Part 12: Chapter ??: Wait, What Just Happened?

Originally posted on April 1

You know, I realize that you’ve been positive about the style I’ve been writing in, but it’s just not the kind of fiction I want to write, you know? I want to write in my own style, one that comes straight from my soul. I’ve been working on a novel for a while now, and I didn’t really want to start from the beginning, so I was figuring on doing the rest as flashbacks or something. Does that sound okay?

The first thing that has to go is the name. Yeah, it was good for a laugh, but now that it’s getting serious, I need a new name, one that comes from me, from my dark soul.


Of course, the stupid character field had to be stupid and not long enough for Midnight von Nightmare. Just pretend it fits, ok?


My name is Midnight von Nightmare, Conqueror of Heroia, and a secret half-vampire (what we in the Know call Dhampyrs). The giant, gray edifice that stood before me loomed into the sky like a giant rook piece on the chessboard of life. I was dressed in my finest black cloak, which serves to aid my hiding abilities as well as make a fine fashion compliment to my dark, black eyes. I kept my dress simple for traveling abroad, merely a loose white shirt and leather jerkin rather than the obsidian-studded jacket I usually wore over my paisley pink t-shirt.

The two eager lackeys played their trumpets to herald my arrival, but I disdained their presence, as their mere presence was enough to send me into paroxysms of hunger which I held in, being used to this.

The door swung wide as though by magic, which it probably was, because the baron in charge of this castle was also a secret Dhampyr and had summoned me by the power of his mind that we all share between us.

The darkness that concealed the interior of his castle was foreboding, but I entered the hallway anyway, as I am at home in the darkness.

The blackness called to my dark soul, which seethed with hatred and anger, as well as the sadness that came from losing my one true love. Although I sought to resurrect her still, as her soul was still in my possession, I knew it would take the magic of all the combined Dhampyrs, which is why I was searching for all of my fellows and doing them favors.

I bowed before the Baron Blackness, since one must be polite in someone else’s home, and I wished him to show me the same favor when he came to my own home kingdom.
Midnight von Nightmare, I am glad to finally meet you. Word of your many exploits has reached me even here, in this darkened valley which conceals my presence from the rest of the world.
Is it really wise to be saying all this in front of your guards? Our secret Dhampyr nature requires us to only tell a select few, lest our majesty overwhelm the masses who surround us.
Fear not, Midnight, as I trust my guards completely, and my son (merely a quarter-vampire) can be trusted as well.
My angst can be heard from five miles off.
It is good that you tell me such things, as I was starting to become worried. Now, Baron Blackness, I have been told by my manservant, Bleak Outlook, that you have a task that I must complete before you will add your power to mine.
Indeed I do. A heartless goblin terrorizes the populace whom I keep to amuse myself, since as you know Dhampyrs need no blood to sustain themselves. While normally I would laugh and watch the people run about screaming, I am currently feeding a secret project of mine with fear, and watching it released so needlessly irritates me to no end. You must kill this goblin and show it just who he’s dealing with.
For the sake of my lost Love, I shall do as you ask.

It was not long before I had found the small, green creature, as my Dhampyric senses could pinpoint it as soon as I entered the forest. Nevertheless, I turned my back to it, making it appear as though I was unaware of its presence. My plot worked, as it approached me, not realizing that it was going according to plan. I quickly whirled around, taking the goblin by surprise. It was a tough beast, however, and did not die to my first attack.

We squared off, staring at one another. Every twitch was recorded, and every time it opened its defenses I took advantage.

Who are you, to not be afraid of my hideous appearance and green skin?
My name is Midnight von Nightmare, and I shall be your doom.

Egads! I have heard your name before, von Nightmare! It is spoken in hushed whispers in the caverns from whence I came, as every goblinkin remembers the slaughter that took place in the dismal Crevice of Vilteotjn!
Indeed, that was but my vengeance for the actions taken by Plathni the Hated, who dared to speak ill of my one true Love.

This cannot be! At Unotor, the City of Ultimate Fear, you were said to have fallen off the Bridge of Baoine!
This did happen, but you should know that a Dhampyr can survive far hotter temperatures than the boiling pits can provide.

A Dhampyr! But there are no more than 10 in the world! While this would explain your striking looks and frightful presence, I can hardly believe that you are one of those lucky few.
That is because we keep our natures secret from all living creatures who would not understand the pain and shadow existence that accompanies our powers and supernatural attractiveness. I only tell you now because your meeting me has sealed your fate.

Alas, that I should die so! At least I shall have the honor of being a victim of Midnight von Nightmare, the Conqueror of Heroia. Shall you grant me the request of drinking my blood once you have finished with me?
That is a request I cannot fulfill; I have sworn to drink no drop until my Love is restored unto me.
At least my fellow goblinkin who live in the Shadow Beyond the Void shall know and respect my name, for having fallen to a Dhampyr.

The goblin was left lying on the ground, face first. I had no time to spare to bury him, and so I did little more than walk away from his fallen corpse.