The Immortal Blood

Chapter 34

"I still can't believe it." Axel sighed, watching Alexandra move away in the direction of the cellar, where he had seen Vernon lock Adam up .
"Neither do I. Are you sure you want to come with me? I'd understand if you didn't. . . "
"Todd. I have as much of an unfinished business with Vernon as you and Alex now. I'd like you to see for yourself, to understand what I mean." The vampire had led him around the west side of the house, keeping a wide perimeter, until they had crossed the main road in the distance: there, in the middle of the gravel and unkempt grass, there was a big dark spot with a blackened body in the middle, curled up on himself in fetal position.
"Is that. . . ?" Todd had sensed the air being sucked from his lungs, as if a fist had suddenly hit him in middle of the chest: the corpse was completely charred, there was nothing left of the tall, slender boy he remembered.
"Dimitri." Axel had confirmed, with his arms locked tight on his chest. "It took him a long time to burn, you know. An eternity." His entire figure had been shaken by a strong tremor.
"I. . . Jesus." Todd had felt his legs give way, and he had kneeled, unable to look away from his friend's remains. The stench of fire and smoke permeated the air, increasing the feeling of suffocation in his airways. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret having saved that bastard, but today in particular. . . I should have been here, in his place, I would have deserved it."
"Don't even say that."
"You may think you know me, but years ago I was like Vernon too: I killed and slaughtered defenceless men. . ."
"None of us is without sin, each one carries his own cross, I myself have made more than a single mistake in my life, but I can guarantee one thing: you are not like him at all, Todd. Vernon is nothing but a ruthless son of a bitch. He had no right or reason to kill Dimitri, but instead took him out as if his life had been worthless."
"You're right about that, the only thing that matters to Vernon is himself, I can't really explain how could I have thought that there was some trace of humanity left in him. He's corrupt, rotten to the bone. . . I've been nothing but a fool, and we're all paying the high price. But now he'll finally have to face the consequences to his actions." The vampire had felt his jaw contract until his teeth creaked dangerously.
"We've all been fooled. Let's get this over with." Axel had followed him along a trail through the bushes to Adam's Subaru, from where they had extracted the tanks.
"Listen, I want you to know, no matter what happens, that you and Dimitri have been my family all these years." Todd, had grasped his shoulder with too much emphasis, still destabilized by the bloody sight of his friend's remains. "You're still in time to get out of here. . ."
"Fuck you, Todd!" Axel had backed out with a laugh. "You really think I could leave you here, fighting alone against Vernon, after what I've seen him do? You said it yourself, we are brothers, even if not in the literal sense, and by the way, I am much more handsome than you. I hope Alexandra's plan is airtight, because I'm not going to die today." He had added, trying to dissipate the tension.
They had moved up to the main entrance of the house, splitting before taking the path where Dimitri laid.
"Be very careful." Axel had recommended, with an unequivocal look.
"Likewise."Todd had replied, staring at his friend's ashes for the last time and heading at a fast pace towards the door.