Random idea: there is a sliding scale of Vampire Romance "hardness." On one end (we'll call it 0) is Twilight---not only do vampires not kill people, but they're shiny and cuddly to boot. In fact, aside from preternatural strength and coldness, they're big teddy bears. On the other (a round 10) is Let the Right One In (a Swedish novel which, if you haven't read, you really really really should)---where vampires murder and plunge to the very depths of sin, yet love some lucky person anyway.
This book aims to be at about the 7.5 mark. Basically, vampires aren't evil or cruel, but they still capture and suck people's blood. They don't kill the donors, but they basically enslave them as a personal supply of blood.
Yes, you say, but this should really be told in the story! You shouldn't require author's notes to explain things!
And I remind you that this story is incomplete, and I would like it to be judged as fairly as possible. And, while these things will be explained later, it makes it hella easier to review if you know what's going on.
Oh yeah: mild violence. But you should know that already.
So...that's that. On to Round One:
Forget Me Not
Chapter One: The Champion
Chapter One: The Champion
He was strong. That was certain. He could see his opponent's muscles ripple through the fog as the horn sounded. His biceps distorted a tattoo of an eagle almost beyond recognition.
But was he fast?
The brute turned his head, not moving his feet. He was trying not to display a weakness, Aleck assumed; but that was as good as broadcasting it. His vision also appeared impaired, although that was likely trickery.
Aleck had not made it so far in the Tournament through stupidity, and he was not about to fall prey to this brute. He was slow and could most likely see better than Aleck.
An interesting combination.
Aleck waited until the behemoth's head faced away from him before darting behind the beast. The other contender had most likely noticed him, but continued to pretend otherwise. If he had thought that Aleck would be fooled, he was sadly mistaken.
Aleck darted forward to attack, and the massive creature before him fell into his trap. Aleck quickly feinted before moving underneath the beast's legs, and---now behind the giant---he attacked.
He was not the largest Vampire out there, but this did not matter to him. He knew his weaknesses and he knew his strengths, and he exploited all of them. His diminutive size was not an offensive ability, but it meant that his opponent needed to aim a lot better than he was used to.
He went for the sensitive spinal region, snapping out a quick kick that made something break, before darting back just before the beast had time to turn around.
He was going to lose, he realized. Maybe not soon, but the creature's lack of movement was conserving energy, while eventually, he was going to slow down and the brute's strength would prevail.
He was determined not to allow this outcome to pass, and just as he had made up his mind to feign weakness, it happened.
A smell, tantalizing his every synapse, wafted across the field. It was a distinctive smell: an Old One, the supposed prize. He hadn't entirely believed the King when he had declared it as the prize, but now...
He needed to stop thinking about the prize before it was his. If his brain was distracted by the Old One, then his opponent's...
He turned back to the behemoth and saw him standing there, facing the smell, face calm and in rapture. He looked blissful, until Aleck leaped, grabbed the Vampire's head, and twisted it with all his strength. The Vampire staggered, trying to keep Aleck from snapping the vertebrae, but the smaller demon refused to release his hold.
Finally, the Vampire sank to his knees, and tilted his head to the side, the gesture for defeat.
Aleck had not actually meant to kill the Vampire. No matter the occasion, the loss of a brother was not something he desired, but the prize was too ripe. His gratitude for the yielding was almost surprising. He truly had been prepared to murder.
Aleck leaned his head forward, elongated his incisors, and bit gently. The taking of blood was customary after a defeat in combat, and provided more than mere recognition. While conveying the message that one Vampire was stronger than the other, it also gave one Vampire limited control over the other. Aleck now had a portion of the large beast's might, and he was determined to make this as painless as possible for his opponent.
He knew that the only reason for his victory had been the timely appearance of the Old One, and that meant that he held none of the contempt that usually came after defeating one of his own. He knew that, had the prize not distracted the giant, he would have lost. His victory was serendipity, nothing more.
What he did not realize, however, was that it was not one victory that he had won that battle.
The King's voice came booming from the mist.
"The winner is Aleck di Benezia!"
Aleck bit his lip. The King's native tongue meant that he gave all his subjects such titles, no matter how incongruous the combination. "Aleck," he thought, was not at all in the same category as "di Benezia."
"Step forward to receive your prize."
He realized it then: this had been the final battle. After weeks of dueling, he had lost track of the matches. Apparently this behemoth had been the other finalist, and now, he was done. The Old One was his.
He stepped forward, and the King came into sight through the fog. Aleck knelt, and bowed his head.
"My lord," he said. "I thank you for this opportunity to prove my worth."
It was not the usual victory remark made to the King; Aleck had pondered the intelligence of making such a change. It was, he decided, more modest, something he desperately desired. The winner of the Tournament was often regarded as ruler material, opinions which were quickly silenced by the King.
Aleck was definitely not ruler material. He was small, and fast, and smart, and he definitely did not want to provoke the King of the Vampires.
The King grew somewhat cold at this, contrary to Aleck's desires, and then became a little more animated.
"This key unlocks your prize," he said. "You know where to find her, I trust? She did offer you a treat, as I recall."
Aleck bit his lip. The King knew exactly what he was implying.
"Indeed, my lord," he said. "A most fortuitous occurrence. Had it not been for it, I should most likely be the loser of this battle."
"Your modesty is unwarranted," said the defeated Vampire. "I was the one fighting a losing battle. That spinal blow almost did me in."
"Your own modesty is unnecessary," said Aleck. "I respect you greatly."
The large Vampire looked somewhat taken aback. Only rarely did a victor offered respect to the loser. It was usually the other way around.
Then Aleck stood, grasped the key that the King had proffered, bowed, and walked away to the source of that tantalizing smell.
