Feeling the water gush over his face Nicolai woke up. a strong pair of arms were holding onto his torso and this person was wading through the water hurriedly.
"Who.. who are you?"
"I should be asking you that? Who are you? you? know that was a werewolf territory right? why the hell did you even try to invade that place? our last attack was fruitless."
Nicolai blankly looked at his face. the lower half of his face was covered with a black cloth exposing only his glaring pair of eyes.
"Who are you...." he whispered softly.
"Me, I'm Raven. You?"
"Nico,"
The man hurriedly swam in a particular direction. There was a huge moss pile floating on the top. He pulled it away to reveal a small boat.
"Get in there," he helped Nico in and climbed in hurriedly.
"Where are you taking me..." Nico tiredly whispered. he did not have the will to live any longer. Even if this kidnaper took him somewhere and sold him he was ready to just let fate do her play..
"to the headwaters of course...." Raven gave him a weird look. "I've never seen you before. Where are you from?"
"nowhere..."
He did not have a home or a family. He did not have anything...
"oh-kayyy... Nico from nowhere. Here," he handed him a small glass bottle of blood.
Nico took it from him and peered at the red liquid sloshing inside. if he did not drink blood for a while he will lose his rationality. Maybe then he will have some peace of mind...
He placed a hand over his chest. His human heart ceased to beat.
"Drink. I didn't tell you to stash it away. I've got more," the man urged him.
Nicolai shook his head. "I'm half I don't need to drink." He handed it back to him.
The man just gaped at him.
"What?"
"You... you said you're a half....."
"Yeah, so what?"
Raven still gawked at him. "No seriously.. don't joke with me.. are you a half?"
Nicolai just glared at him. "Why do you keep asking again and again? The answer's not going to change,"
"I... wow.... seriously... oh shit we have to tell the coven elders..." he said with a bright smirk. "Who are you parents, Nico? Are they still around?"
Nico went silent.
"So they are no more?"
He nodded.
"I'm sorry. its tough losing someone you love,"
Nico nodded. Tears started forming is his eyes. He glanced up at the sky, wiling them away. "it sucks,"
"I can say I understand... my parents oh so coldly tossed me away when they found out about my 'disposition," he sarcastically smirked as he rowed the boat.
"What why? Why would they do that? Vampires are not that cruel enough to toss their offerings away. Even half vampires are treated well and protected."
Raven just gave him a look. "funny... are you seriously a half? Where did you guys hideout? the sewers. I guess that's why you are like a frog in the well."
The man looked sullen as he peered into his eyes. "Things are different out in the real world buddy boy. Vampires 'don't exist at least that's what we made the werewolves believe. But occasionally a few vampires children are born. They are all retrograde vampires carrying the genes of their distant vampire relatives. Most of the children are born from a human pair and they are brutally discarded."
"Why even so they are their own children."
"Who would want a monster in their home?" Raven smiled eerily. "Ah we are here,"
Raven glanced behind him at the lush mountain range. It was cloudy and foggy. As they rowed closer, their visibility reduced drastically.
Soon their boat hit the shores.
"Get down. It's going to be slightly wet from here on." He said jumping out.
Nicolai followed after him.
The cold water came up t his thighs. There was a weird feeling of plant roots clinging to his legs. He tried his best not to squirm from it.
"oh here." Raven handed him a long stick. "Just look a step ahead."
There was a huge log in the water. "it looks like a log,"
Raven sighed. "That's why I warned you to be careful one misstep and you are a crocodile snack."
"Croc?! Fuck." Nico screeched and jumped into the boat. "Raven, get on! You might get bit!"
Again, Raven looked at him weirdly. "You are surprisingly easy to scare..." he pulled Nico down the boat. We can't stay afloat for long. The werewolves will track us down."
He guided Nico through the path soon they were on dry land. Only then did Nico let out a breath of relief.
"Who is that?" another gruff voice spoke above his head.
Nico glanced up in surprise. A tall six-foot man stood ther peering down at him. his face was also covered in that black fabric.
"I'm Nico..."
"He's a half!" Raven excitedly said.
"What? He's clearly lying. Why would a half be in this state?"
Obviously, the man was pointing out that Nico was to thin and malnourished. Half vampires can easily drink blood and eat human food. It was very easy to blend in with humans and have a normal life.
"he...." Raven glanced at him. "he was a captive of the arctic tribe,"
"What?!! Shit I'm sorry man," the bulky man patted his shoulders. "come in." he happily welcomed him to a small hut house.
Five other young men were inside, fighting over a bowl of blood stew.
As they entered, all eyes focused on him.
"Kids this is Nico and he will be joining us from this day forth,"