While heading heading down Acriania's capital city's roads, Isabela past by Soare.

He rushed forward, trying to catch up with her. "Isabela, wait!"

"I don't have time to wait!" Isabela called back to Soare before continuing on. She sighed before stopping. I guess I should see what Soare wants, Isabela thought to herself. She exhaled, turning around not just to see Soare, but Mierla as well.

Soare was grinning, giggling a little as well--just like a teenage girl would. "I heard you kissed Mierla last night." He rubbed his hands together, excitedly.

Isabela quipped, "So what if I did?"

"Nothing, nothing..." The grin that laid strung out from ear to ear was still plastered upon Soare's dark face.

"Hey, umm, why are you in such a hurry?" Mierla questioned. She took a few steps closer to Isabela, but Isabela backed up; this seemed to hurt Mierla.

Without thinking, Isabela blurted out, "I'm dying."

"What?" Soare and Mierla questioned in unison, completely and utter shocked by Isabela's statement.

Silence fell upon the three.

"What are you going to do about it?" Mierla began to ask. "Surely, there's something you can do."

"I have the plague..." Isabela began to say to Soare and Mierla. She swallowed, before explaining. "...and the only way for me to live is to go meet up with some vampire named Akuppi-Adad." If I don't get out of here soon, I'll pass my illness on. I don't think I could live with my dying self if I gave it to either of them, Isabela thought to herself.

"I've heard of him," Mierla said.

"Of course you have," Isabela mumbled under her breath, her tone somewhat lighthearted and playful. "I've gotta go. I can't delay." Isabela turned away from the others.

"Maybe we can come with you," Mierla tried to suggest--but it was already too late.

Isabela had already gone.

Mierla sighed.

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

Come on...This Akuppi-Adad guy should live around here, Isabela thought as she stumbled over fallen tree branches.

"Who dares come into the territory of Akuppi-Adad!" a voice boomed. That was promptly followed by laughter.

Isabela rolled her eyes. So this is the guy who's supposed to save me?, She internally questioned. She had to admit though that she found Akuppi-Adad's game the slightest bit entertaining. She decided to play along with his game. "I am Isabela Vaduva of Acriania." She stopped before adding, "...I am who dares to enter your territory."

"State your business Isabela Vaduva of Acriania," Akuppi-Adad commanded, sounding somewhat amused.

"I have the plague..." Isabela began to tell him. "I was sent here by my kingdom's court physician... He said you could heal me... save me..."

"The court physician's sent me a young child to save?" Akuppi-Adad asked in his Iraqi accent, coming into view afterward. He had tanned skin, short, black hair, and stubble. His burning, red eyes seared through the air, illuminating the dark forest around him. "He really shouldn't have!" His voice started sounding energetic, but then it slipped into borderline monotone. "He really shouldn't have," he repeated. "I don't do charity work."

Akuppi-Adad waved his hand at Isabela, turning away. "Away with you... I tire of this conversation."

Isabela lurched forward, grabbing Akuppi-Adad's arm, effectively making him stop in his tracks. "Wait!" She called.

Akuppi-Adad eyed her. "What?" He sounded annoyed.

"Can you at least give me a chance... a chance to prove myself? A chance to prove I'm worth saving?" Isabela questioned, borderline pleading.

Akuppi-Adad rolled his scarlet eyes before sighing. "Come on. My dwelling is not far from here." He paused before adding, "You can let go of my arm now."

"Sorry." Isabela fell into pace with Akuppi-Adad. "You won't regret this."

"I better not," Akuppi-Adad grumbled as he and Isabela continued on through the dark forest towards the vampire's dwelling.