many corridors and doors, which housed many soldiers. One chamber had belonged to her, once. She got closer to that room, and with each step, her determination and braveness faded.

She stopped in front of the door, hesitantly. Her claw moved to the handle, but she did not grasp it. She simply stood there, undecided. Her senses alerted her of her own rapid heartbeat, and the one inside. She could feel a human, who she recognized.

The two knew that this chamber was the only place where they could meet. She was not allowed to roam areas where civilians lived because it could cause a panic.

She had chosen to come here, and she could still decide to bolt away, flee. There was nothing preventing her from leaving without a word, to let things be as they were. However, both knew she would not be able to.

Nerys finally opened the door, gently and slowly. She stared at the ground, only daring to look up when a few seconds went by. Their green eyes met, hers anxious, his calm and patient.

Wilfred was sitting on a chair, waiting, having known that Nerys would go to the chamber where she once lived. He was not stupid; he was aware of what she was, something that did not belong anymore in this underground fortress.

Although he loathed vampires, he showed no trace of hate as he looked at her. Neither had known what to expect, but they had not imagined this. The two were tense, contemplative. There were no dreadful tears or relieved exclamations.

The silence was too painful, too much to bear. Wilfred drowned all his apprehension to speak up, with the most welcoming tone he could muster.

“There’s no need for you to keep your distance, sister.”

Nerys shivered when she heard that last word, for it was said without doubt. She was unsure if he could call her that. Still, she pushed those thoughts away, because her brother pointed at a nearby chair. He was inviting her to sit.

She could sense the fear; it flowed in his veins. It was faint, but there was no way in which she could deny it. However, it was clear that he was not afraid of what she could do, but what she went through.

Nerys approached, as slow as the shadows that grew at dusk. She tried to not seem threatening, but her anxiousness only hinted her vampiric features even more. Her eyes were sharpening due to her fear, and her fangs showed with each word she attempted.

“It’s been a long time…”

“Too much.” He held his hands together with a scowl, looking up at her intently, noting how she did not sit. “I understand why, however. You could not come back.”

Her eyes narrowed sadly. She met his gaze, like if she wished to apologize for the worst of crimes.

“What have they told you?”

“Enough.”

Her brother never raised his voice, not even when angered. It was not easy for her to discern what kind of emotion hid in that word, and that only made her recall the times in which they grew slightly distant, due to the fact that he had not been in that village to shield her.

Right now, she felt like if a barrier had grown between them, once more. Back then, they overcame it, but she did not know if they would be able to this time. There was no way for her to know what he was thinking, but one thing was clear.

“I know… that you don’t like this.”

“Not one bit, Nerys. I can’t deny it.” His frown intensified, but in a mournful manner. He averted his gaze like she did, struggling as well with words. “I believed you were dead. To be honest, it was both hurt and relieved by the truth. I had wished that you were still human, but hopes can be crushed easily.”

These words hurt too much. She only needed to know one thing to find closure. she only wanted to be sure that they were safe.

“How is she doing?”

She wanted to know if her niece was alright, because she was one of the many reasons that drove her to fight. If the two could move on after her loss, her mind would find peace.

Wilfred noticed well how Nerys was tense, holding her claws away while she kept still. She could barely look him in the eye, and she spoke softly to try to keep her fangs hidden. He knew what she was thinking and it pained him greatly, because it reminded him of his past neglect.

“Why don’t you ask her personally?”

Nerys was startled by that suggestion, so much that she almost said a word that she told herself to forget.

“Broth-“ She shook her head, to then lament. “I can’t see her. The guards won’t allow me to roam near the plaza. Besides, I will never be able to come back. I don’t want her to know that I’m alive, not when I…”

She grimaced, having a sudden thought. The question was voiced, dreadfully.

“Y-you haven’t told her, right?”

Wilfred smiled at last, with the warmth Nerys had never forgotten. There was sadness in his next words.

“I have not. But you know I won’t be able to avoid it for much longer. She is adamant in her curiosity. Sooner or later, she will find out, much like she heard of Bastian and Lyssa.”

Nerys stayed silent for a whole minute. Wilfred simply kept talking, like if he was not near a vampire, but a loved one.

“Although the world around her is dreadful, her will and heart are strong. She always says that she wants to join the guard, to be able to venture outside. Honestly, she has kept my spirits alight, ever since I lost the one who used to do so.”

Her claws clenched more, and she could not avoid letting herself sit on the chair, cowering under his gaze. Each word her brother said stabbed her deep, because they tangled with care.

“It is not easy to live between these walls, even if they offer safety. We are buried under, unable to roam freely. Our eyes rarely see the sun, and with you gone, few things manage to offer solace.” Her heart skipped a beat when the next words echoed. “Lyssa and Bastian told me you have a castle.”

She let out a faint growl, not due to anger, but exasperation.

“What else did they tell you?”

“That it stands in a peaceful domain, safe for all. I am sure that it is true; he was never a good liar. Vampirism can’t have changed that.”

Nerys stared at Wilfred for a long while. Her pulse was fastening, her thoughts conflicted.

“You are saying…”

She hoped that he wasn’t saying what she thought, and at the same time she wished he did with all her heart. He simply stood and looked down at her with a loving glance.

“Tell Lyssa to warn me when you leave.” He closed his eyes for a moment, smiling regretfully. “I left you behind once, and then I lost you to a disease that kept you away. Never again will I make you feel unwanted. I will follow you wherever you roam.”

She blinked and froze, because he ruffled her long red hair like he used to do when she was younger, before he left their village for Hollowgrave. He left the room, sure that he would see her again.

Nerys sat there, alone. She tugged at her hair with a claw, unable to comprehend that he still cared, for she felt much more inadequate than when she was human. There were many screams in her mind, and her heart was afraid, confused by the love others displayed.

What do they see past these horrid eyes?

She would never know, for she never saw her own love.

————-

The wind flowed softly. A long worn coat hanged from a wooden cross, which had been stabbed into the earth strongly. The sun gleamed strongly in the sky, yet its light was dimmed by the tall looming trees, which offered a comfortable shadow.

A young human sat in front of the tomb, which had been dug by a vast green tree. Two vampires stood by her, never daring to break the silence. Time went by very slowly, with no one to disturb them as they mourned.

It took hours, but their respectful quietness ended. Lyssa was the one to speak, even if her voice was slightly shaky and broken.

“It feels weird to not have him watching nearby.”

Nerys closed her eyes, feeling guilt. Bastian looked away with a frown, remembering well how the mage always kept an eye on them. Even if he used to roam near Lyssa more, he still kept an eye for the three of them.

“I’m sure that he will keep looking out for you, Lyssa. Not even God can keep him chained, I bet.”

Bastian tried to comfort Lyssa with the thought of an afterlife, for he still conserved his faith, even if he doubted in the goodwill of his deity. She appreciated his words, but her eyes still lacked some of their brightness.

“Yes, he was never one to surrender.” She smiled back at them both, recalling other times. “Every time we left Hollowgrave through that crack, he would chase after us. He always found us, no matter where we roamed.”

They were young, and their recent losses and endangerment had angered them greatly. Hiding was something that they did not wish to do, and they could not join the insurgence until a few years after.

Nerys stepped closer to the tomb, to then sit by Lyssa’s side. She added, showing deep respect for the man that trusted in her despite his prejudice.

“He always let us wander for a while after he would find us. The forests captivated him…”

There was fresh air, beautiful sounds, and freedom. Perhaps he had been harsh and blunt, but he was always there to aid them. He was the one to train them and teach them what he knew when no one else would. From the moment he saw them, he shielded them, even if it brought him to his death.

The three sat there, contemplating all that had brought them to this moment. Their mentor had laid a path for them to follow, and they wondered if they could follow it without him.

Nerys was the last to leave, letting Lyssa and Bastian walk away first. She was grateful, but also overwhelmed by dread. Sergius had surrendered his life for theirs, and she felt bound to honour him.

She would do all that she could, to shield her and any other human that suffered. There was still a lot to do, and many foes to battle.