The vampires finally find the entrance slipping into the cave. The cave was silent-empty, they prowled in circles, irritated.
"Where did that wretch vanish to?!" One snarled, his voice echoing off the walls.
"Unbelievable-we her let slip through our fingers."
A third hissed, eyes flashing crimson, "No wonder that halfling still breathes. She hides too well."
They searched the cave, overturning stones and sniffing the damp air, but found not a trace of her. The emptiness mocked them.
"She'll crawl back eventually," another muttered, though doubt flickered in his eyes. "She cannot survive with werewolves. Those beasts are our sworn enemies."
"Then we wait," another declared, settling against the wall with a grimace.
Time dragged, hours stretching on like days. Their patience frayed.
"Damn it, how long do we have to wait?!"
"That filthy half-breed-how dare her make us wait?"
"Patience," a calmer voice cut through. "She nowhere else to go. She'll return before long." His lips twisted into a smile that promised cruelty.
From outside, the cave seemed to hum with their anger. The vampires lingered like restless predators awaiting their prey.
Then the air shifted-cold, suffocating. A figure cloaked in black appeared at the entrance, silent as smoke, his garments fluttering the wind.
The vampires froze. Instinct drove them to their knees, none dared to raise eyes.
"Explain yourselves," The figure's voice cut like ice,
"Why do I find you grovelling here?"
"W-we sensed a half-breed nearby-"
"Y-yes, Lord Valmore, we only came over to investigate."
Valmore's sneered "A half-breed? Interesting." His tone shifted, amusement laced with menace. A glint of red flashed in his eyes as moonlight briefly revealed his bloodless face, sharp brows, and slicked-back black hair.
"You three will return to the castle and report, I'll pay our little half-breed friend a visit myself." His chuckle was low, dangerous.
"Yes, my lord!" They chorused, vanishing into the night.
….
The three vampires head toward the vampire castle. The castle was surrounded by thick dark forests. The forest swallowed them whole, branches clawing at the night. No moon pierced through the choking fog, only the hiss of wind through leaves marked their passage. The vampires moved like shadows, blending into the darkness. When the mist parted, the castle loomed before them-it's ancient structure rising like a predator from the dark. It's towers pierced through the skies
They slipped through the towering gates, their steps echoing in familiar rhythm. Torch light flickered along the hallways, shadows stretching across the walls.
At the end of the corridor, a door appeared, its surface radiating gloom. Power seeped from its seams, a testament to the strength of what lay beyond. As the approached, the door creaked opened of its own accord, revealing a vast chamber. A round table dominated the center, carved from black stone. Six figures sat around it, one seat remained empty. Six pairs of eyes fixed on them-each gaze sharper than the last. The three vampires fell on their knees cold sweat dripping down their back.
A voice broke the silence, mellow yet devoid of warmth. "Where from you?" The voice carried no emotion, only command.
Before they could answer, another figure appeared beside them in a blur, sniffing the air. "What is this I smell? Is it human? So faint..." His lips curled.
A woman chuckled, her fan covering half of her face. "What, did you three grow bold enough to visit the humans in daylight?" Her tone was mocking, playful, yet edged with cruelty.
"Why don't we hear them out, Lord Vans, Lady Lass?" another said, amusement flickering in his voice.
"Very well, Lord Frey." Lady Lass uttered, resting her chin on her hands.
The trembling vampires stammered. "W-we met a girl in the forest-"
"Yes, we saw her-but there was something strange..."
"Oho~ go on." Lady Lass urged, her eyes narrowing.
"She was neither human nor vampire-"
"Yes, though we didn't get close, we were certain she was a half-blood."
"A half-human? Impossible!" Lord Frey's expression cracked, a frown creasing his brow. "A half-blood cannot exist. How did such a creature appear?"
Lady Lass lowered her fan, an eccentric smile playing on her lips. "The question, Frey, is not how-but where. Where did you find her?"
"So, where did you find our little friend, hm?" The vampire towering over the three grinned, fangs gleaming.
Lord Frey frowned, "Is this what Valmore sent you to report, to excuse his absence yet again?" The chill in his voice made the three shiver.
"No, my lord," they cried. "We truly encountered a half-breed. Lord Valmore went to find her."
Lady Lass clicked her tongue, snapping her fan shut. "Tch. That bastard. Always taking matters into his own hands."
The Lords exchanged glances.
"You may leave," Lord Frey commanded. The scrambled to their feet, fleeing the chamber.
Silence lingered until Lord Vans spoke, arms crossed. "What do you think? Could such a creature truly exist?"
"Valmore is a bit rash," another replied, "but not senseless. If he believes it, there must be some truth to it."
Lady Lass eyes gleamed. "Why don't we wait for Valmore to return? I, for one, am dying to see this half-breed."
A vampire who had remained quiet finally spoke. His voice was smooth, deliberate, "They're not lying. I believe they encountered a half-blood. The question is not her existence, but her origin. How was she bred? Human and vampire blood mixing is like mixing water and fire, unless-"
Lady Lass leaned forward eagerly. "Unless what? Don't keep us in suspense, Lord Kira."
The others also turned to him, curiosity sharp.
Kira smirked. "Unless she's not truly human at all."
"Huh? What do you mean? Isn't obvious she's human and vampire?" Lady Lass asked scratching her hair, her earlier enthusiasm turning into confusion.
The others also expressed their dissatisfaction at his play on words.
Lord Kira's smile deepened, "Think about it, when we feed a humans it's either they die, continue their lives, or become lesser vampires." he paused, taking their expression, "but, there's been one case in our history when a vampire lord accidently fed on an elf. The result was neither vampire nor elf, but something in between." He waited for the information to sink in.
Lord Vans chuckled darkly, "You can't be serious, are you suggesting she has elf origins?"
A booming voice shook the chamber. "An offspring of elves and humans? Ridiculous! More unrealistic than a half-human vampire!"
"Jeez, tone it down, Bon." Lady Lass scolded, frowning. "You'll shatter my ears."
Kira's smile deepened. "It's possible. Either she carries elf blood, or she was once an elf before turning."
The chamber fell into silence. Each Lord felt it, the tremor of change, the whisper of a storm yet to break.