Part Two

Aloys returned in the early hours of the morning. All the lights were off, save Kain's who had probably just gotten home from school.

He tiredly made his way towards his room when he saw Kyousuke's door cracked and a dim light peaking through. He smirked to himself as he thought of messing with the human.

"Kyou?" he sing-songed and opened the door cautiously. He expected a pillow to the face, or a obsanity shouted his way, but when neither happened, he peeked in. Kyou was laying down; defenseless and all to easy to prey upon.

His toothy smirk turned into an amused half smile as he looked at the human curled up like a cat in the middle of the bed.

He sat down on the edge of the mattress, and watched the peaceful rise and fall of Kyousuke's back as he slept blissfully unaware of the the potential danger beside him.

Aloys mentally scoffed and before he was aware, he was reaching out and petting the purple haired human's head. He almost retracted his hand, but Kyou let out a soft moan and uncurled from his ball. He turned onto his stomach and the movement caused Kyousuke's already low lying shorts to go even lower on his boney hips.

Aloys could very clearly see the curve of Kyousuke's ass and wanted to touch it. Very much so.

The vampire sighed unnecessarily to exhibit his annoyance.

It frustrated him that he wanted this stupid human. Probably more than he should. It also didn't help that Lyall told him harming Kyousuke in anyway was forbidden.

Naturally, he wanted to go against the old man, but Lyall was his Sire, and a Sire's word was law. And he had never really wanted to hurt the brat...just tease him a little.

Aloys frowned and poked Kyousuke's cheek. The human huffed and squirmed away. A scent hit his nose. It was so nostalgic it felt like a kick to gut.

He leaned closer, sniffed. It was there again. He got closer. If he had been alive he was sure his heart would have lurched. He was inches from being right on top of Kyousuke.

The human moved again and there was a faint crinkle. Aloys looked down and saw a piece of paper clutched in the other's hand.

He carefully pried it out of Kyousuke's grip. It took just a glance and Aloys' anger hit hot and hard, then just as quickly turned into sadness.

Aloys tried to not think about that part of his life on a daily basis. It was too painful still. Too fresh. And if he ever found the fucker that…

Aloys hadn't realized he was growling until Kyousuke stirred, disturbed by the noise. He looked up blearily at Aloys, still mostly asleep.

"What's wrong with you?" he mumbled with a yawn.

Aloys thought about what he should say. Finally he just smiled and stroked Kyousuke's chin. "Go back to sleep, love. It's late."

"Mmmm," he yawned again and turned onto his back.

His eyes were lidded as he looked up at Aloys. His sleepiness was sexy and his bright eyes almost seemed to glow beneath his thick, black lashes.

Aloys was very turned on by Kyousuke's body. He wanted nothing more then to keep touching him, but he limited himself to cupping Kyousuke's cheek, and running his fingers through the human's soft, warm hair.

"Aloys," Kyou asked, his eyelids fluttering closed.

"Yes, darling?" He responded with an amused chuckle to hide the fact he was practically thrumming with want towards this man.

"Are you lonely?"

"....Yes. I suppose I am."

He felt Kyousuke take the hand he had in his hair by the wrist. He entwined their fingers together. "That sucks. I know what it's like to be lonely," he whispered with his eyes still closed.

Aloys was quiet, not knowing what he should say. It turned out that he wouldn't need to say anything because Kyousuke's gentle snoring filled the quiet room a few moments later.

Aloys let his head fall forward in an exasperated chuckle. It was low, curt, and a little manic but it described exactly what he was feeling in that moment.

"You better be careful, Kyousuke," he said in a whisper even though he knew the man beside him couldn't hear him, "Or I might fall in love with you."

****

Things were progressing slower than expected, no surprise to Ranear, but displeasing the leader of the Circle was a quick way to a slow and very painful death and the blue haired witch prefered to keep his body parts where they belonged: attached to him, and in the correct places. Unless he was told otherwise of course.

His lord operated from the shadows, and he was old by even a warlocks standards, but that was only matched by his sadism and cruelty. Ranear loved that about him.

Ranear had been a dedicated follower of his lord since the day he had been delivered from the hands of those who had wished to use him for gruesome experiments.

He would follow his lord anywhere, would do anything he was asked to do- even give his life.

He sighed and shivered as he thought of his lords piercing eyes. He was going to be seeing him soon and the thought of being pinned under that malicious gaze made his heartbeat quicken.

He stifled a sigh as he grasped the door handle that lead down into the darkness of the cellar. Screams echoed up the passage as he went down and the bottoms of his shoes scraped quietly against the dry stone steps.

Shick. Shick. Shick. Shick.

His lips curled into a smile as the screams grew louder when he neared the end of the stairs and turned the corner.

There a large man stood covered in gore. He looked down at the table beside him with a displeased look on his face.

"Another failure, my lord?" Ranear asked cautiously and handed the warlock a towel.

His lord took it silently and wiped his large hands with care. The screams had calmed down into pitiful whimpers as he did so.

"I am close to the limit of my patience, Ranear," he said. His deep voice carried a mild Venetian accent.

Ranear bowed a head. " I have more information on your quarry, my lord," he bowed ready to present it.

The subject on the table whimpered again. The warlock snarled and with a movement quicker then Ranear could see, decapitated the creature that had dared to defy him.

His lord tsked in disgust and wiped his hand on the towel again, then let it drop to the ground.

He merely glanced at Ranear before the servant knelt and quickly placed the scroll in his lord's now open hand. Ranear looked up eagerly, and watched for his lordship's reaction.

The runes lifted off the scroll as they were read.

"Well," the deep voice rumbled, " this is less than I expected."

Ranear swallowed.

"We are gathering more as we speak, I assure you," the midnight haired mage said quickly.

The now empty scroll was tossed carelessly at his feet.

His lord did not say anything as he turned and walked away. Ranear bowed again and waited till he was alone before he stood, scroll in hand. Ranear clutched the scroll and turned back the way he had came.

He let out a shaky breath. 'Fuck,' he thought as he made his way back up the stairs. Right before he reached the top, he muttered an enchantment that changed his clothes.

A moment later a small voice entered his head.

"Ranear," it started but it was interrupted.

" Master," Ranear corrected with irritation, but the voice continued on.

"I have some more news to give you when you return."

"Good. I shall be arriving shortly," he replied and quickened his pace towards the apartment he was staying at for the time being.

Staying in the mortal world had its advantages, but also set backs. Using his magic freely here was a no-go here. That caused much irritation, but for his lord, it was worth it.

He made it back to his abode with little incident and shut the door and locked it.

"Axel," he called and muttered another incantation.

His familiar was oned with a small puff of smoke.

" Master," he greeted sarcastically, " thank you for allowing me to be graced with your presence."

Ranear ignored him. "Hop to it. Tell me what you have," he demanded with a snap of his fingers as he sat down on the couch behind him.

Axel snorted and flitted up to him and enlarged himself to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of Ranear.

He leaned into his contractor's legs and rested his chin on Ranear's knee.

The witch studied the fairy briefly and without interest. "Well?" he asked with impatience.

Axel snorted, his amber eyes bright under thick ombre eyebrows of red to orange. He tilted his androgynous face to the side.

"Well, what? No 'I'm home'? Or 'Hello, Axel. How are you?'?" he asked as he creeped a hand up his contractor's thigh.

Ranear rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what you found out," he said and grabbed the other's spiky red hair. He yanked it roughly, pulling the fairy toward him.

Axel let out a small hiss as he was grabbed and pulled between Ranear's legs. His hands went to the carpet below him to steady himself.

He glared up at his master, and was pinned under his gaze.

"I found the bar he goes to," he said lowly. His skin prickled from the abuse to his scalp.

"And?"

"..."

It was hard for Axel to respond as Ranear pulled harder at his hesitation.

" And," he asked again, more aggressive this time.

Axel shuddered. "He's been going to meet someone," he ground out.

Ranear released his harsh grip and started to run his fingers through the thick strands.

"Do you know who it is?" he probed, his hand went down to the fairy's soft ear and rubbed the lobe.

Axel slightly shook his head. "No. Not yet."

Ranear retracted his hand, and ignored the small noise of protest that came from the man between his knees.

He sighed. "Find out, Axel."

Ranear stood, and didn't look at Axel again until he had walked around him and glanced back from his bedroom door. "Report to me what you find as soon you can."

Axel grunted from the floor and crossed his arms. "Yes, Ranear-"

" Master," Ranear interjected once again.

Axel gave him a cheeky grin before he winked and poofed into his miniature form. He waved and disappeared back into his realm.

Ranear turned back and stepped into his room. He closed the door behind him firmly. He went over to his desk and took out his reading glasses along with the papers he had been in the middle of preparing before he had been summoned.

He pushed them to the side and sat down. He shivered as he remembered the harsh, cold gaze that had raked across his body.

Ranear worried his bottom lip between his teeth and pushed up his sleeves. There was no time to dwell on that when there plenty of work to be done.

He leaned forward and began to read, the words from the scrolls and pages floating off the page and dissipating into the air.

After about 4 hours he straightened and took off his glasses. As he rubbed the inner corners of his eyes, he felt arms slid over his shoulders and loosely around his neck.

He sighed.

"This better be good news, Axel, for you to dare come in my room unannounced..."