Eris stared at his reflection. Everything about his appearance stank. Every part of him was caked in blood and dirt. Making his way through the room, he searched for anything to wear. Along with his morals, the man seemed to have lost all sense of good taste. Nevertheless, he would not be going after Senid in his current state.

Finally, he settled on plain black trousers and a deep red shirt. It was a little too flashy, but it would do for now until he could purchase clothes that better suited him. If I get the chance…

“Don’t do this,” came a voice. Turning around, Eris found Negal standing by the wall, her expression hard and sad.

“You can’t be serious. You’re really asking me to not kill him.”

“Yes. Senid may be a killer, and I may disapprove and fight him, but he is still my husband.” The revelation did not surprise him, only serving to anger him more.

“He killed Azelia!” he screamed. “She would have been my wife! He brought on the death of so many Reborns. I may have hated the lot, but they did not deserve that. Why should I spare him? Because he’s your husband? How many wives and husbands did he kill? How many lives has he destroyed? I will make him pay for the blood he’s spilled.”

“His crimes are unjustifiable, but he is my husband, and I love him. I know it’s selfish of me, but I have to ask and beg. Do not do this.”

“You’re not really giving me anything to hold me back, Negal.”

“Then listen! This is a dark path, and the consequences will destroy you!”

Eris let out a small, sad laugh. “What is there left to destroy of me?“

Sadly, tears filling her eyes, she held back. “Do not expect me to help you.”

“Help or not, I will be going after him. It’ll just take a little longer.”

“Eris,” she began as something akin to pity and frustration filled her eyes, “can’t you remember anything?”

“What is there to remember!” he screamed again, sending her flinching into the wall. “What Negal? I can tell you all I know. That Senid killed Azelia before my eyes, and you failed to stop him. That he deserves to die. So you can either help or stand aside. You’re good at both.”  Eris walked off, leaving his bedroom where Negal was standing, sorrow building in her black eyes.

“I can’t let you—” Eris stopped her, tearing at her shadows through the Shadow Realm. His hand gripped her throat tightly and pinned her against the wall.

“If you will not help, stay out of my way. Or I will kill you, too.”

“No.”

Eris almost laughed. “Amazing. You would die for him. Really, Negal, you could do better.”

“Don’t kill him.”

Eris, ignoring her plea, released his hold on her. “You know, since meeting you, I’ve met quite a number of Shadowlings. I don’t need you to find him.” Eris waved goodbye and took off. He was pleased to find that Negal did not follow.

***

Eris sought out Ettore as he made his way through the forest leisurely. He seemed friendly enough. He also seemed a bit taken with Selene, which could prove helpful. Then again, he could seek out Vega. She seemed sympathetic enough. Then there was Void. Three candidates waiting to be questioned and, if need be, tortured. Eris leaned against a thick oak tree as he watched his home village try to live again through the ashes. He sought out a familiar presence through the shadows and came up empty. He wondered if Negal told them to stay away. That was until he felt something stir.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Eris,” came a gentle voice. Eris saw Vega form through the shadows.

“Vega, correct? How nice to see you.”

“Being a Vampyre had changed your perception.”

“I don’t think so.”

“There are many forms of Blood Hunger Eris. All your mortal life, you tried to resist those urges like caring, giving into anger and arrogance. Now, you’ve given in to all of them. But your lust for revenge has taken over. You and your sister have given into it completely.”

“Are you going to help me?”

She nodded solemnly. “Yes, but only because Senid has done too much evil to continue living. As long as you live, he will continue his horrid actions. Negal is right, though; this is a dark and dangerous path you are on, one you can easily lose yourself in.”

“Where is he?”

“On the Shadow Plane of Seraphim. Be wary; his sister is never far from his side, and Negal will not help you this time.” She vanished into darkness, and Eris clucked his tongue against his teeth. Looking at the setting sun, the shadows thickening on their own accord now, he spared a glance at his home, unaware that his path had taken him so close. Stopping in the shadows, thickening the shadowy canopy above him, he caught sight of his mother, her face veiled in mourning. He wanted to tell her he was fine, but maybe letting her think he was dead was better than letting her know he had been Turned. Eris bid a silent goodbye to his home and mother before taking off, unsure if he would return.

***

Traveling on the Shadow Plane was quicker than running. It was also riskier. He would be in serious trouble if he encountered any Shadowling who recognized him for who he was. So, occasionally, he left to stroll the Felucian world as though nothing, even occasionally whistling.

It took him only four days to reach Seraphim, then he waited and took the opportunity to do something he hadn’t been able to.

All the graves were set. Flowers were on top of each of them. Stopping by Urit’s, remembering the first time he met her, in her sailing clothes smelling strongly of seawater. He thanked her for being a friend to Selene and said he hoped to see her again. Kneeling down at her grave, he wondered who had taken her life, who had been so cruel as to break her wings. Eris hoped that her next life would be free of pain.

Walking along, he stopped at Ranita’s grave, a woman who had become like a second mother to Selene and himself. He wondered if they ever found her body. Kyra and Larkin had taken her life out of pettiness and hatred. Eris hoped Selene would suck them dry if she hadn’t already. Silently, he thanked her for being like a mother and friend to both him and Selene, especially when they needed it most. Eris bid farewell to her soul before walking on.

The grave he stood at meant much more to him than anything in this life. Silver and gold flowers covered her grave, and the headstone had her true name etched on the top: AZELIA. Underneath it was an intricate carving of a wing; her name in this life was below it. Bending down, he touched the headstone tenderly.

“I would’ve loved to marry you. That was never a thought I had until I met you. Quite honestly, I was a womanizer. I didn’t really care about anyone besides my family. Now all I have is Selene.”  He swallowed back the tears and continued on talking. “I’ll look for you if I survive. I’ll look for you, and hopefully, we can finally be together. I’ll come back for you, no matter what.” He kissed the top of the stone and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Standing up, he straight ahead. “Hello, Anita, shouldn’t you be in bed?” Eris turned around and stared at her sadly. His sister’s familiar lay curled on her neck above the neckline of her plain white nightgown that gathered dirt at its hem. Selene had been a bad influence on her.

“So my visions were true.”

“You saw?”

“Only when it was too late. Now I see almost everything.”

“So you’ll tell me if I live?” Eris gave her feign smile.

“This is not a laughing matter. You might live, and you might die. That is yet to be determined.”

“How do I survive?”

“Do you truly want to know?”

“Yes.”

Anita sighed. “Let go of your humanity.”

“That doesn’t seem too bad.”

“Maybe not now, but in time it will. A part of me hopes you die, only to save your soul from the creeping darkness.” Anita stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Eris hugged her back and then ended the bittersweet embrace.

“Take care of yourself, Anita,” he said, kissing her forehead before sinking into Shadow Realm. Ettore was waiting for him on the other side.

“Negal’s not pleased that my beloved Vega has chosen to help you.”

“I would never have put you and Vega together.”

Ettore smiled smugly. “Most don’t.”

“Are you here to stop me?”

“Good gods, no. I’m sick of Senid. I came here to give you something. Vega and I both agree that Senid should be…disposed of. Void doesn’t care either way. And until Senid is killed, my sister will forever be under his thumb. She’s a bit dull-minded, although she has only herself to blame for that.” For a brief moment, his narcissism vanished, replaced by sadness. Still, it went as quickly as it came, and his egotistic smile returned.

“So what have you got for me?” Ettore handed him a sheathed sword. The blade suddenly seemed oddly familiar when Eris’ hand closed on the hilt. It felt like it belonged in his hands, as though made for him. Eris examined the blade, pulling it out of its sheath. It had a few nicks here and there, but it was still sharp and glistened.

“It belonged to a Shadowling named Nuri. He passed some time ago. He doesn’t need the blade, but I think you might.”

“Ettore, this is amazing. It’s like it was crafted for me.”

“Uncanny,” said Ettore, his voice empty, his eyes focused on the blade.

Eris gave Ettore a curious look, sheathing the sword. “I’ll return it—”

“Keep it. You never know. It might come in useful again, provided you survive this encounter.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Anyway, good luck, Senid is waiting for you. Negal has already warned him. Women, what are we going to do with them?” He winked and walked away, vanishing into the dark and gleaming forest of silver and black. Tying the scabbard around his waist, Eris walked in the opposite direction, heading towards a meadow of black-grass with silver and white flowers.

The more the tree line diminished, the more he saw, finally catching sight of Senid, who was waiting, his back to him. Out far, there was a palace, as beautiful as the Reborn one but menacing and dark, with tall spires. It represented just how deadly the Shadowlings were, everything he hated, everything he wanted to kill. With his anger boiling, Eris looked back at Senid, running the distance to face him.

“What did I ever do to you?”

Senid stepped back and studied him, his eyes capturing sorrow and anger. “So you really remember nothing? A bit unnerving. I blame your sister, the anomaly. Not once has Azelia never been the sole apple of your eye, no matter how much Mother tried.”

“What are you talking about?”

Senid shook his head sadly. “How sad. I guess I should have gotten rid of her first.” Senid pulled out a sword quicker than Eris would have thought and lunged at him. Eris fumbled with his blocking, was caught off guard, and forced down to one knee. Let go, Anita had told him. Eris didn’t know if he could do that, and he didn’t know if he should with the warnings Vega and Negal had given him.

Parrying the blow, Eris saw the determination in Senid’s coal-black eyes. Eris saw the uncaring, unfeeling look in his eyes and knew that if he wanted to live if he wanted to take Senid’s life, he would have to let go of his humanity. He would have to give in entirely, without culpability, to his Blood Hunger.

Dodging another of Senid’s blows, and took a deep breath, slowly letting go. He thought only of the blood on Senid’s hands, though only of the death. He thought of his home, sister, mother, and friends. Then he struck, his rune throbbing on his back, his rage burning his magic in his veins.

He forced Senid to keep backing up with each blow he threw against his sword, Selene’s voice telling him just what to do, what move to make, which way to strike until the enemy was down, weak. Then he urged his shadow powers to tear at his arm, a smile on his face as Senid screamed in response. He used his powers again, aimed at Senid’s leg, bringing him down onto his knees and locking him to the ground. Eris caught his breath when he knocked Senid’s sword from his hands.

Breathing heavily, he stood over him, balancing the blade over his heart. Senid looked up at him, a grin on his face, the anger in his eyes replaced by pity and sadness.

“I never thought you had it in you.” Eris’s own heart lurched and broke when he drove the blade into Senid’s heart.