Children of the Night Chapter 8

[Chapter 8: Trap]

The morning was like any other but sadly I had that same nightmare…the one where I killed Tanner. This is getting out of hand and Eden had to come wake me from my screaming again.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

“It’s ok…you know you kept screaming ‘you’re not me’ over and over again,” he said.

“Really?” I questioned and he nodded.

After a silent moment he said, “Why don’t you go get ready.”

“Kay,” I replied, and slowly got out of bed.

I went through my usual morning routine: pick out my clothes, shower for a good 15 minutes, and get dressed. I left my journal in Ayden’s room so I didn’t bother searching my room for it. After grabbing my sword and other necessities, I made my elaborate way to Ayden’s room.

When I came to his room, a different guard greeted me this time and the same look of gratitude was plastered on his face. I walked past him without a word and sat on Ayden’s bed…I don’t want a repeat of last time. I pulled out my ipod and played Poor Unfortunate Souls by The Jonas Brothers.

I was too busy with the song to notice that Ayden had left his ‘other’ room and was running towards me…I didn’t realize until he yelled ‘BONZIA!’ Too late though because he made contact and fell on me …which in turn, made me fall.

“Morning,” he said, happily.

“Is that really how you greet people?” I asked, sarcastically.

“You know it!” he exclaimed, and kissed my forehead before springing off me.

I stood awestruck at what he’d done but quickly shook it off before he could see my expression. To my surprise, he was fully clothed this time.

“Surprised you’re not naked, you little man-whore,” I said.

“Bet you wish I was,” he retorted.

“In your dreams!” I shouted.

“I don’t have to dream,” he proudly declared.

“Whatever,” I scoffed.

I waited as he went and showered, making sure not to think anything that would lead to further dismay. He came back, wrapped in a towel with that cocky smirk of his. I gave him a sly smile before mounting off his bed and walking to look out of his window. I heard his footsteps as he went to his drawer to find some suitable clothes to wear…I didn’t pay much attention towards him until he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and whispered in the most seductive voice I’d ever heard: “Did you miss me?”

I simply turned around in his arms, looked him straight in the eyes, and crossed my arms.

“Does it look like I missed you?” I asked, threateningly.

“Try and hide it as you may,” he began, as he slowly closed the space between us only to leave inches between, “but you can’t deny your love for me.”

“Cocky much?” I said, though it sounded more like a question.

“No, it’s called confidence,” he replied, and lightly kissed my cheek.

There was no way I was going to let him get to me…maybe he knew. There’s no way! Ok, maybe…I kept calm and made sure I didn’t think too much. Last thing I need is him listening to my thoughts like an audiotape. I kept calm and went over today’s schedule with him…all the way he groaned and whined about his duties.

“You’re so lazy,” I commented.

“And you’re too serious for your own good,” he replied.

“I have to be…you won’t take any of this seriously, so I have to for you,” I stated.

“You should loosen up more Sakori,” he said.

Ahh the subtle use of my middle name. Of course it meant he was serious, for once…but he said it with such a casual tone therefore taking away the seriousness that he’d intended.

Today’s scheduled meeting was supposedly about Ayden’s rising powers. I thought that he’d already acquired them all but I suppose there are things he doesn’t even tell me. When we reached the meeting room, I waited outside as usual.

Ayden’s P.O.V.

“What is it this time Father?” I asked.

“Ahh, don’t you ever listen when Asa tells you things?” he asked.

“No, not really,” I replied.

“Be that way.” He scoffed, “This meeting is about you. Your powers and what we suspect will happen.”

“I thought I already have all my powers,” I questioned.

“There is one other we’ve been waiting for you to acquire,” he began, “it’s the power of sense.”

“But I can sense,” I said.

“No this is a specific ability that allows you to sense a person, not if they’re human or vampire, but their whole entire being from the day they were born, even their ancestry,” he continued, “and with such an ability, you’ll know everything about your enemies…and allies.”

“Why did you hesitate when you said ‘allies’?” I asked.

“There are some things about some of our allies that you don’t know,” he said.

“And why hide it?” I asked, enraged.

“For your own good,” he replied.

“How many things have you hidden from me? And who are they about?” I asked, standing up from my chair.

“Well…there have been some developments and it’s not like we hid anything that important…well it is but still. It’s just one big secret that’s important right now,” he explained, “but don’t worry yourself with who it concerns.”

“Who does it concern?” I asked, in a strict tone.

“Son,” he began.

“Who the hell does it concern Father!” I demanded.

“Asa.” He replied, after a silent pause.

Original P.O.V. (Asa’s P.O.V.)

“There is a visitor requesting you, Royal.” A lesser-ranked guard informed me.

“Can they wait? The Prince is in a meeting with the King,” I replied.

“I’m afraid not. He says it’s urgent.” He responded.

“Take my place for now.” I commanded and walked to the front door of the mansion.

I ran as quickly as I could to the front door and quickly opened the door with all my strength. The door was pretty damn heavy, like his overly flamboyant one from the castle.

“Asa!” a man shouted, relief all too evident in their voice.

“You?” I questioned.

“Yes…I-I need your help. Please!” he pleaded.

It was the boy from Tanner’s gang that nearly raped me. He was the one who I almost killed…the one who told me that I had killed Tanner. I still don’t believe it…but those nightmares; they feel just as real and powerful as the one about my parents’ death. Damn those stupid nightmares.

“What do you want?” I asked, leaning against the door.

“The darks — they’re trying to kill me! They-they came for me last night…after you escaped. …and told me to find you…or-or….they’ll kill me….and when I – when I told them t-that I wouldn’t…they attacked me….the only thing that saved me was the sunlight as I ran as fast I could a-away from them…I’ve been running since… I-I didn’t know…w-where else to go.” He explained, stuttering from fear at certain parts.

“Well what makes you think we can help?” I asked.

“You kill vampires! You can kill the darks, can’t you?!” he proclaimed, still in fear.

“I suppose…but I’m not so sure how much Ayden would like to kill the darks for you…with you and your friends and all,” I said.

“You can kill them yourself can’t you?” he asked, as his shaking began to simmer.

“Yeah…but I back me up…I mean…well depending on the number of darks I’m up against, either way, I can’t take a group of darks down by myself…it’s law,” I explained.

“Please! I need you…I mean you protect the living from the darks! Isn’t it…like your civil duty or something to help me?” he asked, as the panic increased.

How do I know this isn’t a trick? I mean just early yesterday morning, he tried to feed me to the darks and now he’s begging me to help him by killing them…it is the civil and secret duty for me to kill the darks and protect them from civilians but…he was a supporter of the darks so I don’t know. He knows more than he should and I’m sure he’ll go to other means of help if I refuse but I can’t refuse…and I know for a fact that Ayden wouldn’t support me going on my own. Damn it, what am I supposed to do?

“I’ll see what I can do…but not now. They probably tracked you so why don’t you come in and we’ll…do a few tests,” I said, bringing him inside and walking him towards our lab.

“I suppose…” he replied, skeptically.

I quickly went over to the vampires in charge of things and told them to check for bugging or any means of tracking and communication. The job of debugging is better performed by vampires because with their heightened senses, they can see and find things that some humans would miss.

After I left him with the vampire, I quickly dashed back to the meeting room. The guard I had commanded was still there, I told him the situation and he went to the lab. I resumed by position and hoped that Ayden didn’t notice.

Just then, Ayden came through the doors…but not like last time, he was calm and confused by the looks of things. I gave him a worried look and unintentionally thought what was wrong and of course he heard.

“Nothing…just some royal business,” he replied.

“Ok…well we’ve got a situation,” I told him, and he looked up at me.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Remember that guy …who was with Tanner…the black haired, emo-ish looking one?” I asked and he nodded, “Well he’s being hunted by the darks and requested our help…more like pleaded.”

“So?” he asked.

“So? We have to help him!” I exclaimed.

“No we don’t. He got himself into that situation and all alliances with darks turn bad…when they no longer need you or want you…you’re food. It’s his problem and the fact that he’s here will make it our problem by nightfall…get him out of here.” Ayden replied, sternly.

“But—“ I began.

“Now!” he commanded.

I stood in shock! He’s never raised his voice at me! Ever!

I walked in front of him and looked him in the eye. There was barely anything there: no remorse, no pity, not even a cocky glint…just sorrow, betrayal, and ultimately confusion. Something was bothering him that he wasn’t going to tell me about and now he’s refusing to help a human in need of protecting!

“What kind of prince are you?” I said, though it came out as a question.

“The kind who doesn’t sully himself by helping one whose fault it is for being hunted in the first place,” he quietly replied.

“You’ve got it wrong.” I told him and he looked up, “You’re no prince at all if you’re going to turn down someone in need.”

I then stormed off, not even bothering to look back if I hurt him. If he wanted to yell at me some more for insubordination then he can just catch up with me. I continued walking and kept my pace fast until I reached the lab. Tanner’s friend was sitting on one of the beds and I went over to talk to the vampire in charge. He said that there weren’t any wire-tapings found or anything of the sort. With that, I took the boy and we went to my room for me to get suited up.

I grabbed my silver rapid-fire pistol, my other silver sword, and kunai knifes. We then left the mansion and I got my motorcycle (yes, I have one. It’s black with red highlights…very nice) and drove to the abandoned looking building he pointed out.

It was still fairly light outside…a bit past 5pm. I casually opened the door to the building, when nothing jumped out at me I figured it safe to walk in.

He walked me through the building. Of course, the darks couldn’t attack because it was pretty lit with the sunlight that seeped through the windows. We then walked to a corridor. A bit hesitant before walking in front of me, Tanner’s friend leaded the way.

“Hey, what’s your name? It’s kind of annoying to keep referring to you as ‘Tanner’s friend’.” I said.

“Kyle,” he quietly replied.

“Kay…” I said.

We continued walking in silence. He didn’t speak or quiver like he did back at the castle. Just then, I realized something. At the castle, he was scared and fidgety but now he’s calm, no longer scared. I stopped in my tracks; he walked a few paces ahead, then turned around with a smirk on his face.

“You’re very gullible,” he said, an evil gleam forming in his eyes.

“You think so, huh?” I asked.

“Well of course, love. You were so willing to help me that you didn’t take your ‘back up’ and now you will die,” he finished.

By now there wasn’t any sunlight to save me; we were in the darkness that was the domicile of the darks.

I moved from my walking stance to a more defensive one with my legs spread out a bit and hands readily at my sides.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” I replied, as I pulled my pistol out of its holster.

“You really think you can win with that? Are you really going to kill a human?” he asked, menacingly.

And that’s where he’s wrong. As I studied him, I saw something that could be the only explanation for what was going on.

When he came to the castle, he was terrified out of his mind and when we arrived, he became calm like he’d realized what was going on and what happened.

I noticed that there was a bite mark on his neck just a while ago. Here’s where you’re all confused right…well I was too until I remembered an important little detail about the darks.

When they bite a victim, the bite mark is very evident and present but…after a while it begins to fade …as if the victim had never been bitten. So that would explain why the vampires back at the lab didn’t see or sense it. Though the traits of the bite begin to set in afterwards. Meaning that when he was at the castle, he was hanging on to his last bit of humanity and on the way here…he was transforming and by the time we got in this dark corridor, his transformation had completed. He is now a dark vampire, no longer among the human race. Bastard.

“Just watch me,” I fiercely stated, and shot him.

He screamed in pain and fell to his knees, clutching his chest where I shot him. I wasn’t in the mood to hear his screams any longer so I shot him in his leg and finally, in his head; that silenced him.

I turned to walk out of the corridor, but immediately became surrounded by darks. There were four of them. They appeared to be all men.

“Well, aren’t you just gun happy,” one stated.

“If that’s what you want to call it,” I replied.

“What a mouth on this one,” another said.

“Quite,” agreed another.

Oh jeez I hate not knowing these peoples names.

“And you all would be?” I asked, sounding bored.

“Matier,” one said, bowing.

“Callum,” the first one said.

“Daven,” the other said.

“And Garret,” finished the last one.

“Well looks like you’re the only one with a normal name around here,” I giggled, pointing at Garret.

“Well thank you, love,” he replied, in a wistful tone.

“See, I bet you all have beautiful voices too, unlike that creepy, stalker one you tend to use,” I said.

“Well isn’t she complimenting,” Daven said.

“Now, how about this, you guys let me leave and I won’t have to kill you,” I reasoned, “yet.”

“That sounds promising,” Callum said, from behind me and licked my neck.

“I wouldn’t get so close if I were you, Callum,” Matier calmly advised.

I then decided to be completely spontaneous. Of course they could read my mind so there was no way I could make a plan.

I casually walked over to Matier. He was the silent, strong type of the group…I could tell. Even as I stepped closer to him, with my gun still firmly in my hand, he didn’t flinch.

“So you’re the brains of them?” I asked, smiling.

“You could say that,” he replied.

His eyes were penetrating me and I felt like I’d collapse but that’s probably exactly what they wanted.

Of course by now Ayden’s realized I’d left and is probably tracking me so all I have to do is stall.

Easier said than done.