Chapter 3

Old Friend

That day- I dreamed. My first dream that decade. But, it was no pleasant one, why would it have been? My mind was filled with torment and misery- it was no surprise to me that my dreams would be the same….

I dreamed of war. I had been in hundreds throughout history, serving under one man one war, and then his enemy the next. I had no alliances to humans- why should I care who the victor was? I fought- so I could get my gold and drink my fare share of blood. Nothing more. I felled thousands of men, not because that was what I was ordered to do- but because mortals were weak- and who better to kill them then myself?

It had been a campaign in Gual. I dreamed, I was standing over the battle field, my armor dented, and my hands dripping in blood from my elbows to the tips of my claws. My hair was stained red, and my eyes glowed like fire. Beneath me, bodies of my fellow soldiers and my enemies covered the ground- so thickly the dirt could no longer be seen- and floated in an ocean of their own blood. Their bodies twisted in unnatural angles, and their faces frozen in masks of horror in pain- their mouths open in silent screams. Vultures and carrion eaters swarmed in the skys- gazing upon the surplus of corpses like a starving man does his next meal; almost blocking out the sun with their massive gray wings.

I inhaled deeply- smelling the scent of death and decay- and drunk them in like a perfume; making me all the more hungry. Hungry for more death, for more blood. I roared, bearing my fangs in victory, and unfurled my black wings. So large were they, even the birds fled from me at their grandeur. I flexed them, testing their strength, and let the red sun warm me as its rose colored beams of sunlight filtered through their ebony membrane. I was about to take to the skys- and show the birds how well a master could fly- when a small noise stopped me; the sound of a small little scream. I quickly drew back my wings- and turned, to see a small boy, wriggling out from beneath a body. The fact that I had never seen the boy during the battle did not bother me in the least. I smiled in delight, and jumped of my perch on the cliff to land softly on the corpse of one of my comrade's.

He looked up to me- with fear and sadness in his crystal blue eyes, and I felt my stomach twist in sick anticipation. Him. It would be him. He would be the one to quench my thirst. I extended a clawed hand, and let fake compassion into my eyes. "Here little one, take my hand. I will help you," I whispered, and could have laughed when, without hesitation, he took it; my tan hand completely covering his own. I pulled him up into my arms- and wrapped my wings around him- like I would my own child. He shivered, and I cooed soft, honeyed words into his ear until he lay still.

Now.

I lowered my head, so slowly, and positioned it at the base of his little neck- so pale. I stretched back my lips, letting my fangs lengthen, and-


I screamed and jumped from my bed, tumbling to the dirt floor. My head met it first, and pain burst through my skull. Not enough though, to erase what I had just seen. My body trembled in fear, and buried my face in my hands.

Sora. The boy had been Sora. I had been- I was about to- NO. I wouldn't finish that thought. I shivered at the dream- the cruelness of war and the one feat I would NEVER perform one some one I cared about- made for an experience that left my heart feeling so cold and numb. I ran a hand through my hair, and felt it soaked in sweat.

I had also seen- my true from. Never on a battle field had I released it, but in my dream; that had been the just case. My burning eyes, my bat wings, my unusually long fangs- it was my beast,………. my monster. I clenched my eyes, and pushed back the memories that came at me like a flock of harpies. I had locked that thing- deep within me. I had only let it out from its cage a select few times- and now, I never would again. Never again….

I evened out my breathing and stood up to peer out a crack in the roof of our room. Dark light shown through it- like ebony gossamer. Night- it was night again. I spared a glance at the bed, and thanked all my lucky stars the boy was still asleep. I walked quietly back over to him, and laid a trembling hand on his head. He did not wake. His hair was so soft to my touch, and he even smiled. I felt like my heart was ripping at it's seams. He looked so peaceful. His flawless porcelain skin almost gleaming, his long lashed eyes closed peacefully, his hands clenching sometimes as if grabbing something in his dreams.

Never- NEVER- would I hurt him like that. Like I had in my dream. I couldn't. He was to precious for that.

A soft creaking caught me attention and I whirled around. The door was open- and a figure cloaked in darkness stood in it's frame- the soft light from the hall outside haloing is head.

"What do you want?" I hissed, and instinctively entering my fighting stance. The intruder would pay with is life for startling me, in the state I was in. It laughed a deep warm laugh, and my entire body stilled. That laugh- I knew that laugh…

"Is that how you treat an old friend, Riku?" it asked, and stepped from the shadows. A mane of blue hair flowed over pointed ears, and feral golden eyes sparkled with laughter in his chiseled face. His skin was tan, marred only by a pink scar- that formed an X in the dead center between his eyes.

"S-Siax?!" I stuttered, feeling as if some once had dumped a cold bucket of ice water over me; but quickly regained my composure. "I thought you were dead." He laughed again, and quickly crossed the floor to embrace me in a hug that would have broken the back of a human, and I returned it just as strongly. I could not resist the joy that bloomed in my heart at his touch. "Well- I almost was- back there in England; but this wolf has nine lives," he laughed, and drew back to hold me by my shoulders. "That's for cats," I chuckled, being almost startled at the sound of my own laughter, and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Wow- it's been a while my old friend," he whispered, and I felt my eyes soften. That it had. Saix had been a close companion of mine- and had gone on many a campaign with me- fighting by my side and never leaving it. I had almost lost it that day when he had not returned from a battle. My friend- I had lost yet another. But- here he was, showing up like a ghost to remind me of my past. "A couple millennias to be exact," I said, grinning. I couldn't believe he was back. It was almost unreal- and, then I felt pure happiness flood through me. A feeling I had thought never to feel again so soon. "How did you find me?" I asked, and he grinned. "I caught your scent on the winds one day- and followed it here!" His smile faded, and he looked around the dank room. "Imagine my surprise when I found you spending the night in this stinking inn," he murmured, and then his eyes found the boy ",and with a human no less." I felt my heart still, and the happy atmosphere that had been surrounding my like a warm cloud, vanish. I saw my friends eyes flash in anger. I knew how he felt about humans- just as all immortals like ourselves felt; and Siax was one of the kind ones. Pride quickly rose in my chest. "He came to me, on the beaches. I couldn't just leave him out there, to freeze!" I said loudly, and stood in front of Sora protectively. He was different- he wasn't filth like the rest of them. Siax frowned. "You should have! He is a mortal!! He will die in a couple years anyways," he hissed, and I felt his claws pierce my shirt. I shrugged off his hands, and stood back from him- my eyes flashing. "Silence. What I do is my business," I said softly, snarling.

Still, the boy did not wake.

I saw Siax's eyes turn cold, and run over me from head to toe. "You have changed Ri…" he murmured, and I clenched my hands. "It has been a while, Sai- where were you?!" I whispered just as darkly. He sighed, and closed his eyes- as if suddenly weary. "In the forests. Living like an immortal Riku-," his eyes were suddenly on mine- looking at me so passionately it almost hurt ",-like as we were meant to live. Not like this, sneaking around in the dark, in some human wasteland. I was free. I was home…." I felt a familiar ache creep into my chest. Home.

Home- how long had it been? How long since I had last flew over the towering green pines of my Transylvania? I could not even remember…. My hand, out of habit, rose to the amulet in my pocket; a trinket that never left my side. Siax's eyes followed my movement. "I see you still have your father's necklace," he whispered, and saw his eyes probing. "Speak naught of it!" I growled.

Suddenly, he was in front of me- his golden eyes glowing in my face. "Riku- I have come here for you. To take you back to the life we had- all those years ago. Those bags weren't under your eyes weren't there back then- nor were those scars. I beg you to return with me- and gain back what this place has robbed from you," he whispered reverently into my ears- his breath hot against my face. I pushed him away- but a hand around my shoulder restrained me.

Though I wanted to- I could not say the life I was living was a happy one. No- far from it. My stomach was always empty- feeding and staying under suspicion growing harder everyday- and I spent most of my time wandering around in the dark; having no idea where I was going- no destination.

My time with Siax had actually been a good point in my life. Back then, in the human's army; we were the highest rank. We would spend our time slaying those weaker than us- and then running wild in the forests, laughing with the trees and wind and playing with the wolves under the full moon. Not a worry crossed our minds- and nothing could stop us.

That was……untill that night. I woke in my tent- alone. Usually, Siax had always been there, snoring loudly in the corner. Panic rose in my heart at his absence, he had never been gone before. I desperately searched our entire camp- finding nothing, until my general stopped me; ordering to return to my post. But, why would a vampire ever kneel to the words of a human? I did not listen, and instead- flew to the forests to search there. He was always there, sleeping high in the bristly branches of the trees- or hunting, like the predator he was.

I never found him. It was as if he vanished into thin air. I fell into despair- drowning myself with my tears and with the blood of any who crossed my path, even my fellow soldiers. I abandoned the army that night; I had no reason to stay.

But- life went on for me- as it always did. I made new friends, and lost them. I made new lovers- and lost them as well- untill I ended up in this stinking city, following the ocean in some desperate hope that I might find my purpose. Then……

I found the boy. He was why I stayed, though I did not know why...

I tore myself from Siax's grip and glared at him with red eyes. "I cannot leave the boy," I said, and found my eyes on his motionless figure once more. I couldn't look away from his little body, as it rose up and down in gentle breathing. "Riku- you cannot stay with a human." I frowned. "What will you do when you eventually get the urge to feed from him?…." he whispered- and I felt my heart drop like a stone in my chest.

My dream came crashing back to me- so real, I could almost feel the blood on my teeth. I gasped, and lifted a hand to my throbbing head. So that is how it would be. If I stayed with the boy, I would eventually loose myself- and in doing so, loose him. I could not ignore both my dream and Siax's remark. It was a warning, a premonition...Many years ago, I would feed on anybody and everbody- not caring if it hurt them or not. Now- I only fed on those who were on the brink of death, or deeply asleep. Slowly- the idea of feeding on someone I loved, biting their neck and stealing their life blood, became less and less appealing- untill I found I could never do it again.

I would hate myself for the rest of eternity if ever did that to Sora. Siax, had just revealed to me- that that was inevitable. It would happen eventually…… Unless….

"All right. I'll go- but only if you promise to set up sentries for the boy. I don't want a person touching a hair on his head without getting their heads lobbed off," I declared, and looked a Siax with a fierce determination. Siax smiled, and stepped closer to me. "If you want it that bad Ri, fine. Its done," he said and crossed his arms. "Oh, and did I tell you I started my own pack? Pure werewolf- on both sides of my family," he beamed, and I laughed. Sora would be in good hands. Er… claws. I smiled wanly, and walked over to the bed. "Let me say my goodbyes to the boy first," I whispered, and got out sheet of paper and a quill from my jacket pocket. I wrote a quick message to him- and, leaning over, slipped it into his hands; bringing my face mere inches from his. I tried to take a picture of his face with my mind, and I ran a hand through his soft hair. "Good bye little one," I whispered gently into his ear, and allowed my hand to trail down his cheek. Why I allowed myself to touch him, I couldn't say. Usually- I kept my distance, from everyone...Then, I was next to Siax, my jacket- still damp- on, and my boots tied tightly to my feet. "Im glad you decided to come my old friend," Siax said to me, opening the door- his amber eyes soft. I smiled, and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Im glad you came," I said.

And then- we were gone. Off into the night- headed towards- I didn't know where. Sora was safe from me now. But, as we left the smoky city behind us, I could help looking back- and feeling like I was loosing a part of myself.

My note playing itself again in my mind.

"Sora,

An old friend of mine has come for me, and I must go. Im sorry. Try and eat right and don't die. I……. I will come back for you.

Riku."

I didn't know if I meant those words or not...


Third chappie- COMPLETED!! YYAYYY! I love being able to display I bit of Riku's darker side in this one, and a llittle more of his past... Bwa ha ha! I luv it! Did you guys? Please review!! And, I loved revealing Siax. He's one of my favorite characters. Ta ta for now!!