Urzenkeil grunted as he sat down on a log, exhausted from the night. He and his remaining company moved their dead guildmates’ corpses, placing them within their storage items for safekeeping and preservation. The night had been long and eventful. He just wanted to get some rest and prepare for the trip back home.
But he couldn’t, as his mind raced, not allowing him to. First, it was the Vampire attack led by Vern’s betrayal. He was one of the few left alive to become fresh cattle for them. Then, following that was the appearance of those two… monsters.
Urzenkeil shuddered, remembering June’s piercing grey eyes boring into him. That man and his daughter weren’t ordinary. He surmised they were in the Divine Realm, but it was only an assumption.
He had heard rumors that when one ascended to the Divine Realm, their Soul Essence and Energy would merge into one, granting them even more power. It was what truly divided them from the rest. But that was nothing more than rumor, superstition. Or so he thought. Then he met them.
At first, he had thought they were nothing more than wandering traders since the Essence and Energy they gave off were nonexistent. However, that didn’t really make sense. What sort of trader would still travel at this hour of the night? Then he formed a Soul Pact with June, and that confirmed it.
His single stream of energy, which flowed into him, left a lasting impression. The power behind it was nothing he had ever experienced before, so much so that it left him shaken.
He hunched over and gazed into the campfire that Lethander had set up. The emptiness beside him rang hollow, just like the void in his heart, as he subconsciously rotated his marriage ring on his right index finger. He felt Armina’s missing presence now more than ever when he was alone, left to his own thoughts.
He stopped fiddling with the ring and clasped the pendant around his neck, his storage device where he had stored her body. His grief remained, but another overpowering emotion swelled to the forefront. Anger bubbled within him. He was angry with himself for not being able to protect Armina when she needed him the most.
Her screams of terror as a Vampire drained her will forever haunt him. Even now, he could still hear her voice growing weaker as he did nothing, could do nothing. Even with his legs completely shattered, he still blamed himself for not doing more, for not being stronger. If he were, things wouldn’t have turned out the way they had.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone approaching him. He turned to face them and found Quin walking up to stand beside him, a forlorn expression on her face. His anger flared slightly at the sight of her. It really shouldn’t have, he knew it. But if only they had arrived sooner. No! It wasn’t their fault, only Vern and the Vampires.
Urzenkeil turned away from her and released a heavy sigh. “What do you want?”
She moved to sit beside him, her lean body dwarfed by his. “I’m sorry about your wife, Armina.”
Urzenkeil remained silent, so she continued. “You know, I lost my parents when I was still a child.”
Urzenkeil turned to her with a frown. “What about—”
“June?” Quin interjected with an airy smile. “He is my father, just not by blood. He actually rescued me from the horde of zombies that killed my parents.”
“He does that a lot, does he?” Urzenkeil asked.
“Yes, he does?” Quin said, pausing for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder. “If there was a way to bring your wife back, I’m sure he wouldn’t hesitate to.”
Urzenkeil smiled at her doubtfully. “Are you sure about that? Based on your earlier argument with him, he didn’t sound so agreeable.”
Her face fell, unable to deny his words. Silence fell over them as they sat there, watching the flames devour the dry wood.
Suddenly, the air compressed a few paces from them, and space bent before a blue portal opened. They rose from their seats and peered at the portal, seeing June beyond with a large group of Althori and Vyshtani. They started walking through as Urzenkeil gaped at their condition. Malnourished and exhausted, they stumbled through the portal as he called for his guildmates to help. It had been a long night, but it seemed like it wasn’t over yet.
June waited by the portal as he ushered the group through. At first, they were trepidatious, with only the bravest of them entering the portal. But when the group saw nothing attacking those who crossed, they advanced like a stampeding herd of buffalo. June had to emit a sliver of his Aura to get the group in order.
Once everyone but him, Reyah, and Keyvarah had passed through, he turned to the pair. “I’ll cross first and explain the situation to the Shining Arrow Guild first. They aren’t expecting any Vampires to cross, and I’d rather avoid a misunderstanding.”
A hint of doubt and suspicion flashed in Reyah’s eyes before she hid it. “I trust that you won’t just suddenly abandon us or prepare an ambush for when we cross?”
“Lady Du’ Altan!” Keyvarah said in a scolding tone. “How could you suggest such a thing! June would never think of doing such a thing.”
June appreciated that Keyvarah wholeheartedly trusted him, but he also understood where Reyah was coming from. They were putting a lot of their trust in him, a stranger.
“Thank you, Keyvarah, but it’s fine. Reyah here is right to voice her concerns,” June said before turning to face Reyah squarely. “But if I had any malicious intentions toward either of you, don’t you think I would have acted on them already?”
Reyah shrugged in response to his question. “I wouldn’t know. I’m not the one going around trying to read people’s minds without their permission.”
“I already told you I was sorry about that,” June said, sighing.
Keyvarah’s head swiveled between the pair, a question on her face. “What’s this about prying into people’s minds?”
Reyah turned to look at Keyvarah before pointing at June. “This male here has a tendency to use his Psionic Essence on others without their say-so.”
It seemed that no matter what he said, she was dead set on this path. But to his surprise, Keyvarah once again came to his defense.
“What of it? Have you considered the circumstances when he used it? If June hadn’t peered into my mind, then I wouldn’t be here. Instead,” she turned to look at the piles of crushed bodies, “I would have shared their fates.”
Keyvarah whirled and stepped into Reyah’s personal space, her lips pulled back to reveal her fangs in a vicious snarl. “And I owe him my life, so I am glad he used his Psionic Essence on me!”
Keyvarah’s hand shot out, blurring, aimed to slap Reyah across the face.
“That’s enough, Keyvarah,” June said, catching hold of her wrist before she could hit Reyah.
Although it looked like he hadn’t even needed to, as Reyah had already moved out of her reach.
“Can’t you hear yourself, Lady Oltharin?” Reyah asked, shock and disbelief clear as day on her face.
June knew what she was asking. At first, Keyvarah’s defense of him was, in a sense, normal and endearing. But now, it had just jumped off the edge into fanaticism and worship.
“I really appreciate you coming to my defense, Keyvarah, but now you’re taking it a little too far. Reyah has every right not to accept my apology.” June said, releasing her hand.
When he did, she immediately fell to her knees and kowtowed. June groaned internally, already regretting saving her. No, that wasn’t true. He just wasn’t a fan of her recent change in behavior, which was too abrupt and felt a little unnatural.
“I’m sorry, Master June, I didn’t mean to offend you. I’ll accept any form of punishment you deem necessary,” Keyvarah said, her head still pressed firmly to the stone floor.
June sighed and looked to Reyah for help, but found only a disgusted look on her face as she looked down upon Keyvarah’s prostrated form.
June knelt beside her and placed a comforting hand on her bare back, doing his best to ignore the silkiness of her skin. “There’s no need for any of that, Keyvarah.”
He helped her to her feet. “I’m not your Master. No one is. You’re a free woman now, free to choose how you want to live your own life.”
She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. “But that is how I want to live, with you as my Master.”
A shiver ran down his spine; the devotion in her words revolted him. He didn’t want to be anyone’s Master. He gently pried his hand free and looked her in the eyes. “No, Keyvarah. I’m not your Master, nor do I want to be. That feeling you have is the result of the Vampiric blood magic. You have to fight it and move on. You’re no longer a Thall.”
Keyvarah frowned before looking at the floor, a contemplative look coming over her face.
He cleared his throat and turned to face both of them. “Anyway, I’m going to head through the portal now.”
He waved his hand at them in a come-hither motion. “This’ll be the signal for you to cross.”
June shook his head, perplexed, when he saw Reyah’s scowl remained plastered to her face. “Come, or don’t. The choice is yours.”
He then turned and walked through to the other side of the portal.
Quin watched in silence, rage simmering within her, as more and more people passed through the portal her father had opened. Urzenkeil and his guildmates were busy ushering groups of people away from the portal, making way for those still crossing. When the flow of people slowed to a trickle, Quin finally caught sight of her father again.
He stood beside two of the most beautiful women she had ever seen, besides Yisha. One was a tall, red-haired Althori woman, while the other was a petite, blue-skinned woman with long, pointed ears and flowing white hair, styled in a ponytail. She must have been the Ulthari prisoner he told her about.
Quin’s lips parted slightly as her eyes roved over the woman. Everything about her was captivating. She exuded confidence and had a seductive edge to her.
However, Quin’s lips snapped closed and her eyes narrowed when she saw her blood-red eyes. Quin’s eyes shot over to the Althori woman and found similar eyes. They were both Vampires. But she held her composure. If her father hadn’t killed them, then there was a reason.
Her brows rose when the Althori woman’s hand shot out to slap the Ulthari, only for her father to interfere. They rose even higher when the Althori woman fell to her knees, prostrating before him.
What… was happening?
Her father helped the woman to her feet, speaking briefly to both of them before turning and passing through the portal.
“Father!” Quin said when he stepped through.
“Quin,” he said, giving her a nod. “I take it everything’s good on this end?”
“Yes,” she said before hesitating a moment. “But, Father? Who are they?”
As her father began to explain, Urzenkeil and Merriam joined them. He explained who the women were and what had occurred on the other side of the portal. Urzenkeil and Merriam were both appalled by what he said. But whereas Urzenkeil remained calm and collected, Merriam seethed with unbridled rage. Not that Urzenkeil wasn’t upset; far from it. Quin could see the storm of emotions roiling behind his eyes.
“So, these are all the prisoners from Castle Dumar, and that,” Urzenkeil said, pausing to point at Keyvarah, “is Lady Oltharin?”
“She looks like Lady Oltharin,” Merriam piped in.
Quin turned to her with a questioning look, but it was Urzenkeil who spoke up. “And how do you know that?”
Merriam crossed her arms and raised her chin high. “Hmph. My family is of noble standing, even if we have fallen on hard times. I’ve met Lady Oltharin on many occasions, although that was well over fifty years ago.”
Quin gave her an amused smile while Urzenkeil rolled his eyes and shook his head. Her father nodded before continuing. “Yes, to your question, Urzenkeil. They’ll be joining us on our journey back to Lutingrad.”
Quin nodded along with her father’s proclamation, but she could see Urzenkeil’s eyes narrow as he stared at the two Vampires beyond the portal.
“I’m uncomfortable with the idea of having those two monsters in our camp,” Urzenkeil said.
“Noted,” said her father, drawing a glare from Urzenkeil. He sighed before continuing. “Of course, either Quin or I will keep an eye on them. Or do you doubt our ability to keep you all safe from two non-violent Vampires?”
Urzenkeil sputtered momentarily at a loss for words. “I… no, I would never dare.”
He turned to Merriam for help, but she kept her lips sealed as she watched him flounder. With a click of his tongue, he turned back to her father and sighed. “Fine. Do what you will, but if anything happens, it’s on the two of you.”
Her father nodded before turning and waving the two women through. Lady Oltharin happily crossed, coming over to stand beside him. She held a smile that radiated sunlight when she looked at her father.
Quin could tell that there was something between them. Her father looked relaxed and unbothered by Lady Oltharin’s attention, but the reality was far more vexing. It was subtle, but her father tensed up when Lady Oltharin approached, as if bracing himself against a coming storm.
Meanwhile, Reyah cautiously approached the portal, staring at it with the weariness of a Katalonian cat. She hesitated for a moment as if contemplating whether to cross. Quin could sympathize with her. If she were still in the Sovereign Realm and had to choose between trusting strangers who have shown that they are undoubtedly stronger than her or going off on her own, she’d choose the latter.
In the end. Reyah crossed through, and her father closed the portal. She stood off to the side, staring at her father. “So, what now?”
Her father introduced them both to the group, and vice versa, before his gaze swept over the crowd of prisoners, searching for someone. When he found whoever it was, he called out to them, waving them over. “Jemia!”
A tall Althori woman with black hair turned to look at her father when he called out, then ran over to join them. She’d be beautiful if it weren’t for her emaciated and disheveled form.
“Everyone, this is Jemia, a member of the Crimson Veil Guild,” her father said before introducing everyone to Jemia.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Jemia said before turning her attention to her father, as well as everyone.
Her father then explained everything he knew about House Dumar and its involvement in the slave trade. Lord Ravengel and his brother Hivengel worked together to capture citizens to sell as slaves to Lysia’s Thavarian neighbor, Lucarin. Once Hivengel became a Vampire, they operated more easily within the kingdom’s shadows, using Hivengel’s nature to hide the fact that they captured victims for slavery instead of sustenance. Now that the king had passed, and the princess was unmarried, Lord Ravengel was making a move for the throne.
Beside her, Merriam exploded into a fit of angry curses. Surprisingly, Urzenkeil remained unperturbed, almost as if he had prior knowledge of this. Lady Oltharin nodded her head in agreement while Reyah stared at the ground contemplatively. And lastly, Jemia’s face froze over like water in the middle of winter.
“Why are you telling us this?” Urzenkeil asked.
Her father turned to look at Jemia. “Because I promised Jemia an explanation back in the castle. I also felt it was prudent for you all to know of this. Although, judging by your expression, Urzenkeil, you already had an inkling of this, didn’t you?”
Everyone turned their attention to Urzenkeil, who shrank back a bit from the stares, especially Merriam’s.
“Your sister has brought these rumors to my attention,” Urzenkeil said, more to Merriam than the group.
Merriam, to her credit, didn’t explode into another fit of anger. Instead, she crossed her arms once more and scowled at Urzenkeil, a foot tapping restlessly against the dirt. “Why did she confide in you and not me!?”
Urzenkeil rolled his eyes. “Really, Merriam? Do you really want me to answer that?”
Both she and Merriam gasped before Merriam scoffed. “Please. Do tell.”
Urzenkeil and Merriam began a shouting match as her father turned to the rest of them.
“Well, that’s all I know,” her father said before turning to leave. “I’ll place a barrier, so get some rest. God knows I need it.”
Keyvarah happily turned to follow her father, but Reyah remained where she was, a scowl now on her face.
“Are you coming, Reyah?” her father stopped to ask when she didn’t follow.
“I’ll find my own place to rest,” Reyah said.
One of her father’s eyebrows rose before he turned to her. “Can you keep an eye on her?”
“Yes, father,” Quin said, bowing her head slightly.
It was Reyah’s turn to scowl as she stared at her father. “I’m not some criminal who needs a guard on her at all times!”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” her father said, sighing. “But I gave them my word I’d keep an eye on you for their sakes. So don’t take it too personally.”
Her father gave her one final nod before walking off with Keyvarah following close behind. She turned to Reyah and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Forgive my father; he’s not normally so curt with people.”
Reyah’s face softened as she turned to her, sighing. “No, he’s right. I’m just… going through something right now.”
“Of course,” Quin said with a slight shake of her head. “I couldn’t even imagine what you must have endured.”
Reyah’s face grew sullen, and she nodded.
Not wanting to remain in the dour mood, she motioned for Reyah to follow her. “Come, I’ll show you around camp.”
Reyah gave a small smile and followed as she led her towards Yisha.
Keyvarah’s heart hadn’t stopped beating like a lass in love ever since she drank June’s succulent blood. Was she in love? She had never before felt these feelings for anyone else, aside from Hivengel, but that was because of the Vampiric blood magic. But now she was free, and these familiar feelings had returned for June.
She knew it was the blood magic that influenced some of her attraction towards the man, but she didn’t want to fight it. Even scared to fight it. Two years was but a blink of an eye when compared to her life, but under the influence of blood magic, it felt like an eternity. Now, the thought of being free scared her. So much so that she latched onto June like a leech seeking blood, which was an appropriate description of what she was. A parasite clinging onto him for dear life.
But could she call what she felt love? In part, no. She knew that. But there was also a part of her that didn’t know.
Ever since she was a little girl, her father had stressed the importance of her duty. To one day marry for her family, to better strengthen their influence and position within the kingdom. Love was never on the table, except if she just so happened to fall for her father’s choice of suitor or sought love outside of her marriage.
But now, that life was no longer hers. Just like June had said, she could finally choose how she wanted to live, and she so desperately wanted to spend it beside the man who saved her. She looked at June, a girlish smile creeping onto her face—even if he didn’t want her, she’d do whatever she could to make him want her by serving him… and pleasuring him.
A giggle escaped her lips as her thoughts drifted towards fantasies of the two of them entangled in bed, enjoying the pleasures of each other’s bodies. She immediately covered her lips as June turned to look at her, a question on his face.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
A shiver ran down her spine when he addressed her, his voice powerful and commanding yet kind. “I’m quite alright. Thank you for worrying, June.”
June gave her a quaint smile before coming to a stop in a small clearing at the edge of the Shining Arrow Guild’s new camp. To her amazement, a rudimentary building sprouted from the earth like a tree.
It was an extensive building, possibly forty to fifty paces in length and twenty paces wide. The incredibly smooth white stone foundation of the building dug into the ground like the roots of a tree. The creamy white metal walls stood tall and sturdy, ready to shield their inhabitants from the elements.
Members of the Shining Arrow Guild came running over at the commotion June had caused, with Urzenkeil and Merriam leading the way.
“What is this?” Urzenkeil asked when he arrived.
“A temporary place for you, your guildmates, and the freed prisoners to sleep,” June said before he showed them what was inside.
Keyvarah’s eyes widened at what she found inside. There were row upon row of stacked beds that lined each wall, enough for everyone not to have to share. June called these bunk beds. As he led them down the hall of bunk beds, Keyvarah reached a hand out and ran it across the blankets. They were soft as a feather and thick enough to keep out the cold.
June led them to a room he called a restroom, where one would go to attend to their bodily functions. It had a contraption called a toilet that would carry away their waste. There were two separate restrooms, each with ten toilet stalls, one designated for men and the other for women. June demonstrated how it worked, and she found it to be an ingenious idea. No longer would she have to use a pot and wait for handmaids to replace it. Besides the toilet stalls, there were sinks where she could wash her hands.
Attached to each restroom was a bathroom where they could clean themselves in what June called a shower. Keyvarah gaped in wonder as June showed them how to operate the shower. It was quite simple, really. All she had to do was turn a knob, and a shower of warm water would rain down on her—an apt name for such a mechanism.
Beyond the bathrooms and restrooms lay another long room filled with bunk beds. June instructed Urzenkeil and Merriam to separate the men and women into separate rooms for the night. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone with untoward intentions right now, so if anyone tried anything, he’d personally deal with them.
After Urzenkeil and Merriam readily agreed, June and Keyvarah left the building. He led her away a couple of dozen paces before he created another building. This one was smaller yet more personable in her opinion, made of wood and stone. June led her inside and showed her to her room, along with the attached bedroom, before leaving her to go into his own room, the resounding click of the lock telling her all she needed to know.
With some time to herself, she went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting it run for a bit to warm up the water. She stripped out of the chic dress and stared at herself in the mirror on the wall. Her red eyes reflected in the mirror, matching her scarlet hair that flowed and plumed down her shoulders, framing her voluptuous breasts with their pink areolas and hardening nipples.
A flicker of doubt flashed in her mind. Would June find her attractive? She certainly thought she was attractive, but would he? What if he rejected her? What would she do then? Her chest tightened as fear gripped her. However, her resolve hardened as she stared at her nude body in the mirror, pushing the fear aside. No, she couldn’t think like that. Even if he did, she’d just try again until he eventually succumbed to her.
The thought put her in the mood as she couldn’t help but caress one of her breasts, pinching the nipple, as her other hand snaked down past her red-trimmed bush to brush her clit. She imagined what June would do to her as she rubbed herself slowly. The feel of his breath, his touch, and his lips tickled her senses. How would he ravage her body? She wondered. Would he take her passionately, like a lover? Or hungrily, like an animal? The thought alone nearly brought her to orgasm, but she held off, determined to experience the real thing later.
With a smile, she climbed into the shower and let the water run down her body, soothing her and washing away Hivengel’s disgusting scent. Tonight would be the first night of many to come as her fantasies ran wild with thoughts of June and her together.
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