Chapter Three – Change
They vanished with a flash of pale blue light and reappeared in a bedroom, white walled, pristine, but covered in a thin layer of dust everywhere. A large square room with the door in one corner and in his bed in the opposite corner, with a window next to it. Around the edge of the room there was a wardrobe, a chester draws, a desk and chair and a bed side table. In the centre of the room, there was a large amount of floor space, of which Sonic liked to just lie on the floor in the middle of it.
The room was extremely bland. There was very little here in material wealth, items that the owner could truly call his own, but he did have a thing for photographs. Every flat surface was covered in framed photographs, most of which were of small children. His younger years. Sonic frowned, looking around, as Shadow let go of him, quietly shut the door and promptly locked it. The Blue Blur scratched his head.
"Shads. Why are we in my bedroom?" He shrugged. But Shadow just smirked.
"Because you are never in it." He snapped. "You haven't slept in that bed in months, if not years, hence the layer of dust everywhere. You tend to sleep either downstairs, or on the roof, and if a search was launched for us, this is the very last place they would look." He hissed, of which Sonic just giggled.
"Oh, very clever." He smiled, agreeing wholeheartedly. The Ultimate Lifeform was exactly right, but the Blue Blur stared at the door. He sighed. "This, I suspect, will change both of us." He admitted, wondering what everyone would think. Shadow nodded. Sonic smiled. "Please do me a favour. Keep my friends off the menu. I know they can be a little narrow minded, but they all have good hearts. I chose you, because I've been on my own all my life, and I just wanted..." He stammered. But Shadow cut just across him.
"Family." He smirked. Sonic nodded. Shadow's smirk broadened. "You smelt the Vampire D.N.A. inside of me, as soon as you met me, and having never met another, you just want someone to understand you." He added, as Sonic's eyes filled with tears, the intense loneliness clear to see. Shadow nodded. "As for your friends, I give you my word. I will not harm them. I do agree with you, they're not perfect, but they are good people." He smirked. Certainly good enough to accept him as one of their own. It took a lot of persuasion, and there was some aggression, but over time, he gained their trust. Sonic smiled and to Shadow's surprise, he threw his arms around his for a embrace. A deep hug, the Blue Blur burying his face into his neck. Suddenly, Shadow was firmly grabbed again, the claws digging into his side, the super sharp fangs pressing against his neck. But the Vampire hesitated. Shadow heaved, he knew why, but he nodded, grasped Sonic himself in his own firm grip. He gritted his teeth. "Do it." He said again, confirming his choice, telling the Vampire he was sure about this.
Suddenly, Sonic's grip strengthened and without warning, his fangs were plunged extremely deeply into the Ultimate Lifeform's neck, slicing through the flesh like a knife through butter. Shadow squealed, trying not to scream, his instincts desperate for him to get away. But he fought them off. He wanted this. Sonic's fangs were over an inch long. The bite should have been painful, but it was the opposite. It was intensely pleasurable. As he felt his mind begin to fog, as the Vampire Venom flowed through into his veins. Vampire Venom, especially from a pureblood, is incredible poisonous, killing on its own, so Sonic never bit unless he intended to kill.
Shadow stopped fighting Sonic as the pleasure of the bite really kicked in, and his eyes rolled up into his head. But the Vampire was all over him. The blood of the Ultimate Lifeform was like pure liquid gold. It tasted and felt incredible, and Sonic couldn't get enough of it, and he gnawed at Shadow's neck, desperate for more. He drank and drank, draining Shadow for everything he had, all the while his fangs were actively pumping huge quantities of venom into him.
But as Sonic drank, Shadow didn't weaken. His body was more then capable of withstanding the bite. It was making blood as fast as Sonic was drinking it, but the venom was another story. His Vampire DNA, and it was being heavily awakening by it. There was nothing Shadow could do to stop it. He didn't want to. Finally, darkness set in, and as they both broke apart, they collapsed on the floor out cold.
But not death.
Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, Shadow felt it.
Warmth, mainly around his chest, but it then spread to the rest of his body.
The beautiful warmth that immediately began to put him into a very deep sleep.
He immediately recognised it. He was regenerating. But it was like no regeneration he had before. His wound healed. He grew fangs, long sharp, claws exploded from his fingers and his vampire instincts came to the surface as well as thirst for blood. But it wasn't that strong. He had fed directly off Chaos. But the Vampire within him and his Dark Chaos melded together and now this perfectly evil predator was going to be ready for the hunt. A true monster. But Shadow didn't get a chance to fully embrace this as the regeneration proceeded to knock him out.
The process took some time to complete, usually taking around two days, and Shadow is normally out cold for the entire time.
But this time it was different.
He may have been unconscious, but he kept getting the feeling he wasn't alone. Made for a rather pleasant change. He normally did everything alone, including this.
Several days past, and the regeneration process was coming to its completion. He was fully healed of all injuries and slowly coming too. Now, this was the part he really hated.
The pain!
The regeneration migraines!
But as he opened his eyes, nothing. Extremely discomfort, yes, but pain, no. The room was in pitch darkness, but it exploded with colour, causing Shadow to immediately sit up and marvel at the world around him, the newborn pureblood Vampire he now was, his jaw dropping. It was stunningly beautiful. He sat there, physically shaking. The migraines were still there, but the pain wasn't present. He was severely shaking. He felt his fangs with his tongue, and his new Vampire instincts bubble to the surface. He smirked, relishing every second of it. Suddenly, he felt something. Someone was nuzzling him in the side, purring deeply. His scent, which exploded in Shadow's nose, immediately gave him away. The Ultimate Lifeform immediately responded, his new instincts guiding him, and nuzzled the Blue Blur back, deeply honoured that he'd stayed with him. No one had every done that before. The both of them purring gentle, they caressed, rubbing foreheads and noses. A deep bond as blood brothers forming as they licked each others fangs, immune to each others venom, their red eyes glowing. It was bliss, as neither wanted it to end, but Sonic's stomach had other ideas.
It growled painfully, causing the Vampire to hiss. Hunger. Shadow licked his own fangs. Blood did sound rather good, but as he got up, he felt rather dizzy. Sonic quickly grabbed him, steading him. He smiled.
"Easy, Shads. You gone from the Ultimate Lifeform to the Ultimate pureblood Vampire. It's a massive change, and it will take some getting used to. I'd suggest to take things slow for now." He smiled, of which Shadow sighing, nodded. His head spinning. But as he looked inside his head, he felt something. Something he'd never felt before. Freedom. For the first time ever, he had free-will, and boy, it felt good. Nobody was going to forcibly control him anymore, but the Blue Blur's guidance, he desperately needed. But Sonic never tried to control him. Befriended yes, rivalled, certainly, but never controlled. Never ordered around, and Shadow respected him for that.
But he was not going to rule the world straight away. Everything was so new, so different, it was going to take months to get his head around it. But as Sonic's hunger was back, Shadow had an idea, somewhere they could go, and explore unseen, in the dump of a city that no one cared about. Capital City.
He grabbed the Blue Blur and the Chaos Emerald again, and teleported out of there, straight to the darkness of the back streets, but he stumbled as he landed, which left him staring at the emerald. He'd barely used any of it's power. Sonic giggled.
"It's possible to Chaos Control teleport without a Chaos Emerald as a Vampire, but I never really mastered it. I could only go a few feet, so didn't use it. When you work it out, if you could teach me, I'd appreciate it." He sighed, of which the Ultimate Lifeform immediately agreed. He'd be honoured to. From the feeling, it's wasn't going to be easy, and understood why Sonic had struggled. Shadow also got the impression that potentially his other powers, such as Chaos Spear, and Chaos Blast, he suspected, now as a Vampire, he also no longer needed a Chaos Emerald for. It would take work, but definitely worth it, if he could do it. He stuffed the emerald in his quills, and hissed in darkness of Capital City. He heard movement in the distance, and both Sonic and Shadow looked at each other, smirking. Time to hunt.
Shadow knew he'd need to feed as a Vampire whereas the Ultimate Lifeform he didn't, but he was so used to killing, he just didn't care. Working together, hunting down victims was so incredibly easy, and as Shadow dug his long fangs into their necks for the first time, his instincts exploded, the blood was so good. He relished every last drop, but he smirked, as Sonic's own hunger was unquenchable. Shadow was the first person who Sonic had bitten that wasn't already dead or dying, and wow, had he found the taste for it. That's how he knew he'd change, plus Shadow's influence as a Vampire on him. For better or worse, Sonic had no idea but it didn't matter. He wasn't alone anymore. But as Shadow quickly learned, Sonic would only kill to eat. Once satisfied, he was no longer interested. Shadow would kill for sport, as well as for food, but not the Blue Blur and decided not to force him. Each choices was his own.
Unfortunately, Sonic and Shadow got so caught up in exploring their Vampiric sides in Capital City, that several months had gone by, before either of them noticed. It was only when G.U.N. was searching the outskirts of city, was Shadow finally spotted. Thankfully, Sonic wasn't and promptly vanished, teleporting back to Tails' House, having finally mastered it. He took Shadow's Chaos Emerald with him. The Ultimate Lifeform didn't need it anymore. He'd mastered everything. Shadow smirked, as Rouge came running up to him.
Ah, yes. The mission. He'd completely forgotten all about that. But he had succeeded, he'd found the Vampire in question, but had no intention of telling G.U.N. that. Rouge ran up to him, and swung her arms around him. He didn't object, licking his lips, deeply smelling the sugar sweet blood in her veins, but did nothing, resisting the huge urge to bite. He had no intension of harming her. Rouge was friend's with Sonic, and he vividly remembered his promise, and intended to keep it. Though he wondered if he even be believed or even trusted again. Only time would tell. She was delighted.
"We have been looking for you everywhere." She heaved. "You radio blacked-out on us. You weren't responding to communications." She stammered. But Shadow didn't answer, he just stared at her, a sense of wonder in his eyes. He blinked, now fully understanding the Blue Blur. Vampires were incredibly instinctive, highly social creatures, hence the Blue Blur's very fleeting nature, and somewhat child-like behaviour. But for Shadow, it went the other way, as each Vampire had different instincts depending on their personality and persona. He became deathly calm, and eerily still, analysing everything in huge detail, but deeply enjoyed the Blue Blur's company. His hyperactivity complementing his stillness beautifully. As Rouge stared at him, he looked like he always had, but yet somehow different. His Black fur coat, was now deeper and richer, the red of the stripes darker. His eyes were glowing red, a deep blood colour to them as he hissed at the Bat.
"Apologies. I got a little sidetracked." He smirked, heavily implying he'd been in a brothel, rather then hunting blood. Rouge gulped. She knew the Ultimate Lifeform could be cold, but not that cold. His voice was pure ice, and sent shivers straight down her spine. Even the G.U.N. soldiers who surrounded her, were now absolutely terrified. Rouge gulped.
"You wanted back at Headquarters." She stammered. Of which Shadow just nodded, and indicating with his hand for Rouge to lead the way. As they walked towards the waiting trucks, General Xander came running up to him, absolutely fuming. He growled.
"Mission report. Project Shadow." He spat. The Ultimate Lifeform smirked. One of Gerald's preprogrammed phases, and it did...nothing. Before he was have immediately have spilled in detail, exactly what had happened to him, but now, those words meant zero to him. He was delighted beyond believe. Sonic's plan had worked, and he was now truly free, incredibly grateful, and all the Blue Blur had asked for in return was a Vampire brother in arms. Shadow's smirk broadened, determined to now do the best he could. He could tell G.U.N. exactly what he wanted, regardless of whether it was the truth or not. He immediately did tell them a mission report, of sorts. Having failed to find his intended target, he then described in all it's gory and provocative detail, the last few months he'd spend in the brothels.
Shadow's evil smirk broadened as they looks of disgust grew, to the point where General Xander had to stop him, looking as though he was going to be sick, desperately wishing he hadn't asked. It quickly became agreed that if Shadow ends up in a brothel again, to just leave him there. Shadow was lead back to the trucks and smirked all the way back to the Headquarters. He enjoyed that far to much, but now he had work to do.
He now wanted revenge on G.U.N. If he wanted to destroy it outright, all he had to do was fire the Ellipse Cannon on the Ark at it. Blow it out of the ground. He had the power, only his programming was stopping him. No, he wanted the chip away at them, just like they did with him. Send fear through the ranks, like nothing they'd ever felt before, with the knowledge that now, as a Vampire, physically nothing could stop him. He was going to slaughter them, take out their foundations, it was simply a matter of when. With a incredible ally, he now had the means to do it, but he had to play his cards right. Hit them where he really hurt. He knew Sonic would immediately join him once he made the call.
He'd just went back to Tails' House, no one barely noticing he'd been gone. Disappearing for months on end was common place for the Blue Blur so no one cared, so long as he came home. Though his strange behaviour was attracting attention, Shadow wasn't worried. Out of all of them, including Eggman, Sonic was by far the most dangerous, capable of killing all of them, if he chose. He just hoped that they treaded very carefully, for their sakes. Especially now that Shadow had taught Sonic how to properly kill his prey, getting the absolute most out of a feed.
He was already good, Shadow just made him better, and now Sonic, in his own unique way, he was equally as deadly as the Ultimate Lifeform himself. He was proud, stroking his little brother on the ear, but now they'd gone their separate ways, to meet again in carnage. Since his change, Shadow's memories of G.U.N. was somewhat hazy and he desperately needed reminding of everything at the Headquarters. Up to now, no one had noticed, though his super-ice cold nature was creeping everyone out. He didn't care. He had a job to do, recon as well as find that vile and destroy it. Loose Vampire Venom wasn't going to benefit either him or Sonic, so they had agreed to get it gone.
Shadow didn't say a word during the route home to the Headquarters, in fact, he said nothing for the rest of the day, obediently doing exactly as he was told, giving the impression that the programming was still intact. But truthfully, he was using his new extremely heighten Vampiric senses to silently observe the world around him, secretly planning the organisation's demise. As for the Vampire search mission, Shadow just told them that the wild goose chase yielded nothing. That he was wrong, suspecting the Vampire in question was dead, but mysteriously, the vile of Vampire Venom, in the deep vault, was one day, found opened and empty.
Avoiding the cameras, Shadow had just drank it, knowing his brother's venom could do him no further harm. It didn't, though it tasted disgusting. He smirked, his fur coat, stripes, and eyes getting darker by the second. But people were getting suspicious. Both Rouge and General Xander could see that Shadow's extremely cold, dark behaviour was far worse then usual, and his completely numb attitude to G.U.N. heavily suggested one simple thing. Someone had gotten to Shadow. That was why he'd disappeared for months. But the question was, who?
G.U.N. could come to only one conclusion, whom to Shadow's delight, was happy to bring into the fold. Eggman. He absolutely despised the Human, and an opportunity to kill him along with the rest of G.U.N., wasn't one he was going to turn down. This was perfect, and so yet, G.U.N. was so wrong, it was ridiculous. Someone had indeed got to him, but it was the last person on Mobius. That was the beauty of Sonic The Hedgehog. Hero of Mobius by day, bloodthirsty killer by night, and no one suspected anything. But Shadow knew that wouldn't last, especially for the Blue Blur's friends. He have to tell them. Better sooner rather then later.
After several weeks of observations, and thankfully, no missions, Shadow had gathered everything he needed. Time to activate his plan.