CHAPTER 4 : WELCOME HOME LITTLE VAMPIRE
1539 Words
Ralf's house was buried deep within the forest, where the trees grew thick and ancient. He pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. The sudden silence ringing loud in his ears.
His gaze drifted to the backseat.
Caison lay there, unmoving.
The wounds had sealed - Ralf's blood had seen to that - but the pallor beneath his skin told another story. Healing wasn't the same as strenght. Not without feeding.
Soon, Ralf thought grimly.
He stepped out of the car, opened the back door, and lifted Caison effortlessly into his arms. The weight - or lack of it - send a sharp pulse through his chest. Too light. Too fragile.
At the front door, he paused.
A small, unguarded smile touched his lips.
"Welcome home." He murmured. "Little vampire."
He carried him straight to the bedroom and laid him gently on the king-size bed. Blood still stained Caison's clothes - dark reminders of the night Ralf had failed to protect him.
The guilt clawed at him.
Ralf returned with warm water, soap, towels. He searched his closet for something that might fit, settling for a white sweatshirt and a pair of joggers despite how oversized they'd be.
He cleaned Caison carefully, reverently. When he noticed the little birthmark just below his waist - a faint heart - his breath hitched.
The urged to kiss it burned hot and dangerously.
He dressed him quickly, tucked him beneath the blankets, and brushed damp hair back from his face.
"I'll be gone for a while." Ralf said softly, though he knew Caison couldn't hear him.
"Rest, stay safe."
A kiss to the forehead - gentle, restraint.
Then he left.
Caison
Midnight crept in quickly.
Caison woke with a sharp inhale, disorientated - until the scent hit him.
It smelled of him.
Fores. Oak. Something ancient and steady beneath it all.
Comfort.
He sat up slowly, realized his clothes had been changed. He lifted the sweatshirt to his face and breathed deeply, grounding himself in the familiar smell.
And then - jasmine.
His eyes widened.
He bathed me.
Heat rushed to his face.
Sliding out of bed, he slipped into the slippers neatly placed beside it and cracked
the door open. Silence greeted him - too much of it.
Fear stirred.
Last time he'd been alone, he'd almost died.
“Ralf?” he called softly.
No answer.
He crept down the hallway, memorizing the space instinctively - escape routes, hiding places. A door creaked open somewhere nearby.
Panic seized him.
Caison ducked beneath the dining table, curling in on himself, heart hammering violently.
Footsteps stopped right in front of him.
“You don’t have to hide," came a low familiar voice. "Little vampire.”
Relief crashed through him so hard his knees weakend.
“Ralf.”
Golden - brown eyes met his.
Morning found them seated at the breakfast table while Ralf made turkey sandwiches like this was an ordinary domestic morning.
“Oh - almost forgot.” Ralf retrieved a glass and set it in front of Caison before pulling a blood bag from the groceries.
Caison blinked.
“Don’t tell me they sell those at the grocery store now?"
Ralf laughed quietly.
“No. I got them from a blood bank.”
He poured the blood and went back to finishing the sandwiches. It was as if it was the most normal thing to do in a household.
When the glass remained untouched, Ralf notticed immediately.
“Is there something wrong?” he asked patiently awaiting a reply.
Caison traced the rim of the glass, then hesitated and pushed it away.
“I can’t.”
Ralf picked it up and pressed it into his hands. "You have to."
His voice softened despite himself. “If you want to survive. If you want to see your parents again. This is the only way to keep you alive.” He said which sounded more like a plea.
And because I can't lose you.
Not yet.
Caison drank it in one breath.
His eyes flarred grimson.
“I want more.”
The dominance in his gaze sent a jolt straight to Ralf.
“Come.” Ralf said gripping his hand.
“Try to keep up.” He whispered into his ear and shifted.
Caison froze as the wolf stood before him - huge, powerful, terrifying real.
It hasn't sunk in that werewolves and vampires do exist.
Caison walked over to Ralf hesitating as he reached his hand out to touch him. Ralf nugged his hand gently with his muzzle.
They looked into the eyes of each other and for a moment everything around them was forgotten.
Trust.
They ran.
Side by side faster than Caison had ever moved before, going deeper into the forest.
Laughter burst from him - , unrestrained. Free.
The boy’s enjoying himself Ralf thought to himself as he watched Caison be carefree.
The scent of deer cut through the air. Ralf strucked clean and fast, dragging the still breathing toward him.
Caison hesitantly pierced his fangs into the deer’s flesh and drank to his content.
Animal blood wasn't as toxicating - but satisfied the hunger within him.
When it was over, Ralf shifted back into his human form. He buried the deer carefully.
"Whatever you feed on," he said quietly, "don't lose yourself.
Caison understood.
Later as they returned to Ralf’s home, Caison began to slow down.
“Is something wrong?” Ralf asked worriedly when he noticed.
“When will you take me to see my parents?” he asked softly.
Ralf hesitated only a moment.
It was already morning and Ralf didn’t have anything to do till later this evening.
“How about after you go get a shower? We can stop by a shop in town and get you a few new clothes. You’d want to at least look decent when you meet your parents later right?” Ralf asked.
Upon hearing this Caison smiled widely and ran past Ralf to get cleaned up.
Sometimes I forget that you are still just a teenager, you act just like an adult.
Stay free-spirited and hold on to the person you truly are, always…
They entered a luxurious store and Ralf demanded that the staff assist Caison with whatever he may need.
It didn’t take long for Caison to grab a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a knitted jersey. He looked like a model with his brown hair up in a messy bun.
The female staff of the store couldn’t keep their eyes off of him.
And Ralf noticed he walked up to Caison and placed his arm around his waist which caught Caison off guard.
"What are you doing? People are staring at us..." Caison said shyly.
"So let them."
He struggled to get Ralf to slacken his grip and without any success he let him be.
“Thank you,” Caison said when Ralf paid for the clothes.
“No need to thank me it’s a pleasure.”
Soon they were on their way to Caison’s parents' home. The closer they got to his house the more nervous he seemed to become.
“I won’t hurt them… right?” he asked worriedly in a whisper.
They stopped in front of a white fenced house.
Ralf switched off the car's engine and turned to Caison who looked nervously out the window.
He took Caison's hand in his and without any hesitation placed a soft kiss on it.
“I’ll be here with you all the way, you have nothing to worry about.” Ralf reassured him.
Caison looked into Ralf’s eyes and they stayed like this for a while.
The door of the house suddenly opened and a woman walked out.
“Caison…” The woman called out uncertain if it really was him.
He opened the car door and ran as humanly possible to his mother and took her into his embrace.
“Mom,” Caison called out to her.
Tears. Embraces. Home.
Ralf watched - heart twisting painfully.
Both mother and son broke down crying on the front lawn embracing one another.
A man came out of the house upon hearing the commotion going on outside.
"Honey, look our son came back home." The woman said to the man who took them both into his embrace.
Ralf watched the family reunite and then walked over to the three of them.
The woman was the first to notice him.
"Caison, do you know this man?" His mother asked confused.
Caison looked to where Ralf was standing and nodded his head.
"He was the one who saved me..." Caison shyly answered.
The woman walked over to Ralf and without any hesitation, she took him into her embrace.
It felt warm.
"Thank you. Thank you so much for bringing my son back home." She said hugging on to him.
"Bringing him back home?" Ralf whispered to himself.
"How can I ever repay you?" His mother asked Ralf but he was too occupied staring at Caison who appeared delighted to be back at home.
I'm deeply sorry but I can't let him stay here.
Not when the world is already sharpening it's teeth.
I need him to stay by my side, where I can keep him safe.
- Writer
