The Forgotten Prophecy: Episode 8 (July 21st, 2702)

Paris, Blanche Metro Station was in a catastrophic mess. It wasn’t the scenery Arcadeus and the rest of the Mara family had in mind when they arrived. They were expecting cheerful people, victorious over a battle, but instead were met up with something right out of Hell.

There were blood and limbs everywhere, the fire still burning from the might of the Elementals. A dark cloud was hovering above the area, blocking the sun. The streets glowed an evil orange with an unsettling dust blocking the distance from view. No one could see past a couple of meters. Then there was the smell of dead people. They didn’t know what to think of the situation. This was the least of their expectations. There were probably fifty Demigods present at the time, more than enough to withstand just about anyone coming their way. Instead, almost all of them were slaughtered.

Arcadeus had another thirty Demigods with him, not counting his children and Otho. They had brought every type available, to combine their powers should it be necessary and it looked necessary. 

“Clear this up, will you?” Marceus said as he spotted one of the Elementalists in their protection team. The Demigod summoned a powerful gale and in just a few seconds the streets were highly visible again. The streets looked worse now. Cream colored buildings were painted in red. There were puddles of blood reflecting the evening sky. No one wanted to be there.

“Marceus, take the rooftops,” Arcadeus ordered. “Alexis, go with him.” “What’s the plan?” he asked. “Our main objective is finding Juleus.” Arcadeus replied, studying the area for hostiles. “Any secondary’s? “Kill anyone who isn’t a Demigod.” They divided themselves into two groups, one scouting the city for the other.

The Demigods, had they not been against another supernatural race their plan would have worked but the gory scenery they were presented with gave them enough information to go on. They were not against people who were new to this. They knew they were no longer fighting other Demigods. This new race knew how to use their powers and that frightened them.

In the meantime, almost a hundred meters below the surface, Juleus was chained to the ceiling. He woke up in a dimly lit stone room. There were cobwebs in the corners of the room. Candles placed in a circle on top of a pentagram illuminated the place. He tried to pull the chains off but to his surprise, they were ridiculously strong. Footsteps echoed in the distance but grew louder as they came closer. There was no door to the room and the hallway leading into it was made of the same stone. Juleus could soon see the silhouette of a man holding a torch in his hand. He was heavily cloaked and wore a hood over his head. “Where am I.” Juleus asked wearily. “You are in an insignificant room in an insignificant location.” The man replied bluntly. “Who you are is much more imperative.” “I’m the son of Arcadeus Mara. My capture will lead to your doom.” The man waved his hand at the remark. “No, that is not why you are here.” Juleus tried to get a good look at the man’s face but it was constantly in shadow. “Then why am I here?” He was unafraid of the man. Fear was replaced by interest. Juleus was beguiled by the state he was in. He was keen on where this was heading. “You are here to help us unlock something very special.” The man pointed down at Juleus’s feet, at the pentagram. “Am I part of some kind of ritual?” he laughed. “I was not expecting this from Vampires.” The man tilted his head to the side. It was his interest that now peaked. “Vampires?” A sly smile cracked through the shadows as the man slowly revealed his face. “Yes, I suppose that is what you would call us.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “The name Vampire was coined by a Human. That isn’t what we’re really called.” “What are you called?” “Sadly, I am only here to check everything is in order. Someone else will be here soon,” The hooded man placed his hand on Juleus’s forehead and push it back, examining him. “he will explain everything to you.” “Am I going to be killed or traded?” “Neither.” The man stopped his examination and turned around. “What’s going to happen to me?” “You will become the beginning of absolutely everything.” “What?” The man exited the room leaving a puzzled Juleus. “What do you mean!” he shouted. “REAP! The Lord is coming!” the man’s voice echoed thunderously throughout the hall.

Back on the surface, the Demigods were still searching for any kind of life signs. There was only death everywhere. “There!” shouted one of the Demigods protecting Marceus and Alexis. A hooded man was exiting the devastated Blanche metro station. The ground team had seen him too and were headed in his direction. “IDENTIFY YOURSELF!” Arcadeus roared. “THIS INSTANCE!” The man spread his arms wide as he exited the station. He was holding a dagger in reverse with his left hand. “Arcadeus Mara!” shouted the man. “You are a man of notable feats, I must say.” “IDENTIFY YOURSELF!” “Watch your tone! Your reign is over before it begins!” “Are you the vampire that has been terrorizing my realm?” “I am but a mere puppet but even then, you cannot handle me. My prowess exceeds you... All of you.” “You haven’t fought me yet!”

It all happened in an instant. The hooded man leaped towards Arcadeus with such force a shockwave erupted from his core, destroying the buildings in the vicinity, toppling them to the ground. The objective went from killing the man to barely managing to survive. Five Dashers moved Arcadeus out of harm’s way before attacking the hooded man but before his very eyes, the Dashers were sliced into several pieces before he could blink twice. “You barely tasted power, ever!” “Who are you!?” shouted Arcadeus, still uncertain if he should fear the man. “I am Cain The Cursed, and you will bear my mark!”

Arcadeus felt a kick to his torso before witnessing it. His skin was tough enough to not rip during contact but the force alone could not be stopped. Arcadeus was shot like a bullet from a gun into the building behind him. He found himself inside an office building on the second floor. His neck and back cracked as he stood up, dusting off his black trench coat. Cain suddenly appeared in front of him. “I once thought you could be a problem for us. But you’re weak like the rest.” He said. “Bonding with Tasia’s God Particle hasn’t given you the edge.” “I haven’t even started.” Arcadeus huffed but Cain threw a punch and knocked him down but ease. “You and your people will be decimated before the next sunrise. We will swarm the world. You won’t be alive to even see the beginning of it all.” He towered over Arcadeus who was trying to breathe. “I could end you right now you know? I thought I would enjoy this more but you’re proving to be very weak. How you thought you could win this war is beyond me.” He laughed. Arcadeus was trying to find something in which he could lift himself up with. Cain walked beside him and stomped on his left hand. “Pathetic excuse of a supernatural being.” “Cain...” Arcadeus whispered, his voice hoarse and weak. “He was going on and on about how you would be troubling. How we would end up delaying all our plans.” He crouched to take a good look at the Demigod. “You probably would have thought that too. You’re quite similar you see. Him and you. But you fail to realize that your enemies are mere ants. For you, it’s the humans. For us, it is your kind. “Tell me what you are...” Arcadeus coughed. “Very well. I will grant a dying man’s wish in terms you would understand. I am what you would call... an Elder Vampire... Not what I would call it though. We have different names for our kind.” Cain smiled. “Oh Arcadeus, I see the fight in your eyes but you were never at the top of the food chain.” “I have something... to tell you...” “It better be of importance. I can’t stand poor dying words.” Cain leaned closer to the Demigod, pushing down with his hand on Arcadeus’s chest for good measure. “Tell me. What is it?” “Tasia’s particle was the first.” Cain was unimpressed. “Public knowledge, this.” “I’m up thirty-six.”

The Mara siblings flinched when an explosion set off a few blocks away. It destroyed the entire area and left them staring at a dark cloud rising into the sky. They looked at each other, all of them thinking of the worst that could have happened.