Graveside Alliance...
Another sad chapter, doled out by CerberAsta. I feel immensely dissatisfied with the ending of this chapter, but it's the best I can do at this time of stressful exams coming up.
BW
Feral instincts are disturbed things. They can provide for a fun time when doing simplistic, animalistic things. A jackrabbit chase can be seen as fun as chasing down a tank. There is no way to comprehend the mind of an ex-human creature that has been forced to relinquish itself to nothing but the id, the most basic part of the human mind, beyond understanding the basic needs of hunger. The rest is strange urges that can vary from sniffing dirt to biting rocks.
Any attempts to look inside such a mind is foolish; staring into the abyss only prompts it stare back.
"Run! Just run!" Sebastian shouted.
The Child snarled, rushing forward towards the stationary figure. The Child couldn't get a proper scent of Santiago, and it was already locked on Sebastian, who was now running towards it. Sebastian ducked and rolled forward in a blitzing motion, too fast for the Child to redirect itself. Sebastian rolled between the thing's legs, then launched himself up from the ground. With another leaping movement, he smashed his fist into the wolf monster's back, causing it to cry out.
The thing whirled around and smashed Sebastian down, causing sand to fly up into the air. It brought its foot down on his head, and it pressed, shoving his head through the sand. Sebastian gritted his teeth, trying not to make a sound. He couldn't let Santiago hear him.
He felt the Child's hand grip firmly on his legs and his eyes bugged out. The monstrous grip threatend to break his legs in two. Still, he didn't make a sound; he couldn't, or else Santiago might try to help him. Sebastian knew the might of the Children of the Moon. It would take more than their entire coven to take him down... The Child's hands gripped him tighter and began to pull. Sebastian wanted to scream, the anticipation of greater pain almost too much for him to handle. It was pulling him apart!
CRACK.
KA-KRICK...
SNAP.
AUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
BW
"AMUN! COME HELP! THERE'S A CHILD OF THE MOON! IT'S GOT SEBASTIAN!" Santiago roared, rushing into the cave.
Tia gasped, and fear settled in all of the coven, except for one.
"A... Child of the Moon...?" Benjamin asked.
"One of the most vicious monsters. A vampire hunter. The only method that a vampire can kill a vampire is by tearing them apart and burning them. Children of the Moon can eat them, without a problem. Sebastian is already dead," Amun said, his voice heavy.
"No! Surely we can save him!" Benjamin replied.
"There's nothing we can do, boy. Sebastian died the moment the Child saw him. He just didn't know it, yet."
Benjamin darted towards the mouth of the cave, before Tia could grab him, only to meet Kebi's fist. He started to get up, but she delivered a kick to his face which knocked him on his back. Before he could get up, she grabbed him by the neck and stared into his eyes. Benjamin stared back, dazzled by the diamond orbs. Kebi dropped him, and he sat there, woozy. Santiago and Heidi looked around, nervously. Amun was the charisma and the force, but Kebi was the iron will and often the brains. If she didn't want something to happen, it generally didn't. Tia looked down, helpless to stop it all.
"Do not attempt to escape, Santiago. As much as you may love Sebastian, you cannot interfere here," Kebi said, sharply.
Santiago glared at her, "Love him? Never!"
Kebi tilted her head, "It's why you put up with him. Why you were eternally annoyed by him. And it was why you cannot bear the thought of him being devoured as we speak."
"FUCK YOU!"
Santiago was standing now, every feature tense and ready to snap. Kebi zipped passed him, into deeper parts of the cave. Amun placed himself down by the entrance, after giving Benjamin a swift nudge that caused him to crack against the wall of the caverns.
"You will all go to the back of the cave. If the Child should I attack, I will warn you all and we will enact the normal plan for invaders."
Santiago started towards Amun, but found Heidi's hand on his shoulder, holding him back. He glared furiously, even as she shook her head. He jerked forward, out of her grip. He looked at Amun, then rushed forward. With amazing speed, Amun twirled around, getting enough momentum for his leg to snap out and kick Santiago in the chest, knocking the warring vampire back down.
"Sebastian's dead, Santiago. Deal with it, and go back, before I tear you apart."
Santiago stared at the ceiling of the cave, anger filling him. He was glad that he couldn't cry. Glad that no tears came as bidden by his emotions, his shame and torment. Glad that he was able to run to an unused area of the cave before anyone could see his eyes, haunted as they were.
BW
The Child chewed slowly on the last bite, looking at the small scraps. The thing spat out two things it couldn't chew: vampire fangs. Wretched things those were. They hurt to swallow, and they made the beast throw up anyways. It definitely wasn't worth it.
The Child of the Moon took off once more, full to bursting. It trotted off to its cave, hoping to digest in its sleep.
BW
Death.
It seemed like such a funny thing. Santiago felt he had actually beaten it a few days ago. And here it is, shaking its fist in his face. Some wretched little goblin, laughing and pointing. There was nothing he could do here, though. It was having its laugh, and knew it, but he couldn't just make it go away. It was a permanent scar, etched into his still heart.
"Sebastian," he mouthed to himself.
Why didn't I admit it...? To myself, even. To you, even better.
Maybe you didn't care for me... but I cared for you... but... you're dead now and won't come back. Why?
Santiago heard sounds as the others walked around, some walking passed his section of the cave. He didn't care. They could do what they liked. A few times, he smelled them about twenty feet away. Heidi came a little closer. All the same, they inevitable went on, elsewhere.
Santiago was left alone. Always alone...
BW
Jackals and lionesses gathered in a circle, before shifting into humans, all of whom stood there naked. Egyptian culture didn't often allow for clothing, not due to super perversion, but the necessity of it from heat.
Jahk made sure to avert his eyes, to avoid trouble. In previous years, more and more the adolescent boys had trouble with certain "issues" when standing in the conference circle, and were often poked fun at for it. It was occasionally awkward, for instance, when Anbu (as a teen) found himself constantly aroused in the circle, due to the lionesses. Quite a few of the younger lionesses found themselves distracted by him, in turn, and a few of the older ones felt a tad put-out by it. They thought of Jahk as a grand example, as he stood there without any shame to speak of.
Of course, it was less of his mental prowess and more of his own distractions.
Jai...
He shook himself, as Sebi began to speak.
"Times bad. Apep's child here. Cannot leave to Setite's. Apep's child has caused us harm. We join Setites to kill Apep's child. Must do this."
"I agree, wholeheartedly," Selk said, "Apep has sent his wretched spawn from his dark home to get its revenge on his slayer's servants, the Setites. But its child is crazed, and has killed some of our own. We must not let this insult slide. Apep's child must be killed, even if we must ally ourselves with the Setites!"
Everyone threw up their hands, fists clenched with pride.
"The spawn must die!" they all cried out.
BW
Amun kicked the sand, growling.
"Why did I agree to this?" he muttered, lowly.
"Because I won't rest until Sebastian's buried and until I know that the damn Child is gonna die," Santiago snapped.
Benjamin and Tia scanned the ground, and Benjamin leaped forward into the desert sand. He pilfered his hands through it quickly, the sand shooting away. Benjamin sat up and looked behind himself, at the others, holding up two shining white objects.
"His fangs!" Santiago shouted.
Benjamin stood up and held them out to him. Santiago snatched them, quickly, and placed them in his pocket. He padded against the pocket gently, with his hand, seeming highly paranoid. He turned towards Amun, and looked at the spot on the ground. He seemed to shake, ever so gently. Benjamin and Tia looked at him nervously, before standing away, holding each other. Heidi looked away awkwardly, while Sebi and Amun seemed aggravated.
"What's that...?" Benjamin asked, looking to the side.
"Hm? What do you hear?"
"I don't hear it... I can feel the sand's vibrations. Large animals heading this way."
Several forms appeared on the horizon at blazing speeds. The Egyptian Coven stood there, calmly, but on guard. The forms became quickly apparent as the shifters. Only two, though. A jackal and a lioness.
"And that...?" Benjamin said, stammering, "It's like... us. Four of them."
Amun looked to the side and growled, "Caius, you bastard. Sebi, carry it out."
Sebi nodded and stood by Tia and Benjamin. She put her hands on both of their shoulders and closed her eyes. Amun crossed his arms and seemed to sigh in relief. The shifters and vampires reached the Coven within moments of each other.
"This is an odd moment, to be sure," Amun grumbled, "What is it you want?"
"You know the laws, Amun... Children of the Moon must die," Caius said.
"Monster evil... must go," Sebi said.
"I've brought with me Demetri, who saw where the Child was, and in fact saw the Child two nights ago. He picked up your scent and we decided to join with you. Strength in numbers. I have with me Chelsea and Felix, who are perfect for dealing with the Child. They both have much experience with it," Caius elaborated.
"You were difficult to find... but worth it," Demetri said, looking at Heidi with interest in his eyes.
"We will bring forth our elite. Two of each, plus ourselves. This monster is a threat to our people. We will not suffer its presence," Selk continued.
"Alright, alright. We'll kill it, then. All of us. Come along. We'll plan near the caves. I've already devised several sets of defensive maneuvers. Kebi, scout around the mountains. Mek snor," Amun said.
"Mek snor?" Tia asked.
"You'll find out. Go with her, if you must," Amun answered, clearly telling her to go.
Kebi shoved Benjamin along with her, and Tia followed.
"Whatever you find, tell us," Amun said.
She nodded and ran along, Benjamin and Tia in tow. Amun waved the others with him. Santiago stood there for a bit, looking down.
"Such a strange alliance... you would laugh at it."
End of Chapter Twelve
