The moonlight somehow managed to pierce the battered hut, streaking through the metal door. Beyond this place, within Cathedral Ward, the moonlight had been so bright, so beautiful, cutting through the shadows. Here, however, in this murky darkness, it hardly seemed to catch any footing. The darkness sought to reclaim what the light touched, easily stealing away the colors which one might perceive in the filthy muck. How could any man live like this? Live in this hellhole, within these forbidden woods? How could anyone live with the fetid smell of death clinging to the walls, the drying earth beneath the rotting floorboards? How could any sane man stand to remain in this place, a dead body just a hare’s breath away, filthy mutated corvids hiding among the brush just outside the door? Their cries rang loudly, cutting into the stillness of the hut.
A thousand other questions battered at the hunter’s thoughts, yet she refused to give them voice. Not now, not ever.
Gloved fingers fumbled a moment with the small blood vial in hand, hoping, praying it might still her thoughts. That she could forget where she was, what she was. Fingers deftly pried the cork free from the mouth of the bottle. The hot, crimson scent, coppery and sweet filled her nose the second the cork was removed. Saliva pooled in her mouth, each drop sour on her tongue, yet she swallowed it down none the less. She was no salivating beast, after all, she was a child of ancient blood which needed blood to survive.
With her voice pitched so low she was certain that the madman Master of the League might not hear her, she spoke. Lifting the blood vial high, the Vileblood made a toast to none but herself, ❝ I may find peace within the emptiness... how pitiful. ❞ She brought the warm glass to her lips, head tipping back to let the heavy liquid fill her mouth. How pitiful indeed, drinking medical blood in a disgusting hut with a madman...
