"Does it hurt? The wounds?"
Crimson's snake like eyes were carefully examining every wound on his body, only after looking at every single wound did Crimson meet his eyes to the bloodied man's.
The stranger stared at him in awe, was he serious? Why? How could a complete stranger have such a pained look in his eyes for wounds belonging to him? It was simply popurstorus, yet the sad gaze on the tall stranger hurt him. How did the tall stranger possess such a sad gaze for someone like him? Why was there no look of disgust he wondered? Those men told this tall stranger that he was a vampire, that alone repels everyone from him and frightens them away. Vampire's were a feared species, why did this man have zero fear in his gaze? For the first time in a long time the bloodied man felt a twinge of happiness.
"I-I'm fine?"
"That sounds more like a question than an answer?"
Crimson attempted to make lightness in his words, but he looked more serious than intended as there was a genuine worry about the bloodied man's well being.
"I-I-..."
He couldn't of bothered to hide his confusion.
"Y-You do realize what I am, r-right?"
He spoke with caution, as if by some miracle this tall stranger didn't hear the bounty hunters. I mean it was the only logical explanation to this bloodied man. He must've not heard them right when the bounty hunter's told him that he was a vampire.
"I'm aware of your species if that's what you're asking."
Crimson spoke with an unphased tone, as he didn't even find any point in this conversation. It seemed like a waste of time.
"Say it then."
He looked at him with caution, like he didn't believe him. He couldn't fathom that someone would be so unphased with him being a vampire.
"Vampire, why are we doing this if I may ask? Don't you find this rather tedious?"
Is there like a point I'm missing or something? Why is he throwing so much emphasis on knowing that he is a vampire?
"You're just fine with it? The whole vampire thing? Seriously?"
Ah, I'm so used to such a biased behavior towards dragons that I've forgotten vampires are another one of the huge no no species. It's not uncommon for them to be slaughtered, not many find comfort in something that needs mortal blood to survive. I don't understand why supernaturals and mortals treat them like they are a loose cannon at all times though. The stereotype that if you accidentally cut yourself and blood is drawn is when a vampire will attack you becuase your blood smells too delicious.
Tch- It's a bad stereotype, the only time you'd ever worry about a vamp trying to attack you from an open wound is children and only if those children were full blooded vampires. Full blooded vampires are a rarity these days to, ninety percent of vampires you meet today are only part vampire. Half vampires don't have internal life and thier blood lust is never as strong as a full blooded vampire.
"Do you know what I am?"
Crimson gave him a pitiful look, as if he didn't want him to know.
The man looked him over three or four times. Very carefully at that.
"At first glance i'd say an you were an elf from your ears, but you've got a set of fangs that outwit mine and talon's sharper than any werewolf I've ever met. Meaning you're a predator yourself, also those assholes kept calling you a 'red eyed devil', but I've never even heard of that. Nor have I ever seen a beast with red eyes so you are quite the mystery if I'm being completely honest."
He spoke truthfully, his eyes refused to pull away from Crimson's for a single second.
"I do know one thing though."
"And what is that?"
Crimson couldn't help but peer down at him in sheer curiosity.
"I'd never wish to cross paths with you if we were on bad terms. You're a powerful being. Those bounty hunter's feared you the second they seen your eyes. They retreated away from you as if it were a natural instinct to get away from you. I almost think they felt the need to get away just becuase you were mad. You know the term don't play with fire or you'll get burned?"
"I'm the fire in this scenario I take it?"
The bloodied man didn't bother to hide that, he gave Crimson a stern nod.
"There's another thing about you that just doesn't sit well with me."
"Feel free to elaborate on that then?"
Crimson's responses were quick, as if he has already went through this conversation once before in his head.
The bloodied man thought for just a minute and shifted away quickly from the cave wall that he was using for much support.
He marched up to Crimson with a glare that could kill. His movements were fast, quick and instianous.
Crimson didn't waver or flinch, his eyes remained locked on his. Simply waiting for him to elaborate.
"That right there is what doesn't sit well with me. You don't fear me at all and there are only two reasons why you wouldn't fear me."
"Hmmm..."
Crimson was ready for him to continue, his lips curled into a grin. He stared at him patiently. That patient gaze was enough to make the bloodied man flustered about his next actions. He didn't like it when this tall stranger was too quiet. It made him unnerved.
"W-Well there's option one, where you are just plain dumb-"
Crimson's face didn't shift at all, the man couldn't help but trail his voice off though. He didn't want to upset this tall stranger. This is just the fact that this bloodied man had no filter. Crimson could tell by his personality alone that he was a blunt man and he took no offense to his words.
"Do not filter your speech on account that you are talking to me, speak as if you were speaking to anyone else. Please."
Crimson said this with good intention, but it just happened to make the man even more flustered.
"O-Or there is a factor that I'm so weak compared to you that it's not even worth getting your guard up. If that's the case, you are more are powerful than I already thought."
Crimson gave him an unbothered nod. Seemingly that Crimson's thoughts were clearly else where.
"You must be the only being I've met who doesn't wish to boast about his strength."
"You are making it sound like I'm extremely powerful, what if I'm just plain dumb?"
Crimson knew he was imitating his words, he couldn't resist not doing so though.
"I-I was being kinda rude, s-sorry.."
He scoffed and bowed his head, embarrassed in himself.
No, that's not what I wanted? Where did that apology come from? I didn't take his words as an insult. I can just tell this man will speak his mind as he pleases. He looks to prideful to apologize. That's surprising-
"I wasn't being serious, tch-"
Crimson shot an annoyed glare, he wasn't annoyed in the slightest, but he also refused to admit he felt bad for teasing. He didn't get the impression that this stranger was sensitive to words, but he was in fact.
"Agh-"
The bloodied man stumbled against the wall. He was trying his best to not show it, but the wounds were excruciatingly painful.
"Vampires heal very quickly, why are you not healing as you should?"
Crimson said this while offering a hand to steady the man and then arching his head back and sniffing the air. Crimson's long forked tounge escaped his lips as if he were using it to smell like a snake would.
The bloodied man didn't speak, he just stared at Crimson. To his own surprise he was holding Crimson's arm for support. Crimson possessed the softest skin he thought. Why was his skin so cold though? He's never heard of another being aside from vampires that were cold blooded.
I know that scent...
"You were poisoned with dead man's blood, weren't you? That's highly toxic to vampires if I remember correctly. It's impressive your still conscious even."
That's why he was so weak in the presence of just a few mortals. Dead man's blood weakens and eventually kills a vampire. One of the few weakness vampires are cursed with.
"H-How did you know t-that?"
He asked this in awe. Not even a vampire can distinguish such a scent.
"You don't forget the smell of death."
There was a solemn, almost deadening gaze in Crimson's eyes for just a flicker of a moment.
The stranger grew silent. Not even wishing to breathe to loudly.
Crimson composed himself in an instant, but the stranger caught that sad gaze.
"You should eat something, if you want to regain your strength that is."
"I would, but I uh- have a particular 'diet' nee-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Crimson took his talon like nails and sliced open his bare wrist with his single index finger. Effortlessly.
The blood drained from his wrist steadily.
"Whoa, what the hell are you doing?!"
Quickly he grabbed his wrist and attempted to stop the steady stream of blood.
"Are you fucking mad?! You don't just do that!"
A vampire trying to stop the bleeding? Hah- bittersweet irony. His fangs elongated and there is a bloodlust in his eyes. His eyes shifted from black to a gorgeous yellow. He is indeed a vampire. I almost find it satisfying to see the primal side to him.
"I'm aware of what I'm doing. You need to eat."
Crimson unraveled himself from the vampire's grip and grabbed a large bowl, letting his blood seep into the bowl slowly. It was nearing the brim of the bowl.
"Please stop, t-that's too much-"
"It's fine-"
Crimson said this without a care in the world.
"No, stop."
He spoke sternly, and his gaze met Crimson's without any hesitation.
This is the first time he spoke to me with a stern tone. I couldn't help but comply to his request. He looks at me with more concern than he does to himself.
"I'd imagine you'd prefer the blood of a mortal, so I apologize I'm the only one here."
"I-It's not that. I don't like seeing anyone hurt themselves, let alone on my account."
His body drooped to the ground.
"I heal quickly."
He spoke with a grin, attempting to reassure the man.
"Here. You need to drink quite a bit of blood to counteract the dead man's blood."
Crimson set the bowl beside the man carefully.
"You know, most people would never intentionally cut themselves in front of me in fears that I'd attack them."
"You wouldn't, I have nothing to worry about."
"My fangs and my eyes have shifted becuase of the scent, doesn't that frighten you? Seeing the primal instincts of a vamp?"
"No, I find it rather interesting seeing it truthfully. It's the scent that triggers your primal side then? Not the sight?
His jaw gaped open, he couldn't believe this guy! What thing doesn't fear seeing any type of beast in it's primal state? Even being a vampire himself he still can't help but squirm when seeing any supernatural being in a primal state.
"W-Who are you?"
He spoke in a whisper and spoke with caution.
"We did skip the formal introductions, didn't we? I'm Crimson, and you are?"
"E-Elijah."
"Elijah."
Crimson repeated after him, testing how his name sounded in his mouth. Thus sending chills down Elijah's back hearing his name coming out of Crimson's mouth.
"Can I ask you another question C-Crimson?"
"Of course, do as you please."
Crimson stared at Elijah with a curious gaze.
"What exactly are you? I've never met another cold blooded being."
Elijah said this while staring at the untouched bowl.
Crimson paused for a moment before speaking. He gazed longingly at him before crouching down his body to be eye level with Elijah and then proceeded to be slow with his response.
"You already know the answer to that though, don't you?"