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The ghoul on the wall let out a hissing chuckle. “We’re related. Blood of our blood. ”

Clutching the dagger, I looked about for the other ghoul, my gaze sweeping over the ruins and graveyard. The ghoul on the wall, glared down at us, its long claws clicking against the marble.

The shadows gave birth to the shrieking form of the sickened ghoul. Adem thrust his sword at the creature; it evaded the blade and swung its clawed hand, attempting to gut him. The blade in Adem’s other hand slashed upwards, hacking off the limb of the ghoul at the elbow. It screamed in pain, but continued to attack. Adem deflected its blows, talons clashing against steel. My guard was agile and swift, attacking more than defending, keeping the creature off balance.

The ghoul on the wall threw itself upon me with an ungodly howl. I slashed at it with the dagger, feeling the silver blade slicing deep into its side. Its terrible claws slashed me across the neck and chest, cutting through my dress and deep into my flesh. Screaming, I thrust my dagger at it, but it swatted the weapon from my hand. Again, it raked me with its claws, drawing more blood, laughing fiendishly as it did so.

In a rage, I charged, knocking it off its feet and onto the rubble. Gripping its large head with my hands, I smashed it against the marble stones, screaming into its face. Its horrible mouth snapped at me as it thrashed, trying to toss me off. I clutched its skeletal body between my thighs to pin it as I tried to kill the beast. My gloved fingers dug into its disgusting flesh as I persistently drove its head against the marble stones. I felt and heard its head crack open. At last, its arms and legs stilled and the rotting stink of its brains and blood filled the air, making me retch. I staggered away, my blood pouring out on the ground.

Near me, Adem hacked away at the wounded ghoul, finally decapitating it. The head rolled away as the body fell to the ground. The stink was unbearable. Adem stumbled toward me, then fell to his knees.

“Forgiveness, Countess. I failed. You are wounded. ”

“I am healing,” I answered, trembling with pain. “But they were powerful. ” I collapsed to the ground, my hands pressed against my wounds as I willed my body to heal.

“Yes. ” Adem dragged in great droughts of air into his lungs. The wound on his arm was savage and bone and muscle glistened in the moonlight. As I watched, his flesh began to knit together.

“Are you certain you are human?” I asked.

“A cursed human, but a human, yes,” he assured me.

I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling my flesh healing. The pain was beginning to dissipate. “Why cursed?”

“A story for another time,” he said softly. “Forgive me for failing you. ”

“Do not worry yourself. I am truly embarrassed that I could not effectively protect myself. ” I sighed. “I am an incompetent vampire. ”

“Do you know why they had the advantage over us?”

“No. ”

“We were trapped in this ruin. They had us constantly on the defensive. ”

Regarding our surroundings, I saw that he was correct.

“If I could have lured them out into the open, the matter would have been settled much more efficiently. But I dared not leave your side. ” He hesitated, then gazed at me directly. “Vlad never taught you to fight, to defend yourself, did he?”

“No. I wanted him to, but he always dismissed my requests. ”

Adem motioned to the dagger lying near us. “You don’t know how to use that weapon, do you?”

“No. Nor a sword. ”

“I shall teach you then,” Adem decided. “And teach you how not to be cornered by your enemy. ”

“I am sorry I caused us both to be wounded. ”

Laughing, Adem shook his head. “Ghouls are terribly powerful when in a graveyard. Death feeds them and fills them with power, much like blood does with a vampire. We were immediately at a disadvantage. ”

“What I know of my own powers and how to defend myself, I learned from my vampire mother, Cneajna. I truly do not know as much as I should about my own abilities. ” My tattered sleeves were soaked with my blood, but my wounds were nearly completely healed now. Sadly, I plucked at the lace at my cuffs. “I have much to learn. ”

“I shall do my best to teach you what I do know. ”

The reek of the ghoul corpses was overwhelming, causing my eyes to sting. “We should go now. She is not here. ”

“Agreed. ”

Adem slid easily to his feet and offered his hand to me. I took it gratefully as he pulled me up. Together we walked across the abandoned graveyard, leaving the gruesome bodies behind.