Of Fangs and Wolves

“Why is he here, after he forsake his brothers for the vampire clan?” The first man said before he transformed into his werewolf form of silky silver hair with the largest and most powerful legs and paws the size of a man’s head. He was a large human, but an even larger howling beast of the hunt.

“I am here, because of Saphira. I am here to declare my love for the vampire princess and renounce my bloodline, which bound to you, Lethos.” The man growled, keeping his eyes trained at Lethos, his former leader.

“They are cruel and vile beasts of the night and you fall for one of their manipulative maidens, Damiere. What you expect for your betrayal of our kin?” Lethos fletched his long canine teeth with tears in his eyes.

“You were my son... Now you are just a bloodsucker, a meager demon from the depths of hell.”

“I knew you would not understand. I know the truth behind the vampires. They are many and as complex and lovable as any of us. You don’t want to understand our love, because nobody ever loved you!”

The werewolves that had gathered held their breath. The winds in the woods stopped. The wolven eyes Lethos had sprung wide open. The mighty wolf took a few steps back and bit his teeth beneath shallow breath.

“You know nothing of me, Damiere. Leave this place, before I let my teeth and claws sunder your flesh.” Lethos howled in a somber and delicate tone.

Damiere turned his back on the exhausted Lethos, who had tears in his eyes. A tall man of African descent approached Lethos and said,

“When the blood moon appears on the last days, he will regret his decision.” The tall man said.

“He surely will, Khalmun. He surely will...”

...At the castle Mont Blanc, where the head of the local vampires resided, Damiere approached to see his lover, Saphira, at the dead of night...

Large silver gates opened up to reveal a masterfully decorated and prestigious marvel of architectural prowess.

Damiere took a walk through the candlelit corridors, where shadows flew by at immense speed, leaving a gust of wind and a smoky trail in their wake.

There he sat, the elder vampire king, young in shape and beauty. Long dark hair fell evenly from his head. The creature of immense might leaned his head on his hand and took a deep sigh.

“Hello Blood of wolf and man, what can I offer you? Cows blood, pigs blood, I particularly like chicken blood, because I like chicken. Where are my manners, take a seat...” The elder vampire king snapped one of his long-nailed fingers and from the shadows of another room came an overgrown bat-like creature covered in gold jewelry with red skin and a wrinkled face. The creature brought a chair out for Damiere.

Damiere took a seat and before he knew it, shadows had made the throne room a dining hall. The throne on which the most powerful entity of this world sat, lifted itself and crawled towards the dinner table.

“Uhm, this is a first. I have never dined with a vampire king before.” Damiere said as he barely drew breath.

“Why are on earth is your butt sweating that much? And your armpits look like they’re on fire. Calm down, just because some of decided to kill all werewolves doesn’t mean I care to do the same.”

The vampire king chuckled and poured himself a glass of wine before he yawned.

“Uhm, where is your daughter? Saphira, I mean.”

“All my daughters will arrive soon. My apologies that you won’t see her mother, she’s visiting Paris and doing something with the stock market and government officials.”

“Well, yes. I thank you for the lovely dinner you are serving. And praise Satan of course...”

“Praise Satan? Why?”

“Yes, I thought, you know, because of the ambiance.”

The elder vampire king raised an eyebrow.

“Ahhh, you mean Lucifer. Don’t thank that son of a bitch, I hate him.”

“Oh, I did not know. If...if I may ask, what did he do?”

“He stole my silver tongue, let demons eat cheeseburgers I kept for the next day, and god damn those buns and the cheese and the grilled beef with all its flavorful flavors... I had to throw him into the depths of hell for that one. He’s also a damn liar.” The elder vampire smashed his fist against the table, which caused all candelabrums to quake for a short moment.

“O-Okay.” Damiere held the bottom of his chair with a tight grip and shivered a little.

Saphira jumped out from behind Damiere, which caused him to fly out of his chair and scream. The elder vampire king laughed and slapped the table before the rest of his children walked into the room.

Seventeen daughters walked towards their places and took a seat, all smiling at Damiere. But Saphira gave him a more alluring glare.

Chicken breast, expertly cooked, a whole roasted pig in the middle and more whole chickens and turkeys with side dishes everywhere. A tiny girl grabbed one of the whole chickens and bit into with her teeth while staring directly at Damiere, who seemed rather frightened.

“Do you love him as much as I father?” Saphira said, as she rubbed Damiere’s thigh and breathed into his face. The vampire king, however, was preoccupied with ravaging some roasted chicken and licking his fingers so no juices could escape.

“Father! Some manners in front of our guest...” Saphira said as she turned towards Damiere with a loving and a rather sweet look on her face.

“Oh yes, of course, where are my manners? I’ll show you how to eat a whole chicken efficiently...”

The vampire king elongated his fingernails and stuck them onto a whole chicken.

“So, the first thing you do is stick your claws into both ends, then with a...”

“Father, that is not what I meant!”

“No no, Saphira, your old man has got a point.” Damiere leaned in towards the rather detailed explanation of how to eat chicken the ‘proper’ way. When the king was done talking, Damiere turned towards Saphira and was met with a stern gaze.

“You never look that focused when I talk to you...” Saphira said.

“I abandoned my werewolf family for you, my love.”

“You did what?” Saphira stood up from her chair and everyone stopped munching, except for the youngest.

“You can’t just abandon your family for me...” Saphira laid her hand on his cheek.

“But they didn’t understand. You are not evil or cruel people and they just refuse to see it. You’re just vampires to them. Evil creatures from the depths of hell, but your father literally kicked Satan into the depths of hell for stealing his sandwiches-”

“-Cheeseburgers, there is a difference!” the vampire king intervened.

“Father!” Saphira groaned and rolled her eyes.

“I am not one of them anymore. You have to understand. Your family and people care more about your happiness than anyone on my own. My mother left my dad because he was a close-minded fool and he stripped me from her. It’s only justice to abandon him the same way my mother did.”

“Well. Consider yourself part of this family now, Damiere. And if you’d like to fully commit, the Holy One can turn you into a vampire any time you please.” The vampire king gave Damiere a soft smile and a nod. Damiere gave him the same in return.