Chapter Thirty Eight: Hope Against Hope

The Vampire returned in the hail of glory, almost all civilians cheered at their speedy return, and those civilians who were related to someone under the Vampire's command, ran to their loved ones who were either in clean armor, or armor that was bathed in blood. When I saw the Vampire, something, like a ball of emotion, gathered inside of my chest, which caused me to run and jump into his arms as he strode up to me-nearly toppling him over! He was stunned for a moment, before laying his arms about me and holding me close. I held him as tight as I could as the ball of emotion exploded within my chest, I felt nearly inseparable from him.

Seeing this, the Vampire let out a dark chuckle, but not one that struck fear within me, it just made me smile. He lifted me into his arms and carried me, instead of pushing me away. With a smirk painted on his lips and his eyes showing great fatigue, he walked me to the throne and collapsed into its forgiving, cushioned embrace. He held me upon his lap. He would not speak for the longest of moments, his champagne gaze swimming over me, again and again, until he found it appropriate to speak. "Details" he demanded, though, his voice wasn't stern, or harsh in any way, it was simply...exhausted.

So, with a breath and a sweet smile, I laid out the events of the battle for him-sparing him nothing of the abnormally degenerate details of the skirmishes I was engaged in; as well as disclosing the wickedly astounding behavior which so changed in the 20,000 troops he'd left me. He only appeared interested when I spoke of the personal altercations between myself and the flying demons; sitting up slightly, with narrowing eyes which watched my every move and hands which held me firmly to him. All else in my telling, he was leaned comfortably against the back of the throne, his eyelids drooping to a close-shielding his champagne irises- and his entire body began to radiate relaxation. "Why are you falling asleep?" I asked pointedly, with more sass than anticipated; he opened one eye, to observe me. "I should be the one falling asleep-we killed at least 60,000 flying beasts! You all only had to deal with 300-and I had less soldiers!"

"I gave you the better of the soldiers" he said, his voice low as he closed his eye once more.

"But you were expecting a fight, we weren't! We were attacked by more flying beasts, we pushed them into a retreat for their lives, and we only lost 200 creatures. Not to mention, my shoulder was crushed, I ripped a beast's torso open, ripped out his heart, crushed his rib cage with my face, drank his blood from the heart, and strangled another beast with the former beast's intestines-and I saved more than a few lives today-I am the one deserving of a nap." I explained, crossing my arms upon my chest; now the Vampire opened his eyes once more, though, they were half lidded.

"I am the one forced to deal with you in all hours of the night and day-I win." He replied simply, offering a sly smirk.

"Oh, shut it." I grumbled, turning away from him for a moment, before turning back, feeling more than a little, playfully, insulted. "I am damnably wonderful! What have you for complaints?" Asked I, watching him expectantly. He mumbled something beneath his breath before sitting up again, his irises were a darkening pink, almost appearing bloodshot!

"You are not the master, June, do not pretend to take power from me; if you try it once more, I will show you how much power I truly have." He growled, his tone, however melodic, dropped to the depths of hell and his eyes stared hard at me; I felt the cold heart in my chest leap into my throat! I wasn't trying to take power from him! I was...I was...what was I doing? My mouth hung agape for a moment, but words refused to spill from it! The Vampire cocked an eyebrow, expectant for a sure-fire comeback. I did not give him that.

"...I'm sorry" I said after a few moments' pause. Then, I bit my tongue, this would surely rise his spirit-but, oh, the humiliation! I hated that word. "...Master" I added on a breath, finding the word's bitter taste sweetening on an exhale. The Vampire did, indeed, begin to grin mischievously; I didn't know if he liked to hear the word pass through my lips, or the struggle which I went under to push the word out of my vocal chords.

"Master forgives you" he said with a sickly sweet smile upon his face, as if he were proud. Now, the guard which had hopped away to get me a coffee, returned. I thanked him and took the brown drink graciously, sipping on it at first-but...I could taste nothing. I could smell the beans and the creamer which was so hurriedly stirred in, but none of it would alight my taste buds; I could only taste the steaming hotness of the liquid against my tongue and cheeks and nothing more. Suddenly disappointed, I placed the drink on the arm rest of the throne; the Vampire watched me.

"You already knew you could not taste the drink." He stated, looking down at me, I nodded and turned my gaze to his.

"Yes, but...I held out a tiny bit of hope"

***He was already awaiting my presence in the bath, and when I entered the room, I was engulfed by a wall of steam which poured into the room behind me; however, it felt nice against my cool skin, but my lungs certainly didn't appreciate it. Stepping in to the bathroom, I closed the door behind me, to trap the heat inside, and made out the figure of the Vampire, laying in the bubble-less bath, his arms splayed out beside him on the rim of the tub; though, over his pelvis sat a rag.

"Oh, come on!" I cried, at seeing the cover-up, he only offered a sharp toothed grin.

"I know as a complete fact that you have never been exposed to a nude, male body; whether in sculpture or not. I would prefer to keep it that way until the night of the ultimate bearing of souls is upon us." Explained he, laying his head back, against the rim of the bath, though, his eyes were wide open, and just as scrutinizing as before; I stood before the bath in a white, cottonous towel which covered by body from his view.

"But...you've seen me naked before" I huffed, holding tightly to my towel, he nodded.

"Indeed, I have, and what a lucky day it was." Replied he, I fought what felt like a phantom blush. "I counted myself the luckiest vampire in this plane, on that day." Added he, I felt guilt creeping up behind me now, ashamed for calling him out, I glanced down at my feet, gliding it against the tiles of the room's floor.

"...Shouldn't...shouldn't I have the same chance to feel so lucky to see you in your most natural form?" Asked I, now advancing slowly and sitting upon the side of the bath, the Vampire tossed his head slowly for a moment, seemingly mulling it over, until he smirked to me once more.

"You've already been granted that chance, Junie."

"When?!" I cried, turning more towards him and he let out a chuckle.

"The last time you and I bathed together; I took the moment to...observe you, and you could have taken the moment to observe me, for I was uncovered completely then, but that chance is gone, until the time we choose to give ourselves completely." He decreed, in a huff, I held up my index finger and nearly stomped out of the room, finding a bathing suit in my luggage, and sneaking it on behind a dressing screen, when I returned to the bathroom, the Vampire had quite the laugh! He laughed until there were tears dripping from his eyes, as I slid into the bath. "Is this your way of besting me, darling?" He asked, a chuckle riddling his voice, to this, I nodded. After a moment of quiet contemplation (and his gaze continuously moving over me) he gave a quite playful smile and nodded slightly.

"Fine, fine...if I agree to remove the cloth, you will agree to remove the suit?" He asked, his expression never wavering. To this I nodded. "You first" he added, I was about to protest, when he held up his index finger. "Truly think over what you are about to say, then say it, darling."

With that, I mulled over what I was about to say, before letting out an involuntary sigh. "How do I know you'll remove the cloth?"

"Darling, have full faith in your anger. If I do not remove the cloth myself, there is not a doubt in my mind that you will." Replied he with a gentle laugh, I smiled, he wasn't wrong. Even if I had to wrestle that man, I would make sure our deal was fair. I nodded, agreeing, before I slipped off the suit, dropping it just outside of the bath. His 'observation' of me took like a fish takes to water-instantly; his tongue peeked from between his chapping lips, and soon, his bottom lip was caught between his teeth, being chewed on. "I will never tire of admiring you" he said softly, his gawking stare returning to my eyes; his stare wasn't scrutinizing, instead, I felt...safe, I felt like any judgement which had been predetermined between us had vanished, like the steam was from this room. The Vampire wasn't seeing me in a new light, no, he was ogling at me from a refreshed light, now, in that room packed with warm water and raging, undead hormones, I saw what I'd been longing to see-what I saw hints of over the last spell-it was not ferverous infatuation filled with only lust; it was a cherishing enchantment.

It was a worshiping passion, it was doting romance! It was equivocal respect! It was love.

"Yes...indeed, it is." The Vampire replied after a moment of relishing realizations; we only blinked at one another for a moment, until he cleared his throat. "I do love you, June." He added, his eyes almost seemed...shy, as if he were afraid of rejection! "I know you also feel the same, darling." He added quickly, before I snatch the chance to show him my love. "But there is something we both must understand" he added, quieting me, his eyes, however gentle, gained an edge. He slid over to me, in the process, the cloth fell away-it was an inappropriate time to peek, though. He sat before me, his legs pointing to the side, but he faced me, his hands taking my own. "We are in a time of war" he began, I already felt my heart climbing back into my chest, taking up its useless position. "And the odds, June, they are against us to the nth degree; yes, we have troops who are merciless and on the ready at all times, but the shape-shifters continue to manufacture these demons by the hour; we are outnumbered, June-"

"My Vampire" I began, squeezing his hand, accidentally cutting him off. "If only 20,000 of my troops can tear down 60,000 flying demons, imagine what the full 40,000 can do!"

"That will only last for so long, Junie." He answered, giving out a sigh. "I have lived through three wars, one of which I took part in, and the results, June...they are beyond all imaginative comparison." He said, his voice normal, but, it slowly began to shake; he was showing me emotion! "I have lost many friends, June, I even lost my own Master in a war when they used that very same beast, the one which is locked in my torture chamber, against us. June-" He leaned close, so much so that I could see the glassiness of his eyes, his forehead touched mine with feathery softness.

"June, I cannot lose you."

***I awoke in the bed, a little groggy, but mostly clear minded; however, it was only when I glanced over the side of the bed that I remembered what happened. Bath robes and towels were strewn about the floor, underwear and a bottle of pills were laying limply near a nightstand, and, I didn't need to glance down at myself to know that I was in occupying my birthday suit-and so was the Vampire.