Salem-X

Issue #12 – Lord Sirus – A solo story featuring the leader of the Demon Squad

I don't even know where to begin. My life, or un-life, which ever you want to call it, has ended me up in an unknown limbo. You see, because of one of my acts for vengeance I ended up getting myself in trouble. Normally I consider myself above such petty acts, but the witch had it coming. I had met the one of such beauty, and because of this witch I lost her and was humiliated by her hand. So I gathered my squad of faithful warriors and attacked. Thanks to her, once again I was defeated. Not only did I loose my precious gem I wound up being thrown into this abyss.

I have no idea where I am, all I know is I can't leave. I don't know how long I will be trapped here or if I'll be spending eternity here. All I know is I have time to reflect upon who I was and how I became the being I am today. Some would view me as evil and an abomination, that I should be destroyed. Others might say, a long time ago, I was a savior and a good man. I say I'm neither. I was forced into this world, then had my life taken from me and reshaped and then forced back into a new life.

I don't consider myself good or evil, I consider myself in control of my own existence for once. What ever I may do, good or bad, I deal with the consequences. As monstrous as people may see me as, I do still have a soul. A soul that pulls me from both sides everyday. For example, I know it's wrong to kill and I rarely kill in cold blood but when I do feed I prey on the evil doer. I know that if I were to see that witch again I wouldn't think twice, even though what I could sense from that mind isn't innocent.

Now I'm not saying I only feed on the evil doer, I just do so to satisfy my soul's conscience. There have been times in my life where I fed off anyone and anything. Those are stories for another day. The story your interested in is the one you are reading right now. The story of Lord Sirus, the story I have taken the time to compose for you. Even though you are interested, due to the fact your are reading this now, you wonder why I've written this story.

As I sat here in silence in a limbo of nowhere I began to reflect on who I was and how I came to be what I am today. If one is to understand who and what I am, you must know ones background and where a person comes from. So I sat here and was able to create a hard substance out of dirt in the air with my Mind Gift. I then used my Fire Gift to burn the writings of this story for you. 'Get on with it already' you must be shouting at me. So let me get started, at the beginning.

My mother, Analee Bergwood was a great and promising witch. She studied hard wanting to make her mother and older sister proud. This was back in the 1800's and my grandmother and aunt were members of an elite group of witches. Even though times were changing from the first creation of the witch's council, they still only let one member of each generation hold a position. It was okay that my mom wasn't on the council, unlike her sister, she still held an important role.

My aunt had lost her unborn child in a magic battle, which left her too weak to ever bare children again. Thus, my mother took the role of studying to be one of the best witches, for she knew her child would be looked upon to take a position on the witch's council one day. Little did she know that fate would have other plans for her and myself. Our family would be one of the firsts to break from the council. What could have caused this? Well that would be my father.

Now, I don't know a lot about my father. I have never met him and to this day I don't know who he is. What I know is from what my mother had told me. You see my father disappeared before I was born. Or I should say banished away. The council of witches, under the direction of my grandmother and aunt, got rid of him. Thus, nine months later leaving me born without a father, a very beautiful half human witch half demon baby boy. Yes, you heard me right, my father was a demon, literally.

From what I understand, my mother practiced her arts fiercely. In her determination she was careless. Somehow she had managed to weaken the barriers to Earth during a wrongful casting of a spell, allowing my father to step forth. Now my mother didn't know my father was a demon till after I had been conceived. When he had stepped forth she had, well what she thought she had, reversed the spell sending him back and closing the door.

The demon hadn't been sent back, but instead hid in the shadows. Having taken an interest in my mother he had took on the disguise of a human male. He ran into her one day when she was in the woods and he quickly seduced my mother. My mother told me that months had gone by and that they had fallen in love. All she would say was that they met secretly all the time enjoying each other's company. All these months and no one had known what she was doing and whom she was with.

As far as my father's name, my mother never knew it. He had never given it and she was to enchanted to ask. For months it had been a grand secret and affair, until nine months before I was born. That was the day my father had charmed my mother into bed and the witches council had discovered a demon spirit was among them. Just as the act of love was complete, the witches had located the demon.

The witches had blown down the hidden cabin in the wood's door to discover the surprise of their lives. There was my mother in bed naked with my father. The witches chanted and a wind blew my father back revealing his true from. My mother gasped but it was to late, for I had been conceived. My mother screamed in agony as my Aunt removed her from the cabin and my grandmother and the council attacked my demon father.

The act of conception had left my father's powers weak, so he wasn't able to counter the power of the thirteen witches. In a blaze of magic and witchcraft, my father was cast back to where he had come from; the door to Earth sealed to him with no way back. Even though they had banished the demon, the damage had been done. My mother was pregnant with a demon's child. The decision was made for the child to be destroyed, not only because it was a demon but it was also a male child.

My mother did not want to give up her child and chose to run away. She renounced her family and her witchcraft. For months she traveled and lived off the wild avoiding human contact. Her body and soul were in turmoil but her heart belonged to her unborn child. She traveled far and one day she arrived in London and collapsed in the streets going into labor. All she could do was scream and pray for help.

At that moment, a doctor happened to be walking by and rushed to my mother's aid. With quick assistance and a bed in a near by Inn, I was born. In 1875, my mother gave birth to me, Sirus Bergwood. I was born with a full head of curly blond hair and deep blue eyes. My mother was happy to see that I was born normal with no trace of a demon's appearance. She had vowed to me that we would live a happy and normal life. Little did she know that it would only last about twenty-one more years.

The doctor that helped my mother agreed to give us a room in his house, in turn for my mother being his housekeeper and maid. He was all alone as was my mother and they gave each other the company they needed. It also gave me a chance to grow up in a home and get a great education. The doctor tutored me and I was a fast learner. For twenty-one years, we were truly happy and lived a normal life. Was it truly normal you are asking? Well, not completely.

You see, I did have demon blood and magic flowing in my genes. Now I never practiced my abilities or showed them growing up. My mother had never told me anything about my heritage growing up. There were times when things would happen and such and it was shrugged off as coincidence or a fluke. It wasn't anything eye catching, just minor things. For example, I remember falling out of a tree, and right before I hit the ground my decent slowed to a feather free-fall. All anyone saw was a kid fall from a tree and by the miracle of God not have been hurt.

By the time I had turned twenty-one, I was well educated and had read every book I could find, even a book on witchcraft that I had stumbled upon. For some reason I naturally felt ease for the words in the book. As I started to read a spell out loud, something in me burned. My eyes flared red and I found my bed in flames. I was in shock. Not only from the burning bed but the fact my mother was in the doorway and had witnessed it all. She quickly grabbed a bucket of water and doused the flames. She then turned to me and said we had to leave.

I didn't understand why, and that is when my mother sat down and told me all that I have already relayed to you. She made it clear that we had to be gone before the doctor returned home. The minute he saw the bed and the book, he would have us burned at the stake. Without a word, we picked up our things and left. After some hard travel we found ourselves in Paris. This would be our new home, and the place our lives would be changed forever.

Now mind you, it didn't freak me out what my mother told me. I believed her instantly and knew that I had always felt different, even special. So here I was, twenty-one years old, very educated and the powers of a demon and witch flowing through my body. I thought I was king of the world. Finally I felt apart of and embraced life. Even with that, don't worry, my love for my mother was strong and I would never abandon her. Even after our last breaths and what we went through and what she did to me, I was there for her.

As you are learning, my life has always been a mixed event of good and evil. One caused by the other and one not necessarily defining the other. For example, my mom gave me life and loved me with her hart giving me all my hearts desires, in turn I was expected to be at her beck and call, to always be there for her and serve her always. I never really appreciated one side or the other; I just accepted both halves. Which brings us to the story of Paris. How the city of love also brings misery.

Here I was in a new city and catering to my mother. With the money she had stolen from the doctor she had bought us a small cottage to live in. She made a living by growing and selling food in town. I spent most of my days tending the farm and doing the hard labor. I didn't mind because she was my mother, plus working in the fields alone allowed me time to practice my gifts in secret. I couldn't do anything major, but what I could do helped with the farmland and food. Everything was just fine until one mid-summer's day.

I had run into town for my mother to get some supplies when, without looking I bumped into someone. Everything in my hands had dropped all over the ground. Just as I bent to gather my things my head collided with the other person's head. I looked up ready to swear when our eyes meet. Instantly my heart skipped a beat for I was looking into the eyes of beauty. She stepped back a little and I was able to take her whole self in. She was an angel sent down from above.

We both laughed and apologized. I introduced myself and she gave me her name, Andora Smyth. I knew from that moment that I had met the love of my life. Too bad that life wouldn't last long, but for now it was everything. We talked shortly and then she left me, my heart now lonely and aching for more. I rushed after and pleaded for her to see me again. She agreed to meet me the next day in town, which I did and every day after that for a few months.

Now that first day I had gotten home very late and mother wasn't too happy with me. I was able to avoid the truth with her but after a few months she was getting jealous of my lack of time with her and serving her. As I grew closer to Andora, my mother grew more spiteful and deceitful. What my mother did next, I know from what my Sire had revealed to me, was beyond my horror. She set in motion the end of all our lives.

While I was secretly meeting Andora, my mother had started following me and watching me. She had found out about Andora and me and grew very upset. She wanted me for herself and not to share with anyone else. Now mind you my mother has a knack for meeting the wrong men, and one night that is what she did. As she was following us she ran into a man in an alley. The sun had already set and it was getting very dark. The man was captivated by her and began to seduce her.

My mother, determined to watch us, was able to hold off his charm. The man questioned her ability and she said her mind was on other things. Of course my mom divulged her anger with Andora taking me from her. Suddenly the man and my mother were making a deal. She gave him all our gold and the deed to our farm, if he would take Andora from me. The deal was sealed and the man disappeared from site.

The next night as I was searching for my Andora I found her with this man. The man my mother had made a deal with. Somehow he had her bewitched and she was falling into him. I went to approach and she didn't even look at me and walked off with him. I ran home in tears. This man had stolen my heart, which my life would soon follow. When I got home my mother was packing away things. I told her why I was crying and then she went into how she loved me and that I should always be hers. She even suggested selling the farm and moving.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. In a rage of emotions I cast a truth spell and plucked the image of the guy with our deed and gold. When I pressed my mother said how he had tricked her and that they were better off forgetting about it and moving on somewhere else. When I realized the image of the guy was the same as the guy who had taken my dear love I grew very angry. My mother protested but I invoked a track spell and raced off to town to find him. Little did I know my mother had followed after me.

I quickly found the house my powers were pulling me too. I broke down the door and rushed in and the man turned around and looked at me. I began to charge when I froze in place. There on the bed was my poor Andora, covered in blood and looking like the grand feast for this man. In a heat of anger, seeing Andora on the bed and the gold and deed on the table, my powers released and a blast of fire flew at the man. Somehow, before the fire had reached the man, he waved his hand and the fire swirled and extinguished.

Mind you I was in awe of this man. What manor of creature was he? His eyes changed and I could see fangs in his mouth. Suddenly my eyes looked at where he was glancing and I saw melted gold and a tinted piece of paper. Suddenly this creature began shouting about my mother lying and trying to cheat him. Suddenly he was advancing on me telling me all that had transpired between him and my mother. Normally I would never have believed such accusations, but the look in his eyes told me it was the truth.

He then proclaimed that he would punish my mother by taking me from her. Before I could protest I feel into his eyes and charm and he took me in his arms. I found myself wanting him and loving him. I told him so and then found myself tasting his blood from his wrists. At the moment I wanted more he pulled my head back and felt a pain in my neck as I blacked out.

I don't know how long I was out but it seemed like I was in eternal pain. Something bad or good, however you look at it, began to happen to me. Due to my demon and witch blood, the Dark Gift clashed severely. The Dark Gift did take over and rip my life away, but my parent's blood warped and changed its effects and me. Instead of becoming a vampire or Blood Child, I became something more. I became what some would call a Day-Walker.

I had all the powers of a vampire but none of their weaknesses. Well except for the thirst, but thanks to being altered my dead form still hangs on to my soul, so I have a conscience to contend with. Also, I can walk in the sun and embrace holy items but I can still be killed by a stake in the heart or decapitation, oh and fire, but only if I don't stop it before I am consumed by it. You see, the transformation blessed me with other powers. I had the nine Gifts of Mind, Body, Soul, Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Light and Dark.

Before I go on with my tale of what happened next let me explain this to you. Vampires or Blood Children are creatures created to only roam the night preying on humans for their blood. Now day-walkers, which are rare, have the ability to walk in the sun and their soul remains making them more in control of the thirst and a stronger will to be good. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, a vampire or day-walker could choose good, bad or neutral. Anyway let me get back to what I want to explain.

I am able to explain all this to you because the rare transformation pulled the information from the man and gave me the knowledge, that and I also did reading and studying of the creatures. Anyway, vampires are ancient creatures that have been around for ages. There are all types of vampires, weak, strong, pure, mixed and all levels of powers. Some are leaders others are followers, it can vary, just like the powers, or Gifts. For some reason, vampires are connected to the Earth and can draw on the nine elements. Now not all vampires have all nine. It all depends; some may have all, or very few. There are even different levels, one could cause fire and others could control it. It just depends on the person and strength of bloodline. Due to my odd transformation I was given all nine at full power.

You see there are nine elements to draw from, Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Mind, Body, Soul, Light and Dark. The Earth Gift grants us the power of strength and invulnerability. The Wind Gift grants us the power of flight and to move things. The Fire Gift grants us the power of creating, controlling and/or extinguishing fire. The Water Gift grants us the power over water (this Gift is very rare, don't ask me why). The Mind Gift grants us our powers of charming and controlling people. It can also grant various levels of telepathy (which is what we use to track and hunt).

The Body Gift grants us the power to shift our form to things such as Wolves, Bats, Mist etc. The Soul Gift is what grants us the power of eternal life. The Light Gift grants us the power to be immune to sickness and disease, to regenerate and heal ourselves. It has been known to allow our blood to heal others. Last but not least is the Dark Gift. That grants us the power to drain life away and those who are strong enough to use it to make humans into the walking dead.

Now that you got the 411 on this you will realize that not all vampires can use all these Gifts, but know I can. Anyway I should get back to the story of my making. I just wanted to take the time to give you a little more background on my kind, so you can use it to help you understand us and me more. So there I was in darkening pain being transformed into the man I am now. I soon awakened into my new life or un-life however you want to call it.

First thing I saw was the man standing over me with my mom screaming in horror behind him. The man turned to face her and swore at her and used the Wind Gift to send her through the window. He then turned to me and told me that I had to feed. He tried using his control over me to use my anger and go after my mother. I couldn't do it, especially looking right at Andora's body. The rage in me exploded and I attacked the man.

I used my strength and pinned him to the wall. I screamed at him, asking him what he had done to me. He threw me back across the room with great force and hovered over me demanding I swear myself to him or die, telling me I had to feed. I then used the Wind gift to send the wooden table leg at him nailing him in the chest but missing the heart. In his moment of shock I announced I would feed, but it would be on him and I ripped his neck out and drank. After a short struggle I pulled the leg out and drove it in the heart killing him completely. I then looked over at Andora.

I ran to her side and cried tears of blood. Even after the death of my sire it didn't make up for the loss of my sweet love. Then, with my Mind Gift I sensed a spark of life left. She wasn't totally gone. If I could use my Dark Gift I could make her like me and we could be together forever. I pricked my wrist and put my blood in her mouth. It was enough to make her semi-conscious. I asked her if she would be with me always and she said yes and I gave her more blood. Then I pulled away and sank my teeth into her neck calling on the Dark Gift.

I stepped back in anticipation, awaiting the return of my dear love. She did come back to me but not how I anticipated. First of all, the feeling of withdrawal and now weakness I assumed was natural. You see, the Dark Gift was altered by my transformation. When I bestowed the Dark Gift on someone it didn't make them a guaranteed vampire, it transformed them into some other form of unnatural or undead creature. Power flowed from me, leaving me weak, and they became whatever the power transfers wished them to be.

I gasped in horror as Andora convulsed and began to shift form. Her skin turned blue as well as her hair and lips. Her body from the waist down began distorting and growing oddly. I shook my head and wiped my eyes as I found myself staring at a half woman half spider. My beautiful Andora was now a giant blue skinned woman from the waist up and with a spider's body on the waist down. She began to freak when she opened her eyes. I managed to comfort her with our bond and my Mind Gift.

Then I heard my mother laugh and say that she was sorry as she slowly dragged her glass shared bleeding body away from the door. Anger rose in me for what she had done, but yet she was my mother and I still had love for her. I looked at Andora and then smiled. I moved quickly to my mother's side, and asked her if she still loved me. She told me that she would always love me and that she wished we could have been together forever. That's all I needed to hear as I pricked my wrist and let the blood drop in my mom's mouth. I then showed her my teeth and called forth the Dark Gift as I bit into her neck.

After a few intense moments of wonderful drinking, I pulled away. I felt very week from working the Dark Gift twice in a short amount of time. I knew I would have to feed, but first I watched my mother. She began to shake and change form. After a few moments my mother had shrunk in height to about the size of a nine-year-old child and face became grotesque. I was looking at a female goblin. I didn't feel guilty because my mother would still be with me forever and this time she would serve me.

I know you are probably writing me off as evil for what I did to my own mother, but look what she did to me. It wasn't an easy choice but one I made and live with. To this day they are still with me. Andora calls herself Spideress and mom goes by Gora, both in my Demon Squad. As for the story about the Demon Squad and such, that is a story for another time and not for today. What I will tell you is that Spideress and Gora still compete for my love and attention, but I no longer feel a true love for them. My heart now belongs to one woman and that is the one called Crimson Witch.

Well, I will stop my tale for now. I think I have written enough for now. One day I'll tell the tale of what happened next and the events leading up to the Demon Squad. I just hope this gave you an insight on where I came from and who I am. Now I will end this chapter for now and hope I will have a chance to write for you again reel soon. Sitting in this abyss I am sure I will, I just hope these pages will find you one day.

The End

Lord Sirus

Lord Sirus looked at his stack of fire written words. He was about to go back into thought when he noticed a discoloration towards his left. He looked over and saw a hole open up. He reached out with his Mind Gift but felt nothing. A voice came from the hole and Sirus could make out a shadowy figure. Lord Sirus walked over.

"What's going on?"

"I have been made aware of your situation and I have come to free you from your prison on the account that one day I'll need you and will call upon you," the figure said.

"Who are you?" Lord Sirus asked.

"That's not important, but we share a close bond. All will be revealed one day," the figure said.

Lord Sirus agreed to the person's request. Weather he would honor it would remain to be seen, for he was the mighty Lord Sirus and no one controlled him. He walked through the hole and found himself back in his castle. He quickly went in search of his Squad and make out his next plan of attack.

Next: Issue #13 – The Big Bad – Part One