In an instant, Saeth had sunk to his knees in front of Christoph, staring at him. Christoph's heart was pounding in his chest and he had no doubt Saeth could hear it raging. He hid his face behind his hands, scared to even glance at the vampire before him. Saeth's mind was working at an agonizingly slow pace as he pieced in everything, trying to deny everything that was here but yet knowing everything that was going on. The scent of Artix filled his nostrils making him let out a small desperate groan of a sound, hoping what he thought happened wasn't true. Taking Christoph's hands in his, Saeth pulled them away from the young vampire's face, forcing him closer. Poor Christoph didn't move as Saeth placed a hand on his neck, his fingers tracing the bite marks…that were no longer his.
"No…" whispered Saeth, his voice shaking
"Saeth I'm sorry!" whimpered Christoph "I wasn't strong enough! I-I-I…"
Saeth shook his head as rogue tears slid down his cheeks. That's when Christoph noticed how bright the vampire's eyes were…like fresh blood. Obviously he had finally fed after all these years of hunger. The tears were what broke Christoph's heart. He felt like he completely betrayed Saeth. The sound of footsteps grabbed Saeth's attention and made him snarl suddenly as he bared his dangerously sharp fangs, tears still on his face.
"I see you have discovered my creation" purred Artix "He's a work of art isn't he"
Saeth stood up as Christoph grabbed his hand from his place on the ground, pleading him not to fight. Artix could only smirk and decided to prod at Saeth's already unbalanced mind. It was only a matter of time before Saeth would lose the only strand of sanity he had left; a ticking time bomb but Artix didn't know how little it would take to disrupt that. He would surely be killed if he wasn't careful.
"Being held back I see…So uncharacteristic like" said Artix "You have changed over the years dear brother…."
"Why are you doing this?" growled Saeth, his voice becoming inhuman
Artix was going into unknown territory. Rin and Christoph's eyes widened at the new found discovery. Brother? That was impossible. Artix's smile suddenly warped into an angered snarl.
"You are a heartless bastard!" snapped Artix
Saeth's eyes widened in anger and the color of his iris's brightened as his lips peeled back in a snarl. Launching forward with inhuman speed, Artix was caught off guard as Saeth's arm shot forward and slashed at his face with his grown talons. Stumbling back, Artix looked up at his brother. His face had gained four deep grotesque cuts that disfigured his face. They slowly healed back to normal but the incredible pain was still there. Saeth had a malicious smile on his face that twisted his features.
"Tell me really what I'm here for so I can kill you faster" laughed Saeth "The joy I will get of killing my little brother"
"You know how to break this curse" said Artix, getting up, the declaration getting both Rin and Christoph's undivided attention "You're the one who knows how to become a pureblooded vampire!"
Saeth's smile slowly disappeared but a trace of it remained. His face went blank and unreadable. To become full blooded…That's the dream for many vampires but apparently not Saeth's. A deep frown marred his face as his fangs revealed themselves, his lips vibrating from the deep growl emanating from his throat. If anything, that just angered him further and made his features change. His eyes went completely red, demonic-like, as black markings started making their appearance on his skin…spreading throughout his body.
"You think being a full, pure blooded vampire would be a blessing…" he growled before bellowing "There's nothing special about it!"
The loud sound reverberated throughout the large cavernous room. Christoph had to cover his ears as the echo rang in them. Rin just stared at Saeth in fear. This was going to end up horrible…She just felt it. Something was going to go wrong. Artix frowned and let out a hiss as Saeth's eyes widened with insanity. A low chuckle came from his throat before it turned into a full maniacal laugh, his fangs only making it look creepier.
"Pure…Being a pureblood…" said Saeth between laughs, his eyes widening more "W-worthless! No possible way to die!"
"So that's what we truly meant to you" purred Artix making Saeth's blood, red eyes flush back to normal "You'd give all that up for her?"
This interested Artix greatly.
"Afraid to admit it" Artix continued "Or…you were jealous…She had the gift of death while you could live on forever…without pain…without worries…That's why being pureblooded never interested you? Or were you scared to live for so long without any turning back?"
"SHUT UP!!!!" roared Saeth, his eyes instantly turn completely red once more
He lunged at Artix and grabbed his neck, ready to choke him. Artix could only help but cackle before he muttered a single word in Latin. Saeth's eyes narrowed as he missed a single detail before realizing what happened. Dread washed over him before he was knocked backwards and crashed into the wall. Artix had landed harmlessly on the floor, laughing while Christoph stood over him protectively…his eyes blank and clouded. He had fallen into control once again. Rin had screamed when the wall collapsed onto Saeth, burying him under rubble. Inside his mind, Christoph was traumatized… hoping that he hadn't killed his love.
"Saeth! You have finally faced your final hour!" cackled Artix "Defeat is imminent!!"
Tears slid down Rin's face as she stared at the rubble. 'He's not dead…He's not dead' she kept repeating to herself. The rubble soon gave a great heave and Artix's laughter quickly died as Saeth's arm rose from the mess and shoved a slab of rock off of him. The vampire rose, like a puppet, from the rubble; his hair covering his eyes as his shoulder looked as if it was dislocated, hanging limply by his side. His uninjured arm clamped onto the dislocated one and rotated it to the correct position before pushing it back in with a sickly pop. The brain-washed Christoph had given a visible flinch in disgust. Stepping out of the mound of broken wall, Saeth lifted his arms as if taunting Christoph to come get him. Long nails had grown from his fingers…the claws ready to rip through flesh. Artix gave another order to Christoph and the young boy sprinted forward ready to attack. Saeth's eyes reddened and gold replaced his violet irises. Taking the challenge, Saeth shot forward, his arms hanging low to the ground and fangs bared like a wild animal. Rin backed away and ducked to avoid a ball of flame. Artix saw her movement and grinned before vanishing and reappearing behind her, his arm locking around her neck. Since Saeth was too busy fighting Christoph, he couldn't help her…not that he even remembered she was there since all his demons took possession of him. Rin glanced up at Artix and her anger bubbled before boiling over. He killed her mother…not Christoph…he killed her mother…Christoph wasn't capable of bringing himself to kill a fly. Artix started it all.
"BASTARD!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs
"Oh dear" chuckled Artix, looking into her eyes and finding something, before sounding like he was speaking his thoughts to himself out loud "You know what? I think I shouldn't kill you right now…It would be delicious to see Saeth get torn between saving his lover…and his daughter"
Rin's eyes widened ever more. That's not possible but yet completely possible as well. She didn't resemble her 'father' and when she met Saeth for the first time…she couldn't help see that they eerily shared many qualities. Also, it would happen to explain her sudden want to kill….How could Artix figure it out when not even Saeth knew? There was no possible way. Artix barked an order to Christoph making him instantly stop fighting just as Saeth sent a punch to his face sending the boy into a wall, creating an impression of his body into it. Christoph slid to the floor before slumping and falling sideways. Saeth whipped around to face Artix whose smile widened.
"I have to hand it to you brother" he said "You make beautiful offspring"
Saeth actually hesitated and tilted his head to the side slightly; clearly confused and caught off guard. Artix's smile widened impossibly more when he saw his brother's confused face. Tilting Rin's face to the side so she was forced to look at Artix, he sighed almost as if regretting.
"She never told you she was pregnant with your child I assume if you have no idea what I'm talking about" he purred
"What?!…" said Saeth with big eyes, a single tear sliding down his cheek
He stared at Rin…into her eyes that were filled with apparent fear. He finally started seeing the similarities; he saw how much she looked like him when he was human so long ago and some qualities of him as he was now. Her hair was unnaturally blonde almost a dazzling silver while her eyes were clear blue like his humans ones. He had never noticed these before. She was crying… wishing not to die.
"Daddy…?"
His breathing quickened as he stared at her. Her voice was tiny as if she was a scared five year old child. Saeth's human side…the fragment that remained… pushed forward. The markings vanished and his eyes returned to normal as his body relaxed. Blinking slowly, he looked to Artix who looked completely furious. Saeth's features had changed completely. His silvery white hair darkened to black while his eyes turned bright blue; his voice had changed as well…instead of being demanding and cold it was gentle and soft.
"Give me the girl…and I'll give you complete immortality" he whispered, clenching his fists
If Saeth gave up this unknown power, he'd die. Artix's eyes widened and shoved Rin away from him before closing the space between Saeth and himself with 5 strides. Grabbing a fistful of Saeth's shirt, he yanked him closer.
"Give it to me!" he demanded
"Then take it" said Saeth icily, opening his arms, willingly giving himself up
Artix smirked before letting go of Saeth's shirt. Saeth drew an invisible 'x' over his heart marking the spot. Rin was horrified as Artix smiled wickedly and his nails grew longer. He couldn't believe his brother was actually giving him what he wanted. Saeth braced himself and squeezed his eyes shut just as Artix plunged his hand into his chest making his eyes snap open as pain burned completely throughout his body. He let out a raspy gasp, making slight choking sounds. Rin screamed at the sight while Christoph came back to consciousness to only see Artix's arm deep within Saeth's chest. Blood spurted from Saeth's mouth as he tried to take a breath before Artix yanked his arm back, withdrawing his bloody fist closed around something. To Christoph's horror, as Artix opened his fist, it revealed to be Saeth's beating heart. Rin was blubbering incoherently as she cried and sobbed. Saeth gasped for breath in unimaginable pain as he fell to one knee, his hand over where his heart once was as blood poured from it, soaking his hand. He shook violently as his eyes became empty and hollow as if his soul was taken. Christoph struggled to his feet before running and stumbling towards the vampire he loved.
"Saeth…Saeth please…" begged Christoph as the vampire fell back in his outstretched arms
Gently lowering him to the ground, Christoph placed his hand on Saeth's and squeezed it tight as the vampire struggled to live. Artix went mad with insanity as he clutched Saeth's heart as if his life depended on it. No vampire would dare this…nobody in their right mind would. To allow a vampire to devour the heart of another will grant complete power and pure blood. After hundreds of generations, the pure blood of Dracula had thinned out, only leaving traces of his own DNA in every other vampire in the current age.
"The p-power…all mine….MINE!!" cackled Artix before devouring the heart with no hesitation
Rin felt sick but shakily went over to Christoph and Saeth, sinking to her knees as she did. Christoph shook with unheard sobs as he wrapped his arms around Saeth tightly, putting the side of his face against Saeth's, nuzzling it lovingly while tears streamed down his cheeks. His breathing was labored as he resisted the urge to let out a cry.
"D-Don't leave me…" pleaded Christoph in a whimper while shaking his head "…I don't want to be alone again…"
What neither had realized was that Saeth's hair was slowly turning brighter…back to its original brilliant silver. His skin only became slightly paler and his eyes went bright blue…as cold as ice. His fingers twitched slightly, daring to move as shock slowly released him from its deathly grip. Christoph felt that he went slack and instantly looked to see his change. He didn't know what was going on and looked to Rin for something. She was just as confused as he. Only a few murmurs made it passed Saeth's lips before a stream of words came out but only in tired whispers. Christoph's eyes brightened just as Rin's did before Saeth's began moving his hand, clenching and unclenching his fists. Blinking his eyes a few times, Saeth finally made a sharp intake of breath before his eyes snapped open, fully conscious. His breathing shook but he glanced around and suddenly the shaking stopped. Artix's laughter had abruptly stopped when he noticed Christoph's sobs had ceased and he had turned to see what had made him stop. To his own horror, he saw Saeth very well alive and breathing making him suddenly question what he had gotten into.
"Why is he alive…" he whispered before repeating it more loudly "Why is he alive?!"
Like a limp puppet being pulled by strings by the master, Saeth soon stood awkwardly and his arms hung low as if slightly dislocated. A low chuckle was heard before it became menacing and maniacal. Actual fear struck Artix's heart as the remaining color in his pale face drained away.
"Oh you think I would actually give you the power? Oh no…That's not right" said Saeth "So ignorant…so incredibly stupid…just like mother"
"What in hell are you talking about!!" snapped Artix, lunging forward and grabbing Saeth by his collar with both hands, shaking him
"Little brother….when will you learn?" chuckled Saeth before grabbing Artix's wrists in a vice grip
Artix winced before letting out a yelp as he felt his wrists groan under the immense pressure. Why was he suddenly as weak as a human? This was completely wrong…what was going on? His strength drained from him as if it was water and there was a huge leak. Then it struck him far too late for him to stop it. He had realized that, Saeth had gained the powers of the immortal Dracula…the power was passed to him.
"H-How?" stammered Artix
"You read the curse wrong you blundering idiot!" laughed Saeth "Only someone who let another vampire devour his heart will gain the powers the great Dracula…so naturally the powers turn to me…not you"
Artix's eyes widened in shock and fear before they returned to horror stricken. Before he could say anything, Saeth reared his head back and rammed it into Artix's face, creating a bloody mess and sending Artix skidding across the floor. Blood trickled down Saeth's forehead before he smiled, showing his fangs that shined with the need of prey. Rin cowered behind Christoph as the youth braced himself against the gust of wind created by Saeth as he rushed at his fallen brother to finish him off.
"Brother no! Please I beg you!!" shouted Artix with a cry making the rampaging Saeth suddenly and abruptly stop midway of his attack
"Why should I?" he said quietly in a growl
"Because brother-" started Artix
"You are no brother of mine" snarled Saeth before literally swiping at Artix's neck with his claw and slit his throat almost to the point that he would've cut his head off
Rin had shrieked in fear and buried her face in Christoph's back while he forced himself to watch the bloodshed. All was quiet for quite a long time before Christoph nudged Rin to move and helped her get up from her rooted spot on the bloodstained floor. The only sound that seemed to resonate through the cavernous room was their erratic breathing. Without even turning around from staring at his brother's dead body, Saeth let a sigh finally move him. Everything was quiet….safe….as it should be.
"Let's go home" he said