Azarian was standing outside the at the back of local bar at the heart of the lower city. The bar had gone by many names over the years like most things in the capital but the name that has always stuck is 'The Bar'. People of all kinds from all over the city would come and have a drink here but that was back before Emperor Sebastian became the supreme ruler of all of Vallath. Now the bar has become a chill spot for retired soldiers and off duty Imperial Officers and Enforcers.

It was a busy night as always. The low lives of this ever unforgiving city laying against the wall, barely conscious and drenched in the smell of cheap and dangerous strong spirits and their own urine. Azarian choked on the awful stench. He moved away from the drunks at the back and made his way to the front entrance. He looked up at the sky and embraced the bright beautiful full moon in all its glory. He stood by the corner of the bar and saw dozens of people coming in and out. There were mostly old wartime generals dressed in their old uniform, thriving on their past glory to pick up a few ladies who were in a need of a drink or two.

"Now then let's get a good few beers in.", one of the generals said to his comrade standing next to him, "I swear my wife has been constantly deafening me with her nagging."

The other general sighed in agreement. "Tell me about it really makes the days of fighting for our lives against fairies and mages like a better fate huh?"

The two burst out in laughter and stood before the bouncer at the door. He was a tall muscular man who could definitely land a good punch and control a rowdy crowd if needed. The generals reached into their pockets and pulled out membership cards. The bouncer had a good close look at them and the let the two gentlemen in.

Azarian walked up to the entrance and joined the short line forming. There were two men in front of him and they could barely walk straight. One after the other they showed the bouncer their membership cards and he let them in. The bouncer had his arms crossed and looked down on Azarian as he was walking up to him.

"Card.", the bouncer requested.

Azarian reached into his pockets and pulled out nothing but crumbs and pieces of paper. He was panicking and began to pat himself down. The bouncer looked and he was slowly getting frustrated.

"If you don't have a card then you will join your buddies over there.", he pointed to the line of drunks laid up against the wall. Azarian stopped patting himself down and took a deep sigh. "Must have forgotten my card.", he said, "Look my buddies are in there already and we've been planning this night for a while now. Just let me in."

The bouncer was unimpressed. He had heard every excuse in the book and this was just one of the unoriginal ones. "No card.", he said, "No entry. So tell your friends you will join them another day but just not tonight."

Azarian continued to plead with the bouncer. The bouncer wasn't having it. He kept on shouting at the top of his lungs commanding Azarian to leave. The line started growing rapidly and the people in the line couldn't ignore the commotion stirring at the entrance. The bouncer was getting frustrated by the second, his vein across his forehead was at the verge of popping. Azarian wouldn't leave. The bouncer grabbed Azarian by his shirt and slammed him against the wall. Azarian's head mad a sick thud sound that could be heard at the back of the line. Everyone gasped in shock.

"You listen to me you little shit!", he pulled Azarian even higher up the wall, "Don't make my Job as hard as it already is. I have kids to feed and people like you are the reason I get paid good money to hurt people who try to ruin nights like this."

Azarian chuckled with a smirkish grin across his face. The bouncer got even more enraged. "Oh so now you think this is funny!", he shouted, "Tell me what's funny? Do I look like I'm smiling?"

He dropped Azarian and he fell flat on his ass. The bouncer stood over him and threw a hard right hand across Azarian's face. Azarian barely moved and the smirky grin was still on his face. "Do you want to know why I'm laughing?", Azarian asked sarcastically.

"Why?"

"Because you are going home to your children in a coffin for touching me like that.", Azarian said.

The bouncer was furious. He swung his hand as far as he possibly could and he threw a punch with all his power behind it. Before his fist made contact, Azarian kicked right through the bouncer's knee. His leg snapped like a twig infront of everyone watching. The bouncer came crashing to the ground like a mighty oak tree that has been chopped down. The bottom half of his leg fell before the feet of the person in front of the line with blood profusely oozing. Everyone was in a panic and cleared the place faster than a swarm of bees fleeing extermination.

Azarian stood up and watched as the bouncer was screaming and clinching onto his severed leg in agonising pain. "You will pay for this you bastard!", he screamed in agony, "I will have you dead!"

Azarian with a sinister smile on his face, stomped on the bouncer's head and crushed it into mush. There was was blood all over the floor and pieces of bones and brains scattered everywhere. Azarian opened the door and went into the bar.

It was an easy going night in the bar. Everyone was sitting in their booths having a good cold one and reminiscing about the good old days. There was a live band playing soft jazz as the night went on and the dim lights made the mood even greater. Azarian pulled out a paper from his pocket and there was a picture of an elderly man with his named attached by the side General Winstone. A retired general who was one of the commanding officers in the Sarania attack now doing security work for the Emperor. He had a grey soul patch, blue eyes and a full head of white hair.

Azarian walked around the bar and took a glance into the booths for him but couldn't find him. He stopped and took a good look around the place. He saw a head full of white hair sitting by the bartender's table with a glass of whiskey by his right hand side. It had to be him, Azarian thought to himself. He walked over to the bar and took a seat right next to Winstone. He seemed unbothered by Azarian's presence and continued to sip on his cup. Azarian stopped the busy bartender.

"I will have what he is having.", he said softly.

Winstone looked over his shoulder and stared at Azarian. He looked at him head to toe and picked up his glass and took a very heavy sip. He put his glass on the table and made a face from the bitter taste of a unsmooth whisky.

"So you are the person that terrorised the enforcers that came to your house.", he said.

Azarian was shocked, "How did you know?"

"The blood on your boot. It's heavy. I'm assuming you took out the bouncer. No one gets in here without a card." The bartender brought Azarian the glass of whiskey and put in between him and Winstone. Azarian nodded his head. Winstone grabbed the glass of whiskey and took a sip. "Good I hated that guy.", he said, "He deserved to die. He troubled alot of us who faught for this great nation."

Azarian pulled the glass towards him and took a sip. He put the glass back on the table and made the same face of disgust Winstone made when downing the alcohol. "I'm surprised you know about that.", Azarian said, "No one has even come to arrest me yet. I thought your people just kept it under wraps."

"Oh we know everything about your little stunt but you are the first vampire to appear in the nation or the world rather in near two centuries.", he said, "In as much as there is an itch for your arrest, it's a sensitive matter and needs to be addressed with the council first before anything."

"Speaking of the council.", Azarian said, "I need your help finding a friend of mine and one of your esteemed council members knows where he is. Get me to the council member."

Winstone looked at Azarian and he burst out into laughter. Tears trickled down his lit up face and he nearly fell of his seat. He held Azarian by his shoulder with a look of hysteria on his face. "Now why would I help you?", he asked.

"That friend of mine Is Malak, only child of Nancy.", Azarian said, "Your niece."

Winstone's jaw dropped. He whipped the tears of laughter running down his face.

"Malak is missing?", he asked.

"Has been for a while now and somehow all the clues have led me all the way to the inner circle of the Vallathian Empire."

Winstone paused and stared into his glass. It was like he drifted away entirely into his thoughts. He looked at Azarian. "Anything for Nancy. I will meet you at your apartment tomorrow morning. I have your address it's in the file. But let me advise you on this, as soon as you find Malak run. Run away as far as possible because when they do get the clearance they need they will hunt you down."

Azarian shook his head. Winstone ordered another two glasses of whiskey. The bartender handed both glasses to Winstone. "Here's your drink.", he passed it over to Azarian. He lifted up his glass and took a shot above his head. He put the glass down and turned to his side. Azarian was no where to be seen.