Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter. I hope you all like it, and thank you for the wonderful reviews. I will try my best to stop the chapters from seeming so separate, because I know it was a minor issue last chapter. I do want to make this story successful and as well written as I can. So please, I encourage you all to review and tell me what you think. Anyways…
Enjoy!
A Vampire's Kill
Chapter 3
One year later…
"Just like we taught, got it?"
Yugi nodded firmly.
Darkness consumed the sky in mere seconds as soon as the sun dusked behind the trees which were swooshing back and forth due to the cold, October wind. Tiny chatter of the wild animals and the small flapping of birds could be heard before they disappeared into the trees without another sound. An owl's hoot echoed through the night a few times, and the running paws on the ground caused small tree branches to break under the little creatures' weight. Branches smacked together, causing shadows to dance against the trees.
In the clearing, the fire cackled with small flames.
"The trick is to be sneaky and attack when they least expect it."
"Or be like me and bask in glory as their screams pierce the air in horror just moments before you suck them dry."
"Do not do what he says."
"Hey!"
"Yugi, the point is to have fun. This is our night, so play as much as you want."
"That's literally what I just said."
"It was nowhere close, you moron."
Purple irises looked up at the bickering two that stood in front of him. They were tall, cunning, and extremely dangerous. That much he had understood from the year of training with them. Since he was a new vampire, it was up to them to train him and it was his duty to follow their orders.
"Yugi."
His eyes flashed and his body stiffened when he heard the name fly through the air. His name, which was given to him by his joy and adventure filled Grandpa. However, in one year the name was tainted by the new worth it had become. The fun, little "game", turned into a deadly one. A game which meant to survive and treat your food as a toy, and kill as if the world was your playground. You ruled, you won, and you had to be the master of that game. Or else, you will lose. Not just the game, but your life.
Yugi looked up, eyes landing on the third vampire that approached slowly with a little smile.
"Tonight is the night. Are you ready?"
"Atem, he is definitely ready," Kaiba declared, and fidgeting slightly, Yugi looked up to stare at the King who was admiring him from head to toe, completely satisfied as to how he had grown in a year. Without looking away from him, Atem replied.
"I believe so."
During his trainings throughout the year, Yugi had gotten used to the stares and appreciative smiles Atem gave him. Atem would even admit it out loud to himself. He would say that he loved how his purple eyes glowed in the dark, the flames reflecting in his irises making his face light up like the fire burning beside them. Hell, he had said those very lines just a few minutes ago. He had learned to ignore the King's weird behavior though, one which would upset most people. Kaiba just said that it was because Atem liked him. Not in that sense, however.
Wearing a black, leather jacket, buckled boots with black jeans tucked into them, it seemed as if he was part of the gang. A simple, long-sleeved black top could be seen underneath the jacket, a belt looped around his hips which held a dagger in the back in case of a surprise attack from unwanted enemies. And, it was all because Atem insisted he wear them. The King was apparently a fashionista too, and took his time making sure he looked great.
Currently he watched the familiar smile that graced Atem's lips with boredom. That smile came frequently during the year, and from what Yugi understood, it meant that Atem was congratulating himself for making the right choice in turning him.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Bakura asked, and lazily he stood next to him with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Yugi instantly relaxed. Regular conversation was a sign that training was complete.
He looked back and forth between the three and he watched as Atem lifted his head. It was amazing. Atem really did look like royalty when he was serious.
"The regular plan obviously."
A grunt was heard. "I am not too sure about that plan," Kaiba said, and he leaned against a crooked tree and eyed Atem. "The clan is against us. Actually, no, they are against you. This idea the clan came up with; to hunt together, is probably just a ruse to get you so they can chop your head off and officially claim your throne."
Yugi watched as Atem rolled his eyes at his cousin's statement. Atem never did take Kaiba's opinions very seriously. He understood, sure, but never showed it. And they called Kaiba prideful? Atem was a hundred times worse.
"I think I have been in hiding long enough."
"Are you being serious?" Bakura let out an amused laugh before looking at Atem. "Let's not forget what drove you into hiding three hundred and fifty years ago in the first place."
Atem scowled and shot Bakura a glare. "That was then. I believe it is time for their leader to take his place in court once more. They made a mistake and paid for it. They would be foolish to pull such a stunt again."
Awkwardly, Yugi watched in silence as Bakura shook his head and Kaiba looked away in annoyance. It was a waste of time trying to reason with Atem. Once Atem set his mind on something, it was impossible to change it.
Yugi sat down on a log, watching the interaction amongst the three vampires. During the year he had been with them, he had come to understand the problem they had been facing. The talk of getting back together with the clan came up a few months after he was turned, and he would watch as Bakura and Kaiba tried desperately to reason with Atem. He had not understood what was going on at the time because he was angry at them for turning him, but after realising he was never going to be normal again and that he was stuck with them, he gave into their teachings and tried to understand them.
Three hundred and fifty years ago the clan apparently tried to overrule and assassinate their King - Atem. Atem had escaped and was forced to go into hiding for over thirty years until Bakura and Kaiba finally found him.
Kaiba and Bakura were Atem's best friends and his most trusted partners during his rule. Kaiba was his cousin, making him a direct relation, and Bakura… he still was not sure where Bakura fit in. But, they were the most powerful and well-respected beings amongst the vampires, thus making the two seem like kings as well. That was why it came as no surprise to others when the two went out to search for him. After the three teamed up again, they went back to the clan immediately for revenge. They killed at least half of the vampires and all the head vampires for plotting against their King.
After the incident, the clan disbanded, and having nothing left, the three went into exile and hunted in secrecy ever since.
Now, it seemed that Atem's clan had actually regrouped during the years and sent a worldwide, blood message in hopes of it reaching their King since they had no idea where he was. The message that was spread among the vampires said that the clan wanted to reunite with their King once more, and as a welcoming gift, they would all hunt together like they usually did. Atem did indeed receive the message, however, Kaiba and Bakura were and still are against the idea while Atem was completely ready to go back.
Yugi shuddered. He had never come across the other vampires before. He only knew these three all his undead life, and it was pretty obvious Atem was not going to listen to his companions. Although he was not asked, Yugi agreed with Kaiba and Bakura. Even he understood that what Atem wanted to do was foolish. Atem was ready to jump back into the nest that tried to kill him way too quickly. And in vampire time, three hundred and fifty years was too quickly.
"We will be going in a few minutes to meet with them, alright?" Atem said, ordered, and he turned around to glance at them.
"Atem, I still say that you should reconsider this decision," Kaiba pleaded once more.
"Kaiba, he won't listen so don't waste your breath," Bakura stated flatly. "When all this comes back to bite him in the hide, well… we told him so."
"Would you be quiet?!" Atem shouted. His hands were clenched in a fist, his shout ringing across the eerily, quiet forest. Yugi watched as Atem turned to Bakura and Kaiba in a second and glared at them, trying to desperately keep his anger under control. Yugi flinched at the anger. He also learned the King had a mighty temper. Bakura may be the rude one, but he did not explode so easily. Bakura used rude sarcasm that pisses people off to get his way, or to just feel "smug and superior", as he puts it.
"I get it, alright?" Atem began. "I am just not worried because if they try something like that again, I will make them pay very dearly. I would not spare a single one of them. I am not stupid, and they are not either since they know what I will do to them if I am betrayed once more. So, let us stop whining about it and just go. If it is a trap they want to set, so be it. We can take them any day as long as we are together. Got it? Or…" he smirked at the two, "do you doubt your own abilities?"
Silence was what he got in return, Bakura and Kaiba looking elsewhere with a hint of anger written on both of their faces, and seeing this, Yugi grit his teeth and his hands formed fists themselves.
Atem was the King. What he said, goes. But, he was not in his castle. Atem was with his friends that stood by him when he was all alone. These were the two that fought and argued and took care of him like family. Then why? Why were they forced to stay silent and listen to everything he said? Yugi could actually see them swallow their words, defeated. If they talked back and did not listen, sure, Atem would get mad. They have done it before. Atem would not kill them. He had actually grown to like the two, so seeing them so submissive only made him more aware of the fact that there were a lot of things he was not aware of. But, they said nothing whenever he asked as to why they bowed to whatever Atem said.
"Good. Now, let us go," Atem stated, and he turned around.
Yugi went stiff as Atem laid his blood red eyes on him, and he had had no choice but to walk towards him after he signalled with a finger to approach. The King took his hand, and waiting for just a few seconds, he took off with Yugi tight in his grasps.
Yugi had always been slow since he had troubles keeping up with them during training, so Atem would take his hand and just start running, forcing Yugi to match his pace. It was difficult and he stumbled many times, but Atem was surprisingly kind to him. He doted on him which Yugi could see made Kaiba and Bakura uneasy at times. That was another thing he could not understand. The King was so kind to him, it felt as if Atem was treating him like a brother he never had.
The last thing Yugi saw before everything turned into blurs was Kaiba and Bakura sharing a conflicted look with each other before they took off running.
On the far edge of the forest, the two of them finally stopped. Standing still, they both gazed upon the ancient, Victorian mansion that stood before them. It was shrouded in darkness, the place looking completely deserted in the isolated location.
Yugi gulped, taking a step back from the building, only to stop when he felt Atem clench his hand reassuringly, looking up at the mansion with determination. Just a second later, Kaiba and Bakura arrived. They stood still and silently behind them, still not saying anything after Atem had shouted at them.
"Let us enter," Atem said, and without turning he began to make his way up the stairs to the front door, and Yugi could not help but allow himself to be pulled in.
Yugi watched worriedly as Atem pushed the door open and just stepped inside. He had to admit that he admired Atem for his bravery. If he was a real human, the vampire King might have been his role model, minus the fact that he was so strict, cold, odd, quirky, and pushy at times.
Just as Atem pushed the door open, a single man was seen standing there. Yugi's eyes widened when he saw the creepily calm expression on the man's face. The smile on the tanned skin made him feel uneasy, and he did not like it a single bit.
"Welcome back, my King," the man said smoothly, dropping down to a knee before Atem.
Atem said nothing, simply raising his head higher in authority. The man was forced to gaze up at Atem's proud and determined posture with his lavender eyes, a hint of amusement hidden in them.
Yugi stared at the man. His fashion sense was refined, just like his personality. He wore loose, but form-fitting black pants with belts which looped around his waist, followed by a deep purple, sleeveless top that glimmered when the dusty chandelier that hung above shone on it. The man also wore pulled up sleeves, sort of like a glove, that ended just a bit above is elbow which was held in place by more buckles and an assortment of gold jewellery. His fangs sparkled when he smiled, and Yugi gulped back his fear when the man looked straight at him.
"Marik," Atem addressed. "I see that you have not changed a bit."
The man named Marik smiled wider. "Why, of course not. We wouldn't want to confuse you when you returned, now would we?" He bowed once more. "I have to thank you for accepting our invitation. We heard nothing from you and thought that you wouldn't come. I'm glad you-"
"Alright, that's enough of you, Marik! Where are the others?" Bakura snapped as he entered the mansion hastily, and all his face held was disgust and hatred.
Marik's eyes gleamed with glee as he saw Bakura. "Bakura, you're alive. I've been so worried about you."
Yugi watched as Bakura stepped back with an annoyed growl when Marik attempted to hug him. Marik then pouted and gave Kaiba a cheeky smile also. "Well, it seems the three of you managed to meet. My, quite the close niche of friends we have here."
"You are in the presence of the King, Marik. Show some respect," Kaiba warned.
Marik rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."
Atem clicked his tongue in irritation, and the sound made Yugi look up at him. Only then did he realise he was still holding Atem's hand, and when he tried to pull away, Atem just held it tighter.
"You really have not changed at all. Neither did this place. It is filthy." Atem looked around the grand hall they were in. Everywhere was cloaked in the shadows and dust littered the floor in thick heaps. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and the furniture, and whatever was left remained in the same position. A natural haunted house was what it was. Atem turned to look at Marik. "Where is everyone?"
Marik shrugged. "Some split years ago and those that returned are upstairs getting ready for tonight."
Atem's eyes slanted. "We have to leave now. It is already nightfall so get them all down here right away!"
"No can do. I've had a hard time controlling them these days. I have no idea what to do anymore," Marik said plainly. "That's why I was excited to have you back. Surely your presence will knock the stubbornness right out of them."
Before Atem could say anything, Kaiba opened his mouth first. Yugi watched with wide eyes as Kaiba grabbed Marik by the shirt and gripped him tightly. "This better not be a trap," he growled dangerously. "If anything happens, I will slay you myself."
Marik smiled. "I called for you, haven't I? If it was a trap, I wouldn't have done so. You guys can trust me."
"I won't trust you even if my life depended on it," Bakura grumbled. Marik just flashed him a toothy grin before looking at Yugi.
"You trust me, don't you little newbie?" Marik asked, getting down closer to his face. Yugi stepped back and didn't say a word. Marik sighed as he stood back into proper position, scowling a bit. "Fine. It seems no one trusts me these days."
"Give us a good reason why we should trust you," Kaiba challenged, arms crossed.
"I stayed back and volunteered to control this clan, haven't I? That should be enough. I know what's going on. There is no siege, another attack, or whatever it is you all are so worked up about. Trust me," Marik explained.
They all looked at Marik silently until Bakura broke the silence. "Fine, but one screw up and your head would be on the ground faster than you can blink."
Marik smiled, flipping his hair back. "Got it."
Yugi watched uneasily as Bakura glared at Marik some more to get his point across before turning to Kaiba to see if he was right in trusting Marik. Yugi did not get to see what Kaiba's response was because at the same moment he heard a blade being unsheathed. Quickly he spun around to have brown eyes meet his purple ones, and without hesitating he pulled out his dagger to block the attack, but was too late.
"No!" a voice screamed out, and suddenly he found himself urgently turned around and pulled into a protective embrace. In a split second he heard Atem gasp and groan, and the man slumped against him a bit. With his heart in his throat, Yugi pushed back and turned around to hold Atem up.
"Traitor!" Yugi heard Bakura scream, and looking towards them he could see that Bakura had grabbed Marik and pulled out his blade while Kaiba had the attacker's head rolling on the ground a second later.
"I swear, Bakura! I had no idea!"
"You have to do better than that!"
Taking his gaze off of them, Yugi tried to hold Atem up and slowly they sunk to the ground. With his arms wrapped around him, a painful chill ran up his spine and his entire body when he felt a dagger sticking out of Atem's back.
"Atem!" Yugi cried, and hearing Atem wheezing, he pulled away a bit to reach closer and yank the knife out of Atem's back before sliding it across the room.
"A-Are you okay?" Yugi desperately asked, and fearfully he looked at the King's face.
Atem nodded, trying to get up only to fall back down in pain. Yugi panicked, trying to stop the bleeding with his hands but to no avail. "Kaiba! What do I do?!" he shouted, frantically trying to stop Atem's bleeding and looking at Kaiba for some help.
Kaiba looked at Yugi for a brief moment, but just as the brunet took a step towards him, a swarm of vampires came out of hiding with their daggers, knives, and swords drawn. And just like that, he was ignored. Yugi turned to Bakura and saw that he also had vampires surrounding him, Marik watching the others with astonishment.
"If what you say is true, stop them!" he heard Bakura yell at Marik, and quickly Marik rushed up to the clan.
"What do you think you're doing? I command you to stop!" Marik shouted desperately. The so-called leader of the rioting vampires spoke up.
"We waited long enough for this. It is time we took him down once and for all!"
"I thought you said you wanted him to come back!" Marik yelled.
The vampire grinned. "Yeah, so we could kill him!"
Yugi heard Bakura swear under his breath after hearing that, and quickly he took up the other defence.
"Yugi!" Yugi looked up towards Bakura who had called out to him. "Protect Atem. That's your job," the white head shouted before turning back to the crowd that now surrounded them. "We'll take care of these dolts."
"Yeah, and how are you going to do that? There is a lot more of us than that of you!" the leader of the rioters shouted, his blade in the air.
"If you have forgotten, we had defeated you once before. We can do it again," Kaiba yelled.
"Yeah, but this time your King is crippled. You are at a large disadvantage."
Marik stepped up. "I'll take his place then."
The crowd laughed, but Bakura and Kaiba gave Marik a serious glance. Marik was not as strong as Atem, but he was still a formidable opponent. Knowing that, with a nod of their heads, Yugi watched the three attack.
"Yugi! Aim for their necks. Chop their heads off to kill them!" Kaiba yelled. Instantly Yugi took a fighting position around Atem and glared at the vampires that closed in on him.
"Got it," Yugi said under his breath. "Time to put my training to the test," and he paid close attention to Atem, and everyone that surrounded them.
The vampires attacked him one by one since Bakura, Marik, and Kaiba made a circle around him and Atem as a first barrier, Yugi being the second and last before they could get to Atem. Even Yugi knew this. Kill the King and next best gets to be King. So these vampires will no doubt try to take out Bakura and Kaiba as well.
Not a lot of them passed the three up front so Yugi got to deal with them a bit easier. One by one they came in, underestimating him and with one slash Yugi had their blood on his dagger and their heads separated from their bodies. He gulped, knowing that it was his official first kill. Blood leaked across the floor like water as Yugi took an aim and slashed a vampire right through his neck, breaking their windpipe and having blood spew everywhere like a disgusting, red fountain. Yugi shook the memory of the dead fountain made with the bones of town people when he was younger out of his head.
No matter the past, he had to atleast try and protect his future. He hated the vampires. A part of him still hated them, but what could he do? He was dead, and that was it. Nothing he could do would make it all feel better. Revenge was not going to help him get everything that he had lost.
When he had arrived, Kaiba had explained it to him with a lost expression, and seeing the sorrow and helplessness, how sorry Kaiba was about everything that had happened, Yugi had to believe him. His killer was Atem. Not Bakura or Kaiba.
Yugi was so caught up in his thoughts that one vampire managed to slip by. He ran to catch the vampire which was heading towards Atem who was slipping in and out of consciousness, and raising his blade Yugi stopped the vampire just in time, wincing when the blood splattered all over Atem and himself. The body dropped to the ground and before he could shove it away he felt someone slam into him. The impact sent him flying through the air and hitting the floor hard on his side, his blade flying out of hands reach
He looked up in shock as the vampire sneered at him and then grabbed him by the shirt to lift him up. The vampire put his knife to Yugi's neck and was about to slit it when the vampires eyes suddenly widened in shock, his head dropping off his neck to the side. Yugi looked up to see Atem holding his sword and breathing heavily, eyelids drooping, swaying on his feet.
"Atem!" Yugi exclaimed and quickly ran up to hold him upright. "I think you should sit down, there-"
"I'm fine!" Atem yelled, and Yugi yelped when Atem lifted his sword and swiped it above Yugi's hair. The thud Yugi heard a second later was enough to tell him that Atem just rescued him once more from getting mauled.
"Kaiba! Marik! Each of you take a staircase and scan for more! Kill them all!" Atem bellowed, and Yugi was pushed behind him as Atem attacked. Yugi, unable to tell Atem what to do was forced to stand behind him, holding his shirt and trying to keep the King from crumpling to the floor. From the corner of his eye he watched as Kaiba and Marik instantly went off to do as told while Bakura stayed below next to Atem.
"Atem, you're bleeding out! You can't weaken yourself!" Bakura yelled.
"I will be fine!"
One by one the vampires dropped like flies. Yugi grimaced at the amount of blood splattered everywhere. It was all over the floor, the walls, even their skin.
"It's all clear upstairs!" Kaiba shouted, running down from the left staircase.
"Clean up here too!" Marik shouted as he dropped down from the right staircase.
"Help clean here then. I'll scour outside!" Bakura shouted.
"Atem...!" Yugi warned, seeing the blood from the wound in his back leak down his arms like a river. "The wound is getting worse. You need to stop," he pleaded desperately. Never before had he seen so much blood shed. It was beginning to make him sick. And from what he learned, Atem should be well on his way to healing. But, the King was getting worse. Just what had those people done to make him this way?
With a cry Atem chopped the last vampire's head off. Yugi could feel the King trembling in pain. Not long after, Atem's sword fell from his grasp and he finally crumpled to the floor much to Yugi's relief, his clothes and hair soaked in the mass puddle of blood.
"Atem!"
"Marik, grab a bandage, cloth, something!" Kaiba desperately yelled out.
"Is he going to be okay?" Yugi asked, quivering fearfully.
Kaiba sighed. Kneeling down he gently cradled Atem's sweat covered face. Atem groaned as Kaiba turned him around to peer at the hole in his back. "I just hope so. Those bastards must have poisoned their blades."
Marik brought a piece of cloth he ripped from the blood stained curtain. Quickly Kaiba used it to tie Atem's wound just as Bakura made his way back in.
"All's clear outside."
They all dropped down next to Atem who was barely hanging on to consciousness. "Hang in there, Atem," Bakura said.
Atem grinned. "Idiot. I will be fine. I just need to rest. It will heal pretty fast."
"Like hell. You've been poisoned, and it is only getting worse. What was the need to come into the battle? You were wounded so you should have stayed out of it," Kaiba scolded. "It wouldn't have spread this much."
Atem grunted. "Yeah, well, Yugi needed help."
Bakura grumbled. "I can't believe you're still thinking about that. You could have gotten yourself killed!"
Atem growled, shaking his head stubbornly. "Well I could not let them kill Yugi!"
"No, not Yugi! You were thinking of your brother again! Stop it. It's over. You cannot save everyone!" Kaiba shouted, but Atem pushed Kaiba's hand away and sat up with a moan of pain. Yugi on the other hand felt his body go cold at the revelation.
Brother?
"You are unbelievable!" Kaiba shouted, watching as Atem stood up.
"Let us go. It is after one and we still have not fed. Once I feed I will be fine. So, c'mon," Atem said calmly as he walked out the doors.
"Fool," Kaiba growled, but grudgingly he followed closely in case Atem collapsed.
"Marik, let's go. Come, Yugi," Bakura said and followed them out.
Marik looked at Yugi, and sensing that he was being watched, Yugi looked into the lavender eyes that were filled with a heavy amount of understanding.
"You didn't know, huh?" the blond asked. "These guys… they don't say anything." He shook his head. "I know you have questions, but wait. Now is not the time for them to be answered," he explained, and cautiously, Yugi nodded and ran after the three after Marik ushered him out.
There was still so much he needed to know about the vampires. That was part of the reason he stayed with them. Hopefully soon he will get to understand more about them, and more about Atem since it was clear now that there were many things he did not know.
It would all take time to come out into the open.
A lot of time.
I really, really like this chapter. I hope you like is as well.
Review please. And thank you for reading. :D
