A narrow passage and stone walls that felt sturdy and ancient under the hand that dragged along them. Torches. And then a room filled with bricks, all oddly marked. Some had the symbol of what was obviously a weapon on them and others had what looked like bastardized Nordic runes. It was, in a words, cool.

Like really, really cool. The pod thing had been too, but she'd been too busy shaking off amnesiac fog and realizing she'd made an actual, permanent, life choice and it had very likely been the wrong one. The pods were something out of a book, or movie. Like the sort of thing you woke up in and someone told you that you were some sort of chosen messiah of mankind against whatever. This was like something out of a game, only with the immersion ramped up to "the GM is a billionaire and bought a ******** castle" levels.

It was enough to distract her from life choices, enough to sink into and wonder what she should be looking out for, was this a test? Was there something lurking in a corner or was this a puzzle, were those symbols a message that would get her past this part?

Excuse me, young peasant?

Oh good, an NPC had shown up.

I am not a...a...whatever that is. I am a countess. Countess Bloodtide to be precise and you should be mindful of my importance.

Oh god, the NPC was a Vampire.

Yes, I see you have heard of me, lowborn child of Man. Excellent, now remove me from this wall. My long rest has come to an end and this form is most unbecoming.

"Um, and where might you be, gracious Lady?" Creedence called out, noting how her own voice echoed while the other's had not. Okay, maybe this was what Mr. Thompson had meant about crazy. Voices in your head were generally a sign of that, yes.

I hardly have limbs with which to gesture, my dear cretin, so seek out the tablet that is most superior.

Expression going wry, the girl decided to take a small gamble, "Well, if I'm so awful, I'll just be off, oh noble Lady. You shouldn't have to deal with the likes of me."

A moment.

N-no! That is not at all acceptable, come back here right this moment and free me!

"Oh, you don't have to spare the feelings of the likes of me, Countess," Creedence drawled with a hang-dog expression, shaking her head as she spoke. "I think there might be," she inspected her hands, "yes, yes I do. I have dirt under my nails." The girl tsked quietly.

Well, the voice strained in its polite, uppercrust tones, that is most unfortunate. But nothing a nice scrubbing won't remedy. After all, if a piggle can be cleaned up, so can you!

"Kind of you t'think so, Lady," and the accent, fake and belonging to exactly nowhere in a non fictional world, deepened. "I'll leave a sign on the door asking the next person t'clean themselves up real good and be respectful all proper-like."

Oh come on! Patience had been lost. Along with the polite tones. There is no other person after you! Every time I tried to stir for one, I just went back to sleep. You're it, ghoul, I'm jacking stuck with you so get me out of this wall and finish it!

Turning with a smug look, something along the wall caught her eye and with it was the sense of inevitability, of things falling into place. However briefly it lasted, Creedence pulled the tablet from the wall and made not just the right decision, but the perfect one.

The dagger gleamed dangerously in her hand as the voice introduced herself once more, I am Evanessa Vespera, Countess of the Bloodtides. You shall be my bearer and humble servant for the time you are fortunate to wield me. I require a silken resting place and Fear, for I hunger greatly. I prefer red for the former and men of girth for the latter. You shall address me as...

The moment was very brief.