Chapter 16

In the shadow realm.

"This cannot be good, our king is in danger!"

"We have to help him!"

"We're closed off, we cannot until the potion has passed through."

The council held an emergency meeting with the exception of Igris. Jima has been watching everything closely and has worried for his King. "We did not anticipate such markings to be used against him… We cannot enter after the seal has been activated. We can only do so when the potion has worn off from the King." He stated.

The table was frustrated, the legions restless as they witnessed the odds against their King grow with each passing hour. Everything was being observed from his shadow, and yet despite being so close, they felt helpless and far from their King.

Bad continued to fight, no matter what happened, no matter the odds he vowed to keep going. But he was getting weaker and tried by the hour. Flash, Garou and Bad were able to go for another seven hours, but fatigue began to wear on them.

"We need a solid plan! We need…"

"To not interfere…"

The council froze to the voice, they turned and saw the King's bodyguard Sonic sharpening his blade. He appeared disinterested in the events of the mortal world, let alone not the least bit worried for his King. "King Bad… is in great danger!" protested Jima. "Why did you not enter the contest with him!"

Sonic shrugged. "He never asked of me, he never summoned me before taking his potion. How was I to answer and protect him?" he asked.

Jima had been growing suspicious of Sonic, he has been acting very odd for the past few days. One, he has read every book in the shadow library. A particular book he continues to go back to time and time again. Second, he has searched the potions room many times and yet never made anything or took anything out to his knowledge.

"How can you be so calm?" demanded Jima.

Sonic smirked. "I have faith in our king…" he paused as the world began to rumble. The shadows all grasped their hearts as they felt a sensation resonate through Bad and into them. Such anger... violence began to fill them, yet they found themselves unable to move. Even Sonic appeared startled to the sudden events.

"Has the King…"

"No…" Sonic whispered, but then a crooked smile came over him. "The King of the Shadows just awoke!"

#

Zenko was nervous to it all, her eyes kept turning to Amai, wondering what was happening, what was going to become of Bad if the seals are in place. "How come I couldn't see them?" she asked as the tears fell from her eyes. Had she, it could all have been avoided. As she began to weep, she felt Amai's hand gently come upon her head.

"I didn't notice them either, the elder is quite skilled, as he said, he placed these markings down long before ragnarok was called. He's crafty to say the least, however if your brother, Flash and Garou can last, they will mean nothing…"

"Speaking of lasting, how about we see what makes you so special there Amai? Rumor has it you turned mortal!" came the call of the underlings. Zenko grew scared as the vampire surrounded them. Amai hid her behind his leg as he stood rather annoyed to their attempt to advance.

"You weaklings sicken me…" He merely stood in place as the underlings tried to strike.

With a few motion of his arms, he severed them all to bits. "How unfortunate, you are not within the circle, then again… you would be too young for the seal to have such a benefit to you…"

"GAH!" Zenko turned and froze at the sight.

Garou was stabbed with a sliver dagger!

The blood gushed out his lip, the wound continued to bleed out as the vampires grinned with greed. Flash and Bad were held down. Bad was beyond tired yet he screamed aloud for Garou to hold on.

"Don't die on me man! Don't DIE!" he shouted.

The oldest of the elders, the one with the power to make the seals merely smirked as he withdrew the dagger. Garou dropped to the ground yet clenched his wound to try and stop the blood from gushing out of him. "It won't be long now. He will die…"

"Garou… Man, please, PLEASE KEEP FIGHTING! YOU'RE A PAIN IN THE ASS, BUT YOU CAN'T DIE ON ME!" Bad shouted.

He got a small smirk out of the human monster, but he was getting weaker…

#

His heart ached…

Bad felt as if his heart shattered before his eyes. Why? Why did he care so much for the vampire that turned his life into a living nightmare? Why did he care that he would die soon if something wasn't done to save him… why did he agree to all of this? Bad didn't know, but he knew his fighting spirit wouldn't let him down. He tried to struggle out of the grasps of the vampires, but they were just too strong to be contended with. The elders from the other covens ensured he didn't move from where he stood. Yet, they made certain he was close enough to watch Garou die on the ground.

"It will end soon enough, and then, we will kill you…" the elder announced as he turned to Flash.

"Fangblood, I thought we agreed, Flash is relinquished to me!"

"Calm yourself Crimson, I am merely stating the obvious."

'Fangblood, what a dumbass name!' Bad thought. Yet this elder continued to tease and torment Bad as he made his way to him, staring him in the face as the sickening smile grew. "Then, you will die… after… I take your sister and make her my wife… I do love them young. I will turn just before you take your last breath, she will forever be my child bride!"

His heart pulsed once, a strong and yet very powerful badump resonated against his chest. Then, it came to a sudden stop.

"What… did you just say?" Bad demanded in a seething tone.

His heart had yet to beat again, but Bad wasn't in pain, it was as if something within him broke.

He heard it, but he wanted to be sure it was exactly what the elder threatened. Fangblood's smile grew as he stated everything slower to ensure Bad got all the details. "A child bride… isn't it… sinful for me to have one? But she is so pure and innocent, I'll bet she tastes wonderful…"

BADUMP

Bad began to seethe, he felt his strength suddenly surge as his stomach began to act up. He tried to break free, but Fangblood was quick to punch him square in the stomach.

Metal Bat froze as he felt something wrench up. He was physically ill, as the vampires laughed aloud. "Puny Halfling couldn't keep down his own spit!" one snickered.

Bad threw up then and there, mainly over himself much to the laughter of the vampires.

Fangblood however noticed the contents regurgitated was not bile… but potion. "Ah it appears you have lost you… medi…cine…" his voice suddenly trailed off, Bad began to smirk as he stared ahead at Fangblood.

"You just pissed off the wrong guy, asshole!"

Black smoke began to come up through the ground, Bad suddenly gave off a haunting battle cry, sending the legion of vampires flying about like ragdolls! Even Fangblood was blown back!

Yet the moment he was free, Bad rushed to Garou. Placed his hand over the wound, and using his free arm to feed him. Garou took his blood without hesitation, and drank more than he ever did before. Peering down, Bad saw the wound heal rather well. "It's enough…" Garou said weakly. "It's… enough…"

Bad nodded as he stood up, glaring at the legion of vampires who have since regrouped back and away from him. "What… what are you?" Fangblood asked. For once, his voice was full of fear.

However, there came a sinister grin over Metal Bat.

"I'm going to devour… each… and everyone of your sorry ass souls!"