EPISODE XI

Knights of Fire and Sword, Witch Killers

After a few moments, they were sitting in a small room, lit only by a single, small candle, which allowed them to see, at least, the outlines of faces.

They hadn't even fully settled in when a woman entered, a gentle face whose eyes were unusually dark and gloomy. She looked at them, then handed them a large thermos and two mugs, with a bag containing several sandwiches.

"You must be hungry," she said in a pleasant, melancholic voice, typical of Vampires. "This is for you. When you leave, just leave this here. No one will take it. I hope you're all well...?"

"No. Thank you very much.

" "You're welcome, children. After all, we're all alike in some way, so we have to stick together..." and then she left, closing the door behind her.

"Everyone's so nice here!" Akasha sighed as Nilajhash carefully wrapped her in a blanket and then handed her a mug of hot tea.

"That's what the Community has to offer. A sense of brotherhood, friendship, care, and security. For countless centuries, Vampires could rely only on themselves... There are probably no similar, astonishing creatures left on Earth, so beautiful and ephemeral, yet simultaneously deadly..."

Akasha looked at him uncertainly. But then she took a sip of tea without answering him.

"I'd like to go back to my apartment tomorrow. I want to stay there for a while until my wound heals.

" "Have you talked to Magnus about this?

" "I haven't had time.

" "He'll need to know where you are. You can't just disappear. He's your Mentor and he's responsible for you.

" "I know. As soon as I feel better, I'll go to him.

" "What about Saya?"

"Now I know where to find her. I'm not worried about her. She's in good hands, she's safe here..."

The next evening, Akasha and Nilajhash wanted to leave Haven, where they had been living for less than a week. Before leaving, however, they encountered a kind woman who brought them food to their room every day.

"Excuse me," Akasha said. "I have a favor to ask...

" "What's the matter, Akasha?

" "Unfortunately, we haven't met Maya, the woman who helped us. Would you be so kind as to thank her for me?

" "Maya? Are you talking about the Black Swan?

" "That's right," Nilajhash agreed.

"That's impossible." She shook her head. "Maya's been dead for six months.

" "What's that?!" Akasha shouted. "She saved my life!"

"I saw her too, her children were with her, and...

" "Maya's dead. Can you believe me?" The tall blonde smiled mysteriously. "Because you know, she was a very good woman." She wasn't a Vampire, but she loved one of us... Everything would have been fine, if not for the fact that one day the Beast awoke within her husband... he killed both her and their two children... He survived, but he never regained his senses... A very sad story... - she shook her head pityingly. - I pity the children and the woman. And now, he's suffering in our prison... We didn't want to kill him... - she sighed. - Life can be unfair.

- I can't believe it! - Akasha sighed. - But...

- Where is he? - Nilajhash asked suddenly. - I mean, where is that man?

- You don't want to go there, surely? It's a very sad sight...

- Maybe I can help him.

- But, but... - she smiled, amused. - Who are you to lull the Beast within him?

"Nilajhash is one of the fallen angels," Akasha explained, looking at the woman's surprised expression. "I think this is how we can repay Maya for helping us...

" "If so, I'll take you to him..."

When they reached a small room at the end of the corridor, a horrifying sight greeted them. A man lay on a pile of dirty straw mixed with excrement, among old rags and rotten remains of meat. He was filthy, mud clinging to every inch of his body, so tightly that it almost formed a crust. His long, dirty hair was covered in straw, and he wore only scraps of clothing.

When he saw them, he flinched, then began sniffing like an animal. This didn't last long, however, because almost immediately, he threw himself against the bars separating him from them and, growling at them menacingly, began tearing at them and beating them with his hands.

Akasha groaned, taking a few steps back. What she saw now seemed even more improbable than the idea that Maya was a ghost. Nilajhash stared at the man for a long time, behaving like an aggressive animal. Finally, he grabbed the lock.

"Are you sure..." the woman asked hesitantly.

"You'll be okay..."

As soon as the door opened, the man, as if scalded, leaped to the farthest corner of his cage and cowered there, terrified. To Akasha's surprise, Nilajhash began to exude an eerie aura she'd never seen in him before. She had the impression that whatever he said, she would do it without hesitation, as if he had taken control of her.

However, the fallen angel was focused for now on the man, who, with a scream and a wheeze, clutched his head and began writhing in convulsions on the straw scattered on the floor.

Akasha and the woman watched, surprised and captivated by the sudden authority emanating from Nilajhash's figure. Then the fallen angel leaned over the man, who froze and stared at him with bloodshot eyes. At the same time, an incredible thing happened: a gentle gust of wind suddenly sprang up in the enclosed space, enveloping the men. When it subsided, Nilajhash smiled with satisfaction.

The man sat up in his bed, blinking as if he had just woken up.

"W-what happened?" he asked, looking at his dirty hands, where dirt mingled with dried blood.

"The Beast possessed you, but now you're cured, nothing will happen to you..."

"I don't understand, surely..." He looked at them uncomprehendingly. "Where's Maya...? Where are the children?

" "Unfortunately..." The woman broke off, unsure how to reveal the terrible truth about what he had done. "Unfortunately, they're dead..."

"How can that be?!" he exclaimed desperately. "It's impossible!" It's impossible!!!...

"Calm down..." Nilajhash said.

"Who did this?! Who...?" His voice broke.

The woman looked questioningly, first at Akasha, then at Nilajhasha, expecting help from them, but they themselves didn't know how to react or what to say.

"When you were the Beast... It wasn't your fault..." she whispered after a long moment of silence.

The man continued sitting on the straw. His eyes widened, his mouth moving as if he were about to say something, but he didn't. He stared at the woman mutely, bitter tears streaming down his dirty cheeks.

Akasha's heart sank at the sight of him. She covered her face with her hands and, leaning against the wall, burst into helpless sobs.

"Why...?" he moaned softly. "Why?! Why?! WHY?!?!?!

He screamed, his voice echoing hollowly against the empty, stone walls of the corridors...

When they stepped outside, they didn't say a word to each other. They didn't really know what to say or how to behave. Nilajhash wasn't even sure he'd done the right thing. Standing silently under the dome, they watched the blood-red sunset. And then they noticed some strange, yellowish clouds swirling, despite the windless weather, just above the water's surface. After a moment, they noticed them begin to quiver, until finally... Maya appeared before their eyes.

Akasha, startled, rubbed her eyes, thinking it was just a hallucination, but she was right. The woman who had saved her life was truly suspended just above the water!

"Thank you," Maya said. "I knew you would help my husband. Thank you..."

At that very moment, Maya began to fade into the mist.

"Wait!" Akasha exclaimed. "Wait a moment! I want to thank you so much! Wait..."

But Maya was already gone. Tears streamed down Akasha's pale cheeks. She clung to the stone pillar of the dome, unable to calm herself. Nilajhash approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure she heard you.

" "I hope... I would very much like that..." the girl sighed softly.