Bonding With The Enemy

Chapter 20 1/2

Prince Evero sighed as he walked back down the halls leading away from Prince Hagar’s room “So he is sick.”

Dorian nodded as he walked beside him “Yes. Otherwise they would not have barred our way.”

Prince Evero shook his head “No they would have anyways. The difference is their defiance towards us was different than before.”

Dorian nodded “Its odd but maybe-”

“He is far more gone than we had assumed.” finished Prince Evero who smiled at Dorian.

Dorian smiled too “Here we were concerned that you wouldn’t receive the throne.”

Prince Evero chuckled “I guess all good things come to those who wait.”

Dorian chuckled as they walked and once more they were consumed by the silence when Dorian said “What are you going to do to keep the throne after you receive the crown?”

Prince Evero shrugged “Sleep, I suppose.”

Dorian shook his head “I’m being serious.”

Prince Evero shrugged “I don’t know but it will have to be something that shocks the people.”

Dorian nodded “Yes. It would have to be something that the people need.”

Prince Evero shook his head “No, I need to give the people a reprieve from a fear.”

Dorian c****d his head “What do you mean?”

“Reprieving a fear, whether it be necessary or not will give them a sense of loyalty towards me.” Prince Evero sighed “And I already have an idea for it.”

Dorian nodded “Good! Give me the plans and I will-”

“Dorian.”

Dorian looked up to see Prince Evero stood before the entrance of his room “Yes?”

“Go home.” said Prince Evero with a sigh.

Dorian stopped short “What? I thought you said you had plans!”

Prince Evero smiled as he said “Yes, I do. But if you remember correctly I said I would sleep first once I got the crown.”

Dorian shook his head “But you don’t have the crown.”

Prince Evero smiled “Its practically in the bag! I want to sleep, it’s almost midnight go home to your family alright?”

Dorian c****d an eyebrow but Prince Evero opened the doors and entered closing them softly. He sighed as he walked away from the doors to the open balcony where the wind blew the clear white curtains to the side. He slowly sat in the chair and looked at the red moon.

“I hope you die Prince Hagar.” Prince Envor paused for a long time as he said “I wonder how I will die? Will it be dishonorable as your death or will it be one I can accept?”

The night cold air caressed Prince Evero’s skin but even as he sat in the balcony chair he felt warm within his soul. He sighed happily as he whispered “I will finally be Emperor.”

Twelve years later

“People of the Sanguine Empire! Behold the fight of true passion in leading the people of this very nation shall commence before your very eyes!” Cried the announcer as the people within the circular arena settled within their seats.

”The fight for the throne shall be defended with our ten year Emperor, Prince Evero!” Cried the announcer and immediately demeaning words erupted from the crowd as they looked upon a singular soul within the arena.

The vampire in slave’s attire stood looking up at the hot sun as it beat down upon the sand that filled the gladiator arena, which ironically had been built for his entertainment five years prior. He had given the orders in an attempt for the increasing deaths of Somar wolf prisoners, and it had been an occasion considered as a must be seen entertainment.

Yet as Prince Evero looked around the crowds and sand he realized, he never figured he would find himself a spectacle within his own gladiator arena.

”So this is how I die.” mumbled Prince Evero.

Prince Evero slowly unsheathed his sword that had been strapped his slave smock around his waist and sighed at the only clothing he wore restricted his movement. Prince Evero set the sword upon the sand before he began to rip the smock on each side of his hips, until the tears came to his waist. Prince Evero looked at the wood shoes upon his feet and slowly took them off before sitting upon the hot sand crisscross.

The audience fell silent in surprise as Prince Evero closed his eyes and waited. It was a stifling wait for the crowds above Prince Evero as they waited for the entertainment to begin. But the wait wasn’t what made the situation awkward, it was the fact Prince Evero was calmly waiting for his death.

Suddenly the metal doors opened to the outside world beyond the arena, Prince Evero sighed the arena erupted once more with the applause and cheers of the on lookers.

The booming voice of the announcer over shadowed the cheers as he said “And our challenger Prince Anvar who has ruled over us graciously for the last two years!”

Prince Evero let the blade of the sword land in the sand as he stood lazily, leaning against it for support. He sighed as he watched an arrogant vampire dressed within blinding white clothes strut into the arena. The vampire had white pants and a white v necked long sleeve, blinding Prince Evero as the vampire neared.

Prince Evero blinked several times wondering if the attire was worn to just blind him or the audience, but he shrugged the thought away as this vampire would be dead anyways.

Prince Anvar smugly smiled at Prince Evero as he stopped a few paces from him and dramatically bowed “Emperor Envor.”

“I am referring to you properly, brother.” Smirked Prince Anvar after seeing Prince Evero was remaining silent.

Emperor Envor sighed as he looked around the arena to see the people look at Prince Anvar in awe. Emperor Envor turned his gaze upon Prince Anvar and c****d an eyebrow as he asked “Are you done?”

Prince Anvar laughed as he looked to the crowd with his arms out making the crowd erupt in cheers once again “What this? I will never tire of their cheers.”

Prince Anvar smugly glanced at Emperor Envor from the corner of his eye “Why are you jealous?”

Emperor Envor looked around the arena before turning his attention to Prince Anvar “Of what?”

Prince Anvar sneered “My power? The power I have over the people of this nation. In fact you can even say within two years of sweet words these lambs have climbed into the slaughter pens.”

Emperor Envor lifted his sword from the sand and pointed its tip at Prince Anvar‘s neck “I did not come out of my cell to watch as the traitors of my empire cheer for a delusional prick. I have waited seven hundred and thirty days to be here at this moment, and I will not waste another second watching you brandish your arrogance in the hopes it will falter the speed of my blade.”

A silence settled between the two vampires when Emperor Envor smiled showing his chipped fangs “You will die, Prince Anvar. Even if it takes my life to make it so, you will die by my blade.”

Prince Anvar’s smile seemed to falter slightly when he too drew his sword and took a step back “I would expect nothing less little brother.”

Emperor Envor came at Prince Anvar first with his blade arced in the air above Prince Anvar’s head only to be stopped upon its descent by Prince Anvar’s blade. Prince Anvar grimaced at the force behind Emperor Envor’s sword blade as they slid off one another, sending sparks as they parted.

Prince Anvar glanced between the gaunt limbs and face of his enemy and smiled. Starving this vampire had been worth it, and as he watched Emperor Envor’s breathing become heavier, he smirked.

The wait was well worth it to watch Emperor Envor gasping for breath and all it took was to take one thing out of the Emperor’s diet. Eastern Blood.

It had been known throughout the land that his brother had become addicted to the blood from the east. That’s why Prince Anvar limited his brother’s consumption of it.

He knew the addiction if cut off immediately would kill his brother, and he couldn’t have that. Otherwise when the people felt he cowardly killed his brother, they would vow for his descendant to take the crown and kill him.

So he began substituting pig blood for the human blood, causing the vampire Emperor to slowly starve. As even if normal food was placed before him it would taste foul to his tongue.

This skeleton had once been an Emperor but now as Prince Anvar looked at his enemy, he only saw a lamb for slaughter.

Prince Anvar closed the distance between them at a fast walk until he stood within striking range of Emperor Envor. He swung his sword cutting through the air with his blade towards Emperor Envor’s midsection “Out of breath already brother?”

Emperor Envor groaned as he blocked the blade with his own before pushing the blade away. He quickly spun his blade around cutting Prince Anvar’s forearm “You would know.”

Prince Anvar grimaced as he walked a few paces away “Oh?”

Emperor Envor smiled “After all you starved me for the last two years in order to weaken me.”

Prince Anvar chuckled as he raced at Emperor Envor releasing a volley of attacks which Emperor Envor blocked with difficulty. Prince Anvar pushed Emperor Envor away as he said ”Well as father always taught us. Exploit the weaknesses of your enemy regardless of honor.”

Emperor Envor smiled as he rushed forward with his blade but Prince Anvar smiled. He deflected the sword’s blade away and Emperor Envor was thrown to the ground sending the sword into the sand.

“I thought you said I was going to die?” Smirked Prince Anvar as he stepped on the blade, stopping Emperor Envor from picking it up again.

Emperor Envor spit blood into the sand as he slowly lifted himself to his feet “You are.”

Prince Anvar cackled when suddenly Emperor Envor attempted to tackle him. Prince Anvar however stood still as his brother wrapped his twig like arms around him. Prince Anvar laughed as he dropped his sword and took a hold of Emperor Envor’s smock. With one motion Emperor Envor was tossed away sending sand flying as he landed.

“It would seem I will be the one living.” Prince Anvar leaned down and picked up his sword when he noticed Emperor Envor struggling to stand. Prince Anvar sighed “Are you done with the theatrics? Just lay down and die already, none of the people within the stands will care if you try or not.”

Emperor Envor grasped his ribs and groaned as the pain laced throughout his weak frame. He spat a bit of blood and smiled “I could care less if those eyes around us wish to see my blood upon this sand.”

Emperor Envor lifted his hand behind his back to reveal a silver knife with a red jade embedded in it’s hilt “I am just keeping my word.”

Prince Anvar’s smile escaped his lips as Emperor Envor flipped the knife to the blade and he threw it, aiming it for Prince Anvar’s neck which he barely managed to avoid. Prince Anvar laughed arrogantly as he looked to the sand where the blade had imbedded itself into the ground.

”I guess your word doesn’t mean much br-“ he was cut short when suddenly he heard a squish as a blade cut through flesh. Prince Anvar gasped as he looked down at his chest to see a sword blade surrounded by an increasingly red stain on his white shirt.

Emperor Envor jerked the blade sending blood splattering upon the sand as it left Prince Anvar’s back. Prince Anvar stood upon the sand bleeding in shock, he was dying. He had failed. As realization of Prince Anvar’s death came to him he heard Emperor Envor say panting “You talk too much.”

Prince Anvar began to feel the strength leave him when he whipped around fast and lunged at Emperor Envor. Emperor Envor collapsed in shock as his brother jumped at him but just as his brother began to descend upon him, he propped his blade against the ground and impaled Prince Anvar.

Prince Anvar gasped for air through the coughs of blood that splattered the sand when he heard Emperor Envor say “I told you the next time you call me brother my blade will cut you down.”

Prince Anvar upon the blade gasped for a moment before going limp and Emperor Envor laid upon the ground panting. He had defeated Prince Anvar, he had gotten his revenge.

The sun beat down upon the two vampires and the audience who remained silent as they watched the blood of Prince Anvar slowly rolled down the blade within the Emperor’s hand.

The audience remained silent as they watched Prince Anvar begin to slide down the blade closer to Emperor Envor. In response to the corpse getting closer to him, Emperor Envor allowed the finely dressed vampire fall dead upon the sand and as the corpse fell he withdrew his blade from it.

“Emperor Envor is the ruler of this Empire!” Announced a booming voice but there was no response from the audience. No laughter, or cheer could be heard as the solitary soul within the arena slowly got to his feet leaning against his blade as he looked about the crowd.

“Why do I not hear the laughter and cheers accompanying my victory?!” Shout Emperor Envor but only a few claps were given in response.

“Why is it that you remain silent?! Is it because I killed him?” Emperor Envor slowly pointed his blade at Prince Anvar’s corpse before he leaned once more on the blade and said mockingly “Your promised one?”

The silence gripped the vampires within the audience as he turned in circles, letting his red eyes settle upon the vampires in the audience.

“You all hailed in glory for the triumphs I had gained over my brothers. Yet now that I have defeated yet another one you do not rally to give me praise. I only hear silence.” said Emperor Envor sourly.

”I have vanquished my blood brother only to have lost one in my attempts to keep my Empire.” He shouted to the crowd.

”And for what? So that I may sit upon a stone chair that a people will support at their leisure?!” He snarled as he spoke to the crowd and the vampires around him cringed.

”So this is my gift to you people of the Sanguine Empire.” Emperor Envor walked over to where the red jaded knife and jerked it from the sand. The audience began to stand as he held it to his throat as he shouted ”Let there be blood of the innocent and the guilty upon the streets of this empire!”

The screams in the podiums erupted as he cackled and with one swift movement of his blade along his neck. He fell to the ground with a smile as the people rushed to his side hoping they could save themselves from the impeding doom.

Emperor Envor’s view slowly grew dark as he watched the world around him darken. He couldn’t help but mock himself for assuming he might be able to go to the white lands but it would seem he was no special being. He wasn’t worth remembering like his friend.

He sighed as he thought If only I could do this all over… if only I could save you my friend and as the thoughts began to fade so did the last remaining light until nothing could be seen.