3.12 Betrayal

The door opened as a nurse walked in. Seeing Beverly on the floor and Adam holding her body the nurse bolted from the room screaming. "Adam listen to me," Ambrogio commanded "you need to leave now."

"I can't....I can't leave her. Not like this...." he protested.

"That nurse is out there telling everyone that you woke up in a feeding frenzy. Soon you'll have doctors in here with straight jackets and sedatives to subdue you," Ambrogio told him.

Adam tried to ignore what Ambrogio was telling him. Holding Beverly tight against his chest he knew Ambrogio was right, he had to leave. Laying her body carefully on the floor Adam staggered to his feet. He ripped open a plasma fruit packet and gulped it's contents. He could feel some of his former strength returning. "How do I get out? he asked surveying the room. "I can't fly and someone is bound to see me once I leave this room."

"There is a  way but you'll have to trust me," Ambrogio began but was interrupted by the door being thrown open.

Adam watched as several angry vampires filled the room. Trying to still his beating heart he looked from one sinister face to another. One of them stooped and picked up Beverly's body. Adam took an involuntary step forward bristling "leave her alone."

The vampire ignored him as he left with her. "What a shame that in your blood lust you killed your beautiful young wife," the vampire specialist said as he approached Adam. "She really should have let me give you that blood transfusion."

"Alessandro did that to her not me," Adam protested taking a step back.

Shrugging the specialist continued "you will be going to Moonlight Falls to pay for your crimes. There's an asylum there for vampires like yourself who have succumbed to blood lust. We can't have you running around free draining innocent humans now can we?"

Backing away from them Adam's back was against the window. "Do you trust me?" Ambrogio asked in his head. 

"I trust you more that I trust them," Adam said as he watched the vampires come closer.

"That's not what I asked," Ambrogio stated impatiently "do you trust me?" he asked stressing each individual word as if it were a magical spell.

"Yes...yes I do," Adam affirmed.

"Good," Ambrogio said "when I tell you...jump."

"What?" Adam queried.

"You said  you trusted me."

"I do but I...."

"You either do or you don't," Ambrogio said his tone angry maybe a little hurt.

"I do trust you," Adam confirmed willing to do anything to get away from the vampires surrounding him.

The lights flickered followed by a brilliant flash. "Jump" Ambrogio commanded.

Adam jumped without thinking as if his will had been taken from him and someone else was in control. His mind screamed in panic as he realized he was falling several stories to the ground...

***

"Sir you can't go in there," the nurse yelled at Heath as he ran past her to Adam's room. Percy and Alanon followed behind him. He rushed into the room as Adam jumped from the window. "Dad no," Heath screamed. From his perspective it looked like his dad had been pushed. "You had no right," he yelled at them not seeing the danger he was in.

"We did nothing," the specialist told him as he turned from the window. With a wave of his  hand he instructed "take the boy."

The vampires closest to Heath grabbed him before he could react. Struggling in their grasp one of them asked "what do you want us to do with him?"

Smiling the specialist said "when the girl wakes up he'll make a tasty meal for her." The others laughed as they dragged Heath from the room.

"Where are you taking me?" Heath screamed to no avail "let me go."

Alanon held Percy back as he struggled to go help his nephew. "Let me go. He needs help."

"What help can you give him? You'll be caught too" Alanon spoke harshly in his ear. "The best thing you can do for him is to remain free and fight later."

Hanging his head in defeat Percy banged his fist on the wall behind him. "What happened to Adam?" he asked watching the vampires file from the room.

"I....don't know," Alanon shook his head unwilling to tell his protege what he feared had happened. He had heard Adam cry out. Scream in agony as he hit the ground. Alanon couldn't believe his oldest and dearest friend had betrayed his own descendant in such a heartless way. Gained Adam's trust just to do this to him. Alanon had heard it  happening. Heard the spell being cast. Tried to warn Adam but Ambrogio had blocked him from Adam's mind.

Looking at Alanon Percy grabbed his arm squeezing hard "tell me what you know. I can see it in your eyes that something happened."

"Not here," Alanon shook him off and headed for the stairs.

Confused Percy looked in the direction the vampires had taken Heath. Moving to follow he shrank back against the wall as the vampire specialist came from Adam's room talking to Alessandro. Fear shot through him as he stared at the vampire. His decision made Percy hurried to follow Alanon down the stairs.

***

Ambrogio smiled as he flexed his hands and legs. It felt good having control of a body again. He had been sure Adam wouldn't say the words but when he had Ambrogio could have wept. He heard Adam scream as he tried to take control of his body and found himself powerless to do so. Smiling to himself as he limped towards the wooded area close to the hospital. He had been surprised when Heath had finished what Silver had started. The boy really shouldn't have made that deal with Silver. He obviously had no idea what it entailed.

Whistling while he waited at the designated spot. Movement to his right alerted him that he was not alone. "Silver?" he called out a hint of fear in his voice.

Laughter to his right sent a thrill of desire through him. "I should have known I couldn't sneak up on you," Silver said emerging from the bushes he was in. "It's been too long," he said grabbing Ambrogio and devouring his mouth with his own. "Didn't I tell you I had the perfect body waiting for you?"

Looking into Silver's light blue eyes Ambrogio smiled in agreement bringing his mouth to Silvers in a hungry passionate kiss.

"I've missed you," Silver whispered in his ear as he tugged the hospital gown off him " this body is magnificent. I can't wait to explore it."

"I've waited so long for your touch," Ambrogio kissed him again encouraging Silver in his lustful pursuits.

An hour later they woke on the ground in each others arms. Silver held his wrist out to him to drink. Shaking his head Ambrogio declined the offer. He saw the disappointment in Silvers eyes.

"Why do you refuse me?" anger deepening his voice.

"Please Silver let me relish this body free from blood lust. The transformation is not complete. Please let me have this choice," he pleaded with Silver who was glaring at him, his displeasure evident.

"You will drink," Silver told him "for now I will allow it if it pleases you."

"It pleases me very much. Thank you." Ambrogio looked up catching the stern look of displeasure and cruelty that crept over Silver's handsome features. 

"Thank you what?" Silver asked harshly.

"Thank you...mmmaster," Ambrogio whispered in despair. This part of their relationship he had not missed. The cruel master servant relationship where Silver felt free to hurt him. The tender moments never quite overcame the deep seated fear Ambrogio felt in the face of Silver's displeasure. "You are displeased with me," Ambrogio said his voice small fearing the backlash of Silver's anger.

"Yes I am greatly displeased with you. We have not been together a day and you are already defying me." Silver stood rage clouding his eyes "it will take time for me to figure out a suitable punishment for you." Stooping he extended a hand towards Ambrogio "come my love we must leave this place."

Taking his hand Ambrogio didn't like the veiled threat of future punishment. How did he get into this predicament? Much as Adam had by saying he trusted someone who had the power to control him. Following Silver he knew his life was nothing more than an endless punishment. Breathing deep Ambrogio told himself he had to remain strong there were things he had to do.

***

Several days later Beverly stirred on the cell floor. Heath went to check on her "mom," he called as she cowered in a corner "mom it's me Heath."

"Get away from me," she growled.

 "Mom please...." Heath pleaded.

"I....I" she licked her lips listening to his heart beat. "Get away from me," she screamed scooting closer to the wall shivering.

Frightened Heath scurried to the far side of the cell. He had no idea what was wrong with her. Beverly had never raised her voice to him before. It was like he was seeing a different person.

Laughter caught his attention as the door opened and Alessandro walked into the dungeon. "Don't worry my young IF when she's hungry enough she'll drain you of all your life's blood. Then your troubles will be gone forever.

"You turned her?" Heath asked anger overcoming his fear.

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," he shrugged "now that Adam is gone it was rather pointless."

"What do you mean my father's gone?" Heath asked as fear gripped his heart. He could feel his heart being squeezed taking his breath away.

"He took a  header out the window," Alessandro laughed "maybe he thought he could fly." Sobering he shouted "he ruined everything. Now I have no heir. All I have is you and you can't be turned." 

Turning to Beverly he commanded "feed."

Beverly looked up eyes glowing. She advanced upon Heath heedless of the fact she was about to feed upon her own child. Her master had spoken she must obey. Cornering the boy she had no problem subduing him. She sank her fangs into his neck feeding upon his blood.

***

Ambrogio felt the pain as Heath began to die. He stumbled from the shock. He could feel Silver watching him as he picked himself up. "Adam's son is dying," he said in response to Silver's unspoken command.

"The body is still connected to the little nuisance," Silver chuckled enjoying Ambrogio's pain as he struggled to keep pace. "Good. One less problem to worry about."

"What do you mean?" Ambrogio asked despite the fact Silver would take his words as rebellion against him.

Stopping Silver glared at Ambrogio "that's no concern of yours." He turned and kept walking. 

Nodding Ambrogio remained silent following in his master's wake. Stumbling Ambrogio fell to his knees weak from too much exertion and lack of nutrients. He reached for a plasma fruit pack bringing it to his lips he managed to get a couple of swallows before Silver grabbed it from his hands. Throwing the drink as far as he could he said " I allowed you the choice to not drink from me. That did not mean you could drink this substance. You will either drink from me or die. That is your choice."

Leaning down Silver confiscated the remaining packs and drained them on the ground. Laughing as he watched Ambrogio's pained and desperate look. "You brought this upon yourself," he chided "I'm reasonable but I won't let you think you can live without me. That will never happen. You are mine." He pulled Ambrogio to him forcing a kiss upon him despite his protests "you'd best remember that."

***

"Help me," Percy moaned in response "help me please..." Crying out Percy bolted upright in his bed. Running his hands through his hair he gulped in air trying to steady his beating heart. "Help me." Percy covered his ears trying to block out the pleas. "Leave me alone," he moaned stumbling to his feet.

Staggering to the bathroom he splashed water on his face before crumpling to the floor. "Help me" the voice cried out to him. "I don't know how," Percy cried in response. He swatted at hands that were trying to uncover his ears. Near to hysterics Percy screamed "leave me alone."

"Percy it's me Alanon" a firm voice broke into the haze in his mind. "What's wrong with you?"

Opening crazed sleep deprived eyes Percy grabbed Alanon demanding "make it stop."

Bewildered Alanon asked "make what stop?"

"The voice. Make the voice stop," Percy said curling into a tight ball on the floor.

Sitting back on his heels Alanon pondered his words before asking "whose voice?"

"I don't know," Percy panted gasping for air.

Grabbing his shoulders Alanon demanded "think. Do you recognize the voice?"

Shaking Percy tried to ignore Alanon's question until the voice started again becoming more insistent. "I....I...." his eyes flew open in shock "it's...."

***

Once her hunger had been sated she dropped the boys body at her feet. Wiping thoughtfully at the blood on her face. She stared at Alessandro waiting for his next command. 

Laughing Alessandro turned his back on her walking purposefully towards the dungeon's door. Stopping he turned back releasing her from her trance commanding her "remember." Slamming the door behind him the cell reverberated with the sound.

Shaking her head Beverly stared at her hands. Smeared in blood. Sitting on the floor she stared around her "what...what happened?" she whispered. Her eyes fell upon Heaths still lifeless body and shuddered. "No," she wailed crawling to him. Cradling his body in her arms she screamed as the fog in her mind lifted. She remembered. She did this. Drained her son. Took his life. It didn't matter that she didn't know what she was doing. That she was being controlled by an evil monster. She was the instrument of his demise.

A low keening began from deep inside her that gradually grew louder as the magnitude of what she had done sank in. How could she have done this horrible thing? She remembered Adam's struggle to resist the urge to feed. How he had insisted he was dangerous. Insisting he was a monster when all the time it was her who was the monster. She hadn't resisted. How could she live with what she had done? What would Adam think of her? Her life was over as she knew it.

***

"Silver where are we going?" Ambrogio asked.

Stopping Silver stared at Ambrogio without speaking. He let his displeasure wash over Ambrogio with his silence. After several minutes he turned and walked away expecting Ambrogio to follow.

Ambrogio was becoming weaker and knew at the pace Silver was setting he would need to feed. Once he did there would be no going back. The transformation would be complete. It had been days since he had killed Adam taking control of his body and it had been at least a day since Heath had become silent as well. He marveled at himself and how easily it had been for him to betray his descendants. His children in every respect and he had destroyed their lives.

He was nothing more than a monster. A monster that had lived to long. A monster under the control of a much older, crueler and stronger monster. What was Silver up to? Where were they going? Where was the child? Don was pregnant...that's what Silver was after. He wanted control of that child as well. Did that mean they were on their way to Dragon Valley? With each step they took Ambrogio knew without doubt Silver was going to have him get Don. Remove him the protection of the dragons. The dragons would trust Adam. They wouldn't know Adam no longer possessed his own body.

"Silver where is the girl?" he asked with a feeling of trepidation.

"Safe," he intoned walking faster.

"Please I need to know," Ambrogio insisted "she's my descendant...I have a right."

"How dare you talk about rights. You have no rights, not after what you have done. Betraying your very same descendants. Taking possession of Adam's body. Allowing Alessandro to take Heath. The boy is probably dead by now." He smiled as Ambrogio blanched at the things he had done. "By all rights I should be protecting the girl from you." He walked closer to Ambrogio putting his arms around him "because I love you I'll take you to the girl. After you do one thing for me."

Heart pounding hard in his chest Ambrogio wanted to refuse but knew he had no choice but to comply. "What?" he asked.

Silver smiled and gently kissed Ambrogio's forehead "you must bring Don to me. It's time he fulfilled his destiny."