8A/N:Hello to all MI readers! It's been quite some time since the last chapter! Here's a new one for you! Been having trouble with my muses and inspiration when writing this chapter. Hope it'll turn out fine with you guys!
The bar we chose was shady and gloomy. As we entered, vampires hidden in the crowds of soulless humans stopped whatever they were doing and bowed their head at us. Even the mortals stopped their actions and stare at us. Everywhere we looked, we could see our vampires amongst the soulless humans. Loud disturbing music drowned all other noises.
Drug, sex, booze and blood. This pub and bar was opened up by me, made only for vampires but over the years, humans found out about it so it became the only hanging out spot for vampires and humans. It is, also, the best spot for us to find… food.
My eyes flickered to the DJ and I saw Almaric. My little fledgling grinned at me from the distant, flashing his pearl white fangs for a split second. He saluted me with his index finger and I couldn't help but smile back like a proud father. He was a strong vampire.
The four of us settled ourselves down at the bar table and immediately, all vampires around us left after bowing and greeting us. The mortals must have thought we're some big shot in the black market and followed the other vampires' actions.
The bartender came up to us. "A wonderful deathly night My Lord Marquis and my other three Masters of the Dark. May I take your orders please?"
Alexis smiled up at him. "Do you have Dove's Blood?"
The bartender nodded at jotted down her orders. Sergius tapped his lips. "I want Wolves' Blood."
When it was my turn to place my order, I just blinked at him. The only blood I wanted now was Ariel's blood. I could feel Síle's stare out weighing the rest on me. They knew what I wanted now and that wasn't helping my situation at all. Trying to play it calm and cool, I ordered for a snake's blood.
"Have you decided on your orders yet, Master Síle?"
Síle placed her hands on the table. "I presume you have the blood of a child?" she asked. She looked questioningly at him with an amused smile plastered to her face but I knew the answer was directed at me. She was- perhaps - testing me in some form of a way or another.
Returning her amused smile with a mocking friendly one, I answered for the bartender, "Why of course, my lovely Síle. Do you doubt my capabilities?"
"No, of course not. It's just that the blood of a child is not easy to find." Síle turned to me.
I laughed and waved off the bartender. "I'm every bit of evil as a Vampire Elder should be, Síle."
"I certainly hope so, Marquis." She sounded disbelieved. I shot her a glare, challenging her suspicions about my capabilities as an Elder.
I willed myself to control my anger and found myself digging my sharp diamond-like nails in the wooden bar table. With stiff fingers, I took my nails out and cleared my throat, feeling glad when I saw the bartender coming back with our drinks.
When the bartender left us alone once more and we were sure no one was paying attention towards us, - everyone was bright enough to keep a distance from where we sat – I shoved my hands into my hair and called for everyone's attention. "And I presumed when Satan commanded all of you to do this, neither of you tried to defend me?"
I saw Sergius shrugging. "I was personally shocked and was in disbelief although I did not defend you."
Alexis sighed and gathered all of her hair over one shoulder. "So what are you going to do now, Marquis? You don't have much time left to make a decision."
For the first time, my voice came out in a whisper if not shaken. "I don't know…"
Sergius threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "What do you mean you don't know? Just get rid of her damn it!"
At that notion of that suggestion, I lost my control. I crushed the glass that was in my hand and I flung the shards of glasses at him. "Don't you dare suggest that! I'm not going to return her nor will I get her killed, you hear me Sergius?!"
Alexis and Sergius stared at me in bafflement. Síle on the other hand, started laughing. "Marquis, Marquis, Marquis…" she clucked her tongue. "And here I thought you'd be wiser after living for so many years!"
I stood up and balled my fists. "What do you mean, Síle?"
She held up two fingers. "One." She took down a finger. "Nothing good will come out from love. Love is a human's emotion. We as vampires must be devoid of any humane emotion other than what's allowed by Satan. And two," she took down the remaining finger, "Satan's orders are absolute."
This time, it was my turn to burst into laughter and it sounded ironic to my ears. "And this is coming from you Síle?! You may be the strongest and the oldest but don't fuck with me about us being forbidden to fall in love!"
I continued to provoke Síle although I knew I was treading on thin ice. I was furious. No, I was more than furious. I was infuriated and enraged. "You love our god! You love Satan! Isn't that supposed to be a darker sin compared to mine!? Why aren't you getting punished when you're fucking around with Satan himself?!"
By then, I could feel murmurs arising from the crowd but as if I really did give a damn at that moment.
I don't understand. I've never loved someone before and now that I did, she's being taken away from me. I hold an amount of authority and power that everyone would be jealous of yet I could do nothing just because of this cliché Romeo and Juliet situation.
Draining the last drop of some unknown poor child's blood, Síle glowered at me. However, she said naught. Silently like a cat, she stood up and walked out of the pub. Sergius followed her but not before shooting me a 'you should not have said that' look.
I buried my face in my hands and shook my head. "She's mine Alexis. No one can take her away from me!" But before Alexis could start her useless comfort speech, Sergius ran back into the pub frantically. Alexis and I frowned at his state of distress. While trying to regain his breath, he announced, "Satan's here now. Outside, with Síle."
At that moment, all air in my lung was knocked out of me as the other vampire finished his announcement, "And he wants to see you now."
The instant I stepped out of the bar, I found myself standing in an entirely different place. It was quiet and dark. Upon further inspection, I realized that I was transported into a room and at the end of the room, opposite of me sat the fallen angel Lucifer, my God – Satan. Beside him, on his right side, stood Síle. Her cold hard eyes pinning on me with an accusing look.
"How are you doing my children?" Satan's silky yet slithering malevolent voice greeted. Hurriedly, Alexis and I walked up to Satan and knelt before him. "A wonderful deathly night to you, our Master, our God Satan." We kissed the back of his hand and kept our head held low. I could feel Sergius walking past me to stand behind Síle.
"You may stand up, Alexis."
I could hear Alexis sighing in relief that she was allowed to stand. When my name was not called, I began bracing myself for Satan's wrath.
"Marquis!" Satan shouted my name furiously; his cool composure vanished suddenly. "How many times are you going to defy me before my orders are followed?!" Around us, raging hot black fires shot up from the ground. They turn into blazes reflecting the mood of our creator.
I winced when a fleck of fire bounced upon my skin. I lifted my head up, fixing my eyes on Satan. I've always amused myself with the stupidity of the human race. I couldn't nor bothered to understand why humans would go to such great lengths – even when they know the dire consequences of their actions – just because of love. But at that moment, I – a vampire – actually found out the reason.
At then, I thought to myself: Would I rather leave Ariel for both our safety or will I succumb to my selfishness and stake claim and property of my lovely Ariel despite being aware that we'd probably will really die in the end? "How many times will I need to defy you until Ariel and I are left alone?" I replied Satan's question with one of my own.
Then, I stood up without an order...
I challenged Satan's authority and power…
(That, I must truly say, should be recorded down in the history of vampires.)
I curled my fingers into a fist as curses on my foolishness were made by the three Elders. It took all of my bravery and will not to retreat a few steps back when Satan finally rose from his throne of skeletons. As God in heaven made men in his image, Satan also made us vampires in his own image.
Satan walked down from his throne, his white wings were neatly folded closed. His long curling horns that was the only indication that he was Satan protruded somehow ghastly yet elegantly from his long golden locks of hair. He wore a black robe – an obvious defiance towards God who wore pure white. His eyes and lips, however, unlike us are pure black.
Satan smiled and took my face in his hands. He was a head taller than I was and I had to look up at him. "Marquis, as much as I adore the fact that you have helped me make God dreadfully outraged," he paused as if looking for the right words and phrasing. "An angel's still an angel – clean and pure, no matter how tainted they may seem. The longer you stay with her, the closer you will get to the light. You're my son and as your father, I must prevent you from any light at all." His voice was soft and urging. I could not prevent myself from being drawn into his eyes and weakened my defenses at his touch. "So do you understand me now Marquis? Be a good son and I 'll give you a lighter sentence."
Sucking in a deep breath, I push myself away from him and I noticed blood trickling down my face. Was I so captivated by Satan that I felt nothing with he punctured my cheeks with his nails and fingers while cupping my face? I shook my head and in a low but defiant whisper, I said, "No."
With Satan furious at me, I could get no help and there was no 'God' to pray to. The fire around us danced itself towards me at the twist of a wrist from Satan. It came at me like snakes, wrapping me up at my neck, hands, chest and legs. It lifted me off the ground and my feet were dangling in the air. Like a python, I could feel not the burning sensation but the tightening of the ropes of fire around me.
As hard as the bones of a vampire are, mine was about to very well break.
Once again, Satan asked me, "When are you going to stop defying me?"
However, this time I chose to keep quiet. I bit my bottom lip till I tasted my blood to stop myself from shouting in pain.
In a chilly frozen voice with murderous blazing eyes, Satan held out his hand. He spreaded his fingers wide and immediately the chains around me loosened up. I gasped for air and felt myself falling. Before my feet hit the ground and I thought I was safe, I saw Satan clenching his first and instantly, the chains of fire tightened around me again, harder than ever and this time, I did not shout… but I screamed. Should have known that Satan wasn't going to let me off the hook that easily.
I wanted to rip away the chains surrounding me. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move. I knew I was gasping and crying out her name because I heard Satan snarling, "You're already irritating me, Marquis and you dare still say her name in my presence?!" My bones were already starting to break starting from my left wrist. I was sure that my neck was the last to break. I knew my eyes were already starting to roll up. I struggled to break free and at that moment, all I thought of was Ariel. I saw her face, I saw her smile.
I was going to die… for real this time round.
At least, that was what supposed to have happen if it's not for Satan being interrupted by an unannounced presence…
With my blurred eyesight, I could roughly make out Satan rolling his dark pool of eyes while groaning. A bright light glowed and lighted up the room. The Elders and I hissed from the striking pain to our eyes. The chain around me disappeared in a puff of smoke and the fires around us were gone. I was simply allowed to fall and crumple onto the cold dusty ground.
"How are you doing, Lucifer?" it was an unfamiliar voice. Deep, soothing, calm and melodious.
I felt someone rushing up to me and then I heard crying. I opened up an eye and saw Ariel, cradling my head in her arms.
"Hey. You don't look so good." I smiled. She was covered with marks of whips and bruises across her face and probably her body too. And I thought God was supposed to show mercy? I pushed myself up and was thankful that only my left wrist was broken. My bone was jutting out and temporarily, I did not bother with pushing it back into my flesh to be healed. I shook away my dizziness, grateful for a vampire's amazing healing capabilities and to my amazement, I saw the heavenly God.
"What the hell are you doing here? I was about to finish this prodigal son of mine!" Satan rested his weight on one foot and propped a hand up on his waist.
"My daughter wants to see him before she leaves. Unlike you, I have a sense of compassion." God, with his wavy shoulder length white hair, beautiful green eyes and pinkish lips with blushing cheeks, frowned at Satan.
"Right. Beating up your angel with a whip is compassion."
God shrugged his delicate shoulders. "Better than strangling and slowly breaking every single bone in your son's body at the very least." he sounded disgusted.
It was my first time seeing God face to face and all image I had of God when I was a pious Christian during my human life, vanished.
"You blasted brainwashing piece of shit. Just get your angel out of here and be gone." Satan hissed.
"Look, Lucifer," God said in a singsong voice and walked up the throne and sat on it. At his touch, the skeleton throne turned into flowers and golden vines. "I hate your to be in your presence and much as you hate to be in mine. But look at them," God gestured towards us and unconsciously, I wrapped my arms protectively around Ariel. I snarled at God when he smiled at me. I wanted so much to rip God and Satan apart and if it weren't for the restraint that I felt from Ariel's strong grasps on hands on me, I would really have done it. "Have you ever loved before, Lucifer? Have you experienced love even once?"
Satan arched an eyebrow and turned back to God. Softness flashed across his eyes momentarily, but still I caught it. Instantly, I switched my attention to Síle, who now waited gingerly for an answer. She looked lost and I felt sorry for her as much as I loathe her.
"No." my creator answered and from the corners of my eyes, I saw Síle loosing her composure. Nevertheless, I couldn't really be bothered with it at the moment. She deserved it anyway. Pushing all these unnecessary thoughts away, I focused on the important matters – escaping.
I bit my lower lips while I quickly healed my broken arm. There was no way I could escape this place unless I blow up a hole in the wall and drag Ariel along with me to run away. I had no other plans and I could not think up either. A few of the VETs were around so are all four of the Vampire Elders. Tell me, what are the true chances of us escaping?
But I have to do it. She's mine… Ariel's mine… I'm already a vampire and I've died once. What's the difference of dying a second time? Why should I fear death?
I fear for Ariel's life… what if she dies? What if…?
Forsaken… Ariel and I are now forsakens… thrown to fend for ourselves. How cliché could things get? I almost wanted to laugh at that thought.
My angel looked up at me and I realized that I was gripping her hands tightly. She looked into my desperate eyes searchingly and she gasped when she understood. I did not wait for an answer from her because I was afraid she would reject me.
Sucking sharply in the cold dusty air, I summoned up every ounce of power in me to gather the winds at my hands and threw the force towards the wall. Things happened within seconds and I did everything out of instincts. I heard Ariel shouting my name as I stood up and pulled her towards the opening.
But this isn't a heroic tale… this is not a tale where the hero wins…
Ariel started screaming. Bright glowing tears sparkled as they flowed down her cheeks and frantically I searched for the cause. I smelt blood and although I was relieved that it wasn't the smell of Ariel's blood, my heart stopped. My eyes dropped heavily to my chest where Satan drove his hand into me. Time stopped. I could hear nothing. From deep down my throat, I felt something rising up. It tasted like bile and it felt disgusting.
"And where do you think are you going, Marquis?" Satan retracted his hand as I threw up my own blood and blood splattered everywhere. I fell to my hands and knees, weak with fatigue. In a disgusted tone, my creator picked me up by my throat and said in a hissing slithering voice, "Look at you, son. Even your blood which was such a beautiful color of black is turning grey."
I've promised her once – like all, who would have told their loved ones – which I would protect her and I would not let her shed a tear for me. Looking at her now, I regretted making that promise…
My hands badly shook as I gripped Satan's hand. I forced myself to stare into the devil's eyes and he rolled his eyes. "I am Lucifer. I create you. Do you think you can overpower me? This is not some tale whereby the good guy is able to defeat the monster."
I closed the wound in my chest but the loss of blood could not be replaced. Blood is the most vital source of our strength and without enough of it, we might as well be humans.
For the second time, I thought that my story would very well end there and then.
However, when I heard a blast and the wall behind me burst into rubbles, absolutely everything and everyone was thrown into a spiral of turmoil. Figures moved in a blur motion and before I could start comprehending, I heard Sergius shouted my name and Ariel's.
The next thing that happened, light blinded my eyes and I was running. My hand was being pulled by Sergius and when I looked to my right, I saw Ariel…
For the second time… I was saved by sheer luck…
A/N: I felt that I was seriously lacking for some vocab while writing this chapter... Huh... Besides that, ya, I know, it was a bit boring at the beginning of the Chapter and I was unsure how should I portray God.
Bah... Anyway, reviews!