Conrad the master vampire entered the graveyard once more. He saw that Poxig and Lakfi were sitting roasting their dinner with a spit over a fire.

“I have overheard you,” said Conrad. “You want to change me back into my former self. But it will never happen. I’ll tell you why. This manse was willed to me by my grandfather Farraday, and his father was also a vampire. We continue to consume Melmond, because that is  what we’ve always done.”

“Master Conrad!” exclaimed Poxig. ” There is always the possibility of change. Look here, is the ruby necklace that your wife once wore! Remember the love you had with your wife before you accepted this terrible inheritance. You were able to resist the dark side. Even now, you may be reformed.”

“It can never happen. My inheritance as the master vampire is too great. I will continue sucking the blood of my victims in Melmond!” shouted the creature of the night.

Lakfi thought that he was too far gone to be reformed at that point. The only way that Melmond would be free from his reign of terror was to drive a stake of holly through his heart.

Lakfi doffed his cap and pretended to listen, but then cast a stun spell. While the vampire was still under the effect of the spell, he grabbed the stake of holly and went to the makeshift overhang near the edge of the graveyard. He leaped upon it and then fell upon the vampire. He tried to drive the stake through the vain creature’s heart.

But then Poxig grabbed his hand. “No, Lakfi! There is some good in him!”

The vampire, seeing that Poxig had given him an advantage, moved over near him to suck his blood. But Poxig remembered the Latin cross that Dr. Unne had given him. He raised the cross into the air, and the vampire recoiled in fright.

Then Poxig shouted: “Conrad, grandson of Farraday! Remember Milly, who was the only woman you ever loved! She wrote on her death-bed for you to repent of your ways and turn to the god of your soul. She wanted you to be with her in the afterlife, but now your soul is headed for condemnation because you have shed innocent blood.”

“Don’t try to preach to me, you insignificant elf! You are nothing compared to my inheritance!” shouted the vampire. But a tear was visible on his eye, and Poxig knew then that he might be able to reform this prince of darkness.

“This manse is only an earthly inheritance that will soon turn into dust! But there is a more important one that exist beyond this world, in a place of unapproachable light. Milly wanted to meet you there, in the land beyond the stars,” said Poxig.

Lakfi joined Poxig when he realized that hate and darkness could not be defeated with even more black magic. “Conrad, remember those noble days when you defended your country from the elves. Now, some powerful god has sent this elf to show you that he is the god of all heroes, and that you were wrong! Why can’t you see the truth?”

Suddenly, the vampire fell to the ground, as the tears welled up in his eyes. “Oh, Milly, how have I lost you!” he exclaimed.

Poxig slowly ambled over to the vampire, holding the Latin cross in his hand. “Now, Carl, you must ask master control to forgive your sins, now that you have shed innocent blood! You must face the sun’s rays tomorrow morning!”

“Now, my only inheritance will be to be with my beloved Milly! But this is a greater inheritance than all of this great manse!”

“And you will save your soul,” said Lakfi. “But unless you face the light, you cannot go to the land of the living souls!”

“Now, I must beg of you gentlemen,” said Carl Conrad, seated on the ground, ” daylight is almost upon us.  Then, I will dissolve like snow in the spring heat. You must go tell my son, who is still amongst the living, that I have gone to join his mother.”

“We will,” said Lakfi. Poxig agreed, nodding his head. 

The master of the manse presented himself before the two denizens. He was dressed in a cape with a large black collar, and he had blood streaks down the side of his face where he had sucked the life from a marsh squirrel. His hair was combed back, with some sort of hair gel. He had sunken cheeks behind pronounced cheek bones, and his pallor gave a  sort of wan complexion. He introduced himself.

“Allow me to present myself. Carl Conrad. I am the descendant of the Conrad family who have owned this manse for seven generations. We are a proud race of the clan Farraday, who you may be familiar with. Our name shows our pedigree. We have our own family seal. Now, before I devour your blood, may I ask what you are doing in my graveyard?”

“We will never surrender, Conrad. We know that you are the vampire that is terrorizing Melmond. Your reign of terror ends here,” said Lakfi.

“We are the light warriors,” shouted Poxig. “We will not go quietly.”

“Then, you will know the full power of dark magic!” replied Conrad. He proceeded to cast a dazzle spell, which blinded them with white light. Then, in their confusion, the heroes could not see the vampire approaching.

Then, Poxig was reminded that vampires could be repelled by the aroma of garlic. Just as the vampire was about to reach his person, Poxig threw the garlic. It gave off a smell that repelled the evil genius. Then, when he was muddled by the garlic, Poxig took his penknife and waved the dagger near the undead creature’s heart.

Conrad immediately turned into a vampire bat and flew into the evening sky. Lakfi, who was blinded by the spell, awoke from his stupor. He realized that Poxig had saved his life from the vampire. The black magician congratulated Poxig and then thanked him for saving his life.

Behind him, the vampire had left the ruby necklace. Poxig took the necklace and put it around his neck, and he heaved a sigh of relief. It was the case that he had repelled the vampire, but he would be back to torture the inhabitants of Melmond.

“We never got to tell him about his wife’s plea,” said Poxig.

“This kind of evil will not be reformed, my green-faced companion,” uttered Lakfi.

“Still,  I believe that we can change him back to his former state, if only we could use holy magic on his person. But this kind of magic is beyond your purview,” said Poxig.

“Indeed, we would need to inquire the service of a practitioner of white magic,” replied Lakfi.

“Still, if we could find him in his coffin, then maybe we could…”

Lakfi interrupted Poxig. “The ruby necklace! Remember that Mrs. Conrad had told us that she gave it to him!”

“Yes, maybe we could use it as leverage. Once he remembers his former self, then he  will relinquish his nefarious ways.”

The daylight was coming over the mountains on the horizon. There would be no vampire attack until nightfall. Lakfi and Poxig planned their attempt to revitalize the sailor-turned-vampire. Of course, neither Releven, nor Master Control could ensure their success. But the two prayed to their gods nonetheless, and began to make a plan to reform the terror of Melmond.