As with all civilisations, there were those who led, those who served, those who guided destiny, and those who were custodians of the day. The elusive guardians that served the Vampire world drew their ancestry from a small pocket of people discovered at the dawn of the Demonic infection.

Their history forever entwined and parallel to that of those infected, they viewed the transformation from human into Vampire as divine metamorphosis, a treasured gift from capricious gods. Immune to the early virus, the Zhismi nomads, struggling to survive their barren terrain found a niche for themselves in the new Vampire world when they met the predators with awe instead of terror.

Their strange beliefs gave them a willingness to serve those transformed. They rationalised that the ones who became Revenants didn’t have the faith to sustain their conversion and were unworthy of the honour bestowed. The Vampires, as with every fledgling empire, required an underclass to assist. Their ability to function during daylight as humans living within a human world made Zhismi the perfect choice.

In awe of the divine Vampire, these simple people gave their unswerving loyalty and remained unmolested by those who would kill them for sport. The Zhismi embraced a culture that served Vampiric needs and became the silent observers of the indulgences and corruptions of their masters. In return they were allowed something not even high caste Demons could attain: the privilege of the secrets of the Vampire Nation.

A separate Zhismi clan, whose responsibilities included taking care of all daylight matters, catered to each Vampire House. They were custodians of the mansions, drove the cars, attended meetings, and supervised those that encountered Vampire interests. Their lifestyle allowed them to continue their ancient crafts and with these talents they provided many bespoke items for their Vampire House. Their work was treated with great respect, well recompensed, and protected, for they lived with their Vampire employers.

Zhismi children were expected to assume their family role and were taught from birth that they were the privileged few allowed in the Vampire realm. Growing up amongst those from The Reveal, the Zhismi children learned quickly of the strange appearance and potential brutality of those who traversed their world.

They soon discovered that the majority of humans were unaware of their true reality and the precarious nature of an existence that depended upon The Veil to survive. Zhismi children were raised entirely within their Houses and were taught trades to service all needs. Those that requested higher education were sent into professions such as law and business, so they could deal with every aspect of Vampire life.

Unless their work environment demanded they did not associate with others outside their world. The most exciting event a Zhismi child could hope for was to meet one from another clan when marriages were bargained.

To keep the bloodline fresh the clans intermarried and almost never took a bride or groom from the external world unless the were privy to the knowledge of Vampires. Those who chose not to serve the Vampire Nation could leave and provided they continued to protect The Veil they were left unmolested in their new lives.

Those who refused to respect the Zhismi culture found themselves abandoned in a cold-hearted world full of dangers with little to no protection and a sceptical response to anything they chose to divulge. The Zhismi who rejected their clan were warned against speaking of their life to anyone. If their stories were met with anything resembling belief then they would be removed by those of their own kind before damage was done.

Silent ghosts: their subtle presence was barely noted by those around them. If a fledgling Vampire was uneasy at the services they provided, they soon lost their anxiety. Managers, deflectors, the public face of a House, the private providers of bespoke items, caretakers of professional matters, the Zhismi ran the inner sanctum of the Vampire realm with religious care, had their diligence rewarded with luxury.

Zhismi lacked for nothing but freedom, which was surrendered centuries ago in exchange for safety from those from The Reveal. They were born, married, lived, and died within the walls of a Vampire world. Their humanity was protected at all costs for if any Vampire dared to harm a Zhismi their life was forfeit regardless of status.

If any from The Reveal dared to harm a Zhismi, they were given to the Vampires to dispose of in as brutal a manner as they chose. Though the Demonic worlds didn’t see the Vampire as master of his own domain, they were aware of the necessity of interacting with them. They were a link to humanity and so the servants of the mutants were respected. The Zhismi, once privy to the reality of a multiverse existence, chose their destiny centuries ago when service, loyalty, faith, and superstition traversed the same path.