A/N I've often wondered what would happen if Darren had just backed away from Darius when Steve dared him to kill him. How would Steve react? Would he see himself for what he really was? So I decided to write about it. The ending is a bit weak, but I struggled with it for a while, and couldn't really decide how to end it.
"Kill him! I dare you!" Steve's voice trembled uncertainly as he stared across the stakes at Darren who had removed his hands from Darius's neck. "Kill him now!" Steve screamed, near hysterics. Much to the Vampaneze Lord's disappointment though, Darren shook his head, backing away from the young boy who was cowering in front of him. "Why won't you kill him?"
Darren looked Steve straight in the eye and replied, voice calm, "because it's evil to murder someone so innocent for no reason. And I'm better than that. I'm not evil. I'm not the kind of rotten, heartless scum that would do something like that. I'm not you, Steve. I'm not a monster."
It didn't take long for the harsh words to sing in. Steve glanced at Shancus- a young, innocent victim- lying still on the floor, neck broken. He had done this. He looked around at the accusing eyes and disgusted expressions. Even R.V. and Gannen looked astonished at such a cruel act. The realization of how evil this was hit him hard and he backed away, shaking his head frantically. "No… no!"
Whirling, the Vampaneze Lord ran to the back of the theater and out into the night, not waiting for Gannen and R.V. He'd ran fast before, but it was nothing compared to this. He didn't know where he was going and he didn't care as he raced down the streets, thinking of nothing but what Darren had said, hearing nothing but the thumping of blood in his ears. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours later when he found himself in a silent alley away from the houses and street lights. His heart was pounding, his breath coming in short, loud gasps. He was shivering although it was not cold, and his hands shook. His sharp eyes darted around, though searching for nothing, and he eventually sank to his knees, head bowed.
Evil… monster… he couldn't get the words out of his mind. Steve had been called many names before, those included, but he usually just brushed them off, ignoring them. Tonight though, they stabbed deeper, finally made him see himself in true light. He didn't know what in the world came over himself, what possessed him to kill Shancus. He'd killed before, killed quite a bit. But he always had a reason. Or so he though. Now all these acts of cruelty came rushing back to him and it was too much to bear. How had this happened? How had he become so messed up, so twisted? All he had wanted to do was punish Darren for his betrayal, make him feel the same pain he had felt. But somehow one thing had led to another and this was the result. But what could he do? How could he stop this? He'd already come this far. Some things were impossible to stop. He heard footsteps in the distance, and knew R.V and Gannen would be here soon. He would have to continue on his mission. Would have to kill Darren and Vancha. And whoever else got in the way. He couldn't stop himself, even if he wanted to. Couldn't change what he'd become. A monster.