******
In a fortress that stood defiant against the abyss, Marius paused at the entrance, his gaze sweeping through the building he owned—a fortress he resided in before his soul got fragmented during the first battle he had with the vampires of the North.
The buildings blackened spires pierced through the murky sky, and the air reeked of sulfur, a testament to the souls he had trapped within those walls. Releasing a deep, satisfied breath after making it back to his old time fortress, he stepped inside, the doors opening at their will to grant him entrance.
He carried the unconscious Samantha in his arms, taking her through the corridor where the souls he had stolen and sealed resided, but none of them dared to come closer, despite their desperation to consume the vessel Marius had brought with him.
