Chapter Text
Agron blinked an eye open, or he tried to. It took him a few minutes before he could actually gain enough composure to open both his eyes and look around from the spot where he lay on the ground. He could not make more of a distinction than faint shadows walking around where he laid and blood… a lot of blood and grime.
It was dark and when Agron remembered about the final battle he had gone into together with Spartacus, he had to bite his bottom lip not to cry out. Everything came back to him, the death of so many surrounding him, his friends… his leader, Spartacus, who he had seen fighting with Crassus…. Nasir!
Agron tried to look around more, trying to locate Nasir to make sure that he was still alive, but he was sure that there was only a slim chance of that. The Romans had left Agron behind, which mean that he was dead to them, they hadn’t even taken him with so that they could crucify him. If they were going to try and crucify Nasir, he would burn every Roman village to the ground, he vowed weakly.
But then he found his Nasir and his body gave out almost completely upon the sight. Nasir’s long hair was matted with blood, his body covered in the same rust red substance, his feet in muddy shoes and various cuts and bruises adorned his skin. That was not what made Agron shiver and tremble, it was the sword embedded in his chest which made Agron want to wail like a woman.
“Sire, this one is alive.” He heard coming from somewhere above him. Agron closed his eyes and remained still, although he did not care who would come for him, he would gladly take that one step that was between him and the afterlife.
Suddenly he was picked up from the ground and he had to leave Nasir behind. He reached out for him, but Nasir did not see or hear him.
“No.” He whispered ever so softly and the man holding him did not respond but just took off with him.
It was in a ruined Roman villa Agron awoke for the second time, and when he opened his eyes he found a man sitting at his bedside. The man looked incredibly pale, his eyes shone in the dim light of the room and his clothing was far more expensive than Agron had ever seen in his life. This was a nobleman, but Agron could not care less who he was.
“Ah, you are awake. I had feared that you would not regain consciousness.” The man spoke Latin, but Agron could hear a faint accent which he could not determine.
“I would have gladly remained oblivious.” Agron answered the man and it made the man smile slightly.
“Do you know who I am?” The man asked and Agron shook his head, only lightly because of the headache he suffered.
“My name is Marius and I was a Roman citizen… or perhaps I still am, depending on who you are asking. My purpose is to travel for a little while until things have settled again in the Empire. Maybe we could go and see your home if you would like. I need someone with me as… protection.” Marius ended and looked pointedly at Agron.
Agron glanced over his own body and many wounds, his hands he could no longer use. He could not serve this man or serve any other purpose anymore.
“I would rather have you send me to the afterlife.” He murmured softly as he closed his eyes again.
A cold hand rested on his shoulder and Marius was now so closeby that Agron had to look into his eyes. They were violet.
“To find your soulmate again, the one you have lost on the field of battle?” Marius inquired and Agron, who felt compelled to speak the truth, just nodded.
“Then perhaps it is wise to listen to me now, Agron, so that you may find him again. Not in the afterlife you so crave for, but here in this life, or perhaps the next. You will find that many men and women return to earth in one form or the other.”
Agron did not understand this strange man and he frowned. He had been a man of battle and whatever philosophy Marius was now telling him, he did not understand.
“If you stay with me, maybe not forever but for a while, I will teach you what you need to know. You can protect me from others of our kind with your strength so that I can keep to the shadows. And you can look for your lover, who will cross your path again some day.”
Marius silenced and Agron fell back into the cushions.
“Do what is needed.” He eventually sighed.
Marius did not hesitate when he got permission from Agron. Agron had closed his eyes and felt the pain in his neck only when it was to late to respond. He gasped at the pain and immediately he felt weakened by the blood loss he suffered. He had heard of these creatures in his village years ago, but he could not believe that they were real.
Bloodsuckers.
He curled his hands around Marius’ wrists as best as he could, but he could not bring up the strength to push the vampire away. Marius let go only when most of his blood and been drained and the bloody smile he gave Agron should have frightened him, but Agron welcomed death.
“Do you wish to live, Agron?”
Agron wondered briefly how Marius had gotten his name, but then perhaps these kind of creatures knew everything and he did not think of it anymore. He didn’t think of anything and when Marius posed his question again, Agron wanted to say no. Only the idea that Nasir might walk this earth again made him say…
“Yes.” In a faint whisper.
Marius opened up his own wrist and laid it over Agron’s mouth, making him swallow the blood and almost choking on it.
“Rest now… By tomorrow night you will feel stronger than ever before.” Marius had said afterwards. He had gently stroked through Agron’s hair before he walked away in a flash of white robes.
Agron was left alone for the remainder of the night and the next day. He could not find the strength to get up from the bedding he lay on and he just hoped that he would die soon. The agony settled in his blood and bones and he gasped in pain. It was only when he felt his heart stop beating that he was relieved.
The next night he opened his eyes and could make out the ant sitting at the other side of the wall on his bedroom. Marius came in and smiled at him and for the first time since they had met Agron could rise up to his full height so that he towered over Marius.
“How do you feel, Agron?” Marius asked and Agron looked himself over for a moment, patting some placed where wounds used to scar his body, but no longer.
“My body has healed.” He stated and Marius nodded.
“You are now one of the creatures of the night, Agron. You must feed.” Marius said as he gestured for Agron to follow him. In another room, Agron could not count how many they had passed already, a young man sat obediently on his knees, waiting for Marius to return. Agron was shocked to see how much the man resembled Nasir.
“Is he to your liking?” Marius asked as if he had done Agron a grand favour.
“No…. no!” Agron shouted and took a few steps back so that he was out of the room and out of the man’s sight. He had felt the blood lust in him and he would have attacked the man without any further sign of his conscience, if he had not resembled Nasir so much.
Marius had come after him.
“I apologise, he should not have been like… like your lover. We will find you someone else, someone more to your liking.”
And yet again Agron was escorted to another room, where a dark haired woman waited for them. Agron took her in his arms and dazed as she was she did not resist. Agron looked at Marius for a moment and then sank his teeth into the young woman’s neck.
He drained her dry, and dropped his to the floor, which earned him a glare from Marius who explained that they should always have respect for their victims. Agron responded that the Romans never showed respect for their victims, but Marius ignored that.
“You will have to learn to adjust many times if you are to be a vampire. Open your eyes, young Agron, and look at the world in the way you were supposed to.”