Martyr

[Farron 0]

Before you read, I will say that this is a vampire story. Also, it has no ties to the Ultimate RP. I wanted to cut those ties for this story to make it more original. I don't want Zelda and Ness popping up in my story.

PROLOGUE:

"Sigil! Get in here! You need to see this!"

Sigilant Marcus heard his father, Guile Marcus, call him. His father was an inventor of sorts, with his inventions ranging from weapons and poisons to items of convenience and medication. There was no telling what the loony old man had dreamed up this time. Sigilant rolled backwards onto his feet. It was apparent that Sigilant of 21 years didn't follow the same path as his father. Sigilant was as intelligent as his father, but he preferred using the weapons over making them. Long ours in a room taking notes and building trinkets didn't appeal to him. It certainly seem to get his 62-year-old father worked up, though. So Sigil was the fighter and Guile was the inventor. Sigil walked into his father's marble home to see a tall, white, muscular man chained to the wall. His red eyes glared at Sigilant and commanded fear.

"You have got to be kidding me," Sigilant said, disappointed. "So you actually got one. A vampire. I can't wait to hear the inhumane way that you got it."

"I took a prisoner on death row and poisoned him. This little vampire issue we've been having lately really played in my favor. The poisoned prisoner was sat upright in a wagon while another prisoner drove. Two vampires ambushed them just outside of town. The poison quickly set the vampire on a feeding frenzy. He left his partner to feed in town and the poison's immobilization effect took place soon after, making it possible for me to perform my work."

"That's sick. A man should die honorably, no matter what crimes he may have committed."

"I saw it as a win-win situation."

This was what Sigilant didn't like about his father. Guile may as well have been a monster at times.

"One monster for another."

"They're not monsters," Sigilant argued. The vampire's eyebrow arched at this statement.

"A lot of them just want to survive."

"You sound a little insane at times, my son."

"Insane?! I'm the insane one? Did I bring an incredibly strong vampire, alive at that, who could kill us both in a single movement into my home to be tortured?!"

"It's for a good cause."

"What?!"

"This will separate the monsters from the survivors."

"They already are in my mind."

"Well look at you! So accepting! And you already understand the concept, too! Wouldn't you make a good vampire?"

Sigilant shook his head and looked at the vampire. He was bald, tall and very muscular. He wasn't as tall as Sigil, which was understandable. Sigil was taller than most people, but the vamp was more muscular. Sigil's almost-colorless skin didn't hold a candle to the vamp's white skin, either.

"Nice toys you have over there, child," The vampire's ancient voice finally said. He was looking at the claw-gauntlets that Guile made for Sigil.

"I like them," Sigil replied, crossing his arms. He obviously wasn't bothered by casual conversation with the creature.

"How do you fell?" Sigilant asked without hesitation.

"Not well. I'm also a bit humiliated. An inability to move my limbs would also fit nicely in that list."

"Lovely."

"Sigilant," Guile broke in, "has the wind been picking up considerably in the past week?'

"It's felt kinda like it's been whirling around me. Why?"

"Just making sure I haven't gone crazy."

"I believe it would be a little too late for that, my friend." the vampire taunted. Sigil snickered.

"I guess you're ready for me to begin, then. Sigil, hold this."

Sigilant was handed a phial. Guile walked over to a table and picked up a tube along with one of Sigil's claw-gauntlets. He walked over to the vampire.

"Shouldn't you administer the poison first?" Sigil warned.

"I'll be alright."

"How do you know? It's not like you've been able to test the poison."

"Confidence, boy, confidence."

"Over-confidence."

Guile ignored Sigilant and cut the vampire. He let the blood flow into the tube. He poured half of the tube into Sigil's phial and half of it into another phial on the table.

"Why did you need me to hold this, again?"

"I felt like it."

Guile did odd things like that.

"What you're holding is a cure for vamparism. On this table is a poison that will kill one."

That was groundbreaking. Vampires normally had to die by decapitation. This made it much easier and possible to trap them.

"They need to age a couple of years to be able to do anything, though."

Guile set down the glove. The blades weren't actually shaped like claws, but they worked in the same way. The "claws" were four 5-inch-long blades that were slightly curved at the tips. They'd cut just about anything. Guile kept on filling up phials of vampire poison. It was evident that he was more about killing them than saving them.

"Sigilant, put the phial down on a different table. I'll get more blood."

"Guile picked up the gauntlet again and walked over to the vampire. He cut the vamp and started to fill the tube.

"FUC-"

Sigilant heard the tube crash and the glove's blades clang. He turned around to see the vampire holding up Guile by the throat.

"Your child was correct, foolish old man. I have been able to move ever since you began to take my blood."

The vampire threw Guile into the hard, marble wall. He looked at Sigilant. Instinctively, Sigil grabbed the other glove and put it on. The vampire lunged at Sigil, but Sigil sidestepped and brought the claws up in an uppercut. Why was nothing cut? Are vampires really that fast?

It felt like a sledgehammer smacked him in the back. Sigil was sent flying into the wall and felt his bones crack. The vampire walked over to him Sigil and knelt beside him.

Sigilant, coughing up blood, mustered all the strength he could to punch the vamp in the face. It was futile. His hand broke, and his arm unwillingly fell to his side.

"Your father said that you would make a good vampire. He was joking, of course, but I agree with him."

The vampire sank his fangs into Sigilant and reluctantly pulled away.

As the bite started to take effect, Sigil saw Guile get up and limp over to his table. There were crashes. Sigilant saw the vampire poison splash on the floor. He heard his father's coughing and panicking. All of his Guile's to save his son were heard. It all ended with a loud crack and the sight of Guile's lifeless body falling to the floor.

I'll post the first chapter later.

Edited 12 Apr 2009 by HylianForrunner (see edit history)

[Farron 0]

I know I said, "I'll post the first chapter later," but no one replied and I never really felt compelled to post it. Sorry it took so long. Anyway, here it is.

CHAPTER 1: A NEW WORLD

"The demons plague our roads, killing our citizens and ruining our trade! People of Oakland, rise up! Will we allow these beasts to do this? To suck your neighbors and family dry? Let us show the filthy vampires what we are truly capable of! Rise up, neighbors! Rise up, families! Rise up, traders! Rise up, Oakland!"

- Oakland Town Crier attempting to rally people against the vampires.

Sigilant dug his fingers into his medium-length brown hair, which was turning black, and clutched his head. He let out a howl of pain. He felt his green irises peel away and the color of the very blood that he was beginning to crave take their places. He felt an excruciating pain in his guns. He was teething. He felt the fangs try to force themselves out. Why did they have to do it slowly?

"Why!?"

He was shaking. His body was shaking all over. He felt his body and bones harden. Finally, it reached his heart. Pain was all there was. All that he knew. He clutched his chest, instinctively trying to save himself from the heart attack. It was useless. He could find relief no where. Pain, pain, pain, pain. He couldn't take it!

He found no other option. He roared in torment as his personal purgatory dragged on.

Sigilant found himself on his hands and knees, gasping for breath. He put his hand over his heart and felt a ferocious beat. It his heart beat wildly to pump what blood there was. He looked over his body and saw that he was extremely pale. Almost white. He remembered the pain that he just went through. How was he alive?

He didn't know. He didn't care. He felt like he was losing control. He was thirsty. He needed something... Now! He scanned the room frantically until he saw a body. It couldn't have died more than three hours ago. He jumped onto it and sucked the blood until he was brought to his senses again. He looked into the face of the body. He didn't know who it was, and he didn't care. He got up and surveyed the room, He noticed a large puddle of something that had a terrible stench. He certainly wasn't going to drink it. He looked at the body again and saw that he had a gauntlet with claws on it. Nice. He looked around and saw a matching gauntlet. Further observation led him to notice a pair of sheaths attached to buckled straps on a table. They were obviously supposed to be fastened to the thighs for quick brandishing or sheathing.

He suited up with the claw-gauntlets sheathed and in a back overcoat that he found. He stepped outside to see a bald vampire in a beige overcoat grinning at him. He felt a natural aversion to the vampire... Fear. His bite mark, familiar with the fangs that created it, burned like wildfire. Not only did Sigilant feel fear, but he felt hostility, as well. His fingers stayed near the gauntlets.

"Welcome to vampirism, child," the vampire said, spreading his arms in welcome. "It is a completely new world, my boy."

Sigil saw the vamp move. He slipped his hands into the gauntlets. He was going to dodge the vampire's lunge and counter with a jab, but his fear told him to get away.

"Three hours ago, you would not have even noticed me move. You would be dead. I can see very clearly that the only reason that you are not countering is because of the natural fear that a vampire feels toward the one that turns him."

Sigilant couldn't remember how he was turned...

"I wager you do not even remember being turned. To you and other ignorant vampires, your existence began with pain and has only lasted a few hours. You cannot remember your past or muster any recollation of a family, either."

Sigilant, who was already in a position to spring into an attack, only looked down. He remembered his name, education and skills, but not his family nor any of his past. He didn't even remember his surname. He only knew that he was Sigilant.

"It may be tragic at first, but you will get over it, hopefully. I hope that you do not find yourself doing nothing but searching for your past. There are vampires who do that, and every one that I have met is miserable. There is a rumor, however, that some vampires will have certain memories return to them in due time. I will take my leave, but I will offer one bit advice. Do not allow yourself to prolonged periods of thirst if you would like to keep civility about you. We may meet again, but I know that your bite mark would wish otherwise. Farewell."

And with that, he was gone. Sigilant was now alone. He walked around to find that the house that he was next to stood atop a hill that overlooked a town. He knew that if he walked down there with his red eyes flashing everywhere, he wouldn't be welcome. He put on his coat's hood and proceeded into town. He needed information, and who knew? Maybe he wasn't the only vamire in town.

Sigilant walked down the street, surveying the many shops, stalls, trading posts and homes. Finally, he saw what he was looking for: a tavern. Making sure his hood would cover his eyes, he stepped in. There were drunks singing and laughing, waitresses charming their patrons, and a bartender frantically working and ordering waitresses around. The stress was apparent on his face. Some stared at Sigil as he walked to the bar. Adventurers were a somewhat common sight in Oakland, but that never averted some peoples' eyes.

"What ales you, friend?" Sigilant asked, slowly taking a seat.

"Business," the bartender replied quickly. "With the recent vampire problem, people are scared to leave. People pack into taverns. The vampire issue has also made trade terrible, and I'm running out of supplies. We're all out of supplies. The way things look, I'll be out of business within the week! I'm extremely scared because I'll have to go out of town to restock. It's a suicide run!"

"Wouldn't you prefer to live and start something else?"

"The tavern is all I have. If I lose it, I might as well be dead."

"I actually came into town this morning and had a close run-in with one. If you see a bald man in a beige overcoat, turn back.

"Thank you, but there's a vampire for each road. A city at a crossroads out of trade! Can you believe it?!"

"I'll tell you what. How about I escort you?"

"I appreciate it, but you will die, and you must cost at least some money."

"Isn't danger what adventurers live for? Besides, I don't want your money You need it more than I do.

"I can't leave you risking your life with no reward. How about you take a room for free tonight? I'm planning on leaving tomorrow. It's the fourth room on the right."

"Wake me up early, and I'll help you pack."

Sigilant stood up and walked upstairs. He dashed into his room, bolted it shut, and threw back his hood. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was hard to see under that thing. He fell into his bed and clasped his hands behind his head.

Hours passed.

Why was he not yet asleep? He had been lying in bed this whole time with his eyes closed, waiting to fall asleep. He even tried a trick where he would build a house in his mind and eventually fall asleep, but he had already built several houses. Could vampires not sleep? Was he doomed to sit in boredom every night? He couldn't stand it, but he would find some way to put up with it eventually.

He had built about fifteen houses before there was a knocking on his door. Sigilant was in his hood and at the door in less than a second. It was unbolted and opened in an equal amount of time.

"I woke up a few minutes ago."

"Well, let's load up. I really appreciate you doing this."

"Don't mention it."

They loaded up goods and exchanged conversation about the upcoming trip. It was very clear to Sigil that the man knew he was going to die. Sigil wasn't even sure if he, himself would come out alive. This was the first escort that he had ever done. Bandits and various outlaws would be a cakewalk, but vampires? He wasn't sure. If he encountered one, which he would, he would hold it off long enough for his friend to high-tail it out of there with the goods. He might have to run away from the vampire, but that would endanger the bartender. No, he would not run away. That goes against his honor. He thought about honor for a moment... It certainly was an honorable thing that this bartender was doing. Marching off to death just to keep bread on the table. Why was Sigilant going? To help? Adventure? Fun? Curiosity? Probably a mixture of all of them. He also wanted to at least make the road safe. He didn't like seeing this city fall apart.

Sigilant walked in front of the horse-drawn wagon, scanning the trees that bordered the path. Sure enough, he saw a vampire. Two vampires. They confidently stood in the center of the path glaring at Sigil and the bartender. One of them smiled. He wore a beige overcoat had a bald head. Sigil's bite mark singed. It was him. He didn't pay much attention to the other vampire, who wore a plain button-up shirt with simple pants. His brown hair blended well with the trees in the background. Sigilant heard the wagon behind him stop. It didn't take a genius to infer that the bartender was probably capping himself right now. Sigilant was afraid, too.

"You know what, Luke?" the bald one casually asked. "You can handle this. I will rejoin you later."

"Victor, wait! This is a-" Victor was already gone. Luke looked at Sigilant with a smirk. "I don't know why you chose that side, boy, but you will be shown that it was the wrong one." Luke looked at the bartender. "First thing's first, though."

Sigilant stuck out his arm and stopped Luke's lung short and landed a blow to the neck. Luke flopped the the ground, but immediately came up with a wild animal-like grab at Sigil's throat. Sigil's training kicked in. He didn't remember where or when he learned, but it stood in his mind. Sigilant grabbed Luke's wrist and twisted it under his arm. He elbowed Luke and flipped the vamp over his shoulder. Sigilant spun back to get some distance and drew his claws. Then the wind hit his face.

His hood had fallen off. Yeah, the bartender was definitely crapping himself by now. Sigil shot a quick glance at the man. He was paralyzed with fear. His hands even still managed to grip the reigns of his horse.

Sigilant regretted that glance. He was on the ground with Luke on top of him. Luke let out an inhuman growl and bit into Sigilant's neck. Sigil shoved his left claws into Luke's neck and felt them meet bone.

Sigilant remembered it: decapitation. Separation of the brain from the body would kill the body, but would the head die? He would find some way to dispose of the head. Sigil pulled the claws out and kicked Luke over him.

Sigilant was a stranger to the way that vampires seemed to fight. All he knew was what he was taught about human fighting, and while it seemed to be doing the job, it wasn't doing it well. He could probably mix the different ways of fighting. Sigil just then realized how perfect these claws were for this animal-like fighting. Sigilant was ready to pounce, but he waited. Luke pounced first, but Sigil slid right under it and grabbed Luke's angle. Sigil spun Luke in the air and slammed him into a tree. He thne whipped the ground with Luke a couple of times. He started spinning Luke again. Sigilant found himself smacking headfirst into a tree. Sigil put on a faint, acting like it took a lot of effort to get up. Luke was on him in a second, biting the bait easily. Sigilant bit into Luke's neck and stabbed him repeatedly in the abs with the claws. It was perfect. You could easily get a guy who was on top of you off, but a guy who was under you and was pulling you down? Sigil didn't see it happening. Luke was, however, fighting furiously to get off, but Sigil held on. His fangs dug into Luke until they met bone, but Luke's fangs had managed to get a hold on Sigil's neck, as well. Sigil threw Luke off. Luke made a desperate lunge at the bartender, and there was no time to get a hold of him. Sigil jumped between Luke and the bartender. Luke bit into Sigil so hard, it met bone the instant Luke connected. At least the bartender was safe, and Sigil decided that this needed to be ended right now. He began to saw away at Luke's bone, and was making great progress.

Luke's fangs penetrated Sigil's bone, and the pain came in a sudden rampage of fury. Sigil suddenlt found himself screaming and throwing Luke off of him.

"This must be your first time experiencing the pain," Luke said. "New vampires usually die at this point. You were skilled, but you can't resist the pain. Might as well put you out of your misery."

Luke kicked Sigil over and bit into him once more. Sigil could feel the fangs getting deeper and deeper. He didn't have long! What could he do? The pain was overwhelming! He could barely move...

So this was it.

Luke was stopped short. His body fell off of Sigil, and a sword just barely touched Sigil's neck. Sigilant pulled Luke's head off of his neck and looked at the shocked bartender who had just saved him.

"Thanks," Sigilant managed.

"Poor Luke," Victor suddenly cut in. Great, another burning in his neck.

"I will see if I can get the others to leave, Sigilant. Also, I would recommend that you refrain from fighting in the sunlight. It makes our skin and, if exposed, our bones weak and softer than they should be. Even humans can kill us in this state. It also makes the pain of our bones being cut even worse. The vampires that I am with train each other to withstand this pain. Don't consider your vulnerability to it a weakness, but it's definitely something that needs to be worked past. Also, avoid fire. It burns away our skin and weakens our bones."

Victor looked over Luke's body.

"That would probably be the easier way to kill one of us. Decapitation is easier because you can actually get leverage on the neck. The chest? Especially where the heart is? Not so much. Kill another vampire through decapitation or by impaling the heart." Victor also looked at Sigil's wounds. "They will heal quickly. It's part of being a vampire. Stay out of the sun and they will heal by the time that you and your friend reach your destination." Victor looked at the bartender. "Be sure to take this road on the journey home. You have my assurance that I will keep it safe. Good luck in your travels and in your business."

"Thanks, Victor." Sigilant muttered.

"Goodbye, child."

Sigilant climbed into the wagon and lied down. "Who does that guy think he is, my mentor?" Sigilant asked when the bartender got to the reigns.

"I don't know, but that was one heck of an escort."

"Yeah, sorry if I scared you. Thanks for saving me."

"You saved me. I hat to return the favor. You really showed me something today."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"Not all of you vampires are monsters. Some of you care. Some you you just want to survive."

I ended up changing some things around from the rough draft to the state that you see here, and I hope it turned out well. Hope it's enjoyable.