The fire in the makeshift hearth had just gone out.
Karalius watched the last of the dying embers fade into blackness, frowning as the warmth in the room dwindled away with them.
Nana needs warmth...
He had no idea how to light the fire again, though, and immediately considered calling for assistance, but then he realized something and lifted the arm he wasn't currently using to support Bin against his chest.
Dark flames licked calmly at his cold skin.
Perhaps...
Pursing his lips, he reached towards the burning coals. When his fingers touched them, he barely felt anything. Curiously, he allowed his demonic energy to drift into the fireplace, lighting it anew with dark purple and black wisps.
Is it helping?
He wasn't sure, and immediately became anxious again. He would have likely given up and yelled for the pirate lord if he hadn't noticed Binan's eyelids begin to flutter gently.
"Master Binan? Nana?" he questioned as he pressed his cold palm to the man's pale cheek.
After a few moments of tense silence, Bin finally opened his eyes halfway. He looked surprised, at first, but that emotion quickly faded as exhaustion took over.
"Master Binan, is it warm?" he asked cautiously.
Bin seemed confused as he tried to process his question.
"Ah, warm?" his voice rasped, hinting at a possible sickness to come.
Worried, Karalius gathered the man closer, scooted forward a bit more, then allowed his miasmic flames to settle overtop Bin's body. It took a few more moments to see a reaction to his efforts, but when he did he could tell that something was working.
Bin stretched his legs out, then moved against his arm a bit before yawning wide, his vampiric fangs extending, then retracting, as the situation played out.
Karalius watched him silently, enjoying the man's actions. He'd always loved watching Binan, ever since they were young. The boy was quite adventurous and stubborn, but also very caring.
He was nothing like his sire.
Even before he'd been changed into a vampire, then a demon, he'd only cared for a few things in his life. Everything was replaceable except for the little hunting dog he'd had, his little sister, who had died a year before he had been changed, and the little boy with the cute name from the rundown neighborhood nearly two miles away from his own.
They'd met by chance, and the days he'd spent digging holes and climbing trees with Binan had been some of his most treasured.
Karalius seemed to have gotten lost in thought, because by the time he'd returned his focus to the man in his lap, Bin had sloppily removed his soaked shirt and was trying to take off his wet pants.
"I will help," Kara said stiffly as he reached for the garment.
Bin, surprisingly, fumbled out of his lap before turning to face him.
Ah, color is returning to his face.
His fire must be helping.
"Why are you moving away? I was not attacking you," Karalius questioned, confused.
Bin licked his pale lips and slowly got to his feet as the miasma around him dissipated. Karalius followed him up, seemingly wary that he might not be stable enough to stand yet.
"I-I was just surprised. I didn't think that you'd still be here," Bin said, trying to cover up his reaction with a poor excuse as he looked around the room cautiously.
This is Inkani's cabin?
He was about to reach out to the man when he felt a nudge in the back of his mind. It was the captain letting him know that he was there if he was needed. It was a huge relief.
Able to relax a little with that newfound knowledge, Bin walked over to one of his sire's dressers and took out a pair of soft sleep pants. He didn't even bat an eye as he then tugged off the remainder of his clothing, then replaced them with the warm pants.
Much better.
Before he could turn back around, however, he felt a pair of chilled fingers grab his bare arm. Bin jumped in response, but then turned to face Karalius.
Oh?
He hadn't seen such a look on the man's face in quite some time. Not since they were both alive. Reaching up, Bin brushed aside the man's bangs, allowing him to press his fingers to Kara's cold, furrowed brows.
"Kara, is everything alright?"
The man before him seemed distracted by the fact that he was willingly touching him, and thus, didn't hear his question as he stared silently at his finger still pressed to his forehead.
What are you doing, Kara?
"Master Binan should rest. You will not survive a transformation in your current state," Karalius said, returning to his previous position concerning their situation.
Right... you just want to change me.
He'd let himself forget that for a moment there.
Retracting his hand, he raised it to his own mouth and coughed gently.
"I don't think I'll be okay to try and change soon," he said, his raspy throat making his words sound quite believable.
And honestly, he could very well get sick, even after having fed well from Ilio. He didn't really want to, but he didn't mind playing the part to keep Karalius from trying to harm him if he had to.
He hadn't seen a worried expression on the man's face since he'd been changed. It was a relief to know that there were still emotions buried beneath his frozen exterior.
"Master Binan needs to rest," Karalius reiterated as he simply reached over and grabbed Bin's waist, then lifted him up without an ounce of effort before setting him on the edge of the bed.
"Okay, okay," Bin said as he nudged the man's hands away and scooted back into the bed. "I'm going to sleep."
He slipped beneath the covers, then stretched out with a quiet groan before nuzzling into one of his captain's many pillows. He was glad that the man took good care of his things, as his blanket was super soft and his pillows of the best quality.
Pretty soon he was sighing contently and closing his eyes, nearly ready to get some rest. The only thing stopping him was the odd sensation of being watched...
Blinking his eyes open after about ten or so minutes, Bin was surprised to see that Karalius hadn't moved a single inch.
This man...
Sitting up slowly against the pillows, Bin covered a cough with his hand, then cleared his scratchy throat.
"Kara, what are you doing?"
Karalius was as still as a statue, his eyes unblinking for several seconds as he processed his words, then tilted his head like a curious, confused dog.
"I am watching master Binan sleep," he eventually said, making Bin frown.
The young man before him used to be so bright and inquisitive, yet now his mind seemed so simple that he was merely a puppet to his demonic sickness.
"Kara, do you plan to stand there for the rest of the day?" he asked, noticing that it was already bright outside, yet the man had likely not slept yet, either.
It took another moment to process, then a response was given that made Bin's frown deepen.
"I do not sleep often."
You don't sleep often?
Furrowing his brow, Bin sat up a bit straighter.
"Why don't you sleep often? Are you not tired?" he asked simply.
Karalius didn't take long before he responded this time.
"I am always tired, master Binan."
Hmm...
Scooting over a bit, Bin gently tapped the spot beside him in the bed.
"Come lie down then."
Karalius looked at the bed, then back up to Bin, repeating the motion several times before he took a cautious step closer. Bin expected him to finally listen to him for once, but when the man paused right at the edge of the bed, seemingly refusing to move a single inch closer, he sighed.
"What is it now? Remove your wet clothing and tug on a pair of Inkani's pants, then get in bed," Bin said, honestly quite tired.
The man before him pursed his pale lips, evidently deep in thought. What he ended up saying nearly a full minute later actually had Bin's mouth hanging open in pure shock!
"Master Binan, are you requesting my assistance in creating offspring?"
Bin couldn't find the words he needed to say.
Any words.
"We should not do such a thing at this time, Nana. You are unwell and carrying a child can be hazardous," Karalious said, taking his stunned silence in stride.
Bin finally managed to pull himself out of his stupor a few moments later.
"I-I was just offering you a place to rest. We can't make offspring, anyways. We are both male," he said, drawing a confused frown to Karalius's face.
"You... wish for me to remove my clothing and rest with you. Is that not an invitation to procreate?"
Scowling, Bin rubbed a hand over his face, then yawned as he laid back down.
"Just... just listen to your sire, alright? Your clothing is wet and I'm feeling unwell. I told you to put on a pair of pants, and do you want me to get better so that you can change me, or not?"
Karalius immediately began stripping, tearing a bit of his damp clothing in his rush to rid himself of it. He was naked within moments, and after another minute, had a pair of dry pants on, yet he still refused to climb into bed.
So stubborn...
He was just about to roll over and give his back to the man, intent on letting him figure out the rest on his own, when Karalius spoke again. This time, however, his voice was much quieter. As if he were almost nervous.
"Master Binan, is my body not too cold to be next to yours?"
Bin turned his head on the pillow to stare at him in the dim room.
"I have plenty of blankets. Get in bed Kara, now."
With that final order, Bin turned onto his side, facing away from the man before closing his eyes.
It was nearly ten minutes later, and he was nearly already asleep, when he finally felt the bed depress beside him.
He expected the man to lie down, but when there was no further motion, Bin grudgingly rolled back over and opened his aching eyes.
"...Kara?"
So tired...
Karalius blinked out of his thoughts and turned his head towards him.
"I do not wish to disturb master, so I will remain awake until you are rested."
Disturb me? Does he still think I want him in bed to breed?
"Why would you disturb me if you slept?" he asked as his eyes began to drift closed again of their own accord.
There was silence for so long after he'd spoken that Bin nearly fell asleep, but he managed to pull himself back to conscious as he heard Karalius finally answer his question.
"I wake up a lot because of the screams..."
Bin forced his eyes open again, then propped himself up on one elbow.
"Screams? Do you have nightmares, Kara?"
The man nodded slowly.
"What are they about? Who is screaming?" Bin asked as he made his aching body sit up fully.
Karalius didn't seem to need long to figure out the answer to that question. His expression fell slightly in the darkness as he looked off to the side.
"Me," he said in a voice so quiet that Bin had barely been able to hear it. He then lifted his solemn gaze back to meet his before adding, "It is me who is screaming... It never changes. I am always screaming for master to save me."