E L E V E N

It was a scorching day to say in the least, making decisions even more dreading to accept.

"I can't believe you talked me into this," The upset prince muttered out as he stood in the shade provided by the archway gate shielded with growing vines and thick leaves.

"Well, technically I didn't propose anything you just knew you couldn't talk me out of it." Kai smiled with a snide attitude. He handed back the papers to Shay, as she stood near them and waited for their departure, before slipping on his gloves. "There's no real way to contact you when we're gone, but know we'll be back no less than a day."

Shay nodded, "I figured as much. Though my advice is take your time," She glanced specifically at Iris, "you're missing the second party. I can't imagine the upset faces, sir."

The prince chuckled, "I'll definitely take my sweet time then. Thank you Shay."

"My pleasure, sir." She waved before she headed back up the steps and slipped through the door with one last fair-well gesture.

"Do you really think taking your time will do you any good?"

Iris crossed his arms with a huff, "No. That's why I'm doing it. And it's your job to support me."

"It's really not."

"Are you going to stop me then?"

Kai expressed a slow blink to stall his answer but he looked away when Iris started to grin.

"That's what I thought. So, Valley Birdyget is North of our fourth village, then plenty of miles forward from the border we hit the line of the outskirts of another kingdom."

"And that's were Valley is." Kai finished and the prince nodded. "Alright," He slapped his hands together and rubbed them, "ready?"

"Uh, I guess so. How exactly-" But as soon as he began to speak Kai grabbed his waist without warning and his words were dragged until the air in his lungs was harshly wasted away by the amount of breeze the wind contrasted against his own breaths.

Plus, the unexpected travel was overwhelming enough to leave him breathless. In a minute and no more, all sudden motion was halted yet the Earth continued to spin for the prince as Kai let go.

He watched Iris stumble away from him until he hit a wall and gripped the cold stone while holding his head.

"Kai...you have to..warn me!" He yelled while desperately trying to catch his lost breath. His legs felt like noodles but he was experienced enough to stay on his feet. Even though slumping down felt so right at the moment.

Kai stretched his arms above his head and sighed. "My apologizes, Iris, that was a test."

"T-test?" Iris coughed out of disbelief, "are you crazy?"

"No. We're already in the third village, I'd call that determination."

Finally standing straight on his feet, Iris inhaled slowly and let it out sharply. He pointed at Kai when he started walking towards him. "Touch me I'll stab you."

"Psh," Kai dismissed and patted the bag resting by his side. "All weaponry is in here."

Iris patted his own side, "So you think. Now stay away and let me catch my breath."

"Have you not already? I mean, you're yelling at me."

"Shut up!" And Kai did after holding in the urge to argue back. He walked out of the abandoned house he found, its walls cracked and ripped of paint, and sat down on a stone broken from the roof. He continued to stay in the shade not only for his well being but his energy as well, since it was evaporating quicker with the sun parching everything it shined upon.

He rested his elbows on his knees to hold his head up and he tapped his index finger on his cheek to count-to keep his patience in check.

After what felt like wasting useless time, but it was only five minutes, Iris trudged out of the house and looked down at Kai. He looked away almost as quick while restraining a snarky remark.

Something they had in common: keeping their mouths shut when needed...most of the time.

"Can we go now, sir?" Kai grumbled as he stood up, tossing the bag strap over his shoulder as he did.

"It's may we go. But yes."

"Don't lecture me about grammar." Kai tightened the bag strap and walked over, easily invading Iris's personal space.

"Right, because you're old and you're wiser."

"Actually," Kai, again so casually, placed his hands on Iris's sides and got no-maybe a little-reaction. "I've never believed older people are wiser. Just more experienced. And two hundred is a rather young age for a vampire."

"Sure. Okay."

Kai rolled his eyes before stepping even closer, the heat immediately circling them. "Can..may we start traveling again?"

Iris reached up and placed his hands on Kai's shoulder, his fingers lightly curling in the fabric of his coat to secure himself.

"Yes we may."

"Good. I'd save your breath this time."

And in less than two seconds, gusts of wind fluttered through their hair and distance was becoming less between them and devastation waiting for their arrival.

††

The sun hadn't calmed its rage of its summer heat but it did shy behind clouds which caused delayed shadows in crooks and vents of nature.

By early noon, four o'clock, Iris and Kai eventually found a road heading straight up to the little girl's house where her and her mother stayed. It was quite a travel, tiresome, long, but necessary. Stops had grown more frequent and Iris was almost determined to halt everything and completely drop it to just turn around. Because watching the vampires, especially Kai, go through their stages with the sun, never sat well with him.

Once they came across a small shed around the road, they finally stopped; or Iris forced them to anyway.

Kai slumped on a haystack in the corner of the shed and draped himself in a blanket of false health.

"Are you okay?" Iris knelt beside him and asked for the hundredth time-probably literally.

"I said I'm fine." But Kai was slightly flushed and his breathing pattern was obviously meddled with. And even worst, his skin glistened with sweat. Not that Iris's said any different.

"Okay, how about I go and you stay here?"

"Uh, no." Kai attempted to sit up but Iris pushed him down.

"Uh, yes. I'll be fine I'm just talking to them."

"This is unfamiliar territory. You don't know if rogues are out there."

"I'll be fine. Stay."

"Iris." The vampire's voice was tired. Even his movements to stop Iris from leaving was lazy.

"I'll be right back." Quickly, the prince pushed Kai back down and rushed to the door. Knowing the possible consequences, he picked up a shove leaning against the wall and slotted it through the two door handles connect to the old cracked oak wood. He moved back when it rattled with a weak force.

"Iris. Open the doors."

"I'll make it quick." Iris reassured while walking away and with every inch the door banged a little harder. He stopped a few yards away when the door seized its struggle and waited. But nothing happened so he continued.

An old cabin looking house came into view as he walked his way up the road. It was surrounded by trees of Sycamore and Pine. Every step he took something crunched under him with a satisfying cry.

Iris slowed down when the atmosphere grew eerie and goosebumps began crawling down his arms. He looked behind him before ascending up the aged croaking stairs. He swallowed and raised his hand. One knock and the door inched open with an awful moan of the hinges.

"Hello?" Iris pushed the door open and a whiff of something burnt made him cover his nose. Nothing looked burnt. Old, yes, pale chipped wallpaper and dust floating around. But..fresh in a way Iris couldn't explain.

"Uh, April?" He had remembered the mother's name but not the child's. Iris silently snapped his fingers as he walked through the house. "What was her name..?"

He froze when the floorboards creaked above him suddenly. "Hello?" But silence was his reply. He studied the curling flight of stairs, there was no way they could hold the weight of an adult. They were already sinking in. He placed his hand on the wooden rail and jiggled it. Even the smallest pebble could knock this over.

Iris looked up the stairs. Something didn't sit right with him. All his senses tingled in uncomfortable ways and his gut told him to leave immediately. Knowing his gut feeling was always right, he turned around.

A paralyzing bolt shot through his whole body when a figure stood behind him. He didn't have time to confront them when they suddenly leaped forward. Iris grabbed its shoulders while the guy did the same. His force was stronger, and his inhuman speed gave away his identity.

They both tipped backwards onto the stairs, once Iris's back hit the wood, the whole staircase caved in, and they both went falling down into the unknown basement directly under the steps.

Iris yelped when his back smashed into the floor, wood chips coated him as he desperately tried not to inhale some all while his mouth laid open due to the fall taking away his breath.

He grunted when the man grabbed him by the collar, picked him up, and tossed him to the side. The basement was nothing but solid concrete which made Iris a little grateful. He rolled onto his back just as the guy jumped on him. If his abnormal strength didn't give away the fact that he was a vampire, the fangs he flared at the prince gladly did the part.

However. This was no normal vampire.

Iris frantically held the man's face away from his snarling. His eyes stared hard and wide at the fangs in his mouth. A set of razor sharp ones on the top, but then two other fangs on his bottom teeth. That was not normal.

"What the hell are you?" Iris muttered, not afraid of the situation, but now fearful of the beast tackling him.

This vampire hissed at Iris again, digging his nails in Iris's shoulder and making him wince.

"The new generation." And a sickening smile followed his confession.