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| "Vlad told me I am to become one. I still must fight, and now I am needed with the others."� Nicholas ran into the melee without looking back; as soon as he got close to someone he took what most rules of war would list as a cheap shot.� Vlad saw this and gave him a nod of approval.� Nicholas nodded back and then focused all of his attention to the fight before him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vlad turned towards my direction.� I wasn't sure if I was spotted or not; I slunk back into the shadows where I thought I could be out of sight but still see the battle.� Some of the boys looked like they were being seriously injured and I didn't understand why they would want to bring themselves close to death just to be promoted by some guy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Some guy.� What was I saying?� I was willing to do anything to get close to that some guy, why wouldn't they?� I'm sure those boys felt the same thing I felt when I was close to Vlad: the power he had that I wanted. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Enough.� I was done hiding.� I was done being scared.� These boys are willing to put their lives on the line to get close to Vlad and I would too.� I ran out past the battle and towards Vlad.� I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him in close to me.� He put his arms around me and pulled me further into him.� Passion flowed though us, between us; I felt his power within me. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholas looked up with a gasp.� A few others around him followed his glare towards us and eventually all one hundred eyes stared upon us.� Vlad opened his eyes and pushed me away.� With the flick of a wrist, a wall was suddenly built around us separating us from the boys.� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "What in God's name are you doing?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You cannot tell me you did not feel it," I said looking at him unbelievably. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Outside of the wall, we could hear the boys trying to take advantage of their master's diverted attention and either strike blows even Vlad would deem unfair or run away before more harm could be done to them.� Vlad removed a few bricks from the wall and shouted out, "This is not an excuse to move."� He snapped his finger and they all froze, unable to even blink an eye.� He then waved his wrist again and put the blocks back into the wall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I keep trying to get close to you and you keep pushing me away," I said, "There is no reason for it.� You cannot tell me you did not feel it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "What have I said that you do not understand?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "There is nothing to understand," I said, "I felt it.� You felt it.� You pulled me in closer.� Why are you pushing me away again?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "You do not understand that I am dangerous.� You need to leave.� Now.� You have disobeyed me for the last time!" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Vlad waved his hand and the next thing I knew I stood on the front stoop of my parents' house.� I slumped down on the ground and began to cry.� I was so close. �Now I have no idea how to get back; I can't go back.� That's what Vlad said: I am to never return.� The wheels in my head began turning; he said I am never to go back to him, but what if I was able to make him come to me.� I knew just what to do, and I knew just the place to do it.� I had to get back to the castle this way I was close enough for him to know what happened.� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| I walked for what seemed like hours stopping only for water.� Those hours turned to days.� After I passed a tree for the tenth time, I decided it was time to set up camp and rest.� The morning sun shone brightly and I decided it was time to move on.� I continued to walk for days that turned into weeks.� Every few nights I would set up camp to rest again.� | ||||||||||||||||||||
| As the sun set it the west one day, a huge shadow was cast over the area I was sitting.� I peered towards the sun's setting rays and was able to make out the silhouette of Vlad's castle.� First thing tomorrow morning I would head west, straight for the castle. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| When I finally reached the castle it was late afternoon.� I stayed as far away as I could while still being on the grounds and headed to the south end of the gardens.� Vlad built his castle on a mountain cliff facing the villages below towards the north.� He had day lily gardens in the south which tapered off at the cliff.� As I stood on the edge of the cliff I remembered what Nicholas had told me what would happen to the boys after the big battle. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "After the battle," Nicholas explained, "Vlad chooses the boys who are his Chosen Ones. �Those who have not been picked are the Cast Offs.� He sires the Chosen Ones." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do not understand?" I asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "Vlad bites you and drinks until you are near death.� Then, he uses his sharpened middle fingernail to make a small slice for you to drink from.� You die and a few days later awaken as a vampire, just like Vlad." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "What happens to the Cast Offs?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| "We will be hungry when we come back.� Vlad saves them for us." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| That's what I had to do, the only way I could be close to Vlad was to be like him.� For him to 'sire' me.� If I was like him, there was no way he could ever push me away again.� With this hopeful feeling, I stared down the edge of the cliff. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Continue to Part 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Index | ||||||||||||||||||||