"Guys, it's time for Trevor to go through his awakening also." Ethan said in a serious tone.
The girls, ever the attention-seeking bunch, were all clinging to him, hanging off him like flies to shit. The only difference? This was one hell of a handsome shit. But what truly caught Ethan off guard was Carmen, his principal. She had claimed her "rightful place," as she called it, and planted herself firmly in his lap. Ethan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. She was purring like a contented cat as he absentmindedly patted her head. It was honestly absurd how they all looked now, especially given Ethan's new height.
Clara, at 5'8", Harley, at 6', and Carmen, towering over him at 6'1", clung to him like they had no other place to be. Compared to Ethan now, they seemed almost comical. The only person who even came close to matching Ethan's new stature was Trevor at 6'5", with Lamair, who had been the tallest until now, standing at 6'3". Emily, slightly taller than Clara, Andriel and Lisa were just a touch shorter than Harley, leaving them the odd ones out.
Currently, it was only Clara, Harley, and Carmen who were tangled around him, hanging off him like monkeys on a tree, leaving the rest to watch from the sidelines, looking somewhat dissatisfied. Andriel and Lisa wanted to join in, but given Andriel was a new lover and Lisa was, well, Ethan's archnemesis, it just wasn't in the cards for them.
"What do I have to do?" Trevor asked, his voice serious, cutting through the lighthearted chaos.
"Babe? You too?" Emily's voice was soft as she cupped Trevor's face. His usual joking grin was absent, replaced with his Primogenitor form, the one that looked far more distant and regale. To Emily, seeing him made him appear almost like a father figure, her concern evident on her face. What went through her head at that moment only she could understand.
"Yes. I also have to go through my first awakening," Trevor answered.
"If he succeeds, he will be able to turn you too into a vampire, albeit a stronger version, just below him," Ethan added, his voice filled with the certainty of someone who had already experienced this.
"Really?" Emily and Trevor asked in tandem, their voices laced with disbelief and surprise.
"Really. I could turn her now, but she's yours. You deserve to do that, man. Can't keep her waiting forever." Ethan's tone was confident, assuring. "And here's the catch... we won't have to drink the blood of others. Just those we turn, or strong beasts. We can still drink from others, but it won't be as necessary as it is for normal vampires."
"For real?! Doesn't that mean we'll be basically just for each other?" Trevor asked, his voice tinged with amazement.
"Yes. Unless, of course, you have multiple partners. These awakenings pave an ultimate path for us, where the partners or lovers we mark are the sole source of our blood. So, no more hunting for prey for us. I already have some." Ethan's voice dropped to a low, almost predatory growl as his red eyes subtly glowed, casting a dangerous gleam over the girls.
The air between them chilled as each girl shivered under Ethan's gaze.
"Oh, and we can't use the base form again," Ethan added, his casual tone betraying the weight of his words.
"Huh?" Trevor inquired; his confusion genuine.
"I mean we're stuck . We can make some changes, like altering the hair, hiding the tattoos, but that's about it. Our height? Yeah, that stays." Ethan's tone was matter-of-fact, as though these changes were the least of their concerns.
"Wouldn't that make us the tallest people in school?" Trevor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Cool, right?" Ethan grinned, clearly enjoying the thought of towering over everyone.
"You are sick!" Trevor laughed, shaking his head.
"That's why you're my brother," Ethan replied, his smile widening.
"So, what do I have to do?" Trevor asked again, his seriousness returning.
"Oh, very simple actually. You'll first take my blood. Then I'll share the Blood Magic with you through our bond. I've already tested it, so it's possible. The difficult part will be your awakening," Ethan said, readying himself for the next phase.
"What's Blood Magic?" Lamair, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his curiosity piqued.
"It's basically a more advanced and primal version of the Blood affinity, only accessible to vampires," Ethan answered casually.
"For real. Now, can you all excuse us? The process is delicate and dangerous for you guys," Ethan added, the tone of his voice shifting to one of concern, though he still kept his composure.
He pecked Carmen on the forehead, the gesture light but filled with affection. He had long since accepted that she was his. Who wouldn't? She had been one of his crushes for the longest time. Imagine crushing on someone for ages only to find out they were your betrothed. There was no way he'd reject that.
"Okay! See you later," Carmen said, leaning in to kiss him on the lips. The kiss was light but full of promise. "I'll be waiting for you..." she whispered softly in his ear, causing a slight blush to form on Ethan's face. The truth was, he'd been using every ounce of willpower to keep his emotions in check. Carmen was undeniably sexy—everything about her body was sculpted perfectly. Her shapely, plump ass was soft and bouncy... Ethan was on the verge of a mental breakdown just from that.
"Bye, babe," Harley said as she kissed him as well.
"Be careful," Clara added, following suit with her kiss.
"Can I kiss you too?" Andriel asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"No," Ethan responded with a flat tone, not even looking at her.
"I already apologized! Please..." Andriel pouted, her voice taking on a playful tone as she batted her lashes.
"No," Ethan replied firmly, his gaze sharp.
"Bitch!" Andriel snapped.
"Witch!" Ethan countered smoothly.
"See you later then, Ethan," Lisa said, her cheeks flushed slightly, though she tried to play it cool.
"See you soon," Ethan replied with a smile, his voice lighthearted.
"You guys better not die," Lamair said from the side, crossing his arms, a scowl on his face.
"We are immortal!" Trevor and Ethan responded in unison, their victorious smirks matching perfectly.
"Fuckers!" Lamair cursed, storming out of the room.
Ethan's eyes shifted to a glowing golden hue, a small gold dot appearing on his forehead. His aura shifted dramatically, becoming divine and regal as he focused all of his energy on Trevor. Trevor's own eyes took on a mix of red and gold as the symbol on his hand began to glow brightly. He felt something deep within him stir as Ethan's power seeped into him, causing his blood to boil in response. But the sensation was fleeting, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
"Done! Now for the blood intake," Ethan said, extending his hand toward Trevor.
Trevor nodded resolutely, his fangs extending as he prepared himself. He leaned in and bit into Ethan's wrist, drawing blood with practiced ease.
'So sweet,' Trevor thought to himself, the taste far richer than anything he had experienced before. He drank for a solid two minutes, but just as he was about to drink more, Ethan gave him a firm knock to the head.
"What was that for?" Trevor asked, pulling away with an annoyed glare.
"Be serious, kid!" Ethan retorted, his tone sharp but playful.
"Who are you calling kid, you zombie!" Trevor shot back.
"I'm just a pale-skinned fucker!" Ethan laughed, the banter lightening the mood.
"Zombie!" Trevor shot back, both of them laughing for a full five minutes before Ethan felt it.
"Time's up!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice suddenly all business.
The room grew tense, the air thick with anticipation as the next phase of the awakening began.
The chamber thrummed with ancient energy, a palpable aura of tension filling the air. Trevor sat cross-legged at its center; a rare seriousness etched onto his usually carefree face. Surrounding him was a faint crimson glow, pulsing like a heartbeat, growing brighter with each passing second.
Ethan leaned casually against the chamber wall, his arms crossed, though his crimson eyes betrayed a mix of anticipation and concern. The others had been ushered out, leaving the two brothers alone in the sacred space.
"You ready for this?" Ethan asked, his voice calm but tinged with gravity.
Trevor opened one eye, his usual smirk tugging at his lips despite the weight of the moment. "Come on, Ethan. Compared to what you went through, this'll be a cakewalk."
Ethan's lips quirked in a half-smile. "Don't fool yourself, Trev. The trial knows what'll break you, and it won't hold back. Even for you."
Trevor shrugged, rolling his shoulders to shake off the growing tension. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about me, bro. I've got this."
Ethan stepped back, giving his brother space. The air grew thick with electric anticipation, a static charge building until the hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stood on end.
Suddenly, the chamber trembled. The glow around Trevor erupted, forming a shimmering crimson dome that hummed with power. The world shifted around him, and in an instant, Trevor was no longer in the chamber.
Trevor found himself standing in a desolate landscape. The sky was a swirling vortex of dark red, streaked with veins of gold lightning. The ground beneath his feet was cracked and barren, littered with the remnants of forgotten battles—broken weapons, shattered armor, and blood-soaked earth.
"What the hell is this place?" Trevor muttered, his voice echoing unnaturally.
A low, guttural laugh broke the silence, sending a chill down his spine. Trevor whirled around, his fists clenched as a figure emerged from the shadows.
The doppelgänger stood tall, clad in tarnished, bloodstained armor. His eyes burned with a golden-red intensity, devoid of the humor and warmth that defined Trevor. His expression was cold, calculating, and cruel, as though every ounce of humanity had been stripped away.
"Well, well," the doppelgänger sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Look at you. So confident. So... naive."
Trevor raised an eyebrow, masking his unease with his trademark sarcasm. "Oh great, an evil me. Let me guess, you're here to say some cryptic crap about destiny and then try to kill me?"
The other Trevor smirked. "Close, but no. I'm here to show you what you really are. The truth about your weaknesses. Let's see if you can handle it."
Before Trevor could retort, the ground beneath him cracked open, and chains of molten metal shot up, coiling around his arms and legs. He struggled, but the chains tightened, dragging him to his knees.
"Hey! What the—" Trevor's voice was cut off as a searing pain shot through his body.
The chains burned against his skin, and with the pain came visions—flashes of memories he had buried deep.
He saw himself as a child, cowering behind Ethan during a fight. He felt the weight of his failure during their first mission, when his hesitation had nearly cost Ethan his life. He relived the countless moments when he had relied on his brother to save the day, hiding his insecurities behind jokes and bravado.
"You hide behind that grin," the doppelgänger said, circling him like a predator. "Pretend nothing gets to you. But deep down, you're terrified. Terrified of failing. Of being nothing."
Trevor clenched his teeth, fighting against the chains, but they only tightened. His breath hitched as the memories played out in vivid detail, each one a dagger to his pride.
"You're weak," the doppelgänger continued, leaning in close. "Always trailing behind Ethan. Always the second choice. Without him, what are you? Nothing."
Trevor's vision blurred with tears he refused to shed. The weight of the words bore down on him like a mountain, but somewhere deep inside, a spark ignited.
"You're wrong," he muttered, his voice hoarse but steady.
The doppelgänger paused, his expression flickering with surprise. "What did you say?"
Trevor lifted his head, his crimson eyes blazing with defiance. "I said, you're wrong." His voice grew stronger with each word. "Yeah, I've failed. Yeah, I've screwed up. But that doesn't make me weak. It makes me human."
The chains trembled, cracks forming along their length.
"I'm not afraid to rely on Ethan, because he's, my brother. And when the time comes, I'll be there to protect him too. That's what makes us strong."
With a roar, Trevor surged to his feet, the chains shattering in a burst of crimson light. The doppelgänger staggered back, his form beginning to dissolve.
"This isn't over," the doppelgänger growled, his voice fading as the battlefield dissolved into a blinding light.
The crimson dome around Trevor exploded, sending a shockwave rippling through the chamber. Ethan shielded his eyes as the light faded, revealing Trevor standing tall, his chest heaving. His body radiated a faint crimson glow, and his eyes burned with a newfound intensity.
Ethan smirked, stepping forward. "Told you it wasn't a walk in the park."
Trevor chuckled, though his legs wobbled slightly. "Yeah, yeah. Let's see how you feel after facing the Trial of Jerk Doppelgängers."
Ethan clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder, steadying him. "You did good, Trev. Real good."
Trevor nodded; his usual bravado tempered with a quiet confidence. "Thanks, bro. Now... let's see what's next."
The bond between the brothers deepened as they exchanged a knowing look, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.