"Wow..." Rei exhaled deeply; his host was possibly the most handsome man he had ever set eyes on.
Kai's two-tone blue-grey and silver hair was spiked at the back, resembling an 80's punk rocker, but his fringe flopped over his face, softly shading his eyes. His eyes themselves were like the purest ruby gems, shiny with a luminescence of their own despite the darkness. His pale skin seemed silky smooth, as if bathed in moonlight, although the windows allowed no light of any kind to seep through their glass barriers. What caught Rei's attention the most about him were the twin tattooed blue triangles on either side of his jaw, which reminded him of upturned fangs.
"Now that the formalities are out of the way, my servants will take your suitcase up to your room, and perhaps after your long journey, you might like to join me for an evening meal?"
Rei turned to flash his best smile and accept the invitation, but he found he was alone in the room, and a large dining table he had not noticed before, was set for two. "Well I'll be damned!" He took the seat at the side of the table, leaving the head seat for his host.
After what seemed like an hour, just as he was about to fall asleep, a slender finger tracing his jaw line snapped him back to reality. He found that Kai had taken his seat, and was staring at him intently.
"I'm sorry; it was rude of me to nod off like that." The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end; despite his good looks, Kai's touch unnerved him for some reason he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Nonsense, you've a long journey, you're naturally tired." Kai smiled sincerely, and Rei could have sworn he glimpsed a flash of razor sharp, elongated canines.
"Well I'd hate to let such delicious looking food go to waste, not to mention the vodka, I've always wanted to try it." Rei eyed the lavish feast before him hungrily.
"Yes...Russian vodka is one of my favoured beverages." Kai spoke slowly, as if devouring each word like the delicacies on the table before him.
They ate in silence for a while. Kai watched intently as Rei demolished each course of the meal enthusiastically. Finally Rei had to break the silence, which he found uncomfortable.
"So...erm...what's your history?"
"I beg your pardon?" Kai raised an eyebrow, and rewarded Rei's curiosity with a smile that did not quite reach his burning eyes.
"No family?" Rei swallowed quickly when he realised he had been speaking with his mouth full.
"Share a shot of pepper vodka with me and I shall answer your questions." Kai held up a bottle and reached for Rei's glass.
Rei accepted gladly, finding the sharp aftertaste quite enjoyable, and settled comfortably in his chair while he waited patiently for Kai to begin.
"Of my family, I am the last of my kind. I am descended from a long line of noble princes, the most famous as I'm sure you are aware is Prince Vladmir Hiwitari-Dracul, though the family knew him as Voltaire."
"Was he really a vampire?" Rei's eyes lit up eagerly.
"Some say so, others think he was simply a madman with a thirst for the blood of his enemies." His hair shadowed his eyes again, and Rei couldn't see his expression. "Personally I think history has its fair share of truth and myth."
Rei nodded. "So what about religion, wasn't your family supposed to be defenders of the Roman Catholic Church?"
Kai poured another generous shot of vodka in Rei's glass before he answered. "That 'relationship' didn't quite work out, besides which, I don't speak Latin."
Rei coughed, and spurted vodka all over his lap. "Hehe, yeah, I can see why that would cause problems."
"I wouldn't have considered that something to laugh about." Kai retorted sternly.
"What about love?" Rei quickly changed the subject. "Have been married perhaps?"
"Yes I was married once; it seems so long ago now..." Kai let the sentence trail off as a solitary tear escaped the corner of his eye.
"What happened?" Rei frowned.
"She died." Kai replied curtly, and Rei knew it would be unwise to pry further.
"I'm sorry." He bent his head in respect.
"You weren't to know." Kai got to his feet abruptly. "I will leave you to finish your meal in peace, I have paperwork to prepare for you."
He was gone before Rei could reply.
Later in his guest room, Rei looked up from writing in his journal to find Kai studying a photograph intently. He blinked rapidly, wondering how he hadn't heard Kai come in, when only moments ago the door had been firmly shut.
"Who is this?" Kai enquired, his voice seemed strangely softer than before.
"Oh, that's Tyson." Rei grinned as he thought of his koi.
"Tyson..." Kai breathed the name like a sweet smelling perfume, savouring its sound like the scent of wildflowers.
"Is he your brother?"
"My boyfriend." Rei corrected him firmly, but politely.
"I see..." Again, Kai seemed lost in his own wistful thoughts, and perhaps a little saddened, although Rei couldn't for life of him why.
"I will leave you now, you have unpacking to do I expect." Kai turned to leave.
"Wait!" Rei realised what he had forgotten.
Kai turned and raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"Where's the bathroom in this place? I really need to wash my hair."
Kai almost face-faulted, but managed to keep his composure to give Rei directions. Once he had left, Rei picked up the photo of Tyson and stared at it thoughtfully.
Hot steam filled the draughty bathroom like a synthetic fog. Rei's breathing became rapid as the hot water splashing against his bare shoulders clashed with the cold air. Having just finished rinsing his hair, he twisted it tightly to drain the excess water and reached for towel to rub it dry.
A cold sensation caused him to jump suddenly and drop the towel. He let out a sigh of relief when realised he had simply brushed Kai's hand as he had given it to him.
"So jumpy my friend." Kai mused, smiling.
"Your hand..." Rei trailed off as he remembered the sensation he'd felt; cold like ice and like burning flames all at once.
"Cold as death?" Kai grinned. "Yes, I'm slightly anaemic; I tend to feel the cold more than most."
Rei was about to answer when he felt something warm and wet trickling down the side of his neck. He thought this was odd seen as he had twisted the water out of his hair. He turned to the mirror and realised he had cut himself just below his right ear. He wiped the trickling blood away with a finger and sucked it absent mindedly.
Kai caught sight of the small wound out of the corner of one eye, and fought to suppress his instincts as he began to feel himself salivating. He reached for Rei's shoulder, and then recoiled with a disgusted hiss when he spied a crucifix adorning the youth's neck.
Rei looked down at the necklace with a puzzled expression, and then rested his gaze on Kai again. "Is something bothering you?"
Kai looked at him distastefully, his hunger forgotten. "Do not rest your safety in useless trinkets." He hissed, pointing at the crucifix. "God has no power here."
Once again, he was gone before Rei could reply.
Rei stood in silence for a few moments, then he nervously pulled his shirt over his head, and buttoned it up to the neck, this time keeping the crucifix out of sight.
...why, do you like playing around,
with my, narrow scope on reality,
I, can feel it all start slipping away...