The Silver Cross - The Path Of A Monster (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Three - The Unforgivable Act

Jack growled and snarled like a beast, fighting to get out. The last thing he wanted was to smell his own brother's blood, knowing what it meant, that he was going to kill his own flesh and blood. The hunger within him strengthened, the smell of his own blood lingered in the air like a sick reminder of his fate. He never thought he'd meet death smelling his own blood, but if it was death or his brother, he'd choose death with no hesitation.

"The hunger must be excruciatingly painful, and yet you resist? I have yet to hear you request a drink," Adam teased as he stepped in Jack's own blood.

"I'd rather go... to hell," Jack snapped.

"Why? The hunter's here if you need a drink, I'd even take you to him, let you have the taste you're longing for."

The silence deafened the room as Jack pulled on his chains, creating more pain for himself as his body attempted to heal the damage he inflicted, trying to break out of his chains any way he could, suspended by them, silver and cruel, they mercilessly seared his flesh upon contact.

Jack didn't plea for forgiveness, there wasn't a chance he'd be freed. He had accepted his fate, that like in the beginning, he was meant to die with his brother. He let himself stare into Adam's eyes, clutching onto the last shred of humanity, the pain nearly unbearable as the hunger burned inside him like flames. As long as he didn't smell his brother's blood, he could hold on, he'd have to hold on, but the predator needed blood to heal, and the sound of a frightened human heart was all too tempting.

"Let Cain go, and I'll do anything," Jack promised.

There was a brief smile on Adam's face as he pulled a small pocket knife from his blazer pocket. Without a warning he ran the blade on his palm, letting the blood drip onto the ground in front of Jack. Jack's eyes lit up as he struggled, a wild creature desperate for the taste.

"Imagine that reaction when it is your brother's blood in my veins."

"What do you... want?" Jack requested.

"What makes you assume I want anything from you? Perhaps I am merely enjoying the game... this little game is rather... exciting, you at my mercy, along with your brother," Adam joked with a disturbingly sickly smile. Jack offered no reaction, he didn't dare give the monster the satisfaction. "Nothing to say? I can appreciate the silence... or perhaps you're just... unimpressed, yes? Perhaps I won't kill him. I may enjoy having the company of two immortals, two former hunters at my mercy, so starved of blood they'll mindlessly consume it."

There was no hiding the look of horror on Jack's face at the idea. He shook his head, rattling his chains violently as he tried to force himself out of the chains that bound him. He couldn't do that to Cain, watch him suffer too as the blood drained from him, his hunger consuming him. There had to be another way, there just had to be.

"I know what I'll do. I'll turn him, and hang him here next to you, let the blood lust consume him until he is as mindless as you, then when he can no longer stand the hunger, I'll send for his little one and watch her life being taken before his eyes. I wonder how you'll react once you come around, what it'll be like to be face to face with her mangled body. Shall I find out?"

Jack let out a growl like a wild beast. He tried to swipe at Adam, to tear the lumps of flesh out of him as he stood face to face with him, with the smile on Adam's sickly face. Whatever he wanted, Jack would do, whatever it was, to protect his brother. He swallowed quickly, his eyes filled with desperation as he said, "let me join you... your order, in exchange for Cain's life."

Adam turned and left him as the hunger burnt inside him. There was not a thing Jack could do, the smell was strong, too strong to resist, at a time he'd do anything for just one drop of blood, vampire or human.

"Get out," Evelyn ordered quickly, forcing the guards to scurry like rats. "I wish I could get you out of here," she whispered.

"I... understand, just... get to Cain," Jack whispered.

"I can't, they're not under my spell. Just hold on, help's coming," she promised as she lowered him, exposing her shoulder. "Drink it, it'll help."

He bit down gently, her warm blood filling him as his wounds began to heal, his mind clearer as he listened to the heart beating close by... not just one... two, one more frantic than the other. He let her go quickly as Adam burst in through the door, smiling as usual as he dragged a young woman in, innocent, brunette, barely in her teens.

"Evelyn, you just couldn't keep your hands off my favourite toy, could you? No matter, at least you've made him a little saner, it's no fun if he's not suffering with his conscience."

"What?" Jack questioned with horror as his eyes met the cappuccino eyes of the young woman. "What is this?"

"Another hunter... a perfect meal, don't you think?"

"NO!" Jack snapped.

"Then your brother will get her as his own first meal, before I force feed him his little girl, of course," Adam promised.

"You're a sick monster!" Jack roared.

Adam smiled at it as if it were a compliment. He pushed her forward, lowering Jack's chains enough to give him enough space to feed. Jack pulled his head away, barely able to concentrate as her blood rushed through her veins. He licked his lip, shaking his head. The one thing he never wanted to do... to hurt one of his own and he was going to, no doubt ending her life. He flashed his fangs at her, his eyes closed as his senses guided him to her vein. He bit down gently, as if he was trying to cause her as little pain as possible, feeding on her blood as it shot into his mouth. He drained her down, his strength returning as hers waned. She tried to push him off but ended up sagging on him as he propped her up carefully, still feeding on her as her heart beat softened, finally ending.

"Do you see, my son? All that power in their veins... it's all yours, just take it," Adam whispered as he threw her corpse on the ground.

Jack smiled sickeningly as he reached out, grabbing Adam by the neck. Slowly he began to crush him, letting him struggle in his grip as the chains shattered.Holding Adam in place, Jack stared into his eyes and whispered, "I am not your son, I am not your creation." He plunged his hand into his chest, slowly retrieving the dead, cold heart as Adam's body melted into ashes. "Release my brother," he ordered with a cold tone.