Thanks to all those who review…
And this is a long chapter, enjoy.
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They cut his beautiful raven-black hair. The remaining locks that fell from his cut hair, tickled his still somewhat wet skin. His hair-style resembled to that of his once so called friend Henry. Vlad swallowed the lump in his throat, at the thought of his friend. He would miss him, even if Henry wouldn't.
As Vlad looked into the mirror, seated comfortably in a chair, a woman finished the last touches of the boy's hair. D'ablo said that this was all in a preparation for the ceremony, but he still didn't understand what the ceremony entailed. He had a vague idea that involved him of course, as for the rest he did not know.
When they were done, the woman led him away, through a corridor. The woman stopped, Vlad looked up her expectantly. On a reflex, Vlad went to brush some of his hair away from his eyes, to get a better look. He paused; he no longer wore a veil of hair over his eyes. So he put his hand back to his side. He felt so defeated; at this place they seemed to strip him of everything he was.
No matter how hard he fought, in the end he lost everything. He lost what was left of his friends and his family. He even lost himself, every time he tapped into the Pravus's power a body laid at his feet. How could he go back after that? Now he realized this was best for him, it was best for them if it meant that is family was safe. A grim smiled spread across his face, maybe his family members knew ahead of time. Maybe that's the reason for the distance, the abandonment.
Good Vlad thought. His eyes burned but he blinked them away. It wasn't good, he knew deep down. It was horrible! Such horrible pain was eating away at his already broken heart. It broke when his parents died, it broke again when Joss declared his friendship over, and now his heart was in mere fragments. Hopeless, little fragments much too small to ever be put back together, but sharp and big enough cut him till he bleeds. He just wishes he could have one more moment with them, to tell them good bye at least. But he couldn't, not with his unpredictable thirst.
"Come", the woman beckoned the lad forward. Vlad's head snapped up, the woman was leading him into another dark room. She motioned for him to come as she entered under the threshold. Inside, she strode to the others side of the room and bent down in front of dresser of sorts, searching for something. She dragged out a pair of clothing, tossing it to the boy haphazardly. Vlad caught it with ease, with his quick reflexes.
"Put those on" she ordered, as she walked passed him. Just before she closed the door she said, "When you are done, call for me". Vlad could have sworn he saw the woman sneer in disgust. He stood still, holding the clothes in his hands and looking at the door for moment, before stripping himself naked.
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Sometime later Henry dosed of his head resting casually along the door. His snores were quiet, soothing almost. But they were almost there. Otis bent forward, looking at the place in awe. Of course, it didn't look much from the outside, but on the inside he knew better.
A quick glance to the side at Vikas was all Otis needed. The instructor nodded, answering an unspoken question. The boy was here, even if he couldn't hear any telepathic cry, this is where the boy would be. This was the only place left. Otis put the vehicle in park, staring out the windshield. Rain has let up to a calming drizzle. He cast a glimpse in the mirror he saw Joss's intent gaze, and Nelly's worried look.
"Are we here" a groggily Henry yawned, awaking. He looked around him before his eyes widen. "We are" Otis answered him. Other vampires were making there way into the building some with their drudges, for the after party. This included, gathering unfortunate lambs into vampire territory. Joss gulped, he's never seen so many vampires in one place, he tightened his hand into fist till his knuckles turned white. This was going to be…difficult, no doubt.
Otis could already see the gears turning Joss's head. What would be the easy way to enter? Quickest way to exit? How many can he take down? How many can his comrades handle without exposing themselves? Stealth was key, if they were going to make it out alive. Otis pulled out of his thoughts; yes the boy did know some things on slaying his kind.
"Are we ready"? Otis broke the silence first. If they were going go in, now would be the time. Where they could get lost in the mess of crowd, with scents meshing together, D'ablo would never find them. No one answered Otis, too afraid for what they might find once they enter. Either Vlad's dead body or further endanger their lives and his.
Vikas was the only one strong enough to speak first, his voice strong, "Yes, but first…" he withdrew his bottle of concealment. He passed it to Otis first, as he sipped a mere droplet. That's all it took was a mere drop, and his scent was masked. The bottle was passed to each member, all of which took a simple sip. Joss scowled at the container, but took what was needed. Nelly hurriedly gulped it down, wanting nothing to do with the foreign liquid. Lastly, Henry he sniffed it first. It was odorless and colorless. He was hesitant, but he had to save Vlad. And right now he would do anything to have him here. Playing Armaggon 2, beating Vlad once again, and eating bags of blood and popcorn till they were stuffed. Tilting his head back, he took a slow swig letting the taste dance on his taste buds, it was just as tasteless as water, he realized.
He handed the container back to Vikas who stuck it back into his breast pocket. "Now we are ready". Henry tried to smell himself, and he realized he didn't have a scent. He expected to feel something from the liquid, dizziness maybe but he didn't, he felt the same.
Stepping out of the car, the vampires and the humans strode forward merging with the herd vampires. Once in side, they felt somewhat claustrophobic. Once, Otis was calm around his own kind now he feared them. However, no one paid any extra mind to him. The liquid that Vikas gave to him did that. Vikas added something to the concoction though, that not only masked a scent, but his features. He wondered what the other vampires saw him as. An old vampire with the graying of hair or a young know-it-all teenager with long hair and baggy pants.
Looking over his shoulder, he spotted the others. They weren't far from him, rather close. He didn't want to loose them in this crowd, so reached for Nelly's hand and grasped it tightly. She smiled from the pressure of Otis's hand that gave her slight sense of hope.
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"What's going on, D'ablo"? It was only Vlad and him. The two vampires were seated on opposite sides of each other. Vlad's voice monotone, dead to D'ablo's ears, but he knew the curiosity must be eating away at the lad. He sighed, tossing an invitation to the ceremony at the boy, in answering Vlad's question.
It slid across the table, stopping just at the edge. Vlad stared at for a moment before picking it up. He ran his fingers over the embossed lettering, not believing what he was seeing. Again, he ran his fingers over the embossed words that read 'death'. He scratched the back of his neck, before looking up at the monster.
"You plan to kill me". It wasn't a question. D'ablo only nodded in response. Vlad looked back at the invite and set it on the table. His eyes suddenly focus on the table's dark mahogany color. "What else". Vlad prompted, anger crawling into his words. He already knew that D'ablo planned to kill him. He's been saying it from the beginning. D'ablo's planning and scheming was beginning to annoy him. He wanted answers.
"I want your powers, Vladimir'. That too, Vlad already knew. He nodded, but raged soon entered his veins. Slamming his fist on the stable, he stood up. Slowly, D'ablo edged away from the boy. In his eyes were darkness, violence, and passion.
Darkness radiated off the boy as his clothes fluttered against his skin. Once more, Vlad's powers were conquering his soul. "What could you do with my powers"? Something broke across the room, the sound of glass shattering, possibly a portrait.
Then, D'ablo disappeared. Vlad's eyes widen for instant when he felt two vice-like grips cover his wrists, slamming him against the wall, for an instant Vlad saw dots. D'ablo leaned in close, "I want the Pravus's prophecy to be my own, Vladimir and to do that-". He licked his lips; "I need the heart of the Pravus to it".
Immediately Vlad stilled his struggles in D'ablo's grip ceased, "what do you mean"? The power that was surging around the room was calming down slightly. The boy's eyes were turning back to there original shade of color. D'ablo dropped the boy to the floor, leaving him a heap on the ground.
He leaned in close to the boy's ear, and whispered, "I want you Vladimir, your powers so that I may rule in both worlds. Humans and Vampires alike".
No, Vlad thought. Anyone, but him would be suitable to rule. Again, energy picked up in the room lifting Vlad off the ground. "NO!" Vlad's defiance was known. "That won't happen, D'ablo".
"And why not"? Vlad was going to die first before he let D'ablo have any control of the world, his world. Everyone he comes to love would die and suffer, if he didn't stop this monstrosity now. But would it be any different if Vlad lived? Would he make the same mistakes? He shook his head, he was different. He wasn't like them, he wasn't.
"Because" Vlad's breathed, "I'm going to kill you".
D'ablo only smiled, "let's see you try".
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Otis found a suitable place for him and the humans sit. They could clearly see Vlad from here. The room wasn't all that large to begin with. The size of that of a theater, he was surprised of how few vampires attended the ceremony. About only five-hundred, more or less but big enough to be an army, Otis thought.
He felt Nelly tremble beside him; he put a hand on her arm. "Relax, my dear". He whispered, but he was just as worried as the rest of them. He noticed the way Joss set his jaw and Henry looked around them nervously. His eyes darted all around them. The only who looked calm, was Vikas. Of course, he didn't have a wanted poster of his head either.
Despite their fears, vampires around them didn't take notice. They were caught up in there anticipation of the arrival of the Pravus, looking directly in the center of the stage, which was surrounded by an audience. Some were howling, others were hissing with their fangs elongating. They were thirsty; Otis realized. Why would they wait to feed? To Otis feeding became essential to a vampire. Left unfed only led to insanity and possibly the exposure of the vampire race. So why would these vampires refuse to feed before they came?
The doors open, causing the crowd to fall silent. D'ablo entered first with his shoulder squared. Otis narrowed his eyes at the fiend. He walked to the center of the ring, and he turned to face the crowd. His voice was loud enough for all those to ear, with vampire ears the use of human microphones and other technology was irrelevant.
"Welcome" he began. "Now you all know why you are here. The Pravus". Murmurs and whispers echoed through the audience, some were murmurs of doubts, others whispered in fear. "But he his" D'ablo continued, "in fact, he is here in this very faculty, waiting to be executed for his crimes".
"Crimes"? Otis head Henry ask nervously, "What crimes? Otis? What did Vlad do"? Otis held up his hand for Henry to be silent. "Now he knows his crimes, and therefore will be punished for them. We must restore balance to our race; such an abomination cannot walk among us. There must be justice"! D'ablo roared. Vampires around Otis stood clapping, some roared with him.
D'ablo looked around the crowd seeming to meet everyone's eyes, making his point cleared. In clearing his throat he said, "already the Pravus went under several punishments, all of which he healed from because of his Pravus's powers". D'ablo scowled, while the audience booed or spat at hearing the Pravus recovering. "But, there is one he did not recover from".
The crowd fell silent, "in a moment, we will show you his punishment, but first…" he withdrew a book from his shirt. No, not a book, a journal, Thomas's journal. D'ablo held the journal up for all to see, "I've come across a volume filled with information on the Pravus. And with this, he shall not rule".
Once again, the crowd erupted in cheers. "Instead, instead" D'ablo said through the chaotic crowd, "I shall rule in his place, but to do so we must strip him of the breath that gives him life". The crowd was getting more and more chaotic, "his blood must be spilled", D'ablo boomed over the crowd, "and have it run into the streets" he finished.
Otis looked around him in concern; he drummed his fingers on his leg. Meeting Vikas eyes, he nodded. They need to get Vlad out of here, and fast.
The crowd began chanting, 'bring him out, bring him out". These vampires adored and respected D'ablo, who better to rule. They didn't realize that D'ablo was using there lust and passion against them, blinded for their greed.
"And to do that, we must drain him dry". Vampires licked their lips in ecstasy, some sighed in pleasure. Now, Otis realized why they have not drunk. They planned on drinking Vlad dry, leaving him to rot at D'ablo's conquering feet.
"Bring the Pravus out" D'ablo ordered. This time Otis stood, along with the others to get a better look at him. "Hey, that's Bill and Tom", Henry said pointing at the two boys were carrying a thrashing Vlad in their hold. Vlad's legs were kicking, as the two boys held each of his arms. "Let me go, you stupid dogs". Otis could just make out Vlad's voice, it sounded muffled
A closer revealed the reason to Vlad's slurred voice. Blood was dripping from his lips, down to his chin. His body was slammed against the table that was beside D'ablo. Bill and Tom tied him down, Vlad pulled and yanked against the restraints. He couldn't move, his lips curled and Otis gasped in horror. It explained the blood.
His pearly, white fangs were gone. D'ablo managed to rip the boy's fangs right of their gums. "Oh my god", he heard Nelly sobbed beside her, her hand covering her mouth. Although, Otis couldn't see the wounds from the boy's body, he knew that his nephew has endured deep pain. His mind was screaming.
"And now" D'ablo roared, "it's time for justice".
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I had this idea in my head like a long time ago, but somehow it came out wrong. I think I could of done better, what do you guys think? Review please and thank you. : /
