“This has been here all this time?” Drasas said.

“His base moves around. That’s why he’s so difficult to find. Come.”

Drasas followed Anka towards the shack. She noticed a long boat tied to a small pier beside the shack. “That’s an unusual boat.”

“It ferries the dead to the other side,” Anka said. She stopped a few feet away from the door and turned to Drasas. “The Reaper is extremely powerful. He can freeze time, amongst many other things, but I want you to follow me in and destroy him and take his power.”

Drasas was not expecting that. “I can’t do that. I’m not even a born vampire. I’m turned and can’t go up against someone as strong as that.”

“With this ring on, you can. For every power and blow he casts upon you, the ring will steal that energy and give it to you. You can handle this, can’t you, Drasas?”

Drasas was scared, if she was honest, but she would never let Anka know. “Of course, Madam.”

Anka smiled. “Then follow me, Vampire.”

They walked up to the door, and with a bolt of red light from Anka’s hand, the door blew open. Drasas saw an elderly-looking man sitting in his armchair. This was not how she imagined the Reaper would look. She felt more confident now.

He looked up and calmly said, “You could have just have knocked, Anka. That was a perfectly good door.”

Drasas was surprised at his calm in the presence of Anka.

“I like to be surprising, Reaper.”

“So it seems. It’s been a long time,” the Reaper said.

Anka walked further into the room. “Yes, well, it took me some time to get out of the trap you and your little helpers caught me in, but nothing keeps Anka trapped forever, Reaper.”

“Who is your friend?” he asked.

“The new Principe of the Dred clan, and she’s here to take your power.”

The Reaper chuckled. “Well, I better get out of my armchair for this one. Do your worst, Principe of the Dred clan.”

This was Drasas’s chance for greatness and for Anka. She wanted her more than anything she’d ever wanted in her life, but would she be able to do this?

Anka surprised both her and the Reaper by shooting a bolt of red light at him. He held his hands up to catch it.

“Now, Drasas!” Anka shouted.

Drasas ran at him, and he deflected the light at her. She had the most incredible sensation, starting from her ring finger, traveling up her arm, and then spreading all over her body.

She felt stronger than she ever had in her life. Her fangs sprang from her gums, and she struck the Reaper. He responded by throwing a large glowing white ball of light, which the ring on Drasas’s finger drank up greedily.