Straight for the castle

He didn't like this. I mean, he never really liked anything but he really really didn't like this. The silence was almost deafening. When the vampire turned towards Allison, he got the message. Kaz only nodded and tried to concentrate, but nothing seemed to be hearable. Either his hearing had gone defect or there really was no one around.

Slowly he made his way through the corridor, every step thinking it was a trap and this would be the end. But his hearing told him otherwise. It was confusing. Again, he turned around, pointing his finger to the ceiling. They needed to go upstairs. The throneroom was seated there and so were some personal chambers, perhaps they would be more of luck there. Maybe the Duke had fled and they were all here for nothing. It would only make the taking a lot easier, but Kaz had promised Larethian the Vipers head. And promises were promises.

This was taking too long and something was off. By now they had to have encountered something, someone, but it felt completely deserted. Maybe they could indeed just grab the throne and go for it. Maybe the Duke had gone down where the raid was happening and maybe he would have been killed in action.

''I don't like this.'' He very softly voiced his opinion towards Allison when they had reached the top of the stairs and he again, couldn't hear anything. But wait.. a faint.. something in the background. Kaz froze where he stood and tried to pinpoint here it was supposed to be, but this castle was huge and it could be anywhere. So, the thief just guessed and turned right, making his way through the corridor leading to the throneroom.

The faint beating got louder, but not enough for him to tell if they were going the right way. It was Allisons heartbeat who confused him more, because of that it alarmed him that someone was nearby. When in reality it was just her. Maybe that was why he wasn't able to hear anything, he was too focussed on her. Goddammit Kaz, keep your thoughts straight. The thief frowned, lurking forward, his hand still around the heft of the knife in his coat.

There. Large open door leading into an even larger open space. A throne seated in the middle. With one glance it was enough for him to know. He looked over his shoulder, grinning softly. At least they were getting somewhere. But now came the tricky part. This was a trap or nothing worth at all. The vampire continued, the objective clear. As long as Allison would get on the throne, this would all work out.

One moment they were alone, the next the Duke himself made his appearance. The faint beating had become loud enough for Kaz to notice, to warn himself that someone was coming. Now, it felt more like a distraction. In one blink of an eye he had the knife in his hand, ready to strike when he heard Allisons words. Oh no, this wasn't good at all. But then again, it was three against two. It was manageable at best.

The grip around the heft of his knife tightened. 'How about you let her go.'' He growled, not sure if he had to look at the Duke or the guard who basically had Allison in a chokehold. He really had to get his priorities straight now. He could go for the Duke, risking Allison's life, or he could go for her and meanwhile risk that the Duke could escape. None of the outcomes were agreeable. The Duke had to die.

Yup, this was bad. Just as he had thought. This was really bad. Kaz narrowed his eyes, shifting them between the Duke and the guard holding Allison. ''I want you both to leave and no harm will come to you.'' The Viper spoke calmly. Not that it made Kaz calm. It only infuriated him more. This man could not charm him with pretty words. He was here to do a job, or his head would be on a plate. The thief turned his attention towards the Duke, ready to tell him no, when something completely different got to his senses.

Blood. It was faint but the smell seemed to grow and linger with every second. The small cut was enough to draw his attention away from the Viper. The smell alone was enough to let him almost drop everything. He'd been a vampire for a few weeks now, but control was still something he had to learn. He knew he had to fight this, but it was not only the desire, it was also the anger that drove him. In one swift movement Kaz turned around, already ready to drop the knife and just go in for the kill. There was nothing holding him back now, was there?

They couldn't have known one of them was a vampire. Maybe Kaz was a little pale, but that was it. But they should have known by the time he had turned around when Allison had gotten hurt. And the guard was starting to realise. What a shame he got stabbed though, now his relisation would be useless. The way he screamed and the more intense smell of blood was enough for Kaz. He titled his head sideways when Allison got close to him, he could hear her fast heartbeat, he could smell the blood of her, but then his eyes shifted towards the Guard again. The wound was deeper, bigger, and he had hurt her. And nobody hurt the queen.

The vampire said nothing but with two steps he was in range of the guard. His knife found a way into his stomach, blood seeping over his hand. Kaz brought it up to his face, licked it off his hand and the sweet but iron taste of the red liquid only made him long for more. He wanted a bite. But the guard didn't just give up, of course they didn't. They never did. The man's fist had found his way to Kaz' stomach, but Kaz managed to react on time, pulling his arm around the neck of the guard and holding him down. His fangs found the neck of the man and bore right into the vein. But his victory was shortlived as another hit in his stomach, resulting in his fangs ripping some of the skin apart. The guard only started to bleed more and Kaz couldn't do anything but grin. How weak.

The thief picked up his knife which had fallen on the ground and with one movement, pierced it right through the neck of the man. Blood splattered on his face, but Kaz didn't care. The taste of it was delicious. The vampire looked up, seeing how Allison was doing. And above all that, see if he could get more.

How had he been against killing for so long? How had he been stuck in that downwards spiral, thinking how wrong it was? Was he not putting people out of their misery and helping himself in the process? He was stilling his hunger while simultaniously saving people from themselves. If they were hurt, wouldn't it be best to end it right then and there? Kaz grabbed the knive, releasing it from the neck of the now still guard, more blood oozing from the wound. With one glance at Allison he could already tell she was in trouble. I mean, someone running away from someone was never a good sign.

Before aiding her he glanced at the Duke, who seemed to be taken by surprise. But that wouldn't be for long, as soon as the man would get back to his senses and see he was outnumbered, he would make a run for it. So, Kaz had to set aside his desire to hunt for more blood, sadly, and focus on the task at hand. They needed to take over a kingdom, not have a grande lunch or something. Kaz threw the knife at the guard ho was chasing Allison, hitting him in his chest. It went through his armor, but not deep enough. But it halted the man, surprised and probably a little scared that suddenly the vampire had taken an interest in him as well. In a few quick passes, Kaz was standing near the guard, pulling the knife deeper into his chest. When the man was about to fall down, obviously ready to die, Kaz pulled it out.

His attention got to the Duke, who had drawn his sword, ready to not go down without a fight. What a hero. ''Now,'' The vampire soke, wiping the blood of his blade onto his trousers to get it cleaned up. ''Where were we?''

Kaz wanted to laugh, but he didn't. It felt like his mind was overflowing with information and senses. The multiple heartbeats who had now died out, two of them remaining, two of them almost sounding the same. But the Duke, oh no, he was afraid. But who wouldn't be in this situation? Two strangers, out of nowhere, one a vampire and ready to die for his bloodlust so it seemed, the other.. well.. the other would be the the next Duchess. Goddammit Allison where were your fighting qualities.

''Whatever it is that I have done, I stand my ground.'' The Duke spoke, pointing his sword at Kaz. The thief frowned. ''It's silver.'' He mumbled, whereas the Duke seemed to smile. For one moment he appeared to be smarter than he looked. But did Kaz care? Not really. The Duke himself knew he would be dead, if not now, it would be tomorrow. Kaz took a step forward, the Viper a step backwards. There was no time for games, Kaz wanted this done.

With the fast abilities he held as a vampire, he appeared behind the viper, kicking him in the shins so he fell down on his knees. The knife went to his throat. Kaz bend forward, right next to the ear of the Duke. Whispering the last words the man would hear before cutting his throat.

''Larethian sends his regards.''