Kane was by far the largest of the agramon, yet the other two had not immediately seen him arrive. Decio fought valiantly; his strength was more than the beasts had expected. Decio lunged head first into one of the beasts, sending it flying and striking the wind from it, then forced his fist into the belly of the beast shattering whatever was beyond the surface. The monster groaned in pain and then, with one fell swoop, knocked Decio across the field.
When the two agramon looked up they were surprised to look directly into the eyes of Kane, the most dominant force of all the agramon, long thought lost or dead. Many other agramon did exist, but their blood was different, degraded; they were a subspecies, and none could measure up to the formidable force that was the fearsome dark prince—Kane.
He now stood towering and fuming. His white eyes burned right through to the hearts of the beasts, striking them with fear they had never known. The air was silent but for the snapping of Kane’s knuckles as he tightened his fists. Black smoke flowed from his nostrils; his blood could be seen flowing up the veins of his arms. Kane’s mind sparked with flashes of all the years gone by that he’d suppressed this rage–years that he’d been away from his family–resentment for this furious anger–flashes of his sister lying there dying because of them. He could take no more. He opened his mouth and let out a hellacious roar to the sky, his throat filled with the flames of Hell. His rage would now be unleashed.
Kane rushed toward the other two agramon and with both arms across their necks knocked them crashing to the ground. The earth vigorously rumbled. He then snatched one of the agramon with a fierce grip and tore its neck out with one enormous crunch of his teeth. The other monster lunged at Kane but was knocked twenty feet into a cedar tree—and with such force it crushed the trunk, knocking it over. As the beast got up, Kane threw the corpse of the other agramon like a small animal, knocking its partner to the ground once more.
Kane stretched his arms out to the wind and roared again. The living agramon flung the lifeless body off of him, and watched as Kane ran for him. Just before Kane could reach him, he leapt out of the way toward Decio and sunk his teeth into the young vampire, tearing at his upper arm. Decio, now on the ground kicked the beast’s stomach with incredible force, knocking the monster to the ground at the feet of Kane. Kane stomped into the chest of the agramon, crushing its bones. The sinister beast looked up into the eyes of his executioner and growled once more. Kane picked him up by the throat and separated its head from its shoulders.
Kane felt satiated, renewed. He looked over at Decio and observed his wounds. The two men stared hard into each other’s eyes. Decio would be changing soon. Kane knew he should finish him off now, before it was too late. He walked closer to Decio and leaned over. He gripped the front of his shirt with his fist and began to slowly pull him upward. Decio did not struggle.
Suddenly, Mystique appeared on her horse. “Kane wait!” she yelled. She then jumped off of the horse and rushed to the two men. She saw that Decio had been attacked, something she’d hoped would never happen. But a thought suddenly occurred to her. “How long since he’s been attacked?” she asked.
“A few minutes,” Decio breathed.
Mystique was perplexed. “And you haven’t changed yet?” The effects were usually immediate. Maybe he wouldn’t change at all.
Kane dropped him to the ground and turned to Mystique. Even now, she looked at him with pure love in her eyes—even in this state, she loved him still. He couldn’t believe it. His eyes began to cool and his body to calm down.
Mystique placed her hand on his massive chest. She felt his breathing become peaceful because of her touch. He never wanted her to see him this way, yet wanted badly to hold her. But he held back, not wanting to hurt her. Mystique moved in and softly kissed his chest, telling him that her love for him was so deep that nothing could keep her from him—and that she cherished him in any form, in any way that she could have him. She looked up into his eyes and whispered, “You are beautiful.” Kane was overcome with amazement—even disbelief.
Decio watched all of this unfold. He could see the incredible bond that they shared. “I love her that way,” he informed them.
The two parents quickly looked down to Decio. They knew he spoke of their daughter, and knew that if he loved her that much, they could not keep them apart. Somehow, they would have to help him survive.
Chapter 19
Standing over Decio, Kane was calm but did not completely return to his tranquil state. He was guarded because of Decio’s imminent transformation. He kept a close eye on the young vampire.
Mystique took Kane’s powerful hand into hers. “My love, I’ve come with news. I know how to help Domnina. But we must hurry back to her. There is something you must do.” Mystique spoke in a reserved tone, but Kane noted the urgency it contained.
“Then let us go now!” he charged.
“But—what about the boy? Shall we send him to my cottage?” she asked.
Kane looked at Decio as he lay holding his bleeding arm. “No. We will take him to the dungeon. There, he will be... secure.”
Decio looked up into Kane’s fearsome eyes. “You think I will hurt her,” he stated plainly.
Kane huffed. “You won’t be hurting anyone while you’re locked in the depths of the citadel.”
Decio stood wearily and Kane turned his body to meet him. “I would never hurt my true love,” Decio coarsely insisted.
Kane remembered telling himself those same words long ago, but he’d grown to know better. “Your naiveté could be dangerous.”
Decio was furious. He boldly stepped head to chest with Kane. He spoke with utter defiance. “I will not be going to any dungeon tonight!”
Kane stood firm, but lowered his head to Decio until he was nose to nose. He enlightened Decio with a low growl. “Run... and I will enjoy hunting you.”
Mystique quickly intervened. She wedged herself between the two men until she was facing Decio. “Son, listen to me. You do not understand your condition. Please—if you truly love her, you will come with us.”
Several moments of silence consumed the air. Decio finally turned to make way to the castle and Kane followed. Mystique resisted the urge to make any comment at all to Kane. She simply bit her lip and climbed onto her horse.
At the castle, Domnina began to stir. She tossed her head from side to side and finally fluttered her eyes open. She saw black at first; she was cold but lay against something very warm. Her eyes slowly surveyed the black fabric in front of her then saw his chest. It was her LaVius. He was holding her in his arms as he sat on the edge of their bed. His magnificent hair was tied back, but was claret as it glistened in the fire’s light. He lowered his face and pressed his cheek to hers as he held her tightly. His skin was warm and soothing as she faded away once more. He held her still, and felt her slip back into unconsciousness. His dark heart was pained and tortured.
Mystique and Kane took a willing Decio to the dungeon in the deepest, centermost part of the castle. He would be treated well, and the comforts of a usual chamber were ordered for his benefit, but he would not be able to escape. And he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to risk his reason for living, the woman with whom he wanted to spend eternity.
Mystique and Kane made way to Domnina’s bedside, where she would explain how he could help his sister. Upon entering the chamber, their eyes fell upon a tormented LaVius as he now sat in an arm chair staring blankly into the fire.
“LaVius,” Mystique said quickly. “I know how to save her.”
LaVius’s eyes turned sharply to Mystique. When he saw the sincerity in her eyes, he stood. “How?” he pleaded.
She turned to Kane who was equally in anguish. He grabbed her by the arms. “Tell us!”
“It is risky...” Mystique left his grasp and clasped her hands together as she walked toward her friend who lay dying. As she stared at Domnina’s face she finished. “Kane... you must bite her.”
The two men hollered violently
in opposition.
“What do you mean bite her?!” LaVius blasted.
“Mystique!” Kane yelled. “Do you know what I am? An agramon did this to her! She would surely die!”
Suddenly, LaVius threw himself between Mystique and Domnina and pushed her backward into Kane. “Stay away from her!” he warned.
Kane threw Mystique to the side and he and LaVius thrust themselves eye to eye. Kane snarled at LaVius. “Don’t ever touch Mystique like that again!”
LaVius’s eyes darkened with anger. “And don’t you dare to think about hurting my wife!”
The two men’s chests heaved; their tempers began to shift into higher gear. Mystique rolled her eyes and straightened her now disheveled cloak. She then shouted at them. “Stop this! We haven’t much time! The two of you must listen to me!”
The men turned reluctantly toward Mystique, but their eyes remained fixed on each other.
Mystique continued. “Kane, your sister is of immortal blood. You share the same parents, but you have varying concentrations of agramon inside you. The little bit that mingled with hers this day was enough to kill her, but if you—the most powerful of all agramon, the type that matched her own blood, were to bite her—fiercely—you just might save her. She would become stronger—more like you.”
LaVius and Kane turned their eyes to Mystique bowled over by her words.
“What is this madness, woman?!” LaVius questioned. “You would have him turn her into complete agramon, or worse—kill her?!”
“Believe me LaVius—if there was any other way...” she beseeched. “And she wouldn’t be completely overtaken, only enough to give her strength.”
Kane turned away. His eyes swayed back and forth. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He could never attack Domnina, but somehow he knew this was true; it would save her.
Mystique swallowed hard. She knew this was not what anyone wanted, but it was the only way. “Kane, when you do it, your rage must be at its peak so that the venom will be the most potent.”
Kane knew this could kill her. When his rage is at its worst, he can scarcely stop himself from killing. This was too dangerous. “No! I will not do it!” he roared.
LaVius came to the realization that there was no other choice. As much as he knew the risks, he also knew that the countess would surely die anyway. “Kane,” LaVius began with gritted teeth, his heart in agony. “You must—or else we will lose her.” Uttering those words pierced straight through the heart of LaVius. He knew now that he might lose her in a matter of minutes instead of hours or days.
This situation indeed sparked Kane’s rage: his sister dying, his having to attack her. His anguish fueled his anger, and his eyes began to turn red, then suddenly white. Tears streamed down his face as he began to transform. His muscles tightened. His back flexed. His blood began to boil.
Mystique backed away. LaVius stared into the eyes of his wife’s brother, and his own eyes turned red as the flames of hell. He couldn’t watch this. He turned toward the great wooden door and with a colossal measure of strength knocked it down. And, as Kane lunged at Domnina, LaVius stepped out into the corridor and roared so forcefully that it shook the boundaries of the castle and beyond.
Chapter 20
The deed was done. Kane had barely mustered the strength to avoid killing his sister. His teeth dripping with blood, he dropped to the floor and moaned horrifically, pounding his fist on the floor. Mystique started toward him to console him, but he suddenly bustled outdoors. He jumped over the ledge to the balcony below and then again to the ground. He ran into the forest until his condition passed.
LaVius slowly crept back into the room. He was hesitant to look at the carnage Kane might have caused, but what he saw astonished him. Mystique approached the foot of the bed staring at Domnina; she was equally shocked. Domnina laid there among the white sheets, her long dark locks strewn about; her arm was bloody and torn, yet it was healing as they gazed upon it. Her dark eyes open wide shifted between her husband and Mystique. Her color had returned. She looked more alive than ever. She stared at them with her customary sinful gaze, but wondered why they gaped at her blankly. She raised a brow. “Do I look so dreadful?”
Abruptly they rushed to her sides. Mystique grabbed one hand, LaVius the other. Mystique wanted to let them be alone, but first a tear slid down her cheek. She smiled at the countess. “You’re alive,” she whispered. “You’re alive.”
Domnina didn’t quite understand all of this. She had no recollection of events since riding Oblivion alongside Mystique. She looked to LaVius for answers as Mystique slipped away.
LaVius’s eyes moved rapidly back and forth between both of Domnina’s. He cupped her face with his hands. “Meus decorus diligo... my beautiful love, you have come back to me. If you’d have gone, I would have followed,” he lamented, his voice languid, tender.
She closed her eyes gently and inhaled his intoxicating essence. She now understood what had happened. She’d been near death. She opened her eyes once more and stared deeply into his. “I will never leave you, my love. You are the aura of my being.” The dark lord then kissed his wife, and all was right in his world.
As Mystique took a stroll through the moonlit courtyard, she noticed her daughter nearby. “Elena,” she greeted from the darkness.
Elena’s eyes rose to meet her mother’s. “Mother, where have you been? I’ve been searching for you! Father and Decio... have they returned?” she asked. “When I left them there were two agramon...”
Mystique interrupted her. “Were two agramon. They are no more. And the others are gone as well.”
Elena’s face was washed with relief. “I’m so glad for this news.”
Mystique drew closer to Elena and bade her sit down. She placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “There is more. It is Decio. He has been bitten.”
Elena stood quickly. “Where is he?” she cried.
“Here,” Mystique answered.
“Thank goodness. I must go to him.”
“Elena,” she breathed. “He is in the dungeon.”
Elena’s eyes grew dark. “What do you mean? Why would he be in that desolate place?” Her voice was controlled; her breath quickened.
“He is a vampire, Elena. A vampire bitten by an agramon is the most—”
“Has he changed yet?” Elena yelled. “If he had, you would have told me!”
“No... he has not.”
“Then he won’t! He must not have been affected! I’m going to him right now!”
Mystique stood and tried to stop her daughter. “Wait!”
It was too late. Elena had shot off in a flash.
Just as Mystique started after her, Kane appeared from the shadows. “Mystique...” he hesitated. “How is she?”
Mystique turned to him as he approached and knew immediately he spoke of Domnina. “Oh, Kane, it is incredible news! She is—” Mystique paused abruptly as her eyes glimpsed movement at the top of the balcony. She smiled as she saw her friend, and turned to Kane. “Well, look for yourself.” Mystique gestured up to the terrace above.
Kane looked up and saw his sister. She stood at the stone railing next to LaVius. She wore fresh linen and was smiling brilliantly. He guffawed joyously to the sky and fell to his knees, content at last.
The four had begun to feel a sizable measure of peace, but the merriment was quickly interrupted as one of the gatekeepers came running out to the courtyard. He yelled up to LaVius and over to Kane. “Come quick! The girl is trying to break the monster free!”
Chapter 21
Kane and Mystique ran hurriedly through the castle and down to the dungeon. The countess slid into her divit-toed slippers and began to follow her husband through the secret corridor that would lead them there expeditiously. He turned to her with a stern gaze in an attempt to make her stay, but she gave him a disparaging look that changed his mind. There was no time to argue, so down they went.
On their way to the dungeon, the lord a
nd countess were prepared for the worst. The gatekeeper had referred to Decio as “the monster.” They knew he must have transformed. Once they arrived, LaVius secretly had a clear view into the hall of cells. It was a circular vestibule, and the shadows of flaming torches flickered on the great stone walls. The area was suspiciously quiet. He slid his hand through a crevice in the darkness and lifted a lever which opened the hidden outlet.
LaVius entered the room first to identify whether there was any threat of danger. Domnina slipped out of the corridor and began to examine the room herself. LaVius looked over his shoulder and saw her standing with her back to him. Alarmed, he turned her around to face him. “What do you think you are doing?” he asked.
“Helping you. Now let go of me,” she demanded.
“Woman,” he snarled. “You’re barely healed. I won’t have you taking such risks. Get back in the corridor.”
Domnina didn’t take very well to being commanded by any man. “I will not!” she whispered forcefully. “Now unhand me and let’s get back to business!”
LaVius simply reopened the door and began to assist Domnina back into it.
“LaVius, let me go!” she huffed.
LaVius’s eyes jutted just past her and transformed into dark, blood-red pools. He slipped a dagger from his boot. Domnina was at a loss. LaVius instantly raised his hand and thrust it past his wife and into something. She ducked to the ground and turned around quickly to see him fighting an enormous, ghastly, beast. Its skin was that of slate; its eyes were blood-shot. The monster had two large fangs pointing downward, and bottom teeth that curved outward and up from its jaw.
Domnina began to feel strange. Something deep within her was beginning to emerge. She felt supremely coherent; her thoughts were crisp and clear; she could see, and feel, and hear better than ever in her life. And she could hear the pounding... the thumping of the beast’s heart. She crawled across the sandy stone floor and backed up against a wall.
Suddenly, from nowhere, Decio and Elena appeared. Elena ran to Domnina, and Decio went to help LaVius. With great speed, he tore around the beast like a tornadic wind and sliced it with his teeth and claws. The animal screeched horrifically and fell to the ground.