Blake, The Vampire King

Blake had never wished for war - a big bloody war where everyone and anyone could get hurt.

And yet, it was happening. Not because he had truly wanted it to but because of his rash action. Said action, he had close to no control over it and he didn't regret it one iota.

He was fighting Jerry, Kyle's cousin, alone in a deserted place while his companions and his mate watched from afar.

The weasel's cousin was really only avenging his grandmother's death, or at least trying to. He didn't care much about his cousin's death. He had told him so. Kyle deserved what he got... Blake couldn't agree more.

Not many had wanted to involve themselves in the upcoming war. Most of them were used to peace, and had the most basic and primal need to keep it going on for as long as it could possibly last. Peace makes people dull and confident, Blake mused.

Jasmine and her cousin, Karl, the president of the witches' council, had indeed managed in a month to convince the witch community of the necessity of not going to war because it would basically be a losing battle. A lost cause. What was Blake to do? Show up at Jerry's doorstep of course.

However, he didn't find it in his heart to kill him or his mother... and thus he merely rendered them unable to fight. When they were about to pass out from exhaustion, he told them that since he held no grudge against them per se, he wouldn't mind being challenged again should the need arise.

"Violence only breeds more violence," he said as he blocked yet a weaker blow from the former talented basketball player.

"Aren't you the one who killed my cousin and my grandma in cold blood?" Jerry countered.

"I did no such thing," Blake all but bristled at the accusation. "They attacked my mate in my own house, on my own territory where I could have had them killed without blinking. But I gave them time to bid their goodbyes. To settle their things, leave a will if they so wished... To make it all better." He let it sink for a few seconds before adding, "And what did they do? They only nurtured the revenge idea in your head. What good did that do?"

"Don't you have a heart, a family? Why won't you understand?" Jerry was on the verge of passing out or crying his heart out, Blake wasn't so sure anymore.

"I do have a family," came the immediate response. "I have a mate and a daughter, a father and a nephew and a niece. Not to mention those I turned into vampires and my little protégée. Kiddo, I have more family than you ever will, even though I led a solitary life for the longest time."

"You can't possibly understand..." The warlock began weakly.

"I do, very much. And it's because I understand that I'm sparing you today." Blake said in a tone of finality.

"Don't. Please don't!" His opponent exclaimed.

"Why not?" Blake cocked an eyebrow at him in surprise.

"I'm not tolerant enough to watch you take over the world after you killed my relatives. Surely, you can understand that."

"I can make you forget it. I can help you forget it all," Blake told him, offering him a way out of his misery.

"No! God no!"

"Make your choice," Blake told him solemnly.

"I don't know. I really don't know."

"You should have thought it through before coming after Blake," Jessica commented hotly, her eyes blazing. "Don't interfere, Jess," Blake instructed.

"Yes boss."

"I don't want anyone to taint their hands with the blood that should be mine to bear," he said matter-of-factly.

"You don't have to take on the burden alone, babe," was his mate's input.

She didn't believe he ought to be fighting his demons alone. She wanted to help him in every way possible. And for that, he loved her even more than he already did.

She was made for him. There was no denying that.

"Thanks cara," he said softly.

"You're so sickeningly sweet," Jerry commented on a scoff as he lunged at Blake anew with his fists, seeing as his powers failed him.

He had exhausted himself but there were no spells worked on Blake the troublemaker. He was immune to them after all. As for hand-on-hand combat, there was no way in hell he would lose. He was far more experienced than the little punk. Jerry soon collapsed next to his mother and Blake dusted off his hands good humouredly.

Mission accomplished!

But there had been no doubt in his mind that he could see it through. He was a royal, but not just any royal. He was the future vampire king. He took shit from nobody and didn't care for anyone besides those he did mention... at least that's what he told himself at night to reassure himself.

In reality - everybody knew it - he was the most tolerant vampire ever. He was neither a radical nor an extremist who only thought to do what's for the best interest of the vampire race. On the contrary, he thought equally of all species. And that's probably what would make him the best leader the vampires would ever have... or the worst.