INeedAUsername8: tigers are some of the fiercest beasts
Ilikehats2: I understand. Peter is just being suspicious of Dracula
Chapter 15: To Feed
(Outside side Dracula's castle)
Peter is walking through a forested area. His sense of smell is catching up the scents of various objects in the woods. His keen ears picked up sounds in every direction. But he wasn't concerned with that at the moment.
'Why didn't I remember attacking Wolverine? You'd think one would remember that.' Peter grumbled in his mind.
When he awoke in Dracula's castle, it was as if he awoke from a deep sleep. He would get vague fractions of memories. He mainly recalled him fighting a biting Wolverine. The newborn shivered at recalling the event.
"Aw yuck, I've got that taste in my mouth again. That's probably his blood. Nasty, yuck!" Peter groaned with disgust.
But his thoughts switched back to the vampire king. Why had he been so rude to him at first before he was bitten, but then kind after he awoke as a new turn-blood? Something felt off about the situation. He sat on a log to think on what is happening.
'He said I would be his jester. At least I'm not wearing a clown cos… Oh wait, I am… Stupid…' He hissed in his mind.
A familiar pain came to him, and he clutched his head as he growled in agony. Fractions of another memory replayed in his mind, but these seemed more familiar. This one felt like he really did 'live those moments'. He got flashes of the heroes' shocked expressions. Then he saw Power Man and Nova calling out to him, fear in both their voices. The smell of fear thick in his memory. But then the next flash revealed someone else: White Tiger. In the memory he saw her fear-filled eyes as she begged for mercy. Then her blood and scent returned to his nose.
'She… smelled… so... so…' Peter mumbled in his mind.
(WAIT! WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING! TIGER'S MY FRIEND! S-SHE…)
Then another feeling overcame him: thirst. He remembered that he was out here to feed. Peter chose to feed on animals and not humans. This situation still was hard for him. Throughout his career as a hero he had one major rule: no killing. Even as a vampire, he still didn't wish to kill. But he'd die for real if he didn't.
"Can't believe I'm actually doing this." He hissed.
Peter sniffed the air, trying to pick up any fresh scent he could follow. With his keen sense of smell, he picked up a trace. Using his natural spider-like abilities he leapt through the trees effortlessly as he followed the scent.
'Where are you?' The turn-blood mumbled in his thought as he leapt through the trees.
Within a few minutes or so he found his prey: a doe. His sharp eyes locked on his target as he prepared to strike. But he then saw a young stag, the doe's mate, walk from behind thick brush to her. They nuzzled one another with affection.
(Oh man…)
Peter couldn't do it. He didn't want to separate the two, his heart advising him to leave them be. He sighed and leapt away.
'That looked happy together.' Peter thought to himself, bringing a smile to his face.
Another scent was picked up by his nose. He inhaled heavily. Doing this made sure there wasn't any other living thing around what he smelled suddenly. He sensed nothing else and he followed the scent. Then he came upon it: a dead stag. As he neared closer he saw no signs of predation, it had died of old age. He knew the scent would draw in scavengers, so he decided to be quick about it.
"Ugh, here goes nothing." The newborn groaned and then sunk his fangs into the stag's neck.
The taste wasn't half-bad. It certainly tasted better than Wolverine's blood to Peter.
'So this is what it's like to feed… Interesting…' Peter mused in his mind.
When he had his fill he let go of the dead stag and licked his blood-stained lips.
"Sorry." Peter said, before leaping away.
He wanted to run away, but Dracula would know what he would have planned. If he did, the vampire lord would kill all those he cared about. Peter had tried attacking the vampire but that was a complete failure. The newborn didn't want to take the chance; he knew he had to return to the castle.
"Have to bid my time… He won't win, I won't let him…" Peter snarled as he leapt through the trees.
He eventually arrived at the castle. When he walked back into the guest bedroom he found something surprising: a set of modern clothes. A pair of faded blue jeans, brown biker boots, a red shirt, and a faded jean jacket. There's note attached written by Dracula saying he kept his promise.
'Ok… Something is wrong.' Peter thought in his mind.
But he shut the door and changed. It took a few minutes, but he definitely liked this look better than the 'noble wardrobe'.
"Much better." Peter sighed with relief.
Peter walked out of the room and found Dracula standing outside.
"Satisfied?" Dracula hissed, an aggravated frown on his pale face. "Y-Yes… thank you…" Peter stuttered.
Dracula nodded.
"How did you find what to feed to be like?" The vampire lord asked with curiosity in his voice. "It… was different…." Peter said.
Peter could tell the vampire was partially satisfied with his answer.
"More guests will be arriving soon. You best be prepared for what comes next." Dracula stated as he began walking away.
Peter was confused by this. What other guests? Does Dracula invite friends over for vampire poker night or something? Did Dracula have any friends?
"What do you mean?" Peter asked, trying to see if he could get a truthful answer.
The king of vampires stopped walking.
'Curious…' Dracula thought to himself.
He turned to face the turn-blood and studied his body language. The vampire lord easily realized the newborn wanted to foil anything he planned. But he knew he could almost completely manipulate him without the teen's knowledge. He did it after biting him some days ago. But when he was about to feed on the White Tiger girl, he resisted.
'No it can't be… It... it doesn't matter…' Dracula mumbled in his mind.
He faked a grin, which caused the newborn to tense up with nervous energy.
"Some individuals who will show you what it truly means to feed." Dracula ominously answered.
To be continued…