Part 3

Weeks and then months passed while Rebecca waited for the results of the spell bust to take effect. She busied herself during this time reasserting control over Lichfield, and strong arming other nobles. Once she was satisfied, she decided to tell the other nobles what was going on in Titus's remote valley, and went to kill Count Titus in his little den.

When Rebecca arrived in the valley, she wasn't surprised to see nature itself pushing back against the Castle. It seems the townspeople had fled once they understood what was happened, and the nature spirits were quite angry at Titus.

"Victoria!" Rebecca shouted, standing outside the iron gates of the castle courtyard.

"Yes Duchess!" Victoria answered, running up.

"Do you see that gate? I don't want to."

"Understood."

Victoria ran up and punched the gate, the iron bending immediately under the strain of the young but powerful vampire. With the help of the few soldiers that came with Rebecca, they peeled open the gate enough for Rebecca to step through. Rebecca looked around the courtyard after entering, and motioned for the rest of the soldiers and Victoria to come through as well.

"Victoria, once we restrain him, he's all yours." Rebecca was done playing games with her enemies, and decided torture was far more fun.

At the front door, a dwarven butler was waiting for them, and bowed.

"Greetings Duchess Ashe, my name is Lyman." The man said. "I have been waiting for this day for a very long time indeed."

"Who are you?" Rebecca asked.

"Someone you will hate with all of your heart. But that is later. First, I believe your long awaited revenge on Count Laith awaits." Lyman answered, opening the door.

"Laith?" Rebecca was quite confused now.

"His birth name." Lyman said with a large smile, revealing his fangs. "Come find me in the dining hall when you are done, for my story. As for Laith? He's cowering in his study."