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  “This is one of the seven, Barros. It’s a plan I have had in place for many years now. My subordinates are currently locating the other six that will join with this one to create the whole. I will raise the Red Sky across the whole of Taagras and revive Tal’davin, the first and greatest Vampire to walk across Taagras,” Sophia said.

  “Tal’davin will never rise again,” Barros said. He let out a grunt and pulled himself to his feet.

  “This is where you are wrong, Barros. Once the other six amulets belong to me, I will become the first Hand of Tal’davin and Taagras will flourish under my rule alongside him. My kind will lead the way in shaping the future, not humans,” Sophia said. She let out a soft laugh.

  “I’ll kill you,” Barros said.

  “You will try and you will fail.” Sophia walked back to him. “There’s nothing you can do.”

  The Countess gently placed a hand on the Hunter’s shoulder, forcing him to the ground, her hand digging into his flesh. Daggers hung loosely by his side and once again Barros was defeated. Sophia moved her other hand to his head, squeezing gently on his temples. The Hunter felt the tingling sensation he had experienced during their first encounter.

  “Sleep now, my love,” Sophia said. She knelt down beside him and ran her hand over his eyes. “Rest and find me here in the morning.”

  2

  Bloodlust

  With Abner now asleep in his crib, the spell she used on Barros spread to the child as well. She underestimated her power. Sophia smiled; proud of her work as she saw the effects it had on both the human and her half-breed child. She touched the amulet in reassurance of her power and tucked it away out of sight. While simple in appearance, the amulets of Tal’davin encouraged curiosity. The power they omitted drawing unwanted attention if they were left in the open.

  She looked over Barros and smiled at how easy it had been to bend him to her will. The amulet clearly amplified her power, as dominance over a human was very unusual, even for a Count or Countess. If all went according to plan, Barros would sleep until sunrise, leaving Sophia the rest of the night to quench her thirst at the throats of many humans. Abner and Barros would have to wait for her to return. She now needed to feed as she could feel in her gut that her blood supplies were low.

  Over the years, Vampires grew increasingly aware of their bodies and everything inside them. The years of not feeding had taken their toll on the Countess. Even with the doctor's life coursing through her veins, Sophia felt slower than she had in a long time. Still, the murder of the doctor should have provided her with enough blood to begin the rejuvenation of her system.

  As thirsty as she was, Sophia needed to ensure she found the best quality blood to satisfy her needs. The whores in the numerous brothels throughout the city were not to her liking; their blood was unclean from the filthy deeds they did for a living. Rhorn housed hundreds of homeless that had abandoned their farmsteads, fleeing from the war north of the border. They too were not to Sophia’s liking.

  She left the house a short time later, covered in a midnight blue travelling cloak, alone in her thoughts. Barros remained sprawled across the floor as Sophia closed the door and stepped off the small timber porch that surrounded the house on two sides. She sniffed the air, taking in all of her possible targets, then slid into the shadows.

  There were thousands of people in Rhorn, yet only the most dutiful of whom would suit Sophia’s needs well. Pausing briefly, she chose the northern watchtower that pointed towards Renor. She was unsure as to how many men would be on duty there, but there would be more than enough for her to feed upon.

  As she entered the tower and climbed the stairs, Sophia could taste the blood that would run down her chin in only a matter of minutes. The watchtower had at least a dozen floors, each for half a dozen men to live in while they worked on their rotations. She ran her claws along the stone blocks as she passed the top floor and made her way onto the observation deck.

  Four guards sat around a plain wooden table, playing a game of cards while another looked out, clutching a curved longbow, surveying the dark landscape that surrounded Rhorn. Sophia smiled to herself, knowing these would be easy kills. She cleared her throat making each of the men jump with surprise as they saw her standing behind the partially opened glass door.

  “Good evening, gentlemen,” she said sweetly. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  Each of the guards sprang to their feet, hands on their sword hilts, kicking their chairs out from underneath them. It took a moment for each of the men to realize who was in their presence. Their dark expressions quickly turned to a smile.

  “Not at all, Countess,” a red bearded guard said with an equally red face.

  “I hear you have been enjoying the pleasures of my city without me,” Sophia said.

  “My lady, this is not your city,” he said.

  “Not yet,” Sophia said.

  The guards looked around at each other, uncertain about the Countess’s bold claim. They all laughed nervously, not knowing what would come next. While none knew her Vampire origins, the Countess was known for being an extremely dangerous and powerful woman. Her ambitions had seen her travel Taagras, gaining influence with Councilors from every country.

  “Why don’t you join us then, my lady?” a younger, thinner guard said, gesturing to the table that was covered in drinks and cards.

  “I am indeed rather thirsty,” Sophia said. “That is the reason why I came here.”

  “Countess, surely you could have taken a drink at one of the taverns throughout the city,” the guard said.

  “I could have, but I am in need of the services of several strong men.” Sophia gently removed the hood on the cloak.

  They smirked at each other, knowing full well what the Countess expected of them. Sophia smiled back. It wouldn’t be long before their faces would be covered in terror. Her fingertips itched as her claws began to grow out of them. She stood, rigid waiting for the guard to approach her. He only had time to place his hand on her hip before Sophia lashed out violently, raking the guard across the eyes and leaving five long red gashes in his face. He dropped to the floor clutching his cheek. Blood streamed from between his fingers, his screams echoed into the night sky.

  Sophia only had time to suck a small amount of blood from her fingers before the other guards were upon her. She sought no reason to transform, her anger towards these men was minimal and they posed no threat. Their steel swords were only a temporary distraction. Each blow landed but simply rebounded off her hardened skin. The only thing that would be able to penetrate her armor like skin was a strike from a Fyndfire infused weapon.

  Unfortunately for the guards, their weapons weren’t infused with Fyndfire. Sophia charged forward towards the next guard, her fist rising in an uppercut motion. The blow connected with the guard’s chin shattering his jaw in the process and sending him flying over the railing. His screams died with him.

  Sophia turned as another sword attempted to split her skull wide open. She grabbed it, snarling at the guard who had swung it. His expression changed from one of rage to that of horror as Sophia twisted her wrist and broke the sword in half. The Countess opened her mouth, exposing her white fangs.

  The guard jumped back, desperate to evade her but he was not fast enough. Sophia latched onto his wrist, pulling him close with the elegance of a lover. He screamed as her mouth closed around his throat, her fangs tearing through the soft flesh. Sophia looked up from her kill at the other three men. Two of them dropped their swords, frozen with fear.

  Blood was smeared around her mouth, fresh from the last kill. Finally, her grey natural skin colour pushed through, removing any sign that she was human. The guard with the longbow released the arrow, sending it flying towards her. The Countess raised her hand, catching it in flight. She spun, ducking under the guard, swiping with her claw, taking out his leg.

  The arrow left her hand, flying towards the man who’d shot it, taking him in the chest with as much speed as
if it had been fired from the bow. He slumped backwards against the low wall. Now, only one man stood between Sophia and feeding. She took one look at the doomed soul and smiled. “You are helping change the course of history.”

  “What are you?” he asked. His voice shook.

  “A monster from your worst nightmares,” Sophia said.

  “Please let me go?” He squirmed as she came closer. “I swear to you, I won’t tell a soul.” But that’s not true, is it? You’d tell tales of a woman that could not be killed no matter how many times you tried to cut her in half with your sword. You’d grab the attention of Hunters, and that is attention I do not want. Not yet at least.”

  The guard lurched over, his eyes widened. Blood trickled out of his mouth, dripping onto the ground. Sophia wrenched her hand free from his gut and inspected her work. One guard remained alive as Sophia crouched to feed. She tore through the last man’s throat in seconds, and then began to suck his corpse dry of blood. With each kill, Sophia felt more invigorated as their life source was absorbed by her own, engorging each part of her body for no more than several seconds. The magic all Vampires controlled now went to work returning the Countess to the slim figure of her human body.

  Sophia then moved onto the next body, draining his corpse as well. She picked up the men that fed her and placed them in the chairs, knocking over the cups of ale as she positioned them. To anyone but a Hunter, it would seem they had been poisoned. The way, in which their corpses were whitening, it appeared as if Renori poison was inside their system. A single assassin from Renor would easily be able to dispatch four men in combat. Some were known for their overly aggressive tactics, and the chunks of flesh missing from these guards could be explained as some Renori turned to cannibalism to fuel their need for violence.

  Sophia felt refreshed and satisfied with her work. With her actions tonight, Sophia had ensured that the battle for Rhorn Pass would flare up once more. The Countess wrapped her cloak around her and walked to the railing. She looked down the tower to the deserted streets below. In the darkness she could clearly see the body of the man that had fallen over.

  The Countess vaulted over the railing, plummeting towards the earth. No fall could kill her, and the Countess knew as she slammed into the ground that her legs could take the full impact. She rose and made her way towards the south of the city. In the short time she had left the streets, many of the taverns throughout the poorer districts had cleared out and patrons now lingered on the roads.

  Sophia ducked into a side street, taking a shortcut back to her home. Drunks and degenerates littered the area, making her thirst grow even more. Once blood was taken, a Vampire was never satisfied. Soon the need to feed again was uncontrollable. Rounding another corner, Sophia came into sight of her home. Smiling, she decided to add insult to injury. A man approached her from the other end of the street. As he passed, Sophia grabbed at him, driving him into a wall. Tearing his neck out in one bite, there was no sound as he died.

  Leaving his body beside a small oak tree, Sophia strode across the main road to the building that had been her home for the last five years. Her thoughts turned to the first few nights she had spent watching Barros in his sleep here, wanting to desperately change him into one of her kind. He had potential and so much power at his fingertips, even for a human.

  So far, Sophia had resisted the urge to turn Barros into a Vampire but tonight would be different. With fresh blood flowing through her veins, the Countess felt more alive than she had in years. Full of confidence, she walked across the street and up the two steps. Her hand rested on the door for a second before turning the handle, opening it slowly.

  She surveyed the open bedroom and glanced into the small kitchen and bathroom that only Barros needed to use. Her husband was nowhere to be seen. Sophia removed her cloak, leaving it in a heap next to the door before venturing further inside. Something moved in the corner of her eye and she turned to find Barros crouched, his sword dashed out mere inches from her throat.

  “You thought your spell would keep me asleep the whole night?” he asked. “Going out and killing is not what you promised me, Sophia.”

  “Things change, Barros. You of all people should know that. I had to feed otherwise I would die. Our son took every drop of blood I’d taken years to store. I needed something.” Sophia eyed the sword warily.

  One powerful strike from Barros would all but see Sophia decapitated. As she stared down the sword’s edge, she could see the runes of the blade glowing red, calling for her blood. The Fyndfire on the blade made this sword lethal, not only to Barros, but to Sophia.

  “I put myself out for you, Sophia. I left the order because of you and I protected you,” Barros said. “Do you have any idea what you’ve started tonight? For five years we had peace, and now you’ve done this! Why?”

  Sophia smiled, curling her lip to reveal her fangs. “It is a new era. One which you will not be a part of. An era that will see the humans come second and Vampires first. Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum.”

  Barros pulled back with the sword as he attempted to decapitate Sophia, but he was too slow. Sophia struck, punching out at the Hunter, causing him to go on the defensive. He darted backwards, the sword moving nimbly with him. Barros reached into the crib, holding Abner in front of him, the sword ready to end his son’s life.

  “No closer Sophia or I will end him. Whatever this twisted plan of yours is I know it involves him doesn’t it?” Barros said.

  “He’s a half-Vampire, Barros, the first of his kind. Of course he’s part of my plan to bring Tal’davin back to us,” Sophia said. “Don’t hurt him.”

  “That old language you just spoke, what did it mean?” Barros asked. “Was it a call for more Vampires?”

  “If you want peace, prepare for war,” Sophia said. “There’s a storm coming from the north, Barros. Those men in the tower fed me so that I can now change the course of history. It will set off a chain of events that even you won’t be able to stop. Now give me my son, if you wish to see the light of day again,” Sophia said.

  “I’ll succeed at taking him from you, or I’ll die trying,” Barros said.

  “I thought you’d say that,” Sophia said.

  3

  A Promising Ally

  Your son?” Barros asked. “Only a few hours ago he was our son.”

  “Things change, Barros. I told you that,” Sophia said. “Put him down, before I kill both of you.”

  “You’d kill him just so you could end my life as well? I would have my son follow my steps as a Hunter before I even thought about turning him over to you to become an uncontrollable creature,” Barros said. “I wanted him to be free to pursue the life he wanted, not one either of us forced onto him. But now it is clear that Abner needs to become a Hunter.”

  “Is that what you think of me?” Sophia faked a pout as she took a step closer. “A wild beast? Five years ago, it was your mission to slaughter me but instead you chose to ignore that and fell in love with me.”

  “A mistake that I rectify tonight,” Barros said.

  Sophia laughed. “You can try to kill me, Barros but I don’t think you’ll be able to.”

  “I don’t need to kill you to put a huge hole in your plan.” Barros moved the sword closer to Abner’s throat.

  “You think you’re the only human male with a cock that could gift me with a half-breed child? I’m immortal, Barros. There are thousands of willing suitors ready to take me into their beds. Men that would beg me for a chance to become a Vampire,” Sophia said. “You on the other hand, how many Vampires would come into yours?”

  Barros ground his teeth together, growing evermore frustrated. His only leverage was Abner but he could not bring himself to harm the boy.

  “None will come into my bed because I will not make the same mistake twice. A man that would beg at a chance to become a Vampire is not a man. You and I were going to change everything until you revealed your plan. Humans and Vampires might have had a chance at understanding
each other through Abner. I put everything behind me for you and this is how you repay me. You disgust me, Sophia,” Barros said.

  “What about our son?” Sophia asked. She touched the amulet through her robe. “Leave him here with me, he’ll be safe.”

  “That’s bullshit and you know I don’t believe you. Your charms won’t work on me. I've finally woken up. Abner will remain here because he’ll only slow me down, but he won’t be safe,” Barros said. “If you dare come after me, I will cut your heart out and see if it beats like mine. If I was strong enough I would take you now. Five years takes a toll on a mortal human. When you are immortal, your true nature, you can't forget that in the slightest. I'm leaving.”

  “Barros, don’t leave,” Sophia said.

  “Don’t start, it’s too late for that.” Barros gently placed Abner back in the crib.

  He took one last look at Sophia before he turned and jumped out of the open window. The Countess ran to watch as Barros made his escape. There was no point chasing him; it would only start a brawl. Sophia watched from the window as the Hunter disappeared into the night. Once he vanished from sight, she began to make her own preparations.

  Barros made his way south through Rhorn in a race against time. He was far away from the house when he finally sheathed his sword. There was no need to catch his breath as the endurance he had gained from spending his whole life as a Hunter kept him going. Drinking Vampire blood was one reason why Hunters were so effective at what they did. This was one practice that Barros had not given up after leaving the Huntrey.

  His powerful, well-toned legs quickly carried Barros through the city to an establishment he used to own. The Plunder’s Mug was located in the very south of Rhorn, an area riddled with small crime and poverty. As Barros approached, he saw the familiar sign hanging over the door, a masked bandit, dressed all in black with a mug raised over his head. Both the letters ‘l’ and ‘d’ were fading away.