Prologue: A Promise

November 15th, 5724

I, a weakened man, have found myself tumbling to the ground of this empty alleyway. My limbs ache as I struggle to stand up from the resulting crater beneath me, while waves of pain spread out through my body. Looking up at the beam of light peering down from the night sky, the same light I descended from, I notice that it’s dwindling away just as quick as my descent.

Boom! Boom! BOOM! BOOM!

My slight trembling at the sound of explosions resounding throughout this city causes my body to ache further. If I had to guess, this city is in shambles too. Wiping away the tears welling up in my eyes, my situation starts to sink in. After being betrayed by those who granted me an outlet for my ambitions, everything is crumbling around me. But still, I must fight this sluggish feeling in my legs and push forward against this cramped alleyway wall.

A streak of lightning courses through the night sky, right before the roar of thunder brings about a surge of rain. I brace myself against the wall as the ground beneath me is shaken by tremors. Feeling the sensation of the coarse brick against my hands, I feel something strange. Glancing at my palms, the rain is falling through my now intangible fingers.

Though a shiver runs down my spine, I do not panic. My main concern is how much this never-ending conflict is bending Mother Nature’s will, as the collective unconscious of each and every mortal's desire continues to change the world. It’s thanks to the potions, the miracle that changed this world so long ago, that their voices can now be heard. But with so many desires, she’s incapable of understanding all of them at once. Which has led to all this chaos.

The constant tremors aren’t violent or sporadic, but gradual. The earth is moving in a specific direction like a ship sailing across the sea, because this is what all mortals desire. That much I am certain of…

As I’m making my way towards the end of the alleyway, creatures scream and shout in droves while running down the sidewalk. I can hear yet another building crumbling as yet another wave of tremors hit, with the clamoring sound of its inevitable collapse filling the airways not even a moment later.

One of the children trying to catch up to them trips and falls. Noticing his scruffy gray fur, his round ears, and the dark rings along on his bushy tail, it's clear he’s a raccoon boy. But when one of the women running next to him reaches out, I feel something's off.

The boy seems to depend on her, given how quick he takes her hand. But looking at the spotted fur running up her arm, it’s hard to imagine that she could be anything more than his guardian with her cheetah-like appearance. I suppose there is no shortage of suspicious characters looking for opportune moments such as this, since it’s easy to imagine a child getting lost in all of this madness, but to see it happen in front of me…

In a hurry, the woman jerks him to his feet as he glances down this empty alleyway. And while I’m sure he can’t see me in this sorry state, I couldn’t help but feel like he could with that prying look in his eyes.

“Come on now! We’re looking for your momma, right?” the woman asks the boy while pulling his hand.

“Are you sure she’s this way?” The boy asks with a glance towards where they came from.

“Don’t worry honey! She told me to keep you safe when I-”

The cheetah woman turns and bumps into a pale-skinned young man, stopping her in her tracks. He stares at the two of them with his deep red eyes, while the rest of his face lies hidden behind the black face mask covering his nose and mouth. And considering the group of despicable-looking young men and women following behind him, I imagine being unable to discern his expression would be frightening. Which is why she steps back with a grimace.

The wind howls. And like the shiver that would follow, the paleness of their skin elicits a feeling just as unpleasant at a glance. The seams running along their cheeks from the corners of their lips allow their mouths to gape open wider when baring their fangs. Their nails can also lengthen into claws at a moments notice, making them the perfect machines. However, they are less adaptable to the outside elements, which is why they are wearing worn-out winter clothing.

From baggy sweats to parkas, none of them came unprepared for the season. Though still, unlike the rest of them, the one wearing the face mask looks far more distinguished. From the straightness in his posture to the openness in his stance, it’s clear that he stands above the rest.

“Damn vampires…” she mutters under her breath.

The young man waves his hand. “Sorry to bump into you miss, but we’re in a hurry-”

One of the young men in his group leans in to whisper in his ear. He looks down at the racoon boy clutching her hand and back at her.

“You don’t look like his relative…how do you know each other?”

“I-I’m taking him to safety of course, you see all this chaos, right?” The cheetah woman tries to explain while tugging at the boy’s hand. “C-c-come on sweetie, your parents must be worried sick-”

The young man grabs her face, pulling it closer to his. He closes his eyes and inhales, causing a vicious bubbling sound inside his mask.

“Your face…” He says, gurgling through some sort of liquid. “...It's blushing. It smells like a liar.”

While staring into his eyes, her hand trembles to her side. But as she’s reaching for her coat pocket, her entire body starts to shiver. Her entire face starts to run red as if blushing at the sight of his deep red eyes, yet there is only fear in hers.

“Let go of me you damn monster!” she screams while grabbing at his forearm, but his grip on her face isn’t lessening.

The blood from her flushed cheeks starts rising from beneath his fingertips and seeps onto the surface of her furry face. Vampires are known as the merciless consumers of flesh and blood, with their wide mouths that bear razor teeth, and claws that can rip their prey to shreds. They are considered the lurkers of the night, the rulers of the shadows, but during the day their domain is lost. Which is why it isn’t a surprise to see a group of them roaming around at night, but this young man…

“Sintobi! Put her down, you’re scaring the kid…” shouts another young man from his group.

He looks down at the raccoon boy’s fear-stricken face and releases the cheetah woman from his grasp, leaving her to stumble onto her feet. So, his name is Sintobi.

“Thank you, Mikel…” Sintobi says with a glance before turning towards the woman with an effervescent inhale. “I advise you to leave at once before I end up doing something I’ll regret.”

Taking his warning in earnest while touching the blood still dripping from her cheeks, the cheetah woman pushes the raccoon boy aside and makes her escape down the city block. With a click of his tongue, Sintobi bends down to take the boy’s hand and lifts him up to his feet.

He pats the boy’s furry head and ears, but it does little to change his wary look.

“Don’t worry you’re safe now.” says one of the vampires stepping forward from the group. She looks to be around the same age as the boy.

“My name is Eena, what’s yours?” she asks with her hand out.

“...Donavan.” he mumbles, only for her to pull him closer under her umbrella when noticing his hesitance. He looks at her in shock, but her huge grin puts him at ease.

“Sintobi, we should head continue towards the capitol building. His parents could be taking refuge there.” suggests one of the young men. I believe he referred to him as Mikel.

“I agree, though I doubt we'd get much praise for doing so.” Sintobi says with another gurgled breath. "So far we’ve been met with less than a warm welcome, despite our invitation to meet the mayor.”

“Are you saying that we should just leave him?” asks another young woman from his group. Her light blue eyes looking at him in dismay.

“Big sis is right! We can’t leave Donavan here!” yells the younger one, still holding him close to her. I believe she called herself Eena.

“Theresa and Eena have a point.” says Mikel with a glance towards the raccoon boy. “Perhaps little Donavan here can be a bargaining piece.”

“Tactics like that would only tarnish the Temory name further Mikel, but I appreciate the suggestion.” Sintobi says before shaking his head. “Fine, we will escort little Donavan here to the capitol building. Now hurry, it shouldn't take us long to get there! I’d rather not tempt the coming morning!”

“Yes sir!” they all say in unison, as they continue on their way.

Watching as they walk down the block, I can’t help but think to myself. A group of kindhearted vampires? They didn’t just spare her, they are aiding the boy in his time of need too. Those two would have been reduced to pale sacks of flesh and bone, yet that wasn’t the case. They’re merciful and their intentions seem almost pure.

Then there’s Sintobi. I’ve never seen anything like that. He can siphon one's blood without using his fangs, but instead with a single touch. Yet somehow, despite him having such a terrifying ability, his show of restraint seemed more like a lapse in discipline. Just who is he?

Sintobi takes another gurgling deep breath, while the rest of his group moves on ahead. But after taking a few steps forward, he stops in front of the alleyway. “...Huh, hey are you hurt?”

A bit confused, I look behind me, just to realize that he is in fact speaking to me.

“Y-you can see me?” I ask, clenching my chest. Blood seeping through my white lab coat.

“Sintobi, weren’t you the one telling us we shouldn’t lag behind?” shouts one of his comrades.

“You mean, you don’t see this wounded man here Theresa?”

“Wounded man?” She shouts back.

A sharp pain shoots through my chest, causing me to clench my chest tighter. I reach out to grab hold of him, but I stumble and fall face first into the small puddle while knocking over the metal trash can, further ruining my white lab coat. Now lying on the concrete sidewalk, I can feel myself disappearing. If I were to die now, it would mean losing the symbol embedded within my very existence. A symbol I’d stolen to enact my revenge, but how will it come to fruition if the world I’ve returned to is in chaos? With much of this world’s inhabitants taking matters into their own hands, it’s obvious that what was once humanity, has evolved past its frailty.

I look up. “Sintobi is your name, correct?”

“Yes, but how-”

“Tell me…why do you cast aside your vampiric impulses?”

“So you’ve noticed the merciful nature of our group.” Sintobi says while bending a knee. “We’re hoping to end this war before the world around us ceases to exist, so future generations can witness peace.”

“I see. A lofty goal from someone who is part of one of the most despised races.” I say with a nod. “How will you accomplish that?”

“Through diplomacy…” He says before taking pause. “Or at least, that’s our plan. The longer this war goes on, the more unpredictable our world becomes. We have to try anything. We refuse to stay in the shadows any longer.”

“What if I said that I can grant you absolute control over that dream, would you accept it?”

As Sintobi’s eyes widen, an immense light stretches across the sky. The blinding illumination is accompanied by an explosion that causes everyone to shudder at the almost deafening sound.

“That’s the direction of the capitol building! We need to-!” someone yells out from the group right before another series of blasts. Each just as radiant as the first but smaller. And while this causes others on the city streets to scramble for cover as they scream in panic, it seems to be far more troublesome for Sintobi and his group.

“Ah, what’s happening?!” shouts another member of his group, as the intense beams of light cause her skin to start withering away.

But despite all this chaos happening around him, Sintobi doesn’t panic nor shed a tear. The focused look in his eyes holds firm, as he grasps my fading hand with a solemn nod.

At that moment, I understood his dream. Along with his feelings of hope that our agreement will bring about the peace he’s sought out to achieve. All while the echoes of his comrade’s screams resonate with the roaring explosions.

“We need to move!”

“It’s getting brighter!”

“Isn’t it supposed to be nighttime?!”

“Sintobi...Sintobi…Sintobi!”