Carriages passed a clear alley, giving the cloaked figure time to run inside to hide. A bundle relaxed again in her arms, demonic wings spreading the blanket open with little struggle. Green eyes blinked open, only to confirm one was there to abide by his needs. Tightening his eyes shut, a screech escaped his mouth, to signal that he was thus being uncomfortable. He could smell blood with his strong nose, where it was coming from did not matter.

Placing the child down on the hard ground, surrounded by piles of trash, the cloaked figure removed her hood, a grin falling to her lips. A red trail of blood lowered from her mouth. She, the last of their kind, would be dead like the rest. The vampire community rested in her son’s hands, for she could no longer take care of him. Removing her cloak, she eyed the stake that had missed her heart, yet still caused damage.

Bringing her hand to the wound, she captured some blood to feed her son, al. All that she had consumed in her life leaked as an essence. Brining it to her son’s lips, she smiled as he drank his fill. In little time, she became light headed, her child yawned in contentment with a yawn. She wrapped her cloak around him as a blanket, flaring her wings one last time for him before taking flight. Her last flight before she tumbled to the ground in death.

It was hours before the child woke up, whimpering to be held, but his mother was no longer there. Opening his mouth, he cried – knowing he’d catch ones attention. In minutes, he heard a voice, a loud to cry to what ever had been calling him. The boy opened his eyes, meeting black ones as the man bent down to look upon the lowly child. Eyes once filled with amazement, widened as the small wings on the baby’s back began to spread open. In a quick reflex, the man lifted the child securely in the blanket, running to find help.

Minutes later he was beating the door to a grand church, crying for sanctuary, for he had seen evil. The doors opened, a gracious nun staring at the man in confusion for his worry. “My son, how ma I help you…?” She was confused as he showed her a face of a baby boy, innocent eyes that saw into her soul almost as majestic emeralds. Her amazement for such an angel was gone as the wings of a devil opened to stretch. “Be gone, Jess. A demon as he should not be in this holy place.”

“Sister, please, for the good of the child, he needs a place to stay during this vampire hunt. You said it yourself, these poor children should not have to suffer from modern hatred.” He held the child out.

The sister did not look at the child, but at Jess’ face. “I was speaking of those poor black children sold into slavery, Jess. We cannot have a spawn of the devil in a Holy Sanctuary. H’s more trouble than he looks, a vampire. He’s need to feed, and will chew on us.”

Jess never left her eyes, holding the child close. “Sister, his name is Dee. You cannot send away something that has a name. One will not question a boy growing up in the Church. With the Devine choice, he cannot be a spawn of the Devil, but a gift from God. His mother, likely a vampire, left him to die from lack of food, if they did not want him, who will” He watched the nun suspiciously. “Will you actually deny a being the chance to follow the Book and go to Heaven?”

Reaching out, the nun took the boy in her arms; the child – Dee – giggled reaching towards her. “You will return, to check on him as he grows?”

“What type of person would I be if I didn’t?” He smiled fondly, before disappearing out into the busy streets of New York.

True to his word, Jess returned the Next day, and the following. He watched as the vampire grew in secrecy, hidden in the basement of the Church. A pasty color remained constantly on his skin, his once strong wings growing weaker. No child had ever been in the basement, and when one did, Dee hid. If he ever got out of the basement, all were unsure, but that was where he slept, dreaming on an old scent…blood.

Construction workers surrounded the worn down church, preparing to tear it down. The head of the party stepped inside to make sure no ne was inside, especially the homeless. . His companion shuddered, falling in after him grimly, goose bumps appearing on his skin. He stared around quickly as the head constructor searched the top floors. Empty beds, disintegrated food, dying rats. He covered his nose at the stench of death.

“Man, those old stories are getting to me, Marty,” He whispered. The hairs on the back of his neck. Stood on all ends.

Marty tilted his head, a laugh bellowing out of his lips. “Gary, those were just stories! Moms and old women told us young ones to keep us away from this raggedy old building and worship everyday!” He grinned. “The Church was just deserted, no murderers. If there were, he’d be a corpse by now. Probably the reason for the stench.” He continued down the stairs, stopping at a door.

Latin was engraved into the boarding, bible scriptures most likely. Curiosity caught the worker as he opened the door. Staring down, Gary flushed again. “Boo!” Marty laughed, slapping Gary’s back with a grin from ear to ear. “Scared ya?”

“N-No…”” Gary whispered, stepping down the stairs. “Hey, anybody in here?” He asked, staring down upon the many rows of boxes, a moving figure catching his attention. “Hey! We’re tearing this place down, time to go, buddy!” He yelled, watching as a box fell down.

“I’m stuck.” A plain response came back up. It lacked character and feeling, but the shuffling continued. “Please come and help me,” the voice said with more feeling, “I’ve been stuck for a long time, awaiting for one to come by. I’m really hungry, please come help me.”

Rolling his eyes, Marty walked further down the steps past Gary. He started towards the darkness, the path where he had heard the voice. More than ready to get out of the building. He saw a long figure on the ground, staring up at him with emerald eyes. He went to his knees beside the man, staring at him. “There is something on your back.” He reached towards the figures back. A band grasped him with a pull, causing Marty to collapse on the figure, his face going white as teeth met his lower neck, glazing the skin. “Ack! You fag, leggo!” He screamed as two sharp teeth fell into his neck. “Gary! Help, get him off! Gary-“

The man on the stairs jumped down the remaining flight of stairs, running towards Marty’s collapsed body. He stared at the face before his own, the face of a man who had cried for help. Razor sharp fangs grew out as he smiled, but unlike Marty, Gary was unable to emit a scream.

He stood a head shorter than the man explaining the situation, brunet hair falling over his deep black eyes in an act of rebellion. He suddenly was transferred from regular homicides to researching the location of the vampire that walked the streets of New York.

Taking in his breath, he walked towards his cleanly organized desk; a pile of folders on one side of what little was known of the vampire. Sitting down, he opened up the first folder, staring over all the information on the victim, and then thought about this vampire. The vampire had to be scared if it was doing such, and it needed to eat. ‘It’ being a he - name unknown - age past one hundred yet looked twenty-nine. He lured his victim with lust filled gazes, and the people around would see no future signs of struggle. He was also a common mugger, taking cash from each wallet, or purse.

A hand tapped on his shoulder, causing the brunet to jerk. “Randy, we got another.” Drake Parker gave a hesitant smile. “The vampire was still in the area, watch your back.” He winked an eye, causing the brunet to blush. Standing up, he started out of the building, not bothering with remembering his dress jacket.

In a few minutes, he parked outside the old apartment complex, his eyes narrowing as he stared up towards the high three story, narrow building. He captured in his breath as the doors were thrown open, as If they were expecting him. He walked in, climbing up the stairs until he reached the designated floor, he didn’t need to look to tell it was a victim of their vampire. “He’s here?” Randy asked.

“Yes, detective.” The other muttered, covering the body with a tarp. “You new on this case?” He glanced up at the surprisingly handsome brunet. “This place has been abandoned for weeks, so the vampire had a home. We think he’s gone now, but we saw nothing over head.” Randy nodded, watching as the body was removed, and the scared investigators took towards exits, the few brave ones stayed to find their vampire. Randy chuckled, watching several pull out crosses to protect themselves.

Walking towards the steps, he muttered that he’d take the attic. The few nodded, splitting up as Ryo opened the attic door, cautiously looking in. A bedroom. A brass king-size bed greeted him, as he blushed, uncertain of why. Perhaps the knowing that the vampire slept like any human did. Pulling into the room, Randy let the attic door close as he stared around, never dropping his guard.

A chill shook through his body, entrancing him as he felt arms snake his waist, a warm breath against the side of his neck. “Beautiful….” The vampire whispered, causing Randy to freeze up. “…Breathtaking. What is your name my pretty?” He starred up to meet the gaze of the other man.

“Randy MacLean.” He whispered. “What is yours?”

“I did not mean your American name – you’re part Japanese. I want the name that few call you.” He brushed his lips against the skin of his prey’s neck, inhaling the scent of fear and aftershave.

The brunet blushed, his eyes falling upon the floor. “Observant vampire. It’s Ryo, if you want to know. Now, I ask again, what is your name?” He gave a smile. “It wouldn’t be fair if I called you vampire in my final moments of life.”

“I don’t plan on killing you, Ryo. My name is Dee, the vampire of this area.” Dee nipped Ryo’s neck, his large black wings wrapping around their bodies. His fangs glazed the skin around Ryo’s neck, slowly entering the vessel. Ryo’s mouth fell open as he tried to pull away, but it was to late, Dee was eating happily. Dee’s tongue flicked the wound in a playful action.

It hurt, Ryo’s head fell back against the vampires shoulder, and a whimper escaped his lips. The fangs on his neck left, but Ryo’s sight banished – unable to cry for help as he passed out into the vampire’s arms.

Releasing his wings, Dee listened to the dead silence as he locked his bedroom door. Carrying the brunet towards the bed, Dee laid Ryo down before walking towards the window to fly out for his midnight haunt.

With a groan, Ryo awoke from his deep sleep feeling light headed. On instinct, he covered his eyes with his hands, trying to remember all from the day before. He wasn’t home, it was to quiet. His adopted son, Bikky, was usually blaring music by that time in the morning. With a growl, Ryo sat up, squinting his eyes shut quickly when the morning sun hit them with a burn.

“Don’t open your eyes, Ryo.” The brunet paled as he remembered all of yesterday – he was bitten. “Drink this,” Dee said, pressing a metal rim against Ryo’s lips. Expecting water, Ryo gulped some down before realizing a copper taste, one distinctly blood. Splitting he fell back upon the bed, quickly covering his face with the pillow. “You need to drink this, Ryo, or you’ll die.”

The brunet never stared up as he spoke into the pillow. “You turned me into a vampire!” He covered his face deeper inside.

“Heh, you’re not a vampire yet,” Ryou stared up, only to hiss due to the sun, “When I finish in three feeds, you’ll be a half. I’ve made one before, but then I was forced to kill him. You’ll be rather human, small removable wings, the ability to grow fangs, get rid of them. I can stop feeding from you now, and you’ll still be half – I, however, am making you my mate. Redefining your beautiful neck to not show any marks of vampire-hood. Mine.”

Ryo kept his eyes closed as he fought to get out of the bed, only to fall on his face on the floor. He pulled himself, fighting the embrace around him. “I can’t stay here, I have to work and take care of Bikky!” He stood up, only to crash into a warm, pulsing wall. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes and faced up to what he crashed into. Dee’s wings were wrapped around him again.

“Drink the blood I brought you or I’ll never let you go home to your Bikky. In three days, you’ll be dead.” Dee held the canister out once more, smiling brightly as Ryo hesitantly took it.

Staring at the rim, Ryo started drinking the thick liquid, his hands touching Dee’s closed wings. Velvet, so soft and warm, Ryo laid his head against a bone. He continued to drink as he ran his hand across the brunet design, turning to face Dee finally. “Does it hurt?”

“Does what hurt?”

“Killing people.” Ryou whispered as he started drinking the blood he was starting to like.

Dee didn’t smile, but his emerald eyes became serious. “Do you feel remorse when you’re eating some animal for dinner? When I am emotionally attached, then it pains me, the rest are for hunger pains.” Dee held Ryo close, covering the brunet’s eyes as he retracted his wings. “Do you have any glasses?”

“Sun glasses?” Ryo whispered. “In my glove department, in my car.” He held his hands out to remember where the attic door was. As he turned around for the second time, his hands met Dee’s chest, and the vampire pulled him close, before the sound of his wings stretching made him realize what was going on. “We can’t just fly down!”

His hair moved violently as his body soared in the air as Dee left the comfort of the room. He was unsure if he was screaming, but as his feet touched the ground, he was unaware he had tried burring himself in Dee’s body, his eyes squeezed shut. Pulling away from Dee, he reached into his pocket from his keys, searching from the vehicle. He could feel pale arms wrap around his body, leading him towards the car. Gratefully, Ryo accepted the help.

“Dee, vampires are unable to stand the light, how come you are unaffected, and I am unable to see?” Ryo opened the car door, long enough to search for his sunglasses. He was grateful when he placed them on and the suns rays were no longer causing any sight problems. “Is it just the sun light or all lights?”

“You’ll be affected by all lights; that’s the problem with New York City is there are too many. Actually, we vampires can be out in the sun, bet at that point, it’s hard to hunt when people are watching one another. For years, I’ve lived off of rats; those workers tasted great and brought back my thirst for human blood. Contaminated blood does not affect us; need it been diseased or drugged. Stay to the homeless, less guilt. I didn’t know I could survive in the sun since I’ve been locked in the Church for a long time.” Dee smiled. “Here,” he reached into his shirt and pulled out a canteen, “this is your lunch. I’ll see you tonight.” He flew back into the apartments, leaving Ryo sitting in his car with wide eyes.

As Ryo drove home, he desperately told himself that it was not true; that he’d wake up in his bed, yet he knew it wouldn’t happen. His eyes focused on the shaded, dull, stoplight as it changed. He swiftly turned the corner, parking in front of his apartment to take a shower and change for work.

He knew his apartment would be quiet when he opened the door, Bikky being at school (As Ryo hoped). Walking towards his room, he removed his shirt before realizing his dress coat was still at work. Frowning, he walked into the bathroom, tilting his head to look at the circle indention on his neck. The skin was red and slowly developing a blue and purple. ‘Almost like a hickey,’ Ryo thought.

Loaning back against the counter, fingers pressed against the wound as if seeking venom. He said mate then, didn’t he…? Ryo lost the color in his face.

“Randy! You’re four hours late!” Chief Smith screamed at the detective the moment the brunet tried slithering towards his desk. “You’d better have a good explanation!” He yelled as the brunet stared at the ground. He wore a turtleneck to work; having it to cover the bite was comfort to his soul.

Giving a salute, Ryo trained his features to work out a lie he had thought of all the way to work. “I found our vampire, taking chase to him I tripped and fell. Lost consciousness, so get away. No damage really done.”

The Chief took it in, his face losing it built up rage. “You weren’t bit, were you?”

Inside, Ryo was in hysterics, as he vividly looked unfazed by the question. “No, I wasn’t.” He turned towards his desk with one final salute. His old jacket still lounged on the chair, before Ryo folded it and placed it in the drawer of his desk, promising to take it home with him that day. Laying his hands in his palms, the brunet stared over the stack of folders on his desk for the one vampire, not paying attention to the questioning glance Drake was giving him along with J.J.

Dee, to Ryo it seemed an unusual name. He was unsure how old, and many use of knowledge, Dee had on himself, but if files were correct, then it was all starting from the massacre at the church, at the time being an orphanage. It explained the cross that was around Dee’s neck, but Ryo always thought vampires couldn’t live for anything like that. Somehow, he felt as though all he had been taught on vampires were about to be changed forever.

Unsure of how long he had been working, Ryo embraced the interruption of Drake, suggesting that they went to get a bite. Pulling out his canteen, Ryo could tell that the blood was still warm, likely not fresh though. He knew for a fact he didn’t have any fangs to use when getting food for himself, but that thought was washed from Ryo’ head as he grimaced at the thought.

Drake, who had patiently waited for him at the door, stared in confusion at the canteen as Ryo walked out of the building – more than ready to eat. Since he had arrived to work that morning, the brunete had thought on and on about his vampire. Dee was unable to find his home, therefore, the vampire could no longer haunt him and he would truly starve like any other half-vampire.

Ryo leaned against a light post, drinking from his canteen as the dark shades ruined the light that he once pleasantly enjoyed, and during work people had asked about that. Migraines. Plain and simple migraines were their answer. The blood washed down his throat, followed by the taste that Ryo could honestly write down as whisky. Normally, the lightweight with alcohol would be already tweaked out of it, but he felt fine, and the beginning burn as he drank was long since gone.

A smile escape on his lips as he walked towards the store Drake had, finally, left. “What took you so long?” He referred to the empty store and the time it had taken Drake to retrieve their food (along with other detectives’ lunches).

“Well, you were filling yourself with that drink, ignoring my questions on what you waned.” Drake eyed Ryo closely, mostly at the canteen. “What are you drinking, anyway?” He asked.

Grinning, Ryo stared down at his drink. “You wouldn’t like it.” He explained, putting the rest in his jacket pocket. “Got to lure our vampire out, no garlic right?” He eyed the food.

“Your vampire, I’m not going anywhere near it. “ He shook his head, handing Ryo his lunch. “It’s on me, you look starved, anyway.”

Nodding, Ryo took a bite, his eyes on the ground as he walked with Drake towards the precinct. “Well, I was chasing Dee yesterday night, and was too late to eat this morning. So, lunch yesterday was my last meal.”

“Dee?” Drake stared at the brunete.

Blushing, Ryo nodded. “Yeah, it’s the vampire name. You have one, and I gave mine to him. It was only fair he tell me his own.”

“You didn’t tell him my name, did you?” Drake stared at the brunete in mock worry, causing the fellow detective to break in laughter.

Dropping his briefcase on his home desk, Ryo laid his head upon his chest in exhaustion from the slow day. For victims of Dee’s attacks had him busy, identifying the location of him. Each was in the slums, three in the subway of that part. He could understand the three victims, but a forth? He sighed as Bikky’s door opened, the dark-skinned boy staring out questioningly.

“Ryo, Where were you all last night?” He whispered. “Drake said you didn’t return back to work, I was worried.” The small boy was nervous the minute Ryo had explained of transferring from homicide to the Vampires own league, but that didn’t ease the child’s heart that Ryo could be hurt easily in that one more than with the homicide.

Walking into his kitchen, Ryo filled a pot with water to start dinner. “My vampire gave me a fright, and I didn’t wake up until the morning. Stopped here to make sure you were off at school, took a shower, and went to work. But, thank you for not skipping just because I wasn’t here to make sure you went.”

“Did you go to the hospital? Why haven’t you taken your sunglasses off yet?” Bikky asked, ignoring Ryo’s last remark on him being at school.

“The light was giving me a migraine all day,” Ryo lied – not taking his eyes off the stove. “I wasn’t bitten, so I’m not worrying.” He pulled down a package of noodles and set them on the counter. “When the water boils, put these in. I’m going to go change.” He left the room, and the child – worrying about the distant parent.

That night, as Ryo slept, soft raindrops flew freely into his room, a lone shadow outside his window, staring in. Dee’s wings folded to give him the ability to enter the dry room, and climb into the bed. He stared over the sleeping brunete. The paling wound on his neck was open for the world to see, likely from irritation if the lightest pressure was on it. Flaring his fangs, Dee bent towards the side of the brunete’s neck, tickling the wound with his tongue before puncturing the wound once more.

Ryo’s head slid up as his eyes opened, but he gave no scream as the vampire fed from the wound. His black eyes blinked as he was forced up and into Dee’s arms, the vampire leaving his neck. Realizing, Ryo watched as Dee bit himself on the wrist, and place the wound near the human’s lips. “Suck,” He whispered.

Leaning forward, Ryo locked his mouth onto Dee’s wrist, sucking on the wound as blood swelled out. Dee’s warm, black, wings unfolded out, wrapping warmly around them as a circle of protection, blanket eyes closed became lost in the rich taste that was the vampire’s. He let out a groan as the wrist was yanked from his mouth; allowing black eyes to watch the wound quickly heal.

“Couldn’t have you suck me dry,” Dee explained, wrapping his arms around Ryo’s lithe body. “I had thought you’d return to my home for more blood, yet you did not. That’s why I am here, because without me, tomorrow morning, your body would be in withdrawal. You’d probably have felt it before I showed up, lack of energy, pale complexion, maybe you wouldn’t have been able to talk. All’s well now.”

“I told you, I cannot become one with you, I must take care of my son.” He stared at his hand, expecting to be killed for defiance. It never happened, his eyes focused up to Dee’s, watching as emerald shined towards the roof. “Don’t even think of killing anyone now!”

“No, tomorrow you’ll be my companion, you can turn him into a vampire, as long as he leave me alone. I can force feed you, so he’s easy to kill.” He nuzzled his nose into Ryo’s hair. “You smell of green apples.” He nibbled down upon Ryo’s ear, causing the brunete to tense. “You almost made me forget. I brought you a few gifts.” He smiled brightly, reaching into his pockets.

“I don’t want anything you offer.” Ryo turned away from Dee’s lips, blocking him completely out of sight.

Dee smiled at Ryo’s antics, his lips thinning in a smile. “Well, here,” He held a box under the brunete’s nose, watching as Ryo stared confused at it. Taking the box, Ryo lifted the lid, staring at the contacts in it, as well as the solution to clean them. “Now, you can be in the light.” Dee grinned widely, showing a victory sign.

Blushing, Ryo turned to face Dee, holding the box to his heart. “Thank you, but how did you purchase these?” He stared up in confusion.

“Trench coat.” Dee shrugged, reaching into his pocket once more. “This too.” He placed a necklace around Ryo’s neck, letting the cross hang freely. “It was mother’s.” He smiled.

“Your mother?” Ryo stared up in confusion.

Dee shook his head, frowning. “No, I am an orphan. She was a nun at the church whom took me in. I could not be seen in the light, I was an unholy creature. She tried making me part of our orphan family, I had friends, but she was a great influence.” His eyes fell down upon his lap, pulling Ryo close to him. “I never meant to, but the minute I smelled blood coming from her in a raid upon our orphanage, I attacked her and those men. I was so hungry, I ate all those kids. I felt so awful in the end. I wanted to die in that basement, but then those workers came down, and I grew hungry once more for human blood…”

Placing, Ryo stared at Dee in shook. “The massacre of the Church was you…?”

“I didn’t! Those men hurt them, I was a victim of long lost hunger!” Dee closed his mouth slowly, eyeing the floor. Placing his hand under Ryo’s chin, he leaned the brunete towards his lips in a savoring kiss. Dee’s velvet tongue ran across the find pink petals that Ryo called “lips”, his hand caressing the back of the brunete’s head, earning access to Ryo’s mouth. With that granted, Dee’s tongue swept inside the moist cavern, mapping it out. Groaning, Ryo’s eyes widened in shock as Dee pulled away, smiling at Ryo’s flushed complexion. Standing up, he walked towards the window with a large smile. “The canteen will be on the roof of your work tomorrow morning, and I’ll return at noon with your lunch. I expect you to be at my place that night, if you want anymore.”

Nodding, Ryo watched as Dee flew off before he took a breath, glancing at the clock. Dee had been there for an hour. Touching his lips, Ryo let out a whimper before he cried into his hands. Sure, it wasn’t his first kiss, but with another man…and he had enjoyed it. Deciding to forget about the situation, Ryou laid back in his bed, sleeping once more.

“Ryo, are you okay? You look kinda pale.” Bikky stared at Ryo as the brunete cooked their breakfast. It was Saturday, Ryo was going to work, and was planning on dropping the small boy off at Carol’s – if it wasn’t like that, Bikky would still be in bed. Turning to face the small child, Ryo blushed completely, leaning back against the counter. “What would you say if I told you that I was with someone?” He had to ask, Bikky was an important person in his life.

“You mean that pretty girl at your work…Janet?” Bikky grinned, leaning on his elbows. “Always knew you two would hit it off.” He winked. “Don’t worry, I won’t bother if you want some ‘alone’ time.” He chuckled innocently.

Blushing, Ryo shook his head ‘no’, his eyes on the ground. “It’s more of a ‘he’ than a ‘she’.” Ryo blushed once more as Bikky stared up in shook.

“He! Ryo, you – you can’t have a man as a lover, come-on! Pretty girls!” Bikky whined, staring up in disappointment. “Who is it?” He murmured. “It ain’t the Rose guy, is it? He creeps me out.” The smaller brunete pushed hair from his face as he drank some of his milk.

“No!” The Japanese-American grimaced, showing his disapproval of the commissioner. “It’s actually my vampire, you’ve heard about him at school. I’m sure of that.” Ryo stared at Bikky before turning around. “His name is Dee, and it’s kind of hard to explain but. It doesn’t look like I can run from him any more.” He whispered.

“What do you mean ‘run’?”

“I was bitten, Bikky.” Ryo tilted his collar, showing the faded wound on his neck. “Today’s my last day as a full human…and I don’t want to go to him in seek of help alone. I can’t leave you, but I don’t know what this day will bring upon me either.”

Slamming his hands down, Bikky growled loudly. “What! So you’re just gonna let him do as he pleases! I’m not letting you go to him!” He let his voice run full through the house, eyes sharpening upon Ryo’s facial features.

“I want you to join me.” Ryo explained, holding his hands up in surrender. “Become a half vampire with me, so I don’t have to watch you become victim to whatever Dee is going to do with New York. I’m sure you can talk Carol into becoming one too.” He flushed, unsure why he even bothered asking the boy.

Blue eyes stared at him with all seriousness as Bikky sighed. “Fine. I am only becoming one with you, ‘cause someone’s gotta take care of you. Can’t let this Dee fag hurt ya.” He nodded. “Yep, kick him in the bud!”

Ryo smiled, reaching over and pulled Bikky towards him in a hug. “Thank you.”

“Breakfast in burning.” The child tapped Ryo’s shoulder, getting Ryo to remember what was going on before their ‘talk’.

Upon leaving the blood on the roof of the precinct, Dee was free to roam New York as he pleased. So much had changed since he could remember, staring up from the bared window at the world as it went by. Technology was changing as well, from the carriages to these automobiles; everything was different at its best. Pull the trench coat around him, his wings folded, he stepped out of the alley and into the busy streets, staring around with fascination that only one unaware of anything people were using could have.

The brunete, Ryo, was so beautiful. He smiled, staring up at the sky before sharply missing a person walking towards him, eager to begin his or her own busy day. Marketers started their work on the streets, which caused Dee to immediately buy himself lunch. Food. Much better than the rats he survived off of. After some meat from animals, he pull a person into an alley, drain them dry, leave the body, then continue until he could find a person’s blood most suited for one like Ryo.

Pushy? No, he wasn’t. He had no equal opportunity to have what everybody else did, he wanted love but no one could accept him as a vampire. Ryo seemed fascinated with it, and rather opened about it. He bore no marks, ones such as crosses or garlic; he gave no superstition as all the other pursers did. Turning the boy into a vampire, may at some point, was a mistake. After the prior one, Arnon, came into the picture, Dee never wanted to turn another companion into a vampire.

Arnon was special, had found Dee from the window when they were eight, and had sat there talking with him almost everyday until both were sixteen. That was when, with much talking, Dee had invited Arnon down into the basement, for eternal life. He had figured, from what Sister Maria had told him about his past, that he could turn Arnon into a vampire. He had done so, sucked a small amount of blood from the boy, and let him sleep. Three sucks, meant mate – the mark no longer showed, but the boy would be vampire, the first was merely one to turn him. In forty-eight hours, Arnon was visiting often for lessons on how to eat. Unlike Dee, he fed off those on the outside. To say that Dee was not jealous would have been a lie.

To his shock, Sister Maria had come down to tell him one day that Arnon had been killed, a stake through the heart by one that called him a vampire, and started questioning him about turning the poor boy into one. Dee lied, saying no. He knew for a fact at that point, what a turned-vampire would look like. How they would react to the change. Arnon had a blood lust for five people, or so he had said. Disappeared for a week, came back and told Dee how he killed the five people for food. To say the least, Dee was surprised.

Ryo would go into a bloodlust; meaning Dee would have to make sure food was of a sufficient supply, but where was the question. Tonight was the big day, he needed that food, but where to get such an amount? Turning a corner, he smiled seductively at a group of women, which flushed, and fluttered with giggles. Finding for was so easy.

“Hello ladies.” He gave a mock bow towards them, just as Sister Maria had taught him. Be nice to women, they were the future. They giggled again, giving a collective hello in reply. “What are pretty girls like you doing out here by yourselves?” He asked, and they smiled brightly and began to talk to him.

His emerald eyes scanned them all, making guesstimates on which ones would be missed – well they’d all be missed, but when and by whom was the answer. Upon leading one of the girls into an alley and draining her dry (she had expected a passionate embrace), Dee went on with his marry little way.

Once more, he was walking down the streets of New York, a sexy and seductive grin on his face as he walked past crowds, never tearing his eyes away from their faces. He was suppose to be on his way towards Ryo’s work, but he first needed to find some blood to keep his play busy all day. Clean blood, not contaminated – but it seemed so hard to find. He didn’t want to send people into fear if he just ate from some important CEO, and he didn’t want to go for some hobo off the street. He could grab anyone, but they had to be just perfect. A teenager, maybe? They were clean, right?

Stepping into the lower levels of New York, better known as the subway, Dee scanned the crowds once more before stopping on a young boy, seated by himself in fancy clothes, a sewn set of initials upon his breast pocket. Clean, spotless, just screamed out for Ryo. “What are you doing by yourself?” Dee asked, staring at the boy as he quickly stared up with gray eyes. They stood there, awkwardly, but the boy never said anything. “Cat got your tongue? I’m just asking if you would rather hang out with a group, than by yourself over here.”

The boy took a second, staring at his lap with a small twinge of fear. “I-we, don’t really get along.” He admitted.

Dee stared at the group, long enough to see a buffer male point at the alone child he spoke with. “They pick on you, don’t they?” He asked, hating himself. Never make friends with food, now he couldn’t eat – but the buffer male did look appetizing. “What’s your name?” He asked, and the boy stared up silently.

“Aaron.” He finally answered, but never gave any more information than that. “And who are you?”

“Dee…” The vampire smiled. “Dee Laytner.” He stole the last name of the man that had taken him to the orphanage. “Doesn’t your parents know that this guy makes fun of you?” He asked, watching the boy twitch at that comment.

“My…parents are dead. I live with my aunt, but she couldn’t care. I’m good money to her, she just sends me to this damn school that everybody is a snob to me, and tells me that their just teenagers, fight back! I can’t fight back! I sometimes wish I were dead!” He covered his mouth, staring down again. “I apologize for that, Dee was it? I should not be telling you of my problems.”

“Dead?” Dee asked, sitting down. “How about, dead, but living.”

Aaron tilted his head, before staring down once more, grinning slightly. “Is that some kind of oxymoron? Dead but living? What, as the undead, some horrible zombie out to eat peoples brains.” He giggled, tossing his legs out slightly. “Or like a vampire, like those recent attacks. I like vampires better, they can feel, I just know it. They have sense; they know when they are hungry, or when they don’t want to die. They move on their own.”

Brushing hair from his face, Dee said, “What if I could make you a vampire? If I did, would you keep it a secret?”

“You can’t do that…unless…” Aaron stared up.

“I’m a vampire?” Dee smiled, kicking his legs out. “Yes, a nice vampire is talking to you. I’ll make you a vampire, join me in my new reign – but for a price.” Dee’s green eyes turned to the boy, watching as he tensed, trying to scoot away. “Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt – but you can feel. You’ll live longer, have more chances, and harass the people who hurt you in return. All I ask for is an not to be told on when I eat tubby over there.” He pointed at the buffed guy, grinning rudely. Aaron stared down, before nodding his head.

“I would like to be a vampire, a new life, a perfect chance.” He stared at Dee, but the vampire’s eyes did not lose its confusion.

“Aren’t you going to run around, screaming that there is a vampire here?” He finally asked, but the boy denied, smiling distantly towards the upcoming train.

“Nope.” He stood up, walking away, giving a small wave the vampire that stood up and approached the buffed up guy, going through his pockets. A canteen. He smiled, perfect.

“Excuse me?” He tapped the teenager on the shoulder, causing the boy to turn and face him. “I thought you and I could talk, about bringing thoughts of suicide into Aaron’s head.” He firmly wrapped his hand around the boy’s upper arm, dragging him towards a darkened part of the subway. As asked, Ryo now had his meal.

He flew through the air, enjoying the wisps of the wind as his wings spanned out, his keen sense of smell bringing him to the sweet smell that was only Ryo. As he stared towards a large building, he smiled as the sight of the brunete, stepping out of the building and facing the distance, looking for him. He knew Ryo would feel the desire for the blood, it always happened.

Shifting his wings, he glided in for a landing, watching as the brunete tensed, stepping back and stared at the vampire up and down before relaxing, just slightly. Closing in, Dee removed any barrier between them as he wrapped his wings around the detective, pinning Ryo against the wall. “I knew you’d wait for me.”

“Bikky said he’d become a vampire.” Ryo pressed further to a wall, and Dee leaned his lips in, trying to get a kiss, but he was denied. “I’m not kissing you! I don’t even like you! None of this would be happening if you would have just ate me like you do with all the others!”

Dee smiled, bringing his arms around the brunete and pulled him close, his lips playing with the tender flesh on the nape of his neck. “Really? I would assume you would want to stay close to this Bikky.” He licked the flesh, feeling his mate-to-be tense before wrapping lazy arms around the vampire. Drawing his fangs, he rubbed the sharp tips against the missing wound.

“Will you just bite me!” Ryo yelled, irritation in his voice. “You’re right! I can’t die just yet, I’m all Bikky has left, and if having you chew open my neck every day grants me life, so be it!” Dee laughed; a joyful laugh as he brought his lips up, brushing them with Ryo’s before going back to his neck and puncturing it. Removing his fangs, he placed his lips against the wounds and slowly drank. Ryo’s tightened around him, clinging as the brunete’s knees grew weak, and hell fell against the cold chest before him. Finally, Dee pulled away, and latched onto Ryo’s lips, forcing his tongue in the brunete’s mouth.

As he pulled away, he licked his lips, grinning into the black eyes. “Yummy, very delicious.” He jerked as the door behind them banged open, and withdrew his wings, staring at the other brunete, staring at him with wide yes before the man started reaching for a gun.

“Ryo! Get away, it’s the vampire!” The man yelled, and Dee took off in the air, his hands rushing into his coat and withdrew the canteen. A piercing pain into his hand caused him to hiss and drop the warm blood, watching his fall and the lid fall off, leaving Ryo soaked in the dead buffed teenagers blood. Growling, Dee flicked the intruder before taking off towards his new home in New York.

Drake was shocked as he saw the blood land on the daze Ryo, splattering to the ground, but the brunete didn’t move – likely in shock. Reaching out, he pulled the brunete to his feet, helping him get off the roof before the evil vampire came back.

As they got to the next floor, he screamed on the top of his room to get a Medtech to them, Ryo had possibly been bitten, but he couldn’t see any wounds, there was too much blood on him. He could tell Ryo was possibly fighting from opening his mouth, but the urge to vomit hit Drake like a tidal force as Ryo finally licked his dry lips, as well as the blood.

“Don’t worry, Drake, I wasn’t bitten.” The other detective whispered, whipping blood from his cheek, then stared at it. “Just let me go wash this blood off myself, and we can continue with our lives.” He tried to stand up, but his friend only pushed him back down.

Holding his finger up, Drake glared, muttering out, “Like hell! You were wrapped in the vampires wings, I trust you, but not many others in this place will!” He watched as Ryo looked crestfallen, blinking as he stared up finally.

“So you don’t trust me, that’s why you’re making sure I’m being checked.” The brunet whispered, before tilting his neck. “It’s all right, check.”

Drake swallowed as the blood rushed out of his face, swallowing the lump in his throat. His friend’s voice sounded so dead. “Damnit! Someone get a doctor in here or something! He might have been bitten!”

Ryo just stared up, his black eyes with no question as another man rushed in the room, bearing a towel so he could wipe away the blood from the brunete’s neck. Just as Ryo had said, there were no marks on his neck (for Ryo was aware that he had already healed), and he was directed to go straight home, bathe, and relax after what had happened. He was told to, of course, also astonish their commissioner the next day with an appearance about the vampire, but Ryo had to decline, explaining he wasn’t feeling well. In truth, he didn’t look well either.

Bikky glanced up from his macaroni dish on the table just as Ryo stepped inside, glaring at the ground as his hands played absently with his neck. He looked pale – well paler than he usually was – his tongue playing slightly with his dry lip, as if anticipating about biting it. “Are you okay, Ryo?” Bikky asked, taking a sip from his milk just as the brunete opened the door to his bedroom. Ryo stared back at him with dead eyes, nodding hesitantly. “Did you have a nice run in with your vampire?” Bikky tried again, Ryo only nodded before entering his room and shutting the door behind him. Strange, Bikky thought.

Absently playing with his food, the child listened closely to Ryo from through the door; strangely the man was cussing out his coworker, Drake Parker. Mellow Ryo seemed upset about something dealing with blood, and the glowing green eyes in the window were far from helping him figure out what was wrong with him.

Wait…glowing green eyes? Bikky turned back to the window, confirming what he had seen the first time he had stared out the window. Green eyes stared back at him from a dark haired, pale faced, man. Black wings spread from the man’s back, flapping slightly in the wind, fingers rapping upon the window to make sure he had the young boy’s attention to open up. Bikky just stood there, shocked, not believing what his eyes were seeing. Sure, he believed that Ryo had been bitten by a vampire… but a vampire outside his window, waiting to be let in, now that was far from believable.

Standing up, Bikky reached up for the shade, waved, and brought it down. He could have sworn he saw a vein popping on the vampire’s head as a howl echoed through the window, peaking behind the shade Bikky saw that the vampire was gone, or at another window. Persistent bastard. Bikky smiled, lifting his dirty dishes and placing them in the sink. He tensed as the atmosphere of the room changed drastically, chills going up his spine. Scary movies took their affect. He was being watched.

Turning around, he jerked as he faced the grinning vampire…whatever its name was. He couldn’t remember worth hell anyway, wasn’t important. “Wha’!” Bikky touched the counter, looking for something to attack with. Did Ryo even have any stakes at home?

The vampire smiled, leaning forward so that his face was close to Bikky, bringing fear to the boy. “Boo. Locking me out wasn’t very nice. You left your window open.” Bikky cursed himself, stepping back. “Bikky I presume? Well, doesn’t matter, tell me, mortal, where is Ryo?” He chuckled as Bikky started edging towards the front door.

“Why would I tell you?” Bikky yelled back. “Leave him alone, you third rate vampire!” Bikky patted himself on the back for standing up to the monster. The vampire just snorted towards the comment, turning around towards Ryo’s door, sniffing the air.

“Whatever, I can find him myself, he is my mate-to-be.” The vampire stopped at the door, and opened the door. “You may follow if you want, we won’t be doing anything dirty, I just need to let him feed before he goes on a bloodlust, then you can say good-bye to him…or join us.” He continued into the room, and Bikky watched as he knelt upon the floor where Ryo was huddled.

The vampire pulled the brunete upon his lap, and Ryo stared up, before wrapping his arms around the vampire. “Dee, hungry…hurt…” The Japanese-American whispered, and Dee pulled Ryo’s face towards his own in a chaste kiss. Bikky covered his eyes, trying to tune out what was being done. Kicking the vampire could kill Ryo and himself. He could hear a slight hiss, than a faint sucking, and Bikky couldn’t control the urge to look up and see what was going on.

He had been expecting them to be…face fucking…but what he saw was Ryo drinking from Dee’s wrist, the vampire kissing the brunete’s neck as Ryo fed. the vampire stared up at Bikky, sliding his wrist from Ryo’s lips, a smile on his own. “That was our last feeding. He’ll be a vampire by tomorrow.” He stared down at the tired detective in his arms as the brunete yawned and prepared to fall asleep.

Sitting the brunete against the wall, Dee stepped towards the surprised brunete mixed boy, watching as Bikky stepped further back, into the living room, where he fell upon the couch. “Are you afraid, boy?” He asked, and the boy shook his head, no, that was not it. Well, it was a lie, Bikky had the feeling the vampire could smell the fear of fear rolling off of him. Why else would he have asked? “You have all the right to be afraid, locking me out. I’m just here for Ryo…”

“Stay away from Ryo, you scum bag!” Bikky yelled, flinging his foot to knock it into the vampire’s smug face. That showed him, The Bik-man was afraid of no one!

Dee growled, his hands reaching to grab the boy that took off joyfully from the couch to the floor, then towards his room. “You damn monkey! If you don’t stop, you can be a fucking orphan!” He yelled. “Or dead!”

Bikky stopped for a second, his bedroom door mid-close. Going in would mean Ryo was alone, he hadn’t thought of that – if Ryo was alone, that meant he just gave up his second father. If he did whatever the shit-face vampire wanted, he’d be dead anyway – one of the living dead, or dead dead. “If I join your lousy vampire pack thing, then I’m screwed anyway. I can’t go in the daylight, because I’ll burn, that means I can’t see Carol, or have a normal life. I’m not following you, and you’re not having Ryo! You said it yourself, he’s a vampire now, he doesn’t need you!” Bikky ran past the vampire, slamming himself into Ryo’s room. The brunete detective didn’t even stir as he sat down beside the man, listening to the complete silence that filled his home. Staring out the many windows near the bed, he met, once more; the green eyes of anger that could only be those of Dee. God he hated that vampire even more! Flicking Dee off, Bikky walked to the window and closed the blinds. Ryo was okay now!

He felt better than he had in days! Since Dee’s ‘love’ bites really! Ryo stretched, feeling a heavy body leaning against his chest. Staring down, he smiled at his adopted son as Bikky mumbled in his sleep before silencing again. Too cute! Smiling, Ryo stretched, remembering the horrible day he had before. Dee kissing him had probably been the highlight of the whole thing. Made him wonder about his sexuality, but those lips wouldn’t leave his mind.

Carrying his son to the bed, Ryo stared at the closed blinds, wondering when he had done so. He barely remembered coming home, but he could remember Dee holding him close last night as he feed. Dee…he had to wonder why the vampire left, though the locked bedroom door and numerous closed blinds were enough for Ryo to have a feeling Bikky scared the older (much older) man away. Walking to the window, he made to opening the blinds when his hand was slapped. Staring around, he jumped as he saw Dee smiling behind him, holding a small canteen in his left hand, a pair of contacts in the other. “I got your blood, but one of these times I’m going to have to teach you to eat yourself. Also, bought some contacts. Open that window now, and you’ll be blinded. Won’t burn – contrary to those stupid beliefs – but your senses are more swift.”

“I didn’t smell or hear you coming up,” Ryo leaned back against the wall, sucking from the cap to his drink. The iron tasting blood quenched his recent thirst, making him harden in ways he had never done so before, but his eyes stayed on Dee.

“You will sometime, not now though. Not until you’re my mate, I have no scent as you do. Smell of clean, sweet innocence…” He licked Ryo’s neck as the brunete drank, causing Ryo to tense. Quickly, he pushed Dee back, waving his hand innocently.

“Breakfast!” He exclaimed exhaustedly. “Have to make Bikky breakfast! Would you like some…?” He stepped into his kitchen, knowing the keen vampire was following him. Even though Dee never replied, Ryo started making enough of the recipes to feed three people, his eyes softening as he heard the door to his bedroom open, and Bikky’s soft breathing, whispering to figure out where Ryo was. Dee heard it too as the vampire perked up, and expanded his wings to stretch them before recoiling them to his back. “Will I have wings?”

Dee nodded, staring at the food on the stove with wolfish hunger. “Of course, yours can be hidden though because they rip through your back. Painful, I hear, but a sight for sore eyes. My sight only though.” Dee smiled as Bikky ran into the kitchen, clutching to his brunete father with a glare in Dee’s direction. “We can’t stay here.” The vampire muttered, pointing towards the windows, large windows, and the neighborhood. “I am not going to be caught by people who can’t mind their own business.”

“Ryo and I are, you can leave.” Bikky hissed, glaring at the vampire with pure hatred. Ryo rolled his eyes, looking back at his eggs. Dee had a point, the lady across the street loved getting into his business, especially since he was a single parent and she loathed Asians – part or not. Though, the thought of Bikky living in that abandoned apartment Dee called a home? Sure, Bikky could have his own room still, and there’d be a lot of space, but Bikky needed ‘needs’, like people. Not that he didn’t trust…well, he tried to trust Bikky, sometimes that was just too hard to leave him on his own.

“Bikky, I thought we discussed this. Changes will be made…like it or not.” Ryo whispered, but he knew Dee could hear him. “Just, become one, Bik-kitty,” he referred to the name he had come up with for the small boy who growled slightly, “it’s not all that bad.” He smiled.

Bikky stared intently at Dee, tilted his neck, and muttered, “take a chunk of my skin, I’ll kill you.”

A sudden call from the chief had Ryo driving down the streets towards the commissioner’s office on that bright Sunday afternoon. New York streets, never bare, were filled with cars and other sources of traffic. Sometimes, it made the man wonder if anyone went to church anymore. Another red light pulled him to a stop. Dee had told him to return to the deserted apartment in the older part of New York on his return home. He was going to pack a few things for Ryo himself – some clothes, dishes, and sheets. As the chief had promised, Ryo would have Monday off so he could ‘suddenly’ move because the vampire was stalking him.

On his way out the door, Dee had told him of another half vampire in a spare room, and to put Bikky in there. It had several beds; they could keep each other company when either awoke. Ryo was a little shocked, but had nodded his head as he as he went out the door. Bikky, while Dee bit him, had asked if Carol could join them. Dee had never answered neither had Ryo.

Now, there he was, going to the one place he didn’t want to be, with contacts in his black eyes to block out the horrible sunrays and make him feel normal, his back in pain. Dee had ‘promised’ to deal with that pain, but the thought of whatever the vampire would do made him queasy. Exotic kisses, sucking of blood. Those thought were also in his head; they refused to go. Maybe he did need to get laid, but one-night stands were out of the question.

Pulling into a parking space outside the building, Ryo whistled to himself as he stepped inside and started towards the o-so familiar office belonging to none other than Commissioner Rose Berkley. It wasn’t that Ryo was a bad boy or a disruptive detective, he was a good boy and a damn hard worker compared to most of the loonies he worked with, but that the commissioner had a ‘thing’ for the sheltered boy that had little to no defense against the most innocent of kisses. Dee biting his neck had been one. First day on the blasted job, he got turned, and he was still lying about it. Maybe Berkley had found out about his little scandal.

Opening the door, he saw the commissioner was staring out his long windows to the busy streets of New York, one finger pushing up his glasses. “You wished to see me, sir?” Ryo saluted.

The other brunete just shook his head, not bothering to hide his concern. “I understand that the vampire was found on the roof of the precinct yesterday, wings wrapped around you. I can’t help but wonder if there is something you’re keeping from me, Randy…”

The silence was broken by the door suddenly opening saved Ryo from the troublesome answer until he could think of a good enough – and believable – lie, and actually get away with it. Entering where the other participants in the police vampire hunt, five men from the age of twenty-five to forty-eight. They all were the quiet type, the superstitious type that couldn’t leave teenage hood alone when they wore black and visited the cemeteries. A stereotype that Ryo had in his mind, but that’s what most of them looked like. He looked fresh as the day; they were all night crawlers in black and purple.

Rose’s eyes were still a hard purple as he nodded his head tiredly. “Very well. Let’s get down to some Vampire Business. We’ve had the number of deaths doubled, meaning our dear vampire is spawning out now. Children or adults, I don’t think this vampire will care. We are all aware of the vampire hunts that was lost in history around the world, that we had them controlled in the late eighteen hundreds, that means this one vampire was hid well. What did he look like, Ryo?” The man stared at the only hunter that had actually encountered the said creature.

Thinking over his words, Ryo sighed, knowing that the truth was best. “Dee is very…instinctive, I can say that, but I doubt he means any harm-”

One of the other’s gave the brunete a weary glance, stepping back slightly. “Means no harm? These are humans he’s sucking on, no he couldn’t just stay with rats and live stock, and he’s going after our own population!”

Glaring, Ryo shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I suppose us killing live stock is different? Survival of the fittest, as Darwin would have said it. If our kind is not strong enough to withstand another organism’s abilities, then how are we to say we are the toughest? Maybe this is a way to show us we need to evolve a little more so we can’t be killed.”

“And what, become another blood sucking fiend?” The only African American growled out, his hands tightening in balls. “I swear, if that vampire comes near me, I’m shoving a stake in his heart, no questions asked. I refuse for him to use me as a late night snack.”

“Maybe it won’t be him chewing on your neck if the deaths are double, maybe even tripling.” Ryo held up his hands in defense to his point.

Rose, who was listening to their bickering quietly, stared up to meet Ryo’s deep black eyes with narrow eyes. “What are you proposing, Randy? That this vampire has “friends” and that we’re not looking into one full blooded vampire?” He glared intently, watching as Ryo tensed before shaking his head.

“The death toll doubled on his daily feedings. Three a day, means three meals, now that is six a day, which means two of them. The double means half-breeds, but you can call them friends if need. You don’t choose if you want to be a vampire, you either face a painful death from starvation and exile or they feed off to live better lives. They are much better than we could ever hope to dream, free of sickness and death itself unless done by human hands.” He finished his little defense towards Dee, not surprised that no one bought it. “Anyway, yes, he’s from the massacre of the Orphanage all those years ago, and there once was another vampire, but it didn’t work so well between the two.”

“And how would you know this?” Rose raised a brow, and Ryo opened his mouth for a quick lie.

“He talks to me a lot, he’s bored since people fear each other now.” Ryo rubbed his neck, showing that he had absolutely no bite marks. “He discuss things, talk his time, his problems over. I don’t see him as a bad person, just another hungry soul. He’s not mad or anything.” Or at least I hope not.

Rose nodded, holding his hands to stop the chatter that started with Ryo’s comment. “A spy behind enemy lines may just be good,” he explained, ignoring Ryo’s comment that Dee was not an enemy, “Let him get some more info, like his usual feeding grounds, choices, may be, and we can grab the vampire at a more organized time. Dismissed, except you Ryo, we need to discuss more things before our meeting started.”

Blushing, Ryo watched the other Vampire Hunter leave the room before facing the commissioner in some fear. Had he gave any hints of being one with the vampire? Rose moved some paper work on his desk, buying time, before he stared up again and met Ryo’s gaze. “I’d rather not wait, we don’t need anymore casualties, Ryo. The minute you’re with the vampire and –Dee- turns his back, stab him. I don’t want to hear about him causing more problems. Is this understood?” He asked, and Ryo nodded, saluting. Deep down, he started to wonder when he became such a slack with work that he’d actually lie to his commanders? “Now that we have this under control, how about dinner some time?” He smiled, and Ryo blushed.

“I actually have a busy schedule, with reports and vampire hunting, there’s no time. I’m also in the process of, uh…moving because of certain vampires breaking into my home.”

“Vampires?” Rose put the word on the plural form, leaning forward. “So we are working with more than one vampire?” Ryo nodded, not meeting his eyes. “Fine, we’ll go on a nice, secluded, date just after the vampire is destroyed. All right?” He smiled, and Ryo faced out the window, his sharp eyes spotting Dee sitting on the roof of the building across the street.

“Of course sir.” Ryo stepped out of the room, paling at the conversation. Can’t kill Dee at all, I need to live, and I don’t want to date…him.

Just as he saw, Dee was waiting patiently for him, on the ground instead of on the building. The vampire was dressed in a cloak, his eyes narrowed. “Who the hell was that bastard?” He yelled, not even letting Ryo greet him. “Why didn’t you do anything, didn’t you see him undressing you with his eyes?”

“Opposed to what you constantly do?” Ryo muttered, started down the road towards his car. He didn’t have time for jealous living dead.

“Leave it, you’re flying to our new home.” Dee grabbed Ryo’s hand, dragging him into an alley. The brunete tensed as they stopped, the vampire making sure no one was around before removing his coat and spreading out his wings. Ryo just watched, stepping back against the wall. He didn’t have wings, he didn’t! Reaching forward, Dee pulled Ryo against him, his fingers running down Ryo’s back where the wings were suppose to be, pulling the brunete’s tunic off. Gasping, Ryo tried pulling back, not able to stay close anymore with the forwardness that Dee was showing.

The vampire just stared at his back before growling out, “why the hell aren’t you changing?” He stepped back, staring over the brunete before flapping his wings out. Ryo, in an act of bravery, glanced up at the vampire, eyes staying wide with the comment. Had the transformation been unsuccessful? Dee said nothing as he went deep into thought, staring the brunete from head to toe before leaning forward to press his lips against Ryo’s frozen ones. “Maybe more is needed for the mating for you to become a vampire…essence perhaps?” He pressed Ryo against the wall, his thigh brushing past the detective’s leg barriers and against his waist, rubbing Ryo’s cock teasingly.

How strange, Ryo leaned into the touch, unable to stop himself. Was he so human that he would let his sexual curiosity control him? Feel those lifeless lips against his neck where he had been drank from so many times, let Dee take him to a moment in ecstasy that he could never forget, all for the chance to see what he had changed to? It was a wonderful chance, one that he could only have, but a sickening feeling continued in his belly. Had Dee done this before? One part of him wanted Dee to have some knowledge on what was going on, because Ryo had a feeling that Dee had been one of those closed childhoods because he was different. Yet, the other half wanted to be Dee’s first, just as the vampire was going to be with him. First, maybe only.

Dee’s lips were once more on the collar of his neck, and Ryo went, once more, into reality. When did he close his eyes? When did they arrive back at Dee’s apartment? He was confused, but his body screamed for more sexual touches that blew his mind. Reaching his hand up, he touched the cold cheeks that were to be his mate. A foreign word, so strange to him. It seemed more like possession, that that of love. Could they be lovers, instead of mates? As his fingers curled against the dark hair, would his skin be so cold? Understanding the touch, Dee’s lips met his own, in a savoring kiss, one that would be of millions if this all worked out. He was ready, Ryo smiled, giving Dee the okay. No matter what, he was ready for what was to come.

Brushing his fingers over the shirt that the brunete wore, Dee carefully pulled it off, exposing the pale skin he had never seen before. Beautiful. Leaning down, he latched his mouth onto a pink nub, his trimmed nails pinching the other one, the lone one. As the sensual moves were placed upon the tender skin, Ryo’s head fell back as his mouth opened in a quiet moan. Glancing up, Dee smiled brightly as he scrapped his fangs upon the flesh, letting the skin perk to attention before pulling his mouth away and attacking the second nipple. His hands left the detective’s chest, going down towards the brunete’s navel, dipping in. The detective turned, slight mews and moans escaping his bruised lips.

The hand suddenly left his navel, lowering further down and wrapping around his erected cock, fondling it playfully. Leaning forward, Dee pressed their lips together once more, a firm kiss full of lust and enjoyment. Ryo opened his mouth, allowing the vampire to lick and nip at his tongue, both fighting for dominance in their unsacred relationship. As Dee pulled away, he stared at the beauty below him. His hand, from the opening of Ryo’s work trousers, was still caressing the hardened flesh that his hand itself felt constricted. Slowly, tauntingly, he removed his hand from the material compounds and carefully started sliding down the pants themselves. Ryo’s hips rose, helping as his soft, dark eyes stared with intent fascination at intimacy he’d never felt before.

Dee leaned down, his fangs nipping at the skin along the brunete’s neck. The detective moaned. Straddling his partner, Dee grinned down, and Ryo stared up, confused and lost about what was to happen. Dee didn’t say anything, lost in the deep depths of Ryo’s eyes as he leaned down. His lips pecked the man’s lips, lowering down to his perked nipples. The vampire’s tongue licked the skin teasingly before taking the bud into his mouth to suck on.

He loved the taste of Ryo’s skin, peaches and the slight taste of sweat made it perfect, the finest wine that was addicting to the first sip. Going further down, he dipped his tongue into Ryo’s navel, making a note to himself that the man was ticklish there after Ryo once more went into a fit of giggles with the careful ministrations.

Taking it up a notch, he licked his way to the soft curls at the base of Ryo’s cock, another addicting aroma he could fall in love with. The brunete tensed with this, but curiously stared down as he controlled his breathing – watching Dee’s movements as the vampire brought his lips to the tip. He gasped, and Dee stared up, but his mouth never left Ryo, patiently licking and sucking the forbidden flesh. Ryo’s eyes disappeared as his head fell back against the pillow, a small moan of the vampire’s name escaping his lips. Beautiful.

Lowering his mouth, he took more of Ryo’s flesh in his mouth, the same glistening taste of peach. Warmed peach. He removed the swollen appendage from his mouth and licked the under side of it, his fangs grazing the flesh. Ryo’s body tensed under him, and Dee ran his hand over the brunete’s thighs, calming him down some, his other hand reaching to fondle Ryo’s sacs. The new half-vampire relaxed under him, staring down to meet Dee’s eyes as the vampire once more ran his tongue over the warmed flesh, taking it all in his mouth in a deep throat motion. Ryo’s licked his drying lips, his fingers reaching back to grip the pillow as his hips arched into the warm mouth.

Removing his hand from rubbing Ryo’s inner thighs, Dee pressed his digit between the two pale globes and played with the puckered entrance. Ryo didn’t notice; his mind was too far placed with the wonderful things Dee’s mouth was doing with his swollen cock as the vampire took more of the flesh in his mouth in another deep throating manner. Slowly, he pressed in another finger into the widened entrance, and finally Ryo tensed, his body (on reflex) started to push the intruding digits out.

“Sh.” Dee whispered, his non-busy hand brushed the sacs of his soon-to-be lover, and Ryo tensed and shook madly from the pleasure. “Relax.” Dee’s warm breath brushed against the sensitive skin around the tip of the cock. In a daze, the half-vampire relaxed and stared in wonder at the vampire that lowered between his spread globe cheeks. Unprepared, Ryo let out a sharp cry as the vampire’s tongue entered him down there, absently tongue fucking his stretched entrance.

Using his hands, Dee stretched his lover’s legs further apart as he sharpened his fangs and ran them against the sensitive skin, feeling another quiver go through his detective. A soft whine escaped Ryo as Dee’s fingers cut through the tight muscles, stretching his lover out before removing his tongue to add another finger into the slick passage. His green eyes met charcoal as Ryo’s heavy breathing continued. “Please…” The detective begged, and the vampire could only smile.

Thrusting in all three of his fingers at the same time, Dee ran the tips against the brunete’s prostate gland, watching as the half-vampire cried out, revealing his neck. Leaning down, he kissed the sensitive skin that had once been penetrated so often before glancing up at the eyes, closed and waiting. “Do you want me, Ryo?”

“Yes…” Was the moaned response he received, and Dee removed his fingers, receiving a disapproving groan from the man before him. Lifting up Ryo’s legs, Dee placed them on his hips, stretching the boy’s opening some more for easier access. He brushed his hand against his cock, brushing his own precum around the tip so it wouldn’t hurt before pressing towards Ryo’s opening.

With a grab on the half-vampires hips, Dee slammed into the warmth, ignoring the painful scream that escaped the man below him. Ryo’s arms reached up, clawing at Dee’s shoulders as his anal muscles tensed and tried to pull away from the man above him, but Dee didn’t move. The vampire remained still, just staring down and brushing hair out of Ryo’s lovely face as they waited for Ryo to get use to the penetration, and what seemed like forever, Ryo finally relaxed, knowing Dee wasn’t going to get out of him, and the vampire started the agonizingly slow thrust.

Ryo’s head fell back finally, his eyes rolling slightly as the vampire nailed that spot inside of him, and finally he set his own thrust back to make sure Dee didn’t miss. Their bodies pressed constantly together, forming as a union. Removing his fingers from Dee’s shoulders, the half-vampire lowered them down his own hard cock, wrapping the thin digits around his swollen self and began to thrust into his hand, at the same pace that Dee had set. Soon the thrust became fast, and never once did it miss that one spot that had Ryo screaming out his vampire’s name, and no sooner did his voice fall to a broken cry as he came between them, painting his new lover as the vampire did to him. Finally, able to pull away, Dee brushed more hair from the turned-vampire’s sweet covered forehead, and smiled at the look of pure sated lust in those deep depths.

“Love…” Croaked the brunete, his voice worn from all his screaming and moaning, “…That was…beautiful.”

“So were you.” Dee smiled, pecking the brunete’s forehead as the part-Japanese man fell asleep. Aware that there was a dead sleep, Dee once more dressed himself and walked towards the window. He had a monkey to see.

Bikky stared up as a rasping knock brushed against the window, but he couldn’t move. His whole body felt like led, and he was so hungry. One of those insatiable hungers that couldn’t be dealt with. He had tried eating almost everything in the kitchen and it either sickened him, or after awhile made him sick because he stomach was too full. But there was the hunger for a certain food. Blood, that was it. He could feel it raging from his veins, it was there, but felt like he was on fire. He needed Ryo; the brunete usually knew what to do.

The rasp came again until the window finally shattered in, and Dee stepped through, glaring at the glass chunks. “Would have been nice if you’d just let me in, damn monkey.” He glared at the boy, watching as the glazed eyes stared up at him. “Well, isn’t it a good thing I came back in the first place, hm?” Dee chuckled and held up a canteen of blood from the latest victim. Bikky’s eyes grew wide as the tip of the bottle was placed against his lips, and he could already taste the horrible iron tasting blood. His stomach began tossing up, demanding that he drank some, but his head told him not to.

Dee didn’t seem to like his choice though and reached forward, grabbing the boy’s chin. “Fucking hell!” He cried as the enraged boy bit his finger. Dropping the canister on Bikky’s lap, Dee stepped back to examine his finger.

Gazing halfheartedly at the bottle, Bikky found that simple craving getting the best out of him, and no sooner he had to tip placed against his lips and he was sucking the heavy liquid with a new sense of vigor. It quenched that inner thirst and Bikky had his eyes closed as he let the taste be lasting until the last drop fell down his throat. He had to shake the bottle, just in case there was anymore, but to his luck, there was none, and Dee stood them with a grin.

“Stop staring at me.” Bikky snarled, and stood up. “Now where’s Ryo?” He screamed, and the vampire just ignored him, staring out the window. “You’d better of not hurt him!”

“Just shut up, you house ape.” Dee grabbed Bikky by the nape of his neck, and Bikky kicked the vampire in shin. Dee hopped around, glaring angrily at this boy that thought better of him before reaching out again. “Damn it! It’s three in the morning, this is New York, life is about to start up and I need to get you back to my place before Ryo wakes up.” Bikky froze, turning around. “Are you going to come without a fight?” Dee asked, glaring, Bikky nodded but grinned mischievously.

Taking the boy under his arm, Dee stepped out on the fire escape, staring at the city that already seemed filled with life. His wings spread out, and Bikky watched with boyish excitement as they took off into the air and towards the lower bit of the city. After a few minutes, Dee landed upon the ground, next to an old abandoned boarding house, and started inside the place, Bikky running after. The young boy stared about, taking in his new surroundings as a door was thrown open by the vampire, and the man held open his arms. “This will be your room. You have a roommate also,” he pointed towards the bed where a sleeping figure tossed and turned in his sleep. “Ryo will be up in a day or so. We hunt tomorrow night. Sleep well.” Dee pushed the boy in and shut the door.

With a cry of rage, Bikky slammed his foot against the door before hearing a slight mutter for him to shut up. Staring at the other boy, he frowned. “What? Are you going to let the bisexual bastard get what he wants?” He asked. The boy sat up, his dark brown hair falling behind his ears as his blue eyes gleamed with sadness.

“He’s actually nice, compared to a lot of people I’ve met. My name’s Aaron.” The boy smiled. “I just became a vampire today, and I think I’m going to like it.”

“Whatever.” Bikky sat on the bed and glared. That Aaron may like it, but by damn, he was only doing this for Ryo!

A flutter of eyelids was the first signs of life from the comatose preteen before he actually sat up. The mulatto boy groaned; covering his eyes as a soft ray of light broke through the wood slates on the window that hid most of the morning light. Truth be told, Bikky still wasn’t use to this over sensitivity to light, but he was sure he could manage sometime. He was doing this for Ryo; he couldn’t leave his adoptive father alone with that bisexual (or gay, Bikky wasn’t sure) monster.

Pulling his tangled legs out of his destroyed bed (which was actually a worn out mattress of questionable use covered with a blanket that looked like it had been used to kill someone), and touched the ground with his bare toes. The surface felt hard, and soft slivers of the wood pricked his toes, but wasn’t enough to stop him from standing on his wobbly legs. The still blankets on the other poorly put together bed caught Bikky’s attention, and he remembered that he had a roommate, Aaron. Poor sap. Bikky shook his head and started towards the door. He had to find Ryo and get out of here.

Stepping into the hall, Bikky took in his surroundings, obviously noting the use of wear the old building seemed to put out. Dust lingered on the stairs going to another floor, as well as the floor leading towards the kitchen, except for footsteps in the hall leading to Bikky’s bedroom. There was no furniture, but Bikky wasn’t surprised about this either. No beds obviously meant Dee didn’t take time to think of making his home look very suitable for outsiders.

Heading towards the kitchen, the creaking tiles caused him to stare down at the ground. Some tiles had long since been broken in half, and in some places roaches and other bugs scurried off, knowing the first signs of another presence in the room. The refrigerator had been somewhat moved away from the wall, antifreeze all over the floor around where the refrigerator had once been, eating away at the surface. Of course, the refrigeration looked old, just like the rest of the house. One of those CFC refrigerator used before they were banned from being sold. A cabinet fell to the floor with his next movement, causing a squeak to escape the boy’s lips as thousands of roaches scattered for another shelter. Yep, Ryo was just going to love this place.

Turning around, the brunete pre-teen walked towards the stairs, taking the first step of fate. The floor neither fell through nor collapsed from any pressure as he had expected the worn steps to do. He took another cautious step followed by another until he reached the next floor. It wasn’t in any better condition, but there were footprints in the dust and dead bodies of homeless men lying there that had been killed by the vampire. Each face had a look of horror still there, and Bikky had to fight the urge to retch. This place was so horrible!

He took another couple of steps, where the footsteps ended in front of a door. He couldn’t hear any voices, expecting that more than likely, the vampire was asleep – and likely so was Ryo. His hand reached out, shaking rapidly as it grasped the cold door handle and turned it. With a squeak from the door hinges, it was opened, and a pair of green eyes opened to stare at Bikky. Dee was obviously in a foul mood for being awoken, judging by the snarl that met his lips. Bikky played tough guy though, ignoring the stare, and looked at Ryo.

The man didn’t seem pale (or paler than normal) from any type of death, more like he was having the first peaceful sleep he had ever had. Never mind the fact Bikky could tell what had happened the night before judging by the clothes scattering the dirty room, and his naked adoptive father, but he couldn’t stop staring from shock. Ryo just did it like that? No questions asked? Was he that easy? Bikky shook the question out of his head as his stomach growled, receiving a harsh chuckle from the vampire.

“This is your fault. Help me find food.” The small boy puffed his chest out to look bigger than he felt on the inside as Dee pulled up on all fours and stretched – his wings included. The large black wings spread out at full range before withdrawing towards his back, and he stared peacefully at Ryo’s sleeping face. “I suppose I should teach you to hunt so you’ll leave me alone, hm?” He grinned, pulling out of bed.

“Like I’d ever do that,” Bikky muttered, narrowing his eyes, Dee matched the glare as he got out of bed, and Bikky cried out realizing that the vampire was naked under the sheets. Turning his head, he started towards the door, “I’m going to wake up Aaron to go hunting. You’d better not touch Ryo while I’m gone!”

“So I can molest him as I please while you’re around?” Dee smirked, and Bikky shook his head, feeling the blood boil in his face and causing the dark skin to turn reddish.

“No!” He took off down the steps, not wanting to hear anymore that the vampire could say. Jumping the last two steps, Bikky threw open his bedroom door, startling the other sleeping boy. “Come on, up-up.” He placed his hands on his hips, and Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Dee’s taking us out,” Bikky muttered quietly before turning around to stand by the front door. Aaron waved his hand up, showing that he had heard before rising to get ready. Bikky shut the door, gazing tiredly up at the upper floor as he remembered Dee’s wings and couldn’t help but wonder if he’d get them. It’d be great if he did. He could fly over to Carol’s…

Bikky’s mood dropped. He forgot all about Carol. What was she going to think when she saw what had become of both he and Ryo. Monsters now. Maybe she’d be enthralled and wish to join them? Bikky smiled at that thought. Forever with his Carol, after he sucked the life out of Bobby that was. Oh yes, revenge would be great. He smiled, yet then that small nag came back. What if she did find him a monster? Would she be caring and understanding to his reasons?

“What’s with the gloomy face?” Dee’s voice came down the steps, his green eyes stayed upon the small boy before him, in front of the door where Aaron was rushing around behind. He was dressed in another overcoat (likely the same one), completely hiding his wings from other’s eyes. Bikky started to wonder if he’d ever get wings that he’d have to hide.

“None of your business.” Bikky picked up on the defensive side, turning his head around to face a wall. He wasn’t going to tell his problems to the monster that was ruining his life.

The bedroom door flew open and Aaron ran out with a smile plastered on his face, his hand raised in the air. “Ready! Let’s go!” He took off towards the door, grinning from ear to ear.

“I dislike happy people in the morning…”

“I hate people who are happy at this damn hour!”

Bikky and Dee exchange glances, Bikky glared and turned away as quickly as their statements hit each other’s hearing. With a snort, Dee flicked a bang out of his face and winked at Aaron. “Okay then! Shall we head off? Let’s start with a few things before we leave the house. Number one, always grow your wings in an alley. Number two, never hunt near home – found that one out the hard way, but what a pleasant reward I got in the end.” Bikky snorted, knowing the vampire was talking about Ryo.

Aaron grinned brightly, raising his hand. “Wait! We don’t have wings yet!”

“Sure you do!” Dee wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder. “Unlike me, yours are retractable while mine will always be this way. From what I know, hurts like hell growing them, but I was also told that after awhile you get use to it, less messy.” He opened the door, leading the orphan boy and mulatto down the stoop stairs with a large grin.

Bikky followed Dee down, his trademark glare marking his face as they started down an alleyway. Bikky froze at first, wondering why he’d ever go in one of those since it was where most murderers lied, but since Aaron was already going in with no problem, Bikky followed so he didn’t look scared. “Remove your shirts.” Dee stated, rather bluntly.

“What?” Bikky screamed stepping back. “I knew you were a bisexual pervert, but a pedophile to?” He covered his chest with his hands, trying to hide his body away from the vampire’s eyes.

Dee’s face scrunched up in disgust, looking Bikky up and down. “I’m not a pedophile and I’m not into monkeys either. You have to remove your shirt or it’s going to rip when you grow your wings, idiot.” He was removing his trench coat and allowed his wings to spread open; Bikky stared at Dee for a second, then at Aaron. Aaron had a grin on his face, but was not wearing his shirt. With another sigh, Bikky removed his own tunic and placed it on an old wooden box. “Now concentrate on your back muscles, just try to think of those wings stretching,” Dee instructed, sitting down and waiting patiently.

With a snort, Bikky did what he was told. Wings. One, why did he want them? What good could come out of all this? He tensed his back muscles up subconsciously. What would they look like? Would they be a black like Dee’s? He really didn’t like that idea, but it couldn’t be yellow like his hair. He’d hate that more. He scrunched his face feeling some pressure in his back, but then it was gone and he felt really light. Damn the thought of wings. He didn’t want them in the first place.

“Congratulations, Bikky.” Dee muttered, and the mulatto boy opened his eyes and saw his firm dark wings folk onto his back. They weren’t large, just enough to cover his own body. He didn’t even feel them grow! He stared at Aaron, watching the blood red wings fall back on the boy, as if he was flexing those muscles to see how they actually worked. He followed, stretching the new appendages and letting them fall forward, his feet rising somewhat off the ground. “Let’s start our hunt then, shall we?” Dee started into the air, holding his over coat. Bikky followed, as did Aaron, and they started over the New York skylines.

It was almost midnight when Bikky landed on the roof of the crowded neighborhood just off downtown New York. He had left Dee to tend to the still sleeping Ryo, sure that the vampire could handle the man for a couple of minutes. At first, Bikky had found it strange that Ryo was still asleep, but Dee had explained that it was probably taking a lot of energy for Ryo to transform. With an (almost) understanding, Bikky had left to go visit his friend. He had to know how Carol would feel of these changes.

Just as he expected, her lights were out, and she was probably already sleeping, but with a knock to the window, she stirred in bed and sat up, staring out the window with shock. Like a flash of lightening, she was at the window, letting the vampire-turned boy inside, and Bikky made himself comfortable on her bed, sitting up as she once more shut the window.

“Where were you today, Bikky?” She whispered sternly. “Skipping? Ryo’s going to find out, and he won’t be happy!” With a shake of his head, Bikky calmed those suspicions down.

“No, Cal.” He shook his head again, brushing the strands back, behind his ears. “A lot’s happened the last few weeks, and I don’t know you’ll believe me.” He glanced up to see her expression, wincing at the ‘try me’ glare written all over her face. “Remember when Ryo told us that he was going to be joining the vampire unit?”

Carol’s face broke into a smile with a giggle of glee, her hands clapped together. “Remember! Of course I do! I thought it was the coolest thing ever.” Bikky returned her smile, before crossing his arms. “He found one didn’t he?” Carol pressed against the bed, leaning forward, as if reading the mulatto boy’s expression. “I knew it!” She laughed again.

“Calm down, Cal.” Bikky whispered. “Let me finish, will ya?” She quieted, leaning full into what he was saying. “The vampire found him, to be more like it. Ryo and I are turned vampires now.” He rushed the story, tilting his neck to show the two circle markings.

Leaning in, Carol inspected the marking before smiling brightly. “Wow…” Her breath thinned. “Are you two okay with this; I mean…the vampire isn’t hurting either of you, is it?”

“I wish, but no. He’s been okay, he’s taught me to hunt, babies Ryo. He’s an okay guy…but I wouldn’t ever tell him that,” Bikky said, disgusted. “But, I came to ask you…”

Carol glanced up as the boy lost his voice, watching as the turned-vampire hide his face in his lap. “You want to ask me to be a vampire with you, right?” She questioned, and Bikky nodded. “Had you asked a week ago, I would have laughed as if you were joking.” She stood up, walking to the window to open it. “But, now that I know you’re serious about this Bikky, I don’t know what how to respond. Let me think about it…after our camping trip. You will be going, right?” She stared up, and Bikky nodded, walking towards the window.

“Fine. Until then, I guess.” He pecked her cheek and flew off with the spread of his wings, leaving the girl alone.

He was alone. That was the first thought that crossed Ryo’s mind as he opened his dark eyes to look around the shady, broken down, apartment. Where was Dee? The brunete sat up, his eyes falling to the rickety old floorboards before he got out of the old bed. Had he been abandoned? Ryo shuddered at that though, quickly dismissing it. Dee wouldn’t leave him after a night of lovemaking (Ryo saw it as no less). Running his fingers through his hair, the brunete stood up on his jelly-like legs and walked towards the door.

Though he felt no different than he did yesterday, the detective realized that he was quicker at figuring out his surroundings, as his senses had definitely sharpened. To prove that fact, he could hear voices from down the safety-hazard stairway. One he could narrow down as Dee, the other he couldn’t really figure out who it was. It seemed very manly though. Rusted along the edges, but still deep in superiority. He stepped down a few steps and stared down the railing to see whom Dee had brought home with him.

The closer he became to the first floor, the more Ryo could hear. Oh how much he could hear. The sweet blood rushing through the living man’s veins was like a raging river. Ryo could almost taste it; the coppery substance practically filling his mouth already. Running his tongue along his lips, Ryo gasped as sharp fangs where his canines were pierced the skin. He repeated the movement, and felt satisfied that something had changed, even if just a little.

He stepped again. Coming closer to the ground level, his eyes never leaving the living body just below. The man noticed the brunete’s presence, and stared up with sapphire eyes, a movement that caught Dee’s attention as well. “That would be Ryo.” Dee’s eyes glazed over, causing them to become a darker green than Ryo had before seen in a person’s eyes, they made him enchanted with the beautiful color.

The stranger huffed a laugh; his eyes narrowing some, before glancing at Dee. “When you said your beautiful roommate was looking for someone, I thought your roommate was a woman. I think I’ve wasted both of our time.” The man started towards the front door, but Dee’s hand firmly kept the door shut. A sudden chill went through Ryo’s body as he watched the man’s movements carefully.

“Look, I ain’t no fag, and keeping me locked here isn’t going to make a difference to anyone. I can’t help you.” The man reached forward, but Dee grasped the man’s thick wrist, tightly.

“No, I think you can help.” Dee whispered. Ryo’s stomach turned, as he pressed the wrist of the man to his cheek, feeling the warmth that flowed steadily. “My friend here, he’s only hungry.” Dee smiled, and Ryo returned an easy smile, but his eyes never left the man staring back and forth between them. This stranger was sweating now, as if he knew he were in danger. Oh, Ryo couldn’t help but chide in the back of his mind, he didn’t know what type of danger indeed.

Shaking his head, Dee pulled the man back from the door, trying to relax the guy. “Just calm down, we don’t need you for a quick fuck. That’s what he has me for. We need you for more of a … survival need.” The man glanced back and forth between both unknown vampires, and Ryo ran his tongue along the sharp vampire-canines. The food caught the movement, and his face grew pale before he began screaming for help, but Dee was handling him quickly, covering the man’s mouth. “You can’t let people hear, Ryo.” He instructed. “But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, since I love you.” The vampire smiled, but Ryo ignored him as he leaned over towards the main artery in the neck, enjoying the feel of the streaming blood. Sweet crimson he had yet to see, but could hear gushing towards the quickly beating heart. An enjoyable taste.

He brushed his fangs over the thin flesh, puncturing it slowly, as if to torture his dinner. The man howled past Dee’s hand, his attacking hands clawing the side of Ryo’s face, to push him away. Ryo cried out, his fangs retracting back as he pulled away from the meal. He didn’t want to approach again though; part of him had become scared to approach another conscious prey.

The prey found the brunete vampire’s movements as enjoyable, but he didn’t stay still for too long before turning to run out the door. Dee pounced on him quickly. The only full vampire did not seem as pleased about the situation that had unfolded before him. As he tried to sedate the stranger, he never saw Ryo fall to the floor, some of his bloodlust long since gone. Two hands covered his pale face, watching the fight unfold.

A sickening feeling at the pit of the detective’s stomach reminded him of what he had almost done. It made a mockery of him and his many years at the academy, swearing and learning how to protect the people, the innocent bystanders. Even the guilty bystanders he was ready to protect, but at that moment he had done the opposite. The truth hit him at full force, reminding him that he had shamed his whole life; becoming something he had never dreamt of.

“Ryo…” Dee whispered, and the brunete stared up from the floor. The prey seemed relaxed, dazed even. Dee held the body out, warmly, and Ryo felt the blood rise to his cheeks, causing him to flush, but he didn’t take the offered meal as he stared at the dead body.

“I can’t drink him.” Ryo whispered.

The vampire didn’t seem affected by Ryo’s decision; he only laid the body on the ground, properly. “He won’t feel it, not any more. A trick I’ve been working on. I’m thinking that maybe it’s possible for us to feed, without the killing part, but there’s no time to be worrying about that right now. You need to eat, learn to get your own meals, and how to eat properly – though, I think you know how to do that yourself.” Dee ran his fingers over the flesh wound at the man’s neck. “He’ll be awake soon. If he gets up, he’ll probably run. The world will know you are a vampire as well. If you have your fill now, we won’t have to worry.”

Ryo crawled forward some, taking in what Dee had said. The brunete knew it was he who had chosen this life style from the point he continued to drink from Dee, as well as other’s blood. He leaned his lips against the wound on the neck, letting the crimson liquid fall onto his lips before the addiction hit hard, and he began swallowing mouthfuls of the warm, thick liquid, all the while under Dee’s watchful gaze.

“MacLean!” Ryo tensed as he heard his name being shouted across the precinct. He felt a little worried about turning and facing the angry Chief, but he knew he was in for it. Missing work yesterday was inexcusable. “Where the hell were you? We had over six deaths yesterday! That damn vampire of yours is multiplying right under our noses!” The older man was turning red across his face, and the cigar hanging from his lips helped make him look worse than he really was.

Ryo nodded his head, allowing the ‘ashamed puppy’ look to fall on his face. “I’m sorry.” He admitted. “I’ll get straight on those cases today.” He promised. Chief Smith didn’t seem all that happy with Ryo’s pledge, but after the brunete detective promised to come on his day off, the man was content again. When he was alone, Ryo ran his hand over his tired eyes, and turned to walk back towards his desk that was already crowded by his nosey friends. Drake was sitting in the chair, reading from one of the files.

“They’re always drug addicts or homeless. People nobody would miss.” Drake said, matter-of-factly. Ryo clutched the folder back, but nodded his head agreeing. “Makes me feel kinda better, I doubt I’m on the list of meals.”

“I doubt the vampire would want you, you probably taste horrible.” Ryo smiled, looking at the new cases – the meals of Bikky and Aaron (they had met during ‘dinner’ that night).

Drake rolled his eyes, sitting correctly in his chair with a sigh. “And the taste of those addicts is just appetizing I suppose.” He chuckled. “Oh well, I’ll see you later – let you work on your project now!” He walked off, and Ryo nodded, glancing down at the files, wishing he could only erase them so no one was even aware of the deaths. These three had been whores off the streets.

With a scowl, he set off to work, pretending he knew very little of where the vampire was staying at.

“Carol!” Bikky yelled, running down the street towards the middle school and his best friend. The girl turned quickly, and gave an awkward smile, causing part of Bikky to die. “I’ve been waiting for the trip next week! Are you ready for it?” He smiled, fixing the glasses on his face. Carol blinked, before a genuine smile took over her solemn face.

“Yep!” She smiled. “So, how’s Ryo, I haven’t seen him in so long. Maybe he forgot about me.” She pushed away a fake tear. “I haven’t been seeing much of you two for awhile; I hope you’re getting by.”

Bikky blushed, starting to walk towards Central Park with the girl. “We’re getting along fine. He’s even got Dee-”

“-The vampire, right?” She asked, her voice low so no one would butt in on their conversation. Bikky nodded, a small blush tracing his cheeks. “Don’t be ashamed of yourself, Bikky.” Carol whispered. She continued walking before suddenly noticing that Bikky was no longer walking along with her. Turning around, she glanced at the boy with worry. “You okay?” She asked, and Bikky shook his head stubbornly.

“How can I not be ashamed of it when you look at me differently,” he glared up at her. “I told you because I thought you’d understand that I was doing this for Ryo. But, you look at me different, as if I’m going to feast on you for dinner tonight.” He turned around, lowering his head some. “Why can’t you understand?” He whispered, brokenly, before taking off in the other direction.

“Bikky!” Carol cried out, stepping forward. Her face became solemn again, never leaving the ground. “I’m sorry, Bikky…” She turned around and started walking home, unable to understand what Bikky was feeling.

Ryo laid his head against the cool surface of the gate, just above the precinct. He stood on the roof, watching traffic drive by, on their way to wherever. People walked by the building, ignoring it all together, ignoring any danger they would one day be in. The gruesome images of dead corpses floated through his memory, after hours of staring at the horrifying images, as if expecting some type of evidence of Dee’s location to just pop-out and hit him in the face.

For the sake of his career, he was writing common things on a notepad. Important things like the location of all the attacks, who was being attacked, and minor ‘suggestions’ as to where the vampire was hiding. Not that he planned on really telling. He was actually thinking about returning to regular cases, and get off the vampire case.

Dee was suppose to drop by to give him some blood, but there was still no hide or hair of the vampire, and Ryo’s nerves were beginning to shake, in fear that he’d be caught if he was gone any longer. His sensitive ears perked as the steel door to the roof opened and Drake stepped on the roof, a cigarette in hand. “Hey.” Drake smiled, and Ryo returned the greeting. “You spend a lot of time up here, recently. Why didn’t you join the rest of us at getting food down the street?” He smiled, and Ryo just shook his head.

“Haven’t been craving the same food as always.” He explained, blandly. “I’ll just eat when I get home this afternoon.” He pressed his forehead into the cool fence, scanning the sky for Dee. The vampire had been upset upon realizing that Ryo still did not have wings. They gave up on figuring it out when matters turned into pleasure. Ryo, honestly, had not expected any more sexual encounters for a while, but Dee seemed to be more than ready.

“Hm?” Drake twitched. “Well, I came up to fetch you.” The brunette turned, but Ryo grabbed his arm. It was strange; having the man he called a friend near him so suddenly. Ryo could once more hear the blood circulating in Drake’s veins, screaming. “What’s up, man?” Drake raised a brow, but Ryo didn’t remove his hand and he pulled the other detective towards him, in a hug. “Huh!” Drake cried out.

Ryo felt horrible, but he couldn’t control himself. It was all Dee’s fault; the vampire should have been there already with the blood. “You smell good.” He muttered, breathing in the sweet aroma of Drake’s neck.

“Uh…new cologne?” Drake suggested, trying to pull out of the embrace. He froze as Ryo ran sharp canines against the tender skin. “What are you doing Ryo?” He asked suddenly.

“Just relax, Drake.” Ryo whispered, puncturing the skin before retracting his canines. The brunette began to struggle, his voice faulting suddenly as Ryo began sucking the fresh blood. He didn’t pull away until the door slammed open and J.J.’s voice echoed through the roof.

“Drake, Ryo, Chief wants you…!” Ryo let go of Drake, letting his brunette friend fall to the ground, weakly. He stared down at Drake’s dying form, along with J.J. “Shit! Guys! Vampire!” He screamed down the stairs. Ryo cursed as he tried to run, but he didn’t get too far as J.J. jumped him, pushing the older man down onto the hard ground. The detective began screaming, his voice echoing far across the sky for his mate. His Dee. The New York Vampire By: Araki Disclaimer: I do not own fake It didn’t take long until Ryo was handcuffed to a bar on top of the roof, fighting viciously to be let go as several of people that once were his friends, ran to go get the commissioner. Ryo groaned, knowing it wouldn’t be long before people lined the streets, scorning the vampire that they assumed hurt so many, and pretended to be their friend. Pretended to protect them.

Drake had been chained next to them; everyone had been able to tell it was too late to do anything for him. He wasn’t dead; therefore, Ryo had turned Drake into another vampire. Ryo’s dark eyes watched the grouping detectives and police, pointing and chatting under their breath about abomination and the destruction of mankind. Ryo didn’t care; he just tuned them out, ignoring the wrapping hands to unlock him before Chief Smith yanked him towards the door.

“Let’s go MacLean!” The overweight chief yelled, dragging the vampire mate along with him down the stairs. He could hear them dragging Drake along, and by the sounds of it, Drake was fully awake and had grasped what was going on. The brunette detective seemed only scared, fighting the restraining police trying to keep him with Ryo’s own retreating form. The poor brunete-vampire became angry as he was handcuffed to a pipe. Furiously, he began nipping at any arms or body parts that came near him. He didn’t puncture any skin, but they backed off enough, accidentally letting go of Drake. The brunette didn’t even need to be told what to do as he took off out the door, fleeing in fear of what he had become, and what was planned to happen to him.

And Drake did run. He dodged most of the officers that tried to catch him, reaching the door as though it were the finish line of a triathlon. His feet tumbled under him, but on reflex he was able to catch himself before he fell to the ground. The voices were closing in on him, and his breathing quickened as he took off out of the gates, leaving the Twenty-Seventh Precinct behind.

Pedestrians on the streets yelped and complained as he pushed past them, his hand fumbling against his neck, feeling for the wound. He felt nothing, and his pulse quickened. His blood was boiling, and deep down he knew he was no longer the man he had woken up as just that morning. Another part of him, the still thinking part, wondered what he was to do now. He couldn’t head back to the precinct and get Ryo. He didn’t know where any of the other vampires were hiding. All he knew was he too was one of them.

The adrenalin flowed swiftly through his veins, but it wasn’t enough as an uplifted piece of cement caught the toe of his shoe and threw him on the ground. None of the people walking past him seemed to notice, too busy caring about him or herself to realize someone was just beneath their feet. Sadly, Drake didn’t want to get up. It seemed natural now to be slime under their feet.

“You shouldn’t be lying there on the ground like that mister.” A soft voice echoed through his mind, and the brunette stared up to face a small girl with brunete pigtails. She wasn’t more than seven, just home from school. “People are gonna step on you.” She smiled, showing off her two missing front teeth.

“O…Okay.” Drake whispered, pulling up on his knees, but didn’t stand fully up, unable to find that energy. The girl tilted her head to the side, acknowledging his undesired to stand fully erect as the rest of the grown-ups, but she didn’t ask, just waved and turned to go into the apartment complex, Drake assumed it was her home. Drake stared at the door, just stared. He couldn’t think of anything. He couldn’t go back. Part of him didn’t want to stay here and wait for the crew looking for him.

It suddenly occurred to him that he might have a place to run. He knew Ryo so well, and knowing Ryo gave him the knowledge that Bikky understood what was happening. Perhaps the child even knew what to do with other vampires! Drake was breathing heavily as he fled through the crowds, just imagining the look of surprise that a young teen could have on his face upon finding out vampires existed. Another part wondered if Bikky even knew that Ryo was a vampire. Would Ryo bother telling the child the situation?

Running through the crosswalk, he made it towards Ryo’s cheap apartment that, luckily, had not been too far from the precinct. He ignored the yelps of outrage of the people he pushed aside until he was running up the stoop of the well-kept apartment building. It was very hallow. How he could hear both the thumping of his heart and the slamming of his feet against the hard pavement, but it was no different then the shock that suddenly came to Drake.

His blood felt very cold. Almost like ice penetrating the thin tissue of his veins. Drake whimpered as he slammed his fist against the door belonging to Detective Ryo MacLean. No sound came from within the room to answer him, and it made Drake’s already cold blood run even colder. “Bikky!” He yelled, and was finally greeted by someone shuffling towards the door. It flew open, and instead of staring at the young mulatto boy Drake had grown to know, it was a vampire…the same vampire who had, days before, been hanging around Ryo. Probably biting him.

“You!” He jumped back, his body automatically going into defense against this vampire. The vampire, Dee, seemed unfazed by any of this. “Where’s Bikky?” He demanded. “What have you done with him?” His voice grew louder, and Dee rolled his eyes, putting a finger to his lips.

“You’re raising a commotion. He went to his lady friend’s house.” The vampire entered the apartment again to where an open box sat in the open, filled with cooking pots and other kitchen utensils. “What may I do for you…vampire?” He smiled. A crooked smile of mockery and joy to knowing this small fact. Drake didn’t know how this vampire knew that he had changed, but part of him didn’t want to ask.

“You-!” Drake squeaked out.

“I, Dee. You are?” The vampire replied, disorderly shoving a pot into the fixed box.

“Drake Parker…wait-! We don’t have time for introductions.” Drake ran to the balcony, towards the direction of the precinct. “Ryo! He’s in danger. They know…he’s a vampire…because of you!” He growled, turning towards the vampire, who now had is full attention on the brunette with wide green eyes. “You’ve gotta help him, or something. I think!” Drake rushed out, no longer thinking rational thoughts.

Running forward, Dee grasped hold of the detective-vampire’s shoulders, shaking them to stop the man’s ramblings. “Where?” He demanded, loudly.

Drake pointed towards the building, tensing as a gust of wind pushed past him and Dee was gone, leaving him alone in Ryo’s quiet home.

As soon as Drake had stated Ryo was in trouble for being caught, Dee had blamed himself. He felt obligated to save his mate by all means. He’d wanted Ryo the minute he saw the detective for the first time, at the old apartment building, Dee’s second home. The man seemed so scared, but desperate to hide it; and Dee was in love. He knew it. During the time he was helping Ryo move out from his apartment into the new – in a sense – apartment buildings, he forgot about feeding his defenseless lover. Now, he had a new vampire to train and a lover to save from prejudice mortals.

His wings were wide as they glided through the air, no longer thinking rationally, as thoughts of murdering any human within his reach entered his mind. Mostly those within the precinct. Narrowed further down to any he could sense touched his younger mate. He reached the building in a record speed, staring through the windows unnoticed.

The first window he looked through was an empty conference room. He quickly hid when the door inside the room opened and a young lavender haired man walked in, almost furiously slamming the door shut. The said man let out a scream and crouched down, going through a nervous breakdown, Dee’s sharp hearing could hear the muttered words of Ryo being a vampire, and that the man felt betrayed by this fact. Dee rolled his eyes and glided towards the next window, glad that he could see Ryo, distantly surrounded by armed police.

The brunet was chained to a pipe, looking bored and hungry. His tongue licked his dried lips, receiving the same response from the watching vampire. With a shake of his head, Dee touched the window, and Ryo’s head jerked up, but no one heard the soft touch. Dee smiled, and Ryo returned it, weakly. Raising one finger, Dee flew off, looking for another way in. Finding none, he returned towards the window that showed the room that Ryo was in. Halfway there, he stopped at the conference room, once more it was empty. Frowning, Dee pulled the window up, and as he hoped the frame came up and open.

Crawling into the room, Dee fought furiously to get his long demonic wings through the small window. When he was freed from his small confinement, the vampire walked towards the door Ryo was in, his ear placed against the cold wood.

“Do we really have to wait until Commissioner Rose hears about this? What if he bites one of us? Drake’s already running free…”

“They have every N.Y.P.D officer on the search for him, he couldn’t have gotten that far. I swear, just the thought of him free is scary. I called my wife, told her and the kids to lock themselves inside. Didn’t say why, but I feel much safer now.” The two voices continued talking, and Dee felt a surge of anger rush through him. He was starting to hate all mortals, especially those of the New York Law Enforcement Agencies. They had been doing nothing but riding his ass ever since they destroyed his church, his only home. Couldn’t they have left him alone with the guilt of Sister Maria Lane’s – his only mother – death?

Dee snarled, shaking his head out of memory lane. Now was not the time to remember how that mortal entered the church and murdered his family. His first human murder. His wings grew stiff, but shock overcame him suddenly as the other door slammed open and laughter died. “Who are you-?’” A voice peeped up before a scream echoed from the petit lavender haired man who turned to run. Dee, in lightning speed, stopped him. Slamming the door shut, he glared threateningly at the two detectives. Both ran in other directions, pushing themselves through the small door concealing the vampire’s mate. The two officers inside the room jumped at the intrusion, but silence remained in the room as Dee stepped in with them.

“Dee!” Ryo yelled out, clicking the chains that held him against the warm pipe. Dee flashed him a sexy smile, causing a blush to take over the man’s face. Covering his face with an arm that stretched above his head, Ryo clicked the chains again, bringing Dee back to the present situation.

“You okay Ryo?” Dee yelled, the brunete man responded with a nod of his head. “Good.” The vampire smirked deviously at the four law enforcement employees. His emerald eyes darkened as his fist clenched, his demonic wings spreading to full span. Words alone couldn’t explain how angry he was at this point.

“Interesting.” Another voice spoke up, and Dee turned to face the source. A man of golden hair smirked sadistically back at him, raising his glasses to the bridge of his nose, one of his hands deep in his pocket concealing something. “I didn’t expect another vampire to come in so quickly. You must be the cause of the recent…happenings.” He spoke, almost vilely. The vampire snorted. Dee’s eyes narrowed as half-a-dozen, armed with stakes, officers stepped up behind this man, each glaring dangerously at both he and Ryo. “Ryo, a vampire? Why didn’t you tell me? Aren’t we friends?” He smirked.

“Um.” Ryo clamped his lips shut.

“It doesn’t matter though, you’re no different than any criminal, and all criminals must come to an end – even the immortal ones.” Rose stepped forward, his facial features glistened with hate, his hand removed from his pocket, holding a wooden stake of his own. “But, since I still love you, I’ll deal with the honors of ridding you of this devilish curse.” He approached both men, Dee crouched some, preparing to attack as the other six men approached just as eagerly. “Handle the vampire – Dee!” Rose yelled, and all the officers jumped in to fight.

Dee wasn’t sure how to react with the change of events. Part of him wanted to protect his mate, chained to the railing unable to defend himself properly. The other half was subconsciously defending his own being as stakes came closer to his flesh, sending shivers down his spine. That was how so many of his people had died. He would not; he refused to become part of that history. He launched forward in his own attack, slamming his fist with brutal strength into one of the officer’s faces. Blood sprayed out in all directions, the sound of cartilage crushing under too much pressure was bitter sweet to the full-vampire’s sharp hearing. He turned around, preparing himself for the next wave of attacks.

While Dee was on his own, Ryo felt tense as Rose approached him. Not wanting to die, Ryo kicked his legs out, trying to pull himself free from his binds. The cold metal began eating into his wrists, slowly cutting them open, but it wasn’t painful to the vampire mate as thoughts of a stake entering him flew into his mind. Somehow, he knew that would be much more painful than a little slice to his wrist. Flinging his legs out, Ryo slammed the toe of his classy shoes into Rose’s face, throwing the man sideways some. The stake slid under the desk, out of Rose’s hand. The urge to laugh grumbled in his larynx, but he couldn’t choke it out, watching all seven men in the room, destined to kill one of the two immortal beings.

The full vampire slammed his second victim against the wall before letting the ragged body drop to the ground, his eyes penetrated into the five remaining men. Rose didn’t seem affected though as he grabbed the stake out of the hands of one of his men. Turning to face Ryo, he growled angrily. “Play time is over!” Dee watched in horror as the stake punctured through the very shocked Ryo’s chest.

From the distance, the yellow sun was setting; bringing in the day for those that lived in the ravine deep within the mountains of Nevada. Half vampires, the hunters, spread out their wings from the skins of their backs, hissing slightly before facing family within the caves they came from. Children of half vampires and those half themselves ran from mother’s to jump in their other parents arms, asking for the breakfast of a certain animal. Watching this interaction was their king, the only full vampire in the last hundred-fifty years. Dee spread his wings, airing himself from the heated summer night. He was very proud of the changes going on within the last fifty years, since his reawakening in that small church in the center of New York.

“Eh, Dee?” A voice, laced with arrogance, broke the silence on the ridge. “Whatcha doing up, or rather, out here? Today’s my day to lead the hunters, you’re to assemble troops for the attack in a week.” Bikky carefully stepped near the full-grown adult vampire. He hadn’t changed much in the last fifty years, hardly losing the air of childlike innocence in his face when it aged long enough to become a teenager before stopping. Not that the half-vampire was complaining. Far from it, he admitted himself to be the best looking sixty year old out there.

“Does it concern you?” Dee chided, mockingly. “How’s Carol anyway? Not that long until the baby comes.” He poked the younger. Bikky’s dark face changed to a slight red at the mention of his wife’s, Carol’s, pregnancy. Carol had insisted, when she followed the four New York vampires, that she wanted to remain human and very much mortal until she finished college. Though she started relations with Bikky late in their teenage years. The surprise of their first child brought joy to the Vampire Clan, though they weren’t the first to conceive a child.

Bashfully, the kid rubbed his scalp before standing up. “She’s great. Bitchy and all, but nothing I can’t handle!” Pointing to himself he walked away with an air of superiority, ignoring the snort from Dee.

Deciding to follow Bikky’s example, Dee stood up to stretch his legs before walking the direction of his own home. On the way, he met with another person whom they had to bring with them during their daring flee. Drake, who had been playfully flirting with a female half vampire, glanced up when he saw Dee coming and waved. “What’s up Dee? You seem depressed.”

Growling, Dee huffed. “What’s with everyone being concerned about me? I don’t need people worrying about me! I’m not depressed, this is my home, and these are my vampires! I’m allowed to be anywhere the hell I please!”

Waving his arms in defense, Drake smiled behind some fear. “I’m just curious. You always get this way… Are you concerned about our attack next week? If you are, don’t be. Our first wave of attacks are going to be done by only our finest vampires. I admit, I’m rather wary myself about attacking my home, but after what they did to Randy-” Dee’s growl cut him off.

Not up to handling more of Drake’s words, Dee stormed past him, finally into his own cave. Being the strongest of the clan, he considered himself the leader. He wanted equality amongst the vampires, even if it meant he had to live in a cave himself – a style of living it took everyone a while to handle. Even Dee, who had grown accustomed to living in the basement of a church, hated the mere thought that they would have to live primitively off the land, until they had enough forces to take the humans with force. In a week, when they lived like kings and queens in the remnants of New York (as Dee had planned since running from the city), this tough living would be worth it. Fighters, hunters, healers, and merchant vampires would make a society fit for those that no man had ever imagined!

Glaring over the carved walls, Dee pushed himself through a nook in the wall to another section of caves where meetings would come and go. Children of various ages looked up at him with bright eyes, cooing and laughing as they ran towards him to be held or for some kind of attention. Human orphans that Dee had taken in as time had gone by seemed to take over his home, countless promises had had to give them a choice to become a half vampire or return to human lives when they came of age. By the looks, most were more than welcoming their vampire fates. It made him proud.

“Dee! Dee! Are we going to go to the New Home too?” A little boy squealed, raising his arms high enough through the blockade of children to grab the vampire’s tunic.

“I wanna go to the New Home!”

“Me too!”

Chuckling, Dee ruffled three or four of the children’s hair. “Of course you’ll be coming with us. I would never leave anyone here.” Earning his cheers, he excused himself to continue his path towards the back rooms. Carol and Bikky had always lived with them, and probably always would. On the other side had been rooms for the orphaned children and a doctor he met just outside New York. At first, he thought the man had been a nut job. He’d never met a man in the ‘modern’ world that wanted so badly to become a vampire that he’d thought he was one since his teens. But, it made taking him along so much easier.

“Oh! Dee-sir!” Speak of the devil. Turning, Dee faced the doctor with a sincere smile. “I was looking for you. I finished some rounds with all your, ah, children.” He gestured the screaming orphans down the corridor. “Miss Carol is doing fine as well.”

“So fast?” Dee tilted his head. “The day’s just begun.”

Nodding the doctor couldn’t hide a chuckle. “True, but I’m – along with everyone else – so excited about this New York Plan going around, I have to do something with all this energy. Besides, we all want to be healthy in the ‘New World’, eh?” He laughed at his own joke, though Dee didn’t find it too funny. “I’m on my way to your chambers to-”

“It won’t be needed today.” Dee said, solemnly. “Perhaps tomorrow, or later this week. I’ll tell you, but just…not today.” He left the doctor in favor for his bedroom.

In the house, it was the only room equipped with a door, in a sense. It was enough to block nosey perverts out, and keep privacy, so it made Dee happy. Though, if they could get rid of Bikky, Carol, and a certain doctor, they’d been no need for the door in the first place. Pushing the thin piece of wood against the cavern walls, Dee stepped into the room and towards the bed. Sliding his fingers over the lump under the blankets, he had to stifle chuckles.

“Wakey wakey, Ryo…” He whispered to the cold form of his lover’s body. The brunete groaned, pulling himself further under the blankets. “If you don’t come out, I’m coming under there with you.”

“Nn.” The brunete muffled in the pillow, but made no attempt to get up. Rubbing his hands, deviously, together, Dee slid himself under the white bedding, pressing his own clothed body against his mate’s nude one. “Dee…” Ryo groaned, flipping sides so his nose was up to Dee’s. “You kept me up all day, please let me sleep…”

Running his fingers down long, pale thighs, Dee pressed his hips together. “I might just keep you up all night too.” He kneaded the tender buttocks in his fingers. Delectable skin, so tempting, Dee had to fight not to bite it for claim marks. Ryo snorted, as if he was reading Dee’s thoughts. “Are you getting up?”

“An empty threat.” But, Ryo sat up (with a wince) in bed. “Are you going with the attack?”

“I have to.”

Shaking his head, Ryo leaned back against the cave wall. “No you don’t. You’re not justifying anything but your own desires. We’re fine here, Dee. We haven’t caused any harm to the people around us, no one knows we’re here. It’s safe, leave it at that.”

Narrow eyed, Dee brushed his fingers against the skin around the center of Ryo’s chest. A lighter patch than the rest, reminding him every night of the attack that had happened fifty years before. “They almost killed you, Ryo. As your mate, that’s an insult to both of us, and I won’t stand back without a fight.”

Pulling his legs out from under him, Ryo laid his cheek against a knee. “You saved me, Dee. Instead of killing Rose that day, you saved me. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“A lot.” Dee reached out to brush hair from Ryo’s face. “But, if anyone, the first blood shed next week will be Rose. He might be a crippled old man today, but he’s going down first. We’ll go from there. I’m taking back what they took from me when I was a baby, and giving my people now a better chance at life. Caves aren’t living, Ryo! Humans have us right where they want us, acting like animals.”

Crawling back into bed, Ryo breathed deeply, tiredly. “I agree, we aren’t living well, but we’re living. Do what you please, but don’t kill anyone unjustified like you’re planning.”

Brushing his lips against Ryo’s Dee lowered his body over the vampire mate’s. “I would never kill without reason. I promise you.” He kissed the skin around Ryo’s mouth before plunging into to the silky abyss.

“That’s all I ask for.” The mate smiled and allowed himself to be caught up in the heat of passion.

Standing before his troop of vampires, Dee smiled at them already close victory. “Today, we take back what’s ours-!” He yelled for the troops to hear him. “These people have harmed each and every one of us in some way, this is our chance for revenge. On those that deserve it! We’ll take New York by storm, return it back to the vampires the owned it nearly two centuries before! Today, we no longer follow human society rules, we are vampires, a proud species!”

A cheer broke amongst the ranking. Bikky looked pleased as he stared over the lowering sun. “We leave now?” He asked. The moment seemed like forever.

“Almost.” Dee whispered, looking in the direction of the caves as female half vampires stood outside, waving their arms and cheering their loved ones on. His eyes canvassed the crowds, looking for a familiar face until it fell on a smiling brunete, holding the youngest orphan near the main caves. Little children huddled around the brunete, staring over the surroundings with wide eyes. “Yes, we can leave.” Ryo had come to see him off. It made him proud, to know that Ryo somewhat accepted his choices. In the end, he knew that, just like when he first turned Ryo into a vampire mate, after a while, the brunete would accept it.

As he spread his wings and took off into the air, followed by his troops, he could hear one voice from the crowds over the swooshing of wind in his ears. “I love you, Dee. Come home safely to me.”

Gliding in the direction of New York, Dee could only whisper under his breath. “I will, my love.”