Quiet Laughter

**Karnik doesn't belong to me. This chapter is co-written with Redaura**

In a dreamlike daze Tighe followed Karnik's lead across the candlelit dance floor, his eyes never leaving the stranger's.

Karnik moved the sprite fluidly across floor with no apparent effort twisting and turning in time to the ethereal waltz. He dipped Tighe, bending his body over his arm and smiled down at him. "What brings a shining one like you here?".
Once more Tighe blushed. "Our hostess. S-she felt..." he replied breathlessly as Karnik leisurely brought him back up to his feet. Tighe cleared his throat and tried again to explain his presence. "She felt after...recent events I should...attend." He said the last bit as a question noticing just how strong his dance partner was.

"Oh dear, I do hope you are not injured." Karnik purred with a skewed sense of sincerity. He lifted his hand from Tighe's shoulder and ran his fingernails through the feathers in his mask. "I do hope I am taking your mind off it."

"My mind is no where near those things." Tighe replied wide-eyed.

Beyond his hearing, the assembled guests began murmuring amongst themselves. One particular guest, concerned about a fellow Fae, tapped the amused Danu on the shoulder.

"When are you going to stop this? That boy does not know whom he dances with." Dagda hissed. Danu just chuckled.

Karnik’s smiled stretched. The hand on Tighe’s hip slid sinuously down to Tighe’s rump and let his fingers squeeze and play there. "I am glad to be of service."

Tighe let out an unconscious squeak and attempted to use both his hands to move Karnik's hand to a more safe location but his partner would not let go of the hand he held. Thus he ended up flopping his free hand uselessly around.

Karniks grin went predatory. "Anything wrong my treasure?"

"Y-you um have your hand in a...most inconvenient place, sir." Tighe answered before his voice went up a note. "Would you...put it somewhere else?"

There, he told himself trying to still his rapidly beating heart. That's out of the way.

Karnik smiled as innocuously as his hands position on Tighe's backside. "Of course. " He leaned in closer, speaking into Tighe’s ear. "Where would you like my hand to move to?"

In a fit of pure freakish desperation, Tighe moved his free arm across Karnik's throat and tried shoving away from him. "Any where but my foutre ass!"

Karnik smiled lazily and on one fluid movement had the offending hand in the immovable vice of his hand at the small of Tighe's back. The hand that had previously been on Tighes shoulder moved down his chest slowly, paying special attention to his nipple. "How about... here?" He caught Tighe's gaze.

The pain coming from his arm brought tears to his eyes. The caress to his nipples brought a frightened hiss. He should have known, Tighe told himself pierced by Karnik's vicious gaze. He should have known...

Karnik nearly swooned from the fear radiating of his delectable little victim. He eased off slightly, and ghosted his fingers gently down the side of Tighe's mask, finishing with his fingers under Tighe's chin and pulled him close, kissing him deeply.

He tried to fight but Karnik was too strong. He was neatly pinned not too much unlike a butterfly in someone's collection. Tighe always did feel bad for the butterflies.

There were whispers and hisses of disgust. But why didn't someone help him, Tighe wondered as his lungs screamed for air they were not getting. He was drowning, growing weaker...and he really didn't mind. At least he'd be free of his captor.

With a hum of pleasure Karnik swallowed the fae's air, feeling it nearing its end. With such sweet stimulation he couldn't resist. He gently sank his fangs into Tighe's delicate lips, swooning at the blood beading on the tip of his tongue.

Royal was enjoying an extra rare cigarette on the balcony when she swore she heard Tighe's name being mentioned at the party her master forced her to attend. Reluctantly, she stood up and tossed the thing away before slipping back inside. It only took her a second to find her master...and his victim.

"Master Karnik!" she screamed in outrage shoving her way toward the vampire.

Karnik turned towards his new enforcer, blood still beading on his lips, captive still held tight in his arms. He gave her a cold look. "Yes?"

The blood, Royal's mind screamed, That's your brother's blood. She forced herself to relax and politely reply.

"Are you requiring some..sustenance, Master? I am certain I can find something better than a tainted fairy." Royal ignored the disgruntled commentary behind her.

"Tainted?" Karnick licked his lips slowly and deliberately. "Tastes perfectly saccharine to me."

"Would you not want a more...pure source of food? A human or even a Fae?" Royal cajoled trying to look innocent about it.

"Pure?" Karnik raised one of his perfectly arched eyebrows, pierced with silver. "He is a delicious blend, rare and unique." He let his hand languish in Tighe’s hair.

Royal heard him whimper and no doubt her Master did as well.

"He's a Fae Knight!" someone in the crowd shouted. Royal groaned and hid her face in her hands.

Karnik smiled slowly. "And I wish to... spar... with him."

Royal tried the final card in her hand, "But Master, he's...my brother."

Karnik’s smiled took on an extra edge. "How intriguing."

"Please let him go Master." she begged. "I can find someone better."

"Oh?" Now this was proving to be far more entertainment than he had ever imagined. "How so?"

"I know of a man. Highly regarded, Better blood, more of it too! And he's a higher rank than Tighe." Royal replied as Tighe began to rouse.

"I do believe that you are missing a vital part of my motivation." His tone was slightly chiding. "I am in the mood for beauty above substance tonight."

Royal's blood ran cold. She knew what those words meant and she watched helpless as Tighe's eyes fluttered open. Royal bowed her head in submission.

"What do you need of me...my Master."

Karnik was slightly disappointed by her instant concurrence, but cautioned himself to be satisfied with the delicious pounding of her heart and the sinking of her spirit. "Bring him to me tonight." He allowed his grin to go feral.

Behind her calm expression, Royal seethed. She looked up in time to see Danu smiling and knew this all along was her plan. Unseelie bitch, she swore and said aloud, "As per your order."

I'm sorry fraello , she mouthed and Tighe looked at her in confusion.

Karnik followed his enforcers gaze to the ex-Fairy Queen. Interesting. His mind started working on the possibilities behind this new revelation. He smiled and shoved his delicious captive towards Royal. "Until tonight." And disappeared into the gossiping throngs.

"Who in Unseelie hell was that? !" Tighe cried immediately once he was safe in Royal's arms.

" That was my Master Karnik and I swear to the Great Lady, I want you to make your peace and immediately hang yourself." Royal commanded.

"What?!" he exclaimed staring at her in shock.

Royal led him out of the ballroom, down a well lit hallway with red carpet and into a dim unused room.

"You won't go back to Tuatha Eire, in fact your vow to me won’t allow you to.” Royal explained to her brother. “I owe Karnik a life debt so I can’t do a single thing if he gets it in his head to want you.”

“So, you want me to off myself.”

“It’s the only way, fraello . Master, he’s a monster. Even his fellow vampires are scared shitless of him.” Royal hugged her brother tightly. “I don’t want you hurt anymore.”

Tighe licked his lips nervously and tasted blood, “I don’t want to leave you.”