The warmth of the flames bid not seem to spread far across the room not warming those who sat in that room, despite tending the fire no heat came from it. For they were talking about sinister deeds and dark happenings that they had heard of from not just there village but all over the kingdom.



“I am glad that you were able to come here, I hope that your journey here was not problematic for you, Eyfura” his name was Euenor he had been a guard in the capital city of Malania until he retired from active guard duty in the city. He moved to the village who had been appointed there village elder as he was one of the few in the village of Wolf’s blood who had experience of both fighting and using a small degree of magic in combat terms.

Since the vampires had taken control of the kingdom he had been in the command of a vampire that had been assigned as the lord over the village.



His companion sat a little way down the table from him, smiling slightly to see him for she had not seen him in many years “it is good to you to my friend, I would have come hiver even if army stood in my way .” Eyfura was half human, half elf mage who lived in Fallean. She was a trusted friend of Euenor and despite the fact that she lived in Fallean and was the owner of The Silver Priestess inn.

Her eyes glittered slightly from the fire light and the magical protection that she had upon herself from any magic that was used against her. The rest of her face was fixed into an expression of confusion “so why did you bring me here? Your letter only said that



haven't you already guessed mage?” asked a woman. Her name was Tara she was the village the Taylor turned wise woman after the tragic death of the previous one. She gave her a slight smile “we need your help, my friend as we are unsure of what actions we should take against the vampires.”



Eyfura blinked slightly for she had recently discussed the same matter with a group of power mage friends of hers. “I know of this but not much of the details apart from that vampires had taken control of this realm.” Her friends seemed surprised as Fallean usually kept an interest in the happenings of Vailiania unless their leader was hiding it from the general public.



A sigh came Euenor from the lips as he heard the information that his friend had given to him “unusual but I guess he has good reasons for keeping it secret from you all. Since the death of the king we had to sacrifice one of his maidens to the vampire lords and their king. Once we have sent them, they are lost to us forever.”



He looked sad as he spoke “with this means that many of our women have been turned into creatures of the undead. Many families have been effected including mine as my own daughter was taken by them, leaving me to care for her orphan daughter. I know that the king has asked personally for someone this time” his eyes took on a distant look as he thought of the maiden who was gong to the king.



She sat silently for moment thinking on what she had learnt before asking him “who is the maiden that the king has asked you for? I feel your sorrow for your loss but I am unsure of what I can do to aid you” she clicked her fingers making a small ball of white light appear and then disappear in front of her.



Tara gave him a grim smile with a slight sinister edge “Malodora Grimm , the wife of one of our fishermen I am so glad ... I mean ... Sad that she has been chosen.” She hated her as she had always had a crush on her husband, Gerlat as he was not just a fishermen but a skilled hunter.

It was well known through out the village that Malodora wanted power and influence with rumours of her delight of being sent to the king as his victim.



Her smile grew wider as she said to them “the Grimm family has lost there oldest family members was killed when she went to kill the vampire lords but together we three can kill them. I believe with help of your magic Eyfura we can succeed in slaying the vampires so we can live in peace once more.”

The room seemed to grow darker as she finished, no one spoke as they considered what she said.



Suddenly a man appeared with cold aura of death around him, “what is this I hear? Are you planning are demise after everything I have done for you, keeping you save from that a cursed werewolf clan that lives in the forest. How could you do this to me? Isn't my price ureasonable to you, Euenor.”



A look of nervousness and fear appeared on his face “oh urm ... Greetings lord Claudius ... You look well” he fell silent as he noticed Eyfura had vanished back to Fallean or another place of existent that was hidden from the sight of all.



Claudias turned to look at both him and Tara with some slight confusion in his voice as he asked them “where is the third member of his party? I heard a third voice in this place but I know that you are planning my demise and my friends to save your own lives. I am feeling hungry for some blood so don't tempt me to bite you” he noticed that tara was looking at his chest as if she had an idea of ripping his heart out.



He launched at her about to bite her before pulling himself back which made Tara gasp as her fear became clear “you think that you can stop us, human then you are mistaken! We will rule this land for the next thousand years and anyone who wishes to stop us shall die a most painful death.” Tara almost fainted as she feared what he said to them may come back to haunt them later.



In an instant he transformed himself into a bat and was about leave when he told her in a cold whisper “for your insolence and treachery you will be my next victim” he gave her evil laugh. As he flew away a scream echoed across the room from Tara and to see that Euenor was hiding from him.

Claudias started to disappear back to his manor house. He wondered as he disappeared whether Euenor had become more easily frightened over the year and half reign that Claudias had over this area, had made the people more afraid of him and there old feud with the werewolves that lived in the woods. When he fully vanished, Tara and Euenor thoughts went towards Malodora and there fear of there vampires that ruled over them.