Chapter 25

☆ ☆ Sylas ☆ ☆

The waxing crescent moon was out, and I stared at it intently. My dream was coming to fruition. I had searched for so long to obtain this power. Things were going smoothly between the she-wolf and James. I could sense their passionate moments and knew it was only a matter of time before their blood bond would be completed. I cackled at the thought of raising my Dhampir Hybrid. 

I would finally be the most powerful vampire with her at my command. I just needed to control her from the beginning and make it so she would never attempt to defy me. Victory was so close that I could almost taste it. The first thing I would do once she was ready would be to wipe out the flea-ridden vermin. I beckoned one of my servants to come into my study. "Fetch, James, for me, would you?" 

I awaited his arrival with bated breath, my excitement for the impending victory palpable. There was one final thing I needed to teach him: a strategic move to ensure my swift victory in case the she-wolf's true mate showed up. After a century of heartache, it was finally over. I paced back and forth, rubbing my hands together in eager anticipation. 

James finally entered the room. "It's about time.", I said hastily, "How are things progressing with the girl?" James rolled his eyes, still mad about our last conversation, no doubt. "She said that she has chosen me.", James said under his breath. My eyes gleamed victoriously at his words. He stopped to look at me, "I told her everything, and she still chose me." I hissed, "What? What do you mean by everything?" "Exactly what I said.", he huffed indignantly, "I told her about everything: your past, the prophecy, her true mate." 

If James didn't watch himself, I would have no issues killing him after the bond was formed, keeping the bitch as a pet, and taking her pup. I'd drain her before she died, too, waste not, want not. But I needed them both happy to ensure the bond was completed. "I have something I need to teach you. This technique is only achievable by descendants of the first vampires. Hemokinesis." I hissed.

James' eyes lit up. What a good little pupil he was. He had a thirst for knowledge, and I was fortunate to recognize it in him. He was an apt learner, too. He could master the basics in about a week and then move on to some of the harder techniques over time. I myself had to spend years learning, but with James, he was special, to say the least. 

I had some glasses prepared prior to his arrival. "Drink.", I ordered. James obeyed and drank one of the glasses while I drained the other of its contents. "Now watch." I hissed. James sat down to observe my actions. I quickly sliced my wrist open with one of my fingernails. Blood flowed out of my veins; I controlled it expertly, wrapping it around the neck of a marble bust of David. Beheading him with a powerful squeeze of my hand. 

James sat up in shock, bewildered at the power he didn't realize he held inside of him. I chuckled maniacally. I sat down next to James, eager to share my knowledge. "Every drop of blood you drink to sustain yourself intermixes with your internal demon. Use your demon's power to imbue his life force into the blood you exude from yourself. Just make sure you don't drain yourself fully in the process; leave at least a liter of blood in your being, or you, too, will perish."

I held out my hand, encouraging James to attempt it. He stood and sliced his wrist open just as I had done. Standing there in silence, he concentrated as I sat on the edge of my seat, waiting for my progeny to amaze me with his ability. After time passed to no avail, I looked closely and realized that he had already healed.

I grabbed a silver-tipped blade from my desk and walked back over to James. I yanked his wrist toward me and cut him deeply. He cried out in pain, and the red of his eyes deepened. "There, that's it. Let your demon come forth.", I said. He focused again; this time, drops of blood were trickling down his arm, beading at his elbow before falling to the floor. 

"You, the demon, and your blood are one. Command it.", I hissed. Something resonated within him, and the blood began fighting against gravity. My joy could not be contained, "That's it. That's it. You're doing it." Elated, I knew now that I had won. My eyes grew wider, and I watched him swirl the blood around with the whisk of his wrist and form shapes, his fingers expertly moving, controlling each platelet as if he were a maestro controlling a symphony, each instrument playing its part to create a whole experience.

He pushed it away nearly two and a half feet from his being, still swirling and manipulating it like a master ceramicist, forming his next masterpiece. "Not too much.", I warned; I couldn't have my progeny screwing this up for me when I was so close. "Reel it back in, James.", I ordered. He followed my directions. He looked at me in awe of his new ability. I sat there in shock; he had done more than I could manage after months of practicing in the last few minutes. 

I applauded him and went over to pat him on his shoulder, "That's my boy." I was beaming, and at that moment, James had forgotten all the negative feelings. He no longer looked at me with resentment in his eyes. He was so eager to learn and develop himself, and I hadn't challenged him in quite some time. He was like a puppy yearning for love and praise after appeasing its master. 

"Well done.", I said again; I pricked my finger on my fang and smeared my blood into his open wound. The skin repaired itself almost immediately; it was another perk of our bloodline, but not one that had to be taught; it just simply did. "Practice this only in my presence until you learn to control it better; I don't want you ending your life because you got overzealous and caught up in the moment.", I said proudly. James nodded, "Yes, sir." I tapped my finger on my chin, "Meet me here every evening at 7 p.m. when you get up and come hungry. We only have 14 nights after tonight to prepare before the full moon."

James nodded, "Yes, Father, I will do anything to be able to protect Kara." He was so attached to her. I didn't understand his sentiment as she was only the means to an end for me. "Do you still plan on turning the she-wolf?", I asked even though I had my suspensions already. "Of course, we've already discussed it. It took her some time to process everything I told her, but she agreed ultimately. She wants to spend her life with me and is willing to become a vampire to do so." 

"Really?", I was perplexed; maybe honesty was the best policy. "Hmm.", I supposed time would tell; the normal person only fantasizes about becoming immortal. It's very different when death is staring you in the face as we drain every drop from your body before lying with you in the ground.

I looked back at James, "And she will be your responsibility afterward; you know better than anyone about my three-strike rule." He nodded, "Yes, I will teach her how to properly feed from the humans. With your resources here, it shouldn't be difficult for her to curb her cravings." 

I recalled, "You thought it would be easy for you too, but I remember how ravenous you became at your first taste of warm, fresh human blood. It's more difficult than you remember, son, and you had years of preparations prior to turning." I laughed, "Her demon will be just as strong because of our lineage, and I assume that you don't want a weaker vampire siring her, right?" His red eyes deepened their hue at my statement. Apparently, his demon was attached too. 

"Play me a song before you go. I heard you the other night and forgot how beautifully you played. Far better than any of my records." I asked. James obliged, and we made our way to the music room before he went back to be with his she-wolf. 

He seated himself at the piano and asked what I wanted to hear. "Saint-Saëns, Danse Macabre." I was feeling like death incarnate and nothing would be more perfect than having this performed live for me on this glorious night.

Sylas began dancing his fingers across the keys and I allowed the music to encompass me. The violin chords playing only in my head enhanced the emotions that I was feeling. I was powerful, and soon the entire world would know. My thoughts drifted away as I planned the worlds demise. A female presence broke my concentration. I glared at the entrance to find the she-wolf encroaching in on my concert. At least she stood there in silence as James played. I walked past her with a nod as he finished the piece.