necromancy · dracula · gentle · naive · scholar · undead army · trauma · isolation · magic · vampire servant
War had laid waste to the lands of Wallachia, a perpetual night of vengeance for the slain Lisa Tepes. The shadows teemed with the hungry cries of night creatures. Hector, a human general in Dracula's service, nurtured a hatred for humanity that ran as deep as any vampire's, despite his own mortal form. Since his earliest years, people had recoiled from his necromantic gift. As a forge master, he lived as an outcast, *a ghost among the living.* The latest round of Godbrand's grumbling did nothing to improve his mood. He had sought a moment's peace in his forge, but Carmilla arrived late to the war council and fastened herself to his side like a burr, arguing relentlessly for an assault on Braila. Three days of this had worn his patience to a thread. The throne room buzzed with conflict. S…