Zeleti sat patiently waiting in the VSF laboratory for the machine to cease its monotonous swirling. Images of his brother plagued him, Ricard's slashed throat flashed through his mind; his oesophagus pulled out of him sprayed crimson blood over his face. Zeleti wiped his face trying to dismiss his memories as they would always spur on Iggi and his addiction, but today they seemed to persist. To his right, blood dripped from the hole gauged in Vanessa's abdomen from where his arm blew through her. Zeleti pulled his arm back and shook himself back to reality, but the memory continued to haunt him. Perhaps with him being so close to his goal, everything he tried hard to forget was taunting him one last time. Other Crimson family members continued to fall, surrounding him one by one in a prison, their blood stained his soul. Ricard's voice played in his mind over and over.
'You are not my brother.'
Veronica, Vesper's adolescent elder sister stood before him panting. 'Uncle? How? We are your blood?' Her last words before she was impaled against the wall hung decor.
Zeleti could still remember clearly how infuriating he had found those words in the past.
Blood?
Why would that mean loyalty to such an extent? Everyone blindly following, because of blood? Zeleti found it hilarious how he hated the word with such fury, yet he continued to feast on each of their blood. Enjoying the growth he felt with each gulp. Aamon- the ancestor awoken through Veronica's desperation while her parents fought back- tackled with Zeleti's rage. However, with Zeleti's newfound strength, and Aamon weakened from slumber, he was pushed back. Zeleti's aura enjoyed feasting on his flesh as it swallowed both his arm and leg. Zeleti remembered Aamon's final words as he tasted his ancient blood.
'You may have our blood inside you, but you are not a Crimson blood, you abomination!' Zeleti remembered the vivid sounds of him chocking on his own blood as he lay his curse.
Those words reminded Zeleti of Rosalyn's blood, blood that morphed with his own. Her twisted scent and decaying remains that covered his body were carved in every one of his senses. Zeleti had not even washed Rosalyn's scent off, how could he? Despite the trauma, it was still Rosalyn's final form. Full of rage, he continued his quest of revenge down the candle lit ancestry hallway. Extinguishing the resting place of all the forefathers he could summon. Feasting on each of their blood like a royal buffet.
*Ding*
The sound of the machine broke Zeleti's trance. The swirling noises came to a halt indicating whatever the machine was doing had been completed.
The students all stood there frozen, watching Zeleti go in and out of his psychotic episode. To them his instability only made his more frightening, not sure what to say or do, both girls looked to Kai who made it clear not to make any movements until he said so.
'And voila, a single bullet that will finally grant my wish. Turn me human!' Zeleti held a shimmering bullet up in the air, gazing at it lovingly. 'I'll be with you soon, my Rosalyn.' He opened a draw near the control panel and revealed what looked like a gun to the students. The three flinched in response, Camilla and Hina recoiled in fear however, Kai was slightly stunned, not only in fear, but a mixture of confusion and awe. Since this wasn't the usual VSF guns that Kai was used to, Zeleti was holding a traditional revolver, such items were now relics and not many would instantly recognise them.
Zeleti picked up the V bullet and loaded the revolver before spinning the cylinder, there was only one bullet. He took several steps towards Kai and held out his hand giving him the revolver.
Kai stood, still frozen, confused, why would he hand me a gun? Was he serious about wanting to die?
'Don't look so stunned my little agent, I'm simply telling you to do what you do best. Hunt for Vampires, although this hunt might be your easiest yet.' Zeleti chuckled to himself, it was no longer clear who was speaking, Iggi or Zeleti?
Kai reached for the gun, wondering if everything was really going to end so easily. However, before he could touch the revolver, Zeleti spun the gun back and retracted his arm. 'It seems we may have to wait ever so slightly, as I smell another Crimson blood that needs killing.' He smiled tapping the gun leisurely against his forehead. 'What a dilemma? My lifelong goal is right in front of me, but a clean revenge is right round the corner. What am I to do?' His voice sounded almost hysterical, Zeleti was losing control and becoming more drunk on his own success, his blood shot eyes were a clear indicator of this as they seemed to be growing.
'CriMSon BLooooD.' Iggi was itching for action.
'I suppose given our inevitable demise soon, we could indulge our desires one last time.' Zeleti spoke as he walked over to the control panel and placed the loaded revolver in the draw once more.
_________
Cassius stood by the outer VSF gate, looking up at the camera pointed at him, his red eyes mocking the guards behind the lens. Still adorned in the traditional family attire, his coat flared with the wind against the moonlit night. Camilla's scent tickled his senses. This told him she was alive.
Reassurance.
Cassius didn't want a repeat of his past; another slaughter was not on the menu for tonight. This time was different, he was different.
The leaves rustled in a most unnatural way, an indication that his first set of companions had arrived.
Jumping out from the field of trees were Ashin and Maya, in there transformed state. The skid marks on the ground stood testimony to their speed. They positioned themselves behind Cassius as though he was their general in charge.
'Not too late then?' Ashin's grin was growing wilder by the second for a number of reasons. One being the thought of a fight breaking out when he was overly pent up on a full moon. The other was his pride watching Maya, a newly transformed Werewolf move with such speed.
'Camilla! Is she okay?' Although Maya's worry was currently her most presiding emotion.
Cassius turned to face Maya as her scent had changed, and the surprise was evident on his face, his eyes looked to Ashin for an explanation.
'I know, right?' Ashin proudly huffed.
Cassius quickly dismissed the new turn of events and focused on the matter at hand. 'You should be able to smell her now, she is fine. For now.' Cassius' words showed his true demeanour, unlike the docile one Maya and the other students were used to. His fangs were no longer hidden and his eyes in their true form, only added to his hostile appearance. Although Ashin had explained as best as he could, experiencing it first hand was different.
Many things were different for Maya now.
'I smell something else.' Ashin sniffed slightly. 'Would that be… hmm… the villain to your story then?' He chuckled lightly trying to hold back his excitement.
'Not mine.' Cassius replied as he inhaled a familiar scent.
Vesper's footsteps landed from above with purpose, he had hurried over once Estefan updated him. 'Thanks, you waited?' He had changed his attire to fit his new body, sporting cargo trousers and a tight fitted top, making it very clear he was no longer a child.
'This is your fight, boy- no. Vesper. If the Crimson blood I'm smelling inside is that of Zeleti's, then you should be the one to exact justice.' Cassius took a few steps closer to the group. 'They may have broken the treaty first, but I don't want a war, that's not why we are here. Our matter with Zeleti is internal, guaranteeing Camilla's safety comes first.' He looked towards Maya. 'I don't intend to involve Werewolves in Vampiric matters, but humans can't tell the difference between our claws. You have free reign as long as you leave them alive.' He smirked towards Ashin, whose eyes grew starved for a fight.
Cassius activated his aura, the dark cloud grew larger around his arm and extended. The aura shifted to a scythe form and cut down the 12ft gate in front. Despite the explanation Maya heard from Ashin, seeing such raw power froze her. She waited for the gate to fall but instead she stood mesmerised as the metal slowly dissipated. Alarm sirens filled the air with their scream, and security flood lights began pointing in the group's direction. Cassius looked up to the camera once more as he spoke to his companions behind.
'Shall we?'