"Where are we going?" James asked looking at the convoy of carriages and the armed escorts who are each equipped with an unfamiliar kind of musket.
David gave him a knowing smile. "We're going on a trip to fetch our relatives from afar. This will be a surprise for the two of you. I think you'll love it." David closed the door to the carriage and a man riding his horse signaled that everything is set.
"Let us depart." David spoke and it was relayed through a series of yells before the convoy began to move.
Two days later.
"It's been two days, where are you actually taking us? Alaska?" James couldn't help but ask in confusion. At first he thought that it was going to be a short journey but as it turns out, he is wrong.
"Here." David pulled out the letter from his grandfather from the inner pocket of his coat and handed it over to James who quickly opened it. With a squint he adjusted his position to get some light from the campfire to aid his vision. Victor curiously leans over to read with him while chewing on a jerky.
"Grandfather? He's still alive? And... wait... we have an older brother? How come I don't have memories of this?" James looked at his brothers alternatingly with a face of disbelief.
"I do remember him a bit. You haven't been born yet," Victor turned to James and continued. "I think his name was John Jr., I remember hearing rumors that he was taken away after going insane and trying to kill your mother. I thought he was dead, really. Yeah. I remember there's even a tombstone for him in the family graveyard." Victor Creed spoke as he recalled events from his childhood.
"Well he is alive and well, so since we're all here... I figured why not fetch him as a family. I'll finally get to go out of the estate, hang out with my brothers, and... clean up some pests." A ferocious smile suddenly decorated David's face and James took a deep breath before looking at him knowingly.
"And here I am thinking this will be some boring family trip. I'm surprised already. Hehehe." Victor put the remaining jerky into his mouth before standing up to fold his coat and do some stretching while James looked at David with an inquiring look.
"You don't have to worry. My men will not do anything foolish like spreading rumors or anything. They are all sworn men who are very loyal to our household." David reassured James who also stood from his camping chair, removing his coat upper clothing.
"I assume you guys won't be needing guns?" David asked with a grin while his brothers extended their innate weapons.
'I've always wondered if that hurts...' David thought while looking at James' bone claws piercing through the knuckle skin and slowly extending outward.
"You?" James asked quizzically to which David simply floated up in the air with his rifle. "I don't have those 'claw' thingy so I'll be using this." He said with a grin before levitating in the air and moving like a fish in water, much to the shock of his older brothers who wasn't expecting this kind of ability.
"I'll bet a hundred silvers to whoever gets the most kill." David taunts while taking aim with his gun and shooting one of the men hiding in the dark. It was followed by shouts from the caravan and soon enough shots are exchanged between the groups.
"You're on!" James and Victor looked at each other before following David who is already rushing towards the 'ambushers', the brothers ran excitedly with a childish grin.
The camp fires went out and the dark forest was soon filled with gunshots and screams.
The fighting didn't take too long but the hunt for those who are trying to escape took some time.
"Why are these natives trying to kill you?" James asked in bewilderment before throwing the native onto the small hill of burning corpses.
"These are just minions sent to probe the strength of our group. Those who really want to kill me are already waiting for us ahead." David explained while controlling the fire to burn the bodies so that even the bones are turned into ashes.
Victor's eyes gleamed at the prospect of more battles. He grew intoxicated to the feeling of his enemies blood dripping in his hands. The look in their eyes as their spirit leaves their body thrilled him so much that he could not find words to describe it.
"I'm glad I ran that day. This mumbojumbo of political play and assassinations is going to make me crazy. But you're just a kid, why are you doing all this? Why are there people trying to kill you?" James took the wet towel being handed to him and he began wiping his face. He was a hundred percent sure that their assailants did not come for him or Victor.
"When I started to takeover the family businesses, I began investing in people who are 'progressive'. Little by little I started to introduce policies that encouraged the adaptation to modern changes. We paved roads and built schools. I figured, it's too slow. Asking for this and that. Going here and there to get papers done. It's all too troublesome so I'm taking over. These people aren't opposing me, they are opposing change. Well, change is brutal and relentless. Now that you guys are here, help me make these changes. Help me make a world where we can move unhindered by fear. Let us pave the path for our kind and grab a place for ourselves in this tiny hunk of rock." David spoke passionately of his 'goals' while his brothers are close to laughing.
"That was something." James commented with a bit of laughter in the end. "Wait, you're serious? Are you serious?" He did a doubletake with disbelief.
"I wish I was joking. But the future is bleak for our kind if it is left to go along its normal course. I wish to alter this fate, and save countless others from future pain. I need your help. I need you both." David looked at James and Victor with sincerity.
"What I heard was, you need us to wage war against our neighboring lands and kill some people. Did I get that right?" Victor asked with his usual grin which earned an approval from James.
"Basically, yeah. We need to un-alive many people before the masses can listen to our voice. But before that, let us fetch our grandfather and eldest. He could prove to be of great importance in our future endeavors." David explained before looking at the silver horizon at the break of dawn.
The combination of David's abilities made sleep a matter of choice. His superhuman physique, regenerative healing factor, and healing abilities ensured that he is at peak condition at any given time.
Although the same could not be true for his brothers who are only have beta level abilities, they could do without for long periods of time.
Three weeks later, the convoy arrived in front of a small cottage.