The Wicked Ones: Destiny of a Vampire

The new beginning

Arius and Zaidh returned to the apartment and found Keira sprawled on the sofa, watching the TV. She didn't even glance at them as they walked by and settled down at the table in the living room.

"I'm not staying here with him," she said without shifting her eyes from the screen.

"Then get the hell out," Zaidh hissed, pulling a bottle of blood from the fridge.

Zaidh took a swig from the bottle, a smirk spreading across his face as he savored the blood, but then his expression turned to a frown.

"Tastes like crap. When did you change the blood supplies?" he asked Arius.

"I don't drink blood," Arius shrugged, raising an eyebrow. "Keira swapped out the bottles today. I guess?"

Arius gazed at Keira, who stood up and narrowed her eyes from frustration.

"Those are mine. Keep your fucking hands away." Keira's warrning made Zaidh put the bottle on a table with a loud thud.

"Do I need to teach you some manners, witch?"

They began walking toward each other, and Arius stepped between them, pushing Zaidh back.

"Why won't you take the presidential apartment, Zaidh?" Arius turned him away from Keira and began to push him to the exit. "No one needs this right now."

Keir crossed her arms on her chest and smirked as Arius pushed Zaidh through the door. Zaidh glanced at Keira once again as she showed him the middle finger, making Zaidh clench his jaw.

They used the stairs to go down below Arius's apartment and entered the presidential suite. Arius kept this apartment empty for special guests or some other unexpected occasions. For a while, no one used the apartment, but the staff always cleaned it and held it prepared for use.

Zaidh gazed around and sighed.

"Why am I even staying here?" He leaned his back over the wall and gazed at Arius. "I'm going back to Europa."

"No, I need you here." Arius sat down on the couch and grabbed his head with both hands. "At least until everything goes back to normal."

His words made Zaidh grin because both of them knew that there would be no normal.

Nothing will be the same as before.

Arius was uncertain about what lay ahead. The hotel would soon be filled with more hybrids, and he knew there was no stopping Keira from creating them. He could let her turn him as well, but Arius had no desire to become a vampire again.

What troubled him most was the possibility of Keira and Zaidh eventually joining forces, which could only mean more chaos. Though they seemed to despise each other now, Arius couldn't ignore the striking similarities between them. They shared the same fierce personality, and since the blackout, Keira changed so much that she wasn't acting like herself anymore.

Arius could let Zaidh leave, reducing much of the risk, but he needed someone strong at the hotel, and somehow, Zaidh was the best option. He hated to admit the fact that Zaidh could be the only one strong enough to stop Keira. Cassius alone wouldn't be enough, and there was no one else Arius trusted. Despite his power, Arius wasn't a vampire, which made him more vulnerable.

"Afraid you won't be able to control your little beast?" Zaidh mocked, leaping onto the couch. "I have waited centuries for this moment."

"What moment?" Arius sighed, rolling his eyes as he shoved Zaidh away.

"The moment I become stronger than you, brother," Zaidh smirked, crossing his arms above his head and casually stretching his legs onto the table.

"You know that magic comes with a price. Especially the dark magic that Keira is recently using." Arius said, raising an eyebrow as he stared at Zaidh. "Hybrids won't be an exception. And she will be the one who pays the price."