Once I was back at the inn, Aaron, who was sitting on his bed, asked impatiently “You took forever, what did you find?”

“Just a few facts,” I said and listed all the things that I found, knowing that if I will not be quick and concise about it Aaron will not let me off easily. After telling my brother everything Aaron asked leaning his head on the palm of his hand. Even when he knew there was a fight coming over he looked bored as usual.

“So, in one word: monsters? So, our destination to kill them is the castle.”

I nodded saying “Murder cases and people missing. Sounds either like werewolves, vampires, or gargoyles. I doubt it's anything bigger. It would be seen.” Aaron nodded agreeing with my logic while I continued, "Either way if they have monster problems here the reward should be pretty good since it is going on for many years.”

Suddenly Aaron's head shot up and he rubbed his hands together with a glint in his eye. Out of everything in this world the talk of money would be the only way to get him excited. He would practically do any kind of annoying chore as long as he got paid.

Seeing him happy again I said “But since the problem grew it might be tough, so if those two girls are interested it might be worth talking to them about it. Getting the information out and getting a healer on the side.”

My brother growled at me with annoyance, his spark of life escaping “Oh for Gods' sake… So we have to talk to them?”

I grinned “Yes, we do.”

Aaron cried out “Damn it!” He then lied down, turned his back to me and not saying anymore sulked himself to sleep. To which I couldn't help but laugh.

The next morning Aaron went to the village elders asking about the reward and whatever the elders know. Meanwhile, I was tasked with the girls. Finding them proved to be easy once again, this time there was only one of them though, the tall one. Ava was walking down the street towards their inn carrying some bags with food.

Seeing a perfect opportunity to speak to her I came up to her, forcing a kind smile “We meet again.” Ava turned around surprised while I added: “Must be fate.”

Realising it was me she rolled her eyes and an angry frown appeared on her pretty face “Sure… You creep...”

I laughed at the fact that she hates me so much already and feeling like playing the bad guy would be the most efficient thing in this scenario I asked: "How about to show you how much of a creep I am not, I will help you carry your bags?"

She looked down at her hands which were pulled down by heavy shopping she sighed. Then with a cocked brow, she said "That would just prove that you are one though. You know... Stalking me and so on."

I smirked, not forced this time, I like when women had an attitude to them "Oh come on, no need to break my heart. I am only trying to be friendly."

She measured me with her eyes for a moment and then handed me half of her luggage, "Fine, since you're harmless I will let you."

Harmless? If only you knew... I thought quietly, forcing another friendly smile.

As the two of us walked slowly I tried to start a conversation with her. Just small talk about anything that came to my mind to let her guard down. However, it proved to be much harder than I expected, Ava was constantly on her guard, she did not let anything pass. So without much hope, I tried to ask her “So tell me. Are you and your friend planning on staying here permanently? If the problem is solved?”

Ava shook her head “Not really, we just wondering around.”

I hummed adding “Sightseeing?”

She grimaced “Something like that.”

“It is quite interesting because Leah said the opposite yesterday.”

Ava did not reply, but she looked more troubled which already told me a lot.

So, I continued “Either way, if you want to look at some good places there’s a castle nearby. Apparently, it’s a beautiful place, but I heard some rumours about it.”

Ava shook but tried to act surprised “Is that so? What kind?”

I glanced at her feeling as if I just got a bite, now only to reel it in. Ava was a much easier target to trick that she let on at first, she did not seem like the 'beat around the bush' type. Which meant it was easier for me to handle the interrogation.

“Some say that that place is cursed and so on. But I have a different opinion.” Ava didn’t respond so I continued “Heard some stories and I think some monsters took over it. Something like werewolves.”

She laughed nervously “I don’t think they live in mansions.”

I chuckled to match her “You are probably right. But they might be something else. Like vampires.” Ava didn’t respond and I grinned to myself while she dropped her head. Just as I thought she was not hard to trick at all. For me, who tricked my fair share of people, that seemed too easy and in result not fun at all. Although the fact she was still on guard around me was quite contradicting.

Then I pushed on, “Those creatures are awful. Apparently, the duke is merciless, and I bet his daughter is no better.”

If those girls wanted to help her - or what felt like it - that should have done the trick, and it did. Ava hearing this turned to me with annoyance, her pale eyes giving off hatred “She’s not like that.”

I looked at her meaningfully with a smirk across my lips “Wandering around, huh? I have a feeling you know more than you let on.”

She immediately turned away taken off guard. She grumbled something under her breath probably annoyed with me.

I asked “Tell me what you know. I heard some things here and there, and unless you talk you won't get any help from my brother to help that Godvia person.”

Ava stopped for a moment. She looked into my eyes searching something there. She probably tried to read me which would not be possible for her or anyone else for the matter. Her curious gaze turned into a glare that was judgmental and after a minute of staring at me, she growled “Sneaky bastard. Fine. Come with me. The street is not the place.” She continued heading towards Leah’s and her's inn while I followed behind, my friendly smile finally disappeared off of my face.

Once we got to their room I just leant on a wall with my back near the doors. I didn't like to disturb the privacy of someone's place, even if it was just a room that was rented. Meanwhile, Ava put the bags away explaining slowly but to the point “The manor is cursed. Years ago, Carleon has sinned greatly and got punished. Since then he became immortal."

I stood still not responding, watching as the girl was unpacking her bags.

"But after some centuries of living alone, he found himself a human partner. If you want to call it that,” her face turned into a frown, “he only used her for his own pleasure and nothing else. Despite the fact, she loved him dearly. After she gave birth to the daughter Carleon got ‘bored’ of his partner and murdered her.”

My expression did not change a bit. I was unfazed by the horrors Ava was speaking of, I lived thought too many to get emotional about each one and because of that, she seemed to get angrier while continuing explaining, “But despite his stone-cold heart he took care of his child. Still keeping a close eye on her as she was getting older. After a few years he noticed she was not a vampire, she was a human.”

That grabbed my interest. Vampiric traits did not have to appear at the birth, sometimes they came in later on. However, whenever a vampire woman or human gets pregnant with the opposite species their offspring would be a vampire, eventually. So it was extremally unique that the daughter didn't change into a vampire.

I hummed hearing this, “That’s an odd one. Vampire heritage runs deep and strong.” I tried to prod her a bit to elaborate.

Ava nodded and stretched after she unpacked. She looked at me with a frown - which I usually found on her face - but she continued despite looking displeased “Indeed. It was very odd. Leah and I were just as surprised when she told us. You see us three were friends from a long, long time ago. Godvia used to sneak out from the castle just to play with us. But then Leah and I had to go; leave. We were gone for some time, a few years at most. And once we came back here, as promised, Godvia didn’t show up. We went to check on her and Carleon chased us away, threatening to kill us. But we didn’t give up. We sneaked in another night and found Godvia locked inside the underground dungeons. She explained to us what was happening.” Ava stiffened and looked outside through the window “She will be soon sacrificed. Carleon wants her to turn into a vampire. I am not sure for what reasons but he will not stop. The only way is to kill him and his monsters.”

I sighed “And you two are looking for someone to help you?”

Ava snarled at the mocking sound of my voice. I didn't try to hide how annoyingly dramatic and tragic that story was. It was not my cup of tea, but if there was a reward for it, and it meant fewer innocents dying that I would help.

“You don’t get it." She growled, "He is a powerful being. He had centuries to master his skills. Leah and I need backup. We actually wanted your brother to help us.”

I laughed “Well, I can assure you now he will do it. If there is money involved he will take you two along as long as you won't take anything.”

Ava frowned understandably. For Aaron and me it was 'work', so we just wanted the reward “I don’t care about the reward! He can have it all! I just want to save my friend!”

I nodded dismissively. I never liked those warriors of justice, but there was something about the hot-headed priestess which was appealing. I could also understand the need to help someone close to you.

Looking at her I mumbled, “That is a good cause.” I started to head toward the doors saying, “But sometimes good causes are the ones which will bring you down and become your weakness.” As I walked through the doors I added not turning back “I will let you know tomorrow what my brother decided.”

Ava mumbled something after me, I could not tell what it was since my mind was already strategising. Thinking of the best way to approach this disaster.

As I got back to our inn, Aaron was already there waiting. I looked at him closing the doors and Aaron said “I’ve talked to the elders. You were right, elders do suspect monsters rather than anything. But they don’t know what. They are looking for someone to tackle their little castle problem but no one around is strong or brave enough to even try.”

I hummed “No wonder. From what one of the girls told me it sounds tough. But nothing we can’t handle.”

Aaron smirked, “So what is the plan?”

I sighed “We have to be discreet. I can’t be found out. I’ve noticed that villagers don’t trust outsiders, especially ‘my kind’ of outsiders. No surprise there. I had to reveal myself yesterday to get some information out, so if the elders or villagers find out that you managed to deal with the problem with me, you can forget about the reward. We must play it off cool. You might also need the help of those two. They seem to know the layout of the castle, they will be of use.”

Aaron rolled his eyes “Sure, sure. So, what do you propose?”

As soon as he asked that question there was another sound, so as quickly as possible I took out one of the small knives that I kept in my shoe and threw it at the wall next to the window. The blade got stuck in the wood glinting in the light while I said angrily “Didn’t your parents teach you not to eavesdrop on others?”

Aaron turned to the window slightly surprised and from behind it, two heads popped up pale like ghosts. One a female and the other a male whom we so coincidently already met. It was that little warrior which led us here. Pretending not to recognise him Aaron sighed looking bored “Just get rid of them, they are a problem only.”

I came up to the two people hiding and leant down taking my dagger out. “You say of this to anyone and your heads will be skewered.”

Both of them nodded and ran away. The warrior must have been quite curious or suspicious to try to sneak on us. Which was fine, since he heard some of that conversation he should be calmer now knowing that we were going to deal with their problem. I only hoped he was not hired by the elders to spy on us. Since he knew what I was, I just prayed that he didn't wish us failure, or whoever hired him.

Erasing the two from my mind I said “Now we have even more reason to act fast. Warrior will keep his mouth shut but the girl..." I ran a hand through my head finishing, "Tomorrow night you three will head out. I will follow behind and keep an eye on the back. I will explain that you three just need to sneak in, save the girl and kill Carleon. I will be getting rid of the monsters you leave behind. That way you will get faster to the goal without much attention. I will try not to show at all but if worse comes to worst, I will join you.”

Aaron nodded at the simplicity of the plan “All right, sounds good to me.” He stood up and stretched “But you will be talking to those creatures.”

I chuckled “Of course.”

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