Another month passed before Abel was summoned back to the manor.

He was made to wash again, given fresh clean white clothes, and taken by one of the soldiers, back to the room of the young lord. And there he had been left to wait for him.

Abel waited in nervous silence, fearing for his life. He bowed his head, his mind blank. He was at a strange place of peace in his mind.

When the door did open several minutes later, Abel raised his head, squinting in the dim room to see the young vampire lord Cid standing before him.

Cid instantly cried out in joy, squealing in delight and clapping his hands together.

‘You’re alive!’

He closed the door quickly and approached Abel.

‘I’m so glad to see you’ Cid beamed, eyes bright. ‘I thought for a while…’

Cid trailed off, eyes traveling to Abel’s shoulder where he had fed from him, had torn his flesh.

The scarring was prominent, but the wound had healed well.

‘I’m sorry’ Cid spoke with sincerity. ‘I didn’t mean to go so far.’

A moment of silence passed, then Cid raised his head to Abel.

‘I have fed already’ he said to Abel, ‘I’m not all that hungry.’ He paused. ‘Your blood is so good’ he whispered. ‘With your permission…. I would like to…. feed…’

Abel blinked slowly, turning his head to the side to expose the flesh of his neck, on the other side from the place he had been bitten last time.

‘I promise I will be gentle this time’ Cid said to him. ‘I don’t want to you suffer.’ He paused then. ‘Could you…’ he began, ‘lie on the bed? It would be easier for me…. I don’t like to stand.’

Abel turned silently, moving away.

He lay upon the bed, resting on his back and staring up at the ceiling.

In the centre of the room, Cid lingered for a few seconds, before approaching the bed.

He crawled forwards onto the bed, bearing over Abel, and trapping Abel beneath him.

‘I’ll be as gentle as I can’ he whispered to Abel, caressing his cheek tenderly, before lowering his body closer to Abel’s, ‘…. just stay still.’

Abel rasped sharply between his teeth as Cid bit him, slowly doing so harder, before easing off.

Abel lay on the bed with his head turned to the side as Cid drank from him, lapping his blood up.

Abel felt Cid’s tongue as he licked him, his tongue running slowly across the fresh wound as he continued to feed.

Cid was far more controlled this time, and did not bite Abel again, but continued to drink from the same wound as it bled.

Eventually as the blood stemmed the flow. Cid leaned back, sitting on Abel’s waist, straddling him.

‘I wish you could know how good this tastes’ Cid whispered.

Abel did not answer, but remained still, head turned to the side and staring at the wall.

Cid took a clean white cloth from his pocket, pressing it firmly to Abel’s wound. Abel flinched at the touch.

Abel didn’t speak. Cid stared down at him, smiling.

‘Thank you’ Cid breathed.

Abel blinked, glancing towards the lord vampire, but he did not turn his head to face him.

‘You’re so handsome’ Cid spoke tenderly, ‘so handsome….’

His brow furrowed then as he stared down at Abel.

‘MMON….’ He spoke, reaching out to him, turning his head towards him.

Abel faced Cid then, looking at him directly.

Cid hesitated, before leaning forward again, kissing him.

Abel’s eyes widened in shock as he felt the vampire’s lips upon his own. Moments later, Cid leant away again, a strange look in his eyes, as if he wasn’t sure what he was doing. He looked suddenly confused, uncertain.

Cid glanced away briefly, before looking back towards Able who lay beneath him.

‘Can you…. kiss me…?’ he asked, waiting for a moment.

Abel didn’t reply, and so Cid leant down again. Abel opened his mouth as Cid drew closer, feeling Cid’s tongue against his own as they kissed. Cid let out a moan, lifting his hand to grasp Abel’s upper arm firmly.

He broke away suddenly, drawing a deep breath.

‘W-what am I doing?’ he laughed to himself, hand coming to his head as he looked away. ‘I don’t know what’s come over me…’

He relaxed again, letting his hand fall back to his side.

‘I hope I didn’t hurt you’ Cid said to him.

Abel did not reply, but remained silent.

‘Don’t tell anyone who happened between us, ok?’

Abel did not answer.

‘You should go’ Cid said, getting off him and standing. ‘I would like to see you again though’ he continued, as Abel rose from the bed. ‘I’ll send for you next time’ he told him.