"Do you want to be kissed?"

Ari pushed Auovin's face away causing Auovin to laugh.

He was mocking him, Ari thought with annoyance.

"Are you jealous, perhaps?"

"Of what and who? There is no reason for me to be jealous of anything related to you," Ari hissed as he put on a thicker shirt over the thinner one. Although it was summer, the summer nights were like winter and winter nights were like summer days in Assania. He had to dress in layers for such a reason.

Just as he put the shirt over his head, Ari felt a cold hand snake its way inside his thinner shirt causing him to jolt away and the demon to laugh more.

"Do you find this so amusing? Touching me and harassing me like this? It is not." Ari knew the demon was only letting him be so free-mouthed because he wanted him to think he had some ounce of freedom and choice in all this.

"You are quite..." The demon thumbed his bottom lip in what looked like deep thought. "Precious."

Ari still felt his hand on his side as the demon smiled and pressed closer.

"It saddens me to think you will not be so like this in coming times."

Ari moved his hand and continued to put the shirt on himself. It was time for them to leave. Rein was still injured but he could walk if someone helped carry his weight. Ari would have never thought Auovin would agree to give Rein the proper treatment that he needed. There was no doubt in his mind the demon was up to something or will want something great in return.

As soon as he walked down stairs, Ari saw Rein slumped against Freir's shoulder. His face was paling and Ari could hardly see his chest rising. There were beads of sweat running down the sides of his face causing Ari to look at Freir with doubt.

"Do not say it. Do not ever say it," Freir warned as he pushed Ari out of his way and continued to the door.

Losing so much blood weakened him and opened his body up to infection. It was something common they would see after battles fought with demons. Poisoned blood some said. To Sanclii, it was called Taint, the taint that spread from the unholy creatures.

Cyrus came out of a room causing Ari's eyes to catch with his. Ari was still filled with disbelief that Auovin loved him in such a way. For what reasons did he love him for and how did they come to be, Ari wondered. If Auovin could love something, Ari thought the impossible could become possible. However, Ari knew it was not love. It could not be.

Ari's face warmed as Auovin caught him staring causing his smile to grow wider.

He held no jealousy for no one or for any such thing. Jealousy was the growing seed of envy. Harbored and nurtured, it could sprout into greed and lust. His eyebrows furrowed in thought. Lust?

"Little Ari, this way or your friends will leave you." Auovin pressed a hand to his back and guided him out the door of the lavish house. He did not bother to ask who it belonged to and why they were there and, instead, caught up to Freir who trudged along beside Cyrus. Auovin only yanked him back with a strong tug at his collar.

"Why not entertain me with your words some more? I do find them amusing."

There was tense silence from the walk from the house into the deserted city. They had only been there months ago, and it was filled with such music and laughter. It was strange that all they heard was a few caws from crows and the howl of the wind blowing against their ears. Ari looked around some more hoping to find the cause and reason. He stopped eyes drawn to Auovin in knowing. It was him, his presence here. A cold shiver went through him at the thought. How had he known that?

"Here," Cyrus said taking Ari out of his thoughts. "The doctor is here," he finished as he opened the door and stared at him with such apathetic eyes. Ari knew when the day came, Cyrus would not hesitate to rip his head clear off his body.

Ari went and followed Freir and Rein inside, ignoring the tension that could be felt from behind him. Cyrus was not happy. No, not in the least.

"Come down here, the lot of you!" a voice shouted from the basement causing Ari to hesitate for a moment. Auovin pushed him near the stairs.

"Go."

Ari looked at him.

"Or must I push you down instead?" Cyrus hissed but Auovin put a hand up, silencing him.

"Go down. Nothing ill awaits you there."

He took his first wary step followed by one then two more until he was down the dark stairway and in a room full of darkness with candles lit here and there.

A larger candle was lit causing the room to brighten showing the many herbs and plants gathered in jars. There were bandages and salves littered around as well as papers and books. As the man stepped into the light, Ari saw its dark brown eyes with specks of red in them causing him to take a step back. Another one.

"You said he needed to see a doctor. Here is one, Ari." Auovin pushed him forward. "He will not bite you."

Unlike Auovin and Cyrus, there was no elegance about him. His hair was matted in brown tufts with bits of dirt and debris sticking to the strands. His teeth were yellow and rotted as well.

"My name is Inge," the man said as he wiped his hands on his dirt-worn shirt before outstretching it towards him.

Ari looked at it for a moment before deciding to take it. This person would be the person to save his brother's life. He had no choice but to put his hopes and trust in the blood demon.

"I am Ari and that is Freir and Rein over there. Rein he... He needs your help. If you can help hi—"

Inge itched at his behind before making his way towards them. He yanked Freir away from Rein causing Freir to respond aggressively, but Ari grabbed his wrist and shook his head.

"Freir, calm yourself."

Ari watched as Inge pushed Rein onto a long rectangular table and began assessing him.

"His complexion is paling." Inge pushed an ear to his chest. "Heartbeat light, breathing labored." He took a thumb to his forehead and wiped away the sweat before tasting it. "Cold sweat. He has a fever. Infection. Black blood."

"Will he live?" Ari saw the darkening expression coating Freir's face as he waited for the answer to his question.

"Yes," Inge said as he licked his lips causing Ari to feel a wave of uneasiness.

"What do you need? What will you do?" Freir asked with impatience.

"Eat him, of course."

Ari's face paled as he looked from Inge to Auovin. Auovin grabbed Inge by his shoulder and jerk him towards himself.

"Do not play your games with him, woman. Draining Rein of his blood will kill him," Auovin said.

"Woman? I am a man. A man," Inge replied with annoyance but Auovin ignored him.

"You have not eaten in weeks, so you look like this." Auovin's face scrunched up before narrowing his eyes away from Inge. "Have your meal some other time. He is not it."

"No, I must. Just the black blood is all I need. I only need it, as you know." Ari looked at Inge with furrowed brows not knowing whether to be afraid or concerned because he was filled with confusion.

"I eat. He lives. It is a win-win deal."

Auovin threw Inge away from him and growled.

"Hurry on with it then."

Inge rubbed his hands together before jumping a little in excitement. Gooseprickles surfaced under Ari's shirt at his reaction. As Ari stared his eyes turned redder and redder by the minute. Freir tried to run to where Rein was at, but Ari kept a firm grip on his wrist and tugged him back.

"If you want him to live, this must happen," Ari whispered.

As he looked back up Ari saw Inge's fangs bite into the side of Rein's wrist. Red blood flowed out before the black blood dripped and drizzled down onto the floor. It went on for some minutes as Ari watched Freir's horrified face pale at the sight.

Inge stood up straight and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before smiling.

"Tasty, that one is!"

"You—"

"Freir," Ari hissed under his breath.

Ari's eyes followed Inge as he walked passed them and grabbed a bundle of bandages and a bottle. He watched Inge pour a bit of the content on the would he had given Rein and bandaged it up with fresh, clean cloth.

"He should be waking up soon. Although he will be conscious, he is not yet healed. Let the rest of the blood work its way through. He will be fine then," Inge said after a couple seconds of silence went by.

Ari let go of Freir's wrist as he rushed over to Rein's side and pressed both his hands to his face.

"Love how sweet it is. To taste it in the blood is when it is the most delicious," Inge said as he sighed and licked his lips some more.

"Rein... Rein... " Frier called out in desperation. Ari walked over to him unsure whether he was imposing or not.

As soon as Rein's eyes fluttered open, Freir covered Rein's lips with his own as tears amassed in his eyes. It caused Ari's eyes to go wide. Rein showed Freir a weak smile, after a moment, which made his heart stutter. Freir kissed him again and leaned his forehead against his as he let out a shaky laugh. His mumbled words were incoherent to him, but Ari felt as though that was what he wanted. Ari looked at them with softened eyes. It was profane, that was what he was taught. It did not seem like such, though.

Ari felt an arm around his neck before the person tugged him away from them.

"Have you heard of a thing called privacy? Give them it. It is quite cute seeing humans love this way and this hard," Inge said as he took his arm away and pat one of his shoulders.

Ari's face was flushed.

"They all die quite soon anyway," Inge sighed and threw his hands up. "Do not waste your time on it."

Auovin pushed Inge away and grabbed Ari bringing him close.

"And that is the thanks I get in return? A push. No hug or kiss or love?" Inge smiled showing his fangs.

"Bathe, comb your hair. Do those simple things and then you can expect something of a better thanks and greeting." Auovin looked at Cyrus causing Cyrus' eyes lower. Cyrus nodded soon after which made Ari's eyes narrow.

Auovin pushed him out the room once Cyrus and Inge disappeared off upstairs somewhere. Ari looked around as Auovin sat him down eyes narrowed in contemplation.

"It is... What is Cyrus doing?"

"Nothing comes without a price, Ari." Auovin tapped his fingers on the table.

"There are more of you?" Ari asked almost as a whisper.

"There are much more but we are still far and few between."

"Inge is one of the less harmless ones of us. She feeds from humans, unlike most."

Ari looked at him.

"She only ever takes what she needs and nothing more," he smiled.

"What are you? Who are?" Ari asked as his eyes melted into his. That was why he hated to stare long. Despite what he was, Ari found his eyes captivating when he gazed too long into them.

"Those questions should be the questions you ask yourself, first, or is there something else you would like to ask of me?"

Ari looked away, thumbing his lip. He wanted to feel how it felt. Was it different with every person or did it feel all the same? How would you know when it was love and when it was not? He stood up from the chair at the thoughts. His head was hurting and he felt nauseous. It was the same feeling as nights before. He held his head and tried to stop the dizziness. Something was wrong with him.

He felt a hand on his chin and one gaze into his golden eyes seemed to make it all disappear. Ari stumbled away but Auovin kept a firm grip on him.

"Would you like to be kissed?"

Ari closed his eyes as Auovin leaned closed. He felt something warm on his cheek causing Ari to open his eyes wide with surprise and confusion.

"Next time, tell me where, and I will surely place it there."

Ari touched his cheek with his hand, face burning.

"Ari!"

Ari turned his head at the sound of Freir's voice. He carried a good amount of Rein's weight but much less since he had woken. Ari went to look at Auovin but he was already heading up the stairs causing Ari's mind to glaze over with useless thoughts.

"That demon, you stay away from it. Do you understand me?" Freir said.

Ari kept his eyes lowered already feeling ashamed of his actions whether he had seen it or not.

"I understand," he answered.

Rein tried to stand up on his own against Freir's protests, but he pried himself away and glared back at Ari.

"A minute away from us and you already act as if we taught you nothing!" Rein hissed causing Ari to close his eyes. "The demon is something new to you and it makes you curious, I get that, but this is where it ends."

"Rein, he is—" Rein put a hand up, silencing him.

"The demon is not tempting you with love. No, Ari, it is lust."