Sixth Bloodline [BxB]

CHAPTER 31: 27 Days Left [He was Already Unable to Escape the Trap]

cHAptEr 31:

27 dAYs LEft

[HE wAs ALrEAdY UnAbLE tO EscApE tHE tRAp wOwEn EspEciaLLY fOr Him]

WHEN MIKHAEL woke up for the second time, he realized that it was night once again. Blinking to drive away drowsiness, he didn't know how to explain the odd disappointment when he realized that Ethan wasn't by his side — but once he remembered what happened earlier, he could only sigh with somewhat complicated expression.

He made quite the mess today.

Ethan seems to have put him to sleep with the power of suggestion again, as well.

"How unfortunate," he shouldn't stay in this city anymore. He already revealed too much, and to Mikhael who was on guard his entire life — it really wasn't a favorable situation at all.

Not to mention that he was extremely weak towards Ethan. Having already fallen under his suggestion twice says a lot about it.

Glancing around him, he noticed that his weapon and that dagger Einz gave him were on the nearby table, so he got up before putting them into his void — he also let Ethan touch his weapons and didn't keep them next to his body, another example of how much he lowered his guard in front of that man. Shaking his head, he went ahead to take a shower and clear his head a bit, slowly sorting out what happened and what should he do from now on.

He realized that it's impossible for him to remain by Ethan's side for if things continued like this, he'll probably reveal all of his secrets to that Pureblood, but...

It's not like Mikhael's heart was made of stone.

He could feel anger, he felt disappointment when he realized that Dominique and Amelia hid Cera's existence from him, so naturally his heart would be moved after the time he spent with Ethan. But who was he joking, it was impossible for them at this point.

Today, those Purebloods and half-bloods were just staring daggers at each other and didn't make a move — but just because they didn't do it doesn't mean that they couldn't. Mikhael was Ethan's Blood Partner, when they came and the mess he made when kicking Yelena, they probably realized that he wasn't ordinary and wanted to test him — using all kind of excuses to make him act and prevent Ethan from interfering.

None of them are good, Mikhael wasn't a youth who couldn't see through their schemes. If they really cared about Cera turning and Mikhael offending Yelena, they wouldn't just stand and speak, they'd immediately act to kill them.

But they didn't, especially when they realized that they were evenly matched and couldn't afford loses.

What familial ties? What not wanting to let one of their own die?

That was just the image they showed to the outside world. Mikhael was unrestrained in the past so he has seen a lot. He even witnessed cities fall because of two Purebloods fighting in the past! However, since no Purebloods died, they just pretended like nothing ever happened.

But what of those people who did die? Who were caught in between crossfire because of the machinations of two or more Purebloods, but were never given a proper burial grounds?

Who'd know of them when Purebloods wanted to hide the truth?

To say that they didn't want a Pureblood to die was the biggest lie among them.

The whole farce with the Seventh is the same — Purebloods can die... But their death aren't the type that would leave others aggrieved. In fact, what the First Pureblood wanted the most is to see them all die if possible — that way he could finally obtain what he wants!

Had Mikhael not seen the files in Hunters HQ, he too would perhaps still be stuck on what happened in New York and blame himself for that event.

Once a Pureblood dies, their heart would remain. Although the information Mikhael found was somewhat unreliable, he realized that from that heart a new body would be shaped after a short period of hibernation, but then the heart would split in a certain number of drops looking like crystal red tears that would immediately scatter all over the world.

Those drops were really odd things — they apparently contained either the Pureblood's memories or powers. The thing with their bodies is that they'd be just like a newborn, so to the First Pureblood who'd be getting a free powerful puppet — that situation really couldn't get any better.

If he wanted to continue to keep them in that state, he merely needed to find those drops all over the world and make sure that the reborn Pureblood never gets a chance to touch them — and although Mikhael was skeptical about it, he indeed happened to chance upon one such thing in his journey. The power sealed withing that thing was a real deal, even more powerful than heart blood!

As for how Mikhael found that all...

After the Great War, Mikhael had to force himself to enter the Deep Sleep for five years. It didn't do much for him, but he used that time to seal his heart and it was then that he realized the state his body really was in. Even though five years meant nothing to him, to Hunters HQ, many things changed.

Even though he returned and faced few troubles because of his disappearance, Mikhael still continued to work diligently, and after five more years helped Amelia and Dominique tie the knot. After being chased by Vatican after that, he chances upon the First Seat in Tokyo and to his surprise, the other's mission was really confidential — so much that even Mikhael, who never had things hidden from him was allowed to know.

But who was Mikhael and who was that First Seat? How would he dare to hide anything if Mikhael interrogated him?

So Mikhael, who learned that the First Seat came to pick up something precious under direct orders from the leader followed him in the shadows and witnessed the existence of that drop.

What else was there for him to do? Naturally, he got the First Seat for a "very" private talk.

Imagine his surprise when the other admitted that they made a secret deal with the First Pureblood to collect those things and when he showed Mikhael the information about those crystallized drops? Mikhael was very furious, but what could he do?

He was already weakened and mentally tortured after what happened in New York, so he couldn't go to turn Hunters HQ upside down, he could only use suggestion to make the First Seat forget seeing him in Tokyo and everything he talked about there. Mikhael couldn't trust Hunters anymore so he began to distance himself, and since Amelia disappeared after that, he couldn't ask her if she also hid anything from him.

He only heard from her on some random phone calls, but this matter wasn't something he could talk on phone with her. Seeing her again after a whole decade, his anger naturally cooled down a bit, and he can't say that he wasn't relieved that he finally cut ties with Hunters — but there were some people who knew about him being a half-blood.

The fact that they hid this matter could mean many things, but Mikhael back then only thought that they wanted to make a move on him — especially after the internal conflict began within the organization.

But now...

Seventh Pureblood. Dante.

Mikhael's best friend and the person he killed with his own hands, but didn't at the same time.

His body appeared in New York a year after Mikhael obliterated it, having no memories nor recollections on his past.

Purebloods then realized that this war isn't as simple as they thought, so they decided to take a softer approach to end this war — this signing the peace treaty. Back then he was sure no one knew what happened in New York, Mikhael's train of thoughts was quite simple.

But with the First Pureblood collecting his blood secretly...

And now that he recalled that warning from the day he fixed the pillar and how he wasn't allowed to know about Seventh's matter...

Could it have been done deliberately?

Was it someone from Hunters HQ behind this mess? If it is indeed so, they'd have to be present in New York when that disaster struck, so they might as well be one of the people behind that m******e? If so, there might be people from Hunters HQ in this as well?

Was Amelia's presence, who — out of all places in the world — appeared here first thing after a whole decade of going MIA, really a coincidence? Mikhael's arrival here as well — ending up in Eden to fix the barrier and for his last target to become a victim and found...

"How bothersome," even though he was clear-headed most of the time, even Mikhael couldn't help but panic a bit. It was like someone was deliberately picking on him.

Although his previous boss didn't know that Mikhael was a spell-caster, he did know that Mikhael supposedly knew a powerful one and was on good terms with him, but he must've suspected something. Not to forget that if they saw him at New York—

"Wait," the broken pillars! Not even Ethan knew how they got damaged and it's not like an ordinary person could have done it.

"Could it be... They wanted to test me?"

Isolated in a city where he had to act fast, there's no way that Mikhael would have time to contact and wait for that spell-caster friend of his.

"Why chose to start Blue Death only now? After all those years?" ...and after Mikhael fixed the barrier himself?

"..."

Under the influence of the water, Mikhael's mind was clearer than ever. Even though he knew that he might just be paranoid, his instincts were telling him that death was slowly approaching and it was too late to pull back now.

The more this went on, the harder Mikhael found it to escape. Especially when he added the arrival of all those Purebloods... They really won't happen to have come here just because they were worried about Ethan, right?

"What a terrifying bastard did I provoke?" To have made a move to call all Purebloods just to trap him in here. His eyes showed a dangerous glint. The cold they exuded at this moment was far more dangerous than the one when he played with Yelena.

"Very well," then that only leaves Ethan. He doesn't believe that Amelia really couldn't find out Dominique's identity after all that time, especially when she got pregnant. Would that bastard really risk her safety by hiding his identity? Perhaps there really was no danger to Cera's life and they only sent her here as an excuse to come back now?

Did Ethan know?!

Mikhael couldn't hold back the cold laugh anymore.

At that moment, he truly felt fed up with the world. He even had a slight impulse to burn it down completely.

When it comes to Amelia, a person he saw grow with his own eyes and taught her everything she knows now... Mikhael truly wanted to believe her. Even when he realized that he was abandoned by Hunters HQ, he still held onto some hope that she didn't know anything, but after realizing that she hid her daughter from him...

Was that not bluntly slapping him in his face? Telling him that she didn't trust him with a child of Pureblood around?

Perhaps because it was his own mother whom he trusted the most back then that killed him with her own hands, Mikhael took betrayal seriously. A bit too seriously, even.

He could only choke down the laugh that threatened to leave his lips. This feeling of being played like a fool, it really made him between laughing and crying.

How naive. How f*****g naive!!

Paranoid? Perhaps... But then again, maybe he's just thinking of that possibility because he didn't want to look at the truth that was in front of his eyes.

Still, Mikhael was well aware that he couldn't get away on his own after meticulous planing his enemy prepared for him.

He just needed to know who... No, he could guess who did it.

But why?

"No, that doesn't matter either," he mumbled to himself before putting his hand in the void. Turning off the water, he pulled out an odd looking white piece of paper.

Compared to those yellow talismans, this white paper was somewhat smaller in size, but it looked more dilapidated — yet there wasn't anything written on it. Other than looking old, it was no different than any paper one could even find on the streets, but Mikhael knew better.

"I've been out for too long as well," he sighed, "Einz was right when he said that I'll come back willingly on my own. The outside world... Truly is too despicable."

He calculated in his head, there's around twenty-seven days before the outbreak of Blue Death according to the corpse they found. Whoever planned to make a move against him, they certainly won't do so until the threat is resolved, so he should be fine before the outbreak. Maybe it's the same party and maybe not, but he doubted that someone who wanted him dead wanted to destroy other Purebloods with him.

Maybe the entire deal with Blue Death was just so that they could torture Mikhael with the past or to keep him busy from uncovering the truth?

"Let this be the last thing I'll do for you," after all, Ethan didn't treat him badly, perhaps he really didn't know anything.

No. Mikhael wanted to believe that he didn't known anything, so he wanted to repay him for his hospitality. Perhaps, until Ethan finds out about the situation with Seventh, he would protect him, but afterwards...

"There are some things outside I had to deal with as well... I'll ask Einz to accompany me," if Mikhael trusted anyone in this world after all that happened, then it would be that trio. They were powerful enough to beat a Vampire King, what could they possibly want from him? Even if they did want something, he won't have the power to resist, so he didn't fear them scheming against him.

And they might have a way to save him... If not, they certainly had ability to kill him without him endangering anyone.

Looking at the white paper before finally coming to decision, he bit his finger letting it bleed a bit, and then used his blood to write "27" on it. At first, nothing happened, but then those numbers began to peel away from the paper before floating to Mikhael's wrist, then sticking to his skin like a tattoo.

The write paper floated above Mikhael's hand before it suddenly disintegrated as if crushed by void; at the same time, the number on his wrist faded away like it was never there in the first place. But Mikhael knew that it was still on his wrist, slowly counting down time before he would leave this place.

When he came down the mountain, Einz gave him this ordinary paper with following words.

"If you want to come back one day, but find yourself unable to, drip the blood on that paper and I'll find you wherever you are, then come to pick you up."

Mikhael at that time really didn't want to stay a second longer on that mountain full of lunatics.

"As if I would ever want to come back here on my own!"

Einz was used to listening to Mikhael threatening to run away every day, so he didn't really care for his words either.

"But, let's say I really am in danger, how could I have time to use this thing?"

"..."

"What?"

"You do have some brain, after all." Mikhael really wanted to beat him up, but what could he do when he was weaker? "Then write a number. If you think something will happen to you in a day or two, just write a number of days before it happens. I'll come pick you up after that. No need to say location, I'd find you even if someone threw you all the way to the moon."

Less than a month — that's how longer Mikhael intended to stay in this place. He didn't doubt Einz at all, the later had ability to go to the moon. Don't ask how Mikhael knew, his view on the world completely turned upside down in that decade he spent with those three.

After those twenty-seven days, he'll go back and... Well, for now, see if he can still be saved.

"Flame?" His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. Turning around, he was just in time to see Ethan's concerned face as he entered the bathroom.

"I smelled blo—" his swallowed back the words as he saw Mikhael, the initial concern in his eyes fast turned to lust. Because he was just showering, Mikhael's complexion was a bit rosy — even his his cheeks were somewhat flushed as he stared back at Ethan. His hair was still wet and few droplets freely fell down from his skin — and to Ethan this was an obvious invitation he just couldn't refuse.

Especially when he lowered his gaze, the sight made him curl his lips into a smile.

"Your body seems to be more honest than usual, Flame?" He teased as he came inside, untying his tie. Mikhael's already flushed ears became redder as he saw him come closer before lowering his gaze and cursing.

'f**k! Again!

Just how many times do you get horny, you fucker!?'

Yes, it was all that Blood Contract's fault again!

Ethan only saw Mikhael for a second before he lost his sense to the lust, influencing Mikhael whose aroused body further influenced Ethan. Stuck withing that loop, Mikhael really had no way of escaping, and well... He couldn't resist that look Ethan was giving him either, and it's not like he'd refuse him so...

Who was really at fault here, no one would know — but it did indeed sound easier to blame it all on Blood Contract.

"Well, Flame, it would appear that we're yet to do it in in shower, no?" He took Mikhael's hand before licking the blood away, they did it in bathtub and ordinary walls, but this...

"Accident?"

Although the wound healed, the blood remained on the finger. As long as it's a single drop of Mikhael's blood, Ethan would sense it from a mile and come to see what's going on. He came here because he was worried, but seeing that there was only a bit of blood on his finger and Mikhael was showering, Ethan naturally assumed that Mikhael accidentally hurt himself.

After all... He was well aware how clumsy the other party really is.

Mikhael could only nod in daze.

He could feel helplessness and worry from Ethan, not to mention that he had no intention of saying anything about leaving, so he went along. But... He felt complicated realizing that Ethan didn't even have an ounce of doubt towards Mikhael.

Being able to understand his feelings...

"Say, Ethan?"

He wanted to know. He feared the answer, but he really wanted to know.

"What happened today, do... Do you blame me?"

He could tell if Ethan lied.

"You're still hung on that nonsense?" Ethan was really helpless with this little vampire of his. Where did all that initial bravado from their meeting go?

"Mn, I am."

"..."

He really didn't expect Mikhael to openly admit that. He leaned down pecking him on his lips, lust can wait for later. He really had no idea that Mikhael was so... Insecure, perhaps?

"I'm not. I'm only angry I let you stain your hands, it's the only think I didn't do right."

Mikhael's heart ached. He was saying the truth.

But...

"Then, do you think I'm despicable?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow. Can this be considered as them improving in their relationship? Although he spent some time with Mikhael, this is the first time they have a genuine heart to heart conversation, not counting this morning. He took it as Mikhael just being worried, but now...

"Why would I? I only think that you're a bit stupid," Mikhael's lips stilled into a thin line. Can he beat this fucker now?

"But that's also a charming part of you I came to like."

"..."

Alright, Mikhael was used to this shameless bastard, so he only turned his gaze away and huffed. Can't he have a normal conversation with him for once?!

"I... I killed our kind, aren't you mad?"

So that's why...

Ethan smiled.

"So did I. As long as they deserved it, then it's fine," he had thoroughly decided to pamper Mikhael anyway. The mere fact that some blind idiots chose to attack Mikhael or provoke him means that they deserved to die, who cares what the rest of the world thought.

As long as Mikhael was fine.

"Anything else?"

He asked as he tilted Mikhael's neck before placing his lips over it. How tempting, ever since he tasted Mikhael's blood for the first time, Ethan has become addicted to it. It was his drug, his source of life, his everything!

"It's really unlike you to worry so much, so what if I despise you? Shouldn't you just beat me up and lock me away or something," planting a gentle kiss, he grabbed Mikhael's waist before pulling him closer to his body, putting his leg in between Mikhael's.

Mikhael has just finished taking a shower so his skin was still somewhat sensitive to touch, especially when I comes to rough fabric Ethan's suit was made of. So when the later moved his leg, the friction between his pants and Mikhael's little brother made him unable to hold in a moan from escaping his lips.

"Do you want to face the wall or me?" Ethan playfully teased while Mikhael cursed him thousand times in his head. Look at Ethan while he was questioning him? He doesn't dare! He forgets his own name when he's doing it with Ethan, how would he dare let that shameless swindler in his sight?

"Wall!" There really wasn't any choice here. He'll bite him to death later.

Ethan chuckled, he was certain that Mikhael bit him every time just so that he can get a sense of accomplishment and revenge rather than actually drink some blood.

"I'll remember your preference for the future exercises," he turned him around as Mikhael steadied himself on the wall with his hands. Ethan used that chance to completely get rid of his shirt and tie that were now somewhat wet from when he pulled Mikhael closer a moment ago.

"Say, Ethan..." Not having to look at his face anymore, Mikhael's head cleared a bit, "New York... Do you hate me for that?"

Ethan paused.

In the end, he could only sigh. He really isn't used to Mikhael being helpless like this.

"I don't," he patted his head, "You did what you had to survive. I only blame myself not having noticed anything. I failed my position, especially when someone like you had to clear up that mess."

Mikhael could only feel guilt in Ethan's words and sincere worry. There really wasn't an ounce of hatred in his heart as he said those words.

But that only made Mikhael feel worse.

'He really doesn't know... But he can only say those words to me right now precisely because he doesn't know!'

That only made him feel worse, at this rate, it will most definitely hurt him more when the time to leave comes. The more he gets entangled with Ethan, the more he'll be hurt when the later comes to hate him. Realizing that, Mikhael really wanted to make a distance between the two, yet at the same time he craved this warmth more than anything.

After all, it was not certain if he had much to live anyway, so...

"f**k!" He could only curse.

"How hard?" Ethan parted Mikhael's legs a bit before pulling his pelvis closer to his hips. Unzipping his pants, he was prepared to hear Mikhael's long variety of curses when the later surprised him.

"Give me your best!"

'So that I could throw everything away. So that I can forget everything. So that I regret nothing when I have to leave... And regret nothing when I die.'

What did it matter if Ethan chose to abandon him once he learns the truth? Mikhael will eventually die, so it won't bother him much. At most, Ethan will be just another Blood Partner of his, he won't even feel a thing when Mikhael dies and in few decades or centuries, he'll completely forget about this short relationship with a vampire who was responsible for the death of his Pureblood brother.

Mikhael won't be there to bear the brunt of Ethan's hatred and he could die knowing that he had a man who moved his heart.

So what if he falls for him completely?

Mikhael didn't truly love anyone, just liked and enjoyed a good s*x and romantic life until now. Even he didn't understand why his feelings towards Ethan grew, but what could he do? As long as he knew that Ethan wasn't using him nor manipulating his feelings on purpose, Mikhael though that it's quite nice to fall in love with this guy.

As to whatever will happen later, let the course of fate guide them.

"My best?" Ethan smiled, though his smile was somewhat stiff, yet contained bits of ridicule — Mikhael unfortunately couldn't see it.

"Alright then, don't plead for mercy later."

In the end, Ethan's "best" spanned over three days and nights without a stop, and no matter how much Mikhael cried and begged, how could Ethan possibly let him go from the grave he dug out himself?

But it was also good. During that period, Mikhael truly did forget everything except for Ethan. His heart too, finally settled on this man for the rest of his life, no matter how short it might be.