Disturbed Will

SO my lack of any blog entrees this month has been depressing. I've been working on so many projects, that I couldn't find the time to actually post anything new.

But what about the old?

Say... did I ever talk about one of my other stories? The one about Vampires?

I started the story back as a Senior in High school, almost exactly 10 years ago. I believe the version I am putting down here is the 2nd version I wrote, which I believe would be my first time editing. Granted, this was before my time in college, my creative writing class, and my experience with reviewing and noticing story tropes.
Now keep in mind, I have not reread or re-edited this since then. I tried doing it 5 years ago (and posted some of it on DeviantArt), but unfortunately I still have Shadow Kings on my mind, so I dropped working on it.

If you are curious and like the start of this series, please leave a comment below. I may post some teasers and a general plan of the story arc (which I still have written down, as well as the plans I have added over the years from new stories and legends).

Until then, enjoy and have a Happy Halloween~ Will

Chapter 1 - Journal

      The moonlight shone thru the dark branches like water over a cliff, filling the forest with a bright light that seemed to reflect off everything it touched.  The branches gave shadows that would grab anything in their way.  Within those shadows a small girl ran for her life.  Her small yellow dress had been torn from running into branches, while her shoulder length hair had twigs and leaves laced over her head.  Her eyes were in a complete panic as she rushed through the dense forest, taking time to turn around and look behind her.
     Something was chasing her, something dark and wanting to kill her.
     Even with her breathing becoming heavy, her legs keep moving away from the creature. Fear pumped into her body that told her that if she stopped for even a moment that she would die.  Running blindly through the black abyss of leaves, she could only hope for a sign of safety or a building of any sort. She ran till she tripped on a root, sliding on her chest till she faced in front of a black dead tree.  She tried to pick herself up but the pain from her leg prevented her to stand.  Tired and hurt, all she could do was turn around to look at her chaser.  Only seeing the night at first, it didn’t take long to clearly see the pale skin, sharp claws, and large sharp teeth like an animal.  It moved faster than it seemed and was quickly heading for her.
     She let out a scream.  And everything turned black.
     A large thud could be heard behind the darkness, as if it had smashed into a solid wall.  For a second, the girl’s eyes could make out a small outline of an odd shaped box in front of herself.  Time seemed to slow down as her mind was trying to catch up to the event in front of her.
     Then the girl heard the creature scream in terror.
     Frozen in awe and fear, she could only stare at the black box.  Something worse than the creature was behind the box.  But an emotion flowed through her that she couldn’t explain, something that told her she was safe, even though her body couldn’t stop shaking in fear.  A dark robe came from the other side of the box, being almost the same size, leaned on the box with a relax pose.
      What the girl would remember for the rest of her years about that night were two things.  The face of her rescuer in the rising moonlight was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and that when the light started to shine on his face, it showed something horrifying on the box, something pale and with big sharp teeth.

     The room was filled with the light of newly lit candles.  Except for a window on the opposite side of the door, the room had only an untouched bed and a wooden table with a chair.  Closing the door behind him, an aged man about the age of seventy-five looked around and placed a few bags near the table.  His face a little red from heat and drink made his white short hair stand out over his brown robe.
      He opened one of the bags to reveal a black bottle and tan pieces of paper.  He placed the items on the table and pulled a feathered pen out of his pack.  Pulling the chair out, he sat down and settled himself to be comfortable for a while.  Opening the bottle slowly, and taking a deep breath, he took the pen and dipped for some ink.  Staring at the blank page, he started to write.
     3 May nighttime
     It had been days since I had seen any sign of a village.  So as soon as I saw smoke in the moonlight, I thanked the powers above and ran forward.  A tavern for travelers came into my view, two stories with a chimney that had the sign of being inhabited by people.
     I went through the door, to see it full of other travelers who had travel as much as I had.  The noises from drinking, eating, and singing were loud enough to cover my entrance into the tavern.  I walked around the singing drunks and slobbering gluttons to find myself in front of the owner.  Being of a large size, he and his wife seemed to take up all the room behind the bar table.  As I looked around I could see the bar maids filling the drinks of customers and giving their ordered food.
     I asked for a place to stay and for some food to eat.  He said I was lucky that he had one room left for me to stay in.  I paid the man, order some food, and looked for a seat near the bar.
     I found a seat that wasn’t occupied and shortly after received a good amount of food.  I paid my amount and went to eating.  The owner came over and asked what an old man was doing here.
     I told this man that I was Victor Henderson, Demon Hunter.  I went around the world, freeing people from haunting spirits and curses.
     He just laughed.  I have gotten that many times before, and was use to it.  No matter what others thought, it wouldn’t change my mind.  I was about to tell him that I was telling the truth, when all the noise suddenly stopped.
     I will remember that aura for the rest of my life.
     In front of the doorway, which I had just walked through, was a tall figure in a black cloak.  No features could be seen with a hood over his face and his body hidden by the long cloak, but it was a man, I could tell with the shape of the body.  And everyone had his or her eyes on him for one reason.  On his back was something as big as a human being, but it was in the shape of a weird box, and covered with a white robe.  When I looked at it, my gut turned with a strong feeling of terror.
     He walked, each step shaking the plates and glasses in the room, until he stopped in front of me, looking at the owner.  When he stopped, it seemed that everyone was holding his or her breath to see what he was here for.
     A small noise came from within the cloak, and a small hand came out of the cloth to push it away, to reveal a small girl with many scratches on her arms.  Being held in the man’s arms, she looked around quiet room and put her head down slowly when she saw the innkeeper.  With that action, the man raised his arms forward to present the girl to the bar.
     The man spoke his first words to the innkeeper, ‘This yours?’  His tone was very rough and yet somewhat juvenile.  And with those two words, his hood fell off his head, and I saw the man’s face.  I suspected that he was at least twenty years from his size and tone, but his face made him look younger.  He had brown-red hair cut near his ears with two longer stands across his face with a patch of hair on his chin as if he was trying to grow a beard.  The most recognizable feature was his blue eyes that seemed out of place with his features.
     The woman behind the bar said ‘Anna’ and reached out to take her from his arms.  The girl reluctantly went into the mother’s arms.  ‘What happen to you? Where have you been?’
     Looking back to the strange man, she stayed silent.  It was then I noticed that as soon as the stranger spoke, all the girls in the tavern were looking at him with desire in their eyes.  Even the small wounded girl was not able to leave her eyes from the man who carried her.
     ‘An animal chased her through the woods.’  The man spoke again. ‘I saw her in trouble and scared the beast off.’ The girl shook her head right then as if it was rehearsed, but it seemed to be true. ‘I am sure you are grateful that I saved your daughter, so how about you repay me by letting me spend the night here.’  He smiled gently as if he didn’t need to say anymore.
     The owner said, ‘We don’t have anymore room.’  With those words, the wife left with the girl in her arms.
     The cloaked man stood his ground, his smile turning into a disappointed frown. ‘I don’t intend to stay out of charity, you know.  I am going to pay for your kindness.’  He moved around in his robe till I could hear the sound of jingling.  His arm came out from the cloak, holding a bag that was bigger than his fist.
     While those of greed kept their eyes on the bag, mine where on the metal cross rosary that was on his belt.  I had never seen one such as that.  Handmade and shining with a power I knew all to well.  It was odd that it such a holy object would be on a man who had such a dark aura.
     The owner shook his head, saying that he was grateful about the girl and that it wasn’t about money, but the fact that he had no more room.  The cloaked man looked doubtful, but I spoke up and said that I was the one who had gotten the last room.  He looked down at me, sighed, and opened his bag to pull out a large silver coin. Every man in the room now had their eyes on the coin.
     ‘Then do you have any dried meat in your storage that you could cook?’
     The innkeeper seemed confused with the question. He said that they do, but wouldn’t he like fresh meat instead of dry?  The man just shook his head and presented the coin.  The innkeeper took the coin in awe of its size, as if it was too much for what he ordered.
     ‘And a round of drinks on me for everyone here.’  The man smiled.
     A large cheer from all the men made the cloaked stranger a welcomed guest.
In a courteous gesture I told the new traveler that he could have my room.  He smiled, and told me ‘You look like you need it more than I do.’
     I laughed, and everything returned to normal.  It was then many of the bargirls asked the cloaked figure if he wanted to stay in their room, but the traveler quickly said that a corner under the stairs would be fine with him.
     The keeper’s wife came back, holding a plate of the best-made food they had in their home, with legs of meat and fruit.  In what I thought to be in a respectful gesture, the owner decided to give him a small flask of his best wine.
     ‘No, thank you, but the…’ the cloaked man started to say, but the box on his back suddenly moved forward and hit the back of his head, causing him to fall forward and slam his head on the bar table with a giant ‘wam’.  Surprised at what had just happen, no one seemed to move out of the shock of how quickly it happened.  Everyone became silent again, trying to find out what had happen.  I thought I saw a trail of blood run on the table, but there wasn’t any when I checked.
     The traveler slowly lifted his head, trying to keep a smile as a little blood came from out of his nose.  ‘I mean, of course I will be honored to pack this delicious food for future travels.  Let me have the dried meat now and let me just put the rest in my traveling case.’  He sniffed and wiped the blood off and the noise returned to the bar.
     Things seemed normal for the rest of the night.  I retried early, and wrote what I saw.  Tomorrow I will head out and find the next village where I have heard there have been a series of disappearances and kidnappings.  Evil is in that village and I will do what I can to get rid of it.  Maybe it is the evil that took my daughter and wife to meet an early death.

     After writing that last paragraph, the old man yawned and stretched.  He was about to blow out the candle, but then remembered something.

     P.S.  I must also note that I did not see the traveler eat anything except the dried meat nor did he drink the wine, but put it in his box for storage.  What struck me odd about this was that by the time I was retiring, the traveler had an empty flask and asked the owner for a refill.

     The sun had been up for hours, and the old man woke up with aches and pains in his joints.  He moved to the side of the bed and placed his hands on his head to wipe away the sweat.  His memory was blurry, but he had this feeling something was wrong, that something important happened this morning.
     He picked himself up and went to his journal, to reread what he had wrote the night before.  He remembered writing about the odd stranger, but when he looked at the pages, he had found he wrote more than he could remember.

     May 4, little after sunrise
     I must take note of this before I forget from a day’s sleep.
     It was only a minute after I had finished writing my journal, when there was a great disturbance below my sleeping quarters.  I moved quickly, taking my bag, to see everyone below was either gone or in their room, except for the traveler, who had taken refuge near the stairs with his box and was fast asleep.
     I moved myself down the stairs carefully.  I saw that others were coming out of their rooms from the noise as well.  I walked over to the door and looked out to the road and forest.  In the moonlight I could only see the outer border of the woods.  Towering, closely packed trees bordered the road and seemed to loom like guards protecting the gates of hell.  In this view, there was only a traveler who just stood in the middle of the road.
     At first I was relieved.  But as my eyes grew accustom to the night, I saw that I was horribly mistaken.  His skin was pale with dark patches of blue through his torn shirt and pants.  His hair was thin and long, covering half of his face without hiding that he had no flesh underneath.  His hand was pale and elongated like the claws of an animal, covered with mud and dried blood.
     This was an undead corpse.  One of the many evils I had been searching for.
I warned the others not to come any closer, but it was too late when I heard the scream of a child.  Hands broke from the ground and pulled up more corpses that defied the laws of God.  Other undead came from the forest, slowly marching with determination to reach their desired place.  It was not long when an army was in front of the house.
     It was then I had to take charge.  I opened my bag to pull out my short sword, and a large bottle of holy water.  I turned to the people, telling the women to wake all the able men and tell them to gather their weapons.  While they were gone, I tried to turn the tables on their side to bloke the incoming demons, but my strength was not enough.  The fight would have to be in the inn, if we were to survive.
     The corpses started to move towards the door. I did my best to cover my sword with the holy water.  I looked around at the people that were here, mostly children and women, and told them to cover their weapons as well.  Some of them did as I say, while others were too terrified to move at all.  The girls had tried to awaken the strange robed man with the large covered box, but were unable to awaken him from his slumber.  As the damned came closer, I could feel all hope leaving.
     But then the corpses stopped in front of the door, as if they could no longer go forward.  Like a barrier had prevented them to move inside.
     Then a noise, different from the howls of the evil beings, came from the corner of the room, and the robed man was quickly brought to the ground, as though an unknown force brought him down.  Once again, I heard him speak.
     ‘Why the hell did you hit me?’ He thus looked around and saw the situation. ‘Oh.  That kind of trouble.’ He started to yawn, and with his hands twisted his head till an awful crack from his neck could be heard.  He then picked himself up and grabbed the large box.
     ‘Well, time for some fun.’  And with those words took off the box’s cover, and all the fear I had felt from within suddenly took hold of my heart.
     I have only seen things like this when I was in the corpse yards and graveyards, but it also looked as though it could be as like the royal crypts near the old castles.  Unlike the square boxes made of wood, this box was larger on the top, all black and dark like the eyes of death, with a slight red color on the edges of the box, and shiny metal handles.  The thing that scared and confused me was what was on front of this dark box in the middle was a skull, but not a human skull because the teeth were that of a beast.  I could feel a dark foreboding force come out from the box.
     He lifted the box and threw the massive thing over his shoulder as if it was nothing.  He started to walk towards the door, towards the devils, till I stopped him.
     What could he do differently that I could not?  It was my job to fight these damned creatures with the power of the church, and no one else should be able to without my help.  Who does he think he is?
     ‘What do you think you can do to those demons?’ I asked.
     He told me, ‘Demons?  I just see pests ruining my sleep.’  With those words he strode pass the door barrier like it wasn’t there. Still yawning from the lack of sleep, he stepped into the mouth of darkness.
     As he was striding into the den of evil, I saw the words.  Words on the box that he carried, written in the words of old, words that could be read by the knowledgeable, and the words of something…intelligent.  The words will forever be in my mind.

          I will walk as far as the eye can see
          To serve a justice that dwells in me
             In a life that craves the hunger
        Our torture will only make us stronger
          To reap the tears and victims cries
           To be a cure for a soul’s demise
             From an oath and a given deal
               A justice rage for all to feel
              Let actions take away the sin
                A task that is failed by men
                    Blessed by the earth
                    Life from our mother
                   Cursed by the water
                   Shaped by our father
                    Under the dark sky
                        All evil will die

     Without showing any fear, the traveler stopped in front of the walking dead.  No movement could be seen between both the traveler and the corpses for a few seconds.
     Then suddenly one of the corpses charged at the man.  And a second later the body of the undead was thrown over the crowd.
     It was odd, even funny now, to see the undead army turn around to look at their fallen friend, and turn back to see the cloaked man stretch his arm while yawning.  He put his arm down and said ‘Oh sorry, I wasn’t ready.  You want to try again?’
     The corpses hesitated, which I do not understand how it was possible with their limited thoughts.  Then another charged at him.  This time the body of the undead froze in front of man with a hole in his chest and his head hanging to the side with no sign of blood.  The body fell to the ground and turned to dust before my eyes as if it was never existed.
     The young man had the smile of a feline playing with a small mouse.  ‘Was that too fast for you?  Ok, I will go slow for you.’
     Another charged and, even with my limited eyesight, I barely saw him grab the head of the corpse.  He lifted the head along with the body with ease above his own head, crushed the corpses skull, and while the body fell, kicked it with the flat of his right foot.  The body flew into the crowd, hitting the other damned and pushing them back.
     ‘You know if you guys just charge at me one at a time we will be at this all day.   I have sleep to get back too, so why don’t you just come at me all at once?’  He yawned again and they all rushed him.
     He grabbed the sides of the box where there were handles, and threw the box with great force straight at the many hordes of undead.  A black like chain started to come out of the box from the handle where he held and he pulled it to his left.  A multitude of dead flew as they where hit from the force of the box as it slammed into their strong bodies.  The chain stopped coming out and started to pull back into the box as he swung to the right, getting the rest of the monsters.  He swung that thing around and around, spinning and hitting the groups.
     As he threw the box straight into the air, the undead jumped on him at once.  As each one came close, he grabbed them and threw them into each other, as if they were just children’s dolls.  But there was too many of the damned, and he was quickly covered with the bodies.  Then the black box fell from the sky as though it had been called and hit the ground with a great force near the pile bodies, such force that it blew away the damned, showing the man kneeling with small cuts on him, the box had landed right in front of him.
     The damned undead surrounded the man, and it seemed even his surprising strength had no effect on the masses of evil.  However, even in the face of such great odds, he showed no fear or worry.  He took his hand and slid his thumb over a cut that was on his face.  He looked at the blood on the finger, and smiled.
‘They got a hit on me.  Must be more tired than I thought.’
     The blood on his finger started to glow, and one of the handles started to shake.  The traveler grabbed the shaking handle and pulled it out of the box to reveal a small fist sized hole, but instead of a chain that once came from it, a dark form was attached to it.  It was a small creature, completely black with fur but shiny as well.  Where the arms should have been were long flaps that covered its body, like the wings of a bird but with no feathers.  I could not see the face of it, but I noticed the eyes very clearly, shining red like the blood on the man’s finger.
     ‘Why don’t you finish the rest?’  He seemed to ask the creature in a relaxed tone.
     As sudden as I saw this glimpse, the lid of the box opened and more winged creatures came from the horrid box, more than a thousand.  They surrounded the man like a shield and started to attack all the undead.  Each damned thing screamed, as if they were falling into the pits of hell.  My eyes felt as if they were playing a trick on me, for the creatures seemed to make the darkness even darker.
     The creatures of darkness flew back into the box, and suddenly the lid slammed with a loud forsaken tone.  And before me, they had all disappeared. The traveler calmly put the handle back in place.  All the cuts and blood that he received had disappeared as though they were never there.
He went behind the box and was about to lift it up onto his back when suddenly two undead corpses shot from the earth and grabbed him by the arms.  Their bodies twisted around his as he struggled, till he could no longer move.
     I heard what they said. ‘You are the one our master warned about. You are the betrayer of the dark, the one who carries the black coffin. For our master, we will sacrifice ourselves for him. Vampyre, die by your natural enemy.’
     I couldn’t believe my ears.  Vampyre, the horrid beast, the true undead, and the damned cursed, the feeders of blood, and the first unholy beings.  One touch of the holy light and they will be banished into eternal damnation.
     They stayed still for what seemed to be ages, waiting for something to happen.  But the young man was neither angry nor afraid.  He just smiled and laughed. ‘True enemy? I think you have me confused with someone else, the light isn’t my true enemy,’ as he said this the sun started to rise.
     ‘I just don’t like it.’
     And with that, the sun rose, and the undead screamed horribly, bursting into flames.  The young man seem untouched from the fire and dusted himself off in the light. He picked up the box, strode back into the room, lay down and fell asleep.
     This creature was unlike anything I have every seen, I need to investigate more, I write this to keep a record. This strong beast must be something from hell, for it has the strength of a devil but no weakness.  I don’t know what he is, but he and his pet must be watched carefully.

     To anyone who reads these notes-
     Be wary of this man I have written about.  Out of all the things I have seen on my travels, this one disturbs me the most.  I do not know of his past or of what he is doing in this world, but he does have dark powers and fights demons as though he is one himself.  But he seems to have good intentions, but I have been fooled before.  If he is not here to destroy this world, then he will certainly have a place in its growth.  Be wary of the one who carries The Black Coffin.
                                                              Victor Henderson, Demon Hunter.
     Victor looked at the paper and could only blink out of surprise.  He had no memory of this.  How could he write this?  This must be some joke.
     But as he started to think that, he saw in different handwriting under his note, a small message.

     To Victor Henderson,
     I admire your writing style and your dedication to telling a story, however I have some complaints about your reasoning.  If that was all you could do to fight off demons, I advise you to retire from your profession and become a priest.  Your hunt for revenge will not be worth the price you will pay. No amount of death will bring back your family. Live your life for them, not because of them.
     It is ‘vampire’ not ‘vampyre’.  Even though it looks correct, it would only work if you were writing all of this in old style.  I also like to mention if you are going to use a title for a person, use one name, not just ‘young man’ or ‘traveler’ or ‘cloaked wanderer’.  Using one title makes it easier to understand. Even though I admire the different names for the creatures.  At least I now know what I can call them.
     And even though you didn’t give us a positive description, I would prefer you look on the brighter side of people.  Just think happy and the words will come.  Oh, and before I forget, he isn’t a vampire.  He is something that is much worse.  Lets just say in ‘Demon Hunter’ terms that he makes demons cry like babies.
     Have a good life.
                 Anyone.

     P.S.
     I know it is a small detail, and I am not usually the one who craves attention, but it is rude to be called a ‘dark foreboding force’ or ‘pet’. I would prefer you just say what you were thinking.
     Next time, just say monster.

  Chapter 2 - Brothers

           The orange sky made the forest edge around the lone road seem like a wall, preventing anyone from straying away from the path.  The young man carrying the wrapped coffin who was mentioned in the old hunter's letter strode down this path with a bored and annoyed look on his face.  The even though the coffin seemed heavy, he carried it with little problems.  However, he kept moving the cape around to make himself more comfortable.
           "Damn, this thing is itchy.  The hood is too big, I have to make sure I don't trip over the cape, and it's hot.  I can't see how you can wear this thing all the time." He spoke aloud as if someone was listening to him.  When he loosened the cape, he revealed his attire to anyone who was watching from the forest.  He had a red clothed shirt with torn sleeves and black pants with a silver belt that held his handmade rosary. Just as the old man had wrote, his face was young with blue eyes, those types of eyes that make you feel like your looking into infinite darkness.  He had a metal ring on his right hand that bore an insignia of some sort that also looked handmade.
           "You've been silent for a while.  Something on your mind?"  He looked over his shoulder to look at the coffin.  Not a sound could be heard.
           "You still complaining about what that guy wrote?  Get over it."  He shook his head for a second, and then soon stopped walking.  "You're mad at me?  What did I…" He paused as if listening to another person, but silence could only be heard.  "You can't blame me for that.  There was a little girl present, how could I let…" He paused again.  "Ok, now that was my…" Another pause. "Ok, fine.  But you made me hit my head on the counter on that one, so we should be even."  He started walking again.  "I will let you out as soon as…"
           A snap from the forest side made him stop.  A figure wrapped in rags holding a knife in his hand jumped in front of him.  "Your money or your life."
           "Not now."  The young man said, waving his hand away.  "I have had a long night and I am just not in the mood."
           "Your money or your life."  The robber persisted, holding his knife in a more threatening position.
           "You know, I am all for a good reason to beat you till you piss blood for a week, but really, not now."  The young man started to walk again, ignoring the robber in front of him.
            The robber hesitated at first, unsure how to act.  But desperation and greed made him stand his ground.  "I will cut you like a pig if you don't give me your money now."
           The young man stopped again and sighed.  "Ok, fine.  Get it yourself."  He moved the coffin off his shoulder to face the man in front of him.  The robber looked confused at first, but slowly stepped forward and pulled the white cover over it and was soon staring at the black coffin.  Completely black, except for the red edges and the skull on the front, there was no visible way to open the coffin. Slowly, he reached with his free hand to feel for an opening.  Before he could touch it, a voice that was loud and rough came from nowhere.
            Since you like to give choices, how about this?  Your arms or your legs?
           Black arms came from the coffin, grabbing the reached arm and pulling him closer.  The fanged skull suddenly turned menacing, as if it wanted to lash out to bite off the robber's head.  The robber screamed in terror and with his other hand started to slash at the coffin, with no effect.  The coffin laughed aloud, booming with deep and dark laugh the scared him even more.  Struggling, he took the knife and stabbed it deep into the skulls forehead, causing it to go back to normal.  The arms disappeared letting the robber fall to the ground, but the laughing continued, becoming louder by the second.  The robbers stared at the coffin as he crawled on the dirt road away from the coffin.  But his back hit a pair of legs, causing him to stair up at their owner.
           The Black Coffin's carrier smiled down upon him.  "Boo."
           Screaming in a high pitch noise, he ran as a crazed lunatic, leaving behind an awful smell and a trail of urine.
           The young man tired to keep a straight face, but the laugher from the coffin changed to a loud chuckle that sounded more like a child laughing at a successful practical joke and it made him burst out laughing as well.  "I have to say, that was a nice way to lighten things up."  He said aloud when he had enough of a breath.
           The laughing quieted down.  The voice that had been talking in his head answered back.  You see Crim, why make him piss later when you can make him piss now.
           The young man called Crim answered back.  "Well, Nox, you just have that affect on people."  The laughter continued for a minute as Crim continued walking the beaten path.  "You still going to brood over what that guy wrote in the journal about us?"
           What do you mean us? I'm not even mentioned in the bloody thing.
           "Yeah you are, this 'dark foreboding force out of the box', that's you alright."
           He thought that I was some sort of pet!  I'm your brother, not a plaything, Crim.
           "Small detail. You're not the one who usually craves for attention, Nox. It's not like you can give him credit for thinking there was two guys when he doesn't see two guys."
          Humph. I know.  But he wrote a lot of good things and I wanted to use some of those old lyrics for myself as well. Who else uses five different descriptions on the same subject; I knew he had a stylistic mind when I read it. Good thing I told you to snatch that extra parchment of his.
           "What the hell am I going to do with you, Nox?" He sighed.
           You could learn to keep the coffin stable and stop moving it around so much.  I'm trying to write.
           "Write?  Are you working on another poem to put on the coffin?"
           No, I am writing our quest.
           "You writing our journey?  Is that why you wanted the parchment?  So you could see how to keep a journal or something."
           Well I wanted to keep an account of what we are doing.
           "Why would you want to do something like that?"
           Well reading the story from the old man proved that we are interesting enough to be a legend, a dark legend even.  And how can a legend be told if there isn't a good enough report of it.
           "A legend."  He thought about it.
           Well, if we are going to be eternal, why not be in a way that will be known in the mind as well.
           "Do you really believe that we are immortal?"
           I see why not.  All the other vampires are immortal.
           "Be we aren't vampyres"
           Small detail.  And it is VAMPIRES, not vampyres.
           "That's just what I need, to have you complaining and correcting me through all eternity."
           And you will be the butt of my entire jokes for that time as well.  Crim could hear a smug thought, but he decided to let it go because they would be doing it all day long, and he had only so much mental power, while Nox could do this till they were really on the outer reach of eternity.

           'Darkness is only the absence of light; it doesn't always mean that darkness is where the evil and unholy come from, that comes from something else in the darkness.   Humans are always confusing what is true evil versus dark unknown creatures that cannot be explained.  That's why people always misjudge Crim and I.  Then again, we are kind of on the brink of good and evil. Crim always has so much on his mind, no wonder he seems so tired lately.
           …I'm bored.  I can't read while Crim is moving so much, makes me have an uneasy stomach.  I had already eaten all the food we got from the tavern, and I was still hungry.  The only thing I can do is to write our story on the blank parchments I have.  Which is sort of hard in this dark environment...
           I wonder if I write this in our point of view it would make it more unique.  Every time I read an old legend it's always in another persons view.  But the real good stories are in the writers view, like Dante's and the Testament.  Of course, it's a pain to rhyme like Chaucer and Dante, so writing like we speak will be fair enough.  And unlike the other writers, I can see the view of others easily.
           Very easily.'
           "Hey, Nox.  You been silent for awhile, something on your mind?" He heard Crim say this and just sort of woke up from his thought on the writing. While Nox can read minds, Crim can't.
           Hmm? Ah no, just sort of thinking to myself, He thought to him, and it got sort of longwinded.
           "In other words, like you always do." He said this with a smug attitude.  Nox was tempted to slam his head again, till her redeemed himself by saying, "Looks like the sun is going down for the rest of the day, so do you want to stretch your legs. Except for yesterday, you have been in their for at least a week."
           Really? Has it been that long?  Nox looked out the dark glass eyes and couldn't see anything, so he guessed it was definitely dark enough.  That long already, eh.  Well, I do feel like a small walk would put color back into my face.  He felt Crim nod in a smug way and start to move off to the side to find a place to drop him off.  Nox started to finish his writing page.
           'I love this thing that Crim made, this coffin.  It's sort of abusing the vampyre legends, but it does keep the light away, and is a great way to travel.  Not to mention he let me do my 'art' on the lid, which gives it a sort of ominous look.  The dark glass in the eyes of the skull was also Crim's idea, the way to see in the light without feeling it or hurting me.  I could even look into the sun, if Crim could bend that way.  However, being in the coffin this long sort of makes me feel like a corpse being taken to his grave.
           But now the sun was setting and, unlike Crim, the sun is my enemy.'

           Crim walked for a few minutes on the made path, getting his pipe ready for a break.  He was looked for a good place to put down Nox to let him out, but the sun was still out and the gnarled, distorted trees gave him a weird feeling.  Green vines connected to each tree, creating a wall like barrier that kept him from leaving the trail and all the animals in the woods had hidden themselves behind the trees, except for a few birds that flew above.  By the time he finished packing down the tobacco, he had found himself to be in a worn out clearing where travelers camp for the night.
           "Well it looks like I can let you out here, and I can take a break."
           Fine with me.
           He looked around to see if there was anyone around, and then put the coffin down.  Crim moved his back and stretched out, as carrying 'all that stuff' takes some work.  He took out his lighting kit and started a small fire for his pipe.  He sat down near a tree and decided to breathe in the smoke.
           You know what happens when you smoke too much of that stuff.
           Crim was going to reply, but it was then he felt his heart start to beat faster, and a pain started to flow through his body.  Crim was starting to forget how long it had been when he was given the task; it had felt like it had been with him his whole life.  And each time he tried to forget it, the pain would remind him.  He placed his pipe down and grabbed his head.
           "It's getting stronger."
           So then you get stronger.
           He didn't know if that came from Nox, or himself.
           Then annoyance replaced his fear.  How long was this going to last?
           Deathly gray hands grab Crim and pin him to the tree he was leaning on.  He heard a voice that sounded like rocks grinding say, "We have been waiting for you."
           "You have?" He tried to say this without showing he wasn't surprised.
           "You are in our master's territory.  Son of the Betrayer." As the voice spoke, Crim saw more hands burst from the ground and pull up more rotting corpses.  He counted at least twice the amount that he fought at the tavern.  As the bodies came up, they surrounded the coffin as though they were making sure Crim wouldn't get to it in a hurry.  "You are powerless without your weapons, half-breed.  And without you to open it, we will make sure that box will stay close and not release your pets."
           Crim looked around, trying to think of what he could do.  But all he could do was watch them surround the coffin and try to hold it down.
           Then he felt it.  They all felt it.  A heartbeat.
           A rage could be felt coming from the coffin.  Everything froze in surprise at what could be felt. Any animals around seem to want to get away as fast as they could; even the birds stopped their noises and disappeared.  Crim wasn't sure if it was because they had no fear or control of what they did, but the corpses didn't move.
           No underling will call my brother a half-breed.  We are dhampires.
            Everyone heard that.  Crim knew cause all of the corpses moved their head to look at the coffin and the ones that grabbed him loosened up.  He smiled and pulled his hand free and bit into it.  He let go as soon as he saw blood.
      "Thanks for telling us that your master is close.  At least we know we are in the right direction.  Now if you would like to stay in one piece, please leave before I get mad."
           Too late, they already made me mad.
           No one moved, but everyone was now looking at the coffin.  They knew what was going to happen, and they would do anything to stop it.
           And what makes you think he is the only one who can open this?
           From Crim's sight, he could see the coffin door slowly open, but the corpses jumped on it to make sure it didn't open all the way.  But Crim knew better, and started to roll the blood on his finger.
           Bodies flew as the door opened suddenly.  And in the coffin, was darkness.
           Time seemed to slow down, as Crim watched the glob on my finger turn into a ball ,about the size of his thumb, and flicked it in the direction of the coffin.  All eyes seemed to be on the glob of blood.  It came closer to the darkness, and then suddenly a dried gray hand reached from the darkness and grabbed the ball.
           "I won't let you call my brother names, but if you want you can call me a monster."   Said the deep voice of Nox.
           And then the many bats came from the darkness.

  Chapter 3 – Kiss

           A few days after that large attack on the inn, Crim found that he really should have taken the bed the old man offered.  Even though the coffin weighed almost nothing to him, the constant walking and attacks at night had taken a lot from him.  The hunger had drained his energy and the pain kept getting worse.
           Nox, however, just hummed annoyingly as he was stuck in the coffin.  Crim had thought more than once to just pitch the coffin off a large cliff.
           "Are you sure this was the nearest village?" Crim asked.
           This was the nearest one I could find.  Shouldn't be too long.
           Crim huffed and leaned on a tree for a few seconds.  The fights got less and less the closer he got to the village, and even though he was relieved from the work, it had worried him.
           "Did your creatures find anything bizarre in this town?"
            Nothing we haven't seen before.  It seems to be just a regular town with well armed people.  Something is definitely attacking the village, but it doesn't live there.  Probably just invades whenever it gets hungry.
           Crim started moving again.  "You think there is a vampire there?"
           What I think is that a powerful vampire lives there.
            "Blood Brother?"
            Clan leader.  Don't rush into this Crim, you still have to recover.
           Crim didn't answer back, but his pace slowly quickened with each step.

           After an hour, the forest cleared out and opened up to a small place, a maximum of fourteen huts, with what look liked an inn near the outskirts of the town.  The huts all looked like they were separate businesses of some sort, showing their wares of pots, clothes, and metalwork. There were still a few people out and walking about, even though all the shops were closed, but the inn was still open.  It looked like a healthy town even so close to the night.
           Night's coming, let me out! Nox's thought came out loud and almost toppled Crim over.
           Crim looked around for a few seconds to see if no one around had noticed him.  Then he walked towards one of the empty buildings and went behind the building to place the coffin down.  He leaned back and felt a blade go near his throat.
           "Damn, I'm really tired of this."  Crim said out loud.
           "Shut up and turn around." Said a voice behind him.  He obeyed and saw four men, all ragged and with eyes full of fear.  One had a sword and kept a still hand as he held it towards Crims neck.  "We don't trust travelers around here.  Check his teeth.  Anything sharper than a serpent and we will behead you."
           They grabbed him and opened his mouth to find just regular teeth.
           "Now let's see what he has in the box.  Don't want him smuggling…"
           Then the men all stood still and they all had blank faces.  The man with the sword put it down and walked away without another word.
           Crim breathed a sigh and looked at the coffin.  "You could have warned me and done something sooner."
           Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.  I smell food.  Open up!
           Crim pushed on the coffin door and felt it push open.
           Right then, as usual while being in the coffin for so long, Nox looked like a corpse.  The only piece of clothing he wore had been a pair of well-kept black pants, although a little torn near the feet.  He was a basic dark gray, with more wrinkles than a dried grape, and his ribs showing underneath the stick like arms.  His eyes were so sunken in that only a dark cesspool of blackness could be seen.  Nox always hated people to look at him when he was in this state, mostly because his face looked like the leftovers of a vulture's meal, with thin looking hair and beard.
           Since Nox couldn't look at a mirror, Crim decided to tell him how he looked.
           "You've looked better." Said Crim.  It was this that Nox decided to use all the strength he had to finally speak to his lovely sweet brother.
           "Go… fornicate… a toad… you ass."
           "Love you too, Nox." And he lifted his cut right hand.  Nox looked at it till a droplet formed and fell on his chest.  Since they were of the same blood, he didn't need to lick or suck the blood like a vampire, just let it come close enough so he could control it into himself, or just for him to touch it and let it sink into his skin.
           Then it happened, he started to fill in slowly.  The stick of a body that was Nox started to move.  The chest became larger, and he could feel his heart pump the blood into his dried veins.  The arms grew three times its size, and his body started to fill in his pants.  His eyes came back into place, sort of a mix of red and gray. His lips appeared again, and his face looked like a much older version of his brother.  His hair started to fill in again and looked, according to Crim, like a Mediterranean pirate with full mustache short beard and log hair.  Except for being a slick dark gray color and having unusual eyes and teeth he looked like a regular man.
           "You still look like an old piece of manure though." And with now completely filled out, he decided to start stretching by moving his finger, or at first just one finger.
           He moved his arms and looked at his left hand and then down his chest.  The same mark could be seen, a scorch mark on both parts on my body. The two lines crossing each other were in the shape of a cross.  Nox could tell that the cross burns were still there, and because of a brief moment of rage, he knew they wouldn't be leaving me for a long time.
           It hurt to move at first for Nox, so he thought he would have some fun with it.  He closed his eyes.  Then his eyes opened on his chest, his arms, and his legs.  Wings came from every part of his body and started to flap.  His dark gray body turned into a horde of black bats and flew out of the coffin like a cave.  Each turn, each flap, each thought Nox control thru his experience and intuition.  Around the building and into the sky they flew.  Crim started to shoo the many forms of the winged bats.  Then they formed closed together like they were clay molding into each other and Nox formed back into his body feeling completely refreshed.  He laughed and cracked his neck into place for more comfort.
           "Showoff.  If you had any brain you would have noticed that we are in a town with a bunch of people ready to jump down our throats for breathing wrong." Crim scolded him.
           Nox laughed again. "What?  And not get our teeth checked for free?  Yours are fine, but I think I need to get mine checked."  He smiled to show off a mouthful of sharp teeth.  He lifted his hand and noticed that his thumb missing.  Nox looked around like a person who was trying to remember something he forgotten, and then looked up to see the last bat flying around above.  He waved down and the bat flew down and landed on his hand.  It looked around and looked like it would bite his hand, but it folded its wing and then became his thumb again.
           "Oh is that so." Crim spoke with a sarcastic tone.
           "What?"  Said Nox innocently.
           "I haul that thing with you in it for days and then you just get out like its no big deal."
           "Well what did you expect?  It's not like I can carry myself in the sun."
           Crim shook his head like he was clearing it.  "That's not what I mean."
           Nox looked at him with worry.  "You given too much blood again haven't you."
           "No."  But Nox knew he was lying.
           "You're tired, it happens."  Nox turned and closed the coffin.  He picked it up from the back and started to walk.
           "I'm not tired." Crim said grumpily.
           "Just get inside the inn.  I'll buy you a bed while I eat."
           Crim cringed.  "You're not going to eat anyone, are you?"
           Nox frowned.  "Now brother, would I do that?"
           Crim sighed.  "Forget that.  I'm keeping an eye on you.  I just gave you blood not to long ago.  And I can't feed yet, so neither of us should need blood yet."
           "Not blood." A large grumble in Nox's stomach proved his point. "I need meat, like some roasted beef or chicken, and maybe a few glasses of dark wine."  He licked his lips with his drooling tongue and showed his teeth like he was biting on a large piece of food.  Crim relaxed a bit, but soon realized that he was still gray.
           "You can't go like that you know."  Crim spoke but Nox was only listening to his stomach.   Crim gave him the black cloak and Nox grumbled as he covered himself up.    Except for carrying a large, oddly shaped, black box with a skull on it, he looked like a regular traveler.
           "Since when have you worried about how I look?" Nox asked.
           "Since we kept getting chased out of town when they see you."
           "How many times…" Nox started to say.
           "Eleven."  Stated Crim.
           "See… I'm not in the twenties yet.  And it's not like I didn't learn from the last ten."
           "What about the other one?"
           "That was your fault.  You let me drink way too much.  Twenty gallons of wine should have been a clue to stop me."  Nox said gruffly.  "Besides, I just use my influence to change how I look.  Like so."  Suddenly in Crim's eyes, the black robed monster that was his brother turned into a white skinned, blond hair minstrel complete with a fluffy feathered hat and a lute on his back.
           "You look like a pansy."  Said Crim bluntly and walked away from the building.
           "Well at least I'm not an ass."  Nox turned back to normal and followed Crim.
           They looked at the inn, which was the largest and oldest building in the town.  Two stories tall, the white paint on it had been worn mostly showing the stone and wood.  Most of the windows were black from sleeping travelers, but there were still lights showing life in the night.
           They both entered at the same time, and got some stares and mutterings.   There were six people in the bar that looked at them like we were just regular people, but they all did gave them a second look with wider eyes and some even moved away from their direction.
           Crim looked ahead to see a small counter with a waitress who was young but wise in business looking at him with a surprised look.  The girl was very attractive, dark brown hair with brown eyes, with a light tanned face from working outside most of the time.  She was wearing a white and pink short dress with a dirty white cleaning towel across her arm.  Her eyes couldn't move away from Crim.  He has had that effect with girls for a long time.
           Nox looked around, then sniffed the air, and quickly put the coffin near the door.
           "Fresh meat." Nox said while licking his lips and rushed towards the girl.  Crim calmly shook his head, not knowing which 'meat' Nox meant, and followed him.  Nox sat down on a stool facing her over at the counter and Crim joined him.
           "May I help you?" she said with a sweet voice to Crim.  Nox smiled at her with his shark teeth, which seemed to awaken her from dream.  At first it seemed that she would scream, but as soon as her mouth opened, Nox moved his hand and her eyes turned clouded.
           "What is that great smell in the back, beautiful?"  He asked.
           Her eyes returned to normal, but she looked at Nox like an average man.  "Your lucky you came when you did, I was about to close down the kitchen for the rest of the night.  I have some roasted pork, beef, chicken, carrots, corn, and tomatoes.  And if you want any fruit I have stored apples, oranges, and pears."
           "So many good choices." Nox said. "I will have all of them if you please."  At first she was taken back, but Nox nodded to Crim.  "We can pay first if you don't believe me."   Crim pulled out the money sack and pulled three silver coins.   Silver was rarely seen in those parts, but apparently they had sources.  Nox cringed but kept his eyes on the girl.  She widened her eyes more, and then called to the back for the large order.
            At the same time, Nox noticed that others saw the coins and decided to get brave. So Nox took care of that as well.
           You don't want to do that.  They heard those words in their mind like common sense, and went back to whatever they were doing with the silver forgotten.

           Plate after plate, Nox kept eating as though he hadn't had a meal in months, which was true, but it still looked odd if you hadn't gotten use to it.  Crim started to smoke again without touching any of the food.  The people seemed to watch in terror as Nox tore the meat with his sharp teeth.  With each bite, he was gaining more of his strength back, and was gaining more time out of the coffin.  With his power returning, his mind tricks were also getting stronger.  The girl started to admire him and giggled every time he looked up at her.  He was careful not to miss any food from his mouth while he grinned back.  Of course while he had his eyes on the girl, Crim had my eyes on large innkeeper who was watching these two and was obviously not happy.
           Nox may be able to alter people perception of him, but that doesn't mean he can escape the ways of jealousy.
           "Hey, Sir Romance, wipe your mouth and watch your back, you have potential husband looking at you coldly."  Crim spoke softly and got a look from Nox that told him he heard.  At that time stepped a large man who was wooly with hair on what seemed to be every part of his body and a white shirt with cuts near his chest like he has either grown into it or he had been wrestling bears.  Crim could tell he was the innkeeper by the keys on his belt and the way the other men looked at him.  The innkeeper pushed the girl to the side and stood in front of Nox.
           "You looking at her?"  He said in a rough voice.
           Nox looked up at him with a full mouth of meat without fear and nodded slowly as he raised his eyebrows.  The people watching started to move back closer to the door.
           "I'm not one of those people who sell their daughters for a lot of money. So I don't care how much you have, you will not lay a hand on my daughter." The large man said.
           Nox greatly relaxed at this and smiled back, still without showing his teeth.  "Whew, I thought it was for something else."  He placed his hand, still with the juices of meat and fruit, and placed it on the man's shoulder.  "I'm glad for you my friend, having such strong morals for yourself and your family, and luckily for you, I am also one."  Nox patted his shoulder and wiped his hand on the towel that the girl left near him.  He grabbed an apple and then smiled, this time showing his teeth, his pointed teeth.  The man stepped back, but recovered quickly and stood his ground.  "Relax, I won't do anything to hurt your daughter."
           Physically, at least.  Thought Crim.
           "All I ask for is a kiss from the sweet lady, if she wants it as well."  He bit into the apple, and chewed it while he looked at the guy.  "But its up to the father to know when the daughter can make her own decisions yet."
           Because of Nox's natural ability to gain the respect of every person he meets or a little of his control power, the big guy looked at him and smiled.  He turned and walked over to his daughter, and had a small talk with her.  I noticed she blushed in the middle of the talk, and the innkeeper walked off, laughing.  The girl looked to Nox, smiled, and slowly moved to him, still blushing.  Nox finished his apple, wiped off on the towel and looked right back.
           Crim knew his brother had all that power to affect people's judgment of the opposite sex with just the wink of an eye, but he also knows that he has this natural talent for romance and respect.  Their mother said that this power for respect and 'attractiveness' is one of the natural talents of the vampire, thus of how they were born.  Crim believes that all that poetry he writes gives him this influence over girls.  And in that way, Crim admires and hates him at the same time.

           Nox was content with the meal he finished.  It consisted about three pounds of chicken, six links of sausage, and ten pounds of beef.  The tomatoes were a little ripe, and the corn was dry, but the carrot was good.  The apple was a good finisher, but he wish he had some wine with the meal.  After that talk with the big guy, he was just glad he didn't flirt with his wife, because he didn't want to have the large guy crying being on his conscious.  She was a very cute girl, having innocence still around her, but the expertise of one who had been in this business long enough.  And after all that physical taking of energy, he needed something mental.
           After he finished the apple, he looked at the girl like he did the food, hungrily.  Nox could hear things starting to get louder, mostly because of the commotion he made with 'daddy'.  He decided that it should be a quiet moment, gave one look around with one of his eyes and the room got quiet, because he told them to stay silent.  He put his full attention to her again, and decided to not to use any 'enhancing abilities'.  It's more fun to him when he knows he didn't do anything to get the attention.
           Step by step Nox could feel the power coming from her, her heart quickening, giving emotions that fluctuated from embarrassment to nervousness.  There is always power in women, even though they are pushed down in this time, always being protected.  But to let a girl bloom by letting her find herself in her own way has a glow like nothing else.  You can tell what sort of past she has had by her glow, and to Nox she had a nice past, maybe a little rough on the edges, but a nice glow.
           She was finally in front of him, her emotions flooding out like a waterfall.  "I was told you wanted to talk to me."  She grabbed the towel and started to wipe off the counter in front of Nox, even though he really didn't make any messes.
           He smiled.  "Well not really."  He placed his hand slowly on top of hers and saw into her mind.
           Being raised in a business family, sometimes finding love, but always losing it the next day, continuing on and on with each passing day.  She is such a strong woman with a lot of power in her hands.
            "I enjoyed the food that was given, and I wanted to thank the lady for being such a generous host."  Said Nox as he held her hand and lifted it up to kiss it.  And that's when he decided that they should be alone.
           The world turned dark, and the only thing that could have been seen was the two of them.   She seemed a bit shock at first, but deep in her mind, she was thinking other things.  Nox sat up and got really close to her, their skin almost touching.  With his hand still holding hers, he pulled her into his arms and dance a little with her, their eyes never leaving each other.  He turned her around and put himself ever so close to her neck.
           Nox believed the neck to be one of the most sensitive places on any woman's body and is also the most sexually stimulating attribute on the body.  He put his lips close to the skin and breathed in a sweet taste, her sweet energy.  He let his tongue get very close to her neck and slowly led himself to her lips.  It wasn't blood that he craved right then and there; it was just one kiss from this girl.  And so he kissed her, absorbing the energy of her glow, not taking too much, but enough for him to feel great.
           Time passed, and all started to come to light again, people started to move again, and Nox had just finished kissing her hand.  She looked flushed, but quickly recovered.  Nox looked through her head to see what she remembered, which was hard to do because she was either in great joy or was so confused that her thoughts were a mess.  He smiled and bowed to her slowly.  She bowed back and walked away, shaking just a little bit with pleasure.
           Crim huffed.  "You enjoy that, Nox?  Even though it was just a kiss?" Nox turned to look smugly at Crim after he said this, but Crim was set on making sure he didn't look at Nox in the eye.
      Nox knew what was wrong of course.  The urge.  And he was no help.  He didn't have a hunger for blood and the only time he needs blood he gets from Crim so he can move.  But Crim doesn't work like that because he makes his own blood.  He must feed to stop the hunger, even though he doesn't need it like Nox does.  If Crim was ever so close to the neck of that girl, he wouldn't just kiss her.  He would bite and suck her blood till she couldn't walk anymore…or breathe.
           "It was all I needed.  It is all that I wanted.  And that is the only thing that drives me."  Nox looked at Crim and gave him a serious face.  "And as long as we are together, we will both get what we want sooner or later."  Crim finally decided to look at Nox.  They both grinned at each other.
           "Going sentimental on me in your old age?" Asked Crim.
           "Well, I thought it would be nice, especially since I get the girls and you can't."
           Crim smiled.  "You're still a pansy."
           Nox smiled back.  "Ass."
           "If that's so, this tired ass is going to rent a room and go to bed."  Crim got up from his stool, still smoking his pipe and started to walk over to the innkeeper.
           "Why the rush?  It's a beautiful night outside."  Asked Nox.
           "Every night is beautiful to you."  And Crim walked away.
           Nox sulked for a while.  Then got up from his stool and walked towards the door.
           Then he felt it, a presence that he knew from the bottom of his gut.  It was cold and dry, as though a wind from the north had blown in the room.  Then a strong smell of blood and death filled Nox's nose.  He knew what it was right away and smiled.
           A vampire.
           It didn't take long for him to hear a carriage coming into town.
           He looked back to Crim, but knew he couldn't feel it yet, and he was in no condition to fight when he was tired.  Nox ran out the door and started to think of a good poem to tell in his books, the words almost coming from his lips.
           'In the darkness night, I come for the fight.
           If the evil will not flee, a thousand corpses will lay before me.'

Chapter 4 - Nailed

Crim paid the innkeeper a good amount of coins and got a room in the upper floor. He turned to check on Nox, but found that he had disappeared.

“Where in hell,” as a habit, he crossed his chest, “God forgive, did he go this time?” Crim asked himself. Nox didn’t take the coffin, so he couldn’t have gone far. He took a deep breath of ash and went to throw the large black item over his shoulder, striding past the wide eyes of the people still awake to climb up the stairs.

Crim could understand why Nox would take off, mostly because he knows what he is like once he is out of the coffin, but he usually says where he is going. As Crim climbed up the stairs behind the bar, he saw an open window and knocked his pipe on the window seal. He looked out and saw a dark form sneaking on the roofs of the nearby houses. He could tell it was Nox, and he also knew no one else could see him unless they had good eyes.

Crim almost yelled out to him, but he then saw the serious look on Nox’s face, the smile gone and his eyes were looking at one place. Crim decided to stay quiet and see what he was waiting for. Crim stuck his head out of the window and watched the road in the direction they were to be going in the morning. Something was coming and causing the dust to stir. He quickly put his pipe away and climbed back down the stairs to the front door of the inn to see what was going on.

In the dust, he saw the faces of four horses, each one with eyes of red and with a feeling of rage in their breathing, being controlled by a man who was wrapped in dark gray clothes and a flimsy hat that covered his face. He was riding a carriage, gray with white designs, two lit lanterns in the front near the rider. The windows on the sides and back were black, like the dark glass Crim used for the coffin.

The door facing near Crim opened slowly, and out came two beautiful girls both with long dark hair and pale skin. Crim may not get as many girls in his care as much as his brother Nox, but he could recognize beautiful girls when he sees them. They had a nice faces, but they seemed tired and looked thin from hunger. Both were wearing white nightgowns, showing more than generous supply of skin. But their dresses were not without tears and cuts, the ones most evident were marks on their necks.

They were small, and Crim shouldn’t have noticed from a distance if he was a normal man, but the smell of blood caught his attention. It was sweet and his hunger craved it.

Crim shook it off, trying hard to hold the pain that came from his chest.

But the pain faded quickly when he saw a hand come out of the carriage, and on it was a golden ring, with a red symbol on it that looked familiar. The shape was confusing, mixing letters and lines to create its own symbol, but two letters that were evident were the C and L.

Crim’s head suddenly took a sharp turn and his brain flared as though it was on fire. He knew that symbol, a part of a past that he was not in. The fire, the twelve hands, a label, and a curse. The pain stopped suddenly and he turned to the hand with rage.

“CONTROL!!!” Crim roared as he rushed out the door. With the coffin still on his back he charged towards the carriage.

Crim couldn’t remember much after that. He was so angry that all he could see was three figures, one glowing in red, and that he wanted to destroy him. Things got in his way and he got rid of them. Then he remembered a swift strike that made him freeze, like he had no breath, and his eyesight started to fade. The only thing he remembers after that was laughing.

“CONTROL!!!” Nox heard this loud yell that he only knew to be from Crim. Nox looked towards the roof of the inn and saw him jump out towards the carriage.

“YOU IDIOT, STOP BEFORE YOU GET…” But Nox knew he didn’t hear him, as he never does when he is like that. Nox put his hand to his head out of regret and worry, but watched anyway. Nox knew that Crim was an excellent fighter, no doubt. And as Crim walked pass the girls, two corpses shot from the ground to stop him from getting close. He grabbed one in the head and simply crushed it, while he swung the coffin to hit the other down to the ground again. Of course, since Nox wasn’t in the coffin it wasn’t as heavy as it usually was. The controlled ghoul had recovered, but not before Crim broke his back and stopped him from moving.

Crim continued to rush towards the carriage, focusing on the hand with the ring. Nox saw some movement in the carriage and as soon as Crim got close enough to spit on the passenger, a wooden stake flew out of the carriage and pierced Crim’s chest.

He flopped down so quickly like a fish out of water, and then stopped moving with his face down and the spike coming out of the back of his shirt. The coffin fell to his side with a loud empty ‘boom’.

Nox moaned. Crim always rushes things. Without making a sound, Nox decided to move closer and get a better view.

Out of the carriage came a laugh, and Nox saw a man step out. He was wearing a black priests robe, his hair was black and was back in a tail, he looked about twenty-eight years of age and had what seemed to be glass on his eyes that were as dark as the glass on the Black Coffin, maybe even darker. He had behind him what seemed to be three other stakes, one made of wood, and two made of what appeared to be metal.

He had an odd cane when he stepped out the wagon. Even though it was made of wood, Nox could sense power out of it. A thousands faces that seemed to scream was on the surface of the staff, and if you looked hard enough, you could almost see them move.

But Nox couldn’t feel anything from the man. Even though he was laughing, Nox felt no joy, no happiness, no sorrow… no emotion.

“So you’re the one who destroyed my minions in that town.” The man said and made sure to show off the fangs on the top row of his teeth. His voice was hallow and seemed more forced than it should have been. “I had a lot of trouble with you. You know how much I had to do to get my army that large.”

He suddenly became solemn and poked Crim with his staff. “I hate when I have to work harder than I need too.” He flipped over Crim so he could look him in the face. “Maybe I should make you into one of my puppets and …”

“For someone who doesn’t want to work, you sure choose your hardest jobs.” Nox said aloud as he jumped down from the roof and landed behind the stranger. The guy turned around, and his glasses fell just a little off his nose out of surprise, seeing his pale blue eyes with a look as if he couldn’t focus.

“Don’t you know who I am?” The stranger said with lack of surprise or anger.

“No.” Said Nox, and then he kicked him between the legs.

While the guy was hunched over, Nox kneed him in the face, causing his glasses to break and his body to fly in the air. The body flipped and landed a few feet away with a loud ‘thunk’. The quiet girls quickly rushed to his side, with less emotion than the man. Nox raised an eyebrow, and then turned to take a look at Crim, who made no movement of recognition.

Nox kicked him as well.

“Idiot. Ass. Moron. Jerk.” Nox said with a kick on each word as he looked at the emotionless face of his brother. He sighed, “I just got this energy. Now I got to use it so soon…When will you ever learn?”

Nox leaned over his brother and pulled out the stake like a knife in a piece of meat. As soon as it was gone, blood filled the hole, but instead of bleeding out it stopped where the skin should have been. The skin near the wound seemed to stretch over and covered the hole. It looked as though it was never there except for the hole in his shirt. Crim’s eyes become focused again.

“You good?” As soon as Nox said this, anger came back into Crim’s eyes.

“You didn’t need to kick me.” Nox pulled him up to his feet, and even though Crim was feeling dizzy, he still looked eager to fight.

The stranger frowned as he stood up as if nothing happened, he pushed the girls aside and dusted himself off without a change in expression, but when he looked at the brothers his face turned into a scowl.

“So he had two sons.” He pushed his glasses up even though he had no glass in them and looked at them with a seriousness that made his eyes become more focused than before. “The Sons of the Betrayer. He could never control that hunger of his, but the least he could have done was control his loins.” He tapped his staff twice and something move on the staff. The ground shook by his feet, and more hands shot from the earth, pulling out two dead men that stood side by side in front of the stranger. “I suppose you’re here to kill me?”

When the girls moved close to the man, Nox noticed a strange look between them. “Well you seem to know what we are, but I don’t think we have been properly introduced.” Nox said this with a smile, this time making sure that he saw his teeth this time.

Surprisingly, instead of hearing a long speech of evil introduction from the stranger, Nox heard it being introduced by Crim.

“To control all of your life is to control the world.” Crim said with a voice that sounded cold and far, like he was trying to bring out the memory from someplace far in his past. “He is marked as ‘The Control’. He is the seventh of the Vampire King’s twelve followers. His real name is Masik. To say that he has a control issue would be an understatement.”

This surprised Nox, not because of how he was saying, but that he knew what understatement meant.

And apparently it also surprised the Control as well.

Crim continued. “He is a vampire that specializes in body manipulation. As far as I know, he takes the souls of his victims after he drinks their blood and puts them into his staff. Like a puppeteer, he holds control as long as he holds the strings, and that staff is what we need to cut from him.”

Crim grabbed his head in pain as the memories came. While Nox’s senses could feel power and energy, Crim had the past on memories of there father, the one they only know as the Betrayer. Even though it gave them important information, the price to learn those memories was a painful experience.

Nox hated those memories.

“Is the staff one of the Betrayer’s items?” Nox said while looking at it, which gave him a sense of power that they were looking for. However, he could not feel the power as he did in the past, and the staff didn’t feel like the other time.

Crim shook his head. “No. That’s his own item.”

Surprised, Nox looked at his brother with confusion. “If that’s not an item then what is?” Crim stared towards the Controller, but he saw nothing that stuck a memory nerve. But then his eyes widen, and looked at Nox with urgency.

The Control then suddenly laughed, as though he couldn’t believe that they were so stupid. Nox was getting upset with the laugh and was about the throw the stake he had in his hand back at him.

Then Nox felt his heart beat.

Humans always underestimate to have their heart beating. But Nox’s heart doesn’t beat to keep him alive, it beats to warn him. In fact, it means only four things.

One, he has blood entering into my system by Crim.

Two, he is really pissed off, and when that happens everyone feels it.

Three, a very attractive woman is completely wet, taking her clothes off while he has just finished eating a full course meal with a glass of wine in his hand, and she is looking like after she takes off those damp cloths she might want to get close to him and get really comfortable in his arms. Hey, he has his wishes, and it’s only happened four times.

But the forth thing means that one of the Betrayer’s items is near him. And right then, it felt like his heart was beating in his hand. Nox looked down and stared at the Control’s spike that was twelve inches in Crim’s chest, and it felt as though it would jump from his hand. Crim also looked down at the large wooden splinter, thinking that it should be covered in his inhuman blood, at least a little bit soaked in red. But it was as clean as though it had been polished.

Nox turned it around to where the both of them could see the top of the stake. It had been filed down to a flat surface, but in the middle there was a small bump, about the size of a thumbnail, brown and red. Nox realized then, that the bump was metal, the brown and red being rust. At least, he hoped the red was also rust, but it looked like it was stained by something else.

“A nail?”

As soon as Nox said this he heard the guy tap on his cane and the two ghouls jumped them. Crim quickly took out one with his hands and Nox promptly stuck the stake in the head of the other. While the one done by Crim fell down quickly, the one Nox stabbed started to walk back to the Control, and bent backwards as the Control pulled his stake back from his head. He pushed his glasses up again and smiled in a smug way.

“No one has said my real name in a long time. The Betrayer having a son I could handle with ease, but with two sons I may have a little trouble, especially when they know so much about me. However, I think I have a simple solution.”

And with that and waved his hand, and then there was pain.

The brothers have felt worse in their life, and it wasn’t enough to make a big deal about, but there legs suddenly felt numb and they fell to their knees. Their arms suddenly seemed to lose feeling as well and then they couldn’t move.

Control then looked to the girls and waved them over. “Now where are my manners, I haven’t let you two have a go yet. Would you like to finish them?” He smiled again with his two fangs and watched as the girl’s emotionless stares focused on Nox and Crim.

“Well she has spunk.” Nox observed.

“Yeah.” Said Crim with awe.

Nox looked over and grinned. “It seems that my brother is interested.”

“Yeah.” Crim ignored him.

The Control didn’t even seem to move a muscle, except to push his glasses up. “Now this is just getting repetitive. Driver, if you would be so kind.” And with those words he tapped his cane, and the driver from his carriage jumped from his seat and landed behind the girl’s father. Now standing, it was surprising to see how big he was. I couldn’t see anything noticeable, mostly because he was covered with that black cloak that was very dirty and torn. With an arm around his neck, the girl’s father seemed to go limp instantly, and the driver threw him over his shoulders with ease.

“Father!” she yelled.

“Now will you cooperate with me or do I have to use other ways of persuasion.” Said the Controller with a calm grin.

With the girl’s father being held captive by the driver, the courage and rebellion that was in her quickly disappeared. Still on her knees and helpless to do anything, she started to cry in anger.

“Monster…”

“That’s ‘Master’ to you now.” Said the Control with no remorse.

That is what made Nox’s heartbeat.

Nox laughed. Everyone turned to look at him when he started to. That’s because he sort of have this cackled insane laugh that’s starts slow first then gets really sharp. The ones that cause people to really fear the mind of others. Crim looked at him as well, but he smiled and waited.

“Is that all?” Nox said and showed all his teeth. “And you had such promise, with that big speech you had. And then when things go for you, you just give up. That’s just pathetic. You are not even worth saving.”

“Come on brother, she wasn’t that bad. Think of the situation, she only gave up when her father was threatened. What would happen if one of us were threatened?”

“Wait for you to rip the guy’s throat out.” And with that said, Nox opened all his eyes and broke lose.

‘“I will never be under your control. Even if it takes all the energy I have, if it costs my very life, I will defend what I am and what I believe in.”

The girl’s words still rang in my ears, feeding in a small place in my heart. She had potential of becoming something in this world. Something that Nox and I have always believed in is to give everything you have to do what you need to do. And this is especially strong for women, the ones who are constantly put down in both power and respect. I looked at her, with a totally different respect.

Then Masik took her father, and I saw her cry. A memory fled in my mind, something sad. Mom… I felt like I needed to do something.

Then I felt the heartbeat and I heard Nox laugh, his madman laugh. It meant he was mad and had an idea. I looked at him and smiled.

“Is that all?” he said with showing all my teeth. He always does that when he wants to scare the pants off of satanic demons. “And you had such promise, with that big speech you had. And then when things go different you give up. That’s just pathetic. You are not even worth saving.”

“Come on brother, she wasn’t that bad. Think of the situation, she only gave up when her father was threatened.” Gave this the most sincere way I could, and then got an idea. “What would happen if one of us were threatened?”

“Wait for you to rip the guy’s throat out.” Then he opened all his eyes, all of his miniature blood red glowing eyes, and transformed into his multiple bat forms. I guess because he basically became multiple minds in multiple bodies, Masik could not get a fix set on his body and control him. As soon as he altered, the thousand dark creatures attacked Masik, picking him up and throwing him back into the carriage and out the other side. At a speed faster than human time, the blurs of the Masik and Nox were too hard to follow.

With the girl’s father being held captive by the driver, and myself still being held down by Masik’s power, I look towards the girl. Her eyes were still tearing, but she was struggling to get her legs to move. She tried to reach out wit her hand towards the driver and screamed at her father. But the driver just calmly turned around and walked to the carriage front of the carriage, ignoring the fight. The girl stopped and looked completely flushed with confusion and fear, I could see more tears build up in her eyes and losing all hope in her heart. Poor girl.

“Now what will you do?” I asked.

She looked at me, maybe really for the first time. She heard the noises and bangs of Nox and Masik fighting, and rushed over too me. “What are you…?”

“I said what would you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that everything that has been going on has hurt you, made you scared, and has made you question your thoughts. Now what will you do? Will you run? Will you fight? Do you still believe in what you said a few moments ago?” She came close to me, and it was now that I could smell the sweetness at its full effect. But in that moment, I wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t sure if she was angry or sad, but in a calm voice, I could tell she was really asking me because she wanted to know.

“Why are you helping me?” She looked surprised at first, as though she didn’t mean to ask that. My brother has the ability to make girls attracted to him, but I have the ability to make them never lie about their feelings, their true thoughts, and they will tell me. Her eyes looked so innocent. And I smiled.

“Our enemy is the same, he has taken away something that is very important to us. But unlike you I don’t have a choice to fight.” I looked at her, past her tears and her eyes. Something in me, a part of me that knows what I am doing, spoke to her. “In spite of your fear and hate, follow your chosen destiny. Would you let a small thing like pain get in the way of your path?” She froze, staring at me. “Do you want me too help?” She seemed to snap out of the trance and sort of blushed. She spoke to me in a low voice.

“Yes…please help me.”

As you wish. Some part of me said that, not out loud and not in mind, but some part did.’

Crim struggled to move his arms and legs, but failed. “Nox, I can’t move. Can’t you get him distracted so I can get out of this predicament?”

“What do you think I have been trying to do? Its not like I am doing this for my health.” Yelled Nox.

Suddenly Nox was thrown back over the carriage in his human. He landed on his feet and looked up to see the Control in the air, his hair wild and going everywhere, with two large stakes in his hands, one of wood and one of metal. He landed in the middle of the brothers and the girl. He was a little upset and yelled out.

“You low bred mistake of lust! You think you are an equal to one such as I! I will make you beg for your life while I hold your own eyes too see yourself…” And then a rock about the size of a fist hit him on the head.

Usually the brothers at least hear a good threat about how they are going to turned into grounded beef, so both were sort of surprised. They looked at the direction of the throw, to see the girl drawn back for another pitch, her eyes no longer filled with tears, but anger. Crim grinned. He loves it when he says the right things. He could also love the fact that he could now move his body again.

“You…”Now the Controller was completely mad. Crim watched his hand movements, as did Nox, and they figured out what he was going to do. He spun around and threw both of his spikes, the metal one at Nox and the wooden one at the girl. Crim knew that Nox could take care of himself, but even if that girl has gained a new flare for life, she wouldn’t dodge this. He needed to move. Now.

He pushed off the ground and ran towards the girl, all of his strength. He almost flew towards her, her face frozen in time by the speed he was moving. He grabbed her shoulder and put himself in the way, and in return got a foot long piece of wood into his shoulder. Not as painful as the one he had gotten in the heart, but he couldn’t move his left arm.

For a minute it seemed Crim was holding on to the girl. She watched the whole thing, her eyes wide with shock. He was so close that he could hear her stagger breathing. Crim turned around to look at the Control, who was still upset, but seemed to use all his energy in that throw. Then he heard the gasp from the girl, as she saw what the spike did to his shoulder.

“Can you pull that out for me? It’s starting to make my arm numb.” Asked Crim.

She looked at him with confusion, but she grabbed it and started to pull. She had the heart, but not the strength. Crim decided to look at Nox to see if he got hit too. He did, in the stomach, but he just shrugged it off and started to walk towards the Control with an odd grin.

Then he stopped and suddenly looked worried. He looked down to see that his stomach was burning. Smoke was coming off the stake. In horror and pain, he tried to grab the stake, but his hands started to burn as well. Nox yelled in pain and fell on his knees, his blood smoking from the stake. The stake was silver, and that’s the reason why Nox hates to touch the stuff.

In Crim’s mind, Nox was in pain and no one hurts his brother when he can’t heal himself from it.

Rage filled Crim’s heart. The Control must be destroyed. He ran forward, the girl still holding onto the stake. It pulled out as soon as he moved away, and Crim grabbed it as he started to move.

Crim went into himself, and found that change, that beast in him. But he wouldn’t need to turn all way, just enough to have sharp claws. He charged at the dark blood red figure he saw. He knew the Control looked at him, and then his anger turned to surprise as Crim drove the wooden stake into his forehead and cut off his head.

Crim didn’t care if he killed him or not, since with a vampire you can never be sure. He rushed over to the hunched over Nox, and pulled out the silver stake. Silver doesn’t hurt Crim. Nox coughed blood, and the wound started to stop smoking. He was all right now.

A gurgled laugh came from behind Crim. He turned with the silver stake in his hand. The Control’s head was on its side on the ground, while his body was still standing up. The head could still talk. Crim decided not to think how he did it.

“Well done, I thought I could defeat you in this puppet, but I underestimated you. Since the sun will rise soon, I guess I will take my leave.” The body finally moved, slowly as though it was having a hard time moving straight. “I will wait two days for you to come to my castle so we can finish this properly. If you do not come, I will come back and burn down this town.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch.” Mocked Crim. “What makes you think I care about these people, I could very well just suck all their blood and just come after you for fun.”

“I’m not stupid. You wouldn’t risk your life for a human if you didn’t care.” Crim frowned, forcing himself to not look at the girl. The blood rump head looked at the silver stake in his hand. “I would like that back. You can give it to me now or when you reach the castle if you want, they always come back to me.” Crim could feel the spike begin to pull out of his hand.

Crim just smiled. “Sure, you can have it back. Just as long as you shut up.” And he threw the spike, trying to aim in-between the eyes, but it flew into the head’s mouth, which Crim personally thought was a better place for it. The head was surprised, but the body only turned and slowly walked into the carriage. When the door closed, the horses suddenly came to life and moved forward, only to turn and go back the way they came.

The old man also woke from his trance and was furious. “You kidnapped my sweet daughter from me, and you come to complain about her like she was a slave!”

“Oh no, my good man, not at all. I am not complaining, I am just saying that it’s upsetting for her to act this way in front of a noble.”

The girl then looked at him with anger. “Don’t call yourself noble.”

The Control didn’t seem to be effected by this at all. “When you are under my control, you will call me whatever I say I am.”

As soon as he said that, the once frightened girl quickly turned into a furious woman. Almost screaming, she said, “I will never be under your control. Even if it takes all the energy I have, if it costs my very life, I will defend what I am and what I believe in.”

This caught the brother’s interest. It almost caused everyone in the area to flinch in surprise.

“Well she has spunk.” Nox observed.

“Yeah.” Said Crim with awe.

Nox looked over and grinned. “It seems that my brother is interested.”

“Yeah.” Crim ignored him.

“Father!” she yelled.

“Now will you cooperate with me or do I have to use other ways of persuasion.” Said the Controller with a calm grin.

With the girl’s father being held captive by the driver, the courage and rebellion that was in her quickly disappeared. Still on her knees and helpless to do anything, she started to cry in anger.

“Monster…”

“That’s ‘Master’ to you now.” Said the Control with no remorse.

Chapter 5 - Rest

“Shit,” thought Nox. “That really hurts.” He was holding himself together on his side. He didn’t move for a while. “It burns. Damnation to the highest evil. I must of looked pathetic, acting so tough then crying like a child. I hate silver. Burning just hurts the flesh, but silver hurts the blood. I think I am going to be sick.”

“Nox, how bad is it?” asked Crim as he leaned over him.

“Lets say it is a good thing it wasn’t any lower.” Nox said with a shaky voice.

“Must not be that bad if your cracking jokes now.” He grabbed Nox arm pushed him on his back and looked at the wound. Nox looked too, seeing a large burning gap where his food should have been.

“And I just ate too. What a cruel bastard.”

The girl that Crim saved decided to take a look, and she looked like she was going to lose what she ate too. Not exactly a girl pleaser. Crim bit his thumb and let a large blood bubble appear, growing larger and larger by his heartbeat. It grew to the size of his hand and let it drop in the wound. A cool rush went through Nox’s body, and the wound sealed up and disappeared into a black void.

Nox got up slowly and felt were the hole should have been. “Good as new.” He felt so good he stood up by himself. “So that wasn’t him?”

“No.” said Crim “That was just a well kept look alike with an attitude problem.”

“So that’s why he felt weird, there was so much energy in that staff and body.” Nox shook his head. There was something else too, but he couldn’t remember.

“Uh… excuse me?”

They turned and saw the girl behind them, finally brave enough to say something, fidgeting with her hands. Then Nox smelled it, so strong then. He lifted one of my eyebrows. “Oh, so that’s why.”

“Yeah.” Said Crim, who was looking flushed.

“You… him… your not human are you?”

Crim looked at her with care. “My name is Crimson, and this is my brother Nox. What is your name?”

“Your not human, are you?”

The brothers blinked in surprise. The area sounded really quiet for five seconds.

It was Nox who spoke. “Not really. At least not all human.” Things got quiet again.

“Thank you.” She bowed to the brothers.

“It was nothing.” Said Crim, with a grin. Nox just rolled his eyes.

“Can you please take me with you?”

“No.” Nox said bluntly. “Look, whatever your name is, go home. This has nothing to do with you now.” He saw the coffin on the ground and went to pick it up. The girl rushed in front of him, coming really close.

“Take me with you, he has my father.”

“You would just get in the way.” Nox said calmly.

But she didn’t move. “Please take me. You need my help. I know the way, and you guys seem to be in to much of a hurry to get lost in the woods.”

Nox looked at her. She was a cute girl, but sometimes things need to be for the better. He grabbed her by both of her shoulders and raised her up. He showed all of his teeth and growled at her.

“And what can you do? What can a simple human girl do? These are not just creatures you are dealing with. These are monsters. They will tear you to bits with the least of strength, and you think you have a role in this?”

She was afraid in her eyes, and she was breathing became faster, but as Nox looked at her while holding her up like that, he could see something. Something special. She spoke with a calm voice. “I don’t have a home to go to. In spite of my fear and hate, I have chosen what I must do. Even if it cost me my life, I know that it is what I need to do. I am not letting something like death get in my way of saving my father.”

Nox froze as though she had grasped onto his heart. “You didn’t think of that by yourself. Who told you that?”

She looked behind him, and Nox turned to see Crim watching him with his arms crossed and a calm face. Nox looked at her again and put her down. She seemed to breath a sigh of relief. He patted her head, and even though she seemed scared, she also looked embarrassed.

“Ok, you can come. As long as you keep that attitude.” She looked sort of happy, but at least she seemed to be braver. “If she can stare me down, then she has some backbone.” Nox picked up the coffin and both of them walked to Crim, who was now looking like he was feeling the effects of lack of sleep. “Lets rest for the day and start later in the morning.”

Crim looked off in another direction. “I think it’s already morning.”

Nox looked near the horizon, and saw it was glowing orange. His body suddenly lurched in some primal fear and pain, like sticking a hand on a hot kettle. “Oh shit.”

“Top floor, two doors from the right of the stairs.” Said Crim, pointing the way.

Nox speeded to the inn. He was fast enough not to be seen by anyone, up the stairs, and into the room he was told. He threw the coffin in the corner, opened the lid door, fluffed his pillows, jumped in, and closed the door back. Ah… home sweet home.

Crim watched as his brother looked at the upcoming sunrise and ran towards the inn, almost smoking from the light. He shook his head. He doesn’t blame him, but sometimes Nox really does embarrass him.

Ah… home sweet home.

“I guess you made it.”

No, I’m a ghost here to forever haunt you. Yeah, he was back to his usual self.

“Excuse me,” said the girl “but what was that about?”

“He is very serious about beauty sleep.” He had to lie for now. He thought she would think it weird to say that he jumps in a large box every time the sun rises.

“Oh…” she said. She looked very pretty in that dress.

Crim shook his head. “Err… right. I guess that you will go sleep in your father’s house and I will sleep in my bought room. I will get you in the morning.” She nodded and went off her way.

So. Crim heard his brother.

“So what? You said you will take her to the castle for her father.”

Not that. Why didn’t you take the final step in taking her! She was obviously into you, and I know you were into her.

“What?” He said this loud enough to echo in the streets. “What the hell you talking about? You know my condition. If any girl gets to close to me I will get hungry again.”

You won’t with that girl. You have been up to her face and you didn’t feel the urge. You felt actually stronger, right? He thought back, and realized Nox was right.

“Is their something you know that I don’t?”

No, not at all, nothing of importance. Crim knew he was lying, but he usually does that so Crim could figure it out by himself.

Crim walked slowly back into the inn, most of the people ran off from the fight outside or were asleep in their beds. But those who stayed, two people, looked at him with fear and surprise. “Hey Nox, clean out their minds so we don’t get run out of town again.”

Consider it done. He saw the faces suddenly look blank and then smiled at him as though nothing had happened. It creeps Crim out when Nox can do things like that.

He walked up the stairs and found his room two doors pass the stairs on the right. He opened it up and saw the coffin on the floor covered by a white sheet, so I guessed this was the right one. Nothing much to the room, a good size bed for at least two people and a table near the window, which was showing the orange and purple sky of the rising day, which just reminded me how tired I was. He came in and neatly folded the sheet on the coffin and wrapped it up tight. He stretched and went to the door to close it, but as he was about to close the door, he heard footsteps on the stairs. He thought it was the innkeeper, but as he turned towards the stairway he saw the head of the girl they had just saved. Crim could smell that sweetness again and his heart started to beat faster again.

“What’s wrong?” He said. “I thought you were going to sleep at your father’s shop.”

“The door is lock and I don’t have a key.” She seemed to blush out of embarrassment. “I’m too tired to find another way in, so can I just stay the night with you guys? I am willing to sleep on the floor if you can spare some blankets.” She seemed to fidget some more and Crim kept getting the feeling that he should be getting embarrassed.

Told you.

She looked around the room when she was close enough. “Where’s your brother?” Her eyes came to the white box in the corner.

“In another room.” Crim said flatly.

Then she turned pink in embarrassment when she realized they were alone. Crim couldn’t believe how innocent she was.

Hey! The things going through her mind aren’t innocent enough. Nox thought to remind him he was here.

After a few minutes of preparing things, they accepted to share the bed. It’s not like he had much of a choice, she was so beaten and tired she fell asleep on the bed as soon as she hit it.

Her body seemed to move up and down as she breathed and it sort if made Crim nervous lying there near her. He got his cloak I had and decided to sleep in the corner.

What is wrong with you? This girl has practically jumped in your arms and you start to act noble! What is wrong with you? Nox thought to him constantly.

“Some people have a thing called ‘guilt’. It just doesn’t feel right. Something is different about her.”

Well of course there is something different about her, she is a … He stopped there and sort of mumbled something. There was something different about her.

“What is she, Nox?”

There is nothing that different about her than other girls, it is just that… err… she is a …

“Is a what, Nox?”

She’s a virgin.

“What?”

A virgin.

“Are you serious?”

Yeah. What you smell is pure unmanned blood. Just being close to her and breathing it is enough to energize any bloodsucker.

“Damnation of the devil, are you serious? I thought you said she wasn’t thinking innocent thoughts.”

What, you don’t believe me? Just because she is one, doesn’t mean she doesn’t think about it. Yes, she is a pure virgin, and she is right there. You can drink her blood and not be hungry for over five months. Go on. It’s not going to hurt her. She will just be tired more, but she will get over it, they all have after all right?

In all that talk, it made sense that that would be a good choice. Crim has done it so many times before in his life, and not to hunger for that long would be worth it. He could feel his fangs start to grow at the thought of it.

But, inside himself, he couldn’t. Not with this one. She is more than what Nox thinks. He stayed where he was, and fell asleep.

Crim woke hearing Nox thinking loudly in rhymes. When he is out of that coffin, he gets serious and all crazy, but when he’s in it, he gets bored and either reads, writes poems, or makes jokes. And he never sleeps, not really with a mind like his.

And with the night shall come the fright, and with this fight shall be a knight.

“Can’t you think silently? You still trying to become a expert rhyme master?”

This is as silent as I can think and there is nothing wrong with my rhymes.

“You using the word ‘nite’ twice?”

No, no, same sound, different spelling. Don’t lecture me when you can’t even read or write, you ass. Nox is very sensitive about his writing. It is nice to hear that you are awake again, brother. Your girlfriend left to try and get a new set of clothes for the trip with you.

“Girlfriend?”

Yeah. It was very sweet. She woke up seeing that you were on the floor, and she gave you a small peck to your cheek, and left to try and get into her father’s house.

“Really?” Crim felt his cheek.

No, but it was on her mind.

“I should let termites be your roommates in that thing for the rest of your life.”

Ok, sorry. You’re in a grumpy mood. And by the way, I wasn’t lying about her wanting to kiss you. She just isn’t sure if you are trustworthy or not, even though she thought you were very sweet in sleeping on the floor. It’s why she hasn’t given you her name yet. Sort of self trained herself not to say it. It’s a sort of belief that if you give your name to evil, it is like giving them power over you.

Crim looked at the coffin, even though he knew it was pointless. “I know that. And do you know her name?”

You mean did I look into her mind and saw her most well guarded secrets that no one should know… yeah I did.

“Don’t tell me anything Nox.” Crim emphasized this with Nox.

I didn’t plan to, Crim. I know you don’t like to snoop. And this girl is special, right. I was making sure you don’t hurt yourself while acting like an ass.

“So will I hurt myself?” Crim tried not to get upset with the ass comments.

That’s your choice. But if you mean she will hurt you, then I doubt it; she’s a good girl through and through. She is definitely innocent, even if her thoughts aren’t.

Crim picked himself up. He cracked his neck, jaw, and fingers. And after his usually stretches, he looked down at his shirt to see the holes from the two stakes gone. He rubbed his hand on his stomach then grabbed the coffin from the corner, and put it on his back. He heard Nox get comfortable from an upright position and they headed out of the room.

I said my words of goodbye to the owner, dodging the bargirl that seemed to be looking for Nox, and went outside. One of thee days, Nox is going to get himself into a lot of trouble with a girl and he won’t be able to avoid it.

It was about midday now, with the sun directly above Crim. He looked around to see where the girl had gone too, and decided to wait near the edge of town; if she wouldn’t meet him there, she would definitely see him by standing there with a huge box on his back.

Crim looked at the open stores that he could look at in the night. Besides the clothing stores, there was an open blacksmith shop and some merchants selling foreign wares to traveling fools and collectors.

With Nox being unusually silent, Crim was thinking of starting my pipe again. But then he saw a sign that made him stop in his tracks and look up with a shine in his eyes.

Why you stop? Asked Nox. But Crim didn’t need to reply for him to figure out why. The store sign stated, “Charms and Relics to Give Travelers Safe Passage”. But to Nox, that meant Crim found more crosses.

Crim likes crosses. I mean, really likes. Besides the rosary on his belt, Crim had about twenty portable cross relics that he admires, which he stores with Nox. Crim makes them out of whatever he can get his hands on, even the one Nox wears is the first one that he created out of wood.

Nox gave a sigh, and Crim strode forward. He came to the front of the shop, which showed various wares from amulets to pieces jewelry, and with a sleeping owner in the back. In the corner he noticed all the crosses, which were small and hand size. Crim tried to look at the detail, but they were all badly made out of wood that seemed to be two pieces simple nailed together.

With not one sign of a good cross, he frowned and strode to the outskirts of town. There, he saw the girl from yesterday come out from a street nearby and run towards him. This gave him time to look at her new attire.

Her shirt was white like the dress she wore last night. Loose, flowing sleeves that allowed for easy movement, with the cuffs being proportioned to her wrists. Unlike the dress, this only came down to her knees, being held down by a black belt around her waist. The other difference was the high leather boots that came just below her knee.

Except for a sword, she looks like she is the picture perfect example of a swordswoman.

“Not now.” Crim said.

“You say something?” the girl said as she stepped up to him.

“No, just admiring your new clothes.”

“You like it.” She said with excitement. “I was thinking to wear for good travel, and I know dresses aren’t good for travel, so I wanted something easy and ready with battle…” she suddenly stop as though she forced herself to. After seemingly calming herself down, she looked at Crim with respect. “Sorry.”

“You seem excited with everything that has been going on.” He stated.

“Well this is… I am just wanting to be as helpful as I can.”

“I understand. Lets go.” he said and turned around to start walking.

“Hey, wait a minute.”

“Hmm?”
“Where is your brother?” She asked.

“He decided that he should get a head start and will wait for us at the castle.”

She frowned at this. “How could he if he doesn’t know where to go?”

“He can find his way easily.”

It is you who gets lost all the time. Nox laughed silently.

“Do I need to bring anything? Do you have enough food for us both to eat? It looks like you carrying a lot of items. So is it mostly food, or will we be eating clothes first?”

“Food?”… Oh yeah… “No, not for the both of us. Did you bring some?”

“It so happens I did. But I wanted to know if you had any idea in what to do.” Crim looked at her, surprised with her wit. But his reason why he didn’t think of food was cause he doesn’t eat it.

“You done this before, haven’t you?” Crim stated. “Anything else?”

“Yes. You sure you want to start walking when it’s going to be night soon?”

“We will be safer in the dark.”

She looked at him with confusion. “How do you figure that?”

Crim stayed silent. But in his mind he answered her.

We are safe because they are afraid of me in the dark.

Chapter 6 - Talk

After the new morning appeared, the girl stayed quiet as she showed the way to the castle, as did Crim. Nox was bored out of his mind, mostly because Crim wouldn’t let him out because it would scare the girl and that he couldn’t read his books because he couldn’t see. Crim had covered the coffin with the cloth, so his dark glass didn’t give him any sort of reading light. He might be able to see in the dark, but he can’t define color when everything is black, and it is sort of pointless reading a book when the paper and words are the same color.

He was also bored reading the current thoughts of both these cowards in romance.

The girl was being very evasive towards Crim, still not giving her name to him. To others watching, it would seem she just wanted attention. But Nox knew her thoughts, and that wasn’t on her mind at all. She was to busy paying attention to them. She had a lot of question for the brothers, but mostly about Crim. And if Nox dug deeper into her mind, he could tell she also had a lot of personal questions she wanted to ask. But she kept silent for the same two reasons as before; too embarrassed and too afraid.

Crim was staying silent because… well… he’s Crim. All the girls come to him, even when he doesn’t want them too. But for once, Nox believed that he wanted this one to be natural. And he doesn’t know how to act naturally normal.

Nox grumbled. How was he supposed to write of their journey if nothing happens?

“So what are you?” The girl finally broke the silence. “I know that you and that ‘other guy’…”

“He is my brother.”

“Oh…sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. You and your brother are both hunters or warriors right?”

“In a way.”

“But you aren’t human. You look like one and you talk like a human, but you are… different. You are stronger, like a wild animal in the woods. And your bother… he is… just…”

“A monster. Don’t worry, we have been called worst.”

“Thanks you so much Crim, you ass.”

“But… he isn’t a monster. He has emotion, he has loyalty, and he has… care.” “Now what a sweet girl she is, though a little ignorant.”

“So what do you call yourself, a man or a monster?”

“We are neither and we are both.”

“What kind of an answer is that?”

“It’s complicated.” Crim’s mind started to hurt, he didn’t know if it was his cravings or the inability to answer her questions. “No more questions.”

“Well I want to know, is that so hard to ask? Why are you a hunter? How did you know the Control’s name? Who is the Betrayer?”

“No more questions.”

“Why not?”

“I SAID…” Crim started to yell.

“Oh for the sake of heaven, would you two relax, especially you Crim.” Nox thought aloud, being tired by both of them. The girl heard this as well, as she almost jumped out of her skin

“What in the name of God…” the girl held her head, trying to think where the voice came from.

“Please choose your words carefully; I don’t want you to fall out of favor with Him. Crim would you be so kind as too take this cloth off, I hate it when I can’t see outside and you know that.”

“I…I…” All the girl could do was stutter.

“I didn’t go ahead of you. I am just in here. Sunlight and I don’t agree.”

“What are…?” She almost looked like she was going to scream in terror.

“I said to please calm down. Breathe.” And so she did.

“Brother, can you talk to her, you have a better understanding than I do.” Said Crim calmly.

“Yeah, yeah. Only because you never listen to me when I do explain.”

In this world made by God, there are creatures called humans that were made in his image. There were also creatures that were not made in his image, creatures that were suppose to be under the human’s rule, and those two beings are the natural. However, there is a slight line between creature and human, something else. These things have the mind of a human but the reasoning and appearance of a creature. They are the supernatural, things that are not suppose to happen but do happen. These things are called monsters or demons.

Just as people are different in the human’s world, there are class differences in the monsters world. The minions and the old man was close to what we are, a relative to the creature they called ‘vampyre’ or if spelled in poor tongue ‘vampire’, a monster that is made from the corpse of a human being or a demon and drinks human blood for nourishment.

We are half natural vampyre, half human. I read that this combination is called ‘dhampir’, I don’t know why since it never explained much, or that I could finish the book. I think it is a mixture of vampire, which is a base of the words meaning ‘witch’ and ‘blood drinker’, and damnation.

I know people think when they see us and don’t run, ‘Why does Crim look like a normal human while you look like a corpse?’ Well for one thing, I don’t always look like a corpse; just in the current state I am in looks like one. Sometimes I am called ‘very’ handsome even though I have black skin, but I think I am getting a little ahead of myself. The only way to understand how it works is to understand what I am comparing to.

Vampyres are creatures that have been here close to the time of when man was created. There are many different legends of what was done and how it started, but only those who have the blood of a natural vampyre knows the truth. Then again that is where the power comes from, in the blood. We, as relations to the vampyre, know a lot of things that humans cannot understand, especially our history. But humans can understand what monsters do and how to kill them.

It is strange how only those who want to know how to create ‘it’ are called insane, but those who want to destroy ‘it’ are called brave.

Anyway, because of the power of blood, they have no true shape, like a sort of mist or fog, creating only bodies from earth or human corpses. Even to change into other creature shapes is not a limit to a vampyre. To have control is a great power, and being able to control yourself is to control the earth. With the vampyre that is true, to make one as hard or strong as a mountain isn’t a joke for a vampyre.

Lets see here; blood, earth, transforming, power, I think that covers the physical parts, but the mental parts are a little bit more difficult to understand and I don’t feel like thinking that hard, but in short thoughts, vampyres are manipulative sons of bitches. Blood runs in the mind of people, and I have said that vampyres power is in the blood. It is amazing how much movement of blood in the brain can make a person invisible to the eye, or with a little shift can change the attitude completely to pure respect, fear, or to forget certain instances.

Now, there are problems with being a vampyre, or should I say the weaknesses. One, a stake or anything sharp in the blood pump called heart will render the creature motionless, but not kill it. Two, the need for blood, vampyres can not create their own blood, regular human food will turn to ash in the mouth, and have been sort of cursed to hunger for blood, no blood, no ability for power, turns the body into an empty shell. Three, sunlight. It’s hard to explain now, but it really hurts.

Now that the idea of what I am comparing is out, I think I can say about Crim and I. Our father was a vampyre, and our mother was a human, we are the results of that. I don’t know how they met or what happened, but I do know is that it was on purpose.

Our father is only known as the Betrayer. He is so called this because he had destroyed the King of Vampyres, who was his master. The King had twelve other servants, who found and attacked the Betrayer, cursing him into eternal imprisonment.

His last words were, “My son will finish my work.”

To bad he didn’t specify which one.

Now a dhampir is supposed to have the strength of a vampyre, but with no weakness that I have listed before and no control. Crim is the book-listed dhampir that is so described. But our father, as it turned out, wasn’t a normal vampyre, and my mother’s body decide to have twins, which turned out wasn’t really what was in the plans. I am called the older brother because I came out first, and what I mean by that is that we were conceived at the same time, but we didn’t come out at the same time, about a six-month difference. While Crim can walk in the sun and can create his own blood, I am left in the darkness with the need for blood, my body using up the blood about twice as fast as a regular vampyre needs blood. And for some reason, Crim had become completely fire resistant while I go up with the slightest spark, faster than apiece of dry straw. However, there are some good things about being me. Unlike Crim, I can taste the difference between water and a delicious piece of cooked meat, while Crim can’t eat anything and enjoy it. I have no hunger for blood as well, and that is something I am extremely happy for. I never want to go through the pain of that like Crim does.

Crim may be the legs and has power, but I have control, and that is something I wouldn’t trade for in the world. Besides, turning into mist or flying creatures, having the power to make both me or my brother as strong as a rock, and having the power to control the minds of any person around me is a nice tradeoff. And then I also have the power to read minds, telepathy I think it is called, and can see certain things that other people can’t see with their eyes. And besides, Crim and me am the closest thing to a loving family as we can get, I need him and he needs me, and even though we argue, we are blood brothers.

Did that explain everything?

She stayed silent for a while, and then she stuttered, “Yes… It did.”

Good. Now if you don’t mind, I need to talk to my brother here, a personal thing you understand.

“Yes sir.” She said politely.

Crim, Nox thought this so that only I could hear, What the hell are you doing? You are acting like you are a statue, and she is just as bad. She is confused and nervous with her feelings; like everyone else we meet. She just wants to talk, even though her questions are a bit off normal. Then again we aren’t normal. He took a short breath in thinking what he was thinking. Give her a chance; she has a good heart, so just talk to her.

“She can’t get over the fact that I am not natural, that I am not totally human, and I don’t know what to say about that. She is treating me like a stray dog, looking for shelter.”

You are not all human, and would you expect differently from one who has lived in seclusion all her life. If you can’t make her believe that you have some humanity in your looks or actions, then make her believe that you have it in your heart.

“Heart my ass.”

Nox got upset. Fine, you be that way. But I will say this; she likes it that you are so unusual.

“Huh?” This surprised Crim.

Why else would she be by you? Talk about something personal, like her family.

He sighed. Then took a breath himself and took out his pipe again. Crim’s head was hurting for some reason; he thought it came from a smell in the air that reminded him of tar and cloth dye. He put a few leaves in his pipe and lit it when she wasn’t looking.

Oh yeah. That’s going to make her happy. If you have enough time to do that then get this cloth off me. I can’t see anything.

“Shut up.”

“Err… are you alright?” the girl said.

“Yeah, just there is this smell that giving me a headache.”

“Smell?” She seemed to be embarrassed and ran her fingers through her brown hair.

“It is nothing. So enough talk about me. What about you and your father? Tell us how you met the Control.”

She looked at Crim, and then seemed to build enough courage to speak.

“I never knew my mother, she died when I was born, and I could never make any friends who were my age and who weren’t too busy, so it has always been my father and myself. My father had a clothing shop and I slept in a small bed in the back.

If I wasn’t helping my father with the clothes, I was outside in the forest, playing with the trees and walking through paths. Sometimes I would get lost out in the woods, but I would always find my way home.

My father had been very protective of me. He even told me of the Control Vampire that ruled near the town. He taught me to protect myself.

But one day, I decided that I needed something new. I needed to leave my home and go see the world outside. I packed up and without a word to father ran out into the woods again. I stayed out too late and it became too dark to find any way out. I don’t remember much then, cause I thought I fell asleep from being so tired. But when I awoke, instead of waking in the forest I found myself in a castle wearing a sleeping gown.”

That must have been odd. Crim didn’t know if she heard that or not, but she continued.

“I wandered the castle, trying to look for a way out. Instead I found an old, dusty, cobweb infested, broken down, abandoned castle with no signs of any life. Before I found a door out, that Control character surprised me and he asked me to marry him. I ran, but he caught me and sent me to my room again. He sent me food that was almost rotten and said he was just going to keep me there till I agreed. I tried many times to run away, but failed.”

“And then he drove back to your home and was going to force your hand by threatening your father.” Said Crim.

“Yeah.” She combed her fingers through her hair, and it was then Crim noticed that there was something odd about the color, and that was where the smell came from.

You’re starting to realize. Nox chuckled.

“There is more to her than you have told me.”

You told me not to tell you.

“You have something in your hair.” Crim told her.

“Oh… really.” She brushed out her hair vigorously with her hands.

“Yeah. Do you always put dye in your hair?”

She froze in place and stopped walking. “How did you know?”

“I have had experience with it, but I never knew it to be used for hair.”

She thought for a while. “My father told me too. It’s made from leather staining and clothe dye”

Yuck. “Why is that?” Crim asked.

“I was told it is an… unnatural color.”

“What color?”

She stayed silent at first, but after a minute of Crim looking at her, she said, “Red.”

“And what is unnatural about that?” Crim happen to like red.

She looked at me. “Now you are asking a lot of questions.”

“Now you know how I feel.” He grinned. She smiled back.

Then she screamed.

So he smacked the corpse behind him with Nox’s coffin.

Hey! You could have warned me! Thought Nox in surprise.

“And you could have warned me.”

But I can’t see anything.

More corpses came, ignoring the girl and coming after Crim. It took ten of them to hold him down and the girl could only watch. Crim saw from the corner of his eye the approaching carriage driver for the Control, still in the dark worn cloak and large hat. He looked over at Crim and then walked over to the girl.

“I expected you to be at the village, so I am surprised to see you with this hunter.” The driver spoke with a deep voice, which sounded too deep for a human voice. “The master wanted you to be retrieved as soon as possible.”

“What is the matter? Couldn’t wait for us to bring her to see his funeral?” Crim said.

The driver looked as though he ignored Crim. “You put on a new dye I see. No more need for that here.” He snapped his fingers and it was like Nox’s heartbeat. They all felt the power, but it only affected the girl.

She grabbed her chest as though it was hard for her to breathe, and then fell to her knees. Her body started to glow a deep blood red color, like a fire in the night. The once regular brown hair she had started to melt like ice, dripping off her hair and body like rain. Her hair was starting to turn to her said natural color, red. But this wasn’t like any natural redhead; it was a bright blood red, like she was injured and bleeding. It started to glow as well.

When the dye had completely melted away, the driver snapped his fingers again. The glowing stopped and the girl fell on her knees, but her hair still seemed to glow.

“Whoa.” Was all Crim could say.

What? What? I can’t see anything.

“I need to be going, my master is impatient.” He went over and grabbed the girl, who now seemed to be unconscious, and threw her over his shoulder like her father.

“Why the rush?” Crim broke free after struggling for so long and went after the driver. But when he got there and swung the coffin, he disappeared and the coffin went through air. And when he turned around, the corpses were gone as well.

I CAN’T SEE WITH THIS CLOTH OVER MY COFFIN!!!

“Well, I think you should see this.”

I almost spilled my ink, the jerk. Could have told me we were getting in fight this early. I was writing this interesting romance from my brother, and then I get swung right when it gets interesting. And on top of that, I couldn’t see any of it.

This is just not my day.

“Well, I think you should see this.”

Crim finally moved the cloth off. About time, I was getting bored. And by the looks of it, I wouldn’t be for a while.

Crim showed me the town ahead, which seemed to be built upon a hill. On top of the hill was clearly the Control’s castle, as worn and torn as the girl described. And the houses below were worst than the castle. Protecting the town was a wall that went completely around the area keeping out any outsiders. Meaning us.

“It’s not that impressive.”

“You better get ready.”

I changed into my multiple bats, and forced myself to make all my wings harder, like metal. Then each bat closed their wings and became like circle link, then each one connecting to each other to become a long black chain. I grabbed the sides with my wings and hooked on to the metal rings.

“You ready Crim?”

“Yeah… lets go get another one.”

I wonder how I could write our epic tale.

Chapter 7 - Lair

Crim walked in a calm stride, carrying the coffin on his shoulder. He came to a large wall that looked like it has been abandoned for many years. The many houses and roofs that could be seen over the wall looked more rotten than the walls. The gates were the only things that looked like it wouldn’t fall down by the slightest wind. Crim, never breaking his stride, came closer to the gate without worry. As if it was simply not there at all, Crim lifted his foot and front kicked the gate. It fell as though it wasn’t even bolted to the wall.

Still walking, Crim went past house after house, each one looking more worn by time then the next. He walked up hill till he came upon houses that had lights seeming to have occupants. He stopped near by one of those houses that had lights. He looked in to see what looked like a family sitting at the table, waiting for the mother to be done from the kitchen and serve the food for the father and child. Crim couldn’t see their faces, but could tell there was something wrong with them. When he heard noises in the kitchen and smell something awful, he knew what was wrong. And when he saw the mother come he knew he was right. They were all dead. No skin on there face, skeletons moved as though another force was in control. The mother put bowls on the table, cold soup with mold covering the top completely.

What a waste of good food. Nox replied.

Crim continued moving. With no one around, it was just a simple stride. He continued till the castle was in front of us and came upon another set of gates, but unlike the first, these had already fallen off from the wears of time.

Nox had always read about castles in books, so seeing one up close has always been a dream of his. Crim turned the coffin around so he could see through the dark glass. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing sight to see it so messed up.

The front wall had fallen apart as if by a massive attack by an army. Holding what remained of the wall were two towers that shouldn’t be standing from their condition of having holes in there middle. Unlike the holes made by time, there were windows on the top of the walls and the top of the towers, but other than that it seemed like the castle in my books. The drawbridge that lead to the entrance of the castle had fallen long ago and was now permanently crafted into the ground, and what seemed to be once a moat was dried up long ago.

What a waste of good ruins.

Crim walked over the bridge and into the courtyard of the castle. Whatever building were behind the gates had long ago fallen over with the effects of war. The only remaining part of the castle that wasn’t damaged was a rounded building that was at least forty feet tall, with a straw roof that had a lot of holes. The courtyard itself was dead as well. Trees long past dead, bushes turned to thorny warning of death, and not even a blade of grass could be seen. Not a living plant as far as the eye could see. However, what caught the eyes were the hanging bodies off the branches of the trees that smelled of rotten corpses. Never stopping, Crim continued threw the ghastly yard without showing a hint of emotion. We had reached the middle of the yard, when noises of movement could be heard. Crim froze and looked around.

What a waste of bad ghouls.

Nox started to feel excited and he knew that Crim did as well. The brothers both smiled.

They came.

The corpses fell from the trees and came from the ground. In only a few seconds a small army of ghouls surrounded them. Crim grabbed Nox’s coffin and started to spin it around. Bodies started to fly as the coffin slammed into the group of corpses.

“Middle-right handle.” he thought.

Crim grabbed it and threw the coffin forward. The handle came out with Nox’s creatures holding on. The coffin flew into the coming ghouls and took out whatever was in its path. Crim turned the handle and pulled to the left. The coffin turned as he pulled and it flew to the left of him into more corpses.

He pulled back and Nox’s chain started to pull the coffin back to him. Before it hit Crim, he caught it and threw it on his back, hearing the handle lock back in place in place.

“Where is the Control?” Crim said aloud.

Probably at the highest point in the tallest tower, because people like him would do something that obvious.

“What about you? How much can you take being thrown around in the sun?”

I’m still using the blood you gave me two days ago, but I will run out of energy soon if I am thrown around like that a few more times.

“Well what about using… what do you call it? You know, when you make the coffin extremely hard…not that you jerk. You know, that spell of yours.”

Fortitude.

The coffin suddenly got a lot heavier. Crim grabbed the back handle and tied his hand down with the leather strap he put on the back. Then, with strength that could only be described as inhuman, lifted the coffin to his side like it was a small shield attached to his arm.

He ran towards the only remaining building, hitting any corpses that were in his way. With the coffin, it was as if the wall was punching into them, almost making him unbalanced from throwing so much weight around. He continued till they got to the doors of the building and slammed them down to the ground.

After the doors fell down, they found themselves in a large rounded room with stairs leading up. Crim took the coffin off his hand and put it on his back again. Nox regained his balance and breathed to gain energy. He doesn’t mind doing that trick, but being upside down that long gives him a headache.

Crim walked up the stairs till he found the top. Like the other parts of the castle, there were broken windows high above the walls, but in the middle was a single chair with a dark figure in its place. He was holding the cane on the top in front of him, and it pulsed like a heart.

So this must be the lair. Thought both the brothers.

Crim walked to it, breathing calmly even though he had fought so many puppets. And now he would finally see who was in control. But instead of the master, he saw the thrown occupied by the priest figure that they fought at the carriage, head reattached and with the two stakes still in place were Crim left them.

“A trap?” Nox said in the coffin.

“Take a look.” He turned the coffin around to look. The sun was going down, an orange glow surrounded the area. Because of that light, they were able to see strings. So thin they were almost invisible, but in the light shining like the lowering sun. All of them coming from the cane and leading outside the windows. But there was one string that was neither from the cane nor the window.

Crim and Nox looked up to see in the rafters of the room, one string that came from a hand in the shadows. Covered in a dark cloak and hat, it could only be the driver that gave them a greeting a few hours ago.

“Couldn’t help but be in the action that he was creating. I was wondering if he was the one pulling the strings. It just seemed like he was the only one not a dead man.”

“Good call.” Said Crim with little surprise.

The Control jumped from his place and landed beside the chair, the puppet now slumped over from no string holding him. The Control, or Masik if you want to use names, placed his hand on the head of the dummy, and took off the glasses that were fixed and already falling off the dummy’s nose. He took off the hat, to reveal a mess of hair, and placed it on the chair. He looked exactly like the dummy that was on the chair, but he seemed older and tired with gray in his hair and dirt on his face. He put on the dark glasses, which fitted perfectly with no slipping, and pushed his hair back and tied it up with the string he had used to control the Controller.

“If you will excuse me, I am just cleaning myself up. Been so busy with your arrival that I had no time to make myself presentable.”

“Of course.” Said Crim.

“Where is your other half?” Control asked.

“He’s here too.” He pointed to the coffin.

“Oh? Has the Night’s curse does he?”

“No… I am just that way.” Nox said.

“A natural like the Betrayer.” Control finished his cleaning himself up and gave attention to Crim fully by adjusting his glass. They turned into clear glass, and showed off his pale eyes. “How many have you killed?”

“Killed?” Nox laughed in the coffin. “We have fought vampires and the undead. You can’t kill what is already dead, Masik.”

Masik grinned. “I see. You are using first name references. I suppose it would be rude to call you the Sons of the Betrayer.”

“Our name’s aren’t important. But according to the Beast, you were called a spider.” Crim said with a smug attitude.

Control looked surprised. But didn’t change the tone of his calm voice. “You defeated the Beast? You half-breeds?”

“I don’t care what you call us, just hand over the girl and give back the item.” Crim said.

As if by my order, the girl appeared from the shadows, still unconscious and being carried by five corpses.

“You mean this.” He loosened his coat and pulled out a nail that was about the size of his finger. And Nox could feel his heart beat.

“That’s it.” Nox said.

“Then of course you can have it.” He flung the nail at Crim, faster than the human eye, and Crim caught it with his hand. Then Crim froze to what felt to Nox like a lifetime.

“Crimson?” Nox asked.

He didn’t answer right away. But he slowly started to move again, as though he awoke from a dream. “His memories.”

Nox knew what he talked of. But he didn’t have enough time to say anything more because Masik was right in front of them and kicked the coffin away while he punched Crim in the neck.

Nox flew till he hit a wall, right in way of a sunlit window. He knew he was doomed if he made any move out. So all he could do was watch. And he hate’s it when he can’t do anything.

Crim fell down to his knees grabbing his neck, having three nails now stuck in his throat.

“That should keep you busy.” Masik spoke to Crim and turned to the girl. “Enough time to triple my power.”

“Triple?” Crim spat out, trying to pull the nails out, but he had to be careful cause they seemed to dig in like the stakes did. Nox tried to see if he could numb the pain, but he couldn’t do anything in the light. Thankfully, Nox knew he could handle it.

Masik turned and smiled. “Can still speak can you. You are stronger than I thought.” He waved his hand and Crim’s legs seemed to give out again. From Nox’s view, he could see strings come from his hand and tie his legs down to the ground. Masik laughed and gave attention back to the unconscious girl. He placed a hand around her neck, and opened his mouth to show his top fangs.

“Hey, wake up!!” Nox ordered to the girl.

The girl opened her eyes in time to struggle out of the hold and slap his hand away. The corpses dropped her like she was hot and she crawled away from Masik to find Crim with nails in his throat.

“What is…? Are you…?” Too many questions, but she was smart enough to see what was going on and if Crim was fine.

Masik looked as if he was loosing patience. “Why is it that things haven’t been in my complete control since you have been in my territory. I have been planning this for seventeen years, and you happen to come and mess it all up.”

“Seventeen years?” This seemed to grab the attention of the girl. “You only found me a few weeks ago. How can you be wanting me for seventeen years?”

Masik seemed to be so upset that he just didn’t care if we all knew his plan now. “Do you know what your hair means? To be that red is not a natural design of God. You have very powerful blood, so powerful that it seeks into your hair. I knew you were special when I saw you as a baby, already with teeth and blood red hair.”

Nox knew what he was talking about, a ‘pure’ blooded human. This was a joke to humans but serious in the vampyre world. It happens when women give birth to seven children from a seventh son, all the power in the blood goes to the child and makes them have blood red head. Vampyres usually attack them as soon as they see them and make them into the undead. Masik had other plans.

“But it was a shame that you would have died with your parents dead by my hand.” Masik continued. “So I thought I could raise you, to make you into a fine woman and be obedient to my desire. But you had a rebellious streak, something I couldn’t control. I think it was from trying to hold you back so much that your curiosity made you dangerous to my plan, as well as attract other vampires to my rare prize. So I made you fear to be out, by telling you of my own legends and made you dye your hair to be safe from others.”

Both the girl and Crim seemed to be surprised. But the girl spoke back. “You… but it wasn’t you who told me this or taught me to dye my hair. It was…”

“Your father?” Masik snapped his fingers and out of the dark corner materialized the girl’s father. He looked unharmed, but his eyes looked blank and soulless. On his neck were two bite marks that seemed worn and permanent from a lot of usage. “Just another one of my puppets, but I had to bite him constantly and fill him with blood so he wouldn’t deteriorate.”

This shattered whatever sanity the girl had.

Crim had enough time to pull out two nails, but one was still stuck in his neck. The girl seemed to be completely broken. Nox wished there was something he could have done, but all things have a reason for happening.

I wonder how she will take this. What will she do? Was all that Nox could think.

Chapter 8 - Fighting Hope

Damn these nails. I watch some memories of my father and in return I get some in my throat. It figures that would happen if I stalled for a second.

So that’s why the girl is special, not only a virgin, but also a special pure blood human as well. And she just found out her father was a puppet and that the killer of her parents was trying to suck all her blood. She needed help. And I was here again.

“Hey.” I said. She barely seemed to notice me. “What are you going to do?”

She didn’t move. So I said it again. “What are you going to do?”

She turned with tears in her eyes, and spoke softly. “What would you do, if you lost everything? Everything. All that I had lived for and all that I knew, all of it was nothing but lies.”

“Lies… Was your belief in righteousness a lie? Was your pride in being a girl who didn’t give up a lie? Is your hope a lie as well?”

“My…When all that you have is your belief, your hope, and your pride, what do you do? What do I do with those?”

“Then you hold on to your belief, your hope, and especially your pride. Then you look into the unknown, and follow the path you make yourself.” I pulled out the last nail and waited for it to heal, but I continued my speech as though I had no longer any control over it. My voice started to grow louder. “I lost everything a long time ago, and it was then I was told one thing, ‘In spite of fear and hate, follow your chosen destiny.’ I told you that same saying then and I will tell you again and again till it rings in your head. Will you give up all that you had fought for, all that you have gained, all the things you have learned, just because of pain and fear! Rise and fight back, because I can’t make that choice for you because it is you who needs to choose. So will you be used, give up and let your life end pathetically. Or will you trust your belief once more, and stand for yourself.” I was so loud that it sounded as though I was on the brink of yelling.

The girl looked at me with surprise. “Trust? But it feels so dark being this confused, and I don’t want to be alone in the dark.”

“Then trust me, and let me take you through the darkness. I have been through it before and I was also not alone. Trust me.”

She was almost flooding with tears, I don’t know if it was out of fear or surprise. “But you… are a…”

“What else can you become when you walk in the dark.” I cut the strings on my legs and stood up, rubbing my neck. Looking at me was Masik, who had been waiting for me. “Enough of these games, Masik. Let her go. Our dual comes first.” I had in my hand four nails, each pulsing with power and knowledge. “Where are the other eight?”

“Right here.” He pulled out four other nails from his coat, two for each hand. “And of course the four stakes. Any other questions before I kill you?”

“Yeah. Do you really think you can kill me?”

“I am immortal. You are not.”

“Immortality doesn’t last forever.”

They looked at each other for a minute. Masik looked calm, but fierce with that coat and nails in his hand. His corpse puppets surround the area, but all of them seemed to stay their distance from the girl and them. Crim noticed that Nox’s coffin was still in the corner, out of his reach, and while he was in the sun he was useless. So it was up to Crim to take him off his high thrown.

Knock him dead. He heard from Nox.

“Plan too.” And with that, Crim charged.

Masik dodged Crim’s fist as it came close to his face, and he tried to punch back with his nail fist. Crim was able to hit him across the chest a couple of times, but that seemed to be completely pointless when he didn’t feel it. Crim was much faster than Masik, and that was his strength. In the girl’s eyes, they were moving so fast that they were just blurs of flesh.

At first it seemed pointless with both of them countering each other. But with each second, Crim was becoming fiercer in his attacks; while Masik was trying to regain some of his breathe.

Crim noticed that Masik’s sight wasn’t that good, for he kept missing him when Crim got close to him. That’s when Crim realized that it was what his glasses where for. He could only see far distances, but he was blind when it came to fighting close.

“What’s wrong?” Crim joked. “Haven’t been out much?” He was so excited.

Masik looked at him with anger. “You have his attitude. That arrogant attitude.”

Crim smiled. He was going to win. And he was enjoying it.

Then he saw him jump a far distance to grab his staff and Crim suddenly couldn’t move his legs, causing him to fall to the ground. He has good aim, Crim will say that, but it just made him mad.

“Your dumb tricks don’t work anymore.” He ripped off the strings holding down his legs and got to a kneeling position. As soon as he did, he felt a wooden stake go through his leg. And this gave Masik enough time for him to rush Crim and to punch him in the arm and neck, with two nails in each place.

Now, Crim was screwed.

And strangely, he wasn’t afraid for himself, but for the girl. So he turned to her and coughed up “Run!” along with some blood. She was still crying, but she suddenly seemed to gain courage. She rushed past the corpses and grabbed Crim.

“No… not by myself.”

Crim was almost surprised. “Stupid girl… you won’t survive. Your just human, only monsters like myself can fight him back.”

She was taken back, but she replied in a low tone with tears still in her eyes. “But you’re part human too.” That was the first time she ever mentioned Crim being partially ordinary.

Masik spoke in a calm voice. “Get out of the way girl. I don’t want my daughter to be damaged before I change her.”

“No.” She tried to get a hold of Crim so she could protect him, but the puppet that she once called father grabbed her and dragged her off, kicking and screaming.

“Good, now that things are going as desired, it is time to finish you off.”

“Coward… You think I will be finished off that easily?” Crim told him.

“Maybe not, but this will defiantly destroy your cursed body.” He raised a metal stake and drove it into his heart. The body went completely dead.

Things blurred in his eyes, and time slowed down greatly. He was dead… or so he thought. He could still hear, and he could still recognize things with his sight. He just couldn’t move.

I can only do so much. Nox was giving him strength. But even that could not help him.

Masik the Control saw Crim still move and raised another metal stake above his head. “Now die!”

“No!!!” The girl had slammed her elbow into the gut of the father and had jumped in between Masik and Crim. It happened in an instant, and all they could do was watch. No amount of pain to Crim will ever cover the feeling of when that stake went in her back and out of her chest. She coughed blood, and they knew it went through her lung.

“FOOLISH GIRL!!!” Screamed Masik. He was so surprised that he stepped back to see what he did, in anger and shock.

She breathed hard, trying to gain energy that she was losing fast. And in a last effort to continue, she tried to pull stake out of Crim’s heart instead of her own. Her blood now covered her lower body, her hands red and dripping on Crim as she tried to pull. He could only bring himself enough power to say one word. “Why?”

“I… have… too…” That was all she could say, and she then stopped moving with her hands still on the stake.

Masik was no longer smiling, and was no longer calm. Anger was the only emotion that was in his eyes. He no longer cared for power, nor for fun. He wanted bloodshed, and he wanted it now. “If you two want to go together, then by all means go that way.” He raised a stake and was about to strike.

Then the sky darkened. And a heartbeat could be felt.

“No… not by your choice.”

Then Crim saw his brother get stabbed in the heart.

The girl sacrificed herself for Crim. Pure emotion with no reason. Impressive. I think she has great potential, if she can survive. And I don’t think I can take all this lying down.

They need help. And I am the only one who can do it.

So I did the only thing I could do. I prayed.

I still have a task to uphold. Not for myself, but for those who need me. I ask for your strength again, and give me power where all have failed.

Then I heard the voice of the Control. “If you two want to go together, then by all means go that way.”

Oh hell, no. You don’t just kill my brother and a good girl like that. Hell would be too good for you. YOUR MINE!!!

The clouds grew dark and rumbled like an approaching storm, and the sun disappeared. Power returned to me.

Thank you. Amen.

“No…not by your choice.” I spoke loud enough to be heard. I opened the coffin and burst through the corpses that surrounded me. I rushed to Masik and grabbed the stake from his hand, only to get one where my heart should have been.

I saw his smiling face suddenly turn to shock as he saw me just look down and smile back at him. “That doesn’t work on me.” I sucked the stake into my body and punched him in the gut. I watched face turn into pain, and then another shock when he saw the stake deep in his stomach. He tried to pull it out, but all it did was sink in. I laughed and dropped the nail that was once in the stake.

I grabbed his throat with my left hand and lifted him up. “You think you can get away with what you did to my brother and that girl.” His neck suddenly started to smoke and he screamed. The mark on my chest started to glow. I laughed. “So, that hurts does it?” I lifted my wooden cross amulet with my right hand and place it on his heart, which also started to smoke. “Seems you made him upset as well.” After half a minute of him screaming, I threw him to his chair and walked over to Crim.

I pulled both stakes out of Crim, shaking my hands that were smoking from the silver. Even though he hadn’t even healed yet, he gave full attention to the girl. But I had to hold him back from going love crazy. “I know you are worried Crim, but you need to take care of Controller before you can see to her.” He almost started to look irrationally mad, so I also said, “I will take care of her.”

He looked at me with worry. “Please heal her the best you can.”

“I will do what I can and even more.”

Crim smiled and stood up. I never see him cry much, but I could tell he was happy with my words. He strode to the Control with an anger that wouldn’t be calmed easily. The corpses moved in front of him, like a last effort of fear. Crim was so mad that tore through the puppets like paper. He was soon in front of Masik, still fuming with anger. In fear, the Control raised his staff and tied Crim with all the strings that he had. But when my brother gets that angry, nothing can make him stop. He broke the strings as though it was nothing and grabbed the staff from Masik, breaking it in two with ease and stabbed him in the heart and throat. Masik tumbled back to his chair, and his eyes turned black as his glasses did. The puppets that were around him fell like sacks of meat and were of no more threat to anyone except to those of weak stomachs.

“Well… that was quick.” I spoke bluntly.

When Crim came back, I had already pulled the stake out and had been trying to heal her wound. I wasn’t doing a good job, because I don’t heal humans. She was dying.

“I’m sorry Crim, there’s nothing else I can do.”

Then I heard a gurgled laugh come from the body of the Control. We both turned to see him propped on his chair, and still able to think. It is a pity that I could not turn her when I had the chance instead of using her as bait. And a shame you cannot turn her to save her life, half-breed.

“But you know how don’t you?” Said Crim with hope.

Ha, of course.

“Good, then I have a reason for Nox to take your blood as well.”

I cringed. “Do I have too?”

“Yes.” Crim said with the tone of an order. I would like to complain how gross I think it is, but I knew he was in a hurry. I sighed with disappointment. I lifted my hand towards the Control’s throat.

For the girl.

I harden my hand, and the Controller stopped laughing. I pulled back and a shower of blood came from his throat. Crim opened his mouth with anticipation, while I just groaned and held out my hand. The blood touched my skin and I absorbed it into my body, to taste the horrible taste of blood in my mouth. I watched Crim and he drank it from the sky, and start to glow red.

Then the memories came.

Memories are difficult to understand when you are in a rush. When you take time to let the memories of the blood go through your body, you can know everything that has been through the occupants mind. But when you are in a rush, you just know the few things that are going through the mind right then. And in the Controller’s mind, it was the beginning and the end.

Chapter 9 - Chosen Memories

“Puppeteer.” A page that had knocked on my room called me. “The King will be wanting you for a performance in an hour, for the princess’s party.”

“As he orders.” I said. I had just finished sculpting the face of my newest puppet and put down my knife. I stood back to take a look. I was satisfied, and stood up to look what I could use to clothe my new creation. But another knock came from the door, so I went to see who it was this time. In no surprise it was Rojo the Jester.

“Well, looks like you have your performance before I do.”

“You come to threaten me again?” I said flatly.

“I don’t like to think I am second rate to a man who plays with dolls. I come to say that no matter what you do, you can’t replace me. I am the royal entertainer, not you. The King just found you in the street with your dolls and felt sorry for you. Pity won’t take you to the top.” And with those words he left.

I closed my door slowly and went back to my closet. I smiled because I knew that pity wouldn’t take me to the top, but trickery.

“Your highness.” I heard a page give the message. “Due to the nature of the Puppeteers show, he asks for more time to do the presentation. However, Rojo the Jester has is permission to do his act before him.”

The King seemed upset of being ordered, and the princess, who looked almost looked impatient for my act, seemed to frown as well. But the King waved his hand in approval and the princess just pouted. I must have made a good impression with them to give me this much freedom.

I was in my black cover coat so I couldn’t be seen at the top of the stage made for the princess’s party. I grabbed my newly made marionette control, one made from three regular controls and a long four foot staff control that attaches all together, and lifted up my puppet.

The curtains opened and reveled my plan.

I made him bow

I made him juggle.

I made him do things that couldn’t be done. Balance on a ball with his finger, handstands while juggling with his feet, headstands that turned to a floating trick.

And everyone applauded. I laughed in silence, as even the king and the princess applauded in surprise.

“Amazing, Rojo. I never knew you were practicing new tricks.” The King said.

Then, to my pleasure, the true jester came from the corner, causing gasps from the crowds and King. He simple replied, “I wasn’t, my King.”

“I was.” I spoke from the rafts. I pulled back my cloak and showed my face high above the crowds. I looked at the surprised faces, and was particularly happy with the princess’s smiling face.

The applaud was deafening.

But my most treasured moment would be what happened next.

“So, Rojo, what do you have to show us.”

The Jester turned completely pale, then looked at me with hate.

“MASIK!!!”

I turned around to quickly to see a large figure walk down the stairs. I couldn’t see his face exactly, but I knew who he was nonetheless, the only one to have the gall to yell my real name like that. I pushed my glasses up, but they don’t help in short vision. “You bellowed, King.”

“I did Masik, and I am not pleased at all.”

“Oh, and what reason is that.”

“Your attitude. I was told of your exploitations with your human village and I am not pleased at all.”

“And what am I doing that upsets you so?”

“Don’t give me that, you know exactly what you are doing! You’re inbreeding with human girls that you raise yourself in the village. YOUR MIXING ROYAL BLOOD WITH COMMON FILTH!!!” He yelled loudly and the whole palace shook with great force.

“Don’t be daft.”

“What did you say?” He spoke with surprise.

“You think that I don’t have enough common sense to control a little lust. I get bored every few years and I go out for a little fun as well as a meal, and you think I can’t understand a simple matter as that. Don’t insult me, even if you are the Kingship.”

“And you don’t have enough honor to call yourself anything, Joseph Masik. Especially after the fact that you looked at the your hated enemy and have damaged your sight.”

“I wish you stop using my old human name.” I said with irritation.

“And what will do about it, Joseph?” He spoke with arrogance.

I tapped my cane and pulled ten puppets to surround King. They jumped at the same time and were going to slam him to the ground. But before they could even reach him, a great wind came and they were all blown away, like dust in the wind. This wind also fell heavily on me, causing me to kneel down from its power. King brushed off his cape and walked past me.

“That is my power.”

Now alone, I cursed him and tried to pull myself back up from my knees, but could not. Moments later, a person walked over to me and gave me his hand. I grabbed and lifted myself up. Even though I couldn’t see, I knew who he was.

“Thank you. You know that the Kingship has been talking about…”

“All of you talk about me, but that won’t make me attack him for you.”

“I thought you be too smart.” I shrugged and picked up my staff nearby.

“He doesn’t fear you.” He started to twirls something in his fingers. Something that caught my interest.

“He doesn’t respect me.”

“Same thing.” Twirled another on his other hand. “Even with the power item that you possess.”

“This.” I pointed to my staff. “Been with me for a long time. My memories of my humanity are in this staff. When I turned, so did it.”

“That’s why it is powerful. These things have parts of my memories as well, but I wouldn’t call them humane.”

“What are those, they look like nails?”

“In a way. I call it my ‘Remembrance of Respect’.”

“Respect? Those little things?”

“You know, I was told that the expert human hunters need only to drive a nail in the neck of a vampire to kill it.” He balanced a nail on the tip of his finger, and just as quickly pointed the other nail to my neck. I almost lost my balance. “See… you respect it already.” He handed four nails to me. “I have seen these memories enough, so I think they will serve you better then me.”

He walked away and I looked at the nails in my hand, which were just small things. I moved back till I hit a tree, and turned around. I thought for a while, and used two nails in one of my hands, one in-between my index finger and the other under my ring finger. I punched the tree, and the two nails stuck. I tried to pull them out, but I could not. I laughed. So I pulled the tree out.

This was my gift from the Betrayer.

Nox looked at Crim as the memories faded way. His eyes had become more focused as he looked at Masik. Crim then turned to me.

“Well…do you know what to do?”

“Yeah…” Nox said reluctantly. He did know what to do, but he was staling because of the disturbing thoughts of… drinking.

He turned, as did Crim, to look at the girl. She was barely breathing as they walked over to her, and as they kneeled around her it was slowing down greatly. Nox looked into her eyes, and they were fading fast.

“Do it.” Crim ordered.

“No.” Nox said.

“What?” He looked at him with shock.

“I said no.”

“SHE’S DYING!” He yelled at him. Nox looked at him calmly. He knew why he was yelling, but he had to keep a level head.

“I know. But it is her choice.”

Crim calmed down. “Please…”

Nox looked at Crim for a second, and then lifted the girl up to his knee. He spoke to her so she could hear what he had to say. Crim leaned close enough to hear as well.

“Girl, listen to me.” She seemed to focus, but Nox could tell it wouldn’t be long. “You have a choice. You could die here and be just that, lived a life that was yours. Or you could be turned, bitten by us, prolong your life and be cursed. Listen to me. I don’t know what will happen if you are turned by us. I know it will help you heal and that you may have a longer life span, but I don’t know how you will be cursed. I can’t choose for you. So what do you want? A peaceful death or a cursed life?”

She looked at Nox, then turned to Crim and placed a hand on his face. She cried. Her voice was small, but both of them could hear it.

“With you…yes.” And with those words, her hand fell.

“Bite her, Crim.” Nox said with haste.

Crim bite her neck, which was becoming cold from death, and sucked her blood. He started to glow again, and he felt like he was growing in power. Nox felt like he was turning pale from the thought of what he was about to do, but he took a calm breath and cut Crim’s hand with his sharp finger. He grabbed Crim’s hand and started to feel his blood come into Nox’s heart. He took another breath and also bit into her neck.

Her heart stopped for what seemed like an eternity.

Then they felt Nox’s heartbeat, and then hers. She started to breathe hard again, and with each breath, her wound started to grow smaller. Her breathing became normal again, and she fell into a deep sleep.

Nox let go, spiting the bad taste out of his mouth. Crim took her into his arms and laid her down gently. Both of them heard a moaning that got them to look at the Control.

Even after the fact that he shouldn’t have been able to move, he had a look of extreme horror. He seemed to scream with his mind, This is impossible! You can’t… Dhampires don’t have that power! He started to move, trying to pick himself up. Only…

That’s the problem with immortals… they never stay down. Nox watched Crim turn around, grab the two silver stakes that was pulled out of him, take about twenty steps away and turn to Masik. Almost being too fast for Nox’s eyes, he saw him throw the stakes at incredible speed into the arms of Masik, causing him to be pinned down to his chair. This didn’t help his image.

That is my…

It was then Nox noticed that he could still hear his heartbeat. So Masik had two hearts. Tricky. Nox reached for the stake that was in the girl, pulled the nail out, and threw it to Crim. “He has another heart. Seal it, then plug it up.”

Crim nodded and looked at a ring on his right hand. It started to glow orange like the sun, and he place the top of the ring on the flat of the stake to brand a mark that would make all the undead afraid. Still smoking, Crim threw it right next to the broken staff in Masik’s chest and he gurgled in pain.

When the smoke cleared, the brand could be seen glowing red. At first, it looked like something Nox had spitted out long ago. But it was more like a two English ‘B’s back to back from each other. The Control saw and looked at us.

You are the Sons of the Betrayer. That looks so much like his symbol. His face seemed to freeze and his eyes started to become hazed. I always thought no matter how much control you are in; there was always someone with more power over you. But your father was able to control his own destiny, even to the end.

“You know what happened to him?” Nox asked.

Hehehe… I see…you will find out.

“So I have heard.” Nox sighed.

But I will say this. You are both just like your father. You can’t be controlled.

And with that, he stopped moving.

“You sure he’s not dead?” Crim asked.

“When that stake is removed by our hands, he will awaken again. You can’t kill what is already dead, just make it hard for them to pull themselves back together.” With that said, Nox started to pick up all the nails that they dropped on the floor. Crim had six and Nox had six. They both looked at each other.

“How did you know to hit him in the neck?” Nox asked.

Crim shook his hand full of nails. “A memory.”

Nox grinned. “Well, you want to see what else it has for us.”

“Why not.”

And with that Crim slammed his hand into Nox. The memories of the nails came, the remembrance of respect.

Chapter 10 - Respect

“Remember, Your Highness, the Foreign Ambassadors have arrived and are coming to talk about negotiations between the Turks.” My servant Rold had said this after I had just finished with my dressing. “I know you have your doubts sir, but for the sake of the future of this land, please don’t do anything to set off total war. In this small time of peace, it would be safe not to kill off the Ambassadors this time.”

“Are you questioning my authority and my judgment, Rold?”

“No my lord.” He looked at me without emotion, no fear and no pride. “I am just letting you know that anything done to these ambassadors could mean the chance of ending an old war, something that could ease the minds of all the people. But whatever happens, I will follow your choice, as will the people.” I saw no sign of falseness in his breath and looked at him coldly, seeing if he would flinch from lying, he did not. I like Rold; he keeps a good spirit and a good head on his shoulders. And compared to the others, he has had too to be here this long by my side.

“I believe you are the wisest of your kind, Rold.” He bowed and left from my sight.

I walked around my Tirgoviste Palace and thought for a while. Even if peace did happen between our countries, my hatred wouldn’t go away. With this time of peace, things would just grow more between their greed and my hate. War would just be called a fight for freedom, but in the end it is still just a battle. I wouldn’t care if the fighting and bloodshed continued. It would still just be fun for me.

But for the people, I will at least hear what they say.

The Turkish ambassadors were lead to the throne where I sat. There were four of them, in the uniforms of their fathers and father’s father. I know it well. The four soldiers that led them kneeled before me and took off their helmets. The Ambassadors barely bowed before and left their hats on. Something about their attitude, their smell, wasn’t right.

“Sir’s.” said one of my soldiers, “Please take off your hat’s in front of the Prince.”

The Ambassadors looked at each other, and spoke directly to me. “It is not the custom of our father’s to do such a thing.” The soldier that talked to them suddenly looked pale, with fear and anger.

I let the feeling flow through me for what seemed like a minute, and picked myself up from the throne and walked over to the one that spoke to me. I looked him straight in the eye and stood tall. I loomed. The other three started to step back, but they quickly recovered. The one I looked at stood his ground but was sweating. I could smell it. I spoke in Turkish so he could fully understand. “Sir, it is my tradition in this place to take off your hat in front of royalty. So I will not ask you again, take your Phrygian caps off.” All stood their ground, even though I could tell everyone in the kingdom moved slowly away from the spectacle. The Turks did not move. The bravest one actually tried to stand tall to me and spoke back in his language.

“We are not afraid of you. We are stronger than you and we will defeat all that you threaten us with. Our honor comes before you.”

This piece of god-forsaken filth dares to talk to me? His honor? His land? I looked straight at them, but I could see around me that everyone was mad and afraid. My face does that if I get upset, and even though they didn’t know what was said, they knew I was mad. And they knew this filth couldn’t be taught the lesson that he deserves.

I breathed slowly and smiled at them. “Forgive me, I was impolite. I didn’t consider your traditions and your land.” I walked slowly over to the soldier and spoke in my language again. “Stand.” He quickly picked himself up by his spear and stood to full attention, like a good subject. “You and the others and spearmen. You do carry metal to keep the poles sturdy or nails for wooden connections?”

“Yes Sir.” He said with loyalty. “I have five nails, Sir. And my comrades have about seven together, Sir. Twelve nails at your service Sir.”

“Good. Give me three and tell the others to gather theirs, and bring a hammer.” He wasn’t sure what I would do with nails, but he knew what I would be doing with them. He handed me three nails and ran off. I looked at a nail in my hand, black and gray with a flat round end. I walked back to the Ambassadors and gave my best smile. “ Please make yourself comfortable, after all. You are all guests.” When I said this they all relaxed. I waved too the soldiers around the Turks, and with my deepest scowl and loudest voice. “IN MY HOUSE, MY COUNTRY, AND MY TRADITIONS.”

As everyone jumped, the soldiers grabbed the Turks by their arms, made them kneel in front of me, and they made sure they couldn’t move.

As soon as I yelled, I saw the spear soldier run with a hammer visible in his hand. I grinned and walked slowly to the kneelers. “I admire your attitude. But there is one thing that made me loose all respect from you.” I became solemn again and loomed over them, this time they felt the full effect and two of them couldn’t stop trembling. “You lied. You are afraid of me. That is why you kept your hats on, because in that fear you needed to hold on to something from your home, your honor.” I smiled again, as the spear man came to my side and handed me the hammer while holding more nails in his hand. “And even though you lied, I know you are guests with a peaceful mission, so I will let you live. But I must reward you for your loyalty to tradition.” I grabbed the head of the one who spoke to me and twisted his head for him to see my eyes. And though the tears of pain, I saw the fear in his eyes, along with the reflection of my red eyes. “And I must make sure you keep that excellent tradition of yours,” I put my hand firmly on his head, held a good size spear nail too his head, and raised the hammer, “by making sure you never take those hats off again.”

Eons past in darkness, and suddenly a crack of moonlight emerges from above. A figure in black and red drops from above and looks around. He focuses on one spot and walks slowly in the Catacombs to a certain coffin. He pushes the top aside with ease and reveals a corpse, rotten by time to the bone. He grabs the head and pulls the skull off the body, and looks on the top of the head to see three round red-crusted metal nails on the top cap. The figure tapped on the top skull and it shattered from both time and power. The figure brushed off the remaining skull in his hand and looked at the three small metal pieces. He clenched his hand and walked back from where he came.

Crim carried the girl in his arms, who was covered with the white cloth they used for the coffin. The sun was now shining without a cloud in sight, and Nox was back in the coffin. Her breathing was a comfort to Crim. But there were some things that had troubled him.

He asked Nox, “Do you think she will be the same as before?”

God, I hope not. That would mean she is in denial and that’s something we cant deal with… oh you mean attitude wise. If her will is strong, it will stay the same, it will just be on a borderline of confusion and sanity. But I think I can help with that.

“I meant physically.”

Well, I’m not sure. But I know that she will be different.

“How will she be different then?”

She won’t know her name. Nor remember parts of her past.

This got Crim confused. “Why?”

She is no longer what she used to be, nor can she ever return to it. Her mind will only know what your blood will tell her.

“Our blood.” Crim didn’t like the way he said that.

She accepted the proposal, so she has no reason for regret. She will choose a new name and move on…or whatever you wish.

Crim knew it. “Because I can control her.”

Nox stayed silent. With that, Crim thought for a while.

“She will believe whatever she thinks she is. Under no ones control.”

In the darkness of the coffin, Nox smiled proudly at his brother.

But he couldn’t help but think sadly, Yes… unlike us.

End of Part 1

It's weird to think I started writing this story after I watched Blade and Underworld. I also believe that I was also inspired by the then newly published Hellsing. But I wanted something that was action, comedic, and accurate to the original Dracula story, as well as Vampire lore in general.

This was before the dark times. Before the one of... Twilight...

Anyway, I have more, and even glancing at some of this makes me want to re-edit.

But I still have Dante on my mind.

The Shadow King is still there.

So the Black Coffin has been put away for now.

But it is never forgotten. The Chronicles are still being written.

And maybe one day, it'll be available for others to read.

Disturbed Will

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