"You will never be respected here," the vampire spat, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. His voice was a low rasp, full of venom. "Not like when you were human. You protect those who sneer at you, who scorn you, and you know it. You're nothing but a disgrace a lapdog for the mortals."
I slashed his throat before he could finish, silencing him with one clean stroke. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless under the pale glow of the moon. I stood there for a moment, watching the blood pool around his corpse, dark and thick on the cobblestone.
"I was careless," I muttered, wiping the blood from my face, my voice low and bitter. "That's how I ended up like this. Turned into a wretched thing like you, dishonoring my master… and now stuck in this forsaken place."
I stared down at the motionless body, a dull rage simmering beneath the surface. It always flared in moments like this, when the reality of my situation clawed at me, demanding to be acknowledged. My fingers tightened around the hilt of my sword, the metal cool and unforgiving in my hand.
"So don't come here trying to twist the narrative," I muttered through gritted teeth. He had been right, of course, but I wasn't about to let him revel in it.
The wind stirred, carrying the scent of iron and decay through the empty streets. The town was silent, save for the distant sound of my men moving through the shadows, cleaning up what remained of the night's battle. I sheathed my sword, stepping over the fallen vampire, my boots splashing in the blood-soaked dirt.
Another one is dead. Another reminder of the monstrous fate I had been forced into.
"My lord, we've handled the thralls that were trying to breach the city gate," Lieutenant Thorpe reported, his voice steady despite the chaos surrounding us. Thorpe had always been reliable, one of the few who hadn't flinched when I returned from that damned night as something… else.
"Good job," I replied, striving to keep my tone even. "Let's start a fire in the burn pit. We need to dispose of these parasites before their bodies begin to rot."
"Yes, my lord" Thorpe nodded before moving away with the vampire corpse, his form disappearing into the night.
I took a deep breath, though the air tasted of blood and death. Around me, the empty streets stretched out like a maze of forgotten memories. I hadn't realized how mentally exhausted I'd become until now, standing in the eerie quiet of the aftermath. It was always like these moments of calm after the fight where the weight of my new reality pressed down on me, a constant reminder of how far I had fallen.
I sank onto a nearby ledge, unable to hold back a sigh. My hand dragged down my face, the fatigue catching up with me.
"Damn Vespera," I muttered through clenched teeth, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "I swear, I will part your head from your shoulders."
If it weren't for her, none of this would've happened. I wouldn't have become a vampire. I wouldn't have been forced into this endless night, trapped in a body that no longer felt like my own. She had taken everything from me my humanity, my honor, my place among the living.
"My lord, it's time for you to return to the citadel," came a voice, snapping me from my thoughts. James stood a few paces away, watching me with that same cautious expression he always wore. "The sun is set to rise soon."
"Yeah, no problem, James," I replied, standing and dusting off my cloak. "Let's head back."
The walk back to the fort was as it always was silent and oppressive. The streets were deserted, not a soul in sight. Not that I expected anything different. The townsfolk knew to stay indoors when I was out. They kept their distance, whispering behind closed doors, their fear palpable. I could feel it even now, lingering in the shadows, thick in the air.
I couldn't blame them. I was the monster they had every right to fear.
I still couldn't get used to it. Hiding from the sun, only able to move under the cover of night. The active hate and blatant discrimination I faced from those outside my regiment weighed heavily on me. My men the few who still saw me for who I was before made it bearable, as much as it could be. But the townspeople? They saw me as a curse, a necessary evil that had been forced upon them.
Yet, even the people of this fort regarded me as a scourge, despite my efforts to protect them. I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all. Here I was, a vampire bound to defend a town that scorned me a living paradox trapped in a nightmare not even of my own choosing.
"James," I said, breaking the silence as we walked.
"Yes, my lord?" he responded, glancing at me with a weary expression.
"What's it like during the days?" I asked, my curiosity slipping through. "It's been two months since I was stationed here because of that incident. What's this place like in the daylight?"
James seemed taken aback by the question but answered nonetheless. "It's as busy as any other domain that didn`t have lord, my lord. The only difference, I'd say, is that crime is practically nonexistent since we came here… thanks to the rumor that followed you."
I could hear the slight disheartenment in his voice.
"There's no need to be discouraged," I said quietly. "The rumor isn't entirely wrong, James."
"I understand, my lord, but the blatant hate you receive is uncalled for."
I sighed, knowing that no matter what I said, the truth remained the same. "James, whether I like it or not, I'm a vampire. My diet is no longer what normal people consume. I can only drink blood. And even if I aim only for criminals, it doesn't change the fact that I still consume blood… that I am a vampire."
James looked down, clearly troubled, but he didn't respond further.
"The shift change is going to start soon, so go get some rest, James," I said as we passed through the fort gates.
"Yes, my lord. I will," he replied, trailing off toward the barracks.
I made my way through the fort, passing tired guards and empty halls until I reached the familiar door. Two guards stood at attention outside, their expressions carefully neutral.
"Greetings, my lord. Is it time for you to rest for the day?" one of them asked.
"Yes. Keep up the good work and inform Norman that the reconstruction should be carried out as quickly as possible," I instructed.
"Yes, my lord. Your orders will be carried out. Have a good rest, sir."
I nodded, the weight of the night settling over me as I opened the door and made my way inside. The cold, dimly lit hallway stretched before me, leading to the room where my coffin waited. It was a sight I still couldn't get used to.
The metallic coffin stood in the center of the room, its surface reflecting the faint light. The compass rose vector engraved on its cover seemed to mock me every time I saw it.
"I still hate doing this every time," I muttered to myself as I ran my hand over the coffin's cold metal surface, feeling its weight before sliding the cover aside. It was my prison, every night. The place where I hid from the sun, where I buried what was left of my humanity. All because of her Vespera. My lips curled into a snarl as I lowered myself inside. One day, I would return the favor. One day, she'd feel what it was like to be trapped in a cage of her own making.
I climbed inside, feeling the weight of it all press down on me as I closed it shut.
The darkness swallowed me whole, as it always did. And once again, I was left alone with my thoughts and my curse.