Will I Be Safe?

Loui turned around and began to proceed up the stairs. His footsteps were soft and almost silent, as though his feet were not touching the stairs.

Draven followed beside him. His senses were heightened, and he could hear the faint sound of his prey's heartbeat echoing in the stillness of the day. The faint scent of fresh blood filled his nostrils, sending shivers of anticipation down his spine.

He immediately frowned in confusion. "I smell blood. What did you do, Loui?"

Loui glanced at him and shrugged with an awkward smile on his face.

"He got on my nerves, so... I kind of used my fists on him."

Draven gazed at him in disappointment and pinched between his brows.

Loui was a very short-tempered vampire, and the smile on his face often belied his terrible emotions.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Draven could see the door to his prey's bedroom slightly ajar.

Loui pushed it open with a gentle touch, the hinges barely creaking as they entered the room.

The room was dimly lit, with the only source of light coming from the lantern placed on a miniature wooden table.

Draven could vividly see his unconscious, bruised prey locked to the silver chair situated in the center of the room.

He moved closer, his eyes fixed on the face of his prey.

"He is an ancient vampire, but not that ancient."

His fangs extended, ready to pierce the skin and taste the empowering, warm blood that flowed beneath.

Loui, who stood by the side, smirked. "He will probably not do much, but something is better than nothing ."

Draven, who concurred with his words, slanted closer. He lowered his head and sank his teeth into the flesh of his prey, drinking deeply until the last drops of life slipped away.

With a low growl, he pulled back and straightened up, exposing his bloody lips and teeth. He grabbed his white handkerchief and wiped his lips, savoring the remains of the blood in his mouth.

"How did he taste? Did he taste good?" with folded arms, Loui inquired curiously.

"Mediocre, but acceptable," was Draven's response as he retracted his fangs.

Loui chuckled with a shrug. "Not bad."

Draven glanced at him with coldness in his piercing reddish eyes and said, "You got my hopes up for nothing as usual."

"Oh, common, Don, ancient vampires are scarce. You can't say that I am not trying, can ya?" Loui deliberately looked away with a dissatisfied look on his face, hinting that he was a bit unhappy with Draven's words.

Draven threw the bloody handkerchief into the dustbin. His purpose for the need of this ancient vampire blood was for the sake of getting himself much stronger than he already was. Ancient's blood worked wonders on royal vampires, but unfortunately, they were scarce as Loui said.

In a calm tone, he questioned, "Where are the rest of you?"

"They are still lurking in the dark and will only make appearances tonight, per your orders," Loui informed him.

Draven nodded as he started to make his way out of the room. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants and proceeded downstairs.

Before he stepped out, he said, "Do not be late." Then he exited the mansion.

Loui gazed at his disappearing silhouette and smiled. "Roger that, Don."

—

Draven returned to his quarters in the mansion around dawn, 7:59 p.m. to be exact.

He approached the royal graveyard, not minding the deluge of rain pouring down on him. The wind howled through the trees, lightning flashing in the distance and illuminating the rows of graves that stretched out before him.

He was undeterred, his heart heavy as he looked for the graves of his wife and son. He moved slowly through the rows of graves, his eyes scanning each one until he finally came upon the two markers that he sought.

They were simple stones carved with the names of his wife and son and the dates of their deaths.

He sank to his knees, not minding that his white trousers would be deterred and soaked by the mud mixed with rain. He reached out a hand to touch the cold stone of his wife's marker, his fingers tracing the letters of her name. 

Beside her grave lay that of his son, a small marker that bore the name of the child who had been brutally taken from him.

For a long moment, he simply knelt there, his expression bland, as the rain continued to pour down upon him. He reached into his pocket and withdrew two single roses. 

With trembling hands, he placed the flower on each of the graves, silently hoping that what he would be doing tonight would be the right thing. He was hoping he wouldn't be hurting his late wife in any way per what Lilith had stated earlier.

"I will bring you back, no matter what it takes. It's a promise I made to you," he whispered in a tone laced with despair.

He shut his eyes and heaved a deep, cynical sigh.

"You are going to catch a cold if you keep kneeling there," a familiar voice said as an umbrella was placed above his head, sheltering him from the heavy rain.

Draven quickly swiveled his head and stopped his gaze on Avelina, who stood under the rain with nothing sheltering her. Her expression held a look of sympathy.

They gazed at each other for ten straight seconds before Draven rose to his feet.

"I think you are the one who is going to catch a cold." He took the umbrella from her and placed it right above her, leaving himself out in the rain. "Let's go."

He proceeded to walk her back to their quarter, but Avelina tugged at his shirt, stopping him.

He turned his head and looked at her. "What is it?"

"I want to tell you something," Avelina said as she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze.

"Go on," Draven permitted.

Avelina bit her lower lip and took a deep breath. "You do not scare me at all, at least not anymore. I was not afraid earlier, but I was more amazed and a bit in shock. That was all it was, nothing more."

Draven slowly blinked his wet eyes—that hadn't been what he expected. He took a deep breath and gradually half-smiled.

"You will catch a cold, Avelina. Let's go." 

They returned to their quarters and sauntered to their bedroom.

Draven shut the door behind them and walked to the bathroom. He grabbed two towels, used one for himself, and gave the other to Avelina.

"I will be leaving in the next hour. I have to be at the royal hall before you," he said.

Avelina looked at him and asked, "Why? Aren't we supposed to go together?"

"No. I have to be there before you. Not just me, but the whole family. You will arrive later on, because that way, we will be sure the guests will be there," Draven explained.

Avelina slowly nodded her head and walked to the bed. She sat down and let out a soft breath. "Will I be safe?"

"Why do you ask?" Draven inquired.