Kings and Aces
10/12
The War: Part III
Nile Devore was not killed by a tax collector. This however, was what Dominic had been told as a child, and he had continued to believe this story until he was told the truth just shortly after he became Xavier's childe. And though it was true, that the first time Mr. X had seen the boy he had wanted him, it was not just the first impression that had gathered his interest. It was who the child belonged to.
His uncle. The leader of the kings. The opposing side. The side he had abandoned him and his only brother for. And at the time, Josiah Lex was Xavier's enemy. The person he hated most. A traitor.
And yes, it was true, that in the beginning Xavier thought it would be bloody brilliant to train the only child of his treasonous uncle to fight for the Aces. But then things changed. He began to love the boy. The need for revenge dwindled. And then Levi Lex had taken the boy, when he was only fifteen, to meet his 'real' father. To meet the man who had killed Nile Devore. The man whose wife had left him for a carpenter.
And Xavier had hated him for it. And if he were honest with himself, he would have to admit that he still held some animosity towards his sire vampire. How could the man he considered his father betray him so? Take his son away from him and introduce him to a murdering, traitorous, monster?
But as Josiah Lex came into view, his army marching magnificently behind him, Josiah didn't look so much like a monster anymore. He looked like a man ready to help Mr. X fight to safe Dominic. Xavier knew that even if the King decided to take back the son that was biologically his, at least he would be better off than with the insane Lord Camus.
And even if the thought of losing Nicky to Josiah churned his stomach, at least, Black knew, he would be safe.
--
He had, had this dream before. The dream of two opposing and powerful armies joining together to fight evil. He had seen it play in his head a million times throughout the hundreds of years he'd been a vampire. But this was different. This was for real. This was happening.
Nicky closed his eyes tightly one last time and summoned all the energy inside him. He remembered everything Mr. X had taught him. Everything Mr. X had said.
"There's Good versus Good and Evil versus Evil and Almost-good versus Almost-Evil, and everything in between. Sometimes it's impossible to decide what good or evil is, or who is part of it."
It made since now. This was no Good versus Evil battle. All along he was taught to believe that the Kings were evil and the Aces were good- but it wasn't true. They were both equally as good and evil at different times. And now they were good. Now it was Good and Good versus the Evil who used to be Good. It should have been confusing, but it wasn't.
Anyone or anything could be evil just as easily as it could be good. It just depended on which side that person let win in their hearts. Which side they chose to follow.
With a resounding snap the restraints flew off Nicky's hands and feet and he sat up cautiously, slowly. For a second the room still spun and Dominic was almost afraid to go through with it. But he had to, he knew that. He had seen the dream. And he was a part of it.
--
Camus was utterly confused. This was impossible. Unheard of. The Kings and the Aces couldn't join together anymore than God and Satan. And yet here they both were, side by side; united.
"Well, isn't this a turn of events," Camus sneered with a false sense of calm. He was anything but calm. He was enraged. Just a moment ago his army had been winning. Destroying the other side so quickly that he was sure he would have been back to his lover by morning. And then this. This bizarre twist.
"Give it up Camus. I want my son," The King of kings said seriously. He was big. Much bigger than the intellectual Levi Lex.
"Your son? And all this time I thought the child was his son," Camus said knowingly, giving Xavier Black an imposing look. Black looked towards his uncle but Josiah didn't bat an eye.
"I'm not a patient man," Josiah responded deeply. The Lord clicked his tongue at the man's statement, then smiled as a thought entered his head.
"How about we do this the old fashioned way. I'll fight Black, one on one, and whoever is still breathing in the end, gets the boy," Camus suggested tauntingly. Josiah and Levi were shaking their heads, but Xavier was quick to answer.
"Deal," Mr. X agreed readily before the other two men could speak. Levi grabbed Mr. X's arm and Josiah opened his mouth to speak.
"If this is about the child-" The man started, but Xavier only shook his head.
"I already know Nicky is my son. I don't have to fight for him. But I want to. It's my duty," Black interrupted. Levi wanted to protest but Josiah nodded in consent. Camus inwardly smirked.
Everything was back on track, and with his little secret weapon, Black wouldn't know what hit him.