Chapter 126: New powers

Viktor suddenly grabbed his head.

A sharp cry tore from his throat as he bent forward, his knees nearly giving way beneath him. Elara rushed toward him, but before she could reach him, Viktor screamed again and dropped to the floor, both hands pressed against his temples.

“Viktor!” Elara shouted.

Ellie and Joyce immediately moved closer, but Viktor could no longer hear them. The pain inside his head was overwhelming, as if something was forcing its way through his mind, and then everything around him disappeared.

He was no longer inside the abandoned building.

He stood in a strange, empty place where there was nothing around him except darkness. Viktor looked around frantically, trying to understand where he was, when a familiar voice came from behind him.

“Viktor.”

He froze, then slowly, he turned around.

Maui stood several feet away.

Viktor's eyes widened, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. “Maui?”

Maui smiled at him, but there was something different about him. He looked peaceful, almost as though the pain from the square had never happened.

Viktor immediately rushed toward him.

“Maui!”

But before Viktor could reach him, Maui raised his hand.

“Don't.”

Viktor stopped, his eyes quickly filled with tears. “You're alive.”

Maui's smile faded.

“No, Viktor.”

The words hit him harder than anything Caius had done.

Viktor shook his head. “No. You called my name. I felt you.”

“I know.”

“Then you're alive.”

Maui looked at him for a long moment before slowly shaking his head. “I'm gone, Viktor.”

Viktor's face crumpled. “Don't say that.”

“I wish I didn't have to.”

“You can't be gone.” Viktor stepped closer, his voice breaking. “I just heard you. I felt your power.”

“And that is why I am here.”

Viktor stared at him.

Maui took a slow breath. “There is something I should have told you a long time ago. I didn't because I thought I would have more time, but I was wrong.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I am your guardian vampire but i am sorry for leaving likw this.”

Viktor said nothing.

Maui continued, “My purpose was never only to fight beside you. I was bound to protect you, your bloodline, and the kingdom that was taken from your father.”

Viktor's eyes glistened with tears “You knew everything yet still left me?”

“I knew everything.

“I knew who your father was. I knew what Caius did to your family, and I knew what would eventually happen to you.”

Viktor swallowed hard. “Then why didn't you tell me?”

“Because you weren't ready.”

Maui's expression softened. “And because I wanted you to learn how to fight without depending on me.”

Viktor lowered his head, tears falling freely now. “You shouldn't have left me.”

“I didn't choose to.”

Viktor looked back at him.

Maui stepped closer and placed a hand over Viktor's chest. “When Caius attacked me, he believed he was taking everything I had.”

Viktor suddenly felt the mark on his palm burn.

“He was wrong.”

Maui's hand moved toward Viktor's palm. “Every power I possessed has been transferred to you.”

Viktor stared at him.

“The mark is the bond between us,” Maui explained. “It appeared because my power needed somewhere to go. You are carrying it now.”

Viktor looked down at his hand to see the mark glowing faintly.

“You're giving me everything?”

“I already did.”

Viktor shook his head. “I don't want your power. I want you.”

Maui's eyes softened. “I know.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Maui stepped closer and placed both hands on Viktor's shoulders. “Listen to me carefully. Don't spend the rest of your life grieving for me.”

Viktor's lips trembled.

“I don't want you to carry my death as a punishment,” Maui continued. “I want you to use what I gave you.”

“For what?”

Maui's expression became serious. “Your father's kingdom.”

Viktor looked at him.

“Take it back,” Maui said. “Fight for the people who lost everything because of Caius. Fight for your family. Fight for the kingdom that belongs to your bloodline.”

Viktor wiped his face. “And Caius?”

Maui gave him a faint smile.

“You already know what to do with him.” Viktor's jaw tightened.

Maui stepped backward.

“Maui!”

“I have to go.”

“No!”

Viktor reached for him, but Maui was already fading.

“Don't grieve for me,” Maui said one last time. “Make my sacrifice worth it.”

“Maui!”

The darkness suddenly disappeared and Viktor's eyes flew open.

He gasped and collapsed against the floor, one hand clutching his chest while the other pressed against the stone beneath him. A powerful surge rushed through his body, making every muscle tense as his breathing became heavy.

“Viktor!” Elara dropped beside him.

“What happened?” Ellie asked, kneeling on his other side. “Viktor, look at me.”

Viktor struggled to breathe. His entire body felt different.

There was strength inside him that he had never felt before, something powerful moving through his veins. His heart pounded against his chest, and every sound around him suddenly became sharper.

“Elara…”

“I’m here.” Viktor looked at her. “He came to me.”

Elara frowned. “Who?”

“Maui.”

Joyce exchanged a stunned look with Ellie.

Viktor slowly sat up, still breathing heavily. “He told me he was gone.”

Elara's face fell.

“But he also told me something else.” Viktor looked down at the mark on his palm. “He's a Guardian Vampire.”

Nobody spoke.

“He was bound to protect my family and the kingdom,” Viktor continued. “And when Caius attacked him, his powers were transferred to me.”

Ellie stared at Viktor. “All of them?”

Viktor nodded slowly.

“He told me not to grieve for him. He wants me to fight.” Viktor's voice became firmer. “He wants me to take my father's kingdom back.”

Elara reached for his hand. Then Viktor suddenly went still. His breathing changed.

Elara noticed first. “Viktor?”

He didn't answer.

His skin had become noticeably paler, and his fingers tightened around hers. His body stiffened as another wave of power moved through him.

“Viktor, what's happening?”

He looked up and upon meeting his eyes, Elara froze.

His eyes were no longer the same.

They had turned completely bloodshot, the red spreading across them as his pupils became darker. His lips parted, revealing fangs that had grown longer than they had ever been before.

Joyce took a step backward.

Ellie stared at him in complete disbelief.

“Viktor…”

He slowly looked at his hands, turning them over as though they belonged to someone else. He flexed his fingers, then clenched them into fists.

“Wow,” he muttered.

Elara stared at him for another second before letting out a low whistle.

“Well…”

Everyone looked at her.

She folded her arms and looked Viktor up and down.

“This new power and body is…” She paused. “Hot.”

Joyce gave her an incredulous look. “Elara e!”

“What?” Elara shrugged. “I'm just saying what everyone is thinking.”

“No one is thinking that right now.”

“I am.”

Despite everything that had happened, a faint smile appeared on Viktor's face.

He looked down at his hands again.

The strength was incredible.

He could feel it moving through every part of him, controlled but enormous. His senses had changed too; he could hear the distant movement outside, the footsteps several streets away, and even the low voices of men searching through the surrounding buildings.

Viktor slowly stood. Elara rose with him.

She was still staring at his eyes.

Viktor noticed.

He reached for her hand. “Elara.”

She hesitated before allowing him to take it.

“Don't be afraid of me.” Her eyes remained fixed on his face. “I’m still me.”

Elara swallowed. “I know.”

Viktor squeezed her hand gently. “Nothing has changed about that.”

Before Elara could respond, Viktor's head turned toward the entrance.

Everyone heard it this time.

Voices.

“Search every building!”

“They couldn't have gone far!”

“Find them!”

The sound of soldiers grew louder. Caius's men had found them. Ellie immediately reached for his weapon.

Joyce moved closer to the wall.

Elara looked at Viktor. “We have to leave.”

Viktor didn't move.

Instead, he stood completely still, listening.

More footsteps approached then Someone shouted from outside.

“They're in here!”

Viktor slowly lowered his gaze.

Then he ran his tongue over one of his new fangs. A low snarl escaped his throat. Elara stared at him.

Viktor's eyes turned toward the entrance.

For the first time since Maui had fallen, there was no grief in his expression.

He closed his fist, feeling Maui's power surge through him once again.

“They're here.”

Ellie stepped beside him. “Looks like they want another fight.”

Viktor gave a small smile. “No.”

He took one step toward the entrance. “This time, they're the ones who should be afraid.”

The doors suddenly burst open.

Several soldiers rushed inside with their weapons raised.

A second later, the first soldier was thrown across the room.

Everyone froze. Viktor stood where the man had been, his eyes glowing red.

He looked at the remaining soldiers. Then he smiled. “It's time to face them.”