T W E N T Y-S I X

It was like slowly being pulled under a large current of water. It was an empty fall, no sound and no way to vocalize his terror. It was dark, too, only a glimpse of a silver, wavering light above him. But Kai didn't try to reach out and even attempt to grasp that glare of white. The situation set in like a wild fire in him, and he closed his eyes and accepted his hallucinated fate.

As the water fizzled yet calmed around him, as those invisible hands that submerged him further down into the depths stopped..he floated. Abnormally, Kai's body didn't react to the piercing coldness of the water; because it wasn't.

The second he tore his eyes open that gleam of trembling surface light grew closer to him. The faster he was being pulled up and the popping in his ears reversed, he began hearing muffled voices.

Kai heard his name as he neared the silver light, once its deepness and undistinguishable tone was filtered, he was out of his instincts that were swallowing him whole.

He was no more surrounded by waves of blue and a hushing peacefulness. He was pulled out to face his reality-one this time he didn't want to accept.

Kai was pulled back to find his fangs penetrating into a neck. Feasting on yearning blood.

He widened his eyes and seized his actions. That odd, unexpected emotion came running back to him. A great enjoyment tasting something he's wanted for so long, and then there's the guilt-oh, the remorse was so intense it stopped his heartbeat.

Kai jerked his body back but he felt arms wrap around his shoulders and a hand gently press against the back of his head.

"It's okay." The same muffled tone he heard ascending back into reality became lucid now. And he didn't know if it was the settling guilt that made his vision blurry. Or if is was actually tears.

"It's okay." The voice repeated.

Kai swallowed a lump in his throat as he inched back less hurriedly and made contact with unfazed hazel eyes. They were empty with pain, but filled with compassion and empathy.

He had to look away almost instantly. Seeing how he wasn't perturbed at all made his heart squeeze. Kai covered his face with his arm despite Iris trying to pry it away.

"I'm so sorry."

"No, please don't be." Iris managed to pull the vampire's arm down to cup his face. "Look at me." But Kai now refused to open his eyes. "Kai," Iris wrapped his arms around his tense shoulders again and sighed. "I'm okay..if that's what you're worried about."

Kai pressed his lips against Iris's shirt. Something wet dripping onto it. "Why would you let me do that?"

Iris widened his eyes but before he could utter a word the door to the vampire's room open and they both looked up. Their image was of startled deer, especially seeing who was standing in the doorway just feet from them.

††

Iris had practically chewed off his fingernails watching his dad observe the vampires they gathered in the training hall. Sage kept giving him reassuring side glances even though she was just as nervous as he. At the very least Kai acted like a normal person. Moved like an animated corpse, but he behaved naturally; which means not obvious.

Which is why they were both so on edge. Arlo thankfully abandoned his qualm upon witnessing Kai's innocent atmosphere. He simply smiled at him and moved on with his roll call.

Afterwards, Iris and Sage aimed for the droopy vampire and escorted him out of the building like their lives depended on it. Still, Iris was cautious. It was good Kai wasn't lashing out or even sparing signs that he might, but he was just kind of..lost. He stared at the floor the whole time and refused to react to any of the prince's touches.

When they got back to Iris's room, Sage told Iris she was going to check on Lilly and she gave clear orders telling him to leave Kai in his room, shut the door, and repeat the action of isolating him. Though it did sound harsh, good reason was behind it.

Except this time, Iris did not follow her declare.

He guided Kai to his room but the second he opened the door, the vampire flinched suddenly in his arms and stumbled away.

Iris didn't follow Sage's order because he didn't get the chance to.

"Kai?" Iris hovered his hands in front of him as he watched the vampire groan out as though he was in pain. He pressed his palms against his temples while his breathing grew labored. Iris leaped forward when Kai fell to the floor.

But he was pushed away.

"No," Kai grunted, "don't."

Iris frowned and reached out again, stopping Kai from crawling away from him. "It's okay, Kai."

He shook his head, trying to jerk his arms back. "No, it's not. I-you have to go."

"I'm not going anywhere."

Kai gritted his teeth, and though deep down he had zero intentions on even accidentally hurting Iris, his frustration was more powerful than they had both led it on to be. He lunged forward, taking Iris off guard, and pinned him to the ground.

It was then he had subconsciously dug his fingernails into Iris's wrists, making him squirm lightly, but his gaze hurt him a hundred times more badly.

"You don't get it do you?" Kai whispered. His body started to tremble above the prince from holding himself back. Now it was lucidly visible for Iris, who stared at Kai with wide eyes. "How..hard this is."

Iris relaxed under Kai, a complete fearless aura around him, despite his eyes constantly glancing at the fangs protruding from his mouth.

"Do you know how hard it is for me seeing you like this? Kai, this is resolvable. You just have to trust yourself."

"Trust myself," The vampire snapped, "I killed someone! How could I possibly trust myself? How can you trust me?"

Iris's heart ached at the pain in his voice. "Because I know you, Kai. I know that wasn't you who hurt that villager. It wasn't your..fault." Iris winced as Kai started squeezing his wrists again. "But, Kai, it's okay. You're just scared of a consequence that will never happen."

"You don't know that."

"But I do. I wouldn't let anything happen to you, you know that. And I forgive you for everything that has and will happen."

With every word, Kai's grip on the prince loosened and eventually enough for Iris to slip them out completely. He cupped Kai's face, his eyes still frantic, red, and wide but the tension in his shoulders dropped.

"Do you trust me?" Iris asked. Kai swallowed thickly but nodded. "Then, if you cannot trust yourself yet trust me. Because I faith in you, Kai."

"But I can't control myself."

"I know."

Kai shook his head and leaned off Iris, who was beginning to pursue him until his own internal debate came back around. However, Iris knew he had Kai hooked, so he wasn't going to give up.

He would become annoyingly persistent if he must.

Sitting up himself, Iris surprised Kai when he wrapped his arms around his neck and forced his body against Kai's.

"For once-for me-just accept it this time."

Kai stared at the prince's neck, his pulse boomed in his ears and his blood rushing. He swallowed again and diverted his gaze.

"Please don't make me do this." He mumbled, knowing exactly what Iris wanted.

"I'm not making you do anything. I just want you to."

Kai placed his hands on Iris's shoulders and pushed him back. With a shaky breath he looked him in the eyes and Iris got to see how faded the vampire's own navy colored ones were. He was running out of patience, and it was clear.

They didn't say anything to each other. Verbally, that is, but in each other's gazes they spoke what their lacking vocabulary could not. They said a million things in one sitting, in one minute.

Iris leaned back forward when Kai's resistance begin dwindling. He didn't consider this 'taking advantgae of Kai' but he wouldn't deny the fact he made a move when he was slowly fading from reality again.

When he hugged Kai, he was a little out of real life, too. Not even a sudden pain originated from his neck and shooting through his whole body could make him vacate the peace he created in his head. He did tense up, because it did hurt, obviously, but it didn't hurt him.

If that made even the lick of sense.

He clutched Kai's shirt, balling up the fabric in his fists. Everything was unraveling before him, the passing seconds he didn't think were going to happen an hour ago. It just came to be.

††

Iris and Kai stared at the blond haired figure in the doorway. Upon quick realization, Iris was the first to pierce the silence.

"Don't tell Sage."

Lilly, who was staring at the two with a petrified gaze, nodded slowly-obediently-and Iris sighed with relief. He'd apologize later but now the vampire in his arms was his top priority.

"Where is she?" He asked while helping Kai to his feet although he felt wobbly himself.

The quiet maid fidgeted with the laces draped on her skirt. "U-um the King wanted a word with her, she asked me to check on you, sir."

"Okay. Could you wait outside my room and if she comes by tell her I have everything under control."

Lilly stuttered her sentence as she watched the prince and his guard walk past her to his bathroom door.

"I-is that all, sir? Shall I-I inform-"

"No, it's alright, Lilly. Thank you." Iris tried to provide the kindest smile as he slowly shut the door to the bathroom, leaving the maid to complete her task, while he focused on his own.

"What are you doing?" Kai finally questioned when they neared the shower. When he faced Iris, he didn't even try to attempt hiding the fact that his eyes were red and irritated and his guilt left a gloomy mess over his features.

The prince placed his hands on Kai's chest. "I'm helping you to your shower. Afterwards we'll talk and we will talk."

Ignoring the throbbing in his neck, the vampire's evidence of tears, and the anticipation he was going to create, Iris turned around and walked out the door.

††

Cringe? Trivago.

~Swissy