A Renegade’s Jeremiad

Chapter 12: Evasion

May 3rd. 3:45PM

Moon: Waxing Gibbus

In his office, Marcus looked over his things one last time. The scroll that spoke of the prophecy laid out on his lavish desk. At the center of the right wall a portrait of his father. This portrait was surrounded by blueprints of many kinds. At the portrait’s left side were the original blueprints of the Genetic Slicer that William created, including the future versions that emerged through constant refinement. On the other side, was a large collection of reports from Cainus nailed to the wall diagnosing a new treatment that Cainus was working on that targeted werewolves’ ability to merge their curse with the minds of their victims. At the top of the portrait were big bolded letters emboldened as Legacy placed there by Marcus himself. ‘I swear that I will make you proud, Father,’ Marcus thought, ‘Your example always will be my guiding light.’ Marcus then turned to the left wall where he held a myriad of framed photos, all of which framed Henry as the main subject in the frame. ‘Henry…’ Marcus pondered, ‘I failed to train you, I failed to understand your place in this world, and most of all, I failed to convince you of how significant your power is. Nevertheless, I will bring you to heel brother. No matter long you resist me; no matter how many times you run. I will have you. Because it is my responsibility to guide you. Only I can do that. That is what fate has bestowed me. I must spring forth and take charge. I must be the one to lead us hunters to glory. And you will be there beside me, not simply as my brother, but as this world’s chosen hero. The pinnacle of humanity. The one above all other beings. While I remain the pinnacle of the hunters thanks to the power granted to me by birthright. The question is, how can I get through to you, Henry?’ Marcus turned back to his desk. Looking past the desk, he looked at the special tubing system that William had started as a way to increase the travel speed of the higher-ups at the Hunter Fortress and their suppliers. Unfortunately, William didn’t live to see it finished. Marcus immediately took charge after William’s death, having it finished and ready in his first week as Director thanks to his training from his father. It was the first of many achievements and the first of the changes Marcus made to the Hunter organization as a whole.

Marcus then turned to the door and exited out of his office, deciding to take the leisurely route to the medical bay so he could determine what he would say to Henry to finally get him to understand the position fate placed him in. That is until Marcus was stopped by one of the lab assistants to Cainus. “Yes? Does Cainus need me?” Marcus asked. “No,” the assistant answered, “The results from our tests on the vampiric strain have come in and… It would be better if you saw for yourself.” As Marcus followed behind the assistant he pondered, ‘Hm, I can only expect that my fears are likely to be proven correct, though I must reserve judgement until I see the results.’ Once Marcus arrived in the old laboratory, the hunters there bowed to him before quickly evading his stride. The lab was stocked with shelves upon shelves of vials that held various organic objects flowing in various medical balms and liquids, some undead, others wolf-like. The cobblestone floors clattered with the sound of rushed footsteps racing in all directions. Marcus was brought to a parchment sheet listing the various weaknesses and additional assault patterns for Vampires. The parchment reads:

1) Fire gives a vampire serious irradiated damage to their physical body, thus weakening the effectiveness of their regeneration due to the required cleansing of burned material on their wounds.

2) Silver pierces a vampire’s physical defenses after severely loosening their skin layer, lowers the potency of their blood temporarily, weakens their physical prowess, and creates impurities in their vampiric power (meaning that any vampiric power, including drinking blood by using their fangs, becomes cumbersome to use.)

3) Poisoned blood (Via werewolf essence [like fur or some other part of the monster] or hunter energy mixed in) disarms a vampire’s abilities for two minutes and weakens their physical and mental capabilities.

4) Garlic inflicts wounds similar to chemical burns and acidic dissolution onto a vampire’s physical form (Both skin and muscle tissue, not bone) and poisons any blood in their system if injected (albeit without the debilitating physical or mental effects of ingesting poisoned blood, only disabling their abilities for five minutes.)

5) Pure werewolf blood severely weakens their mental state and makes them emotionally irrational for five minutes.

6) Wolfsbane inflicts severe illness on a vampire.

7) A wooden stake will slay a vampire instantly if it connects with the heart, otherwise, the wood will create a gap in the undead curse of vampiric influence in a physical body, rendering the vampire into full body paralysis.

8) Sunlight will instantly kill a vampire, save for the infamous strains of vampirism known as the ‘day walker’ strains. Thankfully, these strains are still severely weakened in sunlight and hunters have an easier time targeting these vampires during the day.

“What is the meaning of this? I know this information,” Marcus exclaimed. “Apologies sir, I wanted you to have a base to compare to… this…” the assistant blurted before handing Marcus the strip of parchment with the experimental results listed.

1) Strain has a ninety percent resistance to fire, thus rendering fire ineffective for creating weak points.

2) Silver, instead of weakening this strain, increases the potency of the blood it has consumed if silver enters its circulatory system. Additionally, skin layer and physical prowess are not affected by silver. This strain’s vampiric power also does not gain impurities from silver, rendering the substance ineffective for enforcing our ability to control strain.

3) This strain is immune to the effects of poisoned blood, save for blood mixed with werewolf fur specifically, though the strain will still retain its physical and mental capabilities without its abilities active for ten minutes should it consume this version of tainted blood.

4) Garlic eats away at the strain’s skin layer ten times faster than any other strain, yet it regenerates the strain’s internal tissue as quickly as high-quality blood would and doesn’t affect any blood the strain consumes.

5) Pure werewolf blood will still severely reduce the strain’s mental aptitude, but only for two minutes. Strain shows no emotional irrationality from the effects of pure werewolf blood.

6) Wolfsbane has no effect on this strain.

7) A wooden stake can still directly kill this strain if aimed at the heart, but can not paralyze this strain.

8) Strain is a ‘day walker’ strain and therefore should be treated accordingly.

Under the weakness test results was a section labeled ‘additional notes’ which read: Strain appears to have a vampiric ability already crystalized, meaning deep familiarity with the subject’s blood culture. Strangely, this strain has five ability slots, being one higher than that of Vampiric Nobles which are considered the ‘cream of the crop’ amongst vampires. Strain was seen injecting some of its blood into a nearby strain. Once done, the strain became more powerful than before and seemed to completely obey this strain’s commands at a moment’s notice. Upon further study, this is not an ability of the strain, but rather a quality of the blood it uses to sustain itself that is applied to all blood, regardless of type or quality, that enters its natural reserves. Strain also has a staggering sixty percent resistance to all types of hunter energy in comparison to all other vampirism.

In an instant, Marcus’ eyes widened before he processed, ‘This… This is the power of the Vampire King!” After this realization, a wide, smug smile spread along his face. “I was right!” Marcus shouted in triumph, “I told you we were at the prophecy’s doorstep!” Marcus then proceeded to cackle incredulously as he rushed to the medical bay’s holding cells while all of the hunters and lab assistants looked on, frozen in place and speechless from the sudden rush Marcus created.

Marcus rushed into the block and knocked on Henry’s door, leading Henry to look over at him with a scowl. “Oh? Is it time for another whinging session, Marcus?” Henry asked. Marcus chuckled like a schoolboy before pressing the list of experimental data onto the glass. “Read it,” Marcus said, a wide, smug smile stretching across his face. Henry rolled his eyes and looked it over. After he did, Henry’s eyes narrowed to slits. “What is… this?” Henry asked. Marcus answered, “This is the data we retrieved from the vampirism we extracted from you, Henry.” Henry’s eyes widened before he reread the list, his face going pale as reality settled in. “Now you see, don’t you?” Marcus asked, “The prophecy has taken form, and it will-” “Enough!” Henry exclaimed, interrupting Marcus, “I will concede that you were right about the Vampire King’s essence being within my blood culture. But I still refuse the prophecy.” Marcus’ mouth fell open before his face tightened into a leering scowl. “Why?!” Marcus shouted. “Because I know how you’ve run this place, Marcus. I am not a weapon to be used in your imaginary war!” Henry proclaimed. Marcus then went into a long, exhaustive rant about how he was saving Henry, protecting him from the monsters outside. Henry took in none of Marcus’ rambling and turned away, leaving Marcus to screech curses at Henry in a rage before storming out of the room like a toddler. ‘Hmph,’ Henry thought, ‘I refuse to back down, I know there is a better life for me out in the world. At least better than being hunted like an animal, stuck in the same locations where my parents died…’ It wasn’t long before Henry allowed himself to cry, still grieving over his mother’s death.

Meanwhile, shortly after Marcus stormed out, Sarah was up in the rafters, outfitted with a collection of metal pellets, a sling shot, and rolled-up parchment. Once she got to the holding cells, she imbued the metal pellets with a miniscule amount of her hunter energy, before using them to knock out the guards and scientists. After her work was done, she dropped to the ground and rushed to Henry’s cell. “Sarah!” Henry exclaimed, looking over to her. “I don’t have much time,” Sarah began, “Take a look.” She unrolled the parchment and pressed it onto the glass, showing Henry a map of the Hunter base with an escape route. “Ah!” Henry exclaimed, memorizing the plan, “Thank you! I owe you a great deal after this.” Sarah answered, “Don’t thank me yet!” She then unlocked Henry’s cell with a key she took off the guards, allowing Henry to leave. They nodded to each other before Sarah got back into the rafters and Henry traveled to the far side of the labs, activating purple hunter energy. His sclera turned purple and his pupils dissipated into the purple sclera, spreading a haze over his eyes before he melded with the shadows, using the collection of shadows in the building to check the rotations of the guards. Sarah, meanwhile, collected her metal pellets by using the hunter energy in them to guide them back to her bag before she absorbed the energy back into her body. Then she navigated through the rafters to stay out of sight.

Shortly after that, Sarah and Henry met up outside the Hunter Fortress, both having evaded everything. “Go. There isn’t much here for you. Not anymore…” Sarah uttered. Henry nodded before stating, “I’m glad we are in agreement there. Stay safe, Sarah. And thank you for your help.” They raced off, Henry out of the village and Sarah back to her resource depot. Feeling the chilled air run through his hair once again, Henry couldn’t help but laugh with glee, fully recovered from the treatment and ready to run once again.

Meanwhile, the attendants saw the scientists hunched over and groaning, but still alive. Henry was nowhere to be seen, so everyone in the Hunter fortress panicked, looking everywhere for Henry’s whereabouts with no success. Marcus was already in his office as he glared at the prophecy. ‘Why do you never listen, Henry?’ Marcus pondered, oblivious to the panic outside the room. That is until one of the hunter knights rushed in, exclaiming, “Director! Henry has escaped!” Marcus leaned back in his chair with a deep groan. With a dismissive hand wave, Marcus ordered, “Go get a patrol for the forest.” Once he was alone again, Marcus glared at the images he had of Henry. ‘Do you think this is funny? Rebelling against me like this? Do you feel like a big man?’ Marcus brooded, ‘I will not tolerate this any longer. All rebellion to my vision and to the prophecy will be quashed. Glory will befall our names in the end, Henry. You for your sacrifice and me for my leadership. I will have more glory because I accepted my mission and carried out everything flawlessly while all you did was cause problems. Even then… the most powerful creatures never get the greatest glory, because everyone expects them to win.’ Marcus chortled to himself as his mind spiraled through these thoughts repeatedly, certain of glory, certain that would tame Henry and finally rule the monsters by being their version of death.

Yet… Will he win? Nobody knows. Not even himself.