The elevator sounded a soft ding as it came to a stop and the three of us began down the dimly lit hall. I listened closely as we approached the first closed door, the sound of people puttering around behind it as they talked about test results the only noise from the first door. Further down I heard the same shuffling of feet as scientists puttered back and forth, doing the same as probably every other person in this building. The difference came when I took in the scents around me, human scent upon human scent hit my nose before I finally picked up the one smell I was hoping to find, the smell of immortal blood.
I jerked my head forward as a sign to follow me, scared to speak incase Braxton picked up the sound if he hasn't already. Though, I hoped that he was too busy with his work to care about keeping ears on people he believed he had no need to worry about. Kenny and Kyle both nodded in acknowledgement to my head jerk as we approached the door that would lead us to our impending doom or miraculous victory. The three of us paused upon reaching the door, preparing ourselves one final time knowing that we had only one shot to make this believable. I pulled my arms free from Kenny's grasp and turned around to face him, burrowing my head into his chest to ruffle my hair up a bit to make me look a little more roughed up than I already do.
I returned my hands to his grasp as I gave a look that said "go ahead" to both him and Kyle to signal I was ready whenever they were. Kenny's grip on my wrists tightened as he knocked on the door, the sounds from inside dying down in shock on the opposite side as the knock echoed through the empty hallway on our side. I put on the angriest face I could muster as footsteps approached the door, wanting to look as if I was furious about being caught and overpowered by mere mortals. My violet eyes turned hard with hate swirling in them and I scowled with immense detest as the door slid open and a slender, lab coat and goggle clothed man appeared in the doorway.
"Who are you and how do you have that… thing." The man spoke with venomous hate towards me the second he laid his eyes upon the three of us.
"I'm terribly sorry if I am disturbing anything sir, you see my name is… James." Kenny began, racking his brain to remember the fake names he had given earlier. "This here is my brother Liam. We were on a tour with a Mr. Zach for we have an interest in joining the organization you work for, that is we were until this bitch showed up." Kenny put as much detest behind his words as he could, emphasizing his words as he gave me a shove forward. I pretended to stumbled forward with the push, letting out a small growl in the process. "We caught her trying to escape and when we realized what she was we knew she had to be returned."
"So that's where Zach has been." The man spoke to himself more than to Kenny and Kyle. "Well, we greatly appreciate the interest of such young people, especially ones that can take down such a powerful type of immortal as erm.. this." The man talked as if I was a thing, refusing to talk about me as if I was an actual person. "Where did Zach go to boys? Did he say?"
"Yes, he was worried that some other specimens had escaped as well so he went to check on them. He told us where to find some guy who runs this organization… We were hoping to speak to him personally to return his little escapee in hopes it would show we are worthy to let join."
"Please sir," Kyle spoke softly once Kenny went quiet. "As we told Zach, our parents were killed when we were very young by an immortal and this seems like our best way to avenge them."
The man looked to Kenny, to Kyle, and then to me. I snapped at him as I jerked forward slightly, bearing my fangs and laughing as he jumped before Kenny gave a tug on my wrists and I jerked backwards.
"Feisty as this one seems, we were able to overcome.. it easily." Kenny spoke, hesitating slightly for having to talk degradingly about me. "Wounded, bleeding and weakened."
"Yes, very good job boys." The man pulled on the collar of his lab coat, regaining his composure from the jump I gave him. "I suppose I could allow you to speak to our leader. He will be please you brought him a present I'm sure." The man led the way, Kenny pushing me forward as we followed him through the large lab room, navigating our way around the tables with other so focused on their work they moved around us as if we didn't exist.
"Sir, I bring two boys who caught an escaped specimen." The scientist bowed slightly as he spoke to Braxton. His sleek form turning around with unnaturally smooth movements, a satisfied grin pulled at the corners of his mouth as his eyes fell on me.
"Ah, young Luna. Thought you could escape me so easily?" Braxton taunted as he turned his attention to Kenny and Kyle. "Oh how rude of me, I should introduce myself to the two who returned this dreadful girl to me. My name is Braxton."
"Nice to meet you sir." Kenny said through gritted teeth as he tightened his grip on my wrists once again, using all his willpower to keep his anger in tap. "My name is James and this is Liam. We wanted to return this escapee to you personally." Kenny continued, pushing me forward and down to my knees. His free hand grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled on it to make me look up. "Though she be feisty she is weakened and was no match for us."
"Yes, I expected more from this one. Though I can't say I'm disappointed, she was the one stupid enough to try to escape from me." Braxton let out a sinister chuckle. "I suppose I should thank you two."
"Sir, if we may speak freely." Kyle began, knowing he was probably calmer than Kenny at this point in time. "We have interest in joining this organization. That is if you are willing to accept us."
Braxton looked between the two boys with scrutinizing looks, searching for anything that could come off as suspicious. "And you two do know that this organization is trying to use immortals to enhance humans right? Make our own immortals?"
"From what the guy we first talked to has told us yes, we understand." Kyle clarified. "Though we have a major dislike for immoral beings, having them on your side sounds a lot better than not."
"Oh so your little posse you have here don't know about you?" I taunted from my spot on the floor, my hair still in Kenny's grasp as he gave a yank.
"Shh, you don't get to speak." His words forced through a clenched jaw as he pulled on my hair.
"Oh a guy who puts others in their place. I like that." Braxton laughed in response to my faked pain.
As he continued to laugh and praise my two "captors" I picked up the sound of the elevator in motion and footsteps swiftly, yet almost undetectable approaching. I knew it had to be my parents, following through with their part now. Though as I listened for a sign to jump into action a thought crossed my mind that made my stomach sink. A thought that should have occurred to me way sooner than this moment. The thought that if I could hear my parents, more so Stan and Cartman the ones being audible, then Braxton must be able to also.
I focused on the pull of the soul bond and tried to convey my thoughts through it, same as I had managed to before, trying to share my troubling thoughts with Kenny. I felt him readjust his grip on my hands, but whether it was a sign of understanding or just fidgeting I was unsure.
"Sir!" One of the scientists we passed on our way through this lab approached swiftly, his demeanor not quite matching his vocal approach. "There has been a breakthrough so I request approval to bring some workers with me to where the two specimens are held." His eyes were distant as he spoke, this one thing was enough to tip me off that he was under mind control. "We are still unsure of all the details but it seems promising. We can report back to you with all the details once you are done with your guests."
"Yes, yes very well." Braxton waved a hand in dismissal, not giving the man a second glance. I found this strange, for any other vampire would be able to easily pick up the sign of mind control.
I let out a laugh and smiled up at Braxton. "You've lost your touch haven't you?" I antagonized. "I may not know much but I have my theory, one I'm quickly coming to believe is true."
I felt Kenny tense at my sudden outburst, only relaxing once I reached out for the bond to try and send a calming sense to him.
"What do you know of me youngling!" Braxton angrily scolded as he slapped my cheek. The smacking sound of his hand making contact with mine would make one think the slap sent a burning pain through my cheek, but those who think that would be dead wrong. The pain was no more than a prickle and only made my smile grow wider as my theory was proven in that one act. Kenny let out a low, protective growl in response to Braxton hitting me.
"Don't worry babe, I think I know more than even Braxton himself does now." My confidence I was right showing fully in my voice.
"How dare yo-" Braxton began, yelling with full fury before stopping mid sentence in shock as I broke free from the cloth restraint with ease and leapt towards him in the blink of an eye.
He fell to the ground as easily as an unstable structure would when leaned against, his head smacking the concrete with a solid thwack that sounded out through the now almost empty lab.
"You're weakened. I may not know a lot about the Ending Scroll, but I know it can destroy any immortal if the user so wishes to. I think that by you using it and being around the items it's blessed that you've slowly been destroying yourself without realizing it." I flashed my fangs at him in a show of dominance and I curled my fingers around his neck. My fingernails digging into his flesh and his blood beginning to bubble around my fingers. The color, normally a shimmering silver, appeared dull and almost as black as the darkest of dark.
"Luna!" My mother's voice caught my attention as I turned to face the direction she yelled from. She appeared in the doorway followed suit by my father and then Stan and Cartman, who rushed over to stand beside Kyle.
"Oh hey guys." I nonchalantly said as I waved at them with my clean hand. "So funny story, Braxton here has been unknowingly destroying himself by using the powers of the scroll." I snickered as I glanced over my shoulder at my parents. "Seems like his evil way of life will no longer be a problem for our kind soon enough."
"Where is it Braxton?" My father asked in a tone that would send chills down anyone's back and showed he meant business.
"Like I wou-" He started to backtalk before I cut him off by applying another death grip around his throat. He let out a gasp and tried to fight against me, but to no avail.
"Wrong answer asshole." I growled, my grip tight as ever as Braxton tried to reach for his side. I reached his side before he could, pulling away the pocket knife he was reaching for. "Oh is this what you wanted?" I pressed the button that released the blade, making a soft swish as it flipped out to expose the sharpened point. "Now lets try this again. Where. Is. That. Scroll."
Braxton glared at me with such hate that I'm sure he was wishing he could rip me apart and burn my body right now. Luckily for me, I was the one in the position to do that to him and not vise versa. He grunted from the pressure I was applying to his neck still, his hateful gaze traveling from me to the knife I now possessed. He refused to answer still, earning an agitated growl from me.
"Kenny, Kyle, Stan, and Cartman I need you to help my parents search this room for that scroll please. Its pretty obvious that Braxton isn't going to cooperate." I glanced at each one over my shoulder before turning my attention back to Braxton who let out a cough followed by some straigned words.
"Idcirco praecipio tibi ut creatura noctis…." (Roughly translates to Creature of the night I command you do as I say. It's the best google could do lol) Braxton began speaking in Latin, making me quickly I realized he was trying to cast one of the Scroll's blessings. My eyes widened and my survival instincts kicking in as I balled my hand around his neck into a full fist before yanking it back, creating a huge gash in his neck to keep him from being able to talk any more. To keep him from finishing his chant. He gasped soundless gasps as I stood up, his now free hands flying up to grab as his neck that ran with his rotted looking blood seeping steadily between his fingers.
"Mom, Dad. He's all yours. We can find the scroll without him." I retreated away from the suffering Braxton, looking down at my bloody hand. Lately it seems like I've had to cause a lot of pain to people, really showing the monster that my kind can be. Especially with just having told my closest friends and having Kenny witness the destruction I am capable of and the thoughts of the toll this whole situation would have on my friendships.
"Hey, don't worry about it." Kenny's voice came from behind me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. He must have sensed I was bothered by something. "This situation sucks, but it won't make a difference in how the guys see you." He hugged me tightly before pulling away and returning to his search.
I looked back over my shoulder as my parents dragged Braxton back out to the part of the lab we entered from. I listened as his almost inaudible breath quickened from fear as my parents spoke to him in soft voices that I knew the guys couldn't hear. They told him how dishonorable he was to our kind and the coven will be glad to hear he is gone after this ordeal of utter betrayal.
"I found it! I think…" Stan exclaimed as he ran over to me after rummaging around in a desk pushed off into the far corner of the room. He held out the same locked box that we saw before Braxton had shot me. I gave it a light shake before prying off the top to ensure the Ending Scroll was inside. Sure enough there it sat inside, it's golden colored paper rolled around the small silver rods.
"Yes, this is it." I stated as I gazed at the scroll in wonder. Wonder of how such a small thing could cause so much pain to beings who live forever.
I turned to face the direction my parents took Braxton to, the sound of his breathing gone and replaced with the cracking of bones and tearing of flesh. My parents had to destroy his body to end him once and for all.
"Come on, let's get out of here and get you cleaned up." Kenny returned to my side, taking me in his arms and guiding me towards an exit opposite of where my parents were. The others followed suit as we silently left the lab and headed home.
I'm sorry if the ending is feeling a tad rushed, I just really want to get a resolution without making the story feel like it's dragging on too long. Story pacing is something I am still working on in other works too so you'll have to forgive me!