Chapter 30

Ercale cast an eye outside of the cellar window to gauge the time. The daylight streamed in, illuminating the room, and he estimated it was around 3 o'clock. With that knowledge, he turned his attention back to the thrall he had subdued and secured to a sturdy post in the cellar. The thrall was unconscious, bound tightly with chains, and gagged with a piece of cloth – his own attire, to be exact.

Subduing this particular thrall had been quite an ordeal. Unlike Jami, who had been easier to deal with due to her isolation, this one had required a more delicate approach. Ercale had employed Almer's help, coercing him into action by threatening his life. Almer, in turn, had managed to persuade the other thrall to attend a clandestine meeting in the cellar, where Ercale had acted swiftly and efficiently, rendering the thrall unconscious. In the process, a few bones might have broken, but it was a necessary sacrifice.

Almer, a mixture of hope and apprehension in his eyes, cautiously asked, "Can I go now? I mean, surely you don't need me anymore, do you? You've got the other thralls."

Ercale's face held a contemplative expression as he considered Almer's request. He leaned in a bit closer. "Tell me, who's been supplying you with their blood?" he asked. Almer, somewhat perplexed, responded, "It's Mistress Eirisse. But why does that matter?"

Ercale's nod was decisive. "Well, in that case, I do have more use for you. You see, you're coming with me to the mayor's office."

Ercale, true to his nature, had a simple solution to the vampire problem: murder. Killing the vampires was the most efficient way to resolve the issue, and Ercale fully intended to embrace his age-old method of solving problems. Now, being outside of Xain's body and fully in control, he was prepared to execute his time-tested approach to any predicament that arose.

Now that he knew the thrall had been fed by the vampire, and knowing the vampire's location, Ercale devised a plan to use Almer as leverage against the bloodsucker. *An ingenious plan*, Ercale thought to himself, almost expecting Xain to protest within his head.

Speaking of Xain, he wondered what his host might be doing at that very moment. Most likely, Xain was ensuring the safety of Zee and Larkin, Ercale presumed. Almer, on the other hand, displayed sheer terror at the prospect of Ercale's intentions. Too frightened to voice any objections and fearing for his own life, he complied as Ercale started to drag him toward the mayor's office.

Somewhere deep within Ercale, a vague sense of concern? for Xain flickered, but he swiftly dismissed it, concluding, *Unless he somehow stumbles into a fight with a vampire, I believe he'll manage just fine.*

**Back to Xain**

Xain found himself in a dream, one that transported him back to Ironhelm, where he thrived on thieving, conning, and whatever else it took to survive. It was an unexpected feeling, but he felt genuinely content in this dream.

However, the dream abruptly shattered, and Xain was jolted awake with a sharp grunt. His entire body throbbed with pain – his ribs ached, his fists stung, and his head pounded mercilessly. Blinking away the disorientation, he scanned his surroundings.

He was lying on a bed, with Zee on his right and Larkin on his left. As soon as Zee noticed him waking up, she let out a joyful exclamation. "Xain!" She threw her arms around him, inadvertently causing his pain to skyrocket.

"Zee... please... stop, it hurts..." Xain grimaced, prompting Zee to quickly release her hold on him. "I'm sorry," she apologized with a concerned look in her eyes. Xain, feeling guilty for causing her distress, reassured her, "No, I'm sorry. It's not your fault."

Their brief exchange was interrupted by Larkin's impatient voice. "Are you planning to keep ignoring me?" he inquired.

Xain couldn't resist a sly grin. "Of course I am. Given the choice between an old man and a cute girl, I'll always choose the cute girl." Larkin chuckled at Xain's response, while Zee blushed at the blatant compliment.

However, before Xain could add anything more, a different voice chimed in. "Hey, at least you have options, unlike me. Nobody seems to care about me, apparently." Turning his head, Xain spotted Lennix on another bed, being tended to by the woman in the maid uniform.

Upon seeing the vampire, Xain attempted to rise immediately and engage in a fight. However, the keyword here was 'tried.' As he struggled to get up, his body screamed in pain, no longer powered by adrenaline, and the effort to fight through the pain was nearly unbearable.

Lennix's voice interjected, "Calm down, you idiot. Does it look like I'm trying to eat your friends." Xain, in a state of bewilderment, managed to ask, "What's going on?"

Larkin responded first, his face etched with concern. "That's what we'd like to know. Zee and I were downstairs when we heard commotion from upstairs. Zee went up and returned with you in her arms!"

Zee joined in, her expression mirroring Larkin's unease. "When we asked Lennix what happened, he said he'd explain when you regained consciousness."

Still appearing baffled, Xain probed further, "Wait, he didn't do anything to you guys?" Larkin and Zee exchanged glances and then shook their heads in unison.

Xain pointed an accusatory finger at Lennix, his voice tinged with frustration. "He claimed he drank blood from one of you!" Both Larkin and Zee turned their attention to Lennix, who nodded in confirmation. "I did say that," he admitted.

Curious and somewhat perplexed, Zee moved closer to Lennix and inquired, "Why did you say that?" Xain echoed her question, his expression demanding an answer. "Yeah, why!?"

Lennix raised his hands in a placating manner. "Because I asked him a hypothetical question," he explained. "I asked, 'If I told you that you could only have one of them, what would you do?' He replied, 'I would have to fight you,' and I thought, let's test that theory. So, that's why we fought."

Larkin, looking slightly irritated, responded with disbelief, "Just for that!?" Lennix simply nodded, maintaining a nonchalant demeanor.

Lennix added in a somewhat sheepish tone, "I didn't expect him to put up such a fierce fight. I thought I'd teach him a lesson and then stop, but he gave me quite a run for my money. I lost control there, my apologies."

Xain, still visibly upset, retorted, "You nearly clawed me to death!"

Lennix defended himself, "Might I remind you that you smashed my head into the toilet, shattered a sink on my skull, and then stabbed me through the chest with a metal pipe?"

Larkin turned to Xain, bewildered. "You did all that?" he asked in disbelief. Xain simply looked away, unable to deny the chaotic events that had unfolded.

Then Larkin realized something and inquired, "Wait, do you guys know he's a vampire?" Both Zee and Larkin nodded, and Zee added, "He told us."

Xain turned back to Lennix, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes, and asked, "Was there a reason for why you did all this?" 

Lennix nodded, his expression becoming more serious. "Yes," he answered solemnly. "I want to kill my sister, and I want your help to do so."