My Skye blue eyes looked at the man I once loved so dearly, but couldn't see him in there any more. The ritual had changed Astarion, I could tell. And it did not make me happy. I missed the sweet man I had known.
"I thought you where perfect when we first met. What a waste you became this" I said in a low, sad tone.
Astarion gave me a surprised look.
"I...I was pathetic then. What do you mean? Why would you say that?"
I looked down on the ground.
"You where never pathetic in my eyes. I loved you. But… love is different then this. But I don't think you'll ever understand"
"Of course I understand love. All too well. The gravest crimes committed in this world are committed for… love"
The world love almost came out as a curse word from his mouth. As if that word alone disgusted him to no end. "A hunger crueler then blood lust. I know how to play with it, and can't resist playing the hand I know. I would have ruined your love, used your trust until you where… noting" He continued.
His words shot like daggers into my heart. This was nothing the old Astarion would have said for sure. I wanted to believe I knew him better then that. I knew he once had been forced by Cazador to give up his body to lure people into Cazador's trap. But I had hoped I had changed that within Astarion. Making him see what real love is. I had though he genuinely loved me as much as I loved him. That's how it had sounded once he opened up and told me how bad he felt for manipulating me at first, how he now wished for us to be more.
"So...All I've been to you is just a pawn to be used? All those sweet words and moments we shared meant nothing after all?"
His eyes narrows as he looks at me with those eyes I no longer recognize.
"Of course it meant something. You did help me get to this point after all, didn't you? It's not like I'll forget that and act ungrateful. Just say what you want and It'll be yours. I could even give you the eternity" He smirked as he leaned in closer to me.
I couldn't help but shiver at the seductive tone of his voice. My heart still loved this man, but my head screamed at me to get away from him. That this elf in front of me was no longer the one I once knew.
"I want… my Astarion back. The Astarion I loved" I whispered as I looked pleadingly into his eyes.
He suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and dragged me close to him, so close we stood chest to chest.
"Oh? why would you ever want that weakling back? Let me show you, what this Astarion can do"
I could not resist him even if my head asked me to. I loved this man so much still. And I still hoped it would be time to bring his old self back.
He carried me to one of the bedrooms in the huge mansion. He started to kiss my neck, bringing a pleasurable moan from my mouth. He smirked, and took it as a sign to up his game. Our time together had taught him what I liked. And he was eager to give it to me.
Once done, my head was resting on his bare chest. I loved the feeling of his skin against my own. I felt tired after all the things that had happened the last days, so I allowed myself to fall into a deep sleep, comforted by Astarion laying there beside me.
I wake up the next morning with the sun shining in my face. Astarion is not sleeping beside me, so I decide to get up. Knowing that the sun will not be harming him any more, I guessed he must have gone out into the city to really enjoy this newfound freedom. No longer bounded by Cazador or the shadows of night. It had not been that long at all sincat he had ascended after all.
I just hoped that that darkness I had sensed inside of Astarion from the moment he ascended was only until the power of the ritual had calmed down and he could start to see clearly again.
I walk down the stairs and find Astarion standing and talking to some humans, pointing to them where to place some decorative peaces for the mansion.
I walk up to him in confusion.
"What is happening here?" I ask curiously as he take notice of my presence and turns to me.
"Just some decorating my dear. This place will be a perfect base. A good place as any to build my reign"
I give hum a confused look once again. Did he really intend to stay here? At this very mansion where his tormentor had lived. Where so many bad things had happened to him.
"You are planing on staying here?" I asked him, even though it was already obvious.
"Why of course. There is no reason not to. This place is perfect. And once I've created my army of vampire spawns, I can rule over them all here"
I felt a chill down my spine at his words.
"A...Astarion. You are kidding right? You are not really going to do that, right?"
He gave up a laugh I never heard before. It was a dark laugh.
"I am not a man who goes back on my words now, am I? If I said I will do it, I will"
I looked at him in horror as I knew that he was serious. I then sighed and walked right up to him, as I looked deep into his eyes.
"Then you know I gonna have to stop you. I won't let you hurt innocent people" I then reached out my hand and placed it gently on his cheek as I continued "This is not you Astarion. What where you really after all this time? Did you really want to end up like Cazador? Is that really where you wanted your path to take you? There is not yet too late to see the light, and become someone as far from him as possible"
Anger crossed Astarions beautiful face as he slapped my hand away.
"How dare you speak his name! Shut your mouth, or I'll shut it for you" He backed away from me with eyes glowing red. "Now, down on your knees"
a thread of invincible force took control of me, forcing me to obey Astarion's command.
My eyes widened in fear as I fell to my knees. The force was so strong. There was no possibility to go against the force. So this was a part of an ascending vampires power?
Astarion walked up to me and placed a finger under my chin and forced me to look up at him.
"You are going to stop me huh? Well, you made that sound very easy didn't you? You still think it will be that easy?" He clicked his tongue in disappointment. "It's really a shame you are going against me now. But of course, I can make you change your mind with a bit of time. If you see what a beautiful world I'll create"
I tried to resist the power who was holding me down to my knees, but it was to no use. It was too strong. Astarion was too strong. You didn't like the look he was now giving you, nor that smirk on his lips.
"What?" I hissed.
"You really would make a pretty undead for sure Tav. Shall we make that happen?"
It was not like I had never thought about it before. As my feelings for Astarion had grown during our adventures together, a thought of forever with him had sounded quite amazing in my head. I was just a human after all, and would grow old while Astarion would stay like this. But it was not a decision to take lightly. And it was one I had not been in any rush to make yet. For the time being I had had been happy to just be close to Astarion and think about the future later.
But now, when Astarion had turned to this, I where not sure if I wanted it at all any more. But of course Astarion wouldn't give me a chance to object. When I tried, I could feel that force again. It was like I had turned to a statue. I couldn't move or talk.
He lifted me up in his arms again and carried me back to the bedroom and placed me on the bed.
"It'll hurt like hell for some time. But once you become a vampire spawn, you can stay by my side forever. That's what you want, isn't it? To be mine….forever"
His voice made me shiver once again. It had such a dark, but still a very seductive tone. He was not wrong though. Before the ritual, I could not have waited to be his, and have a life together. But this was not right. What I feel was deep and true love. But for Astarion, what he felt was something else. What he felt for me was not true love but rather something more… possessive, primitive.
A sudden fear came over me since I could not fight back something that would change my whole life forever. I wanted to shout to Astarion once again that he was not Cazador, but I knew it wouldn't be of any help. He had lost himself. And now, not even my voice would be able to reach him.
He leaned down and started to first gently lick my neck, before I could feel the sharp pain of his fangs penetrate my skin. It was not the first time, so the feeling came as no surprise. But I was scared for what would come next. After all I never had to worry giving my blood to Astarion before since I knew it wouldn't turn me. But this time it would be different. Small tears started to fall from my eyes. That was all I could control with my own body, the rest was under Astarion's control.
After a while his teeths let go of my throat, and all of a sudden the force that had prevented me from moving was gone. I used the opportunity to push him away and sit up.
"What have you done!?" I shouted. My body was shaking of anger having my own will taken away from me like that.
Astarion just had this calm look on his face and gave me a small smile.
"It's a gift my dear. You should be grateful. How lucky you are that I chose you to be by my side as I'll create a new, better world"
"Was that what Caza…Gah!" I didn't have time to end my sentence before a sharp pain overtook my whole body, and I fell down back in bed, unable to move again, except when it came to wriggle in pain.
I didn't even hear what Astarion said after that, or notice when he left. All I could do was to drift in and out of consciousness because of the pain. Being unconscious at least felt better. It closed out the pain a little bit at least. It was like a fever dream.
I didn't know how long I had been out for. It could have been hours, days, weeks, years. All I know as I slowly opened my eyes was that the pain was gone, only to be replaced by a different pain from my stomach and throat. Thirst, hunger. My body was shaking as I manage to slowly get up from the bed and make my way to the mirror. As I stood in front of it, I was met with nothing. My reflection was gone. I had truly became a vampire spawn. His...vampire spawn. My whole life had now changed forever.
I wrapped my arms around me as I fell down to the floor, a panic attack starting to overcome me.
"My pretty pet has finally woken up"
I freeze as I heard his voice. The voice that so recently had brought me happiness and pleasure, but now inflicted a kind of fear within me.
"Why Astarion… why?" I whispered as I looked up at him with sad eyes.
He walked up to me and helped me up.
"My dear. You should be happy. Now we can be together forever. I thought you said that you loved me?"
He sounded almost offended. But I knew it was just played.
"I did love you Astarion. I loved you more then anything. But I am not really sure who you are any more. Or if you honestly even care for me any more" I answered as he held me close to him.
"Aw my pet. Come here" He lead me to the bathroom. Astarion then filled the bathtub while he helped me off with my clothes. And once the bathtub was filled, he signed to me to get inside it.
I did as he said. Once the warm water hit my skin I gave a sigh of relief. It felt so nice. After being confined to the bed as I turned into a vampire, it was really nice to be able to wash away that feeling of… sickness that I had had.
I soon felt Astarions breath close to my ear as he whispered "Now, lean back and let me pamper you"
Once again I did as he said without any complaint. After he got my hair wet, he started to gently massage my head. It felt really nice. I closed my eyes and it almost felt like the Astarion I loved was back.