Saint Drago stepped through the glowing portal. He settled himself with an air of weariness on a low couch that was the only real piece of furniture in the room. Flame Song preferred the piles of cushions that were equally comfortable for her in human or firecat form. The couch was meant mostly for visitors.

“Can I get you anything?” asked Flame. “I feel like a cup of hot chocolate myself. Would you like one?”

Drago looked a bit surprised at the offer, but accepted graciously. Flame shifted into human form and vanished into the kitchen. Aidan and Drago exchanged uneasy glances. Each of them was the spitting image of the other’s worst enemy, and though they knew otherwise, it was difficult for either to relax. Flame Song soon returned to break the uncomfortable silence. “Here you are,” she said, handing Saint Drago a steaming mug. “I don’t know about where you’re from, but up here it’s still freezing outside.” She settled on a cushion with a second mug in her hand.

Drago glanced at Aidan, who said with a wry smile, “I’m afraid I can’t join you. I don’t drink hot chocolate these days.”

Drago shook his head in amazement. “This is going to take some getting used to. But for you to understand my situation, I need to tell you the whole story. I am, as you may know, the leader of a clerical order on my world. We are, perhaps, somewhat similar to the Clan of your world,” he began, referring to the Clan of the Lost Dragon “We are dedicated to helping others,” continued Drago, “though each member of my order must choose his or her own path as far as how they help. There are a few who are warriors who defend those weaker than they, but most of us are healers and builders. We try to make our world a better place. Idealistic perhaps, but I would like to think we have made some small difference.

“It was about a year ago that things began going wrong. Several of my people vanished and never came back. The disappearances were far removed in both place and time, and I thought it only a coincidence, but later I learned better. Several more vanished, and this time we found the bodies of two of them.” His expression sobered as he said, “I do not think they died easy deaths. I became certain then that some single agency was responsible for both the deaths and the disappearances, but I had no clue about its nature until a few months ago. Another of my followers was killed while traveling to my monastery. He was a bard, and his path was to bring joy into the lives of others through music. He traveled much, playing where he could and asking only for food and lodging in exchange for his music.” Drago paused again, and his face was etched with lines of sadness and pain. “I considered him a friend.

“We found his body in the forest not far from our monastery. I think they left it on purpose, trying to terrify us. It is not a sight I’ll soon forget. But I think they didn’t know that he kept a journal. He had tucked it under his shirt, and they didn’t find it.” He reached into one of the pockets in his robe and drew out a little book.

“May I?” asked Aidan, reaching out for it. Drago handed it over. It wasn’t very big, and the cover was stained and tattered. Some of the stains looked alarmingly like blood. He opened it and flipped through it. It was about three-quarters full of small, neat handwriting. He skimmed through it. The first half didn’t seem to have anything unusual, but the last four entries gave him a chill. He quickly read through to the end and then went back. He looked up at Flame, his eyes wide.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’ll read it,” he said. “See for yourself.”

“Today has passed like most days on the road. Nothing eventful interrupted me, and I have seen no one all day long. I have a strange sense, however, that someone is following me. I’ve tried repeatedly to catch some glimpse, but I have seen no one. Nevertheless, the bushes rustle too often along the side of the road. I will be glad three days hence when I leave these woods, and gladder when I reach the monastery. There is far too much cover here for my taste. Now I shall go to bed and hope that this is all merely my imagination.

“I am now certain I am being followed. I slept last night with no difficulty, and nothing happened, but all today the bushes have rustled along my path, and I think perhaps I caught a glimpse of something pale in the shadows. And my horse is becoming increasingly nervous. Wait…! I return to writing after a futile search of the bushes. I saw the thing that has been stalking me. I didn’t see it clearly, but I am sure it is some kind of cat. Not a housecat, but something the size of a tiger with white fur striped darker, I couldn’t make out the color in the moonlight.”

Aidan paused in his reading. He and Flame Song exchanged glances. The bard’s description of his stalker sounded all too familiar. Aidan took a deep breath and continued reading.

“I looked for it, though perhaps I was foolish, but I found nothing. I will sleep close to my horse tonight and hope she will warn me if anything comes.

“I fear now that I am writing this not for my own eyes, but as a warning for whoever may find me after I am dead. The cat followed me all this day. I saw it clearly several times. It was making no effort to hide. My horse nearly bolted in sheer terror on more than one occasion. I hesitated to make camp, for I feel vulnerable sitting here in the dark, but I fear that trying to travel further by night would be even more risky. Not long after I made camp I saw the cat, standing boldly only a few yards off. Its green eyes caught the firelight, and I’m certain it was smiling at me. And then I saw the other. I think perhaps he was an aerian. If not then he is some form of demon, for he certainly had wings and demonic is an appropriate word to describe him. He was crouched in a tree overhead. I do not know what drew my eyes upward, but when I looked into his eyes I felt I could see the fires of hell burning in them, though no doubt it was simply my fire being reflected. I will try to stay awake, but I have traveled far and am weary. I do not know if I can last the night.

“Note: I did indeed fall asleep, and was awakened by the scream of my horse. When I looked around it was nowhere to be found. I soon fell asleep again. When I awoke in the morning I was surprised to be alive. I was not surprised to find my horse’s mangled body not far from the camp. It looked as though the cat had partially eaten it. I have paused here to add this brief note in case I do not have a chance to write this night. I fear the end is near.

“I survived the day, though I did not make good time, weary as I was and limited to my own two feet. I had hoped to make it out of the woods, but nightfall found me still among the trees. I have now seen both of my tormentors clearly. The second appeared again not long after twilight came. He stood brazenly within the light of my campfire. He is indeed an aerian, and now I know the nature of what stalks me, for he is also a vampire. He told me as much, saying he would have my blood before the night was out. I do not understand why he did not simply attack me then and there, but I think he is playing a game. He wishes, no doubt, to terrify me as much as he may before he takes my blood and my life with it. After making his intentions clear he stepped back into the shadows. I will give a good description of him here in hopes that this book will be found and someone will be able to rid the world of such evil. He is very short in stature; I estimate his height is not much over five feet. His hair is very dark and cut short. His eyes are blue and his skin, as one might expect from a vampire, very pale. He wears dark colors and a distinguishing ornament is a collar of dark metal set with a round red stone at his throat. His feline companion is white furred with reddish orange stripes in a pattern reminiscent of flames. Its eyes are very green and it is the size of a great tiger, though with a thick coat more like that of a snow leopard. I will lie awake tonight, my fear is sufficient to keep me awake despite my weariness, but I do not think I will live out the night.”