Chapter 3 :Week 2
"For fucks sake Luka! Just move to the side! Why are you just taking this?!" Darkrai yelled at the idiotic purple haired boy from the other side of the clearing.
"But it's so hard!" Luka shouted back covered in scratches and bruises from the rocks and branches his training companion was heaving at him. "How I am supposed to dodge something moving that fast?!"
"I'M THROWING THEM AS FAST AS A SLUG GIRL CAN RUN! I'm honestly more impressed that you are getting hit at all!" The annoyed vampire barked back, throwing another stone.
Luka saw it coming and readied himself, bringing his wooden training sword up. As the rock neared, Luka attempted to block it with the edge of the blade, earning him another bruise on his forehead. Luka yelped in pain and fell back on his rear.
Darkrai pinched the bridge of his nose and huffed out a sigh before making his way across the large clearing the two have designated as their training grounds. "Luka, if you are going to attempt to block a projectile," Darkrai began to correct as he arrived to where Luka fell, "use the FLAT part of the blade. It has more area for the attack to hit. Also," Darkrai bent over and flicked Luka's new bruise, causing Luka to shout out and cover it, "I told you to DODGE. You aren't ready to learn how to parry attacks or projectiles yet."
Luka looked up, still rubbing his bruise. "I know, but I just thought it would be a lot cooler if I did!" Luka explained going starry eyed. "One of the hero's in town earlier told me about how he deflected a Dragon girls fire ball back at her! So, I wanted to try- OW!" Darkrai flicked Luka's bruise again, annoyed. "Hey!" Luka yelled up at him, "What was that for?!"
Darkrai looked at the boy with a mixture of amusement from his pain and annoyance from his naivity. "Because," Darkrai started, hand out to count the reasons, "You didn't do as I told you, because you believed in that "Hero's" tall tales, your stance was horrible, your accuracy was deplorable and you couldn't dodge a single attack. Also, unless that "hero" had a Dragon Steel sword or a heavily enchanted one, his blade would have melted on the spot and he would either been eaten or kept as a pet by said dragon."
Luka starred at the ground toying with some of the rocks that were thrown at him, seeming discouraged. "I guess that makes more sense, sorry." Luka admitted begrudgingly. Darkrai starred down at the boy, feeling like he just kicked a puppy for trampling Luka's daydream and critiquing him so harshly. He needed to work on not doing that.
He sighed at the pathetic yet heart tugging display. "How about we call it for now, we've been training since sunrise." Darkrai concluded, "Let's head back and continue your studies of monsters. I'll make us some berry tea as well." He finished with a warm smile.
Luka jumped up, vigor back in his step as he sang in agreement. The boy really loved learning more about monsters. Not even ways to defeat or hinder them, just general learning. Different races' likes and dislikes, homes, culture, customs. He craved to learn everything he could about them. Sadly, there was very little in the way of material Darkrai could find save for "Hero's Guides" given out by those creepy priests at the temple, but it was something at least. Of course, Darkrai added his own knowledge in as well and corrected the churches…thoughtful insight along the way.
He sent Luka back to the house while he collected up all their training gear. The clearing was far in the forest so he didn't think anyone would happen upon it, but he really didn't feel like making all the training swords and targets again. After he finished putting all the gear in a little hole under a bush he dug out, he started his way back to the village. It was only about a 20 minute walk, but the forest was so dense around these parts that you would never guess there was a settlement nearby, which of course made this location great. Far from where most humans would go normally and plenty of space to train.
Originally, he had planned on training by himself, and for the first week he did so. However, Luka soon wanted to join him as he wanted to be a "True Hero" someday and he didn't have a training partner.
"What the in First name is a "True Hero"? Darkrai remembered asking both amused and confused.
"Someone who helps people no matter what! It doesn't matter if they are human or monster, I just want to help those in need!" Luka had replied in a way Darkrai had come to call "Luka Like".
Darkrai chuckled at the memory. Originally, he had declined. After all, the reason he agreed to stay with them was so he could train in peace. However, as him and Luka became closer over the past two weeks he'd been here, he decided he'd let him tag alone just to see how it would turn out. Plus, he felt he owed Lucifina at least that much for giving him a place to stay.
And surprisingly enough, it was actually quite nice having him around. Darkrai would give him some training exercises to tone his body and build some muscle. They were like the ones his master given him, though he cut them down quite heavily to fit the young boy's stamina. After a week of that, he decided to begin training Luka personally rather than giving him exercises. Which had been a good cooldown from his own training which could be mind-numbingly hard. He hadn't even gotten through half of the first chapter of his training. Darkrai sighed at that, he had hoped to be finished with the first chapter by the end of the next week but it looked like he would be on it for another three at least.
He reached the edge of the clearing to where Luka had been waiting and started walking back together. "Can you teach me about Dragons today Darkrai?" Luka pleaded. Darkrai eyed the boy, "Why? Just because of what I told you?" Luka nodded and looked at him starry eyed, "Yeah! I mean, you said that their fire can melt a steel blade right? That's so cool! I wanna learn more about them!" Darkrai ruffled his friend hair, earning him a small scowl and playful groans of disapproval.
As they were about half way back, Darkrai noticed something off. He stopped and listened, causing Luka spin around to stare back at him confused. "What's up, something wrong?" He asked. Darkrai, not wanting to spook his friend, gave Luka a reassuring smile. "Yea, just realized I forgot to put away one of the dummies." Darkrai lied convincingly, "Why don't you head back and tell your mom we are ready for dinner? I'll head back after I put it away."
Luka nodded and continued to village. Once he was out of sight, Darkrai tightened his stance and reached back to place a hand on the polearm of his scythe. He closed his eyes and listened to the noises of the forest. Save for a gentle, summers breeze, it was silent. No birds, insects or other animals were making a peep. Which was never a good sign. Darkrai opened his eyes and surveyed the area with his noise in the air, trying to find any oddity.
As he looked around, his nose led him to a small puddle next to the path him and Luka used. Normally, he wouldn't think anything of it however there was one problem. It hadn't rained since Darkrai arrived to this continent.
Darkrai narrowed his eyes, allowing them to turn crimson as he approached the puddle. As he approached, he noticed more and more how unnatural the puddle looked. It was out of place, a light blue color rather than a clear hue and seemed to be quite the bit thicker than water. After reaching within arm's length, he stopped. "You aren't fooling anyone," Darkrai growled at the puddle, "So cut it out before I cut you, I don't like being stalked."
After his threat the puddle quickly grew and began to form a shape. As it contorted, a playful, high pitch voice came from the rippling figure, "Phooey! I was hoping to catch you when you walked by~." The voice said in almost playful disappointment.
When the blob fully formed, it revealed itself to be a light blue, short slime girl. She stared at him, cheeks puffed. "How did you to notice me!? I thought I was hiding myself very well." She pouted.
Darkrai sighed and returned to a normal state, not fearing the power of this slime girl. "Well," he began, getting into his critiquing mode, "The animals stay away from threats so they gave away you were in the area, your "hiding" was painfully obvious, you didn't cover your scent and you tried to be a puddle when there hasn't been rain in weeks. So really it was just a failed attempt…" Though it worked perfectly on Luka, he though, eye twitching.
Due to his harsh criticism, the slime girl seemed to become more…droopy. Her expression was a mixture between disappointment and depressed. "Awwww, I thought I did well. You're too harsh *sniff*." Blue slimy tears began to fill in the corner of her eyes.
Of course, this made Darkrai feel scummy again. For fucks sake, Darkrai thought, I need to stop being a dick when I give my opinion.
He moved to say something to her, but was quickly taken back when she suddenly shot straight up and looked at him in realization. "Wait!" She exclaimed pointing at Darkrai. "That purple haired boy didn't notice me! That means I DID do good!" As she finished, she puffed out her, causing her breast and the rest of her body to jiggle. "You must have been lucky or something!" He accused pointing at him.
Darkrai pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep inhale. The slime girl stood, pointing at him with a determined expression still on her face. "No, he's just not cautious enough…that and oblivious." Darkrai stated sounding agitated. "Look, I had a long day and still have a lot to do. What do you want?" Though it's not hard to guess. Darkrai thought.
The slime narrowed her eyes slightly and gave a lewd smile. "Weeeeeell~…"She began playfully, "I was getting hungry when I noticed you throwing rocks at the other boy. Sooo," She took a "step" forward while licking her lips, "I thought I'd try and convince one you to give me something to eat?~", she cooed.
Darkrai blinked, "Sure I don't mind."
The blue girl got into a pouncing position, ready to spring at him. "Then I'll just have too…" The slime recoiled back in surprise causing her body to jiggle with her, "Wait what?" She asked in genuine surprise.
"I said sure, I don't mind giving you some of my fluids," Darkrai reaffirmed.
"I...you…really!?" The slime said at a loss for words, but still ecstatic at his compliance. "Yay! I haven't meet someone willing to give me semen without a fight before!" She exclaimed practically jumping up and down.
Darkrai raised a brow at the celebratory slime as he made his way directly in front of her. "Semen? I never said I'd have sex with you." Darkrai stated causing the girl to stop jiggling in joy and give him a questioning glare. "But you said…"
"I said, "Darkrai cut in while reaching his hand behind him, "I'd give you fluids. Which I didn't lie about." Darkrai ran his palm along the edge of the scythes blade. He pooled his hands together while forcing blood from the cut, filling his palms with crimson nectar. The slime slid over to him and watched the blood pool in his hands with a perplexed look on her face.
"Why blood? It would have tasted and felt better if you let me get semen from you." She pouted.
"True, but it would have taken more time. And I don't wish to keep Luka and Lucifina waiting," Darkrai replied while applying pressure to his wound.
"But doesn't that hurt?" She asked somewhat concerned, "Wouldn't have been better to let me suck...?"
"Again, "he cut off", I know it would have felt better, but I don't have time right now. Besides, if I let you do that you would have drained me without me being able to benefit from you as well. It's hard to feed off a slime since you are all…well slime," Darkrai finished with a chuckle while bringing his cupped hands to her.
The slime gave him a sceptical look, but shrugged it off as began drinking from his hands. She started off cautiously, obviously not sure what to expect. But as soon as she took her first slip, her eyes lit up as she started chugging. Darkrai watch with a smile, amused by the slimes reaction to her first taste of blood.
As she finished, she let out a content sigh she stood back up. "That was great! Thanks for the meal!" The light blue slime chirped. Well, now her stomach was more of a purple hew. She looked back up at the boy with that perplexed look again. "But how did you know I would like that? I've never had someone offer blood before, I thought that was just a vampire thing?"
Darkrai huffed at the girls own ignorance towards her own race's diet, "What do you mean how would I know? It's common knowledge that slimes diet consist of men's fluids such as sweat, saliva, semen, etc. And that includes blood."
The slimes eyes went starry in amazement, "Wow! I didn't know that I could eat those also! I thought they just taste good, but I can make a meal out of make out session with a man?"
Not the brightest gal is she? Darkrai thought, "I mean, it would have to be a long session but I guess technically you could…but that's beside the point, I need to get heading off, good meeting you..."
"Lime!" She exclaimed happily. "Lime the Slime!"
"Lime, eh? Easy to remember at least, I'm Darkrai, guess we'll be seeing more of each other."
"Yea! I live in a small pond not too far from where you were beating that boy! So I'll visit every now and then!" Lime chimed.
Darkrai chuckled and started to leave but stopped after a few steps. "Oh, but just as a warning, if you try hunting that boy I was with…" Darkrai turned to her, baring fangs in a wide, sadistic grin and staring at her with crazed, glowing crimson eyes " You'll be in for a VERY, bad time. Got it lime?"
Slime quickly nodded her head, still beaming and jiggling, "That's ok! I have you to feed me now anyways! So make sure you see me soon~!"
Darkrai starred deadpan after the chipper slime was she slide away humming a cheering tune…Intimidation be damned I suppose. That or he just does it better. Darkrai thought annoyed as he walked away.
After Darkrai returned to the house, he was greeted by Lucifina who brought him to the table where Luka was finishing setting up the plates and silverware, though it was more like woodware. It didn't seem like Lucifina and Luka had anything other than wooden crockery or cutlery save for a cast iron pot and cauldron above the fire place. Might be nice to get them some nicer dining room sets as a gift maybe, Darkrai thought while sitting down.
After a nice evenings supper of mutton and potato stew, Darkrai began teaching Luka about Dragons and others of the Draconic lineage. He especially seemed interested in their magics and Dragon Steel forging. Of course, while he taught, he also made the berry tea Luka and Lucifina had come to enjoy.
After he taught Luka late into the night, he finally put the young boy to bed well after the moon was high in the sky. After he closed Luka's door, he made his way back to the living room where Lucifina was reading and sipping on a fresh batch of tea. As he took a seat, Lucifina pulled her attention away from the book and closed its leather bindings before looking up at Darkrai. "For being such a child yourself, you really know how to take care of kids don't you?" She teased him as she leaned back in her rocking chair.
Darkrai chuckled, "Yeah, well my master had adopted a young girl who was orphaned due to... well anyway she's probably close to Luka's age now that I think about. So, I guess I'm just used to taking care of people younger than me."
Lucifina nodded, "Well that would explain where your finesse for taking care of kids comes from. "
Darkrai cocked his head slightly looking slightly perplexed at Lucifina, earning him a confused stare from her. "Something wrong?" She asked.
"What doesn't finesse mean? I've never heard that before."
Lucifina eyes went wide before she closed them and covered her mouth to laugh, making Darkrai go red from embarrassment. "Sorry, sorry!" She wheezed through her chuckling. "When I talk to you I forget you are still just a young teen. You act so much more mature than a child so I naturally use a wider dialogue thinking you can keep up." She explained.
Darkrai hid half of his face in his sleeveless shirt as he slumped down in his seat. "Not my fault I don't know fancy words. Warriors talk through their blades and fists." Darkrai mumbled through his shirt.
"Now that's something I would expect someone your age to say," Lucifina laughed before composing herself. "But anyway, what about that girl your master adopted? If she's around Luka's age, we could make play dates one day!"
"Well, not that I'm against the idea," Darkrai stated sounding disingenuous, "But she is a young monster, a kistune at that, so I'm not sure how…innocent Luka would come out after that. Not to mention she's still on Hellgondo with master, so getting a hold of them would be next to impossible save for traveling there at the moment."
Lucifina pressed her brows together, obviously thinking over what he had told her. She smiled and looked up at Darkrai, "Ok then, when they are older and they reach a more mature age."
Darkrai felt a sweat drop roll down the back of his head, "Not really what I was going for, but fine, I'll accept that. Who knows, might be a good way to teach him about kistunes one day." Darkrai mused.
"You know," Lucifina started, giving Darkrai a questioning look. "I don't believe I have ever asked about your master. With how much you talk about him, I guess I've just been slowly putting the pieces together."
Darkrai furrowed his brows, trying to think back to a time he made more than an off comment about him, giving a low thoughtful hum. "Huh," he finally let out, "I guess I haven't talked about him ether."
"Well?" Lucifina edged, "Tell me about him! Start with how you two met."
"hm…" Darkrai said while tapping his finger on his chin, "His name is Adamant Eilif. I believe I met him through my mother after one of their meetings…
Hellgondo, Dark Sanctuary, Nine Years Prior
The huge, thick wood door slowly shuttered open, causing the young Darkrai to retreat from leaning on the door and stand to the side. After the doors opened fully, monsters began filing out of the large conference room they were in prior. Most were vampires, but there were a few other races: two gargoyles, a wolf girl, and a short skeleton. Nearly everyone exiting the room was conversing with one another. Various different opinions, all focusing on whatever was talked about moments ago.
The young, four year old Darkrai stood to the side scanning the crowds, jumping frustratedly to see more. After a short while of hopping, the person he was looking for finally saw him and jump over. Landing softly, she cupped her hands around Darkrai cheeks and kissed his forehead before nuzzling him with her own, covering the chuckling child with her silky, red hair.
"Sorry about that bonbon." The mature, voluptuous women coo'd apologetically. "Those mean rebels have been really nasty lately."
"It's ok mama!" Darkrai smiled up. "I was playing with Nami earlier so I wasn't waiting long."
"Oh that's great you were sweetie!" She said before narrowing her already narrow eyes. "You need to know how to make your future wife happy."
"Mooooooooooom!" The young boy pouted before give her a shove with a laugh.
As the two continued, a monster making their way to them called out, " Thana!" The mother gave an annoyed sigh before rising. "Adamant, I told you to not use my last name in public! It makes me sound old!"
Darkrai stepped out from behind her to get a view of the new person. He was slightly taller than his mother so around 190 cm (6'3''), and had silver hair he wore down past his shoulder blades. His cat like, blood red eyes wore upon his sharp features and monotone expression. His attire comprised of a purple stained, leather cuirass on top a black shirt and slacks, all under an open trench coat which made its way past the back of his knees, that was lined with snake like chains. But the thing that stood out the most of the man was the long, dark, dual bladed scythe that clung to his back.
Adamant matched the woman's expression, "And I believe I told you many times to address me Lord Eilif in public, Thana."
The two continued staring at each other through narrowed eyes, tension seemingly obvious between the two. However, at the high of their starring contest, the two broke into lighthearted hearted laughter before giving each other a friendly embrace. As they parted, Adamant spoke. "It was good to have you here during that mess, Lucine. These insurgents have everyone worried. Having your calm demeanor in there was a blessing by the First. I would have never been able to retake control of the council if you hadn't stepped in at the end."
Lucine gave a curt nod, "You give me too much credit. I'm sure you would have been able to encourage them with your charisma alone. Getting Elizabeth to calm down on the other hand…"
Adamant gave a deep sigh, "You'd think that in her years of experience, she'd have a better mindset than "charge the enemy directly" when we still have no idea about what kind of power they have."
"True, she's hardly 100 years younger than me yet her strategic analysis skills match that of an aggressive child." She stated annoyed. "Buuut," she said in a teasing tone, "I don't think someone as young as you should be talking about age. Her 300 some years dwarf your short 42 year existence."
"And yet I'm tied for influence and am more powerful than the Queen herself and have single handedly reclaimed Dark Sanctuary." Adamant countered playfully. "I believe I have achieved more in my short life than Miss Elizabeth in hers."
Both the adults shared a laugh before Adamant finally took note of the child by his friend's side. He took a knee and leaned forward to meet Darkrai's gaze. His naturally cold expression caused the child to hide behind his mother's legs, earning a small chuckle from her. Seeing the child's obvious lack of comfort, he attempted to soften his continence with a smile.
"Hello little one," Adamant said softly, "you must be Celine's son, Darkrai."
Darkrai meekly nodded, still cautious. Celine placed a hand on his head and softly fluffed his hair, earning a small groan from the child. "Sorry, he's still not used to being around new people, he's a shy child. It took months for him to start playing with Nami even."
Adamant stood back with a chuckle, still staring at Darkrai. "Well everyone grows at their own rates, I'm sure he'll warm up to me soon enough. We'll be seeing a lot more of each other soon after all."
Darkrai blinked and pulled his mother's black legging, grabbing her attention. "What does he mean?"
Using her cloak, she picked Darkrai up and brought him to her arms so it would be easy for them all to talk. Though Darkrai still squirmed all the way to her embrace. "Well bonbon, starting next year he is going to be training you. Your magic and abilities are a lot different than mommy's so I wouldn't be able to draw your full power. You are a very special child, so you need a very special teacher." She explained.
Darkrai turned his head and looked over the man in front of him again. "You are going to be my teacher?"
Adamant gave a small nod in confirmation. "Indeed. Since your airhead of a mother failed to do so, I guess I'll introduce myself. I am Adamant Eilif, ruler of Dark Sanctuary. Your mother and I became friends 13 years ago, during one of the Monster Lord's banquets. After she had you, she starting coming to me for advice quiet often regarding how to take care of you properly. Failure of a mother if you ask me." He teased earning him a dirty look.
"Well its been nice Adamant, but we should get heading back." Celine said. "Darkrai and I are going to see Nami and her mother."
"I need to give a report to the 15th anyway, she's been wanting me to keep her up to date on these rebels. It was nice meeting you Darkrai, I hope to be seeing more of you soon." Adamant finished with a curt bow before following the rest of the crowd out of the castle.
… "I was probably around three or four. Actually no, I didn't start training under him after my mother died when I was four, so I've been training under him for nine years now."
Lucifina leaned forward, a cautious and worried expression across her face. "That's an early age to lose a parent, I'm sorry that you had to go through that."
Darkrai gave Lucifina small nod and a smile, "I appreciate the sentiment, but there's no need. Don't get me wrong, I miss her greatly but she died when I was still very young, so I've had a lot of time to get over her passing. But it would have been much harder on me if master hadn't taken me under his wing."
"If you don't mind me asking, how did your mother pass? I can't imagine it was due to age considering she was a Vampire." Lucifina pressed lightly.
Darkrai leaned back into the chair while letting out a low growl. "I don't know the exact reason." He admitted. "Master was with her when she died, but he has refused to tell me. I'm guessing he's waiting for me to be older or maybe he thinks I'll vow my life for revenge or something stupid like that."
"Revenge?" Lucifina inquired, "So you think she was killed by someone?"
Darkrai nodded, "Without a doubt. She died when she and master were out together on a mission. She wasn't the klutzy type, so I know it wasn't accidental. My guess is she was killed by the insurgents they were talking about in their meeting. Can't think of any others on Hellgondo who would want her dead."
After that, the two sat in silence for a while, only the crackling of the fire and the chirping of crickets prevented silence from enveloping them. Lucifina seemed to be contemplating what to say next while Darkrai simply sipped the tea he had heated near the fire place while watching the shadows dance across the floor.
"What about your father?" Lucifina asked, breaking the silence between them. "Did he ever have anything to do with you?"
"My father?" Darkrai responded, surprised by the question. "No, I don't even know if he's alive or dead, I've never really asked about him. My mother had me with a human, not an incubi, so he wasn't allowed at the castle…what about Luka's father, your husband? I haven't seen him these past couple weeks."
Lucifina hands twitched slightly around her cup at the mention of her husband. "He's…no longer with us." She stated in a somber tone. "He was killed in Sentora when he was visiting an old friend."
Shock spread across Darkrai's face, quickly switching to more apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
Lucifina looked up to meet Darkrai's apologetic eyes and gave a warm smile, weary smile. "It's fine, I brought up fathers it only makes sense you would ask about Luka's."
She could see curiosity in his eyes, but knew he wouldn't press any further out of respect. Lucifina looked back down at here tea, gently swaying the warm, red liquid side to side. "His name was Marcellus, he looked a lot like Luka, almost exactly. In fact, the only thing I think Luka got from me was his complexion." She joked with a warm laugh. "He had come here after leaving an organization in Gold Port and, well something just clicked between us. He decided to stay here with me and cut all ties with the organization. He tried to repent for the sins he committed with that organization…but I guess that those sins caught up with him."
"…When you say Gold Port," Darkrai said accusingly, "You mean Ilias Kreuz, don't you? Which would mean that those "sins" that killed him…were monsters weren't they?"
She gave a small nod, still starring down at the light red tea swaying in her up. "Yes, to both questions." She looked up sullenly to meet his conflicted expression. "He lost close friends during his travels to a monster and let his depression get the better of him. After we meet and married, he came out of his despair. He used to call me his "star" for bringing him out of that state. He tried to make amends for his past afterwards by helping monsters on his travels. He led them to a haven on this continent west of here so they could live in peace."
Darkrai expression changed countless times through the short story, unable to fully be content with an emotion. "I've heard stories from many friends about the atrocities the Ilias Kreuz has committed. Each story enough to make me want to vomit. And each member so deluded and conceded in their twisted beliefs that the only way to stop them is to kill them or crush their minds." Darkrai starred into Lucifina's eyes. "But you managed to bring one of them back to their senses. And not only so, he even went as far as to seek redemption by assisting those he originally sought to destroy. Damn, you really are an angel, aren't you?"
Lucifina sat silently, eyes wide at Darkrai's words. She eventually broke and started laughing behind her hand. "I guess you could say that…" She wheezed. She quickly brought her fit under control and continued talking. "I'm surprised though, I thought you'd be more…I don't know, spiteful?"
Darkrai blinked. "Why would I be?" He asked bemused. "In despair, he made a stupid decision and you brought him back. On top of that he repented by helping those he tried to kill originally. It may not pardon him from his past sins, but there are many who wouldn't even try to make amends. It sounds like he was a good and honest man."
Lucifina smiled, looking back at her tea. "Yes. He was a great man."
Darkrai raised from his chair and moved behind Lucifina's before wrapping her in a hug. "For all its worth, I'm sorry for your loss. I know better than anyone how hard it is to close someone you love."
She placed a hand on his arm and leaned her head on his arm. "Thank you Darkrai. It means a lot."
After a short while like that, both decided to head to bed. Lucifina wished to first clean up and do the dishes but Darkrai insisted he would get it done. She thanked him then went to bed with Luka. Darkrai cleaned up for the next half hour quietly then checked to make sure she and Luka were asleep. Confirming so, Darkrai headed up to his room, opened the window and jumped out onto the neighbor's roof.
Giving a big stretch and cracking his neck, Darkrai took a slow exhale, eyes turning red as he did. He looked down at his shaking hands, attempting to have them stay steady. Glad they didn't notice, don't want them thinking something is wrong. Darkrai thought thankfully. It's been over two weeks' sense I've last fed. I'm honestly surprised that I'm only getting hungry now.
Of course, it wasn't something as basic as food Darkrai was hungry for, he could make something if that was the case. He hungered for blood, a necessity for all vampires and some other monsters.
Jumping roof to roof under the cover of the new moon, the snow haired vampire scanned the ground bellow, looking for people brave enough to stay out during the dead of night. With only a few lanterns lighting the roads, the town was mostly shrouded in darkness, making it near impossible for a normal human to see past the light of the lantern. Though to Darkrai's eyes, it might as well have been high noon.
Eventually, his hunting lead to a tavern at the edge of the village. "The Drunken Hero"…fitting. Darkrai took a perch on the roof of the tavern and waited, listening to the people inside to pass the time. He could hear the drunks inside, singing some song of a past hero's venture in slurry, horribly out of tune voices.
Eventually, a sorry drunken sod and what was probably his son came out of the tavern. The old man was still singing in a slurry tone while he leaned on the older boy for support. The man had a full beehive that hung to his adams apple that was covered in beer. Darkrai recognized him as one of the farmers around here, confirming that the boy was his oldest son.
Perfect, Darkrai thought, that boy will do nicely.
Following the pair from the rooftops, Darkrai waited to the pair to reach the edge of town. The man had a farm about a ten minute walk from the outskirts of town, meaning they would have to leave the village's safety and travel the unlit path. Perfect for an ambush. And with the boy's father as drunk has he was, he would be easy to knock out.
After the pair finally breached the safety of the village, Darkrai silently jumped to the ground and followed them out of the light of the lamp the boy lit. Half way through the trail, Darkrai covered his face with a cowl and took a running start at the pair.
Within three seconds, Darkrai had jumped and landed on the boys back, knocking both him and his father to the ground and pinned the boy with a knee on his back. The father was rolling around grumbling, but not showing any signs of getting up soon. The boy, on the other hand, was a fighter. Though dazed momentary, he tried to through off his assailant by attempting to roll and buck him off, but Darkrai's unhuman strength kept him well pinned.
Without wasting a moment, Darkrai bent down with toned flexibility and sunk his fangs in the boy's neck. With a gasp, the boy stopped all struggling and began breathing heavy, his hands gripping the dirt and grass as if it was his only lifeline. For the boy, the pleasure was immediate and intense, all sense of reasoning and logic thrown out the window. Not a single thought other than of the incredible pleasure coursing the boy's veins could come to his mind. The boy quivered and convulsed under Darkrai as he fed. Darkrai couldn't help but grin, his monster instincts enjoying every second of the boy's reaction to this alien sensation and the feeling of boys untainted blood flowing through his fangs.
Oh this is soooooo much better than those filthy bandits. Darkrai thought thankfully. Tart and gamey with a hint of sweet.
Less than a minute later, Darkrai content, he slowly removed his fangs from the boys neck. The boy made a small whine as the sensation started to dull before passing out. Darkrai licked the bite mark on the boy, imbuing his saliva with a small amount of magic to close the wound. After watching the wound close, Darkrai jumped off the boy and ran into the forest, not wanting to retrace his prior path. Darkrai looked back briefly to see the father finally getting up, still very drunk but attempting to wake his boy. Darkrai gave a chuckle at the sight before starting back to the house, licking clean the rest of the blood from his fangs.
"So this is what hunting feels like." Darkrai though aloud, his instincts still causing his blood to throb from his first true hunt. "I can see why some of the others get hooked on this. Food taste so much better when its caught yourself! Maybe I should find another just for fun…" Darkrai's eyes went wide in realization as he finished that thought. Darkrai stopped right there and sat down there in the forest. He closed his eyes and forced himself to breath slow, only now realizing the state he was in.
He was shaking form excitement with a huge, mad grin on his face. His muscles were ready to pounce the smallest provocation and his fangs were seeping with pleasure inducing venom. He continued to breath slowly, humming gently between breaths. Shortly after, he rose. "Can't get worked up like that, would be bad for Lucifina and Luka if I get caught in that state." Darkrai convinced himself.
With that he slapped himself lightly on the cheeks, shook and cleared his head and ran back to Lucifina and Luka's house. The place he was slowing calling home.
Hello again readers! Sorry for another late upload, life is still crazy atm. But with this chapter out of the ways, the next couple chapters should come at a faster rate. At least much faster than the rate I've been uploading MGQ Requiem recently. But to those who are keeping up with this and any new readers, thank you for reading! Once again, all reviews and criticisms are accepted and welcomed. I even had someone reach out to me with suggestions of what they what to see in future chapters which I am keeping in mind.
Thank you for keeping up with MGQ Requiem