> Vampire the Masquerade: Equestria
>  by Rysthcrg
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Awakening
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				My name is... Well, I would tell, but it seems no one is interested in knowing my name. I am called neonate, childe, kid, cammy and some other things. Even VV, Velvet Velour, the woman who said that I stole her heart, didn't bother with my name, so I will spare you from the trouble. Just call me whatever you like. I am a member of Clan Toreador. I was Camarilla until tonight. I was taking orders from Prince LaCroix. I was his champion, then I got too powerful and he chose to put a bloodhunt on my head. I carried his every order, I did every job he gave to me, I didn't ask any questions, I didn't break any rules, I would never betray him, but he betrayed me. Tonight I came to the Venture Tower in the name of Ming Xiao. I will put an end to LaCroix's rule and remove the bloodhunt. Kuei-Jin will rule Los Angeles and I will be free to do as I wish. But first... I took a one last look at the Sheriff's grotesque gargoyle body, before he turned to ashes. There was no more obstacle in my way. I went inside the building and open the doors of LaCroix's throne room. He was pacing beside the sarcophagus. He stopped, seeing me walking towards him.

"You traitor! Do you know what you have done?" LaCroix shouted in defeat. "Siding with those devils over your own kind!" Says the man who puts a bloodhunt on my head. I didn't say anything. I didn't need to. He knew he couldn't best me in a combat. He knew there was no one to protect him from me or Ming Xiao. He was desperate. Once mighthy prince of Camarilla, now whining like a child. I allowed him to continue. "They are going to kill us all! Do you understand? You've sealed our FATE! They will never let you live! We have to open the sarcophagus!" Yes, genius and how are you going to do that without the key? It didn't matter though as I saw Ming Xiao entering the room with her men. LaCroix was still talking. "It's the only way to- Oh..." Until he noticed Kuei-Jin that is. His face was priceless. I could see him losing every last piece of hope. This is what happens to betrayers LaCroix. "It's too late." He fell on his knees.

Ming Xiao walked towards him as I step back to give her some room. Her men surrounded us and sarcophagus. "My complements, Sebastian. You couldn't have picked a more capable and ambitious operative. You should have done a better job of keeping someone who so vital to your success on you side." She crouched down and put her arm around LaCroix's shoulders. "I was... Greatful that they came to see me tonight." She looked at me for a second before continuing with LaCroix. She gripped his chin lightly and turned his face to herself. "What's the matter, you are very quiet, it's so unlike you." She said mocking with him. "Did you have a speech prepared for me, Sebastian, for when you and your soldiers would walk into my temple and put me to death? What words awaited me in that cavalier braggadocio of yours? Hmm, sweet prince?" He said nothing. Xiao let LaCroix's head and straightened up. "I always imagined you would beg for your life. Attempt some final bargain to save that handsome head of yours." LaCroix looked at her for a second, then lowered his head again. "I am refreshed and humbled by your silence. My apologies, Sebastian." She stood up. "Unfortunutely, this is all I had to say. Farewell." 

She turned to me and put her arm around my shoulders. I started walking away from Sebastian LaCroix as she did too. "You were splendid tonight. With LaCroix gone, the Camarilla will fall. Without Nines Rodriguez or the Camarilla to lead them, the rest of the kindred will be flushed from their havens and driven out like rats from the flood." I heard the sound of a blade beheading LaCroix. Ming Xiao and I both turned our heads just in time to see him burst into flames and turn into ashes. "What did he think he would accomplish with this?" She was looking at the sarcophagus. "Hmm. No matter. I can think of a perfectly good use for it. There is still one very dangerous kindred in this city who could stand in the way of my goal." She put her hand on my shoulder as her men pointed their weapons towards me. "Did you really think I could let you exist in our society? But I do appreciate your service to me, and for that, I will spare your life. Farewell kindred." I was dumbfounded. I should have seen this coming. "Take him, tie him up to the sarcophagus." How could I be this stupid. After all these plots I have been a part of, my judgement was clouded by my own desperation of getting rid of the bloodhunt. I could trust no one, I was seeing this now, but it was too late.

They tied me up to the sacophagus and loaded it to a truck. I couldn't see where we were heading but I knew that Ming Xiao wouldn't be satisfied with banishing me from the city. She said she could think of a good use for sarcophagus. Was she going to put me inside and bury me? No, she was afraid of the contents of the sarcophagus as much as every kindred in this city, she wouldn't dare to open it. Then what? What are you going to do to me Xiao? The truck stopped, it was time for me to get my answers. As they unload the sarcophagus I saw that we were at a port and they were taking the sarcophagus towards a boat. They are going to throw me into the ocean! I was about to start an attemp to bargain with them but I realized that it was useless. They were planning this even before coming to Venture Tower. LaCroix's words came to my mind. You have sealed our FATE! They will never let you live! I smiled wryly. He got the half of it right. I did seal our fates. Atleast I was not going to die like him, I hope. I knew it is going to be painful, though. The pressure was going to crush my body. Fortunutely I didn't need air, but God knows how long I will stay deep in the ocean. I heard that Antediluvians survived the great flood by slumbering under the water. Perhaps I could sleep like them. I am likely to get hungry so I pity on those who will find me. Though, probably my bindings will decay before that and allow me to escape. They put the sarcophagus on the boat and started the engine.

Being a Toreador, I always had craved for my life as a human more than others. I did good things to remain as a human, atleast on a characteristic level. I killed, of course, but always in self defence. It's not my stile to kill for fun or just because I can. I prefer talking about our problems. I helped people, even that hunter Yuki. I was as human as a kindred could be and it made me slip in this world of monsters. One wrong step and now I will end up thrown in to the ocean. Never again. I will never pretend like something I am not. I should have killed everyone. I should have end both Kuei-Jin and Camarilla. I laughed to myself. Xiao and her men looked at me. Yeah, like there will be another chance for me. When the time I could free myself from these binding Kuei-Jin will be in charge of the whole Los Angeles. I was wondering... "Tell me Xiao, do you think I am a gullible fool?"

She came closer to me. "Don't say that, my sweet kindred." She said, caressing my cheek. "I would never insult you like that." She started walking towards my feet. "You have done the only thing you could, afterall. It's not like you could go anyone but me. Besides, after all that chaos and strife, you are walking out alive. I would be... content, if I were you."

"Would you, really?" What a bullshit. "You would be content for being thrown into the ocean? It seems I am indeed a gullible fool to you." She smirked. It was the only answer I was going to get.

The rest of our short journey was in silence only broken by the sounds of waves and boat's engine which suddenly came to an end. It was time to get rid of me and sarcophagus. There was no talking, everyone knew their job. The man standing at my feet threw his cigarette while turning around to push the sarcophagus into the ocean. I slowly slid overboard with Xiao walking beside me. With a loud splash I started to sink. They were looking at the water as I sank deeper and deeper. I lost them from my sight. I was sinking so fast, water had already began to crush me. My eardrums popped, I clenched my jaws as tears start to form in my eyes. I could feel the pressure around my throat. My larynx crushed. The pain was unbearable. I opened my mouth to scream, water filled my lungs. I was coughing under water with my crushed larynx, the agony... A sound in the back of my head was speaking weakly, telling me not to panic, reminding me that I didn't need air, telling that water in my lungs and my crushed larynx didn't matter at all. But I was in no condition to listen to it while pressure started to crush my eyes. I screamed with water coming out of my mouth. My lungs crushed. I couldn't take the pain anymore, everything went dark.





I don't know for how long I was passed out but I could feel the hunger, hunger for blood. I could feel my beast waking up, infesting my thoughts. It wants blood, it always wants blood. Why did I woke up? Oh, right. Someone is talking. Blood, I need blood. My beast's desire was getting stronger. I opened my eyes, it's dark. Am I blind? Doesn't matter, I need blood. I knew someone was talking but hunger was keeping me from listening the words. I tried to stand up. My binding weren't there. Good. I pounced to the source of the sound and buried my fangs deep into his... Well, I have no idea. I could hear some people screaming, I wasn't in a situation to care. Blood, I need more. I kept sucking. My vision slowly came back. I could feel the man drying up. I was about to kill him, I had to stop. No, I am still hungry! The beast was in charge now, I wasn't going to be able to hold back. He was dying and I was going to lose my humanity. Something shot me in the head and sent me flying across the room. I would have been dead if it wasn't for the blood I drank. Atleast now I'm in control.  I stood up as my head healing the damage. It was healing at a very slow rate, whatever that weapon is, it was supernatural. I took a look at my opponents. There were seven of them, including the one I fed on who is now passed out on the floor. Quadruped creatures wearing black robes. What? I wasn't shocked for long. They could be another supernatural spicies for all I care, but that weapon, I couldn't take another direct hit from that. I had to disarm them, but there was no weapon in sight. This must be their own power, this is bad. I can't fight them, they are too many. Or can I?

I reached for the blood I just drank and used some of it to activate one of my clan diciplines, celerity. World slowed down in a heartbeat. I could see their every little move, their horns started glowing with different colors. It must have been the thing that hit me before. I had to act quick I didn't have much time and the blood I just drank wasn't much. I ran towards the two on the left, I grabbed them in the head and collided them with a sickening crack before any of them could react. I twisted right hand, slammed another one's head to the stone floor, knocking it unconscious. The other three were turning to me with the glowing in their horn seemingly reached its peak. I dashed towards the closest one, landing an uppercut and sending it flying to other two. They fired their blasts and shot their friend throwing it right back at me. I dodged it with a side flip. They were running for the door. I couldn't let them warn anyone. I pounced to the closest one. Landing on its back, I wrapped my arms around its head and snapped its neck with a quick twirl. I catched up with the other before it could reach the exit. I grabbed its tail and pulled it away from the door. It was about to scream for help. I reached for its mouth and closed it with my hand while wrapping my other arm around its neck to hold it still. 

"Easy there, easy." I spoke to its ear. "Keep struggling and I will kill you." It stopped moving, tears coming down from its eyes. "Good. Now, I will release your mouth. If you scream, it'll be the last thing that you do. Do you understand?" It tried to nod. I released her mouth. It started to sob uncontrollably. Such weaklings, no better then men.

"Please, don't *sob* kill me. I will do any- *sob* anything you *sob* want, just please do- *sob* don't kill me." So it was a woman. I watched her cry, it was heartbreaking. I suddenly realized how beautiful their form was. A true work of art indeed, God's creation at its finest. And I killed them. I looked at their broken bodies. Grief infested my heart, tears started to form in my eyes. What have I done? I wasn't sure if I said it out loud. It was too much, seeing these wonderful works of art scattered all over the place, knowing that I will never be able to truly admire their beauty. Snap out of it, you have to SNAP OUT OF IT! I recovered from my state of awe. Fortunately, I was still holding the creature thightly in my grasp. She had a hair formed of two different tones of yellow, one bright and shiny, other more pale and shady. Her coat was a very light tone of blue, almost white. Her eyes were grey. She was shaking in my grasp. She is so beautiful. My hand started to move to her hair. I wanted to feel its touch on my skin. What do you think it will be like? Soft like silk, maybe... Or perhaps- NO! Stop it!  I cursed my Toreador blood.

"Now, I will let you go and you will walk towards the wall acroos the door, not to the exit. You know I am faster." She nodded again and I let her go. She walked across the room and sat beside the wall. I had questions but first I needed to feed. The drink I had before was very little, these creatures didn't have much blood. They looked like animals but their blood was not distasteful like an animal's. I walked towards the two that I cracked their skull. I buried my fangs in one's neck. A small whine came from my hostage.  I could feel the blood lifting me up. Creature was probably going to die anyway but I couldn't bring myself to drain it. I let it go and I took a bite from the next one and from the one I slammed to the ground. I wiped my mouth and stood up to take a look at the room I'm in.

It was a circular room, walls made out of sand colored bricks. There were twelve brownish columns sticked to the circular walls, each of them had a torch on it for better lighting. I was glad that they were far enough from me. There were no windows. The room was empty but us. Ceiling was about six meters high. The only exit was a large wooden gate, which is now behind me as I walk towards my prisoner. I crouched down before her. She was still shaking and crying. She started breathing heavily as she recognized me near herself. "Here are my questions, creature. Who are you? What are you? Where am I, and my favorite, why am I here?"
> Encounter
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				"Here are my questions, creature. Who are you? What are you? Where am I, and my favorite, why am I here?" She was about to answer but her words interrupted by another voice coming from the otherside of the door.

"Hey! Are you guys okay in there? We heard screams." It was a male's voice, carrying a genuine concern. This is bad. My hostage looked at me, waiting for my instructions.

"Tell him you are fine and not to come in. If you call for help I will kill you both." She didn't even hesitate to follow my orders. She was really afraid.

"We are fine, Sharp Edge, don't worry." Her words came out weepy. I had my doubts about being able to kill more of her kind. I prayed for him to take her word and leave. However, Sharp Edge wasn't satisfied.

"You don't sound fine. Were you crying? I'm coming in." Door started to open slowly.

"NO!" She shrieked, stopping him from opening the door. I was startled too, but she didn't seem to notice that. "You can't come in. This spell is very unstable. You will blow us up." I was impressed that she was able to come up with a story so quickly.

"Okay, I will go then." Though there was still some suspicion in has voice, he took the bait. "Sorry for my interruption. You guys keep doing what you doing." His mumbling faded as he kept walking away from the door. I gave out a sigh of relief but her voice reminded me that I still had things to do.

"Will you kill me?" She lowered her head. This time her voice wasn't carrying any fear or sorrow. There was just despair. She had witnessed me beating her friends to death in mere seconds and feeding on their blood. I could imagine how she must be feeling. It brought back the memories of the first night of my embrace. The moment LaCroix's Sheriff beheaded my sire, I was sure that I will go after her. I placed my right hand under her chin and lifted her head to face me. She didn't resist.

"No, I won't kill you." She loosened her shoulders. An idea shaped in my mind. "In fact, I have a gift for you." With that I bit my left wrist and let my vitae leak through the wound. She winced at my strange behavior. I brought my wrist closer to her face. "Drink." She looked at me, bewildered. I nodded, pushing my wrist a little closer to her. She moved towards to my wound and slowly opened her mouth. After a small moment of hesitation her mouth lapped on my wrist and she started to suck the vitae. She grimaced but didn't fall back until I told her to stop. There was some blood stains around her mouth, she wiped her mouth to her robe's sleeve. I would expect fur to be much harder to clean but a simple wipe seemed to work well enough.

I examined her current state after pulling my wrist back. There was no fear or desperation anymore. She was looking at me with admiration. Then it changed to anger, then to an apologetic attitude. First drink was showing its effect. She wasn't sure how to feel about me anymore. I smiled, she shied away. "Do you remember my questions?"

"Yes, sorry, I forgot for a second." Her voice was calm and a bit eager to answer. The change in her behavior was very surprising for me. I have read the effects of blood bond, but my first experience was beyond my expectations.

"It's okay, you can start answering now."

"I am Charming Star. I am a unicorn pony. You are in Equestria. Because me," she turned her head to her friends, laying on the ground, motionless, "and my fri- my- my fri-" She started crying again. "You killed them! I hate you! You monster!" I couldn't stand to see her crying. I didn't know how to console her so I did the first thing that came into my mind. I pulled her into a hug. She started kicking and punching. "I hate you!" I hugged tighter and she buried her head to my chest. I wanted to say that I'm sorry, but I couldn't show anymore weakness to her. "I hate you." She was slowly kicking me with her hind legs. "Why did you killed them? Why?" She wasn't moving anymore, she was just sobbing. I was stroking her... mane. I'm guessing that's the word, since she is a pony. She slowly calmed herself to a silent cry. After staying like this for a little more, she pushed herself away from me. I let her go, she went back to her old spot and continued her explanation. She was looking at the ground. She wasn't so eager to answer anymore. "You are here because we were trying an experimental spell to extract entities from other worlds." I'm in another world? One that magic is a common thing? "But it wasn't supposed to work on living beings. Apparently we were mistaken." There was no emotion in her voice. She was completely drained.

"You weren't mistaken." I said, attracting her attention. "I am not alive. I am an undead."

"Like necromancy? We never thought of that possibility." She frowned. "It sure costed us a lot."

"Can you send me back to my own world?" Though I was asking this question, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to go back. There was nothing left for me there anymore but a city swarming with Kuei-Jin.

"No." She shooked her head. "Spell was designed for extraction, not for insertion. Even if we could do insertion there is no way of finding your world among others."

"So I'm stuck in your world?" It came out like a question, but it was intended as a statement. She nodded. "Then tell me about your world, your spicies, but first tell me about this place. This is a research facility, I assume?"

"Not quite. This place is more like a hideout, intended for secrecy. It is a very large underground structure. We are in the part that reserved for research. They are different research groups in here, working on different fields. Most of them involve dark magic, some of them don't, like our research, but almost all of them are forbidden by the laws."

"Basicly you are a kind of illegal organization. What purpose does that researchs serve?"

"Our sponsor intends to collect all the information we discover and present it as an evidence to proof that working on these fields can benefit us." She looked at me once more. "Now I understand the reason behind the laws."

What she said about their purpose didn't make sense to me. Pursuing illegal occupations and forming an undercover organization isn't the way to prove a point. That sponsor had some different plans than he revealed. "What is that... pony's name? Your sponsor I mean."

"His name is Rare Excellence." I was about to burst into laughter. That ridicilous name... But I refrained myself.

"I assume he doesn't run this facility personally?" Someone with enough money to built an underground research facility would be expected to have some other things to attent to rather than spending their whole time supervising this.

"No, he only comes here in case of an important discovery. He has a representative here, Silver Ore. She is the one who is in charge of the facility."

"How long do we have until the sunrise?" She seemed surprised.

"How can you say it's night time? There is no way for you to see outside."

"Let's say the sun tires me." She looked at me suspiciously. "So, how long?"

"It's not that late in the night. I think sun will not rise in six hours."

"Then we will go and see this Silver Ore. You will be my escort on the way. Do your best to avoid from others. I don't want to kill anymore of your kind."

She was dumbfounded by the idea. "But- but it's impossible to avoid others. This facility has a security team of its own. We cannot pass them without being seen."

"I see..." I had a good idea about how to pass them without being attacked. "It won't be a problem, just take me to her." She seemed nervous.

"Why? What do you want from her? Are you going to kill her?" I was taken aback by her question. I realized I was nothing but a bloodthirsty monster for her. What reason does she have to think otherwise?

"No. I'm not planning to hurt anyone unless they try to hurt me." She didn't seem to believe. "The only reason I did this," I waved my hand, pointing her friends. "was to protect myself from that explosive beams of yours." I said, pointing at her horn.

"You attacked us! You leaped on him and bit him like an animal! We were the ones that defending ourselves!" She was furious. I could see her point of view and she was right to think that. I was the reason for this massacre, atleast in her eyes. I could tell her about the beast, but she wouldn't understand. So I didn't.

"I just want to talk to her, okay? I have no intention to hurt her." She isn't going to like what I will say, though.

"She is- No, I don't want to do this anymore. You killed my friends. I don't even know why am I helping you. But that's it, you can kill me if you want. I won't answer anymore of your questions and I'm definitely not going to take you anywhere." She really seemed determined about her decision. Well, so far for the death threats and first drink. Fortunately, I have other ways persuade her.

"The problem is, my dear Charming Star, the lack of your help won't stop me from leaving this room and exploring this facility on my own, and until I find what I want everyone who gets in my way will die, or atleast get hurt in a way that will prevent them from moving." Her determination was fading. She was unsure about what to do and I had no intention to leave her time to think. I stood up and started walking towards the door. "You have been warned. You can sit here while I'm busy killing more of your friends."

"No! Wait!" She said, loudly. I grinned. "I will take you to her, but promise me you won't hurt anypony anymore."

"I'm making no promises. If they attack, I will defend myself. Now please, lead the way." She frowned, but started walking towards the door. I left the room walking behind her. We entered a large hallway. Walls were made with the same material used in the circular room. Light was being provided by oil lamps hanging down from the ceiling. It reminded me the Giovanni Stronghold's catacombs for some reason, without the walking corpses and eastern vampire brothers. We turned a corner and saw two guards in leather armor coming on our way. They didn't have horns like Charming Star did, but one of them had wings. Their... hooves went for their swords as they saw us and we all stopped moving. Charming Star looked at me with concerned eyes. "Just tell them you are taking me to Silver Ore as an extraordinary specimen." I whispered.

"No need for that, guys. I'm taking him to Silver Ore as an extraordinary specimen." They weren't taking the bait this time.

"Step away from the creature Charming, I get it when I see someone who cried. Don't worry, we got this." The one with winged spoke. It was a voice that I heard before. Sharp Edge? They unsheathed their swords. Charming didn't move, she was nibbling her lower lip, her eyes were looking around in panic to find a way out of this. "Step away, Charming!"

"No! You don't und-" I stepped forward, interrupting her words. "No." Her objection was weak. She was on the brink of bursting into tears. Fortunately for her, I had no intention to kill those guards.

I activated the simplest ability that presence dicipline gives me; awe. If it works on them, they were going to lean towards believing everything I utter, no matter how stupid it is. "Gentlemen please, there is no need for violence." Their eyes focused on me with great interest in my words. It was working, they weren't holding their weapons so tight anymore. "My friend Charming here was crying because of joy, not because anything terrible, I assure you."

"Joy?" Sharp Edge asked. 

"Your friend?" Other one looked at me with expectant eyes.

"Yes and yes." I crouched down beside her and wrapped my right arm around her shoulders. "She said that I was one of their greatest discoveries and then she bursted into tears of joy." She glared at me, hatred burning in her eyes. Presence didn't seem to effect her. However, she was relieved that I wasn't going to kill them. I smiled to her and stood up. "Now, if you would be so kind to let us pass, we really need to see Miss Silver Ore. It is told to me that Charming's division was starting to seem like a failure to Mr. Excellence and I am their chance to save that division from being dismissed."

"Dismissed! Charming, you never said anything about being dismissed." The guards were looking surprized by the information.

"Yes." Charming answered. "I didn't know anything about that until today either. Apperantly we were going to be dismissed soon." She said mockingly. It was my turn to return the glare. You are gambling high. "But our newest discovery will save us, I hope." Fortunately, guards were under the effect of my presence, so they didn't take notice of her mockery.

"Then you should go right away." Sharp Edge said. Both of them sheathed their weapons. "I'm sure after hearing about... him, he will reconsider the idea." We started walking again and they went back to patroling. We were about to turn another corner when Sharp Edge called for us. "Wait a second!" Charming tensed up and I prepared myself for a fight. We turned around at the same time. Sharp Edge was trotting towards us. To my relief he didn't show any hostility. He handed something seemed like a pin. "If any other guard tries to stop you, just show them this. They should let you go."

"Thanks." Charming took the pin and put it in one of the pockets of her robe.

"Yeah, no problem. But I want it back. See you later." With that he trotted back to the other guard. Charming gave a sigh of relief.

"Come on, let's go." We continued walking down the hallway.
> Hitch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				"Charming?" she raised her head to look at me. "You don't seem to be surprized by my apperance, even though clearly my form is much different from yours. Is it because I came from a different dimension?" We were still walking our way to Silver Ore, atleast that was what I hoped for.

"That and also you are reminding me of minotaurs, so I'm not that unfamiliar to your body shape." Minotaurs? As in half bull half human mythological creatures? If ponies aren't the only sentient life forms it will be very useful.

"I assume they are sentient aswell?" She nodded and made an affirming sound. Change of plans then. No need for intense use of my presence. I just need to know about Silver Ore so I can corner her. "I will need more information about this world but for now tell me about Silver Ore."

"Well, she has a silver coat, that's why t-"

"Not apperance, characteristics." I cut her off. It should have been obvious, right?

She studdered a bit. "Oh! Ah... okay. She is a good manager, she always listens Mister Exellence's orders and never does anything without asking him. She is also-"

"That should suffice." I cut her off again. It didn't seem to me that she manages anything. She sounds more like a messenger than a manager. "We will have a conversation with her. I want you to back me up on everything I say. It is crucial that she believes me or this will be a very messy night. Do you understand?"

She looked worried, just like I wanted to. I hate to threaten her every five minutes but I need her to be cooperative. "Yes." We kept walking silently for a while. Some guards intercepted us but they let us go once Charming showed them the pin, but their surprised looks followed us till we lose them from sight. "What is your plan?"  Question was simple but its abruptness surprised me. She must have noticed because she started to explain. "I mean what are you hoping to accomplish by talking with Silver Ore? Do you expect her to find a way to send you back?"

I giggled. How naiv you are. "I will replace her position as the new manager." I said with a straight voice. It was her turn to get surprized.

"What? You... How?"

"As I said before. Just back me up if I need." I don't think I will though. "I think we are here. Am I right?" The hallway was about to come to an end and there was only one door ahead.

"Y-yes. The door on the left." I walked over to the door and knocked it a few times.

"Come in." It was a male's voice. I turned to Charming with questioning eyes.

"It's her assistant. Steady Quill." I will never get used to those names. I slowly opened the door and walked in.

"Greetings, Mr. Steady Qui-" My greeting was interrupted by a loud "Eeep!" He fell from his chair and was trying to go up the wall. It was an expected reaction but a fun thing to watch nonetheless. However if I don't act quickly he could cause a hullabaloo. "Please, you have nothing to fear, I assure you. I mean no harm towards you." His movements stopped but he was still hanging on to the wall while eyeing me with suspicion. Those eyes... I knew his type. He likes to look smarter than the others. He wants to feel that he is the superior one. I knew how to deal with his type. First you give them the superiority they want. "I am extremely sorry that I frighthened you. You see, my kin is not commonly known to the residents of this land. I get this kind of reaction quite often, though not to this extent." I smiled bashfully.

He had brown coat and a light turquoise mane. He had a quill tattoo on his hips. Did he tattooed his name or something? He had a horn like Charming's.

He cleared his throat and gave off on the wall. "I wasn't scared. You just surprised me that's all." He said while he was getting back to his chair with a disdainful stance. "Now, what do you want? Or more importantly how did you get in? Wait! How did you find this place anyway? Who are you?"

I changed my smile with a genuine one. Then show them their place. "You have so many questions, don't you? I like you already." I really did, he is easy to play with. His haughty mask shattered for a moment but he regained his stance. "I have been sent here by Mr. Excellence to replace Miss Ore's duty as his representative. There, one answer to all of your questions." His mask fell completely. I could see him trying to shape a sentence but he seemed too surprised by the idea. "She is in that room, right?" I pointed to a door on my left. "Can I see her now?"

"B-but you are not even a pony. Why would he put you up to this task?" Racist prick! Those were the kind of words I wanted to hear, reckless, said without proper thinking, words that divulge his confusion, but it made me angry. I can't let my anger get in the way now. This is a delicate game I'm playing. Make him feel superior again.

"Who knows? I was as shocked as you were. There must be many... ponies that are better than me." It was hard to keep my smile but I managed. "Well, I'm going in now."

"No, you are not." My smile widened.Cocky, good. "She doesn't like to be disturbed while doing her job. You can come back an hour later."

"I don't think you understand the situation, assistant." I wiped my smile of my face. "I am your boss now, not her. She has no bussiness left with this place. If I want to go in my office, I will go in my office." He was quite dumbfounded but he still started to talk.

"I cannot al-"

"Keep your mouth shut." He choked on his words. He was completely shattered. "Sit here and do not interfere with our meeting or you will be the next one who gets replaced." He sat down, buried in thoughts. I headed towards Ore's office. When I got in she didn't even raise her head from the documents.

"What is it, Quill? Can't you see that I'm busy." Her voice was irritated. She really doesn't like to be disturbed. She had a silver colored coat and a white mane. This one had wings. I really should ask about these sometime. She had a checklist tattooed on her hips. Checklist? Nonetheless she looked beautiful. She was a true work of art. I can just look at her all night and- No! What kind of joke is this? If my clan's curse keeps popping up like this, how am I supposed to play my game.

"Greetings, Miss Ore. I am here to release you from your duties." That got her attention enought to raise her head.

"What does th- Oh my sweet Celestia! What are you?" She looked a bit scared but not as much as her assistant. She was still on her chair.

"I am a human but that is a rather irrelevant question." Charming looked up to me. I realized I have never stated my spicies before. "I have been sent here as a replacement to your position." She was surprised. An expected reaction. But beyond that I could see that she didn't believe me.

"I don't know who you are or how did you get in this facility, but you are going to be taken care of." She opened her mouth to call someone, probably her assistant. I had to act quickly.

"Miss Ore!" I called her loudly, interrupting her. "Please, do not make this harder for yourself. I am under Mr. Excellence's instructions. I have been sent here to relieve you from you duties."

"Preposterous! I am the best at what I do. That is why I am the manager of this facility. Who are you to take my place?"

"This isn't what I heard from Mr. Excellence. He said he finds you... inefficient." She was taken aback by my statement. "He said that you do nothing without asking him."

"I don't, but this is his facility, I should ask him." I could see that she started to understand where this was going.

"You are... were his representative, Miss Ore. Do you know why someone uses a representative?" She looked at me with defeated eyes. "It's because they want someone else to take care of their jobs. By asking him every detail, you didn't fullfil your purpose as a representative." She looked down.

"I... I... No!" That's unexpected. "I won't believe you, until I hear it from Mr. Excellence himself."

"I don't think he would enjoy hearing that you are preventing me, Miss Ore." I had to improvise something. I didn't know how she was planning to talk with him, but I have to assume that it can be fast.

"If he already fired me, what else will he do?" What she said was undeniably true, but I could swear I have seen a moment of hesitation in her eyes. I have to take my chances this time.

"I think we both know what he will do, Miss Ore." She clenched her jaw and closed her eyes.

"It seems he really did send you." She sighed. "Will you erase my memory?" Erase her memory? It did makes sense considering this is a secret facility. It must be the way it stays secret, erase the memory of the person who leaves.

"I'm afraid I have to Miss Ore. You know the procedures." Charming fidgeted slightly beside me attracting my attention. She was looking very stressed for some reason. Maybe she doesn't want her memory to be erased.

"Yes, I know." Silver Ore spoke. "Could you atleast let me say goodbye to my assistant?"

"Sure, I will be waiting." She started to walk towards the door. Charming tensed up even more, she was starting to make me nervous too. There must be a problem, but what? Silver Ore was passing beside Charming when Charming suddenly decided to land a punch on her face. With the strenght she acquired by drinking my blood she actually managed to knock her out. I was just standing there with my mouth agape. She was also surprised that she actually punched her unconscious.

"Why did you do that?" I asked. "Now we have to beat up the assistant too."

"She was lying about the memory stuff to test you. She knew that you were lying so she was going to call for the guards." She looked at me with teary eyes. "Did I killed her? I didn't mean to hit her so hard."

"No, she is fine. She's just going to have a nasty headache." I reassured her. So Silver Ore, you really are a clever woman. It's a shame we are not on the same side. Atleast for now. I had something in mind for her, but first I should take this facility under my control. "However, we have to take care of her assistant now." I walked close to the door and called for the assistant. "Steady Quill, could you come in for a second." I heard his footsteps.

"Coming!" He opened the door and I greeted him with a punch. The punch was enough for him to blackout, but much to my chagrin he hit his head to the door knob before falling down. I crouched down and checked her head. He was bleeding slightly. Shit!

"Is he alright?" Charming's voice was carrying a genuine concern. I hate to do this to her but I cannot hide it anyway.

"He hit his head to the door knob. He is bleeding." She gasped.

"Oh no! Can't you do something?"

"I'm not a doctor, I don't know what to do." I sighed. "In any case he should be fine. It doesn't look that serious. More importantly, we have to tie them up and hide them for now. Can you find me a rope or something like that?" She was still worried but she nodded.

"Yes, there must be some rope at the repository. I'll go get it." She galloped out of the office. I should go with her to be sure she doesn't call for help. Just as I was about to leave I heard Silver Ore's groaning. She was waking up. If they wake up while I'm gone it would be bad. I knocked her out again.It seems like I have to trust her. I should atleast lock the doors. I searched for a key and found it in one of the drawers. I locked the doors and stared to wait. After a short time I heard someone trying to open the door. Seeing the door is locked they started knocking.

"Why did you locked the door?" Fortunately, it was a familiar voice. "It's me, I have the rope." I unlocked the door then locked it again once she was in.

"I didn't want anyone else to come in or I might had to beat them up too." She passed the rope with her... hooves? How are they holding things with their hooves? I took the rope and proceed to tie up our captives.

"I am actually surprised that I was able to knock her out." She said. I looked at her with questioning eyes. "How did I knock her out with one punch? I'm not that strong and I have never landed a punch in my life until today."

"It's because you drank my blood." She looked more curious. "If someone drinks blood from a vampire, it gives them vampiric powers. Do you remember how fast I moved?" She nodded. "That is something I can do in exchange for some of my blood. Same blood gives me extraordinary strength. Because you drank some of it you also gained more strength."

"What is a vampire? You said you were a human before." Then she suddenly looked like she understood the whole thing. "Oh, it's like ponies, right? We have unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies, but we are all called ponies. You have vampires and others and you are all called humans." She exclaimed. I giggled.

"No, it's not that simple. Humans are born with the same... traits. We originate from the humans but we are not really human. Vampirism is a curse that changes humans into something else. Vampires are unnatural beings." I was done with bindings so I turned my head towards her.

"What do you mean? If it makes you stronger isn't it a gift?"

"Vampires are incapable of eating food like others do. You see this?" I showed her my fangs. "These fangs are for piercing the skin. We can only survive by drinking blood." She gasped. "Then there is the beast. We all carry it inside us. If we cannot keep it under control, it may go on a rampage. That is also the reason why I attacked your friend at the first place. It waked up before me, then everything went downhill. I'm sorry." She lowered her head. "We are granted eternal life but we can never see the sun rise again, we cannot walk under its light. But the worst part is, once you are embraced and become a vampire, you must abandon everyone you know, your friends, your family, everyone. No goodbyes no nothing, you just disappear for them. Because if they are to see you, learn what you are, they are to be killed, you are to be killed. This is the masquerade, this is the sacrifice we make to keep our kin safe and secret." I saw a tear drop on the floor. I shouldn't have remind her friends.

"Am I going to be a vampire too? Because I drank your blood." I smiled, even though she couldn't see it.

"Don't worry, it doesn't work like that. It just gives you temporary powers." She let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly she raised her head and looked at me like she just had an epiphany.

"Does that mean I could fight you? I could... defeat you?" Is she really going to do that? There was no way she could defeat me even with the powers my blood provided her. However, I doubt that will stop her from trying.

"If I were to say yes, would you fight me?" She stopped and considered for a little, to my relief she shook her head. But why not?

"Why not? I killed you friends. You must hate me for what I did." She looked at me pityingly.

"Because I'm sorry for what happened to you. "Her words hit me like a brick. "You really seem to miss being a... human." I killed her friends, drank their blood, continuously threatened to kill her and she is sorry... for me? It brought tears to my eyes, thanks to Toreador's emotional character. "But I will never forgive what you did." I smiled wryly.

"Of course you won't." I stood up. Enough of this. I need to continue. "Is there a meeting hall or something like that in here?"

"Yes, there is." She nodded.

"Good. I need you to gather everyone in this facility to that meeting hall, then come back here to report me. Meanwhile I will keep an eye on our captives. Can you do that?"

"Yes, but why?" A fearful expression covered her face. "Are you going to-" I raised my hand to stop her.

"Stop that. I have no plan to hurt anyone." I sighed. "Look, I know that you see me as a monster and I cannot deny that I am a one, but all this time I have been struggling to keep my human side. To be honest, if there would have been any other vampire but me, this would be a massacre." She looked curious. "They would kill everyone that tries to oppose them and take this place by force. All I do is a little deception."

"Is your kin really that evil?" She was scared of what she heard.

"Worse. Kindred, vampires, think themselves as superior to all mortals. Humans are usually nothing more than a bag of blood for them." She was disgusted and afraid. I decided to change the subject. "So, are you going to gather them or what?"

"Yeah, I don't need to leave the room. I can just make an announcement from here." She walked behind the manager's desk and pressed a button, then started talking to a pyramid with a red crystal on it. There were some letters that I don't know on the gold colored pyramid. "Attention! Everyone report to the meeting hall in twenty minutes, there will be an important announcement." Her voice echoed in the facility. "Everyone report to the meeting hall in twenty minutes, there will be an important announcement." She repeated and took her hoof off on the button. "Now what?"

"Now, my dear Charming, we shall wait for ten minutes, then" I turned my head to our captives. "we will carry them to the research lab where you... summoned me." She look at me with disbelief.

"Why there, why are you taking near my... friends?" She was sad. "Wouldn't it be harder for you to convince them?"

"There is no way for me to convince them after this anyway." She was worried.

"So what then? What will you do?" I shrugged.

"I don't know yet. I will figure something out. For now I cannot let them interfere with my plans." I turned my head back to Charming. "I have to take this place before sunrise."
> Meeting
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				We were waiting in the room doing nothing so I might aswell learn some useful things for my speech. "Charming, could you tell me about how this place's management works?" She thought for a second.

"There is the manager." She pointed her hoof to Silver Ore who is currently on the ground. "She is basically in charge of everything in this facility. There are three head researchers, all of them are responsible for their own branch of the facility. Then there is the chief of security, he is in charge of, well, security. Also in every research group, there is an executive. Executives report to head researchers, head researchers and chief of security report to the manager." It sounded like a bigger facility than I thought.

"What three branches are you talking about?"

"There is one for bright magic, one for dark magic and one for blood magic." Blood magic?

"Give me the names of these head researchers and tell me how they look like." She thought for a second.

"Head researcher of the Bright Magic Department is Candle Light. She has a white coat and light blonde mane. Head researcher of the Dark Magic Department is Night Shade. His coat is... midnight blue, he has red eyes and a blazing red horn. There are blue flames around his eyes. Using dark magic deformes the user's body." That seemed like a very specific looks but if every dark magic user has same kind of deformation than I might still have trouble identifiying him. "Head researcher of the Blood Magic Department is called Grim. I don't know if this is his real name. I have never seen him in person but from what I heard he is always wearing a mask and no one has seen his coat because he never disrobes." A mysterious personality. I noticed that she zoned out.

"What is it, Charming? What are you thinking?" She looked at me with questioning eyes for a moment.

"I... uh, nothing." She sighed. "I just realized that I have never seen anypony from Blood Magic Department." That was not really reassuring.

"Really? Ever?" She shook her head. "Didn't you held a meeting before?"

"We did but they were never invited."

"Why?" She took a deep breath. 

"In our world, dark magic is greatly frowned upon. It is corrupting in it's nature and even if it is used for good purposes it will ultimately result in physical and mental deterioration of the user. Somepony who is corrupted by dark magic will still be able to think logical but they will become obsessed with being more powerful. If this obsession is not redirected into something useful, it will become destructive. In here we are redirecting it to research and learning. Their process of research is not much different from ours. But when you come to blood magic, it is a compeletely different issue. They also get obsessed, but unlike dark magic users, their obsession is not about being more powerful. Blood magic users become scientifically obsessed on their field, just like bright magic users. Their research however, requires..." She grimaced. "Requires fresh blood, bones and flesh. After some time, they lose their emotions. Any living thing becomes a potential... ingredient for them." She gulped. "Sorry, it makes me nauseus to think. Because of these reasons everypony in here despises them."She looked at the mare lying on the floor. "I think Silver Ore was informing them personally about everything and keeping them from attending the meetings."

"Do you think they will come to the meeting?" It was crucial for me that everyone attends this meeting.

"I think so." She shrugged. "I said everyone, that involves them too." Well, it's been ten minutes, I suppose.

"Lets get going then, we wouldn't want them to wait." I picked up each pony on one of my shoulders.

"Umm... Are you going to be fine, carrying both of them?" Charmig asked, her hoof pointing at the ponies I hold. "I can always take one of them." It is interesting she actually cares about my well being. First drink and my little sad story combined? However, I didn't need her help.

"I'll be fine, vampire strength, remember?" I looked at her. "Thanks though." She shrugged. With that we started walking in the hallways again. "You go ahead and warn me if there is somebody who didn't go to the meeting hall yet." She nodded and picked up her pace. She was taking the turns before me and motioning me to continue. There was actually no one in the corridors. We reached to the laboratory without any kind of interruption. She held the door for me and closed it once I passed. I left the two ponies on the ground, far from the entrance.

"Uuh..." Charming attracted my attention. "I haven't thought about that before but Steady Quill can use his magic to get loose, teleport maybe." I look at her waiting for an explanation. "Unicorns can use magic, so we can teleport to the places we have seen before." What? Then why didn't you...

"Then why didn't you teleported to get away from me?" She sighed.

"At first I tried to do it, but I was too afraid to concentrate on the spell." She closed her eyes and her horn started to glow. Then she stopped. "It seems that I can do it now but I won't, because you explained me very well that how the lack of my help might result." She looked at Stedy Quill. "But there is nothing stopping him." I thought for a second.

"You are using your horns to cast spells, right?" She nodded. "So, this might be a little extreme, but if I break his horn-" She hissed and touched her own horn. It means a no, I guess. She grimaced.

"No, for Celestia's sake! Do you know how much it hurts?" She shook her head. "I had an accident before, causing me to crack my horn. It's not just a dead bone like a bull's. It hurts a lot. I heard that you could die because of pain if it breaks."

"Alright, okay. No horn breaking. Do you have any idea?" She thought a little while.

"I can stay here and watch him." That could work but I needed her to show me the way to the meeting hall.

"How will I find the meeting hall then?"

"I could give you directions but there are a lot of turns on the way, even I got lost sometimes. Oh, I know, I will teleport there with you and teleport back here." She looked troubled for a second. "But I'm not sure if I can manage a long distance teleportation twice, with company."

"Then there is one thing left." She looked at me curiously. "We will wake him up and get him to understand the situation." I crouched down and started to slap him. *Slap* "Wake up, Quill." *Slap* "Come on." Charming put her hoof on my hand.

"Let me do it." She bowed her head close to his and I saw a spark striking Quill's forehead. He woke up immediately.

"Mmmmm?" He tried to speak but he was forced to bite a piece of the rope.  He tried to move his hooves then looked at us. "Mmmmm! Mmm!" He looked around and saw Silver Ore, along with the dead bodies. He started shaking.

"Listen, Steady Quill." He was focused on the dead bodies. I grabbed his chin and turned his head towards me. "Listen. Those bodies you see are my doing, but don't worry, I will not kill you. However we suspect that you might try to teleport yourself out and call for help, so here is the deal." I stood up. "Charming and I have to attend an important meeting. I expect you and your boss over there to sit here quietly." I put my head on Charming's head. "If you choose to disobey me I will be forced to take Charming's life." She didn't  show the smallest reaction which surprises me a little. Quill was trying to say something to her. I crouched down again. "I can take the rope off if you want to talk, but if you cry for help everyone dies." He nodded, I took off the rope.

"Charming, you can teleport too, can't you? Why aren't you running?" I turned my head towards Charming. She closed her eyes. For a second I suspected she would try. Until she started to laugh hysterically. She walked towards him and lowered her head to his face.

"I am the only thing that keeps you alive! Keeping this whole facility alive!" She was having a breakdown. "If I were to run away, this... this thing would massacre everypony!" She pointed her hoof towards the corpses. "Do you know how long did it took for him to do that? Hmm?"

"N-no. I-"

"Five seconds!" Quill looked terrified. "He killed five ponies in five seconds and he was wounded. I shot him with a magic missile in the head and he still got up and fought." She pointed towards my head. "Do you see the wound? No? Because it healed. Now tell me, do you believe that anyone in this facility can stop him?" He looked at me.

"I... I don't know. No." Charming straightened up.

"Good. Now that you understood the situation, you should do whatever he wants or we all die." She turned to me. "I believe we can go now." I had no doubt that Quill would stay put.

"Yes, let's go." We walked out of the room and closed the door behind us. "You put on a good show there." She didn't respond but a little hum. "When I said I was going to kill you, you didn't react, even a little. Why?"

"Death is something you generously offer." She looked at me. "Your threat wasn't something I didn't expect." So my threats are getting old. Well, that is to be expected.

"That wasn't what I meant though. Are not you... afraid?"

"Afraid?" She considered for a few seconds. "I guess I am too numb right now to feel afraid." Well then, let's talk about something else.

"So you were the one who shot me?" She sighed and lowered her head.

"I want to ask you something, if I may." Her tone of voice was... annoyed?

"Yes?"

"I am practically your thrall. I hate you, sincerely." She looked back at me. "Why are you trying to conversate with me like I am a friend?" In this situation I could have lied, but I decided to tell her the truth.

"To keep you from thinking." She looked surprised. "When you are in danger your mind automatically tries to find a way to deal with the threat. By talking to you, I am keeping you occupied so you are not thinking about it. While the first time we were going to Ore's office, you were too nervous about all the guards we encountered. Your thoughts were focused on deceiving them. While we were going back to the lab, I gave you the job to go on ahead and warn me. Those kept you busy the last two times. Now, I am preventing you from thinking by simply keeping you in a conversation." She chuckled wryly.

"You are both powerful and sly." A bitter smile hung on her lips. "An apex predator, that's what you are. Why are you even bothering with convincing ponies about your leadership? You can easily dominate us. I said it before, there is no one here that could stand a chance against you." I sighed.

"It seems that you are not listening to me at all. I don't want to hurt anyone." I heard the voice of some people talking.  "Also it would be a waste of... labor force."  She pointed at a double door on the side.

"This is the meeting hall. What are you going to do? Just walk in?" I smiled.

"You go ahead and hold the door for me then lead me to the rostrum or whatever you got here. You will be standing beside me." She shrugged and proceeded to open the doors. I walked in and waited for her to take the lead. There was a bigger number of ponies than I expected, atleast two hundred. Everyone's eyes were turned on me. Some of them tried to step away from my way while some of them were just looking at me with surprised eyes. I heard a lot of them asking about what I am. Charming reached the rostrum and stood beside it while I took my place for my speech. The funny thing is, rostrum wasn't made for something with my size, so it was only a little higher than my knees. It's not like I can do anything about that. I knew most of them would not believe me in normal conditions so I had to use my presence. Using awe for a scale this big was something I have never done before so I took a moment to concentrate before releasing my power on them. I was successful, most of them were fully focused on me, so I began my speech.

"Greetings, every...pony. I believe you are wondering the reason for this unexpected meeting. Unfortunately, because of reasons that I cannot reveal, Miss Ore have been dismissed from her duties. I am here to replace her position and carry her duties." A humming spread through the crowd. Everyone was asking question to another. Something caught my attention at that moment. There was a group of ponies in the far corner of the room. Those five ponies were wearing masks and hiding themselves under their hoods. None of them were talking. Everyone else was visibly staying away from them. I realized the humming stopped so I continued my speech. "It is my conjecture that you all must have quite a number of questions in you minds. However, considering your numbers, I will not be able to answer all of you. Therefore, I expect to see the head researchers in my office thirty minutes later. Also, I would like to announce that I am promoting Charming Star as my assistant." There was a short duration of applauding and congratulation. "I will be available at night time. If you have any other bussiness with me during day time you are to consult my assistant. You may now return to you duties. Thank you for attending." With that I stepped down from the rostrum and motioned Charming to lead the way. Together we exited the room, leaving those ponies in suspense. I deactivated my presence once we left the room.

"Now what?" Charming asked.

"Now we go to my office and wait for the others to arrive." We headed towards the managers office once more.






Interdimensional Matter Tranmission Laboratory, 3rd Person POV


Steady Quill was lying on the floor, looking at the dead bodies when he heard Silver Ore's moan. "Mmmm. Mm mmm! MMMMM?!" It seemed like she was awake at last and her mouth was muzzled aswell. She started breathing rapidly. She probably saw the bodies. Quill thought.  Also she must have been thinking that she was alone here because her back was turned to Quill. He decided to comfort her.

"Relax, I'm here with you. Here," He levitated her and turned her over to himself. "I got you. Let me get that muzzle out of your mouth, but please, promise me not to scream." She had tears in her eyes but she nodded. Quill took the muzzle off with his magic.

"Where are we?" Ore asked. "Are all of these ponies..." She couldn't finish.

"Yeah, dead."

"Oh, Celestia. Who could have done that?"

"That hairless monster did that apperantly." He gave out a sigh. "He also knocked us out so we were unconscious on the way. I have no idea where we are, but looks like we are still in the facility."

"Well, just get us out then!" She said with a demanding voice. "Use your magic. I don't want to die here like them!"

"I can't. Monster said if I use my magic to get out he would kill Charming."

"Charming?" She looked at him, trying to recall the name for a second. "Who is Charming?"

"The monster had a mare with him, remember? Apperantly that is her name. I didn't know her until now either." Silver Ore let out a chuckle. "What?"

"He lied to you, it was a bluff."

"What do you mean?" He was baffled.

"While we were in my room, she was the one knocked me out not that thing." Quill still looked confused.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure! I remember her punching me." Quill looked surprised. "Look, what I mean is that they are on this together." That popped Quill's eyes out of their sockets.

"B-but that's-"

"Yes, now get us out!" Ore's voice was impatient. His horn glowed for a second but then it stopped.

"No, I still can't." Ore let out a groan. "Charming said he killed these ponies in five seconds, after being shot with a magic missile in the head. Nopony can stop that monster. It's better if we just do what he says."

"Did she also said that she shot him?" Quill was flabbergasted.

"H-how did y-"

"Of course she did. She was lying, idiot!" But Quill was still unsure. "Okay, there is a body behind you. Can you turn over?" He did. "Look at his robe, what do you see?"

"Burn marks." He gasped. "They must be from a magic missile!"

"Did you see any kind of horn on that monster?"

"No." He said coldly. "You mean that they did this together?"

"Yes!" Quill's horn glowed with a purple light and loosened their bonds. He walked up to Silver Ore and helped her to get on her hooves.

"Let's go see the chief of security."
> Bloodshed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				When I and Charming got back to my office, I saw one of those five masked ponies standing in assistance's room. His mask was black coloured with red patterns on it. He must be from the Blood Magic Department. Charming said they wear masks. "Grim, I assume." I spoke. "You were supposed to come half an hour later."

"Please, call me Gloaming Gale." He bowed slightly and straightened up again. "Grim is an epithet that I find rather besetting. I am aware that my coming is early and perhaps unexpected. I just hoped that we could talk more privately." His voice was reminding me of gravel rubbing each other. He was stressing his r's.

"I suppose the reason you wanted to talk more privately was that your department is reproached by others." He didn't react. "I understand. Please, let us speak in my office." I gestured him to my room. "Charming, if anyone comes to see me during our conversation tell them I am busy. They can wait if they wish." She nodded and moved behind her desk. I followed Grim and closed the door before proceeding to take a seat. "I am listening."

"The reason you exclaimed before was only a small part of the cause of my early arrival." He attracted my attention. "The real reason is that I am aware of your deception." I tensed up. That was the last thing I expected to hear. He must have noticed my stress so he tried to appease me. "No need to worry. I will not reveal it to anyone."

"Why?" I needed to know if he was planning to use this to possibly blackmail me. If that's the case he had to be dealth with.

"I simply think you could be more open minded about my department. You see, Ore was not really willing to provide the necessary ingredients for our research. As you might know, we need flesh and blood. Fresh is better but we could work with stale flesh to a some degree. However, if it is stale it needs to be close to ponykind. She only provided us with carcasses, rarely fresh too. I believe you will be more understanding about our needs." He sounded like waiting for a response.

"What made you think I would be more understanding?" I asked. He touched his mask's part that would correspond to his mouth.

"Your teeth caught my attention during your speech. You have fangs." I keep my fangs retracted to a human fang, but just their existance was enough for him. I could see where he was going with this. "You are a carnivore, are you not? An omnivore atleast?" There was no point denying anything.

"So you are saying that you need pony flesh?" He said yes without hesitation. I could see why they call him Grim. That actually gave me an idea. "Would you care about the source of it?" He shook his head.

"I will never ask." I smiled.

"Oh, you will see where they come from. What I want from you is to keep it to yourself." He took a breath to talk but I cut him of. "I know your answer will be yes. I will show you where to find them, but first I am curious about something."

"What is it?"

"I want to see your face." He chuckled.

"Are you sure? I am said that my face is quite haunting." I smiled.

"I had my fair share of haunting faces." Encountering with Clan Nosferatu for the first time was not one of my plesant memories.

"Very well." He removed his hood and his mask with his left hoof. It was quite a sight to see, really. His sclera was black and his irises were bright red. There were red veins spreading from his irises trough the sclera. There was a pale, red flame around his eyes. The veins on his face was swollen closer to the skin, adding a greenish contexture to his gray coat. His mane was looking like a constant stream of red sand falling downwards, withering away before touching the ground. His teeth were slender and sharp. His horn was still concealed under a porcelain sheath. "I told you, didn't I?" His voice made me realise I was examining him for some time. "Did you like what you see?" He asked mockingly while putting his mask on again.

"I like your mane."

"I bet you are telling that to every blood mage you meet." Great! He has a cliche sense of humour. A knock on the door interrupted our conversation.

"Charming, I told you not to-" The door swung open and before I could react a flying sword found its way to my skull. With a sickening crack, sword was buried down to my nose. The pain started to drive me unconscious. Every thing was slowly getting dark. I could hear their voices but couldn't recognize who they were. Their voices were far and inseparable.

"Nooo! That's how you do it! It's a shame. This was easier than I thought. Grim? Is that you? What's gonna happen to her? I blocked them out. I had to concentrate, I had to stay awake and fight. I was blinking constantly, trying to stay awake. "Look! He is blinking. I've heard about that. Dead can twitch for a while. Disgusting." I finally managed to get myself under control. They gasped while I slowly get up.

You could ask how can someone still remain functional after taking a blow to the brain. The thing is, vampires are dead. Our internal organs are decayed and our nerves are replaced by blood. Unless completely decapitated, head injuries are not enough to kill or even neutralize us. Control of our body is established by our vitae, blood.

I grasped the hilt of the blade with my left hand and tried to pull it out. It didn't budge, instead my neck was getting pulled up with it. "It's stuck." I said to the one in front of my desk. He had no horn ar wings. He was the only one lacking a weapon, aside from Quill and Ore who are currently holding Charming down. "You threw that right? It hurts you know? It hurts so bad that it takes great effort to stay awake." I put my right hand on my head and pressed my head down while pulling the blade out. Sword came out with a series of cracking sounds. "OH GOD! IT HURTS!" I examined the ponies in the room while going around my desk. They were all looking at me thunderstruck. There were seven intruders, two of them Ore and Quill, the others looked like security guards. Two with wings, two normal ones and one with a horn... Two of them were familiar. "Sharp Edge, is that you? And you brought your friend."

"Impossible..." The pony who threw the sword talked. His sound brought everyone back from their trance-like state. "Your head... How? I hit you in the head."

"It was a good hit too. See that?" I touched my upper nose. "It cut down all the way here." I heard a chuckling, later turned into a laughter.

"Oh, wonderful!" It was Grim's voice. "Such an exquisite organism. Please, let me examine you. Oh please, please!" He was walking towards me. He was carried away with enthusiasm. I had make him realise the situation before others recover enough to attack me again.

"Okay, Gr- Gloaming Gale. We can talk about that later. How about we take them down first?" He stopped, but didn't stood aside. He is thinking. That's good.

"Yes, uh, forgive my outburst. It is neither time nor place for that." I turned to the others.

"Now, you." I pointed to the one who threw the sword. "Who are you?"

"I am the chief of security, Steel Hoof." He was tensed up, ready for a potantial attack.

"Before we begin, Steel Hoof, did you tell anyone else about me or is it just the five of you." He opened his mouth to answer but one of his men cut him of with a studdering voice.

"Y-yes we told everyone. Even if you kill us everyone will know so you sho- you should-" Steel Hoof's glare shut him up, but I had my answer.

"Good." I turned my head to Charming who was on the floor, laying supine. Ore and Quill was holding her front legs pinned down. "Charming, how long are you planning to lay there? Get rid of them and lock the door. You still have some of my blood in you, right?" I threw the keys to her. She spoke up.

"Understood, but I want something in return." I was surprised, but intrigued. "You will kill them, won't you? Sharp Edge is an old friend of mine." She turned her head towards me. "Promise me you will spare him." I smiled.

"You have my word." She turned back to her hindrances. I turned back to my opponents.






Charming Star's POV


I don't know why but I knew he would keep his word. It was enough for me. I couldn't protect everyone but I could atleast protect some. It was enough. It had to be enough. I looked at the keys, they were close. "Don't even think about it!" It was Quill. His horn was glowing menacingly. I closed my eyes and felt the blood, his blood burning inside my veins, giving me strength. I swung my front legs, sending them into the air. They flew two meters away and fell on their backs. They were getting up but I was able to reach Quill before that. I landed an uppercut and a punch, close to his right ear. He fell unconscious. I started walking towards Silver Ore. She was shaking.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you helping that monster?" She was walking backwards. She bumped the wall.

"To save you." I headbutted her, knocking her out. I took the keys, locked the door and turned back, just in time for the massacre.





"I should thank you." Steel Hoof looked puzzled. "For giving me this sword. I was using a katana before. I am quite experienced with swords." I could hear Charming fighting. I was planning to stall them just enough for her to lock the door before I start my fight. One of them started walking towards charming, it was the unicorn. I couldn't let him interfere. "Also this is a very suitable weapon for something I wanted to try." I activated my Celerity. In the blink of an eye I was standing before the horned pony. I raised the sword. He whimpered and tried to fall back but it was too late. With a swing of my blade, his horn was seperated from his head. He fell on the ground, twitching rapidly. His eyes turned in their sockets, foam was coming out of his mouth with gagging noises. She wasn't kidding. He really died. I heard the door locked behind me. "I couldn't cut quite properly. I like the katana way better." I looked at Steel Hoof with a mocking apology in my eyes.

"I will cut you into pieces!" He screamed and charged on me. I stepped aside, caught him by his mane and lifted him up.

"You should not act without thinking." I saw a winged one making a move from above. It was Sharp Edge. I lifted Steel Hoof to use as a shield. Edge gasped but couldn't stop his attack. The sword sliced Chief's guts and spilled his intestines on the floor. I threw the Chief to the opposite wall. Something pierced my waist, passing trough my abdomens. I turned back and swung my sword again, decapitating another pony. I pulled out the sword from my waist. There were two winged ponies left, one of them was Sharp Edge. Sharp Edge was holding Steel Hoof's head in his hooves, mumbling some means of apology. The other one was throwing up on the floor. I dropped the swords on the floor and motioned Charming to come closer. "Calm her down." I pointed to the pony who is throwing up. "I will talk to Sharp Edge." She nodded and started to talk to the pony with a soothing voice. I sat beside Edge. "It didn't have to go down like this you know." He looked at me with anger. He was clenching his teeth. "You could choose to talk first, instead of throwing a sword to my head." He jumped on me, tackling me to the floor.

"You made me kill him!" He was screaming with grief. He raised his hoof, I threw him to the wall and got up. He used his wings to avoid crashing, then dived towards me. "I will kill you!" I grasped his head in mid-flight and pulled him, making him go faster. He hit the other wall and fell on the ground. He was still trying to get up. I stepped on him, pinned him down. He was screaming frantically, trying to push my foot up. He stopped after a few tries and started glaring at me. "Kill me! Finish what you have started."

"I promised Charming that I will not kill you." He looked at her. "I will keep my word, you are making it difficult though."

"If you don't kill me now I will tell everyone about you." He was breathing heavily. I chuckled. That seemed to make him more angry. He tried to get up again. "Fight me you monster!"

"No, you will not tell anyone about me. Because that would mean the death of them." He looked hesitated for a second. "This is why your friend Charming is helping me. It is true that I am a monster and the worst thing that could happen to a monster is exposure. I do not find joy in killing, but if it comes to that I don't count bodies." His muscles loosened under my foot.

"Why would I care about them?" His voice was in defeat. I lifted my foot. He sat up, leaned his back to the wall.

"I don't know, but it seem you do." I started walking towards Steel Hoof's body. "Now if you would excuse me, I have to feed. I am quite battered." I sat down and grasped Chief's body, burying my fangs to his throat. I looked at Edge, he was shaking. He puched the floor and started running towards me. Charming intercepted him, held him back.

"Let me go!" He punched her. "Let me! Go!" Again, but Charming didn't budge.

"Please, stop Sharpy. Please, for me." She hugged him. Edge let out a scream, bursting into tears. Other guard was just sitting, looking at the ground with empty eyes. I finished drinking him but it was hardly enough with all that blood he lost from that wound, so I turned to the unicorn's body. Grim's voice stopped me.

"Pardon me, but uh... I was serious about examining you, if you don't mind of course." He added quickly. "We will provide anything necessary for your comfort and make it painless. With your durability, it will not be lethal either." He looked at me waiting for an answer. Aside from him compeletely ignoring the scene, he also had the courage to ask me if he could cut me open. He is truly a dangerous ally. It is best to keep him at bay.

"I will consider, but I don't think it is a good time for that." I waved my hand, towards the bodies. "I have to clean this mess before head researcher's arrival and I still have to deal with a lot of problem if I want to have this place permanently."

"I understand. No need to rush anything." He looked around. "I can deal with this mess, including the blood stains, but of course after you are done with your feeding." I faked a smile.

"Thank you, take these bodies as ingredients for you research. You will find more in the place that they conduct an experiment to extract things from alternate dimentions." He thought for a second.

"Interdimensional Matter Tranmission Laboratory." He exclaimed. "Thank you." He bowed. "You are already a great help to our research."

"I will need some favours though." He looked at me.

"Whatever you need."

"I want you to take these two aswell." I pointed towards Ore and Quill. "But do not experiment on them, just keep them out of sight. I might have other plans for them." He nodded. "And I need someone to guard me while I sleep. You see, I sleep during the day and I am extremely vulnerable during that period. It is a death-like state which I can not easily wake up from. I will sleep in the Matter Transmission Laboratory and I trust you would not conduct experiments on me while I sleep." He was genuinely shocked by the idea.

"I would never do such thing without your consent." Good to know. "I will send you one of my ponies and put runes on your door. Anything else?"

"That's it. Now if you would excuse me." I got down on my knees and lift the unicorn up. After I am done I turned to Grim. "How are you going to clean this up?" He chuckled.

"Magic." He reached for the porcelain sheath that conceals his horn and took it off. There was no hard shell on the horn. It was completely white flesh. I could see the capillaries. They started pulsing and shining with a red light. All the blood on the floor, walls and my clothes floated towards his horn and got sucked into it. His horn's white flesh became red. He turned to me. "It seemed like we are alike, hmm? But I don't feed on it, I am just carrying it." He looked at the scenery. "I will teleport everything out to our laboratories. I know you want Sharp Edge here but should I take her with me aswell?" He was talking about the other winged pony. I shook my head.

"I will try to make use of her aswell."

"Very well then, goodbye for now." His horn pulsed again and he was gone with a flash of light along with the bodies. I turned my attention to other ponies. Sharp Edge was still crying in Charmings arms. Charming had no sign of emotion on her face. Her left eye was swelling and her lips were bleeding. Other pony was still looking on the ground. She was probably in shock. I had less than twenty minutes to sort this out. This is going to be a nuisance.
> Paralyzed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

			First of all I should be certain that my apperience is back to the way it is. Meeting the head researchers with an incomplete healing of my previously splitted head would be more than unplesant. "Charming, my head, is it back to normal?" She looked up to my head.

"Split parts are back together but it is still new, slightly red flesh." That should no problem in a few minutes. Now I have to deal with my new... thralls, as Charming said. I decided to start with the lone pegasus. Her coat was persian green. She had a beige mane with khaki stripes. I walked closer and sat beside her. She began to shake. I was about to ask her name but I couldn't. She was so beautifully crafted, it captured me. Such exquisite work of art. Something deep inside my mind was screaming at me, something about some researchers, but nothing could be more important than the masterpiece before my eyes.






Charming Star's POV


I lowered my head after answering his questions. I was sitting on the floor with Sharp Edge crying in my arms. I could feel the damage he did to me, my left eye was almost closed up and my lips were bleeding. I wasn't mad at him, or upset. Truth be told, I am not sure if I am feeling anything at all. My friends were killed, his friends were killed, they were fed upon. Am I angry? Am I sad? I didn't know, all I knew was that I had to protect others.

I was lost in thought, stroking Sharpy's mane when his weepy voice brought me back. "What is he doing?" I raised my head to see what Sharpy was talking about. I saw the monster sitting beside the pegasus girl. He was motionless, looking at the girl like he was in some kind of trance. I let Sharpy off my grasp and got on my hooves. Sharpy held my left front hoof. "Don't go near that thing, please." I gently pushed his hoof away.

"Don't worry, he won't hurt me." I tried to smile but I couldn't, not because I wasn't able to, it just didn't feel right to smile after all this.

I walked up to the monster and looked at him. His eyes were almost like... fascinated? Pegasus girl started to move away but monster raised his hand towards her. She sat back. "Please, take it away. I'm so scared." Her voice was trembling. Tears found their way down to her cheeks.

"It's okay. He will not attack unless provoked, don't attempt to harm him and I think he does't want you to move." She was still crying but she nodded. I got close to the monster and poked him. There was no response. "Can you hear me?" I poked him harder, it would hurt if he was a pony. There was still no answer.

"Why is he doing this?" Pegasus girl asked.

"I don't know. He looks like he is in a trance." I sat on the floor. "I guess we have to wait." Sharpy objected my idea.

"We can't wait. He said to the head researchers to come here in half an hour. We only have so much time. What if he stays like that... I don't know... Hours? Days?" He was right, we might not have the option to wait it out. "I know." Sharpy exclaimed. "Don't you see? This is an opportunity. He is weak! We can kill him!" I shook my head.

"No, I don't think we should do that. I don't think we can kill him. He is immortal." They looked at me with questioning eyes. "He told me that his kin is granted eternal life."

Sharpy was still determined about it. "If he bleeds, we can kill him." I looked at him wryly.

"Steel Hoof almost splitted his head in two. He shook it off and fought with five armed ponies, killed three of them. How do you suppose we kill him?" 

"I have never seen anypony living without a head. I just need my sword." He got up to look for his sword but he couldn't find it. "Damn it! Grim must have taken those too." He took out a knife from his belt. "This will have to do then."

"No." I stopped him. "Sword might have worth the try, because one swing would do the job, but not knife. I don't know how deep he is in trance but if you start to cut his head off, he will wake up." He glared at me, he was angry.

"Why? Why are you protecting it?" His words shocked me. They reminded me of Silver Ore's, before I knocked her out. Is this how it looks like to everypony? Don't they see I just want them to be safe?

"What if you fail and he wakes up? Hmm? What then?" He looked like he could attack at any second. I moved between him and the monster. "Sharpy, give me the knife." He took a step towards me. "Sharpy please." I was ready to use the strength of the monster's blood. Please, don't make me do that. He took another step.

"Edge, please listen to her. She is right." Pegasus girl's voice stopped him.

"He killed them, Serene! How can you say that." Serene looked at him.

"Because you will fail and we will all die. If that happens, there will be nopony that knows there is a monster in here. There will be nopony to stop him." Sharpy looked unsure. "There will be other opportunities, real ones. We need to be patient." I remembered what monster told me. Do not let him think about it.

"Give me the knife." I pressed. "Come on give it to me!" He threw the knife on the floor. I rushed and took it, slipped it into one of my robe's pockets. He grunted with anger and punched a wall. "I know a way to kill him." They both looked at me with expectation. "I'm not sure but he told me that his kind cannot walk under the light of sun. It means they either die or somehow get disabled."

"He would never get out in the sun." Sharpy stated the obvious.

"No, of course not. Don't you ever listen? He told Grim that he spends the day sleeping. He said he will be sleeping in our laboratory."

"Good." Sharpy said eagerly. "We carry him outside and let the sun do its work." He looked like he had more to say but I interrupted him.

"We can discuss the details later, right now I should get ready for the head researchers."

"Why would they see you instead of him?" Serene asked.

"Monster said I am in charge when it's daytime. It means I have the same authority when he is not around. I will make up an excuse for him." Sharpy cleared his throat, catching my attention.

"You should find an excuse for your eye and lips too." He looked down, ashamed. He was right, it wasn't going to be easy either. Something came to my mind. Maybe I don't need an excuse afterall. Monster was healing himself so maybe I could do the same. I tried to redirect monster's blood to heal my wounds, I could feel it working. I feel so much better. I realized they were looking at me with... fear? It hit me that how it must have looked like.

"It's not what you think." They didn't seem to believe me.

"Then what is it, Charming?" Sharpy asked.

"I-" A knock on the door interrupted my explanation. They were here. Door knob turned, but the door was locked.

"Hello?" A feminine voice came behind the door. Another knock... I turned to Sharpy.

"Look, I don't have time to explain, okay? Just trust me and don't touch him." I started walking towards the door. "Coming!"

"Whatever you say, Charming." I heard Sharpy's voice. I took a one last look at them before closing the door that seperates my room from the other. I rushed to answer the knocking sound. I opened the door and immediately went out, forcing the head researchers to take a few steps away from me. I closed the door behind me and turned to them.

"You are the assistant girl, Charming Star, right? We are here to talk to the manager." Candle Light spoke. She had a kind and tuneful voice. "He was expecting us." Night Shade nodded beside her.

"I had no intend to come actually. However, Candle insisted that we should get to know the new authority." He spoke with a refined and disdainful tone of voice. "As if I have time for such errands, so I would like to keep this brief. Now please, if you could move aside..." He gestured me with his hoof. Candle Light pushed his hoof down, earning a glare.

"Please, forgive my brother's approach, but I'm afraid he is right. We must be back with our duties shortly." They are siblings? Not important right now.

"Yes, about that. Unfortunately he has a bad health condition in general and he got sick after the meeting." Candle Light looked concerned while Night Shade gave an annoyed look. "He sent his apologies for the inconvenience and said that he will meet you at your own laboratories later, if you wish, of course." Night Shade turned his back and started walking away.

"He doesn't need to come. I have more important things to do. Tell him I send my best wishes." He murmured some other things to himself. Candle Light looked like she was going to stop him, but she let out a sigh and turned back to me.

"I am really sorry to hear that. I hope he gets better soon. Is there anything that I could do to help? I have some knowledge in medicine." I shook my head.

"He said that it runs in the family and that there is no cure."

"I see." She thought a little before talking. "I should get going. If he gets better I would like to talk to him." She started walking away but turned back with curious eyes. "You were promoted to your position, right?" I nodded. "What were you doing before?"

"I was working at Matter Transmission Laboratory." This talk was getting dangerous. I could only hope that she doesn't ask more questions.

"Interesting that he immediately recuits someone else just after his arrival." Her voice had a frightening composure. She suddenly smiled. "Your lucky night I guess." I returned the smile as she walked away.

"Yeah." The moment she turned the corner, I hastely get back into the room where Serene and Sharpy were waiting for me. Monster was still stationary. I had to tell him that Candle Light has suspicions, but for that I first needed him to wake up. I knew he was not going to wake up with just poking. I rushed to her side.

"Charming?" I ignored Sharpy as I punched the monster's left eye, causing his head to turn sideways, but he turned to Serene again, unaffected. I felt Sharpy pulling me back.

"Stop Charming! What are you doing?" He was dragging me away. "You will get us killed."

"He needs to wake up, now!" I escaped Sharpy's grip and charged to the monster as fast as I can. I felt something inside me broke free, monster's blood burned inside me like it never did before. I was faster then ever. I mustered all the power I could find and landed a punch to monster's left cheek. Sound of fracturing bones accompanied my punch. I looked at the monster. He was sprawled on the floor, his head was looking upwards from his right shoulder with an impossible angle and his jaw appeared to be dislocated. There were several broken teeth on the ground. Serene and Sharpy gasped at the scene.

"Charming you- I- just-" Sharpy tried to talk.

A groan heard from the monster as his hand make their ways to his head. An audible series of cracks filled the room as he fixed his head's positioning. A drop of blood came down from his right eye. He sat right up, held his head still for a while, then put his chin back to its spot, he spat some more teeth. He turned to me.

"Holy hell, Charming! What was that?" He was flabbergasted.

"I had to wake you up. Candle Light, head researcher of the Bright Magic Department, she is suspecting us." He looked at me questioningly. "While you were in that trance, I sent them back, but she asked me what I was doing before being promoted. I think she might be heading to Matter Transmission Laboratory." He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"It's alright. Let her do what she wants. Grim tied all the loose ends. All she will find is going to be an empty room and missing ponies. If she asks, Mister Excellence wanted me to shut down your program so I fired them." He looked curious. "How could you broke my neck with a punch? Have you learned the usage of some dicipline?" He nodded. "You must have, but which one?" I hesitated but asked anyway.

"What is a dicipline?"

"Diciplines are powers possessed by my kind. Whichever one you just used, it allowed you to scatter me." A thought crawled into my mind. Am I becoming a monster like him? Did he lied to me?

"You said I wouldn't become a vampire." He laughed.

"You are not becoming a vampire, all you need to do is stop drinking my blood and you are good to go." He turned to Serene. "I was about to ask your name." She spoke, studdering.

"I-it's Serene S-stream." He started to stroke her mane, she was trembling. "P-please..."

"It's okay, I won't hurt you." He bit his wrist and raised it to Serene's eye level. "I want you to drink this." She looked at him, fearful and confused, but she was going to obey.

"No, don't!" Monster turned to Sharpy.

"Your insolence is starting to irritate me, Edge." He nearly snarled, causing Sharpy to step back. He was angry. For the first time since he got here he was angry. I knew it wasn't about Sharpy. He never cared about other's behavior against him. It was something else, something that I couldn't figure out. He turned back to Serene. "Drink, now." She darted without hesitation. 

While watching her drink, I felt something, I felt jealous and betrayed. Why? Suddenly I realized that I couldn't feel the monster's blood inside me anymore. I felt so weak, helpless. I looked at Serene once again, drinking his blood. I looked down. A rage that I never knew it existed ovewhelmed me. I wanted to tear that pegasus into pieces. She took what is mine. No, I can't. I looked at the monster. He was looking at me, I couldn't read his face. He pulled his wrist out of Serene's mouth and motioned Sharpy to come closer. He complied, he was looking afraid for the first time. When the monster extended his arm, he showed little hesitation. I wanted to destroy him. If I kill them, I can have all of it. I wouldn't have to share. I didn't know why I think like this, but I knew I couldn't kill them. Monster retracted his arm and I saw Sharpy's eyes change. All his hatred and fear left its place to something else. I looked at Serene, she wasn't afraid anymore either. Then it dawned on me. His blood is messing with our minds. I realized he was looking at me. I looked up and our eyes met. "Say, Charming. Would you like some aswell?" Now that I understood what he was doing, I knew drinking his blood was even more dangerous. I must avoid it at all costs.

"Yes, p-please." But I didn't, I couldn't. I needed it, I wanted it. He extended his arm with a sinister smile and I drank, thirstly.
> Outplayed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

			I felt the agonizing sensation of my neck snapping. I could feel the pain in every part of my body, from toes to the fingertips. However, I knew I had to fix my head's positioning. I moved my hands to my head and slowly started to twist it back to its position. Every crack sent waves of excruciating pain through my body. By the time I could sit up tears, or blood drops, had already found their way down my cheeks. I held my head still for a while and then fixed my dislocated jaw. I was going to talk but I felt something in my mouth. My teeth? I spit them out, they were indeed teeth. I knew it was Charming who delivered this exteremely efficient blow. But how?

"Holy hell Charming! What was that?" She looked at me, reliefed.

"I had to wake you up. Candle Light, head researcher of the Bright Magic Department, she is suspecting us." Wake me up? She must have took my confusion in the wrong way. Because she started to explain something else. "While you were in that trance, I sent them back, but she asked me what I was doing before being promoted. I think she might be heading to Matter Transmission Laboratory." I realized what happened, I was captivated by my clan's curse. I had no idea for how long I stared at that pegasus. Meanwhile, the head researchers must have come to see me. I felt angry at myself, at my blood. How could I be so weak? If there was a Ventrue in my place, he would have been the owner of this facility by now. No wonder why they call us degenerates. I realized Charming was expecting a response for her query.

"It's alright. Let her do what she wants. Grim tied all the loose ends. All she will find is going to be an empty room and missing ponies. If she asks, Mister Excellence wanted me to shut down your program so I fired them." Just then I noticed the peculiarity of the previous event. "How could you broke my neck with a punch? Have you learned the usage of some dicipline?" She was puzzled. I shouldn't have expected her to understand. "You must have, but which one?" She looked uneasy.

"What is a dicipline?"

"Diciplines are powers possessed by my kind." That was a rough explanation, but I didn't want to spend much time on the details. "Whichever one you just used, it allowed you to scatter me." Her face assumed an accusing impression.

"You said I wouldn't become a vampire." I wanted to wreak my anger on her for accusing me, but I dissipated the feeling with a laugh. She, afterall, has no reason to trust me.

"You are not becoming a vampire, all you need to do is stop drinking my blood and you are good to go." I turned to the pegasus girl who was in front of me. So, I was staring at you the whole time. "I was about to ask your name." She seemed afraid, she was studdering.

"I-it's Serene S-stream." I reached for her mane and started stroking. She was shaking at this point. "P-please..." I knew a way to put an end to her fear.

"It's okay, I won't hurt you." I bit my wrist and turned the wound to her to see. "I want you to drink this." She looked at me, then to the wound. She was a bit hesitant but she was complying.

"No, don't!" Edge's voice filled the room making me finally snap.

"Your insolence is starting to irritate me, Edge." I didn't raise my voice but my tone was unintentionally promising a violent death. He backed away. That's enough child's play. I turned my attention back to Serene. "Drink, now." She showed no hesitation this time. I knew it was not ideal to express my anger but considering how easily they followed my orders, maybe this is what I need.

I saw Charming with the corner of my eye, her head was looking down, she was breathing heavily. She raised her head and looked at me. Her pupils were shrinked and there was thin, black circles around her eyes. Her ears looked pointy. I wasn't feeling the slightest bit of anger anymore. I removed my wrist from Serene's mouth. She saw Charming and gasped, I closed her mouth with my hand and motioned Edge to come closer. Could this be?... He was focused on Charming too, but he noticed my movement and started walking towards me. He was shaking with every step he took. Let's put it to a test. I moved my wrist closer to him, he didn't even need any ordering, he just started drinking without a word. Charming's breathing got heavier. There was no doubt, she was struggling againts a frenzy. So that's what a frenzied pony looks like. I pulled my wrist back and started waiting. If she was going to attack, it wouldn't be hard for me to stop her. Edge and Serene were behind me, hiding from her. If the situation wasn't this serious, I would laugh at the irony. Fortunately she went back to normal in a minute. I heard Serene sighing in relief. Charming was looking at Serene and Edge. Her eyes went wide for a second. Did she realized what just happened? She looked at me and I spoke. "Say, Charming. Would you like some aswell?" She looked at me like she was going to refuse. If that was the case, I had every intention to force her. I couldn't have her go in a frenzy. But she didn't.

"Yes, p-please." Her voice was needy, almost begging. I couldn't help but smile, thinking how well my gift worked on her. I extended my arm and she leaped with hunger. I could only hope for it to work this well on the others too.





Candle Light was walking her way to the Interdimensional Matter Tranmission Laboratory. She was going to have a talk with the pony in charge to get some insight on Charming Star's unexpected promotion. When she turned the last corner she saw a masked unicorn carving symbols around the doors of the laboratory. Unicorn was probably a blood mage, judging from the mask. She walked closer to get a better sight of the symbols. They looked like magical runes. 

"What are you doing?" Candle Light asked the unicorn who didn't acknowledge her existance. "Usage of magic outside laboratories is limited to telekinesis and teleportation in this facility. Explain your behavior." Unicorn didn't stop carving and gave no sign of awareness. "Hey I'm talking to you!" Candle grasped the unicorn's shoulder and forced him to an eye contact, but there was no holes on the mask for him to see. It was a single piece of white porcelain with only one hole for his horn which was glowing red at the moment. Candle Light dodged the beam, teleporting behind the unicorn. "What do you think you are doing!" Unicorn turned around while swinging the magical beam. Candle deflected it with an energy shield. She opened her mouth to talk again but unicorn had no intent to let her do that. Multiple beams rained on and around her, forcing her to teleport again. She was behing the unicorn again, he was turning around. This time she attacked with a beam of her own. Beam his his mask and shattered it, pushing the unicorn back a few steps. 

She revolted in the sight of the unicorn's face. His mouth was stitched closed with some kind of metallic string. Unicorn was  trying to open his mouth to no avail. His eye sockets were absent of any eyes. They were empty but there was a dark heap in them Candle couldn't see through. His skin was streched on his bones. Candle wasn't sure if he could open his mouth even without the stitches. This... thing. It can't be alive. Unicorn's horn started glowing again. Candle readied herself for another attack, but the glowing stopped. A pair of red eyes opened deep inside the sockets. Candle Light gasped while trying to walk backwards, only to tackle herself to the ground. The eyes came forward in the sockets and took their appropriate place. Stitches unraveled and disappeared into unicorn's flesh revealing long, slender teeth. His streched skins started to swell. Process uncovered a familiar face. "G-Grim?" Grim's eyes focused of her.

"Candy?" Candle Light narrowed her eyes at the name. "Good thing I arrived before one of you destroyed the other."

"What was that thing Grim?" She stood up and started walking towards Grim. "Why were you in it?" Grim chuckled.

"I wasn't in it silly. I was in my laboratory." Candle Light looked confused. Grim touched his chest. "I call these shells. They are bodies of dead ponies, animated by a spell of my own creation. I am able to travel between them by infesting the body. Quite remarkable, don't you think?" Candle frowned.

"More like disgusting." Grim rolled his eyes. "What was it doing here anyway? What's up with those runes?" Grim stared at her for a few seconds.

"What were you doing here? Don't you have like a lab to deal with?" Both of them were slowly tensing up.

"I was going to talk with the pony in charge of this laboratory." She said after a few seconds of silence. They were standing still, waiting for a move from the other.

"Come with me." Grim talked and started walking towards the laboratory. Candle followed him inside. "What was that spell of yours? Memories of time?"

"Time's memories." Candle answered.

"Use it." Candle wanted to ask why, but she figured she would find out. Her horn started glowing and the room became a faint reflection of itself.

"What am I looking for?" Grim thought for a second.

"Go two hours back." Ghostly images of six ponies appeared in the room, they were in a friendly conversation. "Speed it up." Six ponies gathered in a semi circle and began chanting the incantation. Candle slowed the images down to a normal speed. Six beams hit the ground, intersecting with each other and ripping throught the fabric of reality. A dead body materialized above the rift. Its eyes were collapsed in their sockets and its was opened with a last scream of pain. It was wearing a red shirt with black pants.

"Is it..." Grim's motion towards the body cut her off. Its head was moving! It opened its eyes, revealing nothing but two crushed scleras. Obviously, it was blind. But despite that it pounced on the talking pony with great percision, biting him in the abdomen. Candle gasped. Pony tried to shake it off, but its grasp was too strong. Others were trying to get a clear shot but they couldn't do it before the bitten pony collapsed on the ground. Candle saw Charming firing a beam that hit the beast in the head and sent it flying across the room, but the creature stood up like nothing happened. It was him, it was the new manager! Part of his head was burned by the beam, but he didn't seem any weaker. "How can he still stand after a blow like that to the head." Candle asked Grim. Grim chuckled.

"Only if you knew..." Beast's sudden attack interrupted their conversation. They have only seen a blur and two ponies were already sprawled on the floor. They watched the blur as it jumped from pony to pony. Cracking sounds filled the room each time the blur reached another pony, knocking them out. A few seconds later, beast was already killed all of them except Charming. He was holding her tight and her mouth closed to prevent her from screaming. Candle stopped the spell. She was trying to digest the things she just saw.

"W-with his bare hands..." She exhaled a shakely breath. "How? Why?" She asked. "Why would he do this?"

"My guess, he did it in self defence." Candle looked at him in disbelief.

"He was the one who attacked at the first place!" Grim shook his head.

"He was hungry and blind." Candle gave him a confused look. "Don't tell me you didn't see his canine teeth." Candle shook his head.

"What is he?" She asked Grim.

"I don't know." He grinned. "He is a useful asset. That, I know." Candle looked shocked.

"How can you say that? He could break you like a twig and wouldn't feel a shred of remorse."

"Lets just say that we talked about his monstrosity and it went well." Candle Light was angry.

"You are sick, Gale. You are disgusting." She turned back and started walking towards the exit. "I will stop him, don't even think about standing in my way."

"You might want to know something before you start to pursue your goal, Candy." She stopped but didn't turn around. "I suspect he is, quite literally, immortal." Candle looked back at him.

"What do you mean immortal?"

"Steel Hoof buried a sword in his skull." Candle's eyes widened. "He just stood up, pulled the sword free and killed him along with his two ponies, captured another two. Meanwhile his head was rapidly regenerating like nothing happened at all. I am pretty sure he would survive any trick you or anypony else in this facility could pull off." Candle turned to Grim and sat on the floor, her head in her hooves.

"What will we do then?"

"Nothing." He walked pass the white unicorn, exiting the room and returning back to rune carving. "He is not dangerous unless opposed. He only wants to take control of this place. Let him have it."

"Where are their bodies?" Candle asked with hesitation. Grim stopped carving for a moment.

"Disposed."

"Where?" She gave him a stern look which made Grim chuckle. He took a few steps back and his horn glowed. Candle readied herself for his attack, but it never came. Runes shined with a dim, red light.

"Stay here while I discuss your fate with my asset, would you?" Candle Light screamed something but no sound came through the runes. She fired a beam but it was absorbed by an invisible wall. "I truly wish he doesn't kill you. I liked working with you, Candy." With that he was gone, leaving only the shell behind. It looked at Candle Light with empty eyes and slowly closed the door.





Candle Light was panicking. She had just realized that teleportation was not allowed by those runes either. It was a painful experience, resulting in a really bad headache. If she was to stay here she was going to be killed. I need to get out. I have to get out. Oh, Celestia help me! She started punching the invisible wall created by the runes. She was about to cry. Please, somepony, anypony, save me, please. She sat down on the stone ground and held her head in her hooves. There was no getting out of here. This... was her end. She was taking deep and rapid breaths. Her heart felt like it was going to rip out of her chest. Then an idea popped into her mind. This shield was keeping her from teleporting out, but if the beast wanted to come in, Grim had to deactivate it and in that few short moments she could escape. I need to be calm. Magic requires concentration. She tried to regulate her breathing and focus on the spell she was going to use for her escape. Relax. It will work, I will get out.

When the door opened she was ready to teleport out. Beast and Grim were both on the otherside of the shield. "So I can just walk through it if I am wearing this pendant?" He pointed at a ruby necklace around his neck. World crushed down on Candle.

"Correct, you can just walk right in." Grim answered. "Shield will be no different than air for you." It was all over now. The shield was to stay and she was going to die. Tears gathered in her eyes. She was shaking. I can't breathe. Her heart was pounding again. She started moving away from the door, from that monster. She tried to prepare an attack spell but she could't concentrate. "That is when I finished my work on the pendant of course."

Grim deactivated the shield.