I awoke the next morning to an empty carriage. I sat up, looking around, but everything was quiet. I took a few minutes to get dressed, quickly brushed my hair, and stole three books from the trunk to hide among my things. I opened the carriage door to find everyone alert and on guard, only then realizing something was wrong. I had initially thought I'd slept in, but this seemed more serious. Carefully, I approached Laurent and Cedric, waiting for them to notice me.

  When they did, I quietly asked, "What is going on?"

  Cedric motioned to keep our voices low, "We had a band of vampire hunters come through a couple of hours ago. They're on the trail of a fourth or possibly even third-generation vampire. Powerful and old. They're sure it's still in the area. We've got a few detection spells up, but we're keeping quiet just in case. No need to lure its attention here."

  I blinked at him in confusion, looking around at the tense camp. But then I felt it, that quiet thrum in my blood that let me know another vampire was near, one of a bloodline I didn't recognize. And she was powerful; their assumption of a third generation was likely correct.

  But then the rest of their words registered. Vampire hunters? I’d heard the term before, but I’d always assumed they were just paladins on a mission, considering how incredibly rare vampires were.

  Hearing Cedric say it made it sound like a real title. A profession. Humans who could sense the strength of a vampire’s bloodline.

  …Did that mean they could sense me?

  Perhaps not, seeing as they'd already moved on. And if this camp was ever going to get back in order and onto the road toward my destination, my companions would need to stop worrying about her and do the same.

  I almost looked up and stated the obvious, but then my eyes met Laurent’s, and something warm and unfamiliar stirred in my chest. Before I could question it, mischief won.

  I tried to mimic a reassuring smile and shrugged. "It's okay. I know how to figure out if she's nearby."

  I walked over to the table, stepped onto a bench, and raised a hand to shield my eyes from the morning sun, scanning the distance like a seasoned tracker. I licked my finger and held it to the wind, sniffed the air thoughtfully, and gave a soft bird call. After listening for several long seconds, I nodded to myself.

  "We're clear. She won't trouble us."

  Laurent looked at me like I was crazy, "How did any of that tell you anything?"

  "Because everything I did was in sunlight. She's gone to ground. You can all calm down."

  His shoulders slumped. "Right. Maybe we've been at this for too long. We should take a break to rest before heading out."

  Before they could disperse, I asked, "You mentioned detection spells. How do those work?"

  Laurent gestured toward where Rose was resting. “I’m not sure. You’d have to ask Rose.”

  At the sound of her name, Rose looked over, so I lifted a hand and waved. “Good morning, Rose!”

  She smiled gently. “Good morning, Lady Mirela. How can I help you?”

  I gestured toward the edge of the camp. “They said you put up some kind of spell to detect vampires. Could you tell me about it?”

  Understanding flickered across her features. “Of course. I could even teach you, if you’d like. That bit of spellwork you put together last night was impressive. Come.”

  She led me to the edge of the camp, where a thin line of white dust traced the ground.

  “The salt is the medium for the charm,” she explained. “Because of the power channeled through it, if a vampire or any greater undead crosses the line, the salt will burn. Any active spells or skills will likely be stripped away with it. The flash and crack will alert the camp, and the backlash will slow and weaken the intruder long enough for us to react.”

  I nodded, studying the line from a careful distance. I’d taken it for ordinary powder at first, but the crystals were breaking down, crumbling into fine dust. In places, it had nearly vanished.

  “The charm lasts about six hours before it consumes the salt,” Rose continued. “That’s usually enough. Most of the time, you only need it to hold until sunrise.”

  “And if a vampire is already inside the circle when you make it?” I asked.

  Her lips twitched. “Then you’re likely already in trouble. But if they tried to leave, it would still trigger. The charm doesn’t care which way you cross it.”

  “What if they break the line?” I asked, frowning. “Just throw something at it and scatter the salt?”

  “That’s the flaw,” she admitted. “They could sweep a section away if they spotted it. But it takes effort, and the hope is that the attempt makes enough noise or movement to draw attention. They’d have to clear the salt completely where they want to cross.”

  I spent as much time as I could justify gathering more information, letting her show me the basics of the charm. Once I understood it, I was certain I could recreate it myself. I couldn’t imagine a single situation where I’d ever want to, but I knew how.

  Her spell had nearly faded and might already have been inert, but just in case, I made my way to the table and sat down, slowly eating one of the bread rolls that had been left out. My attempt at stalling wasn’t really necessary. Several people were trying to squeeze in a quick nap before it was time to leave, and Laurent didn’t seem in any rush either.

  I finally relaxed with a long exhale.

  Cedric sat across from me, studying me with a thoughtful look.

  "You look awfully troubled for someone who was so confident that the vampire isn't nearby," he said.

  I just gave him a shake of the head, "It was just a lot to wake up to. I'm practically defenseless at night."

  "I have been meaning to ask you about that."

  "There isn't much to tell. It's a lingering effect from the poison they used when I was kidnapped. I am recovering. It is just taking some time."

  He looked between me and Rose. "Have you considered asking for help? I have heard you are an alchemist and a healer, but if it's outside your means, Rose is a priestess. She may be able to help you."

  I stared blankly at him before my face lit up, and I began to grin. I hopped up and, bringing my bread roll with me, walked back to Rose. She had sat down to rest, so I knelt in front of her.

  "I'm sorry to bother you again, but Cedric just pointed out the obvious to me. When I was kidnapped, I was poisoned. It knocked me out for days. I'm not sure how long, but I'm still recovering. Do you know any spells that might help purge it from my system?"

  She looked up slowly, obviously tired, and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Lady Mirela. I had no idea. I can take a look, but we should wait until I've rested some. It's been a long night."

  "Yes, of course. Thank you, Rose. I'm going to go read in the carriage if you'd like to come with and rest somewhere more comfortable?"

  Rose was happy to follow me back to the carriage, where the bench was still folded down into a bed. While I settled into a corner with a newly stolen book, she stretched out and rested.

  We stayed like that for a while. She managed at least an hour of sleep before lifting her head and asking, “What is that you’re reading?”

  Shamelessly, I held the cover up so she could see it. Her tired laugh made me grin. "Just don't tell Laurent. He thinks I don't know where he hides these."

  She sat up, leaning back into the wall beside me. "Poor boy is setting himself up with unrealistic expectations, reading those books. So are you."

  I gave her an embarrassed smile, "Yes, well, I've never had books like these before. I was curious. I understand these can't be realistic. But, you know, it's kind of an idea of what's going on… and if that's just an excuse so I can keep reading them, I'll take it."

  She glanced down at the page, read a few lines, and burst into laughter. “Oh dear, no. That woman would be ripped in half. And what idiot would keep a werewolf in the room?”

  “He’s their third.”

  That only made her laugh harder, "No, dear, these are just trashy entertainment. If you really want to know what should be going on, you should be talking to your mother."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "She died when I was very young... Do you have any children?"

  She nodded slowly. “I think I can see where this is going. Yes, I have five sons. My husband and I met when we were about your age. That was plenty of time to have as big a family as we wanted. They’re all grown with families of their own now, but he’s waiting for me in Valoria. You might even meet him when we get there, so don’t you say a word of what I’m about to tell you to him.”

  I blinked owlishly at her. “Alright. I won’t. But… what are you telling me?”

  “Well, dear, these books won’t prepare you for anything. Not really. If you want to be as happy as these authors make these women out to be, you will need some realistic expectations and a few pointers. Now, my husband, he’s a tall man…”

  We left the carriage more than an hour later to check on everyone else. Just before we stepped out, she examined me for toxins and disease but found nothing. She even checked for any signs of abuse, despite my insistence that they hadn’t touched me. I had to admit I’d been unconscious for an unknown amount of time, and it was strangely comforting to know I’d been right.

  In the end, she still cast a purifying spell to clear any lingering toxins from my system, but it had no effect. She could tell something was wrong through our shared party link, but I’d need to find another solution. It was what I’d expected. My regeneration would have purged an ordinary poison long ago. Whatever this was had to be something meant to harm vampires while remaining harmless to everyone else.

  I turned that over in my mind, considering what I might attempt through alchemy, but my thoughts didn’t get far before I joined Laurent and Sir Cedric. They were discussing the delay and adjusting the day’s plans, and it sounded like we’d be leaving soon.

  Laurent stepped aside to stand next to me, giving a polite nod of greeting, and I studied him carefully.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “I think so. How tall are you?” I asked, doing a very poor job of hiding my grin. I heard Rose snort behind her hand.

  “What? I’m about six foot two. Why?”

  “Oh, no particular reason… What’s the plan for today?”

  He nodded toward Cedric. “He’s finishing updates on our new break points, then we move. We’re pushing a faster pace to make up lost time and put more distance between us and this place. That vampire is probably nearby, and we don’t want to give her any reason to follow us.”

  I lifted a brow. “What if she’s a polite vampire?”

  He huffed an amused breath and shook his head. “Do you know much about vampires?”

  “Yes. I know a lot about them, actually.”

  “Then you know there aren’t any polite ones. They care about one thing, and you’re nothing but food to them. The only way to deal with one is a stake through the heart and an axe to the neck.”

  I straightened, giving him an openly wounded look. “That’s a little cruel, don’t you think? You’re painting them all with the same brush. What if I took my experience with a few rude soldiers from my last party and decided all men were horrible pigs who want nothing more than to—”

  “Mirela! Okay.” He held up a hand. “I get what you’re saying. Maybe they have entire polite vampire societies. But vampires are monsters. I don’t think it matters if they’re polite to each other when they see humans as food. They have to be dealt with when they’re near human lands. It’s like a shepherd protecting his flock.”

  I shrank slightly, then found myself asking the question before I could stop it.

  “What if I were a vampire? Would you just put a stake through my heart and cut my head off without a word?”

  That made him look genuinely sad.

  “Mirela… let’s just hope it never comes to that. How could anyone answer a question like that? To have a friend or loved one put in that position… wouldn’t you want to be freed from that misery?”

  I shook my head. “How do you know it’s misery at all, if you never ask?”

  I turned to walk back toward the carriage, uncomfortable with where the conversation had gone, but he followed.

  “Mirela, I’ve seen a vampire up close,” he said quietly. “It was a horrible, broken thing. It barely looked like a man. It tried to attack a guard post outside the town where I grew up. They pinned it with spears, but no one knew how to kill it. They had to send for the paladin who was training me. There was nothing human left in it. Nothing but pain.”

  I nodded. “I understand. And something that far gone probably was in misery. When the generations get too high and the bloodlines too thin, they aren’t really people anymore. They’re… what’s left when everything breaks.”

  I stopped walking and looked at him.

  “But that’s not every vampire. The lower generations aren’t like that. The hunters said the one they’re chasing is third or fourth generation. If she walked into this camp in the night, sat by the fire, and spoke to you, you wouldn’t be able to tell her from any other person at a glance. Her ears might have been a little pointed, her fangs a little pronounced, but she would know how to hide them."

  I stepped closer as we continued walking and lowered my voice.

  “And unless she was hungry, she would probably just keep walking. Like you passing a herd of deer on the road. You don’t kill everything you could eat. You only do it when you need to.”

  Laurent exhaled slowly as we reached the carriage.

  “Look, I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said. “I’m honestly surprised you care this much. I’ve never heard of a vampire that was anything but a mindless killer. I don't think there is a way to talk to them safely. It is just how the world is."

  Instead of climbing inside, I stopped. I opened the carriage door, took my cloak from the hook, and swung it over my shoulders.

  “Follow me.”

  I turned and walked away from the camp. It only took a few seconds before Laurent’s hurried footsteps followed. We walked in silence for a couple of minutes before he finally asked, "Where are we going?"

  "I want to show you something. We're almost there."

  He huffed at my non-answer but didn't stop following.

  When I spotted what I’d been looking for, I slowed and stopped a few steps away. To anyone else, it was just a massive old tree with a shallow, shadowed hollow in its roots, barely two feet wide.

  “I am Mirela,” I said to the tree.

  Laurent stared at me. “Why are you talking to a tree?”

  I gave him a sideways look. “Do not be rude. Introduce yourself.”

  He lifted an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but after a moment, he sighed. “I am Laurent.”

  A calm woman’s voice drifted from the hollow. “I am Camellia. Why have you come?”

  Laurent went very still.

  “My friend wants to be a paladin,” I said. “He thinks vampires are all mindless beasts. That they are all suffering. That they are all in misery. Are you in misery, Camellia?”

  She let out a soft, thoughtful hum. “Not particularly. I dislike traveling… but no more than anyone else.”

  Laurent’s eyes slowly widened. “You’re… the vampire?”

  A magical light bloomed within the hollow.

  “He is a little slow, Mirela,” Camellia said mildly. “Perhaps he really would make a good paladin.”

  The darkness pulled back, revealing that the “hollow” was only the mouth of a smooth, sloping tunnel. The tunnel opened into a small chamber carved from hardened earth and reinforced with living roots. The air inside was dry and clean.

  Camellia stood within as though she had never touched the dirt. She wore a pristine gown. The roots of the tree above had grown into the shape of a high-backed chair behind her, woven together into something deliberate and elegant.

  She couldn't have been more than twenty-five when she was turned, and with her pale skin and light, styled hair, she could have passed for a noblewoman at court.

  I smiled at her. “He’s not so bad. I think he’s just uncomfortable. If you don’t mind me asking… why is a pack of vampire hunters chasing you?”

  “Ah.” She sounded faintly amused. “They are fools. I fed on a high-crest drake two days north of here. They found its body and decided following me was a wise choice. I’ll lead them for a few more days, and then I’ll make a meal of them.”

  Laurent nearly shouted, “You can’t just kill people!”

  She turned her calm gaze to him. “I’m not killing people, child. I’m eating those trying to murder me. That is the way of things. If I told you that you couldn’t eat cattle, you’d call me mad. If that same cattle charged you and you killed it in self-defense, you would praise your own survival and turn it into a feast. That does not make the cow your enemy. Nor you its. That is simply nature.”

  He sputtered, then shook his head. “I liked vampires better when they were mindless monsters. You’ve made your point, Mirela.”

  I shook my head slowly. “No. I haven’t.”

  I slipped my cloak from my shoulders and stepped forward. Before Laurent could react, I hopped down through the opening and stood beside Camellia.

  “Mirela!” he called, but I ignored him, passing the cloak into Camellia’s hands.

  In a voice so quiet it barely existed, I said, “This was a gift from Dragomir Costin. Please return it to him one day, if you ever have the chance.”

  Then, louder, I said, “You will need this more than I will if you’re traveling alone. It looks like rain.”

  She studied the cloth for a moment before giving a faint nod. “Thank you, Mirela. That is very kind.”

  I turned and leapt back up. Laurent’s hand caught mine, and he hauled me the rest of the way out, then didn't let go. He pulled me away from the tree as I lifted my free hand and gave a small wave over my shoulder.

  "Mirela, that was reckless," he admonished me.

  “It was dangerous, but not reckless. She wasn’t hungry or hostile. She’s just a different kind of person who might eat you if you’re unlucky.”

  “And how could you possibly know that? What made it worth the risk?”

  “I wanted you to understand. It mattered to me.” I gestured between us. “Besides, now you’re walking around refusing to let go of my hand.”

  He went pale and dropped it instantly, a blush creeping up his neck.

  I burst into laughter. “You’re so easy.”

  Then I sobered, just slightly. “Okay, look. There are a lot of intelligent monsters, Laurent. Most of them are evil. Vampires are dangerous. But dangerous isn’t always evil. Some are. Some don’t care about anything and embrace what they are. Some are like her.

  "The mindless ones are always hungry and always monsters. They should be treated like monsters. Even someone like Camellia is dangerous in the wrong situation. If someone crawled into that cave while she was starving, she’d probably feed on them. That’s just nature. But she wouldn’t hurt someone without reason.”

  He studied me. “Are you sure you’re not just seeing what you want to see?”

  I lifted a brow. “Obviously not. Notice the lack of bite marks?”

  He sighed, rubbing his face. “You’ve made your point. Please never do something that dangerous again. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  I shrugged. “No promises.” Then, a soft smile crept onto my face, "But I'm really glad you understand."

  We went straight to the carriage when we returned to camp a few minutes later. I pulled down the Conquest board, and he took the seat beside me. We chose different factions this time, and for a couple of quiet hours, we did nothing but play.

  I didn’t punish every mistake he made. When I saw him drifting toward a bad move, I told him why. At first, he bristled, but he listened. And he got better. Every match was closer than the last.

  By the time we reached the midday stop, we both felt it. The camp moved with a tired sort of efficiency. Everyone was worn down from the broken night, but the tension from before was gone. The crew was back to their normal, focused productivity.

  Everyone sat down to eat lunch, and Laurent sat across from me. He barely touched his food at first. I could tell he wanted to say something, but hadn't worked out what it was, so I just waited. We were nearly done eating when he was ready. His words were careful and hesitant.

  “Mirela, I think you showed me something important today,” he said. “Something I’d forgotten, and I’m grateful to have been reminded. Next time you try to tell me something, I’ll listen. I promise. So please, don’t do something so dangerous again. I think you matter more than you realize. You don’t have to risk yourself for nothing.”

  I watched him for a moment, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and gave a slow nod. “I will try not to worry you. But something tells me this isn’t a roundabout love confession. There would be a large cat nearby. So why don’t you tell me what’s actually going on?”

  He let out a quiet breath of laughter. “You’ve opened up a lot since we met.” Then he sobered. “I’m serious. No cats. I just… I think you might be someone like me.”

  My face creased with confusion. “Well, a little. We both like reading and playing Conquest. I think we’re close in age. We think and joke around in similar ways. And we’re dealing with the same class problem. But I don’t think we know each other well enough to mean more than that yet.”

  He nodded slowly, looking away for a moment. When he looked back, his expression was steadier. “I think we should see how we feel about that after the festival.”

  “After the festival, I’m going home,” I said quietly. “I should be focused entirely on that, but this might be my only chance to solve my class problem. I don’t even know if I have the same issue you do. I can only hope. My birthday is in three days.”

  For some reason, that made him smile, just a little.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m certain everything will work out better than you expect.”

  That made me smile back.

  “Thank you, Laurent. I hope you’re right.”

  The rest of the day was spent reading and talking about nothing in particular. Laurent had read most of the books, and the way he kept watching me out of the corner of his eye told me he had caught on to my book theft. He didn’t say anything about it, though. Not until I asked, very loudly, why anyone would invent a were-swan and try to make it seductive.

  “No, Mirela, it’s not just about that,” he said. “It’s about making real, emotional connections that help her navigate the underworld so she can defeat the demon king and find her way home. The swan is supposed to bring a sense of beauty into an otherwise dark and terrible place.”

  “Is it? Is it really?” I asked. “Then why does he honk at her the entire time they’re… you know.”

  “That is not in the book!”

  It was too late. I had already slid off the bench, unable to breathe.

  “It’s not that funny,” he said, struggling not to laugh himself.

  When I finally managed to recover, I sat back up and looked at him. My face hurt from smiling.

  He shook his head. “You’re terrible.”

  I nodded solemnly. “Honk.”

  super secret pen name that even I'm not supposed to know about, but it's a great story either way! And its almost vampires even!