GUESS WHAT? I didn't keep my promise! I'm so evil. Sorry, I didn't mean to keep you fans and others waiting, but we went on vacation for two days and I wasn't able to post anything! Believe me, I'm so so so sorry. But here's the chapter!

*Claps*

The Queen of Vampires had obviously been waiting. Her black leather shoes tapped the ground impatiently, her gloved arms crossed over a red, richly layered, medieval gown. Long, black hair was plaited in thousands of different braids, all twirled up in an elegant knot above her head. Golden yellow eyes stared at Kayla with almost identical intensity to Z.

"You were waiting?" She asked nervously. Safiria rolled her eyes.

"You noticed?" She said, her voice smooth and harmonic, but very sly. "So why did you come here? I don't turn humans to vampires on a regular basis. But you show courage to seek out the Queen of Vampires when most of my meals run AWAY from me," Kayla shivered on the word, "meals," but stood up tall, wanting to look useful, worth something. She had worked up a bit of courage around Brysin, but now, Safiria's icy and venomous aura drained it away. Only determination drove her forward.

"I need somewhere to stay," She said firmly, fighting to keep her voice from breaking. "My family was attacked and killed by werewolves, and I decided to come here," Safiria was watching Kayla, scanning her like an x-ray. She could see the Queen's eyes flicking to her every movement, the smallest fault in her voice that would give her away. Kayla then remembered something so important, she almost forgot to include it. "I was going to join the ShadowSlayers," Safiria hissed softly at the word. "But my family never trusted them. Thought they were liars, tricksters, and not entirely human. I didn't want to risk it. This seemed like my final option,"

Safiria nodded, convinced. "So you will work for us? Pose as a servant?" Kayla's excitement was growing; her plan was working! Still, she had to keep her happiness under control.

"Yes," She said, slipping in a tiny hint of eagerness. "But please, will you let me stay uh, human?" The vampire considered this, cocking an eyebrow.

"Why?" Safiria asked. "Vampires are faster, stronger, and get the work done around here much more efficiently. Humans are just..." She paused, eyeing Kayla. "Weak," That sparked her anger. Kayla hated being called weak. Especially by a vampire. Her most dire of enemies.

"I'll show you weak!" Kayla almost shouted, bringing her arm down to strike the vampire. Safiria hissed, barely flinching. For someone wearing a long red dress, she moved with surprising ease as she sidestepped the blow, revealing a long sword from a hidden pocket. Kayla knew a challenge when she saw one. And she had foolishly started a fight between her and the Queen of Vampires.

Kayla's thoughts flashed to the dagger in the boot, but she thought better of it. Safiria neatly whisked the blade through the air, the whistling of the thin strip of metal inching closer and closer to Kayla. The ShadowSlayer dodged the first blow, and took a hasty mini-leap across the embroidered carpet to the other side of the room. On the top of the empty fireplace sat a large, single-edged sword with a bamboo handle. A katana, a weapon Kayla was very familiar with. Only this kind was covered in red and black ornate designs, giving the weapon an evil feel to it.

Kayla grabbed the blade, barely blocking a fatal blow from Safiria. She had sparred before, and obviously, so had the Queen of Vampires.

Vampires are faster, stronger, Kayla told herself, dissecting Safiria's possible fighting style. Not to mention, they don't tire. But I have surprise on my side. I've been trained, only she doesn't know that. I have more endurance and power than the regular human being. All true. Kayla never underestimated or overestimated herself. Ever. She didn't bother to include Safiria's agility-limiting dress, remembering how easily she had dodged the first strike.

Kayla swung the katana in an ark, but was pushed off by Safiria at the last second. She took an unsteady, wobbly step backwards, retreating from the vampire's firing range.

No one moved. Kayla stood at one end of the embroidered carpet, Safiria at the other. Both were motionless. Then, Safiria feinted, putting Kayla on her guard, but then she took a quick, little, backstep. Before Kayla could register what had happened, the vampire jerked the carpet forward with the toe of her leather shoe. The ShadowSlayer, already a bit unstable, was thrown to the ground, rolling to the left to avoid the sword's swipe. But she wasn't quick enough, and there was a flash of pain as the tip of the sword cut into her upper arm. Kayla inhaled deeply through gritted teeth, throwing herself back to her feet. This was not a battle she could afford to lose. To make up for the cut, she gave Safiria and her dress a few slices that wouldn't easily be forgotten.

However, the vampire seemed to feel no pain from these attacks, and continued to advance.

Kayla looked back, deep into lessons of training, and used everything that came to mind about sword fighting. The sword is not a simple metal tool. It is an extension of your arm, so it's movements flow likewise to your body's. No matter how bad you are at one move, try to use an array of fighting styles and moves, to keep your enemy from guessing seeing patterns in your strikes.

There were more, but Kayla was paying attention mostly to that last one. Not because she needed to work on it, but because Safiria did. This was obviously an experienced enemy she was fighting, but no one had taught the vampire that rule. Safiria did a very interesting yet predictable pattern of blows. For example, she was big on making those feints, faking to swipe in one direction and then switching at the last second.

It was a useful move, but became all too predictable in the end. Kayla see the edge she was playing, and could devise where to strike and parry. But the battle wasn't over yet.

At one point, Safiria and Kayla were locked, sword on sword, strength equal to the other. There was a flash of determination in the vampire's eyes, and before she could spot it, Kayla was pushed back by a tremendous force, landing on her back.

Pain flared up her spine, and Kayla was too stunned to get back up. In a flash, there was a sword tip pointed at her, inches from her throat. Fear jumped to her now quivering limbs, and Kayla's eyes widened.

"It was unwise to challenge the Queen of Vampires," Safiria hissed. Kayla gulped. The hard malice that tinted her golden eyes sharpened for a moment, but then faded away. Replacing it was something softer, interested... Was it admiration Kayla saw in those eyes? "You fight like a true vampire warrior," Safiria sighed, sheathing the long blade beneath her skirts.

"R-really?" Kayla stammered, overcome with relief, happiness, and disbelief. Feeling returned to her limbs. Her thumping heart slowed. Her harsh intakes of breath softened.

"You could prove useful to the Vempire," Safiria continued. "I will grant you a place as a maid. For now," Kayla stood up slowly, resting the katana back over the fireplace.

"And I'll stay... human?"

"You have the strength of a vampire; I don't see why not," Safiria smiled. Relief, stronger than before, washed over Kayla. Her suspicious thoughts relaxed. It was all working out the way it should.

"I would be honored to serve," Kayla said. Safiria nodded, happy with her response.

"Very well," She paused. "You mortals need sleep, don't you? In a few hours, your duties will begin. Does that sound reasonable?" Kayla nodded. "Good," Safiria concluded. Her hearing was over. "Brysin!"

The large doors creaked open as a blond head popped in. Brysin's eyes widened at the swords, Safiria's slightly torn dress, and Kayla's cuts and bruises.

"Your Highness?"

"You remember the Old Inn, right?" Safiria asked. Brysin nodded. "Take our new guest to it and wake her in eight or so hours," Her gaze flicked to Kayla. "Sorry we could not send you along with a form of dinner. I had no time to alert the kitchens,"

"That's fine," Kayla muttered, turning to leave. "I had something on the go,"

Brysin led her back down the maze of the castle, and soon they were outside again. Darkovia was forever night, so time was hard to keep track of. Watches and clocks were based on the tides and revolution of the moon. The point is, it's impossible to tell the difference between twelve o'clock noon and twelve o'clock midnight.

So when Kayla walked outside, she could not tell whether her hearing/fight had lasted a couple of minutes, which it probably had, or a couple of hours, which was what it felt like. Brysin led Kayla in silence across a long, dark field filled with tall grass, to a small inn.

It was white, but she could tell the paint was peeling, and it was a bit rundown.

"Personally," Brysin broke the silence. "I'm glad Safiria didn't kill you," He didn't pry for details about the fight, which was just fine with Kayla. There was a pause as she considered what he had said. She wasn't sure whether this was pity (which she didn't want) or an invisible offer of friendship (which she knew she shouldn't want, but seemed strangely to want).

"Why?" Kayla asked. She turned, but found that she was alone. "Thanks for ditching me," she grumbled, opening the door to the inn.

The light switch turned on one flickering light, enough luminescence to allow Kayla work her way to one of the bedrooms.

She lit a candle and surveyed the contents of her temporary room. The bed, when sat on, was not completely dust-covered, and not crawling with bugs, so that was a good start. No bats on the ceiling. Good. And there was a nice, simple window looking out into the woods. Perfect.

It was all perfect. Kayla had done it. The first step. She had made it into the Vempire, they (somewhat) trusted her. Now, her only job was to wait. To listen. To watch for any sign of weakness, any fault in behavior. But first, some rest...