Night of the Hunter ( Keru-chan & Gatichan)

[Keru-chan]

His heart pounded aggressively in his chest. And it hurt so badly. It felt like it was going to burst. The earlier strength that had dominated his muscles had faded away and he could barely stand where he stood. Eye against eye with the hungry Vampires that observed him under an amused gaze. Obviously, it was now he became aware of the condition that his body was in. It was so ironic. That after all this time it was now he became weak. The young Hunter let out a exhausted chuckle and straightened his back. And the grip around the beautiful knife tightened. He woke up every nerve in his wounded body and once again prepared himself.

"Look at that Robert. This poor boy thinks he has a chance of surviving" The woman who's name apparently was Angelica laughed scornfully at him and turned to her companion who wore a wide grin on his lips.

Cynric of course, didn't let himself be affected by their words. Not anymore. Because everything they said was just worthless trash that wasn't even useful. He wouldn't let simple words hurt him anymore. And even though he was very well aware of the reason why they thought they could already see the outcome of this he wasn't ready to give himself in. Not yet. Not now. Sometime in the future he would probably have to give up. But that would only be after he had fulfilled his revenge. With a deep, sharp breath he focused his eyes on the Vampire male that made the first attempt to come close. His feet almost floated above the ground but even so he managed to distance himself by swinging the knife dangerously close the Vampire's eye. With a quiet hostile sound the Vampire stopped on the spot and his eyes narrowed while looking at the human. At him. Obviously, they had never thought that he would be able to defend himself while looking like this. His cheeks were dirty and his coat was covered in long holes. A thin blood line that leapt from the corner of his mouth down to his chin and scratches over the arms, legs and neck. And surely two broken ribs. He had been better, that was true. But would that stop him? No. He didn't fight for his life though, he fought for the desire after justice. Because he was just another necessary sacrifice to heal this broken world.

"Didn't expect that did you?".

The black haired man smiled at the Vampire and then once again swinged his knife and turned around when having noticed that the woman didn't stand on her earlier position. And he barely avoided the needle-sharp nails that searched for contact. The Vampires became more and more desperate and he just kept dodging their attacks. Until he reached a wall that he hadn't expected to meet. And before he had a chance to move away his neck was nailed against the wall by a hand and he was lift up from the ground. The human gasped after air in the grip of the Vampire and when he tried to raise his knife he got a hard hit from a fist in the stomach. Leaving him breathless for a couple of seconds and then broke out in a painful scream that he soon surpressed by clenching his teeth against each other.

"Not smiling anymore are we?" Said the man and chuckled only to be spitted in the eye.

Cynric laughed at the man who wiped of his spit and then met his wrath filled eyes with a cold smile.

"What did you say?".

The man's grip around his neck got tighter, and it was becoming more and more hard to breath. Then suddenly everything happened so quick. And the Vampire didn't realise what had happened until a few seconds after. Cynric was released and he fell down to the ground on his knees, gasping for air. And then he looked up at the knife that belonged to him that was nailed into the man's chest.

"ROBERT!" The female Vampire exclaimed and ran over to her companion to embrace his wounded body.

The Hunter stood up, letting his hands slip down in the pockets on his coat to then observe the scene in front of him. He got a hateful glare from the Vampire woman that soon thereafter disappeared with the man in her arms. And he was finally left alone. Not until then he fell down on the ground, head over heals and with a light thud he hit the ground. For a long while he laid there with his face against the cold asphalt. And then slowly he rolled over on his back to place on of his hands on his chest. Looking up at the sky that began to become cloudy. And not soon after that the first raindrop fell from the sky, down on his cheek. He exhaled and closed his eyes to receive next raindrop that fell on his eyelid and it didn't take long before it was raining for real. But he didn't move. He just laid there, with closed eyes and let himself drown in the water.

[Gatichan]

Rafael remained with twitching legs and fingers near his window, watching the vicious fight below and hoping for the vampire hunter to stumble and fall, giving him the opportunity to rush in and save him. Save him and thus ruin and shove the powerful hand that Mycroft had hung above him. And for a long while, it seemed as if Rafael wouldn’t have to wait much. Although the hunter fought well, it wasn’t enough. All too soon he was pushed up against a wall and there, finally, when the male vampire clutched at the hunter’s throat, Rafael sprang out onto his balcony, prepared.

 

But once again, the hunter proved that he didn’t need any outside help. As Rafael’s eyes changed from lilac to crimson, about to send out his psychic powers to dispel the vampire, against all logic, the vampire hunter succeeded in ramming his special knife into the other man’s chest. It was obvious from everyone’s faces from below that none of them had been expecting this and Rafael froze, becoming an immobile statue on his balcony as he watched the female vampire scream out, take a hold of her companion, and then disappear, leaving the wounded hunter behind.

 

Rafael remained perched where he was, gazing down at the scenery below. It had begun to rain and as the vampire hunter crumpled below, too tired to so much as protect his face from the falling rain, the thought passed through Rafael’s mind that exactly that would have been the moment to have killed the human. Losing blood as he was, it would have been easier than stealing candy from a child. All he would have to do was to swoop down, sneak up to the hunter’s neck and bury his fangs into the exposed white neck, take a long drink that would further weaken the hunter, kick the man’s knife out the way and then he would no longer have to worry himself with the bothersome young man. He wouldn’t find out how the hunter had found out of Rafael’s existence in the first place, but then again, Rafael had other ways o discovering that. So why, if this was the best chance to do away with the bothersome human, was Rafael holding back and why was the greater part of him so adverse to wanting to destroy the hunter, but instead sweep down and offer some help?

 

Struck by indecision, Rafael’s hands clung to the railing of his balcony. He knew very well that all he needed to do was to renter his apartment and leave the hunter to die. It was clear that as soon as Mycroft heard of what had occurred, he would either come personally to kill the hunter, or he would send more thugs to. And this time around, the vampire hunter wouldn’t be as capable. But again, this didn’t appeal to Rafael at all, and so, even though he couldn’t understand his motives, he found himself vanishing and appearing beside the fallen vampire hunter below. Expecting resistance, he hid his fangs, yet kept his hands raised in a peaceful gesture.

 

“Let me help you. I didn’t send Dominic to attack you. I was annoyed that you had found me, but I hadn’t intended for him to harm you in this way, nor for Mycroft to take it personally although, if you allow my saying so, you really are shortsighted,” he frowned and then, before the vampire hunter could say anything, Rafael slipped his arms beneath the wounded man and standing up, leapt back onto the railing of his apartment in one fluid, elegant move. “It’s important that I take you out of the night, where your scent is strongest. As it is, it’ll take up a lot of my power to divert your smell to the opposite side of London so that they waste their time searching for you there,” he explained, not without some irritation- why the hell was he even doing this for someone who had caused all this trouble?

 

Laying the vampire hunter down on top of the colossal bed above his coffin, Rafael brushed away some curls from the younger man’s face with unexpected tenderness. “Wait a moment- I’ll be back in an instance,” he reassured and then flew out his chamber, aiming for the streets. The scent of the vampire hunter was everywhere, assaulting his nostrils and there was even a trace of him that led straight into Rafael’s apartment. That would never do: once the other vampires arrived, they would know what Rafael had done. Moving until he was at the very center of the scent cloud, which happened to be the spot where the vampire hunter had fallen down at last, Rafael closed his eyes, his forehead furrowing in concentration. In less than an hour the sun would rise and Rafael knew that a considerable amount of his energy would be lost trying to disperse the hunter’s scent.

 

Squeezing his eyes closed tighter, Rafael reached out his mind. Inside his head the dull, dark London surroundings – the buildings, empty dog carts, the cobbled street, the debris on the floor – that all appeared before his mind’s eye as a gray backdrop while the smells, the hunter’s red like that of an enemy, as well as those of the other vampires, blue, became visible. Taking in a deep breath, Rafael reached out and with his psychic powers, he began to gather and concentrate the hunter’s scent. Of course he could completely let it disappear- no trace at all would have sold the truth to the vampire who would arrive shortly – so Rafael was careful to leave only slivers of red floating around disjointedly over the battle scene, yet was careful to delete all traces of the hunter’s having taken unwilling refuge inside his abode. Once the red scent had been collected and floated around directly in front of Rafael, the vampire blew out all the air he had taken in and forced the hunter’s trace to take off in a staggering, zigzagging direction across London, far away from where his apartment was. Of course there was no time to place droplets of blood along the way, but Rafael hoped that, considering the shortening time ‘til sunrise, the thugs Mycroft sent along wouldn’t discover this inconsistency. Opening his eyes and swaying slightly from the strain, Rafael leapt back onto his balcony and faced the opened door to his chamber.

He was risking a lot, perhaps too much, by saving this vampire hunter from certain doom. Would this turn out to have been a huge mistake?

[Keru-chan]

His whole body was trembling of pain. But slowly it faded away for each raindrop that landed on him. It stunned his body with it's coldness. And surprisingly enough he enjoyed the feeling of lacking any sense in the wounded body of his. The young Hunter drew a quivering breath and let his eyelids for a couple of seconds, cover his eyes as he identified the smell that the rain carried with it. It was a vague smell of lilies. How ironic. Because lilies just happened to be his mother's favourite flower. He let out a light, quiet chuckle and then opened his eyes and let his gaze trail off to the gloomy grey sky that stretched out above him. And then a familiar memory appeared inside his mind.

 

A ocean of colours. Fluttering petals in the wind and then the elegant flowers that rose from the greenish ground. Beautiful and just like he remembered it. He couldn't help but feel drawn towards the field of liliacs but just in the same moment his fingertips were about to touch one of the flowers everything shattered and he was threwn back to reality. His eyelids shot up and suddenly it was not the liliacs that his sky blue eyes observed. No, it was a creature. A man in the middle of a rain. The young Hunter drew a deep breath and at first simply let his gaze rest in those lilac coloured eyes. No, ill intentions were hidden behind them. But that didn't change the fact that the one that stood by his side was a Vampire. He couldn't read the other one's thoughts. He couldn't distinguish anything from the cold face of his. He was currently not capable of anything in this state. But that didn't explain this slightly feeling of relief that bloomed up inside of him after having realised who it was. It was strange, and unexpected. And even though it was very well a possibility that the other one was here to finish him off he couldn't believe that was the reason for everything. The hunter exhaled and then turned his gaze away. Only listened to the words that left the Vampire's lips. Help him? Somewhere inside of him he had expected those words, and at the same time he felt shocked. He were probably just emotionally confused. And that would be considered normal after everything he had gotten through on just a mere fifteen minutes. It was like every single emotion that he earlier had surpressed and locked away had begun to pour out. Bit for bit. And he was scared that it would be too much for him to handle. And even more he didn't want to expose any kind of weak side for the Vampire. It could be deadly. But even so the desire to let everything out was surprisingly enough, overwhelming. The human clenched his fists and gritted his teeth together. Then suddenly, a couple of strong arms gently embraced his wounded body and lifted it from the cold ground. A painful gasp slipped past his lips and the world seemed to spin before his eyes. It went so fast that he had unconsciously grabbed a little bit of the Vampire's cloth. Then suddenly, he felt how his body was lowered on something soft. Slowly he let go of the other and stared with his hazy eyes at the Vampire. Felt how his fingers lightly removed some of the wet curls from his face. Very carefully and softly. He could feel how the fingertips slightly brushed against his skin. And just at that moment a feeling of security emerged out of the confused mass of feelings. How long was it since he had felt like this? How long had it been since someone had so tenderly touched him like this? Not on a very long time he had felt secure. The last time was the day before everything went downhill in his life. And that was a very long time ago. Then the man in front of him disappeard. Left him here alone with a 'wait a moment'. And the Vampire Hunter asked himself, why in the whole world did this person help him? It didn't make any sense.

"This is ridiculous" He said with a light chuckle and covered his face with his arm.

A Vampire Hunter had been rescued by a Vampire. But of what reason had the other one decided to do this? The arm slipped down on the bed once again and he drew a deep sigh while trying to fight against the tireness that made his eyelids so extremely heavy. Then he couldn't fight against it anymore, and he let them be heaved down as he slowly loosened on the grip of his consciousness.

[Gatichan]

When Rafael returned and stepped into his chamber, he saw that the vampire hunter had fallen asleep. Even though this was understandable due to what had happened to him before, Rafael couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He would have liked to have spoken to the human, but as it was, it was time for him to return to his coffin. Turning around to lock his door carefully, Rafael locked himself into his sleeping chamber with the vampire hunter. Recalling the knife that the hunter had, he hastily took it and opening his chamber again, tossed the knife out. Returning to quickly scan the hunter, he found nothing else that could be used against him. Moving to the changing room that contained all his clothes, Rafael picked out some garments that would do for sleeping and returned to his sleeping chamber again, locking the door for the last time then before turning back to the bed.

 

He needed to undress the vampire hunter and tend to his wounds. The blood had dried up, which helped a little, but all the same Rafael couldn’t help his eyes from flashing red as a natural reaction to the smell of blood. Shrugging out his jacket and folding back the sleeves of his white shirt, Rafael leaned over the hunter and began to quickly, yet carefully undress him. Removing the bloodied clothes, Rafael tossed them onto the floor and staring at them for a moment, watched them go up in flames, burning any traces of blood and the smell of the vampires who had attacked before. Laying the extra clothes down on the bed once the hunter was naked, Rafael stepped back and glancing down, took in the body before him.

 

He couldn’t deny it- he found the hunter’s body with its refined muscles and youthfulness attractive. His lilac eyes lingered longest on the hunter’s lower body and Rafael sighed inwardly. Yes, it really had been a long time since he had last had some fleshy pleasure. Reaching out, Rafael let the back of his hand trail lightly over the vampire hunter’s leg, up past his knee, over his calf, along the side of his hip, up between his chest and then, after a short pause, he tenderly brushed aside the soft dark hair. Realizing that he was being so tender towards an enemy, Rafael retrieved his hand suddenly, almost as if he’d been burned. What the hell did he think he was doing?

 

Feeling the sun’s presence all the more, Rafael sat down beside the hunter. Lifting a finger to his lips, Rafael bit into his thumb until a droplet of blood escaped. Holding his hand over the vampire hunter’s wounds, Rafael let blood drip onto the vampire hunter’s body, thus sealing the wounds off. It was too late for him to transfer energy to the hunter, but at least when the man next awoke, he wouldn’t feel any pain. Rafael could feel his own eyes becoming drowsy and with sluggish movements, the vampire succeeded in slipping the simple garment over the hunter’s body, decently covering him. Lifting the bed sheet, Rafael moved the body so that he could carefully cover the hunter up. Fluffing the pillow up beneath the sleeping human’s head, Rafael’s eyes drooped and, before he realized what was going on, the sun rose. Falling asleep instantly, Rafael half fell over the hunter, draping his right arm across the hunter’s chest.

[Keru-chan]

This familiar warmth. It was just like it had been under those warm summer nights out in the countryside of England. The air was thick and sultry. And under the bed sheets his body was being tortured by the sweat. Slowly the young man heaved up his eyelids to reveal a pair of sky blue eyes. And for a long time he just layed there in the bed and let his gaze commute between two spots in the ceiling. It almost seemed as he was waiting for something. Then suddenly a clear sound of something that was ringing broke the heavy silence. And he cut off the drew breath he was about to take. With significant tireness showing in his movements he sat up in the bed and let the feet slightly take contact with the cold floor. And then he stood up, making his way to the stairs.

 

Cynric knew very well what was waiting for him. But even so he didn't make any attempt to avoid it. Though, for every step he took his heart began to struggle in his chest. Ordered him to turn around and return to the bed, the window and the dreams. But he couldn't help but be led down the stairs and then through the kitchen out to the living room where he finally stopped. A few metres away from the dark oak table with the black phone. His heartbeats echoed in his brain and all the emotions flowed through his veins. Like poison. Then he began to close in on it to reach out his hand and let it embrace the phone.

"Hello is this Cynric Ainsworth?" A kind and manly voice immediately said.

He didn't answer, but instead he let the other one continue. There was no meaning in answering the question. Because they knew very well who he was. And who they had called.

"Your father and mother died..".

The phone fell from his hand, down in the direction of the floor to then hang just a few centimetres from it. It dangled, back and forth on the black band and then a quivering breath was heard. His hand, remained in the air as he hadn't released the phone. And his head drooped, making the black hair cover his eyes but nothing could hide the lonely tear that made it's way down his pale cheek. And then he fell. But the floor that he had expected to hit wasn't there and he kept falling. And he fell into a hole of despair and darkness.

 

A deep breath. He prepared himself for the pain but it never came. Where had it gone? Exhaled. The young hunter slightly opened his eyes, letting his gaze remain in the ceiling for a few moments before he swept it around the room. Where were he? Something heavy was resting on his body. And the lack of clothes made his heart pound harder in his chest. Then, slowly he began to let his gaze sink down after having gathered enough courage. A creature. A pale, beautiful creature was resting on him. One of his arms were placed on his own chest that was calmly heaved up and down. A sign that he was alive. The creature on the other side, didn't seem to breath. At first he simply stared at the other one. Tried to recall anything that would be usable for identifying this person. Then it all just flowed over him, like a overwhelming wave. Memories that told him about the fight, the Vampires and how near he had been to die. And then, this familiar human looking person that actually wasn't a human at all.

 

The Hunter winced, making his way back to the wall behind him and because of the lack of clothes he covered his body with the simple garment that was one of the few things that hid his naked body. With his cheeks, fiery red of embarrassment Cynric quickly made his way out of the bed to sweep the dressing gown around him and finished it all by tying the soft band that hanged from it's back around his body. He breathed in short, shocked breaths and he stood there for a couple of seconds. Waited for some kind of reaction and then realized that the Vampire, was asleep. Which obviously meant that it was morning. But even so he stayed on the same distance while he slowly began to move around in the room. With the doors on the right as his goal he quietly walked towards it and pressed down the handle. Nothing happened. Was it locked? He tried once again, and one more time before turning around to let his gaze rest on the bed. If it was locked, then the Vampire surely had the keys. Swallowing the lump of nervousness in his throat he then began to close in on the sleeping man to then crouch down beside him and let his hand slip down in one of his pockets. Nothing. The other one was also empty. With a deep sigh he sat down beside the Vampire, staring at his peaceful face expression. First coldly, and then the glance he gave the other one slightly softened and he reached out for the man letting his fingertips wander over the almost glowing white skin.

 

Had the Vampire healed him? In that case, how had he done it? And most importantly, why? They were enemies. He was supposed to kill him. And the Vampire was supposed to hate him. How in the hell had it turned out like this? Locked in with a Vampire. All alone.

"I don't understand" He softly whispered as he removed some of the violet bangs from the Vampire's face.

And then, like he had touched a venom snake he quickly distanced himself from the other one. What the heck was he doing? Touching a Vampire so gently. God, was there something wrong with him? Clenching his fists he once again returned to the door and tried to open it, only to return to the bed with the same result. If the door was locked. And the Vampire didn't have a key then it meant he would be forced to stay here until dawn? Well, at least he had clothes he thought as he examined the shirt and the pants that didn't belong to him. He turned around, leaving the Vampire with his back and slowly he let the morning robe fall to the floor as he exposed his naked body to then take on the underwear, shirt and pants. It seemed like he didn't have much of choice than to wait.

[Gatichan]

Rafael had to have been truly exhausted to not have realized how close the sun was to rising. It had also never happened to him, not even when he had only just begun his life as a vampire, that he had missed the time to return to his coffin. Thankfully, however, he had taken certain precautions and had had his special sleeping chamber built. It was all dark and no sunlight penetrated into the room. It was powerfully bolted so that only he could enter of leave the room, thus guarding himself against unwanted guests and it was soundproof. No sound whatsoever could enter there into his sleep and disturb him.

 

After the rather exciting night, Rafael slept like a stone. He didn’t register that anyone was sleeping or moving about inside his chamber with him because, for the first night in decades, he actually dreamed and saw the sun again.

He was taken back to his beloved Venice, to the city that was constantly threatening to sink into the canals that had been built in and around it. Rafael was human again and he laughed as he turned around, a little boy once again, spreading his arms out as he danced over the quaint, picturesque bridges. All around him, well-dressed people went about their business, someone women holding small, neat umbrellas above their heads to protect them from the sunshine, but Rafael stopped and turning his face upwards, laughed into the sky. Warmth, the rays of the sun- how he had longed to feel them again.

 

In this dream, he didn’t have any purpose or sense. All he did was walk around his home city, peering in at the stores that were open, deeply breathing in the smell of freshly baked breath, wandering around the fish market in search of the freshest deal, sopping to sit near a group of old men who spoke of when they had been young and strong, paused to buy a pretty bouquet of flowers that Rafael was planning to give away to the first woman that crossed his path and stole his heart. But that never happened, since the dream came to a natural end as, like in real life, the sun began to set and the moon came out to play. And like it had become common to him, with the moon came the sadness and sorrow and with a start, Rafael awoke.

 

While he had slept, his hair, which he had cut short, had grown again. It tumbled over his broad shoulders gently and as Rafael sat up and stretched, enjoying the mindless state of slight confusion before waking and realizing that he wasn’t alone, but in possible danger, Rafael smiled as he ran a hand through his hair. In his mind, he was waking up to a new day in Venice and soon he’d hear his mother calling him down to breakfast with the rest of his family. But a sudden movement on his left had Rafael freezing up and when his lilac eyes zoned in on the being that had caused the movement, they hardened.

 

The vampire hunter, trapped against the wall and wearing his clothes. There could be no doubt as to how his enemy had got into the sleeping chamber, since the room was filled with the scent of the human’s delicious blood. It was impossible for such a weakling – for even though he was decidedly stronger than a normal human, he was still meek when it came to opening the chamber doors – to have sneaked in by himself and quickly, the tiresome events of the previous day returned to him in a flurry of images. Yes, Rafael had taken the vampire hunter in while the other had been in perilous danger, had nursed him back into good health with his own blood and, in the process of changing the man, had fallen into his slumber.

 

For a long moment, Rafael and the hunter only stared at each other, neither of them moving. It was obvious that either was waiting for the other to say or do something to put an end to the status quo. Rafael himself wouldn’t have minded remaining that way for a while longer, since it gave him the opportunity to admire the vampire hunter dressed in his clothes. And since the room smelled so intensely of him, he became all the more fascinating and handsome to Rafael…until he reminded himself to snap out of it because he was staring at an enemy.

 

Arching a well-groomed eyebrow, Rafael nodded ever so slightly. “Good evening. I take it that you must be hungry,” he presumed, his voice calm, cool, collected, but for how long? “I suggest I open this door and you’re welcome to help yourself to my fridge. It ought to be filled with food that I reassure you will delight your palate. In the meantime, I would like the privacy of getting dressed, do you agree?” Not waiting for a signal, Rafael slowly eased off his bed and crossing to the chamber doors, unlocked them and throwing them open, stepped into his apartment.

[Keru-chan]

The day he had to go through was a rather long and monotonous. Spending hours in the darkness with the few candles that actually were fired as his only company, the Hunter utilized the time by exploring the room. Though it didn't take especially long time before his stomach uttered a growling sound that easily revealed that he was hungry. But he simply surpressed this feeling of hunger because for the moment he couldn't extinguish it. It would remain in his body to gnaw on his muscles and draw energy from his mind. Energy that would return by the end of the day. Because it was then the Vampire would wake up from the sleeping state he currently were in. And obviously, he would have the Vampire to thereafter open the doors.

 

Hours of patiently waiting passed and then suddenly, his sky blue eyes perceived somewhat that seemed as a sign that the man's consciousness slowly returned. Slightly frowning, the young man took a few steps backwards to secure the distance between himself and the Vampire would remain compact and then with a rather calm glance in his eyes, observed how unconcernedly the other one welcomed the return of the night. The lack of any kind of weapons made him more careful than ever. Because even though this creature in front of him had saved his life by taking him out of the grip of death, he was still to be considered a enemy. With a deep breath, he brushed off all of the emotions on his face to leave the Vampire with a blank expression that wouldn't give away anything. And then, he waited for the other one to break the heavy silence that rested in the room like a thick layer of mist. But all he got was a gaze that continuously stared at him. A gaze which in turn brought a shiver that he couldn't identify as positive or negative, down his spine.

 

The Vampire had certainly changed in some ways concerning the appearance. His otherwise short violet coloured hair had grown under the day and now flooded over the man's well shaped face down his back and Cynric couldn't deny the fact that the creature was attractive. But at the same time extremely dangerous which was one of the reasons to him being so far away from the other one. Crossing his arms over his chest, the hunter straightened his back as the Vampire spoke. Leaving a somewhat unsure glance in the hunter's sky blue eyes. It was correct that he had a desire after food but staying here could be a deadly risk. But, when it all came around he couldn't leave without his weapons. Which he had no idea where they were and therefore, still slightly suspicious he decided to accept the offer. Opening the doors with ease the Vampire stood there, bathed in his own elegance and it was almost like he expected some kind of surprised reaction from him. Oh no, he wouldn't give him that pleasure. That was like running straight into a bear's lair with the knowledge that you would get eaten. The best way to survive, was to not be affected.

"I don't remember getting any privacy on yesterday's night when you undressed me" He coldly said while sweeping by the Vampire and made his way further into the apartment.

 

And after a short moment of navigation he found himself in the kitchen standing in front of the surely expensive kitchen counters. Suddenly remembering all of those moments when he had helped his mother with cooking and baking. Old, happy memories of the past. The human sighed, letting out a soft smile as he let his hand wander over the shiny surface. Well, those days were gone and that was his mother too.

[Gatichan]

The young hunter’s arrogance annoyed Rafael, but then again, he hadn’t been expecting much. Already the sentiments that had pushed him to spare the vampire hunter’s life were dwindling and Rafael was being swallowed up by irritation, which wasn’t a very good emotion at all. Snorting as the hunter passed him, Rafael rolled his eyes. “I can assure you that there was nothing sexual about my having changed your clothes. You’re not my type. But some gratitude would be too much to ask of you, wouldn’t it? I could have left you out on the streets to die a senseless, painful death like the homeless on the streets, but then again, maybe you really would have deserved that,” he retorted, striding grandly off towards his changing room.

 

But then, Rafael’s fastidiousness got the better of him and snatching up some new clothes and shoes, Rafael stomped back in the direction of the kitchen. Walking around the hunter, Rafael dumped his clothes in a bundle on the kitchen counter. “So! You said you didn’t get your privacy? Well, then don’t complain now,” he snapped childishly and began to undress himself in front of the probably startled vampire hunter. Off went his shirt, off went his belt, off flew his shoes, his socks, his trousers and then his underwear until, all at once, Rafael stood before the vampire hunter in all his glorious nakedness.

 

The nice thing about being a vampire was that Rafael could control his body perfectly. Of course, when he had been human, he’d had morning erections, but not so as a vampire. And even though he felt a stirring in the nether regions, he wasn’t going to let the mere human know that stripping in front of him had secretly turned Rafael on. So sending a command down to his groin, Rafael’s sex remained unaroused, yet still impressive against his thigh. And, so that the vampire hunter couldn’t say that Rafael had had much more time to stare at his body than Rafael was giving him time, Rafael closed his eyes as he still faced the hunter and reaching back, trimmed his hair back into the short, typical male hairstyle of that epoch.

 

Slowly, with exaggerated care, Rafael began to shift through his clothes until he’d found his shirt. Slipping it on and leaving his sex still swinging between his slightly parted legs, Rafael then calmly buttoned up his shirt, tied his tie and slipped on his vest. Placing his blazer on his shoulders, only then did he decently cover himself up with underwear, black trousers and then shoes. “So,” he said rather nastily as he stalked out the kitchen, “you didn’t have to look if you didn’t want to, but now we’re even again.” Doubling back, he poked his head around the kitchen door and frowned severely at the vampire hunter. “And stay here until I get back and have check the situation outside. If you were to leave now, you’d probably be dead before you’d even taken three steps outside. Be a good human, eat something and wait for me.” And with that, he was gone.

[Keru-chan]

The knowledge that he would never be able to feel her gentle touch. Hear her soft voice or be able to see her in person was something that truly pained his heart and soul. But he had grown to be accustomed to that pain and gave it no longer the attention it seeked for. It was meaningless. Longing for something that was already gone. And even so he found himself doing it in the most inappropriate moments that existed. Because he was a human. And humans were weak. They cried even though they knew it wouldn't help. They screamed even though they knew it wouldn't be heard by anyone. Secretly suffering without being aware of it. It was so incredibly ironic. Because even though the humans were those who suffered the most, they were also those who destroyed the most. With their ideas and minds they were going to destroy this world that their God had blessed them. And he was just a tiny little part of the whole circle that hadn't been completed. It was the same with his mother and father. They had just been a part of it. But even so he couldn't let go. Because he was a human. Because he was weak. No one would believe it though. Not as long as he possessed this unmoved mask to face expression. As long as he had it, then everyone would think that he was strong. And strong, was exactly what he wanted to be. An unwavering person.

 

A swift and sudden movement got the Hunter to raise his gaze momentarily to then, slightly wince at the unexpected words. Then, pretty quickly the man in front of him began to undress himself. Something that made a unbearable warmth spread over his cheeks and not being able to say a word, snap out of the surprised state or look somewhere else the young man continued to stare at the male. The clothes landed carelessy on the floor around the Vampire. One after another the garments was taken off until it weren't any left to cover his body. Taking in deep breath of air in his lungs his gaze automatically searched it's way down the well trained body to then, remain on the lower part of the other one's body. His first reaction was to stare. His second was to immediately look away after having realized what he had done. And proudly trying to hide the light blush that decorated his cheeks the Hunter turned his back to the man, swallowing the will to once again turn around and stayed that way. Shocking. Truly shocking. Well, it wasn't like he had been prepared for this so of course it was natural to feel so caught off guard. But even so, that didn't explain why his sex suddenly had woken up from it's sleeping state. Trying to suppress it he clenched his fists and let them rest on the kitchen counter as he noticed that the Vampire was on his way out of the room. And a relieved sigh slipped past his slightly parted lips, and thinking it was over he let his head drop to his hands only to wince in surprise when the familiar voice broke the silence once again.

 

The Hunter didn't dare to move until it had been silent for over a minute. Not until then he straightened his back and drew his hand through the black hair with closed eyes. Wondering why the Vampire who otherwise seemed so calm and collected had snapped so suddenly and done something so outrageous. It wasn't exactly normal to take off your clothes right in front of someone. Was it because of what he had said before? Of course it was because of that. Every single hint led to that conclusion. This was ridiculous. The elegant Vampire had turned into a childish teenager and he had been affected by it? What kind of Hunter was he who got turned on by only looking? With an annoyed sigh he walked to the fridge to open and then take out the first thing he saw. Which just happened to be a perfectly cooked chicken. Placing it on the kitchen counter he closed the fridge and armed himself with a fork to lightly poke the chicken with it. Not really sure that it would be safe to eat it. Besides, why did a Vampire have food in his home? Didn't they only feed on blood?

[Gatichan]

Rafael hunted down two sickly beggars whose bodies were covered with boils. It was clear that they had little time to live, but to a Creature of the Night, sickness and ill health meant nothing. All he cared about was their blood, which to him was the same, no matter the person’s health. The poisonous venom in his fangs made sure to cleanse the blood of all bacteria that could be bad for him. Leaving the two bodies strewn carelessly in the middle of the quarter of the city where the sickly were being forced to remain, Rafael wiped the droplets of blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Now, with his mind cleared and his body once again strengthened, he had the time to reconsider his actions back there in the kitchen. And feel horribly ashamed.

 

First of all, Rafael felt contempt. He had been little more than a fully grown teenager when he had been turned, an adult in appearance, but still quite young at heart. And when he got insulted, Rafael’s true age came through…like it had back there in the kitchen. Well, he had been challenged, hadn’t he? When the embarrassment came through, Rafael tossed his head as he jumped onto the roof of St. Paul’s dome. On the other hand, it had been obvious that he’d left the vampire hunter flabbergasted and that gave Rafael quite some satisfaction. And hadn’t the hunter stared? Yes, he had and that made Rafael smirk. But the smile quickly vanished when his mind slipped and his own sex sprang to attention, suddenly very needy. If the hunter had been his mate, Rafael would have asked the hunter to take him right there on the kitchen floor, but he could forget it. Races as different as theirs didn’t mix. And anyway, he had been provoked and that probably meant that the vampire hunter wouldn’t be in his apartment anymore when he returned, right?

 

A slight stirring n the night air caused Rafael to turn, finding the female who had attacked the hunter the night before in front of his house. “Angelica,” he said, inclining his head politely. “How is Robert?” The pretty female lowered her eyes, shaking her head gloomily. “That hunter hurt him bad. We’re currently trying to nurse him back to health inside a tub of blood. It’s not clear yet if he’ll make it out yet.” Rafael was careful to look remorseful. “I hope he gets well soon. Any news on the hunter? When I awoke, I smelled that he had flown,” he carefully shifted the conversation in a direction he was safe with. Angelica’s flashed. “Yes, amazingly, he did. But we weren’t able to pick up his scent last night and today, it seems as if London’s sucked him right up. We don’t know where he is, but Mycroft wants him dead.” She approached Rafael and kissed his cheek. “It’s also Mycroft who has sent me to find you and tell you that you should keep off the streets. He fears that the impulsive hunter might come looking for you. He’s dangerous, as we now know. We’re currently thinking of calling a meeting to warn the other vampires, even those outside out coven, that the hunter is here. He must and he will be stopped.” Angelica stepped back with s vicious smile. “And when we find him, we’ll make him really pay. I’ll come fetch you as soon as I know when the meeting will be,” she promised and with that, vanished into the night. “Thank you,” Rafael quietly called after her, but he gulped. What the hell had he got himself into now? Returning to his apartment, Rafael spent an uncharacteristically long time until he had cleaned the air around his apartment of the faintest traces of the vampire hunter. Entering his house, he slammed the balcony doors closed with a flourish and stalking into the kitchen, he shook his head at the hunter. “Tomorrow, during the day, you must leave London. It’s your only hope.”

[Keru-chan]

Not being able to make his thoughts change track he found himself unable to eat the gourmet that the fridge had to offer him. Not even the well cooked chicken on the kitchen counter was able to draw his attention from the pictures that had etched themselves stuck in his head. Instead he tried to return his body to it's previous state. Unmoved and unaffected. But, every time it seemed like he had victory in his hands he fell back to square one because one of the pictures had slipped past the barrier in his head. So, he wasn't so manly that he had assumed himself to be. And maybe he was a little bit weaker against sexual things than he had expected. But so what? It wasn't like he had any plans on marriage or losing his virginity or anything like that. Besides it was just a waste of time. Wanting something so trivial as a partner had never hit him. Within his profession there was no use in having a partner. Because a partner was the same as a weak spot. The partner would be someone you would care for and that was something your enemies could take advantage off. They would torture that person until you wouldn't stand it. Then they would mercilessly kill the only one you love to leave you there in the depths of hell. He knew because his family had been taken away from him. And even though it wasn't the same thing, the feeling would surely be the same. It didn't matter if they were blood related, friends or a lover. Everyone and everything that one held dear would be destroyed. And that was exactly why he was alone. He wouldn't allow that someone got hurt on his expense. Especially not someone he himself had dragged into the situation.

 

Well, in the end he began to eat it anyway. The hunger had been too much to handle and it was almost in frustration he extinguished it with the flesh from the perfectly cooked chicken. So what if he had been turned on? So what if he was a virgin? It didn't matter anyway because he was still a Hunter. Just because that the Vampire was attractive and had managed to turn him on it didn't mean he was weak. Or did it? Well, fuck that. Why couldn't he simply forget it? With a sigh he let the plate with the rests of the chicken that he hadn't eaten be placed in the fridge. And as he turned around the silhouette of a human flashed in the corner of his right eye. And almost automatically he hastily drew a short breath and slightly winced. Staring the Vampire straight in the eye. And then he exhaled. Clearly relieved. But it didn't last long because the news that came after it was more shocking than the Vampire's sudden revelation.

 

"I can't" He simply begun and leaned on the kitchen counter while crossing the arms over his chest.

He couldn't leave London without the information. Besides he wasn't afraid of them. If they wanted him. Then they had to hunt him down. Just like he did with them. And it didn't matter what the Vampire said. Because everything his life circled around was his parents death. Nothing else. Nothing more. But, while it would be a shame to die trying but he would rather to that than dying for something else.

"Besides, which warrior runs away from a fight?".

[Gatichan]

“A smart one,” Rafael responded without beating an eyelash. “A proud but stupid warrior would run headlong into a deadly trap without caring, only interested in having his name go down into the annals of history for his useless bravery that brought him and the person he was fighting for nothing. But a smart one, a truly clever one, would retreat when he saw no success in his future plans. He would take the time to reanalyze the situation, would either search for allies or draw back to a point where he would once again gain an advantage over his enemies,” he sighed, guessing that his words would fall on deaf ears. And yet again, the question that had been bothering him since he had realized that he’d picked the hunter up returned: why on earth did the hunter’s future matter so much to him?

 

Leaning against the counter at the center of the kitchen, on the exact opposite side of the vampire hunter’s, Rafael entwined his fingers as he sullenly looked at the younger man. What had the other thought of his little striptease show? Rafael shook his head irritably- right then, there were more pressing questions that needed taking care of. “Listen…what’s your name, anyway?” he asked irritably. “You know me, but I don’t recall you ever telling me your first name. Mr. Ainsworth,” he tried a second time as he removed his tall black hat and set it down on the counter beside him. “I’ll be frank: your chances out there right now are miserable. It would be like your biblical David marching out into the street to defeat Goliath. The only difference this time is that the devil has spread the word to the giant and Goliath has come with the best protection armor that the fires of hell could mould. It would be a massacre and quite simply pointless. I myself don’t understand why I didn’t just leave you to die last night and even messed with your scent and made Mycroft’s vampires believe you’d run off, but I have and I must stand to it. At the moment, I’d rather prefer to keep you alive and, since I still hold vital information for you and you for me, I’d say the status quo is still more or less intact. But I think that I might be able to help you…help you help me free myself from Mycroft’s clan here,” he said, pronouncing the name with distaste.

 

Why was he telling the hunter so much? This might prove to be detrimental to his health, but right then, Rafael didn’t care. He had been denied access to his beloved home and country and that was simply unforgivable. He cleared his throat. “You, being a vampire hunter and all, make a profession out of killing my kind. But at the moment, you are without your weapons, which I promise to return to you if you will agree to listen to my deal and then help me. In the long run, you’d be helping yourself and also ridding London of the vampire infestation that has settled itself here over the past centuries. I know of a way for you, and the hunter association, if you wish for it, to do away with nearly all the higher vampires of this city, if you will only hear me out and be patient.”

[Keru-chan]

Why had the Vampire to be so wise? Why had just his words have to be filled with such a massive lump of meanings? In this situation he would clearly be the one that appeared to be arrogant. Someone that simply seeked for fame and remembrance. But that wasn't the truth at all. It was something that the Vampire assumed that he wanted. But not even once he had wanted someone to remember him. Because everything he had done in life was horrible things. The humans didn't need to remember the horrible things, only know that the world wasn't perfect. It wasn't beautiful and it was nowhere to what you could call a dreamland. He wanted the people to know that the world suffered from a sickness. And that there were people out there who was being drenched in sadness because of that. But well, saying that wouldn't exactly help him out in this situation. The Vampire was after all, too occupied with giving out lessons instead of wanting to listen to him. And then he meant truly listen to what he had to say and not assume things from one single word.

 

A light sigh passed by his lips when the subject quickly changed from the lesson to a question about his name. Letting his hands slip down in his pockets he closed his eyes for a couple of seconds and collected his calm to then once again reveal his sky blue eyes and raise his gaze to the man. "Cynric. My name's Cynric" He simply answered, not even bothering to make anything more difficult or complicated. The strength to do so wasn't where he expected it to be. Neither was the sarcastic words when he really needed them. Instead he was left listening to the Vampire talking on and on how he didn't have a chance ou there and that he was a precious source of information. He himself on the other side knew that the information wasn't that important. Almost every Vampire Hunter knew about the informators. So it wasn't strange, extraordinary or special at all. But for some reason, he didn't want the Vampire to know that. To know that you could get the information of someone else. He felt tangled up on the inside, like everything suddenly had become so complicated and bothersome. Well, that was what it all was. A mess that he had created. "It's not my fault that you decided to take me in" He spat the words out with a hearable annoyed tone and he slowly turned his head away. Trying to keep his defense compact. Then, he gave out a defeated sigh. Realizing how childishly stupid he had been and heaved down his eyelids to calm his mind. Would he be able to trust the Vampire? Or would the man in front of him betray him?

 

Letting his gaze rest on the other one a long moment of silence passed. And he just stood there, holding the answer inside of him and observed the older one to then part his lips and reluctantly agree to the deal. After all, he couldn't get a better one at the moment. Besides, the newly raised Vampiric activity wouldn't help. He just had to stay strong and wait. "Well I guess I don't have so much of a choice do I?".

[Gatichan]

“Of course you have a choice, don’t insult my intelligence,” Rafael snapped. He’d just about had enough of the pretentious vampire hunter in front of him- took ages to answer him, mocked him for having had the heart – haha – to save him and now had to go and complain that he didn’t like the situation, when it was Rafael who had put his life on the line to save the hunter from sure death. Some gratitude was long overdue from the youngling and Rafael realized there and then that he wasn’t going to get it. “You know what?” he decided, asking himself what had ever made him want to go ahead with this pact with the devil in the first place. “If you think you’re so great, why don’t you just leave and go it alone? You obviously don’t realize what I’m offering you and to be quite frank, I’ve just about had it with you. If you don’t even comprehend how much faith I placed in you by having let you slept inside the same chamber where I sleep inside during a time when I was most vulnerable, then you really are thick.”

 

Closing his balcony doors after he’d expelled the hunter’s scent from his rooms, Rafael was just about to turn around when he heard a loud caw and something pecking against the window of his balcony. Turning around, Rafael felt a lump inside his throat when he saw the raven there. Ravens were messengers between vampires and when he stepped closer, Rafael saw that, sure enough, the raven was carrying a letter. A letter that certainly came from Italy and that held answers that Rafael needed. For a price. Wouldn’t this dreadful night ever end?

[Keru-chan]

The Vampire suddenly snapped. Very harshly and annoyed by it all. The Hunter on the other side, kept his emotions under control for the moment even though it was a difficult task. "Well obviously not because if I don't do as you say I'll get killed, isn't that right?" And even though the words were meant to sound sarcastic and strong they weren't more than a quiet mumble to himself. This was outmost ridiculous. There, where he stood in the other one's kitchen he suddenly realised that they sounded like an old married couple. Having their 52th argue about meaningless things that actually weren't anything to fight over. Only the thought was quite hilarious if he was to admit the truth. Well, the only thing that could destroy the picture though was the fact that he would never get married. Vampire Hunters usually don't bind themselves to anyone. His parents though had been an except. And a very rare one too because no one had never thought that two of the same sort would become one. And then get an offspring that had inherited their talent. He himself though, had never thought that he was someone special. Or that he was talented. He just simply did what he had to do. It was his duty to kill and to survive. For the people and for 'them' as well.

 

Raising his chin just minimally, he let his gaze rest on the Vampire that continued the story of that 'he had gotten enough'. And then, just like that he turned around leaving him there on the spot. Feeling slightly upset and offended by the man's words. "I had never once said that I think highly of myself while on the other side you, 'Mr. I don't do anything myself but tries to get a Vampire Hunter to do what I want' seems to be pretty much used to the air up there. And faith huh? So what exactly do you expect me to do while you sits in your throne waiting to get a ticket back home to your beloved Venice? Be happy Vampire that you at least got a home waiting for you because unlike you some people don't have anything called a home" He drew a deep breath, tried to calm his anger that was heard through his words and then he turned his back to the Vampire and went for the door. "I'm leaving!" The Hunter coldly growled at the Vampire, so fully occupied with the letter in his hands.

 

Not even once had he felt this unstable on such a long time. This was the first time on two years that he had ever unconsciously released some of the emotions to let them freely flow. And to the young man's surprise, it felt like it was letting go of something heavy. Something heavy that he would never, ever grab again to carry with him. He may be thick but he wasn't affected by something so trivial like thinking highly of oneself. But the thing that disturbed him most was that of this had been trigged by an almost complete stranger that just happened to be a Vampire. And when he finally took the first step outside the house he knew that things had gone overboard because suddenly everything just rushed at him and he got this lust to just crouch down and cry over everything. So it was now all the injuries from the years hardships came back to him? This was truly an unfitting time. But he couldn't help but feel how his clenched fists began to lightly tremble. Of anger and of the sadness that he had locked in for a long time ago.

[Gatichan]

Rafael remained restless and annoyed as he paced around his apartment. The raven continued to look at him out of beady dark eyes that unnerved him. Long after Cynric had walked away after Rafael had thrown him out, his words kept turning around and around inside Rafael’s head: Be happy vampire that you at least got a home waiting for you because unlike you some people don't have anything called a home. It wasn’t any of his business, but somehow Rafael was filled with sadness that someone so young could be so bitter and lonely. The vampire hunter was a handsome man- could it really be that he was all alone and didn’t let anyone close to him? Why did Rafael feel the intense need to fly out after him and urge him to return to his apartment? He owed the hunter nothing- if anything, the hunter owed him at least a hurried thank you – and still Rafael wanted to open his apartment to the hunter, wanted to know that the other was alright – why? Why did he seem to care so much about the hunter, even though they were natural enemies? It just didn’t make any sense and angered, Rafael held his hand out to accept the letter that the raven had carried to him from Italy.

 

Sure enough, it was from the brothers he had written to. The letter was short, yet it told him all that Rafael had already feared: Mycroft had, unasked by the by, placed his protective hand over Rafael and had thus placed a protective circle around the Italian noble. The Vampire Hunter Association in Italy had desisted against persecuting him to London, yet it appeared that the association in London had received orders to at least watch over him carefully. As for the person who had sold Rafael’s whereabouts to Cynric: the brothers had already thrown an eye on said man. It would only be a matter of time until he was caught and captured. As for the Ainsworth boy: the two brothers were planning on coming up to London to personally take care of him and would send a note to let Rafael know that they would need sleeping quarters. Bile rose into Rafael’s throat as he forced a smile and nodded at the raven, which took off once its mission had successfully concluded. What on earth had he done?! He’d put a price on Cynric’s head…a very pretty head that he now wished he hadn’t drawn any attention to.

 

Beginning to pace back and forth, Rafael went over his options. Cynric was out there in London on his own. While during the day he was relatively safe, during the nights he would be on his own. Even if the London branch tried to protect him, Rafael knew that the Italian brothers had ways and means of buying people and information. Even if the hunter didn’t want to acknowledge it, he was in serious danger and Rafael wasn’t an innocent bystander anymore: he was responsible for placing a target on Cynric’s head and for that, he wanted to warn the hunter. And offer help, even if he guessed that Cynric wouldn’t accept it. Groaning when his resolve strengthened about two hours before the sun would go up, Rafael exited is apartment like a human, but once he was on the streets again, he easily caught up Cynric’s sent and followed it. While he at first walked leisurely, his footsteps quickly accelerated when he realized that Cynric had been tracked. And finally, Rafael broke out in a run, knowing that an attack on the hunter was eminent…and likely deadly.

[Keru-chan]

The smell of rain still lingered in the air since yesterday. And the street's holes were filled with water that reflected hazy buildings and the slightly yellow light from the street lamps. It was cold outside and at this moment the Hunter missed the cosy and warm coat that he otherwise always wore when being outside. That familiar coat was now long gone like everything else that had decorated his body yesterday night. And the human suspected that the Vampire had either burned them or thrown them because they had been nowhere to find. So, once again a slight anger filled him up from within as fast as the Vampire was mentioned in his thoughts. How dared he say something like that? That man didn't know a thing about him. Not a single thing. He didn't know how much he had suffered throughout the years. He didn't know the pain that was torturing his heart and soul. And he didn't understand the loneliness that he had surrounded himself with just because he didn't want to hurt anyone else. It hurt. But he remained strong, ignoring all those facts for their sake. For the people and for his parents. It was his duty to be strong. He wasn't allowed to cry. So instead he breathed in short sharp breaths and exhaled in long sighs to calm the storm that was going berserk inside of him.

 

He was completely alone on the street. Walking the darkness and kept himself away from the normal roads since he was aware of the danger of being outside. But, he still took a risk going all alone because then no one would notice if he suddenly got attacked. Well did it really matter? No. So why did he care anyway? No one would miss him anyway if he happened to disappear. He would just be another sacrifice in the circle. Nothing more, nothing less. Suddenly stopping, feeling this eerie presence of someone else he turned around. Let his gaze trail up to the rooftops behind him only to stare into the empty air. Then he once again turned around and to his surprise, two shadows appeared before his eyes. They were blurry and unfamiliar. And in the lack of being prepared he only stumbled backwards to then be grabbed by his collar. But lucky enough, he reacted fast enough and effictively broke loose from the grip by kicking the stranger with his foot. And then he distanced himself from the two of them. Stared them out with his cold sky blue eyes. "Who are you?" His voice echoed out into the night only to get a long pause of silence to answer. Then one of them suddenly replied. "The ones who are going to take your life Hunter". Well, this was truly great. Here he stood, eye against eye with two Vampires who's intention was to kill him. And he was completely unarmed. Well, was this ironic or was this ironic? Letting out a tired sigh he brushed off the shirt of the dirt that had stained it. Gently and very carefully since it didn't belong to him.

 

Cynric didn't know why but somehow he felt more calm than he should be in this kind of situation. Maybe it was just him. Or maybe it was this satisfactory smell of the Vampire that calmed his mind? He didn't know, and honestly didn't care because this wasn't the moment to think of something like that. Then he exhaled, started everything that destiny had planned for him. The two strangers moved straight for him and he blocked their attacks using his body. But it was clearly a difficult task for the Hunter to keep the Vampires of him. They ripped their nailes into his flesh. Creating small scratches on both his arms and body as he dodged their attacks. Even though his body had been healed it still felt sore and stiff. Something that wasn't to his advantage. And the fact that he didn't have any weapons made the possiblity of coming out of this fight alive less and less possible. He was pressed up against a wall and for a short while one of them strangled him to then throw him on the ground. And he rolled a couple of times, feeling how the world span around him to then raise himself from the ground. Only to get a well placed and harsh kick in his stomach, making him lose his breath and remain on the ground to receive a couple of more kicks. "Really, was he this weak?" One of the Vampire's said, laughing loudly as he continued to kick him. Then suddenl, the Hunter grabbed the leg and pulled it. Making the Vampire lose his balance as himself quickly threw himself over the other one to then twist the head. And a cracking sound was heard when he had twisted the head enough to make the neck break. But that wouldn't be enough to kill the Vampire, he knew that. It only stunned him for a couple of minutes. Giving him a chance to escape. But out of nowhere, a hand suddenly reached out for him. And in the other second he was being pressed up against the wall. His feet didn't touch the ground and the Vampire male smirked at him as he struggled to break loose. "Not so tough anymore huh?" The stranger said with a chuckle, pulled out a pocket knife to then wave it back and forth before his eyes. Cynric spit the male on his forehead, smiling confidently. "Well I'm not so sure about that". Wiping off his face with a rather angered face expression, the Vampire tightened the grip around his collar to then reveal his fangs. And then the Vampire lunged at him. Burying the fangs in his neck. A pained gasp left him as he grabbed the Vampire, trying to push him away as he felt how the strength slowly was sucked out of him. Was this how he was going to end? Pathetic. Well, he deserved this kind of ending to his life. Because he himself, had always been nothing more than pathetic. In this second where he was, he suddenly regretted that he hadn't thanked him for anything. And he regretted having been so rude against someone that had offered to save his life. But what could he do? Someone like him, wasn't worth to save. Besides, it had passed so many years since he had met someone like him that he simply no longer didn't know what to do.

[Gatichan]

Rafael felt the danger already when the attack began, but he was still too far away to be of any help. Swearing and cursing himself as he stopped and transformed, twisting and turning as he flew up into the night, commanding himself forward as an entity to reach Cynric faster, Rafael’s mind filled with his own accusatory voice that screamed at him for having sent the young hunter to his death. He didn’t know why he cared – no, no; cared was a little bit too much; cared sounded, ahaha, as if Rafael…actually wanted to have some kind of relationship with the hunter, but that was preposterous, that just wasn’t happening, nu-uh, they were enemies and everything – but he needed to reach Cynric before the other man was badly hurt or maimed for life. The scent of Mycroft’s men hung heavily in the air and when Rafael had reached the spot of the fight, he returned to his original form and, perched atop the house before which the brawl had begun, looked down, his keen eyes scanning and analyzing the scene carefully.

 

Cynric was up against the wall and even though he had momentarily managed to incapacitate the first vampire that had attacked him, he wasn’t faring all too well. And there, before Rafael’s horrified eyes, the second vampire craned his neck back and as his fangs glinted in the pale moonlight, he buried his fangs deeply into Cynric’s neck. NO!!!! Rafael’s mind screamed and suddenly he was moving, moving without thinking, without reason and without realizing that he was. All at once, he wasn’t standing above the scene, an omniscient observer, detached as he remained far above, but right there inside the fight as well. Appearing suddenly beside Cynric and the vampire biting him, sucking up the young hunter’s blood, Rafael’s right hand changed into claws and suddenly blood squirted out all over Cynric as Rafael drove his sharp fingers, then hand and arm, right through the vampire’s head. His hand, gripping what remained of the vampire’s brain, inside his bloody hand. “Die, you rabble,” Rafael seethed, his Italian accent coming out he was so angry. Squeezing the brains of the vampire and squashing them, he yanked his arm back. The vampire, now no longer with a brain to send commands anymore, became limp and as he let go of Cynric’s body, he transformed into dust, dropping the weakened young hunter to the floor. Rafael swiftly caught him, easing him down to the ground.

 

“Wait here,” he whispered to Cynric, leaving the vampire hunter propped up against the wall of the house he had been standing on moments before. His eyes were narrowed, fixed on the other vampire, who had just succeeded in yanking his head around to connect the bones and align them again. In the split second it took for him to take in the scene, see that his mate had perished, see that the vampire hunter was still alive, held protectively in Rafael’s arms, and realize that Rafael had been the murderer, Rafael was already upon the man. Growling out fiercely, Rafael’s hands shot out again and driving them through the other vampire’s chest, grabbed a hold of his heart and breaking the other’s back his bloody hands mangled and twisted the other’s heart around, destroying it. All at once, the vampire’s expression changed to shock. “Trai…” he began to say, but then he had transformed and crumbled to dust. Spitting down at the dust in disgust, Rafael led the bloody remnants of the heart to his mouth and greedily sucking the blood up, used this extra power to bring the two dust mounds that had belonged to the vampires together, he sent them, as well as his own scent, out of the street and into the Thames, that flowed silently past below them.

 

Turning back to Cynric, Rafael swept the vampire hunter up into his arms again. Scanning the area to make sure that no one was there to watch this terrible deed of his, yet not finding anyone, Rafael jumped into the night. “You really are nothing but trouble,” he complained to Cynric, but bowing his head, he planted a quick kiss on the hunter’s forehead as he sprang from building to building lightly. Carefully dispersing his scent, Rafael made it back to his apartment with the dawn threatening to rise once again on the horizon. Carrying Cynric into his sleeping chamber before his powers left him, Rafael this time at least thought of bringing food and something to drink into his chamber. Closing the door and locking it, he turned around, his eyes flashing red when he realized that the blood he had been smelling wasn’t vampiric, but coming from Cynric. The hunter was badly injured, but Rafael didn’t know if he’d have the time and strength to heal him. All the same, he would try it. Biting his own wrist so that his blood filled his mouth, he approached Cynric, sending his mind out. Relax- I’m going to heal you.

[Keru-chan]

The pain that penetrated his neck was unbearable. It hurt so badly that he wanted to scream. But no sounds left his slightly parted lips. He only hanged there in the Vampire's grip and noticed how everything slowly slipped out of his hands. Then, the pain suddenly began to fade away as his gaze just continued to rest on the wall on the other side of it all. Was it like this it felt? To be a victim of a Vampire? Taking in a deep quivering breath he soon after that exhaled letting his eyelids fall down over his sky blue eyes as he waited for it to end. Then suddenly something happened, and the fangs that had earlier been buried in his neck. Feasting on his blood was drawn out and the Vampire's blood stained his pale face and borrowed clothes. And the first real thought that managed to form itself was: What was happening? The grip on his collar loosened but when he heaved up his eyelids to examine the scene he only saw blurry pictures, slowly moving in front of him. And then he felt how he fell down but before hitting the ground that he had expected he was instead embraced by a couple of arms. Gently placing him on the cold, wet alley street with his back leaning against the building behind him the one who had rescued him left him with a soft order to wait. Though, those words weren't really needed because exactly what could he do in this weakened state? Nothing. He wasn't anything more than a corpse still holding the soul inside just in case if something would happen. Which it obviously had. Something had happened. Someone had rescued him but for the moment he wasn't capable of finding out who this person was. But was that really needed? Because who else than him would rescue a Vampire Hunter? Who else besides him would know precisely where he were? It couldn't be anyone else but him and for some reason, he felt a slight relief there he sat with closed eyes. Listening to the background sounds that soon disappeard in the ocean of voices. And suddenly he left the reality to return to his home.

 

The sun threw it's warm sunshine over the greenish landscape and he could feel it burn against his pale skin. But not even once had it really affected his skin. His skin had always been pale for some strange reason. He laid in the middle of a flower field, enjoying the summer warmth that hanged in the air. The calming sound of crickets surrounded him and with uneven pauses one or two tepid breezes stroke his face and brought his bluish black hair into motion. It felt so nice and nostalgic. He wanted the moment to last forever. Then everything disappeard and he returned to the cold streets of London to focus his hazy gaze at the man that lifted up up from the ground. With no strength left in his body, the Hunter simply let the man do as he wanted. Feeling the soft kiss that was placed on his forehead, he once again closed his eyes and weakly placed his hand on the other one's chest. Then they started to move.

 

He couldn't really grasp anything but even so, he knew that they had reached their destination when he was released upon a soft surface. And he guessed that they were currently in his sleeping chamber. Then a familiar voice suddenly appeared inside his head. Telling him to relax and that he was going to heal him. Breathing in slowly the Vampire Hunter gathered enough power to speak. "W..Why?" He quietly whispered while laying still on the bed. And he continued the sentence in his thoughts letting the other one hear it. Why would you heal me? Aren't we enemies? Why are you so kind to me? Nothing of it makes sense.

[Gatichan]

Rafael didn’t like how pale the vampire hunter was. It was disturbing, especially since he knew that the younger man was already pale, but this surely wasn’t good. And judging by the splatter of blood on his clothes, Cynric had really almost lost all his blood to the filthy vampire that had attacked him. The blood inside his mouth almost filled it entirely and already Rafael could feel his energies weakening. Damn it, if only he had more time. If he and the vampire hunter had been a couple, that would have been the fated moment when Rafael needed to make the decision of all decisions: ought he turn the other and make him a creature of the night like he was? In all his long years as a vampire, Rafael had had several lovers, yet none of them had really meant anything much to him. Sure, they had been comfortable for the moment, but after he had had his fun with them, he had lost interest in them. And he most certainly had never felt the need to turn one of those humans into vampires like him. But Cynric? Something inside him very strongly wanted to bite the hunter and transform him. It wasn’t exactly love that he felt and for a moment Rafael felt his cheeks darken. Love for a vampire hunter? That was a taboo that ought to never be broken. But there was something about the young hunter that got to him got under his skin and caused him to behave so illogically and risk the wrath of his own race.

 

Approaching the bed, he stopped as he leaned with his left knee onto it when Cynric used his little energy to ask him why he had once again saved him. An acerbic, sarcastic answer rose to Rafael’s lips, but he didn’t need long to swallow it back down again. Transforming a human- he had never done it, and yet he knew, theoretically, how it was done. Kneeling properly onto the bed, his mouth now filled with his own blood, Rafael simply shook his head, sending his mind out to touch the hunter’s. Does that really matter? Must everything in life be logical? I just couldn’t let you get killed- that will have to do for the moment. And now please, stop wasting your energy uselessly and relax. I need to use my blood to heal your various wounds and the time is running out. With my blood, I will try to give you some of my energy. If I succeed before the sun goes up, you will fall into a deep slumber and awaken with hunger. I have brought you some food and you must eat it. All else we shall discuss tomorrow night, but now, please, cease your questions- I need to concentrate on what I am about to do. Reaching out, Rafael easily and rapidly began shredding Cynric’s clothes to shreds, undressing the other man yet again. As he had expected, the hunter feely tried to block his hands, yet Rafael didn’t stop until the hunter lay naked beneath him. I won’t harm you. Please, you need to trust me now. Your wounds are severe and only my blood can cure you. Don’t fight me, Cynric- I am not your enemy.

 

Opening his mouth, Rafael’s eyes flashed crimson as he began to direct the flood of red that left his mouth to cover the hunter’s body. As he had feared, the young hunter had been badly injured and had several cuts and bites, gashes and sores all over. His blood easily found the open wounds and sinking onto the human skin, began to glow as it started to connect with the hunter’s body and heal it. All too quickly did Rafael notice how eagerly Cynric’s body, how desperately and needy it soaked up his blood and energy. Needing to refill his mouth with blood again, Rafael transported his blood again to the worst of Cynric’s wounds. He could feel the sun as it continued its ascent into the sky and his eyes flashed a darker crimson. No, there wasn’t enough time- he needed more time. But there was none and so, just before the deepest gash across Cynric’s chest had properly healed Rafael felt the familiar powerful drowsiness overcome him and his eyes began to close. Tilting forward, he reached out and taking a hold of the corner of a blanket, he covered the hunter up and wrapping him carefully into it, pulled Cynric towards his body as his own body hit the bed. His eyes closed, but he hung onto consciousness a moment longer. “Cynric…sleep now,” he whispered out and then Rafael’s body stilled, holding the vampire hunter in a half embrace against his powerful body.

[Keru-chan]

The man kept him waiting for the answer as he came closer. And closer to then with one of his smooth movements, place his knee on the bed and lean over him. It was like a shadow that was hanging over him. Though, the Hunter did not resist. He did not move and he did not say a word. Because after another long seconds of silence the awaited answer arrived to his mind. Appearing in his thoughts, word for word. Sentence for sentence. Leaving a irrestible calm in his heart that weakly pounded in his chest. He didn't understand. Why? Why was the other one doing this? And especially for someone like him that was his natural enemy. Nothing made sense. Or was it just him that couldn't understand? Was it because of his lack of knowledge or was it his incapability to notice things that had resulted in him being this lost? Pressing his lips together he slightly fluttered with his dark eyelashes, trying to keep his eyes open to be able to observe it all. To be able to see him. But his eyelids were heavy. So incredibly heavy that it hurt to keep them open. And he was afraid that if he even blinked one time he wouldn't open them again. So he kept them open in the fear of not being able to return to this world. But why did he struggle so much against death that was waiting for him? He hadn't anything left in this world that held him captured so why?

 

Feeling the man's hands ripping the clothes apart he couldn't help but to try to hinder the other one as he undressed him. And at the same time he could feel a slight burning warmth on his cheeks. But it wasn't visible on his exhausted and pale face expression. No, the Hunter simply stared at the other one with his sky blue eyes and did not breath until this unfamiliar of being completely naked came to him. Making him slightly embarrased as he was very well aware of the fact that the man was looking at him. But he just let his hands drop to the bed when being ordered to and exhaled to then let his gaze trail up to the ceiling. Once again the other one had rescued him. But would he be able to overthrow his proud and thank him? He could feel how the pain disappeard. Bit for bit and how the wounds that he earlier had noticed was being healed to then sink down in his pale skin. Disappearing without leaving a trace after themselves. And every time it happened he could feel a slight sting of pain and another strange feeling that he couldn't identify.

 

Then suddenly, the man began to cover his body. His movements becoming more drowsy and clumsy as he then finally pulled him into his embrace. Placing himself by his side on the bed the Hunter simply lay there in his arms. Feeling his body being slightly pressed against the older one's. Strangely enough, it felt good. It felt secure to be in his embrace and for some reason he liked it. Remaining in this position he listened to the man's last words before falling into sleep. Exhaling, he himself fell asleep only half an minute later. Still in the cold embrace of the man.

 

He dreamed about his home. About his parents. The phone call. He dreamed about every single part of his life that was worth to mention. Pictures of his past. And suddenly he was there on the field once again. Laying in the grass with closed eyes. Listening to the sound of the crickets and the wind. Enjoying the otherwise, compact silence that was laid over the landscape like a thick mist. And then suddenly in all of this, a familiar voice broke through it all. Making him open his eyes to stare into a handsome face. And suddenly he wasn't the five year old boy on the field, no he was a fully grown up man. And the one that stood in front of him was no one else than the one that had rescued him. They stared, silently at each other. Then the man suddenly crouched down beside him to then sit in the grass. Gently embracing his hand as they both looked up at the sky. And the sun that hid behind the white innocent clouds. And at that moment more and more people appeard of nowhere to sit with them. Benjamin, his parents and another familiar person joined them. And suddenly he weren't alone. Not at all. He was instead surrounded by those who cared for him. And that including the Vampire was something that made his lips form a vague smile as he answered the man's hand with hugging his back.

[Gatichan]

This time, Rafael’s sleep wasn’t peaceful. He was overwhelmed by a fear that seemed to sink deep into his bones. At first, he found himself falling from a great height, plummeting somewhere outside the earth and then down towards it. Try as he might, he found no way to stop, slow down or fight against the free fall. He had no power left, he couldn’t open his mouth to cry out for help and instead he continued to fall, flailing as he went. Deep despair and horror filled him as he tossed and turned, twisting as he tried to wake up, because he knew that he was dreaming, but no matter what he did, because the sun hadn’t set, he continued to fall. Waking up with a loud gasp as he shot upright in bed, Rafael clutched at his chest where his heart was. It was beating a mile a second and even though he didn’t sweat as a human did, he could feel imaginary beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Glancing down at a still sleeping Cynric, Rafael covered his mouth and gulped. Out, he needed to get out- being this close to the vampire hunter wasn’t doing him any good- on the contrary: it was beginning to hamper him.

 

Leaving his sleeping chamber, Rafael ripped off his clothes and tossing it into the merrily burning fire inside the living room. Stepping into the bathroom, for the first time since he had moved into his London apartment, Rafael took a shower. As a vampire, he didn’t get dirty and perspire the way as humans did, but still he couldn’t fight off the impression of being covered with sweat. Ripping at his long lilac hair with his sharp fingernails so that he could cut his hair back into the orderly fashion of those times, Rafael dried himself and dressing, returned to his sleeping chamber to find Cynric still asleep. One glance at the human food told Rafael that the vampire hunter hadn’t awoken yet to eat. Perhaps that was good- it gave his some time to go out and feed himself. Wrapping a dark, billowing cloak around himself, Rafael vanished off into the night. He didn’t care much for what food he had that night- all he wanted was to forget his terrible dread. Rafael wasn’t a religious person, yet still he knew well that his dream could be interpreted as an ill omen. Something in the near future was going to cause him a headache and he didn’t need to consult a clairvoyant to know that that something had to do with the strange, out-of-character feelings that he seemed to be developing for the vampire hunter. Distracted as he was while e fed, Rafael almost completely missed Mycroft as he landed close behind him. Whirling around in shock, trapped that he had been caught feeding on a beggar with boils all over his body, Rafael’s heart once again jumped into his throat when he saw the head of the London Lounge smiling at him. Was it his imagination, or did Mycroft’s smile look menacing?

 

“Rafael, I’m glad I found you. Walk with me- there have been some very disturbing incidents recently that you need to know about,” Mycroft said, gesturing for the Italian nobleman to follow him. Rafael knew that he had no choice, unless he wanted to look guilty, and dropping his morsel back into the shadows, stepped out under the light of a freshly lit gas lantern with Mycroft. The young Englishman looking quite ravishing in his dark coat and blood red cravat. When he caught Rafael watching him so intently, he smiled, making Rafael feel all the more nervous and caught. “Rafael, you really must come to visit me at my abode soon,” he said, gently placing his hand on Rafael’s arm as they began to walk down the street at a human pace. “And perhaps it really wouldn’t be a bad idea if you were to move in with me. At the moment,” he continued, his eyes darkening as his facial expression did, “we seem to have encountered a rather alarming enemy. That new vampire hunter you warned me about has managed to kill three of my best messengers. I have no idea what his purpose here in London is, but I’ve decided to schedule the meeting between our associates for tomorrow night. I trust you will be joining us?” Rafael fought against the wild urge to swallow, knowing this would seem suspicious. It was time to lull Mycroft with flattery. “Of course I’ll come. I never would have guessed that that hunter would be so much trouble. Perhaps, since he seems to have arrived here at the same time as I did in London, it would be best for everyone if I just left?” Mycroft shook his head firmly, stopping beneath an unlit lamp to caress Rafael’s cheek. This caused a shiver to run down latter’s spine. “Under no circumstances will I let you go, Rafael. No, this boy must be taught a lesson. London is my turf, not his.” Mycroft disappeared all at once, but his voice remained inside Rafael’s head for a while longer. Don’t be late tomorrow night, my dear Rafael. And after the meeting, there is a lot that we need to talk about. Shuddering as the fear he had experienced during his dream returned, Rafael needed a long while before he could hurriedly return back home. Paranoid with angst that one of Mycroft’s thugs would be able to smell Cynric inside his apartment, Rafael carefully cleaned the air around his abode before entering and finding that the vampire hunter had awoken.

[Keru-chan]

The dream continued in the same theme. And at the moment, a long gone happiness filled him up from within. Lighting a small burning fire in the dark corners of his body. And even though the Hunter was very well aware that they would disappear as he would wake up he couldn't help but to let go and follow the flow of it all. Memories from all kind of times from his life appeared. And one after another he walked through them all. His mother hanging laundry. His father training him with sword, knife and other weapons. The peaceful dinners and the lovely good night stories ten o'clock every single day. It was almost impossible to belive that his life, had once upon a time been like this. Because nowadays he hadn't someone that waited for him as he returned to the old house. No gentle voice that welcomed you home and no father that embraced you, lifting you up from the ground and swining you around while you yourself was laughing. No more soft pats on his head from his father's familiar hand. And no more moments of him, coming into their room complaining about that he couldn't sleep because of nightmares. The only thing that his past life and his current life had in common was the regular visits of nightmares. Nothing more, nothing less. It pained him to see all of this. It hurt to go through it all once again. But at the same time it reminded him of what exactly it was that had been taken from him. And the importance that they had held in his life. In those short years that he had actually lived in happiness. Completely unaware of the world outside the little house on the green hill surrounded by a large forest. At that moment, not even a little bit sadness, anger or emptiness had been inside of him. But now, that was the only thing that he consisted of. That kept his body together as he revealed more an more of the world's dirty little secrets.

 

With a deep breath the Vampire Hunter was released from his dreams. Slowly, the young man heaved his eyelids up to reveal a pair of tired sky blue eyes. The presence that had been him yesterday did no longer haunt him but even so the familiar smell lingered in the air. Reminded him of everything that had happened and left him with a light headache as he sat up on the bed. Placing all the weight on his right arm as he drew a hand through the bluish black hair of his that was sprawling all over his face. And in the moment he had moved, a sting of pain leapt up from his chest making him lightly embrace his lower lip with his front teeth as he lifted on the white thin bed sheet that covered his naked body. Somehow, he always waked up being naked when he was here. One of the many ironic things he had discovered under the time as his gaze rested on the not fully healed wound on his chest. Though, it was gonna heal. He could see it now that this wound, would probably not leave any traces of it's existance after itself. And he suddenly wondered, that if the Vampire was to disappear would he leave something after himself? It was a stupid question and he shook his head as he swept the sheet around his naked body and placed his feet on the cold floor beneath the bed. Standing up for the first time after a long while on his still slightly stiff legs. Turning his head, he stroke the place beside him with his hand. Softly and then he made his way out of the room with unsteady steps. Making his way to the door that surprisingly enough was open. Running his fingers on the handle he noticed that something had been placed on the floor. And upon having sunk his focus to it he found it. Shining silver plates filled with food. Drapes, meat, vegetables. A golden cup, filled with wine and a cup of tea with some bread. Letting the hunger take a hold of himself, he went for the food first and crouched down on the floor gripping the bread to then take a bite of it. After a while he sat completely on the floor and just helped himself to the food. Well, it was delicious and it wasn't like the other one had said anything about not eating anything. Besides, it looked like it was supposed to be eaten. Oh wait, all food is supposed to be eaten but to be more accurate it looked like an offering from the other one. An offering he didn't want to miss out on.

[Gatichan]

Returning to his apartment, Rafael found the vampire hunter, like a hungry child desperately holding onto a piece of bread, wolfing it down. He was still obviously naked, covered decently only with the sheet that Rafael himself had wrapped him in. Immersed as he was in eating, the hunter didn’t immediately notice him, or better, didn’t waste a second glance in his direction. And as Rafael stayed outside on hi balcony, looking into his home like a criminal gauging whether this was a good house to rob or not, the vampire watched the unusual site. He had never let any human stay inside his homes, yet somehow, watching Cynric of all humans sitting and eating there felt…just right. It was difficult to put into words, but having him nearby, even though he had caused him so much strife…in that moment at least calmed Rafael’s restless soul, a soul that had been restless for many years already now.

 

Not wanting to be the one who felt trapped when the vampire hunter glanced up and discovered him, Rafael entered his apartment. “Good evening,” he said formally as he placed his gloves, walking cane and hot hat on the low table inside the living room. “I’ll make it short: we need to speak. I suggest you go and put on some warm clothes and then join me inside the living room. You can carry on eating once you’re dressed, but in the injured state you are in, I wouldn’t find that wise,” he stated, avoiding Cynric’s eyes, even though he would have liked to have looked into the hunter’s eyes. Sitting down instead in one of the comfortable armchairs, a wry smile spread across his face when he recalled that the first night the vampire hunter had run into him, he had coerced Rafael into sitting inside exactly the same seat. Pressing the tips of his fingers together the way he had that night, Rafael became a statue, his lilac eyes staring into the dancing flames of the fire in front of him. Stirring only when the vampire hunter lowered himself carefully into the armchair opposite him, Rafael took in a deep breath as he carefully took in the hunter’s frame. “How are you? Are you in a lot of pain?” he quietly asked, his gaze softening as the hunter responded. “If you’d like, I could heal you after we’ve spoken. I know your human body will heal itself, but my blood will speed the recovery and after you’ve heard what I have to tell you, you might agree that it would be best if you were healthy once again.”

 

Waiting a moment to gather his thoughts, Rafael decided that he would tell Cynric at least part of the truth- not everything yet, since he still very well recalled how the young hunter had angered him the night before. True, it had led to the other’s attack, but Rafael wasn’t about to risk giving out confidential information that could and surely would be used against him if the hunter once again had another mood swing. Raising his head so that he would be able to gaze into the sky-blue eyes of the hunter, Rafael began to speak, all the while wondering what Cynric’s eyes would look close up…and if the coldness in them would ever give way to warmth and…love.

“I met Mycroft just now when I went out. It seems that the death of your attackers last night has been written off as your deed. As a result, Mycroft has decided to call together a meeting with all the vampires who have anything to say living here in and around London. This meeting is set to be held tomorrow night, shortly past eleven o’clock, at Mycroft’s apartment. You asked me last night why I saved you. Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t honestly know myself yet. One thing that I do know, however, is that you were right about my being obsessed with Italy. I grew up there, you know,” he said, a faint smile playing around the corner of his lips. “I spent all my life there- both my human and vampire one. I am used to the culture, the language, the culinary specialties, the weather, the warm…everything the exact opposite of life here in London,” he concluded with a frown. “Mycroft has decided to take me in as his new pet and I abhor this. Like any individual, I want my freedom- the freedom to go wherever I want to. You, and Mycroft, are the ones at the moment preventing me from moving around freely. Because of this, I would like to offer you the possibility of rising in the ranks of the hunter association here, of making yourself a name, of earning yourself the right to information concerning you parent’s untimely death…and a way of aiding me to get rid of Mycroft’s hold over me. See it, if you want, as a compensation for my troubles in having rescued you already twice now.” Rafael leaned forward, his eyes becoming cold. “I want you to use your connections to the hunter association to rid London of those vampires who will attend Mycroft’s meeting tomorrow. One swift, clean, well executed attack, and London will be free of its undead infestation.”

[Keru-chan]

It had been so many days ago since he had felt such a hunger and desire after food. It was so rare that it was almost strange. The fact that he didn't have any sense of hunger. But on this moment, when his soul was at ease and his heart was beating in it's regular pace he could without any guilt eat peacefully. Every time he had tried he had thought about those that lived on the streets, those who didn't have enough money to eat. And so he had often avoided eating. Then this peace was disturbed by this feeling of being observed. And a vague presence of someone standing relatively close but still far away. The Hunter immediately stopped in the middle of a movement to then, slowly raise his gaze to meet the lilac coloured eyes. As always, the other ones voice expressed the words formally. Which was the right way to talk in this situation. And still, he didn't know why he felt such a irritation for it all. It was like that he wished to exclude this kind of formality. But instead of saying that he let his hand which held the tea cup sink down on the floor and quietly place everything that he had in his hands on the plates. Turning his head away, he cleared his throat and reminded himself of the times that the Vampire had helped him. "Good evening" A simple quiet mumble that left his slightly light pink lips and the Hunter thereafter stood up, laying more effort in covering his naked body with the white bed sheet.

 

Buttoning his shirt, the young man then made his way to the living room. Once again fully clothed in the Vampire's belongings. With rather cautious and slow movements, he let his hand wander over the arm chair on the opposite side from the other one's to then sink down in the comfortable furniture and slightly lean back. Something had changed. The autmosphere wasn't as he remembered it. An almost soft glance rested in the lilac coloured eyes and the way he talked in had slightly changed. Somewhat that resembled worry followed his words. This was getting dangerous. Too dangerous for him to handle. And even so he noticed that somewhere inside of him he wanted to see what this could develope to. "No I'm fine" He answered without revealing any emotions. He had to distance himself. Or else he would get tangled up in something that would be really troubling. And even though he kept repeating this fact in his head there was a stinging feeling in his chest that was completely unfamiliar to him. He wanted to loosen up for some reason. Or to be more accurate, he wanted to open himself for the other one. But after having stated the already obvious that it was the most unsmart thing to do he pressed his earlier slightly parted lips together and drew a deep calming breath. Calm down. Exactly when did I allow myself to feel like this? This is unacceptable. Don't let yourself get drawn in by him. He's a Vampire.

 

Mycroft was going to hold a meeting. He had been the one to be blamed for the Vampires death from yesterday night. They were going to erase him. And suddenly, they trailed off from the subject for a short moment to enter the man's past through a small corner. Listening on how he described it the Hunter couldn't help but raise the right corner of his mouth and let his gaze stray to the fire. It was only natural to long back to your home. Because after all, he himself did it all the time. He wanted to return to those times of happiness and the fairy tales before bed time. But those times were gone and as he brought this fact back to his mind he buried his nails into the soft surface under and the vague smile disappeard. This wasn't the right time for thinking back. With a deep sigh he turned his head back to the Vampire to listen to what he had to offer. But the only thing that actually interested him was the information. Letting some short seconds of silence pass he gently rubbed his temples with the fingertips and leaned his elbow on the armrest. "Well, I can't say that's a bad plan. But it's rather risky. I had prefered to not drag anyone else in this situation but I guess I can't avoid that now. I'll contact them and moving on the next subject: Are you sure that no one knows this? That you're..betraying them? Are you a hundred percent sure that no one is aware of your plans? I would rather not waste any lives besides my own" Taking in a deep breath he raised his chin, paused and drew a hand through his bluish black hair. "If you're absolutely sure that no one knows, not even those trashes living on the streets that feasts on the old and sick then I'm in".