“You will eat or you will die.” A guard said, stepping forward. “We are taking the village of Lithaan. You two will join the touched Lycaani and the Maas’Eon, our ground forces have already marched into town… your are to kill the weak.”
“The weak?” Yarik repeated. “Why the weak?”
“So that our king may make them strong.” The soldier replied. “Do you understand?”
“Yes!” Ema’as replied, “Yes, yes. Let us go. I cannot stand this fucking hunger any longer!”
“Very well.” The soldier said. He unlocked Ema’as’ cage and she immediately pounced out on top of him.
“Get off!” He shouted, but it was too late. Ema’as quickly sunk her fangs into the throat of the soldier and ripped it out, creating a gushing well of hot blood.
“Hey!” Yarik shouted, “Save some for me! Let me out! Don’t fucking drink it all!”
“You ate already!” Ema’as scowled, holding out her arm for him to see his bite marks. “You can fucking wait!”
“You bitch!” Yarik howled, “You greedy fucking slut!” He pounded on the bars and hissed, baring his pointed teeth.
Ema’as continued to eat. As she consumed the blood of the guard she could feel her strength returning. She was surprised at how delicious it tasted, she had never once been as satisfied with a meal as she was in that moment. After a few minutes of ravenous eating, she leaned back and caught her breath, turning her head to look at Yarik.
“Why shouldn’t I kill you right here for what you did to me?” She asked, stepping up to the cage. “I could… I could rip your head off your shoulders right now.”
“Because now you understand…” Yarik replied, “You understand the thirst, the pain… you lost control and slaughtered that soldier… why, you never had control to begin with.”
“But you did this to me.” Ema’as said. “You made me this way.”
“What else would you have been?” Yarik asked, standing up. He wrapped his fingers around the bars that confined and stared at Ema’as with his black eyes. “A marauder? A savage cannibal? Now at least you have the chance to join the bloodline that has outlasted the very empire that oppresses it. You could become one of the mightiest people on this planet if you wanted.”
Ema’as went silent and looked down at her bare feet. She noticed that her caramel skin had paled and that her feet were covered in excrement. Sighing, she shook her head, and unlocked Yarik’s cage.
“We need to work together.” Yarik said, pushing the door open. “You and I are all that each of us have right now.” Their dark gazes met and Yarik stepped down from his cage. He rubbed his hand across Ema’as bare shoulder and knelt down next to the body of the dead soldier.
Yarik bit a hole into the soldier’s stomach with his pointed fangs and then shoved his fingers inside and ripped the skin apart. The soldier’s bowels shifted upward and Yarik grabbed hold of them and shoved them into his mouth.
The ravenous fledgeling High Vampre ate loudly, slurping and sucking at the soldier’s organs. He savored every drop of blood or blood soaked flesh he could get into his mouth and began to lightly chuckle as he ate. Soon, Yarik had the soldier’s torso completely ripped apart and his own stomach was filled with the belly of the soldier.
Panting, Yarik leaned forward, resting his head on the bare ribs of the soldier. A rejuvenated Ema’as stood silently behind him and watched. She watched both in horror and fascination, in awe of the kind of creature she knew she had become. Finally, she began to feel dizzy and squatted down to gather herself.
“You poor thing.” Yarik said between short breaths. “You poor, pitiful thing.” He turned his head in Ema’as direction but did not look at her. “Condemned to eternal hunger simply for being a nasty little slut. I pity you. You did not deserve this kind of hell.”
“Then you should not have bitten me.” Ema’as said with her head between her legs. “You should have let them kill me.”
“...save it.” Yarik replied. “We don’t have much time.” He stood up and looked down at her. “Your legs have healed well… the thirst has its benefits…”
Ema’as looked up at him and realized how much her body was yearning the touch of another. She had never felt such a carnal need before, it was as if her hunger had turned to lust. She examined Yarik, and though he was a bald, skinny ugly sight she wanted nothing more than to feel him inside her.
“I see you.” He said, placing his hand under her chin. “We don’t have much time…” He placed his hands onto her shoulders and quickly pushed her down on the ground. “I’m going to fuck the shit out of you before we lose this buzz.” Ema’as started breathing heavily and opened her legs before him. She grabbed the fledgling High Vampre, and pulled down on top of her.
“Yes.” She said, “Yes…”
“You kill the weak…” Rubaan said to Eon as the two stood atop the stone walls. “You kill the weak and enslave the strong…”
“We do.” Eon replied with a smile. He stared into the town of Lithaan and watched as the fires burned and as his forces fought the town’s populace, subjugating as many as they could and killing the rest. Rubaan felt the smile spread across his face and a wave of repulsion spread across him.
“Even the children?” Rubaan asked, “The babies?”
“Tis a messy business, war…” Eon said. “We haven’t the means to feed the babes. Someday perhaps we can avoid the bloodshed of children… but for now I must strengthen them with life anew. Our army must grow, we need every last body.”
“Apparently not Heklaar’s.” Rubaan replied. “He was a mighty warrior and you allowed him to be chopped to bits by your abominations. Don’t force feed me bullshit.”
“Alas I do regret the fate of poor Heklaar.” Eon said, shaking his head. “But the Maas’Eon needed to be tested and Heklaar’s prowess is unmatched… save by me.”
“Heklaar could have slaughtered you.” Rubaan said. “If it were down to you and him. No magic, just weapons.”
“Magic…” Eon sneered. “It took me years to convince the populace, especially the elders that my work came from me, not the gods. Do not diminish my accomplishments by labeling them magic. They are no such thing, … I made this power that I wield. I programmed it, fueled it, brought it to life… and it in turn brought me to life.”
“Whatever.” Rubaan said. “Without it though, you are nothing.”
“Is that so?” Eon asked. He stood and pondered for a moment and then held his arm out for Rubaan to see. “Observe.”
Quickly, without warning, a lustrous metal blade shot out of a box on Eon’s wrist. The box looked ceramic and by no means could have stored a two foot long sword. Rubaan watched in silence and waited.
“I created this when I was still with Life Links.” Eon explained, holding the blade for Rubaan to see. “Or rather I created the science… the box is filled with metal powder. Enough that the NaNe have plentiful material to molecularly reorganize into this blade. No magic here, only science. Watch, dear Rubaan, see how dependant on my creations I truly am.”
At that, Eon leapt off the wall and into the town below. He hit the ground, stirring up a small cloud of dust and searched for a target.
“You will find, dear host of mine.” Eon said as he took off in a sprint toward a female Elf holding a rifle that was too big for her. “That your dear and benevolent King will provide you with every form of protection you need!”
The Elf fired a shot at Eon and Eon phased out of the way, dodging the bullet and splitting her skull with his sword. He pushed her to the ground and darted forward as another citizen came into view.
“Spare the strong…” He said, crashing a fist into the jaw of the male Elf in front of him. “For the strong do not need to be reborn.” The Elf fell to the ground in a daze and Eon kicked him in the side of the head, rendering him unconscious.
“Kill the weak.” Eon continued as he neared another armed female. She had three trembling children screaming behind her. Rubaan wat
ched in terror as Eon charged toward them.
“It will not be like this forever.” Yarik assured Ema’as as their two filth stained sweating bodies laid on the wooden floor of the trailer they were being transported in. “One day you and I will be elevated to godhood… this transformation will be complete and we can restore the great Vampre dynasty.”
“I don’t care about any of that.” Ema’as said, not moving her head from Yarik’s chest. “Power, dynasties… the powerful Vampre died out when the Age of Blood ended, when the Humaan aliens got here. All I care about is staying alive.”
“What better way to stay alive than finding immortality?” Yarik asked. “We’re becoming High Vampre. Eon can’t control us anymore like he can everyone else. We don’t have those NaNe things in us.”
“I guess that’s true.” Ema’as said. “So what should we do?” Yarik was silent for a moment and then looked down at the top of Ema’as’ head.
“We should run.” He whispered. “We should go now while we have our strength and sobriety.” The two sat up and looked at each other.
“Where will we go?” Ema’as asked. “We’re so far from anywhere. I don’t know if…”
“We will find a city.” Yarik said with a hint of excitement in his voice. “Lay low, feed when we need to. Maybe capture a few bodies and live off their blood. I don’t know. But we can’t live in this shit filled trailer anymore.”
“How will we get there?” Ema’as asked.
“They’re fighting outside.” Yarik replied. “We just get in one of their vehicles and hightail it out of here… it’s that or be a slave.” Ema’as lowered her head and thought.
“They might catch us.” She said. “They might kill us.” Yarik placed his hand on Ema’as’ chin and lifted it so he could see her black eyes.
“So be it then.” He said. “I’d rather die than suffer this hunger forever… I’m going with or without you. You need to choose what you want.”
Ema’as nodded her head and took a deep breath. “I don’t have any other option I guess.” She said, looking at Yarik. “I will go with you.”
“Pile the bodies!” Eon commanded. “Bring them forth, that they may be strengthened through rebirth!”
Before him was a pile of dead corpses, the former mothers, sick, elderly, and children of the town of Lithaan. The strong, whom Eon had spared, had been fitted with shackles and were doing as their new king commanded.
“Your loved ones will return.” Eon assured his new slaves, “You will be reunited with them when you bring them forth. I am Eon, I am your King and savior!”
The slaves tossed the bodies of their neighbors, family and friends into the pile and one of Eon’s soldiers brought forward a wooden crate and laid it at his feet.
“As you requested, my King.” He said, bowing at Eon’s feet. Eon nodded and the soldier lifted the lid from the crate.
“Bring me four more soldiers.” Eon said. “We will administer the rebirth once you return.” Eon knelt down and looked into the crate.
The crate was filled with hundreds of glass syringes, all filled with a clear liquid. He ran a finger over the top of them and chuckled.
“You will see real power now, dear host.” Eon said, “The power of complete control. The power of rebirth.”
“I am sure it will be wonderful.” Rubaan replied sarcastically, unable to get the visions of the ghastly crimes Eon had just committed out of his head.
“It most certainly will, dear host.” Eon replied. “A feat of this magnitude has never been accomplished!” Eon grabbed a syringe from the crate and stepped forward.
“Behold!” Eon announced, projecting his voice for all to hear. “The beginning of the Maas’Eon army!” At that he pulled the cap off the syringe and knelt before the closest body he could find. He stuck the needle into the chest of the body and injected all of the fluid into it. He then stood up and stepped back.
Everyone was silent as they watched and waited for what was to come. The body, that of a teenage boy laid still for a moment and then began twitching. It started with a simple tremor in its leg but soon the entire corpse began to seize.
The body convulsed for a few moments and then suddenly stopped. Eon’s army held their breath as they watched the body silently stand.
“Rebirth!” Eon declared with glee. His army erupted in cheering and whooping and the Lithaani slaves Eon had spared wailed and cried.
“Bring them all back!” Eon commanded, “Take them below the sentinel and outfit them with their weapons. Everyone else feast and rest for victory is ours!”
The army cheered and Eon turned and walked toward the main gate. He pointed at one of his judges and he quickly ran up to accompany him.
“Ready the cavalry.” He said, pointing to the motorcycles that had been dismounted. “Bring the Vampre, Lycaani and Maas’Eon. We will depart immediately so that I may reunite with the demon.”
“My lord, the Vampre have escaped.” The judge replied. “They killed two and captured another… apparently while we were…”
“Silence yourself.” Eon replied. “Forget them for now. I am in too much of a hurry to kill you Drek so you had better do your best to impress me tonight when we capture the Demon.”
“Yes my lord.” Drek replied. “I will not let you down.”
“You will kill him anyway won’t you?” Rubaan asked.
“Silence.” Eon said, looking away from Drek. He looked back at his judge and nodded. “Begone!”
“Hurry!” Yarik shouted as he jumped out of the back of the trailer. His bare feet landed on the crumbled dried orange ground and he turned to find Ema’as. “We don’t have much time. The brothers light will burn us alive if we linger!”
Ema’as followed Yarik and hopped out behind him. “By Igo.” She said as she felt the Brother’s light on her skin for the first time. “It burns.”
“And it will kill you if you wait!” He said. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
Silently they crept, seeking shade from the brother’s light just as one would search for stepping stones across a river. They crept from vehicle to vehicle, searching in each one for keys but were not having much luck.
“Find one that has a fully enclosed cabin.” Yarik said, “And storage enough for a body or two.” The two rounded a truck and stopped. Before them stood two soldiers, each with their backs to them. Yarik looked at Ema’as and Ema’as nodded and the two slowly started sneaking forward.
The thrill of the kill was unlike anything Ema’as had ever felt before. Sure she had slaughtered slaves before but that was livestock, it was simply her job. The stalking, pouncing and throat-ripping… that felt real, natural, sensual even.
Ema’as looked over at Yarik who had his soldier in a choke hold. The soldier struggled for a moment but it was not long before he was unconscious. Quickly, Yarik laid him on the ground and removed the strings from his boots. With the string, he bound the soldier’s hands and feet and then stepped over to join Ema’as.
“We must feed quickly.” He said, baring his fangs. “Mine has the keys to a truck on him. We can feed and then depart… but first take his clothes and take their weapons. We will need the added protection and you can’t be naked forever.”
The two hurriedly undressed the dead soldier and Ema’as quickly put the clothes on herself. They were of course too big but for the time being they at least shielded Ema’as skin from the Brothers light. After dressing, Ema’as knelt down and sunk her teeth into the dead soldier’s neck, drawing more blood for her to feast on.
After the two had eaten their fill, they leaned back and took a moment to catch their breath. With air in their lungs and lust in their eyes, they were somehow able to shake off their urges and get to their feet.
“The truck…” Yarik panted, feeling a wave of post-meal euphoria. “I have the keys…” Ema’as nodded and hoisted the unconscious soldier from the ground and over her shoulder. She was shocked at how little effort she had to put into it, it
seemed that her transformation had not only given her an insatiable thirst but also a significant strength boost.
Yarik and Ema’as quickly searched for the truck that the keys belonged to. Yarik kept trying the door locks and after checking two armored flatbed trucks, and one covered truck, they finally found the truck they were looking for.
“Praise Igo.” Yarik muttered as he pulled the door open and hopped into the driver seat. The truck was a two and a half ton Govian army convoy truck with a canvas cover, almost exactly like the one the two Vampre had been transported in. Yarik shoved the key into the ignition and brought the truck to life.
“Put him in the back!” Yarik shouted to Ema’as. “We will save him for later…” Ema’as hurried to the back of the vehicle and tossed the incapacitated guard inside. She watched to make sure he wasn't moving and after a couple moments returned to the front of the vehicle.
“Are we good?” Yarik asked, looking over at Ema’as. Ema’as took a breath and looked around.
“Yeah.” She said, feeling free for the first time since well before Eon entered into her life. “I think we finally are.”
“Well where to then?” Yarik asked. “We can go anywhere in the world.”
“Let’s just get the hells out of here.” Ema’as replied. “Let’s find our way as we go.”
“I like your style.” Yarik said. “Buckle up then, Ema’as. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us.”
“How many slaves?” Eon asked Dalan, a short Lycaani judge of his.
“325 my liege.” Dalan replied.
“How many reborn Maas’Eon?” Eon asked.
“Approximately six hundred sir.” Dalan said. “Sir our numbers have grown well beyond what we could have anticipated.”
“Indeed.” Eon said, crossing his arms. “Judge Dalan, how many bodies could not be reborn?”
“Sire?” Dalan replied. “We do not have that number for you.”
“Understandable.” Eon replied. “I did not ask that you provide that number. One cannot be expected to so arbitrarily go above and beyond their duties… please, Judge Dalan, take me to the dead.”
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