Abel was taken away shortly after that, and the blood was cleaned up by one of the vampire servants. Cid washed himself, changing his clothes to fresh ones.

He exited the bathroom, returning to his room to see the sky beginning to lighten beyond the window.

‘It’s getting late’ he spoke to himself, stepping around the damp patch on the carpet, where the blood had been cleaned up.

Cid took the towel that rested on the shoulder, using it to dry his hair as he made his way over to the window, closing the curtains and blocking out all light.

He turned to the bed, crawling forwards onto it and slipping beneath the thin sheets. He hugged his pillow to him, burying his face into the pillow. The towel he had carried fell off the edge of the bed and onto the floor.

Cid let out a heavy sigh, falling sound asleep in minutes.

He slept peacefully that entire day, having fed well.

Cid woke as the sun began to set again, sitting up in his bed.

He remained there for a moment, before rising.

Cid dressed, taking off his loosely fitting day clothes he slept in. The clothes he wore now were fine, deep blue in colour with gold buttons, and designed especially to fit his frame.

He left his room, heading out towards the kitchen on the lower floors. Here he sat down at the large table in the centre of the room, as the servants bustles around them. This was a large room, and the small family would eat inside the kitchen itself, as their food was cooked beside him.

Cid watched as one of the servants worked quickly, preparing his breakfast. Cid smiled at the servant who brought him his food. The servant stepped back, bowing quickly before turning away. Cid turned his attention towards his parents then, who ate quietly, heads down. They sat a distance apart from each other, completely ignoring each other.

‘Morning’ Cid voice.

‘Morning’ his father mumbled, glancing up only briefly.

His mother raised her eyes, looking across the table at him, but she remained silent. This did not bother Cid, and he leant forwards on the table, staring down at his plate. He lifted his fork and began to eat.

*

Later that night, there was a great party at the manor.

Cid sat upon one of the balconies, his back to the hall below him, kicking his feet happily.

‘Cid!’ a female voice called up to him from the hall. ‘Get down from there, it’s dangerous.’

Cid glanced over his shoulder, grinning widely as he recognised his friend.

‘Hey Cynthia’ he cried jovially down at her, ‘come on up!’

The young female vampire stood there amongst the crowd with her arms crossed, frowning up at Cid.

She uncrossed her arms, moving towards the stairs and sauntering towards him. She reached Cid on the balcony, with him were several other figures.

‘You’re looking very lively tonight’ Cynthia said to him. ‘I hear you’ve got your own blood supply now. Have you fed recently?’

‘Yeah’ Cid gleamed happily. ‘My very own, he is…quite delicious…’

‘He?’ one of his male friends that stood with him asked. ‘You’ve never had a male human before?’ Henry said.

‘Yeah’ Cid grinned, ‘his blood…. oh…’ he hugged himself then, ‘…it was so good…I’ve never tasted anything like it… such a rare bloodtype….so tasty…’

‘What is his name?’ his friend Bebe asked him.

‘MMON.’

Bebe gasped then, hand to her chest. ‘I’ve never tasted that blood type before…’

(humans are given names based on their sex and blood type – M for male and MON for MO-negative = MMON)

‘Where is he?’ his friend Victor asked him, glancing around. ‘Is he here?’

(Vampires often keep their human ‘pets’ close to them – they act as personal servants to the vampires they are given to, and feed them whenever required)

‘No’ Cid groaned, bowing his head, ‘I…don’t know if he is still alive……I drank too much and…’ he trailed off.

‘Tch’ Cynthia turned away in disgust. ‘You’re so spoilt. If I was given such a gift…’

‘I didn’t mean to’ Cid spoke with regret now, ‘I was just….so hungry…and…ah…’ He raised his hand to his head then, becoming still. ‘I was just overcome’ he mumbled incoherently. ‘I…hope he is still alive…’

‘It doesn’t matter’ Victor waved away. ‘You can always find another one.’

‘I suppose’ Cid mumbled glumly. ‘But still…his blood had a particular taste that was perfect for me……. I hope I haven’t killed him.’

‘Well if he is alive’ Cynthia said, ‘perhaps next time you would be more careful. Hey…maybe you could even share him.’

‘No way’ Cid gleamed. ‘I’m not going to give him to anyone.’

‘If he is alive’ Henry reminded. ‘If you drank too much then he could already be dead.’

‘Yeah’ Cid realised, holding his hands together mournfully. ‘I hope he’s ok though.’

‘So, Cynthia’ Henry said, suddenly changing the subject. ‘How is Gloria, I hear she’s nearly due.’

‘Oh’ Cynthia blushed slightly, referring to her sister. ‘Yes, we expect the baby to arrive in just three weeks. We’re all looking forwards to having a little baby girl.’

The conversation moved onto other topics then as they continued to talk, but Cid remained silent, sitting on the balcony with his head bowed. His thoughts were in other places.

MMON…. I’m sorry I was too violent, I never meant to put you in danger. He gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes as he blinked rapidly. Please don’t die…

*

Abel was taken back to the barracks after the incident, carried on a stretched and laid back onto his bed. One of the vampire soldiers ordered the men within the barracks to care for him and wash and blood from his bodies. The humans were expected to do this, as the scent of the blood, even dried, was almost too much for the vampires to resist.

‘Save him’ the soldier ordered the men as the other vampires that had carried the stretcher marched quickly out of the barracks. The soldier that had issued the command turned on his heel then and followed the other vampires.

The humans slowly approached Able, who was utterly still and white as a sheet. Even in the dim light of the barracks, the blood upon his body was clear to see upon his white clothes.

One of the man reached out to Abel, touching him at his neck, watching his chest for breathing.

‘He’s still alive!’ the man turned to the others behind him. ‘Get some water and cloths’ he ordered. ‘We have to save him.’

As several people hurried away to comply, one of the figures in the crowd drew a shuddering breath, gritting his teeth with tears in his eyes. This was the young man who had spoken to Abel previously, as they waited in line to be tattooed by the vampires. His name was Carrie. He had been one of the men that fought under his command against the vampires, before they were captured. Carrie for many years had looked up to Abel, had adored him, and on more than one occasion had risked his life for him.

It pained him to see what the vampires had done to him.

‘Monsters….’ He whispered, unable to speak properly as he began to choke up, tears rolling down his cheeks. ‘They’ve…. done this to him….no…. why….?’

‘Calm yourself’ one of the men ordered him. ‘We cannot get emotional, it’s not what he would want of us.’

‘I’m sorry’ Carrie breathed, furiously wiping away his tears. ‘you’re right.’

The crowd parted as several figures approached the bed, carrying a bowl of warm water and clean white clothes. Each barracks had their own small bathroom where there was available hot running water and clean facilities.

The man that had approached Abel first took a cloth from the man that carried them, as the second man placed the bowl upon the edge of the bed.

‘Stay with us’ the first man breathed, dabbing the cloth into the water and gently brushing the dried blood away. ‘Please…. stay with us…’