Eternity
A/N: In case you haven't heard, recently, yesterday I believe, Vampiri Amare, one of my best online friends, her parents forced her to quit FF, and so she asked me to adopt it, as a last request. I couldn't say no. Please, go check out her originals, before they get taken down. Now. Please.
Luke Castellan wasn't like everyone else; wasn't even alive like everyone else, at least not in the sense of the word. He'd been cursed by Aphrodite to live forever, to be forever beautiful, and yet, to never truly be alive. Doesn't sound like much of a curse, but after the first hundred years of living forever young, and watching all those you love die, It gets pretty bad.
What Luke was, is commonly referred to as a vampire. The creatures of the night, forever cursed to wander the earth, alone. And Luke felt that solitude keenly, he longed for the sweet release of death, and yet, even that was out of his reach.
As Luke roamed the streets of New York City, he thought of his predicament. Of just how alone he truly was; he'd lost everything he'd ever known, his family, his friends, his life…. And he couldn't escape this eternity of loneliness, the only way for him to die was for someone who loved him to set him free. And since no one loved him, he was forever bound to this fate.
Luke stopped, catching scent of someone down an ally to his left, a potential meal…. Though the vampire hated taking the lives of others, he had no choice. If he didn't drink human blood on a monthly basis he would lose all control, going on a savage rampage, killing at least twenty humans before he was sated. So he found taking the life of one human was far more preferable, and he tried to make sure he only fed off those close to death, or those who no longer wanted this life.
Luke turned down the ally, moving to the shadows and making his way towards a middle aged drunken man, his stringy black hair was matted over his eyes, making him less likely to notice Luke. As the vampire neared the man he used his innate abilities to put the man to sleep, then came closer, moving behind and propping the fallen man up, and shifting his head to the side, exposing his neck.
Luke leaned in, placing his mouth over the man's neck. Luke could feel the throbbing pulse already, and he dreaded taking this man's life. But he knew it was the lesser of two evils, so he pierced the man's neck with his fangs. Sucking out his lifeblood, Luke's world became clouded by the sweetness of the blood, he sucked harder, forcing more blood into his mouth.
As Luke's universe centered on the delicious liquid flowing into his mouth everything hazed, all he knew was the sweet taste, the power which flowed into him as he drank was exquisite, addicting even. Finally Luke pulled back, blood dripping from his chin, having drained the man dry, he felt renewed now, powerful and refreshed. But then came the guilt, the realization that he'd just taken a life. Luke crumpled to the ground, sobbing tearlessly, when he hungered for the blood, the seriousness of his actions never dawned on him, only when he was sated did he feel the sorrow.
Just then someone walked into the ally-way, upon seeing the dead man; with blood staining his clothing and neck, the person screamed, calling out for the police. Luke stood and tried to avoid being seen, he used his unnatural speed to leave the scene, he quickly fled the city proper, running towards Long Island Sound.
Luke continued running, trying to escape the reality of what he'd done, as he always did after a kill. Suddenly a strange smell filled Luke's senses, it was blood, but not regular human blood, it smelled different, it didn't call to Luke like human blood did, it still smelled good, but not something that the vampire felt the need to drink of. Luke stopped running, wanting to find the source of this scent, he silently followed the smell through a small expanse of forest.
When Luke was nearing the source of the strange smell, he found himself on the beach, but still hidden by the some sparse trees. Ahead of him was the source of the scent, a black haired boy, who looked to be about sixteen, about a year younger then Luke had been when he was cursed.
The boy was tall, about six feet, had short black hair, and was wearing an orange shirt with the words 'Camp Half-Blood' on it, and a pair of dark blue jeans. Luke watched the boy mesmerized, he was beautiful, and Luke knew the boy was more than human.
Suddenly the boy turned to where Luke was hiding in the shadows, drawing a pen from his pocket, he uncapped it and a bronze sword appeared in his hands. The boy looked straight at Luke, despite the darkness, "Who are you!" He asked, sounding slightly afraid. Luke felt strangely compelled to face the boy, and not run like he'd planned. Following this compulsion, Luke stepped out of the shadows to face the strange teen.
The boy seemed to calm a bit, seeing it was only a fellow teen, but he kept his sword up and ready. Luke raised his hands in a calming gesture, "I'm just out for a walk." He lied. The boy seemed unconvinced, he kept his leveled at Luke. "Who are you?" He asked for the second time. "Luke, Luke Castellan. I live in the city, I was just out for a walk." Luke answered, trying to sound scared, since the boy did after all, have a bronze sword leveled at him.
The dark haired boy seemed to relax a bit more, he lowered his sword to his side, but kept it out, just in case. Luke took a few steps closer, and the boy tensed, looking at Luke strangely for a minute, then raising is sword again, "You're not human!" the boy accused. Luke sighed, wondering how this boy had known, but then again, the boy wasn't what he appeared to be either.
"Neither are you." Luke retorted, a small smirk on his lips, he now recognized that the boy was a demigod, just as he had been before he was cursed. The boy paused, a puzzled look crossing his face, then he scowled. "And the fact that you know that proves my point, you aren't human." The boy said, confirming his suspicions. Luke kept calm, making sure his posture showed that he meant no harm.
"Look, I'm not going to hurt you. I know you're a demigod, I was too." Luke said, deciding it was okay to tell the boy a little about himself. The boy frowned, "If you were a demigod, then what are you now?" he asked, sounding puzzled. Luke knew he shouldn't reveal that he was a vampire; no one took that well.
But Luke also knew that the demigod would figure it out on his own, and that would be considerably worse. "Well, I'm a vampire. But I'm not going to hurt you, I hate taking lives…." Luke admitted, keeping his hands raised. The dark haired demigod frowned, looking confused. He raised his sword, and moved back a few steps, puzzled that Luke had admitted he was a monster. Usually the monster just attacked without warning.
"Why are you telling me this?" Asked the boy, keeping his sword between them. Luke honestly didn't know the answer to that himself, he just felt compelled to answer this boy. "I…, I don't know?" the vampire answered honestly, with a puzzled from on his face.
The demigod didn't look convinced, "What do you mean?" he asked, keeping a good distance between them. Luke just shook his head, "I just feel a compulsion to be honest with you…. I can't explain it." He answered, letting his confusion show in his voice. The demigod teen still seemed skeptic, "How do I know you're not just getting me to let my guard down? Vampires are known for their trickery…." He reasoned.
Luke looked the boy in the eye, "I'm not here to hurt you, I only came because your scent doesn't call to me, not like human blood…. I was curious to see what you were." The vampire answered, keeping up his honestly. The demigod seemed to be growing more relaxed, his sword was resting at his side again.
"Well now you've seen, what now?" Asked the boy, still thinking this may be some clever ploy. Luke frowned, knowing the boy expected him to leave, but he didn't want to go. This demigod's presence was…, enticing. Luke lowered his head, "I'll leave you alone now…." Said the vampire, saddened that he was leaving.
Luke started to walk away, but was stopped in his tracks by an ear piercing cry. The vampire and demigod turned in the direction of the sound, gawking at the sight they were met with; three black winged hags flying towards them. The creatures wings were black feathered, they had elongated claws, which had blood caked at the tips, and their teeth were all razor sharp, and many were jutting out from their closed mouths.
The demigod paled, "Keres'!" he said, pointing at the creatures. Luke moved to the boy's side, deciding to stand and fight beside him. Then the creatures drew closer, swooping down towards the two teens….