Chapter 61: Fangs in the Light

Nikola knew that there was more to the dungeon than just this floor, but as he carried Dimitri slung over a shoulder out, he knew that he was way over his head.

Jean was behind him, helping Jack.

The other adventurers had been able to wake up and to walk by themselves.

Annie looked at Nikola, who was struggling under Dimitri's weight.

"You can put him over there," she said, pointing at a patch of grass. A blanket from her bag in her hand.

Nikola did so. But he stayed by Dimitri's side.

"When will he wake?" Nikola asked, as he took Dimitri's cold hand in his.

"He is a vampire, is he not?" Annie asked, as she began to run the diagnostic spells. "I think that with a bit of blood, he can wake up. Just like how Jack needs… human meat."

The healer shifted in her seat.

"We can get Dimitri the blood," Annie continued. "But I don't think anyone will volunteer to be mutilated for Jack."

"We have a corpse for him," Jean said, as he placed Jack next to Dimitri. "Let me just take it out of the bag."

The younger vampire began to rummage in the bottomless bag, which was still around Dimitri.

When he took out the body of Vera's mother, Annie began to look faint.

Nikola looked her in the eyes.

"I know that you think us monsters," he began, for he didn't want to be left alone with Dimitri. The healer could beat her retreat, he thought to himself, but not before his love was awake. "But we have never harmed anyone. I can give Dimitri the blood. Do I just put my wrist in his mouth?"

"You don't understand!" Annie said, trying to keep her voice from showing her panic. "He will drink you dry! The blood infusion has to happen from more than three people!"

Nikola looked around. Some of the adventurers who had been listening in were now looking in random directions.

"We don't have three people," Nikola told her, as he began to roll up his sleeve. "And I have a lot of mana right now."

At least the giant was going to be good for something.

The brunette bit himself on the wrist and then pressed it to Dimitri's lips.

The vampire's eyelids began to flutter. But instead of the calm and collected red gaze Nikola was used to, there was something primal in those red eyes.

Like a storm ready to break.

Nikola braced himself, as Dimitri grabbed his wrist and then got it in his mouth.

"Ouch!" Nikola yelped, as Dimitri dug his teeth in his skin.

"It's ok," Nikola said moments later when Dimitri growled at him. "Take your fill."

Annie looked between the vampire, and the ghoul, who was accepting chuck after chuck from a deceased woman.

She stood up on shaky legs.

It was easier to forget what they were when they were just trainees.

But now?

Now the truth was swatting her in the face.

****

When Guild Master Arnold arrived with the rest, the adventurers were on edge.

Dimitri was awake and hugging a sleeping Nikola. It did not escape the guild master that the brunette's wrist had puncture wounds on it.

Jack and Jean were next to them, looking worried.

The old Guild Master went to them. His brows furrowed.

"What happened?" He asked.

Dimitri was the first to speak.

"We got the Stone Rhinos out. They are alive," the blonde vampire said, as he hugged Nikola closer to himself.

"This is an illusion dungeon. More than likely a Bogart nest," Jack added, seeing as he had heard the creatures laugh more than once while he was freezing.

"And we think that the guild doesn't want us anymore," Jean voiced their main concern.

The guild master narrowed his eyes.

"And why is that?" He asked.

For a whole minute, silence reigned in the clearing. Only for Dimitri to dispel it.

"Because," the words stuck in his throat. How was he supposed to tell the guild master that they were monsters? That the guildies were afraid of getting eaten?

"I ate human flesh. Dimitri nearly drank Nikola dry," Jack finished for him. "But you knew what we were. Right from the start. If you kick us out now, then at least let us go back to Oak's Rest. We have children there."

Arnold ran a hand over his hair.

"Everyone, gather round!" Arnold roared.

The guild mates came as close as they could without being within reach of the four.

"Sam, are you or are you not an orc?" Arnold asked a man, who was not standing from his spot. The orc's eyes were wide. He was looking at Dimitri so, as if the man was going to attack him.

"I am! But…!"

"No buts!" Arnold roared. "This guild accepts everyone! Did these four ever threatened you?"

Sam bowed his head.

"I know that the unknown is scary," Arnold told them, as he took off his eye patch. "Have I ever told you how I lost my eye?"

No one dared to answer. Only a couple knew the story. The memory of it made them scoot closer.

Knowing the lesson in it.

"I lost it because I left my party members, a harpy, an orc, and a ghoul, to their fate! Only for them to save me just as I was cornered! These four!" Arnold pointed at the small family who were still huddled close together. "Have given an oath to protect you and to be protected by you all in turn! Are you trying to make me out as a liar?"

The guild kept their silence.

"If they were a threat, I would have purged them!" Arnold said, his voice cold as an iceberg. "But they are not! So, rest now! I want the B and above parties to guard the entrance! Tomorrow, I and an A ranked party are going in!"

"I wish to go in there as well!" Dimitri said, his red eyes were shining. "The cave nearly killed my fiancé."

Arnold nodded.

He knew better than to get in the way of justice prompted by love.