Page 315 of Dragon Slayer

So. That was a head. On the floor. Fulk had seen many decapitated corpses in his many years on this earth, but he hadn’t quite expected to see one here in the midst of this modern laboratory.

Vlad stood over a slumped Ramirez, sword bloody, shoulders thrown back in the sort of pose that rallied bone-weary troops on the battlefield. His clothes might have been contemporary, but there was nothing modern about this man. This prince. This son of old Rome.

“Jesus,” Liam murmured beside him.

Fulk said, “I thought you didn’t believe in him.” He caught the arm of a tech who was attempting to belly-crawl his way toward the elevator. “Turn off that alarm.” He let the man go, and a moment later, the alarm cut off abruptly.

The silence hummed. Several people were crying quietly; Fulk could hear their choked-off sobs.

Ramirez breathed in rough shudders, her ribs shaking under the thin gown she wore. She leaned sideways, and pressed her shoulder into Vlad’s thigh. She’d chosen to align herself with him, then.

Good, Fulk thought. That would make this easier.

Sound of a throat clearing, obscene in the quiet. It was Talbot, stepping boldly forward, exposing himself to the slow, animal stare of Vlad…and to the reach of the bloodied sword.

Talbot took a quick, unsteady breath. “Vlad. Your grace. Please. I promise that no one meant Sergeant Ramirez any harm. I know this looks–”

“It looks like your people were going to beat her into unconsciousness,” Vlad said, toneless. “This morning she was one of your trusted guards, and now you want to lock her up. Is it just because of what she is now? Or is it because I’m the one who turned her?”

Fulk smelled the sharp tang of fear sweat.

“I assure you,” Talbot said, “that this is only a temporary measure. We don’t want Sergeant Ramirez to hurt herself or anyone else. She’s in shock. She’s confused, and she’s panicked. All perfectly reasonable reactions! But we have to contain her until she calms down. I’m sure you understand.”

“Contain.” Vlad pronounced the word as if it offended him. “That’s how you see vampires, isn’t it, Doctor? Things to be contained. First my brother, and now her. Are you containing me as well?”

“N-n-no!”

“My Lord Dracula,” Liam said, smoothly, stepping forward. Fulk knew, with that voice, that he was trying to compel the prince. “Be at ease.” He walked straight toward him, without hesitation, confident in his power…

But he shouldn’t have been. Vlad’s eyes were hard and bright, and his gaze was completely his own.

For a moment, Fulk almost felt sorry for his mortal enemy.

The stupid mage kept talking, and kept walking. “Everyone here is–” He choked off, the very tip of Vlad’s sword coming to rest in the center of his throat.

Vlad said, “Did I give you leave to speak to me, witch?”

Liam swallowed, and the skin of his throat moved against the sword-tip. A drop of fresh blood welled. “I mean no disrespect, your grace.”

“Then hold your tongue.”

Liam did…for a moment. His mouth formed the semblance of a smile. He said, “They’re true, then: the tales of your viciousness.”

Fulk had never been more grateful to be bound to a vampire than in that moment, because Liam’s magic compulsion pushed through the room like a wave. The humans all went slack-jawed. Ramirez sat on the floor, drooping against Vlad’s leg, her loose-curled arm around his calf all that held her upright.

But Vlad’s gaze sharpened. His voice came out calm, conversational. “Did you ever hear the story of the mage Mehmet sent to treat with me? The one who tried to force my surrender?”

For the first time in a long time, panic flitted across Liam’s face.

“I impaled him on a pike of ash,” Vlad said, “and I planted him in the forest, so that brother-raper could get a good look at what I think of magic.”

This was it, Fulk realized. This was the moment Liam finally met his end. He’d always thought, should he be fortunate enough to witness the occasion, it would bring him joy. But he felt only dread now, boiling like sickness in his belly.

Vlad drew his sword back.

Liam set himself aflame.

Vlad reachedthroughthe fire with his free hand, and gripped Liam by the face.

---