Chapter 4
Bad took a seat at the edge of his bed, holding his head in his hands, wondering what he has become. "Soul eater… a demonic soul eater!" he muttered to himself. "What the fuck! How the hell do I live with myself like this?"
He tried to make sense of it all, until a small tap came to his door. "Not now!" he protested.
"Big Brother…"
He paused as his heart broke a little, Zenko…
"Okay… come in…" he said reluctantly.
The door opened but a crack, then she peered into the room. She wasn't scared of him, but she didn't want to intrude either by the looks of it. In her hand, was a hot cup of tea for him, she carefully carried it into the room and offered it. "Thought you could use this to settle your nerves…"
He smiled to her, Zenko was beyond sweet in his mind. He graciously took the drink and tasted it. She could make the perfect cup of green tea at the drop of a hat. "Thanks sis, I needed this."
She took a seat right next to him. She leaned into him lovingly and said. "Bad… can I have ice cream?" she asked.
"Did you eat your dinner?"
"Most of it… the dragon ate the rest"
He rolled his eyes to her as she giggled. "Zenko… I don't know what's going to happen to me from this moment on." He said gently. "I am not the same guy I was last week… hell, I am not the same guy I was last month either…" he said with a sigh. "I… I really don't know what I am anymore."
"That's easy! You're my big brother! I am sure we had a conversation like this before too didn't we?" she said and smiled warmly to him. "Big Brother, you have always protected me, you have protected the cities too, you are still a hero… just a little different."
"Yeah, but Z…"
"Bad…" she suddenly got up on her knees on his bed, she grabbed the sides of his face and had her look him in the eyes. "You know, I see things, I see things that no one else can, not even you, not even Garou. I don't see a threat to anyone innocent before me. I see a threat to those who wish to harm others, you are not out for power, for the sake of displaying it. You want to help people since it's the right thing to do!"
He couldn't bear to bring himself to move out of her firm grasp, but he nodded to her. "Yeah… but still, a soul eater sis!"
"How many have you eaten?" she demanded. "And where they bad souls?"
He nodded his head. "Six, the council that would have decided a new King among themselves if the rule was not in effect. They were a bunch of douche bags to say the least, wanting to offer the guys who were trapped with me from the original Shadow King as the first 'shadows' to consume in order to become King…" he said. But still shook his head to it all. "Sis… what if I have to do that often now? What if I have to eat souls to sustain myself like Garou needs blood?" he asked.
"Then, you do. But only from people I say who are bad."
He smiled. "I think I could agree to that!" he took a deep calming breath and found his hands suddenly turned back to normal. He felt around his eyes and found the veins were gone as well. Finally, he felt human again.
{My King}
Bad froze as he heard a voice again. "Someone calling me…" he said. "Whose speaking?"
{Ravager, werewolf of the council of shadows. Garou is in danger sire! What are you commands?}
"Garou's in danger…" he said.
Zenko stood up as well. "Where is he?"
"Ravager? Where is Garou at this moment?"
{He resides on the rooftop in City V, the threat is someone known to him. It isn't his brother but kin, other vampires}
{My King! DO NOT INTERFERE!}
"Damn two of them now. Whose this?"
{Bloodbore, vampire, sir. The elders of the vampire community are confronting Garou. You cannot interfere! If they see you are with him, it will be a declaration of war! They do not know you as the Shadow King as of yet, you appear out of nowhere to a vampire they will quickly know!}
"Goddamn it… what do I do? Wait, I get there the old fashion way! Sis, I got to go help Garou, stay here and wait for me, yes you can have ice cream!"
She smiled and embraced him tightly. "Go get them big brother!"
With that, Bad rushed out of the house, he doesn't need the shadows to get to Garou, after all, he is still bounded to him…
#
He stood at the ready.
"You assholes have been following me around far too long. SHOW YOURSELVES!" he shouted.
They appeared.
Dropping from the skies, Garou found himself surrounded by vampire elders. He should have known they would appear after the war. His mother was among them no less, and made certain none would come after him until she was through. Yet, since her defeat, it has become open season no doubt. The oldest of them all was well over 5,000 years old. He smiled wickedly to Garou and licked his lips. "It's been a while child, you have been running for so long, would you like to rest now?"
"Burn in hell." Garou snapped back. "You are all here for my father's power… figures as much." He muttered. "I ain't giving it up, you aren't getting a drop of blood out of me. So let's just call this thing off and I'll forget you even showed your sorry faces around here."
They laughed. There were ten of them and they were all thinking the same thing. Garou's blood, and the power of the Crimson Plague stood before them. The vampire carrot dangled out, and they were all willing to take a risk to at least bite into it. Two of them got a little over zealous. They dashed forward, hoping to land the first strike.
However, Garou was too fast. He ducked down, grabbed one by the neck and snapped it! The other he used the body of the elder he just took out and threw it into him! The two were knocked back, and yet despite the snapped neck, the elder was quick to heal over. "Insolent child!" he scolded.
"That was a warning"
The smiles faded from the elders as they began to gather even closer. They were ready to attack, and Garou was ready to take them all down if need be. "Just a moment… didn't you find someone special? Yes? Your mother spoke of it, you found your match didn't you?" the eldest stated.
"What of it?" Garou demanded.
He appeared curious now. "Tell me, son of the Plague. How many legions do you have? Who follows you? How many in your coven?" he asked.
This was rather confusing to him, Garou glared at him. "Why does it matter?" he asked. "For all you know I have an army greater than yours!"
This made the other elders pause from their attack, they turned to the oldest among them who waved off the notion. "In that case, let's settle this like true vampires. Garou, son of the Crimson Plague, we challenge you to ragnarok!"
He was stunned. "Are you shitting me?" he demanded. "What is the purpose of such a challenge? You really want to risk your own asses to face me! I could drain you all dry!" he protested
The elder smirked. "You forget the purpose of ragnarok!" he laughed aloud. "It is to ensure the vitality of the vampires. We battle with our top warriors and ensure those among us are truly worthy to be. After all, once the declaration of ragnarok is evoked, you cannot turn it down."
Garou roared defiantly. "You have no right to call such a thing, besides isn't this against the rules of the elders themselves. It cannot be called out any given moment!"
"It's only allowed once after the red moon." Said another. "What say you? You do accept? If you do not, you forfeit and we earn the right to your blood!"
Garou sneered at them. "I accept."
"Good, tell your match will anticipate a good battle… and a good meal from him. Think of it elders! A mortal with such blood supply, ours for the taking!"
It took everything in his power to prevent himself from smiling, Garou had to play it cool for now, after all, it appears none of them are aware yet of the actions that took place during the red moon.
The elders peered at each other but smiled. "Why not, we will bring our strongest underlings too. Make things interesting. Your legions against our legions!"
Garou then smirked. "Very well, I want a contract of blood."
This took the elders by surprise. "A contract of blood? Why?"
"To be sure there is no backing out. We agree, you and your strongest underlings against my coven. We use nothing more than the talents and power we possess, is that fair?"
The elders smirked. "But of course!"
"Good, a contract of blood then," said the second oldest.
The vampires summoned a contract, each elder nicked their finger and allowed a single drop of blood to flow onto the page, signing it. Garou was the last to do so, as the contract signed. With that, they vanished. When ragnarok is called, there can no longer be interference among the vampires. Not until the day of the contest. With that, the vampires left and vanished from sight.
Garou collapsed from it all, he didn't think the elders would come so soon for him and Bad. His mother did only one good thing and that was to keep bastards like them from coming for his father's power.
When he was able to calm his thoughts, Garou froze as he heard someone trudging up the steps to the rooftop. The door kicked open, Bad appeared and was ready to fight. Yet he only saw Garou. "What the hell is going on!?" he demanded.
"Have a seat, we need to talk."
