Kei dragged the barely alive Daz away, shivering each time he remembered what he had seen. A monster was too kind of a word to describe that creature. He wasn’t surprised it had brought back someone else, he had expected that. What he did not expect was how it felt witnessing it all from the outside.

When Daz was bitten, he slumped against Kei and he helped supporting him. He had already warned him what would happen and how it would feel. At first, everything was as Kei had expected, but then the creature turned around and looked straight at them.

Looking into those eyes Kei’s blood had run cold. Yet… he felt pulled towards them, and suddenly he hated Daz, he wanted to be the one…

But something had gone wrong, Kei could feel it. Those eyes shifted and there was nothing in them but pure, undisguised blood lust of a beast led by instincts, void of all reason.

Kei had stood there frozen, the weakly convulsing Daz still in his arms, death descending down upon him.

The next moment, Daz was taken from him, and he couldn’t make sense of what he was seeing as the ritual lines illuminated them. Why did the creature keep pushing Daz’s chest? Was it somehow part of its healing ritual?

Time had passed, long, or short, Kei couldn’t tell. But Daz had lived, and darkness had descended yet again. He had jerked out of his thoughts as he was commanded to take care of Daz.

Kei had dragged him into the other room, but there was nothing much he could do for him. Instead, his thoughts wandered back to the creature. It seemed it didn’t mean to kill Daz, it just couldn’t help itself.

What had the Bloodborn create? And why was it here? He needed answers.

At last, he resolved himself.

He was a Doakr’hal, whatever it meant. The creature had something he wanted, whatever it was. It was no coincidence he had wandered straight into that monster that night. He was tired of being scared, tossed around and played with.

He was a Doakr’hal.

*

Ray was still irritated by his lack of self-control when he heard the first human approaching. The human must have lost its mind to willingly come to him after seeing what he had done to the other one. Once the human entered the room, it just stood there, blindly looking around.

Losing his already non-existent patience, Ray roughly asked, “What?”

The human’s head snapped towards the sound, but instead of more groveling, not only it dared to ask a question, but the human addressed him directly, “Are the Bloodborn your enemy?”

Ray had to recall who the Bloodborn even was. Right, the descendants of that Founder guy who also enslaved the natives. So were they like nobility? Or was it only just Bloodborn and slaves? Enemy… huh? He only had one enemy. That man. He didn’t care about anyone else.

Lost in thought, the human completely forgotten, Ray muttered his conclusion to himself, “I don’t care about the Bloodborn. Only that man.”

The human asked again, “Is your enemy the Patriarch?”

Ray needed all his self-restraint to not kill the impudent human on the spot. He said coldly as a matter of fact, “If you ever mention that name again, I’ll kill you.”

With that, Ray considered the matter over, but the human still remained. He was increasingly sure this human was broken, and had a death wish.

Ray wasn’t stupid, it clearly wanted something it was willing to risk death for, no matter what. That was the only reason it was still alive. Ray was curious.

The human took two steps forward, trying to seem confident. Ray could smell the fear and uncertainty on him, but there was a deep-seated determination in its eyes. Ray found this human to his liking, his eyes wandered down to the side of its neck. It was tempting.

“I have knowledge you need,” said the human, breaking Ray’s line of thought of that tasty blood.

He decided to entertain the human, “Why would I need you? I could interrogate anyone else.”

“Others don’t know anything. Not like me.”

“Oh? So you are some special boy?”

The human hesitated, seemingly struggling with himself. Then its expression changed to one who decided to jump off a cliff as it said, “I… I am someone who is called Doakr’hal.”

Yup, that totally explained everything… Ray thought sarcastically, but the human continued.

“I don’t know what it means. But I know I’m different. I know things. It’s… strange.”

“And you are telling me all this because…?”

“Because I feel like I was looking for you the night you took me.”

Well, Ray certainly appreciated the honesty. There was just one thing…

He stood up, and stepping right in front of the human, he coldly whispered, “Don’t get carried away. You are just food for me.”

The human shivered, but it lifted a hand towards Ray’s face while saying, “I’m just food.”

Anger flashed in Ray’s Eyes as he slapped away the human’s hand. “Do you have a fucking death-wish?”

But the suicidal human did not back off, tilting its head questioningly it snapped back, “Aren’t I just food?”

Ray lost it. He grabbed the idiotic human and bit deeply into its neck, avoiding all major blood vessels with his last shred of reason.

A brief flash of clarity returned to Ray as the human cried out, and he latched onto a single thought. Don’t move. He couldn’t let go. He’d kill the human otherwise. And as much as he would have liked that, he needed knowledge. But most importantly, he didn’t want to be a prisoner of his own instincts.

The single thought remained. Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move… that’s all Ray focused on while waiting for Day to come. Nothing else mattered. He didn’t hear the strange, yet familiar words echoing in his mind. He didn’t notice what his Fangs kept injecting the human with, nor did he realize his Blood crawling onto, into the human. And lastly, did not see the eerie, otherworldly shimmer in the human’s eyes.

Ray only knew of that single thought of holding on, not moving.

As Day was finally approaching, Ray’s urges faded, and reason slowly returned to him. He felt spent, extremely weak, and thoroughly exhausted.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

He let go of his human who slumped to the ground, limp, but still trembling, soaked in sweat, breathing raggedly.

He frowned, noticing something. Supporting himself on the wall, he stumbled into the other room to look at the other human. That one didn’t feel his. Ray came stumbling back, and looked at his human again. This one was his.

He tried to remember, but he only had vague impressions. Something had changed. Something fundamental. As his thoughts slowly turned, he absent-mindedly created a cleansing ritual for his human, only realizing what he was doing when his human was already clean.

He crumbled to the ground as Day arrived in full force and together with his powers, he fell into a deep sleep.

*

Kei groggily woke up. His memories returning, he broke into a quiet laughter. He finally found it. But soon, his laughter turned into anguished, inconsolable crying. He remembered it all. Everything.

Eventually, his tears ran dry, the pain fading into a familiar, never-ceasing constant ache. But he wasn’t alone this time.

Turning towards the quiet sound of breathing, he saw not a creature anymore, but someone he belonged with. He sadly smiled, a warmth long-forgotten flickering in the depths of his heart.

His Arq'hel-Drwaák.

Kei was still a Doakr’hal, but also more, and the same time less. He felt like a traitor. He was a traitor. Even so, he would do anything, become anything.

Looking at the tired face of his Arq'hel-Drwaák, he wished to be forgiven.

His smile faded. He could never be forgiven.

He quietly started talking, telling a story from long ago, but Ray could not hear it.

He spoke for a while to no one, yet speaking as if he was heard.

I’m sorry, was his last thought as he let himself fall into a deep sleep.

*

Ray woke up starving. It was Night again.

He left without a backwards glance.

He was not himself, and at the same time, more in tune with his body than ever.

Hunger clawed, thirst suffocated, yet he remained in control.

He needed to go far. Further, far from his hideout.

He sped through the rooftops, faint words echoing in his ears.

Speed of the wind, at times a breeze, at others a gale.

He listened to the wind, whispering of lives under him. The murmurs of blood beckoning him.

He felt, and became more complete as more words followed.

Hearing the call of blood, of men and brethren.

He rushed ahead like a dark wind of doom.

The Night was quiet.

He stopped. He was far enough.

He inhaled deeply, and stopped fighting the thirst.

Yet more words.

Smelling the sweet scent of prey, doomed to thirsting endlessly.

Why should he be careful?

He stepped off the edge of the building, twisting, he grabbed a window frame and soundlessly landed inside.

Moaning, grunting and naked human body parts wiggling, flopping and jerking around.

Why should he deprive himself?

He approached. A pair of eyes landed on him. He smiled and the words came.

A beauty mesmerizing…

He softly said, “Don’t mind me.”

A blessing…

Pondering, he gently stroked the face the pair of eyes belonged to.

A caress of delight…

Blood.

Craving the Taste of blood…

Thrill, elation, satisfaction. He wanted more.

…a never-ending cursed pleasure.

Cries of bliss as blood was devoured.

Fangs that take, Fangs that give pleasure…

Silence followed the fading moans.

…in death.

“Shh, it’s alright.”

…a curse to all who hears.

He gently tilted a head.

…a caress of death.

More blood.

Heart that revels in blood taken…

Another limp body. More. It wasn’t enough.

This was who he truly was.

…and bears all the burdens.

A bare neck. A fleeting touch of the skin.

Unblemished silk…

Another bite.

…a monster underneath.

Last one. Trembling in fear.

Excitement.

Screams of pain.

Claws that play with the prey like a cat…

Silence.

…blood and ashes all that’s left.

Another window. More humans. More blood.

…a nightmare in the dark.

*

The Night was silent. The Moon did not judge, the Stars felt warm. The children slept beneath. No adults remained.

Ray sat on top of the building, quietly staring up at the Moon. He was naive and delusional before, but now he felt awake, more complete.

He recalled another Moon, another Night.

Are you going to offer to kill me this time as well?

“Do you want me to?”

No. I’ve never felt better.

“If you say so.”

I mean it. Standing up, he started heading back. But when Day comes I’ll become weak-minded. Promise me not to kill me.

“I’ve already told you before that I wouldn’t, even if you begged me.”

That’s not a promise.

“Do you even trust me to keep my promises?”

Of course not.

“Then what’s the point?”

So I can hold it against you later if you break it.

“What would that even achieve?”

Annoy you?

“…”

Silence stretched in the quiet Night.

“You are awfully calm.”

Should I be upset?

“Normally you would be.”

I’m not human anymore, they are nothing but food. I wasn’t upset about eating chicken either.—He paused, then wryly smiling, he added—although I had never eaten a thousand chicken at once.

*

By the time Ray got back to his hideout, dawn was soon approaching, not long left from the Night.

Ray’s eyes fell on his human. He was still asleep. He gently shook him, but his human didn’t wake up. Frowning, he asked Vorm, What’s wrong with him?

“What does it matter, isn’t he just food?”

No. He’s different.

He couldn’t place it, but he felt a familiar feeling. Occupied with his thoughts, he sat down next to his human, pulling him into his lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and started playing with his hair distractedly.

When had he felt like this before?

Was his human cold? …He should have brought back some blankets.

Ray froze, realizing what he was doing. He looked down at his sleeping human and finally understood it. He felt the same towards his human as he felt towards his cat. The same, but stronger.

And he was worried. He asked again, What’s wrong with him?

“Ugh, you, obviously. Just let him be, he will wake up eventually.”

Are you sure?

“Yes, but it will take a while.”

How long?

“How should I know when he’d feel like waking up? Clearly more than a day.”

The Night was soon ending. Ray lay down and embraced his human to keep him warm. He would bring back some blankets next time… he drifted off into a peaceful sleep.