"Incredibly tame, isn't he?" Violet-eyes returned, sauntering in the room. He beamed with giddy delight that I hadn't seen on his face since the first day I had broken down crying.

He came up to me a cupped my face in his hands. I couldn't feel his touch. I couldn't feel anything really.

"He's much more behaved now, aren't you, my pet?" He patted my cheek before releasing me. "It took a while, but our Kyle is house trained now."

Eskil's jaw ticked and eyes flashed. The movement surprised me and Violet-eyes hand clenched possessively onto my shoulder.

Eskil smoothly rose to his feet, his attention no longer trained unyieldingly on me but on Violet-eyes.

He listlessly paced towards us, his attention no longer on me but Violet eyes.

"I have agreed to your demand," he warned, "that does not mean I will tolerate disrespect or forgive transgressions."

Violet eyes hissed. "The council will never allow you--"

"The council does not allow me. I allow them."

"Your superior attitude has not lessened with age I see," Violet-eyes noted. "Though others may think you a king, I know better. I will be there to see your kingdom crumbled.  Oh, what a day it will be!" He chortled, his eyes shifting to me with a shy grin. "It has already begun."

Eskil grabbed my arm and removed me from Violet-eyes grip, who only grinned and let me go.

"We take our leave. Your presence sickens me." Eskil laced his fingers through mine and hauled me away.

Violet-eyes sneered at the insult, his smile twisting. "Enjoy this game while you can, Lord Rendevarze. It will be your last."

Eskil didn't respond as we left. I kept stumbling and dragging in his grip, but he never slowed until we were outside where he released me.

Of course, I fell immediately to the ground. The movement was too much for me and my legs were already noodles.

"Oomph!" I complained as I laid sprawled out on the driveway. "No, go away!"

"Kyle?" Esk was at my side immediately, confused, his eyebrows folding into themselves slightly.

"The sun. Make it go away!" Didn't he understand the first time? I thought I was pretty clear. A headache was creeping itself onto me and the sun was not helping in the slightest. My eyes were also starved dry and the light just burned them more.

"As you wish." I felt fabric lightly cover my head. It was the coat that Eskil had been wearing. Whatever. At least it dimmed the light. Take that sun.

"I'll help you stand," Eskil murmured from the world beyond the fabric. I didn't say anything. The coming down was finally beginning—if only just barely—and my hyper-aware state was quickly switching to lethargy.

Somewhere from the ground to standing I had wrapped my hands around his neck and leaned into him for support. Okay, more like threw myself on him since I didn't have the energy to even try to stand on my own feet.

Whatever the situation appeared as he didn't say a word. Hesitantly his arms snaked around my waist before tightening. He leaned in and placed his head in the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry." I wasn't sure if I even heard the words, they were so soft and sincere.

***

When I came to again I was lying down. Slowly, I sat up surveying around me. It seemed like I was in one of those 'Serial Killers Welcome' motel rooms with a bedroom and kitchen. Everything came back when I saw him.

He was sitting in the corner and, for once, completely uncomposed. He stared at the wall across from him—and away from me—with his elbow on his knees and his hands clasped under his chin. If I didn't know he was a vampire then I'd have assumed he was dead from his utter stillness and non-blinking.

"Hey." My voice broke through to him and he straightened up and glanced at me. He was slightly more collected now which for some reason made me grind my teeth a little. The irritation was quickly drowned by curiosity. The lifelessness never left his gaze. What had happened for him to look so numb?

"This is going to sound stupid and pathetic, but is it over?" I had to know. I don't think I could live if I knew he was going to return me to that psychopath.

"No," his words made my heart sink, "not presently. But I swear soon it will be and afterward, no one will cause you harm again."

My throat went dry. I licked my lips. "Um, yeah, okay, whatever."

I stretched and went to stand when I noticed something.

"What the hell is this?" It had been a while since I had been chained, but I still remembered what it looked like. The wound was still fresh enough to make me pissed as hell too.

Eskil didn't speak. I raged more.

"Are you going to start chaining me up and keeping me as a pet too because if so you should have just left me there."

"No one will ever treat you cruelly again," he swore.

"And what is this?" I said motioning to the chain. "Jewelry?"

He went silent for a minute staring back in space. "...necessity."

"Necessity? Necessity?! Necessity for what?! This is exactly why I left you crazy-ass vampires in the first place."

My parchment was getting worse so for a second I stopped myself and took a breath. "Look, could you please get me a glass of water at least? I'm dying over here."

He nodded and went to the kitchen and filled up a glass a brought it back to me. I drank it down as soon as he handed it to me.

"Might as well bring me a pitcher or bathtub," I muttered when it did nothing to curb my thirst.

That was the moment when it hit and everything made sense. I looked back at Eskil to find him back in his chair. My eyes never strayed from his.

"So maybe we can talk about this." There was a slight plea in my voice. "I mean, you're really not gonna make me—I don't think—I can't. I really really can't."

Nothing.

Panic. "Come on man. This isn't funny. You're not just gonna leave me chained up in a sleazy motel right? You're gonna help? Come one, just this once. Please."

Still Nothing.

Anger. "Screw you! This is all you're fucking fault anyway! I wouldn't be in this shit if I didn't help your stupid ass. And you're just gonna ignore me for once when I need you?! Fuck you!"

Eternal Nothing

Begging. "Please, Eskil, please. One drop, that's all I need. Just this once. You can't leave me like this. Please. I'll do anything just please—one drop. I need it. I can't go through all that again please!"

Our eye contact broke when I started vomiting up my guts.

It's before Friday, which is when I promised update by! So I'm proud. Hope you guys enjoy and until next time!~