⚠ Lime/Lemony like scenes 🤷‍♀️ Contains blood and a tad of gore (I think that's what they call it.) Might be OTT cringe.

After stealthily entering the manor Dali combed through the interior of the place with the speed and accuracy of a seasoned vampire.

He searched every nook and crany, thinking of every possible hiding spot but came up empty handed.

Dashing past a room on his way out he tried not to gag at the sickly sound of a couple needily groaning in the throes of ecstasy.

"God I hope I didn't sound this revolting with Freida. I need to apologize to the staff..." He muttered thoughtfully to himself.

Dali briskly descended the steps to the ground floor. He had all the staff members gagged and bound. A few were knocked out for good measure.

Dali eyed them contemplatively before clicking his tongue against the idea. Deciding to leave them bound, he exited the house, his ears haunted with the ghostly sound of rutting, that ruined the manors prestine beauty.

His legs swiftly carried him out to the back of the manor where he found Dino emerging out of the dilapidated shed carrying Catherine's frail body that hung limp in his hold.

Sucking in a shocked breath made his way past the sleeping guards and out the estate to where his carriage waited a few meters down.

Moments later Dali had the vehicle brought to the entryway. Opening the door from where he sat inside he watched Dino carry her in with a look of utter heartbreak.

Ducking his head into the carriage, Dino somberly set Caterine on the opposite seat cupping her face for a moment before sitting down heavily next to Dali.

The cracking sound of the whip announced their departure before the box of the carriage jerked into motion.

Dali remained silent for several minutes, the tense atmosphere delaying the string of questions he had.

"So are we taking her to the hospital or-"

"Absolutely not!-" Dino snapped. Regaining his composure he spoke again in a softer leveled tone.

"The risk of her being abducted from there is too high."

"Good, I prefer it that way. The police would be patrolling your estate and Theodore is still at my manor." Dali stated, nodding to himself.

"Yes, I apologize for the intrusion Lord Delico. I hope that I can relieve you of this burden sooner rather than later." Dino uttered distractedly, his eyes never straying away from the sight of Catherine.

"It's no bother at all. It's an honor to aid you. Besides, Clara would be happy to have guests to attend to. They're used to having a full house and prefer it that way." Dali said with a cheery smile, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

Catherine lay unconscious on the padded, upholstered bench opposite them in a dehydrated state.

Her pursed lips dry and cracked. Small cuts adorned her hands and fingers that lay lifeless on either side of her.

Her wrists were painted with thick angry maroon marks. A purpling bruise marred her perfectly smooth face.
Even in her sleep, she wore a deep frown as if trying to combat the warring feeling of pain.

Dino felt murderous at the sight of vivid red bruises on her fair delicate hands stirring up a tempestuous storm of fiery anger.

The world tunneled out, his peripheral vision darkening until his focus zeroed in on Catherine, his chest heaving heavily with despair and helplessness.

A numb tingling on his lip reminded him of the few moments he shared with her before she fainted.

The murky room strangled them both till Dino doubled over, hacking for breath much the same way she was.
Catherine's unfocused eyes slowly closed, her breathing barely a hint now.

She was slipping away quickly. Parted, cracked lips tried in futility to suck in wisps of air.

In a panic, Dino extended a fang, piercing his lip and drawing blood.
Leaning over her, he placed his lip between her parted ones, feeding her his own blood to stabilize her.

As the crimson-ruby substance slid down her tongue life seemed to pulse in her again.

Brushing his lips against hers, he pulled away to see that her breathing returned albeit very shallow.

Without wasting any more time, he tucked his hands under her and lifted her up, exiting the hell hole.

The Lord of Classico snapped out of his reverie, catching the end of Dali's question. Clearing his throat he prepared to answer him.

"Seeing as how I lack the medical expertise, I find it best to have her examined by a doctor as soon as we are able to."

Dino shifted in his seat, flexing his gloved hands nervously. He tilted his face out the window to hide the the telltale reddened mark on his bottom lip.

Dali smiled, suppressing the urge to call Dino out on his facade.

Clearing his throat he turned his gaze out the window, filing the idea of annoying Dino for a later time when Catherine was seen to.

The remainder of the journey was silent, with Dino checking on Catherine every few minutes until the carriage turned a sharp corner and pulled into the long driveway of the Delico's estate.

A frantic Clara rushed about to prepare a room, while Ferdinand calmly contacted the doctor. Dino strided with confident, raging purpose into to the guest room. His long legs eating up the distance in a second.

Placing her down on the bed he exited, leaving Clara to clean her wounds until the Doctor arrived.

✵✵✵

"Put your head down!" Serina violently whispered shoving Gerhards' head further beneath the stack of crates they were hiding behind.

The two Vlad Agency members had sneaked into the wine cellar while all the guests and other patrons were distracted with the overly boistrous party that was held.

Music, dance, extravagant food and wine had filled the main hall to the brim.

Gerhard Fra turned the invitation down with the excuse that Angelico was feeling unwell.

After putting the little vampire off to sleep, Serina locked the doors for safety and and sneaked off with Lord Fra intending on taking full advantage of having the entire place empty.

Serina heard voices that became clearer and sharper. Fortifying the need to hide.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that!" He balked.

"Silence! Someone's coming." Serina stated cutting him off. The Lord widened his eyes in shock, suppressing the urge to yell at her.

The shuffling footsteps descended the cellar followed by the grunts of men exerting themselves.

Serina reached out for the tall man who couldn't conceal himself well enough. Pulling him closer to her she wrapped her cloak around him and tilted her ear out to listen to what the voices said.

A loud slam richoted through the air, raising a thin layer of dust. Shifting a little she caught a few sentences.

"I thought we weren't keeping the stock here."

"Lord Berg said that he was under suspicion and to change the plans." A deep voice replied, the person enunciated the words heavily as if they had a thickened tongue.

"That means we'll just smuggle this out with the baker tomorrow." The first voice said in a sneaky tone.

The men sighed tiredly, groaning about being overworked as they saw themselves out the cellar.

After waiting a few moments she heard the door click shut.

Serina let out a small breath, her chest dropping down in relief.

Feeling a warm weight on her bosom she glanced down to see Gerhards' face smooshed into her cleavage. The man glared at her, eyes screaming at her to let him go.

"Oh, sorry." She said offhandedly, pushing his head away carelessly as moved to stand.

The Lord sprung up, sputtering at her outrageous nerve. He let out a huge breath and turned his molten red face away from hers.

"So now that we know what's happening with enough proof let's leave immediately." She suggested dusting her hands while looking around the room.

"I know nothing! I couldn't hear! You- you held my face on-" Gerhard couldn't bring himself to complete his sentence.

The clinking whistle of a sword being drawn made him turn around to find her pointing her blade at him.

His eyes largened as he reached for his own on reflex.

Side stepping him, she moved toward a large square crate, slitting the sides in one swift motion.

Gerhard acted immediately, pushing his feelings aside. He lifted the lid to find hundereds of tiny glass bottles containing white film coated tablets and illegal firearms nestled among straw in the crate.

Serina glanced at Gerhard making a quick decision.

"We have all the evidence my Lord. I think it's best to notify the agency before the matter escalates further." Serina repeated.

Gerhard nodded in agreement placing the lid over the crate.
Thumping footsteps cascaded down toward the cellar again.

"Are you sure you left it down here? You should be more careful with your personal weapons you block head!" One of the two men yelled as they approached the cellar again.

Serina and Gerhard froze in their stance, minds grappling for a course of action. The Lords eyes pinched with dread as he watched the door creak open.

The two men entered the room halting their squabble in sentence to find a couple pressed luridly against the wall.

Serina's wavy hair was ruffled open, framing her slender shoulders. Her back faced to the two men who unabashedly watched them 'make out'.

Gerhards hands stood rigidly to the side his body stiff as a board while her arms were draped around his neck. She caressed his shoulders and sighed whimsically.

As if just noticing the two men she glanced over her shoulder and gasped feigning embarrassment.

Turning to face the men she smiled charmingly at them.

"Oh dear! I am so sorry I thought this place was abandoned." Serina exclaimed pressing the tips of her fingers to her mouth in shock.

The two men blushed a bold pink mumbling and tripping over their sentences.

"You'll have to excuse me and my wife. Our honeymoon was cut short." Gerhard spoke confidently, eyeing the men with his best haughty look.

Taking the bait she giggled like a giddy girl slapping his chest playfully.

"Ohh Hardy don't make shy. I appologise gentlemen. We initially came here looking for some wine. There were no housekeepers anywhere." She simpered, her flowery glance making the men squeak and blush further.

"Tis okay. Umm we'll pretend we haven't seen anything." They said before rushing out.

Gerhard pulled her by the upper arm, his mouth hovering over her cheek so that their silhouette looked like two lovers in the throngs of kissing.

Just as he assumed one of the knuckle headed idiots peered back inside just as he lifted a poisonous glare over at him.

The guy evaporated from the spot running up the steps of the cellar.

Exhaling softly he let her go, heart pounding madly in his ribcage. She grinned sheepishly at him stepping away to tie her hair again.

"I hope to Trump, that I never have to work with you again." He said in a strained voice as he ran a hand through his golden hair.

✵✵✵

Dino sat rigid with a strained look on his face as he watched the doctor check Catherine's vitals for the third time that evening.

His fingers curled irritably into a tight fist in the hopes of stopping his heart from thumping painfully with worry.

Dali had his doctor examine Catherine but a short while later a doctor from the Vlad Agency had arrived.

Ferdinand had notified the agency, resulting in Johannes sending in a medic to assist them.

The young doctor shook his head in dismay sighing heavily.

"I don't know how she made it out. Judging by the low heart rate and meager pulse I'd say that the air was poisoned in that room. It worked far too quickly and I can't do much from this room."

Dali, Dino and Clara listened quietly a concerned frown pulling all of their faces into a grim line.

The Delico's personal doctor nodded in agreement.

"She needs to be stabilized at a hospital."

Dino shook his head vehemently.

"I can't have that. They no doubt will find her. I don't trust anyone at this point." He said in a hard voice.

Nodding quietly the doctors left the room for the time being.

"If her heart rate drops further than it is already in the next check up, I will have them take her to a hospital. We'll keep watch there. Risking her life by leaving her in this state is counter productive." Dali said in a kind voice laced with sympathy.

Dino turned his back to Dali walking over to the window instead. Dali and Clara left the room leaving Dino to see sense.

The Lord of Classico dropped his shoulders in defeat. The ashen face of Catherine made his heart speed up with panic. He couldn't think clearly.

The vampire stalked over to her sleeping form, his long gloved fingers caressing her face tenderly.

"Catherine..." He whispered in anguish.

A riot of emotion socked him in the gut. Panic, fear, anxiety, desperation, anger, remorse and the one hadn't yet consciously accepted, love.

Extending both his fangs, thoughts of the person who did this to her fueled his resolve. Piercing his bottom lip brutally with both fangs, blood dribbled down in profuse, crimson sheets.

Pressing his lips to her mouth he parted her lips and fed her his blood once more. The blood slipped into her mouth, the more she took in the clearer her complexion became.

Eventually gasping a huge breath she rouse to a delirous state, her mouth latched onto his plump lower lip.

In instinct she sucked at her new life source with fervor until her breathing grew normal and her overall state improved enough to avoid her slipping into the after life.

She swiped her tongue over his lip, prodding at the bruises his fangs made. Lifting her eyes up to his she took in his handsome face now calm and filled with relief.

"D-Dino..." She whispered softly as he pressed his forehead to hers. A watery shudder escaped him. Dino exhaled shaky pants, shutting his eyes tight.

"Thank goodness." Dino whispered. Catherine nuzzled him before he eventually pulled back.

She gave him a weak smile as she regained her strength. His blood coursed through her body, just the right dose to expel the poison and trigger the healing process.

"I am so glad you're back, I almost lost you..." Dino said in a whisper.

Pulling himself together Dino swiftly walked out inform the doctors before returning protectively to her side.

A/N: Thanks for reading.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Gerhard and Serina's awkward work relationship thus far.

What do you think will happen to Catherine and Dino next?