Chapter 1

"NO!" Desh screamed as he watched Rett disappear into the darkness. He stretched out his hand and tried to grab hold of him but Rett seemed so far away.

Desh fell to his knee, closed his eyes and begged for Rett to stay. No matter how much he pleaded, Rett continued to grow smaller. Tears streaming down his cheeks, he jumped up and ran after the disappearing man. Even with his vampiric speed, the gap between them continued to grow until Rett was just a tiny speck on the horizon.

Desh stretched out his hand in a last attempt…

Rett disappeared.

Suddenly, Desh was left in darkness, for his only light had disappeared. All was quiet. Dimly, he heard a sound in the distance. His keen ears picked it up.

Someone was screaming.

As he listened to the animalistic sound, he realized it was him. He was the one screaming at the top of his lungs.

"NO!" he screamed. "Rett! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you so much pain. Don't leave me! I love you!"

The darkness began to smother him until it became hard to breathe.

Desh woke with a start. A scream tore from his throat. His body thrashed around on the bed, his hands twisting in the sheets.

*

Rett heard screaming in the next room. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up in bed. His blonde hair fell into his sharp brown eyes. The screams became louder and more distinct as he listened.

It was Desh.

Rett leaped out of his bed and left the room. Why was Desh screaming? Desh was always in control of his emotions even when he is severely injured. What was hurting him so badly that he was screaming out in pain?

The door swung on its hinges, slamming into the wall with such fore it almost came loose. The room was dark since it was during the day. Thick curtains covered the windows. Desh's bed was at the far corner of the room. Rett could see Desh's silhouette thrashing on the bed.

"No!" Desh screamed. "I'm sorry! Please, don't leave me!"

"Desh." Rett sat down on the side of the bed. "Wake up, Desh."

Desh didn't hear him. The darkness was smothering him. His light had vanished from his sight.

Rett grabbed his shoulders and roughly shook him. "Don't leave me!" Desh continued to scream.

"Who's leaving you?"

Rett was confused. He had never seen Desh like this before. Why couldn't he wake up? Who was leaving him?

He kept hold of Desh's shoulders to restrain him. "Desh, wake up. It's me, Rett."

"Rett, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry for what?"

Desh screamed in pain. He broke free from Rett's grip. He sat up and opened his eyes. His eyes locked with Rett's. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Suddenly, Desh threw his arms around Rett's neck. He buried his face into the man's neck. Rett froze from Desh's actions. He had never seen this side of Desh. Desh had never hugged him before. The vampire kept his distance from everyone.

Desh's touch was not bad. It was quite the opposite. His touch felt warm against Rett's flesh. The vampire's breath on his neck warmed Rett's blood.

"Buddy, are you okay?" Rett patted Desh's back awkwardly.

Desh mumbled something against Rett's neck. All Rett heard was you.

"What did you say?" Rett loosened Desh's hold around his neck. "Speak up so I can hear you."

"I love you."

Rett stiffened in Desh's arms. His hand fell from his back. Desh loved him? Where did that come from?

"Please don't leave me." Desh tightened his grip around Rett's neck.

The vampire breathed in Rett's scent and sighed in content. Rett was still here. He had not left him after all. Rett was here, here in his arms and he just heard…

Desh jumped back with a start. Rett's face confirmed his thoughts. He had heard everything that had come out of his mouth. Desh opened hismouth but nothing came out. He was at a loss of words. He had never meant for Rett to hear this. Desh had kept his feelings secret for over three hundred years.

"Rett, I…"

"You okay?"

Rett's question caught Desh off guard. Desh had expected to be bombarded with questions, but Rett remained calm and went about as if Desh had only been dreaming.

"Yes, I am alright." Desh whispered.

"You sure? I heard you screaming and you sounded as if you were in terrible pain."

Filled with the pain of loosing you. Desh did not voice this out. "Just a nightmare."

"Must have been pretty good to frighten you." Rett smiled and Desh's heart raced. "Was it about Lilith?"

Desh shook his head. "No, worse." He whispered.

Rett noticed the pain in Desh's crimson eyes but did not push. Desh would tell him in due time. He clapped him on the shoulder and gave him a friendly squeeze.

"Go to sleep my friend. There is still plenty of daylight left before nightfall. Try to get some more sleep before we patrol the city tonight."

Rett closed the door behind him, leaving Desh alone in his dark room. Images of his hellish nightmare flashed through his eyes. His breath came in short gasps as his chest felt tight and uncomfortable. The urge to scream came like a hot wave and he had to cover his mouth with his hand to keep it from escaping. Fresh tears streamed down his cheeks. He had confessed his feelings to Rett without meaning to. Desh feared Rett would push him away and they would slowly drift apart. He didn't want that. He wanted to keep Rett close to him as long as he could without smothering him.

To Desh it was not easy. There were many women who would eagerly crawl into his bed without a second thought. The women disgusted him, but oddly he was jealous. They could walk up to him and kiss his lips without feeling ashamed or embarrassed by who they were.

But Desh was a man.

Rett never showed any sign of being sexually attracted to men since Desh had known him. He was always talking about the women he had bedded in his three hundred years of existence.

Would Rett accept him if Desh confessed his feelings?

Desh didn't want to know the answer to that question. The thought of Rett rejecting him was too much for Desh to handle.

Desh buried his face in his pillow and closed his crimson, vampiric eye. He knew he would not be able ot sleep again but he had to try. If he thought about Rett much longer, he would bot be able to control the scream of anguish that threatened to tear through his throat.

I love you.

The words rang through his head as he slowly sank into a dreamless sleep.