Confession

Sir Geoffrey pushes the door wider and steps into the guardroom. The Crystal Coffin sits upright in the middle of the room, just as he remembers it. The room is bare, containing nothing but a few old, moldy books.

Alfa is no longer within the Crystal Coffin.

Slowly, Sir Geoffrey turns toward the door and draws his greatsword from its scabbard. His other hand reaches for the bundle behind his waist, pulling out several small vials filled with mysterious liquids. He drinks them one after another, grimacing at their taste, before pouring the remaining liquid over his greatsword.

Sir Geoffrey knows what awaits him.

A Holostein vampire is on the loose. They possess tremendous physical strength, powerful regeneration, and perpetual youth. Ordinary weapons are useless against them. Only fire, silver, and ancient magical runes can harm them.

As the mysterious liquids begin taking effect, Sir Geoffrey steps out of the guardroom and carefully climbs back toward the ground level. He remains vigilant, watching for any ambush.

Everyone in the castle and town is gone. Most likely, this is Alfa’s handiwork. Sir Geoffrey doesn't know how long the town has been like this, but the townspeople may have become food for Alfa, who hasn’t drunk blood in many decades. He hopes their fate was limited to becoming food and that they weren't turned into familiars or lesser vampires. Holostein vampires have been known to transform townspeople into familiars and lesser vampires for their own amusement.

Sir Geoffrey carefully enters the main chamber. The fireplace still burns, but a figure stands before the flames, her platinum-white hair catching the firelight. It is Alfa, dressed in a dazzling gown. At the sound of footsteps behind her, Alfa turns to face him.

Despite himself, Sir Geoffrey finds himself captivated by Alfa’s beauty. She still looks exactly as she did all those years ago.

“Geoffrey, is that you?” Alfa says, her voice tinged with a bit of surprise.

Sir Geoffrey doesn’t answer, only continuing to look straight at Alfa. He doesn’t know how to approach her. He feels like his younger self, seeing Alfa for the very first time.

“Let me take a closer look at you.” Alfa takes a handful of steps forward.

That familiar feeling at the back of his mind suddenly throbs. Sir Geoffrey immediately raises his greatsword and points it at Alfa, forcing her to keep her distance. His instincts as a knight take over, sharpening his awareness of every movement around him.

Alfa looks hurt and steps back. She studies Sir Geoffrey’s sword, catching an unfamiliar scent. Her golden eyes shift back to him. She frowns. “Geoffrey, why are you being so mean to me? I just want to see you. It’s been years since we saw each other. I was very lonely without you.”

Sir Geoffrey maintains his vigilance, keeping his greatsword pointed at Alfa. Her sweet words have no effect on him. That familiar feeling at the back of his mind tells him not to trust Alfa. Even though he wants to believe her, that feeling has saved his life countless times throughout his career as a knight. He will trust it over his own heart.

“Geoffrey, please drop the sword. I only want to see your face, to be close to you again.” Alfa steps forward once more.

“No,” Sir Geoffrey says simply, his voice deep and confident, though rough from disuse. “Alfa, your lies shall end today.”

“Lies? When have I ever lied to you?” Alfa looks taken aback. “I’ve only ever told you the truth.”

Sir Geoffrey’s grip tightens around his greatsword. “Then let me tell you what I heard.”

Alfa’s expression changes.

“It was the night of my fifteenth birthday.”

That night, young Geoffrey returned to the secret room beneath Brenbold Castle. He had come to apologize to Alfa. His father had refused to free her, and Geoffrey had no idea what else he could do.

He wanted her to wait a little longer. But before he could enter the room, he heard voices from within. His father was speaking with Alfa.

“Do not fill Geoffrey’s mind with your warped ideologies,” Lord Marcus warned. “You have already caused enough trouble.”

Geoffrey froze outside the door.

He listened.

“You are an ingredient, Alfa. Nothing more. My father kept you alive for the same reason I have. Your blood carries the secret to perpetual youth. If Geoffrey ever discovers what we intend to do with you, or if he ever tries to free you, I will kill you myself.”

Geoffrey's heart stopped.

His father continued. “I told Geoffrey that I loved you. I told him that keeping you imprisoned was for your own good. I will never speak those lies again.”

Alfa laughed.

“You call yourselves hunters, yet you fear death so desperately that you are willing to sacrifice anyone to escape it. Peter tried until his dying breath, but he failed.”

Her laughter echoed through the chamber.

“There are plenty of Holostein vampires in this world. If I must sacrifice hundreds of hunters and villagers to capture another, then I shall do so without hesitation.”

Geoffrey felt sick.

Then Alfa spoke again. “But Geoffrey is different.”

Her voice softened. “He truly loves me. He is worthy of becoming one of us.”

Lord Marcus said nothing.

“If he cannot be persuaded to free me,” Alfa continued, “you still have one more son.”

August. The thought struck Geoffrey like a blade.

His father suddenly moved. Alfa cried out in pain.

“You will not touch my son,” Lord Marcus warned.

Alfa only laughed through her pain.

Geoffrey backed away from the door. Everything he believed had been a lie.

His grandfather had captured Alfa to obtain the secret of perpetual youth. His father had continued the same work. Alfa had encouraged Geoffrey's love because she wanted him to free her. And if he failed, she would turn to August.

That familiar feeling at the back of Geoffrey’s mind returned.

For years, it had warned him whenever something was wrong. He had ignored it because he wanted to believe Alfa. He wanted to believe his father. He wanted to believe that someone he loved could be trusted.

Now he knew better.

Geoffrey ran. He ran from his father. From his grandfather. From Alfa. And from the home he had once loved.

He tried to take August with him. He begged his younger brother to come, but August refused to listen. The commotion eventually alerted the castle, and Geoffrey had no choice but to flee alone. He never looked back.

Sir Geoffrey exhales slowly, steadying himself. Recounting that night feels as though it happened only recently, rather than years ago.

Alfa's expression slowly softens. “You heard everything.”

Sir Geoffrey says nothing.

“What your father said was true,” Alfa says. “I used your feelings for me. I wanted you to free me from the Crystal Coffin.”

Sir Geoffrey's grip tightens around his greatsword.

“But there is something your father left out.”

Alfa looks toward the fireplace. “Peter and I truly loved each other once. Before his fear of death consumed him, he was a different man. But as the years passed, his fear became an obsession. He wanted to become a greater vampire. He wanted the power and immortality of my bloodline.”

Her golden eyes return to Geoffrey. “I fled from him, but he found me anyway.”

Alfa's voice grows quieter. “He captured me and imprisoned me in that coffin, hoping that one day I would surrender the secret he desired.”

She takes a small step toward Geoffrey. “But you were different.”

Geoffrey's eyes narrow.

“You never wanted my power. You never wanted my blood. You simply wanted me to be free.”

A faint smile touches Alfa's lips. “You truly loved me for what I am.”

She reaches out a hand. “If you still feel the same, Geoffrey, I will make you a greater vampire. We can leave this place together. We can live far from humanity, far from hunters and kings and those who would use us.”

Geoffrey hesitates. For the first time since entering the room, his greatsword lowers slightly.

Alfa smiles.

Then Geoffrey speaks. “August.”

Her smile disappears.

“Did you tell him the same things?”

Alfa remains silent.

“Did you make him feel special? Did you make him believe that he was the one who truly loved you?”

Geoffrey's voice trembles. “Did you promise him the same life you promised me?”

Alfa's golden eyes widen. “Geoffrey—”

Geoffrey's sword rises again. “Did he free you? And after he freed you, did you feast upon the servants?”

Silence. Alfa doesn't answer.

“And the townspeople?”

Her expression finally changes.

Geoffrey's face hardens. “Was that what happened to Brenbold?”

For a long moment, neither of them speaks.

Then Alfa closes her eyes. “Yes.”

Silence fills the chamber.

Geoffrey stares at Alfa, struggling to accept what he has heard. Then another thought enters his mind. One final question. “And August?”

Alfa slowly raises her golden eyes to him.

“What were his final moments?” Sir Geoffrey's voice trembles as he struggles to hold back his emotions.

For the first time, Alfa's expression loses its warmth. “He was afraid of death, just as his father and grandfather had been. But unlike them, he found the courage to free me.” Alfa's voice grows quiet. “I gave August a painless death.”

Geoffrey says nothing.

A long, difficult silence follows. The fire crackles behind Alfa.

Geoffrey's eyes remain fixed upon her. At last, he lowers his greatsword slightly. “Then, we're done here, Monster.”