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It was the perfect kind of night.
This time of year brought on the threatening chill of winter soon to come. The kind of cool that helped accelerate the change of the leaves, bringing on a gorgeous array of colors in their showcase, before they would drop to the ground like the curtain would fall on a theater performance. This particular night wasn’t exempt from the dropping temperatures, however, it wasn’t cold enough to shy away into the safety of shelter away from it. Maybe this would be the last night of the year before the nights would become unbearable to traverse in.
That’s why a matriarch, such as Vil, indulged himself in going out for a stroll.
Already being a creature of the night, it was only natural that Vil would be out at this hour. When most would be already tucked away in their bed, this was the ripe time for one of his kin to be prowling about. However, the vampire wasn’t out to hunt. He could if he wanted to, but that wasn’t his intention.
Vil was alone, but didn’t seem lonely. He walked with purpose, poise, as he always did. His form practiced and his strides long. He wore a coat, although that wasn’t necessary. The cold hadn’t particularly affected him for several decades. All the trees that towered around him silently watched, with whatever leaves they had remaining on their branches swaying with the whistling wind. There didn’t seem to be another soul around besides Vil in the entirety of these woods.
The only thing as equally gorgeous as the vampire matriarch himself was the full moon that hung high in the sky. It was a perfect, bright circle that bestowed upon the darkness. The moonlight it brought was ghastly and pale, donning everything below in a blanket of white glow. All it did was annunciate the beauty of the world like the sun would do with its own golden touch during the day. Vil of course, was no exception and particularly, might have been the most beautiful thing of all.
The moonlight caught the paleness of his refined, flawless skin, only emphasizing its otherworldly shade. The glow made each dip, curve, and edge of the matriarch’s face all the more profound and wonderful to admire. The silkiness of his blonde, pink fringed hair was all the prettier with how it would shine under the moon’s caress. He looked unreal, ghostly even. But the most captivating of all? It might have been the way his pinkened, awe-astounding eyes glowed all the brighter, as if having a silent competition with the moon itself. The vampire was never short on beauty, but tonight, really emphasized the weight of his good stock.
The matriarch might have seemed directionless while he wandered in the woods, since Vil’s feet weren’t following any marked paths or roads. He was following one in his mind, one that led him into this secluded, grassy knoll. Only then, did his feet stop. This patch was highlighted by the moon as though it purposefully directed its light onto it more effectively than a stage spotlight. In reality, this section wasn’t guarded by any of the tall trees that populated most of Vil’s home territory, allowing more streaks of moonlight to come passing through.
Vil stood there, chin titled up and eyes towards the sky, as if he was suddenly realizing the moon for the first time. The moon seemed to peer its eye back right at him. It was as though two queens of their own established turfs were seizing each other up in a respectful way. Vil regarded the stars that surrounded the moon as its subjects and followers, like he had himself. There were so many, more than he could successfully count in one night. They each were brilliant in their own right.
For quite some time, Vil stood in that position, as though attempting to absorb the moon’s energy. He was so still, that to the unsuspecting eye he would’ve looked ethereal, something that stepped from beyond this realm to interrupt this one. However, the matriarch was merely taking in the moment, savoring everything around him. All of his heightened senses gave him profound awareness he never had within his mortal coil.
The long lashes of the vampire kissed his cheeks as he closed his eyes, listening and absorbing.
A doe, not too far off from here, was settling for the night in a leafy thicket. Vil could tell she was still alert, even if her heartbeat was starting to slow. Because it wasn’t as slow as the littler, quieter heartbeat next to hers that already was at a rhythmic, steady rate. Her fawn would sleep well under her watchful gaze, especially as he got licked between his ears, comforted by her presence.
A babbling stream flowed uninterrupted and regardless of the late hour in the night. It broke through the forest like a slithering snake, hardly much wider than one would be too. It wouldn’t be too long until it would freeze over, but tonight wasn’t that night and it could continue its journey for a while longer. A leaf here and there would fall into its path, only to get carried away to the destination of a widened lake Vil knew very well.
A branch, nearly a mile away, had snapped under the weight of a wolf who accidentally pressed his paw down a little too hard on it. The canine startled himself more than anyone else, yipping almost as loud as the branch had sounded. Thankfully, no one else had heard it besides the distant eavesdropper. The young pup wouldn’t have to suffer any humiliation besides his self inflicted own for his mistake. His behavior reminded Vil of someone he regarded lovingly who wasn’t far off from the wolf’s age.
All these little occurrences were just as real to the matriarch as if he was standing right there beside it all to witness it. This wasn’t a gift that had come to him overnight like his transformation had. This was something he had to hone, train, and practice for countless years to be as talented as he was. This heightened sense had given him many benefits, which made the toil he went through to get to this level all the more worth it.
And yet, it still wasn’t enough to catch the one who wandered up behind him, until they willingly made their presence known.
“What do you hear, my love?”
If Vil was surprised or startled, his immaculate face hadn’t brought on any expressions to indicate it. He hardly reacted, didn’t even open his eyes like he hadn’t heard. Although, a small, hooked smile curved onto his lips and he couldn’t help the velveteen chuckle that rumbled in his throat. “I hear a fool who’s a little too brave for his own good, approaching someone like me from behind…” he murmured.
A pair of gloved hands cupped Vil’s hips. “Really?! Who would be so foolish to do so?”
The matriarch rolled his eyes behind his closed eyelids. But despite that, the corners of his smile only turned wider. “Perhaps one of the most foolish men I have ever known.” Vil remarked, slowly starting to turn around, partially guided by the hands that held him.
Vil turned to face his sudden company, only when he was facing them, did he start to slowly open his eyes. The vampire kept his eyes half lidded, practically staring through his thickened, long lashes at the one who stared at him more fondly than anyone he’s ever known. And throughout Vil’s prolonged lifetime, he has had many, many, many men try to court him with their own lovestricken infatuations and ideas of romantic grandeur.
But none had ever come so close as Rook Hunt had. And been successful.
The only thing that now rivaled Vil’s beauty under the pale moonlight was the handsomeness that came with his consort. Rook’s own masculine, defined features got highlighted under the moon’s glow. He was already a dapper man, but the way the light emphasized his features even had Vil’s heart stuttering within his chest, despite the fact that he’s seen him a thousand times and more. It almost felt unfair that Rook could be so handsome. Vil didn’t think he’d ever tire of seeing his hunter, much like how he knew that his hunter felt the same about himself.
The only thing more eternal than their otherworldly lifespan, was their love for one another.
Rook returned the smile Vil had given him with one of his own. For a moment, the matriarch thought the sun itself had reappeared in that expression, for he could feel the warmth from it even on a night like this. “Oh my–hopefully this fool does not earn your ire, I would pity him. For I fear, he would never return from such a thing.” he remarked back at him with a wink.
Vil’s smile reached a grander width when Rook took one of his hands, insisting on kissing the back of it like they were still in the early stages of their courtship. The vampire matriarch never feared that Rook’s romanticism would go away, in fact–it may have gotten worse ever since they had officially gotten bonded together. A problem that Vil wouldn’t complain about.
Those emerald eyes of the hunter’s never left the matriarch's face. He regarded Vil with so much love and respect in just that gaze alone that he didn’t have to verbalize it. There was a tilt to Rook’s head, showing his curiosity before he spoke of it. “Is there anything bothering you, my queen besides this poor–unsuspecting fool?” he asked.
“No–not at all.” Vil shook his head. He cast a look over his shoulder, regarding the moon once more. “I just felt like taking a stroll at this hour. I needed to stretch my legs. It’s been quite a while since I have.”
“It has! You’ve been quite busy as of late,” Rook agreed with his cheery smile. One that could warm the entirety of this fall, cool night. Vil hadn’t realized that the hunter was still holding his hand until he gave it a squeeze. “You’ll have to forgive me for following you, since it had been a while–I feared that you might have been motivated by other, troubling problems.”
Vil turned to look back at him, still smiling. “There’s nothing to forgive, my hunter. Thank you for your concern.”
This made Rook’s smile all the brighter. As though Vil’s words had fallen on deaf ears, he feverishly kissed the back of the matriarch’s hand again and again, like he was trying to earn more forgiveness than what was already given. The gesture only made Vil laugh, unable to help it. No one could make him laugh as often as his beloved consort did. One of the several hundred reasons he had the hunter at his side.
Still, Rook did not let Vil’s hand go, which the matriarch didn’t mind, however, he was curious what the hunter was up to when he held their joined hands up and off to the side. With his other hand, it remained on Vil’s hip. This change of position was strange, but not entirely unfamiliar.
“Do you remember, Vil? It was on a night like this, the moon was full, when I first had the honor of first laying my eyes on you,” Rook fondly remarked. The warmth of his voice practically oozed out around the corners of his words. “It was the night that my life changed forever–and for the better, might I add!”
“How could I forget?” Vil responded, returning the fondness within the confines of his own voice. “You were perhaps the only mortal foolish enough to approach someone like me, especially since you knew what I was…”
“Oui! I did!” Rook nodded, suddenly moving his feet. The position suddenly made sense to Vil, as he wordlessly followed the hunter’s own feet. This was the position they found themselves in when they would dance with one another. It might have been foolish to dance in a time and place like this. They didn’t even have any music to dance to, but they didn’t need that–nor was there anything to be embarrassed about, especially when it came to being in love with Rook.
“You were so stunning–breathtaking! I couldn’t believe that someone like you were even real,” the hunter reminisced further. “I didn’t want to believe something as beautiful as you would be the cause of some of the most gruesome murders I’ve ever seen.”
“But I was.” Vil solemnly reminded him, to which Rook nodded enthusiastically again.
“Oui, you weren’t the first creature from the underworld I had ever met. I was prepared to slay you at any cost. As I had with all the others I had met,” Rook remarked, the sunniness in his voice and expression darkening for a moment. But it didn’t take long for it to return–tenfold even. “But I knew I couldn’t kill something as beautiful as you from the moment I looked at you.”
Vil knew this all too well. Not only had he lived through it–but Rook loved to dotingly retell their first meeting to anyone and everyone who had an ear. It mattered not to the hunter if they wanted to listen. His retelling was charming and lovely, which is why the matriarch turned his head to the side in a poor way to hide the upcoming blush to his cheeks. “Oh Rook, please…”
“But it’s true! I’ve always admired the beauty of the world, even in the necessary but challenging act of a kill,” the hunter added on a solemn note. “But you, you were different from everyone else. I wanted to prolong your beauty at any cost, even if it was with my own life.”
“And that’s when I knew you were different when you surrendered your bow to stick out your neck for me.” Vil turned back to him, smirking. “You were the first mortal to practically beg to become my bloodbag.”
Rook laughed with his own cheeks starting to turn rosy. “Can you fault me?”
The matriarch didn’t need to say anything, for that wordless response was louder than anything that could’ve been said, especially as Vil’s smirk had gotten wider. The matriarch and his consort continued their waltz, dancing to a tune that only the two of them could hear. Rook even went out of his way to twirl his taller partner around, as though they were matching unseen dancers around them.
The two continued for quite some time. The moon acted as their only seen witness as they danced about the grassy clearing. They relished in each other’s company, so much so, that they got as close as they physically could. Their chests were touching as their dancing slowed as if matching the pace of a drawling, new song. They weren’t so much dancing anymore as they were swaying within each other’s arms. Vil cherished this closeness, as he always did, he had all the foreseeable time in the world to spend with Rook, and that still didn’t seem enough.
The vampire matriarch’s head rested against that of his consort’s. Rook not only allowed it, but closed his eyes, treasuring the moment. He even snuck a few sniffs at the column of Vil’s pale neck to capture his perfumed scent. The act only solidified this frame in time all the more for him. The bonded pair didn’t need to say anything, comfortable with the silence and purely appreciating one another’s company.
“Rook?” Vil abruptly said, breaking the quiet. The hunter hummed back. “Was Epel still in bed when you left?”
“Of course. He was sleeping the night away when I checked on him,” Rook answered happily. Neither of them had stopped dancing, however, the consort’s eyes slowly peeled open to peer over Vil’s shoulder. There was a mischievous glint to them like the smile that had snagged his lips. “...But it seems he isn’t anymore.”
“Indeed.” Vil agreed. His feet had stopped, reluctantly so, just as Rook’s had too.
Those pink eyes of his knowingly darted off to the side. There was a particular thicket of bushes that guarded this clearing. One that hadn’t started rustling until a few minutes ago. Vil would have not only stopped their waltzing to point out the disturbance, but confront it too. It could’ve been some sort of predator or assailant waiting to get the jump on them. It unfortunately wouldn't have been the first time. However, Vil knew almost immediately that this peeping party was of no threat.
In fact, he knew that this intruder was doing their best to be unseen. And maybe they would’ve gotten away with it too, if they weren’t trying to approach some of the deadliest creatures of the night. After all, there wasn’t anything more threatening in these woods than the queen’s wrath. Everyone in this territory knew that.
Vil peeled his hand off from Rook’s chest to put it on his hip haughtily. “You may as well come out,” he purposefully raised his voice so it could be heard across the clearing. “If you don’t–you’ll be in more trouble than you already are.”
The bush stopped rustling, as if preparing to step out onto its rooted legs to surrender itself to Vil. There was a thoughtful pause, one that infiltrated the air, drawing out time longer than it actually was passing. Unlike the matriarch, the consort still had his sunny smile on his face. He too, was looking in the same direction as Vil.
“It’s alright, little one! You can come out!” he encouraged, not nearly as threatening as his counterpart.
The bush rustled again, only this time, giving berth to a small form who stepped out from it. The moonlight immediately graced his form the moment he stepped into the clearing. A boy no older than the age of ten, with striking lavender hair looked at the two with rounded, blue eyes that only got emphasized more by the moon’s touch. Like the two that stood in the clearing, he too was ethereal looking with his own youthful, unspoilt prettiness.
There was guilt on the young boy’s face, accompanied by a poutiness that was expressed through his protruded bottom lip. The expression only got worse the more his eyes bounced between the two vampires he reluctantly approached. “It’s not fair–why can’t I stay up too?” Epel immediately protested.
Rook peeled a hand off Vil so he could waggle a finger at him. “Because you’re still very young! You need all the sleep you can get so you can get big and strong,” he lovingly reminded, which only made Epel pout more.
“And because you’re not changed–not yet.” Vil also reminded him, following suit after his consort.
Epel groaned and looked at his feet. “Yeah, I know but–”
“But nothing.” Vil curtly interrupted, already knowing where the boy’s argument was going to go. He’s heard it more times than he would’ve liked. He raised his finger, serving as an emphasis to his words. “When we’re not around you need to stay put where it’s safe. You’re well aware the woods aren’t safe–especially at night. You could’ve gotten hurt!”
The boy kicked at the ground, making the grass helplessly sway under the motion. He didn’t raise his eyes up, at the fear of confronting the expression on Vil’s face. The matriarch didn’t look remotely amused and Epel could already feel the piercing of his gaze without looking. He swayed in spot, hands behind his back. For a while, the boy hadn’t said anything, as though he had gotten mute. “...M’sorry, mother.” he finally muttered.
The matriarch sighed, not feeling all his annoyance dissipate–but at least lessen. He reached out to the young boy, magnetized by the maternal need to groom the twigs that had gotten in his pretty hair. “At least you’re okay, that’s what matters the most…” Vil resigned with a small smile.
At that, Epel peered his eyes up, but didn’t lift his head. He also turned on a small smile of his own. If only the boy knew how helpless even a vampire matriarch such as Vil felt under the power of his wondrous, ever blue eyes. Vil was convinced that once he turned the boy into one of their own, that he would be able to allure any man or woman that he wanted with just a look alone. He already was good unknowingly without otherworldly influence. The queen knew he would be a worthy successor, which is why he had been taken under his and Rook’s care.
“And getting better at sneaking!” Rook cheerfully proclaimed. He reached down too, ruffling the top of Epel’s hair.
Epel now lifted his head. “You really think so, papa?!” he excitedly asked.
“Oui!” the hunter reflected his excitement as he nodded. “Maybe even better than me!”
“Yeah!” Epel cheered, pumping his fists above his head. “I’m the better sneaker!” Vil didn’t conceal the roll of his eyes, but the smile on his face betrayed his true feelings. At times like these, it was hard to believe that the boy was adopted. He had as many physical qualities as he did of personality that relayed back to the vampiric pair. Many of their coven had believed he was on their own despite knowing vampires couldn’t reproduce once they surrendered their mortal coil.
Vil didn’t need to say anything–but knew that Rook had sensed Epel’s presence just as soon as he had too, maybe even sooner. That was his specialty after all. But they didn’t mind indulging the boy’s fantasies, especially if it would help build his confidence up.
Rook abruptly scooped Epel up from underneath his armpits. Weightlessly, he hoisted the boy above his head, beaming up at him with a type of smile that came about the moment he had become an adoptive father. “The best of all!” Rook beamed. “But you should’ve asked your mother and I more politely to come dance if you had wanted to so badly.”
“Huh?” Epel’s nose wrinkled. “I didn’t come out here for that–I didn’t want to dance!”
“Non–non, no need to be shy, little one. I’m happy to indulge,” Rook tried his best to sound serious, but his playfulness seeped in the edges of his tone. Just as he did with Vil, he grabbed Epel’s hand to hold at the height of his shoulder, lassoing his other around the boy’s waist so he could hold him up, pressed against his chest. “I’m the luckiest man to have so many dance partners!”
Vil held up a hand in front of his mouth as Rook forcefully swayed with a protesting Epel who kept insisting this wasn’t what he wanted. None of his pleas were heard. The hunter danced, bobbed, and even dipped the boy who started giggling the more the act went on. The matriarch had an amused time watching–so much so, that he considered it part of Epel’s punishment for leaving so late at night. Part of it. The rest of it he could decide later.
Eventually, Rook concluded that he had enough dancing for one night when Epel was squirmier than a worm on a hook would be. It was only at Vil’s insistence that it was time to head home. The three of them walked out of the clearing, hand in hand in a long chain. Epel had to reach his own up so he could clasp that of Vil and Rook’s, seeing as he was in the middle. The matriarch and his consort indulged the boy with all the questions and curiosities that came to his mind as they journeyed back. Epel had an endless inquiry of boyish fascination that came with his young age and a mind as bright as his.
The three of them returned back home uninterrupted, with the moonlight guiding their way.
It was the perfect kind of night–especially for Vil, who got to end it with his two most loved ones.