They appeared on some empty and spacious field in the middle of as it seemed nowhere. Alessander stepped a little away from Asmodeus, what he let him do without any protests, to take a better look of where they landed missing to notice a pair of attentively observing him amethyst eyes. When he turned around he understood what their destination had been.
On the top of the hill there stood a grand mansion that seemed to belong to one of the pureblood lords or someone with an equally high standing in society. The building looked majestic and would be surely attracting a lot of attention if not for the wards protecting it.
He felt mesmerised by the sight before him and would stand here for yet a long time in not for a gentle touch on his shoulder.
"Can we go?"
He nodded and followed his companion's steps when he started to go in the direction of the building. No words were spoken so they were soon swallowed by a pleasant quiet.
"What is this place?" Asked Less when they were passing by the gardens.
"That's the castle where once upon a time the leaders of vampires' community had lived." He sighed as if remembering old times and regretting that things are different now. "Now it's believed by how do you call them - muggles to be haunted by ghosts and for the magical world as historical place to which you can not get because of it's being still stuffed with dark curses and reminder about long ago fallen greatness."
"Then who lives in there?"
"Now that is a good question. A few centuries ago the last of vampire leaders died. All main ambassadors have run into hiding with no word to be heard about them. Serge, as is our host's name, came gloriously to my kingdom after a great fight as all of the dark creatures do after their death. I was really bored at the time also wars between wizards and vampires were to my very interest so I decided to personally greet him but only reaction I received from him was fogged look and some kind of prophecy. Let me quote it: 'A change is coming. Worlds once divided will again be united by the one who betrayed and was betrayed.' Then he was gone."
"Gone?" asked Less in confusion choosing for now to ignore unclear prophecy.
"It was a surprise for myself too but after a long search he had been found in my realm but not just by the gates only in the castle after his yet another death. This time however we talked. It's unheard to travel between dimensions after our realms have been separated but as it seems there are some exceptions for example him. When just a travel is possible with use of specific rituals he can without any problems cross the death's barrier and come back to life."
"How is it even possible?"
"I would like to know it myself. When some beings can't be killed because they already come from the death's realm it hadn't happened before to be a possibility for beings from this realm. But back to the present. Serge is very...unique vampire as you will probably see for yourself. He speaks riddles, can ignore you in the middle of conversation in sake of starting doing whatever he thinks is more interesting at said moment and essentially isn't the easiest person to be around but also he's the only person I know personally in this realm excluding you. Some would say that he speaks properties and is some sort of medium but the only confirmed by myself is the fact that he sometimes sees future. Unfortunately he isn't so inclined on sharing them with anyone. With him complicated nature sometimes I just prefer to think that he's just crazy."
By that time they reached their destination and were standing before big wooden doors leading to a main hall. Before any of them even tried to knock or inform the host about their presence door was opened and they saw a man standing in the doorstep.
The man was only slightly shorter than Asmodeus. He had long perfectly white hair and was wearing matching white robe. What was unusual was that said vampire instead of bloody red orbs had amber eyes looking like melted honey. If because of that one subtitle has been doubting his status of being a vampire those suspicions were soon clearly proven wrong when man smiled cheerfully showing pair of razor sharp canines.
"I've been waiting for you. Come on in." He stepped to the side giving them just enough space to entry.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you for a last time, Serge." there was no need for introductions because on their way demon filled Less with Serges history and the other have already probably know who he was.
"Oh, but I saw you two coming here just yesterday." their host replied happily leading their way bye the main corridor. "It's nice to have some quests from time to time even if only for a little while and without any farewell but it's completely understandable given circumstances our conversation will lead into."
Asmodeus gave Less that pointed look like a reminder as to what he thinks about Serge's sanity and titled his head showing that they can safely follow the vampire without any awaiting dangers. Gestures maybe weren't something big but clearly calmed young wizard.
They were led to a spacious salon and gestured to sit at a round table. Interior of the mansion seemed not to have been decorated since the times Asmodeus described as a time of Serge's 'first life'.
It looked like an inside of some castle with elaborately decorated tapestries in the shades of royal blue made of expensive fabrics and ancient black furniture.
Serge snapped his fingers and three houselves appeared by the side of everyone in the room and started serving a different meal for everyone of them.
"Excuse me for ordering in advance for us but considering your being late I decided to take a matter of our meal in my own hands."
Having nothing better to do and also maybe a little pushed by his curiosity Less looked around to see what were the meals of the other two.
When his own meral turned out to be just a plate of pasta with white cheese and sugar poured with hot melted butter he could clearly tell that it wasn't a dish any wizarding or not Lord would serve for their quests. And yet it was his favourite dish one of those he remembered only from his visions which he was frequently eating as a child.
Considering a strange nature of their host maybe he shouldn't be surprised or even wonder where that knowledge about himself comes from.
Speaking of which it turned out that only he was having a decent meal but after a little thinking about who his companions were it was enough to explain it.
In front of every one of two men there was standing a wine glass but each of them had a different liquid in them.
Less was guessing that he could hardly expect that in the glass in vampire's hand the dark red liquid was some sort of wine but what caught his attention was his companion's drink.
He knew that demons don't require any sort of food so the sight of Asmodeus taking a little sips of his drink with evident pleasure was something worth his attention.
The drink was clear in a colour of pure black mixed with greyish foam on top of it. That unique sight could be ignored and taken as some sort of alcohol drink if not for one little fact that said drink wasn't a liquid. After longer observation it seemed that it was some strange mist that was even moving on its own and producing a feeling of cold all around it. As a proof of that could be used a fact that the edge of glass was frozen.
He has heard stories about demons feasting on people's souls but he hadn't thought them to be real. Maybe he should ask Asmodeus later what is the truth or maybe he just prefered not to know.
By the time he has finished his observations he saw that he has also already ate all his meal and the chat about seemingly unimportant matters between two men that started when they have seated at the table abruptly stopped and they were watching him intensively. What made him really nervous was the fact that Serge have lost all his cheerfulness and seemed to be perfectly serious taking a pose of the true vampires' leader he once had been.
"Can I see it?"
"See what?"
He waited for reply but it was Asmodeus who answered his question.
"As I said you before we are here mostly because of your mark and our connection. All of my magic at this moment comes only from you but what I haven't said was that every minute I can feel said connection fading. You could feel it too if you focused on it. This leads to the conclusion that…"
"...that you won't be able to be there if we don't stop it." Interrupted Less with sudden realisation and a cold feeling in his chest. And indeed if he focused on it now he could feel their connection like a fragile string that was too much pushed to its limits and doesn't seem to can last much longer. If he remembered it correctly when he first saw Asmodeus when he woke up after his unintentional summon that connection between them felt much stronger and somehow healthier.
Asmodeus nodded and in his eyes flashed something resembling regret but it was gone as soon as Alessander could register so he wasn't sure if it was reality or just his imagination. Why would a demons' king regret not being able to stay with him. Undoubtedly he had many more important matters to attend that to help him with his own trouble.
Serge continued explanations as the rest of them mostly involved his inference.
"What we want to do won't restore your full memories but with my unique abilities I may be able to help you remember what caused your connection to evolve the way it did."
"How will I restore my memories?"
"There is a potion which is still remembered only by few and applied at the mark or drinked what should give even better results will likely help you to understand the nature of your bond or give some essential hints as to why it seems to be out of order. I must warn you that this process can be not really painful but after applying the potion you will fall asleep for at least a few hours."
Less considered it. It was a good option but one said that vampires never give anything for free so there must be some catch.
"There is no catch." A simple statement blurted him out of his thoughts. The vampire seemed to can simply read him as an open book. "I'm happy to be of little help but if you prefer it that way you can take it as a way for me to amuse myself."
He looked up only to see approving look in Asmodeus eyes and an amused expression of Serge. On his face appeared a determined look and with a short nod they took it as a consent.
"How long will it take to brew a potion?" asked Asmodeus.
"Two to three days if I'm not mistaken."
They stayed in the castle for three days. Asmodeus and Alessander were given a set of chambers for each of them but the majority of their time they were spending together on the grounds or it the library talking and learning about themselves mostly on the Less' part.
He found a good companion i demons' king and had a feeling of actually having a real friend that understood you perfectly. Now when he's came to know Asmodeus a little better he could understand why thought Asmodeus a friend. The man was brilliant. He was clever and acquainted as it seemed with every topic of their conversation. When he could be terrifying as a demon for Alessander he was protective and kind. He had also a twisted sense of humor.
Unfortunately everyday they saw a difference in Asmodeus' appearance. After a first day his magic drastically lowered its level and at the end of the day it was almost nonexistent. Second day even his physical form started to take an impact of whatever bounds were placed on their bound and despite being still visible he started to become more like a ghost that an actual physical being. It went even to this level that once Serge walked into the room completely not having noticing Asmodeus' presence when he and Less were just sitting there and reading a books that he walked through Asmodeus who was standing near the shelves looking for a specific book.
Then they realised that Asmodeus' presence was still real only for Alessander.
When the third day came they were relieved when Serge informed Alessander about finished potion.
In the morning of that day Alessander found himself laying on his four poster bed with his two companions standing at each of it's sides one of them holding a vial with swirling dark substance.
"Remember that whatever you see it's a past and no one will judge or blame you for it."
Confusion and lack of understanding filled eyes of both Less and Asmodeus but Serge wasn't about to explain his words further. His only action was handing a vial for a wizard to drink.
Without as much as blinking Less swallowed all its content in a one go and immersed in a peaceful darkness.
Walking barefeet on the field of black roses wouldn't be a good idea but they didn't hurt him. They hadn't got any spikes and he felt as if he was walking on the soft surface of one of the most expensive carpets. His eyes were locked on the onyx framed mirror floating in front of him. With it being bigger than him he could clearly see a reflection of his full body.
He was wearing black festive tunic made of probably silk or some other expensive material because it was featherweight and he felt as if he wasn't wearing it at all. His blond shoulder length hair were locked together in a loose bun. He looked at his eyes in colour of malted silver and wondered how could they look so light and innocent on his face he knew was far away from innocency.
He closed his eyes tightly when wave of guilt washed through him. He felt contentment but he knew that what he is going to do will be associated as betrayal. It was also the only thing he thought he could do in this situation. He knelt on the ground and took small silver knife from his pocket and pressing it to the outside of his palm where the star-like tattoo could be seen. He traded it's lines making it a wound instead of a mark. He didn't let the pain overwhelmed him and when he finished his blood was running down his hand to the ground making straight dark lines between his fingers. He let the knife fell down from his grip and started whispering spell knowl only by few in this realm. Enchantment wasn't long, only one sentence and when he finished it he saw his blood darkening and felt as if his hand was on fire. He screamed and hot tears started filling his eyes.
After time that seemed to be eternity everything stopped. He could endure all this pain but now his very soul was fulfilled with overwhelming feeling of emptiness and loneliness. It was worse than any pain he has ever felt before.
He let the tears fall looking at his hand with hollow eyes. He made it. Now he only need to persevere in his order and not to bear to his own selfish needs. From now on his connection with Asmodeus will be closed and it doesn't matter how much he will want it to end and be the same as before - it is for the best if it stays like that. He can't let his supposed destiny destroy the live of his loved ones even for a price of his own happiness.
He woke up with a gasp feeling piercing pain in his all body. He groaned and tried to steady his breathing and not to scream because of pain he was filling. After a few minutes of just sitting on the bed and taking deep breaths pain started to become dull and just irritating sensation.
He pushed himself into a sitting position and frozen when something brushed against his shoulder and shielded his face preventing him from seeing anything. He raised his trembling hand and brushed a fare curtain which turned out to be his own hair from his face.
He stood up on a shaking legs and looked around. The room was empty and his only companion was a dull silence. Slowly as if fearing his fall that could come any moment he moved to the mirror on the wall across the room.
He looked at himself and wondered if his life could be any more complicated than it already is.
He didn't know how long he has been asleep but it in no case could be so long that his hair has grown and was reaching now to his shoulders or guessing by a featherlight touch on his back even to his shoulderblades. Nothing could also explain why the colour of his hair was a pure blond or even platin with only a few black strips in them as a reminder of his not long ago raven locks.
He ran his hand through them and pulled. Herd. He hissed at the sensation. Yes, that was definitely his real hair. He gathered them and lifted up as if to pin them up. Now when he looked at himself he looked exactly like an older version of himself from a vision…
He gasped and as if burned loosened his grip on his hair. Everything about his new look forgotten at this moment.
It was all his own fault! Briefly he recalled Serge telling something about not taking a blame for the past but he couldn't focus right now on the vampire's words.
He turned around and leaned against a wall hiding face in his hands. It was because of his doing that Asmodeus couldn't travel between dimensions anymore and became a prisoner in his own realm. But it wasn't only that. It wasn't only about freedom. He betrayed their relationship by closing the bond and sentencing not only himself but also his friend for an eternal emptiness. He understood not that by interfering with soul bonds he could have killed them both but he did it regardless of that. He didn't know the nature of their bond but whatever it had been it should be treasured and treated like a rare gift. It hadn't been meant to end like that. He wasn't worth such an opportunity and privilege like Asmodeus' friendship or trust.
He has brought this fate upon himself and has made many mistakes hurting others but it doesn't mean that anyone besides him must be suffering his future errors.
He should just disappear and never come back. He should leave and let the world settle into its right place, let people find their happiness and future without him. He wouldn't be anymore a light's soldier. They all would forget and move on.
He rose to his feet from a curled sitting position he found himself on the floor and rushed to the door. He passed many corridors of the mansion not stopping even for a second.
When he was at the door silent voice stopped him.
"So you've chosen to leave."
He stiffened at the dissapointment but also resigned toner in Serge's voice. It was not a question but a statement. Of course seer has known from the beginning that this will end like that and that nothing is going to stop the young wizard from fulfilling his decisions but couldn't bear himself to let him leave without any goodbye.
"It's for the best for all of us." Less whispered almost brokenly. "Are you going to stop me?"
"I probably wouldn't be able even if I tried to. Where are you going to stay?" the boy didn't understand the full meaning of the vampires words but couldn't maker yourself to feel bothered by this. Instead still standing with his back turned to his host he smiled over his shoulder not realising that it came out more like a painful grimace instead of a smile.
"Thank you for your hostility, Serge."
"All pleasure was mine, little wizard."
Alessander opened the door and walked outside and further away from the castle not even once looking back.
Serge had remained standing on the doorstep until he could no longer see any sign of Less. He sighed and looked at the sky with pained smile. He laughed a humorless and bothering with ironical laugh.
"It's such a pity that without your own permission I can't tell you the truth about your destiny, little anchor. But once you remember everything you will come back to me and by completing our deal you will fulfill your destiny. You can't run forever from your future because in one time your past will catch up with you and you should better be prepared. Once you are ready to make a call your soldiers will arise united and ready as never before."
He pushed away a left sleeve of his robe revealing a pentacle mark almost identical as Less' one only smaller and positioned on his wrist and touched it gently as if with care and sentiment. His eyes became clouded and unfocused.
"A change is coming. World once divided will again be united by the one who betrayed and was betrayed. And when the consort of two kings arise there will be no coming back."