Blaise continued his story, and Lucien listened intently.
"In the wake of my father's passing, my mother was overwhelmed with grief and the daunting task of adjusting to life without him," Blaise explained, watching a moth approach his little lantern. "Raphael, ever the opportunist, offered his help. He provided her with extra money as well as connecting her with legal help to settle Father's affairs. Apparently there was a generous amount of money reserved as an inheritance for my father, but because he was not on good terms with my grandfather, the money was being withheld. Raphael offered to deal with that for her, to restructure the inheritance into fourths to be given to my mother and the three grandchildren. It took a while for him to resolve all that, but he eventually did... although he actually holds most of my inheritance at the moment."
A subtle unease settled within Lucien's chest. He was disgusted that Raphael exploited Blaise's mother after she became a widow, and used the inheritance money to gain access to Blaise. Raphael was a nasty spider, weaving an intricate web of manipulation and deceit to get at his prey.
"He would visit our home under the guise of assisting my mother, but it was clear that his true purpose was to see me," Blaise continued. "The whole time I knew him, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something otherworldly about him. He seemed like a creature out of mythology, not entirely human. But it didn't frighten me, it intrigued me. He taught me many things, you know? He exposed me to the world of beauty and art, music and culture. I loved spending time with him. It was through his tutelage that I discovered the depths of my own passion."
Lucien bristled at the wording. He realized he was clenching his fists, and quietly opened them back up. He just didn't like what he was hearing!
"After a while, when my mother was more settled and had the money in her account, she decided suddenly to send Raphael away once again. I was so angry. So was Raphael. Once again, I ran away, Lucien," Blaise confessed. "I couldn't bear the thought of what my mother was doing. Of not seeing him again. I needed to be with him."
"I ran to Raphael's new place," Blaise continued. "Well - it wasn't actually new, but he'd moved in recently. It was a place straight out of a dark fairytale, all darkness and mystery. The flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows, the scent of aged books that hung in the air, and the old paintings and furniture that adorned the place. It frightened me but interested me all the same. He led me to a dimly lit room," Blaise whispered.
Lucien's grip tightened as he listened, a gnawing feeling of unease growing within him. Blaise's account unfolded like a dark enchantment, and Lucien wasn't sure if he wanted to know what happened next.
"'Blaise,' Raphael said to me. 'I'm so glad you've come to me again. This time, you must stay with me. Forever.'
"It was like the room seemed to come alive with an unearthly energy then. Shadows danced upon the walls, stretching and contorting. A chill ran down my spine, both exhilarating and terrifying, as Raphael bared his sharp canines. With a graceful movement, Raphael stepped closer to me, enveloping me in a dark, irresistible embrace.
"'Blaise, my dear, you've always known, deep down, that I am not like other men. I am a vampire.' Those are the words he said to me. It wasn't as big a shock for me as you've been shocked tonight, Lucien...I saw traces of it throughout the years we spent together. I accepted him. I accepted Raphael as the vampire he truly was."
Lucien's brow furrowed. How could Blaise willingly surrender himself to such darkness? Yet, he knew he had to understand, to hear every word of Blaise's experience.
"He told me he wanted me by his side forever," Blaise continued, closing his eyes. "In that moment, as he wrapped me in his arms, a part of me hesitated, of course. But his pull was too strong, Lucien. The possibility of eternity with him overwhelmed my doubts.
"He put his lips gainst my neck, and I felt the slight prick of his fangs, and then... then he sank them into me, claiming me as his own."
A chill ran down Lucien's spine, the vivid imagery seeping into his imagination. He could almost feel the pleasure and pain that accompanied the act.
"I know, Lucien," Blaise continued, his voice growing softer, "it sounds twisted. But in that moment, as his teeth pierced me, a surge of ecstasy coursed through me. I felt a connection, a bond unlike anything I had ever known."
Blaise's voice grew hushed as he continued. "Once the bite was complete, Raphael told me it was time to turn me into a vampire. He brought out a chalice and a small glass bottle filled with a clear liquid. He poured it into the chalice, then took out a dagger and cut his own skin. He mixed his own blood with the liquid, creating an elixir that embodied the essence of his vampiric existence. He beckoned me forward, and told me to drink it."
With a pause, Blaise's gaze met Lucien's, a flicker of regret shining through. "I hesitated for a moment. Did I really want this? Did I really want to become a vampire? But the thought growing old and dying while Raphael remained the same bothered me. And... maybe I'm twisted, but something within me yearned for the forbidden, for the eternity that lay beyond that fateful night."
"I took the chalice in my trembling hands, its contents glistening like liquid rubies. I raised it to my lips, the metallic scent wafting through the air, and drank deeply.
"In that moment, Lucien," Blaise whispered, his voice barely above a breath, "I felt a surge of raw energy, a merging of my essence with the supernatural forces that encompassed Raphael. We were bound together. I thought I had finished, that I was a vampire just like a Raphael. But later, Raphaeltold me of one more requirement, which gnawed at my conscience."
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "To become a true vampire, I had to complete the Blood Oath by spilling the blood of an innocent that I hunted myself."
Lucien's eyes widened. He had to murder someone to complete the ritual?
Blaise continued. "When Raphael informed me of this cruel condition, I was devastated. I couldn't fathom the thought of taking an innocent life, extinguishing the light within someone who had done no wrong. So, I stood my ground, refusing to sacrifice an innocent soul for the sake of power. Raphael reluctantly acquiesced to my decision, saying that I was partially a vampire now and would age very slowly. But I would agree, and my senses weren't fully awakened. I was something like a half-vampire. Mostly, for a while, he let it slide, but would subtly remind me from time to time that I had yet to complete the Blood Oath."
"How awful," Lucien said, shaking his head. This of course meant that, on top of whatever else Raphael had done, he was also a murderer. And he still had influence over Blaise's heart!
Blaise continued. "Over time, I met other vampires. Raphael is well connected in vampire society. And while I enjoyed many of their company, there was something not right with most of them. Being the type to give up their souls in the pursuit of power and immortality, many of the vampires I met had forsaken their humanity altogether," Blaise confessed. "They had completed the Blood Oath, and in doing so, seemed to have lost touch with the very thing that made them human."
His eyes filled with longing and sorrow, Blaise continued, "I witnessed their callousness, their disregard for life, and their insatiable thirst for blood and dominance. They reveled in their powers and in vampire society, but it came at a cost. They are so soulless. It's hard to describe unless you've seen it."
He paused, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "Lucien, I adored Raphael, and all I wanted was to be with him, to share in the everlasting beauty of art and music. To be honest, I wasn't thinking very far ahead. Looking back, I was being impulsive. That's been a problem for me. I now realize that the path he was leading me down, the completion of the Blood Oath and immersion into that society, will consume me if I get drawn into it. If I'd completed the Blood Oath, it would have eroded anything good about me. If there is anything good left in me. I made a grave mistake, being captivated by the appeal of immortality without fully understanding the consequences. I yearned for eternity, but I failed to comprehend the terrible price that came with it."