It's just, I've never seen him show any interest... at least not like this.." Isaac says slowly, turning he does as Raphael advises, gently pulling his sister along by her hand. "Let's go."
Isabella allows him to pull her for a while before stopping, Isaac turns to look at her confused. "What are you doing, come on Bell."
"You said it yourself, he's always looking out for us, trying to protect us, Right?" Isabella asks, pulling her hand from her brothers. "It's about time we offered to help then."
As Alice watches, seeing the look on his face ease from pained restraint to one of expectation, turning her head at the sound of Isabella's voice. She moves over to the two of them, "Do not interfere, girl." She stands between her and her master, "It's too late for you to offer yourself in assistance, you've only your own hesitation and fear to blame."
"Why in the world would I be scared of him, of all people. He's like family to us, he's never abandoned us, no matter what was going on. Ezekiel has always been there." Isabella rounds on Alice in anger.
Alice sigh's lightly, "I never said you fear him, your emotions for him are plain to see, you hesitated because you did not want to be turned away again. You must wait for another opportunity, this is something he needs in order to truly learn that the hunger is not his enemy, but a new piece of himself. The next time, if you don't want to be sat to the side, then you shouldn't hesitate." Alice appears behind her, a solid chop to the back of her neck rendering her unconscious, she hands her to Isaac. "I've only knocked her out, she'll wake up shortly," Alice explains to Isaac seeing the anger laced with concern on his face.
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Ezekiel grits his teeth, a harsh grinding coming from his mouth, "I'm not running from your word's, I just don't want to harm you, Rani."
Rani steps forward quickly, her hand's cupping his cheeks in her own, "You cannot run from yourself any longer, haven't you realized it yet, Ezekiel?"
He looks down at his shaking hand's, 'my hand's they never shake like this, and since when have I clenched my jaw, or rose my voice without intending to?' when he raises his gaze to meet Rani's, she brushes a finger tinged with blood across his lip's.
The succulent taste spreading across his tongue, then down his throat burns a fiery trail to the core of his being. His lip's part, as his hand's grip her hips, pressing her body to his own. His gaze searches her own, seeing the gentle smile, as her taste slowly muddles his mind.
*System Alert*
*New Active Skill Created*
*Due to powerful emotion directed to the user from the Individual Saint Rani Platania, the skill Consumer has been acquired. When consuming from individual's, chances of receiving copies of memories and emotion's has been acquired. The odds of viewing memories or receiving emotional stimulation from consuming portions of an individual, depends on the level of emotion directed towards the user.*
Consumption - 15% chance to experience target's memories, and to experience emotions. Chance heightens with an increase of emotional connection with the target.
- 5% chance to receive a skill when consuming a portion of your prey
- 30% chance to receive a skill when completely consuming target prey
*Blood gift received*
*Due to a person with close relation's gifting you with blood you will now experience the effects of Emotional linkage, now commencing temporary Emotional bonding*
*System Error*
*Conflict found between the Emotional bonding and passive skill void heart.*
Would the user like to cast aside the passive skill void heart? Yes / No
The user has selected yes, the system will now purge Void heart from the host's passive skill tree
*Due to the emotion directed to the user from Saint Rani Platania, conflicting with the passive skill 'Void heart' Void heart will now be removed from the user*
The burning in his chest increases slowly, as his heart beat reverberates throughout his entire body. Ezekiel staggers back, his hands clutching the center of his chest, as his back slams into a tree, shaking loose leaves. His chest continuously sends out pulses of energy through his being, "ah, dammit," he mutter's. As heat rushes through his vein's and a deep concern emanates through his being from Rani.
"Are you okay?" Rani asks, placing a hand against his cheek, concern etched across her face.
Ezekiel lets out a slow sigh, a comforting heat coursing through his body from where she placed her hand, "It seems like you've upheld your promise," he mutter's, his eyes closing as he lets his head rest against her hand, "As I said, I will tell you the reason I hid myself away when I am ready, but this isn't the time or place to do so." He opens his eyes, gazing into her eyes gently. His hand brushes along her cheek, before slowly turning her face. His eyes trails down her neck to the small scratch on her neck, before meeting hers again.
as she tilts her head, Rani lets a small smile play on her lips. Pressing herself to him, her hands resting on his shoulders, as she rests her head on his shoulder. The small scratch on her neck stretches, fresh blood slowly trailing down on her neck.
Ezekiel's slowly trails his tongue along the blood, before pressing his mouth to the open wound. His fangs pierce into her neck, as Rani's body tenses against his, he tightens his grip on her hips. As Rani's blood course's through him an intense heat burns through his body.
Rani presses herself against him, her hands slowly exploring his exposed skin. Slowly she trails her hands along his pant line, along the natural V carved into his stomach. She gasps lightly as his lips and tongue slowly explore her neck, the open wound on her neck closing when exposed to his Saliva's healing properties.
"We should stop here," Ezekiel says lightly trailing his fingers to push her hair behind her ear, his lips softly pressing to hers as he capture's her explorative hand in his own.
"Why would we have to stop," Rani says, pressing her lips along his clavicle.
"I didn't know you were open enough to do this with our friend's within earshot." Ezekiel smile's turning he pins her hands to the tree above her head. "We shouldn't do more here, we've things to sort out back in Esparia."
Rani wiggles her arm's before letting herself rest against the tree, her face a bright shade of red. "Y-You're right. I just got caught in the moment," she mutters. "We should get the other's and head out immediately then."
A light laugh comes from behind them, as Alice walks toward the two, "I didn't think you'd accept this part of yourself so easily." She smiles wryly at Rani, "Though, I didn't expect you to show restraint, her scent is intoxicating."
"Let's leave it at that," Ezekiel runs a hand through his hair, "We should get the others and get back to Esparia, I'm sure our prolonged absence has caused plenty of tension for Jacob."
Alice nod's slowly, "I didn't realize you were so familiar with the king that you'd drop the title."
As the trio head's to the black dome, Rani with a lingering heat on her cheek's, Alice with a slight smile and Ezekiel sighing slightly. "Alright, Let's gather up and return to Esparia," He says from the doorway.
Raphael smile's wryly at Rani, "I'm glad to see everything worked out, are you okay?"
Saint Rani smile's nodding slightly, "I'm fine, the lightheadedness will fade with time."
"I'm sorry about that, I didn't think I'd drank that much. Ezekiel rubs the back of his head awkwardly.
"Setting that aside, we should return as soon as possible." Alice responds from Ezekiel's side.
"That would be for the best," Raphael nod's, looking at Elaine, "However, Elaine drained almost all of her energy to get us here, you will have to transport us, Zeke."
"Oho, since when do you not refer to my master by his title, Royal Knight Guard Raphael?" Alice tilts her head quizzically at him.
Ezekiel smacks her lightly on top of her head, "That's enough of that, he's a sparring partner, and a friend." He smiles down at her as she pouts up at him
"I was just teasing, Master." Alice say's with a pouting expression on her face, as she rubs the top of her head.
As the group walks out, Elaine's gaze downcast as she passes by Ezekiel, he places a hand on her shoulder. "Why the long face," he smiles wryly.
Elaine looks up at him, her eyes widen, "I'm just regretful that I cannot help more then bringing the others here."
"You did plenty by coming to retrieve us, if you hadn't I don't know how long it may have taken to adjust without external stimulation." Ezekiel smiles, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Alright, circle up and hold hand's," he say's taking Alice's and Rani's hand.
He focuses on their travel path, taking them back to Esparia. A brief yet brilliant flash appears in the throne room.