The Hunt

Chapter 26

Alesco:

The human blood has made me stronger. My senses sharper. I am noticing it more and more now as I walk with the master back to the others. Wynn rises from his chair as soon as we enter the room but he does not approach me. It is as though he is physically held back. Something on his face tells me he can see a difference in me.

The others rise from their chairs and kneel on the ground as we approach them. Of course, they would kneel for the master, but I feel them kneeling for me as well, as though they sense my new strength, my new senses. I look at each of the vampires in turn, Fabian, Abel, Brendan, Delano and Draven. And then Wynn. I know I could lead them all. I can lead the vampires to victory. I am ready to end our plight.

"Kneel, Wynn." The master says. He raises his robed arm and Wynn is forced to his knees. Part of me wants to protest, to stand up and defend Wynn. But the new part of me feels it is right that he kneels. My entire life I followed the instructions of my father and brothers. The time is ripe for change. For my voice to be heard. I always liked to make sounds as I walked, to be heard, to be different.

"Alesco?" Wynn says.

I look at him but say nothing, and I display nothing on my face, nothing of my inner turmoil, of my inner confusion.

What has come over me? It's like there are two parts to me now, like I have been split down the middle, two sides battling within. The newer, darker side of me is slowly trickling through my being, taking over. A thirst for blood, for control and battle. My old self seems to be slipping away, though I am not gone. The part of me that has love for my family, for my brother and mother, and father. The part of me that wished for harmony between vampire and man, as I'd been taught.

"Your mother and father deceived you for your entire life."  The voice says, inside my head. "Your brothers are not your true brothers. Embrace the darkness, embrace your true self. That is your true nature."

I do not know if it is the master's voice or my own.

I feel the darkness embracing me, swallowing me. The power I crave is not a return to the times gone past when humans and vampires lived in harmony. I crave power and control, and blood. And it feels natural, it feels right. Perhaps the stories of harmony were one more deception, one more myth to keep us subdued.

There is another feeling, another side of me, mixed up with all this, taking my attention. Darren. I want to change him, to make him a vampire. I want him by my side as I, and we, rise. His look affected me, his green eyes brought waves of new emotion. I want to taste his blood. And I want to free him from the chains of his weak, living flesh. To grant him immortality. As my mother asked from my father. I want him on the winning side of the war. I crave it.

But my old self wonders, in a small voice at the back of my mind, is that wrong? Is it cruel? To change him from what he is? Does he want it?

"Of course he wants it!" The inner voice says. "He would be a fool not to." It is my own voice speaking to me, my own inner darkness. I am sure of that now. And with every word I feel my other self dimming, my other voice drifting deeper into my consciousness, being swallowed by the dark. The thought of the blood seals my resolve and I push the weak, human thoughts away.

The master's voice fills my mind. "Embrace it Alesco, embrace your true self."

"A gathering is being called." I say to the kneeling vampires. "Run through the village, tell all to gather in the centre, at the house of the master."

"Yes, Lady Alesco." They say, and rise to leave, moving quickly out of the room. All except Wynn who is looking at me, eyes blazing with hurt, anger and confusion. There is no challenge, just an injured pride, a defeated look.