E I G H T

It was nearly eight at night when Iris got back from his errands. He missed a few on his list but he stopped caring halfway through the meeting, which he barely got to on time. Two hours later he's rubbing his arm while sluggishly walking up the stairs. Having to wave goodbye and shake every hand after it was over never failed to be tiresome. On the bright side, they all knew King Arlo's son wasn't a ball of sunshine, so he got away with limited fake smiles.

When Iris got to his room he peered into the blackness with curiosity. Had Kai already checked out? He was usually up, he always waited for him job or not. Something sunk in his stomach, it was quick and light but he acknowledged it.

At least until he turned to close the door and he saw Kai standing right behind him. He jumped away like a spooked cat while slapping a hand on his chest.

"Jesus, Kai!" he gasped, "don't do that!"

"I'm sorry, I thought you heard me walking up."

Iris let out a deep sigh as he slumped into a crouch. He covered his face with his hands as he rested his elbows on his knees.

"What were you doing?" Iris angled his head but lowered it when Kai turned on the lights.

"Getting tea."

"Tea? You don't drink tea."

"I never said it was for me."

Iris looked back up to see a white mug being held out for him. His eyes skipped from its steaming state to Kai, who he almost did a double-take on due to his casual wear of a tucked in black shirt. "Oh," he mumbled and took the cup after standing.

A shiver danced down his spine as its incredible warmth tingled through him. He brought it up to his mouth considering its temperature and another shudder captured him. He hummed with utter content.

"I feel like I should be thanking you right now."

Kai shook his head with a small smile."Just let the rest of the night be silent and we'll call it even."

Iris looked up as though he had to really ponder on it. "I guess I can do that."

"Good."

"Mm, by the way." Iris brought the mug to his lips and looked over the top at the vampire while drinking. "That's bold," He used his index finger to point at him.

Kai looked down. "Oh well, I had confidence the cooks wouldn't have snitched on me. I assume I was correct."

"Orders in this house are lame." Walking to his bed, Iris placed his cup on his nightstand and sat down to begin undoing his tie. "If I was a woman, I'd never stop complaining about my feet if I had to wear heels until my duties were finished."

"You say that as though you don't do it now, as a male I mean."

Iris rolled his eyes and tossed his tie behind him. "It really is tiresome."

"They're rules."

"They're idiotic regulations that separate us from the poor. Or how they behave anyways. Just because we remain to look professional until midnight doesn't make us royalty."

"Iris, you look into these things far deeper than you should."

"I look into them enough. Apparently enough is too much to you."

"Iris-"

"Fine, fine I'll stop."

Kai halted his words to express a deep sigh in which was his final action before turning away from Iris and walking towards his bedroom door. Besides the ruffling of Iris's clothes being departed, a thick ring of silence followed Kai's leave. Closing his eyes, the prince stalled in the quietness to ponder.

"Kai." He called out in a slightly tired and defeated tone. He knew for a fact the vampire heard him and was certain he was going to get crickets as an answer. He looked towards his door when he was stood correct. "Thanks." It was a mere mumble that was only shared between himself and the cup of still steaming tea he held in his hands.

The lamp that pooled the nightstand in its soft yellow light clicked off when Iris retreated under his duvet with the linger of flavored tea and the uprising of his drowsiness. He rolled so his back faced his bedroom door and his eyes peered between his curtains on his window, where their ends didn't collide but leave a five-inch gap at the most. The outside world was a black abruptness that twinkled with dim stars. From what he could see from his bed, to the way the upper sky faded from black to a rich navy blue, the moon was full.

It enlightened the dim stars around its pale silver glow. Yet Iris couldn't actually see the moon, just its effects, he knew it wasn't frowning tonight. He rolled over again, sinking under the covers so not even his light brown hair was seen. His vision was absorbed in darkness, his blanket to thick to let in the moonlight. But it was perfect. It was warm. It was dim. It was suffocating.

Without moving his body, Iris turned his head to look into the black abyss next to him. He felt like an ant laying in his bed sometimes. All this space, and still he lays curled up on the edge, unknowingly wishing something, something, would fill that emptiness.

††

Kai strolled down the corridors with an emotionless facade. Blank eyes, a steady pace, and silence; despite Iris being missing when he woke up this morning.

He didn't have an ounce of worry in him, however, because he knew exactly where he would be. Yes, he was upset he snuck out without notification-that didn't sit well with his status-but as he knew where he retreated off to, it was no real problem.

He found himself exciting the mansion from one of the back doors and into a long bridge extending out in front of him. It was more of a walkway that lined the perimeter, and as Kai looked up with a frown, he had to walk it with the sun pouring down on him.

So he hurried. He peered over the five-foot wall fencing the white brick path, while making his way to the gardens. Gardens, as in the five large ones they had. One lead directly into the forest they neighbored.

Nearing the gates surrounded by tall shrubs and hedges he looked around him before opening one of the elegant silver doors. He was glad he wasn't birthed with the weakness of those in the lore.

The gate shut with a creak and he was standing on peach-colored stones leading the path around the whole garden. Flowers reached his knees and thorns on roses so intimidating not even he dared to pick one. There were tall hedges that blocked certain views as he walked off the path and hugged them for their shade. Though, he didn't need to when the willow trees came into view.

They were the cause of Iris's solace, and his destination to run to when he was running low. They were skyscrapers, with egos falling off their dangling leaves.

Kai held out his hand to feel the falling strands as he walked through on the peach tiles. There was a pond with fish near, he could hear the steady and gentle rain of the waterfall wired to loop its pour off small jagged rocks.

He passed by an empty bench and stopped in front of a wall made of stringed leaves. He drew back a handful and peered past the tree's curtain where the pond lay.

And where an occupied Iris sat.

Of all things he could've done and could be doing, he just sat there, twirling a stick in the pond but avoiding the fish.

Or vise versa.

Kai parted his lips but a crunch of a leaf under his foot exposed his presence.

Iris jerked his head up from the water and turned around with wide eyes. The occasional sway of the weeping willow leaves made the sun catch his eyes, making the honey in them sparkle.

"Oh..it's just you." He turned around and studied the scurrying fish.

"Don't sound so happy," Kai sighed out and let the leaves fall as he walked in the large shaded area. Ribbons of sunlight glided across the mossy floor when it peeked through the sways but overall everything had a golden aspect to it.

The fish were liquid gold swimming in the pond when Kai got closer to see them vividly.

"Iris, what's wrong?" As he sat down on a rock he placed his arms on his knees but bent one to cup his cheek with his palm.

"What? Nothing?" Iris broke a twig, thew the large half, and kept the shorter one to stab into the moist grass. The side of his head sizzled with the seriousness of Kai's observing eyes so much so he sighed and brought the stick closer to him.

"I'm just trying to get as much freedom as I can before tonight."

Kai lowered his eyebrows until they knit in confusion. His silence was his answer which made Iris glance at him.

"Which you do know about right?" He asked slowly. Then he sighed when his guard tried to whistle his way out of ignorance. "The party. With the quote on quote future brides?"

Kai picked his head off his hand as he watched the prince stand up from the grass, who's paint stayed to itself and never transferred to his clothes throughout lounging on its freshness.

"Your father never told me about a party. Perhaps he forgot?" He suggested.

"No that isn't like him."

"So..brides, more than one?" Kai pushed away the mystery and continued to survey Iris's pacing and jittery hands.

"Five, Rose included," Iris stopped and turned towards the vampire. "You know, why didn't he tell you? A whole other kingdom is coming for the night plus the women."

"As I said, he forgot?"

"He definitely had a reason."

Kai stood up before runaway thoughts caught a train to his emotions. He shouldn't care he wasn't informed and he certainly didn't.

"Well, instead of sneaking away from me and hiding from your responsibilities, you should be dolling up."

Iris crossed his arms and leaned on one foot so his hip was perked out. "Looking good would make me seem like I'm interested."

"It's better than attending like..that. Come on." Kai stepped forward just as a breeze parted the frail leaves and the sunlight immediately lightened his features, making his eyes glisten like the sapphires they are-or are now.

Iris looked down at himself, "What's wrong with this?" He gestured to his black pants, plain white shirt with three buttons going down from the top, and his gray vest.

Kai sighed, "Everything."