Taste of Death ✓ (mxm)

One

The moonlight trickled through the trees and into the grand palace windows, casting shapes and shadows across the floors of the corridor.

      Larysz paced back and forth through the dimly lit corridor, rubbing his hands together, anxiously.

      Larysz's sister--Berewol--was going to get married.

     Quite a while ago, Berewol had been sent by escort to Acriania to meet the person people had called 'Prince Samuilu Mihai Vladiscu Vaduva'...

    Queen Elena and King Beniamin had agreed to allow Berewol to marry their youngest child to forge an alliance between Acriania and Zaeriatis.

     Then Elena found out Berewol's 'secret'.

     Berewol had been born with a male body.

    Elena had screamed and shouted at Berewol. She screamed about how Berewol was 'sick' and 'deranged'.

    Larysz hadn't been there when the screaming had happened, but he assumed it had been quite bad.

     Berewol had been kicked out of Acriania, courtesy of Beniamin and Elena… and back to Zaeriatis.

    Then… It was time for the Voit Seoboek Stragas to learn a truth.

    The heir to the Acrianian throne was closeted. The heir wasn't a he. The heir was a she.

    Her preferred name had been Isabela.

    Berewol heard of this and felt nervous for Isabela… She had mentioned something about thinking that the King and Queen of Acriania would react poorly if they knew.

   Berewol and Larysz's father—-King Bartusz of Zaeriatis—-had secluded himself for days. He had put himself deep in thought and turned away everyone who came to see him, regardless if they were a servant or if they were his own family.

    After a couple of days had passed, Bartusz had caught wind that Princess Isabela Dmitria Luciana Vaduva had been turned into a vampire.

    Bartusz reached out and struck up a deal with Queen Elena.

     Bartusz had sent his men to take Isabela back to Zaeriatis, where he had tortured her.

    Bartusz had planned to marry Isabela off to Berewol.

    Berewol had spoke up about the fact that she didn't support what Bartusz was doing or his methods… but, alas, she was ignored by her own father.

    Earlier that night, Bartusz had went down to the dungeon that Isabela resided in to go about his nightly routine.

    Larysz had seen Berewol pass by him earlier, heading down to the dungeons.
    Larysz continued to pace.

   It had been too long—-usually his father was back by now.

    Crack!, sounded out the cobblestone floor.

    Larysz turned to face his sister.

    Alongside Berewol was three women—-one with dark hair, one blonde, and one ginger.

     Larysz's red eyes glided over a little… His gaze came to fall on Isabela herself.

     "Berewol," Larysz began to call out to his older sister. He swallowed. "What are you doing?"

     Berewol pushed further a little. "Larysz… Please…"

    Larysz looked around the corridor. "Where's Father?" He looked at his sister and her companions once again. "Where is he?"

    "Indisposed…" Berewol answered.

    "I need to get the guards." Larysz tried to push past his sister, but she grabbed his arm, stopping him.

   Larysz let his gaze fall upon his sister again. He exhaled.

   Berewol began, "Larysz… Please… You know what Father has been doing is wrong…"

    Larysz closed his eyes for a moment.

    "Larysz!" Berewol's voice raised a little, sounding somewhat desperate. "Please!"

     Larysz took a deep breath before opening his eyes. "Go."

     Berewol looked somewhat surprised.

    "If I know Father, he won't be 'indisposed' for very long… He'll be up and swinging within minutes…" His gaze danced along his older sister's companions. "And you'll all be in danger." He took a deep breath in. "So… Go. Now."

    Berewol nodded to Larysz, giving him one last glance before letting go of his arm and running past him, holding onto Isabela to support her—-the other women followed in suit.

    Larysz turned to watch them leave.
   Once they had left, Larysz turned back once again, just to catch the gaze of a guard. "Oh crap…" Larysz exhaled.

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

     "You let them get away?" Bartusz's hostile, angry voice boomed, echoing through the quarters.

      Larysz's cold, dead hands were trembling. "Father… I-"

     "Shut up!" Bartusz screamed. He breathed heavily. He looked his son dead in the eyes. "I had everything planned out! Then you had to come along and ruin everything!" He slammed his hands against the table, dragging his hands along the tabletop's perimeter, knocking everything over.

     Smash! Clang! Clatter!

     Bartusz continued to lock away from his son. "Go," he exhaled.

     "Father, what do-" Larysz was cut off.

     "If you know what's good for you, you'll go… Leave this kingdom and never return… Get out of my sight…" Bartusz growled.

     Larysz did nothing. He just stood, staring.

    "Get out of here, now," Bartusz commanded, his voice still infused with harsh tones. "... before I change my mind and hunt you for sport."

    Larysz gulped before turning, running toward the nearest window, flinging it open, throwing himself out the window, turning into a bat, and taking off through the night.

   ─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

   Larysz continued to look up at the night sky around him. He had put some major distance between him and Zaeriatis's capital.

    Larysz exhaled, before leaning backward a little. "Fuck my life," he grumbled.