Thick dark clouds covered the sky, it seemed like there had been a storm the night before, as this part of the universe was bitterly cold and dark. It always has this rich fresh smell that it always had after rain. The grass had a tinge of green amongst the few brown ones and the trees stood fresh, the earth had cold smoke it covered a quarter of the land.
Jupiter a universe that harboured the undead, it was where all the vampires lived and procreated.
Centuries ago, they lived amongst the humans peacefully, and we're eating and living freely, humans were not scared of the cold blooded immortals, and the vampires would rather have animal blood than hurt the humans, but some humans, mostly the top leaders in the government didn't like this, because they did not want something or someone much more powerful than them to rule over them someday, but they were the minority and didn't really have an option than to coexist.
Their unity did not last long when some few months later the human population began decreasing suddenly, they began missing in large numbers day after day. The greatest vampire hunters conducted a search and hunt and they later discovered to their suprise that they were not the only immortals that existed and we're living among humans.
They were called the creatures of the night and moon, werewolves as they were popularly called, were feeding on humans and terrorising them. Werewolves were the most troublesome immortals that existed, which made it difficult for anyone to live with them, and they were also powerful.
Both clan of immortals living on the earth consuming the livestock coupled with that of the humans nearly brought famine on the land, the great nobles could no longer control the werewolves as they began feeding on the humans.
Therefore the government used that opportunity as an avenue to implement the plan he always had at the back of his mind. Therefore he gathered some humans and began creating some modern devices to fight off and kill the immortals. War suddenly broke out and the werewolves and vampires seeing that the humans were innovative and had devices that could kill and destroy them had no choice but to flee from their universe with their remaining survivors.
Some of the vampire had children with the humans, most of them that were of lucky fled with them, but the ones that were didn't go, the government had them killed or made them slaves, and forced them to use their abilities and rebuild their damaged city, the humans later took power back in their universe and gained independence.
The few vampires that survived and fled found a settlement in a cold vast land that had a large forest, they soon discovered that they land was survivable as it had enough animals and food, they settled there and began increasing in numbers and became a coven.
Few years after the made the settlement their universe, far away from the humans and werewolves. They had an old powerful witch brace their universe by an invincible force field, so that no one could breach in without their notice.
.
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Soft breeze wafted through the earth as they landed on the earth, his skin suddenly became pale and bright as he dropped down panting,
"Gimme a minute to recover" he panted as he rolled on the ground
"Tired already huh?, I thought you could make a run for it, that you could beat me" Martin said laughingly as he stroked his long hair backwards
"Am not tired, but is been quite long, you know I can't do all these things around them humans, he paused as he took a long gaze around, not much has changed though"
"Yeah, you grandfather insisted on leaving few things the way the were till you returned"
"Geez, that sounds like a big deal, he looked at his friend suspiciously, seems he has impatiently been waiting for me, like he has another mission or task of a sort for me"
Martin shrugged" who knows what the old man could be thinking?"
[I do] Strahd thought as he took in deep breaths scared of what awaited him,"let's find out"
He stood up, and they both began to stroll towards where their family house situated, it was a very large house with a lot of rooms in it. Their entire compound was quiet as the only sound heard was that of the bats flying around.
"No one around?" Strahd whispered
"It seems so" Martin replied as he looked around confused
They passed the dungeons as he heard screeching noises from inside, like someone was in pain
"Dad still keeps prisoners?"
"Well, we had food shortage from the livestock farm because of the recent continuous storm it made some people go wild and began to kill and steal some animals, so we caught some of the thieves and there they are, he pointed, in the dungeons"
"Fair enough" Strahd shrugged
"Fair? Martin raised his eyebrows, you know your grandfather doesn't keep prisoners for long"
"So what happens to them?"
"Either they get forced to eat garlic or they get tortured till death or injected with ten pounds of silver, either way is the new method, and now you're here....."
"Grandfather might make me do it" Strahd completed with a sigh
"Is alright, you'll get used to it" Martin patted his back
"But that is supposed to be for the rite masters"
"Who knows it might just be them" martin nooded
"Whatever just for stealing food, how many pork five???"
"Twenty two, he replied plainly, but only got back two that were alive"
"I sense five people in there, three unconscious" Strahd said sadly
"You are right, guess they must have been tortured, and they have been in there for two weeks now without food, they should just kill each other, it will make their suffering end"
Strahd gave him a disgusted look
"What!, is better than what awaits them, okay look, let's not ruin your welcome back, it's been three years plus, cheer up" Martin said cheering his friend
"Alright let's go" Strahd said grudgingly, pulling his friend with him
As the drew nearer Strahd could see the familar grey roof and their bat gargoyle at the top, all the buildings in their compound were made of fashionable dark cement, with thick walls which made the inside so cold. Memories of his childhood drew back as they approached the huge tall dark door. He could feel the presence of the people that awaited him inside. He took a long deep breath, Martin's patted his back as he stood beside him
"Welcome back, Strahd vicar"