DRAGOS.
Slowly, I came out of the water with Dawn in my arms. Dacianus came running to help the minute he spotted me. Together, we laid her down on the grassy bank, and I sank to the earth beside her in defeat, my hands shaking not from the cold, but from something else... fear.
Utter and complete fear.
I couldn't hear the sound of her heartbeat anymore, couldn't hear the subtle trace of her pulse, and in that moment, something darker than dread or anger slowly took hold of me... a madness that clawed at my very skin.
A madness born of rage and sorrow, threatening to consume me whole.
A madness like no other.
"Dragos" Dacianus whispered. "I'm sorry."
I said nothing in response, emotions churning within me as I stared down at her still form in silence.
The gash was too deep, and she'd bled out into the water, her face as pale as snow.
After remaining motionless for what seemed like an eternity, I finally rose to my feet.
"Stay with her," I ordered, taking up my sword and turning away to search for Cassius.
When I finally found him, he was in the company of Geta, who had seized the blade from him. It was a wonder how I remained so calm, so composed, standing in the same space as my girlfriend's murderer.
Maybe it was because I knew he wouldn't escape. I'd make him suffer in ways that defied reason, ways that would haunt him long after I was done.
Geta was speaking to Cassius, who remained bent over on the floor, holding Elizabeta's desiccated remains, but I paid no attention to what he was saying, my eyes landing on a stone, a few meters to my left.
Without uttering a word, I walked towards it and crouched down. Then I began filing my sword against it.
The sun was going to come out soon.
When I'd filed it to my satisfaction, I straightened up and walked over to Cassius.
"Release Elizabeta," I said to him.
He didn't move.
I glanced to the side. "Geta," I called quietly, my eyes never leaving Cassius. "Hold him."
In an instant, Geta was there. He appeared behind Cassius, grabbing him with vampiric strength, immobilizing his arms, and forcing him to drop Elizabeta's corpse to the ground. All the demonic strength Cassius had possessed earlier seemed to have left him, as he struggled.
Geta glanced towards the sky. "Make it quick," he said, holding Cassius steady. "The sun will be out soon."
My eyes fell on the hellish blade, now abandoned on the ground beside Cassius.
On second thought, I tossed Blitzkrieg aside and grabbed the sword. Cassius' eyes widened in surprise as he struggled against Geta, but Geta didn't move.
I lifted the sword above my head and brought it down in one lethal move, severing both his wrists. His blood splashed on my shirt and face.
Cassius' hands hit the ground, and his scream of agony split the early morning air.
Geta stepped back as the rogue vampire collapsed to his knees.
There would be no more portalling. Cassius was mine now.
"I thought you were taking his head?" Geta asked desperately, "We have to leave now."
"He's coming with us," I said, turning to leave. "Bring him along."
Geta didn't argue, heaving Cassius to his feet. "You heard the Alesul, MOVE!"
Soon, we were on board the private jet, on our journey back to the Cayman Islands.
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(DAYS AFTER)
I walked into the room for the usual activity of torturing Cassius.
It was the fourth day of this routine, and Cassius was slumped in the chair, his arms bound by iron chains.
His body had healed over the past few days, every bruise and wound closing up, but his hands hadn't grown back. They were still stumps.
No amount of healing could allow his hands to regenerate, especially after I'd used the hell-forged blade to sever them.
Also, I'd left him starving, giving him just enough blood each day to keep him conscious, but never enough to replenish his strength.
I strode to the torture table, my hands slowly running over each instrument of pain. Then, I picked up a jagged knife and woke Cassius with a blow to his cheek.
His head jerked to the side, a growl of pain leaving his lips.
"Haven't you tortured me enough?" he spat.
I stared at him coldly. "We're trying something different today."
Without breaking eye contact, I called out. "Rafael. Bring him in."
The door swung open, and Rafael entered, dragging Eric, a long-lost friend of Cassius, behind him.
Eric struggled, his voice panicked. "Please! I've done nothing wrong! What do you want with me?! Who are you people?! I…"
His voice faltered as his eyes fell on Cassius, bewilderment turning to shock. "Cass? Is that you?"
Cassius' eyes widened in horror. "Eric?" He shifted in his chair, his voice cracking. "Eric, I... I'm so sorry."
Eric looked at him, terrified. "What have you done, Cass? Who are these people?"
"I-I made a mistake," Cassius said, his voice expressing his regret. "I'm sorry. Please, leave him out of this!" He turned to me. "Please! I beg you! He's innocent!"
"Dawn was innocent," I replied.
Eric's head swiveled to me, then Cassius. "Who's Dawn? What did you do?"
He looked at me again. "Please, I'm sorry for whatever he did, but leave me out of it. I'll do anything… anything!"
Ignoring his pleas, I moved to the corner of the room, dragging a chair and setting it across from Cassius.
Rafael pushed Eric into the seat, then pulled out iron chains, fastening them to the chair as Eric started to tremble, sweat forming on his forehead.
"Please," he said again, tears starting to fall from his eyes.
I started to toy with the jagged knife in my hands, and Eric's eyes widened, darting between Cassius and me.
"What is he doing? Oh my god, what is he doing?" he started to shake. "Cass, please…what's going on?"
Cassius stared at me angrily. "Don't do this," he said through his teeth. "Please. Take it out on me. Punish me, but leave him out of it."
Slowly, I leaned forward, my gaze locking with Cassius'. "Do you remember what I said to you as you stood on that cliff holding the sword to Dawn's neck?" I asked quietly.
Cassius paused for a moment before answering. "Yes"
"What was it?"
"You swore to hunt down the people I cared about, and hurt them."
"Geez, Cass. You killed this 'Dawn' girl?" Eric interrupted, his eyes trained on Cassius.
I straightened, staring down at Cassius. "I promised that your suffering would know no end. And even when I threatened to harm your loved ones, you still proceeded to kill her."
Eric gasped, his eyes not leaving Cassius, who refused to hold his gaze.
"An eye for an eye," I said.
Eric grew frantic in his seat. "I'm innocent, please," He begged desperately, then turned to Rafael. "PLEASE!"
"Because of you. He's going to suffer," I paused, then added. "Greatly. He doesn't deserve it, but you do, and you're going to watch every step. You're going to watch me break him"
"B-b-break me?" Eric tried to struggle again, but the chains held him tight. "I beg you… don't do this" he cried.
"Silence" I snapped. "Your friend is to blame for this. Today, he's going to curse the day he killed my girlfriend."
Suddenly, I stabbed Eric's thigh with the knife.
He screamed out, and Cassius let out a
sound of protest, fighting against his restraints.
"You know, sometimes I doubt you're even a vampire," I said, glaring down at Eric. "The way you cower and whine like a child... it's pathetic."
"I was turned against my will" Eric admitted, his voice strained from pain. "I only feed on animals... just enough to survive."
"That explains it" I muttered, twisting the blade deeper into his leg, and Eric thrashed violently, his flesh tearing beneath the blade.
"Argh! Please! Stop! I beg you!" he cried again.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Rafael watching me. His stare was disapproving but I paid him no mind. My attention was fixed on Cassius as I slowly pulled the knife free from his friend's thigh.
Eric's healing factor was slow to kick in, the blood lazily seeping from his wound.
"You know, during moments like this, I wish Azrael were still alive. He would've enjoyed this immensely, wouldn't he, Rafael?" I asked, turning slightly.
Rafael gave a brief nod, his face set in a hard stare.
"I'm sure you've heard of my brother. They called him the Wild One. The things he could do with a knife, and other tools" I taunted, circling Cassius.
"Before his death, he taught me many things about pain. About breaking a man."
I paused, standing still for a moment to let my words sink in. "For centuries, I kept that part of myself locked away... but no more"
Bringing out a handkerchief from my pocket, I wiped the blood from the blade.
"I'm not going to be a part of this" Rafael finally said, slightly raising his hands in disapproval. "Cassius should bear the punishment for what he's done, not Eric. A little torture, fine, but this..."
He trailed off as I shot him a deadly look, one that stopped him mid-sentence.
"Leave" I ordered, through my teeth.
Furious, Rafael stormed out, slamming the door of the cell behind him as the room fell silent once again.
I picked up a small hammer from the torture table.
"This is the price of your revenge. This is what you've brought upon those you care about, Cassius"
I crouched, staring into his eyes. "And it's just the beginning. This memory will follow you long after this moment has passed… long after your body desiccates. It will haunt you forever, there will be no escape from it"
Slowly, I stood back up. "And know I won't stop at Eric. No, he is only the first. Every person you've ever known will suffer for your sins."
As another tear slipped from Cassius' eye, I raised the hammer and struck Eric.