The Lord Vampire (Completed)✓

Part 3 of Chapter 2

"Don't fear Change, rather use it to your advantage."
_ Yaa Fosua Dunyo

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Long sub-chapter)

The Goddess found him at the edge of the stream opposite the cave, he was on his knees. He did not look up as she approached. “I want to be alone, please!” he muttered and moved away towards a flock of peregrines. The flock screamed strangely then flew into the skies, still screaming.

Ryan frowned then walked in the opposite direction. He turned and did not see Lwanna, after a while, sat down on a small round rock. He was now deep in the woods. ‘Ye are not the same anymore.’ His mind replayed her words. “What did she mean by that?” he thought aloud. “I am not the same?” “Aye, I recall the cat’s attack then a woman’s voice_ her and I think she found me. She had stated that I almost died and was bleeding when she found me.” Ryan went on, leaning on one knee. “But wait… I never particularly liked peach but I took a whole bunch of them in the cave_ not forgetting how I chewed the hares and even licked one’s almost dry blood!”

‘Ye are not the same anymore, Ryan.’ “What then am I?” He groaned, shaking his head. Nay, nay Ryan, stop acting like a sissy! Be a man, the Scot-Saxon Prince that ye are.” After convincing himself that he was merely imagining it all, Ryan resumed his walk, coming across a wounded doe few feet away.

“Wow, my lucky moment! I’m taking this to camp; Dan and the rest will envy me for sure! He abruptly came to a halt as three wild cats surrounded the fallen doe. “Wrong turn, he voiced slowly, unsure of what to do then slowly moved to his right and bumped into a spear nearly hidden amidst the leaves covered ground. And a wrong move,” Ryan completed when the cats noticed him.

The wild cats looked up, moved away from their victim and advanced towards him. Ryan stiffened then picked up the spear, foolishly stepping forward. The cats took a step forward, snarling at him. He shouted, pointing the spear at them.  Suddenly, his eyes changed; glittering dark red. The wild cats started yelling then fled in panic. “What the…? What the hell just happened?” Ryan looked around then intently in the direction the cats fled; his eyes fell on two hares that run quickly into safety behind some rocks. He frowned lightly, “what is going on_ or is some other bigger predator in view?” “Aye, that should be it!” Ryan nodded as he scanned the woods. But he neither saw nor heard anything except for a faint heartbeat_ he gasped, eyes fixed on the doe.

How can he vividly hear the animal’s heartbeat? Ryan again looked about him, his ears automatically widening. He even heard a bird twittering from several distance high up in the tree beside Glen More.

“Ye are not the same anymore.” Lwanna’s voice resounded in his head and he groaned, his feet moving forward on their own accord. The doe let out a hollow cry, Ryan’s head turned back to it. He slowly approached the doe which was staring at him in fright. “The doe is equally afraid of me?” He noted, suddenly halting in his tracks, watching the doe as it helplessly tried to flee. His ears widened again, his nose flaring as he began to sniff the air.

Ryan smelled something…blood! He almost voiced aloud and was swiftly beside the doe, sniffing it. With a hoarse cry, Ryan on impulse sank his cat teeth into the injured shoulder of the doe. The doe cried out loudly and after some moments became still.
Ryan felt hot blood from the doe surge through his body, filling every nook and crook of his being. His heartbeat became vibrant, beating alongside the doe’s until the latter’s heartbeat grew faint then faded.

Immediately, something tugged at his heart and he let go of the doe. Ryan regained his composure then jumped in puzzlement. “What did I just do?” He stared at his still bloody clawed fingers, frantic hands moving up to feel his fangs. He took two steps back as he beholds the dying doe.