“Cicele! What are you doing? Shed that abomination of a form!” Linos shouted angrily.

“Why, little brother? Does it frighten you? Are you afraid to hit a little girl? I made a deal with the Devil himself for this, and I’m not gonna put it to waste,” the little girl smiled evilly.

“It’s disgusting,” he grumbled in protest.

“Oh how I’ve always missed being a cute, little girl!” she squealed and twirled, making the hem of her dress fan out around her. She stopped when her eyes fell on Nadyra. Squealing again, she ran over and hugged her. “Is this the one, Sire? Is she who we’ve been after?” she asked in an evil chime.

Nadyra shivered as the girl’s dead cold hands touched her. Obviously, the world had just turned upside down for her. She looked to Linos, hoping that he could do something to help. Fear gripped her heart when he shook his head.

“Good job, Linos. You’ve redeemed yourself quite nicely. I might even consider lowering the guard on you when we return home. As for this one, however,” Seth said, walking over to Nadyra and running his grossly long fingernail down her cheek and smiling, baring his blood covered fangs, “I say we lock her up. We should let Grendel on her, to find out what she knows…and collect any other vital information. What do you say, Linos?”

Linos looked at Nadyra sorrowfully and then to Seth with immense anger. But he uttered no words. “What?” asked Seth. “Does the boy protest? Perhaps he has a soft spot for the girl. What a shame. He had such great potential, too. What do you say, Cicele? Should I toss her in the pit?”

“Ooo!” Cicele squealed. “Do it!” Nadyra quickly noted that Cicele squealed a lot, decided it was random trivia, and then stored it away. Next on hand was figuring out what to do about her current…situation. But for now, she would just listen and see what she should gather.

“You will do no such thing, Seth! Would you doom us all out of self-resent?”

“You’re wrong, boy. I am not the one who wishes to doom the world. It’s you who wishes such things, getting attached to her like that,” the older man retorted. Then, he leaned in close enough so that Nadyra could barely hear him. “The girl has to die, either way. We may as well save humans by giving them immortality.”

Linos glared up at the nasty figure and shook his head. “You’re wrong. You’re not saving them. Not in the least.” And with that, Seth brought a strong hand across his cheek and pushed him out the door of the church. With a nod to Cicele, it was understood that Nadyra was coming along as well. With a fleeting glance, he motioned for her to go further in toward the altar. Time would only tell if she received the message.

Back at the lair, the halls were dimly lit and time had turned what was once a cave into a majestic gothic fortress. No living human had ever found it, as no living human could make it close enough before they were considered as that day's lunch. Vampires of every shape, size, and personality roamed from door to door, hanging out in large plazas, and all united in their belief that mankind was better off joining them.

And now, all eyes were on Linos as he was paraded down streets, plazas, halls, and doors. Each step provided for a prod in the back, reminding him that it was he, not they that were letting humanity down. Each glance at his fellow vampires required a snarl and a hiss in return; reminding him that he was no longer considered an equal among them. He was one of “them” now. A traitor. A disgrace to all vampires. Rebels.

After being publicly humiliated, Linos was led into a fairly sized room. There was a large bed, a bureau, wardrobe, and bathroom. But it lacked one component: the freedom to go where he pleased. His windows were now barred, there was a massive lock from the outside on his door, and guards stood inside and out the door. There was no way he’d be able to go anywhere without express permission, and at least two guards as an escort.

He quickly flopped himself down on the bed draped in dark covers. The room was full of a dank smell, and he swore he heard a dripping sound come from somewhere above him. He grimaced as he looked around. They locked him up in this room, and they didn’t even give him anything to do. He may as well have been giving orders for severe torture at this point. At least his days would be occupied with beatings, not sitting around endlessly as he waited for something to happen. Outside, he heard the chattering of a large group of girls. They were discussing the only recent news, him. He closed his eyes and listened as they talked about how traitorous, yet oh-so-handsome, he was. Sighing, he shook his head. Girls are girls, no matter how evil they are, he thought with a chuckle.