Chapter 14
Bad recovered from his incident, yet it was so late in the morning the next day, he never forgot to take his medicine. With a disgruntled shutter, he took the vial and pounded it back in disgust. "BLEH!" Bad said aloud. "Tastes worst than before!"
Garou was already awake, and for the first time in a while, he made breakfast. "Huh? Where's Sonic? He usually does this in the morning." Bad asked.
"Told him to get lost for now, I could handle it." Garou muttered under his breath. As Bad took a seat, Garou placed his breakfast down before him. "We got a problem now." He said. Reaching into his shirt, he took out a scarlet red paper. "Ragnarok as been called for tonight."
Bad froze. "Shit, and I just took my medicine!" he protested. "We can last right? Besides, how many of us are going into this?"
Garou sighed. "This is what I needed to talk to you about…" he explained that his legions mainly consisted of the vampires who didn't wish for his mother to fall into power. As such they are not part of his coven, they were merely allies for the war, and all other who joined him. "Basically, our coven is Flash, myself… and you. Three of us against ten thousand…"
There wasn't a look of surprise on Bad, he ate his breakfast as he normally did and nodded. "Yeah… seems like fun." He said sarcastically. "Can we last until morning though? Can these vampires be out in the sun?"
"Most of them yes, but I doubt that is going to be the issue, every ragnarok, they place a seal down to ensure the war is fought fair and square in a sense. So, if there is a vampire who can die by the light of the sun, the seal will protect them until the war is over. Some have tried to win vampire wars this way as well, outlasting their enemies until dawn, but that won't happen now."
Once more Bad nodded. "Where is Zenko going to be?" he asked. "I don't give a damn about me, but my little sister needs to be protected!"
Garou nodded. "You need to know, since she is connected to you… she is part of the coven, however we are not getting her involved in battle. I have asked for Atomic and his disciples to look after her until this is over."
Bad continued to eat, however he was already picking up that something wasn't right. "You're more worried about this than facing your mother." He said in a blatant tone. "What's up?"
There was no point in hiding it anymore. Bad could pick up on his emotions too easily. Garou looked away rather embarrassed until he said. "What was said the day before… how I am not the strongest anymore between the two of us. And yet, at the same time, my own body is battling against me! It's trying to process the power I got from my father, but also what I am gaining from you… I don't even know if I am a true vampire anymore."
"You still drink from me every few days, I would say so." Bad muttered. "Well, not as much, but you get it."
"I don't want to get weaker, you know I strive to be the strongest. But… I don't even know anymore…"
Bad had ever seen Garou so conflicted before, the once arrogant and cocky asshole that he was has become someone vulnerable. For the first time really, he was scared. Not for the people around him, but for himself. All his life he has known about his father's power, ever since his death he has kept it contained and hidden from the world in hopes of sparing it from his wrath or consistent thirst for blood. But now… he doesn't know anymore.
"We'll end this tonight, I swear it." Bad vowed. "You, me and Flash… I think those assholes need more friends if you ask me."
Despite his confidence, Bad was a little worried too. He managed to survive the last war due to luck and an unexpected power boost after becoming the Shadow King. But that power won't be there anymore until 10:38 tomorrow morning. Could they last until then?
'Of course I can' Bad thought. 'All I need is my fighting spirit, those vampires will get a taste of my own power soon enough!' he thought confidently.
"You are so full of yourself," muttered Garou, but then smirked.
"Goddamn it I forgot your telepathic…"
#
Later that day, Bad picked Zenko up from school.
As he walked her home he paused, as something didn't feel right. "Big Brother?" she asked.
"You need to go, now" he said in a warning tone. His grip came firmly on his bat as he could sense something getting closer. It was familiar, however different.
Zenko paused when her hand gently came onto Bad's bat. "Big Bro… it's okay," she said gently.
He came out of the side street rather oddly, but then leaned against the wall.
"Amai Mask?" Bad muttered. "What the hell do you want?"
Amai came forward rather oddly, his gaze came down to Zenko at first but then turned to Bad. "I'll look after her." He said.
"Wait, what?!" Bad demanded. "What the hell do you mean…"
"She is your sister, she is part of Garou's coven… therefore whatever happens tonight she will be on the front lines as well…"
"Nah, you don't get it, she ain't going to be in the fight…"
"I am more than aware of that but by vampire law. She has to be in attendance along with the other non fighting members of the vampire legions." He explained. "Don't you think I know a thing or two about this?"
His grip didn't lighten on the bat. "What the hell makes you think I am going to trust you with her?" he demanded.
Amai gave a small smile. "I am indebted to you, in more ways than one. You exposed my mother for who she really is, and what she stood for. I had long believed Garou killed our father for the sake of power, not realizing he was preventing mother from obtaining it herself. Then, when she killed my brothers and nearly took my life… you saved me when you didn't have to."
"You thank Garou for that," Bad muttered. "I would have left you to die if I had been him, but he must have realized you saw the truth. You owe your debt to him, not me."
"It was your blood that saved me. For that… I will keep your sister safe."
"Bad…" Zenko said. He peered down at her and she gave a nod. "He means it, also if he did anything… you know… Igris would take care of it"
"Igris?" both Bat and Amai questioned.
"That's all you need to know…" Zenko said with a grin.
Bad smirked, she finally named the dragon in her shadow.
"Garou said he has Atomic and his disciples looking out for her…"
"They won't be able to come. There will be a seal in place to ensure only vampires of the covens can attend the war. They will be on the outside looking in, but I on the other hand can enter. I am Garou's brother, by kinship. I can enter… I can keep Zenko safe."
Bad lowered his bat, however still didn't trust Amai as far as he could throw him. "We talk about this with Garou and Flash, you coming?"
Amai placed on some sunglasses and an odd looking hat. Just enough to hide his appearance in public, with a nod, he followed Bad and Zenko home. Yet before they could even get through the door, Garou jumped out and tackled Amai to the ground! He pinned him down and grabbed the scruff of his shirt. "What the hell do you want now!" he demanded.
Sweet Mask kept calm as his hands raised up. "At ease Garou, I am merely here to help" he insisted.
"Tch, yeah sure you are!" he growled.
"I think we ought to hear him out, let's take this inside." Bad called.
#
Garou sneered at the whole explanation Amai gave, he didn't believe it at all, not one word. Yet Amai appeared to have spoken truthfully. "If I were to harm her now, what do you think is going to happen to me?" he demanded of Garou. "I am more than aware of Bad's power. I fear that over death at your hands to say the least…" he took a small sip of tea that Zenko happened to have prepared for the table. As he savored the drink, he turned to Bad.
"What do I have to do to prove I will not harm your sister?" he asked.
Bad thought it over, there were many things that could be done, however he wasn't to sure on which to go for. He turned to Zenko's shadow. "Igris, can you get Jima for me please?" he asked.
Her shadow appeared smaller and then it grew out again, Jima appeared and bowed towards Bad. "My King" he said respectfully.
"I got Amai Mask here claiming he will look after my sister if something were to happen tonight… problem is, a promise from him means jack shit to me. Any idea on what to do to ensure he keeps his word?"
Jima peered over at Amai Mask, but there came a look on his face, one of a half smile. "Oh, but of course my King, you can make him a servant of yours even without taking his shadow."
"I don't got my power right now either…"
"None is needed, just… your permission." Jima said.
"What is he saying?" Amai asked.
"None of your concern right now." Bad snapped back, but he shared the half smirk that Jima possessed. "Go on…" he insisted.
"I suggest we place one of our own within his shadow, that or we merely possess his shadow and ensure he does no harm to the princess. May I?" he asked.
Bad nodded his approval. Jima slithered up to Amai, and suddenly pulled him to his feet. "What… what are you…"
Before he could answer, Amai appeared weak suddenly, his face went pale as he collapsed on to the table.
Garou even froze as Jima ripped the shadow of Amai Mask up off the ground. It stood on its own, amazed to what just happened! It turned to Bad and instantly bowed… which forced Amai to bow as well. "What… are you doing to me!?" Amai Mask demanded.
"Ensured you do not harm the princess. My friend here is going to make certain your movements are not hostile towards Princess Zenko, if they do… he will kill you." Amai didn't understand a lick of shadow speech so Garou had to interpret for him.
Yet even after the interpretation, Bad and Garou froze to the comment. "Wait, what?!" Bad demanded. "That shadow…"
"Indeed my King. Amai Mask's shadow has sworn its loyalty to you, should something occur to Amai Mask, his shadow would already be bounded to you."
Bad had a very cocky look on his face now. "Oh really?" he said with a tone of sarcasm. "I could make you my bitch!"
"BIG BROTHER!" Zenko protested.
Instantly he dropped the smirk. "Garou, is there no other way around this?" he asked.
He shook his head. "I am not all to familiar with vampire customs, remember? I ran away from home before learning any of them. Father let me roam free and refused to bind me to the family castle. Amai on the other hand lives and breathes the traditions of the vampires." He said. "I have no choice but to believe he's right on this. Zenko will have to be there to witness the contest, yet at the same time, I fear the underlings would get a little zealous if she was there alone."
Amai nodded. "I assure you, despite my lack of vampire abilities now… I retained all my strength. Underlings are mere piss on to me."
Bad snarled at the notion, but there was no other choice. "We better go." Garou announced.
"So where the hell is this thing happening?" Bad questioned.
"A massive clearing in the forests of City G."
"My King…" Jima said. "If princess Zenko were to enter combat with you, we can come to your aid… however, we know the princess is everything to you, I merely suggest this, but understand if my notion is refused."
"Thank Jima, but I am not risking my sister to have an advantage. I bashed in vampire heads before, I can do it again!" Bad stated proudly. "However, if Amai is overwhelmed, then please, help him." The Naga shadow bowed as he vanished back into Zenko's shadow, but the familiar dragon peering out returned to its post. Bad turned to Garou. "You ready?" he asked.
Garou stood up out of his chair. "Let's get this slaughter party started!"