Ezekiel's vision wavered, but he stood firm, eyes fixated on the vampire before him. Blood leeked from his broken jaw, painting the ground red. His eyes, suffused with an orange glow at the corners, radiated intent far deeper than the guard could bring himself to comprehend. A cold feeling settled in Len's core, wrapping around the pain inflicted by the tenacious newcomer.
He gripped Ezekiel's arms fiercely, his jaws sinking deeper into the latter's flesh. He tasted the sour flavor of vampiric blood, a grimace breaking out on his face as he held on. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Raphael watching him with an eager expression. Words from the past resurfaced in his mind, from the time when he had first joined the Abyssal Gang.
....
"Do you wish to become part of us?" Raphael spoke, standing before the entrance of his estate. The guards stationed around the exterior spared the young man harsh glances, the air thick with subdued bloodlust. New recruits were a frequent thing to those at the top. They always welcomed those who showed promise to the gang. Those who could rise about others and serve as useful tools for Raphael's desires.
However, for them, guards who were below in the pecking order, it was a direct threat to their positions. But it went even further that that.
"Y-yes, sir. I believe I'm strong enough to be of use to you," Len replied, sweating profusely as he bowed his head low. "Please, I'll do anything just to join. I can't keep living the way I used to! Paying taxes to the Darkhavens and to you guys, it's too much. I need sanctuary. Protection from the inevitable wrath of th royals. I beg of you," Len pleased further, falling to his knees.
"No matter what it takes. Even if I have to sacrifice my whole family, I'll do it. Those ingrates are far too ungrateful, anyway. I toil everyday just to make a living. And what do they do? They go around complaining like I'm not doing my best. They can go ahead and die, for all I care. Me? I wanna live!"
Raphael listened to Len's words, a smile tugging at his lips. His gaze swept across the guards present, and he could tell straight away that they couldn't wait to rip him to shreds expeditiously.
"Very well, then. I will let you join, but only on one condition," Raphael responded, straightening his garment as he continued. "You must prove your strength to me right here and now. Kill the weakest member of my group, and your position is secured."
________
Len saw the opportunity, and he grabbed it with desperate clutches.
His battle was brutal, painting the outer compound with puddles of blood. Len suffered life-threatening wounds back then. Deep cuts to his thighs, a disfigured jaw, scarred arms, and a partly severed head. It was a miracle he survived. Perhaps his will to live was strong enough to cheat death itself. Nevertheless, here he was yet again, struggling to secure his position against another desperate fellow.
'I refuse to die!' Len roared internally as he willed his arms to move, striking Ezekiel in the chest repeatedly with fleeting strength. His arms burned, pain weighing them down like generational sins, but he pushed on.
Ezekiel stumbled, falling to the ground with a heavy thud. Len capitalized on the opportunity, pinning him down with his knees and arms. Ezekiel struggled under the latter's weight, but it seemed nearly impossible. He had only just recently discovered strength beyond his once frail self. And now, he was in a life or death match against a vampire who had lived a far better life than he ever had. Len was surrounded by the best the town had to offer, with a couple years of experience under his belt. He was a beast in his own right, one that Ezekiel had painfully underestimated.
Len's jaws closed in on bleeding flesh, and right after, he pulled, ripping out a large chunk of Ezekiel's neck in the process. The scene was gruesome, but none turned away. This was the sort of life they were used to. The nature of living they swore allegiance to and deeply enjoyed. Ever since the brat walked into their base, all were itching to put him down, but now, they were glad that one of their own was finally fulfilling their wish.
Ezekiel squeezed more power from his core, forcing the wound to seal shut as he gathered little strength. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as Len's skull struck his with murderous force, knocking a few teeth out from his jaws.
"Is he down already? Tsk… how disappointing," Raphael sucked his teeth, turning around to head back into the building. "If this is it for the brat, then I've lost interest in him. What a waste of time. Len, finish him already," he ordered, the guards beside him showing dark smiles as they looked onward.
"Yes, sir!" Len replied, spitting the chunk of flesh from his mouth. His hissed, fangs painted deep red with Ezekiel's blood. Victory was right before him. Security was all but assured.
"It's not… over," Ezekiel muttered, faint eyes glaring at Len from the ground. "Not… untill…"
Len's pupils narrowed as he looked down at the boy. His lips curled into a demented smile as he raised his fist high in the air, punching Ezekiel hard across the cheek. His neck bone cracked, threatening to break. It was a sweet melody to the guard's ears.
"I… must kill… to grow stronger," Ezekiel said to himself, the glow in his eyes dimming by the second. "If I die… then it was all for nothing…" Ezekiel's arms were still subdued by the guard. Yet, with the slight movements he could manage, his fingers shook, his gaze narrowing as he glared at Len.
'There is a way to win this fight, but are you willing to accept it?' The voice suddenly asked in its mind, its tone filled with urgency. 'The cost demands a heavy toll, but considering your life is about to end, I don't suppose you have much of a choice. So, what is your decision?'
It didn't take long for Ezekiel to reply. He could already feel his consciousness slipping away, and if something didn't happen soon, then he was bound to die within the next few minutes.
'I accept…' he thought weekly, eyes fluttering shut right after.
'...Very well. To grant you the power to win this fight… five years of your life has been taken in exchange,' the words of the enigmatic voice rang in his ears. Right after, Ezekiel felt a flood of power invade his core, robbing him of the terrible pain he experienced just seconds prior.
Before everyone's eyes, a bright orange glow enveloped his body like a garment of flames. His wounds healed at an insane pace, flesh reforming around once broken bones. Punctures and lacerations receded, and life returned to Ezekiel's countenance.
Len watched on in horror, raising aching fists to strike Ezekiel once more. However, this time, his movements weren't quick enough.
Ezekiel quickly grabbed Len's coiled arm, his strength firm and domineering. The sound of bones cracking echoed across the illuminated space, the guard crying out in pain as his bones flattened within moments. Flesh and bone were mercilessly smashed together, and in the midst of unimaginable pain, a deafening blow struck him on his chin, shoving his body into the air like a swift projectile.
Len's body struck the ground with a cracking thud, blood pooling around him as he rolled in agony.
Raphael's movements came to a halt, and he slowly turned around. "This boy is really full of surprises. Now, I wasn't expecting a light show out of nowhere," he said, stepping out once again to witness the rest of the match. "Perhaps I misjudged him. Show me why I wasn't wrong for sparing your life, brat."
Ezekiel ignored Raphael's words as he picked himself off the ground, scanning his body with an icy gaze. Then, they trailed across the decorated exterior of the gang's base, reading the expressions of every vampire present. They soon landed on the man who abused him right after he stepped into the compound, their eyes locked for a few moments.
Ezekiel clenched his fist, shoving it in the man's direction. A short blast of orange light shot out, rushing towards the guard with blinding speed. However, the guard was quick to react, raising his arms as he gathered his own blood aura, bashing away the beam before it could do damage.
Immediately after, the guard looked down, only to realize that blocking the attack had shoved him back a couple feet. The attack had been executed so casually, yet it held such power.
Through his scowl, his lips curled, recognition igniting within his eyes.