Day had forgotten what it looked like to open the passageways to travel faster around the world. He had also forgotten the strange sensation of feeling his body being oppressed, for a moment, in the corridor of thousand colours. A thousand branches and parallel dimensions when one left the passageway. Being out of the physical world soothed him for a moment before he reached the end of the passage, the light getting more and more blinding before everything went dark. Absolute calm in the dark sky dotted with stars, each one brighter than the other. The time difference was severe between his house and the house of the gods and his family. This monastery was surrounded by a garden of a thousand hectares and having more than one fountain. The lanterns of the protective wall were a tiny dot in the darkness like stars lost in the middle of the universe Day stared at from the edge of a high cliff.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Leit asked quietly, leaning against the hood of her Bentley.
"Yes, it is."
"What are you thinking? You look elsewhere, is everything okay?"
"All is not well."
"But are you okay?"
"I feel good. The sight is calming."
"We have to go," Moain said, breaking the mood. "Minndt has been kidnapped, I remind you. Now is not the time to get lost in contemplation."
"But what a mood breaker!"
"Leit."
The goddess of light provoked him with a wink and got back into her car, not wasting a moment to hit the road to their destination. They all caught the wind in their sails. Day watched them come down the cliff before taking the paved road that led to this monastery.
"We can stay a little longer. Our friends will pass the message on your arrival and raise the alarm for Minndt," Nyx informed him as he got off his motorbike before removing his helmet in turn.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"What are you going to say?"
"About what?"
"Your lie is going to take an amount that will cause us trouble."
"Day."
"Saying in my house that we are together and declaring it here are two very different things. The consequence will be very different."
"Day."
"We're going to be in a hell of a mess, even more so than now! We're going to accuse you of a lot of things, and then given the situation, now is not the time to bring that to the table."
Nyx remained silent and walked cautiously towards the blonde, who appeared to be captivated by the scenery. Carefully, he took the helmet Day was holding and set it on the floor next to his before resting his hand on his arm. The younger of the two couldn't suppress his smile when he felt his head rest on his shoulder.
"Are you not fed up with making you die so much for others?" the god of night and death asked with a sigh before placing his other hand on his forearm.
"Do I have a choice? Should I stop wondering what can happen?"
"Sometimes, yes. Let yourself be carried away by the wave and stop thinking for others."
"I'll sink if I do this."
"It's good to sink sometimes; not all wonders are on the surface of the water. Thinking of you won't stop the world from spinning. It will never be a good time but, whatever, right?"
"What does it matter? Are you kidding me?"
"No, we don't have to announce it as if it was a birth or a marriage."
"Two reasons I don't want you to say this openly. I don't want to be forced."
"To marry me?"
"And have a child from you."
"I should be given more than ten minutes with you already."
"You are with me there. We are alone."
"We're not going to do this on the floor, see!"
"It was you who understood that. I didn't say anything!"
"That's it, yes. Blondie."
"Yes, temperamental sir?"
"Hey!"
"Hehe, are you upset?"
"My nickname was cute, and you, you giving me this out."
"Because I love your easily flammable side! That contrasts with my temper, which makes it even cuter. That's what Foud said."
"No, but he eh, he doesn't lack air."
"Yes."
"How do you feel?"
"Anxious, panicked, scared and all the synonyms of this register there."
Silence fell between the two men who watched the faint glimmers in the distance, Nyx's hand moving down Day's wrist before his fingers brushed his palm. The younger rested his head on that of the flaming vampiric god, letting him run his fingers between his, closing his hand over hers.
"I don't care what people say as long as we're happy together." the white-haired man whispered, closing his eyes. "I'm fine here with you."
"I'm good too."
"Think about yourself a little more for yourself."
"I'll try."
"You have to live too."
"I live."
"No, you just exist. Enjoy what the world has to offer you. Happiness is everywhere."
"I'm happy here now."
"Really?"
"Yes, I am happy."
"Day…"
"Yes, Nyx?"
Faced with his lingering silence, the younger looked up and almost flinched when he met his gaze. His glowing eyes spoke more than any words they could utter, making the blonde smile again. A soft glow animated them, making them less intense. Day lost himself in it for a moment without even realizing it. His whole body was traversed by gentle heat, and his mind grew quieter and quieter as he moved closer to this flaming god who was courting him.
"Day, you're drifting." the latter signalled to him without stopping him.
"So what? I'm with you. Everything is fine."
"Unless you let your pheromones take over."
"You will resist."
"Sadistic."
"No, tease."
"Very teasing then."
"As much as you?"
"I highly doubt it. You're not as sarcastic or ironic as I am."
The blond laughed softly and let Nyx grab his second hand before kissing them, his lips brushing the soft skin he so longed to know every bit of. But last time, the flaming god felt more enterprising and rolled up the sleeve that covered what he wanted: Day's slender wrist. Her tongue tasted the cold flesh for a moment from the low temperature, feeling the pulsations under the skin and the smell of sweet blood. He couldn't hold out any longer. His lips moved up to the fleshier part of his forearm, and without warning, he stuck out his canines and bitten the skin. The precious red liquid escaped and dripped onto the floor. When a squeal plaintively came out of Day's mouth, Nyx began to lick the blood before drinking from the source.
"You are particularly delicious. It's intoxicating," Nyx whispered in ecstasy while opening his eyes.
The recipient of the compliment looked away when his gaze didn't let go as he licked his forearm.
"It's embarrassing." ends up confessing the blond to the clouded mind. "But it's fun."
"The bite is accompanied by ecstasy for each part… You are so good, sweet and fruity at will."
"Fruity?"
"There is a cherry-like aftertaste. It's delicious."
"To me, it just tastes like iron. Hey, it's closed!"
"My tongue is magic; I could do a lot of things with it again."
"Very subtle."
"You understand what you want to understand. Thanks, Day anyway."
"You're welcome, I guess. Satiated?"
"For now, I couldn't hold it any longer."
"You'll eat once we get there. We should get there before a squad is sent to find us besides sending one to find Minndt. I hope he holds up."
"He's tough, and his patience is amazing; he's going to hold on until we find him."
"What if he doesn't hold?"
"Let's think about the positive until we get another message."
The younger nodded half-heartedly and snuggled up against Nyx's chest, who with a big smile, hugged his arms around his waist.
"Everything will be fine, I assure you. Things will work out quickly, and we will return to your house."
"What if they don't work out?"
"I'll be by your side anyway."
"Until when?"
"As long as you want."
"Forever then."
"Forever."
The two stood u against each other for a short while before their phones rang, the ringing sounding louder than it was because of the absolute calm around them.
"We better go home." Nyx laughs without even looking at his phone.
"No, do you think so?"
"Hush, no sarcasm."
"Coming from you, it's ironic."
"But the little blond is funny!"
"Enough for me to manage to put a smile on that straight face."
"Ngé, ngé, ngé."
"Mature."
"Well, I'll leave you there, it's decided!"
"Okay, I'll be walking home then. You'll explain why you left me on top of the cliff and the fact that you're sleeping on the floor."
"Pfff. Come on, put your helmet on. Let's go."
"Ah, that changes your mind!"
"I don't want to sleep on the floor, let alone."
"Mostly alone, isn't it?"
"Indeed."
The two shared a knowing look before laughing and putting on their helmets and then climbing onto the Norton Commando 850, of which Nyx was particularly proud. He was very fond of his motorbike so touching it without his consent was like wanted to die in such a confusing way that it was impossible to imagine. At least, this scenario applied to everyone except Day, who even had the right to ride it. He huddled a little more against the flaming god as his wheels began to move on the cobblestones of the road that led to the monastery. The feeling was not the same even if it was still pleasant, the winter landscapes passing by as they approached the great gate of the protective enclosure.
The two guards in front, all dressed in white, were caught off guard when Nyx didn't slow down as he could see them very well. For a moment, they thought about giving up their seats when the motorbike skidded noisily and came to a stop in front of them. The two looked at each other before coming to attention as the two men on motorcycles removed their helmets. Their gaze couldn't get away from Day, and inside, they smiled as they saw how much he had matured physically in four years.
"Are we excessively late?" Nyx suddenly asked, pulling them out of their thoughts.
"No, Nyx-sama, they are patiently waiting for you." the left guard bowed before getting up. "Evennin-sama, we are happy to have you back with us."
"Thank you, that's very kind of you."
"Did you have a good trip?"
"A travel?"
"He travelled well. Thank you for caring. Now we're going to get warm because he's so cold." "The temperatures are low, it is true. Good night Nyx-sama and Evennin-sama."
The two acquainted limply and crossed the protective enclosure to advance on the white gravel path, their footsteps echoing between the houses of the families guards. Day looked around while avoiding the glances of the locals, noting without much surprise that nothing had changed visually. Once the guards' quarter had been crossed, the two companions went up to the quarter reserved for the higher ranks in the houses, more imposing, seemed infinitely small compared to the monastery. Protected by a second protective enclosure, the blond hardly swallowed his saliva when they crossed it. There he was. He couldn't turn back. His heart raced when he began to recognize the faces of the monastery's inhabitants, the happiness in their eyes. They all bowed as they passed, watching them relentlessly until the golden door closed behind it.
"Here we are," Nyx whispered, looking at the blond. "We can wait here a minute if you want."
"No, it's okay, we can continue. The sooner we see them, the sooner we can go to rest. I'm starting to tire."
"A new peak must be brewing."
"I think that's it."
"I'm here, Day."
"And will you stay there?"
"And I will stay there."
Nyx pressed his lips in his temple before taking his helmet from his hands. He put it with his helmet on a piece of furniture of wooden and marble, next to his brother's and Moain's. Day took a moment to notice that his hands were free, his gaze lost in the contemplation of the entrance hall that had also not changed. The young man couldn't restrain his smile when his shoes were off his feet walked on the thin white parquet. These contrasted greatly with the dark wooden beams and the grand staircase in the same shade. The two companions don't waste time turning left, crossing the long semi-open corridor, which opened up to the many rooms which, for some, led to the upper floor. The two men stopped when they were near the only open, bright room, several of which Day recognized perfectly well. He seriously considered turning back when the flaming god pressed his hand against his back. He pushed him forward, forcing him to enter the room he dreaded more than anything.