Publisher's Synopsis
"Not dead," Baloof interrupted. "Undead!"
"What!" Andromin shouted.
"I said undead - not living, not dead. It's a transition, so Umfenus claims. That's all I know. Umfenus knows much more of this than do I."
"Okay, for this, I need another ale!" exclaimed Andromin, who was most bewildered by what he had just heard. Dragus glared at him. "I don't mean I will partake, but brother, after what I just heard, I feel I need one. If vampires are ready to strike again, then the cities must be at full alert."
"How thorough is Umfenus' expertise in this field of the undead?" asked Dragus. A barmaid passed by with a tray of drinks. He grabbed a glass of ale and tossed a shilling in its place, smiling at her. He took a few gulps and kept the ale out of Andromin's reach.
"Umfenus knows all. He risked his life to obtain this information. But there's much he doesn't know. For one thing, the reason behind these caskets. We can surmise they are for the dead. That's obvious. But what's the purpose for all this?"
"That's what we are going to find out tonight," said Dragus. "However, not while my stomach is empty." He flagged down the waitress again. "My dear, we are starved, bring us food please." Dragus turned to the others. "Father Baloof, when supper has ended, you must take us to meet this Umfenus."
Dusk fell while the three held a quorum in the pub. Once outside, the Seaton brothers took Father Baloof to another pub called Gripper's Green Dragon, where they would meet their contact, the mysterious Umfenus. Once inside Baloof escorted the Seatons to a table and introduced them to the mysterious old gravedigger.
"I am Umfenus. Please, sit down."
They sat beside the old man, who looked rather dead himself. His gray hair was slicked back into a ponytail. His lips were cracked and his eyes were weary. He sipped his mead slowly.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," said Dragus. "Father Baloof here says you have much to tell us."
"What I have to say you will find quite eerie, as though it's from some tale of horrors. My intention isn't to frighten you, but what I witnessed is the work of the devil. Does this discourage you?"
"We have witnessed many strange things," said Andromin.
Umfenus edged closer. "I know that the Seatons have had their share of battles on the field. And you have witnessed death, but should this ever consume you, you will wish to be dead. And it is far better to be dead than undead. Do you wish me to continue?"
"Go on, continue," said Dragus, leaning in closer.
"Very well then. This is the truth that I know from what I have witnessed. A month ago, in the large hall beneath St. Peter's Monastery, I came across a burial ground I call 'Satan's Sanctuary'. In this hall, I stumbled on an array of coffins, hundreds of them. It was very unusual to have so many coffins lying around. I didn't know if there were actual bodies lying in these caskets or if this was some sort of holding cell, so I decided to open one. It was empty. Then I opened another, then another and another - all were empty. Soon it became dark. At moonrise, six caskets opened, and from within rose six bodies. Five were women. They floated over the coffins, trailing flowing gowns of white. As they floated, they approached the one male. I was most astounded by their magic.
They held out their arms as if they all wanted to mate with him. Of course, I didn't want to be noticed, so I hid behind one of the coffins where I could continue to spy on them. When the five females reached the male, he grabbed one and bit into her arm. He sucked out her blood, but not all of it, just what he desired. Then he extracted blood from the others. The females then extracted blood from each other. I have learned this is normal behavior for these creatures, called vampires. They typically suck the blood out of the living."