Cursed Brethren

There was a dent in the brick wall where Luan had earlier smashed his fist in the heat of the moment. Standing tall in the dark alley with an unconscious woman lying vulnerably in his arms made him look every bit like an irresistible predator. Something he felt he was in at that particular moment.

Just like a predator, Luan was also angry at being interrupted mid-meal. Rage fueled his thoughts as he confronted the man standing before him, unsure whether his words were an impending threat or merely a stated fact.

To clarify he demanded, "What do you mean?"

The bulky man raised an eyebrow, his expression questioning Luan's behaviour and intelligence. Aurora emerged from behind him, donning her little black dress and an unmistakably ugly expression.

"So, this is what you do?" she scorned angry. Her voice was unmistakably dripping with jealousy. "Instead of challenging yourself in a room full of prey and possibilities, you sink to a new low and seduce a desperate woman."

While spitting this venom in a sweet child-like voice, Aurora's eyes were fixed on Destiny's limp figure adorned in Luan's arms. She seemed ready to rip her away from him.

"Sorry, love! You know I was on a deadline, right?" growled Luan in a low, husky voice while he snubbed her mentally. The memory of how Destiny had thrown herself at the original Luan resurfaced in his mind.

Aurora's frown deepened, mildly surprised by his careless response. Meanwhile, an unnoticeable faint smile began to play on the man's lips. Aurora and he both remembered Luan as a bashful guy. It seemed as if this transition had not only affected his appearance but had altered his attitude, too.

Physical changes during a transition were common among their brethren, but such drastic shifts in attitude had never been witnessed before. At least the guy hadn't heard of such phenomena in 180 years on this planet.

"I am still waiting for your reply, bulky," Luan's snide comment broke the bulky guy's train of thought and made the smile slip from his thin lips.

"We all know that you are new, so I will let it go this time," the man said in a deliberately slow and menacing tone while folding his extra-large arms across his massive chest. "But henceforward, remember that our esteemed brethren is built on respect, deference, and hierarchy. And no cheeky newbie can disregard these principles."

Aurora's head snapped toward the man, her mouth slightly agape in surprise.

"I, too, am his elder now, Athan! What about him not respecting me?" she whimpered, pointing a finger at herself.

"You were the one who wanted him in the brethren against my good advice," Athan replied with a scowl. "So I am not defending you."

Turning away from Aurora's childish whimper, he addressed Luan again, "To answer your question, newbie, look at the woman's fingernails."

Luan frowned and turned his attention to Destiny's delicate fingers, where her nails started turning blue at the base.

"If her fingernails had turned completely blue, she would have died. As members of the brethren, we cannot kill a human while feeding," explained Athan. Seeing that Destiny had no further use for him; Luan gently laid her down on the alley ground. 

"Our saliva aids their quick recovery while they serve as a source of blood for us. If we don't drain them completely, their feeble bodies can recover in an hour," added Aurora, still scowling and placing her hands on her inviting hips. "Their fingernails serve as the best indicator of their limit. If they turn completely blue, you're in big trouble."

With this explanation, Luan's rage had settled into mild amusement. Straightening up, he casually tucked his hands into the pocket of his black pants and faced the fiery-red-eyed duo before him.

With a voice dripping in low sarcasm, he asked, "So what happens if someone violates these rules? Do your esteemed brethren throw them in the fire?"

"It's our brethren now," Aurora reminded him, regaining some of her composure. Still, time to time again, she couldn't resist throwing a dirty look at the unconscious woman on the ground. 

"We don't need to," grimaced Athan as if recalling an unpleasant memory. "Our entire coven was cursed thousands of years ago."

"As soon as a human dies while being latched to our fangs, the responsible vampire bursts into flames," reveals Aurora.

However, remembering something, a wicked smile returned to her childlike, delicate face. "But that doesn't mean we can't eliminate these insignificant beings through other means," she deliberately added while shooting an innocent look at Destiny.

By now, Luan's temper and bloodlust had subsided entirely, giving way to a sense of control. He was no longer thirsty and desperate, so in the light of his new situation, Luan had begun to enjoy himself mildly. The bothersome duo were revealing the secrets of his new world, and he was curious to understand his situation further.

Every bit of information about this world was crucial for him. He had to remember his origins and the real purpose behind him still being alive.

Masking his intentions and thoughts, Luan further enquired in a slightly teasing but utterly calm voice. "And who dared to place such a damning curse upon our almighty brethren?" 

Aurora waved her hand dismissively before her face like she was trying to wave away an irritating fly. "Who do you think?" she replied off-handedly. "Sorcerers, of course."

Like Luan was supposed to know that this new world not only houses vampires but sorcerers too.