Isaac's Adventures #016 (Patreon)

So I only just picked up on a continuity flaw that I didn't catch last month: Isaac pulled a sword out of nowhere when Chloe attacked. I've decided to keep the sword, so I'm going to ret-con some text in an earlier scene and update the current PDF collection accordingly. For now, though, I hope you like the new story!

Isaac and Parkeriss made for the camp in a breathless mad dash through the dark forest. Chloe had vanished into the shadows the moment she was released. Isaac regretted not having a chance to tell her how he felt, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

They came upon the camp to find a lone figure in the firelight. Isaac had never seen her before, but he knew who she was in an instant: the vampire princess Cassiel. 

She hovered over the ground in unnatural flight, smirking down on them from above. As Isaac beheld what she had suspended in some kind of magical bubble, he felt a stab of fear and panic in his gut the likes of which he'd never known before.

"Release my son at once you ghoul!" yelled Isaac as he drew his sword.

"Son?" the vampire princess cackled hatefully. "Wow, I bet that's a story. But I ain't got the time, sadly. I just found me a nice rare monster for my ever-growin' and unstoppable army of the night!"

"Dude that sounds lame AF," said Blobbo from inside the force field.

"Quiet you!" snapped Cassiel. "If you won't join my army, maybe I'll just spread you on some toast instead!"

Unable to contain his blind fury, Isaac lunged forward with his sword, but the princess rose into the air above his stroke with ease. 

Cassiel laughed again. "Just what do you think you're goin' to manage here? You think some shabby wandering vagrant and his pet worm could stand a chance against the mistress of the night? I'll let you live, but only because there would be no sport in killing you!"

With that, she was gone, disappearing into the night sky as a swirl of bats emerged from the trees to follow her. Blobbo's cry of "Laaaaaame," faded as she drew away.

Isaac dropped to his knees, his sword falling limply from his hands. She had gotten away with his son. 

Wallowing in despair, Isaac felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Parkeriss beside him. 

"She said she would keep him alive, Isaac," said Parkeriss. "We still have a chance to rescue him."

"Rescue?" said Isaac, incredulous. "And how are we supposed to do that? We're to storm the castle of the vampire princess, we're to overcome her army of monsters and somehow extract Blobbo unharmed?"

"What other choice is there?" asked Parkeriss. 

Isaac felt strength returning to his limbs. He picked up his sword and rose to his feet. He sheathed the weapon slowly, and by the time the hilt reached the scabbard, he had made up his mind. 

"We're going to need backup," he said.