[Blood Diary Entry]
"Well, well… What have we here?" A cold and mocking voice echoed behind us.
A man stepped out of the darkness—brown hair, sunken eyes, a sharp jaw. His clothes, all in dark leather, but that wasn't what drew attention, no—it was that they were positively drenched in blood.
He eyed me and mom with the gaze of a predator eying his prey, he oozed malice and unrestrained cruelty.
Licking his lips, his cold mocking voice sounded again.
"How lucky of me… I got two for one tonight." His lips twisted in a cruel grin. "The mother hen and her little chick."
Mother's hands tightened around mine, so much it hurt. She didn't move, she just stood still, she didn't even breathe. I could see endless amounts of panic in her eyes.
But what hurt most is why that panic took root.
She didn't panic because she was in danger… She panicked because I was in danger.
It hurt… It hurt so much. But it was also a sweet feeling to be loved and cherished as such.
"Stay away!" Mother screamed.
"Nah, I don't think I will."
I blinked and he vanished.
Soon enough his voice sounded behind is, impossibly close now.
"I would like to take my time… But those bastards from the Camarilla are scouring the city like rabid dogs. Something startled them…" He spat the words in fury as he scowled. "Though I will make do with what I have. A last feast before I leave this wretched city."
He circled us, calm and gracefully.
"You know, I have some particular tastes… I like when my food feels absolute fear." He paused for a single second, sniffing the air, his voice amused and cocky. "Doesn't seem like it will be much of problem tonight."
Mother and I stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
We couldn't run. Couldn't call for help.
Nothing came to mind.
"I should take note, a parent and their child make for a tantalizing meal indeed." I almost hurled as I processed his words, something in me screamed, it hissed that this man was scum. And scum needed to be put down.
I felt a bubbling rage boil inside me.
The man paused again, eyeing me with curiosity.
"Your scent changed child… You smell like anger—though I still smell the fear." His eyes darkened, a mean glow beneath their surface. "No matter though, it would only make you a little spicier. Should be an interesting experience." His amusement grew further. "Should I capitalize on that?" He muttered quietly.
Then his head turned to my mother.
"But before that, tell me something…" He tilted his head. "Why do you and the boy smell different. And by that I don't mean the unusual emotions." His gaze wandered to me for a brief moment, eyes glinting in curiosity. "No, no, your very scent hits different. Care to enlighten me, woman?"
My mother didn't answer. Her hand just flew to her purse as she snatched a vial, a red liquid swirled within. But before she could do anything, the man caught her wrist and took the vial from her.
He opened it and took a whiff, his expression hardened briefly but quickly returned to its amused state.
"A witch concoction, eh?" He grinned, though I could see the rage hidden beneath. "Naughty, naughty." He flicked the vial aside. "Tsk, tsk. That warrants punishment. And also explains why you and the boy smell different little witch."
His grin widened, sharp teeth glinting in the dim streetlight.
He moved before either of us could blink. A blur, impossibly fast—and then a wet sound, dull and heavy.
Mother jerked, her eyes wide, breath frozen. His arm had gone through her. His hand burst out her back, claws slick with blood.
For a heartbeat, time stopped.
The world turned quiet—too quiet, so much that I could hear my own heartbeat—but the loudest sound was without a doubt the faint drip of her blood against the asphalt.
The vampire leaned close to her ear, voice low and cruel.
"You smell better up close, little witch."
He pulled his hand free with a wet squelching sound.
Mom fell with a soft thud, her blood pooling on the ground, a relentless puddle of crimson cruelty.
My head lowered.
My heartbeat rang in my ears, my head spun, I had a throbbing headache, my teeth hurt, the tip of my fingers itched.
But most of all my heart hurt. From beating too fast and too strongly. From watching my mother be killed right in front of me.
My breath caught. I swallowed dryly.
A strange alien sound came out of my throat.
An animalistic growl. Far deeper and more imposing than a lion's.
That same irritating voice came back.
"What are you doing child? Did seeing mother dearest get an ouchie unsettle you?" I could hear the mockery seeping out of him, but there was also a trace of uncertainty.
The growling intensified.
I didn't feel in control of myself at the moment.
The world turned a strange monochromatic shade. Red. Wherever I looked. All was red.
I heard heartbeats.
Two.
One was mine. Monstrously strong. Beating with so much power I could mistake it for a car's engine.
The second was faint. Weak. I looked towards its source.
Mother.
She was still alive. Though only barely. Hanging by a thread that could snap at any second.
Relief flooded me for a second, before unrelenting rage came back.
The world stilled.
I could see the fog freeze.
Memories assaulted my mind. Too many to count. My head throbbed with an inferno of smoldering pain. I couldn't quite organize them, I didn't have the time. But I could tell they didn't feel like mine, but at the same time they did.
No time to delve into this.
Because next I felt real physical pain.
My whole body creaked.
Bones snapped. Muscles teared. Everything came undone. Everything.
Only to be remade in the next moment.
I felt better. I felt stronger. I felt like I was MORE.
I growled, with intent this time.
The itching on my fingertips now had purpose, and from them claws came bursting forth. They were so big that they reached beneath my knees. The claws felt immensely sharp, and just as durable.
Next were my teeth. The sharp teeth mother complained and teased me about turned even sharper. I had to be careful not to sever my own tongue with them.
My eyes burned for a bit, and the red world became somewhat clearer.
I exhaled and turned my eyes back to the accursed being that dared hurting her—my world, my everything. MINE. MINE AND ONLY MINE.
The world started moving again.
I watched as his expression crumbled. The cockiness, the amusement. Everything faded away. Replaced by sheer terror.
This would have brought a smile to my face, were I not so pissed off.
I roared. Loudly and imposingly.
I spent all my fury in that one sound. And it paid off.
The dumpsters in the alley shook, windows burst, even the pool from my Mother's blood rippled.
Then I lunged forward.