11 Alpha and Omega
"My wish, my Lord." Peter's mind was at work. "I cannot be sure what to ask for. What is within my reach?"
Valerian smiled again. It was a brilliant smile. It put Peter's heart at ease.
"Praetors, I request a dome of silence."
The Praetorian Guard acted. They cast a spell that created a small blue dome around them to protect their conversation from eager and keen ears.
"I may not look it, Peter, but I am old, very old. It is ungentlemanly of me to speak of my true age and because of this fact not even Uriel knows this."
At these words, Uriel nodded but her eyes were pained.
"Uriel herself is old too." Valerian added with a wicked smile and Uriel pain turned to panic. Valerian only made reference to her age when he was mad at her.
"Your Radiance!" she protested.
Valerian laughed and the sight of him laughing, though they could not hear it, drew the attention of all the women in the dining area. Even the men looked over in curiosity.
Valerian's guards, who were closely listening and watching everything, had big smiles under their masks.
In the old Empire many things were unofficial taboos. One of these was mention of Uriel's age. Only their Lord could call her old and get away with it.
Sometimes, being a Praetor was worth it for moments just like this. Seeing their Lord cross the taboos and break the known limits. Their hearts were singing.
"So when I find something new or interesting, if an enemy uses tactics I have never seen, attacks me, I let them live to see if they can do it again.
If a new animal appears, I keep and breed it. I have never met a half vampire before.
You are lucky to be the first. Wealth, territory and fame are yours to choose. If you want this kingdom, you only have to ask and my knights will deliver it to you by sunset tomorrow."
The words Valerian had said were extremely treasonous. The idea of toppling an entire kingdom was not uncommon.
Rebellions and wars were ragged throughout the continent and other continents. Only the strong and wise dictated the ways of the world.
But the cost to the loser was severe. For someone to so freely state that they could takeover a kingdom, even if it was a small one, then handover control to someone else by the time they had dinner the next day was insane.
Yet, Peter had no doubt that Lord Jata could and would be able to do it without an issue.
"I have no intention of ruling anything here." Peter said confidently.
Val arched an eyebrow and gestured for the boy to continue.
"I wish to become a son of your noble House." Peter said, a little less confidently but still sure.
A wave of killing intent hit Peter like a wild beast!
"Uriel!" Valerian shouted.
The energy immediately disappeared as if it was never there.
"I apologise, my Lord. I seem to have been holding back an awful sneeze and broke my concentration for a moment."
Her actions left the Knights in a worried state while Peter was now drenched in a cold sweat from head to toe.
"We can not talk here." Valerian said ignoring Uriel's bullsh*t excuse.
Before anyone could say a word, magic power flooded the room.
The guests who were not mages could not feel it but the magically gifted were shaken to the core.
Uriel, Peter and Val turned into three different beings made of smoke, like pills desolving in water and vanished.
The guests in the Inn were about to fall off their chairs.
Even though they could not hear what was being said, they could still see.
The Praetorian Guard reacted as they were trained.
Soon, different magical energies flooded the room again.
The Guard turned into black plumes of smoke and disappeared, following Valerian's magic slipstream.
*****
Snow was falling on a mountain range.
Three figure stood on the highest mountain and behind them a massive stone door.
Ten Praetorian Guards were further away prepared for any possible attack.
"Where are we?" Peter asked.
"We are in the north, three days away from your village by Stygian horse. The locals call this mountain Dante's Spine." Val stated calmly.
"Why are we here?" terror was evident in his voice. "There monsters in this place ranked [SS] and..."
"And they are inconsequential." Valerian interrupted. "Peter, this place is more than just a big devil's nest."
"This is where the Lord took rest and recovered...it took a very long time." Uriel continued but her tone was somber.
"Dante's Spine, is what you all call it now but to me, this place, this was my friend, Abo-Dante, the wild titan and his remains have been my hospice not a tomb." Valerian tone was also somber.
"To answer your question, Peter, the Lord brought you here because he is prepared to accept your request and make you his ward but you must understand somethings first."
Uriel was taking a more cautious tone with Peter.
"If you truly wish to be brought under my House banner, you must know the dangers that will follow you." Valerian had taken back control of the conversation.
"I can teach you a lot. I can give you power and strength beyond your current imagination if you want it. I can give you wealth and titles that not even the gods in Elysium would dare offend you in fear of offending me. Such is my power. Such is my influence. Such is the authority of the first vampire and an [Omega] ranked existence."
As Valerian spoke, the transformation magic that hid his true appearance faded away.
His hair returned to its glow and looked completely celestial.
His fangs were small but threatening.
A small black aura surrounded him.
Peter could barely breathe.
Story tellers came to his village and spoke of the great beings who transcend known logic and the laws of this world.
Stories about beings who were ranked [Omega] but with an army of least three hundred [SS] rank warriors behind them, became rank [Alpha]. The universe conquering existences.
"I am glad you recognise the term. I am powerful in this and a few other universes and that means my enemies are quite powerful too. Becoming my ward means that they would be your enemies too. Are you prepared for that?"
As Val spoke, Uriel walked to the stone doors and placed her hand on them. Then she looked at her Lord, waiting and listening.
"Are you prepared to take and use what I have to offer, to use it for my Will and no one else's? Are you prepared for the wars to come and to be strong enough to keep the peace I require?"
The Praetorian Guard began to form a line and summoned their swords from storage.
"Are you prepared to take my sins as if they were your own? Are you prepared to be the son of an Alpha and Omega?"
A fire was burning in Peter's eyes. It was deep, passionate. It was as though the vampire in him was rejoicing while the human inside was terrified.
Two wolves were fighting inside him. Which one would win? The one he had been suppressing for years or the one that held him back?
Peter was under the minimal effect of [Abyssal Aura]. It was entering his soul and mind, judging him, breaking him and putting him back together. Searching for any kind of weakness.
"I will serve you as your ward and prove I am worthy of becoming your son." Peter said confidently.
"Then it is my Will as Alpha and Omega, that you, Peter, die today."
