OVER A HUNDRED
I forced myself to my feet and squinted through the River Door at the bright sun rays shining off the river. My thoughts flashed back and forth between those poor vampires' depressed faces. Hmph... that is their fate, but I could also be wrong... If I felt like it tonight, scouting the town out from a distance to see any signs of preparations for battle should support my theory.
With such thoughts running amok in my head, it was not easy to focus on my training despite my excitement to practice Teleportation. As I tried to concentrate, I extended my right hand and attempted to cast Teleportation—nothing happened, but then I looked at my right hand and saw that it was gone entirely.
I scowled in pain, realizing my hand had been teleported halfway across the Chamber. I hobbled over to my hand, spilling blood along the way. I grabbed my severed hand and jammed it back onto my wrist—I was definitely not waiting for a new hand to grow back.
I exhaled heavily as the nagging thoughts of Layondo and his poorly defended ruins forced their way in.
PAIN
Fine!
I groaned, giving in to my curious nature. With my hand good enough to stay attached, I made my way into the Arachnid's Lair. I studied my six arachnid familiars, two of each save the useless white arachnid. I clenched my jaws at the thought of re-summoning them, but the nagging uncertainty of Layondo's faith bothered me more.
PAIN
What a pain...
And I reluctantly left my lair.
I flew to the sky, feeling the connection to my arachnids dissolve. I watched the town from afar... hmm, if I got too close, they would undoubtedly see something floating in the clear sky. I took off west, heading towards the tree I normally sat on to scout.
I squinted—Heat Vision had no use—I really did not plan this out. I was utterly useless during the day and could not see a damn thing within the town. Pulling me out of my frustration, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye—an animal?
I flew down into the shadows of the trees and checked it out with Heat Vision—two kinan silhouettes lumped together behind the trunk of a tree.
PAIN
I can see you.
Clifford stepped out with a deflating sigh,
CLIFFORD
Of course, you can.
He looked back at the other.
CLIFFORD
You can stop hiding.
Mac appeared and pushed Clifford aside,
MAC
It was your fault!
She yelled and positioned herself away from him.
MAC
Why did you even follow me!?
PAIN
Why are both of you here?
CLIFFORD
Layondo asked her to tail you.
He gave it away proudly.
MAC
Because you are absolute shit at stealth.
She looked away as a moment of silence spread between us.
CLIFFORD
So,
He said a bit too loudly,
CLIFFORD
Scouting for something?
PAIN
That trade wagon—
CLIFFORD
Oh!
He exclaimed with eagerness he quickly tried to hide,
CLIFFORD
About to attack another one?
He readied his claws.
CLIFFORD
Can I join?
I shook my head, bewildered at his enthusiasm.
PAIN
That wagon, the one that belonged to an enchanter named Isaac, had enchanted items—Night Vision, Fire, and passives that increase hearing and sight. So, I had an inkling that this town might be preparing to get rid of you all.
MAC
I guess we have you to thank for that.
She spat, folding her arms. I responded with a scowl.
PAIN
They were preparing long before I arrived—
I shut my mouth as my anger flared and gave her a fake smile. She became bold compared to when I first met them all.
PAIN
Actually, you can thank me, and you are welcome!
When Mac caught a glimpse of my escalating rage, her countenance softened.
PAIN
None of this is my problem anyways.
I floated above them,
PAIN
Maybe they will get rid of you. And I will come to collect what is left. Either way—
Clifford rushed after me,
CLIFFORD
No! Wait!
I halted as he turned on Mac.
CLIFFORD
Dammit Mac!
Mac eyed him before regretfully glancing up at me,
MAC
Okay, I'm sorry.
She apologized before shoving Clifford aside.
MAC
Just angered by your stupidity!
I sank back down, staring at the two of them,
PAIN
To be clear, this is simply my speculation—which is why I am out here. But I cannot see a damn thing in this sunlight with Heat Vision.
CLIFFORD
Interesting skill...
MAC
I have Eagle Eye.
Mac revealed.
CLIFFORD
Indeed, she does.
I shook my head perplexedly,
PAIN
What would that be?
MAC
I might be able to see from this far if you could lift me up to where you were.
CLIFFORD
That was how she spotted you with Isaac.
He pointed out as he leaned against a tree with his arms crossed. I made a face, and he added,
CLIFFORD
And that week-long scouting you did… when you hid up on top of the tree tops.
PAIN
I did not feel a thing.
I mumbled.
CLIFFORD
That's the best part,
He laughed.
CLIFFORD
You don't. It's a useful skill—allows you to stare at people from far away, and they don't even feel it. You can't see enchantments, of course.
He let out a fat yawn as Mac approached me.
CLIFFORD
I was surprised you failed to notice the lack of fiends in these woods during your scouting. We ate them all.
That comment struck me hard because he was right. The thought slipped my mind, and despite possessing Recall Memory, it allowed me to remember, not think of everything possible. I only used Heat Vision to spot these two because I saw movement.
Dismissing my failures, I grabbed Mac's hands and lifted her into the tallest and thickest branch of the pine tree. She shielded her eyes from the sun and examined the village as I floated nearby and observed.
CLIFFORD
See anything?
He called out from below.
MAC
Shut up.
She mumbled in reply.
I hovered around the tree's base while we waited for her to detect anything strange and learned a little about Clifford and his story.
CLIFFORD
Curse? What curse? My only curse is that childish leader, Layondo.
MAC
Nobody would want an egotistic conflict-bound leader like you.
Mac chimed in from atop the tree.
Clifford never considered vampirism as a curse since he had always desired to be a vampire after learning about them as a child. He lived within the small kinan village-state—Wild Village. One of the four states, along with Redead Hold—vampires, Town of Evergreen—ylguens, and the Golden Eye Kingdom—bains.
PAIN
Golden Eye Kingdom?
I inquired, and Clifford slowly shook his head.
CLIFFORD
They were far from a kingdom.
He informed me.
CLIFFORD
They had more ego than me. Not too long after I was born, they changed their name from Golden Eye Estate to the Golden Eye Kingdom. But they did number us—I'll give them that.
He looked into the sky to gather his thoughts.
CLIFFORD
Possibly, that might have sparked the mutiny within Redead Hold. War is always on the mind. I have no idea why Layondo doesn't understand that.
Since vampires could not reproduce, leaders of Redead asked neighboring states to replace those lost in accidents, hunts, or crimes. Only a few were chosen in order to maintain their numbers. Clifford fled his home in hopes of being selected.
After becoming a daywalker, Clifford joined the Vampiric Knights.
CLIFFORD
Dull,
He muttered, explaining his time with the Knights.
CLIFFORD
Minimal training and daunting tasks.
He then grinned to himself.
CLIFFORD
But then there was Lich.
MAC
Ugh. Lich again!?
Mac was also a Vampiric Knight and had a year of experience before Clifford joined. As for Lich, apparently, he aided Clifford and Mac in training their Vampor... by stalking bains, kinans, and ylgues while they hunted.
CLIFFORD
And when they took a mortal wound that would surely kill them…
He gave me a smug smirk to insinuate what happened next.
MAC
It got out of hand.
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She explained softly,
MAC
Lich started creating such accidents that we were basically killing inno—
Clifford and I looked up at her as she lurched forward.
MAC
I see something!
I flew up to her, and she pointed north.
MAC
North!
Nearly missing her hand as she reached for mine, I caught hold of her and took her north.
CLIFFORD
Hey!
He called out below before giving chase on foot.
I took Mac to another tree top just northwest of the town and set her down upon a sturdy branch. At this distance, I could make out movement along the north road… quite a lot of movement. I eyed Mac—she was silently scanning with her mouth agape, and her brow furrowed in worry.
MAC
North Sky?
I leaned forward, waiting for her to continue,
MAC
I see two of them carrying North Sky flags... I believe it is... Blue with a star emblem.
Clifford finally caught up.
CLIFFORD
Just going to leave me behind.
MAC
Nobody invited you.
She muttered.
CLIFFORD
What was that?
MAC
Describe the North Sky emblem!
CLIFFORD
First off. They are called North Star! And it is Blue with a Star at its center.
Clifford scowled up at us before suddenly realizing—
CLIFFORD
What—Why? Do you see them!?
Mac nodded as she continued to worry and fearfully watch the horizon.
MAC
A lot of them... over a hundred, marching towards Dagon.
*****
We marched with haste through the woods, carefully avoiding ankle biters—those sentient snapping buds that taunted me with horrid memories of the Fire Kingdom.
I suppressed the thoughts as I marched through rays of light piercing through the gaps in the leaves. The sun was as relentless as ever, causing beads of sweat to roll down my forehead.
I had to give my behind and back a rest from sitting upon my sword as I walked alongside Mac and Clifford.
CLIFFORD
I doubt this fool would listen.
Clifford muttered for the dozenth time.
MAC
Would you please stop repeating that?
She groaned with frustration.
MAC
Is that what you want? For Layondo to prove you right?
CLIFFORD
No, just the opposite.
A brief pause before Clifford looked over in my direction,
CLIFFORD
You never mentioned where you were from.
I exchanged looks with him, wondering if I should let him know.
CLIFFORD
Well?
PAIN
Layondo refused to fill you in?
CLIFFORD
We don't really get along—
MAC
They fucking hate each other.
She laughed out from the rear, and I eyed the ankle biters as I responded,
PAIN
Fire Kingdom.
He frowned while Mac exclaimed,
MAC
Fire Kingdom!? They have vampires?
I shook my head,
PAIN
No, I got bit after fleeing.
That piqued Clifford's interest.
CLIFFORD
Oh? Outlaw?
I nodded awkwardly,
PAIN
Something like that.
CLIFFORD
What was the crime? If you don't mind?
He quickly asked.
PAIN
Hmm, let us just say I stole something of worth from King Solo.
I awaited Clifford's next words as he masked a smile.
CLIFFORD
Really?
I nodded, and he nodded back in approval.
CLIFFORD
You know, I misjudged you. Sorry about earlier…. The—um, rudeness when we first met. I had to show my dominance.
I waved it off,
PAIN
No worries. It is understandable out on the plains. I had to show my own as well.
We turned, feeling Mac's unwavering glare upon the back of our heads.
MAC
Gay.
She snorted with a smirk.
*****
After what felt like days of walking through a green desert, we arrived at the border of their ruins. It was still as barren and dreary as I remembered it, but this time daywalkers lounged underneath any form of shelter in an attempt to escape the heat.
Clifford wiped his face of sweat,
CLIFFORD
Sometimes I wish I was a nightwalker.
He mumbled, leading the way toward the center.
Along the way, I saw familiar faces of vampires that tagged along with Clifford previously—I held eye contact with Bone, who sat alone underneath a handcrafted lean-to made out of wood, leaves, and dirt-ridden clothing.
He broke eye contact with me to snarl at a fellow vampire who sought shelter. Clifford noticed as well,
CLIFFORD
He's not always like that.
PAIN
I am not judging.
We climbed down the stairs into the depths of their underground hideout and passed through the curtain of rags. We strolled into a deserted room, and Clifford led the way toward the far left. Nearly hidden was a slim crevice Clifford slipped through. There was a door directly to the right of the crevice that Clifford slightly tapped on.
No answer—
MAC
That friendly tap is not going to wake him.
Clifford agreed as he pounded the wooden door, nearly shattering it off its weak latches. From inside, I heard,
LAYONDO
What now!
Followed by the sound of something heavy slamming into the ground.
LAYONDO
Better not be the death of another.
He wrenched open the door, and Clifford stepped back slightly.
LAYONDO
Oh, Clifford. What do you want?
He took note of me before shifting his eyes back to Clifford. He eyed me once more, but before he could get in a word, Mac blurted,
MAC
Layondo, we need to prepare for battle.
Clifford looked back at her as if to say, really? But she replied mutely with the same energy. Layondo looked back and forth between the two.
LAYONDO
What for?
He asked carefully.
MAC
An army of North Star soldiers arrived at Dagon.
He bared his teeth in disbelief,
LAYONDO
An army?
He pushed Clifford aside and led us back toward the open area.
LAYONDO
And you saw them, you say?
Mac nodded,
MAC
With my own eyes.
CLIFFORD
You know what this means, right? Pacifism will not save you.
LAYONDO
It will.
CLIFFORD & MAC
What!
CLIFFORD
Layondo, Pain here mentioned the enchantments Isaac had within his wagon.
I nodded as Clifford continued with desperation in his eyes,
CLIFFORD
Enchantments for hunting vampires. And to make matters worse, they are receiving aid from North Star.
Clifford's tall frame glared down at Layondo, who avoided his gaze.
MAC
To hell with this—we should leave!
LAYONDO
Flee to where?
Clifford nearly lost his temper,
CLIFFORD
Back west Layondo! The nightwalkers and the Neorine to the east may all be dead—hunted as we will be in a matter of hours! No way in hell can we show our bellies to North Star! They will rip us open!
I frowned at his fear,
PAIN
Are they that merciless?
Clifford slightly calmed down and explained,
CLIFFORD
No, it's just that we are vampires. North Star is ruled by Maidens and Sons.
I looked at him blankly.
MAC
Do you know what Maidens and Sons are?
I shook my head sideways, and Mac enlightened me,
MAC
They worship Astrea, the Star Maiden, and as her followers, they believe it is their duty to rid the plains of vampires, werewolves, fiends, and anything else they deem worthy of extermination... even other races.
I nodded. I understood precisely what type of people they were. The Fire Kingdom had a few overly religious Fathers who abused and twisted religion to suit their purposes.
LAYONDO
Are you all positive they are coming here—
CLIFFORD
What the hell is wrong with you?!
He exploded.
CLIFFORD
It does not matter!
LAYONDO
We must keep our distance!
Layondo bit back.
LAYONDO
That way, we do—
MAC
And what about vampires like him?
She nodded toward me,
MAC
And if Clifford is wrong, as usual, and vamps from Neorine are still wandering around the eastern region, they would not sit idly with North Star around. Are you forgetting the three nightwalkers that came by not too long ago?
It was a good thing I never informed them that I killed those three because Layondo had nothing to say and looked away in defeat.
MAC
Sorry Layondo, but we need to move.
Layondo waved them off,
LAYONDO
Move back west!? Miles of woods, and fiends, and gent-eating plants! We will run into Neorine vampires!
He was clearly in a panic.
LAYONDO
This is what I get for allowing Vampire Knights such as you—
MAC
Wasn't your brother a Knight Captain?
His shocked expression revealed he was surprised anyone knew about it.
LAYONDO
Yes. He was. And where is he? Dead!
He spat and distanced himself.
LAYONDO
Along with the rest who stayed. Stayed to fight. Outnumbered almost a dozen to one!
Reality seemed to seep into him as worry painted his contorted face. Silence descended upon the room as he took a seat on the stone table and ran his fingers through his hair.
LAYONDO
It seems no matter what route I take. They're going to die.
He uttered with pain in his eyes. His face would have been soaked in tears if he could shed any.
MAC
Better than sitting around waiting for an answer.
Mac turned to leave.
MAC
I am not waiting around.
LAYONDO
Wait!
She immediately froze.
LAYONDO
Please, let me visit them tonight. I can have a word—
Mac turned on him with rage—hands clenched into fists.
MAC
You are such a fucking idiot!
She whipped back around and stomped out the exit.
MAC
I feel disgusted that I agree with Clifford on something.
Clifford had nothing to say to Layondo—he just stared at him as if he were the tombstone of a close friend.
LAYONDO
Consider me dead if I don't show up by midnight.
Clifford scoffed and made his way toward the exit,
CLIFFORD
Too late,
I followed after Clifford, not wanting to be alone with Layondo.
CLIFFORD
You're already dead to me.
Will Layondo work this out?
