In a hall of portraits, Harlan feels the presence of a foe supposedly destroyed, as clawed hands reach out of the portraits:
“But I feel something strange.”
“The presence of a Master of the Night?”
“Yes, it is, not strong enough to stun me with his thoughts. But enough to give me a strong migraine. They are like... waves of pure hatred...”
“Can you figure out where they’re coming from?”
“All around us... but it is a weak hatred, I would almost say powerless... Tesla! What?” (She flashes her straight razor.)
“Nothing. A strange sensation...”
“If I didn't know you, I would say you are on edge, my girl.”
“And yet, look! I know that scumface! I only glimpsed him from afar, as he was about to kill you in that damned well... but it's him.”
“Vlatna! Count Gabor Vlatna!”
“It can't be a coincidence, Harlan. Your father had a hand in it. He was the one who killed Vlatna. He was the one who wanted to...”
“Shh... Shut up. I hear... I hear a murmur in my mind.. someone is trying to talk to me... as if... aaah!”
“Harlan!”
Masters of the Night are vampire lords from the Dark Dimension, with far more powers than the humans whom they turn into undead. They compete with each other for position within their own hierarchy, and Harlan is sometimes drawn into their squabbles. Vlatna stole this castle from Draka centuries ago, but was defeated in Dampyr #20.
