The Victorian Requiem [ Prviate: ~Ashton~] (18+)

[aerithbunny]

Silver eyes glanced out at the snow, it was cold, dreary, and quiet. In fact the silence was deafening, it had been so long since he'd seen another. Lacrimosa's long black claw-like fingernails moved along the windowsill that dreary night in an effort to make a noise. The scratch was like a razor in the wall, the sound was so loud that it pierced the silence in a cruel manner. His long silver locks of hair flowed behind him as he walked away from the window. His pale skin, that of a true vampire of course as his fangs gleamed in the full moonlight. The skies were clear as the deep snow lay on the ground, white and glistening like a powdery grave over the dead trees and thorny vines that surrounded the mansion that Lacrimosa had encased himself in. He wore a traditional victorian male clothing, the long black peti-coat, the ruffled white long sleeve shirt underneath it, the black silk pants, the finest black boots. Yes it was obvious by the mansion that Lacrimosa had money. He had a couple of tattoos from his trips to the asian countries, though he lived in England, the only thing visible of them was a black vine running up his neck. He had his ears pierced three times each, and a nose piercing, though of time frame, he was powerful enough to travel through time. In fact he'd done so many times in his life, but he was still bored, still alone, and still bitter. Lacrimosa's height was another thing of substantial odd proportions. He was actually six feet ten inches in height, which was a very tall and thin body. In fact as thin as he was, he had black lips, the kind of lips that seemed so kissable if it didn't look like the fangs that came from them would suck you dry first for trying.

 

He was gorgeous, with feminine-esq facial features, but he was also so very cold. It was obvious that he was cold, he'd been closed off for so long from any type of actual emotion. He wrung the silver bell in the mansion, his butler Kryrias came.

 

Kryrias was not a tall man, of about five feet 6 inches in height. He himself was also very handsome with silver eyes, black locks of hair with naturally blonde tips on them. He himself also had vampiric fangs, and it appeared that although he seemed to actually exude more muscle and strength, perhaps even physical power, Lacrimosa's magical aura was much stronger then Kryrias's. Kryrias was an older vampire appearing about the age of fifty, while Lacrimosa appeared in his twenties.

 

"Yes sir?" asked Kryrias's deep voice.

 

"Light the fireplace." said Lacrimosa's raspy tone, his tone had always been raspy.

 

"It has been so long since you asked for that." spoke Kryrias's voice confused.

 

Lacrimosa looked out at the snow. "Something feels...different." he spoke.

 

Kryrias bowed and went to light the fireplace. Kryrias himself was not overly muscular but he was more built then the very thin Lacrimosa was. Of course Lacrimosa simply pulled his silver locks of hair back, silver eyes looking at the black rose bushes that surrounded their mansion. Natural black roses growing from the ground around the very dark mansion. Yet somehow Lacrimosa hoped, somewhere in the cold pit of himself, he hoped for something..new.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton leaned over and gathered his worn, old rag from the ground beside him before looking up at the man in the seat before him, waiting to have his shoes shined. He gave the man a poliet smile before sitting back on the heels of his feet and beggining to work, as he did he noticed the sound of what seemed to be very small pebbles hitting the run down shop's small roof and sighed inwardly as he knew that know he would be walking home in the rain, which would probably be snow by the time he got out. He already had a head ache and walking home was certainly not going to help, his mother would be furious for he also did not dring an umbrella. Biting his lower lip as he returned to his work and regained his happy composure, reaching over he got another clean rag and cleaned off the shoe polish, revealing the shinning surface that was beneath the gunk. He sat back for a moment to admire his handy work before standing and throwing the rag over his shoulder to rest on his plain tanish work shirt before he spoke. "Thank you for for stopping by Sir, that will be six dollars and fifteen cents." He spoke lightly as he held out his hand to collect the money from the clearly impatient man, who managed to murmur "Took you damn long enough." Before scurrying out of the shops door with a jingle of the bell. "Well, wasn't that a charming costomer?" His balding boss joked as he rubbed his ,also shiny, head before taking the money from the younger boy who was Adjusting his pale blonde hair to loosen it up a bit.

"Yes Sir, he certainly must had had somewhere important to go." He slide his own, ratty and tattered jacket over his shirt and gave his boss a nod of the head. "I'll be going now Sir, have a good night!" He smiled and opened the door with a jingle just as the other yelled out of the door "Be careful in this weather Ash!"

The entire aura of his surroundings changed from the warm, cozy, and familar to cold, wet and loud! He sighed softly to himself as the wind and snow smacked him in the face and hands, he burried his fingers in his pockets and began slipping through the crowd with his head low to avoid getting any debree blown in them. He was only walking for about twenty five minutes before he began to cough harshly, he had been outside of city bounds for about thirteen minutes or so but if he turned back in this weather he would likely take twice the time to return to the shop for shelter and at that the boss had likely gone home, so he would be stuck outside regardless. He lived anout hour or so away from where he currently stood, usually he rode on a carriage that always came into town to restock wood but the horse was sick today and he was forced to walk down a road that was supposed to be a short cut on the way back, but was taking longer than he thought it should.

 

"If I keep walking I might run into someone that can give me a lift either way?" He mumured slightly to himself, his green eyes going bright with a new resolution as he continued towards his home. However he had not made it another fifteen minutes before the lithe frammed body was on all fours, heaving as he coughed continuously. He began to grow scared of not making it home....what would he mother do? She and his sister would surely worry..... The thoughts raised through his mind as he hauled himself to his feet once more, looking up through blurry eyes and freezing as he took in a faint light in the distance. It did not seem that fair off, focusing a bit more he noticed the very large house that was just down the road. Wiping the water from his face he began to walk towards it, the closer he got the more he felt he should turn back around and take the main road. The house seemed wrong, it was large and beautiful but the it seemd almost forbboding at the same time, he slipped again on a stray patch of ice and cried out as pain shot through his ankle. He tried to stand and himself tumbling back to the snow in pain coughing harshly and now all but immobile. He was growing tired and knew the risks of falling asleep in the snow out here, he heaved up on a last ditch effort and half walked half crawled to the large and thick wooded front door and banged it's knocker before collapsing against it and allowing his mind to slip into a deep abyss.

[aerithbunny]

Charity was not in Lacrimosa's nature, but when the boy banged as he did and fell, Lacrimosa knew the fates had played with them that day. He of course pulled the boy inside, and put him next to the fireplace. He looked to Kryrias with those haunting silver orbs he called eyes. "Change him, dry him, and then proceed to leave him." he ordered. Kryrias nodded and changed the clothes on the boy, hanging his to dry next to the fire but far enough so they would not catch. He wrapped the boy in blankets and then left him on the rug near the fireplace, the rug was made of a bear skin and very warm and soft. Lacrimosa knelt down and sat next to the boy who had arrived at his door.

 

"How strange the fates are that they brought you here to me." he said, his soft tone raspy of course but still soft and gentle.

 

Lacrimosa ran his long fingernail over the young man's neck to feel a pulse, yes he was breathing, unlike Lacrimosa who did not, vampirism was death after all. His silver eyes raking over the young man curiously as to why he was there.

 

He moved back away from him and looked at the fire, the flames were blue, they did not burn red like normal fires did, then again the curse that lay on their mansion had long since ravaged much normalcy. Lacrimosa's silver locks of hair reflected the blues, ironic that since his true hair color was red. How he hated those red locks, the things they had made his mother and father do...no he would not go into it. He glanced at the ankle, it was swollen, he moved a pillow under it and magically froze some ice to it to attempt to help it heal a little faster. He sighed.

 

"Fates have brought you here, so awaken already." spoke his impatient tone.

 

Kryrias chuckled from the background. "Lacrimosa you must grow up a bit more perhaps for him to? Impatience is not befitting." he said in his deep tone.

 

Lacrimosa snarled at Kryrias but folded his arms, yes perhaps the other was correct. "What do you supposed brought him here after...so long?" asked Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias chuckled. "Only time will tell." he said, his chuckle not real but rather not even amused just forced for the conversation at hand.

[~Ashton~]

The small boy held his sisters hand tightly, the two standing in the hallway just outside of the pantry of there small run down house. They could hear thier parents whispering about young Ashtons trip to the supposed town witch that day, where she proclaimed the mark on the inside of his wrist which was shaped like a moon was an omen for a cursed existance. One in which would be the very death of him. He heard his father whisper "What if the old hag was right and he is a bad thing for his sister, Emily? What if she dies as a result or his horrid luck rubs off on her? He's always been an ill thing, maybe it's true?" Emily tightened her hand in her sniffling brothers arm as there mother retorted "Listen to yourself John! He is our son, you believe the words of a witch! She should be hung and your the one that thought it would be fun to go see her! He is not cursed, that is the last I will hear of any of this!" Foot steps echoed towards the hall with the two in them standing there, the two young souls hurried back up the stairs to climb in there warm, unjudging bed and fall into a deep sleep.

 

Ashton moaned softly, he felt a distant throb deep in his body. It was only when he was a bit closer to waking up that he realized it was his ankel that was throbbing and not only that but his throat was as well. Likely from the cold and coughing he had done. He also felt warm, shifting slightly and sinking into whatever it was that he was laying on so soft and comfotably, lulling him quickly back to the sleep he had almost escaped. However he shifted a bit and the pain that was now pounding in his head forced him awake, this time fully.

 

The young boys lips parted, just slightly as he intook a break of hair, and smiled softly as he realized he had made it home. Allowing his eyes to part he assumed he would see Emily fawning over him with worry, however when he looked at the ceiling he immeidiatly new something was wrong. Hearing a crackle beside him he glaced over to see the fire place beside him as well and he knew this was not his home. He sat up quickly and breathing quickly and wildly looked around in confusion as he tried to grasp the situation he had now found himself in. He saw the two men and did not scream but stared. This man closest to him was in a word, beautiful, so beautiful in fact that it made his breath catch in his throat. Ashton's bright eyes swept over the other and took in every inch of him he could, ignoring the one that was further away and murmuring in an almost dream like state.

 

"Who?..Who are you?"

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa saw him awoke, he was stared at, he'd almost forgotten what being stared at was like. He had remembered some time ago his brother Riley had told him something along the lines of vampires were more beautiful then humans were, their immortality transformed their features into pale ghost-like soft human appearances. Lacrimosa thought it was rubbish, surely he had been born beautiful, not just by his blood but also by his appearance in general just because that was what he was supposed to look like, not simply because he was a vampire. His silver eyes looked over the young man, he appeared the same age as Lacrimosa himself appeared.

 

"You are the first in a long while." spoke his raspy tone.

 

The blue flames in the fireplace were gorgeous, and warm, despite the color of them being off.

 

"I am Lacrimosa." he said with a smirk, his fangs showing.

 

"And this is Kryrias my butler. You banged upon our door this night, you asked to come on with your fist pounding upon my door. Strange it is considering that the throned vines, no lights, and snow patches should have deterred anyone from coming to this accursed place." said Lacrimosa, spite filling his voice for the place they were in.

 

Lacrimosa recovered shortly though from the spite and malice in his tone for the house they were in. How funny, he was so cold, so closed off and yet he found the other man interesting, he was brave to come there.

 

"You are welcome here however, no matter what this place is actually like on the outside. I must warn you though, you may not bring anyone else here. Only you may be here, I would rather keep some privacy." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

The portraits on the walls, paintings as they were, showed Riley in one who was an older Lacrimosa with white hair instead of silver and cross dressed in women's clothing(ooc: yes Lacrimosa's eldest brother is a cross dresser), while the only other paintings around showed Lacrimosa in one, and Setsuya a maroon headed boy who looked much less threatening then Lacrimosa did and less pretty.

 

"This is my family's estate. Though I suspect you would not have known that before now, my rules are to not bring anyone else here, you may rest up here as you are quite damaged and I suspect you will leave soon enough." spoke Lacrimosa calmly.

 

Kryrias walked over. "It is unusual, still, where do you hale from? Perhaps we can get you back there in time?" he asked, hoping to gain some answers.

 

"Not as though we are kicking you out." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias nodded and Lacrimosa looked to the young man. "A name?" he asked simply.

 

Lacrimosa's silver eyes looked at the young man, his long eyelashes batting at those eyes, the kind of eyes that could easily steal a soul or two. He of course reached out a pale hand to the youth. "Perhaps you'd like to stay for a while until you're able to walk?" he asked.

 

Lacrimosa's hand was cold, after all he was the undead, his smirk was devilish, and the mansion creaked with the winds outside, still they seemed unfazed, even elated to have a visitor, though it was apparent that Lacrimosa hadn't had much practice with visitors in a long while. In fact as cold as he was in personality, it was obvious that a black fire burned in that soul waiting to be unleashed.

[~Ashton~]

The smaller boy shofted slightly in order to properly face the other two, his expression of awe dropped into one of mute wariness. Something kept whispering in his mind, something was most definetly wong but what? He tore his gaze silently away and took in the room around him a bit better, his expressions of what a kitten might have that has been placed in a new home. Inquisitive and very wary, but these people had for all instances saved his life so he attempted to shove the distrust down for now. His eyes swept over beautiful and soft bear rug that was under him, his fingers tracing the beautiful fabric absentmindedly. His family had always been low class, so he rarely even saw things this beautiful, let alone touched them.

 

He felt the warmth from the flames behind but radiant and gave the strange man what was supposed to be a thankful but still resistant smile. Bringing his blue eyes back to to vampire as he once more looked in awe.

 

"In a long while?" He repeated a bit lost as he nodded lightly." Lacrimosa is a rather odd name? Is it foreign?" He inquired lightly, then mental smacked himself for being rude. A glint caught his eye, at first he did not catch it but the closer he looked he realized how unusually sharp the K9's of the other work. Faint childhood monsters flashed in his mind, those who drank from the flesh of humans to survive. However as quickly as they came they were gone, he dismissing them without the slightest regard.

 

"Ah the vines and things? Now that I think about it I do suppose they were there, but I was trying to get home and had been walking for quiet some times so I was so exaughsted to really even noticed them. Your fire was burning really bright I suppose, because it was the light radiating from this window that drew me here. I really do owe you a lot, perhaps even my life to be perfectly frank." He spoke, trying to explain himself and the situations that had brought him here.

 

He shifted a bit more to give a slight bow of brother gratitude and apology to the two men. "I thank you both, Lacrimosa and Kryias for helping me out in such a situation. You really do have a beautiful place here, it seems almost sad though, does it not?" He had once more lost himself at gazing at his surroundings, to him it seemed as if the house itself was crying. "Ah! But appart from that, I will never bring anyone here! As soon as I can I will get out of your hair." He gave a soft laugh hat seemed so bleak in the situation, already his cheeks were begging to grow a pinkish as color returned to his face. His hair bouncing softly as he shifted his head.

 

Ashton watched as the man standing a bit further away walked towards him, he shifted back towards the fireplace reflexivly and watched him carefully, the had to cover his mouth to stifle the laugh when who he assumed must be the head master quickly added his own remark about how quickly he should leave. "I actually live down town in Lanser, the place with the old burnt down building that is supposed to be haunted." For the slightest of moments Ashton considered giving them a fake name and decided against it, however would not divulge his last name.

 

"My name? Ashton, you can call me Ash or Ashton though, which ever you like is perfectly fine." As he spoke he reached up with his pale hand, placing his lithe warm fingers in the others hand and immidiatly he froze. It was as though something had surged through him, as though a shove to turn and run for his life. Shaking his head lightly he tightened his grip on the very cold hand and shook it lightly as he whispered. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lacrimosa." Smiling lightly he righted himself and attempted to stand up and he did so, albiet rather wobbly before bracing himself on the fire place and giving a slight smile.

 

"See, i'll be better in no time at all."

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa nodded and stood up fully, he was much taller then the other. He smirked. "Haunted you say? Well this place is moreso I can assure you." he said. With that Lacrimosa turned away, he looked back at the other. "Do not try to leave tonight, the snow out there is too awful, the temperature will freeze you and kill you. I can assure you that you will not make it, there is a nice room upstairs, Kryrias can show you to it." he said. The house was crying but when Lacrimosa tried to step out of Ashton's site, the fire suddenly dimmed and a scream ran through the mansion, it was a woman's scream and Lacrimosa froze.

 

"It seems mother has decided to pay us a visit." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

He turned back and grabbed Ashton's hand. "I know this may be sudden but you need to trust me." he said, for once a true emotion shown in his eyes, it was fear. Kryrias moved and cast a spell, it was a warding spell, while the magics flew through the air, Lacrimosa led Ashton to his room, the room he would be staying in.

 

"I apologize for that...mother's ghost sometimes I cannot contain." he said with a sigh.

 

Lacrimosa's face looked weary. "My name...there is a story behind it, I remember you asking me earlier. But I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to tell you the story." he said, a grim look on his face.

 

Lacrimosa looked back to Ashton. "Where you live...how well does it handle the cold?" he asked.

 

With the warding spell casted, even with the ghostly chill that had passed the mansion was now warm again. In fact the room Ashton was standing in was one of many, it had a large bed and seemed very well put together, the money Lacrimosa's family had to have had would have been astounding, even for that era.

 

"There are thirty rooms in this mansion, fifteen bathrooms, a ball room, a kitchen, a dining room, a garden, several basements and attics. And only Kryrias and I live here. So if your family might freeze to death...you may bring them here." he said.

 

It seemed as though that was Lacrimosa's way of screaming for help, a way of asking Ashton not to go, a way of saying he didn't...the loneliness was killing him. If Ashton hadn't guessed he was a vampire, it didn't matter since Lacrimosa hadn't made any attempts to bite him, in fact neither had Kryrias. Perhaps he was trying not to scare the other away.

 

"I realize you may heal quickly Ashton, but this night is too cold for you to go. I can inform your family if you'd like..." he said. It was obvious that Lacrimosa had not left the mansion in sometime, in fact he seemed particularly bad at trying to explain it too. Kryrias came in, he had a frehsly cooked turkey breast, some rice, and a glass of wine. He handed it to Ashton.

 

"Don;t want you to starve on us." he said.

 

The quality of the food was enough to tell Ashton that he had come across a mansion of nobles and that Lacrimosa was a nobleman who didn't particularly act like a traditional nobleman.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton's eyes went wide when he heard that this mansion was indeed haunted, ever since he was a child he had always had a fear of a a ghost luring him away in the dead of the night. The mere idea of the ghost being here was to much for him to deal with so he simply shook it off as a passing fear of someone who had clearly spend way to much time alone stuck in this stuff, creepy cold house. Looking out the window he nodded in agreement. "Ahh it appears you may be right, it is certainly freezing out there and the visibility is likely zero. Perhaps I will leave tomorrow then, when it is a bit lighter out?" He moved to climb back into the warm fur blanket but then the scream rang.

 

Ashton himself cried out in fear, jumping slightly and accidentally putting to much weight on his bad ankel and sliding to the ground once more as he began to shake. Looking around quickly for the ghost to come out of the depths and grab him and drag him away. "M-mother!?" He stammered out as he quickly took the others hand, greatful for any kind of human contact and he held that hand very tightly.

 

Ashton watched in awe at the butlers movments, wanting to stop and watch but before he knew it they were moving. He could not quel his shaking and weither that was from fear or the effects of the cold from earlier he did not know, nor did it really matter at the moment. He stepped through the door he would be staying in and immidiatly leaned against the bed post. Just as the other room this one was just as beautiful and magnificant as well. Closing his eyes for a moment he cleared his thoughts, or attempted to, and spoke.

 

"Excuse me, but when you sat your mothers ghost, I assume you mean she is ...dead? And she still lingers here? Can you not, I do not know exorcise her?" He asked confused at the entire situation. He gave a look to the others face and rubbed his head lightly before speaking up again. "Well my parents take care of my sister just fine, i'm sure they will look after her fine." He glanced out the window and knew what he was about to do was stupid but he did it anyway.

 

"However, my place is rather small for all of us and i'm sure they would appreciate a vacation from my energetic self for a few days, so perhaps you would not mind me staying here a little longer?" He gave the other a reasurring smile, hoping he had not just over stepped his boundries.

 

He was cut off from the answer when the butler came in with the tray of food in which Ashton's mouth instantly began to water. It smelled absolutely delicious, like the most exquisit thing he had ever been in the mere presence of! He took the tray and set in on a stand beside the bed and noticed the whine, practically bouncing in excitment. He loved whine but never had extra money for it nor did he have any kind of alchohol tolerance at all.He reached down and took the slightest sip befre cutting off a piece of the breast and eating that as well. He was a good half way done before he realized he was all but ignoring the others.

 

Coughing a bit he straightened up. "Oh! Thank you very much for the food, it is absolutly devine!" He smiled slightly but forwned when the room began to sway a bit, being in the cold to long had taken it's tole on the small boy who had little immune system as it stood and now a fever was acting up.

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa saw him swaying and moved a cold hand to his forehead. "You have a fever." he said. Lacrimosa moved and tucked him into the bed, making sure he was nice and warm under those blankets. He of course put the food to the side of the bed where the lamp was and gave Ashton a small smile. In truth Lacrimosa had a sweet smile, but it obviously did not happen very often. In fact it rarely happened at all, Kryrias got some medicine and brought it in, he disinfected the wound and gave Ahston the medicine. Lacrimosa thought for a moment about what Ashton had said and he closed his eyes and gave a sigh.

 

"Actually can vampires exorcise anyone?" he asked looking at Ashton's eyes.

 

He had just finally said what he was to Ashton's face. He of course watched as Kryrias wrapped up his ankle in a bandage. Lacrimosa smiled a little again, a saddened smile.

 

"If you do not mind our company, we would be happy to have you here." he stated.

 

It was simple, he could be polite when he wanted to but it was obvious that he was rough around the edges. In fact Lacrimosa seemed tired but he also seemed stubborn.

 

"So polite young master." teased Kryrias.

 

Lacrimosa smirked. "It won't last, I'm a bastard and my entire family knows it." he said.

 

Actually that was true, Lacrimosa had been a bastard with a different father then both of his brothers. He was the mistake, and his name meant Requiem because he was supposed to be the Requiem for his mother's marriage. However she had been hurt by his father as well, both men had caused her so much trauma and she in turn...gods Ashton looked terrible, no he would not let another death happen.

 

"That medicine we gave you will control the fever." spoke Lacrimosa seriously.

 

He of course stood up and looked to Ashton. "Sleep well, I will see you tomorrow night, as this night is almost over." he spoke.

 

With that he and Kryrias vanished into thin air. During the next day they were nowhere to be found, staying away from sunlight of course, the entire mansion was closed off enough so that no light could get in. Even so Lacrimosa would pop into Ashton's room every now and then, silently to check on him. The next night he came to Ashton with another meal, this time it was a chicken soup specifically made for fevers as he sat down next to Ashton.

 

"How do you feel? I hope better by now, would not want your entire experience here to be in bed. That would be far below average." spoke Lacrimosa's raspy tone.

 

He smirked at Ashton, obviously starting to show a bit more livelier attitude then he had before this, his cold demeanor was dying down and the true Lacrimosa, the hell on wheels over outgoing bitch on wheels was slowly returning to the surface, though he was being nice at least after all he was still rather not good at being around people yet.

 

"Kryrias went to buy food for you again, so he might be out a while." said Lacrimosa laying back.

 

He looked at Ashton curiously. "So tell me, what is your family like? I don't mean to pry, but I don't find you too energetic yet." he said with a sarcastic wit and smirk. He seemed to love pushing buttons a bit, teasing was one of the things the real Lacrimosa loved to do.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton was alreayd leaning towards the bed as he felt himself sway a bit more, quivering a bit as he did so and coughing but only so lightly. He allowed himself to be tucked away into the large soft bed, neither moving to help the other move him nor to push him away. His mind was growing rather cloudly as he sank back into the pillow, tilting his head lightly, just enough to be able to watch the others movements carefully. He was still wary, not if not more so than he was when he first woke up. Shifting a bit to allow the bandages to be placed correctly on him.

He frowned in confusion at the others notion before speaking in a rather curious, not accusatory manor."What do you mean can vampires exorcise something?" But the second the question left his mouth he realized, taking in the beautiful apperance of the two beings before him, there sharpened teeth and the freezing cold skin. He had suspected it back in the other room however had simply cast the idea to the side completly but for it to be real!

 

"So you are really vampires?" He regarded the two with a clam expression for a few moments, and as weird as it was the idea seemed perfectly fine with the young boy as he smiled very softly. "If you would be okay with it, I would like to stay in your company, however I would request that you not eat me!" He laughed lightly, trying to lighten up the others saddened expression, he did not like seeing this boy sad for a reason that was beyond him as of yet. He frowned even wider when he heard the other call himself such a vulgar word. Sitting up slightly and giving him a warning look. "Never call yourself such a thing, you are no where near a bastard. Your mothers mistakes do you warrent anything about you....one more thing...please make sure she does not eat me either, or posses me or what ever it happens to be that ghosts do."

 

He gave Lacrimosa and Kryria a smile before allowing his head to fall to the pillow, the medicine combined with the fever finally knocking the small boy out. His small frame standing out even more in the very large bed as he sunk further into the mattress.

 

He woke up a few times throughout the day but each time for no more than five minutes or so, finally waking up when he heard the door to his room creek open at the vampire brought his food. Sitting up in the bed he took a few bites of it, as deicious as it was he had never been one to eat much, shifting into a sitting position on the bed so his feet were hanging off he regarded the others question before answering. "Well, my father belives I am actually cursed because of this." He hold up his wist to reveal the strange birth mark before continuing. "I have a sister, she looks just like me, she is really sweet and kind. You would like her a lot, and my mother is very over protective, that is just about it" He laughed before carefully asking his next question. "If you do not mind my asking, how did this happen to you?"

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa hadn't had a chance to answer much until that moment and he folded his arms laying back in the large chair next to the bed.

 

"Ghosts do not eat, they simply possess. But my mother's ghost tries to possess me, she doesn't hurt anyone else. In truth, I was just concerned for your safety, for you see if she possessed me I would undoubtedly take your soul. She collected them, in fact I have a closet full of souls in my mother's old closet, but whenever I try to get near it to release them, she appears and attempts to possess me. Even vampires, no matter how undead we are, our souls still exist within us so anything with a soul can be possessed." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

He moved his hand to Ashton's hand, the long black fingernails caressing his skin, but not piercing it surprisingly. He looked at him through long silver eyelashes, proving the silver hair was indeed natural, though really his eyelashes were supposed to be red, as his natural hair color was blood red. He just magically changed it.

 

"Second of all, vampires do not eat humans. We feed from humans, I however do not feed from innocent humans. I go down to the prisons when no one is around and do my feeding. I also do not have to feed that often. We vampires also do not turn our pray into vampires. That is only done if we will it, normally someone being turned against their whim is induced if they have upset the vampire. Otherwise when feeding we take a small amount of blood and we're on our way. I'm sure the stories you've heard are different, but most vampires do not wish to cause trauma, at least I do not." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

He chuckled a little as he thought back to the word bastard being fought by Ashton. "I am a bastard, I am the bastardous son my mother had out of wedlock. My other brothers were both perfect, they were granted everything, but they chose to leave this accursed place. However I was commanded to watch it, if I try to leave my mother's ghost chases me down and keeps me here." he said.

 

That was the extent he was willing to tell it seemed, it also seemed he was rather closed off still, and insecure about the whole thing.

 

"There's more to this place of course but I simply cannot tell you all of it until I know you better." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

He looked to Ashton. "My mother does allow me to feed, she knows if she did not and I turned to Ash that her fun would be ruined." he said, it was almost sickening that his mother was like that, toying with him constantly.

 

"Did you know the roses outside used to be red? Now they grow in black." he said looking out the window.

 

He looked to Ashton. "Which is why it was shocking you reached us, the black thorned vines go on for miles, and the ice, you are lucky to be alive." he said.

 

Lacrimosa reached a hand over to Ashton's hair, running his hand through it, a soft smil upon his lips, even a bit of affection could be seen, after all he did find the other attractive. However when he realized what he was doing he pulled his hand away and looked away, no he could not bring Ashton into his problems, sure he didn't want him to leave, but romantic intentions had to be held back. His own sexual orientation was highly frowned upon after all.

 

"Still Kryrias can leave whenever he wants and he has brought back a few odd things. I could go as far as the border between this mansion and the outside world without mother caring. When it becomes warmer I'd love to show you around...though it would be at night, I cannot enter sunlight, that is true of us vampires." he said. Though he had a special ring that allowed him to be in the sunlight, he'd rather not wear it.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton sat up in the bed cross-legged and ignored the subtle mind in his head that was scorning him for being so informal around some one of Lacrimosa's class, especially considering the fact that he was a vampire and was obviously naturally elegant. Compared to the other he considered the idea of a small scruffy puppy standing next to a regal, purebred great dane. It was clear that he was not meant to be here, his small frame was certainly delicate but he hard various scratches and bruises from the wear and tear life of the poor.

 

He was feeling eons better, and it showed in his smoothed out color of his cheeks and his eyes were much bright, even his lips were a bit plumper as well. He gulped visibly at the thought of having his soul stolen in such a way, only then did he realize just how dangerous it could be if he staid and the fact that he had all but agreed to staying as long as the vampire liked did not really make it much better. However when he thought about having to leave he wilted a bit, even this simple conversation between himself and Lacrimosa seemed to give him a very warm feeling. He was so relaxed and comfortable in this soft bed and this beautiful and kind creature was sitting beside him and divuldging his past, the idea of having to leave struck him in the heart.

 

He was brought from his thoughts when he felt a rather odd tip tracing his relaxed hand, glancing down he noticed the beautifully tipped finger nails that circled his skin. He glanced back up in confusion for an answer as to what he was doing but quickly lost his train of thought when he was once more caught in awe of the beauty before him. For the briefest of moments his hand almost turned to trace the others palm as well but before he could even deny his own request the touch was wrenched away, he frowned but composed himself so none of his confusion showed. He simply assumed the vampire was lonley and wanted some human contact.

 

"You take blood from prisoners? I guess that is a bit better than picking random people on the streets but, who are you to say they are less worthy of the risk than any other? What if they were put in jail falsely? Or maybe the crime they are in there for was over-sentanced? I single group of people should not be singled out as a blood bank, weither it is a danger to them or not."

 

He rambled on but the second he realized that he was all but disapproving the vampires methods he shook his head and added as an apology. "Of course, feeding on women and children is also bad so I guess that does not leave much of an option huh?" He let out a nervous laugh as he finished and climbed off of the mattress, stepping to the floor silently and padding across of it to the window. Resting his forehead against the cool glass of the window, blowing out a puff of air unto it and tracing the image of a rose on it.

 

"To be honest I did not even notice the roses, I think there color is really unique. So it is not a bad thing, there is something almost majestically, forbiddenly beautiful about them. And you are right, I owe my life to you both." He smiled softly and felt the fingers thred into his hair, the feeling making him almost purr if that was possible. It relaxed him and all doubt about staying here or leaving vanished. Ghost or not he did not want to leave this man alone, not any more. It was almost as though he was under a spell, his entire body slackening and relaxing against the window sill from the very brief moment that the fingers were touching and sifting his hair.

 

"I would love to go out at night, the moonlight would probably make everything almost glow right?" He snapped out of his calm stupper, an almost childlike glow about him now as excited as he was. "Oh, that would be lovely if we could do that." He gave the other a very warm smile.

 

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa thought for another moment. "Actually you are correct that it's possibly not the best method, in fact I argued that point when Kryrias first suggested it to me. However if my mother knows that I only go one place for blood then she cannot harbor me here and starve me. That is the only reason the prison has become the feeding place of my choice." he said simply. He remembered when he used to be able to time travel, or travel at all. Back when his mother had been alive, he'd had freedom, but upon her death...well he had killed her after all, all of his freedom was lost. He had killed her for a reason though.

 

"Would it surprise you to know that I killed my mother? When I found out some of the secrets she was harboring...I tried to stop her, I tried to change things. But when I did, I became locked here in her prison, unable to fix what I had tried to fix." he said.

 

His silver eyes locked onto Ashton's eyes, his eyes spoke the truth, they showed his pain, even if the rest of him could not.

 

"It's not the greatest place, in truth I am the black rose. The reason they turned black was to keep me here. My brother Riley once told me 'The reason they turned black is because that is your flower brother, that is your soul. And in order to trap you here they turned black.' I wonder though, the black rose means death, means destruction. Could it mean something...better?" he asked out loud.

 

He suddenly got a sad smile on his face. "I shouldn't be discussing this so outwardly." he said feeling foolish.

 

He of course looked at the drawn rose, he pictured it then, a white rose. Yes the image...it seemed to fit Ashton. "You are pure yourself, like a white rose." he said complimenting the other.

 

He looked at Ashton. "When spring comes, we will got out at night, and watch the moon blossoms bloom, we will see the moonlight, and sit in the gardens. However as right now is winter, if you were to wish to leave at night I'd have to give you one of the very nice coats we have before you head out." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

He moved and made the bed for Ashton. "I'm afraid we're nocturnal beings, vampires are. If you wish to leave during the day you may, I will not stop you. Nor will I stop you from going back to your family. Even if you never returned...I am glad I have met you." he spoke solemnly.

 

Kryrias came in then, wearing a long black coat, the coat was made of leather of course, cow skin perfectly put together. "I have returned master Lacrimosa from food shopping." he said. He looked to Ashton. "Is there anything you would like master Ashton in particular tonight?" he asked, after all he was a butler.

 

Lacrimosa almost laughed, since he knew Ashton wasn't used to having a butler. He walked to the doorway, his silver locks of hair flowing in the little trickles of moonlight that came into the room. Lacrimosa was many things, gorgeous, silvery, cold, he fit the epitome of winter itself. Even with red hair he had been the spitting image of a beautiful death. He glanced back to Ashton and motioned for him to come if he so wished, after all spending all his time in one room would grow to be boring.

 

Kryrias noticed the way Lacrimosa was and looked to Ashton, puzzled. "You are affecting him in a positive manner." he whispered to Ashton. After all, Kryrias had not seen any light hearted side of Lacrimosa in some time.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton nodded as he turned back to the window and shadded in his little rose by erasing the condensation that had once more gathered from the cold contrast on his hot breath. He looked up towards the star-less sky and the thought struck him of a tale he had once heard of a prince who was stranded in a lone castle, he was lost in a devil born maze inside of it for years and even when he finally escaped he was never the same. It suddenly reminded him of the vampire in front of himself, they both were once light and now had been beaten into the ground by isolation and that was a fate that no one deserved.

 

He brought his gaze back to watch the beautiful prince like creature as he tried to take in that he was learning about the poor soul in front of him who deserved so much more than the world had cast to him. He shook his head lightly and leaned his back against the wall "I would not be surprised to hear that, but I know there is more to it than you are telling me. I know you had to have our reason to do what you did and that is between you and your own conience." He concluded as he reached back and drew a bit of grass beneath the rose.

 

He reached back for the slightest of moments, intending to embrace the other and run his fingers through that beautiful silver hair and whisper to the dark being that all way fine now, he was here now and would not leave this man alone. However he new there was something, one last thing he had to get but could not worry Lacrimosa over it just yet. He would depart in the morning when the two were asleep and gather what he needed and be back before the others even noticed he had left.

 

He regarded the pros and cons of the black roses, to him they were beautiful and so rare in which made them hold even more value. He looked back to the vampire with a resolution in his eyes. "Black represents more than despire and death, it represents peace doesn't it? When a person lays down at night to rest they close there eyes and fall into that black realm of sleep. It brings s sense of peace and serinity to a persons soul. I think that is like you, you allow me to stay and and be at peace. I think that suits you more than anything related to death o despare." He finished with a nod of his head.

 

"I do not mind you discussing these things with me, that fact that you even trust me with them is very honoring!" LEtting out a laugh he shook his head "I am not pure, I think you have not been around humans in so long that you are giving me to much credit, i've done things that I know were wrong." With a small smile of his own he then nodded again as he shifted back to lean against the bed post, jumping slightly when the door to his room opened and he looked up at a very devilishly dressed butler.

 

Remembering his manors he straightened up and gave a slight bow of his head."Yes! Good evening Kryias!" He sputtered otu quickly trying to gather his barings still. Straightening up he considered dinner for a moment before shaking his head in a poliet way, declining the food. "No thanks, to be honest i'm still rather full from dinner last night!" Hurrying forward to catch up with Lacrimosa because to be honest the butler scared him a bit. Stopping only to look aat the butlers face in confusion. "Affecting him...?" He murmured before turning back to rush to the vampires side.

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa looked back at Ashton once he stopped, they were at the ball room. It was well kept up, large, and grand. Made of the finest marble. He raised a hand, magically he made black lightning come from his hand and light the candles of the room, the candles were lit in black flames of course that added some light to the place. He then lowered his hand and thought for a moment.

 

"Well you're pure in the facts you've not killed anyone, or else you would have been imprisoned or hanged by now, no?" he said with a smirk.

 

Lacrimosa of course moved gracefully across the ball room to the long abandoned musical instruments that lay there and he ran a hand along one of the violin's.

 

"I haven't told you all, no of course not. I had my reasons, I had many reasons for the things that I have done over the years. Especially concerning my mother, father, and step father." he said.

 

He looked to Ashton. "My eldest brother Riley, he is my only real friend from my family. He is currently traveling in India I believe. Setsuya my youngest brother, I'm not sure where he went to be honest. But if you ever see someone of maroon hair or the purest of white hair, those are my brothers. You will most likely meet them someday." said Lacrimosa.

 

He of course chuckled a little darkly at that moment, bitterness filling him when he remembered how much his mother had disdain for him yet loved them, she did everything to make them happy and shunned him completely. His entire life had been that way, practically alone in a place full of people. He turned then and raised a hand, the musical instruments began to play magically. He moved over and grabbed Ashton's hands as he began to dance with him. He could not help it, dancing was something he hadn't done in such a long time. The music was upbeat but his mother's ghost came through and suddenly changed it.

 

Beethoven's Lacrimosa was playing, the song that she had used to remind him so many times of his name, who he was, and why he was that. He didn't stop dancing though, no he simply kept dancing with Ashton. His silver locks of hair flowing around them, his graceful movements, that of a taught noble. If Ashton tripped or anything, he would simply help him keep up. Lacrimosa, his name, it meant something. It was a sad requiem, something that the violins expressed so perfectly. He suddenly stopped and looked down at Ashton with those intense eyes.

 

"I have always loved to dance, and I have not for so long, so thank you for indulging me in that." he said with a soft expression.

 

He of course let go of Ashton's hands and smiled softly at him. "So I must ask a question, you said you were not pure, how so? I am curious." he said.

 

Lacrimosa wanted to know more of the other, he wanted to know everything of his new guest. He of course stopped the music, his mother's ghost just loved messing with him, but with the warding spell around them, she could not reach them per say.

 

"Do not fret, the warding spell around us cast by Kryrias is active for many days." he said.

 

He of course stood next to Ashton in that large hall. "Ah right I should probably explain our magical abilities, shouldn't I?" he said with a small chuckle.

 

He looked at the ceiling, the large ceiling had a lovely painting on it, many vampires were there en battled with demons and angels both.

 

"You see we vampires are the demons of the earth. We are undead therefore supposedly unnatural. My family has been a long line of them, and long ago we fought with angels and demons both who were trying to destroy us or take us with them. Our magical powers have been in our blood ever since. And just so you know, Kryrias is older then I, he has some more experience with the werewolf wars and is frankly...a bit old fashioned if you know what I mean." he stated, in a way it was calling Kryrias racist towards werewolves, which he was a little.

 

Lacrimosa raised a hand and magically a rapier appeared, a black rose at the top of it ever living, the rapier itself was made of the finest metals, and had magical properties.

 

"My weapon in battling when I had to many times, was this. My beloved Rapier. You see fencing was always something I found myself entangled in, it was a way of channeling my pain from my family into something productive." he stated.

 

He looked back at Ashton. "Tell me, what is your story? What are your interests?" he asked, wanting to know more about the young man who had been brought into his life.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton's eyes went wide as they entered the beautiful room he looked all around him, this room seemed to be one that had been frozen in time. Jumping slightly when he felt the pulse as the room light up brilliantly, his gaze became lost in the magical flame. This boy who did not deserve anything so extrodinary had now fallen into a world so dark, and he knew he had already become raptured by it. This was a world he could not escape any longer, as long as he was here he would be a prisoner of no one but himself.

 

The once light boy was mute, his expression unreadable as he tried to get himself together long enough to converse with the vampire who was being so kind to him. A light laugh escaped his lips when he finally found the words to speak. "No, I assure you I have never so much as spilled the blood of another." Smiling softly he glided across the ball room floor after the vampire, not as graceful but he to had his own little natural lithe step from being born such a small, fraile child.

 

Taking the side of Lacrimosa and bending down to rest on one knee, he too reaching out to trace his fingers along the smooth, rich wood. So perfectly carved and detailed, something so beautiful and even this beauty let off a haunting aura. Something was very wrong about this place, he wanted to leave but was not going to leave Lacrimosa to face this on his own. If only he could flee with the man, he could bring live back to the vampires eyes. Jolting from his distracted ideals by the hand that pulled him up and around, a delighted childish laughter filled the air. Coming from the younger boys innocent lips as he and his partner cut through the air in the dance long forgotten by the young boy.

 

He stumbled a few times but remained on his feet because of the vampire and his quick speed, he heard the music shift and at first did not notice but he could feel the air about them change. It was as though the very room itself was wilting as they danced, water was stinging the back of his eyes, as they danced. He looked past the others face and saw the swirling colors behind him of the beautiful walls surrounding them, seemingly reflecting off the moonlight itself. It was beautiful but something about it seemed to be sucking the young boys cheery essance, as though it wanted to make him welt along with the house.

 

A sudden fear aroused in him as he met his eyes to the vampires, gazing into the beautiful orbs he understood now. Whatever had brought him here no longer mattered, he would escape and somehow bring this beautiful man with him. Ashton knew it was his fate to save Lacrimosa, he saw the others lips moving but did not respond immediatly. Even after the music had stopped he could still hear the intence dorwning in his ears as though they were singing just to him alone. He was scared, dragging hsi gaze up to see what the other was looking at above them. The painting seemed to almost be moving to Ashton, he no longer felt awake. As though he was merely in a dream watching an event occur, when he looked back to Lacrimosa he saw the weapon that had probably killed many.

 

His body acted on impulse, the haunting melody that had stopped long ago climaxed in his ears as he took a step away from the monster before him. He could see the paintings above him moving, almost laughing. He did not know if this was the way his mind was trying to warn him to run, to rule out over his heart and flee. He felt his chest constrict and with the last punding note of the song that only he could hear, he let out a scream and ran. Turning his back on the vampire and shooting out the door they had entered from, his pale feet pounding awaay down the corridor as tears stung his vision.

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa made the weapon disappear and he stopped, he did not chase Ashton, but Kryrias did, he grabbed Ashton's hand and looked at him with silver eyes. A serious look upon his face, he almost seemed upset, but he gave Ashton a coat.

 

"Maybe you better take this if he frightens you so." said Kryrias.

 

Kryrias turned away from Ashton. "He won't chase you, you know that, right? You knew what he was, thus you had to know he's killed before. You had to have known, and you still run. A monster is a monster, but a monster that does not harm you? What do you think, hm? Come no Ashton, regain your wits. Does he truly frighten you that much?" asked Kryrias.

 

Kryrias then thought about it. "That song...is him. That song, the pain, the anguish, the tears. That is him. The facts that you became frightened and ran makes me believe perhaps...perhaps you are not brave enough to help him." said Kryrias.

 

Lacrimosa stood in the middle of the ball room and took down the flames, his silver eyes downcast at the floor as he slipped out of the room. Kryrias handed Ashton the coat. "Just don't freeze." he said as he walked away.

 

Lacrimosa's eyes were still downcast and he walked to the door and opened it, allowing Ashton his option then, the option to leave. Lacrimosa wouldn't look at him, he was almost afraid of scaring the boy again. Ashton had to have only been the age of eighteen. Lacrimosa then forced a smile at Ashton.

 

"Thank you." he said.

 

He wanted Ashton to stay, he wanted him to help him, hell Lacrimosa wanted...and that's when the realization dawned completely on Lacrimosa.

 

He wanted to change Ashton, he wanted to make him his lover, which would involve biting him and changing him into a vampire. So maybe it was best that Ashton left now, now before...before Lacrimosa lost control of himself and did that. Before Lacrimosa infused him with this demonic curse of being a vampire. Lacrimosa's silver eyes were soft, his smile was broken, and he stood there allowing Ashton to walk out now.

 

Kryrias hoped that Ashton was brave enough, that he could do this, that his fear of them, the fear of the monsters they were wouldn't override his conscious.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton shook his head to rid himself of the frightened tears that had formed in his eyes, hendering his vision and since he already did not know this place he knew he would likely get lost in a place to large. Before he could get further in his escape attempt he felt himself halted in his tracks.

 

Trying to catch his breath he shook his head. "No, that is not it. He is so kind, how could he do those things?"

 

He murmured softly as he reached forward and took the coat in his hands and held it close to his chest. "I have gotten my wits under control now thank you." He spoke the truth, the walls and images around him had long since ceased there movements and the faint melody was merely an echo of a memory in his head by now. He shook his head and glanced out the window to gaze into the bleak yet beautiful landscape outside of him.

 

"That song is not him in the least, I learned how to play the piano as a kid to entertain people as a job. I will wright him a new song and make sure that is is burned into his very soul." He spoke, his voice no longer one of the innocent boy that had fallen pray to the cold recently but now a boy who was bound and set on something and nothing would stand in his way.

 

He silenced himself as the vampire walked into the room, there was a noticeable tension in the room now as the boy actually shrugged on the coat and wrapped it around himself. Letting out a large breath as he followed the vampire to the door.

 

He stood beside it as the cool air hit him in the face and glanced out at the sky, there would be plenty of time for him to do what he needed to. He tried to catch the vampires gaze with his own but found himself failed. He had never wanted to hurt the other but he knew what needed to be done to save him and he was going to do it no matter what got in his way.

 

"Trust me." He whispered.

 

The softest smile grazed his face as the wind howled outside, Ashton reached up and shook his hair loose a bit, bracing himself for the cold more than anything before he finally did what he had wanted to do since earlier.

 

Taking a step forward he wrapped his arms around Lacrimosa's chest, pulling him into a tight hug. He could feel the cool aura of the vampire seep into his skin, however it did not make him cold it simply made him secure. A feeling of safetly and peace befell the smaller boy and he could no longer see why on earth he had been so afraid of the broken man he held in his arms lightly. Slowly he released the other before once more repeating. "Trust me, Lacrimosa." And with that the boy turned to the door.

 

Letting out last breath and trying to suck in any warmth he could he shot straight out of the house at a dead run, a stray thorn from a vine scratching his cheek for he did not see it do to his haste.

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa heard the words and felt the hug. He watched him go, but his smile had turned real, he did have to trust the boy didn't he? Kryrias folded his arms and walked away. "Silly humans." he said. "Kryrias.." said Lacrimosa. Kryrias looked at Lacrimosa. "What?" he asked.

 

"We can learn from humans..." said Lacrimosa.

 

"What could we possibly learn?" asked Kryrias.

 

"A certain amount of morality." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias shook his head. "Lacrimosa, you already have it." he said.

 

"No I don't." said Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias looked at Lacrimosa who shook his head. "I am a killer, a monster Kryrias. I killed those who attacked me because they attacked me. I spared no one. Not even now. And I don't think I ever will spare those, despite taking a life, I feel no sorrow for it. As for mother, I feel as though she drove me to it, but I still felt no pain in killing her...I should have." spoke Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias remained silent as Lacrimosa spoke again. "He is innocent, he is sweet, and he is moral. He believes I'm not the song, but I...my mother names me for it. She named me for it because I was a mistake to her, I was sadness to her, I was anguish and pain to her." he said.

 

Kryrias sighed. "She was my childhood friend." he said.

 

Lacrimosa nodded. "So you knew why she did what she did." he said.

 

Lacrimosa walked away from the door enclosing it. He would wait to see if Ashton would return. A glimmer of red appeared in his hair, glimmer under the silver as blood red silver glimmered in the moonlight from the window. He watched him go, a hand on the window.

 

"You cannot cure a monster, but you can make them a little bit lighter." he said to himself, in a way he was speaking to Ashton.

 

If Ashton knew everything, what would he do? If he knew that Lacrimosa had killed so many because of their attacks on him, if he knew that Lacrimosa had killed his mother because she forced his hand. He still had killed, he was still stained with blood. Lacrimosa knew not if Ashton would ever be able to look at him any which way. Lacrimosa did not wish to be cured, he wished to be saved. A difference in that was that the only way he could be saved was to...was to find someone to share his misery, to help his pain. But he had caused pain so did he deserve for his pain to be cured? Or should he have wallowed in it on purpose, forever? Should he have simply accepted it? He did not know, and for that matter he wondered if it even mattered. His pain, his past, it was all so severe, surely there wasn't a way for him to be saved. Surely he should stay cold, no? And then those words rang through him ever so true.

 

Trust Me...

 

Could he? He didn't know, for the while, he simply waited to see, simply wondered what might occur. After all if Ashton came back with a stake ready for him, then he'd know the words rang false, but if he came back with the warmth in his soul that he had carried out of there, then the words would ring true.

[~Ashton~]

The dirst road was paved over with slick black ice, causing him to fall every few minutes. He simply shook his head to clear his mind and climbed back up, taking off even faster than before every single time. Because of the weather there were no cars on the road, so when he finally made it to his home in the small outer town it was nearly mid day. He was panting and soaked to the bone but did not care, running up his steps he flung the ever unlocked door open and immediatly say his family around the dinning table.

 

His home was nothing compared to the others, there were two bed rooms, and the kitchen and living area were together with a bathroom. He and his sister usually slept in the same small bed and his parents slept in there own room. Emily his sister was the first to rise, tears flowed down her cheeks as she ran forward and flung herself in her brothers arms. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly, murmuring apologize in her ear while hsi mother and father rose from the table. His mother was the first to speak.

 

"Oh....my baby...."She slapped him straight across the face, the sound seeming to echo in the small house. Emily gasped as Ashton raised a tentative hand to feel his cheek in surprise. His entire body hurt from the run here, he was bleeding from his right shoulder and from his left elbow to his wrist. He had bitten his lip as well, he was approaching his limits. Emily cried out. "Mother! Stop it please! He's hurt!" She pushed her daughter aside and allowed her husband to storm up to the small boy and press him to the wall, not threatening simply to keep him still. "Are you hurt boy? Where the hell have you been? Do you know how worried we were?" Ashton nodded and looked away.

 

"I'm sorry Sir, but I got lost and this man saved me! I need to get back to him to thank him, but I wanted to come home and invite you all to come with me and pick up something for him." His father seethed, grabbing the boy by his arm and flinging him into his room, slamming the door the locking it. Ashton cried out as he flung himself against the door trying to open it. "What are doing?! Are you insane! Let me out!" Emily tried to run to her brothers side but her mother held her back and spoke. "No, Emily you will not help him. I'm sorry, but we need the money..." Ashton had no idea what was going on, he could not hear the other side of the door.

 

"Mother...do you mean you sold my brother! To who?! For what!" She screamed, although she already knew he had likely been sold for his vital organs to the black market. She had heard her aunts son had gone missing a few years ago and suspected the same thing happened. He father put the key in his pocket and took his wives arm and leg her away from the sobbing girl, they quietly left the household without another word. It was quiet for the next few hours, emily has sat with her back to the door as had Ashton. A thought struck him, he felt around and gasped in glee when he found a peice of parchment. Reaching into the desk he took out ink and quil, he wrote down the instructions of how to get to LAcrimosa's house and below it he asked her to retrieve the item he had actually come home to get for the vampire. However he did not mention what Lacrimosa was, lastely he scribbled at the bottom of the note Hurry.

 

Sliding it underneath the door and knocking on his so she would feel the vibrations and look down to see it. Picking it up she immediatly understood, standing she ran and got the item she was requested and quickly took off towards the house he had indicated. It was way past dusk by the time she arrived, and unlike Ashton she was forced to approach the house with all the dangerous veins. She stopped a little ways off, not wanting to walk closer and tightened her grip on the package she held in her arms. Then she cried out for the name that had been on the note. "Lacrimosa!!!!"

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa heard the scream, how peculiar. He teleported to the young girl and looked at her with silver eyes. He then placed a hand on her shoulder.

 

"Go inside, I will bring him." he said simply to her, in fact his tone was calm and serene.

 

Lacrimosa smelled the parchment, he then looked to the sky and closed his eyes before the clouds came, lightning struck and he teleported once more. He found Ashton and his parents, he was in the black market, and he smelled the blood of Ashton. He hoped he wasn't too late, he walked quickly over to Ashton's father and his silver eyes glowed as he made both of the parents float in midair. He handed them money into their hands, and he gave the black market person money and grabbed Ashton before he was gone and they dropped to the ground. He walked back into the mansion and looked to Emily.

 

"I...own your brother now." he said simply.

 

Lacrimosa then proceeded to put Ashton next to the fireplace, he sighed.

 

"Ashton, due to the severity of your injury, I am begging of you to look away, this will hurt, but I promise it will help you." he said.

 

With that Lacrimosa raised a hand and blood bended Ashton's shoulder back together, in fact he blood bended every part of his body into healing every problem it could be having. It would hurt, but once done he hadn't harmed Ashton but had instead healed him. Kryrias looked to Emily.

 

"Will you be staying here now?" he asked her simply.

 

Lacrimosa looked to Ashton. "I gave them the money, in fact I gave them more, I also gave the black market their money and if they truly want organs then I'm afraid they will not be getting any." stated Lacrimosa.

 

Lacrimosa stood up and sighed, he lit the fireplace to warm the room and looked to Emily.

 

"Thank you." he said simply.

 

His own mother hadn't had time to stop him from that endeavor, but that's when he noticed Kryrias was sitting down and panting.

 

"Did you...stop mother?" asked Lacrimosa.

 

Kryrias nodded, and Lacrimosa nodded a thank you to him. Lacrimosa knelt down next to Ashton again and pulled him into a hug, he just held him in that hug, a way of saying he was so happy he was there.

 

"What happened exactly Ashton?" he asked Ashton simply, hoping for an answer.

 

After all the only reason Lacrimosa had been able to track Ashton was the smell of his blood which had stained the letter given to Lacrimosa. He had seen the damage Ashton had gone through, and to tell the truth he was thankful he had found him in time.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton did not cry not matter what, he knew the other would save him. He had faith in Lacrimosa and his sister that he would make it through this, he expected more from his mother but not from his father. Almost surprised this had not happened sooner, the moment he saw Lacrimosa he allowed a tear to fall. Burring his face in the others chest as he clung to the other, knowing that this man had saved him and now it was his turn to return the favor. He could hear emily scream as she saw her bloody brother, rushing forward to his side and kneeling beside him as the vampire did his magic healing.

 

Ashton's eyes went wide and he bit into his lower lip to silence himself from crying out in pain, it felt as though his blood itself was boiling. He clenched his fingers in the carpet that lay beneath him, however as soon as the pain had started it stopped and he felt immensely better just tired at this point. Emily on the other hand was freaking out she stood adn shook her head quickly "No! That is quiet alright, i'll be staying at a friends....oh! Your package!" She scurried off to find where she set the blasted thing.

 

Ashton mumbled lightly, then realizing that he did not speak loud enough was forced to repeat himself. "You didn't need to do that...but i'm honestly glad you did."Laughing softly he melted into the hug that he was recieving from the vampire, once again cold and protective. Shaking his head lightly he gather the story together before explaining it simply.

 

"Thanks to you nothing to bad, they wanted my kidney I think, I could not really tell to be honest. My parents set it up, I guess they did not have enough rent for this month..."He trailed off when Emily trotted back in with the dirty square box in her hands. Grinning wide she set it down in front of Lacrimosa and stepped back. Ashton reached forward as he spoke. "This is what I went to get you. " He intied the blanket that was covering it before taking the lid off the box to reveal what was inside. He pulled out a simple music box that held a single while rose on it's smooth surface. He clicked it open and as he did the music began to spill out. It was not joyious but it was not sad, the melody inside filling the room in a calm, manor. Ashton allowed it to play for a few minutes before speaking. "This was my music box when I was younger, I used to not be able to sleep without it. I think the sound of it suits you more than Lacrimosa." More notes began to pile onto the simpler ones, shopwing that there was more to Lacrimosa than met the eye at first as well.

 

 

A melody such as this.

 

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa listened to the music, he closed his eyes and immersed himself in it. As it played, his hair began to change more, and the silver washed itself away until his hair and eyelashes were entirely blood red. His eyes still silver of course as they were naturally silver. He looked at his locks of hair and smirked.

 

"I'll be damned." he said breathlessly.

 

His black nails moved over Ashton's hand a little, he smiled a little. Even so he could not stop himself from hugging the other closely.

 

"It has been so long since I wanted to show it." he said almost in a choked tone.

 

He of course let go of the hug, his blood red locks of hair slowly changed back to silver though as he smiled a little bitterly.

 

"It seems they won't stay for long, after all no matter what I am still cursed." he said.

 

He of course sat down fully. "That was my natural hair color, red of course. In truth no one else in my family had that hair color, we're not sure where it came from. But...I suppose it's ok if I tell you now. My mother used to beat me over it, she didn't just do that either, she would remind me relentlessly of how filthy my hair was to her. It was the mark of the man she'd slept with to have me. He had the red hair. Eventually I covered it to try and make her stop. It worked..." he said sadly.

 

Lacrimosa looked at the little music box, he then closed it and put it on a table next to them. He looked to Ashton seriously then but with a small smile.

 

"Welcome to your new home." he said.

 

Lacrimosa looked to Kryrias. "Go collect his things." he said.

 

Kryrias bowed and smirked. "It would be my pleasure young master." he said before he left.

 

Lacrimosa saw Kryrias go to get the rest of Ashton's things. Once Kryrias got there, he of course smelled everything for the scent of Ashton, he collected what he could, making sure he got everything, the parents he was sure were questioning why he was there, but he definitely was an intimidating man when he wanted to be, and unless they were stupid, they wouldn't attack him.

 

Lacrimosa looked to Emily. "Do you need a coat? It is rather cold out." he asked her.

 

He then looked to Ashton, of course the warding spell was still on them all, but he could still hear Lacrimosa playing in the background in the ball room. He chuckled at his mother.

 

"You know in a way, both songs fit me." he said.

 

He looked to Ashton. "I accept that both fit me." he petted Ashton's head a little.

 

And then the song stopped, and he smiled a little more, maybe she'd leave them alone a bit longer. That's when he heard a voice very familiar.

 

"Oh we have company?" said the very flamboyant tone.

 

He turned and saw Riley standing there, he was of course in a victorian dress, he could have passed as a perfect woman had it not been for his voice. He had white locks of hair and silverish blue eyes, he had a parasol with him of course, he was very feminine and beautiful, moreso then Lacrimosa even.

 

"Riley?" asked Lacrimosa standing up.

 

"Hello little brother." said Riley kindly.

 

"This is Ashton yes." said Lacrimosa.

 

Riley gave a curtsy, just as a woman would. He seemed sweeter and kinder then Lacrimosa even was.

 

"Well the pleasure is all mine." said Riley.

 

He was an odd one, completely in drag, he of course walked with Kryrias once Kryrias got back and gave Lacrimosa the things, after the introduction and Lacrimosa smirked a little shaking his head.

 

"He's the nicest person to me in my family. I hope he doesn't bother you too much, but it appears he might be here for a while." said Lacrimosa.

 

Lacrimosa gave the things to Ashton. "We gathered what we could of your things, I hope that they'll do." he said.

 

He then thought about it a little. "If you want we can even get you more things." he said with a small smirk, hoping to tease the poor boy a little, it was after all his true nature.

[~Ashton~]

Ashton smiled as he listened to the beautiful melody that surrounded them, he remembered the old lady that used to saunter through his small town. Everyone assumed she was crazy, and in all honesty she probably was but that did not squash the young boys interest. Ashton had always been to curous for his own good, he remembered following her once, in the middle of the night.

 

He had atken off after the wrinkly old women with graying hair, hoping to see if she was a witch and if she was he would get her to grant him is only wish in exchange for not revealing her secret. He had planned this all out long ago, he hid in the brush as he watched her stop by a fence. Looking around once before she slipped into it, the young ashton of course ran after her. Once threw the fence he realised where he had followed her to, a graveyard.

 

"Why would there be a graveyard here?" He murmured softly, making his way to find the old women.

 

He noticed her just over to the right, without even thinking he ran up to her and yelled. "Witch! I want a spell to grant a wish!" He cried out, the little ten year old shaking softly. The old lady looked down at him and smiled softly, he gasped once he saw her face. This was no longer the old lady he saw, but a beautiful young women with stright black hair and bright blue eyes. He fell back as he gazed up at the foreign beauty who spoke in the sofest of tones, one only a mother would.

 

"Alright, young one. What is your wish?"

 

Ashtons eyes snapped back to reality, the distant memory fadding quickly as he noticed the others beautiful red hair in front of him. His eyes went wide as he marveled in it's beauty, however as quickly as it had appeared it had disappeared. Frowning lightly as he listened to Lacrimosa's story before interjecting.

 

"Your hair is beautiful, Lacrimosa. Your mother was wrong" He reached up and traced a fingers along a stray strand lightly, pulling it back when the music box was closed. He looked to emily who shook her head quickly before exiting the room silently, she would not be dealing with the strangeness any longer! She fled from the large manor, she had no intentions of returning. If her brother insisted on dealing with monsters then so be it but she would not be a part of it.

 

Ashton watched her run and sighed softly, he would not be chasing her this time. "I love both songs, i'll gladly stay here as long as you'll have me." Smiling he laughed before glancing up at the company. His eyes went wide as he saw the new person, at first he assumed it was a girl but once he spoke Ashton realized it was a man. He was beautiful however the amount of it scared Ashton, without even thinking he was up and behind Lacrimosa. Peering out from behind him in an almost child-like manor before collecting himself and giving a slight bow.

 

Smiling softly "It is nice to meet you as well." Relaxing noticably when he judged the other as not being a threat. Taking his things from the butler and nodding at the small stash he had kept. "Thank you Kryias for gathering my things, though you really did not need to. There is no sentimental value at all in most of this stuff anyway." Laughing lightly before be heard the others offer.

 

Eyes wide he shook his head quickly "No no! That s perfectly all right! You already letting me stay here is more than enough!" He stumbled out quickly as he gave an emberresed smile to the other.

[aerithbunny]

Lacrimosa smirked at Ashton. "You're cute when you blush." he said, since he had purposely embarrassed him for that very reason. Kryrias shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll put your things away." he said. Riley had gone to the gardens and was walking around them of course. Lacrimosa looked out the window.

 

"Riley's always been odd but he's really nice. Nicer then I am." said Lacrimosa with folded arms.

 

He of course sat down in a large chair and pointed to one next to it for Ashton to put his feet up. "You liked my hair? I'm glad." he said with a smirk.

 

Somehow Lacrimosa could sense something else was on Ashton's mind, though what it was he did not know. He thought for a moment.

 

"You know, I know she wasn't right. That was only one of the reasons I did kill her. But if you're going to live here, then it's time you do know everything about this curse." said Lacrimosa.

 

He took a moment to gather his thoughts and wits about him. "My mother was a soul collector, as in she stole souls from dead bodies before the reapers could get to send them to heaven or hell. In truth I never helped her, Riley fought with her constantly about it. But the problem is that Riley is against violence of any kind. He's one of the few vampires who have never killed anyone. So Riley couldn't take her down. I killed her when I was trying to get to her soul collection to set them free. But my mother...her spirit was too corrupted and she became the ghost. The souls she has collected are still in her closet in her room, but I can't get to them without possibly being possessed by her. And Riley refuses to go near her room." said Lacrimosa in explanation.

 

Lacrimosa pointed to his mother's room, it was the largest room in the mansion. "You must never go there, for fear that she may possess you." he explained.

 

Lacrimosa closed his eyes for a moment. "I am sorry it is this way, but I thought you should know why I did it. However any other killing I did was to protect myself, that is also something you need to know. I'm sure I could have spared them, but my life well afterlife was in danger and as much as I may be cursed and miserable, it is better to be like this in my opinion then...gone. After all if I was gone I could never have met you." he said honestly looking at Ashton.

 

Lacrimosa took out a vile then with some blood, he drank it down, the reason being he was starved and it was starting to show that he had needed something in his system to keep him going.

 

"I apologize if that was a bit much for you to see but I was feeling rather tired for a moment there." said Lacrimosa.

 

Lacrimosa put the vile away in his coat pocket and then looked at the blue fires in the fireplace, when some music began to play, it was "Nothing I've Ever Known" a romantic song. He knew Kryrias was behind it and he smirked a little it was a sweet song that was true.

 

Lacrimosa looked to Ashton. "Is there anything on your mind?" he asked the other curiously.