Vampirism

by Argentum Dreigon

Lucian run away. Aaron is worried about his partner. Unable to keep himself locked in the room they share in the Inn, Aaron decides to take a walk and go to Acuna's library, finding an old book of vampirism that answers half of the questions about Lucian.

31. Chapter 31

Fffft, I can't believe I managed to finish it. And just a month alter I uploaded chapter 30. I still dislike/hate the ending. : I find it too… dull. .__.; Dunno, what you think of it guys?

Anyway, thanks to Vale for the ass review again and to DarkPika-Sama for the favorite and the alert. I hope you enjoy this chapter!! See ya!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER COINTAINS LUCIANxAARON AT THE END.

31

"Cure…?", slowly whispered Aaron as he stood by the doorframe, just listening to what Dyango and Lucian had been discussing instants ago. Lucian turned around, seeing the pissed face of his mate.

"Wait!", exclaimed the vampire as he stood up and caught one of Aaron's arm. "Don't assume things so quickly!"

"What do want me to think after hearing that?!", said the boy, breaking free from Lucian's grasp. "You knew there was a cure!"

"I didn't!", replied Lucian, frowning. "Django just told me!"

"You technically knew about it, actually.", said the blonde man. "But didn't know you could use it as, perhaps, a cure.", he tried to explain to calm down the young boy who was about to strangle his lover.

Lucian turned around, but not letting go of Aaron.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the Pile Driver?", asked with a mischief smile. It was the first time Aaron saw Lucian pale that much in his life.

"Are you fucking crazy?", yelled, letting go of Aaron for once. "That thing will kill me!!"

"What are you talking about?", said the boy, looking at both men.

Dyango pointed the chairs and Lucian, grumpily, sat as Aaron took seat in the one next to him.

"The Pile Driver is a mechanism I used when I was still a hunter, used to purify the Dark Matter from vampires. Once the Dark Matter is purified the vampire will die and, unless there is a tiny left over of it, can't return to life.", the man started, caressing the surface of the Dark Gun of his older brother. "That device was once used on me, when our vampire father bit me. Saba… I mean, Lucian, had to drag me all over the dungeon towards the plaza, in where the Pile Driver was waiting. Since it only works with sunlight, the only time to use it is during the day. Most of the Dark Matter inside me vanished, but Lucian fainted before it could finish.", Dyango sighed. "Then, I purified my brother. I tried to erase his Dark Matter to prevent Ratatosk from using him at all, but he ended up near dead. For Ratatosk, it was easier then to control him."

"Under the circumstances both Django and I are…", said Lucian. "Meaning that we are easily ninety percent vampire, with huge amounts of Dark Matter, the use of the Pile Driver will undoubtedly kill us. There is, however, a small chance of surviving and, in the process, getting rid of the Dark Matter from our bodies, but only if we call back our natural energy to protect us. Right now, that energy is below the two percent of usage, meaning that it's actually impossible for us to use it in the form we are now.", Lucian closed the box and slide it towards himself. "Ninety percent of chances to die against ten percent of surviving.", he snorted. "Personally, I don't really want to experience that again, even less when I have so small chances of getting alive from it."

"Then, I can't really think of other way of doing it.", said Dyango, sighing. "It's the Pile Driver or nothing. Unless Sheridan or that crazy Stoker comes up with something, you and I are going to be vampires for the rest of our lives.", finished with a fanged smile.

Dyango and Dainn left them there, returning to the small spot Ernest gave them as their resting place. Aaron looked at Lucian, who was thinking about what they just discussed. If there was no cure other than that, then the vampire isn't, like he said, going to use it and not going to try or even think in turning Aaron without the possibility of curing him. Lucian realizes that the more Dark Matter he pours in Aaron each time he bites him and drinks his blood, the more Aaron will become into a vampire. Even when the dosage is small, it still has a huge reaction in his human body. He might have not noticed but he already had far more strength than a boy at his age and that his senses are slowly becoming sharper.

"What are you going to do?", asked Aaron.

Lucian was quiet shocked at his question, actually. The vampire looked at him and sighed.

"I have the desire to become what I was once, but I'm terrible scared of dying in the process.", that was the first time the boy saw despair in Lucian's eyes. He was struggling between his unique dream, and the safety of his mate. If Aaron is accidentally turned into a vampire, be it by Lucian or another, Lucian didn't have the will to put his mate under the torture it was to be closed in a coffin, receiving direct sunlight without being able to block it in anyway and the intense pain one endures under inside. He just couldn't do it. "I can't let you either experience that horrible… torture."

"Then what are you going to do?", asked again.

"I honestly don't know.", sighed Lucian, biting on his right index finger. "I don't know…"

Later then, Lucian told Aaron he needed some time alone and the boy granted it, seeing he needed it too. The boy could understand some of the feelings his vampire was getting in the moment, yet he couldn't fully understand why he just didn't want to turn him into a vampire.

Aaron found Toasty lying over a mattress hanging out with Perrault. The Light Terrennial was in his normal human form right now; he was visible taller than the other Terrennials, probably reaching Alexander's height. He had long, light blond hair that was tied up with a golden bracelet with a red gem over it. He had some short bangs that falls on his face, just playing with his purple eyes. Toasty wore white and clean pants, with one black band near the ankles on each leg, and a brown coat with long sleeves. Over the cloth that hanged between his body, there was a sun shaped pattern and, over the sleeves, curled patters in yellow. Both of them were chatting quietly, more especially of Dumas and how he had changed over the years and how Perrault could second it. Toasty was in his small steps in trusting back the vampires and not seeing them like Oyan and his men did.

Toasty noticed the boy standing there and stood up, saying he would keep talking with Perrault later. The female Terrennial giggled and let the Light Terrennial go outside with Aaron, where the boy wanted to go right now. After taking his Knight and Lucian's jacket, both of them went stairs up, reaching a really small cottage. There wasn't anything in there except a few locked boxes that contained supplies, weapons, sheets and other things. Toasty closed the scuttle behind them, hiding it with an old carpet before going outside. It was a clear but lightly cold night. Aaron tugged the collar of the jacket against his chest before proceeding into the forest.

"Doesn't Lucian mind about that?", asked Toasty when they reached the lake where they hid Nidhoggr's machine. Being it a colossal size it was out of the question bringing it down to the Hideout while the vampire boy was held captive, so they choose submerging it in the lake and covering it with some seaweeds. It was enough to make it disappear for a little while.

"The jacket?", said Aaron. He spotted a clear with some rocks and decided to stand there. "If he did, then he would have snatched it back as soon as he noticed it. You know he is quiet possessive about his belongings."

Toasty had no argument about that.

"Besides…", mumbled the boy when he sat on the rock. "It has Lucian's smell in it.", he shrunk in it, smiling.

The bright and white Moon was there, covered with random clouds on the sky as a soft and cold breeze blew. Aaron noticed how the Full Moon phase was slowly disappearing, as well as the mating cycle for vampires. It was, in truth, a miracle that Lucian didn't want to take him after he was in the Hideout again, being him so impulsive. Aaron knew that when people are sexually frustrated or repressed they tend to be extremely aggressive but Lucian was behaving quiet well, actually. He even forgot (at last Aaron guessed) to drink his blood. Was he going to be all right? He knew blood was vital for vampires but then again, Lucian was very different from common vampires such as Nish and Dumas.

"Something bothering you?", asked Toasty when he noticed Aaron's intense gaze upon the Moon.

"Sort of."

"What it is?", said as he moved closer to the boy, ruffling his hair in a tender way.

"About Lucian."

"Oh…", Toasty, instead of admiring the stars like Aaron, he lock his gaze in the mirror surface of the lake, which was reflecting the stars and the Moon. "Is this related to his past?"

"Yeah…", softly answered. "He actually told me, and to Ernest and the others too, his past. And right now I was just thinking how different Lucian is from other vampires."

"Well, except not having the usual blue skin, he does behave like normal vampires.", said the Terrennial, not quiet understanding the "difference" between Lucian and other vampires.

"There are other facts…", mumbled. "In all honestly, vampires are quiet cowards when their life is in risk, much like humans are. They trick a lot, they cheat, they hide in the shadows, and they play mental games with humans or other of their kind or creature. Lucian just goes straight up and, with his sword, he just cuts them in half. He summons the beasts within each weapon and fights with his fists. He doesn't lurk in the shadows, he doesn't cheat when fighting, he doesn't bring up surprise elements to attack. Tell me, Toasty, how many vampires had you encountered that actually acts like Lucian?"

The Terrennial felt silent.

The boy had a point there, but it wasn't really a good excuse to say that Lucian was different from other vampires. Morphing his body by the usage of his sword wasn't either a good reason; most vampires could do it without the use of objects. It's true that they were mostly cowards, but they could fight like warriors when defending something that is precious to them. In those cases Toasty didn't know why Aaron brings up those things seeing that, to him, hadn't much a point.

"But it really bugs me…", then said the boy.

"To not know what the hell Lucian is?", both of them laughed out loud, but Toasty was right. Aaron didn't know what to call Lucian anymore. "As long as he loves you, then it's all right. As long as he cares you, as long as he protects you then, to me, it's all right."

Aaron smiled, agreeing silently to that statement.

"Do you think we have a chance to win?", asked, completely changing the subject.

Toasty thought about it deeply before answering.

"Well, we all have a chance to win, even Oyan, if we know how to play our cards.", answered. "Most of our success came by the fact that Oyan not only underestimated us, but he completely missed that his spy was indeed a vampire. Yet if you and Lucian weren't captured, then the spy wouldn't have turned against Oyan like he did. If that didn't happen, I don't know where would be right now.", Toasty let the boy rest on his body as Aaron stared at the sky. "I think Oyan felt that something was going to happen and hired the werewolves that gave him some sort of advantage against us, but was fool enough to think that we were harmless against them. He surely got a big surprise when we counterattacked the werewolves with the silver covered weapons. It was a wise move of Dumas to retreat the instant he knew about the werewolves. Otherwise, we would have lost plenty of vampires and humans and right now we would be extremely under numbered. Since Dumas was able to come back, he was the only one to think about the Casket Armors his former servants used.", he took another breath. "Even if Dumas died, someone would mention the Casket Armors, Ursula would suggest reviving them and then using them, but I don't know if it would have passed in the same way it did. Upon all that, I say that Oyan is in a struggle, low in men and possibly is thinking in retreating or just die fighting."

"So, it's a fifty-fifty situation…"

"Yes."

Aaron lowered his gaze to the lake. Dumas might play dumb sometimes, but he was actually very intelligent and intuitive. And Toasty was right; if Dumas died, who would have suggested using the Casket Armors? Not even Aaron had thought of using them. He actually admired the vampire now, in oppose to what Aaron was right now; still a brat that worked on impulses but, then again, Lucian was having good results from those same impulses. What was different between Lucian and himself? If both worked on impulses, why they had different results? The boy didn't get it. Each time he fought, he ended up in problems and it was Lucian, Ernest or Kay who came to aid. What did those men that he didn't? Could it be his lack of strength? No, he was strong enough to kick the guts out of Ernest thanks to the training he received since little. Stealth tactics? No, he just had the master around that subject. Emotions? Well, everyone had emotions while battling that weren't necessary the thought of coming back home.

Aaron stopped to think about that. Emotions… Oyan said emotions were useless in battle and were the source of their defeat but, could you really prevent a fragile human to feel excitement when battling? Could you prevent from feeling happy about fighting? Maybe it was that what he lacked. Lucian enjoyed battles to no end; he loved to sink his fists into the enemy, cut them in half with his sword, and kick them in their head among other things. Ernest, even when he didn't say it outloud, also enjoyed it. Even if it was a situation of life and dead, he still enjoyed it. He would be very afraid if he knew he was going to die but the excitement of perhaps turning that was so good that Ernest, even knowing, will go and fight.

"Toasty…", started Aaron. He received a small grunt that told him that Toasty was listening. "How do you enjoy a battle?"

Now, that was something he never thought of hearing from Aaron.

"Why you ask?"

"I just realized how clumsy I am when I fight.", answered the boy. "Even Sheridan told me that."

"Before that, shouldn't you change the way you act?"

Aaron shot a dead glare to Toasty, to which the Terrennial laughed. Even if the boy didn't realize, he was being very influenced by Lucian in every aspect, even in battling.

"But then again, you shouldn't."

"Why?"

"You are still a kid.", explained. "Even though you are going to be seventeen soon, you are still a kid and the way you see life and battles is influenced by that.", he sighed, smiling. "You might be able to change the way you see things as you grow up but everyone, since your birth, were holding you in a small bubble. That is not bad, not at all. You are their son, they take care of you as their son and it was obvious they would feel the duty to not let you grow so fast. Even Lucian---"

"He only sees me as a kid, too.", interrupted Aaron, rolling to his side, giving his back to Toasty. "Don't do this, don't do that, you can't this, you can't that…. He only sees the child I'm still and doesn't realize that I can be as mature as him!", cried, curling up on the stone. "I'm capable of more things he can think of!!", he started to cry, curling even more. "I'm so tired of that! He only spoils me!"

"And what's so wrong about that?", asked Toasty, not really knowing why Aaron was mad about that.

"He doesn't let me do anything at all! He is the one that always does things for me, even for smaller they are!", snapped the boy as he stood up to face the Light Terrennial. "I can take care of myself very well!"

"So?", Toasty wasn't really amused by Aaron's words. "Isn't he your mate?"

"So what?"

"That gives him the right to spoil you and do everything for you because he loves you."

Aaron didn't think that way until now. It was more than natural for Lucian to want to do all things for the boy because he loved him and wanted nothing more but to be useful to him. But Aaron wanted to do the same to Lucian and the vampire didn't let him. Part of him felt like an idiot for being that selfish.

"You see? It's not about the way you fight, but how you see fights. The… well, mistake you make is thinking about others every time.", surprised, Aaron looked at Toasty with his eyes wide open. "It's not a bad thing either, but when battling you can't always think in saving others if you can't take care of you first. You don't know if those same persons will save you later or will help you in battle."

The boy was really confused. Why wouldn't he battle for others? Ernest did, Kay did, Bea did. Lucian… well, Lucian was just Lucian. Even when Aaron knew he also fights for his little mate, it made the boy angry that he often forgets about him when they battle against the enemy, yet he didn't mention it to Lucian.

"Isn't that obvious?", said Aaron. "I mean, of course we would always fight for others."

"And who is fighting for you, then?", asked Toasty.

That took Aaron of guard, and made him think. Who was fighting for him?

"Those… who am I fighting for?", came his shy response.

"Who?", asked again.

"Well… Ernest, Kay… Lucian, the Terrennials…"

"What if I tell you that none of them are really fighting for you?"

"What the hell are you talking about?", yelled Aaron. Toasty was just talking nonsense.

"In a fight you can't, you just can't take care of everyone.", said the Terrennial. "First, because it's a huge weight on the shoulders. Second, you will always miss someone. Third, you can't be really sure that those who you save will help you when you are in trouble. Keep in mind not everyone on the planet is a warrior and can't fight the basic instinct of saving oneself first.", explained then. "Before everyone else, one came first, always. It doesn't matter if it's you, me, Lucian, Kay, Ernest, Dumas, anyone. Everyone when fighting fights for themselves first. They can't risk putting their trust in someone that it might not help them."

"But I would help the guys out!"

"Would you, really?", before Aaron could add something, Toasty continued. "What would happen if you notice that Ernest is fighting a very strong enemy that can't defeat? What if he is on the floor, ready to receive the final blow, and you just interfere? He will obviously yell you to run because if he couldn't beat him less wills you. If he was paired with Kay, then both of them would try to run away from it, not really caring to help each other despite the good friends they are, because they value their own life above the other.", he saw that Aaron turned his head away, angry. "I know you are mad, but it's a selfish instinct deeply inside every creature on the planet."

"I still don't like it."

"You just asked me how do you do to enjoy a battle and I am telling you your mistakes!", exclaimed Toasty. "If you can't turn those things, then you will never be a successful fighter at all."

"I managed to beat Dumas along Lucian four years ago!", Aaron crawled away from Toasty, rage showing on his face. "How can you say I'm a failure?"

"You only succeed because you were useful to Lucian.", the Terrennial's heart shrunk when he saw the hurt showing on Aaron's face. "He didn't ditch you from his side because he knew a solar gun like yours would be better than just his sword, seeing that monsters are composed of Dark Matter, that is only weak to solar energy and the ones of the Terrennials.", he sighed, running a hand on his hair. "Lucian couldn't grab a solar weapon again due to his dark powers so, what better than allying with a gunslinger? Lucian was fighting for himself only that time, he didn't really care if you died. Now he changed that because he developed intimate feelings for you and he wouldn't think the same way again, but he can't really fight for you and for him if you can't change your own thoughts and feelings each time you fight. That's another thing to why he, and Ernest and the others, are so reluctant in letting you fight, because we know from a way or another, you have higher chances of ending badly hurt from your childish thoughts of saving everyone."

Unable to help himself, Aaron started to cry. It didn't hurt the truth at all, he wasn't sad about it. He was just frustrated that nothing he did was actually working and that, in the end, he became a bother to others when he had sworn to himself he wouldn't. No one really valued the warrior inside him because he just couldn't stop thinking in others and now that he thinks about it, he had never did something for himself since the day he knew how to use a gun. He always trained, aiming to become stronger, to grow up fast so he could help Ernest, so no one should take care of him anymore, so he could really fight for those who he cared about, but it only turned out the opposite. People really believed he had talent, strength and all that, but he couldn't do one of the most important things; care of himself above all.

Toasty petted the boy's head as Aaron cried on his chest, letting out all his frustration at once. He dug his nails on the Terrennial's back, screaming his lungs out, screaming in anger and sadness, anger at himself and sadness because he couldn't do what he aimed since little.

"You still have a chance to show everyone, especially Lucian and Ernest that you are capable of taking care of yourself, of fighting for yourself, of becoming that warrior you are when you are called for.", smoothed Toasty, with a knot in his throat. He couldn't bear Aaron's crying and screams, it made him feel so sad too. "Try not to whine when they say no, don't start a fight when others are concerned about your life; instead go and see other things you could do to help others by using yourself first. They need someone to stay to protect the Hideout? The go around and patrol. They need someone to be the sub captain of a certain group? Ask if you can go and fight for that privileged spot if they say no, give them a good reason for why you should go.", Toasty sighed. He knew Aaron was listening, but the boy couldn't stop his tears from coming still. "Fight, Aaron.", he hugged the boy tighter, digging his fingers in his hair. "Fight for yourself, and show others of what you are capable of when put in the line between life and death."

It took an hour or so for Aaron to calm down. He was feeling really embarrassed about his crying and screaming, but he reached a point in where he couldn't bear it anymore and had to let go all that frustration building inside. He felt very relieved now, he felt like a huge weight had gone and now could move freely. Aaron didn't know how he was going to show Ernest and Lucian that he was capable of fighting like Toasty said, but he would find a way, even if he had to quarrel against them to prove his point.

It was late when they returned to the Hideout, almost a quarter past two in the morning. Aaron wished that no one would notice his red eyes from his crying, or the wet spot on Toasty's clothe from his tears. He didn't really want to talk at all, wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep for a bit. Toasty hugged him a last time before turning into his plant form and floating off to the flowerpot in where he had been sleeping since they came to the Hideout.

Aaron found Lucian in their room, quietly sitting, looking into the nothing. Over his lap he had Nero curled up, purring loudly as he petted him with his right had, having the other under his chin. He appeared to be in deep thinking, perhaps to what his younger bother said about the cure. The boy didn't really want to disturb him, thinking he could just lay with Nish and Dumas for a few minutes before returning.

"Do you feel any better?", asked Lucian startling Aaron in his place. The boy should have seen it coming, especially from him. The vampire turned his head, without stop petting Nero, and smiled softly to Aaron. "Well?"

"…How did you know?", was the boy's reply.

"Something about you feels different.", explained. "I can't put my finger on it, but you definitely… feel different. You have another aura…", whispered. "Besides, your eyes are bloody red, how could you not think I would notice?", said with a fanged smile to what Aaron replied with a soft giggle.

"Yeah, you are right about that.", he walked towards Lucian and sat besides him having one of his arms circled around his shoulders the instant he did. "You have been thinking too?"

"A lot, yes.", he petted Aaron's shoulders and smiled, sighing deeply.

"What?", asked the boy, looking at him.

"I'm glad you realized why we were worrying about and that you can fix it."

Aaron seemed surprised to know that Lucian knew, wondering how he would, but didn't care in those instants. He simple smiled, leaning on him, stealing Nero's spot as he grabbed the cat and placed it on his own legs before comfortable sitting on Lucian's lap.

"I'm going to sleep, I'm tired.", he simple said before closing his eyes and snuggling on the vampire's chest.

Lucian arched his eyebrows in amusement. He smiled, petting Aaron's hair.

"Alright.", whispered, kissing the boy's head.

Early in the morning, when Aaron was still sleeping over the mattress with Nero resting besides him, Ernest, Lucian, Dumas, Nish and Kay were sitting in a spare room, the one with the computer from where Alice was sending them a few images she took during the night from Oyan's camp. It wasn't very noticeable, but there were enormous shadows covering the trees and spots over the ground, and Alice didn't know what it was. Like Ernest had feared since they returned from the last fight, it seemed that Oyan had gained more allies, a clear sign that he wasn't to give up anytime soon. The former Guild leader sighed when Dumas suggested what he was thinking, not knowing what to do with so little men right now. Despite having the Casket Armors to their favor, Nidhoggr's huge machine, the Terrennials… they were now dealing a completely unknown enemy, yet Dumas and the other two vampires suspected it could be vampires but couldn't tie the two together; Oyan and vampires didn't really come along at all. But if it was true, then they were not safe anymore in the Hideout, seeing that the vampires could easily find them anytime, much like Dainn did when he was looking for a chat with Ernest a few days back. It would be a disaster if the enemy suddenly came into the Hideout like that. They would give no time for them to get prepared and defend themselves. They had to move but, where?

Nish suggested to get the help from the people that Nidhoggr attacked when testing his machine (they didn't know that it was actually Alexander's suggestion), but Dumas said it wasn't safe since most of them were ill, yet Ernest found it pretty pleasant. He could talk with the leader about getting a spare part in the coast for them and to quarantine his men from any illness the coast's people could have. Or maybe Gaspar knew a place where they could hide until everything was over. Dumas still wasn't convinced and, surprisingly, Lucian wasn't either. He admit it was a good idea, but he had to take in mind that if something like what happened with Nidhoggr happens with Oyan or those supposed vampire allies, then there was no way in hell they would be able to escape; not the coast people nor them.

Ernest had to agree with that, so did Nish. But there weren't much places they could go to hide and be safe at the same time. Most of the towns and cities were banned because of the constant patrols Oyan made but with less than half of his men it could be that he had stopped doing them long ago, but didn't know if the werewolves took the soldier's place, or even those new allies decided to go on patrol.

There were, in fact, a few good places where they could go; one of them was the mountains, place the vampires knew well. In the correct places, they could stay unharmed and completely hidden, but takes too long in reaching them. Plus, they had to go pass Acuna, which wasn't exactly the safest place at all. The Aqueduct could possibly be the best of the choices, being it underground and pretty safe too. Ernest told Nish to go with someone immediately and take a look around. Then you had the Hunting Mansion (Dumas was still reluctant to go), and the underground place just below it, the Sancturn. It had some traps and a few guarding monsters, all human proof. It wouldn't work that well with the vampires. The Irving was also a good place, maybe not too big and comfortable like the Hideout, but it would be of use. Lastly, but not least, Dark Castle August and the Vambery. The first was in ruins, but it hadn't crumbled yet and could take a few hits before it. Besides, most vampires knew it and felt safer there with the countless monsters lurking around. Even when the enemy vampires could go through they would have to face the annoying maces inside the castle to first encounter someone and kill it, even knowing where they are. But the Vambery seemed to fit this time. Having one hundred of floors, all of them infested with thought monsters it had, by far, the most hiding places of all.

"Then we should split.", said Ernest. "One group goes to the Dark Castle and the other goes to the Vambery. Even if they are that many, they can't chase us one by one because it's just useless that way."

"Who will go with who?", asked Lucian. There weren't much strong people right now.

"The family groups, women, children and such should go to the Vambery and every two hours change floors.", explained the man. He sighed, then. "The other will go to the Dark Castle…", he tapped his fingers on the table. "Strong people… We only have around ten or fifteen. It's fair splitting half in one group and the other half into the other."

"Not really, because if we can take Oyan down right there with most of them, then problem solved.", came Lucian.

"You are right but, what if those vampires notice our plan and decide to look out the family group? And if they manage to find them? We can't left them so harmless against them either.", said Dumas.

"Is your brother strong, Lucian?", asked Ernest.

The vampire snorted.

"Shit, he put to sleep that fucking snake again.", answered with a grin. "He is pretty strong, I tell you and his partner, the shadow, is equally strong too. He not only knows to morph his body but he can also slip inside and control anyone's body."

"And you told us it now?", Dumas complained.

"None of you asked before.", replied Lucian with a dead glare.

"There is no difference right now.", said Alice. "As Ernest said, the safest places are, in this instant, the Dark Castle and the Vambery. You should start moving now before those things finds you out.", there were some noises into the other line. "Wait… what are you going to do with that big machine?"

"Aw, fuck….", groaned Ernest, completely forgetting about that small detail.

"Can't we put him in the Aqueduct?", suggested Lucian.

"All alone?"

"I don't really care what happens to him, actually…"

"I do, because that machine might decided if we live or not.", Ernest cut the vampire's discussion. "He will come with us to the Dark Castle. Besides, it can camouflage, right? For that vampire boy shouldn't be so hard to sneak to New Culiacan without being detected."

Lucian didn't really want Nidhoggr to come along, but Ernest had a point. Once Nish returned with the Viscounts he gathered everyone around and told them they were going to move, seeing that they had discovered an unknown ally that joined Oyan. He explained then the two groups plan, and who were going to go. To his not so surprise, Aaron was going to stay in the Vambery along with Kay, Bea, Rymer and Stoker, while the rest stayed at the Dark Castle. He gave everyone the day off to start packing their belongings and other important stuff like medicines, aid kit and such. Once again, Hër and Tove used the underground tunnels to travel and bring the stuff from the Hideout to the entrance of the Vambery. Hër stayed outside, guarding and patrolling around for any sign of the enemy while the rest helped in getting the things.

And again, the Terrennials were also staying in the family group for a while now. Ernest told them he would need their help in the battle field if things come a little tight for them.

Everything took almost a day to complete. Hër and others managed to put all the medical things, the blood bags and all belongings a little before ten in the evening. Ernest then decided to move with the family group, the vampires with the Casket Armors tagging along, leaving in the Hideout those few people that could still fight, Lucian, Aaron, Nish and Dumas. Nidhoggr went with Alexander and Máximo to pick up the machine and start moving as well.

Aaron decided to go outside once again. It was already midnight when Ernest finally left with the group and now, the Hideout seemed so empty without everyone in there. He had gotten used to the little chaos in. It wasn't easy at all to coexist. The tension and stress caused when the family and loves went to battle wasn't easy to handle. Aaron, along with Tove and the other Terrennials, had to calm down a few women that freaked out, crying rivers of tears at the thought of losing their husbands and sons. To most of them, this nightmare came true and they only found comfort losing themselves in the sweet memories. Some others found it in their youngest children, whispering to them they would take care of them no matter what. Part of Aaron's frustration came also from that. There was a point in where he couldn't bear anymore sorrow from the people inside, knowing that his own mate was outside fighting, risking his life and with equal chances of coming dead or alive from it. But he stood strong, not only for himself, but for others looking for comfort, looking for someone who would hold them and say that everything's going to be fine. It was a terrible lie, but it made them feel better.

He was now glad he could spend time with Lucian before going to the Vambery when Ernest returned to take the others to the Dark Castle. Even when he had faced this feeling every time Lucian went into fighting, that oppression in his chest wouldn't fade away. This time, even when Lucian finished, came alive from the fight, he will not return to the Vambery, and Aaron wouldn't know if he was alive or not. That thought made the boy scared and angry at the same time. He wanted to do something of what Toasty said, he wanted to tell Ernest he was capable of fighting and all, but right now he felt that the best for him, emotionally, was to stay with the others in the Vambery and wait.

"Aaron…", whispered Lucian when he reached the boy. Aaron lifted his head. "Come."

The boy stood up and the vampire started to walk off.

"Wait, go where?"

Lucian just smiled, grabbing the boy's hand and walking into the deep and dark forest.

Aaron noticed that Lucian was, strangely, wearing his jacket when he had renounced to it when the boy took possession of it.

They arrived to a clear but didn't stand there. Instead, Lucian took the boy far away from it, in a darker area. Having Dark Matter in his body already, Aaron's eyes quickly adapted to the darkness around and saw how Lucian moved behind him, circling his arms around his waist and kissing his neck, nibbling now and then. Even when the Full Moon phase was gone, the vampire still felt that urge burning inside. He had suppressed it with the fights but couldn't when being so close to his mate. Those feelings resurfaced again and, this time, Lucian wasn't going to deny them. Nor was going Aaron, seeing how lost he was in the vampire's mouth. He had turned around to grasp the other's arms, tangling his tongue with Lucian's. The boy now knew why his vampire took him there, and it was nothing more to taste him before what it seemed the last time.

Aaron dug his nails on Lucian's back, gasping between their breaths, already heating up because of them. The vampire took off his jacket and dropped it on the ground, obliging Aaron to sit on it. He tried to extend it over the ground, but he wasn't really into that much, so he just pounced on the boy and laid on him how they fall. The young gasped again, tugging the collar of the Casket Armor of Lucian, who took it off almost immediately. It lay a few inches against them, along with Aaron's shirt and shoes. They were tearing down their clothes, splashing it besides their hot bodies as their mouth roamed each other's neck and face, while their hands travelled everywhere they could go on that sweated skin. Lucian's teeth bit down on Aaron's flesh, leaving bright, red and bloody marks that would end up like swollen hickeys the next day. The vampire shivered in pleasure when the boy dug his nails and run them across his back, probably leaving long, red lashes over it.

Thought the night was lightly cold, neither of them actually felt it being so close and heating up so fast. They were groping each other, moaning in their mouths, breathing heavily, feeling the sweat running down their bodies. Aaron had marked Lucian considerably with his hands, mouth and teeth. The vampire's back looked like a cat had scratched it with its sharp claws. His shoulders and neck were covered with small hickeys and bites, his upper arms ending with the same fate. The boy wasn't much better than him, seeing how Lucian's fingers were sharper than his and actually bring out blood the vampire enjoyed licking.

They didn't really do much of foreplay that night, as Lucian almost instantly drove himself inside Aaron, groaning when the boy tightened around him as he circled Lucian's waist with his legs. Aaron sighed and made a small noise when he felt the vampire move, grasping his hips with his strong hands and thrusting in and out, fastening rather quick as the boy felt the vampire's mouth on his, starting a fight with his tongue and then leaving to play with his ear, suddenly getting bored of it. But Lucian didn't remove his mouth from the boy's ear; he started moaning in it, gasp and purr while taking Aaron over the ground in that dark forest. For Aaron, those sounds were a huge turn on as he circled Lucian's neck with his arms tightly, biting down on the vampire's ear before letting out a small moan.

In those moments, the war seemed so far, like a mirage made after being punished by the intense heat of a lonely desert. It wasn't present in their minds that in a few hours they would have to go out and fight again, risking their lives for an idea of life and to protect what was important to them. The only important thing right now was them; the smooth feeling of the other's skin on their hands, the hair tickling on their noses, the lips caressing softly, tenderly. Aaron had thought that it was their last time before anything happens, but with more deep thinking, he realized it wasn't that way at all. Lucian was just encouraging that feeling that bounded him to the young one, to have him always in his mind when he had to fight against the enemy, knowing that Aaron was waiting him in the Vambery to return alive.

Right now, Lucian was being selfish, taking Aaron to himself, just to feel him again against his skin as he thrusted hard down on the boy, hearing his moans in his ears. He didn't want to fight at all, several times the thought of bringing the boy with him and abandon everyone else crossed his mind far too often. But that would be too cowardly for someone like Lucian, yet he was scared of losing Aaron. The idea of not seeing him again was too much for the vampire to bear, and he would do anything to keep him out of danger, even if that meant to lock him up. He was no one to oblige Aaron to do it, as much as he cared for him, Lucian couldn't force him to.

"Lucian!", whispered the boy as he dug his nails on the vampire's back. He moaned and hid his face on the other's neck, sighing deeply.

The boy cummed first, tightening around Lucian who gasped as he dug his claws on the ground, thrusting one last time before he shot his seed inside the young one. The vampire growled as he panted for breath, opening his eyes to watch the relaxed face of Aaron after his orgasm. Lucian smiled and kissed his forehead, snuggling closer to him.

"My child…", murmured the vampire, petting his head.

"You always cheat…", said Aaron between giggles. He heard Lucian chuckle and then he felt his lips on his, kissing him softly. "Just dragging me into problems, always."

"But you do like it.", answered the vampire. "If not, you would have already hit me.", Aaron kissed him and the laid back, sighing. "What's the matter?"

"If female humans are called 'brides'…", the young one blushed deeply. "Then what am I called? Groom?"

Lucian couldn't help it and started to laugh.

"What's with that out of nowhere?", asked Lucian as he kept laughing. He petted Aaron's head again and smiled.

"…it's strange how after this your mind seems to clear and you think of things you never thought before.", Lucian snorted and hid on the boy's neck, trying to muffle his laughs. "What?!", shouted Aaron, hitting the vampire with his hands.

"Stop, stop it!", said as he giggled. He put his forehead against Aaron's and giggled a last time. "I'm sorry, but you came with the most funny arguments in such situations.", he leaned again and bit the neck of the boy. Then he proceeds to sink his fangs and start drinking his blood.

Aaron moaned softly, tangling his fingers in Lucian's hair and sighed. The thought of the war came into his mind once again as he opened his eyes and looked up, watching a few stars between the tree's tops. And sighed, closing his eyes once more and letting himself get lost in the wonderful sensation of having his mate cuddling in his arms for a last time.