Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

Zane was completely flabbergasted by what he witnessed here in Phoenix, Arizona. The city was like an oasis in a proverbial desert, one that was completely devoid of life. And while it may be true that the city was placed in a literal desert, the metaphor was no less meaningful because of it.

Naturally, Zane was confused, confused about how such a place could exist. Sure, according to Serena's words this was a place where undead, or specifically the vampire variety co-existed with humanity.

Humans voluntarily sacrificed a minor portion of their blood in exchange for the protection which Serena brought them. That is, if the Vampire Queen's words could be believed. She was, after all one, who Zane suspected of having a charm like ability in a similar vein to that which Lilith possessed.

It was because of this that he was exceptionally cautious which each of the words that Serena had spoken. Digging into the subtext behind them to see if she was hiding something from him. The vampire queen herself seemed patient, unusually so as Zane tried to come to a decision on how to proceed.

His journey after all was leading him to combat the Horde Kings and their individual domains. In doing so, he could rapidly gain his strength. But there were no hostile undead here to fight if Serena was to be believed.

Moreover, there were no awakened humans whose hearts he could devour for use of rapid leveling. Because of this, Zane did not wish to stay long enough in the area to find out. Did he really care if the undead were using what remained of humanity as livestock?

Would it really be all that important to him if Serena was doing much more sinister things to the humans allegedly living under her protection behind the scenes? No, Zane had long since lost his humanity. In fact, the only living human beings he remotely cared about were those five women he had left behind.

Because of that, he was quick to reject Serena's offer of refuge.

"Whether or not I can trust your words is not of importance to me. Humanity no longer holds any meaning to me. Nor does the matter of their survival. In fact, I'm not sure it ever really did. Rather, there is no opportunity of growth for me here.

Only by passing through the tribulations of this apocalyptic world, and fighting with the Horde Kings can I gain the strength to truly survive whatever comes my way. And because of that, I will not stay here and live out a peaceful existence. Assuming it is that is what you are actually offering me…."

Serena nodded her head. She understood perfectly why Zane would choose this more treacherous path to walk upon. And she had been honest with him from the start. Because of this, she did not intend to intrude upon him any longer.

However, she gave him two final pieces of advice as he was about to walk away from her.

"Before you go, the others may be fooled by those women you kept around you. But I'm not so gullible. The day shall come when Lilith or Balthazar realize the importance they hold to you. And when that day comes that little settlement of yours will not stand the tide.

Should they need a place to take refuge, they are more than welcome here in the city of the Sun. Out of respect for your position, I won't even demand they pay the blood tax that all the living human beings in this city are normally forced to pay.

In addition to this, I might give you some final parting words of wisdom. The others have been looking for you, and they believe you have gone east. But, with Victor spotting you in Vegas, no doubt they will quickly understand where you are headed, and why.

It will not surprise me if trouble comes to my doorstep soon. Rest assure, I can easily handle whatever those fools throw at me. But… Your journey is best suited continuing south. Beyond the borders of the nation, you once held citizenship in.

They will assume that after leaving Phoenix you will be headed east, because I will tell them that. It would be wise to do the opposite and head further south as well. There are a lot of tier I and II Horde Kings throughout what used to be known as Mexico, and it is an are best suited to you, if your goal is to truly gain power as quickly as possible."

Zane did not know if he could fully trust the words of the Vampire Queen. But he would keep her words in mind. Because of this, he simply nodded his head in silence, acknowledging that he had heard what Serena had to say, before ultimately wandering off through the desert once more.

---

As predicted, it did not take Victor, Lilith, and the others long to pinpoint where Zane had run off to. And because of this, Victor himself, along with several other Horde Kings within the region were sent to Phoenix in an attempt to force Serena to give Zane up to them.

Serena had more than enough time to make preparations for this eventuality, and because of these pillars of what appeared to be blood shot up into the sky. Forming a pentagram in the air, as the sanguine liquid then spread across the city's boundaries, preventing any other than those which she permitted within its borders.

Even Balthazar would have a hard time breaking down such a barrier, assuming he was so enraged that he had crossed the Pacific ocean to personally confront Serena, and force her to do his bidding.

There were represenatatives of the Moderate, and the Fanatical factions standing across from one another. Staring at the bloody barrier which prevented them from stepping one foot into the city limits of Phoenix.

Meanwhile, they argued with each other. Clearly at odds over who would receive Zane's head.

"His majesty, Balthazar, the first son of Death demands the head of the heretic! You would do well to respect his orders. We wouldn't want to consider you all to be heretics yourselves, now would we?"

That was a threat of civil war if Victor had ever heard one. Victor, of course was hotheaded, easily prone to anger so to speak. He did not wish to take this threaet lying down ,and immediately pointed a finger at the tier IV Horde King from Denver who dared to speak to him in such a way.

"Oi you little shit! Do you think I'm not capable of handling you myself? I'm here on behalf of Lilith's orders. She wants a word with the little bastard who escaped from her. Balthazar can wait his damned turn!"

Serena however interrupted the two factions before they broke out into a fight, exiting the barrier as she stared upon them all with contempt in her eyes.

She may be a Tier IV Horde King like the two of them, but her power was on par with the lowest level of Tier V Horde Kings, and as the queen of Vampires she had secrets that few if any of the other Horde Kings knew about, or were prepared to deal with.

It was because of this that she was able to protect Phoenix from the foolishness of her siblings, and their never ending hunger.

"You are intruding upon sovereign territory. Tell your masters if they wish to come for the boy, then they should have come themselves. Besides, they're too late. He has already come and left. If you want to know where he was headed, it looked like he took the road east. But other than that, I could not tell you his ultimate destination.

Be gone, or so help me God, I will tear the lot of you limb from limb!'

Serena's sanguine eyes quickly glowed red, not only her irises, but the pupils, and the whites as well. They had suddenly become gradient and illuminated. The pressure around the other Horde Kings, the most powerful of which were Tier IV increased greatly, as they were forced to fall back and admit their defeat.

Once they were gone, Serena sighed and looked to the south where she had advised Zane to go. Whispering something beneath her breath that only she could hear before heading back into the bloody barrier she had erected around her domain.

"May mother keep you safe little Prince…"

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