The caravan reminded Little Crow of a hideous red wyrm that had somehow fled the Badlands and was now crawling through the Wyrding woods, devouring everything in its path, announcing their arrival at every turn. For a goblin tribe making noise was the enemy. Noise revealed your position and invited predators. Until you were a true follower of the Quiet you were not allowed to wander off alone. Smallest sound could risk the entire tribe. But for their caravan, sound was not a weakness.

  It was a warning.

  Any predator that dared to approach them would soon learn that no legs, no matter how powerful, and no fangs, no matter how sharp, ran faster or bit deeper than a bullet. With a rifle even a goblin was a force to be reckoned with. Feeling the weight of the rifle on his back was comforting and made Little Crow feel powerful. Like a god. His kind was smaller than some of the children of humans and Prospero had custom made the gun to fit him. It looked like a toy compared to what his human companions carried but it could still kill. Had any goblin ever wielded such power? With the pull of a trigger, he could kill even skin-changers but…

  … but…

  … no matter how strong the rifle made him feel, he fell asleep every night scared. Scared that when morning came the rifle was gone. That he would have to go back to being just a weak nobody. Old Badger, the wisest of his kind had always preached about the dangers of the Path of Civilization. Humans had thought Civilization would allow them to become masters of all they saw but Civilization had mastered them instead. Civilization demanded a never-ending sacrifice of misery, toil, and pain. Packed cities festering with disease. Farmlands that reaped only starvation after one bad harvest.

  But the Path of Civilization had also given men rifles.

  Despite all it took, Little Crow knew he could never give up his rifle. He could never go back to being weak. Just food for hunters bigger and stronger than him. Why rely on fox princes and high gods when he could be like them? When the rifle made him his own protector? He spent most night cleaning, oiling, and maintaining his rifle lovingly and falling asleep next to it but… the fear remained. What if the rifle abandoned him?

  “Everything okay?”

  Earl Prospero de Ferro was tall even among other humans. He was lean and hard as a knife with hawkish features and a sharp widow’s peak. He always kept himself in shape but the long journey in the Wyrding had burned off what little excess there had been in him, leaving behind only flat muscles and hard sinews. During their adventure, he had grown a fierce, black beard that covered most of his face and seemed to push his cheekbones even higher. For warmth he wore a dark green greatcoat with a golden arrow pin on it. On his back he carried a rifle and, on his belt, a short sword.

  “Just thinking, master.” Little Crow said.

  Prospero nodded and glanced at his rifle: “Does the gun feel off?”

  “… yes.” Little Crow admitted.

  “You should know how to adjust it.” Prospero said.

  “… that’s not it.” Little Crow said.

  The bones in Little Crow’s hair rattled when he sighed. Each bone came from game larger than him that he had killed. Without a rifle.

  “Are you ever afraid that you… lose your weapons?” Little Crow asked.

  Prospero regarded him for a moment and then stroked his beard: “Want to know a secret?”

  Little Crow looked at him surprised and then nodded: “I won’t tell anyone.”

  “I’ll trust you on that. The only thing that nobles fear is losing their power. Their wealth. Their weapons. All their life they have told themselves that they are different from the common rabble. Better than them. Separate from them.” Prospero said and chuckled: “Deep down they know that it’s a lie and it drives them mad. They will do anything to crush that fear.”

  Prospero tapped the rifle Little Crow carried with him everywhere.

  “So don’t let this thing get to your head. Old Heron would never let me hear the end of it if you declared yourself a lord suddenly.” Prospero said.

  Little Crow thought about it for a moment and then looked nervously at Prospero: “Aren’t you one of the nobles, master?”

  The question seemed to catch Prospero off guard, and he thought about it for a moment.

  “I may be one of them but, I’d like to think I’m not like them.” Prospero said finally.

  “Now why do you go selling yourself short like that, Perry?”

  The words were followed by wet hissing that sounded almost like chuckling and the snake princess slithered to them. Even when she wore her human disguise, Little Crow was never fooled. All he had to do was look into her eyes the color of bird’s eggs to know what was hiding under the human skin. A childhood illness of her current skin had washed all the color out of her hair and left her gaunt that gave her an unearthly eeriness. Like a ghost that had fled the graveyard. Despite being deep into the Wyrding, the snake princess wore a summer dress and sun hat. To further protect herself from the sun, she was hiding under an umbrella.

  But the worst part of her…

  … the very worst…

  … was how she would slither into his dreams at night, and he would wake up sticky and ashamed. Even now he paid more attention to the small breasts under the thin dress than her eyes or the poisonous fangs behind those smiling lips.

  “How nice of you to join us, Liv.” Prospero said: “Anything I can do for you?”

  “Get us to that damn castle faster. If the wheel in my carriage breaks one more time, I will strangle someone.” The snake princess said and pulled out a cigarette that Prospero lit for her.

  “What did you mean master was selling himself short?” Little Crow said without being quite able to hide the anger in his voice.

  The snake princess smiled that particular smile of hers that infuriated and excited him in equal measures.

  “Your master is more like our fellow nobles than he likes to admit. Are we not off to rob a dead devil’s treasure to fund a rebellion against our king? A rebellion that will kill… oh so many… of the common rabble?” The snake princess said.

  “It will be for the best.” Prospero said.

  “I am sure that will be a great comfort to the dead filling graves. Or the families mourning them.” The snake princess said and blew out a smoke ring: “That’s your problem, Perry. You always try to win the love of the people you inevitably fuck over.”

  Little Crow was about to raise his voice, but Prospero put his hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

  “And yet you’re here too.” Prospero said.

  “It’s not like I am going to let my brother get himself killed on this mad venture. Besides, I worship the Wild. Our fellow nobles have enslaved Garuccia, and slavery is the greatest sin to the Wild. I’m just not expecting Garuccia to thank me. Slaves always choose their chains, and they love the hand that beats them.”

  The snake princess’s words seemed unnerve even Prospero and Crow felt nauseous. Then the snake princess turned her eyes at Little Crow, and a shiver ran down his back.

  “And don’t rely too much on a gun, my little hero. That was Cassio’s mistake, and I’d hate to see you end up like him. Power does not come from a gun. Power comes to those who want it the most. Your Grandmother does not need one to be dangerous.”

  Then as soon as she had come, the snake princess wandered off to annoy someone else. Prospero watched her go and shook his head, seemingly bemused by her antics.

  “Scathing.” Prospero said.

  “She’s a bitch, isn’t she?” Little Crow said.

  “You have to love her to like her, and she isn’t necessarily wrong. Our weapons have developed faster than we have. But there is no putting that genie back into the bottle. I entrusted that weapon to you. I hope you are worthy of my trust.” Prospero said.

  “I will, master.” Little Crow said.

  “Good.”

  “But… there is one more thing, master.” Little Crow said.

  “Go on.”

  “We… are breaking oaths, aren’t we?” We are… oathbreakers. You… to your king and I… to the Wyrd King.” Little Crow said quietly.

  Prospero’s hand reached to the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, but he quickly stopped himself.

  “House Neri betrayed House Eld and forced my ancestors to vouch fealty at sword point. How could anyone hold me to that oath? And later House Emmanuel did the same thing. Firebird is the rightful king of Garuccia.” Prospero said and then smiled at him behind his beard: “But let’s say you’re right. That we are oathbreakers. Do you know the one way a man can break his oath and retain his honor?”

  “No.” Little Crow admitted.

  “He wins.” Prospero said and looked at one of the carriages: “And we have a more powerful weapon with us than guns.”

  They kept travelling down the Wyrding woods in their caravan with carriages filled with food and weapons. Human soldiers armed with rifles kept a close eye on the woods that surrounded them but the fear that plagued them could not be held at bay with gunfire. When they had first entered the Wyrding, they had looked at the trees like an enemy to conquer and behind every corner was fortunes to be won. Now the trees were an army surrounding them. Their imagination whispered that every shadow held a monster that could jump out at any moment. The further they went, the more fear gnawed at them, but they could not abandon their lord.

  Prospero’s magnetism was stronger than the power of the Wyrding.

  Despite their terror, they would not leave their lord’s side. Prospero had cast a spell over all of them and even their fear could not break it. So, they kept going until they arrived at a raging river. Far too deep and wide for them to cross it safely. Little Crow regarded it with Prospero when Viktor approached them.

  “Perhaps we should look for a safe place to cross.” Viktor said.

  Viktor de Grimaldi was much different from his sister the snake princess. He was much shorter than Prospero but almost twice as wide. He had broad shoulders, thick arms and a muscular chest. His black hair had been cropped short, and his eyes were blue as bruises. One of his eyebrows was clipped by an old scar. He wore a dark blue uniform adorned with golden stars and a long sword hung from his belt. Even this deep in the Wyrding he remained clean shaved.

  “That could cost us days.” Prospero said: “We will cross it from here.”

  “Very well.” Viktor said and gave the men the order to start cutting down trees to build a bridge.

  Seeing the men work was a wonder to behold. They started chopping down trees with a speed that brought to his mind ants. They were all unified by a single task and there was no wasted effort seeing it through.

  “How do they work so fast?” Little Crow marveled.

  “My House might not have the best soldiers, but we do produce the best engineers.” Prospero said.

  The men didn’t stop working until the evening grew dim and Viktor ordered them to rest and eat. Little Crow set up his tent, a gift from his tribe that marked him as an adult. A man with his own tent. He disassembled his rifle and cleaned it meticulously before oiling it, drying it, and putting it back together. He had repeated the task so often he no longer had to think about it and his paws could work on their own while his mind fell into meditation. But not even meditation could ease his mind.

  Not when night had fallen.

  He had told himself that he would not leave his tent before morning. Not again but no matter how much he meditated and regarded his feelings from every angle… he couldn’t just let them go. His wants and desires dragged him wherever they pleased and now they pulled him out of his tent. The camp had fallen silent with only a few people standing on guard. Avoiding them was a simple task for a goblin and he headed to the snake princess’s carriage. He stood outside it for a while and tried to find the strength to go back but then the door opened on its own.

  “Come in.”

  Little Crow tried one last time to leave but the open door was calling to him, and he climbed in. The snake princess’s carriage was an entirely different world from the rest of the camp. It looked like the rooms Prospero had in his mansion. A noble lady’s private study with a bookshelf, writing desk, armchair and a comfortable bed. There were even carpets. A curtain split the carriage in two and behind the curtain was the bathtub where the snake princess could wash off the dirt of the road.

  What she was doing right now.

  He could make out her silhouette through the curtain and smell the soap that had the fragrances of a garden. The snake princess raised her leg out of the warm water and stretched her toes. It was lazy, sensual movement and Crow wondered how deliberate all of it was.

  “You kept me waiting.” The snake princess said while scooping foam in her hands and blowing it in his direction: “Well? Don’t just stand there. Join me. I kept the bath warm for you. You’d better be grateful.”

  Crow regarded her silhouette through the curtain. The snake princess’s skin was human and only a bit older than him but the god lurking under the skin… snakes were the enemy of his people. She was the enemy of his people… and even then… her skin wasn’t even a goblin’s. So why did none of that matter when he caught a glimpse of her naked flesh? Without even fully realizing it, he had stripped off his clothes and climbed into the warm bath with her.

  “Much better.” The snake princess said with a wicked smile: But I can’t help but notice that you’re making that face again. What’s bothering you, my little bird?”

  “This isn’t right.” Crow said.

  “Oh, this must be pure hell for you. Getting to play the hero by day. An earl’s apprentice. A guide to an army and when night falls… you get to share a bath with a goddess. I’ll never know how you manage it.”

  Under the foam, the snake princess was stroking his tail with her toes, and he had trouble looking her in the eyes.

  “You didn’t have to be so rude to Prospero.” Crow said.

  The snake princess flicked water at him.

  “Perry better learn to take some shit and fast. He will be getting plenty of it soon enough. Let’s take some stock, shall we? We are working together to resurrect the god-emperor of all vampires to wage war against Garuccia and the Wyrd King. Just to set up another vampire on the throne of Garuccia. And we are planning to do all that with the gold of a dead devil. We are in the eye of the storm now, my little bird.”

  “Snake princess…”

  The snake princess raised her hand out of the water and poked him gently on the chin.

  “Take your eyes off my perfect titties for a moment and look me in the eyes. What’s my name?”

  Crow did as he was told… and was shocked to see how hurt the snake princess looked.

  “Livia… Liv…”

  “Better. I like it when you call me by my name.” The snake… Liv said and then spread her arms: “Come to me.”

  Crow came to her and lay in her arms, resting his head between her breasts. He had stopped growing and was one of the tallest members in his tribe. He had earned his bones years before anyone expected him to be ready. He was everything a goblin of the Bone Flock Tribe should have been. Liv by contrast was short for a human but… her being taller than him was exciting in its own way.

  “You comfortable in there, my little bird?” Liv asked.

  “I prefer it when you call me by name.” Crow said.

  “Crow.” Liv cooed and bit his earlobe playfully.

  “Or am I just a pet to you?” Crow asked.

  “Do you think I’m cruel?” Liv asked while caressing his chest: “Because I am but never more than I must. There are things I believe in too. Want to know a secret?”

  “Yes.” Crow said.

  “I did not wish Perry to be the one to do this. I love him. He is my second brother. One I actually respect, and this war will destroy him. He knows what must be done but he also wants to be loved. He can’t have both and that will kill him.”

  Crow wanted to defend his master’s honor… but he knew that she was right. He loved Prospero too and he knew that Prospero wanted above all else to be loved and admired. He wanted to be a hero, and heroes were not fit to lead wars.

  “Then why did you let him?” Crow asked.

  “Because the one I thought would save Garuccia from itself went and died in a house fire. A fucking house fire. Can you imagine that? His Savage Highness. Dead from a fire. That’s no way for a Prince of the Wild to die.”

  “Are you sure he could have done it?”

  “Yes, because unlike Prospero, Sal was mad, and you need to be mad to save the world. A madman, a monster, and a hero all in one. But he is dead, and I must make do with the Baron. He is much like Sal in that regard.”

  “You really loved him, didn’t you?” Crow said.

  “Sal was easy to fall in love with. That’s what made him so dangerous. I wept when I heard he was dead.” Liv said and held him closer: “Here’s another secret for you, Crow. Even gods get tired and need comfort. So, comfort me or did you think I drew this bath for us so you wouldn’t fuck me in it?”

  When a goddess gave a goblin an order, how could he say no? The bath was warm and wet like Liv, and he knew he would be back to her. As long as she would welcome him. Until one day she would cast him aside the same way she had chosen him. Once they were done and Liv was resting under a blanket, Crow shook the water off his fur and started getting dressed.

  “You could stay the night, you know.” Liv said while making room for him on the bed.

  “Prospero might call for me.”

  “And wouldn’t he be in for a surprise?” Liv said.

  Crow buttoned his shirt and then stopped. He looked at his paws, so very different from the hands of a human. Goblins might have had four limbs and two eyes like humans, but they were not human and… women usually preferred men who were taller than them.

  “Why did you choose me?” Crow asked.

  Liv licked her lips in response like he was a dish she couldn’t wait to devour.

  “You have the same quality to you as Cassio did. Although you are more fun than him. The Lionheart was bit of a bore.” Liv said and kissed the tips of her fingers that she pressed on Crow’s lips: “I am a Princess of the Wild, and I choose my mates.”

  Her fingers on his lips tasted sweet and he licked them without even thinking. Suddenly he wondered if they were done for the night after all.

  “What quality did and I and the Lionheart share?”

  “Fearlessness but unlike Cassio, I think the Wild suits you better than the Quiet.” Liv said.

  Crow fell silent and thought about the offer hidden in the compliment. Like everything else about Liv, it was thrilling and terrifying. Too terrifying for him to contemplate right now despite the burning in his groin.

  “Goodnight, Your Silent Highness.” Crow said.

  “Goodnight, my little bird. Try not to hate me tomorrow when I spit more barbwire.”

  “I could never hate you, Liv.” Crow said.

  He left Liv’s… the snake princess’s carriage with a mixture of satisfaction and dread. Like he had crossed the sword bridge, and he couldn’t wait to do it again. He was so lost in the moment that he didn’t pay attention to his surrounding which would have made Grandmother smack him over the head with her paw.

  “You have an interesting way to spend your nights.”

  The voice turned Crow’s spine into an icicle and her turned towards the figure who blended into the night and shadows like they were part of her. She was dressed in a black greatcoat, white shirt, grey pants, and brown boots. Dirt from her native land still clung to her clothes. A cutlass hung from her wide leather belt even though she didn’t need it. Her fangs and talons were sharper than any blade she might pick up. Her skin was white as bone and seemed to glow in the moonlight. The only splash of color were her blood red lips and eyes. Her brown hair was thick and curly and there was a mole under her eye like a black tear.

  “Elysa?” Crow said.

  ***

  Elysa Capello reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out her cigarettes. To her dissatisfaction she found some dirt on them. That was the problem of sleeping in a coffin filled with the earth of your native soil. The dirt got everywhere. After dusting off her smokes, she lit the cigarette, and she could taste the tobacco more strongly than she ever had as a human. One of the unsung perks of vampirism. An ability she could have done without was being able to smell whenever someone had sex. Even after bathing themselves in soap and perfume.

  “You should be careful about the company you keep.” Elysa said and glanced at the snake princess’s carriage: “That woman will gobble you up.”

  “You heard us?” Crow said.

  There was something about Crow that reminded her of her former fiancée. Like Cassio, Crow’s face could have been carved from stone and revealed little. As a human she had thought that Cassio had been stoic and arrogant. As a vampire she realized how awkward and lost he had been. For Cassio and Crow, a hard front was their shield in a world they did not understand.

  “The curse of being a vampire. I hear everything.” Elysa said and groaned: “Every fart and burb. And don’t even get me started on people using the outhouse. Like loading a goddamn musket.”

  Crow snorted and then met her gaze. Not something people usually dared to do with a vampire.

  “Are you going to tell Prospero?” Crow said.

  “Crow, you offend me. I ain’t no snitch.” Elysa said and blew out a smoke ring: “Just don’t come running to me when she chews you up and spits you out.”

  “I won’t.” Crow said and looked at her cigarettes like he was about to ask for one. Then he bowed his head: “Goodnight, lady Capello. Blessing of the Quiet upon your journey.”

  “And blessing of the Dark upon yours.” Elysa said.

  Elysa made sure Crow returned to his tent before venturing deeper into the camp. Most people were asleep in their tents and shivered under their blankets when she passed them by. The guards who were standing watch gave her wide berth and prayed that she paid them no heed. She nodded at them out of politeness but none of them ever nodded back. They just clung to the crosses hanging from their necks like they could protect them. Prospero had gathered his best men for this expedition, but they were not suited for the Wyrding. Growing up with a vampire for a father, Elysa had never thought how terrifying seeing real miracles had to be. To most the Wyrding was just a nightmare that the Church would protect them from. A child’s mind could accept most things, but a grown-up would shatter. Even their crosses had no power here despite what their preachers had told them. Every day Elysa could sense the same question in the soldiers’ minds.

  Was there no God?

  Or…

  … was God there but He did not care?

  Before arriving at Prospero’s tent, she flicked away her cigarette. As always, the head of their expedition stayed up late into the night. Running the numbers and reviewing their route to make sure they had enough rations to make it to their destination and back home. Even with all the gold he was hoping to find in the devil’s castle.

  “Can I come in?” Elysa asked.

  Prospero looked up from his papers. Unlike the snake princess, Prospero lived much like his men in a simple tent. The only difference being that his tent was bigger and had actual furniture. A small table, chairs, and a real bed.

  “You’d think I’d only have to invite you in once.” Prospero said: “Yes, you may come in.”

  Prospero had taken off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. His only cigarette of the day had been stumped inside an ashtray, and a meager supper of bread, cheese and meat was laid before him. Elysa sat on one of the free chairs and lit another cigarette.

  “Looks like we hit a roadblock.” Elysa said.

  Prospero just shrugged and poured himself some wine: “We will cross it tomorrow and we should arrive at the castle soon.”

  “I just hope we don’t find someone has beaten us to it.” Elysa said.

  “I doubt it. The castle is a goblin holy site. Only they know where its buried and goblins don’t have much need for gold.” Prospero said before reaching under the table and took out a small bottle filled with blood: “Care to sup with me before heading out?”

  Elysa grinned and took the bottle: “Hell yes.”

  She opened the cork and savored the blood inside. It had grown cold, but she could still taste the essence of life in it. Blood that was taken from a powerful work horse and now its power was part of her.

  “A holy site, huh? And you’re sure the goblins won’t mind that we just ransack the place?” Elysa asked.

  “Old Heron gave me her blessing, but I had to promise we just take the gold. Nothing else is to be touched. She also insisted that I piss on Zagan’s remains should I come across them.” Prospero said.

  “Those two had history, didn’t they?” Elysa asked.

  “They did. When Zagan the Bloody arrived in the First Circle of the Wyrding, Heron was one of the heroes that stopped him and trapped him in his castle. Along… Old Badger and… His Savage Highness.”

  Hearing Old Badger’s… and Sal’s name still made her wince. As a vampire she could peer into the minds of others and those two had meant so much to so many people. Their pain had become her pain too.

  “I still can’t believe they’re gone.” Elysa said.

  “Me neither. I always assumed that Sal would live forever. That he would always find a way to cheat death.” Prospero said and continued writing: “But he is gone. So is Cassio. They’ve been gone for over a year. No point in mulling over the past.”

  “I guess so.” Elysa said and glanced at the letter Prospero was working on: “Who are you writing to?”

  “My son.” Prospero said.

  It took a moment for Elysa to believe what she had heard when she did, she bit her lip: “… what?”

  Prospero looked up from his work with a quizzical look.

  “You have a…? I thought…”

  Prospero flashed him a dry smile: “You want me to really blow your mind? I’m married too. I’m surprised you didn’t know.”

  Elysa tapped her knee with her talon uncomfortably: “… does she know?”

  “That I’m a bohemian? Yes. She does. We are both happy with the arrangement. She loves someone else. As long as the children are mine, I have no complaints.”

  “… oh.”

  Prospero sighed and rested his head in his hand: “Elysa, marriage among nobles is a business transaction. No one expects the couple to love each other. It’s just a way to tie together bloodlines and fortunes. I doubt you and Cassio would have lived together in the long run if you had actually tied the knot.”

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  “Well… shit.” Elysa said and drained the last of the blood: “I guess I have a lot to learn about marriage.”

  “I suppose but you lucked out. Cassio would not have made you happy.”

  “I know. I am not that slow.” Elysa said.

  Prospero stared at the stumped cigarette. The only one he allowed himself. It looked like he was about to smoke another one but then suppressed the craving.

  “Elysa… there is something that has been bothering me and I am sorry to ask but… Cassio… was he ever… ungentlemanly towards you? I know you didn’t love each other but…”

  “Prospero…”

  “Call me Perry.”

  “Only if you call me Ellie.”

  “I would like that, Ellie.”

  “In that case…” Elysa said: “Perry… I don’t owe Cassio anything. That means I won’t lie to protect his memory. Are you sure you want to know?”

  “That alone tells me more than I’d like to know but… yes.”

  “Okay.” Elysa said and bit her lip: “He never hit me but… he came close. If Old Badger hadn’t been there…”

  “Goddamn it, Cassio.” Perry groaned.

  “I guess this wasn’t much of a shock to you.” Elysa said.

  “No. You’ve seen Viktor’s scar. Cassio gave that to him. I’d hoped he had grown to be better but… I guess people don’t really change.” Perry said and looked at her sadly: “You won’t lie for Cassio, but could you lie for me? Crow looks up to Cassio. Let him admire the hero instead of the man he was.”

  “For Crow? Sure.” Elysa said and bit her lip: “About Sal… he was your lover once. I won’t lie for him either. When I was turned, he had already lost a leg, but he still dragged himself out to help me. I think he was a good man.”

  Perry let out a snort that almost sounded like a sob.

  “He was a rogue, a rascal, and a scoundrel. He fucked too much and drank even more.” Perry said and rubbed his eyes: “But yeah… even then… he was sometimes a good man.”

  “We seem to have a shortage of those.” Elysa said.

  “Amen, Ellie.” Perry said and had more wine: “I have been lying for you. I haven’t told your brother about you.”

  Elysa bit her lip when she thought about her brother. Her mother. The family she could no longer be a part of.

  “How is he? How’s mom?”

  “Mourning but she is looking better. Less dead. It would help them if you went to see them.”

  “I’m not sure they would want to see me like this.” Elysa said.

  “Cowardice doesn’t suit you. You have to bite that bullet at some point.”

  Elysa nodded and then stood up: “Thanks for the drink. I’ll be out scouting the route.”

  “The running water won’t be a problem to you?” Perry asked.

  “Not as long as I don’t fall into it. So, mind my coffin when you cross the river.” Elysa said.

  “Will do. Blessing of the Balefire upon your journey, Ellie.” Perry said.

  “And blessing of the Dark upon yours, Perry.” Elysa said.

  After leaving Perry’s tent, Elysa walked away from the campfires into the darkness of the Wyrding. Not that it was dark for her. To a vampire even the deepest night was bright as midday. Mortals huddled around their campfires terrified at what lay in wait in the night and they were right to be afraid. In the night, there was her. Even then she did not wish to scare her fellow travelers any more than necessary. They were already petrified of the vampire in their midst.

  They did not need to know that her human shape was just a disguise.

  Much like skin-changers, a human body could not contain a master vampire’s true power. Once there was no risk of being seen, Elysa erupted into her true form. A dark owl large enough to hunt and carry off humans. She let out a triumphant screech when she took flight and at that moment, she was freer than any lord or king. A crown and riches only weighed you down. To take flight was true freedom and sometimes Elysa considered never going back down. Why assume a human form and walk among mortals when she could just fly? Prowl among the other beasts of the Wyrding and know true freedom.

  One day, Elysa thought.

  That day would come but it was not today. She had been a human far longer than a vampire and her true shape still… unnerved her. Despite all the freedom and power, it offered. It was a constant reminder how much she had changed. She had walked away from her human kin, but she was not ready to say goodbye to her human shape just yet.

  But for now, she would fly.

  She did not have to fly for long. A caravan could never match a vampire’s speed, and she saw the castle towers peeking above the treetops like spears of soldiers hiding in tall grass. Elysa circled the castle from the air and even from here she could smell the stench of corruption. The castle was a horrendous ruin like the rotting carcass of a vicious monster left unburied and not even vermin had dared to touch it. Its foundations were born from slave labor, and the bricks had been laid in blood. It reminded her of the Grey House she had lived in with her father.

  A monstrous tyrant’s private playground.

  Should she return to camp and tell that she had found no castle? She abandoned the thought quickly. The old Elysa had thought like that. The Elysa who had been terrified of seeming uppity. The castle’s owner was long dead. She was a master vampire. She had nothing to fear. The castle and everything inside belonged to whoever feigned to claim it, and she had not come this far to turn back now.

  Having found the castle, Elysa started scanning the Wyrding for another kind of target and soon enough she spotted it.

  A mighty elk sleeping soundly. Full of warm blood. The bottle Perry had shared with her had not been enough to satisfy her and started falling towards the elk without a sound. The elk didn’t even have time to realize what was happening when she was on it. With beak and talon, she ended the creature’s life and then drained it dry. Blood was always more potent in the Wyrding, and she lied on the soft grass for a long time, marveling at how beautiful life could be. The universe itself seemed to open itself to her when she stared at the stars. Dawn was fast approaching when she returned to camp, and she was surprised to find someone else up besides the guards. The princess of the Snake Clan was sitting on the steps of her carriage smoking a cigarette. The snake princess had always made her feel uneasy. Maybe because how much she reveled in her power or maybe because the god in her had swallowed the human whole. Maybe it was because she saw so much of herself in the snake princess.

  “Hope I didn’t wake you.” Elysa said.

  “I’m a light sleeper.” The snake princess said and offered her pack of cigarettes: “Care for a smoke?”

  It was not wise to offer your hand to a serpent, but she didn’t want to seem scared and reached for a cigarette. The snake princess didn’t bite her fingers and even offered her a light.

  “See? I can be nice too.” The snake princess said and blew out a smoke ring: “Find anything?”

  “The castle is close.” Elysa said.

  “Oh joy.” The snake princess said.

  “You don’t sound happy. Have you gotten used to pooping in the woods? Or shagging up with a goblin?” Elysa said.

  A Garuccian lady would have turned an ugly shade of vermilion from mentioning a secret tryst or bodily functions, but the snake princess just smiled proudly.

  “You should give it a try. Goblins have always accomplished awfully lot with awfully little.” The snake princess said before blowing out a smoke ring: “And Crow is very talented.”

  “Why keep it a secret then?” Elysa asked.

  “A secret affair turns me on.” The snake princess said.

  Elysa almost choked on her cigarette and the snake princess had to pat her back for her to clear out her lungs.

  “Good for you, I guess.” Elysa said when she could talk again.

  “Crow gets off on it too. He’s bit a of miscreant.” The snake princess said and lit another cigarette: “But I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “About what? The treason?”

  “This expedition. Zagan.” The snake princess said.

  Elysa was quiet for a moment and then grinned: “You come across three doors. Behind door number one is a bottomless pit. Door number two has an army of knights. Door number three has a lion that hasn’t eaten in three weeks. Which door you choose?”

  The snake princess shrugged: “What the hell are you yammering about?”

  “Humor me.” Elysa said.

  “Fine, fine.” The snake princess said: “Honestly… I don’t know. The pit, I guess.”

  “Are you sure?” Elysa said.

  “Fine, miss smarty-pants. Which door would you pick?”

  “Door number three. A lion that hasn’t eaten in three weeks has starved to death.” Elysa said.

  “Aren’t you clever.” The snake princess said.

  “My point is… after five decades, Zagan would have starved to death.”

  “The Baron has been dead for five centuries and he’s still kicking.” The snake princess said: “Elysa, I would consider it a personal favor if you went with them into the castle.”

  “You want me to go out during the day? Are you trying to kill me?”

  “You’re a master vampire. Just… I don’t know. Summon clouds to hide the sun or something. Your dad could do it.”

  “Thank you for reminding me.” Elysa said and looked at the snake princess: “If you’re so worried, why not go yourself?”

  “The goblins would not appreciate a snake in their holy site, and someone has to watch over the camp.”

  Elysa thought about it then nodded: “Okay.”

  “Thank you, Elysa.” The snake princess said and then grinned: “How is immortality treating you?”

  Elysa looked at her surprised: “What do you mean?”

  “The two of us haven’t talked much. I thought it was time to fix that.” The snake princess said.

  “We keep different hours.” Elysa said.

  “That we do. Vampires… all that power but never able to see the sun again. Was it worth it?”

  “What makes you think I miss it?” Elysa asked.

  “Nothing worth having comes for free and immortality… only a fool would think it didn’t have a price tag.” The snake princess said.

  For a moment she thought about blowing the snake princess off but… it was odd. Could anyone else understand the situation she was in? Hadn’t the snake princess been there too? Elysa looked at her hands. Her pale fingers… that now ended in black talons.

  “What did you sacrifice?” Elysa asked: “It’s just fair since you started.”

  The snake princess chuckled and tapped her neck where Elysa could still see two faint scars.

  “I do believe your daddy started all of this. I would never have become a skin-changer if it wasn’t for him.” The snake princess said and blew out a smoke ring: “Did you ever read Sal’s mind?”

  “Briefly. It looked like… a jungle.” Elysa said.

  “Sounds like him. Full of pretty colors and nice smells. But it hides tigers.” The snake princess said and lit another cigarette: “Good thing you didn’t dive deeper. You would have seen the graveyard.”

  “The graveyard?” Elysa asked.

  “We are made of the souls we devour but a skin-changer doesn’t have one of its own. It wears skins to make sense of itself. I am just one of those many skins. Am I Livia de Grimaldi that gets to wield the power of Her Silent Highness? Or am I Her Silent Highness who merely thinks she’s Livia de Grimaldi? Is Livia actually dead?”

  The snake princess stared at the burning end of her cigarette and for a moment Elysa thought about giving her a hug.

  “I’ll live forever but not as Livia. One day Her Silent Highness will choose a new skin, and I go into the graveyard. But I don’t really mind. Immortality one lifetime at a time is far preferable to vampirism. It’s just you. Forever.”

  Elysa bit her lip and thought of her family.

  “I’ll figure it out.” Elysa said.

  “Well, you’ll have the time for it. You’ll live forever.” The snake princess said and stood up: “Elysa Capello, I do believe the two of us could make terrible friends. I am looking forward to that.”

  Elysa thought about it and chuckled: “Me too. I guess.”

  Dawn was breaking and after saying goodbye to the snake princess, she climbed into her coffin filled with her native Garuccian soil and rested for the short time she had. This time she did not allow herself drift to sleep and concentrated to her surroundings. She imagined herself growing to a gigantic size. So tall that her head reached the clouds. Then she spread out her hands and pulled every errant cloud to her, creating a thick curtain to hide herself from the sun. Maintaining the shade was a constant effort and she tried not to think of what would happen if she slipped even for a moment. She still remembered what had happened to daddy dearest when the sun had found him. How he had screamed and burned. The skin-changers and goblins tearing him apart must have been a relief.

  Once she heard the rest of the camp waking up, she pushed away the lid of her coffin and stepped out of her carriage.

  Perry and Viktor had brought with them the most hardened soldiers they could find. Some of them had even served in and survived the Twelve-Year-War. They had spent months or even years hiding in their foxholes and made peace with fear, but when they saw a vampire out during the day, they could not suppress a shiver. Only Perry looked happy to see her and walked up to greet her.

  “Lady Capello. Couldn’t sleep?” Perry said.

  It was moments like these that made her understand the magnetism that attracted people to Perry. Grizzled veterans who were old enough to be Perry’s father looked at him with worshipping eyes when he approached Elysa. Fearlessness in front of scared men should have created resentment but Perry had an air of invincibility to him, and he made everyone who followed him feel indestructible too. The men were terrified of her, but they would not have hesitated for a moment to lay down their lives to protect him. His mere presence made even gods take note.

  “Just didn’t want to miss this. The castle is close. We’ll get there today.” Elysa said.

  Perry smiled and patted her shoulder: “Welcome aboard. Just try not to get sunburned.”

  The men got back to work building a bridge over the raging river and Elysa marveled at their sheer efficiency. Her grandfather had been a carpenter and mom had picked up the craft when he had died. Elysa had helped around the workshop enough to appreciate quality. She lit a cigarette and walked over to Crow to watch the work progress. When he approached him, Crow stood up and bowed his head.

  “Your highness.”

  Elysa bit her lip out of reflex.

  “You know you don’t have to call me that.” Elysa said and Crow only stared at her blandly: “You think Dare has to take a bow every time I walk in?”

  “Daring Ant is a hero. I am not.” Crow said.

  “And you think I am?”

  “You helped kill the Screaming Vampire.” Crow said before hesitating: “Princess of the Dark… it’s not my place to advice a god but… Grandmother shared something with me you should hear.”

  “Okay. Let’s hear it.” Elysa said.

  “If you act like someone not deserving of respect, you will soon lose all respect. Titles have power. Use it.” Crow said.

  Elysa snorted: “Old Heron knows her shit.”

  Crow gave her an odd look: “Do… humans have to identify their droppings often?”

  Elysa stared at him for a moment and then shook her head.

  “Never mind.” Elysa said and took a log drag from her cigarette: “Now that we’re on the subject… can you clear something up for me?”

  “I can try.” Crow said.

  “Okay. Here goes. Was it true that Badger and Heron were both… you know… the fox prince’s wives?”

  “Gods have always had multiple wives.” Crow said like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  “A man must have come up with that rule.”

  “What do you mean?” Crow asked.

  “What? Like… how would you feel if your dad suddenly took another wife? Or your mom another husband?” Elysa said.

  “Your highness, are you okay? I have three fathers.”

  Elysa almost dropped her cigarette and just stared at Crow: “You what now?”

  “My mother had three different lovers. Their seed made me, and I carry their blood and strength in me.”

  “And… your mom was okay with this? Like… she could have said no if a fourth one had wanted to… add his seed into the mix?” Elysa said.

  “She did say no. She had a childhood friend named Sparrow who loved her, but mom only saw her as a brother. He… didn’t take it well and Grandmother had to banish him.” Crow said.

  “Oh. Well, shit.” Elysa said.

  “It all ended well. Old Badger took him in, and he ended up training Daring Ant. He died like a hero. Defending his new tribe.” Crow said.

  “I see, I see.” Elysa said and glanced at the snake princess who was drinking tea and reading a book by her carriage: “How would you feel if the snake princess took another lover?”

  The way Crow’s eyes narrowed told her everything. She didn’t even need to hear blood rushing into his muscles and his knuckles cracking.

  “That is her decision.” Crow said.

  You poor bastard. In love and with terrible taste, Elysa thought.

  “Do humans take only one mate?” Crow asked.

  “Yeah. It’s usually a major scandal if you double dip.”

  “What if something happens to the one father? What if something happens to both parents?” Crow asked.

  “I wouldn’t envy that kid. When… my… father… didn’t come home, mom had to work herself to the bone.

  “Didn’t your tribe help you?” Crow asked.

  “They tried but… everyone had their own problems to take care of.”

  “That’s terrible.” Crow said.

  “It was. I…” Elysa said before falling quiet.

  Something was wrong. The air felt heavy just like before a storm and she wasn’t the only one who could sense it. Crow had dropped down and taken out his rifle. The snake princess had stood up and looked ready to bounce at anyone who dared to try something. The soldiers were reaching for their weapons, and Perry was yelling at everyone to get away from the river. Only Viktor remained perfectly still while he looked around his surroundings. He had already drawn his sword, and a killing circle had formed around him. Anyone who entered the reach of his sword would die.

  Even then they were not ready.

  The surface of the river broke when a tentacle thick as a tree branch flew out of the water and wrapped around the leg of the last soldier getting out of the water and started dragging him in. Perry, who had been helping his men out, grit his teeth and slashed at the appendage with his short sword which was enough for the tentacle to release the soldier, but it only made the monster lurking under the surface aware of Perry. Eight more tentacles shot out of the water and grabbed him, forcing Perry to drop his sword and Elysa caught a glimpse of a face under the stream. Sickly green and luminous skin wrapped tightly around a malformed skull with a sharp and hungry maw.

  Everything happened fast.

  Crow took aim and shot at the monster trying to harm his master. The soldiers who had been shocked out of their senses, regained their resolve when they saw their young lord in danger. Like Crow they drew their rifles and fired at the monster but none of them could match Viktor. He didn’t even flinch at the bullets flying over his head when he rushed to the edge of the water sword in hand and started hacking at the tentacles. The appendages were thicker than a grown man’s arm, but Viktor’s blade cut through them like nothing.

  And before she knew it, Elysa had rushed to the half-finished bridge and started cutting into the tentacles with her cutlass.

  Running water was the only thing more deadly than the sun to a vampire and Elysa felt like she was standing over a river of acid, but she knew that without Perry, she was lost. They all were. He was the one who would guide them to glory, and they would protect him until they got there. When the monster let go of its prize, Viktor helped him to dry land and suddenly Elysa realized she was the only one left in the monster’s reach.

  “Oh… oh, shit.” Elysa gasped.

  The monster’s remaining tentacles wrapped around her and even though the sun was hidden behind clouds, it weakened her. Denied her access to most of her powers. And the monster could sense her fear. Her fear of running water. The predator was no longer driven by hunger but revenge. She might have been stronger than the monster, but it was heavier, and the half-finished bridge was slippery. She fought back but without a solid foothold, she was being dragged into the running water. Into her death.

  “No! Let me go, you bastard! I don’t want to…!”

  Something long and thin flew by her head into the water. All she could take in was keeled and bristly scales the color of dark gold. It dove into the stream and a brutal battle under the stream began. Then the river was stained by green blood when the monster hiding under the water found out the oldest truth. There was always something more dangerous out there. Water splashed over her when the monster surfaced briefly. A vile octopoid strangled by a ten foot long rough-scaled bush viper thick as a grown man. The two combatants disappeared again under the stream, and everyone fell silent while they waited to see what happened next.

  It was Livia who surfaced.

  Her wet hair was pressed tightly against her scalp, and her make-up was running down her face. Her dress was drenched and dragged her down when she tried to pull herself out of the river.

  “Livia!”

  Crow had dropped his precious rifle without a second thought and ran to help his lady out of the water. Livia took his hand, and he pulled her out. Elysa’s skin stung where the monster had grabbed her, and her legs trembled when she crossed the bridge back to dry land. Once she was back on solid ground, she let out a relieved sigh and then walked over to Livia who was on her knees panting and wheezing and offered her a hand.

  “You… just saved my life.” Elysa said.

  Livia looked at her hand and then let Elysa help her up.

  “Gal pals, am I right?” Livia said.

  “I… yeah… gal pals.” Elysa said in a trance.

  Livia flashed her a grin and then looked around: “Where’s my brother?”

  Everyone had gathered around Viktor who was sitting down and rubbing his ankle. It was already swelling, and Elysa could tell it would soon turn a nasty shade of purple. Everyone gave them way when they saw them coming. Perry looked at them with an expression Elysa had never seen but Livia didn’t seem to even notice, and she just looked at her brother.

  “What the fuck happened to you?”

  “I slipped on a wet stone when… I helped Prospero out. I think I sprained it.” Viktor said.

  “More like broke it, dumbass. You’re gonna drive mom up a wall.” Livia said.

  “He saved my life.” Perry said and stood up.

  It was always a shock how tall Perry was when he wanted to make himself noticed. He was even taller than Cassio had been and made everyone look up to him. His gaze passed around at the soldiers gathered around him and he nodded.

  “You all did. You all saved my life. I… I would be dead if it wasn’t for you all.” Perry said and bowed his head to them all: “I am truly blessed to have friends such as you. Blessing of the Balefire upon you all. I had promised all who followed me a share of the treasure. Consider your share increased.”

  The men cheered but Elysa wasn’t sure if it was from the promise of a larger cut or the fact that their lord had called them his friends. Livia just rolled her eyes and headed to her carriage. Without knowing what else to do, Elysa followed her. Crow tried to come with them, but Livia shook her head and… just how sad she looked at the moment… Elysa suspected Crow wasn’t just a bit of fun to her.

  “Fix the dumbass up.” Livia said while passing by the camp doctor.

  Elysa followed Livia into her carriage and once the door was closed, Livia threw off her wet dress without hesitation or modesty. She didn’t wear any underwear beneath her clothes and began drying herself with a towel.

  “Perry is good, isn’t he?” Livia said while furiously drying her hair: “He almost dies and immediately spins it for some solid PR.”

  “… thank you.” Elysa said.

  “Huh? For what?”

  “… for… for saving my life. If I had fallen into the river, I would have… died.”

  “Those caveats in being a vampire are a bitch, aren’t they?” Livia said and lit a cigarette before offering one to Elysa.

  She accepted it gratefully and concentrated on inhaling the tobacco. She’d had brushes with death before. She had survived. She had survived again. She would keep surviving. Death would not take her. She wouldn’t let it! She would live forever! Until the last star had gone out!

  “You’re kinda cute when you’re not doing that dark and mysterious act.” Livia said.

  “Huh?”

  “Oh, nothing.”

  Elysa bit her lip and tried to make sense of this strange woman. Were all skin-changers this brand of crazy. Still… it made her feel better. Calmer. Livia could make her forget how close she had come to dying.

  “What was that thing?” Elysa asked when her fingers had stopped shaking.

  “Probably one of Kraken’s kids.”

  “Kraken?”

  “This apocalyptic monster that sleeps at the bottom of the ocean. My selkie cousin makes sure it stays asleep.” Livia said and blew out a smoke ring: “Unbelievable. Asleep for thousands of years and it still finds ways to squeeze out babies.”

  “I… what? It has babies while asleep?”

  “The selkie princess said it can knock itself up. A damn waste. The only good part about kids is making them.” Livia said while putting on a bathrobe and sitting in her armchair: “This gentleman adventurer business is exhausting. How do you people do it?”

  Elysa smiled and put out her cigarette: “Thank you for saving my life, Livia.”

  “Don’t expect me to make a habit out of it.” Livia said.

  When Elysa stepped out of Livia’s carriage, the camp had gathered around Viktor. The doctor had set the bone on his ankle and tied it with a splint.

  “I can still keep going.” Viktor said: “Just put me on a horse and I can…”

  “Keep that up and you’ll just lose that leg.” Perry said and patted Viktor’s shoulder: “Don’t worry. We’ll just lie that you were there.”

  The protesting Viktor was carried to his tent and Perry turned his attention towards Elysa. Crow was standing by his side like a loyal shadow.

  “How are you holding up?” Perry asked.

  “I’ll live.” Elysa said.

  “And Liv?” Perry asked.

  “It will take more than death to claim her.” Elysa said and Crow sighed in relief.

  “Well, hopefully we won’t run into more aquatic horrors.” Perry said.

  “How are you holding up?” Elysa asked: “You could have died.”

  Cassio’s mind had been a raging fire. Sal’s a lush jungle. Whenever she caught a glimpse of Perry’s mind, she saw a factory. Spotless and working with perfect efficiency. She tried to remember if she had ever felt fear from him and couldn’t recall such a time.

  “I climb mountains for fun. Fear is something that happens to other people.” Perry said and stoked his thick beard: “Are you good to keep going?”

  “You still want to push forward?” Elysa said.

  “I am not stopping now. I am also splitting the team to guard Vicky. We’ll be able to move much faster.” Perry said.

  “If you’re sure.” Elysa said.

  “It’s the only way to stop him from following us.”

  They left the camp with only half their forces, and everyone stared fearfully at the river. Everyone except Perry who whistled a cheery tune when he crossed the bridge first like he was on a leisurely stroll in the park. Once Perry had made the crossing, the others followed him. Crow was the first to chase after his master and Elysa wished the bridge was wider when she walked over it. The soldiers they took with them were beaming with pride for being included in the last leg of Perry’s expedition while those that were left behind looked on with envy.

  “How badly was Viktor hurt?” Elysa asked while she walked side by side with Perry and Crow.

  “A minor break. Nothing he won’t recover from but…” Perry said and sighed: “It’s his pride I’m worried about. This will be another thing he’ll have to overcompensate for.”

  “He didn’t strike to me as someone with anything left to prove.” Elysa said.

  “You don’t know him the way I do. He did not take Cassio’s death well.”

  “Were they close?” Elysa asked.

  “I doubt everyone has ever hated Cassio more than Vicky. He has always been trapped in the Lionheart’s shadow and now that he’s dead… he’ll never escape it. Never surpass him. Time will only make Cassio’s legend grow.” Perry said and shrugged: “I once told him that Selkie-Jack thought he was more talented than Cassio. He did not believe me. Vicky is his own worst enemy.”

  “Selkie-Jack? The lord admiral?”

  “He trained both Vicky and Cassio.”

  The castle seemed to jump on them when they made their way through the trees. Seeing it from the sky at the height of her power had been bad enough but now that she stood in its shadow, Elysa could see it was a wicked thing. Ancient crimes echoed here, and blood had seeped into the very foundations. Terrible things had been done here, and they still lingered in the air. Nature had begun to reclaim the castle and vines growing between the stones had caused walls and towers to collapse. Usually, it gave abandoned buildings a strange sort of beauty but now Elysa could only see moss growing on a rotting corpse. The castle was surrounded by stone mounds that Elysa at first thought were graves but then she spotted the runes carved in each stone and she could feel the power they radiated.

  “What are those?” Elysa asked.

  “Hex mounds.” Crow said: “They form a prison around the castle, trapping anyone who crosses the threshold inside. That’s how Grandmother, Badger and the fox prince defeated him. The fox prince gave Zagan a beating and when he ran back to his castle, he found out that Grandmother and Badger had freed his slaves, and he could no longer leave.”

  “There has to be a hundred of them.” Elysa said.

  “And they still work.” Crow said.

  “Which means we can’t go in until we have knocked them all over.” Perry said and looked at his soldiers: “Clear up the hex mounds. Do not cross the circle until all of them have been torn down. The treasure won’t do us any good if we can’t leave the castle.”

  The soldiers got to work tearing down the hex mounds and Elysa joined in. She felt guilty destroying something Old Badger had a hand in making but the spell had done what it needed to do. It was time for the prison gates to be opened. Between pushing down the hex mounds, she would stop to admire the skill with which runes had been carved into each individual stone.

  “Curious about rune magic?” Perry asked.

  “Yeah. How does it work?” Elysa said: “You draw something, and it makes magic happen.”

  Perry looked at one of the stones and traced the rune with his calloused fingers.

  “A long time ago all magic came from the Magnificent One. A very cruel god that had arrived from… somewhere else. It demanded blood sacrifices for the use of its power. It enslaved everyone who wanted to use magic until the founder of Domdaniel managed to write down the Magnificent One’s language in runes. These runes are the language of an outer god and allow us to shape reality.”

  “Well, shit.” Elysa said.

  It took over an hour to clear up all the hex mounds. When they were finally done and ready to enter the castle, the soldiers Perry had brought with him wouldn’t move. They stared at the ground ashamed until one of the soldiers approached Perry.

  “… our lord earl…” The soldier said and bowed his head: “… I am sorry but… we can’t… we just can’t… there is something foul in this place.”

  Perry turned to look at them and smiled: “There is nothing to apologize for. You brought me here safely. That is more than anyone could have asked for. Wait for me here.”

  Only three of them entered the castle. Elysa, Perry and Crow.

  “That was big of you.” Elysa said.

  “They’re only human. I should not put too much faith in them.” Perry said.

  “Aren’t you a human, milord?” Crow asked.

  “I am a descendant of Zephyron and… this place unnerves me too. If the blood of a god shivers, it would be cruel to ask a commoner to follow.”

  “I was a commoner once.” Elysa said.

  “You’re made of sterner stuff now.” Perry said and looked at Crow: “The option to leave is there.”

  “I will stay, milord.” Crow said.

  The castle was dead inside and littered with bones that turned to dust when you tried touching them. Sometimes even the bones had been partially devoured.

  “He must have been hungry.” Perry said while studying the bones.

  A cruel way to die. When she had been a child, daddy dearest had used hunger as a punishment whenever she had been… uppity. She would be stuck in her room with only hunger for company. At first it would be bearable and even dissipate for a while, but when it came back… it would not leave again until it felt there were knives cutting into her stomach. Like her body was consuming itself to use her as sustenance. She tried to imagine what it was like. Growing weaker until you couldn’t even stand but the hunger would not ease. You could only lie there. Feeling yourself slowly dying. You would eat anything put before you then, even flies, and be grateful for it. And Zagan had. There were no rats in the castle. Not even insects. Only small bones. Whatever vermin had had the bad luck finding itself in the castle with no way out, had been devoured soon after until even the wildlife had learned to avoid this place.

  “If they wanted him dead, couldn’t they just have come back to finish him off later?” Elysa wondered.

  “Zagan deserved his fate.” Crow said without any sympathy.

  “Still… letting someone suffer just to make them suffer sounds like something a Screaming Beast would do.” Elysa said.

  Crow gave her an annoyed look and Perry patted his shoulder.

  “How much sympathy did you have for your father?” Perry asked: “Would you argue he deserved mercy?”

  Elysa thought about it and bit her lip: “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.” Perry said.

  The castle was ruined but there was more to it than time. A hurricane seemed to have swept through the castle and Elysa figured that Zagan himself must have done most of it, destroying anything he could get his hands on to purge himself of the fear, hunger and loneliness. The walls were also filled with writing where blood and fecal matter had been used as ink. Whatever Zagan had written down before expiring had long since faded but Elysa could still feel the hate and thirst for revenge lingering.

  “There are psychic echoes here.” Elysa said quietly.

  “What?” Crow said.

  “Thoughts and feelings linger. Like smells.” Elysa said: “He would scream and cry for someone to help him. Anyone. His father. His mother. His siblings. His children. No one ever came for him. He would scream and cry until he passed out.”

  She looked out at the courtyard that had been taken over by weeds and was littered with the small bones of birds.

  “He would spend hours… days… in the yard. Waiting for rain or birds so he could have something to eat or drink. He would eat the bird whole. Feathers and intestines and all. But it was never enough and when he wasn’t looking for food… he would write.”

  Elysa looked at the hallway walls filled with scribbles. Cataloguing the castle’s master descend into madness.

  “Writing was the closest thing to company he had. The only way he could empty his head. The only thing that could keep himself sane. After using up all the paper and ink he would use the walls and… provide his own ink.” Elysa said and bit her lip: “He would waste countless pages because he broke down crying a lot.”

  Perry’s face darkened and even Crow looked disturbed.

  “If anyone deserved to die alone, scared and hungry it was Zagan the Bloody but… I never liked drawing out executions.” Perry said and looked around: “Let’s find the treasure room and get out of here. I don’t like this place.”

  “It could take a long time to find it with just the three of us, milord.” Crow said.

  “That’s why were lucky to have a master vampire with us. Elysa should be able to find any hidden treasure.” Perry said.

  She knew he was right without even asking. She could already feel the gold, silver and jewels calling to her. The scent of hidden treasure wasn’t as mouth-watering as blood, but it had a sweetness to it. It had been waiting for her all these years and was now inviting her in. All she had to do was follow the tune of gold and she led them to the hidden bowels of the castle. The castle wall had been built to protect the riches inside from invaders, but Zagan’s paranoia had run deeper than that. The hallway to his treasure chamber had been booby-trapped to keep anyone from the inside from stealing what Zagan had robbed. The traps had decayed to nothing, and they walked safely to a great steel door that lied open and inside… a sea of gold, jewelry, and gems. Perry was one of the richest men in the realm and even his mouth was agape.

  “Jesus. H. Christ. My father had less loot than this.” Elysa said.

  “Zagan had an entire band of killers to collect it.” Perry said.

  “Until the fox prince and my tribe cut their throats.” Crow said.

  “Yes. Until that happened.” Perry agreed.

  Elysa looked at the gold, and it seemed to twist reality around it. It was said that the king of Garuccia was so rich that he could afford not to be affected by the laws of nature. When she looked at all this gold, she believed it. All this wealth distorted everything around it. How could something so weak as a man not covet it and kill anyone who stood between him and such riches?

  “This is not all.” Elysa said: “He kept some real goodies near him.”

  “Then we’ll take those back to camp. Alongside Zagan’s head. That should quell any fears my men have about entering this place.” Perry said.

  “Should I bring some gold with us, master? As a token to the soldiers.” Crow said.

  “You know what? Yes. Good idea, Crow.” Perry said and looked at Elysa: “Where’s the rest?”

  Call of the gold led her to the tallest tower in the castle. To the master’s study where he could look down on all. The study had suffered the worst of Zagan’s temper. The bookshelves had been torn down; the stone walls were filled with holes where Zagan had punched his fist through and the windows had been smashed, leaving the room open to the elements. Only a single painting had been left untouched. Painting depicting a demon with the features of a red minotaur. Elysa could not explain it but for some reason the figure struck her as female. She was dressed in fine red silks and adorned with jewels. Despite her inhuman features, the artist had managed to capture wisdom and sadness in the large eyes. Elysa wiped the dust off the engravement to see what was written on it.

  “Felona of House Morning Star. Could that be his wife?” Elysa asked.

  “His mother.” Perry said: “The commander of his legions before he took over.”

  They found Zagan the Bloody dead in a corner of his study. He had died sitting down, his back against the wall. Before him was a heavy golden crown filled with rubies and a scepter to match it. Both were more than a man could spend in a lifetime.

  Zagan had died rich and starving.

  The body had long since mummified and his lips had peeled back over his fangs. Zagan’s teeth had been shaped like the blade of a saw that made Elysa think of some deep-sea predator. Even in his withered state, he was gigantic, and Elysa guessed he must have been at least seven feet tall. He had the features of a minotaur, and the dried skin clung tightly to the inhuman skull. His horns formed a terrifying crown, and his leathery wings could have been a cape. A monster marked as a king by nature. The eyes had hollowed out years ago but even with the empty sockets, Zagan had stared at the painting.

  “Door number three.” Elysa said to herself.

  Crow spat on Zagan’s remains: “Curse of the Quiet upon his final journey.”

  Perry shot Crow a look that hit like a slap.

  “He has paid for his crimes.” Perry said and drew his short sword: “I am sorry about this, lord Zagan, but I need to borrow your head. I promise to return it to you once we bury you.”

  Not wanting to seem like a coward, Elysa forced herself to watch while Perry prepared to cut off Zagan’s head. Crow was the same. And they both saw when red phantom lights lit up Zagan’s empty sockets. Perry gasped and tried to step back but Zagan grabbed his hand and used it to pull himself up. He was shriveled and weak but still towered over all of them and Elysa could feel a power that rivalled her own. Zagan’s empty stare fell on her first.

  “A… vampire? You… are not welcome… in my home, nosferatu.” Zagan said with a voice like a creaking coffin.

  For a moment Elysa stared at Zagan unbelieving. Then a wave of nausea washed over her like a tidal wave and turned her insides into liquid bile. She doubled over and started vomiting all the blood she had drank and with every drop she grew weaker and feebler. She had never realized how painful it could be for a vampire to enter a home uninvited.

  “Crow! Run!” Perry screamed while Elysa vomited out her insides.

  Crow never ran and instead drew his rifle and fired at the demon. The first bullet hit Zagan in the chest and the second in the head. Only sand and dust leaked out of his wounds. All the bullets did was confuse Zagan and Perry drew his knife and tried to slash off Zagan’s wrist to free himself, but the man and the demon were shackled together tightly.

  “You…” Zagan said to Perry like he was half asleep: “You are tall and strong. You are… everything I need… I fear… my old skin… isn’t up to the task… anymore.”

  Zagan put his hand gently on the back of Perry’s head and pulled him closer. Then Zagan kissed him with his lipless mouth. Perry tried to scream when something flowed out of Zagan and into him, but he was no longer in control of the body. Even when her eyes were filled with red tears, Elysa could see something crawl out of Zagan’s stomach, into his mouth and through the forced kiss into Perry. Into his mouth. Down his throat. For the first time she could feel Perry’s terror. The bravest man she had ever met was screaming in fear inside his own head and none of his physical and mental discipline could save him.

  Then Zagan let go and Perry stumbled back.

  Whatever force had kept Zagan together was gone and the demon broke into a heap of brittle bones and dust. Meanwhile Perry was leaning against a wall, coughing up snot and bile that got stuck in his beard.

  “… milord?” Crow whispered.

  Perry opened his eyes, but they were no longer dark, but the color of orange flames and his lips spread into a cruel sneer that did not fit Perry’s face.

  “Don’t bother calling to your master, slave. Your voice can no longer reach him where he is.”

  Pure rage forced some strength back into Elysa’s limbs and she lunged at the monster holding her friend’s body hostage. She would rip Zagan out of him if she had to. She would save him! Zagan wouldn’t…

  Zagan would.

  In her weakened state she could not match Zagan in speed or strength, and the demon grabbed her before she could get her talons around his neck. The demonic essence forced into Perry had granted his muscles strength that could match… overpower a vampire and Elysa could her bones creaking when Zagan twisted her arm behind her back.

  “Let… him… go.” Elysa groaned.

  Even though she could not see his face, she could hear the smile on Zagan’s lips.

  “No. I think I will keep him. Now, little vampire. Do you know what the punishment is for laying a hand on nobility of Gehenna?” Zagan asked and Elysa bit her lip when she realized she knew.

  The loss of the offending hand.

  Zagan tore her right arm off at the shoulder faster than she could feel it.

  Blood sprayed from the gaping wound where her arm had once been, and it painted the right side of Zagan’s new body scarlet. She fell to the cold stone floor and kept bleeding profusely while her powers tried to knit shut the massive injury. Her body felt lopsided and without her right arm, her balance was all wrong. It was odd but she did not feel any pain. Just numbed shock. Somewhere far away Crow was screaming in horror. Without any bullets left he charged at Zagan with his bayonet and jammed it in Zagan’s chest, but he didn’t even seem to notice and raised Elysa’s torn off limb over his head like an offering to the heavens.

  “I am Zagan the Bloody! A king of Gehenna! Commander of thirty-three legions of demons! And I am bound no more!”

  “… Crow… run…” Elysa whispered.

  This time Crow ran but Elysa worried that it wasn’t fast enough. She struggled on her feet to block Zagan’s way and buy Crow a few more precious seconds to disappear. He was a goblin and a goblin who didn’t want to be found was invisible to the world. Zagan watched her struggle to stand, and Elysa could feel the joy he took from her distress. The pain was now rearing its ugly head and even the slightest movement made the wound that had once been her arm spark. Once she was back on her feet, Zagan gave her a mocking applause.

  “Not bad. Why don’t I give you a hand?”

  For a moment she thought Zagan was going to hit her over the head with her own severed arm, but Zagan just grabbed her by the throat and threw her out of the window. The tower was high… so terribly high and the ground was pulling her to it with terrible force. She tried to assume her true form but with the sun out she was stuck in one shape. Before she could think of anything else, she met the ground.

  This time the pain was instantaneous.

  Something broke in her and a fracture ran from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. A few things aside from the sun, decapitation, stake or running water could kill a vampire and luckily a great fall wasn’t on that list but sometimes a vampire’s invulnerability was more of a curse than a blessing. She could still move but her right leg refused to work properly. The knee would not bend, and every step drove the nails hammered into her spine deeper.

  “Smell that, vampire?”

  Zagan’s voice remained the same, but his shape did not. He had cast aside any human pretenses and stood over seven feet tall. His body was hard and muscular and the color of bronze. The great wings behind him brought to mind a dragon taking flight and a long, muscular tail coiled behind him like a whip. He had the horns of a bull, but his head resembled more of a shark that had learned to hunt on solid ground.

  “Freedom! It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted it.” Zagan said and eyed her in a way that made Elysa’s skin crawl: “Freedom. Or a woman.”

  Assuming his true shape had torn off Perry’s clothes and Elysa did not have to guess what Zagan was planning to do when he strode towards her. The only thing covering him was… her… blood? Vampire blood. She glanced at the clouds that still covered the sky and began limping into the shadow of the tower while pushing the clouds away with her mind. Zagan did not bounce on her immediately and followed her at a leisurely pace. Enjoying the moment. Putting off the pleasure. Lording his power over others was part of the fun. A vicious predator playing with its food.

  “Why so worried? I am sure I can warm up even a vampire.”

  Once Elysa was safe in the shade of the tower, she cast a defiant glance at Zagan and then put up a middle finger when the clouds dispersed. The sun’s rays fell on Zagan… and the vampire blood coating him. Like a lit match thrown into gasoline, the blood caught on fire and the flames swallowed Zagan whole.

  Elysa gathered all her strength and ran while praying that Crow had done the same.

  ***

  From one of the tower’s windows Crow saw Zagan the Bloody catch fire and knew this would be the best chance he had. He had to warn everyone. They had to find a way to save Prospero! Crow erased his presence so completely that he was nothing more than another shadow on the walls and began making his way out of the castle. They still had numbers on their side. They still had Liv and… the thought of never seeing her again scared him even more than facing Zagan the Bloody. It had been a mistake to come here. Heroes had fought and suffered to seal this monster off and now… they had unleashed an evil that should have remained trapped.

  How could he ever face Grandmother again?

  Stopping Zagan had been her greatest accomplishment. The adventure during which she had met her best friend and the fox prince. And now he had helped taint that memory. He had undone her triumph and shamed her with his stupidity. How would he ever sleep again?

  “I know you’re here.”

  Zagan stood in the hallway in his true demonic form and peered into the darkness. Into shadows. The last hiding place Crow had left. The flames had been extinguished, and the right side of his body was red and tender. The injury did not make him look any less formidable. Any less deadly.

  “Do you think you can hide from me? Do you think the tricks of a slave can fool a king?” Zagan said.

  Crow shut him out and concentrated on controlling his breathing. Calming down his beating heart. Forcing his skin to stop sweating. He was a goblin of the Bone Flock Tribe. He would not allow his body to betray him by sound or smell.

  “The vampire won’t save you. She ran like the coward she is.” Zagan said and tapped at his chest: “Do you think this slave will save you? Do you think his affection will protect you from me?”

  Zagan concentrated on catching a whiff or sound of him and he growled when Crow gave him no sign to pinpoint on. He was bluffing. He didn’t know he was here. Eventually Zagan would grow bored and leave. Then he would sneak out and warn everyone else. If Elysa already hadn’t. Someone would come to his rescue or at least evacuate the camp. He could survive on his own in the Wyrding.

  “You are one of Heron’s people. I know the bones in your hair. Bone Flock Tribe. Tell me. Is Heron still alive? Is Badger? Do they know you’re here? Do they know you released me?” Zagan said and his lips drew back into a brutal sneer: “Do they know what is coming for them? They must be old by now but not too old for me.”

  When Crow imagined Grandmother at Zagan’s non-existent mercies, his heart started beating faster and his breathing more labored. He tried to calm himself down but then drops of sweat started running down his back.

  “Your silence won’t protect them. Nothing will protect them from me. Not even… His… Savage… Highness…”

  At the mention of His Savage Highness, Zagan grew quiet, and his cruel grin turned into a worried whimper. He looked around like a scared child. Like the fox prince might jump at him at any moment. Then he gathered his courage and laughed off his fear.

  “You have freed me and for that I will let you live long enough to see what I will do to Heron and Badger!”

  Before he could catch it, a sweat drop from the tip of Crow’s nose fell on the stone floor and Zagan’s yellow eyes were on him like searchlights. He was way too fast for someone so big and grabbed Crow by the hair. Crow yelped and kicked at the air when Zagan lifted him off the floor.

  “There you are. You are… Crow, aren’t you? This slave’s little squire.” Zagan said with a mocking smile: “Come. Fly with me, Little Crow.”

  Crow screamed and cried and then… Zagan dropped him when he another battle began inside him. Zagan’s eyes turned from blazing yellow to dark brown and Crow could see a flicker of his master in the demonic features.

  “… Crow… run…” Prospero whispered like a drowning man whose head had broken the surface one last time.

  There wasn’t enough time to flee before Zagan swallowed Prospero again and the yellow took over his eyes.

  “How dare you defy me, slave?” Zagan growled before grabbing Crow again.

  Zagan jumped out of the window while gripping Crow’s hair and he clung to Zagan’s wrist so as not to break his neck. He screamed when Zagan’s wings took them to the sky. The devil lord gave out a victorious roar when he left the ruined castle behind. The rushing wind blew away Crow’s screams, and he tried not to think what would happen if Zagan let him fall. Zagan enjoyed his new freedom by flying around in circles for a moment before spotting their camp.

  Then he swooped down like a falcon and landed amidst the tents.

  The men left behind to guard the camp stared at Zagan with terror and awe. Most of them didn’t even notice Crow who tried and failed to break Zagan’s grip. He might as well have tried to shrug off a mountain that had been dropped on him. But one person in the camp did notice him.

  “Crow?”

  Liv had stepped out of her carriage wearing a light dress decorated with snake scales and her eyes narrowed when she saw Zagan. Then her lips curled into a smile you only saw on false friends.

  “Blessing of the Wild upon you, Zagan the Bloody.” Liv said while approaching them.

  Zagan cocked his head at Livia: “The Wild? Who are you?”

  The entire camp seemed to fall behind Liv, and she stood between them and Zagan the Bloody. Liv had always looked all-powerful and unstoppable to him but now… standing before Zagan… she was small and vulnerable. Something Zagan could break and torment… and it would be his fault!

  “… run.” Crow said, his voice hoarse from the screaming.

  Liv paid no heed to him and just looked at Zagan: “I am Livia de Grimaldi. The current skin of Her Silent Highness. Princess of the Wild and the Snake Clan. I see news of your demise were somewhat exaggerated.”

  Somewhere in the camp Viktor stumbled out of his tent with the help of crutches and turned pale when he saw Zagan. The soldiers accompanying him stepped between their lord and the monster that had entered their lodgings.

  “The Snake Clan? Grimaldi? You are Hektor’s and Usurria’s get.” Zagan said and looked around: “Is your… fox cousin here?”

  “I suppose you haven’t heard.” Liv said: “My fox cousin is dead.”

  Zagan’s grip on Crow eased ever so slightly: “Dead?”

  “Killed by a fire.” Liv said and her eyes moved a tiny bit towards Crow: “Looks like you outlived him.”

  Liv stepped closer to Zagan and reached out to Crow.

  “You are free, and I have no quarrel with you. Return my servant to me and we will leave you be.” Liv said.

  Zagan grabbed Liv’s wrist. His face had turned into a perfect visage of madness and rage.

  “If the fox is dead, his kin will pay for him!” Zagan roared.

  “Kill him!” Viktor ordered.

  The soldiers aimed their rifles and with deadly accuracy the bullets struck Zagan’s head, but he didn’t even notice and tried to tear Liv’s arm off the way he had with Elysa. In response Liv cast aside her human disguise and took her true form. A snake taller than two grown men. She coiled around Zagan and tried sinking her venomous fangs into his neck, but Zagan’s hide proved too tough. The sharp fangs shattered, and Zagan broke her hold on him, but it was not enough. A serpent was dangerous even without her poison and Livia tried to coil around Zagan to choke the life out of him. Liv’s true form was a thick as a young tree and made of nothing but solid muscle. For a moment it looked like she could do it but then Zagan gored Liv’s side with his horns and Crow screamed from horror and pain that wasn’t his own. Liv fell back and unable to hold on to her divine form, reverted to her human shape. Her front teeth were broken, and she was holding on to her side, and the pale dress was stained with blood. She stared unbelievingly at the wound and her hands painted scarlet by her own blood. She looked disbelievingly at the blood on her hands, then at Zagan and finally her eyes fell on Crow.

  “… forgive me.”

  “No!” Crow and Viktor screamed in unison.

  Despite his broken ankle, Viktor ran to his sister’s aide and drew his sword. Zagan looked more bemused than anything.

  “And who are you supposed to be?” Zagan said.

  “I am the Eagleheart! Viktor de Grimaldi!”

  “Viktor? Ah.” Zagan said and tapped his temple: “This slave knows you too. Would you like to know what he thinks of you? He considers you a fool and a weakling.”

  “… what?” Viktor said.

  Liv summoned the last of her strength to transform back into Her Silent Highness and then… swallowed her brother whole before burrowing into the ground. Zagan was too stunned to act after seeing that like everyone else in the camp. Then he regained his senses and looked at the soldiers left behind.

  “Fifty years since a proper meal. That is bound to make a devil hungry. You lot will do.”

  Crow was forced to watch when Zagan fell on the soldiers left behind. Some fought bravely. Some fought meekly. Some prayed for their lives. Some tried to run. All of them died. Seeing it was too much. Too much to even think about running. He just didn’t have the strength anymore. After the camp had been turned into a slaughterhouse, Zagan looked more solid. More substantial. More powerful.

  “Fifty years. I will never be hungry again.” Zagan said and looked at Crow: “The fox is dead… dead… the fox is… dead… dead fox…”

  Dead. The fox was dead. Dead. The fox was dead. Zagan repeated it like a mantra for a while before remembering himself.

  “The fox is dead so his kin will pay. His mate will pay, and this slave revealed them to me. Time for you to make yourself helpful and take me to this Nuncio Capello.”