Malachi appeared in Chase's dimly lit house, the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath his feet echoing through the silence. The air was thick with the scent of old books, stale air, and the faint hint of Chase's potions he must have prepared during the day.
Malachi's eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, his pupils dilating as he navigated through the familiar space.
He entered Chase's bedroom, finding his friend sprawled across the bed, fast asleep without any care in the world. The soft moonlight streaming through the window cast an ethereal glow on Chase's peaceful face. Malachi can't seem to remember the last time he slept peacefully like that. He is always jealous whenever he sees people that sleep peacefully, without having to wake up because of nightmares. Ever since the night that that fateful incident took place, he hasn't slept peacefully and he can't stop hating King Vladimir because of it.
He just stood motionless, watching the gentle rise and fall of Chase's chest. The sound of Chase's steady breathing was soothing, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within him.
His gaze lingered on Chase's face, his thoughts consumed by Sabrina. Her smile, her laughter, her infectious enthusiasm – all haunted him. He longed to be human again, to experience life alongside her, free from the shadows, free from fear and no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, he will achieve it. He will become human.
Accidentally, Malachi's hands knocked down a glass cup on Chase's table and the cup broke into pieces, spilling its contents on the floor.
Because of the unexpected noise, Chase stirred, his eyes snapping open. Fear flashed across his face when he saw a hooded figure standing in front of his bed, but when he saw that it was Malachi, relief washed over him, replacing the initial terror.
"Dammit, Malachi!" He exclaimed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "You scared the living hell out of me. What's wrong with you, sneaking up on me like that? Always knock before coming in here please" Chase's voice was laced with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
Malachi remained silent, his expression unreadable. His jaw clenched, the muscles in his face tense. He didn't apologize or explain. Instead, he asked, "How's it going? Have you found a solution for me to become human yet?" His voice was low, urgent, indicating that he wasn't here to chit chat. He has never been a man of many words. He was known across the kingdom as a no-preambles man.
Chase nodded, his brow furrowed. "I found something, but it's... complicated. Very dangerous. Deadly in fact" His hesitation was evident through his tone, his eyes locked on Malachi's.
Malachi's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Tell me about it, Chase. Tell me your findings and don't keep me waiting. I have something to attend to" His tone was commanding, leaving no room for refusal.
Chase hesitated, his mind racing with different thoughts. He thought, "Why was Malachi so desperate to become human? Because of his mortal lover? Was it worth the risk?'
Why would he be so desperate to give up everything, just for that mortal? Doesn't he know that he would die if he tries to change into a human? It is as dangerous as preventing a vampire from drinking blood. It's as dangerous as keeping mortals away from water.
Of course Chase knew Malachi's motivations. He knew the reason why Malachi was hellbent on becoming human– Sabrina – but he couldn't fathom the depth of Malachi's emotions.
"Malachi, I don't think you understand the risks involved. It is scary," Chase said, stalling. He really hopes that he was able to get to Malachi with those words. Anything to make the stubborn man standing before him to change his mind.
Malachi's gaze turned cold, his voice low and menacing. "Tell me, Chase. Or suffer the consequences." The air seemed to thicken, Chase's heart racing with unspoken emotions.
Chase laughed, attempting to diffuse the tension, but Malachi's grip on his neck sent a jolt of fear through him.
"Don't push me to the wall, Chase, else you won't live to tell the story,"
"Okay, okay!" Chase croaked, Malachi's grip tightening. "It's two rituals… One, you'll have to abstain from blood for a hundred days." Chase deliberately emphasized the difficulty, hoping to deter Malachi.
"You'll be weak, vulnerable. One tiny mistake, and you'll revert to your vampire state, if not worse. You will become a demon. Forever." Chase watched Malachi's face, searching for signs of hesitation.
"And what's the second one?" Malachi raised his brows in question as he stared at his friend who was a wizard and also a monk.
Taking a deep breath, Chase spoke up. "During the days of the ritual, you will fight the urge to see your lover, and the best way to achieve that is for you to be locked in a coffin for a hundred days. You will remain in the coffin until the ritual is completed. Can you afford to do that? If the urge to see your lover wins over all other things, that will mean trouble. Now tell me, can you do that? Can you stay away from her?"
Malachi's grip relaxed as he freed Chase from his tight grip, his eyes burning with determination. "I'll think about it." His voice was resolute.
Chase exhaled, surprised. He hadn't expected Malachi to consider the ritual. "Malachi, don't do this. You're playing with fire." Chase's warning hung in the air.
"It is not as easy as it seems. You could die. Staying without blood for a hundred days is the same as not giving a mortal water to drink for a hundred days. You could die. Please reconsider. It's not worth it. You want to give everything up for her?"
Malachi didn't say anything to Chase. He just turned to leave, his movements fluid. Chase watched him go, his thoughts swirling.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Chase mummers under his breath. He didn't want to lose his friend. His life was too precious to be lost all because of that human lover of his.
As Malachi disappeared into the night, Chase couldn't shake off the feeling that he had just unleashed a catastrophe. A thought suddenly came into his head and without wasting any time, he walked out of his bedroom and towards his table.
He knows one person that Malachi listens to more than anyone. He just hopes he is able to talk senses into Malachi and make him change his mind about what he is set to do.
From the folds of an old parchment, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. He got his ink and the next minute, he started writing down the message he wanted to send to the person, carefully telling him about Malachi's plans. Word for word, he wrote;
"Hello Tristan, I'll need your help in talking to Malachi. You are the only one he listens to and I really hope you are able to talk some senses into him. He is planning to become a human just because he wants to be with his human lover and that's a very dangerous path to tread. Please I'd like you to talk to him so he doesn't go ahead with his plans. I'm afraid he will die in the process. I await your response and feedback on how it went," Chase's writing feather scratched across the parchment, the ink bleeding into the fibers as he finished writing the urgent message.
Rolling the scroll carefully, he walked to the window, where the moon's silvery light cast shadows.
He pursed his lips, releasing a soft, melodic whistle that pierced the night air.
In under two minutes, a sleek messenger bird flew towards his window, its wings beating swiftly as it landed on the windowsill. Chase tied the scroll to the bird's leg, the leather thong securing with a soft creak.
"Fly swift, Nightshade," Chase whispered, his eyes locking onto the bird's.
Nightshade cocked her head, her eyes gleaming with understanding before taking to the skies.
The bird vanished into the darkness, her wings beating with purpose, carrying Chase's message towards the east, where the dawn would soon break.
As the darkness swallowed the bird's silhouette, Chase felt a mix of relief and anxiety at the same time. He walked back to his bedroom, and creaked floorboards echoing through the silence. Exhaustion washed over him as he climbed on the bed, the events of the night swirling in his mind.
All he wished for was for Tristan to get his message.