Chapter 19

Hector was almost finished with the pile of bodies that he had been brought from the most recent border raid. He knew Striga was ready for him to be done already. They had been in this camp for too long. At least that was what he had overheard her telling Lenore. Still, he would get done no faster by worrying about it. He tried to focus on the makeshift table he had been given and the body once again.

He placed a hand on the dead vampire's shoulder. "Perhaps it would be better to be in your shoes. Unfaltering loyalty without any doubt. Not knowing that the choice was taken from you before you were even awoken." He then huffed a bitter laugh and shook his head. "Why did I never think of it like that before? Maybe because you were always companions then, not tools."

He was jerked from his conversation with the corpse by a feminine sigh. "Oh, Hector. You know you are far more than a tool to me, don't you?"

He glared over at the approaching vampire before he cleared the expression. "Of course. I'm your pet."

Lenore sighed once more at the bitter note he couldn't entirely hide. "Don't be like that. It isn't so bad, is it? You have everything you need, plus you get to make more companions. You are comfortable, and if you didn't keep me at arm's length, you could warm my bed as well."

He ignored her as he used his hammer to forge a new demon soul into the cold corpse. It wasn't until the newly risen demon jumped up and loomed over him that Lenore spoke again. First to the demon. "Leave us. Join your brethren and wait for further instructions."

The demon gave her a nod before it ducked out of the tent. Once it was gone, she then turned to Hector again. "It is always fascinating to watch you work."

When he ignored her to grab one of the other bodies, she grabbed his face to force him to look at her. Her eyes flashed when she spoke. "Do not forget that pain will be your reward if you decide to be disloyal."

She then calmed some and eased her grip. Not enough for him to pull away, but enough so that the illusion could be maintained that it was almost a caress. "Won't you come to bed with me at dawn? You have to admit it was pleasurable the last time, was it not?"

Hector had to swallow back the words he wanted to spit out. Instead, he somehow managed to keep a straight face. "I have not been disloyal. I am here making a night horde army for you."

Lenore huffed and pushed him away. "For Carmilla, not for me. You are my pet, yet you spurn my needs. How is that loyal?"

Before Hector could respond, another voice interrupted with disgust. "Please. If this is the conversation, then take it elsewhere. I have no desire to hear about your lack of being bedded by your pet. If it worries you that much then order him, don't ask him. He cannot disobey an order."

Lenore frowned as she turned to the much larger female. "Striga, you know that isn't the issue. I know he wants me. He's just being stubborn because he feels hurt. There's no need. He'll come around."

Striga made a gagging sound. "Oh please, I don't want to hear this."

Lenore huffed. "Then, why are you here? This is Hector's work area after all, and as such, it is to be expected that I would be with my pet."

Striga rolled her eyes but answered anyway. "We must move camp by dusk. We cannot spend another night here, or we risk not only falling behind schedule but the chance that too many of our opponents might get the stupid idea to attack together. We would not be overrun, but it would put us further behind."

Lenore turned to Hector. He gritted his teeth, but his voice was even when he answered. "I will have these finished before we must leave, even if I have to work after dawn. Though, that should not need to happen if I am allowed to focus."

Both women turned to him with frowns. It did not escape either of them that his reasoning was a thinly veiled rejection of Lenore. Yet, he was also doing as he was ordered. The tiny vampire woman pouted as she sidled up to him. "I know you will realize in time that this is for the best. I can give you everything you ever need. Everything you ever wanted. Nothing I did was to betray you. It was the best way to keep you safe and by my side. Never forget that. In time you will come to me. My bed will be waiting." She then turned with a flair of her cloak and walked out.

Striga made another gagging noise as the other woman left before she glared at the Forgemaster. "If it is not done, you will be punished. If the ring does not punish you first. This is an order, be done by no later than an hour after dawn."

Hector once more thought about saying what was on his mind, but he knew it was futile. He was trapped here now more thoroughly than he ever had been behind those bars in the dungeons in Styria. There was no cage, no collar, and no leash, and yet he could walk no further than his master allowed. A wave of despair rolled over him, but he pushed it aside. He was not ready to die yet. Or more specifically, he was not yet ready to face the pain the ring would inflict if he was not done by the appointed hour.

He had only defied Lenore once since it had been placed on his finger. That was enough for him to know he did not want to try again. He would rather slit his own throat first. If he could manage. That had been their first order. He was not allowed to kill himself. They were thorough bitches, after all.


Issac was currently sitting in what he had found out was the vampire sister's 'special' room. The room that had previously been barred to any but the four rulers of Styria. He had not even known there were four rulers of Styria, but that was one of many things he had learned.

After Carmilla had escaped, he had changed his orders. Instead of killing everything alive, he had the remaining vampires in the hold brought to him alive for questioning. Then he proceeded to find a place to wait.

Once he found the room at the top, he took out his mirror to verify that Hector was still alive. The other Forgemaster looked disgustingly healthy and much better off than the last time he had seen him. He was also forging. That was troubling, but not a problem. Issac had no doubt that his skills far outweighed the pathetic man-child that had been manipulated by that vampire bitch.

Still, that information did little for him. It had been nearly a day past, and he could get no information on where Hector was. He saw a camp that grew in size each time he checked, but there were no landmarks he could recognize. Nor would any of the vampires he questioned give up the information on which direction they were headed. He grew more frustrated with each passing hour, and he was running out of victims to question.

He was seated in one of the chairs while he was contemplating the fact that these vampires were shockingly loyal to the quartet of females that had ruled here. His gaze did not seem to notice the fact that the once white table was now covered in various shades of rust and red. The dried blood of his previous victims coated over with the more recent from the last one. Not that it mattered. There would be more to come until he got the answers he sought. Then the rest would be food for his horde.

He barely even looked up when the next male was brought in kicking and screaming. The screaming only got louder as the two demons worked to pin the vampire to the tabletop with daggers in his arms and legs. Issac knew it would not hold him for long, but the two demons were not going anywhere and had more where that came from. Besides, this conversation would be short. Either he gave him the information he needed, or he died. It was a simple exchange.

He finally stood once the vampire was in place. "Tell me, where have the rest of the sisters gone? In which direction did they march?"

The male spat out a mouthful of blood from where he had bitten his own tongue. He then snarled at the upstart human. "It doesn't matter. Even if you knew, you would be killed. You and your horde. The sisters would not tolerate your interference. They will rule everything from here to the Black Sea, and nothing anyone can do will stop them. Especially not a pathetic human like you."

Issac paused. Nothing on his face showed that he had just received the information he wanted. At least not at first. It wasn't until the vampire took on a horrified expression that the Forgemaster looked up at his demons. "Kill the rest, then prepare to march. We leave at dusk. We are several days behind, so we have no time to waste."

He then turned to leave them to it. It was ironic that they were headed back toward Walachia, but he would ensure they never made it. He should have known the bitch Carmilla would try something so stupid with Dracula gone. It was just like her to grasp for power. Still, her overreaching would be just what he needed to take them all down. His eyes flashed as he moved to make the preparations he would need for an extended journey.


Trevor was walking back into the castle with Alucard in silence. Neither man had spoken since the two women had run off together. Though part of it was the fact that he was looking around at the things that had changed since they had left. Most notably was the roof over the hold and the rig that was set up there. He thought about asking to go down there and see what else the vampire had changed already, but he figured that could wait. He agreed with the other male that it might not be a good idea to leave the two women alone for long, though he didn't want to say that out loud.

They hadn't made it all the way to the kitchen when Alucard froze, and his eyes widened almost comically. When he still didn't move after several seconds, Trevor finally called out. "Did you see a ghost or something? Do I need to be worried?"

Alucard then glanced over at him and shocked him with a horrified look before he blanched further. He didn't say anything before he rushed down the hall and into the kitchen. Trevor wasn't sure what to think of the man's behavior, but he decided it was better to be safe than sorry and ran after him.

When he got to the kitchen, he was confounded by the sight of the two women scowling at the other man. He took a slow step into the room and look around carefully. "Alright, anyone want to explain what the emergency was?"

Eva huffed at his question and rolled her eyes. "Nothing. Really, Adrian, you act as though you didn't expect us to catch up."

The other male gave her a stern look. "That was not catching up."

Eva's cheeks turned slightly pink, but she grinned at him. "Then you obviously don't know as much about women as you thought you did. Honestly, you act as though you have something to be embarrassed about. Trust me, you don't."

Trevor watched with shock as the vampire looked like he wasn't sure if he wanted to be embarrassed or livid. He was even more confused when Sypha spoke up. "Why don't we go see those changes Eva was telling me about. It sounds like you have done some amazing things in the time we have been gone."

Adrian blinked a few times and seemed to get himself under control before he gave her a nod. "Of course. I would be happy to show you." He then gave Eva a look that promised a talking to later. It wasn't lost on any of them, though Trevor wasn't sure why.

As for Eva, she was glad for the subject change. She had been a little upset at the way Adrian had barged in and practically jumped on them for their choice of subject matter, so she had gotten a little carried away. She hadn't thought about Trevor and his reaction before she let her mouth run away with her. She gave Sypha a grateful look as they all headed out toward the Trove. The Speaker gave her a wink and a grin. It wasn't like she didn't understand.

As they headed out, Eva walked a little faster so she could put her hand in Adrian's. When he frowned down at her, she whispered up at him. "Sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you."

He had many things he wanted to say at that moment, but none of them were appropriate in front of company. He settled for leaning down, so he was right next to her ear. "We'll discuss the terms later."

Eva felt her cheeks burn slightly, but didn't get to respond. An obnoxiously loud voice broke in from right behind them as a hand was placed on both their shoulders. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. I thought something was strange back there. What is this?"

Both Eva and Adrian turned to face Trevor. Adrian wore a longsuffering look, but Eva just grinned at him. She looked between him and Sypha before she raised a brow. "What, are you the only one that was allowed to find love when you were alone with the person you had feelings for?"

Trevor stepped back and gave her a horrified look before he looked over at Sypha. The Speaker was trying not to laugh as she refused to look him in the eye. He then looked back at Adrian, who actually commiserated with the man for once and took pity on him. He pulled on Eva's hand. "I thought we were done with that subject. We have more important things to discuss."

Eva gave him a sour look. "I think the fact that I love you is pretty darned important, but whatever."

She acted like she was going to pull her hand away from him, but he tightened his grip. He then gave her an exasperated look. "That isn't what I mean, and you know it."

Eva could tell that he was still pleased she had said that out loud. Pleased enough that he could forgive her for earlier. Not that she didn't plan to talk to Sypha again when they were sure the guys were otherwise occupied. Still, she grinned at him and pulled him forward. "I know."

He sighed as he followed after. Sometimes he wondered if it was women he didn't understand or just the one woman he had fallen in love with. Perhaps the fates thought it was funny. He couldn't say he blamed Trevor when he heard him as the man trailed after them. Though, the last part was questionable.

"Dear God, I'm gone for a couple of months, and the world goes crazy. I didn't even think he had it in him." Eva questioned that part more than Adrian did, and thought about saying so, but decided not to push her luck. She would wait at least another day before she told the hunter how wrong he was.

By that time, they made it to the lift. Even Trevor had to admit that the setup was an inventive solution to the problem of the smashed stairs. He was not so thrilled with the addition of electric lights to the trove since they symbolized everything he connected with Dracula. However, Sypha was fascinated, and he finally caved in and admitted it was convenient when Eva explained that it was similar to how things worked everywhere in her own time. It made it easier to think of as an addition from her perspective instead of a vampire thing.

After they looked around in the hold, Adrian and Eva told the others about the last company they had and the consequences. Trevor and Sypha were not pleased to hear how things turned out. Trevor, in particular, was not pleased that Eva had let one of them go, but she refused to be guilted into feeling bad for doing so. It was an impasse they had to drop eventually.

That was also where they explained Eva's plans to try and find a way to hide the castle. Sypha was fascinated with the idea of a spell that would make people leave without remembering what they were looking for, though Trevor thought they were all insane. Eva kind of agreed with him, even though it was her idea. That part sounded too far fetched. Though, she did already have an idea for the hiding part.

She hadn't even talked to Adrian about it yet, so it was new to them all when they sat down back at the castle before dinner. "I know the concept of hiding the castle is a strange one, and I agree that the memory spell is probably not feasible, even if it would be cool. However, I think we can still pull off the rest."

Sypha and Adrian both gave her curious looks. It was her lover that spoke first. "You sound like you have an idea. Why haven't you mentioned it?"

She tried not to roll her eyes at the tone he used. "Because I just thought of it earlier and haven't had a chance to." She then turned to Sypha. "How much experience do you have with light spells?"

The Speaker looked confused at first. "Do you mean fire?"

Eva shook her head. "No, I mean as in light waves. I'm sure you have seen a prism before, right? Or a rainbow? Light goes in one side of the prism, and the different wavelengths travel through at different speeds, so they refract out separately, and you see the different colors on the far side."

They all looked at her with shock for a moment. Adrian's was the first to change from that to excitement. "You are suggesting we find a way to bend the light around the castle. If we can do so, it would seem as though it was not there at all."

Eva grinned at him. "Exactly! With something this huge, it would be difficult, but since it is stationary, it should be doable."

Sypha let out a deep breath and shook her head. "I would have never thought about such, but it is a valid theory. It might take some time to set it up, but if we used mirrors and light, we might be able to make it work."

Trevor looked at the other three with exasperation before he shook his head. "So tell me. How many mirrors will I need to fetch?"

Both Sypha and Eva burst into laughter while Adrian smirked at him. Still, it was good to have them both back and a new goal to work toward. If only things could always remain that easy. Sypha and Trevor shared a glance as they calmed. They had news to share as well, but after hearing what the other couple had recently been through, they decided that it could wait one more day. It would be nice to just enjoy their company for the night. It wasn't as though they would be able to leave right away anyway, even if they could not afford to tarry long.

A/N: I know this is a bit of a change. We saw it in the last chapter too, with the jump in perspective for part of the chapter, but we have to see what the other players are doing since it can't be assumed. This is all new. Let me know if you feel I'm covering it all well enough. There is plenty that still needs to come to light before the finale. Thanks to all my reviewers, especially those I can't thank directly via PM, and I hope you enjoyed! Cheers!