A metal pole rose out of a cobblestone street as the light hit it just right the pole seemed to be covered in intricately swirling lines that gave off a slight shimmer. Atop the pole sat a carved crystal that glowed a pale yellow, casting light to the streets below. The people bathed in this light were dressed in strange clothing that looked like it belonged at a Renaissance fair. They moved with purpose, either with a destination in mind or they were busy setting up various small streetside stands, hoping to catch the passing mine worker and sell a quick breakfast pastry.
These busy folk paid little more than a curious glance at the two passing men, both having quite a bit of blood on them, but most saw them as trouble waiting to happen, so they tried to ignore them. One man took a ragged mask off his face, showing red eyes and black hair, his pale skin a stark contrast to the blood smeared across his chin and face.
The tan-skinned of the two brothers held his side as he winced a bit, not slowing as he led the two through the maze-like streets until they were clear of the main roads.
Stopping or a moment, Caleb leaned against a stone wall, panting with the effort. "Hold up, I need a moment…" Alex paused and glanced between him the sky and back at him as he tried to hide his growing nerves.
"You alright? You were good before?"
"I was hiding it before, but damn, I feel like I'm gonna pass out." Caleb held the side of his head as a fresh drop of blood drips from his nose. He wipes it and sniffs, trying to pull himself together.
"Is it much further? I could carry you."
"No, no, I'm good. I just needed a breather."
Caleb grits his teeth and pushes off the wall and continues walking while Alex follows his nervousness rising. Alex glanced at the sky; the dark purple hue had lightened slightly, and he felt like he was staring into the jaws of a predator. His instincts screamed, and his hairs were on end. "So you live much further?"
"It's a big town; we'll get there soon."
Caleb and Alex walked along the cobblestone streets, occasionally cutting through alleyways that Caleb said would make the trip shorter. Alex continued to glance at the sky as his anxiety rose, his instincts screaming at him to hide from some invisible beast.
"Here we are." Caleb gestures to a simple looking townhouse nestled in a residential area of town; the style was old English in construction.
Alex felt danger closing in, and he couldn't place it until he saw a sunray hit the top of the buildings, and the realization struck him. In all myths from his world, the vampires biggest enemy was the sun. He didn't know if this applied here, but every fiber of his being was yelling to run and hide, so it probably held true.
Alex followed closely behind Caleb as he approached the house, and he unlocked the door. Every moment he spent fiddling with keys or trying to push the door open felt like an eternity as he felt the sun's rays growing closer and the sunlight moving slowly down the buildings.
As Caleb moved into the building, Alex quickly followed, shutting the thick wooden door behind him. The panic on his face was evident. Caleb turned at the sound of the door, and he swung out a hand to hit Alex on the shoulder, his face showing frustration. "What's that about slamming the door? You're gonna wake up Natalie and Delain!"
"Sorry, I-I just, um, well, I didn't mean to." Alex tried his best to calm down, the fear inside him still fresh as he tried to relax a bit. Caleb paused listening, not hearing anything; he gave a deep sigh. "Your lucky Natalie would have chewed us both out, then we wouldn't get any sleep. Go in that closet there and grab a bedroll, set it up in the room down the hall, and try to be quiet." Caleb started to walk off, and he opened a door on the other side of the building, revealing a searingly bright morning. Alex squinted and took a step back as the door closed, shutting out the morning light.
'Definitely avoid sunlight. I wonder how deadly it would be to me?' Alex shook these thoughts away, and he went to the specified closet, grabbing a rolled-up mat filled with hay. He made his way down the hall, avoiding the random sunbeams peeking through the curtains. He opened the door. Inside the room looked like a bedroom, a bed with two nightstands and a chest at the foot of it, a dresser, and a wardrobe filled with simple dresses and tunics.
Alex glanced around, then he placed the mat down at the foot of the bed on the floor, looking warily at the curtains, barley blocking light from entering the room through a window. Cautiously, Alex stepped forward and held out his hand inch by inch, bringing it closer until he put a finger into the sunlight. Immediately, it sizzled and popped the skin, bubbling and smoking. His mind was filled with a bright light that made his head hurt. He felt an annoyance from the light and a voice that rang in his head, making his head feel like it was going to burst.
He snatched his finger back, hissing painfully as he held his hand, gritting his teeth as he tried to not scream in pain. He leaned against the wall, groaning a bit as he felt his skin start to knit back together on his finger, a pang of hunger hitting him as he watched the burn slowly heal.
'FUCK! That burned like hell, and that voice was so loud I couldn't even focus on it! I'm never gonna try that again.' His mind was reeling with pain, and he moved to the large wardrobe, pushing the side, trying not to use his injured finger. He started to slide it across the floor until the window was covered.
Just as he finished moving the wardrobe, the door opened, and Caleb was there holding a bucket. "Oh, thanks. I can usually sleep through the day without it, but the wardrobe will actually make it much darker in here. Good thinking." He grunted as he put the water bucket on the ground, and he pulled out a rag and started to wipe blood and grime free. He motioned to the bucket for Alex.
Alex stepped forward, and he grabbed a rag from the bucket. He started to wipe away blood from his face and arms. As the water turned a tinge of red, Alex eyes it, and he tries to keep himself composed. The memories of drinking the man's blood from the mines filled his head as he wiped away the blood, the scent of it filling the air. He felt his gums ache, and he tensed up, holding back his fangs as he finished.
Caleb finished up wiping blood free, his shirt now a crumpled heap on the ground, exposing his tan scarred arms and torso. He stretched and groaned before he stood up and made his way to the bed. "Look, I'm sure you have plenty more questions, but for right now I really gotta rest, so just hold those questions. We can talk more tomorrow, alright?"
Alex nodded as he watched Caleb get settled into bed; the bags under his eyes and sweat on his brow showed he really overdid it. "Yeah, that's fine. You get some rest… little bro." A smile crept onto Caleb's face hearing Alex call him that; even if it was out of character for him, it still filled him with joy. "Natalie thinks I'm working night shift, so we should be able to sleep uninterrupted. Just get some rest, Decklan."
Alex nodded, and he went to the foot of the bed, and he laid down on the hay-filled mat. While he laid there his eyes on the ceiling, his mind was filled with racing with thoughts.
'This has got to be the busiest day anyone has ever had; we'll night but still. I can't remember that voice that I heard in the sunlight; it hurts my head just thinking about it. A real vampire… how do I get food? Can I eat normal food, maybe? Or maybe animals? If I only drink human blood, how often do I have to? And does the person have to die?'
Questions upon questions swirled in Alexander's mind as he tried to piece everything together. He rolled over and tried his best to fall asleep, his mind racing.
To the south, in the far distance over rivers and forests, there was a building that stretched high above most other buildings. It's windows were made of stained glass depicting beautiful images of a woman in a storm. A beam of light cuts through this storm, descending from a large open eye and illuminating the woman. Deep under this building was a man.
This man was dressed in white robes trimmed with gold and silver; he had a hood over his head that dangled jewels and precious metals. He was on his knees, his hands clasped as he mumbled constant prayers.
The man found suddenly himself in a white void, and his head bowed lower, touching the cold white floor. "The most gracious Volos, your most faithful, is always blessed to be in your presence."
The room stayed blank, only filled by a single man on his hands and knees, head to the floor, but a booming voice filled the space. "A town to the north by the mountains it moves aura crystals."
"Kain sir? What of it?" The man sounded a tad confused; he had sent his best people; the collections of aura crystals have even increased under his orders.
"The world has made its newest desperate thrash and created a new annoyance. Hunt down the undead that speaks and bring it into the light."
The man's confusion and worry were hidden by his hood and his position of bowing so deeply, but even so, he made sure to give a quick response. "Yes, master, I will ensure it is found and brought before you." The man raised his head to find he was speaking to no one; he was back at his private prayer altar, heart racing and sweat forming on his brow. 'The undead that speaks? An undead that can think!' He quickly stands and starts to hurriedly make his way out of his private room.