Something Immortal

63: Madness Part Four

[TW: This part contains content that some might find disturbing, reader's discretion is advised]

The Serpent Peak proved to be one of the most formidable locations containing ancient ruins, remnants of what the supposed city should have looked like or perhaps another territory hundreds of years ago. Marko and Mica stepped into the belfry and what was left of it, which wasn't only dark but also dusty, filled and covered with religious relics. Marko noticed how the moonlight slid through the attic windows while Mica glided past the massive church bell that was smacked on the floor as though someone had thrown the heavy object in a tantrum.

Realizing this at the same time, the brothers froze, and every hair and muscle on their body tensed.

Suddenly, a gigantic malformed creature dropped down three feet behind them, hanging upside-down in the rafters, the brothers turned around as they heard a vicious snarl. Marko jerked his head and Mica understood what his brother was trying to tell him. They both gingerly took a step back and the creature moved forward, towards them...

Under the pale moonlight, they could finally make out the creature's overall appearance.

This was a Strigoi, just like them, but it was infected with the undead. Although as a bat, their kind was already frightening, this combination turned this bat into a hideous thing with its wings outstretched, hanging behind the reptilian form.

"Stella?" Mica whispered as he had finally figured it out. "What have you done to yourself?"

The bat's rotten fangs bared, she flipped around, and landed on her gnarled feet. In ancient form, Stella's figure was bigger, about nine feet tall and her body was broader. There was never an ounce of similarity to her physical form that both brothers couldn't believe what was in front of them.

Marko, "I know, in spite of your leader's attempt to annihilate a whole noble clan, the other members didn't deserve the punishment. But to sell your soul with the undead? Just how much hatred do you harbor against your own kind?"

Before she responded, she spewed some fluid but the brothers were fast enough to avoid it. They both watched as the liquid dissolved the floor and a hole was born.

"Your father is a crooked fraud," she hissed; and her voice which used to be sweet and melodious now sounded deep and guttural, like it never belonged to her. "He took everything away from me, all because I refused his master's advances."

There was a pause and both Marko and Mica glanced at each other. "You were banished because your father, Igor Perova, killed the previous Khan, his wife, and his children, leaving us with the youngest who was too young to take over the throne."

"Our father is the right-hand man of the Khan and the Prime Minister of the Strigoi race," Mica added. "He did what he had to do to protect what was left of the House of Ivanović."

Upon hearing this, she laughed boisterously that her deep voice made the brothers grimace in disgust. "Father!" She spoke as she recovered from the mirth, "Father?! Igor Perova wasn't my father---he was my mate! He killed your previous Khan because he and his sons violated me and your father knew that!"

The brothers took another step back as she advanced toward them in her ancient form; their expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief. She went on, "His wife knew it too, and his eldest son and even his second son and his fucking, rotten daughter! Except for that youngest, they all conspire to take me away and present me to your Khan as a gift. A gift! Now you tell me, do you think what your father did against my bloodline is justice?"

Mica looked at her, and though her form was no longer the majestic ancient creature their kind was famous for, he could see the real her reflecting back at him...