Bloodstains and Betrayal

March 9th, 1850: Kuhmo, Finland

After all that had happened, I thought there wouldn't be anymore surprises. Related to my own being, anyways. Oh, how wrong I was...

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*As told by Arkadi

I tossed and turned helplessly in my bed, unable to fall victim to sleep. I never had trouble sleeping... But nonetheless, here I was.

Ivanna was sound asleep on my chest, so it wasn't really possible for me to move. I wouldn't want to wake her.

"What the hell is going on...?" I mumbled to myself, staring up at the ceiling fan. I yawned quietly, and shifted slightly, but not enough to wake Ivanna. "Why can't sleep!"

Frustrated, I sighed heavily, feeling the intensity in my flaming arm grow. I'm gonna lay awake all night, aren't I? Well, if I am, might aswell kill some time, right. I drew a string of fire from my hand, swirling it around above me. I wrote words above me, words like: Hope. Despair. Light. Dark. The words were quite elegant written in the fire, swirling swiftly until they faded away.

I took a glance at the clock on the bedside table, sighing when I realized it was only 4:00 am. I couldn't just lay here all night, I'd go insane. So, I carefully lifted Ivanna off of me setting her head softly on the pillow. I slipped out of the bedroom quietly, sparking the fireplace with some of my demon fire. I liked the black flames. They were dark, yet warm. Empty, but it provides a little light. It reminds me of myself. I'm dark, and I may seem empty. But on the inside, there was a little light, a little warmth. Just like all Serviles.

"We can be bright, you know."

"What the hell!?" I stammered, spinning around. An older boy stood before me, blonde hair reflecting the fire infront of us.

"D-Denys!?"

Denys.

-FLASHBACK

They took us away to Igarka, to where we were supposed to die.

Ivanna and I stayed captives there for a couple months, until execution day came. Ivanna had returned to her depressed state, and I couldn't do anything about it, no matter how hard I tried. On execution day, she had nearly starved herself, so I had to carry her out to the courtyard. I remember meeting countless Serviles there. But there was one I'll never forget.

Denys Antonski. The way he presented himself was amazing. The way he took pride in being Servile. The way he stood tall, not afraid of death. The way he talked to me, and what he said.

"They may take out lives today my brother, but they can't take our legend. We'll be remembered, I promise you. One day, even if we aren't around to see it, Serviles won't be 'servile' anymore."

He was the first one to go. He offered to die before all of us, as his last act of bravery in this wretched world. His lively green eyes held a look of completeness and ease as he walked towards his death, and they never lost it as his lifeless body fell into the snow. As I watched blood soak into his blonde hair, I saw dozens more Serviles fall from the corners of my eyes.

Then It was my turn, everyone but Ivanna and I dead. I laid Ivanna into the snow, giving her one last kiss before I walked up to the executioner. I wish I could've gone the same way Denys did. Calm and complete.

But I wasn't complete. I wanted to do more with my life, live it to the fullest. I lashed out on the executioner, turning into something so evil, so dark. A full Servile demon.

-END

"N-No... You died..." I said hesitantly, backing away from him slowly. He gave me a small smile, but there someone his eyes that screamed seriousness.