Galar knew he could no longer stay at the temple. Grabbing the faint fleshling in his arms he began walking into the forest, looking around him for any signs of anyone. But no one was there. No one tried to attack him. No assassin attempted to slit his neck. The forest around the temple of Savai was as peaceful as always.

Galar hoped he could find some shelter to stay at before the sun came up on the sky. A village, perhaps an abandoned one. Slowly, the weather got worse and worse, dark clouds filled the sky, rumbling deeply before a storm broke out, loud and unyielding. Rain fell from the sky at fast speed, wind blew the tree's leaves down to the ground.

Galar's boots began to sink into the mud that the falling rain created, as a thunder ripped through the sky. Bad weather usually indicated a God's wrath. It wasn't hard for Galar to guess who had caused the storm. Veanke had saved him from Ren's blade. Even if possessing his body was a terrifying experience, Galar was still grateful that he had his life. As for Ren, she had invoked a God's wrath. He wasn't sure what awaited her. But for now he needed her alive.

"Stay where you are, beast," a firm voice called behind him. Galar spun around to find a group of humans slowly emerging from the shadows. Some of them held torches while others carried spears and daggers in their hands. Panic rose up in his chest. Preoccupied with searching for shelter he had not heard them creeping up on him.

"Drop the woman," the man ordered again, his eyes dark and his tone full of authority. Galar did as told, setting Ren down on the ground. All spears were pointed at him, as if challenging him to try to run. A couple of men retrieved the unconscious halfling, still keeping their weapons pointed at Galar.

"I did not harm her," the vampire tried to say only for the humans to get closer to him, pressing the spears against his back.

"Walk, beast. And if you try to run we'll kill you."

And so Galar found himself once again captive, this time for a different reason. They walked in the light of the torches until they reached a large wooden gate. The gate was pushed open, revealing small houses and streets, flowers blooming on the ground. The cobblestone paths led deeper into the town, where the humans led Galar. It was nighttime so the streets were quiet, but Galar could imagine that at day this small town would be full of life.

The humans led him to a round building, lit up by the light of a myriad of candles. Inside, an old woman awaited, clasping her hands together and muttering quiet words.

"Elder Barbara, we found this beast wandering around the perimeter," the man explained. "He had this woman with him," he motioned towards the humans holding Ren.

The woman's eyes narrowed as she came closer. "Take the woman to the healer. Treat her carefully. As for the vampire..."

She looked into Galar's eyes, then at the obsidian pendant hanging from his neck. In a moment, horror flashed before her eyes. Memories of savagery and bloodshed filled her mind. Elder Barbara sighed and tried to push them down. She turned to the vampire, a determined expression on her face.

"Tell me, Your Highness, did you come to defile our home once again?"

Galar stared back at her. "I have no such intent. You see, fate has played a cruel game to me. But I know you will not kill me. Not while stepping on holy ground." Galar had understood well he was in a temple. A temple of the Goddess Karian.

The woman's brow rose. "Do not underestimate our capacity for cruelty. Not when your own father taught us its real meaning."

"You knew my father?" Galar asked, breathless. "My father has been dead for a decade."

"Your father died the night he decided to ravage our town and defile our Godess's temple," the man to Galar's right spoke. "You must know that he died in battle."

"I do know, yes," Galar said. "But my father disrespected no temple of your Goddess."

"That's what you believe, vampire," Elder Barbara spoke, her voice harsh. "Let me tell you how it really happened."

Galar kept silent, listening.

"The vampire horde had reached our village that night. While the hunters fought, the rest of the people and I found shelter in our Goddess's temple. But it wasn't long before your father's murderous horde reached our haven. With no care for the sacrilege he committed, Alaion unleashed his knights upon our people, massacring them," Elder Barbara said, her shoulders sinking. "The rest of us that survived built a new home for ourselves here, in New Korr. And now you come along, threatening to destroy what little peace we have left."

Galar remained speechless for a moment. How could his father have committed such an act? Disrespecting a Goddess, killing innocents, it was beyond his understanding. But then the vampire remembered Lord Lysander's words.

"Our beauty lies in cruelty."

No. Cruelty was not beauty. Galar refused to believe it.

"I promise my intent was not to destroy your home coming here."

"Is that why you keep ordering your horde to massacre the towns of Gharnadul?" the man asked.

Galar had no answer to that.

"This is our only chance to be free of this tyrant," Elder Barbara told the rest of the humans, her eyes shining. "Everyone, kill him!"

Galar's eyes widened as the humans began to approach him.

"Stop!" a voice cried out, the doors of the temple snapping open. Ren burst in, getting in front of Galar and using her body as a shield. "Kill him and we're all doomed!"

"Ren..."

Elder Barbara whispered the halfling's name, holding her face with both hands. Ren gently touched the woman's hands.

"It's me, Elder Barbara. Please listen to me. The beast must not be killed. The old God protects him."

The woman nodded, letting go of Ren's face. Her eyes turned to her neck, where a dark mark spread out, the veins around it black and bruised. The halfling looked faint and pale.

"And after all, he's not the one we should be worried about... I now understand," Ren sighed bitterly. Galar faced her with intrigue.

"You and I, let's talk," she told him.

~<~>~

How dare he.

The plan she had so carefully constructed had collapsed in a single moment. All because her attention had been divided. She should have been watching over the blessed one. Now her blood lay on the sacrificial table instead of the vampire's heart.

Karian sighed. She blamed only herself for this failure. She had to visit her blessed one, see if she was alright.

A sound behind her drew her attention.

"I know you're there, Veanke," Karian said boldly, turning on her heels. And there he was, the God of darkness and blood, an eerie smile on his pale lips. He looked unnaturally satisfied.

"I hope you enjoyed my little sacrifice to you. I know it was not what you expected. You really thought your halfbreed mortal stood a chance against my chosen one," Veanke sneered.

"If you had not interfered your pathetic vampire King would be ashes by now," Karian spat, her fiery eyes narrowing. "You did so because you felt fear. This halfbreed mortal scares you."

"I'll give you one last chance, Karian, " Veanke said, beginning to lose his patience. "Kill your blessed one and I will forget your insolence. Refuse, and I'll give her a fate worse than death."

The Goddess balled her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "While I live you'll never be able to harm her." She watched the God's lips curl into a sinister grin, sending chills down her spine.

"You force me to do this, Karian," he said, before lifting his pale hand and muttering a few words. Karian had little time to react as the spell flew towards her. She blocked it with the shield she carried and pulled the sword out of her belt, getting ready for battle. So that was it.

One of them would die that night.

Veanke's sword clashed against hers with a thundering sound. Karian twisted her wrist to stab him but failed to do so as the God stepped back. Their blades met again and again and for the first time in her life, Karian felt genuine fear. Could she really kill one of the Gods?

Her answer came with a swipe at her feet as the Goddess faltered. In seconds, Veanke's blade sunk into her chest, leaving her gasping for air.

The God smiled victoriously, revealing sharp fangs. He pushed the Goddess to the ground, biting into her neck and tearing the flesh apart. Karian trembled and her fiery eyes shined for one last time. Veanke's sharp nails dug into her flesh, pulling it apart, leaving behind a mangled body.

Slowly, he devoured her heart and when its last piece disappeared, the Goddess faded into ash.

~<~>~

Elder Barbara had agreed to let the halfling and the vampire stay in the temple for their conversation. And now Ren finally found she could face the truth.

Galar was nothing more than a fancy pawn.

"Do you really think you rule Charis?" she asked, crossing her arms to her chest. "Are you the creature behind the slaugter of Gharnadul's people?"

It took a moment for the vampire to realize her question. Galar stalled. "I have to admit I have had responsibility in the massacres. But the decisions were all made by Lord Lysander. He led my down this path of bloodshed, and I was too much of a coward to stop him."

"You're a coward and a fool, Galar. But you're not cruel. You're not your father. And even if he took my family from me it's not right to punish you for his wrongs." Ren sighed. She would finally admit it.

"The Goddess was wrong for ordering me to kill you."

She felt as if a huge weight had suddenly lifted off her shoulders.

"So does that mean we have a truce?" Galar asked.

Ren opened her mouth to answer when a searing pain hit her heart. Her eyes rolled back into her skull and she began to tremble, losing her balance.

Before she could fall, Galar grabbed her and held her firmly.

"What's wrong?" he asked but Ren couldn't hear him. Her head was spinning, full of voices.

"Did you think I wouldn't find you?"

You can not run, little mortal. You're mine to torment."

Ren tried to scream only for a hoarse whisper to leave her lips. It was cold and horrifying, the voice that haunted her. Slowly her surrounding melted into ash and she was transported into a familiar place.

Korr was on fire. Surrounded by flames, Ren tried not to breathe in the smoke but the gas invaded her lungs, as if having a mind of its own.

"Ren, Ren help me!" her mother's voice called in the distance. Ren ran as fast as she could, suddenly feeling small again.

Her mother's dress had caught on fire and as Ren dashed towards her, only then did she realize the trick.

The woman let out a cackle, morphing into a pale and gruesome figure of a creature that was not her. It took Ren to the ground and as flames got closer and closer, the halfling felt her own flesh burn and wither. She screamed in agony, thrashing on the ground.

The flames disappeared and so did Korr. Ren found herself laying against cool marble. She sat up, breathing heavily, her skin still tingling with ache. Her arms and legs were heavy with pain as she moved off the table.

The God sat on top of his throne, a black crow on his shoulder.

"Little mortal, did you really think you could slay the vampire King? The one I so carefully built to rule? You must be very foolish."

Ren gritted her teeth but did not answer at the provocation. Fear was clouding her senses. Her fingers trembled and her feet were frozen on the ground.

She was in the God's realm now. And nothing could save her.