Hey there ! It has been a while, hasn't it ? ^^
Unfortunately, the next few OS will propably arrive late too, since I'm about to take exams. That little guy was simply sitting on my desktop for quite some times now, better publish it, right ? x)

Besides, I wished I had written on more characters before using some I have already written on, but well... Ezreal and Vladimir are back ! Since Vlad is here, expect a little gore (once again, nothing too graphic !)... But since Ez is here as well, expect a little lovin' too (nothing too graphic, sorry guys :)

As usual, feel free to leave reviews, commentary or corrections (this text is unbeta'd) !

Please enjoy !

Blood, flesh, marrow

It was weird to dream again. One might argue my brain would always have something to process and show me in my sleep, seeing as I never stayed in Piltover more than a week. Well, maybe I actually dreamed, and I didn't remember it. It was the most logical explanation. So, I corrected myself : 'it was weird to experience vivid dreams that could make me wake up sweaty in the middle of the night'. I would always reach for my forehead, expecting a fever. Instead, as my hand slid slowly down my face and closed my eyes, I saw him, in all his red glory. I came to understand that trying to sleep again immediately after awakening wasn't the best thing to do, because the dream would be back like nothing happened. I set a candle alight on my desk, took out a pencil from a drawer and began doodling the same thing I always doodled when those dreams happened. Delicate features frozen in a light frown, flowing snowy hair, emotionless eyes, slim shoulders, elegant attire ripped straight from horror stories about Vampires. Well, what people called Vampires, anyway. He would bleed me dry if he learned I got confused again. Tonight's drawing was... quite failed, to be honest. But since I already had one illustrating my chapter on Hemomancers, it didn't really matter. I crumpled the paper sheet, aimed at my trash can, missed but got back under the covers anyway.

The morning sun woke me up late. I simply didn't feel like getting up right away. I pulled the covers above my head with a groan and my mind wandered on his own as he usually did after such a night. The first time, I think I was coping with the Vampire attack, because the dream was mainly about that beast. As the dream repeated itself, the focus slowly changed. By the end of the second week, the Vampire had disappeared and I was left with my 'savior'. Classic case of a friendly reminder that I'm liable to him. The occurrences spaced out, but the content became more explicit every time. Don't get me wrong, we seemed to be thoroughly enjoying ourselves and I actually intended to repay my debt, but I didn't think of myself as slutty enough to repay someone with my body ! However, if everything was as promising as it sounded or felt...

'Don't think about it, idiot !'

I knocked my head against the headboard and got up immediately. Maybe it wasn't my most brilliant idea, but now my mind was made up. Since I found no new interesting places to explore lately, since my mind won't leave me in peace, the summoners will have the rare occasion to summon me with my consent !

Never had I been so wrong.

The day was simply boring, I didn't felt any freer from the tricks my mind played on me, and I felt even my summoners knew something was wrong with me. Let's just hope they didn't find out what was wrong. I was fine with rumors and gossip. Vladimir, on the other hand... I also concluded that the only reasonable option I had to get rid of those dreams where to confront their target. If that perspective alone didn't scream 'Suicide !', I would rather ignore what did.

I made my way to the basement of the Institute, below the Champion's dorm, to the railway station. It was a wonder of hextech technology, entirely automated, serving all the city-states, originating from a collaboration mainly between Zaun and Piltover. The pride of all Valoran. And just as I thought I ran out of luck today, the train heading for Noxus stopped next to its corresponding platform. As I was about to climb in, I suddenly realized I had no valid reason to disrupt the Hemomancer. I couldn't pretend I had some questions left on the temple, because I really had no question left and nothing to take notes anyway. I guessed it was the only reason I would have to come back to him, and I really didn't want to barge in the bar where I found him last time, and said something like 'Hi ! I still owe you ! Want to satisfy some carnal urge ? As in sexual. Not in the related to the flesh sense.'.Worst pick-up line ever. If only I had something to show him, like a picture, or a book or... a book.

'Okay, the train is scheduled to leave in two minutes. Piece of cake !'

Time to let some magic play ! I jumped out of the train and used my inner magic to port across the next rail track. Next obstacle : the stairs. When you knew how to kick a wall and back flip across the railing, it wasn't much of a problem, really. I bumped into two or three person on my way to the Champion dormitory. If I carried on as slowly, the train would be gone before I could lay a hand on my excuse. I suddenly remembered the room neighboring mine in that corridor was vacant. I entered said room, blinked through the wall and met the greatest difficulty of this journey : finding the booklet about Hemomancers. One minutes thirty seconds left. That might become more of a challenge than I expected. I used a little gust of magic to clear the top of my desk and began turning around every remaining book.

'Why the only one with the blood-red cover is nowhere to be seen ?'

Probably because it wasn't with the others. I got a quick look around my room. Nothing in the bookcases, nothing on my other chair, nothing on my bed... And here it was, on my nightstand. That was unusual. No time to ponder on why I put it down here in the first place, though, I only had five seconds left. I couldn't be on time now. Except if I blinked through the floor. I wasn't found of that kind of operation, but I had no options left, did I ? I began rolling in mid-air, let the arcane port me on the other side and slowed down the ensuing fall by sending some magic to the floor, raising a cloud of dust. I heard some mechanical sounds and knew I wasn't done just yet. I turned around and chased the train. I was thankful the engine took his time to start, otherwise one more Arcane Shift wouldn't have allowed me to catch up. I sat so my magic could flow calmly again and enjoyed the underground ride.

Noxus at night was quite worrisome. Especially the suburbs, since they were only moderately lightened up and that district was filled with drunken men once the moon was high. But I didn't intended to stay around long on the streets anyway. I recognized the bar where I found Vladimir the first time and got in. Immediately, I felt eyes on me. Surprised and curious glances were quickly drawn away, but one pair of eyes stayed focused on me, with an intensity that almost made me shiver. I turned to the side like an automaton and reached the Crimson Reaper's table. I took the only other seat, put the book on the table and couldn't utter a word. The barman brought me a glass of milk with strawberry syrup, which surprised me. I stared at the glass dumbfounded until I heard a low chuckle.

'I thought he wouldn't remember.'

'Huh ?'

'The bartender. I'm a regular, and we bet no one will ever sit down more than once at my table. Now, tell me what brings you here.'

I pushed the book towards him. The glass was very nice. The table too. Even my shoes looked quite cool from here. My neck was stiff. I merely saw Vlad leafing through the book. Only when he came to a stop that our eyes could met properly. Something was bothering him, I saw it in his eyes. He lightly tapped the page where he stopped with his finger. Of course, seeing his portrait would bother him. Yet, I had expected a more violent reaction. Instead, he spoke softly :

'Have you drawn this yourself ?'

'Two weeks ago.', mumbled Ezreal. 'When the dreams were getting steamy...', he added in his thoughts.

'Could it be... No, spells are supposed to last this long...'

'The Institute would have noticed. If you talk about the Vampire's spell.'

'I'm not sure. Their magic is ancient and only few magi know about it. Either way, here is not the place and now is perhaps not even the time to deal with this. Drink that nefarious beverage and I'll walk you back to the Institute.'

I did as I was told while Vlad talked in what I recognized as Noxian to the bartender. I caught a word or two, but nothing more. I didn't envisioned the Vampire's magic as an explanation, although it would provide a very convenient one. I would have realized if I was under magical influence, that was what saved him last time. Anyway, Vladimir was right. There was no point in staying here and my little problem would need further investigation. Yet, as we walked in silence in the suddenly empty streets, I thought that maybe the cause wasn't that complex. I was still human, beneath my wanderlust. The silence remained heavy between us has we passed through the railway station then through the Institute's corridors. We stopped at my door. We stood, in front of each other.

'I hate myself so much right now.'

'What for, Ezreal ?'

'An entire month to realize that...', he sighed. 'I can't even say it.'

'So, no Vampire curse, right ?'

He was more perspicacious than I gave him credit for. More comprehensive too.

'I'm sorry.'

'Why ?'

'Because the spring where you want to quench your thirst is forbidden to human beings.'

'Can't I at least dip my lips, please ?'

'Why would you be so cruel to yourself ? You would risk drowning for something that would left your throat dry ?'

That said, he wasn't that reluctant when I took a firm hold in his collar and pulled him down. His lips fell square on mine, half-opened because he was surprised. I worked my lips against his as I dragged him inside and kicked the door closed. By the time I had us both crashed on my bed, with him on top, my tongue had sneaked into his mouth and met a surprisingly enthusiastic answer. I enjoyed it, until he began biting at my bottom lip. It hurt, and he ended up drawing blood. I felt it flow through the wound and my common sense suddenly kicked in. Something was wrong. I placed my hands flat against his torso, waited until his teeth weren't clasping at my lip anymore and pushed him away with a little magic. I didn't really intended it, but he collided rather violently with the opposite wall. He groaned, probably in pain, and rested his palm against his forehead. He was shocked beyond words, but he seemed fine. I got closer after I closed the cut with a little trick.

'That was quick. And unexpected...' whispered Vladimir.

'How do you feel ?'

'Still a little stunned. Are you unconscious ?'

'I hope that wasn't meant as a reproach, because I'm not scared at all.'

'You shouldn't be so careless after what happened.'

'But, Vladimir, what did really happened ?'

He looked like he was perfectly keeping his cool, yet I suspected him to be far more panicked inside. I sat down next to him and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. We still had the night ahead of us. As he reflected, I took in his appearance more closely. He was a magus, he told me so when we were at the temple, so I guess he had nothing like eternal youth because he was an Hemomancer. If that were to be true, maybe our age gap wasn't as wide as I first thought it was. Not that it really mattered to me anyway. No, what really bothered me was how I would explain to my parents that I fell for a blood-manipulating Noxian. But maybe it was a bit early to think about this. It's not like I was in a relationship with him yet.

'So, what's going on ?'

'Well, you see, as I absorbed my master, I absorbed all the masters before me, with their memories. Some of them did fell for someone at one point of their life. They consumed them in a rather... beastly manner during their first night together.'

'Every one of them ?'

'Well, from what I can recall, the last tenth master choose celibacy. I'm rather thankful for that, because the other memories are... gruesome. Skin, blood, organs, flesh, bones, marrow...', he went through one by one with a shiver. 'Nothing left...', he paused. 'It's just like they somehow managed to change the other into a pool, like we do, and... well...'

'You don't no know to do that, do you ?' asked Ezreal, fighting a bout of nausea.

That uneasy silence made me dread the answer. But seeing as he was working rather disturbing things out, it was only natural to give him some time if he needed it. As for myself, I thought I would have been far more crept out by that mean to be one forever with your significant other. Maybe Hemomancer got some leftovers they weren't aware of of Vampire magic. Like soothing their prey before consuming them. Or maybe it was just good old-fashioned trust. I snaked my arm around his and held his hand.

'Consciously, I don't know. But since I had no sex drive since I became an Hemomancer until five minutes ago, who knows.'

'As if I'll let you do what you please with me. I'm a little more feisty than what you might expect.' joked Ezreal.

'I already saw that.' Vladimir admitted with a soft chuckle. 'However, are you in your heart and soul ready to put your very life on the line for something your peer will probably shun you for ?'

I let go of his hand and rose. He had several points. I didn't felt like telling him down on the floor, on his left side. I heard the slightest hint of a renouncement sigh. Did he was doubting me ? Well, my reaction was a bit untimely now that I thought about it. I quickly spun on my heels, took a good hold of his wrists and helped him up, maybe a little against his will. We stood face to face, in an unexpectedly heavy silence.

'If we take it slow, nothing unfortunate can happen, right ?'

'I guess it is worth a try.' He trapped his smaller companion in a loose embrace. 'Ezreal, don't forget to call my name, please.'

'Aren't you a little cheeky asking me that so early ?' the youngest whispered as the Noxian's lips were sliding down his neck.

'Do it, so I can repel them more easily.'

While I thought he asked that out of brashness, the sudden serious tone made me understand that he wasn't fooling around. I cupped his face with my hands, gave him a reassuring smile while staring softly at his blood-red irises.

'I promise it to you, Vladimir.'