Page 61 of Theoden
I was shocked that I had caught up to him because I could sense his aura and knew he was at least a century older than I was. I tackled him to the ground and he rolled over, scooting away from me.
“Back, demon!” he yelled as he held his hand out, sword poised.
I stood up and adjusted my clothes. “I am no demon. Who I am is Théoden Sura, son of Vampire King Ara Leon. I am both vampire and dragon. As I have said, I came here to collect on a debt owed me. Your companions died because they challenged me. You live because you did not, it is that simple.”
With that, I took to the sky in front of him. I did that so he could regale his King with tales of my magnificence. For he had witnessed a great deal tonight, and I had planted the seeds of building my reputation. I was something to be feared and revered and as I flew back home, I realized why Ara had sent me on this mission.
If I could kill the people I had once called family my whole life and dispatch them without mercy, no one could ever stand in my way. And by killing those vampires using my dragon ability, my name would sail across the lands like a feather did in gusts of wind. Vampires everywhere would know who I was and what I was. I was Théoden Sura, Son of Vampire King Ara.
***
I returned home, landing softly on the balcony to Ara’s bedroom. When I entered, he was lying on the bed in his robe as if he had been waiting for me. I closed the doors behind me and began to remove my clothing since the sun would be rising soon.
“How do you feel?” Ara asked me.
“Like a god, Father,” I admitted as I removed my bottoms.
Ara chuckled. “And you are one, my son.”
Pleased that he was proud of me, I walked quickly to the bed, climbing under the covers and sliding close to him. He put his arms around me, and I had never felt such love. Titus had been right when he said that I didn’t know what love was because I’d never experienced it with the Church. Now, in Ara’s arms, I knew what love felt like. I held him close to me and relished the scent of his flesh. He had taken sexual pleasure with a human and I felt a bit of jealousy that it wasn’t my ass his cock had rammed.
Ara laughed. “I will rectify that tomorrow night then, child.”
“Father, I had once asked you how we became vampires, how you had, but you did not think I was worthy of an answer then. Am I worthy now?” I asked as I looked up at him.
He was looking down at me with those thoughtful gray eyes and he smiled softly. “There were twelve of us. Some I knew through my travels and others were acquaintances of acquaintances with considerable influence and financial wealth. We had kept in communication by messengers for several years. Each of us were responsible for gathering the objects necessary for the ritual. It had been my idea, as I was the one that had found the relic on one of my excavation journeys, but the ritual called for the sacrifice of twelve, not one. So, that is why there are twelve vampires at the head of royalty. Whatever we raised that day imbued us with unimaginable power and an all-consuming thirst for blood.”
I listened intently as Ara recounted the tale of how he had become a vampire. I dared not interrupt, for one reason, I was utterly fascinated.
“The relic was one of a creature with wings, like that of a dragon, with fangs and claws, but in a human form. The inscription spoke of unimaginable power granted to the twelve who desired it the most. It took a year to gather all the information I could about the relic and the text for the ritual. Then, I had to find twelve people with the resources to gather everything that would be needed. When the moment came, we all traveled to Egypt where the ritual had to be completed.”
“You thought it would make you a dragon, Sire?” I asked, since he said the relic looked like something Tylendel was.
He nodded, then continued. “I had heard tales of dragons, mainly as a child. Fables of such mystical beings to feed our imaginations and put us to sleep. But for me, I had always believed that there was truth behind the tales, and I sought out that truth. That was how I discovered the relic. It did not take much for me to convince others of the possibility that man could become something more.” Ara paused as he recollected the memories of his transition from mere mortal to vampire. He smirked. “During the ritual, this black mist appeared over the markings we had painted with our blood and around the objects we had placed on the floor of the Onyx pyramid.”
“Was the pyramid really the color of onyx?” I asked, unintentionally interrupting him. “I’m sorry, Sire,” I apologized after realizing what I’d done.
Ara stroked my hair. The gentle gesture let me know he’d forgiven me. “It was what the pyramid was called, though it looked no different than any other. Now, if I may continue?”
I nodded. “I will not interrupt again, Father.”
“Good,” Ara said, then continued. “The others began to panic, but Alexander, Elsa, and I forced them to calm down. This was what we had all wanted, after all. The black mist swirled around each of us like a snake coiling. It held us captive, frozen, then it entered us through our mouths.”
“Did it hurt, Father?” I asked, interrupting again. I knew I said I wouldn’t, but I was unable to help myself.
Ara nodded. “The pain… was unbearable, and it lasted until sunrise. We all lay there, convulsing and unable to move as our bodies felt as though they were being ripped apart from the inside. Hours we had to suffer for the powers we have today. The sacrifice was the agony of elevation, and I would do it again. For what I have gained far exceeds the pain I had to endure.”
“Was it a demon, Father?” I asked.
He shrugged. “A demon, a deity, I do not know what it was, my child. I had only known of the ritual to gain immortality and the name of the entity we were to pray to. It required the sacrificial blood of twelve, all under the age of thirty human years. I did not know of the blood hunger or the affliction to the sun, fire, and silver, but everything has a price.”
“Such power always has its price,” I said to myself out loud.
Ara nodded. “One that I take pleasure in as well. Do you regret feeding on blood?”
I shook my head. “I love it, Father.”
Ara laughed. “Perhaps a bit too much, child. Overindulgence has its consequences.”
