Misha the Beast Tamer

Chapter 16

Emrick was not the only beast we saw today. We were given the task to observe a shape-shifter, a werewolf, and a succubus. All appeared human, until their inner beast was shown to us through methods that I did not agree with.

After these observation exercises, I questioned whether I should remain at the academy or return home. I didn't know whether I could willingly cause a beast, no matter how dangerous, pain and suffering just to get a reaction.

The ending of the day drew near, soon I was going to meet Emrick the vampire face to face. I joined a small line of students, who were also getting to meet the beast that they impressed the teacher with their knowledge.

I was the first student to be introduced to their beast.

The students were stopped outside the entryway to the section of cells that Emrick was being held. They were told to stay and wait until the teacher returned.

"Follow me Princess." I followed her through the doorway and we stopped in front of Emrick's cell.

"Some quick instructions Princess. Don't go putting fingers into the cell. Do not cross the black line, be aware that he is a vampire not human. Finally, it seems that Emrick possess abilities that are rare. He also seems to have more abilities than the average vampire. He is the most unique vampire that I have ever met. Now I'll leave you with him, princess."

I bowed my head in farewell. Soon it was just Emrick and I, alone in a dark and damp dungeon. I looked at him, he didn't acknowledge my presence.

Emrick had shackles around his feet, they were made of silver. The silver burnt into his ankles while he sat on a hard wooden chair, face down staring at the floor. I started to feel sad for him. I didn't feel threatened by him at all.

I struggled with a way to encourage him to talk. But it was Emrick who broke the silence.

"No need to feel sad for me Princess Misha of the Okeanos kingdom. This is not the worst thing that has happened to me."

I was shocked, Emrick knew my name and which kingdom my father ruled.

"Don't be shocked Princess, reading minds is one of my many abilities." Emrick stated.

"So what other abilities do you possess Emrick?" I asked.

"If I told you all of them, where would that leave me? Vulnerable? Forever locked up with silver chains around my ankles? Being stared at, drawn, treated as nothing more than a unique beast to study? Or better yet, maybe they'll try to breed me with another vampire?"

I was saddened by his pessimism.

"How long have you been locked up for, Emrick?" I questioned.

He let out a sigh,

"Six months, Princess. Six long months away from my home on Primeva Island and six months away from the love of my life, Ronin.

You know, Princess, we've been together for over two hundred years and this is the longest I've been away from him. I worry about him, he still doesn't have full control of his hunger or of his powers he needs me for guidance, strength, and encouragement.

I shouldn't even be here locked in this cell. I haven't tasted the blood of a human for two hundred years, ever since I turned Ronin. I no longer require blood for sustenance, that part of my predatory nature has been cured. But my immortality, my cravings for virgin blood, and my powers still remain."

I was confused, so I questioned him further

"How can you survive without eating Emrick, wouldn't you be starving? Can you at least eat human food? How were you cured?"

"I just do, I'm no longer interested in drinking blood. But the smell of virgin blood still makes my mouth water and my body reacts the same as if I want to drink. My fangs show, venom drips from my fangs, but if I try to drink, I just can't do it."

He paused and then I realised why he didn't look up at me and kept his head down. His mouth was watering, his fangs were ready to pierce my flesh and inject me with venom.

"You're right Princess, the smell of your blood is making me react in the way I described. I will answer your last questions, but after that you must leave, before it's too hard for me to control my beast and you see his real face.

I don't feel hunger just emptiness that's it. No, I cannot eat human food it will cause me to retch and vomit.

I was cured as a gift for fighting in a forgotten war against an evil, vicious, sadistic, but forgotten enemy over 200 years ago. No human remembers, its not mentioned in any written history. Only myself, Ronin, a healer, and two other vampires, know of this battle, we saw this battle and participated in it. We're the only ones who were alive and remember the battle. Five of us.. Now I suggest you go, please."

I nodded and said my goodbyes to Emrick, as I left the room I heard a loud frustrated scream and sobbing. How can a vampire; a cold, manipulative predator, feel love, fear, anxiety, frustration, shame, and sadness? I started to question what beasts were only beasts due to appearances, while their personalities and nature were more human- like than the humans that shackled them, isolated them and used them for research.

That night I struggled to sleep. My mind would always return to Emrick and how I felt. He should be freed from prison and to be able to return home, to his companion and lover, Ronin.

I don't know why I was so worried about him. I put it down to feeling compassion towards Emrick because his relationship was with another man, just like my Father and Stefan. He seemed to love Ronin like my father loved Stefan. He deserved to be reunited with Ronin and I needed to find out how this could be arranged.

Surprisingly, the idea came to me as I finally started to drift off to sleep. As my meeting with Emrick ended earlier than the other's, I wondered if my teacher would let me see him again for a second meeting and let me take in a piece of paper, then I'd give it to Emrick to write a letter to Ronin telling him where he is and that he needed help. I would sneak the completed letter out and find a way to make sure Ronin received the letter and help Emrick. I decided that I'd bring up the idea of a second meeting with Emrick, in class tomorrow.

I was surprised to find out that my request for another meeting with Emrick was approved. The teacher organised it for Friday. It was only a day away.

I was too pre-occupied with meeting Emrick again, that i failed the daily trapping class task miserably to Erik's very obvious disappointment. Even Aqila noticed my pre-occupation, she questioned me that night.

"What is wrong with you Princess? Ever since you came back from the prison you've been distant, secretive, and acting out of character. What happened there?"

I contemplated whether to tell her the truth or shrug it off as nerves. In another two weeks, it would be the end of my first term at the beast tamer academy.

I decided to shrug it off as nerves, which was partially the truth. She seemed to believe me, for now.