She finishes him off... or tries to

Venus reached for the bottle of Alchemist's Fire, and lifted it over the vampire. Suddenly, quick as lightning, his hand shot forward, knocking it out of her grasp and it exploded harmlessly in the corner of the room. He grabbed her wrist in a vice grip, his fingers digging painfully into her skin.

"Let me go!" Venus cried. She tried to pull away and pry his fingers open with her other hand, but it was futile. She couldn't hope to match him in strength. That was when she realized her mistake. His other hand reached for her sword and scabbard and flung them harmlessly to the side. Then, with a sinister smile, he pulled her forward. Venus stumbled and her shin hit the edge of the coffin as she fell in with the vampire. He whispered an ancient word of magic, and the lid came slamming down.

It was pitch dark inside the coffin, and the power radiating from the vampire was immense. Venus found herself going nearly mad with fear. She slammed her back against the lid of the coffin, but it wouldn't budge. Still, she kept at it, unable to think coherently.

"Nice of you to drop in. Sorry, that was corny," the vampire said softy. He released his grip on her, but that did little to alleviate her terror. She slammed a small fist down on his chest with little effect. For his part, her fear was almost intoxicating, and he had trouble keeping himself under control.

Venus closed her eyes and **** herself to take a few deep breaths. She still had no idea what was going on. "Why don't you kill me? Or turn me?" She asked when she had calmed down. "Or... **** me?"

"We can get to that last one later," he replied with a smile. Venus scowled, but felt her heart skip a beat. "I am LaSalle. I'm glad you've gotten yourself under control. I'll try to answer some questions you may have. Yes, I was asleep but I woke up while you were staring at me. You missed your chance to finish me off I'm afraid. I work for a Valdin, a vampire far more powerful than I. He even has a Lich and a Revenant under his control. This, here, inside my coffin, is the only place he can't see or hear me. I want help breaking free from his power, but if I turn you, he will be able to see and hear everything you do as well. Then you will be of no use to me, except as a sex toy. No undead who wishes Valdin harm would be able to get within a mile of him."

"Why should I help you? You're evil! And you've killed a Hunter!"

"I could have killed another one," LaSalle said quietly. "I won't deny that I've done many things people may consider evil, but then so have you and your guild. In the end we are all just pawns, unless we are able to break free. But if you think I am evil, Valdin is far worse."

"Why should I listen to anything you have to say?" Venus asked.

"I won't bother wasting my time trying to convince you of anything unless you pass the test, and prove yourself strong enough."