*Nemesia's POV*
The forest enveloped us in its somber embrace as we trudged back toward our rebel camp, the air thick with the musk of damp earth and ancient trees. Silence hung heavy among us, each lost in thought, the quiet only broken by the crunch of leaves underfoot. I kept a watchful eye on Rowan, who walked close to Evar, his small frame looking a bit abstract next to this big man.
We left the rogue outpost behind and the mystery that lay in the disappearance of its inhabitants.
Orion, ever vigilant, paused abruptly, his hand raised in a silent command to halt.
"Look," he hissed, pointing to a subtle disturbance in the leaf-strewn path—a footprint, not matching any of ours, embedded in the soft soil.
Jenna came closer, sniffing at the footprint and then at the tree near it.
"Vampires," she said grimly.
A cold shiver ran down my spine as the word 'vampires' sliced through the still air. The notion of vampires this close to our paths was an ominous sign, especially given the unexplained disappearance at the outpost.
"Their scent isn't strong enough to stay in place for long... so it must be recent," Orion said slowly.
We advanced with heightened alertness, our formation tight, every sense strained for the faintest sound or movement. It wasn't long before Athena stirred inside me. I stopped, and so did the others. Evar took Rowand closer to him, to protect him in case of an attack.
Something was off...
Suddenly a figure emerged from the shadows—a vampire, his pallid complexion stark against the dark underbrush, and the metallic scent of blood and earth coming from him.
Stepping forward, I planted myself firmly between the vampire and the rest of our group, my hand resting on the hilt of my dagger.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart.
The vampire halted, his eyes—a chilling shade of dead winter—fixing on me. A disturbing smile appeared on his lips.
"Just wanting to give you a warning... we don't want any stray dogs near our land" he hissed.
I felt Orion stir but I stopped him with my hand. This vampire wasn't here alone. We might've not seen others but they had to be close or else this vampire wouldn't feel so sure of himself.
"Is that the same warning you gave to the people living at the outpost?" I asked carefully.
He smirked and cocked his head to the side.
"Yes. They were wise to listen... good dogs," when he uttered the last words, Jenna snarled at him angrily.
"Who do you serve?" I demanded, not yet easing the grip on my weapon but also not letting his words get to me.
"Lord Valerian," he answered after a brief, tension-filled pause, his gaze unwavering.
A thread of unease wove through me at the mention of that name. Lord Valerian, a known vampire noble, was as enigmatic as he was influential in the darker circles of the supernatural community.
Royals had many issues with him as he was the master of the lands in the mountains and forests near the place that currently and belonged to our kingdom. Of course, shifters never acknowledged vampires and vice versa... they were always bickering or fighting.
But this... this made me start to birth a plan. Especially since it seemed they weren't as cruel and violent towards shifters as royals claimed. We didn't find any bodies which makes it look like it's true - they just gave a warning.
"Tell your lord that I, Nemesia, apologise for any inconvenience so close to his territory but I would like him to know that we respect your borders. I would like to be able to apologise in person and thank your Lord for being so benevolent that he let those people leave. I would also like to present him with a gift... kind of a peace offering." The more I said the more my team looked at me with shock... and so did the vampire but I continued, with a calm and respectful voice.
The vampire studied me for a moment longer, as if weighing the sincerity of my words, then gave a curt nod - his behaviour towards me changing instantly. I heard right... they valued respect and being formal.
"I will convey your message Lady Nemesia," he said before melding back into the shadows from which he'd come, leaving a lingering chill in his wake.
The silence that came after his departure was heavy. I looked back at my team and saw their faces still stuck in that 'shock look' from earlier. But before I got to say something, Evar spoke.
"What... what just happened? What were you thinking Nemesia? They're vampires..." his voice was confused but it also sounded like he was more curious than surprised, unlike Jenna and Orion.
"Before you start questioning my decision or ask more questions. It is not time and place to discuss it. Let us head back to our base and then we'll talk." I wasn't stupid to talk about my plans right here... the vampires could still be nearby listening in.
"Were they at least speaking the truth? Rowan? Did they hurt people from the outpost?" Orion looked at the boy but he just shook his head.
"No. Everyone just left in a hurry. No one was hurt..." he said, but in my opinion, it wasn't true. The boy was hurt as he was left alone. He was a victim.
Fortunately, the team stopped questioning and agreed to what I said - they'd have to wait till we were back at our camp. And we'd have to make sure we're not being followed.
We resumed our march mounting the horses this time, the encounter with the vampire casting a shadow over our already grave moods. Orion and Jenna took terms to check if we were being followed. We also tried to change directions a few times and cover our tracks in a town or a river.
As we finally neared the familiar perimeters of our camp, the sight of the makeshift fortifications and the scent of woodsmoke was a balm to my frayed nerves.
Upon our arrival, I wasted no time seeking out Murphey. His tent, a flurry of maps and dispatches.
Murphey looked up as I entered, his face etched with lines of fatigue.
"Nemesia," he greeted, motioning me to sit.
I relayed the events of our journey succinctly—the meeting with the Queen, the promise of a new alliance, and the unsettling encounter with the vampire under Lord Valerian's command.
Murphey's expression grew increasingly grave as he listened.
"Vampires," he murmured, steepling his fingers. "Their involvement could complicate our efforts significantly. We must tread carefully, Nemesia. An alliance with vampires is not to be taken lightly."
I nodded, the weight of his words settling heavily upon me.
"I know. But if we can secure their cooperation, or at least ensure their neutrality, it could prove advantageous."
"We'll need to prepare for all eventualities," Murphey concluded, his gaze sharp. "I think our leader should think about it... And I hope that your plan is a good one. I'm not sure what could you offer to a Vampire Lord like this one."
As I left his tent, the weight of my responsibilities pressed down upon me, yet a part of me thrived under the pressure, fueled by the promise of change and the challenge of navigating the treacherous political waters that lay ahead.
With Evar's steady presence beside me and the unwavering support of my companions, I felt an unaccustomed surge of hope. Despite the dangers that no doubt awaited us, I was ready to face them head-on, for the sake of those we were sworn to protect, and for the future I envisioned for our kind.
As the camp settled down for the night, the low murmur of conversation and the crackle of campfires a constant backdrop, I found myself reflecting on the talk with the vampire. The plan I had was still a small one and I needed more time. But if I were to succeed, there would be more than one positive coming from it.
Evar approached as I stood watching the stars begin to pepper the night sky, his presence a silent question.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low.
I turned to him, the familiar contours of his face reassuring under the moonlight.
"Yes," I said, the truth of it surprising even myself. "I think I actually am."
I felt like the plans... the ideas... and the fight... all were starting to slowly form in my mind. A delicate smile appeared in my mouth. I said my goodbyes to Evar and went to my tent, Rowan coming with me. I decided to take care of him for now. Or rather... it was everyone's decision as it seemed that he didn't want to go with anyone else but me. I made him a small makeshift bed and went to sleep myself, just to be awoken by this small child lying next to me in bed, hugging me closely and shivering from nightmares only he knew about.
I hugged him closer, letting myself relax a bit.