The Tyrant's Pet

BAM!

Maximus stared at the person by the door. The latter's shadow stretched inside, reaching near Maximus's vantage point.

"Abel Grimsbanne," called Maximus under his breath, noticing Abel's bloodshot eyes as if all the anger he held in was slowly seeping out of his body. "You've finally come."

"You've finally shown up," Abel returned with a hiss, looking at Maximus from head to toe. "I thought I will have to turn this castle upside down before you come."

"I am no coward." Maximus snickered in mockery. "You do not have to find me to see me. I would've gone to you if only you asked nicely, but alas, why would I? I am in the position to accept the audience and not do the requesting."

The corner of Abel's lips curled up into a smirk, chuckling with his lips closed.

"How amusing, indeed," he mused, rocking his head to the side. "I asked you… to know your place and not to cross the line. Yet, you did the complete opposite of what I asked."

Another wave of laughter escaped Maximus' lips.

"Know my place? Not cross the line?" he scorned, eyes glinting menacingly. "Abel Grimsbanne, your arrogance never ceased to amaze me — it is infuriating. How dare you, a mere child, throw those threats at me?!"

Maximus's voice echoed like a clap of thunder, making the walls shake. However, Abel stayed on his ground while keeping his emotionless eyes on him.

"It's not that I do not know my place, my friend. It is you who do not know your place, stepping foot in my territory and slaughtering my people!"

"Oh, my lord!" Abel sang sarcastically. "Since when did you care about other people, my dearest friend? As far as I remember, you care about no one but yourself. Moreover, it is not I who stepped foot into your territory first."

His eyes shone in bright red as his fangs grew longer and sharper. "It is you, Maximus, who stepped foot in Haimirich and caused mayhem in my land. Do not forget. I don't attack unprovoked."

There was a long, stifling silence that descended on the hall after Maximus' remarks. It wasn't like Maximus had forgotten. However, it wasn't like he was also pertaining to the same case.

"The blood of Grimsbanne… what a pathetic bloodline." Maximus snickered after a moment of silence, keeping his bloodshot eyes on Abel. "No matter how strong they were, they just die just because they weren't chosen. Don't you find it strange, Abel?"

He cocked his head to the side, waiting for Abel's reply for a moment before he continued.

"Right… you will not understand because you were one of the chosen Grimsbanne to live and survive." Maximus rocked his head calmly, but his tone bore a stronger trace of resentment. "Those who weren't chosen could just either die without them knowing, or bear a child for the possibility that their seeds might live on. It's hilarious whenever I think about it. How people deemed the Grimsbanne as terrifying creatures, but then again, they were nothing but a pathetic bunch."

Many knew that the Grimsbanne was the clan more powerful than the king. They were the direct descendants of the devil, and there was no doubt of that. In terms of strength, wits, and blood purity, the Grimsbanne clan was unparalleled.

However, not many knew that it wasn't all about power and such. It was also the reason the said clan didn't think so much about the reputation they had from the outside.

The Grimsbanne had produced talented and exceptional vampires throughout the years. But the sad truth behind their lineage was that, although they had all the powers to live long enough, they couldn't. If a Grimsbanne was born and he wasn't the chosen seed as prophesied, they were meant to die naturally. This was all because they couldn't contain the power they were born with. Their power was a double-edged sword; some of them died even before they learned to walk. Others managed to live to adulthood, but then, they were sickly or inflict sickness.

One of those adults who managed to live until his adulthood was Maximus. Or rather, the soul inside that body. An old soul from the past, who simply wanted to live.

"You have no idea of what I have gone through to survive, Abel," said Maximus with a shaking voice as his emotion peaked. "You are a chosen one, and thus, you did not have any worries. You and Mathilda — even that wench, Marsella, and Ameria. Just what did you all do to deserve that power?!"

"You lot did nothing to survive, taking everything for granted and acting all high and might," continued Maximus with deep resentment in his voice. "That wench Marsella had nothing good to do in this world, ruining everyone's lives around her. Ameria could've just stayed still, but that woman took all the heirs in this land with her to find a mere human."

"Mathilda should just die since she has no contribution in life or in this world whatsoever. She's just existing. A waste of space," he added and laughed in ridicule, listing his sisters one by one and how they were. "And you, Abel Grimsbanne… you and I know your existence is nothing but a mistake. You shouldn't have existed. I mean, why? You don't even know your purpose! You have no idea, and frankly, you are nothing but a lost child who couldn't use his maximum potential."

Maximus shook his head, thinking of how these chosen seeds were too useless for their own good. He had seen them since they were children, and never once did they amuse him. They weren't even adorable, like how that Sunny was.

"Originals? Don't make me laugh." Maximus chuckled, looking at Abel from head to toe in ridicule. "You only got that title because you're the only ones who survived. But you lot aren't originals. I am!"

His voice echoed until it faded, but Abel maintained his dull countenance. When the latter's lips parted, there were only three words that came out of his mouth.

"Are you done?"