Blood Ties

Chapter Two
The morning passed in a haze of working and exhaustion for the wolf boy. By the time night came, he was asleep on his feet. It was Aiden’s job to serve breakfast to the royal court of the vampires. Dinner was three pitchers of blood, six solid silver goblets, and a platter of sorbet. Aiden pushed the cart into the enormous stone dining room. The ceiling was hidden in shadows it was so tall, and there was a large stone fireplace that held a roaring fire, but that was the only light in the room, save for the moon. The table was made of dark wood and surrounded by throne like chairs. Sebastian was seated at the head of the table, a dark expression on his handsome face, as usual. Alysius was seated to the right of his father, his head bowed to the point that Aiden couldn’t see it at all. There was Sebastian’s councilor, who was named Nilanthar, and three others, among them was undoubtedly Sebastian’s Eldest son, Armond. Aiden set the food down, then turned and walked out. But before he could make it all the way out the door, Sebastian’s cold voice rang out, stopping him.

“You, slave, stay here.” Aiden turned around to look at the vampire Lord, and decided that he wasn’t kidding, so he slowly made his way back to the long table.

“I wish for you to dine with us.” There was an odd look in the vampire’s eyes that Aiden didn’t like at all.
“Sit here, beside my son.” He said, pointing to the empty seat beside Alysius. Aiden did as he said, albeit reluctantly, and sat heavily on the hard wooden chair. Alysius still kept his head down, though his breakfast was now in front of him.

“Good mutt.” Armond hissed, cruelly. Aiden tensed visibly, though he kept his mouth shut.
“Alysius.” The vampire prince’s head shot up instantly to look at his father.
“Yes, sire?” He asked with forced politeness.

“Quit hanging your head like a dog and eat, you must keep your strength.” Alysius growled so low that Aiden had problems hearing it from right next to him, and apparently Sebastian either didn’t hear it, or didn’t care because he went on with his meal.

Aiden could truly say that watching a vampire drink blood was one of the most disgusting things he’d ever seen, though Alysius seemed to be hiding what he could from the werewolf, Sebastian and Armond did everything in their power to make him nauseous. And it was working well.

Breakfast finished rather quickly and the vampires stood to stretch. “Alysius, I want you to go have a walk, the slave will take you to insure you do not kill yourself with your clumsiness as you tried to do earlier with that blasted glass frame.” Alysius bowed slightly and walked ahead without a word.
Aiden followed him through the heavy wood doors, down a long, winding corridor and to the black, foreboding door at the end. Aiden swallowed hard and looked over at the vampire who still had his head slightly lowered.

The doors were pushed open by two, very large guards who scared the hell out of both boys, though neither would ever admit it. They were outside fairly quickly and Alysius lead them to a frozen fountain.
“Why is he like that?” Aiden asked, sitting down on the hard stone bench beside the fountain. Alysius sighed and sat down next to Aiden.

“Because he is.” He answered without looking at the werewolf. Aiden didn’t really like that answer, but he decided to let it go for the moment.

“What happened to your face?” He asked, when he looked back at Alysius and noticed the fresh bruise decorating his pale cheek.

“What, oh, um, I just, fell out of bed.” He lied, quickly. The vampire didn’t want Aiden to know that it had in fact been his father who had caused the mark. The elder vampire had come to his room that very evening and demanded yet again to know where Alysius had gone the night he had tended to Aiden. When Alysius refused to tell him, he had slapped the younger hard then stormed out of the room leaving Alysius on the floor.
“Yeah, like I believe a vampire could fall out of bed.” Aiden scoffed. “It was Sebastian wasn’t it?”
Alysius sighed again and looked at Aiden, then gave a small nod. "He hates me." The vampire said, "And he has since mother died." Aiden looked at the vampire with an almost sad expression. Alysius looked so small at the moment. His usual mask was gone, the air of confidence and aloofness replaced by a scared teenager.
Aiden put his arm around the vampire in a soft hug. He felt Alysius tense and gasp softly. “I’m sorry.” Aiden said, letting go of Alysius and scooting over a few inches.

“It’s fine, I just, wasn’t expecting it is all.” Alysius said, looking up at Aiden with a half smile. The werewolf smiled back, a sad smile that for some strange reason pulled at Alysius’ heart.
“What doesn’t your family hug you?” he asked. Aiden meant it as a joke, but the look in Alysius’ eyes made the werewolf’s smile falter.

“No, not really. Mother used to, all the time, but…not anymore.” Aiden almost felt his heart break. He was used to being in quite a large family, all of which love him very much and often showed it. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the poor boy to not be hugged, or told he was loved at all.

“I’m not sad about it, if that’s what that look is for.” Alysius said, staring at the frost covered ground. Despite his best efforts a lone tear made its way out of his eye and landed on the ground. He closed his eyes to prevent any more unwanted tears from escaping.

“Alysius! Father wants you and the mutt back inside! Now!” Armond’s loud shout cut through the calm, cool air and made both boys jump. Alysius stood up almost immediately and whipped his eyes.

“We should hurry, father doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” Alysius said, his cold façade back in place. Aiden just nodded and they made their way back inside.

***

“Why do you insist on lying to me?” Sebastian yelled, landing yet another blow onto Alysius’ cheek. Both vampires were in Alysius’ room.

The younger cowered and moved back a few paces, trying to get away from the elder vampire. There was a long scratch on the right side of his face from his father’s ring, and it was slowly oozing blood.

“I’m not lying, I did just go for a walk.” Alysius cried, raising his hands to block his father’s next attack. Pain shot through his arms and back, the strength of the blow having sent him back into the wall. He slid down the wall, leaving a small trail of blood on the wood. Once he had hit the ground, he whimpered in pain and curled his arms around his bent legs, hiding his face between them, much like a child.

“Alysius.” His father’s voice was gentle, and this alone startled him enough to look up. “I do not wish to hurt you any further, but you are forcing my hand by lying. If you would but tell me what I want to know then all of this could be avoided.” Alysius looked at Sebastian in shocked acceptance.

“You honestly think that I’m the cause of this.” This earned him a sharp smack across his already bruised face, and his head to smack against the wall painfully.

“I would hold my tongue if I were you, child.” He hissed.

“Do you really want to know where I was father?” Alysius looked up at his father with a hatred borne of years of his abuse.

“Finally you see sense.” Sebastian sighed, looking almost relived.

“I was with the slaves father.” Sebastian looked at his son in shock.

“And why, pray tell, were you with those animals.”

“Because they’re a right bit more pleasant they you!” Alysius didn’t care that this would probably end in his death. He didn’t care that his father was raising his hand again to strike. But just as his father’s clawed hand was inches away from his face, his mined flashed to Aiden.
The wolf-boy had been so kind to him, and what would he do once Alysius was dead. Surly no one would hurt him, he was a useful slave. But what if they did?

At the last second Alysius jerked and Sebastian clawed the wall, gouging large chunks of wood out of it.
Alysius stood and ran before Sebastian could recover from the miss. He flew out the door, down the corridor and was just reaching the second hall when he was grabbed and thrown against the wall. Sebastian, it seemed needed less time to recover then he’d thought.

“Which wolf was it?” He growled. Alysius struggled and kicked, trying to break free.

“M-mm not going to tell you.” Alysius grunted, lashing out and connecting with Sebastian’s face. The elder growled and slammed the boy more firmly against the wall.

“Which one?” Alysius said nothing. Sebastian sighed, rolling his eyes at his son’s stubbornness. The elder forced Alysius’ head to the side, and buried his fangs in the boy’s soft skin.
Alysius growled and doubled his efforts to get away. It took only a few swallows of the younger’s blood to get the answer he wanted.

“Nilanthar, take this…traitor to the dungeons, and ready the wolf, Aiden. The chief’s son. “he is to be executed at one hour before sunrise.” Alysius’ eyes widened in horror and he looked at his father, pleading for some kind of mercy.

“Oh, and Nilanthar, make sure Alysius is there to watch.” Alysius’ whole body went numb at this statement.

***

Alysius didn’t even move on the way down to the dungeons. He was top shocked at the turn of events that were taking place now.

Aiden heard banging, and the sound of jingling keys and looked up just in time to see a vampire thrown on top of him. His first reaction was to panic, that was until he recognized that it was Alysius and he was covered in blood.

The other vampire, whom he recognized as Nilanthar, slammed the door and locked it before saying, “There, now you’ll have all the time with the mutts you’ll want.” Aiden growled at the comment, but didn’t move.

“What happened?” The werewolf asked once he was sure Nilanthar had left.

“Father.” Was the only response he got. Aiden pushed Alysius back away from him just enough to look properly at the injuries covering is body, staining his clothes with blood.

There was a deep gouge under his right eye, his lip was split, almost in half, and there was a large bruise coloring his left cheek.

“What did he do to you? And what did they mean execution?” Alysius closed his eyes against the questions. He didn’t want to answer the wolf-boy.

“Sebastian has been trying to find out where I went when I was helping you. But he couldn’t, until now.” Alysius blinked away the unconsciousness that was threatening to overwhelm him and continued. “He came to my rooms after I returned from the walk this evening,” Aiden nodded, remembering hoe Sebastian had ordered them back inside. “he wanted that information. I’m not sure why, but anyway, he figured he could beat it out of me, that’s how I got these.” He gestured to the wounds on his face.

“But he doesn’t know, right?” Alysius shook his head, tears welling in his eyes.

“He does, Aiden. He read my blood, and found your name.” Aiden sucked in a terrified breath. So that’s what the execution was.

“They want you dead and they’re going to make me watch.” The vampire was now shivering from a horrid mixture of pain, cold, and fear.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was going to do that. It’s against our laws, so I didn’t even think of it.” Alysius was crying now, though that was just a few slow tears tracking down his face.

“It’s ok, Alysius.” Aiden said, wiping the tears of his face. “When is the…” he trailed off, unable to say it.

“Just before dawn.” Alysius answered, slurring the words as unconsciousness finally caught up to him. Aiden lowered him gently to the straw covered ground.

It was only about five hours until dawn, but Aiden whished it was forever. He wasn’t ready to give up his life this early. And he damn well wasn’t going to let vampires take it. But he couldn’t see an option out of it.

***

Dawn came far too fast for either boy. And it wasn’t long till both were being dragged out of their cell and up into the tallest towers of the castle.

Alysius stayed still, while Aiden struggled with all his might, which was enough to at least throw the vampires off for a second. This also managed to slam him into the hard stone wall, and knock the air out of him, making any further escape attempts impossible.

Once they were at the chamber, Aiden was dragged to the middle of the floor and chained there. Alysius on the other hand was made to stand next to his father, in what Sebastian called ‘the best seat in the castle’.
“Today has seen a very unfortunate time for our kind. A time when my own son befriends an animal. Ad here is his punishment. Let the wolf... die.” Sebastian’s last statement was met with cheers from the surrounding audience.

Alysius watched in horror as three executioners, all with swords walked up behind the struggling werewolf. This was it, the moment had finally arrived where Aiden, son of Valden, would die at the hands of his sworn enemy.