"A son, huh?" he replied half-absently. "I used to have a son before he betrayed me. His name was Astaroth, my favorite son, and general."
"You had a son who betrayed you? And you're asking me to trust you?"
"Whatever, little Human. I grow tired of this conversation. Maybe it's time for me to give up, to let go and fade away."
"Then how will you get your revenge? I assume he's still alive and doing well-- somewhere in the Demon Realm."
For the first time, his expression changed something that sinister. He narrowed his eyes on me as if he'd just seen a bug and was trying to come up with an idea of how to get rid of it.
"What are you saying, human?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering if there was a way for me to go there, well, to wherever he is now."
"Hah! Don't even try to play your reverse psychology on me, Human! I'm thousands of years old!"
"And I'm thirty-one only. Does it matter?"
He growled and got up, thrashing his arms and claws around, kicking up a storm of dust and flying stones.
"How can I trust you? How can I trust that you'll do what you promise?" he bellowed.
"Bethrezen, the old King of Demons, I don't care about either you or your son. What I care about is getting my revenge. What I care about is carving out a place for myself, and I can't do that without power. If you grant me what I need, I'll help you do this one thing. I'll kill him for you once I'm strong enough, and that's the best I can do. It surely outweighs the promise of a soul, no?" I smirked, knowing I had him hooked. Demons yearned for power, but everyone lusted for revenge, no matter what they were.
"Very well, Human. And no, you're not strong enough. Far from it, but once you awaken and become familiar with using the spear, you'll be a step closer."
"I agree. But please tell me how hard is it to get there? To your world."
Bethrezen shrugged.
"I don't know. Never gone there since I got trapped in this one. But I have an idea," he replied. "Now, leave me alone! I have much to think about!"
"So, we have a deal?" I asked again.
He turned back to me and nodded.
"We do, little Human. We do."
I found myself sitting on the throne of skulls in the dark room. Freya sat right across from me, some good five feet away, while Tierney and Gamayun stood to the side chatting about something.
"He's awake. And his eyes glow kind of bright," Freya said. She floated off the ground and flew up to me, reaching her hand out. "My Lord," she added with a broad smile. I took her offered hand and stood, then imagined the spear appearing before me. A sudden wind took up from nowhere encircling me along with a storm of blood and metal. It formed right in front of me, seven feet long, pitch-black monstrosity that vibrated with power. The upper part looked more like a glaive, intricately ornated with a second blade on its back. Below the glaive part sat a double-bladed guard which seamlessly flowed into the shaft of the weapon. The butt end wasn't blunt, it instead had an angular blade with another set of guards just above.
Tierney whistled as she walked up to me. She held her hand out to touch the weapon, but the moment they connected, it blew her off her feet. Gamayun was caught her, otherwise, she might have broken a couple of bones and gone through unnecessary pain.
"You've made it, huh? Yet another step to conquering the world," Tierney said as she recovered. She waltzed over again but stopped three feet short.
"I have. But there's this small thing I'll have to figure out and do once I've attained power," I replied as I took the weapon with both hands.
"Figured you'd be able to talk him into something stupid," Freya grinned. "What did you promise?"
"That I'd kill his son Astaroth in turn."
Freya stood there with her mouth wide open as if struck by lightning. She tried to speak a couple of times but remained quiet. Tierney stepped in and slapped her across both cheeks to bring the goddess back from her stupor.
"You have no idea what you just promised, no?" Freya yelled, shaking her right fist with rage. Her face turned almost purple from how hard her teeth were grinding against each other.
"No. But whatever it is, I'll deal with it one way or another. I always do."
"But not this time! Do you know what one of the requirements is to enter the Demon Realm? It's to kill what you hold most dear!"
Chapter Twenty-One
"Shit," I cursed, gripping the shaft of my spear so tightly that my knuckles broke. "He got me after all in the end, and not the other way around."
"No shit!" Freya hissed while Tierney stood there with her mouth wide open.
"You need to kill me? Your favorite?" she cried.
"Never," I retorted. "I'll never kill you or Freya."
"Or Katya!" Tierney added quickly.
"That leaves two," Freya whispered. "But is either of them your favorite?"
I shrugged and stepped past her into the narrow corridor.
"Depends on which life we're talking about. The Vampyre, or Human life?"
"And then there's your son," Freya said coldly just as a pain shot up through my body. I dropped through my knees face-first against the cold, hard wall and stumbled onto my back. All of my power was drained. I couldn't move my fingers, my toes, or my eyes.
"Shit! What's happening to him!" Tierney yelled as she ran up to me. Freya pulled her back before she could kneel beside me, just in time as my body felt like it was being torn apart. New, much darker energy flowed right into me from the surroundings. I could feel it, the darkness of this castle, of this evil place where so many had found their demise.
My bones cracked as they grew, replacing my older, weaker ones as the flesh and skin tore in a million places. I could feel my shoulders first as they set back in place, then my arms and my neck. The sensation moved down to my toes and exploded against the walls around me. The three women were thrown against the throne as a part of the wall crumbled but stayed afloat.
My flesh and skin were next, growing back together, but slightly rougher than it had been. I could feel it, the itch and the pain, as if my skin was being pushed into itself and hardened like bark.
I could hear Tierney panic but subconsciously knew that Freya was getting a kick out of this. She was a goddess, so she wouldn't be content with a weakling for much longer. This was something that must have happened sooner or later. If it was already pre-ordained, then I rather have it now.
Slowly, the pain dissipated, and I regained control over my body once more. Somehow the walls and the ceiling felt even smaller than they'd been. I looked down at my arms, and surely, they were larger and my shoulders broader.
"What the hell just happened?" I growled.
"You awakened to the third stage, my Lord," Freya chuckled. "Oh my, this is getting frightening. Soon you won't even need me anymore. Who the hell could I serve then?"
"Don't even try and make fun of me, Freya. I'm not really in the mood. And knowing the process, I doubt much of the old Ivan has remained."
All three women stood there, silent as a grave. To my surprise, I didn't even feel as bad as I should, maybe I would once the transformation cooled down.
I turned back to the narrow corridors ahead of me and started walking. I needed to get out of here, I needed to get out and taste the fresh night air again. I needed to stand atop ground and not be under it.
"How long was I gone for?" I asked once their footsteps aligned with mine. Tierney was closest to me, as she tried to catch up. I could feel her fear, no, I could almost taste it. That's how strong it was, but she remained calm.
"I think about half a day? It's daytime above ground."
"I see. So we have half a day to go until the meeting. What do you think about the ex-Serpents? Will they join?"
"After what you pulled at the square? I sure would," Tierney shot back. She was visibly more relaxed after me speaking to her, though that didn't mean much when you were underground and surrounded by gods and demons and whatnot.
"Good. A
fter the other fort is taken care off, we'll head back to Zharevo. Then I'm heading out to find my son and bring him back with me."
"Can we come along?" Tierney asked. I shook my head.
"No. You'll be getting your people in line and organized. I want our influence to start spreading rapidly in all directions, starting from Bran. We move outward like a wave and take everything over killing the competition."
"I see. And who'll be going with you?" Freya asked.
"You. The two of us will be more than enough to take care of the Captain if he shows up. And besides, you owe me something."
She couldn't help but chuckle. Tierney didn't find it as funny that much was clear, but she didn't need to. She had her fill just days ago.
"Well said," she replied as we walked along. "Speaking of which, Gamayun's quarters are already set up. She was pretty quick I have to say, especially without our help."
"Oh? That's good. What are you working on right now?"
Her footsteps could be heard faintly behind Freya.
"More light crystals. They will come in handy once nightfall arrives."
"Good. What else can you create?"
She went silent for a moment.
"Whatever you can think off. Name it, and I'll make it. Anything in particular that you'd like to see?"
I shook my head as we walked into the room where the dome had been.
"We need to make life easier for the Humans under us, as well as add to our defensive effort. I want us to be able to protect what's ours better. Especially lives. They're not so cheap anymore, especially now that I've killed so many around here."
Gamayun snorted.
"You could say that. I watched you from the rooftop. Perfect eyes and all that. You really did make a mess out of the square."
"It was necessary. Besides, it's better to kill a few than all of them. I can't have people revolt or think they have a choice. I mean they do, but not on my lands."
"Your lands, huh?" Freya asked. "Not so long ago you barely had a chair to call your own, and now it's your lands?"
I couldn't help but enjoy her reprimand. After all, we Supernaturals were her children if she were to be believed.
"And now I have a goddess to call her my bi-- my woman," I replied. She hissed and rushed in to put her arm around me. I caught her by the neck and pinned her much smaller frame to the wall, then shoved my tongue into her mouth. Oh, she loved it. Then it dawned on me. Could it be that she wanted to be watched during sex? She sure was into it the first time we fucked with Bella watching us.
"You like to be seen?" I whispered, pressing my body into her. To my surprise, she didn't shift into the usual fog and eluded my grasp. No, she stood there and put up her leg against my side and moaned.
"Took you long enough-- to discover," she whispered. "But not here. I want to do it-- under the moon."
I pulled back and started walking again, leaving her like that.
"As you wish, my lady," I replied and rushed through the last corridors to meet the sun hanging high over castle Bran. I stared up at the bright, orange ball, but it didn't bother me in the least. My power was still there even though I was exposed to the bright sunlight. I tried to call on a shadow, and what darkness there was around the castle heeded my call.
"So, what do you think?" Freya asked as she walked up on me. "It's quite a good feeling, no? Previously you'd feel pain or discomfort, and your powers would be minimized, but not anymore."
"Indeed. I don't have to be afraid anymore during the daytime that someone will come and get me, someone like the Captain. Speaking of which, we need to start working on something essential once we relocate. I need to know about all the supernaturals you created, how strong they are, and their weaknesses."
"And why would I tell you that?" she questioned while crossing her arms.
"Because I can't keep you safe if I don't know what I'm up against," I replied and put my arms around her, pulling Freya close in for a hug.
"Do you really think I need help?" she asked. I shrugged and kissed her forehead.
"Every woman needs a man to take care of her, no? Though it all depends on what I become. I can feel his soul eating away at me. Promise me one thing, though. If I go too far, kill me. I don't want to become a mindless monster."
"So that's what you're afraid of most, huh?" she asked, pushing off me.
"Who doesn't have a fear for something? Whatever. I'm going to meditate and see how far I can build up my power until tonight. I might need some food as well, so if you've got nothing better to do?"
Freya snorted and turned back to the castle's throne hall.
"We'll see. How about you go take that rest. Leave everything else to us."
"You've returned?" Dracul's voice rang out in my mind. I opened my eyes and saw him sitting on the exact same throne of skulls where I awakened earlier.
"I have. But not to make up with you, Dracul. You've put me through some tough situations which I didn't appreciate very much. And speaking of which, weren't you supposed to evaporate or something?"
"Not anymore. Now that you've awakened to the third stage, I'm almost whole again. I can't take on a physical form though, but staying here," Dracul said, pointing at his head, "Is much more appealing."
"What? You enjoy watching me getting it on with my ladies? You filthy bastard!"
"In case you forgot, she was mine far before you existed, young Vampyre. Don't get so cocky now that you possess a part of my power."
I remained quiet for a moment thinking about what to say, but I decided to stay silent. Dracul studied me for a while before a wide grin crept up his face.
"You sure did one on yourself, huh? I thought I told you not to let him get in your head, didn't I?"
I shrugged.
"I had no idea that I was playing into his game. Besides, I'll probably die before long anyway. There's unrest stirring within me as if trying to warn of impending doom."
"No need to worry about that for now. If I were you, I'd first get my house in order. Azdaha, huh? What a name."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Better than a snake, no?"
"Not by much. In any case, don't make the same mistake I made when I ascended, young Vampyre. Don't think for a second that you're immortal. Yes, you may live forever if no one comes for you, but you have already made quite a few strong enemies. For one, there is my brother. Then there are the guard Captain and the Vatacan. Humans, in general, will never like you, no matter that they're serving you for the moment, it's all for the money."
"As if I don't know! Humans are fickle creatures. Offer them a better life, or a chance at it and they'll do anything to get it! Even kill their dearest!"
"You're no better! You kill because you can!" he growled. "True, I've done some bad stuff, especially killing my brother's family, but that was an accident. I didn't know how to control the powers I was bestowed. When you add imminent danger and nearing death to your loved ones, then one can go over the edge."
"You didn't kill his family on purpose?"
He shook his head sadly and turned from me. The look he gave me was one of sadness, pain, and loss.
"I loved her, you know," he said. "That child was mine, and not his. But if I told him that, he would only hate me even more and think I was trying to mock him. Let sleeping dogs lie, Ivan. You'll learn for yourself once you get older, young Vampyre."
I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't taken off guard. Dracul seemed like the perfect evil, the ideal antagonist, and bad-guy. But this just went to show that you should never judge someone until you got to know them on a deeper level. Who was I kidding?
"I loved her when I was young. I let her go and then years later, I'd forgotten all about her. Next, I loved more women than was healthy. All of this is starting to wear on me. Especially since our personalities, memories, and everything else are merging," I replied sadly. Yes, even after everything was said and done, there was still a trace of emotion to be found inside.
&n
bsp; "Say," Dracul replied and went quiet for a moment as he stirred atop the throne. "How about you finish your journey alone? I could finally make my way to where the ones I loved are waiting for me. But you'll be weaker alone than without me. Who knows what that bastard Bethrezen will try?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"So, a thousand years was all you could manage, huh? Sure, that's way more than I would have lasted," I laughed. It was stupid, but I couldn't help it. "Will I be in real control over my emotions? Will the little integrity remaining stay with me?"
He nodded his head.
"Remember, there will be no calling on me if you decide to do so. Think it over carefully," he whispered. My eyes locked on my feet for a second as I thought about the repercussions. I'd become stronger and gained the spear, but what did it matter if I couldn't take out my enemies.
"Say, do you want to see them that badly?" I asked. "Do you miss them so much that you can't wait to see them again?"
"How about you don't get to see little Freya or Tierney for a thousand years? Would waiting a single day hurt? How about a minute, or second? Anyway, I think it's time you woke up. Eight hours passed since you drifted off."
"Very well. How long will your offer stand, though? Just to keep it at the back of my mind."
"Only now because I'm in a melancholic mood. If you decide not to kick me out, don't regret it later."
Regret. What a strong word. Would I regret it? Most likely. Would I regret not being strong enough? Sure. Who did Dracul have to depend on back then? No one. But the wealth of information was too precious, no matter how you looked at it. You win, Dracul.
Chapter Twenty-Two
"Took you long enough," Gamayun said as I got up from my state of half-slumber and meditation. It was a welcome sight to see her up close in comparison to Dracul or Bethrezen. They were ugly bastards no matter how you looked at them.
"I had an interesting conversation with the one who lives inside here," I replied, pointing at my head. She offered me her hand for some reason I couldn't comprehend. It wasn't like I needed someone to help me get up, but I took her hand nevertheless and stood.
Lord of Shadows book 2: Bloodlines Page 16
