The night was painted with intrigue as Maxim's words hung in the air. I couldn't explain how I knew it, but something in me told me that there was a good reason behind Maxim's presence in the area, and I didn't doubt that he would give me answers. Yet for now, I was uneasy and wary about his intentions.
"Talisman?" I repeated hesitantly, my heart beginning to pound as my instincts warned me that something was not quite right. "What kind of talisman?"
His gaze drifted past me as he contemplated his answer, and then he returned his attention to me once more. "A talisman that could grant immortality to the owner—that is what I seek. Unfortunately, the owner is unable to be found at present." He smirked softly at me.
There was something about the way he spoke that set my teeth on edge. There was an element of evil lurking underneath the surface. It was as though this stranger exuded an aura of menace that permeated the air. His tone of voice, his demeanor—everything about him was unnerving.
"I see," I murmured, looking at the ground uncomfortably.
He looked at me intently. "I haven't known your name yet. What should I call you?"
"Masha," I replied with a faint smile.
I felt like I could never trust him, and it frightened me how easy it had been for the stranger to slip into the shadows. Was he a part of this illusion? But I felt that he was an actual astral being, judging by his aura. I immediately knew that he was a vampire. I looked up carefully and watched Maxim scan the entire area before turning to me. It was impossible to tell what emotion was hidden behind his dark, crimson eyes. His face was like a marble statue—impenetrable and plain.
He beckoned me with a quick, almost imperceptible nod. "This place is not safe. We must move to a realm beyond the reach of these strange, alien beings. Come with me. We can talk when we're somewhere safer, in my realm, but we need to pass through a portal. There, I can help you get back to where you belong."
Before I had a chance to protest, Maxim began walking away. "We should get moving," he whispered under his breath.
I hesitated and cast one last glance around before following suit. We darted away from the strange city, disappearing into the depths of the forest. In a matter of seconds, we were surrounded by dense greenery and shrouded in total darkness. I took comfort in knowing that we were out of sight, but strangely, I felt that we were being watched.
As we passed through the darkened forest, Maxim suddenly grabbed my arm and ran at an unnatural speed. We stopped after some time when we arrived at a river of obsidian-black waters, glinting eerily under the silver moonlight. A surreal, serpentine beauty clung to its surface, inviting us to cross. Maxim motioned for me to go first, and I hesitated.
"Come, my lady." His tone was persuasive. "Do not look back. Once you step foot over this threshold, you will feel completely safe."
Reluctantly, I moved across, keeping watch for any sign of approaching danger as I walked across. Maxim guided me through the inky liquid, and with each step, I felt a shiver of energy run through me. The water resisted, as if aware of the trespassers.
For a few minutes, we navigated our way through, crossing the river safely and emerging into another world. Maxim's realm greeted us with a somber beauty. An unsettling silence hung in the air, and strange, dark-hued flora painted the landscape. The towering edifice of a brooding castle loomed before us, surrounded by an ominous garden of twisted, thorny plants. The entire energy of this place was completely different. The sky above was somewhat dim, as if it were going to rain, but it was clear, and there were few clouds. Strangely, I could not find the sun, and this realm was eerily quiet.
Walking slowly through the winding path, we came to a stop at the base of the tower looming above us. My heart skipped a beat as my surroundings became more vivid and tangible as I took in the sights, a deep sense of unease overcoming my senses. I clutched my amulet protectively to me and watched nervously as Maxim walked towards the massive door that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
The door suddenly opened as Maxim got nearer. He smiled as the cold air washed over me as we stepped into the vast hall. The door closed by itself without making any sounds.
I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden change in lighting. As soon as the room came into focus, my jaw dropped. Before me, several people dressed similarly to Maxim were gathered around a large circular table. They appeared to be engaged in conversation with each other. All of them had similar dark garments; they somewhat resembled Maxim.
The atmosphere grew tense as they turned to look at us, a grim expression on their faces. One of them spoke up first. "Lord Maxim, you're late. Where have you been?"
Another person chimed in immediately after her. "It has been days since we have seen you. Were you with her?" She gestured towards me pointedly. Her companions regarded me suspiciously.
"No," replied Maxim curtly. "I have met this woman in an artificial dimension. I went there to search for answers about my brother and the talisman's location."
An awkward silence fell over them. I stared down at the floor, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny of their gazes, but before I could say anything, I felt Maxim squeeze my hand encouragingly.
"She is human," Maxim stated simply. "Don't mind her. She is not dangerous."
One of the vampires nodded, a slight frown pulling at his lips. "You have bestowed upon us a feast? Never did I anticipate that you would embrace your previous customs, my noble lord."
I glanced questioningly at Maxim, but he only shook his head in response. "Nay, she shall not serve as our sustenance," he said calmly while studying the creatures surrounding us. "She is my guest, and I implore that none dare approach her with ill intent or malice. Thus shall my command prevail."
The vampires looked at each other uncertainly, exchanging glances that I could easily read as confusion. One man turned to look at me again, his dark eyes flashing with suspicion. "As it pleases you, my lord, so shall it be. Might I inquire if there are any recent tidings regarding your noble brother?"
Maxim's face hardened briefly but then softened once more. "None. I searched diligently throughout the ages, hoping to hear news of the whereabouts of the talisman and its owner, but I was unsuccessful. My brother tried to find it too, but he has not returned. I don't think that he has perished; I am certain of it."
"Oh, wretched tidings!" a female vampire said. "How shall you govern this realm in his absence? The other vampires have grown more aggressive towards us in recent centuries, especially upon learning of our leaderless state. Surely, they shall only bow to the authority of Lord Nikolai."
I shuddered at the mention of Nikolai's name. So Maxim and Nikolai were brothers? Maybe that's why their energies were somewhat similar. Suddenly, Maxim started speaking again, cutting off my thoughts. He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"It is possible," responded a male vampire with a deep voice. "But surely, you know better than that, my dear friend. Our situation is not hopeless, nor is it without hope. Perhaps Lord Nikolai is merely delayed due to the foreign gods of another realm. Their influence is slowly growing with their advanced technologies."
"I doubt that, Roman," Maxim said, looking at him darkly. "These beings who called themselves gods are aliens to this planetary sphere. I will never bow down to any of them, and their presence does not evoke any fear in me or my brother."
"If Lord Nikolai could not return after a few years," another male vampire said, his eyes gleaming in the darkness of the room. "Perhaps we will need to call upon the old gods."
"What, the fallen ones?" Maxim muttered in disbelief. "Would they aid us in such a dire time? I do not believe that they will wish to intervene in such a petty battle, even if it is our rightful cause. Plus, they only care about themselves."
A silence stretched between us as the group absorbed Maxim's words silently. None of them had uttered a word of objection against Maxim's claims, and it didn't take long before one of them broke the silence, apparently speaking for the others.
"Very well, my lord. Have your way," he said.
Maxim suddenly walked away swiftly, leaving the group behind him standing in shocked silence. I followed closely behind him, anxious to catch up with him and get away from those dark, menacing vampires. I saw his tall figure disappear through the heavy wooden doors of a chamber tucked away in the shadowy depths of the castle.
The room was adorned with dark tapestries that seemed to absorb the ambient light, rendering the chamber almost entirely devoid of illumination. Maxim stood at the center, his silhouette in stark contrast to the dim surroundings.
"Maxim, what's wrong?" I ventured to ask, stepping into the chamber cautiously. His demeanor had changed dramatically as if he were a different person now. The tension in the air was palpable, like a storm building on the horizon.
He sighed deeply and slowly started pacing around the room, his footsteps echoing loudly against the stone walls. Suddenly, he stopped and gazed up at a large painting that hung in front of me. "If you want to go back to your place, I can accompany you to a nearby portal. There, you can easily go back to your reality," he said.
"Are you indeed Nikolai's brother?" I asked hesitantly. His eyes darted to mine, his intense stare penetrating right through me.
He gave me a dark stare before responding coldly. "Indeed, he is," he answered. "He once ruled this realm as a subordinate to the larger kingdom that governs our kind. Without him, it is difficult to stabilize the dimensional energy of our realm, thus making us vulnerable to all kinds of opposing forces." He tilted his head upwards and let out a deep sigh, his eyes closing in anguish. "You should not concern yourself with our business. You must return home as quickly as possible."
The revelation left me in a state of shock. It was a connection I hadn't anticipated. Maxim continued, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the chamber. "Centuries ago, Nikolai left this realm in search of a talisman he had created for his wife, Josephine. She was a powerful human witch, and he hoped to bring her back to this realm. But he never returned."
Then he shook his head as he looked down. "I can't believe that he would do such a foolish thing to make a human a vampire because of love. If only they hadn't been together, he would still be here."
His words echoed in my ears as I tried to assimilate everything he had told me. It was a story that spoke of loss and longing, of bonds forged and sundered. As I contemplated the significance of Maxim's revelation, I felt a burning desire to learn more about Nikolai's journey. I mustered the courage to speak.
"Maxim, I've met Nikolai in the human realm. I've been helping him in his mission to find the talisman." I took a few steps forward. "He is alive and well. I saved him from a dark spell that imprisoned him for centuries. You don't need to worry about him."
Maxim looked at me sharply. For a brief moment, his expression underwent a series of transformations. His crimson eyes widened slightly in surprise, and then a mixture of curiosity, concern, and something akin to understanding crossed his features.
"So, you're assisting Nikolai in his mission," he mused, his voice carrying a note of contemplation. "That explains why you ventured into the strange dimensions in search of the talisman."
Maxim's demeanor seemed to soften a little as the pieces fell into place, revealing the depth of my involvement. He seemed to appreciate my determination, despite the immense challenges that lay ahead.
However, he couldn't hide a flicker of concern. "Masha, assisting my brother is a dangerous task. The path he walks is fraught with danger and mystery. Yet, I can sense your commitment."
Maxim's red eyes bore into mine intently, as though searching for some sort of response in my eyes. However, I merely blinked rapidly, unable to formulate the appropriate words for my reply. Then he broke the silence. "I have a plan. We must seek my friend, a fallen angel named Vezhiel. He's imprisoned in a castle within a different dimension. Vezhiel possesses knowledge and insight that may help us locate the talisman."
I pondered Maxim's proposal for a moment. I have little trust in fallen angels, but I knew that they could be controlled somehow. Besides, he was right; Vezhiel could give us the information we required. Perhaps he could offer us valuable assistance.
After a thoughtful pause, I nodded in agreement. "I'm with you, Maxim. Let's go to this castle and find Vezhiel."
Maxim's lips curled into a faint smile. "Very well. I know a portal to Vezhiel's dimension that we can take. And I must not let you linger in this astral plane for too long; it can be dangerous for you. Now, we must go."