Chapter 12: Plague

A Chapter by Andrew Akuna

Plague

Xero sprang to his feet and dashed out into the water. He swam quickly across the lake, seeing the Wolf floating face down in the middle. When Xero reached Longinus, he checked the Wolf's pulse. It was barely there.

"D****t, why don't I listen to myself?!" Xero exclaimed as he brought Longinus to land. " 'Dark magic makes you sick' I believe those were my words, and what do I do? I go and teach him how to do it!"

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"So, before I dismember you, " Vlad said, "why is my brother in a coma?" Xero had gotten Longinus inside the castle, but not unnoticed by Vladimir. Needless to say, the elder wolf was not happy.

"I was teaching him dark magic. I gave him shadows to work with and explained everything to him." Xero replied. "He was catching on, but something happened. His eyes went all red and he started attacking me."

"Okay, so far, you're okay. Keep talking."

"Okay...I shot him in his arm to try and snap him out of it." Xero shrank back a little and flattened his ears. He had caught a malicious glance from the older Wolf. "After that I made him fall in the lake, and here we are..."

Vlad sat in a chair across from the large wooden doors to calm himself. When Xero felt bold enough, he stepped toward Vlad. "Is-is he gonna be okay?"

"Well, I've never really dealt with supernatural ailments," the Wolf replied, rubbing his eyes, "but I can safely say that rest can help anything." Xero nodded. "So, in your experience, does this cause any life-threatening after effects?"

"Not to him." Xero answered. "As the darkness I gave him to work with came directly from my blood, chances are, he'll slowly become a shadow dependent like me, but the thing is, I've been doing it for years. He may be controlled by it. Then there's the fact that my blood's been in his system for a while."

"Wait, how'd that happen?"

"He went all vampire on me when we met back in my forest. Anyway, since it's from my blood, I should be able to control him until we can remove it."

Vlad nodded. "Well, since you seem to hold all the cards regarding my brother's life, you're in charge of keeping him alive." he stood up. "I'm going to my library. You can go in and see him if you want." With that, The Wolf walked down the hall and disappeared around a corner.

Xero sighed and moved to the doors. He pushed them open to find himself flash blinded by the light pouring in the massive window. He covered his eyes and staggered blindly over to the bed where Longinus was sleeping.

Perhaps teaching him dark magic isn't such a good idea. Xero thought.

Ya think?...

Xero's eyes bulged. The voice in his dreams had escaped. He turned away.

"Okay, whoever it is can get to me when I'm awake..."

"But when you're awake, you can ignore it."

Xero turned around to find Longinus sitting up and staring quizzically at him.

"You should be asleep," Xero said, moving over to Longinus, "but since you're awake, I think you should know that I've been put in charge of keeping you alive, considering the fact that it's my fault that you might die."

Longinus nodded. "Vlad threaten you?"

"Not verbally..." Xero replied, remembering the look the older Wolf had given him.

"Hmm... I guess you'd better pray I live."

"Why? He can't kill me."

Longinus fell backward in the bed, laughing so hard he could not breathe. Xero's right eyebrow nearly jumped off his face when he raised it at the Wolf. "What the hell is so funny?!"

"Oh my God!" Longinus shouted, still laughing. "Do you really think he'd be kind enough to kill you?!"

Suddenly, being an Eternus was a terrible thing for Xero. Visions of being chained in a basement somewhere horrible flooded his mind, followed by one of Vlad cleaning a knife with a grin on his face more evil than his own. He shook himself back into reality. He looked to Longinus. "Die and I'll drag you to Hell."

"As if you could." Xero opened his mouth to say something, but Longinus cut him off. "Anyway, you're right, I should be sleeping. Get out." With that, the Wolf fell backward and went back to sleep.

Xero chuckled and exited the room. As he walked down the hall, he grabbed his chest and doubled over. He coughed up black blood that burned the red carpet.

Make him help you...

"No." Xero growled. "I'm not going to kill him just so I can live..."

I didn't say kill, but what use are you dead?

Xero straightened up and started walking again, ignoring the voice. "I need to occupy myself." he said, entering another sun-flooded room. This one had bookcases and burgundy chairs. "Whats there to do around here..." he said, falling into the nearest chair.

"You could take up alchemy..." Vlad said from behind him. "Oh, wait. Alchemy is 'no' school."

"Shut up." Xero said, turning around. Vlad was standing on a ladder, going through the books. This led Xero to believe that he'd stumbled upon Vlad's library.

"I heard coughing, is everything alright?"

"Yeah, just had something in my throat." he lied.

Vlad tossed a red book to the Panther before jumping from the ladder. He crossed the room and sat in a chair across from Xero.

Xero caught the book and looked at its cover. It was unmarked as far as a name was concerned, but there were symbols. On a golden circle on the cover was a flame pointing North, a drop of water pointing East, a leaf to the South, and a feather at the West. The four elements were united in the center by lines that led to an image of a sun and moon. The Panther looked up. "What's this?"

"Longinus told me that you had some elemental talent." Vlad replied. "If that's true, this book of basic spells should come in handy. They don't require any power beyond simple command over the elements."

"So...I don't need the shadows for these to work?" Xero replied, slowly feeling more excited.

"You shouldn't, but that brings a question to mind."

"Shoot."

"Why do you use dark magic instead of light? It seems easier."

Xero automatically decided he did not want to answer. That question brought to mind his one real flaw. He sighed.

"It's because...I'm not capable of anything else." The Panther mumbled after a few moments. He hung his head.

"I'm sorry?" Vlad said, putting a paw to his ear.

"I'm incapable of anything other than dark magic." he said, a little louder this time. "Listen, when I was born, I wasn't expected to live beyond a few days. My blood was tainted and nothing could cure me. Someone came along and offered to save me, but..."

"But?"

"According to the story I was left with, the price of my salvation was the lives of my parents." Xero said with a sigh. "Anyway, the cure to my illness was to further taint my blood, infusing it with Essence of Shadow-- yeah, I know the story. According to legend, it's the same stuff in the veins of the Devil." Xero said, noticing that Vlad's expression had changed to mild shock. "Well, something went screwy in the process and my blood became replaced with Essence of Shadow. Now, the reason I can only use dark magic. Should I try light, my 'blood' will be purified instantly."

"Whats bad about that?" Vlad asked. "You'd be fully cured."

"And fully dead." Xero replied. "Even for an Eternus, a change that drastic is always fatal."