• Chapter 2 Memories

    As The body finished decaying, I turned my head to see Marco standing here his gun pointed back into his room. He was holding his gun left handed, but Marco had always been right handed. My first conclusion was it was asleep, but upon further observation a puddle of blood was forming under him.
    “Get out of here!” He shouted awaking the other sleeping vampires. The hordes of children Stood, fangs and smiles on their face, driven crazy by the crimson red of Marco’s blood. They stepped forth simultaneously moving like a machine. Surprisingly I was still left motionless only able to watch as they closed around Marco. The last thing Marco shouted had escaped my mind as I watched the horrified sight of blood spilling and agonizing screams. Each walked past me Marco laying there bone dry his skin pressed against his bone. I turned to walk away pondering why they didn’t touch me. Walking up the stairs I stopped mid way a sharp pain in my chest, then darkness.
    When I awoke I immediately noticed it wasn’t the house I was at before Marco was killed. Bright light shown from the chandeliers above me, the furnishing in the room were a wooden coffee table, a dark leather couch, and a chair I was sitting in. As my senses came to I realized there were heavy steel chains keeping me to the Chair. Looking around I saw many rare items, mainly jade artifacts. As I finished sweeping the room the door swung open and a man no older then his mid-twenties stepped in. his attire was a black tuxedo, along with matching pants and a fancy top hat.
    “Welcome to my humble abode.” he grinned, taking a seat on the couch in front of me. “I know you must be wondering why the gremlins didn’t attack you back in the house, but more less just acted like you wasn’t there?” he asked, as if he could read my mind.
    “What the hell are gremlins?” I demanded even though I was in no position. He merely gave me a fanged smile and then laughed.
    “The gremlins couldn’t attack you. It’s that simple young man.” he laughed, as if mocking me.
    “That still doesn’t tell me. Why couldn’t they attack me!” I demanded, wishing I had not asked this question.
    “Gremlins are mindless vampires only capable of finding victims through their smell if they are human, animal, or even a dead human. But they leave their kind alone. The scent of a vampire is different from a human’s, our bodies are bred with darkness.” he half-answered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a cigar, and a lighter.
    “Well then tell m-” I started only to be cut of.
    “ I was getting to that.” he said light his cigar, and blowing out a blast of foul smelling smoke into the air. “Vampire’s such as the residents of this manor can think of other things besides blood. But we are still limited to the nightlife, many people used to applaud the royal family, until an incident occurred. Which created the first half breed of vampire.” he took another puff and this time blew it in my face. “Even though a half breed is easily stronger then humans, they are still half human. Ever knew your mother, or father Hiro?” He asked in an accusing voice.
    “Course not I’m an orphan.” I said, somehow knowing where this was going. “Let me guess I’m the offspring of the traitor in the royal vampiric bloodline?” I asked with an uncaring expression.
    “Excellent I don’t have to explain half as much as I thought I would now.” He said finally putting out his cigar. “My name is Rydal Crissen III.” he introduced himself. “Lord Raiga you may come in now.” Rydal shouted walking towards the door, opening it for a man that had to be my age, wearing a white tuxedo, no hat, white wavy hair that looked like he had just gotten out of be. His crimson eyes cold as killer as he stared at me as though seeing through my being.
    “So this is my brother.” He sighed, turning to walk out the door.
    “What the hell you spoiled little s**t!” I shouted provoking him. A flash of white then I noticed the boy had a knife at my throat almost instantly.
    “If the same royal blood wasn’t in my veins you would be dead consider that a lucky break.” He warned his stare cold as a killer‘s. Even if I wasn’t chained, I’m not sure I could have dodged him. His speed was like a flash of lightning, his movements without fault. To fight someone like that is certain death.

    As the day went on, I was informed on some of the vampiric history, such as why this war was started, but what is still unclear is why I am so familiar with this place. I looked around seeing everything able to tell if one thing was missing. Then I looked back at the young vampire that was still left to keep an eye on me. Rydal is pretty talkative asking me about what I do, the place where I lived, and a few personal question. As I tell him some about what I’ve done, he keeps an open mind, well for a vampire at least.
    “So it seems you have only been killing gremlins. Out of the vampire ranks they are the lowest, and weakest. The next level above gremlin, are the schiavo which is Italian for slave. Then they are the normal vampire such as me well, and last but not least the fearsome royal family.” He spoke as he stubbed out yet another cigar. “Might I suggest you get sleep before they decide what to do with you tomorrow.” He warned me.
    “What do you bean before they decide?” I asked with a yawn
    “You will either be accepted as a royal member, executed, or become a slave.” he sighed looking for a cigar, but finding none.
    “If you are accepted you may as well hope for the best, since you’re a year older then your brother. And only the oldest will become king, so he despises you.” Rydal said laying back relaxing. With my somewhat new found confidence I closed my eyes and prepared myself for tomorrow. But what I saw in my dream changed my mental state.

    “Lord Richard is that your son?” a voice asked. As an old man stood there dressed in a finely made leather suit, a silver cane in hand, and a black top hat.
    “Yes his name is Hiro.” The knight answered, his silver armor shining in the summer’s light. I looked upon the knight knowing it was my father. He guided me into a manor, the architectural design of it shown it was made for Royalty. As we toured around the manor I found many artifacts that looked pleasing to my childish mind, such as a vase which scripted a battle, a dragon carved from a strange green stone called jade, and a suit of armor said to belong to the hero of the vampires. I noticed many people staring at me as I wondered around, but they were all smiling as if I was a precious artifact. I felt special as they looked at me, until I went back to my father who was still talking to the old man.
    “I can see if he was someone else’s, but you want him to be forced on the opposite side of the war?” he argued with the old man, But my young mind was unable to comprehend what they were talking about. A dreaded fear came over my as my father lead me about the house. Showing me every room, and every artifact, telling me a history I would never remember.
    The next thing I knew I was being raised in the human side. Learning the ways of hunting vampires, and killing them. My life was changing, as I learned the ways of the sword from my grandfather, who actually was an old man who found me in the woods. He says he used to be a great knight who destroyed the great vampire king although I don’t believe him. In every sword match against him I have failed to land a single blow. No matter how hard I tried the old warrior seemed to best me. As the years went by he slowly declined to his teachings and fell prey to a disease which slowly killed him. Although he was my biggest inspiration he wasn’t the only one to have ever inspired me. As the old man died he handed over his sword known far and wide as the crimson cross, for the fact a blood red cross was inscribed onto it, from halfway down the blade back to its guard. The sword was made to eliminate vampires with only one cut. As the time I spent with my grandfather stayed in my mind.
    I sought out the Black Chapel a group of Vampire hunters, who held power throughout the country. Even though vampires rarely shown themselves we eradicated what we could find. Smaller groups formed and swept through the country, but only the Chapel had the necessary tools to harm vampires.

    “Wake up!” a voice shouted harshly as I saw my brother standing at the door way. Its time to see if you are worthy of the blood that flows through you.” he said unchaining me and leading me out side, out side there was a large court set up, everyone watched as Raiga brought me forward to the trial.

    “Let the trial of the half breed begin!” The judge shouted making my blood run cold, awaiting to see what I was getting into.