Chapter 6 THE VAMPIRE

They both bowed formally to each other before they drew their swords and took their stances.

"Though I know you are doing this to garner attention, I would still take it easy on you Kamaz!" Lord Acheron said as they circled each other.

"I expect nothing but fairness my Lord but if you insist, I guess I won't just hold back" Kamaz replied and with that their swords clashed on each other.

They began to fight and Kamaz had to remind himself at regular intervals not to move too fast or not to swing too hard so nobody would take notice.

They kept on sparring but Acheron who is known to be one of the most skilled fighters in the Kingdom was soon out of breath and looked like a glass of water would be heaven to him at the moment.

"Should I take it easier Prince Acheron?" Kamaz mocked as he made Acheron's sword fall to the ground.

"I won't strike a man who is not armed. Pick your sword Prince!" Kamaz said as he waited for Prince Acheron to pick his sword.

They continued fighting and Kamaz decided to go slower on Prince Acheron and that was his mistake.

Prince Acheron saw an opening and he took it - he slashed his poisoned sword against Kamaz' bare back and blood gushed out earning screams from the crowd above.

The slash was deep and no one expected him to barely go on his knees, he was supposed to lay on the earth, in sheer agony.

Kamaz grunted and tried to get back on his feet but he discovered he was immobilised and could not move any part of his body.

His eyes journeyed towards the Queen and King afar off.

The King was concerned but he could not do anything as he didn't want to be seen as a 'Weak King' while the Queen had a broad smile on.

'Damn poison!' Kamaz cursed under his breath.

What he feared had come and he knew his system was going to reject the poison and heal on its own but that won't be nice in the presence of everyone.

He wasn't even wearing anything to cover his upper self and if everyone was to see that the big gash behind him suddenly sealed back, it would confirm the rumours of his monstrosity.

The countdown started which meant that if he didn't stand up in less than five seconds, Acheron would be crowned the winner.

"Five..." The crowd jeered

"Four.."

"Three..."

Kamaz only has faint memories of his mother but he knew how badly she would not want to see him crushed or his spirit trampled upon and so he gave into that part of him he had kept at bay for so long.

Strength fired up in his system and as the crowd jeered, "Two..", he bounced back to his feet.

Acheron was facing the crowd and noticed how the cheers reduced, he had no idea Kamaz was back in the game.

He turned back and saw Kamaz standing as though nothing had happened to him and as if he had the best health in the world.

He could feel something dark seeping from the man before him but he could not place his hand on it and all he could see was just the dark eyes that Kamaz currently possessed in contrast with his baby blue ones.

"Impossible!" The Queen said surprised that Kamaz could still stand. The poison was derived by placing snakes, scorpions and the vilest of reptiles in a jar. As they struggled and fought against one another, their venom was released and when they were all dead, extracted.

How was it possible that Kamaz had survived that, even if he could survive the cut?

"What do you mean by impossible?" The King who was by her side questioned as he watched the surprise that caked her face when Kamaz stood up before the countdown was completed.

Acheron drew his sword and charged after Kamaz and Kamaz smiled wickedly.

Just before Acheron could reach him, Kamaz ran faster to Acheron, faster than any human could properly record.

Lifted Acheron by the neck and threw him to the floor like a rag doll.

The force at which he had thrown Acheron to the floor, caused a slight snap sound to be heard. A bone had surely dislocated somewhere.

Kamaz did not wait for them to count for Acheron to stand up because he was sure Acheron would not be able to move for a long time and because he knew the skin behind his back was closing.

They counted as he walked away and the crowd could not even cheer because they were all astounded and impressed by the strength he had shown.

'Who is he?'

To the privacy of his quarter he headed and there he was able to take in deep and genuine air without feeling suffocated.

The poison finally started having full effect on him and before he could walk to his bed, he dropped to the floor and laid there, sprawled.

After the tournament and the dispatch of everyone, the King had decided to spare a few minutes with his son to congratulate him on his flawless victory but as he got there, he met Kamaz on the floor.

He rushed to Kamaz' side, fear racing in his heart but as he held Kamaz' hand, he was quickly turned around and tackled to the floor.

Kamaz' eyes were red and his bronze like skin seemed like it was shining more.

His nails were sharp and seemed like claws and for once, the King also believed the rumours concerning his beloved son.

That 's true, his son might be a monster.

But as Kamaz opened his mouth wider and his fangs began to protrude, the poison kicked in again and he fell on the King.

When the King was certain that Kamaz was in a sleep-like death, he called forth the guards to take him to the last cell in the Kingdom's dungeon and chain him with the strongest of chains in Zoah's possession.

"What was that? Keep my son dear Lord!"

The King prayed to a GOD he had no relationship with..

Kamaz is the only progeny of the woman his soul was definitely bound to and he had every plan of making Linnea proud in the little ways he could.

They chained him to the cold walls of the dungeon and when he finally came around, he tried to yank his hands free but he couldn't.

He tried to speak but his words sounded like growls and grunts.

The next day, Acheron came to see him.

"I can't believe this is the same person that had made the big win. You were so powerful, in control and dominating. How about now? You can't even do anything and you sound like a damn animal.

While others were praising you for your hard work,no one knew it was actually because you went to take something for strength.

You have always been nothing, you are nothing and you will always be nothing, you low life!" Acheron said before he spat on the floor and walked out.

Kamaz was going through pain because he had not yielded to the darkness that called within him and had only accepted help from it because of a circumstance where it was needed.

What he needed was to be in sync and total agreement but he couldn't because...he was scared.

Nobody had seen the Real Him yet and they all had mind blowing negative notions about him already. How much more when they...

The smell of blood triggered him and he couldn't understand why. It started as a wild craving but now it fuelled his veins and made him think sinister things.

His cell was opened and a guard came in to feed him.

He was to be fed by the guard because he still couldn't use his hands until The King could find out what was wrong with him. He was still a threat.

The guard brought the food to him and as the guard fed him, he could not bring himself to un-notice that the guard smelt fresher because he just had his bath.

Or how his jugular vein seemed to be holding so much blood at the moment.

He bit himself as he chewed regularly as he tried to suppress the urge and concentrate on the meal, until....

The guard thought it wise to tease him with the food. He is the Fifth Prince and he didn't have much power apart from being a prince and so..

Kamaz was angry and before the guard knew it, Kamaz wrapped his feet around him, locking the guard in and biting deep into the pulsating jugular vein that had been seeming so attractive.

The guard writhed and tried to push but he was just too strong...too strong.

He stopped when the guard became boneless in his hold and he let the guard fall to the floor.