Author's Notes: Welcome to chapter 19 of my story. If you were getting bored of Joachim and Walter standing around talking all the time, this chapter will (hopefully) make things more interesting. Not only is there plenty of blood and gore, but things are starting to get physical between Joachim and Walter now. I hope I wrote that part well *twitches anxiously* Also, I'm sure its becoming clearer that Joachim's state of mind is...well...a bit off lately. And its only going to go downhill from here, I'm afraid (yay?) (T_T) Joachim's obsession with Walter is starting to seem kind of creepy...though I'm sure Walter is eager to take advantage of it.
Also, a tiny bit of Walter's personal history is revealed in this chapter, as well. Walter isn't really clear about anything though, so I'll leave you (the reader) to figure it out.
*****This story now has a beta reader!***** - Rahar Moonfire fixed the grammatical/spelling errors prior to the release of this chapter. Thank you!
Special Thanks
As always, thank you if you are following this story, even if you don't review. However, reviews are always appreciated. I love reading feedback/constructive criticism. Not only does it improve my writing, but it allows me to know what people think of my work. If you haven't left any reviews yet, I hope to hear from you in the future.
*sends Walter to kidnap AzariyaBelmont* I hope you are still reading! :D You don't want to miss these next few chapters, especially since you are Walter's fangirl!
Rahar Moonfire: Thank you so much for taking the time to edit this chapter. The changes you made make reading it a lot smoother than before. I'm still worried about the sexual content since I don't want to write something that sucks (ahem, I would like you to read chapter 20 and tell me what you think). I hope the sexual stuff in this chapter is satisfactory (ha!) and doesn't seem too random. I really appreciate the fact you have read/followed this story since the very beginning. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to read a story that's as long as this one and review EVERY chapter to date. :) I hope you are still enjoying it. *cheers*
LateNiteSlacker: As always, thank you so much for reviewing! :D I love reading your comments, and the fact you have noticed Joachim's declining mental state. Basically, from this chapter onward it is a downhill slide. His obsession with Walter is starting to get a bit creepy, IMO (and I'm the one who wrote this story lol!) For some reason, there isn't a lot of Mathias fanfiction before or after LoI. I always wanted to know how he duped Walter. I could see him being excellent at manipulating people to get what he wants, since he is a tactician, after all (next chapter you will see what I mean especially). The only thing is, since so little is written about Mathias, I hope he's not OC. Also, I know you didn't really think there was a yaoi relationship between Joachim/Walter but I swear it will make *more* sense by chapter 20. And, as for Joachim's fate when Leon arrives...well...you will see, eventually. LoI is full of inconsistencies...which are extremely convenient! *wink*
Chapter XIX
Remembering Mathias, Joachim drifted down one of the castle corridors but stopped when the sight of the blue tinted door caught his gaze. Almost instantly, his ears picked up a terrible yell muffled on the other side of the door. The yelling continued, almost like a howl of agony so severe he nearly pressed his hands over his ears to block it from his mind. Familiar footsteps prompted him to notice Walter emerge from within the shadows. The other vampire's blood red armor shone when he slinked past the windows in the hall. The red moonlight cast a dull, ominous glow around his muscular form. For a moment, he gave off the malice of a demon whilst his hard, black eyes cast themselves upon the pale youth. The sound of his rich, eloquent voice made Joachim fall completely still. "I see you have returned to tend to our guest," he observed. A knowing smile spread across his lips as his eyes drifted to the light blue door. With a huff, he flicked aside the veil of fiery bangs away from his face. A perturbed glint refracted within them from the sound of Mathias' anguished screams. "Some do not react well to the curse. It seems a part of his soul still clings to life."
"Is there nothing we can do?" Joachim returned his lord's curiosity with a repugnant glare. However, within himself, he reflected upon his own experience. The pain Mathias endured was not unlike his when he was turned. It felt like centuries ago, despite the fact the two tiny scars on his neck were still fresh.
Walter waved him away, his dark eyes narrowing. "The curse affects each human differently." A slight smile crossed his lips, his pale white skin partially silhouetted by the moon's hellish glow. Like a demon enjoying the fruits of its destruction, he ushered grandly to the night beyond. The sky matched his eyes, which for a moment, glinted faintly with interest. "Mathias shall suffer greatly for his betrayal. God, it seems, is unwilling to release him so easily." Joachim stared up at him wordlessly until Walter stepped closer, extending one of his gauntlet-covered hands. "You are trembling…" He continued to stare in silence, parting his lips with subtle gasps as his lord's fingers brushed away strands of his ivory hair. He had to raise his chin slightly to be able to look at Walter's face, and trembled upon feeling the fingers rest upon the scar on his neck. For a moment, Walter paused, trailing the tips of his black gauntlets across the contoured surface in slow, even circles. "Mathias will fall and accept the blood covenant as you did. You and I will dine out tonight. My blood cannot sustain you forever, Joachim…"
He attempted to pull away from his lord's touch; his pale blue eyes widened, shining like sapphires in the shadows, whilst his shoulders tensed. The idea of killing had suddenly become so very real. No longer could he avoid it through the sweet warmth of Walter's blood. The creature that had nursed him since the night of his turning suddenly revoked the one thing that quenched his urges. Joachim fixated his gaze upon the other lord, his lip curving into a pained frown. He reached and clamped his hand securely around Walter's wrist. The cold steel feeling from his gauntlet nearly made him pull away. "As you wish." He replied, trying to hide his fear of what was to come.
The red haired vampire broke the silence that followed. "It is night in the human realm, now. We must leave immediately." Joachim pressed his lips together. A barely audible growl vibrated through his throat, and his eyes locked on Walter continuing leisurely ahead. Beams of moonlight flooded over his form when he passed a window, illuminating the vampire's red hair and pastel colored skin. "So," he continued. "Have you begun to marvel at the wonders of my castle?"
"It…is not as dull as I first thought, and that is the only credit I will give. For being the master of a castle, you fail to maintain the wings within it."
A low chuckle filled the air, which nearly startled him into stopping until he saw Walter glance over his shoulder with smile pressed across his ashen lips. "If I spent my time gardening, I would be unable to subject humans to my games. Though many have ventured to my castle, hoping to reclaim the one they love most, their valiant efforts are always for naught. Perhaps, to a human, my game is unfair. To me, it is simply entertaining." The other lord stopped turned to face him. Walter's expression was serious, his eyes darkening with his words. "I enjoyed our little game, Joachim. To the victor go the spoils."
The young man swept by him, ignoring his tall, armored frame as he muttered tersely. "Spoils indeed. I would not be so proud if I were you. You spoil everything you touch, Walter."
"I do not desire to ruin our evening by being baited into a quarrel with you. After all, it is clear you seek battles you cannot win, especially when you seek them with me." Walter's reply was calm and dignified. The coy grin upon his lips broadened with his silky reply. "I would like to see how long your words last centuries from now. Tonight is a night you shall truly understand what it means to be a vampire. Like most things, immortality has a price. Ours is blood."
Tendrils of his fiery red hair fell around his pasty cheeks. The longer he gazed at the vampire's expression, the more the silence consumed them both until they halted upon the castle's lowered drawbridge. Joachim breathed in the crisp night air, his eyes glistening under the crimson moon's ominous light. The glow cast a red shadow across his ashen face, giving him an unusually sinister appearance. "We must make haste; too much time has already been lost." Walter's voice resounded through the darkness. The other lord's attention diverted to the gravel road ahead of them. "Flight must be obtained..."
"What are you talking about? I don't know how to fly!" Joachim gazed after Walter, who turned and replaced his former expressionless face with a familiar smile.
"Ah," he paused and placed a hand to his chin, running the gauntlet-covered hand in slow even strokes when his eyes fell on the young man. "You, my naïve little scholar, shall learn transfiguration. Normally, only older vampires can change themselves into a wolf or a bat."
"By older, are you referring to yourself?"
Walter returned the insult with a graceful nod, his dark eyes glinting in the dim red light. The vampire's chilling look made the young man hold his tongue. "Regretfully, I do not know my age." A low chuckle escaped his lips whilst he shrugged, the coils of his blood-red hair spilling against his face. The vampire's striking beauty stunned Joachim, even though he resented himself for it. A tint of crimson seemed to appear within the young man's lifeless cheeks when Walter's great hand cupped his face, drawing Joachim's pale blue eyes into their black, mysterious spheres. "Although time means nothing to me… you mean everything."
He tried to form the words he wished to say, however, the only word he could make out was the other lord's name. "Walter…"
"What is the matter?" The red-haired lord asked, almost coyly, noting the blush that swept across Joachim's once colorless face.
When he attempted to pull him closer, Joachim abruptly turned away. His fine lips formed a scowl as he hissed under his breath. "You said you could teach me transfiguration. Beyond the border, darkness only lasts a few hours. Perhaps you should explain, rather than wasting time attempting to flatter me."
"Forgive me, for I did not think compliments were a waste of time." Walter's eyes narrowed. With a huff, the red-haired lord ushered to the black night sky above them. Part of his smooth, elegant face was shadowed in darkness when he turned away from the moonlight. A flicker of red appeared within his irises whilst he continued coolly. "Simply envision the form of a bat in your mind and it will be so." Joachim blinked several times, trying to understand the context of his lord's explanation. How could he become something by thinking about it? The concept was absurd and impossible. However, Walter took quick notice of his doubt and used the opportunity to his advantage. With a smug wave of the hand, he grinned and added. "I see… perhaps an example will suffice. Once you become a bat, envisioning your human form will return you to your original shape." An array of smoke exploded into the air and rapid wing beats broke the silence. The smoke cleared to reveal a large bat. It's massive wings were at least five feet long. The skin stretched across the wings was so light that when the bat flew higher into the sky, the red moon's glow shone dimly through them like curtains. The bat's fur was deep reddish brown, faintly resembling the color of dried blood.
The young man gasped. Walter was nowhere in sight – and presence of the gigantic bat spoke for itself. The creature soared into the night sky and circled about him in the air, almost mockingly. If Walter could do it, he was more than eager to prove himself capable of the same feat. He tried to imagine was it was like to be bat. He pictured large furry ears, tiny feet, and leathery wings. When he was a lord his subjects feared bats and wolves because they were the servants of the damned. He swallowed what was left of his pride when he pictured a bat in his mind's eye. A terrible power filled his body as he felt himself changing, growing smaller, lighter, faster, and nearly weightless. Within seconds, his body acquired the form of an ivory white vampire bat. He flapped his wings until he was completely airborne. The night's cold wind carried him higher into the sky until he reached Walter's elevation. His glossy white fur shone a tint of red under the crimson moon. Even in bat form, he was not as large as Walter or as strong. His mind had to think about being a bat, for changing shape alone was not enough to sustain the transformation. The constant strain it put upon him mentally was almost too great to bear. He winced as a terrible headache threatened to change him back into his humanoid shape. By then, the ground was so far away that a fall from such a distance would injure him severely.
He pushed himself to maintain his concentration, his effort rewarded when Walter's great form flew near him."You have done well." The sound filled his ears and mind, but when his mouth gaped in surprise Walter's beady bat-like eyes twinkled. "I see you are surprised we can still talk. Do not be, for to any human we sound like bats. Come, now is the time to learn how to fly in this form. Follow me." When he got a closer look at Walter's face, his newly turned bat eyes widened to see the large upturned nose and ears, as well as the protruding fangs. In his opinion, vampire bats certainly were not among nature's beautiful creatures. He flapped after Walter while keeping his eyes on the vampire's massive bat form. When he scanned the ground, a pulsating wave caused a grid-like map of the forest to appear. Sounds and shapes were different in bat form. Although his senses improved as a vampire, it was nothing compared with a bat. He could hear and see almost everything – from the call of an owl to the rushing of a nearby stream.
He followed Walter in the sky. The other lord's bat form was so big it was difficult not to see him. As a bat, he was faster and more alert to his surroundings. However, he was uncertain of how long he could keep up with Walter while concentrating on his new form. Thankfully, he did not have to concentrate for long. The thatched rooftops of houses slowly became visible in the distance. When they had reached the outskirts of the village, Walter swooped low to the ground and vanished again. He followed the other lord, uncertain of where he went. Before he could even let out a screech, his tiny body was snatched by the red-haired lord's gauntlet. The cold steel chafed against his furry body whilst Walter dangled him upside down from his feet like a chicken ready for slaughter. The glint in the other lord's eyes prompted him to bear his incisors and snap at the vampire's face. "You have much to learn." Walter's rich voice filled his ears. Somehow, it sounded louder to him as a bat and more imposing. Despite struggling to free himself, the other lord added with mock-amazement. "I am surprised you managed to sustain your bat form this long. Impressive. Though, if you hope to match my abilities, you will require more practice."
The moment he attempted to retort, Walter's hand released him and his tiny form fell upon the ground like lead. His concentration lifted from the impact of the fall. He did not even have to picture himself as a human for his body to return to its original shape. The tiny bat wings gave way to arms, longer legs, silky white hair, and ashen skin. Within a moment, he was wearing his indigo robes and chest armor, and was sprawled over a worn dirt pathway. A jolt of pain encompassed his mind as he sat up in a daze, until his thoughts focused enough to lift him off the ground into a levitating stance. "How dare you treat me like a toy!" Joachim rasped and bared his fangs. His rage was so strong he was tempted hit Walter in the face. He drew a breath, ignoring the demon's laughter when he continued. "I should hardly be surprised. Only you would do something so vindictive."
Walter raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes. "Heaven forbid I displease you, Joachim." He stared at Walters's creamy white flesh under the moon's pallid glow. "Come." His lord whispered darkly. "The night is still young, and I look forward to examining what is on the menu this evening."
Joachim's mouth nearly gaped again after hearing his words, but he kept it closed and floated at Walter's side, feeling the vampire's eyes lingering on him. They drifted a few meters up the path when the town came into view. He sighed when Walter looked away and at the silent town awaiting them, and enveloped in the peaceful slumber of the night. "Perfect." The red-haired lord whispered. "They have no idea what awaits them. Children sleep in their beds, whilst men leave the taverns to go home to their wives. Such simple, pointless lives." The moon's white light indicated they were beyond the border of Eternal Night. The other lord's blood red armor gleamed under the white moonlight. Walter paused when his vigilant eyes noticed a group of priests walking down the cobblestone road, possibly returning from evening mass. The other lord ushered to the priests, his eyes tinting a shade of red from sighting the crucifixes worn around their necks. "They think those holy relics will save them from their fate. They do not realize that God turns a blind eye to vampires. We are slayers, bringers of death, and judgment. Centuries of violence in the name of God have stained their black cassocks red with blood. I can almost smell it as they draw nearer. Empty hearts, reciting empty prayers, to a God who no longer listens…"
Joachim's brow furrowed as the priests drew nearer. The swords quickened their encirclement around him as raging thoughts threatened to destroy his composure. The young man's dagger-like eyes had a will to stab the priests before he could even command his swords.
"Do you know what humans would say if they saw you now?" Walter glanced at him, his voice lowering so the priests would not overhear them talking. "They would call you a monster, a demon, or even Satan. We are loved by the night and surrounded by misconceptions those 'holy' men perpetuate." He felt Walter's cold gauntlet covered hand caress his cheek. The red-haired lord continued, his voice softening. "I simply do what comes naturally to me…for nature is indeed cruel, is it not? Occasionally, I envy humans, even though I must hunt them. They can see the sun…something I have dreamed of but never laid eyes upon."
"You were born this way?" He gave the other lord a disbelieving look, his eyes narrowing when Walter turned away. For some reason, pity and grief overwhelmed him when he noticed the pain that had briefly appeared on his lord's face. It was rare for the other lord to show sadness. Yet, when he saw it, he wished to ease his suffering. Why, despite all your wrongdoings, does my heart long to comfort you? I am here, with you, and only you. He touched the other lord's cheek and caressed the smooth, cold flesh with his pale hand when their eyes met. "I did not know..."
A low, half-hearted chuckle escaped Walter's whilst his dark eyes glistened. "I do not despise myself for being what I am. Does a cat despise itself for being a cat? What of a horse, a bird, or a fish? Doubt will not change my fate."
Joachim was uncertain if Walter was trying to convince him or himself of that. An impious chuckle parted from his lips, and he raised his head to gaze at the full moon suspended in the sky like a lantern. His hair streamed around his cheeks in ashen wavelets as a red tint appeared within his icy blue spheres. The glow in his eyes increased even more and when he glanced at Walter the vampire already parted his lips to reveal the protrusion of his fangs. With a mocking chuckle, he called out to them. "Say your prayers. You will need them."
"Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen!" The priest shielded himself with the large wooden cross, but Joachim merely snarled at him in response before he ripped the cross from the man's grasp. With the bat of an eyelid he sent one of his blades forth, which sliced the priest through his cassock and caused blood to spatter into the air and over the face of the young assailant. A deep slash was ripped in the man's chest, nearly slicing him in half as he crumpled to the ground in a pool of blood.
Walter walked next to him, his eyes glinting and following the other screaming priests attempting to run in the opposite direction. In moments, he suspended the three remaining priests in midair. With one, feral swipe, the red-haired lord slashed their throats open with this gauntlets. Blood streamed down the slits in their necks as they hung in the air, gasping for breath and unable to receive it. Walter stood before them, his dark eyes looking up at their horrified expressions whilst they were slowly dying. The vampire's face was cold and expressionless. A deathly beauty radiated from Walter's form whilst he lifted his hand and opened his palm, allowing the blood streaming from the bodies to drain upon his outstretched fingers. A low, barely audible chuckle escaped his throat as he pressed the bloody gauntlet to his lips and ran his tongue across the cold, steel surface. The three holy men fell in a heap upon the ground and moved no more. Torrents of blood flowed around the bodies and seeped around Walter's boots. Without looking at them, the other lord kicked one of the bodies and whirled, his black cape sweeping behind him like unfurled wings.
Curious and frightened townspeople began to appear on the streets, leaving the safety of their homes in order to glimpse at death. People awakened from a dreamy sleep, only to see a nightmare waiting for them in the darkness. Joachim smiled and waved his swords in the air, his eyes observing their elegant glowing forms. A strong scent made his nostrils flare when he raised his head and took in the subtle smell of blood that began to seep across the cobblestone road. More screams pierced the air, and he whirled to see Walter walking down the street killing people as he went. The other vampire lunged and grabbed a man firmly by the neck. When the man tried to impale him with a pitchfork, the demon wrenched it out of his hand with his power and sent the weapon into the man's chest. Gurgled cries broke the silence of the night whilst the prongs of the pitchfork jutted through the man's chest. With a snarl, Walter tossed him away. A spray of blood flew through the air until the body landed a few meters down the road.
"Kill them." Walter ordered and turned to face the paling young man. His expression was serious, though Joachim could not deny catching the glimpse of delight in his eyes when more humans attempted to subdue him. The humans were like rabbits trying to kill a wolf. The vampire made barely an effort when he killed them. He watched Walter seize a middle-aged man by the neck and bend it to such an odd degree that it snapped like a toothpick. Despite humankind's dominion over nature, against the red-haired demon they had little influence.
Joachim never witnessed such a brutal display of power until that night. Truly, he did not know what Walter was capable of until he watched the creature mangle and destroy everything in his path. A thick, smear of blood followed the vampire as he walked casually down the streets as though off on an evening stroll. A few men attempted to surprise him by darting out of alleyways as he walked by. Swords, spears, and any weapon they could find glinted in the moonlight whilst they swung their weapons at the passing vampire. Without even looking at them, Walter immobilized them in mid-swing, his eyes glowing a shade of red as his claw-like gauntlets tore into flesh and bone. Screams filled the night. Horrible, agonizing screams as humans fell and lay on the road, dying beneath his feet. Walter merely kicked them away and continued onward. Joachim could not remove his eyes from him. The other lord's tall, armored frame, rippling muscles, blood-red hair, and ashen flesh were majestic and beautiful. Death itself was beautiful when he looked at Walter. The other lord did not hesitate or bat an eyelid at death. In fact, he suspected the demon feared nothing except the sunlight. Only the sun could challenge the night's dominance over the earth. But even then, Walter's ability to create a realm of eternal darkness defied the light. Walter was the adversary of God, perhaps even the devil himself, for he felt nothing when he killed. The devil had been an angel. Satan once resided within heaven's gates and knew the light. The red-haired demon, on the other hand, dwelled only in darkness. There was no compromising with Walter. If the vampire wanted to take a life, he took it without question.
Even though he did not wish to admit it, Walter mesmerized him completely. For whatever reason, the demon had selected him to be his eternal companion. The one creature on earth who would understand what it meant to dwell in darkness. Indeed, he understood all too well, what it felt like to be hated for being what he was. Though he looked upon Walter's cruelty with a sneer, deep inside his tainted heart, he knew he loved him for it. Loved the one who had damned him. It was perverse, and should have disgusted him but he smiled. Walter was his. His lord's beauty, grace, and elegance belonged to him. He was the demon's favorite. The smell of blood that surrounded him was intoxicating. Yet, he almost cursed the fact that his conscience was far stronger than his hatred. None of the humans they killed had done him any harm or ill will. At least, he thought so, until an enraged voice startled him from behind.
His eyes narrowed when they fell upon two human males bounding toward him carrying daggers and lances. Joachim raised his head and smirked as they approached, and without hesitation flew toward them and swords encircled him once more and slashed at them, knocking their weapons out of their hands. "Fools!" He hissed between gritted teeth, allowing his fangs to gleam in the moon's pale light. "You stand no chance! Lowly humans…perhaps it would be merciful if I ended your pathetic lives! If you are stupid enough to attack me, you deserve to die!" The two humans writhed when he swung his arm and knocked them back like flies. Kill them all! His thoughts commanded the swords behind him into action. Within seconds, his blades flew away and hacked at the men with quick, precise swipes. Joachim's eyes narrowed as he watched the swords gut them like pigs. The swords sliced a line from their jugular down to their torso. It was a clean, even line, which allowed their insides to spill out of them onto the ground. Blood and entrails seeped around the corpse as the youth levitated above them, watching them writhe and tremble until death made them still. "Worthless." He muttered to himself. The truth of the matter was, human were weak and inferior.
He looked ahead and noticed that his lord had vanished. Nevertheless, the screams resounding into the night made it clear that Walter had not gone far. He drifted through the empty streets, his hair cascading against his ashen flesh as he took in his surroundings. Blood, corpses, and death were everywhere. Though his words were cold, he knew there was no going back…the life as he had lived it, as a lord, was gone. Humans would fear him, now. They would see him and know he was one of the damned whether he succumbed to the curse or not. The realization made him grimace whilst he floated through the streets. A lone figure standing a few feet away caught his attention. It was a woman, with thick, black hair, and wearing a tattered dress. Undoubtedly, her clothing indicated she was a peasant, perhaps the wife of a farmer or serf. Despite her poverty, she stood there, looking at him in silence; staring into death without the will to flee. Joachim stared back and hesitated within a few feet of her. Though she feared him, her glassy gaze did not relent from looking at him for a moment. She was utterly transfixed by the sight of his pale form and icy eyes. If Walter had seen her, the other lord would have killed her instantly. Yet, despite his own hatred and thirst, he could not. Joachim simply floated there, looking at her, absorbed in the fact that he was dead. Women would fear him. Men would try to kill him. Children would cry at the sight of him…for he was inhuman. The word was cruel but accurate. How could he call himself a man when vampires drank the blood of their victims? He no longer walked like a man, for he floated instead. His soul was a ghost trapped forever upon the earth…
"There it is! Now we have him!"
Joachim's eyes darted at the numerous houses on either side of the street, where groups of men emerged clutching weapons in their hands. Their faces were darkened in rage while they readied their weapons and surrounded him. The men carried whatever weapons they could find: scabbards, halberds, pitchforks, crossbows, clubs, and war hammers were a few he recognized immediately. Joachim stared at them sinisterly, knowing their rage and fear made them blind to the fact they were doomed. One man stepped forward carrying a loaded crossbow in his hands. Joachim's eyes widened and he whirled to find every exit blocked. Although his five symbiotic swords protected him, he realized that he was vastly outnumbered. Once his swords left his body to kill, he would remain vulnerable to their attacks. Not even five swords would be able to bring down enough humans for him to escape.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Joachim asked. His voice resounded sharply though the darkness. "I am not a monster! You do not understand, I never wanted to-"
A broken cry escaped through his lips when an arrow punctured through his left shoulder. His body crumpled forward as agony ripped through him like fire. "You will die tonight, vampire!" the man holding the crossbow shouted at him while reloading it. Other men slowly began to step forward and tighten the circle around him. There were at least twenty of them waiting to attack. "Humans." Joachim snarled, while eyeing the arrow projecting from his shoulder hatefully. With a fearful roar, he grabbed the arrow's feathered end and ripped it out of his flesh. Blood filled the open wound and seeped down his chest in rivers. He gasped from the pain, realizing that despite his powers, he was still vulnerable to their attacks.
"Let us all take pride in killing this unholy fiend. Each of us can take a turn stabbing his blackened heart!"
Joachim whirled to see who was speaking but the men surrounding him became a blur in his mind. His eyes widened into glassy pools when they scanned over the enraged scowls directed at him, willing to slay him without a second thought. It was the same hatred he felt inside his soul when he killed their kind.
"Maybe we should keep him alive long enough to tie him up and let him see God's light ascend over the Earth! His flesh will burn and sear like wood in fire, and it would be a far worse suffering for this godless demon!"
"No!" another commented. "He is too dangerous to keep alive till dawn! Let us slay him now instead of taking such a risk…"
Joachim continued to stare while he pressed one of his hands over the wound to stop the bleeding. When the man carrying the crossbow took a closer step toward him, he gnashed his teeth and snarled till the man backed away again. The men raised their weapons, preparing to strike him down. However, Joachim's gaze diverted upward when a dark form shadowed the moonlight. A gasp escaped his lips when he noticed the threatening silhouette of Walter standing upon the rooftop of a house. Locks of red hair swept around the other lord's pallid cheeks as the night wind danced around him. The vampire's cape billowed out behind him as his throat released an enraged, guttural snarl like a wild beast. Walter bared his fangs in challenge, allowing the razor-sharp incisors to flash like knives in the moon's pale light.
Within seconds, his bat-like form descended toward the group of men with lightning speed. Joachim could only watch as men were thrown backward and smashed against the road. Walter's armored form glided toward them, his steps so smooth and soft that they could not hear the demon approaching to claim their lives. The red-haired lord's gauntlets shredded their throats when he picked them up, one by one, biting those who appealed to him and immediately killing those who did not. Every so often, he would bury his fangs in the neck of a man. Instead of draining him dry, his fangs ripped out pieces of flesh whilst blood poured down the front of his armor in rivers. It was quite possibly the most brutal act of violence Joachim had ever witnessed. He nearly backed away in revulsion, his pale eyes widening as Walter's rage escaladed. The demon's eyes glowed a bright shade of red whilst droplets of blood sprinkled across his once pure, ashen visage.
The vampire lord knocked a man to the ground and crushed his hand, shattering the bones within it as easily as glass. Moans and gasps of agony broke the once tranquil silence of the night. Bodies littered the road in Walter's wake as he approached the white-haired youth, his dark eyes focused upon the wound in Joachim's shoulder. With an irritated huff, he raised his arm into the air as his cape billowed behind him like the wings of a dark angel. The motion created bursts of whitish blue light across the road. Most of the bodies were disintegrated by it instantly. Those that were not, lay where they had fallen, their eyes empty, glassy, and forever stilled by death. The vampire's power was truly something to be reckoned with. If Walter is that powerful, I stand no chance against him. If only I knew the source…Joachim stared at his lord wordlessly, whilst Walter approached with cat-like steps.
A scowl pressed across Walter's smooth lips. "Pathetic wretches!" The red-haired lord hissed under his breath. "They know nothing about our kind. If they were not so easy to kill, I might have admired their audacity."
"You…saved me…" Joachim looked up, his pale eyes gleaming in the moonlight whilst Walter towered over him, his gleaming red armor spattered with blood. The terrifying, beautiful creature before him made his entire body fall still. Waves of lush, red hair cascaded against his lord's contoured cheeks, matching the blood covering his body. Despite the terrifying image he conjured within Joachim's mind, his heart swelled. The youth was astonished by the other lord's swiftness and backed into a nearby alleyway. He pressed himself against the side wall of a house, turning his head away from his master's dark, glittering eyes, whilst the breath in his lungs hitched. He could feel Walter drawing nearer to him. Without realizing it, his voice broke through their silence. "You were so…elegant, under the light of the moon, before you killed them. I am nothing compared to you…"
Why did he covet Walter so fiercely? He feared what it meant, for it was unlike him to love another man. The idea in itself was damning, even though the fickleness of human 'morality' no longer controlled him. Yet, it felt so right that a faint blush tickled his pallid cheeks. He kept his eyes averted from his lord, for he was unable to gaze upon Walter's smiling expression. A softness appeared within Walter's eyes as he leaned forward, pressing himself against the trembling young man before his cold, smooth lips covered Joachim's in a tender, gentle kiss. It was difficult to believe that his lord, whom he saw slaughtering people mere moments ago, could display such strong affection for him. He felt his lord's passion and love in the kiss they shared, together, under the pale light of the moon. Walter's strong, muscled arms wrapped around him and held him, comforting him in his moment of uncertainty and loneliness.
Joachim ran his fingers through the other lord's lustrous red hair, whilst tasting the blood upon Walter's lips. Human blood. Its sweet, warm tang filled him with pleasure and contentment. Barely conscious of his own actions, his left hand trailed down the front of his lord's chest armor. Walter merely kept his lips pressed against him, unwilling to relent as the young man's curiosity and yearning escalated. Joachim's hand slinked further down until he paused between his master's legs. Walter's hardening organ pressed against the velvety black fabric. Wanting him. Needing him. The youth broke their kiss before long and pull his lord against him, his lips slinking down Walter's sloping neck. The urge to bite it intruded upon his thoughts. Yet, his longing for the other lord compelled him to ignore the bestial temptation. Nothing would stop him until Walter was his. He breathed in his master's scent, whilst feeling Walter's breath grow heavy under the ferventness of his lips. The other lord shuddered as Joachim's delicate, white fingers rubbed the swollen organ. A powerful feeling of desire overcame him when he realized how vulnerable his lord was at that moment. Joachim knew the other lord was drawing him deeper into the blackness from which there was no return. Yet, in their moment together, he did not care or know himself. All he knew was Walter's embrace, his lips, his heat, and the smell of blood caked upon his armored frame. The pale youth rocked against him, daring Walter to take him amidst the carnage and death surrounding them both.
The youth's cheeks flushed a vibrant shade of red as he felt his lord's hand gently caressing his aching organ. A soft, barely audible moan parted through his ashen lips as Walter removed his gauntlet and dropped it on the ground next to him. Within a moment, he felt his lord's smooth, icy hand slide inside his britches. The dull, throbbing need he felt became suddenly more powerful and demanding under the cold touch of Walter's hand. Before he could resist, he felt the other lord's hand deliberately wrap around his hardened member. Joachim gasped and pressed himself harder against the wall, his arms clawing at Walter's chest whilst he threw his head back. Strands of silky, white hair fell against his shoulders as he writhed, aroused by the illicitness of his gratification. Relentless, Walter's hand began to pump, unhindered by the young man's cries of pleasure and shame. The other lord's hand worked against him slowly, deliberately, and with such force that Joachim could scarcely collect himself long enough to realize what was happening. He gasped and panted, wanting air but unable to receive it when Walter's lips smothered him in a deep, ravenous kiss. The demon wanted him. Nothing else could challenge his right to Walter's heart. He lost himself in the kiss, feeling his lord's tongue intertwine with his own, whilst the red-haired demon's hand worked forcefully against his swollen erection. "W-Walter-" his voice tried to speak the name but it was lost in ecstasy. Raptures of pleasure filled every fiber of his being. His soul, once broken, was pieced back together by his lord's loving caresses.
The deliberateness of his lord's actions repulsed him. Yet, his lips released a loud, aching moan upon feeling his release spill into Walter's hand. The sticky hot, white wetness clung to his skin as he fell back against the wall, gasping for air like a fish out of water. Evidence of his indiscretion covered the inside of his britches. Never before did he truly look at his own seed until he noticed it covered his lord's hand. The youth's pale optics were glazed and wide, focusing upon the white substance and the other lord's pleasure-entrenched face. The smile upon Walter's lips broadened as he raised his hand to lips and licked the fluid clean, in a manner not unlike that of a cat. Sweat trickled down the side of the youth's face as he gasped, torn between relief and fear. "You…used me…!" He tried to sound enraged, but his voice choked the words out pitifully. Without bearing to look at his lord, he buried his face in his hands, and shuddered against the wall like a frightened child.
Unimpressed by his shame, a soft huff escaped Walter's lips as he turned away. "Is that how you see it?" The accusing tone in his voice made Joachim fall still. He noticed his lord's frame tense when he added quietly. "I beg to disagree, Joachim. It seems you misunderstand…"
"Explain yourself, then!" The white-haired youth hissed as he straightened himself against the wall and brushed the wrinkles out of his clothing. Joachim's eyes hardened upon Walter's backside. If his gaze could shoot daggers, he would have shot a thousand at him.
Walter glanced over his shoulder, his red hair spilling against his face whilst his dark eyes narrowed upon the youth. A sharpness filled his voice when he replied shortly. "No."
Without looking at him again, the red-haired lord returned to the streets, his black cape swishing behind him as he went. If there was one word Joachim was not used to hearing, it was the word 'no.' As a lord he was used to obtaining whatever he wanted. The fact that Walter felt no obligation to tell him anything incensed him to no end. His eyes hardened whilst his hands balled into fists, before his voice shouted after the other vampire. "Answer me, coward!" But Walter was not there to hear it – perhaps, thankfully so, for he knew his lord would not have let him get away with it. Something about Walter fascinated and terrified him. Though he saw the wanting look in the vampire's eyes, he knew Walter was merely saving him for another time. They had work to do, and the sun would rise in a few hours. If there was one thing vampires feared, it was sunlight. With a snarl, Joachim composed himself and drifted after the other lord, unwilling to be left behind like a stray animal.
After a moment, he discovered that another human distracted his lord. Walter's powerful hand had grasped a screaming woman by the throat and was holding her up. Upon sighting the pale youth, the demon dragged the woman toward him. The woman's terror was only a prelude to how she would feel when Walter bit her and drained her dry. He avoided imagining it until he noticed the little girl clinging to the skirt of the woman's dress. As the vampire pulled the woman along, the child clinging to her skirt tripped and fell forward.
Walter paused, his dark eyes flitting to the child in growing irritation upon hearing its frightened cries. "Little wretch," he spat, ignoring the mother's attempt to push the child away in spite of his powerful grip upon her throat. "Perhaps a child would be adequate for you, Joachim."
As if the girl was a pest, he kicked her with his boot, his grate frame towering over her trembling form until the white-haired youth held up a hand.
"What do you mean?" Joachim's icy gaze lingered upon the sobbing child.
Walter's lips formed a coy little smile. "Though I enjoy toying with humans, I will not force a child to watch her mother die."
"But you will kill her mother, knowing the child will be orphaned because of you?" He retorted, giving the other lord a severe glare.
"Death is indiscriminate." Walter ignored the young man's escalading rage as he kicked the little girl toward him. The child's crying grew louder, the tears spilling down her soft cheeks whilst her mother commanded the girl to run away. Despite the woman's pleas, the child remained where she had fallen like an anxious fawn looking upon the face of a predator.
"Apparently, cruelty is as well…" He sighed, his pale eyes locking upon the screaming child. If there was ever a time when he wanted to chastise the other lord, it was then. However, he held his tongue, for he knew his temper would doom the child instantly. He looked away from the sight as his lips curled into a sneer.
"Drain her dry." The red-haired lord commanded him quickly. "My thirst is still strong. Once you are done with her, we shall depart. Our survival is dependent upon our ability to conceal ourselves. If you see any humans, kill them all."
Without another word, Walter turned and departed down the street. Though he did not see what happened to the child's mother, the sound of the woman's screams was all he needed to know she would never see her daughter again. He waited until the other vampire was out of sight before he picked up the girl and dragged her into an alleyway, out of his lord's vigilant gaze. The powerful urge to consume blood made his eyes lock upon the girl's delicate neck. If he wanted to, he could have granted her a swift death by breaking her neck. He dropped her on the ground near his feet. The girl huddled against the wall. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to wail, the sound of her fear and pain filling the darkness. The pale young man loomed over her, his glowing aura radiating through the shadows whilst his eyes focused on her. He reached out to pick her up by the front of her dress, eager to end her suffering. Despite the urge to kill, however, his hand cupped her cheek and titled her tiny, delicate face upward so their eyes met. The girl could not have been more than five years old. Bright, azure blue eyes met his whilst he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheeks. "I want my mother! Where is she?" The girl's voice was soft, though the pleading sound within it made a shudder tingle down his spine. His lips parted, revealing the points of his fangs, until he forced them closed.
The urge, the terrible thirst pounding through him, commanded him to bite her neck. He could see the network of blood vessels beneath her soft, white skin and hear the rapid pounding of her heart within her ribcage. His eyes focused upon the little girl's thick, black hair that fell in neat layers down her back. Then, without being fully conscious of it, his gaze returned to the sight of her lovely blue eyes and fair skin. His lips trembled whilst his hand clutched his chest, unable to move as the tears welling in his eyes began to fall. Despite wiping them away, more fell to replace them, staining his lifeless flesh with wet symbols of pain and grief. Amidst his racing thoughts, his gaze remained locked upon the crying little girl, the sounds driving him to the brink of madness. Though the moon's light revealed his ungodliness, it also exposed his paling face. Bitterness consumed his voice when he attempted to form coherent words. "Get away from me, now!"
Like a lost fawn, the child remained in her huddle position near the wall. The sound of his voice made her cry harder. "Mother! I want my mother…!"
At that moment, a powerful feeling inside his soul made him remember who he had been before bloodlust and hatred consumed him. Long ago, he was a man…a lord…a lover…and a father. The last designation made his entire form tremble. He pressed his accursed hands upon his face, hiding it from the child. Memories he once suppressed flooded into his mind when his gaze returned to the little girl. He stared at her thick, black hair, sapphire eyes, and delicate face. If my daughter had lived… she would have inherited my eyes. So when I gazed upon her…I would always see a part of myself gazing back… The past had returned to haunt him, refusing to allow the darkness to destroy him. Though he wished it would, for it was far easier to accept it than to remember humanity still existed within him. It would not be long before he succumbed to the curse. Like an angel who fell from the heavens, so too would his soul fall into the darkness.
He would have laid his life down for the crying little girl, who reminded him of a part of himself that had all too briefly existed on earth. He lowered his head and clasped his hands in front of them as though in prayer whilst he whispered. "Forgive me…." He picked the little girl up in his arms and held her close to his silent heart, rocking her gently until the sounds of her cries calmed. Though she shivered from his touch and flinched at the sight of his unnaturally pale skin and eyes, she did not stir as he whispered under his breath. "I promise you, I shall not harm you. Listen to me." The child whimpered when he lifted her up and carried her down the darkened alleyway. As he floated along, he looked over his shoulder, keeping a close watch for any sign of Walter. Faint screams echoing in the distance indicated that his lord was still preoccupied. Upon arriving near wooden wine casks stacked at the alleyway's dead end, his mind focused upon one of them and lifted the lid into the air. "I know you fear me," he continued, keeping his voice soft and quiet to avoid attracting attention. There was no telling where Walter could be. If the vampire lord wished it, he could translocate in front of him at any moment. "But you must remain quiet. Do not come out until the sun is highest in the sky. Do you understand?"
"Yes." The little girl nodded. He lifted her into the cask but paused when her tiny hand clasped onto his. Their eyes met for the last time. Her soft, azure eyes locked against his icy gaze, briefly melting the coldness within them. "What are you?" She asked in a trembling voice.
He broke their gaze and lowered his head, hiding his unholy flesh behind the curtains of his glossy white hair. A gentle sigh parted through his lips when he answered darkly. "I don't know." Without looking at her again, he motioned for her to sit down. He could feel the little girl's eyes tracing him as he lifted the lid and began to slide it on top of the cask. Her ebony colored hair splayed across her shoulders as she huddled inside the barrel, looking up at him until the lid blocked their view of each other. He pressed one of his hands against his cheek, mortified by the fact he did not know who or what he was. Indeed, though inhuman, he still possessed a human heart. A vampire with a conscience – two concepts not meant to co-exist. Nevertheless, a voice inside him calmed the thoughts raging inside him like an angry sea. I am a man. As long as he could convince himself of it, there was still hope for redemption. He pictured the tiny little face of his infant daughter, feeling his soul ache and his eyes fill with tears. It would be impossible for him to experience the joy of being a father. Walter had ensured that. Indeed, he was beginning to understand the magnitude of eternity. What would his life have been like if his daughter had lived? The young man's lips pursed at the thought whilst he turned and hurried back into the moonlit streets. A sad, pale light surrounded him as his eyes lifted to gaze at the starry night sky. Perhaps, your soul has become one of those stars looking down upon me…
The young man moved through the village's empty cobblestone roads. Every so often, he would come across the remains of humans strewn across the road. Some humans were barely recognizable amidst the blood pooling around their bodies. He caught the intoxicating scent of it in the air, its foul odor attracting him to the dead left in his lord's wake. It was too late for him to help them, now. He noticed Walter had taken his time. Every so often, he would look upon the mangled corpse of a man, whose flesh had been torn completely from its skull as though the vampire was skinning an animal. Eventually, he averted his eyes from the dead, knowing the scent of their blood would feed his hunger. Despite the blood-covered roads, he was unwilling to feast upon his lord's kill. He remembered the dark-winged birds, whose song was foul, and whose beaks pecked at animal and human remains. They were indiscriminate scavengers that fed off death. Every time he saw one when he was a boy, he would shudder to himself when their tiny black eyes blinked at him in the dying sunlight. It did not matter what season it was. Sometimes, in the dead of winter, bodies were left outside for burial. Whenever the black birds flocked, there was hardly anything left of the bodies to bury. It would not be long before the birds came to feast upon the death and ruin.
It did not take him long to find his lord. The red-haired demon was feasting upon the body of a young man. The vampire's iron-clad gauntlets clamped firmly around the lower jaw whilst his fangs embedded themselves into the man's jugular. Every so often, he watched the man's fingers and feet twitch as he was drained of his blood. Once the man was nothing more than a shriveled corpse, like a fruit squeezed of its juices, the red-haired lord dropped the body on the ground. A smile appeared across his smooth, bloodstained lips whilst his ashen flesh gleamed like snow in the moonlight. The vampire's chest armor and gauntlets were covered in blood. The red liquid glistened faintly upon the shimmering steel that clad his tall, muscular form. As though he were a prince of hell, a deep, resonating chuckle escaped his throat whilst the pale young man watched, frozen by his lord's amusement. "Ah, what a splendid evening." He began, ignoring the youth's gasp. "It seems you have not accustomed yourself to killing, Joachim. Do not worry. In time, it will become natural and your abilities will improve. I hope the child's blood was satisfactory. The younger they are, the sweeter it tastes."
"Tis' true," He replied coldly, whilst his delicate lips formed a tiny smirk. With a cool flick of the hand, he licked his lips as his pale eyes glittered in the darkness. "Although the child's blood was sweet, I detested her crying and screaming. It interrupted my concentration." He folded his arms across his chest, giving the other vampire a shrewd look. Underneath the composed exterior, however, he prayed Walter would not see through his falsehood. The child's fate – and quite possibly his own – depended upon it. With an eloquent bow, he added smoothly. "It seems I need more practice. The success of this night merely proves that your skills are superior to my own. Nevertheless, we will see how long that lasts…"
"Indeed." Walter replied. The red-haired lord's dark eyes lingered on him for a moment. The blood covering his armor merely accentuated his crimson hair which tumbled across his powerfully built shoulders. It was obvious that both his build and strength contributed to his ability to kill. "Someday we will see…" His voice trailed away whilst he picked up the body of yet another man, unwilling to pursue the conversation further. Though his lord smiled, he sensed Walter was somewhat uncomfortable. Centuries of life gave the red-haired lord time to conceal his thoughts. The vampire's hand trailed to the glittering black stone secured around his neck by its ornate gold chain. Something about the stone caught Joachim's attention. As suddenly as he thought about it, he remembered the cryptic message written in the book he found in the laboratory: Aeternam vitam, Lapillus Hebenus. Eternal life, ebony stone… Although Walter chastised him for his sceptical nature, his attention to detail was more attuned than the other lord realized. If he believed in vampires, he would have arrested Walter and things might have turned out differently – or not, he would never know. However, Walter was clever enough to conceal as much from him as possible. The less he knew, the easier it was for the other lord to control him. As if he were a wild stallion, Walter was trying to break his spirit. The blood of the innocent – the little girl – might have sealed him in the darkness forever if he drank it. Yet, his eyes flickered with delight. If his lord had stayed to watch him kill her, things could have gone the other way.
If Walter can keep secrets, so can I.
Walter moved toward the body of a young man who, to his surprise, was still alive despite being bludgeoned by the vampire's armoured boot. With barely a glance, the red-haired lord picked the man off the ground by the throat, ignoring the agonized gasps when his vigilant eyes locked upon Joachim. Every so often, he would glance eastward and search the horizon, for the night was starting to give way to dawn's first light. "We do not have much time." Walter's deep voice echoed through the empty streets. "Bat form does not give us enough strength to carry a human so we must return on foot. Once we arrive at Eternal Night, give this human to Lord Cronqvist. He will require blood after he awakens."
"As you wish." He replied, feigning indifference as Walter turned and began the trek back to the forest. The entire village was deserted – it's lonely cobblestone roads stained by blood and human remains. When they passed the alley where he left the little girl, it took all of his will power to stop himself from glancing curiously down it. If Walter saw him, he would undoubtedly want to investigate. He watched Walter lift the body of the man into the air without touching it, the power of his will alone enough to make the body float beside him as he walked. The sight of Walter walking beside a corpse made the white-haired youth grimace.
Before he could say anything, Walter suddenly paused and glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes locking upon him with renewed interest. "I can smell blood on you, Joachim. Your blood. Are you badly wounded?"
"No, I am fine." He refused to look at the subtle hint of concern reflecting within the other lord's eyes. In an effort to dismiss him, he attempted to wipe the blood away from the wound in his shoulder. Though it was somewhat painful, he was fortunate the arrow missed his heart. Gratitude briefly overcame the steely glint in his eyes as he bowed his head. "I can take care of myself, Walter. You need not worry…"
The red-haired demon huffed. "Vampires are not supposed to be killed by their prey." From the corner of his eye he saw a slight smile press across the other lord's lips. "Your pride is, admittedly, one of your most endearing qualities…" A chuckle parted from Walter's lips, and he finally looked at his face again to see the smile abruptly fade. "I almost lost you tonight. I will ensure in the future that never happens again."
Joachim knew Walter meant every word. Together, they silently disappeared into the darkness from whence they came.