(In memory of Anton Yelchin)
F-Taste of Fresh Blood-N
XXII
Finale~Part I
He was sitting there. Upon the bloody ground. Bothered beneath the sun piercing his pale cold skin.
The wolves were breaking out of the underground prison one by one, a close distance behind the humans. "Let's go! Hurry!" Ed called, waiting for Peter and Amy to reach him at the entrance gate. They could practically feel the bites and the hot breath of the vicious roars at their backs as they hurried into the tall sinister fortress. Peter stopped to shoot at a few but the damage of the silver bullets didn't seem to do much right away and it certainly wasn't enough to slow the rest of them down. He fired off a couple of more rounds until his pistol jammed up on him.
"Stupid gun!" Peter growled, slapping the weapon a few times to get it to work. But it wasn't budging. Of course, it wasn't. Perfect timing.
"Peter, let's go!" Ed shouted as a few of Jerry's vampires flew in the way of the wolves and Peter, crashing into the stampeding lycans.
"Yea, yea, I'm coming." The slayer mumbled under his breath as he turned to catch up with Ed and Amy, allowing the bats to fend off the rest. It only bought them a little time.
Once Peter made it through the gate, he, Amy and Ed looked back. The vampires were only able to slow down a small sum of the dogs before they were over taken and ripped to pieces. They watched in alarm as it happened.
"Well, that's not good."
He was encircled by destroyed rose petals. In the now dead flower field. Just staring blankly ahead.
Nothing was right. Nothing was fair.
Though they entered safely into the fort, the wolves were still coming at persisting strides. "Help me with this." Peter said as he tried closing the heavy tall doors to keep the wolves out. Ed joined him but they only managed to get the gates half way before they soon realized there was no time. And considering the numbers heading straight for them, it wouldn't hold anyway.
"Fuck it, let's go." Ed said as he waved Peter and Amy ahead of him before a mad dash of dogs started to swarm in. At least he might stand a chance against a couple of hundreds of wolves...'Yea, right', he thought. He might have been made by Jerry but he was still no Jerry.
He was seeming to be dealing or coping with a loss. Thinking. Breathing. Bracing himself for the pain that was coming. The pain if he were to wake up.
Ed, Peter and Amy entered now the main hall. But they stopped mid run when they saw the slaughter ahead, Jerry's new wave of vampires taking out the enemy vampires in there way. They swiftly turned their heads as the werewolves charged in after them. Both Ed and Peter protectively pulled Amy back.
"Shit!" Peter cursed, detecting an entire list of problems. But their biggest one was not having a destination in mind.
"This is a problem guys." Ed noted as he anxiously glimpsed around the room for a getaway.
The vampires began to hiss and screech at the impeding wolves and the wolves howled and snapped back. It was now a terrifying show of power between the opposing groups and the humans were trapped right in the middle.
There was a crushed rose between his agitated grip. Fresh blood from it, leaking all over himself and the demolished battlefield he sat upon...
He could smell it. He could taste it. It was forever taunting. Familiar, like blood from a boy he once craved.
"What now?" Amy asked, her wide green eyes shining in anticipation.
"Well, in truth, I was hoping to avoid this part." Peter grunted at a loss but ready to fight if it came down to it.
"Shouldn't you be hybrid or something." Amy asked Ed with urgency in her tone.
"Why would I be hybrid?" He scoffed explicitly analyzing the freak show surrounding them as they bundled closer together, back to back.
"Because Jerry bit you, stupid. Isn't it supposed to work that way, you turn into whatever he is?" She continued to eagerly assume as she turned to him.
"It should work that way but it didn't." He responded with extreme disappointment. Because being a hybrid would be awesome as fuck. Especially now.
"Actually it will never work that way. Jerry didn't bite you as the hybrid or as the wolf. He bit you as the vampire. His forms come in phases." Peter informed distressed and protective, making sure they stayed close as the demons in the room were enclosing in on them. Then both he and Amy pulled out their stakes and guns. It was looking like a fight to the death. But Peter quickly thought of something.
"How trusty are Jerry's bats anyway?" He looked at Ed with a mix of expectation and fear.
"I guess we can find out." Ed muttered reluctantly, knowing where this was headed. He was new to this so he still wasn't sure what type of power he wielded over the others. "I led them this far and they haven't let me down yet so...what could go wrong that already hasn't? Get back."
He ordered the humans to keep behind him. They did. Then his eyes rolled over black and his claws grew as he hissed belligerently towards the slobbering angry wolves who were pacing to attack. Jerry's bats hissed along with Evil Ed as if he was in command of them. They seemed to be in luck. The wolves read something in Evil and gave him a passive glare and realizing the bigger threat leaped over the humans and the vampires realizing their true enemy soared toward the wolves.
"Get down!" Peter quickly shouted as he pulled Amy with him as they dropped to the ground. They covered their heads as the raging clash of animals struck above them. They couldn't see what was going on and didn't want to. The gory and violent sound of flesh tearing, blood splattering, throats crushing and carcasses hitting the limestone floor was enough to give them a visual. Ed joined the bats to help fight off the wolves while more ally vampires hovered before the humans just in time, protecting them from both the enemy bats and dogs due to a mental command from Ed. After taking down a couple of lycans, Evil spotted an opening to escape. He ripped his sharp nails from the throat of one, shoved the body aside and then dashed back towards the humans as the battle continued. "This way." He said, grabbing them and leading them out of the frenzy safely. They dipped off to the side behind a large stone column, staying quiet and hidden.
Then he heard his name whisper through the dead air.
Jerry...
Dark, saddened eyes lit up heavily. His stale heart began to beat again. And his black tears finally stilled.
They were collecting themselves, Peter mentally noting how much he missed living the low key life of being a drunk. It was much less complicated than this shit. But he had to keep telling himself, it was all for Charley. "I really wish I was drunk right now." He sighed out with the only punch of humor he had still left in him while quickly trying to recover from yet another near death experience.
Amy, taking this time to breath, glared at him. "Really?"
"Would you rather be sober when you're shredded to nothing?" He pessimistically replied.
"I'd rather live." She responded with a flare.
"Live? Living is definitely not an option for us tonight." Peter gruffly announced.
Amy wasn't fond of the negative response. "It's going to be an option for all of us. Now would you stop being dramatic!"
"The amount of luck you two have had so far is unreal, thanks to me. Mostly." Ed mumbled in sarcasm as he was digging through their sack of weapons and other objects they might need.
"Is that what you call this?" She asked foully. "Luck?"
"Yea. What would you call it?" Evil chuckled and she couldn't believe how blithe he was after almost being dead himself.
"What about you then?" She retorted. "Luck hasn't paid you a visit or something? You would have been just as equally dead as the rest of us."
He grinned. "I'm a demon now. I know the lessons of survival and my instincts are on point. I don't get by on luck."
"Cocky much, Evil?" She glared coldly.
"What can I say? It's a quality mannerism I've learned by being a vampire for like only day." He winked.
She rolled her eyes in disgust. "Creep."
"Human or demon, luck eventually ends. For everyone and everything. And when luck is no longer available, destiny starts to play a part. And Oh Sweet Destiny doesn't leave room to chance." Amy and Ed both frowned and looked at the slayer. Something in his words they actually believed to be true. "We are indeed lucky to have made it out of another bloody and brutal quarrel alive but we might not be lucky next time."
"That was a bit overkill but I won't argue that." Ed respectfully shrugged pulling out the stake blessed by Saint Michael. He tossed it to Peter. "You might want to keep that on you."
"And you might want to hand it to me next time. It's by far the most fragile stake ever created." Peter tucked the old relic away safely in his jacket.
"You're telling me the most powerful stake in the world is a fragile piece of shit?" Ed scoffed uncaring.
"Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Wow." Ed responded condescendingly while throwing the bag over his shoulder. "Also this." He handed Amy a container of Holy Water."
She frowned suppressing even more of the hatred she felt for him right at this moment. "What am I supposed to do with a bottle of water, Ed?"
Ed looked to Peter. "Can you believe her? Rude."
Peter sighed in explanation. "It's Holy Water. But it lasts longer. It was blessed by the Unity of Saints, to help keep the vampires off your back. Its never been used or touched. You can have it on for a day, dry, and any kind of vampire will hesitate to bite you. You can even take a shower, a hot bubble bath and its power will still linger."
"Just dab some on your neck and wrists and... just pour it all on your head. Get drenched in it." Ed instructed.
"I hate you guys, so much. So what are we going to do now?" Amy mediated, holding onto her patience as best as she could while quickly wetting her neck. At this point it wasn't even the vampires she was scared of. It was the fucking wolves. Why couldn't they have an anti wolf spray or something?
All three looked at each other for any hidden advice. Then they looked to Peter. Who, naturally was becoming their leader. It was Charley's fate that had them worried. They were all there for him and they would all die for him. But it was Peter's duty to make sure Charley would come out of this night alive. It was his job to make sure they all come out of this alive. But something felt wrong. Like the boy was already gone, feeling like he already failed Charley without even knowing why. His fear began to mirror the fear in his past and he blinked in isolation when he realized they may have been too late to save anyone. "I don't know." He said, disappointing himself more than the others. "I don't know what to do from here. I don't even know if Charley is alive."
Amy and Ed exchanged disquieted looks. Not knowing what to say to make him feel better or themselves. The slayer looked up at the both of them and sighed as skeptical eyes traced over their stumbled nervousness. "But I really hope we're not to late." Then he peeked out to watch the outgoing fight. Trying to figure out what to do next or how to get around it. Every second wasted he felt he was letting Charley down. But of course, there were always ramifications. There was always something that would make their journey even harder.
Ed suddenly tensed when he spotted Prometheus entering the hall as if all of their problems just grew worse. "Speaking of luck, it looks like ours just ran out. I think we are to late." He radically stated.
The wolf leader strolled down the set of stairs that hovered out into the lobby while Crassus and the rest of his elite men joined him at the overhang. His face was strictly flat as he overlooked the skirmish. Golden eyes glaring at the new class of vampires.
"This is bad." Amy thought she'd make things easier for them by putting it out there.
"Yea, no kidding. As if we aren't already fucked dealing with our own Goddamn demons." Peter sighed now realizing all of the true dangers that could come from this night.
"I wouldn't use the Lords name in vain." Ed said, swallowing thickly. "He's real you know."
"What, you're a believer now?" Amy blinked in deep questioning.
"Yea." He sneered. "I also suggest you two start believing. Because we still have ways to go before this fright night is over."
"Thanks for the warning." Peter cheekily replied before looking back towards the cruel looking leader of the wolves.
Though the wolves were greatly outnumbered by the bats, they were angrier, they were striven longer, which made them more dangerous...More forceful. Their hatred towards the vampires proved to be legendary. This was only a celebration. The worst was still to come.
"It looks like Jerry still continues to fight even on the verge of death. " Crassus irritably spoke seeing how badly the dogs were outmatched. "He puts us at a disadvantage."
Prometheus calmly responded but his voice was coarse. "The war...It doesn't end with us. It's not supposed to."
"We need reinforcements." Crassus suggested feeling the opposite about it than that of his father.
"Patience." Prometheus answered with a tolerance despite all the trouble on his mind.
"They're being slaughtered out there. We have been victims to the bats for way to long. You've participated in their little games to what end? This time I refuse to lose. So tonight it will end with us. In victory." His son demanded fiercely.
His fathers expression hardened. He blinked evenly. He could feel the wolf pulse within him. But he kept it detained. "The militia will be here. Soon, we won't have to worry."
"What about Nathaniel? If Gabriel disappears with the boy, we can't have him on the loose too. We're going to need to kill him before he escapes. I'll do the honors."
"No. I'll take care of him." The wolf leader responded gravely and then nodded slightly signaling his men. On his order they altered from person to creature and joined the rally of death except his son. Who stayed by his fathers side. Crassus tilted his head looking back at his father who seemed to have paused in thought for a moment.
"You don't seem well. You don't seem like yourself."
Prometheus had learned to pay attention and learn from his inner human and not so much the animal that possessed him. It's what made him levelheaded. It's why he became their leader. To contain something so powerful and to control it was a rare attribute among the lycans. Normally, the wolf would take over the human part. But Prometheus was stronger than that. But now he seemed to be having a moment of weakness. The beast was trying to turn him. He slowly looked at his hand that was stretching into long and hairy claws. Then he clenched it close for awhile longer before it slowly turned normal again. He opened back up his hand and smiled at his son. "I am very well."
"You're going to have to let him out eventually. He's been suppressed and hidden for far to long."
Prometheus pushed the thought of ever turning completely away. He was better than that. "I don't think you understand." He answered directing his restrained attention back towards his son. "Go now. Join them."
Crassus gave a stiff nod, unsure of his fathers inner objective, and left his side to fight meanwhile Peter, Amy and Ed were sneaking and crawling behind a couple of large stone columns trying to figure out a way around him or hoping another exit would miraculously appear that led them away from the fight and to Charley.
The slayer peeked out from one seeing Prometheus leaving the head of the banister. His eyes lit up. Maybe there was hope after all. "Where he's going, that's where we need to be."
Amy also leaned out looking a little closer just to see what they were dealing with. It looked like it could have been a piece of cake but then she squealed when Ed pulled her and Peter back into hiding so that they wouldn't be exposed by the animals battling it out or by Prometheus in case he returned.
"Yea and if he catches us, he'll rip us apart for sure." Evil warned abruptly.
"He's gone. And who knows, maybe he can help us find Charley." Peter dangerously suggested.
"What am I?" Ed questioned Peter like he was one of the dumb kids in class.
Peter squinted hard as if he was trying to figure out the toughest question imaginable. "A...vampire?"
"Exactly! I'm a fucking vampire. That guy hates us, did you forget?" Ed angrily and quietly voiced. Vampires naturally feared wolves and Ed made it clear that he was no exception despite being born from the most powerful and fearless devil ever. "It's suicide."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I agree with Ed." Amy said not able to wrap her head around the idea of the main wolf leader helping a tiny group of humans plus one vampire in finding Charley. "If we're caught, it will only end one way."
"Of course you agree with me." Evil scoffed arrogantly.
He received a sharp glare from the girl. "What is that supposed to mean?"
The nerdy vampire chuckled haughtily. "Really? I have to say it out loud?" He wasn't stupid. He noticed the crush Amy had for his new sexy vampire self.
"I dare you!" She hissed with a challenge but was still fighting the embarrassment of it all.
"Seriously?" Peter, visibly annoyed, looked back at the both of them. "You two are seriously going to argue right now? You've bickered back and forth non stop the way here."
Amy pointed the finger. "He started it."
"I'll apologize later." Evil motioned carelessly. "But the whole Prometheus thing, bad idea."
Amy rolled her eyes at him then looked back at Peter. "All we're saying is that we need to rethink whatever it is that you're thinking Peter."
"Look, it's clear that we're not sure what to do next so maybe the next step is try to reason with the wolf guy? He definitely knows where Charley is being kept." Peter kept his hopes up surprised hope still even existed. Mostly surprised he was the one promoting it. But it was all fake hope. It had to have been. It was the only way to keep them going. To stop from giving up. "And if you didn't notice back when we were about to die, the wolves looked directly at Ed and ignored him as a threat."
"So?" Evil, questioned, not sure where the slayer was getting at.
"Ed, you were originally scratched by a wolf which makes you vampire and wolf. The wolves had to have sensed the wolf in you which is why they didn't attack."
Ed blushed in excitement. "So, I'm a hybrid then?"
"Uh...not exactly. Only on occasion."
Ed frowned hard as Peter continued to explain. "You were only scratched by the wolf. If you were bitten, then maybe. However, if Jerry bit you before you were to turn wolf then there would be a good chance you wouldn't survive if you were bit rather than scratched. Jerry is the only known survivor of both infections."
"First of all, that sucks. I'm like a PC and he's a Mac. I'm McDonald's and he's Five Guys. I'm Nickelback and he's Iron Maiden. Secondly, are you suggesting that I channel my inner wolf just so that Prometheus gives us a pass?"
"Yes. And if that doesn't work, maybe we bargain something."
"Maybe you're forgetting the time he sent his men to kill us." Amy brought up as a friendly reminder.
"He only wanted us dead because we were in the way of Charley. Also, now the tables have turned. We want the same thing. He wants Gabriel dead. And the vampires and wolves wouldn't be fucking killing each other out there if something didn't go wrong between the treaty Gabriel and Prometheus once honored. It looks to me like Gabriel fucked them. Hard. Maybe we can even get the vampires and the wolves on the same team."
"You're talking nonsense. Again, this is Prometheus we're talking about." Ed interjected. "Have you ever seen that guy turn yet? No. Have you ever seen him do anything remotely terrible yet? No. That pretty much means he's 1000 times worst than what we've already seen of him. He's literally the calm before the storm. Did I mention he's a fucking wolf? Also vampires and wolves working as a team? Are you fucking nuts?"
"Please, keep reminding, it's very helpful! It's not like I haven't read about him or done my research from all the resources and artifacts that became mine after my father fucking died. I get it. I know what he's capable of. I'm aware that he hasn't transformed for centuries. He can throw something surprising at us at any given moment but maybe, just maybe, you're exaggerating just a tiny bit about his level of evil, hmm?"
Then there was a flood of angry howls coming from outside the tower that interrupted their little dispute. They turned their heads slowly at the overwhelming range of froze and Ed cowered.
"Oh...shit." she said eyes wide as they could be. "More wolves?" It was more a statement than a question. The truth was, it couldn't have been anything else.
"His reinforcements are here." Ed said, ingesting more fear. "I'm telling you guys, Prometheus has armies and armies of dogs. If that's not already all of them, there are more on there way. They will kill us with no second thought. You saw how they were fucking up the vampires. I'd rather die by the fucking sun right now."
It was a pretty good time to panic. "Let's go. Let's go find Charley and get the fuck out of here." Amy said, not ready to be caught up with an army of lycans. "Maybe there's another way around."
"We can't just wander around this place. We need a plan first." Peter said being wise for once in his life. "Or a map. That would help. A lot."
"We can't just stay here either. If you want to be eaten like a thanksgiving dinner, be my quest." Ed, clearly anxious, answered the slayer.
"We got this far. I'll look for Charley. You guys go find Jerry. How about that?"
Amy glared at the slayer. "I'm not going by myself anywhere in this fucking place! Especially with him!" She exclaimed. "I'm going with you."
"You don't think I can keep you safe?" Ed was offended. "Me? I'm the vampire here. I'm way more enhanced than Peter."
"Exactly that. You're a vampire and you might eat me. And you would be really stupid and inconsiderate if you didn't see why I find that a problem."
"Well we kinda have an even bigger problem." Ed said. There was an instant bothering glow in his dark eyes.
"What is it?" Amy asked immediately easing down while looking at the muddled looking vampire.
"I can't sense Jerry anymore. I think he's…" Ed paused. Because it would really suck if he was...
They both glared impatiently at the nerdy vampire.
"You think he's what?" Amy asked anxiously.
"Dead. Or weak. He's something. I can't sense him at all."
He was right. That was a problem. Jerry was pretty much there only hope for any type of survival. Peter took that as urgent enough. "What about Charley? Were you ever able to sense him?"
"Not since I saved you in the wolf nest."
Then the uneasiness swept over all of them.
"Find Jerry." Peter ordered, preparing to sneak off, holding his pistol and stake tight. "We meet back here in twenty minutes. Assuming everything goes as planned and if this place isn't taken over by a bunch of fucking animals."
"And if it doesn't go as planned?"
"Godspeed." He saluted them.
Amy breathed out. "Try to stay alive, Peter."
Peter returned the reassuring nod and ran off towards the North Hall staying low and hidden.
Ed then grabbed Amy leading them around the blood bath looking for another way through Gabriel's castle. Then he grinned once they saw an exit leading out into a narrow hallway. "This way."
He exited his thoughts and blinked when he saw one flower straight ahead. It hadn't been touched or destroyed during his fit of rage. He simply got up from where he sat and walked over to the blossomed flower. He lowered himself to one knee and plucked it. The flower was beating. Beating like a heart trying to hold on.
Jerry...
He heard his sweet voice again.
Jerry?
Jerry, wake up. I need you...
He entered slowly into the dark dining hall and sat with a calming composure watching the lone vampire trying to drink himself in to oblivion. "Nathaniel?"
The blonde put down the now empty bottle of wine, then slowly licked his red lips of the savory sweetness. "Why do we still drink this bullshit when it does nothing to us?"
"Maybe because the bats have posed as humans for way to long."
Nathaniel grinned. "Are you calling me a poser?"
"We all are. But the thought of a vampire drinking in order to resolve his problems is unheard of but stay classy Nathaniel. You always were."
"What do you want Prometheus? Aren't you supposed to be busy fighting the good fight?" The blonde reclined in his seat seeming confused as to why the wolf leader was presenting himself to him. "Or are you specifically here to insult me?"
"You were stupid to go up against me and you're stupid to still be here."
"Why do you think I'm avoiding all of that?"
"Our men, yours, mine, are slaughtering each other. And you're in here, hiding away. I guess I expected more from a master vampire."
"I guess I could be racing against time but that would be dumb."
"You're a leader. So act like one."
Nathaniel grinned due to the serious sharpness of the wolfs tone. "I'm not their leader. I'm definitely not a master. I don't need to fight or die for them. But I'm flattered you think of me as one."
"You don't know your strength and to top it off you're afraid. That's the reputation you want to hold over your own head? But then, what can I expect from those born of royalty."
"I don't mind it." He shrugged convincingly. Then he glared in wonder. "Why do you care?"
"Gabriel is going to eventually fall and it's going to be you that takes his reign."
The blonde laughed out loud, his sharp teeth exposing. "You're kidding right? Gabriel isn't going to fall. He has what he's always wanted. He's more alive than you or I can ever be. Nothing will stop him. Not even Jerry. Because he's given up."
The wolf leader nodded. "So then what? You're okay with Gabriel owning all of this power? You're okay being a slave to him for the rest of your life?"
"I was never a slave. You're the slave. Because you're a fucking dog."
Prometheus rolled his eyes and kicked his legs up on the table with a sigh. Nathaniel gave him the meanest look. "I hope you're not planning on being here long?"
"That's up to you."
"Okay, so leave."
"You're such a pussy."
Nathaniel uncrossed his legs and pulled them off the table and hissed angrily at the man across from him. "I may not have the strength like you or Jerry's unexplained endurance but I am a survivor because I'm smart. And because I know how to fucking live. Chances are, I'm going to outlive you both. Because where there is trouble, you run to it. I just become a part of it."
Prometheus chuckled with an understanding of him but finding him rather shallow at the same time. "Then why are you still here?"
Nathaniel looked up at the sensible man. Glaring in annoyance. "I don't know."
"Here I am sitting across from you ready to tear your throat from your neck. Is that really a smart thing to be waiting around for?" The wolf leader threatened casually.
The blondes green eyes lit up arrogantly."You're right; the smart thing would have been to flee. But I'm no coward either."
"But you're also not going to put up a fight?" Prometheus questioned. "I don't know what's worse. Your willingness to die or your lack of will to fight."
"I can't decide which is worse either. Maybe, it's my indecisiveness that trumps it all. But if you are here to kill me, do it. Do it before Jerry does. At least I know you'll give me a death worth a damn."
Prometheus leaned back in the chair also removing his legs from the table. "I thought about it Nathaniel. How to kill you, where to kill you, when to kill you. But I'm not going to. I thought about it long and hard. I was watching my men fight and die earlier and I asked why. Why any of it?"
Nathaniel laughed disbelievingly. "Dude, Prometheus, chill out. You're starting to sound a little to human for my taste. I won't be offended if you want to kill me. Trust me."
The wolf leader just half smiled with a short scoff at his throat. "You don't get it."
"I do actually. I get that you're no longer you. How did you become in control of yourself anyway? You expect me to believe that you're really this self controlled dog? You're probably worst than all of us. I don't believe that you don't have that hunger, that need to turn, that overwhelming urge to kill. You put on this act. That you're stronger than your own. That you're better than us. Gabriel never pretended and neither did Jerry so why do you hold back? You should have accepted it by now."
Prometheus didn't need to ponder the thought like the vampire was hoping. He's already made up his mind about what he is. "I hold back because I know that there is a time and place to be what I became. Jerry told me that I was more human than I was dog. I was angry that he told me exactly what I wanted to hear. What I knew already. He's right. I'm more human than I am dog. And the thing is, I was human first. So I'm going to act human first. The wolf in me is just an invader."
The blonde slowly smirked expecting some answer like that. "I guess that does make you better than us. But sometimes humans are the worst animal...except in your case though. You had a good life and poor Jerry and I were victims of a dysfunctional and twisted ass upbringing. Maybe that is what makes you better. Because you were loved more."
"Let's not compare our personal lives."
"Why? Have you been a bad boy too?" The blonde chuckled sarcastically.
Prometheus accepted the sarcasm. Then he sighed. "Hiding from Jerry isn't going to solve anything. He's a tad bit distracted. He's in love you know. He's realized he has bigger matters at hand."
Then something humane and gentle swept through the both of them. They both smiled for a short second. It made them happy to hear it out loud. They knew it before but to really know was actually warming.
Nathaniel looked up to the ceiling and sighed heavily. Then he looked back at Prometheus and shook his head. "He's more than distracted. He's more than in love. He's brokenhearted. I took the kid away from him. I helped with that. My death matters to him."
Prometheus nodded agreeably and stood from his seat. "You feeling regret yet? Because this is what happens to the best of us. This is what happens to the human in us."
"I'm not human and never will be again." He dismissed Prometheus by turning back to another full bottle.
"That's up to you." Prometheus then nodded respectfully towards the vampire and turned to leave.
"You know I never wanted to do it." Nathaniel stopped him in his pace. "I was jealous. I still am. A part of me is happy the boy is dead. The other part of me is not. Because he made Jerry happy. Jerry has never been happy in his entire soulless life. Then it made me even more angry that I could never feel that way. So shame aside, I'm actually regretting a lot of things right now."
"That's good. Shame is good. But Nathaniel, don't act like you've never been happy. I'm going to go fight and die with the last of my men. What are you going to do?"
"Not die and not fight. Because they're not my people. They're not my friends. They're not my family. I don't care about a single one of them." It was a cold response but he wasn't expecting anything else from himself. He was selfish and always will be. That was his nature. That was his human nature.
"Gabriel betrayed you. You're realizing that now. Figure out what and who you stand for, Nathaniel. This might be our last stand."
The green eyes looked up at the wolf leader. "Myself. I fight and stand for myself."
"Then I suggest you save yourself before the wrath of this night hits. Because it's coming. It's coming for all of us. Everything we deserve, bad or good, will happen before tomorrow. "
"You don't have to warn me. I can feel it. But you need to know something before you go."
The wolf leader stopped at the doorway. "What is it Nathaniel?"
"That control you speak of, is exactly what Jerry needs."
"It's not easy for him like it is for us. He has much more to control."
"You're going to turn lycan tonight. Fuck your levelheadedness. Fuck your "I'm holier than you" attitude. Because Jerry and Gabriel are going to leave you no choice."
"I guess we'll see but what would be the point? To turn, to become something else, knowing you're a dead man anyway?"
Noticing Nathaniel wasn't going to think up a response for him, Prometheus nodded respectfully once again then left the vampire to deal with his feelings.
Jerry...
Jerry...Wake up!
"Jerry?" She shook him until she felt his shoulder muscle twitch beneath her hand. "Ed, he's alive." Amy said as she stood up beside the vampire who was gradually opening his demonic and tensely sad eyes.
Ed backed away from the access point looking out in case they were followed and joined Amy by the rising vampires side. "We thought you were dead. We kinda need you bro." He was actually extremely happy his master was still alive.
Jerry leaned up fully. Looking confused. Troubled. He didn't say a word or acknowledge the two in his presence and space. He just looked disgruntled. Then he just sat there. Staring off like someone who had just lost everything and his heart was aching like it should have been dead a long time ago.
"Jerry?" Ed snapped his fingers in his cold pale face. "We have to go. Can you hear me?"
The vampire didn't respond to that either. He didn't seem to be in a rush to get to Charley for reasons he only knew.
"What's wrong with him?" Amy asked. She couldn't figure out if she should be worried or not. Maybe he was just really tired.
"I don't know." Ed hissed at her. "Do I look like an expert on this shit?"
"Well you're his fucking buddy now, maybe it would help if you knew!" She quietly shouted back.
"Did you find him?" They heard him speak. His voice was low and miserable as fuck. To see him like this was actually really upsetting. But it was also equally terrifying. Like receiving a death note on Christmas day from a secret admirer.
Amy looked at Ed and Ed at her before they found the courage to say something to him.
"Peter is looking now. But we need your help." Amy answered hesitantly in case he was sensitive to anything sudden. Especially her. He hated her.
He blinked slowly. He didn't know if he could do anything further for them. The pain in his heart was at its limit. It was frozen cold. "I can't."
"You have to." She asserted anxiously. "He needs us. Do you know where he is?" All she wanted was for Charley to be okay. That's what any one of them wanted.
"He's dead." Jerry said and Ed turned slowly to the girl who was silent now. Amy shook her head in disbelief but something in her heart told her it was true.
"He's not." Ed quickly said trying to make her feel better.
"He is." Jerry blinked like he was just casually passing away. "I felt it happen. He's gone. I...just lost him."
"He needs his strength back." Ed rushed to make sure Jerry wouldn't pass out on them because that was exactly what was happening.
"Ed, is Charley dead?!" Amy was frozen, internally freaking out. Tears slipping down her rosy cheeks. She wouldn't know what to do if he was.
Ed lowered his head then looked back at Amy. "No. Jerry's not in his right head. He's just saying stuff. But we are running out of time. Help me get him up. Don't let him close his eyes." Truth is he didn't know what Charley's' current state was but he couldn't have Amy out of her mind at the moment. His new self wasn't programmed to deal with human breakdowns. Plus Jerry on top of that who seemed to be currently going through one.
"Come on, Jerry. Let's go."
The vampire struggled to stand like a drunken man. It was soon going to be clear to them all that he was too weak and unable to fight despite any effort. Amy wiped her tears away and came to the other side of the vampire and helped keep him on his feet but he was quickly nodding off again.
"He's fading out again, Ed!" She said trying to shake the vampire awake.
"Okay big guy, I need you to drink some of my blood."
"Isn't that dangerous?" Amy opposed immediately. Jerry was a greedy drinker. Most vampires were but Jerry was a "drink till you die" type of guy. She found that out the hard way when she was captured by him and watched as he drank multiple victims in front of her. Which he mostly did on purpose. Just to be an asshole. But Ed also wasn't ignorant to Jerry's lack of self control. He was bitten by him after all.
"Yea, but who do we need to stop Gabriel? Me or Jerry?"
She didn't say anything more while Ed was trying to get the faintly vampire to bite him. But Jerry was completely unresponsive. "You're losing him again." She stated the obvious which she was becoming really good at.
"I fucking know that." The nerdy vampire said before quickly biting into his own skin at his inner wrist and ripped off a chunk. He put his arm to the vampire's lips waiting for him to make a move. Jerry wasn't. He was still in some minor doze. Maybe passing slowly away from a broken heart.
"Oh come on. Who doesn't want a free bloody Mary?" Ed said, trying to wake the vampire up. He slapped his face a couple of times but it didn't have an effect on him.
"He's fucking heavy, Ed. Hurry up."
"Well he's not supposed to be. He's a fucking vampire. We're light as shit."
She tried shaking him again. "Well I feel like I'm carrying dead weight here."
"Shit." He said.
"What?" He was worrying her.
"He's human. That's why my blood isn't stirring his senses. I need his vampire. " He clarified, like he was blaming her for it.
"Why is he so complicated?"
"Because he's low key dramatic."
"Well how do we get his dramatic ass to turn?"
Ed slowly looked up at Amy with a "I'm going to regret this" look.
"Now what?" She asked, her reaction intensifying in even more worry. What he was thinking up couldn't have been good or smart. Ed never made one single good choice in his entire life other than making friends with Charley. But even that was questionable because look where they were.
"He's not going to like this." Evil said pulling out a lighter from his pant pocket.
"What are you doing?" She quickly lowered the lighter with her hand.
"I have to agitate him."
"Ed, are you going to burn him awake?" She whispered in complete shock. "Because I don't want to be anywhere near this guy if that's what you plan to do."
"It's the only way. We're like, so sensitive to fire."
"Ed, you were dumb as a human. I thought that would have changed as a bat." She really did not like that plan. It was definitely a bad plan.
"We need him or not?"
Amy sighed and gripped onto the vampire more. "If he attacks me, I'm going to make sure you don't live the rest of the night. Now hurry and do it."
"Alright." Ed said, flicking the switch and lighting up the fire. Then they both sucked in a breath as he slowly led the flame to Jerry's neck but also keeping his drippy bloody arm to his lips.
Being sensitive to fire was only an understatement. The second the flame hit his skin and the blood scent run through his senses, Jerry was suddenly awake. His vampire was finally awake. He shoved Amy to the ground, grabbed Ed's arm and started to aggressively drink from it. Amy groaned in pain. She knew they should have put him down for this. Then she stood back up and watched. It was vicious. It was gruesome and Ed was in deep pain as Jerry was dragging him underneath him while taking mouthfuls of his blood. Jerry did not realize what he was doing or who he was even attacking but the black eyed devil was hungry and starving. Angry and sad. Hurting and dying. There was no going back now. He needed blood. He needed it bad. He was missing Charley. Wanting him back. So bad. And this was his way of dealing with it. By stress feeding. Feeding himself back to normal.
When Jerry had enough he pushed Ed aside breathing in as life was returning back to him. And his eyes swept over in blazing red like Hell's fires. And blood was leaking from his mouth and down his vein pulsing neck.
"Are you okay?" Amy asked aiding Ed immediately after the assault.
"Yea, I'm fine. I think." Ed grunted, backing against the stone wall as he caught his breath. He watched the wound slowly healing back knowing damn well he wasn't going to get his strength back for awhile. Being a vampire was nice and all but shit like that still hurt like hell. He hissed heavily in pain as he hugged his arm close to his chest. "Fuck."
Amy reeacted and removed her white short jacket and pressed it against his wound. But he just motioned it away. "It will heal."
"Don't be stubborn, Ed. It will heal eventually but not at this moment."
Evil sighed and snatched the jacket. He ripped a thin sequence of fabric from it and had her help him tie it around the wrist. "Thank you." He begrudgingly said.
"Now what about Jerry?" She asked after tying the last knot to keep his wound closed until the healing process was complete.
They both turned to the blacked haired devil. Ed pushed weakly away from the wall. "Jerry? Can you hear me?"
The newly awakened demon didn't acknowledge them. He was just breathing in and out like the air was cutting at his throat.
"What's wrong with him? Why are his eyes red? They shouldn't be red, right?" Amy asked. This time for sure she was scared. The last time they saw his eyes red was when the Dark Angel came to play. And she only witnessed that for a little bit before passing out.
"He's hungry. And I think maybe...a bit angry. Or a lot angry... Yea, I fucked up. Shit. You should get out here." Ed advised seriously.
"I'm not going to leave you here."
"Trust me. You're going to want to run. Find Peter. I'll be right behind you. I just need to rest for a little bit. Get my strength back."
"Ed?" She hissed persistently. "He won't give you time to rest once he's turned."
"I know. Just go. I'll be fine." There was a deep concern Amy had for him and Ed knew it so he smiled at her. "Go already."
There was no point arguing with him. Sometimes he could be just as stubborn as Charley. She backed away seeing Jerry now rising, then she ran off in the direction they entered.
The vampire, or whatever he was turning into, hugged his stomach and started to puke up everything he just took in. Then he fell back to his knees as internal blood gushed and gushed from his mouth. He was no longer throwing up Ed's blood, but his own blood and his own insides.
Ed just watched in remorse as the demon came back to life...as Jerry's transformation began. It was so intense and nasty to watch. So gruesome. So tragic. He could see that Jerry was terrified of what he was becoming. He was fighting it so hard. But he was weaker than himself.
"Help." He heard Jerry cry through the take over. And his voice was hollow and painful. But all he could do was watch his master get sucked in by the stronger and more powerful force. "Help me." The vampire begged as he reached out for Ed.
Ed always wanted to be something different. Something better than what he was. And when he discovered that wolves and vampires could possibly be a real thing, his whole life changed. He thought he could become something better than a weak and cowardly human being. Then he met Jerry and wanted to be just like him. And then he was. He became what he wanted. The feeling of the first bite was powerful. It was bliss. Like being in a paradise. But seeing Jerry now, he realized this life wasn't a paradise at all. It was a fucking tragedy. They were parasites replacing the soul of the original host. That's all they were. That's all they will ever be. It made him realize his own selfishness. He gave up his soul to be better when in truth it only made him better in the flesh. He chose to live like this where as the suffering man before him had no other option. Jerry left a lot behind to become better. And now he lived a life left bleeding.
"Jerry, I know what you are. I know that you're a good guy. I know that you're in there. I know that you don't want to hurt anyone anymore. But you have to fight this. You have to try because no one else can do it for you. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of pain that you're going through right now and I know fighting it is the hardest thing you've ever had to do but you've been fighting it for so long. So don't let him win now. Charley needs you. Fuck, the world needs you, even if they don't know yet." Ed said watching the turning demon stand with much effort. "Thank you for saving me. Thank you for giving me another chance at life. Thank you for letting me become what you made me and I'm sorry...so sorry, that you became much more."
The younger vampire ended up leaving him. There was nothing he could do to help. The angel from hell was awakened and now it was time to help himself.
Hello Everyone! It's almost over so yay! I can finally be proud of another story I have finished. Thank you all again for reading and reviewing and favoring. I appreciate it more than you know and I'm happy that you guys get to see this story through. You encouraged me to finish and it was one I lost affection for but gained back so thank you for sticking to it after so long. It's already 6 years old. (Sorry)
Part II Finale will be coming soon.
~Stranger