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Chapter 4

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When he walked in, the mansion was so quiet it was possible to here a pin drop, he could have heard a pin drop anyway but that was beside the point. It seemed that the building had become a tomb, the air was heavy with a deep sadness, the servants had not left any lights on before they had gone. He walked down the corridors and stairways in his home and wondered at the difference that a total lack of life made to the place; the servants were rarely seen anyway but they could be heard and felt, as though they were a living part of the house and the most obvious change was the absence of Michael. His presence was so natural it felt like he was missing his shadow now that he was not here, but it was necessary for the house to be emptied; if she were to react violently when she did what she inevitably must then the house would have been washed with the blood of his servants and maids and Michaels... He had had to order Michael to leave the house, the boy had been so reluctant to leave his side I should really think of him as a man now, thought Drake, it has been a few years since he reached manhood, he is no longer the child I found all those years ago. Drake mentally shrugged off the subject, he had to concentrate, Chichi may not be in a state to bare his presence calmly.

As he approached the room the feeling of sorrow seemed to get heavier until finally he heard it... the barely audible sound of weeping, he opened the door and found her sitting there crying over the body. The sight was not completely unfamiliar to him but Drake felt something stir anyway, he carefully approached her and lifted her gently from the dead man's form. He held her until she stopped crying and then led her from the room; she followed easily with no outward trace of emotion, as if she were on automatic. He knew this was necessary, she would have to be able to kill and feed normally if she were to live as a vampyre. Drake remembered his first kill, he had been young, so young he could remember little else from that time but his first kill stayed with him; a young boy his own age with short blond hair and piercing green eyes, his name had been Isaac...

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"Isaac hurry! If we want it to fly we have to run faster."

"I am hurrying, this thing is heavy you know?" replied a young boy of about 12, he had short blond hair and piercing green eyes and was carrying a large bird shaped glider about a meter long while running quickly.

"You should make less excuses, you would run easier." teased the 13 year-old with black hair down to just below his ears, slightly pale skin and dark eyes, who ran in front, holding the other end of a string that was tied to the glider.

"I am not as strong as you and you know it...." Isaac started to complain when a light gust pushed the glider upwards, "Quick, pull the string, pull the string!" he shouted as he thrust the glider up into the air as hard as he could. The string was pulled tight and the bird shaped glider soared up into the moonlit night sky. Both boys laughed and yelled joyfully as they ran along and took turns holding the glider. Eventually the wind died down and the artful creation came down gracefully. They ran over to it and collapsed in the long grass by it, side by side staring up at the big full moon.

"The moon is really clear tonight, it even has a little red ring around it." said Isaac

"True, I hear that a red ring around the moon means trouble or misfortune..." the other replied.

"Why would it mean that? I think it just looks pretty, it doesn't have to mean anything..." countered the blond boy.

"Isaac, are there any stupid sayings about the sun, like this one about the moon I mean?" asked his dark haired friend.

"I cannot remember any, none come to mind, you cannot really look at the sun properly, it will blind you if you do." Replied Isaac sitting up, "I still cannot understand why you cannot come out during the day except when it is very dark and cloudy and miserable. If you could you would know all this."

"I wish I could, I remember the time we went out just after had stopped raining last spring, when it was still cloudy but you could see the sun on the fields and mountains in the distance..." The dark haired boy said dreamily staring up at the clear night sky, "...it was so beautiful."

"Yes, but then some of the cloud split for a moment your hand got burnt, your poppa was as mad as bull in a poppy field. He was going to really beat you well for disobeying him so I said it was my idea... I almost wish I had kept my mouth shut, when he looked at me with those eyes..."

"I know what you mean..." agreed the pale boy sitting up at last, "... I though I was going to die of fright and I think I have never been hit so hard in my entire life, I swear I must have flown at least 3 feet." finished the twelve year-old, rubbing his cheek at the memory.

"I know, I saw you. My father can be a very scary man sometimes, but he is not like that all the time I think he was just scared about my burn. I do not know the reason but it seems my family are very easily burned by sunlight. You really saved my hide back then, I am fortunate to have you as my friend."

"And I you." Replied Isaac, "If it were not for you I would be in a truly sorry state, you have helped me at least as many times as I have helped you."

"It seems that as long as we stand by each others backs we can overcome, out smart or get out of anything, from now on we will be together in everything. Like brothers, forever, right Isaac?"

"Right! Brothers forever." Answered the blond boy and the two clasped hands to cement their pact.

Right then one of the servants came running up to them, "Young Master and master Isaac, the Master requests your presence immediately, both of you." the servant waited a moment to be sure they heard and then picked up the glider and started to walk back.

"It is good he wants to see both of us because I would invite you myself otherwise." said the dark haired boy.

"Together, right 'brother'? Come on I do not want to make him wait." replied Isaac.

The two immediately took off running, leaving the servant behind as they ran to the mansion.

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"Come in." Said a stern deep voice from the cellar, the boys had run about the mansion and eventually had to ask a couple of servants to find where the Duke was waiting for them. The two gave each other questioning looks before they both shrugged and walked in. The cellar was large and might have housed an extensive wine collection if the family that owned it had wanted; instead it contained nothing more than a few extra beds, tables, chairs and other furniture. It was used to house the extra temporary servants they had in the winter, however it was summer now and it should have been dark and undisturbed, and instead it was prepared for use and had a lantern on the closest table.

"Father, you wanted to see us?" said the pale youth who resembled slightly the owner of the voice, a tall man of average build with shoulder length dark brown hair and dark eyes.

"Yes I wished to see you, it is almost time to learn about our family, the reason we cannot walk in the sunlight, the reason we eat separate from Isaac among other things." Said the boy's father, "Isaac, did you know we drink blood? That is how we feed..."

Isaac took a step back without realising; he was so shocked by the statement. It had been so blunt and forward all he could manage was to shake his head dumbly.

"...though any blood will suffice, human blood is preferable, it gives us our full strength and sustains us longer, my son may or may not have mentioned 'the hunger' or 'the thirst' as we sometimes call it but sooner or later it drives us to feed," continued the man, "The boy has gotten very attached to you over the years and he has thus far refused to drink human blood, the effect is of no consequence, actually it probably means he will be much stronger when he does start to drink human blood, unfortunately I cannot allow him to remain so sentimental any longer, one day there will come a time when there is no alternative other than humans, when that day comes I do not want my son to be unwilling to feed or unable to properly hunt because he has never overcome his sentimental attachment to your kind..."

Isaac was now slowly backing towards the door while looking between father and son. The other boy was now confused and irritated by being spoken about as though he were not present, "Poppa, why are you saying all this? I am standing right here, I would not ever be stuck somewhere, I would never have to feed on humans, Poppa-"

"Silence boy!" his father cut in, "What you have said is more than enough. Isaac, do you see now why I am concerned, he is a strong boy, his will grows with every day that passes, I am sure you have noticed how stubborn he is, I must free him of his attachment before he becomes strong enough to hold off the hunger past the point of death, also he must learn our ways, if he does not do this now he will never learn how to use his real power." The man stood and both Isaac and the boy ran for the door, without any further pause the man was in the doorway, "I am truly sorry it had to be you Isaac, you were a good boy."

"Father, no!, Not Isaac, please father, I shall do anything, anything you ask, if you really want me to I will drink as you and mama do, just not Isaac, please!" the boy cried as he clung to his father.

"I am sorry for you too son, I truly am." the man replied as he gently removed him and closed the door. The sound of many large bolts being slid into place could be heard over the boys pleading cries.

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After several minutes of continuing to plead and bang on the door both boys simply sat down on a bed and stay there, not talking, not crying, just sitting. They had been sitting like that for several hours when the effects of running around and no dinner caught up with them, Isaac’s belly rumbled loudly but he tried to pretend he was not bothered by it.

"Isaac...?"

"Yes?"

"What are we going to do? I am frightened; do you think this is just to scare me into doing as I am told?"

"Does your father ever do such things?" replied the blond

"Good point... Isaac?"

"Yes?"

"I am hungry..."

"Me too, how long do you think you can hold out?"

"Forever! We are brothers now remember? Together forever? So that is how long I will hold out."

"Yes, but forever is going to be really short if we do not get out of here soon."

"I heard Father say that we might live forever even without feeding, but we would be really really weak, he was talking to Mama and thought I was out, I think I have gotten really good at sneaking about. Poppa would be mad if he knew that..."

They sat there a while longer in each others company before the older child broke the silence, "Isaac, if there was a way you could be like me, forever, would you do it?"

"Yes, in an instant if it meant we would not have to do this. How about you, if you could be human I mean?"

"I would like that, to get out of this, to see the sunshine in summer, to eat regular food and not think there is always something missing, I would like that very much." Then the boy got up and walked over to one of the further beds.

"Are you alright?" asked Isaac.

"I am coping, I can smell your sweat, and it is staring to make me hungrier." the boy replied, "Forgive me, I cannot sit near you, it would put you at risk."

"I have just realised something..." said Isaac after a pause, "...either you leave here or neither of us leaves here... you have to feed on me."

"What?! No! I will not. I can hold it off if I concentrate."

"Then what? We cannot get out, even if you can, if you die I am sure your father will have little use for me."

"......maybe." conceded the other, "But we agreed we would always be there, always together..." he trailed off, choked by silent sobs.

"I think we can still be together, you feed by drinking blood right?"

The other only nodded.

"Well, if you drink my blood it is like you are taking me into you, then I will be part of you for as long as you live, forever right?"

"Isaac, I do not want to hurt you and I just know it will hurt, I know it..."

"I just want one of us two to get out, so that we can remember the other, so then they will always be with us. I can take a little pain, remember the time your father hit me after the burnt hand incident?" explained the younger boy, "It is the only way and we both know it."

"I... I understand..." replied the young vampyre, he rose and let the change happen, he could feel his teeth lengthen and sharpen, the dark pool in the back of his mind rippled once and then he went to where Isaac was sitting. Isaac rose to meet him, tilting his head to one side to better expose his neck.

"Hold on Isaac..." said the older boy, I hope this works, oh PLEASE let this work he thought, "Isaac, look at me."

As Isaac looked at his friend, the one about to drain the life out of him, the other boy called out to that dark pool of power deep in the back of his mind. It rippled once more then, like a broken dam, it exploded up out of the depths of his mind. He knew what he wanted and he wanted it with all his unbeating heart, his will would not be denied and the black power reached out to Isaac. Let Isaac feel no pain. The black power gently wrapped Isaac’s mind in a soft dark cloud and he seemed to go limp. The little vampyre caught him, "Isaac, are you alright?"

"Soft... It feels so soft, I feel heavy." Isaac murmured with a bit of effort.

The young vampyre sighed with relief, his eyes watering at what was to come next. He held his friend closer, as though to hug him, then sank his fangs deep into Isaac’s neck, the warm liquid was more wondrous then it was from animals, so many sensations, so much strength and power, but beneath all this was the sick self-revulsion of knowing this was his closest, his only friend. He stopped, pulling away; Isaac was still just barely conscious, alive though nearly all his blood was now drained. "Does it... did it hurt?"

Isaac smiled, "No..." he whispered, "...it is very soft... and.... thank you-" on the end of that last word Isaac died, his eyes closed, his body cooling.

The young vampyre lifted the limp form easily and walked towards the door, carefully handling his dead friend he kicked the door once and it flew of its hinges, bolts ripped from the wall. He walked slowly, like a solemn pole bearer at a funeral march, carrying Isaac. Up stairways and along dark and empty hallways he walked; the lights unlit and servants gone. Finally he came to his destination; the family crypt and before him, waiting on either side of the pathway were the entire house staff, heads bowed in solemn respect. He continued on to the main crypt and there he found, waiting next to an already prepared and open coffin, were his mother and father with grave faces. His mother took the body from him and gently laid it in the coffin, he closed the lid and his father began the ceremony.

"We lay this one to rest, our brother in life, our brother in death. Isaac, though born to light he joined us in shadow, may it always comfort and protect him, though not of our blood we commend him to his passing, blood to blood, day to night..."

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Drake looked back at the sleeping form of Chichi, still dressed in jeans and t-shirt, as she dreamed of other things. In time she would heal, she was strong, maybe he could have Michael arrange a proper burial and maybe arrange something to take care of the man's family if he had any. For the moment the only thing he felt like doing was visiting the city and loosing himself in the smell, sounds and sights of the night.The night breeze was cool and it called to him as he walked out the front door, he paused a few meters from the porch. "Michael. You can come out now."

There was a pause and then Michael stumbled out from a nearby bush. "I'm sorry master but I was just so worried about you..." started the young man.

"Michael. It is alright now. You may call back the servants. I asked you to leave for your own protection not for any other reason; I wish you would be more rational sometimes." Said Drake, "I have a request for you, if it is of no inconvenience, could you organise a funeral and find if that man I brought here earlier has any family?"

"Of course, anything." Replied Michael at once, he paused, "So... does that mean you aren't angry with me, for disobeying you?"

Drake sighed, "Michael, I have told you once or a thousand times, you are not my slave, you do not have to follow my every whim. I admit I would not have been happy knowing you were here, however since the danger is passed and you are unharmed there is no reason why I would be angry with you. Now go on, I wish to be alone tonight, I will return by dawn."

With that Drake turned and walked into the night, another shadow in the darkness.

§ Chapter 3 ~ The Heart of a Vampire Main ~ Chapter 5 ~ Main Library ~