Chapter 338

Vorbuk could hear the screeching of insects. Death's Passage was difficult to see when wandering down. The fog was heavy as the passage was long. If you were not careful you could easily loose track of the person in front of you.

The sound of beautiful notes being sang could be heard in the air. At first one would think the song was beautiful and harmless. Captain Cory and Ashley were both not fools when it came to that sound. Instead of beautiful music they felt panic.

"Cover your ears and avoid listening to the music! Do not allow yourselves to be lured off by the sirens around here!" Captain Cory called out to everyone in warning. He was aware of the sirens that lurked within the land of Drethia.

Sirens were a dangerous race. With beautiful music they could lure others away from the group. Often they did this to travelers who tried to pass through Death's Passage and there were some who lived outside the passage in the witch's garden. They did not need to hide within such a dark place as Death's Passage.

[ WARNING! ]

[ The siren's song is trying to take affect on you. ]

A familiar voice called out to warn the wolf of the song.

A siren was considered a mortal race just as the vampires were. It was possible for them to take human form and even communicate with other races. Though their abilities made others terrified of them because they were often known for luring others away to kill them. Sirens were a race that others feared and were known to avoid.

Vorbuk was not someone who spent his life running from strange and unique creatures. His previous life was not one that had other races like sirens, vampires, or elves. It was true that he had seen his share of monsters since he came to this world. That was not enough for him to be prepared when the song reached his ears.

"Master?!" Ashley was startled when he saw the glossy stare on the wolf's face as they walked. The wolf's footsteps slowly came to a halt. He did not step any further as his mind was drawn to the beautiful sound that he heard in his ears. It was luring Vorbuk in as he was affected quickly by it. Perhaps he could have blamed his love for music and the arts for being drawn in so easily.

The wolf turned his head in the direction of the song. His steps picking up once again. This time he ran in the direction of the song. It seemed as if everything else around the beast had become invisible to him. Not seeing nor hearing anything else around him but the sound of that song as he ran to find the source of it.

"Master-! Wait-!!" Ashley called out after the wolf as it ran off before him. He wanted to rush after him instantly.

Prince Leo's voice called out to him before he could take a step forward, "What happened?!"

"Master was affected by the siren's song!" Ashley replied quickly.

Prince Leo flinched and looked back to realize that the others were still slowly walking away without them. The pirates would not wait for them. Captain Cory had already warned them that he would not stop in Death's Passage to save anyone. It was a risk he would not take for someone that meant nothing to him.

I want to go look for him... But the pirates will not wait for us. Prince Leo thought to himself about the situation.

Ashley could tell the prince was trying to think of a method and spoke up, "I will go after master. You follow the others out and make that damn pirate wait for us outside the passage."

"Are you going after him alone?" Prince Leo asked because he knew it was dangerous to go alone. The prince was willing to go after the wolf with him. He wanted to go after Vorbuk.

Ashley replied, "Someone has to make sure they do not leave master behind. I will make sure he gets out of Death's Passage."

"How am I suppose to make a bunch of pirates wait for you?" Prince Leo did not know how he was going to accomplish the task given to him. Pirates were not easy to talk to when it came to words.

Ashley smiled brightly and said, "Speak their language."

"... What?" Prince Leo did not understand what the vampire was talking about.

Ashley explained with a sigh, "Offer them money to wait. I am certain they will at least respect the concept of being paid."

Ah. If Theapan's nobles only knew where their king, Vorbuk, was spending his money... Prince Leo thought to himself.

Prince Leo felt embarrassed by the thought of how the nobles would react. The money that was being used to hire the pirates all came from Vorbuk and his position as king of Theapan. If the nobles knew how he spent his money they would all have a heart attack.

"They are not trustworthy but they will at least follow if they are paid well enough." Ashley added on for the prince to understand.

Prince Leo was not questioning whether or not to do it. He was willing to do what was needed of him to ensure that his friend was safe. If making sure the pirates stayed and waited for Vorbuk's return was the only thing he could do. That meant he was surely do his best to see it through.

The vampire, Ashley, did not wait for the prince to speak further with him about the matter. His master was in danger. That was his top priority at the moment. No time could be wasted on trying to convince the prince that he could manage things on his own.

Prince Leo would just get in the way out here. Ashley thought to himself as he rushed towards the direction the wolf at gone. There are not many ways to get off the main passage. The few there are all lead to dangerous places and beasts that have made dens in Death's Passage.

Vorbuk had wandered off the main passage because the siren was luring him away. Every step he took was further down one of those dangerous paths. It was impossible to know where he was going. The terrain inside Death's Passage was alive and could shift on its own accord.

Only the demons who lived among the land could comprehend how to repeatedly find a specific place. That was the only reason they could make dens to control their own territories. This fact made them more dangerous because it was impossible for outsiders to gain an advantage on the terrain when they could never survive long enough to comprehend it.

Ashley would not abandon his master. He was not as well versed in understanding the land like those that lived the land. However he had his own experiences with the kingdom of Drethia. Even as the wild demonic beasts tried to attack him from the shadows as he ran, Ashley's blood scythe sliced its way through them. Paving a bloody trail in the direction that he could sense his master was heading.

Unaware of what awaited him ahead the vampire fought his way forward.