Call for Freedom

Luciel tossed the last blood pack onto the pile he had created, drinking almost everything and leaving only a few for later. He finally felt full for the first time and with that, a desire to suck his friend dry also went away.

'Does this mean that I need to do this regularly?' He scratched his chin. This did not turn into a question will he be able to do it since he already knew that he had to do it, otherwise he just might have more blood on his hands like that female vampire hunter.

Speaking of his first victim, there was something else that concerned him. Thinking back about it, he didn't feel anything, no sorrow, anger, regret, just how delicious it was. It felt the same like humans would eat meat without thinking that this piece of meat was once alive.

"Don't worry too much." Alex broke the silence, having an idea what Luciel might be going on inside Luciel's head, "As long as you have a clear head and your morals intact, it should be fine, it's not like humans are killing every cow they see."

Luciel stayed quiet. Alex might be very bad at hunting vampires, the only thing that had kept him alive till now was his fighting skills and Luciel, but Alex had his good points as well.

He was very observant when talking to other people, he might look like a fool, but he might be even smarter than Luciel. He always said the right stuff when it mattered. And even now, he was right, Luciel might not feel bad about killing that woman, but he still knew that it was wrong and if there was any other option, he would rather have her live. He did not find joy in seeing dead bodies unless they were vampires. 

"Here, one more as a dessert." Alex tossed one more blood pack toward Luciel, even if he knew that he wasn't hungry anymore since he was making eye contact now instead of staring at his neck.

"No thanks, I'm full," Luciel said and tossed the blood pack back to Alex. If he can't avoid his new diet, then the least he can do is take only the amount he needs. It also seemed like a good restraint practice if he would need to bite someone.

Now when some matters were settled, Alex finally went to ask a question, he was dying to hear an answer.

"Luciel, now when you are one of them, what do you think? Is it possible for vampires and humans to make peace and end this slaughter?"

"No way," Luciel scoffed, leaning back and resting his back on the recliner, but it did not raise his feet, it must be broken.

"For that to happen, even if all remaining humans donated their blood, it's questionable if it will be enough." He started to explain his reasoning, "Some vampires definitely won't want to only live on these blood packs and humans won't feel happy about making their natural predators stronger." 

"That's true…" Listening to what Luciel had said and giving it more thought, he couldn't find an answer to this question. If it meant that vampires would continue killing innocent humans, then peace was out of the question.

"Also, I don't think that the war is over just yet." Luciel added, "I might have weakened the vampire forces and given humans some time to get stronger, but sooner or later, another powerful vampire will resurface." Luciel added, putting his hands behind his head.

There was a moment of silence. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Alex finally asked: "And what about you? Which side will you pick?" 

Luciel raised an eyebrow, staring at his friend, "I don't know." He finally gave it an answer. "The vampires probably hate me while humans want to cut my head off."

"I guess that I'm on my own, still leaning towards the humans since I do not approve of what vampires did to us." Luciel continued, clenching his fist. "They kidnapped and turned our children, attacked and slaughtered highly populated events, kidnapped others, and raised them as livestock. Who knows how many innocent people are still out there, suffering, not knowing if they'll be able to live to see the next day." 

Hearing his answer, Alex got up, and walked towards Luciel, patting him on the shoulder, "Glad to hear that your heart is still intact." 

"You know me, I always fight for what I think is right." Luciel smiled, pushing Alex's hand away, "Sit down, it's my turn to ask questions." 

"As you say, sir," Alex said, returning to his designated spot.

"How long did it take for you to find me?" Luciel started his questioning, sounding serious. He wanted simple and fast answers.

"Well… It took me a day to recover after someone dug their fangs into my neck." Alex made sure to emphasize "someone" before continuing, "After that, it took me half a day to gather all the necessary information about the hunt and where you were last seen." 

Alex continued to explain, telling Luciel all the details. How he crossed the border, how he found traces of blood, and trying to think where Luciel might have run off to.

Many hunters thought that Luciel ran towards the vampire nest since they still think he turned into a bloodhound and they would naturally follow vampires whenever they went, but Alex fully acknowledged back then at the battlefield that Luciel still had his sanity, so knowing him, there is no way he went where the rest of the vampires are.

The forest was dangerous with all kinds of supernatural creatures and beasts, so staying there was out of the question. The next logical solution is to find shelter in one of the abandoned towns and villages of old.

Luciel was on foot, probably starving, so Alex could cross abandoned villages and towns that were far away. With the process of elimination, he only had a few options left to check where Luciel might have gone.

"Overall, it took me only four days to find you." Alex finished answering his question.

Luciel didn't expect Alex to tell him his whole reasoning, immediately answering the next question he was about to ask.

'So, I was asleep for four days.' Luciel thought but didn't feel surprised. His body did go through some big changes after all and he barely got a moment of rest ever since the big battle against vampires. It must have taken a toll on him even if his body felt partly refreshed after getting turned. 

"We will need to talk about your lack of survival instincts one day," Luciel commented, referring to Alex crossing the river they referred to as a border, but he did not feel like giving him another lesson today.

"What do you mean? My survival instincts are just fine." Alex pouted.

"No, they're not. Your survival instincts are based on the fact that I will come in and save you every time." 

"See then? They are completely fine!" 

Luciel stared at his friend with a blank expression, blinking a few times before facepalming, "That's not how it works…" 

"Anyways, why did you take such a risk to find me? You might have found nothing and the price for this excursion might have been your life." 

"What kind of question is that?" Alex raised an eyebrow, "It's because you are my friend. And you saved my life countless times. It's only right that I return the favor at least once." 

"And yet you want me to pay you back for the blood you gave me." Luciel teased him with a grin on his face.

"Oh come on man!" Alex spoke back, "That was my blood you feasted on! You almost drank my whole stash and you know those are hard to make!" 

"Calm down will you," Luciel didn't want to show it, but he enjoyed teasing Alex like this, "I planned to give you my own stash anyways."

"Really?!" Alex's eyes showed a small spark.

"Yes, I have no use for them unless I want to carry them around and advertise that I'm a vampire. Besides, drinking the blood of my human self doesn't sound right." He gagged, that was the only human blood he didn't feel drawn towards.

"Don't worry Luciel, I will put them to good use!" 

"Or die during a hunt because of a hungry pack of vampires," Luciel added, earning a glare from Alex.

The two continued to joke a little, with Alex being glad that Luciel was finally acting like his usual self, but jokes and laughter didn't last long as Luciel cleared his throat, looking serious more than ever now.

"How is Helen doing?" Luciel left the hardest question for the end. He needs to hear it, even if it will break his heart.

Alex stayed quiet for a while, looking towards the ground before staring into Luciel's red eyes with a serious look on his face. "She's heartbroken, wearing all black. " 

There was a small moment of silence. Luciel could only hear Alex's heart starting to beat faster and faster with each second, "She… She's been crying every morning when I would come and visit her before going to search for you…" 

"And when… When's my funeral?" Luciel didn't want to dwell too much on Helen's feelings right now. It's not that he didn't want to, but his heart couldn't take it. If he were to imagine the pain she must be feeling right now, regret and guilt, it would eat him alive.

"In three days from now on."

"So they are holding it seven days after the incident, interesting." 

"I know, a little bit later than usual, people are having a hard time saying goodbye to their favorite hero." Alex yawned, slowly closing his eyes. "Sorry, it's late, aren't you tired?"

"I feel fine, go take some rest. It should be safe. I'm going to take a walk in the meantime." Luciel got up from his armchair, stretching his body. He needed to clear his head and organize his thoughts and a walk sounded like it could help. 

"All right, just don't go too far, who knows what's lurking out there." Alex yawned again as the need for sleep was getting stronger, but he couldn't just relax without knowing what Luciel might do while wandering around alone.

"Don't worry, I won't take long." And with that, Luciel walked outside and closed the doors behind him. 

Standing in front of the doors, he gently closed his eyes and quickly opened them again, taking in and letting out a deep breath, he made a run towards the forest as he felt the calling of the night, a call for freedom. 

In the meantime, while Luciel was outside on his small adventure, Alex was soundly asleep, not being aware of what was happening around him.

"Give me… Your shiny…"