Chapter 274: Acting a god
With a swift movement, Blake reached out and grabbed the man's arm, his grip iron-tight as he drew him closer. "So here's how it's going to go," he said, his voice cold and menacing. "I'm going to feed on you, whether you like it or not."
The man struggled against Blake's hold, but it was futile. With a swift motion, Blake sank his teeth into the man's neck.
As the warm, intoxicating blood flowed into his throat, Blake felt a surge of energy pulsating through his veins. It was like an electric current, coursing through every fiber of his being, igniting a fire within him. His tongue danced with delight as he savored the rich, metallic taste of the blood.
It was an experience unlike any other, better than any wine he had ever tasted. With each swallow, he felt his strength replenishing, his senses sharpening, and a euphoric rush washing over him. He had only intended to take a little, just enough to sustain himself, but the primal urge within him took over.
Seconds turned into minutes as Blake continued to feed, his hunger insatiable. The man's struggles grew weaker with each passing moment, his whimpers of pain barely audible over the sound of Blake's voracious feeding. His eyes bulged in terror as he felt the life draining from his body, his skin growing cold and clammy beneath Blake's touch.
But Blake was lost in the throes of his own hunger, oblivious to the suffering he was causing. It was only when he finally pulled away, his thirst temporarily quenched, that he realized the extent of what he had done. The man lay limp and lifeless at his feet, his once vibrant eyes now vacant and hollow.
With a heavy sigh, Blake wiped the blood from his lips, a mixture of satisfaction and remorse washing over him. He had succumbed to his primal instincts, allowing his hunger to consume him in the most literal sense. And in doing so, he had taken another life, adding to the ever-growing list of casualties left in his wake.
"Thanks for the meal," he said casually, stepping over the lifeless body as he made his way out of the club. "Until next time,"
As Blake made his way through the aftermath of the chaos he had wrought, stepping over the bodies of those he had vanquished, he came upon the gang leader who lay among the fallen, still clinging to life despite his grave injuries. A flicker of mercy crossed Blake's mind, a brief temptation to spare the man's life. But then, he remembered the harsh lessons he had learned.
Mercy was a luxury he could not afford. In a world where weakness invited death, Blake knew that showing mercy would only endanger his own life. He recalled the treachery of Elena, the one who had kidnapped him and subjected him to a simulation of her own making. She had shown him no mercy, and neither had any of his other enemies.
With a cold resolve, Blake controlled the blood disc to hover menacingly above the man's head. He twirled his hand in a swift motion, causing the disc to spin like a deadly blade, ready to deliver the final blow. Just as he was about to release it, he heard his name called out from behind him.
Turning around, Blake saw the familiar figures of Reggie, Gunther, and Randal emerging from the encased shadows, their expressions a mix of concern and anger. The vampire knights of Rose, loyal to their lord and master, and they had arrived just in time to witness the aftermath of Blake's actions.
Reggie, the eldest of the three, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene before him. "Blake, what have you done?" he asked, his voice tinged with dismay.
Blake met Reggie's gaze, his expression unapologetic. "I did what needed to be done," he replied evenly. "These men are evil, they were a threat, and I eliminated them."
Gunther, ever the pragmatist, spoke next, his tone filled with reproach. "And who gave you that right to make that choice? Look at what you've done!"
"I saw two of these men harassing an innocent lady. Would you stand by and do nothing if you had the power? Would you?!" Blake argued fiercely.
"You mean the prostitute by the alley we just left?" Randal asked, causing Blake to arch an eyebrow in surprise.
"We just left that scene before the police arrived. The lady was a prostitute and she had stolen from these men," Randal said, pointing at the bodies scattered about.
"But I'm guessing from the looks of things, you didn't bother to ask, correct? You have the power so you exacted judgement on these "Monsters", yes?" Reggie paused, judging Blake's demeanor. He looked somewhat confused at that moment but his next words shattered that facade.
"So what? How does her stealing necessitate the disgusting plans they had for her?!!" Blake fired back.
"So you'd rather play God?!! Because you have the power now?! And at at what cost, Blake?" Gunther who had been silent demanded. "You've become a monster, just like them."
Blake felt a twinge of guilt at Gunther's words, but he quickly pushed it aside. He knew that his actions had been necessary, that he could not afford to show weakness in the face of his enemies.
Randal, the quietest of the three, spoke up, his voice filled with sadness. "Blake, we can't keep resorting to violence every time we face a challenge," he pleaded. "This is not our way. This is not Rose's way. Loo, there has to be another way."
Blake listened to their words, considering the impacts and it weighed heavily on his mind. He knew that they were right, that there had to be another way to confront their enemies. But for now, he could not afford to show that weakness. He had seen what being weak was first hand. They were forgetting that he died?!!
"I'm sorry," Blake said softly. "But this is who I am now. It's who I need to be to ensure when I find Rose, nothing ever comes between us again. Perhaps your ways are ineffective and has led to so many heartbreaking situations,"...
..." The villagers at the island, remember them? They are all dead now but let's stop to think for a moment that if three of you acted on time and maybe tried to stop Elena when you got to the island, maybe ... just maybe some lives would be spared, including mine," Blake said, eyes locked fiercely with the trio in front of him.
"Well that's all in the past and I can't change that. The future however though, it's up to me to decide,"
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Reggie, Gunther, and Randal behind him. He knew that they would never understand the darkness that now consumed him, but he also knew that he could not let their judgment stop him from doing what needed to be done. It was kill or be killed.