The Night the Vampires Came

Chapter 3 - Bonus Content - Alternate POV

Chapter 5 - Rebirth

"You had a human form like Orienne?"

"No, I used your mortal father's body from time to time. He had periods of blacking out, and that was when I took hold. He was a weak man who never had the guts to do half of the things he accomplished in his lifetime. Creating you was an act that I entirely take credit for. Perhaps, that was why he never really saw you as his child. That was why he hid away from you and left your mother to guide you."

"You mean to tell me, Grismal isn't my half-brother but my full brother."

"No, he's your half-brother," Jaduerial replied. "He was born of two gods, while you were born of two gods in human form. You may have the gifts of a god, but you are entirely human. Unlike us, you age, you tire, and you bleed just like the rest of them. And just like the rest of them, one day, you will die. Unlike Orienne, who chooses to remain in that particular mortal form but is able to free herself from it or take on another one if she wishes — you only have one mortal form. You are bound to it unless the gods deem you worthy of another lifetime."

"Death would be a blissful reprieve from you."

Jaduerial smiled at that. Oslen was finally unnerved. His hand was shaking as he leaned against it. It was another human weakness, emotion. Oslen hadn't expected this conversation to weaken him in such a way. It's funny how after so many years, the memory of his father's death still shook him to the core. And here was this smirking villain talking about his father as though he had any idea what kind of a man his father, Sebastian, was.

"Your mother and I will ensure your soul is taken care of," Jaduerial assured him gently. "Don't worry, my son, for even while Odelia forgets you, I'll always remember."

Oslen coughed and tried to clear his throat. He felt as though he were suffocating, and it wasn't from his injuries. This creature was spouting too much rubbish for him to bear. If only he weren't a captive audience to this damned conversation.

The monster lived inside his mind now, and there was no silencing him.

"And what about my wife Melody and my son Orion?"

Jaduerial scoffed. "The wife you tried to send into Aemon to her death? Or the orphan boy who she deceived you into raising? Oh, foolish boy, surely you are joking. What kind of weakness has led you to care for either of them?"

When Oslen didn't laugh along, Jaduerial's absinthe-green eyes grew serious.

"They'll fade from existence as all souls fade. Through the grace of the gods, you are eternal, but the mortals you care for will go the way of all the souls on earth. In time, you'll forget them, but you'll forget the pain too. I know you have suffered a great deal the past years."

What did this creature know of his suffering? Oslen directed his gaze away even though the creature's presence was everywhere and nowhere all at once. Oslen knew there was getting rid of the thing, but he could change the direction of the conversation.

"Charles Liang," Oslen mused.

"What about the old rat?"

"You shouldn't have killed him. He knew where the door to Mearnox was. His men had discovered it before you made his death look like a suicide."

"Then you'll find it as well. I have faith in you."

"It will take time," Oslen whispered, his voice hoarse with bloody saliva and anger. "I don't have the influence I once did."

"You're a resourceful boy when you want to be, Chairman Oslen of Tercel."

"If you had been watching me, then you know there is no organization named Tercel. All I have are a group of aging men who somehow remain loyal to me after twenty long years. You ripped my plane out of the skies. You murdered that helpless boy, Joseph Faherty, who I sent to Windflower. Perhaps you should have thought about the consequences of such wanton destruction before you and Orienne went after Yageron and Sylvirua."