Bloody Hell

|Chapter 15|

I didn't care about anything anymore, as I stared into Niklaus's ruby eyes, accepting my failure and my death.

Niklaus took my hand and slid something cold into it.

It was the silver dagger.

"Why?"

"That's what I want to say. Why don't you resist? Why do you want to die here?" Niklaus questioned, wanting to know why I accepted defeat. "I failed..." I told him, in a whisper.

"Don't talk nonsense, didn't you vow to avenge your friend? You'll get another chance if you survive. I went through the same thing. I killed Leonard for the same reason...Even if you fail, you must cast aside your pride and cling on to life. You'll get another chance. So why do you not even attempt to survive? Why don't you fight?...I'll tell you. It's because you're truly not the one who wants to see the Blood King dead!" When he slammed down that verdict rage in his, I felt strangely...at ease.

So he saved me because he empathized with me. He killed Leonard out of vengeance. I...I wanted to live a little more, I did want to fight, I wanted to save Elijah and the desire to know Niklaus more bubbled up inside me.

Why did he not treat me as a mere meal? I want to know how he truly feels..."The friend that you avenged...Was he...Matthew?" Niklaus shook his head. "No, it was a man named Peter. We were childhood friends. A woman was sent here as a sacrifice, and became pregnant and gave birth and he was that child. He was to be a servant and be feasted on once he grew old enough..."

"That was why he was kept alive, that was his purpose." He stopped for a moment before continuing, "The three of us, Matthew, Peter, and I. We would often play and hide, a human and a Dhampir...One didn't have to be a genius to tell that adults would have torn us apart if they found out." A rare softness adored Niklaus's expression, he must have been engulfed in his happy memories.

"They were both dear friends to me. As a child, I was raised to be the next Blood King but no one, not even other children, treated me with any genuineness." The thought hit me. Even though the three were different, they were all friends ignoring what they were. "I underwent the Blood Ritual fifteen years ago. It happens when a royal vampire is about twelve, with well-enough grown fangs. They sink them into human flesh for the first time."

"For the first time? How did you get blood before then?" I asked. "In a glass. Non-royal vampires often drink like that as well. It isn't easy to hold back a human writhing in pain when sucking blood, after all."

"It doesn't burden the humans, either, so that sounds more rational. Why don't royals do it?" I asked.

"Drinking from a human is seen to be a higher class."

"Awfully posh tradition you have there."

"Someone sounds a lot better," Niklaus says, a small little grin on his face.

Here we were in depths of despair but, here I am cracking back. I always run my mouth when I'm talking to him. "Let's get back on topic," Niklaus says going back to the topic at hand.

"During the Blood Ritual, the first person a royal has to feed on has to be the High Selene, and when I was about to put my fangs into the women...The previous King, Leanard appeared."

________

"I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your Blood Ritual. Now that you are a true vampire, I present you with this!" The golden-haired male lets out, cheerfully. Leonard's servants brought out something large wrapped in a white cloth and rolled it out onto the table.

Leanard came forward and flipped over the cloth to reveal what was inside. It looked like a pale, withered tree. The object's identity was hardly obvious at first glance.

Yet, it was clothed in familiar clothing, The young vampire drew in closer to get a better look, and that's when his eyes widened in horror as he realized what was in front of him.

They had been Peter's clothes...Which meant the object on the table was...

"Are you truly so pleased? I'm quite surprised you recognized him. Indeed, this is that human. This is the creature you used to be so fond of. I had my servants suck him dry. He kept you entertained in your boredom, and I saw to it that he was repaid justly." Speaking in a cheerful tone, Leanard laid a pale hand on his shoulder from behind.

It smelled sweet...It was a scent of cologne he always wore, the smell of it was enough to make Niklaus feel dizzy.

Niklaus's body felt stiff as he stared at Peters's unmoving body, the boy he had seen only a few hours prior. "I had hoped to gift you with the body or the other parasite but its father is a pure-blood vampire. It upsets me to let a sinful Dhampir live, but I left him breathing, out of respect for the father." He was speaking about Matthew. The thought froze Niklaus's heart. Leanard whispered away, paying no mind.

"But there will be no second chance." Why was he smiling? "Now, Niklaus. Vampires are the most beautiful and noble beings in this world and you're a smart child. My very own heir, the next Blood King. So I ask you: don't disappoint me." Scolding me in a soothing tone, screams and cries left the woman's mouth as Leanard skipped away going over to the women who sat on the floor. Niklaus stayed frozen as the King tore off the Selene's head, in one fell swoop.

The choking scent separated Niklaus from his consciousness. A powerful desire the likes of which he'd never felt before bubbled up in his chest.

And before he knew it, Niklaus was drinking the Selene's blood. The taste was divine, and he wanted more. He caved into his instincts when he sucked blood for the first time and vomited in disgust...

Was it Leanard who killed Peter? Or was it Niklaus?

Until then, Niklaus had been proud of being a vampire. He wanted to meet everyone's expectations and be a worthy Blood King.

Humans are to be fed upon, and Dhampir are to be hated...They both have feelings, they're no different than vampires.

Niklaus knew he couldn't survive if he didn't drink blood. That is a fact. Yet, was there no way they could at least coexist?

Since then, Niklaus has suggested coexistence with Leanard time and time again. Some vampires had become worried about the increase in the human population, presenting a good opportunity.

Leanard and the Purebloods, however, would not give an ear to what Niklaus had to say. Which is why Niklaus killed Leanard with a silver blade. "Ahh...Niklaus..You are truly a fascinating one..!" With a spellbound smile on his face, he fell then and there.