text: 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.
  
  > Accident
  Considering that Lisa is supposed to be a well trained assassin that knew what you were before you even met her, seems like if she was going to do any real damage, she would have at least loaded her pistol with silver shot or something similar.
  
  You're going to chalk it up to an accident for now, besides you've already got someone right in front of you trying to kill you.
  
  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.
  
  Standing up again, you sense another person nearby and sure enough they once again appear right in front of you.
  
  "Get out of the way!" you hear Lisa shout and you hear several more shots fired off. Seems like Lisa has herself one of those fancy repeating pistols.
  
  This time however you avoid getting hit, but dodging to the right while your attacker is hit twice in the chest.
  
  "Shit!" you hear Lisa shout and another Fel assassin materializes in front of her. She's not quick enough and you see her fall to the ground when the assassin shoots her with crossbow.
  
  You're about to run over to help, but another assassin with a shock of white hair appears and throws a lit firebomb in Lisa's direction before running off.
  
  You jump to catch it and throw it to the left, and it ends up going right through a window of the Poisoned Blade Inn.
  
  "Well...so much for diplomacy..." you say and run back to avoid the upcoming blast. Lisa is currently struggling with her attacker, but by the time you get the both of them, the bomb finally goes off.
  
  The impact of the blast knocks you down and the three of you are rolling on the ground on top of one another. At some point in the chaos you feel a blade in your ribs from the person who is on your back. Since this person isn't very heavy and you can feel the tits on your back, you're assuming this person is a woman.
  
  For Lisa's sake, you hope that this is a female EC assassin...
  
  You smash your head as hard as you can backwards into the assassin's face. It's enough for her to lose her grip. You notice that he other figure crawling from underneath you is indeed Lisa, so happily you know she didn't just accidently wound you again.
  
  The female assassin tries blink away or whatever it is they do, but you catch her arm just as she turns herself invisible. Well not invisible to you though. You pull the blade out that she shoved in your rib and shove it into her ear, then you drop her.
  
  While all this is going on, a few EC members have been running out of their now fiery hang out screaming and burning. Lisa is leaning up against a nearby wall looking down at the bolt in her thigh.
  
  "What the hell happened?" she asks.
  "Well after you shot me in the back, it all became pretty chaotic." You answer.
  "I'm sorry about that...shit...I need to take this..." Lisa says and takes out a vial of something and swallows the contents, and then pulls out the bolt.
  "You alright?"
  "Yeah, come on, we gotta get that bastard...the Watch is probably coming anyway."
  "Wait, what bastard?"
  "Mantis, of course. He probably got away through a trapdoor to the sewers, come on there should be a sewer entrance around here. Maybe we can still track him."
  
  Lisa starts limping away as fast as she can, but stumbles.
  
  "Shit...that poisoned bolt is still fucking me up...I'll be alright. I just..."
  "No you won't. Here." You say and just pick Lisa up over your shoulder and get out of the immediate area before you have to massacre the Holgard Watch.
  
  After ducking into alley a couple blocks away from the chaos, you finally put Lisa down who is looking slightly better. While you don't think she set you up, given all that's happened you are getting the impression that Lisa has not told you everything.
  
  "Alright Lisa, out courtesy for what we once had, you got ONE chance to explain yourself." You say.
  "Or what...(ugh) you gonna drink me dry?" Lisa says wincing at the pain of her wound and unconcerned about your tone.
  
  You pick Lisa up by her shoulders and your more monstrous threatening face becomes visible. She tries her best to not look scared, but you can sense the fear.
  
  "You need to drop the tough girl act, right now. Because I've done a hell of a lot worse than kill an old girlfriend since the last time you saw me." You say.
  "Oh yeah? Well maybe you'd be doing me a favor if you did. At least it would be you then."
  
  You can see the desperation now in her eyes and it's enough to calm you down.
  
  Well you guess not all of the "human" has left you.
  
  "Lisa, just tell me what the hell is going on already, because I'm getting the impression that I'm not the one that needs to worry about a contract on my head." You say.
  
  Lisa keeps it together and tells you the story.
  
  The contract is actually on her head, specifically Mantis put it on her a few years ago, or at least set it up. She mentions he's been a thorn in her side shortly after she joined the ECS. At first he would constantly hit on her when she was stationed in Holgard.
  
  Then when she got transferred to the Delantium Kingdom to become a better trained assassin, she thought she was done with him, but eventually he was also in the DK for awhile making upwardly mobile moves of his own. For whatever reason he continued to harass her and trying to make things harder for her.
  
  He eventually returned to Holgard when another member, Rook, was promoted. Mantis took over the ECS in this city and now had direct ties to Fel Temple as well. With all this extra influence and power, he set things in motion to set her up on some job that resulted in the death of another high ranking ECS member.
  
  Since then, she's been on the ECS hit list. She knows it was Mantis though that was behind it all and she fully intends on killing him.
  
  You take all this in and ask one question.
  
  "Okay, so where did I come in on all this?" you ask.
  "You didn't. Not initially anyway. You might have missed me, but I actually was in Dert for a brief period of time. I was sort of hiding, pondering my next move, along with making peace with my father since I didn't exactly leave that village on good terms. It's funny; when I got there I actually missed how boring it all was. At least I didn't have a crime syndicate trying to kill me when I lived there. Didn't know there was a vampire living in the graveyard nearby though."
  "Wait, you saw me? I'm usually so careful."
  "You were careful, but you're also probably used to the people in Dert not wandering near there at night. I was actually there lost in thought about my own situation and that's when I saw someone skulking out one of the tombs. It was actually a little unnerving since while I've experienced some out of the ordinary shit in my life, undead was not one of them. I couldn't quite make out your face at first, but for a very brief moment I saw it in moonlight and the resemblance was unmistakable. I couldn't believe it. I mean I thought you were dead, but not like this!"
  
  Lisa holds on to her side and pauses for a moment before continuing.
  
  "So I followed you since you seemed to have purpose about what you were doing. You're very quick of course so I probably caught up to you in Holgard just as you were getting ready to leave it. From there I got a good look at you and knew there was no mistaking who you were."
  "So wait, why didn't you contact me then?"
  "Because I saw you bite some hooker and drink her dry, that's why! I sort of figured that it might not be the best idea to confront you. I didn't even follow you back to the Dert cemetery, I just stayed in Holgard since I figured I needed to get on with my revenge. That was a couple months ago."
  "Seems like you should have gotten on with it before now."
  "Well I still had to do some reconnaissance. Get myself prepared and all that other shit."
  "Seems like it would be very dangerous being here in the manticore's den and all."
  "Actually it seemed like it was easier. Mantis may have security up the ass, but he tends to keep it all around himself. Sort of makes other parts of the city under less watch by his people."
  "Yeah, but still seems like something you'd want to do quick and get the hell out as soon as possible."
  "Unfortunately, there was no easy way to do it. If I tried what we just did, I would have gotten cut down easily and Mantis himself is a Fel worshipper or at least he pays enough lip service that he has powers of his own. He's never alone either in the rare moments he leaves his place. I couldn't reliably ask for any help on this, but then I randomly noticed you enter the city again. So I followed you again and every other time you came here since despite how stealthy you are, you tend to follow a routine. Always saw you go into that plant nursery and tonight...well I thought I'd risk getting your help."
  "Well okay, but why didn't you just tell me that? Why all the subterfuge?"
  "Wasn't sure if it was going to work at all first. Second, I got the impression that maybe you'd be more willing to help if YOU were in trouble rather than me. Third, I've relied on subterfuge so much in life now, that it just comes naturally."
  "I suppose I understand, but this really would have been easier had you just told me. I mean I would have helped if you had just asked flat out."
  "Truly? Even though you have a special vampire lady in your life?"
  "How do you know I have a special vampire lady?"
  "You mentioned you only knew one other vampire and that SHE was reclusive. I'm willing to bet she's the one that also made you. I'm sure it's an interesting story."
  "It is. She really helped me out and in time it became more."
  "Hmm, I'm not looking for a rekindling or anything, but is it possible that you could..."
  "Ah...no. I mean trust me, I would if I could since I think it would make shit a whole lot easier for you, but yeah, I can't transform anyone into a vampire. Not old enough yet. Best I can do is ghoul and trust me, you definitely don't want that."
  "I see. Well figured I'd ask, shit...I've spent so much time resting, Mantis is probably long gone by now."
  "Would he have left the city?"
  "No, but he's probably at one of his many safehouses or even the Fel Temple. And even with your help, I realize I'm in no condition to assault any of these places. I'm going to have to heal up and try again. It's going to be difficult staying low now that I've made my presence known. Look, I appreciate the help even though I tricked you into it, but this really isn't your concern. You have your own concerns and our paths split long ago. You are under no obligation to help me any further."
  
  > help Lisa
  While you don't like that you were lied to, there's not much for it now. While you aren't sure if someone saw your face, at least one of those assassins got away and is probably undoubtedly going to say that Lisa had help.
  
  You might as well help Lisa, if only to potentially save your own ass trouble in the future. Plus, you'd be lying if you didn't feel a little something to actually want to help her.
  
  "While I wished you had told me the truth immediately, I'm not going to just leave you hanging because honestly, I think this is a suicide mission for you. You can't take down this Mantis without some help."
  "Well I'm not going to turn down your help and I will fully appreciate it, but you helping me isn't going to be a problem is it?"
  "Oh, you mean with my special lady vampire as you put it? Well, I'm inclined not to tell her, but I probably shouldn't since she's not an idiot and will find out anyway."
  "Won't she be upset with you?"
  "You might think that, but I dunno she's been around a long time and certain things don't necessarily bother her the way you might think they would. I mean I'll explain the situation...and well I guess I'll think of something."
  "Hey, I don't want to mess your shit up so if you can't do it. That's perfectly fine.