The Fallen Vampire

"How much longer until we reach this place...? My blood is going to freeze at this rate."

By now, Abbott Tang barely noticed the cold. He came here often enough that he had long learned to get used to the chill.

"Assuming that they haven't hidden the entrance from us after the unpleasantness on the island, then we should be nearing it rather-"

An impossibly loud howl cut through the storm.

After the first, several more occurred to succeed it.

Dan Master Hideyoshi nearly lost all the color in his face until he remembered that his companion was no ordinary individual.

And since he didn't look worried, the dwarf quickly calmed down as well.

One by one, giant wolves appeared from beyond the blizzard.

They were easily the size of horses, and judging by the look in their eyes, they were quite intelligent as well.

"Amitabha, little brothers." Abott Tang smiled. "Could you perhaps escort us the rest of the way?"

-

"Mmh…"

Enyo groggily stirred awake.

Her purple eyes fluttered open and partially illuminated the dark room around her.

Her body was weighed down by blankets and the bodies of two other women. Both of them were napping peacefully alongside her without a care in the world.

Neither of them seemed to hear the wake-up call.

Enyo gently nudged them while rubbing her eyes.

"Darlings.... bell."

Both women groaned and leaned further into her embrace. Their eyes stayed shut.

Once her eyes were fully opened, Enyo noticed that there were two more of their brood who were missing.

For a moment, she allowed herself to get her hopes up, and thought that they might handle the troublesome work for her.

However, a single moment's introspection told her that probably wouldn't be the case.

Begrudgingly, Enyo floated out of bed.

She scanned the floor, looking for something acceptable to cover her nude form.

Once she was dressed and sufficiently put together, she ventured from the room while leaving Lucia and Keran behind in dreamland.

As she entered the hallway, Enyo could hear the distant sound of moaning coming from within their home.

She sank through the floors and followed the sound with a bit of an increased pep in her step.

Vermeil and Ina looked to have only just gotten started with their play, as neither of them had yet to sweat in the manner she was used to witnessing. Still, they seemed into it enough that neither of them had noticed the bell going off.

Though they had noticed her.

When their eyes met, the girls' flushed faces formed wishful smiles that Enyo already knew far too well.

Against her better judgment, she leaned down to kiss them both and felt two hands grab her chest at the same time.

"Easy there, heathens." She smiled. "Can't you hear the bell?"

The girls listened closely until they could hear the noise coming from outside. Both made sickened expressions that made Enyo laugh.

"Get dressed." She urged. "It seems we're having company."

Vermeil could have cried. Ina didn't look that thrilled either.

"Who the hell could be coming here anyway...? It's not like Ayame ever notifies us before she just shows up..." Vermeil grumbled as she looked for her dress.

Enyo closed her eyes and expanded her senses beyond the walls of their home.

When she opened them once more, there was a noticeable twinkle of amusement that wasn't there before.

"...You're not gonna like it." She smiled wryly.

Vermeil's mood worsened even further.

-

Jordan wasn't sure if she was cut out for a leadership role.

With all of the highest-ranking cult members gone on an excursion, everyone had started looking to Jordan as the next person to fill in for them.

It wasn't as though she was the oldest or the most experienced.

Rather, Jordan was the one who tried the hardest to make friends. Her efforts had culminated in her knowing at least one secret from everyone in the cult. Aside from Shakti and Vaal that is...

Jordan also liked giving advice. Maybe that's why she had grown to be seen as someone dependable by the rest of the cult.

Perhaps that was why, while she was stuffing her face in the mess hall, six different cultists ran up to her, saying there were visitors on the bridge.

Which was how she ended up here, leading a group of men towards the palace while uncertain if this was what she should have been doing.

Who even knew if the ladies of the cult wanted guests at this time? Would she get in trouble for bringing these people here without prior approval!?

How did Shakti do this!?

"T-This place, it's..."

"Cold."

"Yes, but marvelous..."

"I've never felt such thick qi in my life... I almost can't breathe properly."

"How is this even possible..?"

Jordan didn't look back as she heard the men muttering amongst themselves.

She may not have been sure if she was surpposed to bring them, but she was damn positive that she wasnt supposed to tell them how this place had come to be what it was.

Luckily, Abbott Tang made sure that she didn't have to.

"Remember your promise to me, Hide." The monk said. "You are forbidden from speaking of anything you will witness here today. I won't forgive you for disregarding your promises, and your lives will be forfeit."

In addition to Abbott Tang and Dan Master Hideyoshi, attendants were traveling with them.

Abbott Tang only brought one- his highest-ranking disciple, Jang.

However, Hideyoshi had brought four. They were working together in pairs to carry two very large crates between each other.

They had almost dropped it several times since arriving.

"No worries, old friend." Hideyoshi smiled. "We'll take this to our grave."

"Hmph. You certainly might."

Jordan let the men right up to the palace doors before she stopped and turned around. "Sorry, Masters. Please wait here for a second..."

She bowed her head and dipped inside, leaving the men behind.

As he waited, Abbott Tang hoped and prayed that they would not be sent away. This place, and Aveena were the last connections that he still had to his beloved Setsuka. He couldn't afford to lose them.

The door hinges creaked as Jordan stuck her head out once again.

"I'm supposed to bring you to the garden. Please, follow me."

Abbott Tang let out a sigh of relief he hadn't known himself to be holding.

They followed Jordan through the palace and to a splendid field of flowers out back.

It was a breathtaking sight. Flowers as white as pure snow filled their vision. They were unblemished perfection, the likes of which could not be overstated.

The men almost didn't want to step into the field.

"The ladies of the cult will see you now." Jordan said professionally.

The men glanced toward a small pagoda at the back of the garden. There, three women sat at a stone table.

Steam rose from a freshly brewed pot of tea, and Hideyoshi nearly forgot all of his manners.

He bolted for the pot immediately.

"What a sight for sore eyes that is! I haven't seen anything this pretty since I turned twenty and... Ah, it doesn't matter."

Hideyoshi started to reach for the pot, but before he could do so, Abbott Tang struck him over the head with his staff.

"Manners, you old dog. Don't make me regret bringing you here."

"Right, right..."

Abbott Tang looked at the table full of women and was disappointed to find that Aveena was not among them.

"Greetings, Ladies." Hideyoshi smiled. "Forgive our unannounced visit, but..."

The dwarf finally noticed the intense glare that Vermeil was giving him.

When he thought about it, he could scarcely blame her. It was a member of his sect that had committed such a terrible act against them in the first place.

Of course, she was still angry with him after something like that.

"Ah... I'm being discourteous."

Hideyoshi cupped his fist and lowered his head.

"On behalf of the entire Profound Pill Union, let me extend to you my sincerest apologies. The actions of that individual were unforgivable, and I fully intend to make up for it." He snapped his fingers.

The followers he had brought with him came forward.

They placed both of the crates down in front of the women and opened them.

Ina covered her mouth in shock. Vermeil and Enyo raised their brows.

Staring back at them were more platinum coins than any of them had ever seen at once. Even Enyo, who had vivid memories of vampire wealth, was quite surprised by the amount.

"If you recall, our bet was for five hundred million gold. As you were the true winner, and as an apology for everything that happened afterwards, I'd like to offer you these platinum coins as restitution."

For the first time since the meeting started, Vermeil lost her intense scowl.

"This... feels a bit unnecessary. I lost the match officially, I should be scrounging up coins for you."

Hideyoshi shook his head.

"Had you not thrown the match to spare this old man's pride, I would have surely lost. If you consider the amount to be too exorbitant, then I feel you should know that I'd need to gift you a hundred more donations like this before my pockets began to hurt."

His words were no mere bluster. Virtually every kingdom or organization in Tayar was in debt to, or had done business with, the Profound Pill Union at one point or another. They were the richest body in Tayar since the vampires.

Vermeil stared at the money for quite a long time. Inadu and Enyo didn't say much of anything, since they believed it to be her decision whether they accepted the money or not.

And for the first time in a long time, they truly did not know what she would do...