Cold heart of stone. #6

[ Salvatore Boarding school ]

[ Alaric's Office ]

[ 17h03 ]

" Are out of your mind ! What were you thinking ? All of you ! Leaving the school to look for Landon was already a bad idea, but confronting him and fighting a.. a freaking dragon without back up ? " Alaric says sternly, his tone severe and his face set in a disappointed expression.

" You should know better Hope and you too Lizzie. You both have experienced how dangerous it can be when facing a supernatural creature. " He adds, while Hope and Lizzie lower their heads not with regrets but with shame to have disappointed an important figure for them.

Landon and Rafael are outside, waiting on chairs with silence as company, usually they are always speaking, of nothing and everything, the adoptive parents of Raf, the bullying of Landon in high school, the recent death of Rafael's girlfriend which triggered his werewolf gene. However right now, both don't find the words despite having so much to say.

" I'm sorry. " Landon muster his courage and says to his best friend, his brother in all but blood since he's 5 years old.

" Sorry ? I was fucking worried man ! " Rafael can't fully restrain his aggressivety inherent to the humans carrying the werewolf gene, an expression of the ancient curse, like a mark imposed on them.

" Ra- " Landon begins in the same apologetic tone but he's interrupted. " You know I don't give a damn about that knife.. We're brother, we don't give up or abandon each other. But you did... " Rafael says with a disappointed tone that makes Landon regret the agressive one.

" I, I know. And I apologize however I didn't do this against you Raf, it's the opposite. You finally had found a place where you could... Belong, be yourself. I was not going to make you lose this chance, this what we've dreamed about for years. " Landon says, his honesty touching Rafael and smoothing the feeling of betrayal he felt.

The open hearted conversation between friends is cut short by Hope and Lizzie who exit the headmaster office with unhappy faces.

" So what did Mr Saltzman said ? " Landon asks Hope, ignoring the humorous sound Lizzie makes as she hears him say her family name.

" That we're basically stupid hormonal teenagers who don't realize the dangers and consequences of our actions.. " Hope answers, her tone contains more sympathy for him.

" Well you've been wrong about Landon, you wanted to hurt him, so maybe he isn't false when he say you should take a step back. " Rafael says accusingly to her.

" Uh excuse me ? Despite puppy eyes over there saving our ass from being barbecued by a hell dragon, we haven't forgetten that he had the knife, which definitely means he stole it. " Lizzie retorts, mocking the look Landon send Hope's way when she isn't looking, it embarrass him as it was wished by Lizzie.

" And what ? What you're gonna do about it, he's not a thief, your Dad believe him just as me, but people like you, who judge without knowing are all the same. " Rafael defends his friend and himself. " You see a guy who isn't like you and you immediately assume he's a thief because it doesn't correspond to your closed off opinions. " he adds while Lizzie stay impassive, a smile on her face perfectly hiding how it hurt her self esteem since it's coming from a boy she liked.

" Raf... I did it. " Landon says, his shameful voice barely above a whisper. " It's not what you think, neither you Hope. I, I didn't want to but it was like some kind of force pushed me to. Like, like how you describe vampire compulsion Hope, I was passing by the hall then I saw the knife and then an unbearable urge made me grab the knife before leaving. " He explains this time without hiding anything.

" Why didn't you tell me the truth I would have helped you... Now I can't even bring myself to fully believe what you're telling. " Hope answers. An awkward silence falls on the three supernatural creatures and one human. Behind the door, inside his office, Alaric drinks his forth glass of bourbon unaware of the new information disclosed.

[ Rest area, highway ]

[ 23h38 ]

Eating his triple cheeseburger bacon, Alec stares at the three others present inside the small restaurant.

A thin woman in her forties hiding under the hood of her coat and a fat man dressed in a pink and green shirt, there's also the waiter, tall, wearing a black t-shirt that shows his muscular biceps and pectorals, his eyes are brown, his face unremarkable, he exude an aura of death, imperceptible for all but the most sensitive witches or warlocks.

" Can I have a coffee please. " Alec asks as he takes the last bite of his snack of the night.

" Of course. " A courteous and suave voice answers him as the waiter walks behind the counter to prepare his command.

Alec watches him, the speed he exhibits as he changes the filter then fills it with ground coffee is unnaturally fast. It reminds him of the exceptionally fast reflexes of Hope amongst other things but slightly different, faster.

A vampire, it's the first time he sees one in person. And coincidently he was searching for one.

" Here. " The brown haired waiter says as he puts the coffee on Alec's table.

Once he's done drinking it, Alec stands up then leaves the restaurant, after zigzagging between trucks, he opens the yellow door of the car he stole from a taxi driver.

He doesn't turn on the engine, he stays seated, hidden under the cover of the night and of the imposing frames of the merchandises trucks.

Time seems to tickle down slowly for him, n hour change into two before the restaurant finally is empty, except for the nocturnal waiter. The doorbell system monted on the door alerts him of a late client, his senses do the rest to identify who entered.

" Did you perhaps forgot something young man ? " He asks Alec politely, but behind his pleasant and jovial facade, the hundreds-years-old monster is just as wary as he is delighted about the probable new addition to his menu.

A chuckle escape Alec's lips before he answer. " Do you believe in coincidence ? Because I don't. " he says as he unsuccessful tries to hides his stress, of course across someone who can hear your heartbeat it becomes understandable. " I've recently, very recently find myself in need of a peticular type of, individual ? " He adds while the waiter smiles at him right under the lighting of the restaurant that seems to accentuate the disturbing aspect of his smile.

" You're brave. Stupid, but brave... It's been some time since I had a fresh snack, these days all I get is the barest, and let me tell you the blood of an obese with cholesterol and grams of cheap beer is really not tasty. " The vampire answers as he shed his skin of waiter, the apron thrown on the counter evidence of his moult, however his tone still carries helpfulness.

Alec stares at him, his frown are the only indication that he's responsible for the current state of the vampire, a knee bend and his hands holding his head.

" Aie ! Ah !! Shit, stop it ! " The vampire shouts as Alec continues to provokes aneurysms in his brain, his particular physiology allowing Alec to do it repeatedly without the risk of killing him.

As he keeps restraining the vampire, Alec stretches out his hand, from the bar, a bottle of whiskey flies off the shelf then spontaneously explode when it reaches above the vampire. The index finger of his outstretched hand makes a circular motion that directs the amber liquid on the ground all around the nocturnal predator.

" Incendia." Alec whisper and fire answers his call, the whiskey ignites and a ring of fire trap the vampire.

" A warlock, great. What do you want ? I killed your sister, your mother, someone close to you is that it ? " The vampire asks as he stands up, now that Alec stopped the aneurysms. He succeed nevertheless, the vampire is trapped.

" Nothing as dramatic, I assure you. An opportunity presented itself and who am I to go against the flow. " Alec answers, a satisfied smile on his face as he looks at the vampire raging face, the veins bulging under his eyes, the blood injected iris.

" You know this is a first for me, can you believe it ? With the amount of vampires present on the continent, I never met one. " Alec adds, without hiding the almost childish excitement at the prospect of having a discussion with someone who witnessed history from the front row.

" Hallelujah ! So glad for you, now what don't you tell me what you want, I'm sure we can work out an arrangement..." The vampire says, his tone sarcastic while his face regain its human features.

" Give me your name and age before, if you're a little shit who's been transformed days ago you don't interest me. " Alec retorts, this time there is an edge in his voice and his face have lost any semblance of sympathy.

" Uh. I like this game, but you'll have to share too if you want the truth out of me. " The vampire says as he gently smile at Alec, a smile trained for years to disarm, to inspire trust in naive sheep.

Alec starts to pace the restaurant, he goes behind the bar and gets himself a glass of water. He takes a sip while his gray eyes glance around the room.

" It can be game if you like, however I'm an awful player as I always cheat, should I prove it to you nameless vampire ? " He says then dip a needle imbued with Empu'sa venom in the glass of water and mutter something, all the while steeling his nerves as the vampire watches him curiously from inside the ring of fire.

Alec do not offer him the chance to accept, he walks towards him then throws the water at his face, the water burns the vampire face who let out screams of pain.

" Fucking witch ! What's this-" The vampire waiter shouts as his touches his face with his hands and notice that the skin isn't regenerating. " Why I don't heal ?! "

" I prefer the earlier title, warlock. Thank you. " Alec says connivingly and the vampire throws him a sort of threatening growl at him in response, the apparent muscles of his jaw where he received most of the water only make it more horrific.

" Anyway, while the poison I add paralyze humans, it have a funny other effect on anyone with enhanced regeneration capacity, it cancel it. " Alec adds before pulling a chair from a table and sitting, however he keeps à certain distance with the vampire.

" 208 years old. " The vampire answers while staring at the young man seated in front of him with apprehension.

" Name ? " Alec insist.

" Robert. " The vampire finally answers after staying silent a few seconds.

" Not bad, I guess you're not as unlucky as I thought, you just escaped death, keep going and who knows, maybe you'll outlive the night. " Alec says, he's now more comfortable in this new role of torturer, his confidence has increased and his anxiety diminished. Neutralizing a two century old vampire on his own, it's an uncommon anecdote he'll have to share.

" You're funny, we could have been friends if you weren't in this kind of thing. " Robert says playfully as his face slowly starts to heal, the small quantity of poison having already been processed, a detail Alec don't forget to take notes of in his mind.

" So, we start ? " Alec says while crossing his arms. " I'm looking for someone, a vampire to be exact, old, much older than you. He had at least three brothers, I know with certainty that at least one is also a vampire. Does it ring any bell ? " He questions as he stares intently at Robert's face in case he inadvertently reveals a glimpse of what he thinks as he hears the description.

" Dracula ? " Robert answers playfully but he's quickly disillusioned when he sees Alec's unamused face. " Who do you think I am ? Some kind of historian ? I'll have you know that there not a register for vampires, if you don't know someone, you don't. " He adds seriously.

" Really ? Sorry to expect so much from you, I didn't know that besides being a shitty waiter you were just as disappointing as a vampire. " Alec retorts in a sarcastic tone mixed with anger, furthermore his raised eyebrows makes it seems as if he holds Robert in boundless contempt.

" A-ha haha. " Robert laughs, it is clearly a fake laugh, his brown eyes scan the floor, he search for something he could use furthermore he must also be able to grab it from the circle of fire, greatly reducing his range of options.

" He's tall, brown hair and brown eyes... Physically I would say he's a late teen with a lean and athletic build. " Alec gives him more information, this time a flash of recognition followed by doubt appears briefly on Robert's face.

" You thought of someone, who is it ? " Alec asks, ordering rather than requesting.

" Obviously I thought about someone, did you hear how much your description was common ? I know a hundred of guys like that. " Robert avoid the question with a sour quip, his right hand discretely sliding behind his back.

Alec focus back his attention on the vampire, a cold glint passing through his eyes as he stares intently at Robert, it has already worked once, so he starts over. This time he unleashes numerous aneurysms simultaneously, subjecting the vampire to an indescribable agony.

Alec himself isn't fully spared from trouble, keeping his concentration as he holds the ring of fire in place and tortures Robert is a grueling task.

" Sto- Arrg ! Stop ! I'll answer ! " Robert shouts, pain and anger lacing his rough voice, he takes great breaths when Alec stops hurting him with his magic. " I, I think it could be one of the originals, you know about them ? " Robert adds then wait for a confirmation to continue.

" Of course, the vampire's progenitors, the first and oldest ones. Anyone who boasts having knowledge of supernatural knows this tidbit of info.. " Alec answers with his eyebrows raises, however he's silent on the fact that he himself is not as knowledgeable about the originals as he imply.

The intangible tension, the anxiety that he's curiosity will be disappointed as Alec feels another part of the puzzle approaching is abruptly interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. Automatically, he turns his head toward the only door of the restaurant, he sees a man in his forties with salt and pepper mane enters.

Everything is happening too fast, out of the corner of his eyes Alec sees Robert's hand outstretched back, a sharp shard of glass coming from the whiskey bottle broken earlier between his fingers. The answer is instinctive, pure reflexes, Alec leaps from his chair and with a wave of his hand brushes aside the sharp projectile launched with all the strength of an angry vampire.

The man whose only crime was to desire refreshments and a good meal before taking back the road is unfortunately directly in the trajectory of the shard of glass Alec deviated. His throat is torn, he desperately tries to remove the piece of glass from his bloody throat as his life literally spills on the floor of Robert's seedy highway restaurant.

" A-ha ha ! " Robert loud chuckles covers the gurgling sounds the dying man is making. " Bullseye magician ! You certainly didn't miss him. " He adds with a whistle as blackish veins bulge below his eyes at the sight and smell of blood.

" Shut up ! " Alec exclaims angrily while he walks then crouch down to see the extent of the injury. He grimace as he inspects the man laying against the opened door of the restaurant, the light leaving his blue eyes and his blood pooling under him.

" He's dead. So what are we going to do now magician ? " Robert says as he watch the dimming ring of fire with an opportunistic glint in his predatory eyes.

" Warlock. " Alec answers smugly before making a twisting motion with his hand, as he do, a few meters away Robert's neck twist unnaturally until it breaks, the cracking sound resonating in the empty restaurant only occupied by two un-animated corpse and a young man loaded with adrenaline.