Legend Of The Vampire (Chapter 2: Things Have Changed) )

8/6/2019 Legend Of The Vampire (Chapter 2: Things Have Changed) )

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CHAPTER 2: Things Have ChangedThe storm intensified even when Ian and Jerry arrived at the mansion by Ians black,handsome Ducati. He usually parked it four blocks away from the library. Aside from hisbold presence there, he preferred to keep everything else out of spotlight.

Riding past the front gate to the two-story, white building, Ian stopped at the driveway. Asquad of huge men in black promptly nodded to him, acknowledging his presence. Theirformal procedure often times irked him, but he had learned to ignore it.

Looking over his shoulder to the front gate, Ian caught sight of a man and a women in blackleather coats, each on a silver motorbike. Harada Alex and Samantha Wilson , his personalguards, had followed him, from the distance, to see him to the safety of the lair. It seemedthat their mission was completed for the night.

Ian mentally sighed as he entered the mansion. So much of hassle for being a Kruger.Passing the wide corridor, Ian and Jerry went straight into the living room to their right.They walked up behind the crimson, leather couch and stopped in front of the ten-feet-highpainting of a foggy cliff.

"Allow me," Jerry said with a grin.

He reached for the blue vase, which was located on a mantelpiece to the left of the painting,and turned it in secret coding manner. When he finished all six turns, the painting turned 90degrees and gave way to a flight of stairs behind the wall.

The stairs spiraled down 40 meters from ground level. It led into a long corridor, lit bytorches affixed to the stony wall. Countless rooms lined up along both sides of the pathway.Ian, as he walked past, could hear chatters and laughs coming from the rooms. Theresidents were the likes of her kind, and among them was Kruger Hideaki, the father of allwerewolves.

Throughout his life, Ian had heard several tales of the miraculous dawn of werewolves, butthe one he learned from his father was just a story of an ordinary man, whose life was filledwith desires, confessions, successes and failures like everybody else.

Hideaki was born a human with exceptional intellect and a kind sense of humor. He was aman of graceful stature, not of a warrior. A son of a gardener. A genius of his generation.Under the order of secret administration, countless experiments were conducted, andHideaki's most ingenious invention was himself; the first werewolf in modern history. Hebecame a worthy weapon to match the vampires, the creatures from the ancient world.Soon, Hideaki decided to fake his own death and disappeared from world stage to avoidbeing used as a war instrument for greedy humans.

Alas, his peaceful life in isolation lasted only a little over a century. One faithful night, hisyoung wife was murdered by a mysterious vampire, leaving their one-year-old baby behind.

Hideaki swore a vengeance against all vampires and carefully built his own armyunderground.

Ian was eighteen years old when he first exhibited signs of the mutated gene he receivedfrom his father. Many experiments had been done to achieve the same result, but, to thisday he remained the only werewolf by birth, not by invention or infection, thus making himnaturally stronger than the rest of them.


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The backpack hung over his shoulder, Ian made his way through the corridor, Jerry behindhim. While Jerry occasionally greeted friends along the way, Ian gave them no recognitionwhatsoever. He preferred sunlight and privacy rather than this cold, damp and crowdedquarter.

Ian and Jerry eventually reached the central hall, the large, oval-shaped gathering area.The vaulted ceiling was so high that it left only 8 meters to ground level. There were stonybenches along the two rows of pillars that lined up along both sides of the hall.

The two friends stopped, and everyone turned to look at them. Their hair and jackets werewet, water dripping from their jeans and their shoes leaving footprints all over the sandyfloor. Obviously, their careless nature was never quite approved by their fellows.

"Did you leave footprints for them to come after us?" A strong blonde man, leaving his tableand stalking towards Ian. A few other men and women followed as if they were hisbodyguards. Certainly, the blonde led his own little pack. "Just because you don't live hereanymore doesn't mean that you don't have to care about this place."

"It's all right, Sam ." A man in a white shirt and a pair of gray trousers appeared by theentrance just behind Ian. He looked to be in his late-forties, svelte and tall.

At his presence, everyone stopped.

"Everything's under control. The rain didn't leave any trace outside. I already sent the mento check it," he continued.

"Hey, dad." Ian inwardly sighed in relief at his dads I've-got-you-covered smile. Dealingwith Sam Anderson could be as troublesome as a vicious vampire, and Ian was in no moodto toy with the beast tonight.

Although his father never approved of him moving out a few years ago, the endless publicdisplays of loathe against him became a tad too much of an irritation. When he finallymoved out, his father assigned Alex and Samantha trailing him twenty-four/seven. Being astubborn pup, he just loved to elude them whenever he had a chance. Thankfully, theguards did a great job at being discreet, giving him the privacy he longed for. They rarelyapproached him in person, often sending Jerry in instead.

All eyes were upon Hideaki now. Silence meant obedience. He greeted Ian with a strong paton the shoulder, and then led him towards an available table. For thirty years, Ian knew hewas regarded almost as an outsider among his kind. Finding a spot in this hall becamedifficult ever since he was considered special. Different.

"Where have you been, Ian? Alex and Samantha lost your contact the past few days. I wasworried sick," Hideaki said.

Ian quietly put the backpack down on the floor and sat down next to his father. Although

everyone tried to resume their previous conversations or activities, they were watchingthem from the corner of their eyes.

Cautiously, Ian glanced over his shoulder to see the glowering Sam behind him. "I I wasat the library"

"That, again, is an old excuse, Ian Kruger!" Sam burst out.


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Ian shot up to his feet. "How is that an old excuse? We haven't even had a clue of what ittruly is."

"That's exactly why it's only an excuse. It's not even real! What good does an old tale dowhen we've got new inventions?"

"Then I hope your bullets kill more often, not just giving them scratches that could behealed in five minutes." Ian glared back intently.

"What did you say!" Sam marched towards the smaller man. But Jerry stepped out in frontof Ian as to protect his best friend from the larger man. The blonde stopped only whenHideaki raised a hand as a gesture for them to calm down.

"Now, the two of you, we can't afford to fight among ourselves now. We have the sameenemies, remember?" Hideaki said.

Both Ian and Sam instantly looked the other way.

The old man sighed, and then turned to Ian again. "I believe Jerry must have told you about

our connection, Anderson Mai. It's been two days since her last contact, and so we believethat her cover must have been blown. We still don't know any more details at this moment.Now that she's been captured she'll be tortured for any information concerning us."

Ian briefly glanced at Jerry, who instantly looked down and wiped the wet drops from hisashen face. "What was the deal with her?" Ian asked.

"She'd offer us the route to Uriah in exchange for our help to protect her from the queen,"Hideaki explained, "It seems that she's an acquaintance of Jerry."

Ian nodded in a grateful gesture when a maid brought him a cup of hot tea. "What reasonsdid she have to turn against her own kind? Since we can't turn a vampire into one of us,she'd be on the run for the rest of her life. And that's a really long time," he said, scoffing.

Hideaki looked at Jerry for a short moment before he continued. "I've had doubts, ofcourse. But she wanted to prove her loyalty by leading us to their secret harbor, the onlyway to the Isle of Uriah. We already planned an ambush to seize their ship."

Ian took a sip of the hot drink and said, "I think she was just a ploy. Nothing more. Iwouldn't worry myself over a vampire."

"You were always gone, Ian, and it's nice of us to still ask for your opinions. Why don't youjust pretend to agree with us for a change," Sam said, arms across his chest.

Ian opened his mouth, gawking at Sam, but Jerry quickly interrupted. "She was going tolead the attack on the convoy herself, but she must have been caught before she could

contact us again," he said.

Turning to his friend, Ian raised his brows in mockery. "Well, I bet she's dead by now."

Jerry frantically gripped Ian's arms, and urged, "We have to try to get her back, Ian. Wecan't let her die like this. She was trying to help us."


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Ian brushed Jerrys hands off him . "Are you nuts? We don't even know where the island is.Besides, why did she choose to go back before the ambush could take place? Like I said, avampire is still a vampire. The world is better off with one less."

"The enemy of our enemy is our friend," Hideaki said, smiling lightly.

Ian rolled his eyes at his father's amused smile. "You do whatever, but she's not myproblem. I'm leaving." He bent to get his backpack and got up from his seat. On his way outto the corridor, he intentionally bumped into Sam's shoulder, causing the blonde to snarl.

"Sorry. Didn't see you there." Ian smirked.

Sam's face reddened in anger. "Youyouyou"

"Ian," Hideaki called out.

Ian turned around to his father. He had the usual smile that filled him with warmth andconfidence, and it was so hard to admit that it saddened him every time he walked out ofthe lairleaving his fatherto rejoice his own little world out there.

"Ever since the capture of Mai, they're out in public more often. They seem to haveabandoned their ancient way of discretion now. You'll be extremely careful, all right? Don'ttake chances, Ian. I can't lose you."

"All right." Ian shrugged and walked out of the hall. He felt a tight knot in his chest, but histhroat ached so much he could not scream. Showing emotions was never his strong suit,but he felt safer this way.

As soon as Ian reached the ground floor, he marched across the airy hallway and out thefront door. The same group of men standing guard nodded to him again as he walked pastthem.

"Ian! Hey, wait!"

He hopped onto the Ducati and rode towards the front gate. Jerry quickly put himself infront of the vehicle, successfully stopping him.

"Please, Ian! I need your help! They'll likely leave her to die. I beg you!" Jerry rushed tograb his arm.

He angrily pushed him off and snarled through his gritted teeth. His deep green pupilsdilated as he glared at him. "I don't know what you've been doing, but if anythinghappened to my father, I swear I'll make you pay for it," Ian growled, raindrops stinginginto his eyes.

Jerry stood back a little, failing to come up with further excuse.

His lips quivered as he said, "You told her our location You, traitor."

Jerry looked down, gulping down the rain. "I But she's on our side. She's a friend."

"She's no longer a friend! Under torture, she'll turn against us!" Ian clenched his fists,resisting the urge to break his neck. He found it hard to believe that he managed not to doso right in the central hall as soon as she realized what Jerry had done.


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"We've been at war for decades, yet they rarely exposed themselves in public. They'vealways known of my presences at the library, but they never attacked You disappointedme, Jerry. You just don't seem to understand or care at all. It's all because of that vampire,isn't it? Is she worth it? Is she!"

Jerry closed his eyes, his shoulders drooping low in shame. "She went back to warn herfather that night. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. Her father was ordered to leadthe next convoy we were to attack II think he sold her out."

Ian shook his head mostly in disbelief and, for a little part, in hurt. Jerry had been his friendsince childhood years. He was the only one who stood by his when the whole clandistrusted him.

Ian stared down the graveled path to the front gate. "You're the reason she wanted out?"

"I knew you'd disapprove because she's a she's a But she's very different from othervampires"

"Different." Ian scoffed. "You're the only werewolf who did not lose a loved one because of

them, so I doubt you'd understand the differences. If anything, you're the only mistake myfather has ever made."

Ian. You're my only hope. Please help her!" Jerry pleaded.

"The day they set foot here, you'll pay for it. Mark my word." With that, Ian sped past thegate and disappeared into the night.

Though as strong as Ian appeared to be, he still had few moments of powerlessness. Therewere times when things did not go his way, and there were decisions that he regretted.Even so, the long years did little to prepare him for heartbreaks. He doubted if anyone wasever fully prepared, or if it'd take eternity to be immune to it.

That night, Ian took his time, enjoying a few cups of tea in downtown Midgard. Knowingthat Alex and Samantha were somewhere out there not too far away, he sat himself in thecorner of a twenty-four-hour diner. The place was human friendly and out of vampireterritory. The leather-bound book he stole from the library sat idly next to the hot teapot.His mind was too deep into the events of tonight that he could not bring himself to read. Heneeded to be away from the lair, or his worry for his father might have exploded in herchest.

"It's nice to see you again, Ian. It's been a while."

Ian snapped at the sweet voice, and he turned to the woman behind the bar. Her hair wasslightly curly and long enough just to cover her ears. Her smile gave Ian the nostalgicfeeling, and the werewolf felt that he had come to the right place after all.

"Hello, Sally. I thought you had a night shift at the hospital tonight," Ian said.

Sally Thompson was the niece of the owner of this cheap diner, and the woman was wellinto her mid-thirties now. Although she had known the dark-haired loner since she was fiveyears old, her favorite customer had not aged one bit.

Sally smiled as she made her way around the counter to the customer's table, a teapot inher hand. She sat down and poured one for herself. "There's no point in avoiding me.What's troubling you?"


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After the train accident thirty years ago, Sally was the only human whom Ian had everallowed to get close to. The night both Ian and young Sally were on board, the trainderailed, and nothing was the same again. Sally lost her parents, and Ian emerged from thewreck and curtains of thick smoke, holding the girl in his arms. The girl never forgot hersavior and vowed to keep Ian's identity secret for as long as she lived. Ian never forgothow he massacred a family of vampires in the boarding room next to Sally's, and thescreams of the child vampire still echoed in his head.

"I keep hearing that voice again. Her scream So loud tonight," Ian muttered over his tea.

Sally sighed. "It always happens when you're exhausted. Would you care to let it out?"

Ian chuckled. "Who says I'm in trouble?"

"I only wish to help you. And it's not so hard to figure out. You only come here when youfeel unsafe."

"Unsafe," Ian echoed. He looked around the diner and let out a lazy sigh in arrogance.

The nurse chortled, shaking her head. "I know what you're thinking. Oh, well How's yourreading going?"

Ian glanced down at the book by his teacup. He actually liked the careful term, 'reading',that Sally chose. At least, it sounded a little saner than 'researching'. "I'm a little crazy. Ifeel like I'm going crazy," he mumbled. At his last word, he jerked his hand a little, pushingthe book away. "They think I'm crazy."

There was a sad, small smile on Sally's face as she softly said, "It might be a good read.These yellow pages can't hurt you."

"It's just a bedtime story. One after another. I'm chasing a ghost A ghost."

"But you believe in it. I believe in it."

Brushing his face in exhaustion, Ian looked the other way. As years passed, his peers'ridicule had started to get the better of him. There were no witnesses. No traces. Leftbehind were stories passing down from generation to generation, the endless rounds of UVammunitions that seldom penetrated into a vampire's heart precise enough to kill it.Stakes, at times, worked wonder even more so than the pistols, but at a higher risk of thewerewolf's life. Nothing had really ever changed. Even if the vampires roamed freely, oreven if the ships were sunk, the road of vengeance was as dark as it had always been.Nothing had changed. Not at all.

Legend Of The Vampire (Chapter 2: Things Have Changed) )

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