The vampire who spoke charged in, Carl simply sighed. The vampire wasn't weak by any stretch, their stats were easily seven digits. The reason Carl sighed, was trust.

As the vampire got within a metre, Aegis appeared and grabbed each limb in one hand, leaning in with the twisted smile of countless dagger-like teeth. "You dare raise your hand to the master?" The chilling tone of voice made all of them freeze.

"Aegis, thank you, but please don't kill them."

"Fine... However I cannot allow them to keep the arm they raised." Aegis severed it before Carl could object. "You owe an arm for everyone enraged by your inferior lord's assault." Aegis then dropped the screaming vampire with a final snarl of disgust.

"Okay! All vampires front and centre before my kids get mad, I'd rather not have to have the "life is sacred chat" with them!"

The vampires all approached to encircle them as Aegis scoffed, offended that they still hadn't abandoned their hostility, one of them however marched angrily over to the one that Aegis had quite literally disarmed.

"Lucio! I told you not to give the order..." He came to a stop when Aegis twisted to ready to slash. "...Apologies, my name is Narcissus."

"Wow... Why do I care? Dracula ripped my mum's arm off, then you come to attack a human settlement, my homeland of all places... Am I supposed to pretend that's a coincidence and let it slide?"

Carl was studying them all, looking for any trace of treachery or intent.

Each one was dressed in the same fundamental equipment, a light studded leather cuirass, with leggings, vambraces, greaves and boots of the same material and dark-ash colour.

Fabric cloaks and face coverings made it impossible to see anything but their eyes.

"Of course, my father wronged you, I assure you that we do not share his bloodthirsty nature. In fact we are on our way to meet with Gaia and ask for land to start a commune."

"No offence, but bollocks. Gaia is the earth, you should know that you only need to call her name in her territory for her to hear. Not to mention that guy literally said "You harmed Lord Dracula, before he attacked."

"Actually, we did try that, but she ignored us. If I didn't know better, I'd say she was leading us here to you. When we sensed the same individual who returned what was left of my father, we feared you were luring us to our death.

We only wanted to see what you were doing here, but then you yelled and my companions panicked, or at least I thought that was the case, but I don't sense any deception in your words." He looked back at Lucio, a look of what appeared to be genuine confusion.

"Well you should leave... I do mean in regards to Gaia as well, she is busy with her child right now. He got riled up sensing people targeting me."

"So we have upset Gaia and her heir as well... Wait. Since when does Gaia have an heir?"

"Since I made one for her. I'm a creator first and foremost and not a fan of killing, which is why that parasite patriarch of yours is still breathing, so why don't you go before Aegis continues balancing the ledger?"

"Of course, if we are truly wasting our time, we will find another to negotiate with."

"I didn't say you were wasting your time, I said she is busy with her child, go back to the edg-"

She appeared in that instant with a very fed-up expression. "Your lord upset my little Rhea, then you all attacked a diplomatic guest of mine... If you wish for my help, then you will need to swear fealty to me, your arrogance in entering my lands uninvited is beyond redemption."

Narcissus looked at the writhing vampire next to him, which drew Carl's attention to him as well. "Why isn't he healing? I don't know much about vampires, I admit, but Dracula healed almost instantly."

"You really don't know?..." Narcissus looked at carl, wondering if his idea of "balancing a ledger", was inflicting an injury that he thought would heal. "...Only my father had such infallible regeneration, a result of having mastered the laws of Life and Death."

"So what? The rest of you are just humans with better stats?" Carl's words inspired snarls from a few of them, until Aegis snarled back.

"No, he would be healing, but we spent a lot of time in the sun, it neutralises our regeneration for a considerable time."

"Hmm... That won't do... Aegis, can you heal like Kyubi?"

Aegis grumbled quietly before answering and reverting back to human form and bowing. "Of course, Master. Though my abilities are diluted, but do you really wish me to heal it?"

"Aegis, how are we supposed to talk properly with that guy whining?"

An eye roll later, Aegis was healing the arm, though purposely doing so as sloppily as possible to ensure mobility and sensation would be limited and the healing itself painful.

"Thank you, Aegis. It is more than the fool deserves."

"Thank my master, I would rather wipe out your kind before Dracula steals your spines and sets you against us."

Carl made an exasperated gesture and an apology to Narcissus. "I think you have a little too much Grandma and Klaire in you. Dracula is the undisputed ruler of their kind, they couldn't oppose him if they wanted to."

"...To make matters worse, when Father became a villain of the game we were all twisted to become his bloodthirsty minions... Only one vampire elder wasn't affected, but they were too weak to stop the rest of their lineage being enthralled."

"I guess that progenitor must be responsible for making the half-vampires... Do you know where they are? I have a half-breed in my faction who could use their blessing."

"Unfortunately not, we tried to divine Walter's location, but he must be somewhere shielded to avoid butting heads with Dracula directly."

Gaia then reentered the conversation, her curiosity becoming piqued. "Indeed Walter came to negotiate with me for land, I'll tell you now that forgetting the land was part of the deal, but what I want to know is; how are you all free from Dracula's control?"

Narcissus looked nervous for the first time and all the vampires looked at Carl, confused when he seemed to be curious as well. "Carl... Robbed my father of his ten-star status. He limited his stars to five... Walter, is now the only vampire with ten-star capacity remaining. In the absence of a tyrant, we are far too unruly, that's why us few chose to try and start our own land at least I thought..."

"You want to create a home for the peaceful vampires? Well that's just splendid, you have just come face to face with the most magnanimous faction leader I know." Gaia clapped, drawing everyone's attention. "Not me. I meant Carl."

"I won't take them as members of the faction, I can't welcome people I don't trust and harbour prejudice against."

Narcissus thought for a second. "I can't speak for the others, but I'll sign a contract to become a prisoner of war, you may set any conditions and stipulations you wish." His words stole gasps from his companions.

"I'll be honest, I hate vampires right now, the only reason I didn't let Aegis kill you all is because I didn't want my half-vampire friend worrying that hatred extended to her. I'll accept your offer, but don't expect the magnanimity that Gaia suggested."

"You let Dracula remain immortal... After meeting you, I don't think that was solely to drag out the torture he would undoubtedly suffer, I think that was because you know he feared death more than anything. I accept."

"Fine..." Carl went on to state the terms of his prisoner status.

I Narcissus swear complete and total obedience to Carl Bashe-Reaga.

I will follow any order given, disobedience will result in forfeiture of life.

This extends to any order given by any faction member.

Under no circumstance, even by way of order, will I exert control over someone.

Under no circumstance, even by way of order, will I feed directly from a human.

Under no circumstance, even by way of order, will I convert anyone.

Any and all violations, will result in death.

In the case that an order is impossible to fulfill, the individual will notify Carl immediately.

In such a situation, the decision to grant leniency will remain squarely with Carl, or Klaire.

At any point Carl Bashe-Reaga reserves the right to replace this with a membership contract.

In such instance, Narcissus is obligated to sign without question.

Carl focused his divinity on the terms he thought up and before long it manifested before him. "Well, here is the terms..."

Narcissus chuckled. "I knew I was right, you even made sure I couldn't be given impossible orders by someone and also left the possibility for citizenship on the table."

"If you survive that long." Carl said in an attempt to sound threatening, but failing miserably in the eyes of those who had been under Dracula's oppressive thumb.

Narcissus signed the contract and bowed. "Master, what is my first order?"

"You're first order is to standby, when the others have left or signed as they choose, you will initially be placed under the watch of Sophie the half-vampire. She is so far removed from the bloodline, she is basically human, but still suffers sun-sickness. You will teach her every method you know for living with it, unless someone gives you an order to see you do something else."

One of the vampires stepped forward. "The son of the enemy leader is being ordered to just help a hybrid live comfortably? I'll sign." She was the first of the three others to join.

"The rest of you, leave my territory immediately, never bother me again. It isn't peace you're after, it's a crown." Gaia's words made them all look at each other, then she let out an earthy sigh and put an earthen stake through the heart of the one Aegis had only just healed. "Stupid parasite, thinking you can consider attacking me in my own territory."

"Damn it Lucio! Is that really why the rest of you followed, to use me to draw in our kind, then kill me and seize power? Master, may I please have permission to set an example?" Narcissus asked, earning little more than a "do as you will" gesture.

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