The ghoul hounds picked up Leviticus’ trail almost instantly.  Together they raced to the rough orange colored stone wall wailing as they ran.   Their howls were chilling to hear and lesser men may have succumbed to fright.   As they reached the wall they both zeroed in on one of the nondescript holes and then changed back into mists. 

 Namblin, a mere step behind, took the charred coal marker in his hand and marked the spot.  “Here drink these and be quick about it, the hounds will not wait”, Namblin pushed small potions into the hands of the other three.  “Now follow quickly”, the same instant the words left his mouth the gnome shimmered and then became a swirling mass of misty substance.

 The hounds vanished into the hole as tendrils of smoke.  Vlad did not hesitate; he slammed back the potion and threw the empty bottle to the ground where it promptly smashed to pieces.  Bravo and Rush gave each other a quizzical look and then in near unison, shrugged their shoulders and downed the potions. 

 Moving in gaseous form was nothing new for the foursome which proved vital.  At every turn they were greeted with a massive web of tiny veins going off in thousands of directions through the surrounding stone.  Without a trail it would be impossible to track the vampiric demon.  Namblin led the way seemingly linked to the hounds in some way.  The others forced themselves to move in the unfamiliar state relying heavily on their abilities to sense small traces of the magic left behind as the previous gaseous form passed.

 Suddenly they were inside a dark stone-walled room.  The large room was fit for a king, a king in hiding.  Priceless tapestries and equally valuable art adorned the stone walls.  Exquisite furniture matched the room’s elegance, tables and worked iron sconces held lanterns and glowing orbs of magic light.  In the center of the room a pool twenty feet across glowed from the brilliant blue liquid it held.  As Bravo, the last to enter the room, reformed the action was in full swing.  Bravo felt a great tug as he was hit with a spell.  He knew the spell immediately, dimensional anchor.

Vladimir was embroiled in combat with an enormous creature that surely inhabited the darkest pits of hell.  It was a monstrous demon that stood twenty feet tall.  Its skin was a blotchy combination of black and green.  The demon’s jaw jutted out an arm’s length exposing long sharp teeth, black liquid ran from the creatures jaw as if a spicket had been left on.  The liquid smoked a bit as it spilled to the floor creating a plum of green smoke, the acid could be heard hissing as it burned the stone floor.  The demon’s long arms ended in taloned hands that gripped great axes whose blades looked to be made of adamantine. 

 Thirty feet behind the battle between human and demon stood Leviticus.  His wounds fully healed and a great grin dominating his face he worked his hands as if casting yet another spell.  Rush stood off to Bravo’s left working furiously as arrows left his bow in a blur and raced toward the demon.  One after another they struck and yet the demon seemed not to notice.  Vlad had several major gashes in his armor and it was painfully obvious that the demon was gaining the upper hand.

 “Shazorix has been waiting years beyond counting for chance such as this Vlad.  I am so pleased that it is you who will satisfy his desire to extinguish life”, Leviticus laughter echoed in the chamber as he seemed to near insanity.  Then with a quick jester and a word the spell left his fingers.

 Rush howled in pain.  Forced to his knees the Elf strained against the deadly spell.  Tinya rested in his hand so close to being launched and now at the mercy of its master who struggled to hold to consciousness. 

 Bravo cursed at the choices before him, none of them good.  He had no time to decide between various courses of action however and launched a spell at the Demon in an effort to save Vladimir.  The spell struck and the Demon grimaced as some good amount of strength was taken from him.  Vlad deflected a blow from one of the great black axes and followed with a series of strikes each one penetrating the flesh of the Demon.  Acid shot from the wounds splashing Vladimir with the deadly stuff.  His skin bubbled on his arms where parts of his armor no longer protected, his element protection exhausted. 

The Demon made a sound that can only be described as a laugh though the acid that ran freely from his mouth gave it a strange gargled sound as if he were drowning.  The axe in the creature’s right hand crashed into Vlad’s side, slicing through his armor with ease.  The sound of breaking ribs was audible enough for Bravo to hear and recognize the sound.  Blood gushed from the wound and the great warrior’s arms went limp but his legs stubbornly refused to buckle.

 For the first time in more years than he could count Bravo felt helpless.  He could not save Vladimir and he knew that his spells would find little purchase against a prepared Leviticus.  The dimensional anchor sealed his fate; he would be unable to flee.  This is how it would end he thought; in the hall of a demented vampire where none would ever know his fate.  Still he worked his hands for yet another spell; perhaps he could take his pound of flesh before darkness came.

 “This ends now brother”, a booming voice sounded from the rear of the stone room.  Bravo’s eyes went wide at the sight of a weathered old man with a bald head and bright silver eyes. 

 “Frank?” Bravo whispered to himself in disbelief. 

 A burst of light leapt from the new arrival and encircled Leviticus.  Arcs of electricity and racing shards of light shot back and forth between the Silver-Eyed Mages.  Leviticus howled in anger, his hands curled into contorted claws as his spells refused him.  “NO, Krytus, you must…re….release me”, Leviticus struggled with the final words as his life force began to leave him.

 “I have watched you ruin the lives of too many, watched you destroy without cause.  I cannot allow our brotherhood to be remembered as you are.  Your debt must be paid”, Krytus spat the final words as the strain of the link between he and Leviticus grew.  His teeth ground as he willed himself to push on.

The power of the connection between the two was overwhelming.  Bravo could feel his arcane powers being drained from him as if a great vortex had been opened, devouring the very essence of magic from the room.  Rivers of sweat ran down Krytus’ bald head as he struggled to force his will on his demonic brother.  Blood ran from his right nostril and dripped from his lip as he grimaced with the effort.

 The Demon too could not help turning to see what caused such a powerful flux of power.  Seeing Leviticus in danger the great beast turned to slay the old man who seemed to be the cause.  He took one step and Tinya exploded through the back of his head.  Her gleaming tip exited his forehead, her shaft stuck in the brain stuff inside.  The Demon’s eyes tried in vain to see what had caused such a punch to his head as the blade erupted from his belly.  Vlad also recovered and with both hands on the pommel he had shoved his sword through the Demon’s back to exit the other side.

 The demon toppled and slammed lifeless to the ground.  Near death himself, Vladimir stepped on the Demon’s back and with some effort, drew the sword from its back.  Slowly he walked toward the two silver-eyed mages, the gash on his side flowed with dark liquid that now coated his leggings.  As he approached Leviticus the vampiric mage struggled to turn his head.  His eyes screamed of pain, veins bulged on his face and hands while the cord between he and his brother robbed him of life.  Unable to speak Leviticus mouthed, “Please….end….me”. 

 “My pleasure “, Vlad spat as his sword cut an arc though the air and with deft aim removed Leviticus’ head cleanly from his shoulders.  The magical vortex between the two silver-eyed mages abruptly ended in a blast of light sending Vladimir off his feet to land on his back on the hard stone floor.  Krytus stood, waivered for just a moment and then fell face first to the floor.  His head made an audible crack as it smashed against the stone. 

 Bravo and Rush raced across the room to Vladimir.  Rush bent down and raised the warrior’s head with his hand.  Vlad’s eyes opened and a slight grin crossed his acid marred face, “We did it.  Tell me the bastard is finally dead.” 

 Instinctively Rush looked over his left shoulder at the lifeless bodies of the mages.  “He is dead my friend.  You however are not so lucky, drink this liquid and we will have you dancing a jig in no time”.

 “If it is all the same to you”, Vladimir struggled, “I think I will put an end to my own travels here and now.  Tis time for me to see those I love who have long since passed.  My vengeance has given me life for far too long and it is time for me to go.”

 Bravo looked over at Rush the bottle of healing in his hand, “Seems a damn fool thing to do.  Why not go home and die a natural death with a cool mug of ale by your side?  There will be an eternity to see those you love and time to love again while you’re here.”

 Rush rested a hand on Bravo’s forearm, “He speaks as a man who has lived his life to the fullest Bravo.  There is wisdom in his words.  Let him go.” 

 As Bravo shook his head Vlad’s fingers worked at a small pouch on his belt.  Whispering he poured the contents of the pouch into Rush’s outstretched hand, “Give this to that little bastard Namblin.  Tell him I said he’s a fool and a person of his size should really consider the circus.”  Vladimir smiled and content to embrace the unknown he drifted away as if to go to sleep.

 Rush looked down at the ring, a simple, yet beautiful thing.  It was a ring made of strange black stone with rivulets of orange here and there.  “Well worth the price I would say eh Bravo.”

 “I’m not so sure, it was a costly hunt my Elvin friend.  Now let us go home.”