"Tainting the Pure" by Aksig SMc

Azeban released Cecilia from his hold as their bodies took form and their feet touched the ground. His red eyes gleamed with impish delight as he looked back and forth down the street from the alley they now stood in. His mind raced with the thought of the sweet tasting mortal blood, and his fangs slowly extended, he could almost taste the sweet ecstasy. Cecilia stood in a daze, she tried to collect herself.

"Wait here," he instructed as he left her.

He walked easily down the street, tapping his cane against his leg with every stride. He was headed to the tavern. No one seemed to notice his venture through the shadows, they were oblivious to the danger that lurked so close. Azeban lived for this, he thrived on mortal fear, it made this game so much more entertaining. But it was not those on the street he was after tonight. He was after a much stronger opponent.

With a simple thought the doors to the tavern flew open and Azeban stepped in. Several of the occupants of the tavern turned at the sudden noise. A small group of men who had gathered around a table stood, several glasses half filled with ale covered the table. Azeban smirked, the men knew what he was, he never tried to hide it. He spread his arms in an invitation and stepped back out the doors. The four men followed.

He led them down the street to the alley where he had left Cecilia. His step now carried a slight spring as he thought of the excitement that would be unfolding a mater of minutes. With a quick twist of his cane, a tiny hooked blade sprouted from the tip of it.

"Defend yourself my lady," he whispered to her as he entered the alley. He took her shoulders and turned her to face the on coming hunters. Azeban slipped into the shadows.

The four advancing men were a brutal lot. They were covered in filth from head to toe, and necklaces of fangs dangled from their throats. Each was dressed in a simple white cotton shirt and brown trousers with numerous weapons hanging from their waist. The seemingly bravest of the group, a large man with an unkempt scruffy beard, pulled a stake from his belt and made the first advance on Cecilia.

"Azeban, I..." Cecilia took a step back as the men neared her, and she turned to gazed into the shadows he had disappeared into. The men closed their circle around her.

"Defend yourself my lady. Do not panic. I am here," Azeban whispered with a soft delight.

The men closed their circle tighter around her, looks of malice were painted across their faces. The larger of the group made the first attack, and he swiftly knocked Cecilia’s feet out from under her. She cried as she fell, and quickly she scrambled to her feet, black fires danced in her eyes as she shifted her gaze from one to the next. The second attacker stepped forth and in a cry he swung a massive sword at her throat. Ready for the attack this time, she dropped to the ground and in the same flowing motion she kicked against her attackers knee. The man’s knee snapped back, and as he started another advancement on her, another held him back. Again Cecilia hurried to her feet and unexpectedly the third jumped at her and held her arms behind her back.

The leader chuckled and tossed the stake triumphly back and forth between his hand as he moved in for the kill.

"Oh, come now lady Cecilia. I know you can do better than that," Azeban soothed to her from the shadows as though he were whispering into her ear.

Cecilia grunted and leaning back against the man who held her arms she kicked her feet into the air with an attempt to knock away her would be executor. Her feeble attempts were no good, she did not understand the gifts she now held. For a moment Azeban thought of leaving and allowing the men to add another pair of fangs to their necklaces, for what good would this woman be to his master? But, he had been given explicit instructions and should he disobey them, he shuddered to think of the consequences. Besides, this way he would have some fun.

As the leader began to drive the stake down at the defeated woman, Azeban met his arm with immortal speed. He gripped the man’s forearm, his nails dug into his flesh. The man cried out and turned to Azeban who then snapped the man’s arm in two with an evil laugh. The stake fell from the man’s hold and Azeban caught it in its fall and plunged it into the leader’s chest. He fell to the ground, the sweet scent of his blood filled the air and Azeban’s excitement grew.

Another man leaped at Azeban, the vampire swung his cane with a joyful roar and ripped through the attacker’s throat with the hooked blade. His precious mortal blood splashed across his face and he too fell to the ground.

"Pathetic mortals," Azeban laughed and turned to the last two men who had held Cecilia, "Is that any way to treat a lady?"

Without a second thought the men released her and started to run from the ally.

"Humans, where do they learn their manors," Azeban sighed and glanced at Cecilia. He shook his head before he pursued after the fleeing pair.

He caught the first within seconds, the instant he had the trembling man in his hold, Azeban snapped his neck. He released his hold and the man slumped to the ground. Azeban kicked him off his foot, and stepped out to the street to search for the last.

"Come out, come out where ever you are," Azeban sang softly as he started down the street. He twirled his cane as he moved and soon he caught the scent of his pray. Cecilia had moved out of the ally and followed behind Azeban. Azeban slowed his pace as to enjoy this hunt, locks of red fell about his face, he turned the corner and a grin of pure delight came to his lips. The final hunter was doubled over in a gutter.

"Ah, the only suitable place for your kind," he spat and kneeled beside the man, "You...humans...so pathetic. Just look at yourself, covered in your own excrements. How do you live with such a smell? What if I was to tell you that I was once like you, hm? Oh, yes, it’s true, long ago I was as worthless as you are now. Fortunately for me, I was saved."

"What...what have you done? Azeban, please, spare this man," she pleaded with him as she hurried to catch up with him.

"You feel something for these creatures my lady? That will change in time when you come to realize what you are. I would have thought that you would have taken the four quite easily, apparently I was mistaken. Perhaps Peroth was wrong about you."

"There...there were too many."

"There were four! Four weak, sad, pathetic mortals!" Azeban rose to his feet and slammed his cane down on the man’s face, taking from him all that he was in a simple breath of time, "It is a good thing you have me my lady."