A soft streak of sunlight brushed through Darwin's porcelain skin. His hair gently dancing
with the smooth caress of the morning breeze flowing in between the leaves of an oak tree
standing next before the rose bed he's lying in. His mumbling sleepy voice muffled under the
sheets as he shifted positions across the mattress.
"Looks like the little vampire's having a dreamy vacation in wonderland", Ae laughed at
his face. He sat down on the
Darwin's head popped and he looked around like a curious kitten. He rubbed his eyes
like a little kid before mumbling another inaudible word.
The morning breeze swept through his hair. His velvet skin shining like mirrors in the
touch of the sunlight.
"What were you dreaming of?", Ae asked.
"Killing you, maybe", Darwin replied cockily.
"Ouch', Ae playfully replied.
A moment of silence tingled between them. The sound of leaves dancing with the soft
touch of the wind sent a blissful sense of calmness and tranquility in Darwin's heart and soul.
"You look good today", Ae complimented without looking at him.
"I look good everyday", Darwin rebutted.
"Not yesterday. It must be my blood. A medicine", Ae boasted with a laugh.
"Eh?", Darwin rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to do it. I just can't help it", Ae apologized.
"I have vague memories about yesterday", He just gave him a bobbed face.
Ae didn't say another. He just smiled at him and offered him a tea.
"Well there must be something magical with this place. The fact that this enchanting
piece of the land was dwelt by a top tier demon", Darwin complimented with a smile.
He pushed the twisted sheets off his body and dragged himself off the bed. He then
realized something was wrong. The mountain breeze brushed his bare naked body.
"Goodness! Get some clothes!", Ae playfully covered his eyes and looked away.
Darwin warned him no to look his way before pulling the sheets and wrapping it across
his body.
Ae cleared his throat before turning himself to him. He looked at Darwin trying to
untwist the bed sheets on his body. He snapped his finger and the sheets untangled
themselves. Darwin mouthed him "Thank you, idiot"
"By the way, did Josey introduce that thing to you?", Ae asked.
"What? The armour? Of course, it such a majestic finery. Perfect word to use in this
royal and luxurious place", Darwin replied without looking back at him.
Ae frowned in confusion. He didn't see that one coming.
"That's not what I mean. The mirror is what I'm talking about", Ae turned to his serious
low tone.
Darwin stopped on his tracks. He returned the same curious look to Ae and bit his lip.
"What mirror? I didn't see any mirror", He said.
Ae sighed in relief knowing his plans might not have initiated properly.
"Never mind. Anyways, I have something to tell you. I don't know if you're gonna love it
or not but either way, it will help you get back to your own tracks somehow", Ae proposed.
"How can I trust a deceitful demon?", Darwin looked at him.
"How can you not? When we run in the same plan and shining in the same spectrum",
Ae replied with a hint of smile.
"But my agenda works differently from you", Darwin gave him a taunting look.
"True. But what if I tell you can be both a vampire and a witch at the same time", Ae
crossed his arms.
"You're bluffing", Darwin threw himself in the rose bed and looked straight into the
ocean blue sky. It was the first time in centuries that he get to see a morning light shining as
beautiful as what is before his eyes. He didn't mind Ae sitting next to him.
"Ok I'm gonna tell you a little story. I know you remember the time when you fought
against the sirens and the Black Pentagram. Of course you do, It must be very tragic watching
your comrade decapitated by your enemy. Something like that marks in your memories like an
incurable virus and irremovable parasite. But I'm not here to bring that up, I'm actually trying to
propose a resort against all of these. You were born with a blood of the witch clan, died as
mortal and reborn as a vampire.Trust me I'm right about it. And I know you remember
something about your "Mirrored Selves" or the version of your selves molded out from your
deepest fears of the impossible. When I was inside Hubert's mortal body I was able to harness a
ripple spell because of the overflowing magic around the area which made me capture one version of you. It is some kind of your form if your life was once flown in one of the many
dimensions of probabilities and alteration or parallelism. In simpler terms, the thing I captured
was actually someone you might have become if your parents didn't lock down your abilities as
a witch and then you were reborn as a vampire", Ae gestured his hands and images started
popping around them like a hologram.
"True I was born as a witch but my parents didn't want me to become one so I stopped
thinking about it. I was actually much deadlier back then", Darwin replied looking at his nails.
"Back then is our key terms", Ae bobbed his head and let out a chuckle.
"What should I do about it?", Darwin can't help but ask.
"You don't do anything. You just become something", Ae answered with a firm look.
Darwin hung his head and closed his eyes. A rundown of thoughts flown like rivers
inside his head. Part of him wanted to just return to his former savage and heartless self but a
fragment inside him just wanted to stay powerless and more human to feel love, to give love or
to die in peace. He gathered his self and looked up to the sky. He let out a deep sigh and bit his
lips.
"Maybe I don't want it", He managed to speak.
"It's all up to you. You know, honestly I've never offered a hand for someone until I've
met you. I don't understand why something in me wanted to help you so much. No hidden
agenda", Ae just smiled looking away.
"We met like a few days ago", Darwin gave him an uncertain look.
"But we've been together for like decades, you know", Ae replied with a shrug.
"What if you're just lying? Will I ever have the chance to slit your throat and throw your
head in the burning pits of hell", Darwin lift his eyebrow at him.
"See that mark on your hand? Once it fades, I'll vanish in your life along with it", Ae
replied nonchalantly.
Silence crept in between them. Only the gushing sound of the winds through the leaves
could be heard.
"So what's the catch?", Darwin asked once again.
"At midnight I will perform an imbuement spell. This will create a chamber of magic
inside you, a space where the other persona can thrive", Ae explained once again.
"By placing a new persona inside, it only means a possible change in your physical
appearance. Your hair, color of your eyes, your face and even your voice and the way you act",
Ae added.
Another round of silence crept between them. Ae tried grabbing Darwin's hand but he
pulled himself off the bed and walked out of the scene. "You have until midnight to make up your mind. You don't have to trust me but at least
you can try", Ae smiled behind him and followed him inside.
"Atleast you can try on some clothes", He added.
Darwin sighed at the sight of his own self strutting around naked like a jaybird. He
gestured Ae to pull one of the sheets with a pleading look.
"Come on. I have an entire world full of wardrobe", Ae walked passed him and asked
him to follow where he go.
They hit an alley of paintings and artworks inherited and passed down from generations
to generations. Darwin couldn't help but wonder how these majestic work of art came into
existence. Few seconds went down and they finally stumbled into a hall with a giant door at the
end.
"Is this house too big or are we just too small? Or did we become small?", Darwin asked
like a kid.
"Idiot", Ae mocked him by mimicking his expression.
He gestured his hand and the door creaked open like a giant gate. Light broke off like
strings of gold hitting Darwin's face and illuminating his eyes. They walked passed a glasslike
hallway and finally through the entrance. Beauty struck Darwin to the core as a magnificent
view met his eyes. Another room filled with otherworldly outfits.
"You think you saw it already but here's another one. These were all my exclusive
wardrobe", Ae bragged looking at him with a wink.
"Let me guess. Three centuries and still, you won't be able to wear all of these", Darwin
commented on his remarks.
"Seriously I have worn all of these. For centuries", Ae laughed.
"I have lived for centuries too but you haven't seen where clothes other than chains,
piercings, hoodie, and boots", Darwin said nonchalantly.
"That's because you lived with what you really are, a vampire. Unlike me, I take many
forms in the name of deceit and fraudulent", there's a hint of laughter at the end of his words.
Darwin walked passed him and to the chaotic hall of hundreds and thousands of clothes.
His eyes landed on a very special finery across the hall.
It's a white metallic suit with chains and fur. A pair of white pants with red straps and
metallic carvings. And a pair of ankle cut boots. Overall, the entire outfit depicts an image of a
tiger in a bloodbath hunt above the thick sheets of snow. So much for a blood winter moniker.
"I'd love this", Darwin whisper in awe.
Everything went on like the usual day in Moonray Mansion. Atleast for once in his life
Darwin felt secured and didn't have the need to run and be chased. He just took his time strutting around the house and into the backyard like a curious cat. Ae was busy doing some
stuff in his own abode. He only met Darwin once during the day.
Night came and he was summoned to attend the special dinner hosted by his new found
ally. There goes a massive feast that would actually feed two people for an entire month.
Darwin was about to sit in his chair when a something hissed behind him.
"Bobby relax. It's just a vampire", Ae requested without looking at him.
"You have a cat", Darwin said.
"Yes. The name's Bobby", Ae replied.
"That wasn't a question", Darwin pulled and tried to approach the cat behind him but it
only sent him daggers.
"Was I too Darwin Frost that even an innocent cat hates me?", He whispered waving his
hands at it.
"He isn't just a cat. He's the guardian of this realm. He's not innocent either. He had
seen every soul passing through the labyrinth. Barbous", Ae introduced.
All of a sudden a thick wave of cloud twisted them like a whirlpool and the cat morphed
into a human form. He has black hair. Black eyes and moon tattoo on his forehead. His
expression is hard to read and he has a body of an ancient gladiator. He wore a golden robe
with silver fur coat and a headpiece that looks like a cat ear. He held a golden staff in with his
left hand and he bowed down the moment Ae met his eyes.
"Come take your sit Bobby. Forget about the formalities. This Darwin Frost. I know you
already heard about the legends. It was all true. Except he wasn't that kind of a person
anymore. Or at least not now", Ae gestured his hands and Bobby sit down.
Darwin stood there awkwardly. The fact that what he thought a very cute kitten was
actually a voluptuous and very strong man. He just gave him a weird smile and sit across the
table.
"I haven't formally introduced myself, My name is Barbous. Call me Bobby", He
extended his hands and Darwin met it with a handshake.
"I'm Darwin. Darwin Fr…Alexander", Darwin took his hand with a grimace.
"Ohhh so humanity", Ae said with a hint of smile.
Time passed by and they exchanged words about things in the past, about their selves
and their plans. They have discussed about Darwin's past encounters, his maniac schemes and
all of greatest slaughters. Something so awkward but he just get along with it. A good topic on a
classy dinner.
"Do you still know how to reap someone's heart out?", Bobby laughed before taking a
sip of his tea.
"I don't know. My nails aren't that sharp anymore",Darwin showed off his hands.
Ae looked at him and smiled.
"How powerful that guy could be? I was just wondering. I mean, he reformatted your
brain so you'll remember how painful humanity is and stop you from embracing your new self.
Head over heart, Blood by blood", Ae commented tapping his chin and looking at Darwin.
"Unexplainably powerful. I can't put it into words. Even with my absolute strength I
didn't stand a chance to him", Darwin frowned in frustration.
"I really thing you are so powerful. You are so strong and violent. Something must have
hindered your capacities as an absolute assassin and the top of the food chain", Bobby added.
"Someone", Darwin and Ae said in unison.
"Someone? I see. So who is this lucky guy?", Bobby questioned.
"Styx. Styx Haren Western. The first born of the seventh generation of Lurks, a cultic
witch bloodline", Ae revealed.
"Eh? What? Sticks?", Darwin popped his head.
"Styx. Idiot", Ae mocked his expression.
"His name is Stephen. Stephen Stern, I remember", Darwin bobbed his face.
"His avatar name you mean. Styx is the last incarnation of the Blue Hollow", Ae
explained.
There was a line of silence among them for a moment.
Darwin cleared his throat.
"Well. Whatever he calls himself. All I knew is falling into pieces after meeting him. That
one fleeting moment. When a bright light exploded between us, I suddenly felt an immense
drain of my power. And until now, I still feel exhausted of my abilities", He added.
Ae nodded and took a sip of his wine before picking up blue berries across the table.
"It's because you are feeding it. You are the strongest among the vampires but the most
unfortunate of them all", He snickered and looked at him.
"So that's explain why you feeling like a straight line. No astounding emotions. No
overwhelming craving for slaughter and no feeling of greed towards power", Bobby added.
"What do you mean I'm feeding it?", Darwin turned to Ae.
Ae nodded once again to explain.
"Your purpose as the Chain of the Hollow is to obey and follow it. Thus, by following, it
means giving support as it feeds on its slumber. Feeding from your powers. Which literally
means that the longer you stay with each other, the weaker you get. The Luna Moonfang curse is the vervain of The Crimson Calamity, the one with the parallel blood that runs in your veins",
Ae expounded.
"How do I severe it?", Darwin asked.
"The question is, "Do you really want to severe it"?", Ae returned.
Darwin looked at his hands and far away. His mind tells him to just kill him instantly so
he doesn't have to be in a cage like this. But a big part in his heart wants it to stay intact
because there's a strong feeling burning inside him.
"The thing about the Luna Moonfang is that, it establishes connections. Something
extraordinary, beyond any normal circumstances. Like extraordinary hate, anger, lust or even
love. Which makes it hard for you to accept it, or even cut it", Ae took a sip of wine.
"But what if one of you dies?', Bobby asked.
"Oh no, not me", Darwin gave him a reassuring smile.
"Depends on the case. Say if Darwin dies first then Stephen can find another vampire to
link with but if he dies first then the Azure Serpent will wait for decades or centuries to be
reincarnated. To answer your question, if one of you dies then it will be severed. But that
doesn't mean it stops", Ae explained once again.
"Imma kill him first though", Darwin laughed at his own remarks.
The dinner went well and the night is still young. Ae was nowhere to found after that.
Darwin was in a starry garden lying half naked on the mossy ground. Looking straight into the
night sky and to the moon. The wind blew gently, hovering him with fireflies dancing like a
storm of fairy lights around. The scene is enchanting, at least for once he felt a warm embrace
of acceptance in a place where he belongs. He pulled his hands and put it up and into the
moonlight showering his glowing face. He let the small streaks of light hit his eyes illuminating
its deep moon gray color. He closed his eyes and took a trip down memory lane.
His childhood. His earliest memories of a good life. His old self. His smiles and the feeling
of being loved and accepted for who you are.
Then that dreadful night. The sight of his butchered family and the sight of his self,
tortured and abused to death.
Flashback of memories, both good and bad stormed in his head.
"Hi", A voice dragged him down from his thoughts.
Ae looked down from behind him. Giving him a warm expression and a breathy smile.
"Could you be any creepier?", Darwin pulled himself up and gave him a weird look
before dusting himself off and sat beside him.
"What you thinking of?", Ae asked looking to where Darwin was looking up.
"Nah. Just fragments of my memories", Darwin replied nonchalantly.
"You wanna have a trip down your memory lane?", Ae proposed.
"It only ends at one point. Demise", Darwin just gave him a smile.
"Hmm. Okay. If you say so. Well, how about that thing I proposed this morning?', Ae
added.
"The outfit?", Darwin asked looking at him with a bobbed face.
"Where did your brains go?", Ae rolled his eyes.
"What? What's with the attitude? I honestly don't remember.", Darwin countered with
a conscious look.
"I said what about I lend you the power you could have had if your parents didn't locked
your abilities as a witch", Ae pinched his nose and smacked his forehead. He laughed at his face
and put his arms across his shoulder.
Darwin nodded in surprise as it finally hit him. He bit his lips and started thinking about
it.
"Is it cool? You know being a witch?", Darwin curiously asked.
"It is until you reach a certain age", Ae replied.
"Why?", Darwin added.
"Because you have greater responsibilities", Ae looked up and pulled his hands away
from Darwin.
"That sucks. But that would have been better than being chased by the entire world
and hated through eternity for something you never wanted to be", Darwin rested his chin on
Ae's arms.
"Is it cool though? Being an apex of all vampires?", Ae returned the question.
"It is until you meet a god-incarnate witch", Darwin laughed at the end of his sentence.
"That's the only thing I've never been", Ae looked at him with a shrug.
"Why? Been a witch before?", Darwin pulled back and turned to him.
"By deception or by default?", Ae returned the query.
Ae yawned and stretched his body. He tapped Darwin's back and snapped his fingers.
The world around them warped and they transcended through space and time until they
landed into a certain place, a quiet and dim lit room. There sit a child with black hair, soft
tanned skin wearing pajamas. Light orbs circling around his body as he gestured his hands. His
eyes, beaming bluish white as he look up and a magic circle appeared behind him.
"Let me tell you a secret", Ae grabbed Darwin and pulled him close to him. "This is the earliest memories of my childhood. Yes, I was born in two bloodlines. A
witch and a caster", He gestured his hands and the room warped again. This time they are in an
open field. A boy in his 12's stood in the middle of a sun-scorched plain, light balls flickering in
both of his hands as electric bolts started forming around him. He stood is a battle stance, as
giant wolves started pouncing at him.
"Back then I was known for weaponizing the elements of the universe.Being able to
utilize the power of the heavens and the spirits is both a blessing and a curse. As a kid blessed
with two magic chambers, I was eyed by the earliest generations of the noble families to
become the child of the eclipse", Ae threw his hands sideward and images started popping
around them.
"My father's name is Aurelion Marshalls, a descendant of the Marshall Family of the
witch clan. He's just a normal person, except for outstanding hunting skills. Back then, each
family line possesses great specialty. Say for example, the Marshalls, they are good at their
hunting tactics, the Andersons are known for their weaponry, and the Hughes, your family were
known to be the most intelligent of them all. They were actually the one who studied the blood
of the five vampire noble clans. Now going back…", Ae waved and the images circled around
them.
"My father met this lovely woman, one midnight in his hunt. A very beautiful lady
named Elisa Skylore, a descendant of the Skylore family of the Caster clan. She's known for her
charm and necromancy skills and so powerful enough to bend the metal spear my father has.
Their love bring forth to an innocent baby, very inappropriate term, named Aurelious. Yes, that
was me", He snapped his finger and a picture of a happy family popped before them. A hint of
smile crept on Ae's face as he saw his mother's face.
"What happened next?", Darwin couldn't help but ask.
"And so I lived as a normal kid for like 15 years. I used to be a very charming kid. Very
kind, friendly and outgoing. I excel in my class and I am very talented. Also, I was able to acquire
numerous magic techniques and spells that would take years for a normal person to achieve.
My family sees me as gem, a very precious gift from both clans", Ae gestured and Darwin
followed the sight of pictures circling around him.
"Until one day, a raven came into our house and sent a letter coming from the council.
They mandated my surrender to their intel's custody. They wanted me to become the core
subject for their research: The Project Eclipse Child", A hint of bitterness marked the end of
Ae's sentence.
Darwin gasped at the sight of a boy screaming in pain inside a diamond chamber.
"For 2 years I suffered in the hands of these ancient mad scientist in their trial and error
approach. I can feel both by magic and my life, leaving my body after each passing day. One
day, I thought they'll gonna let go of me after realizing that their project will never work out but
it turns out having two colors of blood running in my veins isn't the only thing I needed to be in
order to become something they want. They later discovered that it requires me three magic chambers to be the most viable candidate", The room warped and they transcended into space
and time once again.
"Exactly six months later I was taken, more like passed to another custody. They sent
me to a noble family of the Enchanter Clan, the Strikerealms ruled by Lord Romano Strikerealm
I ,where things get so much worse. They used an imbuement spell to transfuse their own blood
to my veins which made me sick for months because of cross magic contamination. The vilest of
their blood almost ripping my nerves as it flows down and across my body. They groomed me,
fed me with good food and let me live in a decent shelter. But the mental, physical and
emotional abuse they put into me is far beyond any description. I had so much to take at a
young age.", Ae's voice almost cracked as he narrated.
"And so for months I trained the arts of enchanting elements: Wind, Fire, Earth, Water,
Lightning and Metal Enchant. I also learned the arts of psych kinesis and master alteration, in its
original form. Hoping to become powerful enough so one day I can rebel and defy everything",
They turned around to see a battered and bruising young man wiping the dripping blood out his
nose and mouth. A young beautiful and talented man, striving to surpass the hands that grips
his neck.
"You are beautiful", Darwin whispered in awe.
"Hilarious", Ae smiled next to him.
"They say I used to be beautiful too. Like absolutely beautiful inside out. But that didn't
last long", Darwin looked at him in the eye and smiled.
"It's the legacy of our childhood and humanity. A remembrance of who we really are
before they decide to show us what we really should be", Ae put his arms across his shoulders.
In a blink of an eye, the astral transcendence faded and they returned to the same spot
before.
"So what happened next?", Darwin asked.
"Terrible", Ae gave an unsure expression before closing his eyes and grabbing Darwin's
hand.