The Demon's Pa

My entire body tensed and I threw myself in front of Lucy instinctively. The blade hit my right shoulder, sinking into my flesh and I hissed in pain. Good hell that hurt! I’d forgotten how affective Thomas’s stupid weapon could be against vampires.

I was sure what could harm vampires could definitely hurt the weaker demons as well. He really would be a great ally to have against the demons…

“Ash!” Lucy exclaimed in shock after what felt like an eternity after I’d been hit, “What happened? Are we being attacked? Who is attacking us?” She looked around wildly in search for the enemy.

Viktor sniffed the air and when he’d determined where the threat was he pushed Lucy behind him protectively. He snarled at a dense bush.

How noble, he was protecting us from nature.

The only warning that Thomas was about to attack was the sudden increase of his heartrate before he launched himself at Zaiden from a completely different location than where Viktor had thought he was hiding.

“Thomas! Wait!” I exclaimed and rushed forwards, throwing up my hands to stop him and only ending up cursing loudly at the knife that prohibited me from moving my arm.

Thomas stopped in the middle of his battle cry and turned to face me. His eyes filled with recognition and his defensive stance wavered a little. “Ash?” he questioned disbelievingly.

I gave him a tight smile, “Hey.”

I clenched my jaw and took hold of the knife in my shoulder with my left hand, bracing myself for the pain that was sure to come when I pulled it out. And it had to come out. In one movement I pulled out the knife and let it fall to the ground. “Ouch.” I muttered and moved my shoulder a little to see how bad the damage was. It was painful, but I knew it would heal. “Be careful where you launch that thing.” I told Thomas, “You almost killed a human.”

Thomas looked at Lucy, “A human?”

“Yeah.”

He shook his head as if to clear his foggy and confused thoughts, “Anyway, what are you doing here?” He narrowed his eyes and looked around cautiously, “And where is that jerk that turned you?”

I sighed and massaged my temples, “It’s a long story.”

“Oh?” he questioned with a raised eyebrow as a man who was behind the bush Viktor had snarled at, made himself visible. So there had been someone there.

“I-” I said but the decided to rephrase myself, “We were looking for you.”

“Me?” Thomas asked, jabbing himself in the chest questioningly.

I nodded and looked around. My nobles were all tense and looked around with wide threatening eyes. It was probably because they’d seen that they could actually be harmed and because I was hurt by something that had slipped right through their defence. Viktor had both his arms protectively around Lucy who stood there staring at everything that was going on with wide eyes. “I promise, we mean you no harm… we won’t hurt you or your…” I looked at the other man who had an unnaturally brutal face, “Friend.”

He nodded thoughtfully, “Fine, come we’ll talk back at the village.”

“Village?” Viktor questioned with a baffled expression, “Here? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

Thomas grinned sneakily, “That’s the whole point.”

“Hold on!” the human with the brutal face exclaimed and we all turned to look at him as he hissed rushed words to Thomas. “We can’t take these people to the village! They’re vampires!”

Thomas shrugged, “She said she meant us no harm.”

“She’s a vampire! You can’t trust anything she says.” He argued, “We should take them down right now while we have e chance.”

“Are you insane?!” Thomas suddenly exclaimed rather loudly, “Firstly, I won’t hurt her and secondly there are six of them and two of us. And they have a human with them.” He pointed out, “Who they protected.” He lowered his voice again, “Not to mention that they were looking for me. There has to be some reason other than to kill me since I’m still alive.”

“They might be trying to get us to lead them to the village.” Brutal face said, stating a very valid point.

Faith rolled her eyes dramatically, “We tracked him here using a trail he left more than three weeks ago. If we’d wanted to find your stupid village we’d have done so by now without your help. My lady just wishes to speak with you about forming an alliance.”

Both humans turned to look at her with confused expressions and chorused, “My lady?”

“That’s me.” I said, not missing how Thomas’s eyes bulged out of their sockets, “And what she says it the truth. Something is coming, something really, really bad and the vampires won’t be able to protect you from it. We need to work together.”

Thomas looked at the ground thoughtfully and scratched his chin, “An alliance with the vampires?” He looked up, bringing his eyes to meet mine, “What are we against?”

“Demons.” I answered truthfully.

The other human started laughing, “Demons? You have got to be joking.”

“It’s the truth.” Viktor backed me up, “They’ve already destroyed several cities and we just don’t have the numbers or the strength to take them on.”

“Those were nothing more than a bunch of crazy vampires.” The human hissed angrily.

“Nope,” Fabian said with bored eyes, “Those were definitely demons. Vampires don’t just go around destroying places and attacking people for the fun of it, we still have some humanity left. Sure it’s a lot of fun, but we don’t do it. Our royals,” His yes met mine, “forbid us to do it. So we can’t do it even if we wanted to because they have the power of absolute command over us.”

I nodded in agreement with what I hoped was a determined expression on my face, “No vampire would ever go against a royal.”

“So when they call you my lady…” Thomas asked me, “Does that mean that you are a royal?”

I nodded, “Yes, but only by name.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Because your mate is a royal then?” I nodded, “And yet you still have absolute command over all the vampires even though you aren’t of royal blood?”

I nodded again, “Yes, because I am mated to a royal.”

“I see.” He had a thoughtful expression for a moment before his gaze cleared, “Well, I think this alliance is definitely worth discussing so let’s go talk about it with the rest of the vampire hunting council.” Thomas turned around and started walking away, “Follow me.”

The other human picked up his knife which had cooled by now and after giving us all one measuring glance he followed his friend with the rest of us following behind him, making sure to give both of them enough space so they wouldn’t feel threatened.

“They have a whole council?” Zaiden asked me lowly.

“Apparently.” I whispered back, “But this is good right? I mean that means there have to be more vampire hunters than just the two of them. That’s good.”

“If they decide to fight with us, yes, that will be good then.” Zaiden said, “Otherwise they might just side with the demons to get rid of us.”

“But afterwards the demons would kill them all without hesitation.” I pointed out, “There is no way they’ll be dumb enough to help kill the only people who are trying to save them.”

“But they don’t know any of that.”

He had a very good point there.

Our walk to the village felt like it dragged on for hours at the speed we were going and I wondered how I’d ever managed to survive before I had my vampire speed and reflexes. We were all silent during our walk, no one seemed to have anything to say to one another that was of real importance.

The only indication I had that we were actually nearing a place where other humans resided was the sound of their laughter in the distance and their beating hearts that could faintly be heard.

When the outskirts of the town started to take shape around us, I turned to Zaiden and gave him a discreet nod, my intense gaze telling him what I meant. He needed to be on high alert, they all did. There was no telling what exactly awaited us in this city of hunters.

Could it even be called that, or was calling it that taking it too far?

Lucy was had both her hands clamped around Viktor’s right hand and held on to him like the world was coming down in flames around her. She had a slight lost looking look on her face and she would send nervous glances in Viktor’s direction every now and then. He didn’t look like he minded her looking at him with such a fearful expression that was for once not directed at him and clinging to him like her life depended on him. Which it could if we were attacked.

I diverted my eyes when Viktor shot Lucy a happy grin. Something in that grin made me think of Alexander, which would make sense since they were brothers and all, but still…

Alexander always had a calm aura that made me feel extremely safe in his presence. And above everything else, no matter what anyone else said, he was kind. Viktor was more… temperamental and just downright mean.

I must have gotten lost in my thoughts for quite some time because when I snapped back to reality we were surrounded by humans. So much for being on high alert.

The houses were small structures that were constructed out of wood and had grass roofs that were done rather neatly considering their situation.

All they humans stared at us as we made our way past them and after a moment’s hesitation I smiled at them. When they flinched away a little and continued to stare in horror I dropped my smile and put a hand over my mouth. Great, there was probably something on my face. It was either that or they hated me. After giving it a moment’s thought I realised it had to be the latter… except if there really was something on my face!

“Hey Lucy?” I asked and continued to speak when she looked at me, “Is there something on my face?”

She frowned suddenly, “What?”

The fact that she wasn’t looking at me like something was wrong I assumed the answer was a definite ‘no’. “Never mind.”

So that had to mean that the humans hated me. How wonderful.

It was going to be an absolute blast to form an alliance with them.

But who was I to judge? Before I met Alexander and realised that some vampires were actually decent beings I would never, ever have sided with them.

We followed Thomas and his friend for another few minutes before we arrived at a building and they entered without even having to unlock the door. No thieves, I noted, before I realised it was a waiting room of sorts.

The inside was cool and smelled like grass. There was a big table in the middle of the room and chairs lined the walls. I found that I couldn’t place exactly what the room should have been used for.

Thomas turned to face us, “Al right, wait here while we organise a council meeting.”

“How long will it take?” Fabian asked with his usual bored expression.

“Taking into account the circumstances and the fact that I’m sure the news that six vampires are here, off all places.” Thomas’s friend muttered as an afterthought, “It shouldn’t take more than half an hour at the most.

We all nodded understandingly. “We won’t leave this room.” I promised, “Everyone was already glaring at us when we came in.”

Thomas laughed, “Actually I think those glares were directed at us since we brought you here.”

I shrugged, “That could very likely be the case as well.”

After Thomas and his friend left, Lucy gave Viktor a tired smile and when he sat down on the one of the few unstable looking chairs that lined the walls, she hesitated for a moment. When Viktor saw her hesitating he smiled and opened his arms for her. She didn’t need more persuasion than that because she sat down in the chair next to him with Viktor looking at her with a pleased little grin.

I smiled at the two of them, getting them together wasn’t going to be nearly as difficult as I thought it was going to be…

We didn’t really wait as long as I thought we would. Only seventeen minutes after I’d made myself comfy on the ground- since I wouldn’t trust those dilapidated chairs with my bag much less myself- against the wall next to the door, it was thrown open again and I slowly opened one eye to see who it was.

It was a man whose piercing eyes snapped towards me the moment he entered the room and he held my gaze without a trace of fear. I couldn’t help but give him an enquiring look and quirk my head to the side, “Who are you?”

I was once again taken aback by the intensity of his cold gaze, “I am the man who promised my people to rid the world of vampires only to find there are six of them camping out in my office.”

Office? I looked around. Alright then…

I stood up from the ground and cleared my throat, so he was the leader of this place. “Well we mean you and your people no harm, we’ve merely come to-“

“I’ve been informed of your intentions for being here.” He snapped before I could finish my sentence and I was shocked into a strange type of silence.

“Oh, uh…” All four of my nobles were at my side in milliseconds, bearing down on the human threateningly.

“I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but overhear you interrupting my lady.” Zaiden said with an amused tone in his voice but eyes that told a whole different story.

“Yes.” Fabian echoed his ominousness, “It was almost like you were talking down on her.”

Samael smiled sweetly, “Wouldn’t want someone to get hurt because of a little misunderstanding like that now would we?”

“You should just get down on your knees and grovel for her forgiveness.” Faith suggested, “Because we will kill anyone who disrespects her.”

I sighed deeply and my voice was firm when I spoke, “That’s enough.” They turned to look at me, “All of you.”

Zaiden gave the man one last waring look before he stood down like the rest of them had done immediately. I gave that man an apologetic look, “Sorry about that, they’re a little touchy at the moment since their true royal was ripped in half.” I forced the words out that caused the man’s expression to become less guarded, but tore my heart in two.

“Thomas told me.” He said cautiously, “Your mate?” The way he said it made it sounds so wrong, but I nodded anyway. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry at all, it sounded more like he was relieved that Alexander was gone. I almost smirked, if he only knew. It wasn’t going to be much longer before he was back.

“Thank you.” I said through gritted teeth. I had to build up a stable relationship with this man and earn his trust if I wanted any shot in him agreeing to side with us. If I snapped and said something rude to him we could kiss our butts goodbye and all prepare to die. “Have you gathered the council to hear what we have to say?” I questioned him quickly before I said something I was sure to regret in the future.

The hesitation was clear in his eyes, but after a moment that felt like an eternity he nodded, “Yes, but only because Thomas asked me to, not because it was you who came. I trust him,” He stressed, “Not you, not any vampire, ever.” His eyes slowly went to Lucy who was still sitting next to Viktor. “You even brought a snack with you, how distasteful. I can’t believe Thomas would put so much faith in you even though you brought a prisoner with you.”

Lucy bravely stood up and glared at him, “Are you crazy? I wouldn’t ever have let myself be taken prisoner by the vampires. I’m with them. They saved me.”

I frowned, saved; was a very, very strong word.

Lucy held her head high, “I trust them, you have no right to judge them so quickly because you have no idea what they’ve been through.” She wagged her index finger at the man accusingly and I couldn’t help but grin widely. I didn’t miss the look Viktor was giving her either, his eyes full of pride.

“It’s alright Lucy,” I said, “Don’t let him get to you.”

Lucy snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. She sat back down on the chair with a little huff whilst muttering under her breath. Who ever knew she could get so protective over us, I thought amusedly.

I turned back to the man who had yet to introduce himself, “Will the meeting be held here?”

He nodded, “This room will work the best.”

“I appreciate you letting us use your office…” I trailed off expectantly, hoping that maybe he would drop his name.

“Myron,” He said, “I’m Myron Rodgers.”

“It is nice to meet you Myron.” I said, “I will introduce myself when I greet the council.”

A few minutes later humans started filing into the room, each of them seeming to know exactly at which spot at the table to go stand. No one dared to pull a chair closer to the table to sit down and I thought that maybe they trusted the chairs just as much as I did. They eyed us cautiously, their eyes not only filled with fear but also some curiosity. Well, at least they weren’t running for the hills just yet.

“That’s everyone.” Myron said to me after a while and I stepped forward, preparing to say the speech I’d rehearsed in my head only a thousand times. Honestly I had no idea what I was doing, but I was going to convince these people that we weren’t all bad and form an alliance with them. No matter what. It was form an alliance or die, as simple as that.

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when I saw Thomas and his friend also standing among the crowd.

“Hello,” I started awkwardly, “I’m Ash and uh…” And what exactly? I’d forgotten every single word I’d rehearsed the moment all the eyes in the room had turned towards me. “Uh…” I looked towards Viktor who was stifling a laugh – and really not helping with the whole situation at all. I shot him a glare.

When Myron lifted a brow questioningly I realised that I had no time to be stumbling over my words. I needed to gain the humans’ trust. “I’m the royal vampire of Africa.” The humans standing around the table’s eyes all widened. “Only a few months ago vampires were the worst thing in my life, I wanted them all to die and burn to ashes in the sun.” I took a deep breath, “Only a few weeks ago I was human.”

The humans gasped. Good, I thought, I had their attention. “The true royal of Africa… his name… his name was Alexander. When I met him in New York he was nothing more than a vampire to me and if I had to put it honestly I was forced to come here against my will. But on our way here I… I realised that the idea I had about vampires was wrong. They’re not just bloodthirsty creatures who devour our-” I stopped abruptly when I realised my mistake, “I mean human blood. They care deeply for their own kind just like we-” the same mistake, “Just like humans do.” I looked down, feeling that familiar hollow feeling in my chest that appeared after Alexander’s death. “Alexander changed me into a vampire because he didn’t want me to die and at first, I hated him for doing this to me, but… Nothing much about me has changed, except what I eat of course.” I shook my head to clear my mind, “The point that I’m trying to make is that no matter what you think of them- of us, we were all human at some stage. We aren’t just killers; we protect the humans as well.”

The humans looked torn between believing me and burning my head on a stake so I continued, “Alexander was killed a few weeks ago by a threat that the vampires had thought would remain undisturbed for a few more hundred years. He was killed by a demon. The demon has been sending his minions to cities, terrorising the people and slaughtering them. We’ve tried to fight them but their sheer numbers have managed to put us on a losing streak. We need your help.” I let my eyes meet each of the humans’ eyes intensely, “The demon will surly kill you all if he isn’t stopped. He is a true blood thirsty creature who kills just for the fun of it. He’s stronger than any vampire and a lot faster and that’s why…” I swallowed hard and made sure that I spoke the last words clearly, “I have come to form an alliance.”

Eyes were immediately cast downwards and unsettled gazes were exchanged. “What nonsense is this Myron?” a man shouted from somewhere in the back, “How can we believe anything this vampire tells us?!”

“We should just kill them all now!”

“Even if this demon does exist I’m sure we’ll be able to kill it without their help.” A woman muttered to the man standing next to her and he silently nodded.

Hushed shouts of protests were made and my hope fell fast. They weren’t going to help us.

“Hoy!” Thomas suddenly shouted and his friend from earlier gave a loud whistle that definitely caught everyone’s‘ attention and they became silent again. “This girl,” Thomas said whilst pointing at me, “Isn’t going to do any of you any harm, she wants to help us. That’s all.” His eye met mine. “We can trust her.” His eyes were trained on my face, “Right? We can trust you can’t we?”

After a tense silence I managed a nod, “Yes, of course, my only goal is to protect all of those who can’t fight or don’t have the weapons to fight.”

Thomas grinned widely at the rest of the humans, “See? It’s all good.”

The humans didn’t look convinced.

“You all heard what she said and the choice is up to you. I propose we take a vote.” Myron suggested, “Majority rules, they leave immediately if forming an alliance is out voted.” He paused dramatically. “All against the idea, please raise a hand.”

Hands shot up into the air.