Of Dragons & Vampires

Chapter Nineteen

A short chapter unfortunately! It just fit together nicely, as always please leave a comment and vote, I love seeing what people think of my characters, etc. I hope you hate Mordecai as much as I do!

Anyway, enjoy! x 

                                                                                            OoO

"It's time to get you home," Pericles stepped forward, forcing Evander to take a step back.

Pericles could see the concoction of relief, fear and distrust brewing behind his brother's violet eyes. He rolled his shoulders, sighing as he walked slowly into the small basement, his eyes scanning the room and seeing two small and quivering silhouettes enclosed in the shadows. Children. Winged children.

Evander followed his brother's gaze. "Leave them out of it, Peri."

"Of course," Pericles stopped a few metres short of his brother, battering down the urge to envelope him into his arms and mutter how glad he was that he was safe. He slept with a dragon, he betrayed the family, he told himself. "If you come home."

"Home?" Evander's face cracked into a visage of rage and fear. "With whom? Mordecai? You know what he'll do to me, Pericles. Please, I'm begging you...don't make me go back."

Pericles strained, his face threatening to rupture into a mask of utter remorse. Oh he knew, he knew all too well what Mordecai would do to his brother, what Lord Atlas would do to his brother. But he had to bring him back, for his own sake. He had to. If Evander were to be shown any mercy he had to be brought back now, before more damage could be done, before he could dig his grave deeper. It's for his own good. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Pericles' eyes darkened.

"You brought that on yourself."

Evander looked as though someone had slapped him. Tears sprang into his eyes, he had never wanted to hurt his brother, ever, but right now he wanted to make him choke on his own teeth.

"I-" He opened his mouth to speak, until another shadow filled the door, cutting off the light.

"Evander, my love. It's been a while," Mordecai grinned.

OOoOoOoOoOoOoOO

Abel couldn't count how many vampires had gotten onto the island, it was more than he thought would come. Not enough to be the full army of Atlas Heridicles but enough to cause some damage. Around him, a few of his fellow soldiers lay dead or injured, thunderbirds, hunters, wolves. It broke his heart. The Mers had made quick work of the remaining boats attempting to board the island, he could hear the shrill war cries of the merfolk as they dragged down and drowned as many vampires as they could, tearing their boats apart.

"Abel!"

Abel ducked a swing from a vampire, winking his thanks to Reagan who was having the time of her life swinging a pair of iron swords around in neat, hard circles, catching the pale limbs and necks of any vampire in her path.

Abel caught his attacker's arm as he tried to once again bite for his neck, the vampire's canines extended and eyes as black as coal. When Evander looked into their eyes he saw a soulless monster, a dog taking orders from his master. He saw nothing of Evander in them, it was hard to believe they were even the same species. Evander. Gods he hoped he was safe, he would give anything for that boy to be safe.

"Worm!" The vampire snarled, lunging for Abel's throat. The dragon ducked easily, swinging out a leg and catching the solider on the knees, managing to bring them to their knees. He grinned with malice, slamming two strong hands over the ears of the vampire, grinning as he screamed in pain as his eardrums ruptured. He ripped, using his foot to hold the vampire in place as he tore and tore and tore. Smoke seared from his nostrils, his eyes alight with rings of orange fire as the vampire's head came loose with a sickening squelch.

Blood splattered onto Abel's face, he tossed the head to the side, breathing deeply and roaring, the familiar pleasure of burning filled the back of his throat, his lungs filled with flame as fire flooded from his mouth, the blue and orange flames licking and wrapping around the body of the vampire, the limbs crumbling into ash.

Adrenaline soared through his system, he battered his wings against the wind and drew himself up, roaring again and bringing a stream of fire down upon the scattering vampires, the only thought consuming his mind was what they would to Evander given the chance, what they would do to his friends and family if he didn't stop them.

He'd kill every last one before he let any harm come to those he loved.

OOoOoOoOoOoOoOO

"Don't look so surprised," Mordecai grinned, taking slow steps forwards into the room. He relished the sight of Evander's pale face, his wide eyes filled with raw, unimaginable terror, the slight quiver in the younger vampire's fingers, as he approached slowly, standing next to Pericles who stood as still as a rock.

Evander swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to bring his heartbeat down from its erratic thumping. How. How was he here? What was he going to do?

Abel.

Oh God. Mordecai would kill him. He would tear him apart limb by limb if he laid eyes on him.

"Did you miss me?" Mordecai pursed his lips, his eyes alight, but Evander noticed there was something behind them. Something powerful and almost cracking the surface. Incandescent rage.

"No." He felt his voice shake, "Mordecai, stay away from me." He backed towards the wall, conscious of Elysande and Phoenix still swallowed by the shadows. Mordecai knew they were there, but he gave nothing away.

"You've always been prickly," Mordecai rolled his eyes, he forced his fists behind his back as they began to shake with rage. He could smell him, he could smell the dragon. Evander was soaked in his scent and from the looks of it, wearing the dragon's clothes. Gods he wanted to tear them off him and beat Evander within an inch of his life for that betrayal. "We're going home. Now."

"No." Evander stood tall, trying to force every drip of conviction into his voice as he could wring out.

Mordecai raised an eyebrow, a smirk dancing around his lips. He quirked his eyes to the side, glancing into the shadows at the two small fae children who sat quivering, gripping onto the book shelves. Evander followed his gaze, his eyes drifting closed knowingly.

"You're coming with me," Mordecai stepped forward, "Or me and your brother here are going to tear the wings off those adorable little children and make you watch as they bleed to death. Understand?"

Evander met the eyes of his brother, they were hard, steely, but glinted with regret. Pericles would do whatever Mordecai told him to do, it had always been that way and would always be that way. If Evander was going, then he was going without hurting anyone.

"O-Okay," he breathed, willing his feet to move forward but they remained stiffened in place.

Mordecai's nostrils flared impatiently and he started forward, his hands curling around Evander's forearm painfully as the younger vampire yelped and automatically stepped back.

"Come my love, we're going home." He dragged Evander forward, who couldn't help the tears sliding from his eyes and spilling over his cheeks.

"No! Leave Evander alone!" A little voice cried. Elysande ran from the shadows, her little wings beating furiously as she made a bee line for Mordecai, Phoenix hot on her tail. Mordecai turned, colliding his arm with her in one smooth sweep, sending the twins tumbling to the book shelves. Evander heard the unmistakable snap of a wing breaking as Elysande smacked into the hard wood with a scream.

"No!" He tried to pull his arm from Mordecai's grip, but he held on fast. Pericles shadowed him as Mordecai dragged Evander from the room, watching with a hard heart as Mordecai clasped a hand over his little brother's mouth, looping his arm behind Evander's own, dragging him kicking from the room, his screams muffled as Mordecai pulled him further and further away from sanctuary.