From the hill, Damian caught a glimpse of fire in the distance. It could only mean one thing. There were people there.
He willed his horse downhill and came across an old tavern called "Madeeb Alehouse." The alehouse was the oldest in the whole country so people would hardly recognize him there.
And he was right when he walked in, everyone was less suspicious and didn't seem to bother him.
He walked to the counter and slapped 3 gold pieces on it. "Your finest ale and some food."
"Gold coins," the bar kept ogled at the gold.
"Hurry!" Damian glared at him.
"Right away, sir." The old man hurried to the kitchen with the gold pieces.
Damian brought out his hands on the table to examine it. The injury recovered from the fire was gone but he wondered about Lucia's. How would she cope?
He dragged his hand through his hair, cursing himself for ever leaving her behind.
The barkeep returning with his order. The meal wasn't exactly what he had expected but there were all assortments of meat and salad on the side.
"I believe it covers it, sire." The bar kept saying, greed dancing in his yellow slitted eyes.
A glare from Damian made him purse his lips.
"Anything else I can get you, sir?" They kept asking.
"Information," Damian dug into his plate. "Where can I get the nearest boat to Clarosha?"
"Clarosha, the dead man's land. You mind telling me why you're going?" The barkeep asking.
"I'm the one asking questions around here." Damian retorted.
"Of course, sir." The keep clasped his hands together. "This is just a small town, sir. It's only one man that has a boat and that's Baron."
"Who is he?" Damian followed the keep's gaze which trailed behind him.
A man dressed in fine brown fur sipped his ale in one quiet corner.
"You should be careful, sir. He hates vampires." The keep said in a whisper.
Damian pushed back his seat. "Don't worry. The feeling's mutual."
He joined the man in his quiet little corner.
"Take a walk," Baron said, still sipping from his mug.
"I want a boat." Damian threw a pouch of gold coins on the table.
"It's not for sale." The man replied, still not looking at Damian
"I'll double it." Damian said. He knew humans loved money and the man wouldn't pass on a good offer like that.
"Fine. When do you need it?" The man set down the mug, revealing his face.
Damian's eyes grew dark when he recognised the sigil on the man's fur - two golden swords crossed together. It was House Yelmen, the hunter's guild but their people were massacred by Count von Burren.
"Soon." Damian sipped his mug slowly.
"Where's your destination?" Baron inquired.
"Clarosha." Damian replied.
"And whatever are you looking for in the dead man's land?"
Damian finished his ale and set the mug down. "The white wooden stake. I want to kill a vampire."
Baron flashed him a grin. "Don't we all?"
At Castle De Caspian, the soldiers cleared the Silver Chambers.
"Why would they set fire to this place? Can't they just let in some sunlight to burn the heck out of the vampire?" A soldier said to his colleague.
"It won't work. The royal de Caspians are immune to sunlight. They're the only pure vampires in the entire realm. The 4, well, 3 of them." His colleague replied.
"3?" The soldier pulled out a rusted iron from underneath the rubble, raising a cloud of dust in the air.
"The late king Fieren, Lord Jarlen, Rayven and Damian."
"Ah, I see."
"Aren't you done?" came the thunder of a voice.
"We are, sir!" Both of them chorused as Rayven walked up behind them. They dared not turn around.
"The body of the king?" Rayven asked.
"Buried in ashes. The fire damaged everything in the Silver Chambers, sire." One of the soldiers replied.
"And Damian?"
"There's no sign of him."
"Good. Seal up this place." Rayven turned around to leave.
"And the Silver Chamber?"
Rayven smiled. "We'll build another one in the late king's chambers."
Rayven sauntered into the hall, his cloak sweeping the floor as he went. Every head bowed at his presence and didn't lift till he was out of the hall. Now, he was promoted to Jarlen's previous position, Fang-Supreme.
A blood curdling scream echoed in his ears and he chuckled with glee, his dark plum eyes deepening with menace and mischief.
"The maid didn't talk." Cesar, his right hand man straightened up as he walked in.
"Oh?" Rayven pushed his glasses to his face.
He walked to where Bea sat on the floor and held up her chin. "Do you like being tortured?"
Bea shook her head.
"Use your words, missy." Rayven said in a gentle tone that put Cesar on edge. He knew Cesar never spoke this way unless he had an ulterior motive.
"I hate torture." Bea struggled to speak amidst the throbbing pain.
"Who doesn't?" Rayven moved his hand to cup her cheek. "I hate torture too. It hurts me when I look at your bruised face hmm? Tell me about Lucia. I won't hurt you."
Cesar knew what was to come and left the room.
"Don't look at him, look at me," Rayven began calmly and smoothly. "Where is Lucia?"
Bea nodded slowly. "She went to find Damian. She didn't say where."
"And where do you think Damian would go in desperate times? You served his mother and served him too."
"I don't know where he'd go but I know what he'll do."
"Which is?"
"He'll raise an army and come back here to claim the throne."
"Excellent," Rayven leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "You're doing great."
He stood to his feet, now smiling at her.
"Do I go home now?" Bea sniffled softly.
"Yes," Rayven lifted his finger and the curtain behind her began to move.
"No, Sir. Please!" Bea screamed.
"You wanted to go home. I'm only sending you back to hell."
The curtains parted fully and Bea's screams followed.
Rayven walked out of the room to where Cesar stood in the hall.
"Bring the next prisoners," he said.
"Right away, my lord." Cesar replied.
He sighted Lord Jarlen and August coming in his direction and bowed his head.
"Any info on Damian and my wife? Her father sent a Raven. He's restless." August threw a little piece of paper on the floor.
"Lucia went to look for Damian," Rayven replied with his head bowed. "I believe he escaped the fire."
"I'll kill him!" August said impatiently.
"Patience, Lord August," Jarlen put his hand on the man's shoulder. "You can do that after we get everything we need."
Cesar walked in with Bat and Anna.
"That's Damian's right hand man. He'll tell you everything we need to know." Jarlen smiled and August returned it.
"Torture the answer from him right away." August snapped his finger at Rayven.
"As you wish, my lord." Rayven bowed his head.
Anna and Bat were shoved to the floor of the "torture room"
"Save my time and tell me Damian's plan." Rayven went to the fireplace and stuck his sword in the flames.
"You're even lamer than I thought. What's with this stupid interrogation? I was the Alucard's righthand man. At least torture me with respect." Bat rolled his eyes.
Anna's mouth hung open. Their lives were hanging on a thread and here he was talking about ranks!
In the vampire hierarchy, the Vampire king's title is called Dracula, the Alucard is the title for his son while the Dracula's righthand man is called the Fang Supreme.
A chuckle escaped Rayven's lips as he brought the sword from the fireplace. "Ah you're still the same as ever, Bat."
"It's Bartholomew to you. We're not friends." Bat rolled his eyes again.
"What is wrong with you?" Anna gasped as she looked at Bat. "You can see that he's with a sword and you're ranting."
Then she turned to Rayven. "Please, good sir. Where are we? Why were we abducted?"
"This is Castle de Caspian and by now, the king is dead." Bat replied. "Am I right, Rayven?"
"You're good." Rayven smiled.
"Of course I am. That's why it'll take a siege for you to be promoted to Jarlen's rank. In real politics, you're no match, mutt." Bat spat at his shoe.
Rayven grew annoyed. "You little -
"Show some respect, Rayven. He's still the Alucard's man." Jarlen stepped up, pushing his son away.
"If it isn't the traitor himself. My my, you even reek of betrayal. It sinks in here." Bat said amusingly.
"Oh really?" Jarlen looked at Anna. "he's a talkative, isn't he?"
Anna pursed her lips without saying a word. A lot was going on and she didn't want to get involved.
"Ah she's afraid. Why do you do this to women, Bat?" Jarlen moved in.
"Don't touch her!" Bat glared at him.
Jarlen ignored him, helping Anna to her feet.
"Let her go!" Bat raged, struggling with the silver cuffs binding both his wrists.
"Tell me about Damian's plans. You seem to know about what happened here, Bat? Did you and Damian plan something?" Jarlen asked as he stretched his hand to Rayven.
Rayven placed the sword in his father's hand.
Anna stared wide-eyed at the crimson-red sword. Rayven had put the sword in the fire and now, Jarlen was holding it.
'I hope it's not for me.' she said to herself.
Bat heaved a frustrated sigh. "Don't tell me you'll hurt her to get to me."
"That's the plan actually." Jarlen smiled.
Bat smiled. "Fune. You win. I'll tell you what I know but if any harm goes to her, I won't tell you all what I would do. You all know what I'm capable of."
"Agreed. Take her." Jarlen said to Rayven.
"I want her clothed and fed and sent back home to her family in East Canterbury." Bat said with a smile.
"But, what about you?" Anna asked with tears in her eyes.
"You drive a hard bargain for a prisoner!" Rayven scoffed.
"Done," Jarlen said with a nod. "A king's word is his bond."
"You are no king to me." Bat glared at him.
"It means nothing." August smiled.
"Ah, the one-legged idiot is here," Bat laughed. "How nice of you to join us."
"Shut up!" August barked.
"Ah you're both short and tempered," Bat shook his head. "I see why Lady Lucia chose Damian."
"I will have him hanged!" August raged.
"Take him outside." Jarlen Rayven and he left the cell with him.
To Jarlen, Bat said. "After my death, I want only one wish."
"What's that?" Jarlen smiled.
"That you send the best books in the kingdom to Anna. She's not educated and I want to change that." Bat flashed to her and her eyes filled.
"Done." Jarlen gave Cesar a signal and he took her.
"Weep not for me, Anna. I'll be in heaven after all." Bat called behind her.
"Talk." Jarlen took the cuffs off Bat.
"Ah still noble," Bat rubbed his wrists as he grabbed a seat. "Aren't you afraid I'll escape?"
"Try it and burn it to ashes. It's morning." Jarlen smiled.
"Ah. Smart." Bat nods. "So what do you want to know?"
"Damian, where is he?"
Bat shrugged his shoulders. "I thought you'd know. He's on his way to his death as we speak."
"His death? What do you mean?" Jarlen asked.
"Who do you think sired you?" Bat asked.
"What?" Jarlen pushed back his seat.
"Why do you think I call Damian King all the time?"
"That's impossible! Damian cannot be the sire of us all."
"He is. He even sired your late king Fieren."
Jarlen bolted from the room and sounded the alarm. "Get to Clarosha now! Damian is looking for the white wooden stake!"