In a land of dead nature, only a few mountains and withered trees still stood against the scorching sun and icy moon, in all seasons. A few human and vampire villages stood here and there, despite the terrifying threat hanging over the world, especially at the top of this immense hill.

This same hill, at its summit, was a huge castle with a seemingly infinite number of rooms, towers and walls. The stone that had built it was black and worn by time, and yet this building seemed to resist all the troubles of the world. The distinction between the stone of the mountain and that of the castle was so fine that it looked as if it had been carved in stone rather than built on top of a hill. What's more, the steep path could be dangerous without a carriage or at least a horse... It was so steep.

As you enter the castle, an icy chill grips your throat. It's an air that hasn't seen the sun or the outdoors for years, and it smells a little closed in and mouldy all over. The floors are covered with tapestries, as are the walls and the windows are sealed to prevent any light from entering. The furniture was all solid wood and very heavy, and there were bookshelves everywhere filled with so many books, sofas with cushions and other luxurious pieces of furniture, too much even for one person, as even the kings didn't have so much in their homes.

But more important than all that was how alive the castle looked. It was almost as if the building had a heartbeat of its own, and the darkness invading every unlit corner showed that it had a will and some free will.