Dear Journal,
With another night filled with murder, mischief and mayhem under my belt, I've realized that it had been a while since I had indulged in my true nature. I had almost forgotten how good it felt to be bad.

              - 𝓔. 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓮
                                                    (1605)

It was a little before daybreak when Elias and Syrus arrived at the edge of the castle's moat. With the sun threatening to awaken from its nightly slumber, the wind gracing the dawn was calm as the land traded off its euphonious nocturnal banter for the tranquil of the coming morning.

The two vampires bickered as they waited for Zelda to make an appearance with the item Elias had asked her for.

"No, I will not take your ring if she is late! How could you even ask that? I'd rather die before I let you suffer that fate" Syrus argued.

Elias did not need to tell Syrus the disadvantages he had discovered since becoming the undead. He had seen it all in the dream-like vision that had been ingrained in his memory since their sire bond had formed. He knew the sun could burn them both to a crisp without protection and Elias's silver ring was enchanted to prevent that from happening.

Elias had took note of Odelina's words on her last visit and fashioned another ring from Genevieve's old necklace in addition to Emmas'. He knew that he would have to create a myrmidon so he constructed it for the day it would be needed.

"Calm down, Syrus. Do not be so selfless" Elias tried to reason with him, his black trench coat blowing in early morning wind.

After ravaging the city of Garshank, they had taken quality garments from a talented seamstress in the area. Both vampires dressed like angels of death as Syrus now donned a black, golden buttoned, embroidered military jacket while Elias wore his signature black, embroidered jacquard trench coat and black linen shirt; the pair also sporting identical tight-fitted hose and black leather boots.

The drawbridge creaked as it began to lower, revealing a perturbed looking witch behind the teeth of the portcullis. Once the gate was lifted, Zelda hurried across the bridge towards the vampires while holding a small satchel in her hand.

"Is it true?" she asked as she shoved the green satchel into Elias's chest.

Handing the ring to Syrus, Elias frowned at the silver-haired woman.

"You murdered the clergy of Loremore Cathedral and killed over 100 people attending a mass meeting in the city of Garshank?" she pressed.

"About that, I have a few words for Koren" Elias said as he ignored her question.

"Do you have any idea the severity of what you have done? Have you no sense of decency?" Zelda questioned.

"It was actually 3 shy of 300" Syrus inputted.

"What?!" Zelda asked.

"Koren and Baltazaar have been keeping very important aspects of this war to themselves. Did you know that the church was planning to overthrow him? No wonder he wanted a supernatural army. He did not have the support to get otherwise. He was in the process of losing his position as King" Elias said heatedly.

Zelda silently fumed as she glared at vampire, unable to answer his question due to their obvious awareness.

"Your silence is telling. So you did know" Elias scowled.

"Syrus, control your disgusting mind!" Elias shouted at the young vampire.

"I said nothing. I only thought it" he smirked.

Elias had learned that he and Syrus could hear each others thoughts if they did not safeguard them. He had discovered this as he watched him tear through the crowd at Garshank, the words 'more blood' echoing in his mind. He tested his theory while they made their way back to the castle, having conversations by thought and practicing to block each other from reading them.

Zelda shot Syrus a contemptuous look, receiving a wink in return. Scoffing, she looked back to Elias to speak once again. The sound of footsteps across the the drawbridge made her turn her to look.

The sun had finally began to make its grand entrance as it slowly graced the land with light while King Koren, dressed in a navy blue surcoat and cape, along with several of his knights as well as Emma made their way across the wooden contraption. Koren's face held a stern look and his rage was obvious since his body basically radiated its own displeasure.

Emma's face, desolately stunning, frowned as she stared at Elias while she made her way over to him. He thought her to be worried about his night out but their was something else hidden in her expression. Rage, perhaps.

"I cannot believe..." Koren started as they finally reached them. He looked old today, his face appearing wrinkled and strained. His gold crown was slightly crooked from his heavy strides and the gray hairs that dotted his brown barnet added to the aged facet.

"Grizelda and Princess Emma return in the dead of night to give me news. The enemy camp was fictitious and my squire had drowned but was then turned into a beast! As if that were not enough, I received word that Loremore Cathedral had fallen and a whopping 200 and something people were savagely murdered by monsters in the city of Garshank!" He shouted.

"Watch your tone" Syrus warned.

This made the king's head to tilt to the side, regarding him with disbelief as if he hadn't noticed him there before.

Koren was not particularly fond of Syrus but his father, up until his death, had been a good friend of his. He was man of honor and someone whom he had respected. Syrus had been the only reminder of his friend but now, standing before him was no longer the witless, young squire he knew. He did not recognize this dark haired man standing at Elias's side at all.

"The church was planning to take your crown by force if you refused to step down. They were planning a mutiny. I would not say right under your noses because this is obviously something you were very much aware of already but still failed to inform me about. Either way, I saved you" Elias said.

"You aided in dismantling an important hierarchy. The church was an essential part of running this and every kingdom in Europe. Do you know what is happening in Selvalley? Chaos! There is now an autocrat with the military power of magical beasts. It has become a dictatorship at the hands of their new ruler. There is no one to say no, no one to disagree on a wrong move, no one to right their wrongs. They were against me yes, but it was with good reason. I had a plan to soothe their worries so my resignation would never come to pass" Koren said.

"Your plans, however, never seem to involve my knowledge. You want my aid in this rebellion but I am treated like an outsider and kept in the dark. I did what I thought was necessary and right" Elias spoke firmly.

"You have no idea what you have done" Koren said.

"I couldn't very well let my son starve now could I?" Elias asked as he glared at the king, the sunrise giving his golden eyes an extraordinary aura.

Before Koren could speak again, a man on horseback adorned in the livery of a messenger made his way towards them. Elias, Syrus and Zelda stepped aside to give the messenger space to dismount.

Getting down from his horse, the young man kneeled before the King and Princess, acknowledging them by their titles before speaking.

"Your majesty, King Koren, Princess Emma. I've come baring bad news. Prince Baltazaar is ill and is appeared to be on the verge of death. He was attacked by a monster lastnight and as since then been wounded and bedridden. You are urged to return to Gandalwell quickly as his condition continues to deteriorate" the messenger spoke breathlessly.

"Attacked?!" Zelda questioned.

"Yes, mam" the boy nodded.

"Unbelievable" King Koren uttered.

Emma frowned as she looked at the messenger.

"Your Majesty, I understand that things in Asphal have taken a dire turn and you are needed here.
Emma and I will return to Gandalwell immediately. I beg of you, could you please ready the caravans for our departure?" Zelda asked frantically.

She had tried to contact Baltazaar lastnight using the enchanted two-way pocket mirror she had given him but had failed. She was worried but she assumed he was tending to Damien.

If it is Damien that had attacked Baltazaar then it would mean that as a werewolf, he was insubordinate and their trials of controlling him would have failed. Being bitten by him would mean that he was in excruciating pain and indeed of her medical assistance to slow down the venom and ease his discomfort.

Zelda was aware of the trouble this could cause since this was also another method of creating a werewolf. She had not told Baltazaar to buy time for her own reasons. Now, should he live, he would surely find out.

"Yes, yes. Right away" the King said flustered. Instructing his hand to inform the coachmen to ready the horses, the man dashed off to his task.

"Elias, I am sorry but I absolutely cannot let this go unpunished" Koren told him.

Raising an eyebrow, Elias tried not to laugh at the king's statement.

"And who exactly is going to carry out this punishment? You? Your knights? The bedridden Baltazaar?" He asked.

Syrus stifled a laugh as Elias went on to speak.

"See, I would like to know because it most certainly will not be carried out as my penance" he said.

"Men..." Koren started to say before Syrus interrupted him.

"If your soldiers step a foot closer, I will rip their hearts out and feed it them to you on a spike" Syrus said sternly.

"Your majesty.." Zelda interrupted as tensions began to rise. "Elias and Syrus's behavior have been absolutely barbaric yes, but I am asking for you to be lenient in this matter. These are the monsters that you and your son wanted or still want on your side. The enemy is Selvalley and the church knew that even before they decided to turn their backs on you. This war will bring forth a new Europe. One that does not even have to be solely ran by the church. This is the opportunity for evolution. Look past this, I beg of you" she continued.

Elias was shocked by her change of opinion as just mere minutes ago, she had been chastising them for their actions.

"I love a sensible woman" Syrus's thoughts echoed in Elias's mind.

"Shut up" Elias said lowly.

"The caravans are ready!" The King's hand shouted from across the bridge.

"Come, Syrus" Elias said as the King and his knights gave way for their passage.

"You need to fix this" Koren said to Zelda once he thought Elias was out of earshot.

Making their way across the bridge, the horses whinnied restlessly as the vampires approached one of the two caravans. The coachman scowled at the men as they entered the wooden contrivance, closing the door behind them to sit across from each other.

"What is Gandalwell like?" Syrus questioned.

Before Elias could answer, Emma and Zelda could be heard in a heated argument outside.

"This is your fault! You and your monsters. Baltazaar is going to die and you do not have anyone to blame but yourself" Emma said in a hushed but harsh tone.

"Just shut up! He will not die. I will not allow it. Worry about your task at hand and that blood thirsty, cannibalistic demon you are so sprung for in there!" Zelda said.

"Atleast he actually fancies me and he isn't using me for his own personal gain!" Emma retorted.

"Are you not going to stop this?" Syrus asked as he watched Elias.

"You know what? F*ck off!" Zelda shouted.

Elias could hear the other caravan door swing open then slam shut as the women entered the vehicle.

As they horses took off, Elias began to speak to Syrus about a hunch he had been having since lastnight. He informed him that they would be going to the Marewood cemetery at midnight to confirm Elias's suspicions.

Opening the caravan window, Syrus silently bid Asphal a farewell. He was no longer a 16 year old squire with a dream of becoming a knight. It was more like he was a fantasy in the wildest dreams of men. Having felt the ecstatic power rush twice through his own experience and Elias's, he knew he was worth much more than a man in armor.

Being bullied all his life for his dotty, timid nature did nothing but build his strong-willed identity and belief in a greater life through the merit of becoming a great knight. This had led him down the path of eternal power and he had no regrets, even if it did not turn out the way he had imagined.

This, he believed was better. He could feel his new persona as soon as he opened his eyes lastnight. He was different and far from the ordinary. No longer timid, but a bold, inhibited monstrosity with big ego and lascivious nature. The total opposite of his human self.

As they left the border of Asphal, he discarded the alias of Syrus Belfront, leaving it behind in his old kingdom as he reveled in becoming Syrus Steele and the amazing feeling that came with it.

After half a days' journey, they had finally arrived in Gandalwell.

Zelda rushed from her caravan to tend to Baltazaar's wounds and after Syrus was invited in by Emma, he disappeared.

"Where the hell are you going?" Elias had asked him.

"Do I have to tell you everything I do now?" he rolled his eyes.

"You are alot more annoying now, do you know that?" Elias asked him.

Giving him a fanged smile, Syrus walked off towards the keep doors.

"Behave yourself! And do not kill anyone. Remember what I said about midnight" Elias called after him.

Bidding Elias goodbye, he disappeared inside.

Emma finally exited her caravan, giving Elias a strained look before turning on her heels towards the keep.

Elias frowned before speeding to her side, walking along side her as he matched her short strides. He had noticed her anger in Asphal and now he was absolutely sure she was vexed with him.

"Did I do something?" He asked as they walked.

"You did alot of things, actually. You murdered a profusion of people including the clergy of a church! King Koren is right. You have no idea what you have done" she said angrily as they made their way through the hallways of the castle.

He assumed she was headed to Baltazaar's chambers since this dire situation required her at his side to keep up appearances. He wondered if she actually cared about his current condition or was she simply keeping up the charade.

"They were going to turn against the monarch. They said you lot were consorting with demons. How on earth did I do a wrong thing? I saved you, all of you" Elias said.

"Then tell me Elias, if they were having a peaceful mass meeting, would you have spared them? Would Syrus have? the once innocent little boy that wanted to drink me dry? Would you have stopped him?" She asked.

They were now ascending the first flight of steps to head to the prince's chambers.

"I am not a man, Emma. Syrus had just been reborn, he needed human nourishment. I will not apologize for my nature or for doing things that, if not for your bastard brother would be nothing but figments of one's imagination. This is who I am now, this is who Syrus is and I will never be sorry for it because it was neither of our choices!" Elias said firmly as she stopped at the head of the steps, turning to look down at him as he stood a step lower than her.

"I can't believe I fancy you" she scoffed.

Taken aback by her bold admittance of affection, Elias's eyebrows shot up.

"I-I can't believe I fancy you either" he stuttered.

They stared at each other for a while, their eyes regarding one another like something neither could understand.

Elias had little time to react when Emma grabbed his face to kiss him. It took a moment for him to process the situation but when did, he returned the kiss, scooping her up from the top step while she locked her legs around him. He backed her up against the wall infront of the steps while deepening the kiss, their lips fighting each other for dominance.

Emma locked her arms around his neck as Elias's fangs accidentally cut her bottom lip. He was glad when she didn't stop as he relished in taste of her sweet blood, reveling in the delightful flavor it held. She moaned as Elias rubbed his hands up her thighs, snaking his way up the velvet material of her dress and fondling her quim through her thin undergarments.

"Infront of the staircase? How dangerous" someone said from behind them.

Startled by the voice, Elias quickly let Emma down from his arms as she tried to fix her dress. He ran a hand through his long hair while turning around to see Syrus twirling a wooden goblet in his hand as he leaned on the rail of the staircase.

"Please, don't stop on my account" Syrus smirked.

"I- We were just.." Emma said nervously.

"Do not explain anything to him" Elias told her as he watched the young vampire.

"Say nothing of this" Elias threatened him, grabbing Emma's hand as he led her down the hallway towards Baltazaar's chambers.

"Oh come on Eli! You know I'd never!" He shouted after them.

This was true. Elias knew Syrus would never dare speak to anyone about what he saw but he was too embarrassed to say anything else. It was an odd feeling to be caught in such an intimate moment, especially by Syrus whomst knew the guilt he felt about having feelings for a woman other than Genevieve.

It felt wrong but in the moment, every bit of it felt right. He discarded his shame as he and Emma ascended the second set of stairs towards Baltazaar's chambers.

Once they had arrived at the prince's glorious oak doors, Elias noticed the guards glance at their interlocked hands.

Emma quickly snatched her dainty hand from his, smoothening out the non-existent ruffles in her dress as she awkwardly cleared her throat.

Opening the door for the princess, only Emma was allowed inside as the guards blocked Elias's path. They were shaking with fear as their teeth chattered from the close proximity with the vampire.

"It is alright. He is a friend of the prince" Emma told them.

"It is fine, Emma. I have something to do anyways" Elias said to her, glancing at the two men before him.

The truth was that he was feeling bothered by their kiss. The feeling of her body against his, her soft moans, his soft lips on to hers, the taste of her blood, it all made him crave her more and in turn, filled him with even more guilt. He needed some time to sort out his feelings and come to terms with what happened.

Furrowing her brows, Emma nodded as she entered the room. After the doors were locked, Elias made his way down the hall to find Syrus. He could not wait til midnight, he would go to the cemetery at dusk.

Entering the princes' luxury chambers, Emma could not help but marvel at the well draped canopied King size bed her brother peacefully slept in. Much like her chambers, Baltazaar's room was decorated with refined wooden furniture and expensive antiques.

Zelda kneeled at side of the bed, her hands clasped as she watched Baltazaar sleep. Even though he was tucked in by thick white sheets, Emma could see that he was shirtless. Parts of the sheet were stained with blood from a wound that appeared to be on his shoulder.

"I did a medical enchantment. He should be fine now once he has rested but the venom has already reached his bloodstream" Zelda told her.

"You let this happen!" Emma started. "Look at him! His face is slick with sweat and he looks like he is barely breathing"

She did not understand why she was so defensive of him but she knew that ever since Baltazaar had come to Gandalwell, every decision he made was influenced by this witch. She may not have meant for this to happen but she played apart in it coming to pass. In addition to this, she did not like Zelda. She felt that she was deceitful in a way that only another woman would recognize.

"I was following his orders! He knows the risks. I did my part in protecting him as best as I could. I am here now, am I not?" Zelda responded.

"So what now? A monster bit him. The way things are going these days, I find it hard to believe that this will not have some sort of repercussion" Emma said.

"He... he will undergo a change at another full moon. I-I don't know what will happen. He is a half-fae that possesses admirable abilities. He will become a hybrid of some sort. He may not undergo a full transformation but there will be surge in power" Zelda told.

"A hybrid?!" Emma asked incredulously.

Nodding, Zelda turned her attention back to the sleeping Baltazaar.

"Oh no" Emma whispered to herself. "Elias.."

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Incase you don't know, I made a trailer for this book!

It is in the first chapter so scroll up and go watch. Tell me what you think❤️

Also, excuse any typos in this chapter.