A gigantic 'What if' with a twist...
For those of you who did read the comics, I offer a bit of a twist to the tale. Alternate ending, very much so. Things being twisted around to who was the good guy and who was simply a victim of the time...well, that's for you to decide.
What if Radu hadn't always been the maniacal and overly sadistic creature we know him as in the film series? Was it always that way or simply something that made him decide once and for all that it was the only way to be? Is he inherently evil, or is he just exactly what he is? Chivalrous or desperate, monster or even more human than humans themselves...one will never really know. Was he always the raspy voiced demon in the darkness, or did he have a silver tongue that could change one's point of view in a blink?
One thing is always true though - Radu will always be Radu.
No Regrets
Rating: Hard PG-13/R [language, implied sexuality, violence]
Disclaimer: Don't own it, not selling it, this is for entertainment only. Also, this fic made my best friend cry. You have been warned.
Hair hair was like a dark halo around her head as she stood at the cliff's edge, staring don at the water below and taking a breath. The demons and Turks were all alike...slaughtering her father and no doubt a worse fate was in store for her if she dared to turn back or if they caught her. She took another step forward and closed her eyes...
"You are a coward unfit to serve as a concubine in Hell should you do that."
She looked over her shoulder, the shadows parting around Radu, his blood red hair a stark contrast to his black leather armor and his carved bone features. There was no smile on his lips as there had been when the guards had humiliated her before, but rather a look of total and complete disappointment.
"You gypsies pride yourselves on being nomads...followers of God and other pantheons given your faith...and yet somehow you always think you're immune to the Gate whenever you decide to perform some act of stupidity out of blind courage." he spat, "To think I was going to allow you to live."
"As your whore?" she retorted, "I despise you. I know your kind - "
"You know NOTHING about me!" his voice turned acidic, causing her to wince, "You think you are so prejudiced! Take a journey through my mind sometime and place yourself in my position where not even the lowest born devils would so much consider me family!"
He stood at the edge with her, looking her in the eye. She was afraid, but not of him...he knew when someone was afraid of him. What she feared was only what any proud mortal should fear, and his expression softened, but only barely.
"Why rid yourself of what you and your people consider a Divine gift? To live...to truly live...that must be something...glorious..." Radu's voice had completely changed, "You'd throw all that away over a torn blouse? Is your vanity and chastity just that great?"
She took a breath. "You are undead..."
"I am neither living...nor dead." Radu stated, "I don't know what I am...other than I exist for one reason."
"To destroy the lives of innocent people." Mariah replied.
"To kill those who made me come into this world...everyone who aided them...and eventually, I pray, myself." Radu replied, "I have no Hell to worry about...no Heaven...no God or Devil...only darkness and nothingness...complete peace for someone like me."
Mariah looked him straight on, swallowing and exhaling. "You are a liar."
"Call me a liar?" a small smirk was on his face as he looked at her, "Let me show you what I mean...and perhaps you might think differently of me...perhaps we could even be partners. We aren't so different."
"I will believe - " Mariah couldn't finish before her placed his palm over her eyes.
It seemed like a dream, but it was all too real. The sight of a powerful woman in jewels and a scarlett cloak, her body exposed to the elements as a group of Roman soldiers came to her, smiling and salivating over what she had to offer them. Her face was the very image of Venus, but something in her eyes was pure unadulterated evil...all the while as a young boy in a corner watched with two other children who tried to shiled his eyes, but he couldn't stop staring at the orgy that ensued.
Another flash and the boy had grown into a man; that boy was Radu. Before him was the same woman, the whore...his own mother. She growled, grabbing his wrist and slitting it with a jaged blade, grinning as he wailed. She spoke ina tone so matronly, so soothing, it was sickening to watch her incestuously lick the blade, her lids fluttering as she tasted her own son's blood before taking his open wound to her lips. In a rage, he slapped her away from him, gripping his arm and watching her calmly rise, wiping her lips.
"I am all you have, my son...I'm all you will ever need..." she smiled, as if he'd done nothing wrong, "Give me your hand..."
Radu looked torn between terrified and depressed, but couldn't seem to stop his arm from outstretching once more to the witch...
Mariah gasped as he released her face, Radu clutching his stomach and looking as if he were about to be violently ill.
"Call me a liar...tell me I have it all...pretty one..." Radu's voice cracked.
"God...its...its your mother!" Mariah looked mortified, "Your mother!"
Blood dripped from under his gauntlet, Radu looking down and ripping the leather from his arm; the knife wound had reopened.
"Mother knows..." Radu spat vehemently.
Mariah no longer cared, tearing the rest of her blouse off and ripping shreds of it, moving towards him and taking his arm.
"What - ?" Radu looked at her in shock.
"Never been shown a shred of kindness in your life, have you, Radu?" Mariah stated, looking him in the eye.
She bandaged the wound, her eyes never leaving her work even when Radu smirked lightly, snorting slightly.
"I'm a monster...who would?" he replied.
"I am. Right now." Mariah said, looking only slightly indignant, "You keep that on or it will get infected. I'd rather not see what that would look like on something...well, someone like you."
"Someone, now?" Radu remarked, chuckling, "Next time I admire you, kindly refraind from spitting in my face now that you know how I was taught to respect a woman, hm?"
Mariah gave him a serious look and crossed her arms over her chest. "Should have know you were still going to be a - "
She felt something go over her shoulders; Radu's cloak. She watched him keep his distance, a devilish smile on his face as he admired the bandaging on his arm.
"See? I'm not so bad." he replied, "Consider it an apology."
Mariah wrapped it around herself and kept her head high. "I still refuse under any circumstance to let you touch me like that ever again."
"What if I ask permission next time?" he asked, "I'll ask nicely if that would make you feel at ease."
"What part of 'do not touch me' do you not understand?" Mariah sighed, exasperated.
Radu mimicked the sigh, "What part of 'appreciation' do you not understand!"
"You don't have to molest a woman to appreciate them!" Mariah shouted.
"Stop undressing Stefan with your eyes and them we'll talk of molestation." Radu replied.
Mariah blushed and felt herself burn with a rage. Radu grinned, turning and strolling precariously on the edge.
"You see? We are a lot alike...however it appears whereas my appreciation lies on the women of your race on a whole, you and the rest of them seem to only care for aesthetics over wit and personality."
"Women on a whole?" Mariah's brow raised, "And just what do you mean by that? Surely yu have some aesthetic needs just as any other man does."
"Then list some you notice in men...any...and then I'll tell you what I think." Radu balanced on the edge and walked.
"Well...some like eyes...others the face...and if you wish me to be crude, a generous pair of breasts or hips has always seemed to win them..." Mariah replied.
"And women prefer a strong, handsome knight that will ride to their rescue, into the sunset, and live happily ever after, yes?" Radu asked.
"That is every woman's dream, yes." Mariah replied, "Now I told you what the standards are...you tell me yours."
"Since mankind has set no standards for me, I set none for them." Radu remarked, "I consider anyone who would treat me in a way that isn't filled with disgust as a prospect."
"I find that very hard to believe coming from a denizen of darkness." Mariah smiled.
Radu turned gracefully, looking at her. "Let me ask you something...what happens when the princess kisses the frog? Or the beast for that matter? They turn into a prince. Well, what do you suppose would happen should someone kiss me? Nothing. This is me. Inside and out. I'm as transparant as a pane of glass and there is nothing for it. For someone to be with me is to have the utmost respect, tolerance, and purity, of which there are seldom few. I will not lie and say I am by any means inexperienced, but given what I am, for a woman to touch me with the candles lit and be there at dawn...I have nothing but the deepest, and most undying love for."
Mariah paused, Radu looking at her curiously.
"Hard to believe?" Radu asked, "Very well, here is another example. The women cast aside as refuse by the general population...the hair isn't right, the eyes are too wide, the breasts too small, or the figure too wide...the ones considered ugly, desolate, and generally undesirable...I would sell my soul for one of them over the loveliest, wealthiest woman in the world. Give me a princess, I will take the blind girl on the street. Hand over an empress and I would gladly give the plague ridden virgin the most glorious night she could ever have before taking St. Peter's hand. Give me a blushing bride...I'll take the dancing gypsy on the street corner."
The tone had changed once more, from playful to serious. A long talon tilted her face up and she found herself once more looking into his eyes; emerald. she'd never realized just how vibrant they were until that moment where they almost seemed to glow.
"I wouldn't lie. I have no reason to." Radu remarked, "I'm not human, but I still feel as anything else that walks this plane. I'm not accustomed to love, but I'm certain over time I will learn. I have done terrible things that I am well aware that could condemn me to the Abyss, but Hell be damned should I even regret an instant of it. This is who I am. This is everything."
Mariah nodded. "I don't know what to feel...you watched my father die...you have brought nothing but war to this land...but I can't hate you..."
"No. You can." Radu replied, "The truth...is you won't allow yourself to...because now you know who I am. We have something between us more intimate than anything...I am telling you this about me because...I love you, Mariah. I loved you the moment I saw you. And that will never change."
Mariah looked down, a tear flowing down her cheek. Radu caught it on the end of his talon and looked it it for a moment before looking back at her.
"You cry...for me?" Radu looked at her.
"I don't know..." Mariah sobbed, "I just don't know how to feel..."
"Stop worrying about the how or why, Mariah..." Radu knelt before her, taking her hand like a knight errant, "Stop trying to feel and just do it. Why try when you simply can? You are not dead yet, Mariah...stop trying to be everything you think you can be and be that which you are. Be that person I see...and I swear you will never feel regret again."
"And what do you see, Radu? Other than a simpering gypsy, what?" Mariah sniffed.
"Someone willing to challenge Hell itself." Radu remarked, "Someone with fire and passion to live...and I swear, even when you grow old and think yourself useless, I know you will, I will still be there with you...and see you exactly as I do now, through the slings and arrows that age brings. I swear it."
He kissed her hand chastely, Mariah closing her eyes and feeling a smile on her face again.
*
The golems had turned; his Mother's blood had mixed and now they were tianted with her influence. Instead of Stefan, they went immediately for Mariah. She screamed as they tore at her, Radu helpless as he writhed under the cross Stefan has cast on top of him. His hands burned, searing and bleeding as he shoved the heavy wood off himself and fell to his stomach on the street, Stefan turning. Radu stood in spite of the agony he felt and swung his fist as hard as he could, knocking Stefan out cold into the street and gunning straight for Mariah.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Radu practically screamed, the creaures now staring at him like wounded animals and returning to him, reducing into the blood he'd spilled to created them.
He fell on top of her, clinging to her. He looked into her face without so much as a wince, lifting her head. They had torn her to pieces, both her eyes missing and she looked as if she'd been mauled by some great beast. She reached up shakily, her hand torn to the bone as her fingers found his face.
"R-Ra...du..." her voice was a rasp now, "Ra....du..."
"I'm here...it's me..." Radu knew she wouldn't last much longer, "Why...why did you come here?"
"Too...religious..." she coughed up an wad of blood, "You...can't...I could..."
Radu cringed as he realized she'd heard about the plan to get the Bloodstone. She still clutched it in the hand close to her heart, the dark red glow mesmerizing. But the only thing he was mesmerized by was the woman in his arms.
"Am...I still...beautiful?" she asked, her lips trying to smile.
"The very...picture of perfection..." Radu smiled against the tears, "As always."
She sighed and went limp in his arms, the Bloodstone rolling out into the street. Stefan awoke and saw Radu lowering her to the street, looking over his shoulder.
"Brother...take it..." Radu stated, swallowing his sorrow, "You're the one."
"What..." Stefan stood, Radu still on the ground, "Radu...I...I had..."
"Of course you wouldn't know. Father intended to keep silent about me and what I am...and I intend to take this with me." Radu stated, taking Mariah's fallen rosary and looking up at Stefan, "You go...take the Bloodstone with you."
"No, Radu. We did this together..." Stefan was now near tears, "At least come with me back to Romania. We will give Mariah a proper burial...she would be heartbroken if you were not there to be with her!"
"I will go...but on one condition..." Radu placed the relic to his throat, the end of the silver cross burning his skin, "I will never speak of this again..."
Stefan couldn't turn in time before Radu stabbed the cross into his throat, his resonating tone now reduced to a serpentine hiss as he groaned in pain. He looked up at Stefan, dropping the cross as blood leaked from the corners of his lips.
"Home..." his voice now a harshened rasp, "And then...to war once more..."
*
Radu stroked the scar on his throat, an almost mournful look in his eye. After all those centuries, he'd nearly forgotten how he didn't always sound so demonic. He had a voice that could have charmed the empires of the world...but no longer. His brow furrowed and he returned the choker to its rightful place around his neck, pulling his collar up. He'd remembered everything clear as crystal; the night he shared with Mariah, the flight to the Vatican, the bloody end, and the journey home that ended in a pact between his brother and father, causing him to exile himself not only from the country, but mankind itself...until now.
He could sense his father dying, the Bloostone's poison leeching him of his life for centuries. Stefan would be next, but Radu had felt what the relic had done to his father...what it would do to Stefan...his brother. Radu slaughtering them both would be a mercy killing compared to what the Bloodstone would do. A monster he may be, but family is family nonetheless. He sheathed the knife and slid it inside his coat. The time had come.
"No regrets." Radu said to himself like a mantra, "No. Regrets."
What if Radu hadn't always been the maniacal and overly sadistic creature we know him as in the film series? Was it always that way or simply something that made him decide once and for all that it was the only way to be? Is he inherently evil, or is he just exactly what he is? Chivalrous or desperate, monster or even more human than humans themselves...one will never really know. Was he always the raspy voiced demon in the darkness, or did he have a silver tongue that could change one's point of view in a blink?
One thing is always true though - Radu will always be Radu.
No Regrets
Rating: Hard PG-13/R [language, implied sexuality, violence]
Disclaimer: Don't own it, not selling it, this is for entertainment only. Also, this fic made my best friend cry. You have been warned.
Hair hair was like a dark halo around her head as she stood at the cliff's edge, staring don at the water below and taking a breath. The demons and Turks were all alike...slaughtering her father and no doubt a worse fate was in store for her if she dared to turn back or if they caught her. She took another step forward and closed her eyes...
"You are a coward unfit to serve as a concubine in Hell should you do that."
She looked over her shoulder, the shadows parting around Radu, his blood red hair a stark contrast to his black leather armor and his carved bone features. There was no smile on his lips as there had been when the guards had humiliated her before, but rather a look of total and complete disappointment.
"You gypsies pride yourselves on being nomads...followers of God and other pantheons given your faith...and yet somehow you always think you're immune to the Gate whenever you decide to perform some act of stupidity out of blind courage." he spat, "To think I was going to allow you to live."
"As your whore?" she retorted, "I despise you. I know your kind - "
"You know NOTHING about me!" his voice turned acidic, causing her to wince, "You think you are so prejudiced! Take a journey through my mind sometime and place yourself in my position where not even the lowest born devils would so much consider me family!"
He stood at the edge with her, looking her in the eye. She was afraid, but not of him...he knew when someone was afraid of him. What she feared was only what any proud mortal should fear, and his expression softened, but only barely.
"Why rid yourself of what you and your people consider a Divine gift? To live...to truly live...that must be something...glorious..." Radu's voice had completely changed, "You'd throw all that away over a torn blouse? Is your vanity and chastity just that great?"
She took a breath. "You are undead..."
"I am neither living...nor dead." Radu stated, "I don't know what I am...other than I exist for one reason."
"To destroy the lives of innocent people." Mariah replied.
"To kill those who made me come into this world...everyone who aided them...and eventually, I pray, myself." Radu replied, "I have no Hell to worry about...no Heaven...no God or Devil...only darkness and nothingness...complete peace for someone like me."
Mariah looked him straight on, swallowing and exhaling. "You are a liar."
"Call me a liar?" a small smirk was on his face as he looked at her, "Let me show you what I mean...and perhaps you might think differently of me...perhaps we could even be partners. We aren't so different."
"I will believe - " Mariah couldn't finish before her placed his palm over her eyes.
It seemed like a dream, but it was all too real. The sight of a powerful woman in jewels and a scarlett cloak, her body exposed to the elements as a group of Roman soldiers came to her, smiling and salivating over what she had to offer them. Her face was the very image of Venus, but something in her eyes was pure unadulterated evil...all the while as a young boy in a corner watched with two other children who tried to shiled his eyes, but he couldn't stop staring at the orgy that ensued.
Another flash and the boy had grown into a man; that boy was Radu. Before him was the same woman, the whore...his own mother. She growled, grabbing his wrist and slitting it with a jaged blade, grinning as he wailed. She spoke ina tone so matronly, so soothing, it was sickening to watch her incestuously lick the blade, her lids fluttering as she tasted her own son's blood before taking his open wound to her lips. In a rage, he slapped her away from him, gripping his arm and watching her calmly rise, wiping her lips.
"I am all you have, my son...I'm all you will ever need..." she smiled, as if he'd done nothing wrong, "Give me your hand..."
Radu looked torn between terrified and depressed, but couldn't seem to stop his arm from outstretching once more to the witch...
Mariah gasped as he released her face, Radu clutching his stomach and looking as if he were about to be violently ill.
"Call me a liar...tell me I have it all...pretty one..." Radu's voice cracked.
"God...its...its your mother!" Mariah looked mortified, "Your mother!"
Blood dripped from under his gauntlet, Radu looking down and ripping the leather from his arm; the knife wound had reopened.
"Mother knows..." Radu spat vehemently.
Mariah no longer cared, tearing the rest of her blouse off and ripping shreds of it, moving towards him and taking his arm.
"What - ?" Radu looked at her in shock.
"Never been shown a shred of kindness in your life, have you, Radu?" Mariah stated, looking him in the eye.
She bandaged the wound, her eyes never leaving her work even when Radu smirked lightly, snorting slightly.
"I'm a monster...who would?" he replied.
"I am. Right now." Mariah said, looking only slightly indignant, "You keep that on or it will get infected. I'd rather not see what that would look like on something...well, someone like you."
"Someone, now?" Radu remarked, chuckling, "Next time I admire you, kindly refraind from spitting in my face now that you know how I was taught to respect a woman, hm?"
Mariah gave him a serious look and crossed her arms over her chest. "Should have know you were still going to be a - "
She felt something go over her shoulders; Radu's cloak. She watched him keep his distance, a devilish smile on his face as he admired the bandaging on his arm.
"See? I'm not so bad." he replied, "Consider it an apology."
Mariah wrapped it around herself and kept her head high. "I still refuse under any circumstance to let you touch me like that ever again."
"What if I ask permission next time?" he asked, "I'll ask nicely if that would make you feel at ease."
"What part of 'do not touch me' do you not understand?" Mariah sighed, exasperated.
Radu mimicked the sigh, "What part of 'appreciation' do you not understand!"
"You don't have to molest a woman to appreciate them!" Mariah shouted.
"Stop undressing Stefan with your eyes and them we'll talk of molestation." Radu replied.
Mariah blushed and felt herself burn with a rage. Radu grinned, turning and strolling precariously on the edge.
"You see? We are a lot alike...however it appears whereas my appreciation lies on the women of your race on a whole, you and the rest of them seem to only care for aesthetics over wit and personality."
"Women on a whole?" Mariah's brow raised, "And just what do you mean by that? Surely yu have some aesthetic needs just as any other man does."
"Then list some you notice in men...any...and then I'll tell you what I think." Radu balanced on the edge and walked.
"Well...some like eyes...others the face...and if you wish me to be crude, a generous pair of breasts or hips has always seemed to win them..." Mariah replied.
"And women prefer a strong, handsome knight that will ride to their rescue, into the sunset, and live happily ever after, yes?" Radu asked.
"That is every woman's dream, yes." Mariah replied, "Now I told you what the standards are...you tell me yours."
"Since mankind has set no standards for me, I set none for them." Radu remarked, "I consider anyone who would treat me in a way that isn't filled with disgust as a prospect."
"I find that very hard to believe coming from a denizen of darkness." Mariah smiled.
Radu turned gracefully, looking at her. "Let me ask you something...what happens when the princess kisses the frog? Or the beast for that matter? They turn into a prince. Well, what do you suppose would happen should someone kiss me? Nothing. This is me. Inside and out. I'm as transparant as a pane of glass and there is nothing for it. For someone to be with me is to have the utmost respect, tolerance, and purity, of which there are seldom few. I will not lie and say I am by any means inexperienced, but given what I am, for a woman to touch me with the candles lit and be there at dawn...I have nothing but the deepest, and most undying love for."
Mariah paused, Radu looking at her curiously.
"Hard to believe?" Radu asked, "Very well, here is another example. The women cast aside as refuse by the general population...the hair isn't right, the eyes are too wide, the breasts too small, or the figure too wide...the ones considered ugly, desolate, and generally undesirable...I would sell my soul for one of them over the loveliest, wealthiest woman in the world. Give me a princess, I will take the blind girl on the street. Hand over an empress and I would gladly give the plague ridden virgin the most glorious night she could ever have before taking St. Peter's hand. Give me a blushing bride...I'll take the dancing gypsy on the street corner."
The tone had changed once more, from playful to serious. A long talon tilted her face up and she found herself once more looking into his eyes; emerald. she'd never realized just how vibrant they were until that moment where they almost seemed to glow.
"I wouldn't lie. I have no reason to." Radu remarked, "I'm not human, but I still feel as anything else that walks this plane. I'm not accustomed to love, but I'm certain over time I will learn. I have done terrible things that I am well aware that could condemn me to the Abyss, but Hell be damned should I even regret an instant of it. This is who I am. This is everything."
Mariah nodded. "I don't know what to feel...you watched my father die...you have brought nothing but war to this land...but I can't hate you..."
"No. You can." Radu replied, "The truth...is you won't allow yourself to...because now you know who I am. We have something between us more intimate than anything...I am telling you this about me because...I love you, Mariah. I loved you the moment I saw you. And that will never change."
Mariah looked down, a tear flowing down her cheek. Radu caught it on the end of his talon and looked it it for a moment before looking back at her.
"You cry...for me?" Radu looked at her.
"I don't know..." Mariah sobbed, "I just don't know how to feel..."
"Stop worrying about the how or why, Mariah..." Radu knelt before her, taking her hand like a knight errant, "Stop trying to feel and just do it. Why try when you simply can? You are not dead yet, Mariah...stop trying to be everything you think you can be and be that which you are. Be that person I see...and I swear you will never feel regret again."
"And what do you see, Radu? Other than a simpering gypsy, what?" Mariah sniffed.
"Someone willing to challenge Hell itself." Radu remarked, "Someone with fire and passion to live...and I swear, even when you grow old and think yourself useless, I know you will, I will still be there with you...and see you exactly as I do now, through the slings and arrows that age brings. I swear it."
He kissed her hand chastely, Mariah closing her eyes and feeling a smile on her face again.
*
The golems had turned; his Mother's blood had mixed and now they were tianted with her influence. Instead of Stefan, they went immediately for Mariah. She screamed as they tore at her, Radu helpless as he writhed under the cross Stefan has cast on top of him. His hands burned, searing and bleeding as he shoved the heavy wood off himself and fell to his stomach on the street, Stefan turning. Radu stood in spite of the agony he felt and swung his fist as hard as he could, knocking Stefan out cold into the street and gunning straight for Mariah.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Radu practically screamed, the creaures now staring at him like wounded animals and returning to him, reducing into the blood he'd spilled to created them.
He fell on top of her, clinging to her. He looked into her face without so much as a wince, lifting her head. They had torn her to pieces, both her eyes missing and she looked as if she'd been mauled by some great beast. She reached up shakily, her hand torn to the bone as her fingers found his face.
"R-Ra...du..." her voice was a rasp now, "Ra....du..."
"I'm here...it's me..." Radu knew she wouldn't last much longer, "Why...why did you come here?"
"Too...religious..." she coughed up an wad of blood, "You...can't...I could..."
Radu cringed as he realized she'd heard about the plan to get the Bloodstone. She still clutched it in the hand close to her heart, the dark red glow mesmerizing. But the only thing he was mesmerized by was the woman in his arms.
"Am...I still...beautiful?" she asked, her lips trying to smile.
"The very...picture of perfection..." Radu smiled against the tears, "As always."
She sighed and went limp in his arms, the Bloodstone rolling out into the street. Stefan awoke and saw Radu lowering her to the street, looking over his shoulder.
"Brother...take it..." Radu stated, swallowing his sorrow, "You're the one."
"What..." Stefan stood, Radu still on the ground, "Radu...I...I had..."
"Of course you wouldn't know. Father intended to keep silent about me and what I am...and I intend to take this with me." Radu stated, taking Mariah's fallen rosary and looking up at Stefan, "You go...take the Bloodstone with you."
"No, Radu. We did this together..." Stefan was now near tears, "At least come with me back to Romania. We will give Mariah a proper burial...she would be heartbroken if you were not there to be with her!"
"I will go...but on one condition..." Radu placed the relic to his throat, the end of the silver cross burning his skin, "I will never speak of this again..."
Stefan couldn't turn in time before Radu stabbed the cross into his throat, his resonating tone now reduced to a serpentine hiss as he groaned in pain. He looked up at Stefan, dropping the cross as blood leaked from the corners of his lips.
"Home..." his voice now a harshened rasp, "And then...to war once more..."
*
Radu stroked the scar on his throat, an almost mournful look in his eye. After all those centuries, he'd nearly forgotten how he didn't always sound so demonic. He had a voice that could have charmed the empires of the world...but no longer. His brow furrowed and he returned the choker to its rightful place around his neck, pulling his collar up. He'd remembered everything clear as crystal; the night he shared with Mariah, the flight to the Vatican, the bloody end, and the journey home that ended in a pact between his brother and father, causing him to exile himself not only from the country, but mankind itself...until now.
He could sense his father dying, the Bloostone's poison leeching him of his life for centuries. Stefan would be next, but Radu had felt what the relic had done to his father...what it would do to Stefan...his brother. Radu slaughtering them both would be a mercy killing compared to what the Bloodstone would do. A monster he may be, but family is family nonetheless. He sheathed the knife and slid it inside his coat. The time had come.
"No regrets." Radu said to himself like a mantra, "No. Regrets."