Chapter 27: Blessing and Curse

Far from the world we know lies another one that contains much darker skies, gloomy atmosphere, and lesser population. But like any other worlds, it has the touch of nature, the green fields and trees. The pebbled ground and cemented roads being stepped on by the citizens wearing coats and long skirt dresses.

The clacking sound of the horse's hoofs while carrying a carriage that varies in sizes depending on your status in life. These carriages roam around town to town, passing through the alleys with houses of walls made of bricks.

And among these houses, the tallest one stood stupendously as it serves as the town's symbol and pride. From its highest peak, a red flag can be found. Swaying its mark as proudly as it can be.

The mark of a big star with a sword at the center containing bat wings on both sides, and a snake wrapped around the sword. By this, everyone will know who they are by seeing this mark.

Going back to the huge palace, this building is surrounded by knights wearing their black iron armor. Like how the bricks were painted in black. Inside, the repeated sounds of footsteps echoed around the hall going to the chambers.

Knowing who it was, the knights pushed the huge doors open and let the servant in.

"My lord!" She gasped, "Your 47th child has been born."

The king, gazing at the window as he sips his wine didn't even budge to look back as he heard the news. It seems like he's uninterested. Not until this panting midwife added another information.

"It's a boy, your majesty. And... he has black hair."

The sound of the crashing wine glass can be heard inside the room. And without further ado, the king rushed towards that room where the child was delivered.

Upon the king's arrival, the maidservants bowed down and presented the child to him. The king walked towards the small baby as he looked at it from his little head to small toes.

He smirked, "Indeed, he's my son!" He grinned and took the child in his arms.

"Finally, you've done something useful to me, wife!" He glanced at the woman lying on the bed as she faintly smiled at the king, her said to be husband.

"I'll be expecting something good to this child." The king added and ordered some servants to get the best maids and butlers to serve the boy.

Thus, this boy grew up with such attention and careful instruction from the best maids and butlers, teachers and nurses. They fear that once they've failed to fulfill their duties, the king will hang their corpses where they can be reached by the sun's rays. Since he has that black hair, the king highly favors him.

And like any other days, his fully-booked everyday schedule focuses mainly on studying. Be it with academics, sports, or arts--everything has been carefully taught to him.

But today's an exception. As one of the consorts walked along the hallway, she saw one of the teachers looking around. He seems to be in great distress.

"What's the matter, Sir Bernard? You looked so troubled." She asked and walked towards the poor gentleman.

"Ah, Mistress..." Sir Bernard gulped, "T-there's nothing wrong, my lady. Everything has been taken care of." He tried to compose himself.

The mistress chuckled, "Let me guess... my son ran off again, didn't he?"

Seeing how the gentleman flinched means she guessed it right.

"I-I deeply apologized for lying to you, mistress!" He bowed his head deeply.

She shook her head, "Don't worry, Sir Bernard. I won't tell anyone. I'll help you look for him." She smiled.

The gentleman was delighted, "I thanked you from the bottom of my heart, mistress!"

"Don't mention it, you should hurry back to the study room before anyone suspects he's skipping. I shall bring him to you myself."

Sir Bernard bowed his head once again before he rushed back.

The consort, however, felt sorry for him. He's not the only one who acts like that. After all, they've been given such a heavy task where their lives are in the line. Just for a single child's well-being. Sometimes, she wished his hair was never been born black. So that he won't be experiencing this burden in such an early age. He won't be bothering others as well who are terrified to lose their life.

But on the other hand, if his hair wasn't black, the king wouldn't take notice of him. They wouldn't experience such luxury in life. Or worse, they'll end up getting banished just like the others.

The consort walked down the stairs as she went to the palace's garden. She went to the labyrinth and walked towards the wall bushes, confident that she wouldn't ever get lost. After turning left, she brushed off a certain bush and crawled forward. There's a secret passage leading to a small flower bed. From there, a boy with a jet black hair can be found lying comfortably.

Seeing how adorable he sleeps, she can't help but smile as she gently brushed the strands of his hair off his face. This child is her entire world, her sole reason for living.

Despite how peaceful he sleeps, she needs to wake him up.

"Zoren... Zoren, wake up." She softly called, it was like a whisper from an angel.

The boy moaned as he gently rubbed his eyes, "Mother? Why are you here?" He yawned.

"Why? Because skipping classes isn't good, you know." She replied and playfully pinched his little nose.

The boy groaned and removed her hand, "But mother, I always study. From day to night, every single day..." He sighed, "I always always study... I'm tired." He pouted.

It was so cute that she ended up hugging him tight.

"I know, sweety. But studying is for your own good. It will help you gain knowledge. And if there's knowledge, there's power."

"Power? What kind of power, mother?" The boy tilted his head to the side as his rounded golden pupils met hers.

"Uhh.. let's see... like, making others happy!"

He blinked, "Happy? Is that even a power?"

She laughed, "Of course it is! Power doesn't necessarily mean extraordinary abilities like ours. It's something we do beyond our strength, something we do to help others. That's power."

The boy blinked several times as if he realized something.

"If I study, will I be able to have the power to make you happy, mother?"

"Of course!" She beamed a smile.

Truth be told, she was surprised of his question. But the thought that she's his inspiration made her heart leapt for joy.

And with that, she managed to bring the boy back to the study room. And he even excelled in everything he did!

A year after that, there's a rumor roaming around the castle that the 50th child was finally born.

"Have you heard? The 50th child was said to be another girl." Said one of the maids.

"As far as I know, the child has pink hair." Said the other.

"Oh dear... looks like we'll be carrying another corpse again..."

The boy, hearing these things, approached one of the maids.

"Excuse me... can you take me to my new sister?" He asked.

The maids flinched and gave him a dreadful expression.

"B-but little prince, why concern yourself? She's just your half-sister."

"But I want to see her. She's still part of this family, right?" His innocent golden eyes looked at them with sincerity.

As much as they wanted to refuse, they fear their lives more. That's why they took him to where the child was delivered.

But all they heard was screaming and wailing as they come nearer and nearer.

"What's happening?" They asked as some midwives who came out terrified.

"It's the witch!"

"I can't take this anymore!" They said and ran away.

Curious as he is, the boy took a peek from the door. He saw his mother's figure as the terrifying aura filled the room.

"Lady Liliana, calm down." The consort said trying to stop her from wailing from the pain of childbirth.

"Mother?" He called.

She turned around and saw him, "Zoren, what are you doing here?!" She gave him a horrid expression.

The one who was called the witch, Liliana, gazed upon the door where he stood. Upon seeing his face, all the pain and suffering suddenly came back to her.

"You--!" She glared at him.

Her purple eyes glowed as anger rose up within her. She can't be mistaken. That jet black hair as dark as the night, those gleaming golden eyes which is sharper than any sword. Seeing those reminded her of the humiliation she never wished to recall.

"How dare you.. show your face here?!" She groaned.

The consort stepped forward and blocked his view from the terrifying witch.

"No, Lady Liliana. You're mistaken! He's not him!"

"Silence! Get away from him!!!" She blasted purple fire around the room.

"Zoren!" His mother used her body to shield him from getting burned.

"Give my child back!" The witch wailed and continued to breathe out fire.

"Enough!" A loud voice declared and the flames suddenly died out.

A heavy footstep came forward the room. His long black hair and sharp golden eyes stood up remarkably. It was the king, walking towards the witch.

"Where is my child, Alucard!?"

Instead of answering her question, the king raised his hand and slapped her. The sound of his big hand landed on her cheek echoed around the room. It was strong enough to make it red as she fell on the bed.

"One more attempt of harming my son will be the death of your precious daughters." He coldly said.

The consort slowly get up and carried the boy in her arms. She was groaning in pain, her back was burned earlier by the purple flames.

The witch shook her head, "No! Please don't hurt my daughters! I'm begging you!" She grabbed his cloak as she cried.

"Please don't kill them!"

This is what he saw before the door was shut before him. After that, though it was faint, he heard the witch wailing as she begged for the king's mercy. It was the last thing he heard before they were taken away.

"Mother, does it still hurt?" The boy asked worriedly as he watched the maids apply some ointment on her back.

She was burned deeply that it left a huge burn mark on her skin.

His mother smiled through the pain, "It is, but I'll be fine." She gently patted his head.

The boy frowned, "Why it isn't healing? The marks should've been gone few minutes ago."

"It should be. But the flames came from a witch. So you mustn't mess with anyone. Not because we're vampires doesn't mean there's no one superior to us."

He nodded as he took those words from the heart. As if mentally noting not to mess up with witches.

A year after that incident, the consort asked for the king's permission to take young Zoren outside the castle walls. It was a request for the boy to take a little break from all the hard work he has done. Fortunately, the king approved of it. Under the condition of taking precautions for the boy's safety.

Excited as he is, young Zoren ran as fast as he could towards the carriage.

"Zoren, wait!" His mother chased after him, "You should wear this." She wrapped the cloak around him and placed the hood on his head.

"Why do I have to wear this, mother?"

"It's for your safety." She smiled.

Even he doesn't understand what it is for, he just shrugged and wore it until they reached the marketplace. Young Zoren enjoyed watching the view from the window. It's his first time stepping out of the castle walls after all.

But what caught his attention are those poor vampires from the narrow alleys. They looked thin and untidy. They have holes on their clothes, they don't have coats to protect themselves from the cold. Most importantly, they look frail and sick. This isn't what was supposed to be expected for a vampire under their monarchy. They're vampires and yet, why do they look so pathetic? They don't die easily but these vampires look like corpses, as if they're wishing that death would take them already.

This left a pang of pain in his heart.

'Why are they experiencing this? Didn't father govern these vampires? Why do they look like they've been abandoned?'

While having these thoughts, he gazed on their picnic basket which was supposed to be for them. But the pain in his heart will weigh heavier if he'll let this slip.

"Mother, may I?" He asked, referring to the basket.

The consort blinked and though she was clueless, she nodded and gave him permission. The boy smiled at her response and asked the driver to stop the carriage for a moment.

"Zoren, where are you going?" She was about to stop him but he already opened the door and stepped out.

Carrying the basket, he gave those poor vampires some food they have.

"My child, what are you doing?" The consort went out of the carriage.

"Mother," he glanced at her, "I've decided... when I became king, I want to help them. I'll build a nation where no vampire will suffer from hunger." He beamed.

"Zoren..." She was surprised at what she heard.

As early as the age of four, this boy cared for other's needs like he truly understood what needs to be done. And that fact alone made her happy from the bottom of her heart, like a proud mother.

Just then, they heard someone shouted "THIEF!" as the culprit came running towards their direction. Young Zoren, wanted to help the victim, grabbed the man's coat when he came pass through them.

With his strength, he pulled the culprit to stop him from running. But since he's still a boy, his little strength wasn't enough to match with the thief. But his action caused both of them to stumble and fall on the ground.

"What the--!? You little--!" The thief paused when he saw the child and his hair color. The hood was removed from his head because of the impact when he fell.

"He has black hair!"

"That must be him!"

"The reason of our suffering!"

All eyes glared at him.

Earlier, the place was filled with smiles and laughter. But now, it quickly shifted to anger and malice towards a single child. This terrified him, as they slowly approached him with those bloodlust eyes and sharp fangs. Even those vampires whom he gave food earlier were now turning against him.

Why does his hair color turned them into someone else? Is it his fault? Is it his power? Or is this... a curse?

While this left him confused, the consort quickly grabbed him back in the carriage and head back the castle. Since then, she didn't allow him to go outside the black walls anymore.

It made him gloomy for few days. During his break times, he took a stroll in the garden as he recalled what happened.

'What's wrong with my hair?' He wondered, 'This happened twice. The first, to the witch, and now, the people outside the walls.'

He heaved a heavy sigh finding no answers to his questions. When he asked his mother, the consort always tells him the same thing.

"There's nothing wrong with you. Don't mind them, alright?"

But no matter how many times she told him that, she can't seem to make him convince. There's indeed something wrong with him.

In such frustration, the boy kicked one pebble that it reached quite far away. He followed the pebble to kick it once again when he heard noises behind the bushes.

When he moved and took a peek, he saw some of his half-brothers surrounding their half-sister. They're kicking, punching, and pulling her hair.

"Get out here, you witch!"

"You're a black sheep!"

The little girl's wailing reached his ears that he can't stand this kind of violence.

"Brothers, stop that!" He stepped forward.

They glanced at him with those cold eyes.

"What do you care?"

"Mind your own business, you spoiled brat!"

They said and continued to bully the girl.

"Stop that!" Zoren pushed them away and went in front of the girl.

"She's our sister, our family! Why are you doing this to her?"

His brothers became angry at what he did.

"Didn't I tell you to mind your own business?!" One of them suddenly punched him on the face that blood dripped from his nose.

Then, the other grabbed him in the collar.

"How dare you say something about family when you're the sole source of our suffering!"

The other boys tried to stop him but he continued to shout at Zoren as he shook him violently.

"What's going on here?!" A firm voice said.

The boys froze when they saw who it was.

"B-brother Claudius!"

In such surprise, one of them slipped his hand on Zoren's collar and he fell on the ground beside the girl with a fuchsia hair color.

A lad with an indigo hair color walked towards them with the black knights behind him.

"I'm asking, what's going on in here?" He asked with a stern look on his face.

The boys trembled, "W-we... We're teaching this witch a lesson..."

Claudius glanced at Zoren who's slowly getting up.

"And what about him?" Claudius asked, referring to Zoren.

"H-he... he's getting in our way! Th-that's why... we knocked some good sense on him!"

"Is that so?" Claudius held his chin, then a smirked slowly drawn on his lips.

"Good job for the three of you..."

The boys grinned as they were praised at what they did.

But Claudius suddenly added, "Is what you wanted me to say, right?" He stared coldly at those boys.

"According to the king's verdict, anyone who harms Orpheus Zoren shall be put to death. Didn't you know about that?"

The boys trembled, "W-we forgot! We're very sorry!" They bowed their heads deeply on the ground.

"You fools! Ignorance of the law excuses no one. Am I correct? So shall be with all of you."

At his signal, the black knights swung their swords and stabbed them, gauging their hearts out right before their eyes. Right in front of Zoren, as their blood splattered on his face.

He wanted to throw up, but was too scared to do so especially in front of his elder brother.

"Did you get it now?" Claudius said as he walked closer to the boy.

He leaned closer and whispered to his ear.

"Having that black hair is indeed a blessing. But don't ever think that you'll drag no one on the curse that it brings. Take these boys' lives as an example." His cold voice sent chills to his spine.

That's when he realized, how much of a burden he's carrying for having this blessed-cursed black hair. And as early as the age of four, he began to ask himself...

'Why am I even born?'