Isaac The Drinker

My blood was still lacking, and my strength was failing me. Even after Gerald set me down, and began putting all his efforts into making his plants bloom, and harvesting the seeds to prepare a hopefully deadly trap for the fiend. I drank some liquid courage from my gourd, using the alcohol to help with the blood loss. The vampire was doing his job well enough, and Gerald was almost finished. Then we heard the sound of buildings being crushed, as they both started to come closer.

I scowled a little, when suddenly the vampire in question blasted through three homes landing in a small crater. Black blood weeping out of his body, as he was lucky to still be in one piece. To his credit, he didn't even let out a groan despite the pain he must be feeling. The fiend bellowed, as I looked to Gerald, "Are you ready?"

He swallowed hard, "I'm going to have to be, aren't I?" He frowned, as the lumbering creature peaked over the roof tops. His eyes focusing solely on Gerald. I struggled to my feet, using the cane to help me walk.

I wasn't going to be any use in this fight, not like this. I stumbled beside the crater, looking down at the vampire. "How did this happen to you? We could have used a little more time."

He looked up a little, his arms and legs slowly fixing themselves. "There was an infant, and a mother. It might have been foolish, but I saved them."

I blinked, "You what?" My voice was low, as my legs gave out again. I fell on top of the vampire, while Gerald sent wave after wave of spear shoots into the fiend. Most of the breaking as it became more cautious and started to flail.

He gritted his teeth a little, as I struggled to roll off him. "A mother was crushed by debris, and there was an infant. The mother died, but I saved the child. I know it might seem foolish, I realize I had no reason to, but still I did. Even after she tried to use a talent against me." He looked back at the fiend, "I do not think he will make it like this."

I struggled to look back, to see Gerald had a wall of thorns, more spears shooting out. The seeds weren't able to get deep enough for them to do any damage before the roots withered from the black blood. I lowered my head, "Is there anything you can do to help him?"

"There are a few things, but not with this body like it is." It was clear he wouldn't heal his limbs fast enough, despite Gerald doing his best to keep the fiend at bay.

I let out a small laugh, remembering this feeling of being unable to do anything. Being unable to save someone I wanted to protect. I knew it well, but it never got any better. "Does your bloodline go berserk when someone is turned?"

He hesitated a moment, "There is hunger, but I discovered that black blood tastes better than others. Are you willing to die here?"

I scowled, "I don't see any other options, unless you're telling me more vampires are waiting for their chance to strike."

"It is only myself at the moment, but I can connect to your mind and preserve you. I am curious as to how the transformation might work on you. Magic might distract the fiend, buying precious seconds for Gerald." His voice was low, as a stinger moved out from under his hood. "You'll need to make the decision yourself."

I didn't hesitate, there were no other options. I felt the vampire trying to connect to me, and I accepted it as his blood burned my veins. The world seemed to slow down, as my mind was connected to many others. All of them working through the link to preserve me, who I was, my memories. My body was no longer mine to control, as my hand twitched to grab a fat bug from Gray's stomach, to let it crawl into my ear. There was no pain, as my very soul felt it was jostled out of my body and spread among countless bugs.

So many memories taken and returned, I knew they were copied. This Hive wanted the knowledge I held from the beginning, all of it going directly to their queen to be sorted and distributed to the other members. My sense of self faltered, and was changed to one made of many instead of being a singular person. Memories were given by the Hive, flooding my being as my mind ascended. I learned of Gray's plans to save Gerald, my actions were unneeded, but the Hive did not wish to stop me from joining them.

The pain of my body transforming, the inherit hunger from so little blood. It was distributed between the other bugs in the Hive. The burning sensation dulled as the dream of my youth was fulfilled, yet it was a bitter thing. I knew that at any moment, the Queen could strip me of my individuality and kill me. That feeling of mercy the others felt, absent as I came into this Hive and had such shackles placed upon me. Still, I was able to confirm everything they told me. Even Gray's earlier actions, and how he felt. I was free to die and leave at any time, I would not be forced to stay.

My eyes shot open, as Gray fed the remaining blood in his body to me. Everything I did going forward would be remembered by the Hive, how I did it and why. Countless eyes were watching my every movement, every bit of Aether I funneled through my soul. I got up, my cane turning black as Gray's other body teleported beside Gerald to whisk him away. He didn't tell me he had other bodies, because I never asked. So many things were much more clear now, and what was most important was keeping the promise that was made for me to join. Gerald and Carter would be as safe as the Hive could afford, unless their own desires put them in danger.

I flexed my new limbs, the chitin claws were sharp. A surging strength, that reminded me of my prime, was overflowing from my body. The wounds from yesterday were completely fixed. I felt the Aether flowing through my very being, but things were different now. The connection to my blood was somehow more personal, even more intimate. I realized that just copying what I had done, the framework I used in my old life, would no longer work. All vampires could use blood magic, but the bloodlines were defined by their secondary type

Perhaps calling it blood magic was wrong, it was more like stretching and moving another part of your body. The ambient magic in the area charged the blood so I didn't have to stain it with my intention. As if the world itself recognized the blood as a unique trait, more than dying it with a feeling or desire. I understood why the Hive had so much trouble trying to practice what I had done, almost everything I had known was now useless.

Gray had his other body moving to distract the fiend, while assuring me that Gerald was safe. The world was slower for me, more crisp and clear. I could see every bit of the area around me. From the beast's fur caught on the stone, to the individual drops of blood that splattered when the now lost body of Gray flew through the open yard. It was important for me to show the Hive how to use blood magic, that was why they wanted me more than anything else.

I smiled, taking in what Gray knew so far. The things he attempted, and how they failed. "Let's start with the basics," I muttered to myself, remembering how I had taught my daughter how to read. Everything felt so long ago now, but a battle was hardly the place to get lost in such thoughts. I blurred to the rooftops, jumping between the walls. The blood that was used to go faster, was lost. A principle that wasn't over looked, a volatile property for using the natural trait of my new race. What was important, was getting the feeling for how it worked, the reason behind it.

From speed, comes strength. The principle behind moving fast, was that I had to want to go to a certain spot. The blood would move in tandem with the muscles. More like jumping and letting the force of magic carry my body, versus sprinting. It proved that the desire and intention had to be there. Gray felt what I wanted him to do next, through our connection. I silently waited a few minutes, while the lumbering fiend charged after Gray. His new body was almost out of blood already, but he still had more. The beast was too focused on him however, and that allowed me the chance to try the next logical step.

While moving fast was important, it didn't mean as much if you couldn't perform the task needed. The size of the fiend made it impossible to deliver a killing blow, by falling on top of it from above. Its bones were too thick and strong to shatter, but the muscles and balance were more important. A wounded beast would focus more on us, and its shoulders were exposed for ease of movement. I jumped down, filling my arm with blood. The intention there, to use it to slice through the flesh and dislocate a limb. I managed to cut deep, nicking the ligament, while the fiend roared in surprise and anger.

Burning some more blood, I was able to touch the ground before it rammed into the building, running underneath it, and into an alley. Gray covered his hand in his own blood, throwing a rock at the fiend, and licking the claw. A clever ploy to make the creature believe he was solely responsible. Judging by the bellow, it worked. The fiend was slower now, and Gray did not need to use as much blood to keep away from it. Information was important in a battle after all, confusing your opponent was essential when only a single mistake was needed to lose a body.

I felt my blood shifting inside the cane, the rounded top turning more jagged. I pulled from my reservoir, while letting the Hive have the information on what I just did. Effectively a simple parlor trick compared to the next act. I climbed a building, when suddenly a seething rage spread over me. I fell to my knees, wondering just what I was feeling and why. The answer coming in the form of Richard bound to a chair, covered in markings. Scix had found the man, but wards were in place to keep them away.

The rage that kept me from moving, was not my own. It was the Queen's, drowning out all other feelings. A bottomless anger, that Gray enjoyed because it meant her true self was surfacing. He even laughed, when the fiend destroyed his other body. I saw the scene through the giants, warning Mimi to calm down. That she was losing because of her frustration. The anger cooled, but the Hive was moving to solve the source of her anger. The magic beetles surged from the sewers, moving as one onto the different warehouses in the area. A sea of fire covering the walls of the warehouses, as they marched inside with expert control. Only their enemies would burn.

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Gray The Great

It was astounding! That sensation, the endless fury that threatened to consume us all. I was left grinning in the sewers above, my body still shaking from the raw emotion of it all. For the first time, our Queen was faced with a problem she couldn't handle by herself. She was forced to fight a hag, and the second fiend. An ambush sprung, as the area she was in didn't allow her to teleport. She was distracted, for just a second when Scix finally saw Richard. It was organized, and played well against her.

Every personality was talking, uncertainty creeping through them as we all had jobs to complete, or duties to adhere to that kept us from helping her. A paradox, in that we needed to protect the Queen, but no one wanted to feel that anger directed at them if they failed. I went through the information I got from Isaac, as he kept himself hidden by disconnecting where he was. My voice cut through the minor bickering of the others. |"Our Queen cannot give us orders, as she is in a life or death struggle. If our task must be completed to not risk her ire, then it is clear what must be done. We will finish our missions, and move to help her. Argus sweety, I need your talent."|

There was a brief silence, before Argus replied. |"I need it to direct my giants and control the fires. I'm supposed to protect her!"|

|"You are, by giving me what I need to move by her side. The giants are too slow to help her with the battle, but with your talent I can potentially teleport more bodies to her side. Your task might take longer to complete, but it's the best way."|

|"You'll give it back?"| She hesitated a moment, but at least understood my reasoning.

|"I promise you'll have it back by the time this war is over. Do you need a minute to prepare?"| The talent came to me right after that, a divine strength washing over me. Everything Argus knew about it, coming into my memory. I could either double the strength of one magic in particular, or wield two magics at once. It was how she changed her colors, and performed so well.

There was only one logical answer for what I needed the talent to do. My mind expanded, as eight bodies got up in unison. Now wasn't the time to push limits, so six teleported to the rooftops around the fiend, while another two moved to help the Queen. It was clear the two fiends and the hag were connected, and making each other stronger somehow. Issac was preparing his cane to attempt firing splinters, the plan was to tear off the helmet to see if that would break the connect. That or deliver fatal blows if possible.

The fiend was encircled with three bodies on the roofs, and three on the ground. It thumped its chest, roaring in an attempt to intimidate me. One wrong move, and I would lose multiple bodies. Each body felt just like a leg with Argus' talent, the simple motions of moving the body, or directing the blood. Each body had glowing pale blue eyes, that shone just through the slits of the mask. There was no time to waste, and the fiend was on the defensive now. Realizing this was no longer a game of tag, but a battle.

One body moved forward, tentatively, as if the intimidation worked. The fiend smirked, swinging an arm at the body, that jumped back. The wounded side was exposed, and two more bodies rushed forward. Another jumping down from above. The Fiend turned, to try and impale the falling one with its horns, using its upper and lower arms to sweep around it. The damaged lower limb held tight to its chest. The three bodies that went in, would have been crushed or mauled by the beast. That is what should have happened, but instead, all three teleported with their last charge to the three undamaged arms.

My claws sank deeply, severing muscle and robbing the fiend of its strength. It used its legs to kick and try and roll on top of my bodies, but they jumped back without taking damage. The underside of the fiend was exposed, but it kept it's head tucked in looking down at its stomach while it rolled. I tsked a little, unable to take its neck. The two closest bodies charged in, severing the straps that kept the helmet in place. Both bodies jumped away as the fiend slammed a top hand onto its face, knocking the mask free.

The fiend finished its roll, righting itself and grabbing debris from the house nearby to throw at my bodies. There was less force and power to them, but still we had to dodge. My Queen orded my two bodies to go and attempt a rescue on Richard, while she dealt with her opponents. They would be scouts for her, at the very least. Isaac was ready with his cane, having figured out how to launch splinters from it again. I was grateful for learning so many things from him.

He threw the entire cane at the fiend's face, knowing I would take care of the rest and return it to him. He moved on ahead to the warehouse. The fiend saw the cane soaring towards it, and moved to block it with a hand. A body teleported on the other side of the hand, grabbing the cane and tossing it up towards the antlers. That body jumped as the second upper hand tried to swat it. Another body teleported between the antlers of the fiend, catching the cane. The wood soaked in our blood. There was no time to think, and only one body had a teleport left for this fight.

I plunged the sharp end of the staff through the fiend's eye, firing multiple splinters into the monster's brain. It barely managed to bellow, before finally falling forward. The monster was dead, and I did what I could to recall each splinter to the staff. All six bodies moved as one to drain the now dead body. The staff refilled to the point it was weeping excess blood. All six, moving as one, racing towards the warehouse Isaac rushed into. This was the only one the giants were not claiming. The one that we needed to claim before my task was completed, and we could move on to help the Queen.

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Isaac The Crimson Dragon

Gnomes had started to barricade the bottom floor, homunculus standing guard outside. They were careless since they thought the fiend Gray just finished killing would keep them safe. Gray was on his way, but the faster we did this the better. I charged from their blind-spot, biting my cheeks and spitting out blood bullets into the guards. I burned more blood to jump into the hole of the almost complete barricade. The gnomes frozen in surprise as the bodies hit the floor.

I blurred again, slitting throats and spitting more blood bullets at whichever one tried using magic. I grabbed two bodies before they even had the chance to slump. I tore open one's jugular, drinking them dry while two stingers drank from the other. The taste of black blood was thick and rich. I finally got to feel like a real vampire for the first time tonight. I drank a third, and a fourth while Gray used his bodies to break the barricade apart. I let him know I was going on ahead.

Gray understood, that I wanted to do this by myself and would act as support. If I secured this warehouse, then it would be my last act for the Minotaur. He had four bodies leave while the other two grabbed the banner. I drank every drop of alcohol I could from the gourd, no longer able to feel the drink. Only the burning of my veins, while my cane found it's way back into my claws.

The second floor had no barricade, only a golem. I remembered where the totem was placed from earlier. A splinter broke the stone, while a second broke the clay inside. The golem fell apart, while I strolled up the stairs. Gray reported that Gerald was back, that he was using vines to create a ladder to the top. The boy was trying to sneak in, and Gray reported that he had dropped him off somewhere safe earlier. I let out a small sigh.

I walked into the view of a few gnomes with armor on, and even a mercenary. The gnomes threw flames and ice at me, but I blurred to the side, killing them from behind. I looked at the man who had yet to draw his sword. He put the weapon down and walked away. I grabbed a dead gnome, and walked up to the third floor. I tossed the body inside, focusing on the beating hearts. I crouched low to the stairs, calling out to them. "If you were hired, or don't want to die. I suggest laying down on the ground. I'll let you go if you do. This is Isaac, the Drinker and I slaughtered the last two floors. The fiend outside is dead, and you have five seconds."

I counted down, before entering the room. Gang members hired for protection stood around vats with homunculus inside. The three gnomes in the room made no moves, beyond slowly getting on their knees. I could see the delicate wards, and sigils transcribed inside the room. I pointed at the gnome with the fanciest hat, "You, what's up ahead?"

The gnome swallowed hard, "Resources for the vats, a couple golems, and the next floor is just supplies we eat and drink. W-we didn't expect you to make it this far."

I nodded my head, "Good, there are a couple vampires downstairs." I could sense the magic in their blood again. A couple were ready to fight, but until they made that move, I was going to be polite. "I want everyone out of the warehouse. If you are bound, then you can stay on the first floor. Move it!"

None of them felt like being a hero tonight, and marched downstairs. I rushed past the golems, which were locked to that room. There was nothing special on the fifth floor, save for a set of stairs that led to the roof. I walked up there, to find Gerald finally pulling himself up. He froze when he saw me. "I thought you'd be dead." His voice was a mixture of shock, and relief.

I lowered my head, "Technically I am dead. Why did you climb up here? What were you trying to do?" I offered him a hand, which he accepted.

Gerald gave me a bitter smile, "I couldn't let the last raid you went on, end in failure. I was hoping to roll seeds down the stairs and let poison pollen take out anyone dangerous. I even have vine seeds to slowly grow into the golems and crush their totems. For what it's worth, I'm glad you're still here."

I walked to the ledge, looking out at the destruction surrounding us. The homes that were demolished, the bodies littering the area around the warehouse. I sent a request to Gray, asking him to bring the banner up. "It was a decent plan, and it probably would have worked. Though I can't agree with you risking your life like this."

"I suppose the Arena is a safer environment?" He tilted his head back, the snark dripping from his voice.

"It's more formal, you have a better chance there. Anything can happen on a raid."

"Yeah, I noticed. You're a vampire now? How does it feel?" He moved beside me.

"Different, is the best way to describe it. Nothing like I imagined, or dreamed about in my younger years. The power is there, and the side effects aren't really there." Gray opened the door, holding the Banner. He offered it to me, before going back down. I held it to Gerald, "I want you to plant it, claim this warehouse for the Minotaur."

Gerald frowned, "You aren't coming back?" Still he took it, kneeling before his vines. He had them latch onto the banner to secure it firmly to the wall.

I shook my head slowly, "I'm afraid not, this bloodline makes me a risk to keep around."

Gerald froze for a second, lowering his head. "I see. It's going to be quiet without you. What... what about our plans? Who's going to cover for me, or help me figure out who we need to get rid of?"

I could see he was on the verge of tears. I rubbed his back gently. "You'll manage, and I can't watch over you forever. Just wait a month between making any moves. Keep your ears open, and don't rush into things. After all it got me killed."

My attempt at a joke was what broke the dam. "Fuck!" He covered his face, sniffling like he did when he was a child. "I didn't mean to, I didn't want you to die. Isaac, I'm sorry."

I grabbed his shoulders, "Listen, I didn't have much time left anyway. At least now you can return and get a few rewards. This was the last thing I could do for you. I pulled him into a hug, while his arms went limp. I could feel him struggling with himself, hesitating to hold me back. "I can't go back with you, but you're old enough to take care of yourself. You'll be fine..." A knife slide between my ribs. I was stunned, but smiled still holding him.

"Y-you're too much of a liability to let leave. Especially as a vampire... I-I'm sorry, but it has to be like this right?" His hands were shaking as he tried to pull away. I held him still.

"Atta boy." I didn't feel betrayal from him stabbing me. It was the way it had to be. If I lived, I would betray the gang he was in. He didn't understand how the Hive mind worked, but it filled me with pride that he did what needed to be done. I rubbed his back, letting the black blood leave my body. "Do what you can my son. Make sure no one sees my body... burn it."

I closed my eyes, falling back, as Gerald set me on the roof. My mind and soul moving through the Hive, while I asked Gray to let it happen. I took one of his bodies for myself. After this gang war is over, I'll make my decision to move on. Though my last act will be to help the lost girl deal with loss and grief.