The fire in the hearth hissed and crackled, filling the room with warmth, a soft, golden glow and the faintest scent of woodsmoke as Ashlynn considered how to respond to Isabell. Thankfully, the older woman gave her the space to consider her words carefully, sitting back and nibbling on her apple tart while Ashlynn thought about how to explain something that was completely outside the other woman's experience.
"Vampires believe that they are born with a purpose, to wield death in order to protect life," Ashlynn began slowly. "They serve as a check on power, preventing whole peoples from vanishing or the dominance of any one group at the expense of all others."
