My fingers twitched. I should've shoved her away. Should've done anything but stare into those mocking, gold eyes that held too many secrets.
"You think this is funny?" I growled.
Eimi leaned closer until our noses almost brushed. "No. I think you're funny." Her smile turned dangerous. "You're so funny trying to look for your lover; it makes me think that I'm reading a novel. Because there is no way a man like you is real!" she said, laughing.
I scoffed, "If a man like me isn't real, then you must not be meeting the right people."
"I guess so… but what can I say, I like it rough…?" she said with a smirk. "Though a little sweet would be fine from time to time, so I wanna take you away for myself." Eimi's voice dropped to a sultry whisper, breath ghosting over my lips. "Even a kiss for now would be fine~."
My grip tightened on Eimi before I suddenly shoved her back—not roughly, but firmly enough to make it clear.
"I'm not here to flirt with monsters, nor kiss them," I said coldly.
"Awwe~, you see me as a monster, how rude!" she said with a pout. Then she chuckled, brushing imaginary dust off her jacket where my hands had been. "Pity. You would've tasted like a moral conflict."
Before I could respond, Eimi leaned in one last time and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to my cheek.
"I hope we meet again soon~," she murmured against my skin, voice smooth like velvet laced with thorns.
Then—just like that—she vanished. No sound, no flash. One blink, and the hallway was empty, save for the unconscious man still crumpled on the floor and the faint scent of vanilla.
I stood frozen for a beat, jaw tight, cheek tingling where lips had touched.
[What the fuck is wrong with that bitch!]
I slapped my face where she had placed a kiss.
I marched out of the den aggressively, rubbing my cheek, my boots heavy against the concrete floor. The usual noise of the gambling halls didn't even touch me—I was locked in, singularly focused, seething.
I shoved open the door to the back alley, the cold air hitting me like a slap. The sky was dull and cloudy. Perfect for my mood. Without hesitation, I got into my black car, slammed the door shut, and pulled out my phone with a clenched jaw.
I hit Desmond's contact and brought it to his ear.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then—"Xavier?"
"Honestly, sir! I do not get paid enough for this!"
Desmond let out a laugh.
"Do not laugh! I want a damn vacation!" I said, my blood boiling with frustration.
"This is the first time you've asked me for a break—what happened?" said Desmond, trying to gather himself.
"That bitch-ass woman Eimi! Fucking kissed me on the cheek, knowing I was looking for Kiara!"
Desmond burst out laughing again. "Are you throwing a tantrum?"
"THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF LAUGHING! And yes! Can I not? I've been alive for what, three hundred and twenty-six years? In that amount of time, I should be throwing a million tantrums!"
"Okay, okay, take your leave; you've worked hard. Where are you going for your vacation?" he said, chuckling.
"I'm going to our library to research about 'Eimi'. I'll type out my report on what happened today before I clock out."
"...Okay… but that's your idea of a holiday?"
"Yes, why would I need a break from finding clues about Kiara?"
"...take care then…" said Desmond, speechless.
"Alright."
....
"Kael! What are you doing in a tree?"
"Spying on you, my darling~," he said, shifting his position to face her.
"I'll report you to the police if you keep doing that! You may be my boyfriend, but this is a huge invasion of my privacy!" she said, crossing her arms.
"Yui, my darling, don't do that—AHHH."
Kael slipped and fell right on his face.
"Kael!" said Yui, rushing to his side.
Kael extended his right thumb before sitting up, "I'm okay…"
"Honestly, we might just be the corniest couple alive; why do you show up like this every single time!"
"Well, because it is fun falling from a tree and not dying while acting like it's a soap opera!"
"Lowkey, I agree, bae. I love acting like y/n; I'mma do her voice next time; I'm so good at that."
"What the fuck is a y/n?"
"I told you about this yesterday. Y/N means 'your name.' It's like putting yourself into your favourite shows or books." However, in this case, y/n has become a meme with a high-pitched voice like a pick-me girl."
"Ohhhhhh."
"Do you get it now?"
"Yeah."
"Old ass."
Kael gasped. "For your information, I am not old! Well…"
"What do you mean, well?" she raised an eyebrow. "Are you some old uncle who looks young?"
"What if I say I can make your twinight dreams come true…"
"Yeah, no, first of all, you cannot compare to him, second of all, vampires aren't real, now get your ass up and let's eat!" she said before standing up.
"Hold on, why is the dialogue going so fast? Wait for me!"
Yui opened the sliding door to the backyard and entered her house, with Kael following behind her.
"What if it is really true? Can we actually have a discussion on this topic?"
"Sure, hypothetically if you were one… bite me." She tilted her head and pointed at her neck. "Right here, bite me."
"..."
"See, you're not," she said, gracefully sitting down next to the coffee table. Her eyes glinted with frustration and determination as she settled in.
"But I don't want to hurt you… Plus, I don't drink human blood," he said, settling beside her.
"Yeah, that's what a human would say," she said teasingly.
"What if I have fangs?"
"Any tricks you have, you have to show them for me to believe you. Also, why are we still having this conversation all of a sudden?"
"Why have you never questioned that I don't get hurt falling from a tree?"
"Didn't you say you had a medical condition that made your bones really strong when we started dating?"
"Well, yeah—you know what? Give me your hand," Kael said, holding out his hand.
"Okay…?" Yui placed her hand on top of Kael's, her palm facing upwards.
Kael gently grasped her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers with a tender yet firm grip. He lifted her hand slowly to his lips, where he paused for a brief moment, his gaze locking onto hers with intensity. He pressed his fangs into her skin, piercing her hand just enough to draw blood.
Then he quickly pulled away and took a tissue, wiping his fangs clean of the small amount of blood that was there.
"Believe me now?..." said Kael.
Yui sat there speechless, the place with the blood throbbing.
"You— what the fuck?!" She picked up a nearby cushion and threw it at him. "YOU'RE A VAMPIRE!"
"Yes…? I think I am, why?" he said with a teasing look.
"OH MY FUCKING GOSH KAEL ROWENA, gosh even the name sounds old as fuck, ANYWAY YOU'RE A VAMPIRE?!"
"Yes, honey, I am."
"HOW OLD ARE YOU REALLY?!"
"I'm like," Kael stopped deep in thought. "I was born in the 13th century, so eight hundred and twenty-five years old."
"...Damn you, old…"
"Hey! I am not old! I am very young for a vampire from the royal family—"
"THE ROYAL FAMILY! YOU HAVE A ROYAL FAMILY!"
"Oh… yeah, well, I mean, we had one because our empire was destroyed…"
"IT WAS DESTROYED! HOW!"
"Classified information, darling, you will have to join the family to know."
"Okay, turn me. Right now."
"...Sweetheart, that's not how it works. There is a very big process to that… Also, you can't just decide it on the spot; you might regret it later."
"Why not~." she pouted, crossing her arms.
"Because that's not how it works."
"Alright, you may be right. So tell me, were you next in line for the throne?"
"So, I was a prince before our empire fell, and I was set to become a duke soon. My cousin was a crown princess, so I was second in line for the throne."
"Why second? Shouldn't your mum or dad be second?"
"My parents are dead, so…"
A look of sadness crossed Yui's face. "Honey…"
"Don't worry, it was a long time ago," he said, brushing it off with ease.
"How did they die?"