Title: Beloved
By: Morgan Johnson
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh
A/N (2008): Hi everyone. I am back and am editing all my stories to revise and fix anything that was wrongly constructed. I am also changing the stories just a bit. This story was back from October 3, 2005.
A/N: This is the second part to Immortal. It is the same as the first story only told in Seto's Point of View. Read note at the end.
Chapter One: The Beginning of Immortality
I despised everything from the day I was changed. The process has been a slow and painful thing to experience. Slow, for none, but me. For me, it felt like hours as the venom slowly crawled through my system, slowing my heart, and morphing my shell of a body. To the witnesses it was mere seconds of twisted anguish. I envied them at that point.
Humans do not what they have. They argue over petty things, complain about not being blissful and with more material wealth. Yet, they don't value the rarity of their luck. They can venture out into the sunlight, they can feel human warmth, and they can truly cross over into the light. I, on the other hand, am cursed to wander this Earth aimlessly for all of eternity.
I did not ask to be what I am and have been for the past few centuries. My change was against my will, done by a coward who thought he could survive a while longer by casting me unto the wolves so to speak. What am I? You might ask. I am a soulless creature, a freak among the monsters that inhabit human imagination.
I held my nature as nothing more than a myth as it is thought of in this age. I have been cursed with a never-ending thirst for blood. It is never satisfied, never quenched. My throat is the epiphany of molten pits. Yet, I was also cursed with a deadly weakness to sunlight. How ironic that a creature such as me would not only be denied drink, but also the ability to relish in purity.
This of course affects me not, as I have learned to control my feedings until it is absolutely necessary, which is not very often. I avoid regions overpowered by sunlight and avoid almost all contact with others. I have tried my best to be a good little monster and only feed upon those unworthy of their human existence. I try to limit the growth of animal population that could possibly harm my primary prey. It wouldn't be fair to have more competition aiming for my meals, now would it?
Vampires, whom I think you know by now that I am one, are almost extinct. We are a dying breed, led on only by the desire to destroy those that oppose us, mainly hunters. These are vicious humans that prey upon other humans to enforce their covens and exterminate my kind. They promise villages to rid them of our kind but always seem to walk away with their pockets full and hormones satiated. I have heard of deals made between hunters and those of my kind. Vampires attack the targeted village and the hunters walk away with a hefty sum. Isn't it funny how the same vampires seem to attack specific villages? Of course, some end up dust after the "battle", but those that perish were chosen by their leaders as their sacrifice, never telling the "poor" soul that their time is up.
I began my unfortunate after-life at the age of twenty. My generous step-father was my sire. No family member of mine knew of his "condition" before that day. He had been leading a double life: one of a respectable lawyer, the other of a monster. It had never fallen upon us to suspect him. He worked at home and went to functions at night. It was the most civilized way people worked in our time. Our family was revered as one of promise and integrity. My mother attended functions and tea parties. My brother attended school and socialized with children his age, eight. I, on the other hand, was the only anti-social member of my family. I despised being the center of attention, always receiving unwanted praise by the female population.
The day of my change, I had just arrived home from buying some items my mother had asked me to purchase. The other was in total chaos. Chairs were thrown astride, papers everywhere. I had thought for a moment that we had been vandalized but I noticed my mother in her usual chair near the drawing room. I approached her warily knowing how she reacted when her house was less than spotless.
A foul smell reached me as I took in her appearance. From the front door she had appeared to be leaning forward as though in anguish but now I could see the reality of the situation. She was dead. Her throat had been sliced from behind and blood had run down her sides staining her once white gown. I recoiled in disgust and hit the hallway table. As I landed on the floor, I felt something liquid and gooey on my hands. I didn't have to look next to me to know that it was blood. I could only guess who it belonged to, the only other person supposed to be in our household at that time, my younger brother.
Fury consumed me. I staggered towards my step-father's den where I knew he kept his pistol. I had planned to wait for him to arrive home and together we would hunt whoever had harmed our family. Though I didn't see eye-to-eye with him, I knew he would avenge his wife and son's lives. How wrong I had been. Over his desk was a young maid whimpering in pain and over her was my step-father. He looked up when he saw me and grinned. I could only imagine what had happened to the rest of our staff, slaughter probably in their respective areas.
He dropped the girl and a last whimper left her lips as she dropped limp on the floor. He continued to grin at me and his feral face made me rethink my situation. I was alone with a mad-man, as I imagined him at the time, and no help would be coming soon. I was wrong once again. A scream of rage poured through the hallway as I double-backed. I saw villagers enter my home and look at me in shock. I was pulled back into the den and the doors closed in my face.
I suddenly felt a sting flow through my neck. My body contracted as I was held aggressively against a stone-cold chest. My body tried to clutch the assailant off but it was no better than a worm trying to injure its beaked-attacker. It was useless. I could see visions of earlier events go through my head as though I were seeing a projector-slide. A girl giggling madly as my step-father caressed her neck tenderly. The same girl screaming as deep punctured fangs pierced her skin. Men running to discover the reason behind the scream. My brother opening the door and whimpering at the site before him. My mother looking up after a dull thumping against the mall. The servants thrown aside, dead upon impact. Those were the last visions as I passed out from the searing pain.
I discovered later that my step-father had been staked through his heart. He had turned me in hopes of distracting the villagers long enough to escape with his necessities. It had been fruitless. They had thought of me as dead, I had after all been drained quite thoroughly. Sadly, a few remnants of blood had still flowed through my system. How I was turned without having his blood in my veins, I do not know nor do I care. I stopped caring about my being after that.
I have lived after that as an outcast. I lived off what I encountered, a stray animal, a lowly human. The smell of blood had been repulsive at first. I could not get over my human view on the situation. I would be drinking human blood, the same blood that had flown through my family a short-time ago. I would also be ending someone's life, no matter how undeserving that person was, who was I to end their life?
I tried to destroy myself but to no avail did my desire prosper. Every time I tried to walk into the sunlight my resolve weakened long enough for me to follow my instincts and flee. I was left with no other option but to survive.I needed blood for that and blood I would have. I vowed to destroy the hunters. The only humans, at the time, who deserved such an ending, were they. I tracked them down easily bribing when I couldn't persuade. It was fairly easy. My father's estate was worth more than any I had encountered. I sold it piece by piece, claiming to be an estranged cousin. It was only mildly disturbing that I looked so much as my "deceased" cousin.
Many nights followed my hunts as the once proud hunters were now my prey. I picked them off one-by-one, relishing in their pain. I did touch their families. No, they did not deserve to suffer because of their relations with the hunters. I saw many scared faces and their eyes would always haunt me. But this was something that had to be done. And I was the only one to do such a thing.
I killed all but one named Thomas Wheeler. He was a tall, endearing man who was more than he appeared. His blood smelled the most pure to me. His eyes didn't hold the same evil that the others had. He appeared to truly believe that his was doing good by ridding the world of my kind. I knew that he could have no part in the hunting sprees that would take place in the world. But he still had to meet his fate.
He was a smart man. Thomas never left his home at night unless he was well armed, much smarter than the others. His weaponry was well developed as besides stakes, he carried crosses and holy water. Not enough to destroy me, but enough to stun me momentarily and provide me with my final show.
Thomas was the sole-provider for his family. He possessed a young son and daughter. I knew it to be cruel to target his family but they would only suffer after he was gone. His son looked a bit slow and had a very nasty temper that would flare out at a moment's notice. His daughter was innocent-looking, with an air of frailty that left me winded. I did not why she entranced me as she did but I knew it would not bring either-one-of-us any good.
I had set my sights on getting to him by them it would only be a matter of time until I made my move. I began to make nightly visits to the center of their town. I attended functions and had begun to be well-known as a charismatic gentleman. I made friends with locals and maintained my status by creating business ties that would only improve my wealth, though material items such as money held none of my interest. I controlled my urges to kill the Wheelers' whenever I saw them out together. I would simply nod my head in recognition and smile at the young girl. I set my plan on her, she would be my target.
I was born with what were acceptable social good looks and used them to my advantage. I would constantly acknowledge the presence of the young girl whose name I had learned to be Serene. Her name of course was nothing like her. She possessed a fiery spirit but maintained it with a calm posture. I knew what she could do and would exploit it if possible. I introduced myself to the young boy named Joseph and gained an invitation to their home. Months had gone by and by then I was weekly invited to their home for supper and conversation. Serene would blush whenever I caught her looking at me through fluttered eye-lids. She knew that I had an interest in her, I just wasn't sure if she knew the interest that I had in mind.
I was brought-up as a gentleman but I had the same urges as any man would have had. Out of respect for my mother I had never acted upon them, but my new life held nothing but my need to satisfy my urges for satisfying my thirst, killing the ones responsible for my condition, and a new urge that had been ignited in me: lust. Serene was beautiful and she could be of use to me before her untimely death. I would make sure that she would feel no pain during her last moments on Earth, only pleasure.
The Wheelers were modestly poor but their home had a warm feeling to it whenever I visited. I felt at ease in their presence but not once did I let my guard down. I knew of Thomas' true skills for defeating my kind and I would not let myself be caught. I dined with them, trying to stomach the vile taste of the food as it slid down my throat. I knew I would not digest the food but would have to return it later on. I imagine how Serene's food would have tasted to me if I had still been human. I could imagine coming for a visit and complimenting her as I did now but not having to lie to her. It felt wrong doing so and I hated myself for having feelings for her, no matter how small they were, they were still there.
One night, as I continued to have the upmost sinful thoughts of Serene, I asked permission to take a stroll with her. Thomas accepted without hesitation. I had earned his trust and my reputation as a respectable gentleman left no doubt of my appreciation for the well-being of his daughter. The night had been very peaceful and I had almost completely forgotten about my plan to destroy the Wheelers. I had grown attached to Serene and despised myself for it. I had let my emotions take priority over my revenge. But with one glance from her I pushed all aside and enjoyed our stroll. I hesitantly wrapped my arm around her waist during our stroll. I had seen her shivering and though I knew that my body temperature did nothing to help, I still couldn't help but take advantage of the chance to be so close to her. She would be mine.
The town was attacked one night after my encounter with the Wheelers. Thomas had appeared at my door asking me desperately to stay with Serene and watch over her as he and his son joined other hunters, who had graciously been drawn into town, in their pursuit of a band of vampires. I, of course, accepted her into my room at the local inn. She was quite nervous of the occurrences as a close friend of hers had just been murdered. She cried in my arms and confessed to being in love with me. That night I made her mine. I caressed her softly in my arms and kissed away the tears from being torn by me. I relished in the fact that no other man had ever touched her. She was mine, only mine.
Morning came and we were startled by her father and brother entering my room at once. I was pushed back immediately by the ray of sun that shown upon the bed. It took them only a moment to realize what I was. The look on their faces was that of pure horror. Thomas had lunged for Serene and had taken her from my side as Joseph went towards me with a stake. I grabbed him at his throat and broke it with the minimal force. I didn't even blink when he fell lifeless on the bed that had been one of pure bliss just a few hours before. Thomas pushed Serene out of the room, beyond my reach and looked at me like a father who was disappointed in his son.
"How could you deceive us like this? How could you kill my son?" I looked at him with pure hatred as, for the first time, I could be honest with him. "You destroyed my family. Because of you I am what you see before you. A monster, a leech and now I've taken everything you hold dear from you. Your son is dead, your daughter I have bedded and you will die soon enough"
His pain was evident but I wouldn't be persuaded. The truth was now known. I had deceived them all. There was no way he would allow me and Serene to be together, not after this. He lunged for me in pure rage; unfortunately for him I was ready. He had closed the door when he had removed Serene from there and now there was no sunlight. He was dead in less than a minute. I called Serene into the room. Thinking, rather quickly, how I could persuade her to forgive m for what I had done. I couldn't imagine not holding her in my arms, not caressing her smooth skin and kissing her petal-soft lips.
When she entered, she was inconsolable. She kept looking from me to them as though she knew not what to do.
What she did next surprised me. She ran into my arms and hugged me as if her life depended on it. I held her until nightfall. We left the town and all memories behind us. I now had someone who accepted me for what I was and I never had I been happier than at that moment.
Two years passed from that day and we lived quite tranquil. Serene continued to flourish as a beautiful woman. She didn't mind my nightly hunts as much as I though she would. At first, I had been hesitant to leave and hunt, knowing that she must know my purpose for such an outing. But she didn't protest and waited patiently for my return, often falling asleep in a chair near the front door when my hunts lasted more than usual. On nights, such as those, I would carry her silently towards our bedroom and watch her sleep peacefully. I often wondered what it was like to be with me, if I scared her. But she didn't appear to be scared not hate what I was. It was simply a fact, I was a vampire and she was human. Facts were facts.
I often dreaded she would ask to be turned but she later made me promise not to turn her into a vampire. She was still afraid of the process, confiding in me that she had seen me toss and turn in my sleep screaming, I had been reliving my transformation without knowing it. I knew it was only a matter of time before she got wary of growing old and dying and asked me to turn her. I would agree. I had rather she suffer briefly than live throughout eternity without her.
One night I arrived from my hunt to discover the door of our home open. I was instantly guarded and ran inside. I could hear a slight noise from the kitchen so I carefully entered. I saw another vampire upon her, draining her thoroughly. I seized him, snapping his neck, killing him instantly. But Serene had already been bitten and if I did not act soon she would die. I opened one of my veins and placed my blood upon her lips. She licked at them and fell unconscious. I watched over her all night, watching her painful expressions and wishing it would be over soon. Thinking of her, I fell asleep.
The next day I was awoken by a dreadful scream. Serene was cutting herself all over and screaming insanely. I could feel her desperation to stop the fiery flow of venom. I tried to detain her but she pushed be backwards with immense strength. She looked at me with tears falling down her face and opened the front door. Small rays of sunlight poured in and she stood directly in front of them. "I love you but I can't take the pain. You should have let me die" she said and walked into the sunlight. I screamed in rage as she was turned to dust and I wasn't able to do anything. I watched the spot where she died until sunset then collected myself and left our home.
Misery: (Updated)
I hope you enjoyed my modified version more than the original. I was reading my stories and noticed that this one had been rather rushed and didn't include many details to help my story move along. I hope you enjoyed it and will review. I plan to edit most of my stories from the very first chapter onwards, so keep posted for updates and modifications. Love ya…
So like it? Tell me but remember no flames. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed the first story and this is dedicated to you guys. The next chapter is coming up and will begin a bit before the first chapter of "Immortal" from then on, it will mostly be as the original only in Seto's point of view and will have a better description of the story for those who asked for it. Oh and Serene was "Serenity" in the past, well sort of you'll see.