Eira stepped inside and almost gagged. The mine stank. God, It stank so bad.
Dust fueled the air, and the sound of pickaxes striking stone echoed endlessly, like a dirge for the damned. Humans slaved away in the dim light, their bodies frail, their faces hollow. Their clothes hung in tatters, their ribs sharp against their skin.
They looked like corpses that hadn't realized they were dead yet.
Vampires lounged among them, doing little work. Instead, they prowled the tunnels, mocking the humans, feeding off them when they pleased.
One vampire had a man pinned against the wall, his fangs buried in the man's neck while the others laughed. The human didn't even scream. He just sagged, too weak to resist.
Eira clenched her fists under her cloak. This place was like an open wound, pulsing with misery.
But she forced herself to keep walking. She wasn't here to save anyone. She wasn't strong enough for that. Not yet. She was here for crystals.
She moved deeper into the tunnels, blending into the crowd of filthy miners. The air grew warmer, heavier. Her boots sank into the wet dirt.
The tunnels opened into a wide chamber where trade was happening. Rich humans and vampires strolled casually, buying diamonds, gold, and crystals straight from the miners. They handed over coins, signed parchments, and walked away with bags of wealth.
Eira's jaw tightened.
That's why she was here. Cause once those crystals hit the streets, they'll cost a fortune. Better to get them now, at the root.
She scanned the workers, looking for someone desperate enough to deal with her quietly.
After a while, she spotted a miner slumped near the wall, half-shadowed by broken crates. His face was grey with exhaustion, lips cracked, hands trembling as he gripped a dull pickaxe. He looked like he hadn't had anything in days.
Eira approached carefully, pulling her hood lower. Everyone here thought she was a man, and she needed to keep it that way.
She crouched beside him and pulled out her flask. "Here." She said, voice low. "Drink."
The man blinked at her, startled, then grabbed the flask with trembling hands. He drank greedily, water spilling down his chin and soaking into the dirt.
Eira handed him a piece of smoked meat next. "Here. You look like you haven't eaten in days."
He chewed slowly, savoring it like it was the first real food he'd had in months. "Thank you, miss." He rasped.
"You're welcome. I don't know if you can help me… I need crystals." Eira said quietly. "The purest you can find. Doesn't matter how small."
The man frowned. "Most people want big ones, for jewelry and hair pins. Why not—?"
"It's not for jewelries." Eira cut him off. "I need it for something else."
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Wait here."
He disappeared into the shadows of the inventory room.
Eira's heart pounded. She kept her eyes on the vampires nearby, making sure none of them were watching too closely.
After what felt like forever, the man returned. In his hands was a small bundle wrapped in cloth. He unwrapped it carefully, revealing a crystal so clear it seemed to glow from within.
Eira's breath caught. Perfect.
"This is the purest I can find for you." The man said. "It's rare, so the price is high."
They haggled on the price. Back and forth, voices low. Then finally, they agreed on a price.
Eira pulled out her pouch of gold coins and counted about ten coins, and handed them over.
The man smiled faintly, as he stared at the coins. Then he held out the crystal to give it to her, but it suddenly disappeared.
It was gone in a blur of motion.
A rush of air.
Eira froze, still getting use to the extraordinary speed vampires possessed. The vampire had appeared out of nowhere, moving so fast Eira barely saw him. He snatched the crystal from the man's hands and held it up, grinning in cruel amusement.
The miner fell to his knees instantly, bowing so low his forehead scraped the dirt. Eira followed suit, lowering her head. Her heart hammered in her chest.
The vampire twirled the crystal between his fingers. He was tall, with long black hair tied back in a loose braid. His gown was purple, and his face was just plain scary, though beautiful like his mates.
"Well, well…" He drawled. "What a pretty little stone. I think I'll keep it."
Eira's blood boiled as she gritted her teeth. She forced herself to stay calm.
"I bought it first." She said carefully. "Fair and square. So it's rightfully mine."
The vampire's eyes snapped to her. The grin widened, showing a glint of fang. "Yours? You dare claim it's yours? You're a bold one."
Then he turned to the miner, and sneered. "And you! Who gave you the right to sell? Filthy rat!"
The miner trembled. "Please, my lord, I am one of the sales—"
He didn't get to finish.
The vampire moved faster than sight. He grabbed the man by the throat and flung him across the chamber.
The man's skull cracked against the stone wall with a sickening thud. Blood splattered, and his frail body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
The chamber went silent.
Everyone stared, but no one moved. No one dared.
Eira's stomach twisted. Rage and fear tangled inside her. All I wanted was a fucking crystal.
The vampire turned back to her, his grin returning. He stepped close, so close she could smell the metallic tang of old blood on his breath.
He leaned down, sniffing her neck.
Then he froze.
"Let me see your face." He said softly. "A brave tiny voice like that must belong to someone interesting."
He reached out, fingers brushing her hood aside. He snatched off her wig, and her short hair spilled free.
His grin sharpened. "Ah. Not a man after all." His tongue grazed his fangs. "A woman, hiding among slaves. How…delicious."
Eira's blood ran cold.
The vampire chuckled, as he leaned close. "Here's what I'll do. I'll drain you dry. Every single drop. Slowly. Painfully."
Eira's knees buckled. Her mind screamed.
Blood draining was the slowest and most painful way to kill a human.
Regret flooded Eira. This was it. This was going to be how she died.
All because she couldn't keep her damn mouth shut.
Before she could even conclude her thoughts, he was already on her.
Fanged deep into her neck.
Pain ripped through her, but her scream died in her throat. The world blurred—dark, red, dizzy.
But then, suddenly, the vampire screamed.
He ripped his fangs out, clutching his mouth. His body convulsed, and he fell to the ground, wailing in agony.
Eira staggered back, clutching her neck. Blood trickled down her collar, but she was alive.
The vampire writhed, his screams echoing through the chamber.
Eira stared, stunned.
What the hell just happened?
But she didn't care to find out, so she turned and ran.
Her boots pounded against the stone floor. Her cloak whipped behind her. She didn't look back.
She ran through the tunnels, past everyone and everything. Her lungs burned. Her heart thundered.
She burst out of the mine into the cold air, and kept running as fast as her legs could carry her.
Thanks to her excellent memory, she wouldn't have a hard time going back to the market square.