She would feed indeed! For the creature that materialised before them was kin yet unfamiliar to the Ancient Vampire. It was a demon who was one of the fathers of the vampire race. Shendron's sword glowed amber and the runes jetted little sparks which flew toward the demon, but the cold air extinguished them before the could fall on him. The sword seemed to pull Shendron forward, but he remained standing still. The demon looked at them, flames flickered from his eyes and flickered in the dark.

He spoke; "I will not fight you. I may die, or you may die, but I believe that you must agree that odds are in my favour. It would do you well, Lycan, to put up your sword."

Shendron, agreeing to the truth of the demon's words lowered his sword, but did not sheath it. The sword suddenly shone more brighly and a spray of flame spewed from its runes to the demon, burning him and searing flesh.

The demon laughed as he said; "I have not been burned by the flames of Urr's descendants in millenia!" As he spoke the wounds healed. "I would not like to feel the bite of your sword against my flesh, because the wound would burn without healing, until I die, or kill a Lycan and take his bloodied flesh as a poultice for the wound. "I am here to talk to both of you of your mission and of the fool-hardy decision your wizard friend has made. This castle is a living organism, as I am sure you have noticed, and as any living thing, it requires balance. The three of you and your very presence has upset this delicate balance. We must talk on the demon which has possessed your companion; my brother, who is bound to the wizard by blood pact to do his bidding. Yet, my brother gets his own out of the deal, but we will not talk of this now. This castle will rebel at my brother's presence and unless we find a way to stop both him and the wizard, they will both be utterly destroyed! The castle will move against them. The denizens of its halls will answer its call as one and we will have almost no time for you to complete your mission. Do not ask me how I know all this, help me to stop the future."