Son of Darkness: Act X - Turmoiling Souls

The dark eyes filled with red-gold streaks moved serpentine on the faces of everyone in the room, scanning them one by one with a somewhat pedantic detachment.

He slowly advanced towards Kenjii, who was standing but a few yalms before him; Mirror bared his fangs, his long, untied hair almost fluctuating behind him, moved by the wind coming from outside, as well as by the air his own skin seemed to emanate. The rumble of a growl filled his throat at every step, as an ominous crackle vibrated in the air surrounding them, filled with electricity. Unlike before throughout those ten years, he now actually emanated heat, so much that more than one vampire felt the urge to step back as he walked through the small crowd at the bottom of the grand staircase.

A quick movement, a sparkle; he dashed forward like an arrow, grabbing the blue-eyed vampire's clothes and lifting him from the ground, with a strength he had never realized to possess.

More than one voice exclaimed in surprise at that, and they were quickly surrounded. Someone's hand clawed on his bare shoulder, perhaps trying to make him let go of Kenjii.

- Keep your place, slave! - One of the vampires snarled in his ear, jerking him backwards.

The priest pushed him away with an instant movement of his free arm, ignoring the pair slithering inside him from the wounded shoulder. His gaze roamed over the vampires surrounding him, with a distant expression. His mouth opened more, revealing his fangs further in an intimidating feral act. At that moment, he seemed to inspire a sort of reverential awe. Almost everyone stepped back, their eyes locked on him.

Yet the priest quickly lost interest in them, pointing back his dark gaze on the pale face of the blue-eyed vampire who had up to that moment stayed in silence. He'd only observe him with those inscrutable sapphires.

Then Kenjii gently raised his hand, as if commanding the other vampires to not intervene, his gaze still locked in the abyss that was in Mirror's eyes, before pulling his lips in an half-bitter, half-sarcastic smile.

- I suggest you let me go, Tegian. - He said with a calm, muffled voice. But that smile and those words only caused the opposite reaction. He was lifted more, forced to observe the former priest from above. The growl vibrating in his throat got louder, almost deafening.

- Tell me what is going on! - He exclaimed with violent impetus. - Tell me, Goddess damn you!

He shook him fiercely, determined to force words out of him. When he was about to strike him, though, more hands pulled him clumsily backwards, forcing him to loosen his grip on the blue-eyed's neck, who fell all-four to the bottom of the staircase.

- My lord! - One of the vampires immediately ran down to rescue him, but was pushed away gently by Kenjii, who seemed to be gasping for air. He brought his other hand to his neck, gingerly touching the marks of burns. His body felt almost dry, deprived of any water. His eyes, now partially darker than usual, wandered around and noticed Kirious's questioning frown as he watched the burns on his throat, then back on the brown-haired man, who was still being held by the other vampires in the room.

What happened after that was too chaotic to be described fully.

A battle of fangs and claws commenced between them and the priest; one of the vampires assaulted him in a feral motion, managing to claw his back before trying to strike his chest, perhaps in an attempt to tear his heart away. With a cat-like leap however he dodged the attack and grounded him, to then lift his body and throw it with incredible force to the other side of the vast hall, before doing the same with two or three more vampires, perfectly aware that he was overwhelmed by an uncontrollable, homicidal fury. He growled again, his gaze darting to the other side of the hall, checking on the number of his enemies.

He wasted no time counting them though; he jumped backwards but was still struck to the side, before he'd aim at the throat of another vampire to tear it voraciously, feeling the blood running copiously down his neck. He cleaned it up with one hand, licking what was left on his lips, before rapidly turning back to aim at Kenjii again, who was still knelt down next to his brother. He flexed his body in a leap in his direction, but was blocked by another vampire who clawed his shoulders. He wriggled as best as he could, hitting his arm, and then doing the same to another who had just dashed to him, striking his abdomen, almost pulling out his innards with the fury of his attack. He tossed a glance at the marble-like face, registering the tips of his canines shining for one instant, before he'd disappear back in that Hellfire.

The woman with green eyes was the next one to charge him, who clawed his chest with a cat-like jump, making him scream in pain. Before she could complete her attack however, she saw the red-streaked eyes dilating before reducing in two slits, as he flexed his body with a feline, graceful movement to land to the other side of the room, crouching in the middle of one of the arcs of the mansion, hidden by the shadows. She charged him again, grabbing him by the neck and throwing him in the middle of the hall, free for the other vampires to take.

The blond one with blue eyes gripped his hands on Mirror's throat, pinning him to the ground. He looked down at him with a wry smile on his face, ready to bite.

- Enough! - A voice rumbled, and almost at the same time all the vampires turned, interrupting if only for a brief moment every hostility. Kenjii's eyes were burning with wrath, and he glared at everyone in admonishment, except his brother, who was now standing on the first steps of the staircase with folded arms and and overall detached attitude. Kenjii showed his fangs, warning them silently to not move a muscle, as he advanced with his gracefully cadenced walk towards the body of the dark brown-haired vampire, still to the ground.

The blond vampire was still straddling him, hissing with his face but a span from Mirror's, visibly resisting the urge to bite him.

- Let him go, Hikari. - Commanded Kenjii, receiving however nothing but a muffled grunt in reply. His eyes narrowed as he advanced further, watching the priest grabbing Hikari's wrists in an attempt to pull his hands away from his neck. His eyes were squinting and he was gasping, however not because he was lacking air in his lungs. He was trying to get his face closer to the vampire above him, so that he could attack him with his fangs and tear his throat open.

- Let him go. - Repeated Kenjii with a deeper voice. - Do not let me repeat myself again.

Perhaps it was the tone he used, but he finally managed the vampire to obey. The former white mage let go of Mirror and stood back up, however allowing himself the satisfaction of one last kick on the priest's ribs before walking away. He turned to look at his master, bowing slightly and lowering his head, his hand to his chest in reverence.

- Please forgive my impetuous conduct, My Lord. - He said quickly, without looking up. - I've lost my usual control…

His sentence was interrupted by Kenjii, who waved one hand absently as if he didn't care to listen. Without minding the blond further, he approached the brown-haired man, gasping and wounded curled up on the floor. His chest showed three deep gashes that were healing with unsettling slowness, unlike the ones on one shoulder and behind his back. His face seemed pretty much unscathed, with just a few stains of blood that wasn't his own, and shown a disgusted, vaguely pained expression. As Kenjii approached, he raised his dark-brown eyes up at him, the red streaks subsiding to his usual gold, although he lacked the strength to fight him in any way.

Before anyone could speak, the older vampire of all appeared in all his stateliness; his hazel eyes, hard and perfect like precious stones, scanned the whole destroyed hall slowly. He arched a chestnut eyebrow skeptically a moment later, to then stop on the face of his older nephew, and then on the ones of the other vampires, as well as his younger nephew.

- What happened? - He asked with bland curiosity, with a somewhat polite, tolerant tone, much like a father who had just caught his children in the middle of a prank.

Many sets of eyes exchanged glances, to then focus on the cause of that disaster in silence: the dark brown-haired vampire, whose eyes had widened for a reason he couldn't even fully understand the moment they had met the gaze of the older one. That look, detached and cold, without a real explanation, seemed to torment Mirror. At a first moment he tried to understand where that bizarre emotion pervading him was coming from, unable to find an answer. But that gaze was enough to invest him with a deep feeling of ire for that ancient vampire. Everything emanating from his figure was vague and confused, but it was enough to flare back on the hatred he had suppressed an instant ago. Something, in those eyes, troubled him from within.

A growl aroused from his throat as he tried to stand back up and at the same time clear his thoughts. Those green-hazel pools didn't abandon him for a single instant, studying him with a distant look of superiority.

- I'm sorry for the mess, My Lord.

The voice of one of the vampires brought him back to reality, partially canceling that insane thirst for revenge that had strangely pervaded him, as he fell back on the wet, cracked floor.

- I trust this will not happen again. - He heard the older one say, with a soft voice before he lowered his eyelids. - Though I have given up on keeping this house clean a few centuries ago, I am really starting to think the idea of a new location wouldn't be so bad at this point.

Mirror felt someone pulling him up with easiness, as if he had turned into a feather; he had the impression to be feeling a slight and yet powerful heart pulsing against his side.

Some quick steps, a pressing patter.

- Where are you taking him? - Again the voice of the ancient vampire.

The answer came with a brief growl.

- His rest awaits him. - It was an answer whispered with a cruel voice, as if Kenjii was challenging his interlocutor to try and contradict him.

A few more steps echoed in the grand hall, and two forces quietly clashed in the air, an icy breeze and an electric one, threatening to cause a tornado to form.

- Do not grow too fond of this puppy, Kenjii.

No answer came this time, only the noise of boots on the marble. They echoed against the stone walls when the air became saturated with humidity, telling Mirror that they had just reached the dungeons. A few instants later a door was rudely opened, before the priest's body was placed on something soft, perhaps apparently inside a coffin, or on a bed. He cracked his eyes open, finding the blurred figure of Kenjii next to two caskets, realizing only at a second time that one of them belonged to him. Right, he was back to the mansion. How had he forgotten?

Slowly he sat up, touching the gashes, now almost completely healed, on his chest, and at the same time Kenjii turned to look at him. Mirror lost himself in those irids that had now lost some of their unusually bright blue, and now resembled more the color of rain drops, as he tried to understand what had happened. He should've been in the Church, as far as he could remember. He should've been at the village.

His head seemed about to explode.

He brought one blood-stained hand to his temple, closing his eyes again. Immediately he felt the weight of another body on the mattress, and his skin being stroked by gelid fingers that at the same time felt somehow warm. A strange feeling of nostalgia caught him, and it was almost unconsciously that he brought his other hand over the blue-eyed's, gripping on it tightly. A small spasm shook the body of Kenjii like an electric discharge, as if he hadn't expected that contact. He wished to abandon himself to those human emotions. He wanted to cry, to pull him close, to do a thousand other things… but he didn't do anything. He sat still in that moment of ephemeral past.

- I shouldn't be here. - Whispered the vampire with darker hair, distracting him, and he looked at his eyes, seeing his eyelids still half closed.

They were slightly trembling, like his livid lips. Kenjii gently caressed them, feeling a thrill springing from the other.

- Neither of us should be here, mo gràdh [1] - He murmured in reply, this time not suppressing his emotions, feeling the awareness of those centuries smashing him like a rock. He hadn't faced reality in so long… It was so strange to think about it at that very moment.

He received at last a glance from those dark brown pools belonging to Mirror. It wasn't ireful like the other times he had looked at him up to that point. It was afraid, terrorized. Just like the first time.

- Why me? - He asked, the vampire now subsided by the priest. - Just why me?

Another caress reached his face as a sigh came from Kenjii. The lips Mirror observed slightly pursed in a small smile. Yet Kenjii didn't talk, he only moved some hair from his face, wrapping his arms around his sides before resting his forehead against his shoulder still stained with the blood of a long-gone wound. He inhaled the scent of death and blood, and heard him do the same. Was that act what carried the name of 'affection'? He didn't even remember anymore. Vaguely, perhaps, but not fully. What was though the other feeling that was tearing mercilessly that miserable immortal heart he now possessed? It resembled pain, mourning, something that choked him. Nostalgia, perhaps? Or simply love? It was hard to tell for someone like him.

He smelled more the scent of the first and hopefully last vampire he would've ever converted, and it filled his nostrils with the intoxicating, sinful smell of his blood. He unconsciously licked his own lips, hearing a whimpering sound coming from the other.

What came after was so blurred and quick, he was almost caught off-guard from it.

Without really wanting so, his canines pulsed and extended, sinking in Mirror's neck, in the flesh just above the artery. He started to drink his blood, while still holding Mirror's hand in his, as the other did nothing but let out spare, feeble moans. He gripped on it harder, knelt on the mattress, the light blanket that was covering it slowly slid off and fell on the dust floor. The moans reaching Kenjii's ears were growing louder, as he kept swallowing and gulping down that blood. The bloodlust was however slowly subsiding to something else, and the muscles of his abdomen started to twist. Only when he heard another pained moan he slowly pulled away, touching that pale neck stained with blood. He was about to lick it clean when Mirror instead leaned over him, sneaking his tongue between his lips. He made it flick gently on the jaw still dirty with blood, then the jugular, sucking the skin like a baby searching his mother's breasts.

Kenjii's expression was undecipherable at those attentions. Even when, much like burning fire on his skin, the marble-like gentle hands of the other vampire started to run over his body, he didn't move, unconsciously arching his back and abandoning himself to that pressing contact. Overwhelmed by that newness, he didn't even register the feeling of Mirror's fangs softly biting the skin of his neck, torturing it with gentle rudeness. Then, like sharp blades they sank in his neck, making his blue eyes dilate in surprise. The insisting sucking that filled the room seemed to leave him breathless. Harder, louder, as if Mirror had decided to drain him completely.

Mirror was quick to pull away however, the blood making his livid lips look incredibly translucent, as it slid slowly down his neck. And when he met Kenjii's eyes he realized what he had done. A yelp escaped his crimson lips as he pulled away, scared and alarmed. But Kenjii didn't let him, and pulled him to himself again, trapping him in a possessive hold.

- You keep running from what you are, that is why you are tormented. - He whispered, quiet but with his usual sweet tone. - That is why the figure of the Goddess started to hurt your eyes like it wouldn't on your first days after your transition. That is why you suffer. If only you faced your nature, you would put an end to all the pain oppressing you.

He had had to do that himself centuries before. He had been forced.

The other tried to wriggle away, to run away again.

- I don't have such courage. - Was his answer, before he managed to free himself and stand up. He observed Kenjii with a pained look, as if that hurt him. To burn the bridges with his past meant to burn bridges with everything. And, even though a part of himself was trying to prevent that, sometimes he couldn't avoid it at all. - Please don't push me more than this. - He murmured again, to then be immediately interrupted before he could add anything else.

- Do I disgust you?

A question he hadn't expected.

A completely different topic than the previous one.

for a few instants Mirror blinked, stepping back more. Something was troubled inside him, something he couldn't understand.

- You should… You are a vampire. - He said, as if that was the answer to all.

The blue-eyed vampire gave a bitter smile. - You are too. - He said.

Mirror shook his head, taking another step back. - No, I don't…

- …know what you are. - Concluded the other matter-of-factly.

- Stop confusing me.

Kenjii let out a loud laugh, although bitter and dry in its sound. Like he had been forced to show hilarity to a joke he actually didn't like.

- You're doing it all on your own. - He replied, this tie amused by the expression on the pale face of the gold-streaked eyed man. He had grimaced, one hand nervously moving the long hair away from the front of his shoulder.

Mirror shook his head, perhaps unable to understand or accept that.

- I shouldn't have returned. - He murmured, more to himself than Kenjii. - I should've stayed at the village… Peb had to kill me.

A triumphing look appeared on Kenjii's face at that confession. He also stood up, quietly approaching.

- Now I see. - He said, marking every word. - You are the priest, now.

He received a brown look that was veiled, unlighted. - I don't know what you mean…

- Oh, you do know very well instead. - He continued with a gurgling voice. - He who I seek truly is there… you are the one who hinders him with your presence and your faith.

- What are you…

He couldn't finish the sentence as the vampire's lips blocked his. His eyes widened, and he tried to pull away, but he wasn't allowed to. That kiss quickly became something furious and passionate, an exchange of bloody bites and sharp fangs until they separated to look at each other, the moment of lust now consumed.

The brown haired man's eyes looked away, as he felt something oppressing his chest. But the other forced him to look up, smiling.

- Don't fear, mo brèagha gràdh [2] - A whisper, as he stroked his face lasciviously. - We will have our vengeance.

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[1] My love (Bastokan)
[2] My beautiful love (Bastokan)

Son of Darkness: Act XI - Blood Ties

The Village, 893 C.E.

An insistent knocking against the jamb of his office made him turn towards the threshold, to see the housekeeper walk in. She had a distressed, worried expression, her bun falling loose from all the running. She moved her chestnut hair from her face, as she tried to catch her breath.

Frowning, the Mayor let the pencil drop on the desk, moving away the books and papers all over it. - What is it? - He asked, curious and perplexed.

The woman straightened up and tried to fix her hair absently, as if trying to impose calm on herself.

- It's about Mirror, Mayor. - She informed him, still agitated. - He's delirious.

The man blinked, not understanding. - I thought he had been improving this morning. - He said, in a questioning manner.

- His fever seemed to have gone down, indeed. - She explained. - He had even eaten a bit. I thought the worst had passed, but…

In less than the fraction of a second the Mayor stood up and followed her through the corridor, and then up the stairs towards his sons' bedroom; inside, the brown-haired little boy was alone, on the bed covered with an duvet: he was twisting under the blankets, in fever.

His eyelids were closed, his face pulled in a grimace of pain. From his lips escaped moans and confused words that further worried the two adults. They both approached, and the housekeeper immediately changed the wet mop that she had placed on the burning forehead of the kid. She received a feverish gold-streaked glance, when those eyelids opened, and she almost felt the urge to step back when she caught a glimpse of something in those pools. Noticing that reaction, the Mayor took the mop from her hands, watching her carefully.

- Go prepare something to lower his fever, please. - He almost ordered, all too quickly. - I'll take care of him, don't worry.

Despite the veil of fear he could notice in the woman's eyes, she nodded, quickly leaving the room and running down the staircase heading to the ground floor.

The man made sure she was far enough, before sitting on the edge of the bed to move a few plastered brown locks from the child's forehead. He was still twisting, letting out pained moans.

- I'm here, Mirror. Can you hear me? - He asked in a low, caring tone, watching those eyes pointing at him again. Empty, soulless. The same dark pools he had seen that night several years before.

- M-M'athair [1] - He mumbled with a thin voice, mixing that language with English.

The Mayor jumped at that. He had believed Mirror had forgotten that language. He hadn't spoken it in a very long time. He shook his head at that thought, listening his raving. The child had closed his eyes and moved his head on the pillow. Sweat embedded his face, making his skin look translucent and pale.

- It's all right, Mirror. Calm down. - Murmured the Mayor, trying to not let the trembling pervading his body be detected in his voice. He saw him shake his head, as if refusing to listen.

- Chan eil mi airson [2] - He said with a cracked voice, almost crying.

It was then that the man sneaked one arm under the child's back and pulled him against himself, feeling his hands immediately grip on the cloth of his shirt. He had begun to sob, perhaps in pain, perhaps in fear. And he was practically powerless. He could only hear him cry, his face growing hot. What would've happened had the fever not faded? He didn't even want to think about it.

He sat next to him for hours, trying to comfort him however he could, and also asked the housekeeper to go call the medic. When Peb came back home, he didn't let him come in the room, only letting the Mithran doctor in to tend to the boy.

Only after the sun had risen, and the days that followed, Mirror seemed to improve. The color of his skin was no longer of that cadaverous hue that had worried him so much. As almost expected, the child remembered nothing of those nights. To him it had all been a temporary nightmare.

More days went by, and although Mirror seemed to have forgotten those moments, the Mayor hadn't. Worried, he'd always keep an eye on him. He'd never leave him completely alone, except a few times during his study; he'd even spy on him from afar when he'd go play with his son. He kept doing so until, one day, the boy made a very strange request.

They were sitting at their table, when the fork had suddenly escaped the Mayor's hand.

- You wish to undertake the novitiate? - He repeated Mirror's words in perplexity and disbelief. He stared in those determined eyes that were looking at him with no hesitation. Even the other table companions had abandoned their dishes to listen.

- I feel this is the path I must follow. - Mirror immediately confessed, nodding more to himself than to his adoptive father.

- Mirror, you are just a kid. - Replied the man, seeing him growing serious. At that moment, it would've been hard to tell the one sitting next to him was a nine years old.

- You have done a lot for me throughout these years, Mr. Mayor. - He continued, looking away now, in shame. - I don't want to be a burden anymore; please let me undertake my own road.

- You never were a burden.

- That's how I feel though. - He insisted, headstrong. - Please, don't negate this choice to me. I have studied hard in these years, you have given me so much, and I never felt to be missing something. I want to redeem myself this way, I beg you.

More pleading followed before the Mayor finally gave up. Although the fact that the child's decision didn't please him was clear on his face, the sight of that smile lighting Mirror's face as he agreed made him change his mind, if only one bit.

Perhaps, that decision would've kept Mirror safe from any kind of danger.





Shadows started to dance before his eyes the moment Mirror had opened them, partially blinding him, much to his disbelief. He couldn't remember anything, and only vaguely did something come to his mind, although it wouldn't help him fully understand where he was. Only at a second time he realized what that place was, and he let out a lugubrious lament, similar to a whimpering noise.

Angrily he uncovered the casket in which he was laying, slamming the lid almost to the other side of the room. The sound it made echoed in the whole dungeon, unheard by all. It was still half a hour before the sunset and in that mansion every single inhabitant was still enveloped in the peaceful embrace of their fictitious death.

Slowly he sat up on the edge of the bier, slowly recovering full control of his limps, feeling dry and drained. He was struggling to breathe, letting his gaze roam in the room where he was and noticing the layout of the other casket next to his. Ebony wood, with thin golden decorations, a perfect masterpiece that would've been the envy of any mortal carpenter. He felt almost hypnotized, as a lascivious desire to touch it and uncover it slowly overwhelmed him.

With a flowing movement that surprised himself, he stood up and climbed over his own grave, graciously sliding toward the one in which the other vampire was resting. It was the very first time, in those tormented ten years, that he'd abandon his diurnal rest before him. Before his creator.

He didn't fight the impulse to open the casket when he was close enough, contemplating the perfection of that marble-like body laying in the white silky coating. With his gaze he caressed that pale face still in what they'd so ironically call sleep, the eyelids lowered to hide those hypnotic, perfect sapphire eyes. His lips were livid and thin, with no expression. He almost resembled a statue. The muscles of his shoulders and arms, crossed over the bare chest, were lean but not fully developed. His abdomen instead was well toned, perfect and with no age. The stomach was flat and at its base barely peeked the dark triangle of his pubic hair, not fully hidden by the white blanket. Had he not been a vampire, he would've thought he was an angel. A tempting angel that had condemned him to Hell. Yet, seeing him in that motionless state caused him a bizarre, tormenting feeling of nostalgia.

Without even realizing so he reached out to touch that pale face, feeling it deadly cold. Not so surprising after all. Another strange sentiment subsided the nostalgia as he continued to observe him and stroke the candid skin, so much that he found himself thinking of something beyond folly.

As deep in his diurnal sleep as he was, he could've killed him with the other vampires with absolutely no struggles and then run away, far away. But what, then? He would've just been eternally chased by the hunters… or at least until the end of his days, depending on how long he could've escaped them. Compared to that slumbering vampire, he was but a baby still seeing the world from behind the eyes of an adult. Of course, he had known that world when he was mortal.

But since when he had become a vampire, nothing had looked like before. His perception was altered, sounds and colors had grown stronger and everything was more clear, as if all those years his sight had been blurred by a sleep he had finally awakened from with that bite. And all of that instilled terror in him. Without a guidance, he couldn't have gone far. However, had he let him live, he would've been forever bound to him by invisible chains wrapping his heart in a way he couldn't understand.

A low, deep growl vibrated up his throat before he'd bare his candid fangs much like a dog. Consequences were no longer a matter, at that moment. He bent over that dark haired vampire with his canines stretching and pulsing, sinking them mercilessly in his neck, ready to tear it open. But the reaction that followed was sudden and unexpected.

He was thrown away from the casket, his back slamming against his own bed, and he hissed. Blood stained his lips and chin, filling his mouth; he felt the sweet taste in his palate before he'd gulp and swallow. Then he saw that creature observe him from above, emotionless. The statue had partially revived, yet was far from fully being himself.

Mirror flattened against the casket, for the first time in his vampire life feeling terrorized by the powerful aura emanating from that smaller, yet perfect body. He seemed to approach in a slow motion, but he couldn't do anything to prevent him from wounding his face. He had just moved one arm, slitting the air, and causing the mere shock wave to make a cut on Mirror's cheek, which immediately started to bleed, blending with the crimson liquid already staining his lips and chin.

The blue eyes watching him were two ferocious voids. - What were you trying to do?

Despite that furious expression, the tone that came out of those lips was strangely muffled and calm. Almost tired, compliant.

The braided vampire wiped the trickle of blood streaking his face with the back of his hand, fighting those sapphire gems with renewed audacity and challenge.

- Isn't it obvious? - He snapped, also cleaning his lips. - I wanted to kill you in your sleep, you bastard.

The small cerulean stars burned with azure fury. He dashed forward with such a quick moment he looked to be made with shadows. He grabbed Mirror's face, sinking claws in his flesh, forcing him to not look away from him.

- Do not tease me, priest - Hissed the vampire, with a deep and dense voice. - Do not forget this body doesn't belong to you: don't force me to torture it just to hurt you.

He fought the impulse to moan in pain, feeling those fingers press more on his skin, as if preparing to tear it away.

- Since your return, you've been taking way too many liberties. - Continued Kenjii in a whisper. - And that is something that displeases me truly.

The braided vampire tried to wriggle free, unsuccessfully. The claws only further sunk. - I don't give a shit about what displeases you, you asshole! - He exclaimed in anger, putting his hands on his forearms and trying to push them away as much as he could.

He managed to push him away only slightly, but before he could aim at his throat again he was thrown face-down to the ground. Immediately he felt the weight of the vampire's clothes-less body on his back, and one hand pressed on the base of his neck, pinning him down to the floor.

- You are not allowed this tone when talking to me. - He breathed in his ear in a gurgling tone, his fangs shining. - In particular, I wouldn't want to hear that kind of words be spelled by your voice.

A shiver ran down the braided's body when Kenjii's hand ran down his side, causing him to gasp violently. That gelid limb went even more down, sneaking under him. He tried to stand back up, only to be pinned to the floor again.

He was shaking now, shivering as that hand continued its route.

- P-Please, let me go. - He whispered, repeating over and over. - Let me go, I'll never be disrespectful again… I beg you.

He hated himself for those pleas the moment he spelled them. But he was well aware of what was coming. He felt the cold breath of the vampire on his neck, his presence uncomfortably close.

- I think I should teach you some manners.

Another whisper. Rapid movements, his pants sliding off. A cry escaped him when he felt his innermost be invaded with violence, the vampire's lips pressed against his neck and his fangs sunk in the vein as an unpleasant warmth filled him inside. This time nothing came to take control of Mirror's mind to take his place in that horrible ritual. Nothing was now hidden in a pile of memories. Everything was clear, he felt what was happening on his skin. And it hurt. It hurt like Hell.

Another cry and the humid sucking of that mouth, blood streaming down his neck, bitten mercilessly over and over, mixing that ritual with sex. All he felt was pain. Or at least that's what he thought until it finally ended. He was left to the ground, shaking, gasping, laying in blood and seed. Out of the corner of the eye he saw the legs of the blue-eyed vampire moving towards the bed, then hidden by a pair of black trousers.

Looking up, he met only a glassy glare. The warmth and candor Kenjii would usually grant him with his looks seemed to still be dormant somewhere in his soul, giving control to the vampire spirit that for the first time he had had to meet.

- What happened in this room was only a consequence of your actions. - He said, almost for information purposes as he continued to dress up. - I will send one of my servants to make sure you make yourself presentable; in two hours I want you in the quarters of my uncle.

The last word seemed to be spit before he'd go for the door and disappear in the corridor, leaving him down, his pants still down in that dark pool. Mirror curled up in a fetal position, closing his eyes, not even finding the strength to dress back up. He had dared too much. He had tried to kill him and he had fallen at the first obstacle. Once again Kenjii had showed him his superiority, violating him.

He laid like that for a while, his arms wrapped around his chest, his gaze blankly staring at a small crack in the cave-like room, observing vacuously the last sun rays as it prepared for its nocturnal rest. He heard the footsteps outside of the room and the door opening up, before a presence appeared before him.

In the now dark room he recognized the layout of a woman who at first may have as well appeared to be but a mortal Elvaan. What labeled her as a vampire was the ancient power he could feel coming from her… much older than the blue eyed vampire's… and the easiness with which she'd move around in that place deprived of any light, as if she could see anything.

When her eyes finally turned to meet his, a sparkle vibrated in those emerald-colored pearls, as if they had an inner light.

She knelt down to him as she approached, gently touching his face before her gaze would run over his whole body. With two fingers she touched the blood coagulated on his neck, and then pulling up his trousers, much as if tending to a child.

He watched her hesitant, with a distant look.

- Why are you helping me? - He whispered with a neutral tone, as he saw her take a mop to start clean away the blood stains on him. The emerald pools wandered away from his face, with no expression at all.

- I only follow the orders of Lord Kenjii. - She said at ease, continuing her work, letting the intimacy of darkness envelope them.

Slowly, as if afraid to hurt her, the braided man moved her hand away to tiredly sit up before leaning his back against the nearby casket.

- You are more ancient than him. - He dared to say, receiving a glare. - Why don't you try to fight him?

A slight sparkle, candles lit to light the room. He covered his eyes, so violently exposed to that sudden light. He watched her figure kindly caressed by the candlelight, her sinuous body wrapped in a long black dress. The corselet castigated her prosperous breast almost exposing it to sight, only partially hidden by the long, wavy red hair that looked soft to the touch. The lace of the skirt hidden her legs, surely long and graceful.

With that grass-colored gaze she observed him for a long time, to then let her fangs sparkle when the full, fleshy lips pursed in a grin.

- You shouldn't try to give advice, if you don't understand what ties us to Lord Kenjii. - She said at last, without abandoning that relaxed expression. - You'd better keep that mouth closed as you have in the past years, if you hope to survive your first half century.

An all-but-compliant glance was thrown at her by the braided man, who tried to stand back up to then fix his pants better, with shaky hands. Then, leaning against the casket, he watched the figure move around the room, collecting some clothes from one of the luxurious dressers and drawers in the room. She really seemed like a simple woman, as busy as she was in those actions.

Only then he noticed the water basin in which she poured the piece of cloth, to then take it on the edge of the mattress along with clothes and a brush.

With a glare she somewhat intimated him to sit in his bed, and gulping for a reason he wasn't fully aware of he approached, sitting before her careful eyes. She watched her grab the mop again to run it on his face without much gentleness, wiping away the stains of blood on his chin and neck.

- I can handle myself. - He said grabbing her wrist and stopping her, obtaining in return a glacial glare.

She freed from the grip easily, as if she was truly dealing with a child.

- I was charged with this duty and I shall fulfill it. - She replied ironically. - So stop wasting my time. My masters will blame me for it.

She didn't add anything else, pouring the cloth again to continue wipe away the not dry crimson liquid from his candid skin. The braided vampire said nothing else, feeling that thin veil of power running through him like an electric discharge, mercilessly. Her hands unclasped his shirt open to wash his chest, to then pull it away completely and abandon it on the mattress, a span next to the clean clothes.

Mirror's long hair fell loosen on his shoulders in a mass of curls when she untied the braid in which it had been tied, and she started to brush it slowly, smoothing it.

- Take your pants off. - She then said, as if conceding him that small bit of freedom.

Too tired to debate or fight, Mirror complied and took them off, to then grab the clean pair the vampire handed him. He wore them before sitting back down, after also putting the new shirt on. It looked old but well kept, just like the other clothes he'd see all the other vampires wear.

The vampire Elvaan started to brush his hair again, to then braid them back up with expert movements and letting the front bangs frame his face before putting all the tools in a drawer nearby.

- Come, they await us. - She lastly said, motioning with a cadenced movement of her hand the open door. She then walked through it, waiting for him to follow.

They started to walk through the corridor in silence, as if deep in their own thoughts. The darkness was only partial, yet he couldn't see much before him as they walked.

- What am I? - He suddenly asked, with a feeble, concerned tone. - Why am I receiving no answers?

He watched the red-haired vampire, binding her eyes in his. But no answer came, only a joyless smile that reached those full lips before she'd continue walk down that dark corridor, leaving him to follow behind, with his thousand questions and doubts.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
[1] My Father (Bastokan)
[2] I don't want (Bastokan)

Son of Darkness: Act XII - Bad Omens

The Village, 903 C.E.

Unbeknownst to the elder priest, the clerics and the other novices that occupied the dorms with him in the old Abbey, Mirror had quickly worn a simple shirt and a pair of light trousers.

Then he had sneaked outside, opening the grand doors of the Church and heading to the village, running down the dark path that would take him to the house where his friend and brother Peb Renford lived, who had somehow convinced him to break the rules for a chat among friends. He had just turned eighteen, and his fellow novices weren't exactly what he would've described as a pleasant company. That's why he had agreed to his invite, if only once, to then vow that he'd dedicate himself with further wealth to his apprenticeship. And he was determined to, even as he ran through the village, guided only by the light a few yalms from him, as if guiding him to his destination.

He saw Peb waiting for him on the threshold, with a wry smile lighting his face, his blue-gray pools shining.

- I thought you would've changed your mind. - He said in amusement once he was close enough, and nodding towards the entrance as he wrapped one arm around Mirror's shoulders. - Come on in, the others are waiting in the living room already.

Mirror bowed his head, maybe with excessive reverence. - Thanks for the invite, Peb. - He said with a neutral tone, as he stepped in with him past the entrance, to access the living room.

There were six, or perhaps seven boys chatting excitedly, someone sitting on the couch, someone on the floor, and the room was filled with exclamations and hearted laughter, while they paid no mind to the presence of the young novice and the owner of the house, if only that night, that his father was missing. When they finally noticed them, one turned to look at them with a smile, greeting them.

- Hey, Mirror! How's it going? - He asked, grinning as the braided boy's face quickly turned of a darker pink.

He watched all of them staring at him, feeling out of place. He rubbed the back of his head, with a sheepish smile.

- I guess I can't complain. - He answered, receiving more smiles.

But he couldn't feel quite at home yet. He listened to them as they talked at ease, with so much vivacity and easygoingness that he had never fully allowed himself, not even as a child, as much as he could remember. And that made him uneasy.

- You look cowed, Mirror. Is everything okay? - Asked Peb's voice next to him, and he turned to look at him with an hesitant smile.

- I'm just not used to this, you know it. - He replied, trying to keep a playful tone, but far from succeeding at that.

In fact, his friend observed him for a bit, with a somewhat sorry look. - Should I take you back to the Abbey? - He asked, with a low and sad tone. The way he spoke clearly showed that he didn't want him to feel uneasy.

At that care, the braided boy's smile grew more confident. - No, no. Don't worry. - He reassured him. - I can stay for a hour.

The other sighed, but returned the smile. - I'm really glad of that.

- I'm not lying! That's how I got it in! - They heard a boy suddenly exclaim in the living room, interrupting them and catching their attention.

Peb immediately understood where the conversation was going, and shook his head, motioning to the other to follow him back in there, where Mirror glanced at the boy that had spoken.

- Got it where? - He asked innocently, completely unaware.

Everyone's eyes pointed on him, and his uneasiness grew stronger; he even felt the urge to take a step back, and sensed once again his friend's arm around his shoulders, perhaps in an attempt to instill courage into him, or comfort him.

One of the boys chuckled, arching an eyebrow at him.

- Uhhh… got it in. - He said, perplexed but also amused. - Y'know, with a girl?

At that, Mirror's face visibly reddened, and one hand went to grip on the other arm, as he looked away and tried to swallow in, feeling his throat suddenly hoarse. It had been a bad idea, he should've guessed what a bunch of boys would've ended up talking about, and of how he would've inevitably felt odd in that talk. It wasn't the place and situation that was weird, he was the weird one, the outcast. Probably the only one in the room to still be chaste and pure.

- Guys, you shouldn't bring up that kind of stuff with him. - Peb tried to succor him, admonishing the others quickly. - Even though he's wearing shirt and pants, don't forget he made the vow of chastity.

- So what? We were just talkin'! - The other boy shrugged defensively.

- Perhaps it is best that I leave you to your talk. - Said the braided boy, interrupting them and glancing at every face with slight embarrassment reaching his cheeks. - I didn't mean to impose boundaries with my presence.

He gently moved away his friend's arm, bowed profusely in apologize and, after glancing at Peb one last time, he exited the living room and reached the entrance, ready to leave.

He felt his friend's hand on his shoulder again, and turned to look at him.

- This is my faulty, Mirror. Sorry. - Peb looked sincere, rubbing the back of his head. - I should've imagined that they would've… well… brought that up.

He was surprised when he heard a feeble chuckle in reply. He observed Mirror, watching him shake his head in tolerant amusement, his dark brown braid swaying slightly.

- It's only normal. - He said, defending the other boys with a small smile. - Had I not decided to undertake the apprenticeship, I would've probably done the same and… - He trailed off, looking down and slapping one hand on his forehead. - Blimey, now I must make amends.

- Because you thought that? - Was the other's question.

He shook his head, absently moving one of his hair bangs behind his ear.

- Not just that, I was about to sin with envy. - He sighed, disheartened. - I'm quite the clumsy friar, Goddess damn … Oh, curses, I swore too. - He added, causing his friend to laugh. He looked up to meet his smiling gray-blue eyes.

- Come on, we're still just boys. - He said sweetly, gently patting his shoulder before accompanying him outside, walking with him in the fresh evening air. - Perhaps we'll both change as we grow up, who knows.

Even Mirror allowed himself the luxury of a small chuckle, as he looked up in the starry sky. - Hey Peb… Can I ask you something? - He said in a murmur, observing the black cape over their heads.

Receiving consent, he wanted to be as careful as possible in his question. At that point, such an innocent question should've brought him no further sin. After all, he hadn't taken vows yet.

- Have… have you ever…? - He couldn't spell it, he trailed off.

But his friend seemed to understand, because he pat his shoulder again, with a joyless nod and a little sigh.

- I have. - He replied, feeling a light breeze through his hair. - And it's quite the unique experience, if that's what you wonder.

The other blushed slightly. Perhaps that question too had been a bad idea.

- I… I'll trust your word. - He murmured, looking away.

Hearing another feeble sigh coming from your friend, he looked at him; Peb was staring at him.

- Mirror, why don't you just drop this novitiate thing? - He asked seriously. - You're an handsome boy, girls would fight even just to spend five minutes in your company.

At that compliment, Mirror blushed again, rubbing the back of his neck. - T-Thanks, Peb. - He whispered, vaguely embarrassed. - But… I feel this is the path I must walk now.

- It was a dispassionate advice. - He remarked with a shrug.

The gold-streaked eyes of the young novice pointed on him again, and he stared into them for a while, noticing a veil of sadness in them. As if he wasn't sure of his own choice.

Peb took a deep sigh, looking at the layout of one of the orchards not too far from them, and he pointed at it, to then drag Mirror in that direction. In a minute they were there, and Peb reached out to grab a pair of apples, giving one to the other boy who frowned at it.

- You know these are my favorite fruit. - He scolded him, turning the apple in his hands. - If I eat one of these, I get addicted and won't stop having more.

Peb chuckled at that.

- I guess you're sinning with gluttony too tonight, then. - He mocked him playfully, sitting next to the roots of the old tree.

Giving him a somewhat bitter look, the braided boy sat down too, and bit on the fruit without hesitation. A small smile escaped him at every bite he gave, feeling the sweet, fibrous taste overwhelming his palate. He gave a muffled chuckle, a delicate, innocent sound that faded off in the dark of the night.

- With all these little sins, soon or later you will lead me to perdition, Peb.





The gloomy color of night was yet to subside to the milky shades of dawn; the only audible sounds were the chirping of birds awakening in their nests, and the drops of rain lazily falling down the gutters or from the small holes in the roofs.

Small moans escaped the man's lips, as two others helped him stand, and another looked around furtively, making sure no one would see them. As they arrived to the door of a house, he motioned to the others to hurry in, and when he opened it they all entered in the small entrance, its side walls filled with small, colorful frames; the only light filling the darkness of that rainy night were the weak lamps inside. He accompanied them into the living room and quickly made them sit down on the couches, after they laid down the wounded man; they tried to tend to his wound, unsuccessfully. Peb shook his head weakly, and went to the kitchen, looking for any kind of disinfectant, causing a couple glasses to fall down in the hurry.

He cursed through gritting teeth and knelt down to quickly pick up the shards, jumping slightly as he sensed a presence behind him. He whirled around with eyes dilated with terror. His washed out gray-blue eyes fused with the aquamarine ones of his wife, who was blinking in perplexity, despite the veil of drowsiness he could see on her face. She was wearing a silk vest wrapping her body, with a silver necklace around her neck that vaguely sparkled in the weak light of the lamps.

- Is everything okay, darling? - She asked, also kneeling down to help him.

The Mayor shook his head, not finding further courage to look at her.

- Roy is injured, Julia. - He said in a low murmur, hearing the woman suppress a shocked gasp, and seeing her out of the corner of the eye as she brought one hand to her mouth.

- Goddess… - She whispered, her eyes wide. - Was he attacked while on a hunt with you?

She was the only one he had told the dark part of his existence. There had never been secrets between them, and even when he had had to face the great mystery looming like a shadow on his family, he hadn't had the strength to lie to her. So he had gathered all his courage and told her everything from the very beginning of what he had discoevered, sharing with her the burden of every passing year. And when he'd go outside for what she'd call hunts, a nickname she had made up when the topic would be brought up in front of their daughter and Aiden (who had moved to live with them since the nearly complete wipe of his family), Julia couldn't help but feel a weight oppressing her stomach. He'd leave her alone for hours, without allowing her to know where he would go or what he would do, or if he was alive, injured, or dead, or even if he would've returned for breakfast. And he was grateful to her for that silence, for staying to his side.

- I'll explain later, Julia. I must go back to the others. - He quickly ended the conversation, not daring to add more at the moment.

He went to the living room as quickly as he could, but after short, despite the tiredness and the fatigue brought by the sudden awakening, his wife reached them in the small room with a bottle and a few glasses, offering them to their guests after filling them.

She watched them as they furiously gulped down that burning liquor, to then find some courage and turn to look at her husband as she sat down on an empty couch.

- Peb, can I know what happened? - She asked in concern, one hand gripping nervously on the necklace on her chest.

The men exchanged lost looks, as if they couldn't know where to start themselves, oppressed by her gaze. After a few hesitations, Peb spoke himself. Without skipping a single detail, he told her of the encounter with the brother he had believed to be dead, of his capture and then his following escape. As his tale ended, the woman's eyes had somewhat gained a darker color, a green that now most resembled black.

- Oh, Goddess.. - She whispered, pointing her gaze at the floor. - Not Mirror, not him…

She kept murmuring those few words for a while, her voice now a feeble murmur as she slowly abandoned herself to sobs, too shocked by that revelation, so sudden and cruel. Just as her husband, she had believed the priest to be dead in those years. And after hearing all that, she struggled to stop her tears. She felt the strong arm of Peb wrapping around her shoulders to offer comfort, and she hid her face against his chest trying to suppress the hysterical sobs that were escaping her. Julia vented with tears before the sorry looks of everybody else, and eventually her husband help her stand up, looking at the other men, before he'd frown and hold her in her arms.

- Sst, Julia, don't cry. - He murmured heartedly, before disappearing with her towards the kitchen.

Left alone, the others focused on the furniture in the living room, left to scan every detail in oppressing silence. Then the black-haired man coughed, and as blood stained his lips they tried to make him slip out his shirt again to check on the wound, but he kept shaking his head stubbornly, one hand convulsively gripping on the arm. The pain hadn't faded even slightly from the very moment he had received that wound, and although he could feel it expanding through his whole body, much like the blood that still copiously spilled from the wound, he didn't seem to have the courage to look at the possible slaughter the priest had left on him.

- Roy, you are losing too much blood. - Marekh urged him again, sitting next to Hae, to whom he had explained the whole situation. Yet the alchemist seemed to refuse any help, although his face was growing pale. Even Hae had started to snark at him, perhaps nervous with the man's stupidity, her fingers drumming anxiously on the armrest of her couch, one foot tapping on the floor.

With a motion of the other hand she moved her white hair away from her face, shaking her head.

- Goddess damn you, Roy! - She exclaimed in exasperation. - Stop being a dumb male, and let us check that wound! If it suppurates you're on your own, I swear!

That statement didn't seem to give her the result she wanted. Roy slightly lifted his head, glaring at her. A joyless sigh escaped his lips when he met her concerned eyes.

- Just let me go home. - He murmured quietly, starting to slightly rock back and fort, perhaps in an attempt to distract himself from the pain.

The moments the Mithra and other man had to watch pass felt endless, as they stared at Roy without a word, before the Mayor would return to the living room with a pained, powerless expression on his slightly pale face.

They all pointed their gazes on him, asking on his wife's conditions in silence. He replied with a shrug and sighing upset.

- I'm afraid Julia will not recover quickly now that she knows. - He murmured, glancing at Roy, still clinging on his own arm.

He slowly approached, trying to convince him. Without a result, and perhaps frustrated by the whole events that had recently occurred, he eventually forced him to let go on his arms, forcing his shirt off, and uncovering the wound ignoring the protests and imprecations the alchemist let out.

- Watch your tongue, I don't want my daughter to hear you! And what if Aiden wakes up and sees the conditions 'uncle Roy' is in, huh? - He admonished him sternly.

Roy gave him a fiery glare, before gritting his teeth and resting against the backrest, too weak to fight back, looking at the Mayor out of the eye corner as he grabbed a mop. After pouring it with the disinfectant his wife had brought earlier, he started to dab on the wound, cleaning it from the blood, and trying to ignore the pained hisses the other let out. When he was done he sat back with the other two, staring with a shocked frown at the deep gashes carved in the alchemist's arm. It looked like he had been clawed by a ferocious beast, rather than a creature with human form. Three long gashes, that only a miracle had made it so that they wouldn't reach the bone, as deep as they were. Blood still spilled lazily from the corners, making it a terrific sight to witness.

The black-haired man stared at the ceiling sternly, refusing to look. He let out another cough.

- Why are you bleeding from your mouth too? Did it strike your organs too? Did you fall against rocks or something? - Asked Hae.

- I didn't. I'm fine. I want to go home. - Roy spoke much like a cardian would've, with mechanical, deadpan pauses.

- That is bullshit, Roy! You're not fine! - Exclaimed Marekh, gaining an admonishing glare from Peb, who then addressed to the alchemist.

- You are the one with medical knowledge here, Roy. Tell us how to help.

- I just need to go home. This is an old disease I have, I can heal myself. - Roy glanced at them, then at the door.

- And why the heck didn't you tell us you were sick? - Marekh was shushed by Hae this time, who slammed one of her heels over his foot without even looking away from Roy. The man hissed in protest, glaring at the Mithra.

Peb shook his head at the scene, but kept his eyes on Roy. - Just tell us what the medicine looks like, and we'll go get it for you. You shouldn't move in these conditions.

- Then just suture this shit and then I'll go take it. - Hissed Roy, his voice rattling. Sweat was starting to embed his forehead.

Peb exchanged a look with the others and then sighed in defeat, standing up to go to a drawer where he knew he'd find a first aid kit to suture wounds.

Marekh watched the Mayor, then leaned forward to narrow eyes at his friend. - Stop being a goddamn brat, Roy. Give me your key. - He said in a snarl. - You can't get up like that. It looks like a werewolf practiced its first bites on you.

Roy looked up in his chestnut eyes, seeing them dilated with anxiety. He then shrugged and looked away with a bitter smile. Then he reached up to gingerly touch his wound, grimacing in pain as he watched his fingertips red with blood.

- I didn't even get a chance to shoot at him, damn it. - He muttered, almost flared up. - He dashed so fast on me that I didn't even realize he had clawed me.

The silence filled the room again. All what could be heard for the following minutes were the natural sounds outside of the house, the insisting and continuous chirping of the birds, as if they were trying to wake the sun itself to rise. Then, Hae took a deep sigh, looking at them, her lips parting to speak.

- Gentlemen, I believe it's time that we set up to eradicate this problem once for all. - She said solemnly, as she looked down to stare with scarce interest at her feet.

She received an odd look from the others, as if they couldn't believe her words. A sigh filled the room.

- You haven't seen what that vampire is able of, Hae. - Marekh's was almost a whisper, as he weakly shook his head to then focus back on the Mayor, who resumed to work on Roy's wound to suture the wound as best as he could.

- We know fire can hurt them, no? - Insisted the Mithra, looking at him fiercely. - A pyre and some emblems should suffice, no?

Marekh was about to counter that when Peb spoke, as he still worked on Roy's wounded arm. The alchemist's gaze kept staring at the ceiling.

- Emblems don't do anything at all. - He said with a deadpan tone, seemingly calm. - We kept him in a holy Church for two days, and he didn't turn into ash as the folklore implies. - He snapped the thread with his teeth, then worked on wrapping the arm with a bandage.

- This doesn't prove much. - Insisted Hae, gaining a glare from Peb.

- You'd think otherwise, had you been there. - He stood up, shaking his head before approaching the window, his gaze lost in the horizon, still dark. - He stood on the altar like an angel of death, his gaze pointed at the Goddess. - He said in a murmur, as he turned to look at her. - It doesn't work on him anymore, and it probably won't on the others. What I've seen is worth a thousand words.

Once again, the room went quiet for several minutes. Nobody talked, everyone focused on different parts of the living room, exchanging glances every now and then, as if to check the others' expressions.

Roy had started to gingerly touch his arm, careful not to touch the sutured wounds, noticing a few little blood patches staining the candid bandage. He was shaking and looked sick, as he rested his head on the armrest again, closing his eyes as if to calm down the dizziness. A strange terror he had never felt before had possessed him, when he had seen the priest dart towards him with that inhuman speed. The terrific force he had shown was still shaking him. Never, ever would he have believed that vampires possessed such a strong power. And something, inside him, told him there was more to come.

But he had no time left to lay down.

He sat up, with an hiss that caught everyone's attention. Before everybody else, Peb put his hand on his other shoulder to push him back down. - You're staying here. - He said sternly.

Roy fought the pressure. - No, I must go home. Like hell if I'm staying here to stain your couch, Peb.

- You are too sick to stay on your own. You've lost a lot of blood.

The black-haired man glared at him. - And just what can you do? Call the doctor and tell her what happened? The whole village will know before the next sunset. And then… - He interrupted, making a gagging sound as he bent down to cough more. More blood stained the wooden floor, and everybody looked in terror.

Peb didn't understand what could've been causing that damage inside his guard. Only when he noticed one of Roy's hands mechanically reaching for something on his chest, something that wasn't there, he understood.

He was going for an imaginary pocket.

- … So that's your medicine.

Roy looked up, panting, his eyes, of a slight almond shape, narrowed as they met Peb's look of realization.

- For how long… - Peb frowned and went for Roy's coat, rummaging in the pockets without even asking for permission. They quickly found the flask he had seen him drinking from, empty. He opened it and brought it to his nose, smelling it.

He had idea what that smell was, but it certainly didn't smell like an 'energy drink'.

- What is this, Roy?

Roy looked away, his shoulders drooping in surrender. - I didn't give it a name. But really… - He looked up at him. - It's nothing bad, I swear. So please, just let me go home.

Peb was about to reply, when he felt the flask be forcefully slipped out of his grip. He watched Marekh frowning at it and then smelling it, before putting it in a pocket.

- I'll go get it. I can recognize it. - He simply said, to then head to Roy's coat, to rummage in its pockets just as Peb had earlier. The rustling metallic sound of a keyring filled the room.

- Marekh, … no. - Roy managed to sit up, sounding extremely fatigued. - Give it back, I can go. I'm fine.

The chestnut-haired man didn't even look at his friend, as he walked towards the door. He couldn't even make it to the door though, before he felt a grip on his shoulder. He turned to look at Roy, as surprised as the others were as they had watched him stand up so quickly to reach him and grab him despite his weakened state. But what shocked Marekh hadn't been the energy spurt of the alchemist, he knew all too well the fiery determination Roy was capable of.

It was his eyes. The black pools of Roy's eyes, that usually would transmit a friendly warmth, and instill safety and carefree, were now giving a cold, deadly feeling. For the first time, Marekh had almost the impression to manage to see the pupil apart from the black irids, and it was thin, very thin. Two narrowed dots. The eyes of who's ready to kill.

- Give it… back. - He whispered with a terrifyingly cold voice.

Marekh gritted teeth, and as he was about to reply with one of his usual snarks, he instead found himself having to support his friend's full weight, as Roy's grip went loose and he started to fall down limply, consciousless.

Peb and Hae trotted to help Marekh, and Peb ran one of Roy's arms over his neck to pull him up. - He must've passed out from blood loss… - He said, frowning at the unconscious man.

Hae's tail twisted in nervousness. - Yeah, and to have more of it come out of his mouth isn't gonna help. - She looked at Marekh. - You still going to his place? I'm coming too.

The man nodded and looked at Peb. - Can you hold him still until we're done?

- Just be quick. - Said the Mayor, starting to move towards the couch. - I'd rather to take care of at least this problem before the next night.

Son of Darkness: Act XIII - 'Y' and 'N'

The village, 908 C.E.

It was one of the brightest days the village had ever experienced. It was almost like the climate itself was in celebration, rejoicing with the two lovers who had chosen that day to coronate their dream of love.

The ceremony for their weddings had ended about half a hour ago, and the groom stared dreamily at the woman that had become his wife, as she kept an excited chat with the guests before the feast would start, with a sweet, tender smile painted on her full pink lips, irradiating her face and that had always charmed him. He let out a dreamy sigh, sitting at one of the great tables occupying the main square of the town, sipping some wine from time to time, his gaze still lost in her contemplation. He couldn't help but feel to be a lucky man. A very lucky man, even.

- They'll start to think you're stupid, if you keep looking at her like that. - He heard a warm, muffled voice behind him, and he turned to look at his friend and brother, watching him with an amused smile.

He smiled back, rubbing his head. Then he focused back on his wife, who was still joyfully chatting. - Isn't she beautiful? - He asked, in a sigh of pure pleasure, hearing a feeble chuckle. The braided man sat next to him, looking at her as well. He crossed hands under his chin, with his elbows on the edge of the table and his back slightly leaning forward, as he let out another chuckle to himself. It wasn't a scoffing laughter. Only a strange sort of amusement.

- Still trying to induce me in temptation as usual, Peb? - He asked cheerfully, finally retrieving his attention. He in fact received a puzzled glare, along with an arched eyebrow. Then his friend fixed the glasses on his nose, smiling.

- Actually, I do am still convinced that you would become a girl magnet. - He laughed, patting his shoulder and watching him blush.

The brown-haired young man cleared his throat, reaching out to one of the glasses of wine on the table, glancing around before quickly sipping at it under the amused gaze of his friend.

- Oh if the Abbot catches you doing that, that would be fun. - He commented, receiving a gold-streaked glare.

The other pulled the glass away from his lips to put it back on the table, pushing it away from himself, still careful not to be seen by the old priest who had celebrated the ceremony and who was discussing with the groom's father at the time. - I'll just say it's water. - He said, grinning.

Peb shook his head, looking at the two men not too far from the table as well, to then focus his blue-gray eyes back on the braided's face. - Oh, of course. And he'll obviously believe you. - He said jokingly. - It's already a miracle he allowed you to join us in the celebration, unlike the other clerics. - He added.

At those words, Mirror let out a feeble laughter. He brought one hand to his mouth to suffocate the hilarity, his brown eyes shining with joy. - Had you not insisted there, I'd still be in the Church right now. - He pointed out, with a grateful tone.

Peb opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the voice of the woman who was now his wife, as she approached them with her usual sweet smile. She gave her husband a kiss, to then greet with an amused now the braided man. - It's a real pleasure to have you here, Mirror. - She turned to him, smiling more.

He greeted her in the same, standing up with reverence. - The pleasure is all mine, Julia. - He said smiling, feeling his friend's gaze pointed on him. - Besides, I had to make sure Peb wouldn't mess it up as always.

That caused a burst of hilarity in the woman, who laughed. A crystal clear laughter. - You should be used to that by now, no? - She said, lovely tilting her head to one side. - Speaking of you though, don't you think you've spent too many years in that Church already?

The priest shrugged sheepishly, shaking his head. - I've been walking the path of Altana for ten years now; to abandon it not would mean to abandon my faith and myself. - He confessed, moving the chair slightly to allow her to sit in his place. - So, I shall keep on dutifully dedicate myself to this path.

The woman gave him an askance look, sitting next to her husband, and motioned that he'd sit as well, but he kindly declined the invite, lowering his head.

- In that case, I hope you will be the one to baptize our future child, Mirror. - She said smiling at him, and causing a slight red to touch his cheeks, which didn't escape to the vigil gaze of the broom, who chuckled quietly. He received a glare from his wife, but it was an amused one. Still, he raised his hands in surrender, glancing again at the braided man. Then the woman stood back up, giving him another kiss. - I'll be right back. - She said, leaving them alone again.

They looked at each other for a bit, smiling. Peb motioned to him to sit next to him, and after some hesitation, the cleric gave up, taking a long sigh and feeling his friend's hand resting on his shoulder. - See, she thinks you should focus on yourself a little more too. - He said calmly, watching him sigh again. - But I see your mind is set.

The braided man nodded joylessly, looking up at the beautiful cerulean sky. A trembling smile touched his thin lips, as he looked back at his friend, who was still staring at him with his blue-gray pools, shining behind his glasses. - There you go again, inducing me in temptation. - He replied with a grin, watching him blink skeptically.

The other put one hand on his own chest, shaking his head. - I swear, I was not trying to. - He grinned, winking in his direction.

Mirror moved absently one lock of hair from his face. - I'll pretend to believe you. - He chuckled as well, daring to reach out again in direction of the glass and sip at the wine again quickly. Then, as if he had remembered something, he put it down and looked serious. - I still haven't congratulated with you. - He said seriously.

Peb arched an eyebrow, before bursting in a loud laughter that made him frown. He pat his shoulder in amusement. - And what for? - He asked innocently.

- What do you mean 'what for', Peb!? - Exclaimed the other, frowning. - For marrying!

He waved one hand dismissively, running his arm behind his shoulders. He looked at him with a grin irradiating his face. - Save your congratulations for when I'll be a father.

Mirror looked flustered at that, but then nodded and smiled, before letting his gaze roam around the square again.

His friend mimicked him, and then pointed at something with a nod. - Now, there's someone who has no troubles in focusing on himself.

The cleric followed the direction of his gaze, to spot Roy, sporting his favorite uniform as a guard of the village, talking to two women under a tree in the corner of the square. He couldn't recognize the women.

- He's at it again, I'm sure. - Continued Peb with a chuckle. - Though I can't tell if he's having much luck.

- I… seriously hope not. It hasn't been even a couple weeks since when he and his last girlfriend broke up. - Said Mirror, with a rather consternated tone. - And that woman is clearly pregnant…!

Peb shook his head, leaning back on his chair. - Oh, he's after the younger one, not her.

Mirror arched an eyebrow. - How can you tell? He seems to be talking to her more.

- It's one of his strategies, I know him. - The son of the Mayor waved one hand in amusement. - He's trying to impress her without oppressing her with his attention. He's also gaining her cousin's trust so that she may convince her to consider him at a later time. And, I think he's also causing her some jealousy for the small attention. That's killing two birds with one stone.

Mirror kept looking at the group under the tree, trying to study their expression and understand how his friend had been able to analyze them in such detail. - You're terrific when you're like this. It's like you can read minds.

Peb laughed again, drinking some wine. - This is all stuff you get to learn when you deal with men like him for too long.

- Who are those women, anyway?

- Oh. - Peb put down the glass, and motioned at a few other guests spread in the celebrating crowd in the street. - They're new in the village. A family of nomads, I think… not sure from where. They don't talk our language much, but are going to stay here until that woman's child is born and safe to move.

Mirror frowned, looking at those Peb had pointed at. He counted six of them, including one man who was keeping distant from everyone, with a short braid on his back, and folded arms in a reluctant frown. He seemed to not have noticed his two female companions and their "predator" to the other side of the square.

- Oh… Gypsies?

- No idea. - His friend shrugged.

The cleric took a deep breath and leaned against the backrest. - So they're not staying, huh…? Poor Roy…

- Oh, I think that's a plus to him. - Peb shook his head. - A woman with an unreliable presence is just what he needs. Plus, I think about any of the local girls knows his dread of the altar.

The two shook their heads simultaneously at that, and then grinned at each other.





It didn't take too long for Hae and Marekh to reach Roy's house. It was only five blocks away from the local tavern, and one block from the doctor's house. The shutters of the windows were all closed, and given the hour it wouldn't have been strange, if it weren't for the visible rust and spider webs over them, like they hadn't been parted open in several years.

The white-haired woman walked around the western corner of the house as Marekh started to test the few keys in the keyring, looking for the one that would open the main door. She frowned as she found what had once been Roy's greenhouse, that he'd use to raise plants for his medicines, especially the most exotic ones that he couldn't find at the local market and had to get shipped from foreign lands: it was now a mass of wild plants. Vines, leaves, and roots twisted on each other, covering the small transparent building in a dark green dome, now rotting due to the bad weather. There were no flowers blooming, only a massive amount of all kinds of leaves and stems. The Mithra gave a dejecting sigh, remembering the beauty that place one had. The greenhouse had improved and expanded a lot after Roy and Sophia had started to officially date. The girl's family knowledge in herbs had helped him discover many new varieties of medicaments, beautiful exotic plants and flowers that had healed several people, and also made more than a girl's heart jump in delight. Often times Sophia would bring a bouquet of new flowers to Hae's orphanage for the girls to use.

Roy had let it go wasted shortly after Sophia's death. It was probably a good reflection of his heart now.

- Headmonstress~

The Mithra turned to glare at Marekh with a twitching eye, as he motioned to the opened door before him with a smirk.

- Ladies first, come on in.

- I'm not following you in the bedroom. - She said deadpan as she stepped back onto the porch with him.

She heard him chuckle as she entered the house, and he mischievously whispered near her ear. - As if I'd need a bed with you.

- You're disgusting. - She rolled her eyes and then frowned as she looked around. - Wait, don't close the door.

- You're that afraid of me?

- No, you moron. Look. - She waited for him to turn away from the door and glance around in the complete darkness of the house. - Can't see a span from our noses here. We'll need the light.

- Oh, sure. Let's sit here for over a hour till the sun rises, then. - He said with sarcasm. - Aren't cats supposed to be able to see in the dark?

She threw a glance at him. - I'm as close to a cat as you are to a dog, Marekh. Lick your balls and maybe I'll start seeing in the d… - She trailed off, and then walked up to a window next to the door.

Marekh followed her with his eyes. - What?

She looked at him, holding up a candle. - Got a light?

The man patted his own pockets, until he pulled out a lighter. He had to snap it a couple times before a thin orange flame would burst to light the candle. A thin sphere of light surrounded them, scarcely radiating the room, and giving form to ominous dancing shadows with the bodies of the two. The Mithra and the Hume looked around, both showing expressions of disgust and surprise.

- What the hell…

- I don't think he has used this in a good while. - Said Hae, looking at the dusty breakfast bar and empty shelves. - I can hardly tell this is a kitchen.

Marekh was frowning. - That guy really needs a woman for this place.

- Hey. - The woman admonished him with a glare. Marekh glanced at her and then shrugged.

- All right, all right. I take that back. - He sighed. - He'd need at least six to fix this place up.

- That vampire should've clawed you instead. - Muttered the woman, heading to a shelf with the candle to look inside. - In the crotch.

- You would've been the first to jump up to tend to me, if that were the case. - Marekh ignored the hiss coming from the Mithra, and looked at what she was doing. - Are you seriously hoping to find it here?

- It's worth a try. - She said, glancing at him. - Why? Where do you think he would keep his medicines?

- He had a sort of lab corner. I know where it is. I've been here often. - The man pointed out, folding arms.

The white-haired sighed as she opened a few drawers. - Yes, I've heard Sophia complain about how you'd often come uninvited for a free meal… - She arched an eyebrow at him, letting her look finish her sentence.

The man snorted. - Fine, let's split then. Give me that candle.

- I need light too. - She looked around the nodded to the window on the opposite side of the one where they had found the first candle. - There's another over there.

Marekh turned and walked to the window, moving a chair away to retrieve the candle on the windowsill. - Ack, it's broken…! - He said, turning the candle in his hands. - …. Nevermind.

- Hmm? - Hae looked up from the drawers to watch him approach the lit candle on the breakfast bar.

- It's just carved. - Marekh turned the candle to show her a handmade scratch on the wax, drawing a 'N' on its surface.

- 'N'? - She frowned at it. - What does that mean?

Marekh shrugged and reached out to lit the candle. - Not a clue.

- Hold on, stop.

The man looked up from what he was doing, to the Mithra stepping up to him. - What?

She grabbed the lit candle, frowning at it, and then showed it to the Hume. - Look.

They both examined the surface of the lit candle, that she kept up so that she didn't need to bend it and risk burning her hand with its hot wax to watch. On the surface, carved about at the same depth of the cut on the other candle (and by the looks of it, with the same tool too), was a carving resembling an 'Y'.

Marekh arched a skeptical eyebrow as he noticed the worried look behind the Mithra's glasses. Shrugging, he proceeded to lit his candle, speaking with a playful tone. - The plot thickens, Headmistress.

- You don't think this is strange one bit?

- I don't really care what this means nor why Roy seemed to be so desperately trying to hide his candle fetishism. - He said blandly. - I just want to find that medicine and leave. This place creeps me out.

He moved to head to the living room, and looked back when he heard the light footsteps of the Mithra close behind him. - I thought we were going to split?

The Mithra's ears swiveled back for a moment, and she looked away. - Y-You're right, it's not there. So for now I'll tag along. Show the way.

The Hume smirked before walking in the living room. The room was as dark as the previous ones. It was a large room, with its longest side occupying the full northern wall of the house (the one facing the greenhouse), and it seemed to function as both living and dining room. It had three couches, the largest of which was placed in the middle of the room, working as a divisor between the living area and the dining table. The table was sized for six chairs, but was missing one. Between the couches was a lower table, with a vase at its centered. The flowers in it were too dry and withered for Hae to sense their smell, but her guess was that it was what was left of a bouquet of lilacs: Sophia's favorite flowers. Before the table was a chimney full of ash and dust, and on the southern wall, next to the door from which they had entered, was a well-replenished library, with some books to the ground. On all the walls were small frames with paintings completely hidden by dust.

Hae knelt down to pick up one of the books, but let it slip off her fingers as the light of her candle showed something red under it. With a gasp she jerked back, almost bumping against Marekh, who raised an eyebrow in her direction. In reply she nodded towards the book, and he moved it with the tip of his boot, to reveal a dry blood stain on the floor.

- It's dry. I think it's his, he said he had that disease for a while now. - He said after a few seconds.

The Mithra took a deep, self-imposed breath, one hand on her chest to instill herself control. Then shook her head. - How could nobody seriously notice the conditions Roy lives in? This is awful.

Marekh didn't reply, and walked around the couches to reach a window. On the windowsill he found another candle, and after watching it, he tossed it in Hae's direction, who grabbed it with a questioning frown. She looked at it.

- Another 'Y'…? - She looked back at the Hume, who had opened the glass of the window and was now fighting with the shutters to open them and possibly shed some of the outside light in the room, when the sun would've risen.

He let out a string of curses, and then gave up on pulling. - These suckers are stuck…!

Hae sighed and looked at the other window in the room. Another candle was on that windowsill. She approached it and wasn't too surprised to find an 'N' carved on it. What was the meaning of all of that?

Mechanically she let her gaze space into the room, to a blank spot in the wall opposite to the chimney. She wasn't sure why she had looked there at first: there was absolutely nothing there. Only after a few moments she realized that something should have been there. It was a photo, one of those expensive pictures that could be made with special technologies in the Far East. Roy had once taken Sophia there for a summer holiday, and had used all his money for a portrait of him and her with one of those strange devices. They hung it right there, and Hae had always looked at it whenever she'd go visit them in the house. They looked so happy in it… Where had that frame gone?

She was snapped out of her thoughts by a loud bang. The Mithra let out a shocked exclamation, and whirled around to watch Marekh. The Hume had grabbed one of the fireplace's pokers to use as a lever to break the shutters open, causing the wooden shutters to crack.

- Are you out of your mind!? - She exclaimed.

He tossed the poker behind himself and took the candle back in his hand, shrugging at her. - What? It wouldn't open. I can't breathe in here, the air is so stiff!

- They're gonna think we're thieves if you keep making all this noise! How are you going to explain if they fi–

The Mithra stopped, her eyes going wide, her mouth still open. She seemed to be gasping.

Marekh cocked up an eyebrow. - Hae? What bit you?

- Sst! - She shushed him, and looked over her shoulder, very slowly, listening intently. She was sure she had heard a creak.

Nothing.

She slowly turned the rest of her body to look at the south-western corner of the room, to the right of the door they had entered. There was a staircase leading up to the bedrooms. Under the stairs was a door, partially open. There, she was sure of it.

- Something's wrong? - Marekh's voice surprised her slightly when she realized how quietly he had arrived next to her. She glared at him and then nodded towards the door.

- I heard something. Like a rustle, a creak.. not sure.

- Ah, that's the basement. - The Hume shrugged, and gave her a friendly pat, perhaps too low on her back. - It was probably a rat. Given the conditions of this place, I don't dare to think how that place would look now. It's probably crawling with disgusting, little things. - He completed with a playful tone.

- You're not funny. - She scowled, and then pushed him away with her elbow, and looked away. - Anyways… these candles are really not normal. Do you see how he only put them near the windows? Always a 'N' and an 'Y'…

- Now you're getting paranoid. - The man started to climb up the staircase, motioning to follow. - Come on, it's this way.

The woman huffed, then followed, using one hand to lift her long skirt as she took the first steps. After going up the fourth, she stopped. What was that smell she suddenly felt?

It was…

… Lilacs?

She turned her head to look behind, at the low table between the couches. The withered flowers were still in their green vase. Dry and lifeless, their scent long gone.

She smelled the air again, more carefully. She could detect nothing anymore. The perfume was gone as quickly as it had arrived, as if carried by a draft. Perhaps it had come from the now open window. Yes, that was the only possible answer.

With a sigh, she quickly trotted upstairs to catch up with Marekh.

They walked past the closed door that the man blatantly ignored, saying it wasn't important.

- What's in there? - Hae had never went upstairs, for a reason or another. Marekh however, she knew all too well he was the guy as likely to enter from your door as much as your window.

- Guests' room.

- A room for guests? That's … rare. Only the richest houses have those. - She commented, glancing back at the door.

- It's actually the room for kids. - He said with a shrug as they walked through the corridor. - For now he's used it for guests.

- Ah, right. Roy Mustang. - The Mithra let out a sad chuckle. - Always escaping the duty of the head of the family. He hasn't ran away from the threat of an altar in a while, huh? Maybe he's finally got some sense beat into him…

- … He was going to ask her to marry him.

The Mithra looked up from the floor, watching the man stop in contemplation. - What?

- Sophia. He wanted to marry her. - He said as calmly as before, perhaps with a veil of annoyance.

Hae thought the Hume was again trying to play with her. - Are we talking about the same Roy Mustang?

He turned towards a door they had reached, grabbing the doorknob before looking at her. - Nobody believes me when I say that, but you all seem to forget I'm the one who has most often heard him talk when he's drunk.

One of the corners of Hae's mouth pulled in a sarcastic grin. - You've answered it yourself. Drunk.

- There's drunk and drunk, ma'am. He's the 'sincere when drunk' type. - He said opening the door and entering.

She followed him, shaking her head and rolling her eyes skeptically. - All right, I'm not going to argue your experience on that.

- Good. - He said, using the candle to slowly scan the room, holding it up and high. - Ah, there. - He walked up to a small desk with a mirror, and held up an unlit candle in triumph. - See? 'N'. And it's not by the window.

Hae frowned at him, first glancing at the mirror under which the candle was, then looking at the window on the opposite side of the room. - There is still a candle there, though. And I bet it's an 'Y'.

The Hume went to it and grabbed the other candle for inspection, then shrugged. - Yeah well, it is an 'Y', all right. But they're not both by the window, see? You're a paranoid old lady.

- Maybe… there's a reason they must be separate…?

- Then why put one by the mirror? Why not just go to another window? Hmm?

- That's the only window in the room. Maybe he needs two candles in each room and…

- Oh come on, who cares! - Marekh walked to another desk, near the wardrobe. - Anyways, I'm sure his… wait.

- What is it? - The Mithra walked around the large bed (which didn't look like it had been used that often either) to go where the chestnut-haired one was. - Is this not the lab corner you talked about?

- It is… - Marekh frowned. - Or was… I don't understand where all his stuff could've gone.

The Mithra looked around, but saw nothing similar to alchemic tools. - Maybe he got rid of it?

- And how does he make his medicine, then? - He said, glaring at her.

She looked up at him, then down, in thought. There really wasn't an answer she could find. She shook her head and opened her mouth to try come up with the most logical theory, but was interrupted by another loud sound. Yelping, this time Hae practically pushed herself against Marekh's body, her glasses almost slipping from her nose as she buried her head in his jacket.

The man had also jumped, but although she could feel his heart racing, he seemed to have regained control faster than her. - It's nothing, it's nothing. Chill out, Headmistress, look. The door slammed, nothing else.

Panting, she looked up and fixed her glasses to look back behind her. The door of the room was still slightly moving back open with a little creak.

- How did it slam…? - She asked, and hated herself for the trembling tone in her voice.

- It's probably the wind from the window I opened. - Marekh snickered. - However, if you're liking this so much, we can just stand here for a lil bit longer. The bed seems like it hasn't seen some action in a while too, if you want~

- Oh, please! - Hae elbowed him again and stomped out of the room, fuming.

- Hey…! Don't go without me! We haven't found the medicine yet! - He said in amusement, catching up to her.

She rolled eyes and glared at him as they passed the bathroom and went back downstairs. - At this point I doubt it's here. We've looked everywhere.

- Nah, there's still the basement. - The Hume stopped as they reached the bottom of the staircase, and turned towards the door under the staircase. - I'll go get it real quick, you wait here. Y'know, I wouldn't want you to see one of those big, ugly rats and swoon in front of m-

Marekh fell quiet when the doorknob he had just grabbed was pulled out of his hand and the door slammed shut before him.

He stepped back and stared at the door, startled. Then he looked at Hae. The Headmistress had let her candle fall to the floor, and both her hands were covering her mouth in fear, her stubborn mask of pride completely knocked out. Her eyes, perhaps bigger because of the darkness, were dilated and pointed at the door. Only after a few seconds they moved on him, and her thoughts seemed to arrive to Marekh's mind as if a sort of telepathy had formed between the two.

Don't. Open. That door.

The Hume frowned, noticing the woman's breath coming out as steam through her fingers. When did the air get so cold? What was going on all of a sudden?

Something… something was off in that house.

Something was terribly off…

No. What was he thinking? He wouldn't have let some play of wind and darkness scare him like a brat. There was absolutely nothing threatening in that house. Marekh knew it. Hell, he had moved in those corridors in the darkness countless times before, when he'd sneak in to eat something from Roy's kitchen or borrow his extra room when his wife would kick him outside after a bad argument, before they had divorced.

He grabbed the doorknob again, and pulled it. The door resisted, refusing to open. It wasn't locked though, Marekh was sure it was open when he had first attempted to enter. It was fighting his strength, but swaying enough for him to be sure there wasn't a metal tooth locking it. He tried twice. Then three, four times.

- What are you doing…!? - Asked the Mithra in exasperation as she watched him plant one foot on the wall to use further strength.

- I think that blow of wind got it stuck somehow…! - He said, pulling again. - Why don't you help me instead of staying there?

Hae watched him put the candle down to use both hands on the doorknob. - Marekh, I don't think it's just stu–

The smell of lilacs reached her nose again.

Vivid. Strong. Fresh.

Then a clinking sound…

Marekh let the door go and walked next to her, staring intently towards the staircase above them, from where the sound was coming from. Something small, and of a crystal-like sound was clinking down the steps with a rhythmical movement. Clink…Clink…Clink…

The item finally reached the bottom of the stairs. The two frowned, and it took them some time to recognize the shape of a closed vial made with glass. It had some liquid inside.

Hae and Marekh exchanged a look, and then they slightly stepped back when the vial seemed to move of its own accord and take a turn to roll towards them. It stopped but one yalm from the Mithra's feet.

The man looked at the vial again, then walked past the vial and ran to the bottom of the stairs, looking up towards the top. The darkness was too thick for him to see anything though. Hae instead slowly knelt down to take the vial, and looked at it in her hands. Against the light of the candle, the liquid seemed pure gold. What was it, and who had thrown it down?

She kept smelling lilacs, and that made her uneasy. She knew there was something about that scent that should've made her worry… but right there and then, she couldn't recall. It had to be some other folklore tale, one of those that the Mayor had lately seemed to distrust so much. But what…?

That's when she noticed it. Right before her eyes. Where she had picked up the vial.

Something on the floor. In her shadow created by the small candle.

The surface seemed to be… rippling… like dark water.

A strange play of light and darkness, perhaps?

She reached out to touch it, to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

Suddenly, the house was shaken by an incredibly loud mass of many noises. Every drawer, every shutter in the house seemed to simultaneously slam open, in a chorus of creaking wood and metal, and also of something scratching on glass, yes that's what it sounded like. It was all so sudden and cluttered, it was like the house itself had released an inhuman scream. Marekh quickly grabbed the Mithra's arm and dragged her out of the window, running away as fast as he could right as the first rays of the sun peeked in the horizon to kiss the awakening village with the light of a new, dreadful day…

[[Note: The first half of this chapter was written by Draenen. I didn't change anything except the symbols for dialogue from "…" to -…-. Nothing else, I promise! Why do I post it then and not Drae, you ask? Cause she's lazy! Happy reading!]]

Son of Darkness: Act XIV - Yearning Altana's Power

In his feverish state, Roy wasn’t sure when the tapping on the window started. Perhaps only a minute had passed, perhaps two hours, he didn’t know. But when the endless repetition of the familiar staccato finally penetrated his mind, he quickly slid out of bed and moved to the window in the guest room of Peb’s house. Two burning amber eyes stared at him from the darkness, and he quickly threw up the sash.

- … I cannot enter. - Malay’s voice came from the darkness of her shadow cloak. - I need to be invited by those who live here, and you’re but a guest. - She paused, the hood of the cloak tilting slightly as if she was listening. - Sophe has been worried; you did not come home last night. You had ‘visitors’ last night at home, as well, did you know?

- … I vaguely remember Marekh and Hae telling some story this morning… - Roy stepped back to sit on the edge of the bed. - How did they get ahold of my medicine? They didn’t go…?

- We kept them from the basement… however, it would be wise to think that they suspect something now. - Gloved hands appeared, pushing back the hood of the cloak to reveal Malay’s death-white face. Her eyes were burning with even greater intensity as she pointed at the lightly bloodied bandages on Roy’s arm. - You were injured. Come… let me check it.

Roy hesitated, feeling a hypnotic pull to her words, but managed to shake his head. - I better not. The smell is making you—

Malay waved a hand in dismissal. - Yes, but I have recently fed; I can control it. And Sophe has already threatened to haunt me for the rest of my life if I did such a thing to you. - She glanced to her right. - I stand corrected; unpleasantly haunt.

- … Don’t tell me there’s another body that’ll be found in a few days… - Roy groaned as he stood up and moved to the window.

- … She had such large, beautiful brown eyes and the silkiest hair… - Malay sounded almost dreamy as she recounted her kill, then chuckled at an unheard comment and at Roy’s expression. - Then again, all prized cattle are so carefully cared for. And the cow should survive; I didn’t take too much. - She took Roy’s arm and peeled back the bandages, her fingers ghosting over the stitched claw marks. - … This was the Priest’s work, yes?

Roy’s eyes narrowed. - You knew about him?

- Yes. - She glanced to her right, listening for a moment. - I did not think it relevant. They keep him close to home at all ti— I never considered him a threat; I did better my first night, alone, than he’s done this past decade under their constant watch. - Malay rolled her eyes as she looked back at Roy. - Can you calm her down? Stuff is going to start flying off the walls soon, she’s so worked up.

An hour passed, Roy standing at the window with his arm extended outside while Malay meticulously examined the wound and simultaneously repeated Sophia’s unheard words. Only a few minutes in, Malay had given Sophia a command in their native language, and occasionally Roy could feel cold, unseen fingers touching him in one spot and then another. Any other time, he would have shivered even though he know to whom they belonged to, but with the fever running through him they were little pricks of relief. A small bubble began to form just under the skin by the stitches, and finally Malay let out a pleased sound and pulled a knife from her belt.

- … Hold still, this will be painful. - She pricked the bubble with the tip of the knife, and a trickle of white fluid with a bit of red blood swirling throughout began to run from the wound. - … I have observed the Priest in the past biting or licking his nails… Vampire saliva has some odd properties; blood servants become mindless thralls not from some mental domination. It’s a chemical in the saliva that works like a powerfully addictive drug. - She wiped the fluid off his arm with a scrap of cloth, then directed Roy to put pressure on the spot to stop the bleeding. - If anyone else is wounded in such a way, Sophe knows how to do this now. Bring them up here at night and she’ll take care of it; just act like you’re doing something in the meantime, so they don’t suspect she’s around.

Roy frowned, then turned to the empty space to Malay’s right. - This is further away from your cottages than my house… Are you going to be able to make the trip safely in the morning?

- Oh. Yes… that’s right. - Malay leaned towards the nearby tree and plucked a sack from the branches. - We found a way to get around the ‘must be in the tomb before the sun breaks the horizon’ thing. - She removed what looked like a plain jewelry box with a slit carved in the top from the bag and handed it to Roy. - It’s called a ‘resting box’. It’s made from the wood that used to be the rafters of her house, lined with stones from the foundation, and filled with ashes from the hearth. Keep it from getting into direct sunlight, and you’ll basically be able to carry Sophe around with you where-ever you go. - She fished out two candles from the bag, already carved with ‘N’s and ‘Y’s, and placed them on the sill alongside several vials of Roy’s medicine. - Just in case they keep you here a bit longer. Oh, and I’ve already put another resting box in your lab.

- … You think of everything, don’t you? - Roy chuckled.

- Not me. - Malay dropped the empty sack onto the floor inside the room. - This was all Sophe’s doing. Except the resting box; I traded for that information while I was off to the West last month. - She drew her cloak back around her, and flipped the hood back over her face. - Now, if you’ll excuse me… I’ve got an alpha Vampire to try to slay. You kids be careful. - With that, the black shadow melted into the night.

Roy shook his head and started to pull the window closed, then stopped. - … Are you already in the room, Sophe? - A puff of cold air on the back of his neck confirmed where the ghost was, and he eased the window shut as quietly as possible. He picked up the two candles, looked at them, and then placed them back on the sill. - … I hope you don’t mind, but I’m very tired. If I’m still here tomorrow night, I’ll properly set up the candles for you then. - He returned to the bed and carefully stashed the resting box underneath where it wouldn’t be seen, then settled down to sleep.

As he finally nodded back off he saw, just as he had seen on a few occasions since learning how and what to look for, a brief glimpse of Sophia sitting on the edge of the bed next to him, like some pale guardian.

I’ll be here. Her mouth formed the words, though he couldn’t hear her voice. I love you…





Roy's sleep that night was dreamless and quiet. One of the best moments of rest he had had in a long time, despite the pain still stinging his arm from time to time, whenever he'd shift his position. Luckily for him, he liked to sleep on his stomach rather than his side, allowing him to not grieve the wound with weight and at the same time get the best rest.

However, the blood loss and fever of the past day had burned so much of his energy, he felt little to no recovery in his system, so much that when he opened his eyes, he felt like he had just blinked since the moment he had closed them many hours ago. There were differences though. There were two thin columns of light piercing the air across the room from the window, the angle of which suggested him that it had to be past noon.

The other difference was that sitting to the side of the bed next to him, where he vaguely remembered having seen Sophia last night, was now a young teenager boy with curly black hair and familiar golden eyes, staring in silence at him.

Roy frowned, and cleared his throat, pushing his face off of the pillow with the help of his good arm. - Aiden… - His voice sounded hoarse.

The young boy moved his lips in a shy 'hi', though no sound came out. He looked down, biting his lower lip. A rather familiar behavior that Roy had learned to recognize. The man rubbed one eye, sitting up.

- What's wrong, Aiden?

- I saw you, last night. - Said the boy, so quickly and in such a low tone of voice, Roy initially thought he had misheard. He convinced himself he hadn't when the boy added: - Mister Renford said to keep an ear for you, in case you needed your forehead to be cooled. I was sleeping with my door opened, and I heard you talk. You were at the window.

Roy initially opened his mouth to bring up some excuse, much likely a lie. He closed it, remorse haunting him. Then he sighed, and with his hand brushed his hair backwards. - I've told you before… I make weird dreams. I was probably sleep-walking…

- You called aunt's name.

A throb in the chest he had expected to come. Roy's voice was but a murmur. - I must've dreamed of her, then…

- Did you dream my Momma, too?

Roy lowered his hand from his eyes, and looked at the boy, his frown furrowing. - Aiden,,?

- Is she okay, uncle Roy…? - He insisted, his gaze firm on Roy, but clearly intimidated, as if he believed he was talking about something extremely dangerous and forbidden. And maybe it was. - I haven't … dreamed Momma… in a while.

The alchemist felt the urge to gulp. Something was stuck at the bottom of his throat, making him feel terribly pressured. - Aiden, can you pick up my medicine for me? It's over… - He glanced at the windowsill at the end of the bed, and his worry grew when he realized the vials weren't there anymore. The candles were gone too.

- Mister Renford took them early this morning when he came to check on you. - Said the boy, standing up and trotting to the door. - I'll call him. Be right back.

Without a chance to reply with words he couldn't even think of, Roy instantly bent over to check under the bed, clenching teeth at the sharp pain on his arm and chest as he did so. He looked down just long enough to notice the resting box in the darkness, then straightened back up, coughing.

But for how long would it have been safe to keep there? He looked around for his clothes, but all he found was a pajama folded on a chair at the opposite corner of the room, probably belonging to Peb. For now, the box would've stayed where it was.

He picked the mop that they had been used to cool his fever, now abandoned on the edge of an half-empty cup of water on the small table next to the bed, and brought it to his mouth to dab the blood the cough had expelled out of his lungs. Then he waited, in silence, listening to a set of footsteps climbing up the stairs and walking through the corridor that led to his room.

Peb entered, and Roy was thankful to see him alone. He was too weak and tired to face Marekh after the last day, and this time he couldn't fake to fall asleep either. Aiden tried to follow inside as well, but his mentor turned to look at him.

- Aiden, go downstairs and help Julia finish the laundry. Maybe she will be able to make an apple pie if you're finished quickly enough. - The Mayor's voice was low and empty of whatsoever enthusiasm behind his words, and Roy noticed the worried frown on the boy's face, before Peb closed the door before him.

The black-haired man adjusted himself to sit with his back against the pillows, with a muffled groan behind his closed lips. - Isn't he a little too old to be treated with sweets? You know boys start to have a different type of interest in their late teens.

- Thankfully you didn't give him enough attention to help him turn into how you were at his age. - Peb's comment was bitter, and flat as he moved the pajama off the chair and lifted it to put it next to the bed and sit on it. He then glared down at Roy's sheepish smile, in silence.

On his end, Roy just gave a small shrug with his good shoulder. - Maybe it was intentional. You should thank me.

- What's going on, Roy?

The black pools met the washed-out blue ones of the Mayor, and Roy imposed himself to not frown, but he didn't cock up an eyebrow either. At that point, he knew even with the best acting skills, Peb would've translated that only as a disrespectful and suspicious act.

- There is a lot going on. You might want to be a little more specific. - He said quietly.

- I'll start with what made me freak out the most. - Peb put down the vials of medicine on the small table next to Roy, and after that, the candles. - Where did these come from?

Roy slowly reached for one of the vials and opened it, gulping down the crystal-like golden liquid and then clearing his throat, keeping his gaze low, on the object. - My home, much likely.

Peb barely let a second pass before he understood, or decided, that Roy's answer was finished. - Who brought them here?

- I thought Marekh did…?

- Roy. - Peb sighed, and he stood up, starting to pace across the room. - You.. you know how much crap we're dealing with here? Do you realize how I'm feeling? First my father, then everything else, weighing on my shoulders from the very moment I became the new Mayor… And now, Mirror too! Can you even imagine how bad it is for me right now?

- I think I can. - Roy tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible, as he put the empty vial back on the table. - I was there when it happened. You couldn't even shoot at that priest when you should've. Hell, you almost became one of his thralls, too. That's not the Peb Renford I used to be jealous of when I was a child. You're turning into a little girl.

- Watch your tone, you don't….

- You still have your wife.

Checkmate.

Peb's march on the room's floor stopped. His eyes wide, his lips pressed on each other in a thin, straight line that almost seemed to vanish on his face as the images of all the corpses of women he had to find in those years overlapped before his eyes.

Among all those, the one of Sophia Sant seemed so fresh and vivid he could've touched it with his hands only by reaching out before him.

Slowly, the Mayor's lips parted open, but no sound came out. He walked back to the chair, and gripped the backrest with both his hands, the knuckles turning white with how much strength he put in that gesture. He wanted to look at Roy's eyes, but he couldn't. He kept them low, staring at the seat, at his trembling fingers.

The alchemist was right. He would've never been like his father. No matter how much effort he would've put into it. He was too weak.

- Don't blame yourself too much. - Roy's voice didn't give out any trace of emotion. - It's your very dear ones that make you what you are. What you were aiming for was the strength that only those who have nothing left to lose can achieve.

- He still had us, though. - He whispered, gritting teeth.

A silent snort came from the black-haired's nostrils. - Who knows… Maybe your father's end was a fate he had been expecting for a while. I didn't read much of that diary you keep. But if you accept your death, that's just as much as to give away what you have. And before you even consider it, trust me: it's not an option you want to take. Not unless you think they could live on without you.

Roy gave the man two minutes to elaborate that, and deep inside an egoistic side of him felt proud when he saw no reply would come.

- He did it because he expected you to be able to handle yourself and your family.

- Why are we talking about him now…? - Peb shook his head, finally looking back up. - Roy, what happened in your house… that thing…

- It's nothing you would want to worry about. - The alchemist's eyes narrowed slightly. - And if it ever turned out to be such, I'll see it disposed of with my own hands.

Peb didn't know what to think anymore. His eyes kept dashing from Roy, to the candles, to the vials, to the window, to everything he could imagine. And he didn't like what his imagination was suggesting.

He was startled when Roy seemed to be able to see straight into his mind.

- I'm not one of them, Peb.

- … I know. - The Mayor looked away again, rubbing one eye. He hadn't slept well that night. - We already checked.

The younger man chuckled at that, then shook his head. - I should've known.

- Your illness. How long have you been suffering it? Why won't you let the doctor see you? Can you at least tell me that?

- Because it's nothing she can help with. - Roy's smile was cold, perhaps sad as he said that. - Let's just say my body lost something it would've been happier to not do without. It's not going to kill me as long as I keep it in check, but it's best that I don't go around kissing girls, or I'd risk giving them a very bad experience.

- We saw no surgical scars on your body…

- Yup. Apparently my body wasn't scarred enough. That must be what Father Mirror thought when he gave me this. - Roy glanced down at the wrapped arm, and then up at him. - Can I have these changed, Mister Mayor? I'm good to go home after that, I swear.

Peb looked at him in grievous silence, so much that Roy had to fight to not look away. Lastly, he sighed, and ran one hand through his strawberry-blond hair.

- We will change your bandages. - He sentenced. - But until that wound is completely healed, you are staying here.

Roy watched him walk to the door, and spoke as the Mayor grabbed the doorknob. - Are you sure?

- I am your Mayor. And I think this is the most effective way to see if you can keep control of… whatever is going on around you. - Peb spoke coldly, but even so he couldn't conceal the trembling deep down his throat in his words before walking out of the room. - The safety of my family is in your hands too, now. Just remember, you are not the Goddess.

I know.

I know that all too well.

Son of Darkness: Act XV - Distant Memories Before the Storm

They spent most of the day in that room, as quiet as ghosts, observing from time to time the silent figure of Peb's wife, who would take care of her daily tasks as if nothing was around her, her aquamarine eyes staring into space. Though her expression wouldn't let any trace of despair transpire. Even after inviting them to sit to eat, she didn't speak a word, sitting at her place after placing the dishes on the table.

She even ignored her sixteen years old daughter, who could sense her mother's anxiety even though she couldn't understand what originated it, and decided to keep quiet without further questions, focusing her attention on the plate if soup in front of her. Only after dinner, when they started to clear the table, she approached quietly her father, poking his shoulders and peering close to his ear, so that her mother, not too far from them, couldn't hear her.

- Dad, what's wrong with Mom? - She asked under her breath, ignoring Marekh still sitting at the table, rolling a thin paper around some dry tobacco to smoke it, and Hae, offering to help Julia around the kitchen.

Peb took a deep breath, placing down the pile of used plates on the shelf next to the basin, and glancing briefly at his wife before looking back at her. He smiled sheepishly, moving one lock of her hair, of the same color as his, behind her ear.

- She isn't feeling very well, it's nothing serious. - He murmured back at her, fighting to make his smile look brighter. - So don't worry.

- Can you tell me why Mrs. Hae and the others are here? - She asked still, her voice slightly shaken when she turned to look at Roy in the exact moment in which he lifted the sleeve of the jacket they had let him wear to check if the blood had stopped staining his bandages.

Noticing where his daughter's look was at, shocked and lost, Peb distracted her, running one arm over her shoulders and forcing her to turn towards the table.

- We have another hunt to take care of this evening, that's why we're all here. - He reassured her, removing the tablecloth to fold it and place it on the chair he had moved aside. - Why don't you go pay a visit to one of your friends? Just like Aiden did. - He added, trying to change topic before something could escape his own lips.

His daughter gave him one of those looks that could mean everything and anything, but didn't reply. She just sighed and gave a nod, and after glancing at her mother and the other guests, she walked towards the threshold of the kitchen, disappearing into the main corridor, and closing the door behind herself. When they were finally alone, Peb called everyone's attention back on himself.

- Come with me. - He said flat, his tone matter-of-factly. - We must talk with every man in town. All those in the age to hold up a gun must be informed.

He added nothing else, placing down the things he had in hand and approached his wife, placing a brief kiss on her lips, only a gentle touch.

- Go lay down, Julia. - He murmured in a comprehensive tone, taking the dishes she was washing from her hands. - Try get some rest, and when the kids are back, don't leave the house.

He received one absent glance, before she nodded.

She removed her apron, bowing her head down while embracing him tightly around the waist, her forehead resting against his neck, eyes closed.

- I beg you, be careful. - She finally whispered, nearly in tears. - I beg you, Peb… be careful.

Peb held her close, running one hand between her short, light hair.

- Nothing's going to happen, don't worry. - He whispered, reluctantly breaking the hug to place one kiss on her lips. - Just remember to not leave this place after the sunset, all right?

She nodded, and left the kitchen after bidding farewell to the other people in the room with a small bow of her head, her weak footsteps echoing in the house as she slowly climbed up the stairs, towards her bedroom.

The Mayor looked at Roy, who was standing up. - No…

- I know you won't let me come along. - Roy cut him off with a small wave. - Just give me my gun.

- Don't you dare to smoke in here. - Hae hissed, snapping the prepared cigarette out of Marekh's lips before the small flame of his lighter could reach its end. The other two ignored the bickering that ensued between the Mithra and the man, and Peb nodded in direction of the door.

- The small dresser in the living room. It's there with the rest of your things. - He said quietly, and then added with a lower tone: - Please, take care of them.

One of Roy's eyebrows twitched in an annoyed tic. - I see. Taking advantage of my sense of guilt to make it so that I won't leave while you're away. Well played, Chief.

Marekh glanced at them and sneered. - Are you sure you can even handle it? Taking care of a family is what you always tried to escape from.

Roy looked at him, chuckling. - I'm a man of science. I'll take this as an experiment.

- Two kids and a woman to watch over, a full house to defend, and you don't even get the fun part of it with Ju– - Marekh trailed off, not because of Peb's warning glare, but because of how Roy's gaze drifted from him to Hae, and at the amused grin that had formed on his face.

He looked back at the Mithra, and after scanning her for a few seconds, he understood what was that Roy had found amusing. - What did you do with it?

- I'm giving your lungs some extra time before they collapse and kill you. - She shrugged, not looking at him. - You should thank me. Not like I care about your life, but right now we need as many men as we can get.

- Please, tell me it's in your cleavage…

The Mithra made a sound that was half an hiss and half a spit, and grumbled a quick goodbye in Roy's direction before storming out of the house. The other Hume chuckled, and gave a pat on the alchemist's shoulder before following her. The last one to leave was Peb, after muttering a couple more recommendations, telling Roy where he could've found more bullets in case of necessity, and of the entrance to a secret emergency room underground.

- It contains a stock of nonperishable food that can last for a week, for four people. - He said on the threshold. - If things turn out to the point where you'll need to use it, remember that… Why won't you stop me?

Roy gave a bitter smile. - You want me to tell you I don't need the briefing because those are measures we won't need?

- It would be a relief to know someone here still hopes.

- I can't do that. - Said the black-haired, looking in the distance, towards the forest. - Hope has fooled me for the last time. Now, I prefer to just know how likely something is going to happen or not, and do everything in my power to raise the probability for things to go how I want them to. And if you want the advice of a friend, all I can say is to try and do the same. The Goddess forgot this island, Peb. Stop hoping. Stop praying, and act. We're on our own.

With those ominous words, the alchemist closed the door, and Peb stood there long enough to hear his footsteps walk towards the living room, then he turned to walk up to his other companions. Together, they they walked up to the small square of the village, linking the main roads of it, still filled with people coming and going, rendering a very tranquil atmosphere around the place, as if nothing dangerous was incoming. As if everything was all right.

From the living room, Roy still held one hand on his injured arm, his gaze roaming on the people in the streets outside. Distracted, he glanced at a child tugging to his mother's dress while pointing at a booth of sweets. He couldn't help but smile bitterly in watching the woman's amused face, as she ruffled the child's hair before taking one of those candies and hand it to him. Roy took a deep breath, feeling a spasm in the muscles of his wounded arm, and grimaced in pain, staring sternly at the small group walking away from the house.

He noticed Hae glancing back at the house, before looking around with circumspection. All the people around them were chatting tranquilly, walking around the streets, with children playing around the puddles that had formed with the downpour of the previous evening. There were also several people sitting on the low walls, for the most part elders with their nephews. One of them was eating a loaf of white bread, glancing every few bites at the older man with a smile, before receiving a toothless grin or a joyful ruffle on his red hair.

Amongst them, Peb spotted the anxious figure of Ayuki, the one only who knew, however not fully, of the catastrophic situation the village was facing. Her face was grimaced in an expression of terror, while she sat there on her own, looking at her schoolmates glancing curiously at her from a distance, trying to understand what had been so wrong with her for the past few days. When her cerulean gaze met the Mayor's, she jumped on her feet so quickly her friends almost gasped in surprise, and she ran away at great speed, perhaps startled by something that only she could perceive in the air. The group exchanged a look, without a word. Shortly after, Marekh walked away, spotting a small shop and disappearing inside the building, leaving the other two staring at the door, confused at how quickly he had slammed it behind.

The headmistress arched an eyebrow, folding her arms, and looking at Peb.

- Tell me it's not what I'm thinking. - She said under her breath, amazed at how that bold, brainless moron would always manage to find a way to surprise her. She received from Peb only a dejected sigh.

She watched him wave one hand absently, before he shook his head. - You know how he is. Seems even at such a difficult hour he can't get his mind off his cigarettes. - He simply said. And soon after he completed the sentence, Marekh walked back outside, closing the metal box in which he always kept his tobacco. They gave him an admonishing glare, but he just shrugged off at them, before starting to walk towards their destination again with a tranquil pace. He didn't mind them much, and slowly started to roll a new cigarette in the tin paper as he walked, foretasting the smoke in his lungs, almost as if that simple, small act of rebellion could grant him some comfort.

- Even with the island falling apart all you can think of is smoking. - Hae let escape her thoughts, giving an exasperated sigh, before continuing with them their crossing towards the tavern.

Once inside, without many words, they gathered a good handful of men, gesturing to them to follow up the small path leading to the Church, where they thought it would've been easier to explain the situation, since that was where they had collected all what could be of use to the task.

With emeritus silence they headed to the old Abbey, followed by the curious gazes of the villagers, quietly wondering the reason of such a procession. At the same time, between the fronds of the spare trees standing their shadows out in the dim light of that late afternoon, many pair of eyes of different colors and shapes observed them in amused silence, much like pale, nocturnal stars, before disappearing swallowed back in the darkness.



Throughout the way he had been unable to rationalize whatsoever thought, his mind literally invaded by what he had at that point accepted to label as memories.

He had tried to ignore them and let them flow, while watching the red-haired vampire woman stepping lightly, giving the impression she wasn't even touching the dusty marble floor, barely catching her quick movements whenever she'd turn to glance at him with a seducing smile. Never before had he felt something so close to fear as now. He'd move forward, as quietly as that woman, letting his chocolate brown eyes explore the hallway around him, sensing something terribly off in that place. Was it maybe the unnerving tranquility that he sensed coming from the vampire woman to give him such impression? No, maybe he was just troubled. Yes, that had to be the answer. He was shocked, afraid, frustrated for what he couldn't understand to be happening to him. The thirst for blood would assault him too many times, and just as often he seemed to lose consciousness for a time he couldn't even calculate. Maybe that was what was causing that unpleasant emotion within.

- Walk faster. - The gurgling voice of the vampire woman snapped him out of his thoughts, making him jump. He had been so lost in thought he had completely forgotten her. Reluctantly, he walked up to her side, smelling a strange scent pervading his nostrils.

It felt like blood mixed with sunflowers.

- You went for a hunt, tonight? - The brave part of his soul had emerged to dare ask that question, causing him to be instantly struck by those burning irids. She stopped for a few seconds, letting her hands fall down against her skirt. She hid them between the folds, staring intently at him.

- What if I said yes? - She replied with that same voice, softening her face, appearing even sweeter than before. But her eyes, those were showing a whole opposite emotion.

- I thought you couldn't move without your master's orders. - He said, daring a challenging smirk that partially revealed his fangs. Just like back in the Church, his 'evil' self was fighting to take over again. She approached him further, the Elvaan, tilting her head down to meet his face perfectly, stopping but a span from his nose.

- Lord Kenjii doesn't impose such bans to us. - She said, quickly placing one finger on his lips before she could reply. - You are an exception, being so unstable. Just look at how these personalities of yours keep overlapping each other, making you human and vampire at the same time.

The tone she used seemed muffled, as if she was about to reveal a secret no one else should've ever heard. Yet, she added nothing more, turning away once again, telling him to follow her. She was waving her hand with elegance, smiling at him nonchalantly. That strange fear started leaking again inside the braided man, to the point of feeling the urge to swallow without really wanting to the more he advanced. Those emblematic words had done nothing but confuse him even more. He wouldn't have learned the truth, and stay oblivious of everything. Why would nostalgia take him often times? Why was he confused at his own identity more and more? Had he really been a priest, once? Or had he been the son of a merchant that had nothing to do with the Church?

That was another thing he couldn't fully understand, for a long time now. Who was he, truly?

- Hurry, they are waiting for us. - She distracted him again, and he decided to leave those thoughts be, shaking his head to get rid of them once for all. They walked down those corridors barely lit by the flame of torches hanging from the stone walls, their steps echoing in the dark ravines around them. Feeble voices came to their ears after long minutes of walking, unknown voices that seemed almost impetuous. They stopped in front of a great oaken door, and the Elvaan took a step forward, knocking lightly, barely making any sound. All the sounds quietened behind it, as if any presence in the room had vanished. She slowly opened the door, making the hinges creak ominously.

What appeared before their eyes was for Mirror almost terrible and dreadful. Sitting and standing in every corner of that big hall were not ten, but perhaps thirty vampires of every shape and form. Some looked several centuries old, others seemed to have just transformed, just like him. Fifty years at most. He could sense the power flowing from the body of each of them, their cold eyes curiously resting on his figure, probably wondering who he was. He felt the urge to step back when their attention completely focused on him. He was impeded by the Elvaan's hand that had rested on his shoulder, encouraging him to walk in.

- They can smell your fear. - She said with a low, languid tone. - Do not show them that you dread them.

He couldn't understand the reason behind those advices, but a short distance away he recognize the figure of Kenjii, looking in their direction. His lips were parted, as if he was talking. Had he just communicated to him through that woman? It was almost too unnatural, although he had seen him doing much worse.

- He is not allowed to stay here. - Soon enough Idavoll's voice echoed in the hall, as he turned his hazel-green gaze in the sapphire pools of his older nephew. He was smiling vaguely, with a veiled amusement. He watched him make himself comfortable, almost with Sloth, with his back against the wall, as if his uncle's words had no meaning to him.

- He is a vampire, and he is my servant. - He replied quietly. - He has every right to listen.

Many pair of eyes pointed on him at those words. He ignored them nonchalantly, keeping to spar with the hazel gems of the elder vampire, who also did not look away from his nephew. The air was dense with tension, as if the room itself had been holding its breath. A strange whirlwind of power arouse in the hall, a tornado almost filled with sulfur, forcing many to step back, afraid to be struck by that icy breeze of rancor. Then a sudden, harsh laughter bounced from one side of the room to the other, as sharp as a blade.

- The boy is right. - Stated the deep voice of a hooded man sitting to the left of Idavoll's desk, a figure Mirror hadn't noticed before. Something was terribly off in him, completely different from the aura coming from the other vampires, but he couldn't put a finger on it. - He is one of you, now. If you have to strike, it is only right that he hears too.

A smile, immediately concealed to the indiscreet eyes of others pursed Kenjii's young lips, and with a brief movement of his hand he induced the Elvaan and his lover to walk up to him. Despite the hesitation painted on the face of the ex priest, the Elvaan woman dragged him inside, grabbing his hand and taking him to the side of their master. The braided man didn't look at him, still troubled by what had happened earlier. He however received a solemn smile, before a cold hand touched his shoulder gently, causing an unwilling shudder within him.

- Keep going, My Lord. - Said the hooded man again, with a smirk that Mirror could note under the shadow of the cloth, as well as blond friendly muttonchops around the chin. Again he felt an unhealthy, morbid grip to the stomach when looking at that man, and felt the urge to look away. - We are all here, now.

Despite the darkened, vexed expression that had vaguely peeked on Idavoll's serious and firm face, he resumed his speech from the point he had been interrupted, addressing himself to the hooded man more often than to the others. In particular, Mirror noticed he had almost never directly spoken to his elder nephew. The younger one was listening carefully, despite looking completely absent in his own mental world, but it wasn't just the bright blue eyes staring at him from the wall to make Idavoll feel concerned. More than a set of them shared the same light buried deep inside their gaze. He wouldn't have investigated that night, but he promised himself to keep an eye on them. And them, unaware of his suspicions, those very few vampires seemed to glance at each other from time to time with complicity, as if foretasting a victory only them knew about.

Yet, almost no one was perfectly aware of how the course of action would've proceeded. That was an unknown factor he could still put his bets on.

Not many words were spent to explain only a few things, and soon every creature attending to the meeting was dismissed and let free to go wherever except inside the village. Some simply went outside to patrol the surroundings and keep an eye around the area, others to hunt fresh blood to keep their energy stable. The sound of footsteps of the few vampires left were now echoing in the stone corridor, hardly lighted by the torches, similar to white specters vaguely following their passage with the shuffling of their shoes and boots. In front of the group was the sapphire-eyed vampire, walking with light elegance and gracious movements, almost side-by-side with his brother, whose lips moved quickly, yet emitting no sound. He had to have been saying something though, because the older of the two half-turned his head at him, mimicking his movements and replying with the same, inaudible tone.

From where he was, Mirror was unable to hear a word, as if the voices coming from those ancient lips escaped even the perception of what he had become. But it wasn't the exchange between the two brothers to interest him, there and then. He'd look around, expecting that some escape way would appear before him, an impossible escape considered the quiet vampires walking before his eyes but a few steps away. He saw the younger of the two whispering something else before he'd disappear, swallowed by the darkness surrounding him. No one seemed surprised, except Mirror himself. He slowed down at some point, his legs feeling weak, his breath shortening. Sight blurred, not allowing him to recognize the silhouettes and shapes around him.

Was it happening again? Slowly he let himself fall on his knees, holding his head with both hands, sensing a freezing wind all around him, sneaking in the underground corridor where they were. The flames of the torches flickered, forming sinister shadows on the stone wall, making the other vampires stop. He smelled their attention on him, and was aware that one of them had approached, one of those with a only-slightly familiar scent.

- Help him, Kage. - He heard Kenjii's voice in the midst of the chaos that had assaulted his head. - We're taking him in the living room at the first floor.

Only briefly, he managed to look up, meeting those vivid blue eyes, before a strong hand grabbed his wrist with a rude gentleness and helping him stand up. He gripped on that vampire with long, black hair, feeling his head spinning relentlessly. Unable to make any resistance he let him guide him, and supported by the Elvaan man, they started to move again, stopping only when Mirror seemed about to fall to the ground. To climb up the stairs separating them from the first floor of the mansion was an arduous task, to the point that the Elvaan vampire had to lift him up over his shoulder to go up without too many struggles. Finally in the living room, he put him down on a couch, bowing his head to the young Lord as he approached both of them. The former priest was shaking, as if in pain, as if burning up.

Kenjii slowly caressed those dark brown threads, sensing the presence of the other vampires and their feeble breaths around him. He turned to look at them, nodding with his head to the threshold. - You can leave us. - He said, somewhat compliant. - You are free to go wherever.

The vampires glanced at each other, perhaps hesitant on fulfilling that request. Because they knew all too well it marked the beginning of something much more drastic. - Are you sure, My Lord? - The Elvaan woman asked him, daring to approach further, side by side with another creature, seemingly as concerned as herself, daring to talk after her.

- My Lord? - Was all he said, as if nothing was necessary to be added.

A sapphire gaze found them, before those lips pursed in a smile that had no nuance. He soon focused back on the brown hair of the lying priest, lowering his eyelids. - Do not call me 'Lord'. - He said with a sad whisper. - You know I hate it.

No other word came from the two. They only fulfilled that wish of solitude, leaving the room quietly.

The eyelids opened again, revealing the azure pools that pointed at the suffering face of Mirror, veiled with something vaguely mysterious. He was still trembling, almost raving.

- It's almost time, mo chridhe[1] - He murmured, trying to soothe him. - Very soon. - He saw him barely move his lips, perhaps trying to say something. He caressed his hair again, kissing his forehead. - Tha mi a' tuigsinn. Tha thu sgith[2] - He whispered again in his mother language, and the brown-haired breathed even faster. Yet he nodded, having understood his words. - Rest then, my love. - He ran his fingers through those brown threads. - I will watch over your sleep until you will awaken completely, do not fear.

Once again he saw him nod, observing his chest rising and lowering at a more regular rhythm, although not yet completely so. His lips pursed in a smile however, and right after that, the simple name he almost breathed out struck him deeply, making him feel something remotely close to intimate happiness, like he hadn't felt in years. - Kenjii.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
[1] My Heart (Bastokan)
[2] I understand, you are tired. (Bastokan)

[[… Chapter? Side-story? I'll let Kj decide and edit to classify. Anyways, to clear up any confusion, Nadine is the name of Peb's daughter.]]

Son of Darkness; Act XVI - Nadine

–-

Nadine softly closed the door behind her and stepped into the late afternoon, then leaned up against the door and let out a long sigh. The stress inside the house was nearly palatable and she was grateful that her father had told her to get out of the house for a while.

But… visiting was the last thing she wanted to do. While the general tone of the village had been grim for years, she knew that her friends would still be very much like normal teenagers, and she didn't relish the thought of spending time with girlish empty-headed babbling. So instead, she angled her way to the outskirts of town and walked instead along the banks of the small river that flowed along the edges of the fields and forest. She took a seat on a rock at the bank, idilly toying with a stalk of some grass that she had plucked as she walked. The river bubbled and gurgled over the stones, allowing her to let her mind wander.

So caught up in her thoughts, Nadine didn't notice the sky go from golden to red, and then to purple. It took the chill of the shadows sliding over her to finally break her from her near-trance, and with chagrin she jumped up and started to run across the field and back towards the safety of home and hearth. Halfway across the field, however, her foot caught on a furrow and she went down, her ankle twisting painfully in the process. Nadine choked back a pained and fearful cry as she tried to stand, but the moment she put weight on that leg it again crumbled under her.

"Are you okay?"

She looked up. Just a few paces away stood a young man. In the failing light, his skin and hair was pale to the point of looking silvery, and his elegantly ruffled shirt and trousers were only slightly darker. He wore a friendly smile that touched his eyes, which were as bright and shining as aquamarines.

"I'm sorry if I startled you." His eyes twinkled as he stepped closer and knelt down next to her. "I was on my way to the town to find shelter for the night, and saw you run and fall. May I?" He indicated her injured leg with a white-gloved hand. Nadine managed a shy, shaking nod, and the young man pushed up the hem of her dress just far enough to examine and delicately touch the ankle. "Hm. I do not think it's broken, but I'm sure it's quite painful."

"… I-it is." Nadine stammered as the young man straightened, and she was quick to flip her dress back down. "… But I'm sure if I just rest a few minutes, it'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" The young man frowned, and pointedly looked at the sky. "Nighttime is just past starting. I don't think resting for even another minute is prudent. Come… my horse should not have wandered far; I'll carry you."

"I don't thi–aah..!" Nadine squeaked as the young man slipped his arms under her and easily picked her up, holding her bridal-style, and out of pure reflex she threw her arms around his neck. Under her hands, she could feel the cool silk of his shirt and the muscles of his shoulders under that, and her face reddened.

The young man laughed, sounding like a great bronze bell. "Methinks you are a shy one, maiden." He shifted her, getting a firmer grip. "What is your name..?"

"… Nadine…" She stammered.

"A beautiful name, for a beautiful maiden." He smiled. "I'm Eltanin."

Nadine glanced up at him and quickly looked away when she met his grinning gaze. She looked around, idilly wondering why Eltanin hadn't started walking yet. "… I… don't see your horse…"

"Your face is nearly as red as your hair; you remind me of a strawberry." He ignored her inquiry about the horse, and instead dipped his head towards her neck as he tightened his grip. "Smell like one too… I wonder, do you taste like one..?"

Nadine screamed as she felt cold lips brush over her skin, and the soft scrape of teasing fangs on her pulse. She tried to struggle, but Eltanin's arms were like vices as he slowly lowered himself to the ground, still teasing her neck with nips that didn't break the skin. "Let me go!"

"Not a chance." The pale vampire practically purred as he straddled her and pinned her arms above her head with one hand. "It's been a very long time since I was allowed to hunt… and to find something so pleasing my first night? No, little maiden… I'm not going to let you go." He put his mouth back to her neck, his fangs just pricking her skin enough to draw tiny little drops of blood before withdrawing just enough to whisper into Nadine's ear. "… This needn't be unpleasant, you know… just relax, an–"

A flash of brilliant white light, followed by a loud boom and the stink of sulfur and hot metal, erupted just next to their heads. Eltanin hissed and jumped back and even as Nadine screamed and blindly tried to crawl away, a cold hand closed over her upper arm and hauled her to her feet.

"Move." An eerie, loon-like voice spoke in Nadine's ear as her arm was pulled across a pair of shoulders, and a cold arm wrapped around her waist. "Don't fight, just move."

Still blind and sobbing uncontrollably, Nadine did her best to stumble and limp alongside her savior as they moved across the field. Her eyesight had begun to return just as they reached the road, and blinking she looked up at her savior's face. It was a shockingly familiar face. Disregarding the gauntness and death-blue skin, it was suddenly very apparent to Nadine exactly where Aiden had gotten his looks. "… You..! But, you're..!"

"Ssh." Malay admonished, her amber eyes burning. "Not the time for hysterics or questions." She looked over her shoulder to where Eltanin was regaining his senses and was starting after them, and she began to swear. "Do you see that tree across the road? The one with the clusters of red berries?"

Nadine looked ahead. The night had leeched all colours to light and dark, black and white, but she could see a tree with clusters of berries some ten paces into the field ahead, and she knew for certain that in the daylight the berries were, indeed, bright red. She nodded.

"Get under it. I don't care if you have to crawl, just get under it and no matter what happens, stay under it until I return."

Almost before Malay had finished speaking, she slipped out from under Nadine. The young woman gasped and staggered, falling to her knees. Behind her, she could hear the unmistakable sound of bodies colliding and an ensuing struggle. Nadine began crawling, paying as little attention as she could to the small sharp stones in the road that bit into her palms and tore at her dress where her knees were. The field was only slightly better; though the ground was soft, there were ground-creeping brambles and the occasional stalk of woody vegetation that was like a small, sharp stake into her flesh. After what seemed like forever, Nadine got under the tree and pulled herself up.

"I'm here! I'm at the tree!"

The sounds of fighting abruptly ended. A few moments later, Eltanin's gem-like, pale blue eyes flickered in the darkness and began to move closer. He stalked like a hunting cat across the road, his pale form fading out of the darkness like an apparition, and through the short patch of field, then recoiled just outside the canopy of the tree. He came no closer.

"Come out from under there, Nadine." Eltanin ordered.

Shaking, Nadine shook her head and actually wrapped her arms around the tree-trunk.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Please don't make me make -you- come out from under there. It takes so much time… time better spent enjoying each-other." He held out his hand. "I promise not to kill you. Does that set your mind at ease?"

"No."

"Tch." Eltanin dropped his hand, almost sadly. "I'll be nothing to brag about after this, you know… ah well…" His eyes flashed and then began to burn.

Nadine continued to cling to the tree, but try as she might she couldn't look away from the pale vampire. She'd always heard about the 'mouse before the cobra', but until that moment she had never fully understood what it meant. She couldn't look away and, even worse, she was slowly starting to feel compelled to go to him. Sweat began to bead and roll down her forehead despite the chilly night.

Her foot moved.

A single step forward.

Eltanin smiled enticingly, and held out his hand.

Why was she fighting this? He had just promised not to kill her. With a blush, Nadine remembered that exciting and confusing feeling that had washed over her when Eltanin had initially swept her off her feet, and that needy feeling that had laced her fear when he had paid attention to her neck. The knowledge that her father was the Mayor had kept all the village boys from ever approaching her. She remembered the hushed, giggle-laced huddles she had been in with her friends as some of them disclosed their explorations of the differences between boys and girls, and the deep-seated frustration that not one boy in the village had even tried to flirt with her. And here was a young man, a beautiful one, who was openly interested in her. So what if he was a vampire? Weren't vampires human, in a way? He had promised not to kill her… what harm would there be?

Nadine limped another step forward, and her hand slipped from the tree. Mirroring her, Eltanin stepped backwards and further away from the tree, his hand still outstretched. "Come to me, little maiden. I promise you, you'll enjoy every moment of this…"

A gunshot rang through the night, and Eltanin let out a terrifying, inhuman yowl as the lower half of his arm was blown away. He wheeled to face Roy, who was standing a dozen or so paces away with his gun still at the ready.

Eltanin's face seemed to split, his silvery features giving way to dark, leathery skin and a ghoulish face that was straight from a nightmare. His clothes suddenly seemed ill-fitting, his body becoming more ape-like with a large, swollen belly as gnarled fingers ending in sharp dirty nails tore through the gloves. With a speed that was surprising considering the bow-legged, ungainly creature's appearance, Eltanin rushed at Roy, a long forked tongue lolling out of his sharp-fanged mouth as he screeched.

Roy's face went pale, even in the dim light, and he unloaded more bullets into the vampire's belly. When it's speed didn't decrease, Roy swore and took aim at it's leg and, with his last bullet, blew off Eltanin's leg.

With another yowl, Eltanin went down, though he continued to claw his way towards the black-haired man. Then a dark shape rose up out of the knee-high grass of the field, fluid-like, and descended upon the vampire like a wave and enveloped it. Eltanin thrashed and screamed, a shrill panicky sound as the shadow clung to him, and as the moments passed a disgusting slurping and sucking noise began to override his weakening screams. The struggling weakened as well, and a few more moments passed before all went still. Slowly, the shadow disengaged from the vampire. In the pale light of the moon, what lay on the ground looked like a desiccated corpse of some vaguely-humanoid creature.

"… Disgusting…" Malay's eerie voice was sick as she pushed back the hood of her shadowy cloak, and she scrubbed at her mouth with the back of her hand. "… He tasted even viler than he looks."

Sobbing, Nadine limped over to Roy and threw her hands around his neck. He winced slightly, then put one arm around her shoulders as he holstered his gun, then rubbed her back with his now-free hand.

"Shhhh… you're okay now." Roy murmured, then looked at Malay. "… Right?"

"Get her home, and into bed. She'll be fine in the morning; he didn't do any permanent damage to her. She might have some nightmares for a week or two, but that'll be the worst."

"He bit her." Roy frowned as he examined Nadine's neck as she continued to cry.

Malay frowned and stepped over Eltanin's shriveled remains, then tipped the girl's head to one side. "… Have Sophe take care of it. The wounds are still very fresh, so you won't have to lance them like we did with your arm. If any of the saliva got into her system, it'll just dribble right back out."

Roy nodded, then glanced over at Eltanin's corpse. "… They don't tell you about vampires doing that in all the legends…"

"… That's because his type isn't local." Malay removed a knife from her belt, went back over to the corpse, and coolly hacked off it's head. Standing back up, she kicked at the head like it was a ball, and as it sailed away it disintegrated into dust. The body laying on the ground did the same, collapsing in on itself like a dried-out sandcastle. "He's the type that we have back in my homeland… I hope that the alpha here hasn't been recruiting." She looked back at Roy and Nadine. "You should get back home. Sophe can only do so much to guard the house."

"Will you coming with us?" Roy asked, turning Nadine back towards the village.

Malay hesitated a moment. "… I will follow, for a time. I still have wounds to heal… and that sucker isn't sitting well with me." She hesitated. "I don't think it would be wise for me to see Aiden just yet. Or anyone else, for that matter." With that, she pulled the hood back over her head and seemed to melt back to the ground, her shadow-like form following behind Roy and Nadine like a well-behaved dog.

They entered the village just as the meeting in the old Abbey ended. Malay's shadow darted towards the safety of the shadows of a nearby alley, the darker form sliding effortlessly up a wall and out of sight onto the rooftops. Roy sighed as the men stopped and stared at him and Nadine, and a moment later Peb broke out from the back of the crowd. Roy held up a hand, silencing the questions that were just about to spill from the Mayor's lips.

"She's fine." Roy's voice was low, so that the villagers that were standing nearby and gawking couldn't overhear. "I got to her in time; the bitemarks are superficial. She's shaken up and will probably have some nightmares. I'll fix her a medicine to help keep her relaxed."

Nadine gave a shuddering wail, breaking away from Roy and flinging herself into Peb's arms. He picked her up like she was a small child again, holding her as he and Roy started back to the house. "… What happened?"

"I didn't question her." Roy murmured, keeping his face away from the Mayor so that he couldn't see the incoming lie. "When she wasn't back by dark, I went out looking for her. A vampire had her under a tree. I must have gotten it by surprise, it went down fairly easily."

Peb looked uneasy. "… Are you sure it was..?"

"Destroyed?" Roy nodded. "Yeah. It was dust in the wind, last I saw of it." He glanced at the Mayor. "… Do what you need to do. I've got the house."

Peb sighed as they entered the house. "… Yeah. Let me just get her safely into bed."

Son of Darkness: Act XVII - Whispers in the Dark

Tavnazia, 612 C.E.

- Just where are you taking me? - Kenjii asked under his breath, unable to see anything because of the cloth tied over his eyes.

His partner had insisted that he wore it, but he had yet to understand the reason for such request, as he let him drag him Altana knows where.

He had sneaked out unbeknownst to his uncle, who had booked a room at one of the many inns in the capital.

The man had intimated to not leave the inn, because he had some business to take care of with the father of the boy he was now with. Not like Kenjii had ever been the type to listen to someone's orders, especially when coming from his uncle. Leaving a few coins to the innkeeper to keep his mouth shut about his little escape, he had slipped away with the braided boy, who had patiently waited for him outside, under the rain. Now he was with him in a rather humble, but somewhat large house, clinging on his arm to not stumble in the furnitures of that place with a completely unknown layout to him, in his blinded state, he had judged to be walking through an hallway.

- Ssst… don't be noisy. -, he finally heard Tegian say. - The neighbors could hear us.

His amused tone reached Kenjii's ears perfectly clear, and his thin, pinkish lips pursed in a small smile. He gingerly touched with his hand to find his partner's face, resting it on his cheek. - Teg -, he admonished him sweetly, feeling his wrist being grabbed to pull his hand away from the boy's face, before sensing his lips kiss his fingers. He didn't say anything, and kept guiding the blue-eyed younger boy along that long, scarcely lit corridor, with a grin refusing to abandon his face. He felt excited as he had never been, almost as if he could take the fly and touch the sky. Despite his initial decision to not make that step forward, something inside him had moved, and made him set it all up. He had decided to exploit one of the many evenings in which his father would go have a business dinner with that boy's uncle; that would've let them have a good while to stay together. Of course, there would've been some embarrassment later, but…

He caught himself smiling with his face slightly flushed on the cheeks, as he glanced at the chestnut-haired's face lit by the lanterns hanging at the walls, as he kept trying to guess where he was, tilting his head from one side to the other. He hadn't had the courage to tell him, because even him wasn't that expert about that matter. Some of the friends he had that had yet to get married had tried several times to drag him in a whorehouse to have at least one experience prior to the weddings, but even to him the thought to even just step in one of those places was horribly embarrassing. Of course, he had had some spare moments of intimacy with a woman. But he had never gotten to the point of deflowering her, or sleep with a prostitute as often times some of his older friends would do. How he was feeling there and then was perfectly legit. To sleep… with a man.

At those thoughts he felt to be blushing even more, and inwardly thanked the Goddess that the blue-eyed boy next to him had his eyes bandaged. He hated when he noticed his embarrassment. Suddenly he stopped, his shaky hand opening the door of a room, and gulping, he lightly pushed his partner inside, closing the door behind himself. Kenjii, still lost in his blindness, took both his hands forward, trying to find him.

- You better not have left me alone. - said Kenjii, turning his head in one direction, the blackness of the cloth still hindering his sight. He went to remove it, when he heard the other one chuckle. He frowned in a grumpy expression, turning towards the sound. - I swear, if this is one of your usual pranks… - He started to threaten him, but stopped when he felt the boy's arms sneaking around his hips, his body getting closer, in a contact almost of intimacy.

- This is no prank. - He whispered, trying to give his tone some sensuality, freeing him of the bandage. - It's a surprise.

Kenjii's eyes were slightly blurred, gradually adapting to his surroundings, registering the figure of a four-poster bed with satin blankets, the columns, supporting a transparent cream-colored curtain were wrapped with rose vines. The young boy blinked, puzzled and speechless. He was at an absolute lack of words. He let his gaze roam around the rest of the room, finding the layout of a dresser against the wall, and a big wardrobe in walnut wood, next to a chair with a basin. It was a modest room, not exactly as big as the ones he was used to stay in when visiting the houses of the nobles his uncle would often share business with, but something inside him told him that would've been the best room he had ever been. He couldn't exactly tell what was it, but that's how he was feeling. He felt the hand of Tegian on his shoulder, and that made him jump slightly.

- What, you don't like it? - His voice was somewhat anxious.

Recovering from the moment of confusion that had struck him, he tilted his head up and turned to look at him, staring at him with his azure eyes and a sly smile.

It wasn't too hard to guess why that bed was so heavily decorated.

Although, to be honest, he really didn't believe it.

- You said you didn't want to. - He pointed out, ironic, folding his arms to stare at him almost with a pedantic attitude, or at least trying.

That pose did nothing but only amuse the other boy, who chuckled, making him smile too, more relaxedly.

- Yeah, I know.. - He was vague, shrugging before looking at the room's arrangement with scarce interest. He smiled, closing his eyes and bowing towards Kenjii's face to lightly kiss his neck, causing him to shiver. - But you're a damn temptation. - He murmured sweetly, moving his hair from his face with an elegant motion of his hand. - If you don't want me to, though… - He moved to pull away, but this time the chestnut-haired boy chained him to himself.

- No. You're not going anywhere. - He said, sounding almost demanding.

Looking up at the ceiling pretending a distressed expression, the braided one looked down into those sapphire eyes, with a warm smile lighting his face. One of his hands slowly began to hesitantly crawl over his body, as they approached the bed, inviting them to make a use of it. He moved away the drape, and after placing a light kiss on Kenjii's lips, he gently pushed him on the mattress, stopping to look at him for a few, endless moments.

He saw his cheeks visibly red, as he, just as insecure as he was, began to unclasp the first buttons of his shirt, starting from the neck.

He started to unclasp his as well, uncovering the smooth chest, his abdomen vaguely muscular, feeling blood pumping up to his face. Even though he couldn't fully understand why he felt like that. They were two men, there was nothing different in what they had seen before…

He shook his head at those thoughts and his eyes widened when he felt Tegian's hands work on the fly of his pants before pulling them down his legs, looking at him as he then worked on his own. Both naked, they now observed each other, letting their gazes roam from their faces to the rest of their bodies, gulping, their breath already heavy. And the one feeling more embarrassed was the braided boy, feeling completely invaded by a wave of excitement that he couldn't control. He noticed where the other's eyes were pointing at and blushed even more, his uneasiness growing, be it either pleasant or unpleasant depending on the point of view, affecting his body.

He heard him chuckle, yet somewhat sweetly, before his hand raised to touch his face.

- Show me what you call with such passion Pleasure. - Murmured the blue-eyed boy, with a voice so melting and gurgling, it increased his excitement. Gulping, and with a shy smile, Tegian moved over him, taking delight of those big and innocent sapphire eyes that stared at him, with a pinch of fear and embarrassment, as his arms, still uncertain, wrapped around his neck gently. He sighed with voluptuousness at the contact between them, closing his eyes. He couldn't believe that act to be so terrifying and at the same time so incredibly fantastic. And, after giving him one long, deep kiss on the lips, trying to reassure him and at the same time himself, he smiled more, feeling Kenjii's hand move behind his head to untie his braid and let his dark brown hair softly fall on his shoulders and the pillow.

- Of course, my little Lord.



A throaty scream ripped the silence that had ruled over the mansion for endless hours, shaking the walls, echoing down to the dungeons, where the others would seek for some rest before the time of dawn. Night had almost met her wane and he, still laid on that dusty couch, had been shaken with trembling and cold sweat as he hadn't been in years. He felt his breath ragged as he had ran for hours and hours, perhaps days, his gaze madly roaming around that room, enveloped in a pale, feeble light softly fending the darkness of that place.

He closed his eyes, clawing on the shirt on his chest, finding it unclasped, though he couldn't recall how. What had happened? Why was he laying there? He glanced around the room again as he raised his eyelids again, registering bit by bit the furniture around him. A small wooden table was not too far from him, with an old oil lamp abandoned on the top, still consuming. He felt strangely feverish. As if burning. Fire was running through his veins, much like the first time.

He pressed his lips in a thin line as if trying to repress a cry, trying to sit up, feeling weak and dazed. He gave up quickly enough, tilting his head to the side to observe the dark curtains partially hiding the grand windows from his sight, trying to lock the incoming sunlight. His throat was dry and he could feel his lascivious thirst, a need knotting within himself, tormenting him. What could that new perception ever mean? He had the impression to shake at some point, as one of the windows trembled with an electric discharge that seemed to crack it. He closed his eyes again, letting a pained moan escape him, as it transformed into a low growl.

This time something flickered, as if flames had caught the drapes, and within a blink, the glass exploded in a thousand shards, letting the weak breeze of that awakening morning flow inside, forming a small, sweet wind vortex. He looked at it with a certain stupor, blinking several times. Had he caused that? He couldn't believe so.

He shook his head, repressing what maybe one time he would've called urge to vomit, turning his head to look at the couch's backrest.

- Are you awake, mo chridhe? - He heard the call, and found himself unconsciously looking around for the figure of who had spoken.

He let his gaze run over the figure, observing his clothes.

They were of a silky black that stood out that perfect alabaster skin, smooth and clean, as if he was preparing to go to bed.

- We don't have much time. - Whispered Kenjii, moving a couple steps forward. - I came to take you before dawn rises.

He approached graciously, bowing partially to him as if wanting to kiss him, but instead helping him move up slightly before sitting down, and letting Mirror's head rest on his lap.

The tremble that shook the braided vampire's body didn't go unnoticed, but he didn't seem to pay it any mind.

- Tonight is the night. -, Kenjii murmured softly, caressing his cheek with one hand, languid. - You will go ahead, bewildering those fools.

The chocolate brown eyes hesitatingly met with his, filled with a fear that he couldn't fully understand.

Absently, he bit his lower lip. his fangs sinking in it, almost cutting the skin as he let his gaze roam around the room again.

- Do not force me to do something I will regret again, I pray you. - He replied, with a feeble, pained whisper. - They are my people…. The men and women I was raised by…

He felt the lips of the blue-eyed vampire stroke his ear when he bowed down, his cold breath tickling his neck, with an unconsciously erotic feel.

- They were never your people, mo chridhe -, he murmured sweetly, yet hissing, as if trying to mislead him. - They didn't come looking for you, they didn't try to stop you when you ran to embrace death. They let you go. They let you go thinking solely for their well-being.

Something inside him cracked at those words. His eyes dilated slightly, as he assimilated them, his face frowning in a grimace closely resembling a mask of pure pain. Why was he starting to believe that? Were his words true? He tried to shake his head, trying to chase away that unpleasant emotion that was starting to invade him, yet not managing to erase it.

The doubt had begun to sneak within him little by little, digging deeply inside his damned soul, and plating its roots in it.

So, had he been jailed in hell… because of those he had called his people?

No, he refused to believe so.

Then why was something so similar to anger branching inside him?

- You will go to them, Father Mirror. You will go meet your churchgoers. - Kenjii kept whispering, smoothing his long dark hair with one hand. - And then you will become their disgrace.

He felt him shake again between his arms, that feeble tremble that only mortals would show in his presence. He sighed again, his face still close to the former priest's ear.

- You will wait for us at the village. - Kenjii continued, moving the long brown hair from his face, almost hiding it from his sight. - Everything will be in your hands.

Little by little the older vampire watched Mirror's eyelids close, much as if he had fainted.

But a slow nod came just after he took him with grace and elegance to lift him up from the couch, walking down those corridors while keeping him against himself, as the rays of the sun slowly poured against the walls of the mansion.

He quickened his pace to disappear in the fresh obscurity of the dungeons, barely hearing the slightly noises of the other vampires who, like him, had yet to let their mortal spoils enter the coffins to die again that day.

In a short time, without any noise, he reached his room, walking back the one of his servants, and his brother's.

He put down the body of the braided vampire in the casket next to his when he opened it, standing there just a couple minutes to observe him, before a burden felt like to be choking his breath.

Dawn had come.

He had to hurry.

Feeling his strength quickly abandoning him, he closed the tomb of his partner, approaching his own to lay down in it after taking those few clothes off.

He had barely the time to shut it when his eyelids suddenly closed, letting him fall in that daily slumber that actually was no such thing.

He didn't even know how much time passed, but shortly before dusk a breath of life sneaked away from his parted lips. Again in control of his body he finally abandoned his resting place, finding the coffin next to his empty.

The braided vampire had preceded him, just as he had commanded.

His lips pursed in a little smile, before his attention focused on the presence on the threshold of his room.

He looked up to stare at the nearly inexpressive face of his younger brother, who had just the trace of amusement sparkling in his eyes, as if foretasting what was to come.

- You better get ready, mo bhràthair -, he said, greeting him with some sarcasm in his voice. - Our uncle has already started gathering the others.

Kenjii sat up, paying the younger vampire no mind as he stood to dress himself. Ignoring the palpable excitement for battle that came from his soul.

- Instead, you should remember what my plans are, Kirious. - He replied tranquilly as his feet touched the floor, and he stretched.

- As if that was easy to forget. - The brother snapped back, observing him cross the chaos of the room, though feeling no urge to ask questions.

He just followed every movement of the other, so slow and calculated, almost as if Kenjii was trying to waste time.

He worn the jodhpurs and the leather boots with metal clasps under the knee, the dark fringes of the edge waving slightly as he moved to take the black silk shirt that he once used to go hunt.

After clasping it to the neck and covering it with a long cape that he softly tied to the collar with leather laces, he pulled out a thin necktie from a pouch, and wrapped it around his throat before turning to look at his brother.

- Your fashion sense still sucks. - He commented with no interest, watching him. It felt like they were just preparing for a horse ride in the woods.

the blue eyes of Kenjii shun with sarcasm as they met his figure, observing him head-to-feet.

Kirious wore small shoes that seemed silk-made, with wool gaiters wrapping tightly around his muscular calves, his trousers cut just below the knee and the edges wrapped with white laces so that they wouldn't flap when he jumped or ran. A wide scarf of the same color was wrapped around his waist.

He had completed the look with a white overcoat, hiding only partially the silvery blouse with gold details and puffed sleeves.

- Look who's talking. - He replied, a chestnut eyebrow arching up, walking up to him and letting his cape flap in a wide arc.

He received but a shrug from Kirious, who moved away from his position and tilting his head as if giving a formal greeting, to then point at the door with his look before doing it also with a motion of his hand, waving dismissively.

- Time to go, mo bhràthair.

Son of Darkness: Act XVIII - Deception

Once again, the sky had been covered in a thick, gloomy layer of clouds; down in the valley, they could forecast a downpour that would've soon hit the village.

Yet, despite the grayness fading and emptying the colors, blurring the layouts of the houses until they'd look but eerie shadows of themselves, the atmosphere had remained about unchanged, and the townsfolk still outside in the streets seemed to be enjoying those last moments before dusk would come.

Aiden was walking among his people like a restless soul, glancing briefly at each face without really seeing its expression, his golden eyes empty and still as his mouth, with the light pink lips slightly parted, let out feeble and broken whispers of a song he had been slowly forgetting more and more as the memories of his childhood further escaped him with the flow of time around him.

He had awoken shaking in terror every morning the past few days, haunted by overlapping nightmares that had awakened the memory of that terrible day ten years past, when he, still a child, had witnessed powerlessly the murder of his mother at hand of one of those creatures.

He vaguely remembered the moments that had followed that, but what had remained most vivid in his heart after everything had passed, was the pale face of his mother as she gasped her last breath, and the low voice of the priest, and the reassuring smile he had given him. The same priest who, but a few nights ago, had reappeared in the form of a vampire.

The creature that had made him an orphan.

And he couldn't stop his troubled mind from overlapping the images, giving form to an uncouth result: that sweet smile had turned into a mask of malignity, the lips into a dark cave sparkling with fangs. When he had tried to tell what he had dreamed, his voice had died in his throat, and he had fought to suppress those images in his mind, trying to forget.

But there was no way to cancel that vision. He was haunted from it even now, as he walked down the streets.

He stared into the horizon, letting his gaze slowly run on his surroundings and the woods, not stopping to observe anything in particular. His legs seemed to guide him, as he absently ran one hand in the black curly hair that were starting to grow to frame his face, to make sure he was able to look around freely, even though he really wasn't looking anywhere.

He didn't put an end to his hopeless search of something that wasn't there, even when the first drops of rain came down, accompanied by scarce thunders, until they quickly turned into a real downpour. He focused on the coming and going of the townsfolk quickly scattering in the streets, watching absently the merchants sheltering their booths with blankets and cloths to protect their merchandise. And he would've remained to stand still in the rain, on the road between the village and the Church, if someone hadn't gently grabbed his wrist to give it a light tug.

- Aiden, you are going to get sick. Come. - He heard a voice, and turning slowly he saw the Mayor's daughter, Nadine, her face completely wet and her hair soaked, sticking against her cheeks.

He was about to nod when something froze him, his eyes widening in shock and terror.

He started to shake convulsively, his legs giving up under the confused look of his friend, who had led his wrist go to kneel next to him on the muddy ground, shaking him lightly. Yet he didn't speak a word, nor listened to her words; he just stared straight ahead, gasping.

Confused by his behavior, Nadine too turned in the direction Aiden's gaze was staring at, her eyes also widening as she stood back up to move – despite Aiden's broken murmurs, as he implored her to not do it – a couple steps towards the figure that had just appeared between the trees, his clerical robe glued against his body because of the heavy rain. She looked at him carefully, and her initial frown became a shocked, yet somewhat relieved expression.

- Father Mirror! - She called, causing the heads of the still busy closing shop to turn around.

All what could be heard afterwards were the following excited murmurs, mixed to the rain's roar and the light rustle of the tree branches. Several people approached curiously, as if wanting to make sure it really was the priest, the man now standing before them with that lenient smile. They observed the indistinguishable change of his face, his long chocolate brown hair tied in that neat, perfect braid. And on the clerical robe, despite it being a little worn out, still shun the silver Emblem of the Goddess, as bright as lightning. The pendant he'd never leave without.

Nobody could've suspected anything at such a perfectly normal sight.

- It's been a long time, my brothers. - He murmured, with his usual soft, warm voice.

And yet, had the people been more careful and expert, they would've heard something amiss in that voice. A gurgle similar to the sound of waterfalls, a quiet plash that had no name. They didn't notice those details, as well as the broken words coming out in wistful sounds from Aiden's lips, who had stood back up and kept staring at him in shock, perhaps on the edge of tears.

He stepped back, shaking his head in disbelief, trying to call back his friend with a choked voice; she, like many others, had approached to talk to the priest, with a warm, amazed smile.

He wanted to scream to watch out, to run away immediately. But nothing came from his lips. And his face turned into the most undecipherable expression, when the priest's face slowly turned to him, melting those gold-streaked brown eyes in his amber ones.

Especially when he saw his lips purse in a smile, almost revealing the tips of his fangs. Not enough for the others to notice them, but enough for Aiden to revive his greatest terror. And at that point he screamed, causing everyone to turn and look at him.

- Aiden, what's wrong? - Asked a woman standing next to the priest, with a worried look, and coughing because of the rain soaking her clothes.

But the boy didn't give her any look nor answer, closing both his fists to his chest, in an unconscious defensive gesture.

- Is something troubling you, Aiden? - Also asked the priest, still with that well-played smile lighting his pale face beyond any expectation, ignoring the water trickling on his skin, as if immune to the cold of the downpour. And Aiden thought he probably was.

Mirror bowed his head to the people who followed him with their gazes, somewhat bewitched, as he moved towards the boy, who stood there shaking like a leaf to the wind.

Mostly because of terror, rather than the heavy rain.

He watched that creature stop but a few steps from him, crouching down and resting his forearms on his legs, and looking up at him to meet his gaze once again. Nadine had approached too, trying to understand the tension she somewhat perceived in the air.

- You have become a young man. - Said the priest, ignoring the rain. - I suppose I really have been gone for too many years.

- Father, you must be tired. - Murmured Nadine, resting one hand on his shoulder to call his attention back. - Come to the inn, they will make you something warm to eat.

Aiden couldn't speak a word. He was trying to guess what that man had said or done to deceive all those people. He stepped back again as he watched him stand back up and smile at his friend, a bewitching smile of lust and temptation that she returned, completely unaware. Aiden knew of Nadine's recent encounter with one of them. How could she not suspect a thing?

Then the girl turned to look at him cheerfully, approaching to take his hand.

- Come with us, Aiden. - She said, as some people behind her already turned to go at the tavern, perhaps driven by the tempting prospective of warming up their limbs themselves, as well as their clothes, sitting by big chimney in the building.

The boy managed to shake his head violently, his golden eyes getting even widen.

- You Devil! - He cried, with the gloomy expression of someone who had lost his mind.

Immediately he had everyone's attention on himself, as they stared at him, perhaps thinking he was pulling a prank. And yet he was the only one to be in his senses, in that place. The only one able to see the darkness and cold whirling around the priest's body, who was still looking at him with that tolerant, sweet smile, the same smile he had shown the day his mother had died.

And perhaps he would've almost believed to that smile, if the priest had not so cheekily let his fangs shine once more. He ran away, screaming before someone could even try and say something, before Nadine could grab him again or call him back, and ran up the small road leading to the Church, his small figure being followed by the confused gazes of his townsfolk.

- Forgive him, Father. - Murmured Nadine, bowing her head in a sorry expression. - He has been acting odd for the past dew days, please forgive him.

The priest looked at her, smiling charmingly.

- Do not be concerned. - He said calmly, turning towards the other people, standing still under the rain, waiting for him. - Let us go to the inn, rather. We're all risking to get ill with cold, the longer we stay here in the rain.

- You are right. - She replied, stepping up.

The tumultuous roar of the rain accompanied their steps, the tapping of their feet in the puddles and mud, and the several murmured words of the people, asking questions to the priest, to which he would reply steadily, as if acting a part he had learned to heart.

As he entered the tavern, many heads turned to look at his figure, and just as many stayed in shock as they observed his body, their mouths opened in silent Os. The eyes kept following him as he walked through the crowd with gracious, cadenced steps.

- Father Mirror! - Exclaimed the innkeeper soon as he saw him. - Bless the Goddess, this is a miracle!

He let out a small chuckle, a laugh that seemed to echo into the tavern as if the room had been empty rather than filled with people.

- I don't know what it is you believed to have been of me, but I assure you I have just returned from a spiritual journey. - He replied at ease with that clear voice, his deception unseen by everyone.

Especially because they just couldn't stop staring at him in awe.

- A journey! - Exclaimed the innkeeper, in disbelief. - We all thought you were dead! Even your brother had thought you were lost!

- I am consternated to have caused you so much worry and forced you to live all these years believing to such tragedy. - He murmured, his voice low and sorry, as he bowed his head to shake it in sorrow. - But please, where is Peb now? I would like to reassure him of my conditions. - He added, looking back at him.

- That's perfectly normal, of course. - The man nodded. - But first let me serve you something to warm up, Father. - He added, immediately turning to walk in the kitchen. - You look very tired. As white as a ghost, if I might say so.

And once again the priest smiled, displaying gratitude for the man's care. He would've played a little longer, after all. He wasn't in such a rush; one of their preys was sitting just next to him.His little Lord would've taken care of the rest, he didn't have to worry.

All he had to do was to keep playing his role in the whole plan, that was all.

And so, widening his smile and making sure to not let his fangs be shown, he nodded, sitting at one of the tables as the people gathered around him, asking questions over questions, not suspecting a thing.

He wanted that play to last as long as possible.

Even though the first trouble for his true nature and that he should've gotten rid of had escaped him all too easily. But he believed to have scared him enough to cause the people to believe the boy to be crazy, so he wasn't too worried.

He spent a long time talking tranquilly with the people in the large hall of the inn, barely even touching the warm broth the innkeeper had brought him, but turning to him to show a warm, falsely sincere smile, displaying gratitude for his gift. And as he listened to the questions with fake interest to then reply on instinct, he concentrated on the sounds coming from outside, and the thoughts, overlapping and conflicting in his mind, looking for a thread that would connect them, but unsuccessfully.

His ego had changed so drastically that night. He vaguely remembered the pain he had suffered, and had almost decided to not even try to give it a sense anymore. He decided to not think about it any longer, focusing back on the curious, devote faces of the people he was looking at, unconsciously bewitching them with his awakening powers, violating their minds without even realizing.

- I would like to be taken to my brother. - He said suddenly with a quiet voice, almost sensual, interrupting the flow of thoughts and the storm of questions that he had tolerated for a while. - Would you please grant me such wish?

More than one person stood up to show him the way. And as they escorted him to the Mayor, unaware of what could've happened, only one person, or better yet, one girl, was walking in the opposite direction, eager to inform her mother of the good news.

But she couldn't know that her mother was already aware of everything, that the priest could not be trusted. Her heart filled with the same ingenuity and ignorance that had already lured her in danger before, she ran through the village under the dying rain, observed by figures melting in the darkness.

One of them looked around absently, briefly moving his lips as he waved one hand dismissively, sitting with crossed legs on one of the lower branches of the trees around there.

Someone else instead had let their gaze follow the braided vampire priest surrounded by all those humans, those ignorant humans, who were leading him along the road leading to what had once been his Church. He appraised him for a while, judging him carefully like an expert goldsmith with an raw gemstone. There was a mildly annoyed expression on his face.

- I suppose it was not a complete waste of time. - He murmured suddenly with a whispering, honeyed voice, turning to look at another figure.

Lips pursed in a pleased smile at those words. He glanced at his brother sitting next to him, before smiling more, absently observing Aaron.

- I was positive this is what you would've said, uncle. - He replied calmly, and flat, his voice clear against the fading rain. - It's a plan that cannot fail.

As he completed the sentence, he received a scoffing sound. It was as if his uncle didn't appreciate to know that him, the man he had parted from life three hundred years past, had managed to get through the defenses of the village and was now being taken to the member of the family they had hunted for centuries.

And the younger vampire couldn't hide his pleasure at that disappointed expression.

- You seem discontent, Uncle. - He dared, feeling the gazes of the other vampires hiding around them.

The air froze, and nobody dared to speak as their master stared coldly at the calm expression of his nephew, sitting on a branch not too far from him.

- Do not challenge your luck, Kenjii. - He replied calmly, despite the repressed anger not well-hidden on his face. - I can decide to take his life just as quickly as you've given it to him. You'd best remember that.

- I told you I will do as you want. - Replied the young one, looking up to meet his uncle's gaze, to then move briefly on the blue eyes of the vampire next to him, smiling at him in secret. - And just as you've seen, Mirror has shown to be an efficient comedian. Those villagers will give him the Mayor on a plate of gold.

A small rustle, something approaching slowly and calmly. Kenjii turned briefly to melt his blue pools with the emerald eyes of the only female vampire in the group, she seemed to be trying to admonish him with her gaze.

"Do not taunt him, my young Lord." she said without moving her lips, speaking directly to his mind, aware that no one would've been able to violate its privacy. "Please try and play along his scheme, do not take risks to merely mock his person."

Imperceptibly, Kenjii nodded. He fixed his clothes absently, looking at his uncle and then at his brother, who had been oddly quiet and brooding, looking down with empty eyes.

- Take both of the women. - His uncle's voice called his attention once again, as he moved on a lower branch. - I want them alive, for now. He will watch them die before his eyes. Feel free to take whatever entertainment you may wish with them.

That said, his shape blurred and he seemed to melt in thin air itself, turning to give them a falsely indulgent smile before he'd disappear leaving nothing but a windmill, and a pair of black feathers spinning in the air before placidly flutter down to the floor; he had probably moved to keep an eye on the event from another position.

The two siblings finally glanced at each other, yet remaining quiet. Their looks often meant more than a thousand words or gestures. The older looked at the left vampires, briefly moving his lips to let out a whisper, though he didn't speak a word.

"Keep an eye on him. This foolish vengeance must come to an end." Relentless, the mute voice of his mind crossed the minds of each of them, as sharp as a knife's blade.

They nodded, bowing in reverence before also disappearing, swallowed by the darkness that had begun to envelop the village, growing thicker and thicker at each step of the priest in its streets.

- She's going inside. - Murmured the younger brother, calling Kenjii's attention.

Together they left their positions to quietly approach the house, where the girl had just begun to open the door and had stepped in the entrance, calling for her mother. She found her in the living room, staring absently at the floor. She had the same empty gaze of the day before, although looking even sadder.

Cautiously, she slowly approached to touch her shoulder. She barely received a look.

- Are you feeling better, Mom? - She asked quietly, pressing her lips in a thin line.

The woman took a long sigh, imposing some courage to herself.

She avoided her daughter's eyes for a bit, before turning to show her a small, hesitant smile. - Of course, Nadine; I'm okay now. - She murmured with an empty voice.

Even the girl showed a small smile, sitting next to her. - Maybe my news will cheer you up. - She said, tilting her head in a childish manner.

She started to open her mouth to talk when a light knock on the door caught their attention. Confused, they looked at each other, before standing up and walking up to the entrance, and see nothing through the peephole; nothing, not even a leaf shaken by the breeze.

- It was probably the wind. - Said Julia, before walking back into the living room with her.

But they both came to a stop on the threshold when they saw due boys tranquilly relaxed on the small couches, wearing clothes that could've been taken by a portrait of several centuries ago. Not only their clothes were of very ancient cloth, even their faces had an unusual worn touch, as if what they were showing was but a frontage. Julia observed their young and beautiful looks, unconsciously already shielding her daughter with her body.

How old were those two strangers?

They looked like teenagers, but something in their eyes – of two sensibly different blue shade – gave her a feeling she could not understand, an ancient and long lost secret that must not be discovered.

- Who are you? - She asked, moving a step back with Nadine. - How did you get in?!

The two youths glanced at each other, before giving her an innocent, harmless smile. The older-looking one stood up, and his clothes and cloak rustled as he walked towards both of them with slow, cadenced steps, like an actor on a stage.

- It was much easier than you'd think, Madame. - He murmured mellifluously, somewhat seductive and tempting. - Isn't that so, Kirious? - He added, turning to look at the other boy, having no hesitation in using his name.

The other stood up and stretched with movements that were almost feline, before walking up to the other's side without moving his blue-gray gaze from the two women, still staring at him in surprise.

- My brother is right. - He gave an amuse chuckle. - You should pay better attention to the details, especially doors and windows.

Nadine and Julia gulped, and the woman fought inwardly to not let her fear twisting her liver be shown. She quickly looked around for something to use, but she didn't find anything within reach; she grabbed her daughter's wrist, as the girl watched in silence, afraid, at the whole scene.

- Run, Nadine! - She exclaimed, dashing towards the entrance, ready to run away. Something told her she had to leave that house at once.

But the only escape was blocked by the younger of the two young men, appearing before the door like a ghost. He waved his index finger left and right in a mocked admonishment, also shaking his head.

- Sorry ladies, but we're not in the mood to play games tonight. - He sighed, and shrugged with a sorry frown. - I'm afraid our agenda is pretty full.

The other also appeared next to him, with a somewhat uninterested look.

- What are you!? - Yelped Julia, feeling her daughter tremble against her.

- Mom… - She murmured quietly, convulsively gripping on the cloth of the woman's sleeve. - It's them…. It's happening again…

Both the boys smiled, and approached. A cold hand reached for the woman's neck, and another gently forced her to let her daughter's wrist go. She heard a scream, and turning around she saw her trying to wriggle free, in the arms of the red-haired vampire, who was whispering something in her ear.

- They call us with many names. - Murmured charmingly the one holding her still, absently looking at the long, thin hair on her neck. - Promathia's offspring, evil incarnations, monsters, bloodsuckers, vampires…

That cold feeling that had been slowly pouring in her body became stronger and oppressing, something she couldn't describe, that she couldn't fight. She repressed a scream and a disgusted gasp when the boy's tongue caressed only barely her neck in an erotic movement, holding her still with one arm around the waist in a grip that seemed made of stone.

- But the definition I prefer…. - He continued, closing his blue eyes to enjoy the smell of her terror. - Is undoubtedly… 'Sons of Darkness'.

Only a couple seconds after that sentence was completed, she felt the feeble contact of his sharp canines stroking her skin, tasting it. A deep breath, and the contact of his chest against hers. Both of them had eyes closed, their breath still, hearing nothing but the scarce, smart-ass comments of the other vampire in reply to Nadine's terrorized squirms, still trembling in his arms.

- Kenjii… - He murmured tauntingly, almost in trance. - … The smell of her blood under her skin is driving me crazy. I don't know if I can resist it…

Although amusement was clearly displayed on his face, the older brother shook his head and sighed.

- Try harder. - He said flat, ignoring the screams of the two women. The one he was holding still tried to get away stabbing her nails in his shirt in a desperate attempt to scratch his arm, to then try even on his face, unsuccessfully.

- Let us go! - She begged, fighting. - Please, at least my daughter!

A pleasant chuckle escaped the lips of one of them.

- Be at ease. - Said Kenjii, moving her hair from her face. - We are not planning to do you any harm.

- Hold on, there. - His brother frowned, staring at him. - This sounds new to me.

- All I want is that is sounds clear. - Replied Kenjii, calmly. - Just play along.

Kirious growler, and the girl against him cried, trying to squirm away again, shaking her shoulders, hitting his chest with her hands trying to force him to let go.

- I am sick of your constant change of plans! - He hissed, paying her no mind even when a fist almost reached to his face.

A glance from the other vampire was enough to make the girl stop, and she trembled more, closing her eyes after giving her mother a terrified look, seeing her shaky and powerless just like herself.

- I will not tell you again. Just do as I say.

But the red-haired one only returned a challenging glare. The air around them became tense and palpable, vibrating like a violin's chords. Nadine's protests stopped once more, as she was afraid of a violent reaction from on the two vampires that were not glaring at each other without a word.

It was like they were fighting just with looks.

The older seemed to win, because the other looked away, with an irritated grunt.

- As you wish… mo bhràthair. - He hissed, his breath heavier than normal, as if he had run for malms. - As much as I'd love to taste her flavor, I will sit and behave like a good pup.

- I'm glad we're clear. - Replied the other, looking forwards the face of the woman, who stared at her with big, shocked eyes. - Forgive me for what I'm about to do, Madame. - He murmured gleefully, stroking her face once more.

She didn't have the time to do anything, only dilate her eyes. She saw the vampire's face leaning towards her, his lips pursed in a small smile that let his fangs peek, his blue pool like a dark abyss. She heard the scared, distant scream of her daughter, before the world spun and darkened around her.

She lost consciousness just in time to not register the roar of Roy's gun in the room.

Son of Darkness: Act XIX - Trapped

Jugner Forest, 612 C.E.

The Lake Mechieume was still asleep, placid and still at his feet. Not a soul in Norvallen would let a sound slip that night, as the forest itself held its breath, nature itself conscious of his presence in that lonely place.

Aaron looked up from the water at the clear sky of early night, stars peeking in the purple drape to watch over him. Even the moon was there, as her honor guest and spectator, casting a white, silvery light on the water before him.

He closed his eyes, and wind complied to his command, casting a soft breeze upon him, carrying to him the noises and scents of his surroundings, while moving gently his long chestnut bangs, his long, light ponytail swaying against his long white coat. He mused inwardly, all fully aware of the presence that was now standing behind him. The Hunter thought the wind had revealed his presence, and had decided it was pointless to keep hiding in the shadows of the forest.

But Aaron hadn't called the wind forth to track down his scent. It had merely been a ploy to enhance the pathos of that glorious night. The scent of the Hunter had been clear to his nostrils since that morning.

- Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess
We seek it thus, and take to the sky
Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest.[1]

A nostalgic smile formed on the lips of the Lord of the West, and when the extract did not continue, he slightly turned his face to glance at the Hume standing between the last row of trees around the lake.

- "Exodus of Altana" Act XIX.

The vampire slayer looked up from his Holy Book, a rather expensive edition embossed in silver threads. He closed the book with a silent snap, and cast his washed-out gray eyes on him. - You remembered.

Aaron slowly tilted his head in a mischievous teasing nod. - How can I not, when you've beaten it into my head, Jin-Teh-Ahhad? - He questioned him, raising his left hand to lightly tap one finger on his temple.

The Hunter didn't want to join the charade. With a calm movement he put the book away in a pocket, and then lifted his longsword, a weapon made of silver, with the emblem of the Goddess carved in its hilt. The blade shun of a blue light against the moon's reflection, the color of monster blood. Cursed blood, Aaron's nose could tell. The Hume lifted the sword before himself, and rested his forehead against the hilt, the sword pointing at the sky, as he began to hum a prayer under his breath.

And so it was time to raise the curtains onto the final act, at long last. Aaron was all too aware of the Hunter's power, and of how he had eliminated or chased away from the Middle Lands about every vampire. Everyone but him, their Lord. The outcome of this clash would have determined the ending of a story that had lasted centuries. At least, until a new worthy opponent would have raised to try and claim his life again. The man of the Far East was indeed the strongest Hunter Aaron had ever had to deal with, and by far, the most stubborn, but even so, he was convinced that what was now taking stage in Norvallen was not the end of his opera. No, it was all merely the end of an act, much like the one the Hume had so kindly recited for him, thinking to offer him a respectful requiem.

But it would have been his, instead. Aaron was confident of that. The vampire chuckled, as he put one of his black highboots on the still water of the lake. The surface immediately froze at the contact, transforming into solid water crystal, which spread into a large path, preceding Aaron as he continued to walk towards the center of the lake; his opponent walked forward as well, stopping at the edge of the lake.

- I will not take you lightly, Promathia.

- Hmph, noted. - How cute, Aaron thought. The fool was still convinced that the God of Twilight had been possessing his body; that he was not acting of his own free will. Is it that unconceivable for the mankind that a Child of Altana could grow to become what he had become?

He stopped at the center of the lake, glancing up at the pale moon, as dark clouds began to gather over the area, hiding it from his sight. It was a shame, yes, but considering of how seriously his opponent was taking that moment, he couldn't insult him and not return the courtesy of summoning all his power in that final battle. The clouds clustered and clashed, thunder and lightning beginning to form between the dark gases.

- Ten years… - Murmured the vampire, at a level sufficiently high for his rival to hear, as he kept watching the clouds with a nostalgic look. - They sound so short when you spell such words… but.. Yes, ten years are truly a long time…

He turned to smile at the Hunter, who lowered his sword to stare at him with an icy glare.

- Yes… - He replied with a neutral tone. - Long enough to make people rot…

Aaron finally turned to face him, his thin eyebrows only barely frowning questioningly, his eerie, polite smile still on his lips.

- I have defeated many vicious creatures. Most of them were simply insane, Evil driving them out of their minds. - Said the slayer. - …You weren't like that. Even though you once did something I cannot conceive… whenever it was time to fight, you would face your opponent with dignity. You'd use no filthy trick… such as toying with the people dear to your enemy, or fooling a mother and her children to grow affectionate of you, just to have them as a shield, as hostages whose life would be free to take away from them on your lone whim. You are no longer the worthy Lord of the vampires in the Middle Lands that I had once heard of during my apprenticeship….

The thin line of Aaron's smile grew wider, a chuckle forming at the bottom of his throat, louder, and louder, until his lips actually parted in a grin, revealing his fangs, as he let out a whole-hearted laughter, and when it erupted into a loud cackle, lightning struck the water behind him, a column of purple electricity towering from the sky to the lake, without fading. It kept crackling and roaring as the creature's hilarity took over the elementals. White and purple electric discharges spread from the lightning tower like roots onto the lake's surface, covering it all, and partially destroying the crystal bridge that separated the vampire from the hunter.

- I did not think you able to feel amusement, or laugh. - The Hunter's frown only slightly deepened, his gaze calm before that show of unlimited power.

- There is really nothing left for me but laugh, mo marcaiche[2]. - Said the vampire sweetly. - I thought you had simply grown weaker, but… it is clear that raising a family utterly devastated your logic itself. Kirious and Kenjii are not hostages… no such foolishness… Their role is much more important; not even a blood servant is worthy of half the value they have for me. I would give my life for them, and I will… literally so.

He grinned again at the Hunter, and couldn't help but laugh again when the expression of realization and horror struck the Hume's face. Jin-Teh's composure faltered, a drop of cold sweat running down the side of his face.

- You don't… you don't mean they are…?

- Starting to wonder if you are after the right target now, are you? - Aaron's tone was almost chanting, before his expression retrieved the dead-like, cold expression of a statue, his tone growing lower. - But it is too late now.

The electricity that had been crawling over the lake suddenly focused on Aaron, enveloping in a radiant, white orb that blinded the Hunter's eyes for a few seconds, before taking the form of a sort of energy field over the vampire's body, a thunderous armor with enormous wings, which lifted him from the ground, as white energy concentrated in his eyes and hands.

- Now come forth, "Hunter". Show me how much you value your life, and the life of those so dear to you!

Clenching teeth, the vampire slayer opened a flask that was hanging from his belt and threw it in the air. The holy water contained streamed out of its vessel by his magic and will, collecting around his free hand and wrapping over it like a glove, before he ran his fingers on the blade. The contact with the holy water caused a reaction in the cursed blood, which began to glow red, revealing written glyphs on the blade's surface, symbols of an ancient language, reciting an oath of the Goddess.

"Altana, forgive me. For I have sinned…"

***

The bullet had found its target and hit it squarely, yet the moment of startle in Roy's mind when the red-haired vampire's body didn't turn into ash didn't last long. He knew that was only the minimal part of what to expect from vampires as long as those. And they did look not just old. They were what the diary of Peb's father had described as Ancients. Vampires directly transformed by the Lord of the Western lands, the one Malay had called the "alpha" vampire.

There was no time to lose, he couldn't let them spot his figure. About at the same time the bullet struck the vampire, Roy threw the smoke bomb he had found in the supplies inside the dresser. He registered Nadine's position in the room and threw the bomb, seeing only one of the vampire's gazes spotting him before the smoke curled and bubbled quickly filling the room. Luckily, it had been the one with both hands full with Julia's unconscious body.

Roy thought quickly as he entered the fog as quietly as he could. There was no way he could save both of the women, alone. When, hearing Nadine's cries, he thought he was close enough, he took another bomb and tossed it to the opposite direction, hoping to catch the attention of the vampires. He felt the object hitting something, possibly a window, as he heard the noise of glass shattering. Almost immediately, a shadow ran past him, at not more than one yalm. Roy ducked down and quickly found Nadine's feet. He got up and grabbed her, thanking the Goddess that she was alone. Without losing time reassuring her as she yelped and screamed, he ran with her for the door. He was at the final stride when the smoke before him was blown away by a strange current, following the materialization of the red-haired vampire, looking nonchalant as he leaned with his back against the door.

- Now, now. You can't throw a party and then leave with the girl right away.

Roy hissed, halting before the demon, pointing his gun at him instinctively. Out of the corner of the eye, he looked for the second vampire, but the smoke was still concealing him.

Nadine looked up at him, as he held her close against himself with one arm. - M-Mister Mustang….?

Behind them, the smoke suddenly began to spin and whirl, gathering towards the center of the room. Something seemed to be aspiring it, and after a few seconds, Roy could spot a strange windmill collecting all the smoke, growing thinner and thinner, until the room was completely clear again. The wind disappeared on the palm of the blue-eyed vampire, now standing next to the couch. Julia was behind him, laid on the couch, unconscious but unhurt.

"They need them alive."

Roy's gaze darted back on the red-haired vampire, when it absently plucked the deformed bullet out of his clothes, looking at the hole in his vest with vague annoyance. When he looked back up at him, the alchemist sensed a clear chill run up his spine. His instinct gave him no doubt. Those two belonged to a different league.

He bit his lower lip to impose himself some control, and he held Nadine tighter, pointing his gun at her head. The girl squirmed, confused and terrorized, screaming and crying.

- Oho… - The red-haired vampire's eyebrows arched in an amused, mildly surprised expression. He glanced at the other vampire. - Will you look at that…?

- He will not do it. - Sentenced the other.

- I'll kill her before I let you freaks transform her into a monster! - Snarled Roy, stepping back and dragging Nadine with him.

The shorter vampire chuckled. - Go ahead, then. I'll give you ten seconds.

The door was out of question.

- Nine.

The windows were too far.

- Eight.

The stairs were too close to the other vampire.

- You know what, forget the count down. - The vampire suddenly charged into their direction, letting out a scream that could only belong to a monster.

- Nadine, to the pantry! - Roy pushed the girl behind him, and threw something he had been holding in a closed fist with the arm he was keeping around her. The white, sparkling dust was spread over the vampire, hitting his front side.

The creature brought both hands to his face, screaming and wailing. - Aaaargh! My eyes! What have you DONE!? MY EYES…!

Taking advantage if the moment, Roy spun around and pushed Nadine in the kitchen, slamming the pantry's door open and dragging her inside. There, he quickly moved away an old caisson that hid the door to the secret panic room Peb had showed him before. After shoving Nadine inside, he followed in and closed the door behind, praying that the room would look untouched from the outside.

Kenjii slowly approached Kirious, glancing down at the dust that had struck him. After a few seconds, he looked at his brother with a light frown. - Are you done….?

After a few more seconds, the vampire stopped yowling, and straighted up with a big grin. - Oh, come on. Let me have what little fun I can get in all this, mo bhratàir. It's not like they escaped. And the expression on that guy's face when he thought his silver dust could actually be worth something against me was simply priceless.

Inside the small room, Roy finished applying the exorcists seals on the door to create a barrier that would resist the essence thanks to which vampires can transfer from a room to another in the form of thin air. He opened his gun and checked his left bullets, before closing it again. Then, he finally glanced at Nadine. The girl had pushed herself as far away from him as she could, and was now rocking slightly, hugging her knees at the opposite corner as him, crying.

- Nadine… - He whispered, scooting closer to her. - I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to scare you…

- Don't touch me!!

- Please, don't be so loud. - He said with a sorry tone, hesitatingly putting one hand on her arm. - I wasn't going to shoot you… It was all a bluff to get away, I swear.

- My mom is there! With them…! - She cried, pushing away his hand and whispering in a panic between sobs. - They will murder her…! I want… I want my Dad…!

- I know. I know… - With some pain, Roy forced her into a hug. The girl resisted him for a few, before diving her face in his shirt, weeping and shaking. He waited patiently for her to calm down, murmuring words that he hardly believed to himself. His calculations on their chances weren't pleasing him, but he had promised himself that he'd try to do everything he could to get away.

He had to frame Julia out of the picture for the moment, trusting that, whatever they needed her alive for, would take those vampires longer than it'd take him to figure a way out and hide Nadine someplace safe.

And before that, he needed to go home, too. He was running out of time…

- Why… Why are they not coming…? - Nadine whispered, now calmer, though still trembling.

He looked up at the door. - This barrier prevents them from entering, and smelling us, too. But I think they know we're here. - He said, slowly, his mind distant, as he kept thinking of possible routes of escape. He needed the damn door free.

She curled further on herself. - They will find us…. - She said in a squeak.

He gave her slow caress on the head, and then crawled back to his bag to retrieve his candles. He needed a pair of eyes out of that room; it was the only way. Slowly, he placed the box Malay had confectioned for him before himself on a low shelf, before putting the two candles next to it. He then pulled out a pocket mirror, one of the kind ladies usually carry around to check on their make-up, and put it against the wall just behind the candles. Under Nadine's curious glance, he took out his lighter and lit the candles.

He threw a worried glance at the door. He could only hope the seals that kept the vampires out would still allow Sophia inside…

The alchemist checked his pocket watch, before kneeling down, so that his breath (still slightly short from the pain to his arm and the anxiety of the moment) wouldn't stroke the candles. He stared up at them, his eyes pointed on the flames' reflection in the mirror. He gulped, and took a deep breath, before whispering.

- Sophe, are you here…?

The girl tilted her head up to look at the candles, then at him, a scared frown forming on her face. - Huh…? Mister Mustang, what are you–

- Ssst. - Roy made a slow, small gesture with his hand to quieten her. - It's hard to explain, Nadine. But I need you to be quiet now.

She stared at him for a bit, before focusing back on the candles, to try and understand what was so important about them for him to not look away a moment from them. The flames were still, burning quietly, the wax slowly melting into small pools at the center of the yellow-ish bodies, each carved with a Y and N, that Roy had made sure to turn so that the symbols would be both in plain sight. They were perfectly normal candles.

Nadine's eyes then suddenly registered a movement. One of the candles' flame had faltered. It wasn't the one she had been staring at though, she was sure of it. She glanced at the second, also perfectly still. Had it been her impression? There were no windows in the room. The air itself was stale with dust and…

… And something that shouldn't have been there. The girl looked around the pantry, in the dim light offered by the candles. When had her mother brought lilacs in there? And why keep them in the pantry? She wasn't aware of food that required dried lilacs to be made. Her eyes kept scanning the shelves, unsuccessful in spotting the plants. While searching carefully, her eye fell on the mirror that was placed behind the candles, at the same time as Roy finished his new question.

- Is Julia unhurt?

The reflection of the candle of the left trembled. Not the flame itself; that one was perfectly still, pointing up at the ceiling. But its reflection in the mirror clearly trembled, as if someone had breathed softly over it to make it dance.

She let out a cry, and immediately scooted to grab on Roy's arm (and the alchemist inwardly thanked her for doing that on his good arm), staring at that sort of small ritual shrine he had built with horror.

- T-the vampires… - She sobbed, tears beginning to well in her eyes again.

He put one hand over hers, glancing at her. - No, no. Don't worry. It's not them.

She yelped this time, standing up to press herself against the door. - S-something touched my face…! I want to go out. Please, please let me out..!

She was beginning to be loud again, and Roy had to get up and put one hand on her mouth to stop her gasping, giving the door a worried glance.

- Nadine. Everything is okay here… I know you're afraid, but I need you to trust me and cooperate, okay? I promise I will not let anything hurt you. I saved you before, didn't I? - He had spoken in an hissing tone that probably made him sound more threatening and less comforting that he had wanted to be, but it was too late to rework on that.

She stopped trying to fight him, and looked up at him with eyes so big, she looked almost unnatural. Tears kept slowly running down her face, in a silent cry. When one of them ran down to touch Roy's gloved hands, he pulled it away from her mouth.

- Do you remember the woman who helped me when you were in danger? - He asked quietly. When the girl nodded, he licked his lips. - I am about to tell you something I have never told anyone else before, okay? Will you keep my secret?

When, after some hesitation, the girl nodded again, he let out a deep breath, and turned to look at the candles again.

- Sophe… Please, I need you to do what you can to move those monsters away from the threshold. Use my energy if necessary… And give us the signal when it's safe to leave.

Nadine glanced at the candles again, and stiffened, seeing the candle on the left, the flame of its reflection trembling again inside the mirror. Roy let her go to go grab the strange box that was before the candles, as well as the mirror. And suddenly, she realized the scent of lilacs left the room.

––––––––––––––––––––––––
[1]You get a cookie for guessing the reference! (FFVII Crisis Core: Battle on Junon Cannon)
[2]My Knight.