Chapter 8: Altering Fate

"These chambers offer insight for those patient enough to look. In your haste to find me, perhaps you have not gazed deeply enough."-Kain, Soul Reaver 1





"Welcome to life." Elexis spoke. "You might be wondering why you six were spared while the rest will be expelled from the Earth. The answer is a bit difficult to explain. You see, exactly 100, 570, 061 years ago, when the Temple was built as a shrine to the God that had created us, a spell was placed on it. Anything other than those of the vampiric species would be destined to become one. When you all first stumbled into this Temple, you were automatically bound. The figures on the mural appeared AFTER you made your entrance. You changed your destiny by simply coming in here. If you hadn't, you would die."

The newly born vampires looked among themselves.

"Now, I leave you to yourselves. I have business to conclude elsewhere." With that, she walked out of sight.

A few minutes of silence passed.

Shadow finally broke down. He pounded the ground with his fist. "I can't believe this. This happened too fast." He began to hate his new life. Tears streamed down his eyes.

"Come on, Shadow." Robotnik said. "We've been spared death."

"Something tells me this is worse."

Robotnik sighed. "Aren't we ungrateful."

"SHUT UP! The last thing I wanted was to be trapped in this Temple!"

"I'm kinda with Shadow on this one." Said Sonic.

"If Sonic is, then I am too." Said Tails.

"What the f&%k is wrong with you?!" Said Robotnik. "You're going to betray the one who gave you life? To refuse the chance witness a better world then the one WE f%^ked up?! And what makes you think you can suddenly stand up to her and live?"

"Loyal, aren't you?" Remarked Tails.

"Apparently I am. She let me live during the obliteration of humankind.along with what you WERE. Your being given a second chance and too stupid to appreciate it! You've been a vampire for an hour, GOD, GIVE IT A CHANCE!"

The three wannabe rebels shut up.

"Hmph." Said Robotnik. "I guess some habits die hard. Sonic.always ready to rebel against SOMETHING."

"He's got a point, you guys." Remarked Knuckles.

"Do you REALLY want to be like this?" Said Shadow, trying to change their minds.

"Yes." Said Robotnik. "To see a new age. One that is unlike the one our former selves created. And-"

Elexis appeared. Her hands were smeared with blood. Sonic, Shadow, and Tails looked at each other. Rebel? Stick around? What to do?

"One of you must die." She said.

"Why?" Said Rouge.

Sonic dove for Elexis. She grabbed him by the neck.

"You'll do."

Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow went for Elexis. She kept them away with no effort. She carried Sonic into a room he never knew existed. A black void in the center. The room was beautiful. The void was at least 30 feet around, in its circular shape. Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow followed. Acting foolishly, they all shoved themselves against Elexis, pushing them all toward the void. Elexis fell in, Sonic was fine.

"HAHA! Good ALWAYS wins!" Sonic said in triumph. Robotnik had seen what happened.

He ran over to them. Rouge was with Robotnik.

"YOU VILE BASTARD! YOU WERE GIVEN LIFE, AND YOU KILL THE ONE WHO SPARED YOU SO YOU MAY LIVE!!" Robotnik tackled Sonic in his fury.

The Temple shook. A voice came. Calypso.

"Nice try, pitiful rebels. She cannot die. She'll return. And when she does, that will be then end for all of you."

"Even me?" Questioned Robotnik, fear in his voice.

"You'll find out. But for now, you ARE bound to this Temple. Now, and forever more. You will not see the beauty of the new era. Instead, you will rot here in this room. God gave Elexis' soul to me for a reason. She is a hundred times more powerful than I ever was, and thousands more powerful than you. She was chosen to rebuild the vampiric empire and end your disastrous ways. She WILL be back. Her power will be augmented so that you may not even recognize her, traitors." The voice echoed and disappeared.

Robotnik fell to his knees and began to cry. Rouge was upset as well.

The Temple's tremors began again. Pillars fell. Glass broke. Stones fell from the ceiling. The Temple was replying to the rebellion. This was the result. They heard something crack. The main room. They ran quickly to the main room, finding that the alter where the sword sat was cracked down the middle. The sword was gone as well. Blood dripped from the ceiling above onto the alter. One of the breeds appeared behind them.

"So, THESE are the traitors. You DO realize that you have changed destiny in such a way that HISTORY is trying catch up. You have strained it too far. You degenerates. You were spared from death. And this is how you repay the one who decided to do this?" It was a he. A male voice.

"I took no part in this." Replied Robotnik.

"Nor did I." Said Rouge.

"Of course not," The breed said. "God witnessed it all. You could very well avoid the punishment that will soon be delivered to these four. But it is no guarantee." He walked away.

"WAIT!" Shouted Tails. "When will Elexis be returning?"

The breed stood still. "It is uncertain. It is, however, likely that you will be trapped in here until she comes. How long the wait will be, no one knows. Though the cracked alter and the blood is a sign. As for the two that appreciated their second chance, you will be fed and taken care of until her return. From there, I cannot be sure what will happen." He continued walking away. This time there was no calling him back.

Sonic struck Robotnik on the face with his nails, causing Robotnik fly off him. Robotnik got to his feet, as did Sonic. Robotnik didn't bother with retaliation.

"Sonic." He started. "Why did you do that?"

Silence.

"TELL ME!"

"I....I...I was afraid. Afraid of what the new life would bring. The compulsion inside told me to rid myself of any threats. And that's what I did."

"Thus securing our horrible fate. Sonic, don't give in to all your feelings. What you feel is not always the best." Said Tails.

"Look who's talking. You had to join me because your too damn reliant on what I think. DO THINGS FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE! STOP TAKING FROM ME!"

"I guess your right...." Said Tails...quietly.

Another breed arrived. Jars of blood in his hand.

"These are yours." He said, handing a large jar to Robotnik and Rouge. He tossed small jars at Tails, Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles. The he simply left.

Robotnik and Rouge didn't hesitate to drink up. Not a drop escaped from their blood thirsty mouths. They tossed the jars aside.

Sonic and others hesitated.

"Why are ours so small?" Said Shadow.

"It's not obvious enough, Shadow?" Replied Sonic.

They drank.

It was their first vampiric meal.

But what become of the following mouths? Years? Or would Elexis return within the next few days?

*****************************************************************





Uhh.this is the usual "GIMME YOUR REVIEWS!" routine.