CHAPTER 2

A/N: If you love Goth music, listen to Midnight Syndicate's Vampyre: Symphonies from the Crypt! This album is just wicked!

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"What this mean?"

Axel stopped in his small pacing around his bedroom, and leaned over the sofa's side, peering down at a open book with a sentence pointed at. Demyx's blue eyes glanced up into Axel's emerald orbs, waiting patiently for a responce. "Read it to me." He asked, not wanting to lean down too far and spill his drink he was holding in the same silver goblet. Demyx nodded and slowly tried to say the words. "Rrr... Ran...'Ransacking in the heaps of bodies dead, To strip them of their gear from foot to head'." Demyx glanced up, and asked again. "What does it mean?" Axel licked the inside of his cheek, before the tip of his tongue pasted over a fang. "It means the man stole the goods from his enemies. He took their things away for his own, to show his noble deeds to his kingdom." He finally explained. "Ohh. Okay." The blonde smiled and returned to reading Axel's book. The vampire smirked and shook his head returning to his pacing as he listened to Demyx read aloud to him to help teach him better English. "Once we finish Chaucer... I'm going to introduce you to Dante... his stories are pretty powerful." He said as he approached the small round table to place his now empty goblet on the table. "Why?" Axel paused and shrugged. "I dunno... it just is." The blonde nodded and returned to the book, fasinated with this story about a knight.

While the youth continued, Axel leaned over the top of his coffin, after closing it when he eariler selected a book for Demyx to learn from. It had been one month since Demyx came to him, and the little servant boy was eatting through those books faster than Axel could count. Soon, the boy would finish through all of Axel's collection, so the redhead would have to resort in requesting more. Or sneak in and 'borrow' Saix's collection though most of his books focused on battles, hardships, and mostly things that were bloody and a messy affair. Axel had to avoid those, as Demyx was squeemish when it came to gore and violence like that. He just had a soft heart. He soon drifted off, his mind now blank and heard nothing as he stared out the window at the gardens below. Soon, his imagination took over and he saw the gardens come to life under a golden sun. He clearly saw the flowers in full bloom, birds fluttering about the fountains, and a warm breeze flowing through the trees. And then.. underneath one of the oak trees, was him... unharm by the sun's light and curled up with a book in his hand. Axel never liked to show he was a reader, but he read to keep from losing his mind. So there he was, in the daylight, reading a book while keeping a eye on Demyx all the same who was playing near the fountain, splashing water in the air and laughing. They had formed a secret friendship, and for once Axel was happy to gain a friend that understood him, even though the language barrier was slowly coming down. He could picture all this happening... and the two of them happy while Marluxia chased after a mysterious woman.

Suddenly Axel's eyes snapped, his own little world disappearing together back into reality. There down in the small green of the courtyard gardens, Marluxia was outside with a human woman dressed in velvet purples and black plush garments, and was very flattered with her apparent 'Prince Charming'. "Oh... great." Axel scoffed and turned a nose away from the window. Demyx stopped reading and placed the book ribbon in place to inspect what Axel was watching. He peered out the window and watched as the pink haired vampire wooed over the unsuspecting victim. "That's Lord Marluxia right?" He asked, looking at Axel and pointing down. Axel silently nodded. "Yeah... and he's not trying to win that woman's heart. He does this every so often... playing the charmer to ladies, and when they don't see it coming, it's too late." He explained, not wanting to look over his shoulder. Demyx slowly blinked before gazing back at the pair below. "I suggest not watching..." Axel whispered. But he knew Demyx's curiousity would get the best of him... And so as the blonde watched, Marluxia seemed to proclaim some sort of love to his girl, who was more than happy to except and leapt into his awaiting arms. The two kissed about, though Marly trailed his down the curve of her jaw, and down her neck. He planted one last kiss, on the spot he intended to attack, and without warning unfurled his lips reveiling his fangs plunging them into the nape of her neck. She screamed and tried to fight away, but his grip was stone and soon drained her of her life essence in blood. The woman soon fell limp in his hold, and soon he pulled away, laying her down on the grass while he licked away the blood off his lips.

Taking in no more, Demyx cried out and ran to Axel's side, clinging to his red coat. The redhead blinked, feeling the boy shiver against him. "I don't want to see that again!" He cried out. Axel slowly nodded, and after placing Demyx back on the sofa went towards the window and closed it tightly. "It's alright Demyx. It's over." He said as he returned to the boy. The other looked like he was about to fall into tears. "Why does it bother you that badly?" He asked in a low whisper while standing above the other. Demyx's blue eyes glanced up at Axel, seeing them gleam in the oil lamp's light. "My family... was killed that way..." He finally said after a long, hard pause. A lump formed in Axel's throat and he had difficulty swallowing suddenly. "I... I see." He tried to clear his throat, but to no avail. "Demyx... go down into the kitchen and ask to prepare me a small shot. I have something caught in my throat and can't swallow it down." Axel ordered, and Demyx nodded, wiping away the tears off his face before they fell and were found by the other lords of the household. Once the blonde was gone did Axel's tense body slowly relaxed and tossed himself onto his bed.

"Damn you Xemnas! Damn you to oblivion and back!" He sneered as he buried his face into a pillow, nawing on a corner with his teeth and getting one fang caught in a threaded seam. Axel struggled abit, pulling back to hear that thread snap. But alas to his dismay, that dreaded fang did not fall out as he has hoped for. He flipped over onto his back, staring up at the painted ceiling. It was a scene of clouds and birds, with a dragon in blazing red scales flying almongst them. He didn't mind the painting, but it was done for him from Lord Xemnas. Basically more flattery gifts... anything to get Axel out of his room more and actually fight for that prize. "Axel?" The redhead's eyes snapped from the ceiling to seeing Demyx at the side of his bed holding a silver shot glass filled with thick red blood. "Oh... thanks Demyx." Axel said as he took the glass and gulpped it down. Licking up the leftovers, Axel senced that Demyx was slightly uneased with Axel's need for blood. "What?" He asked once he was done. The blonde shook his head and returned to the sofa. "Demyx, what's wrong?" He asked again. The boy was still silent, and it seemed not a peep would emerge forcing Axel to lay back down again and zone out again when he heard the smallest of whispers. "Why do you drink blood like them?"

The vampire prince stood up, seeing Demyx on the sofa hugging a pillow, stoking the satin texture with a thumb. Axel was taken back by this, and slowly came over to sit next to him. He dare not reached over and place a hand to the blonde's shoulder lest he might bolt. "Demyx..." He whispered back. The other turned around, glancing up at Axel. Axel glanced to the floor, before bringing up the courage to speak. "They force me to.. and now I can't have anything but it. I would love to eat and drink like normal people, but I just can't..." He frowned slightly and looked away, unsure if reveiling this would break the small friendship he and Demyx had started to build. He nearly swoon however when warm hands place themselves on his cold cheeks. His face was forced to stare up at the boy, who seemed to study the vampire's features to the fine detail. "Would they force you to kill me?" Demyx asked. "I wouldn't dare do it, they'd have to throw me in daylight before I'd harm you!" This brought a smile to Demyx's lips, and reached in to hug Axel. "Danke.." He whispered. Axel assumed it meant thank you, so he simply wrapped his arms around Demyx and embraced that hug. "It'll be okay Demyx, I promise I won't let Xemnas or his black sheep har..." He stopped mid-sentence when suddenly out of the blue... Demyx moved over to snatch his lips away.

Axel's eyes widen in shock, as Demyx pressed his own warm lips against Axel's, holding it there for a brief moment before pulling away. Confusion boiled in the redhead's head, and he felt a strange sensation running up and down his back. "I don't want to leave you Axel..." Demyx said, taking Axel's right hand into his own and stroking it with his own right hand. Axel tried to calm himself down. That stroking was a bit soothing... "Demyx..." He whispered finally. The blonde's eyes gleamed up towards him, waiting for a continued responce. "Don't leave me either..." He spoke out after a small pause. The corners of his lips twitch as he tried to pull them into a smile. Slowly, he did so, though the tip of one fang stuck out. But Demyx didn't care, he merely snuggled up against Axel's chest and allowed the back of his smooth hand to the heir's neck. The redhead hummed lightly, allowing his little servant boy to do as he wished... for Axel no longer saw him as a servant anymore, but a friend... and that friend appeared to be gaining his attention of a different matter...

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"Mmm… a bit harder if you please." Xemnas commanded quietly as his neck was being massaged by a pair of strong hands. He leaned his head to one side, allowing those hands more room on a stubborn crick in his neck that had been bothering the lord for the past week. "Anywhere else my Lord?" Saix whispered in, almost gently blowing his warm breath on the other's ear. Xemnas hummed again, relaxing under his fledgling while he continued to partake in some one-on-one bonding. He was sitting in a chair, overlooking a window facing the forest that hid the estate, but at the same time allowed them to see the lights of Paris in the distance. It was close enough for the coven members to go out and fed, enjoy themselves and return before daybreak but far way enough so that the estate's own lights were not seen by the mortals dwelling there. Not that any would want to enter a forest that was deemed unsafe for anything but hunting purposes… but who was to say it was wild game hunters were after when something went after them? "Ahh, that's better Saix. You carry a golden touch." Xemnas compliment as he stood up, unbuttoning his coat. "I do try Sir…" Saix replied, watching his master intently, absorbing every detail with those strange unnatural yellow eyes.

Suddenly, the elder leapt from his chair, grasping Saix by the shoulders. The other did not move, merely standing there to allow his master to do as he so pleases. "No... don't try. Just do. Trying goes nowhere. Doing it... grants you speical rewards..." Xemnas whispered under his hot breath down the nape of Saix's cold neck. Saix's golden eyes flickered upwards, catching a small amount of light from a nearby lamp. "What kind of speical rewards?" He dare ask, the tone of his voice still sounding as if he were not real, but at the same time seemed to be of raised interest, eager to do as his master pleases. "Shall I present a taste of it?" In the blink of an eye, Xemnas's ability in great speed brought the two of them on his grand bed, Saix pinned down on the sheets with his arms flailed to the sides. Still a fledging himself, he had not yet awaken such vampiric power, but was very close to achieving it. A small dark smile rose on his lips, unfazed at his current position. "If that is what you wish, Lord Xemnas..." He whispered. "Ah, but is that what you wish as well?" The master asked back. The other said nothing, but leaned upwards as much as his strenght could muster, and crushed his lips with that of Xemnas's. Once the pair parted slightly, Xemnas whispered again before removing his perfume-scented gloves. "I shall bend this game... so that you shall be victorious... the others are mere toys and toys I am starting to bore of soon."

A sly grin came over Saix as his hands roam over the smooth silky satin feel of Xemnas's coat. "Was I but a toy to you once?" He asked, eyes seemingly flashing in the pale light. "Once... many moons ago... But now, my precious Saix... I see you more than that.. far above the mere phrase of toy. No, you are the source of my deepest desires, the reason I wake every night to stalk upon the living... It is the creature that you are that had drawn me to those frozen lands of the north you once called home, and brought you back here to be close to me... Once this is over and done... I shall see to it that you will travel with me to the far reaches of the earth... and reap its rewards that no mortal can possibly possess." Xemnas explained slowly, removing his coat and shirt, discarding them to the floor. "You speak with such poetry, master..." The blue haired vampire spoke as he too, discarded clothing. "Master? I am master until this game is finished with the two other players dead. After that... you may call me... lover." And the elder swooped down, wrapping a pale hand around the jaw of Saix, as he brought those lips against his in a crushing kiss. The other wrapped his hands around the older man's waist and back, massaging up and down the contures of such a body.

Xemnas kept his lead going, nibbling ever so gently down the fledging's chin from those lips, trailing down against that bobbing adam's apple that vibrated from humming out sweet sounds of pleasure. It was tempting for the master vampire to sink his fangs in once again, but avoided the urge with mastery ease, continuing down till he reach the hallow of Saix's neck. He swirled that tongue in, lapping at the small sheet of sweet that started to sprout out. One hand cleverly drew down, grasping firming to the helm of Saix's pants and with a gentle ease, pushed them down with one firm tug. A light gasp escaped Saix's lips, his eyes closed from the pleasurable torment he was recieving. While Xemnas kept his underling at bay by grazing his teeth over a white skin throat, his hand slipped through and wrapped about Saix's need. He grinned with a certain satisfactory as he massaged and pleasured Saix, the fledging gripping the sheets of the bed at first, before one arm swings up to grasp a handful of silver hair. Xemnas groaned slightly, feeling his own swell slightly, but instead of fulfilling that desire, released his grip upon Saix's erection, and planted a single kiss to the younger man's forehead, proceding to get up. Panting slightly, Saix leaned up, confused very slightly. "Not finishing the job?" He asked, as if that amount of one-on-one time was cut prematurely. "I do not wish to continue until I am sure you are very much capable of finishing of the idiotic Italian and... the American. Do as you wish to them... as you have all of eternity to do so. Take your time, and kill them when you feel it is most nessisary."

Saix nodded, placing his garbs back on. "What about that boy you brought back? What true purpose was he to us by bringing him here to Axel?" Xemnas smiled and chuckled lightly, but it was nothing short of a cold-hearted chuckle. "Why.. it's bait. Eventually, Axel's own bloodlust will take over his mind and he'll lash out for the first human victim. Being told he was a servant boy was merely a cover up. Axel can not truely be in the game if he still clings to the weak human nature that has yet to die off with the rest of his body. Once his fangs peirce living flesh and draw in blood... then he shall be in this game truely and his head yours to decapitate off that scrawny neck. I'll allow his bizzare goblet drinkings for now... but once he demands three goblets of blood a night... is when I shall order no more. He will starve or allow his vampiric nature to flourish and drain away the life of his 'toy' in order to quinch his..." Saix nodded. "Patience is key Saix... remember that. But eventually, I will tire of this waiting game, and will have to take drastic measures. If I must, I shall bring home another potential "heir" and have him take your place. Understood?" The Fledging bowed, understanding perfectly. "I will see to it that progress will erupt... I look.. forward to another night like this Lord Xemnas." The master vampire smiled, baring down his glisening fangs. "So do I Saix... so do I... you may leave now..." And thus, Saix did silently to his bedchamber, calculating and forumating plans for his rivals' demise while his lord watched the lovely moon starting to slip below the treeline, signalling the coming of dawn.

But while all vampires were ready for another period of sleep from the sun's rays... one soul unturned would soon venture out into the sunlight, missing it's warmth and light.