Part 1

Diana woke in a damp basement. She had been sent to spy on the Duchess of Lichfield, and everything had seemed to be going well for several weeks. Until she found the first letter she sent back under her pillow, with a mark on it. She was being watched, but didn't even know who it was. Nobody seemed to pay her any mind, none of the manor guards even questioned her credentials. Yet here she was, after having gone to sleep in her bedroom as normal.

"Good evening." A voice from the shadow said, a heavy Western Karand accent behind it. "Our little spy awakes at last. You are in no danger, not yet at least."

Diana realized she hadn't even been tied up. How sloppy was this person? No, she thought. How confident were they? She began to stand, but he was on her in an instant, and pushed her back down onto the chair.

"I think not, little spy. How about we start with a name? Your real one, not the one you gave us." He replied, already back at his chair.

"Diana." She replied after some hesitation.

"Diana, it is nice to meet you. I am Sergei Ivanov." The voice replied. "Who sent you?"

"I can't they'd kill me if they found out!" Diana replied desperately.

"Oh, it's far too late for that." Sergei replied with a laugh. "Ignis."

A spark shot from his left hand and into a torch on the wall, before hopping to another torch on the opposite wall, lighting up the room. In the glow of the torches, Sergei smiled broadly, and Diana could see his fangs clear as day.

"You're... you're a vampire!" Diana gasped.

"I think you understand the position you're in now." Sergei replied, laughing again. "I'll ask again nicely, who sent you?"

"Way I see it, I'm dead either way." Diana said, laughing darkly. "Why should I help my murderers?"

"The process of being drained dry is exquisitely painful, Diana." Sergei said with a smile. "Normally I simply tear out your throat and feast on your dead body at my leisure, but I can make an exception."

Sergei stood up and slowly walked up to Diana, and knelt in front of her, exposing his fangs.

"I won't break!" Diana said, trembling in fear. "For the sake of my family, I won't break!"

Sergei paused. For family? This required investigation, interrogation, likely both.

"Family?" He asked, standing up again. "Tell me about your family."

"Why?"

"Family is important, Diana. Even more important than duty, something I learned the hard way." Sergei said, slightly sad.

"They, they have my two brothers captive. If I don't do what they tell me, they've threatened to kill them." Diana answered.

"Who is they?" Sergei asked.

"I suppose there's no use hiding it. The King of Whitemire." Diana admitted.

"I will make inquiries." Sergei replied immediately. "If my sources confirm it, and you are not lying to me, I will return your brothers to your care. Until then, you will remain a prisoner of the Duchess."