text: [Themes: fantasy, humor]
  
  Year 34...
  
  The more Holgard changes the more it stays the same.
  
  It's a good thing everyone has such short memories here. Then again, hard for anyone to worry about vampires when nobody actually found you. Most of the real hunters have moved on. There's still the Joachimites, but they're more likely to go burn a poor old woman as a witch before they actually go hunting for a vampire. Lot easier for one thing.
  
  Nowadays Holgard is back to being under the plain old paranoia it normally suffers from. You've heard rumors of that the Delantium Kingdom is going to try to reclaim this city, but that's about the only major thing and it's not likely true anyway.
  
  Still, laying low in the backwoods and only coming here occasionally was a good idea. Of course you tend to spend more time with Isabella now since the two of you are a proper couple now. You find stories about her old life fascinating (Though you tend to want her to gloss over any bits about ex-lovers) though you know who would really find them interesting, your sister. You bet she could make an entire opera or something out of Isabella's life. Probably a couple of them.
  
  You've sort of been thinking about your family lately and how they might all be doing. You assume that they're all still alive of course. You sort of miss them all as strange as that may seem given what you've done and what you are now. Your last shred of humanity you suppose.
  
  Regardless, you'd never be able to visit them even if you weren't wanted for murder in your hometown. Or rather, you could go back because nobody could stop you or you could be stealthy about it, but you don't think you should. It's a closed chapter in your old life and going back in person would just cause more problems.
  
  Still, you wonder if you shouldn't get a message to your mother. You're sure she'd at least like to know if you were doing okay. You'd send one to your sister, but who knows where she is.
  
  Maybe you could write a letter and send it off via one of those courier services. You suppose you better put a quill, ink and parchment on the list of shit you need to get along with the items Isabella sent you to get at the flower nursery here.
  
  Funny that after everything that's occurred in your "life" you still have to do a little roguery the occasional store every once in awhile. You guess the more you change the more you stay the same as well.
  
  You of course find it much simpler now. It also no longer gives you the rush that it once did, but then that's no surprise, you've come a long way since those simple rogue days.
  
  You head to the nursery and easily break in like you've done many times before. You imagine the old couple that run this place wonder where they've misplaced their various seeds, supplies and such on many occasions.
  
  After grabbing the things Isabella sent you to get, you start rummaging through the small office there to find potential writing supplies, then you suddenly sense something living nearby and it's not the plants.
  
  At first you wonder if it's one of the old couple that runs this place because if it is, you'll just stealthily sneak out as you've done before. (No point in killing a business owner of where you do most of your "shopping")
  
  However, you can see that this figure is not carrying a lantern of any sort and is actively trying to stay hidden in the darkness. The form is definitely female and they haven't noticed that YOU'VE noticed them yet.
  
  This person is obviously following you and while it would be a simple matter of just killing her, you'd like to know why first.
  
  You maneuver around behind furniture and aisles a bit and then just when you get behind this person, they turn around and attempt to dodge you. Quick, but not quick enough to avoid your grasp. You easily disarm them and finally get a good look.
  
  The face is older, but you'd still be able to recognize it anywhere. You're still taken aback though.
  
  "Lisa?" you ask.
  "Long time no see." Lisa says unruffled.
  "What the hell are you doing here?"
  "I might ask you the same. Even when you weren't a vampire you weren't exactly stealing flowers."
  "Long story, but I've questions of my own. Like why you were following me. However, I'd rather continue this discussion elsewhere."
  "Sure, but are you going to let me go first? Your grip is like fucking iron and it's obvious that if I wished you any harm, I'm far outclassed."
  
  You remember a similar situation like this with another "ex" however that was a little different. You didn't really have a proper relationship with Heather like you did with Lisa and also that was when you were a bit of a "wilder" vampire. You've started having a little more restraint since those earlier years.
  
  You release Lisa who heads outside and you follow her out before relocking the door.
  
  "You re-secure the places you break into now?" Lisa asks.
  "Not usually, but this place is a bit different. Alright, let's get in that alley and you can tell me everything." You say and start motioning Lisa to follow.
  "An alley? I thought we'd go to a tavern at least if we're going to catch up."
  "Yeah, I don't really mingle with the crowds unless I have to anymore. Besides, I actually feel safer in an alley than a tavern given how many eyes are in those places."
  "Understandable, I guess it makes sense for you to lay low given that there's a price on your head."
  "What?!"
  "Yeah, but I figured you knew that already. I mean it's not on your head personally; it's just on the Vampire of Holgard. I was very surprised when I found out that might be you."
  "Wait, what?! I thought all that shit had been forgotten about and you're a hunter?!"
  "No, of course not. I'm an Ebony Claw assassin. Maybe the general public forgets shit when it dies down, but the ECS NEVER forgets."
  "But I haven't even been targeting ECS members."
  "Yeah, I've been getting that impression, but so far you're the only vampire I've been able to track in this city."
  
  This is nuts. Lisa is an Ebony Claw assassin. You always wondered if she joined while you were away, but she took a very different path than you thought. You guess she learned how to take care of herself all too well. Strange to think that she was once just a simple peasant girl that longed to see the world. But then Isabella was once a simple peasant girl at one time too.
  
  And the fact you're finding out you have a contract on your head is even more of a shocker. Though you suppose that you may have very well killed some of their members during the religious faction war, but you haven't been killing any of them recently, at least not that you know of.
  
  Is someone setting you up?
  
  "Wait, how long have you followed me and how the hell did I not know it before?" you ask.
  "Heh, well I AM a very skilled assassin and I kept my distance for a long time. In fact it wasn't until I figured out it was you that I decided to get close like I did. Had you been any other vampire, I would have been executing you from afar. No way I'd really want to tangle with a real one up close no matter how good I am. As far as how long I've tracked you, well I've noticed you come here over the course of a few months now. I know you must have a lair somewhere nearby but it's probably not actually in the city. In any case since I'm fairly certain it isn't you, I can only imagine it might be another one. Someone you know?"
  "I doubt that, I only know one other and she's a bit...reclusive. Look are you even sure if it's a vampire?"
  "Well from all the information I've been given the ECS leadership here seems to believe it to be the case. Hmmm, maybe a new approach is in order. I think you should come with me so we can straighten this all out."
  "Wait, you seriously expect me to go walking into an ECS hangout? You just told me I got a contract on my head!"
  "You mean to tell me you're worried? Judging by your skills, you'd be able to wipe out everyone there. Honestly, the Holgard branch of ECS is hardly anything for you to worry about, that why they got me from the Delantium Kingdom. I'm just suggesting though that maybe it still might be a good idea to clear this all up directly. I mean after all I'm not the only assassin and as good as I am, I'm nothing compared to a Fel touched shadow blade assassin. Now someone like that might actually give you problems. They're also less likely to bother getting down to the truth and just carry out a hit. Better to clear things like this up, trust me. The ECS is not an organization you want on your ass."
  
  While you're sure Lisa has a point, you really aren't sure about all this.
  
  "Look, I know this is pretty strange for you seeing me like this under these circumstances. I know it's been a long time and we've both moved on in very different life directions, but I still remember the good times we had. So for old times sake, will you trust me on this?"
  
  You look at Lisa and despite the fact that the years have taken their toll on her and cynicism has taken root in her demeanor, that last bit she said reminded you of the young girl you once were very fond of. Once again some things remain the same.
  
  "Very well, since this is you, I'll go, but as soon as I sense I'm going to get attacked, I'm killing everyone there. I mean if I'm already on a contract list, I might as well give them a reason at this point."
  "Fair enough, but I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. Mantis is the current ECS leader here. He's a sonofabitch, but he's pretty reasonable."
  "Mantis...that name sounds familiar. I think I spoke to him once when I tried to ask the ECS for help with an affliction I had."
  "Oh? You tried to cure your vampire condition?"
  "Uh, no. This actually was a different condition I had due to Ral on top of being geased. The vampirism ended up curing me of it actually...yeah things got a bit complicated for a while after we parted ways. In any case, I don't remember him being that high up or all that reasonable."
  "Well the original old leader, Rook moved on to bigger things and well, the ECS tends to have enthusiastic violent promotions so to speak and eventually Mantis made his way through the ranks. Still with all the extra responsibility he's learned to be a little more patient I suppose."
  "Haven't we all..."
  
  You and Lisa make your way to Mantis's hang out which apparently is still the Poisoned Blade Inn. She mentions he prefers to stay at the "hub" of things
  
  Along the way, Lisa asks why you never met her again since she waited a long time for you; you explain Ral's experiment and what happened exactly to you. Lisa listens intently and offers her sympathies.
  
  She says that during that time you were out of action she had to deal with the Holgard civil war. She mentions this was when she joined the ECS. She said after it was all over, the ECS transferred her to the Delantium Kingdom and there is where she learned to be an assassin.
  
  "So...you've been in the Delantium Kingdom all this time huh? Guess that's why I never ran into you." You say.
  "You looked for me?" Lisa asks.
  "Initially I did, but as I said, I eventually figured you moved on or were dead. Not to mention I didn't think you'd want me anyway by that point."
  "Oh...I dunno. I was falling in love with you even when you were forced to work for Ral. I'm certain I might have been able to look past what you are now. It isn't like I'm in any position to judge you morally after all. Well looks like we're getting close to it."
  
  Before you can reply, you sense several figures lurking nearby.
  
  "You've got some balls showing up here!" a voice shouts and before you know it a person literally materializes in front of you and Lisa.
  
  It's enough to catch you a bit off guard, but you react quick enough to attack your assailant, though apparently not enough to land a hit. This person cannot possibly be a normal human. You wonder if this is one of those Fel touched Lisa mentioned.
  
  You then hear a shot of a pistol, followed by a burning sensation in your upper back. You collapse to the ground on one knee in pain and feel like part of you is on fire.
  
  Good thing you aren't human. However, Lisa's the only one behind you, and it's obvious that she just shot you in the back. You aren't sure if it was an accident or if she's just lead you into a trap.
  
  > Trap
  While you know you and Lisa went separate ways in life, and this betrayal was always a possibility, it still stings enough to fill you with rage.
  
  Your attacker in front of you attempts to stab you in the face while you're still hurt, but you dodge, grab his wrist and make him stab himself in the stomach while breaking his arm at the same time.
  
  You then turn your attention to Lisa who is pointing the pistol at you again. She shouts something, but you don't even hear it, you just rush her.
  
  She doesn't even get off a shot, you knock her to the ground and get on top of her.
  
  "Wait..." she utters and then you rip out her throat with your fangs and taste her blood.
  
  You then sense another figure hovering near you and you throw a punch to his kneecap, shattering it. He screams and falls to the ground, but he manages to shoot you with a bolt before doing so.
  
  At this point you feel several bolts go into your back. They hurt like hell, but it's nothing compared to when you're hit by a firebomb.
  
  "Come on, she's dead! Let's get the hell outta here!" you hear someone shout and then a deafening explosion.
  
  The explosion knocks you into the wall of a nearby building and you separately attempt to roll out the flames. It's during this that you realize that you've partially lost a leg in the blast.
  
  At this point all this noise is enough to alert everyone in the nearby area. Several Ebony Claw members come out of the bar and even some of the Holgard Watch come running to the scene.
  Meanwhile, you're burned badly, wounded severely, and attempting to crawl away.
  
  Someone shouts "A monster! Kill it!" and then even more hell breaks loose.
  
  You are no longer attacked by the Fel touched assassins anymore (Who apparently have made themselves scarce), but instead you're attack by a combined mob of regular Ebony Claw members and a few of the Holgard Watch.
  
  You attempt to fight off the mob, but in your condition you can't fight effectively or even get away.
  
  Normal weapons might not normally kill vampires, but when there are enough of them cutting you into bloody pieces they will still do the job, especially when you're beheaded.
  
  After you're a heap of almost unrecognizable gore, one of the Watch takes his torch and sets your remains on fire.
  
  The only consolation in all this is Holgard is probably going to be stalked by an even more powerful vampire in the near future.