Ilyas hadn’t got a wink of sleep that night. He instead holed himself up in the kitchen, devouring just about everything in sight. The dining table was filled with empty wrappers and messed plates, crumbs littering the floor and countertops. The fridge was now closed, but inside awaited nothing but a void. Empty shelves where ingredients once lay, nothing was safe from his hunger. The leftover burgers had been packed up first, a good starter to his night of terror. Terror for the kitchen that is. He ended up finishing the entire packet of cakes, the drop from earlier only crumbling some. The only items safe from his belly were the two boxes of mochi. He was now rocking on the wooden chair, you could call it quite comedically, with the overly round stomach and crumbs pasted to his cheek. He rubbed his belly, hoping it would slim back down fast enough for him to get in some more desert. 

 The act was not just pure gluttony however. The vampiric healing and heightened physical abilities did not just make energy out of nothing. Where his body required blood as fuel to its crimson engine, Ilyas refused, not wanting to give in to the urges. It was a battle he fought more than he did with monsters. Ever since he was a child. He was used to it by now, and knew more or less how to satiate it, somewhat. The alternative? Trying his hardest to fill in as many calories as he lost. It helped ease the bloodlust and get his energy back. It was a common occurrence that he would scarf down families' worth of meals. Food had become a fuel source for his superhuman strength and agility. Especially the iron rich kind. 

 The sun began to peak its way up as Ilyas fell into a food coma. Unfortunately for him, Erza was up early to make sure lunch was ready for the other two. She stumbled onto the scene of what looked like a cafeteria food fight. Her face turned red almost instantly, her blood pressure spiking at the view. She walked up to Ilyas, clasping a hand on his shoulder. He stirred awake, trying to figure out who she was through squinting eyes. Did I die from overeating? She gave him a smile, one that held nothing but malice. In his delirious state he mistook her smile for genuinity, giving one back. That was her final straw. Snap. she began to squeeze on his shoulder. He was now fully conscious, clawing at her hand in an attempt to remove the clamps she had for fingers. It was futile however. 

 “Ilyas? What happened?” 

 He began to give an awkward giggle. “I uh, got hungry.” 

 “What happened to all the vegetables and meats I had in the fridge?” 

 “I uhh….ate them.” 

 “What am I supposed to make for the kids lunch?” 

 “I…don’t know…” 

She stared at him. He wondered if he was in the clear. 

“GET YOUR ASS TO THE STORE, AND RESTOCK THIS FRIDGE! NOW!” 

 He jumped up at the command, walking militaristically to the door. He glanced behind him to see her pulling on her hair. He swore he could see fire starting to spout out from her. When he turned his head back, Kaleel was already waiting by the door. 

 “Lemme come with?” 

He nodded towards the street. “Let's get going before she ends up frying me.” 

The streets were a lot less eerie during the day. Morning sun lit it up well, and he could see the extent of his fight the night before clearly. Street Lamps had been busted, walls were destroyed, rubble was flung everywhere. At least rent should be cheaper for everyone. The sun bothered Ilyas’s eyes. It didn’t burn him to ashes, but it definitely made his vision worse. He actually had to wear glasses. Worse than that, he was a lot weaker in direct sunlight. 

“So who were you fighting last night?” Kaleel smirked. 

“None of your business.” Ilyas glanced at his brother. He was younger than Ilyas, yet half a head taller. It always irked him. Ilyas wasn't short by any means, his brother however just got blessed by the gene pool. Kaleel had the same black hair as Erza and Amira, yet his eyes were the same as Ilyas’s. He was the only other sibling who inherited some of the vampirism. “Besides, how do you even know it was me?” 

 “Who else would it be?” 

 “Fair enough.” Ilyas sighed. “Nothing serious, just some ghouls that got the jump on me.” 

 He nodded his head in a sarcastic manner. “Sure. Must have been some ghouls that you ended up munching down on our whole pantry.” 

 “You see these muscles?” He got up in Kaleels face to flex his bicep and forearms. Kaleel pushed him away, tilting his head the opposite way. “They need food. Your lanky ass wouldn't know about that.” 

He clicked his tongue. “Yeah yeah.” 

When they got to the store, Ilyas quickly assigned their tasks. He’d get the proteins and dairy, Kaleel would get the carbs and vegetables. The last time he asked Kaleel to get them meat, he brought only polony and canned stuff. Never again. The two split up, covering the store like they were secret agents searching for clues about a mass murderer, peaking over corners in the isles and keeping their heads low. When they finally reconvened, they had carts filled with groceries. The employee behind the glass once again, seemed too lazy to bother. When we realised the size of their carts his shoulders slumped in disappointment.  They made their way back home with plastic bags filled to the brim in both hands. Ilyas looked around as they headed up the street. He figured there would be repairmen in the area by now, but he saw figures that made him grimace. Ashen Sancti Watchers. Great. 

There were men and women now patrolling the roads. Adorned with chainmail, a cyan surcoat covering over it. A symbol of a sword with flaming ashes was stitched in the middle of each of their surcoats. It reflected every ray of light directly into his eyes. Short swords were strapped to their waists. Don’t let the medieval look fool you, under their belts, pistols were holstered, some even carried shotguns. They weren’t heavily armoured. A basic recon force. Watchers. Watchers were a sect of the Ashen Sancti that kept an eye on Darkdwellers, ensuring they don't do anything out of the ordinary. The fact that they were inside the walls, instead of across the ocean in Ardonia or patrolling the walls on the ocean borders, made Ilyas think his altercation was more than what it seemed. He moved closer to Kaleel, his senses on alert. Kaleel on the other hand was excited. He had never seen any before. He only knew his father and two oldest siblings in Erza and Karim were in it. He looked around hurriedly, poking and prodigy Ilyas as he did.

“Hey, those are Watchers right?”

 He nodded, his own eyes investigating them as they walked around. Their steps were deliberate, slow. As if it was only this  block they wanted to patrol. “Yep.” 

Eventually they arrived home. He could feel their eyes on his back as he opened for Kaleel, following after him. As he closed the door, he watched their expressions. They were keeping tabs on him, that much was clear. He called out “We’re back.” Erza was sitting in the kitchen on her phone. 

“My groceries, thanks.” 

 “Sure.” 

 “Karim replied.” Her face went dark as she tilted her head down. “He said he needs to speak with you. He’s sending an envoy to guard us, and a guard group at the ready if the Watchers send a signal that something is wrong.” 

 I raised my brows. Those guys are pretty expensive to be sending out. Guess the budget’s looking good this year. “Seems a bit excessive, no? One Darkdweller breaches the walls and all of a sudden we’re being put under security? Even Karim is finally coming back home for once.” 

 She looked at Kaleel. “Hey, go get changed, we’re leaving soon.” Kaleel spoke under his breath as he walked off, irritated that he couldn’t hear the chat anymore. She stood up, leaning against the wall. “It wasn’t just any darkdweller Ilyas. It was a vampire. They said it’s impossible for a vampire to get through without them noticing…unless-” 

 “They teleported?” 

 “Exactly. Karim reported everything to the council. It has them all spooked. The fact that the vampire came to you as well is a problem.” 

 “Sure was a problem for them.” 

 She frowned. The muscles in her jaw clenching. “Ilyas…I’m being serious here.” 

 He held his hands up. “Sorry, sorry.” 

 “Look, the likelihood that it just spawned where we were is there, but I also doubt that.” 

“Why?” he took a seat, rocking back and forth in the chair. 

 “You two fought right outside my door. You’re still fixing that damned hole in it,” she glared at him before rubbing her temples. “Beside that, a stake was thrown through it. What kind of vampire carries a stake?” 

 He nodded. “One hunting other vampires.”

“Exactly.” 

Amira popped out from behind the wall. “Erza, we’re ready.” She looked over at Ilyas, holding the mochi box up. “Thanks by the way.” 

 “I got you,” he smiled. 

 “I’m coming.” 

 Amira hummed as she walked off. “Okayy.” 

 Erza turned back to Ilyas before leaving. “Behave until I return. I don’t need Karim complaining about you fighting with the Watchers.” 

 “Don’t worry.” He shrugged.