A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 52: Fulfilled Dreams

With every turn Brandon took, he found his knights reducing in numbers, in a strange yet dreadful way. He caught a shriek or two behind the woods, a finality of subtraction in his kingsguard.

He whipped his head around, his heart slamming against his ribcage. There were only a meagre ten knights or so left, if he had the luxury to count!

A shadow moved from behind the trees, so fast Bran lost track of its movements. What the hell were they dealing with here? He had never seen a thing move so fast and kill clean? Strangely, no bodies of his fallen knights were spotted, only a sound of tearing flesh or a yelp.

His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword and he dared not to move. The remaining knights circled around him, their faces masked in a cloak of fear. And the sight was one to behold; the ever proud and fearless knighthood in a frenzy!

"Tsk!" Gabriel sneered when no other knight was brave enough to come looking for him in the woods. His eyes momentarily shifted to the pile of bodies clustered behind a tree in a plump, now a feast for the crows.

Blood dripped at the end of his claws, his eyes narrowed to a predatory look. There was a glow in them that was not there before, a darkness that had surficed the moment he had a taste of Elena’s blood. And from the moment he had a bite from her sacred source, he had this obsession... an unending lust for more blood. Killing, he noticed, gave him a somehow satisfactory feeling compared to sucking. Whenever he went for the latter, blood tasted bitter in his mouth.

He leapt to another tree, closing in on the group. He took a quick count; six knights excluding the king’s favorite son. That was a number he could work with.

Gabriel landed on the clearing, his feet sealing with the solid ground. His eyes settled on Brandon’s who instantly stiffened in surprise. But his face turned into that loathsome mask Gabriel was always used to, his insides churning at Gabriel’s mere presence. His fear rekindled afresh into more reason to end Gabriel’s life.

"Whose idea was it?" Gabriel asked, now walking around in circles. He noticed the nervous grip from the knights. Just one blow and he’d get over with it.

"Was it father? He’s always wanted me dead, I wouldn’t be surprised."

"Father is not the only one who wants you dead!" Bran spat disgustingly. "Seeing you lying on the ground lifeless will give me more satisfaction than being inside a woman!"

"A dream I’m afraid cannot be fulfilled at the moment," Gabriel replied with a smirk. "Or maybe it can. Only that you’ll be lying on the ground and I’ll be standing."

Brandon’s nostrils flared, and in his state of anger, he leapt at Gabriel with a deathly blow. He swung his sword at him with killing intent, aiming for a vital organ. Gabriel was however quick to dodge it a second before he could open his guts.

Giving him no luxury to compose himself, Brandon attacked relentlessly. He nearly caught the bastard off guard but his sword was no match to Gabriel’s speed. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he felt the sword stick to the ground.

"How are you so fast?!" He asked, his anger rising to unseen heights. The knights felt a rustle from behind them, a deadly aura suddenly surrounding the place. Even Brandon stiffened, his hair rising like that of a purring cat.

Gabriel’s corners lifted, a sour smile lighting his face. If Vathin was going to make such grand entrances, he had more reason to have him in his kingsguard. He could already imagine Brandon shit his pants at the dangerous aura emanating from the stranger who just materialized out of nowhere.

"And who are you?" Bran asked, struggling with his sword.

Vathin’s lips twisted. "Someone you don’t want to be introduced to in a formal way," he replied.

"Kill him!" Brandon pointed, now getting a better grip of his sword. The knights rushed towards Vathin in all their numbers.

"Tsk," he scoffed, lazily pushing the stray strands of his hair to the back. His lips curled displaying his pearl white teeth. He muttered some words, the advancing knights suddenly freezing in their tracks. One who was close enough had their sword rest slightly an inch away from Vathin’s neck. But he never batted an eye!

"Well," he clapped his hands in unison as if he did little to nothing. He pushed himself through the unmoving living statues to confront a scared Brandon.

"A prince, alone in the werewoods with no one to defend you." Vathin intoned.

Gabriel took a step forward, assessing the frightened ’crown prince’ of Eldoria. His grip was clumsy now around his sword. Gabriel had never seen him so scared!

"You die you son of a vile creature!" Brandon yelled, a war cry. It was his last resort, an attempt to split Gabriel into two halves. He struck and Gabriel sidestepped knocking the sword off Brandon’s hands.

He didn’t give him the chance to compose. A kick landed on Brandon’s back sending him sprawling on the ground. He landed hard with his face first, instantly getting a wound that was quick to heal.

Gabriel arrived just in time to stop him from getting his sword. His boot sealed with Brandon’s stomach earning a painful groan from him. He lied flat, his hands holding his belly.

"You’ve always wanted to kill me!" He said, his boot pressing on Brandon’s chest to seal his movements. Their eyes met, and in that moment he never saw the Brandon Sinclair he was used to. Instead, it was a normal vampire under his mercy. His eyes pleaded for life yet he dared not speak the words, probably too proud for it! His ego would never let him beg for mercy!

"Kill me and get over with it!" He said, his legs slightly raised. The blood formed on the corners of his mouth. "You’ll be named crown prince, and with me dead, no one will stand in your way to have the crown. But the people will never accept to be ruled over by a bastard!"

"Kill me!" He yelled.

Gabriel shook his head. "No, I won’t kill you. I’ll take you with me and tell everyone what you wanted to do."

"You think they’ll believe you?" Brandon asked, forcing a hysterical laughter. "Father might believe you but the rest of the people want you more dead than I do. Why do you think the knights accepted to come with me despite this being treason?"

Gabriel’s brows creased, forming deep lines on his forehead.

"No one likes you, bastard! Not even the court officials," Brandon said, disdain laced in his voice.

Gabriel eyed him for a fleeting couple of seconds, the words sinking deep in his mind. But before he could consider Brandon’s words, he kicked him on the head, making him unconscious.