The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 5 ~ Mallen's Castle

Mallen showed up at nightfall, once again offering Iérti the chance to turn, but Iérti refused. This went on for another few nights. Iérti stopped walking and lay on a patch of grass, shivering from the cold and dizzy from lack of food. Mallen watched him suffer but did nothing to ease Iérti's physical condition, hoping the ordeal would make Iérti finally give in to becoming a vampire.

But Iérti was firm on refusing. "I'd rather die a human than become a vampire."

Mallen considered Iérti's response, then he said, "Let's see you change your mind once you've experienced the taste of every human weakness."

But Iérti never changed his mind, even as he was dying of starvation. Mallen became concerned when Iérti passed out at one point. Mallen poured a cup of stream water over Iérti, taunting him with it, knowing he hadn't had water in over three days. He bled his arm again and held it out towards Iérti, but Iérti faintly shook his head no and turned away.

"A shame," Mallen said expressionlessly, "that a man with such talents as yours should go to waste."

Mallen tossed a disapproving look at Iérti, who lay groaning. The vampire disappeared, leaving the human alone as he was about to die from starvation.

A short time later, Iérti felt someone pick him up and carry him. He leaned weakly into the person, too out of it to realize it was Mallen carrying him.

Mallen set Iérti down on some plush cushions, gently placing him on them. Iérti smelled barbeque ribs in the air and wondered if perhaps he was delirious. Mallen put a cup at his mouth, ordering, "Drink."

Thinking it was his vampire blood, Iérti started to move away, but when Mallen forced his mouth open and something cool and refreshing poured in, he realized it was water. Extremely relieved, Iérti gratefully drank. Mallen waited until he finished before setting the cup down, motioning towards a plate. Iérti stared in astonishment at the contents consisting of freshly cooked meat, fruits, bread, cheese, and another full container of water.

Iérti dug right in. He wolfed down most of the food within minutes. Mallen put a hand on his arm and said, "Hey, easy" before allowing him to proceed. Iérti ate until his hunger was satisfied and he was no longer on the verge of dying. Iérti looked at Mallen, confused by his unexpected mercy and kindness.

"Thank you," Iérti said, wondering why the vampire bothered to provide food for him. "Did you cook the meat yourself?"

Mallen nodded. "Yes, I did. I watched you humans for so long that in the process I learned how to cook."

"Well," Iérti said in surprise, setting down the water container. "For a vampire, you have good cooking skills."

Mallen smirked. Iérti went back to finishing off the last few bites of food that remained.

"So," Mallen began to ask, "how come your army was heading towards the mountains? Was there a specific goal you had in mind?"

pushed his plate to the side and looked directly into Mallen's eyes. He took in the long, raven black hair, the olive green eyes, the slim attractive figure, the years of experience hidden within his youthful features.

Mallen looked younger than Iérti, but he was certainly much older than he appeared. However, they weren't that far apart in age. Mallen was permanently thirty-six while Iérti was nearing his forties.

Iérti noticed Mallen often tied his hair back with a ribbon, just like Iérti often did with his hair, but this time both men's hair was loose, ribbons neatly folded in their pockets.

He could be my younger brother, if I had a brother, Iérti thought, regarding Mallen for a moment, before steeling himself.

"My goal is to eradicate the vampire thirst for blood," Iérti told Mallen. "Vampires are a near impossible force. We just keep losing men every time we try to eliminate the lot of you. But if there is a way that vampires can somehow live without the need for blood, I want to be the one to find that way so vampires and humans can live together in peace, without fear. If we can't kill off your kind, then at least, I want peace between our kind."