And do you recall what I said of werewolves and silver? Well, the Wolva could only be poisoned by silver while in wolf form, and it could still survive if he drains all the blood from its body for it could not bleed to death- what vampire could? Very few things would be able to permanently obliterate a Wolva from this earth. It is near invincible. The only things that could are drowning, severing the spine, fire and decapitation. A slim hole, but it is still there. But as easy as it sounds, you would still need to fight the Wolva to weaken it, and the stamina it has in its body is unmatchable."
"Why are they so rare then? Would not everyone want to have a Wolva, or Wolvae even, on their side?"
"Vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies. The thought of either side having possession, if you will, of that stronger race, strengthens the hatred for one another even more. Yes, both sides do want the Wolva to themselves, but the thought of having to mix with your blood enemy… That’s something not many would do."
"Why? Why are vampires and werewolves such enemies? I really do not see the point."
"Even after they tried to kill you? For reasons that did not benefit the cause?"
"They still had reason enough. But that is aside from what I asked. Why do we feud with another so? The Wolva being created cannot be the only reason."
"The Wolva is the very main reason. And aside from that, we just dislike each other. It is as simple as that. Werewolves see us as bloodthirsty leeches and we see them as dirty, uncontrollable beasts. Deeply, it is a power and control feud. We each want to be the strongest among this world. To add to this, we just love to kill one another. Some vampires and some werewolves can set aside the petty differences we place on one another and can actually be quite tolerant and accepting about each other. It is not impossible. But, many more still hate each other with a passion. You cannot change a heated vampires mind, and nor a headstrong lycans. Some things are fated to stay the same."
"If this is the case, then why are we still not fighting one another? Aside from being chased after by them, I have seen no werewolves attacking any other vampires, nor the vampires seeking out the werewolves. What is stopping them?"
"A peace treaty."
"Like ones used in actual wars with humans? Something so simple can stop immortals and near-immortals from feuding to death?"
"You talk as if a human made this treaty. No, a vampire did, and our previous vampire leader at that. He did not see the point of feuding, and unlike many, he did not find the lycans unpleasant. In all truth, he was actually friends with a short few."
"Since the treaty was made by a vampire, what made the werewolves accept? Wouldn’t they have rather have it been made by their own?"
"Yes and no. Maybe they would have disinclined if our previous leader had not been fair. But, as I said, he did not hate or even dislike the werewolves. And so, he wrote the treaty to not just benefit us, the vampires, but to also benefit the werewolves. And really, what leader would reject a fair treaty to stop one’s own from dying?"
"When was the treaty made?"
"Before your time."
"Obviously. When, exactly? And who was the previous leader? What happened to him?"
"I am afraid I will speak no longer of the treaty and our old leader. Please, do not persist this tonight."
The pained look on Gabriel's face was the only thing to stop Gaspard from doing so. How desperately he wanted to know the answers to the questions he asked. But it was obvious it brought up memories Gabriel did not want to relive. And Gaspard would not put him through it, at least not tonight anyway when he was being so helpful. The room went silent for a long time as Gabriel slowly recovered from his clearly painful memories and Gaspard went over all he had learned. Gaspard ran through everything he had asked and was about to leave Gabriel when something occurred to him. Maybe it was the emptiness he felt, or the void pit of hunger that surged inside of him that caused him to think of his next question. Whatever had caused it, it was inevitable that he had to ask.
"Would the Wolva thirst for blood?"
"Yes. It would most likely think of nothing else."
Gaspard shook his head in shock. He didn’t understand. Jocelyn did not thirst for blood, nor did the other werewolves that he was aware of, so why would the stronger race? Would his vampirism be the cause of making a blood thirsting monstrosity?
"But...but how?" He finally spoke up again.
"Well, half of it would be Vampire, and all Vampires thirst for blood, especially young ones. And, of course, the other half would be werewolf. Werewolves also thirst blood."
"What?!" Gaspard almost yelled in shock, he couldn’t believe it.
"I know what you must be thinking," Gabriel spoke quickly in reassurance. "The Roux family does not thirst for blood like the others. They haven’t tasted human blood, or even yearned for blood, for decades, centuries even." Gaspard relaxed as he heard the words, "But, other Werewolves do thirst for blood, they do kill humans."
"So, if it is made from a werewolf who doesn’t thirst for it, maybe the Wolva won't either?" Gaspard asked, trying to hide the hope in his voice
"Sadly, it will still want blood."
"I don't understand..."
"The heritage of all the werewolves before it, even though it's just half itself, will be running through its brain, its entire body. All the past wolves that have tasted blood killed for it that memory and yearning to do the same thing will be coursing through the Wolva's very body."
There is no way around it, Gaspard thought sadly. If he and Jocelyn did end up having a child, it would be a pure monster. His grief over what would happen, and the fact he and the woman he loved so much could possibly never have a child over whelmed him until a sudden idea came to him giving him a flash of hope in is welling darkness of grief.
"Do you think there would be a way to stop the Wolva's craving for blood?"
Gabriel leaned forward a bit to rest on his clasped hands, his face stern as he thought over Gaspard's sudden theory. He was quite for a few moments before he finally spoke again, his voice low and his words slow as he voiced his thoughts aloud.
"Considering that you can train vampire fledglings to resist the urge to kill maliciously, like I trained you, and that werewolves are able to resist the urge to a point, I’m sure there must be some way to do the same with Wolvae. It would be hard though."
"But it is possible?"
"I would imagine so, yes."
Gabriel was silent as he watched Gaspard's sudden change in expression at this newfound hope.
"I do not know what you are concocting in that head of yours, but I advise you to be careful. Do not forget who yearns for the Wolva to be created. Do not let your own desires cloud your judgment, Gaspard. That alone will be your own un-doing."
Gaspard was about to make a smart retort to this when he fell out of his chair, arms wrapped around his stomach as he convulsed in spasms of pain. A growl of pain escaped his lips as another large spasm swept over him, causing his vision to blur and make him nauseas.
"You are falling into another trance?" Gabriel asked with venom on his tongue, "Have I not told you to not starve yourself from feeding?!" he added in a low growl as Gaspard fell to the floor. The look on Gabriel's face as he bent over him was a mixed look of anger and remorse. That look was the last thing Gaspard seen before he fell into his most painful trance yet.
Chapter 25 Reunion
"Gaspard, my darling, wake up." Coming out of a peaceful sleep, he
opened his eyes and saw his mother leaning over him.
Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders and her dark brown eyes glittered off the candle she had lit in her hand. Her face was grave and frightened, which instantly alerted him because his beautiful mother always smiled and lit the room with just her presence-but not tonight. He knew something was wrong.
"Shhh." Hushing him with a finger to her lips just as he was about to speak."Hurry, we must leave now," she whispered.
Gaspard quietly got up fr
om his bed and put his boots on while his mother was rummaging through a closet. His father rushed in from the cellar with a piece of lumber in his hands. He put it across the main door in the house and quickly hammered a few nails to keep it there. He grabbed one of the kitchen chairs and also put that underneath the door handle for extra support.
"Cedric! You scared the living day light out of me. Please don't rush by so fast. I thought you were one of them for a moment."
"I didn't mean to frighten you, my love." He put his arms securely around her and gave her a sweet kiss on the forehead. Lingering there for a few moments, but let up sooner than they both wanted to. "I need you to hold on to this." He yanked something off his neck and put it in her hand, and then closing his tightly around it.
"But, this is your necklace," She said looking nervously at her hand.
"I know, but I need you to keep it. Just in case-"
"No! Cedric, what do you mean? Why can't you wear it?"
"I just need you to hold on to it as a precaution, Claudia." He looked meaningfully into her eyes.
She looked into his, and almost in tears she looked back down. "Promise me its only precaution."
He turned his head and looked at his son.
Gaspard was standing close by, looking warily around. He could here strange noises and growls from a far. He looked at his mother, and there was no sign that she could hear them. When he looked at his father he saw understanding in his eyes.
Cedric gave a sad smile and then returned his gaze to his wife. "I promise. Now, Are you both ready? We don't have much time," he said suddenly urgent.
"Yes," she replied, and then motioning to Gaspard with her hand, "Come, honey."
He went to his mother and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She loosened him for a moment to slip on his coat and then hugged him tight. Cedric placed his hand on her shoulder and stated with his eyes that he wanted to talk with him. She ran her hand through Gaspard's hair absent-mindedly before stepping off to the side.
Cedric sighed as he kneeled down to Gaspard's height then wrapped his fingers around his small upper arms. "Are you afraid, son?"
Gaspard was more than afraid. He was terrified. He had no idea what was happening. Too much was going on at the same time making his head spin. He nodded, feeling ashamed.
"Everyone feels fear at times. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Even I fear some things." His usual groomed golden hair was slightly out of place, with some falling into his eyes.
Claudia glanced at him warily.
"You do?" he gasped.
"Yes," Cedric half smiled, his face softening. "I'm afraid of seeing my family in despair." Loud scratching noises on the outside of the house made him grow serious again. "I may not always be here to protect our family. That is why I need to know you will go on no matter what happens here tonight."
"But.. But I am not strong." Gaspard looked down.
"You are young yet," he chuckled lightly and lifted Gaspard's chin with his cold fingers. "I know you will grow into the strong man you are destined to be."
"Will I be as strong as you?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps even more."
Gaspard stared at him in wonder for a moment before promising, "I won't let you down, father."
"That's my son." He pat his shoulder and gave him a satisfied smile. His pale blue eyes looked deep into his eyes before seeming to change color. "Now, go to your mother."
As Gaspard returned to Claudia, Cedric stood and became tense. "This way," he stated as he lead the way to the master bedroom. The room was in the back left corner of their small house. When they reached the window, a loud pound from the other room made them startle and look behind.
"They have reached the door. It won't hold them back for long."
After another loud beat on the door, Gaspard heard a howl in the night. He peaked from his mother's grasp out at the window. He saw flashes of movementsomething hairy and huge- go by. He tucked his head back in and hugged his mother tighter.
"It’s alright Gaspard. I won't let anything happen to you."
Without unlocking it first, his father burst opened the window with one easy push. He lifted his wife out the window and sat her down on the ground. Just as he was about to grab Gaspard, the door crashed open.
Gaspard looked back and saw three over-grown wolves in the doorway sniffing the air. Growls and saliva escaped their mouths as they searched the area. Their eyes glowed in the darkness, looking like fireflies scattering around in the dark atmosphere.
Gaspard made a small gasp and then they turned their heads in his direction and let out howls that echoed through the house.
His father quickly picked him up and handed him out the window to his wife. "Take our son and run to the barn, Claudia! Go now!"
"No! Come with us!" she cried.
Cedric shook his head rapidly before he shut the window. He mouthed an "I love you," then turned to face his attackers. A wolf leaped onto him but was thrown across the room in the very same second.
"CEDRIC!" Gaspard's mother screamed with all her lungpower.
Gaspard watched his father fight the wolves with tremendous strength through the cloudy glass of the window. It splattered with blood before a wolf slammed into it, breaking the glass.
Gaspard was picked up by his mother and then they rushed to the barn, hoping to be unseen. She looked around as she entered the barn and put him down on the ground, then locked the door. "Gaspard, see that wheel barrel?" she pointed over to the left corner of the barn, "hide behind it, and try not to make a sound. Go, go."
Gaspard nodded his head and went to hide behind the big wheel barrel. He heard the wolves pacing outside in the dirt around the barn while watching his mother searching frantically for something to hold the door. He smelt smoke and looked up. Within moments the roof burst into flames. The wooden braces were catching fast. They started to fall and the fire caught on to the straw in the horse stalls, surrounding him. One of the ceiling braces fell on top of his mother and knocked her to the ground. "Mamma!" Gaspard screamed.
A dark figure burst through the side of the barn, frightening Gaspard. But, it was a man. He was covered in blood and blisters. His golden hair looked as if it sparkled with sun light from the reflection of the flames. He thought it was his father at first, but was mistaken. The man went to his mother and crouched down next to her. Gaspard couldn't hear their short conversation over the roaring flames. He started towards them.
"No, Gaspard! Stay where you are!" she shouted. Gaspard reluctantly stopped a few feet from her, crying. She reached out with her unharmed hand and gave him the necklace her husband had given her that she had been gripping tightly ever since. "Take this and never forget us. I love you." She then looked over to the stranger and nodded. She took his hand and squeezed it in a thank you. Slowly letting go, she coughed weakly and her eyes closed.
The man grabbed Gaspard and took him out through the hole in the back of the barn. He covered his head with his singed green robes, trying to keep the fire from touching them. He looked around quickly and then darted for the forest. As the man put him down to stand, they watched the barn completely collapse. "Come. We have to go on," the man said as he looked sadly at Gaspard with his dark eyes. Gaspard looked back as they started going deeper into the woods, but his vision was clouded by tears and couldn't see anything but the red and yellow flames that swallowed his home.
They ran fast through the forest, faster than he thought he could ever run. He slowed when he heard growls from a far coming nearer. The man suddenly stopped and looked back. He walked a few steps over to Gaspard and put his hands on his shoulders. He grimaced as his burnt hands touched his coat. "You have to go on without me. Keep north to Paris, and whatever you do- don't turn back. Go!" He waited there until Gaspard couldn't see him anymore.
He began to grow tired as he ran north. Lights finally started to show through the trees up ahead. They glowed fainter and fainter and then he crashed to the ground, barel
y making it to the dirt road in time before he passed out.
Gaspard woke up from his trance, almost jumping out of bed as he did so. This time his dream was as clear as glass. Everything that was once blurry to him came together. What was attacking his house, to whom his necklace belonged to, his father and mother's names; but the thought of their deaths made him shiver most of all. He now knew that it was the werewolves who were at fault for the death of his family. His mouth dropped open and his eyes sparked to dark. A growing anger filled inside of him, making him want to jump out the window and track down every single werewolf and kill it. He would let no one get in his way while he avenged his family's death- not Lucas, Gabriel, or anyone else who would defy him because of the treaty. Then suddenly his anger subsided and turned into fear as he remembered that Jocelyn was a werewolf. He couldn't kill the woman he loved no matter what she was.
He put the thoughts of the werewolves aside, figuring he could think more on that matter later. Because now, which was somehow more important than ever, he recognized the mysterious man's face that saved his life all those years ago. It was a face he had seen countless times over the past few months. The one who had taught him how to control his life with what he was now and was there whenever he needed someone to talk to.
Gabriel.
Gabriel took me into the forest that night to escape me from facing the same horrible fate my parents suffered from. Why didn't I notice it was him before? Something must have triggered the memory, he thought, but what? And why did he save me? Only way he could get answers would be by speaking with him. And that was exactly what he was going to do.
Gaspard had training with Gabriel tonight and knew it would be the perfect opportunity to talk with him. From where the moon was in the sky, it was almost time for his lessons. He put on his boots and hurried down the staircases to the training grounds under the castle but tried to act as normal as possible. He didn't want anyone to notice how he was more anxious than normally to go and meet with his mentor. He made it to the doorway unseen, then opened the door and saw Gabriel was already at the bottom, reading over some papers, waiting for him. Gaspard didn't waste any time taking the stairs and just leaped down.
Hyblood Page 19