Threshold Of Sin

Prologue

Twisted Memories And Psychic Dreams.

Kieran walked slowly down the darkened streets. His white hair flowed out behind him in a silver stream like silk fluttering delicately on the wind. A stoic expression on his graced his face, highlighted by the luminous full moon. The moon shone down on the world shading it in colours of muted silvers and greys, impersonal and sterile looking.

In another place the moonlight might have been beautiful, shining down and making the world seem ethereal. Maybe in a more ideal and beautiful area, far out in the country away from the darkness and sin of such an ugly place. The Moonlight in this city was far from beautiful, it was cold and impersonal, highlighting the worst that society had to offer, shining down upon the scourge of the city. Glittering on the cold beauty of the creature of the night, Kieran, a creature of unnatural existence. He was nothing, something that had come to exist by unnatural circumstances, but that was against the very grain of nature.

Kieran was a vampire. He was something that most people viewed with disbelief. Most people didn't have the experience that he or his family had. Vampires had proven themselves to be something entirely too real. Vampires, and the memories they were entangled with would haunt his dreams for the rest of eternity. Something that was unfortunately for him more than possible.

Before his initiation into the ranks of the vampires he would never have believe anyone who had told him that vampires existed. The very idea was something out of movies and fiction. Why would anyone else believe him these days. It was the perfect cover. Humans were stupid and oblivious; they would never believe what was right in front of them. They would deny the truth up until their dying days, even when the truth was right in front of them.

The night was perfect for his mission; he was out looking for prey. He wanted someone weak. Someone to feed his appetite. Someone he could manipulate easily. He would take what he needed of their blood and then erase their memories, moving on from the scene quickly. It's true there was no challenge in the act but that also meant that there was no temptation. The last thing he needed was to have another life defiled by his hands.

It was what his kind did; take everything and give back nothing. It was what he had learnt from all his time in solitude, with only his shattered thoughts to keep himself company. When you have lost touch with your humanity then you no longer fear who you hurt or how they feel when you do it. Human contact means nothing, and you become as cold as the people around you who ignored your very existence.

These dark thoughts swirled around on an endless loop as Kieran walked. He was suddenly torn from his thoughts when he was hit by a day dreaming stranger. The boy was staring at his feet absorbedly and didn’t realize until it was too late that he was going to walk into somebody. He was too solid for the stranger to make him fall backwards or stumble, his frame too strong and lithe. He watched with detached amusement as the boy got a fright and stumbled backwards, only to gape at him with an open mouth and wide eyes.

Clearly he was taken back by the Kieran's appearance, a fact that was attested to when the boy shut his mouth quickly and gulped as though nervous. His eyes travelled up and down Kieran's frame in a slow visible movement taking in every inch of his visage. It was true that he was somewhat of a sight to behold to the human eye. He wasn't oblivious of the way he looked. It was true that many had described him to be a silver haired beauty. A fact that he had used to his own benefit more than once. Something that was so much in a vampire's nature that he was completely unashamed to admit it.

Being a vampire your senses were enhanced ten fold, and he knew from every glance in the mirror that he was really quite plain. Once his clothes were removed he was nothing but striking. In a bad way.

He watched the stranger in amusement from behind his heavily tinted black sunglasses, he was fascinated by this child who was clearly enthralled by him, a thought that he decided was most definitely a highly conceited point of view to take, although a probably true and practical one.

“Hello, sorry about bumping into you like that, I can be a real idiot sometimes,” Kieran stated, a smile on his face as he spoke to the other in his most soft spoken and polite voice. It was a tactic that he had used more than once to get people to under-estimate him. He seemed so polite and sweet that no one would expect that someone like him could ever be a danger to their very life if given the correct circumstances.

“Don’t worry about it," the teen replied seemingly out of habit, playing with one of his three lip piercing's tentatively.

“Am I interrupting?” Kieran asked playfully, tilting his head to an angle in a cat-like manner. He watched the stranger carefully, assessing his zoned out look. It was amusing and slightly intriguing. He was the epitome of the saying 'curiosity killed the cat', and in his case curiosity had killed the cat...until sheer stupidity had brought him back “I could shuffle on and leave you to your thoughts…”

“You’re a vampire Kieran?” The teen asked removing the vampire's sunglasses. He gasped again when he made eye contact with Kieran, staring at the bright metallic silver that had previously been concealed by the jet black glass covering his eyes. The boy's mouth hung open and he searched the vampire taking in his full appearance.

Long white hair fell down his back in gentle waves until it reached the tops of his knees. It was loose, dancing gently on the wind like silk, a testament to the fineness of his hair. His eyes glittered in their silver metallic glory, shining and shifting like molten liquid trapped in their limited confines. Then there was the slender and lithe frame that comprised his body. It was expertly framed by flattering clothes in the form of a black trench coat and underneath was a white turtleneck and skinny jeans.The white was flattering, turning his pale and creamy skin into a glowing china dolli-esque expanse.

It was clear when he was studied more closely that Kieran was far too perfect for him to be a regular human. He had the appearance of one of the models you see in the airbrushed magazines. A figure leaping right of the page of some glamorous Hollywood tabloid.

Raising an eyebrow at the strange young man he nodded, his curiosity was piqued even more. The boy just got more and more interesting, something that wasn't an advisable thing to be around a vampire. Normally you'd do your best to stay under their radar and hope and pray that they didn't choose you to be their next meal. It was a fine line between becoming a vampire's next meal and being a vampire's play thing. A line that Kieran himself had tread with perilous stupidity until he had fallen too far into the play thing category.

“Yes I am a vampire,” Kieran stated his silver eyes dancing with amusement “Clever little trick, pulling information from my mind like that my little mind reader.”

He had figured out the secret that the young man had been concealing from him, the aspect that made him so fascinating. It hadn't been that hard, he'd only had to look at the facts and then back it up with a little research of his own. He knew for sure that the boy was a psychic when he read the others mind using his own trained psychic ability.

He'd found out some rather interesting things upon his sneaky perusal of the young boys brain.

One that the boy's name was Dylan Peters.

Two that he was seventeen years old.

And three, that 'Dylan' thought that he was pretty.

While that was not a very manly compliment to be given, it was something that he had long ago accepted. He was rather effeminate for a male. He had never had time in his life to become more masculine. He had been rather a late developer in terms of filling out. A fact that came in handy when he was aiming for a feminine emo look, but not so much when the desired look was a clean cut masculine look.

Another problem was that he would always look much younger than he actually was. A fact that probably would have been true throughout his life in any case, but now there was no chance for his body to catch up with his mind. He'd be perpetually carded when he went to a club. That is if he ever gave the bouncer a chance to card him in the first place, instead of just messing with his mind straight off.

“My?” Dylan repeated eyes giving nothing away. From the emotionless expression it was clear he was the type you wouldn't like to play poker with, he had the perfect game face.

Silence hung on the air for a moment as the other appeared to think for a second. A look of amusement flashed across his face finally. The boy cocked his head to the side and adapted a devilish grin.

“Bit of a tease are we?” Dylan asked twirling a piece of the snowy white hair around on his finger. A devilish look of flirtatious mischief flashed through his dark grey eyes. It spelled out a message of trouble. It seemed that the young teen was going to be a challenge, something that he liked very much.

Laughing softly Kieran replied “Why don’t you tell me Dylan, I’m sure you know the answer to that.”

Kieran smiled to himself. He was really enjoying this conversation, he hadn't been challenged like this in such a long time. It was like his humanity was begging him to allow the other a chance, to allow him to talk and to bond with someone. It was true that the life of a vampire was lonely. There was the constant fear and knowledge that everyone you loved or got close to was going to die, while you had all eternity to live with the knowledge that all those who you ever knew had withered and died before your eyes.

Just talking to this stranger who was acknowledging him in a way that no other had for some time was making him feel more human, more happy, more vulnerable.

“Interesting, you’re almost as bad as me,” Dylan said trailing a finger down Kieran’s chest seductively. He paused his movement, his lips quirking up at the corners as he cocked his head to the other side.

“Almost.” Dylan repeated softly a smirk on his face.

“Well you must be pretty bad then, or maybe you’re just acting the bad boy because you’re hoping to be punished.” Kieran replied picking up on Dylan's attitude and joining in on the teasing replies. It was like a chance to join in on something that he had not felt in as long as he could remember. He couldn't recall the last time he had been this happy, this amused.

Dylan smiled not bothered by his words “Or perhaps I just want to be punished.” he grinned.

“If you aren’t careful you may just find that you have gotten into much more trouble than you can handle.” Kieran stated in amusement, half serious and half playful.

Encouraging a vampire could in most cases be a deadly mistake that could cost you your life. It wasn't a smart idea, to catch the interest of a vampire and to keep it was one the of the stupidest, most suicidal things one could do. He himself had once upon a time fallen ill to such a mistake, completely unbeknownst to himself. It was the most idiotic and terrifying things he had ever done. He hadn't meant to do it, he hadn't known what the creature he had been talking to was capable of. It was a mistake, a fatal mistake, and yet here this young boy was, knowingly making the same mistake he himself had made.

“Really, what are you gonna do, bite me and then erase my memory?” Dylan asked with a sarcastic voice, picking the phrase from his brain.

“Well that is what I originally had planned, but now I think you should come home with me instead.” Kieran stated playfully his eyes dancing with amusement and pleasure. He let himself be drawn in by the comments that were flying back and forth between the two of them. It was more fun than he had allowed himself to have in a long time, and more social interaction than he had been engaged in for years.

This boy, someone who was clearly much younger than him, was making him feel young and whole again. It was a wonderful and slightly frightening feeling.

“Sure why not, it’s not as if I actually value my life” Dylan said still playing with his piercing.

“So you would give your life to me?” He asked incredulously, watching the boy in front of him, trying to figure him out. He wanted the boy true, but he had been anticipating the challenge the acquisition would be. This was not what he had expected, or had even been after. It was another facet of the many sided jewel the boy was. Nothing had caught and held his attention for an exorbitant amount of time.

Dylan nodded.

“I don’t value it,” he replied “So go ahead. Suck me dry.”

The boy tilted his head to the side inviting Kieran to bite him, baring his neck and allowing Kieran to see the pulse throbbing so daintily. He knew that with one harsh bite he could rip the vein open and lap up the blood. He could drink the psychic’s life and soul down and add to his own power. It was like a rush. A buzzing in his head as if to say, look what power you have. See how powerful you are, how powerful you could be? The impulse to lean in and settle his mouth over the meat of the boy's neck was overwhelming. To feel the skin break open beneath the strength of his jaw and the wicked sharpness of his pointed canine's.

Kieran stepped forward pulling Dylan roughly into his arms as if to show him what would be to come. A glimpse or forewarner of how this would be. Slowly Kieran inclined his head and ran his teeth over the soft skin of Dylan’s neck. Scraping his fangs tantalizingly over the pale expanse bared before him, he let himself feel delight in teasing one whose life was about to end. He left Dylan waiting to for him to take the final strike, until his willing victim was tense and wary, uncertain of when he would breach the final barrier between life and death.

Then suddenly his tongue darted out and licked Dylan playfully, and peals of soft laughter fell into the night air.

“...Why are you licking me, I’m pretty sure my skin doesn’t taste like my blood.”

“I want to play! I haven’t had anyone like you for a while.” Kieran whispered teasingly his voice seductive and enticing, a common vampire trick that involved mind manipulation.

“Oh really, just kill me already, I was going to do it myself anyway.” Dylan snapped, his voice strained and impatient.

“Awwww!” Kieran whined sadly “Kitty doesn’t wanna play!”

Dylan twitched “My name is Dylan,” he replied tilting his head to the side further “Now do it.”

Scooping Dylan up into his arms in a bridal style Kieran began to walk home ignoring the idle looks he got from confused strangers as they did double takes. The area was used to seeing strange things. But even then it was hardly a common sight to see one male, pretty and effeminate as he was carrying another along the pavement. If the passenger had been injured in some form, bleeding from the head for example then they might not have looked twice. As it was, it was a very curious sight.

“Oh my god...” Dylan sighed going limp in the other’s arms after struggling ineffectively in Kieran's arms for a while. “You could have just done it there!”

Smiling contrarily Kieran opened the door to his place and carried Dylan inside placing him on a long white leather couch softly. In fact the entire house was white and rather clean. The white seemed out of place, hardly a practical colour in a house belonging to a vampire. It was impossible to get blood stains out of anything white.

“Stay here Dylan, I’ll get you a drink," He stared running off to fetch a glass of his favourite red wine.

“I don’t need a drink I’m about to die, this isn't prison I don't need a last meal. Just do it already or I’ll beat you to it!” Dylan yelled angrily pulling a pocket knife out and brandishing it threateningly.

Kieran reached out and plucked the knife out of Dylan’s hands easily. No mere human could compete with his speed and reflexes. Dylan hadn't had a chance, there was no way he was going to keep the knife once Kieran had decided he didn't want the other to have it.

“No! Bad kitty! Don’t make me put a leash on you,” He berated.

“I’m not your kitten Kieran, I’m just a feed for you. Will you just get it over with?” Dylan begged flicking a stray piece of pink hair out of his eyes.

“I really don’t want to kill you, I don’t kill anymore.” Kieran stated seriously his silver eyes filled with pain and the ghost of painful memories buried deep inside. He hadn't killed anyone in about a year. It had been a dark and terrible time for him. He had never been the sort of person who was meant to kill - his mind was just unequipped to carry the burden of it.

“Well, why the hell am I here then?” Dylan asked impatiently choosing to ignore the pain filled look in Kieran's eyes.

“I wanna play!” Kieran exclaimed returning to his normal playful self “Play with me Kitty!”

“...NO!” Dylan yelled snatching the knife of him.

“You had the chance to do this yourself.” Dylan stated taking the knife and slitting his wrists open, grinning giddily as he watched the blood flow freely from his veins. It ran down his wrists in crimson rivulets and dripped on the soft white leather couch, speckling it with crimson spots.

Kieran watched the blood entranced and mesmerized by it, his eyes turning a dark and bottomless grey black. The humanity was completely gone, leaving behind only the feral monster that he had been until he had learnt to control himself. His fangs itched with the need to lap the blood up. The scent of fresh blood, like copper and salt, attacked his senses viciously and tantalizingly. It was like a thousand years of torture, sitting there and battling his inner demons, trying to convince himself that he didn't want the blood, the fresh delicious blood that was being so carelessly wasted upon his white upholstery.

After a second of complete stillness Kieran launched himself at Dylan, his body in the man’s lap and his mouth going at Dylan’s right wrist where he began to lap at the blood like a cat lapping at a bowl of milk.

Dylan watched giggling “Tickles” he said distantly as the blood escaped his body went slowly limp and he turned pale. “Sweet dreams…” he mumbled eyes fluttering closed.

As Dylan went still Kieran realized what he’d done, and after a moments hesitation bit his wrist and jerked his head roughly tearing the skin. He placed his wrist to Dylan’s mouth letting the blood drip down his throat. He hoped that it wasn't too late. He only knew how to do this by instinct, the only guide for most first time sires. The action was completely subconscious, but he couldn't just stand by and watch this poor innocent boy die. Not knowing that he could have stopped it, could have prevented it in some way.

Dylan opened his eyes looking around “Well that wasn’t supposed to happen...” he mumbled miserably.

“Hmm.” Kieran hummed angry with himself for everything, he got up and wandered into his kitchen and poured himself a large glass of red wine. It was the one vice he allowed himself. A substitute for all the other bad things he could have done. Not that smoking, or any of the other bad habits one could develop could do much to him either. He hadn't meant to change the boy. It was simply an instinct he had towards to preservation of life.

Dylan bit his lip then winced “...fangs...” he gasped “...KIERAN!!”

Kieran exited the kitchen carrying his glass of red wine. “Yes?” he asked.

“YOU TURNED ME INTO A VAMPIRE!!” He screamed pinning him to the ground angrily knocking the glass from his hand.

Kieran was empty. Hopeless. He had attempted to do the right thing. The honorable thing. He didn't want the blood of another soul laid against his conscience, he was already soaked crimson with the blood of so many innocent, he couldn't stand even one more.

“Take your revenge then.” Kieran replied baring his neck to Dylan his face emotionless. It was the only fair solution. There was nothing he could do about the situation now. Dylan was a vampire for the rest of his life. There was no cure for this disease, it was like a cancer spread from the wounds of a black heart.

Dylan punched him in the face then scrambled to his feet and out of the house at super speed. He fled as fast as his feet would carry him, running blindly through the streets. Before he knew it he was so lost that every street looked the same through the haze of panic in his vision.

Knowing that Dylan would eventually have to come back to him since he was knew nothing about the vampire world, Kieran called his brother who arranged for his apartment to be redone then he went to bed. He was exhausted both mentally and physically. This day had been too much for his already fragile mind and psyche to handle.

Closing his eyes Kieran dreamed. He dreamed a sight through the mind of his fledgling, and knew exactly what was happening to him and how he felt. The emotions were strong and nearly overwhelming, reminding Kieran of himself not so very long ago. His heart ached as he remembered the feel of that burning ache when all the wounds were still raw and bleeding.

Dylan had backed himself into a corner of an alleyway shaking. “He’s..n-no” Dylan cried. He was scared of the way he felt, the new feelings of a desperate need of blood and the new want and lust for none other than Kieran.

Through his newly formed connection with Dylan, Kieran felt fear, despair, need and lust, he knew he was needed, and now. Waking himself up he got out of bed, threw on some clothes and rushed outside ready to run to his fledglings aid. His feelings strayed upon a group, ranging between guilt, sadness, and protectiveness. He went in search of Dylan using the link of the bond to find him.

Dylan tore at his hair “T-this isn’t happening, this isn’t happening” he cried.

Kieran found Dylan huddled in an alley way and approached him carefully not wanting to scare him in his state. He knew how it felt to be so full of despair and panic that just breathing felt like it was impossible. He knew how it felt to think that your very despair was going to suffocate you. To make you stop breathing, to choke you and swallow you whole. He knew how it felt to feel like your fears were eating you up inside, destroying you.

Dylan looked up shaking, tears rolling down his cheek whilst holding back the urge to bite and snap at him.

Feeling the emotions Kieran debated with himself before finally embracing Dylan tightly and comfortingly, something that his sire had never been there to do for him that he had always secretly wished someone would do. It was his own fault though that he didn't have a sire. His own fault that he had learnt the ropes all on his own. He had been young, naive and innocent.It was his own fault he had allowed himself to fall ill of one of the more psychotic and merciless vampires, someone who would never have made a good sire even if given the chance.

He resolved himself to do just that for the young man he had condemned to this accursed existence that could barely be called a life at all. He would give this boy what he deserved, what he himself had never had, the perfect and supportive sire.

Dylan hugged him back shaking “I-I don’t get what’s happening.”

“Just come home with me okay? I can explain, then you can sleep,” Kieran whispered to him soothingly, enforcing the words with a little magic mind persuasion to keep the excitable and emotionally vulnerable boy in check.

Dylan nodded then shakily got to his feet.

Seeing Dylan so shaky Kieran scooped him up and carried him home. The boy fell asleep in his arms before they made it home, signaling the end of their first day together as one. He still had to explain everything. Tomorrow promised to be even more fun.