The attack was out of nowhere.

The alarms blared, scaring the life out of quite a few innocent bystanders. The guards rushed through the doors to protect and support their leaders while more rushed to defend the vulnerable.

"It's humans!" One of the vampires cried. "It has to be!"

Aleksandr looked to the suddenly enraged Aeron.

"Stay by my side." Aeron uttered, pulling him closer. Aeron rose from his seat, just as Alexei had, to see who the intruders were.

The doors opened, but no one was there. The halls were empty the gates guarded by a multitude of guards, each readying themselves for a fight. Many were willing to give their lives for their clan and their leader who had just returned from their clutches- they wouldn't let them harm him now.

"Show yourselves!" Aeron roared, scaring the crowd.

A figure moved in from the shadows. The guards hissed- it held no distinctive scent nor features, it was like it didn't exist.

"Jayden?" Aeron enquired, a hint if familiarity in his tone. His voice no longer echoed the same severity as before. "Whats going on?"

The creature was relatively large, quite tall, probably five foot ten, and broad shouldered. They carried themselves hunched over, their cloak billowed with every stumbled-step. Marks scattered the person's visible sickly green skin. Their face was dark, strangely curious, its smile almost innocent. Wrinkles framed black eyes that held stories of wonder and suffering.

The persons head tilted to one side, their wild hair flipping over their shoulder as they stared up at Aeron.

"You have done the unthinkable yet again, my friend." The creature spoke in a gravelly tone. Few within the crowd shuddered at the sound.

"Is that such a surprise?"

Aleksandrs hold on Aeron tightened. He wanted to know who the person was. Aeron loathed interacting with people besides his guards, and even then, he rarely spoke to them. So this was likely to pour gasoline over the raging fire.

"Once they find of your existence they will stop at nothing to ensure you and the people you protect are dead, Phoenix."

Aerons eyes narrowed at the use of his old name and he paused before speaking.

"My name is Aeron. Your precious gods forbade me to use mine the day they betrayed us all." Aeron spoke in a low tone, bite crawling into it as he sneered the next sentence. "You are too precious to be in such a place. what do you want from me? Why are you here?"

The figure stepped into the centre of the room. It's eyes closed, and a green smoke floated from its mouth. The seven brothers gasped in unison, realising what what the creature was. It wad an oracle.

"Treachery, in the deepest deep.
Awoke a menace from a millennia-long sleep
Hero or villain, is there a difference?
If the brother is saved by his host
Yet the villain saved the most.

You must decide where to stand.

A brother of the last, lost In the pit
a choice to make, which of the seven will take the last hit?
Make a choice. Choose your duty. Take responsibility
decide if you are willing to lose everything."

The green mist dissapated and the figure smiled warmly at Aeron.

"Good luck, My King." With that, it bowed and turned its brack on the room. As it stepped from the hall it dissappated into a golden mist.

A low thundering growl made the marble floors tremble underfoot. All eyes went to the top table, where Aleksandr was trying to gain Aerons attention.

Aleksandr whimpered in pain, scratching at Aerons tightening fist on his arm.

"Master! Master Please! you're hurting me!" Aleksandr wailed, clawing at Aerons fist. Aerons eyes snapped down to the bloody hand and withdrew, leaving Aleksandr to fall to the floor and sob.

Aeron didn't say anything, all attention already on him- only now, it was more than just attention span. The scent of human blood filled the room and drew in each vampires senses.

Aleksandrs eyes widened as he realised the reaction. He had made Aeron bleed, and that human blood was something every vampire in the room had been craving for the past fifty years.

"Master." Aleksandr whispered hoarsely. "Please forgive me-"

Aeron opened his eyes, those deep black pits making Aleksandr gulp. Slowly, Aleksandr sunk to his knees besides Aeron, making himself small and placing his forehead on the marble floor, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Please, Sir." Aleksandr whispered, "I-I dont-i don't want to be here any more. I wish to be punished within the confines of our room."

A low growl rumbled Aerons chest and through the floor. "Up and present, Boy."

Aleksandr gulped, standing from his knelt position, keeping his head bowed and hands clasped.

"Go to my room. I will be there shortly." Aeron muttered matter of factly.

Aleksandr didn't respond for a moment, as if debating whether to follow the demand. "Of course, Sir." He turned and left the hall.

Aeron leant back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as he watched Aleksandr scurry off, agitation in his every feature.

"I suggest you leave, Lord Aeron." Alexei spoke, eyeing the human. Aeron saw the agitation in Alexei, much like Aleksandr. He wasn't leaving just to go to Aleksandr, he was leaving because- as Aeron also knew- Alexei was a hairs distance away from driving his fangs into Aerons throat and draining him of all blood. Alexei was so close to letting his beast go, the food he had just consumed suddenly never having existed.

Aeron sighed, running a rough hand down his face. He rose from his seat and nodded in respect to Alexei. How he was still holding on to his control was a surprise. The concern that shone on the eldests face made Aeron pause. "Your brother will not be harmed, Elder Alexei, I can assure you that."

Alexei watched as Aeron followed the same steps Aleksandr had taken minutes prior.

***

A knock rattled the door, and Aleksandr heaved a heavy breath as it opened and Aeron stepped inside.

"Come here, Aleksandr." Aerons voice was stern.

Aleksandr gulped again, rising from his present position and landing on his knees infront of his human master.

"I-I hurt you, Master. I-I didnt-i didn't mean to. Y-You were h-hurting me and-and- and I just-"

Aeron lowered himself to his knees, uncaring of the bloody scratches down his arm that dripped onto the tiled floor. He lofted Aleksandrs chin, a soft smile graced his face. "You are not in trouble, Vampire." He assured.

Aleksandr laughed nervously, his gaze flitting up to see the sincerity in the man's eyes. "B-but Master, i-i hurt you. You're bleeding. If-if we were not careful, we could cause a riot. So many hungry vampires would be fatal for the both of us."

"I reacted badly to the prophecy. I did not intend to harm you, Aleksandr. Show me your wound." Although it was in a much softer tone than usual, Aleksandr found himself being comforted by the low timbre. He slipped off his jacket and then his shirt, wincing as he pulled It over his injured collar.

"Shit." Aleksandr laughed quietly. Yeah, shit indeed. His shoulder was a dark black colour, five marks in the shape of a handprint covered his thin collar. "I'm sorry, Aleksandr. I didn't realise it was this bad." Aeron apologised, his eyebrows scrunched up and he rubbed his face. He stood up and held a hand out, offering Aleksandr to follow. "Come on."

Aleksandr followed mindlessly to the bed, pausing as Aeron told him to sit on his lap.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I do not understand." Aleksandr whispered.

"What do you not understand? My request or the reason behind it?" Aeron queried immediately.

"The reason behind it, Master." Aleksandr responded. "I injured you. I should be tending to your wounds."

"I will clean and wrap my wounds once I have taken a proper look at that shoulder of yours." Aeron brushed him off. "Now sit."

Aleksandr swallowed and did as told. Aeron rose a brow as he ducked his head, trying to make himself seem smaller. Aeron tilted his head back, his corded throat looked right for the taking and Aleksandr didn't need telling twice.

"Drink from me, Little Vampire. It will fasten your healing time."

Aleksandr leant forward and tentatively licked at the area, unable to stop himself from inhaling the sweet scent of the Blood. With that, he sunk his fangs in and suckled Aerons neck like a baby would a dummy.

Aeron hummed, running his hand through Aleksandrs thick hair. The action elicited a deep purr from the vampire. Already, he was succumbing to blood intoxication.

"Mmmmm, Master?" Aleksandr murmured, pulling off of his latest meal to snuggle into him. He found himself near rutting against Aeron, wanting nothing more than to cover him with his scent.

Possessive are we, Little Vampire? Aeron teased.

Aleksandr did not even care, he simply mumbled to himself as he fell into a deep slumber over Aerons lap.

[Word count: 1526]