Chapter 11
Gabriel flew fast, streaking over the lands of the underworld as he drew heavily on his vampiric powers as he flew towards Valis. He felt fear and rage that he might be too late to save Toby and let those feelings fuel his powers. Soon the city came into view, and Gabriel doubled his speed as he approached. He knew where he needed to go and quickly turned to approach the Lust district and Tristan’s palace.
Gabriel flew at high speeds towards the palace, and he saw the large windows that were situated within the throne room. Gabriel dove towards one of those windows and with a crash of shattering glass he brought himself to a hard landing within the throne room. “Welcome Gabriel” said Tristans soft purr “I have been expecting you”. Gabriel rose and faced Tristan pulling out his red blade “Where are they Tristan?” He said in a low growl. Tristan gave him a condescending smile “If you are looking for the girl. I gave her to some of my favorite Devils. She had already been given devil seed and is well on her way to awakening.” He said with a malice chuckle “If you are looking for your pet then he is in there”. Tristan pointed to a door behind the throne. Gabriel rushed towards the door, smashing against it. Tristan did not stir from his throne but turned his head watching Gabriel as he rushed towards the door. Gabriel entered the room and saw Toby laying in a plush bed. He approached Toby and his heart sank as he saw the signs. The flushed appearance and the shallow breathing. Gabriel heard Tristan’s malicious chuckle as he entered the room. “I took him myself Gabriel” he said “The seed didn’t take but the Devil poison is still in him. It is slower turning but still he will still awaken as a full Devil”. Gabriel ignored Tristan and touched Toby’s cheek. Toby stirred under the touch and Gabriel knew what he must do. “I am going to save you” Gabriel told Toby. Tristan gave another malicious laugh “You can’t save him Gabriel. No more than you could save me from my turning”. Gabriel gathered Toby in his arms and carried him out of the room and into the throne room. Tristan followed him out of the room, returning to lounge on his throne “If you take him now then I shall be around to collect him as soon as he turns. I will also collect you and I might even let you keep your pet” he said with a smile. Gabriel did not acknowledge him but spread his wing and with another crash slammed through a window as he flew towards his home and his only hope to save Toby.
Chapter 12
Gabriel rushed through the air, traveling quickly back to his home. He felt Toby move in his arms, and he could feel the burning of his skin as the poison moved through him. He saw the forest and the tower of his home rising up out of it. He dove in for a landing in front of his door and touched down gently so as not to disturb Toby further. He rushed into his home the door opening with a soft crash and he rushed to a room. He placed Toby in a bed and began to make quick preparation for what he had to do to save Toby.
Gabriel began by placing signs upon Gabriel’s body. The signs became conduits of his vampiric powers, and he placed his hands on a sign near Toby’s heart. He slowly began to fill the sign with his power and felt his power entering Toby. He worked slowly using his vampiric power to find and contain the poison flowing through Toby. Then he slowly moved the focus of his power up Toby’s body towards his neck. Then Gabriel leaned his fangs bared and bit down his fangs piercing Toby’s neck. He felt Toby’s rich sweet blood enter his mouth. Gabriel almost lost his mind at the sweet rich taste of Toby’s blood and with great force of will he brought himself under control. He was slow and steady as he slowly drew the poison out his and soon, he tasted the bitter taste of Devil poison mixed in with the taste of his blood. He kept a hand near Toby’s heart as he drew the poison out of Toby’s body. The he felt the fluttering of his heart as it strained from loss of blood. The he stopped pulling away from Toby. He looked down at him and saw the pale gaunt figure. He knew that this was the penultimate moment. The loss of so much poison would mean if he died now, it would be final, but he would die as a human. Gabriel thought as he looked at Toby’s pale body “It would be kinder by fare to let you go on now. To travel the paths, I cannot follow, to the necropolis and then to rebirth”. As he looked at Toby he felt something stir “I cannot lose you Toby. I am sorry for what I must do. I hope you can forgive me”.
Gabriel bit down on his own arm creating a small tear and he felt the dark blood begin to well. He moved his arm and over Toby’s mouth and moved so that a few drops of blood fell into Gabriel’s mouth. He saw Toby swallow the drops of blood and then he began to spasm his body going ridged, and Gabriel held Toby while the spasm passed. Toby went limp and Gabriel sat waiting for the change to complete. Gabriel sat for hours in the dark of the room watching Toby. He waited and hoped he had never done this ritual before, and he only hoped that he had done it correctly.
Gabriel heard the pounding at the main doors of his home and he knew that Tristan had come with the intention of claiming Toby. Toby remained laying in the bed his eyes closed almost like he was dead. Gabriel rose and brushed some of Toby’s hair away from his face before he left the room and began to approach the door.
Chapter 13
Gabriel came to the door and opened it to show Tristan with a group of Devils. “Well Gabriel I have come to collect what's mine. Where have you left him? It is time for us to go”. Gabriel gave him a hard look “Nothing here is yours Tristan”. Tristan gave him a wicked smile “Toby is mine now. The poison has had plenty of time to work through his system, and he should be awakening any time now. If your good and come with us quietly I might let you have him after I am done playing”. Gabriel growled low and bared his fangs “Toby is not yours I have save him from the poison and the fate you would force on him”. Tristan eyed him angrily “You killed him?”. Gabril shook his head “No, I saved him and you will not take him again”. Tristan’s eyes flashed “You could not have saved him. It is not possible and I promise you there will be pain if you killed my new toy. Now where is he?”
“I am here” said a soft voice and everyone looked to see Toby standing in the doorway to the room. Gabriel saw then the pale complexion and glowing eyes and when Toby smiled the vampire fangs that had appeared there. Gabriel smiled at Toby as he approached and turned watching Tristan a look of shock on his face “How did you do this?”. Gabriel smiled at him “I drew the poison out and then I turned him into a vampire”. Tristan’s shock turned into anger as he stared “So you found a way but still I have not given up you are both mine. Just like her”. He motioned behind him a stunningly beautiful female appeared from among the other devils and began to drape herself over Tristan. She had burning red eyes and the wicked smile of the Devil. She looked over from Tristan's side and smiled. Toby stirred "Elizabeth is that you?”. She smiled wider “Hey Tobias, do you like my new look”. Toby took a step back “No what happened to you Liz?”. She pressed herself into Tristan whose hand moved around her waist and she let out a low purr “I woke up Toby. Come on you can join us and then we can bring the rest of the family in and have so much fun”. Toby shook his head and moved closer to Gabriel seeking some kind of protection “No I won’t let you take the others Liz and I know Max won’t either”. Liz laughed maliciously “You can’t stop us Toby”. Tristan smiled at her “She is such a good Devil. Isn't she Gabriel?” He looked at Gabriels and smiled wider “Come now you know that you should just come with me quietly. I will still take You and Toby for my own and let you be together”. Gabriel opened his mouth when a drawling voice rose from behind the group of Devils. “I was wonder why a group of Devils was coming to visit you Gabriel but remember you belong to me not this Devil”. They looked around and saw Damon and a group of Vampires standing not far from the door and coming closer. The Devils hissed and began to tense ready for combat and Tristan looked at Damon “Begone Vampire. This has nothing to do with you. I have come to claim what is mine”. Damon smiled “Gabriel is mine not your Devil, if you want the other then take him but Gabriel is mine”. Tristan’s eyes flashed “Then we have a problem because Gabriel is mine”. Tristan and Damon looked at each other bodies tensed and ready for combat as they looked at each other. Gabriel looked at toby and placed a hand around him and whispered “It will be okay. I have prepared a little something for this situation”. Gabriel watched as the Devils moved out of the hall and squared up against the other vampires. He moved quickly, closing the main door and then reaching out with his power he pulled at a thread of bright power that seared and burned as he touched it and suddenly there was flash and shouts and screams from outside.
“What was that?” Toby asked looking shocked at the bright flash from outside. Gabriel smiled “That was a trap I set up just for them It was a holy magic blast similar to those used by the human towers. I set it up in the event that Tristan or Damon decided they could try to take me”. “What now?” Toby asked with a frown “Will they come back?”. Gabriel nodded and looked at Toby “Yes, they will come back. They always do they are persistent like that”. He looked at Toby “For now we need to talk about what I have done to you and what it means for your future Toby.” Toby nodded and Gabriel led him into the study where they sat down and began to talk.
Chapter 14
Gaberiel told toby of the events leading to him becoming a new vampire. Toby gave him a sad look “So you save me from becoming like Liz?”. Gabriel nodded “I am sorry again that I turned you, but I could not let you die Toby”. Toby smiled “I am glad you did Gabriel. I did not want to die”. His smile faltered for a moment “I worry how my family will take it though, especially Max”. Gabriel nodded, understanding “I am sure he will make an appearance in a short time, especially after the light show that the traps set off. He will most likely try to attack me for what I did Toby”. Toby frowned “I won’t let him, Gabriel. Max is a bit of a fool, but he won’t attack me or you”. Gabriel smiled “He may not have a choice you know; he will be accompanied by other slayers and perhaps villagers including your mother and other siblings Toby. If we are forced to flee or fight, will you be able to handle that?”. Toby nodded “If we flee where will we go?”. Gabriel smiled at Toby “We can go anywhere you want. We will just have to be more careful in some places than in others”. Toby smiled and opened his mouth to speak when they heard a lot of noise coming from outside. Then suddenly a voice shouted from outside “Vampire come out and face the punishments for taking Tobias and Elizibeth and endangering our village”. Gabriel smiled as he looked at Toby “Max is here”. Gabriel rose and moved towards the door and pushed them open. Outside ringed around his castle stood a large group of humans. Standing facing the doors was Max and around him stood other young slayers. Max smirked and drew his blade “Well Vampire are you ready to face your punishment”. Gabriel looked at him “Why would you punish me? I did not attack your village Max”. Max face hardened with anger “You were responsible for it though don’t deny it and where are Tobias and Elizibeth?”. Gabriel sighed “I was not responsible for the devil’s attack, and I was not able to save Elizibeth. As for Toby”. “I am here” Toby voice came clearly as he came out the door. Max looked at Toby for a moment in hope, and a scream came from the crowd as an old woman ran out. She threw herself on Toby. Toby smiled and hugged her “I am okay, mom”. The woman wept while Max’s hope began to change to horror. “Get away from him, mother. He has become a Vampire,” Max said with a dark look. She did not step back but looked up at Toby and then to Gabriel “Why?”. Gabriel gave her a sad look “It was the only way, and I am sorry I could not save Elizibeth”. She nodded and looked back at Toby and opened her mouth to speak when Max approached and seized their mother. He pulled her back his blade at Toby’s breast. “Take my mother back to the village” Max said to some of the other villagers. They pulled her away as Toby looked sadly at Max “Now what brother?”. Max growled “shut up vampire. My brother is dead and you are just a monster wearing his form”. Toby’s sadness was palpable “Please Max, I am still your brother”. Max sneered “No, my brother died and that monster killed him” with this he pointed at Gabriel. Max moved his sword to point at Gabriel. “Now vampire it is time for you to pay. For the attack on my village and the deaths of 2 of my siblings”. The other slayers moved forward their blades drawn and ready fight Gabriel to the death. Gabriel sighed and as Max moved in, he stepped aside to let his ineffectual attacks sweep by him. Gabriel growled as other slayers tried to attack him “Enough of this”. He grabbed threads of power for other traps he had set.
Gabriel clapped and there was a shockwave of energy. In that shockwave Max, the slayers and the other villagers all collapsed. “What was that?” Toby asked his voice soft. Gabriel went to him “That was a shockwave it rendered all the human's unconscious for a time are you okay?”. Toby shuttered “I don’t know. I didn’t expect Max to act the way that he did”. Gabriel embraced him in a comforting hug “I know. They will wake up soon so let's go and leave this place for a while”. Toby looked at him “What about the castle and saying goodbye to my sibling”. Gabriel smiled and waved his hand towards the castle. It vanished before Toby’s eyes, and he turned to Gabriel in shock. Gabriel smiled “Yes, it is still there just hidden. No one, including Max, will be able to find or enter the castle. Now we can go and say goodbye”. Gabriel led Toby out of the forest and into the village most of it was deserted due to the villagers having followed Max so no one saw them enter or head to Toby’s house. Toby knocked on the door and his mother answered and she began to cry again as Toby told her what happened and that they had to leave for a while. As Toby spoke, two other boys appeared; one was slim and had a dark look to him, and the other was wild and energetic. Toby told his siblings and his mother that he was leaving for a while. After a few tearful moments Gabriel spoke “It is time to go Toby. Max will be coming soon”. Toby said on last goodbye to his family, and Gabriel and Toby turned away and began a journey into the wilds of the underworld.
Chapter 15
Gabriel and Toby moved swiftly through the darkness away from the village. “Where are we going to go Gabriel” Toby asked in a soft voice. Gabriel thought as they moved through the darkness “Lets head south for now past the river of shadows there are still dens of wendigo, Ogres and other flesh eaters. They are not too dangerous to us so they will be good training for your new vampire abilities, Toby. It is also far away from Devils, Vampires, or humans that will be hunting us. They turned south and came to the dark waters of the river of shadows. This proved to be Toby’s first trial learning to summon his wings. Gabriel showed him the basics of using his wings and watched as Toby learned to channel his new vampiric powers and calling his wings. When Toby had the essence, they both took off over the river and came to the dark woods and the hill country of the flesh-eater's territory. They found a sheltered cave in the hills that was unoccupied and set up a camp inside. “What do you know of this place Gabriel” Toby asked a hint of fear in his voice. “This country is were the flesh eaters fled to as the human territory expanded with the aid of the Slayers and their Order of the Sacred Flame. In the nearby forest, these hills and in the Mountains to the west there are a variety of flesh-eating creatures. Wendigos, Ogres, Ghouls and other such creatures. We have little to fear of them if we are watchful”. Toby smiled “Okay you said I could train while we are here”. Gabriel smiled back at Toby “Yes, you will have a chance to train with your new ability while we are here Toby. For now, let's rest”.
The next day Gabriel stood on a high branch looking to at Toby. Toby stood in the deep forest and was looking around. Gabriel heard the malicious whispers from the darkness of the trees. A wendigo was hunting Toby in the darkness. The wendigo looked like a human only twisted and warped. They will hunt just about anything, and they hunted by terrorizing their prey until the prey cannot flee anymore. Gabriel could see the wendigo moving in on Toby its whispers diminishing as it got closer. He fought the desire to jump on the wendigo but this was not his training. Toby stood still and seemed to be listening to the whispers trying to identify the wendigos location. The wendigo waited tensed and then it lunged towards Toby. Gabriel watched with a tense form as he saw Toby’s hand lash out and grabbed the wendigo out of the air. Gabriel jumped out of the tree and smiled at Toby “You did well Toby. You were not fooled by the wendigos whispers”. Toby smiled back as he held the squirming wendigo “Thank you Gabriel. What do I do with it now?”. Gabriel looked at the twisted creature “You can drink it blood but it’s blood is rather rancid or you can simply kill it. I would not recommend letting it go since it will only continue hunting us”. Toby looked at the wendigo and with a grimace he tightened his fist snapping the creatures neck. Gabreil watched the wendigo go limp and nodded “Lets go back to the cave and rest a while Toby. Toby nodded, moving closer to Gabriel as they moved back towards their cave.
Over the next couple of day Toby’s powers began to flourish. He found a number of animals that still lived in the dark woods and was able to make more blood potions that allowed he and Gabriel to maintain their powers. Toby also discovered that magics that he had learned when he was human were strengthened by his vampire powers. In a battle with a large ogre, he utilized his magic to bind the ogre in place, allowing them to bring the beast down. Soon Toby was more confident in his new powers as a vampire. Gabriel looked at Toby and smiled “I think you are very skilled now Toby and if you are ready we can move on to some other place”. Toby smiled and nodded “Where will be go then?”. Gabriel thought “we can travel through the Lich’s territory and head east towards the Dark forest and the territory of the werewolves”. Toby looked at him “Why not the vampires or the Devils first?” Gabriel laughed “We can go there at some point, but Damon and Tristan are still on the lookout and probably seething. Best to avoid those areas for a while”. Toby nodded and they rose and began to prepare for another part of their adventure.
Chapter 16
Gabriel and Toby crossed the river again into the borders of the lands of the lich and the Devils. They crossed into the mist shrouded lands of the lich. “We should have little to fear in these lands if we don’t enter the temple of the Lich” Gabriel said as he look at Toby. He smiled “Just stay on your guard there will be skeletons and other things in the mist”. Toby nodded and they began to move though the mist. They moved quickly the mist swirling around them as they moved. Then suddenly they ran into a group of skeleton warriors. Toby proved to have a deadly grace as he carved through the skeletons leaving them broken piles of bones on the land. When the last skeleton fell Toby looked to Gabriel who smiled and they rushed through the misty lands. When they came to the temple of the Lich they quickly moved past it not desiring to test the power of the Lich or their words that if Gabriel entered that they would destroy him.
For several days they moved through the swirling mist never needing to rest or recuperate. Soon they saw the mist let up, and they found themselves on the broad Plaines again to the northeast stood the vast and tangled dark forest.
Gabriel and Toby moved into the plains seeking a place that they could rest for a time. Toby looked at Gabriel “What do you know about that misty land or the forest over there”. Gabriel looked at the mist “Those lands are the lands of the Lich. The king of the undead, the legends say that he was a priest who delved too deep into the arts of necromancy before the cataclysm that created our world. When he awoke, he surrounded his temple in the mist and raised armies of undead to serve him”. Then Gabriel looked over at the forest “I don’t know much about the forest but as I heard a power werewolf appeared there and brutally subjugated the humans that lived in and around the forest. Now they worship it as some sort of living god and give the werewolf offering for it protection”.
Toby moved in closer to Gabriel seeming to seek comfort, and Gabriel put his hand around him. He smiled “Don’t worry we should be fine we will avoid the human settlements were possible and try not to incur the wrath of the werewolves. He moved in a brushed his lips across Toby’s neck feeling the soft pulse of blood. He felt Toby shutter with pleasure at the contact and Gabrie smiled “For now lets rest and we will see about entering the forest when we are rested”. Toby nodded and they found a sheltered area and prepared to rest.
Chapter 17
They lay together in the deep trances that pass for sleep for Vampires. Gabriel felt the surge of danger and rose quickly from his trance as human forms rushed at the them. The people had features that were feral and twisted their bodies warped into something close to humans but not truly human. Gabriel felt Toby rise beside him and together they moved through the human forms. With fist and claws they dispatched many of the creatures and Gabriel grabbed one and bit down on its neck. It let out a scream as Gabriel felt blood fill his mouth. It was refreshing but there was a wild taste imparted by the blood. As he threw the drained body away, he looked at Toby “You should feed to Toby before we enter the forest”. Toby nodded and grabbed another of the creatures as it lunged to attack him and began to feed. Gabriel caught another creature and began to feed. With that the creatures will finally broke, and the survivors began to flee into the darkness. Toby threw the body of the creature he had drained away and looked at Gabriel “What were these creatures?”. Gabriel tossed away the drained body he had been holding “I am not absolutely sure what these creatures are. They seem to be some form of twisted and feral humans. I had heard that some creatures lived along the southern edge of the black forest”. He looked at Toby and smiled, moving closer, he raised a hand slowly wiping away some blood along his mouth “Let's get going into the forest, we have some exploring to do”.
Toby nodded and they looked towards the forest. They began moving at a fast pace toward the forest. They soon past into the dark quiet of the trees. Gabriel looked around at the dark oppressive nature of the forest. They moved slowly through the trees the heavily overgrown canopy blocking even the muted light of the underworld but still the forest was lite by the sickly radiance of certain plants. Gabriel watched as Toby looked around in wonder at the dark forest and he smiled. They saw several animals darting through the dark and Toby moved back towards Gabriel. Gabriel smiled “The animals are not that fierce so close to the edge of the forest. It is when we get further nearer to the wolves territory that the creatures will become more fierce. Toby looked at him “Are we going to go that deep in?”. Gabriel shook his head “Not just yet there is a place that I know exists a little further though I have not been there”. Toby looked at him “What do you mean?”. Gabriel smiled “Much like my home in the forest near your village there are old Vampire fortresses in this forest. If we find one, we can stay there while we are in this forest”.
They continued to move through he forest until the thick canopy of the forest opened into a clearing. In the clearing rose a small castle similar in design to the one that Gabriel had made his home. Gabriel smiled and looked at Toby “See, now let's see what condition it is in”. They moved towards the door of the fort. The doors still stood strong, and as Gabriel opened the door, he found the layers of dust of a place that had not been entered in centuries. Gabriel waved a hand and felt power flow, and the air stirred as the dust was thrown up and driven out of the fort. He looked at Toby “It is not like home, but it should be comfortable while we stay in the forest and no one is likely to find us here”.
Chapter 18
Gabriel and Toby remained in the castle for many weeks, and they went out to explore the dark forest. Toby quickly found the forest to be a treasure trove and became infinitely fascinated by many of the animals and plants that grew in the dim dark of the forest. in the castle he found a laboratory with a number of dusty implements and Toby took it and began to experiment with a number of the plants he found.
One day as they explored the forest, Gabriel heard a loud crashing through the trees. Toby was beside him instantly holding samples of a new plant he had found. Toby looked into the cramped darkness of the forest “What was that?”. Gabriel looked at Toby and out into the darkness “I don’t know”. They heard the crashing again and then emerging from the darkness was a young man. His clothing was ragged and torn and he had a hunted look to his eyes. He stopped when seeing Gabriel and Toby standing before him “Please Help”. The young man fainted away after that. Gabriel moved towards him and bent down feeling his pulse. It still beat strong and regular, but Gabriel caught something else about the boy a hint of something. Gabriel bent and scooped the boy up and looked at Toby. Toby smiled and nodded, and they quickly moved towards the fortress. Gabriel carried the boy to a bed and laid him there to rest. Toby went to his lab and Gabriel decided to get something for the boy, he went back out into the forest. Shortly after he came back with an animal over his shoulder. He prepared the animal and soon the smell of cooking meat filled the fortress.
Gabriel knew that the smells would attract the young man and he was not mistaken. Soon the young man appeared he stood in the doorway smelling the air. The boy looked to be around 18 or 19. His hair was brown and long, and his eyes were a vivid green. Gabriel watched him move into the kitchen, looking at Gabriel with a fearful look. Gabriel smiled at the young man “Are you hungry?”. He plated some of the meat and placed it on a hard wood table. He watched the young man stare at the meat and then at him and he moved to the table and tore into the meat with animalistic desire. Gabriel saw Toby enter the room and he also watched the young man he fed. Gabriel gave him more meat, and the young man continued to gorge saying nothing.
After a time, the young man looked up at Gabriel “Thank you for helping me”. Gabriel smiled “Your welcome, know can you tell us why who you are and why you were in the state that you were in?” The Young Man consider for a moment and nodded. He took a few more bites of meat and then he looked at Gabriel. The young man took a breath “My name is Wulf and I am being hunted by the red wolf”. Gabriel felt Toby move near him as the watch Wulf hesitated and began his story.
Chapter 19
Wulf started in a low whisper and slowly his voice grew in power. “First I must tell you. I am a Lycan. My mother was a woman from the villages, and my father was a wild Lycan from the forest. I was born near a village at the edge of the forest and we lived several years in relative peace. I have the power to control my transformation into a wolf and my parents successfully hid my and my fathers condition. Then someone discovered my fathers secret” Wulf's voice began to falter “They came in the darkness in the days before the rising of the blood moon. They took my father and mother. I was taught if they were taken to run and I did. I ran into the forest and somehow managed to come to another village. I was an orphan and I was homeless. I hid during the Bloodmoon because I knew that the wolf guard would be searching hard for me. I heard later that they sacrificed my father during the blood moon ritual and executed my mother. After that I lived as best I could until a family took me in. I was happy there for a while then they figured out I was a Lycan and they turned me over to the wolf guard”. Wulf shuttered and looked at Gabriel and Toby. “The wolf guard are powerful and terrible. They threw me in a cell and told me I was to be a sacrifice and feed the new life at the next Bloodmoon festival. While i languished, another young man was brought in and imprisoned with me. He said he came from outside the forest; he said he came to find certain healing plants. We grew close in that cell and planned our escape. It was several days later that the Bloodmoon rose. My friend was taken from the cell and forced to join in the first ceremony. When he returned, he was tattered and weeping. He told me how the red wolf had taken him and that they told him that he had nine days left”.
“The wolf guards laughed and told me that I would be sacrificed in a few days for my friend and the others chosen. I had been watching the guards for days and that night during a guard change we escaped. We ran and I used my skills to help keep us alive and ahead of the guards”. Tears fell down Wulfs eyes “We were separated a few hours before you found me. I fear that he has been taken again and that he will die”. Gabriel did not speak but looked at Toby. Toby nodded and Gabriel turned to Wulf. “Wait here with Toby and rest” Gabriels voice was firm and he turned passing swiftly out into the dark forest.
Chapter 20
Gabriel rushed through the darkness of the forest following the track that they had followed to bring Wulf to the fortress. When he reached the place where they had found Wulf, he sniffed and caught his scent faintly among the other scents of the forest. He moved quickly among the cramped dark trees of the forest following the scent of Wulf. Wulf had come far on his own and Gabriel followed the faint scent across dark streams and through dense trees.
The scent became faint at the streams but the senses of a vampire were not so easily fooled by simple tricks. He followed the path until he tasted the scent of Wulf and another familiar scent. Though he could not place where he remembered the scent. He stopped and considered the scent and began moving arounds seeking the path the new scent took. It took several minutes of searching before he discovered the path and moved quickly following the new path. Then he was brought to a stop as he heard distant howling. The howls were distant but coming nearer. Gabriel smiled a whispered to themselves “Their hunting”. He continued quickly down the path listening to the approaching howls. Then the forest opening into another clearing and Gabriel saw him. A boy of 18 in ragged clothing and covered in dirt but that is not what gave Gabriel pause it was the large belly the boy sported. Gabriel approached and saw the boy was in a unconscious but was still breathing. Gabriel put his hand on the boy's belly and felt strong movement from inside. Gabriel did not have time to consider this situation but quickly picked the boy up. He was light and his body was thin like he had not been properly fed in days. Gabriel sped back into the tree with the boy in his arms. He moved quickly through the dark trees in the direction of the fortress that he and Toby had occupied. Gabriel listened to the approaching howls and as the howls got closer he heard something change. The howls amplified and there was a new urgency in the sounds. Gabriel knew they had likely found the scent of the boy and were rushing to find him.
Gabriel kept speeding towards the safety of the fortress and he heard the howls change again. He heard loud echoing yammers and snarls among the howls as well as the shouts of men. Gabriel reached the doors of the fort and listened to the howls and shouts of pursuit as he entered the fortress.
Toby and Wulf appeared as Gabriel entered and Toby gasped as he saw the boy. “Jace” Toby said as he looked at the unconscious boy “What happened?”. Gabriel shook his head as he moved down into a bedroom and set the boy down on a bed. Gabriel looked at the other two “There is not much time. The pursuit from the werewolves was not far behind me. We must prepare”. The other two nodded and they moved quickly Gabriel made sure that defenses that were built into all vampire fortresses as well as a few that he had created himself were active. The others made their own preparations as the howls erupted again just outside the fortress.
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