What A Cavern Could Hold

Still following the scent of blood, Secessus goes farther down the cave. Walking at a slow and careful pace, cloaked in darkness. Controlling his bloodlust, the shade demon becomes aware of something else as he follows the trail. The scent did not disappear, rather more scents of blood are ahead. however unlike the trail he follows, it seems they originated deeper in the cave.

'It's close.' Sol thinks to himself as he readies his blood-bound spear and sneaks silently over to the source. Continuing to follow the trail, the cave seems to come to an end. In the end, only a hole remains. The scent of blood is thick and now accompanied by the sound of groaning and creatures giving their dying breath. The hole leads to a cavern of some sort, it's hard to make out.

Without any fear or hesitation, Secessus jumps down using his enhanced arm strength to slow down the fall. With a loud thud, he lands in the dark cavern where the small stream of water ends in the middle.

What normally would be a dark cavern with strange noises for all without sight is much more for the demon capable of dark vision. He sees the rusted cages hung off the ceiling with vampiric beings inside of them. The prisoners flayed, their blood staining the already stained enough cage. The cavern filled with bones and corpses of smaller creatures and vampiric kin alike. At the end of the cavern on a throne made of bone sits a creature. The carrier of the trail he followed, the murderer. The aura of the creature is bloodied just like Secessus's own aura. However, unlike the shade demon this aura is filled with unbridled dread. The dread of a victim closing her eyes as she gets murdered. Not for vengeance or any cause of your own. Just something you couldn't control.

The creature is busy feeding itself on its throne, eating a large lizard of some kind. More of them are caged in a corner, having to watch their sort get eaten.

"Can you see me?" The voice of the creature on its throne asks. The tone of his voice is as deep and dark as the crimes he has committed.

"If I couldn't, I would have far more bruises on my body." The shade demon replies snarkily, not trying to match the vampire's tone.

"I've not yet known any human who can peer in the dark. But you're not very human are you?" The creature responds as it stands up from its throne made of bone.

The creature is pale white with red markings on its chest. They are hard to spot with the many cuts and wounds covering its body. Long sharp ears adorn his bald head still recovering from burn marks. The pants he wears seemed to be made out of the skin of the lizard like folk it ate before whilst it also wears a necklace made of fingers and ears. His fangs and nails grow as it prepares for battle.

A red mirage forms around him as he flashes away and then appears at the same spot. Now holding a skull filled with blood.

"I'm curious of whatever you might be. Do tell."

"It seems rather pointless. One of us will be lying dead soon enough."

"So? The battle's not going anywhere. The winner even more enriched than before. We have nothing to lose."

Secessus doesn't take long to think about the proposition. Even if he hates it, his curiosity is piqued.

"I'm a shade demon of Appolyian. What are you?"

"Through the barrier? How's that even possible?"

"First my question."

"I am Xarayis, a vampire. What's your name?"

"Secessus Solum Luciel or Sol whatever you prefer. What is this about?" Secessus says as he points around the cavern.

"This is my home. In the cages are naughty children and in those cages are my snacks. How did you pass the barrier?" All the large lizard like beings try to move away from the cage door hearing that they're called snacks.

"The usage of a ritual and a strong soul to match it. How many?"

"What?"

"How many did you kill?"

"I've lost count long ago. Do you want an estimate?"

"Sure."

"Few thousand humans, beasts I have no idea. Perhaps 50000? Kobolds don't really have a lot of meat." The vampire named Xarayis says as he takes a gulp from the skull with blood in it.

"How many have you killed?"

"Few hundred."

"Disappointing, here I thought I had someone like-minded. Especially since you're a demon."

Secessus tries to use appraisal, but his emerald eyes do not flicker. The chance to get to more about the vampire is gone. He had purposefully not used it until now since he instinctually knew that something was strange. The moment he entered this new realm, he could no longer use the spell. It seems that different realms have different rules. And whilst the realms are similar in nature it appears appraisal is something no longer viable. Instead, he will have to make do with the auras of his opponents and his own insight.

"You have not. Why are you here?"

"I've been living here for the better part of 40 years. I had some wounds to recover from." The vampire replies as he points to his burned head. "Merchants can rarely resist a good deal." It continues showing an eerie smile.

"I have one last question for you demon." The vampire throws away the skull as the last bit of blood has been drunk from it. The same red mirage forms around him as he disappears and appears next to Secessus with the same mirage.

"What do you fear?" The vampire leans in and whispers into Secessus ear with a voice where you can still hear the children it strangled.

"What do I fear? Truly?" Secessus asks not looking toward the vampire, leaving even his neck exposed.

"Truly."

Secessus thinks for a bit about the last question before his replies follow in the silent dark cavern.

"Myself." He replies as he raises his left hand and casts a fireball against the vampire and himself. Lighting up the cave as the "naughty children" hung in their cages scream either fearing the sudden fire or out of surprise.