The drinking party turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable affair, and it's even more enjoyable when Pearl and Penelope come along. Even Eva, who usually has a low tolerance for alcohol, seems to be having a good time. They ended up spending the night at the mansion because Zach can't drive and Eva was far too drunk to form coherent sentences.

She'd clung to Mabel for most of the night, despite Aiden's ability to charm her at first hello. It seemed that Mabel's warmth and charisma had done more for Eva than any other charm.

Zach himself was a little tipsy but not as drunk as Eva, whom Mabel had to carry to bed. It was a really cute picture seeing Eva acting like a child. As Zach tried to take another glass from Aiden, who was also drunk, the glass was stolen by Velor who had been standing beside him and watching him from the start.

"That's enough for you," Velor said, drinking from the glass.

"Huh, you're drinking that like the first day we met," Zach said, reminded of the bloodlust event.

"Yes," Velor replied, setting down the glass and guiding Aiden towards a nearby couch. "The first day you almost drank that blood."

"So it really was blood," Zach said, a hint of awe in his voice. "I knew it."

"Of course it was blood," Velor countered. "What else do you think vampires drink?" He handed Zach a bottle of water.

"And yes," Zach continued, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, "you were a real jerk that first day, you know that?"

"Was I?" Velor questioned, feigning innocence. "I thought I was just acting normal."

"It was not normal! You were so rude and annoying," Zach laughed, replaying the memory in his head. "But I guess you're more sane and nice now."

"You guess?" Velor asked, playfully flicking Zach's finger.

"But to me, you're still the same as you were that first day," Velor said with a playful smirk.

"Is that a compliment?" Zach retorted, furrowing his brow. "Or not?"

"It is a compliment," Velor grinned, his eyes twinkling. "You're still just as cute as the first day I met you."

"I am what?" Zach stared at Velor, dumbfounded.

Velor didn't answer, simply offering a knowing smile as he watched Zach's flustered reaction. It wasn't what Zach had expected. Mabel often called him cute, but it had never felt like this. His face flushed, but surely it was just the alcohol, right?

"Maybe I'm a little tipsy," Zach mumbled, trying to regain his composure. "I should probably get going."

"Alright," Velor said, his smile softening. "Do you remember the way? The same one you used before?"

"Yeah, I do," Zach confirmed with a grateful smile. "Thanks."

He made his way upstairs, taking the same path he had used the night he escaped from his father. The room remained unchanged, clean and inviting, with freshly folded clothes neatly arranged on the bed.

Zach collapsed onto the mattress, his face buried in the pillow. He felt warm, his heart racing in his chest. It had to be the alcohol, he reassured himself. There was no way Velor's simple compliment could have affected him so deeply. Right?

Zach's mind raced, overthinking every little detail. The cool breeze from the open window contrasted with his warm skin, creating a strangely comforting sensation. He drifted into a half-conscious state, his thoughts swirling with imagined scenarios and lingering sensations before finally succumbing to sleep.

Morning arrived, and Zach awoke with a scratchy throat and a fever, the result of sleeping without a blanket. He shook off the grogginess, did not care about his fever and it was just a normal day for him.

Heading downstairs to Aiden's bar, he found a note on the counter. It was scrawled in childlike handwriting and read, "Zach, check your messages." He instantly knew it was from Velor.

As he checked his phone, he found a text from Velor accompanied by a blurry photo.

"I broyght something for ou. It's in my room."

"Folloe this wooden barrel, you'll find it."

Velor's texting skills were as wonky as ever, and the blurry picture made Zach chuckle. Despite the quality, he could tell where it was.

He made his way down to the cellar, taking a different path than the one that led to Dominick's workspace. This one was deeper, winding through a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors. Eventually, he reached a row of wooden barrels lining the wall. His eyes scanned the row until they settled on a single barrel painted a vibrant red, just like the one in Velor's photo.

He walked behind the barrel stack and found the wooden door hidden there. He knocked, and a few seconds later, Velor opened it. His hair was messy and his clothes were loosened, looking like he had just woken up

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up so early," Zach apologised, taking in Velor's sleepy appearance.

"It's fine," Velor mumbled, stepping aside to let Zach in. "Come in."

The room was surprisingly simple, far from what Zach had expected from a blue blood vampire. It was a small, windowless space, furnished with a king-sized bed with a worn wooden frame and a single antique chair.

"Did you get any sleep?" Zach asked, noticing that Velor was rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Yeah," Velor replied with a small smile. "Only a few hours, but it's okay."

"Well, I came here because you told me to," Zach said, looking around the room curiously.

"Right," Velor replied, going to the other side of the bed and getting a box.

He handed it to Zach and gestured for him to open it. Inside was a scarf, beautifully knitted in a pattern of yellow and blue, its soft texture comforting.

"I noticed you never wear one," Velor explained, a gentle smile on his face, "so I thought you might need it."

Zach stared at the scarf in his hands, a wave of warmth washing over him. He had never received such a thoughtful gift before. It was surprisingly endearing that Velor had thought of something like this.

"Where did you get this? It's lovely," Zach said, his eyes tracing the intricate pattern of the scarf. He carefully observed Velor, who seemed to be fidgeting uncharacteristically.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Well, uh... I mean, at the mall?" Velor mumbled, his gaze shifting away from Zach's.

"Huh?" Zach raised an eyebrow, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Do you like it?" Velor asked again, still avoiding eye contact.

"Yes, I do," Zach confirmed with a genuine smile.

"Really?" Velor's face lit up, a wide grin spreading across his face as he finally met Zach's gaze.

"Actually..." Velor hesitated, his smile faltering slightly. "Never mind."

"Now, you can go. Don't forget Eva, she's in Mabel's room," Velor said, gently pushing Zach out of the room. Velor's behaviour was uncharacteristically abrupt, a stark contrast to his usual demeanour.

Zach clutched the box in his hand and dialled Eva's number. He was surprised when Velor told him she was in Mabel's room, but considering their friendship, maybe she was, maybe she wasn't. Eva was full of surprises

He waited for the phone to connect, and it did, but the voice on the other end wasn't Eva's. A familiar, sleepy voice answered instead.

"Hello, Zach," Mabel said.

"Is Eva really in your room?" Zach asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Ah, yes, she's still sleeping. Should I wake her up?" Mabel replied, the sound of rustling blankets in the background.

"No need," Zach said. "Just tell her I might be leaving first."

"Oh, you won't wait for her?" Mabel asked.

"No, it's okay. I want to shower at home today," Zach explained.

"Why? Or maybe I shouldn't ask," Mabel said, her voice trailing off.

"You shouldn't go alone at this hour," Mabel added, her voice laced with concern. "What do you think will happen if they catch you again?"

"Then I'll be quick on my way home," Zach replied, trying to reassure her.

"Is that what you want?" Mabel sighed. He could sense her frustration. "Fine, but be careful and go straight home, okay?"

"Okay, thanks Mabel. Please take care of Eva for me," Zach said, a hint of worry in his voice.

"With pleasure," she replied, hanging up the phone.

Zach wandered through the quiet mansion, his stomach grumbling. He searched for something to eat before venturing outside and stumbled upon a warm pastry in the kitchen. A note from Aiden lay beside it, the single word "Eat" scrawled in his familiar handwriting

Zach smiled and grabbed the pastry with gratitude, scribbling a quick thank-you note for Aiden before heading towards the front door.

Outside, the morning felt strange. It was cold and wet, yet the sun remained hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds. It wasn't as if Zach had never seen rain before, but It wasn't the rain itself that Zach hated, but the anticipation of it. He hated the sticky feeling in the air just before the rain fell, the gnawing anxiety that built up as the storm approached. It was truly the worst.

As he walked the familiar path back home, the sky above started its concert. It growled and threatened that if Zach wasn't home in the next second, it would pour on his head. So Zach quickened his steps, trying not to worry about it too much.

When he was halfway home, the rain started dripping. The drips turned into splashes, and then it rained like crazy. He groaned and started running toward the nearby grocery store. wiping his face and slicking back his soaked hair. This was the worst way to start a day, and the contrast between his damp clothes and the store's frigid air conditioning only worsened his fever. His nose started to clog, making it impossible to breathe properly. At least Velor's gift, tucked safely in the box under his arm, remained dry.

He grabbed a few over-the-counter medications and a steaming cup of coffee before heading to the checkout counter. His eyes landed on a rack of umbrellas behind the fruit stand, so he quickly grabbed one before checking out. As he pulled out his wallet, a voice stopped him cold.

"We meet again."

Zach hesitated before looking up. It was the voice he had been hoping to avoid. The rain outside was bad enough, but why did this voice have to make it worse?

"Are you going to pay or not?" the voice said.

"Yeah," Zach mumbled, still avoiding eye contact. It was always the blue-haired man who showed up in the most unexpected ways. Every time Zach tried to step outside his regular routine, this man appeared. Zach couldn't understand why, but it felt like he was being stalked

"I don't stalk you around, if that's what you're thinking," the man said, as if reading Zach's mind.

"I always work here on weekends," he added, his eyes fixed on Zach. "And I also didn't know I'd see you today." He flashed a smile, his fangs momentarily glinting in the fluorescent light.

"Well, I didn't have any intention of eating you right here and now when I saw you," he said, reaching for the scanner to ring up Zach's items. Zach flinched, scanning the area around them. Thankfully, they were alone.

"But hey..." the man began, his eyes boring into Zach's, then stopped abruptly. "Nevermind."

"I know you might think I'm the villain here," he continued, deftly handling Zach's money. "But trust me, if it were another sunspawned, you'd have been dead the moment they caught your scent."

Anger flared in Zach's chest, emboldening him. "Oh, so I should thank you for not killing me?" he snapped.

"Finally, you speak," the man's smile widened, "I know someone like you, who knows the moonspawned," he paused, savouring the words, "of course you're going to be biassed."

"But you do you," he shrugged. "I'm not trying to justify my actions from that day."

"I'm Gus," he said, extending a hand. Zach frowned at the unexpected friendliness. Gus, huh? More like a gut, Zach thought

"Understandable," the man said, his tone softening as he held out Zach's change. Zach hesitated, remembering the last time he'd reached out to this man. But he couldn't very well leave without his money, so he cautiously extended his hand.

The man didn't grab him this time. Instead, he offered a firm handshake. Zach was surprised by the warmth emanating from the man's hand – unlike the icy touch of Mable or Velor, It radiated a comforting heat, reminiscent of a blanket left to dry in the sun on a clear day.

"Hope we get along well," the man said, still shaking Zach's hand. "This one's on me."

"Huh?" Zach pulled his hand away, confused. "What do you mean?"

The man smiled. "I've already paid with my own money, if you didn't realise. I just broke that large bill for you."

Zach looked down at the money in his hand. It was indeed the same amount, but with smaller bills. He looked back up at Gus, a mix of confusion and guarded show on his face

"Go on," the man smiled. "Get home safe."

Zach stared at him with the most bewildered expression he could muster. It was truly odd, as if the man had somehow become a different person. Nevertheless, Zach reasoned that if the man wasn't hurting him, perhaps it was okay to talk to him? Maybe?

Clutching the umbrella in one hand and the box in the other, Zach set off. Despite the rain pouring down as if it were doomsday, he managed to return home safely. The gift, cold medicine, and even the coffee—still warm—had all survived the journey. He peeled off his damp clothes and headed straight for the shower.

Perhaps it was because his body was chilled, but the water cascading from the showerhead felt unusually good against his skin. It was strange how he could shower with this warm sensation without it bothering him much.

Zach stepped out of the shower, feeling slightly less miserable. He grabbed Mable's elixir and chased it with a swig of coffee—a decision he instantly regretted. The combination was horrific. The coffee amplified the elixir's already pungent flavour, transforming it into a taste reminiscent of a century-old, rotting banana.

Zach's stomach lurched. He bolted for the bathroom, barely making it in time before a wave of nausea forced him to his knees. With tears streaming down his face, he retched until his stomach was empty, the foul taste lingering in his mouth.

"Never again," Zach mumbled to himself, rinsing his mouth out with water and wiping his face with a towel.

He flopped onto the couch, then remembered the gift from Velor. He carefully opened the box, revealing the deep yellow and blue scarf. The colours seemed to dance together, a harmonious blend that was surprisingly pleasing to the eye. The scarf felt softer than he remembered, inviting him to touch it. As he pulled it from the box, a sense of warmth and comfort washed over him, so intense it made his heart skip a beat.

"Huh?" Zach paused, the scarf held in mid-air, as he inhaled its scent.

His heart... skipped a beat? HIS DAMN HEART???????