"So this is the cause of all the trouble," the man mused as he trailed his eye down me. "I'm morbidly disappointed. For the rumors, I expected someone more extravagant ."

Extravagant was exactly the word I was thinking of too. The guy was decked out in a full 1800s aristocratic outfit, powdered wig and all. It was a damn near struggle not to stare at the obvious wack-job.

"Only fools believe rumors," Eskil stated, completely unbothered by the outfit or the man's words.

But then, he'd been mentally prepared when we arrived at the estate and were ushed into an over-the-top sitting room to meet an over-the-top vampire. He hadn't bothered to give me any warning. Literally, the only thing he said before we entered was "behave".

Ha, behave. Like I went around purposely causing trouble and needed a reminder not to.

"If I didn't find your beauty so ravishing I would punish you for such insinuation," The man tsked. "But alas, you are far too captivating to injure, however justly. I assume this call is not solely for friendly chatter?"

"No, I cannot say it is."

"And rumors, if fools believe, indicate this visit relates to your recent spat with Lord Kirill?"

Eskil nodded.

"And I assume you are seeking sanctuary in my court until such a time you may revive yours?"

Again, a nod.

The man tsked. "I warned you before, had I not, when I learned of your desire to go that leaving your court to ruin would result in your demise in the end?"

"You warned me and I did not heed," Eskil conceded. "But it was necessary then, as this is necessary now."

"It is in my right to refuse," the man noted.

"It is and you would be just to do so. However, I plead on our years of friendship for you to reconsider."

"Hm. You are lucky that although he is plain and dull, this situation intrigues me. I will explore it with you in depth later. Annabell will take you to your room."

Eskil stood and gave a small bow. "Your generosity, as always, is appreciated." He gestured me to follow and we left the room.

"Did he just call me plain and dull?" I wasn't sure the door had closed before I blurted out the words.

"Castiel is an admirer of the grandeur. He is not easily impressed with humankind as such."

"Whatever. He's the one in the wig."

"It would be best to watch one's words. He does not forgive transgressions lightly. And the walls have ears." He motioned ahead of us to a woman, presumably Annabell, waiting in the corridor.

"Why did we come here if there are all these issues?" This sounded like the worst place on the planet to be.

"We need a stronghold willing to host us, one that Kirill would not be able to break. There is no other."

"You mean no other vampire place that would be willing to take in a human."

"Yes, but myself as well." Eskil glanced over his shoulder at me. "My friends are few and far."

That was a vote of confidence. Information like that was what made me wonder why I was trusting him with my safety in the first place.

As instructed, Annabell took us to our room. Keyword. Room.

"Why do we have to share a room?" I whined as I took in space and, most notably, the one bed.

"It is customary." Eskil provided.

"Do you mean customary cause I'm human and not worthy of my own space?" I countered.

He didn't confirm or deny.

"There is something I must do. I will return shortly." He gave a seconds hesitation as if worried about leaving me alone, either for sympathy or fear of me doing something stupid.

I rolled my eyes. How dramatic."Okay. See you later."

I lasted about five minutes lounging on the bed after he left before I got bored and decided to explore the vampire mansion.

And ran smack into Castiel as soon as I went down the grand staircase.

"I had not expected to meet with you again so soon," he said in a way that made me uncertain if I was allowed to roam about on my own.

"Just thought I'd look around. Everything looks so...grandeur," I flattered, using the word Eskil had. Eskil had warned me that the guy was the vengeful type. Best to play it safe just in case that was true.

Castiel's eyes lit up and he gave a high-pitch giggle and hand clap. "Yes, beautiful, no? I see no point in surrounding oneself with ugliness. Come, come, I shall honor you with a personal tour of my pride."

Damn. That wasn't what was supposed to happen. "That's...far too generous to offer someone like me."

"That is true. Nonetheless, my good-heartedness should not be ignored. Come, come. I will indulge you and perhaps you will indulge my curiosity, no?"

He didn't leave room for argument.

He rambled, and with his out lavish talk I only half understood what he was saying most of the time as he pointed to this vase or that painting or that plant. But I learned when to nod and act shocked or amused to where he bought it. That was an accomplishment I guess.

"In candor, "Castiel began as we strolled through one of his galleries, "it is indeed an oddity that Eskil has selected you his companion. His amicableness cannot be denied, but the intimacy he has shown towards you is most peculiar."

"I guess." It was weird to me that he thought that way. There really wasn't intimacy or a close friendship between Eskil and me, not like he and others seemed to always want to imply.

"This intrigues me. I have known Eskil for many years and have not witnessed him act as recklessly as he has these last few months. It is a novelty that I can only prescribe to him having since he met you."

"I wouldn't know."

"True, true. I speculate only observation can deduce the reasons. You and Eskil are to join me for dinner tonight. Until then."

And he left, once again leaving no room for argument, which was a really annoying thing.

Eskil was back in the room when I returned.

"Did you do what you had to do."

"Yes. And you?"

"Oh, I went exploring and I met Castiel and he showed me around and then invited us for dinner?" It seemed so obscure that that was what happened.

Eskil hmmed. "I will inform him that another will be joining us."

That peeped my interest. "Another? Who?"

"Rhys."

I will probably revise this later, but I was at the mentality of I really just need to start writing something down again to get started so I did. Hope you'll enjoy my definitely overdue update :)

9/21/2019: I went back and re-edited/added some commentary to the story and I'm planning on writing the next part, a new chapter scheduled to be up by Monday. A year since the last update (whoops I really suck don't I) but I sort of lost where I wanted the story to go. I've come up with a legit goal and ending now, and I'm ready to get back on track so Kyle and Eskil can have their ending. Right now, the story is scheduled to be 35-37 chapters, so hopefully, I can get this wrapped up for all the people who've enjoyed the story so far and are wanting to finish it.