The water dripped off his pale skin, as Cadmus stared at Eclipse’s actions, and a sudden boldness overtook his mind and actions. Grabbing the glass of wine, his eyes glinting unnaturally in the light, he gazed at Eclipse as he brought the glass to his lips and took some into his mouth, but he didn’t swallow. One whiff and he knew his body could not take it. The bitter taste was unwelcoming to his senses, but he paid it no heed. As Cadmus pushed him back into the wall once more, pressing his lips against his forcefully, prying his mouth open with his tongue, he gave him the ambrosia that he knew the alcohol was to Eclipse, the same way blood was for himself.

Being pushed back against the wall and having a headache at the same time, was not exactly welcoming to him as he tried to make a protest, but his mouth was forcefully taken as he tried to push him back, almost succumbing to him. When Eclipse tasted the wine upon Cadmus’s lips, his tongue darted out to drink the wine that was within his mouth, moaning almost from the taste of it, as he pulled Cadmus closer wanting more of the wine.

Cadmus moaned feeling his hot lips on his, finally responding, and kissed him back hungrily, giving him some more of the wine within his mouth. He had another trick up his sleeve, unbeknownst to the Demon Lord whom he was ravaging. He bit down on his tongue with a sharp fang, making his vampiric blood flow, and mixed it with the wine in his mouth, pushing the bleeding muscle past his lips, and felt him latch onto it instantly, sucking from the puncture holes.

The wine tasted even more exquisite if possible, as Eclipse clung onto him, he could not help but moan as he craved for more. The sweet taste of it like the finest wine that he had ever tasted, as his tongue explored the vampire’s mouth, tasting the sweetness from him as he groaned out.

He began nibbling on his bottom lip, some of his blood mixed with the wine trickling from their mouths. Their kiss was deep, forceful, passionate and hungry, and he bit down on his tongue again the puncture holes already healing, and the dizzying pleasure he got from this made him not want to stop.

Dizzy from the pleasure of the wine that he tastes, he clung onto Cadmus tighter as though his life depended on it, pulling away for a short while only to lick the wine that had trickled down to his chin, before pushing him back against to the wall as he demanded for more.

Cadmus shivered feeling Eclipse licked down from his lips to his chin, his mouth open slightly, panting a little, hungry still. He gasped as he felt himself be pushed back into the wall, switching positions. He was just about to retaliate but instead, ignored it, taking another sip from the glass of wine with shaky hands, making the Demon Lord watch the movement of his lips before pulling him back into the kiss, giving him the delirious mix of his blood and the wine.

Moaning at having the taste of what he wanted, Eclispe pressed himself up against him, hungrily drinking from his lips. Swaying a little, as he clung onto Cadmus for support, pulling away from the kiss to relish the taste of this sinful drink, he licked his lips sensually, the taste lingering in his mouth.

Cadmus growled against his lips as he pushed Eclipse back into the wall, kissing him ferociously like this, as a moan slipped from his lips when his fang accidentally nipped on his bottom lip making him feel heady. He licked the drop of blood away as he continued giving Eclipse more of the sweet ambrosia that flowed between them, unending in the pleasure that it gave, as he wraps his arms around Eclispe’s shoulder and waist, drawing them closer.

Groaning as he tasted the drink upon his lips, biting down on his own lips, the taste was more intoxicating as Eclipse lapped up the blood hungrily, wanting more, though it was never enough as he pressed on more forcefully to get to the taste.

He could not help as a moan slipped past him when his bottom lip was bitten upon. He felt the blood trickled from the small wound and growled a little in lust, knowing the blood was intoxicating him slightly. Pulling away from their kiss, breathing harshly, Cadmus drew his fingernail across his jugular and pushed his mouth into his neck, and gasped lightly as he felt his tongue flicked out against his skin.

Panting as his eyes glazed over from the sweet alluring drink that had captivated him within it’s spell, his mind blank of everything but the taste, and the feel of it that had left him breathless and yearning for more. Moaning softly as he thirsted for it, he licked his lips, wanting the taste to remain forever that seemed the burned into his memory, something that he cannot describe. Eclipse slid down to the ground to lay there slack and thirsting for more, as he closed his eyes trying to remember the taste.

Cadmus climbed on top of Eclipse, breathing harsher than usual, feeling his need for more of the intoxicating taste that would drive mortals mad with pleasure, only if they could lay their hands on this elixir. He stared at his slightly flushed face, knew he needed more. He bled his tongue once more, pushing it into his mouth, held in pleasure and in thrall of this sweet contact.

Drinking on hungrily from him, Eclipse pulled him down closer to him as he switch to straddling him from above, Growling in pleasure, he bite down on Cadmus’s tongue, wanting more as he drowned himself with his scent, his taste, and the feel of his body against his. It was more than intoxicating, as he succumbed to pleasure, letting it take charge of his body for that night, uncaring of rationality.

When he bit down on his tongue he knew he had to pull away, or the blood would hold him in too much thrall until he could not stop. Cadmus pulled away, panting slightly, his mouth stained with his own blood. He looked up at the delicious sight, Eclipse straddling his waist, his dark hair falling into his eyes and his icy eyes glazed over with lust. He moved slightly under him, pulling the silk robe off his frame, wanting to caress every inch of that skin, and to mark him with heated kisses. Pulling them both into the bath again in a lithe movement, he let loose a little sigh of bliss, and proceeded to ravage his lips once more giving him more of his blood from his mouth.

Eclipse was left panting when his lips left his, his face was flushed from both pleasure and the lust as he watched Cadmus pulled the robe off his body. The caress from the robe made him moan softly from the smooth feather like feeling that he felt upon his skin. Feeling himself pulled back into the bath, he shivered from the now cool water against his skin, but soon enough, he got the taste of what he had craved for once more and nothing else mattered to him, as he clung onto him, pressing against Cadmus for more.

His lips were unbelievably soft against his, and Cadmus kissed him with fervour, wrapping his arms around his waist, the smooth skin silken against his ministrations. He didn’t feel the coolness of the water, couldn’t even if he wanted to. He was getting lost in the feeling of skin on skin, wanting nothing other than the rapture that they were building up to. His hand slid from his waist to his front, fingers stroking at his half-aroused member, biting down on his now-healed tongue again, giving him more of the heady elixir.

Glazed with lust in his mind, lust for the sweet ambrosia that he could not get enough from, and the pleasure that he was receiving now was all that mattered. Arching his back as he moaned into his mouth, Eclipse felt helpless against him, especially to his touch and the blood that he was being feed with from the lips that did not feel so cold now against his.

Cadmus kissed down from his mouth to his neck, leaving bloody marks on Eclipse’s skin. His icy blue eyes were now slightly dull with pleasure and the lust commonplace with the amount of blood and wine he had consumed; a heady potent mix. He licked upon his jugular, dragging the ends of his sharp fangs against the skin, before sinking his fangs into his flesh, and his alcohol-laced blood spread over his tongue, drawing him deeper into the pool of lust. He anointed his member was against his tightness, and he pushed inside, gasping in pleasure at the tightness of the entrance, drinking more from Eclipse.

Groaning in pleasure as he left kisses from his neck down, his neck exposed to him. The bite was almost painful, but soon turned into a seduction to him as he pulled him closer. The pain was all dulled as only pleasure took over his mind when Cadmus entered him. Moaning in pleasure, it felt like centuries since he had such bodily pleasure that had left him wanting more.

He lapped on the blood, this ambrosia that was heady to his senses, and began to rut slowly inside him, lost to all but this sensation. It was sublime. He was hot and he was tight around him, and their bodies melded perfectly together, the slow burning heat between them both, threatening to take him over. Cadmus moaned against his flesh as he spread his legs open even more for the sweet intoxicating meeting of flesh upon flesh.

He wanted more, and demanded for more, as the water moved with their rutting. The feeling was different from those whores that he had paid for, but they were human after all, yet this was practically unbelievable, or was it because of the alcohol and the blood of Cadmus that he had consumed from to cause him to behave so wantonly. Crying out in pleasure with his every movement, as those thoughts were pushed aside, it left him breathless.

“Drink from me,” Cadmus whispered, and his voice was ragged as he dragged the end of his own fingernail, making blood flow from his own jugular, pushing the wound into his mouth as his undulations against him grew even more intense, and he was getting in so deep, the tightness almost overwhelming. This was rapturous, he didn’t think he’d felt this rapture, utter bliss for such a long time, and moaned as Eclipse drank from him.

As he panted, Eclipse heard his voice like a lover’s caress in his mind, the scent of his blood was so tantalizing that he did not need to be told twice as he licked the wound before sinking his own fangs into his neck, the flesh beneath his skin surprisingly soft as the sweet nectar that he craved for started to flow into his watering mouth.

As his hungry lips lay upon his flesh and suckled upon his blood, Cadmus knew that this blissful joining would stay forever upon their memories, forever imprinted in their souls. Raising his leg over his shoulder for better access as he pounded in a frantic, harsh pace inside him, he felt the want to mark him, as he sunk his fangs into the juncture where neck and shoulder met, and the exchange of blood like this made his pace quicken, the sounds of their two heartbeats rushing in his ear, the moans coming from his mouth against his neck making his head spin.

He could not get enough of his blood, and the pleasure that he was giving him, he wanted more, needed more. It excited him with the way he seemed so untamed, but the pleasure was more than he had expected when Eclipse felt him biting down upon his neck as he himself bite down deeper into his neck, drawing more blood, the blood that intoxicated him that left a burning trail down his throat, as he growled out in pleasure.

His movements were animalistic, and he was rutting hard inside him, and they were drinking from each other, completing the circle of bloodsharing. Cadmus shivered upon hearing the growl slip past his lips, and he bit down harder, slicing through his throat, and it was reciprocated with Eclipse’s own sharp teeth piercing through his neck. He let loose a growl of his own, feeling the sweet torturous clenching around his member.

It was like a drug to him as the flow of blood spurted into his mouth, the pain he felt was pleasurable as he arched his back wanting more, his mouth drenched red with Cadmus’s blood, fangs glistening in the dim light of the bathroom, as his now claw like nails dug into his shoulder as he cries out in pleasure.

Those claw-like nails upon his back signalled to him how frantic their pace was, as he sunk his fangs, feeding from him, and he in turn. It was undiluted pleasure, and it was like a hunger and lust reawakened in the both of them. Cadmus never knew that he could be as intoxicating as this. That sweet torturous climax was building inside him, and their movements were becoming more primal. This was almost incomparable. Finally he let go from his neck to moan huskily his lusty admissions into his ear.

Feeling the intensity of their joining, how sweetly it draws him in. There was something sensual about the way Cadmus bites into his neck, drawing from him the living blood that still flows within him. Placing a hand on the vampire’s head, and urging him to drink more from him as he gasped in pleasure, a throaty moan escaped from him. He need more, for him to be faster, harder, and growled out his demands as his nails dug further into his skin with his every thrust.

Those growls that fell upon his lush lips, demanding, covetous, maddened him partly because it was almost too arousing and sensual. Cadmus let his lust completely take him over, the possession of his body in this carnal coupling almost too sweet. He met his demands, the ache in his body threatening to take him over, as he continued to thrust hard and deep inside him.

Pleased, Eclipse purred against his neck, licking his ear as he bit down on it drawing the few droplets of blood as his tongue flicked out to lick it. He felt so good, especially untamed as lust took over his senses, only wanting and craving for more of the ache that he body demanded. The sweet allure of their love-making, the building of his climax that frustrates him, causing his body to ache for more as he growled.

He knew he wanted more, and Cadmus knew he wanted it as well. Pulling his leg onto his shoulder to find better access as he continued that harsh pace that might have borderline on painful, but all he knew, all he felt was sweet torturous pleasure. And that little bite on his earlobe spurred him on, making him breathe a husky moan, as Cadmus sunk his fangs into his jugular again drinking from his fount, and it was reciprocated in turn. Suddenly he almost could not take it anymore, the sweet clenching around his throbbing member, it was irresistible.

Feeling the distant pain, it was soon washed away by the pleasure that he craves so much. The sensual bite from his mouth cause him to growl with pleasure, as his body shuddered from it, wanting him to sink his fangs deeper, to give him more pleasure. Shuddering as he felt himself about to reach his own climax, he growled out his frustration, wanting his release.

It was vicious and it was full of roughness, this whole rutting and drinking, removing his fangs from Eclipse’s flesh for a moment with a sick squelch, he then sunk deeper into the same spot, driving hard into him at the same time, surely hitting the secret spot deep inside him with each piston of his hips, and then his mind was only driven to the thrusts and the blood that flowed between them. He purred something into Eclipse’s ear, another lustful admission, demanding for him to attain the release together with him.

Gasping, it soon turned into a moan as he hit his spot, a powerful shiver of pleasure ran down spine as he arched his back, wanting more, his was so close to reaching his limit that he could feel it. It felt so good when he bit down into his neck against, as he lay there against him, weak from the pleasure and lust that took over their bodies. Clinging onto him, his hands clutched into a fist, he knew he was going to reach his limit any second as he moaned wantonly in passion, rocking against him, fangs grazing his neck to cause a light line of red to form.

Cadmus felt like cursing passionately from the way he tightened even more, knowing that he had hit that secret place inside him that would bring so much pleasure. There was no turning back now, the passion burning even more in intensity as he pulled away from the wound on his neck, sinking a fang into his own tongue and pushed the bloodied muscle into his mouth, kissing him desperately, embracing him around his shoulders, unable to pull away from the waves of pleasure that crashed upon them as he nearly found his end deep inside him, his movements erratic and passionate, making him feel the same with this desperate, lustful joining.

He felt his desperation and lust through his kiss as he hungrily kissed him back, groaning at the taste and the wave of pleasure that hit him as he drank from his mouth the sweet blood. It was his sweetest moment to date, the lust that he had for years and no one to satisfy him until now, and he wants more, as he bit into his tongue, tasting more of the sweet elixir that he is drunk on, so close had he felt, the heat and the lust getting into his mind as their scent hit him, causing his body to crave for more.

So much blood came from the bleeding muscle of his tongue, and there was pain, the sting, but it was nothing right then, and he let him drink and be drunk upon the intoxicating elixir of powerful vampiric blood. Their furious meeting of flesh upon flesh grew even more heated, and he let his hands roam lower from his shoulder, gripping onto his hips as he rutted so hard and deep inside him, and he bit into his rapidly healing tongue again and gasped into his mouth feeling him latch onto the muscle, and finally, he couldn’t take it any much longer and found that release, sweet, frantic and torturous, forcing Eclipse to do the same as he rutted deeper in those final moments, hitting his hidden pleasure spot wantonly.

How sweetly it tasted and the deep pleasure that it brought to him, as his speed increased, Eclipse moaned in pleasure into his partner’s mouth where the ambrosia that he had lusted for was freely given to him as he drank like a baby would from his mother’s breast. Crying out in pleasure as his nails sunk into Cadmus’s shoulders, his back arched as he panted eyes glazed with lust and pleasure when he found his release, a release that he had craved for a long time, before he rested against him.

“What do you want,” he growled, hating the headache that he was starting to get. The cool fingers almost feather light against his skin, as Eclipse supported his head with a hand, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his head, trying to gain some control over the pain.

Laying a lingering kiss on his neck, cold lips on warm flesh. “I don’t know,” Cadmus admitted truthfully, as he pulled away to undress himself before sinking into the water, instantly moving to where Eclipse was and kissed him on his temple. “But what I do know is that I want to make you feel better,” He said looking into those hazy ice blue eyes, as he trailed his fingers down his back slowly.

Shivering as cold lips descended upon his neck, he felt the water in the tub rise, as the water sloshes, threatening to spill over the tub. The kiss upon his forehead brought him some relief, but only momentarily. “Then leave me alone,” he grumbled, looking at him icily.

“No,” he murmured into his ear, his blond hair darkening slightly in the water, moving to straddle his hips, staring piercingly into his cold eyes, as he leaned in to kiss on his tempting neck again, unable to control the want to touch him. He kissed his way up from his neck to the corner of his mouth.

Shooting him a piercing glare, he looked good, in the water with wet hair. Pushing the vampire off of him, his skin seemed to burn where he was last kissed. “Get out, you’re giving me a headache.” He said once more, messaging his temple, eyes closed to clear his mind. The feeling of those lingering kisses still remains.

“On the contrary…” he placed his hands on Eclipse’s tensed shoulders, and began massaging him slowly, kneading the tensed muscles there. Kissing the nape of his neck again and he soon fell into rhythm, set on making him relax under his touch.

“Get out Cadmus,” he mumbled, the massage was a relief to him as his hand slackened to hang over the tub. The feeling his cold kisses, sent a thrill of sort through him, as he pushed Cadmus off him, this time with a bit more force as he tried to sit up. Taking the glass of wine from the table to drink from, before refilling it, feeling in tuned to reality of what was going on at the moment, as he turned to glare at Cadmus.

Cadmus laughed when he was pushed away from Eclipse, but he knew better – it was only that he did not want to lose his inhibitions under his touch. He had a tempting smile on his lips as he laid in the tub for a moment, choosing not to take the heat from the glare that was aimed at him.

“What’s so funny,” he growled, clutching his head once more, massaging it in slow circles. He missed the hot heat of the water, as he stepped out of the bathtub when Cadmus drew away. He missed those touches, but pushed them it aside for more wine instead.

“Come back here to me,” Cadmus whispered huskily, violet eyes boring at him in the dim light of the candles that surrounded the bath. He stepped out of the water, walking up to him, pushing Eclipse back into the wall and took the glass of wine away from his fingers, refilling it for him, before pushing the drink back into his hands.

The silence was something he welcomed, then he felt the depression of the sofa on his side. He could smell the scent of blood and of the night strongly on the vampire’s body. Taking in the scent, his body relaxed more, unguarded of what may happen. His hand lay slack upon his stomach as he tilted his neck to the side, getting a more comfortable support for his head, an angelic look upon his calm face.

Would it be as intoxicating as he was? He laid a cold kiss over the jugular, and he was lost as his fang pierced into the flesh, and blood like no other spilled onto his tongue, making his eyes dilate with blood lust.

His lips was cold upon his neck, and before he could react, he felt fangs piercing into his neck. Eyes opened wide in shock, he did not move for a moment, almost relishing the sensation. Then he pushed the vampire off him, studying the immortal in blood lust with glazed eyes, and his fingers lightly touched his punctured neck, wiping the blood off with his fingers. He saw his blood upon his lips, and was tempted as he started to walk over the vampire, licking his bloodstained finger.

Cadmus blinked several times trying to clear his mind, his chest heaving slightly. His blood was like liquid fire, and it churned in his veins, unsettled him. He licked on his bloodied lips, and the motion of Eclipse licking off his own blood made him become conscious of what he just did. He backed away from him, getting towards the window, violet eyes wide. “I’m sorry!” he got out, the look on his face unnerving him.

Closing the gap between then, his bloodied fingers lightly traced his cheek before lightly touching his lips as his face came close to his. He could smell his blood fresh upon his lips still, looking at his lips, his mouth almost touching his, he licked Cadmus’s lips, tasting his own blood in his mouth, drawing away.

He felt the blood being smeared onto his cheek, but Cadmus didn’t move away, the feel of his almost too warm hands on him. Was this what he wanted? His breathing was slightly erratic, and he felt his tongue dart out slowly to lick off the blood from his lips, the contact making him shiver. He tried again. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to drink from you!”

“And you enjoyed it did you not?” he asked casually, his neck now fully healed with his blood drying at where he was drank from. He was back onto his recliner sofa, relaxing as though nothing had just happened. Picking up the book that was almost forgotten, he resumed reading his book with the fire from the hearth as his light source.

He stared at his lithe frame as he moved away from him, as though nothing of that degree, searing in its hold that it held upon him, had happened. “I… yes,” Cadmus admitted calmly. After another moment of hesitation, he touched on his bottom lip absently with his hand, the spot where he had licked, then pulled away when he realised what he had been doing. “Please accept my apology,” he whispered.

“Hmm… Perhaps,” he said, not looking up from his book, silence between them, only the sound of the flames that burned calmly with the sounds of crackling fire from the hearth and the flipping of the pages from his book. His lips were cold he remembered, and upon which he had tasted his own blood. It amused him, though for a short while only.

Cadmus bit on his bottom lip looking at him, not knowing what to do now that the other was being like this. “I’m sorry,” he said again, then moved away to the balcony, already making his way out, the guilt overwhelming his mind

Putting down his book, he looked at Cadmus almost thoughtfully, unconsciously licking his fingers that still had his blood upon it. “So unlike a vampire to apologise,” he said amused, flicking his long hair behind his shoulder, looking out of the window to see the night sky.

He paused in his step, regarding Eclipse for a moment, already just about to leap off the railing, but his comment had made him halt. “Well, maybe I’m not your typical vampire then,” he replied back in kind.

“Hmm… perhaps… One of which might be your undoing, to harbour such sentiments like a human,” he mused while repositioning himself as he relaxed back into the warm comfort from his current spot, playing with the ends of his hair.

Cadmus felt his words ring true in his heart and his face changed slightly. “Well I’m sorry for having a little respect for those who are my prey, then,” he said blithely, and fell off the railing, landing on the ground cat-like. His heart was beating wildly all of a sudden, and as he ran his words and the spell of the blood which still had its grip on at him churned in his veins. He wondered what he was doing himself.

The reality overtook his already confused mind, and as he ran back to his mansion, he realised how true it all actually was. He knew he hadn’t embraced his true nature, this killer, it was in his blood, yes, but was he being too humane thinking of this? Did having morals even as a killer made him seem degraded in his eyes? That Demon Lord?

Chuckling softly to himself, he got up to walk out of the study, finding it all amusing as he carried the book in one hand. Cadmus might prove to be entertaining, and will most probably be for the rest of his stay in London for the time being. His human sentiments were charming, but to him, it was entertaining, amusing. Smiling as he headed back to his room, he finished the rest of his book that night with a few class of wines to accompany the setting and to his mood.

He slept well that night, with thoughts that amused him as he slept without a dream like always. Just when he thought life here in London was starting to get boring, he found someone that might be worthy of his attention, though he would wait and see how this game will turn out to be like. For now, he will fall into the welcoming darkness where he will most probably be visited by a few of his subordinates and acquaintance from here and there.

–

<strong>Cadmus:</strong>

His studio was his safe haven for now. Cadmus knelt on the floor gazing at all the portraits and landscape paintings he’d done before, but the churning in his veins grew even more as he gazed at them. All of them had light in them, light which he could never see unless he wanted to end it all. It infuriated him. “I curse you,” he suddenly spoke aloud, his voice unnaturally spiteful, but when he stared at two of the suddenly ripped canvases, he wondered to whom that was aimed at.

Why did he keep these paintings of his past? It was so utterly human of him to keep remnants of the past. What did he have to hold on to anyway? Only the pain of the past, memories of the people who’d once meant so much to him, but they’d all died, and he had lived on. He fell to the floor in fatigue, staring at the mess around him, then stumbled out of the studio, making his way back to his windowless bedroom, and fell into the bed, trying to find peace and calm in his mind.

–

His sleep was disturbed when his butler came to wake him in the morning. Those foolish humans who wished to call upon him, had brought along his little entourage that he had no choice but to entertain them for a short while, inviting them even to join him in breaking fast. By night fall, he was ready and prepared as he was dressed and groomed by his butler. Another boring party that he had to part-take, one of which many of the greedy humans will be there, and almost like an exhibition for the old ladies who will be attending, pushing their daughters in the right direction. Looking out of the window bored, he waited for the time to come.

Cadmus groaned when he arose. He knew that the studio would be in a mess, but he didn’t want to clean it up himself. He told his servants to clean it up for him as he went to the worse parts of the town, where poverty and sickness and death existed in the air.

He knew they were looking at his expensive clothes, those despicable mortal robbers, desperate for food and money. He laughed when he was roughly pushed into a dark alley and a knife was pointed to his throat. “Give me your money or you die,” the man viciously said.

“Oh?” Cadmus let out a mocking laughter, staring at the robber with eyes that glinted unnaturally in the darkness. “Can I even die, then?” The man before him growled at his taunt and slit his throat, and Cadmus gave a moan at this. It felt unbelievable, his blood trickling down from the gaping slit in his neck, then it knitted up instantly, making the man before him startle. When he opened his mouth to reveal his fangs, the man backed away shakily. “Poor little thing… live for nothing, die for nothing.” He pinned the man to the wall, a vicious smirk on his face.

The man pinned under him was breathing harshly in fear, his foul breath on his face. “Despicable,” he whispered huskily, his fangs grazing on his neck. When he sunk his fangs into his flesh, his blood was warm and filled with all the viciousness the man showed earlier on, and he was writhing under him so much that he had to pull away and slam his head into the brick wall. “Would you rather suffer in this condition, or die?” he hissed, tearing into his jugular again.

Cadmus drank even until the man’s heart stopped beating, getting drunk on his the drugs and narcotics that coursed through his veins. He pulled away, some of the blood trickling sloppily down his chin, and his eyes were glazed over as he licked it up slowly from his lips, the dead man dropping to his feet.

Suddenly out of nowhere another young rascal ran into the alley, calling out for his companion. When the young boy saw his friend on the ground with Cadmus licking his bloodied lips, his eyes widened and he began blubbering in fear. Cadmus growled at him and walked closer to the other. “Now see what you’re making me do,” he said almost impatiently, pinning the young boy into the wall like he did with his already dead friend, and drank from him, and he could taste the alcohol in his blood.

Cadmus felt heady with the alcohol and narcotic laced blood that surged through his body, and staggered out of the alley still in that drunken state, not bothering to dispose of their bodies. No one really cared anyway, especially not in this part of the town. He laughed giddily to himself, the warm mortal scents floating up to his senses, his movements slightly clumsy now but the little people left remaining outside simply avoided him thinking he was just a drunk mortal man.

Laughter bubbled past his lips; it seemed that the alcohol and narcotics coursing through his blood affected his previously dark mood, made everything seem lighter. Even when he had calmed down his heartbeat was fast, beating frantically, and he felt excitement creep up into him, making him itch for a canvas and paints. Even then, the image of a dark haired figure was still etched at the back of his mind.

Cadmus didn’t know what overtook him. When he got back to his studio, it was already cleaned up, no more remnants of the past history on the canvases to remind him of anything. For once, he felt free, free to breathe easily. For now he was a vampire without his history. His fingers shook when they propped the canvas onto the easel, and grabbed the paints and mixed them, and he began transcending the image of dark silky hair onto the canvas, the androgynous beauty, the fine lips he wanted to caress. This was death made beautiful.

When Cadmus was done with the painting, with the art that both drowned and made him alive, he regarded it with a critical eye. It was certainly one of his better works, but not his best. It was the Demon Lord with a calm expression on his face, regarding him with those ice blue eyes, and that smirk was so carefully done that it seemed real and so very him. He let the paints dry, and he knew what he had to do now as he paced the length of the room, wishing for time to go by faster.

Cadmus took a piece of parchment and wrote something on it, but left it unsigned. He summoned his butler to him, asking him to wrap the painting up properly and to send it along to Eclipse’s mansion, and then left a tip in his hand.

–

He was drawn out of his thoughts with the arrival of his carriage as he went down the foyer, his coat and hat was placed upon him by his butler before he exited his mansion. How dull it is now, with nothing to do but to attending parties after parties. Anyone who is everyone had invited him, and though he had kindly rejected some, he attended some. Mayhap tonight he may leave early to search for entertainments to his liking or at least to pass the time quicker rather than to let the time remain still. After all, he had experienced many things and they are all practically the same since the reign of demons and other beings of various kinds reigned over the lands.

With his appearance, came many murmurings that he had expected. How predictable they are, and it bores him. As he put on a face of politeness, he mingled amongst his host and the many mortals that were of his acquaintance. As giggling girls fluttered their eyes and fans in his direction, he nodded his head in their direction, sending them a disarming smile of charm. Refreshing his glass of wine practically all the time, he hardly felt tipsy or anything. A few younger men who had tried to be as suave or imitate the amount of alcohol that he drank, were sent home with laughter and jokes being made about them as some mortals patted him on the back which he good humouredly joined in their laughter.

Excusing himself, he went out into the balcony, remaining in the shadow where no one could see him. It was all so mundane, but he will tolerate this all to put up his appearance to live amongst them. They are so simple minded, it did not fail to amuse him at times, but then sometimes, they made him want to kill them on the very spot, but he will refrain himself from doing so.

He had lost count of how many drinks he had. Now sitting in Whites in the comfort of his usual spot, he had left the party earlier than most, and to the not so much delight of many of the girls present. Though they were merely human, and their greed for power and title did not fail to get the better out of them. Lounging back, he drained his glass before refilling it once more. It was a quiet evening here in the club, many were not there to fill the silence for the first time, and it was pleasant to him. He had almost nodded off thanks to the alcohol effect on him, after many glasses or bottles, he was escorted to his carriage by his coachman as he sat inside, feeling the bumps of London street from his position, grimacing at the headache that was going to make itself known soon.

Walking back to his room as though not affected by the alcohol, his butler had came in to help him undress and ready for a warm bath which he welcomed greatly. The wines and spirits were good he had to admit, though they will never match the sweet nectar that his kind was well known to have kept in the past. Of course these were of long ago, and he will keep them until he feels like it. Smiling almost indulgently, he made to get out of his bath with a robe placed about his body as he nursed the headache that threatens to make an appearance right at that moment.

Stumbling to his bed, he collapsed upon it, trying to will his headache away, pulling the covers over himself; he willed the light to go out in his room as darkness descended with only the night light from his window as his only source of light. It was better this way as the headache started to retreat with slow steps, groaning out in annoyance, he turned to his sides, his hair slightly mussed with his movement.

Sleep was starting to descend upon him as his mind drifted off, the image of a blond vampire upon his mind before everything returns to a blank state of mind as his breathing steadied and even out. A sleep that he embraced so much and only thing that will take his headache away for the time being until the time he could get himself a drink to counter the headache that he might encounter when he next wake. Until then, he dreamt of sweet nothing and without a care to anything around him as he turned his body to face the window.

In dream, he was visited by a friend of along ago who decided to make his appearance known. And it is only in his dream was he free of the headache that he had from reality. Though what his friend had said, lingered in his mind and for what does he drink so much that night that he had not bothered to rid himself of it before he went to sleep. Shrugging his shoulder, he sat back and relaxed himself as he conversed with his partner until the time of awakening.

By the time it was for him to leave, they parted with light goodbyes saying to see one another soon to catch up on good old times that they had experienced from long ago. It was bright as he shielded his eyes; the smell of his morning breakfast was brought up to him as his butler placed it before him on a silver portable table. News of several deaths was found in the poorer part of London, and it did not interest him much, it was common to kill, and many will overlook it as petty gun fights of a few drunkards. Apparently there was no one to witness of the killing or seeing any one suspicious. Putting the paper aside while finishing his breakfast, he had a lot of time to kill for today and nothing appealed to his mind.

It was late afternoon by the time he received a package. Having it brought up to his studies, he smelt the faint scent of lingering blood, the musky yet woody almost floral fragrance of a familiar character. The smell of night and paint had confirmed his guess, as he revealed the piece of artwork before him, with it a note. Laughing aloud at the note, turning it into dust as he wrote a note back, daring him. Maybe things will start out to be more fun, maybe.

The butler knocked on Cadmus’s bedroom door and he opened it, taking the response from his hands. He leaned against the door as he read it, laughing amusedly, tossing the note onto the dresser. A smile was etched on his face, and he knew that it was true – it would be almost impossible to forget that face.

–

Dressed in the latest fashion, he was prepared for the night’s party. He had been attending many recently and though it bore him, it was at least a way to kill time. Smiling amused at the memory of the note, he took his time in walking in the night, his carriage was already no doubt at his chosen destination for tonight, but he had decided to walk there from a few streets away.

It was already dusk. The butler politely knocked on his bedroom door just as he was about to laze around in bed, with no intention of doing anything for the evening until it was later on in the night. When he reminded Cadmus of the event he was supposed to attend, Cadmus grumbled and shot the butler a withering look that made the other back off. He sighed and made his way to the bathroom, where warm water was ready for him, and he sunk into the water sighing a little in contentment.

When he was done, his clothes were already laid out for him by his servants, and he had his long hair up in a ponytail. Cadmus went to the party by means of a carriage he had hired, and when he arrived at the steps the host went up to him, greeting him amiably. He was one of his clients and had done several portraits of him and his family. A glass of champagne was pushed into his hands and he accepted it with a gracious smile.

Cadmus amiably responded to the host’s questions, and idle talk that grated on his nerves slightly. He realised how little he had in common with him, and he quickly excused himself, searching off to find his other mortal friends. What he wanted for tonight was to see them again, for it had been long since he had seen them. He tapped on his friend’s shoulder, and saw the surprise on her cheeks. “I haven’t seen you for so long!” she told him. “I thought you had killed yourself.”

He laughed at her honest admission, grinning back in kind. “Now why would you ever think that of me, my darling?” he replied, stroking her soft cheek with his cold hand. He watched as she shivered and her husband tapped politely on his shoulder, giving a little smile to him. Cadmus laughed and pulled away, nodding to him. “You can have her back,” he told him, as he brought the glass to his lips.

Eclipse was there once more amongst humans, laughing and having fun of his own, charming the shy young wallflowers, charming their parents, even as to charm with some of the younger men present that night. The way their face would flush with a tinge of red under the lights amused him, but it was all fun and games.

<strong>Eclipse:</strong>

He was bored as he sat on the sofa, pretending to show interest in the girl that had so prettily fluttered her eyes at him from where he stood just now. When he saw another pretty wallflower, he had excused himself to go to the other, flitting from one to the other just as soon as they bore him. It was rather interesting to see how their jealousies flare about them to have their ‘targets’ being stolen away, but he was far above them.

As he moved on to the next girl, he heard their murmurings, some was more aggressive as they tried to laid claims, while he merely smiled at that before turning to smile at the girl before him, a smile so disarming and charming at the same time, as he took her hand and placed a kiss upon it. How sweetly they look when they blushed and tied to hide the look of excitement and pleasure upon their face. Smirking when no one was looking, he smiled kindly positive angelic looking as he started talking to her.

She was entranced he could see it in her eyes, she was like the other girls, and soon he was searching for the next girl again, this time a girl sitting in the corner by her lonely self. Smiling to himself, he took with him an extra glass as he made his way to her, she must as noticed as she looked like a scared animal, ready to bolt at any minute. With a rakish grin at her, he saw her blushed prettily as he took his time in getting to her.

Cadmus nodded in the direction of the man that looked at him, and regarded the people around him. In a corner he could see a familiar dark head, doing what he regularly did at these parties, chatting up mortal girls no matter how crude that sounded. He grinned to himself and walked over to him, then tapped lightly on the other’s shoulder, placing the glass of champagne on a table.

Turning to regard the person who had tapped his shoulder, he saw his targeted girl had a look of disappointment upon her face when he turned to regard someone else. “Cadmus,” he called politely, drinking his glass of wine clean before placing it on the table as he sipped on the fresh glass that he had in hand.

Cadmus smiled at the other, tucking a loose lock of blond hair behind his ear. “Did the painting reach you yet?” he asked him curiously.

“Yes, I did. Thank you.” he replied with a smile of his own, tipping his glass in his direction before sipping from it. It was hours ago that he had long received the art work. It was good he admit to himself silent as he continued drinking from his glass, taking a fresh one from a passing server.

He nodded and laid an amiable hand on his shoulder. “That’s good. I’ll see you around,” he whispered into his ear, then pulled away, heading off into the crowd, with a cursory smirk back at the other.

Hearing his footstep walking away, Eclipse drained his glass to get another new one as he went towards where some of his acquaintances were, preferring to talk to them for the time being until he had decided when he was about to leave.

He went over to the host, laying an arm around the old man’s shoulder, loving the fact that it made him feel uncomfortable. When he was done setting up the next commission he made his way out of the party, the scents of the mortals around him, lingering, tempting him since he hadn’t fed for the night.

He was accompanied by a few who were going to head down to the famous brothel house, but they would go at a later timing. Leaving, he had set off in his carriage, closing his eyes as he took in the scent of London’s street.

<strong>Eclipse:</strong>

Arriving at a rather grand looking mansion like place, he alighted his carriage entering the foyer as he was shown to a parlour where his escort or mistress for the night will entertain him. It was still early, having nothing much he waited and they too took their time in finding the girls.

When his mistress had arrived, she had flirtatiously smiled in his direction, fluttering her eyelashes as she made an excuse for being late. Which he was sure she had taken the time to do her makeup telling her caller to wait for her. Charmingly smiling at her in return almost coolly, he was lead up the stairs by her and into one of the more private room for some fun.

As she undressed him trailing kisses, he could smell the cheap perfume that she wore, the fake smile that she put up, and the alcohol that still lingers on her person. Ignoring those, he trailed feather like touches upon her body, liking the way it sent a shiver down her spine as he closed in to kiss her on the lips.

She was tired out by him after their few goes at it, as he sat by the bed with the bottle of wine in hand as he poured himself a glassful watching her sleep. Humans, they were hardly satisfying, he should have called upon a succubus to satisfy his needs. As he finished the alcohol, he called for his carriage to be brought round as he threw the money over the naked body of the whore who had slept with him.

She left a stale taste in his mouth from their few rounds of sex. It was not the best that it had, but he cannot complain, after all they’re only humans. By the time he got round to having his bath, he had a few bottles of wine already, to wash away the after taste before he took his bath. A bottle of one of the more commonly found wines that he had by the cart loads produced by demons. It was more exquisite than the human wine, and it brought back nostalgic memories to him as he sank down into his bathtub, eyes closed to relish the warm bath that his butler had prepared along with it were the rose petals from his own garden of roses. Biting on one of the petals, it tasted bittersweet in his mouth, just like chocolates. His wine within reach on the table, he had long ago dismissed his butler for the rest of the night, desiring nothing more than to relax for now in the steaming hot but warm bath.

He was starting to drift off as he sipped his wine, mind half unconscious, but at least he was in the comforts of his own bath or mansion. It was nice to drink a wine produced by his kinds, for his kinds. His stash was no where lacking, but at least he knows of where to find more of it should he feel the need to drink. The temptation that the wine lures, no mortal would be able to handle such exquisite wine, not will they live to tell tales about it even if they did. Chuckling softly, he closed his eyes to hum a soft tune from long ago.

–

<strong>Cadmus:</strong>

Cadmus let his playful side be unleashed tonight, he was feeling ravenous but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He lurked around the area where the brothels where, and the overly made up faces and perfumed skin of the whores clamoured over them as they were drawn to him like bees to honey. He knew otherwise though, the only reason they were ‘interested’ in him would be of the idea of his fat wallet seen from the way he dressed.

That night, he took four women in the whorehouse. They were around him, batting their eyelashes, sweet voices and scarlet lips promising a night of pleasure. One of the more daring women straddled his hips, and he let her do it, giving a playful smirk at her as another laid teasing kisses on his lips.

He delighted in the attention that was showered onto him. Cadmus brushed the whore’s hand away from his pants, charming her with a little smile, but his lips were covered again with scarlet ones. He kissed down her neck and kissed over the jugular, then sank his fangs into her flesh, delighting in the gasp that followed.

Cadmus sent out a little mental suggestion to the one on top of him, for her to look away. The other two were too busy undressing him, but he did not resist, their warm soft touches on his cold skin. He sunk his fangs in deeply, drinking from her until she fell onto the bed, gasping loudly for breath, eyes wide. He got up and another girl sat in his lap, and she let a suggestive smile as he brushed the hair away from her neck and began kissing his way down to her breast, then sunk his fangs on the exposed skin there.

He trailed bloodied lips across her chest as he moved up, only to sink his fangs into her jugular, drinking hungrily, pinning her to the bed. By this time Cadmus was inebriated by the alcohol in their blood, but he was still hungry for more. He moved onto his third victim, who looked afraid by this time when he stared at her with a ravenous glint in his eyes. By this time he didn’t hold back any inhibitions and let out a little animalistic growl and ravaged her neck, tearing it wide open with his fangs as the blood spurted into his mouth, making him moan. She was dead in an instant, and the last remaining drunk girl noticed the blood all over her friend’s bodies and she began to scream but he closed her mouth with a palm on her lips, and bared his fangs at her, attacking her savagely.

He licked his lips in satisfaction, the blood making his pale skin flush with colour. That was one of the most satisfying kills he had had in a long time, and he stumbled away with senses high, and he laughed loudly as he left several large bills on their dead, cold bodies. He leaned against the wall first trying to recollect himself, his chest heaving and a satisfied smirk on his lips.

–

Eclipse. That face of androgyne beauty, flitted across his mind’s eye and he grinned to himself again. He wondered why he was getting this sudden want to see him again, even though he had seen him only hours ago. Cadmus laughed loudly in his inebriation and headed in the direction of the other’s mansion, uncaring if he was welcome or not. Anything just to hear that silky voice again, even though the indifference in his tone was piercing.

Drifting off into a light nap as he inhales the sweet scent of the wine and the bath, his body relaxes further into the water, his hair floating adrift around him as his breathing steadied. A look of serene peace upon his face, as he laid back in relaxation, senses dulled thanks to the wine.

Cadmus leapt up onto the familiar balcony, landing noiselessly as he opened the glass doors without making a sound. His scent was all over the room, that intoxicating musky scent that hung over him, unlike his own scentless body. He followed the trail of scent towards him, and realised it led to the bathroom. He stepped inside and was met with a vision, and he couldn’t help but to come over to his figure half submerged in the water, and bent over him, resting a cold hand on his shoulder.

He felt the breeze drifted in as his shoulders felt the chill. Ignoring it, he sank further into the tub of still warm water reminiscing of the past the memories, the sweet lingering taste of wine still upon his lips as he reached for his glass to drink from it only to place it back . Eyes still closed, as he stretched a bit from his position, he sank back further into the water, drifting off into another nap.

“Ignoring me I see,” he whispered into his ear, laying a kiss on his neck, getting drunker on his scent, at the light fragrance of the rose petals in the water. He wrapped his arms around his broad shoulders, hearing his soft breathing.

He thought he heard something from deep within his mind, thinking it was the effect of the wine, he tried to stir, but felt a person’s arm framing his own shoulder, refraining him from doing so. Frowning, he opened his eyes slowly, seeing the ceiling of his bathroom before leaning back to shoulders and blonde hair. Startled slightly, he tried to make a move, but felt a wave of dizziness hitting him as he groaned out, leaning back against the support and into the water once more without much of a choice.

Cadmus:

Cadmus had risen early, near dusk, the sky still purple. After having his customary feeding he went over to his mortal friend’s house, and tried to elicit the address from her, finally getting it. It was almost too easy to win her over with his charms. He murmured a word of thanks to her and made his way over to the place, knowing it would seem a surprising move on his part, but he didn’t care. It wasn’t often that demons sought out other demons.

His mansion was impressive, he noted, but that was to be expected. He knew his hair and clothes would be in a mess, but the desire to ask him to sit for him for a painting was too strong to ignore. He rapped on the large oak door lightly, expectantly.

Eclipse:

It was late evening and he had no plans for that day, planning to take the time to go to the club or maybe the brothel, depending on whichever suit his mood. He did not bother calling upon any of the girls that he had flirt with. And hardly have the desire to take any of them as his wife. Putting the book aside, he laid on the maroon sofa, using his arm to prop his head as he closed his eyes in a relaxed manner, thinking of nothing as the room started to dim in accordance to the time.

His ears picked up the sound of someone knocking on his main door, though he did not bothered to get up. His housekeep or the butler would see to whomever it was that knocks on the door and he resumed to his rest.

“Do we really need formalities out here?” he called out to him, feeling impatient, knowing he could hear him. “I thought we were above all that mortal nonsense.” He ignored the surprised look the butler gave him as he opened the door, but he had walked away, climbing quickly over the walls and into the balcony area, perching himself onto it, eyes glinting in the darkness as he stared at the other.

“Formalities or not we still have to keep up such an act before the humans,” he replied nonchalantly as he propped himself up, looking at the wall rather that at the speaker himself.”What Is it that have you coming to my mansion,” he questioned, dismissing his butler with a simple wave of his hand.

“Who cares about humans? Really. I don’t think you do,” he said honestly, getting down from the railing and crossing his arms, standing near him.

“They are amusing, nothing more nothing less,” the dark-haired man replied calmly.

Cadmus stared at him for a moment thoughtfully. “I want you to sit for me as a subject in a painting,” he confessed, hoping he wouldn’t reject this offer.

“Why the sudden request of me sitting for a picture, Cadmus?” he questioned, sipping on his cup of tea that had gone cold already.

How could he even tell him? That his face had been haunting him and the desire to paint wouldn’t stop unless he sat for him? He gave a little wry smile. “I…” he faltered for a moment. “Well. Just because.” He knew this sounded foolish, but he didn’t know how to express this.

“Only on the condition that no one else sees the portrait,” Eclipse said after a thought.

Cadmus nodded, agreeing easily. He was fine with any condition so long as he got what he wanted – Eclipse to sit for him, for a painting. He smiled and leapt off the railing, the same way he had taken to get onto there. “Follow me,” he called out, expecting him to come suit.

“Right now?” the Demon Lord questioned in an incredulous tone, raising an eyebrow at the notion of leaving just so soon.

“Why not?” he replied back, grinning to himself, impatiently tying up his long hair with a piece of ribbon.

“I was planning to take the night off to relax for the rest of the day,” he said, playing with the tail of his long midnight blue black hair, checking for split ends in the dimly lit room.

He climbed back up and sat on the railing, biting on his bottom lip, as though hesitant. “Mind if I joined you?” Cadmus asked softly.

“Go ahead,” he said gesturing lazily to the other available seats in the room while he laid back on the plush sofa luxuriously closing his eyes as he tuned into his other senses, listening.

Cadmus got off the railing and sat himself on a red velvet sofa, tucking his legs under him. “Lovely place,” he commented, glancing at the elaborate interior. He looked at his fine features out of the corner of his eye, trying to memorise his face in case he backed out of the request he had.

“Saw to the designers here quite a long while back,” he replied lazily, breathing in lightly the scent that drifts through the door.

Cadmus leaned forward a little, eyes fixed upon his features, taking them in with his painter’s eyes. He absently walked over, sitting down next to Eclipse, facing him. “You aren’t a vampire… what are you?”

Smirking, he slowly opened his eyes, “What do you think I am?” he questioned playfully, pushing himself to sit somewhat upright while slyly looking at Cadmus.

He stared into those entrancing sapphire eyes, reaching out a little, stroking once on his cheek with a cold hand. He felt heat unlike in his own body. “You’re warm like a human,” he murmured. “A devil?” he chuckled.

Smirking, “Took you a while to guess,” he said brushing Cadmus’s hand away as he straightened himself properly as he sat upright, his long hair draped over the side of his shoulder.

“Believe me, I’ve never even met a vampire other than my Maker even until now,” he said, not minding that he had pushed his hand away. “It’s rare enough to find one of my kind, and even rarer to find others.”

“I see, then I guess it is an honour to meet you too for someone not of my kind,” he smirked as he folded his long legs, taking the book that laid forgotten near him as he resumed reading where he had left off.

He smiled and leaned back into the seat, looking at the way his hair fell into his eyes as he read, and his fingers immediately itched for a canvas, pencil, oil paints – anything, he realised this was unnatural even for him. He had so much to ask of him. He wanted him to share his history with him… but he felt like he was intruding in on something.

Snapping his book shut, he stood to dust and straightened himself, flipping his hair behind of his shoulder. “Smithers will be here soon, why not go to the resting room before dinner?” he suggested as watched the painter’s face.

He blinked half in surprise before nodding. “Anything is fine with me,” he agreed, standing up as well, feeling a slight nervousness creep up into himself.

Gesturing for him to follow him, he showed the way to the study down the hall and through a few corridors before stopping in front of a grand oak doors. Opening it with minimum effort, he gesture for his guest to enter.

He followed him, looking around absently at the finery of the mansion. When they reached the oak doors he stepped inside, giving Eclipse a little smile of his own.

Politely nodding back, he stepped through the door softly closing it behind of him before making his way to the recliner near the fire place where a fire was gently glowing, casting a comforting light upon the people within the room.

He made himself comfortable on the sofa, resting his chin on the palm of his hand, staring at the fire. He grew bored quickly and turned his attention to Eclipse, before suddenly speaking, “Do devils have the need to relax like this, then?” He gestured to the room, grinning at the other. “Don’t you ever feel the need for adventure?”

“When you’re a Demon Lord, you have the best and worst of everything,” he stated calmly, pouring himself and his guest a glass of brandy, and passing a glass to him.

He took it out of politeness, one whiff and he knew his body couldn’t take it. He held the glass, fingering the brim absently. “That makes it sound like you regret being a Demon Lord, whatever it is,” he said in a neutral tone.

Smirking at that, he smiled darkly for a second but was gone just as soon as it appears. “Oh, I do not regret being a Demon Lord one bit,” he said, before sipping on his glass of brandy.

He raised an eyebrow and stared at the amber liquid for a moment. “What is it that you do? Keep check of all the other demons living on Earth? Things like that? Pardon me for asking, I know nothing of your kind,” he said, with a little interested smile on his face.

“I hardly take charge, ruling over them can be a menace. They are better off dead,” he said with a cold smile on his face, but it turned into a polite smile not long after.

He brought the glass to his lips in a mimicry of drink, then smiled at the other. “Interesting,” he commented. “Do demons take on the façade of humans like we do too?”

“You’ll be surprised,” he said with a coy look and smiled politely before downing the rest of his brandy. There were many of his kinds that were in hiding because of their inability to adapt to changes or withstand the scent of the human pollution.

He nodded and put the glass down untouched. “I’ve never really thought much of demons living amongst humans,” he admitted. “In fact, I think I’ve led a pretty boring life so far. Living among humans, fooling them into thinking I’m just an artist.” He chuckled and walked towards Eclipse, sitting on the floor near his feet, staring curiously up at the other.

Crossing his legs once more, he propped the side of his head against his hand lightly while the other rested on the arm rest. “Life has been the same so far, humans can be entertaining sometimes,” he replied drifting away into this own thoughts.

“Well, maybe my meeting you might change circumstances a bit,” he said, fingering the ends of his hair, still looking at him. “Don’t you think so, my Demon Lord?” he said in a slightly teasing tone to his voice.

“Perhaps,” he said with a smirk, as he looked at the fire burning softly in the hearth, hardly caring much about his surroundings.

“Do I bore you, then?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow, grinning at him. He got up and sat on the edge of the recliner he was on, still wearing that same grin. “What’s with the perhaps, huh?”

“Perhaps means perhaps, nothing more nothing less,” he said with a sly smile glancing at Cadmus briefly before he looked into the hearth of fire once again.

He leaned in closer, invading his personal space, his violet eyes boring into his face. “Why do you look away?” he asked him.

“Do you have a problem with that?” he questioned, eyes boring into his, challenging him.

“Yes, I do,” he grinned, staring at him directly, looking into his blue eyes. “It makes me feel like you’re insecure with something.” He knew this would sound taunting, but he wanted to elicit a response from him other than those smirks he made and calm gestures.

“Insecure over what, if I may ask…?” he questioned, looking at him in a bored manner not bothering to move at all, as his now cold blue eyes bore into his.

He decided to avoid answering the question, still grinning at him. “You have pretty eyes,” Cadmus stated, “I just wanted to see them in detail, that’s all.”

“Back to being all artistic once more I see,” he stated plaintively, brushing Cadmus away from him, as he sat in a more comfortable manner, thinking over something lightly, not bothering to look at the artist.

He raised an eyebrow at this. “I have no other purpose to live except for art’s sake, after all,” he said blithely, still looking at his face. He couldn’t deny that Eclipse was somewhat like a living piece of art himself, and he wanted…

“Is that it?” he questioned, biting back a yawn from his disturbed evening when he decided to visit him.

“Yes.” He got up from the recliner, moving behind him and went to ruffle Eclipse’s dark hair, grinning madly.

Glaring at Cadmus, he combed his finger through his hair before pulling his fingers through the rest of the clashed long hair within its silver hold, all the while glaring at the blonde.

“It might be odd for me to say this, but you do look awfully cute like that, like a cat with its fur ruffled,” he chuckled, looking at the demon, still with his infuriating grin.

“I wonder maybe I ought to chop off that beautiful hair of yours and sell it to the wig makers, I am sure I will profit from it,” he retorted back with hardly and tone of annoyance yet his eyes glittered with mischief.

“Oh?” He grinned, leaning in closer, some of his hair tickling his face as he did so. “Such a calculative statement… I don’t mind, it will all grow back tomorrow night.”

Lightly threading his fingers through the blonde hair, he gather some before kissing it, after which he yanked hard on the hair to whisper in his ears. “Don’t get too cocky, vampire Cadmus,” he said with a purr before resuming his previous resting position as though nothing had happened.

His breath nearly stopped when he did that, trying hard not to shiver at the action. He merely laughed it off and stroked at his own hair absently, at the place where he had kissed. “Was that being cocky, hmm? I was just stating a fact,” he grinned.

“Be it a fact, there are always ways to stop it from growing,” he said casually a smirk and a look of coy within his eyes that glittered brightly if not dangerously against the flight from the fire.

He chuckled and patted him on his shoulder. “I don’t want to know the ways,” he said, grinning at him. “You’re so uptight,” he teased of Eclipse. He simply brushed off his shoulder, sitting there with his eyes closed as he seemingly ignored everything around him.

He resumed sitting on the space on the recliner which he was seated on, humming absently, trailing a finger over the luxurious leather. “Don’t take me seriously,” he said in a soft voice. “Even I don’t take myself seriously.”

“I could hardly bother to,” he replied never once opening his resting eyes, only taking in the warmth from the fire that dances happily amongst the logs.

“That stung,” he chuckled, then grew silent. Suddenly all he could hear was the sound of his companion’s soft breathing and heartbeat, and the tantalising little pulse in his neck, and his violet eyes grew slightly clouded. His fingers seemed to move out of their own will, and they trailed over the pulse in his neck, still lost in the spell of the rhythmic beat. Eclipse brushed his hand away like he would to anything, he found no threat to his person yet.

“You know others like us?” Cadmus asked in a suspicious manner, turning a little to look at him, slightly distracted by the gleam in his dark hair. He chuckled and shook his head, turning away to look at the treetops. “Sorry, forgot that I ever asked.” Who am I to ask anyway… I should probably find out ‘the others’ myself.” he thought silently, in the usual cynical way.

Eclipse merely nodded his head with a smirk upon his face, as he turned to look at the other humans in the room dancing and socialising, the mortals, unknowing of the dangers that they had expose themselves. How vulnerable they are that it made him feel superior knowing that he can crush them all within a short time period. Licking his lips in a predatory manner, Eclipse’s thoughts wondered about the amusement he might take up for tonight.

He smiled at him and looked down to the floor below, there was no one there. Cadmus waved goodbye to the other, a mischievous grin on his face. “See you again, I suppose,” he called out, before he leapt off the railing to land on the grassed floor below with a cat-like grace, before he smoothed out his clothes and began to walk away from the ballroom unnoticed to any eyes, except for Eclipse.

Eclipse:

He saw Cadmus made his exit, and smirked to himself from within the shadows. He would be making his exit himself, just about as soon as he could find his host, and from there he would escape to Whites, a club he frequent, and where he will relax himself for the rest of the night. He was quick with his task, and was soon walking down the streets to Whites rather than taking his carriage. With his hat worn and cape buckled with the gold clasp in front, he adjusted himself before he set his pace to his destination.

It was not really a long walk for him, though it might have been one to a human. Then again he was not human from the beginning. Lightly but firmly gripping his cane with a ruby stone at the hilt, Eclipse quietly walked down the night street, uncaring of the potential harm that might befall upon him, and that was very highly unlikely. Smirking, he continued on with his pace, sometimes speeding up to quicken his pace, but sometimes to stop by an alley way to playfully toy with the whores that stood near the entrance.

Cadmus:

Cadmus whistled a little tune, walking noiselessly out of the area, stepping out into the quiet night street. He knew that even though he was dressed in a rather inconspicuous manner, nothing could touch him. Taking off his coat and holding it over his shoulders, he saw the figure of a man enter a dark alley, and he followed the man discreetly.

Realised the figure was a drunk mortal man, who was walking with uncertain swaying steps. Cadmus grinned to himself – this will be perfect for the night, the alcohol laced blood would do wonders after the tiring mingling he had done in the party just then. As he tapped the man on the shoulder, Cadmus bared his fangs a little to the man, who noticed it. And it was too late, however, his movements were so fast that the drunk man could not have possibly seen it. Pinning him against the dirty wall of the alley, Cadmus sank his fangs deep into the warm, luscious flesh of the mortal’s neck.

— — — — —

Just as he left one of the prostitutes, Eclipse’s ear picked up the sound of muffled up movements and the scent of blood in the air as he stood near the entrance of a alley way. He could see clearly who it was without bothering to walk into the alley, “It will be a menace if someone were to find his body drained,” he commented casually to no one in particular before resuming his walk to Whites.

Pulling his fangs out of his victim’s flesh with a sick squelch, with the already limp and dead mortal in his arms, “I know how to take care of things, you dolt!” he called out, instantly knowing who it was, half in bewilderment, half in amusement. Letting the body drop to the ground, he stared at the corpse, kicking it once as if it had offended him. He gave a contemptuous sigh and felt the power washed over him, as the body burnt itself into ashes, some of it being blown about by the wind.

Eclipse:

Eclipse smiled amused by the reply, as he drew his cloak closer around his shoulder before entering the club where he will be for the rest of the night. Smiling politely at the people who greeted him, he climbed up to the second level where he could oversea the entrance of the club and at the same time watch the people below him. Some times it can be rather whimsical, yet often it is not.

Closing his eyes as he sat in the grand armchair, lightly sloshing his red wine. The artist from the party earlier was good looking he admitted as he softly chuckled to himself. Drinking the rest of his drink in a shot as he called for a errand boy to help him make preparation for his carriage to be brought around, planning to go to the most famous brothel of London where all the rich go and have pleasure.

However, he changed his mind half way there, finding everything has almost become a routine to the point that it gets boring. And had the driver to send him back to his mansion where upon arrival, went straight to his study looking out at the sky as he sat in the grand arm chair, thinking.

Cadmus:

Cadmus walked out of the dark alley, licking on his bloodied lips, as he resumed whistling, tucking his hands into his pockets as he walked back home. The image of a certain dark-haired man was still etched fervently in his mind’s eye, begging him to do something about it. He started walking faster, almost breaking into a run, stumbling back to his mansion. Slamming the door behind him, as Cadmus locked himself in his studio, he grabbed the empty canvas with shaky hands, and began mixing his paints. Transcending the image he had of him with the glass of wine to his lips onto the canvas, thinking of what he’d said before to him – about how he wished humans would come to invent a camera which could take pictures in the darkness.

“It’s only a rough sketch for now,” he thought to himself. He was only doing this from memory, there could still be some details amiss and he wants to see him again… tell him how much of a pleasure it would be if he could paint him. He was undeniably a piece of art, as Cadmus finally put down the brush which was smoking a little from the speed at which he had painted, trying to catch his breath as he moved away, sitting prone on the floor while clutching his head.

Seeing a little splatter of paint on the sleeve, he pulled off the shirt he had on. Walking out of the studio, to go to his room to get a change of clothes, the image of the man remains burning in his mind. When he was dressed in more comfortable clothes, he sat in his windowless studio, staring at the painted canvas. He made a little sound and went out of the mansion, pacing impatiently.

He had travelled by the human means of a carriage to London from his Winter House near the valleys. He for one had gained wealth, power, fame that most humans or anyone else could ever dream of. Now, evening has befallen upon the town of London – the Season has just begun, and he was already bored as he travelled, by carriage, occasionally looking out of the window as the humans hustled past with excitement.

A marquise of Society was going to attend a party that an old mortal friend of his had organised. He had hoped for better entertainment tonight as he gracefully stepped out of the carriage, his top hat on his head, as he held his cane in one of his gloved hands. Hiding his smirk within his cape, he took the time to languidly look at the place, stopping a few of the invited guests a they looked at him with curiosity. He was used to the attention, but there would later be a lot more murmuring when they knew of his identity.

He was right, many mothers who attended the ball that night pushed their daughters to him. He was one of the most highly sought after bachelors in the whole of London, after all. He was notoriously known amongst the ladies and gentlemen for the way he drew them in like a moth to a flame. The ladies tried to get his attention, but his polite manner pushed them away or on occasion flirt with them. How adorably they blush, the power of his beauty to charm them never once failed. It worked well even on the males who were glaring at him, they would soon turn out to be talking to him in a good-natured way rather than as a potential rival in love.

He laughed politely and conversed with them with fake enthusiasm. He had been around long enough to know how the whole of the Society of the Town worked. The ladies batted their eyes at them as some of the men took no note of it, while others went on to try their luck in courting the ladies of their desire. How amusing they were, always with the same antics of catching a rich husband.

He was at least for now – not within sight of the women that targeted him all the time. His status did not allow him to be rude to anyone as he always put on a fake façade in front of them. The time was not close to midnight yet, and like many parties, it lasted till the early mornings, until about three. Sipping from his glass of wine elegantly, he had a patient smile upon his face as he pretended to be listening to them in their conversations, nodding at the right moment.

Cadmus:

He sighed a little, putting on the brand new dress robes for the party he had to attend in the evening – all his mortal friends had persuaded for him to attend and he was starting to run out of excuses to dismiss this as a typical party which he would, after all, regret to have come to. Cadmus hoped that this would be different from the other times he was forced to attend parties. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, properly combing his long hair, preferring to let it long and loose tonight. He had hired a carriage service for himself since it would do some good for his reputation as a talented ‘painter’ amongst the London community.

Cadmus had arrived on the steps of the elaborate town hall soon enough – his mansion was ideally situated in the middle of the town where it could reach everywhere soon enough either by foot or by carriage… or the occasional flight he had to make. He had fed more than usual, his pale cheeks flushed with warm blood. He was greeted by several people who immediately recognised him, former clients, who pushed him about, handed him the glasses of wine. He smiled to himself – they were already half-drunk themselves, and it wasn’t even midnight yet. He accepted their advances gracefully, letting them touch his skin if they wanted, only speaking when they desired for him to. All these beautiful mortals… they were petty but he let them be. It was part of their allure and he wanted to make them happy.

He smiled charmingly at his mortal friends who urged him to drink the night away like they had. He sipped on the wine, making a show of it, the liquid brushing against his lips. He knew he couldn’t drink anything other than the luscious blood, so this façade he put on would appeal to his friends. Give them the illusion that he was somewhat human. After making a short excuse to refill their drinks for them, he strode off, noticing several gentlemen crowding around a dark-haired beautiful man. He smiled to himself and walked past them nonchalantly.

Cadmus went about to refill the glasses, smiling politely at the waiters at their assistance. He sighed in slight disgust – he still had several commissions to complete and even with the speed that he did things with, he knew that this boring excuse for a party would interfere with the deadlines he had to meet. He returned back to his mortal friends, who had burst out into raucous laughter, giving them their glasses.

He was caught off-guard when his mortal friend excitedly bragged of the portrait he’d done of her a few months ago. She was almost breathless in excitement, telling her servant to fetch a pencil and parchment for him, she would show the rest how talented he was. Cadmus was about to protest but eventually gave in, there was no harm in doing a sketch or two. It might ease his boredom a bit. The servant handed him the tools and he properly positioned her in the desired position, and the rest of the onlookers were beginning to whisper in joy and curiosity of this scene.

His face was set in a determined, concentrating expression and he began to sketch, the pencil moving with unnatural speed which came with his vampiric gift. He was uncaring of the crowd of people around him, the scent of their luscious warm blood all around him. He did her legs, eyes, hair, all with preternatural precision, and in a matter of moments he was done. He moved forward and handed the parchment over to his friend, and flopped onto the soft cushion beside her with a little sigh. “Do you like it?” he asked her in his cultured, accented voice, and smiled when she nodded furiously, the whispers around him now gaining in intensity.

He smiled and got up, taking her hand and kissing his mortal friend on the knuckle, watching the flush on her cheeks. “It was a pleasure,” he said softly to her, and walked away, going over to the surprisingly empty balcony. Cadmus stared out into the darkness of the night, breathing in the cool night air.

Eclipse:

They were talking when he overheard another group nearby talking about a talented artist. The murmur of excitement caused their group to break up as they approached the soon gathering area of crowd. He followed the crowd, with little interest, looking over their shoulders. Thanks to his height, he could easily see what was going on. A young lady was chosen as a model while a male of platinum blond hair sat there sketching, as more people gathered around them. The crowd was suffocating, as he shifted himself away to a more quiet location with lesser crowd. He had been around long enough and had seen many artists before, both the great and dead ones.

He was rather impressed, then again, that man who did his drawing – he saw the flash in his eyes, the light scent of blood that lingered around him, undetected by the nose of a human, but not to his keen senses. Smirking within the shadows, he left his post as he picked another glass of wine for himself while the group of his mortal friends rejoined him, talking feverishly almost like girls about the artist, while he smiled politely sipping on his drink.

They started to excuse themselves again as they picked the ladies for another round of dance, he had politely excused himself as he watched them, slowly making his way to the open-aired balcony as he carried his glass of wine. The night air smelled sweet mixed with the scents from the garden of roses that this family favoured. They were only humans, and their lives being so short, and it hardly entertained him much.

Cadmus:

He climbed onto the railing precariously, an odd sight to anyone who would chance upon this sight – men of this century wearing tailored clothing never randomly sat on the railings on which they could fall off so easily. Cadmus didn’t care about little sensibilities like this, no one would see, after all, and he hummed a little song to himself absently as he gazed at the smoky-looking moon. His ears perked at sound of a person coming into the balcony area. He was startled for a moment but didn’t fall off, continuing to sit there. He gave a little smile to the other, reverting back to his little daydream.

Eclipse nodded his head in acknowledgement tipping his wine glass in his direction, before he took a sip from it. The night was still young, and they were still in there partying, socialising the night away. He hid himself within the shadow, out of their sight. He would leave soon to go over to Whites, the gentlemen Club that he was rather fond of.

“Beautiful night isn’t it,” Cadmus said absently, gazing at the other out of the corner of his eye. “At times like this, I wish someone would come up with a camera which is good enough to take photographs of the moon like this in the dark.” He chuckled and smoothed out the front of his dress robes.

Looking at him, he closed his eyes, hardly bothering much. “Yes, a beautiful night indeed. Such things might not be invented any time soon,” he replied, leaning against the wall with his wine glass in hand. The beautiful youth, no – a being of similar kind to his, was not one he often see to being out around especially amongst humans.

He let loose a little chuckle and tucked a strand of loose hair behind his ear, getting off the railing with a lithe movement. “You’re pretty well-known around these parts, huh?” he said, violet eyes glinting cat-like at the other. “I’m Cadmus,” he murmured, coming closer, staring at him. There was something slightly odd about him, but he couldn’t place his finger on it at the point in time.

Smirking, “Only to those hungry for power and wealth. Eclipse.” he supplied, eyes looking at him coyly, as he raised his glass to his lips. His advances were useless on him, he had lived for so long and knew of the various antics that most would show, and what will follow up.

“Ah.” He didn’t agree nor disagree with that. His eyes following the little movement, then perched himself back up onto the railing. “Don’t they bore you?” he asked, but the question seemed more like a statement. “Mortal notions, mortal emotions.” He said, eyes glowing in the darkness, then he turned his head away and resumed staring at the moon.

“Mortals will be mortals, we are living through it.” he replied before sipping on his wine, as he stepped out of the shadow to stand near where Cadmus stood.

Cadmus’s old heart nearly skipped a beat when he heard his statement, and what it all implied. He knew what he was. He smiled and relaxed a little, knowing out of a certain instinct that his new companion wouldn’t do any harm to him unless he invited for him to. “Eclipse is an odd name,” he commented lightly.

Glancing at him almost sharply, “So is Cadmus,” he replied nonchalantly looking into the night sky as a new tune was struck up by the orchestra. How they could stand dancing for so long amused him, but then again, it was the season and there were a lot more parties that he will have to at least make an appearance in.

He chuckled and turned to look at him, eyes twinkling in amusement. “It’s a pretty common name in Greece,” he pointed out in a light-hearted manner, fingering the ends of his lapel. “It’s rare to find someone like you anywhere around here,” he said softly, almost to himself. “I’ve always thought I was the only odd one out in London.”

To be Continued

He was only 21, just about to enter the prime of his life when he was turned over to the darkness. He remembers his last moments as a human – celebrating with friends in the wine fields that his father owned, with an excess of alcohol. He’d finally reached manhood, the age proper to marry and continue the family line. In those moments of drunken laughter and inebriation, he’d never once thought about death. Now that he reminisced, that youth that he had, made him feel invincible, and surrounded by friends, humans he loved – why should he think about death?

He made his drunken way home, stumbling. It was not even midnight, when he was suddenly grasped and taken into cold, strong arms, and in that haze that blurred his vision he couldn’t fathom the doom that would befall him.

The vampire that made him was tall, and the unnaturally white skin was something that made him reach out to touch, and all he was met with hard coldness. He was enthralled with the other’s beauty that he didn’t notice he was locked up in a tower, never to escape with his weak mortal strength.

In those months that seemed to stretch on to years, decades, he believed himself to be in love. He was hungry for something, but it was constantly out of reach. It may have been that he’d wanted out of the confining tower, but at the same time the vampire intoxicated him, made him want every touch, every caress and every poisonous whisper. The blood-kisses maddened him, made him want more until all he thought was of getting the pleasure from that and nothing else. The sustenance he gained from food and drink no longer pleased him, and he was on the verge of begging for it – the vampiric condition that he lusted after.

He was lovingly shaved and his now long blond hair, from months of being left unkempt, was combed by the monster in a guise of a patient immortal. When the sharp dagger-like fangs pierced his flesh and drained him of blood, the essence that kept his very being alive, he knew this was irreversible and he could never turn back even if he wanted to.

That night he became a vampire. He discovered the pleasure of art and aesthetics, and he immersed himself in this, the speed at which he painted enhanced by his newfound physicality. He painted his Maker, the tower of his mortal imprisonment, of what little he remembered of the sunrise. All he could see now was darkness, and the only light he saw came from his paintings.

He remembers the argument that he and his Maker had that caused them to separate forever and never to see each other again. He was getting so absorbed in the art that he was paying less attention to him, and the spell that the art form held its grip upon him was getting harder to resist. It was petty, but it had hurt when he had slapped him in a fit of anger. Even if it healed, the curses that fell from his Maker’s lips had pierced through his heart and he realised that he had never truly loved him.

He roamed the world as a vagabond after that, going back to find his beloved father and mother, but misfortune had it upon him that his father had stabbed his own heart, and it had killed him. The only man besides his Maker who had made him feel secure and loved had died, and even though his mortal mother had denied that he was the cause of his father’s suicide, he could hear her thoughts floating up to him, accusing him for leaving so abruptly and made his father think he had met his end. His beloved son never to come back to him again.

In 18th century London it was almost too easy for him to blend in with the other humans, and disguise himself as the mysterious painter who could only take upon commissions at night. These humans easily accommodated to his demands since they wanted his artistry and knack for detail. And it was upon this time he stumbled across Eclipse, the Demon Lord, the only immortal he was to find in the world besides his old Maker.

It was undeniable the androgynous beauty in his form, the masculinity that coursed through the way he held himself, the aristocratic beauty that was very evident in his sculpted face that was like his own. The way his dark hair glinted in the moonlight… he wanted to transcend this forever into canvas, immortalise this image.

He knew of what happened between them, regretted it – his haste in wanting to taste his blood. This lust that had rekindled in his body, it would never be sated until he could have the Demon Lord sit for him in a painting. He would get him to sit for him no matter what.

He has lived for so long, and yet there was hardly anything that will surprise him now. He remembered his parents when they gave birth to him, in the depth of their mountain fortress near the Alps. He was left to fend off for himself at a young age, but those were the past, as he drank to rest of his brandy before pouring himself another glass full. He remembered that when he was younger, there were various attempts made to have his family and himself killed, though that was usual since they were of the higher ranking Demon nobles that oversees everything around them. It was a common feat, and he was used to it. Now, everything has been real quiet and no one dared to stir up any form of trouble, maybe except for those impudent mortals that will stop at nothing.

Sighing as he laid back against the backing of his plush recliner, he supported his forehead with his free hand while the other still held his glass on brandy. After meeting the vampire known as Cadmus Baptiste, things have been rather different, almost refreshing and amusing at the same time, but still rather annoying as to how he seem to get to his neck both literally and physically.  Feeling a growl attempting to escape from his throat, he drained his glass cleaned before downing another few more.

The lights from the hearth casted a shadow over him as his eyes looked straight into the fire that flickered and crackled from the hearth, spitting a few times before it settled down calmly once more. With an unsound sigh, he closed his eyes and he rested his forehead upon his free hand once again, not wanting to think about anything for the time being.