“We arrived too late to help the defenders, the river fort had been massacred and three nearby hamlets raided. The leeches were long gone by the time we arrived, all back across the Tya with their slaves, both living and dead. I’ll stay here two weeks to clean out any ghoul infestations and lead the rebuilding of local defenses. This was a bad one, we’ve only found a handful of survivors and all signs from the fort battle say an elder vampire led the assault.” - Senior Restbringer Morri of Vindabon’s missive to the Tenth Temple in the wake of the Moreb Massacre (Month of Chillheart, 1434)

  The definition of Paradise is something cultures and philosophers have disagreed over for eons. An argument Natalie Striga had finally solved, for Paradise is a bathtub. Laying in the warm soapy waters, she felt rejuvenated. Months of gritty travel sloughed off of her, and the caress of soap and suds was practically divine. Letting out a pleased hum, Natalie leaned back into the bath, letting her long black hair coil in the water. Staring up at the bathroom ceiling, the Vampire let herself float slightly in the sudsy tub. She was buoyant while projecting false-life but otherwise sunk like so much dead weight without it. An interesting phenomenon she’d enjoyed experimenting with.

  Floating just so her face and the swell of her breasts stuck out of the water, Natalie exhaled and let the false-life drop. Sinking below the warm water and staring up at the sudsy shimmering surface, Natalie wondered if she could walk on the bottom of the ocean like this. A muted noise, distorted by the water, pulled her from the odd reverie, and she surfaced.

  Glaring over at the noise’s source, Natalie remarked. “I’m not in much danger of drowning, dear Nanny. Can I please just bathe in peace?”

  The Priestess, Mina, gave Natalie a cold look. “I was ordered to not let you out of my sight while the Paladin is away. Believe me, I have as much desire to be here as you do.”

  Slipping forward, so she partially leaned out of the tub, Natalie raised a damp eyebrow. Sitting as she was, Natalie knew she was striking a seductive pose. The image of some nymph eager to lure people to their death. Mina blushed and looked away. Amused by this reaction, Natalie let herself fall back into the water. After hours of trying to strike up some sort of dialogue with Mina and utterly failing. Natalie had defaulted to just trying to get some sort of response out of the Priestess.

  Taking a breath and drinking in the smell of lilies, Natalie sighed. The soap she was using was one of the last things Barnabas had given her. She’d always loved the smell of lilies. The wild mountain flowers grew plentiful around Glockmire in spring. Their drooping, tear-drop flowers a sure sign of life and plenty returning to the Dragon Tail mountains. Now they were a bittersweet thing to her. Conjuring up homesickness and visions of her own soul. The red lily field where she’d met a God.

  As the water started to cool, Natalie got out of the tub. Driving Mina to cover her eyes and look away. “A little warning, please!” the priestess hissed.

  Finding the towel she’d prepared, Natalie let out a snort. “If you are going to invade my privacy, then don’t complain about the consequences.”

  Drying herself off, Natalie watched the Priestess squirm. As amusing as that was, Natalie was starting to feel a little bad for Mina. Having a glorified Nanny wasn’t much more fun than being a glorified Nanny. Perhaps she could try one more time to become friends?

  Wrapping her long hair in a second towel, Natalie plopped down next to Mina. Sitting on the salon bench occupying one corner of the bathroom. Eyes still shut, Mina made an angry noise and fumbled with her amulet. Rolling her eyes and leaning back against the cold stone of the bathroom wall, Natalie chided the Priestess. “How many times do I have to say I’m not going to hurt you!”

  Mina still gripped her amulet and said nothing. Getting up from the bench, Natalie started to pace. Clad in only a towel for her hair, she crossed the bathroom repeatedly. Her wet feet slapping on the floor. “If we are going to be stuck together, how about we try and make this bearable? We don’t have to be friends, but can you at least talk with me?”

  Crossing her arms in front of herself, Mina let out an exhausted huff. “What do you want to talk about?”

  Natalie almost slipped in a pool of spilled bathwater. She was so surprised. All words suddenly left the young Vampire. She’d been so busy trying to reach this point she’d not even considered what came next. Lips flapping like a beached fish, Natalie tried to think of a topic. The first thing that came to mind was Mina’s occupation.

  “Why did you become a Priestess?”

  The way Mina bristled told Natalie that had been the wrong question to ask. Swallowing her embarrassment, Mina fixed Natalie with a bitter glare. Careful to keep her eyes fixed on Natalie’s red ones, Mina hissed an answer. “To protect people from things like you.”

  Hate was in Mina’s gray-green eyes. Pure, righteous hate. Things finally clicked into place like a key in a lock. Swallowing dryly, Natalie nodded in understanding. “You lost someone, didn’t you? To a Vampire?”

  Bolting up from her seat on the bench, Mina stormed out of the bathroom. “Put some clothes on. Not all of us are exhibitionists like you.”

  Sighing, Natalie finished drying herself off and put on a freshly laundered dress and undergarments. As much as she loathed being stuck in the Tenth Temple, Natalie had to admit returning to the comforts of civilization was wonderful. Properly cleaned clothes felt like Seraph kisses on her skin. Even their time with the Shohgard pack had left little time for proper washing. Now cleansed, body and clothes, Natalie felt infinitely better. A joy dampened by Mina’s bitterness and Cole’s absence.

  As she left the bathroom and entered the diplomatic suite's main chamber, Natalie wondered what the Paladin was up to. Hopefully, nothing too terribly dangerous. Just then, a knock sounded at the suite’s door. Pushing her still-damp hair back, Natalie answered the door. She found an incredibly nervous-looking Acolyte holding a package.

  Trembling in his gray robes, the Acolyte’s eyes widened at seeing Natalie. Without a word, he shoved the package into Natalie’s arms and scurried back. Mina arrived then, face contorted in anger. “Don’t go answering the door, Vampire!” she snapped.

  Looking at the package and the Acolyte preparing to run, Mina asked, “Zam? What is this?”

  Zam clutched his hourglass amulet as he spoke with a slight stutter. “F-from the G-Guards. The p-p-pa-Paladin sent word and this to his prisoner.”

  Ignoring her official ‘designation,’ Natalie unwrapped the package and found a trio of books and a note.

  ‘Natalie. I’m joining the guards in an expedition into the tunnels below the city. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Love you lots and enjoy the books, my treat. - Cole’

  Smiling despite herself, Natalie looked at the Acolyte. “Thank you for delivering this!”

  Natalie forced herself not to wince at the look of fright on Zam’s face. Her smiles, once a winning feature, now inspired abject terror. As the Acolyte scampered away, Natalie let out a pointless breath and shut the door. Looking over the books, the Vampire read their titles. ‘Guild Primer on Eastern Guyenne Wood Working.’ ‘Passionate Dawn’ and ‘The History of Vindabon and its surrounding region.’ Perhaps not what Natalie would pick but still a welcome gift.

  Setting the romance novel and woodworking book down, Natalie took the Chronicle and sat on the couch opposite Mina. Flipping through the pages, Natalie asked, “Who did you lose to Vampires?”

  After a long moment, Mina stopped grinding her teeth and answered. “Everyone. I’m a Marcher from a tiny village in the south. The Leeches used to raid us for blood, souls, and corpses.”

  Getting the full ugly picture, Natalie winced. “I’m so sorry. How’d you survive?”

  Shrugging, Mina shut her eyes and seemed to flinch away from a memory. “I hid in the cellar. Doused myself in garlic powder and stayed like that for three days. Until Morri and the other Restbringers found me. I’ve been with the Temple ever since.”

  Keeping her nervous fingers busy with the book, Natalie said: “I lost my family and home too.”

  Mina didn’t respond, her face only showing the barest flicker of surprise. So Natalie kept going, hoping to make a bridge between them. “My Mom first, then my Dad. Both were killed by Vampires. I had to leave my Hometown after I was infected. I couldn’t put them at risk. So I left with Cole and came here instead.”

  Holding up a single pale hand, Natalie looked at her wrist; and the shriveled black veins under the skin. “I’m a monster. I know that, Mina. I just… I just want to be a nice one. The power in me, it's evil. But maybe it doesn’t have to be used for evil?”

  Finally breaking her silence, Mina scoffed at that. “An apple seed doesn't grow into a pear tree.”

  Shrugging, Natalie responded. “True, but maybe the apple tree will be a Gildcrisp, not a Crabapple.”

  Mina didn’t seem to have an answer to that and just hung back in her chair. Snuggling up into the couch, Natalie started looking at the history book Cole had supplied. Much of it seemed to be copied from older texts. Being a stew of ancient lore, historical analysis, and anything else the author could cram into the pages. Natalie guessed the book was more meant for academics than casual readers. Still, it was better than staring at the wall or Mina’s brooding face.

  Pulling a strand of errant hair back, Natalie perused a section on the pre-Imperial origin of Vindabon. How the city was founded by an early tribal confederation in the late Second Epoch. Eventually, growing into a major trade hub protected by a Dragon. Only to be conquered by the Sidhe during the Third Epoch. Then becoming the regional capital under the Old Empire and surviving its fall. With Vindabon becoming one of the founding states of the Holy League and its eastern economic heart.

  Pushing more stray hair away from her face, Natalie made an annoyed sound. Looking over to the nearby dresser, Natalie noted her hair clip. Running her fingers through her long black hair, Natalie made a decision. “Hey, Mina, can I ask a favor?”

  Gray-green eyes snapped open, and Mina looked at Natalie, tension clear in the Priestesses shoulders. Getting up from her spot, Natalie gestured at the hair clip. “Could you help me put my hair up?”

  Confused, Mina went over to the clip. Plucking it from the dresser she looked at it quizzically. “This is silver?”

  Nodding, Natalie started pulling her hair back into a bun. “It burns my skin. Can you help me?”

  Holding it up to the glowstone light, Mina unfolded the hidden blade and raised an eyebrow. “Interesting weapon. Why not replace it with something, not silver?”

  Seeing the clip always brought a surge of emotions to Natalie. Intense and contradictory flashes that made her chest throb. The warmth of her mother’s hugs and the coldness of her death at Petar’s hands.

  “My mom gave it to me. Cole normally helps me with it.”

  Clicking her tongue, Mina went back to Natalie. “No sudden movements, Natalie.”

  As she felt the familiar weight of the clip settle into place, Natalie remarked: “I think that's the first time you’ve used my name.”

  Mina made a non-committal grunt. “Maybe you have a point. Maybe I should give you the benefit of the doubt.”

  Beaming, Natalie turned to look at the retreating Mina. “Thank you, you don't know how much that means to me.”

  Mina went back to her chair and idly fingered her amulet. “I’ll give you some rope. It’s up to you to make a noose or not.”

  Smiling despite herself at the morbid metaphor, Natalie shrugged. “I can’t expect much more than that. Just allow me to earn your hate on my own merit.”

  Something almost like a smile flashed on Mina’s face for an eyeblink. Gesturing to the book she held and the others sitting nearby, Natalie offered: “If you wanna read any of them feel free.”

  Mina glanced at the torrid romance novel, and her nose wrinkled. “The Paladin really got this for you?”

  Slightly confused, Natalie asked, “Is it really that bad?”

  An airy snort escaped Mina. “Very much so. It's the type of shameless erotica no good scrivener will even think of copying. So, of course, copies of it have been floating all around the city.”

  Picking up the woodworking text and sitting down on the opposite end of the couch Natalie was on. Mina let out an annoyed sigh. “A woodworking manual? Really? That’s almost violently masculine. Seems to me Sir Cole missed two shots out of three.”

  Clearing her throat, Natalie contested that remark. “Ahem! Some of us like woodworking.”

  Eyebrows raised, Mina looked to the book and back at Natalie. “You carve? Really?”

  Like any good artist challenged, Natalie moved to prove herself. Getting up from her seat, she went to her pack and pulled out the amulet she’d carved. Holding it by its dire-boar leather cord, Natalie gingerly showed it to Mina.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Gently taking the amulet, Mina looked genuinely impressed. “An Hourglass? Invested with faith? You made this?”

  Nodding, Natalie smiled. “It's yew from my hometown. I’ve got to be careful with it, but I hope to eventually use it like a restraint.”

  A confused Mina looked at the amulet and then at Natalie. Sighing, Natalie readied herself. Gritting her teeth, she snatched the amulet from Mina. Fingers gripping the cold yew. Instantly her hand went numb. She could still move the digits, unlike when Cole’s amulet touched her. But it still was an uncomfortable experience. With shaky, uncertain fingers, Natalie put the amulet around her neck.

  It felt like someone had yoked her to a boulder. Putting her arms out to steady herself, Natalie let out a long pained hiss. A mixture of light-headedness, numbing cold, and crushing exhaustion hit her. Uncertainly, she flopped onto the couch. After a few painful moments, Natalie pulled herself upright and leaned back against the soft fabric of the seat. Baring her teeth in a silent effort, Natalie grabbed onto the necklace’s cord and pulled it free. Feeling her body return to normal, Natalie dropped the amulet onto the couch next to her.

  As her limbs stopped shaking, she gestured to the medallion. “The idea is if I start to lose control, I can put it on and be slightly more dangerous than a drunken kitten.”

  That actually pulled a chuckle from Mina. “Clever, did the Paladin bless the amulet for you?”

  Shaking her head, Natalie smiled. “Nope, all me. Master Time has plans for me. I dunno if they are good plans, but they exist.”

  Mina went silent at that, and Natalie was afraid her semi-blasphemous statement had undone all the progress she’d made. To the young Vampire’s surprise, Mina asked, “What's it like to talk with him?”

  No rage or zeal was in those words, just genuine curiosity. Looking at the amulet lying on the couch between them, Mina elaborated. “When I pray, I get this sense… This cold but beautiful power. Sometimes I get flashes of emotions or suggestions. But… I’ve never communed with him. Never actually speaking to an aspect or avatar like you have.”

  Natalie tried to put her experiences into words. Something that proved surprisingly difficult. “A shepherd I once knew told me a story. About one time during spring, he and his flock got lost. We had a bad storm and worse fog that covered the whole valley for a week. He took his flock through a pass, trying to get up and through the mountain gap. But because of the fog he didn’t know exactly where he was going. So he kept climbing and climbing.”

  Shutting her eyes, remembering the story she’d heard a dozen times, Natalie continued. “Well, eventually, he found a strange lump of rock, and beyond it, the path seemed to start sloping down. Confused and uncertain of where he was, the Shepherd camped on the lump.”

  “The next morning, the fog cleared, and he realized why he hadn’t found the mountain pass. He’d accidentally climbed an entire mountain next to the pass. That lump of rock was the peak. He just couldn’t see it.”

  Looking at Mina, Natalie got to her point. “I talked with the lump of rock. Because I couldn’t see or even comprehend the mountain.” Grimacing slightly, Natalie thought of her meetings with the Angler. “As for personality. The aspect I met is kind but also sort of condescending. Which I guess makes sense if you are a God. I think he wants what's best for us; he just views us as… limited.”

  Digesting that, Mina said. “Thank you.” then, a beat later. “You sound like Morri. That could have been one of his sermons.”

  Snorting in amusement, Natalie rolled her eyes. “No, I sound like Cole, who probably sounds like Morri.”

  After that, they fell into idle chatter about a dozen different topics. None particularly complex or world-rending in depth. Which suited Natalie perfectly. Cole wasn’t one for small talk, and Natalie had started to miss it. She craved the inane mix of gossip and stories that most people talked about. A quirk Natalie attributed to growing up in an Inn and Tavern.

  By the fifth or sixth hour, since the message from Cole, Natalie was starting to get antsy. It was getting late, and she hadn’t heard anything more from him. Rationally she knew some sort of mysterious subterranean expedition was bound to take time. But that didn’t stop Natalie from worrying. Mina sat nearby, flipping through Passionate Dawn, trying to hold in laughter at the romance book's dialogue. Getting up from her spot, Natalie started to nervously pace. One of the few expressions of stress her undead body could do without complaint.

  Looking up from the book, Mina remarked. “I told you, the Warrens are complicated. It will take time to do whatever they are doing.”

  Clicking her fangs together, Natalie groaned. “I know, but I still worry. What if they got lost or stuck?”

  Setting the crass novel down, Mina gave Natalie a serious look. “I’ve worked with Captain Iron-Teeth and Warden Cat-Eyes for years. They are good, capable people. With a Paladin’s help, I don’t think anything less than a Demon or Dragon will stop them.”

  Grimacing, Natalie remarked. “Knowing Cole’s luck, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they ran into both.”

  Scoffing, Mina brushed away the concern. “This city is safe. I know life is dangerous in the Blood Duchies, but it's different here. Not every shadow hides some monster or threat.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Natalie reminded Mina: “You are literally talking to a Vampire. And the City Guards are currently hunting some monster that’s ripping people’s hearts out.”

  Frowning, Mina looked back at her book. “Good point. But still, have some faith; things will work out.”

  Thinking of her last meeting with Master Time and her general experience with divinely ordained fate. Natalie found little comfort in Mina’s words. Still, how much the Priestess had mellowed was something of a blessing. If Natalie could still make friends with a trauma-touched Priestess of Death himself. Then there was some hope in Natalie’s once-lauded charisma, even post-death. All it had taken was some shared pain and being locked in the same room for twelve hours.

  A stray thought popped through Natalie’s mind then. “Hey, don’t you need to eat?”

  Mina looked a little sheepish. “I could, but I can’t exactly leave you on your own.”

  The trained instincts of a Barmaid burned bright behind Natalie’s red eyes. Moving over to Mina with inhuman speed, she grabbed the Priestess by the arm and hauled her up. Mina let out a surprised noise and reached for her amulet. Rolling her eyes, Natalie pointed an accusatory finger at Mina.

  “No one is allowed to go hungry on my account. My father would never forgive me. So let's get you some food.” Mina looked like she was about to protest, so Natalie picked up her amulet. “I’ll keep my leash on me and be a good little Vampire. Now let’s get you fed!”

  Wrapping her face in a scarf and pushing false life through her veins, Natalie beckoned to Mina. Uncertain but goaded by hunger, the Priestess opened the door and guided the Vampire from the suite. It didn’t take them long to find the Temple's dining hall. A long rectangular room filled with tables and benches. With quick access to the kitchens on one side. Natalie’s eyes were pulled up to the intricate fresco covering the dining hall’s ceiling. It depicted a great feast attended by hundreds of figures, each labeled with small gilded words.

  Seeing Natalie’s eyes, Mina nodded at the fresco. “The Feast of the Favored. The great and good of the Temples are memorialized in it.”

  Mina spared little time heading towards the kitchen. Mina’s no longer suppressed hunger, pulling the Priestess to the delicious smells. Natalie just followed, noting the lack of people in the dining hall. Only a few tired-looking Priests and temple laborers sat at the tables. Something Natalie was grateful for; she had no desire to stir up a panic. Thankfully none of the few diners had noticed her, and keeping close to Mina, Natalie hoped to keep it that way.

  Soon Mina had a plate filled with roasted vegetables, warm bread, and a bowl of broth. Finding a seat, Mina started to dig in while Natalie watched. After a few minutes of wolfing down her portion, Mina looked up at Natalie. An odd expression on the Priestess’s face.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked.

  Letting out a fitful sigh, Natalie propped her head up on one elbow. “I miss food. So please just let me watch you eat. It's the closest thing I have anymore.”

  A little disturbed but unwilling to press the issue, Mina returned to her meal. Emptying her plate in impressive time, Mina looked back towards the kitchen. Clearly debating between going for more or letting her stomach settle.

  Before a decision could be made, the far doors of the dining hall slammed open with a bang. A skinny priest with wild hair and panicked eyes burst in. Waving his arms, he shouted to anyone who could listen. “We need everyone with healing miracles or medical knowledge to go to the grand clinic now!”

  A confused murmur went up from the few occupied tables, and the Priest elaborated. “Something bad is happening over in Salmotown. The third temple is overwhelmed and is sending out a general call for any help they can get.”

  Confusion gave way to training as the Priests got to their feet and hurried to the door. A torn Mina got to her feet and looked at Natalie. The Priestess’s internal conflict was plain to see. Which duty did she commit to? Guard the undead or heal the living?

  Holding up her amulet, Natalie got up from the table. “I’ll stay close to you. With this, I’ll be able to keep control if there is blood.”

  Mina frowned; the idea of Natalie stalking around a triage center clearly not something she liked. As understandable as that was, Natalie was having none of it. “If someone dies because you were busy watching me instead of helping. I don’t think either of us could live with that.”

  Swallowing that bitter herb, Mina set out, Natalie hot on her heels. In her earlier exploration of the Temple, Natalie had found the Grand Clinic. The large medical ward located in the Tenth Temple. Apparently each of the Temples had a different Clinic specializing in different forms of healing. Naturally, the servants of Master Time provided hospice care for the people of Vindabon. Still, the Clinic was a center of healing, alchemical, magical, or mundane. It had sections free from the dying and could readily help the wounded.

  Mina entered a large central chamber that branched out into the different parts of the clinic. At the chamber's center was a statue of Master Time in his aspect of Soother of Suffering. A large number of wheeled cotts had been set up in this atrium. Ready to transport the injured or ill. Across the chamber from where Mina and Natalie had entered, was a large set of doors that swung open the same time they arrived.

  An unconscious, bloody man in a Guard uniform was hauled into the Clinic by two of his fellows. Each supporting their comrade under a shoulder. The two conscious guards had a collection of cuts and scrapes as well. The smell of fresh blood hit Natalie, and she quickly gripped her amulet. Letting its baleful cold numb her Hunger. Making its gnawing whispers manageable.

  An older woman with long silver hair tied back in a neat plait bustled over to the guards and, with the help of a few acolytes, got the unconscious man to a cott. The other two guards turned to leave, but the older Priest cleared her throat with enough authority to make an Elector Prince think twice.

  “Where do you think you are going?

  The Guard wiped a smear of blood off his forehead, something Natalie tried not to notice. And pointed out the doors. “There's a gorey-guts riot brewing! We are needed out there!”

  The lead Priestess clicked her tongue and pulled the Guard towards one of the cotts with surprising strength. “If you pass out at the wrong time or make a simple mistake because of blood loss, you’ll be a danger to your fellows. Now tell us what's happening.”

  Realizing arguing with the Priestess was more dangerous than the riot, the Guard acquiesced. “About an hour ago, we got word that a bunch of people was assembling in Salmon Square. Bunch of locals, all angry about something. Don’t know for certain, but I’d guess the Werefolk murders. I heard a lotta talk about Mutts and their rituals.”

  Shaking his head, barely noticing the Priest trying to bandage it, the Guard kept talking. “All those people were angry, stirred up like nothing I’ve seen. Not even the Wine Tax Riot was this bad. At first, they were just demanding the Werefolk be banned from the city. But it didn’t stay that mild for long. Last I was there the mob was trying to go for the Woad Gate. I think the mad bastards are gonna attack the Werefolk camp.”

  More people started being brought into the Clinic then. A few more guards but mainly citizens. Each battered and worn, carried by friends or their own power. With every arrival new news filtered through the Clinic. Even reaching Natalie in her hiding spot in one far corner of the clinic. A full-blown riot was underway in the Sixteenth District. Salmotown’s guards were completely overwhelmed, and no official reinforcements were coming from other districts. Their Watch Captains getting orders to hold back in case things got worse. A nonsensical command more than a few squads had refused to listen to. Including the near eternity of the Weinstadt Watch. Iron-Teeth was still missing beneath the city, and his Lieutenant was apparently playing dumb about any orders to stand back.

  Every minute they’d get new updates. None of them good. Armed footmen had joined the Rioters and broken through the Guards’ position. The mob had swollen into a veritable army and was making its way closer and closer to the Woad Gate. A mixture of stunned horror and confused shock filled the Clinic. This level of civil violence hadn’t been seen in close to a century. Vindabon was on fire. Rage and fear providing plenty of kindling for whatever spark set this calamity into motion.

  Somehow in all the tumult, Natalie had gone unnoticed. Her unnaturally still form in a shadowed alcove attracting little attention. A fact that quickly put Natalie in a unique position. Two of the Senior Priests, the Old woman, apparently named Hedwig, and a similarly aged man named Bertram, were engaged in fierce discussion not far from where Natalie hid. Senses supernaturally sharp; she could make out the conversation perfectly.

  “We can’t afford to send anyone!” hissed Bertram. “We need everyone we can to heal the injured and prepare for the inevitable casualties!”

  Priestess Hedwig practically snarled at that. “Inevitable casualties? Are you even listening to yourself, Bert? We have a duty to help the Werefolk. They are just as much our responsibility as anyone in this city.”

  Scrunching up his wrinkled face, Bertram said. “No, they are not. We are the Temple of Vindabon. Our duties lie with its people first.” as Hedwig started to swell with rage, Bertram held out a placating hand. “I don’t like it either. But we need to make the right decision. Sending anyone to warn the Werefolk would be incredibly foolish. We risk them getting torn apart by the mob! Besides, they will never make it in time! I’m not about to send one of our subordinates on a pointless death-quest.”

  The anger seemed to fade from Hedwig, replaced by worry and the first flickers of guilt. “We can’t just sit here, Bertram!”

  The old Priest's face showed his own discomfort for a split second. “We aren’t. We will heal anyone we can. And… and we will put to rest those who die.”

  The rest of the conversation faded away as Natalie felt her mind close in on their earlier words. Someone needed to warn the Werefolk. Someone fast enough to make it across the city before the mob. Someone the Werefolk would believe. Someone who could sneak out of Vindabon and into the camp without issue. Shutting her eyes, Natalie took a useless breath. She’d wanted to use her powers for good. Well, here was a bloody perfect opportunity.

  Slipping out of her alcove, Natalie found Mina bandaging up a freshly stitched cut on a dazed-looking Vindabonite. Gripping her amulet and doing her best to ignore the smell of fresh blood, Natalie pulled Mina aside. The Priestess jumped at the sudden contact and whirled on Natalie. Seeing the frantic look in the Vampire’s eyes, Mina reached for her own amulet.

  Leaning in so only Mina could hear her, Natalie whispered. “Where is the Werefolk Camp?”

  Glancing around the clinic, Mina hissed back. “Maybe three kilometers down the Blue Pine Road. Just out of the Woad Gate. Why?”

  Licking her fangs and trying to push down the jittery energy gripping her, Natalie explained. “I need to warn them. Maybe they can evacuate or fortify before the mob reaches them.”

  Shaking her head, Mina glared at Natalie. “Absolutely not! You are already pushing things just by being here with me. I’m not about to let you run off!”

  Giving the Priestess a cool look, Natalie said: “Mina, I’m not asking for permission. I’m keeping you and the Temple informed.”

  Mina started to pull up her amulet, and Natalie quickly gripped her wrist. Her cold, undead strength stopped the Priestess. “Exposing me won’t do any good. Do you want all these Priests busy attacking me or helping these people?”

  Glancing back to the injured woman she’d just treated, Mina frowned. “Will you even have time to reach them? If you’re caught, not even the Paladin can save you. Even if you aren't, I'll be forced to tell the Senior Priests. I don’t know how they will react, but it won’t be good.”

  Swallowing uselessly, Natalie took an equally pointless breath. Mina was right. There was no guarantee of success. Just a whole score of ways this could go horribly, horribly wrong. Almost all ending in a terrible fate for Natalie. But the idea of Ametza, Jaks, Jokin, and the rest of the Shohgard pack dying was equally abhorrent. Despite their bloody first meeting, the Shohgards had been kind to Natalie. Learning to look past her nature and calling her a friend. Slim as it was, Natalie had the chance to help or even save them. If she stuck her head in the loam and let that opportunity pass, then Natalie was truly the Monster the Temple feared she was.

  Nodding in understanding, Natalie gave Mina a weak smile. “I’m sorry if this causes you problems. Wish me luck, Mina”

  Without another word, Natalie slipped from the Grand Clinic. Another faceless shadow unnoticed by healers and healed alike.

  Letting out a sigh and feeling a knot of worry grow in her gut, Mina shook her head. Turning to the next patient, she whispered. “Gods smile on your endeavor, Natalie.”