"Corwin, heal her. I will go ahead," Isolde commanded before vanishing into the forest.
Corwin took a deep breath and hurried to the unconscious girl's side. He knelt down beside her, gently feeling her wrist for a faint pulse. "She's still breathing," he murmured. With determination, he placed his left hand on her forehead, focusing his energy. A radiant, golden glow began to emanate from his right hand as he channeled his healing abilities. In a matter of minutes, the girl had made a full recovery.
Corwin heaved a sigh of relief and smiled at the girl, who stirred slightly. As he stood up and glanced around, he sensed an approaching presence. Without turning to look, he swiftly unscrewed the ornate silver handle of his cane, revealing a sharp, silver-edged blade concealed within. In one fluid motion, he thrust the silver blade backward, impaling the figure that had approached. The intruder slumped to the ground, lifeless. Corwin's frown deepened as he examined the fallen vampire.
When he looked up, Corwin noticed more vampires perched on every tree branch above him. 'Ugh, this might take a while, ' he thought, ready for the impending confrontation.
***
Isolde abruptly halted as her keen eyes spotted two frightened children hiding behind the tree whose tree branch she was perched upon. A multitude of vampires skulked in the vicinity, and she sighed softly.
'I can't use my powers yet. It might harm the kids, so I'll have to rely on my sword, 'she thought. With a swift motion, she unsheathed the sword from her belt, raising it high. Isolde jumped down from the tree branch and charged toward the vampires, who immediately shifted their attention to her.
She swung her blade, cutting down the undead that encroached, but there were still more. The first wave of vampires rushed her, followed closely by the second. Before long, they swarmed around her. She sidestepped a lunging vampire, delivering a powerful kick to another's throat. Swiftly, she thrust her sword into its heart and beheaded it. The remaining vampires closed in around Isolde, their eerie black eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Her grip on the sword's hilt tightened.
One of the vampires leaped at her, slashing her arm before she could react. Blood spattered, and Isolde grimaced, but she quickly regained her composure. She swung her sword once more, severing the neck of another vampire. The another one lunged at her, but Isolde gracefully evaded the attack.
Just in the nick of time, Corwin arrived, their eyes locking in a moment of shared understanding.
"Corwin, get those children behind the tree out of here!" Isolde's command sliced through the tense night. Corwin locked eyes with her once more, offering a quick nod. Without hesitation, he reached out for the two frightened youngsters, gripping their tiny hands, and sprinted with all his might in the opposite direction, putting as much distance as he could between the children and the encroaching vampires.
Isolde stood her ground, her eyes vigilant as the vampires materialized seemingly out of thin air, closing in on her. In one fluid motion, she removed a black rosary from her neck, the pendant's dark power unveiling. A surge of energy coursed through her, sealing the wound on her arm, and an inky fog began to envelop the surroundings. Isolde's own shadow melded with the encroaching darkness.
As the vampires circled her, ready to attack, Isolde fixed her gaze on them. "Vampires have shadows, right?" she mused aloud. Her eyes flicked over the undead assailants, and she quickly realized they bore no shadows. She smirked, her confidence unwavering. "Well, then, I don't need your shadows. I have the entirety of nature at my disposal," she declared.
Raising her hand, she swept it through the air and continued, "May I borrow your shadows?" A mysterious force was unleashed, as shadows from the surrounding trees began to coalesce. They merged together, forming eerie, shadowy replicas of the vampires.
Isolde's wicked grin grew as she waved her hand, commanding the shadowy replicas to attack the encroaching vampires. The undead assailants stumbled back, cries of pain escaping their pale lips, but it was futile for them to resist the hundreds of shadowy vampire doppelgangers. Isolde's satisfaction knew no bounds as she watched their faces whiten, one by one succumbing to their inevitable fate. As she glanced at the night sky and swept her hand through the air, the shadows obediently returned to their original forms.
Corwin rushed toward Isolde, who had once again donned her black rosary. She began to sing a melodic, otherworldly tune, "In the midst of shadows' strife, I seek the solace of the light. With grace divine, my spirit mend, and in God's love, my fears transcend."
Finishing her song, she looked at Corwin, who began the purification process to cleanse the area. Isolde inquired, "Are the children and that girl safe?"
Corwin nodded in affirmation. "Good," Isolde acknowledged. Before they could discuss their next course of action, a familiar voice disrupted the silence, "Hey!" Echoed through the clearing, and it belonged to none other than Willow, who was sprinting toward them. Isolde and Corwin turned their attention to Willow, awaiting the arrival of the others.
Casper came to a halt, bent over from exhaustion, his breath ragged and heavy. He panted and looked up at the trio, complaining between breaths, "Willow, Rowan, you guys are way too fast. I almost got lost."
Willow turned around and approached Casper, her laughter filling the air as she playfully ruffled his hair.
"But you didn't get lost, did you?" She teased, a mischievous smirk dancing on her lips. Casper vigorously shook his head, alleviating his concerns.
Casper groaned slightly, his voice tinged with longing, "I can't wait to cuddle Willan again."
Isolde cleared her throat, steering their focus back to the task at hand. "It seems our first mission was successful. Let's meet with Sir Maverick."
With that, the group made their way towards the forest exit where Sir Maverick and the Fogmire Battalion eagerly awaited their return. Sir Maverick, displaying pride in his expression, approached Isolde.
"You kids are truly something else," he commended.
Isolde took the initiative in the conversation, inquiring, "How was your mission?"
Sir Maverick responded with gratitude, "We were able to clear everything thanks to you guys."
Bowing respectfully, he added, "Thank you, My lady."
Isolde returned his smile, expressing her satisfaction. "You're welcome. We will be working with each other from now on... in the future."
Isolde, Corwin, Willow, Casper, Meadow, and Rowan collectively acknowledged their acceptance with a slight bow. Afterward, they were escorted back to the city.
Unbeknownst to them, Sir Mortis had been silently observing their departure from a concealed vantage point on a tree branch. He contemplated the events he had just witnessed with a sense of wonder.
'What did I just witness?' he pondered to himself, his curiosity piqued.
As they moved further away, Isolde gazed out of the carriage window, locking eyes with Sir Mortis. For a brief moment, her violet irises seemed to glow. Sir Mortis's eyes widened in shock at being detected; he had never encountered anyone other than King Vladis who possessed such abilities. As Isolde averted her gaze, Sir Mortis decided to cease trailing their carriage, his thoughts filled with newfound intrigue.
***
Isolde heaved a sigh of relief as she turned her attention to her companions. The rigors of the day had taken their toll; Casper and Willow were already fast asleep, Rowan in a drowsy stupor, while Meadow and Corwin remained wide awake.
Her shadow's voice, a faint whisper in her mind, spoke to her, "That person you saw following this carriage was a vampire."
Isolde nodded inwardly, her earlier hunch confirmed. It seemed that the vampire had ceased trailing them, allowing her to relax. She leaned back next to the window, watching the passing landscape in the moonlight's soft glow. The rhythmic motion of the carriage eventually lulled her to sleep.
***
Vladis sat outside the Vampire king's castle courtyard, savoring a cup of warm blood. With each sip, his heart raced, and he felt more alive than ever before.
He noticed Drusilla, his daughter, who had abstained from her cup of blood for almost an hour. Concern creased his face, and he immediately set his cup aside. "Is there something wrong?" he inquired, his voice laced with worry. He observed her closely, sensing her inner turmoil.
Her response was cold and direct, "I don't want to drink with you." Her gaze remained unwavering, meeting his ruby eyes with an indomitable spirit.
Perplexed, Vladis furrowed his brows and inquired, "What are you trying to say, Drusilla? We always drink together like this..." His tone was calm, though a trace of frustration simmered beneath.
Drusilla held his gaze with determination and revealed her feelings, "I don't want to drink with you. When I asked you to help Azrael, you ignored my request." Her words were a blunt assertion.
Vladis began to respond, "Drusilla, you went there regardless..." but stopped himself, his frustration evident. He chose not to let anger consume him and instead added, "I should be the one to get angry, but I didn't. Just stop being unreasonable."
Undeterred, Drusilla rose from her seat and walked away, ignoring her father's words. Vladis watched her departure with furrowed brows.
Vladis murmured to himself, "Why is she behaving like this? " His fingers running through his dark hair. He couldn't quite fathom the reason behind her actions.
Then, a voice from behind caught his attention, "She's a lady in love your majesty."
Vladis turned to see Sir Mortis, who had a smile on his face.
Vladis raised an eyebrow, inquiring, "Sir Mortis, I trust you've come to give me a report?"
Sir Mortis nodded and gestured to Drusilla's previous seat. "May I, Your Majesty?"
Vladis granted him permission with a nod, and Sir Mortis began his report. "I came across six special humans, all around the princess's age, hunting those vampires I mentioned."
Vladis frowned, his tone revealing slight annoyance. "They are that young and capable of handling vampires? That's quite remarkable."
Sir Mortis continued, "That's not all, my king. One among those six surprised me. The girl's name is Isolde, and she appears exceptionally powerful. She even noticed my presence." He paused briefly before adding, "She also bears a striking resemblance to that woman, Your Majesty."
Vladis's eyes widened, and he contemplated the information for several moments. His stern expression finally returned as he muttered under his breath, "Long raven locks and violet eyes..."
"Isn't she the woman who opened all five realm gates, not just that of Vampires, and the one who met her demise at the hands of her vampire lover?" Vladis pondered.
Sir Mortis nodded in agreement, and they both lapsed into silence for a while. Then, Vladis issued a new order, "For now, just observe her every move."
With a respectful bow, Sir Mortis stood, acknowledging the order, before leaving. Vladis resumed sipping his blood in solitude, his thoughts occupied with Isolde.