Angel of the Bloody Night

With a final, respectful nod from Tetbald, the two knights excused themselves and continued their patrol, leaving Anna and Zebril in the quiet courtyard.

Zebril let out a low whistle. “An Angel of the Bloody Night,” she murmured, looking at Anna with a new, complex light in her eyes. “It seems your reputation is already preceding you. This complicates things.”

They continued walking, the officers’ mess was a stark, functional hall of long wooden tables and benches, cleaner and of better quality than the common soldiers' dining area. A few off-duty knights were scattered about, nursing mugs of ale.

“Did you hear? Sir Quire was found this morning. On the west wall patrol. Same as the others… head clean off.”

“Been 5 years huh...”

“D-Do you think it’s the vampire?”

As Anna entered with Zebril, a tense silence fell. Some of the knights glared at her with undisguised hatred.

Before Anna could even react, Zebril stepped forward, putting her hands on the hips.

“What are you all looking at?!” she snarled, her gaze sweeping over the offending men. “This vampire is Captain Destrian’s savior. She is an honored guest of these barracks. You will show her the respect she has earned, or you will answer to me. Am I clear?”

The knights flinched as if struck, their eyes immediately snapping down to their tables. The message was received.

Zebril huffed, then turned back to Anna, her entire demeanor shifting from a fearsome commander to something… else. “Come on, the stew is still hot.”

Anna hesitated in front of the serving line, looking at the thick, savory-smelling stew and fresh-baked bread. Can I even eat this?

Vampires can indeed eat human food, Anna! Maren’s voice chirped in her head. It’s just for the taste, though. It offers no nutritional value. You can enjoy all of this, but you’ll still need the blood to stay healthy!

Before Anna could even reach for a tray, Zebril took one from the stack. “You sit,” she ordered, pointing to a small, private table in the corner. “I’ll get it.”

Anna, for once in her life, was too stunned to argue. She just sat until a moment later, Zebril returned with a laden tray.

She had cut a thick slice of bread, added a side of roasted vegetables, and selected the meatiest portion.

After setting it in front of Anna, she noticed a slight draft from a nearby arrow slit.

With a disapproving grunt, she physically moved Anna’s chair a few inches to the left, shielding her from it. Then, a flagon of the promised Grandium Cow blood arrived, and Zebril poured it for her into a clean goblet.

The final straw was when Zebril unfolded a fresh linen napkin and tucked it neatly into the collar of Anna’s coat.

“Now, we don’t want anything to get messy now don’t we?”

Anna froze, a hot blush creeping up her neck. She could do all of these things herself. She had been doing everything for herself since she was ten. This relentless, practical, overwhelming wave of care was completely foreign territory. Maren was equally flabbergasted, her light pulsing in a confused rhythm.

Zebril was just too… caring.

Unconsciously, the words slipped out,  “So… this is what having a mom feels like, huh?”

Zebril, who was sitting down opposite her, caught the words, her sharp ears missing nothing. Her stern expression softened. “Hm? What do you mean by that?”

“N-Nothing... It's just... why do you treat me like this?”

She sighed, “I have a daughter. She’s off studying at the Mages’ Guild in other city. As a mother, I can only hope that if she were ever alone and in need, someone would show her the respect and care she deserves.” She looked at Anna, “I believe that if I put good things into the world, good things will come back to her. It’s a foolish hope, maybe, but it’s mine. Isn’t your mother the same?”

Anna looked down at the stew, pushing a piece of carrot around with her spoon. “I don’t have a mother,” she muttered.

“Oh,” Zebril said softly. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I mean I did,” Anna corrected, “But the woman who gave birth to me is not worthy of such title. She was unfaithful. My father died because of it. She chose another man over her family when I was ten.”

“Your father died cause of her affair?”

“It’s a closed matter. She is a stranger to me, and I will never forgive her. It’s fine.”

The blunt way she recounted such tragedy hit Zebril harder than any flood of tears could have.

She saw the immense, lonely strength this girl had been forced to build around herself. Her protective instincts, already stirred, roared to life.

She reached across the table and placed a firm, warm pat on Anna’s head. “I am truly sorry you had to endure that. But I give you my word. As long as you are within these walls, no one will hurt you. Not Olomyar, not the bigots in this hall, not anyone. I will not allow it.”

The weight of Zebril’s promise settled over the table, a shield Anna hadn’t realized she needed. The Quartermaster’s stern face softened, “Now, eat,” she said, her voice returning to its usual gruff, commanding tone. “Before it gets cold.”

Anna looked from her own full plate to the empty space in front of Zebril. “But what about you? You’re not eating?”

A faint, tired smile touched Zebril’s lips. “Already ate,” she lied. She was a captain who ensured her troops were fed before she even thought of herself.

Not wanting to challenge the woman’s pride, Anna simply nodded and began to eat.

As she ate, however, she noticed a certain blue glow beginning to drift.