The Drake & the Serpent

There you sat, on the tub wondering just how long you'd last.

"Frenzy..." The word felt strange to speak, it sounded like a sickness; Tuberculosis or Ebola... or Cancer, some final uncurable thing that ate away at your sanity and corroded your body.

You wondered if it was as simple as finding a neck to chew on, or if the rabbit hole went deeper than that. Your Ancestors were masters of undeath, touching every base, covering every pasture, from the smallest leech to the most powerful Upir, perhaps one of them could share this knowledge?

The heavy lids of your eyes closed shut and gathering every bit of focus you could muster, You spoke the words.

"Nevermore"

The world slipped away and left little but comforting darkness. You'd had only a little intentional practice with Nevermore, but it felt as natural a breathing.

In the dark precipice of your mind, you delved deeper, pushing beyond the veil of normality, your mind was a sharp tool, but within it lay the secrets you longed to be laid bare.

You dived and dived deeper into this shadowed pool and felt little at first. It was much submerging yourself in a tank of zero sensation, no stimuli, no words, no sounds, just silence and peace... until a whisper called from the darkness.

"You're a cunning one."

Your eyes opened, as a chill suddenly swept through your body and your but cheeks ached from the hard and rigid stone floor.

The fire provided a little warmth but that wasn't your concern. You were in a cave, an actual cave and... not one that you didn't recognize? "Toby?" You asked.

"Do I look like a Toby to you?" The voice asked and it was right, although the image was still imcomplete, dark and fuzzy, the voice that spoke was a woman's.

"I c-can't see you, it's too dark?" You admitted.

"Relax, you are safe here, the Dead have their refuge in a sea of red, but we live in shadow, don't let it fool you like the other humans, welcome it, see in it as easily as you do in the light."

You took a breath and rubbed your eyes. It was a woman who greeted your now complete gaze, this was absolutely the cave of Tobias the Ouroboros, the First Descendant to call himself Hunter. You had gone very far back in time.

You were intrigued, she sat covered in a shabby looking garb of Black bear and wolf skin hanging loosely on her body. She was skinny and looked tired, it was strange you weren't sure if she was young or old, but her hair was black as pitch... and her eyes gold as the sun.

She clutched a small, moaning thing close to her breast, the baby cooed lightly and she smiled, pushing it's small curly black hairs from it's tiny face "He likes you." She flashed as familial smile.

You moved in and grinned "You're the Serpent!" You said but she frowned and raised a finger.

"Shhh! He barely sleeps as it is."

You slinked back "Sorry. But you're the serpent, You're Dracula's daughter, the actual first descendant!" You hushed yourself but you didn't hush your excitement.

"That's what they call things like us then is it?" She said softly, her voice was so gentle and yet so animated. "I wondered if we'd get anywhere, my boy and Me." She said, bopping her sleeping babies' nose.

You grimaced "Am I breaking some kind of time-travel rule or something?"

She chuckled "I doubt it. I'm a memory, a very faded and old memory at that, I'm already long dead, boy, we both are." that made the way she looked at her child a little eerie.

"I'm so confused, I just wanted to know what was going on, how the hell did I end up all the way back here?"

"We're all bound, Charlie. All wrapped up in... strings or threads if you will." She grinned "Mortals are links in a chain, they continue the line but all that resided before rusts away, forgotten. But we can always find our way back home, it is one of our many gifts. You however are quite special, many spend their entire lives trying to untangle the mess to get to the very heart of things, You're doing it without effort."

Your eyes narrowed "How come you know my name?"

"Cunning indeed." She chuckled, stroking baby Tobias' forehead.

"If you're a memory then you shouldn't know about me, if anything I should know a lot more about you. Well... nobody really anything about you, apart from that you mothered Tobias."

"By design." The Serpent admitted "At this time, I was being hunted relentlessly, this was the only safe place I knew, away from My father and My brother, and his Inquisitors."

The curiosity was far too great, you had to ask "What is your real name?"

The Serpent shrugged "Perhaps I had one, once upon a time but I was raised among Upir, I was but a child when High court was born and barely woman when I was taken away from them. They gave me so many false titles that the true one escapes me. Still, I do not see how it matters, my distant Kin, You are here for a reason."

You nodded softly and her hand outstretched, beckoning you closer like a mother long lost. It was like gravity, sliding across that funky floor you sat at her side and took her hand, it was warm, almost real.

"I'm scared, I really afraid." The words slipped out, quick but genuine

"Don't be, I am All descendants we are all together here. You have such a good soul, I will help you, just ask."

"I can barely speak to my family, my friends, my lovers, it feels impossible, like I've failed something, like I missed a que; something so obvious, and I'm paying dearly for it. Every time I see anyone with blood in their veins and beating hear I just, I just..."

The gold in her eyes blazed in revelation "Frenzy?" her words were heavy like a hammer.

You could only nod.

The Serpent tightened her grip on your hand "I have seen this before, in my father. He too felt unnatural in his own skin, saw only a stranger in the Black Mirror, to him he was a monster nothing more, not Human. But you must listen to me, Charlie. You are a Monster."

Your nostrils creased and flared as you scowled at the thought.

"Don't look so disgusted. We are all monster, we are born of monstrosity, the source of our power comes from darkness, you know this, Your Judge has taught you this, why do you fear this?" Her comforting tone helped soften the blow.

"My father's spirit expects more of me."

"Cut the shit." That blow was not so soft and you looked up at her, resolute and stubborn, it reminded you of Remhilde "This isn't about that. Why are you punishing yourself like this?"

You shook your head silently.

"I will speak frankly, this will not get better. Frenzy is a sorry way to spend your life. You think it is a sickness that can be treated but it is not. Frenzy is the curse that you were born with, it ran in your mothers veins and now it runs in yours; a Corruption so ancient and powerful that unless it is fed, unless it is given enough to subside, even for just a little while: it will swallow you whole and turn you into the thing that you fear the most..." She chuckled darkly "A thing that you already are. At least spare yourself the pain. Descendant's may hunt the monstrosity of this world, but that by utilizing Monstrosity itself, until you can see that sacrifices must be made, as your predecessor once did--"

You clutched your head as it rattled, but The Serpent continued.

"Then you will continue on this collision course to its end." that was a warning for sure.

You were up on your feet in a moment, towering over The Serpent and looking down with crimson eyes, as your shadow grew, seeping from your skin, oozing from your pores.

"I will not submit to this. I will never submit."

The Serpent beheld the great burning orbs that were now your eyes as you grew bigger and bigger, more beast than man, a Killer, a Monster, a Prince.

"I am the son of the Dragon, failure is not my nature."

"I know... Father." She nodded sadly, "But this boy, is only a boy and it will be his life, his friends that pay the price when you refuse to learn from your mistakes. How many times must you fail before you learn? You cannot fight Gravity."

You said nothing, seething as you locked eyes with the Serpent one final time, before closing your eyes and allowing this dark place to slip away.

When you opened them again, You were amongst the pleasant smells of bubble bath and the musky air of Your father's luxurious bathroom. Looking off into nothing with flaming eyes.

Izzy was taking her time, You got up and wrapped yourself in a towel careful to fold it at the waist; Diana always enjoyed her little pranks of sneaking up on you and running off with the towel you had poorly wrapped around yourself, leaving you bare for all the Maids to see.

Your bare footsteps seldom made a sound on your dad's hardwood floor, every movement planned and precise, a little paranoid.

Izzy wasn't in here?

"Enemies?"

"Perhaps"

Couldn't a man even rest at home without fearing conflict? And yet, you could feel it in the air as the sound of angry voices brushed against your sensitive ears, echoing through the crack in the door, leading to the downstair Foyer.

"How dare you break into this place, you Flame-fodder!"

"Stay away from me, I told you, Charlie said I could be here -- I won't warn you again stay back!" That was Izzy.

"Little tasty flammable witchy, now we're talking. Goodness how I've always wondered what magic taste like." You... had no idea who that was? but she sounded like a Texan cowgirl on crack. Danger lingered in the air.

"Rudy stop! She's one of Charlie's school friends, and you know what happens if we even touch her! It's a declaration of war!" Claudia's authorities tone.

"We are the Noxium, Witchy, ya know what means? it means we feed those that need feedin' save those that need savin' and eat those that need eatn' and Mama is hungry!"

"Stay. Away. I warning you freak, I will cut you in half." Izzy growled.

"Overdrive!" A flash of power streaked through every muscle and the weight of your body became null. Like a bullet you flashed from your father's room to the top of the stairs where the situation was occurring.

Bellow at the bottom of the wide stairs of your beautiful home, was Izzy, backed up against a few steps, wand in hand, still in her pajamas. She was clearly unnerved, but kept her intimidating expression.

A truly magnificent feat, considering the 30 or 40 Vampires clustered around her, red-eyed, claws brandished, a terrifying sight.

Half of them were formal, dressed in suits and waistcoats, neat bow-ties attached to blouses and shirts, with a Beautiful black haired woman at their head with an Egyptian looking mask on her face, halting her masked brethren with a gesture which they barely seemed able to obey.

But the other half... wow, these 'people' were insane looking, dressed in crazy outfits, frilly jumpers, tattered overcoats, camo pants... they surely had to be crazy to be wearing Camo pants.

Their masks were all mad visages, screaming animals, angry faces and their leader as small woman with long dirty blonde hair that flowed wildly over each shoulder, bore a mask of bone with tall antlers breaching each side.

She shook wildly in her soot-covered overalls and huge timberland boots, her arms wide and claws sharp as she and her followers readied to pounce.

"Rudy, stay back!" Claudia warned, but the Antler Vampire "Rudy" yowled like a beast.

"Tasty is mine!!" Her foot panted in the ground and she reeled back, about to launch herself at Izzy--

"Forevermore."

The hands of time ticked a little slower, and all figures bellow shifted slowly, as if moving through jello. Sparks, mixed with black flame crackled against your skin, as you kicked from the ground, flying through the air, sliding a claw across your palm and whispering "M'halia"

You cast you blood into the air which petrified before you, allowing you to grasp at it's hilt and pull it free of it's sheath, the Blade of Lugh singing as it burst into flames at contact with the open air.

Landing in front of Izzy and standing ready for bloodshed.

Time began to roll back into focus, utilizing two threads at the same time was staggering, but you would not allow Izzy to come to any harm.

The Vampires all jolted in surprise as Lugh shone with flame. And the Antlered Vampire planted her feet as she slid to a stop, the bright wrath of your sword making her fall back and hiss as you stood sentry in front of a very surprised looking Isabella.

She looked behind her in confusion "Where the Hell did you come from? ugh Nevermind, Took your time, Puto." She growled.

You cast your eyes out at these Vampires silently and felt something, a fleeting feeling but you shook it off. "Fuck off." You warned.

They all shifted uncomfortably but the two at the head of each group gazed at one another, before reaching up to removed their masks.

Claudia you knew, she was staff here and a Vampire, but the other chick? she had crazy eyes, and grinned unnaturally as she saw you.

"Charlie I-"

"What do you think you're doing?" You spat, "She is my guest, My friend, and you try to eat her!?"

They all shimmered as if your words cut into them all.

"The Tasty Witchy took us all by suprise, Rudy thought-"

"You thought wrong 'Rudy', you thought very wrong." You snarled. "You're the Handy-woman Claudia mentioned? do me a favor and get lost and take these weird looking motherfuckers with you."

Claudia stepped forward, her dark hair swaying "Charlie, wait. She didn't mean it, Vulcan is just. She needs guidance, not banishment."

The Rudy Vulcan did indeed look a little sad now, like a kicked puppy, looking into her Magenta eyes, you saw something hidden, almost ****.

Lowering your sword, you narrowed your eyes at her and her followers "Whoever you people are, listen to me very carefully. Go back to whatever place you have here, do whatever you do, but stay away from Isabella. She is my friend and shall be welcomed, am I understood?"

They all remained silent.

"Rudy, Am, I, understood?" You gaze at the blonde directly who lowered her head, hid her face as she gently nodded. "Good, now stay out of my sight until I call on you."

Rudy bowed... it was weird, but she marched off, her unorthodox followers following swiftly after her, although many gazed back at you, almost longingly.

Claudia waved off her well-dressed companions, who vanished quicker than the wind. She moved towards you, shielding her eyes from the sword "Can you please put that bloody thing away, it's distressing." the Vampire asked.

With a click of your fingers, Lugh liquified and slid back into your open wound.

"Thank you."

You face twisted "What the fuck was that, Claudia?"

"It was simple really.." Her hands flailed as she gestured to Izzy, who looked vexed enough as it was "You thought it appropriate and intelligent to bring a Witch into our territory, unwarned and unbeckoned, with an abundance of Undead who are very must at unease around such a being!"

"That Being..." You took a breath "Is my girlfriend."

"I'm not your girlfriend." Isabella mumbled from behind.

Swiveling your face creased "Do you wanna be devoured, because this is how we get devoured."

Izzy folded her arms "I'm not a fan of labels."

"Are we seriously having this talk right now? could you just -- please?" You gestured for her to sit, and she did so grumpily.

Taking a short breath, you looked back to Claudia who seemed now in the foulest of moods "Please, tell every Vampire hidden under my nose in this house, _My house, My territory _That any person or persons who isn't trying to burn the building down, is likely a friend and should not be eaten for the simple act of getting me some clothes."

Claudia frowned "That's not the point you fool."

"Then what's the point then?"

"Warn us! dickhead." She smacked her forehead and stuck out her tongue "Duurrr." and went to march off.

"Claudia." You halted her with a word. "Come back. Please?"

Turning around, the finely dressed Vampire folded her arms.

"Izzy, My clothes are in my bedroom, top floor."

"I don't -- Is it safe?" she asked lowly.

"They heard me, they all heard me. Trust me, You'll be alright, I need to talk with Ms Axton then I'll meet you up there in a second."

The Witch moved forward, subtly brushing your shoulder with her hands "I'm just a shout away." She whispered, eyeing Claudia suspiciously before her light steps ascending the staircase echoed through the room.

When you turned back, Claudia looked more than a little impatient, arms folded, eyes pretending not to look at your toned form.

Your arms flew up in defeat and slumped against your thighs "What are you doing?" You asked in exasperation.

"What am I doing?" the words shot through her red lips as she marched towards you "I am managing your household, the people in it who either want to kill each other or kill anyone else who enters it, all while keeping the peace." She halted in front of you, she was small, but fierce as she stuck you in the chest with her finger "I set up a kitchen for you with a chef to feed you and your guests even though you're never here, I curate every room which is dusted, deep cleaned and organized for when you arrive, I keep tabs on things." colder and colder, her tone nearly froze it was so harsh and exasperated "I do your laundry motherfucker. That's what I'm doing. Who the fuck are you to sit there and judge me because of an incident that wasn't even my fault?"

You should have stood down, just nodded, the good ole smile and wave never let you down before... but today was a weird kinda day, a day of extremes and so you doubled down, staring at Claudia with a straight and clear expression; unblinking and unwavering "I'll tell you what I am, I am a dying sun, a crackling mass of unstable power just begging for one little excuse to go boom. That's right, I am a singularity; a Black hole sucking in and destroying everything he touches, on the verge of utter collapse. So pardon the shit out of me, for relying on someone to take care of my affairs while I try my best not to burn everyone around me to ****, crushing them and scattering them to the wind like a tiny car inside a very big hurricane."

"You're the most dramatic pleb I've ever met you know that!?" She growled, shaking her head and pacing "These Vampires here, they are your friends, your family. You can dally off and pretend like you don't feel that as much as you want, but I know you better."

"How!? How do you know me better?" You laughed sarcastically, completely lost.

Claudia rubbed her temples in silence, she looked even more stressed and forlorn than usual. You immediately felt bad.

"Hey... I'm sorry."

"-Don't." She shot back.

"I mean it, I've just been really off lately. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

She sulked quietly, but didn't storm off like you expected her too "We worry about you, even if you're a big dumb Asshole"

You nodded, whatever strange... connection you had with these Vampires, you felt it, whenever you met any of them, you felt at home, safe. "I know..." Here came that feeling again, that strange form of Deja vu that overcame you when in the presence of someone your brain screamed "I barely know this person" but your heart made you focus on the stress in her face and the exhaustion on her brow.

Claudia lingered, looking slightly down and disatisfied, and so you moved closer, clearly catching her a little off-guard, your lips curling into a small smiled "I know this might seem a bit weird and forward but uh..."

Her arms tightly folded and face stubbornly locked, You were surprised to see the curiosity in Claudia's deep brown eyes, that of girl pretending to hate her crush while dotting on his every word "Well, go on then?"

There wasn't really a way to say it without sounding kinda creepy "I don't like seeing you look all sour, you look so..."

"Yes?" She irked out in a low, suave tone.

"...Beautiful. You look beautiful when you're happy, even more beautiful I mean. I've never met anyone like you, I get that you're reserved a classy type-chick, but when you speak to me, I can tell that You care more than you let on. Now umm, This really is gonna sound wacko but, oh well, I have a request." Jesus Charlie what are you doing?

"And that is?" furthermore her curiosity grew, along with her alure, you noticed the nuance of her hips, the curve of her legs in her sleek suit, how she turned just a little at the waist; displaying her agile form.

"Okay, here'a goes. If I stop acting like a first class dickhead like you said... could you, maybe just, Smile for me?" Weirdest, question, ever.

Claudia unfolded her arms, the strangest of looks crossing her pale face.

"God, that came out way creepier than I thought. Better change my name to Charles Manson hehe... he... heeee. I should just, go right?"

"No." She shook her head gently, as her lips curled, flashing a pearly white and enchanting smile, it damn near took your breath away, filled your chest with warmth "No absolutely not. Of course I'll smile for you." her fingers touched your bare arm softly, the skin was cold but comforting "When you're done with your witch, meet me out by Rudy's workshop in the garden, there's something I think you'll want to see."

You tilted your head but... you trusted her "Alright, I shouldn't be long."

"Good, don't keep me waiting." Biting her lip, Claudia strutted past, stopping just at your side, failing to tear herself away from your eyes "See you in a moment, Charlie."

"In a Moment, Claudia." You nodded.

A whisper escaped her crimson lips as she slipped away "Cleo." and with that correction, she walked around the staircase to the hallway, and by her walk, she wouldn't complain about the attention you gave her delicious ass with your wanton gaze.

You thought on Cleo all the way up the stairs as you walked up to your room.

"The flower with the most thorns is often the prettiest. If that microcosm of beauty was hidden in Cleo, then... what other beauty is hidden within the other Vampires here? Maybe that's what the Serpent meant, Become the thing I fear the most which is what I already am. Human... Maybe Vampires are still a little human inside?"

BLOOD DRINKING, BABY KILLING, HUMANS PERHAPS.

You shook your head as it throbbed, you'd thought about this for days, you needed a break from it all, Maybe Cleo could help with that? then of course their was Jane, You longed to see her up and moving again, smiling again.