"I want to ask you Christian?" Katherine asks.
"What?" I answer.
"Can you really control it?" Katherine questions.
"No, I bluffed, but it did dissolve…"
"Master, you really need to stop being dumb for once," Chara replies.
"Ow! I wasn't even conscious for half of what happened!" I argue.
We all three sit in Katherine's room re-dressing my wound. My clothing had been washed and dried from the basement since they had no clothing that fit someone my size.
The maids had also apologized for their behavior from before, Katherine placed her arms around my waist. Letting her head lightly touch mine.
"Don't worry Chara…I can also protect your master…" Katherine smiled.
"What are you trying to say? Chara snaps.
"Oh, nothing…" Katherine smirks.
Staring out the window with a daze I felt once again thinking about my conversation with Colton when I had been knocked out from slipping.
We stood in the same blank black space together, sometimes he flickered from shadow form to mine and vice versa. It felt like an old film on a VHS being reflected back into reality.
"Was that really necessary?" I yell.
"Anything to make you look like a fool." He chuckled.
"Did you purposely send me here?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The shadow said.
Propping his foot against an invisible wall he folds his arms looking at me with a deadpan expression on his face.
"At least send me back!" I argue.
"You got knocked out, what the hell do you think I can do?"
"So now I am stuck with you?" I responded annoyed, "So that means you really didn't send me here."
Pulling away he strolls over to me, all I can see is the glimmering eye masked in all its obscurity while his body is camouflaged by the murkiness of the dark surrounding him.
Glaring in my face I shield my eyes from the bright gleam it gives off, I could make out within seconds pearly whites. His teeth were whiter than a normal person should ever be.
"You are only starting to see a small part of the picture." He states.
"Only starting? Do you have a name?" I inquire.
His position shifts, the next he is on the ceiling staring down at me or I think is? Sauntering away he vanishes for several minutes. I could not make heads or tails what he thinks.
Is he really me? Or is this how I need to be? Questions, but never really answers.
I try to move, taking only a step when he materializes back in my presence. Encircling me I watch confused, wearing only a grin, he headbutts me thrusting me to the ground.
Watching him evaporate I ran as far as I could to get away, he uppercuts me in the jaw out of nowhere throwing me down to the hard foundation.
"What do you want?" I challenged
An unknown force pushes me to my knees, I look back gawking around. A strong jab to the stomach makes me collapse all the way to the ground.
"Imagine how much stronger you will be if you accept vampirism, child!"
"What if I don't want it?" I shout.
"That is boring to be just an 'Igor' Christian!"
"Igor? Like those books where a man has a hunched over back?" I ask.
"You prey on stereotypes, you idiot child! Igor is more of a place marker anymore to show your status, but they get new names!"
Sitting up I think to myself gazing at the mark on my hand, in a stupor I lean to the side in a hazy state taking a series of pummeling. Unable to focus I rise to my feet only to be nudged back down, getting back up I am ragdolled smashing into hard into the only surface.
"I use energy Christian if you can't fight me you are going to tire fast!" The entity warned.
Laying there I didn't even want to assume again, no longer roused from my current position I closed my eyes. Ignoring the thing playing with me.
"I don't want to play!" I spouted exhaustively, "I am going to sleep!"
The being stops behind me lifting my leg with his, I yawn to show I am not intimidated.
"You are boring me…why did Gavyn pick you?"
"Here you can't even answer that either it seems."
Screams could be heard infiltrating the realm, holding my ears I realize it's Chara! A dreamy cloud opens to us both displaying Katherine carrying my unconscious body.
"Katherine!" I shout.
My other self sheds his dark lining revealing himself as my twin, he smiles.
"Although…" He says.
"What?"
He clutched tight to my hand bringing outwards, a brilliant shining light began the shimmer of light from the spaces in between our fingers.
"He saw you have hope…"
"Where is there hope?" I am confused.
"The type of devil vampire you are is dependent on the color of your power Christian."
"Devil vampire?"
"You will learn along the way…but you are the rarest kind." He stated.
"Rarest kind? Who am I completely?"
"Despite your light affinity you can be destructive, but that is for another time!" He yelled.
"Wait, I have so many questions!"
"For another time!"
I was shoved back into my body, but I was much too weak to actually react against Latrell. I instinctively knew my shadow's name that very moment.
"Christian? Christian, are you listening to me?" Chara asks.
Instantly snapping out of it I return to the soft bed where I am surrounded by people who I truly believe I want to live. I beam a smile at Chara.
Chara embraces me, swinging her tiny arms around my waist. She wails into my newly pressed vest. I stroke her hair tenderly with my fingers mad at myself.
"Chara…I am not fit to take care of anyone…" I admit, "It was my shadow."
"Katherine told me you passed out after he called him off, I could feel traces of it lingering. You have a long way to go Christian." She explained.
"You are right, I don't remember that," I said with laughter.
"You need to work harder from this point forward, make the Everett clan proud!" Chara cheered.
"I will…I promise. Chara?" I ask.
"Yes Christian?"
"What is a Devil Vampire?" I inquire.
"It's in the hierarchy, your symbol will change once you turn." Chara informed.
"There is a hierarchy?" I shout.
"Of course, why would there not be?" Chara clarified.
Katherine opens the door carrying a pouch and a tray of food, on the other hand, she has a bottle of wine and a couple of shot glasses.
I redden at the sight of booze in her other arm, Chara bounces on the bed relieving it from Katherines hands. Waving my hands back and forth and the expression of regret enters my face.
"Lighten up already Christian!" Katherine says.
"B-but why now? I have to wake up early tomorrow!" I argue.
"In that case, you deserve this even more!" Katherine answers.
"No please!" I cried out.