Jason and Maya walked through the dark forest on their way to the vampire’s manor. Even though it was noon, and the sun was shinning bright over them, the canopy of dead leaves made it as dark as a starless night. Jason had conjured a magelight, so the two could see. The soft green glow did little more than cause the trees to cast shadows that looked like long fingers reaching for them. Maya had an uneasy feeling. She kept seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she looked toward it, there was nothing but the shifting shadows of the trees.
“I don’t like this place. It makes my spine tingle.”
“I’d have to agree,” Jason told her. “By the look of those leaves, they should’ve fallen off last autumn. Besides, in all the time we’ve spent in the forest, I haven’t once seen a canopy so thick it can block out the noon-day sun.”
“Could vampires do something like this?”
“Possibly. Whatever is going on, it requires very powerful magic. That much is certain.”
Maya continued to follow close behind Jason, who did his best to look unphased. She knew him better than that though. His shoulders were tense and his eyes kept darting around. She knew he was as unsettled by their surroundings as she was. At least she wasn’t alone in her fear.
Soon the forest gave way to a ten-foot wall made out of hewn stone. A wrought iron gate blocked the path in front of them. The bars were designed to look like coiling snakes reaching for the top bar.
There was a rose bush planted in front of the gate. Its vines reached all the way to the stone wall on either side. Jason went to examine the bush while Maya kept close beside watching the forest behind them. She heard footsteps coming toward them and she summoned a tongue of flame in her hand. When two figures emerged from the forest, she closed her eyes and hurled a bolt of fire at them and she heard a scream.
Jason whipped around from his examination. He grabbed her wrists and forced her hands down to her sides. She opened her eyes and saw a bright steel blade resting near her throat. Following it, she met the eyes of a man in full, glittering, steel plate mail with a serious look in his eyes. When he pulled his sword back for a strike, an orc jumped in front and grabbed the hand that held the blade.
“No!” the orc said. “No fight. Not vampires.”
“She attacked me.”
“She scared. Thought you were vampire.”
“Who are you two and what are you doing here? How did you know about the vampires?” Jason asked, after he released Maya.
“Earth tell me. Told me to grow rose bush.”
“You grew that? So, you’re the one who put the ward up?”
“What ward?” Maya asked.
Grum nodded. “Earth told me what to do. Vampires stay in house.”
“You talk to the earth?” Maya asked.
Grum nodded again. “Learned to listen from elders. Earth helps those who help her.”
Maya nodded. “So, the vampires are trapped? Then the town doesn’t need to worry. They can go back to their lives.”
“Not exactly,” Jason said.
Maya and Grum turned toward him. He had started examining the wall again. “Studying spell?” Grum asked.
Jason nodded. “This is quite exceptional you said your grandfather taught you this?”
Grum shook his head. “Not Pap-pap, elders taught me to listen. Earth taught me the rest.” Jason nodded, listening intently. “Earth shows me lots of spells. It also tells me when to use them. Just have to listen.”
“You’ve done exceptional work. Unfortunately, we still have some left to do.” Grum nodded, but Maya looked confused. Jason gestured toward the trees. “The vampire’s magic still has influence beyond the wall. That means they are still a danger. And if what happened to these trees happens to that rose bush,” he pointed toward the gate, “the focus of the magic and the life-force powering it will fail. The vampires will get out.”
Grum nodded solemnly. “It was temporary fix. Grum knew this. It was all Grum could do.”
The man in armor cleared his throat. “Since my friend here has given you his name, it seems only fair that we get your as well.”
Maya jumped in front of him with her hand outstretched. “My name is Maya. The one with the serious expression is Jason. Sorry about the fire. You just startled me is all.”
The man took the hand. “Hazel. I’m a paladin of the White Rose, First Order.”
Jason’s eyebrow went up. “They sent a First Order paladin to deal with a vampire? You’re a bit out of your depth, don’t you think?”
“Not technically. I was sent to hunt down a demon who has been making moves in these parts. I met one of his underlings, a witch named Lilith, and…” Grum gave Hazel a dark look. “Anyway, Grum told me about what was going on. I’d like to help, if I can.”
“You’re welcome to come back to town with us, but I can’t promise a warm welcome. We came here to investigate the manor house, but I wouldn’t want to risk breaking the containment field Grum has on the place.”
“Grum go to town. People there will help Grum and friends with vampire.”
“I don’t think…” Jason said, but Grum was already headed in the direction him and Maya had come. He followed the large man, waving for Maya to come too. Hazel took one last look at the manor house, and sprinted to catch up with Grum.