Emerald Blood

Chapter 3 - Veiled

Content WARNING: VAMPIRISM & GORE & ANGST

◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥

~SONIC POV~

I was like a young deer pinned down by a starved wolf. Without mercy, it was draining me of my blood. I could do nothing but endure this suffering. My throat was tight with terror. Any attempt of escape was merely something to wish for. The attacker's hands seemed to grip my arms tighter as its thirst was being quenched, crushing me like grapes to extract the sweet wine. The world around me began to fade, the vertigo taking over me. Is this where I would end? Without answers, without anything but agony? Was I destined to become nothing but sustenance?

Suddenly, the overwhelming weight and grip had disappeared. Was I detaching from my physical form? Am I now a ghost?

I opened my eyes, still feeling the throbbing, hot sensation on my neck, only to see the reflection of the moon in the puddle of what seemed to be my own blood. I couldn't get up to witness what had happened. As my visioned focused, I saw, beneath the nearest lamp post, two figures violently thrashing at each other. The dim light illuminated their abusive display. Rhythmic thuds accompanied with the shattering of bone and pulpous squelching of flesh echoed in the street. Agonising wails harmonising with each strike. Was the attacker being beaten up? I could make out the sharp, ragged silhouette of a dark hedgehog. Shadow. His figure hunched over a gruesome clutter of a scarlet mass on the stony pathway. Scarlet drenched his previously pristine white gloves, glistening in the moonlight. Then it all went silent. Only the heavy breathing of this hedgehog was heard, as he stared at his demolished victim.

"Shadow?" I whispered weakly, stretching out my arm toward his silhouette.

Shadow immediately turned and sprinted in my direction. As he came closer, I was unsure whether he was going to help me up or make me into a second pile of flesh. Shadow lifted me up and held me in his arms, hastily rushing back to my mansion without a word. I couldn't help but feel wary about his frequent glances at my punctured neck that oozed with crimson fluid. His eyes were not full of worry but something dark.

~Back at Sonic's Mansion~

"I am sorry... Thank you Shadow..." my voice frail as I removed my stained attire, the wound on my neck now closed off. Shadow did not respond. He remained facing away towards the door of the sitting room. I couldn't see his face. I imagined he was simply sullen from my impulsive behaviour. Then, the vile image of Shadow's feral figure hovering over the attacker's dismantled body flashed in my mind. I swallowed hard. I barely saw who my attacker was but I felt my heart drop at thinking of its destiny. Why did Shadow have to give the attacker such a brutal fate? Was simply killing it not enough? The quills on my back and arms stood on end, suddenly aware that I was now in the same room with a monster, with my upper body exposed. I tried to push away the thought and reminded myself that he was just protective over me, just as according to our Contract.

Just as I thought I was being delusional, Shadow turned to me and grabbed me by the shoulders to sink his teeth into my flesh. I yelled in annoyance and shock as I attempted to kick at his legs but he was like an unmoving wall of stone. This couldn't be happening. Not again.

"Shadow, I demand that you unhand me at once!" I spat, allowing a growl to manifest in my words. "You are only allowed to drink my blood when-" I winced as his teeth sank deeper "-when I let you!" I shrieked with rage. In the midst of my screams, I heard Shadow whimpering, with cold droplets from his eyes dripping onto my shoulders. Was he crying?

"Sonic are you okay?!" as if things couldn't get more complicated, Tails bursted through the door only to receive an eyeful of this miserable display. Shadow whipped his head up and glared at Tails, baring his fangs that were coated in my blood. The fox's eyes widened, his hand trembling on the door handle as he cautiously backed away.