... The Archipelago …
"Haven't fed for six months? Bullshit! He said that to cover up his ass!" Adrian paced the rocky room.
Caius was before a large shelf that was filled with scrolls and old books. In his hand was a book on which his brown ringed eyes ran.
Adrian grunted. "Father, please listen to me."
Caius didn't reply. He walked to study table and shifted the chair before setting his butt on it.
Adrian palmed his face and paced to Caius. He slammed his hands on the table and leaned at Caius.
"Father, why are you being this ignora-"
Adrian couldn't finish it when he suddenly clutched his head. His vision blurred and thick veins protruded his head as he shook like an electricity current is passed through his body.
"F, fa, father…" he struggled to say when an unseen force slammed him against the wall.
He grimaced on the floor. He felt paralysed. He couldn't feel his limbs.
"Father," he screamed. But Caius is no longer on his chair.
He became frightened. His father mustn't leave him this way.
Caius' power is like a force field. When your trapped in it, he can do anything to you without touching you. This made him terrifying among all born vampires.
Even his son fears him despite being a ruler of poisonous insects. He knew if his father left him in the field, he won't last two hours in it before dieing.
Caius' blood is the only antidote to his field alterations.
Adrian's head felt like it splitting open. He yelped in agony.
Just then, a body flashed before his eyes.
The terrifying eyes of Caius came into his sight. "You know so little, son. Your ignorance keeps tugging at your sanity."
"Father, I'm… only saying…. what needs to…. be said."Adrian struggled.
"I know, son. You are." Caius' looked away. "So stubborn just like her mother."
Adrian's eyes widened.
Caius' stopped his assault. But the field remained, also the pain that tore through his body.
This could be seen clearly on Adrian's face as he winced horribly, whilst his eyes flashed with caution and fear.
"There are things you don't know, Adrian. And if you do, you'll know better than to discard such a experienced Vampire."
Caius stood up. His flowing black hair swayed.
"Aro came, then he left. Why he came we know not. Why he left we know not. But all I know is that things aren't safe anymore. We need forces. We need powers. Our coven needs it to survive what might come next."
"Over two centuries ago, Aro arrived at the Bahamas. Then he left. Days later, Dan and his coven was wiped out by a rogue days later."
Adrian scoffed despite the pain coursing through his veins. "The two and half century old vampire is now our saviour, father? Unbelievable!"
Caius didn't reply nor did he make any movement.
"Father, we need to quench this rebellious vampire before he becomes something we won't be able to control. He talked right into your face like you're nothing. Argus the bone knife couldn't see through him completely. He's an abomination, father."
Caius' surprise look turned to him, "how did you know?"
"Tsk, you thought I wouldn't know if you didn't tell me? I know. I found out. We need to kill him, father."
Caius stared at him for a while, a thoughtful look was on his face then he said. "With time, you'll understand, son."
With that, Caius' figure blurred.
Adrian gasped as he felt a drop of pale blood on his tongue. He felt his strength coming back.
A growl of frustration left his lips as he staggered to his feet.
.
.
Adrian stormed into his room, rage visible on his face.
Bellerin turned to him. "Why the strong opposition?"
"Will you shut the fuck off!" Adrian growled.
"Hey, chill." Bellerin inched closer. "I don't think you know him before, so tell me, why are you so bent on getting rid of him?"
"Tsk, I'm the bad guy now, uh," Adrian said with a humourless laugh.
"No, no, I ain't saying you're the bad guy. I'm just curious."
"Can't you see, no one seems to understand me."
"Talk to me, Adrian." Bellerin moved closer to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"That human lady he meets with, that human lady he said is his mate….." Adrian paused.
"What is with her?" Bellerin tugged.
"She's the human mate I told my father I found years ago."
"Uh?!" Bellerin sucked. "But…"
"He yelled at me, saying I should find another not even caring to see her. Since then I found no other."
"Impossible. How can two Vampires have one mate?" Bellerin gawked.
"I don't wanna know, all I know is that, that vampire is going down. Either by will or by force, he's not having that woman."
With this, Adrian stormed out. Leaving Bellerin to his surprise and puzzlement.
***************
... Mutilator's hideout …
The place reeked of dust and cocoons. Creatures with hind legs piled around, other creatures of different species moved too. Only a human was amidst the group.
The Mutilator.
"What?!" The Mutilator shrieked. His eyes, behind the round spectacles, were wide open. "They didn't find a witch and now, you failed to bring me what I need too, despite taking my creatures to their death!"
Before him was Mutan. His cloak shredded. His body was filled with several wounds and gashes. All darkened on the surface and not healing as it should have. It's like a poisoned wound.
"Don't tell me-" Mutilator parted from the chair, sending the crumpled newspaper in his hands swirling in the air.
He stopped right before Mutan. "The bloodline. You found one right?"
"He protected her. He's like a beast," Mutan growled in his guttural voice.
"Are you not a beast too? You're all a beast." A rageful snarl from beside him made him stop. He leaned off Mutan and adjusted his spectacles.
"You know this creature, don't you? Hellsong."
Hellsong leaned off the wall and lowered his hood, revealing icy blue eyes. "What do you need?"
"Of course he does," Mutilator snickered. "If there's one thing I want right now, it's that girl. Anyway, my other contractors will bring me what I need soon." He points to Mutan and Hellsong. "What you two couldn't bring me."
One of the creatures with wolf's hind legs scurried in.
Mutilator turned to the coffee on the table and took it. He placed it near his mouth and savored it.
The creature grunted and began. "The witch is here."
Two creatures escorted a woman figure under a cloak into the hall.
The woman stopped before the Mutilator.
He appraised her with curled lips as the woman lowered her hood.
"Hello, Lucas." The woman greeted me.
"Ello amardi Sarai. Long time no see." The Mutilator's grin was wide now. "The stress you save me by coming by yourself knows no bounds, witch."
"Your men brought their party to my doorstep. What do you want?" Sarai asked, her grin was humourless.
"So little, witch. I only want an organ of the bloodline of the tribe of a Thousand Stars." The Mutilator said with dreamy eyes.
"The bloodline of the tribe of a Thousand Stars? The scattered tribe of the travellers of the mountains of old."
"I knew you were the one for the job. That sleeky witch couldn't raise a log. You'll do it for me."
Sarai glanced at Mutan who was grimacing on his knees. The sparkle in his eyes kept getting dimmer as seconds passed.
The Mutilator smiled as he took a curt glance at Mutan too. "You can heal him, can't you?"
"We shall see. Even though it'll take days."
"That's covered." He turns to Hellsong. "Your help might not be needed soon."
Hellsong vanished without a word.
The Mutilator grinned as he stared at the spot Hellsong was a moment ago, before shaking his head and turning to the Sarai again.
"Once again, Sarai, you're welcome."
**************
Heald stood before the building. He appraised the oxblood bricks that made it up. The color. It reminded him of what he survived on.
The strong texture of the brick, it reminded him of his friend. Kylian. He never breaks up, always the calm one.
But things are not the way they should be. And he has to do something before it's too late.
His beige cloak easily warded off the scorching August sun or New York City. His red rimmed eyes ran over the building.
His lips twitched as he reminisced what Sarai had told him days ago.
'Try and find something. He's definitely keeping a secret. Not just any secret, a crucial one.'
His eyes flashed with resolve as he advanced towards the house.
'I'm getting something no matter what!'
***************