Author's Note: A few reviewers mentioned that the dialogue in the flashback chapter didn't really fit and sounded too mature. So, I made a few changes to the flashback dialogue and re-uploaded this chapter. I hope the dialogue in the flashback is more suitable for their ages. Be sure to send me a message if anything else seems out of place in this fic, as I'm always willing to go back and re-edit chapters to improve the story. :)
Chapter XVII
After he awoke again, he was grateful to find himself in solitude. He brushed a hand across his forehead, pushing back stands of his white, glossy hair. The room was completely silent. The only sounds he heard were the dull whistling of the wind through a hole in one of the windowpanes. Not to his surprise, the red moon hovering in the black night sky greeted him instead of the sun. How long have I been asleep? The question echoed through his mind. The moon did not change its position in the sky to indicate the passage of time. It would do him little good to stay in the small sanctuary. Despite the peace it gave him, he would have to explore the castle and find a way of escaping it. Perhaps Catherine had given up searching for him? Unless he met her again, she would believe the vampire had finally claimed him and drained him dry. The village would fall into chaos without a lord ruling over them. Of course, his vassal would gladly inherit the responsibility, but the old man was ill equipped to deal with rioting peasants.
Joachim sighed, for he could not escape without Walter knowing. Nevertheless, something was tugging at his mind. He could feel the other vampire's presence even though he was alone. The feeling was so powerful that when he attempted to resist it, a horrible headache overcame him. He gasped and pressed a hand over his forehead, shutting his eyes tightly from the throbbing pain encompassing his thoughts. Unable to stand it any longer, he swept to the door and admitted himself into the hallway beyond in hopes of finding relief. Yet, the painful throbbing in his mind continued. The young man grimaced, his skin paling whilst he levitated toward the entranceway of the castle. Something was urging him to go there – or more likely – commanding him. His eyes narrowed as a low, perturbed growl vibrated from his throat. Damn, Walter… Despite his rage a twinge of fear ran through his veins. Although the vampire could not control his actions, like an angler luring its catch, it felt as if he was being dragged toward him. He followed the silent call from his master, resigning himself to obey for the time being.
Within minutes, he reached the castle entranceway, and the pulling feeling relented at last. His thoughts were clear and free of pain. His pale blue eyes scanned the entranceway. Not even a moment later, he sighted Walter standing upon the balcony leading to his wing of the castle. The other vampire's thick crimson hair splayed around his face and neck whilst his dark, glittering eyes smugly locked upon him.
A look of displeasure crossed his ashen face as he folded his arms across his chest, hissing to the other lord like an angry serpent. "What do you want?" A smirk crossed Joachim's lips as he floated toward his lord, ignoring the bright red gleam that appeared in Walter's eyes. With a low chuckle, he leapt into the air and landed upon the balcony beside him. His elegant, indigo robes starkly contrasted with the other vampire's heavy red armor. Joachim gave his lord an indignant glare, waving one of his delicate hands whilst he continued. "If you think I will let you look down at me, you are gravely mistaken, master. Contrary to what you think, I am not your little marionette. Even though you enjoy tormenting me at your leisure, there are other things I would rather be doing at the moment."
"Such as?" Walter's deep, ominous voice filled the room whilst his lower lip curled into a sneer.
Despite the other vampire's threatening look, Joachim bared his fangs, unwilling to relent. "Anything except talking to you. Is that clear?"
"Perfectly."
Without warning, Walter's gauntlet-covered hand snatched Joachim by his armor. Before he could even let out a cry of surprise, the other lord cuffed him roughly across the face. A spurt of blood flew from his gaping mouth as his body crumpled forward, writhing in pain. His hands madly clawed to free himself from Walter's vice-like grip, the tips of his long, dark fingernails digging into the smooth metal encasing his lord's hand. The futility of his effort seemed to strengthen the red-haired lord's impatience. After restraining him for a moment, Walter lifted the young man into the air and tossed him over the balcony railing. Before he could even gasp in surprise, his head and back hit the floor with a dull, sickening crack. A pool of blood seeped around him over the floor. Amidst his blurring vision, his eyes hazily looked up at Walter, who was peering down at him from above.
The mocking tone within Walter's was unmistakable as a dark smile crept across his lips. "Tis' very clear now that you need to learn when to hold your tongue, Joachim! I do not take insults lightly." He huffed, giving the fallen young man a scathing glare. "The noble life has made you bereft of humility. If you choose to disobey me, I am more than willing to demonstrate the consequences."
Joachim forced himself to levitate in spite of his pain. He was lucky he had not broken his back from the fall, though he imagined Walter could have if he had wanted to. His face wrinkled whilst he wiped away the blood with his sleeve, hating the sight of it, but even more the sight of Walter's form towering above him like a Roman emperor. The dull ache within his limbs made it difficult for him to levitate properly. He lurched forward, nearly falling over whilst blood streamed from the side of his head, matting his hair and trickling across his ashen cheeks. With great difficulty, he managed to lift his head and look up, refusing to dignify his lord's statement with a response.
Walter's smirk broadened, evidently impressed by the young man's tenacity. "If you at least attempt to be cordial, Joachim, your stay in my castle will be much more enjoyable. I require you to complete a simple task for me. I want you to bring me a lady from Dalwood."
His eyes stared at Walter with uncertainty, and he felt his throat tighten until he managed to rasp.
"What business do you have with her?" After he forced the words from his throat, his hand flew to the side of his face, attempting to wipe away the blood dripping from the base of his chin. Although he managed to wipe it away, some of it smeared against his cheek as if painted there by the demon's cruelty.
"A woman named Lady Viola Rohesia, has caught my attention." Walter continued, ignoring the young man's pained expression. "I have been playing games with humans for centuries and will use her as collateral."
"Games?" Joachim's voice sharpened at the sight of his lord's mocking smile whilst he hissed. "How can you toy with human lives as though they are nothing?" Despite the harshness of his words, he relented slightly, for fear of angering Walter further. It was increasingly difficult for him to speak. Blood filled his mouth when the liquid streaming from his forehead slipped between his parted lips. The sour taste made him gag.
"You have no sense of pleasure, Joachim!" The red-haired lord remarked impatiently. "You know all too well the trials of love. It is that tie that I use for my particular game, a game in which I always prevail."
Joachim's throat tightened and he found himself unable to respond to what he heard. Never had he imagined kidnapping someone in order to subject them to cruel forms of amusement. It reminded him of the gypsies that traveled through his village, who often dragged with them dancing bears and the like. The poor beasts were shackled and forced to entertain a crowd of spectators at their own expense. If he participated in Walter's game, what would become of his already tainted soul? His eyes widened as a cold shudder reaped through his body. He feared that something within him would erode and die. His pale blue eyes cast themselves upon the floor as helplessness and shame overwhelmed his self-assurance. Failing to comply with his lord's command would inevitably lead to conflict. He could not stand the thought of losing to Walter if their disagreements turned violent again.
One thing the vampire said, however, struck a nerve within his soul. Though dead, his throat constricted while he contemplated the consequences of Walter's games. How many men and woman had died for the sake of his entertainment? Lovers separated, hearts broken, and lives destroyed. If he obeyed, he was merely perpetuating his own personal tragedy upon others. The innocent humans he kidnapped would hate him; however, it would be nothing compared to how much he would hate himself. Indeed, he knew the cost of love, for he had paid for it dearly…
With an expressionless face, he returned his glassy gaze to his lord, who continued as though the young man's indecision and pain were irrelevant. The pleased glint refracting within Walter's eyes was unmistakable. "I want you to go to Dalwood and fetch her for me. Apparently, the lady is in love with a young duke from a neighboring village. Like most men in love, he will come to Eternal Night in search of her. You will find Lady Rohesia in Rosewood Manor, exactly where she should be at this late hour."
Joachim levitated toward the drawbridge, momentarily stopping to question one last time. "What do you mean? Surely, it will be daytime beyond the border-"
A chuckle sounded through the area, causing a chill to sweep down his spine as he felt his frame weaken from Walter's words. "Apparently, you are unaware of the how much time you have spent within these walls. It has been a month since I turned you."
"What?" Joachim stopped dead in place and whirled again to face him. "That can't be! I remember everything vividly because it happened merely days ago! You are lying to me!"
The other lord shrugged and rested his chin in his hand, leaning over the railing like a king sending a gladiator into battle. "Why would I lie to you about something so insignificant?" He asked, rolling his eyes impatiently. "The passage of time means nothing to a vampire. Go now and complete your task. I will await your return." The moment he drifted across the drawbridge of the castle, he heard Walter emphasize sternly. "Bring the lady back alive, and unharmed."
Alone in the darkness, he sighed and looked ahead at the worn road intertwining deep within the forest surrounding the castle. Joachim felt the cool air of the night whip across his face and ruffle his hair. As he continued through the forest, only the full moon's dim reddish glow provided him the light he sought. He allowed one of the blades to rise up and turn red before he sent it into the foliage covering the overgrown pathway. It wasn't until the blade cleared a clump of brush away that he looked out into an open field where the red glow of the moon was replaced by mystical white. At last, he was beyond the border of Eternal Night.
Within a short time, he reached the small village. Dalwood's streets were deserted since most of the occupants had returned to their homes. Despite being alone, he moved cautiously and ducked into alleyways to avoid attracting attention. It felt strange to hide as though he was a criminal. His regal appearance and elaborate clothing was a strong indication of his status and wealth. It occurred to him, though fleetingly, that Dalwood was close to Creightel. As he leaned against the wall of a house, his pasty flesh gleaming under the pale moonlight, he was tempted to abandon his task. His icy blue eyes pierced through the shadows of the darkness, condemning it with every fiber of his being. Like a fallen prince, he longed to return to his manor, to the warmth of the hearth in his solar room and the comforts of his bed. So very suddenly, the village he ruled and the manor he called home were alien and distant. His teeth gritted together whilst a surge of rage shadowed his face. What was he now? He could not call himself a lord because he was no longer human. Something inside him wept from the loss consuming his shattered heart. He had no choice except to persevere. If he returned to Walter empty-handed, the fiend would undoubtedly punish him.
Yet, he knew what he was about to do would make him condemn himself. He could not bear to think what Catherine would say if she saw him, lurking in the shadows like a demon of Lucifer's will, waiting for the perfect moment to ruin another soul. He placed his hands over his face and lowered his head, hiding his face behind the curtains of his ivory hair. His pale skin seemed to emanate a frightening, graceful beauty. If he could, he would have wept in the shadows until the sun's golden light burnt his unholy flesh to the bone. However, some terrible force, or perhaps a darkness growing within him, urged him to complete the wicked task. He composed himself and raised his head, holding it high as a steely glint appeared within his pale eyes. His unholy form radiated a dim, purple aura whilst he floated through the streets like a specter of death, his robes fluttering behind him as he went.
It did not take him long to find Dalwood's manor. Indeed, it was not difficult to notice the large, stately building from the modest houses scattered around it. The manor was not as elaborate as his, though he admired its beautiful stonework and grand entranceway. He floated up the manor's steps, taking his time until he reached the doors. Then, as though his presence was quite ordinary, he knocked lightly upon the door's wooden surface. Within moments, it swung partially open as a man's voice called to him from within. "What brings you to Rosewood Manor-" A servant's face appeared between the crack in the door, his lips pressed into a polite smile until his eyes fell upon the creature floating over the doorstep. The servant's mouth opened to emit a scream, but no sound could part before one of his swords plunged through the man's chest. Blood spattered into the crisp night air, droplets sprinkling across the vampire's ashen face as the man stumbled back and collapsed dead on floor. For a moment, he paused on the doorstep, feeling the warm, red liquid trickling down his cheeks and catching its scent. An uncontrollable urge to taste it filled him, nearly making him tremble with hunger until he wiped the blood away with his hand and flicked it onto the ground.
A terrible feeling overcame him, his eyes widening as he looked at the red pool surrounding the man he had butchered like an animal. It was easy to overlook it if he did not think about his identity. Even if his urges nearly killed him, he refused to drink his victims' tantalizing fluid, knowing it would stain him forever as one of the damned. Nevertheless, he could not deny the throbbing hunger made his fangs long to puncture human flesh. It shamed him to no end. The sight of death, bloodshed, and violence made his face contort into a desperate, though ultimately cold, look of despair. His lips curled into a scowl whilst his eyes surveyed the inside of the manor where the maiden chosen by fate – the source of the devil's amusement – lay sleeping, unaware that death was literally at her doorstep.
His eyes glinted in the dim torchlight of the manor, which was decorated with fine carpeting and furnished with marble, oak and mahogany. The warmth inside the building played in stark contrast to the icy gleam in his eyes. It did not take long for another servant to appear, curiously looking for the man he had just murdered in the doorway. He did not move until the servant's glassy gaze met his, locking upon him in morbid fear, and then glancing briefly at the five swords aligned behind his back. After withdrawing a trembling breath, he looked away whilst his mind commanded the once dormant blades into action. Kill him. Within half a second, one of the massive swords flew toward the servant, angling sideways, until the side of its metallic edge slit the man across the throat with a single, merciless swipe. Blood streamed from the man's jugular, his voice releasing a sickening gurgling noise until he slumped back against a wall, falling silent as rivers of blood drained from his body.
Inevitably, the noise prompted more servants to appear. Three women and two men came running down the corridor toward him, though the women immediately fell into a fit of terrified screams as the men stopped and backed away from the horrific sight. One of the men, in spite of his horror, managed to shout in rage. "Dear God, what have you done? You fiend!" He could not decide whether to admire the man's tenacity or condemn him for his stupidity. At first, he hesitated, his pale eyes frozen upon the human being in surprise. For a moment, he considered knocking him back with his powers, though before he could concentrate enough the man charged, raising the sword to strike him. Within seconds, his five swords punctured completely through the man's body and spattered the floor and walls with blood. Joachim watched the man's last breath as he gasped, his form buckling under the impaling blades until they withdrew from the body and let it fall.
The stench of the fluid was overpowering. He had to maintain every ounce of his will to stop himself from falling to his knees upon the floor and lapping it up like a savage beast. His hands trembled until he clenched them into fists, forcing the instinct to drink it out of his mind. A haze clouded his vision as he looked at the corpses strewn across the floor. What have I done? He placed his hands over his face as the horror of it all filled his wretched soul. It did not seem real to him, at first. Surely…I…did not have to do this… A rational voice inside him tried to convince him to turn back, to forego his obligation before the intoxicating smell of death devoured him whole. However, before he could even consider it, he was confronted in a corridor. The corridor's narrowness prevented him from avoiding the man who stood in front of him, looking at him hatefully. The 'man' was merely a boy – perhaps fifteen – with thick, brown hair and hazel eyes. Despite the vampire's empathy, the harshness within his voice defeated it. "Who are you? I do not want to waste my time harming you. If you leave now, I will spare your life. Get out of my way!"
The boy's scathing reply returned his command. "No! I will not let you harm my sister, vampire! You suffer nothing compared to those you victimize and destroy! If you want me to move, you will have no choice but to kill me!"
The boy withdrew his sword, its metallic blade glinting dangerously under the light of the torches lining the corridor. Joachim pressed a hand over his brow. He did not have to kill the boy. Perhaps, he could wound him lightly instead. However, he knew it would be impossible. He could not yet fully control the power of his swords. If he failed to injure the boy properly, his swords were capable of inflicting a horribly slow, painful death. The idea of watching human suffering was too much to bear. A feral snarl escaped his lips as he allowed the central blade to rise up above his head, its greenish light tinting a shade of red to match his glowing eyes whilst he whispered. "Very well, then die." With a resigned sigh, he allowed the massive sword to fly forth, its pointed edge directed precisely at the boy's chest for an instantaneous death. It was the least he could do for the child.
"Weak." He said to himself, straining from the realization of how easy it was to kill. "So pathetic, so hopeless…just as I used to be…but am no more. Human." Without another glance, he levitated onward, passing through various rooms until he floated up a flight of steps to a locked door. Joachim waved his hands, his mind focusing upon the mechanisms inside the lock, until it responded with a resounding click. Without even touching the door, his mind forced it to open and admitted him into the chamber beyond. In the distance, he heard the sounds of the female servants screaming for the manor's remaining occupants to flee. Though their terror made him shudder, he was thankful for the fact that it meant he would not have to kill anyone on his way out.
A scream sounded the second the door moved, and upon entering the small room, he saw a woman hiding behind a folding screen. Though he did not know her, her beauty was a strong indication that she was the one Walter commanded him to find. The woman's peach colored dress was lined with white lace along the sleeves and neckline, allowing him to sight her easily within the darkened room. Her large green eyes widened at the sight of him. "Who goes there?" She cried, her eyes flashing with fear while her long, strawberry blonde hair cascaded down her back.
He drifted the room and his voice softened when he answered. "Do not be afraid, I will not harm you…if are Lady Viola?"
"Yes, that is I! What do you want from me, vampire?" her voice, despite confronting him, relented as her eyes fell upon his deathly form.
Joachim stilled his swords behind his back and bowed, his ivory hair curtaining around his smooth, regal visage. Despite his attempt to show respect, he saw her face contort into a mask of rage, mistaking the gesture as a cruel attempt to mock her. "I am Joachim Armster." He introduced calmly. "You must come with me. There is no choice in this matter…for either of us…"
He swallowed hard when she backed away from him, pleading softy as the terror in her eyes escaladed. "Please stop! I have nothing wrong, why must you take me away? Why? Surely you will not do this, my family has done no ill will toward you. We want nothing to do with your kind!" her lips quivered as tears slipped down her face and over her cheeks. Her eyes imprisoned him within her sorrow and fear, attempting to reach some deep part of him that was still unspoiled, human, and merciful. Before he could even fathom what to say, she persisted tearfully. "Please, I beg you, do not take me away! If you desire money my father will pay you handsomely!"
"I am not doing this because I want to." Joachim sighed, his chest heaving as he struggled to remain composed in front of her. The storm of fear and shame within his heart threatened to break the cold, restraint that appeared across his ashen features. "I swear to you, I will do you no harm. Please, do not make this any harder for me than it already is-"
"For you?" She gasped accusingly. For a moment, he flinched in shame, unable to respond until she continued. "Why must you do this? The man I love will kill you if you bring me harm. He will search to the ends of the world to rescue me!"
He took another step toward her, beckoning her to him while attempting to keep his fragile emotions subdued beneath the surface of his unrepentant gaze. The smell of fresh blood lingered in the air, threatening to break his will to defy the urge to consume it. Even in the lady's presence, the urge to kill struggled inside him like a caged beast. If he was not careful, he would plunge his accursed fangs into her neck. With a hiss, his eyes narrowed upon her, scalding her with his rage and frustration. "He will not have to search that far! The lord of Eternal Night wishes to play a little game. You are merely a reward…if the man you love is victorious. Though, I regret, tis' unlikely he will be."
As though a demon possessed her, she flung herself away from the wall and ran toward the door, the sounds of her screams deafening him. His superior speed enabled him to block her path. The flicker of rage and sorrow replaced the woman's tears as her bright, green eyes looked up at his pallid face. For a moment, Joachim gazed back into them, his breath hitching in his chest as her eyes overlapped with Catherine's. He tried to speak but the tears welling inside his heart forced him to suffer in silence. At that moment he was so afraid of himself that he was tempted to release her. The woman's green eyes tortured him with Catherine's memory. If his wretched soul somehow reunited with hers, he hoped she would kill him. There was no telling what the thirst made him capable of if he could not control it. Forgive me, Catherine…I pray you never see me this way. I am lost, now…if only…I could embrace you without fearing I could harm you…
Without warning, she lunged at him and beat her fists against his armored chest. The accusing sound of her voice made him fall completely still. His eyes widened in horror whilst he looked upon her, the pain in her voice strangling his words within his throat. "Have you no heart? Do you not care about who you hurt? I will not go with you, for I will never fall into shadow and darkness as you have!" Though her words were valiant, she fell into his arms, fainting under the stress. He lowered his hand to the woman's face, brushing his cold, lifeless fingers across her cheek, whilst his eyes suppressed the tears building within them. The agony she felt almost made him crumple to the floor. Though he had not harmed her, he knew he had the potential to when he held her in his embrace, his pale eyes drifting upon her sloping neck. The familiar powerful, hating urge filled him as he stared at it, hungrily picturing the veins running beneath the warm flesh. He clamped his teeth together and suppressed it. Nevertheless, his will to deny it was weakening. If he did not depart immediately, he would give in to it at last, rewarding his tainted desires with the sweetness of her blood. Without looking at her, he swept out of the room and hurried through the deserted manor, taking his victim with him into the darkness beyond.
Unsurprisingly, Walter appeared on the balcony overlooking the entranceway the moment he returned. The vampire's glossy red hair splayed around his neck and shoulders whilst his armored form leaned over the balcony's stone railing. A slight smile pressed across his lips the moment their eyes met. "So, you have returned at last." The demon's dark, glittering eyes broke their gaze to glance at his bloodstained swords. Small, red droplets trailed behind the white-haired youth, sprinkling across the stone floor. "It seems you have learned how to kill," he added with a mock look of astonishment. "Did you consume their blood?"
Joachim gave the other vampire a scathing look as his lips contorted into a scowl. He hated the manner in which Walter looked down at him like a god overseeing one of its minions. The moment Walter saw his bloodstained swords, his delight in them was unmistakable. "No," he answered firmly, his icy eyes stabbing at his lord when a surge of loathing filled him at the thought. "Enough blood was already spilled."
"Tis' a pity it went to waste…" Walter replied, flicking his hair. As though the young man were a child, he shook his head, as his once lighthearted voice became serious. "You cannot resist the urge forever. As noble as you are, in the end, you will give in to it. Killing is part of our nature."
"It is not part of mine!" He snapped, his lips curling as he looked up at the red-haired lord in disgust. A flicker of rage seeped into his eyes as he held the woman closer to him, unwilling to let her go, though fearing if he did not he would betray himself. He hated how the other lord tried to contradict him. Though he was struggling to resist, his eyes burned at the fact that his will would be broken, eventually. The longer could control himself, the better chance he had of escaping the immoral influence of the red-haired demon. With a sigh, he hissed under his breath. "I have committed terrible crimes for the sake of your entertainment!"
"This is not the first time you have slain humans," Walter retorted, whilst a flicker of red flashed within his starlit eyes. "Do not forget the three men you hanged. I know you enjoyed watching them die, waiting for their last breath to be drawn whilst their bodies twitched in agony."
Barely able to control himself, he hissed between gritted teeth. "That was different. You know why I had to kill them!" Within seconds, his expression was consumed by pain and grief. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to fall in spite of the prideful way in which he raised his head. The icy look he gave Walter had a will to freeze him where he stood. It was a dangerous thing for his lord to discuss. Indeed, he swore to himself, if Walter dared to continue he would rip the creature's throat out with his bare hands. Rage threatened to consume him whilst he bared his fangs. Though it was powerful, the anger within his wounded soul was drowned by his grief.
Walter's harshness abruptly softened. "Yes…I know, Joachim." He paused, diverting his gaze from the pale youth for fear of breaking the young man's fragile state of mind. The red-haired vampire closed his eyes, his head lowering alongside his consoling words. "Though you pity humans now, in time, you will detest their cruel and condemnatory nature. You above anyone should hate them for what they did to you."
Joachim sighed and looked away, his eyes straining in a bitter attempt to conceal his grief from his lord as he continued.
"Humans will hunt you as they have hunted me…"
"Hunt you?" Joachim spat, unable to imagine the thought. A smirk crossed his lips when Walter's eyes returned to his, their gaze meeting when he added coldly. "What chance would a human stand against you? You have never lost to anyone-"
"Do not judge what you do not know!" Walter interrupted, ignoring the surprised look on the young man's face when the flicker of red returned within his eyes. Joachim was about to berate him further until he noticed the tips of the other lord's gauntlets grinding against the railing. The elegance in Walter's face was overwhelmed with sorrow. The suddenness of his lord's pain made the white-haired youth fall into an uneasy silence. He felt Walter's eyes focus on him for a long time, studying him carefully, though he knew not why. Without continuing the subject, the vampire lord's attention diverted to the unconscious woman in his arms. "I see you brought what I asked for," he began, his voice filling with renewed confidence as a smile forced its way across his delicate lips. "Give the lady to me."
"What will you do with her?" Joachim pulled the woman closer to his chest, his eyes narrowing upon the red-haired lord. His body stiffened upon hearing the vampire's calm demand. He was not accustomed to obeying anyone, especially Walter. "I will not relinquish the lady until you tell me her fate."
"The lady's fate is none of your concern!" A low huff escaped the red-haired lord's lips, which curled indignantly at the young man's refusal. "Her lover will come for her. You need not worry about her now."
"Will you harm her?" His body stiffened when he noticed Walter's smile broaden.
The vampire's eyes locked upon the maiden as he raised one of his powerful hands into the air. Joachim felt his lord pull the woman from his arms until her graceful figure floated in mid-air. The red-haired demon shook his head whilst his voice lowered to a deathly whisper. "That depends upon my mood." As though he had told a terribly amusing joke, the sound of his loud, presumptuous laugh reverberated through the entranceway. Walter turned his back upon the young man and exited through the tower door, pulling the woman's floating body with him as he went.
Joachim remained where he levitated, staring after the lord until his sweeping black cape disappeared from sight. He bared his teeth whilst his eyes burned with a will to set the entire castle alight. Walter's telekinetic abilities were unparalleled. Though he envied his lord's power, a chill swept through him when he considered the woman's fate. It was not difficult to imagine what would transpire after Walter took her away. Indeed, as others before her, she was already doomed. Like an innocent lamb, the woman would be slaughtered and her blood consumed by the vampire. It was not enough for Walter to hunt his victims and kill them instantly. A profoundly dark aspect of his lord's psyche delighted in watching them suffer, and in using love and hope as weapons. Now that he was an accomplice Walter found the game even more thrilling. He covered his face with his hands and his nails dug into the cold, unholy flesh tainted and ruined by Walter's bite. A bitter cry escaped his throat as he fell to his knees, agonized and sickened by what he had just done. Though his hands were white and pure, his mind pictured the blood that had covered them - innocent blood that he spilt. Walter's beauty, grace, and power made him long to satisfy whatever he demanded from him. However, he trembled when he wondered how far he was willing to go…and whether it would lead to his self-destruction…
Unable to stand it any longer, he fled the castle and returned to the darkness of the Eternal Night. The red moon haunted the black sky, its eerie light casting shadows across the worn pathway on which he traveled. Though he did not know where he was going, his only wish was to escape from Walter's prying gaze. Fear consumed every fiber of his being as the pace at which he levitated increased. He followed the pathway into the forest until a narrow road near the castle caught his attention. The white-haired youth followed the path, which angled into the trees down a rocky slope, whereupon he came across a modest wooden cabin. Although the building was shabby, a stream of smoke billowed from its open chimney, and its front window illuminated the glow of candlelight from within. He hesitated in front of the cabin, his eyes widening at the thought that someone actually lived in Eternal Night. What is this place? How can a human live here? Surely, it is impossible- He floated toward the cabin curiously, trying to look through the window in hopes of seeing its occupant.
He cried out when a terrible shock threw him back. An immense pain made him writhe on the ground, unable to get up. The powerful shock nearly knocked him unconscious. He struggled to keep his eyes open as he sat up, his vision blurring until he heard the sound of the cabin's door opening. "Who's there?" A man's tense voice confronted him.
Joachim managed to lift his body off the ground. The purple aura surrounding him intensified when his pale eyes sighted an old man standing on the porch. For a moment, he could not believe that the man was human. Without answering his question, his lips curled reproachfully as he hissed in disbelief. "Who are you?" He surveyed the human carefully, keeping his distance from the cabin for fear of striking the barrier again. The old man glared at him and reached for the whip cinched to his waist belt. Despite his age, Joachim could tell the man was extremely powerful. The human's skin, browned from hours spent under the hot sun, was smooth and contoured. His hair, whitened by time, was tied into two thick braids resting upon his chest. He wore a short sleeved azure blue jacket trimmed with gold that went down to his waist. The old man's long, white robe flowed gracefully to his ankles, its lower hem trimmed with matching blue and gold. Although his living quarters were modest, his elaborate clothing indicated that poverty did not bind him to it.
"So!" The stranger began, while a look of mock amusement crossed his face. "A vampire has come to pay me a visit tonight. If you have come to taste my blood, you will never pass through that barrier." He readied the whip, his eyes narrowing upon the pale creature when he added. "To answer your question, I am Rinaldo. I suggest you remember my name. I know your master does."
Joachim folded his arms across his chest as he returned the old man's implication with a look of offence. "Master?" He scoffed. "If you mean Walter, you are gravely mistaken. What purpose do you have in this forest? I suggest you return to wherever you came from, human."
Rinaldo's brow furrowed."Until the master of the castle is slain, my home is here. I warn you, this whip is nothing to scoff at."
Joachim threw his head back, laughing at the man's challenge until a feral crack from the whip startled him. In barely a second, the old man lashed the whip at him, though the power of his circling blades blocked it. The man's audacity surprised him. His pale eyes focused upon the stranger in annoyance. "Your weapon is useless. I have no reason to fear you, nor do I desire to drink your blood."
"A likely story," The old man retorted. "Why have you come here, vampire? Did Walter taint you as well?" A knowing glint refracted within Rinaldo's eyes when he broke the silence. "You were once human. I can still see the bite marks on your neck…he took you recently."
Joachim growled softly whilst his hand flew to cover the wound on his neck, as if by doing so, the old man would fail to recognize the accuracy of his observation. He was different now. "Stop staring at me like that!" He snapped. "Tell me why you are here, or I will kill you-"
"I do not have to explain myself to you." Rinaldo retorted, ignoring the vampire's threat in spite of the five swords whirling around him. "Evidently, you were bitten by Walter and turned. The fact you are here is all the proof I need."
Joachim despised Rinaldo's perceptiveness. Though he was tempted to kill him, he had already shed enough blood to last a lifetime. His aggression toward the human disturbed him, for the old man had done him no harm. Why did Walter taint me but allow an old man to live here in his forest? His hatred for the man's humanity spilled from his lips. "You know nothing of me! Walter must have thought you were a waste of time; otherwise, you would be dead by now. Humans are weak. Tis' no wonder why they deserve to die."
The old man simply continued to stare at him in a strange silence, before he remarked. "Did you deserve this fate? Do you mean that all humans, even ones who are innocent, deserve to be defiled and killed?" The old man's voice hardened, so cold and sharp that Joachim felt his frame stiffen at the question. His lips quivered and looked away as the old man continued. "It's all a game to him, just like you were another game that he played until he claimed you." Rinaldo sighed and shook his head, allowing his braided locks to brush over his shoulders as he took a slow careful step forward. "Don't try to deny the truth, even though it is terrible. I pity you. Walter took yet another promising life and tainted it for his own pleasure. I live here to help those Walter has imprisoned for his entertainment, so that someday he will be defeated once and for all. I warn you, though; when that day comes you will suffer as well."
Joachim scoffed loudly in response, as a smirk crept across the corner of his lips. "Really? I doubt Walter sees it that way. The hunters you help do not stand a chance against him."
"Don't jump to conclusions, vampire. Once this whip is complete, you will understand exactly what I mean. Until then, enjoy the night – while you still have it to protect you."
Joachim continued to chuckle under his breath whilst he turned his back on the old man. "Lowly human. I can expect no less except this from one of your kind." As he levitated to drift from whence he came up the road, he heard Rinaldo call to him.
"I know you are still trying to resist the unholy urge to consume blood. If you give in, I will have no choice but to kill you next time we meet. You are no longer human…"
Joachim shook his head and continued without looking back, his lips firm to meet the offended glare in his eyes. "Senile old man." He muttered to himself as he returned to the castle up the road.
Once again, he retreated to the small blue chapel on the main floor. The young man drifted toward the angel, hovering beneath its cold, stone frame as he placed his chin in his hand. The angel's face looked toward the heavens, ignoring the pale white creature huddling near its feet. It did not surprise him that the angel looked away. Perhaps, all of the angels in heaven had turned their backs upon him. His eyes glanced briefly at the swords aligned behind his back. The blades of all five swords were soaked in blood, the red liquid gleaming in the room's aqua glow. Upon sighting the evidence of his brutality, his lip curled and his head lowered. He was undeserving of the title 'demon' for he was far worse. The act of killing was so very easy, perhaps damningly so. Although the blades protected his frail body, they also doomed him irreversibly.
He could not bear thinking about what he had done. Never, not even in his wildest nightmares, did he imagine himself a murderer. Murderer. The word's harsh and scathing inclination made him shudder whilst he considered the ruin he had brought upon his soul. I am a murderer… He did not have to kill those humans whose blood stained his swords. Indeed, if he was merciful, he could have spared them all. A shadow appeared across his face when his irises tinted a shade of red. He could almost feel the silent screams building inside him as he slowly murdered his own soul. His eyes widened whilst the starkest form of terror reaped through him, causing his trembling white hand to touch the angel's cold, stone robes. Without realizing it, his head tilted upward, and his pearly hair cascaded against his ashen visage as the words fled from his lips. The young man's glistening eyes sought the angel's face, searching its unblinking eyes for but the briefest sign of compassion. "Help…me…please…" His pleas were lost in the coldness of its silence. The angel's unblinking eyes remained locked upon heaven. With a sorrowful cry, he buried his face in his hands and allowed the tears to fall. No one deserved his fate. He tried to comfort himself, desperate to cling to the last of his goodness whilst it was still in his possession. Memories flooded through his mind when he thought of Catherine.
Perhaps, if they met again, she would save him from…himself.
~* FLASHBACK *~
- Joachim, age 7 -
The small pale figure lay almost motionless in the bed. Dead blue eyes scanned the darkened room in search of light, but the large windows were covered by thick drapery, and not a sound broke through the silence. Each inhale he withdrew into his lungs was cut painfully short by the sharp jolts wielded within his chest. The boy's cracked lips trembled in a feeble attempt to search for a voice to put his suffering into words, however not a breath of a whisper filtered into the shadowy gloom of his prison. There were no bars to restrain him inside the room's four walls, no shackles retaining his place in the bed – only his own body – the small sickly form that kept the soul inside confined.
A tiny sigh was the only audible sound he managed to make before the soft lashes of his lids fluttered briefly shut. There was an awing amount of beauty to his untouched visage; despite the fact he appeared to be no older than seven years of age, yet his smooth countenance spoke of sufferings almost beyond normality for one so young. Trickles of perspiration slid down his flushed cheeks, and the subtle dampness of his body glistened under the rays of daylight managing to pry around the edges of the drapes, revealing the child's distinguishable features and sleek form resting beneath the covers. The little boy was so peaked that the slightest disturbance might cause his fragile form to disappear into the shadows.
The child's eyes slowly opened. Within the crystallized depth of the glinting pale irises, the most profound feeling of sadness overwhelmed every aspect of the soft whimpering filling his aching throat. By all accounts, he barely realized he was crying until the hot tears brimmed in his eyes. Stubbornly, or perhaps more so out of desperation, he refused to let them escape, and contained them even when his resigned snivels brought him that much closer. A strong aura of defeat engulfed his sorrow-ridden expression, as if the mere will to breathe was a wasted effort.
Almost unexpectedly, a soft rapping sound reverberated through the room. The boy's head lifted in search of the source of the sound, his eyes immediately straying toward the door when its heavy frame began to slowly open. Although the door's easeful motion was in an obvious attempt to not disturb the quiet atmosphere, an obnoxiously audible creak seemed to deafen its way through the congealing silence. In response to the noise, the child in the bed turned on his side and pulled the covers tight over his body, but could not hide long enough to resist catching a glimpse at the pair of bright green eyes peering at him from behind door in the shadows. Neither he nor his unannounced visitor spoke, but the wave of surprise spreading across his face revealed a stark desire for whomever it was to go away. To his dismay, the green eyes only blinked, before the loud creaking of the door grew louder as the person pushed against its frame until the opening was wide enough to reveal his mysterious visitor.
His visitor was nothing more than a little girl – a girl he quickly estimated to be around the age of five. The girl's bright green eyes looked at him inquisitively, but before she dared to enter the room she made a small curtsy, her dainty hands lifting the flowing fabric of her dress before releasing it. Aside from her dress, he quickly noticed her hair consisted of thick coiled ringlets, and a rather large emerald green ribbon tied into a bow that appeared almost too big for such a modest looking child. Most impressive of all was her smile, a gorgeous smile that seemed to warm the very core of the stuffy bedroom, and with it the room's despairing occupant. The moment her lighthearted steps carried her into the room, he turned in the bed again until he had his back to her and faced the covered windows, trying not to allow his gaze to take another glimpse at her vivid green eyes.
The boy's face became warped with misery, and although every aspect of him shuddered in objection, he could not withhold the softened sounds of his whimpering from reaching her ears. The tears welled in his eyes, causing his vision to blur, and one by one he let them fall. The tiny wet droplets slid down his cheeks and dampened the bedcovering, while he placed his frail hands in front of him and balled each one into a quavering fist. His tense shoulder blades sank back, and his weeping form curled in the bed to look smaller, wanting to escape the young girl's astonished stare that burned against his backside. Very patiently, he listened to the sounds of her footsteps, waiting for them to grow gradually distant so that he could be left in the same oppressive silence as before.
Instead, they pattered across the floor toward him. Without thinking he shut his eyes and tried to hide himself beneath the covers again, but after a few odd moments of stillness, his majestic lashes fluttered open and stared directly at the face of the ringlet haired girl. He was so taken aback that he found himself at a loss for words, especially since she was barely tall enough to see over the mattress. Within seconds, his throat constricted as if an invisible force was blocking his air passageway, causing every breath within his lungs to hitch, and the tears in his eyes to drip down his wan visage.
Before he could draw a breath to compose himself, her voice filled his ears for the very first time. It was a sweet but a surprisingly quiet. "Please don't cry…" There was not a single ounce of demand in any part of her subtle plea, but the boy's mood remained unchanged in its dreary envelopment, except for the dull aura of surprise still wielded throughout his pale countenance. After engaging in another brief silence, she lifted her body upon her toes so that her face could finally examine his face. "If you like, I can stay with you for a while. I saw your face in the window the other day. My father told me not come here but I wanted to meet you. I don't know why grownups think they can order us around all the time!" The young girl's nose wrinkled at the thought, but her bright eyes continued to blink at him cheerfully, though she struggled to maintain her balance upon her toes. Allowing another silence to pass, her gaze searched him from head to toe, watching the pale figure lying in his unresponsive state in the bed with tears streaming down his face. "Are you sick?" The childish innocence she possessed made itself clear from the inquisitive manner in which she cocked her head.
Instead of responding, the boy hiked the covers higher over him until most of his face was out of view, except for the dull shine of his pale eyes peeking through the open space he left between the covers and the pillow. A small gasp managed to escape his lips at the sight of the girl's delicate form clambering atop the bed, her small hands grasping the loose covers for support as her feet flailed against the side of the mattress until they found enough traction so she could crawl upon the mattress and sit next to him. "Will you talk to me?" her engaging smile did not fail to be encouraging, and enhanced by the image of perfection etched across every aspect of her complexion. "What's your name? You do have one don't you, or will I have to give you one myself?"
A teasing wink prompted him to shift beneath the covers. It was not surprising for a girl her age to ask so many questions, but there was something else beneath those questions only the faintest detectible, and he had sensed the unspoken aura of concern hidden behind her assuring grin. "Please? Until you tell me, I'm not going to go away." Her voice died into a softer whisper, her green eyes still focusing upon him and glittering like emeralds in the shadows. Trying to remain beneath the covers had become almost suffocating for the young boy, for he had been quite warm the entire day, and the added warmth from the blankets proved to be unbearable. Nonetheless, a strange air of nervousness engulfed him in the silence that followed. Before he even realized it himself, his dreary eyes trailed to her lovely face, and the dull sound of his voice broke through the silence and his outwardly dejected manner. "Joachim Armster."
The look of sheer doubt entrancing him afterward appeared to expect a scoff of repulsion, a harsh word, or even a simple silence in response to the short reply that emanated the intense sentiment of shame. Yet, the boy could scarcely comprehend her fascinated reaction. All at once her face lit up from the mere sound of his voice, and she leaned closer to him while wearing the most stunning smile a child of her age could endeavor to reveal. "Hello, Joachim!" Despite her cheerfulness, once again the boy's face fell into sorrow, though before he was consumed within it her eyes fled from his gaze and she bowed her head. "My name is Catherine - Catherine Corydon. I've heard you are strange and don't like going outside...but you don't look very happy about it, so I won't believe what the other kids say anymore."
The boy slowly peeled back the covers and sat up in the bed, his hollowed face still somber but rid of its earlier hints of distress. "C-Catherine?" The weak attempt he made to speak could hardly be considered a whisper. "Why did you come here? I am not supposed to have visitors, except my nursemaid, Anneliese."
He shrank back in the bed when the young girl's brow furrowed. "Well!" she made a slighted huff through her dainty nostrils. An impatient glint reflected within her emerald green eyes, and the thick black coils of her hair bounced as she leaned closer to him. "You're not very friendly, either. Anneliese was the one who let me visit you. Haven't you talked to a girl before?"
"That is not what I meant!" He shot back, but his eyes widened upon noticing how gingerly she grinned at him after he abandoned his gloom.
"So, what did you mean then?" she replied. "Do you want me to leave?" There seemed to be no end to her questions, and for another moment he hesitated, though was encouraged by her lighthearted smile. Before he could accumulate his thoughts, she began to slide off the bed.
The girl had just reached the edge of the bed when a feeble looking hand touched her shoulder. "…Please don't go…" The plea he made was so forlorn she looked over her shoulder at the teary-eyed boy, who had then pulled his legs close to his body and sat staring at her with an unblinking gaze. "Catherine." His lips spoke her name with such delicate articulation he almost gave the impression of believing it belonged to an angel. "If you stay with me, you would make me feel better. I have not talked to anyone in quite some time."
"Really?" She turned and crawled toward him across the bedspread, and reached beneath the covers until her hand grasped onto his. The boy drew a gasp and appeared he would shy away from her touch, but contrary to his trembling, his eyes managed to remain locked upon her lovely face. The little girl smiled at him, her bright eyes reflecting like emeralds. Without hesitating, she seated herself next to him on the bed and pulled out a book. "I brought this for you…I hope you like it. I heard rich people have tons of books because they read lots of important stuff everyday."
For the first time in a long while, a smile spread across his pale lips. The boy eagerly looked at the leather book she was holding. However, the girl paused and lowered her head, her eyes casting themselves upon the bedspread as if there was something terribly interesting there. He barely heard her whisper under her breath. "I…am sorry…I don't know how to read..."
The boy smiled in return and took the book from her. He opened its leather cover and scanned the handwriting within it. "Do not worry," he reassured her whilst his gentle blue eyes returned to her face. "I can teach you. Then, we can read this together."
"Really?" She asked, her eyes looked up at him nervously until he nodded.
"If you visit me again, I will teach you to read new words every day."
"Okay," a smile spread across her lips and she beamed at him merrily. A hint of color appeared in the boy's cheeks when she added. "I would love to, Joachim – I mean Sir Armster - I mean lord Armster! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to call you by your first name."
The boy's smile broadened and he shook his head. Without thinking, he placed his hand upon hers, his voice falling quiet. "It is fine. You can call me Joachim, if I can call you Catherine?"
"Of course, you can." She continued to beam at him, her emerald eyes glittering whilst coils of her thick, raven hair cascaded down her back. For a moment, a nervous look appeared upon her face when she added hesitantly. "I don't think Lord Zaeviean wants me here, though…I don't have a nice house or a bunch of servants to order around like you do. My father tells me we don't need those kinds of things; that having servants will just make us not be thankful for what we have. I don't understand what he's rambling about most of the time!"
Though she was a petite child, the joy she expressed made his gloomy expression disappear. The girl's inferior social position mattered not to the young boy, for he was concealed from the world, as well as its prejudices. He could tell she was bohemian by looking at her, for her lightly tanned skin contrasted with his pallid flesh. In swift dismissal of her fear, he waved his hand, his pale eyes hardening with his confident reply. "I do not care what my father thinks." A slight scowl spread across his delicate lips. "He does not want me to die, because our family name would die with me. I will ask Anneliese to escort you to my chamber when my father is gone. More often than not, he goes to fight the heathens - bad people - somewhere far away. Please don't worry, Catherine..."
For years afterward, his father never understood why his son did not die. Joachim firmly believed he owed his life to Catherine. The loneliness plaguing his early years vanished the day he met her. Even his illness seemed to improve when she visited him. Like a guardian angel, she stayed by his side, no matter how ill he became.
Despite his tainted soul, his heart would love her always.