Victorija had spent a frustrating afternoon in the gym, helping train her newly turned vampires. She was fighting one in the centre of the gym, while the others watched around them in a circle.

Victorija blocked several punches and kicks with ease. These new recruits were meant to be cannon fodder, true, but she still had to impart some skills to them for the fight ahead. She was becoming bored with the pitiful attack from this vampire, though, and with a sigh snapped his neck. He fell to the floor of the gym with a heavy thud.

“You have to be better than this,” she thundered at the turned vampires circling the floor. She stalked around the circle and saw the fear in their eyes. She couldn’t lead fearful vampires into battle.

There had to be a cull.

“Those of you who wish to be immortal and live extraordinary lives, and have the courage to fight in battle with me, take a step forward. If not, then I will free you from my service.”

Tension was high in the room, and the vampires looked to each other, trying to figure out what to do. Finally, some started to step forward, a few at a time, until just under half had chosen to serve her.

“Very well, we have our answer, then.” She stood in front of one man who hadn’t stepped forward, put a hand on his shoulder in a friendly fashion, and smiled at him. “I always keep my word, so I will free you from my service.”

Victorija looked over to the back of the room, where her seasoned vampires stood waiting and watching. She nodded, and in a flash they moved at incredible speed around the room, and the newly turned vampires started to fall to their knees, their bloody, crushed hearts dropping beside them.

The man in front of her was the only one left standing, and was shaking with fear. “I’m sorry, I’ve changed my mind, Principe. Please?”

Victorija rubbed her chin as if considering it, but then thrust her hand into his chest, and squeezed his heart. “You know, I actually thought about it for a second, and then I remembered I dislike weak cowards.”

She pulled his heart out and crushed it in front of his eyes. He fell to the floor and Victorija turned to the remaining new vampires.

“This is a lesson to show you what happens to the weak, and the feeble. You have immortality by my say so, you keep breathing by my will, so toughen up and get stronger!” Victorija roared.

She strode to the back of the gym where the lift was.

The doors opened and Drasas was there. “I have a report on the Debreks, Principe.”