The pain was all most too much to bear. He strained against gravity and lifted his neck, all about him he could see hundreds of other Vampires impaled on pikes. Some lay dead, their bodies were limp and lifeless, their corpses frozen in contorted agony. Others were devoured by flocks of crows, while others sported other hideous wounds. Some had multiple stake wounds. Others were doused in pig fat and set alight. The humans laughed, as a mixture of thick smoke and burning flesh seemed to assail Zeran’s senses. Some screamed as their flesh was eaten by holy fire…their screams drowned out by soldiers singing their hymns while others laughed madly in defiance. Still more were fastened to the earth, to be feed to ravenous pigs. The clouds grew dark as rain began to patter on the ground, yet the rain caused no pain… Zaran’s skin sizzled and burned under the pattering of the rain. Through bloodied eyes, the scene that took place before him caused his blood to boil…

Cackling and shuffling could be heard as a group of Sarafan guards had their way with a female Vampire.

Sarafan Guard 1: "These Vampire wenches are really something."

Sarafan Guard 2: " Don’t break her too much. Leave some for me."

Vampire Female: "Arrrrrarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr stop please. Ppllease stop I beg you."

Sarafan Guard 1: " I don’t think so witch, now beg, I SAID BEG."

Vampire Female: "Hhhoooww about I ripp out your toungue human."

Sarafan Guard 2: "Go ahead bitch."

Zeran felt sick. He lay back in mute anger. He began to foam at his mouth yet he knew he could do nothing. He continued to watch helplessly as the Sarafan demeaned his love.

As the Guard continued to defile the female, she convulsed in terror, and the other guards laughed and watched. She breaks free from her bonds, half naked, and feral with anger. She slashed her claws across Guard 1's chest… Looking shocked and clutching his guts he stumbled back before the contents of his stomach fell to the ground for all to see. He soon died of shock. The other guard dropped his sword and ran away in terror. The female Vampire passed out on the floor.

A Green armored man seemed to appear from nowhere. He carried a halberd and wore golden helm, which had forward facing curved horns protruding from the helm. All the other soldiers immediately went silent. He walked towards the mob confidently, a stark vision of hidden rage ready to be released at any moment…

"What are you doing Sergeant?" He removed his helmet, revealing a hard face and long black hair; his eyes were fixed directly on the Sergeant. Looking down he saw the unconscious Vampiress, her cloths torn. A pool of blood trailed off towards the gutless Guard, and beside him knelt a crying guard. Turel turned towards Sergeant once more, "So, Sergeant, can you fill me in on what went on here?" "Sorry sir I just got back here from the nest at Azengard"

"No excuse Soldier. As the soldier in command, it's your responsibility to look after your men."

"Sir, this creature attacked that man over there, and now he's dead. The other guard told me everything, I request we execute this monster."

"No Sergeant, I won't allow that. Instead it is you who shall die."

The Sergeant looked shocked and backed away. "Take him and that other guard away, and execute them both. I'm afraid I cannot allow distention in the ranks. Let this be a lesson to all who act like dogs; they shall die like the vermin they become."

Turel ordered, "Halt, Soldiers."

The guards stopped holding the accused. Turel walked towards them, watching the men quiver with fear. Taking his short sword out, he walked up to the Sergeant and stabbed him deeply in the abdomen, "Now go to hell, dog, where you belong."

The Sergeant fell back bleeding and dying. Turel looked towards the second man. "Feed him to the pigs." The guards dragged away the kicking and screaming guard…. "Now that this little game is over, shall we get down to business?"

Turel turned away from the convulsing guard as he went into shock, blood pooling around the fallen Sergeant. The Sarafan Commander turned to his soldiers, "If anyone lays a finger on those demon folk like that again then they shall also be purified like these Vampires here. Now, gentlemen, let's get back to work. As you know, we have almost wiped out these accursed beasts. Sorry, wait a second…" Turel looked down at the naked Vampiress. He pulled out a dagger from his leg pouch, and knelt down. Cradling the scared Vampiress in his arms, she recoiled as he drew the blade closer to her neck. He ran the blade from ear to ear, a red gash appeared along her neck. Blood welled up, as she gurgled and died painfully, before convulsing then finally going limp.

Zaran let out a scream of rage, "Turel, I want you, face me face me now! If you have any honor face me!"

"Oh look, we have a live one here." Turel walked towards Zaran, who was still impaled on the pike. Zaran stared up at the Sarafan Lord; both held their gaze for several minutes gauging each others resolve. "I accept. Cut him down, the battle will commence tomorrow."

Turel walked away. Zaran closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Zaran couldn't sleep well, the soft human bed stunk of humanity. He kept on remembering the image of his friends being tortured. He felt great anger, but he knew he must stay in control to win the battle tomorrow. Zaran knew he would probably be killed, since he was still young. He did possess immunity to sunlight, but had no dark gifts, although his skill with unarmed combat was high. His mind was filled with images of his brethren burning and bleeding on the battlefield. He saw himself float past them all in the dreamscape. A lone figure stood on the hill clothed in darkness; Turel was there. Zaran began to shake with rage. As his jaws widened, baring his fangs, he let out a primordial scream. As the human smiled, his long black hair blew in the wind. As he ran at Zaran with a scimitar in each hand, Zaran braced himself for combat. The two adversaries collided with blade and claws. Both danced a hymn of death, until the Vampire stopped. He looked at his chest, a mass of blood and leaking entrails welled up as the wound grew larger. His heart was missing... then he looked on at Turel. "Missing something?", Turel held aloft Zaran's heart, which was still beating. Zaran collapsed to the ground in disbelief.

Zaran woke up in a cold sweet. An earthen mug filled with blood lay beside him. With ravenous hunger he gulped down the contents of the mug, and he immediately felt restored.

For the next few hours, he lay in bed thinking, just thinking, awaiting to be summoned.. He heard a knock at the door, and two guards stepped through, "Come with us, Vampire."

Zaran followed the two men to the fields where his kin were still suffering. A ring of fire was marked out on the grassy earth, and in the middle stood Turel, in full battle armor; he carried his halberd. Sarafan guards surrounded the ring cheering and cursing an equal measure.

Zaran wore leather trousers and foot guards, his head was shaved bald, he wore steel claw gloves, and his purple eyes glowed with hatred and anger. The two monsters circled each other, each waiting for the opponent to make the first move. It was Turel that made the first move. Charging quickly at the Vampire, he thrust his double Halberd in a crisscross motion at high speed. Zaran back flipped with Vampiric speed. Both stopped and simply gazed at each other, "Tell me your name, Vampire, you fight well for a degenerate." "Zaran. Zaran Blackfire." "Turel." "Lets dance..."

The two men continued to fight, slashing and stabbing at each other. Turel head butted Zaran

in the mid-section, his horned helmet puncturing both kidneys. Zaran fell back landing on his back. Turel began to charge again at high speed. The soldiers started to chant "TUREL TUREL TUREL". Zaran jumped towards him, claws extended. Everything began to slow down, as the two met. Claws ripped into Turel's head, severing it from his body. Zaran landed on his feet as Turel's headless body splurted out, showering Zaran...

Zaran smiled and summoned forth Turel's blood to heal his own wounds. Zaran's eyes began to glow, a surge of power rushed through his body carrying him off his feet. A huge circular sphere of blood expanded from the tired Vampire, engulfing the whole camp. The blood began to burn the Sarafan guards into piles of burning flesh; they died quickly under the assault. The imprisoned Vampires broke free from their bonds, empowered by Zaran's dark gift, and possessed by a death Frenzy. The Vampires descended on the remaining Sarafan, with eyes glowing, cutting them down swiftly, and tearing them limb from limb.

As the sun rose once more, the Vampires all assumed their bat forms. Hundreds of bats flew away into the sunset, leaving a blood-drenched field, covered in discarded body parts. And left over hatred.

"There is no greater wrath than that of the righteous."

And with that, Zaran shifted into his bat form and flew towards Vorador's Mansion. It was time to take the battle to Malek and his coward army… 'Vorador will be pleased,' thought Zaran.

All rights reserved and owned by Crystal Dynamics and Eidos interactive. I own the character Zaran. Thanx again for your time, I hope you enjoyed the story. It was a bit rushed since it was only meant to be a practice story. Please email me with any comments at Minionclaw@hotmail.com.