Edited 05/04/2020
All Harry had to do was cross the eastern forest barrier. Then he needed to get on a carriage to the castle of bones. And finally, he had to steal the key from a vampire well over 20,000 years old, easy.
Harry rode upon a stallion with a coat black as coal. As the darkness of the eastern forest swallowed them whole, he was forced to rely upon his sixth sense. Beneath the trees of the east there was no light. Leaves black as coal and bark a pale white covered the forest. These trees choked any other of starlight. Their delicate leaves were designed to absorb the barest amount of light.
The forest was alive with movement. Harry sensed the limbs move but felt nothing moving them. It wasn't the wind or any animal he could detect.
"Don't use any light Harry. If you do, you'll die." His steed Nomine said. She trampled upon saplings of the eastern tree as they rode. "Look up and see the truth."
Harry's eyes glowed a with green qi as he focused his sixth sense. There in the trees wrapped in the leaves and vines from the trees was a unicorn. Long limbs pierced the creature. A green liquid flowed from leaves filling the unicorn's mouth. The unicorn's blood flowed into the tree's limb. Another limb filled the unicorn's anus absorbing the waste while finer roots filled the unicorn's member. They sucked away at its bladder and drank its seed dry. The flesh of the unicorn was sunken down to the bones and its muscles were atrophied. With a glance Harry saw what would become of the creature. There was a husk in the tree nearby. It was bone and dried hide nothing else remained of the once proud creature.
Flames erupted from Harry's hands ready to burn the forest to ash. Tree branches shot down as he flicked his fingers. Green flames tore through the branches leaving ash behind. The forest rumbled just as the flames died out. Harry felt what the unicorn was going through. When his sixth sense touch the creature, they became linked. Pain, confusion, and the terrible knowledge he was going to die whited out his brain. He pulled away before he burned the forest down. Harry bent his head over Nomine's side and vomited.
"It hurts." Harry said. His body shook as his qi tried to sooth his mind. He didn't want to be soothed, he wanted to burn and destroy.
Unicorn within Harry cried out in horror. It wanted Harry to strike at the trees. Bicorn urged him to use fire to cleanse the world of them. Harry qi soothed his anger until he felt nothing, so he refused them both. If he exposed himself here, then they wouldn't get the key. With his qi came cold logic and an control over his actions. Gondor's mind tossed and turned threatening to wake up.
This place was a nightmare. It resembled more a massive spider's nest than a true forest. Only the darkest of creatures could live under the trees.
Harry continued through the forest sensing more creatures in the tree's limbs. Each was in a more horrible state than the last. He could hear them if he sensed too closely. If he touched them with his sixth sense their lights connected, and he felt their pain.
One of their number was silent. He turned to that one and pulled Nomine's reins. "I want a closer look."
Harry leapt from his mount and quickly climbed a nearby tree. In the limbs of a large tree was an old man. Many of the trees had gathered around him sharing in his blood. When Harry approached the old man's, eyes snapped open. Roots had long since poked out one of his eyes and filled his veins. They formed a swirling pattern until they touched his sternum. A small red halo kept the roots at bay for now.
This old man had a spark in his chest. He like Harry was a dragon slayer.
A creature made of leaves and bark slipped out of the tree's trunk. She had a frown on her white bark face. Even with her eyes half covered by her leafy black hair she was beautiful. She spoke but Harry didn't understand her. Harry raised his hand letting darkness expand around his palm.
Harry felt the darkness sweep through him hungrily sucking in qi. It came quicker to his call than any other element. He focused it into a quick blast. But it refused to keep a form. Even as it focused in his palm it changed into hundreds of shapes. It knew endless possibilities and had no desire to keep one for too long. Harry tried to call it back and it sluggishly obeyed. It crept from his qi like a slug while sucking up qi like a leech. The darkness in his hand vanished and he heard a peel of laughter from the tree woman.
Instead of letting it go, he felt goaded into action. He looked at the cruel smirk on the creature's face. He could just leave. This was a waste of time. Why make an enemy of the trees? What if he was in that situation? This old man was a human and a fellow dragon slayer. Making an enemy was worth saving his kin.
Harry focused back on the old man and inspected him with his sixth sense. The concentrated light from the old man's blood was damaging the roots. As the roots absorbed his blood, the man destroyed them. Unfortunately, the old man was running out of consciousness power.
Harry moved quickly and placed a finger on the old man's chest. He infused the old man with qi and sewed karma with him. The old man's good eye widened to life and the halo of blood protecting his sternum turned golden. Slowly, the roots began to retreat. Harry didn't know if the old man would survive this or not but touched his chest again and doubled the qi for good measure. The creature in the tree looked on with hate in her eyes. Branches shot after him.
A smile swept across Harry's face as he dodged the incoming limbs. After five dodges he leapt in the air and the limbs converged on him. The monster shouted in triumph as the limbs wrapped around him.
Twelve balls of sever all appeared around him quickly cutting the branches apart. Harry leapt forward and punched the woman with all his might. Her form exploded. Then he dissipated the balls of sever all. With no light to track the limbs froze. Harry made sure to pay close attention to where the tree woman came from before leaving.
"You might have made an enemy for life." Nomine said. Harry kicked her side and they galloped away. Harry's thoughts were less on the enemy he'd made and more on the halo. It was something he'd study in the future.
As they traveled down the road Harry started to sense dark essence.
Before he'd always detected essence as something of a mix of various elements. Deep in this forest, he sensed the dark in its purer state. From the trees shrouded in darkness, he sensed dense masses of light essence.
As they traveled near the forest's end, he heard the howls of wolves. Harry turned his head to see a massive wolf with snow white fur. Instead of two eyes it had three. It was quickly joined by smaller wolves with black coats and three eyes. Nomine galloped faster as they headed for the nearest town. The wolves were catching up.
Harry stood up on Nomine's back. He bent his knees to keep balance and gathered fire to his hand. Holding his breath, he pushed a fireball forward. The ball quickly expanded sucking in oxygen before exploding. The white wolf leapt through the explosion showing no signs of damage. Frost fell covered the ground where she stepped. Her artic blue eyes were set on him. As they made a turn a wolf leapt from a hill, Harry twisted leaving Nomine's back and struck the wolf in the neck. Harry heard the wolf's bone break as he tried to right himself. It felt good to have something to fight.
The second his feet touched the ground the two black wolves dog piled on him. He moved just enough to avoid their teeth. Harry called for lightning with all his might. It shot to him as he touched the wolves then vanished just as quickly. The wolves shook in the air before collapsing on the ground. Fire came to his call like an old reliable friend.
He raised his hand and unleashed a cone of flame. The white wolf dodged to the side. As her hair stood up her third eye flashed. Harry threw himself to the side as razor sharp blades of ice shot up from the ground. The wolf leapt at him after his dodge its mouth agape ready to bite him through the neck. In her eyes wasn't hunger anymore, Harry could see revenge.
Righteous fury swept through him as he rose. She started it and he'd finish it. His eyes glowed green as he used his full cultivation base. Power exploded through his body as bones popped and healed back stronger. Harry felt himself rise to the ninth stage just as he drove a flame covered fist against the she wolf's jaw. Just as the force transferred Harry reacted with another blow. His every step drove him faster as he punished the wolf. Bones broke and crumbled ice covered her fur like armor only to shatter. Steam rose from her body as he tore her apart with strength and flame.
She was bloody broken and covered in burns. He placed a hand on her body and drew her consciousness out. It charged for his own mind ripping and tearing. Harry roared as his cultivation base struck her. Her mind was wild and even brave, but it was nothing compared to a churning ocean. Waves of qi smashed into her wearing away at her very soul. Then Harry struck. He gripped her with his mind and squeezed until she popped.
Her six years of life swept through his mind. She was the daughter of an ancient beast of the far north. She was chased from the lands and founded in the east. For the past year she'd hunted these lands. Most of her life here was spent attacking lone travelers and leading them into an ambush. She came with a few abilities.
His knowledge of the dao of ice had increased. If he wanted to improve it anymore, he'd need to go north. He picked himself up from the ground and made his way towards the village. Pieces of wolves were scattered along his trail until he found her waiting for him.
Nomine in her red eyed vampire form smiled at him like Cheshire cat. At the ninth level of refinery his body naturally absorbed essence at an insane rate. Just one more stage and he'd be ready to attempt foundry. That was something he'd need time and preparation to complete.
Out of the forest, they made their way down a lonely road. Even out of the forest the large white trees covered the earth though spread out. Lightly glowing grass covered the ground out of reach from the tree limbs. This grass covered the vast plains outside the forest eaten by various beasts of burden. On the road travelers with wagons full of children traveled down the road. One of the vampires driving the wagons waved to Nomine.
Gondor's information contained the common tongue of the eastern lands. Even so Harry had never used it and wasn't confident in it.
"Cairn is my name. The hundred-year war festival is coming quickly you might need more sacrifices than that one. Did you hear who they captured to play Joan of Arc?" Cairn asked. Harry sent his sixth sense to inspect the wagon.
He felt a weight on his heart. They were all children his age, younger, and older. None were over the age of fifteen and the youngest was eight. If he spoke up or killed Cairn, they wouldn't make it out. What could he do? Harry felt worthless like a hammer trying to pour concrete.
"This one is mine; I'm waiting until he's a bit older to turn him. He's a descendent of my mortal family." Nomine said.
"My apologizes miss. I had no idea he was such a valuable mortal. Most don't follow such traditions any longer. I see no bite marks on his neck. Are you keeping him pure for your sire?" Cairn asked.
"No and that's enough discussing such private matters. Will I be barred from entry without an offering?" Nomine said.
"Of course not, only procurers must bring offerings. Tourists may participate, though feed conservatively. The guards shall give you all the rules upon arrival. Do you wish to ride m'lady your blood bound may join my offerings?" Cairn turned to Harry. His silver hair bounced upon his shoulders. The man dyed his hair and dressed like a resonance man. Harry was certain the vampire wasn't so old. Cairn didn't feel particularly powerful.
"May I have your name blood bound?" Cairn asked.
"Harry Potter Sir," Harry said with a bow. He kept his body language tight. Even the sir was cut shorter than it should have been. The vampire clucked his tongue but made no comment. The horses stopped and Harry climbed into the wagon.
He found an empty place next to two girls. One was a white haired drow who couldn't be older than eight and a dwarf rocking herself slowly. Harry sat between them. The dwarf felt him bump her shoulder and shied away.
The elf saw him and turned her head. "I'm sorry, I can't save you." Harry said.
"Don't worry Harry some will live beyond the festival. The others will die with pleasure that only vampire venom can provide. You'll be one of us soon enough. But feel free to become acquainted with them. Harry focused on the sound waves with his sixth sense.
He tried to make a blade out of qi to cut them, but they were impossible to affect with his current skill. One of the boys in front of him shook upon hearing the words.
"It's not like it matters. My father will have already called his levies. Soon we will be saved." An older boy said. In his hand was a twig knight. He was twelve by Harry's estimation.
"No knight of the saints can pass the forest with their holy relics. After the last of the procurers reach the village the dementors will be sent back into the woods. They will keep any heroes from passing through the forest." Cairn said casually. Harry looked around and saw that no one was around.
He stood up and circled around sensing nothing. His sixth sense expanded passing beyond fifty meters in range. Nomine turned around and shook her head. As if knowing what he planned she warned him away. Harry sighed and retook his seat.
After an hour of riding the village came into view. Massive walls encircled the village while wagons full of children lined up at the gate. The wagon stopped and from the horse Harry watched a vampire crawl out of the beast's flesh. The horse fell and died immediately, and Harry felt a difference between the vampire and the horse. Dark essence flowed through her veins with incredible purity. Harry sensed a concentrated solid mass of it in her body. It was present in Cairn and Nomine but in her it was overbearing and dense. Harry sensed a presence radiating from her.
They unhitched the now dead steed and she leapt into the wagon. She swept the boy who had spoken up before up. With ease she turned his head and opened her mouth. Harry sensed the hungry gluttonous dark even in her saliva. She bit down on the boy's wrist draining him slowly. Harry could feel the boy's heart race as the vampire's venom numbed his body.
"There are no more hidden vampires and the others are too far away to sense us." Nomine said. Cairn and the new vampire froze. Harry rose to his feet and felt a grin of satisfaction spread across his face.
His hand struck out with no restraint. The woman pushed the boy in the way and Harry twisted changing the course of his momentum. In that split second, he ripped through Cairn's back, tore his heart apart, and scooped the small speck of condensed dark essence. Harry ripped it out.
The dark essence glowed to his sixth sense. Harry quickly absorbed it feeling the dark within him grow in awareness. The vampire leapt to the side of the carriage when Harry snatched her ankle out of the air. Nomine moved grabbing the woman's shoulders.
"Cairn's blood will be noticed you won't be able to hide his death or mine. If you spare me, I'll tell the guards that Cairn attacked you." Harry looked at the carriage full of children and spread his sixth sense out to the other carriages full of children.
He stepped over to the vampire and placed a hand on her cheek. The dark was screaming to devour her dark essence. She was much stronger than Cairn. When Harry met her red eyes, he saw terror. Harry wiped the blood from her lips then tapped her chest just above the dark essence core.
"Is this a vampire's core or heart? I can feel it calling to me." Harry pulled a little on it and her heartbeat stalled. She coughed up a mouthful of blood. Harry's eyes glowed green and he didn't know what to do. He looked at her and didn't know.
"I'm ultimately just a vehicle. It's up to you to choose. Take a chance or play it safe." Tears of blood fell from the vampire woman's face.
"Please, I'm just an undercover guard. It's what I must do to survive in this world." She said. Harry narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what to do. If he was like her would he do the same? Did she have a choice? He didn't have the experience to make the decision. He could only look to what others would do. She hadn't betrayed him, and she wasn't the one procuring children.
"Was she the one who took you from your homes?" Harry asked. His voice was a whisper, but everyone heard it. Her heart began to calm a little.
"No, it was Cairn who took us. She only joined after we reached the forest. It was her job to make sure other vampires didn't drain us on the road." The son of a lord said. "She told me to be brave." He said.
Harry dropped his grip from her dark essence. He raised his hand and offered it to her. "This is your only chance. If you betray me, you won't get another." Harry said.
They approached the gate and Harry waited for betrayal. Nomine took on Cairn's form as they passed through the gate.
"Hey Carmen, what wrong did something happen beyond the forest. Did you meet another young man you want to turn?" A guardsman said.
"Do you smell that Cairn is one of our guests a fighter. Or were you playing with your food again. I'm guessing by the smell it wasn't a powder musket this time." The other guard said.
"You know my proclivities. Perhaps giving the girl a silver knife was too much." The guards chuckled. Harry waited for one of the guards to sound an alarm. There was no way it was this easy.
"You're going to get yourself killed one day you psychopath." One of the guards said. "Well everything checks out, go on through." He stared at Carmen waiting for her to do anything. A hand sign or any warning from her and he'd kill her where she stood.
They passed the gates and the doors closed behind them. He waited under the gazes of thousands of vampires and their victims. Some felt many times stronger than Carmen while others were as weak as Cairn.
Once they reached the inn Carmen purchased their room. They closed the heavy soundproof door before she spoke.
"You can't be human. No human is that fast or precise. You didn't put your hand on my heart, you put it on my core." Before Harry could respond he turned his head as the largest mass of darkness he'd ever felt brushed against his sixth sense.
He rushed to the window and focused on the presence. After scanning over it he sensed something that felt like the fairy gate. It was here the key out of this place was in this village.
Author's note: Sorry this is taking so long just a few more chapters and we'll return to the main plot. Tell me if you're enjoying the plot so far. It's about wrapped up now.