Chapter 12

Sauli walked home in the darkness of the bustling city, the streetlights guiding his steps on the pavement. He sighed as he let his mind wander. He thought of Mika, of work, of how strange the city looked at night, but no matter what topic his mind wandered off to, it would always find its way back to the thought of Adam.

"I hope he's okay," thought Sauli as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "I hope he's safe..." Sauli's pocket vibrated and he pulled his phone out.

"One missed call from Mika," it read. Sauli pressed the message and the phone began to call Mika. He put the phone to his ear and waited patiently for Mika to answer.

"Sauli!" Answered Mika on the other line. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Ole huoleti, Mika. I'm alright. I just went out for a coffee with Adam..."

"You went out with that guy? Mikä hätänä, Sauli? Why would you do that?" Sauli groaned softly and massaged his forehead in annoyance as he talked.

"He's my friend, Mika. He asked and I didn't want to be rude." Mika grunted on the other line, then a crashing sound could be heard. "Hillitse itsesi, Mika! I am so tired of you destroying our home with your stupid temper tantrums!"

"Sauli," said Mika, now sounding distressed and nervous, "Sauli, what are you saying? What do you mean?"

"I'm done with you, Mika. When I get back, I am packing and leaving."

"Sauli," said Mika pleading, "Sauli no, no baby please, I'm sorry. I promise I'll be better."

"I'm hanging up now." Sauli moved his phone away from his ear and was ready to end the call.

"Sauli, please!" Begged Mika on the other line, now shouting loud enough that he could be heard without being on speakerphone. "Sauli don't leave me! I need you, baby! You're my life! I promise I'll be better, I swear! Ole kiltti, Sauli! Rakastan sinua, Sauli! Älä jätä minua!" Mika was sobbing loudly on the other line and guilt overtook Sauli. He cared for Mika and hearing him this way hurt his heart. Sauli sighed and put the phone to his ear.

"Mika," he said, "minäkin rakastan sinua. I will see you in a little, alright?" Mika sniffled and coughed on the other line.

"O-Okay," he answered. "Nähdään pian."

"Hei hei." Sauli hung up and practically threw his phone back into his pocket. He felt a drop of water touch the back of his neck as he looked down. Seconds later, rain began to downpour all across the city hard and fast. Sauli gasped and ran as quick as he could back to his house, getting soaked no matter how hard he tried not to. He rummaged through his left pocket, grabbed his house keys, and fumbled as he unlocked his front door and bolted inside. He shut the door behind him and sighed with relief as he laid his back against the door.

"Sauli!" Mika got up from the living room couch and hugged the soaked Sauli tightly. "I missed you so much." Sauli, a little taken aback, hugged Mika back and rested his head on Mika's shoulder.

"I missed you too," said Sauli. "When did you come back?" Mika patted Sauli's back as he spoke.

"Two hours ago...When I got here I saw your friend Tommy sleeping on the couch, so I woke him up and told him to leave. Before he left, I asked him where you were and he said you went out with that Adam guy and I couldn't stop worrying. You didn't text me where you were going or what time you'd be back and I just couldn't stand the thought of something happening to you." Sauli smiled a little and kissed Mika's cheek.

"No need to worry, my love," he said, "Here I am, healthy and fine."

"Thank God," replied Mika, holding Sauli tight and close to him.

"I can take care of myself, Mika," said Sauli, trying to loosen Mika's hold over him. "I am an adult, not a baby. You don't need to be so concerned. Besides, I was with Adam." Mika growled to himself.

"Like that's reassuring. I don't even know him, so how can I trust him?"

"But I know him," said Sauli, "Like I have said more than once, he is my friend, so if I trust him, you should too."

"How do you know that you know him, Sauli?" Asked Mika. "How do you know it's safe to be around him? Didn't you hear about those two teenagers who went missing the other night?" Sauli rolled his eyes and moved Mika's arms off of him gently.

"Please, Mika," he said, "Adam does not want to kidnap me like those kids were."

"They weren't kidnapped, Sauli," replied Mika, "The police found their bones this morning underneath a dumpster in an alleyway just outside of town." Sauli gasped.

"That's awful! Their poor families..."

"You see why it's dangerous out there, Sauli?" Mika asked, holding Sauli's hands. "That's why I was so worried. Plus, these kids go missing around the same time you meet this stranger with no place to live? Seems a little suspicious if you ask me." Sauli chuckled and kissed Mika's lips.

"Oh, Mika," he said, "you can be so paranoid when it comes to me. Relax, my love."

"I'm serious, Sauli! While he's staying here, I'm going to keep a sharp eye on him." Sauli giggled and caressed Mika's cheek soothingly.

"Olet niin suloinen," giggled Sauli as he pulled Mika into a kiss. Mika smiled as he kissed Sauli, who ran his fingers through Mika's hair. As they kissed, the front door flew open with a flash of lightning and crash of thunder. Both Sauli and Mika gasped as they turned and saw Adam, cut up and soaked, standing in the doorway. His pants had huge rips in the leg and knee sections, his shirt was torn at it's stomach, and his face had a large cut from his eyebrow down to his right cheek. Blood dripped down his arm, which was punctured by a piece of broken glass.

"Sorry to ruin such a beautiful moment," he said, kicking the door closed behind him.

"Jesus Christ, Adam!" Sauli ran over to him and put Adam's arm over his shoulders, helping him walk. "Mika, please, go get me some warm wet towels and the first aid kit!" Mika nodded and ran into the other room as Sauli helped Adam onto the couch. Adam winced as he slowly lifted his legs onto the couch to lay down. "What happened to you?!" Asked Sauli, concerned beyond comprehension.

"It was nothing, really." Said Adam in an eerily calm manner as he pulled the shard of broken glass out of his arm. "I'm fine."

"You are NOT fine!" Shouted Sauli. "You are bleeding all over the place!"

"I'll clean it up later, I promise." Sauli huffed.

"You think I'm upset because you're getting blood everywhere? I'm upset because I care about you and you're hurt! I'm scared for you. What happened? Who did this to you?"

"Just some asshole with a pocket knife," replied Adam, wincing in pain as he sat up. "I'll be fine in the morning. I just need time."

"No," said Sauli, taking a wet towel from Mika and placing it on Adam's leg, "you need help." Adam groaned in pain as the towel's heat was absorbed by his wound.

"Ahh!" He cried. "That hurts! Stop!" Adam slapped the towel onto the ground. "I don't need that! I told you, I just need rest. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine in the morning." Sauli shook his head and pressed the towel onto Adam's leg once more. "Ahh!" Groaned Adam. "That kills!"

"Well it wouldn't kill if you stopped moving!" Shouted Sauli impatiently. Adam wanted to say something, but instead he threw his arms down and sighed with defeat.

"Fine," he said. "Whatever..."

"Good," said Sauli softly as he dabbed the towel on Adam's bloody wounds, "now you must hold still. This may sting a little." He grabbed a bottle of disinfectant from the first aid kit and poured some onto a rag. Then, he began to dab it onto Adam's cuts. Adam hissed in pain, closing his eyes tightly as the rag made contact with his skin. "Easy, Adam," said Sauli, "I know it stings, but I'm trying my best not to hurt you." Adam opened his eyes and looked at Sauli, fascinated by his caring and considerate nature.

"Thank you, Sauli," said Adam, "for helping me. I'm not used to people actually caring about me..." Sauli smiled a little and began wrapping up Adam's leg.

"It's no problem," he said smiling, "anything for a friend. Now, tell me who did this to you. Did you see his face?" Adam looked down, hesitant to speak.

"N-No," he said, "I guess I was too scared to see."

"Why did he attack you?" Asked Sauli as he finished wrapping up Adam's arm. Adam froze for a moment, memories flashing by his eyes. A man screaming, a flash of lightning, the boom of thunder, flesh being pierced by sharp fangs, a slash against Adam's eye, a roar in pain. Adam shook himself back into reality and gulped.

"I-I don't know," he replied, "I think he was trying to mug me..." Sauli looked at Mika with concern.

"Maybe you were right about it not being safe, Mika," he said, turning to Adam and gently caressing his hair, "I mean, just look at poor Adam." Mika scowled at Adam, eyeing him suspiciously..

"Adam," said Mika, "where were you when this happened?" Adam looked at Mika as Sauli gently dabbed the cut on his eye with the rag.

"I was on my way here," he said.

"I get that," said Mika, "but where were you? Where did it happen?"

"Um..." said Adam, "I-I can't remember what street it was, but the guy knocked me into an alleyway and just started slashing me. I tried to fight back, which is why the cuts are so spread out."

"Interesting," said Mika, "and how did the glass get in your arm?"

"I fell on it," said Adam, very matter-of-factly. "I don't mean to be rude, Mika, but I just went through a traumatic experience and I don't really wish to discuss it at this time. So leave me alone, please and thank you!" Adam gestured for Mika to leave, but Mika simply rolled his eyes and turned away.

"You get your rest, okay?" Said Sauli softly, grabbing a blanket off the other couch and covering Adam with it. "It will be good for you." Adam smiled a little, blushing lightly as Sauli tucked the blanket under him. "You let me know if you need anything, okay? And don't worry, I'm sure the police will find the man who did this to you."

"Thank you again, Sauli," he said, "No one has ever been as nice to me as you are." Sauli blushed and kissed Adam's forehead, making Adam blush bright red.

"Rest, my friend," he whispered, "Hyvää yötä, Adam. Sweet dreams." Sauli stood to his feet and walked over to Mika, who was waiting impatiently with his back turned to Adam. Sauli took Mika's hand and the two walked into their bedroom together, shutting the door behind them. Adam ran his fingers across his forehead, feeling the area Sauli's lips touched.

"Oh Sauli," whispered Adam, "what have you done to me?" He sighed blissfully as he closed his eyes and replayed the memory of Sauli kissing his forehead in his mind. He smiled to himself with a light giggle as the thought of Sauli danced in his brain. "Mmm," purred Adam, "Sauli. Dear, sweet, succulent, Sauli." His bliss was interrupted by the sound of Sauli and Mika giggling. Adam's highly-developed sense of hearing, which he used for stalking prey, caught every little whisper and confession of love they said to each other. Adam winced, his eyes widening like a sad puppy's. He imagined Sauli snuggling into the arms of Mika, who would hold him close and pet his hair as Sauli drifted off to sleep. Adam looked up at his forehead and rubbed the spot Sauli kissed, letting one of his horns out for a quick moment. It tore right through the spot. Adam sighed as the horn vanished back into his forehead.

"Don't dream too far," sang Adam to himself,

"Don't lose sight of who you are..."

Adam frowned and shut his eyes, trying to think of things that would drown out Sauli and Mika's happiness.

"Don't remember that rush of joy..."

Adam grunted in frustration as he pressed a pillow from the couch onto his right ear, trying to block out the noise.

"God damn their happiness," growled Adam, "I hate that Mika. He's what's keeping Sauli away from me." Adam smirked and chuckled to himself. "But not for long. Perhaps it's time I let Mika hear a new song I'm working on." Adam laughed to himself as he relaxed against the couch pillow, slowly drifting off to sleep.