Aldrin stepped out of Moira's apartment building, noticing the quick glances thrown his way trying to see if he was an easy mark. They quickly deduced he wasn't when Moira, Evie, and Tar-Xuk came up behind him. Although Aldrin noted them for later in case he ever wanted fresh blood without feeling the guilt from taking it from someone innocent. Slowly but surely, he was coming to realize the people of Ebira wouldn't be missed. The massacre from the other night had yet to be talked about, but it would only be a matter of time.

For now, he took in the sights of the port town as they weaved closer to the Birds of Paradise, where the Ash Vultures called home. It was still midday with the sun's rays shining through the canopy of overcast clouds. He inhaled, taking in the scents of the city, with the salt in the air from the sea. Luckily, the salty scent in the soft breeze overpowered the scents of the people, but Aldrin's body still hungered and demanded to be nourished.

With a leisurely gait, as if they weren't walking in a den of thieves and murderers, they explored the town, drawing ever closer to the Birds of Paradise along the way. What they found off-putting was that there were no blacksmiths or alchemy shops. Most of the town was made of homes, basic necessity shops, and a tavern or bar on every corner.

"Definitely a den for pirates. Take what you need, sell what you don't," Aldrin noted, looking at the throngs of people bustling through the streets. Some carried ill-gotten gains that were in a hurry to sell them off to head to their favorite tavern. The painted ladies were out and about, enticing the men that walked by. Some even tried to get Aldrin and Tar-Xuk, but the glares from Moira and Evie turned them away, but not without winking at them and offering their services should they want.

Aldrin shook his head at that, wondering if they would still do the same if they knew what he was beneath his human guise. He had moved away from viewing himself as a monster as he gained more control over his new state of being. However, the beast that was the Vampire raced to the surface in response to the offerings, tempting him to take one and drain her. That part of him was something that was always going to be present no matter who he encountered. It wanted to feast upon the life force of those who took it for granted. Something he wouldn't admit to anyone but himself was that a part of him wanted to indulge, to see what truly lay on the other side if he released the tight control over himself. He reminded himself of the massacre, where he glimpsed it, felt the power unbridled, focusing it in a semi-controlled area, and he relished every moment of it, feeling the freedom it granted.

"Aldrin," Moira called, breaking him from his thoughts. He turned to her, seeing that they arrived at the Birds of Paradise, which was steadily beginning to fill.

He expected more from the gang and not the rundown shack-looking tavern. It reminded him of the old western saloons from the movies his grandfather made him watch before being transported to Grenora. "This is it?" He asked incredulously, unimpressed by the sight. It was rustic brown, with two windows in the front, one of which was broken, swinging front doors that were constantly revolving with newcomers and ones that stumbled out in drunken stupors.

One drunken pirate bumped into Tar-Xuk, making the big Orc growl, showing his tusks and gnarled teeth. The pirate jumped back clumsily and fumbled for his dagger at his waist. His friends saw what was about to happen and swiftly grabbed him and swept him deeper into the town. Evie watched it all with discerning eyes, feeling that this was going to end badly, as she expected.

Outside the Birds of Paradise, the members of the Ash Vultures stood guard, denoted by the feathers that were tucked or tied to their mismatched armor. Some wore traditional gladiatorial armor, while others were in complete leather. None, however, wore heavy armor. Their weapons weren't on them, but that didn't mean they couldn't pull them out of their Inventory at a moment's notice. Seeing this, Aldrin casually walked up and was stopped by one of them, a Human man who wore his scars that crisscrossed his body proudly. He was missing three fingers on his right hand, his left eye was pure white, blind from the scar that ran down it.

"I ain't never seen you before. What crew you from?" He asked Aldrin, sizing him up as he stood in front of him, blocking the entrance. His fellow gang members snickered behind him.

Aldrin blinked, activating Charming Gaze, finding his Willpower easily dominating the man's Willpower. The gang member dropped his arms, his mind becoming blank and his gaze unfocused. "You always say that after not seeing me for a while. It's me, Jace." Aldrin lied, using the name of his older brother. It pained him to still say the name, as he had not spoken it in a long time, but he knew if his brother saw him now he would undoubtedly be a complete nerd about this.

The gang member's posture and attitude changed immediately as false memories surged forth. "Jace, ol' boy! Long time no see! Come on, let's get drinks on me!" The gang member said, clapping Aldrin on the back and guiding him deeper.

Aldrin sifted through man's mind, finding what he was looking for. "Thanks, Ty."

Ty brushed off the confused looks from the other gang members standing at the entrance as he guided Aldrin to the bar that was manned by two Orcs. He slapped a silver coin on the bar, ordering two cups of their homebrewed ale. The foamy amber liquid was soon placed in front of them. Ty raised his glass, and Aldrin met him with a soft clink with his own glass then took one long swig.

Ty placed his down first, shaking his head and whooping. "That's some damn good ale!" he said, turning his wide grin to face Aldrin, who did the same. His friends found seats beside them after pushing people out of the way. Some gave nasty looks but quickly straightened up once they saw Ty. "So what brings you here?" Ty asked.

"I've actually come for the fight pits. Looking to make some quick coin before I hit my next voyage out of here." Aldrin said, then pointed to Tar-Xuk. "He's going to fight whoever you got tonight."

Ty looked at the big Orc, giving a quick once over. "How'd you manage to get the big fucker?" he asked in awe.

Aldrin took another sip of the ale. "Little this and a little of that during a raid along the coast. You know how it goes," he answered evasively.

Ty nodded his head along, completely enthralled by the false memories. "Yeah, yeah. We got some fights. Think he can take on a Minotaur?"

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Aldrin stiffened, as did Evie and Moira. "A Minotaur? Aren't they an endangered species?" He chuckled nervously.

Ty nearly spat his drink out from laughing then leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper to normal ears but to Aldrin he could still hear him perfectly. "Aye, they are, but we had an unexpected windfall from one of our friends from the desert kingdoms. Dropped off a shipment of fresh ones about three weeks ago."

"How many exactly?" Aldrin asked, easily manipulating Ty's mind to give him the answer in case he was reluctant to.

"About five now," Ty answered, wiggling his eyebrows with a wry grin. He took another sip of his drink, wiping the foam off his upper lip with the back of his hand then slinging it on the back of a drunken man.

Aldrin's gaze tightened as he balled up his fist, while his other hand, which was wrapped around his drink, slightly cracked the glass. "They aren't animals. They were decreed to be a sentient species," he said, factoring in the five Minotaurs into his plan of felling the Ash Vultures.

Ty laughed again, but his smile never reached his good eye. "Who cares? We bought them, and now they fight when we tell them to. Now is your Orc in or not?" Ty's gaze sharpened, greed lacing his good eye as he thought of the coin he could make by betting against the Orc.

Aldrin looked at Tar-Xuk and then back at Ty. "Yes, yes he is."

Ty slapped the table twice, and one of the Orc bartenders came. Ty whispered in his ear, something Aldrin didn't pay attention to as he thought of a way to save Tar-Xuk during his fight with a Minotaur. Only one solution came to his mind.

"Hey Ty, is there a room to prepare for fights?" Aldrin asked.

Ty leaned back, giving Aldrin an appraising look. "There is. You need to give him a pep talk?" He smirked.

"Sort of," Aldrin replied, sending a worried look over his shoulder to Evie and Moira then briefly glancing at the vacant stare of Tar-Xuk.

Ty nodded and pushed away from the bar. "Come on," he said, leading them behind the bar to a hidden staircase. They went down and came out to a crowd that roared from the bashing of metal and bones within a sandy fight pit.

Aldrin caught sight of it, and his stomach pained from hunger at the fresh blood in the sand and of what was being spilled. He tore his gaze away, focusing on Ty as he led them through the dense crowd to a back wall with a door. "In there," he pointed at the door.

Aldrin gave him a brief smile and pushed the door open, revealing a decent-sized room with only benches nailed into the wall. He quickly ushered everyone in and shut the door behind him.

"What the fuck!?" Evie was the first to say.

"I know!" Aldrin mirrored his distress and looked at Moira. "Do you have any poison?"

Moira frowned and nodded, her hands slowly reaching for a pouch hidden beneath her linen sleeve. "I do. Why?" she asked hesitantly.

"Kill him," Aldrin pointed at Tar-Xuk, who stood motionless and unblinking.

"What? Why!?" Evie whispered sharply, bordering a hiss as she didn't want Ty or whoever to hear her through the door.

Aldrin placed a hand on her shoulder. "You and I both know he's not going to last against a Minotaur. Not as he is now." He looked deep into her steel-gray eyes.

Evie frowned, trying to figure it out, but the loud thump of Tar-Xuk's body hitting the floor stopped her. Moira stood over him, pulling a needle from his neck.

Aldrin stepped beside Moira, giving her a sharp nod of thanks, then looked back at Evie. "Do you have any warding runes?" He asked, moving to kneel beside Tar-Xuk's head and gently pried open his mouth.

Evie rummaged through her pouch at her side. "No, but I can make one real fast," she said, pulling out a flattened blank smooth white stone. With her pointer finger, a thin stream of Magic erupted, and she carved out the symbol.

"I hope this doesn't backfire," Aldrin muttered, then activated Blood Curse: Create Ghoul.

Do you wish to sacrifice 100 Health and Magic on target: Tar-Xuk, Former Chief of Tar, Level 40?

Y/N

Aldrin chose yes and a thin slit on his palm opened, much like how his Conversion worked, except this time, Aldrin moved his palm over the open mouth of Tar-Xuk and a small bead of his crimson-black blood dropped into the mouth. The wound closed not a second later.

Moira took a step back, shooting fearful glances between Tar-Xuk and Aldrin. "What did you just do?"

"Given us a chance," Aldrin frowned, then felt a faint connection bloom; more animalistic than that of his converted animals. "Oh shit," he nearly jumped back when Tar-Xuk's eyes snapped open in an eerily glowing green light that mirrored his own. The dark shade of green of the Orc when he was alive faded to a dark grey color. His tusks healed any scratches and chips, growing into sharpened points, as did his teeth reform into a straight row of fangs. Large claws grew from the fingers and exposed toes of the Orc that became slick with an oil-like sheen. Then it stood, muscles becoming lean and taunt as the muscles of the hulking brute condensed into the form of an agile hunter.

Congratulations!

You have created your first Ghoul!

Since you are a Progenitor, your Ghoul has elevated to a Ghoul Baron.

Lore: Ghouls are servants of vampire-kind, hunting parties are formed with them in mind of raiding for victims to be captured. However, Ghouls are still under the control of the Vampire that made them and have limited mental abilities, meaning they can think for themselves with only one thing in mind: pleasing their master. Some Ghouls can go through an evolution, transforming into Ghoul Barons that are leaders of their own packs, able to turn others into Ghouls under their control with a single bite.

Abilities:

Paralytic Venom Cursed Bite Blood Sight Greater Regeneration Rending Strikes

Moira shuffled back as the Ghoul Baron sniffed, its glowing green eyes shifting to her instantly. Aldrin stepped in between them. "Not her," he commanded, but the Ghoul only growled.

"She feeds the master already," it spoke in a ghastly voice, sounding more like an animal trying to say words.

Evie stood stock still, her hand paused over the rune she was crafting as she slowly put it away. "I don't think we are going to need the rune after all," she whispered, earning a nod from Aldrin.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.