by Gloria Dark
“Yes!” Demian lied, forcing a smile, “I can see the magic flowing through you!”
“Really?” Lucius smiled brightly, “But I haven’t even finished the spell!”
Demian wiped his brother’s blood and fixed his pillows.
“It’s okay,” Demian calmed, “You’re just tired from the first enchantment. Take some rest.”
“What will we do with the second bottle of blood?” Lucius asked, his eyelids feeling heavier as he laid down.
Demian sighed, looking at the bottle. He remembered what Eden said about the human blood being unsuitable for him, but Lucius was more important to him. Ignoring the warning, Demian emptied the bottle, submerging into a beautiful dream. Like a toxic drug, the blood made him see strange visions. It made his skin tingle as his body filled with energy.
Still feeling high with the incredible power, Demian clicked his fingers again to summon a servant. Another shadow appeared in front of him like a pawn.
“Dispose of the bottles so that my father can see that they’ve been emptied. Get Lucius new blankets and ensure the fireplace is always full of flames as long as he lives!” Demian requested.
The shadow bowed and disappeared back into the wall.
“Brother?” Lucius whispered, his voice drowsy, “What does it feel like? To drink human blood…”
“It’s the greatest pleasure you could ever imagine.” Demian exhaled, watching his tingly skin glow with vitality, feeling his cells become addicted, “It ignites me from inside and makes me feel like a god.”
Chapter 4: Twin Hunters
Twin Hunters
A few weeks had passed since Demian started drinking human blood in secret. His powers grew incredibly, but he found it hard to focus at school. Sitting in the classroom had become his enemy more than before as the time seemed to drag, each movement distracted him, and the slightest sounds felt like razors sliding over his eardrums.
Regardless of how hard it seemed, Demian couldn’t allow anyone else to find out about his secret. Both twins could be punished by the Elderly if anyone caught them lie. It was a heavy burden without an option of failure.
The class was nearly over, but Demian couldn’t wait for it to finish. His emotions raged inside him, and he was not allowed to cry in public. His chest tightened with anxiety and panic as his vampire senses boiled with addiction. He was desperate for more blood, he was desperate for freedom.
“And I shall see you all tomorrow!” the teacher dismissed the class as the first ray of light shone inside the window.
Demian ran out of the building without taking his books. Emotions choked him, pressing hard on his heavy chest. Seeing the red roses everywhere made him feel worse because he couldn’t stop thinking about his family and his betrayal towards them.
Suddenly, the air became sweet, sending a familiar aroma across the area. Demian followed the scent outside the Red Rose gate and froze in disbelief when he noticed a boy with a plush toy snoring under a tree.
“Nataniel!” Demian poked the boy, shocked to see him in Morteezeana wearing nothing but pyjamas, “What are you doing here?”
Nataniel woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes and fiery hair.
“Why are you here alone?” Demian asked, concerned about his little friend, “Why are you sleeping on the street?”
“Oh, good morning!” Nataniel stretched, “I was waiting for you!”
“Why?” Demian asked, still confused and worried, “What if anyone tried to attack you?”
“They cannot harm me, I’m stronger!” Nataniel yawned, “I was waiting for you because I was worried. I thought it would be better if I came here in case if you needed a shoulder to cry on!”
“This is nonsense! Why would I want to cry?” Demian laughed, sudden tears flooding his cheeks as he tried to catch them in his palms, “I-I don’t understand why… My eyes just got watery, I don’t know why.”
The hot tears started poring without any control. Demian tried to hide them in his sleeves, but they didn’t obey. Nataniel wrapped his tiny hands around the vampire, embracing him with gentle warmth.
“Shhh… Don’t worry, my friend,” Nataniel whispered, “I will protect you!”
Suddenly, everything around the boys stopped as if somebody had frozen the time. The birds muted, the trees no longer moved. Reality faded. When Demian blinked again, both boys were somewhere else. As if surrounded by limitless sky, they seemed to be in a tiny garden of another dimension. The space beyond the edges of the garden seemed empty, only clouds and light embraced the mysterious place. There was a green field with a solitary tree by a dazzling pond and tiny flowers. There no sun in what appeared to be sky, only clouds and light coming from nowhere.
“We can stay in my sanctuary as long as it’s needed. Nobody will find us here.” Nataniel said calmly, allowing his friend to release the tears. He stayed by Demian’s side, trying to comfort him.
It seemed like an entire day had passed, but the garden was still full of daylight. Demian had stopped crying. He glanced at the pond and noticed the reflection of the night and starry sky. There was a full moon in the water, but still daylight and no sun around the boys.
“What is this place?” Demian asked.
“This is where I used to sit with my goddess.” Nataniel replied, “She created this place for me as a gift before she left the Heavenly Kingdom. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to remember any of this when we go back, but at least you’ll feel calmer.”
“What do you mean?” Demian asked, but it was too late.
The magical garden dissolved like a dream, and both boys returned at the Red Rose gate. Demian’s head was wrapped under Nataniel’s hands as the time resumed, and birds started singing again. Demian couldn’t remember what had happened apart from crying in his friend’s embrace.
“Do you feel better now?” Nataniel asked, smiling kindly.
“Yes, I… How…” Demian seemed confused with his lack of memory, but he wasn’t too surprised. Consuming human blood daily had made him act strange and losing memories didn’t appear like anything shocking. “I’m sorry that you had to see this…”
“That’s what friends are for!” Nataniel jumped, smiling brightly like a burst of sunshine. “I’ll see you again when you need me! Take care!”
“How are you going to get home?” Demian asked.
Nataniel pointed at something behind the vampire’s back. Demian glanced over his shoulder to see it, but there was only a snowflake sliding down the air.
“It’s the first day of winter!” Demian announced, turning towards Nataniel, but he was no longer there. Demian scanned the trees and the plants nearby, but his friend was nowhere to be found.
After failing to find Nataniel, the little vampire picked up another package from the Blood Bank and returned home. After crying on his friend’s shoulder, the boy felt much better. His chest felt light, and it was easier to lie again.
Another week passed, and the long-awaited moment arrived. Luminor announced he would take the twins hunting for the first time. Demian felt relieved that soon the lies would be over, but he didn’t understand it would be a beginning for much bigger lies if their father discovered that Lucius was still ill and weak.
The successful charade never released the fragile boy from the pain of disease, and he could barely stand on his own feet. Worried about his brother’s life, Demian became more anxious, but it was too late to step back.
“Did our father really say that?” Lucius asked, his face beaming with bright energy when he found out about the good news, “Did he really say he would announce me as a true Morteeze if the hunt were successful?”
“He did!” Demian replied, staring at the fireplace, trying to come up with a plan, “I’m just concerned about you. How will you walk on your own? I’m not even talking about the actual hunting!”
“Don’t worry, brother!” Lucius placed his hand on Demian’s shoulder, “I’ll do my best, I promise! You’ve done so much for me, it’s my turn
to take care of myself. It’s been my dream to go outside this room, and now it’s finally happening!”
“How can you be so sure you’ll be able to walk?” Demian sighed.
“Because I was a butterfly again!” Lucius smiled.
Demian dropped his head in his arms, sighing again.
“I was flying over the Sleeping Woods when a female voice spoke to me. She said she was the Darkness that needs help. The voice was beautiful and calm but full of sadness. She told me she was in pain every day, just like me!” Lucius explained, his eyes distant and dreamy, “But she also said she was waiting for me to help her. She said I’d have the power to find her if I walked through the Sleeping Woods, and she said only I can save her from the pain! All I have to do is to believe in myself!”
“Your dreams frighten me…” Demian admitted, “If I were you, I wouldn’t trust the Darkness. It sounds suspicious, why would the Darkness suffer in pain? It makes no sense!”
“But you said you believed me…” Lucius became serious.
“I do,” Demian lied, “I just don’t trust the Darkness that calls for you. Why would she be in pain?”
“Well,” Lucius considered, “Maybe she is lonely like I am? Maybe she’s misunderstood and has no friends?”
Suddenly, a shadow pawn appeared out of the wall. It curtsied in front of Demian and sent images to his mind. No voices escaped the mouthless shape.
“What did it say?” Lucius asked.
“Our father has ordered them to get us ready for the hunt!” Demian replied worriedly.
“So early?” Lucius started to glow with excitement, “But it’s getting dark outside. What about your classes?”
“There will be none. When purebloods go to their first hunt, nothing can be more important than that.” Demian explained, his chest heavy with anxious thoughts.
Few more shadows appeared out of the walls, forming a circle around the twins.
“I must go now…” Demian kissed his brother’s forehead and left the room to get ready for the ritual.
Lucius remained alone between the dark pawns. One of them lifted the boy up with two invisible hands. Everything apart from the fireplace disappeared from the room. Instead, it turned into a glamorous bathroom. There were a toilet, a bathtub and a black mirror with no reflections at all.
The shadows removed the boy’s dirty clothing and bathed him, washing his hair and body, filing his nails and ensuring the room was warm. Lucius was too drowsy to sit straight in the bathtub, his body too weak to comprehend the warm water. The pawns had to hold him the entire time.
Finally, another shadow appeared, holding a luxurious suit. It was white with red rose embroideries. After drying the boy, servants dressed him and combed his hair. Only after Lucius was fully ready, his strength awoke. A grateful smile bloomed on his lips like a flower.
The toilet and the bath disappeared, but the black mirror turned to light. For the first time in his life, Lucius saw his own reflection. Silver hair, one white eye, one pale red. A gaunt face with bones sticking out as if a skeleton looked back at him in the reflection.
“This can’t be me!” Lucius whispered to nobody, “Demian said we look alike! He said our faces are hard to tell apart, but… but it would be better if I had no face at all.”
The boy looked away, trying to forget his reflection as if it were just a bad dream. The mirror disappeared, and the room became his bedroom again.
One of the pawns opened the door for the boy, and Lucius felt excited adrenaline rushing through his veins, flooding him with energy.
It was time for Lucius to meet his father for the first time, and the servants carried him downstairs to the first floor. The boy’s heart thundered, but his eyes took in each picture, each painting on the walls. He viewed even the tiniest engravings in the furniture and stairwells. It was already an adventure for him.
The excitement made Lucius forget the pain.
Finally, the servants placed the boy on the ground to stand on his own feet. His trembling heart nearly stopped when he noticed a stunning pureblood sitting in an armchair. It was Luminor who scanned the boy, no emotion displayed on his dominant face.
Finally, Demian came down the stairs too. He was dressed in a similar suit, but his was red with white embroideries. His long hair tied at the back with a red ribbon, but his red eyes dazzled with hunger.
Lucius felt scared, his knees shivered, but he kept reminding himself he had to survive at least one more day. He had to survive for his brother and to see the Sleeping Woods with his own eyes.
Demian took his hand, and the fear dispersed.
“This is a special day!” Luminor announced, his arms behind his back as he walked over to his sons, “Today, you become adults! Today, you turn from little babies into real vampires! If you succeed at hunting. You will be allowed to taste the real blood of an animal for the first time!”
A human servant walked in through the main entrance. It was an older man dressed in a black suit.
“The carriage is ready!” the man bowed before the purebloods.
Luminor glanced at the boys with a devilish grin. All three of them went outside the castle, and Lucius appeared to be the happiest. He inhaled the fresh air deeply, blinking his eyes as rarely as possible not to miss a moment of beauty. Demian was surprised to see his brother as energetic, and he hoped the boy would survive the cold.
A large carriage appeared in front of them, lead by three giant dogs instead of horses. The beasts were enormous, their golden fur glimmered gracefully, their fluffy tales and ears had candlelights at the end of each hair. Their eyes gleamed like diamonds.
Lucius felt tempted to touch their fur, but he didn’t dare to move without permission. Instead, he glanced at the round-shaped carriage. It was glossy white with giant gold roses on the doors and golden frames around the windows. It had no wheels, only golden glimmer underneath the carriage.
Instead of a coachman, there was another shadow pawn, but in the dark, it appeared almost invisible.
The carriage door opened itself, and the boys got inside first. Lucius was even more amazed by the inside. Luxury seats covered in red material that seemed softer than silk. Golden designs painted the white walls, but the ceiling seemed alive. There was a real rose bush blooming with red petals and moving slowly as if it were alive.
“Demian, close the curtains.” Luminor requested as he sat down in the seat opposite to the boys, “We can’t be seen together. Not yet.”
Those were the only words Luminor spoke until they reached the Sleeping Woods. The carriage stopped, and Lucius had to try his best to stay awake.
When they got outside, the road was covered in thick snow. Both boys seemed surprised to see as much glitter. Luminor asked the boys to follow him as he led them closer to the trees.
“This,” Luminor pointed at one of the trees after biting his finger to smear blood on his glove. He placed it on one of the branches, “Is the only tree in the entire forest that does not belong to the enchantment. This is the only tree that will never move. I placed the glove so you could find a way out in case if anything happens.”
“How can a glove save us?” Lucius whispered to Demian.
“Shh!” Demian made a sound.
“As you already know, the Sleeping Woods is a dangerous place where the trees are alive under an enchanted sleep. It’s enough with just a touch of a stranger to wake the trees and make them move. Once they do, they will either ensure you get lost or pour so much sleeping dust over you that you never wake up again.” Luminor explained, his voice colder than the winter, “Make sure you don’t fail! Do you know the other reason you should stay alert in this forest?”
“The Death’s wolves!” Demian replied, trying not to panic about thousands of ways for his brother to die in the forest, “They are giant wolves who spare no life. They live only in the Sleeping Woods, but if you’re unlucky to see one, it will become the last thing your eyes meet.”
“Exactly,” Luminor
nodded. “If you do get lost, don’t trust any other senses but your nose. The eyes can see a dream, the ears can hear a lie, the tongue can taste the poison, the skin can turn to stone. The scent cannot speak, cannot show you false pictures. It will lead you outside if you follow the scent of my blood on that glove!”
“W-what if w-we gets lost so f-far we c-can’t recognise the scent?” Lucius asked, his voice trembling, his heart thundering.
“Then you die,” Luminor replied coldly, “because that’s exactly where the Death’s wolves live. The closer you are to the centre, the more of them will be there. The legends say those creatures come from the Underworld! They spare no lives.”
“I-if they spare no lives, how do we know they exist?” Lucius asked, “If they spared nobody, we wouldn’t know about them, would we?”
Luminor approached the boy with incredible speed, his hand high in the air ready to slap the foolish words out of the boy’s mouth, but Demian appeared in front of Lucius just in time.
“Forgive him, father!” Demian begged, “It’s my fault he isn’t educated enough, I’ve never told him how to speak properly! I’m sorry, I’ll take responsibility!”
Luminor lowered his hand and walked into the forest. The boys followed him in silence, viewing the picturesque place. Silver glimmered gracefully wherever they looked, snow flowed down slowly, spreading its soft feathers everywhere.
“Maybe the wolves guard the glass garden?” Lucius whispered to Demian.
“What did you say?” Luminor’s hearing was better than expected.
“Oh, it’s nothing! He’s talking about his silly dream, nothing else!” Demian laughed awkwardly.
Luminor sighed in disapproval and continued his way deeper into the forest.
Lucius looked down, overwhelmed by sadness. He was confused why such important day he waited for his entire life turned out to feel awful and lonely.
“We are here!” Luminor finally stopped, turning towards the boys. His eyes pierced through Lucius.
Suddenly, a white bird landed on a tree, forcing the vampires to freeze. Its red eyes seemed to drowsy, but the trees didn’t move.
