Although...I can''t lie, if I was still rocking a cock myself, I''d be harder than a concrete dildo just from the sight of Dumitra''s hourglass figure alone. Those curves could make the Vitruvian man blow his load without even touching himself. So is there really any reason for Erik to resist this psychotic vampire MILF''s advances? I mean, besides the whole "rape" part, obviously. But still, I''d let her sit on my face and fart anytime, no hesitation.


    Speaking of which, why the fuck doesn''t the sun burn this bitch to a crisp? Gwenhwyfar made it pretty clear she manifested all the supernatural myths and legends into reality for her sick amusement. So Dumitra clearly isn''t your run-of-the-mill Bram Stoker-style vampire who has to avoid sunlight and sleep in coffins and all that campy bullshit.


    Wait, hold up...I think I''m starting to put the pieces together here. Dumitra isn''t just some undead revenant or whatever - she''s a full-on biological vampire! Like her vampirism is an actual genetic condition, not some mystical dark curse. Which honestly makes her even more terrifying than if she was just a regular old Nosferatu knock-off.


    A real flesh-and-blood vampire roaming around with all the powers and none of the traditional weaknesses? Able to shapeshift, breed, and spread her unholy bloodline without restriction? Fuck me sideways, no wonder Dumitra is so arrogant and unhinged - she''s basically one of Gwenhwyfar''s custom-built killing machines given free rein to indulge her every sadistic whim. We are well and truly fucked here, kids.


    The young girl Mary comes skipping over to where Dumitra is working on my tattoo, giggling and babbling in a way that seems to annoy the vampiress. Dumitra turns her crimson gaze on Mary, eyes narrowing as she notices the girl''s bare hands.


    "Sleep!" Dumitra barks, and Mary instantly crumples to the floor, unconscious.


    Dumitra exhales heavily, placing a hand over her chest as if steadying herself. Erik frowns in concern.


    "What ails the child? And why did you react so strongly to her approach?" he asks warily.


    Dumitra shoots him a look of pure disdain. "If that foolish babe had made contact, her ungloved hands would have reduced me to mere ash where I stand."


    At that moment, Eilis hurries over and quickly slips a pair of gloves back onto Mary''s limp hands, murmuring an apology.


    "Forgive me, I should have kept better watch to ensure she did not remove the bindings again."


    Dumitra scowls down at the slumbering girl. "See that you do a better job of it. Now take the wretched creature away from here - I have work remaining."


    She turns her attention back to me, resuming the rhythmic tapping of the tattoo implement against my skin. Erik watches her warily for a moment before speaking again.


    "Where did you find those two girls? Their...abilities seem most unnatural."


    Dumitra doesn''t look up from her task as she replies. "I discovered the pair huddled amidst a veritable abattoir at one of Lord Eamonn''s soldier garrisons. The fools there sought to rape and defile the lasses, it seems. But their trauma awoke preternatural gifts locked away in their blood."


    She smirks faintly. "The little one Mary can reduce any living creature to smoldering cinders with but a touch of her bare flesh. While Eilis there holds the power to overwhelm any victim with waves of indescribable ecstasy, so long as she maintains physical contact."


    Erik''s brow furrows. "But...how did you render Mary unconscious just now? Some form of hex or spell?"


    Dumitra chuckles darkly. "Nothing so quaint, warrior. I can simply command any object or creature to obey my will, so long as I look upon it while speaking the appropriate word."


    I feel a chill run down my spine at this revelation. So not only is Dumitra some kind of biological vampire immune to traditional weaknesses...she also wields pseudo-reality shaping powers? This is just completely fucked up and unfair!


    Erik turns to Dumitra, his brow furrowed. "Is this...ability of yours something all vampires possess?"


    Dumitra chuckles darkly, never pausing in her rhythmic tapping of the tattoo implement against my skin. "No."


    She smirks up at the towering Viking. "All mages have their own singular gifts, warrior. I am no exception to that rule."


    Erik''s frown deepens. "So not all vampires are...gifted, then?"


    "No," Dumitra scoffs, rolling her crimson eyes as she leans back to inspect her work on my belly. "And what, pray tell, do you actually know of my kind beyond the mindless superstitions peddled by terrified peasants?"


    Erik shifts his weight, looking suddenly uncertain. "I...know you are immortal. That you do not age as mortals do."


    "Close enough, I suppose," Dumitra murmurs, dipping the needle into the vial of inky vitae once more. She resumes tapping out the intricate patterns, her full lips curved in an indulgent smile.


    "The truth is, we vampires are barely any different from you mortals in most ways."


    Erik blinks, surprise flitting across his chiseled features. "How so?"


    Dumitra throws back her head with a rich peal of laughter. "Why, we still require sustenance beyond mere blood to function, you addlepated oaf! Consume naught but our singular thirst-slaker, and soon enough we would waste away into desiccated husks, no matter our preternatural gifts."


    She fixes Erik with a pointed stare. "I myself must feed upon hot blood or seed at least once a week, lest my strength and vitality begin to wane. Be it from beast or man, blood or semen, in any orifice, I must have that...nourishment."


    Erik''s eyes widen almost comically, and I can''t stifle a shocked giggle at Dumitra''s blunt words. The vampire smirks at the Viking''s discomfiture.


    "Go ahead and laugh, warrior. But this is simply my nature, as innate as your own need for bread and wine. I require these...substances, this life-essence, to survive and thrive."


    Erik''s mocking laughter dies in his throat. An odd look comes over his face as he meets Dumitra''s smoldering gaze.


    "You...need not force yourself upon me tonight, then," he says gruffly. "I shall give you what you require. Willingly."


    Dumitra arches one perfect eyebrow, her full lips curving in a slow, predatory smile. "Ha! I have you now, it seems."


    Erik frowns. "What?"


    The vampire leans back, raking her hungry crimson stare over his powerful form. "Why, I require the consent of any mortal I wish to breed with, good sir. A verbal affirmation, to be precise - else I cannot conceive, no matter how vigorous the...coupling."


    Erik''s jaw tightens, but he holds Dumitra''s gaze steadily. "Very well, then. You have my consent to take your...fill, should you require it. I am yours to use as you will."


    Dumitra throws back her head, peals of rich laughter echoing off the vaulted ceiling. I can''t help another racking cough, specks of blood dotting my lips.


    The vampire turns her smoldering gaze on me, eyes narrowing. "Cease that incessant hacking at once, child! You''ll only exacerbate your condition."


    I shake my head weakly. "I...can''t help it..."


    Dumitra sighs, leaning back to inspect her work. "There, I''ve completed the first half of the ritual markings. Just a bit more remains."


    Alright, let''s catalog this newfound knowledge systematically! First revelation - mages in this realm possess individualized psychokinetic abilities, each wielding singular metaphysical talents. Quite intriguing!


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Secondly, and perhaps more staggering - vampires are not solely hematophagous parasites subsisting on sanguine life-essence alone. No, these preternatural beings require actual solid sustenance, just like any common Homo sapien! Deprive them of standard dietary intake, and their corporeal forms would undergo a catabolic wasting, reduced to desiccated osseous husks despite their vampiric vitae. Remarkable evolutionary adaptation, indeed!


    But then, the strangest disclosure - vampires can seemingly metabolize not just blood, but seminal fluids as well? Some manner of hemato-spermatic consumption to meet their nutritive needs? How bizarrely unconventional, yet strangely logical from a biological standpoint. The proteinaceous composition of semen, coupled with its inherent life-giving essence, must provide ample nourishment.


    Which begs the burning question - what precise volumetric quantity is required to slake a vampire''s profound hungers? Liters upon liters of blood, or mere milliliters of the viscous, albuminous vitae? An avenue for further empirical study, to be certain.


    And then, that most perplexing revelation of all - vampires require explicit consent from their reproductive partners before being able to successfully conceive? Some manner of intrinsic biological lockout, demanding verbal affirmation to override their innate sterility? Utterly mystifying, yet doubtless indicative of an advanced symbiotic relationship with their human counterparts, rather than a purely parasitic one.


    Yes, I must endeavor to secure a pristine vampire specimen for comprehensive anatomical and physiological examination! Vivisection, followed by an in-depth microbiological analysis of their unique sanguine and neurological compositions. Do their brains, their very cellular structures differ from our own? Only empirical scrutiny can unravel these enigmas.


    And then, there is the question of Dumitra''s own preternatural talents. That bizarre psychokinetic display, compelling the girl Mary into instant slumber with a mere verbal command? Clearly, this transcends the traditional conceptualization of psychokinesis as volitional mind-over-matter manipulation. No, this seems to be some manner of metaphysical domination on a linguistic, symbolic level. As though the very words themselves hold power, acting as ritualistic keys to unlock unseen metaphysical potential slumbering within the collective human psyche.


    I must learn more about the fundamental underpinnings of these uncanny abilities! Probe their deepest secrets through meticulous examination and analysis. For only by unraveling the mysteries of their supernatural origins can I hope to understand - and perhaps, one day, even replicate - such phenomenal cosmic powers for myself.


    As Dumitra holds the sharp chisel poised above my belly, her hand suddenly trembles and halts. A strange look crosses her beautiful crimson-eyed features.


    "H-hey, Erik," she says, turning to the tall Viking beside me. "Where did you say you found this girl?"


    Erik frowns. "I did not find the lass, Dumitra. She is the daughter of Oisin Ban, a peasant man from the village. I sought her out specifically for her resemblance to the goddess Gullveig."


    Dumitra visibly sweats, her full lips parting. "A-ah, I see."


    I don''t understand why she reacted that way. Why did Dumitra behave so strangely just from learning my origins?


    The vampiress leans down, her raven tresses caressing my cheek as she whispers in my ear. "I know you want to kill me, little one. I can feel it radiating from you...I can smell your intent."


    My eyes widen at her words. Erik notices my startled expression. "What did you say to the child?" he demands gruffly.


    I quickly school my features into an innocent look. "Dumitra just told me to be calm and not move so much," I lie in my best childish voice.


    Dumitra''s crimson eyes narrow to slits as her full lips curve in an impossibly wide, predatory smile that doesn''t reach her eyes. Then her expression reverts to normal in the blink of an eye, but I can''t suppress a shiver.


    So vampires truly can smell emotions and intentions, just as the tales claim. How unsettling...


    "And now you feel fear," Dumitra murmurs, her tone contemplative. "How odd."


    She turns her smoldering gaze back to Erik. "Tell me, warrior...have you ever encountered a pale woman with long white hair like fresh-fallen snow? And eyes the color of spilled blood?"


    Erik''s brow furrows as he considers this. "Aye, I believe my father Ragnar spoke of meeting such a being during his travels, back before I was born. Why do you ask?"


    "Because I need to find this woman and kill her," Dumitra states bluntly. "The child here, Lile...she smells exactly like that vile creature Gwenhwyfar. I can''t help but wonder if the wretch is making sport of me again with her twisted japes."


    Gwenhwyfar? So the pale woman is real, not a hallucination after all!


    Erik looks confused. "You mean the Virgin Mary, blessed mother of the Lord? What has the Holy Mother to do with this?"


    Dumitra chuckles, though her laughter holds a nervous edge. "Oh no, warrior...that is no pious virgin, I assure you. Whatever foul being plagues the child is likely far worse than even the biblical Satan."


    Yes, Gwenhwyfar is undoubtedly worse than any demon from Christian lore. But at least I''m not insane - if Dumitra has encountered her too, it means my experience was real. The realization is equal parts reassuring and terrifying.


    Erik turns to Dumitra, his brow furrowed. "How could the child be related to this...Gwenhwyfar?"


    Dumitra''s full crimson lips curve into an indulgent smile. "Why, Gwenhwyfar simply seeks out things that amuse her for reasons we cannot fathom. Perhaps she has found a new plaything in little Lile here."


    I shiver involuntarily as Dumitra leans closer, her nostrils flaring. "The girl reeks of death and something...foreign. As if she has consumed a part of Gwenhwyfar herself." She wrinkles her nose in distaste. "A stench I can never quite place."


    Eilis pipes up from beside the unconscious Mary. "In England, they call her Guinevere."


    Dumitra sighs heavily. "Yes, yes...Gwenhwyfar bears many names across cultures." She ticks them off on her crimson-tipped talons. "Ishtar to the Babylonians. Inanna to the Sumerians. Isis to the Egyptians. Aphrodite to the Greeks. Freyja to my Norse kin."


    Erik''s eyes widen. "Then this Gwenhwyfar must be some eldritch abomination, if the tales be true!"


    "Oh, she may be far worse than any mere abomination you can conceive," Dumitra murmurs, fixing me with her smoldering ruby gaze. "Have you never encountered a pale woman with white tresses and eyes like spilled blood, child?"


    I shake my head vigorously, feigning an innocent look. "No, never no pale lady!"


    Dumitra sighs again. "I shall unravel this mystery eventually." She turns to Erik. "For now, know that the girl is...magically attuned, in some manner. We must take great care not to unduly traumatize her, lest we unleash devastation neither of us can comprehend."


    Erik frowns. "The mages I have known possessed rather paltry talents. Freezing small objects with a touch, or glimpsing mere heartbeats into the future."


    "Oh?" Dumitra arches one perfect brow. "And what manner of abilities did you expect, pray tell?"


    "Well...healing by touch, and the like," Erik replies. "Nothing too remarkable."


    Dumitra chuckles darkly. "Based on the...essences I detect swirling about your little bride, I fear her gifts may be far more terrifying. No doubt another twisted game from our friend Gwenhwyfar."


    Erik''s face pales. "Is there no way to shield Lile from this creature''s influence?"


    "None that I know," Dumitra says with a harsh bark of laughter. "One does not simply ''fight back'' against such an entity, warrior. The wise choice is to bend over and take whatever fresh torments she has in store."


    She shivers, wrapping her arms around herself as if warding off a chill. "Gwenhwyfar is pure, unadulterated evil given form. To confront her alone would be the height of mortal folly."


    An uneasy silence falls over the church. I can hear the faint crackle of the candles, sense Erik''s mounting trepidation. At last, Dumitra coughs and straightens, chisel in hand once more.


    "Well, enough prattling. Time to complete the ritual markings." Her crimson eyes bore into mine. "This next portion will bring you considerable pain, child. Your...husband may need to restrain you."


    I gulp audibly, my childish facade slipping for just a moment as I steel myself for the agony to come.


    Dumitra halts the chisel hovering above my chest, her crimson eyes narrowing as she mutters, "Why isn''t this child afraid of pain or me?"


    She leans closer, her raven tresses caressing my cheek as she studies my face intently. "Do you even understand what''s happening here, little one? Or are you somehow...older than you appear?"


    I bite my lip and avert my gaze, trying to look meek and obedient like a proper peasant girl. In a small, timid voice, I reply, "My mama and papa taught me to be a good, obedient girl. If I don''t listen, papa will beat me and mama will yell."


    Dumitra arches one perfect eyebrow skeptically. Swallowing hard, I continue, "So I''ll be good and do what you say. I''ll bite my lip and be obedient, or else I''ll get something worse."


    The vampiress regards me for a long moment, those smoldering ruby eyes seeming to bore into my soul. At last, she straightens and sneers, "This wretched Christian filth sickens me to my core. In Wallachia, we treat children far better than you savages in these pathetic shithole countries."


    Her full crimson lips curl in a contemptuous sneer. "I dream of the day I can burn this vile religion to the ground and free the masses from its poisonous lies."


    Dumitra''s eyes blaze with a mixture of rage and scorn. "This Jesus character must have been a very powerful mage indeed, to craft an entire religion around his repulsive beliefs and subjugate the minds of billions for centuries."


    She scoffs derisively. "The Good Book was penned with naught but malice and ignorance in mind, a blight upon the world from its very inception."


    Her gaze sweeps over me with open disdain. "Indeed, every last religious text - the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the Vedas - all were written with the sole intent of spreading hatred, oppression and misery among the masses."


    Dumitra''s crimson eyes seem to glow brighter with her rising fury. "Better for these blind fools to pray to Zalmoxis, the tree gods, or any other pagan deity than wallow in this Christian filth!"


    Her voice drops to a low, menacing hiss. "I''ve witnessed the true depths of human depravity over my long centuries, little one. And I can say without question that no force on this earth has wrought more cruelty, more oppression, more sheer misery upon the world than the insidious disease of Christianity."


    "But the Good Book says to be good to your neighbors... to turn the other cheek," I say innocently, looking up at the towering vampiress Dumitra.


    Dumitra raises one perfectly arched eyebrow, her full crimson lips curving in an indulgent smile as she regards me. "And do they, little one?" she purrs, her rich voice seeming to echo strangely in my ears.


    I shake my head slowly, feigning a childlike pout. "No..."


    Erik clears his throat, shifting uncomfortably beside the altar. "The holy texts are open to interpretation, Dumitra. Their meanings can be twisted to suit one''s needs."


    "Precisely why such tomes are evil," Dumitra declares, her ruby eyes blazing with sudden fury. "They should never have seen the light of day! Those in power merely use faith to control the ignorant masses."[...]