Immortality Part II - More Than Bargained For...

The bright light burned his eye through his eyelids, when he finally began to wake. He reached up and shielded them as he slowly blinked back the sleep. It must have been day time. That much was clear. He just couldn't remember ever going to sleep. The last thing he remembered was seeing that man with Aethon... Aethon? He sat up and looked around, realising he was in his room.

"Aethon?" He said getting out of bed and immediately dropping back down onto it. His whole body felt weird. Like he was forced to live in someone elses. "Aethon?" He said again only louder this time. He needed his brother but he didn't want to wake his family. He stretched out his legs before him, trying to get used to their feel and stood up.

Aethon was laying very still, had been for at least an hour, maybe two, eyes shut against the sudden brightness of the world. It was still morning. It shouldn't be so bright, yet, already the light burned his eyes.

Slowly, he forced himself to open them. Aurmerle was calling him, voice pitched so only he should hear. He rose from his cot, the world doing a dangerous twist about him, though he managed to remain upright. This was worse than having drank too much ale. Far worse.

What had the devil done to them?

Staggering slightly, he made his way to the adjacent room of the dwelling, leaning against the door frame.

He moved, slightly wobbly on his feet, over to the window. Looking out the window always calmed him. He never was one for being stuck indoors. He liked to be free! He lifted a hand to pull back one of the shutters and hissed in pain.

He spun around at the slightest of sounds and found his brother. He sighed with relief and walked over to him. "What's happening? The sun burns!" He said looking down at his hand as it healed. "What kind of magic is this?" He said backing away from his brother to sit on the cot.

Aethon also watched the healing burn, then gave a weary sigh. He slid down along the door frame to sit on the floor, resting his head in one hand.

"The darkest of the dark," he replied wearily. "I warned you there'd be a catch.

"Aurmerle, Djinn isn't a man, at all. He is a devil. He'd offered me the deal, and it had been my intention to turn him down. Now, however, I suspect I had little choice in the matter."

He brought his hand down to rest on his left shoulder, hissing at the contact. Tugging up his sleeve, he craned his neck to peer at the symbol burned into the flesh at the top of of his arm. "And he's branded us. Like livestock. Charming."

Aurmerle frowned and looked at his brother in confusion. "What do you mean? Don't blame this on me! I wasn't the one to bring him tour house!" He said moving slide down the wall opposite his brother.

"A devil?!" He asked slightly louder than a whisper before he remembered to keep it down. "And they say im stupid!" He said shaking his head before flinshing forward as the top of his back hit the wall.

"You had the choice! No one forced you to take it." He said oulling off his shirt so he could feel his back better. "Is that mine?" He asked turning to show his back. It was the only place that felt like it was on fire.

"Im hungry." He moaned getting to his feet.

"Don't be an idiot," Aethon said tiredly. He gestured vaguely. "The only person I blame for this is myself."

He gritted his teeth. "Devils are older than the earth itself. Do you really think something that old wouldn't have some sort of contingency plan? He was counting on me accepting the deal. Somehow he knew that I wouldn't leave you to whatever fate alone. You were just one more reason I couldn't say no.

"That has to be painful," Aethon remarked as confirmation as he peered at the symbol on Aurmerle's back. Right over the back of his brother's spine. It'd probably feel like it was scored right into the bone. Granted, Aethon's arm felt like it had been burned to the bone. Perhaps, it was meant to hurt like hell, regardless of placement.

Aethon levered himself back to his feet, turning to peer into the rest of the small dwelling. "Let's get some food, then, little brother," he said. "And try to avoid sunlight while we're at it, shall we?"

He frowned and moved to sit on his bed. It wasn't the most comfortable place to sit but at least he wouldn't feel the urge to lean against the wall like he did sat on the floor. "So he used me to get to you?" He asked. How stupid was he? He should have known but the offer was just too tempting to turn down. "Im sorry. I should have listen but he was offering everything i'd ever wanted." He frowned.

"It is, my whole spine feels like its on fire and it doesn't help if i move." He said slowly putting his shirt back on, but his new brand just irritated under the rough fabric.

He nodded and got to his feet. Now he'd mentioned it he was feeling hungry. More hungry than he'd ever been before. Even his throat began to burn with thirst at the thought of food.

"Not your fault, little brother," Aethon said.

He quietly led the way through the house they shared with their parents and younger sister, giving the windows to the east side a wide berth. As they reached the kitchen, a figure jumped out in front of them, a girl around the age of sixteen grinning mischievously up at them.

"What're you two doing, sneaking about in the morning?" Osythe asked, tilting her golden head inquisitively.

Aethon had started at her sudden appearance, though it shouldn't have been a surprise, at all. He stared at her, not really hearing her words. A rhythmic whooshing sound filled his ears and after a moment, he realized - with not a little horror - that it was her pulse. Furthermore, that very sound was causing the burning thirst in his throat to grow more pronounced.

"Aethon? Are you alright?" asked Osythe.

Pressure began to build in his gums and colors in the room began to distort.

"You and Aurmerle both don't look well... Is there something wrong with your eyes?"

He shook away the odd sensation, swallowing painfully. "Fine," Aethon rasped, shooting an anxious glance at his brother.

Aurmerle slowly and quietly followed his brother through the house, making sure to close all the shutters where possible. It was horrible not being able to walk through your own home without getting burnt from the sunlight. He really wasn't looking forward to their father waking up and sending them to work.

The sudden appearence of their sister had him in pain. His throat burned, his mouth killed and it was only when his hand shot to his mouth did he realise his teeth had grown. He gasped and turned around, trying to get his new found hunger under control. "Aethon, what's happening?" He asked closing his eyes and covering his ears against the sound of her blood rushing through her veins, it was driving him insane. The longer he stood there, the less he seemed able to control himself. Before he knew what he was doing he'd spun around, eyes pitch black and hissed at Osythe with his fangs exposed. Oh how he longed to sink his teeth into her throat.

Osythe screamed.

Aethon's arm shot out, catching him across the chest as he shoved him back. "Control yourself!" he snarled, though a note of terror had entered his tone.

He addressed the girl without turning to face her. "Osythe. Aurmerle and I are leaving." The emphasize was directed at Aurmerle, to get his attention - and to inform him he had no choice in the matter. "Go to your room, blockade the door, and don't... follow... us."

Wrapping a hand around his brother's upper arm, Aethon dragged him towards the back door. The shed was their first goal. By the gods, this was going to hurt.

Pulling Aurmerle with him, Aethon darted into the early morning sunlight.

He growled but almost welcomed the grip on his arm. At least he couldn't willingly go and hurt his baby sister and a part of him was pleased about that. However the other blood thirsty side of him wanted nothing more than to tear his brothers arm off to get to her. He'd almost do anything to feel her warm blood against his lips. Just thinking about it made his mouth water.

He had no choice but to run out into the burning morning light. It hadn't even crossed his mind that this was going to hurt until he was cleanly out of the door. He hissed against the pain before darting to the shed at the back of the house. It took seconds. Another ability to add to the ones he already had. At least this one was cool.

Aethon barricaded the door behind them, leaning against it as he watch the nasty burns along his arms heal. He drew in a breath.

"I figure we have ten minutes before father comes after us." He turned to his brother. "We need to be out of here, and we need to find Djinn." Snatching up a couple grain sacks, he threw one to Aurmerle, tearing his own so it could cover more area.

"We'll go to the woods. There are shaded areas. Use that to cover some of your skin - keep your burns to a minimum."

He looked in horror as his arms healed. This couldn't be good surely. It was devils stuff what they could do now, and he'd almost killed his sister because of it. "Aethon i..." He said, feeling the need to explain himself. It wasn't everyday you tried to kill your own family but he didn't know what he could say.

He caught the grain sack and coppied his brother until he had enough to cover his skin. The pain from the sun burned, it was more pain then he'd ever had before and gritting his teeth was the only thing stopping him from crying. He nodded and made sure all his body was covered before preparing himself to run.

"What are we going to do Aethon? We can't run for the rest of our lives! We'll have to go out at night and sleep during the day! Where will we sleep?" He asked the reality of the whole thing finally settling in. "We're like satan! We're monsters!"

"I don't know," Aethon confessed. "There must be some magic that will allow us to walk in daylight, again. Until then, there are other creatu- There are others who come out only at night. We'll figure it out."

His gaze turned towards the wall of the stable, towards the house. He could hear footsteps, hurrying to their position. Their father.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He wasn't certain just who he was addressing. Probably everyone. His brother. Their family.

"Let us go." Moving with impossible speed, Aethon tore open the back door of the shed. And then he led the way out and towards the woods, away from their family and the only home they had ever known.

Away from their humanity.

He nodded. There had to be a way, there was no way he could live not being able to travel during the day. He'd never get to meet new people, meaning he'd never be able to control them and gain power. There must be something. His head snapped up at his brothers word.

"The werewolves!" He said, they too only came out when the moon was in the sky. "We'll be out at the same time, what if they attack?" He asked turning at the sound of footsteps. They needed to leave asap.

He ran, as fast as his legs would take him to the shelter of the trees. Once under a shady bit of tree he stopped to look back at his old life. Now he had to move on. Hopefully this was for the better. "Bye father." He whispered before following the sound of his brothers steps.

Two evenings hence...

Aethon felt as though he could die of thirst alone. Water did not help. He was hungry, as well, and he knew that Aurmerle felt the same. What had the devil done to them? And why was Djinn suddenly impossible to contact?

In need of sustenance and drink, Aethon had reluctantly suggested that they stop in the tavern of a small village to purchase food. Surely, only a short while would be okay? They had avoided people since they'd left home. By now, whatever had possessed them in Osythe's presence must have past.

Never had any place felt so very like hell and heaven combined. The smells, the sound of blood coursing through veins.

A mistake. And yet, Aethon was too slow to recommend that they leave, again. In fact, by the time he moved, it was too late. Too late to stop Aurmerle; too late to stop himself; and far too late to salvage anything that might have been left of their souls...

For days he'd been sat in the corner, slowly going insane at feeling trapped. He got very claustrophobic at times and not being able to go out in sunlight was slowly killing him inside.

As soon as he entered the pub he was filled with the aroma of their sweet blood. His eyes lit up and a smirk spread across his face, exposing his fangs. Finally after days of buring thirst he was finally going to quench it. His eyes glazed over black and without even pausing to think he sprang on the nearest person and sank his teeth into their neck. Their thick warm blood flooded his mouth and he couldn't help but groan in satisfaction. It tasted so good and it made him feel so much stronger.

His humanity all but lost as he drank away their life.

For a fleeting split-second, Aethon felt horror as he watched his brother attack the first man. And then, the thirst - that all-consuming hunger - overcame him, as well.

He had time to magically lock the exits, before he turned on the terrified townsfolk with soulless black eyes and extended fangs.

There were no survivors.

Aurmerle stood scanning the surrounding people for survivors. Once he was sure all of them had been drained, he threw up. He'd drinken more than he had need but it felt so good to feel their life inside of him, so right.

He stood up straight and wiped his mouth, his eyes still lit up like it was christmas day. "I need more!" He growled in a voice that was barely his. It was fair to say the old Aurmerle was gone. Replaced by a monster all humans would learn to fear.

Aethon's gaze, returned to its natural grey-blue, moved slowly over the tavern. Dead. All were dead, save his brother and himself. He drew in a shuddering breath; part ecstasy, part unparalleled horror.

What had become of them?

His eyes snapped to his brother, then - almost before he realized it - he had the younger man pinned against the wall, his forearm pressed against Aurmerle's collar bone.

"You've had enough," Aethon gritted out slowly. Even as he spoke, the smell of blood filled his nostrils, threatening to make his thoughts turn hazy. His ears were listening intently, eagerly seeking out any sound separate from their own heartbeats - any hint of movement, of life, of fresh blood.

Aethon shook his head to clear it again. "We need to get out of here before someone comes and investigates," he said. "If anyone found out... They will hunt us down, brother. I wouldn't trust Djinn's word that we are truly invincible."

A fierce growl escaped his lips before he could stop himself. He'd been in this animal like state all along as he ripped and torn out peoples throat. Anyway to best get their lifes blood to quench his hunger.

He turned his black eyes are his brother. The veins surrounding them still protuding from his skin. He just couldn't stop himself. It felt so good, he felt better and stronger than he ever had in his old life. It was great and he couldn't bring himself to turn back to the old him.

"Release me brother." He snarled, seconds before his eyes had been jumping wildly from body to body, looking for even the smallest amount of blood remaining. "Then we torch the place and move to the next. It will look like the village was attacked. No one will be any wiser." He smiled, his veins now settling back as his eyes slowly turned back to their natural blue.

"We're wasting time!" He moaned licking the blood off his lips.

Aethon took Aurmerle's face between his hands, giving him a gentle shake. "Get a grip on yourself!" he growled back. "We cannot let this - this... blood lust control us.

"This... apparently is what we are now." He motioned to the bodies, eyes still on Aurmerle's. "We sold our souls, that does not mean we must throw away everything us that makes us who we are. We can find a way to... manage this. Aurmerle, we are not mindless killers! I can feel their blood, their lives, within me; feel the strength and power, the satisfaction of their deaths..."

Aethon shook his head. "Perhaps, whatever the devil did to us, we must consume the blood of people - of our kindred - to live, but to needlessly slaughter innocent people?" A choked sound escaped from his throat. "Brother, this isn't who we are!"

He growled his fangs exposed as Aethon took hold of his face. "Maybe this is who i am brother! Maybe i've always been this way, only now i have the tools to become myself." He smirked shoving his brothers hand away as he began to slowly walk around the scattered bodies.

"I don't feel shame at taking their lives brother. I'd do it all again given the chance, if it made me feel like this. I feel like i can take on the world." He smiled running around the bar with lighting speed, faster than he'd been able to run before.

He picked up a table with one hand and threw it against the wall where it shattered. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a match and watched the nearest body slowly burn.

Ethon watched his brother, a faint sneer pulling his lip from his teeth.

"Of course, you don't," he said condescendingly. "Look at you - always the same. Always a child. Our baby sister is more mature than you! You never think of the consequences, do you? I doubt you ever will."

He yanked open the door. "I'll be around. Come find me when you've grown up and stopped playing with matches."

He smirked and snapped his head to the side to look at his brother. "Consequences are for humans." He snapped taking his annoyance out on the nearest human. A simple kick to the ribs was enough to break nearly off of the bones in his way. A smile slipped on his face at his strength. It was all the christmas' had come early. It was amazing.

"So long brother." He muttered before setting the place on fire.