Peaceful, serene movements as a sea of crystalline water sways in gentle swirling motions. A drop of shining white hits the surface and dilutes the waters. This drop grows, the clear waters forming a shimmering white patch that is quickly spreading. This crystal clear ocean darkens and shifts to an angry crimson as its serene movements turn quick and aggressive, the waters swirling around the intruder. The once tranquil turn into a rolling sea of fury and wrath spinning in a storm of red as the white shimmering pollution spreads further despite the ocean's efforts.
Alex feels a hand on his shoulder, and he flails, jerking awake and hitting an unsuspecting Caleb on the nose, making him stumble back. "Ow! What gives? I'm just making sure you're alive; you looked dead!" He rubs his nose, his face painted with scorn.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you just startled me is all." Alex glanced around, taking in his surroundings as recent memories came back.
He was back in the bedroom on the hay mat on the floor, glancing at the window; it seemed to be nearing dusk by the level of light outside. Alex sighed as he stretched and glanced at Caleb.
"You shouldn't have let me sleep so long." He was secretly happy to have spent the day asleep; then he doesn't have to find an excuse to stay inside all day.
"Like I said, you were sleeping like the dead; I didn't have the heart to wake you after what you've been through." Caleb gave a smile, his earlier frustration gone, as he stood up and motioned for Alex to follow. "Come on, throw on a shirt, and get up."
Alex glanced to the side of the mat where he had left his bloodied shirt crumpled and found a different neatly folded clean shirt in its place. With a smile, he grabbed the shirt and pulled it over his head. "Thanks; you really didn't have to do all this."
"Don't thank me; you can thank Natalie, she insisted. Well, after I convinced her to let you stay, of course."
Alex raised an eyebrow and cocked his head confused.
Caleb explained, "You and her never really got along, but she does care, alright, just don't let her rough exterior fool you." Alex, still a tad confused, just nodded as he stood up and stretched.
"Alright, when you're ready, come have a bite to eat." Caleb made his way out of the room, and Alex didn't take long to follow, making his way to a small common area with a small kitchen and table. In the kitchen, Caleb was preparing a bowl of some stew, but at the table, we're two others, a woman and a young lady.
They both looked up when Alex entered. The woman had blond hair tucked back into a bun; her face showed an annoyed air. The lady, however, was about 13 or 14; she had brown hair and bright eyes. She looked curiously at Alex.
"Um, hello, I'm uh, Decklan. Nice to meet you too."
The woman's eyes widened, and the girl's face looked astonished. The girl was the first to respond, "Uncle Decklan really lost his memories; he sounds all different and proper!" She looked genuinely intrigued by him, while the woman looked more worried and concerned, gently fidgeting with an amulet depicting an eye that casts rays downward.
"You really don't remember us at all, Decklan?" The woman sounded concerned as she stood up and started to make her way over to Alex.
They both looked up when Alex entered. The woman had blond hair tucked back into a bun; her face showed an annoyed air. The lady, however, was about 13 or 14; she had brown hair and bright eyes. She looked curiously at Alex.
"Um, hello, I'm, uh, Decklan. Nice to meet you too."
The woman's eyes widened, and the girl's face looked astonished. The girl was the first to respond, "Uncle Decklan really lost his memories; he sounds all different and proper!" She looked genuinely intrigued by him, while the woman looked more worried and concerned, gently fidgeting with an amulet depicting an eye that casts rays downward.
"You really don't remember us at all, Decklan?" The woman sounded concerned as she stood up and started to make her way over to Alex.
"I don't really, um, I'm sorry…" Alex trailed off because as the woman approached, the room felt like it was spinning almost, and he rested out, grabbing a wall to steady himself as a searing headache bloomed in his head. He felt memories of that booming voice from the sunlight rattle in his head and the image of an eye with light pouring out of it getting stronger as she approached.
The woman saw Alex grab the wall for support, and she rushed forward, trying to catch him. She held his shoulders to help hold him up, and Caleb from across the room quickly put the bowl down and rushed over. "What happened?" He grabbed the other side of Alex to hold him up.
"I-i don't know he just trailed off and fell over! Do you think he's on something?"
Caleb shot an annoyed look at his wife Natalie as he lowered Alex to the ground. "He was in an accident. I saw it myself. He isn't lying, alright. I know he's got a history, but he's family." Caleb frustratedly brushed Natalie off, and she stepped back, looking over anxiously.
The girl rushed forward. worry echoed on her face, but Natalie held her back. "Come here, Delain, let's go to the other room. Alright, we're going to go and let the boys get a bit more rest."
She ushers the girl out of the room, and Alex, who was groaning in pain and holding his head, felt the pain disappearing, the images of that symbol fading from his mind. Panting Alex opened his eyes; he didn't know we're closed, and he saw the ceiling with Caleb's face hovering over him, concern etched into it.
"Decklan? Talk to me, buddy. What happened? Are you okay? Is it where you hit your head? Are your memories still gone? Are you going to be alright?"
Alex groaned a bit. The bombardment of questions made his head ache slightly. "Sssshhhh, I'm fine. Ugh, my head just hurt for a bit. Alright, nothing to worry about."
"Bullshit, we're leaving for the alchemist right now; something definitely wrong!" Caleb wraps his arm around Alex and hauls him to his feet.
"Wait, wait, Caleb, really, I'm fine." Alex was attempting to pull Caleb's arm from around him, but he couldn't remove it as Caleb flexed and tensed up.
"Don't care, we're going now, alright. That's final" Caleb lets go and allows Alex to stand on his own, but he looks at him firmly.
Alex looked conflicted as his mind raced.
'That symbol burned like the sun, but in my head. Vampires in my world can't be near holy symbols; does that apply here? But we fought with a priest before, and I didn't notice anything? It reminded me of that voice for some reason. Are they connected? I can't go to this alchemist either; it's a surefire way to have my vampirism discovered'
Alex isn't left to think much longer as Caleb grabs his hand, his face resolute, and he starts to head to the door. "We're going now, walk or I'll carry you," he said, crossing his arms as he let go of Alex and nodded to the door.
Alex sighs, and he steps forward, opening the door and stepping out onto the cobblestone streets of Kain. Looking back to the house, he sees Caleb step out as well and close the door. He starts to walk down the street, expecting Alex to follow.
Alex sighs and follows along at Caleb's heels as he grumbles slightly, "You're overreacting, Caleb, really, I just kind of fell over is all."
Caleb scowls back as he continues to lead the way, "You're so damn reckless even with no memories. You're going, now keep up." He turns a corner down a side street, and Alex rolls his eyes and follows even if his heart swells at Caleb's concern.
As they walked under the darkened purple sky, the sun having just dipped below the horizon, the crystal topped streetlights lit the way as Alex racked his mind for a way out of this.
He could bail on Caleb and the whole Rivercrest family, but that would mean he was completely blind in this world, and not only that, he would be basically killing the memory of Decklan Rivercrest. Caleb has been nothing but kind to Alex, and he dismissed the thought of doing that to him. No other option presented itself; he could kill the alchemist before he could speak, but how would he cover a murder?
Alex's feet paused, and he stood for a moment. He felt ashamed at himself for even considering killing an innocent man just to keep his new friend, but mostly he felt disgusted by how easily it came to his mind.
Quickly he kept walking, keeping pace with Caleb. They walked for a few more minutes when Alex stopped, his eyes gleaming a red color. Caleb glances back confused, and he huffs, "You're so stubborn, but we're going; now come on."
Alex didn't move. His nostrils flared, and he smelled the air, the thick scent of blood hitting his nose. He looked to the left and could see a faint red mist drifting from an alleyway. He turned and started to head towards it, his eyes alert and glancing around as he cautiously approached.
Caleb looked confused as he caught up with Alex, and he grabbed his shoulder, "Come on before they close." Alex held his finger over his lips, and he quickly shushed Caleb a bit.
"Shush, um, well, I heard something down this alley." Alex quickly glanced down the alley and back at Caleb, and he motioned to the alley a bit.
"Someone's hurt. I heard something; it's…" Alex stopped talking as his fangs threatened to poke out. The scent smelled fresh, delicious, a savory meal, his stomach rumbled.
Caleb looked serious and looked down the darkened alley. He nodded and took a cautious step forward. They both entered the alley looking around carefully, and when they turned a corner on the ground, was blood. The ground was soaked, the walls were splattered, and a body was laid against the back wall, its organs spilling out onto the stone.