Maledictus

Prologue:

“Why have you forsaken me?!” Thanatos screamed scratching at the dirt that lay before his feet. He sat on the ground for a long time, tears streaming down his face. “My family has done no wrong! Why can’t I be at peace?!” his body started to fade from sight. But he was still there; he looked at his dead body to the side and threw a rock at it. “Curse you, you wretched witch!” he sobbed, although his body was fading, he could still feel his knees. He rested his head on his arms that crossed over his legs. He did nothing at that point except cry. He sat for hours, forsaking his life. After an hour or so, he heard footsteps coming towards him, he did not look up. What was the point? He couldn’t be seen anyway. He was dead after all.

“Brother…” a soft and regal voice called out.

Thanatos looked up, and saw his brother Bertrand. He was a beautiful and elegant man who had a warm and loving smile on his face. He held out his hand, which shocked Thanatos.

“Do not tease me brother! You can’t see me!” Thanatos hissed.

“Brother, have you seen your body?” he asked.

Thanatos scoffed, “Yes! It’s over there!” he pointed at his own corpse.

“No… that is just a shell of what you used to be…” Bertrand brought out his pocket watch, a beautiful gleam came from it’s silver exterior. He opened the pocket watch before his brother and showed him what he looked like. Thanatos looked up at his reflection in awe and gasped. “Is that me?”

Bertrand nodded and smiled at his younger brother. Thanatos stared at the reflection, for it was a glowing figure, a pure whitish gold light looked back at him. He saw his face, his hands and body. He wore no clothes, but he wasn’t naked, he was basked in a pure light that only could be described as heavenly.

“Brother… am I… dead…. Am I a ghost?” he asked.

Bertrand nodded, “Yes Brother… your spirit lingers in this world… for your life is not over just yet.” He held out his hand to Thanatos.

Thanatos who was wallowing in his own sadness just moments before, now gladly took his brother’s hand. He was ready to start a new life. One that involved him living with the rest of his brothers… as an immortal being.

Bertrand walked with him back to their home. He finally asked him, “Why did you do it? Why did you try to end your own life?” he looked at him sympathetically.

“When I saw what was happening to the others, I didn’t want it to happen to me… I don’t want to be immortal. It’s wrong, it’s a curse…” Thanatos said sadly.

“What happened to us could not have been prevented… we knew this day would come… but why did you want to leave? Why did you do that to yourself?” he asked him again, this time with a sadder tone.

Thanatos looked down sadly, “I was scared of becoming… like you, or Bardou… or Aiou… or Viyan… or even Fatir!”

“You mean no longer human? I have not asked for this Thanatos. I was bestowed this gift.” Bertrand said solemnly.

“Gift? Is that what you call it?” Thanatos said stopping and staring at his brother in disgust.

“Yes, gift… for it has brought me the ability to do more than I could have ever dreamed before.” Bertrand said folding his arms.

“Bah! It’s a curse! You’re a demon!” Thanatos said shaking his head.

“No! I am a vampire! A creature of the night!” Bertrand said offended.

“All of us are creatures of the night now! The only one who could possibly live the way he is now is Bardou! And he’s a werewolf!” Thanatos said yelling.

“Now is not the time! We can discuss this back at home! The rest are worried sick about you!” he said grabbing Thanatos’ hand. “We are not stopping. It is almost day. The humans will see you soon. Like it or not Brother… you are like us now. You are forever this way… a spirit that roams.” Bertrand said softly, “A man that lives in the shadows… and wanders at night…”

“Perhaps… I deserve this… for what I have done.” Thanatos said staring off into the sunrise, his house only mere footsteps away. His body may be a hollow shell now… but his spirit still lives on… was it an act of God? Was God wishing him to live on? Or was this an act of some darker power. Perhaps it was the witch who cursed his family… or maybe it was God asking him to continue on his journey. Thanatos did not know, nor did he understand. But what he did know was that no matter what may be in store… nothing could separate him from his own brothers. All five of them were with him for good.