Hi everyone, I finally updated! So…the seriousness is back (thankfully) Now that I think about it chapter nine was really stupid. Because I am a perfectionist I may change it but because I am also a procrastinator I might not… (so the battle of perfectionism and procrastination begins…) I hope you enjoy this chapter because I really enjoyed writing this one! I enjoy writing about sides of characters people might not know about. In this case, Goth's gentler side… O.O… Enjoy!

Chapter Ten: Younger

It always irritated Goth that Zotz was so controlling; so hungry for power. Why did he have to act so superior all the time when it was completely unnecessary? The Vampyrum Spectrum feared him; they would do everything single thing he said, so for what reason did he need to appear so domineering like he owned everyone…? It just didn't make sense, considering Zotz would be nothing without his followers.

Then he thought back to the time he had failed to grant Zotz eternal night, so he would rule both the Upperworld and the Underworld. That time, at the solar eclipse, where he had to make one hundred sacrifices to satisfy that Lord of the Night; where he had died trying. Zotz could have been more forgiving to him, rather than first forcing him to spend thousands of years mining some tunnel from the Underworld sky to the living world. How faithful is he, considering he sacrificed his own life in trying to please Zotz. Who did that sick, greedy Lord think he-

Yessssssssss…Goth? You were ssssssssssssaying…?

Damn it. How was he so stupid that he never thought that Zotz might actually be listening?! Maybe Zotz was rather cruel, calling him a good for nothing scumbag, but really, he didn't have the biggest brain in the world.

"N-nothing, Zotz, oh, supreme Lord! I-I was o-out of line!"

The sly god snickered shrewdly and reluctantly decided to let it go.

Anywayssssssss…have you found it yet…?

"Huh? Um, I beg your pardon, Lord?"

The object. You musssssst obtain it before Orestes and his newfound friend Marko and that troublesssssssssssome Alice get it. The wolf and owl aren't of too much concern it is that girl that will cause problems…

"Uh, s-sure…I-I mean, y-yes, Lord. Yes,"

Good. I will sssssssee to it you don't fail me thisssss time…

His hissing voice evaporated into the air and the cold feeling that had surrounded Goth, filling his lungs with thick, suffocating, smoke-like fog disappeared as well. He sighed. Goth was supposed to look for this object that would, yes, again make Zotz powerful and conquering. Why did it feel like he was like a puppet, forever being imprisoned by his owner, pulling the strings, making his moves? Had he lost his own free-will?

Goth smiled sadly, looking into the past. At first, serving Zotz was his entire life, his reason for existence. Zotz was like the light in his dark eyes, the moon's glow in the blackest of nights. He felt great, brave for giving himself to such a mighty and feared upon Lord, and the others in the Vampyrum Spectrum who also worshipped Him, made Goth feel strong.

But eventually, as they repeated rituals over and over again, it began to get dull, and sometimes it didn't make sense. But he couldn't voice his thoughts to others, because he was born into this royal family that already believed in Zotz, so he'd probably be banished if he rebelled. And not to mention he was ugly and scary-looking. Looks played such a large role in thinking what kind of personality he had, eh, he thought sarcastically. It wasn't fair.

Why did he really want to help Zotz create eternal night? Was it because he praised this amazing god? Or was it for his own personal purposes. Goth loved the night because it made hunting so much more interesting, stalking the prey when it could see him at all, not to mention him and his siblings used to have a lot of fun together surprising each other, mock-attacking each other to scare away the prey and make them harder to catch. Then, another thing was, his face was shrouded, so no one could judge his personality by how horrid his appearance was. It wouldn't be so hard to find friends.

Goth couldn't help it that bats, birds and whatever living things were out there, hated him. His bloodlust and constant hunger, need to eat animal flesh was something he had no control over. He was brought up that way. And the bats around him weren't always good-hearted ones. Most of them were tough and mean, always wanting to hurt the weak and laugh at the less fortunate. Goth became under their influence, for because of his frightful appearance, he could either be feared upon or laughed at as well. He hadn't wanted to be ridiculed, especially if he were to become the future king. It wasn't like making decisions were easy.

A low rumbling, like a distant thunderstorm emanated from his stomach. Goth sighed. He was hungry again. Quick as lightening he bolted down from his flight and snapped up a young squirrel in his mouth, immediately tearing its throat open, relishing the satisfying sounds of veins being torn and the familiar spattering of fresh blood on his muzzle. Annoyed by the lack of flesh on its face, he ripped the head off altogether and lightly glided to a large, evergreen tree branch, spanning with smaller branches that were covered with an abundance of needles and pine cones. He tore its heart out and ate it, chewing vigorously, enjoying the juice and squishy crunch it produced. With the squirrels body completely ripped open he gorged happily until his fur was matted with sweat and blood and he reeked of animal innards.

Then after his enthusiastic chow-down, he thought clearly to himself. How much did he really hate Shade? Now when he thought about it, he only hated Shade for defeating him in two things, having the luxury to stuff his stomach full with Silverwings roosting at Hibernaculum and bringing eternal night to Zotz. Goth chuckled, remembering that he'd eaten Throbb's remains after he got electrocuted, even though the scent of charred fur was almost unbearable and his body was pretty much scorched to a crisp with almost no satisfying blood and moist organs. It was disgusting. Then he killed a few squirrels and small rodents like he had and maybe a bird or two, but spent the rest of the winter starving, and luckily, he didn't die. It wasn't his fault he ate a lot.

But Goth felt the most defeated because it seemed no one seemed to understand him, no one even bothered to be his friend. He wanted to find this time machine, not to make eternal night because of Zotz. Zotz didn't own him; he didn't own anyone. He wanted eternal night because it was the only time where he didn't have to be afraid.

In eternal night, he could be free.

I apologize if this might have sounded OOC, but in my view, that would be Goth if he had a softer side. I will try to update more! Hopefully…