Moonlight Denial: Shades of Moonlight Book One

The television set hummed with life as Ethan flipped through the channels. To anyone with normal hearing, it would be hard to hear anything since the volume was so low, but Ethan could hear it just fine. Even though Nicoli insisted it wouldn’t bother him, Ethan decided to be polite.

The vampire looked over at the boy out of the corner of his eye. Nicoli was back to his essay, typing away. He was sitting on the floor with his back against the couch and Felix sat behind him. The boy had finally relented, after much pestering, and allowed the ghost to help him.

The two quietly murmured to each other every so often, discussing what was best to say where. If Felix had an idea he thought was best he would reach over Nicoli’s shoulders and type for him. Miraculously the two hadn’t bickered or fought once.

Ethan was rather impressed. Ghosts by nature were cold, using the heat and energy around them to manifest, and for Nicoli to tolerate the ghost’s arms that close in contact with him was commendable. The vampire caught the slight tremors that shook the boy’s body every once in awhile, but Nicoli never complained. Maybe Beethoven curled up beside the boy was providing enough heat to take the edge off the chill.

Felix glanced in Ethan’s direction then paused in his typing and turned his head completely when he realized the vampire was staring at them.

“And just what are you staring at?” he asked haughtily, getting Nicoli’s attention, who also looked over at Ethan.

“Nothing,” the vampire replied with a small smile. “You two are just cute.” His smile grew when Nicoli blushed again.

Felix just snorted and went back to what he was doing.

“Pervert,” he muttered.

“Pervert?” Nicoli repeated in confusion, turning his head to look up at the ghost.

“Yeah, he was probably imagining us having hot, sweaty sex or something,” Felix told him, unperturbed when the boy paled considerably.

“Ewww, Ethan, that’s gross,” Nicoli said, making a face of disgust at him.

“I was not,” Ethan tsked. Though when he thought of it, picturing the two boys’ in a big bed, panting, moaning, and touching each other in intimate places wasn’t bad at all.

Nicoli’s brow rose when he saw Ethan go off in his own world and he looked back up at Felix.

“Can ghosts even, you know…do the nasty?” the boy asked.

“Of course not, don’t be ridiculous,” Felix replied casually, fingers moving and keys clacking. “We can go through the motions, but we don’t get anything out of it. Even if I were to make the rest of myself solid like my fingers I don’t feel it.”

“Oh…that sucks,” Nicoli murmured.

“More than you know,” Felix said when his fingers suddenly stopped and he sat back. “And we’re done.”

“Huh?” Nicoli looked at the screen to see that Felix had finished writing the last paragraph. “Oh, awesome,” the boy said and grinned, happy to have it done with. He quickly saved the last of the work then set the laptop on the coffee table and stretched.

“You know, if I get an A on this paper I may just have to call you up and have you help me with my other homework,” he joked and smirked up at the ghost. The smirk was wiped off his face, however, when Felix smiled, a true, sincere smile.

“I’d like that,” Felix said, throwing the living boy off guard.

Nicoli was saved from having to say anything when a soft groan came from the other end of the couch. Both Nicoli and Felix turned to see Ethan with his eyes scrunched close. He had one hand on his head and the other on his stomach.

“Ethan? You okay, buddy?” Nicoli asked. “You’re not looking so hot.”

The vampire suppressed the hunger pains coursing through his body and smiled at the boy.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he said. “I think the lack of sleep is getting to me.”

“Oh…” Nicoli muttered. He looked up when the ghost uttered one word.

“Liar.”

“Felix,” Ethan growled warningly.

Felix disregarded him as he turned to Nicoli.

“He’s hungry,” the ghost told him.

“Oh,” Nicoli said, not seeing why that was such a problem. He had a lot of leftovers in the fridg… “Oh!” His eyes widened when he realized what that meant. It took all of his willpower not to reach up and cover his neck.

“Because of that fight last night he lost a good amount of blood and he hasn’t fed in a few days,” Felix continued to explain. “So the poor guy is extremely famished.”

“Thank you, Felix,” Ethan said with an aggravated sigh. He then turned to Nicoli and he could hear the boy’s heartbeat quicken. “Don’t let him scare you. Just because I haven’t eaten in awhile doesn’t mean you have to worry or think you have to do anything about it.”

“Like feeding him,” Felix said offhandedly.

“What!?” Nicoli exclaimed, spinning around and staring at the ghost.

“Well, think about it,” Felix said, ignoring the vicious glare he was getting from Ethan. “You’re the only human here and Ethan can’t leave here for a few more hours, in which case, he will only get weaker and weaker. You’re basically the only option…unless you want him to feed from the dog,” the ghost said, gesturing to a sleeping Beethoven, who was deaf to the world as he slept.

Nicoli could feel heat crawling up his skin and pooling around his scalp. He didn’t like this suggestion. He didn’t like it at all.

“Nicoli, don’t listen to him,” Ethan said, drawing the boy’s attention to him. “I’ll be fine until nightfall,” he assured him.

“He’s lying,” Felix said, crossing his arms. “Right now I bet he’s so hungry it’s almost unbearable.”

“Felix, that is enough,” Ethan snapped and a low growl came from him.

Nicoli abruptly stood up, cutting off the building argument.

“You know – uh – I have to go to the bathroom so you guys just duke it out here amongst yourselves and I’ll be back,” the boy told him and before either could utter a syllable Nicoli darted out of the living room and up the stairs.

Nicoli gave a shuddering breath when he was in the safety of the master bathroom. He turned on the faucet and splashed his face with cold water. His heart was beating fast and he took many deep breaths to try and calm it. He wasn’t sure what spooked him so badly. Without a doubt Nicoli was sure Ethan wouldn’t harm him if he allowed it, but just the thought of a vampire attached to his neck gave him the willies.

After a couple more splashes Nicoli shut off the water and shook his head, sending droplets of water flying.

“Stupid, Felix,” he grumbled. “Why’d he have to go and suggest that? Now it’s all awkward and weird.” Nicoli grabbed a nearby towel and patted his face dry.

“It won’t be if you just let him take a little nibble.”

Nicoli jumped and almost banged into the door in surprise. He glowered at the ghost now floating before him.

“God, damn it, Felix, stop doing that!” he yelled, his heart going wild again. “What if I had actually been going to the bathroom?”

“Oh please, it was so obvious that’s not what you were going to, and besides, if you were, it’s not like you have anything I haven’t seen already,” the ghost told him.

“So what do you want?” Nicoli asked, leaning against the counter as he crossed his arms.

“I would think that was obvious,” Felix replied, perching himself on the counter on the other side of the sink.

“You want me to let Ethan have some of my blood,” Nicoli answered his own question with a sigh.

“Right,” Felix said with a nod. He looked to Nicoli, who was staring intently at the wall ahead of him. “It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just a quick bite, a minute of drawing blood, and that’s it, he’ll even heal the bite wound for you. It’s a very clean process,” Felix explained, trying to ease the boy into the idea.

“I don’t know…” Nicoli muttered, rubbing his neck. He was getting the chills and his stomach was forming knots. “I’m providing him shelter; I shouldn’t be required to provide a meal for him too.”

“You’re not ‘required’ technically,” Felix said, using air quotes with his fingers. “Think of it as a good deed. He did save your life after all.”

“Yeah, and if you remember I saved his life first, which resulted in my ass getting chased through the woods by a madman and falling off a freaking cliff,” Nicoli snapped. A strained silence fell between them that grew more uncomfortable by the second. Finally Nicoli decided to break it. “Why do you want me to do this so much anyways?” he asked.

“Because, I care about Ethan and I don’t like him suffering in any way, shape, or form,” Felix answered softly. “Being starved for blood is just like being extremely dehydrated for a human. It’s not pleasant.” There was a pause and Felix noted that Nicoli was still averting his gaze. “It doesn’t hurt, Nicoli, I promise.”

“Are you talking from personal experience?” Nicoli asked flippantly.

“Yes.”

Nicoli was taken back by that. He had been certain that the ghost would have said no, but he hadn’t even hesitated. It was the second time that Felix had alluded that he knew Ethan when he was alive. That got Nicoli to wondering what had happened to Felix. He used to be made of flesh and blood just as Nicoli was now. How had Felix ended up this way? Ethan had said that they were always together. Did he mean that even before Felix became a ghost? Nicoli didn’t think the vampire had done anything to the other boy, but then who or what did? But that was not Nicoli’s place to ask and he wasn’t going to pretend it was.

“So no pain…at all?” Nicoli asked uncertainly.

“It’s like a bee sting, a little prick, and then nothing, I swear,” Felix told him, becoming a bit hopeful now. “And Ethan is really gentle,” he added.

Nicoli sighed and tilted his head back. He stared up at the ceiling light deciding what to do. He really, really didn’t want to, but it wouldn’t be so bad, right?

“All right, go tell Ethan I’ll…let him,” Nicoli murmured, not able to say it. He didn’t miss the ecstatic grin that appeared on the ghost’s face.

“Thank you, Nicoli, and I really mean that,” Felix said softly with that sincere smile. “You won’t regret it.”

***********************

Nicoli sat on his bed deep in thought. His fingers were laced together and his elbows were on his knees. He couldn’t see Ethan, but he knew the man was off to his side, pretending to look around the room. The vampire was giving him time until he was ready, and Nicoli appreciated that immensely since his nerves were rattling like a rattlesnake’s tail.

“Nicoli, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Ethan said for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Will you stop trying to talk him out of this?” Felix snapped from his position up on Nicoli’s desk, beside the laptop. “He agreed to it, so just let him.”

“Right, agreed, I think you mean you coerced him into this,” Ethan retorted icily.

The ghost didn’t deny it, but just shrugged his shoulders. Both the ghost and the vampire turned to Nicoli when the boy took in a deep breath then let it out slowly.

“Okay…I’m ready,” he said, and he hated the fact his voice shook when he had tried to sound confident. “So how do we go about this?” Nicoli asked.

Ethan hesitated before approaching him. He stood beside the boy and looked him over thoughtfully.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked again.

An irritated sigh came from the ghost and he rested his cheek in his hand.

“The more you ask the more you’re going to scare him,” Felix said. “It’s not a big deal. The sooner you get it over with the happier everyone will be.”

Ethan rolled his eyes and ignored the ghost. If only he had a way to shut Felix up.

“He’s right,” Nicoli said, surprising the vampire. “The quicker you do it, the quicker I can feel like my heart isn’t about to explode.” The boy looked up at the man, trying to quell down his anxiety. “So, how do we go about this?” he questioned again.

Ethan stared at the boy then sighed. If Nicoli was okay with it then he might as well. Besides, the pounding of the boy’s heart was starting to drive him crazy and he wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to ignore his vampire instincts.

“Well, first,” he said and placed his hands on Nicoli’s shoulders. He felt the boy immediately tense up under his fingertips. “It would be best if you laid back. It’ll be more comfortable for you and you may feel a little dizzy afterwards anyways,” he suggested.

Nicoli nodded and took in another breath before scooting back and laying down on his bed. He stared up at the ceiling, feeling rather ridiculous. Here he was just lying down and presenting himself to a vampire that was going to chomp down into his jugular. It had to go right up there in the Stupidest Things He’d Ever Done, right below following Ethan and Omen into the woods.

Nicoli closed his eyes when he felt the bed dip down with Ethan’s weight. Nerves went from rattling to nearly exploding as Nicoli felt the vampire lower himself almost on top of him. Ethan was holding himself up enough so his full weight wasn’t pressing down on the boy.

A shuddering breath escaped Nicoli as cold fingers touched his face. They stroked and caressed his cheek before sliding down to his neck. They gently coaxed Nicoli’s head to tilt back and to the side, exposing his throat. Even with his head back the fingers kept stroking his neck and face, trying to soothe the boy’s frazzled nerves.

“Relax, Nicoli,” Ethan whispered in Nicoli’s ear, causing the boy to shiver. “You’re as taut as a guitar string. Just relax,” he encouraged.

Nicoli tried to do as the vampire asked and forced his body to relax, even though his hands were clutching the bed covers so tightly his knuckles were white. He scrunched his eyes closed even tighter when he felt Ethan’s lips ghosting over his neck. Blue eyes then snapped open when a wet, slick tongue began to gently lap at his skin.

“You are so not helpin – Nnngh!” Nicoli’s words were cut off as razor sharp teeth sunk into his flesh. Ethan licked his neck just to distract him. The sneaky bastard.

Once again Nicoli’s eyes shut tightly. He was right on his first assumption. Ethan’s fangs were like two needles, but Nicoli was glad that Felix had also been right. It didn’t hurt, it just stung and even that had begun to fade away into nothing but a slight pressure.

Nicoli let out a soft grunt and he opened his eyes halfway as he felt Ethan’s mouth begin to suck on his neck. It was an odd feeling. His blood was being drawn out by the rhythmic sucking of Ethan’s hungry mouth and the boy realized the vampire was following the beating of his heart. Beat. Gulp. Beat. Gulp. It became a bizarre little song that soothed him somewhat.

The tranquil spell broke and Nicoli’s brows furrowed when he felt a bit off. Something was wrong. The fangs that were embedded into his neck didn’t hurt, they felt good. Too good.

Nicoli’s eyes widened in panic when he felt little Nicoli stir and awaken from the attention.

Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me, the boy thought. There was no way he was getting aroused by a vampire biting him, but with every pull of Ethan’s mouth his body was excited further and further. Was this supposed to happen? No one warned him of this.

Nicoli’s breathing shortened and came quicker. His entire body felt hot and the heat pooled in his groin. As much as he tried to fight it a soft groan escaped from Nicoli’s lips and he was mortified when, on will of their own, his hips rose to grind into Ethan’s thigh that was resting between his legs.

He felt the suction on his neck slow and Nicoli wondered if Ethan got the hint that something wasn’t right – Well, Nicoli would hope Ethan would notice a guy rubbing his growing bulge on his leg – A wave of relief went through Nicoli, thinking the man was going to stop and let the boy take care of his little “problem.” What he wasn’t expecting was Ethan to resume feeding and place his hand on Nicoli’s hip.

Nicoli’s body jerked slightly when the hand slipped under his night shirt and began caressing his hip and slid up his side.

“W – Wait,” Nicoli stuttered, trying to wiggle away from the hand, but the teeth held him firm and Ethan pressed his body down on top of the boy to keep him still.

Ethan’s previously cold hand now felt warm as fresh blood flooded his system and the added heat was causing Nicoli’s body to react even more.

Light moans and whimpers were escaping the boy and he couldn’t stop his hips from thrusting up again and he groaned at the friction and feel of his sweats against his erection.

A surprised squeak followed by a high pitched moan rose out of Nicoli as that wandering hand traveled downward and firmly gripped his bulge and began to massage it gently. Nicoli was about to go out of his mind. All the sensations that assaulted him were too good and his body arched into that hand while his mind screamed at him to stop this.

“N – No. Stop. I said…stop,” Nicoli muttered weakly and his hand found Ethan’s and tried to pull it off him. But when Ethan gripped him tighter and stroked his clothed cock Nicoli’s hand tightened around Ethan’s until his fingernails were biting into the vampire’s skin and he pushed his hips up against the hand.

Nicoli tossed his head back and wailed when Ethan’s hand let him go only to slip under the material and wrap around his now fully erect shaft. This was bad. Nicoli’s lust clouded brain was hindering his attempts at resisting. He wasn’t even able to utter words anymore to tell the vampire to stop.

A gasp sounded through the still room as Ethan coaxed Nicoli’s cock out from its confines and released it out into the open air. Now the vampire was able to fist and stroke the entire length as he saw fit and God…the man’s hand was like sin itself.

Nicoli was quivering and moaning wantonly as he tried to thrust his hips up into that hand, but Ethan put a stop to that by pinning the boy’s hips down with his own. That devilish hand’s movement was made even easier as it became slick with Nicoli’s precum and it worked twice as hard to get the boy off.

Nicoli didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to last. He could feel a familiar tightening in his groin and knew it meant his climax was close at hand. Just as Nicoli was about to hit that blinding, searing peak he felt Ethan detach from his neck and his lips were smothered by the vampires as he fell over the edge.

Nicoli’s cry was swallowed eagerly by Ethan’s mouth as his body arched like a bow. He was overcome by quaking and convulsions as he spilt his seed into Ethan’s hand and on his own chest and stomach. His climax was so intense that a burst of white flashed behind his eyelids and his brain died for a split second. When Nicoli road out his orgasm he collapsed back onto the bed. His body was rendered boneless and he couldn’t move even if he wanted to.

With the boy out of commission Ethan took the liberty of slipping his tongue briefly into Nicoli’s pliant mouth to taste him before he pulled away. He then bent his head down to nuzzle the boy’s neck and lap at the still weeping wound. When the blood flow lessened Ethan slit his tongue on his fang and licked the puncture marks, spreading his blood onto it so they healed. Once he was sure there was no evidence of Nicoli being bitten, Ethan lifted himself up to look down at the boy. His eyes were closed and his breathing was slowly returning to normal. Nicoli’s cheeks were flushed beautifully and his hair framed his head like a dark halo. The boy was gorgeous.

“Are you all right?” Ethan asked softly, caressing Nicoli’s cheek with the back of his hand.

Nicoli took his time in opening his eyes and Ethan was taken back when they narrowed into slits.

“What the fuck do you think?” the boy growled and, using all the strength his still recovering body had, he pushed up against Ethan and sent the vampire tumbling down to the floor. Nicoli rolled over onto his side to look down at him and the boy covered his neck with his hand, feeling for any damage. When Ethan sat up Nicoli took a swing at him with his foot, which the vampire dodged easily.

“What the fuck was that all about!?” Nicoli yelled in outrage and took another kick at him. Further angered by the fact he missed again.

“Look, Nicoli, I can explain,” Ethan said, ducking under yet another attempt at kicking him in the face.

“I don’t want to hear any of your explanations,” Nicoli hissed as he sat up. His face reddened when he realized he was still hanging out and he quickly tucked little Nicoli back in his sweats. “I gave you permission to feed off me. That didn’t give you an all access pass to the rest of my body,” he continued as he stood up and he had to ignore how the action made his head swim.

“And I didn’t take it to mean that,” Ethan insisted as he also stood up. “I was only trying to-”

“Take advantage of me. Yeah, I got that,” Nicoli snarled as he started shoving Ethan towards the door. “Get out. Just get out of my room and go – go wash yourself off or something,” he ordered, realizing Ethan’s hand was still covered in his essence.

Ethan sighed and allowed himself to be pushed to the door. He could see that if he stayed Nicoli was only going to get angrier and then they’d get no where.

“All right, all right I’m going,” Ethan said as he opened the door with his clean hand and stepped out. “I’ll come back and explain what happened once you’ve had a chance to cool off.”

“Good – fucking – luck,” Nicoli snapped as he gave the vampire one last final shove and slammed the door behind him. The boy let out a sigh and allowed himself to give into his dizziness and slump against the door. His hands gently massaged his head and coaxed his brain to stop twirling about in his skull.

Once the room stopped spinning Nicoli stood up without support of the door. He took a deep breath and let it out, trying to not let his temper flare out and have him reaching for his alarm clock again. Nicoli frowned when a coppery taste made itself known in his mouth and he cringed when he recognized what it was. The boy didn’t think the situation could get worse until he looked down to see streams of his seed clinging to his shirt.

Nicoli groaned and threw his hands up in the air in exasperation.

“Holy – fucking – Christ. Can this day get any better?” he said sarcastically as he stalked his way to his closet to get clean clothes.

********************

Ethan sighed as warm water streamed over his hands and washed away the evidence of what he had done. If he could stomach anything other than blood the vampire would have been tempted to taste the boy’s essence, but he couldn’t and he wasn’t about to cry over spilt milk.

“This is a fine fix I’ve gotten myself into,” Ethan muttered as he turned the faucet off and dried his hands. He could hear Nicoli’s raging thoughts from where he was and he winced at the homicidal thoughts the boy was having towards him, most of them revolving around doing some unsavory things to his family jewels.

“Well, nothing I can do till he calms down,” the vampire said and, to give him something to do, he looked himself over in the mirror. Nicoli’s blood had done the trick. His skin was now filled out and had a nice peach tint to it. His hair had retained its normal luster and Ethan looked healthier overall.

“You like the brat, don’t you?” a soft voice said off to his side.

Ethan glanced over at a sulking Felix, who was sitting on the counter next to him.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Felix, I feel nothing of the sort,” Ethan said as he combed his hair with his fingers. “It was only out of necessity that I did what I did.”

“Was it out of necessity to kiss him afterwards?” Felix asked, anger tinting his tone.

“No, I admit I did that for myself,” Ethan confessed as he turned towards the ghost and rested a hand on his hip while the other hand leaned against the counter. “Why are you upset? This whole thing was you’re idea.”

“For you to feed off him, not to get your rocks off!” Felix shouted.

“Technically he’s the one who got his rocks off,” Ethan pointed out.

“You know what I mean,” the ghost snapped. “I knew you found him attractive, but I didn’t think you’d-”

“You’re right, I do find him attractive,” Ethan interrupted him. “But that’s it. I find many men and women attractive, you know that,” he said, his voice becoming softer. “It doesn’t go any further than that. Now, if I had known Nicoli had F.L.S. beforehand I would have refused to feed from him all the more, but you can’t tell those kinds of things until you bite into a person,” Ethan said as he began to fix his clothes.

“So that’s the only reason you touched him? Because he has F.L.S?” Felix asked, his eyes flicking over to the vampire.

“Yes,” Ethan answered. “And you know as well as I do that a man left aroused is unpleasant, but for a man who has F.L.S to be left hanging is absolute torture.”

“Yeah, I know,” Felix said softly as he began to rock back and forth on the counter. “Though he doesn’t seem too pleased with your helpful efforts.”

“That’s only because he doesn’t understand what happened to him and was offended that I touched him without his permission. Though you think anyone would be more than glad to have me touch them,” he said and winked at Felix.

“Down boy, you better rope in that ego of yours before it gets loose,” Felix told him, but smiled in spite of himself.

“Will do, now let’s go see if we can go calm down our little friend without my head being removed,” Ethan said as he exited the bathroom.

“Which one?” Felix snickered as he followed after him.

**********************

Nicoli sat on top of the dryer in the laundry room. He was now wearing an especially old, baggy white night shirt and a pair of his old basketball shorts that went to his knees because they were stretched from age and wear. He listened to the washer rumble and hum with his clothes inside. With so many of his clothes dirty he decided to wash them so his mother didn’t stumble across anything that she shouldn’t. He was also washing his blankets and sheets just to cover all of his tracks.

His anger was still bubbling over the nerve of what Ethan had done. What right did the vampire have to touch him intimately when they hardly knew each other? It was disgusting. Though what disgusted and angered him more was that he had enjoyed it.

Not only had he enjoyed it, but, if he was honest with himself, it was the best damn orgasm he’d had in a long while, especially just from a hand job. He had been with men before, and also women, but Nicoli couldn’t remember cumming that hard or that intense with any of them. His brain kept trying to wonder how much better it would be if he and the vampire had actually slept together, which he put a stop to those thoughts immediately. Was it just because Ethan was a vampire? Did he do some sort of vampire mind trick to get him aroused? It was all so confusing and irritating at the same time.

Nicoli’s eyes narrowed when Ethan entered the laundry room. He followed the vampires every step with his eyes until Ethan was standing right in front of the boy.

“Nicoli,” Ethan said softly.

“Yes?” the boy hissed lowly.

“We need to talk.”

“Talk?” Nicoli said as he straightened from his hunched over position. “Or molest me again?” the boy drawled and it was closely followed by a dirty look.

“No, I won’t touch you, I swear,” Ethan told him. “I just want to explain what happened up there.”

“What’s there to explain?” Nicoli huffed.

“Plenty,” Ethan retorted.

“Oh, just let the guy explain,” Felix said, appearing on the washer. “It’s not going to hurt you any.”

Nicoli glared at the spirit.

“Yeah, like it wasn’t going to hurt me to let the guy feed off me,” he growled, making Felix look away with an innocent whistle.

“Look, Nicoli, you’re confused about why you got aroused when I bit you, correct?” Ethan asked.

Nicoli looked away as his face turned red, but he nodded.

“Yes, no one exactly warned me about that part,” he muttered.

“Because neither Felix nor I thought it was going to happen,” Ethan told him. “What you experienced is something vampires call F.L.S.”

Nicoli looked at Ethan with a raised eyebrow, his curiosity peaked.

“F.L.S.? What the hell is that?” he asked.

“It stands for Fang Lust Syndrome,” Ethan elaborated.

“Syndrome? So I’m diseased mentally?” Nicoli asked, his eyes widening.

“No, let me explain. Vampires aren’t sure why, but for some reason when some humans are bitten, its not a high percentage mind you, they experience a high form of pleasure from it,” Ethan said. “Now normally when a human is bitten the vampire can either make it pleasurable, painful, or feel like nothing at all. But for people with F.L.S they feel pleasure no matter what. Being bitten is like an aphrodisiac to them. Now, if I had intended for my bite to feel pleasurable you would have felt that a hundred fold and would have been like a cat in heat while on catnip. Then there would have been a real problem ‘cause I doubt my hand would have been enough.”

Nicoli stared at the vampire after his explanation, wondering whether to believe him or not. Though, why not believe him? Barely a day ago Nicoli thought there was no way for vampires to exist and here he was talking to one. Why couldn’t there be some kind of condition where someone became a horn dog simply from a vampire bite? The better question was why was he one of the low percent of people that had this odd condition?

The boy covered his face with his hands and shook his head.

“Oh God, I’m a closet masochist!” he exclaimed into his hands.

Both Felix and Ethan laughed and the vampire shook his head.

“No, you’re not, trust me. It only means that you get more joy out of vampire bites than normal people,” Ethan said.

“Yes, oh joy, I get instantly horny if a vampire sinks his fangs into me, happy day,” Nicoli muttered sarcastically.

“It’s not anything to worry about,” Felix said, trying to cheer the boy up. “Just make sure no more vampires bite you and you’ll be fine.”

Nicoli lifted his head to scowl at him.

“You’re the only reason I got bit in the first place,” he grumbled, then looked to Ethan. “Is there a cure for it or anything?” he asked.

“Afraid not, like I said, it’s not a disease,” Ethan answered. “It’s just a natural reaction your body has, nothing more.”

“Fantastic,” Nicoli muttered then sighed and slid off the dryer. He didn’t want to talk about him having any kind of syndrome anymore. He just wanted to pretend the whole thing never happened. “I suppose it’s all said and done and can’t be taken back,” he said as he stretched his back. He then glared and pointed at Ethan. “But if you ever touch me again without my say so you are so dead,” he growled.

“Message received,” Ethan chuckled while holding up his hands in surrender.

“Now, if you’ll both excuse me, I have to go brush the taste of blood out of my mouth,” Nicoli said while making a face and exited the laundry room to go say hello to his toothbrush.

************************

“It looks like the sun has finally sunk below the horizon,” Nicoli said as he peeked around his makeshift curtain. He ducked down a little when Ethan came over and peered over the boy’s head to look outside.

“Yep, the sun is officially down. Even though it’s still light out it’ll be fine. It’s mainly the sun I have to avoid,” Ethan said as he stepped back.

“Cool, so I can take this wretched thing down,” Nicoli said happily and began pulling out all the tacks and let the blanket fall into his arms.

“So, since the sun is down that means we can vamoose out of here,” Felix cheered and did a little dance in the air.

“Jeeze, just be ecstatic about it why don’t you?” Nicoli mumbled as he hefted the blanket over to his bed and set the tacks safely on his bedside table. Though, honestly, he was glad it was time for Ethan and Felix to leave. As much as he found learning about them interesting and eye opening, he was ready for his life to go back to normal.

Ethan tucked the garbage bag with his clothes under his arm and stared out the window for a minute before turning to Nicoli.

“Well, it was fun. Thanks for letting us crash here and for everything else you did for me,” Ethan thanked with a wink and held out his hand.

Nicoli stared at it before smiling and shaking the outstretched hand.

“No problem. Just refrain from crashing here again and we’ll be even,” he said.

“Done and done. Come on, Felix,” Ethan said as he headed towards the window.

“Later, meatbag,” Felix said farewell as he circled the boy. “Good luck on getting an A on the paper I wrote,” he snickered before gliding after the vampire.

“You wrote, my ass. I’ll be happy taking the credit for my paper,” he called after him before walking to his desk. Felix’s comment reminded him that he still needed to print the paper out.

“Hey, Kid.”

Nicoli turned around to see Ethan sitting in his windowsill, one leg in the boy’s room and the other out the window.

“I thought I got rid of you, what?” the boy asked.

“Do you still want to know what It is?” Ethan asked with a secretive smirk.

Nicoli stared at the vampire in surprise. The curiosity he had tamed broke loose and wild at the mere mention of the mysterious It that everyone else seemed to know about except for him. It didn’t elude his notice that Felix’s eyes had gone wide and he looked shocked and some other emotion carried in the ghost’s face that Nicoli couldn’t place.

“Well, yeah,” Nicoli replied slowly, wondering if it was some kind of trick question.

Ethan’s smirk grew and the look in his piercing eyes showed that he was plotting and scheming something in that blonde topped head of his.

“Interesting…I’ll keep that in mind.”

And just like that he was gone. The window was bare and Nicoli stood in the room alone. Not even a ghost to keep him company. He silently walked to the window and looked out to the backyard. Nothing. There was no trace of Ethan or Felix. With furrowed brows Nicoli shifted his gaze to the Twilight Forest as the last of the days light lit up the branches and turned the remaining leaves to shimmering fire.

“I wonder what the hell that meant?” he muttered. Damn Ethan for getting him all riled up and curious. Nicoli turned when he heard a door downstairs open and close.

“I’m home! Anyone care to welcome me back?” Lance’s voice called through the house.

Nicoli smiled to himself. The supernatural creatures were gone and his family was returning. It was like the normal and safe was coming to replace the bizarre and fantastical, and that’s the way the boy wanted it.

“I’ll be down in a second!” he yelled. Nicoli closed the window before heading towards the door. As his hand wrapped around the metal knob he paused. With a glance over his shoulder he took in the window and he could faintly imagine Ethan still sitting in the sill. A big part of him was relieved and happy that they were gone and took comfort in the knowledge that he’d probably never see them again. But…there was a small sliver of him that wondered what it would have been like if they had stuck around in his life.

Nicoli shook his head as he opened the door. That was a silly thought. As Nicoli left the room and trotted down the stairs Ethan’s teasing words haunted him like a pestering shadow.

“Interesting…I’ll keep that in mind.”

******************************************

Night seeped into the sky like a drop of ink on a pure, white piece of paper. It wrapped the town of Whixton in a dark cloud, making the people retreat to their cozy homes and rest in preparation of the new day.

In the lonely, desolate cemetery the dead slept their eternal sleep, oblivious to the lone visitor that prowled atop their graves.

Ethan sighed as he took a seat on a handy headstone. He was feeling very satisfied and content. While Nicoli’s blood had helped him greatly it was hardly enough to fill the vampire. Ethan had been lucky enough to run across a group of women, young and full of life, out for a night of fun and dancing. He had wooed and catered them and, while the women thought he was doing some innocent flirting, the vampire had extracted enough blood out of each of them to last him at least till the end of the month and leave the women unharmed, if not dazed, at the same time. It always surprised Ethan how easy it was to take a quick nip from a human without them ever suspecting a thing.

The vampire reveled in his newly quenched veins that sung in bliss at the fresh, warm blood flowing through them. Ethan tilted his head back to look up at the night sky. It was eerily beautiful with the hundreds of thousands of stars winking down at him and the big, luscious moon caressing his skin and hair with its soft moonlight.

Ethan drew breath into his old, dusty lungs and softly released it. He watched as the breath turned into faint mist and rose into the air, only to fade away. The nights were getting colder. Fall wasn’t over, but winter was lurking in the shadows, waiting for its time. The cold hardly bothered Ethan. Bother a vampire? Certainly not, but it meant that it was drawing close to a full year that he had been away from his clan, his family. He missed them greatly and he was getting weary from hitting the pavement, so to speak, all alone. Well, not entirely alone, he still had his little thorn in his side that, at the moment, was trying desperately to get his attention. Finally Ethan decided not to ignore the little ghost anymore and tuned back into the real world.

“Ethan! Damn it, Ethan! Listen to me when I’m yelling at you!!!” Felix screeched angrily. Why was the vampire always testing his temper?

“Yes, Felix?” Ethan asked innocently.

The ghost’s hands clenched and his shoulders rose as he tried to quell his anger. The vampire could be so flippant it edged along the line of being disgusting.

“You are the most infuriating man I have ever met!” he cried out, waving his hands to express his anger.

Ethan simply smiled as he pulled his foot up to rest on the headstone and he leaned against his knee.

“But I’m still your most favorite man on Earth,” the vampire said and grinned when he received a death glare for the comment.

“And the cheekiest, definitely the cheekiest man I’ve ever met,” the ghost added as he turned his back on the vampire.

“So what’s on your pretty little see-through mind, Felix?” Ethan asked. He didn’t flinch when the ghost was suddenly an inch from his face.

“I want to know, right now, if you were serious back there,” he hissed.

Ethan laughed and waved his hand dismissively.

“Of course not, how could you think I was serious about seeing that girl again? I simply said that so she would finally detach herself from my arm.”

“I don’t mean that and you know it!”

Ethan sighed and leaned back a bit. Yes, he knew what the ghost meant. The poor spirit had been in an absolute frenzy since they left Nicoli’s house and Ethan had prolonged this confrontation as long as he could. His night had been so pleasant.

“Maybe I was serious. I said I was going to think about it, didn’t I?” he replied, not playing coy anymore for Felix’s sake.

“But why? Why Ethan?” Felix questioned and his anger had melted away to confusion and pleading. “Why on God’s green Earth would you even think about telling that – that little brat! About what we’re after, what we’re doing?”

“Because he’s human,” Ethan answered simply.

Felix’s hands dropped to his sides and he stared at the vampire in complete bewilderment and confusion.

“W – What? What does that have to do with anything? Him being a human would be one of the biggest reason’s not to bring him into this. Humans are weak, Ethan. He wouldn’t be able to handle this. Believe me…I would know,” Felix muttered and averted his gaze to the ground.

A sad smile appeared on Ethan’s face and he lifted his hand to caress Felix’s cheek, ignoring the fact that it just caused the particles that made up the ghost to move and shift.

“You were never weak,” the vampire said softly and his voice was full of affection.

Felix closed his eyes and made himself solid, for only a moment, to lean into that hand. God, how he missed the touch of another person and he cursed his unfeeling, sorry excuse of a “body” for not being able to enjoy the tender gesture. Then the ghost pulled away, he wasn’t going to allow the vampire to distract him from getting his answers.

“Well, answer me. What does him being human have to do with anything?” he demanded.

Ethan stared at him a little longer before tilting his head back to look up at the stars. Oh, how simple those glittery little specks lives must be.

“You know what’s circulating in The Underground. People are talking, whispering,” Ethan said softly, still staring at the stars. “I’ve heard it maybe a dozen times. ‘A human is needed to collect the Crystal Hearts from their resting places.’ Ever since I’ve heard it I’ve been thinking…” Ethan finally looked down and fixed his eyes on Felix. “Maybe that is why everyone has failed. Maybe a human really is needed to snatch them with our skin intact.”

Felix stared at Ethan. Not knowing what to think. Had the vampire gone mad?

“Ethan, are you serious?” he asked in disbelief before putting his hands to his head and gripping at his hair. “Those were rumors! Ru – mors!” the ghost yelled as he circled the vampire and hovered at his side. “You’re seriously going to bring a random human into this because of a rumor? If it was true, don’t you think someone would have tried it already?” he asked.

“Ah, and there’s the kicker, my dear Felix,” Ethan said as he stood up and faced the ghost. “People most likely would try if they knew where to find the Hearts and so far, none of them do.”

“And neither do we,” Felix retorted, crossing his arms.

“Not true, not true,” the vampire said with a wag of his finger. “I know I’m getting closer to It, the first Heart. I just know it!” Ethan exclaimed and his eyes shone briefly with an almost mad glint. A frown then pulled at the vampires lips and he growled. “If Omen hadn’t gotten in the way I would have been that much closer to getting It. Damn meddling Hunters, the lot of them.”

“Even so,” Felix said, snapping his fingers to get Ethan’s attention. “If it is true why would you even consider the idea of bringing that boy into this? You have other human friends that would work just as well.”

“I’m not so sure of that,” Ethan said and smiled when the ghost raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I just feel that Nicoli would be the better choice. All of my friends of the living kind know of the Hearts and are just as interested as we are in finding them for themselves and…dirtied, in a sense, with the knowledge of our kind. With Nicoli, he was only just now introduced to our world and knows nothing about the Hearts. In a way, he’s detached from all of this and I think that’s the best way to go.”

Felix stared at him and slowly shook his head.

“I don’t believe you. You want to drag him into this just ‘cause he doesn’t “know”
any better?” he asked. “And he’ll become just as dirtied, as you call it, when you tell him about all this. I seriously doubt he’ll agree blindly.”

Ethan simply shrugged, unperturbed by the ghost’s reasoning’s.

“Like I said, I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just a feeling, a hunch.”

“I don’t believe what I’m hearing. I really don’t,” Felix said, lowering himself down on the headstone that Ethan had previously occupied. “You want to throw Nicoli into this mess because of a hunch? Just uproot him and bring him with us because of a hunch?” he asked. “This is wrong, Ethan, all wrong. You can’t, you just can’t.”

“Excuse me, dearies,” a voice said off to the side and both Ethan and Felix turned to see an elderly woman ghost hovering near them. “Can you boys keep it down? Some of us are trying to rest and you’re being rather loud.”

“Can it and hit the road, you old hag,” Felix hissed at her. “We’re talking, so just get out of our faces!”

The old ghost was surprised by the harsh words and immediately flew off.

“What a rude little boy,” she muttered as she disappeared.

“Felix, you never cease to amaze me,” Ethan said, making the ghost turn to him. “When I think I have you figured out you say something like that,” the vampire continued as he turned his back to the boy and strolled over to the next headstone and ran his fingers along the top of it. “It’s wrong to bring Nicoli into this…it almost makes me think you care. How unlike you to worry over someone you just met.”

“What makes you think it’s him that I’m worried about?” Felix said and Ethan was surprised to hear how icy his tone was.

The vampire turned to see the ghost was no longer sitting on the gravestone, but hovering just a few feet away from him.

“I could hardly care about that little bastard,” Felix went on. “A bus could crash into his house, right now, and explode and Nicoli could be burned alive, along with his family, and I wouldn’t bat an eyelash.”

“What?” Ethan murmured, not expecting that response. “Then why are you so against me thinking of having him help us?” he asked.

The vampire watched as Felix’s expression changed. The cold, stony look crumbled as the ghost’s eyes quivered and he fought to keep his bottom lip from trembling.

“Human’s should never – never ever meddle in the affairs of vampires,” Felix said, his voice surprisingly strong. “The consequences are too –”

“Tremendous to bear,” Ethan finished for him. “Yes, I heard you tell that to Nicoli last night, don’t think I didn’t,” he told the ghost. “Felix, listen,” the vampire said softly. “If you’re worried that the consequences will be Nicoli getting hurt you don’t have to be. I’ll make sure it doesn’t go too far,” he told the ghost and reached his hand out to him.

“No!” Felix yelled and darted away from the outstretched hand. “You don’t get it! You just don’t get it! I don’t care if he gets hurt. I don’t care about him!” the ghost screeched, hands tugging at his hair.

“Felix…” Ethan was taken back. Ghosts were known for being fine one minute and being in full blown hysterics the next. It wasn’t their fault, naturally, they didn’t have that much control over their emotions like when they were alive, but it always took Ethan by surprise to see his gentle companion go through his turbulent emotions.

“Then tell me, Felix,” Ethan said, stepping closer. “What has you so worried?”

Felix lowered his hands enough to gaze at the vampire and Ethan’s cold, dead heart felt like a spike went through it when tears began to stream down the ghost’s face. Before Felix, Ethan thought ghosts couldn’t cry, but the first time he saw the big, thick, transparent tears fall from Felix’s eyes was when he realized ghosts were memories, faint versions of their former selves. They could do almost everything their living counterparts could, give and take a few exceptions.

“It’s you, Ethan. It’s you,” Felix said and a soft sob escaped him as he wiped at his eyes. “You’re the one I’m worried about.”

“Me?” Ethan echoed in bewilderment. “Felix, I don’t understand.”

Once the ghost was able to stop his tears he glared at the vampire half heartedly.

“You’re so dense you don’t even know your own mannerisms,” Felix snarled, but then his face softened and he wiped at his eyes one last time. “Ethan, I know you, I know you so well it border’s along the line of being unhealthy,” he told the vampire. “If you – If you bring Nicoli into this you are going to get attached. It’s not even an “If.” You are going to get attached to him.”

“Now, Felix, that is ridiculo –”

“Shut up and listen to me!” Felix cut Ethan off harshly. When the vampire closed his mouth the ghost continued. “Nicoli is your type. You have a soft spot for humans anyway and he’s young, you find him attractive, and you love and are drawn to his personality. I could see it in your eyes every time Nicoli and I started to fight or when he stood up to you. If you take that boy out of his comfort zone and throw him into this he is going to become dependent on you and the more he relies on you the more you’re going to get attached and protective of him.” Felix sighed and moved to sit on the tombstone next to them. He bowed his head and shook it, causing his short hair to sway.

“I know what you want to do,” the ghost said softly. “You want to just quickly use him to get what you want then drop him on his ass when you don’t need him anymore, but, news flash, Ethan, you can’t do that, you’re not capable of doing that. You can’t just use someone and forget about them. As much as you act like a nonchalant ass, you aren’t one.”

Ethan’s brows furrowed and he crossed his arms. The ghost was right. He did know the vampire eerily well.

“Oh, is that right?” he asked defiantly, making the ghost look up with him with narrowed eyes.

“Yeah, that is right,” he growled. His eyes then became sad again and he looked away. “Humans should never meddle in the affairs of vampires. The consequences are too tremendous to bear,” he muttered again.

The vampire knelt in front of the ghost and looked up at the boy worriedly. He was starting to wonder when that became Felix’s mantra.

“Felix, I thought I knew what you meant when you first said that, but now I’m not so sure…” he whispered. Ethan watched as the ghost’s eyes welled with tears again.

“They shouldn’t meddle, should never meddle,” he murmured to himself before looking down at the vampire. “Human’s have a nasty habit of messing with vampires lives in the worst ways possible,” he said his voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan stood up when the ghost suddenly disappeared from his perch. He searched the entire graveyard with his eyes until the ghost appeared a few gravestones away from him.

“How do you mean, Felix?” Ethan asked as he strode over to the ghost.

Felix gave a sad laugh that cracked halfway through. He lifted his head to the skies and a tear slid down his cheek.

“My God, he actually has to ask…” the ghost said to himself before turning to the vampire, who had reached him. “What I mean by consequences is…” Felix trailed off and couldn’t get himself to continue so he tried to phrase it a different way. “If Nicoli joins us in this wild goose chase and – and if he gets in too deep…something could happen to him. He could get injured or even killed, and if that happens you – you’ll…” Felix stopped and the tears flowed freely again as he covered his head with his arms and sobbed.

“What? I’ll what, Felix?” Ethan urged, not understanding what he was driving at.

“You’ll get hurt again!!!” Felix shouted at the top of his lungs, causing the vampire to step back in surprise.

“W – What?” Ethan stuttered.

“You’ll get hurt all over again. If – If you get attached and Nicoli dies you’ll get hurt again. So very hurt just like when he killed – just like when he –” Felix wailed, sobbing and wiping his face with his sleeves. “I can’t – I can’t watch you go through that again. I can’t, Ethan, I just can’t. Please, please, please, please, Ethan, don’t do that to yourself,” Felix begged as he looked up at the vampire and gripped the vampire’s shoulders, using his power to be able to actually grab the man. “Don’t repeat it. Don’t let history repeat itself,” he pleaded.

Throughout Felix’s outburst Ethan had been getting a little upset himself. The ghost was ranting about old wounds and old tragedies, tragedies the vampire wished he could erase from his memories.

Ethan slowly wrapped his arms around Felix, letting the boy know what he wanted and gave the ghost time to make his entire being solid to the touch. Once Felix was completely tangible Ethan gathered the boy’s small frame into his arms and held him tightly. The vampire rubbed Felix’s back and buried his nose in the soft, short locks of the ghost.

“Shhh, Felix, calm down,” he whispered soothingly as he felt the ghost’s hands claw and cling to his back. “Listen to me, I will never let that happen ever again. I’m wiser now, I won’t ever let something like that happen to Nicoli, or any other poor soul,” Ethan vowed.

Felix turned his head to the side to rest his cheek against Ethan’s broad chest. The vampire was still not getting it.

“Ethan, how many times do I have to say I don’t care what happens to that brat?” he sniffled in frustration then buried his face into Ethan’s shirt again.

Ethan chuckled as he gently raked his fingers through Felix’s hair.

“I know and I’m wise enough not to let myself fall off the pedestal so harshly again either,” he added.

Felix lifted his head to look up at Ethan and allowed the vampire to wipe the tears from his face.

“You’re a liar,” the ghost muttered softly as he closed his eyes and covered Ethan’s hands with his own. “No one is wise enough to protect themselves like that,” he said as he opened his eyes to gaze into Ethan’s.

“Maybe so,” Ethan replied and a small smile tugged at his lips. “But you’re a liar too.”

Felix stared at the man in confusion.

“What?”

The vampire laughed at his reaction and pulled the boy into his arms again.

“As much as you act like a nonchalant ass, you aren’t one. Sound familiar?” he asked.

“Slightly,” came the muffled reply from his chest.

“You act so cold and cynical towards others, but I know you pretty well too, my little ghost. I know that if Nicoli did join our hunt and something happened to him that you would care a little more than you put on. That’s just you,” Ethan told him. Felix remained silent and that was fine with the vampire. Heck, he could hardly ever get the ghost to keep his mouth shut longer than five minutes.

“Don’t worry, I won’t get Nicoli any deeper than he needs to be and I’ll keep myself distanced from him,” Ethan said as he pressed his lips to Felix’s temple. “We need those Heart’s, Felix, and this may be the only way.”

Felix clung to him more. He wanted to believe that. He wanted to believe that to his very core, but he couldn’t. The ghost knew better. No matter what the vampire said he couldn’t predict how things were going to play out. No one could dictate their feelings.

As they stood there in the middle of the cemetery, entangled in each other’s arms, Felix couldn’t stop a dark, sinister voice that resonated from the depths of his mind, a voice that clawed its way out from his worst nightmares.

“Human’s should never meddle in the affairs of vampires. The consequences are too tremendous to bear…as you’re about to find out, Little one.”

================================Ch. 8 End