Vampire Brides

That night, the fog descended thicker than usual.

The sky was dark, starless, and the forest beyond the city was cloaked in an unnatural silence. Towering trees loomed like the shadows of giants, their branches swaying slowly as if responding to unseen footsteps.

Two figures moved silently along a barely visible path. Griffon and Bastian walked without a sound, blending into the darkness of the night. Their cloaks billowed gently, and only the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot broke the stillness.

Just as Griffon had promised the city officials—he would end the terror.

He would find the intruders and destroy them so that the chaos and fear consuming the townspeople would cease.

No more lives should be lost to the reckless hunger of these wandering vampires.

“Are you certain they’re here, My Lord?” Bastian asked, his silver eyes narrowing as they scanned the darkness.

“I can smell fresh blood from the east,” Griffon replied, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. “There’s another victim... we’re too late.”

“I think they’ve become more cautious ever since you killed one of their own, My Lord.”

“Cautious or not—if people are dying, I won't stand idle!” Griffon moved swiftly, the scent of blood growing stronger.

Bastian followed close behind. They darted through the forest like shadows, too fast for the naked eye to track.

It wasn’t long before the sharp metallic stench of blood overwhelmed their senses. The trees thinned out, revealing a small open clearing veiled in low fog. At its center, a human body lay sprawled, pale and shriveled, eyes lifelessly staring at the sky.

Griffon knelt and pressed his fingers to the victim’s neck. Still warm.

“He was just killed,” he murmured. “But the killer is still nearby… and knows we’re here.”

Bastian drew his dagger—a long, blackened blade etched with ancient runes.

“Be careful, My Lord. We don’t yet know how strong this enemy is.”

Suddenly, laughter echoed from the darkness. Soft, yet cold as a blade.

“I thought you nobles just sat in your castle, ignoring the world. So the young lord does come out to hunt after all…”

From within the fog, several tall figures emerged, cloaked in black. Their eyes glowed red, their hair wild, and their arms bulged with protruding veins—like monsters twisted by an insatiable thirst for blood.

“How dare you cause chaos in my territory? Who sent you? What clan do you belong to?” Griffon hissed, his voice low and threatening.

“We’re rogue vampires. We belong to no clan. Wherever there is blood—that’s where we are,” one of them sneered.

“I won’t let you go any further!” Griffon raised his hand toward them.

“Oh, the young lord is upset we’re draining his livestock!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll leave you the old ones to feast on!” another taunted, their laughter shrill and mocking.

“I’m not like you,” Griffon growled. “I don’t kill just to feed.”

He swung his arm—but a force unseen repelled his power, forcing him to take a step back.

“Looks like the noble wants to fight us now!”

“You’d better return to your castle, boy. Sit back and watch them all die. Because we’re going to kill every last one of them—starting with you.”

“This is my territory. I won’t allow you to break the blood laws.”

“There are no laws for the free!” one of the rogues shouted. And in an instant, they lunged toward Griffon and Bastian with terrifying speed.

The first blow came for Griffon—but he parried it effortlessly. Steel rang out as his long blade met the vampire’s claws.

Bastian moved in from the side, slashing quickly at the attackers. His sword danced with precision, forcing several of them back. But they fought like wild beasts—one of them leapt to a branch, then struck from above with brute force.

Bastian was thrown hard into the ground. He quickly rose, a cut slashing across his cheek. His silver eyes flared with anger.

“Don’t underestimate an old vampire,” he snarled, and launched himself back into the fight.

Griffon and Bastian moved as one, like shadows within a storm. Blades slashed, claws swiped, blood sprayed. Some of the rogues began to burn from the enchantments embedded in the weapons. The fog swirled around them, revealing and concealing with each step.

These vampires were strong—far too strong for mere wanderers. They had drunk too deeply from humans… and perhaps even from other vampires.

But one by one, they fell. Their bodies turned to ash, drifting silently into the mist.

Only one remained. The strongest. Enraged by the death of his brethren, he screamed, madness burning in his red eyes.

Griffon remained unharmed. Even his wounds, shallow as they were, were already healing.

“I’ll devour your heart!” the last rogue howled, extending his claws. He hurled himself at them again.

Steel clashed against claws, echoing across the trees. The vampire moved quickly—dodging their strikes with supernatural grace. But Griffon found his opening. In a single, fluid movement, he swung his sword and severed the creature’s arm.

The rogue screamed in agony.

Bastian didn’t hesitate. He drove his blade straight through the vampire’s heart.

The monster shrieked as fire erupted from within, consuming him from the inside.

“ARGHHHHH!!!” he roared, his form turning to ash in seconds, blown away by the cold wind.

Silence returned.

Only their ragged breaths remained. Bastian wiped blood from his face, his wound already healing. His eyes scanned the area, wary for more attackers.

“That wasn’t their leader, My Lord.”

Griffon nodded slowly. “I can feel it. More of them will come. We must find their leader… and soon.”

“Someone might be calling them here… creating this chaos.”

“You mean a rebellion?”

“It’s possible.”

“Then investigate. We need to move now,” Griffon said, looking up at the stormy sky. At least for tonight, several of the threats had been eliminated.

They turned and left the battlefield behind. The fog rolled back over the earth like a veil of death, swallowing the signs of combat.

But from the shadows… two eyes watched them.

Someone or something had been observing the battle.

And it was ready to make its next move.