Chapter 12

He stood there with his arms crossed, staring at Jolda and I, as if he wasn't at all surprised by the recent events. Out of my furious anger I charged Dalamus, who stayed calm the entire time. Little did I know I wouldn't even touch him.

Within one foot of him he cast a shield spell and I ran smack into the force field, and then I fell to the snowy ground.

"Don't waste your energy Vitellus. I come to talk, not to fight."

Despite my fury I had no other options other than listening to him. "What do you want? All of my men are dead except for her, and she's just been bitten by one of your horrid minions! What could you possibly want from me?"

I was fuming with rage as Dalamus looked on. What annoyed me the most was that he was acting like everything was fine. He saw the situation with calmness and serenity, though I can't even begin to think how.

"I've been thinking ever since you left me last night Vitellus. I have come to the decision that you will not be traveling back to Ald' Ruhn, at least not yet. My father will never listen to the likes of you. You will have to rid your body of your magnificent gift before you can go back. Most are too ignorant to appreciate the awe-inspiring powers that come with our powers."

He wanted me to get rid of this disease? How in the world would I achieve such a task?

"And how may I accomplish this Dalamus?" My question was both sarcastic and serious. I wanted him to know that I loathed him more than anything in the world, but at the same time I really did want to heal myself from this nightmare.

"There are two ways, both in which the two of you will help each other along the way," he said while pointing to Jolda and I.

I looked over at Jolda who in a state of shock. Clearly she had not yet taken in what has happened to her, or else she'd be hysterical. But then it appeared that I had spoken to soon, because she immediately realized what's happened.

"I am…a vampire?"

Dalamus shook his head silently, and that was the beginning of the end for Jolda.

"I can't possibly be! No, you're wrong! YOU'RE WRONG!"

She curled up into a ball and began rocking back and forth, muttering things to herself as if Dalamus and I were not even there. That was it, I had lost her. Her mind was gone and soon her life would be too. I just wasn't expecting it at the time.

I took a deep sigh and turned back to Dalamus. Again his relaxed stature made me want to strangle him. He acted as if he didn't even care what was going on. Did he not realize that it was now just me? Jolda was no longer with us; I had nobody else to help me.

"I hope you're happy. Jolda is gone along with the rest of my men. What am I to do? How will I be able to end this plague alone?" I demanded.

Before Dalamus could answer I heard the sound of metal being swiped, and that's when I knew what was going to happen.

I turned around and saw the blade held high into the air. Jolda wasn't going to let her disease control her, and she abruptly brought the dagger down straight through her chest, ending the would-be-struggle that would happen between Jolda and her undead-counterpart.

I ran over to her, hoping she would live, but what foolish thoughts they were. I knew very well it was all over for her, just as it was for everyone else. I blame myself for these horrific events. If it wasn't for me none of this would happen, or would it? It seemed Dalamus was taking the latter.

"Don't blame yourself Dalamus; it would have happened either way. My minions would have gotten to her regardless if you would've killed the other two."

Out of sheer anger I unsheathed my steel dagger and flung it across towards Dalamus, surprisingly with great speed. However I had underestimated him once again and he simply caught the dagger with his hand, and then dropped in into the snow.

"I will say this again, you are wasting your time in your foolish attempts of killing me. Either you can sit and listen to what I have to say, or I will kill you. It is as simple as that. Which do you choose Vitellus?"

I didn't have a choice. Clearly he was stronger and more agile than I. The only thing to do was listen to his words. Perhaps they would put me on the path to where I would be able to rid myself from this horrible disease.