Chapter 13: Evil Within

Shadow and Silver had headed out to feed the moment they woke up, they had had their fill of blood for the night and were now searching for Sonic.

"Where could he be?" Silver asked as they wandered the street, looking for Sonic. They had searched everywhere in the city and forest but he was nowhere to be found.

Shadow was beginning to get sick of everyone asking him that, so his reply was sharp. "I don't know Silver. I don't think he's in the city though."

"You don't think he could be in another state or country, do you?"

"With Sonic, he could be on the other side of Earth."

Silver hesitated and nodded. "Maybe Tails knows something. Come on; let's head back."

Shadow agreed, and the two vampires went back to the house. Once they got there, they saw Tails watching TV with a shocked look on his face.

"Tails? What's wrong?"

Tails ignored them. Shadow and Silver sighed and looked at the TV screen. A news report was on, and what they saw shocked them as well. A horrified reporter was standing in a town plaza that was lined with covered bodies, some of which were obviously children.

"Attacks have been happening here in Transylvania for the past few nights. People have been killed by someone or something; each one has two bite marks on their necks and they have been completely drained of blood," the reporter said.

Shadow and the others stiffened as the reporter said this but what she said and showed next made them look like statues, including Blaze, who walked in at just that moment. She looked at them, and then at the news report, which was now showing blurred clips of Sonic. Silver and the others all stared at the screen.

"Is that...Sonic?" Silver asked.

Shadow nodded, a shocked look on his face. "I-It is...but...there are children among those bodies...Sonic swore never to kill children...and why would he kill so many? He only killed as many as he needed to feed from..."

"Why...why is he doing this?" Silver asked. "And what is he doing in Transylvania? That's on the other side of the world!"

Shadow growled to himself. "Like I said, that's just like Sonic! To go to the other side of the world to protect us...Mephiles must be taking control while he feeds...Sonic would never kill children..."

Silver thought of something. "He's not turning...evil...is he?"

Shadow's eyes darkened as he remembered one of Sonic's last words to him. He shook his head and sighed. "I just don't know, Silver..."

The vampire nodded. "We have to go to him."

Shadow nodded as well. "Yes, but how will we get to him?"

"We could teleport."

Shadow thought about it, and turned to Tails. "Tails, we're going to Transylvania, but you and Blaze are staying here."

Blaze and Tails' eyes widened, and Blaze opened her mouth to challenge Shadow's decision, but Tails beat her to it. "But why, Shadow? Sonic is our friend too!"

Shadow sighed. "Tails, it would kill Sonic if he found out he bit you, or worse, killed you. So please, just stay here."

Tails and Blaze sighed, and then nodded. Shadow smiled and closed his eyes, as did Silver, and the two vanished in a flash of light.

Sonic was out feeding, killing any he came across. He had killed many people since he came to Transylvania, even children, and was not about to stop. Sonic snarled and went into a blood frenzy, killing dozens of other people. He was chasing down a little girl when a flash of light blinded him for an instant, then he felt something hit him from his side, throwing him to the ground.

Sonic snarled and then saw Shadow. His eyes widened and he bared his fangs. Shadow glared at him and then spoke. "Sonic, it's time for you to come home."

Sonic glared at him and turned away. "I'm not leaving," he said. "I don't want to put all of you in danger."

Shadow growled in his throat as he grabbed Sonic's shoulder, spinning him around and backhanding him in the face. "You're coming home whether you like it or not, Mephiles probably wants you to isolate yourself from us!"

The vampire snarled at Shadow, punching him hard in the chest. "You don't understand, do you? Mephiles hasn't been doing this...it's been me! I'm becoming evil, Shadow."

Shadow reeled back from the blow. "Mephiles only wants you to believe that!" He snarled at Sonic. Then Shadow's eyes softened and he sighed. "Please Sonic, come home. We can help you."

"You can't help me; no one can! It's too late, Shads. I can feel the darkness in my heart. I'm going to become evil soon, and nothing you can do can stop it! I'm staying."

Shadow glared at Sonic. "So much for your strong will. You're going to give up to something like this, let Mephiles win? You're not the Sonic I know."

Sonic said nothing and chuckled, then transformed into a large bat and flew back to the castle. Shadow and Silver looked at each other and followed him. They all turned back to normal as they reached the castle and went inside. Shadow saw Sonic's fur turn black and he grew worried.

"Sonic?"

The vampire turned to look at them and smirked, advancing towards the two vampires. Shadow's eyes widened in fear.

"Mephiles told me that his influence over me is making me evil," Sonic told him. "It appears that he was right."

Silver gasped. "Sonic..." He said.

The vampire chuckled and shook his head. "You fools have no idea what I'm capable of. Now that I'm evil, I suppose that makes you two my enemies...or I could make you my servants. And the name Sonic just doesn't fit anymore. call me...Dracula."