-+Requiem+-

-+Chapter Seven+-

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I curled up on a plush, black sofa that was positioned in front of the fireplace in ‘living room’ of Infirite’s quarters. He had lit the fire for me before he had left to clean up his room and I was nearly overwhelmed by the size this one. It was nearly as big as my house was and had been lavishly decorated with what looked to be rare and expensive items. And not only that, but it was a sort of library/study that had more books in it than I had ever seen in my entire life.

There was no doubt that this was a nobleman’s home and that Infirite could definitely be considered one of them. I briefly wondered if that was because he was born into the status or if he had become one because of his relationship with Arkaia. If the latter was true, then didn’t that mean that I too am now a nobleman? There’s also this Blood Count thing to consider as well…

I didn’t know what to think about my sudden rise in status, but I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not. It would give me access to more resources and information than I would have gotten at any other status (except royalty), but it would also give me more social obligations than I’d like to deal with. I think Infirite is the same way as well.

Speaking of him, I felt rather odd sitting here in his study, wearing his clothes while he cleaned up after us. I wanted to help but there wasn’t anything I could do. I didn’t know where anything should go and it’s not like I’ve ever had to clean up after a sexual act before. Even at home I had only ever masturbated in the bath. I didn’t want Scarlet to have to be exposed to something like that.

I realized that I could no longer be considered a virgin and that I had intercourse with Infirite, but I still wasn’t freaking out about it as I thought I should be. As a vampire I wasn’t as emotional about this and that was normal for this species, but my human voice was still strong and I just couldn’t silence it. I wanted to keep my humanity, as most who are turned probably do, but I wasn’t human anymore. I was a vampire and I needed to act like one in order to survive as one.

There was conflict about that of course, both my human and vampire side fighting for my favor, and I wanted to keep them both but I already had enough problems as it was. I didn’t need two set of instincts clashing as well as having Nightshade taking over whenever he wanted. I had to get rid of one of them, or at least ignore one of them, and I believed it was the human side that had to go.

It was a hard decision to make since human instinct was all I had gone on for the sixteen years of my life, but a human wouldn’t survive in the situation I was in now. I had to do this, for the sake of finding out who ordered my family killed, and my resolve was strengthened as I thought of how Scarlet had died. Pushing aside my human side I ignored all the things that seemed wrong to it and found that a sense of peace came with me having done so.

I was calm now and the thought of having had sex with Infirite or even having sex with him again didn’t bother me. It intrigued me more than anything else and I thought about doing the same with Arkaia and Ikuma as well. I wasn’t interested in them still and I had no desire to have sex with either of them, especially Ikuma. My morals and beliefs were still there then, they just weren’t as predominant as they were before. Just like Infirite had said, I was still myself; my personality was still here, just different than before.

Growing tired of my thoughts I got up and started walking around the room. There was a table and benches behind the sofa I had sat at and beyond that were many rows of books. I ignored them for now in favor of looking at the shelves that appeared randomly on the walls. On the first one I stopped at there was a large bow and a quiver of arrows that was so elaborately decorated that I knew beyond any doubt that it was of high quality craftsmanship.

Just then I caught the scent of Arkaia drawing near and turned towards to the door opposite to Infirite’s room. They key was loud in the lock, as it had been at the motel, and soon after he stepped through looking no worse for wear than he had before the fight had begun. His clothes were different though which let me know that at least something had occurred and there was the faint smell of his blood under the lavender scent that clung to him. He must have taken a bath as well.

Seeing me standing there I saw him tense for a moment before quickly approaching me. Looking me over I saw him inhale my scent and his eyes narrowed slightly. I knew that he could smell Infirite’s scent on me—it was so thick it couldn’t be ignored—and I knew that he knew what had happened.

I was embarrassed about it, a human emotion, but it wasn’t like I could just stop acting human all of a sudden. It would take a lot of time and practice and even then it might never occur. What I really needed was to just heighten my vampire side until it over ruled the human one. Then there would be no need to get rid of that part of myself.

Nightshade made his presence known, a slight pressure in my mind, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of my thoughts or just a reaction to Arkaia’s proximity. Being able to sense him was another weird thing I wasn’t able to explain. Perhaps it had something to do with being a vampire though. I didn’t think I’d even be the slightest bit aware of him, other than from what people told me of him, if not for being inhuman.

Arkaia touched my cheek and Nightshade tensed but I didn’t react to it. He was my Sire, my protector (I acknowledged that now), and he was just concerned for my well being. He had other motives but he was doing all he could for me and that was almost enough to make me forgive him for it. It was at least enough for me to ignore it for as long as I could.

Infirite growled at Arkaia as he exited his room, much to my surprise, and came to stand beside me almost protectively. It was a strange thing for him to do, considering his normal attitude, and I couldn’t help but stare at him as he and Arkaia non-verbally battled it out. They were fighting over me in a way I couldn’t comprehend and I felt uncomfortable under the tension that followed.

After a few moments they came to some sort of agreement for they broke eye contact, yet neither of them moved away. I didn’t know what was going on but I figured it had something to do with Infirite and I having slept together. When neither of them spoke I shifted nervously, catching their attention, and almost wished I hadn’t moved at all.

“Infirite is possessive of those he feeds off of, especially right after sex, and he will not allow you to leave his sight until he comes out of heat.” That explained it then, but I wasn’t too keen on being followed around by both Arkaia and Infirite 24/7. “His possessiveness will lessen with time until he is back to his old self, which shouldn’t take more than a day or two.” At least it wouldn’t last that long.

“Crimson, I must take you meet my brother. He is the head of the Malibrooke family and, if for some reason myself or my childer are not around, he will protect you.”

“You are a Malibrooke?” I figured that he was from the way he spoke, but you never know. For all I knew he and his brother had different fathers and names.

“Yes, as is Ikuma and Infirite, and soon you will be too. Once you are acknowledged as my childer and introduced as such you will be accepted into the Malibrooke family. This does not mean your last name will change though, or that you will not longer be considered a Nightshade, it is just saying that you are a part of this family and messing with you means messing with all of the Malibrookes.” Being accepted into a family of vampires meant that you were now protected by them then. I wondered if that meant I’d be held to the same standards as they were. I keep forgetting about being a Blood Count. I’ll not only be held to the standards of a Malibrooke, but of a prophet to their blood god as well.

I tried not to think about it too much least I drive myself into further insanity, and focused on the immediate task at hand; meeting the head of the family. “How should I greet—do I greet him?”

I didn’t want to make a fool of myself and I had no idea what I was supposed to do or what was already expected of me. They had said that I wouldn’t be acknowledged without Arkaia’s permission but Arkaia didn’t actually say he was going to let his brother acknowledge me, just that I would meet him.

“I will allow him to acknowledge you and you do not need to worry about proper greetings right now. Ryce does not like formality between family members.” It was odd to be called part of the family and I was a bit uncomfortable about how fast it had happened. So a vampire bites you, turns you, and you automatically become family?

That didn’t make much sense but I did appreciate the circle of protection it gave me. Maybe that’s the reason then; newly turned vampires are made part of the family so soon because they need that protection and without it they may not survive.

I nodded to Arkaia and followed him to the door, Infirite remaining at my side. As we passed through the door frame I shivered as I felt a thin, invisible veil pass over me and eyed it suspiciously. I knew there was magic there but what kind and for what purpose was unknown to me.

“All of the rooms are covered in wards keyed to the owner. They were scanning you to see who you were and if you meant me any harm.” Infirite was sounding normal again so I hoped he had gotten himself under control—at least enough not to assault anyone who came near me. The same went for Arkaia as well.

As the golden man lead me down the halls I couldn’t help but stare in awe of what was around me. The ceilings, as high as they were, had staglatites hanging down from them that were painted silver, and the walls were a deep, blood red that almost seemed to match the new color of my hair. The carpet matched the ceiling in ways of color and on the walls were large gothic candle holders whose candles had magic flames that burned in both red and silver.

At the end of the hallway were two large skylights with the glass being in the same design as the ceiling. It split off into three different directions from there and we turned towards the left and headed towards a large, curving staircase that going down. On either side of this staircase were pillars that held carvings of elves on them, a male and a female, and as we approached the female smiled and waved at us as the male scowled and moved to the other side of his pillar.

It was different from the stained glass windows. These carvings actually seemed aware of us and the female even continued to follow us along the marble as we moved down the staircase. It was unnerving really and I didn’t know why anyone would want to have one in their home, watching them like that.

“They’re the Wood Elves of Keilliastel by Norstrus Fairbok. The carvings are infused with magic so that they act like those they are modeled after. The can move across any surface that their column is made of if restrictions are not place on them.” Arkaia explained without ever turning around and I glanced back at the elf to see that she was ‘stuck’ and couldn’t follow us any further. They were restricted to the upper floors then.

“Why does all the art move?” I didn’t understand how they could enjoy the feeling of being watched; having art work like that around would make me paranoid that they were spying on me or something.

“Why does human art not move?” Well, humans don’t have magic so of course their art doesn’t move. I understood then what he was getting at. If humans did have magic then their art work would move and if I had grown up around it then I’d be used to it too and think that non-moving art work was the one that was weird.

I made a noise of understanding so he’d know I had gotten it and fell back into silence as my eyes were drawn to each new thing that was presented to me. As the staircase curved it faced out in the direction of the back of the house and over the railing on the left were large entrance doors with carvings of the damned etched into them, stretching towards an awkward moon that was dripping down to them in droplets.

I had never seen carvings like that before and had to look away as the damned started to writher and wiggle amongst their own decapitated body parts. The sculptures that were placed in front of those doors weren’t any better though. The first was a battle scene with creatures of all races fighting against each other, the most predominant being vampires and what I thought to be werewolves. I couldn’t really tell but for some reason my instinct was telling me ‘werewolf.’

Moving passed that there were two identical sculptures of Nightmares who were in their skeletal forms. They snorted and stared at us with their hallowed out eyes and I had to look away from them as well. They were still creepy to me even with my subdued vampire emotions.

There really was a lot to look at (and to be creeped out by too) and my head was spinning from trying to take everything in. I wasn’t going anywhere for a while though, or at least I thought I wasn’t, so there was no need to learn every little thing about this abnormally large manor just yet, but it was hard not to want to.

I tried focusing in on Arkaia instead and following him as he walked down the central hallway which had many rooms on either side of it. I counted the doors as we passed, so I could remember where we were, and we stopped once coming upon the 6th door. It was a long walk, to say the least, and each room must be huge in order for them to be spaced apart like this.

Knocking on the door Arkaia didn’t bother waiting for an answer before entering the room. I didn’t think this was proper but since this was his brother I guess it made sense. I never had Scarlet wait for me to answer, or even knock on my door, before he came in. But then again doing so was taking a risk back then. Enough thinking about that for now. I have to focus on meeting the head of the family.

I entered the room with Infirite close behind me and could feel his irritation at being here. I don’t think it was because of Ryce though, but because he had to be here in general while he was still in heat. It must really be hard for him to be around people, even when they were considered part of the family.

There was only one man in the room when we walked in and he was sitting in the center of it with books, scrolls, and parchment strewn about all around him. His hair was mussed up at odd angles and he seemed nothing like what I thought he would be. Being the head of a noble family I thought that he would be regal and well groomed but he wasn’t and the way he appeared to me now made him seem more approachable. And maybe that’s what he’s going for as well.

“Ryce.” Ryce was muttering to himself but he looked up when Arkaia called his name and gave him a small smile, nodding to Infirite as well. He didn’t even look at me, which was considered proper, but it was odd when everyone else had at least tried to sneak a peek. It let me know that although he was approachable he was still acutely aware of his position and the responsibilities he had.

“Arkaia, Infirite, how was your journey?” He didn’t even hint towards knowing anything about me. I respected that about him; that he could hold back whatever curiosity he had and ignore what he wanted to do in order to be respectful. There was nothing in his body language that told me he was holding back either.

“Interesting, as always, and I want to introduce you to my childer.” Ryce got up as Arkaia continued, parchment crinkling around him as he moved. “Brother, blood of my blood, I present to you Crimson Nightshade.”

He placed his hand on my back as he introduced me and I shifted nervously because I still didn’t know how to greet him. Such a formal introduction made me think that I needed to be formal as well and it bothered me that I couldn’t be and didn’t know how to. Infirite softly growled behind me but was ignored, not out of spite but because they knew he didn’t mean to growl but couldn’t help himself either.

Ryce finally turned to me but he didn’t look me over critically like I thought he would. He ignored the color of my hair and eyes as all others could not, and surprised me as he enveloped me in a sudden hug. There was nothing sexual about it, no hidden motives or anything, just an embrace that let me know that although he knew nothing about me he accepted me for who I was. It touched me that not only could he do this, but he did.

“Welcome to the family.” He was a sort of father or an older brother type like what I had tried to be for Scarlet and like I longed to have for myself. Even my vampire side could not contain my emotions on this but I tried to keep them to myself as I returned Ryce’s embrace without hesitation. I was glad that Arkaia had introduced me to him.

I could feel Arkaia’s concern and knew that I had failed in hiding my emotions like I wanted but I didn’t care. Another growl from Infirite though let me know that he was reaching his limits and I reluctantly let the man go as he moved away and gave me some space so that my self appointed protectors could calm down. Infirite immediately moved closer to my side and place a hand on my back as he basically plastered himself against me.

It was a bit awkward, I must admit, but I slowly relaxed against him and accepted it for what it was. As bad as it was for me it must be even worse for Infirite, not being able to control himself, and I worried about how he was handling it.

Looking back at Ryce he gave us a small smile, the same as he had given Arkaia, and didn’t let on that he knew what had happened between us even though I knew he must. Even if he had I doubt he would be judgmental about it either, at least not in a way we would ever see or understand. He was a master at making people feel comfortable around him.

“Thank you.” I really was grateful for his support and his smile widened at my thanks. I couldn’t help but return it, even if only a little bit.

“I’ll take care of everything else so you won’t have to worry about it.” He was speaking to all of us for that but then he directed his attention back to me. “It’s been a trying few days, hasn’t it? You all should rest up and regain your strength.”

He made eye contact with Arkaia, that made me think they had more to talk about later, before I was slowly shooed out of the room by all three of them. Infirite and Arkaia came will me as we headed back to the upper floors but I couldn’t help but wonder when the golden man would sneak out to talk to his brother and what they would be talking about. Probably me, I guess.

They’d have to decide what they were going to do with me and how they’d introduce me to everyone else. Since I was considered a Blood Count I didn’t have much choice as far as being introduced went. I doubted that the royalty or other noblemen would be happy if they kept me secret and even thinking about meeting all of them made me nervous. Really, how can they expect me to not only know what I’m doing but give them advice as well?

“Crimson?” Arkaia’s voice distracted me from my thoughts and I looked up to him, observing his concerned gaze. I guess when you make yourself someone’s protector it’s hard to protect them from themselves.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about what’s to come.” My words did nothing to ease his concern though, or my own for that matter, and he moved closer to me, placing a kiss on my temple despite Infirite’s warnings. Nightshade protested in my mind and I told him to shut up, feeling crazy for talking to myself even though it was just in my head, but it did make it easier to ignore him as I accepted Arkaia’s comfort.

“Ryce will take care of things. He will find someone who can help with Nightshade as well.” It was uncanny how he seemed to know when I was thinking about that but I tried to put it out of my mind least I become paranoid as well. The last thing I needed was for another psychosis to be added.

“Will they get rid of him?” I was already starting to think of him as another being outside of myself and that couldn’t be good for me. I wanted Nightshade gone, but at the same time I didn’t want to get rid of a part of myself. I wanted to be whole again.

“They will try to combine your personalities back into one. I have not heard of it being done before, but a master of mind magic shouldn’t have a problem with it.” That wasn’t completely reassuring to hear but it did give me some hope that maybe I could return to normal; as normal as I could be, anyway.

Instead of returning to Infirite’s room we went further back down the same hallway to the third and last room on the right. It was apparently Arkaia’s room for when we walked into it the color scheme was black and white. A thin veil passed over me again and I shuddered at the feeling of it. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get used to that but I understood the need for safety.

What caught my eye most of all was a large, flat glass box that stood on top of a small marble table placed against the wall. The table was more of a box as well, instead of having the normal legs, and the glass box seemed to be connected to it. Inside the glass was a glowing green liquid that oozed and moved of its own volition. I had no idea what it was.

“Data Scape.” Infirite offered, looking more subdued than usual. “It offers access to information and others who have the same thing.”

There was more to it than that but it Infirite wasn’t going to say anymore about it. He was probably tired but that just didn’t explain everything that was wrong his attitude. Something else had gone on with that thing that he didn’t like. Whatever it was I’d have to pry it out of him if I ever wanted to know and right now our relationship wasn’t strong enough to withstand that kind of treatment. Something else I’ll have to be patient in obtaining.

I knew how fast things could turn for the worst and I didn’t want that to happen with Infirite. I had a feeling I had a lot to learn from him, and there was no denying that I was attracted to him as well. So is Nightshade too for that matter.

There was only one bed in the room and I was a bit apprehensive about that but it’s not like I hadn’t shared a bed before. Scarlet and I had slept together many times. As we had the night he died…

Thinking about it was depressing me again and I had already cried in front of them once before. I would not do it again if I could help it and since neither of them were about to leave me alone I’d have to suck it up and deal with it. I had had sex with Infirite so there was no reason to be embarrassed about sleeping in the same bed, though my vampire side thoroughly squashed such feelings anyway, but it was different with Arkaia.

Although I knew he was doing all he could to protect me I still didn’t trust him 100% and sleeping in the same bed with him seemed like a bad idea. (Nightshade was completely against it as well.) He wouldn’t hurt me though; I knew that, so I quickly shoved aside those feelings and accepted the inevitable.

It was probably safer for me to remain surrounded anyway.

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Author’s Note: Don’t forget to rate! I love them almost as much as the reviews!~

Spoonring: Thanks for the surprisingly long review. I don’t want to spoil it so I won’t say much but Nightshade will be around for a long time and more tragedy is to come Crimson’s way. He’ll have his happy moments though and more surprises and details are on their way.

Nothing’s Sorrow: Thanks for the review, and the original really wasn’t that good. I’m much happier with the way it is now.