Deon began to feel other people's presence through the fog. He hadn't sensed anyone on the island before, but now it was like they had just walked into rush hour. After walking for another couple of miles, they could finally see it. There they stood in the middle of a small country town. There were insulated houses, bars, smitheries, and in the center of it all was an old stone tower that seemed out of place.
It had been battered and practically torn down. There were all types of slurs and crude drawings all along the walls. Despite the beating the tower had taken, it still stood tall right in the center of everything.
As the boys began to wander into the town, Deon felt Ash burrow into his hair.
"What's wrong?"
Deon asked. After getting no reply, he simply assumed that she was still tired. Although her wound had healed, she had bled out quite a bit. So without disturbing her, he quietly whispered
"Thanks for guidin us. Rest up."
They continued into the city. There were all types of things that they had never seen before. Some women wore big dresses with frills and held umbrellas. While others wore less complicated dresses that came to their knees. Other women, however, simply wore t-shirts and shorts instead.
As they continued to walk around and admire their first destination, Deon and Rai began to crave real food. As soon as they saw a pub, the boys both sprinted towards it. Just as they were about to enter, they were stopped at the door.
"Hold on a minute. How old are ya?"
A man said in a very strange accent. The boys were bewildered by the man choosing to stand between them and food. Despite their irritation, they tried to keep their manners in check since he was an adult.
"I'm fifteen and my little brother is fourteen. Is there a problem?"
Rai said as he attempted to quickly move beyond the unexpected obstacle.
"No kids in here boys. You all know the rules. Move'er along."
Rai had begun to lose his patience. Not only was this stupid bastard keeping them from their food but he also stunk of booze and tobacco. Without paying any attention to the man Rai nodded, signaling Deon to ignore the man as well.
"HEY!!"
The man yelled as he grabbed Deon's collar. Rai didn't hesitate to kick him in his jaw. He sent the man tumbling down the cobblestone path that led to the bar. The people in the street all gasped as the man landed in the middle of the road.
Ignoring everything, Rai and Deon proceeded into the pub. Inside they sat at the bar and ordered food despite the stares from other customers. Inside was a variety of different families and children. It seemed the drunk bastard only wanted to start trouble.
As they ate and laughed, suddenly a group of uniformed officers burst through the doors. One in front seemed to be their leader. As a hush fell over the pub the captain began to speak.
"For crimes of disturbing the peace and inciting violence, by decree of the lo-"
"Get the hell outta the way wench"
One of the soldiers kicked a little girl who had been sitting in front of where he stood. Deon and Rai both stopped eating but hadn't flinched or moved yet.
"Look just bring your asses to see the general or-"
Deon stood up and slowly began walking towards the soldier, leaving his swords leaned against the bar.
"We'll beat you half to hell and you'll still have to come wi-"
Without acknowledging the captain who was still talking, Deon grabbed the soldier who had kicked the little girl by his face. Void of emotion, Deon slammed his head through the floor of the pub. While the rest of the soldiers stood in shock, Deon didn't miss a beat and started to step on the soldier's legs one at a time, stirring his foot in until he could no longer hear the bones snapping. Then, with no hesitation, he proceeded to the next leg.
Finally, the captain swallowed his fear, snapping out of his fright-induced paralysis.
"H-hey"
He began to reach towards Deon. Right before his hand could touch him, his arm disappeared. There Rai stood in front of him holding the severed arm in his hand. Slowly he looked up at the captain who stared, dumbfounded. Carefully Rai raised his finger to his lips and quietly said
"Shh… Don't disturb the teacher when he's givin out lessons."
Right before the captain began to scream in pain, Rai kicked him in his throat, causing him to lose his voice. Slowly Rai went back to his seat and began to eat again. The soldier that Deon was dealing with continued to wail. Finally, Deon had had enough.
"Shut the hell up"
Deon said to the man. The soldier continued to screech. This only caused Deon to fly into a rage. He slowly picked the solider up by his neck and in a low growl, he whispered into his ear
"I said stop that damn noise… NOW."
While fear traveled through each and every soldier, even causing the screaming man to hold his breath for fear of the noise of his breathing angering Deon, Rai struggled to contain a laugh. Hearing his brother's laugh and knowing the reason behind it, Deon struggled to keep from smiling. He quickly threw the man to the ground, checked to make sure the little girl was okay, and walked out. Rai followed behind him as the rest of the pub stayed completely quietly.
After getting a good distance away from the bar Rai burst into laughter. Deon smiled
"It's not even that funny bruh."
Deon said as Rai continued to laugh loudly.
"sToP tHaT dAmN nOiSe"
Rai said mockingly.
"I guess it stuck with you since pops said it every time he whooped yo ass"
Rai continued as he burst into laughter a second time. Deon was preparing to say something when he realized that the tower they had seen from afar was right in front of them. Up close, the tower seemed to be much taller than they thought.
An old man approached them and said
"You boys aren't from here are you?"
"No. We just got here today."
Deon replied as Rai stared intently at the top of the tower. Suddenly Rai took off towards the top, hoping to get a glimpse of what lay inside.
"Well allow me to sprinkle some silver dust atop your head to ward off evil."
The old man said not noticing Rai's taking off.
"Wait what? Why?"
Deon said as he backed away from the old-timer. The man had taken it upon himself to touch Deon's shoulder and this crossed the line.
"You haven't heard about them?"
The old man said
"Heard about who?"
Deon replied, confused.
"About the Vampyres. Long ago they claimed this tower as their home and forced the inhabitants to slave away for them. They tricked the people into believing they were protecting them and forced them to toil away, planting their food, and building their infrastructure. Not long ago, a man arrived here and showed us a better life. He saved us from them. He drove stakes through their hearts and showed us that silver causes them discomfort and light burns their skin. Unfortunately one of those hideous cretins got away. Until we can vanquish the final Vampyre the barrier that traps us here will persist and the evil spirits will continue to harm our people. That is why we sprinkle the silver on our heads. So come, I must protect you young one."
After hearing the explanation, Deon hesitantly knelt in front of the old man. As the old man moved towards him, preparing to sprinkle the dust onto Deon's head, he suddenly froze and shook in fear. At the same time, Deon began to feel movement on his head.
"Y-Y-You have-"
The old man began to stammer out
"WE GOTTA GO NOW!!"
Rai suddenly shouted as he hurtled down from the top of the tower at an incredible pace. Deon began to get up to run but just then the old man grabbed his arm
"You have the last Vampyre!"
Deon was confused for a moment until he finally remembered the little girl that lay on top of his head.
"She's harmless old-timer. I can vouch for her."
Deon said as he tried his best to give a polite smile. No matter how much time passed from when he was a child, Deon had always hated when people he didn't know touched him.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER! She is born of evil and we must finish what we've started."
Hearing this, Deon finally put two and two together and realized that the people who had wounded Ash was none other than the people of this town. He was now angry and wanted nothing more to do with these bastards. Even if the inhabitants were to catch fire and writhe in agony, he would neither flinch nor shed a tear for them as they returned to dust.
As Deon turned to leave, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
"If you don't wanna let go then that arm'll come with me but you won't follow."
The old man pulled out a knife and offered it to Deon.
"Please… We are trapped here. We wish to leave and be free of this oppression. So many people are counting on this. They're far more important than one spawn of satan."
Deon hesitantly reached for the knife. Finally, he took the hilt of it in hand. The old man smiled in eager anticipation and with one fluid stroke Deon slashed the old man's chest just as Ash's chest had been. As the old man fell to his knees and looked up into Deon's cold and soulless eyes seemingly asking why Deon uttered five words.
"And I should care why?"
And with that Deon took off with Rai towards the outskirts of the town