Author's Notes; Mythological AU. Shounen AI. Some Angst. Tension. Action towards the end. This was supposed to be the final chapter, but since I've randomly sprouted a leader of the pack character, one more chapter is due..Please enjoy..
A day had passed since the duo had been able to reach the old house. The vampire was able to retrieve a scythe and a shield, returning safely to the cave with his merman lover. When X had fallen asleep the previous night, Zero left the cave briefly to get food for his brunette merman. The blond returned safely with pieces of coral and fish for him, setting them on the bank of the lake closest to a blue crystal in the lake X had grown fond of. Zero quietly sharpened the scythe while the evening went on. When he could see the sun starting to rise, he set the scythe and shield near his mother's grave before walking to where the merman had fallen asleep on the bank of the lake near the blue crystal. The blond quietly stepped closer and kissed X's head gently a few times before he turned into a bat and hung by his feet upside down on the pink crystal marking his mother's grave to sleep.
Emerald eyes stared at the sleeping bat the following morning as the merman slowly ate the food the vampire had brought for him. X was scared for and worried about Zero. He wished the werewolves would just leave Zero to live in his old house in peace. He didn't want his vampire to get hurt or worse killed, hating that Zero couldn't negogiate with the werewolves. When he was done eating, X swam just outside the cave, hoping maybe some fresh air would help him sort his thoughts.
Outside the cave, X swam to the rock where he had first encountered Zero, leaning against it and staring at the withering house with a gentle sigh. Within only a few minutes, Lily swam up to the rock too. "What's wrong, little X? You seem troubled." She asked, sitting in the shallower part of the water. "I don't understand..." X started. Lily tilted her head. "What vexes you so?" The brunette merman slowly turned towards the redhead mermaid. "Zero insists on fighting the werewolves. I don't want to see him get hurt and I wish they would negogiate instead of fighting..." Lily sighed gently. "The woman who helped take care of me when I was new here. That very woman was his mother. She gave me insight into the ordeal between vampires and werewolves. The feud is ancient, far older than any of us. Both are after the same thing; Human blood and territory. One prizes brute strength and the other prizes tenacity and cunning. Both view the other as pests, not worth negogiating with, rather just obstacles to clear out." X sighed too, shaking his head. Lily came a little closer. "Both see the other as inferior. Zero's killings won't be justified, but I see what he is trying to do. I think he is trying to provide a secure future for himself. And for you. If he were to return to his birth home with you in tow, the werewolves would hunt both of you down and kill you." X nodded silently, gulping a little. Lily pet X's shoulder. "I've never seen him so motivated before. Until you arrived, he's been in a constant state of hopelessness. He only feels remotely better when he's near his mother's grave. I know you don't want him to get hurt, but fighting on land is far out of our league. There's nothing either of us can do. Its an ancient ordeal that has to play itself out. Remember though; He's fighting for you. Fighting for a future where you two can live in peace together." While X did like the idea of their futures together, he still hated that Zero couldn't negogiate with the werewolves, even with insight on the conflicts between the two creatures. X thanked Lily before swimming slowly back into the cave and curling up against his blue crystal.
The evening became rainy and windy with thunder in the distance. X clung to the blue crystal, intimidated by the thunder. The bat on the pink crystal stretched his wings with a gentle yawn before letting himself drop to the cave floor. Zero took his original form, rubbing the sand from his eyes and opening them just in time to see two bolts of lightning flash one after the other outside the cave. A smirk grew on the vampire's face. "Perfect. This shalt beth the night." His gaze then went to the water, spying X against the blue crystal. He grew concerned as he approached the lake and the merman. Scared and upset, X didn't even look in Zero's direction. His green eyes focused on his reflection and into the lake, trying to distract himself from both the thunder and the conflicting thoughts plaguing his mind. The blond vampire slowly reached for the merman's shoulder, but X caught sight of him and moved away from him. Zero watched X as he withdrew his hand. "What troubles thee?" "You know full well what I'm worried about.." X said glumly, looking back down at the water. Zero sighed gently. "This beth the opportunity I needeth. It must beth done." X rolled his eyes quietly. "Tell me, mister vampire, if I were a werewolf..If I happened by here, under similar circumstances as I have as a merman, would you shun and kill me too?" X's question threw Zero offguard, making Zero pause for thought. "Answer me right now." X told Zero, turning towards Zero at last. Zero closed his eyes, deep in thought. X had enough of Zero's silence and pulled Zero into the water with him. He felt hurt and frustrated under it all. He grabbed Zero by the new collar the vampire had made, who seemed unphased. "You're really so prideful of your own kind, you would kill me too?"
The blond's face blushed and his blue eyes opened halfway, sparkling with love. "Even if thou becameth or hath been born a werewolf, mine enemy, I mighteth beth vexed at first. I wouldeth wonder if thou mayeth intend harm upon me. If not, I wouldeth bringeth thee no harm. Werewolf or not, in mine eyes, thou wouldeth still bear mine love...my heart, as thou doth noweth. Hath thou not felt it? We art soulmates. Thou art why I shalt seeth this through. Thou showeth me reason. The reason I shalt fight them...is for thee." X was taken aback at the response from the vampire, whose collar he held him by. "You would...still love me if I were a werewolf? But..wouldn't that mean I would be shunned by the other werewolves, resulting in a fight regardless?" Zero nodded gently. "Precisely. It wouldeth cometh to a fight either way. Yes, I wouldeth loveth thee even as a werewolf." X looked at Zero nearly speechless as the thunder started getting louder and closer. "Zero...do you really mean that? But..aren't you scared?" The vampire nodded slowly this time. "I doth indeed meaneth that. To beth honest, mine dearest, I am indeed scared to some extent. I doth hath much to lose...though I doth see it as worth risking mine life over." Tears crept into X's eyes, making him grip Zero's collar more. "Pappa...I don't want to lose you..Please don't fight." The vampire's eyes closed. "I am sorry, mine dearest...but if we truly desire a future of peace together, I hath to fight." X sniffled, shifting his hands from Zero's collar to wrapping his arms around Zero's back and waist, snuggling Zero's chest. "I hate that you're right here...but I have a request regarding your fight." The blond looked down at X, watching and enjoying X's snuggling. "What is thy wish? Nay..what is thy command?" X blushed against Zero's warm chest, able to hear his vampire's heart beating. "Can you find it in your heart to spare those that flee from you? Attack only those who come after you." Zero giggled. "Thou art a just and merciful commander. Yes, mine commander, thy wish I can easily fulfill." X's tears streamed down his face. "Promise me, Pappa.." The vampire gently held the merman's head against his chest. "Thou hath mine word, mine little one."
The merman sat on the banks of the lake as he watched Zero getting ready for battle. He hadn't stopped crying or sniffling. Zero strapped the scythe onto his back and then the shield. He used magic to make the two seem to disappear into thin air in camouflage. When he was ready, his gaze turned briefly to the frequent lightning outside the cave, taking a deep breath. His blue eyes then turned to the crying merman. X had cupped his head in his hands, scared and upset still of both the nasty weather and the ensuing battle between Zero and the werewolves. Zero came closer to X, stopping right behind him. X hadn't heard him over the loud thunder and his own ears clogging up from crying. Zero sat down behind him and gently held X's shoulders. Before X could look or even get a word out, he felt fangs sink into his neck just above his gills. The merman gasped before uttering a moan. Zero wrapped his arms around X's body, drinking X's blood. 'In exchangeth for thy blood to nourish me, I shalt giveth thee a fragment of the magic that resideth in me and part of mine lifeforce. In mine absence, mine magic shalt protect thee. Mine lifeforce shalt alloweth thee to feel and senseth as I do. Thou shalt noweth beth immortal as well.' The vampire told his merman lover, slowly withdrawing his fangs and licking X's wound clean. X moaned more for Zero's bite and licking. "Haahh..Zero..You've given me so much, but I've given you so little.." Zero smirked, playfully nibbling X's neck. "That beth what thou thinketh. Thou hath given me far more than thou realize. Thou hath given me care, joy, and love. All things I hath never thought I wouldeth know. These I can barely giveth thee an equal equivalent of. I hath tried to return these things to thee with every centimeter..nay, milimeter of mine heart." X looked back at Zero, managing to kiss Zero's forehead. "You've done that admirably, Pappa. I've loved every second." Zero blushed for X's kiss. "There shalt beth uncountable seconds to cometh after this deed. Though I must asketh thee a request." X's head tilted. "What is it?" Zero used glittering red magic to heal the bite wound, marking it with a red Z. "Haveth thee faith in me. Thy faith...maketh me stronger." X nodded slowly. "If you will fulfill my request to leave alone those who run from you, then I'll hold up my end too." Zero kissed X's forehead. "Thanketh thee verily."
X was advised by Zero to get out of the water while lightning was in the area. The vampire then helped coax X further. X listened, slowly pulling himself out of the water and pulling himself together. "Taketh ye deep breaths. Inhale...Exhale..." Zero coached, doing it with X. X took deep breaths with his vampiric lover standing behind him. "Empty thy mind as thou closeth thy eyes...With a clear mind, thou shalt be able to honeth in on what transpires beyond yon cave during the battle." Zero told him. X's eyes closed and all thoughts slowly dropped away from his mind. They were replaced by the feeling of a large presence behind him. "Can thou feeleth me?" The vampire asked. "Yes...I feel you." Zero smiled. "Most impressive, dearest. Focus on mine presence. Thou willst this way sense and feel mine every move, from the beats of mine heart to the steps I taketh as I treadeth yon earth." X did as he was told, able to feel out all of the movements of Zero's body. "This is amazing, Pappa." "I am very pleased thou enjoyeth it so. Remember, put thy faith in me. I loveth thee so dearly." Zero gave X a kiss on the lips before leaving the cave.
Outside, the storm raged. The wind had grown fierce and the rain heavy. Zero was quickly soaked in the heavy rain as he jumped from the large rock in the lake and onto the meadow. Only a few paces into the meadow and howls from the werewolves sounded. The vampire stood his ground, drawing his scythe from its camouflage.
X stayed still in the dark cave, keeping focused on Zero's movements. He could hear the rain and howls in the wind. "Have they seen you already? Please be careful, Zero." He kept trained on Zero's essence, feeling every movement. He felt how Zero stanced himself and swung the scythe at the oncoming werewolves. He could sense many werewolves heading towards Zero, very few fleeing. He could hear yelps as every werewolf that came too close to Zero met their ends by Zero's blade, but he also noticed Zero was not using the scythe alone. He could feel Zero amassing energy in his hands and feet at times, expelling it every time he came into contact with a werewolf.
Zero took out every werewolf in his path with little effort. He wasn't headed for the house just yet. He was sweeping the meadow, intent on killing and driving off as many werewolves as possible. He kept the shield on his back for protection in case of sneak attacks.
Seeing or sensing Zero's abilities and movements from the cave, X started to put a lot of faith into Zero. He was also happy to see Zero keeping his word and not harming those who chose not to fight him, even if they were few. Through Zero's movements, he grew more eager for a life on land alongside him, hoping Zero would teach him some moves.
Most of the werewolves were easy enough to kill, nevermind the ones who fled, but some where a little tougher, taking two or more hits or slices. As Zero finally started towards the old house, he could feel tremors in the ground. Something knocked down several trees on its way out of the woods before landing in the meadow just before Zero. Zero could make out a werewolf form before the final tremor dropped him to the wet ground, making him drop the scythe. This werewolf was much much larger than the rest and was standing on two legs.
X grew alarmed when he could sense another large presence close to Zero. "What...What is that? Another werewolf?"
The large werewolf growled at Zero before roaring in his face. "You're the one going around slaughtering my pack, aren't you?" Zero growled. "Thy kind hath banished me from mine rightful home for fareth too long. I am taking back what beth mine." The werewolf growled more. "Silence, you brat. These lands are mine. You want them so bad, you have to kill me for them without your pathetic weapon and shield. Go ahead and runaway, little runt." Zero smirked, taking off the shield. "Thou calleth me a coward? I shalt not runneth anywhere...but around the meadow with thy lifeless head." The werewolf roared in Zero's face again. "Filthy arrogant child, covered in the blood of my slain pack members! You shall suffer the wrath of Rasslor!"