Page 10 of Captive
"They search for him with unprecedented numbers," the spearmaster reported. "Three hunting parties converging from the east."
"How many?" Boarstaff asked, studying the map where Thornmaker marked their approach.
"At least twenty in the main group alone. House de la Sang has mobilized resources we have not seen in generations. The father will not rest until his heir is found."
"How long before they reach the village?" Boarstaff asked, tracing potential interception points on the map.
"Two days. Maybe less." Thornmaker's finger circled a section of deep forest. "We can slow them here. Force them to split their party, waste time on false trails."
"Do it," Boarstaff ordered. "But no direct engagement. We need time, not blood spilled."
As Thornmaker departed to organize their defenses, Boarstaff found himself staring at the map's representation of vampire territory. The gleaming citadel. The mechanical precision that had conquered everything natural and replaced it with artificial predictability.
Boarstaff returned to the sacred chamber as afternoon shadows lengthened. The transformation had progressed further in his absence. Sebastian's mechanical components no longer resembled vampire engineering at all. The brass had become something between metal and living tissue, pulsing with rhythms that matched the chamber's crystal formations.
"How does he progress?" Boarstaff noted how Sebastian's expression had softened slightly, though he remained deeply unconscious.
"The transformation continues steadily," Ochrehand reported. "His body reacts less violently now as the Heart Tree's magic works more harmoniously with what remains. The components are not just failing now, but truly becoming something else."
Sebastian's breathing had deepened, steadied into a rhythm thatheld nothing of artificial regulation. The transformed brass at his throat pulsed with each inhale, each exhale, as if it had become part of his natural function rather than imposed control.
"The process has only begun," Doechaser said, her magic probing the changes within Sebastian's unconscious form. "It will be many days before we see what truly emerges. His core systems still undergo fundamental changes. What we witness now is merely the surface."
Boarstaff nodded, understanding it would be a long process. The decision to feed Sebastian was one he had already made, and would likely need to make again as the transformation progressed. Each instance would further shape not just Sebastian's fate, but potentially relationships between their peoples that had been defined by hatred for generations. For now, though, the blood he had given appeared to be sustaining the vampire through this phase of his transformation.
"Then we must secure our borders while this transformation unfolds," Boarstaff said. "His father will not give up easily."
"No," Ochrehand agreed. "The nobility never surrender what they believe belongs to them. And Sebastian is his father's heir."
The chamber fell silent except for Sebastian's steadier breathing and the pulsing of transformed brass. Outside, distant horns signaled scout movements, border patrols adjusting to vampire hunting patterns. Time pressed from all directions, but the most critical phase of transformation would require patience.
"Post additional guards," Boarstaff ordered as he prepared to leave. "No one enters without my explicit permission."
With one last look at Sebastian, Boarstaff headed back toward the council chamber. The debate would still be raging, and now he had new information about the approaching threat that would only add urgency to their decisions. Whatever emerged from Sebastian's transformation, they needed to be prepared for what was coming from beyond their borders.
Crystal light followed him partway up the passage, then faded as chamber defenses fully engaged. The room remembered its purpose, even if the reasons for containing vampire transformation had been lost to history.
And within that sacred space, Sebastian continued his slow journey from what his father had made him toward something new.Something that existed between what vampires had been and what they might become. Something that would take days to fully emerge.
Chapter Six
"This isn't just breaking our sacred laws," Thornmaker's voice bounced off the walls of the Heart Tree's council chamber. "It's spitting on everything our ancestors taught us. Those chambers held vampires before, back when they were just undead, before they stuffed themselves with metal and magic. We know how dangerous they were then. So how much worse is this one, with all that corruption packed into him?"
His fist struck the ancient table, sending ripples across the ceremonial water bowl. Around him, council members nodded, their faces grim. Even Ochrehand's usual allies couldn't fully defend what she'd done.
"The shaman followed her vision," Moonsinger’s aged voice carried quiet authority despite her simple words. "Her methods were... rash, but we can't ignore what her vision might be showing us. Those ancient chambers were built for this very purpose, after all. Before our peoples split apart."
"Vision or not, we have rules," Rockbreaker shot back. "Sacred spaces have guardians for a reason. The old texts tell us exactly what happened when vampire hunger broke loose in those chambers. Those ancient bindings were meant for pure vampire nature, not these synthetic monstrosities they've become."
Boarstaff raised his hand, and the heated debate paused. "What's done is done. The vampire's in our sacred chamber, going through changes none of us really understand. We need to focus on what happens next, whether he lives or dies."
"If he dies here," Moonsinger said, "House de la Sang will burn everything looking for revenge."
"And if he lives?" Thornmaker's voice dropped. "If thistransformation actually works? What then, Warchief? Do we keep a vampire prince among us? Feed him our blood?"
The question lingered in the crystal-lit air. Outside, war drums pounded, border patrols signaling scout movement at the edges of their territory. Darkness had fallen and Sebastian's people were already searching deeper than their mechanical scouts could go.
"First, we learn what he knows, see if he's willing to share his father's secrets," Boarstaff decided. He looked each council member in the eye. "Only then do we decide what happens to him."
