“Human?”

  “I mean, it looks like a human,” Peregrine answered.

  “Vampires generally look human in movies,” Wendell suggested.

  The group sat huddled behind a boulder, peeking around the sides at the figure standing at the edge of the treeline. They hadn’t yet decided what to do. Should they approach like it was a friendly? Or, should they attack, asking questions later?

  Peregrine got to one knee. “Let’s be armed and ready. We’ll gauge their reaction as we approach. If they get in a defensive posture, they might not be looking for a fight. If they come out swinging … well, I guess that kind of answers itself.”

  In agreement, they came out of hiding—though the person had likely seen them coming from a mile away—approaching tentatively.

  Whoever was waiting for them didn’t budge, which wasn’t ideal. Hard to read a stone.

  Once closer, the details of the individual came into view. It was … peculiar.

  A slender man wearing black shoes, black pants, and a black cape stood next to a tree. His cape was pulled around him, covering all of his face except for his eyes peering over the top. His hair was black, shiny and slicked back.

  [Vampire]

  [Baddie Level 6]

  Bloodsucker. Creature of the night. Shadow lurker. You’ve seen them in movies. You’ve read about them in books. Now, you’re encountering a vampire in real life. Keep those fangs away from your neck, lest you be transformed into one yourself. They’re deadly fast and have the capability to morph into a bat. Keep your wits about you as they have the power of MESMERIZE. The methods for killing them are traditional with their mythology. Get creative.

  “Get ready for a fight, guys,” Peregrine whispered.

  “Humans. What business have you here?” His accent was thick. Dare say it was out of Transylvania?

  The group froze. They’d been prepared for a fight, not for a simple question. Should they lie about their quest? Would telling the truth net them anything?

  Peregrine opted for the truth. Either way would end with a dusted vampire. “We’re searching for an eternal flame at the edge of the Always Forest.”

  Eyes widening, the vampire said, “Look into my eyes, humans. Look. Into. My. Eyes.” His fingers popped out from his cape, wiggling rhythmically.

  Was he trying to hypnotize them? If so, it was ineffective.

  “This is ridiculous,” Alissa said. “Watch out, I’m taking his head.”

  The vampire hissed and threw open his cape, revealing a white, ruffled shirt underneath. His fangs were long, and quite shiny. He moved at the group with lighting speed, ramming his shoulder into Peregrine’s chest, flattening him to the ground.

  Peregrine gasped for breath. The vampire made ready to pounce, but Wendell whacked him with his shield, knocking the creature back against a tree. The vampire held his arms out, hissed, then ran full speed ahead, his cape fluttering behind him.

  Not able to get to his feet in time, Peregrine did the next best thing and aimed his quill, ready to obliterate the 1920s-looking vampire. It didn’t come to that, though.

  Appearing almost out of thin air, minus the slight motion blur to the side of him. Another vampire placed himself in front of the charging one.

  The first vampire hit the brakes, inches from the new one. They hissed at each other before the newer vampire said, “Still yourself, Radu. What would master think of you spilling human blood outside your home?”

  Radu wrapped his cape around himself, leaving just his eyes uncovered, and bowed. “Forgive me, Miron. She called me ridiculous.” His eyes darted toward Alissa.

  “Yes,” Miron said, somewhat condescendingly. “I believe you, Radu. Now, run ahead and tell master we have guests.”

  Radu sped off into the forest, leaving a motion blur behind him.

  Miron was taller than Radu, but leaner. He was also a higher level, at eight. Notably, he didn’t look like a B-movie character as his colleague did. His shirt was ruffled, but he wore a gray suit over top of it. Long, curly hair spilled over his shoulders. Barely turning to address the heroes, he said, “Forgive Radu. He is … unwise.”

  “Who are you, exactly?” Alissa asked, keeping her sword at the ready.

  “Follow me, humans. You and my master will have much to discuss.”

  Nobody heeded his call.

  “If we refuse?” Peregrine asked.

  This time Miron made eye contact with them. “You can join me, or go on your own way, if you wish. You can try to kill me, if it will bring you pleasure. The choice is yours. However, I assume since you’re here, you must be searching for something which we possess. Yes?” He waited a second before starting his walk deeper into the forest. “Come.”

  Peregrine questioned his party members. Nobody protested, and they followed the vampire into the dark forest.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  CRACK!

  CHIRP! CHIRP!

  BZZZZ!

  The forest was filled with a symphony of sounds. Branches snapped underfoot, insects buzzed, and birds called. The heroes struggled to keep up with the silent-moving vampire who all but glided over the uneven forest floor while they tripped and stumbled.

  A heavy dread sat on Peregrine’s chest. Was this an idiotic choice they were making, trusting someone the System had labeled a “baddie?” On the other hand, this was the first bad guy they’d encountered that acted civil. Every other monster had tried to kill them on the spot. However, Miron’s intentions could be to lure them deeper into the forest and kill them without risk of a witness. Peregrine knew that, together, they’d be able to kill Miron. He didn’t know how strong this “master” was, but they’d defeated a boss that no one else had been able to. How tough would a few vampires really be?

  A few minutes later, it became clear that Peregrine’s underestimations were quite measurable.

  The leaves overhead were dense, allowing only small rays of sunshine to pass through. Trunks were thicker, and trees closer together the deeper they went in. All the bird calls and insect buzzing from before ceased. It was eerily silent.

  Miron stopped in front of a rock formation that was a little taller than him. There was an oval-shaped hole in the center. He pointed at the opening, which was dark as night. “Come. My master awaits. He will show you that which you seek.”

  Wendell shook his head. “Feels like a trap. We don’t know if there’s really some eternal flame down there. Their blood suckers, Peregrine. We’re best off getting out of here. How important is this item? Is it a necessity?”

  Alissa leaned in. “I get it. We don’t know what’s inside. But if they do have this thing and it gives us the upper hand going forward, then I say we take the gamble. Both those vampires are low level. We can beat them. If we can’t, then we won’t be getting much further on our journey, anyway.”

  Peregrine took a moment to process. Both of them made good points. Too bad they were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Was one more right than the other? Wendell’s thinking was logical and made the most sense. It probably wasn’t worth the danger. Without evidence, the rumors that the Spin and Rinse guys had heard were just that, rumours. But … he really wanted to get this flame. He knew it was ink meant for him. Fire magic. To him it was worth the risk. He didn’t want to piss either of them off, but someone’s feelings would get hurt. In his heart he knew what he wanted to do.

  “We’re going in,” Peregrine stated. “If it’s a trap, we’ll do what we need to handle it. If the flame is in there, then we’ll have new firepower to work with.”

  Alissa did a subdued fist pump while Wendell’s shoulders slumped.

  Miron led the way in. It wasn’t a straight entrance though, they found out as they stumbled into each other in the pitch-black. It was a set of stairs heading down.

  “Mind your steps,” Miron said, in that same condescending tone. “I don’t have a lantern.”

  Once the stairs ended, the floor leveled off, becoming a smooth surface. Their steps echoed throughout the cave. The darkness lasted for what felt like many minutes before a yellow light came into view, growing brighter and brighter the closer they got, to the point they could finally see each other.

  “In here.” Miron got down on all fours and crawled through a small opening.

  Peregrine did the same and followed him through. He heard Wendell mutter, “This is a mistake.”

  The other side of the tunnel opened into a vast lobby-like room. There appeared to be a Tesla coil in the center that was nearly as tall as the room. Waves of electricity washed off of it, zapping multiple chandeliers hanging from the rock ceiling, each filled with lightbulbs that showcased their filaments, providing a warm glow.

  Wow, Peregrine thought. This is amazing.

  A different sight made the grandeur go away.

  There were people everywhere; walking, talking, reading, lounging on couches. As the heroes got closer, it became apparent that all were dressed to the nines, and all of them had fangs. It was an army of vampires.

  Most of the creatures didn’t give the heroes a second of their time. Others stopped and eyed them hungrily.

  Peregrine’s choice had been a mistake. They were completely fucked. No way could they fight one hundred vampires and live to tell the tale. Why hadn't he listened to Wendell?

  Alissa was the first to react, whipping her sword out and twirling it above her head. This caused every single vampire to tense up. Some smiled, stepping toward them with fangs exposed. Hisses came from deeper in the crowd.

  “Put it down, Alissa,” Wendell begged. His hands had that tremble again. The one that said he was in danger of going into a fetal position.

  “Yes. Keep your weapons in your inventories.” Miron glanced about the room. “Drawing unwanted attention to yourselves here would result in your timely death. We don’t want that, yet. Do we?”

  Wendell motioned for her to cooperate. Peregrine did the same.

  “Fine,” Alissa said, through gritted teeth. Her sword disappeared.

  For the most part, the vampires went about their business while the group followed Miron to a side hall that was much narrower than the giant lobby. A few followed them at a distance, keeping the situation on edge.

  The hallway had the same types of lights as the entrance room, only these seemed dimmer and grimy. What they saw on either side of the hallway was appalling.

  Jail cells, with rusted iron bars, lined both sides of the hall. The cells weren’t empty. Dozens of humans rushed to the front, sticking their hands through the bars, pleading for help. There had to be at least twenty crammed in every one, with tons of cages on each side.

  “Save us.”

  “They’re killing us.”

  “Take my friend with you. She’s sick.”

  Peregrine aimed his quill at the back of Miron’s head. “What the hell is this?”

  Miron stopped, but didn’t bother turning around. “Vampires need blood to live. Human blood is easiest to come by. A constant, fresh supply is required for the many mouths to feed. There are competing monsters we do not wish to contend with. I urge you to quell your anger. The master awaits. You can question him yourself.” He continued down the hall to where it opened to another larger room.

  A young woman reached out and grabbed Wendell’s sweater. He slid his hands through the bars and wrapped them around hers. Peregrine didn’t hear what the woman said, but he heard Wendell say, “We will set you free. I promise.”

  Would they? Peregrine wished Wendell wouldn’t have made that promise. They walked the rest of the way, occasionally getting snagged by outstretched hands. The sadness and fright in their voices was overwhelming. Peregrine stared at the floor. It wasn’t out of embarrassment that he avoided eye contact with the humans being held captive. What was it? He couldn’t find the words. Maybe it was a sense of guilt.

  After hurrying through the hall, they found themselves in another large room, but smaller than the main entrance. This one was around the size of a small retail store. Like before, there was a functional tesla coil and chandeliers. A large number of vampires lounged and talked amongst themselves. One specific vampire, near the back, sat on a large golden throne. Off to his left stood Radu, hiding behind his cloak with just his eyes showing.

  “Master,” Miron said with a bow. “Special guests have arrived.”