The son of the devil

The beast

He stopped struggling against the bonds and sighed as he let himself fall back on his back. He closed his eyes, while trying to understand what happened that he ended tied up and the others were looking at him like he was a monster. The last thing he remembered was him facing that servant than he was falling into that dark abyss. Vlad cleared his throat, thing that added to the pain he was feeling already in his chest.

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand why I am being tied like this. Can anyone help me explain what happened for me to end up like this? And please, don't try anymore lies, please. I've had enough of those already."

He turned his eyes and looked at Diana, who flinched seeing him watch her.

"I'm especially disappointed in you, Dan. But isn't your name Diana? Why would you lie to me about who you are?"

Diana covered her mouth with her palm while tears started trickling down her cheeks.

"I admit it! I'm sorry I lied to you, but I didn't know at the time how to be close to you again. I heard you lost your memories from before the battle and if I wouldn't have done it like that, I would have never been able to see you again. When did you remember me? Oh, God! That's why you acted like that this morning! How much do you remember?"

Vlad shook his head, which made him wince from the pain at the back of his head.

"My head hurts really bad!... About that, I didn't remember anything so far. But I did overhear the three of you last night deciding my life without my knowledge. All I wanted at the time was to come and talk to you. It was good that Mutt didn't make a sound while I was there at your door. Mutt... Where' s my puppy?"

He lifted his head trying to look around in search of it. He saw Tanase walk away and after a short while he returned carrying a bundle in his arms. Vlad frowned seeing him approach, confused by his stern eyes. The bundle was struggling and whimpering and when he put it on the ground beside him, Mutt appeared and ran straight to him. Vlad smiled in relief seeing it was fine. For a moment he thought it was hurt. But it was fine running to him, trapping itself in its own legs and tumbling on the ground in his hurry, making Vlad giggle. It started licking his face, tickling him and making him forget the pain all over his body for a short time.

"Can you untie me now? I don't know what happened that I ended up like this, but I don't like being a prisoner. Just untie me and let's forget any of this stuff happened. What do you say?"

Dan approached him with a sneer on his face. Tanase stood and barred his way closer to him with his hand on the handle of the sword.

" Stop right where you stand. Not a single step further."

Dan stopped, seizing him up and down, and shook his head.

"Still defending that beast in human appearance you consider your master? Where were you when he attacked my sister simply because she wanted to stop him from butchering innocents?"

Vlad turned his attention from the happy puppy back to the scene in front of him. He forced himself to sit, which triggered another series of painful moments. Everyone turned their attention back to him, the girls with a panicked look on their faces. He tried to ignore everything, including the puppy that slipped into his lap, where it circled for a short while and finally lied down.

"What is with all that? Just tell me what happened and stop fooling around. I don't have neither the patience, nor desire to be taken for a fool, even if I am one. Something happened and you're acting like I'm the worst human being that ever walked the earth. So, out with it. I don't need to say this is your only chance to come clean, do I?"

Dan grinned at Tanase, while stepping around him. He stopped close to him and bent over him and while watching him in the eyes, he spit him in the face. Vlad's eyes flared while he felt the spit sliding down his cheek. He felt his eyes burning as he stared at Dan, words failing to formulate in his mind. He strained against the ropes holding him down, while grunting in frustration. He hated him so much, he didn't even notice the others stepping back from him watching him cautiously, including Dan.

Tanase grabbed him and shoved him against a tree.

"I told you, no more! Your luck has just run out."

With that he tried to strangle him, but Dan's right knee found his jewels and he bent over, all fight running out of him. Another kick to the kidneys made him lose consciousness.

Dan kicked him a couple more times in frustration.

" You old fool! I've had enough of you and your threats. What are you going to do now, lying there?"

Diana stepped towards him and gripped his arm above the elbow and dragged him back, trying to stop him, while the other girl hugged her knees, watching the scene in fear.

"Stop, Dan! Don't forget who you are! And you're the one that started everything."

Dan snatched his arm from her grasp and pushed her back.

"And you! You still care about that lunatic after everything he did to you! I'll say this now. Any relationship between you and him ends now. I'll find a better one for you to marry. I'll even make sure he will accept your bastard! And now pack your things, because we're leaving!"

Diana paled for a moment, then her face turned purple and gritting her teeth, she slapped him as hard as she could.

" You're the bastard, you know that?"

His head tilted to the side and he spit on the ground. His spit was colored in red. He slid his tongue around in his mouth, spitting blood again.

"Good slap, sis. You made me bite my cheek. But the end will not change. You' ll still going to renounce him or I will be forced to kill him here and now. Your choice, really."

He took a step towards Vlad and stopped, putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. Turning his face back to Diana, who was rooted in place, he snarled.

"What is your choice? Decide now!"

A cold, emotionless voice replied instead. He shuddered, as it was coming right from behind him.

"I am the one who decides! And I decide you die today. I'll enjoy breaking you apart piece by piece."

His neck was caught in a vice. He was turned around and he came face to face with the man he hated the most. He felt he was drowning in his green eyes. He looked into his eyes and saw there his fate was already sealed. There was no shred of mercy for him there. Then he heard him whisper only for him while he was hoisted up until his feet lost contact with the ground. He was fighting for breath, scratching the hands and kicking at his feet, but with little effect.

"Dan, did you forget what I told you that day in the courtyard before we went to the battle?" Dan whimpered as he felt he would soon lose control over his bladder as bells started to sing into his ears. "I told you then that if you ever interfere between me and what I want, you'll die. You distracted my attention during the fight with that thrash friend of yours. You wanted me killed and hand over your sister to him. Today also you interfered between me and that servant. Don't know why and I don't care. But your biggest interference is you making your sister choose between her happiness and my life. Well, it's time now to finish what I promised months ago!"

He started squeezing more and Dan's fighting slowed until he hung limp.

Vlad woke up when a hand touched his shoulder tentatively. He looked ahead and at first he didn't understand the scene he was part of. That's when he heard Diana's soft voice.

"Please let him go. He's still my brother."

He opened his eyes wide, finally realizing he was strangling Dan. He let him go with a shove and retreated as if he was made of hot iron and his hands just burned.

He wiped his hands against the breeches and saw the fragments of rope still hanging around his wrists while blood seeped from underneath where raw flesh could be seen. It started to sting.

He turned around and croaked at Diana who was watching him warily.

"What just happened? The last thing I remember is me being tied down and the next instant I'm choking the life out of your brother."