Amos led me with a steady hand on the shoulder, stepping into the medium sized stone tower I quickly realized that the outside was not indicative of its true dimensions. The inside was as expected, circular and tight, but past the rubble and abandoned furniture there was a gaping hole in the wall. On the side that was built against the rocky hillside was an excavation point, clearly the vampaneze had chosen this location for the purpose of misleading anyone who looked at it from the outside, taking the time to dig into the hillside and create a whole new cave system.

Lanterns burned brightly as we approached it, their light creating a terribly eerie orange light in the darkness of the tunnels. The deeper we traveled, the deeper the echoing of our shuffling feet sounded.

"Tell me, Amos. Why are you working with the Vampaneze?" I eventually spoke up, the echoing of my voice taking me by surprise.

"Everything will make sense when we get there, Hunter. Trust me. Lilly will be very happy to see you."

I wrenched my shoulder from his grasp, "You brought Lilly to this place!?"

Amos's expression softened, bringing his hands up in a placating motion, "Yes, don't worry, they won't hurt her..." Amos stalked closer, his face remaining calm and soothed despite my own horrified one, he rested his hands on my shoulders, pushing me against the dirt walls, "...I know you care for her almost as much as I do. You mean a lot to her, you know. Since her mother-" Amos paused, squeezing my shoulders, "Well...I am glad Lily had you for as long as she did..."

Amos pressed against me, leaning in close to press his lips against my cheek...

My breath shuddered, utterly confused at Amos's words. The clear disassociation he had made between his emotions and his actions made it impossible for me to feel anything other than fear and anger...

His soft beard tickled my cheek, and my eyes bore into him as he moved away, there was a disgustingly sweet smile on his face.

"Lets keep moving..." He whispered against my ear.

I felt shame and regret for every moment of kindness I had ever given him, every kind word I had spared. To make matters even worse, I felt disgusted at remembering my own naive flirting with him. Being made to feel like a complete and utter idiot was something I was becoming far too familiar with.

As we walked, I saw tunnels and caverns that led to and served as different rooms. But our destination was deeper within. Moving ever downward we must have descended quite a few feet underground; the cave system wasn't terribly complex but given time, the Vampaneze might eventually dig out an entire city down here.

The hall eventually led into a surprisingly expansive cavern. Torches decorated the walls and candles sat on tables surrounding one grand dining table at the center. Glowing blue lichen littered the ceiling of the cavern, giving the purple beings surrounding me a highlight of pale blue on their skin.

As soon as we made our entrance into the hall, a dozen purple faces turned to acknowledge us, lifting from their meals at tables, or from their conversation. There were too many of them...more than I had expected, but less than I had feared. The atmosphere was carefree, this cavern seemed to be were the vampaneze gathered to eat and socialize. Some members continued to eye us carefully, but others had quickly lost interest and returned to their meals and lively conversations. They acted as if their battle was already won.

A familiar figure sauntered over from the crowd, "Hey there, beautiful! I quite missed you!" an eager and giddy laugh pulsated through the thick air from the man.

My gaze darkened and a growl escaped my throat, "Peloquin..."

The purple vampaneze approached with his arms extended as if he expected a hug. As if I would touch him even if my arms weren't restrained. His appearance had changed, he was such a surprisingly vain vampaneze; I wasn't sure if that was uncommon but he seemed to be unique in that he took time to dress himself and took pride in his appearance. He wore a long leather coat, and a surprisingly crisp wine red shirt that stood out above tight black slacks.

"How's the arm...?" I continued, a sneer on my face.

Peloquin flashed me a genuine smile, taking a long nail to rake across my cheek, "Aw, worried about me? That hurt you know, maybe you'd like to make it up to me...?"

I heard Amos swallow hard as Peloquin pressed his body against mine, his tongue darting out to lick the shell of my ear.

"Ugh..." I groaned.

"Peloquin!" A hoarse booming voice rang out, and Peloquin's head jerked away, all conversation ceased as the source of the voice stood from the large dining table, "That's enough, lieutenant. Bring her to me."

"Of course, sir, " Peloquin bit his lip. "Perhaps we'll finally get our chance to play after this..." he whispered to me.

Pulling me harshly, Peloquin pushed me ahead and towards the very authoritative looking table.

The vampaneze who had called for me was a surly looking creature. With dark purple skin, littered with blotches of a lighter purple, giving him a sickly looking pattern; but despite his coloration making him look like so, his features were nothing to snicker at. Deep wrinkles created a grave look on his face no matter what expression he wore. And his eyes were a strange pale color unlike the rest of the vampaneze, a sort of...milky white. A bandolier of knives was thrown over his shoulder, and a cinquedea dangled at his hip. His head being shaved on either side, except for the top and a ponytail, completed his look of a raider, a viking from a past era.

Peloquin shoved me against the table, the collision jolting everything on it.

The large vampaneze took in my appearance, although his gaze seemed very far away, making me think that perhaps his eyes were damaged.

But he can definitely see me...how can- his head cocks with every breathe I take, every movement I make, his gaze seems closer. I can see that every noise, movement, and scent shapes the world around him. His eyes may be failing him, but he can see just fine. I couldn't help but feel amazed with him.

Cutting my thoughts short, the large creature raised his chin to speak in a rough booming voice.

"I am Calder..." he began, full of pride, "...I lead these creatures of the night. And you..." Calder sniffed the air, "...you are half of my most annoying problem."

Calder rose slowly from across the table with his hands clasped behind his back, "But now we have you and...soon we'll have the vampire general as well..."

Calder turned for a moment to regard Amos, breathing in deeply, "Well done, dog. You did well bringing this one to us."

Amos had ran up alongside Peloquin and I, "Can I see her, sir? May I finally see my wife?"

Peloquin huffed, and Calder exchanged glances with him. Calder momentarily toyed with the blade of a knife at his chest...

"Very well. Call her over, will you?" Calder waved to a vampaneze who stood off to the side.

The creature gave a quick nod before running off to fetch the woman.

Wait- his wife?

My mind was spinning. I was trying my damndest to keep up and pull together a clear idea in my mind but questions were starting to pile up at a terrifying rate. How could it be possible that Amos's wife lived, and lived here of all places? She was terribly sick with a disease no one in the village understood and at that time we didn't even have a town doctor, she had no chance of surviving and I was sure I had seen the grave where her body supposedly rested.

But if she really hadn't died, then why would the Vampaneze have her- A thought suddenly popped into my mind. Perhaps they were keeping her hostage. Perhaps she was never sick and they were forcing Amos's hand all these years and he had no choice but bring me in exchange for his wife's life, as well as Lily's life.

A woman walked out of a distant corridor, a cheeky smile on her face.

"Took you long enough, Amos. I thought I'd finally never see you again." The woman laughed. A strange expression of humor at the situation.

"Evalyn, my love!" Amos called, relieved.

Amos ran over to the woman, only to be swiftly knocked to the ground by her strong arm, "Careful, dear. I forget sometimes that I shouldn't eat you." she laughed.

My brows furrowed, "What the..." and It took all I had not to shout every curse I had in my vocabulary.

She wasn't human. Not anymore. Evalyn had appeared and I had expected a fearful human woman but instead I saw yet another purple vampaneze. Except...she still had dark hair...just like in the drawing. Everything else about her was consistent with vampaneze features- except her hair...It looked as if maybe she dyed it. Subconsciously clinging to her old self.

"Was it worth selling out your home, foolish man?" Calder huffed between hearty laughs.

"At least I know you're alive, not sick anymore..." Amos mumbled inwardly, staring at the vampaneze that was once his wife.

Amos picked himself up, dusting himself off to face her once more, "Evalyn, come with me, we will go see Lilly. Do you remember her?"

A flash of someone else appeared in her eyes, a split moment of lucidness before a coy grin settled back in, "That darling little morsel you brought? Why not?"

Amos's eyes lingered on Calder for a moment, silently asking for permission. Calder nodded to a pair of vampaneze who had been standing beside Evalyn, and in response they guided the troubled couple down a darkened tunnel at the other end of the cavern. I wondered if the armed guards were kept around them because they didn't want Evalyn hurting either Amos or Lilly. I couldn't fully comprehend why they would care but- I was grateful.

Calder finally turned his attention back to me.

"Incase you're wondering why we turned our focus to you, It's very simple. We don't have the time to go chasing after your friend, nor can we risk anymore attention. So, we are going to have him come to us..." Calder shifted his bandolier of knives, swaggering around the table to stand before me...

He took a moment to curl a calloused finger around a lock of my hair, "How fortunate that he would stumble onto you, and grow so attached. You should have seen his face when I told him I had another vampaneze at your home...at that point I knew it would be all too easy."

He sniffed at me, bringing his hands back together behind his back before taking to stalking around me, "I knew Peloquin's...particular way of torturing his victims would be the perfect test for you two. Larten would come running back for you, and Peloquin would see first hand what he was willing to do for you. The fact that he came back alive was the most promising clue, it made it clear that he would put you before anything else. Even the task given to him by his superiors. He could have killed Peloquin. But instead he let him go and turned his attention to you. And so, I was confident in my plan of simply capturing you and waiting for Larten to walk himself straight into the lion's den."

Calder chuckled deeply, squinting at me, "It doesn't matter how much he likes you...love will do nothing to help him defeat us all on his own..."

Calder was like a gladiator in the middle of his own stadium, he motioned to his audience and they all cheered and cackled collectively.

I could only watch and sink deeper into an angry scowl as they jeered and laughed at me. Calder's words worried me deeply. My heart pounded at the possibility of my relationship with Larten getting us all killed. My heart pounded at the possibility of there being a relationship between us at all...

I silently hoped that when Larten discovered me missing, he wouldn't waste a single moment thinking over how to rescue me and that in his mind he kept his priority; keep the element of surprise, kill their leader, save lives. Saving a single life should be at the bottom of that list...

Peloquin was finishing up retying my legs and gagging me, taking his time to fully enjoy himself. He toyed with me the way he had been wanting to since first meeting me. Breathing hotly on my neck, his bared teeth grazing along the sensitive skin of my neck. He kissed and licked where he liked, making me squirm underneath his touch, and forcing surprised yelps from my throat. I stared daggers into him every time he squeezed my ass.

"Don't worry, my pet. I won't let the rest of them harm you, I reserve that right..." his hands ran roughly through my hair, gripping a handful to pull my head back, causing me to grunt before he licked slickly along my throat, "...I'm going to take you for my own when this is all over with..."

Peloquin planted a playful bite at the tip of my nose, finally leaving me tied and sitting on the floor in a wide space in front of the dining table.

Calder's gaze was unwavering as his eyes seemed bore into mine, an incredibly predatory look deep within them. I caught a sudden feeling of apprehension, and I pictured that fox I saw in the woods...and realized this is how it must have felt...

I looked around and realized those predatory eyes were everywhere.

I felt a familiar pang of hate. Hate at how vulnerable I felt. And dismay at whose name was at the tip of my tongue, yet again.

'Larten.'

...

"There's no way we'd be able to take the front entrance. That's exactly what they want, they'll easily see us coming."

Larten shook his head, frustrated, "What would you have us do then? We must get in there if we hope to get her out alive."

Pacing around the inside of the tower for a moment, Gavner eyed the entrance to the vampaneze's web like cavern system. Taking note of the rusted weapons and helms lying around, "Look around this tower. It's a watch tower, filled with aged armaments. The terrain all around is damaged same as here. This was once the site of a battle. There must be underground tunnels snaking all throughout this area. Perhaps if we search around we will find something that comes close enough to the vampaneze's cave system."

Larten nodded, catching on to what Gavner was thinking, "We may be able to dig a completely unexpected new entrance. They would never expect that. In fact, they are lucky their system has not yet caved in, if that is true..." Larten then remembered the sun, "...this is an incredible risk we are taking, Gavner. We may find nothing at all. And the sun..."

"I know..." Gavner admitted, "...are you willing to get a little burnt?"

Larten huffed, "We must spread out. Cover more ground. Be quick."

...

I sneezed.

And Peloquin grinned at me, leaning against one of the sturdy wooden chairs, amused with me as if I were a child or a puppy dog.

I cleared my throat, crinkling my nose and shaking my head, noticing that dust was steadily falling before me.

I looked up, instantly blinking uncomfortably at the steady fall of rock and dirt crumbles coming from the high, rocky ceiling. Realizing quickly that the slowly growing rumbling could easily mean that an avalanche of rock was soon going to come cascading down on me.

The rumbling grew louder and the shaking was now unmistakable. Eyes began to dart around and search for the cause. Adrenaline took over and I took a chance, throwing my body as hard as I could, away from the table, before the ceiling gave way.

A deafening crashing sound came as chunks of the cavern ceiling fell on Calder's dining table.

Smashing into the cutlery, and plates, sending them shattering on impact or into the ground. Calder stood with a start, his head darting around and growling angrily as he dashed out of the way of rubble that could have crushed him.

Following the rubble, I heard the sound of boots hitting wood. I looked up to see a sturdy man land with a huff on the dining table. He was dressed in a thick brown leather hunting jacket with fur trimming, and a simple shirt.

Everyone stood around dumbfounded and time seemed to still around us. The man stood for a moment ignoring all the vampaneze around him, silently scanning the room.

I was on the ground. Breathing heavily, hoping that the ceiling was finally finished raining down on me. When his eyes met mine his lips curled into a huge, happy, grin.

"Hey!" he greeted me happily, but I could only blink back in confusion.

I noticed his pale complexion. And the slight dusting of pink on his face, like a sunburn.

He must be another vampire...the one Larten mentioned.

"HEY." Calder boomed, "COME HERE." Calder swiped at the newcomers legs. With a swift hop the newcomer avoided his swipe.

He quickly jumped off of the table, angling his head toward the gaping hole in the ceiling, "Larten! Now!"

A familiar figure, with his cape billowing behind him like huge crimson wings, jumped from seemingly out of thin air. He collided with Calder, landing on his chest with both legs in an outstretched kick. Larten's hands instantly curled around his throat, sneering into his face.

"Larten...we meet at last.." Calder choked out.

"What a shame there will be no time to get know one another." Larten sneered.

As the rest of the vampaneze slowly came to realize the situation, the flew to the rescue of their master. And quickly began moving to surround us.

"Brought you a gift, friend." the broad vampire chimed, tossing me a rifle he had hanging off his back. Handling it as if it were something he did not want to be touching.

But I caught it gratefully.

He regarded me once more, "Now let's get to work, shall we?" it was the final battle. And we were all filled with determination. Three against three dozen?

I grinned. They will be massacred.

Without another moment to spare, the newcomer and I turned to different directions, ready to face the wall of vampaneze heading our way before they could reach Larten and Calder.

He stayed close to me as I began to direct attention with my shots. I noticed that none of the vampaneze had guns or ranged weapons at all. I would be alright as long as I kept them at a distance. If one ever did come to close, my new friend would tackle them and quickly bring them down with his two swords. Swinging and twirling beautifully he dispatched several vampaneze in only a few strokes.

Larten on the other hand, had his hands full with Calder. I tried my best to provide him with cover by taking out any vampaneze that strayed too close to them. Luckily, for the most part the vampaneze were worried about me and the other vampire. I don't think any of them were expecting a fight with an enemy that carried fire arms.

"You're outnumbered, you fool!" Calder growled, struggling in Larten's grip, "We will kill you and this town will belong to the vampaneze!"

Barely avoiding a punch to the face, "Three is all that is necessary to defeat you and your clan of cowards." Larten replied.

Enraged by Larten's audacity, Calder launched a barrage of attacks with reinvigorated ferocity. Finally reaching for the cinquedea at his hip, Calder wielded it without mercy.

Larten twisted and slid across the ground, dodging Calder's downward swipes. Larten's slender frame made him a more difficult target to hit, and his quick and swift movements made it almost impossible for his enemy.

Lunging forward during the upswing of Calder's knife, Larten took the opportunity to strike him swiftly in the chest.

Calder recoiled in confusion, growling deeply at the sudden pain at his chest. His hand pressed against his ribs and his fingers came away glistening with blood.

Calder searched Larten. Scanning his hands he eventually picked up the sound of slight vibrations from sharp steel, and the glint of torch light off of it's reflective blade. A small push knife was being held snugly in Larten's right hand, between his middle finger and ring finger.

In a fighting stance with his hands at the ready, Larten stood with a smirk on his face. That's small push dagger would barely make his hands easier to read. He was smart to choose such a small and mobile weapon, it would make it easier to keep from telegraphing his moves.

Just as Calder was letting loose some of the knives in his bandolier, Amos and Evalyn came into the scene with Lily in tow.

Rubbing her hands together in anticipation, Evalyn surveyed the scene with hungry eyes, "A fight? Finally, a chance to really get my hands dirty! They haven't let do a damn thing since they turned me, at your request." she spat, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Amos turned to her in dismay, "Evalyn, don't. Stay here with Lily. Please! I didn't make that deal just so someone else could kill you!"

Evalyn backed up into the mayhem, "You got what you wanted, Amos. I'm cured. You wouldn't let me die, so now I'm going to really live!" she bid her husband goodbye, with a resentful look in her eyes.

"Evalyn!"

She was gone, off into the craziness of the battle before her.

Lily began to cry, she was being held by Amos and her eyes were wide with fear and worry, she tucked her head against her father's broad shoulders.

There was nothing left of the woman that Amos loved, and he had to keep Lily safe, everything he had sacrificed for her was for nothing. She was cured of whatever disease she had but it was now replaced with something far worse. And this had no cure, nor solution he could make another trade for. He had to leave her behind. He had condemned everyone he knew and cared about for one woman. And now, she had no recollection of the love she had for him...or for her daughter. He had to start running. Keep Lily alive and run.

Catching only a glimpse of Amos hugging Lily tightly and running out of the cavern, I had no time to worry about them, grateful only for the fact that they were getting out. Just as I had turned away from them, Evalyn came screaming and flying towards me.

Her eyes were red and crazed, her black hair in an angry flurry like a murder of crows. I instinctively put my hands up but she managed to tackle me.

Yelling, I did my best to fight her off, she swiped at me with sharpened claws and closed fists. I was on my back and her weight on my chest was giving her the advantage. I felt blood seep from my brow where her nails and dug in deep. The other vampire noticed that I was in trouble, but before he could come to my rescue he was grabbed from behind by a vampaneze that was just large enough to be his match. I was on my own.

Larten landed a few more swipes to Calders chest and stomach, he was in pain and was now becoming slower and slower. Sweat clouded his vision as he tried to shut out the pain from the many wounds that Larten had inflicted on his arms and hands. It was a death by a thousand cuts, and Larten would make sure it was slow and painful.

Calder dropped to one knee, digging his sword into the dirt. And Larten saw his opportunity to end him once and for all. His body coiled in anticipation, preparing to propel himself forward in one last lunge. But just before he could, he noticed me fall harshly to the ground, grunting as Evalyn scratched at my face and arms.

His heart picked up speed, beating furiously and his blood boiled, he leapt to my side without hesitation. Giving Calder time to get back on his feet...

Larten grabbed Evalyn's head with a vice like grip. Pulling her off of me, I quickly stood and backed away from them. With his fist in her hair, he made sure he stayed at her back, away from her sharp fingernails. His hand moved to her chin, struggling for a moment as he found the right place to set his other hand at the top of her head. With stomach churning crack, Larten jerked his hands with terrifying strength and snapped Evalyn's spine. Finally putting her out of her misery, and an end to all her curses.

I was breathing hard. My heart was beating at an alarming rate. I brought my hand up to wipe the sweat from my brow, I stared down at my knuckles and realized they were covered in blood. I swallowed hard. My eyes shot to my gun on the ground, I had barely gotten it in my hands before large muscular arms wrapped themselves around my arms and stomach, pulling me into a suffocating grip.

I struggled and kicked, throwing my head back in an attempt to break the nose of my attacker. A deep laugh resonated from behind me, and a strong arm wrapped around my throat, cutting off my air.

"Larten!" Calder yelled, pulling his last knife from his bandolier and pressing the tip of it against my stomach.

Evalyn's body fell at Larten's feet, and a few more bodies of Calder's soldiers fell at the feet of the other vampire. My allies both turned their attention to us, the last of the vampaneze backing off, allowing their master to speak.

Larten's friend ran his hand along the flat side of his blade, flicking a collection of blood onto the ground. Larten placed his hand on his friend's chest, keeping him from approaching us as he stomped forward, an angry growl escaping his throat.

"Let her go." Larten seethed.

"You idiot. You should have killed me when you had the chance. Now, put your weapons down. And surrender." Calder responded, a proud smile on his face.

"Fuck that." Larten's friend blurted out.

Larten motioned for him to stop talking, "Let her go first Calder. And we will surrender."

The other vampire's eyes widened, "Larten, you can't be-"

"No! Don't you even fucking think about it!" I screamed angrily.

Calder tightened his arm around my throat, "Shut up, girl!"

"If you-" *ack* "If you give up, just for me...I will never forgive you." My eyes were filled with an angry fire, I shot daggers at Larten's hesitating figure..."Don't put this on me, Larten..." I begged.

Calder dug his knife slowly into my stomach, tearing a shrill scream from my throat.

"What's it going to be vampire!" Calder roared, "I'll make her wish she was dead soon enough!"

"No! We will surrender!" Larten urged.

"No! Kill him!" I yelled through my burning eyes, filling with bitter tears. But Larten stared at us both, he wouldn't move.

There was nothing left to do, as long as Calder had me hostage, my friends were paralyzed.

I had my gun in my hands...I couldn't move my arms fast enough to shoot him anywhere important. From this position all I could really do was piss him off. He would have to kill me...

I pulled the trigger, sending a shot straight through Calder's foot. The shot stunned them all. Jumping, my friends readied their weapons.

"AHH! Stupid girl!" he roared, realizing I had shot him. Livid, he lifted his knife high, and plunged deep into my side, once, twice, into my leg, then my arm, before pushing me angrily away.

Finally he was rid of whatever leverage he had, and my friends had no choice but to let me fall to the ground and kill Calder before he descended upon me.

Larten's friend raised his sword before him, bending his elbows he ran forward, bellowing a warcry as he ran Calder down. His sword entered Calder's chest, pushing, and pushing him forward until he hit a wall.

Somehow, Calder still had the strength to shove him away, pulling the sword from his chest he hacked up dark blood. He fell to his knees yet again, and this time Larten did not hesitate to deliver the final blow.

Larten kicked Calder's face in. Pushing him the rest of the way down. He ran the blade of his push knife up his stomach into his throat, effectively dissecting him. Straddling Calder's body, Larten snuffed out his last gurgles. Driving his push knife into his shredded throat and face, again, and again, with increasing speed until there was barely anything recognizable left. Larten's hair was drenched in sweat, his face was flushed and his eyes dripped with hatred and a selfish desire to completely destroy his enemy...

The very few vampaneze that were left, witnessed their 'brave' leader be demolished before their eyes. Knowing that at this point, if they stayed, they would sure be killed. They made the smart move to retreat, slinking back and crawling to the tunnel exits like beetles. And hopefully they would behave, and avoid the wrath of the vampire clad in red...

"Larten...Larten! Stop!" the other vampire called, he grabbed Larten's shoulder, pulling him off of Calder's lifeless body.

"You're making wine, man! It's done." he spoke, attempting to calm his friend. Staring into Larten's hazy eyes, "It's done...we did it...let's get our girl some help."

Larten's eyes cleared, "Hurry, help me tend to her..." larten moved to my side, removing his push knife and hiding it in his coat, "...We need to stop her bleeding. She's barely breathing, and she's unconscious."

Larten's friend sheathed his swords at the scabbards at his back, "Wrap her up, I'll carry her, you flit ahead and make sure the doctor doesn't have any patients. We're going to have to make friends with him."

Larten took ripped pieces of tablecloth and wrapped them around the wounds at my arm and leg. "There. Keep pressure on her stomach. I will go ahead now..." Larten needed to leave but he was reluctant. Staring at me worriedly...and wiping the blood off my face. Noticing the cuts at my brows and cheeks...he sighed resignedly. He dipped his head, hesitating for a moment, but ultimately he planted a tender kiss at my forehead.

"Do not let her die, Gavner." he warned, his voice full of danger.

Gavner studied Larten's eyes, the way they changed when he looked at me. He was surprised to see him so worried. He scanned his eyes and realized that if I died on his watch...Larten would deliver on whatever threats he made. He was...happy that someone could have such an effect on his stoic mentor...

"I won't, Larten. Now go."