Turn Of Events

This man was indeed tall. A good 6'6" and broad shouldered. His hair was short and a dark brown color. He wore entirely black clothing, all of the same hue, so his pants, shirt and floor-length trenchcoat all blended together. All of the material was made out of high quality fabric. He had an air about him that spoke of age and knowledge beyond most anything. His small brown eyes spoke of wisdom, even beyond his own years, of which there were many. He was around the same age as the Prince, possibly older. This man was pure vampire and able to walk in sunlight without harm. He was one of the remaining Ancients, immune to most vampire weaknesses. Right now, he was on his way to the Prince. He had to see him.

The Prince left Novus alone for now, leaving the young one to cry in privacy. To cry...how long had it been since he himself cried, the Prince wondered. He thought about it a moment and discovered he hadn't cried in a very, very long time...not since he had been a real Prince, actual royalty.
The Prince quickly shrugged these musings off, turning his attention to some reports Laepheus had handed him earlier. As his eathereal, penetrating gaze scanned the lines, his senses picked up the presence of...him. Why was he here, the Prince wondered. The Prince scowled ever so slightly. He didn't want to see him, but wouldn't actively turn him away.

Out of the shadows, from behind the Prince, he stepped forward. "Aydrien... It's been ... lifetimes..." He smiled softly, the way he used to when he looked at the Prince. He had missed him dearly and came here in the hopes that everything would be the same as it had been before. There was no need to sheild his thoughts from the Prince. He knew that he wouldn't try to pry into his mind.

The Prince jumped slightly. It had been ages since anyone appeared behind him, out of nowhere. Truth was, he had always been a little on the paranoid side. "Yes...it has, Demonic," Aydrien agreed, turning towards him. "What in this world compelled you to come visit me, on this night of all nights?" the Prince inquired, crimson eyes studying Demonic's own brown ones. Aydrien's face was damn-near expressionless, but his body language had changed slightly. He seemed slightly tense, but curious at the same time.

Demonic laughed. "Still concealing yourself are you?" He walked to about the center of the room and looked around, slightly amused, as if just there to study the architecture. "Well... I was just roaming through the area, as I do, and I heard the call that all the vampires heard. I didn't come immediately, mainly for not being ready to see you just yet. But..." he stopped and turned to the Prince. "Tell me you are keeping that young one here just to train him. If not... Aydrien, your plan could ruin everything. And Blaine... He might be younger and less powerful than you are, but he wouldn't stop until he got his love back. You should know the feeling..."

Aydrien scowled, eyes narrowed. "Yes, I do plan to train him, and make him stronger. But I do have some other plans for him as well. Oh Blaine will get him back, but not until I accomplish something I've been planning for a while now," the Prince told Demonic, glancing away from him. He swept some of his long golden hair away from his slender face, then looked back at Demonic.

Demonic chuckled shortly. "You wish to further yourself don't you?" He paused waiting for an answer. If his assumptions were correct, this man sitting in front of him was not the man he had once loved. Just in case, he built his fortress around his mind. A barrier so powerful, none had been able to break through it. Not even the previous Prince had been able to see into Demonic's mind when he had his mind sheltered.

Aydrien blinked, red eyes studying Demonic carefully. "...I suppose that's one way of putting it..." he replied, but wouldn't give away any further details. His mind was also locked-tight. "Did you come just to lecture me??" the Prince asked a bit testily. His voice carried a slight edge to it.

Demonic sighed. This was not what he had intended. "No, I haven't, my prince..." The word, instead of sounding formal, sound more loving, more gentle, as if it were a pet name. Demonic shrugged out of his coat and tossed it to the side. He rolled back his sleeves. "I also came to show you something..." On his wrists were brands, obviously painful ones, as since they still were a very angry red. It had been years since he had been branded. He had been labeled a murderer in the humans eyes. They branded him, to set him up for execution the next day, only to find him gone. In the ancient vampric alphabet, the symbols burned into his wrists stood for "prince" and "love."

The Prince's eyes fell to study these marks. But he studied them more than just with his eyes...his psychic touches snaked out to lightly touch these brands. Something in Aydrien's face softened, and for a very, very brief moment, he might've even looked "human" again. "They hurt you..."

Demonic's mind had flitted back to that memory when he and the Prince had been living together. When the humans gathered in force to drag Demonic out of his own home in the middle of the day in his sleep. He had lost track of the Prince since then. "Yes, Aydrien, they hurt me. They meant to kill me. I got away, obviously." He said, again with his non-chalantness that made it seem as though he was merely speaking about the weather.

Aydrien's eyes fluttered as his mind wandered back over painful memories. "Demonic..." he said, but couldn't finish the sentence. Something within him cracked. It really had been a long time since he'd seen the other...and Demonic had been removed from his life so forcefully. A single red tear stained Aydrien's alabastor face.

Demonic started forward. He knelt in front Aydrien and gently wiped the tear away. "Aydrien... There's no need to shed tears over me... I can take care of myself... I used to take care of you, as you well know. I want the chance to do that again..." Sincerity and love flooded Demonic's eyes. He knew Aydrien's desires. the older ones at least. The ones that thirsted for love and belonging. What might have changed in their time apart, Demonic didn't know. But he was willing to find out.

Aydrien looked up at Demonic and nodded. He did not cry any more tears over what had happened, at the moment. "You want to stay..." Aydrien said aloud, eyes scanning Demonic's face. "And you may. I want you to stay..." the Prince told the other, not so commanding, but more of a pleading.

Demonic nodded. He smiled softly. "I will then..." Slowly he leaned in and brush a soft, gentle kiss across Aydrien's mouth. A kiss that belied everything about his rugged, tough appearance and demeanor. Like Blaine loved Novus, Demonic loved Aydrien and would do anything for him.

Aydrien inhaled slightly, taking in Demonic's scent. Something he hadn't breathed in a very long time. It was almost intoxicating. "De..." he whispered, slender fingertips touching the other man's cheek.

Demonic pulled back. He brushed a stray hair out of Aydrien's face and looked into his eyes lovingly. "Something wrong, Aydrien?" he asked ever so softly. For one such as he was, Demonic was quite a soft and loving man when it came right down to it. He was famed for being one of the most humane vampires.

"I...I just missed you so much, and hadn't realized it until now," Aydrien told Demonic, his mind again wandering over the past. "How long do you plan to stay here?" he inquired, eyes searching.

"A very long time if not forever, Aydrien." He smiled softly. "Had I not promised to always be by your side? I wish to fufill my vow to you, my prince. Nothing could keep my mind from you during our time apart... It only made me ache to be near you again..." His face was just inches from Aydrien's and he spoke in a soft whisper. His breath smelled of peppermint, a favorite treat of his. His scent was nearly all sandalwood, a scent known to relax and to heal. Another one of his favorites. He only hoped Aydrien thought so as well.

A smile slowly appeared on Aydrien's face. His lips were a pale shade of blue, but this only seemed to add to his ethereal beauty. Demonic hadn't changed...except for the brutal scarring on his wrists. But what did that matter now?

Demonic sighed and pulled back slowly, as if he really wanted to stay right there. He stood back up and began to slowly pace, as if something were weighing heavily on his mind. However, to those who knew him best, this was only a way for him to keep from doing something horrible. Horrible to him at least. Right now, he had the insane desire to take Aydrien right then and there. He didn't want to rush things just yet. Rather, he wanted to take his time.

The Prince watched Demonic for a good few minutes. Then, without a word, he stood up and left the room, not even taking a backward glance over his shoulder.His bare steps never made a sound upon the hardwood flooring, but the fluttering of his long robes made the quietest rustling sounds, silk against wood.

Demonic watched him go. Not feeling much lighter, but not feeling heavier either. He took his chances and sought Novus out. He followed his scent, the one he found pouring off of Blaine, the one containing the same certain Diabolizer trait to it. He knocked on the door, awaiting permission.

Novus sniffed, glancing towards the door. It wasn't the Prince, but still was very powerful. Who was it? "...come in..." he said, not feeling any threatening aura from the other. Hurriedly he attempted to wipe his inky black tears off his face, but only accomplished in smearing them.

Demonic slowly walked in. He closed the door and smiled at Novus. "Novus Erua... I've heard rumors. My name is Demonic Montan. Call me De, please. I believe the only thing you want right now is to rejoin with Blaine." He walked towards Novus and sat next to him, smiling softly and reassuringly.

Novus sat up, and again tried to clean his face, but in vain. "Y-yes..." he admitted, then looked up at Demonic. His ice-blue eyes studied the man carefully. "There are...rumors about me?" he asked, curious. Well it must be true, if Spike had known about him.

"Indeed," Demonic replied. "There are several. Some as to how long you'll last as a Diabolizer. Others as to how great you'll become. Still others that have you taking over for Aydrien after your training." De sighed. "It is my belief that you'd make a fine ruler, but it wouldn't be for many years to come, youngling. You weren't turned but just a week ago, and already the whole Vampire Underground, and even the incubi community has been buzzing all about you." He looked at Novus. "I'm here to help you. I know some of what's going on in Aydrien's mind and I don't like it very much. I do care much for him, as since he is my 'little one'." He replied, smirking slightly.

Novus blinked, rather confused. What had he done to make anyone even start thinking he would be a great ruler? Or amount to anything in particular? Certainly nothing special...
"What...he's planning something??" Novus asked, immediately looking really nervous. "like what???"

De sighed, knowing that question would pop up. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, Novus. It's just... if he follows through with this plan... you won't see Blaine for a long time. Aydrien would keep you with him. And he never stays in one place for too long. Soon, he'll grow bored of this place and move on, taking you with him. I won't let him do that. It would tear you up and it would incite Blaine to do some very rash things. I have seen what Blaine can do. He alone was responsible for a mass slaughter of an entire village long ago, when he was just shy of 200 years old. Back when he used to roam around with his brother."

Novus shuddered, hugging his knees to his chest. Really? Blaine had really been like that? "Okay...then, what are you planning to do to help...?" the young one asked, curious. "I need to learn something...so I don't think I should leave right away..."

Demonic shook his head. "No you don't. And it is best that you learn from another Diabolizer, but Aydrien had to learn somewhere too, right? At the time, Diabolizers were still new, so it was hard to track them down. So... In olden times, Diabolizers were trained by their masters. Worst comes to worst, I'd be happy to train you. I don't want it to go so far though. I plan on trying to get Aydrien to let you go. If that doesn't work... We'll both have to figure something out to get you out of here." Demonic looked Novus up and down. ~Poor kid,~ he thought to himself. ~His life has just been turned upside down several times in the past week. He needs to be with Blaine right now. Not with the Prince. Not with my prince...~

Novus blinked, studying Demonic carefully. This man did seem more trustworthy than the Prince did. Maybe because his people skills were better. He did seem friendlier and more approachable, after all. "You could stay with me and Blaine, if Aydrien lets me go," he offered, knowing Blaine would have no problem with that...most likely.

Demonic smiled and chuckled slightly. "I thank you for your offer, youngling, but ..." He sighs. "After Aydrien lets you go, I'm going to remain with him until we are somehow parted, if it should ever happen again. I care for him the same way that Blaine cares for you. Aydrien warms my heart in ways I never thought were possible. I've been a vampire for a very very long time, Novus. It feels wonderful to feel."

Novus blinked, eyes wide with wonder as he studied Demonic again. "But, but...you would come visit right..come and teach me things," he asked, blinking. He felt attatched to Demonic already, as if the guy were an uncle or something.
"Wait....is that the Prince's name? You love him...???"

Demonic looked at Novus with surprised amusement. "Yes, yes, and yes. I would have no problem with coming to teach you if it came to that. I do love Aydrien with all my black little heart, but even still... I can't just.. sit here off to one side and watch him try to ruin your life to further his own..." Aware that he might have said too much, Demonic stood up. He glanced around and started to make his way slowly to the door. "I'm going to go and seek him out again. Maybe see exactly what it is that he's got planned. I don't want you to repeat anything we've said tonight, alright, youngling? It's bad enough now that you know his name."

Novus suddenly looked very, very nervous. What??? Ruin his life to further his own? Novus didn't like the sound of that at all. He was now very anxious to get out as soon as possible without angering the Prince. "Y-yes....I won't repeat anything," Novus agreed, nodding. He hugged his knees closer, and stared off into space.

Demonic sighed, still looking at Novus. He smiled reassuringly. "Don't let it eat at you, youngling. I'll make sure everything turns out fine. That I promise you." He left after giving Novus another smile.
His nose led him to where the Prince had retired to. Demonic didn't even bother knocking, he just let himself in. "Aydrien..." he called out gently, eyes scanning the room, looking for the Diabolizer.

The Prince was sitting in front of a mirror, brushing out his long hair. He glanced over his shoulder as De let himself in. "Yes...?" he asked, setting the brush down. It was a platinum brush, with much fine detail wrought into it. The same brush De had given him centuries ago.

Demonic saw the brush. "I see you've kept little reminders of me around..." He seemed deeply touched. He walked over to Aydrien, a old feral grace about him as he swayed with each step like a predator stalking its prey. He gently set his hands on Aydrien's shoulders, looking Aydrien in the eyes in the mirror that refused to show his own reflection.

The mirror showed Aydrien's reflection, but only half so. Even though De's reflection did not exist, Aydrien did not fail at returning De's gaze. "Yes. I have," he confirmed, glancing away slightly before locking his eyes with De's again. He discreetly bit his own tongue and swallowed down what little of his own blood he got from it. The Prince then stood and turned to face De, his completely red eyes scanning his lover's face. "How I've missed you...." he said, then hungrily kissed De, his mouth still sweetened with blood.

De was shocked at the suddenness, but kissed him back, his eyebrows raised. His hands, which had flung out, returned to gently hold Aydrien to him. His hands traveled down Aydrien's back to rest in the small of it, holding the lithe body to his own well-sculpted one.

Aydrien's kisses were hungry and desperate, and he kept close to De within the other's embrace. ~I need you...~ he admitted, his slender hands pulling at De's shirt. ~Take me...~ he all but commanded, nipping at Demonic's tongue again.

De suddenly thought about the serious situation Aydrien would be putting Novus in. He disentangled himself from Aydrien's mouth. "Aydrien... We need to talk, love... Then we can do whatever you wish... I promise. Anything you wish, so long as it doesn't involve the youngling. Agreed?" He silently prayed to whatever gods were out there that Aydrien would keep a calm mind about this.

"What, right now..." Aydrien protested, but heeded De. "What do you wish to discuss?" the Prince asked, and inwardly scowled at the fact that Demonic had brought up that little one again. His hands remained tangled in De's shirt, but he regarded him with a serious face.

De was slightly shocked by the sudden coldness. "I have to know, Aydrien... Just what is it that you have planned with him...? What could he possibly have that you need so badly?" He decided to ask these questions with a very gentle curiosity, as if it really didn't matter to him either way if he knew the answers. His barrier remained up, concealing the conversation he had earlier with Novus. He would make sure that Aydrien never knew about it.

Aydrien hesitated before saying anything, his red eyes studying De's. Just like Novus's, his eyes were bottomless and penetrating. "...It's not what he has, it's what he is," Aydrien told De, voice quiet. "A brand new, defenseless Diabolizer. He's a perfect channel/amplifier for my own power. Having him fight alongside me...it becomes as if there were two of me. Do you understand what I could accomplish with such power?" Aydrien asked De, completely serious. "Of course he'll be returned to Blaine after I achieve my few goals."

De sighed, knowing the risks. He had seen it once a long time ago. "Aydrien... There is still some things that you do not know about... Some Diabolizers weren't killed by vampires, or couldn't handle the changes... Others died at the hands of others of their own kind. Through the same method that you wish to use Novus for... You could easily kill the youngling like that, my prince..." He paused. "... And if you did...? Would it matter to you?" Even De kicked himself for asking that question. There was a big chance Aydrien would kick him out now. ~Aydrien... ~ How he longed to be near him... Now he was going about trying to ruin things, just to save one life.

Aydrien smiled, but it held no mirth. "I am well aware of the risks the little boy would face, Demonic," he told the other, his tone laced with tension. Like a snake coiling to get ready to strike. "And no it wouldn't matter. Why would it matter? It's just like any of the other countless lives I have thrown away. And as for Blaine, if he can't control himself, I'll just have to take care of him," Aydrien said in a matter-of-fact voice. His red gaze was a little threatening as he regarded the man who stood before him. "So, if you have a problem with that, you may get out of my House immediately."
Aydrien said this rashly, not really thinking clearly. Or was he? He had wanted De to stay so badly before...but had his mind been fogged?

Demonic pulled away from Aydrien, clearly surprised, and quite a bit disgusted with the man that stood before him. "Aydrien... my gods... What has happened to you? I can still look back on a time when you were disgusted with killing... And now? You don't even care anymore?" Demonic stood there awhile longer. "... I refuse to believe that you would do this." He looked away before continuing. "I will leave. I beg of you... Please... think about what you're doing. If you wish for me to return... All you have to do is call..." With that, De spun out of the room. He returned to the sitting room, grabbed his coat in a flurry of movement and left the House. ~Novus...~ he called out. ~Be on your utmost guard. I'm off to see your master. Things could get quite ugly. Aydrien isn't who I once believed him to be. He has changed. Greatly. You are in danger, but he wouldn't kill you just yet. Stay strong for a little longer. I'll have you out of there as soon as can be.~

Aydrien scowled slightly. This...was turning out uglier than he had expected. As soon as Demonic left the room the Prince threw out mental barriers and pulses, disturbing any messages Demonic might be sending to Novus. He left his bedroom and sat quietly in his sitting room, waiting there to fight off anyone that might come by to harass him, including Blaine. Meanwhile, the Prince had Lae keep watch to warn him in case anyone might try to approach the House.

Demonic stopped up short, feeling his connection cut off short. He scowled deeply. How dare he? How dare he even think of doing this to the youngling after all De had done to keep Aydrien from doing things like this? Demonic decided to let it be at the moment and ran off, through the night to Blaine's mansion.

~~~~~
Demonic Montan belongs to moi.