Chapter Three

[no name yet]

‘I’m sorry my beloved’ Vincent said to him, brushing the blood away with a dry cloth. ‘I didn’t mean to get so rough, I'm so sorry.’

‘Ah’ Havi smiled weakly, wincing a little. ‘It’s ok master.’

‘Do you forgive me?’ Vincent said to him. ‘I’m so sorry.’

Havi silenced him with a gentle touch, placing his fingers over Vincent’s lips and smiling.

‘It’s ok’ Havi told him again. ‘It felt good. Intense… but good.’

‘I’ll be gentle next time’ Vincent whispered to him tenderly. ‘I promise.’

‘I don’t mind it rough’ Havi told him. ‘But… maybe wait for a while before doing it again.’

Vincent smiled softly, blinking quickly, eyes getting teary.

‘It’s ok’ Havi chuckled lightly, pressing his forehead against his masters, looking deep into his eyes. ‘Could you… do something for me?’

‘Anything.’

Havi giggled, pushing the cloth gently away.

‘Could you clean the rest away… with your tongue?’

Vincent smiled.

‘Yeah’ he spoke in a hushed voice. ‘I can do that. Lie back. Just relax, ok?’

Havi did so, leaning back gingerly against the soft grassy earth.

Vincent faltered for a moment, running his thumb along Havi’s bottom lip for an instant, before leaning forwards, beginning to gently lick, the first of several small wounds on Havi’s shoulders, chest and neck.

Havi breathed slowly, deeply, as Vincent’s tongue worked.

‘Mmmm. Your blood tastes so good.’

Havi only smiled silently. Feeling pleasure from his master, for the second time that day.

On the other side of the gently burning fire, Alastor watched passively. He had gathered Vincent’s horse before the creature was able to wander off, and the two horses were loosely tethered nearby.

Once Vincent had finished with Havi, he sat back, gazing down upon him.

‘How do you feel?’ he asked.

‘Mmmm’ Havi smiled. ‘Really good. Except…’

‘Except?’ Vincent questioned.

Havi averted his gaze, hunching his shoulders playfully.

‘I uh….’

Vincent caressed his cheek tenderly.

‘Tell me my love. What can I do for you.’

Havi’s eyes flickered back to Vincent’s as he spoke again.

‘I’m hungry’ he finally admitted.

The two little vials at Vincent’s hip, the last that were filled, glowed with light then, and from them erupted two streams of light, coloured pale-green and blood-red.

Celeste and Bastion materialized nearby, both staring at their master.

‘About time someone mentioned it’ Celeste said moodily, shooting a judging-look towards Alastor, who stared blankly back. ‘I’m getting really hungry.’

‘Well you’re not going anywhere’ Vincent told him with an eyebrow raise, glancing at Celeste’s tail. ‘Alastor found a place to stay overnight near a river. You should thank him.’

Celeste glance towards the river, then again towards Alastor, who gave him a little nod.

‘Thank you’ he said shortly to Alastor.

‘I can go somewhere though can’t I?’ Bastion, his chimera chimed up.

‘Of course you can’ Vincent replied, as beside him Celeste sank a little, curling his tail around his body. ‘But I don’t want you to go alone, Alastor…’

He looked up at the sound of his name, suddenly alert.

‘You go with him. You can watch out for each other.’

‘Perfect’ Bastion grinned, as Alastor rose, moving closer. ‘We’ll come back with something nice.’

‘Good’ Vincent nodded.

He watched as Alastor and Bastion went away.

They took no weapons, needing nothing of the sort, instead relying entirely on their magic.

Vincent felt a pang of sadness within him then, knowing he would never be able to control magic, not ever, not in any way. It was not something one could learn, but something a being was born with. The only magic that existed in this world that Vincent knew of, was that of his creatures. Otherwise, magic was a thing that existed only in fairytales.

‘Master?’ Havi spoke up. ‘Are you alright?’

Vincent let out a sigh.

‘Yes’ he told him. ‘Everything is fine. I’m just… tired.’

‘Rest with me then’ Havi smile, still lying flat against the ground. ‘Sleep with me.’

Vincent blinked slowly, lowering himself to the ground.

Nearby, Celeste was already relaxed, arms folded and chin resting on the ground, his tail curled around him like a cat, occasionally flicking at the end.

Though he was a creature of the water, he could survive for a long time out of the water, even thrive. As long as water was nearby. He enjoyed the fire, and its warm touch upon his scales, just as much as he enjoyed the cold embrace of the water.

Despite being part fish, he was incredibly agile on land, able to walk on his hands, climb, and was incredibly slippery.

Vincent glanced over towards him, but Celeste seemed to be already peacefully dozing.

He looked back towards Havi, who was watching him.

When their eyes met, Havi smiled, leaning forwards and giving him a quick kiss. Before shuffling closer to him, burying his face in Vincent’s chest.

Vincent blinked slowly, before letting out a deep sigh, closing his eyes, and allowing his mind to drift away.