This one is part of the Falling Darkness set of plot so it’s pretty dark. Like… bloodshed, madness, pain, that kind of dark. I’m wondering if I’m really a fan of torturing characters (mostly original ones) I like. It seems to happen a lot. Riel is really a poor thing. And it’s all my fault.

—

The guards did not know what hit them when it happened.

The familiar black-winged figure looked just like his normal indifferent self when he landed in the front yard of Eailen’s private castle. Then as he approached the door, they noticed an alarmingly overpowering scent of freshly spilled blood.

Though it was nothing abnormal in a place inhabited and ruled by vampires, it was decidedly strange when it came from him. After all, he was not truly one of them. But they shrugged it off, thinking that their lord had sent him on another errand.

It was only when he stopped between them, his lips moved into a chilling little smile, the first that had ever appeared on his emotionless face, then did they realized that something was not right. But it was too late.

The guard on his right only had enough time to see the madness in the black eyes before a hand plunged into his chest and tore out his still bleating heart. Gurgling as blood rose up his throat, he was then ripped apart by claws of darkness.

Bat-like wings unfurled from the second guard’s back and he took to the air as fast as he could. But he was still too slow, as the air rippled ominously and exploded in front of him, knocking him back and smashing him against the outer wall of the castle. Face down on the floor, he let out a blood-curling scream as his wings were torn from his back.

“A hundred years later I have to replace my guards from the exact same reason again. How many candidates did you leave me to choose from, my dear Riel?”

The blood-covered being snapped the guard’s neck brutally before turning towards the vampire lord with those dark insane eyes. A snarl tore out of his mouth as the shadow around him flared and surged towards Eailen without warning.

“Saradia will be so jealous over your mastery of the dark magic.” The vampire commented as a dark red barrier winked into place and blocked the attack. “I can’t wait to see her face when she knows you have lost control again.”

“Eailen!” Riel shrieked as he flew at the calm-looking man, a blade conjured out of darkness clasped in his hand. The madness in his eyes had long turned into hatred and fury that poured out from his entire being as scorching heat. “Die!”

Countering easily with his own sword, Eailen smiled with anticipation as he stared into Riel’s eyes. “You have to do better than that, Riel, or you will never be able to kill me.”

Howling defiantly, Riel turned and struck again, his blade warping into a whip that lashed out directly at the vampire’s face. Eailen, however, was ready for it and the moment the tail of the whip wrapped around his upraised blade, he tugged the unbalanced Riel towards himself with a smirk. Before the crazed being could recover, he enclosed the other in a spherical cage of darkness mixed with his own blood magic, the strongest in all of the Cursed Lands.

Riel’s screams pierced the air when the black bars of his prison sprouted thorns and stabbed inwards, nailing him to one side of the cage through his arms and legs. At a snap of Eailen’s fingers, black lightning coursed through the thorns and the captured one, drawing out another round of pained cries and leaving Riel slumped and gasping harshly.

“Ho? Still spirited, hm?” Eailen murmured as he watched Riel struggled to reach him even in such a state, and slipped a hand through the space between the bars to pat Riel’s cheeks, mindful for the man’s snapping jaws. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you out to play, after I’m done having my own fun. Scream for me, Riel.”