Aaron was already unconscious. He lied on the ground looking vulnerable. Blood was still oozing from his arm, covering the stone floor.

After I killed a bunch of undead and vampires I saw Carleon in the distance going straight for Ava. Without a moment to spare I rushed in his direction, but I was too late. My brother got there before me. He had no time to cast spells and he knew it. He knew what it meant to jump in front of the monster. Seeing Carleon grabbing Aaron's shoulders I ran faster but not fast enough. Carleon sank his teeth in Aaron's neck and something in my snapped. Something so fragile it was barely whole broke into pieces. The whole room turned red. Before I knew what I was doing my dagged slashed across Carleon's head. Ripping skin. Shattering skull. Smushing brain. It only stopped when it reached the neck. I pulled the blade out and waited for the body to fall.

My gaze was focused on the chopped head as it slowly slid down. Under my mask, which hid my nose and mouth, my jaw was clenched tightly. I wanted to scream; not from sorrow but rather from madness. Then Carleon's body slid down onto the ground limply, right under my feet. Blood splattered around the sides of the head like a blooming red flower. Some crazy people would call it art, and I would agree with that. An art of killing. Afterall skull is not something which you can just cut through but when my class gets angry that task looks like someone cutting through butter.

Then my eyes focused on Aaron who was on the ground already. Unconcious. His own blood leaking out and into the crannies of the floor, slowly mixing up with the flood from Carleon. Two streams became one river. Which made me sick.

I stood motionless for a short while, making sure that the rage that surged thought my veins subsided enough for me to think rationally. I had to make sure Aaron was safe and alive.

The whole room became eerily quiet. A few seconds ago there were screams and shouts, roars and growls and now... Silence. Complete, deafening silence.

When I finally was able to get a hold of myself I placed my daggers back into their scabbards not even bothering to wipe the blood off. Then I walked towards Aaron, stepping over the corpses of the duke on the way. He was of no concern to me anymore. My rage was already replaced with worry.

I could sense that the girls nearby were staring at me. Probably with horror. However, I ignored them completely. Not bothered to even explain anything. I didn't know if they recognised me or not, however, with my eyepatch off, mask on my face and my black cloak nowhere in sight I wouldn't be surprised either way. The only problem that could arise from them not knowing who I was would be that they could attack me. However, if they tried I would show no mercy. I didn't have the patience for mercy at that point.

As I got close to Aaron I leant down to check his pulse. My own faint as the seconds of the uncertainty stretched. Aaron was bitten. Now there were two possibilities after that. He either not changed yet due to the master vampire dying. Or he changed and immediately died along with Carleon. The vampiric laws of change were quite brutal.

My hand shook as I pressed it against Aaron's neck right near the bite. Causing more blood to trickle down. However, as soon as I felt Aaron was still alive I let out a breath I didn't realise I held in. I must have made it just in time and killed Carleon quickly enough for Aaron not to change fully straight away. That meant we had some time before Aaron would turn and die.

Scanning his body for any more injuries that the ones I could see I lifted Aaron's fluffy hair from his forehead and checked his temperature. He was growing a fever already, he did not have much time left. Probably around a week at best, a few days at worst.

Meanwhile, both girls didn’t move an inch, if it wasn't for the fact that I knew they were there I would have thought they were statues. They were too scared, but they probably weren’t quite sure of what. The situation or that bloodthirsty looking assassin in front of them. What they saw was that Aaron sacrificed himself and a random man appeared out of nowhere to kill Carleon. I think it would be more strange if they weren't as scared.

Then I noticed the cut on Aaron's arm slowly closing. Not lifting my head up I knew that Ava must have gotten together and started to cast spells. It was her fault Aaron was in that state now, but I don't think he would have blamed her. She was surprisingly helpful to him. I couldn't bring myself to hate her either even when I knew she was of little use when it came to a vampire bite. Fighting priests could cast spells to hold a broken leg together during a fight, to mask the pain of injury, to block the bleeding for a time being, but not even the most skilled priest could reverse a curse. That was a job for antidotes or specialised wizards.

I heard Leah moving about toward the sound of someone groaning. The duchess must have woken up at last. At least someone was alive. Meanwhile, Ava walked up towards Aaron and me with cautious steps. I could hear how heavily she was breathing. She really needed to work on her stamina, that was certain.

I didn't bother saying anything to any of them, only focused on the bite mark. Which luckily had only 2 puncture holes. Some vampires had different types of fangs which meant more venom is put into their prey. However, even if only two they were bad and since Aaron was quite small that meant the venom would get around him much faster.

At last, I sighed startling Ava who was nearby and I picked Aaron's still body up. I only gave her a cold glance and then started to head back outside. I killed practically all of the monsters that lurked about, and the ones I missed would die off slowly. So I wasn't worried about being attacked. While walking through the long corridor I heard footsteps which followed behind.

As soon as we stepped outside of the castle the three footsteps behind me stopped. I must admit the sight was not pretty in the least. Piles of dead corpses everywhere decorated the castle grounds like ornaments. Dead vampires turned into ash making the ground black which was then mixed with the reds from the undead. It looked as though someone has redecorated the area completely. I could feel their burning stares in my back, but despite them knowing who did it no one spoke.

At the end of the massacre, mounts waited. Tiger, panther and the bear which quickly ran towards me. He looked distressed while he nuzzled to Aaron's head. He knew what has happened, Lashaka and Trutan were too clever and they had a strong enough bond with us to know what was going on. I eyed the bear who lied down on the ground, waiting. I smiled slightly under my mask and I placed unconscious Aaron on Trutan’s saddle and then using ropes secured him to it. I was glad like never that I bought it for my brother. Even when he protested that it was too expensive. However, it was worth it, it was a leather saddle which lasted a long time already and since Aaron was so small in comparison to the bear it was borderline impossible for him to climb on it's back but with the saddle, he could manage that. It was also convenient for carrying equipment. However I also had a hidden intention when getting it, it was for those sort of situations when one of us would be too weak to keep himself on the mount on his own.

Once I securely tied Aaron I turned to look at the others. The girls looked at one another wondering what to do. They seemed like they wanted to ask me who I am, where I came from and why, but my silence must have made them unbearably tense so they decided against it. Besides after what happened no one sane would try to strike a conversation with me. After I sent a glare at each of them Ava quietly went to Al-shai and Leah helped Godvia up on her tiger as if understanding that I wanted them gone. 

Once ready to go, Leah, who was not able to bear the situation any longer, asked: "Who are you?"

The air got still as I stared daggers at her but then from behind the bushes Lashaka ran out in an attacking motion. Her timing sometimes could not have been worse...

Ava in utter shock shouted “Nate?!”

She immediately recognised the giant wolf-beast running right towards me and standing strong at my side. With my cover blown I sighed looking at the priestess. Something in her eyes flickered. Something which I could not put my hand on. She was not scared as much anymore, she was rather angry in fact. However, that emotion whatever it was was gone as soon as it came.

After a moment of staring at each other, I  took the mask off knowing there is no point in hiding. I let it fall back around my neck and with a serious voice I growled: “Take him to Kellwoods don’t let him fall and wake up under any circumstances.” Ava couldn’t choke out a word and Nate continued “I will go back and burn the corpses just in case. Vampire venom is strong even after the death of the host. And even if the venom isn't that powerful imagine what would happen to it if it was found by someone?” I patted Lashaka saying “Also, one more thing. Once you get back, go and find a separate shed near the village. It is to the north of your inn. I have already checked it before, there’s a basement there, hidden. I managed to get some titanium chains montaged there, get Aaron there and chain him up.”

Ava and Leah looked at each other and the duke’s daughter said sadly at last “I see you knew what you were up against.” That made me finally notice her. She indeed was a pretty one, just like the men from the inn said. She had the air of a lady about her, and yet at the same time, she was dressed humbly. Her dark hair was messed up to the point of making her look like a poor homeless girl.

After looking her over for any signs of change I nodded "I had to know." I mumbled.

She bowed her head to me saying “I thank you for rescuing me and apologise for my father’s deeds, I will risk my life to protect your brother in return. I will be there with him until you return.”

I looked at her still with her head down. At least someone was grateful. “I’ll be sure to find a cure as soon as possible. Now go, before he wakes up.”

Godvia nodded lifting her head, at last, she knew how the vampire world operated which was one of the few good things about the situation. She understood that if Aaron will turn completely that will be the end. The three girls looked at each other once again and headed back towards the town.

Meanwhile, I turned towards the castle, my hunting instincts still awake. Lashaka rubbed her head on my arm and I jumped on her back. Not looking back I sped her towards the mansion, to finish the job.

While heading towards the castle I pulled my mask back on. As soon as my face was obscured I could finally swear under my breath. I knew it was risky, I knew what were the costs and yet I let it happen. I blamed myself fully for my brother's suffering even when deep down I knew that it wasn't entirely my fault.

Once by the entrance, I jumped off Lashaka and headed towards the main hall. Walking back I only looked around to see the death surrounding me. It was nothing unusual but it was the first time it was this big. Usually, my jobs were smaller and more discreet, but this... In this fight, hundreds of lives were lost. Even though they were monsters by then, they were humans once, normal innocent people. and yet, now they disintegrated to nothing more than a pile of ash or decaying corpses.

Once I walked into the hall I cut my thoughts away from the minor monsters. I walked up to the dead Carleon and looked at him with a hateful stare. I wanted to chop his whole body up into tiny pieces. My bloodthirst getting stronger and stronger, I knew exactly that my eyes turned into deadly slits. The ones which humans came to fear, slits of a rogue. My hidden lips curled into a predatory smile as I bared my teeth like a hungry animal.

I crouched down, my assassin senses taking control over my body. Everything was slowly getting red once more. My personality split into two: one wanted to walk away the other wanting to spray more blood around the place. My hand slowly reached to one of my daggers, however - due to years of practice - I snapped out in the last second shaking my head violently. As soon as the colours returned to my vision I clicked my tongue and stood up with all the strength I could muster. My bloodthirst was still present but weakened by my sheer will.

I grabbed torch which was hanging by one of the walls and threw it on the body with chopped head. The clothes on the corpse caught on fire. Soon everything became illuminated by the flames. This time colouring everything in sharp oranges and yellows. I watched as slowly the corpses became ash. I did not want to miss a second of that monster’s disappearance.

As the flames started to die down I turned around looking back at the pile of the dead behind me. There were few undead and vampires which were still alive walking aimlessly in circles but slowly dropped one by one due to their masters gone. Despite the fact it was partially my fault the sight looked sad more than anything those souls would be lost forever, in darkness, in a nightmare. A future which could potentially await me as well.

I sighed and shook my head. Each time I thought I saw the worst that there is to this job, I was always proved wrong. I glanced at the ash in front of me and kicked it up creating a cloud of dust.

As the small particles slowly fell back down I mumbled, "This is what you get for hurting my brother." My eyes went back to the hateful slits from before once more.

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