BROTHERHOOD

CHAPTER SIX

"I will begin."

From the dark corner came a modulated voice with a pair of glowing red eyes.

Then the air around the room stilled.

A pair of red eyes watched as fine particles were suspended in the air with a barely felt undercurrent.

The undercurrent slowly build up into electric charges as the particles diffuse into a thin layer of transparent smoke. Giving a slight obscuration in the air.

From particles to transparent smoke, it is fed by the quiet steady hum of power until it gradually became a blur of white smoke.

From a quiet steady hum, the current is sizzling and buzzing as a visible mass of condensed vapor floated high above the ground.

Then the room is palpitating like a heart beat as sudden sounds of zings and sparks revealed four excellent specimens of men.

And the moment all four men appeared, they all simultaneously knelt down on their left knee with their right fist over their heart.

"My Liege." They echoed all together.

"My brothers." Damien spoke.

From their bowed heads, all four of them looked up at Damien in unison.

Then they all stood up with identical broad smiles on their faces.

Looking at the four men before him, Damien can feel their bone deep respect and unconditional loyalty to him.

They are his blood sworn brothers.

These men may not be his blood brothers but they are brothers who are more than willing to bleed for him.

Marius unconsciously surveyed the room.

Damien chuckled as he swayed his hand lightly in the air.

POP! POP!

POP! POP!

In the next moment, a series of torches were lit one after another brightening the entire hall.

Once the room was illuminated, it can be seen that they are in Damien's solar.

There is a fireplace made of stone at the back of Damien, a long table that could sit sixteen people on the right side and three standard windows on the left side.

Then there are Damien's Collections.

Different Tapestries dating as early as 1300's with Chinese and Pre-Columbian's double sided embroideries, large European tapestries with images containing dozens of figures.

Different Wood Carvings and wood works dating back 2000BC or older. With many of his collections mostly centered on Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome.

Different Paintings with elements of figure painting, landscape painting and still-life which he knows dates back 1500's.

All around the room has Damien's personal touches depicting his elegance and appreciation on the finer things in life.

Looking around, Marius lamented at Damien's wasteful extravagance.

It's been so long since the last time they have been here. But not even a speck of dirt nor cobwebs can be found.

He must have used a spell to maintain this Keep. And good spells are hard to come by. And they don't come cheap! Witches don't accept money. Just favors!

He looked sneakily at Damien and secretly glared at him with disdain.

Damien just glanced at Marius then swayed his hand again.

From the table, four goblets hovered in the air and glided towards their direction. Everyone has one goblet each.

"Drink."

Without any hesitation, they took the goblet and directly drank from it.

Its blood.

They all looked at Damien in surprise.

Damien just smiled at them.

"Sit before you embarrass yourself."

They all know what Damien's blood can do. And yes, its Damien's blood.

They hurriedly waved their hands like what Damien did and a chair came flying their way.

They all sat down in silence to wait.

Damien arched his head back against the backrest of the chair and just closed his eyes. As if his centuries of deep slumber was neither long nor satisfying enough.

All four of them looked at Damien then they stared at each other.

Then Marius was the first to have a reaction. He experienced a sudden spasm that he violently slammed his feet off the ground.

The front legs of his chair was raised.

His chair wobbled.

THUD!!

He turned over and ended upside down!

With a red face, he immediately looked over at his Elder Brothers in shame and embarrassment! He pushed himself up and just sat on the floor.

Then he glared at his Elder Brothers!

Daring them to laugh at him.

"Hmpf." Luca, the oldest, shot him a look of scorn.

But the others just gave him a look of contempt and a sneer on their lips.

BAM!

All three convulsed at the same time. The blood is too potent!

They all clenched their hands into fists as a burst of tyrannical power echoed within them, battering their insides. They felt like their guts has been torn into shreds, their flesh burning into flames!

BLAARGH! Alexandru vomited blood.

BLAARGH! Stefan vomited blood.

WHACK! Marius hit his head on his chair.

COUGH! COUGH! Luca coughed out blood.

They all gritted their teeth as they endured and persisted. Their insides were like being mutilated and hacked a thousand times over!

The pain is so excruciating, so agonizing, so extreme that they can't remember how many times they vomited blood already!

How can Damien's power become more savage?! He went to sleep, didn't he? Luca can't help but complain in frustration!

They don't know how long it took them to stabilize themselves. All they know is that, they just went to hell!

But when they passed the critical juncture, they all smiled in extreme bliss and great satisfaction.

Their veins are now vibrating as their blood are singing in exhilaration and enthusiasm. In resonance to their blood's excitement, their body were also swaying with their faces in a state of rapture.

Their eyes remained closed as they relish the rush of power surging in their body. Making them more strong, more sensitive, more powerful.

When next they opened their eyes, Damien was already gone.

Then they looked at each other's bloody pathetic faces! The room has a strong smell of blood, vomit and sweat.

They all shudder in disgust.

"Clean yourselves up. I will come back after I talk to my mate." Came Damien's voice from somewhere in the Keep.

"MATE?!!!"

The shout of the four Master Vampires echoed all throughout the Keep.