Brothers Obsession

Plus one

Sharing a room with Alistair, was not something I thought I'd have to do today. But circumstances had left me no choice.

The tension was palpable as we prepared for bed. Alistair and I used to be so close, but that was a different time, a different chapter of our lives.

He stood by the dresser, undressing. The only thing we could find him for clothes were a pair of pajama pants that were too big on Luca. We would have to find him some everyday clothes sometime the next day. I would prefer if he had some that made him blend in a little more.

I awkwardly changed into my pajamas, stealing glances at him as he did the same. His body was still sculpted beautifully like an angelic statue. I always admired that about him.

As I climbed into the bed on one side, Alistair settled on the other. He then tried to press up against my back and wrap his arms around me.

"No Alistair, go back to your side." I sighed, already annoyed.

"Hm." he huffed in return and turned the other way, and put distance between us.

The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the soft rustling of the sheets as we settled in for the night.

Morning came all too quickly, and I slowly opened my eyes, disoriented and groggy. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that I had somehow ended up in Alistair's arms. He was still asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. The tension from the night before seemed to have melted away in the dark.

I gently extricated myself from his embrace, careful not to wake him. As I sat up on the edge of the bed, a swirl of emotions filled me. The day ahead would surely bring its own set of challenges, but for that fleeting moment, I was left with a mixture of nostalgia and confusion, the past and the present intertwined in a way I couldn't quite make sense of.

The day started like any other, with helping May and Luca get ready for their busy day. Luca had work of course and May had school.

May seemed surprised to see the strange man from yesterday still here, but seemed to tired to ask anything. She's always quiet in the mornings.

Alistair agreed to helping with the daily chores, a task he was unused to as a Royal figure. So, I decided to not go easy on him. At best he would hate it so much he leaves and at worst it takes a big load off of me. Not to say Luca and May never help, I'm just home most of the time, so I take on the responsibility.

Together, we prepared breakfast in the cozy kitchen of our modest cottage. Alistair's eyes sparkled as he tried to master the art of cooking. I did most of the work though.

After breakfast, everyone started to leave. Luca pulled me aside to ask if I'd be okay to be alone with Alistair.

"We'll be fine." I assured her, "We are going shopping most of the day anyway." She gave me a hug goodbye and set off once again.

We then set out to explore the bustling streets of the town. He tried to reach down and hold my hand which I snatched away. Hesighed and gave me a sad look, "Why do you hate me so, Seraphina?"

"It's Emily. And I don't hate you."

"It sure feels like it sometimes." This made me feel guilty so I stopped in my tracks and pulled him arm so he could do the same.

I looked into his eyes to see genuine hurt reflected back.

"Look Alistair. I really don't hate you. This is all just too much for me. If you were in my shoes maybe you would understand where I'm coming from. But don't think that the way I act is because of you as a person. Do you understand?" I explained, hoping I was thorough.

He gave me a small smile and nodded his head. This time I took his hand.

"Just until we make it to town," I told him. There was no one around so, this should be okay right?

We made it to town and as the day progressed, I could see the genuine joy in Alistair's eyes as he interacted with the townsfolk. Well he only really interacted if I was doing so also, but he relished every moment of it. Alistair's princely charm and knowledge were not forgotten. And I could see why most people who interact with him seem to be overly nice and loving. That's probably why he wanted the same behavior from me.

When asked about his identity I only said he was a relative of Luca's staying with us and that his name was Adam. Of course, we got the occasional comment about his looks.

In the afternoon, we found Alistair a robe to conceal himself more, a pair of fake glasses, and commoner clothes. Of course they didn't take away from his beauty whatsoever, but at least he no longer dressed like a prince.

The door creaked open, and Alistair and I stepped into the warmth of our home. The scent of familiarity embraced us, a comforting blend of vanilla and aged wood. As I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, I noticed Alistair seemed more pallid than usual.

"Are you feeling alright?" I asked, concern etching my voice.

Alistair hesitated before replying, "I'm fine, Seraphina."

But his eyes betrayed a weariness that sent a shiver down my spine. As I chopped vegetables, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. It was then I realized how long it had been since I saw him truly nourish himself.

"When was the last time you drank blood?" I inquired, trying to keep my voice steady.

His pause spoke volumes, and when he finally admitted, "About a month ago," panic clawed at my chest. Vampires couldn't afford such lapses.

I abandoned the vegetables, rushing to his side. "A month? Alistair, that's too long!"

He sighed, fatigue etched on his face. "I know."

I berated myself for the oversight. How could I forget Alistair's need for blood? Animal blood wouldn't suffice, and I couldn't let him prey on innocent villagers or, God forbid, my family. With a heavy sigh, I made a reluctant decision - he would have to drink from me. It wasn't a choice born out of desire, but a responsibility I couldn't shirk.