A Feast For The Vampires

XXVII

The room was still and quiet, Kimi pondering over Caim’s words with a confused expression. His eyes dropped and they were instantly drawn to the deep, black tattoo that was over Aurum’s heart. A warm feeling spread throughout Kimi’s body as he studied it. It was a tattoo of his name. Each letter had been done in capitals and with an intricate font. The name was encircled by connecting thorny roses of varying sizes. He tilted his head at the sparrow-like bird that was beaking one of the roses.

When Aurum noticed the fond look in his eyes, his eyes followed Kimi’s gaze to the tattoo. “Oh...” He placed a hand on the tattoo and warmly said, “I had this made after I had met you in Egypt.” He swallowed, his throat bobbing as he croaked, “a-after I had left you.”

Kimi raised his gaze, his eyebrows creasing a little bit as he asked, “why my name? Why not something else?”

“Because you’re more important than my heart, that’s if I really need a heart.” A small, affectionate smile graced his lips as he whispered, “because I care about you and your wellbeing. I cherish you and your happiness Kimi. And I wish to protect them all with my life.”

Kimi’s face warmed slightly, his breath hitching as Aurum raised a hand to cup his face. Aurum’s  fingers merely grazed his face before the endearing atmosphere was turned upside down by the scream that shook the hallway.

“Somebody help!” someone shrieked loudly.

Kimi recognized the voice as Clover’s voice. What is it now? he thought, angrily rolling his eyes.

Aurum’s outstretched hand fell as he looked over his shoulders to the door. Caim was already out the door like a flicker. “Stay here and don’t come out,” Aurum said as he stood and walked to the door.

More screams had followed after Clover’s, shattering the silence of the night. Heavy, pounding footsteps shook the hotel as people ran haphazardly, the sound of them running complementing the scared shrieks.

Someone barrelled into Aurum as he ran down the dimly lit hallway, his eyes wide in fear. “So... Som... It...”

Aurum held onto his shoulders, confusion in his eyes as he asked, “what’s happening?”

Rapidly shaking his head from side to side, the man swiftly stuttered, “so-someone is bleeding in the h-hallway. I-I saw something. It l-looked like a person.” He dug his fingernails into Aurum’s bare arms, eyes widening tautly, his teeth chattering. “S-She had blood on her mouth!”

What’s going on? Aurum thought as he let go of the man, his brows knitting in confusion. People ran into him as they ran away from whatever or whoever it was. He quickened his pace as he walked down the winding stairs, the shrieks getting louder.

“Orpheus stop!” yelled Homer, his voice getting carried up the stairs with the loud shrieks.

Aurum’s eyebrows shot up at the sound of his voice, his speed becoming vampiric as he flashed towards the voice. He came face to face with a tattered-looking Homer and Orpheus. Orpheus was spotting a feral smirk as he tried to move past Homer’s widespread arms. Various shivering people were knelt behind Homer, their heads hung in fear.

“Orpheus cut it out! What’s got into you?!” Homer groaned as Orpheus ran into him again, his glowing eyes trained on the humans.

Aurum caught on to the situation and raised a hand. His senses didn’t waste any second and latched onto every cell in Orpheus’s body as he squeezed his raised hand into a tight fist. Orpheus instantly froze and dropped to the floor, a long growl rumbling in his chest.