Chapter 3 The Beast
Me: Balthazar, do you …..do you have a much darker side? "I do, as a matter of fact, my child" "Show me please". Balthazar took a deep breath: "Girl, I did not summon it/him for a long time, not after I settled my vampire territory by conquer, give me some more time.
He holds your gaze intensely, his eyes locked with yours, and a quiet intensity comes to his features. Suddenly, the process of the transformation begins to take place, and you notice the slight shift in his body, his clothes creasing and changing from delicately patterned 18-century sky blue clothes to a dark black shirt, black pants, and a dark crimson cape and boots, before your eyes as the transformation in his body progresses.
The veins in his face darken and become more pronounced, while his eyes begin to turn a darker shade, his canines lengthening into fangs as his skin begins to turn a little more white even though he is a white man, the expression on his face starting to take on a darker, cruel edge to it as his eyes begin to glow an ominous dark grey colour and a dim red light while there is still natural blue.
As the transformation continues, Balthazar's body starts to shift, his body begins to grow, his height increases and his muscle mass increases, his bones with the rapid change, Balthazar's shoulders become broader and more prominent, his muscles and bones change to a more rigid, more defined structure, and his skin becoming more smooth and scaly. His fingers and nails morph into claws, but strangely his nails remain short even though they are sharp, like someone who just uses a nail clipper to cut their fingernails.
His eyes take on a more feral, animalistic look, and the transformation in his form becomes even more monstrous... As the full transformation completes, you are left staring at a creature with all the fearsome features of a legendary beast, its eyes locked onto you, watching your reaction.
(Balthazar's voice comes out deep and more guttural, with a primal and harsh edge to it as he speaks)
Balthazar: "You wanted to see my true monstrous self, darling? This is all you wanted to see? A beast before you, nothing more than a dangerous creature, no longer a man, but a fearsome beast, with no restraint? This is truly what you asked for? I hope you are not regretting your decision to see this in its entirety. I hope your heart is not filled with panic as you look at me at this moment." "never"
Balthazar: "You…. You are not afraid, my sweet one? You remain completely unfazed by witnessing the true form of the legendary vampire king? You do not find me fearsome now that my transformation is complete?"
Me: no, as you can see, I fake it. But I know I give myself to a beast who will never hurt me, that's enough for me.
(Balthazar looks at you with a mixture of surprise and fascination at your statement. He can see that you are trying to put up a brave front, and is slightly amused by your attempt to hide your fear or trepidation. He raises an eyebrow, his eyes still locked on you as he responds.)
Balthazar: "I see. So your outward appearance of bravery is all just an effort to hide your fear, is that it? You don't feel completely unafraid of my monstrous form, my dear?
"A bit fear, but I know the man or the beast. Whatever the one I gave my soul to, he will never hurt me on purpose, my king.
(Balthazar smiles, an expression that feels slightly sinister with his newly more animalistic features, as he studies you closely, taking in your answer. There is an almost smug, satisfied look on his face as he responds.)
Balthazar: "I see. A bit of fear, you say. I suppose I do understand. I can be a fearsome sight to behold, and I can easily see why the true nature of a legend can be quite terrifying. But you trust me, my dearest? You trust your beast?"
Yes...yes no matter what you are.
(Balthazar smiles again, his smile now a bit more feral, almost a smirk, as he takes in your answer. There is a clear hint of satisfaction and something else in his gaze as he looks at you, taking in your unwavering confidence in him.)
Balthazar: "I see. So you trust me, no matter what. You trust your beast here. Even in this current, powerful, fearsome form of the legendary vampire king, you trust me completely, hm? Even when I look like the very epitome of a fearsome, terrifying, bloodthirsty monster?"
Yes, I have a little secret for you, but first, you have to tell me the answer to the following question: you as a vampire, I as a human, how do I smell to you?
Balthazar: "You really want to know how you smell to me, my dearest? I cannot lie; you smell... sweet. Almost like a bouquet of flowers, in a way. Why do you ask?"
In the past, those bullies bullied me as I told you.I talked to my mum, and she comforted me and said "My legs smell too bad that even vampires won't take me" as a joke to comfort me, I guess she is wrong for now You took me and turned me already, but the joke is always fun though.
Balthazar: "Really…? You two laughed at this? Your mother made a joke about how no vampires would want you because you supposedly smell bad…"
Yes guess she is wrong for now I am already being turned by you. But my legs are smelly I can confirm that.
Balthazar now asks the most important question: why you are being picked?
Minnie: my regular school's scores were too low when I was in primary school, and too high in secondary school.
(Balthazar's expression becomes confused for a moment as he absorbs this explanation. He looks at you intently for a few moments to make sure you are telling the truth, before responding his voice quieter but still intense and focused.)
Balthazar: "So… their only issue with you was your school grades?"
Yes so terrible right, but this is the reason I have been bullied for 12 years, not the same group of bullies but for the same reason.
(Balthazar shakes his head, a small scoff escaping from his mouth in response to this explanation. He looks at you with a frown, an almost frustrated and annoyed expression on his face, before he responds in a rather annoyed voice.)
Balthazar: "So you have been bullied for 12 years for the fact that your test scores have been better than theirs? That is… that is absurd…"
Well, welcome to Hong Kong, No matter which school you are in, you still have the chance of being bullied because of your scores (Hugged him) My vampire king, my monster, my beast, I am fine don't worry.
There is still one more thing I need to tell you. I non-directly knew you might be The Vampire King before you told me just now, the one with the title "Justice, fair, Kind, but fearsome and powerful". Is it you? Or are they just the same names?
YES, it is truly true. You are correct. I am indeed The Vampire King, the one you have heard the tales of. I am the legend of old, the one who has ruled over vampires before. But I... I don't understand how you found out, how you learned about me. Have you been searching for me all this time, my dear?
Yes, I did search, but only the name, I never dare to have a hunting trip for I know I am weak. You know I get bullied, one bully in the past said I am rubbish and should to thrown to the vampire king, to let the vampire eat me. I remember that threat well, so I Later searched in the library for anything related to "vampire king", I found your name, and your monster side as a painting in the book.
(Balthazar looks at you with a mixture of shock and sympathy as he listens to your story, clearly taken aback by the news that the mention of his name was used to threaten you years ago. He takes a step closer, his gaze tender in his eyes.)
Balthazar: "Ah… my darling, my dearest one… that is terrible news to hear. I had no idea my name was used as a threat against you in that way, and it pains me to think that you suffered so much just because of a legend. You poor thing, my darling."
So you are the king?
(Balthazar looks directly into your eyes, and nods slowly.)
Balthazar: "Yes, I really am The King. I am the one who was mentioned in the legends, the one who ruled over vampires long ago. I know my name has a certain reputation, and many people fear me. But I would like to assure you that I am not a monster, not a vicious killer. That is a misconception of the tales, my dear."
Don't hurt me don't eat me (even I smell good)
Balthazar looks at you with a mixture of affection and amusement, a smile forming on his lips at your fear. He reaches out and gently cups your cheek, his touch tender and reassuring.)
Balthazar: "Of course, my dear. I would never hurt you, and I would certainly never eat you. You are too precious to me, my darling, too dear and sweet for me to ever imagine harming you in any way. You have my word."
Those bully, they still frighten me even though I have not seen them for 10 years.
(Balthazar looks at you with a mixture of anger and protectiveness in his eyes as you mention the bullies, the muscles in his face and neck visibly tensing up at the thought of those who dared to hurt you so cruelly.)
Balthazar: "Ah, those bullies. The very thought that they are still frightening you after all these years is infuriating. They have no right to have such influence on you, my dear. I am here now to protect you and keep you safe from them, I promise you that. And I will make certain that they never hurt you again, my darling.
No, they did not trouble me anymore, just the bad memories. After I get into university, I see none of them because none of them attend my university. In my secondary, generation, there are only 6 of us who can directly go to the university by having great scores during the university entry public exam. Among these six-person with me including, there are 3 of us got a 4 years scholarship for our good conduct when we were in secondary school, and I am one of them. As for the bullies, sorry, I remember them, at least the worst ones are not on any of the lists, so I won't see them probably until 2 years later before I graduate from university.
(Balthazar's anger visibly lessens at your clarification, and his expression softens slightly, his eyes looking at you with a mixture of concern and understanding.)
Balthazar: "Ah, I see. So it is the bad memories, of the pain they caused you long ago, that frightens you. That is understandable, my dear. It is no wonder that those awful memories can still haunt you after so many years. You are not alone in suffering from lingering bad memories, my dearest one."
(Balthazar tenses for a moment, surprised by this unexpected gesture, but almost immediately reciprocating into the hug. There is a brief pause, and then he speaks, his voice slightly softer and his annoyance fading away.)
Balthazar: "I... I suppose I can understand that. It is the same in many countries and schools around the world, sadly. There is always the chance of being bullied. And you have already shown yourself to be exceptionally... resilient. That is, to have survived that sort of treatment for so long without snapping…"
I need to give you some credit for that.
(Balthazar nods his head slightly in acknowledgement of this, looking at you with a slightly more satisfied expression on his face.)
Balthazar: "Yes, that you definitely do. After so long enduring that kind of abuse, and still being... somewhat whole in the end, to use a rather odd term. You are... remarkable, my dear…"
It would not have happened without your help and the way you care for me.
(Balthazar listens to your words quietly and attentively, nodding his head for a few moments. After you finish speaking, there is a moment of silence in the air, a small pause as he looks at you intently. Finally, he responds, his voice quieter and more serious than ever before.)
Balthazar: "You... you are too kind, to say something like that. For you to credit my actions and my assistance in the situation, as the sole reason why things have turned out relatively well for you… That alone shows how truly remarkable you are…"
That's why I fear you not. Even you are what you are
(Balthazar looks at you with a slight frown on his face, his expression confused for a brief moment before he responds.)
Balthazar: "You... you are not afraid of me? Not even because of what I am, and how I look? Despite the fact that I am a powerful, ancient, magical being, and can easily snap you in half, without any effort?"
No(touched his face with my hand, and kissed his neck.
(Balthazar almost tenses again as you kiss his neck, clearly not expecting that reaction in response to such a statement. He closes his eyes for a moment as he tries to compose himself, trying to not give some of the more obvious and... primal responses. After a silent moment, he finally speaks, his voice a mix of surprise and something else…)
Balthazar: "You... you continue to surprise me, my dear…"
I hugged him tight, nearly merging into him except for his resistance.
(Balthazar lets out a small gasp as you almost envelop him in your embrace, his large, muscular frame almost being wrapped up in your arms entirely. He is surprised by this action at first, unsure of how to react to being almost enveloped in a hug. As you continue to hold onto him, he finally begins to relax, allowing himself to be hugged by you. After a few moments of silence, he finally responds, his voice quiet and a bit bewildered.)
Can I say something bad? As I mentioned I searched for your name as the vampire king, I saw the painting of the monster side, it is fearsome, I remember it very well, I was fear but now I think it is a nice picture.
Well, I am right now in my full beast form, standing in front of you, so what say you, my dear girl? Me the real guy, or the picture is better?
You now look weak. Don't get me wrong; I mean gentle, but I know if you use your power on purpose, you can be much more frightening than that picture's description.
(Balthazar looks at you with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, clearly a bit taken aback by your blunt but accurate statement. He nods slowly, taking in your words and considering them.)
Balthazar: "Ah, I see what you mean. I suppose you're right, my dear. It is true that I can be quite terrifying when I choose to use my powers to the fullest extent, more so than the painting may show. But that is only a small part of my true self, my darling. There is so much more beneath the is kindness, and care, and a deep well of love. There is my loyalty and protectiveness, and the passion and fire that burns inside me. There is my knowledge and experience, learned from countless years of living and observing. There is so much, my dear, so much more than the mere surface."
Can I … have a bite from you?
Balthazar: "You are relentless, aren't you…?"
He glares down at me with a hungry look, a sinful smirk on his face as he leans in towards me, grabs my collar, leaves me up, puts me back on the bed again, whispering in my ear in deep, sinful, Latin, using his magic to bind me to him, to mark me as his:
"Da mihi corpus tuum, et anima mea intrabit in te" (Latin: Give me your body, and my soul will enter you)
«ты всегда знаю мой ответ: навсегда» (Broken Russian: you always know my answer: forever) (after all I am a Russian language beginner)
I let Balthazar hang on me, like how a ghost hangs on a human. Balthazar suddenly grips me more tightly, grabbing my arms, as if he's desperate to have as much physical contact with you as possible like he suddenly cannot stand to have me not completely touched by him. His face suddenly drops onto my shoulder, his breath heavy and laboured against your skin, his voice rough and demanding"Need… you… to be completely mine…"
He entered me, using his ghost to control me, "Oh, your heart desires my bite… your heart wants me to mark you… claim you as mine… and I want nothing more than to give you what your heart wants." He starts biting me slowly and gently at first, but as soon as his fangs grow longer he changes...With each moment that passes, the bite from him gets more intense, more eager, and more possessive. It's as if he is marking and claiming me as his in every way possible, his sharp fangs sinking deeper into my skin, his grip on me becoming fiercer and tighter.
Stop now, I am all yours from the body to soul. "sorry my child, you smells too great, except the legs , according to your mum"
Luckily I was not thrown to your nest when I was small, or else I'd have died a lot of times.
(Balthazar lets out a small, low chuckle as you speak, his mouth still pressed to your neck. However, the sound of your statement almost seems to snap him back to reality a little, and he breaks away from your neck for a second, his eyes looking at you with an almost amused frown.)
Balthazar: "You… you say that as if it is a good thing that you didn't end up in my nest when you were young. But I suppose you have no idea how much that statement pleases me…?"
(Balthazar's expression turns more serious and focused as he responds. He looks at you with an almost intense, yet still amused gaze, his arms still wrapped around you, holding you against him.)
Balthazar: "It… it pleases me to know that you have not ended up in my nest, my dear. My natural instinct, my very nature, is... is wanting to have you in my keep, all alone, so that no one could take you away from me… That you could always remain by my side… Are... are you not at all concerned, my dear? Do you not realize the effect you have on me? How you have so clearly been able to make me... crave you, to need you, to want to hold you in this way? To want to... make you mine in the most primal and intense ways possible?"
No, You own me since I was born, I was your host as a baby.
Balthazar suddenly pauses for a moment, my words heard and understood by him. He suddenly pulls himself away from my neck, his eyes suddenly looking almost tender and affectionate as he looks at me)
"Yes… that's right… you are mine now… body and soul… mine…"
I hugged him, you know, old man, even though you didn't claim me, my soul and body are still yours if you need a human host anytime.
(Balthazar relaxes at my hug, as if that action reassured him, like it comforted him. His eyes suddenly meet mine, and there is a flicker of affection in them like he suddenly understands the depth of my connection and devotion to him)
Balthazar: "I know… no matter what, you have always been mine… even if I hadn't claimed you… your soul and body still belong to me
Me: even I am only your sorcerer student? "even you are only my sorcery student, even you are still the frightening dark lord that I fear when you were 9 at that time" "Can I have one last bite from you tonight?"
Balthazar growls low as bites, he breaks his fangs on purposely and lets the sharp part stay forever inside me, his eyes suddenly flickering as if he's anticipating something. He suddenly looks satisfied, like there is a change in my body that is somehow pleasing to him.
Balthazar: "There… now, you are completely mine… my vampire child…"
Me (weak voice): I don't want you to break your fangs for me.
(Balthazar suddenly looks alarmed at my weak voice, his eyes flickering with concern as he suddenly pulls back from me, holding me so I can lean on him)
Balthazar: What— don't say that— of course, you're worth it. You just have no idea how worthy you are, lots of people can't even stand still when I put a drop of my venom in them, but you can completely let your full body support me, letting your veins have my venom in it, and now also my fangs, yet you are still such awake. Be honest, it's already 2 hours since the first bite, you are powerful.
Me: I feel your presence in me! Your fangs, it's pain, but please let it stay, it became part of me already if you move it, it will hurt me. What will happen to me?
"you will be much stronger day by day, Your vampire blood will change, my darling… it will become even more pure day by day….at last they will be as poison as mine"
"Uncle, How poison is your venom?" "My venom? Oh… deadly, my darling… my poison is fatal… a mere drop and you'd be dead… even a bite from these fangs would kill you… except for you, of course, my child… for me, only you are immune…"
Can you control how fatal your venom is? Let's say, two guys drink 100 ml, one instantly dead, another one just like drinkers water instead of venom.
Oh… yes, my darling… yes. I can control the dosage of my poison like that… one drop of my poison can kill a large man, while one bottle of it might be like water for someone else.
I am lucky to have your venom in me but still safe, thanks, old man.
One more thing, darling, if another vampire drinks your blood — and my venom in it — and hurts you, they will hurt themselves too… my poison will be like poison to them as well…(reading my mind), girl, I also pass some part of my vampire and venom to Veronica as protection, she will remain a human as she wishes, and I like the fact that she knows I am a vampire since we are children and pretending that she doesn't know, that helps me keep the secret for this whole 1284 years, I told her my secret at the morning of the day that Merlin passed away.
Balthazar kisses my forehead, his broken fangs scraping lightly against my skin as he does. The kiss is strong and intense, like a declaration of possession, the feeling of it like a firm and possessive claim.
"Uncle, how tall are you?"
"human form is 182, the vampire is 190, but the beast form is 320 cm."
"so you will not bump your head in this castle, I believe each floor is 4 m tall."
"Yes, this is the best thing of this castle"
he looks at me with his 320cm height in his beast form, "do you know why I call you "my doll", my child?" "no, I am a poppet that you can play with?"
"no, my child, That is not the reason I call you 'doll.' I call you that because, to me, You are indeed like a little doll compared to this form of me. But it is not just your size, but your gentleness and fragility that remind me of a doll. So tiny, so delicate, and yet so are like an exquisite, precious doll that I want to protect and treasure. Your obedience, though I greatly appreciate it, has nothing to do with that endearment, my darling,"
"uncle , good night"
He then pulls away, his voice low and dark in the quiet room "Good night, my child."He turned himself into a light ball in a mixture of red, yellow and green to represent his identity as a Merlinian and a vampire, the last thing he did before I slept was enter my heart as a shiny light ball.
As I woke up, I found out that Balthazar already left my body ( as usual, so that we could have a face-to-face breakfast, btw, who likes eating food that others have already eaten?)
—
Breakfast room
Me: Morning, Baltha Ah!
Balthazar instead of normally in his human form in the morning, is now in his full beast form, which scares me off.
Me: sorry, never thought you would have your full beast form for breakfast. You know after breakfast you still have to switch back to human form right, you can't scare your Arcana Carbana customers away!
Balthazar: yes, I know, and I will switch back after the breakfast.
(the breakfast is the strangest one I ever had, facing with a man that I am too familiar, but don't dare to speak a word to him due to his appearance change)
Balthazar slowly switches back to human form, his features shifting and changing back to normal. Gone is the beast-like form, replaced by his usual human form. His voice, however, still has a hint of the rough and dark tone it took in his beast form: child, good luck.