Ben withdrew silently to the wall, confused. He had heard of people selling their souls to the devil, but couldn't believe he already did. All that courage, all that power, only to be commanded by Don Pedro at will.
He shut his eyes.
A torrent of flashes displaying to him as he watched, he suddenly found himself in a plain, open field. He shut his eyes and opened them again. He was at the peak of a hill, and looked far ahead.
He gasped in shock. All around him was death, blood, turmoil and destruction.
"It can't be." He muttered, watching Lyla in the claws of a giant creature, one that rose in the air, flapping it's humongous wings with elegance.
"A Dragon?" He asked, confused.
He shut his eyes, then flung them open. He was now back in his alley.
What he had saw wasn't real, he convinced himself. However, a little thought bugged him. Those thoughts could be real, he just didn't realise it.
He got up, resolute to turn his life around. He was now stronger and he believed he had enough courage to work his way through to success.
.
.
.
It was night time, the darkness of the night blending with the illumination from multiple lights on the streets.
Life in the Algiers was most fun at night, as people sought enjoyment and relaxation from their daily activities. For some, the night was the beginning of their respective days.
At the popular Brooke's bar was like a home ground for every supernatural being in the city.
Although there were several other bars supernatural beings frequented, this bar seemed to be a selling point of the Algiers, especially for the unsuspecting tourists who frequented there.
With the usual activities booming at Brooke's, a number of Vampires sat at a corner, laughing, discussing and drinking.
On another end sat a small group of people, Werewolves. These Werewolves unlike the vampires were in a sour mood.
It had been days since their Alpha's death and names weren't coming up.
Naturally, they suspected the Vampires, but attacking them seemed unwise as the leader of that faction was a brother to their dead Alpha.
Growing sick and tired of mourning while being in the dark about their Alpha's murder, they only try to ease their anger with the rich atmosphere of the Brooke's.
"This is stupid. We all know those cold blooded sterile fucks had something to do with his death." Said a young man. He had long, wavy hair like a wig and had his arms covered in tattoos.
"Don't say that, Alvin. We must keep the peace." Scolded an older man in his fifties. He sipped his drink then dropped it, turning to glance at the vampires.
"They, just like us are ignorant in the issue. If they did this, they would have showed signs of aggression and dominance." He continued.
"But Dad..." Alvin protested, he was cut short by his father.
"Son, picking a fight out of frustration isn't wise. Patience is a virtue we need to embrace." He replied.
Angered, Alvin dropped his drink and got up.
"This is stupid, I'll be back." He said, leaving for the bathroom.
The other Werewolves near them approached Alvin's father, trying to start a conversation with him.
Immediately they began, commotion disrupted from somewhere in the bar.
They stared and saw Alvin and a vampire, both locked in significant grips. It seemed as though they were intending to decapitate each other.
"Alvin." His father mentioned, tearing him away from his opposition who was also restrained by another vampire.
"Hell, did you have to do this?" He yelled at his son.
"He fucking bumped into me, laughing. He didn't even apologize." Alvin responded angrily.
"I was high, dude. And you didn't even give me a chance to apologize." The vampire protested.
"Yeah, give a snake the chance to speak and he bites you." Alvin snickered.
"The fuck?" Another vampire spoke, stepping forth.
"We live in peace, what's this about now?" He asked.
"I'm not implying anything." Alvin scoffed.
"It's just that you can't be trusted. Who knows, you could jump me tomorrow." He added.
This caused outrage from the Vampires who attempted to launch at him.
The Wolves stepped up, covering him.
The tension was about to birth a conflict when someone stepped in, his arms spread as he abruptly ended the gearing attack.
"So Kyle dies and y'all want to go against what he stood for?" He questioned, simultaneously pointing at both parties.
"It's a fucking rhetoric question. I didn't ask you to speak." He added, hushing a Vampire.
"You know, I always respected you Wolves. Hell, even as a child."
"Oh, I was born before all of you." He added with a smirk.
"I've always been fascinated by Wolves. Yes, my family were Vampires and when what happened happened, I became one, I still respect you people, and as Kyle wanted, I only want this community to thrive, but what do we have here? Y'all fucking flexing auras. For what? Aura farming?!" He scolded.
"Paul, I understand your kid is angry at the moment. I won't teach you your job, but I forgive his temper." He spoke.
"Thank you Brody." Paul, Alvin's father responded, pulling Alvin's arm.
Brody mounted a table, yelling at the top of his voice.
"Today is just another progress at peace, so drink y'all. Tonight's all on me!"
He was responded with the merry cheers of everyone in the bar.
"Don't forget to compel the normies to forget anything tonight hinting our existence." He whispered, every Vampire in the room understanding him.
Brody walked out of the bar, a worried look on his face.
Orphaned as a toddler, he had been raised by Tierney's family who had been early settlers in the City for years. With a family, although supernatural, he felt loved and cared for. Having a sense of duty, he joined the army, fighting the Vietnam war. He experienced unimaginable horror in the war and died amidst it.
Reawakening, he realised his foster family had constantly fed him Tierney's blood all the while, and him dying led to him becoming one.
Returning a war hero, he watched as his City and home town grew, becoming the flourishing City it was now.
Being Tierney's right hand man with the Vampire faction, he was also a friend of Kyle. One who shared the same peaceful goal as the latter. Unfortunately, he had to watch Kyle, like most of his friends die.
Drawing a deep sigh, he sped into the deep city, forgetting his past again, and focusing on the future.
To be continued…