Burn: New Beginnings (part 15)

*As Benjamin Hawk begins to transform into just another entity of evil, another something vile like all the vile he's been fighting against for years, it is the perfect opening for Traul. He lets Hawk know that he alone can make it so that Hawk keeps a bit of himself as he becomes a werewolf. The vaccine Traul took has allowed him to work with the essence of the Old One, to have sway over all the blue that now courses through his veins. He is still a slave to the Old One, yet a slave with a voice that can speak, that can advise, and that can have a will that works with the Old One rather than be consumed by the Old One. Traul lets Hawk know that if he tastes of Trauls essence he will still turn wolf but will also be able to still have a voice, and Hawk agrees. He becomes the Feral King if only so that he can be more than just a monster, and soon he is the largest werewolf around. But Traul is not done. He needs more if he is to continue on his quest to get others who can aid the Old One in controlling all the parts of the earth that are not under the murderous intent of the Original Corners of Midnight. It is then that Eric Bram makes his appearance. A devoted Buddhist, Bram had escaped into the wilderness to avoid all the evils of a fallen world and had for years delighted in how he thought his meditation and discipline surely kept him safe. But even that couldn't keep him safe for forever and finally Eric is bit by a Devoted and begins to turn. Yet somehow, Eric is able to hold off becoming only another mindless Devoted. He makes it to the Old One and then to Traul as he swears fealty to both and willingly gives himself to whatever they want him to be. The Old One demands that Traul make Eric the first of a new Nest of Vampires, and Traul does yet does so in a very unique way. He doesn't just have Eric consume his essence he also takes a sip of what Eric has to offer so that when Eric becomes Erus, Traul is bonded to him. This means that when Erus joins with The Feral King to rule, Traul is delighted. The more power Erus gets, the more he is protected, the more Traul is now protected too [AI Art]*