Chapter 17: 17. Cold Blooded
Kieth sat in the darkness, the flickering campfire casting shadows around him. He stared into the flames, lost in thought.
"You alright, champ?" A voice broke the silence.
Kieth looked up, his eyes widening. It was his dad sitting beside him.
"Dad... no... this can't be real. It's just a dream."
His dad fixed him with a steady gaze. "Even if it is... is it something you hate?"
"No," Kieth replied, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't hate the dream. I hate the reality I'm stuck in... I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sure you were crushed when you found out I died."
His dad smiled softly, a sad glint in his eyes. "I must have been. But, Kieth, I'm something made up by your memories. Does it really matter?"
"I guess not," Kieth whispered.
"Was it hard, raising me?" Kieth asked, his voice hesitant.
His dad nodded. "Of course it was. But I'd say that was the best part. Watching you grow, seeing you change... It was something we looked forward to."
"Why?" Kieth asked, his voice soft with curiosity.
His dad's smile softened. "I understand either but, Your mother was so overjoyed when she found out she was going to have you."
"Even though I was a burden?" Kieth asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
His dad shook his head. "No, Kieth. Children aren't burdens, not if they're family."
Kieth was silent for a moment, processing the words.
"So... You wasn't a burden, just a part of our life. An important part."
His dad furrowed his brow. "Well... isn't that the same for you right now?"
Kieth looked at him. "Is it? It depends on how you look at it."
Kieth sighed. "I don't know. I gave her a name... but I can't bring myself to call her my daughter."
"But you see her as someone to protect, don't you?"
Kieth's gaze fell. "It's because I owe her. She saved me... but she doesn't understand what that means."
"She considers you her father."
Kieth looked up, shaking his head. "She doesn't know what that word means."
His dad smiled knowingly. "Sure she does."
"How can you be so sure?" Kieth asked, raising an eyebrow.
His father pointed at a drawing she had made in the chamber, one that looked unmistakably like her idea of a father figure.
"What if it's you she drew?"
Kieth blinked in disbelief. "What? No..."
"Was that drawing there before you came in?"
"No..."
"Did she ever meet her real father?"
"No..."
"Then it's clear, isn't it?"
Kieth stared at him, realization dawning on him. "So to her... you really are her father. And I think... she likes it."
Kieth's chest tightened as the truth sank in.
"Still... I can't be like you. I'm not strong enough," Kieth muttered, his voice thick with emotion.
His dad's tone softened. "No one's strong, Kieth. The truly strong ones are those who understand their weaknesses. You know yours... that makes you strong,You protected her knowing you could get hurt against that beast didn't you?"
"But I didn't mean to protect her," Kieth protested. "It was just instinct."
"Instinct doesn't lie, Kieth. It's what your heart wanted. You didn't just protect her because of a debt... you protected her because you care."
"What if it's pity? What if I pity her?"
His dad shook his head, his voice firm but kind. "No, Kieth. It's not pity." "Deep down, you already want to protect her," his dad said gently. "You can't accept it now, but... in time, you'll learn to love her as your daughter."
Kieth looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why not as a younger sister?"
His dad chuckled softly. "Would she want that?"
"I guess not," Kieth replied with a small smile.
"Then get up and protect her... and Evelyn," his dad said, his voice firm yet full of warmth.
Kieth looked down again, unsure. "But... can I?"
"Who knows?" His dad shrugged. "That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself."
"But what if I die again, this time for real?" Kieth asked, a knot forming in his stomach.
His dad's expression softened, but there was a quiet strength in his words. "Then make sure they're safe, even if you die. That's what matters."
"Dad..."
Kieth stood up and hugged him, tears stinging his eyes.
"Ho ho, you've grown taller," his dad chuckled, wrapping him in a hug.
"You're taller, too," Kieth said with a faint smile, squeezing him tighter.
The two of them stood there for a moment, holding each other. Kieth knew his dad wasn't really there, but he still cherished the time they had, even if it was just a dream.
"I miss you... I miss home," Kieth whispered.
His dad smiled, pulling back. "Then find a way."
---
Kieth woke up, disoriented. He was tied up in a dark room.
"You're awake."
Kieth's gaze snapped toward the voice. Aldric was sitting across from him, sharpening a knife.
Kieth's eyes burned with anger. "Where is Serel?"
"Your daughter?" Aldric's tone was mocking.
...
"She's with my wife. She was crying for you... so I thought about killing her. But you're lucky my wife stopped me."
"You..." Kieth's voice trembled with fury.
Aldric leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Tell me who you are and why you came here. You speak like you're from the South."
"What if I am?"
Aldric's gaze grew colder. "What if I told you the South and I are sworn enemies?"
Aldric's eyes pierced through him. "Tell me where you're from."
Kieth took a deep breath. "Tell me the name of this country, and I'll tell you."
Aldric threw a knife, narrowly missing Kieth. "I'm not playing games. I'll kill you, and I could care less about your kid."
"East. I'm from the East."
Aldric's eyes narrowed as he studied him. "Valdoa?"
Kieth nodded. "Yes," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Then you were exiled... with your daughter, I presume?"
"Couldn't be more right," Kieth replied, his tone almost casual, though his heart was pounding.
"For what reason?" Aldric asked.
"Do I have to disclose it?" Kieth replied.
Aldric studied him for a moment. "Yeah, I've decided—I'll kill you."
"Why? What? For what purpose?"
"Don't ask questions. I'll be taking your body."
"What...?"
Aldric didn't respond.
What, does he want to possess me or something?
"Well, just to tell you," Kieth said, his voice tense, "I'm pretty wounded. The bandages aren't for display."
Aldric glanced at the bandages, then pointed the knife. "Remove them."
"Alright," Kieth muttered. He slowly peeled the bandages from his arm, revealing the purple skin and a large bite wound.
Aldric clicked his tongue in annoyance, then stormed outside.
Well, at least I get some privacy, Kieth thought. He looked around, noting that his legs were untied. He carefully stood up and walked out of the room, hiding a little. The manor was huge, almost empty.
Kieth spotted a knife nearby. He grabbed it and tried to cut through the ropes, glancing around to make sure Aldric wasn't returning. After a while, he managed to free himself and stretched his limbs.
"That's better..."
Kieth walked out again, cautiously scanning his surroundings. He noticed Evelyn's dress hanging in a room. He walked over, picked it up, and spotted the bed.
This must be where they sleep.
Suddenly, Kieth heard a cry. He rushed toward the sound, bursting out of the house. A crowd had gathered outside. He pushed his way through and saw Aldric gripping Serel, trying to pull her away from Evelyn, who was holding onto Serel tightly.
Evelyn was crying, desperately clinging to Serel.
Aldric growled as he tried to wrench Serel from Evelyn's arms. "EVELYN, GIVE ME THE CHILD!"
"No, please!" Evelyn screamed, her voice breaking. "Don't kill her! I'll do anything, please!"
Serel's sobs echoed through the crowd, and whispers filled the air as they watched the struggle unfold.
"Look at how unsightly th' lord's wife looks," the crowd whispered, their voices thick with suspicion.
"Is she havin' an affair wi' th' lord?" one woman muttered.
"I'm sure they haven't a child o' their own," another woman added.
"Whose child be it, then?" a third questioned.
"Must be hers, aye, since she be so desperate," the first woman sneered.
The crowd's cruel words filled Kieth with rage. Instead of concern for what was happening, they only whispered their judgments. He couldn't stand it anymore. His hand shot into his pocket, grabbing the knife he'd hidden there.
Aldric's head turned toward him sharply. Kieth's eyes widened in shock confused at how had Aldric spotted him from that far away, hidden in the crowd
"Everyone, capture that boy!" Aldric bellowed, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd.
Kieth looked around in panic as eyes turned to him. He tried to brush it off. "Hey, he doesn't mean me," Kieth said with a nervous chuckle. "He means her, kieth pointed at a random man next to him.
"The one who looks like a corpse!" Aldric shouted again, his voice filled with disdain.
"Seriously, dude, I don't—"
Before Kieth could finish, one of the men grabbed him by the arm. Kieth reacted instinctively, slashing the knife across the man's hand.
"AHHHHH! He cut me! He cut me! Get him!" the man screamed, stumbling back in pain.
Kieth knew he had to run, but just as he started to move, Aldric, who had let go of Serel, appeared right in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Kieth's heart raced. Was that speed? No, it couldn't be. Had he teleported?
Without warning, Aldric conjured a sword out of nowhere and in an instant, he was behind Kieth, his blade drenched in blood.
Kieth gasped as his body buckled, his chest stinging with the sharp pain of the wound. "Wha—"
"Kieth!" Evelyn shouted, her voice filled with panic.
Kieth's vision blurred as blood poured from his chest. His breathing became shallow as he fought to stay conscious, the pain unbearable. Blood filled his mouth, and he struggled to keep his head up.
Evelyn rushed to him, her hands trembling as she knelt beside him. "Kieth... wait, wait... you—blood..." She was frantic, her breath quickening as she tried to stop the bleeding.
"Papa hurt, papa hurt!" Serel cried, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Kieth.
Kieth could barely breathe, let alone speak. The pain was overwhelming, but he tried to steady his breath.
"EVELYN, COME HERE!" Aldric commanded, his voice thunderous.
Evelyn turned toward him, covering Kieth protectively. "Please… don't do this. I beg you, he's but a child!"
Aldric's face darkened with fury. He stormed toward Evelyn, grabbing her by the hair and yanking her away from Kieth. Evelyn cried out, her struggles futile against his strength. Serel, frightened and crying, fell to the ground, her sobs echoing in the tense silence.
"EVELYN! YOU BRING A MAN INTO OUR VILLAGE AND EVEN HIS DAUGHTER? CAN'T YOU SEE IT? SHE'S A VAMPIRE!" Aldric's voice thundered through the crowd.
The villagers stood in shocked silence, mouths agape, as Aldric made his declaration. Their eyes flickered between Evelyn, Kieth, and Serel, confusion and fear etched on their faces.
Kieth's hearing worsened, the world around him fading as the blood continued to pour from his wound. His vision swam, but his gaze remained fixed on Evelyn, then on Serel, who was clinging desperately to him despite the blood soaking him.
Through the fog of pain, Kieth saw the arrow lying next to him—the one he'd missed earlier. It was just within reach. He stretched out his trembling hand and grabbed it.
One of the men saw Kieth's movement and kicked him, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"He tries to grasp a weapon! Seize him!" one man shouted.
Another man snarled, "Nay, strike down the lass first! Is she not a vampire?"
As they advanced toward Serel, Kieth, with every ounce of strength he could muster, plunged the knife into one man's heart. The man gasped, falling lifeless to the ground.
Aldric turned toward Kieth, his eyes blazing with fury. Before he could teleport to him, Kieth, in a blur of movement, hurled the arrow into the air, sending it soaring five meters ahead of him. Aldric, with his unnatural speed, teleported toward it. But as soon as he reached the spot where the arrow landed, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Aldric's hand shot to his heart as he gasped, eyes wide in disbelief.
"You... what did you do?" Aldric rasped, blood trickling from his lips.
Kieth's vision was growing dim, but he managed a weak smile. He knew the arrow was now embedded in Aldric's heart, and it would only be a matter of moments before it killed him.
With his remaining strength, Kieth reached out for Serel, pulling her close.
Aldric, spitting blood, tried to move, his face contorting with rage and pain. But he took only one more step before his body seized. His eyes locked on Kieth for a brief moment, filled with hatred, before he crumpled to the ground, dead.
The villagers stood in stunned silence, their gazes shifting between the fallen lord and Kieth, whose body trembled with the weight of his wounds.
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