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The Vam’pirs became something he was in awe of. He overcame his fear and even tried at one point to give blood daily. Luce wasn’t as wary around Inka and I or Pari and Emil because of our children and grandchildren.

Sometimes, Luce would come and sit in our workrooms to keep us company. He had a charming, childish way about him, and I loved him like another son.

This heightened the tragedy of the following events for Luce.

He’d thought he’d finally found safety.

Chapter Twelve.

One night, we were attending a birthday party for Marel, who was still alive and very elderly, when tragedy struck yet again.

This time it was D’vid…

D’vid was late as he leisurely strolled through the forest on his way to Har’ches. Luce had spotted him and trailed him.

What I tell you is Luce’s own accounting, for none of us saw this bar him.

“What’s the matter, Luce?” D’vid asked.

Normally, Luce was wary, so D’vid wanted to know what was wrong.

“Some bad man is behind you,” Luce answered D’vid, looking around. D’vid looked, but didn’t see anyone.

“Do you recognise him?” D’vid questioned.

Luce nodded, shaking.

“How?”

“He is the one that killed those people back on New Kaltos. I once saw him doing it, and he chased me, but I got away. D’vid, I was frightened he might be trying to hurt you,” Luce explained.

D’vid laughed, pulling Luce into a hug.

“Don’t you recognise our strength? Nobody can kill or hurt us,” he replied, slinging an arm around Luce, intending to walk to Marel’s with him.

“No D’vid. He picked people up and broke every bone in their body with one hand. He is nasty and evil, and means you harm. The bad man has been following you for weeks, and so I have followed him.”

D’vid frowned. “Luce, you didn’t tell us you saw this murderer before. Why?”

“He frightened me very much. He said that he would kill me if I ever told anyone. That was why he framed me for murder. I wouldn’t have said anything if I hadn’t seen him trailing you. Since you were always with another Vam’pir, I assumed you were safe. It is only when I realised you were not at Marel’s, that I got worried and came looking for you.”

“That sentiment is nice. Perhaps we should start moving.”

Luce nodded his agreement violently.

They moved swiftly through the forest, with D’vid now aware that someone was indeed following. As they neared the city D’vid got the shock of his life when a figure jumped out in front of him.

“Claudias!” D’vid cried in astonishment. He stumbled over his words, “I—I saw your skeleton!”

Claudias stretched and laughed. “No, you saw the bones of my assistant. I killed the fool just before the island sunk. I escaped and have been wandering this world searching for you. Because if anyone would survive, it would be you.”

Luce backed away from Claudias, who he’d seen murder a person with his bare hands.

“Why?” D’vid asked bluntly. “I can’t believe it is out of any brotherly feeling.”

“Correct as usual, brother dear. I came to finish what I started over five hundred years ago. I mean to kill you. Why couldn’t you just die when I first tried?”

“Because, like you, I am a stubborn bastard,” D’vid said, rushing at Claudias.