Author's Note: Welcome to part II of my story. Like I said, this story is pretty long...from here on, familiar LoI characters will start to appear. I am still editing each chapter (which is VERY time consuming because my grammar sucked five years ago). I am beginning to wonder if any of you can/have figured out what Walter's "problem/secret" is (heh, I'm not telling...yet). I am trying to maintain consistent quality in my writing so I apoloogize if you come across any grammatical/structural errors. The story is written in three parts and I think part II is one of the weaker ones (grammatically) that I need time to fix. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Since no one knows when Joachim was turned into a vampire, my story will follow the LoI timeline. Some authors write him turning into a vampire centuries/decades before the events in LoI. In my story it is more recent, though hopefully it will all make sense to you later on. There are some crucial things that happen which will explain why I made his "turning" happen shortly before LoI...

Special Thanks:

As always, thank you for reading and reviewing my story! Without you guys I wouldn't be nearly as motivated to work on it. Especially my loyal reviewers...I appreciate hearing what you think about each chapter :) I know you've been excited to see what happens now that Joachim is a vampire. Well, you can expect Walter to play an even bigger role now (*sigh*, that red head loves attention... :P)

Chapter XIV

When he awoke, he found himself lying in the middle of a hard marble floor. The young man's pale lashes fluttered open to take in his surroundings. Where am I? A look of confusion and pain spread across his fine features while his lips curled into a scowl. Although he had regained consciousness, his recollection of that fateful night was vague, at best. It felt as if he had awoken from a long slumber. The young man was used to it, however, for it was common for him to sleep for days when he was extremely ill. Nevertheless, the feeling he experienced this time was slightly different – his entire body felt numb and cold, for his skin had turned a shade so pale that the thought he was dying briefly crossed his mind. When his eyes were able to focus better, he noticed that he was in a rather large, open room with a vaulted ceiling. Elaborate stone masonry and architecture donned the room's walls and ceiling. The arched windows lining the back of the room indicated that he had awoken during the middle of the night, for nothing except an entrenching blackness was visible beyond. Despite the darkness, numerous torches along the walls kept the room well lit and warm. Joachim forced himself to sit up, ignoring the dull pain running through his back. Have I been taken prisoner? The young man's ashen hair cascaded around his face in untidy waves. Though haggard, he was strong enough to move and relatively unharmed. It did not take him long, however, to realize that his neck felt stiff and seared with a throbbing pain. One of his hands covered it, before his fingers felt the two holes punctured through the tender flesh.

"At last you have awakened. I was beginning to think I had killed you." The sound of Walter's voice drew his gaze to the back of the room. A bright red carpet ran up a small set of stairs leading to a slightly raised platform. Walter was seated upon a gold throne cushioned with red velvet. The vampire's crimson hair swished when he chuckled and rested his chin in his hand, his eyes staring at the perplexed young man with interest."Welcome to my castle." The red-haired lord continued, his fine lips forming a mischievous grin. "I trust you slept well?" He asked. "Forgive me for leaving you on the floor. I am afraid, I have not had a human guest stay here for quite some time. I see you are quite weak. Do not worry; it will pass once your heart ceases to beat."

Joachim attempted to stand up, placing his feet on the floor and falling back down when they gave way as though turned into sand. The sound of Walter's chuckle echoed through his mind until he found the courage to speak. His voice was hoarse yet undaunted, attempting to hide his fear. "Walter, damn you!" He cursed while he pointed his index finger at the lord accusingly, unable to endure the man's mocking tone. "You're lying! I am not a vampire!"

"Not yet." Walter remarked, giving the young man an amused look, his dark eyes glittering. "But you soon will be. Within a short time you will lose your humanity. I speak the truth, for the changes within you have already begun."

Joachim stared at him in disbelief, his hand wandering to his neck. He managed to force himself to his feet but staggered forward, his words breathless. "No…this can't be!" His effort to rationalize what was happening to him quickly fell apart. Nearly all the blood in his face drained when Walter's lips parted to confirm the truth, revealing two needle-like fangs protruding from his upper jaw. The sight made Joachim's eyes widen before he managed to gasp. "Monster! What have you done to me? I demand you release me from this curse!"

The amusement quickly left Walter's face. The red-haired lord's brow furrowed, his eyes hardening from the young man's constant denial. "Release you?" he chided, his voice lowering as a look of offence spread across his elegant visage. His lips quivered with rage as he replied. "Foolish child, it pains me to see you show no appreciation for my efforts to save your wretched life. Without my interference, you would have died within a month's time. Be grateful for the fact that I allowed you to address me with such disrespect. You are entitled to nothing." After pausing so the young man could comprehend his meaning, Walter added. "I could have killed you whenever it suited me. Never forget that."

Joachim glared at him fiercely, his silvery eyes blazing. "I wish you had killed me," he snarled. "I would gratefully choose death over an eternity with you. Never forget that. Now, release me!"

Walter huffed, evidently unfazed by his remark. "Feel free to leave Eternal Night – though I assure you, it will not be easy."

An enormous pain flowed through his body when Walter waved his hand. Joachim's body suddenly lifted off the floor and was suspended in mid air, despite his kicks and struggles to free himself from the other lord's invisible restraint. "Do not dare insult me." Walter warned, waving his hand, which simultaneously shook the young man like a rag doll in the air. Joachim gasped and cried out, his head lashing forward and backward from the force of the other lord's motions. Then, as though satisfied by his silence, Walter signaled for the door to open. As if controlled by an unseen hand, the door's solid stone frame shifted at his command, allowing a rush of cold night air into the room. A starless night sky was visible beyond. Its foreboding blackness was eager to accept the vampire's reluctant offering. He gave Joachim a mocking bow as a coy grin plastered itself upon his smooth, eloquent face. "If you wish to leave, allow me to assist you, milord."

Joachim's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to retort. The moment his throat vibrated to speak, Walter thrust his arm forward, the motion simultaneously throwing him across the room. Walter's immense power catapulted the young man into the cold, dark night. He screamed in pain when his face collided against the stone platform. He rolled over, only to realize that he had landed upon a set of stairs. Nevertheless, the force of Walter's blow sent his frail, sickly form tumbling down them, his face smashing against the stone steps until he landed at the base of the staircase. He remained there for some time, regaining his strength until he managed to sit up. Though fatigued, he looked up at the crimson full moon looming in the sky. The moon's former whiteness looked as though it was stained by blood.

Between gasps of pain, his hand brushed across his forehead, before pulling away from the icy sensation emanating from the pale flesh. He had been lucky to not break anything during his fall. Fortunately, his chest armor protected him from serious injuries, which would have killed a frail man like him instantly. As he forced himself to his feet, his mind drifted in and out of focus. What is happening to me? What has he done to me? Joachim shook his head, his silvery white hair gleaming a tint of red under the moon's hellish glow. He's lying. I am no different than before. I will not allow him to keep me prisoner here! He peered over the railing of the staircase. To his chagrin, nothing was visible below except an abyss of rolling gray clouds. His hands clenched into fists as he descended the steps leading into the castle's depths.

The doors of the castle were ornate in design, detailed with either marble or gold depicting unicorns and other mythological creatures. After wandering around for some time, unsure of where he was going, a loud thumping noise reverberated down a hallway he had entered. Stained glass windows lined the hall and reflected colorful patterns across the carpeted floor. Despite the castle's beautiful architecture, his eyes froze upon a hideous creature approaching him. The creature's mammoth-like form made the walls tremble as the young man halted, his eyes widening, whilst his heart pounded relentlessly against his ribcage. Are those…monsters? Impossible! What kind of treachery is this? Perhaps I am hallucinating again? A large,

dark yellow colored creature an eye in the middle of their forehead moved toward him, carrying a large wooden club in one of its massive fists. Joachim froze like a startled deer, his thoughts racing as he struggled to decide what to do. What is this place! Have I been dragged into the pit of hell? There was no time to deliberate further. Without thinking, he rushed toward the creature and darted through its legs, narrowly escaping being bludgeoned by its swinging club. In his frenzy, he did not consider where he was going, except to reach the doors on the opposite side. It occurred to him then that he had never been able to move with such speed before. Yet, it came so naturally to him that he relished his newfound strength.

A slight smirk crossed his lips, and he huffed with dismissal when he opened the door and emerged into a hallway illuminated only by the strange pale moonlight flooding through the windows on the right side. Emerald green carpeting lined with gold made a pathway down the hallway. Joachim move on cautiously, staring around him at the elaborately designed area. He took the steps on the left and descended them, where upon he entered another hall lined with the crimson carpeting. Joachim scanned the area but there were no monsters in sight, and after he descended the steps he whirled to see a decorative metal suit of armor holding a sword. The sword was tarnished and rusted. However, its massive size astonished him, for it seemed only a giant could wield it. He had no choice except to take it with him. The weight of the cumbersome blade slowed him down.

It relieved him when he finally reached the castle's entranceway. Though it was deserted, he scanned it for monsters before descending the balcony steps to the main floor. It surprised him that the entrance was left unguarded. The castle's open archway revealed the blackness of the night beyond. Without hesitating, the young man ran toward it, crossing the castle's massive drawbridge. Ahead was a gravel path leading into a deep forest. After some time passed wandering through the dense evergreen trees, and he nearly dropped his sword when he emerged in front of the castle again. How can this be? Perhaps I took a wrong turn. He huffed as he made his way back into the forest. After what seemed like several hours, his eyes caught sight of a clearing ahead. Thinking he had finally reached the border of Eternal Night, he ran for the clearing, his breath escaping into the frigid winter air in silvery puffs. However, he skidded to a halt when he sighted the familiar castle looming ahead. Despite going a completely different direction, he had returned to the same place once more. The young man's pale blue eyes glared at the castle in loathing as his lips released a frustrated hiss.

Without warning, a black shadow appeared on the drawbridge of the castle. "You are even more of a fool than I imagined." Joachim stepped back when Walter's tall, armored frame emerged through the darkness. The torches lighting the bridge cast a dim glow across his unnaturally ashen face. Joachim stared at the sight in mortification, unable to move as the other lord approached him confidently. "So, you have managed to make it out of my castle. What you feel now is only the beginning."

The vampire's eyes glinted while the young lord shouted at him, his hands trembling. "No. You're lying! I have no reason to believe you!" His words echoed into the night, but all that met him was the sound of Walter's mocking laugh.

"Denying it will not spare you from your fate. Go ahead and attempt to leave again - try any method you wish. The night is eternal in this forest. Unless I permit it, there is no escape."

"Permit me? I do not need your permission." Joachim retorted, his hands fumbling to swing the sword at the other lord. The sword was large, heavy, and completely useless. How could any human being properly wield such a massive weapon? Very quickly, he found himself without anything to support his bold statement. Nevertheless, his lips curled into a sneer whilst his eyes narrowed upon Walter with a will to incinerate him, his voice dagger-like. "I am a lord. The people from Creightel – my friends –will come here looking for me."

The vampire chuckled louder, nearly laughing in the darkness so ominously his body stiffened to hear his reply. "I doubt that. Your friends have forsaken you; you have no one to search for you. If by chance I am wrong, let them come…they would not leave my castle alive."

The tone of his voice stung Joachim like venom, and he recoiled in shock to find it was the painful truth. "You…you…planned this from the beginning didn't you? You turned my friends against me, and took me to this horrible place…why?" Seething within his rage, he swung the huge sword madly in the air, hardly aware of his actions except to hear the vampire's reply to his desperation. Taunting him, Walter smirked and faded into a shadow, his crimson form disappearing within the night. He could not deny that, despite the vampire's annoying appearances, there may have been some truth in his words. With a frustrated sigh, he returned to the castle. Perhaps another passage will take me back to Creightel. He glanced sullenly at the sword in his hand, nearly throwing it away until he noticed that several other suits of armor held the same swords as the one he carried. All of these blades are rusting and useless! I will surely perish in here unless I find something better than this. He picked up the five swords and carried them with him, knowing he did not have time to decide which blade was the sharpest. He explored one of the corridors leading out of the main entranceway until a strange blue door engraved with circular symbols caught his attention. Though he did not know where it led, he pushed it until it admitted him into the small room beyond.

The room glowed with an aqua blue light from two pools of crystal clear water on either side of a pathway leading to an alter. Up the alter steps was a stone angel statue, its head was tilted upward as though looking at the heavens. The room was silent except for the drafts of air whistling through the cracks in the windowpanes. Narrow stained glass windows surrounded the room. At the end of the room, however, behind the angel were large arched windowpanes covered by a wrought iron gate. He walked toward the angel and fell to his knees at the foot of the statue. His silvery white hair fell around his face, and his eyelids felt heavy with fatigue, drawing him unwillingly into sleep.

It was not until the darkness swallowed him that his dying heart ceased to beat.

He awoke sometime later, and scanned the room, his eyes hurting from the water's glowing blue light. The young lord crawled to the pools of water and shivered when a sensation of iciness flowed through him. Mechanically, he brushed away a strand of his hair, flinching when something scraped against his cheeks. He glanced at his fingers and gasped, for his nails were sharp and pointed like claws. What…what's happening to me…? He diverted his gaze away and crouched near the pool of water. When his pale eyes glimpsed at his reflection, a tremor of fear surged through him upon finding that his skin was as white as death itself. At first, he could not believe that what he saw was real. After taking a moment to think, he gathered enough nerve to look again, hoping that his mind was playing tricks on him, which often happened when he was ill.

Joachim looked at his reflection again, not daring to turn away when he saw his face staring back and his eyes wide with surprise. His indigo colored clothing only enhanced his sallow flesh, and he breathed deeply in a feeble attempt to calm his whirling terror. He staggered to his feet, hardly able to keep standing as he flinched at the feeling of his cold hands. "No…." he murmured to himself, the voice inside him escalading with his terror. The young man fell to his knees on the floor, his ashen hair cascading against his face and shoulders when he covered his face with his hands and wept. Beneath his clothing, he could not feel his heartbeat – his entire body was cold, pale, and lifeless. Before he could compose himself, a bitter cry pierced through his throat and resounded off the walls in the small room. "This can't be!" He choked, his throat tightening. "Surely this is all a dream? I cannot be dead!" Yet, no matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew it was true. The puncture marks on his neck confirmed that he was changing into something…inhuman.

For so long he believed he had always known fact from fiction. Vampires, to him, were nothing but legends passed down to frighten the weak. People's desire to create potions, crosses, pendants, holy water, and other like, to ward away the undead had seemed foolish and pointless in his eyes. However, the existence of vampires had suddenly become real and terrifying. Loud, anguished sobs escaped his lips as he slammed his fists against the floor, feeling his cold flesh collide against equally cold stone. He clenched his teeth together in rage but hesitated when a hot, tangy liquid filled his mouth. The young man touched his lower lip with his hand, drawing it back upon sighting a thick, red liquid trickle down his index finger. With a gasp, he ran his tongue across his teeth until something sharp pricked it. Before he could stop himself, his body lunged toward the pools of water, his eyes drawn to the pasty reflection of himself gazing back. What greeted him was the sight of two needle-like fangs protruding between his trembling lips. A flood of horror seeped through his pale blue eyes, the sight blinding him in a haze of fear and anguish as he staggered to his feet, his voice crying out. "What has happened to me? Am I truly…a vampire?" He staggered back and while the realization began to set in.

Hot tears streamed down his face and burned against his tainted flesh. Although he had been pale as a human, his skin had turned a milky white coloration, reminding him of the fact that his heart had ceased to beat. "No!" He screamed, unable to contain his horror at finding that, though dead, he still lived. His soul remained intact, trapped forever on earth in a state of purgatory. Despite his fear and anguish, a sickening voice inside him implied he deserved his fate. I was arrogant, self-righteous, and proud… He shuddered to himself, his eyes darting to the gated windowpanes, searching the heavens for an absolution but finding only darkness instead. I refused to believe in vampires. I thought I knew the truth. Everyone around me were fools, when in fact, I was the fool in the end. Now, I am to be damned to eternal darkness, my soul doomed to consume the blood of humanity. And Walter… He did not even wish to think what the other lord had in mind. A chilling thought made him cringe, momentarily paralyzing him with fear and rage. Walter planned this since the beginning. He…turned me into a thing, a beast, a…monster.

A monster. The very thing people thought he was, he had become in reality. Damn you Walter! His mind screeched as his eyes narrowed, their pupils tinting a faint shade of red. Joachim's attention fled to the five swords scattered throughout the room. A dark thought made a shadow appear across his ashen face, his lips curling into a frown whilst he contemplated impaling himself upon one of the blades. It was a comforting thought, for he could end it all before it even began. Walter would not gain the satisfaction of seeing him fall into vampirism. Yet, he knew deep within himself that he did not have the nerve to end his own life. Especially if he never knew the reason why. Although he desired to kill Walter, he was too weak to lift even one of the five massive blades and wished he had found practical weapons instead. However, he noticed one of the blades twitch, its rusted metal surface scraping lightly across the floor without him even touching it. Joachim stared harder at the sword, his thoughts whirling, conflicted between uncertainty and curiosity. It was impossible for him to have touched it, even accidentally, since the sword was on the opposite side of the room. It took great effort for him to carry all five blades to that sacred chamber. Why he even bothered, he did not know.

He stared at the sword for a long time, his thoughts focusing on it with growing interest. Although he was tempted to pick it up again, the sheer size and power of the rusting blade made him reconsider. What is this? I cannot use these swords. They are much too heavy…a true swordsman would never even consider them… A voice inside him reminded him that he was thinking about a human swordsman. If Walter was capable of lifting him into the air and shaking him like a dog with a pheasant in its mouth, surely he could do the same. His thoughts focused on the five swords relentlessly, trying to understand how he may have made one of them move. Despite being dead, he was not immune to the monsters wandering around the castle.

Joachim continued to keep his thoughts focused on the swords. Over and over he commanded them to move. It seemed simple enough, though yielded little results. His mind continued to summon the blades until his patience was rewarded when one of the swords shifted over the floor again, attempting to obey his beckoning thoughts. He concentrated harder, trying to emulate Walter, who could control objects with barely the bat of an eyelid. Since he was not as advanced – yet – he lifted his hand and waved it at the weapon. "Come here." His calm voice echoed through the room. The blade shifted again, partly rising off the floor before it fell with a clatter. Pathetic. His thoughts summoned the sword to him once again. Come to me, now! Finally, his efforts were rewarded. The blade turned in the air and pointed itself at him, before swooping toward him, narrowly missing his head, until it collided into the wall. Joachim gasped, his eyes widening with astonishment. Excellent. Now, pull back- He had barely begun to command it again when the blade freed itself, responding to his thoughts before he had even finished them. It was as if his powers had symbiotically merged with the sword.

It surprised him how easily he had managed to control it. He had half-expected his powers to develop over centuries, not hours. A surge of fear flooded through him as he wondered what else he was capable of. He had become a vampire, a creature that walked the night. He covered his face with his hands at the thought, nearly digging his nails into his flesh as he moved toward the door and reached out to open it. The door swung open from his mind's command. Somehow, his thoughts and abilities were connected and his power to manipulate objects was growing stronger.

a black shadow suddenly appear before him, and it glowed white when Walter's form emerged from within the darkness. The other lord walked proudly into the room, the soles of his boots clapping across the stone floor, whilst his lips curved into a broad smirk. In the brightly lit room, Walter appeared even paler and more imposing than before. Joachim could barely grasp the fact that despite seeing him several times, he had not entirely taken notice of the lord's unnatural mannerisms. He thought he knew what he was dealing with. However, Walter's smirking expression confirmed his assumptions had been so very wrong. The red-haired lord examined him meticulously with his dark eyes, as though desiring to capture his appearance – the deathly white skin and hair, piercing blue eyes, which emphasized by his slender and delicate form. Then, in an attempt to compliment him, Walter's calm voice filled the small room. "So, you have finally accepted your fate. It seems you have found a way of channeling your powers." Walter walked toward him; his red armor glinting in the dimly lit room as he swished away strands of his blood-red hair, which coiled against his face and neck in thick layers.

"What do you want?" Joachim glowered at him bitterly and ignored his instinct to attack. Even with his newfound weapons, he was still too weak to fight.

"I decided to drop in for a visit." Walter chided, ignoring the young creature's returned animosity. "This is my castle after all, and I may go wherever I wish."

"If that is the case, go away then." Joachim turned away, breaking the gaze Walter attempted to hold upon him.

For a moment, the red-haired lord gave him a scathing look, his eyes narrowing. Yet, Walter remained patient as a look of concern spread across his face. He took a step forward, which made Joachim step back. With a sigh, Water looked at Joachim in the eyes once again as his voice softened. The young man could barely believe it, but somewhere within the other lord's voice, he swore he heard a hint of an apology. "You're fear is understandable." He began and bowed his head, attempting to appease the newly turned creature before him. "However, there is nothing to fear. You will soon realize everything that hindered you as a human is no more. I swear to you, you will never suffer from your illness again. I have cured you of it at last…now…you may begin a new life here. If you serve me, you shall lead a life of greater privilege and power than you could ever imagine."

"Serve you?" The words tasted bitter in his mouth. Joachim's lips curled into a sneer at the mere implication as he hissed. "Do you think me a fool? I have been taken unwillingly. You shall receive no pleasure from my obedience, Walter." Indeed, he had every reason in the world to refuse him. His life had fallen apart – and he knew the source of his ruin stood before him, smiling at him as though it had all been some kind of game. Joachim hated Walter's smile with a passion to rip his lips off his face with one feral swipe. Yet, a part of him did not have the energy to bother trying. His body still felt weak and frail, as though he had not supped in days.

Walter's eyes glinted knowingly, his words confident though careful not to distress him further. "We can discuss this later. You are tired and hungry. In my haste to claim you, I regret that I did not consider your appetite. Tis' been a rather long time since I turned anyone."

"I am not hungry." Joachim lied. He wished he was as good at lying as Walter was. The other lord saw through it instantly.

"I am afraid food is no longer a necessity," He began, whilst Joachim's face turned into a mask of unspoken horror. The young man's eyes widened, his lips parting as if to speak but remaining still as Walter continued. A shadow crept across his face, which suddenly wore a look of seriousness and unease. "If you do not consume blood within the next hour, you will die."

"What?" Joachim could barely comprehend the meaning behind Walter's words. Although he was weak, he had grown so accustomed to the feeling that it seemed natural. Walter's lips pursed a moment as the young man attempted to regain his composure. The idea of drinking blood made his face contort into a look of disgust. More than anything, he wanted to escape from Walter's prying gaze, to flee into the night and out of the other lord's reach. However, when he attempted to walk beyond the threshold of the door, his steps were uneven and labored. Joachim leaned on the doorframe for support, gasping for breath, his eyes widening. "How?" He rasped, his voice becoming hoarse under the strain flooding through his entire body. It was a pain much worse than what he had felt as a human. He could not imagine having to hunt something, or worse, someone to ease it.

The other lord stepped toward him again, his dark eyes fixed upon the young creature, never leaving him for an instant. Walter's voice, though audible and deep, hinged on fear. If it was possible for the vampire to fear anything, Joachim saw it then within his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, Walter's skin seemed to turn a shade paler when the words finally left his lips. "Do not move," he ordered, his voice softening. Joachim hesitated in the doorway. It was tempting to disobey him for the sake of displeasing him, however, the intensity in Walter's eyes made him refrain. The vampire lord approached him until they stood merely inches apart. Walter's tall, imposing frame shadowed the pale young creature. "You have gone too long without blood to sustain you. There is only one other way though, I am certain, you will not approve."

Joachim felt a lump in his throat as he croaked. "What do you mean?" He stared for a long time, his frail body shuddering. He was in no position to refuse whatever the vampire instructed him to do. It seemed his desire to die only stretched so far – though not far enough to end it altogether. He could not understand what made him cling to his wretched existence so desperately. He had lost too much, suffered too greatly, and was damned to a hell on Earth. Nevertheless, Walter's gaze tried to provide him some small form of comfort. Before he could push the vampire lord away, his arms encircled around him, holding him securely in a tender embrace. As though able to feel the young man's fear, Walter's gauntlets stroked his fine, white hair, whilst he replied. "I do not wish for you to die and I know you do not, either." He soothed. "Do not expel what is left of your strength. You shall not die, Joachim, as long as you follow what I say. I have never done this for anyone, not even others I have turned in the past. Perhaps, you could say, I am about to bestow you with a rather…personal gift."

"A gift?" Joachim repeated, his voice dulled by his pain. He did not realize how close to death he was until he felt a sudden blackness begin to encompass his mind.

Walter's embrace tightened as he lowered himself to the floor, taking the young man with him, his words reassuring despite the tension that wore across his smooth, prominent features. "Yes. I do not have much time. You are growing weaker every moment. Do not speak." Joachim's body fell limp. He could not move even if he wanted to. He watched Walter remove one of his gauntlets, exposing one of his pale hands. The red-haired lord's fingers grasped the skintight sleeve of the black undergarment he wore beneath his armor and hiked it up to his elbow. As Joachim watched, his mind became clouded in a kind of thick, disorientated fog. Walter's once clear features were soon blurred while he struggled to remain conscious. As though he were an infant, Walter draped him across his lap, his hold upon him firm but delicate as he instructed. "Listen to me. You have no time left to argue. Drink from me. Though this will rejuvenate you, it shall weaken me greatly in exchange."

Joachim felt a gasp leave his lips as he tried to focus on the blur that had become Walter's face. The only distinctive feature he could see was the glint of the vampire's dark, mysterious eyes looking down at him. In a barely audible voice, he rasped. "W-what? I…do not understand…from you? I can't-"

"You must." He urged, his once calm voice straining from the young man's resistance. "If you do not, you will die. Do it now, before I change my mind…"

"I would rather…die…" Joachim turned his head away, the locks of his ashen hair cascading against his cheeks. A sob threatened to free itself from his entrapping throat. He could not believe that in order to live he had to drink the other lord's blood. It reviled him more than anything in the world. Some part of him thought it was better to just die. It was his last chance to choose between two separate fates – the last opportunity for him to allow his humanity to take him in death.

However, Walter's tightening hold dragged him back into darkness once more. The lord's voice deepened as a flash of red appeared within his starlit pupils. "Drink from me, now, before it's too late! You cannot die." Joachim could not mistake hearing his lord's passionate plea, for it was the first time he heard Walter ask him for anything. The desperation in Walter's eyes increased. Joachim could barely believe that Walter was actually fearful – and wondered whether the vampire even realized it himself. Within seconds, Walter thrust his bare arm in front of the young man's face, exposing the vulnerable, pallid flesh, to Joachim's thirsting fangs. He managed to give the other lord a discerning, yet confused look upon sighting the faint outline of veins underneath the veil of skin. Walter lowered his head, allowing curtains of his thick, red hair to flow around his face. His beautiful, dark eyes were unblinking. "Pierce my flesh with your fangs," His whispered. "Or else embrace your own death."

Joachim hesitated one last time. It would be the last moment that he could ever call himself a human being. For the first time, he felt like he had the power to control his own destiny. His life – undead or not – would be his to make as he saw fit. Illness would no longer shackle him to his bed. He would literally have centuries to do the things he was incapable of doing as a sickly young man. The heat of Walter's breath, combined with the passion in his voice, compelled him to choose the darkness over heaven's light. It was impossible for him to go to heaven if he died. His sins – the murderous, hateful, malice inside him, would never permit the salvation of his soul. God did not exist - not in this world, perhaps not even in the next. He did not care if he turned into a demon. Let it happen. There was nothing left for him to love in the world except the Night. With a final sob, Joachim made his resolve, his eyes locking onto Walter's offered wrist. Then, after drawing in a hungry snarl, he bit into the cold, icy flesh, his fangs piercing through it as if it was paper. In his frenzy to satisfy his hunger, he suckled upon the wound, his eyes glazing over, fighting back death's cruel grip upon his soul.

Walter emitted an agonized groan, his great frame trembling as the young creature fed. The sweet, warm tang of blood filled his mouth and flowed down his throat. A feeling of ecstasy and renewal filled Joachim. Suddenly, everything became clearer in his eyes. His vision could see through the darkness and trace the outline of Walter's face. The other lord's enamels were gritted, a mask of pain and agony reaping through his once calm, proud features faster than wildfire. The look of pain his lord wore made Joachim drive his fangs even deeper with a will to sever them completely through the vulnerable flesh. Walter groaned again, infuriated by the young man's attempt while the gauntlet-covered fingers of his other hand grasped Joachim by the hair and tried to yank him back. However, he underestimated the young lord's thirst. Joachim kept his fangs planted in the skin, his tongue eager to savor the taste of Walter's blood as it gushed down his throat.

Finally, with a loud growl, Walter gripped Joachim by the nape and squeezed. His iron-like grip grasped onto the frail creature with the potential to snap his neck in half. "That is enough for now! You must learn to control your thirst…lest you drain me completely dry. I assure you, it would be an unwise attempt." Without waiting for him to release his fangs, Walter's great arm pulled him back, unhindered by the tear of his own flesh when Joachim's fangs dragged ruthlessly across it. The lord's face, however, contradicted the power and firmness of his voice. Walter fell back against the wall, his chest heaving as his strength threatened to leave him at the mercy of the young, hungry creature he held. Like a wild beast, Joachim clawed against the other lord's armor, fighting to reclaim Walter's blood for himself. The thirst for more had driven him to the brink, nearly turning him into someone not even Walter could recognize. Nevertheless, the other lord regained his composure quickly, his voice softening as Joachim's struggles ceased. Walter gave him a weak but knowing look, his exhaustion making his voice sound oddly faint. "In time, you will learn when to cease feeding. I cannot give you more, Joachim, not now…"

The other lord's breaths became haggard and weak, though his grip upon the young man remained strong – just in case. Joachim lay sprawled in Walter's arms, his eyes staring at the ceiling as trickles of blood slid down the corners of his lips. He returned his lord's words with a satisfied smile. For a moment, he did not care about anything except his thirst. He began to understand why vampires fed with such fervent cruelty when his thoughts wandered to the fateful night he was bitten. It must have taken great effort for Walter to resist killing him. He looked directly into Walter's, glittering eyes, which had acquired a dull and glassy look. The other lord's chest heaved and beads of perspiration slipped down his face as if he had a fever. A surge of sympathy overcame Joachim's hunger, his thoughts reflecting on the fact that his lord had given him a part of himself. Something passed between them when he fed for the first time off his own master. Master? His lips curled from the admission. They gazed at each other for a long time, neither bothering to speak because words were unneeded. The look of gratitude upon Joachim's ashen face was enough to lower Walter's guard.

His dark eyes glinted thoughtfully as he looked at Joachim's sculpted figure. Despite feeding, he was still weak and unable to move without aid. Knowing this, a smirk crept across Walter's lips as his head drew close to the young man, his voice a deathly whisper. "Do not be afraid, Joachim. I promise I shall be with you when you awaken." The soft words eased the young man's racing thoughts. Joachim breathed a sigh, his chest no longer needing to rise and fall, for he did not require air to breathe. Walter's hand stroked his cheek soothingly, though his face briefly tensed from the pain it caused him. The bite in his wrist continued to bleed. Joachim's eyes lingered upon the wound he had inflicted, regretting what he had done. He managed to lift one of his frail hands and rest it upon Walter's. The blood trickling from his wrist painted his fingertips in red. He closed his eyes as he traced his fingers across the wound, momentarily wishing to ease his lord's pain, failing to see Walter's face draw near. Walter's hungry lips covered his, smothering him in a deep, lustful kiss. Joachim let a soft groan escape his throat as his lord's hands slipped inside his robes, gently massaging the tainted white flesh. The vampire lord pulled in him closer so that their chests touched, and the young man's head fell back, his pearly white hair flowing against his shoulders and exposing the graceful curves of his sloping neck. He felt the intensity and passion of his desire, the lord's arms tightening around the young creature with a will to merge their two bodies into one. Something about exchanging blood was deeply personal to Walter. Joachim sensed it in the way the lord kissed him, as well as in the fervent but gentle way in which he was held. Though illness no longer plagued the young nobleman, the red-haired lord continued to touch him delicately, as though fearing that his pale body would disintegrate in his arms. Walter's fiery red hair curtained around Joachim's face, enticing the young man enough to forgo resisting his will.

Despite his lord's passion, he noticed that Walter's hold was somewhat strained, as though he was exerting great effort to keep him there. He could almost feel his lord's weakened state, for his breaths were shallow and his eyes dull. Now was his moment to strike and kill the other vampire when he was too weak to fight. Joachim wanted to summon his sword but the yearning inside him made him relent. He allowed Walter's tongue to explore the insides of his mouth, his hunger for the other lord sending an array of pleasured sensations through his body. He ran his hands through the other vampire's thick, red hair, hearing Walter groan from his willing touch. It took all of Joachim's strength to sit up in his lord's lap, their lips still locked, while he hiked his legs around Walter's torso. Despite being heavily armored, there was a place Walter's chest and leg armor did not cover. The young creature sought it readily, pressing his lower half against it until he felt the other lord's hardness against his own. He wrapped his arms around the back of Walter's neck, pulling him into his embrace and kiss, unwilling to let the other lord go despite his exhaustion.

It was tempting for him to allow Walter to take him then, on the floor, to allow the other lord to shed his clothes and have his way. But he was not ready for it – or more likely, too afraid to allow it. He pictured Catherine's smiling face in his mind. The woman's bright green eyes looked at him gently, her lips soft, her expression filled with happiness and longing – missing him and waiting for him. He feared and wondered what happened to her during his absence while, simultaneously, forgetting himself in the taste of Walter's kiss. He could not go back to his old life. Walter knew it and was eager to take advantage of his vulnerable state. He had, predictably, fallen into the other lord's trap. However, he was fortunate that he did not have to express his sudden revulsion. Walter was the first to part from their kiss, his frame weakening along with the dim look in his eyes, failing to notice the young man's anger. "Let us…rest for a while." He said in a tired voice. Joachim complied, allowing the lord to lay him down on the floor. Walter's heavy frame fell back against the wall, his chest heaving a sigh before his delicate lids fluttered closed.

Not long after, Joachim joined him in sleep.