How fitting.. A crimson dusk..
I hope you're not giving up now, Nicholas! Not after everything!
Go away, Markl.. What could I do now..?
Nick could just see his ancestor looking upon him from his mind's eye, amber eyes filled with despair. He hadn't just failed Judy, hadn't just failed his mother.. He'd failed them too. All of his ancestors that went on before him.. The Wilde line would end here with him tonight. There was only so much that using light like a weapon could do, not that he had the strength to do it anyway. Nor could he concentrate enough to focus that kind of power inside and release it. His wounds hurt too much, his body was too tired, mind and heart too fraught with pain. The flames were too hot.. Too hot as they licked at his toes then covered his feet and crawled toward his legs, blistering them. He didn't even have it in him to whimper anymore.
But thankfully, the pain was fading.. Sweet darkness that had nothing to do with the coming night, was creeping into his vision. It was taking him away from the pain. It wasn't terrifying, it was a relief to know that he wouldn't wake up this time.
Nick!
Nick felt himself weakly smile around the gag in his mouth. That voice wasn't one of his ancestors, it was one he knew and that had haunted his thoughts in the short time he'd been imprisoned. He could hear the upset in her tone, she was going to be so mad at him.. Even if her voice calling out to him from whatever plane of existence she was on hadn't reached him, he knew that. But even though he knew she would be angry with him, it was a relief. Wherever she was, he would be joining her there soon enough. The sooner the better. His only regret now was not being able to save his mother. He couldn't save Judy. He couldn't avenge them or his ancestors.
Nick, please!
I'm coming, Judy..
He knew it as his sight narrowed to a pin point, darkness encasing all but that. But that point was all it took to see a flash of gray and lavender burst through the flames surrounding him. The flames must have gotten to his paws by then, he could feel himself falling and then.. Nothing.. Blessed darkness.
"Nick, hold on!"
The gray doe cursed under her breath as she caught the tod before he could fall to the platform that was now nearly fully encased in fire. It was a simple matter to lift him, but the only way out was through the blaze! Opening a shadow portal would only have the flames following behind them and frying both of them. There wasn't any time to lose! She could hear his heart slowing over the sounds of slaughter as the vixen somewhere behind her tore into priests like paper. He was fading, fast! And so she used all of the speed granted to her by this cursed existence and got them out, landing none too gently in the grass where she hurriedly patted away the flames.
"I need you to stay with me, you dumb fox! Don't give up now!"
But she could hear his heart slowing, heard him barely pull in air, but not able to release it. He hadn't made a sound despite the harsh landing once they escaped the flames still raging somewhere behind her. It was an inferno now, if she hadn't gotten him out of there when she had.. The doe shook her head, not even wanting to think about what would have happened to him. But now as her paws hovered over him and took in the damage, hearing him dying.. She knew with a sinking heart that there was one thing and only one that could save him.
Damn it..! No..! You were supposed to save me from this cursed existence..! Not.. Not this..
Why had it taken so long for her to restore herself, damn it?! Why did she have to go into a blood craze first thing after she woke up?! Why did she have to make this choice now to curse him or let him die a mortal?! Him, the one who spent most of his life hating and hunting vampires. Now, there was a choice that had to be made and made quickly. Damn him along with her, or let him die here surrounded by enemies, thinking he was alone..
...The one who fell in love with her despite all of that. The one who she loved..
Now even as he stared at her, she knew he couldn't see her. He was barely holding onto life, didn't even seem to want to. It was pure instinct keeping him there now, his body doing its best to stay alive a little longer. She couldn't take his blood now.. He barely had any left after being forced to feed his starving mother, then being whipped.. His mother had told her everything as they frantically rushed here. That was another thing. Could she look Vivian Wilde in the eye if she let him die here..? Could she live with herself..?
No.. No, she couldn't..
"You're going to be okay, Nick. I promise."
It was nothing to cradle his head in the crook of her arm as she bit her tongue and kissed him, opting to feed him her blood via mouth. There was no time to lose and at least this way she didn't have to angle him or cut herself just right. This was it, this was what it took to create another vampire. Not the bite itself, but the giving of blood from sire to fledgling. That was only if it was swallowed though and as she kissed him, she felt her blood just run back out of his mouth. No! No, he had to! Frantically, she moved her paw so that she massaged his throat to make it swallow on reflex. But her eyes snapped back open as she pulled back to look at him when there was one more desperate pull of air before he went still.
No.. No, wait..
"Nick..?"
For one desperate moment she dared hope that he had simply swallowed and the transformation had been quicker for him. She silently pleaded for his eyes to shift and focus on her. She waited for a movement, a twitch of a finger.. Something..! But.. Nothing happened.. No twitches.. No shifting eyes.. Not even weak chest movements that would signal him trying to breathe.
"Nick..?!" she already knew, but she still shook her head in denial. Even as the first sting of tears filled her eyes, she pressed her head against his chest, frantically searching for a heartbeat.. It had to be there..! But no.. There was complete silence, quiet.. Not even a weak one..
But she still wasn't ready to admit it to herself. She jerked back, desperately searching his face for any signs of life at all, not trusting her own senses. But seeing the blank, fogged green staring back at her only confirmed her worse fears. Seeing that look dispelled any kind of denial she wanted to harbor. There was no light there in those eyes, because.. Because there was no life..
"Nick.." Her voice croaked as she lifted a gray paw to stroke over his muzzle and tried in vain to blink away the tears blurring her vision and distorting his image. He couldn't be gone.. Her fox.. "Nick.."
Her mate..
She never got to tell him.. He knew.. She knew for sure that he knew that she had fallen for him. Even though she told him not to fall for her, she fell in love with him. But she never got to say the words aloud.. There were too many other things they had to focus on. Defeating Rogan, figuring out whether or not to trust the church.. Secretly, she was even starting to think about their difference in lifespans. Now, she could never tell him how she felt. She could never hear his answer, though she knew he felt the same. She may not know all there was to know about foxes, but she knew they didn't kiss just anyone. Their love had only just been beginning.. He'd only just showed her that she could still be loved..! And she in turn could have shown him that was loved.
But even if they had never become more than friends, if their difference in longevity and species kept them from allowing their affection to grow.. At least he'd have still been alive. But now there would be no more witty remarks, no more jokes.. No more laughter or knowing smirks.. No more deep conversations or warm, protective, loving hugs. All of that ended tonight
The sound that tore itself out of her throat was as unholy as they come and would have put, Rogan to shame. A cry that grew in strength and volume when the echoing sound of anguish was soon voiced by the vixen who had stopped mid-kill. She knew. His mother knew. His poor mother, subjected to so much torment had, had a fleeting spark of hope only to have it snuffed out.
The priests knew as well, all of them covering their ears from the sheer volume of the cries of agony from the two vampires. Those it killed, fell over with bleeding ears. Others were smug, knowing the fox's fate and knowing that the vampires would be much easier to kill now, in distress as they were. Still others were left confused by the display and sound. Vampires didn't feel anything but the evilest of things right? So how were they mourning then? Those confused by the sounds found their hearts clenching and shattering from the cries and wanted to join in. Seeing them react this way.. Knowing who they were mourning for..
"Great Creator.. What have we done.." Fangmeyer whispered, turning her eyes back to where their former comrade lay. He'd been trying to tell them something before, she'd thought he was trying to mind control them but.. There was never any sign of it and he'd eventually given up after she just glared at him. He was trying to tell them something! Damn it! Now seeing two vampires who weren't supposed to feel, very clearly grieving him, tears and all. She had an idea as to what it could be. She, after all, had been harboring her own doubts lately. Now she saw a vixen that looked a lot like Wilde, the mother he supposedly lost over two decades ago and a rabbit that she saw slain with her own two eyes. Both weeping and screaming from the loss of him.
Jaden was in the same boat as Fangmeyer, his eyes filling with tears that had nothing to do with the strain on his ears from the sheer volume of the vampire's cries. The implications of what he was witnessing.. He'd just watched his hero die and done nothing about it and all for nothing. Even through his tear distorted vision, he stared at where Nick lay. The rabbit, he watched get slain cradling him close to herself. Each time he blinked his eyes he could see the scorch marks on what was once brown-black fur and blistered skin where the fur was burned off. He saw the cuts inflicted on the tod as he was led out to his execution and the dried blood matting the fur and making it sticky. The way Nick looked at him in his final moments, desperation in his eyes, begging him to understand what he was trying to convey through his gaze.. It would haunt him forever.. Nick hadn't let him down, he'd let Nick down.. He betrayed him..!
Very few would be left alive that night as Judy wept into the fur of her fox's head. She saw the amount of wounds Nick had on his body, saw the extent of his torture from those who were supposed to care about him. That wasn't even including the psychological pain that was inflicted on both himself and his mother. This time when she raised up to look at him, tears streaming from her eyes, rage was beginning to take hold. Instincts she normally tamped down, she'd let run free this time. But not before she choked on a sob and moved her paw to close the glazed over green eyes. Those eyes once so full of life, dimmed with death.
He was gently laid on the grass after, looking for all the world as if he were just asleep. He even wore a peaceful smile on his lips. But she knew the truth, he wasn't waking up again and he'd greatly suffered before he died. He'd had visions warning him about this very thing, she'd seen them along with him. He hadn't wanted to believe them at first, but then he did, when he opened his eyes to their deceit. But still, some part of him had wanted to believe that at least a few of them would listen. Nick may have liked to think that he didn't care, but she could hear the truth in his heart. There were very few in his ranks he cared for and trusted, but there were some all the same. And they repaid that care and trust through betrayal..
"I love you, Nick.." she brokenly whispered, as she bent to kiss him one more time. "I'm glad you knew before you were gone.." That at least would be a comfort in this eternal existence. No one would pray over him and so she knew if she was slain and someone thought to spread her ashes, she would go on to paradise if prayed over. But he wouldn't be waiting there for her. Who knew where he was now..? All because they thought he was a monster now like her.. Didn't care to hear otherwise.. Nick was no monster..
But..
If they wanted a monster.. She'd give them one. They had done this to her, Nick.. They would all pay with their lives!
When the rabbit stood and turned around, her eyes were glowing, her fangs sharp and lethal. Shadows sprang as if from nowhere and whipped around her like a tornado. She'd come back for her fox.. But right now, his tormentors, his betrayers had to pay for what they had done! Starting with the fossa trying to sneak up on the weeping vixen, too lost in her grief for her lost kit. Disgusting! To attack a grieving mother! How could any of them think they were holy?!
Fire..!
Burning, agonizing torment was all he knew! He thought that he'd escape the flames when he died, but it had been worse than he thought.. It seemed that it was hell that waited for him when he drew his last breath and his heart gave its last beat. He couldn't have been more wrong.. This one was eternal, burning his whole body from the inside and the the outside only to set him ablaze inside all over again! He had no body that he could tell, but that didn't keep the blaze from lapping at him as if he did! Nick knew he'd have been screaming if he still had a voice to scream with! If the inferno wasn't bad enough, then the feeling of being torn apart, put back together and torn apart again was even worse! But even that was only the beginning..
He had no flesh, but the feeling of blades and claws tearing into him was somehow still there! Blades stabbing him all over, all at once, twisting as even more stabbed and tore into him! He felt as if his pelt were being forcefully ripped from his skin again and again! He was being torn into halves, acid and fire scorched through veins he shouldn't have.. Burning the veins, shriveling them and still, he couldn't scream! He had no voice to scream with, no body and so no vocal chords to make the sounds with. But if he had no body though, then how was he being held down there as if by chains?! Was he wrong? Was he still alive and feeling the blaze? Why wouldn't it just kill him? Why couldn't he just die?! There had to be an end right?! There had to be! So where was it?! After all it couldn't be hell! True he fell in love with a vampire, but she was the purest soul he'd ever met! It was the church that betrayed him, why was he here?! Why not them?!
Hadn't he suffered enough?!
A vision of gray and white fur and violet eyes came back to mind, the face of his mate and right after the face of his mother. That was how Nick realized he could still scream after all. Now, he understood. This was his pittance.. For failing them, for leaving his mate's slayers and his mother's tormentors alive. His poor mother! She'd live on to continue to be tormented as she had! At least Judy.. No.. Where was she?! He'd heard her voice before he died! She wasn't here, was she?! No! No, she couldn't be!
"Nick.."
Judy! She was here! He heard her voice! But where..?! He had to shield her from this somehow..!
"I love you, Nick.."
Judy, where are you?!
"I'm glad you knew that before you were gone.."
No, wait! I'm right here! Please! Where are you?!
Desperately, he searched the darkness all around him for even a brief glimpse of soft gray fur or a lavender dress. And for a moment, a brief one, he thought he felt her there with him, but when he looked, there was nothing but dark. But she was here! He heard her! No wait.. She said "before you were gone".. Did that mean, she wasn't? She was outside of this place..! She was outside and he heard her! Which meant he must still have some connection to-
The realization seemed to be all it took, the torment slowed as he was pulled back up as if from the deepest depths of a sea and back into his body. No, not back into his body, not completely. He'd been there, his soul half between life and death.. He'd been trapped in his own mind! However it wasn't the victory he thought it would be. The torment that slowed, slammed back into him with renewed force and he felt his body involuntary jerking with it. Even so, despite the torture, he knew what it was and the relief he felt.. It was indescribable. Not dead.. Not completely. The taste of rust was still on his tongue and was starting to taste sweeter and make his throat burn for more. He was changing, transforming. He knew now. That burning torture wasn't hell, it was vampiric taint.
His bunny..
Before the fossa could reach her, Vivian Wilde already knew he was coming. She turned her head toward her approaching attacker and saw him hesitate, waiting for what she would do. But she made no move against him and instead turned her head back to where her son lay. Another sob choked out of her throat seeing him laying there, completely still in death. Her baby.. Her little Nicky, just gone..
She had known, even before the anguished cry of Nick's bunny rang out and rent the air. A mother just knows these things deep in her heart. She knows on an instinctual level if her baby is safe or not. She had known before, but had been trying so hard to deny the truth, but when that scream tore through the night she couldn't deny it any longer. Now she sat, a broken vixen and even as her instincts screamed at her to get up, to kill before she was killed, she didn't move aside from the quiet sobbing making her whole body tremble.
All of this time, she had been able to hold on despite the horrors and torment inflicted on her for all of these decades. She could just deal with it all as long as her little kit was still alive and well. She'd just grit her teeth and bear it all as her body was mutilated and violated if her silence and lack of fight played even a small part in keeping him alive. But then, last eve she came to with fresh blood on her tongue and a familiar scent in her nose. Her panic made her sloppy as he was dragged away from her and chained on the opposite side of the cell. She had fought this time, needing to get to him to make sure he was alive for herself until she was paralyzed by the magic used on her.
Made to hang there after, it was only after she picked up the sound of his breathing and his heartbeat that relief finally washed over her. But still she quietly sobbed and thanked the Great Creator for making her come to her senses when she did. If she had been the one to.. Even now she couldn't let the thought finish and looked away from her boy's body as another sob choked its way out of her throat. When he came to, she hadn't been sure what to expect of him and turned her head away in shame. What would he think of her now that she was one of the same demons that he had sworn to slay. Would he looked on her with disdain and disgust? Would he hate her? She had prepared herself for that possibility, her body tense as she waited for the hate filled thoughts to come. Only.. That's not what happened.
Instead he showed her right then that he was still her same little kit. Nine year old Nicky and thirty-two year old Nicky were one and the same after all this time. And now her sweet boy was gone.. And she had nothing left to stay in this wretched world for. That was why even as the fossa came ever nearer, she made no move against him. Instead she closed her eyes and opened her arms to welcome the strike and prayed that where ever she would be going after this, she'd reunite with her boy.
But a strike never came, not to her at least. But she heard the slice of flesh, smelled the fresh blood and heard the gurgle of death before she opened her eyes and was slightly surprised to see the bunny's back.
"Sorry, Mrs. Wilde, I know how you feel, but.. Nick would want you to stay alive. I heard his thoughts before he died, you know? One of his regrets was not being able to save you. I mean to keep you safe. In his honor if for nothing else."
She knew this too of course, she too had heard it as they raced toward the execution site. But the reminder only brought the sorrow that barely faded back again, they had tried so hard to save him. They ran faster than they'd ever run before and gave a swift end to anyone in the way, but they were still too late. She was right though, Nick would want her alive in the only way she could be. Even if she herself didn't want to live in a world without her mate and now her son too.
For his sake then, if for nothing else. In his honor.
Vivian stood and Judy looked over her shoulder and up at her. She saw the flicker of renewed sorrow fill violet eyes as she met her emerald green before it was gone in the next moment. The two of them shared a nod before movement brought their attention back toward their opponents. They were gearing up for a magic attack, while others readied their weapons. That magic was bad news for them, it had their fur raising in warning, they couldn't let it hit them!
Quick as lightning, the two of them were in motion again. There were many priests and only two of them, but they weren't mortal. That alone was enough of an advantage normally. But these mammals were trained priests, already knowing what to watch for and what vampiric tricks could be used. That still didn't help some of them who were either sliced with shadows, torn apart with claws, ripped in half or decapitated. Even vampire's could only focus on so many things at once though and there was only enough time for fur to raise in warning before the blast of magic hit them.
Vivian and Judy had stayed close by one another, watching each other's backs. As a result, they were both hit with the paralyzing magic and could do nothing but helplessly watch as the hulking figure of Father Bogo approached them. The buffalo knew he had them right where he wanted them and casually carried his battle ax over his shoulder, the sharp edge gleaming in the moonlight and glow of the fire.
"You see, vampires will use any trick to get you to let down your guard!" He was addressing his priests, but his eyes stayed on the two of them, a wicked gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face. "They had you all fooled for a moment! Remember these demons don't feel anything, but the most sinful of emotions! They can take hold of your mind to make you see anything they want you to see! Some even without the telling pressure!"
There were hums of agreement in most of the priests, but a few looked at each other with uncertainty before turning their gaze back to where Nick lay. Only to widen in complete shock. Bogo and those still believing his every word approached the two vampires with unhurried steps. Those following wanted to see him put an end to these monsters up close.
"May the Great Creator-" There was a blur of red behind, Bogo, silent and lethal. One of the priests were swiftly and silently killed, all of the rest forced to not notice through mind manipulation. "-and the Virgin Ewe have mercy-" Another one, this one closer to the buffalo was taken down. Bogo didn't notice, but Judy and Vivian did. Judy's nose twitching in fear and the doe's reaction causing the same fear in her. If that was Rogan.. "-on your soul.." One by one, with each word spoken there was another priest who dropped without alarming any of the others. All the way up until only Bogo was left. Neither of them had a chance to stop Bogo..
But then, that blur of red came to a stop in front of them and a yelp rang through the air.
Bogo could only stare in shock for a second when his view of the two demons was hindered by orange and cream fur, a yelp ringing in his ears he'd heard before. His eyes flicked down to his weapon, seeing it hadn't made contact after all. A brown-black paw effortlessly held the weapon back. The buffalo's eyes flicked to the face of the mammal in front of him and it was glowing green eyes with slit pupils looking back at him, fury shining out.
"Gotcha~" the vulpine grinned.
Quicker than the Father could see, Nick struck and the buffalo fell and slid across the ground, disturbing grass and dirt and getting cut on rocks. He blinked as he realized he strangely couldn't feel the rest of his body. It was only when he landed and couldn't move that he realized his head was at an odd angle. He'd broken his neck! ..And he'd put just enough force in the blow to knock him back several feet.
"Be a good boy and wait right there, Father Buffalo Butt!" Nick called, a vicious smirk in place which showed unnaturally long canines. However, when the fox turned, his wild, furious eyes softened as they fell upon his mother and mate. He offered each of them a paw to help them back to their feet, but both by passed it in favor of leaping up and throwing their arms around him, nearly knocking him off his feet instead.
"Nicky!"
"Nick!"
All three had their ears pinned back and not a single eye was dry. His mother marked him with her scent, Judy clung to him like her life depended on it only to then stiffen and pull back with a glare. That was his only warning before she landed a punch of her own into his gut that had him doubling over. Oof.. Ow! He may be a vampire now, but that still hurt!
"Judy, what in the Creator's name?!" Vivian scolded.
Violet continued to glare down at him. "That what you get for s-s-sca-" But she couldn't finish the sentence and didn't even try. Her eyes shimmered with tears, her lip wobbling before she had her arms around him again. And really, what could he do other than enfold her in his arms in return?
"You're right.. I'll keep that in mind next time," he lamely joked, as he soothingly running a paw over her ears. But she pulled back again, her paws going to his muzzle and running over it. He understood exactly how she felt. The last time he saw her alive was just before she- One of his paws came up to rest against her cheek, thumb stroking just under her eye to wipe the tears away.
"Th-There better not b-be a next time, Slick.." she whimpered and he nodded, a smile returning to his lips.
"You got it, Carrots. But same goes for you."
"I can agree to that.."
Vivian stood back, letting the kits have their moment, a loving smile on her lips. But then the grunting from the buffalo had her ears flicking up in his direction. He couldn't move, but she could tell from the strain and the protruding vein in his neck that he was trying. Nick noticed as well and reluctantly pulled away from Judy to stand back up and retrieve the battle ax that had been dropped when he punched him. To Bogo's horror, the fox picked it up like it was nothing and danced it along his fingers as if it were nothing more than a coin as he approached. This time, it was the fox walking nearer with Judy and Vivian closely behind. They had just gotten him back and as long as the buffalo could talk, he was still dangerous.
"You know, I'd really love to prolong this like you did to my mother.." Nick sighed as he came to a stop in front of the mammal he once respected. "But a wise mammal once told me that a monster isn't defined by what we are, but by our deeds. My father told me that, I wish I'd remembered it sooner than I did.."
The reminder of her mate had Vivian's features softening into a sad smile. A smile she turned toward Judy when she felt a comforting paw on her arm which the vixen then patted. Her son chose a wonderful mate for himself, she definitely approved.
"However.." Nick added, the viciousness returning to his features and voice. "There's only one time I've wished damnation another mammal. This now makes twice.. Burn in Hell, Bogo."
With that, the fox brought down the ax and with one smooth blow, the head rolled away from the rest of the body. Nick carelessly dropped the ax after and all three watched the head roll away before Nick turned back to the two most important women in his life. Only for his eyes to flick up toward movement of a small group of mammals, priests still left alive. That was enough for his mate to hiss and get ready to attack, but Nick stopped her as the group came closer.
"Nick.."
"Jaden.."
"So you're a vampire now.."
A nod from the tod. "We're not all monsters, you know? I was wrong before. If you remember nothing else I ever told you, remember that."
The small group all cast uncertain looks at each other, not sure whether or not to believe what they heard. It wasn't easy letting go of an entire lifetime of teachings, Nick knew that first paw. And the fact he said this as a vampire..
"Nick.. How can we trust what you're saying..?"
He sighed to that and internally asked Judy make a shadow portal. He knew she heard when she nodded and he felt the shift of energy as it formed. "Believe it or don't. However, the next time we meet could be as enemies otherwise. I take threats to what's mine and mine to protect very seriously."
With that, the three vampires turned away and stepped into the portal. After all, they had a date to keep with Emperyeus.
AC: And that's the finale everyone! :D Jeez that was hours of writing right there! I hope its as good as I think it is, but let me know in a review! ^^ I can't believe CD has reached its end! Just the epilogue to go now everyone! Can you believe it? I can't! See you all in the final chapter! ^^