F I F T Y-O N E

"You want me to what?"

"Ugh, I just explained it. Okay, we've tried everything and that abomination is about to lose it–lose his mind. We need a tactic that's both sharp yet delicate, calculating, foolproof, and downright terrifying. So, who better fit the role than you?"

Sage crossed her arms and pulled her eyebrows down. She wasn't insulted by his words, but annoyed at his word choices, more because she knew they were spot on.

"Okay, fine. I'll agree but I don't think the King will allow me to interfere with the guard's plans."

"Don't worry, I asked him beforehand. He agreed to allow you to try as our last resort."

"Last resort? You really tried everything?" Sage asked in surprise.

Vridora was famous for many things, disposing a prisoner without getting information was not one of them. The guards got very little info out of the vampire, so slim they could barely call it useful.

In other words, the first class guards were desperate and Kai was determined. If anyone was good at cracking open a reluctant mouth, it was Sage. Speaking from experience, he had faith in her.

"Yes. So, you'll do it?"

Sage sighed and uncrossed her arms. "I'll try," she said.

Kai smiled and grabbed her shoulders, steering her out of the room they were in. Kai gave her more details as they walked down the hallway leading towards the entrance to the basement, where the cells were located. She nodded along, listening intensely and already creating a plan in her head.

Cyrus and another guard were down there speaking in whisperes when they arrived. Cyrus gave a brief report and nodded her head towards Sage.

"She's your weapon?" she asked incredulously.

Kai patted Sage's head with a smile. "The best there is." Then he snatched his hand away before she could scratch him.

"I'll do what I can, though I promise no guarantees," Sage said while putting her hair up. "You just have to wait until I'm finished."

"I'll go in with you," Kai said. Sage nodded and the other guard unlocked the door to the cell.

The cells were small square rooms with one pale yellow light on the ceiling. There were cells with iron bars, but this room suited best for the type of prisoner they held.

The door was heavy and shut with a loud, groaning thud when they entered.

Sage made a 'humph' sound as she looked around. The room was nothing fancy, the walls were plain and grimy, the ground had specks of dirt thay were dragged in and the light occasionally flickered. They two stopped a few feet in front of the vampire, who rolled his head to the side and looked up at them.

"Well," Kai said and hit Sage's shoulder, "have at it."

Sage rolled her eyes but hardened them as she studied the vampire.

Vampires, or normal vampires, heal extraordinarily fast, a simply cut healed within seconds. Sage was aware these new creatures would heal faster, yet she was still shocked to see that his skin was spotless; void of any signs of cuts or stabs. Though his foggy eyes seemed to replay what they did to him, and Sage saw it.

The man looked tired. His movements were droopy and lazy. But he was still alerted when she stepped closer.

She crouched in front of him, narrowing her fern tinted eyes, which turned darker until the shade appeared black.

All of a sudden she reached out and clutched the vampire's shirt collar, and tugged him foward. He widened his eyes and winced when the shackles around his wrists scraped his skin.

"Let's talk about this master of yours, shall we?"

††

Kai had left the room multiple times while Sage conversed with the vampire, to deal with a few issues happening with the other guards. When he walked into the dimly lit room again, the coldness bit his skin.

The room remained chilly but being in it so long made someone think the walls were closing in. The room began getting stuffy and hot, making it harder to breath in. Nerves spiked, emotions fluttered, and more times than not the prisoner went crazy just being alone in a pitch black room.

When Kai entered he heard a speck of that craziness. The vampire was whimpering and Sage was laughing.

She turned around when Kai stood near the door and she smiled at him.

"This is fun. You should let me do this more often."

Instead of being freaked out or concerned, Kai grinned and crossed his arms.

It wasn't craziness; it was just Sage.

"I knew you'd find some enjoyment in this. But–" his expression turned serious. "–this isn't the time to play around. Have you gotten a name yet?"

"Not yet. But it's a female, and he's positive she's here. Look." Sage turned back towards the vampire and stepped up to him. He flinched, raising his hands as if to defend himself. "Hey!" Sage grabbed his arm and stepped on his thigh to push his leg down.

The vampire cried, "Just let me find her! I need her! They–they're coming, I'm telling you!"

Sage raised a brow and glanced at Kai, who just looked confused.

"Who?" he asked, voice booming in the room.

The man mumbled under his breath before Sage got a fist full of his hair and slammed his head back.

"Who?!" she repeated with a demand.

"She's here! She's here! I–I'll show you! I'll show...they're coming...she's–they're searching..." When Sage let the vampire go he immediately dropped his head and started crying. That was the first.

Kai let out a heavy sigh but Sage held up a finger, telling him to wait.

She picked up a medium long sword from the ground and tapped it against her palm.

"I'll let you go," she said, and the vampire looked up in shock. "I'll let you go and you can reunite with your leader."

The vampire began to stir as if happily. "Really?" he asked in a broken voice.

"Oh, yes, I promise. However.." Sage glanced at the sword before holding it out, making the tip of it pressed against his throat. "But you must tell us who she is first."

It was part of her plan all along. Break his mind even more than it was, shove hope down his throat before threaten to cut it open.

The vampire growled and curled his hands into fists. That hope shattered.

"No."

"Tell me."

"No."

Sage glared with a blaze in her eyes. A menacing look came across her face that made the vampire pale even lighter. She drew back the sword and gripped the handle in her palms.

"Fine. You'll die with along with your leader." Sage swiped the sword out and the vampire attempted to shield his face, a loud sob leaving his mouth.

"Zoe!"

The name echoed off the cold stone walls, and the light flickered.

Sage's sword halted inched away from the vampire's neck. She drew it back slowly and let the tip drag on the floor.

"What?"

The vampire whimpered and rocked his body, shame emptied out of his eyes as he looked up at Sage.

"Zoe," he repeated. His fangs were protruding out of his mouth while he panted. "That's her name."

Before Sage could get a word out, Kai had pushed her aside and was now bent down in front of the vampire, his shirt fisted in Kai's hands.

His eyes were intense enough to make the vampire shiver.

"Zoe. That's your leader?"

The vampire opened his mouth but no words came out, which made Kai jerk him forward and slam his back against the wall.

"Answer me! Is she like you! A new generation? You better speak up or else–"

"Y–yes! Yes she's like us! She's our leader. My leader. She's here, she's here I'm telling you!"

"What does she want?" Again, the vampire hesitated. "TELL ME!"

"The prince!"

Kai's grip on the vampire's shirt dropped and Sage couldn't even take a breath before her wrist was captured and she was tugged forcefully to follow Kai.

They ran faster than their normal speed was used to, and Sage was breathless when they stopped–finding them outside on the path leading towards the gardens.

She gasped and reached out to grab Kai's shoulder.

"Stop. Kai, stop!" She stuck her leg out, tripping his sprint.

They didn't tumble to the ground, but eventually fell to their knees, breathing heavily.

"Stop," Kai repeated with dubiety. "Iris is in danger and you want to stop?!" Kai jerked away from Sage and struggled to stand up.

From his emotions setting fire in his body, to the speed they ran, Kai's energy was teeter-tottering. He was rushing on adrenaline, on fear and worry, and Sage saw that.

She reached for his hand.

"Kai, you can't just rush in. What if you spook her and she reacts negatively? We need to be thoughtful with this, just in case it's really serious."

"This is serious!" Kai snapped. "Iris–"

"–Will be fine. Trust me, Kai." Sage laid her hands on Kai's shoulders, feeling how tense they are, before he nodded and they loosened up.

"Fine." He wanted to argue, yell, fight, but Sage was right. If what that vampire said was true, if it all connected, rushing in without a plan and only on fury wasn't the best action.

They only started walking a few steps when Kai winced at the solid smack landed on the back of his head, then whined when Sage pinched his ear.

"Ow ow ow, Sage! What the hell, let go!"

"First of all, that was for dragging me with you! Do you know how old I am? I can't be running like that."

"I'm–I'm sorry, I panicked. Now, let go!"

Sage released Kai's ear and he paused to cup it and let the pain dissolve. He glared at her but she only shrugged.

"Do you have any idea how serious this situation is? We can't be messing around!"

"Okay." Sage shrugged again and continued walking.

Kai mentally swore every cuss word he knew before jogging ahead of her, he wasn't going to waste any more time. He couldn't.

††

Finally an update, I know I know!!

There will be a second update later today, so keep an eye out for that!

Phew, well if I'm being honest here, I rushed this chapter a bit but I hope I did a good job in surprising you ;)

What do you think? Do you believe the vampire's leader, Zoe, is the same Zoe Iris is bound to marry? If so, what do you think she wants?

Also I do like intense scenes and drama, but I just had to throw a little humor in at the end :p

~Nikky