Unveiling The Vampire's Omega (Bound By Blood, Freed By Love)

Chapter: 100
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TALON:

John was a fisherboy. John was no vampire. But this John... this John was different. He couldn't be the same person I once knew. My mind struggled to reconnect the boy from my childhood-who saved me, who kept me hidden-with the man standing before me, embodying a past I had long since buried, yet never truly forgotten. Confusion washed over me, and my instincts screamed at me to escape, to run from the memories that threatened to surface.

"Where have you been?" he sobbed, his voice trembling with emotion. "For years, I searched for you. I traveled endlessly from city to city, lost and without a clue about you or the men who took you that day. I ran away from home, stealing my father's boat-the only means we had to make a living-and set out on a desperate journey across the seas. Night after night, I searched for my Talon, the vampire for whom I had hunted rabbits, the one who was taken from me.

In my quest, I realized that to find you, I had to become like you. So, I traveled to Qiemont, where I met the one who turned me into a vampire. After that, I arrived in Drakenshire and encountered Helios. He bore such a striking resemblance to you that I felt an undeniable pull toward him. I stayed close, hoping to find a trace of you within him, but he was not you. No, he was not..."

He pulled away, forcing me to meet his gaze, tears streaming down his cheeks. At that moment, recognition dawned on me; not much had changed in John, the fisherboy, and the man standing before me now.

"Where did they take you? What have they done to you? How did you end up in Helios's body?" He examined me intently, his hands gliding over my form as if he were etching every detail into his memory.

"Oh, Talon. How I've missed you!" His fingers brushed against my lips, and he gently parted them, his touch grazing my fangs. He hissed softly, leaning closer, but I instinctively pulled away, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment.

"You can't do that, John," I said, my voice thick with emotion. Relief washed over me at the sight of him; he was alive, well, and standing right in front of me. So many times, I had wondered about his fate, often lost in thoughts of him. My heart swelled with gratitude for everything he had done for me. He had saved my life, and without his bravery, I would have been lost to the sea that day. He had taken me in against his family's wishes, provided for me, and sheltered me. He was just a boy, yet he cared for me deeply. I would forever cherish his kindness, but I knew that my heart had never belonged to him, nor would it ever.

"I'm sorry, John. I'm truly glad you're well, but so much has changed. Even I can't fully grasp how I ended up in this body. What I do know is that I cannot kiss you, John. I've missed you, dear friend-I worried for you constantly. Seeing you here now fills me with gratitude for your well-being, but please, don't pursue me with intentions of intimacy. I cannot be with anyone, for I am bound to another."

I lowered my head, my gaze drifting to his shoes, and felt the weight of my words pressing down on me. A deep longing surged within my heart, not for John, but for my lovers-those I yearned for so desperately, even in this moment. I craved their kisses, the way they would ravish my body, their claws tearing my clothes into rags as they pinned me against the wall with their strong hands. I longed to feel their love envelop me, to be consumed by their passion until I fell into unconsciousness, lost in the ecstasy they brought.

The memory of those fierce embraces, the heat of their bodies against mine, ignited a fire within me that I could not extinguish. Each thought of them was a bittersweet reminder of what I had lost and what I still desired. The ache in my chest grew stronger, a hunger that no amount of time or distance could quell. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift for a moment in the fantasy of their touch, the promise of their love, and the overwhelming desire that coursed through me.

"Don't do that," John's voice cut through the haze of my desires, and I blinked, meeting his lust-filled gaze that seemed to pull me in deeper. "Don't look at me like that, or I will misunderstand."

Feeling the weight of his words, I shifted my gaze back down to the shoes on our feet, my heart racing. "I am owned, John. I cannot be yours," I muttered breathlessly, the truth of my situation crashing over me like a cold wave.

The longing that had surged moments ago was now tempered by the stark reality of my commitments. I felt torn between the raw, aching desire for my lovers and the new reality that I had found. And here I thought I could stay away.

I heard him smile, his hand gently cradling my chin as he lifted my face to meet his gaze once more. "Who?" he asked, and for a fleeting moment, I was taken aback, unsure of what he meant. "Who has laid claim to the vampire I searched for all my life?" A stray tear slipped down his cheek, and I followed its path until it vanished into his collar.

"No matter," he continued, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. "I've waited all these years. Even when I couldn't find you, I never gave up. I can't give up. I will wait for you... no matter how long it takes." He leaned closer, his fingers brushing against my ears, igniting a reaction in me that felt like betrayal.

"I will wait," he whispered.

"Vale," I whimpered, my vision blurring as my heart raced. I yearned for him. I needed him. The thought left my legs weak and my eyes stinging.

"Is that the one?" he asked softly. "This Vale-what is he? A vampire, a werewolf, a human, a sage?" His fingers continued to graze my sensitive ears, and I trembled. I loathed that he didn't know, yet he persisted in touching me there. I resented my inability to resist him. He was stronger, a well-fed vampire, while I felt diminished in comparison. What strength did I have to withstand his allure?

"He is the one to whom I belong, and he won't appreciate you touching what is his... S-so please, stop, John," I pleaded.

He smiled softly, pulling away. I watched him retreat until his back rested against the balcony railing, and then I exhaled a shaky breath, collapsing against the door behind me.

"Jonas isn't my son, in case you were wondering," he said, locking his gaze onto mine once more. I wasn't wondering; I had briefly assumed he was the boy's father when our eyes met during Ella's introduction of Jonas.

"And you haven't been feeding well, I can tell," he continued. "I suppose that even in this new body, you still can't take any blood that isn't from a rabbit-or is it only his blood that you can keep?" He paused, and when I didn't respond, the answer dawned on him. I heard him groan, a sound heavy with frustration. "I hate this feeling," he muttered, more to himself than to me, pressing his hands against his chest as if grappling with a physical ache in his heart. "But I will wait. I promise I won't cross that line until you're ready to cross it with me."

He stepped away from the balcony, moving closer to me.

I wanted to flee, yet I found my legs powerless, paralyzed by his overwhelming presence. I felt weak.

"Enjoy the party, Helios, or should I say Talon..." He nodded and turned to leave but hesitated. "Here, come find me if you need a drink... I have a place I've refined just for you. The best rabbit blood-very discreet, too. I've held onto that place for a long time, hoping that when I found you again, you'd never run out of what you need."

I looked down to see the small card he was offering. Without hesitation, I took it. The long absence of feeding was starting to take its toll; all the strength I had regained from my feeding off Altair had faded. "Thank you, John," I murmured.

"I will uncover what happened to you, and by all that is evil, I hope I never find the man who took you from my cave that day..." His eyes darkened with intensity as he finished his thought. "And from my life." With that, he turned and walked away, and I watched until he vanished from sight.

It was time for me to leave as well.