Chapter 10: The First and the Last Page

She drummed her fingers against the wood, she could feel her irritation building once more and finally letting out a heavy sigh she set down her book and marked her page. She had never been more troubled in her long life, not when she 'died', not when the one she loved one died, not when she realised she couldn't die anymore. All of these things that happened in her unlife was indeed truly a horrible experience for her but if she had the chance to go back she wouldn't change one single of her decisions. But in this case if she could go back in time she would certainly change something. But what? Her mind was in a haze, her visions always fooling her or giving her information which proved useless. Half the time it was her that had to decipher the meanings of her visions. And sometimes she wouldn't even get a vision.

She rubbed her head trying to think of something, anything, anything that would prove useful to her but in the end she had nothing. There was no possible way to turn the dead into the living with a fully intact soul. One that was untainted by the darkness of the Devil, and one that was able to age and die like a normal human being. It was simply impossible. If she knew how to do it she would've done it herself hundreds of years ago. Or perhaps there was, but with now's technology it would prove futile.

'Where is that fool?' She got up from her chair and ambled towards the window, peering outside. It was the Witching Hour, where there was no sound that could be heard from the houses of the humans and the animals of the forests have completely silent. She disliked this time of the night, where the demons would crawl from their pits and drag down whatever they could grab. Feasting on flesh and bone of the weak and enticing them into their deaths. And Vlad was somewhere out there doing whatever he pleases and she could do nought about it. He in his own equal right was of the same kind as she. Perhaps not in the same sense but certainly a monster like she, rejecting God and casting aside humanity. She and he were the same, and she had met not the likes of the same in some few decades. And she did not count the elders of the council, decrepit doddering fools who have lived too long and were simply indulging themselves in their power and status.

She had no idea on the extent of his power, but from she could tell, he was going to be as strong as her in due time. Perhaps even stronger, but he didn't haven't the experience and power that she had accumulated over her long unlife. Her eyes piercing through the darkness discerning the animate from the inanimate, searching for any sort of movement. And finally she caught sight of something, in the far off distance where the nearest village was to her abode she saw a shadow dancing along the darkness of the houses. Slowly creeping into one of the houses through the windows. And in a few short moment she heard an ear piercing scream, blood-curdling and filled with terror. Even though the village was a few good couple of leagues away her cottage her heightened hearing heard it as if the woman right next to her.

She blinked her eyes slowly, as she tried to regain her breath. She took a moment to rethink about what she just saw, she was sure that was Vlad. The size of the shadow and the way the crimson eyes narrowed with the gleeful grin spreading across his face showing its rows of sharp teeth. That was him for sure. Not wasting a moment she scrambled towards her room, clambering up the stairs and throwing aside her overall as she went through her dozens of books. They filled with age old information which she had collected herself, through centuries of knowledge and first-hand experience. The books and manuscripts containing her spells and information of every single type of demon, monster, spirit and human turned demon inside of it.

She finally found the book after rummaging through so many of her journals, pulling of out and blowing off the dust she quickly skimmed through the pages. Trying to locate the one specific page which she wrote so long ago. She was so absorbed into finding the page she didn't realise that a dark shadow right outside of her abode. Simply staring at the window where she was inside flipping through her book.

He attempted to walk to the door but suddenly a barrier prevented him from doing so. A run of runes suddenly appearing around the house, all written in blood. A spark of electricity ran along his entire body, electrocuting him and burning his skin. He looked upon his arm where his burnt skin was already healing, the skin knitting itself back together. And soon there wasn't even a mark left on his skin, a pale unmarred canvas of white. His eyes narrowing at the revelation. Seras suddenly looked up from her book, her barrier had been touched by another being, an undead being. Her breath stopped for a moment, she took a peek outside to see a pair of scarlet eyes looking right back at her. His inky black hair splattered with blood splaying out around his face, fluttering wildly in the wind. The tunic she had given to wear temporarily was blood soaked, and in his right hand was a head, still dripping heavily. She let out a long sufferable sigh as she muttered a few short words to allow Vlad inside.

The barrier dropped and Vlad strode past it, pushing the door open; blood splattering across her floor and on the door. The barrier immediately coming up again as his heavy footstep echoed throughout the house. She slowly got up and still holding onto the book walked down the stairs, the candle's lighting themselves as she walked past, illuminating the entire house in a soft glow of orange. And despite that Vlad's eyes still shone out from the rest of the house, glowing brightly with a colour equally matching the blood which dribbled down his chin and chest. Seras grimaced slightly as she looked down at her floor, it would be such a hassle to clean up later.

"I would prefer it if you didn't eat inside of my house", Seras said as she walked past him and sat back down in her reclining chair as she rubbed her forehead, she wasn't tired. No she wouldn't get physically tired now, not until her next death was due. But that wouldn't happen until the next century, she was mentally tired, her mind had been hammered down these last couple of years. And she didn't even give herself the time to forgive herself for all of this.

She felt the thudding footsteps of Vlad coming up to her, still holding onto the head, the blood making little splatters on her stone floor. She slowly opened her eyes to see his deep burgundy red staring right at her, he held the head out for her. She stared at the female head for a moment not really sure of what to do, and after realising that he wouldn't take away the head she slowly reached out to cup the head's neck in her palms. She noted mentally that he had torn the head off, most likely with ease with his monstrous strength.

"Thank you…" She put down the head onto her table next to her book, blood staining her robes and colouring her hands. The smell was delicious enough but she didn't feel hungry, she didn't need to even drink blood. She realised that she could simply take the energy of plants and small animals and it would satisfy her. It was a humane way of taking a life power and she wouldn't even feel guilty afterwards. She downcast her eyes, this was how weak she was. She couldn't even take another life into her owns, because she feared becoming into a more of monster than she already was.

"Drink dragă mea", Vlad bent down until his eye level was to hers, she looked at him with even eyes, looking back at the head and finally back down at her hands. She shook her head, she couldn't look back up at Vlad. She knew that he believed her as a powerful, unwavering witch but the reality was much different. Vlad's expression contorted to confusion and there a slight anger reflected within his eyes, she felt a slight spike in power and knew that his anger was starting to boil up once more. She began to internally panic a little, who knew how much power he had and she would rather not have an argument with this moody being. She looked back at the head reluctantly. The eyes hazy and clouded, the mouth agape; blood seeping between the cracks of her teeth.

She sighed and slowly picked the head back up again, the blood dripped between her fingers but ignoring that she slowly opened her mouth, feeling her teeth elongate into sharp fangs. Her row of straight blunt teeth suddenly became a row of jagged shark-like teeth, all pointed perfectly and curving off into one sharpened edge. She sunk her teeth into the torn neck, the sound of bone cracking underneath her inhuman strength. There wasn't a lot of blood, but enough for a couple of good mouthfuls, she gulped it down savouring the flavour.

It had been a few centuries since her last drink of blood, however as the memories flooded inside her mind and the dark and obscure power which she claimed from the blood she felt a burst of guilt from her conscience. A smiling family, a younger sister, a love interest and so many other things. The girl's feelings, her first moments of life, her last moments. Everything was so overwhelming, she was suddenly reminded why she stopped drinking so long ago, to take away life in such a way. She had never wanted to do such a thing, there was just one part of her she could never let go, and it was her own weakness that would bring her down. She detached her teeth from the skin and flesh, the blood trickling down her chin as her own blood tears welled up in her eyes.

Vlad's eyes widened in shock, why was she crying? What did he do wrong? He brought his hand up to her cheek, his thumb wiping away the tears and the blood tears. Seras turned away from his touch and set the head down onto the table. Slowly reaching out to the head she tapped the forehead a couple of times, the head suddenly collapsed into a pile of ash. She smudged her fingers against the grainy grey dust and blew at it softly.

"What is wrong, Seras? Does this blood displease you?" His voice rumbled softly, he crouched down beside her as the tears continue to fall. She looked up at him with a heavy heart, her eyes glowing softly. The two contrasting colours clashing against each other, a bright blue and a stark blood red staring at each other. With a trembling breath she let out a shaky sigh, as she clasped her hands. Vlad realised that she was uncomfortable and he had touched a something that he shouldn't know.

"Vlad…You are young, foolish, rash and most probably; inexperienced. Are you able to handle the burden? The souls which you will consume with your bottomless hunger, they will cry out to you. They will scream, wail, shout; in the endless torment which you have set them on", she pulled at her hair lightly. Her eyes furrowed in frustration, as she reached for her book. Vlad watched her movements with keen eyes, his eyes following the manuscript with vibrant eyes.

She flipped through the book and finally she stopped at one page, she pointed to a drawing and held it up to Vlad to see. He stared at the picture for a moment, it depicted a man with heavy robes and several chains wrapped around his body. The clothing was Persian from his knowledge and from what he could see the man was holding a goats head in one hand and a clay pot in the other. His eyes wandered around the page, there was strange marking and symbols all over the page. It was her handwriting, it was just that he couldn't understand the words and characters which she wrote in. Exactly how old was this?

"This is the first man which I met to have been a 'blood-drinker'. It was 800BC, but it could've been far longer ago when I met him. My memory becomes hazy at times, when Persia was once of the greatest empires and striving with wealth and power. But it was also a time of Great War and purge, I'm surprised I survived that age. I only met him once, he was an extremely ancient and wise being but even in the end he grew bored of life, I ended his time on his behalf", she took the book once more and flipped through several more pages. "The Babylonian Empire, Lilitu", she indicted to an ink drawing of a female women with snakes entwined around her waist and arms. "I was not alive in that time period but this woman was, she was killed by the hands of superstitious demon-slayers. The fools were only lucky to have caught such a high-level demon. I was only there to witness her executing. She was an ancient being as well, but at her execution she had this torn look on her face. As if she couldn't decide whether her life had been a good one or even worth it". She continued through her book flipping through the yellow stained pages.

Vlad watched on with strong interest, she flipped through several more pages but Vlad's hand reached out and stopped her for a moment. She looked up with confused eyes, he took the book from her hands, and slowly went through the pages. He continued to go through the yellow pages, the strings bindings groaning a little as he flipped through, he eyes flickering throughout the brightly coloured ink drawings of the strange monsters in it. The alien-like characters, some he recognised as Latin, English, Chinese and much more. And finally he stopped at one page, the very last page. His eyes widening as his eyes scanned the page with disbelief, he understood the writing as it was in Latin. He looked up at Seras who clearly looked uncomfortable, she reached out for the book but he pulled back.

"Vlad. Please, give the book back to me", Seras urged as she got up from her seat as she followed Vlad as he slowly walked away still holding the book. "Vlad. Please", she pleaded as she tried to take the book away from him but he was indefinitely taller than her, she was almost frustrated enough to cut his legs off but refrained from doing so. Vlad in retaliation began reading out the text.

"'Seras Victoria'. Translation; 'You will be victory'. Species; human formerly. Witch, also known as Strix. Abilities-". Seras snatched the book from his hands as she leapt into the air. Interrupting him of his reading. She quickly turned to smoke as she disappeared from his sight, but with his newly acquired sense of smell he quickly located her in another room. His body turning into shadow as he followed, he found her soon enough clutching onto the book tightly with blaring red eyes, glowing brightly in contrast to the darkness of the dim lit room.

"'You will be victory', huh?" Vlad mumbled, his voice sending shivers down Seras's spine. A low growl came out from her chest as she watched his movements, he was now even more dangerous than he ever was. Now cursed with these ungodly powers there was no limit to what he could do and what he couldn't. Vlad raised a brow as a low chuckle bubbled from his chest, as he watched her as he slinked around the room with a curved back. His hands twitching, his teeth elongating, and his eyes glowing brightly too. He could smell her every emotion. Fear. Anger. Disappointment. Hate. Frustration. And there was once he couldn't understand, sadness. A cruel smile stretched across his face, baring his sharp rows of teeth.

He leaned against one of the bookshelves, his hands clasped in front of him as he propped his elbow on one of the ledges. The shadows twisting and contorting around him, dancing around his form and body as his shoulder and upper arm began to turn to shadow. Black and red tendrils twining around the bookshelf, as he watched her with keen eyes.

"Let's play a game, Seras", his voice resounding in the cold and empty room. Echoing throughout the rooms. His eyes narrowing most mischievously as he continued to gaze upon Seras, a snarky smile and a playful voice made Seras's instincts go haywire.

Run.

"A game of chase. You know I've always been fond of chasing and the thrill of hiding, but you always won those games. But the challenge was always there, which made it fun", he said as he leaned forward, his eyes tracing along her form and stopping finally at the book.

Seras leaned back against the windowsill, her grip on the book tightening, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "The prize?"

He laughed, his chest rumbling in amusement, his hair shaking across his shoulders and chest. "I catch you, you hand over that book", he said pointing towards the book which she held tightly. She looked down upon the book which she had created from scratch, containing all of the demons which she knew and met before and all the regarding information of the creatures of the damned. Including her.

She let out a sigh as she set the book down on the ledge as she tore off a part of her dress, revealing her slender legs. Vlad let out a low whistle as he peered down at her, she ignored him. "If I manage to not get caught…" Seras said quietly as she stood up. Straightening herself as she smoothed her robes.

Vlad raised a brow as she walked up him with sombre eyes. "I will no longer your servant, and you will no longer my liege", she murmured but she refused to look down. "My lord died long ago, you are not him. And I wouldn't want to serve the now you anyways, because you are now my equal. A creature of the damned", Seras continued, her voice unwavering as she stared right up at him. Vlad's expression turned from a cocky smirk to a snarky grimace with narrowed eyes slanting down.

Waving her hand in the air an hourglass appeared from the shadows in her hands, she set it beside book next to the window. "You have five minutes. Let the chase begin, Dracula", she turned the hourglass and the second one grain of sand hit the bottom of the glass she was gone, with only a trail of smoke following behind her. As she darted through the pitch black night, her eyes only staring ahead. Her shadow form contorting and changing and suddenly her body shattered into dozens of owls flying through the sky. All of the owls having blank yellow eyes except for one which had blue eyes.

Vlad growled as he jumped from the window, he was barely in control of his powers as he was so newly formed, but he knew enough. What he wanted the shadows would become for him, he wanted to shatter like her, and so he did. His body splitting into hundreds of bats with blood red eyes, screeching in the dark of the night. The flapping of the wings loud and the squeaking of the bats creating havoc and chaos. The owls flapping through the night with silence encompassing where they went, leaving a trail of smoke.

They were the same, yet they were different.

'You will not win Vlad. That is the harsh truth…' She thought sadly but then again the man she served so long ago was dead. He was not him and she was not who he thought. Perhaps it was better off this way. 'Suffer Vlad, suffer like I did. And only through that you will realise my love and envy for humans. Take your fill until you realise there is nothing left but emptiness. But who knows when you will realise this cruel reality…'

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

"I win Vlad…" She said sadly, the moment she uttered the words she heard a howl of anger and anguish from the far side of the forest. Holding out her hand the book materialised into her palm, far off the distance her house burst into fire. The blazing heat even reaching her as the dark smoke clouded the once clear night.

She could hear Vlad flying towards her with remarkable speed after realising where she was. But by the time he reached where she was, she was long gone. Leaving nothing behind but a few pages of the book, including the one which showed her.

He stalked up to the few pages and almost tore them apart in anger but refrained from doing so knowing that these would be the few and most probably only things that would guide him through his long unlife. He stared at the last piece of paper which had one sentence of messy scrawled handwriting, obviously done in a rush, but it was still legible.

See you next time, No Life King.

Seras.

He crumpled the piece of paper and threw it aside, "The chase has not yet ended", he growled.

Dragă mea - my love

Strix - In Ancient and Greek legends it was a bird of ill omen, product of metamorphosis, that fed on human flesh and blood. the name in Greek means 'Owl'.

There are really fine lines between witches and demons and the alike. Because of demonology and other sort of Satanist practises, it seems that witches are demons in their own rights, so I'm still trying to figure out what the hell is Seras. I may say she is a witch, but a witch is a really broad term so this gives me a lot of flexibility. Oh well, I'll figure it out later.

And now they are separated, well they will meet each other in different centuries and different countries. I'll show you in the next chapter so sit tight until then. The school holidays are coming soon in a week, and so I will have more time to write.

Fave, follow review.

Peace out.