The blood didn't flow like it was supposed to; tonight it held a bitter taste like acid. Gathonel was watching me intently. He was skinning his victim even as it lived, ignoring the pitiful cries that rose forth from broken lungs.
It was funny how much the Melchiaim looked like their master. Without their so-called skins, the vampire clan looked as if their bodies too had been eaten way by that powerful spell. "Melchia tells us that the Rahabim have received a new dark gift." Gathonel said suddenly his words drowning out the human's pleading. I marveled that neither of us cared anymore. This human could have offered us the world and still we would have fed. I, for one, was starving.
"It does not matter," I told him my mouth full of blood. "Our changes have no effect on your clan."
"Why are you so bitter? I should think being able to swim in water would please you." He smiled at me brightly. Suddenly, I found the whole situation comical. Gathonel sitting on the floor his face splattered with blood smiling at me. I laughed, for the first time in centuries, I truly laughed. I chuckled until my sides hurt and I was hissing through my teeth. The young vampire was staring at me as if I had lost my mind.
"I should think that you'd find better things to do with your time than ask me stupid questions." I said at last. "You're an absolute pain, fledgling. You act as is if I was your master. If you knew half the things that I know you would not worship me so."
"You saved my life, Ovelin. For that I owe you much." Gathonel released his human meal, the fleshless body collapsing to the stone floor with a sickening thud.
"You owe me nothing, ugly one. I only let you remain here for the amusement you bring to me." I snorted, my words echoing through the empty corridors.
"Amusement?" Gathonel asked slowly, his voice acquiring an angry tone. "Amusement? Is that what I am to you?" He jumped to his feet, blood dripping from his sharp canines. "I could kill you before you realized what was happening." He was incensed; the aura around him had changed.
I laughed, feeling my bloodlust rising within me. The fledgling had become a nuisance that I could no longer tolerate. After tonight, that would no longer be a problem.
In a flash I was on my feet, my talons ripping into the newly fashioned "skin" at Gathonel's throat. He made no sound, but wriggled in my iron grip, his claws tearing violently at my wrists. I carried him down the spiral staircase of the bell tower and made my way to the dark waters below. Even when he realized what I was about to do, Gathonel made no real attempt to stop me.
Kneeling, I pushed him into the cool water, holding him down. He struggled for a moment then screamed in agony. White smoke rose from his body. I was blind with my rage as I let go of the repulsive fledgling's body and turned to leave.
"I don't hate you…" Gathonel whispered, his words mired with water and pain. He got to his feet still smoking, his body shaking. "You are blind and cannot see your future."
Turning back, I opened my mouth to scream at him and a strange glowing blue ball of energy flew out and knocked the malodorous creature back into the water where he moved no more…