*Content warning in description*
Centuries of wealth. Hordes of gold. And yet the search for meaning continued. They were wandering souls in a world that began and ended too quickly. For them, a Human lifespan felt impossibly short. One second, they could see a baby come into the world and the next, they were laying flowers upon their grave.
Such an existence was tragic.
Adrian loosened the knot of his tie as he strode further into the dimly lit quarters. Voices rose up around him, shadows writhing within shadows.
Pitying Humans was common among his kind; however, he actually thought having such a brief stint on the earth was a gift. He had witnessed the rise and fall of societies, the death of beloved people, and so much more for hundreds of years. It was excruciating. Memories slipped through fingers like sand. Emotions dulled. And after a while, the numbness set in and the years started to fly.
“You’re back.”
And then that awfully handsome man had sauntered into his life with a way to kill the boredom and melancholy.
“Kallum,” Adrian responded lightly, rolling up his sleeves and unbuttoning his stifling shirt.
A noble. A devil. A sinful bloodsucker.
Adrian knew immediately that they weren’t of the same breed.
There were two definitive classes among their kind. Those with poisoned blood and those who did the poisoning. Among the well-versed and well-read, they were best known as Night Children.
“Was the message delivered?” Kallum sounded like he was grinning. Adrian couldn’t see clearly in the dark mass of bodies though.
With a groan of relief, he sank into the mess of limbs as well, immediately feelings fingers and tongues running over his skin. “I didn’t have the option to fail.” Clumsy hands de-vested, tore away, and unbuckled him furiously. It was frightfully efficient and hilariously frantic. Adrian did little to help them along, relishing in their whines.
Kallum’s low chuckle touched his ear, putting him on high alert. Jerking in surprise, Adrian tilted his head around, seeing Kallum leaning over him. “That’s why I trust you.” His breath was hot, nearly steaming.
In the dim light, Adrian could clearly make out his deep flush and blood-soaked smile.
The euphoric glow in Kallum’s gleaming red eyes made him shiver. He only somewhat recalled his own turning. It was so long ago. Too long ago. Hardly of consequence actually. But Kallum’s presence could always remind him of that day.
“All of you are drunk on power, huh?” Adrian teased, caressing his Ringleader’s thick hair and nuzzling his warm throat. He nipped lightly with the tips of his canines, lingering only for a second.
His Ringleader was the quintessential Night Child. And yet, there was something special beyond that. Oppressive. Dominating. Beloved.
“Maybe it’s just me?” Kallum dug his nails into Adrian’s chest as if trying to claw something out. In a way he was doing just that.
Adrian ground his teeth against the pressure, knowing it would fade and that everything would be better once it was out.
The orders. Those were the worst.
A scream died on his lips, body arching up as the bonds on his heart broke. It didn’t beat anymore, but it could still feel the pain of an order inflicted by a Night Child. “Fuck that doesn’t get any more pleasant,” Adrian breathed, loosening his grip on Kallum’s hair.
“Feed to your heart’s content, brother.” His warm arms curled around Adrian’s neck, lips pressing gentle kisses against his cold skin. “I prepared this feast just for you.”
He had made peace long ago with these needs.
Fighting them resulted in a scarlet frenzy. It was better to control each meal. Treasure the lives as they were taken. He couldn’t do that—couldn’t properly give thanks, when blacked out and rampaging.
So, this was better.
He peered down at the woman doing her utmost between his thighs. She must have been pleasuring him this whole time. It was a shame that he couldn’t feel it. Still trapped in Kallum’s embrace, he could only wave the woman up.
Slightly confused, she stopped her ministrations and answered his call.
“Come closer, doll,” Kallum drawled, voice deep and steady against Adrian’s ear.
The woman tensed up, immediately abiding by the command. She straddled Adrian, leaning in until Kallum could cradle her face. She sighed, supple skin and strong muscles flexing as he gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.
In the same breath, Adrian sank his aching fangs into her throat until it nearly tore. He dug trembling claws between her shoulder blades and thanked Kallum silently for muting her pain. Their screams always ruined the feeding. It tugged at the dregs of humanity lingering in his soul, reminding him that monsters do exist, and he was one of them.
When the flow of blood trickled to a stop, he opened his eyes. There was only a shriveled corpse left in his arms.
The darkest shadows of the suite wrapped around her, removing the distasteful sight in an instant. Adrian had little time to register what had happened before another treat was settling on his lap. This one smelled richer but tasted less sweet. The ones that came after were so clean. Pure.
Leave it to his Ringleader to only bring the finest to a feast. Adrian didn’t think he had tasted such delectable flavors in decades. It was a well-known rule in Delirium. They earned their banquets. Meticulously orchestrated rewards that were worth every order.
He couldn’t recall ever feeling so alive. The wait had been worth it. Years of denial made this moment indescribably precious.
And so it went, on and on and on.
“Are they to your liking?” Kallum murmured pointlessly. Aggravatingly smug.
Adrian watched another of his meals get swept into the realms of darkness, only to be replaced again. It seemed there really was no end. It would only stop when he was finally satiated. Would a time like that ever come though? He absently stroked the lithe body squirming on his thighs. In the feeding frenzy, he had ignored his own growing arousal.
Now that his body had the blood to even be aroused, he wanted—needed to act. He smiled wryly, wondering how long the high would last. Long enough, I hope.
“Are you providing other services tonight as well?” Adrian grinned up at Kallum who was merely watching him, arms propped on the back of the couch.
“Anything you desire,” he chuckled, curling a lock of Adrian’s hair. The doting tone was full of a master’s affection for their pet. “It seems like you’re in a certain mood?”
“You already know who I want.”
Kallum’s expression gave nothing away. Even though it would usually twist with displeasure at this particular request, he hid it well that night. With a gracious nod, he pressed a long, solemn kiss to Adrian’s tense jaw. “As you wish. His rooms are already open.”
It felt like a trick. But when he finished his last meal and the shadows had carefully whisked them away, no one stopped him from leaving.
Halfway across the room, he heard his Ringleader’s soft laugh. Although Kallum didn’t say anything, it was clearly mocking. Adrian ignored it, blood rushing and energy too high to mind the judgment.
Not bothering with clothes, he strode quickly down staircase after staircase. The basement was indeed unlocked.
Was it love? No. Not in the way Humans were allowed to love.
But it was something.
Something precious.
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