In the light of the new day smoke clouded the sky, obscuring the sun and covering everything upon the ground in a mist-colored hue. A mountain of rock and rubble sat in place of where a large estate had once stood like a tall, dark shadow. Smoke rose from various crevices and cracks, joining the gray clouds above and masking the green of the forest surrounding the destroyed mansion. In what might have been a courtyard laid a lone figure, a man, his clothes torn and bloodied from a previous battle. He was unusual in the sense that there was no other like him: he was paler than any human, and, unlike his vampire brethren, he often stayed up late into the day, basking in the warm sunlight and almost always wore an equally bright smile on his face.

Yet here he lay, dying, amid the rubble and fresh decay and dust of his enemy—his Grandfather. Gone was his usual bright smile in favor of one of unconsciousness—a restful expression he now wore, like a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Unnoticed to him, another person—a woman—had entered the grounds, their steps echoing off the walls that had somehow stood against the fight. Without hesitation she stepped towards the young man, stopping a few inches from his body before crouching down beside him.

Reaching one hand over him she placed a light hand on his back, covering the area where his heart would be and carefully measuring the beats. With her other hand she reached towards his face, small breaths of air rolling over her fingers as she placed her hand under his nose. Sighing to herself—either out of relief or resignation—she slapped her hands against her knees and stood, her shadow covering him like a blanket. She looked back behind herself, towards the mountainside that seemed perpetually covered in fog like a thick veil. She sighed to herself once more, slightly glaring down at the unconscious young man before a voice startled her, causing her to turn back towards the way she had come.

"He's dying you know," they said, moving around the stone wall that had obscured them from view. The woman narrowed her eyes in slight recognition before turning her sights back to the man in question.

"So then what do you suggest I do?" the woman asked them, causing their mouth to turn up at the corners in a cunning smile.

"Let's make an arrangement, shall we?"