Swords and Fangs

Chapter 1

Frown with Thorns as Crown

I am from a world where no one wanted me. I am a loner. With no family. My family wanted to kill me. They hated me. Why? I don't know. I was born from a sinful world, shrouded by just darkness and the dullness that sufficed on my life. Everyone had thought of me as a mere plonk, a disgrace, trash ready for disposal.

Back then, I forgot what family is. I forgot what love is. I am born in a world filled with pure chaste. A place amidst of sombre ebony.

I stood in front of the blushing dawn. Scent of petrichor surrounded me. The gemütlich, cool breeze of the morning met up with my skin. How soothing it may be. But the feeling is ephemeral. I know for myself that it has another reason behind it, behind the reigning beauty in front of me, is a sign.

Maybe a sign of iridescent hope. Saying..

'Live.'

***

Swords and Fangs

Chapter 1

Frown

***

"Again, welcome to Frezville Orphanage, my child. Please enjoy your stay with the other kids." The young child walked passed the nun and ignored her. He continued his way to the 2nd floor where his room would be in. He was already told of what room he would be in without any say from him.

He entered the gloomy room, surprised by the fact that he wasn't alone. He was with someone. There is a double deck bed. There are drawings everywhere and crayons scattered all over the desk. 'I thought I was alone here. Tsk! Those old hags are liars! ' He thought as he settled down and sat beside the bed.

"Hi there! I'm Phrielle, and you maybe are my new room mate! " A blond girl headed towards him. While he just replied with a cold stare.

"I'm Ferron and stop talking to me, we're not close.” The young boy replied coldly. The little girl smiled. Never in his life did he liked social interaction.

"No need for closure ‘coz we are ALREADY close. Get it? By the way, we're now having lunch, just come downstairs if you wanna join us. See yah!” He cringed after hearing the words the blonde just said. He glared at the lass. But before she could leave the door, he faced her and asked.

"Where will be my bed? " He asked the blonde. She pointed the upper part of the bed. The 10-year old girl left him after pointing out his bed. They are both the same age.

During lunch, Phrielle would tell a story with the kids while Ferron just listened and never gave a single expression on his face. The blonde introduced the kids to Ferron. He just smirked and avoided eye contact. In the afternoon, Ferron always reads on his book. He feels alive by just reading some good ol' books.

He glanced at the wide grounds where the children were playing. Phrielle. He thought about the little girl. He half-smiled but then turned into a cold frown.

It has been a day for him. But while looking at the young gal, in his monochrome world, she showed a warm colour amid the dullness.

Flashback..

“What have you done, child? You’re not behaving again are you? You shall receive a punishment!” The old gross-looking madman slapped the little boy while lying on the Dental Chair, strapped on the head, limbs, and other parts of the body.

“He struggled having the contraction disturbed. Damned kid.” The woman with spectacles while stretching out the whip on her hands. The boy is quivering from fear. He wants himself dead, he wants to end his life for he had suffered enough. Tortured for 8 years, not getting proper treatment for 8 years, treated like a guinea pig for 8 sorrowful, painful years of his life. They only made him for experimentation. A humanoid guinea pig, he was. And whenever, experimentations of them resulted null, they beat the young child because for their eyes, he was at fault.

They fed him, balanced his diet, only for experimentation. He received tons of lashes, especially at the back, clotting it quickly just for experimentation. The boy in chains who existed only for experimentation. It had become a routine for him since the same activity happens for 3 times a week. On his rest days, he reads books enough to heal himself by just of it.

“Maybe we should add a droplet of the serum we discharged, it contained the blood of the Cursed Moon Demon. At least we could break down that serum having only the blood in addition to be injected to this kid.” Said the man fixing his spectacles and removed his gloves off to the trash bin.

“It’ll probably take another month or two to get it do—” A large bang disturbed them.

“Vampires,” The man looked at the monitor having the footage of a group of vampires forcing themselves to the lab door. “Inject to him the last resort.” Said the madman while loading bullets in the chamber of the rifle he is holding.

On the other hand, the weak, bruised child was forcing himself to open his eyes. He’s still strapped and can barely breathe. Squinting his eyes to be able to see clearly of what is happening.

Bang!

A large explosion occurred and the mist-like concrete covered the surroundings. At the same moment of the explosion, the woman injected a red-coloured liquid to the kid having him shout in pain. The liquid travelled through his veins fast and had the flow of his blood as if it’s boiling. The kid continued shouting while struggling getting strapped on the chair.

The madman declared war by shooting a vampire while getting distracted by the kid’s intense shouting. The lady turned the whip to a sharp chain after pressing a trigger, lashing the two vampires that was about to attack her partner.

The horrid shouts that had echoed in the battlefield slowly faded that it turned to silence. The boy’s hazel-coloured hair had slowly turned black, his blue, lapis eyes turned bloody red. Scars, of black had grown on his body, bigger and darker.

‘It worked.’ The two men-in-labsuit thought.

They released a flashbang in order to blind the vampires for a moment and headed their way to the child. Slowly, the straps had released themselves in a forceful manner. They both smiled and in just a flash. Both of them were pierced by the dark tentacle-like in his back. He turned into a demon, possessed by curse. The blood of both scientists were devoured and extracted by the creature while getting pierced.

The two greyish corpse got thrown out by the child with the tentacles. The young lad looked at the pack of vampires that recovered sight from the flashbang. They were about to engage an attack but before it happened they had their bodies split into two. Losing the ability to regenerate, they had died on the spot before having a single sword or bullet make contact with his body. The tentacles in his back controlled him and went out of the prison that was once the biggest pain in his life. Headed towards the dark forest surrounded by the thick trunks of trees. A moment of freedom, having the moonlit night as a guide for heading his way to a place. Carrying withal heavy burden and pain on his back.

He was dropped in front of a huge castle-like building. The silhouette of the big facade shaded him while he was lying but until the dogs barked, the inside was alarmed and went out to see the situation. Startled the folks were, seeing a kid, bruised and had countless lashes by the back, lying in front of their big gates. They gently and carefully carried the poor kid, all were agitated and sought for a reason for how he had been there and to what happened to the poor child.

Awakened by the mourning sunshine, he stood from bed, with bandages covering his frail body. Turned his gaze to the invasive appearance o the sunlight, for that was more like an ethereal event. Reaching the light, he never have had the chance to see from the past eleven months of his life.

“Am I... Dead?”

***

Swords and Fangs

Chapter 2

Livestocks

Ferron was finished eating lunch alone under the shady tree. It has been 5 weeks since he hadbeen living in this dungeon.

“Oh c’mon Ferron? Why won't you come out and play with us? You made a promise to me just yesterday.“ Phrielle stood infront of Ferron, with both hand on her hips while glarin at him. He really did promise Phrielle though. But Ferron asn't paying attention by that time, he made a promise in a state that he did not decide that in full mind.

“Yeah, I promised to watch you.” The black-haired callant replied filled with boredom.

“Aaww, I knew my Ferron always keeps his promise.” Ferron was about to try and dodge Phrielle’s hug but it was too late for him to move.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Get off me! “ He resisted while pushing her. The damsel laughed and played with the other kids.

It has been weeks since Ferron and Phrielle knew about these blood-creeping creatures. Vampires. From Gonesville to Haileton, those creeps had been conolizing towns to cities. Infrastructures destroyed, properties manipulated, people massacred. Myriad of lives, taken by the Horsemen of Irene.

“What are you thinking Ferron?”

A voice from behind asked the wondering Ferron.

“Nothing and it’s none of your business.” The latter replied. It was Phrielle he was speaking to. Hanging from a tree just right behind him.

“You know? The kids really want to play with you especially Nicho.” She talked while swinging on the branch. Ferron is a kid, the other kids were always messing with him whenever they are in their room. They happen to give warmth to Ferron’s frozen, shrouded-in-black heart.

“You know? I saw my self in you.” The demoiselle blurted out of the blue.

“Why so?” The blank-faced nipper replied while raising a brow.

“Well you—”

Boom!

An explosion cut her off. An explosion ascended from the other side of the building. Both of them looked at the condition outside through the windows.

Ferron walked to the door and heard intensive screaming of fearing children.

“Phrielle, what’s happening?” He asked with a worried look on his face. He is feeling taut of the fact that the explosion wasn't just an ordinary one. It made a huge impact, maybe coming from the school.

“I don’t know.” She answered while her face went paper pale.

Both of them exited the room, but then they saw a bloodbath. A pool of dead children scattered on the hall way.

“W-What h-h-happened... Phrielle, let's get out of he—” He was about to pull Phrielle by the hand but someone had barged in through the windows. It wasn’t someone, it was something.

“No can do, livestocks.” A red haired man in white suit removing its veil said. He smiled. And to their yes, he had fangs. He's a vampire.

“Who are you calling livestocks!” Ferron shouted at him while having Phrielle in his embrace.

“Ohh, a fierce one here. I won’t suck you then,” He smirked and looked out the window. “Hey, Geo! Take this two!” He grabbed the two if them easily like pillows. And to their surprise he threw them outside the window. Ferron and Phrielle closed their eyes waiting for their body to hurt from the fall.

And it seemed that the surface did not kissed their frail bodies.

“Got you! We don’t want our livestocks to be hurt don’t we? “ The vampire put out a foolish smile while putting them down.

“Sit there and behave, if you don’t want to be thrown off the plane.” The blood-sucking monster closed the plane with the metal door. The weaps of weak, piteous children had echoed from wall to wall.

“Are you okay, Ferron?” Phrielle asked Leo with her warm, consoling smile. He replied with a nod.

“How about you? Are you hurt?” He examined her face but did not saw a bruises nor wounds.

“N-No, I'm fine.” She moved her face from his hands and averted her eyes to the opposite direction as her cheeks started glowing pink.

“I'm glad.” Ferron smiled at her. Gone with the cold Ferron, and what she’s facing right now is a new Ferron for her. Her eyes grew wide, while looking at Ferron.

“Have you a fever Ferron?” She had her hands on his forehead and on hers, observing the difference of their temperature but the result showed null.

“Nope, why? And please get your hands off me.” He slapped away her hand and she smiled.

‘So you're still the old Ferron after all.’

“Nevermind.. I hope.. the others are alright.” She gazed upwards as tears started to well up on her eyes. Ferron stared at her supine structure and spoke in a very consoling manner.

“We will find the soon."

*~*

The latters arrived in a distinct, dark and huge castle with a dark aroma and screams everywhere.

Vampires are dangerous. Very powerful especially the nobles. They are vampires that can regain its strength by drinking just a drop of blood from humans. The only thing that could kill them is themselves or an enchanted gear.

The children made their way to the castle. The vampires came to them and have them wear a collar. A collar that has a kind of needle or tube just to deliver blood when activated.

They all winced in pain as the vampires started to have them wear the collar.

“Well, well, well, new livestocks?“ A good-looking man with long gray hair approached them with vampires beside him. The vampire wore an irritating smile on his face.

“Yes, Commander Clyde.” The vampires bowed down to him. He is a nobel for sure and high-ranked one. The commander went close to the kid with brown hair that hasn’t put on his collar yet.

“You’re blood is so warm child, Can I see?” The noble simply asked the kid.

“P-Please don’t hurt me” The kid’s tears started to roll on her cheeks. The vampire went closer. And in just a blink of an eye, the children had seen a horrible sight. He bit the poor girl's neck ‘til he's sufficed his thirst.

Commander Clyde of the 4th Plantation, Triudas. He has gone to wars, fought a battalion but never defeated by one. He is part of the Four-Crossed Nobles.

‘Damn vampires.’ Phrielle thought as she only prayed silently for the poor, free soul. Impassiveness crossed her face while staring at the corpse, getting dragged by the vampire.

Both, Phrielle and Ferron, stared at the dripping blood of from the girl. Such an indelible sight, it was.

‘You will soon pay for this, bastards.’

~

Swords and Fangs

Chapter 3

Freedom from the Pestilent Shackles

It has been 2 months since the vampires captured them. The children were on the cleansing room. Where the tube should be activated and a liter of blood will be taken from them.

“Darn, that hurts so much.” Ferron winced while Phrielle put her arms around Leo’s shoulder.

“Oh c’mon, pal. It didn’t hurt that bad. Anyways, I have good news. The commander invited me to a dinner, wanna come? “ She said while pursuing her unhappy friend.

“No thanks, I would rather die than have myself join those blood-suckers, and still you want to come with them? You just witnessed a vampire sucking blood from a human two months ago.” He warned her yet the damsel did not listened.

“Aww, at least I’ve got to taste good food there.” They started walking to return to their cavern.

“Seriously?“ Leo stared at her blankly. He sat on the bench near with the pole light.

“You know Leo, as your friend and sister, I’ll do whatever I can to not break us apart.” Then again, Ferron immediately looked at her with wide eyes, surprised after Phrielle said that she was his sister.

“You’re talking nonsense.” Ferron uttered.

“We have a family, together with the kids, we’re brothers and sisters, we will not fall apart okay?“ He dodged eye contact with her then went silent. Here goes their conversation flowing along with ‘Family' Ferron have always hated the word, itself.

“I have no family Phrielle, you know that.” He said in a low voice while opening his book and quietly flipped the pages.

“Ferron, I have something to ask you.”

“I’m reading, after this, you can start asking.” Leo responded.

“When we break out here with the kids, would you be happy?“

“Impossible to happen.” He glanced at her but was in awe while seeing her reassuring, twinkling blue eyes.

“C’mon, you should be imaginative sometimes.” She spoke while giggling.

“Well, yes I will be happy, but that’s quite impossible.” He faced her with quite a blunt expression on his face.

“Then, I will be working on that.” The damsel smiled at him. While Ferron just avoided her gaze.

“The day you entered the orphanage, you became part of our family.” She said while patting his back. His eyes went straight to kids who are playing marbles not far from them. He suddenly saw vampires walking.

“Hey! Look out!” Leo immediately shouted at the kids and the kids turned to him. The ignorant guard walked over the kid's hand and cried loud.

“Ahhh!” The kid hollered in pain. Tears started rolling on his cheeks. Ferron went furious and asked Phrielle to check the kid's hand, so she did but instantly looked at the angered Leo.

“Hey you idiot!“ He captured the vampire’s attention. The guards went closer.

“Say sorry to him! You freaking monster!” In one swing, the monster held his neck and the nipper flinched. The vampire placed Ferron at the edge of the castle where he could meet the ground after 50 feet of falling.

“Please don’t hurt him, I apologize for his behaviour. I can handle him, please put him down.” Phrielle smiled at them as she pleaded. The vampires just glared at her while throwing Ferron unto he ground.

“What’s going on here? “ All of them looked at the direction where the voice come from. A noble.

“Oh nothing Commander, it’s just my family member making trouble again, but I can manage.” Phrielle said at the commander. The nobel just smiled and eyes Ferron whom had just stared at him with a vengeful look. Ferron is compassionate when it comes to kids, he does not like seeing them hurt, for, they do not deserve such treatment.

“Are you ready Phrielle? Let’s go to the feast now. Does this trouble-maker wanna come too?“ The nobel turned his eyes on Ferron, scanning him while meeting his dark, green, glacial pair of eyes.

“Oh it would be better off without him. Hehe.” The young blonde said stopping Leo from saying a word.

“Aww. Next time then.” The nobel had a devilish smile before making his way.

“Phew. That was close, man. C’mon Ferron, what if the Commander Clyde saw that? You would have been dead!“ She chuckled.

“I was about to get that vamp’s butt.” The young boy rebuked.

“About that, why did that noble seemed to know you.yoHe suddenly asked.

“We have a trade, I give him blood and he offers me food. He even let me eat inside his manor whenever I get high scores on our tests. ” Phrielle said with a smile plastered on her face.

“It might seem wrong to you, but using your head for once over your own emotions wouldn't hurt.” What she retorted made Ferron upset. His fervent feelings he had for himself, the wall he made had just a crack letting his feeling burst and drip. He thought that it must've been better if he would not ditto this action. He reposted a backfire.

“Coming from you, you also should use your head for once, selling a part of you in exchange of luxury is not going to change the fact that we'll be rotting here.” He picked up the book, leaving her and kids. He walked straight to the cavern with no say.

“Touché" Whispered Phrielle.

‘Tsh, yeah right. As if befriending an esurient noble would let you live.’

“Oh, joy! You're back Ferron, come now, I made carrot stew.” Erika wore her glorious smile. The kids were shouting in excitement. Erika acted like the mother of the house. She has this amiable personality that makes everyone around her, love her.

“Have Phrielle told you?” The girl with the braided hair asked him through a whisper. He simply nodded. He sat after feeling fatigued.

“Where is Phrielle?”

“Does she not want stew? “

The children asking about Phrielle's whereabouts turned their heads to Leo.

“I-I’ve got no idea” He answered. “Hey kids, you know it’s my birthday today.” The brunette named Erika said.

“What is a birthday Rika?“ The child with curly dark hair asked.

“It is the day you were born from this majestic world.” She replied. Leo suddenly cringed when he heard her utter ‘majestic world’.

“I wanna have a birthday!” The little girl squealed.

“Me too!“

“Yeah! Me too Rica! “

“Okay, okay, settle down now. I have no choice but to declare that this day will be our birthday! All of us!“ The brunette smiled while holding up the stew. The kids hooted, singing a birthday song Rika had taught them.

Ferron, in the other hand, just half-smiled, watching their joyous smiled is enough for him.

“Happy birthday.” He retorted and made his way upstairs. The night was pretty silent. The moon was the only source of light they had. The twinkling stars served as night light with the cool breeze matching up their body heat.

A squeek from the door was heard by Ferron so he stood up and turned there.

“You finally arrived.” He mocked with his arms crossed. Phrielle just shrugged her shoulder.

“Aww, you’ve waited for me. I’m so touched.” She smiled and acted like there was a tear in her eye.

“Tsh. Whatever.” The lad hissed at her and made his way downstairs.

“I’ve got a souvenir, and what is that on the table?” She pointed at the table while facing him.

“It’s just stew Rika made as their birthday celebration.” Leo said coolly. He noticed a paper rolled on Phrille's left hand.

“Aww, I missed the party, have I? I’ll just greet her when she woke. Now, let’s go down to business, this is the map, this is the key to our freedom Ferron.” She said as she opened the map. Ferron was astounded and stunned.

“Where did you get this?“ Ferron asked the latter.

“I sneaked in the vampire’s lounge and found this and I already have a plan on how to get out of this miserable place.” She explained with a smile not wearing off in her face. She handed out a gun.

“And this is for you, for your safety.” She winked at him while Leo was seriously looking at the gun.

“Are you sure that this gun would have pure silver bullets in it? Who would think that a vampire is keeping this thing in their salvation?” He chaffed at the same time proving a point.

“It is made of silver, I am quiet upset of the thought that you think lowly of me. Just so you know, I made the bullets. I took the measurements of the gun's chambers to make them. I happen to just have the opportunity to steal it.” She winked while scribbling curved lines and arrows on the map.

“Then we should move now! Wake everybody! Quick!” He half-shouted and started waking them. While the kids are recovering from their sleep, the two had planned for the escape.

“When escaping, we obviously need a plan. So, here I am sure that there are guards guarding here but they are not stationary. There's a huge statue here,” Phrielle pointed at the box in the map. “We'll hide there for the guards to not see us.” Ferron read her strategy since he knew her for a few months now. It was a reckless act.

“No. We should move separately, our group would be too big for that statue and remember, they are the lowest degree of vampires, their sense of smell is weak, but once a group of us are gathered, they will sense us.” Ferron pointed the other location wherein they have to change directions in order to pass quietly and safely from the guards.

“Oh yeah, nice idea.” Phrielle came to realization. “We have lots of guards on our side, so I will be taking about four of them with me. We will get slowed down because of the number of guards in action. Let's just meet by the palace’s large gazebo near the gate.” Said Nikayla while readying her knives in her pockets.

“The possibility of having this plan turn out as a success is 14%, we have to do this now before they could find out that the map is stolen.” Ferron added while checking his gun.

“Now’s the time to do or die.”

***