Caleb was glad the week was finally over. After his visit to the Blood Center, he felt a lot better. Even his colleagues noticed. The vampire worked the nightshift at a local hotel, manning the front desk, catering to their guests’ every nightly whims. Usually it was a request for condoms or champagne, with the occasional drunkard trying to crash in the hotel’s lobby for free. Despite his small frame, the liquid shadow running through his veins gave him inhuman strength. He usually tried to keep it in check though, as not to rouse suspicion.

“Thank you for your work today!”

The vampire greeted the person who would take over his shift today, and left for the staff lockers to go change. He had a date with the demon. Well, calling it a date was maybe a bit premature, as they had only met just once before, but it felt like one to him.

He looked at his phone. 4 AM. Right on time. Caleb quickly changed into a red suit this time, a delicate pattern woven into the fabric. He checked if he had all of his stuff, and then stepped into one of the shadows.

Shadow traveling was one of his favorites perks of his powers. He didn’t use it often, as it costed him a bit of his stamina, but it was worth it this time. He wanted to see Astaroth.

“Hello gorgeous.”

The voice behind him startled him. He turned around and relaxed when he saw who it was.

“Whoops, sorry about that.”

“Astaroth.” Caleb smiled. This time Astaroth was wearing a black tank top and red tartan cargo pants that were stuffed into black combat boots. Could this demon even get hotter?

“How are you? Did you survive this week well?”

Caleb scratched the back of his head.

“Well, had to go to the VBC last Saturday, but other than that, it was okay.”

The demon seemed to sniff the air. It was only for a bit, but Caleb thought it was cute. A bit like a dog.

“Ah, so that’s what I smelled.”

“You can smell that?”

Astaroth was full of surprises.

“Not always. Last time I couldn’t smell anything on you and only saw your aura, remember. Now I can smell a bit of human on you.”

Caleb cringed. “Don’t remind me.”

“What, you don’t like it?”

Astaroth ordered them some drinks at the bar and decided to sit down. Caleb hesistated a bit on following him, but eventually did sit down next to the larger man.

“I...” The vampire started, “I kinda hate being a vampire.”

Astaroth pulled up an eyebrow. “I thought most vampires nowadays were willing participants?”

A long time ago, after the witch hunts, vampires had decided that for their survival, it was crucial they would no longer turn unwilling humans. Everyone of the supernatural world knew of this decree. And those who disobeyed, would be drained of their liquid shadow, essentially killing the vampire. Of course there were still vampires who turned humans in secret.

“My mother was obsessed with me turning,” Caleb began, “She raised me in a forbidden cult of vampires who turned me into one of them when I was eighteen.”

Astaroth gripped his drink, trying not to crush the glass.

“I’m so sorry.”

Caleb shook his head. “Don’t be. There was no way you could have known.”

There was that tug at his heart again, though this time Caleb knew why. This man was more than his fiery appearance let on.

“But you shouldn’t have been subjected to it without your consent. Were the ones who turned you ever prosecuted?”

“Only my mother.”

Suddenly Caleb felt strong arms around him, comforting him. A thumb whiped away a tear he hadn’t even noticed escaping. He let his head rest on the demon’s shoulder, inhaling his warm firewood smell. How did this man look so wild and yet felt so soft?

Astaroth lifted up the vampire’s face with his hand and looked him in the eyes. The demon’s eyes glowed brightly, a question within.

“Can I kiss you?”

The question was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Ever since their first meeting, Caleb had felt something for this man in front of him, and he was desperate to find out what. Maybe this would reveal the answer.

So Caleb nodded.

Astaroth leaned in, and when their lips touched, the world around them seemed to disappear. He was warm, heating up the vampire’s cold lips in seconds. His skin started to tingle, as if he had entered a warm home after being in the cold for too long. Caleb didn’t want this to end.

He tentatively opened his lips, daring the demon to explore him from within. Astaroth noticed the invitation and took full advange of it. What started out as a gentle kiss, now had turned into a heated dance that neither wanted to break. Caleb could swear he felt some sort of magical string connecting to his heart, binding him and the demon together. The air around them seemed to buzz with raw magic.

That all disappeared whenAstaroth licked the vampire’s sharp canines, accidentally drawing blood. The moment Caleb tasted the demon’s blood, he could practically feel his soul vibrating. The taste was nothing like he had before, and how much he enjoyed it, scared him. Caleb had to push the demon away. He had to. Before something bad would happen. But his body wouldn’t listen to his demands.

“Caleb?”

Astaroth had broken the kiss and had pulled away from him a bit. He had his large hands wrapped around the vampire’s wrists, not painfully so, but still with some force. Caleb must really have gone too far.

“Are you okay?”

The tender question surprised him. Caleb nodded. He was still a bit in shock.

The demon sighed in relief, removing his hands from the vampire in front of him. He watched as the vampire touched the fangs that had just tasted demon blood, seemingly lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

Astaroth grabbed the man’s hands in front of him and held them softly. “Don’t be,” he started, “I think it’s only natural for a vampire to get a bit crazy about blood, even demon’s blood. I should have been more careful.”

There it was again. The demon’s softness that had Caleb melt like putty in his hands. He sighed and then smiled.

“What?”

Astaroth’s confused face made him smile even more. “You’re cute.”

“I’m not!” the demon protested, pouting.

“You are. Makes me like you even more.”

Caleb stood up, his legs still a bit wobly from the ordeal. But he didn’t care. He pulled the taller man from his seat with a sly smile and let him to the middle of the floor.

“Let’s dance.”