*Chapter 8: Regret*
"Rouge! Control yourself!" Blaze yelled. "You're blowing our cover!" But the whit bat didn't listen as she opens her mouth to show off her fangs. Before she could sink her teeth down to Mighty's exposed neck, Shadow lunged at her and slap her across the face.
"Rouge! Snap out of it! You promised you wouldn't drink from a mortal!" He said. Rouge blinked and her eyes turn back to aqua color. Mighty got on his feet and readied his stake, but Maria held his arm to stop him.
"Maria, these are vampires! We're here to be their dinner!" Mighty said.
"No! They are not going to hurt us!" Maria said. "Why did Rouge attack you?"
"He cut himself and Rouge smelt his blood." Silver explained. He looked at Mighty and Maria. "Look, Rouge would never harm anyone. When she smells blood, she...loses control. Please, these are our friends. I know them."
"Aren't you a vampire?" Mighty asked him.
"No. And neither are Sonic and Sally." Silver replied. Rouge stood up and look over at the armadillo. She turned away and left everyone. Shadow sighed and cross his arms. "Is she okay?" Silver asked.
"No. She's upset." Shadow said. "She needs a moment." Maria slowly walked over to Shadow. Mighty watched Shadow carefully in case there is funny business. "Maria, I am so sorry. This...could've been better."
"Or worse." Sonic spoke. "Rouge really scared us there." Honey lowered her head.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault for opening my mouth." She said. Everyone looked at her. The cat rubbed her arm. Mighty wanted to know why he and Maria are here if the vampires don't mean harm. But, he can't know the real reason. Blaze walked up to him and did the unthinkable. Her eyes glow red as Mighty looked into them.
"Nothing happened. All you did was have a good time. Rouge didn't attack you. Now, you must go wash your cut and bandage it. Silver will assist you. When I count to three, you will not remember about seeing us as vampires. Just mortals. Understand?" She said. Mighty nodded with silent. "One...two...three!" She snapped her fingers. Mighty blinked once and look at his cut on his hand. "Silver, will you please help our guest?" Blaze asked.
"...Yes." Silver said. Mighty followed the white hedgehog down the hall to get to the bathroom to wash the cut. Blaze turned to Shadow and Maria, crossing her arms.
"Let me guess. Maria knows the truth about why she is here?" Blaze asked. Shadow nodded. "Honey opened her mouth. Of course..." Honey blushed a bit. She's only a young vampire and didn't know any better.
"Well, since she found out..." Sonic said uneasy.
"I was afraid, of course. But...I know I can't run away in panic. This is so much to take in." Maria said. "You all mean well. It's great that you have mortals as friends. But, I can't be a vampire. Not now. Or...maybe ever. My grandfather needs me."
"I hate to say this to you, Lady Maria, but...you've been chosen as a bride." Blaze said. "It is one of the mating laws for a vampire. A vampire cannot replace first love."
"It's true." Sally said with a nod. "I've read about it."
"But, I'm not gonna lie to you, but...you two make a cute couple." Sonic said with a smile, trying to brighten the mood. But, Shadow and Maria aren't amused. "Tough crowd." Sonic sighed.
"Maria, if you wish not to see us again, I understand." Shadow spoke. "But, I can't find another. You are the only one I love."
"But, you don't know much about me. And...I don't love you. We barely knew each other." Maria said with a sad look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Shadow, but..."
"You have a life to live for." Blaze finished. "I get it." Maria nodded. "You wish to return home?" Blaze asked.
"Please." Maria said with a nod.
XX
When Mighty climbed on the carriage, Maria stood by with Shadow holding her hand with Blaze behind him. Shadow kissed Maria's hand.
"Goodnight, Lady Maria. I hope we meet again one day. If you let me see you." He said. Maria didn't say a word. She climbed in the carriage. As the carriage disappeared in the woods, Shadow stood there, watching.
"She doesn't hate us." Blaze spoke. "She's just overwhelmed."
"Thanks to Honey, things are going to be very difficult." Shadow grunted. "What if I can't have Maria? I can't fall in love twice."
"Things take time, Shadow. Love is one of those feelings that took a bit longer to develop." Blaze told him. "Especially for mortals. And it took you so long to fall in love at first sight when you see her."
"Same goes for you three years ago." Shadow said. "And...you really should turn Silver into a vampire. You made him wait for so long. He ages everyday."
"Shadow, please. Not now." Blaze said with a look in her eyes. "You have problems. And I have mine. Right now, you need to focus on yours." The two closed the gates and walk back up to the castle where their friends are waiting.
Rouge cries in her coffin. She had lost it. But she couldn't help it. The smell of blood is too much for her to resist. A knock is heard outside her coffin, making her gasp. She forgets she isn't alone in her dark place. She opened her coffin to see Shadow.
"Are you okay?" Shadow asked. Rouge climbed out of her coffin and wipe her tears.
"Forgive me, Shadow. I...I didn't mean it." She said. "The blood...it's so...overwhelming to me. My mind is screaming at me to drink it. And I scared Maria. I ruined everything."
"To make you feel a bit better, Rouge, Honey exposed the truth by accident. So, Maria knows why she was here." Shadow said. Rouge looked at him. "Blaze altered Mighty's memory, so we're safe. Maria promised to keep a secret about us. Yet...she doesn't love me. Not enough to become my bride."
"...Oh."
"One day we will meet again. She isn't afraid of us, but she is afraid of sacrificing her life. To be honest, I think she isn't ready to become a vampire. She doesn't love me. We hardly know each other." Shadow told the white bat. "I love her. I should know her more."
"That's a good idea. You know what you should do? You should visit her at night." Rouge suggests. "Go to her window, romance her, send her roses-"
"Rouge, slow down." Shadow said.
"Sorry. But, that's something a girl would like to see in a man." Rouge said with a giggle. Shadow shrugged a bit. One day he could go to her window and see her. If she allows him to visit. "I need some fresh air." Rouge said. "You want me to hunt tonight?"
"No. I'll do it. Just stay out of sight." Shadow said. Rouge nodded and walk out of her room with a coat she took from the coat hanger. Shadow is left alone in her room. This evening may be ruined, but he will try again to please her another day.
Espio is walking in the dark streets alone to get to his office where Vector is. He walk pass the echidnas, but didn't see Knuckles. He turned to the bar and see some drunks pass out on the tables and on the floor. The chameleon shook his head and continue walking.
"They shouldn't be drinking that much. One minute they walk out, a vampire comes in." Espio said to himself.
"You are correct, domn." A voice spoke. Espio spun around to see Scourge. The green hedgehog smirked at him. "I hear you are a detective. You'll do." Espio glared at him and took out a cross. Scourge let out a hiss.
"Stand back, vampire!" Espio demanded. "I will not be your victim." He is approaching Scourge with a cross in front of him. Before he could place the cross on Scourge's forehead, Espio was grabbed from behind. A pair of fangs sink into the neck. Espio let out a cry. Scourge looked up to see the chameleon being bitten by another vampire. A wolf wearing a fancy suit and a top hat. The wolf pulled away with a satisfying sigh. Espio got on his knee, one hand over the bite to stop the bleeding.
"Thanks for the snack, good fellow. I was very thirsty." The wolf said with a smirk. Espio is breathing hard. His vision is getting blurry. He collapse on the cold ground. The wolf chuckled and walk pass Scourge. The green hedgehog snarled.
"Hey! That was my meal!" He said. "Who do you think you are?!"
"My apologies, domn." The wolf said, slightly turning his head. "I am T. W. Barker. But, call me Barker."
"Well, Barker. I was gonna fight off this chameleon, but you show up and drain his blood." Scourge said. "And where the hell are you from?!"
"Aren't you gonna drink the rest of him or leave him there?" Barker asked. "And you could use better hunting skills. You shouldn't expose yourself to quickly." He walked away from Scourge. The green hedgehog turn back to the unconscious chameleon, then back to the wolf. Scourge sighed and grab the wrists of Espio and pull him in the alley.
Espio is against the wall, not waking up. Blood is on his neck that stains his shirt. Scourge kneels down and feel the pulse. It is faint. He could either die or turn. Scourge opened his mouth to drink the blood from the other side of the neck, but a voice is heard.
"Hey!" Scourge quickly turned his head to see Knuckles standing there with a crossbow. "Stay away from him!" The red echidna yelled.
"Dammit!" Scourge growled. He transformed into a vampire and flew away from Espio. Knuckles watched the bat fly away. But he rushed over to his friend.
"Hey! Espio! Are you okay?!" Knuckles asked, shaking the chameleon. He then noticed the bite marks on the neck. "Oh no..." He yelled out for help, calling his team over. His good friend is at risk.
