"Services rendered?"
"I'm going to kill you." He answered my question simply.
"You? Kill me?" I laughed a little too loudly. "I hardly think so, fledgling, have you forgotten who saved you from those humans?"
"You were human once, Ovelin. A Serafan Warrior no less." I stared at him unbelievingly. How had he known? I would have to kill him again and make sure he was dead this time. I could not have a vengeful upstart ruining my chances of ruling Nosgoth.
Gathonel swung the silver staff around, a swordsman's grace in the move. I snarled, barring my teeth. I needed no weapon to destroy this little nuisance.
Closing my eyes, I saw Vorador in his movements. That royal arrogance was all around him.
Before I could react, Gathonel shoved the staff into my stomach. I convulsed as I saw Vorador's wicked grin. "Master." He whispered softly. My vision was hazy.
"I am not your master." I ground out, grabbing for the distorted vampire with my talons.
"Yes you were." He told me, shoving the makeshift sword and me into the canyon side. "You saved me from death and I swore to serve you always."
"But now you desire to kill me?" I coughed. The pain was dull but aggravating.
"I know you, Ovelin." Gathonel turned away from me, gathering splinted pieces of timber…
"I know you, Ovelin." Vorador said, stepping over the body of my fallen brother. "You and I are kindred, killing those who stand in our way. You dream of bathing in the blood if your victims. I do." I stared at him, unable to speak. "You and I could make powerful allies…two vampires ruling the world. We could kill them all. You'd like that wouldn't you Serafan?"
"You disgust me." I shouted, my sword held high.
"Join me." He said undeterred.
"I'd rather gnaw off my own arm!" I advanced on him. "Fight me coward."
"Coward? I am not the one hiding behind my brothers."
"You can not, simply because I disposed of yours." I screamed at him. Vorador lunged for me, the two of us tumbling through the gates to the village. His claws dug into my face, chest, and sides but somehow my sword missed him.
Finally, I broke free and ran, tearing through the town, the devil on my heels…
Gathonel was setting the timbers ablaze and as I watched, I remembered…
I reached a house. The doorway stood blessedly open and I plunged inside, bolting the door behind me. I knew this would not hold for long. For all my bravado in the Oracle's presence I had proved to be a coward. If only the Serafan Priests could have seen me then.
I stumbled to the center of the room and choked on a cry of fear. There had to be another way out. This village was famous for its underground passageways between houses. My frantic search of the room did indeed reveal a door...
Gathonel kicked at the staff and I caught my breath the pain intense for one unbearable moment. "I did not deserve what you did to me. I did not deserve this." He said pitifully. "Look at me."
"I am." I taunted unwisely. "You are even more hideous than ever, ugly one." Gathonel screamed at me, the sound heinous and unnatural. When the fire began, I could feel its heat and it made me angry. Gathonel stoked the fire and it burned brighter responding to his coaxing.
He stared at me across the firelight, coal black eyes gleaming with resolution. I laughed feeling my bloodlust rise within me. "You think you can kill me, Gathonel? Are you brave enough?"
"Death Ovelin. Purged by fire." The words hit me like a physical wound and slowly I realized what the Oracle had meant all those years ago. I was condemned not only in this life, but also the last…to die by fire…
I fought with all my might to open the heavy door on the floor below me when I first caught the hint of smoke. Looking up I found the thatch roof engulfed in flames. Desperate now I threw my weight into yanking the door open.
"I will not die like this." I screamed. "I cannot die like this!" Finally, the door opened up and I leaped below. I stood there a moment trying to catch my breath, when the floor above me collapsed, trapping me.
As the last of my breath left me I heard Vorador laughing and I was enraged that the foolish old man hadn't been so foolish after all. He was right from the very beginning…
Now as Gathonel jerked me from the canyon wall and shoved me into his makeshift bonfire I realized that I had always been a coward and a fool. And for that, I would pay…purged by fire for the second time….