Nicolai still couldn't believe it.
'no.. it has been nine hundred years?… no.. it must be more than that… and a nuclear war happened. he is not lying right…..'
He gulped loudly patting his chest. "When did this nuclear war happen? What else happened then?"
"Werewolves attacked the vampire race… humans intervened.. war began.. the world was almost destroyed… Alpha king saved it…."
Nicolai hurriedly crawled over to him. "Did you say, Alpha king? The werewolf Alpha king?!"
"Yes…" the man blinked. His trance was ending soon.
"Tell me more. Who is this Alpha king??! Where are the vampires?"
The man's eyes became clear again. With a glare he whispered. "Vampires went extinct."
Nico stumbled back. "no…"
"Yes, and you… you are the only one.." the man stood up, massaging his neck. His eyes roamed over his companions and he softly grumbled. "so much trouble. Just give up, vampire. there is no place for you here in this world. Just give up."
Nicolai came back to his sense. "Give up? no." he punched him hard on his face before he could grab him.
The man's nose bled profusely, but that didn't stop him. he kept attacking him.
Nico kicked him in the balls and when he was momentarily distracted he smashed the back of his neck hard.
A loud crack was heard..
The man collapsed
Nico dazedly glanced at his corpse. "it…it was an accident… it… it was….."
His stomach rolled painfully and he puked it all out.
"It's not real… it's not real…."
The two of the hunters that were unconscious woke up and tried to spear him.
Instinctively Nicolai dodged…
He grabbed one of the spears and plucked it out of his hand. He stabbed the other man in his eyes.
He, too, died.
The last one who was left weaponless just looked at him in fear. "m.. monster…. you're a monster…"
"I'm not!"
"You are!" the last man standing just jumped at him with no weapons at hand.
Nico tried to push him away, but he just kept trying to stab his eyes with his fingers.
Without any other choice, Nico stabbed him as well…
The three of them were dead.
Panting he peered at their dead bodies. The death of humans will definitely cause uproar. but thankfully he did not leave any bite marks. They wouldn't be able to trace it to a vampire.
With trembling hands, he placed the spear in one of the men's hand. He made it look like they fought themselves to death.
Nicholas also ran back to the elk and took another sip of its blood.
He plucked their bags and ran away in the direction the men came from.
After two hours he came to the outskirts of a human town.
He wiped the blood off his face. Wore the extra pair of clothes the man had packed in their bag. The brown shirt was made up of rough strings that were woven out of coconut husk. It rubbed against his skin weirdly.
He could already feel the rashes forming all over his body.
Nicolai silently walked into the human town. It was a village. Everyone was living in a small house made of bricks, and rocks. The humans were all out of the house doing something.
Women and men were seen cooking or grinding something with old age mortal and pestle. The kids were playing catch.
He still couldn't wrap his mind around the thought that nine hundred years had passed.
He walked and walked and walked… until his legs almost gave out.
The sun was setting and there were no street lights. Every small house had a lamp of some sort lit inside and close by the door. People were using a flame torches.
It was weird. This town looked like it was stuck in medieval times.
Nicolai walked around searching for traces if this might be a fair or a filming set. He was hoping to find any clues that proved that this was not true.
But he was only left with disappointment.
Nico walked to the forest edge and sat by a huge tree. The reality hit him at that moment.
The world he knew had long disappeared. His father was nowhere to be seen. He was a vampire, he would have survived that long.
His beloved….
He started to silently sob. His beloved must have already lived and passed.
He was just a baby when he last saw him and now he was no more. He did not get to see him grow up. Didn't even get to have a talk with him.
'My beloved is no more….."
He sobbed loudly.. his human heart was aching and his mated sign was burning. He scratched his neck hard until his fingertips were bloody.
The pain from the cut really made his heartache even more. he never experienced love, never experienced anything… all along he was waiting for his beloved in hope that he could make a family with that person.
By god's grace, his beloved was born.
But on the same day, he was cruelly shoved into a coffin.
"I… I never got to say I loved him…"
he loved that child… however weird that sounded he felt his soul connect to him and when he grabbed that tiny fist he wanted to give the world to him.
His human heart stopped beating.
It was as if his body was reacting to the loss of his mate.
"Why.. is this happening… why is this happening to me…." He cried hugging his bent knees. "I just… wanted to live with him…."
He sat there sobbing for a long time.
Only the night owls and other small animals gave him company.
Standing up, he started to walk deep into the dark night. Vampires had exceptional sight at night.
Even so, he stumbled and subbed his toe so many times.
Wailing loudly he continued walking.
"Who the heck is wailing so loudly at night!" a gruff voice came behind him.
A fire torch was shoved to his face.
An old man with graying hair stood there with a scowl. "What are you doing out here boy? Don't you know the protocol…."
Nico glanced up with tears still dripping from his eyes.
"Come on now get up," the man pulled him up by his armpit. He started to walk to his left away from the town. "Aren't you coming boy?"
Nico just looked at him.
"Oh for moon goddess sake," the man came back and grabbed his hand. "come on,"
Like a stock doll Nico got dragged behind him.
The old man took him over to a small house. There was an old lady waiting by the door with a torch in hand. "Honey what took you long? I thought…. Who is this young lad?"
"He's cold and hungry. Feed him."
Nicolai sobbingly followed them in.
"oh shush lad. Crying will make you sick. Here," the old lady handed a hot bowl fo soup.
Nico shook his head. "I don't…. I don't want that.. don't waste food on me… I wish to die.. I just want to disappear so bad."
A sharp slap to the back of his head stopped his tears.
"Stop whining and drink. I don't want to drag out a corpse in the morning,"
Whimpering Nico glanced at the old man.
"god.. Martha feed the boy. Can't believe I brought such a troublesome lad home.."
The lady names Martha gently wiped his face with a warm cloth. "Come on now lad. Everything will be okay with a full tummy and a good night's sleep."
She urged him to drink.
Nico slightly sipped it.
The soup tasted bland with a heavy meaty texture. There was oil floating on top.
He gulped it down.
The lady worriedly wiped his arms. "did your mum feed you?"
"I don't have a mother…"
The old couple paused. "What about your dad..who do you live with?."
"I.. I…..he's….." Nico whimpered. His dad was missing, his mate was dead. Rue was most likely dead too. "don't have anyone….."