“You little fool! Release me this instant!” My loud protests were met with nothing but a slight stare and silence from the Dhampir. The same look that all the Dhampir had. Such insufferable little reaches. “Fine! If you won't release me then at least answer me this.” For once, the boy's eyes moved up to my cell with a look other than indifference. His eyes not showing any form of malice, but genuine curiosity. Something that reminded me of a young Dhampir from long ago. “What did you mean when you said you might have a use for me?”

The boy who had previously been sitting criss-cross on the table with a book in his hand slowly unwrapped his legs and threw them back over the edge of the table. Slamming his rather ancient and decrepit-looking book before standing up. His dark blue eyes seeming to glow within the dim light, a sure sign of his race. Not many creatures were known to have such glowing eyes. “Ms. Van Norman, you are attributed as the greatest Vampir currently alive. Our leader believes that we can use your noble status to contain and possibly even keep your kin in check.”

A laugh roiled up from the pit of my stomach as I nearly fell back in my fit. What a laughable thought. Me? Noble? Hah, the Vampir would follow me the day hell froze over. My laughter seemed to be ticking the boy off as he let out an extremely aggravated sigh. His eyes almost seeming to blaze with annoyance as he tapped at the table behind him. “And why does he believe that?”

A creak resonates through the room as the metal doors opened, allowing both bright light and a tall, dark figure to enter the room. The doors then closed, plunging my world back into the dreary dim lighting that I'd been stuck with for days. Their boots clicking and clacking as they moved through the room. Eventually coming to stand at the boy’s side. Their long blue tailcoat was a dead giveaway. “Ulysses? My, my, how much you've gone in the last twenty years. You're not that sick boy I found abandoned in the alleyway anymore.”

The raven-haired male sighed, completely ignoring me. “Sparrow, please attend to your other tasks. I would speak with our guest alone.”

Sparrow gave Ulysses a small nod and left with only a small look back at me. He still had that curious look in his eyes. What a strange little half breed. My eyes watched the boy go. Almost glaring at his back.

“Elizabeth, ” Ulysses’ shout brought me back to him, a groan leaving my lips as I shook my head at the boy. “So, you've sworn off the human life? I thought you would learn from your mistakes sister-”

“You have no right, you little - you can't call me that. You gave away that privilege years ago, boy. And now you have the audacity to kidnap me and ask for my help.” My growls seemed to have no effect on the man who was once so close that I considered him a baby brother. But, that didn't matter anymore. He and I were no longer the people we once were.

“Ask!?” Ulysses roared at me, his arm reaching into the cage-like prison cell. Yanking my body upward and towards him so quickly that my vision almost seemed bleary. “Why would I have need to ask? You are our prisoner. You have no right to make demands or to refuse, Elizabeth. All that will get you is a painful death.”

I clenched my teeth as I grumbled to myself for a moment. I had dealt with three hundred years on this crumbling piece of rock, but I wasn't planning to let someone end it. Even less when it would've been Ulysses who would suffer the burden of such a task. “Fine, I'll do what you ask, you insufferable brat. Gods, you never change do ya.”

His lips twitched upwards just the slightest, but he didn't say another word as he reached into his pocket and took out the keys. He always said I was too stuck up around people… all until I got frustrated enough.

As soon as he inserted the key into the lock and opened the door, I got out. Sighing as he slapped some sort of strange contraption on my arm. I wouldn't doubt it was supposed to make me easier to handle.

•••

A large white puff of cool air escaped my lips as I slowly walked down the ancient streets of Northway. My heeled black boots rhythmically resonated against the cobbled walkway. The wind blowing through my new blue coat. My sword belts slightly shifting every so often, causing the sheaths to hit into my leg. It was somewhat of an annoyance, but I had slowly begun to get used to the new uniform in the last few weeks. Just as I had gotten used to running tasks with the Dhampir. “Why would Ulysses send us here? There isn't a Vampir in sight-”

A shrill whistle called my attention to the flickering streetlight where the young man stood. His body leaning against the pole, his arms crossed. Sparrow’s blue eyes lit up as soon as he saw me. A wide smile curving its way onto his lips as he pushed himself off of the streetlight. He really reminds me of a puppy more than a sparrow. “Hello, sister.” The boy greeted. “Are you ready to begin?”

I stopped. My brain slowly possessing what he spoke before my brow raised. For some reason I didn't like what he said, I could tell it was going to be bad. Yet, he didn't seem to want to speak up. My eyes narrowing as I placed my hands on my hips. “Begin what?” I grumbled out.

“Well, if we couldn't use your status as an asset to the order. Then we just had to find another way for you to help. So, you've moved up. No longer will you be a mere helping hand, you'll be expected to eventually undertake missions on your own.” the boy spoke before pointing across the street.

There stood a tall blond haired man, entering a bar with a few other men. The back of his coat proudly displaying his family crest - The Griffin. “Nathaniel Griffith. Your first target.”

My glare was replaced with an awestruck expression. The Griffith's were one of the most influential families in New Europe. Why did the Hunters want to target them? They weren't even anything remotely inhuman. So what was the point?

“If you're wondering, ” Sparrow spoke. His figure now a significantly farther distance from where he stood only a moment ago. His own light blue jacket fluttering in the breeze as he jumped from building to building with me not too far behind him. “We aren’t simply attempting to kill him. Not like your previous assignments. We want to know what he's been doing with some of his servants. Too many have disappeared to be a coincidence.”

“I thought this order hunted ‘monsters,’ or is there some other purpose?”

He never did answer that question.

[Author's Note]

Vampir - Vampire in German
Dhampir - The offspring of Vampir and a human.