by Arantes
“Let’s leave this place before something happens,” said Dante.
They left the market in a hurry. They walked Ethan back to his house, afraid that others would keep coming after him.
Ethan looked at Albedo and said, “You’re an idiot, you know that?”
“Is that why they hate you so much? Because you’re a Pureblood,” said Dante.
“They don’t know what I am. Because I live in the woods they assumed that’s what I am,” respond Ethan.
“You and I aren’t different you know,” said Albedo.
They arrived at Ethan’s house and sat on the front porch. Ethan went inside and brought them something to drink. A couple minutes later he came back to join them.
“So how long have you been using your ability?” Dante wanted to know more about Ethan’s ability to heal just like his. He had noticed that Ethan’s controlling over his healing was much more controllable than his.
“Ever since I can remember, when I found out I could heal, I was scared. I didn’t know what vampires or Purebloods were. In north Inferno that kind of talk is kept to a minimum.”
“It’s the same in the south,” said Albedo.
“So how did you know to drink blood?”
“When it rained, the aroma smelled so good, that I knew I had to drink it.”
Albedo wondered. It wasn’t until the power of the Elder had awakened inside of me that I started smelling the blood-rain.
Dante sat there rocking in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head. “You know the two of you are very alike. Both grew up not knowing if you were a Pureblood. Both grew up amongst the humans.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Albedo laughing. He noticed Ethan started to laugh as well.
“C’mon Axil, we need to let master Sonia and Angelione know about this.”
Axil and Dante left to report, while Albedo stayed behind.
***
Sonia and Angelione were told of what happened as they sat with Frank in his private room. His son Michael sat by his side. Dante and Axil stood next to Sonia, hoping she would stop them from attacking if Michael started to disrespect them.
“Do you see Father? Why are we standing here when we should be going after Ethan? We all know what he’s capable of. He’s one of them,” he pointed towards the four. “And it’s obvious he’s the killer,” said Michael.
One of them? Thought Dante. Dante’s imagination ran wild as he started to think of different ways to make Michael suffer.
“Is it possible that you’re not seeing the full picture son?” asked Frank.
Michael was convinced that Ethan was the killer. After all, he was the only Pureblood in the town. “If you won’t take care of it, then the town’s people and I will!” announced Michael.
“Patience my son, that’s a lesson you’re yet to learn.”
Michael thought his father’s ways were old and his own were the future.
“There’s no way its Ethan, when they threw rocks at him, he didn’t even defend himself. If it wasn’t for Albedo he would probably have stood there until their arms got tired,”
said Axil.
Angelione, Sonia, Dante, and Axil left to see Ethan. When they arrived at his house, he was still outside talking with Albedo. They had been talking for about an hour now. Their friendship had grown in a short amount of time.
Angelione came closer to the house; Albedo could see something was in his mind. He had known people long enough to tell when they had something they wanted to say.
“We’re here to investigate you Ethan. I hope you will cooperate,” said Angelione with a rope in his hand proceeding to apprehend Ethan.
Albedo walked to Angelione with his chest high, “Wait what’s going on, Sonia you don’t really believe he’s the one do you?” Albedo wondered if he was going to have to fight his teammate. Could he really fight all of them with the help of the Elder? Can he really fight Sonia, the woman that he was in love with?
Ethan could see Albedo was going to do something irrational that he was going to regret. “Fine, I have nothing to hide, so go right ahead.”
Albedo thought they were making a mistake.
Sonia looked at Albedo and said, “Sorry Albedo, I know you think he’s innocent, but right now all evidence points to him.”
“Why can’t you see he’s innocent? Why am I the only one who can see that?!” said Albedo.
Sonia could feel him bleeding inside, she wanted to believe him, but other than Ethan, they had no other Pureblood to investigate. By now Angelione had all the evidence he needed to know.
Angelione was getting ready to go inside the house.
“Angelione wait,” said Albedo. “I know you think he’s a Bloodhound, but I felt his presence with the power of the Elder when we first got here. You said it yourself, a Bloodhound can’t be sensed.”
Angelione looked at him angrily and said, “You’ve been keeping vital information from us?! That’s not how we Black Reapers communicate on a mission!”
Sonia, now standing next to Albedo to defend him, said, “Oh really Angelione. If I remember correctly you did the same thing to me when we were chasing Aleister.”
Angelione hated that she had challenged him like that, but he knew she was right to get angry. “Look Albedo, I did say we ‘might’ be dealing with a Bloodhound. But even if we’re not, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a killer in our hands.”
Angelione and Albedo squared eye to eye. Dante wondered whose side he was going to be on if they got into a fight. Axil just wanted to fight and didn’t really care who he fought.
Ethan quickly said, “If you want to see for yourselves then by no means go ahead.”
Angelione and the others walked inside Ethan’s house. The house was clean from the floor to the ceiling. The quaint wooden house appeared to be very neat and warm with lots of windows providing a good amount of natural light. It was a moderate space with the kitchen, family room, just a couple bedrooms and a single bathroom. The furniture was very comfortable sitting alongside the fireplace. Angelione noticed a room with candlelight; he made his way to it. Inside the room he noticed that an old woman was laying in the bed with the cover over her. There was one window in her room but it was nailed shut with plywood. Next to the bed on the table were natural remedies, water, and a small face towel. There was a slight aroma in the room, apparently oils, herbs, and other ingredients that made up the remedies on the table. She was asleep and breathing heavily, as if she was in pain.
Ethan rushed in behind Angelione, “Get away from her! Can’t you see that she’s sick?”
“Ethan, who is this woman,” asked Angelione, to which Ethan did not answer.
“Ethan please, who is she?” asked Albedo.
Ethan had grown to admire Albedo. He was the only one he could talk to. “She’s my Mother,” he said with a sad face. “She has had a heart condition since I can remember. It’s been getting worse every year, I tried to heal her but it doesn’t work.”
Dante’s eyes changed. “That’s the same disease that killed my brother,” he said lowly.
Axil stared at his friend as he left the room with anger in his eyes. Dante wanted to be alone for a while and he had recognized that. Axil had remembered Dante talking about his brother to him. How he had died from a heart disease.
“Your mother is a dying isn’t she?” said Angelione. This kid made all these remedies by himself?
“Yes she is, my mother lost the ability to talk, there’s not much she can tell me. I’ve been taking care of her ever since,” said Ethan.
“That’s so sad,” said Sonia with a lump in her throat.
“Ethan, where did you learn how to make these remedies,” asked Angelione.
“I read old books, but these remedies don’t work on Purebloods. I thought we Purebloods were immune to disease.”
“Not quite,” said Angelione. “There’re one or two disease out there that can kill us, like this one.”
***
>
Dante was outside thinking of his brother, the memories had flushed back into his mind with the pain in his heart. He had trained his body to become stronger for his brother’s dream, the dream he could not live. As Dante drifted in deep thought, he heard a noise coming from the woods. Out of the woods, he could see something moving towards him. As they got closer he could see clearly now; unable to peel his eyes away from their ghastly towering features. Their rotten flesh had faintly peeled off in a couple places. “Zombies!” as much afraid as he was, he was in a state of emotion, ready to release it on anyone he saw. They attacked him; these zombies were not as they’re portrayed in stories. They were fast and strong; ugly too. “Come and get it!” Dante’s arms had a sword of ice that was connected to his arms, created from his ability. The zombies rushed towards him and he sliced them in half with his ice-swords. These zombies were fast as they swung their sharp nails in hopes of slicing him.
“Zombies!” said Axil. Axil was headed to check on Dante and as he opened the door he saw the swarm of zombies. “Look! Guys we have company, zombies!” He got the attention of the others as they looked on and noticed Dante fighting the zombies. He wasted no time and went to the aid of his best friend.
The others looked outside of the window in astonishment.
“Do you still believe that Ethan is the killer?” said Albedo.
Angelione simply answered, “Ethan, do you have any fighting experience?” not even bothering to apologize to Albedo or Ethan for accusing him earlier. We have another Pureblood in our hands.
“Yes, a little,” Ethan replied.
“Angelione and Sonia will keep your mom safe, I’m going out there,” said Albedo.
“Albedo wait!” said Sonia. It was too late; Albedo had already stormed out the room.
“I’m going now, keep my mother safe,” said Ethan. He left out the room.
“Sonia, keep the door closed,” said Angelione as he stood outside with his sword. He watched the gory creatures breaking the windows in the next room, making their way inside. Angelione swung his sword back and forth and said, “None of you will pass!” He was ready do cut any of them who tried to get through.
Ethan watched Albedo and his friends fight the zombies, he had never seen Purebloods fight before. They fought as one, telling each other when to move. “Fire,” he watched Albedo’s fire turning the zombies into ashes. He saw Dante freezing their bodies and Axil’s mighty punches breaking them apart. At that point he wanted to become part of the team, to fight like them. Dante slammed his hands on the ground; the ice ran through the ground like light in a dark hallway. The zombies’ legs froze from the ice and Axil used his fist to finish the job. One punch from his right hand and the zombies fell apart.
“There’s so many of them, someone must be controlling them,” said Axil.
They continued to break into Ethan’s house, but were cut down by Angelione’s sword. This was Angelione’s chance to find the Pureblood, while its ability was still active. He wanted to find whoever it was, hoping it’s not a Bloodhound. There were too many zombies trying to break in, he could not leave Sonia by herself to fight and protect at the same time.
As the fight continued, Ethan noticed a man standing from a far on top of a tree. He didn’t think twice as he ran towards the woods.
“Ethan where are you going?”Albedo followed after him. Why isn’t the Elder working properly? He had tried to use the Elder’s light but it wasn’t responding to him.
“Should we go after them?” asked Axil.
“No, our job right now is to keep as many away from this house as possible,” said Dante. He and Axil wanted to join but stayed to protect the house.
***
“Ethan, stop, where are you going?” Albedo quickly caught up to him.
“Look ahead, there’s someone there.”
Albedo focused on the Elder and sensed everyone around him, but not the person he was looking for. Now the Elder wants to work when I tell it to, but I can’t sense the enemy. He jumped up to the highest branch and he scanned the area, he could see a man from afar. “Great job, Ethan!”
No one had ever praised Ethan before, he felt as if he was a part of the team.
They arrived closer to the man, where he was standing on top of the highest tree. His body was covered by a long silver robe and a mask on his face to hide his identity. Albedo rushed to a nearby tree to get a better view. Ethan was impressed at how fast Albedo had managed to climb the tree. Ethan was also a Pureblood, but he had not trained his body to increase his strength or speed like Albedo.
Albedo got up to the tree and from there he was just a few feet away from the enemy, standing on a different branch of the tree. “Who are you?” asked Albedo to the man with the mask.
“Whatever you want it to be.” His voice was not human, it sounded unorthodox.
“So tell me nameless, why are you doing this? Your crime is hurting innocent people!” said Albedo.
He started to laugh, “Innocent people? No one is innocent, Albedo.”
“How do you know my name?” asked Albedo.
“I heard him calling your name,” he replied pointing his finger at Ethan.
Albedo grabbed the small dagger behind his back pocket and charged at him. As Albedo charged at the man, he blocked it with his sword. This man was fast as he was keeping up with Albedo’s speed.
The power of the Elder did not work on him, just like it didn’t work on Aleister. Why isn’t the Elder working on him? Could he really be a Bloodhound? Albedo had to use his vision for every step. His ability to sense wasn’t working.
“I would love to stay and fight with you, but I must be on my way,” said the man.
“You’re not going anywhere!” said Albedo.
The man moved his head, Albedo followed. Albedo could see Ethan was surrounded by his zombies. “You coward!” said Albedo. He had no choice but to leave the fight and help Ethan. Albedo jumped down to help, as he was in mid-air, he had another crazy idea. “Ethan, jump now!” With no hesitation Ethan jumped as high as he could. As Albedo was coming down, he released the red flames from both hands; the flame annihilated everything in sight. His fire had become almost as big as if he was using the Elder’s light. Nothing remained of the zombies. He looked at his hand and wondered when his flames got this strong.
“Albedo, are you alright? That was incredible,” said Ethan.
He looked back at Ethan with enthusiasm. “Well now the others can see that you’re innocent.”
Angelione and Sonia went to check on Dante and Axil. The zombies were gone now.
“Are you guys alright? Where’s Albedo and Ethan?”
Albedo and Ethan came walking over the forest and explained what happened. Ethan quickly went to check on his ill mother.
“So now do you guys believe me? There’s another Pureblood here,” said Albedo.
“Did you use the power of the Elder to sense him?” asked Sonia.
Albedo explained how his power of the Elder was on, but somehow unable to detect this man’s energy.
“So we are dealing with a Bloodhound,” said Angelione. We must deal with this as swiftly as possible, this Bloodhound must not be allowed to manifest!
“Hey Dante, are you all right?” asked Axil.
“Of course I’m alright. I just needed to release some emotions, that’s all.”
The sun was now long gone, they needed to regroup and start again in the morning.
Chapter 20
Birth of a Bloodhound
“I have a few questions for you Frank. Can you tell me what happened to Michael’s mother?” asked Sonia.
The old man’s face turned white as snow. “His mother was murdered by a vampire, it happened when he was a child. He doesn’t remember anything about her, how warm and beautiful she was.” He looked apprehensive. “I regret the day I told him what happened to her, now he’s obsessed with killing vampires.”
“So that explains why he hates our kind,” said Sonia.
“Why do you want to know about Michael?”
“We’re afraid he might do something irrational. He did say he wanted to rally the people and go after Ethan himself. I talked to one of the locals and apparently he’s very persuasive when it comes to the people,” said Angelione.
“Yes he’s very influential.”
***
Michael had failed to convince his father to go after Ethan. After failing to do so, he left and went into the town in hopes of rallying the people for hunting. He was in the center of the town with a crowd around him with swords, torches, and rakes. “We all know what happened last night! Ethan used one of those many abilities that he has and tried to kill the other Purebloods and his Mother! For years, we’ve known he was a bloodthirsty beast! How long are we going to let him get away with killing us? I say tonight we take action!”
The crowd shouted, “Yeah!”
“Tonight we finish this and hunt down this animal!”
They began to chant loudly, “Mi-chael! Mi-chael! Mi-chael!”
***
Albedo had convinced Ethan to come out with him, Dante and Axil went along. Ethan had never had a friend before, although he always imagined what it would feel like to have one. Having physical friends felt much better than imaginary ones. He started smiling and being happy more since meeting them. The passed by the market and Albedo and the others wondered what was going on as they heard the loud noise. Axil saw a man from a far, running towards the woods with a torch in his hand. They could see the small specks of fire, like torches in the distance throughout the forest.
