Twenty Nine
Corelands Forest
In the creeping sunset diffused through the trees of Corelands Forest, the maleficus Micah sat next to the warm glow of a freshly-prepared campfire.
He lacked a cooking pot, but was accustomed to the hardy foraging and raw scavenging of a maleficus in the wilds.
Strangely Micah didn't feel hungry anymore, his senses were greatly enhanced, but his emotions had all but dulled save one- anger.
He now clung to that anger tightly inside. He had been unable to sleep since the news of his sister's murder, by his sworn brother no less!
The cold hollow presence of his mysterious weapon hung over him even when not in his hand.
Aside from the name Souldrinker he knew nothing about the obsidian-onyx sword. When he tried to make a mental connection to it, he could only feel a vast empty well and a hunger.
In times of silence and meditation he was beginning to hear a lot more ghostly whispers coming from within Souldrinker.
Strangely he felt a comfort in the solitude of Souldrinker's empty well. Seeking solitude in a such a hollow confine would come with a cost.
Micah stroked his blonde stubbly jaw and stared thoughtfully into the fire and at his own demonic brand on Souldrinker and his hand- linking them forever.
Umbra's surging power complicates things. I need a new source of power.
As if an answer to his prayers a dark figure loomed in the branches above.
A shadowy angel of death, a Dark Claw vampire and sole survivor- Vlad, sized up his prey.
He could smell the blood pumping in Micah's veins. He needed to feed, to recover from a stray arrow that pierced his shoulder. The barbed point proved very painful to remove as he deserted his kin in a cowardly panic.
The blood that dripped from his wound was not his own. It was that of a helpless child and her blind grandmother he devoured.
The Dark Claw Clan, his kin knew him to be the weakest among their ranks. He only retained his place at the dinner table by virtue of his seniority and of course bringing Lydia into the fold.
Lydia, the Higher Vampiress, his beautiful creation, his perfect idol. Long had he watched with fascination and lust as she toiled away in her mortal life in Stillpine Glade- a weak mortal.
It was him; he had turned her into the magnificent engine of destruction that led the Dark Claws through years of glorious bloodshed.
His fanged smile faded. She was his perfect creation; she was his future mate.
Was...
Now she was a pile of ash, destroyed by Umbra the defiler, Umbra the wretch, the swine, the loathsome.
All Vlad could do was watch his future slip away from the shadows and plot his vengeance.
Truth be told he had not stalked the stray maleficus below, he was actually trying to lay low and lick his wounds, but a chance to feast could not go ignored.
Vlad dropped silently from the trees, ready to pounce and feed on his seemingly vulnerable target.
It didn't matter how quiet the vampire had been, Micah's senses were so finely tuned by his training, he knew Vlad was there long before he himself was spotted by the lurking fiend.
Vlad tiptoed forward, his clawed fingers extended and his fangs prolonged. He quivered in ecstasy as he smelled the fresh blood in Micah's veins.
He was close enough now to reach Micah but he had grossly underestimated his target.
Before he could take another breath the black-robed Maleficus shot towards him like a flickering shadow settling around him.
Micah towered over Vlad, he glared at the vile scavenger, Souldrinker was fully extended to the vampire's black heart. The thirsty ancient weapon savoring what could be its first real meal.
Vlad was frozen in horror. Micah moved like a spirit; no, a better comparison was a reaper.
Vlad gasped, lost for words. A single gesture from Souldrinker would end him.
"Give me one reason I shouldn't end you, Dark Claw," Micah delivered his deadly ultimatum without a hint of emotion on his face.
Vlad quickly scrambled to conceal his thoughts but Micah had already scoured his mind.
"I only ask for Lady Lydia's murder to be avenged!" Vlad pleaded desperately.
He had Micah's interest now.
"But, but," Vlad stammered. "Her killer is far stronger than..." he sweated as he delivered the cruel truth that Micah already knew.
Micah winced, reminded of his inferiority once more. "So why are you here, wretch?"
Micah lowered his sword, Souldrinker had been savoring the chance to devour a soul.
"I propose a mutually beneficial arrangement, my master," Vlad bowed humbly, but one to never be truly sincere, he had a contingency plan already concocted.
"Keep talking," Micah urged Vlad on, frustrated that the vampire was now concealing his thoughts.
"A friend of mine... A powerful friend. She can swell your might a hundred-fold, a thousand-fold!" Vlad promised, confident now he was safe.
"This 'friend' of yours, are they far away?" Micah inquired, now taken the bait. Convincing himself he could easily kill Vlad if he needed to.
"Have you ever heard of Darkmouth Precipice?" Vlad leaned forward; his intense red pupils fixed on Micah.
"No. Should I have?"
"Don't worry my new master, it is not common knowledge. It is an old mining colony just into the Deadlands, due north. A few days journey on foot."
Micah narrowed his eyes. "Lead the way, Servant." He liked lauding over someone more than he expected.
"Of course, Master," Vlad beckoned forth his new charge. "Follow me into the shadows..."