Chapter 10: Blood for My Property
Rolex felt Rex's wild hunger fade as he wrestled control back, his body his own again. His eyes, no longer burning red, locked onto Akin's face. The boy was pressed against the wall, his face white, eyes wide with terror. Tears glistened on his cheeks, and his silence hit Rolex harder than any scream. His chest ached, a mix of anger at Rex and a strange sadness he couldn't name. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low, rough with effort.
Akin flinched, scrambling back, his hands shaking. He didn't answer, just stared, his fear like a blade in Rolex's gut. "Say something," Rolex said, stepping closer. "Are you hurt? Talk to me."
Akin's lips trembled, but no words came. His eyes darted to the door, like he was ready to bolt. "Please," he whispered finally, his voice barely audible. "Just… don't come near me."
Rolex's jaw clenched. He wanted to say something, to fix the fear in those eyes, but how? Rex had crossed a line, and now the boy was terrified. "I'm not gonna hurt you," Rolex said, his voice softer, but Akin just shook his head, stepping back further.
"You already did," Akin muttered, his voice breaking. "You pinned me down. You're keeping me here. What do you want from me?"
Rolex opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn't have an answer—not one that made sense. He turned, his coat flaring, and strode out of the room. "Stay there," he said over his shoulder, his voice sharp. "Don't make this worse."
He stormed into his office, slamming the door so hard it rattled. Rage boiled inside him, and he grabbed the papers on his desk, hurling them to the floor. "Damn it, Rex!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "What the hell was that? Didn't you see how scared he was? You made him look like that!"
Rex's voice growled in his mind, low and defiant. "I was claiming our soulmate," he said. "He's ours, Rolex. You felt the bond. Why do you keep fighting it?"
"He's a human!" Rolex snapped, pacing the room. "A weak, scared human! I won't let you ruin him just to mark him!"
"You're the one ruining this," Rex shot back. "I'm trying to make him ours. You saw his tears—you wanted to hold him, protect him. Stop lying to yourself."
"Shut up!" Rolex roared, grabbing the sword on his desk and gripping it tight. "You don't control me, Rex. I'm in charge here, not you."
Rex laughed, dark and mocking. "In charge? You're losing it, Rolex. We've waited centuries for our mate, and now he's here. You're pushing him away because you're scared."
"I'm not scared!" Rolex shouted, slamming the sword down. "He's nothing to me!"
"Liar," Rex growled. "You feel it. You want him."
The door creaked open, and Droko stepped inside, his red eyes scanning the wrecked office. "My lord," he said, bowing low. "What's wrong? I heard you shouting."
Rolex spun, his eyes flashing. "The boy," he said, his voice tight. "Take him shopping. Get him clothes, food, anything he wants. Let him pick. And Droko—don't let him out of your sight for a second."
Droko tilted his head, his face blank. "Shopping?" he said. "You sure about that, my lord? He's a flight risk."
"You heard me," Rolex snapped. "Do it. Now."
"Yes, my lord," Droko said, bowing again. "I'll take him myself." He turned and left, his steps quick.
Rolex stood there, his hands shaking with rage. He didn't know why he cared what Akin had, but the image of him in those torn clothes, scared and alone, burned in his mind. His demon wouldn't let it go, and neither could he.
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Night crept in, slow and heavy. Rolex stood by his office window, a cigar in his mouth, smoke curling around him. He watched a black car roll into the driveway, its headlights sharp in the dark. Droko stepped out, then opened the back door. Akin climbed out, clutching shopping bags, his shoulders hunched, his eyes darting nervously. Rolex's jaw tightened. That fear—it was still there, and he hated it.
The office door opened, and Droko walked in, bowing. "My lord," he said. "The shopping went fine. The boy got clothes, some other stuff."
"Good," Rolex said, taking a drag on his cigar. "Anything else?"
Droko hesitated, his eyes flickering. "There was a problem," he said. "I looked away for a minute, and some guy got too close to the boy. Tried to take advantage, said some things he shouldn't have."
Rolex's cigar froze halfway to his mouth. A growl rumbled in his chest. "What did he do?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous. "Tell me everything."
"He grabbed Akin's arm, tried to pull him away," Droko said. "Said some disgusting things. I stepped in, roughed him up. He won't try it again."
Rolex's eyes flashed red, Rex stirring inside him. "Find him," he said, his voice a snarl. "Bring him to me. Now."
"My lord," Droko said, "I handled it. The guy's scared out of his mind."
"I said find him!" Rolex roared, slamming his fist on the desk. "No one touches what's mine!"
Droko nodded, his face grim. "Yes, my lord. I'll bring him." He turned and left.
---
Hours later, Rolex sat in a shadowed room, his demon form fully out. Horns curved from his head, his eyes glowing red, his presence like a storm. A man knelt before him, his face bloody, his body shaking. "Please, Mr. Night!" he sobbed. "I didn't know he was yours! I swear!"
"You touched my property," Rolex said, his voice cold, sharp. "You thought you could lay a hand on him?"
"I'm sorry!" the man cried, his voice breaking. "I didn't mean it! I'll never do it again, I promise!"
Rolex chuckled, a dark, chilling sound. "You don't get to make promises," he said. "You don't get to walk away." He pulled his sword, the blade glinting as he raised it. "No one touches what's mine."
"No, please!" the man screamed, but Rolex swung, the blade slicing clean. The man's body slumped to the floor, lifeless, blood pooling around him.
Rolex stood, his eyes still glowing. "Take him away," he said to the guards. "Feed him to my pet."
The guards nodded, dragging the body out, leaving a trail of blood. Rolex sat back down, his demon form fading slightly, his hands steady. "No one touches my property," he said, his voice low, final.
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