It was exactly six months after I'd had been forced to submit to having the collar and holding back on the urge to kill every vampire I saw in their fortress that their Master finally gave me any sign he really was working on our joint plan. He had no idea it was a plan between us, or that my version differed to his, but it was in both our interests.
He sent for me, and when I got there – snarling at one vampire who muttered something unpleasant about my ancestors and probable descendants – he merely beckoned to me to follow him, and lead me from the room. This was the first time he'd ever had me accompany him anywhere – normally I just got told where he wanted me to meet him, like the banquet hall, and he expected me to turn up.
It was while I was walking with him I caught a familiar scent from him. It was strong, pure, and undoubtedly belonged to Kairi. I'd heard nothing of her appearing anywhere here, let alone him having any guests, so I worried over this.
We went down to the lowest floor, then down again underground. The walls here were little more than earthen corridors supported periodically by wooden or stone archways. I shuddered back inwardly as we got closer to the end, because the arches there were not made from either, but instead from bones. Human bones. Now I worried more.
When we eventually reached the end of the corridor, it opened into a vast cavern, the earth inside dug and carved away until it left an arena. It wasn't yet finished, with humans, definitely humans, flitting about all over working on this or that, putting up what decorations and such that couldn't simply be carved from the earth.
High above, in the roof there was a small patch of earth missing that allowed natural light in. A cage had been constructed that presumably was supported on the surface. It contained mirrors, and combined with other mirrors around the rest of the arena, the place was lit up as if it was in broad daylight. Finally, around the edge of the arena central arena itself was a heavy steel lattice that would protect the crowds from me – or him.
"You know of course what this means," he murmured to me, not bothering to look at me. "The last of our kind will be arriving in the next few days, by which time the last details will be complete." He pointed down to the opposite side of the arena. "Down there, a cage will be installed. No doubt you know what for."
I knew alright. Me.
"It's being inlaid with the same silver as your collar has, so don't get any ideas about trying to break out. I'll have the collar removed once you're safely inside it, and the cage itself will be removed when I'm ready to send you to your fate." Now he looked back at me, and continued, "You could give in, of course. I would be content to allow you to continue on as you are now."
I gave him a flat stare.
"Yes, I rather thought you'd see it that way. Such a shame, you know. I'd considered allowing you to re-form a pack from the humans in town – loyal to me ultimately, of course."
Even if he had, it wouldn't have worked. Kathann did something that prevents me from turning anyone.
I think he was hoping that would change my mind, but I was still dead set on keeping my oath. I turned away from him, instead examining the arena itself. The bottom either hadn't been completed, or was deliberately left with it's collection of small hills, dips and rough areas.
"I expect you want to know when it happens," he said, following me. I pretended to ignore him, but flicked one ear toward him to listen all the same.
"I thought so. Tomorrow night is the time, Sora. You'll be put in the cage after lunch. Until then, you can stay away from here. I'll call for you if I need you."
That was pretty much it. After he said that, I left the area, pausing on the way back the check the bones. None of them had the same scent he'd had on him, so I breathed a little easier.
I had to go to Samantha's room, of course. If I tried to go anywhere else, the collar would flare up, and I preferred to avoid that.
She was expecting me. I could always tell that by her expression – if it was serious or mischievous, she knew I was coming.
This time it was a serious look, which meant either something had happened, or she knew something.
"Father took you to see it, didn't he?" she asked. I nodded, already knowing what she meant. "I guess that means you know when as well. I persuaded him to make you an offer so I... so you wouldn't have to go through this."
"The offer is not in my interests," I told her. "One must fulfil a promise made."
"You turned it down?" She sighed, then sank down onto the bed. "He's going to do the same to you as he has to everyone else who's stood against him. You've got to go back and tell him you're taking his offer."
"I cannot."
"But why? Because of your promise? Don't you see? You have to live long enough to keep that promise, and you'd never manage that," she burst out.
"One has to try."
"He's my father, Sora! He's all I've got left! You can't just take him from me!"
She'd known this was coming all along, but seemed to think that I'd want to remain like this. I admit, it would have been tempting, but I couldn't get out of the oath. Once sworn, it has to be kept, remember.
I was slightly torn in loyalties though. I liked her, and this had clearly upset her. I felt like I had to do something, and I wasn't sure how she'd take the one thing I could give her.
"Would you want to give up what you are?" I asked her. She was taken back by it, looking at me in astonishment, as if she couldn't believe I was asking at a time like this.
"Well... yes, of course, but I can't, I'd die."
"If there was a way, would you take it?"
"Do you know how?"
"There is a way."
"How?"
"Then I must fulfil my promise."
"How is that going to help anyone at all?"
"What you are will be taken from you, and you will be the same as the ones who live below."
"But... Father..."
Now it seemed to be her turn to be torn, between her father and the prospect of being human for the first time.
I said nothing. There wasn't anything more I could do.
"Part of me wants you to lose to him," she told me. "And another part wants him to lose to you. But most of me wants you to give in to him."
"I cannot do that," I told her again.
"I know," she sighed, kneeling nearby and hugging me. "But I don't want to see another person killed by Father, and I don't want to lose the chance to be normal."
What could I say to that? I was going to give her something she wanted, and take her Father from her. No matter who you are, that's one huge sacrifice to make, more so in her case because of their great age, and the long time they'd been together.
We didn't say anything else to each other after that at all. She made sure I was healthy and at full strength on the morning of the day, then her Father came for me. She hid it well, more from him than me, but I could tell she still couldn't decide who she wanted to come out on top.
He and I said nothing either. For the first time since coming here, I held myself with pride again, and he definitely noticed the change of attitude. Curiously, despite what he'd seen me do to other vampires in the past, he chose to trust me and had no escort, no guards join us on our way to the arena.
Kairi's scent was still on him though, just as strong as it was before, and this time I could smell Donald and Goofy with her. That could only mean one thing – they were also here.
There was jeering as we entered the arena. It was still several hours before their Master and I would face each other, but vampires had already begun to filter in. There were several new corridors leading into the arena, but it seemed only the first one lead to their fortress.
The ground I now saw was indeed deliberately left as I'd seen it before. There were only a few flat areas, the largest being around a newly installed cage, glinting in the reflected light.
Several vampires lifted it up as we approached, and their Master indicated for me to enter. I paused as I did so.
"Yes?" was all he said.
One of the vampires got bored and kicked me as if to push me in. I jumped immediately at him and bit into his neck – the first vampire I'd killed in some time. The others drew back nervously. I expected to receive another sharp shock for doing this, but I got none. Instead the Master simply stood there and watched, waiting for me to enter the cage.
Finally, I gave in. I had to trust he'd keep to his word and remove the collar, so I went in, and waited. I was right to have given him that trust.
"I'd wish you good luck," he murmured as he removed it. "But all the luck in the world isn't going to help you."
Once it was off, I shifted back to human form, and somewhat haltingly as I hadn't spoken like that for some time, I told him, "Who needs luck, when you have divine favour?"
His smile slipped just slightly, but he recovered quickly and with the faintest hint of contempt in his tone he answered, "No god would favour a dog that doesn't know when to quit."
I just smiled back at him. No dog would quit as long as there was a fighting chance – and I had that chance.
The vampires who managed the cage were still milling around nearby. It was going to be a long wait, so I figured I could at least have a bit of fun. They were still nervous of me, so I sat down, leaned back on the wall behind me, and waited.
Eventually, they relaxed again, and leaned on the bars of the cage.
Taking care not to make a sound, I became a wolf one more time, padded up behind them, then started growling in a low, harsh way. They froze instantly, and I could smell the fear coming from them. I changed back again, laughing and returned to the back of the cage away from them.
I did that to them several times, and every time they reacted the same way. In the end, they snapped. Three of them ran off, but one stayed and turned to face me.
"Stop it. Just stop it."
"Or what?" I asked, moving to Hybrid form.
He watched, eyes widening as I shifted form. I had to crouch to fit in the cage, but he still got a fair idea of just how big I was.
He tried to say something, mouth opening and closing silently, then in a very small voice he stuttered out, "N-nothing. Nothing at all."
After that, the ones that had run off installed a system of pulleys and chains so they could raise the cage from behind the lattice, so they wouldn't be putting themselves at risk of me again. It took away my fun, but I'd decided to take a nap anyway so I'd be ready.
The vampires continued to file in, later flocking in. Although I've never once seen any proof that they can turn into bats, the idea of a flock of migrating bats all coming here just to see their leader lose to me was somehow amusing.
Amusement turned to anxiety as it grew later, and the natural light was replaced with artificial lights lit up on the surface. I'd gone against vampires, but now I was going against the very first vampire ever, the true Vampire Lord. I had no idea what to expect. He had centuries of experience, but if my short time with him was any indication, he never actually did anything directly. Samantha's outburst indicated that he had great power behind him, but no one had ever said anything about how it was used. All I had to work with was what I'd learned fighting other vampires, and against him, that must have seemed like nothing at all.
I started to doubt myself when something caught my eye that banished them again. Beside the entrance from the fortress, a ghostly white wolf sat watching me. The vampires didn't seem to be able to see him, but I could.
"Be strong, Kamaz," I heard Kathann's voice tell me. "Of all werewolves, you stand above them all. Mother and I are with you, as are all the wolves of all worlds."
With those words strongly in mind, I knew I couldn't lose. I had the aid of not one, but two – if not more – gods.