“I’ll be right back, I’m just going to run back and double-check that the shop is locked,” Felix said, to his brothers before finishing off his first ale of the night and getting to his feet.
“You always do this. Always worrying too much, we definitely locked it.” His older brother Johan chided.
“Hey if it makes him feel better let him check. It’s not hurting anything. Better than not checking and finding our shop ransacked because we were careless.” The eldest of the three siblings, Anders, chimed in.
“Alright, alright, you do what you have to,” Johan said, turning his attention back to his ale and stew.
“I won’t be long, I promise,” Felix assured, not realizing those would be the last few words he would exchange with his siblings before heading to slip out of the tavern. He made his way through the streets back toward his family’s shop, gazing up at the moon and stars as he walked, enjoying the view of the cloudless night sky.
He reached the shop, moving to the doors and checking that they wouldn’t open, giving a satisfied nod when he’d made certain the shop was thoroughly locked up. He turned to stroll back to the pub but when he did he spotted a man gazing at him from across the way.
“Hello there, I’m afraid the shop is closed for the evening if you came to get something, though we reopen in the morning,” Felix said.
“Quite alright, I’m not looking to buy anything. I’m actually from out of town. My traveling companion left me behind after we arrived here and I’m supposed to board a ship at the docks here, but I’m afraid I’m a bit turned around and my vision isn’t the best.” The white-haired man said, crossing the street in a couple of strides as he approached.
“Oh,” Felix said, looking the man over. The white-haired male was shorter than Felix, with slender limbs. Figuring he could fight him off and escape if the man tried to pull anything, he gave a nod. “I can show you the way I suppose. It’s not too far.”
“Thank you, you have my gratitude.” the white-haired male nodded gratefully, moving to walk alongside Felix.
“It’s quite alright, it must be quite upsetting to be left all alone in an unfamiliar city.” Felix smiled as he moved through the streets with him.
“It is.” The white-haired man nodded. “I’m lucky to have stumbled on a kind soul like yourself. I’m sure your wife must adore you.”
“No wife I’m afraid, but I’m the youngest of my brothers so I still have time.” Felix chuckled.
“Oh? Well, I’m sure the ladies must love a handsome available bachelor like yourself.” The white-haired man grinned.
“Ahhh, sometimes I suppose. My brothers tease me for being married to my work.” Felix laughed softly.
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with being dedicated to one’s work.” The white-haired man said as Felix led him through a shortcut down a dim alley toward the harbor. “Though perhaps.. your attraction to your work is but a ruse hiding other appetites?”
Felix tensed slightly at the man’s last question, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t hand you over to the church. I desire such things as well, you needn’t be coy.” The white-haired man smirked. “I imagine it’s not often you can explore such desires in a small village like this. Why not let yourself indulge with a passing stranger you need never worry about seeing again?”
Felix’s cheekbones flushed pink at the man’s words, though the tension that had gathered in his shoulders eased a bit. “You too…? It’s true. I don’t often meet people like myself…” Felix said quietly, slowing to a stop as he glanced at the ends of the alley ahead and behind them.
“Then just this one night, why not let yourself indulge in what you truly desire? No one will ever need to know.” The white-haired man said, reaching out to run a hand through the merchant’s silver hair.
“I suppose… there aren’t many out at this time..” Felix said, “Though I don’t like the openness of this alley.. anyone could walk up. Come, there’s an abandoned warehouse not far from here. Almost nobody goes there.” Felix grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him along, walking more quickly now.
The white-haired man followed along without complaint as Felix led him through the dim streets to a defunct-looking warehouse. Felix moved to a door that was rotting away, prying it open with a little bit of effort and slipping inside. Without lamps, the only light that reached the interior of the warehouse was the dappled light of the moon through the holes where the roof had fallen in.
The white-haired man pulled the door closed behind them before moving to follow as Felix carefully picked his way through the rubble to what was left of a table. The warehouse was chilly and smelled faintly of mildewed grain and fish that had long since rotted, hardly romantic, but Felix figured it made the place undesirable for any prying eyes.
The white-haired man came up behind him, pressing him against the table. Felix gave a soft sigh of pleasure as he felt the male’s hands slide about him, exploring his body.
“Such a small stature, but so forward.” Felix grinned, turning in his embrace. “Though I think it’s you that needs to bend over the table.” As Felix started to reach to reposition the white-haired man he found himself slammed back on the table, grunting as his head hit the wood. “You’re a lot stronger than you look.”
“Don’t worry, I will make you stronger than you could ever imagine.” The man purred as he leaned over Felix, pulling at the merchant’s clothes.
“I’ve heard some strange claims some make of the powers their seed holds, but that’s a new one,” Felix smirked, relaxing as he decided it was easier to go with the flow than fight for dominance with this oddly strong lithe male.
“Mmm, you’ll have to see for yourself.” The man chuckled, leaning in to kiss Felix’s neck as he slotted himself between his thighs, leaning over him.
Felix tried to keep his moans quiet, bringing his legs up to wrap about the man’s narrow hips when a sharp sensation at his throat startled him, giving a little yelp that was muffled by a hand that shot up to his mouth.
“Quiet now, we don’t want to be discovered.” The man murmured. Felix felt his mouth on the wound that’d been opened in his neck, shuddering softly at the sound of the man drinking his blood as he was taken atop the table.
When it seemed he wouldn’t scream the hand was lowered from Felix’s mouth to settle at his hip. Felix could feel himself growing lightheaded, gazing up at the moon through the holes in the ceiling. “D-Don’t kill me… please.” Felix pleaded in a whisper, his grip on the male growing weak.
“Shhh.. you won’t die.” The male purred to him.
Felix shuddered as a weak climax was pulled from him, shivering faintly though he wasn’t sure if it was from the pleasure or the cold setting into his exsanguinated body.
“No, no, you can’t drift off just yet. Drink.” Felix heard the voice, though it sounded far away, like hearing the other man down a long hall. Watching him with glassy eyes as the white-haired man bit into his wrist and then pressed it to Felix’s lips.
Felix felt the blood hit his tongue, swallowing it down weakly. The taste was strange but exquisite, drinking more until the wrist was pulled away from him. The man already righting his clothing as he pulled away from Felix
“W-wait…” Felix whispered weakly, trying to reach for him but he was too weak to keep his grip.
“I cannot. I promised you but one night, but when you awake you will find I have given you a gift greater than you could imagine.” The man said, pulling Felix’s hand from his coat as he pressed a kiss to his lips before retreating into the shadows and out of sight.
Felix tried to rise but found himself too weak, laying back on the table. He wasn’t sure how long he lay staring up at the moon before the pain started, gasping as agony surged through his dying organs and muscles, rolling off the table and onto the dusty floor with a thud. Eventually, everything went hazy again, his vision fading. When he came to he could hear the nearby river, and he heard insects scurrying about in the darkness. Though when he opened his eyes it was far less dark than he expected, looking around the warehouse as he sat up slowly.
“What on earth…?” Felix rasped, reaching up to touch where the man had bitten, his shaking fingertips finding no wound. His mouth felt strange, fuller. He ran his hand up his neck to his mouth, startled when his fingers found long fangs where his canines were. His throat felt dry, a sort of thirst he’d never imagined hitting him. He could smell what he was thirsty for nearby, rising and following the scent as he straightened out his clothes.
He moved almost as if in a trance, finding a beggar sleeping in an alley a few streets over. Felix was on the man before he processed what he was doing, sinking his fangs into the beggar’s throat, drinking deep and greedily. Moaning at the taste that flowed down his throat even as the drunkard flailed in confusion and eventually stilled.
When he stopped moving it startled Felix out of feeding, his eyes widening in fear as it clicked into place what he had done. He recognized the features of the pale weathered face that stared back with unseeing eyes. He’d often given the man a coin when he would see him in passing. He dropped the beggar and bolted away down the alley and through the town, heading toward the woods. He knew his place was no longer here among his brothers.
He ran with inhuman speed, the lights of the town disappearing behind him as he weaved between trees. Only slowing when the lights were far away pinpricks like stars in the distance as it began to register just how much he could see. The woods would’ve been pitch black to human eyes in the dappled patches of moonlight that filtered through the trees, but Felix realized he could see for what felt like miles. He could pick out individual insects crawling on the tree trunks, and hear the heartbeats of small mammals that scuttled about the leaf litter. He came to a halt in a small clearing, gazing up at the moon through a gap in the trees with a little gasp of wonder. He turned his eyes to the forest around him, captivated by the beauty of everything he saw.
Despite his awe, the terror of his encounter with the stranger in the warehouse lingered with him. It occurred to him with a chill of fear that streaked up his spine, that his heart which should’ve been thundering from fear and his subsequent race through the trees was silent and still in his chest. His lungs which should’ve been burning for air felt strange in his chest, a sort of dawning sensation that his panting was little more than reflexive. He took off running once more, deciding that if the lights of the town were visible at all it meant he was still too close to civilization.
He ran until the lights were no longer visible in the distance behind him, and a dilapidated-looking cabin came into view ahead. He slowed his pace, listening for the sounds of human life within. All that met his ears was the sound of tiny mammals rustling about the cabin and birds in their nests in the trees around him. He moved to the door of the cabin, forcing it open with surprising ease and slipping inside. The force had broken the lock, but given the dusty and mostly unfurnished cabin, Felix doubted anyone would come looking here for him.
As dawn neared, Felix found himself compelled to take shelter, a hazy sort of exhaustion like he’d never felt before weighing down his limbs. He managed to find a small shelter, crawling down into it and closing the door before slipping into unconsciousness.