Okay finally I've thought up something for another chapter. Forgive me if you catch any typos I tend to miss them even if I proofread fifteen times. Review please and thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story.
The Demon Within Chapter 4: Explanations and Plans
The man's face paled as Luffy approached, staring at him with hardened eyes.
"I'm not gonna ask again. What's Sudra?" Luffy demanded.
A member of his crew was in danger and there was no way in hell that this man was going to be keeping stuff from him that might help Zorro.
"I can't tell you." He said as he stood tall but his pale face and quivering hands betrayed his fear. "If a Sudra works beneath him then he has to be tough." The man thought.
"I know what he is. I've known for a long time."
"Noderam is going to kill me for this." He mumbled as he ran to the front of his store, hung the closed sign on the front of the door, closed it, locked it, and drew the shades throwing the room in darkness. "What I am about to tell you cannot be repeated." He whispered as he walked back toward Luffy.
Luffy nodded, eager to learn more about his rather mysterious first mate.
"You already know that he's a Nightwalker but I'm betting that's all you know."
Another nodd.
"There are many different Clans or Covens within the Vampire society. The one residing here is known as the Noderam Coven. Your friend is of the Coven Sudra, an extremely rare thing."
"Why?"
"They are considered royalty among all the Covens."
"Once again why and you didn't answer my first questions."
"They are the Purebloods of the Vampire community. The only other Pureblood known is Count Ladislas Dracula."
Luffy felt himself stiffen at the mere mention of the name.
"Yes, the original Nightwalker. The King of the Vampires and your friend is in his Coven."
"So, Zoro was born a Vampire?"
"Oh no. Oh goodness no."
"Then how.....?"
"Let me explain. Vampires are the living dead so it would only make sense that their children are born dead therefore, a person cannot be born a Vampire. One of their fatal flaws. In order to be a Pureblood one must be bitten by the Hellhound, the Chupacabra, and survive it."
"So Zoro was..."
"Yes. The Count can feel when a new Vampire has been born and he seeks them out. Once locating the fledgling, he identifies them and sends them to their Coven where they are tattooed with the Coven's symbol. All members of Sudra Clan are nearly invincible. They are immune to silver, garlic, sunlight, a crucifix, and even a stake through the heart. In fact the only thing that can kill them is a Werewolf bite.
"Well, that's the problem. Zoro's losing his immunities, all of them."
"One of the weaknesses of the Sudra Coven. All Vampires begin as fledglings, no matter how old they are in the human world. The next stage of development is Savannt and then the final stage is Deathdealer, fully fledged. When Sudra changes to the final stage the lose their immunities until the change is completed."
"How long does the change usually take?"
"From Savannt to Deathdealer? About three weeks. It takes a full week for them to lose their immunities and another to gain them back."
"This is bad. Oh, this is really bad. We have to set sail tomorrow."
"There is another port just tow days East of here. Damage your ship in such a way that you will need to stop for repairs. It is a very poor town and doesn't get many visitors due to the reputation of the Coven living there. It will take at least four weeks to repair your ship."
"Good and thank you!" Luffy shouted as he ran out the door and into the Sunny streets.
He slowly made his way back to the Going Merry while contemplating ways to damage the ship without sinking it and when to do it. He sighed as he approached the ship and waved to Usopp as he boarded. He immediately headed toward Chopper's quarters/office, spotting Zoro in the Crow's nest as he walked beneath it.
Zoro squinted at the light of the evening sun. He had felt sick all day long and could barely see because of how bright the sun was. The sun had never affected him like this before but he understood. The Count had warned him after bringing him into the Coven. But what was he going to do? How was he supposed to stay out of the sunlight on a ship without exposing himself?
His dizziness and queasy stomach faded as the sun hid itself beyond the horizon and with it came the urge to hunt. He rubbed his tongue slowly across his sheathed fangs and his claws tingled with the excitement of a new hunt. He climbed down the mast and silently made his way to the men's quarters to retrieve the few empty bottles he had drained.
He snuck quietly down the plank to the shore and walked down th empty streets of the seaside town. Eyes simply glowing with anticipation.
Luffy watched his first mate leave and followed him, standing downwind. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he walked.. He had never done something like this before and he had always respected his crew's privacy but tonight he felt a need to learn more about Zoro.
Zoro walked down the streets, lifting his face to the wind, stopping in an alleyway, and pausing.
Suddenly he leaped into the air and, with a loud wail, his clothes shrank away revealing pale skin as wings flew out from his back and his feet stretched out like those of a birds as he flew into the wind with a whoosh. Luffy followed his wingbeats as friend faded into the shadows woven into the sky tonight. He flew over the forest and ducked into the trees, weaving through them with amazing expertise.
This was something Luffy didn't know about. Zoro flew from the forest and back up into the sky as he circled over a young man in a small clearing. Suddenly he swooped down and yanked the man into the air with his feet covering the man's mouth with a cold clawed hand. He hissed, baring his fangs, as he leaned down and bit the man on the neck not losing one precious scarlet drop. Soon the only thing heard in the clearing was the beat of Zoro's powerful and pale wings on the cool night air.
Luffy bit his lip guiltily as Zoro slowly dropped to the ground, still sucking the blood from the man's neck where he had bee bitten. He released his grip and drained the last bit of blood into one of his bottles before swooping away into the darkness of the night.
Luffy gulped, help couldn't help but feel guilty, this was a private thing that Zoro would never let anyone see. Luffy suddenly felt like the scum of the earth.
As the suns first golden rays stretched across the dark blue sky, Luffy bolted back to the Going Merry and into his hammock before Zoro got back. Soon the clicking of claws on wood alerted him to Zoro's presence and he cracked an eye open for a curious look. He followed Zoro's still pale form as he crawled along the ceiling. Wing folded on his muscular back, he flipped over onto the floor with the grace and silence of a wild cat. He shifted back to human form as he placed the now filled bottles with the rest of them before crawling into his own hammock and awaiting dawn's full light.
I can't wait to start on the next chapter! I have so many great lines and dramatic scenes thought up for this story. Hope you're enjoying this as much as I am. Tschüs!