Ink summoned his paintbrush and began recreating Error's clothes. Error looked back at the scene of the fight as Ink worked, sighing in guilt as he spied Encre lying unconscious next to an exhausted Fallacy. Finally, Ink handed him the clothes, and he quickly put them on. The creator then sprinted over to Nightmare, who was bleeding profusely from the wound in his back.

"Nightmare!" Ink knelt next to him, pulling out a small paintbrush and conjuring green paint. He carefully lifted the king's shirt and lightly swiped the paintbrush across the injuries. Nightmare hissed, opening his eyesocket as he felt the paint creep into his wound. Ink sighed as he finished.

"I'm sorry, Nightmare," he said as he helped Nightmare sit up. "I'm no healer, you know. But, that'll keep you alive until we can get you to your brother."

"Y-yeah, wh-whatever," the king muttered. He glanced at Error, who seemed to staring off into space. "Hey, asshole! You better explain yourself!"

Error shook himself out of his thoughts and pulled his knees to his chest. Ink glared harshly at the king, then went over to pull Error into a tight hug. "Don't worry, Error. I know you were just doing it to protect me."

Error scoffed softly, turning away. "H-how could you possibly have known that? I... I hurt you. I was too weak to stand up to that stupid parasite...." He didn't even bother trying to stop the tears as they pooled in his eyesockets. "I was afraid he'd take you, o-or any of the others, a-and I couldn't- I couldn't let that happen. I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ink. I'm sorry, Nightmare."

Nightmare's expression softened as Error covered his face with his hands, shoulders shaking from crying. Ink pulled the glitchy skeleton to his chest, rocking him slightly and rubbing his quaking shoulders in an attempt to sooth him. Nightmare shook his head, sighing and wincing from the sting simply breathing gave him.

"Ok, I forgive you," Nightmare said, rolling his eyelight at Ink's warning look. "But you'd better not try something like that, again. If you've got a problem, talk to one us about it. Don't try to carry the entire multiverse on your shoulders. It doesn't work, trust me; I've tried. And I sorta don't regret it. But, at the same time, Dream and I would maybe not have been on not so friendly terms, heh." He winced again and took a shaky breath. As much as he appreciated Ink's efforts to heal him, he needed proper medical attention.

While they were talking, Suave had kept silent, watching the strangers. He had seen everything, from Error turning into a skeleton from a dog, to Ink's attempt at healing the goopy monster that was the King of Negativity. He looked down at the vampire prince passed out in his lap, grimacing slightly at the purplish bruise forming just above Jasper's right eyesocket. Suave gulped, then looked up. He carefully laid Jasper on the ground, praying he would be alright without him, then bravely walked up to the strangers.

Ink tensed when the butler approached, recognizing the face of Fresh as Error once did. He growled and stood up, making Suave flinch back a step.

"Fresh," he hissed through gritted teeth. Summoning his paintbrush, he positioned himself to attack. Error, though, noticed Ink's hostility, and quickly got between them, holding his arms out.

"Ink, don't."

"But Error, he could hurt someone!"

"This isn't the same guy! We're in a different multiverse, Ink. I'm surprised Destiny didn't tell you that."

Ink hesitated, but lowered his paintbrush. Standing it up next to him, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Fine. What's your name?"

The butler cleared his throat and put his hands behind his back. "Suave, sir."

Ink almost burst out laughing at the odd accent Suave spoke with, and Error deadpanned at him. "At least be a little respectful, Ink. We owe these guys our lives."

Nightmare nodded. "I agree with Error. Even though, y'know, we wouldn't be in this mess if this guy's lookalike from our multiverse wasn't a total ass."

Suave smirked slightly, but frowned at the description of this 'Fresh' person. He was a little confused as to how there could be two of a person, but he guessed it was some type of magic. He didn't know very much about magic, only what Jasper has told him, and that was at a very young age. He was about ten when Jasper was messing with vampiric life-draining spells. Unfortunately, Suave had gotten a little too close, and the spell started to affect him. Jasper had stopped immediately, and took him to Fallacy. They healed him, and Jasper wouldn't stop apologizing. The prince had kept a very close watch on him from then on, and Suave occasionally thought it bordered on obsession.

Now, in his mid-twenties, Suave had gotten used to the prince always following him around, but Jasper had started flirting with him a year ago. Whatever started it, Suave had no idea, but he hoped it wouldn't get him in trouble with Fallacy.

Speaking of whom, the vampire king groaned as he sat up. He held a hand to his head as a wave of dizziness overtook him, and he looked up. He gasped in alarm as he noticed the blue-black sky turning a slight grey, signalling sunrise was closing in. He looked down at the artist sleeping next to him, and he couldn't help but grin. He shook his head as he realized he was staring, then stood up. He walked over to the group and put a hand on Suave's shoulder. The butler flinched, but stood at attention.

"Suave, take Jasper to the castle. It isn't far, just a few kilometers south. Sunrise will arrive any minute, and I'd rather he didn't suffer any serious burns. I will join you shortly."

Suave hesitated a moment, but nodded and bowed. Nightmare watched him leave with curiosity, then turned back to the vampire. "And why would he suffer burns?"

Fallacy raised a brow, silently asking him if he was serious. "We're vampires, sir. I am Lord Fallacy, the ruler of these lands. Might I ask your name?"

Nightmare narrowed his eyesocket. "I'm Nightmare. King of Negativity."

"Ah yes," Fallacy remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. "One would certainly guess your royal heritage from your... elegant apparel."

Nightmare growled, but smirked as he realized the vampire's game. "At least I don't look like I walked straight out of a children's fairytale book."

Fallacy laughed, then turned away. "I see. So you think I'm old-fashioned, do you?"

"Possibly."

Fallacy lifted Encre into his arms, winking at the three gods. "Care to join me? I am a gentleman, not a savage."

Nightmare and Error looked to Ink, whose call it really was. He opened his mouth to speak, but he turned his head to see the fish monster, the cat monster, and the blue-clad skeleton. He sighed as he turned back to the vampire.

"I couldn't accept your hospitality without requesting that you also extend it to them," he said, gesturing to the three mortals. 

Fallacy's brows rose in surprise, and he glanced toward the mortals. He knew the fish monster as Eterna, one of the most infamous vampire slayers in the region, and he knew the cat monster as Neil, a veteran from the war between his subjects and the mortals on the other side of the river. Both Fallacy and Jasper had fought in that war, and he wasn't eager to rope his people into another war, one that might cost him more than he's willing to pay. He eventually sighed, and nodded.

"Very well. Bring them with, if you wish." With that, he spread his wings and shot up into the sky, hovering for a moment as Nightmare gathered the three in his tendrils. Fallacy then flew in the direction of his castle, flying slow enough that his guests could keep up with him.

... ... ...

Encre woke up slowly, shifting as he did so. He opened his eyes to find an anxious Fallacy pacing at the end of the bed. The artist noticed it was morning, and as memories of the previous night flooded into his mind, he sat up quickly. Fallacy perked up at the movement and smiled brightly. Encre tried to put some distance between them, but his legs were sore. Why were his legs sore? Why did his neck hurt...?

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!!" he screamed, the horror of what might've happened suddenly hitting him like a brick. Fallacy backed away, a sad look on his face.

"I-it's alright, Encre," he spoke softly to avoid upsetting Encre further. "You're safe, now. I promise, you're safe-" Encre cried out, stumbling out of the bed and running to the door. He ran- er, tried to run, as his legs, particularly his right, burned and stung from what he assumed were the wounds Fallacy had inflicted. Why had Fallacy attacked him? What had he done to deserve that?!

"Encre!" Fallacy raced after him, almost catching up to him. The artist's legs seemed to be giving him trouble, and Fallacy knew he had to rest if he was to recover. "Encre, come back here!"

Encre refused to listen. He ran for his life, down hallways, past servants and open doors, and finally down some stairs. He thought they had been the stairs to the exit, but alas, they led to a living room. He tripped on the last three steps and braced himself as he fell down. Instead, he was caught by something. He opened an eyesocket to get a look at what caught him, and he gasped in total shock as he stared at the electric blue strings holding him up. He looked up at the occupants of the room, and his eyes widened as he met the mismatched eyelights of....

Himself?!

"Mon Dieu...." he breathed out, but blushed in embarrassment. He wasn't in France anymore, but the language kind of stuck with him. He blinked in surprise as he spied Azure tying some medical wrap on Eterna's leg, and he sighed in relief as the strings set him upright. His eyelights followed the strings back to their owner, and Encre tilted his head curiously. The skeleton looked very similar to Fallacy, with black bones and mismatched eyelights. The lines on his cheekbones weren't the same as the flame-like markings on Fallacy, but he still made the connection that there was something about this skeleton that reminded him of the vampire king.

Fallacy finally caught up with him, and breathed out in relief when he saw that Encre was alright. "Thank the stars you're alright, Encre."

The artist whirled around with an intense look. "You! What the hell did you do to me?! My legs are sore, my neck hurts, and-"

"It wasn't him," Nightmare chimed in from the sofa. Encre shot a glare at him, momentarily disconcerted by the shit-eating grin on the goopy skeleton's face. "I strangled you-"

"Why would you willingly admit that?" Error asked him with an unamused expression. Nightmare chuckled.

"You didn't let me finish," he turned a terrifying smile toward the artist, who barely faltered. "I'm surprised you don't remember anything, uh, Encre, was it? You turned into something I thought I'd never see." He laughed slightly, sending a chill up Encre's aching body. "I wanna know how you came by this."

Encre's eyesockets widened as Nightmare held up the ring. It was back to an iridescent black, no tendrils of darkness holding some foolish soul captive. It looked like a regular ring.

"I bought it from someone in town," Encre answered. "I-I.... H-how did you get it off? I couldn't remove it."

Fallacy put a hand on Encre's shoulder, causing him to flinch. The vampire showed him the book with enchanted jewellery, and Encre looked at him in confusion.

"This was your ring, wasn't it?" he pointed to a picture of the ring, and Encre nodded.

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Read it."

Encre took the book, eyeing Fallacy with suspicion and annoyance. A minute passed, and Encre finally looked up at Fallacy. "Who-?"

"..." Fallacy looked into Encre's eyelights, and the artist's expression morphed into an angry one. He slammed the book closed and shoved it into Fallacy's arms, turning away.

"The thing's broken," he said angrily. "There's no way.... M-my soulmate isn't.... I-it can't be...."

Fallacy set the book aside, and put a hand on Encre's shoulder. The artist shoved his hand off, looking at him with a hurt expression. Then, he stormed up the stairs, limping every other step.

Fallacy looked down sadly. Well, that could've gone better. He looked over to Ink and Error, who exchanged looks. This brought back some pretty bad memories for them both. Ink slipped his hand into Error's, rubbing his fingers slowly and calmly. Error squeezed his hand back, then looked up at Fallacy. The vampire king was looking down with a guilty expression, rubbing his injured arm. It ached a bit, and he used it as a distraction from the pain of being rejected. Error walked up to him and smiled.

"Hey, I'm sure he'll come around. Inky did for me." He turned to Ink, who lowered his eyelights. The creator thought a moment, then looked up at Fallacy.

"What if I went and talked to him?" he offered. "I'm dating the literal destroyer of worlds! How bad can dating a vampire be?"

"It isn't that," Fallacy said with a sigh. "He wouldn't date a male if his life depended on it."

The three gods burst out laughing, and the three mortals stared at them like they were crazy. Azure stood up from his seat next to Eterna.

"And what's so laughable about that?"

Nightmare wiped a tear from his eyesocket as he calmed down. "What, is he not into guys? If his soulmate's a guy, then what's he gonna do? Go against Fate?"

Ink and Error flinched at the name, and Azure crossed his arms. "Such things are against our morals, sir. Surely you must understand that."

Nightmare scoffed and sat down. "I happen to be dating a male, and might I just say, he's the most adorable guy I've ever met." 

Azure looked down on the king of nightmares sternly, and Nightmare's smile widened at the growing nervousness in the knight's soul. "Anybody can love who they want, pal. I don't get what's so bad about that."

"Because it's immoral!"

"Why? Is it cuz your society needs people to conform to their ideas of love? Y'all are living in emotional and relational poverty. Dream would be horrified at the lack of positivity, here. I mean, come on, who would want to live in an unhappy relationship?"

Azure couldn't answer. All his life, he'd been told liking members of his own gender was wrong, and that he shouldn't do it. He didn't even know why! People simply condemned anyone who was accused of it, and sometimes the punishments were incredibly brutal. He shivered at the thought, and looked away from Nightmare's intrusive gaze.

The king of negativity studied the knight before him. He could sense fear and shame, but also a bit of confusion. He smirked. Perhaps this world could use a change. 

Ink shook his head at Nightmare, and he rolled his eyelight. Finally, Fallacy nodded to Ink. "Just... don't upset him any further. I know he doesn't trust me, and he's... probably gonna think I sent you up- hey!"

Ink interrupted him by pulling him with him up the stairs. "You're coming with me."

... ... ...

Encre sat on the edge of the bed facing the window, thinking. That accursed ring! He should never have laid eyes on it! It has caused him so much embarrassment, and if what that book said about it was true, he attacked his own friends because of it.

And now he was faced with the other part of the ring's purpose. That stupid ring was supposed to lead his soulmate to him, and yet it led a vampire to him! It had to be broken. It just had to! He couldn't fall in love with a... creature like Fallacy!

Could he...?

A knock drew him from his thoughts and he scowled. It was probably Fallacy, come up to profess his undying love for him. Ugh, the thought made him sick. After a moment, the knock came again, and in a frustrated rage, Ink yelled.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT??!!"

Instantly, the door was kicked open by his lookalike, and he stood up to defend himself. Ink rubbed the back of his head as he closed the door, smiling sheepishly.

"Whoops! Sorry for startling you," he made his way over to the edge of the bed and sat down, inviting Encre to join him. The artist warily did so, but remained tense and ready for combat.

"What do you want from me, exactly?" he asked, looking the creator up and down. Ink giggled at his counterpart's stiff and standoffish behavior, and swung his legs off the edge of the bed.

"I came to talk."

Encre narrowed his eyesockets. "Fallacy set you up to this-"

"No, he didn't. I came to get to know you. It's not everyday I meet a person like me where I'm from."

"Oh gee, I wonder why."

Ink gave him an amused glance, but continued. "In any case, what do you like to do?"

Encre once again gave him a suspicious look. "If we're meant to be the same person, then you should already know what I'm like."

"Not necessarily. I am definitely not as suspicious as you. Nor would I have been mad about finding out that I have a soulmate-"

"Aha!" Encre leapt to his feet, wincing as the pain in his leg flared up. "Fallacy did set you up to this! Well, you can tell that pompous lowlife-"

"Now hang on," Ink stood up with him, moving in front of him to prevent him from storming off. "I don't get why you're so worked up about it! What have you got against him?"

"He tried killing me! And that's only the start! He abducted me, kept me prisoner, forced me into servitude, humiliated me, and treated me like I was nothing to him! What makes you think he'd suddenly change his mind just because some ring told him I was his soulmate?!"

"He risked his life to save you. Isn't that proof enough that he's willing to change?"

Encre turned away. Slowly, he sat back down on the bed, hissing as he lifted his wounded leg up towards his chest. "I can't trust him. He's killed people, people I'm sure didn't deserve it. And I'd be crazy to give someone like him a chance, nevermind that he's a guy."

Ink sat back down next to him and sighed. "I once knew somebody who did that. Killed people who didn't deserve it. And I used to think like you did. Why give someone who doesn't seem like he'd ever change a chance? Well.... It kinda started with a little dog."

Encre's eyes widened as a realization hit him. "Cinnamon! He's still out there in the woods! I've gotta find him!"

Before he could leave, Ink stopped him. "You won't find him. Now as I was saying-"

"But he's my pet-"

"As I was saying," Ink gritted his teeth, sending Encre back to his seat. "It started with a little dog. Black and yellowish fur, odd, red, blue and yellow eyes, and small enough to fit in my hands. Sound familiar, eh? Well, I found him, took care of him to the best of my ability, gave him whatever he needed to live. But one day, someone I shouldn't have trusted came to my house and told me one of my best friends was in danger. I believed him, and left him with that little dog. Turns out, my friend wasn't in any danger at all, but that poor little dog was. We raced back to find that damn parasite choking the life out of him. I demanded Fresh let him go, and he did. He had hurt that little dog so badly, we had to take him to a hospital for animals. The doctors said he had several broken ribs, dislocated shoulders, and a shattered leg. And it was all my fault."

Encre looked down at his folded hands. "Why are you telling me this?"

Ink turned to him fully, an intense look in his eyelights. "That little dog was Error. Fate and Destiny turned him into a dog, and I only found out because he had gotten hurt under my supervision. My point is, don't judge a book by its cover. I did, and that nearly cost Error his life, not to mention the lives of everyone back home. He isn't a bad guy. If you look at it from a certain point of view, I could be considered the bad guy. I dunno when I had gotten attached to Error, but eventually, I did. We started dating, and... that's when things started going downhill. Fresh started blackmailing Error into destroying again, and I.... I went to go see what was going on. When I found out Error was doing that, I got so angry, I tried to get back at him. I should've just asked him what was wrong. I should've tried to get him to tell me why he went back to destroying, again. But... I didn't."

"Destroying.... He vandalizes property for no reason?"

Ink burst out laughing at that. Encre tilted his head to the side, and Ink calmed down after a few seconds. "Heh, he doesn't just vandalize things. He-" For a second, Ink realized he wasn't in his multiverse, anymore. Should he really tell someone from a different multiverse that Error destroys whole realities?

"He...?" Encre urged Ink to continue, but Ink spaced out. Encre tapped his shoulder, and Ink jumped.

"Oops," Ink grinned shyly, and decided to just tell him. He gave him a brief explanation of how his multiverse works, and they sat in silence to process the information. Finally, Encre spoke.

"So, he's basically what most people think of Fallacy?"

Ink shrugged. "I guess so."

"Why did you give him a chance?"

Ink thought a moment. There were many reasons. For one, Error was so uniquely attractive physically, Ink just couldn't help himself. For another, Error was patient with him when he couldn't focus and spaced out. And Ink just loved how cute Error could be when they teased each other. He didn't judge him, either. Sure, Ink made mistakes, but Error never called him stupid for them. He was always supportive when Ink burned their food, or dropped a glass, or that time he tripped and spilled hot chocolate on Error's clothes. It burned Error, and Ink spent the rest of that day apologizing and making new clothes with him. But, there was one more reason.

"I owed it to him after all I had done to him. I felt guilty after misjudging him for years, decades, centuries? Who knows. I know that Nightmare and Dream had been fighting quite awhile after me and Error met. Then again, I have a terrible memory, so I can't reliably say anything. The guilt I felt for mistreating Error was enough to get me to at least get to know him after we had made a truce, and I started to see how wonderful he was the longer I was with him. It's no wonder Nightmare and his gang adore him! He's just a mom to the whole group!"

Encre hummed at that, and Ink gave him a sad grin. The artist sighed. "Right.... I just don't see how he... how anyone would choose me. I have never tried getting into a relationship other than for business and stuff. I never even had an opportunity!"

Ink laughed, and Encre hugged himself closer. "Does this mean you're considering it?"

"N-no! Yes? I don't know." Encre suddenly realized something, then turned to Ink. "What about my friends? What will they think?"

Ink smirked. "If they aren't willing to accept you for who you are and who you choose to love, then what kinds of friends are they? If they reject you, at least you'll have Fallacy, right? He's your soulmate. How could he leave you?"

Encre looked down. Ink was right. In many legends, a soulmate is practically dead without their partner. Some stories say that a soulmate who tries to separate from their partner literally dies, while others simply say they feel like they're dying. There are some, too, that say a part of the soul dies when one's soulmate leaves them. It's like they are hollow, like something is missing, and without that something, they turn to other things, terrible things, to try and fill that gap. It leads down a dark path of self-destructive behavior, and if they don't stop it, it kills them. It is one of the most dangerous things in the world for one to have a soulmate. Especially if the soulmate doesn't return the feelings.

Encre closed his eyesockets, then opened them. He looked to Ink, who grinned at him. He returned it cordially, and they nodded to each other. Ink got up and went to the door, opening it and sticking his head through the doorway.

"You can come out, now!"

Encre watched him in complete astonishment, but blushed a bright rainbow when none other than Fallacy walked in the door. On the vampire's face was a hopeful smile, but his eyelights belied his fear. Encre stared at Ink with a look of complete shock, then turned to Fallacy.

"You were listening that whole time?!"

Fallacy's smile faltered, and he fidgeted with his hands. "W-well, no. I-I... I stood near the door at first, but wh-when I heard you saying that... I tried to kill you, and... I couldn't bear to hear any more. I went back downstairs, but Error - that's his name, right? - he told me to come back up here, no matter how painful it was, and listen. He said I had to learn what you really thought about me, and.... Is that... all you think of me? That I'm just a wicked vampire, doomed to kill mortals for food?"

Encre couldn't speak. His voice didn't want to work, and he hastily looked away. Fallacy sighed and turned away, about to leave the room, but Encre stopped him. "Wait!"

Fallacy stopped, his soul pounding in fear and hope. He couldn't stop himself from holding onto the hope he could have someone to love, and someone to love him, and make him happy, and whom he could make happy with everything he did for them. He wanted so badly for Encre to accept and to love him, it hurt. And it all hinged on what he'd say next.

"I..." Encre began, trying to find the words he needed. "I guess.... We didn't really start off on the right note, did we?"

Fallacy slowly turned around, and Ink quietly left the room, giving Encre a thumbs up. The artist took a shaky breath, nodding to the creator, then met Fallacy's eyelights. The vampire nodded and chuckled softly.

"N-no, I suppose we didn't. Forgive me, Encre. I wouldn't have bothered at all if it hadn't been for that ring...."

They both winced at the mention of the ring. Encre huffed and sat on the edge of the bed, gesturing Fallacy to follow. They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes before Encre spoke.

"If I hadn't bought that ring, we would never have met. Sure, the circumstances were unconventional, but.... Do you know any legends about soulmates?"

Fallacy nodded. "Yes. It is said finding one's soulmate is like finding a great treasure, one that a person tries to guard with their lives once they've found it. Like a dragon in its nest of gold."

Encre nodded and fiddled with his sleeve. "So, are you saying you're like a dragon coveting gold? Am I like a treasure to you?"

"You are much more than that," Fallacy said softly, prompting Encre to turn and look at him in surprise. "You are the one person I know I couldn't live without. I have my son, and I love him, but I know one day, he'll leave to find his own adventures. I am immortal, and the servants I have now won't be the same ones I'll have in a century or so."

"And if I were to stay here with you, I'd die like the rest of them."

Fallacy gulped and looked away. He hadn't thought of that. What could he do, then? "You could... become a vampire like me-"

"Yeah, no thanks. I'd rather not have to kill people for food."

Fallacy chuckled, getting a confused look from Encre. "We don't exactly hunt mortals to drink their blood. We hunt animals, suck them dry, then bring back their corpses to feed our servants. It was part of the treaty I signed with the mortal governor of this region in the war. However, there are some vampires who go against this agreement, and they usually get killed. I have executed many of them myself for disobeying my commands, but they just... don't... listen...." He rolled his eyelights, glancing at Encre, when an idea struck him. "You know, if you would join me, you could hunt down the vampires you should truly hate, and still be a vampire, yourself."

Encre rubbed his arm nervously. "I-I don't know...."

Fallacy hummed and patted his shoulder. "Take your time to think about it. There's no rush."

Encre smiled up at Fallacy gratefully, and in the heat of the moment, the artist pulled him into a hug. He let go and laughed at the vampire's shocked expression. "I really misjudged you, huh?"

Fallacy shook himself out of his daze and smiled, a noticeable blush spreading onto his face. "And I you, my dear artist."

______________________________________

I'M BACK, BITCHES!!!!!

Lol, it's been so long-

Somebody had better get that reference-

Anyway, I am back! What's up? Nothing? What happened to the sky, hmmmmmm? Or the ceiling, HHHHHMMMMMMMMM????!!!!

Ok, I'm done messing with ya. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, if you're still here after a month of waiting. Has it been a month? I dunno. It just feels like a long time, and I apologize. It's been rough, people. But, I wanted to write today, so I did. And, I will probably have the cover art ready for something I've wanted to work on for a long time later today. And perhaps, if I have time and motivation tomorrow, I can get the first chapter of that book out! I hope you guys enjoy it, if you want to read it, that is. If not, that's fine. Haven't been feeling like reading, myself. Except I just started a book, so that was a total lie-

Anyway, cya in the next one, peeps! Bai!