(Fixed some mistakes, Re-Upload.)
Wow, never seen that kind of reaction from a reader, at last not with my fics. xD It really surprised me to read your review sayings those things. I'm very glad you are liking the story.
7
The Hunting Mansion was quiet. The monsters guarding it walked away at the sight of the group that stepped on the huge forecourt. Dumas noticed a lot of different kind of Hounds walking and guarding the entrance. He didn't remember them being there, since Rymer didn't like them. Ignoring the hounds, they continued to the main cause. Aaron was still on Lucian's back, not really wanting to get down. He felt too comfortable on him and the dhampir seemed to not mind at all. Ezra and Perrault were helping Alexander with the bags and Nish walked closer to the dhampir, who eyed him. The albino knew that he was being warned to not touch or come any closer to the young human.
"It's really surprising to see a human with vampires.", said Nish with a friendly smile. Dumas added to the list that he was too sociable. "What is your story?"
"Well, this grumpy dhampir that is carrying me...", he heard Lucian growl and Aaron giggled. "...was my working partner. Since little, I was raised in the Guild and became a gunslinger, a vampire hunter to go and kill the ones like you, like him.", he pointed to Dumas, who didn't pay attention to the talk. "Then, I met him when we were trying to save two of our comrades from the viscounts."
"Edgard and Virginia, right?", asked the albino. The boy nodded.
"Yeah. I wanted to go alone in the Aqueduct, too worried about them and then... Bea spotted him and after some chat, I came along with him. At first we wanted to rip our heads off, because we couldn't stand each other.", Lucian smiled at the memory. "He was too independent and sometimes forgot that I was with him.", Aaron blushed deeply. "I don't know when, but our feelings started to change from a mere friendship. We grew very close to each other, not really knowing that we were so in love. Just yesterday we dared to face those feelings and I acceded to mate with him, seeing how I needed him."
Nish laughed softly.
"You are an interesting human.", Aaron looked up at the albino. "Tell me, was your mate already what he is or did he born like this?"
"No. He used to be human, but in some tight circumstances he changed into a dhampir, not transforming completely into a vampire thanks to the eyepatch he wore for seven years."
"Why he started to have the symptoms?", Dumas added that Nish was too curious for his own good.
"He went to train to master his weapons and bring them to their maximum level, but in order to do that, he had to let his dark powers free."
"That was what doomed him, right?"
"Sorta.", Nish blinked in confusion but Aaron smiled. "I don't care what he is as long as he doesn't change who he is, I will be with him until my life ends. Some will see it as a curse, as a bad ending to their lives, but me, being his friend for a long time, stopped to care about that.", he tightened his arms around Lucian's neck and nuzzled on his cold skin. The dhampir let out a purr and smiled at the gesture and feeling. "He is all I need."
"So cute.", said Nish with a big smile. "It's really hard to see humans like you, which respect damphires and vampires."
"Well, it took me time to respect them.", admitted the boy that blushed in embarrassment. This time, Dumas snorted, looking back to see him. "Yeah, yeah, don't see me like that. It was your entire fault, after all."
"Am I complaining about it?", said the former Duke, smiling. "Even if it was my fault, you seem happy. Do you trust me that much?"
"You could say."
Dumas stopped, his eyes widening.
"What?"
Aaron sighed.
"I said I trust you. If I compare your old self with your new self, you have changed a lot and now, you are more yourself than ever. Polidori tricked you with his mental traps and you could do nothing about it. I don't blame you for that."
"That means.... you forgave me? For all what I did? For... killing your father?", Dumas couldn't believe it. "You can't! You just can't base your.... thoughts after seeing me for the first time in four years! I may be the same as always!"
"You aren't.", this time was Lucian who answered. "If you learned to forgive me for killing Rymer, your mate, he can forgive you for killing his father. You did it, because it was an obstacle between you and the supreme power."
"How did you....?"
"He told me.", and looked up to Aaron. No one said their name yet. It wasn't safe with Nish around them. "And if I knew that Rymer was your mate I would took another path to you."
Dumas hissed angrily, turning his back to them.
"Yeah, sure! Do you believe I would buy that crap?! You would have killed him anyways!"
"I wasn't that cold hearted bastard you were back then, asshole!", shouted Lucian back. "I wasn't going to let you know how devastating is to lose that loved one! My problem was with you, not with Rymer! If he wanted to seek me after I killed you, he had the right to do it! Because it was the same thing I did when... when...", he stopped. He couldn't remember. Lucian clenched his teeth. He couldn't remember! Dumas seemed taken back at the sudden silence of the dhampir.
"What's the matter?"
"I...I can't....", Lucian shook in fear. Was he forgetting already? How much of his human memory the dark powers ate? "I can't remember that... her name..."
He felt Aaron hug him tightly from behind. The conversation ended right there and they kept walking to the mansion. Nish was now really curious about the incident and that the dhampir seemed to start forgetting. But it wasn't the time to ask about it. They were in pain and he felt it in the air. He would when either the cycle is finished or the dhampir turned into a full vampire.
The clouds were covering the night sky quickly, the full moon being hidden behind them. The stars disappeared with the thickness of the clouds and the wind blew faster and colder. Lucky to them, they were already inside the mansion that was as cold as outside, in the forecourt. Ezra and the vampires seemed to not notice it but Aaron, Perrault and Alexander shivered at the coldness making them remember that they were creatures that couldn't stand low temperatures. Dumas guided them to the second floor where the bedrooms were. He closed his eyes when they walked past Rymer's master bedroom, which was firmly closed, and opened the room after it. It wasn't as big as the master one but the king sized bed was enough for Aaron and Lucian to sleep on. It was dark, like the rest of the mansion, with dark wood floor and a carpet under the bed to prevent harming the fine wood under it. There was a big wardrobe and a drawer near the door of the bathroom. Two huge windows were covered with thick, obscure curtains that prevent the sunlight to go through them and into the room, protecting those with sensitive skin that were sleeping inside.
"Wow...", said Aaron when Lucian finally let him down. The boy looked around. The walls were painted in a dark crimson color and the ceiling was pure white. From it, it hanged a candelabrum with its candles that were not lighted. "This is... Oh, crap I have too....", he run and flopped on the bed, making a content sigh. "Oh, hell yes! This is completely awesome! I want a bed like this!"
Dumas snorted and left with Nish, Alexander and Perrault. Ezra stepped inside and left the bag on the drawer. Lucian had crawled on the sheets and hugged Aaron from behind, nuzzling his neck.
"Are you two staying here?", asked the female fox.
"Yes, definitely.", Aaron stood up violently almost hitting Lucian with his arms. "Wait! You aren't going to tell Ernest or Toasty about it, right?", Ezra shook her head. "Oh, thank you."
"Don't worry about them. Enjoy your time with Lucian. Between, you might light up the fireplace, seeing as the temperature will still decrease."
"What fireplace?", asked the dhampir, looking around.
"That one.", pointed Ezra. They both saw a hidden fireplace in the opposite wall of the bathroom's door. "I will try to get some wood for it with Alexander. You two rest for a bit."
"Hey, can you ask Perrault if she can bring some... food?", asked embarrassed Aaron. His stomach was growling in need of something to eat.
"I can go and bring it for you. Perrault will be busy and fussing around Dumas to care about right now.", said the dhampir, crawling off from the bed.
The ice Terrennial and the dhampir walked outside the bedroom, closing the door behind them. Aaron got up from the bed and went to the windows, opening the curtains. He was amazed with the sight of the forecourt in the night. The dim moonlight bathed everything in a silver light, giving the gardens a white marble look. The boy sat on the edge of the window and opened it. A cold breeze blew and Aaron' shivered. He popped his head out, spotting several hounds walking and sniffing in look for intruders. The giant spiders were calm, resting on the floor in groups, on the trees or on huge webs hanging from the statues. The crows seemed calm, too, a lot of them sitting on the bare branches of dead trees and on the statues along with the spiders. It was a really quiet night, one of the quietest Aaron had live.
It was interesting how the hounds didn't attack him when they entered the forecourt. Was because he was with the vampires? But then again, they would recognize Lucian's scent for the first time he came. Or it was changing since his body was changing as well? It also felt strange being there, in the other side of the battle. He was the only human capable of befriend vampires like that. Then, he remembered the book. Aaron rushed to his bag and opened it, taking out cloths and cloths until he found it. The boy sat on the window again and opened the book. He read the index, looking for a chapter that talked about humans and vampires befriending. The boy sat comfortable on the edge, crossing his legs, book on lap. The dim moonlight helped him to read the title of the chapter and then, proceed to read the content.
It was very rare for humans and vampires befriend but sometimes it happened. Under normal circumstances maybe not, so the most common cases were the ones in where vampires or humans are in danger and are saved by their opponents. This creates the situation of receive and give, meaning that in change of saving you, you will have to do or give me something in return. And vampires will give one of their most precious thing to the other; their friendship. In other cases, they are simple favors, simple tasks. Not every vampire sees humans as food, like not every human sees them as bloody monsters. There were cases in family groups growing side by side to each other and created strong bonds in their relations, a very deep reliance. Other cases, it grown very slowly but in the end, they respected each other, helping in what they could.
The writer started to explain a personal story in where, in his many trips, he managed to get along with the vampires he found in his way. Some of them where secluded to say something due to his condition as a vampire hunter (he had stopped doing it long time ago, though not everyone knew), but when they took a time to know the man better, they relaxed and sat, sharing with him some of their own stories to told.
Aaron smiled. So there was friendship after all. He, like most ignorant ones, thought that between vampires and humans there will be never such feeling like that. He knew that the war would never end, but as long as he had friends with him, the other didn't matter at all. He would protect them and help them in what he could. That's what really mattered. Not where are you from or, most important in this case, what are you. When two people really care for each other and get along well, physical differences are placed in second place.
He finished reading the chapter and placed the closed book on his lap once again. The sky was completely covered with the dark clouds but the wind stopped blowing long ago. He glanced around the room and found a clock over the fireplace. He got up, closed the window and walked to it. It was a quarter to nine. Where was Lucian? He should be back by now, and Ezra hadn't come back, too, and she was only going to look for wood. Aaron took a long, sleeved shirt and took off the one he was wearing and put that one on, leaving the other on the bed. He grabbed also Lucian's jacket and put it on. He thought of walking around a bit until the dhampir returned. When he stepped outside the room, he heard Dumas' voice from the opposite room. Without doing any noise, he stopped before the door, opening it lightly to hear.
"It's so unfair.", came the former Duke's voice. He seemed to be crying, because Aaron heard some sniffing and he knew it wasn't from the albino vampire.
"In a way, yes it is. But it was because of you, no one else."
"I fucking know that, Nish!!", yelled Dumas. "But sometimes I want to be with Rymer once more! And just be... like Aaron and Lucian! You have no idea how much I envy them.", Aaron bit his bottom lip. After all, Dumas was still angry with them regardless he said.
"Well, it had been four years now. I know is hard because I also lost several mates in my life thanks to the gunslingers, but you have to get it over. You will never be able to move on if you don't finish this for once.", came Nish's voice. It was warm, soft. That made Dumas sighs. "Do you know how to beat your fear? Taking a step forwards. You are still standing, not moving, not doing anything."
"I'm afraid of doing that step.", admitted the former Duke.
"Why? See it as a new opportunity in you life. You said it yourself it was a new stage in it. Why would you keep listening to this opportunity knock on your door? It will leave soon as it knows you will not respond.", there was some noises of fabric rubbing fabric and then Dumas sighing again. "It's ok, it's ok.", the vampire sniffed and Aaron heard him sob softly. "Was Rymer your first one? Ah..."
Aaron understood now why Dumas was so angry and sad. Rymer was his first love, the very first one in seeing him as how he was and love him for being so. He left, not wanting the vampires know he had been listening. The boy found the principal doors pretty quick and left the mansion, being welcomed by the darkness and coldness of the night. Aaron managed to see the little he could and made his way through the forecourt, thinking about what he heard. He was sure that the former Duke couldn't have forgotten them that easily, there was no way he could do that. Even the day he came to the cottage he seemed distant and not really wanting to get involved in their love relationship, as if the relation itself bring him pain, remembering thins he didn't want or feeling he didn't want to feel again. It was too much for his already broken heart.
The boy sat besides a column. The stone floor was cold against the fabrics of his clothes, but didn't pay attention to it. He understood how Dumas was feeling because he still missed his father, which was strange since he and Trinity couldn't spend time together as a family due to his position as leader of the Guild, position that took Ernest when Trinity died. He still wanted Trinity next to him, to talk to him, to hug him and play with him. Aaron thought if Lucian felt it after leaving with Nero, the first years of his lonely warrior path. The boy groaned. Of course he did! What kind of question was that?
A green hound stepped from behind the column and stopped at the sight of the silhouette leaning on the column. The beast walked quickly at it, finding only the young boy sitting there, with his face hidden on his knees. The hound whined and sniffed the human, making him lift his head.
"I'm ok, I'm ok.", assured Aaron, petting its head. The hound sat and opened its mouth, letting its tongue fall out of it. "What's up, boy? Tired of patrolling?", the beast whined again. "I will take that as a yes.", said the human smiling.
Several hounds accompanied Aaron in his lonely place. The red ones were warm due to his fire powers and the boy welcomed them gladly since the night was getting colder and colder. The blizzard was going to be a huge one. Aaron noticed that the once sleeping crows were now resting on the trees near him and the spiders seemed to do the same, as he spotted a few of them walking not so far from him and the hounds. Some of them were resting, curling besides the young boy, others patrolling. It was a very odd feeling. The boy never knew he could be that close to the creatures that were under the vampire's orders. How could it be?
Aaron tensed up when he saw a group of three or four Ghouls coming his way. The hounds seemed relaxed at them, like the crows and spiders but he wasn't. He let his hand travel under the jacket and looked for his gun, but the Knight wasn't there. The boy cursed out loud making some hounds lift their heads. Aaron decided to wait and if the Ghouls wanted to attack, he would either run or let the hound defend him, if they wanted to of course. He couldn't relay in the beast so quickly but had his hopes.
A group of crows cackled. The spiders stopped walking and quickly, they climbed to the trees and the statues. Some hounds stood up and left the boy with only four of them; a purple one, a green one, a blue one and a red one. And the Ghouls were a few centimeters from him but it seemed that they haven't felt him or saw him either. Aaron was intrigued by it. Ghouls could feel human's heat and breath so, why they weren't attacking him, like they do when they spot an intruder? The boy jumped in surprise when a crow landed on his shoulder. The bird, startled, cackled but landed on the boy again. Aaron looked at it. It was certainly big for a bird. Its feathers were as black as the night and its crimson eyes blinked a few times before returning the gaze. The boy lifted his hand carefully and petted the bird, amazed at how it was comfortable around him. Then, he looked at the hounds and petted the nearest one on its back. Perhaps the new born vampires felt that way when they were too confused about what is happening. The creatures would calm it down and would be by its side, as their nature calls, until the vampire is relaxed enough to think and live by his own, without the help of the creatures under its command.
Aaron smiled. He, somehow, had the power to tame those beasts and those beast were nice to him, wanting to obey and protect him. It was amazing! They didn't see that fearsome. They were like that because human needed to get inside the vampire's territory in order to kill them. The beasts only did their job as bodyguards of their master and there was nothing wrong in it. Sadly, most humans didn't see it that way.
Suddenly, the four hounds lifted their head almost at the same time. The crows resting near Aaron cackled angrily and the spiders were making webs between the trees. The boy stood up too, the crow on his shoulder left as he flew to its cackling group. An intruder, there was no other explanation at the sudden agitation in the beasts. He heard some hounds scream in pain and the familiar sound of the solar shots hitting meat and stone. Gunslingers! In the mansion! Aaron had to return and tell Dumas and Nish about it but, what about Lucian and Ezra?
Wait a minute.
What if the gunslingers were attacking both of them?
Aaron gasped in horror.
The hounds jumped in surprise when the boy started to run but they followed him soon, being followed by some spiders and crows, too. The Ghouls disappeared under the ground as they preferred to travel under it with their dark powers or hide in Aaron's shadow without him noticing it.
The shooting was getting louder and louder and Aaron reached the fighting place. There were at last fifteen gunslinger attacking fifty hounds at the same time. Dozens and dozens of crows attacked from the air but they were easily knocked down. The docile spiders were no where to be seen and some Ghouls had troubles in fighting against them. Aaron hid behind a tree and kneeled down, looking at the four hounds.
"I need you to go and tell Dumas about this, as fast as you can.", he said to the blue one. "Even if there are a lot of you fighting against them, I'm sure they will win anytime.", the beast turned around and left quickly, leaving blue flames on the ground that disappeared seconds after. Aaron peeped and saw a lot of killed crows on the ground. Half of the hounds were already gone and the Ghouls stopped coming from under the gunslingers. "Damn, I thought that Ernest didn't patrol this place anymore but... eh?"
Aaron noticed that the uniform they were wearing wasn't the one from the Guild he knew. Those people wore an armor similar to the Casket Armor but lighter and thinner, instead of two-colored uniform Ernest, Kay or Bea wore. They did wear the protecting glasses on their faces as they shot with their guns and they where not the Knight prototype all rookie and experienced members used. Bea, Ernest and Kay were an exception since they all inherited them from Sartana or Trinity seeing how attached were to them, especially Ernest and Kay. The ones being held from those people were lightly bigger and faster shooting.
A small, sphere of solar light hit the tree where Aaron was hiding and he yelped in surprise. The shot took a nice part of the tree. They were even stronger than his! One of the gunslinger spotted him, much to his dislike, and killed the last hound as he walked towards him. The remaining hounds, the ones that were with the boy, stood in between he and the enemy, growling angrily and showing their teeth.
"Wait, don't move!", said the man. "We will rescue you."
"No, no!", yelled the boy back.
"What? What are you saying?", the man was taken back at the response of Aaron. He didn't want to be saved? What was with him? "Listen, don't worry about the hounds. They will not attack you since we had attracted their attention."
"They would have attacked you already. They attack at any intruder in their master's land", answered Aaron, narrowing his eyes. The man grunted as he turned around, his back facing the enemy. The boy smiled. "Hey, rookie! Didn't your master teach you not to show your back to your enemy?", he asked but the man glared at him, not replying. "Novice, heh.", he added with a small laugh.
A taller man approached the other. He was muscled, his short, black hair covered with a funny cap. The man slipped his glasses on it and Aaron saw his bright, blue eyes. The man was, not only wearing the thin armor, but a long, double-barrel gun, too. The man walked to a safe distance between him and the hounds and looked at Aaron.
"You seem to know how the beasts behave.", said. "Are you a work boy from the vampires living here?"
Aaron noticed how the leader, as he assumed, said it in plural. Did he know about Dumas, Nish and Lucian? Did they see them come to the mansion? And they were fifteen of them... What to do? He had Lucian's mark on his neck. But on the right side. Aaron cursed.
"No, I am not. Who are you? You look like gunslingers, but not from the Guild of these lands.", asked after answering.
"Correct. We are gunslingers, or vampire hunters, and we are from the north towns.", said the leader. "Why are you here?"
"I would ask the same thing to you."
The man smiled, amused.
"We hunt vampires, didn't you hear?"
"I did hear. Lucky I'm not dumb.", answered Aaron with a provoking smile on his face. He was getting the leader's nerve too soon. And the boy found it entertaining. "I'm referring to why are you in these lands, seeing as you are from the north.", explained then.
"We received a call from the leader from the Guild, informing us that he needed reinforcements and we came to help."
Aaron was shocked. Did Ernest call them? Why would he do that? The Guild had less members than four years before? Maybe Ernest wanted to merge with the Guild in the north, seeing as no one joined it in four years. It was a wise choice in times like that.
"And I assume you are re patrolling all the places with no vampires left, right?", he had to buy time. He had to wait for Dumas and Nish to come and see what they were going to do about the situation.
"Well, a spy told us that a group of vampires left the mountain due to the incoming blizzard.", the boy cursed. So Lucian was right about feeling watched from the ground and as always, Dumas ignored it. "And was walking to the abandoned mansion. You should left for your safety. This is no place for you to be."
"Just because I'm young doesn't mean I can't take care of myself.", replied the boy. "I'm a gunslinger too, you can believe it or not, and I am not here against my will."
The leader relaxed but didn't drop his weapon like many other of his group did.
"So you are out of mission, like us?", Aaron thought if he shouldn't had added the gunslinger part. "Are you from the local Guild?"
"Yes.", answered seeing a blue hound walking softly towards the new intruders. He hoped it was the one he sent after Dumas and Nish. "Ernest is still in charge after my father died and I understand his will of asking for other Guild's help, seeing how poor is ours after the defeat of the Immortal Polidori.", the beast stopped, hiding behind a tree.
"Father? You mean Trinity?", Aaron nodded. "Oh, holy heavens! Are you Aaron, by any chance?"
Another screw up.
"Yes."
Well done, Aaron, well done!
"Then, why haven't you fought against those hounds? They shouldn't be that hard for you."
"I'm... in a rather tight situation.", he could use the excuse that he was too, behind those vampires. "You see, I was in mission like I said, but I was taken back by the vampires who stole my gun.", explained slowly. The hounds seemed to understand his plan but didn't move. Aaron wanted to know if Dumas and Nish were hiding somewhere. He would never say how desperate was for the former Duke's help in those instants.
"That doesn't explain why you didn't want us to kill them.", said the leader, suspecting.
"Because they were trained from puppies by my dad.", Aaron swore he heard a well known snicker, but couldn't say if it was from the gunslingers or from Dumas, hiding somewhere. "That's why I don't want you to shot, the will only obey my orders and they will attack if they sense I'm in danger or you are a threat for me."
"Like a bodyguard?", asked the leader. Aaron didn't like the way he was looking at him now. He knew he screwed up again.
"More or less.", he gasped when the leader aimed at him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Didn't your 'father' teach you that hounds only respond to vampire's orders?"
Aaron wanted to die. He wanted to die so much. How he could forget about it? But it was the only thing he thought of. How was he going to say that the hounds followed him and decided to pitty him by attacking the new intruders? The leader would not believe anymore he believed him now. Aaron was so fucked up and Dumas wasn't around to help him out.
"Show me your neck.", the boy groaned and looked at the man. "I said show me your neck."
"Why?", asked Aaron. He was trembling now. If they discovered his mate mark on it... "What do you want to know?"
"Shut the hell up and show me your neck, unless you want me to shot not only your pets but you.", the boy swallowed, hard, and sighed.
Really, he was fucked up. But did what the leader asked him to do. He took off the jacket and stood there, not moving. The cold wind blew and Aaron shivered. His neck was exposed and so was the bit mark on it, reddish and lightly swollen, and the hickey was there too. The leader's eyes widen in shock and the rest of the members gasped.
"You...", he started, trembling in fear at the sudden realize. "You are a vampire's mate! You are a fucking vampire's mate!!"
"And he is mine, mind you.", said an angry voice behind the group.
The fifteen gunslingers turned around and found a cloaked figure in front of them. The hood covered the man's head and his bright, red eyes looked at the leader, full with rage of how he treated the young boy. His companion was also dressed with a cloak and the fox features were familiar to the leader too, but couldn't remember why.
"You are the one that hid here, the one that our spy inform us of.", Lucian took the hood off and looked at Ezra. Spy? Interesting. There was a spy in them and his best guess was Nish.
"Before you shot or you do anything, is your spy white haired or is a vampire?", asked the dhampir.
"He is human, for fuck's sake!!", replied the leader, offended. "We hunt those mother fucker's creatures!"
"That doesn't mean you can't have a vampire spy in your Guild. And you haven't answered my question. Please, do it.", responded Lucian in a very calm voice. Aaron was surprised at the sudden change of attitude.
"Of course not!", but Lucian still had his doubts, especially of how close Nish was from Dumas. He would hate to break his heart again if his suppositions were correct. "We don't recruit dead humans.", added moments later.
"Too bad, because I do.", he grinned as he lifted his arms, letting the cape slip from them.
"Fire!!", order the man and his group shot.
Only to be taken back. The attacks were bouncing on a strong barrier that Lucian created seconds ago while summoning Ghouls from the ground. They grabbed the gunslinger's legs and made them fall, taking away their weapons. Some of them started eating them alive as the leader kept shooting. Lucian summoned his spear, Jormungandr, which was all pitch black asides the top, dyed in a bloody crimson. He took it on his hands, steam of darkness flowing from it in the air. The dark weapon was alive, alive once more. The soul of the Earth Serpent sleeping in it was awake again and wanted fresh blood to eat. Lucian felt it too.
"Do you know how Dracula killed his enemies?", asked in naughty voice while charging his spear. "Impaling him.", answered to his own question when no one answered to it. But the horrified expressions of the gunslingers were all he needed right now. "That's how all of you will end after the fight!!"
He rushed to them and stuck the spear on the nearest man. The blood poured instantaneously but was being sucked by the weapon. The blade turned more reddish and more alive than ever. It was shaking with excitement. Jormungandr wanted to go out, to feed from those intruders that dared to threat its master's mate. Lucian laughed when the solar bullets bounced on the barrier, dashing towards the next one, hitting him with the body of his comrade and making him fall on the ground, losing his gun.
"Well, I'm starting to dislike the idea of impaling all of you.", he said to the one that was now killing with the spear. The weapon sucked all the blood in both bodies and Lucian kicked them off the spear. Jormungandr turned black and changed into the form of a big, crimson sword. On the hilt, there were open, red eyes looking everywhere. The blade opened in two, looking as a massive jaw from a massive wolf beast. "Oh, Vanargand, did you get bored while waiting?", asked the dhampir, cutting in two to the one that wanted to came close to him. "You did? Aw, don't worry! You will get so much fun now!"
The dhampir, too excited killing, felt how his vampire half was waking up slowly. Lucian noticed it and let the dark powers roam his body as they pleaded; looking how his human nails changed their forms and grew longer like his human fangs. The dhampir grinned, showing all his teeth as he caught a gunslinger between his fingers and snapped his neck with a single movement of his hand. He continued killing the remaining members until the leader was the only one standing before him. The double-barrel gun was out of charge and the man was too tired to keep on his feet. Lucian thought how much more until he fall on the ground, exhausted from the fight. The sword gave a small growl and Aaron shivered in fear.
"What did it say?", asked to his mate. Lucian smiled.
"Oh, he is hungry.", answered the dhampir, tossing the sword on the ground. The weapon started to morph into the shape of a black wolf with eight, red eyes looking at the leader in front of him. "And asked me to go out for a midnight snack.", the wolf had chains attached to his four legs. The beast roared, licking his lips as he dashed to the man. "Have a good meal, Vanargand.", he turned around to see Aaron. He smiled tenderly and hugged the boy. "Are you alright? Are you wounded?", Lucian asked petting his mate and kissing him.
"No.", the hounds whined and he giggled. "Those boys were accompanying me while you were out.", said as he petted the red one. Ezra walked to them and smiled at the young one. "Besides, why you took so long? You were only going for wood for the fireplace."
"Lucian asked me to come with him to the town to buy you food.", explained the female fox. She made a face when the black wolf returned to his master's side before turning into darkness and fading in the air. "He is disgusting.", she said when seeing the corpse of the leader lying on the ground.
"Well, I will have more Ghouls to protect the mansion from intruders now.", said Lucian happily. Aaron smiled softly. "Oh, did you know that Dumas was here too, but didn't want to come out?"
"What? He was here?", Lucian nodded. "And didn't help me? The bastard! I'm going to kill him when I find him!"
"Don't blame the Duke. He wanted to help but didn't know if his body would resist the fight."
"Hn, alright. But next time he will help or I will not forgive him!"
Ezra laughed with Lucian as the group walked back to the mansion, with the four hounds following them. Dumas, which were leaning on a tree, sighed and smiled. He looked up to Nish, who was holding him into his arms after he fainted when he traced with Perrault, still unconscious. The sudden energy was too much for the former Duke's body and, after that, he lost balance and fall on the ground. His Terrennial untraced and fainted immediately while Dumas felt dizzy and weak. Nish went out with him when the blue hound transmitted what Aaron said, to take care of the fragile vampire.
"You idiot.", mumbled the albino. "You should have told me you couldn't trance. I would have helped Aaron instead of staying here with you.", Nish smiled and snickered. "Did you do it on purpose?"
"No, of course not! I wanted to help the kid!", replied the former Duke, blushing deeply. He knew that Nish wasn't buying that but it was true. He wanted to help Aaron, not doing himself harm only to be with him. "I just... let my feelings control me and forgot I couldn't trance yet.", said instead, curling in Nish's arms. The vampire laughed softly and kissed Dumas' head. The former Duke tensed up.
"You care a lot for that kid.", the albino sighed as he rested comfortably on the tree. "What is he to you? A relative, a friend of something? Wait, that couldn't be because you mentioned something about killing his father..."
Dumas sighed.
"It's a long story. Sometimes I want to forget about it."
"It would be like denying what you are since that past is part of what you are. Come on!", said Nish happily. "Tell me, now that she is asleep and nothing can interrupt us. You will feel better after you telling it."
Dumas lifted his head and locked his gaze with the albino's one. Then, he smiled. It was weird but it felt right.
"Are you sure? I told you, is a long story.", Nish shrugged.
"We have all the time on the world."
The former Duke laughed. He made himself comfortable on the other's body and started to relate.