After two hours of wandering around the castle, Christopher finally arrived in front of the mirror he was looking for, which was hidden in one of the castle's deepest chambers.
Looking at it with interest, Ardelean asked.
["What are you thinking about?"]
Christopher looked around for a brief moment and then replayed...
"Look, I know I'm not crazy and this should be a mirror, right? But, why it's not working like the other ones? I thought the myth about Vampires and the mirrors is just fiction."
["What do you mean by that?"] Ardelean asked with narrowed eyes.
"I mean, I should see my reflection like in every mirror but... all I can see here is a pair of stairs leading somewhere down..."
["My friend, what are you talking about? I see our reflection and nothing more... Accutally, we look more beautiful... and mature than before..."]
["To think we would look this sexy after a transformation to a hybrid, I would recommend you to do that sooner. Do you know how many females are you going to catch with your look only?"]
"Weird..." Christopher touched his chin and started thinking ignoring Ardelean's statements about his changes.
Suddenly, Ardelean shouted.
["Wait a minute, I understand now!"]
"Mind explaining?" Christopher immediately asked.
["You see, in most cultures from the past, Vampires can't be seen in mirrors right?"]
"Yeah, I spoke about this myth a few seconds ago, but why I could see myself in those on Earth and not in this one?" Christopher asked.
["It's because, in the past, the mirrors were made from silver, not from aluminum. Vampires can't be seen in silver."]
"Which means this mirror must be made from silver. Which also gives me a hint I have another weakness, silver..."
["Unfortunately, I think this statement is correct. Anyway, what I think is that for normal people or other creatures, this is just any mirror, but for you, it looks like something else."]
["Fuck, if I could read the Latin script on the sides of the mirror, maybe we would find out more..."] Ardelean sighed in frustration.
"What do you mean by Latin script?"
["Don't tell me you don't see the Latin text on the sides,"] Ardelean said.
"It's not Latin but English and it's says..." Reading the words that were engraved on the mirror's sides, Christopher spoke:
"In the name of God, open the door?"
Immediately, the mirror started cracking and revealed a path like a literal door as the sides of the mirror started melting, forming an oval portal made from liquid silver.
[" This is just Bullshit?!"] Ardelean shouted as the mirror slowly broke into thousands of pieces and a dragon's roar was heard coming from the mirror.
Slowly, the pieces of the mirror flew toward Christopher, past around him, and formed a big wall of liquid silver behind him, preventing him or anyone there with him from leaving.
"That sounds inviting," Christopher smiled widely as he turned from the liquid silver wall and quickly ran into the mirror without further thinking.
After he passed through, the mirror started closing and a second later, it looked like before, untouched.
"..."
After some time of walking on the stairs that were still leading down, Christopher arrived in front of a wooden door.
["Finally something new. I was getting sick of the grey brick walls,"] Ardelean spoke.
Christopher just smiled in amusement at the grumbling of his old friend and opened the wooden door.
Stepping out, he found himself on a flat field with nothing but black dirt, and in the middle of it was a tower that reached to the clouds from where Christopher just come out.
["What is this place?"] Ardelean spoke as Christopher's senses exploded, forming waves of echolocation.
Suddenly, a tremendous roar was heard from the sky.
Looking up, Christopher saw a mighty, golden dragon flying towards the ground.
'There you are. I was wondering where Cravensworth hid you~' Christopher thought, watching the celestial dragon flying towards the ground like a falling star, his golden skin flickering from the dim rays of the 'sun' forming its way through the thick layers of clouds.
A few meters from the ground, the dragon transformed into a man in gold medieval armor and when this man was about to land, he pulled out a sword from his sheet which was hanging on his belt and pierced the blade of his sword into the ground, forming a big cloud of dust around himself.
As the waves from the impact flew, they hit Christopher who didn't even blink, he stood firmly with his hands behind his back all the time like a teacher.
When the dust settled, the man got up from the ground and pulled out the sword.
"My name is Lord Ortasax, a ghost of the Golden Dragonking of Aragos who was imprisoned here by the first Lord of Sangruil and I'm accepting your challenge." spoke the man.
"Fight me and if you win, you can leave peacefully and have this," added the golden warrior and showed him his sword that had a few drops of golden blood on its blade.
["The sword of the first Lord of Sangruil huh? I can see your intentions from miles away. But, do you think it's going to work?"] asked Ardelean.
'Let the future show us if I'm correct or not~' Christopher replied.
"My name is Christopher Salvatore. I'm a Vampire and the latest Lord of Sangruil."
"Lord Ortasax... Why should I fight you?"
The man took a step forward and appeared in front of Christopher using enormous speed, piercing the blade of his sword into his stomach.
With wide eyes, Christopher was just watching the blade going through his body like he was nothing.
"Because if you don't, you die," spoke Ortasax, spun his body, and kicked Christopher into his chest, effectively pulling out his sword and sending Christopher flying in the process.
After a few flips on the ground and landing on his back, Christopher smiled widely and got up like it was nothing.
["He is fast! You should be careful,"] Ardelean spoke.
'No shit Sherlock~!' Christopher responded with amusement and excitement at the same time.
"Well then, prepare yourself~" Christopher smiled even more as his aristocratic clothes dissolved into black armor with red details that were forming a dragon crest on his chest while he pulled out his undead king's sword from shadows that formed near his right hand.
The wound he received started healing as the blood on Ortasax's sword started disappearing quickly under the sunlight.
'Interesting, a holly curse of Vampires? Or is he a blood sorcerer? But I thought he was just a normal Vampire. Or is his lineage able to control blood?'
After he stopped his thoughts, the dragon smiled back at him, and even when his face was hidden by the golden mask of his medieval armor, Christopher felt it.
'Interesting... It was a long time since I felt an emotion... Fear and excitement? Awesome! In just a few seconds, this man made me remember my old self. I like this man, but I need to be careful... it looks like he can control shadows as well...'
'Focus Ortasax, focus. You never know what else a man like him can hide.'
"Very well then, I'm awaiting a good fight, Lord Christopher," he spoke as they started running towards each other at excellent speed until their weapons clashed and an explosion with the power of a few nukes happened, forming clouds of dust that covered an entire field and shook with the tower like it was made from paper.
"..."
[... Meanwhile in the Royal capital located in the middle of Aragos ...]
A man wearing red armor covered in scars that had different shapes and depths was kneeling in front of a woman who was sitting on a golden throne.
The woman's expression was hidden in bright white light and the only thing visible on her was her blond hair which was resting on her chest from both sides, hands and legs which were crossed sensualy.
"If I'm understanding it correctly," the woman spoke in a disbelieving tone towards her subordinate.
"You are saying that you left Sangruil because of the fear coming from some horde of spider barbarians that wanted to attack you and your territory like every year because Sangruil is closest to the territory of monsters that lived here before we came here."
"Yes, my Queen," spoke the kneeling man.
"And NOW you want it back, but it's already occupied by some boy whose name is Christopher Salvatore who killed the Arachne king and became their new King?"
"Correct my Queen," spoke the man again.
"And because it's occupied by this boy, wait, what word you used? Abomination?"
"Yes," spoke the man humbly.
"Yes, because it's occupied by this 'abomination', you want MY help to get rid of this... problem and take back Sangruil? Is it correct? Did I get your message right?"
"Y-yes my Queen" the man started sweating like a pig for some reason. The 'Queen' he was kneeling in front of started being somewhat scary, even when he couldn't see her face but his instincts were screaming 'DANGER' like crazy.
"Right... this is completely normal. Sorry but how old are you Stefan?"
The man narrowed his eyes and responded.
"1800 years old, why?"
"You are 1800 years old and still running away from your problems like a little boy while some real BOY but wise like a MAN came to your castle and took it like it was normal and for free."
"YOU ARE A VAMPIRE LORD FOR LIGHT'S SAKE! Stop acting like a child and become a man ALREADY! I don't care anymore that you are an arachnophobic!"
The man's face turned a little red in embarrassment when the Queen shouted his secret. No one except the Queen and one Goddess knew that, but he was extremely scared of spiders. Truly scared.
"B-but my Queen... I can't just..."
"I don't care! Get up and take your territory back or you lose your title and everything you gained these thousand years you were my Lord! Do it or you become food for my friend here,"
When the last word came out of the Queen's mouth, the silence was everything anyone could hear as the man looked in the direction the Queen was pointing and saw a woman with dragon eyes licking her lips dangerously.
"N-no.."
"..."
"What did you just say?" the Queen got up from the throne and took a step towards Stefan who at some point looked back at her and got up too.
"I... I said NO! I'm done! I don't wanna be your Lord anymore! Fuck the title, the territory, everything! Fuck you I'm done! You took me and my father from my home planet, murdered my mother, my wives, and my children, and forced me and my father to serve you! Go to hell you BITCH!" shouted Stefan and showed his two middle fingers to the Light Queen and the woman with white dragon eyes.
"You little brat!" shouted the Queen and shot a light ray from her left hand which pierced Stefan's armor and heart easily, pinning him back on his knees.
"*Cough *Cough" Stefan coughed up blood as he fell on his knees, feeling incredible burning pain in his heart.
"You dared to insult me you little worm after everything I did for you! You belong to me!" spoke the Queen and slowly arrived in front of kneeling Cravensworth.
"I was patient with you because of who your father was. Then, when he died and you had nothing, I gave you an entire Sangruil in the hope you would become someone as strong as your father was!"
"Then, when I understood you needed more time than other Lords, like your father too, I gladly slowed time in the entire territory for you and your filthy army to become stronger quicker, and after everything I did for you, you still dare to insult me?"
"In the past, I ignored your fear because you were too young but now, I'm not going to sit still. These times are over!"
Aiming her right hand at Cravensworth's head who was looking at her with clear and genuine fear in his eyes while trying to say something, she spoke.
"From my authority as the Light Queen of Aragos, I'm ordering you to return to your territory and take it back! Even if it means to lose your entire army and your sons! You WILL take it back! You understand?"
"I can't let one of the pieces fall into that boy's hands!"
The man started struggling on the ground until he stopped, looked at his Queen with eyes that turned from blood red to fully white, and answered.
"As you wish my Queen,"
The Queen nodded and released him from her power as he got up but suddenly, a blade flew through the Queen and pierced Stefan's heart whose eyes at that moment turned back into their original red color.
"My s-son?" he spoke in disbelief and fell on his knees once again but now, truly dead as his body burned in flames and then turned into a pile of ashes.
"Sorry Dad, but I can't stand by while you are destroying everything Grandpa built." spoke a voice that belonged to his son.
"What an interesting turn of events," spoke the dragon girl, and the Light Queen turned around.
"You have courage boy. What is your name?"
"My name is Rox Cravensworth. The son of Stefan and Lorie Cravensworths."
"Well Rox, tell me, why should I not kill you now? You killed one of my Lords and my good friend." spoke the Queen with a slight smile full of expectations.
Despite being angry with Stefan, he was the closest Lord to her and a genuine friend.
"Because I'll take Sangruil back without being controlled by you like my pathetic father needed to be," he replayed with a smile.
"Well, show me how devoted you are, and maybe, I will grant you the post of your father."
Rox's eyes started shining with determination as he quickly bowed and before he left, he spoke.
"Your wish is my command, my Queen."
Then, he ran towards the remnants of his father, pulled out Raziel's sword that consumed his father's soul, and left the throne room without a single tear.
"How bad you need to be inside to kill your Dad like he means nothing to you," spoke the dragon girl and looked at her Queen.
"I don't care. I just want to have everything under control like before. This almost means nothing to me..."
The dragon girl nodded, turned, and started walking towards her chambers.
'How can he be so cruel to kill his Father like he was a piece of trash.' she thought at her way while she remembered her last day with her Father before a Light Warrior came and killed him in front of her own eyes, leaving her there with her dead Father.
"..."
[... Pieces of the past ...]
[... When Mark started reading the documents about his son ...]
[... Christopher's bedroom, NYC ...]
Mark was sitting on his son's bed reading a pile of documents he received from his mysterious contact named Jessie.
"Interesting, so that's what you need my son for you basta... Huh?"
"MARK SALVATORE! COME OUT FROM YOUR SON'S ROOM WITH YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD!"
"WHAT!" Mark shouted and got up from Christopher's bed with red glowing eyes.
"WE ARE COUNTING TO FIVE! IF YOU DON'T COME OUT, WE WILL USE WEAPONS! YOU ARE A SPECIAL AGENT AND WE HAVE OUR MISSION SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW YOUR HOUSE IS GOING TO LOOK IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO US! AT LEAST, THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY!"
"FAMILY?" Mark shouted again and now he even kicked the door open so they could hear him better.
Then, he walked out and leaned his forearms against the railing of the staircase that led to the first floor.
Looking around, he saw twenty armed men with gas masks wearing bulletproof wests while holding various semi-automatic weapons.
"I need to think about my family? My son is fucking DEAD! TRAPPED IN A DIMENSION WITHOUT ANYONE BUT A GHOST LIVING INSIDE HIM!" Mark shouted, adding:
"And my wife is LOCKED SOMEWHERE IN WITCH TREE LOCATED GUESS WHAT? I DON'T FUCKING KNOW AND I'M ON A WERGE OF MIND BREAKDOWN RIGHT NOW SO GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY PROPERTY!!!"
"Just calm down Mark. We have our families too," spoke the man in the middle when he saw Mark's eyes which were intensively glowing red.
The man immediately understood what happened while Mark's hands started releasing spikes of red ice all around his home.
"I don't care if you have family or not. The only things I care about are my own family and you standing on my fucking property without my invitation," he spoke as the door behind the men closed and in a second were covered in same-looking red ice.
"M-Mark, it's me, Frank. Your friend" spoke the man in the middle and took off his gas mask.
"We worked together..."
"Ahh, Frank... Why didn't you leave when you had a choice..." spoke Mark with a tear in his eye as an ice spike flew from the door behind Frank and pierced Frank with a force that made a hole in his chest.
Frank looked at his wound and then on Mark with wide eyes.
" W-w-why?" was everything before he fell on his knees and everyone started firing their bullets at Mark who was already covered in his ice.
"Because you were the one who did this to me!" Mark pointed at his ice.
"This is for everything" he added before Frank's body exploded like a watermelon, covering all the soldiers in the blood of their companion.
Suddenly, the sound of the weapons ended and Mark smiled widely.
"So? Whose next?" he said.
On that day, everything that was heard from Christopher's home was the sounds of gunshots, explosions of grenades and bodies, and the loud, crazy laugh of Mark Salvatore, but not the one you know.
This laughter belonged to his dark, more sinister side, developed from the power of the Blood Ice.
...
... ... ... ... ...
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