The Tyrant's Pet

According to Abel, the humans that were washed ashore in the land of vampires were greedy. Even after being welcomed by vampires and provided with their necessities, humans plotted to sell this information once they were outside the land for the money or simply for added manpower.

Vampires were strong and terrifying creatures. Having one was worth a unit of human soldiers. Subduing them all meant having the world at their feet. It may be ridiculous to think how humans could even consider they could attain such a feat, but humans were humans.

They were creatures whose ambition was limitless. The sky's the limit.

That was when Soran, the man Abel admired, slaughtered every human who came with him. Making a mountain of human corpses, he stood on top of them until the vampires came from the permeating scent of blood and death.

His reasons weren't as admirable as to protect vampires from human invasion, but rather the opposite. And Soran never denied that. Yet he gained respect and admiration from the vampires.

Soran… was a wise man. He may be good, but also bad for some. Either way, he cared for humanity, even if it meant taking the lives of other humans as a sacrifice.

With only one human in that land of vampires, Soran had grown close with a few vampires. One of them was Abel. Soran would constantly share his stories about the outside world, unknowingly inspiring Abel to see the world since Soran would smile every time he recalled it.

However, the world outside wasn't what Abel had imagined it.

Wars, unjustified deaths, poverty, illnesses. The world was full of that.

Having this urge to help, Abel tried to help the first town he first landed in that was plagued with those lists of misfortune. Knowing he was different and a vampire, Abel introduced himself as someone who could cure illnesses.

One after another, his 'miraculous work' mesmerized everyone. They accepted him — almost worshiped him. But Abel wanted nothing in return since he was already satisfied with their warmth. A warmth he never felt from where he came from.

Until one disaster came.

With human savagery happening here and there, the town he was dwelling in was under siege. The poor townsfolk had no chance of fighting or defending themselves, dying at the cruel attacks. Seeing this, Abel tried to evacuate as many people as he could.

However, as he went back and forth in the town that was slowly being engulfed by fire, he saw a boy lying in his own pool of blood with his eyes open and a wooden spear on his little back. He knew that young boy and was very familiar with his bright smile.

Abel looked around the burning town, recalling how peaceful and unsuspecting they were before the attack. But their peace was ruined in a flash, and they had taken the lives of the innocent.

And so he snapped.

Doing what he thought was right, Abel faced their attacker head-on, ripping them all apart with his bare hands like the monster he was. He unleashed the wrath that kept boiling within him, seeing only red as he continued until there was none left.

One would think the townsfolk Abel protected would thank him. No, it was the opposite. Watching him 'get out of control' terrified them.

But humans were naturally cunning. They knew if they showed him their fear, he might slaughter them all.

Therefore, they treated him the same, waiting for a chance to strike this demon.

Abel wasn't dense to not notice their change of hearts. However, he shunned it. He believed these people would accept him despite being different. That they would see him beyond being just a mere vampire; that they could consider the good deeds he had done until that one incident.

His heart was full of hope and faith in people.

But he was wrong.

Those people proved him wrong and, unlike him, who believed in their hearts, they were too blind to see how big his heart was. Or rather, they knew exactly he had a big heart and thus, they cut it in half.

One silent night, they fed him a potent poison they concocted themselves and put him in a deep sleep. When Abel opened his eyes groggily, he was already bound, surrounded by the angry and frightened townsfolk. The person standing before him, who lead those people, was the same person whom he trusted the most.

He was more than just a friend to Abel. He considered him the brother he wished to have. The man was someone who treated him the same, encouraging him the townsfolk would eventually accept him, and Abel just needed to show his sincerity.

Everything was a lie.

That friend and brother Abel treated from the brink of death looked at him with nothing but disgust. The smile and laughter they shared, and the memories Abel cherished, shattered like glass.

Everything was a lie and yet, even when they lowered their torches to burn him alive, Abel denied this lie. Even when he was screaming his lungs out, all he kept saying was, 'he meant no harm.'

But no one listened.

All they heard was a monster writhing in pain. A devil who could kill them with his bare hands. A beast who must cease to exist. Even though the occurrence of the world had been going on before his arrival, they pushed the blame on his existence.

Someone had to take the blame and apparently, Abel, because he was different, had to take the fall.

One would think Abel changed after emerging from that hellish fire alive. No. He had a big heart, remember? He tried to convince the frightened townsfolk who watched him die in that fire all night, only to have him talking to them, convincing them they could talk it out.

But it was futile.

Abel was foolish. And so, they tore his already torn heart as they set him on fire once again. When it didn't work and he was still alive? They thought of countless methods of how to kill him, tearing his big heart to bits, and creating an actual monster.

And thus, the rise of the tyrant.