The chalice tips gently as the sweet warm liquid drips down his throat. He had expected this meeting with Va’ Gariar. The bounty hunter, Va’, did not rest until his victims were either buried under the ground, or staked in the heart…whichever was necessary. But Va’ was nervous now. He knew he had walked into this trap, knew full well that he was about to meet his doom.

“So Va’, what did they pay you to kill me?”

“To kill you they will pay me five thousand gold pieces, but I would have gladly done it for free.” And Va’, the immensely muscled Viking spat on the ground in front of his adversary. “And you, Vlad…what is the point of being here in the north?”

“My point is to drain the strength from as many Vikings as I can. You see, I have found a way to draw strength from a victim’s blood. You will be the next victim I drink,” he said easily as he let the still warm blood drain from the cup onto the ground. Va’ sneered.

“You damned monsters do not belong here. This is not some Englishman’s fantasy; this is the land of true kings. We Vikings are not going to tolerate your kind here. We have our own demons to fight. You…I give you one chance to leave here…then…you will die.”

“I am already dead Va’, so suit yourself if you wish to kill me again. It will do no good. I know that Vikings have not dealt with vampires. That is why you cannot kill me”

“You are wrong Vlad. I know your kind. I traveled to Transylvania myself. They told me that you could be killed by stakes, and by holy water, and by silver. That is why I brought along my silver axe. That is also why I sharpened the end of its hilt. That is also why I carry this wineskin filled with water from the holy shaman.”

“Your shaman is nothing to me. Your gods are false. You think Odin is really watching out for you? Or that he is even real?”

“I believe that he is stronger than any god you could dream of, you foul beast. It is a shame you will not get to meet Odin and witness his power. However, you will get to meet Loki in Hel!!” With one last shout of war, Va’ grabbed the wineskin and hurled it with full power at Vlad. The wineskin burst onto Vlad’s arm. He shrieked in pain. The water was burning right through his arm. Then it stopped hurting. Vlad looked at his arm…no wait his stub. The water burnt his arm off. Then he felt the sting of an axe biting into his shoulder. Va’ was over him. The axe was embedded deeply into Vlad’s left shoulder. So deep in fact, that the axe had ruptured a kidney.

“Still think you are tough vampire?” Va’ spit on him, then he whipped out the axe, and brought it down onto Vlad’s helpless neck. And as Vlad’s head rolled down the dais, the other vampire’s cowered down in fear. They were supposed to fight him, but he was way to fast for them to do anything.

Va’ turned triumphantly. “You puny weaklings leave the Norsemen alone. If I hear of one person having a bite mark after tonight…then I will hunt each and every one of you to the ends of the earth!” He shook his great axe, nearly 5 feet to his six and a half, in one hand. The vampires hissed and ran away, into the night, never to be seen.

Va’ looked about the room. He was no longer shaking, and that was good. He didn’t feel a strong presence anymore. When he first entered, he was scared. He felt a darkness. He knew he was up against Vlad Tepes Dracula, and he knew he couldn’t win that fight. But after he entered the chamber and stated to converse with this one, this imposter, he noticed the lack of insignia, the lack of an accent, and the lack of royalty. This puny weakling, who he thought was The Dracula, had deceived him.

Va’ withdrew another wineskin and poured it all over Vlad’s body. He watched as it melted, first the skin, then the muscle and sinew, then the white bones. It all melted into a puddle of black water. He sneered at the stench of death, which lingered like a rotting corpse left in the sun. As he began to leave, he grabbed a tapestry and lit it afire. This place was not being left to the unknown.

Now, his first victory against evil, Va’ was now ready to challenge Sigvaldi to enter the Jomsvikings. It was his time now and he was savoring every impeding minute.