Xithion's Gift

Xithion's Gift

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Chapter 2:

The Vampires' Battle

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For a moment, Remus and Lucius both just stood there, frozen. Then, the werewolf slowly turned towards the other young wizard. "Was -- was that Sirius?" he asked, like he hadn't believed it at all.

The blond, however, merely nodded grimly, starting to quickly button Remus's shirt. "I'm afraid so," he then sighed. "Come on. We have to catch him and explain before he tells the whole school." Without another word, he finished buttoning Remus's shirt, then started to run to the direction the darkhaired teen had disappeared to, obviously expecting Remus to follow him.

Not bothering to reply, Remus grabbed their robes, pulled his own on, then fell into a pace with the vampire. As both were Dark creatures, he had no problem staying beside his boyfriend... lover... whatever. His feet taking care of the running and Lucius leading the way, he found himself with time to think.

Mostly he just wondered what he was going to tell Sirius. How could he explain something he didn't wholly understand himself? For he didn't really know what had brought him and Lucius together, only that it was for the better to both of them, not for worse.

Meeting the young vampire had been easy enough. They both lived in the same, almost entirely wizard-habited area, in the middle of which stood the Gloomwood, a Wizarding forest even more dangerous than the Forbidden Forest. However, it was only a danger to humans, not to creatures of the Dark. Therefore, Remus had been on a late walk, when he'd come across a vampire feeding from a deer. Knowing that he was not at any danger unless he challenged the vampire -- a feeding vampire would not start a fight, and even otherwise vampires and werewolves were wary of each other -- he had been just about to continue his walk. Just then, however, the vampire had turned around. They both had stood there, frozen.

Of course it hadn't been much of a surprise. Remus had known of Malfoy and the few other vampires who lived at Hogwarts, just like the vampires had all known of him. The Dark creatures of the castle all lived in an unspoken agreement to never mention their "conditions," so to speak, not even to each other. But meeting Malfoy in a corridor and smelling the true reason for his paleness was nothing like this.

For a moment Malfoy had just stood there, staring at him with eyes that had turned silver from his feeding. His blond hair and black robes had been just as tidy as always, his aristocratic posture always the same. But the unnaturally red lips and the tiny stream of blood escaping the corner of his mouth had shown that this was definitely not just a usual encounter. There'd been something stunning in the vampire.

After the first mutual shock, Malfoy had smirked and bowed a little. "I'm sorry to disturb your walk, Mr. Lupin," he had said. "Could we perhaps talk more later?" And, on a moment of Gryffindor daring, Remus had invited Malfoy to his home the following day. What was even more surprising was that the blond had accepted, and eventually actually shown up at the Lupins' house.

They had talked a lot that day, sitting in the Lupins' garden. Lucius, it had turned out, had become a vampire when he'd been nine, while Remus had been Turned as early as at five years of age. Like the werewolf had also discovered to his great surprise, the Malfoy heir was a lot better company than he seemed to be at school. Sure, he was a bit snobbish and vain, but all in all, he wasn't a bad guy. So, when Lucius had told of a potion his father had developed so that he didn't need a human servant nor had he to attack random victims, Remus had offered his own blood to the blond.

True, it had taken some convincing. Lucius had asked if he truly knew what it would mean -- not just blood, but also love and sex, not just one time, but a lifelong bond. And Remus had been sure.

They had gone to Remus's room after that. Rather hesitantly, Lucius had taken away all his silver jewellery, and Remus had taken off his golden crucifix necklace. Then Lucius had placed his mouth on Remus's neck, fangs bared. After the first sting of pain to Remus as the sharp fangs of the vampire sank to his flesh, it had been a pure heaven to them both. The next time Remus had paid any attention to his surroundings he had been lying in his bed, tightly enveloped in Lucius's arms, and both his and Lucius's mother had been standing in the doorway of his room, small smiles on their lips.

So, after a long chat with both of their parents -- Remus's mother had invited Lucius's parents over when she'd gone to check on the boys and found them both sound asleep in Remus's bed -- they had agreed that this required certain arrangements. So, to be nearer to the vampire he was serving, Remus had moved to the Malfoy Manor for the rest of the summer holiday. And, to be honest, he had been truly happy.

Sure, he had been going to tell his friends, but not before they graduated. Now, however, Sirius had seemingly found out by himself, and it would be a hell to explain.

Just then, however, Lucius stopped, and cursed aloud. Remus noticed that they were in the Entrance Hall -- and the doors out of the school were open. He glanced at the vampire on his side, and was startled to see the grey in the cool eyes being now replaced with a blazing silver -- a sign of a vampire feeding or fighting.

"Your friend has gone outside," Lucius said briefly to answer his questioning gaze. "But there's also a vampire on the grounds -- not one of us 'tamed' ones of the school, but one of the Forbidden Forest."

Remus swallowed. Sirius was now in a real danger. Not stopping to think any further, he rushed outside in hopes of finding his friend. "Sirius!" he called. "Sirius!"

At first, there was no response, and he just stood there. Then, however, Lucius was on his side, and they both started to run again. A werewolf and a vampire, both of them now followed the trail of Sirius's scent.

They hadn't gotten far, though, when their sharp ears caught a scream. Lucius, whose vampire instincts immediately told him what was going on, cursed again. Remus, who could very well guess, paled in fear.

The next moment they saw a frightening sight. Sirius had been attacked by a vampire, but he wasn't fighting back. The vampire was sucking his blood, and it had obviously used its powers to make him freeze. This terrified Remus -- Sirius who didn't fight back was not really Sirius. Sirius never gave up.

Then, however, he no more had time to think. Lucius, who just a second ago had been standing on his side, was now in front of the other vampire. "Let go of the boy," he hissed, his silver eyes blazing and fangs bare.

The other vampire took his mouth away from Sirius's neck, but didn't release him. "Who are you to raise against me?" he asked mockingly. "This is my catch, tamed child. Go back to play."

"I am Lucius Malfoy," replied Lucius with an icy voice. There was no hint of fear in him. "And that 'catch' of yours is not yours to have. He is a member of my servant's pack, and I am claiming him."

"Really?" Now, the strange vampire finally let go of Sirius, and the teenager fell to the ground, unmoving. "Well, tamed child, I am Xithion Mirk, and I, too, am claiming this boy. Will you fight for him?"

Lucius's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "Yes, I will," he replied. And before Remus could say or do anything, the two vampires were already fighting at full blast.

The werewolf stared for a moment as Lucius and the other vampire -- Xithion Mirk -- started to fight. At first they used fangs and nails, but then the other vampire turned into a wolf, and Lucius followed suit. So, a white wolf and a black one were soon tumbling over the grass, growling and clawing and biting. Shivering in fear for his mate -- his servant's bond with Lucius had triggered his wolf side to mate with the Slytherin -- he then turned towards his friend. Rushing to Sirius's side when the fight moved a bit away from him, Remus had just enough time to drag the Grim Animagus away before the vampire's fight moved back to the place where it had originally been started.

With growing dread, Remus noticed that Sirius's pulse was quickly weakening. His friend looked deathly pale, and the wound on his neck was still bleeding. Looking at where his mate was fighting, he noticed to his great delight that Lucius was winning. However, his heart was immediately filled with dread as he noticed the blood that tainted the wolf's platinum fur, and he knew that not all of it was Xithion Mirk's. The elder vampire had maybe been too sure of himself, but seemingly not much.

Just as he was about to cry out for Lucius, however, the light-furred wolf sank its unnaturally sharp teeth to the other wolf's throat. The black wolf immediately turned back to his human form -- a sure sign that the vampire was dead. Moments later, Lucius was also in his human form and walking nearer. He did have bleeding wounds, though, which worried Remus. Not many things could make a vampire bleed -- only wild roses, and other Dark creatures, that was about it. And mere bleeding might prove fatal to their kind.

"How is your friend?" asked Lucius as soon as he reached Remus's side. "Has he lost much blood."

Remus bit his lip. "I fear so," he said quietly. "His pulse is weakening, and..." He swallowed.

Lucius kneeled down next to Sirius's unmoving body. Not hesitating, he raised the boy's hand up to his face, pierced one fingertip with his fang, and smelled. Then he licked it, and cursed aloud.

"What now?" asked Remus, really startled. "What's wrong?"

"He's lost almost all of his blood," Lucius replied, "the bastard apparently tried to suck him dry. I'm afraid that even if we tried to take him to the Infirmary, we wouldn't get him there in time."

At that, Remus paled even further. "No," he whispered, his eyes wide with fear. "He can't... he can't die..."

Lucius took one glance at his servant, who was now staring at his deathly pale friend, tears veiling the warm amber eyes. Then, the vampire made his decision.

"He will not die," he said soothingly. "I promise you, Remus, he will not die." Then, he bared his arm, where a wound was still bleeding. Not hesitating anymore, he then placed the wound on Sirius's lips. At first his blood only soaked the unconscious teen's face, but then the mouth underneath latched tightly onto him and started sucking. Lucius drew a sharp breath as he felt the blood leaving his body into the firmly sucking mouth. The feeling was definitely not unpleasant, and he briefly wondered if this was what Remus felt when he was feeding from his servant.

Soon the wound stopped bleeding, like a vampire's wounds always did. However, from the Dark magic that tingled in the air he knew that he'd already managed to make a difference. Sirius Black would not die yet, not that night, not by Xithion Mirk's malicious doing.

Now he took his arm away from the dark-haired teen's mouth. Glancing up at Remus, he found the werewolf watching him with wide eyes. "You Turned him." That was all that Remus said.

"Yes, I did," Lucius admitted. "It was the only way to save him. He still will need healing to survive, but at least he will now live until we get him to the Infirmary and not die on the way there."

"I -- thank you." After saying this, Remus lifted Sirius into his arms. "Come on now," he said softly. "You obviously need healing as well, you've lost quite a lot of blood. It's not good for you."

"I'm coming, don't worry." And then, Lucius promptly fainted on the spot.

Remus sighed. Then he arranged Sirius on one of his shoulders and lifted Lucius's lightweight body on the other. Thus using his werewolf strength on his full advantage, he started the journey back to the school.

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