"Police! Open up!"
Clay froze, looking from Isaiah to the door, and back to Isaiah. "What do we do?!" he hissed under his breath.
"Go answer the door, and tell the truth. It'll be fine." Isaiah smiled, then blinked, the lazy grin faltering. "I mean, assuming I can compel them, I guess. It didn't work on you, but I'm hoping that isn't an ongoing thing."
"What do you mean, compel - "
More pounding on the door. "Come out now, or we're coming in!"
Isaiah made a shooing motion at Clay, who reluctantly stepped toward the door. He unlocked the deadbolt, and slowly opened it to reveal two uniformed officers. A parked police S.U.V. with the lights off sat in front of his driveway, presumably to block anyone from leaving by car. The first officer, an older, short, dusty gray ferret with brown eyes, frowned at him. The second one was a young, lanky german shepherd, clearly new to the force. His ice-blue eyes grew wide, and he looked Clay up and down slowly before turning his head to cough. The ferret spoke up first; "I'm Officer Frank Hughes, and this - " he gestured at the shepherd " - is Officer Daniel Monroe. We looked up city records and found that this residence belongs to Mr. Clay Abernathy. Is that you?" Clay nodded numbly. "Good. Can we come in?"
"Yes, officers, of course." Clay's stomach churned, tying itself in knots. As he stepped aside to let them in, he saw a trail of bloody footprints leading straight to his door. Shit! That's so obvious! Crap, crap, crap, what am I going to tell them?! Numbly, the wolf led the police officers to his living room, where Isaiah languidly lounged on the couch. Suddenly, he realized that both he and the panther were in nothing but their underwear still. A burning heat flooded Clay's ears, and he asked, "Um, Officer Hughes, do you mind if I put on some clothes real quick? I'm sorry, I didn't even think - "
"We don't have a lot of time, sir. I promise you, we've seen worse." The ferret stopped in the middle of the living room, looking around inquisitively. Monroe, for his part, kept his gaze trained on Clay's nearly naked form, a strange gleam in his eyes. The shepherd licked his lips hungrily, and Clay shivered. Neither of them seemed to spare a glance at Isaiah at all, which the wolf decided was a blessing. His eyes were completely black again, and glowing... and Clay had no idea how he'd explain that. "Can you account for your whereabouts tonight?"
The burly wolf placed a paw to the back of his head, scratching nervously. "Um, I was here alone all day until about 8:00. Then, I went to a party at my friend's house. I stayed there until about midnight, maybe a little later - I'd had a few drinks, and didn't exactly check the time when I got home - and I headed to bed when I got back."
"I see." Officer Hughes pulled out a small notebook from his front pocket and started taking notes. "And at this party, did you talk to someone by the name of Susan Morrison?"
A cold sweat broke out on Clay's neck and forehead. "Uh, I mean, I don't know. It was a party, t-there were a lot of people there."
"She was a deer, younger, brown and white fur with mottled spots. Ring any bells?"
"Uh..." Clay thought he was going to throw up at any moment now. He couldn't lie, though! And he knew exactly who they were talking about, so he continued. "Uh, yeah, I think so? The girl I talked to asked me to call her Suze. I didn't know her full name, we never got that far. We barely talked."
"Were you aware that she was murdered on her way home tonight, Mr. Abernathy? And that there's a trail of footprints in her blood leading right to your door?"
He blanched. "N-No, officers, I had no idea! I'm so sorry to hear that, she seemed sweet."
"We're going to need to look around, sir." Officer Monroe finally spoke up. "Hughes?" The ferret turned to him, meeting his eyes. The shepherd's icy blue eyes shimmered, so faintly that Clay almost didn't catch it. "You're going to comb through the house. You will find nothing out of the ordinary. In fifteen minutes, you'll come back here, and we will leave, and Clay Abernathy will no longer be a suspect."
"Wha..." The older ferret's mouth slackened before he could finish the word, and he nodded vacantly. He turned and walked down the hall towards the bedrooms, pulling out a flashlight and walking into the guest room before disappearing.
Clay watched, dumbfounded, as the young canine turned to leer at him again. A set of fangs popped out from his open muzzle, and he hissed, a sibilant sound that spoke of hunger. "You... you smell delicious, Mr. Abernathy. The council will deal with whatever vampire made that mistake, but you... you're too good a meal to pass up. I'm going to feed, and then you're going to tell me everything you know about the vampire who was in your house tonight." He advanced toward Clay, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Don't worry, this will only hurt for a min-"
In a blur, Isaiah was in front of Clay, his paw wrapping around the german shepherd's throat with a snarl. The canine vampire made a choking, gasping sound as he wriggled in the panther's grasp, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free. Isaiah pulled the officer toward him, forcing the dog to lock eyes with him. The little vampire growled, low and harsh, without once raising his voice. "You, cur, will not touch Clay Abernathy. I have claimed him, do you understand? If he comes to harm, my coven will bring down hell on this city."
Clay saw Officer Monroe's eyes go huge and round. Isaiah released him, and the canine sucked in a ragged breath before bowing low. "Elder Anwir! I'm sorry, I didn't even know you were here! Please, forgive me, I would never try to claim your property."
Property? Is he talking about... me? Oh, hell no! "Hey, I'm nobody's property! You can't own people, that's - "
Isaiah held up a flat palm, cutting Clay off mid-sentence. Then he turned his head to glance back at the wolf. With an apologetic wink, he mouthed the words, "Trust me!"
Clay balked, but held his tongue, making a mental note to ask Isaiah exactly what the hell he meant by "claiming" him. The feline vampire turned his head back to Officer Munroe, who still bowed. "You should be more observant, whelp." Isaiah's voice had taken on a cool, stilted tone. "You didn't even see through my glamor; clearly you're still young." Isaiah sighed, shaking his head. "But, nevermind that now. Rise."
Oh-so-slowly, the officer stood, meeting Isaiah's eyes once again. "Truly, elder, I'm so sorry. We weren't even aware the Anwir were present in the city. A delegate is usually presented at court to alert us - "
"Ah. Well. I wasn't here on official business, merely passing through. But... I believe I have cause to stay longer now. Officer Monroe, are you aware of a drug that works on vampires, causing them to lose control of their hunger?"
"Please, call me Daniel. You're above such mortal titles." Daniel bowed again before continuing. "And no, but there has been an increase in murders like tonight's. Wait, you don't mean..." the canine finally saw the blood dried on Isaiah's dark fur, and gasped. "It was you! You're the one who killed that girl?!"
This time, Isaiah was the one who looked away, casting his gaze at the floor as he scuffed his bare foot across it. "Unfortunately... yes. I am the one who killed Susan; however, I would like to point out that I was drugged. In four hundred years, this is the first time I've killed someone since my first feeding. We need to figure out how this was done. Can I count on Coven Monroe?"
Daniel nodded emphatically. "Yes, yes, of course! I'll take care of scheduling your audience personally. And, of course, I'll get you anything you need from the police's chain of custody. I may only be in my forties, but compulsions are a specialty of mine. I - "
"You're forty?!" Clay blurted out. Both vampires turned to stare at him; Isaiah looked bemused, Daniel puzzled. The wolf's ears grow hot again, made worse when neither vampire said anything in response. "Uh, sorry, it's just that you don't look it... was that rude? I'm still getting used to this whole, er, vampire thing."
Daniel shook his head slowly. "I'm surprised... you didn't react like this when Isaiah mentioned he was over four hundred. I've only been a vampire for about twelve years, and I'm the one who shocked you?"
"Wait. You're four hundred years old?! How did I miss that part of the conversation?" Clay took a few steps back from the feline vampire and watched Isaiah's face go from mirthful to morose.
"Please, wait..." the panther stretched an arm out, reaching for Clay, then with a sigh, he dropped his hand and took a step back as well. "Mmm. There is much I need to tell you, and we haven't had time. Daniel, your partner is going to return soon. Give me your phone." Without a word, the shepherd handed over his cell phone, and Isaiah tapped on the screen. "I've sent myself a text. Save that number, and let me know when the audience will be. I'd appreciate some time alone with Clay now, so if you don't mind..."
"Oh, of course, elder! And don't worry about the footprints; I've already asked Coven Monroe's cleaners to cover those up." Officer Hughes came back into the room shortly thereafter, and announcing that everything was in order, the pair left, Hughes swaying a little as he tottered away.
Clay locked the door behind the officers and walked back to sit in the recliner next to the couch. He plopped down into it, and it rocked back and forth for a moment before he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands, and his voice muffled as he spoke. "Oh, my God, how many more of you are there?! How have I never met a vampire before tonight? And why didn't Daniel's eyes go black like yours did? And - "
"Whoa, slow down there! I can only answer one question at a time." Isaiah sat in the middle of the couch, moving closer but still giving Clay some space. "As far as how many of us there are... thousands? Perhaps hundreds of thousands? Not nearly as many as regular folks - there are billions of you - but enough that I still run into at least one or two practically everywhere I go. There's few enough that it's entirely possible you simply never bumped into one. And given that you're apparently immune to compulsion, I'd think you'd remember being bitten." Isaiah scooted a little closer to Clay, who still had his face in his hands, and didn't notice.
Finally, the wolf looked up, bleary-eyed but intrigued. "And the eye thing? And, follow-up, why are they, um..." His voice trailed off as he peered into the vampire's eyes. "Why are they golden now?"
Isaiah blinked rapidly, leaning back a bit. "They're golden to you? That's... well, uh, that's my actual eye color. Nobody's seen it in a couple hundred years; I usually glamor them to appear green. But you see my actual eyes? Not black and red, not green, but gold?" When Clay nodded, he saw Isaiah glance away, the vampire's lips twitching into a shy smile for a moment before they fell again into a slight frown. "Well, that's something, at least. No-one's seen that in an eternity."
"As far as your other question; Vampires get more powerful the older they get, but this comes with some drawbacks. While we can glamor ourselves - that's an illusion we cast to make ourselves appear differently - this falls away when we use our other powers. And when a vampire gets as old as I am, the powers we use manifest in different ways, and some things shift permanently. In my case, my eyes became permanently changed. That's why I tried to compel you; manipulate your mind to forget what you saw, what I did. But not only can you resist my compulsions - my compulsions! I'm actually quite good at those, you know - but you can see through my glamors as well. Tell me, did you see Daniel's fangs when he tried to bite you?"
Again, Clay nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty obvious. It's why I wondered about the fact I've never seen a vampire before. I - " Clay suddenly yawned widely, and looked at the clock. Three-thirty in the morning. Jeez, I'm never up this late...
Isaiah was suddenly up out of his seat and beside the wolf in a flash. "I'm so sorry, you must be exhausted! I keep forgetting you mortals need sleep. Sorry, again. Here, let me help you to bed."
"But I have more questions..." Clay mumbled. Nonetheless, he took the panther's proffered paw and let Isaiah haul him to his feet.
"And I promise, I'll answer them all. But you need sleep, little one. Where is your bedroom? I'll help you get there - come on, lean on me."
"Little?" Clay chuckled drowsily, stumbling as they began walking down the hall. "I'm easily a foot taller than you. What are you, 5'4"? Whoop!" Clay tripped over his own feet, almost falling, but instead of hitting the floor, Isaiah caught him in his arms. "How are you so strong? I weigh almost three hundred pounds!"
"Vampire strength. You weigh practically nothing, little one. And I'm 5'8", thank you very much!" Isaiah huffed, but there was a warm smile on his lips as he hefted the brawny wolf in his arms and finished carrying him down the hall.
"I'm not little. You're little!" Clay groused, but pointed at a door on the left. The vampire nudged it open with his foot, revealing a large room with a king-sized bed against the right wall, a corner desk tucked against the wall opposite, and clothes both strewn about the floor and piled in a laundry basket by the door. "S-Sorry for the mess; wasn't expecting company..." he mumbled again, stifling a yawn with his paw.
"It's fine, it's fine." Isaiah said dismissively. The vampire walked to the bed, gently laying the burly wolf down and pulling the covers up over him, tucking Clay into bed. "Go to sleep, little wolf. I'll be here in the morning."
Clay struggled to stay awake, but it was no use. His eyelids grew heavy, and his eyes burned with exhaustion. "F-Fine..." A moment of hesitation as his eyes fluttered shut. "You promise?"
"Hmm? Promise what?"
"Promise you'll be here when I wake up?"
Isaiah laughed, a rich, full-throated sound that was filled with kindness. "Yes, pet, I'll be here. I promise. Now go to sleep."
...
The wolf's request deeply amused Isaiah, causing him to laugh in a way that he hadn't done in decades. "Yes, pet, I'll be here. I promise. Now go to sleep."
But Clay was already snoring softly, his muzzle lolling open to allow his tongue to hang out of it. The vampire reached out a paw, smoothing the wolf's fur away from his forehead before yanking his paw back.
Don't get attached, you fool! He's something special, obviously, but you can't know his heart. He's been accepting so far, but tomorrow, when he's had time to process everything... well. That'll likely be a different story. Still...
Isaiah leaned over, placing his snout right over Clay's headfur, and sniffed gently. That warm, fruity scent mixed with clove and cinnamon filled his nostrils as they flared once, twice, three times. He pulled away, a lopsided grin on his face. Damn. Is this why I can't get enough of him? This scent, it's intoxicating; it's almost like I'm drunk. And his blood... it tasted like he smells, but stronger. Purer. I want more, but I'm already so full. Isaiah stood, glancing around the room. A door next to the computer desk led into an on-suite bathroom, and he strode in. Turning on the light, he saw a large walk-in shower with a glass door. Perfect. I'll clean up a bit, get all that blood off me, and -
Isaiah stopped cold, his eyes fixed on his reflection in the mirror. It was a myth that vampires didn't cast a reflection at all; it was true of actual silver, but not the cheap crap that they made mirrors of nowadays. His gaze traveled up and down his wiry form. He'd had a good amount of muscle when he'd died, but he'd always been on the lean side. His toned stomach held the ghost of a six-pack, something he was quite proud of, since no amount of exercise could change his body now. His trim waist narrowed just above his hips, dipping into a V that traveled from the top of his hips and dove below his low-slung boxers. The black, shiny fur, though matted with dried blood, accentuated the sharp angles of his body. However, although he preened in the mirror, what he needed to see... what he was, in fact, dreading, was...
He stepped up to the glass, took a deep breath, and forced himself to drop his glamor and look into his own eyes.
Two clear, golden eyes stared back at the vampire. The whites of his eyes were pristine, without a trace of black to them at all. They practically glowed in the bright white light that filled the room, and he sniffed back a tear. I haven't seen my own eyes in forever. I never thought I'd see them again, not after I became this... creature. But that begs the question... why can I see them now?
When he opened the drawers beneath the sink, he revealed an assortment of toiletries; A fur trimmer, a handheld blow dryer, cotton-tipped swabs, a toothbrush... Nothing he particularly needed, but he couldn't help but snoop. Closing the last drawer, something rattled loudly inside. Had he missed something? Isaiah yanked the offending drawer open again, and he rummaged around. This time, he found with two prescription pill bottles hidden beneath a stack of washcloths. He held them up one at a time and inspected the labels. Blinking, eyes going wide, he recognized them from mortal television commercials. These are new, practically full. This one is... an antidepressant? And something for anxiety. What is he doing with these? Surely they're not his... But, a closer inspection revealed Clay's name on the bottles. Frowning, the panther tucked them back beneath the cloths, and picking one of the fluffy squares off the top of the pile, he kicked off his boxers and stepped into the shower.
Turning on the water, he yelped as the icy spray hit his fur and shrank back, shivering. It's cold! Why am I cold now? Temperature hadn't been something Isaiah had felt since he turned into a vampire, and an even colder sense of dread creeped into the pit of his stomach. What in the world is happening to me?! Teeth chattering, he turned on the hot water and sighed when the water quickly warmed and steam filled the room. Just as he hadn't experienced cold, he didn't experience warmth either, and the simple comfort finally caused him to break down. Isaiah leaned his head against the shower wall and let out a quick, barking sob. His shoulders shook as tears combined with the soothing water and trickled to the floor.
Eventually, the vampire composed himself, and availed himself of the soap and conditioner that Clay used, scrubbing himself down with the thick, fluffy washcloth. A twinge of guilt twinged through him; the cloth was bright white, a stark contrast to his fur, and the blood was staining it a light brownish-pink. But it felt good to be clean, and he appreciated the spa-quality products and the light, woodsy cedar scent of the soap. He luxuriated under the water until it ran cold again before he turned it off and stepped out of the shower. Isaiah pulled a luxurious towel off the nearby rack - Clay had fine taste in bathroom supplies, it seemed - and scrubbed himself dry. His headfur was short and didn't require special care; he combed through it with his fingers before wrapping the large towel around his petite waist and walking back to the couch.
Lying down, he thought back on the day. It was deeply troubling, what had happened with Suze. She was young, vivacious, full of spirit... He cut her life short, and for what?. Why had he lost control? Why had he vomited, of all things? And what in the world was going on with Clay? He clearly wasn't normal, so what was he? Isaiah rolled onto his side with a frustrated grumble. He had many questions and no satisfactory answers. But perhaps he had someone he could talk to. Someone who could shed some light on the sudden darkness that enveloped his life. He yawned widely, lips pulled back, fangs glinting in the dim light. He was vaguely aware of the fact that he shouldn't be yawning, either, but right now he was too tired to care.
I'll call Hattie... first thing in the morning...
Zzz...
...
Clay awoke the next morning to the sun streaming into his bedroom curtains, sending a sliver of light right over his eyes. He groaned as a pounding headache caused his vision to throb. Damn, I drank too much last night. I feel like hell...
He unwrapped himself from the blankets and stood, a brief warmth spreading across his face at the memory of Isaiah's tender caretaking. Then, he remembered the last thing the vampire had said to him as he drifted off; "Yes, pet, I'll be here."
"Ooh, I'm gonna kill him! I'm not a pet, and I'm certainly not his! If he thinks we're that close after all the shit he put me through last night, he's got another thing coming. I'm gonna..." the wolf grumbled to himself as he pulled on a bathrobe. It was a bit too small, purchased when he was a slimmer wolf, and barely closed over his protruding belly. But at least it mostly covered him, and he stalked out to the living room where he saw Isaiah lying on the couch in the sun. "You...!" he yelled, but then his voice caught in his throat.
The light of the rising sun was creeping across the room, and its reflected rays bathed Isaiah in an almost otherworldly glow. He had a towel wrapped around his trim waist, and the lean muscles of his chest rose and fell with his every breath. Clay figured he must have taken a shower, since his short black fur was clean and glossy, and the sun showed off Isaiah's many rosettes that had hidden from view in the dark night. The vampire's face was slack, and a little trail of drool spilled from the corner of his mouth onto the couch cushion below. Clay took a few steps toward the sleeping predator, captivated by the softness of his sleeping expression.
Holy shit, he's pretty. I wonder what he smells like... Well, I guess he must have used my soap and all that. Wait, that means he was... naked... in my room... The wolf shook his head, trying to clear it of the impure thoughts that flooded his mind. No! Remember, you came here to be pissed, and to get answers! I'm gonna wake him up and -
The sun finally reached the couch, barely touching the sleeping panther's foot. The wolf remembered what little he knew about vampires from popular fiction, and let out a strangled squeak of panic. He snagged a blanket that hung on the back of the recliner and unfurled it, throwing it over Isaiah. Unfortunately, Clay tripped in the process, falling on top of the vampire and driving the wind out of himself.
"Whuff!" Clay gasped, and attempted to scramble off Isaiah, but two arms with an iron grip wrapped around him, locking him in place.
A feral hiss emanated from beneath the blanket, and a sleep-addled voice followed. "Who's there? I assure you, I've dealt with plenty of assassins before; you'll tell me everything I want to know before I drink you dry, you pestilent - "
"S-Sorry, sorry! I fell! It's just me; it's Clay! I'm s-sorry!" The arms tensed momentarily, then suddenly released him, allowing the wolf to stand and back up.
Isaiah slowly started peeling the blanket off from himself. He was frowning, but chuckled to himself as well. "Hmm. That much of an eyesore, am I?"
"Careful!" Clay moved to block the sun with his wide frame, holding his paws up in front of himself in a placating gesture. "First, you're not an eyesore. Don't say stupid shit like that. Second, the sun is out! I'd think you'd want to be a little more careful, since you're, y'know..." The wolf swallowed, and his next words came out in a whisper. "A vampire!"
"Really?" Isaiah looked around, his eyes going wide at the brightly lit room. "My God, where did the time go? I haven't lost time like that in years! I suppose I wasn't paying attention..." Looking back at Clay, he smiled, showing his teeth, and the wolf supposed he had a beautiful smile, too, if you could ignore the extra fangs. "Oh, but don't worry. The myth that vampires burst into flame - or whatever it is they say - in sunlight is only that. A myth. Though don't hesitate to keep standing there; you've got a kind of halo effect going on right now that's quite fetching."
Clay blushed and dodged out of the way of the light, allowing it to fully land on the panther's feet. His body stiffened and his fists clenched, only relaxing when he saw that, indeed, Isaiah was unharmed. Why am I so protective of him? I don't get it. Is it... did he do something to me after all? "So, uh... I thought you said you didn't sleep?"
The vampire nodded. "Yes, that's correct."
"Then, um, why were you sleeping on the couch when I came out here?"
Isaiah froze, holding unnaturally still. He didn't even appear to be breathing, from what Clay could tell. It was bizarre; he looked like a giant stuffed panther propped up on the couch. Eventually, Isaiah spoke in a clipped, harsh voice. "I. Don't. Sleep. I can't sleep. It's literally not possible. I had to have lost track of time."
"No, I'm pretty certain you were asleep." Puzzled by this intensely negative reaction, Clay sat on the couch across from where Isaiah was now pulling his knees to his chest and frowning. "Is it really that big of a deal?"
"Yes!" the panther cried out, fixing Clay with a wide-eyed stare. "Sleeping is dangerous; the sun may not be dangerous, but there are so, so many other things that can kill me, and many people who would love to see that come to pass. The only advantage I have is that I don't need to sleep. I can't sleep! I... I can't..."
The burly wolf's heart skipped a beat in his chest. "So, when you were talking about assassins, you weren't just trying to intimidate me?"
Isaiah shook his head sadly. "No, I wasn't. Hundreds, if not thousands, of vampire hunters have tried to kill me over my centuries of living."
"And what did you do to deserve that?"
Now the vampire shot him a sour glare. "Nothing! They kill us because we're not part of the "natural order". We usually don't even kill those that share their blood with us; that's always either an accident, or the result of a vampire gone feral. And we take care of feral vampires ourselves; the covens would never allow one to roam free. They're a danger to our entire way of life, not to mention a danger to the mortal population."
Clay frowned. "You keep mentioning `mortals'. Are you... not mortal?"
"Well, yes and no." Isaiah relaxed a bit, clearly grateful for the change of topic as he leaned back onto the couch. "You can kill a vampire - well, perhaps not you specifically, but the general you - but we can't die of what you would call `natural causes'. Starvation, thirst, hunger, even most wounds that would kill a mortal aren't necessarily life-ending for us. And the older we get, the more we feed, the faster we heal."
In demonstration, the vampire extended a claw, running its sharp tip down the underside of his forearm. The deep cut lingered for mere moments before sealing up as he moved his claw along his skin; the only proof of the injury was a trail of dark blood on his dark fur.
Clay watched in morbid fascination. "That's... super gross. You, uh, didn't have to do that. Didn't that hurt? No, hold that thought. I'll be right back." The wolf jumped up and walked into the kitchen, and the sound of drawers opening and closing echoed along the high ceilings of the living room.
Isaiah stood and walked to lean on the open archway that led into the kitchen. "It hurts a little, I suppose. I've certainly had worse - what in the world are you doing?"
Clay had seized the vampire's arm, and was dabbing at it gingerly with a damp washcloth. "You got blood on you. I'm helping clean you up, what else would I be doing?"
"You're cleaning... okay, but why? Even if I cared, which I don't, I could've done it myself. Here, let me."
The wolf snatched the rag away from Isaiah's grasping paw. "No! Just..." Clay froze. He suddenly realized he really didn't have an answer for why he was cleaning the feline. The paw that gripped the vampire's wrist idly rubbed its thumb over the short, soft fur, almost without him noticing. Isaiah's face contorted, and his free hand was now scratching at his cheek while Clay cast about for the right words. The wolf allowed himself to act on instinct, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"You mentioned you've been being hunted by assassins, and vampire hunters, and God knows what else. That seems... I dunno, lonely? When was the last time you let someone take care of you? And last night - when you were sick - I wanted to help you but I couldn't." Clay scuffed a palm along his neck where Isaiah had bitten him hours earlier. "Well, I guess I sort of did. But that wasn't me doing anything, it was more of me just... being there. So, let me do this for you, okay? I want - no, I need to be useful, for once."
...
Isaiah blinked, swallowing heavily. He nodded slowly, without a word, and relaxed his arm, allowing Clay to finish wiping away the blood. The wolf had been right; When was the last time he'd allowed someone to care for him like this? Hadn't that been what he wanted when he came here, drugged and dying? Someone to help him, to get him back on his feet? And why had that been Clay...? Was it merely the proximity to where Suze had died? He had so many questions, and again, no satisfactory answers.
"You're frowning again. Did I do something wrong?" Clay was biting his lip, his brow furrowed with worry.
"No, no, you're fine!" Isaiah hastened to reassure him. "I'm just... thinking. I need to make a phone call here soon. Where's my cell phone? It was in my pants before you took them. Laundry room, I'm guessing?"
Clay's ears folded back as the ruff of fur around his neck fluffed up. "Shit!" he cried, dashing for the nearby washing machine. Opening it, he pulled out the still-damp black jeans that Isaiah had been wearing and quickly rummaged through the pockets. "Shit, shit... Aw, damnit!" He pulled out a cellphone from one pocket, and a wallet from the other. The wolf's face fell, and his eyes opened wide, with the whites showing all around his irises. "Oh, fuck, Isaiah, I'm so sorry! I forgot to check your pockets before I washed these. I'm such an idiot." Clay squeezed his eyes shut and hunched his back and shoulders, his hands shaking. A tear ran down his cheek as he shrank away from the feline. "Shit, this looks like it was a really nice phone... I-I'll pay for a new one; we can go today, anywhere you want, it doesn't matter. I'm so, so sorry, I never should've - I have a credit card I can put it on, I think, or maybe I can take money out of savings, but I'll make it up to you, I swear, I - "
The vampire rested his paws on Clay's shoulders, then flicked him close into a hug. "Clay... who hurt you?" he murmured softly.
"W-Wha...?"
"You're freaking out over an accident that could've happened to anybody. Hell, I've done it to myself a few times. It happened while you were doing me a favor, too. Pet, I'm not mad. I promise, I'm not mad!" He squeezed Clay again, this time nuzzling his head against the wolf's bulky chest. "And to fix it, you're talking about going into debt, and I simply cannot abide you hurting yourself to fix something that I can easily take care of myself. So, my question is; Who. Hurt. You?" The words came out as a growl, and Isaiah squeezed Clay tighter when the wolf shuddered beneath his embrace.
"I... it's a long, long story, okay? I've never told anyone, not even Dirk. But, um... it was my ex. He, well..." Clay's breath hitched, and he knew that if he started down this path, he was going to cry in earnest. It was nice of Isaiah to offer to listen, but the wolf didn't want to relive that part of his life yet. "Can we talk about it another time? I'm a bit shaken up right now." The vampire grunted an affirmative and moved to loosen his grip, but Clay stiffly raised his arms and squeezed him back. "Sorry... I didn't mean to freak out like that. I should be - "
"Hush." Isaiah stepped back and patted Clay's fluffy cheek, barely resisting the urge to slide his fingers into the long, thick tuft of gray-and-white fur as the wolf closed his eyes and subtly leaned into the touch. My God, this man is the definition of a cinnamon roll. "It's a trauma response, and you just said you never dealt with it. I know you don't know me all that well, but I assure you, I've seen some things. I can help, if you'll let me.
The vampire's breath caught as Clay's eyes and he leaned into his palm, melting under Isaiah's touch. "Mmm..." was all he said. Then, his eyes snapped open, and his ears folded back again as his fur stood on end. "B-Breakfast!" he stammered. "I need to make breakfast! Are you hungry - o-oh, right, you don't eat food... Um. Are you, y'know... thirsty, I guess?"
Isaiah laughed, a full-throated and rich sound. "I don't need blood right now, no. It's surprising, really; After I lost all my reserves, I thought I'd need more, but yours is sustaining me nicely. And as far as breakfast goes... would it be too much trouble to ask for another omelet? I promise not to throw it on the floor this time."
...
"You actually want an omelet? I thought you couldn't eat regular food." Clay frowned, but mentally took stock of what he had in the fridge. Omelet, huh...
Isaiah shrugged. "Vampires don't need to eat mortal food, but we can. And I wasted the one you made last night, anyway. It's been decades since I ate anything, anyway; I'm curious what yours tastes like.
The wolf's ears flushed with heat as they folded back, and he scuffed a heel against the floor with a small smile. "O-Of course! Just, I'm not a great cook. S-So don't blame me if it's not, like, gourmet."
The panther stretched up on his tip-toes to ruffle Clay's headfur. "I'm sure it'll be delicious, pet. Just try your best, hmm?"
"Mmm... Okay!" He beamed, and rounded on his heel, turning to face the refrigerator. As he was pulling out ingredients, Clay came upon a bag of ham he'd forgotten about. After checking that it was still in date, he called over his shoulder. "Uh, do you like ham? It looks like have some I can add to this."
"Oho, did the big, bad wolf catch a little piggy?" Isaiah cackled, then replied, "Yes, please, that sounds wonderful."
Clay busied himself; cracking eggs, whisking, cutting off chunks of butter to grease his pan, and soon there were a pair of omelets plated and ready to eat. "Sorry, I have no more bread, or I'd have made toast too..." Looking away, he handed a plate and fork to the vampire, who took them delicately.
They moved to sit on the couch; Isaiah used his fork to cut off a piece, then brought it to his mouth and chewed slowly. Clay held his breath as the panther's eyes fluttered closed, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Isaiah's lips curve up in a smile. "Oh, Clay, this is marvelous!" The vampire took another bite before continuing. "The eggs are fluffy, and you've got the right amount of filling in here to be satisfying without being overwhelming. I quite like the cheddar with the ham, too. It's simple, but it's very well executed."
Isaiah continued to eat slowly, savoring each bite. Clay smiled widely, showing off his pristine white fangs, and stood tall, reveling in the fact he'd done a good job. He began eating too, and when he was about halfway finished, he broke the silence and ask a question that had been bugging him for a while. "Hey, um, Isaiah? Can I ask you something?"
"Yes, of course you can."
Clay took a deep breath to calm his nerves, but the words rushed out of him, anyway. "W-Why do you keep calling me `pet'? And what exactly did you mean when you told that other vampire you `claimed' me?"
...
Isaiah nearly choked on a bite of omelet. Coughing, he set the plate on the counter and took a deep breath to steady himself as his ears folded back and he started fidgeting restlessly. "Ah, well... I didn't actually claim you, technically. I only said that to stop Daniel from trying to feed from you."
"Vampires sometimes find a mortal that they particularly enjoy the company of. They can `claim' them - usually by marking the mortal - to show that they enjoy the vampire's protection. It's, uh..." Isaiah shifted on his feet uncomfortably. "Well, he probably thinks we're in a relationship now. Sorry!" The vampire winced at Clay's blank stare. "Sorry, sorry! I just - I couldn't stand the thought of another vampire feeding from you, I suppose. Like I said, you're not actually claimed as mine." The panther rubbed the back of his neck, looking away sheepishly. "But... the rumor alone should keep most other creatures away from you."
Clay frowned a little, his expression inscrutable. Isaiah hugged his arms to himself, bouncing the heel of one foot up and down as he wondered what the wolf was thinking. He almost said something, but right as he opened his mouth, the wolf finally spoke. "Okay... okay. So, being `claimed' is a protection thing, but also a relationship thing? And Daniel's going to tell everyone we're dating... except we're not, really." Clay tapped a finger on his chin thoughtfully. "Couldn't that be a problem? And you still didn't explain the whole `pet' business."
"It should be fine. If anyone asks, you can show them the bite I gave you last night. It's not deep enough to truly scar, but until your fur grows back it'll work. And, um, the `pet' thing..." Isaiah stopped to think a moment, worrying his lower lip with a sharp fang. "It's... well, you're cute, I guess," he mumbled. The vampire's ears folded back and his whiskers flattened to his muzzle as a blush crept across his face. The vampire glanced away, clearing his throat before continuing, "It's a simple term of endearment! I don't necessarily mean anything by it, but I shared your blood, and against all logic, you remember it happening. If it bothers you, I can stop..."
...
The corners of Clay's mouth twitched up at the panther's response. Oh, he thinks I'm cute, huh? Wait, cute as in hot, or cute like a puppy is cute? Crap, I must seem like a fresh-faced pup to someone as old as he is. That's such a trip; he looks way younger than me. And why do I care what he means by cute, anyway?! Damn it, Clay, you are not falling for a vampire! That's a whole mess of red flags right there...
But he thinks I'm cute...
The wolf tuned back in as Isaiah's voice trailed off. "If it bothers you, I can stop..."
"N-No!" he blurted out, a little too forcefully. Isaiah took a step back, and a nervous half-smile spread across the panther's muzzle. Clay took a steadying breath, slowly let it out, and said, "No, it's... it's fine. I, uh, don't mind it, I guess. Just, not in public? I am trying to date, after all. Oh, but I think we should use it around other vampires, though - only to sell the whole `claiming' thing! I don't want to be bitten by anyone but you."
Isaiah's fingers twitched, and he raised an eyebrow. "Anyone... but me? Are you saying you want me to bite you again... pet?"
The teasing in his voice was unmistakable, but his words still caused Clay's face to burn with heat. "That's not what I - I didn't mean - um... well, maybe?" Blushing furiously, the wolf looked down at the floor and scuffed his heel against the rug. "If you need blood, I guess." Clay didn't want to admit that the thought of Isaiah biting someone other than himself bothered him more than a little. The powerful sensation that'd flooded him when the vampire had sunk his teeth into his neck was pure bliss, almost indescribable, and he didn't want anyone else to have that experience with Isaiah. Why should I care? Do I really want to be touched so badly I'd let a vampire have his way with me...?
Yeah. Yeah, I think I would.
"A touch non-committal, hmm?" Isaiah crooned, and in the space between one breath and the next, he'd jumped from his seat and moved to straddle Clay's lap. Pressing him back into the couch, the wolf gasped as Isaiah leaned to whisper in his ear. "My pet, I'll need more than a maybe. If you want me to bite you again, I need - no, I want you to say it."
"I-I-I..." Clay swallowed hard, the sound audible, and Isaiah let out a filthy chuckle that caused the heat in the wolf's face to become almost feverish. "I... damn it, I w-want you to b-bite me..." Then, for good measure, "Please?"
Clay watched Isaiah's eyes flash black and red, but only for a moment, before his fangs elongated and the panther bent down. His razor-sharp teeth barely brushed the skin beneath Clay's fur, and a shiver ran down the wolf's spine. There was the barest sensation of pressure, and Clay let out a little whine. "Please..." he begged again.
Suddenly, Isaiah sat up, retreating from Clay's neck. "Mmm... No." The vampire stood, smirking, and nonchalantly started gathering the dishes from breakfast.
"W-Wait... No? What do you mean, no?" Clay quickly stood as well, trailing after the little vampire, who was now laughing smugly.
"Seriously! What do you mean, no?"
...
To Be Continued...
