Eighteen
Dark Claw Clan, Myst City Battlements
Their mission was clear, to cripple the defenses of Myst City and feed on all the fresh blood they could find.
Turning the military officers would ensure the defenses could not mobilize.
An entire city to feast on. Even if the signal fires were lit the city would surely lockdown the gates trapping the people in their own city as easy pickings.
The Dark Claw clan had never taken a city of this size before, but they had recently absorbed a few of the smaller clans into their ranks.
The Dark Claw had never had so many powerful members in over a century. But newly-recruited vampires were unpredictable, often choosing to kill themselves in sunlight rather than submit to rule.
The familiar of the powerful malefica Lady Crow, Cassius had approached them a week ago with an alliance. He had given them effigies to ensure new vampires would submit to The Dark Claw clan.
The new leader of the clan, the higher vampiress, Lydia, had personally tested the wearable effigies on captured traders, who were now the most loyal recruits.
Higher vampires could walk exposed in sunlight without burning to ash, their speed and power dwarfed the ordinary vampire. This made Lydia a cut above the rest of her kin.
Even other vampires were unsure how some of them became higher vampires, but Lydia had become one of the most powerful vampires in decades, quickly taking command of the clan.
She had taken control when the former leader, Veracious was mortally wounded in combat with a red-haired slayer.
Lydia staked Veracious in the heart as he lay wounded, proving only the strongest survive in this cruel world.
The vampire who turned her, Vlad, had stalked her for months when she was just a young girl living with her brother in Stillpine Glade.
Vlad had become obsessed with her and without Veracious' permission took a few vampires with him, captured and turned her- forcing her to drink his blood and accept the curse.
Vlad had watched with pride and growing affection as Lydia became a savage and powerful vampiress, ascending far above his expectations.
He had even convinced her to forsake her brother, but could never convince her to order Micah's death, even as the wretch tirelessly pursued them.
Lydia often stared at her wooden pendant, holding it in her thin claws, reminiscing about her brother, no doubt.
Vlad hated those lingering moments of her regret. He wanted her to himself. That is why he lurked overhead & watched her for months.
But Lydia had not chosen a mate. She constantly spurred Vlad's advances, aggravating him.
To Lydia, the only thrill left in her cynical life was bloodshed and destruction. She had put the days of love behind her.
Lydia, knew her clan desperately needed to feed. Veracious was always too cautious, too impotent to be a real leader.
But a larger target like Myst City was just what they needed. She was tired of eating passing traders and hiding in the shadows.
Only a small handful of higher vampires were ever created, nowhere near enough to form an army, their weaker brethren dissolving into ash in the direct sun. Even their slaves- drudges were ineffective.
Even the oldest vampires had waned in strength over their years, despite only aging to around thirty; they could live for centuries if they weren't staked in the heart with wood or burned up in sunlight.
Lydia was not content to languish in the shadows fighting for scraps. She wouldn't be the sickly weak little girl her brother took pity on ever again.
No, I will be strong...
The Dark Claw's oldest, Jedediah bowed to Lydia's leadership with great resentment, but lacked the strength to challenge her rule. He could tell by her petulant attitude, he was no threat to her.
The Dark Claws had put their future in Lydia's hands. She had made a lot of promises, though Jedediah had his doubts.
The cart had rattled down the back streets in the light of the full moon barely passing a soul.
They finally reached the scarcely-guarded military barracks, their plan was to turn the officers with help from the effigies and feed on the footmen as they slept.
The clan disembarked, stretching their arms and gathering at the bottom of the stairway to the barracks. Like an army of black cats encircling a mouse they licked their lips and paced restlessly.
Before the guards at the summit of the battlements could react, they were ambushed from behind, their necks broken, tossed to the hungry beasts below.
Lydia stood at the foot of the stairs, her hungry brethren dispatched the few guards on night duty, quickly capturing the armory.
"The officers will be in the barracks, our scouts have the effigies and await your orders," Vlad whispered to Lydia.
She nodded in approval and watched the sycophantic vampire dart off.
Lydia ordered all the street lights and signal fires to be doused; their night vision would be enough to give them a stealthy edge.
She could see the heat signatures of dozens of snoozing citizens in the surrounding townhouses.
Tonight, we will feast.