There is Beauty in Darkness

Chapter 25: They Are Not My Family

Out on the open seas, Captain's crew did their daily chores around the ship in content silence, but the silence was mostly due to....intense...err, awkwardness because of their new passengers. Such passengers as one shipmate looked over to the small army of demons that stood still and mostly unresponsive on deck. Meanwhile, Isaac and the Captain are in his chambers having an intriguing discussion.

"I have brandy. You know brandy? Fire and wine. Do you partake of alcohol?" Captain asked Isaac as he began pouring a drink.

"I do not." Isaac said.

" Ah, thought so. Muslim?" Captain asked.

"Sufi." Isaac said.

"The spinning-around kind, or the self-flagellating kind?" Captain asked as he held a knife and lime in his hands.

"The latter. Or, I was." Isac said.

"Well, I imagined it hurts. You can't be blamed for stopping." Captain said with a smile.

"It's not pain, as you understand it. I've been hit by people, it's not the same thing at all. It brings clarity. It stills the body and frees the mind to focus." Isaac tells him.

"So why did you stop?" Captain asked as he handed Isaac a cup.

"I don't know. I'm too angry. I cannot find myself. I cannot pray. I cannot see God." Isaac tells him as he takes a sip of his drink. A small smile appeared on his face as the flavour of the drink began to set in. It was surprisingly tasty. "Tell me the story, Isaac." Captain said as he took his seat. "The night is long and sailors like stories."

"I was a member of Dracula's court." Isaac began. The Captain looked at him with a surprised expression but he did not say anything poor by it. It just made him more interest and curious about Isaac and his tale. "Dracula?" The Captain asked as he slurped his drink. "Oh, this should be good. Dracula, the Vampire King. Dracula, who wants to kill everyone in Wallachia?"

"Everyone in the world. All the humans." Isaac said.

"Including you." The Captain said.

"I assumed that eventually, this would include me, yes." Isaac told him.

"So working for Dracula was like suicide, the long way round?" The Captained mused.

"Perhaps. I find the human race worthless, and I suspect a fresh start would be good for the world." Isaac said.

"Present could be excepted of course." Captain said as he and Isaac shared a good laugh. Captain leaned back in his chair and said, "So. You were planning on killing everyone in the world. I knew you wouldn't be boring. I cannot, however, fail to know that I am still here. And you're not in Wallachia. What happened."

Isaac hung his head and let out a sigh. Taking a big sip of his drink. Though a month has passed, those memories were still fresh in his mind. "His castle was attacked. Dracula threw me to the desert through a magic mirror. To save my life." He said.

"That don't sound like someone who wants to kill all the people of the earth." Captain pointed out.

"He was confused. He was grieving. There were other Vampires conspiring against him. And they were aided by the other human in the court." Isaac said, with a hint of venom in his tone. The thought of Hector makes him sick. He had great respect for him...but now? Well, all he wants right now is to watch him die. The Captain listen to Isaac's tale and paid attention to every word.

"He was certainly confused and also betrayed. You just can't eat the stuff anymore. Believe me, I know. You should talk to some of the freaks I have my crew." He told him. "And now you're sailing back to Europe to find Dracula?" His question meant no harm. He was simply curious. But it still hurt Isaac from within. He wished he could say 'yes, I am', but he knew that he'd be lying to himself. "I believe he is dead. I have other reasons to return." Isaac said as he pushes the box, containing the distance mirror, to show The Captain.