Shattered Bonds

It was dark, very dark and neither of the two could see where they were running but they knew what they wouldn't do is stop.

Never would they stop even if it cost them their legs, their limbs, their entire body.

I mean it didn't matter at that point cause they'd be dead either way.

Their pants and the thump of their feet were the only things filling the stale air this silent night for as soon as they turned into this darkened alleyway the city seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber.

“Is it still following us?!” The shorter one forced the words out between breaths.

“I- I don't know?” The other coughed to a halt and spluttered, massaging his broken legs.

“What the hell are you doing? Move!” The shorter one howled like a wolf.

“I can't! I can't, okay?! Besides, where is there to run?! “ The taller one argued back, waving an arm to the brick wall ahead.

“Great! Now what?”

“I don't know? You brought us here! This was all your idea!”

And the two argued, sharing deathly glares and tense muscles they strained to keep their hands to themselves.

The air was stale, the apartment walls closing in were grim and mouldy and the ground was a dumping ground where rats thrived.

This wasn't shelter, but where else were they to go? Else they'd be captured and eaten alive.

“We'll have to camp here.” The short one sighed.

“No! This place is a mess, no one in their right mind would stay here even a night! Mother will be worried! Let's go!”

“No! You're not leaving, we're not leaving till we get what we came for.” The short one reached out and gripped the other's wrist like a screw in a nut.

“What did we come for? Death?! An insane beast is chasing us and you think we should stay here, backed in a corner and cowering?” The taller one raged, wriggling in the strong grip.

“A coward runs away! You're scared of a vampire? Pathetic. We're getting that gem and that vampire knows where it is.”

“Vampires don't exist.”

“Then what do you call what's chasing us? Vampire or not you know it's no animal.”

And with that the short one was right, the flash and blur of its movements, the hunger for meat, the inability to tire, that was certainly no human.

But still, the taller one refused to believe in the supernatural and the gem.

“Will you shut up with your theories! Why do I have to be the one to keep you safe? You'll never be safe from your own stupidity!”

“Well at least my blindness won't kill me lik- wait! Do you hear that?” The short one held a finger to the others lips.

“No, what is it? Has it found us?!” They hissed.

“I don't-”

And there it was, at the very end of their little alleyway stood the tall, slender beast, their thin hair blowing around their face, but never concealed the shadow of their sharp jaw bone. Its posture flawless and its bony hands twitched as it stood silent and still like a statue.

The two hugged each other in fear, neither one seemed to care anymore who's dumb idea led them into this mess, they just wanted out.

The creature loomed closer and time stood still as it took every silent, slow step towards them until BAM, it stood right before them in an instant.

It didn't say anything as it smiled a sly, slim grin at the two quivering little rats.

“Take him!” The shorter one screamed at last as it loomed closer, holding out the taller one and making a run for it as the creature sunk its fangs into their neck.

The tall one screamed and squealed, wriggled and writhed as pain consumed the body.

They watched the short one run away, a single tear ran down his face and that's when Kyrin knew Asher was no longer his brother.

…Many years later…

The forest is calm, the water trickles beside me, the leaves rustle softly and the moonlight dances on the lush green carpet below.

“It's so peaceful” I think to myself as I rest on a log, wiping a little blood from my teeth and side eyeing the corpse next to me.

More people have been coming lately, but never going. I won't let anyone leave. No, no one leaves.

I sigh, springing up and with a swift scoop I throw the body and launch it into the river.

This one was a fiesty one, fat too, but all the same very tasty.

“He looks so soundly asleep” I think as I watch his limp face disappear within the sparkling laps of liquid.

I can't remember the last time I slept, breathed, laughed or ate real food.

They're lucky they died still able to do those things, I'd do anything to go back.

But I can't, I don't even remember my real name, I don't even remember my old brother's name.

But I remember that face, that stone serious look of relief as he ran away and left me there as food.

He died that day as did I and here I'll wait for his return to get my revenge.

You see he wanted the immortality gem, I found it. Twenty years ago I found it, resting peacefully inside a dragon's belly.

I keep it with me in my cave deep within this forest. Everyone who comes here to claim it for themselves is slain, I don't care the reason either.

I only care about The Short One, that's what we used to call him, only 4’ feet tall he stood.

Sometimes I wonder if he'll make it in time, after all, thanks to him I'll live forever.

He won't, and I'll make sure of that.

Still, time to wind down I guess, sleeping isn't an option anymore so I opted for research instead, it's amazing how much you can find out with unlimited time.

That's how I found out about the immortality gem after all.

I don't need light to see in the pitch black this cave has swolled, but it helps unwanted guests to find it so I snap a match and it crackles away.

The hours always tick by as an eternity and the pain of youth burns through me still.

“I don't remember myself” I think as I brush my long, pale blonde hair in the mirror to which all I see is the reflection of the candle lit table and assortments of pens and paper scattered on it.

I haven't seen myself in too long, nor heard my own name. I died, so I thought why bother?

I'm a vampire now, sharp blood stained fangs mark my sins and my inhumane speed and strength aid them.

With every kill I wish I could morn, I know it's wrong, yet I can't resist that sweet sound of death and its rich taste.

And I'm about to do it again as I hear a faint crack of a leaf just outside.

I do what I always do and flatten myself against the wall right next to the door and wait to pounce.

The footsteps are weary, slow, every one with precision. But they're scared, the hesitation with every toe gives it away.

As they should be, after all no one likes it when someone invades their house, right?

They're closer, closer… Closer…

*FLASH!!*

I make my move, I pounce and pin them down in a whirl which sends their head into a spin.

A smile infects my face as I meet eyes with them.

My dear Short One, finally you've come to me.

He's older now, much older, but I can still recognise that shallow, hollow expression anywhere.

I doubt he'll recognise me, I'm a different being, I died the night he did and I haven't recognised him since.

His eyes meet mine in pure horror, pupils like a grain of sand and eyeballs bulging out.

He wiggles like a worn, squirming in my grip and mumbling nonsense into my palm covering his mouth.

“You wanted this?” I spit, letting him go to grab the gem before holding him down again so fast he doesn't have a chance to even move.

I can see his eyes light up in his fear but I won't let him speak.

I don't care what he has to say, I don't care what he has to live for, what he's achieved or who will mourn his passing.

He used me and left me to die and now it's time he paid the price.

“Well that's tough, cause you ain't getting it. You shouldn't have killed me that night, perhaps you would have succeeded, became immortal. But now, you die just as I did!” I hiss at him before lunging in and letting my fangs consume his every inch of being.

He jerks and squirms and I enjoy every little pain felt breath that escapes him before he goes limp and freezes.

I decide to stare at him for a bit, thinking about everything he did to me, his stone expression fills me with victory and content. The blood dripping off my fangs marks his fate.

I did it, finally I can live in peace.

So I take his body and throw it into the river like all the others until it fades into the frozen moonlight.

The gem is still in my hand.

I have no use for it now, my job is done.

I ponder my options and decide in the end to smash it and discard it in the river as well.

That's it, I've done it.

I've done it.

I've done it…