"I'm sorry that I couldn't do enough. I've never told you enough, but I'm grateful to you for both of them. And...for you...too", his broad back and faint smile as he left came to her mind.
Deli opened her eyes, she had another guest.
She summoned a weak smile, "Hello Cassius".
"It's been a long time, my Lady", he replied with a similar smile.
"You've changed...but not as much as me, I suppose".
"I can barely tell its you. But you are as beautiful as you used to be, my Lady".
She chuckled painfully, "In all this blood?"
*****************
"Seraph!", I heard a familiar voice as I was heading down that corridor.
"Felix?!"
He joined up with me and we went on.
"You made it, huh?", he was looking well, though a little torn up here and there with his boots muddied and bloodied.
I wonder why I took notice of that so keenly, maybe because it reminded me of my own shoes.
"So you took down that Nosferatu, I presume."
"Yeah, though it took me longer than I expected", he replied with a smile.
I nodded slightly and went on. We were soon in front of a massive door which looked too heavy to move.
We looked at each other.
"Let me patch you up before we go on", Felix extended his hand and healed my side.
"Are you okay using that much magic? Isn't it draining?"
"Not really. Magic doesn't necessarily have a limit. Part of the reason mages don't use it more than a certain level is because it puts a lot of pressure on the brain. Sometimes, you see things you'd rather not. Even mages can't handle that stuff. But healing is my forte, I feel like I'd really be useless if I don't do it when I can", he gave me a satisfying look and then turned towards the door.
"Can you sense something?", I asked.
Felix went over to the gate and placed his hand against it.
"There's a barrier", he answered, "Whatever's inside is insanely strong, I can say that much. Maybe...even I can't handle it."
I looked at his expression through the corner of my eye and then turned towards the gate.
"Felix, how long will it take to undo the barrier?"
He gave me a concerned look, "I'll try my best".
******************
"Cassius, you are still loyal to him, are you not? Despite the fact that your father died a Dhampir because of him. You've always known that, haven't you? It was him that killed your father."
"I have, my Lady, I have known since the beginning. But aren't we the same? When the push came to shove, we chose to run away. You knew it was Lord Magnus that sent those people that night. It wasn't a political assassination at all. But you didn't want to think that his death was your fault."
"Cassius", she stopped him from saying any further, "You should be glad they crucified me. You aren't planning to stay, are you?"
"No, I'll be joining up with someone. Though I'm sure, I'll see you shortly."
He bowed his head slightly before he disappeared towards the stairs leading upstairs.
"I...won't die...Vlad...Ben-...", she coughed and blood trickled down into the pool below her feet.