Fidus

Ceres lays on the couch. struggling to keep her arm up, as she doom scrolls through her phone. The city noise barely reaches the penthouse apartment, belonging to the infamous king of vampires. A title to cause so much fear in the hearts of man, they believe it to be a legend, a tale to tell each other before going to into battle in the new dawn. His own kin fear this man, for he can force them all to bend a knee and obey.

Though through the grandeur and power this title holds, the man who wields it, shows no interest. He does not care for its status or it power. He merely sees it as a mantel piece and nothing more. Syrus Valerius is a vampire who has lived the longest amongst his speeches and the longest reigning king.

Syrus is calm, collected and inquisitive. Rarely do his foes provoke him, not even the other two coven Leaders. Trick Stirling, leader of the secretive Stirling Coven or Ricky Roderick, leader of the anarchist Roderick coven, can concur his wrath. A mild irritation, and test to his patience but nothing more.

He sits on the armchair next to the lounge. As his son, and only sired child, Rune lays on the floor, next to the coffee table, quietly doom scrolling next to Ceres, who has taken upon herself to lay upon the lounge and take ownership of it. Ceres is the only known hyrbid in existence, a walking anomaly but is accepted as family within the coven. Syrus notes his brother Hawke-eye sitting at the dining room table, burying himself in an old journal written back in the fifteen hundreds. Probably hoping to find something worthy to display for the museum.

Killer is out on the balcony, writing his notebook as he studies the sample is brought back from Tetsuju. He mentioned the trio has learnt the inhabitants of that world use it to protect themselves from mutated ferals and he is hoping to use it as a deterrent for the upcoming stadium project being built.

Syrus looks back to the book in his hand, his mind already wondering to the other novel he left on his desk. Heaving a sigh, already comfortable in his seat, and unwilling to move, he gently closes the book and calls for his loyal shadow. "Fidus."

From the darkness emerges a walking abyss. An average build of a human, holding himself as a Victorian servant, back straight, head held high. One arm held behind his back and the other in front. The shadow bows and waits for his kings order. "Can you grab the novel I left in my office foe me please." the shadow nods, rising and floats down into the hall.

Out of all the shadows Syrus has under his control, this one is the most human looking of all. many come in different shapes and sizes, different forms, clawed hands, large gaping mouths, littered and lined with rows of teeth. some with tails, others with multiple limbs. Syrus is unsure why they come out this way every time he drains a human of all their blood, but he always eagerly waited to see what form they would take once he has eaten. 

"Where did Fidus come from?" Ceres asks, just barely looking up from her phone. Syrus raises his eyebrow to the hybrid. "Was he always named Fidus? Who did you eat to get a shadow like that?"

"A friend." Syrus replies. Fidus returns with the novel Syrus requested. The vampire nods in thanks and the shadow disappears into the darkness, waiting to be called upon again.

"A friend? you actually ate a friend?"

"He insisted and when i claimed his soul, i named him Fidus. He is the only shadow i named."

Ceres sits up on the couch, phone away and waiting in eager anticipation. Her eyes watching the vampire with intensity. Syrus' eyes soften, understanding this look he places the book down next to him and reflects. 

"Let's see." Syrus hums, thinking back, deep into the memories buried in the crevices of his mind. "It would have been around the time I was around two hundred years old. During then, I was in my years of self loathing, and not eating. I purposely starved myself then. Though Fidus didn't show himself till after I leant to control my powers in the Yamato kingdom." his eyes linger to the darkness, knowing Fidus is close, listening. "He was always the one to whisper directly into my ear but never showing himself in the early years."

"Do you know all the souls you devoured?"

"Most, not all. Some are so small that they make no impact and become part of the void of souls filling in the shadows. Then there are some, louder, destructive and demand my attention."

Syrus glares at the coffee table, recounting the ones screaming in his head before he learnt to shut the voices out forever. How they chattered in his head constantly. He's surprised he didn't go mad with the noise they made.

"I remember what he looked like as a human, watching time eat away at his body but never his spirit." Syrus smiles fondly.

***

The crossroads. A famous road leading to Rome, France, Cologne or Britain. A place where foot carriers run or walk to deliver messages far and wide from kingdom to kingdom. Many do not bother with them, thieves and crooks learn there is nothing to gain by stealing letters.

A young man, in his early twenties. His blonde hair loosely tied back to keep off his neck,  Carrying a satchel of letters, waiting to be delivered to the rightful owners. What's inside? Is it for a family member? A lover? A threat? Or a decoration of war?

Arriving at the cross roads, his heart pounds in his chest, the sweat on his brow, dripping down his face and small droplets into his green eyes. He pulls a satchel of water and pours into his mouth haphazardly. Drinking but always cooling himself down from the blaring heat from the sun above. The man takes note of the seat sitting on the side of the road and a man, covered in a cloak, still as a statue.

Curiosity peaking, and with caution he approaches.

"Excuse me, sir?" he says, hand reaching for the cloak. A hand catches his arm. Sickly grey skin, nails sharp and coated in dried blood. Eyes white, with cold black dots watching with intensity. He jolts back and falls onto his bottom. His heart picking up and adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The cloak figure visibly swallows. Hiding back under the covers, feeling his fangs ache, his mind begging to lunge. The figure stills and closes his eyes. Pretending the sweet siren song is not in front of him. 

Syrus' body screams for sustenance. burning and begging for warmth but he resists. He always resists. He doesn't deserve to eat, he doesn't deserve to live.

The man flinches at the mere sight of the creature and braces for death, but is surprised to see it does not greet him. Instead it stays put and ... sleeps? He get up on his feet and carefully approaches once more. Curiously circling the creature, wondering if he should call for hunters or strike up a conversation.

The young man sits on the other side of the chair. Resting his aching feet and breathes a sigh of relief. Lifting one foot, he massages it, surveying the damage on his leather sandal. He will need new ones once he arrived back in Rome.

"So, your not going to eat me?" he asks but receive no response from the creature. He breathes and relaxes on the chair a bit. "It's odd to see your kind out in the open. Let alone sitting on a chair in the middle of nowhere." silence. The human looks at the vampire again. The creature sits still. The young man looks back to the road, noticing how dry the land looked since he last walked through. The grass, not as green as it used to be. The trees leaves used to be luscious and green. how long since the rain last fell in this place. The earth could use it, the land so dry and sad.

"The earth is dry. will rain come soon?" He asks out loud. not sure if the vampire will reply. "I hope it does. The earth needs it, the grass is so dry, the trees used to be so green. Its a shame to see it this way. Dry and brown."

Silence. The young man breathes once more and stands up. Tapping his feet, on the ground and he looks over to the cloaked creature. "Well. i shall be off. These letters will not deliver themselves. Thank you for not killing me," The young man smiles and waves the vampire off.

Syrus watches the young man, leave from the chair, making his journey towards Rome.

***

Three weeks have passed and the young man comes across the same cloaked figure sitting on a chair in a lone path, heading back to cologne. it has been wondering what happened to the vampire. would it had been struck down by hunters or would have gone into a deep slumber from hunger. he approaches the creature with hesitation, reaching for the chair and sitting himself down.

the vampire turns his head to the young man and nods in acknowledgement. he sees his eyes are grey, some colour has returned.

"It has been a while." The human smiles. "I see you did eat. Though yours eyes are still light in colour." silence. "Still not talking?" The man smiles and leans back into his seat. "That is fair. i can understand why you wouldn't want to talk to us." a smile graces his lips, counting the puddles the rain had left in the road. "Your kind is almost going extinct. calling for hunters and pushing your species to the brink. I get why you wouldn't wanna speak to a human." The young man takes his left leg and places it on his knee, observing the material of his shoe. The rope tied to the leather straps are not holding up. the twine start to break and fall apart. "I hope your alive when I see you next. it's nice to talk to someone when I am on the road, even if i am the one doing all the talking." He gets up from his seat, stretching a little bit before making his long journey to the next city.

Syrus watches with intense interest. The shadows talk in a maddening muddle of voices in his head. asking why he hasn't eaten the human, why doesn't he take the chance to sate his hunger. one that has been gnawing at him since he first woke. Syrus feels brittle, fragile in movements. He only had a small morsel in the weeks that had a passed. A human bled out, passed death. Out of sheer desperation, he took and drank whatever was left.

Even though he is content with starving and fading away to a deep sleep. He could not help but wonder, why the human wanted to stay and chat. Anyone who passes, hurries along and does not dare to make eye contact. But this one is different.

Several weeks go by the human wonders of the vampire he came across his journey. He had been through to Rome, cologne, back to France and then to Rome, and other small cities and locations across the land but he did not come across his peculiar sitting buddy.

Just as he thought he would never see the vampire again, in his travel back to France he finds the same cloaked figure, sitting on a chair, for the messenger. With a smile he races to the vampire. slightly out of breath as he reaches the creature. Before opening his mouth, he sees a new pair of shoes sitting on the chair next to the creature. The smile falls, a surprised bewilderment etches upon the mans face.

"Is this for me?" without a word, Syrus grabs them, stretching his frail arm and waits for the human to grab them. "Thank you." he hastily grabs them and begins to put them on. Feeling the relief a new pair of shoes give for the long journeys ahead. "i certainly needed a new pair. Thank you!" he smiles. "Though where did you get them?" Syrus turns his head to look at the man dead in the eyes and see the faded grey vanished with a bit more colour in them.  A dull, light red. "Ah." is all that he said. The thought should put him at unease but it doesn't. He wondered if he got them from a spoiled nobleman, or a wealthy trader who cheated the people who bought from his goods. whatever story the young man wanted to tell himself, put him at ease.

"Do you . . . like them?" The words came from the vampires lips were rasp and rough. The man looked at the creature, mouth hanging open. Syrus waited. Patient for the human to gather his thoughts. The shock melts away and is replaced with a wide grin.

"I do. Thank you." He breathes and looks back at the dry road, then to the trees swaying in the breeze. "Whelp, back to the road, these letter won't deliver themselves." he snorts. Rising from the seat, he turns to the vampire and give a nod. "Hope to see you on the road again."

With that, he was gone. Syrus watches in silence and once more the darkness screaming in his head to eat but a dull warmth grew in his chest. It had been a long time since he connected with someone.

A month had passed since he saw the vampire, but this time not in his usual cloak. instead he saw a man, sitting on the wooden bench, messily sprawled brown hair, skin pale, almost paper like. He approaches wondering if this is the same vampire or someone new. Syrus' eyes land on the familiar mop of blonde hair and nods to the human.

"It has been a while." The same raspy voice escapes his lips. The mans eyes widen.

"it's you!" he smiles. "So this is what you look like under the cloak." he laughs. "Its nice to finally put a face to the voice." he sits himself next to the vampire, enjoying the reprieve. "I've been all over the place delivering messages from kingdom to kingdom and while i meet so many people, you are the one l look forward meeting the most." he grins. "It certainly changes the whole, 'vampires are just monsters' outlook."

Syrus' smile falters, the gleam in his eyes dimming and the only a small voice replies. "Did you always think we are monsters?" Syrus hides his face behind the loose stands of his hair.

"When i was growing up, i did. but I have met a rare few who were not hideous. You being one of them." guilt eats away at the man, a sharp pane grabs at his chest when he looks upon the vampire he has become accustom to. "I've seen them try to blend in, try to keep to themselves but it was all for naught. The smallest whiff you are a creature of the undead, they are killed on the spot." he leans back and looks up to the sky. "I knew one. she was a sweet lady, kept to herself deep within the forest. Many went to her for medicine and she knew how to fix them. With her tonics and remedies she had learnt over the centuries. I came to her when my wife needed help. The price, was a small amount of blood and she would help." his shoulders fell. "She was killed by hunters, sent by the church. It was only a few months ago."

Silence fell between the two men. syrus' heart only ached for the woman he speaks of. A burning anger rose within him. Another soul, lost to the hands of humans. A small tear escapes the creature. He asks deep down, does he truly care for his species survival or just the ones who deserve to live?

"My wife gave birth to healthy baby boy because of her. If i knew she was to be killed, I would have done something, anything to help her but what could I do. i am just a human." Syrus swallows the lump in his throat.

"Live." the human stares at the vampire with wide eyes. "She gave your son a chance to be healthy and alive. For you and your wife, live and lead a happy life or her help would have been for nothing." the man lets out a shaky breath and smiles.

"You're right." without another word he stands up and stretches. "I best be going. I hope to see you again in the future." Syrus gives the man a curt nod and watches as he runs down the road.

Two months have passed since they last spoke. Word of the church who had killed the vampire who helped him and his wife spread like the plague. Whispers of a lone vampire bringing the priest to his knees and draining every ounce of his blood and burning the building to the ground. The hunters who led the hunt, were picked off one, by one, all of them dead and drained of their blood.

The human had a inkling to who had done this but had no proof, nor did he think the vampire would go to such lengths, because he said something. But he said not a word to anyone about the vampire on the road and kept to himself, doing his job, delivering messages from one capital to the next.

A smile etched upon his face as he recongnises the mop of brown hair sitting lone along the dirt path. His skin is still pale but not paper like as he remembered it. The vampires eyes were a bright red, pupils slit like the cats hunting back in his village.

"So it was you." he breathes.

"Are you disappointed?" Syrus hides behind his hair again.

"No." he looks up and is surprised to hear this from a human.

"They deserved it. As i said, she did so much for us." a sad smile creeps upon Syrus' lips.

"I'm sorry i wasn't there to stop it."

"You didn't know. How could you? No one has the power to stop them . . ." his words fail him and questions begin to grow.

"But you did, you killed them all, even a well fed vampire would have struggled but you, you were starving." Syrus grit his jaw knowing what was coming next.

"What are you?"

"A vampire."

"No. you're no ordinary vampire. Ordinary would have been killed on the spot."

"Would you curse me if i told you, i was the king?"

Silence and within seconds realisation hit him like goat bucking him in the nuts.

"Your the king of vampires, i thought you were a myth, a legend vampires told each other to keep each other in check." Syrus nods and another realisation dawned upon the man. "Wh-why, why are you here, starving yourself, acting a like a common vampire? Why aren't you helping your species? How long have you walked the earth?! Do you know how many have been waiting for your return?!" questions flow out like a waterfall and Syrus just takes them in silence till the man finished speaking. without speaking he pats the wooden seat and wait for the man to sit.

Syrus began his tale when he first turned, how he lost the love of his life, how the people turned on him as a boy, how he desperately fought for the prophecy to not be real and the man listened to every word. His eyes widen, gasping and then covering his mouth like a woman who had seen something unsightly. But soon tears fell down his cheeks. Finally understanding the creatures pain.

"All this time. Your just waiting to die."

"Yes and while i wait, the world mocks me, forcing me to live this existence."

"why not just, end it? Can you?" the vampire gives a shrug, and loses his thoughts to the wind as it ruffles the trees leaves.

"If i am meant to die, it will happen by the hands of another. if i were to end my existence i would be breaking the promise I made."

The young man grimaces, thinking back to the line he had heard from the vampire. "I'm sorry. you have endured a lot." The vampire gives a sad smile and looks to the human.

"These past few months have been refreshing and I thank you, for taking the time to sit here with me, even if its just a short while." the human gives a weak smile, seeing the sincerity in the vampires eyes.

"The pleasure is mine. its not everyday you have a conversation with the king of vampires."

Syrus winces. "Please never call me that." the human giggles and nods.

"All right, that's fair." he rises from the seat and stretches. "Well then, I shall be off."

"That mail isn't going to deliver itself." Syrus finishes his sentence. the human laughs and nods in agreement.

"I'll see you around."

Months turn into years. The man would continue his journey, running into syrus along the way. They both would catch up on each other lives. The young man, not looking so young anymore, slowly his hair started to grey, his eyes wrinkle as he smiles. His muscles not so lean as they used to be but that didn't bother the vampire.

The man will tell him of his tales of home and discuss about his two sons and his beloved wife. Syrus always swallows the envy down as he hears of these stories. Knowing it will rear its ugly head if it was to get out. They both laughed and told stories of the people the came across and over time they became friends. The first human Syrus could call friend in these long years.

Though something had changed. in his usual spot waiting for the elderly human, Syrus began to wonder where he had gone. it has been some time since he last spoke with him. Has he passed? had something terrible happen to him? Was he jumped by bandits, or crooks? Whatever the reason is, Syrus knows something is different. He hasn't seen the man in a long time. longer than normal, their usual meetings happen between a month or two, but this, this is lasting six months.

The vampire looks along the dirt path, thinking back to how they first met. A smile creeps upon his lips before he takes in a familiar but odd scent. The blood is almost the same, leather and sweat but mixed with faint smell of rosemary. The men walking towards him are him are not his friend but carry his smell, familiar features, they would like carbon copies of his friend if they did not also share the mothers resemblance. Syrus can understand why he fell for her. 

"Are you . . . the vampire?" Syrus raises his brow. Curiosity striking him as he looks at the two young men. One more strikingly similar to his friend but less built and more lean, shorter in stature. The other hid behind his brother, blue eyes peering over their shoulder. 

"And what if i am?" he narrow his eyes.

"Our father." The smaller one spoke up. "He talks about you." Syrus eases and then raises his brow. "He wanted us to find you, before it was too late."

"What happened?" the boys look to each other with unease before looking back at the vampire.

"It's best if we show you."

Syrus followed them both back to the village his friend spoke about. Never stepping through in a day in his life, Syrus knew where the blacksmith was, who sold almost rotting vegetables. The lady near the river, letting her children run wild, the man who unashamedly flirt with any woman he sees. Syrus knew them all, all because his friend told him.

The boy led him to a hut near the forest. they both stood by the door and nod to the vampire to enter. Syrus did as he is expected and stepped inside. what he saw next, broke his heart all over again. His friend lying on the bed, looking deathly pale, sweat covering his body, eyes blood shot and face gaunt.

Syrus knelt by his bed, grasping on to his friends hand. "I'm sorry i didn't come sooner." his friend shook his head and gave a gasping laugh.

"You didn't know." he weakly smiles. "I'm just glad you finally made it." he coughs, phlegm deep in his throat. "I didn't want to die and think I abandoned you." Syrus grips the mans hand gently fearing his strength would snap his bones into tiny fragments.

"This shouldn't be your end. You don't deserve to go through this," Syrus wept but the man gave a crooked grin. "Deserving or not. It happens. Good people die, bad people live on." he coughs once more. "I'm just sorry I have to leave you behind."

"You would have one way or another," the lump in Syrus' throat grows. Frustration clawing at him, begging some entity to come and cure his friend, damning those who decided he should be ill.

"There is a way."

"I can't. if I turn you-."

"No, not that." he cuts him off, Syrus just realising what he means.

"You want to become my shadow?" he shakes his head. "You do not know what you asking for?" Syrus exposes his fangs, fury bubbling beneath. "You will become a husk, only serving me and nothing else. You will forget your family, your sons! don't throw it away!"

He coughs again, he looking at his boys with a knowing nod. "I do." he coughs. "I know what your power is capable of. My boys know, they've known for a long time." he coughs, his voice becoming hoarse. "I wanted this since I found out i was dying. I have nothing left but this withering body. My boys are grown, they are living filled lives" he looks to Syrus and and lays a hand on top of his. "But you have no one, and while I may not remember who I am I hope I can still bring comfort to a friend." Syrus' heart aches. No longer does he want to be here, listening to his friends maddening words. He should die naturally, return to mother nature and continue the cycle. "Syrus. it's all right. I have made my mind. I want this." the vampire swallows the lump in his throat. Regret bubbling in his chest, he hasn't done anything to the man but the thought, the idea crossing the vampires mind is guilting him.

"I don't."

"It's all right," he pats his hand as a father would to their child. "I have lived a wonderous life and I look forward to keeping my soul in your company." Syrus lets out a shaky breath, tears falling down his face as he nods in agreement.

"All right. Please, say your good byes before I do this."

Syrus waited outside, listening to the sobbing tears of the boys he plans to leave behind. Regret eats away at the vampire but yet, something in him keeps his place. He could just walk away, forgot his friend and let him die naturally but yet, there's this selfishness that wants him here. This need to have the one person he calls friend, here.

The men come out from the house and nod to the vampire. Syrus nods in return and walks in. he looks at his dying friend, watching the life leave his eyes, a warm smile graces his lips and nods.

"Do not cry, i will be here."

"I know," hot tears fall down his face, grabbing the mans arms gently, long fangs bite into the leathery flesh. Sweet blood pools into his mouth, he can taste the sweetness but also the bitter taste of the illness taking hold of his body. it had been long since Syrus had fed off a living being. years of holding back, fighting the hunger, the ravenous insanity that had threaten his mind time and time again. The first swallow and he felt his very body sing. The cruel need, the desire taking over as he grips a tight hold on his prey fearing he would lose it. It had been too long, far too long and he doesn't know when he will get his next meal.

Sips turn into hungry gulps as he drink deep from his prey. The shuddering pleasure wrecks through him as the warmth spreads. The heart finally slows to a stop and the blood ceases to flow. instead of snapping and screeching in rage, Syrus' sanity slips back, his careful control improving every time he resists. He remembers how it would only last for months in the earlier years of his transformation, but now he can go for a few years before snapping.

He felt the same presence the man gave when he was alive, the same gentle brush of another soul joining his ranks. Syrus turns to the soul, more human that all the others shadows he has created. the soul bows to him in acknowledgment.

Syrus gives the soul a mournful look before looking back to the body it once belonged too. his friend is gone and what remains is an echo of himself in this new form.

"Raise your head." the shadow does as told. "Out of all the shadows i control, you will be the only one with a name. I will call you Fidus. when i call you by this name, you come to me."

The shadow nods and disappears into the darkness once more.

***

"Damn," Ceres breathes. he own chest hurting as she hears Syrus recalls his tale. "I thought you just ate someone because you lost it, not because they wanted it."

"It was the first and last time, i haven't done the same to the humans i had made friends with over the years."

"Fair, i would hate to be a shadow servant."

"Good thing, i won't eat you then, besides you smell off, your blood wouldn't be appetising," Ceres gives a feigned gasp. 

"Rude, i think i have great blood." she pouts and crosses her arms. 

"Sure you do," Rune adds, still scrolling on his phone. 

"Whatever." She grumble standing up from the couch and stretching. "I'm gonna go hunt. I have a personal goal to kill fifteen ferals by sunrise."

"Safe hunting." Ceres flashes a smile a Syrus and nods. walking to the elevator and waits for it to arrive. 

With a small smile, Syrus picks up his books and opens it up where he left off. Sensing the familiar warm presence behind him. Treasuring his most precious soul.