Logan was trembling, it was not the breeze that flowed violently through the woods he had found himself in after retreating with his unit, but it was out of fear. He stood before a monster, plated in red armor which dripped with the life-blood of what used to be his comrades. Logan never believed that being drafted into the service would have caused him to endure such fear, his body was frozen no matter how much he attempted to lift his spear he could not so much as take a breath. His brown eyes slowly shifted towards the ground, his stomach curling at the sight of a severed arm and head.
Logan was surrounded by limbs; it was easier to count the number of bodies that weren't mangled than the severed parts. The moonlight hiding the horror that he knew was hiding in the shades of the trees, moisture causing his boots to sink into the soft dirt beneath him, he knew it wasn't water that caused the earth to soften like this, but the blood of Ferg. He found the strength to move if it was even just his head and turn to his side, the monster had kicked in the male's chest in sending his friend back to his side where he struggled to take a breath, coughing up blood. He was stronger than Logan, maybe the strongest of them; the thought did much to fuel his fear.
'I'm going to die' Was all he could think, scores of twenty men have died before him, now it was just him. Logan tried to muster his courage, his strength; his foe was simply standing and waiting, as he did for his brethren. He would only attack those who challenged him, however, he allowed none to leave, any who attempted to ran down mercilessly. He faced them as honorably as he could, fangs showing but never feeding, however, it seemed like a farce as if he was trying to relish in the thrill of battle long lost to him. Logan gripped his spear, feeling the thick wood in his grasp, his breath returning to him as he took a single step to his right.
"I have little hope against a vampire... Belona protects me." Logan could hear a soft chuckle from the monster after speaking; he paid it no mind as he circled around the creature. He needed to think; there was no way the vampire would wait until daylight for him which meant the time allotted to him was limited despite how patient his foe seemed. Logan's gaze upon the vampire's glowing gold eyes, he's heard of red eyes, not gold. It was simply his luck to meet such an abnormal creature, the punishment for retreating from Gorbos soldiers. He wished he could return to face them.
"Anytime boy." The vampire said calmly, he simply whipped his sword to his side, the blood of slain falling onto the ground before he raised it up, to face the young Logan.
Logan paused for a moment hearing his voice, he didn't sound monstrous, his voice actually filled him with courage, it felt unnatural and forced but he welcomed it in such an instant. It was what he needed; Logan hid behind the tree, in that instance, he aimed his spear high into the sky and threw it with all his might. In an instant he emerged from behind the tree, he had three flintlock pistols on his belt, and he drew one as he ran at the vampire. He fired, the thunderous sound echoed, the metal pellet bounced off his armor creating a small crack at his shoulder. Tossing the gun, he drew another, never slowing down, he fired again. The damage was more noticeable now; Logan had little chance against him as an equal even less without silver or fire magic. He had only his pride.
As the third shot hit the vampire, he was nearly upon him however suddenly his world became black. A sharp pain shot through his right side, his shoulder had been broken, his body shot down into the ground. The vampire had smacked him down with the pommel of his sword, his golden eyes looking down at the boy as he shook his head, kicking away pistol that had reached him once it fell from Logan's grasp. "Foolish." The voice said simply, it has been less than five seconds and the battle had ended, even with the leeway given to Logan.
"I hope it hurts," Logan said, chuckling, he turned his head from the dirt spitting out some grass that had gotten stuck against his lips. The vampire stared down at him confused, probably because he's never gotten a request for a painful death. A sudden pain struck the vampire's shoulder, he groaned in pain before looking to see the source of it. A spear, he looked down at the boy, stunned, he started laughing. Logan laughed too, this was his end at least his little rouse had worked, and he closed his eyes and waited for the end to come.
"Cunning little bastard," The vampire said as he pulled out the spear, grunting at the pain before he dropped it beside Logan. His armor causing small clank noises as he crouched down beside the fallen warrior, he reached down and flipped Logan over so he could face him. "I wish to turn you." Logan was looking into the vampire's eyes, he was confused.
"And if I refuse?" Logan asked, wearily, his shoulder was still broken, it ached, but he and even speaking were difficult.
"Then you leave the forest and meet your fate at the hand of the Gorbos men." The response was cold and simple, Logan nodded, not many choices it seemed.
Logan felt the breeze brushing against his body once more, these last few moments seemed unreal to him. He turned his head towards his friend Ferg, he groaned a bit throwing up beside him, the adrenaline had subsided and now the scent of death was all he could sense, it made him sick. He hated it, the thought of living like this thing was exhausting however it didn't agonize him more than the thought of dying. "What is your name?" He said weakly looking back up at the vampire.
"Arthur von Blood Dragon, and you boy?" The vampire said Logan recognized the name, his eyes widen. He was a hero of the old world, of those who fought beside Belona, Wardic, Ulfang, and Fenrir. People who became as gods, a man of that caliber be a vampire?
"Logan Crespy..." He said softly, now in awe instead of fear. He wished he had known sooner about the great knight, he might have bowed instead of attacked, we wouldn't have entered Lament's Woods if we had known such a fearsome warrior laid protecting it, creatures of the night were one thing, however, he was another. A god, rather than a monster. It was hard to believe such a noble hero had become a leech, reliant on the need of blood but if he was willing to live with such a curse, shouldn't he attempt it.
"What will change when I take your offer?" He asked the older being, reaching over his chest to touch his shoulder, bones were shattered, his collarbone cracked, he wouldn't dare rise for risk of passing out from the pain.
"Sunlight will pain you, silver will wound, holy lands will resist you, rivers and oceans will destroy you, people will hunt you, and you'll become more fierce a warrior than ever before." Logan noticed he said nothing of blood, supposed he believed it was implied.
The vampire picked up the spear that was used to wound him, suppose he's healed by now. He used the tip of it to pierce his palm, holding his now bleeding hand over the boy's lips, letting the velvet liquid drip down into his mouth.
"Now drink, die, and rise again. Cunning child." Arthur ordered, Logan, did as he was told.
Strange, it felt strange, the blood was delicious, it tasted like refine wine, it made him crave for more as he lifted his head to meet the drops of blood sooner. His body became weaker with every drop he swallowed, but he couldn't help but feel delighted, his mind went foggy and his head fell back onto the dirt as his supply was cut. He was drifting away, he thought of his mother, his sisters, and even his accursed father. Thankful he said his final goodbyes before going to war, it was the last time they will ever see their true son, first borne. He let out his tears as he faded from his consciousness, he knew what was happening, he was now dead.