Kain pushed the bedchamber's door close behind him, enveloping himself in the shadow of his room when the torchlight outside drowned behind the thick surface of the door. He ran his fingers through his hair and marched towards the curtained canopy bed, catching the strong perfume scent inside his room, a leftover of the withered incense that stood on his nightstand.  

The room was dark, but Kain did not bother to light up a candle. The moon's blue light piercing through the window was enough for him. Or you could say he was just lazy. Kain had gotten used to this area, from where a chandelier hung from the center of the room to the sizeable midnight-blue nylon carpet that felt oddly pleasurable under his feet. It was a lifestyle of unmeasurable wealth and solace, one he craved for when he was still bedding down in the cold and crooked stone floor of the dungeon he used to call his bed.

Kain closed his eyes, placed one hand on his neck, and slowly performed a neck rotation. He then grimaced, the past events plaguing his mind once again. He just couldn't, not for one second, kick that lad off of his mind at all. Who wouldn't? After all, that person was his mate—

Kain's eyes widened. Out of impulse, he grabbed the lantern resting on one nightstand and hurled it across the room. The sound of shattering glass, followed by a teeth-grinding noise, rang throughout the quiet place when the metallic enclosure slammed against the stone paneled wall. Kain grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What the fuck am I doing?" he murmured.

"What seems to have upset my beloved nephew this time?"

Kain snapped his head around. A black-haired man was sitting on the window frame. He wore a light linen shirt and loose pants and somehow resembled Kain, excluding the appearing crease, long hair, grown beard, and the scar that ran down his right eye.

"You'll ruin that face," the stranger said.

Kain scowled. "The bloody hell are you doing here, old man?"

Ark emitted a soft chuckle. His nephews' reactions, especially with Kain, whose eyes always seemed to say screw you have never failed in amusing him. "We just saw each other after a few months, and that's how you welcome me? Where's my hug?"

"Search it your own," Kain spat, moving towards his wardrobe. "And it's a year, get it right."

Ark chuckled again. "Anyways, care to share what seems to have transpired?"

"We killed a bloodsucker. That's it."

"Really? Doesn't seem like that's what's been bothering you."

Kain scowled and turned away. He picked up his pajama, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it to his bed, remaining silent. Ark eyed him as he hurled a towel over his shoulder.

"Come on now. I know when you are troubled," Ark said. "You tend to tilt your head down."

Kain shot Ark a dirty look. “What's the connection?"

"You're a proud bastard."

"... Are you trying to insult me?" 

"Nope. That was a fact." Ark smiled.

Kain held himself back and settled for mentally slapping Ark.

"So, what is it? What's been bothering you?" The older man sought again, crossing his thick arms against his chest.

Kain clicked his tongue. "I told you, 'nothing.' Why are you poking at someone else's business?"

"Because that nothing is something, and you're doing so lousy at hiding it," his uncle pointed. "Come on, spill it."

Kain traded gazes with his uncle. But even now, he still couldn't intimidate Ark. If Kain was a proud bastard, Ark was the persistent bastard.

Kain plopped down on his bed, pressing his palms against the comforter. He threw his head back, avoiding his uncle's eyes when he uttered, "I found my mate."

Life flooded Ark's eyes. "Really?" he excitedly exclaimed. "Well, isn't that great news?!"

Kain was the opposite. "... I don't know," he said.

Ark was confused by his lack of enthusiasm. After all, he did find his mate, right? "What do you mean?"

"He—" Kain paused midway. Should he say it to Ark? Surely, he'll understand, right? "It's a werecat," Kain reconstructed.

"What?"

"My mate is a werecat," he repeated, much firmer.

"Your mate's a werecat?" It was a rhetorical question. Ark paused for a moment, then he readjusted his position. "So what? What's with the mushroom growing around you?"

"You won't get it."

Kain never wished to even find his mate. Yes, maybe he thought of it a few times, but the fantasy grew weary. And now, talks about soulmates grew as silly fairytales to him. He hated getting serious. Or maybe he found it similar to being tied down, forced by some nature's will to love, protect and be with someone he never really would have loved if it weren't for the pull. He had enough of getting dragged around, driven by something or someone else. 

But another thing that had triggered him was — why was it a man?!

Kain mentally screamed.

"I really don't," Ark huffed. The man raised his brows, watching his nephew, who was mentally wailing and growing more mushrooms in his room. This was the first time Ark had seen this Kain. He felt weird yet amused at the same time since usually, Kain was just a rampaging gorilla. Ark heaved a sighed and decided to leave him alone for the time being. For the time being. 

"My my, it feels so good to see the oh-so-great Kain troubled."

Kain twisted his head back to look at him, staring at Ark with narrowed eyes.

"You're always so impulsive. I didn't know you could also be caught up in your thoughts. Azrael will be so proud," Ark chuckled.

There was a slight hint of nostalgia on Kain's face. And as sudden as Ark's appearance was, the corner of his lips lifted up a bit. "And you're still as retarded as ever," he huffed. "And I use my brain, you old fart. I just have a different and less boring way of handling matters."

"I don't think your mate is going to appreciate having a swinging cock around when handling those said matters," Ark chuckled. He felt Kain drill holes at him again. "I still bid you luck on winning over your amore. It's too bad the cats don't sense the link as we do. I'm really starting to pity you."

"And I'm ninety-nine percent about to shove you out the window."

Ark laughed at him. "Come on, give your uncle a hug," he beckoned Kain over.

"Screw your hugs," Kain spat, glowering at him. "And quit it with the mate matter. I'm still not ready for commitment. It's just not my kind of deal."

"Oh, you won't be able to say that for long," Ark smirked at him.

Kain ignored him and massaged his neck. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm here for the meeting tomorrow."

Kain scowled when he heard about the "meeting" again. Just what was up? And why is he the only one that knows nothing about it? "What's so important about this meeting that's got everyone so riled up?" He snorted.

"It involves the vampires," Ark said as he plopped his feet inside his nephew's room. His words stole Kain's interest right away.

"What about those bastards?"

Ark paused for a moment, grasping that Kain had not heard of the recent information just yet. "We found out that they were behind the continuous disappearance of the local civilians... And that they were from the Du Marais."

Kain's eyes widened at what he heard. The Du Marais... The fucking demons.

"I suppose they're back and kicking again," Ark whistled upon seeing the phonograph Kain owned. "You better get ready."