Chapter 154 - The Beginning Of The End Pt. 2

The Nightshades were an organization everyone feared. It was almost like one of those stories you told little kids to have them eat or go to bed early. It brought shivers down the spines of people, messed with their dreams. They were powerful vampires, their identities unknown and their sole purpose was keeping the vampire world "proper". 

Many people had disappeared, without leaving behind a single trace, whispers traveling through the night that the Nightshades had gotten them because they had done something bad. They had eyes and ears everywhere, the men with the black robes, a crimson moon painted on their backs. They were also called, The Bloody People, their true name a bad omen for the one that dared to utter it.

Kai would never think that his mother had actually taken such extreme measures. The Nightshades obeyed no monarchy, they had no king or queen, they ruled themselves and forming a deal with them was one of the most risky things someone could do. Nonetheless she had done it, she had given her son to them so he could be "fixed". The young prince would never forgive her for that. 

The blond vampire woke up slowly, his eyes facing a big square iron door. He looked left and right, his eyesight a bit blurry and he groaned. He felt pain on the back of his head, as if someone had hit him. As his vision got clearer he had some time to examine the room before his captors came in. It was a small space, made out of old stones in a dull beige color, earthy. He could smell mold and the humidity was heavy. He was underground, he thought and searched for a window but the room seemed to only have this door that stood before him. Of course he was restrained, his ankles tied on the legs of a chair while his wrists were behind his back. He moved around, wiggling his wrists, hoping he could break the rough rope with his powers but he hissed. It was sprayed with holy water. 

His face dropped, a desperate grin on his face as every thought he had concluded to the fact that he would be here for a while, restrained and away from Philip. He didn't know if he should fight, he didn't know what happened to his lover either. He just hoped he was alright. He could take it, their whole "fixing". Kai believed he would be fine, all he simply wanted was for Philip to be safe.

The prince was scared of them too. Of the Nightshades. He had heard stories again and again about how they tortured people, about their merciless killing and their dark ideas. They were old-fashioned and boring but dangerous. They were the kind of vampires that wouldn't like Kai.

After a while of being awake he heard a noise behind the iron door as if someone was unlocking a door. The heavy structure moved revealing a man, dressed in that robe he had seen before. Black and long, the hood concealing most of his characteristics while his back had a bloody moon on it. He smiled at him, cocky as always and the man approached him.

"The notorious third prince of the Avger monarchy. I have to say, we never believed that we would have the pleasure of working with the queen in such an...important mission." The man behind the cloak spoke and his voice echoed in between the walls. His voice was rough, as if he had swallowed glass and his accent was heavy. "You're not going to say anything?" He asked him.

"I am not talking to someone I can't even see their faces." Kai said and heard him laugh. The man pushed back his thin hood, revealing his face. He had a long nose, blond hair in the color of hay and brown eyes. A huge scar was horizontally on his nose, healed but still there. He wasn't ugly but at the same time his appearance had something unappealing. Maybe it was the half mad look in his eyes.

"Pardon me. I forgot I was dealing with a prince. I am Ashus, the head of the Nightshades. Pleased to work with you, your highness." He introduced himself, his lips forming a small grin.

"I'm honored, such an important man down here just to work with me. You make me feel so special." Kai said ironically and the man chuckled. Kai was trying to show him he wasn't scared while Ashus, well he was clearly playing with him. He didn't care if the prince or not was afraid, he wasn't trying to scare him after all. Sooner or later he would end up begging.

"But you are special. If any other of my men dealt with you they might have killed you. You see, you're quite hated in our circle. You do not really present what a true vampire should be"

"And how should a true vampire be?" Kai asked him, but he didn't wait for an answer. "No, no let me tell you. I know the answer. A pretentious motherfucker, like you, right?" He asked, tilting his head to the side and giving the

vampire a handsome smile. He didn't seem to like the comment, Ashus was displeased with his insolence but he didn't say anything.

"Once we're done you will be thinking otherwise. Dear prince."

"Let me guess. You will torture me. Hoping I will bend. Beg you to let me go and tell you I will leave my lover and be good. You people are really deluded, you know that?" Kai said. He was feeling anxious, his heart beating loudly, trapped on his ribcage but he couldn't show his witness. As he stared at the man before him, he had no choice but to stay strong, he hadn't even started yet.

"Well, you did get half of the plan right."

"What is the other half?" Kai asked, raising his eyebrow and Ashus smirked. The door behind the man opened and another vampire entered, dressed in the same hideous cloak. He was pushing a small cart with tools on it. When Kai laid eyes on it he scoffed. Was really their plan to just torture him? It didn't seem right, it was too simple for them. But maybe his mother had nothing to do with it, he did hear her ask them not to kill him.

"Why are you in such a hurry to know?" The head of the Nightshades asked him. He looked at the other man, shaking his hand and signaling him to leave. Before he left though he turned towards Kai, the prince unable to understand if he was looking at him or not. The cloaked man spat in front of him, a thick splash of saliva landing right in front of Kai's boots and the prince laughed.

"You are so dramatic and for what?" He asked but obviously he got no answer. Ashus hummed, approaching the small cart while he searched through the shining tools. 

"I think you're going to find my company rather...dramatic." he commented. "So...shall we begin?" He asked.

It was at that moment when Kai realized, those days were going to be the worst of his life. Years later he would be thinking about it, having nightmares, with many different tropes. All of them thought they would take place there, in that room with that hideous face as a protagonist. Ashus, he didn't believe he hated a man more in his life, despised him and regretted the fact that he hadn't killed him. 

The prince had tried, he really did, day after day until at some point. Things seemed to get too difficult and that wasn't even the start of their plan. 

Love was such a torture. Emotional pain at its finest, a drug that hazed everything. In that room Kai would realize that his love had been the doom of them man he had adored. In that room the prince would feel the pain of not knowing what was going to happen, if he would live or die, if Philip was alive. It that room beneath the earth Kai regretted the moment he was born and begged while in tears his whole body filled with cuts, his soul ragged and destroyed, to be left alone, in peace to die. 

What he couldn't allow though was for them to him hurt. He couldn't bear the thought of dying there and leaving Philip alone, without knowing what happened. 

After a long time though, he would think about it and tell himself it would have been better of he had died in that room. 

Maybe that way he could have saved him. 

....

Hello everyone! Hope you liked this chapter and my little backstory. I skipped a bit so it won't be boring, I know what you all want to know after all, hehe. I really hope you're enjoying the book.

What do you think the Nightshades are planning? I am really curious to know what you think. 

If you liked this chapter please give the book a good comment, a five star review and a vote. 

Thank you!