Chapter 4

The next few days went by without much occurring. They ran for about 7 hours each night and covered about 70km. The rest of the time they hid in the leather tent which was almost completely pitch black. Cipher for some reason had a problem with this and made sure a lamp was on at all times.
Whenever Lucius asked him about it he would simply reply “I’m not letting the grue get me.”
Although the nights (which were technically days) were boring the rest of the time Lucius managed to see some very interesting parts of the world. The landscape was flat and the ground covered in loose sand.
Grass managed to survive here but it was mostly yellow and unkempt. Trees dotted the landscape somehow scraping out a living in this arid environment. These trees were covered in a grey bark and there leaves always had a yellow or brown tinge to them.
After 7 long days, Lucius and Cipher arrived in the town of Maylin.

The town of Maylin was not fancy or even modern for a town of fifteen thousand. The houses were all wooden with dusty tin rooves. There were a few houses with gardens, but the majority were of the dusty variety.
Cipher wandered forward slightly before saying “Why on Earth did you want us to come here.”
“I don’t know.” Lucius said cautiously.
“So you agree that this place is hell.”
“No. I just know I’m supposed to be here, but I don’t know why.”
“Ok, crazy-psycho-vampire. We might as well make the most of it.” Cipher began to roam through the narrow streets and Lucius followed him. Although it was initially ok, Lucius smelt a smell so sweet it hypnotised him. The pain then began rack his chest.
“No. Not now.” He snarled.
“Yeh I know what you mean. I haven’t had anything to eat in week, and you are a newborn. You must be ravenous.”
Lucius tried to ignore the agony in his chest. He knew that he could break into any of the flimsy structures in the neighbourhood and sate his thirst; but he withstood. Cipher just sighed and leapt onto the nearest roof. He darted away before Lucius could ask him what he was doing.
As he stood their clasping his chest, Lucius wondered what Cipher was doing. And that’s when a screaming man was thrown into the wall from over the roof.
He was clad in shiny silver armour. A sturdy build and a deep tan made up this warrior who took a moment to get back up. This was surprising considering he was just thrown into a wall at, at least 30km per hour. Just as he got up a second, similarly clad man was hurdled into the first. He was closely followed by Cipher.
“Hey Lucius. You still hungry?” He asked as he leapt off the roof and onto the narrow street.
“I won’t eat them.” Lucius growled, although the pain in his chest made him hesitate before saying this.
“Who said anything about them? One is for me.” He said bluntly.
“You know what I mean!”
“Unfortunately I do. Normally you would just find a criminal. But you are too hungry for that.” Chuckled Cipher as he darted at the man and pulled him up to his mouth.
“Do NOT eat him!” Roared Lucius, his words laced with what he hoped was authority. Unbeknownst to either of them the 2nd guard began to sneak up on Cipher from behind.
Cipher sighed once again and threw his hapless victim into the wall. “Look these people signed up for this sought of thing. They’re guards. They face death every day. We are just going to give it to them.” At this point the other guard stabbed Cipher from behind. The sword’s point burst through his chest and Cipher looked down at it with disdain. Turning around he exclaimed “Ow.”
Faster than the human eye could see he leapt behind this man and bought his teeth to his throat. His normally pretty-boy-type face, transformed into the masquerade of death. The poor man struggled for a little while before going limp. Lucius watched on in horror, yet the pain in his chest made him want it.
After throwing the corpse from his side Cipher glanced back down at his chest, the protruding sword glistened with his blood. He then proceeded to push the blade backwards through his chest. As it hit the ground Cipher examined the gaping wound in his chest. Lucius watched in awe as the hole miraculously healed.
Upon seeing his expression Cipher just laughed and said “It is but a flesh wound.”
“That should have killed you.”
“No. The only things that would kill us are chopping off our heads, stabbing us through the heart with silver, or by setting us on fire. And sunlight.”
“Are there other things I don’t know about?” Asked Lucius angrily.
“No. Not that I can think of.”
“Void spawn.” Spat the first guard back against the wall. He was trembling violently, and looking for his weapon.
“You are going to kill him.” Asked Cipher. It wasn’t a question.
Lucius didn’t want to, yet the agony drove him forward. He walked menacingly towards the man. The man attempted to fight Lucius off, but it was easy for him to parry the blows. Lucius slammed him up against the wall with bone shattering force. CRAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK.
Lucius’ face turned into that of the demons and he bought his teeth to the man’s neck. Just before he bit down though the guard cried “The guards will make sure all you void spawn burn in Tarturus. They’re onto you.”
“Wait Lucius.” Cipher called.
Lucius barely managed to restrain himself from biting down onto the man’s neck. The blood pulsing underneath it had increased and Lucius could smell. The pain in his chest made it all the more difficult. But he managed.
Cipher walked up to the man and said “We only just got here. Who are you looking for?”
“The rest of the vampyra. They inhabit this entire region in huge numbers.”
“Thank you. Lucius you can kill him now. I’m bored.”
Lucius didn’t even wait until he had finished. He bit into the neck of the poor individual before him and the blood poured into his throat. The man whimpered a little before he finally stopped moving. Dropping the corpse to the ground Lucius turned back to Cipher. The pain was gone now and he didn’t feel guilty. ‘Now that’s weird’ He thought.
“Now I know he’s lying.” Exclaimed Cipher as Lucius’s face reverted to its normal angelic form.
“How do you know that?”
“Because our kind only ever go to places where there is already an existing population. We never set up new colonies.” Cipher explained in an intellectual manner completely dissimilar from his usual vain attitude.
“Well maybe they changed.”
“Vampires are immortal. We don’t change.”
“New blood?”
“Well whatever it is, we’re going to need a place to rest. Sunlight will be up soon, that and I look terrible without my beauty sleep.”
“Maybe I should just call you Captain Masculinity.” Lucius said, his mind still trying to figure out what happened to his guilt.
“Why thank you Lucius. But I think we should find a hotel or something.”
“Sure. Why not?”
They wandered through the stuffy streets of Maylin for about 10 minutes before finally finding a hotel. It wasn’t a brilliant residency, not even close, but it’s wooden frame seemed sturdy enough to stay together. They entered through the double doors at the front and found a small desk to the back of the room.
Walking up to the desk Cipher tapped a small silver bell on the desk. From it came the sweetest note he had ever heard. Less of a bell and more like an angelic choir. Lucius pondered this for a moment, but he was quickly distracted by an even more amazing sight. It was her.
The same girl he had seen in his dream only a week before. The same long brown hair, the same shining brown eyes. She was the exact same person and despite the late hours, looked completely a wake.
“You need a room.” She asked in a voice that sounded more like singing than a language.
“What else would we be doing at this hour?” Said Cipher in such a way that Lucius thought he might be flirting with her. “Sweetheart.” Yes definitely flirting.
“Two beds?” She asked.
“Oh so you automatically assume that we want two beds.” Said Cipher.
“What?” Asked the girl.
“What?” Asked Lucius rapidly.
“What? This side of the world isn’t very open minded. I just want them to know that it’s ok. There is no need to hide.”
After a moment’s pause the girl asked “So one bed?”
“Oh, no we’re straight. Two beds will do fine.”
“Wait, what do you want?” She asked stunned.
“Two beds. Honestly aren’t the people here slow.” Said Cipher in disdain.
“Ok. I’ll just get you your keys than.”
“You do that darling.”
After the girl had left the room in search of the keys, Lucius asked “Why on Earth do I hang around with you.”
“Well hopefully it isn’t just for my dashing good looks.”
Under his breath Lucius whispered “Captain Vanity.”
“I heard that.” Cipher chuckled.
The girl came back into the room holding a small wooden key. “Ok that will be 15 pounds.”
“No discounts for looks?” Asked Cipher.
At this the girl smiled. That smile that so in tranced Lucius, that could hold the gaze of everyone in a room. Than she grabbed Cipher’s head and smashed it down onto the table in one startling fluid motion, like a snake catching a mouse.
Roaring in pain Cipher brought his face back to the demon once more “You are going to regret that bitch.”
Grabbing Cipher by the shirt she through him against the wall knocking half a dozen books from shelves all across the room.
“Can’t we go somewhere and just make friends?” Asked Lucius as he struggled to keep a straight face.
“Not now.” Spat the enraged Cipher as he stumbled to his feet.
“You should listen to your friend idiot.”
“Honestly what are you 12 years old?”
“Try 150.”
“And yet you look so young.”
“Save the nice talk for someone who cares.” Said the girl as she smashed Cipher to the ground.
“Wait!” Roared Lucius; stopping both contestants instantaneously. Cipher was trapped in a comical head lock.
Dropping Cipher to the ground the girl said “I agree. Anyway I wanted to bring you here.”
“See I knew she liked me.” Said Cipher as he staggered to his feet.
“Well actually I just needed Lucius. You were just the bitch who followed.”
Before Cipher could respond with a terrible retort, Lucius asked “Why?”
“Because something is happening and I need your help.”
“Ok, but I think we should know your name, if you know ours.”
The girl snickered before answering in almost a child’s voice, “Rhea.”