*Rewritten

After 3 weeks of gathering intel we left our Transylvanian safe house and were on our way back to Olavinlinna. The rotor blades of the helicopter made a deafening sound. Although our bodies healed quickly, I wore ear protection to prevent the pain in my eardrums. I couldn't think in all this noise, which made the trip seem even longer than it already was. I didn't like what I saw during my mission. I couldn't believe that it went unnoticed for this long. Sure I knew the stories, but I never gave them more credit than other urban legends. When the helicopter landed a couple of kilometers away from our mansion, I immediately jumped out and rushed towards my escort.

"Drive" I said in a commanding tone. The driver pressed his foot on the gas and the car drove away, spraying gravel from the rear tires.

It was the end of winter. Snow sporadically changed into rain and froze again in the night. It turned the once beautiful, white blanket of snow into a cold, hard layer of ice. The world looked as fragile as glass and this was the exact way I felt about our coven. Ready to break. I had to talk to Miika as soon as I arrived at Olavinlinna.

The car slipped over the frozen asphalt of the parking lot. It came to a steady halt. I opened the door, stepped out the car and felt the heel of my boot crush the ice. I walked towards the door, unto the concrete steps and pushed the wooden doors open.

"I need to talk to Miika, urgently" I said to the first Vampire I saw. Couldn't remember his name, too new. I made a mental note to have a look at our covens latest member list. I had been too absorbed by my work. I didn't know who lived here and did what, that was dangerous for a leader of the Death Dealers. The new face didn't have to search long for Miika as he already approached me in the hallway.

"I heard you arrived, tell me" he said in a serious tone. He was always one step ahead, always knew when something good or bad had happened.

"The Lycans know of Bardulf" I said. As I dropped down into a seat. I didn't have time to finish my sentence as Miika immediately interrupted me.

"I know" he said to me. "We are also almost certain about who he is. We found his test reports in a raid a couple of weeks ago. The site was protected by this group of rogues, they undoubtedly know we got the reports" he said. It shocked me. Bardulf was kind of my personal project and I didn't know about this development. How could I, I wasn't here when they uncovered all the information and I maintained radio silence for the most part of my mission. "I… how did Bardulf take it?" I asked, remembering his earlier breakdown it couldn't have been good.

"He is handling it, we couldn't hold the information back from him until you were back. I'm sorry". He was comforting, a strange feeling, it made me feel more vulnerable. "But please, tell me what you discovered".

"They know we have Bardulf, it caused them to speed up their search for the Dark Vampire. Although they are not searching for a viable subject anymore, they are trying to create it themselves. It's like a Frankenstein's Monster, the gene therapy they have been developing the last years is insane. Humanity is decades away in their research". I took a deep breath and tried to pace myself as I went through the story.

"I couldn't figure out how Lycans were able to come up with such an idea, and the resources to do such research. But there are rogue Vampires in control of this conspiracy. They are using the Lycans to get what they want. The domination over human kind, again. So far they can not complete their research. They need blood". I paused, this was crazy, I couldn't believe it myself. "They need the blood of Vampire Elders. So far, they caught four of them and bled them dry".

"A faction of their group holds a stronghold not too far from here. I am guessing they will hit our mansion as well, and soon. If they get what they come for they will transport the blood back to Transylvania where they've set up shop" I said.

"My blood" Miika uttered. Miika was the only elder in our clan and the only one of worth to the rogue faction.

"Yes, yours and that of Elizabeth and William which we have in storage" I said and looked at him gravely. This thing was big. If they could create their Dark Vampire there would be no telling what would happen next. We always had the upper hand when it came to the Lycans, we had more financial resources which made our tech far more superior and our hunting more efficient. But with rogue Vampires helping them to create a Dark Vampire, we were not even sure what that would entail, what resources they would have to their aid.

"Yes, it would seem that we have to organize the troops". Miika sounded calm, focused as always. But his eyes had changed. I could read something there. It wasn't fear, but he was for sure shook up.

"Miika we can do this, we always have" I said as I placed my arm upon his shoulder. "Give the word and I will get my men and women ready for this fight. They will not leave this place with one drop" I smiled at him. He smiled back and padded my hand.

"No they will not, my child, they will not" he smiled, but on the inside he hurt.

After my meeting with Miika I went to my room. I took a long shower to gather my thoughts. I had to see Bardulf but he would have to wait. The past weeks had been extremely exhausting and it didn't look like this would change any day soon. I washed my hair and took my time. It had gotten longer and I had to braid it now as I went into battle.

After my shower I changed in my comfortable clothes and went to Bardulf's room.

When I knocked he opened the door right away

"Hey stranger" I said, I forced a smile.

"Hi back. Want to accompany me in some fine dining?" He asked as he opened the door to his room.

"Sure, why not". I entered his room. It looked a little different since the last time I was there. He had some new furniture as well as a fridge and a thing I believed to be a microwave. A horrible smell came from it. It looked different, but not as different as Bardulf. He looked more composed even after he had learned about himself so recently. Perhaps it brought him a sense of belonging, a sense of self.

I took a seat on his bed and saw him fight with the plastic wrapping of his so called meal.

"Miika told me what happened. Are you okay?" I asked him. Not sure if I had the energy at this moment to be a psychologist also. But I could be a friend.

"Yes, I guess I am fine. Of course it scares me that I have lived for such a long time without remembering much of it. But somehow I feel like things just click better in my brain now. I haven't had any more incidents after you've left. I feel like I am better in control of my strength" he said as he ate his meal.

"That makes me happy" I said and truly meant it. I was growing accustomed to his presence. And he was much more interesting than most other figures that were walking around the coven.

"Hey Bardulf" I started. "It's good. I mean sure, things can't always be perfect. But we will work on it okay?" I smiled.

"Yes we will". He smiled back.

"You should get some sleep" he said as he caught me nodding off.

"Yes I should! I replied as I got off from his bed. We will talk more about the mission tomorrow I promise". I got up and walked back to my room.