Chapter CCLXIII: Geruch des Todes

“Tell me what you know and I was let you go. I will even silence you into keeping your mouth shut about what you know with some of my riches, perhaps. Is that what you want?”

Bulaklak wasn't about to panic, but she was still nervous. Not even she could fight off a vampire by herself. She wondered briefly how she got into this.

After walking a distance in the tomb, she heard voices behind her. Alarmed, yet curious at the same time, she slunk torward them, keeping her body low to the ground and against the wall. By the time she had gotten there, the voices were replaces with a crash. A figure retreated from the tomb, while another lay unconscious against a wall.

Behind her mask, her eyes widened as she stared at the man, his mouth covered with a red scarf. She thought for a moment about helping him, but at the same time recoiled. What if was attacked him was still around? She had no doubts about her ability to handle it, but...

Shrugging off the thought, she slowly crept toward the man. At least she could take him outside, or, perhaps, deeper into the tomb.

When she was standing right next to him, she heard someone enter the tomb, immediately, she jerked her head up and jumped back, putting herself into a catlike position, ready to pounce if needed.

A figure entered. She couldn't see it clearly because of the darkness, but she could recognize a faint smell. Of burnt flesh, ashes, and blood. She slowly moved even farther back. Never trust a person who smells like death.

But it was too late. He had spotted her.

He took a step forward, and then spoke. “Tell me what you know and I was let you go. I will even silence you into keeping your mouth shut about what you know with some of my riches, perhaps. Is that what you want?”

She stood her ground, prepared to strike at any moment. Could he be trusted? She had seen his fangs. He was obviously a vampire. If he meant to attack her, she knew she might not make it out alive.

She bared her teeth ever-so-slightly behind her mask, and prepared to make a break for it. The vampire had closed the door securely behind him, but maybe there was another way out...

The vampire seemed to notice, and he spoke in a cool, calm voice, "If you fear I will attack you, I will prove to you I won't."

Slowly, he reached into his cloak, and took out a sword and a dagger, laying them both on the floor and looking at her expectantly.

She took a deep breath. If might not hurt just to tell him....

"I don't know this man, or who attacked him. I was in here to raid the tomb when I heard them behind me. Whoever knocked him out fled. That if all I know. If you are to attack me now, I will fight back with all I have."

And she poised herself, hand on wakizashi, ready for anything but what happened next.