The commotion had gathered the attention of nearby people and soon news began to circulate that the last Vampyre had been found. Almost immediately the town went into a frenzy scouring the island to find her. Artists started making terrible renditions of the boys to post wanted signs all over the town.
As the town continued their frantic attempt to catch and cut Ash down, the boys hid away in an abandoned shack on the outskirts of town. Finally safe from prowling eyes, Deon lifted his hand to his head only to find Ash tightly gripping his hair and shaking uncontrollably. Slowly, he stretched his hand towards her and motioned for her to come down. Hesitantly, Ash climbed onto his hand and sat down.
For a while, the three looked at each other in silence. Neither of the boys wanted to pry into the sensitive subject.
"... Are you okay?"
Deon finally asked. Ash looked at Deon's gentle eyes and a tear rolled down her face. You wouldn't think that this was the same monster that had just coldly crushed a man's legs to dust.
"I'm fine."
She whispered
"Is… What they said… Is it-"
"NO!"
Ash snapped before Deon could finish.
"That fat pile of garbage lied and turned those selfish bastards against us!"
Ash lashed out
"Slow down. Tell us from the beginning."
Rai spoke up. Ash took a deep breath and then began to speak again
"Eight hundred years ago, our ancestors found this island. The people here had been enslaved and were forced to mine for a strange material here. It was used to create weapons and take over more and more islands. After our forefathers freed them, they left the island and came back a few years later. When they arrived they realized that once again the people here had been enslaved. Thus, after saving them once again, they decided to stay and protect the people by creating a barrier. A part of it is the fog you guys came through."
Deon recalled what she was talking about and how weird it was that they couldn't sense any living humans until they made it through the fog.
"It keeps anyone from getting in without a guide. However, the true barrier is the second layer. The second layer keeps anyone with hostile intent from getting in by force. Even if they have a guide, should their heart be in the wrong place then they'll be unable to cross over into the town. Our clan is… special… We can change our bodies to some extent. I'm not very skilled at it so I can only shrink and grow my teeth and nails. It's one of the reasons they call us Vampyres."
Ash demonstrated by turning her teeth and nails into sharp fangs and claws.
"The other reason is that our people are born with an extreme form of xeroderma pigmentosum. It causes us to feel extreme pain as our skin blisters and boils whenever we're in contact with ultraviolet rays."
"Oh so that's why you're hurt by the sun"
Deon chimed in.
"Well everyone before me has had it but I was born without it. Dad always said it was because of my mom but I never met her. My dad ignored everyone's advice to stay in the tower during the day. He would disguise himself and work in the fields and take care of most of the people's responsibilities. He cared so much for them… Anyway, not long ago a man was found unconscious out in the forest where I found you two. They carried him in while he was still out so the barrier didn't detect any hostility."
"After he was cleared by the doctor, he started sewing seeds of distrust into the people. Saying things like, 'how come they never come out of that tower' and 'why do you all choose to stay trapped in this barrier?'"
"One day, dad had stayed out in the sun pulling weeds for too long and came home writhing in pain. After that, Grandma forbade him from coming out of the tower until he was better. So for weeks, the town didn't see the young man that had always helped out around the town. They knew dad was sick though. In fact, everyone believed he wouldn't make it."
"When suddenly he got better, the man that had been saved started saying that he had drained the young man of his blood in order to heal. Along with the rumors that had already been spread, it was enough for those traitorous bastards to turn on us."
Ash began to gnash her teeth.
"You guys are stronger though so why didn't you just take em out?"
Deon asked
"Dad… He lunged at them in anger after seeing that they'd killed so many of us. He was still weak from the sunlight but he could've easily eradicated all of them but…"
Tears began flowing down Ash's face
"Dad's been… We live longer than normal people. Dad grew up with these people's Grandparents. He watched them grow up and felt almost like they were his own grandkids. When he saw their frightened faces he just… he fell to his knees and screamed in anguish. He told them as long as they let me go, he'd give up his life willingly. They agreed so he held up his end of the deal. He walked over to the altar and-"
"What altar?"
Rai asked.
"Oh, the people of my clan use it as our death bed. When our time is coming we lay on top of it and light it on fire. As our bodies burn, the altar absorbs our ki and our souls and sends them to the barrier. There, our consciousness and power burn until we dissipate into nothingness. It's a tradition started by my great-great-grandfather to protect the people of the island. Even in the end my dad still chose to protect these people. However, as soon as the flames disappeared along with dad, the people went back on their word and tried to kill me. I was saved by an earthquake that seemed to only shake the tower. I guess dad was protecting me even at the end."
"That man they saved seemed to know about whatever the material here is. Now that he's been in the tower I'm sure he knows how to disable the barrier from the inside. What should I do?"
"You have to help them. Its the right thing to do."
Deon said. Rai looked wide-eyed at Deon. However, Ash nodded.
"You're right. These are the people my dad loved after all"
Ash said
"Wait… what?"
Deon asked, clearly confused
"You just said we need to help these people so why are you confused?"
Ash said
"Uhh no. I meant to help the invaders. What is you smokin? Why the hell would we help these people? These people are stains!"
Deon said. Now that the confusion was cleared up, Rai was clearly on board
"No, but its what dad would wa-"
"I don't give a damn what he would want! Are you for real right now? They literally betrayed your dad three times in your story. Why in hell would we EVER help them? EVER?! Bro you trippin."
"Dad sat on that altar on his own! Even if they're trash, I'm still gonna help,"
Just then, Ash grew to her regular size. She came up to the middle of Deon's chest.
"with or without you."
As Ash turned to go, Deon caught her by the arm
"Let me go! I'm not changing my mind!"
Ash shouted
"Just wait a minute! I'm not just gonna let you go somewhere dangerous by yourself!"
"Why?! We just met today!"
"Cause I care about you! Is that a problem?!"
"Did I say it was a problem?!"
"Can you stop bein such a damn brat?!"
"As soon as you stop bein such an asshole!"
The two continued to bicker until Rai suddenly burst into laughter.
"WHAT?!"
"WHAT?!"
Deon and Ash said in sync.
"This is the most toxic wedding I have ever been to. I don't know whether to let y'all kiss or yell 'I OBJECT!'"
Rais said as he continued to laugh. Deon and Ash both blushed and looked away. Deon rubbed his temples until finally sighing in defeat.
"Fine… we'll help these people"
"...Thank y-"
"BUT-"
Deon interrupted Ash.
"-only if you come with us after."
"Oh, are you asking me on a date?"
Ash asked teasingly.
"No… I'm asking you on an adventure of a lifetime. So… wanna come with me?"
As Deon finished, Rai loudly began to cough and clear his throat.
"Us… wanna come with us?"
Deon said, smiling.
"... I'd love to."
Ash said, taking Deon's outstretched hand.
"This is like SO beautiful. I think I'm gonna cry"
Rai teased as he pretended to fan his eyes. Deon and Ash quickly jerked their hands away.
"So what's the plan?"
Deon asked
"Well if what Ash said is true, the barrier has probably already been taken down or is being taken down."
Rai said
"That means we'll have to figure out a way to fix it and take out whoever is waiting to get in."
Said, Deon
"Yeah, but we'll also have to find some way to prove that we're doing this for them, or else they'll just destroy the barrier themselves all over again."
Said, Rai
"Do you have anything that could work as evidence?"
Deon asked Ash. For a moment she sat in shock
"Y'all are a perfect team all by yourselves."
Ash said. They all laughed.
"I have a friend who lives just outside the barrier. His ancestor helped mine set up the barrier and recorded it in his journal. It should serve as proof of what the barrier truly is."
Ash said.
"Then Rai, you take Ash to her friend's house and get the journal. I'll stay and hold off whoever it is that's tryna get in."
Said, Deon
"Just be safe and… try not to hurt the islanders if possible."
Ash said.
"Don't worry, I haven't met anything I can't handle yet."
Deon reassured her with a smile. With that, they headed off in different directions. Each to complete their own missions