| A howl split the night air, catching his attention. He looked up to see his father, transformation now complete, grappling with the corpses, snarling ferociously. The wolf disposed of them by crushing their skulls in his large paw-like hands. Vondoron had now made her way to both her children, checking for their heartbeats as Walter had done. Finding them dead, she let out a shrieking wail of anguish, then lay over their bodies repeating, �No� over and over again. Desmond came to stand beside them. A flapping sound caught their attention, and Walter looked up to see four more of the evil creatures descending in their �bat� form. It was not a true bat form, but more demon-like with only a few traces of bat-like tendencies. He watched in horrified fascination as they morphed into their more human-like appearance, which was still vile and cruel. His father�s voice filled his mind, as well as his mother�s and the vampires�. Nestafil and Avatar! I might have known. Leave my family alone. The vampire who was obviously the �master� due to his handsome good looks stepped forward, a fake tone of sympathy in his voice. �Certainly,� the vampire leader Avatar replied, �it�s just that my underlings have yet to feed tonight.� Then go feed somewhere else, vermin. Avatar only smiled as his underlings circled them, growling demonically. His underlings were disgusting creatures, only remotely human, their humanity drained from them with three bites, turning them into slaves to do their master�s bidding. Their long black hair was slimy, and reeked of death and decay. �But we like it here,� Avatar replied sweetly. Leave or else, you bloodsucker, Desmond told him with a snarl of angry warning. The enormous werewolf stood protectively over his family, his muscles tensed, anticipating an attack from any direction. �Who are these vampires father?� asked Walter. Avatar smiled smugly at Walter, then turned back to the Desmond werewolf. �You mean, he doesn�t know? You haven�t told him?� the vamp asked in an accusing, though light tone. No. I don�t want him to become mixed up with you or your kind. We are enemies Walter, nothing more. �Oh come now, Desmondra. You can do better than that. Let�s tell him, shall we . . .?� Turning to Walter, the vampire leader said, �Your father and I are old friends boy. We knew each other in the days of the Holy Chosen One, the One crucified. A carpenter, I believe he was.� Don�t. Avatar waited, letting every bit of information sink in, then continued, �I was engaged to your beautiful mother, but your father stole her from me. I guess being a general in the Roman Empire has it�s advantages.� The vampire paced, his hands behind his back, his fingers interlaced, as he calmly continued. �Then he betrayed your special Savior by arresting him and escorting him to his death.� Walter looked at his father in shock and a bit of accusation. I had to Walter, it was my duty. His father explained, Besides, I quit after that and accepted His teachings. I couldn�t be a soldier anymore. Walter nodded. The vampire continued his rant. �Ah, but we haven�t come to the best part, have we?� the vampire laughed humorlessly. Turning to look at Walter, Avatar told him, � A few days before he quit the army, your father and I were injured in an ambush while traveling to the province of Ishtir. Being best friends, I told him that I knew of his special abilities, begging him to make me what he was, but he refused.� The vampire yelled accusingly at the wolf, �You left me to die out there alone, just so you could have Vondoron all to yourself!� I knew you would use your power for evil and selfish reasons, Avatarus. That�s why I left you out in the desert, the wolf shot back telepathically. Regaining his composure, the vampire went on with his tale. �I swore revenge as I lay dying, and lo and behold, a peculiar thing happened. A vampire appeared before me. She was beautiful. She offered me immortal life, I accepted, and here I am.� The vampire spun around as if he were modeling new clothing, his arms open wide. He stopped suddenly, saying, �It was only after I returned to show your mother my new found power that I discovered their treachery. They had already left the city to come here to Dacia.� He turned to look at the wolf hatefully. �I told you Desmond. I told you that someday I would find you and your family and take back what is rightfully mine. Now, I shall have Vondoron for my own, as it was meant to be.� Suddenly, Vondoron stood up. �I loved you at one time, but you destroyed that love by your cruelty. That was long ago. I told you that you would lose me if it didn�t stop. You did it yourself Avatar, � she said venomously. �Really?� he shot back angrily. �Aye. You were even mean and cruel to anyone that crossed your path. Especially people who were not in the army, � she said matter-of-factly. �True,� the vampire nodded, �but Desmond took everything that meant anything to me. My promotions, the Emperor�s favor, and finally, you.� �I didn�t want to be with you anymore. You disgusted me with your evil deeds, and your methods. You disgust me still.� �No matter. I will still have you, and my revenge on Desmond.� Turning to his underlings, he told them, �Do what you want with the boy and his father, but she is mine.� �Aye, master,� they rasped in unison. They turned, launching an attack against Walter and his father while Avatar watched in malicious glee. Vondoron, not one to stand by helplessly, jumped into the battle in an attempt to protect her son and husband. She threw a punch at one attacking vampire, her fist making contact with it�s jaw, sending the creature flying backwards several feet. As the other two vampires battled Desmond and Walter, the two fought back hard, protecting themselves and Vondoron, who was holding her own quite well. As the fight intensified, one of the undead creatures� hands swatted her away from the battle, and into Avatar�s clutches. Desmond, seeing this, let out an enraged roar, launching himself at Avatar. In a flash, a vampire was on him, attacking his father mercilessly, grabbing the fur at the top of his head, pulling the wolf�s head back, then sinking it�s horrible fangs deep into his shaggy-furred neck. |
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