In a charred and ravaged forest, a massive crater yawned open, large enough to swallow buildings whole. A figure floated in the sky, his black trench coat billowing in the wind as he gazed out at the devastation, as if beholding the aftermath of a colossal battle. The air was heavy with the acrid smell of smoke and ash.
Lucius descended to the ground, landing with a soft thud on the scorched earth. He looked around, taking in the desolate landscape, and murmured, "Interesting... so a big fight happened here..." His footsteps echoed through the stillness as he began to examine the area, the smell of ashes clinging to his clothes. The earth beneath his feet was blackened and cracked, a testament to the intense heat that had ravaged the forest.
"Really... interesting," Lucius muttered, a smile spreading across his face as he approached a smaller crater, roughly the size of a person. It seemed as though someone had crashed into the ground at high speed, leaving a deep impression in the earth. Lucius's smile grew wider as he began to investigate further.
A few minutes passed, and Lucius stopped walking, his nose twitching as he caught a whiff of something unusual. "Salt?" he muttered, his eyebrow arched in curiosity. He followed the scent, his feet carrying him towards a small cluster of rocks. As he drew closer, he noticed a few tiny specks of salt scattered on the ground. Lucius's eyes, a deep crimson, locked onto the specks, and he bent down to examine them more closely. He touched one with his index finger, and then brought it to his nose, inhaling the faint scent. "Interesting..." he murmured, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Really... interesting," Lucius's voice echoed through the forest, his words hanging in the air like a whispered secret. Suddenly, the air seemed to ripple and distort, and Lucius sprang into the air with a casual leap, his wings unfolding behind him as he soared upwards, coming to a stop amidst the clouds.
"The sensation of being watched came from this direction... but who could have been watching me...?" Lucius mused, his eyes scanning the horizon with a mixture of amusement and genuine curiosity, a wide smile still plastered on his face.
Lucius slowly closed his eyes, and his nose began to twitch as he took in the scents around him. The charred earth, the ashes, and the dead grass all registered, but his incredible senses picked up on something else - a distant smell, faint but unmistakable.
"Blood," Lucius said, his eyes snapping open as he gazed in the direction of the scent. He took to the skies, a sonic boom echoing through the air as he shot off at incredible speeds. The clouds he passed through dispersed and vanished in an instant, and it took him only about 30 seconds to reach the source of the smell. As he arrived, he saw that it was a large lake, its surface a deep, bloody red.
Lucius's eyes widened in surprise. "So that's where the smell comes from... what the hell? That's new." He flew over to the lake's edge, landing on the shore and staring out at the blood-filled water. "What the hell happened here for this lake to be completely made of blood?" he muttered, his curiosity piqued.
Lucius raised a hand, and his telekinesis stirred the blood-water. The liquid began to rise into the air, revealing the corpses of numerous fish. As he moved his hand, the fish floated out of the lake, but something else emerged from the depths - a putrid, rotting corpse in an advanced state of decomposition.
"Ah, that makes sense," Lucius said, his eyes lighting up with interest. "The corpse infected the lake with its rotting body, but it seems to have had a... fascinating effect. It literally killed the fish inside the lake." He adjusted his glasses with his left index finger, and the corpse floated before him. "You really smell like shit... but worse."
The corpse was a gruesome sight, its body broken and hanging together by rotting flesh that looked like it could break apart at any moment. But then, something unexpected happened. The corpse began to move, slowly stirring as if waking from a deep slumber. Lucius released his telekinetic hold, and the corpse fell to the ground with a thud.
The zombie struggled to its feet, its movements clumsy and awkward. Lucius watched with a mixture of fascination and amusement. "Were you in hibernation or something?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "Those ears will work...?" He chuckled, "Well, maybe you'll be useful, a few extra thoughts aren't bad!"
Just then, a massive shadow erupted from Lucius's body, and a pair of enormous jaws emerged from the darkness. The jaws opened wide, and the zombie was swallowed whole, its soul consumed in an instant. The shadow returned to Lucius's body, and he stood silent for a moment before speaking.
"So, you've been here for a few days, huh? Family of three, you were the father, and the mother and daughter were kidnapped... by vampires?" Lucius's smile grew wider as he pieced together the story. "This guy was here before the fight near here... also... near here is Pennsylvania." He couldn't help but laugh, a cold, mirthless sound. "Ok, gentlemen! Time to go hunting a little. I'll show my juniors how dignified a vampire has to be!"
Lucius leapt into the sky, his wings beating with a majestic rhythm as he soared into the air. He banked and turned, his wings tilting as he changed direction, and then he shot off at high speeds towards Pennsylvania. The wind rushed past him, whipping his hair back and forth, but Lucius's smile only grew wider.
"Ah, it's getting dark," he murmured to himself, his voice carried away by the wind. "This will be a fun scenario... maybe they have useful information. Something really interesting is happening in the world..." His eyes gleamed with excitement, and his smile seemed to grow even wider, revealing his sharp fangs.
---
The night descended upon Pennsylvania, casting a dark veil over the state. The moon, now a silver crescent in the sky, rose to take the sun's place, casting an ethereal glow over the city of Philadelphia. The streets, once bustling with life, were now empty and still, the only movement coming from the wind as it rustled through the streets, sending newspapers flying through the air.
The sound of small animals echoed through the deserted streets, a stray cat darting across the pavement, its eyes gleaming with caution as it watched the world around it. And then, there was the figure sitting on the ledge of a building, a young man with brown hair and pale skin, his eyes a deep, piercing red that seemed to bore into the empty streets. His gaze was listless, his eyes scanning the streets as if searching for something, or someone. His expression was one of boredom.
"Ahhhh... how boring!" he exclaimed, his voice dry and laced with annoyance. His face scrunched up in distaste as he stood up from the ledge of the building, his movements fluid and effortless. He strode across the rooftop, his eyes fixed on the horizon, before launching himself into the air with superhuman strength, clearing the gap between buildings with ease. He landed with a soft thud on the adjacent rooftop, his eyes scanning the cityscape before letting out a deep sigh.
"I'm going to enjoy myself for a while in the lair, I'm a little hungry..." he muttered to himself, his voice low and husky. With that, he took off again, bounding between rooftops with an unnatural agility, his movements a blur as he traversed the city.
Meanwhile, a figure in the sky watched him with a knowing smile, his black wings swaying gently as he hovered in the air. His crimson eyes, piercing and intense, fixed on the person jumping between rooftops, a glint of amusement dancing in their depths. Lucius's gaze was riveted on the figure, his eyes never leaving the rooftops as he floated effortlessly in the air.
A few minutes later, the person jumping between buildings landed in a narrow alley, his movements fluid and effortless. He walked down the alley with a bored expression, his eyes scanning the walls and trash cans as he went. He came to a stop in front of a metal door, and knocked on it three times in a rhythmic beat. He waited for a moment, his eyes fixed on the door, before a small hatch slid open, revealing a pair of crimson eyes staring back at him.
"Joshua, are you here again?" a voice asked, the tone laced with annoyance.
"The streets are empty, there are no humans around, what a shitty day, they won't let a partner in?" Joshua replied in a bored voice, his words dripping with apathy. The person behind the door let out a sigh, and said "wait a minute..."
The hatch closed, and the sound of locks opening echoed through the alley. Joshua let out another sigh, and looked around, his eyes scanning the alley with a mixture of boredom and restlessness. Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine, and he turned to his left, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently into the darkness. His mind was racing, thinking that he saw something there, something that was watching him.
"What the fuck...? I swear I saw something there..." Joshua muttered, his voice slightly shaky.
The door creaked open, and a burly guy stood next to it, his face a mixture of annoyance and boredom. "Come in..."
"Ok" Joshua said casually, as he walked inside and made his way down a hallway lined with flickering lights. He walked down the hallway, and came to a wooden door, which he pushed open with a lazy gesture. He walked inside, and was immediately hit with the sound of music and laughter. The room was large, and looked like a bar, with several people enjoying themselves and drinking a red substance from glasses. The atmosphere was lively, and Joshua's bored expression seemed to falter for a moment, before he regained his composure.
Joshua walked through the bar-like establishment with a bored expression, the music grating on his nerves. He was more accustomed to quieter, more subdued environments, and the loud music was starting to get on his nerves. As he walked, he noticed a person in a guard suit approaching him, the guy's bald head and black suit making him look like a formidable presence. The guard was taller than Joshua, and his serious expression only added to his intimidating demeanor.
"Come," the guard said, turning around and walking towards a door. Joshua followed him casually, his eyes scanning the room as he went. He noticed the people drinking the red substance in their glasses, and his mind wandered to the fact that it was animal blood. "Blood... animal blood... seems the boss is short on human blood, huh..." he muttered to himself.
The guard and Joshua walked through the door and down a hallway, the floor and walls made of expensive, exquisite wood. They came to a double door, which the guard opened with a serious expression. "Come in... he wants to see you," he said. Joshua nodded and walked in, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the guard's seriousness.
As he entered the room, Joshua saw a man with gray hair, but his body told a different story. His physique was that of a muscular and trained man, and his expensive brown clothes and tight black jeans only accentuated his physical prowess. He was sitting in an armchair, looking at Joshua with a smile.
Joshua sat down in the other armchair, his eyes fixed on the boss. "Ok, why do you want to see me, boss? I didn't find anything today, boss," he said, his tone neutral.
The boss let out a sigh and began to speak, "Joshua, you're pretty young. .. as you know, we have to adapt to the times, modernize..." He grabbed a bottle from a small table in front of him and opened it, uncorking it and releasing the smell of blood into the air. He filled two glasses with fresh blood and offered one to Joshua, who took it and drank it without hesitation. "It tastes good..." Joshua said, his eyes closing in appreciation. "Virgin blood... a delight without a doubt," the boss said, smiling as he drank from his own glass.
A few seconds later, the boss put his empty glass down on the table, and Joshua followed suit. The boss continued, his expression serious. "Recently, the world went to shit. As far as we know, a strange virus hit the world. Vampires have it tough, but at the same time, no... the so-called zombies are nothing against us. We are undoubtedly stronger, but the problem is the number of people in the world. We need blood to live, without blood we will only become emotionless monsters who only want to kill without hesitation. Luckily, I have a couple of supplies for a while, but it won't last long because of how the world is. The so-called heroes of this world have probably become undead, the world is dangerous even for us, Joshua..." The boss's words trailed off.
Joshua's eyes narrowed, searching for an answer to the boss's ominous words. "That means...?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of concern.
The boss smiled, a calculating glint in his eye. "Maybe we will become extinct soon, but there is a way not to," he said, his voice dripping with intrigue. "Your boy, I have known you for a while, that's why I will give you a chance. This business that I have to make money in these times will be obsolete, the other vampires that come here are still stupid and ignorant, that's why I will give you the opportunity to help me in something, something that will allow us to live in this kind of world without rules, to become something superior to what we are currently."
The boss's eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke, his words painting a vivid picture of a future where vampires were free from the weaknesses that had held them back for so long. "As you know, I've been gathering information about the current events in this world," he began, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "I've got a lot of information, places, events, even interesting images... but currently, I've got information about an ancient ritual that is from thousands of years ago, a ritual that will probably make us superior and erase our weaknesses and only our strengths will remain."
Joshua's eyes were fixed on the boss, his mind racing with the implications of what he was being told. The idea of being free from the sun's burning rays, of being able to walk in the daylight without fear of bursting into flames, was a tantalizing one. And the thought of being able to control his thirst for blood, of not having to constantly hunt and feed in order to survive, was a liberating one.
"Our annoying weaknesses, the sun that burns our skin and turns us into a burning hell, the uncontrollable thirst for blood when we don't feed in a while... that will be erased and only our strengths will remain," the boss continued, his smile growing wider. "But even more... we will be even stronger... much more than before."
Joshua's eyes widened in surprise as the building shook and a loud noise echoed through the room. He was startled, and his instincts kicked in, ready to defend himself if necessary. The boss, however, seemed to be unfazed by the sudden disturbance.
"Well well...who comes to disturb my workplace so late...?" the boss said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He stood up, his eyes fixed on the door, and his expression was a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.
---
(a few minutes before)
I gazed at the metal door in front of me, a sly smile spreading across my face. I knocked three times in a rhythmic pattern, just like Joshua had done before. After a moment, the small hatch on the metal door opened, revealing a pair of piercing crimson eyes staring back at me. So, they really were vampires...
"Who the--" I interrupted him, my hand passing through the metal door with ease and into his forehead. My fingers slipped into his brain, and my shadowy form shifted, opening massive jaws that devoured the vampire and the metal door in one swift motion. My shadow returned to normal.
A flood of new memories inundated my mind. A vampire business for vampires, how intriguing. I hoped they had a decent music selection, because I wasn't a fan of bad music...
As I strolled down the hall, my trench coat vanished. I figured I should look a bit more dashing for the ladies, after all.
I reached the door, and when I opened it, the music hit my ears like a bolt of lightning. I smiled, taking in the energetic tune that resonated throughout the room as the vampires around me celebrated.
"Yo, yo, yo
If you don't shut your mouth
I'ma shut it for you, punk!"
The music echoed through the room as I sauntered in, and I felt some curious stares as I made my way through the crowd. I decided to take a seat, so I plopped down in a chair and noticed a woman sitting next to me. She was definitely attractive, with long brown hair that cascaded down her back, a curvy figure, and a great body - but her skin was unrealistically pale. Hmm... I wasn't a fan of women that pale...
She turned to me and said with a flirtatious smile, "Oh, it seems a handsome guy has arrived~"
"Haha... I already knew that, it's only natural," I replied with a smile. She slid her chair closer to me and said, looking at me with her crimson eyes, "So... what do you want to do, dear?" I just smiled and said, "Honestly, I just came here out of boredom, looking for information. You know, classic for a lone wolf like me."
"Oh, Mr. Lone Wolf..." she said with a smile. I smiled back, but I felt footsteps approaching me. "You weren't on the guest list..." I turned around to face a bald man in a guard suit, wearing black glasses. He looked imposing, but to me, he was just a bit... unimpressive.
"Oh, come on, man..." I said with a sad smile. The guy stared at me, and suddenly, a punch shot out towards me. I stopped it with ease, using a speed that far surpassed his in a casual manner.
"Nice hit, big guy..." I complimented him, then moved my hand and pushed him lightly. He flew off at high speed, smashing tables and chairs, and crashed into the wall. The wall cracked and sank quickly, and the entire building began to shake, but the shaking quickly subsided.
"Oh, I think I overdid it a little," I said, looking at the bloody hand. It seemed I accidentally ripped his hand off. Poor guy.
The sound of the music was still present, but the sound of conversation stopped abruptly. I looked at the woman next to me, and she was staring at me, her body shaking slightly.
I sighed and got up from my chair, throwing the hand to the ground. The ground was quickly soaked in blood.
"Okay, guys! That was just a little inconvenience. That person there physically assaulted me, and obviously, I felt assaulted, so I pushed him lightly. Obviously, it was self-defense!" I said, hitting my chest with my hand, sporting an unbreakable smile.
But there was only the sound of the music; the voices were gone. It seemed people didn't want to talk, eh...
"You... bastard... who are you?" The guard who crashed got up from the ground and said with anger in his voice, staring at me. I just sighed and said, "Edward Cullen." There was no sound. People didn't seem to appreciate jokes, or was I just bad at telling them?
"Tch... bad audience," I clicked my tongue and muttered with some annoyance. Suddenly, the guard ran towards me and jumped at me. I saw him coming and kicked him in the face. The guy flew out and crashed against the wall again, with even more force.
"So... are you going to try again, or...?" I said out loud. Slowly, the people in the place began to stand up and stare at me. I smiled and said, "Finally!"