Eternal Echoes: The Story of Aelios and Adrian - 5. Chapter 5: The Boy From Argos

Aelios POV

The night was cold and heavy as Adrian and I walked hand in hand towards his house. Nyx padded silently beside us, her sharp senses were on high alert, sensing the encroaching darkness that had begun to plague Oakridge. The recent murders, disappearances, and brutal attacks on the local vampire population have given me great concern and only confirmed my suspicions of the lax responses of the Oakridge Elder Council here. The reasons behind these attacks still elude me, the patterns are erratic yet there is a semblance of organization whoever is behind these attacks is after something but who or what?

" Aelios is there something wrong ?" Adrian's voice was full of concern, which broke my self-reflection and inner monologue.

" It's…nothing," I replied quietly, my mind still reviewing the patterns and the attacks.

Adrian grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it, I could sense the unease in his action and how he looked at me with those gentle light hazel eyes. He knows me too well by now and I can tell he knows I was lying to him.

" No more lies, Aelios….you promised," he said, his gentle and firm tone.

" As you wish, my love, I am just worried about you and Ethan. I'm sorry for dragging you both into this mess." I admitted, but the way Adrian looked at me firmly told me that he wanted the whole truth.

" There's more to it than that." Adrian pressed on as we reached his house. His light hazel eyes scrutinized me with what I could tell was understanding and empathy.

The night air felt so calm as we both looked at each other, two figures that fate has intertwined for what purpose I might ask; I still don't know. Yet here he was, talking to me so calmly and lovingly, not knowing the monster that stood before him.

With a sigh, I relented and confessed the whole picture to him. From what I can tell he seems to be both frightened and curious of my world.

" It is quite troubling that these attacks have increased in frequency, their pattern of attacks escapes me. Still, they have some form of a plan, these rogue vampires have attacked the larger vampire covens with brutal efficiency. Whoever is behind this is finding something or someone but I don't know who." I explained to Adrian who in response to my worry held my hand gently and squeezed it.

" Don't you guys have some form of a police or leaders I guess?" Adrian asked.

" We do actually but the ones here in Oakridge are not reacting to the crisis which I need to address as soon as I can find their location," I replied with an edge of irritation at their incompetence for letting this situation spiral out of control.

" So the wound you had last time was…" Adrian states as he puts two and two together from the last we met.

" Rogues…they ambushed me thinking that I was a poor helpless fledgling…they managed to surprise me but they did not live long after that," I replied coldly.

" I see…" Adrian seems to be unsure of how to react to the fact that I killed more than one rogue.

" The vampire world is a harsh world, Adrian…" I told him gently, Adrian closed his eyes and nodded in understanding. He then kissed me on the lips gently and told me that I should be more careful from now on.

" As you wish my dear Adrian…" I replied kissing his hands ever so carefully.

A smile broke on his face, the uncertainty and doubt gone for now.

" See that wasn't so hard my little vampire." Adrian chuckles as he tries to lighten the mood and frankly, it worked.

I feigned a look of hurt and huffed

"Size matters not young one !" I pouted playfully, I was rewarded with hearing Adrian's melodic laughter. His laughter is like music to my ears, it eases the loneliness and void existence of my immortality. I couldn't help but smile at his antics.

As the laughter dies down Adrian looks at me with a serious look on his face and pulls me closer to him. With his hands on my waist, I decided to move closer and just lean on him.

" Aelios…" He starts carefully and softly, most likely gauging my reaction.

" Yes…?" I replied quietly as I hugged him tight bracing for the question that I dreaded to hear.

" Why do vampires fear… your name… why do they think that you are just a myth…what did you do?" Adrian asks as he too hugs me tight knowing that this could be an emotional rollercoaster for both of us.

My heart clenched painfully as centuries of buried memories clawed their way back to the surface. I can still hear their screams of pain, anguish, and mercy. I can taste the blood that I drank over the years and the covens I have punished. I thought that my past would never resurface, that is until Adrian came into my life. I gripped the fabric of Adrian's shirt my heart clearly heavy with the burden of exposing the monster I was and still am…I will never forgive myself for showing this sweet and innocent boy the skeletons in my closet but he wishes for me to be honest and that's what I will do…for Adrian…

" It's best that we go inside…to your room preferably." I managed to tell him, my voice strained with anguish and sadness. I held on to his forearm to steady my racing heart.

He could tell that this would be emotionally draining for me to share so he pulled my hand away from his forearm and exchanged it with his warm soft hands.

" Aelios…if you're not ready. it's alright… we can do it another time.." Adrian says gently his eyes full of care and sorrow as he watches me struggle to compose myself.

" No … you need to know… I want you to know the truth…. if we are destined to be together… you need to know who I am.." I replied breathlessly.

" What about my parents?" He asks with concern.

" My shadows can dampen the sounds no one can hear us," I assured him.

" So how do you plan on getting in without making any noise… AHH!" Adrian yelled out in surprise as I cradled him in my arms effortlessly.

With a simple command, the shadows gathered in front of us as it formed a pulsating and writhing opening. We entered the darkness, my hand covering Adrian's ears and told him to close his eyes.

The shadows whisper in the void calling out for me to embrace the darkness once more.

" You can't escape us young one…" a cold voice echoes as we travel through the darkness.

" You know that your love for this mortal is a fleeting and feeble gesture.." another voice taunts me.

I ignore their taunts for the most part but it still bothers me in a way, so I reply to the voices before exiting the darkness.

" I control you and I command you to be silent!"

The dark voices laugh sinisterly and mockingly at my command and they reply with a cold certainty.

" One day you will embrace the darkness once more…."

" And on that day….."

" You will be the Angel of Death once more…" The voices laughed at the last part, they knew that if I lost the one thing that grounds my humanity… then I would be consumed by the darkness once more and nothing could ever bring me back from that…

I gently put Adrian on his bed and whispered in his ear that he could open his eyes once more. He opens his eyes with a look of surprise as he realizes that we are in his room so fast. I lamented though, would he still love me if I showed him the truth?

" Adrian…" I softly spoke with a hint of sadness as I braced myself for the sorrows that I would bring out.

Adrian sensing the gravity of the moment sat in front of me at the edge of his bed. I closed my eyes and with a flick of my wrist, the whole room was covered by the shadows. A gasp escapes Adrian's mouth as he looks at the pulsating and moving darkness.

" You have read Lysander's writings about his time in Argos I presume?" I ask Adrian who nods in reply.

" It is better for you to understand how I was made before we get to why others fear me," I state sadly.

With a flick of my wrist, a wispy version of me appears, dressed in my ancient Greek attire I looked happy and innocent. I lament at the sight of my naive youth, an innocence stolen away from me by one man.

" I was the son of the High Priest of Argos, I was happy, carefree, and innocent.." I emphasized the word innocent. The wispy apparition of myself laughed and played with other children. His laughter is so alien to my ears that I could not recognize it as my own. Adrian stood up and walked up to the apparition his eyes wide with fascination and curiosity as he touched the apparition. His hand went through and disrupted the image for a moment until it repaired itself once more.

"You're so… different back then.." Adrian sadly states.

" Indeed…" I replied and flicked my wrist again as an apparition of Lysander appeared. I was not ready to relive this again as I looked upon Lysander's whispery form. He still has his athletic physic and stoic posture, just like how I remembered him. I can still remember his short brown hair, his sun-kissed skin, and his captivating brown eyes. The memories started to flood back as I started to tremble, my hands shaky and unsteady. Adrian looks at me with concern as he walks up to me in haste.

"Aelios he's Lysander isn't he…" Adrian quickly held me close as my apparition kissed Lysander on the lips. The shadows started to respond to my inner turmoil of seeing my late friend and lover. They writhe excitedly as they sensed my sorrows coming forth, the taste oh so delicious to them.

"Aelios…. look at me…. I'm here it's okay…" Adrian says as he caresses my cheek, my breathing becomes erratic as the memories hit me hard.

Adrian pulled me into an embrace as we watched as the apparitions changed again with the arrival of a man that I know all too well.

" Theron…." I hissed between breaths as Theron's apparition appeared before my apparition and Lysander's apparition.

Adrian seems to realize that this man is someone who I despise, and he's right I do despise the man if I wasn't knocked out during our final battle I would have chopped off his head. The scene changed into the night when I ran away from Lysander, our argument got heated. Our words pierced us and I regret every word that I have said to him. I wish to turn back time to fix it but alas I can't, time is a cruel mistress. I closed my eyes and whispered an apology to Lysander… I felt the cold droplets of tears from my eyes. I couldn't hold it anymore I cried my heart out on Adrian's shoulder. Adrian rubs my back as he tries his best to comfort me. I breathed in deeply knowing what would happen next. I urged myself to look at a familiar scene while I and Adrian watched on as my ghostly apparition ran to the Temple of Hera where Theron was waiting for me.

The apparition of myself ran towards Theron and hugged him. Theron told my ghostly form that everything would be alright. Theron's voice was soothing and gentle but I knew the truth, his words are lies and he just coats them in kindness but what he wants is power. Then several hooded figures appeared behind my apparition the look of fear and betrayal on his face as he looked at Theron for answers. I gripped my chest as the scene continued, Adrian on the other hand looked so distraught and saddened by the scene that tears were flowing from his cheeks.

Theron's apparition pushed the young Aelios towards the hooded figures who drew out their daggers and proceeded to stab him. My cries of pain echoed in the room as I pleaded for them to stop but none heeded my cry for help. I looked at Theron for help but all I saw were his crimson-red eyes and his evil grin. I prayed to the gods, and I begged Lysander to help me but none came. Adrian was crying his eyes out as he watched my dying form on the floor, my blood pooling freely around me. Theron's eyes glinted with victory as he pulled out a dagger and sliced his wrist, he told my apparition that he did promise to give power unimaginable to any mortal man to protect the ones I love but that I would have to sacrifice something for that. Theron's blood flowed into my apparition's mouth, the apparition weakly tried to resist but my apparition was too weak to resist as he drank the blood. That's when the transformation took hold as my apparition writhed in pain. Then Theron reveals his fangs to finish the transformation. The scene ended with Theron carrying my lifeless body away, accompanied by his followers. Adrian crying his heart out on what just happened hugged me tightly and whispered that he didn't know…

The shadows writhed with excitement at my turmoil so much so that they conjured a familiar scene that I wish to forget. Right after my transformation and training as Theron's fledgling, I snuck out of his lair which is located near the caves of Mount Olympus, and went back to Argos every night to watch my family and my lover. This night though… changed me forever, my vampiric apparition is rushing in haste while Adrian looks confused.

" Please …. don't …." I begged the shadows as I could feel and smell the fear and the blood just like before.

Adrian realizes that something is wrong and tries to get my focus on him but my mind is breaking as I relive the moment when I lost everything.

My apparition called out to my parents and siblings but no answer came, the panic etched on my apparition's face was clear and the shadows seemed to writhe even more as they gathered near where me and Adrian sat on the floor. My apparition rushed from each room his movements becoming more and more frantic until the final room.

" Please stop this… I command you to stop !!" I commanded the shadows but the shadows paid no heed and continued.

Adrian gasps as he sees the bloodied and fallen forms of my family but worst of all Lysander's corpse is also there at the center of the room like some trophy or sacrifice.

I yelled in anguish as flashes of my family and love slaughtered and cast aside like meat haunted my mind. The whole room shuddered at my anguish as I relived the moment again. My apparition wailed in anguish as well and plunged the house into darkness as well. Adrian desperately tries to make me focus on him again, he tries to remind me that he's here. The shadows though started taunting me.

" Give in…. remember your failure …"

" You can't save anyone…."

" Their blood is in your hands…"

I closed my eyes as I tried to block out the shadow's taunts but it was no use as they created the apparition of Theron in front of me and Adrian.

" No matter how much you run or hide my dear fledgling…you can't hide the truth.." Theron mocks me as the scene changes to one of anguish and horror. The cries of pain and crying echo throughout the room as scenes of my punishment of vampires, their executions, the near extermination of the werewolf race, and the various vampires and political opponents that I have killed over the centuries all play in front of Adrian.

Adrian looks horrified at what he is witnessing, he looks at me in fear and horror. I looked away ashamed of what I had done in Theron's name. The guilt ate at me deeply, and Theron's taunting continued.

" You can put as much distance as you can from the one simple truth…." Theron grins

" No…." I defiantly retort.

" That you are a monster and you will always be a monster, tell me how will your mate look at you after knowing the truth !" Theron gloats while I stood up, my emotions of turmoil replaced by a need to protect Adrian. I stood in front of Adrian while the apparition of Theron laughed at my attempt.

" Tell me boy does this human love you… after what he witnessed!" Theron laughs mockingly. The shadows pulsate and writhe in anticipation as my mind starts to waver.

My resolve faltered at the thought of Adrian not loving me back due to the truth. I love him with all of my heart and soul but can he love me …? I backed away from Theron a thought of uncertainty crossed my mind. The fear of rejection plagued me, Adrian hating me would be too much… I can't go on without Adrian….

An image of me whose eyes glowed deep crimson appeared next to Theron. Theron continues as he directs his taunts at Adrian who looks at Theron with fear.

" The real Aelios my dear boy is a beast, a tool, and a weapon. Love and empathy are just signs of weakness for him. This is the real Aelios, a being who spreads fear… chaos and death!" Theron gloats proudly.

" He is my greatest creation !" Theron yells out in victory

Adrian's fear is replaced with determination and bravery as he walks up to Theron boldly. With fists clenched, he responds to Theron's taunts.

" NO! YOUR WRONG!, AELIOS IS NO ONE'S WEAPON AND HE'S NOT A MONSTER!" Adrian bravely states while his crescent moon necklace glows a gentle teal blue.

The necklace never did that before when I wore it… this is intriguing…

Theron hissed and bared his fangs at the light, the shadows as well started to retreat from Adrian.

" Your right… I might be horrified by what Aelios did in the past… but that's not him… I know him. I know there is good in his heart…" Adrian states as Theron's hisses even more. Adrian stands in front of the red-eyed image of myself.

" You will die by his hands you know that child !" Theron hisses as the light intensifies around the room.

" He would never hurt me… because I know he loves me just as I love him…" Adrian declares as Theron's apparition disappears screaming leaving only my dark apparition, Adrian and me.

Adrian stood in front of my apparition and started to speak to it and me.

" Aelios… stop seeing yourself like this, you're no monster…your past does not define who you are…." Adrian states as he touches my apparition's chest and slowly but surely the shadows recede from my apparition and reveal the smiling and happy face that I used to have. Adrian touched my apparition's face and continued with his confession.

" This is who I see whenever we meet, the kind and caring boy that I fell in love with. Not the darkness that shrouds you." Adrian sweetly states as the apparition disappears and he walks over to me and knelt in front of me.

" Adrian… I…" I tried to apologize but I was silenced by his finger on my lips.

" No more apologies, no more lies, and most of all no more tears my love…" Adrian states as he cups my cheek.

I felt my heart flutter in response to his words, centuries of guilt, shame, and regret washed away by this mere mortal's gentle words. I held his hand gently and laid my head on his. I gazed at his gentle eyes, our love being communicated without any words expressed.

" By the gods… I don't deserve you…Adrian." I quietly say as I remember the past deeds I once committed.

" Everyone deserves a second chance Aelios…" He softly replied, his voice laced with so much love and kindness.

" How can you forgive me…a monster…a creature of the night..?" I ask as my voice starts to quiver from all the emotions that are being brought out tonight.

" Because I love you…and I know who you are, Aelios…" Adrian says to me with so much care and kindness. Without saying a word he gave me a sweet kiss which I responded in kind.

“ Aelios….” Adrian breathlessly whispers which makes me feel weird in my stomach. Not the bad kind of weird, but how can I explain this um ah yes the good and exciting kind. He kisses me so hungrily it is as if he has been controlling himself this whole time and now… now is the time to act.

Without warning Adrian picked me up and cradled me in his arms. Sometimes I forget that Adrian is taller than me. “ My little vampire…” he sweetly states with no malice or teasing behind those words just the love of this human boy. I felt the heat on my cheeks when I heard his nickname for me. He continues giving me kisses as he guides me to his bed. We continued our kissing session but this time Adrian’s movement and his demeanor changed. I can feel his desire coming out of the surface, his insatiable hunger for me. His hands explored my whole body, each touch sending intense waves of pleasure throughout my body. Small moans escaped my mouth while we kissed eagerly. Then a sliver of doubt seeped itself into my mind as I realized that this was my first time being this intimate. Was I doing this right? Is Adrian enjoying this? Am I enough for him…. just as my worries start to overwhelm me I then felt his hand grasps my butt which made me jolt and gasp in surprise, I never knew Adrian could be like this…

Adrian froze immediately, concern washing over his beautiful face. The hunger and desire from his gaze a moment ago melted into something softer.

“Aelios…are you alright?” his voice was breathless, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable.

“ I…I'm fine…it’s just that you surprised me…” I replied quietly. As I tried to look away from him embarrassed by my actions and thinking that I ruined the moment.

Adrian gently cupped my chin, tilting my face back towards his. His very touch made my heart stutter, the warmness of his very hand a calming reminder that I'm safe…and that I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not.

“ Hey… look at me… Aelios…you can tell me anything…” he whispered, his thumb brushing against my cheek.

“ I'm sorry love…this form of intimacy is all new to me,” I whisper back with tears falling from my eyes feeling disappointed with myself for not responding like I should.

“Hey… hey shhh you're doing great Aelios… it's just that I got too excited…seeing that I have the most beautiful person on earth on my bed… alone… and close to me…” he states with a blush forming on his cute cheeks.

His sweet words disarmed me and took my breath away. I couldn't help but give him a shy smile and in return, I was rewarded with a gentle kiss on my lips. It lasted for just a second before he wiped away my tears.

“I...I'm just scared that I've ruined our moment…and maybe I’ve disappointed you..” the words slipped out before I could stop myself.

He gave me a gentle and caring hug and whispered in my ear.

“ You can never disappoint me Aelios…just be yourself…”

“ Thank you..” I quietly replied.

Adrian decided to just hold me close and nothing more. Just us sharing a moment no words needed. Alas, all good things must come to an end as I can sense the coming of sunlight.

“ Adrian…love I need to go… the sun is coming soon..” I whispered but my fingers gripped his forearm while he hugged my chest. I don't want to go… I just want to be with him….

Adrian might have felt the same and hugged me tighter and whispered in a sad tone.

“ I wish I could become like you…. you know a vampire..so that we can be together… forever.”

My eyes grew big in shock at his statement, which prompted me to turn and look at him seriously.

“ You don’t know…what that entails…” I told him gently but firmly.

“ Sure I do… I'm gonna be immortal!” he says with a chuckle but I was not laughing at this topic.

“ Adrian…what do you think vampires feed on…” My voice trembled as I looked into his eyes, desperate for him to understand the grave decision and his future regret if he wanted this.

“Are you willing to drink the blood of other humans? Or that you can't see the sun again, feel its warm glow? To leave behind everything you hold dear!” I paused a bit and looked down not meeting his gaze, I didn’t want him to see me so upset over this and that the memories of my turning still haunt me.

“Everything that I wanted was taken from me, Adrian. My Family, my past love, my innocence…please reconsider this,” I begged him, the raw emotion in my voice resonated between us.

His smile faded away replaced with regret on his face realising that it was a sensitive topic. He looked down and apologized to me but when he looked into my eyes I saw the determination of this human that still baffles me.

“I will think about it Aelios…but are you willing to let me grow old, while you stay young forever..I can’t because I love you… and I need you.” He spoke softly but I can feel the intensity of his gaze on me.

This made me do a double take, the thought of seeing Adrian age and die scared me so much that I looked away. Am I about to curse him with old age while I stay frozen in this age, the thought of Adrian growing old and withering away is painful and I can’t accept that fate for him. The question though am I willing to condemn Adrian’s soul in darkness, because once you choose that path there's no going back

I took a deep breath, my chest tight from the decision I was about to make, the uncertainty of it all weighing me down. I have turned others before but that was during the Extermination Wars and the Vampire Civil War. Never have I ever turned someone out of love before and to someone that I hold so dear that I would move the heavens and the earth to make this boy happy. After what felt like an eternity, I met his gaze, conflict still raging within my rational mind as I looked at Adrian’s innocent face.

“ I…I will turn you…” I said softly. “ If you agree to and consent that is…but I want you to think and weigh everything Adrian. Please, think it over….before you make a decision.”

Adrian seemed to light up from my reply, a small smile forming from his sweet lips and then with a serious look, he held his pinky finger.

“Promise?” His voice was barely a whisper but was filled with anticipation and excitement.

I smiled at his innocent gesture and the simplicity of it all, I envy him in a way…his blissful and playful innocence..oh how I wish I was like him again…to be human..to be normal.

“I promise.” I simply answered and we interlocked our fingers.

He smiled so wide that I was afraid that he might rip his cheeks and then he pounced on me and hugged me so tight that I almost choked.

“Thank you….thank you !” He kisses my cheeks and lips multiple times making me laugh and giggle. This prompted him to cover my mouth to shut me up, and that's when I remembered my shadows were gone…the room was not soundproof anymore.

“ Shhhhh little vampire you might wake the whole neighborhood!” Adrian giggled as I felt the blood rush in my cheeks from the comment.

After calming down I looked at Adrian softly and held his right hand. He looked at what I was doing curiously. Pulling his right hand in front of my lips I whispered an ancient Greek incantation that I learned during my fledgling years. A soft purple glow emanated from his hand and I released his hand to show an intricate sun disk with radiating flames, its rays a distorted and thorny pattern, and the sun eclipsed by a crescent moon. The color scheme like all my marks throughout the centuries, the sun itself pitch black, the addition of an eclipsing silver crescent moon is special since only Adrian has it and it’s his symbol and lastly a faint dark purple glow emanates from the edges due to my presence. To an outsider, it looks like a normal tattoo but to us vampires, it's a warning that the person being marked is under another vampire’s protection.

Adrian’s eyes grew big as he admired the intricate design of his mark. A small smile starts to creep in from the corner of his mouth before he pounces and hugs me tightly.

“I love it !” Adrian happily states which made me smile wide at his radiant energy. He then starts to pepper me with kisses all over my face.

“Good…. I’m glad that you love it but I have to go… the sun is coming up…” I try to explain in between kisses.

“Fine…. but we’ll meet again right at the clearing?” Adrian asks with a hopeful look.

I leaned in and gave him a quick soft kiss on the lips

“ As usual…” I reply as we disengage from the kiss and with one last look at Adrian before the shadows start to gather around me again. Their grip on me seems to be weak compared to when I relived my memories. Did Adrian play a role? If so how did he do it? I seem to have better control over them now…

With a final look, I let the shadows engulf me and left the house. Nyx looked upon me happily her tail wagging excitedly as I pat her head gently. With one last look at Adrian’s smiling face by the window, I waved goodbye, a gentle smile on my face as me and Nyx left the area as fast as possible. My heart soared at the thought of seeing Adrian again, he is truly my sun a light in my darkness….

Theron’s notes

Year: 1245 B.C

Aelios is truly a marvel after his transformation….. this thirteen-year-old embodied everything that a vampire could wish for. The frozen visage of youth, the beauty that rivals that of deities, and power that is still untapped. I knew choosing this boy was worth the wait, he was saddened of course, and seemed to be troubled by the fact that he lost his humanity. No matter a little harsh discipline and a few licks of my bone whip could fix that. By choosing Aelios I have cemented him as my prize, my glory, and my future heir. His crying ceased after 3 days of whipping and a few cuts here and there and now his training begins. I pushed him to his limits, his very body straining from the pain of sword cuts that I inflicted upon him while drilling him to dodge, the bruises from his body from the sparring matches we did, and the burns that he experienced after attempting to use the shadows. His mind was not safe as well, I broke him with the pain of losing his humanity. Each time we train I increase the danger level to hone him, to shape him to my will. He will be my weapon and he will do my will without hesitation and disloyalty.

As months passed I saw the fruits of my labor come back to me. Aelios ever the ingenious boy that he is has adapted quickly through my torture. He became immune to my mental attacks and his combat be it unarmed or armed has improved drastically. This puts pride in my heart but I cannot ignore the dangers of training a fledging with such potential. He might one day destroy me and in a way I find this ironic. I have snatched a pure and innocent boy, in service to the gods of Greece and turned him into something unclean. In a way, I feel that the gods had something to do with Aelios’s transformation and his quick assimilation of skills that most fledglings would struggle with. Not him… he is different you can feel it in the way he looks at you, his dark purple eyes just gazing at you as if he knows your next move. His physical strength and speed are equal to mine which is unnerving, to say the least, I hypothesized that it’s natural his physical capabilities came from me, seeing that he drank a huge amount of my blood mid-transformation. The progenitors call to me as they see Aelios’s creation as an abomination due to how young he was, it matters not I will convince them of Aelios’s usefulness with a demonstration…..