If there ever was an awkward silence in history…the dining table where Haji sat should have been recorded. Dead silence was the entertainment and Haji casually glanced around the room noting the décor of the room.
The dining table was set to serve thirty people, yet all whom sat where Haji, Carl, and Nathan. Haji's bare feet were cushioned by a plush crimson-red rug styled intricately. Hand painted portraits of noble men and women aligned the walls and a diamond chandelier hung over the dining table illuminating Haji's features. The many windows were accessorized with open silk drapes and the floor was of white marble with a hint of ivory. Flowers so exotic an origin could not be placed decorated the table along with an aroma so divine that Haji could not help, but think of Solomon when it came upon him.
"Do you like the room, Haji? I designed it myself…although I have been recommending a more scenic view for dinner. Annually we hold a banquet in the ball room and this room can hardly contain the sheer number of guests we invite…it is actually being held next week, you will grace us with your presence won't you?" Nathan toyed with the crab on his plate and Haji was about to give a polite reply when Carl interrupted.
"I believe that dogs are not permitted to attend, I don't even think they are allowed at the dinner table." Carl smirked at Haji and Haji simply ignored the comment, not wanting another confrontation with the man. Nathan scrutinized Carl's insolence before secretly admiring Haji's mild temperance.
"I apologize for my lateness…where is Amshel and Diva?" James strode through the glass doors and calmly took a seat next to Nathan.
"Amshel shall be here in a few minutes…he had to run some errands…as for Diva, well I cannot fathom where she is now-" Nathan answered curtly.
"I'm here!" Diva announced in a sing-song voice twirling into the room and promptly posing for the four men. Haji narrowed his eyes as she pranced to his side, twisting her dress about her delicate frame. The young Queen resembled Saya in all aspects aside from skin tone and eye color; yet how could this stunning creature have such an ugly persona, he hadn't the slightest clue.
"Do you like my dress, Haji? Amshel bought it for me…is it not beautiful?" Diva pressed herself against Haji, giggling madly when the man shifted away in discomfort.
"It is a lovely dress." And it was a lovely dress; cashmere materials with lace overtop and silk ribbons adorning the bottom, it was a soft blue framed by navy thread…overall the dress was superb.
Satisfied with the answer Diva gamboled to where Carl gallantly stood by her chair bowing gracefully in the presence of his Queen.
"Ah…Diva! There you are my sweet…why the tardiness?" Carl politely pulled Diva's chair out for her and kissed the top of her hand as she sat giggling.
"Well, I wanted to look my best for our new guest. It is quite rude not to dress up for these occasions…tell me Haji, how is my big sister?" It was a teasing question, a question that was meant to unnerve and force a rile out from the solemn man.
"She is quite well from when I last saw her." Haji was not about to be a toy for Diva and the other woman pouted when she came to that realization.
"Wonderful…I can't wait for our next dance… I can imagine the feel of her blood soaking through my shirt, that piteous scream erupting from her throat…we will have such a delightful meeting." Carl's words enraged Haji and he wished for nothing more than to slice the other man's head clean off, "Tell me Haji, is Saya a screamer in bed, my curiosity is just eating away at me…I assume she's a real slut…am I correct? Begging and moaning for you to fuck her-" Haji stood from his seat in a flash and had the other man pinned to the wall with a steak knife at his neck. Carl grinned at how Haji lashed blindly out at him with the mention of his Queen. Diva and James watched the encounter with hungry eyes loving the entertainment. Nathan on the other hand merely observed Haji with a predatory gaze, his eyes appraising Haji's form.
"Do not speak that way of Saya in my presence…otherwise I will cut out your tongue and feed it to the dogs." Haji applied pressure to Carl's neck, allowing a small nick to signify his seriousness. Carl smirked deviously at the challenge and instead provoked the man further.
"Really, now…so you have yet to fuck her? What a shame, Haji…she is a beautiful women why I would-" Carl yelped as Haji dove the knife through his right shoulder and jerked it back out aiming for the man's esophagus, Haji plunged the knife forward only to be stopped as a warm hand softly grasped his.
A reassuring voice whispered, "Haji…enough. Stop this foolishness…come, it is time for bed." Solomon wrenched the steak knife out from Haji's stubborn hand and encircled his arm around the man's lithe waist pulling him from the dining room. Carl scowled at their departure before flipping Nathan off when the flamboyant blonde cackled at his lack of defense.
Haji jerked the oversized long-sleeved shirt over his damp body and hastily tightened the strings of his cotton pajama pants. The blonde's appreciative leer from the bed they shared had the man hurriedly dressing himself nearly ripping the clothes in the process. Every drop of water clinging to his skin, Solomon stared at with hungry eyes as if wanting to lick it off.
Wet hair hung over a tired face concealing the mortifying blush he sported; not wanting to face Solomon, Haji casually folded his rumbled clothes before setting them in the laundry basket. There were rules in the bedroom that Solomon enforced and if not obeyed Haji was faced with punishment. For example, after a shower, Haji was compelled to dress in front of the man; if Haji shied away or concealed himself in anyway, clothes would no longer be a privilege. In bed, if Haji failed to accept Solomon's advances (cuddling, kisses, spooning etc.) he would be driven to sleep outside on the balcony or a severe whipping. Normally Haji would be able to endure the nightly wintery temperature or the harsh beatings, yet it had been well over two weeks without consumption of blood and it was duly taking its course on his body. His skin was sallow and bruised, dark circles hovered underneath his eyes, the once luminous curls framing his face were flat and dull; overall his health had declined and his body was withering away.
Solomon sighed heavily, agitation in his voice, clearly noting for Haji to lie beside him. Haji stood from his crouched position and glanced at Solomon from the corner of his eye. Sleep was merely a leisure activity, as a chevalier they did not require it yet that didn't mean sleep was enjoyable now and again. Haji drew the covers back from his side of the bed and crawled in, flinching when his body was drawn into a muscular chest.
"How I missed you today… if only we could spend an eternity like this… together." Solomon kissed Haji's cheek and nuzzled the damp curls residing over his neck. Caressing the brunette's sides with adoration, Solomon inhaled the sweet aroma emitting from the younger man. Haji ignored the comment and instead maneuvered away from the prying hands. Secretly he loved the flashes of attention; the way the blonde kissed him, complimented him, touched him, and held him…it was all so foreign yet he was deeply fond of it. His pride and alliance to Saya…halted his thoughts whenever he ventured to far off into Solomon's hold.
Upon feeling Haji push away from him, Solomon's anger escalated, he was not a person to be ignored and cruelly jerked Haji underneath him by his hair. It was then that Haji's sleeve rolled up exposing two gaping holes lain over his forearm, "What. Is. This?" Solomon sneered seizing the punctured wrist and wrenching the man's head back by his raven tresses. Saya's chevalier flinched at the pressure, but merely looked off to the side in refusal to answer.
"Answer. Me." Solomon was in no mood for games and Haji's lack of acknowledgement towards him was fueling the fire. Solomon was in no means stupid, he knew what Haji had done…feeding off himself in hope of quelling the urge for blood. It did indeed irritate him that Haji had harmed himself even in such a miniscule way…yet he was possibly more disappointed in himself for having not noticed and for having let it happen. He could only lash out at the lamb lying in his den.
"Fucking, answer me, now!" Haji flinched at Solomon's cursing and struggled beneath the man, grunting as Solomon twisted his wrist. He had been without blood for two weeks, and Haji's thirst had reached its peak; he thought of himself as always having exceptional restraint in all aspects of his life yet this was something that he had no control over.
"I-I…was h-hungry." Haji gave up and could only watch with horror as Solomon dropped his wrist calmly walking to the bathroom. A shuffling was heard and Haji curled himself in the farthest corner when Solomon returned with a scalpel.
"I wanted to wait for you, Haji…I wanted your consent, for you to be willing… yet even so that still is not enough for you. I've tried everything I can think of…and yet your stubbornness and refusal to submit is…exhausting." Solomon fingered the blade and lifted it to his neck, before slashing through the milky flesh. Blood erupted to the surface staining the man's white dress shirt and trickling from the wound to the white carpeting.
Haji's eyes were smoldering red, precariously he crawled to Solomon; his limbs trembling beneath his weight, drool collected at the corner of his mouth, the crimson-tinted orbs dilated to unconceivable proportions, and shivers overtook his sensitized body. His parched throat implored for the bitter sweet blood; the aroma of the liquid quickened his heartbeat and dizziness consumed him.
"That's it…come here…come Haji…" Solomon beckoned Haji forth, eyes flashing as Haji stumbled off the bed and grasped his shoulders with both hands. The wound was healed already, but the blood still painted the ivory skin; Haji tentatively licked the side of Solomon's neck not in his right state of mind, logic and reasoning were gone, his thirst was overpowering. Solomon titled his head granting further access before pulling Haji flat against his chest.
"Ahhh…Damn … (Gasp)" Solomon muttered as the familiar tongue mapped the course of blood; when Haji's pink tongue lapped at his skin, a jolt of electricity went through him. Solomon smothered the moans as Haji nipped and bit; his hands wandered from Haji's lower back to his ass, before squeezing the mounds of flesh. Haji groaned and wrapped his own arms around Solomon's shoulders thoroughly enjoying the rough attention.
"Go on…drink…you don't know how long I've w-wanted this." Solomon grimaced when Haji sank his fangs in after a moment of uncertainty; it was done…they were one, a whole being….together forever, with only death being the divider…
Sunlight drifted in from the partially open curtains fanning over Haji's face. His eyelashes fluttered and his nose wrinkled at the brightness of the light; he shifted to his left side and snuggled into the warmth surrounding him. As he awoke, slowly opening his eyes the scent of Solomon's cologne washed over him and he quickly sat up fully aware of his surroundings.
Solomon was still asleep an arm possessively lay over Haji's waist and his blonde curls disheveled. Haji rubbed his eyes and noted the smell of the blonde's blood. 'What happened last night?' Haji pinched the bridge of his nose in concentration… he couldn't recollect anything that had happened the night before. No night terrors had struck up, no pain shot through his spine at random intervals as it often did, his own coughing had not awoken him…he had never slept any better in his entire 200 some years of living. Glancing at Solomon's blissful face, Haji couldn't help but smile at how peaceful the man appeared to be. It was a drastic change in comparison to the aloof mask he wore or that irritating smile he gave Haji when he knew something that he did not. Haji gently touched the punctured wounds lying over Solomon's fair skin; the dry blood flaked over Haji's thumb and a shudder ran through his body. The blonde's blood was so…sweet, sickeningly sweet…and how badly did his fangs ache for that taste. Haji gasped as Solomon's eyes shot open.
"Good Morning, love…did you sleep well?" His tone was light and Haji fell off the bed in surprise, the sheets tangled around his legs. Something was wrong…when he hit the floor no pain transpired…his body was healed.
"W-W-What did y-you do?!" The scars and bruises were gone, a healthy glow had returned to his skin, and the thirst for blood had finally been relinquished.
Stretching languidly, Solomon regarded him with sincere appraisal before offering his hand to Haji to help him from the floor. Haji flinched at the appendage and refused to accept the offer instead glowering at the man in fearful suspense. Sighing dejectedly Solomon sauntered into the bathroom neglecting the blood on his neck. Haji detangled himself from the silk sheets before following the man inside the washroom where he was calmly brushing his teeth.
"W-What h-happened last n-night?" Haji's alarm overpowered his voice and Solomon frowned thoughtfully.
Spitting out the tooth paste and wetting the cloth in hand Solomon answered, "We fucked."