Alon walked solemnly through the long white stone halls nodding to a pair of servants as they passed by. He noticed quickly they carried silver bowls filled with red water and though Alon tried not to glance at the murky red water, he couldn't help but spare a glance.
The water was a dark red which could be said to be wine but he knew better. He could smell the faint hint of the blood within the water reminding him of the blood that poured out of Prince Hagar's ears and the blood that covered him earlier that morning.
Alon shook his head clearing away the image of the horrified red eyes of Prince Hagar as he entered the prince's room. He slowly opened the double doors to see the dark room was lit for the first time with the colors of the dying light from the open curtains of the balcony. The sun had began to sink behind the Somar Mountains and yet it wasn't the vibrant colors of the sky that caught his eye, it was the pale vampire Prince laying within the black covers of the bed.
"Alon?" Said a voice softly.
Alon quickly blinked to see that he was not alone in the room but in fact the room was occupied by two vampires. One Alon could see was in fact Leon, clad in his pure white mourning attire sitting in the black high backed chair.
The other vampire was leaning against the frame of the open balcony with their gaze trained upon the dying light. The vampire wore complete black attire from the cape they wore on their shoulders down to the very riding boots the they wore. Alon couldn't help but stare in confusion at the black haired vampire when they turned their gaze upon him. They were violet eyes and immediately Alon confusion was replaced with anticipation and fear for the sleeping Prince.
"Greetings Lord Draco." Alon bowed but Lord Draco waved his hand "Forgo the pleasantries, young Alon."
Alon nodded as he slowly made his way to Leon he held back a sigh as he saw Leon's state of total defeat. Leon's red puffy skin around his eyes were underlined by the black bags, to which Alon immediately knew Leon had not left to rest since this morning.
Leon stared intently upon Prince Hagar's chest which slowly rose and fell at the Prince breathed, Alon sighed as he asked "What did they say?"
Leon took a hard breath as he said "He's…" He didn't even finish the sentence before the tears once more came pouring from his eyes.
Alon's chest began to hurt as the silence and tears finished the sentence for Leon, yet Alon slowly turned to Lord Draco as the tears slowly began to fall from his own eyes "How long?"
Lord Draco sighed but said nothing as he looked out of the balcony, Alon's tears continued to pour when Leon suddenly jumped to his feet as he shouted "Its all your fault!"
Lord Draco continued to look out of the balcony saying nothing as Leon walked towards him shouting "If you had just given him blood he would still be awake! Even if it had been animal blood, he would have been strong enough to keep his eyes open!"
Lord Draco did not look at Leon but Alon stepped behind Leon as he sat in black high backed chair next to Prince Hagar, who stayed peacefully silent. Alon slowly reached out to Prince Hagar's hand and felt the weak heart beat in the Prince's wrist.
Lord Draco sighed once more catching Alon's attention after slowly tuning out Leon's shouting. Alon turned his head slightly as he heard Lord Draco say "He would not be your Prince if he had a single ounce of blood before his seventeenth birthday."
Alon cocked an eyebrow curiously What does Lord Draco mean if Prince Hagar had blood he would not be our prince?
Alon's thoughts fell away as he heard Leon sneer "Those lies again! You expect us to believe he will be okay after this? That he will rise from his death like sleep as if nothing happened?"
"Watch your tongue, boy." growled Lord Draco as he looked at Leon, but the Alon still felt Leon's rage was far from being quenched.
"What? You want me to stop speaking the truth?! Well too bad! I am going to tell the world how this prince has suffered because he was made into a puppet by you!" shouted Leon.
Alon only glanced over his shoulder but it was enough to see Lord Draco's violet eyes begin to glow before he took a hold of Leon's shirt and pulled Leon's face inches from his "Do not forget your place boy."
Alon looked over he shoulder to see Leon's face go pale in fear but the rage in Lord Draco's eyes faded away as he let go of Leon and shoved him away from him. Leon glared at Lord Draco who cocked his head to the side as he quietly said "Oh? By the way you gaze upon me perhaps you have. Do you wish for me to teach you again?"
Leon quickly dropped his gaze to the floor as he bowed his head "No. Lord Draco."
Lord Draco chuckled as he patted Leon's shoulder as he passed him by "Good. Perhaps you will still have some use later."
Alon watched Leon clench his fists as Lord Draco walked to the double doors, letting the air become heavy as Lord Draco stood before the double doors. Alon watched Lord Draco as he stood before the two doors when he turned from the doors and said "Alon, tell me when he awakens."
"Yes, my lord." mumbled Alon, Lord Draco waited a moment before he opened the doors and disappeared behind them as they closed.
Leon looked up from the floor as he too walked to the doors and kicked one of them, the wood splintered but it didn't even seem to appease Leon's rage. Alon heard the hard breaths Leon gave each time his chest rose, Alon began to wonder if Leon would notice the pain of kicking the door.
Alon's eyes settled once more upon Prince Hagar when he sighed and said "Do you have a death wish?"
Leon whipped around and Alon felt the daggers from the vampire's eye bore into him as Leon said "What does it matter? Prince Hagar is dying and that vampire has the audacity to show up here?"
"What good does it do you picking a fight with Lord Draco over the very blood he wouldn't even let Prince Hagar have ten years ago?" Asked Alon in exasperation.
"Oh? So I should just roll over with my belly up as I always have, while our friend lays dying?" Growled Leon as he grabbed the back of the black chair.
Alon felt Leon's claw like fingernails dig through the paint into the wood of the chair and he nodded "Yes."
Leon scoffed "I don't believe this. You would rather allow Lord Draco to give our Prince to death than stand up to him."
There was a long silence when Leon's nails dug deeper into the black wood as he leaned over the chair next to Alon's ear "How dare you call Prince Hagar your friend."
Alon sprung to his feet as he whipped around with his eyes ablaze growling "No! How dare you!"
Leon jumped back at Alon's sudden rage but he quickly caught hold of his anger again as he growled "How dare I?"
"Yes how dare you. You dare to accuse me of not being the Prince's friend for not challenging Lord Draco, when it is the reason I am his friend, I am not." growled Alon as he stepped around the chair facing Leon head on.
Leon scoffed "What nonsense are you spewing now?"
Alon cocked his head as he too scoffed "Nonsense?!" Leon eyes went wide as he took a step back at Alon's tone.
"I'll tell you what is nonsense. Nonsense is when you disregard the consequences of talking back to the master over us." Growled Alon.
Leon stuck out his chest and chin as he said boldly "I do not fear death."
"That's because you are ignorant to the consequences of your actions." Alon growled as he took another step towards Leon.
Yet Leon did not take a step back but instead stood his ground as he said challengingly "How dare you say I am ignorant! I know what consequences of my actions are, and I would greet them willingly."
"You are being ignorant!" Shouted Alon as he took a hold of the white shirt where Lord Draco taken ahol of Leon and pulled Leon close to him as he growled "You are being ignorant to the fact you would be leaving Prince Hagar alone!"
Leon's eye twitched making Alon feel more rage fill his soul as he growled "But you don't even care! You claim to be angry for Prince Hagar's sake but you're not. You're just picking a fight with someone because you can."
Leon's hard eyes began to water as Alon pulled Leon's ear to him as he whispered "I have begun to wonder if you have actually ever been angry for Prince Hagar, in fact did you throw fits because it wasn't fair to you?"
The white shirt in Alon's hand ripped as Leon jerked away and stood two paces back from Alon. "I have always been angry! I just was never willing to stand up because I knew he would be alone if I did! But now that he is dying, I will not sit idly by as the vampire who gave my friend misery stand over his body like a vulture!" Shouted Leon as he suddenly seemed to tower over Alon.
They stood before each other glaring when Leon's eyes began to water slightly as he smiled and said "After all what is there to be a consequence of when I know I will be greeted with death anyways once Prince Hagar dies?"
Leon paused as his words hung over them both when he turned away to look at Prince Hagar's pale face and whispered "At least if I speak now Prince Hagar can rest in his grave at peace, knowing someone was willing to stand up to mastermind of his misery."
Alon looked into Leon's eyes as he felt a bit of regret for taking his anger out on Leon. He sighed letting his anger flow away from him as he said softly "That would be all fine and dandy but what if Prince Hagar does not die?"
"He is. The imperial doctor's decreed it." whispered Leon in defeat but Alon let his hand settle on Leon's shoulder, causing Leon to turn his gaze upon Alon.
"Yes, they did. But what if they're wrong? They were wrong ten years ago, so there could be a chance they are wrong this time too." Alon said as he filled his heart with the hope he didn't really have.
Leon's face relaxed a bit as he said "That's true. They were wrong last time."
Alon nodded as he said "So don't lose faith in Prince Hagar. He may look weak but he is the kind of vampire to talk his way out of death."
Leon's eyes began to water as he sobbed "Okay."
Alon patted Leon as he cried the back but before long he had his arms wrapped around Leon, as the vampire's sobs racked through the slightly broad shoulder frame. As the sobs started to subside Alon pulled himself away as he half heartedly smiled at Leon, who in response gave a weak smile.
Alon slowly pushed Leon away before he held out his hand and said "I won't tell Prince Hagar about this if you don't."
Leon smiled to as he took a hold of Alon's hand "Deal."
Alon slowly stepped away after letting Leon's hand go and settled back into the black chair. He slowly reached out again and took a hold of Prince Hagar's hand as he touched it to his forehead, and he slowly closed his eyes.
Leon picked up a chair and placed it next to Prince Hagar's other side of the bed as he too took the prince's other hand. They stayed silent for a long time when Alon mumbled "I am sorry. I should not have said some of the things I did."
Leon shook his head as he said "No, I am sorry."
Alon sighed as he clenched his hands "Both of us were angry at the injustice of Prince Hagar's condition. So don't beat yourself up over it."
Leon nodded as he returned his attention to the hand of the prince, when suddenly the doors opened to reveal a young vampire maid who bowed her head "Young Sir Leon and Sir Alon, Prince Evero is looking to have an audience with Prince Hagar."
Leon and Alon looked at one another but before Alon looked back to the maid as he saw rage return to Leon's puffy eyes. Alon sighed as he said "Tell Prince Evero that Prince Hagar is resting."
The maid became rigid and Alon who had looked away turned his gaze back to her "Did you not hear?"
"I did, Sir Alon." said the maid nervously.
"Then what's the problem?" demanded Leon angrily and the maid took a step back as she said "Prince Evero insisted."
Alon stood and slowly made his way to the doorway trying to calm his temper before he too let his temper get ahead of his common sense. When he arrived at the doorway to stand next to the maid he could see Prince Evero standing arrogantly with Dorian in the hall only a few feet from the entrance to Prince Hagar chambers.
Alon could feel the fear permeating off the maid as she stood between the three vampires, knowing full on well that any of the three vampires could kill her at their leisure. Alon sighed as he reached out and squeezed the maid's arm comfortingly. She jumped as looked at him wide eyed but upon seeing he was comforting her, she stepped behind him.
Alon nodded as he turned his gaze upon Prince Evero who smirked ant the silent exchange between him and the maid. Alon felt like wiping that smirk from the Prince's face with a good right hook but instead he said "You heard. Prince Hagar is resting."
Prince Evero's smirk faltered but it remained plastered to his face, Dorian scoffed fixing a stray long strand of hair that had came over his shoulder. Prince Evero cocked his head to the side as he said "I hear my brother is ill so I have come to check on him."
Alon sighed as he felt the conversation was dragging on far longer tang it need to. He looked at the laid and said "Go retrieve some wine for Prince Hagar for when he wakes up."
The maid nodded quickly as she bowed to all three vampires and briskly walked away, Alon waited till she disappeared when he turned his attention to Prince Evero.
"You see those two guards?" Asked Alon.
Prince Evero nodded at the two guards on either side of the doorway but neither of them made the effort to reciprocate the gesture.
"Yes." Prince Evero said stiffly.
Alon smiled "At least your eyesight isn't impaired like that of your hearing and manners."
Prince Evero's eyes went wide but Alon continued before he could refute him "These two knights were placed here to prohibit anyone from entering into Prince Hagar's domicile without clearance from Lord Draco or Prince Hagar."
"How dar-" growled Dorian but Prince Evero stopped him as he said sarcastically "What the puppet is not to be played with?"
Leon suddenly entered into the doorway as he sneered "As he said you cannot enter without permission."
Prince Evero smiled as he asked "Where can we find Lord Draco?"
Leon shrugged as he took one door and Alon took the other one as Alon said "I wouldn't know. But I don't need to after all I am not the one trying to enter, am I?"
They closed the doors as Prince Evero's smile had slowly fell from his lips but Alon and Leon had already closed the door before anything more could be said.
They leaned against the door with their ears against the wood as they heard Prince Evero and Dorian walked away. They both sighed with relief as they slow slid to the floor, they sat there for a long time in silence when suddenly Leon began to laugh.
"What?" Asked Alon who was still trying to calm his beating heart.
Leon wiped away the tears from his eyes as he said "I am just laughing at the irony of it all."
Alon scoffed as he looked at Leon "What Irony?"
Leon shifted stiffly before he turned his gaze upon the stars outside the balcony "Well the irony that I was trying to get killed by the puppet master for not giving the Prince blood. Then you give a speech about is not getting our selves killed only to moments later try to get yourself killed for refusing to let Prince Evero disturb his sleep."
Alon and Leon looked at one another for a long moment when Alon said "Well so much for not leaving Prince Hagar alone in this world."
They both began to laugh when suddenly there was a knock upon the door. Alon stiffened as he asked "Who is it?"
Suddenly a soft voice came "Sir the wine you asked for."
Alon immediately rose to his feet opened the door to find the young vampire maid stand before him blushing. Alon smiled at the wine when the maid said "Thank you."
Alon looked away from the wine and said "For?"
The maid soft pick cheeks turned red as she shy said "For saving me."
Alon blinked several times when he said causally "It is what I should have done. So there is no need to thank me."
She smiled as she covered her blindfolded shiny cheeks with her hands and said "I'll see you around Sir Alon."
"Alright. Sleep well-" Alon thought for a moment as he hesitantly said "-Zika."
Alon could have swore she could have squealed with joy if it wasn't for the fact she was already so embarrassed. Zika quickly spun around and disappeared around the corner of the hall where he did hear a faint squeal.
Alon felt his cheeks grow hot when he heard a scoff from his left, he glanced at the soldier guarding the door to see the same lacking expression on the soldier's face.
Alon glared at the soldier but seeing no change Alon closed the door and slid to the floor smiling to himself. Suddenly he realized he was still smiling and turned to look at Leon only to find the vampire already looking at him with a an amused look written all over his face.
"What?" Asked Alon feeling the heat rise to his cheeks again.
"It is what I should have done. So there is no need to thank me." Leon mockingly said in a husky voice
Alon's jaw dropped when Leon said sweatily in a squeaky voice "I'll see you around, Sir Alon."
Alon scoffed "You're just jealous."
Leon laughed making Alon grumble as he tried to take the cork out of the wine bottle.
"Jealous of what? Not remembering her name?" Asked Leon as he chuckled.
"Hey I remembered!" Shout Alon in protest as he began to inch the corks slowly out only for it to stop inches from coming out.
"You guessed." Stated Leon as he began to lean slowly away from Alon in his struggle with the cork.
"It doesn't matter if I guesses all that matters-" Alon groaned in frustration with the cork before he grabbed ahold of it and pried with all his might as he angrily "I got it right!"
Leon quickly snatched the bottle from Alon who stare at Leon in shock when Leon said gruffly "I would rather drink the contents of this bottle then ware it."
Alon pouted but nodded as he stood grabbed two cups from the black table and returned to the floor to find Leon had already opened the bottle.
"See not that hard." Said Leon with a straight face.
"Eat shit." Said Alon teasingly as Leon pour a glass for them both.
They both began to laugh at their banter when they slowly began to grow quiet as they both knew a sound was missing. They looked at one another for a moment before raising their glasses to the bed where Prince Evero slept.
"To Life." Said Leon smiling
"To death." Said Alon smiling as well.
There was a brief pause as they both said in unison "And to the Wine!"
They both took a gulp of their cups emptying the chalices of their contents to be filled once more. Before long the bottom of the bottle came, to which was followed by the snoring of two sad drunks.
Yet though the night was a peaceful one the vampires within the castle walls did not to take note, nor cared to detect, the absence of a breath.
To which sadly the only two souls who did, were too drunkenly asleep to notice the lacking breath in the room.