Asheron arrived back at his house at around 7 in the morning. He threw the front door open and was met with a smiling face.

"Welcome home father."

It was his son, Damian. His smiling brown eyes were bright and clear. He wore a white buttoned up shirt and dark jeans. He looked casual but still neat and tidy.

Asheron hummed in response and walked past him, throwing him his jacket.

Damian caught it and walked behind him.

"So how was the meeting?"

Asheron turned back to him with an icy stare. Damian ignored his look and blinked at him expectantly.

Asheron sighed and turned away.

"It was annoying."

Damian chuckled. "You always say that."

"This meeting was especially annoying."

As they arrived at Asheron's room, Damian stopped outside the door. Asheron peered at him from inside the room.

"Damian...." Asheron began hesitantly.

"Yes father?" Damian tilted his head as his lips curved up slightly.

"I need a room cleaned on the farthest side of the house. Relocate the servants as well."

He could see the curiosity brighten in Damian eyes and before he could ask questions, Asheron slammed the door and walked over to the king-sized bed. He faceplanted on the bed, not bothering to even take off his clothes.

Six hours passed before Asheron finally opened his eyes. He rubbed his face and sought up glancing at the window. It's not as if he could see what time of day it was by looking at it. The thick black curtains were specially made to block out sunlight.

He heard a muffled voice coming from outside his door and went over to open it.

It was Damian standing there on the phone.

"Yes, please send the evaluation through my email. Right...I want a full report on the condition of the building." As he talked he looked his father up and down, an amused look on his face.

Asheron also looked at his son. He would have thought he was standing there the whole time if it weren't for the boys change in outfits. He was now wearing a rather sharp gray suit and his brown curls was combed professionally to the side.

"Alright good." Damian hung up and handed his father a few documents. "These are the papers you asked for last time. And I tried calling Mr. Benson but he wouldn't pick up."

"Right." Asheron replied absentmindedly. The last thing on his mind were these pieces of paper. He flipped through them without really reading anything. "Looks good."

He held the documents out to Damian. He took them back hesitantly.

"If there's nothing else I'll be taking my leave."

Damian turned to leave then paused.

"Oh right. I had the maids clean a room on the other side of the house." He tilted his head. "Are we having a guest?"

Asheron's eye twitched. He didn't want to think about it. He snatched the documents back and closed the door.

Asheron looks over the documents for a few hours. They were just an evaluation of the research facilities he owned. Things were fine as usual but he hadn't gotten the final report from Benson. He was the one he put in charge of the main building.

Asheron rubbed his thumb over his lip thoughtfully. Benson had never dared to be late before on a report...

"Working hard?" Asheron turned to see his little brother, Aloise, coming through the door that connected their rooms.

He felt the tension in his heart vanish almost immediately and seeing his brother's messy blond hair put a smile on his face.

"Not really. How are you feeling?" Asheron answered tenderly.

"I'm feeling much better from yesterday." Aloise said coming over and placing his small hands on Asherons shoulders. He rubbed them gently and frowned.

"You're so tense...what's bothering you?"

Asheron tilted his head up and looked into his brother's eyes. The soft blue orbs stared directly into his, urging him to speak and tell him everything.

"Vlad....has returned."

There was a pause.

"Isn't that good news?"

"Not when the place he will be staying is with us."

"Oh?"

"The others would not take him. They purposely threw him to me. Don't they understand that I am just as busy as they are!" Asheron bared his fangs as he recalled the event.

Aloise ran a hand through his grey-brown hair to calm him.

"You should have refused." Aloise said gently.

Asheron sighed and slumped down in his chair slightly.

"It is not that simple."

"It's not?" Asheron glanced up at his brother. His thin eyebrows were raised and a slight smile was on his face. Whenever he smiled like that he looked exactly like their father.

Asheron looked away.

"I don't know..."

Aloise smacked his arm playfully.

"Don't worry. It's only Vlad. He's harmless. Besides, I think I'll enjoy the company."

Asheron widened his eyes in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak but Aloise' attention was already elsewhere.

"How is my favorite nephew?" He said with a grin.

Asheron turned in time to see Damian open the door and lean against the door frame. Dim light streamed into the dark room.

"I'm your only nephew." Damian said smiling.

"Which is why you're my favorite. Come here." Aloise beckoned him forward with his hand.

Damian hesitated, stealing a glance at Asheron, before walking in.

"How long were you at the door?" Asheron asked his eyes narrowed.

Damian smiled. "Not very long."

Cough.

Asheron's head spun towards his brother. His thin shoulders shook, and one of his hands covered his mouth as he tried to suppress his coughing. Asheron stood up from his chair and rubbed his back, pulling out a pack of small red tablets from his pocket.

Aloise was the only vampire with this "condition". The physician said that it was due to the fact that his aging process stopped when he turned fifteen when it's usually around twenty-five. He was pre-mature but no one knew why. Aloise sucked in a choked breath.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. " Aloise said taking the small tablets.

"You should rest." Asheron said lifting him up and carrying him to his bed.

"I'm tired of resting." Aloise said a slight pout on his face. Asheron chuckled lightly.

"It's only until the medicine takes effect. I'll call you for dinner."

After kissing his brothers forehead, Asheron looked over at Damian. His eyes were squinted in their direction as if it would help him see the scene in front of him. A strange look was on his face.

"Damian." Hearing his name, his face went to its usual smiling expression.

"Yes, father?"

Asheron closed his eyes for a moment, struggling to get the words out.

"Begin....the guest preparations."