Apocalypse

Apocalypse

Chapter 1

“I wasn’t expecting father would allow you to join us this time” her brother commented as he studied the horizon. They were sitting side by side against a tree as they waited for their other comrades to join them for that night’s hunt.

She looked up at her older brother before replying, “I was able to persuade father that I was ready for this. He knows as much as everyone else how good I really am.”

That evoked a chuckle from the man beside her, “O really?” he taunted

“Yes, really! Come on, Dominic, I’ve graduated top of my batch, and I see them joining the hunt every night from then, isn’t that a little unfair?”

“It may be, but you are too important to our people!”

“As are you! But he let you hunt while I… I sit at home, mopping around waiting for my chance to sink my blade into those monsters!”

“That may be so, but I’m stronger than you!” he returned, watching his sisters reaction. He was not disappointed as her eyes flashed a darker shade of blue than that was really their color.

“What?! You may be a man, Dominic, but I can take you down anytime!” she retorted.

That evoked another laugh from him as he rumpled her hair affectionately.
“That would be something, wouldn’t it? We better test that theory shall we? When we get back from this hunt”

She smirked, her eyebrows raised in challenge, “Let’s make it more interesting… let’s say whoever wins gets… first choice in the next hunt!”

“You’re on!” he replied, matching her challenge. “Now, forget that first… we better center our attention on the task at hand” his look turned serious as he regarded his sister. “Are you ready for this? You aren’t in a classroom anymore, nor will there be teachers present… its just us, Vitae… and those creatures… the rule is kill or be killed”

“I know, Dominic, you don’t have to remind me” she replied, her stormy blue eyes steady and calm as she replied.

“Good… I expect the best from you. I don’t want any deaths on my hands, Vitae… and more so if it were you! I also expect you not to cause any problems. Follow my orders exactly as they are, don’t argue and stay alert!”

She nodded, then movement caught her attention as the rest of there hunting group arrived.

“Sorry, we were delayed”

“Obviously…” Dominic replied, a small smirk on his lips

One of the men approached Vitae, “So the little princess has finally gotten her permission to join the hunt”

“Continue on that track Philippe and I’ll show you how little I can be!” she warned

Philippe chuckled, “Relax, Vitae, I was just joking! It’s about time he gave you the chance to come with us”

“Oh, I was able to persuade him to let me join in the hunt, at least then I would have more worth than just staying back home”

“If I were to decide I would definitely make you stay” Dominic commented earning a glare from Vitae and laughter from the rest of the group.

“Lucky for me it wasn’t you!” Vitae retorted

Dominic rolled his eyes before turning serious, once more facing the others, “You all know your orders, now follow them! No one leaves their pairs, you go together, you also leave together!”

“Oh, by the way, who is my pair?” Vitae interrupted

“It’s more a trio for you, with me and Philippe at your side”

“What?! Did father order you to do this?”

“No, this is my own decision, it’s your first night and I’m not taking any chances. I trust my men, but I rather want to be with you” Dominic explained, his eyes daring her to reject the idea, he knew she didn’t want him around on the hunt, it’s not that she disliked him its just he knew she wanted to be independent enough to leave his side. As a child she would usually depend on him to help her, heal her wounds and bail her out of one trouble after another… and for years she had grown up hating her dependence on him… this time she wanted to be left on her own, to finally depend on herself, on her own skills… and yet it was not meant to be… it would seem that her brother would again be there to watch over her.

“No! I don’t want to join your pairing brother, no offence of course, but I want to experience being with a partner, making that enough to survive tonight”

“I’ve made my decision, Vitae, and you shall follow it. I do not want you leaving my side tonight, I’ll have you stay if you argue any more” he threatened, and humiliatingly… it worked.

She kept silent… he was indeed her brother and commanding officer… they were trained to follow orders whenever it sound reasonable enough to be followed… and that was exactly what she was doing… boiling inside she remained silent with her mouth thinning, her eyes narrowing, a sign of a growing fury, and yet Dominic replied in the same means.

“Do you understand?” Dominic asked, not quite finished with his sister’s prideful form.

“Yes sir…” she replied weakly

“I said, ‘do you understand?’” Dominic repeated

Vitae growled under her breathe… he was deliberately humiliating her, but she wasn’t about to start another reason for humiliation, instead, she replied earnestly, yet her voice was as cold as ice, her eyes gleamed with something close to resembling hatred.

“Yes sir!”

“Good…” he then turned towards the rest of the group “It’s time… I expect everyone to be back here 10 minutes before dawn, am I understood?”

“Yes sir!” they replied all at once.
***

“I don’t really know what you find so amusing about these walks, Giulio… even more puzzling is the fact that you would rather spend your time strolling down these paths rather than enjoy a pleasurable evening back at the palace with all those young beauties, ready to do whatever we want them to”

The man called Giulio chuckled, turning towards his childhood friend, “That is one thing I would rather not explain, You have to find the answer to that yourself”

Rolling his eyes, Vlad smirked revealing his canine like fangs that gleamed a deadly white against the white pallor and redness of his lips. “If it concerns you… I guess I’d never understand” he replied

“Indeed, and yet you remain my friend all this time”

“You would need someone, who would be there to get you out of trouble, wouldn’t you. Especially when it comes to explaining to your dear mother, the queen”

“I don’t really care what mother thinks…” Lio replied

“Ahh… but of all her children you are surely her favorite” Vlad mused

Giulio remained silent under the said comment. His eyes taking in their surroundings

“While your father…” Vlad continued, “Seem to favor Jean-Louise…”

“It’s because he thinks me incompetent… And I do agree with him… I never did really like being a royal, much less in this age…” Giulio explained, his eyes remained detached and cold, their emerald depths staring far ahead.

“It can get rather boring doesn’t it?”

“Rather? More like Very much!”

Vlad chuckled, “Really now, but I’d rather be bor-“ he was halted by Giulio’s raised hand. His friends face serious as he concentrated well enough on something. Then he felt it too… heat… a small smile crept up on his lips as his eyes scourged wide and far for the sweet smelling meat that was coming their way at a fast pace.

“Slayers… I’d wonder when they’d finally show up” Giulio smirked as he too sought for the rebels

“Ahh… so that was the reason for this nightly wal… hunts…”

“They’re close… finally, something more sporty!” Lio commented, licking his lips in anticipation.

The two rushed towards the strong scent, which was getting stronger as they moved stealthily towards their perspective meal for the night.

***

The two high ranking vampires met with the first squad of slayers, taking them by surprise making them an easy meal for the two blood lusty demons. The slaughter had been a fast but satisfying one for the two, as heads were sliced off, necks were punctured by their deadly fangs, as blood drenched the ground, flowing like an endless river from the fallen bodies. Not a scream was wasted as everything started and ended too fast for any of the slayers to comprehend their deaths.

“tsk…tsk… poor creatures! Though I am rather disappointed by such a performance, I expected more than this” Giulio commented as he dropped another corpse unto the earlier pile.

Vlad turned towards the sky, once more sniffing the air… “Don’t be disappointed just yet, there are more … but I do hope they would serve a better entertainment than these fools”

“Indeed… I find myself turned off by easy preys”

The two waited in he shadows, their eyes gleamed in bloodlust and in the perspective that more comes to quench their hunger.

***

Her eyes scourged the surrounding area for any sign of immortals; her stormy blue orbs were the only features evident under the black mask she wore. She was about to signal that everything was clear when her nose picked up the scent of blood and death that flittered through the air not far from their area.

“Dominic…” she whispered her concern, seeing that her brother understood as well.

“It seems we won’t be seeing everyone tomorrow morning”

The statement was said with a tinge of sadness covered by layers of anger.

The other two glanced at each other before preparing themselves for the coming up battle

The three moved swiftly but cautiously across the streets finally spotting the pile of corpses.

“No… I don’t believe this… they’re all here… but… how?!” Dominic whispered, bewildered by the sight.

Vitae was close to gagging but held herself as she stared at the dead bodies of the people she had just met earlier in the night.

“How the hell can this happen?! What the fuck is going on?!” Philippe ranted, his eyes glazed over in pain and fury…

“O it was easy… as easy as how we’ll dispatch you three now” a voice replied, amused.

The three whirled towards one of the darkened corner

“Who are you?! Show yourself!” Dominic ordered

The two vampires stepped under the moonlight revealing their deadly forms.
Blue orbs glinted under a few strands of golden blond hair, while the other figure had one of their emerald orbs hidden behind silvery blond locks.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes took in the beautiful creatures before her. She knew, by myth and by study, that these creatures could enslave the minds of those weak enough to be enslaved… now she knew why… these were definitely angels… fallen from the heavens above… and yet… she was here to dispatch them… and that was exactly what she was going to do.

“Now… you three are about to join them”

“We don’t think so!” Vitae responded, her voice dripped with remorse and anger at what has befallen her comrades.

Lio and Vlad was both surprised by the sound of the slayers voice… it was a woman… interesting…

“I see that a woman had finally gotten the permission to hunt… disgusting! How can you let someone as weak as a woman gain entrance to your hunting pack?\" Lio asked, his eyebrows raised in interest.

“And what is so disgusting about that, asshole?!” Vitae retorted.

“Hmm… courageous of you to call me such, my dear, and yet you know not of whom you are talking to”

“I don’t really care! All I see now is a walking corpse living on our blood!”

Giulio growled under his breath, such insolence was not allowed especially whenever it concerns him.

“Remove your mask, girl! I’d have the pleasure of seeing your lips wide in a scream as I kill you”

“If you so much as lay a hand on her, I will kill you!” Dominic warned

“You’d have to go through us first before you reach her… but by then you’ll both be ashes” Philippe added, raising his sword.

“We will see…” Lio replied before both the vampires disappeared

“Fuck! Those two aren’t any normals… they’re royals! I have not seen any of those naturals move so fast!” Dominic curse as his eyes darted around

The other two knew what was about to happen and they were ready for it, when the attack did come they blocked it… but by the third round they weren’t lucky. As both of the men had their arms twisted backwards and their necks pulled sideward.

“I’m impressed, that took longer than the others combined… but I guess that’s the limit of your skills” Lio commented…

“After you two… we’ll be having fun with the woman… but don’t worry… when we tire of her, she’ll follow both of you”

“Let them go!” Vitae stepped up, her stormy blue orbs darkening over by both anger and fear.

“Now, you dare order us… such insolence indeed. Though I must admire your bravery to speak up so but a woman, any woman, should know their place.” Lio commented, his eyes glinting back at her as he lowered his fangs towards her brother’s neck.

She couldn’t allow her brother to die, and so as common as her training would command she attacked, her blade swinging forward, aiming for the neck. She had come short when her brother’s body had been used as a shield from the swing, halting her in mid stride.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you… you don’t control this situation anymore, my dear… we do, so I suggest that you back away instead and wait for us to finish”

“Bastards! Let them go!” she cried once more as she lowered her sword and remained standing there.

“You’ve tried that method already my dear… and it didn’t work… I would think that you’ll finally see that in this kind of situation, you can do nothing”

“There’s something else I can do… I can offer myself to the both of you, my life exchanged for theirs…”

“And what makes you think we’ll accept that. Who are you to us? You are merely a woman… taking you will be too easy for us after their deaths…”

“Not so… it is dawning in a few minutes… and I would think they’ll not be killed even in that short time… even so if you have killed them, there is no guarantee that you will have the chance to take me…”

“Stop this… don’t… do this…” Dominic murmured, his eyes pleading her to run... run away.

She ignored his words… it was the only thing she could do… her village will have to continue on without her… the extent of her powers can do no more than save her brother and so save the village.

“Maybe… but who are you? Who are you that may be so important to us”

She removed the mask that hid her face, unbound her hair as her stormy blue eyes remained steady on their faces.

“ My full name is Vitae de Gaelle, only daughter of King Lorence de Gaelle… holder of the blood of both your people and ours… in short, I’m your only chance of obtaining the power to walk in daylight…”

***

He studied her form as she stood proudly before them, her stormy blue orbs challenged him in ways that both amused him and irritated him at the same time. Two feelings he was surprised was evoked by this human… this girl that had proven to be one of the most enticingly lovely woman he ever had pleasure of seeing in all his years. Now, as she announced her true identity, made her more desirable and more of a conquest than earlier. His mouth curved up in a small smirk, his eyes of emerald flame replied with a challenge of his own.

“So? Are we suppose to fall on our knees and beg now?” he mocked, obviously uninterested by the information she had just given.

She gasped, as she was rendered speechless, before a few words escaped her lips… “But… aren’t you … I mean”

“If you’re trying to tell us, princess, that because of your importance to our people is enough for us to release these two, you’re quite wrong…. For indeed, you may be a princess, but we know that one of these men we hold now is the heir to the throne… and that might just be the right key in destroying our most feared adversary…” Vlad replied in wake, his mouth formed an evil grin.

She caught his meaning, even the insult included within the words he spoke and suddenly shook from the realization that she could do nothing… nothing at all to stop these creatures from drinking her brother, and her best friend dry before the night is over…

She was frantic, her mind thinking up something, anything that would give the two men held captive time for escape… even if it meant her life… frustrated and yet calm enough she drew up the mask that had slid down to her neck, covering once more the face she had revealed.

He knew the act meant that the time for talking was over… she had determination written over her face, her body was tense and yet ready for the move she was about to make. He admired her audacity, and yet, he wasn’t about to let her win this battle… yet, until it suited him.

She charged forward, knowing full well that the vampire that held her brother would use him once again as a shield from her attack, making her swing around just in time to make a swing at the creatures right arm… her surprise was evident as she gasped, she hit nothing but air before a hit came from behind her. She bit her lips to keep herself from crying out, tasting blood at the wound she inflicted on herself.

“That was rather… stupid of you” came the whispered remark from among the shadows before joined in by a low chuckle.

She turned towards the other vampire; he was watching her coldly as she faced him. She noticed the dagger held by Philippe as he looked straight at her, nodding she understood the message then attacked once more, but was once more gasping in surprise when the said vampire took his captives arm and plunge the dagger right through his chest.

“NO! Philippe!” she screamed her whole form rigid in fear.

Philippe gurgled, as blood sipped from his mouth unto the ground below… his eyes closing slowly as death consumed him… he whispered her name before giving into the darkness. His body went limp then fell to the ground as the murderous vampire released his hold on his body.

“Philippe… OH GOD!” she cried, tears falling from her eyes… it was this that surprised both vampires… her tears weren’t pure white… they were red… a vampires tears.

“How can that be?!” Vlad whispered to himself, as his cold demeanor gave way to bewilderment.

Lio was in no better state himself and so letting his guard down for a while, but within this few seconds his captive was able to slam his elbow into his stomach and finally getting out of his hold. The hit did nothing to his exterior, for he felt no pain at all, but his arms were limp enough for the hit to push the man out of his grasp.

Dominic ran to his sisters side, holding her up as well as supporting himself, he watched the two warily as he pulled them back, away from the scene.

“This is no time to cry, Vitae… we have to go…” he whispered to her.

Vitae heard his words and she snapped out of her bitterness, glaring in hatred at the two dervishes that had caused all of this. She spoke her threats, her voice cold and promising… revenge written into them like acid on skin.

“This isn’t the end… I’ll kill you two even if I have to sell my soul to Satan himself, I will kill both of you!”

“Looking forward to that time, princess…” Lio whispered back, his shock finally gone, he walked towards them threateningly, his cold emerald eyes calculating and calm.

“And when that time comes… I’ll take you”

She was about to make a come back when Dominic pulled her away, and the two disappeared into the dark as the sun broke through the darkness… dawn had come.

***