Hammer of Witches-Ch.1-Alive

Ch.1: Alive

Scarlet. The world turned scarlet. Consumed by searing agony, whole world in flames. No, not the whole world. Because there was still a warmth that didn't burn, something that didn't hurt. A drop of white in the sea of crimson.

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Cold, rough and wet stone scrapped unforgivingly on the skin of the man's knees as the he was dragged along it. Crimson droplets and smears of the person's blood were tracing the way perfectly like a path of crumbs. Not that the man would need to find his way back. Loud rough click followed by a sudden screeching noise of an iron sliding against iron tore through the musty air of the place and moments later the previously dragged body was thrown onto the same cold stone floor without much care. There was the same screeching noise of iron bars moving, closed this time, and an unmistakable sound of a rusty lock sliding into place, then retreating steps and then silence.

The body on the floor stirred signalling that it was, indeed, still alive. The man was obviously trying to get up and maybe he would if his hands weren't bound behind his back with heavy metal cuffs. But as it was he just slumped back to the ground and instead tried to decipher more of his surroundings.

He was in jail but that much he had already known. It was very dark in there but that was not really a problem, considering who he was he could see well enough even with the nearly none light that seeped into his cell from the poorly lit corridor. He supposed there was only one torch on the far away end by the door. Any human would be practically blind in there. The man's sight was indeed a bit blurry but that was only because his glasses were askew, nearly falling off of his face, so he was not really looking through them.

A sigh escaped his lips. This was not how he had imagined his day, not at all. He really had not planned to spend it in a filthy jail reeking of rotting flesh and a few things he didn't want to identify with only rats and that disgusting smell as a company. He just wanted to pass through the village, get a meal in there and disappear without trace. A simple plan.

But it didn't go too well, he thought wryly.

He needed to get out of there and quickly. But those goddamned handcuffs had to be cursed of something because he couldn't break out of them. And even if he could he was much too weak, much too wounded to escape.

Think, Alfred, think. There has to be some way out of this mess, he told to himself. He refused to give up or despair, no, because that would be his end. I will get out of here, I'm way too young to die and I won't let myself be burned at the stake, thank you very much.

Alfred's brain was working so hard it was almost visible. But even so he couldn't figure out just what was he going to do.

Oh, this is a deep shit I got myself into, Alfred thought but then he froze.

He had been so sure about being alone, so sure that the quite clink of metal from behind him nearly gave him a heart attack.

He turned onto his other side so he was now facing the back of the cell. Not much light reached the far away corner of the small room but Alfred could still make out a faint silhouette of a man there. The man was kneeling on the stone floor with his hands hanging off the wall high above his head where they were bound in heavy metal shackles. His head hung low and he wasn't moving, it seemed he was unconscious.

Alfred couldn't believe his luck. He might in the end get out of there. That was, of course, in the case that the man was still alive. Alfred hesitated. He didn't want to kill the man but his situation was hopeless.

Desperate times…, he thought as he started to drag himself along the floor towards the kneeling man.

As he got nearer he could smell something else over the disgusting odour of the place. And it was divine, the aroma of the man's blood.

So he is alive, I can't believe how lucky I-

„You get one inch closer, vampire, and your head can say goodbye to the rest of your body."

Oh, shit, Alfred cursed as he indeed felt a rather sharp pressure against his throat. But there was no one standing behind him. So he's a wizard, oh shit, shit, shit, shit, and I thought I was lucky! But maybe I could still get out of this…

„H-Hey there, I thought you were asleep, haha!" Oh god, could he be more stupid? Of course he had thought that! And he was about to use it and suck the man's blood dry!

The wizard was now eyeing menacingly, his head still hung low like if the simple task of raising it was too much for him.

„Shut up," he ground through his teeth making Alfred curse inwardly again.

„Ehh… look, there's no need to be nervous I.. I'm Alfred, Alfred F. Jones, and… what's your name?" Alfred felt the pressure on his neck increase and he gulped nervously.

„I thought I told you to shut up, vampire." His voice was calm, though it was clear how much effort it cost him just to speak. But Alfred was sure the man would kill him in a matter of seconds. So the next words that came from the wizard gave him a real shock.

„I have something to propose to you and I promise you won't regret listening to me because it's much better than just my blood."

Alfred just stared at him, dumbfounded. What the hell?!

„I can't get out of these shackles and I know you can't get out of those handcuffs," he paused, "so let's help each other." One of the wizard's hands opened and there, in his palm laid a small key.

How did he get that?

„I'll give this to you, it's a key to your cuffs, and you will get rid of my shackles." It was not a question, just a statement but the vampire still nodded.

Right before his eyes the key raised from the wizard's palm and moved through the air until it landed in the vampire's palm instead. He didn't hesitate in unlocking his handcuffs and shakily sitting up. It was a surprise how much better he felt once the metal wasn't touching his skin. Like if it really had been cursed. But he was still weak.

Alfred stood up with some effort and closed the distance between himself and the wizard with the later watching him warily the whole time. He hadn't forgotten his end of the deal. His fingers slid carefully around the lock of one cuff and with some struggling he broke it. The arm that was suddenly released fell uselessly to the man's side. The wizard let escape a hiss of pain. A good part of his weight was now hanging only on his right wrist and was causing him more than a slight discomfort. Alfred disposed of the other cuff and barely caught the man before he slumped to the floor.

„I have another proposal," the wizard said quietly as he was propped against the wall. Alfred now had a chance to look at him more closely. The other man was young, blonde with nice face and rather prominent eyebrows.

„I'll let you have my blood and you will get me out of here, alive."

... wait, what?! Alfred was sure his jaw dropped down to the floor, he must have heard wrong.

„What?!"

The wizard looked at him with narrowed eyes but Alfred was sure he couldn't see him, it was too dark.

„You heard me. I know you're wounded and much too weak to escape and so am I. So you will drink my blood and then get us out of here." Again it was just a statement, no room for objections but Alfred was not going to have any.

Ok, I really am lucky.

Who was he to refuse that offer? He didn't nod this time. He just shifted closer to the man in front of him.

„What's your name?" he asked again, much more calm this time.

There was a moment of silence.

„It's Arthur, if you need to know, and could you hurry up? I don't want to be burned at the stake even with you to make me company."

The sarcastic tone almost made Alfred chuckle but he refrained from that opting for a smile instead. He was still a bit wary of the other's reactions.

„But I'm a good company, you should consider it." The vampire was sure Arthur's lips tilted a bit up at that.

„I think I'll pass on that offer. Now, could you...?"

Alfred didn't need to ask what had the wizard meant. He just moved one of his hands so it was supporting the other's head and tilted it to the side. He was once again aware of the divine smell of Arthur's blood that surfaced even through the grime covering his skin. He breathed it in and couldn't help but release a pleased sigh. I can't believe he's offering this willingly, desperate situation but still.. I can't wait to-

His trail of thoughts was suddenly interrupted by a slight shiver of the body in front of him. He glanced to the side, at Arthur's face, and he saw the man had his eyes shut tightly and he was biting his bottom lip so hard Alfred was sure the skin was going to break soon. He then realised the wizard was scared. It seemed so strange for someone who had threatened to kill him mere minutes ago. It was so... human, he thought.

His free arm slid around Arthur's waist, the hand rubbing soothing circles into the wizard's back as Alfred lowered his head into the crook of the other's neck closing his own eyes. Another shiver run through the body he was now embracing as his lips touched the skin lightly and he only held it closer. There was a quite gasp for air when the vampire's fangs sank into the flesh of the other's throat cradling the body even closer.

Oh god, this is so good. Alfred had never before tasted any witch's or wizard's blood, never even thought about it, and it was amazing. He had thought that there was nothing better than human's blood but the liquid that was now running down his throat couldn't be even compared to it and he had to restrain himself from moaning in delight.

Alfred could feel his wounds heal and his strength rise but he could also feel the body in his arms giving slight trembles and he could hear Arthur's raged breathing getting steadily weaker and slower. No, he thought, it's too soon, it's not enough... He wanted more, more of that heavenly nectar. He doubted even angel's blood could taste this divine. But the trembles ceased almost completely and the body went limp in his grip and he knew that if he took more he would kill the man for sure.

With all his self-control Alfred slowly pulled his fangs out, licking at the last drops of the crimson liquid that escaped and then watching the wound slowly close. He lowered Arthur to the ground, careful not to hurt him. He then froze to the place.

The wizard's eyes were watching him from under the heavy lids. He noticed they were green. There was no trace of the previous menace in them and Alfred realised he could just walk away and leave the other man there and that Arthur knew it. He had known it all along.

He had no guarantee I won't leave without him, no reason to trust me and he has still..

The eyes held him in place. And they were pleading him, pleading not to be left to die before finally letting the heavy eyelids close over the green orbs.

Alfred still didn't move. The wizard's face was now calm but that didn't make him forget the last look of those eyes, the silent plea and the wish to live.

And he couldn't ignore that.