CHAPTER 10: BARGAIN

The journey to Dereven was quiet. The air grew heavier as Kael and Dren rode deeper into the cursed land. Kael's expression was unreadable, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon. Beside him, Dren gripped his sword tightly, his senses alert.

Dereven was a land of nightmares. It was home to vampires who had survived for centuries, their lives sustained by blood and cruelty. The strong preyed on the weak, devouring their blood to grow even stronger. Few dared to venture here, and those who did rarely returned.

Kael halted his horse before a small, decrepit hut. From the outside, it appeared unremarkable, but Kael knew better. This was the domain of Enamel, one of the most feared creatures in Dereven.

As Kael dismounted, the smell of blood and decay filled his nostrils. His senses were on high alert. He gestured for Dren to follow and pushed open the door to the hut.

Inside the Hut

The interior was dark, the air thick with the scent of death. Kael's eyes adjusted quickly, and he stepped further inside, his boots crunching on something brittle beneath his feet.

"Stay sharp," he said softly, his voice low and cold.

Dren nodded, gripping his sword tightly.

A faint heartbeat echoed through the room, slow and steady. It was a deliberate sound, almost taunting. Kael's eyes narrowed, his body tense.

Suddenly, a blur of movement shot through the shadows. Before Kael could react, a hand clamped around his neck, gripping him with force.

"Well, well," a mocking voice drawled. "The mighty Kael, gracing my humble domain. What brings you to my door?"

Kael met the gaze of the figure holding him—a woman with sharp features and dark, glinting eyes. Her grip was ironclad, and her expression was full of malice.

"Enamel," Kael said evenly, despite the pressure on his throat.

Enamel laughed, a low, chilling sound. She released him, letting him land lightly on his feet.

"You've got guts, showing up here unannounced," she said. "What do you want?"

Kael adjusted his cloak, his expression calm. "I've come to propose an alliance."

Enamel's eyebrows shot up, and then she laughed again, louder this time. "An alliance? With you? You must be desperate."

"I need your strength to bring down Leek," Kael said. His tone was steady, controlled. "In return, I'll give you something you've been searching for—the Heiress."

The room fell silent. Even Enamel's guards, hidden in the shadows, seemed to freeze at the mention of the Heiress.

"The Heiress?" Enamel's voice was low, almost a whisper. "Do you take me for a fool? No one can get to her. She's untouchable."

Kael's lips curled into a cold smile. "Untouchable doesn't mean unreachable. I know where she is."

Enamel's gaze sharpened, her curiosity piqued. "And why would you offer her to me? What's your angle, Kael?"

Kael's eyes gleamed with an unreadable light. "Leek is a problem for both of us. With your help, I can eliminate him. You get the Heiress, and I get my revenge."

Enamel studied him, her expression calculating. After a long moment, she nodded slowly. "Fine. But if you're lying to me, I'll make you regret it."

As Kael rode away from Dereven, Enamel lingered in the shadows of her chamber. She paced the room, her steps silent on the cold stone floor. The flickering flames of a dozen torches cast her face in harsh light, her sharp features hard with suspicion.

"You think I'm a fool, Kael," she muttered to herself, her voice a low growl. "You think you can manipulate me, offer me the Heiress like a prize to be claimed."

Enamel's bitter laughter echoed through the room. She knew better than to trust anyone, least of all Kael. He was cunning, ruthless—a predator like her. But even predators could be outsmarted.

Her fingers traced the edges of an ancient half tapestry on the wall. The image depicted a radiant woman, her figure bathed in light, surrounded by shadowy figures kneeling at her feet, the tapestry was not complete, Enamel had looked for it for centuries but couldn't get a clue of where the remintance are.

"The last Heiress," Enamel whispered. "A creature of legend. A being said to hold the power to undo us all."

Enamel had lived for centuries, her immortality steeped in blood and betrayal. The stories of the Heiress had always seemed like myths, tales whispered to frighten fledglings.

Back in his fortress, Kael lay awake in his chambers. The bed beneath him was soft, the silk sheets cool against his skin, but sleep eluded him.

His mind churned with thoughts of Enamel, of the bargain they had struck, and of the Heiress.

Kael didn't care about winning an alliance or gaining favor. What he wanted was destruction. Blood. Chaos. The taste of victory was meaningless without the scent of death to accompany it.

He rose from his bed, pacing the room. His reflection in the tall mirror caught his eye—his crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dim light.

The curse didn't bother him, not the way it had at first. If anything, it had amplified his power, heightened his hunger for dominance. He was thirsty for more blood and no amount can quence his taste now, he grinned wickedly.

But the Heiress...

Kael clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. She was the wild card in his plan, the one piece he couldn't fully control. He had to tread carefully.

He poured himself a glass of dark wine, the liquid shimmering like blood in the candlelight.

He stared out the window, his mind racing. The Heiress was more than just a bargaining chip. He thought

Kael smiled to himself, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He thrived on danger, on the edge of chaos. He would gamble everything to achieve his goals.

For now, the pieces were in motion. Enamel was a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded when the time came.

Kael raised his glass, his smile widening. "Let the games begin."

At her throne in Dereven, Enamel summoned her most loyal advisor, a vampire as old and cunning as she was. His name was Azriel, and his knowledge of ancient lore was unmatched.

"You spoke of the Heiress once," Enamel said, her voice sharp. "Tell me everything you know."

Azriel stepped forward, his aged hands clasped behind his back.

Hmmm, the Heiress, it is believed they lived a last heiress, but who has never been seen for 2000 years now as she was born out of taboo he said.

Enamel curiosity increased " out of taboo" she re stated. "Yes everything you need to know about the Heiress is carved in an artifact, which pieces are scattered all over, some at the Kepper cave.

To get to the kepper is a death wish for any night creature as it ceases your soul, Enamel thought to her self, she managed to get a piece of the artifact after destroying Zeg chi a vampire of 2000yrs.

Enamel leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "And her power? How does one claim it?"

Azriel hesitated. "It is said that the last heiress possess no power as she was cursed"

Enamel's lips curved into a sly smile. "Cursed?"

Why was she cursed?

Azriel shook his head, no answers to that as we will need all the artifact to know why she was cursed.