Wei Ying was excited as he served customer after customer in the Coffee Carousel, later on Friday afternoon. He was happy and sad about leaving a job where he had worked for nearly three years, built up close friendships with his co-workers and enjoyed talking to his regular customers. They had become more like acquaintances now than just customers, and he liked chatting about insignificant things, such as price hikes in their local grocery store.

But he was even more excited about their upcoming day trip to the beach.

With Lan Zhan.

And the children.

It was gonna be so much fun!

"One caramel latte, please, with two shots." A warm voice said.

Wei Ying looked up into animated silver eyes, watching him carefully.

He suppressed a shudder, because those eyes seemed so, so familiar, and yet Wei Ying couldn't place them. He had definitely seen this person before, and recently.

They belonged to a young man with a shaved undercut, medium length black hair dyed a vivid hot pink on the ends and pulled up into a ponytail. He had multiple piercings on his face: a nose ring and a stud on the left, one in his eyebrow, and five each in his ears.

All silver jewellery and a silver chunky bracelet on his wrist, the centrepiece was a moon opal, and he wore a matching choker. His fingers had writing tattooed on the left hand, and a bright turquoise dragon in fine lines swirling up the back of his right hand all the way up his forearm. His nails were carefully manicured, with hot pink tips.

It was a cool look.

He snatched his hand away when he saw Wei Ying looking at it.

"Nice tats." Wei Ying recovered quickly, not wanting to be caught staring, and making the person uncomfortable. "Name? For the order?" He clarified.

"Mo." The young man replies easily, though his cloud-coloured eyes are cautious.

"I've been thinking about getting a tattoo." Wei Ying says casually, grabbing the milk jug and simultaneously pouring in all the ingredients to make the caramel latte.

"What do you have in mind?" Mo goes to the waiting section, watching Wei Ying making his drink.

"See, that's where I hit a mental block every single time. I don't want to get something meaningless, and then I remember that it's permanent. It would suck if I didn't like it, or if the person doing it messed up."

Mo snickers. "I bet. But most tattoo parlours have stuff all over the place, if you're looking for inspiration."

"Where did you get yours done?" Wei Ying hands him the latte.

There's a brief shuttering in his eyes, before he plasters on the biggest grin. "I did it myself!" He laughs at the look on Wei Ying's face.

Mo picks up his drink and salutes Wei Ying with it, and walks out. He's wearing black leather pants with silver chains and studs, and a matching leather jacket with a blue dragon embroidered on the back.

It matches the one on his right hand, Wei Ying realises, as he watches the man walk away.

He had been so absorbed with thinking about the beach and then this customer, that when the feeling of being watched comes around again, it slams into his consciousness like a Mack truck.

Wei Ying looks around surreptitiously, making light conversations with his fellow workers, but seventy-five percent of his attention is all around the Coffee shop.

But no one seems out of the ordinary, no one is looking at him, or doing anything suspicious, and it leaves Wei Ying drowning in self-doubt.

He knows he's been unconsciously nervous about his biopsy and getting the results back, all the time hoping that they're negative, and then dealing with the part of himself that is fully convinced that he's gonna die really soon, just because it's a drama queen at heart, plus the mystery surrounding Lan Zhan and the vampires.

He hasn't really allowed himself to think about the implications of what his relationship with Lan Zhan could mean. While he has no qualms about being bitten, because it's for a great cause (keeping his super hot boyfriend who happens to be a bitey vampire, alive), and whenever it happens, there's only an initial prick of pain before his system is flooded with euphoric endorphins which make him feel all kinds of floaty and happy.

And he knows without a doubt how protective Lan Zhan is about A-Yuan and now JingYi; Wei Ying is confident that the kids are safe.

But his mind keeps trying to unravel the mystery of how Lan Zhan came to be a vampire.

Was it a random attack, like Lan Zhan wants to believe?

Wei Ying didn't think so. He thought back to the two buttons they had found in the alley where he'd found Lan Zhan, and the shimmering moon glyph. A secret language made up of symbols that only those who knew what to look for would find.

He shivered, feeling a little ignorant because there was this whole other world that he hadn't known anything about, prior to meeting Lan Zhan.

How crazy was that?

And now, whether he liked it or not, he was being sucked into one puzzle after another, with all sorts of things happening around them. Lan Zhan was the catalyst, the eye of the storm, and suddenly, Wei Ying had the wildest thought: what if everything is connected?

The school rush with teaming teenagers desperate for caffeine intrudes on his musings and suddenly, his shift ends.

He walks outside and sees the children waiting in Lan Zhan's car, and they start waving furiously, cheering and laughing as soon as they see him. Lan Zhan has that curiously upturned bottom lip, which suggests it could be a full smile if his mouth was used to such frivolous displays of affection.

Wei Ying is hit with a wave of powerful love, a tsunami in his heart towards these wonderful people. But he contains it just barely and settles for waving back until he gets in the car.

"What have my favourite boys been up to, while I was working?" He asks, putting his seat belt on.

The rest of the ride home is filled with excited chatter of Lego creations, and the surprise the kids have made with Lan Zhan for dinner. They tell him just enough to pique his curiosity, with the boys in the back clamping their little hands over each other's mouths, fearful of giving the game away by mistake. There is much chortling laughter and giggling, and Wei Ying's heart feels full of joyous delight.

Lan Zhan's hand is safely ensconced in his, with a squeeze at every traffic light accompanied by a warm smile as they listen to excited children, and Wei Ying thinks, if this is all he gets to have, even then, it's a great life.

*************

After a dinner of bunny shaped pasta and bunny shaped mochi for dessert, the boys retire to their room for more construction with multi-coloured tiny bricks, and Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying into the living room.

He fires up his laptop and as they wait, Wei Ying gets the feeling that Lan Zhan is impatient for some reason.

He had sped through their usual routine, one that they normally did together, by himself as Wei Ying and the children ate. As a vampire, his actions are faster and tonight, he used those skills well. All the washing and drying of dishes happened really quickly and the kitchen was spotless faster than normal.

So Wei Ying climbed into Lan Zhan's lap, smiling at his surprise.

That was something he could be happy about never getting used to.

Lan Zhan's beautiful golden eyes somehow become even warmer, like the colour of whiskey. He has tiny flecks of amber swirling in their depths, and out of all the emotions that Wei Ying can discern by looking into them, love is the strongest.

Wei Ying's fingers gently trace the shape of his elegant brow, and the curve of his soft cheek, travelling down to hold his chin and he brings their mouths together.

This soft slide of wet lips, ever hungry for this, an affirmation of their love which runs deeper than the strongest river in Denver.

"I will never tire of this," Wei Ying says as he goes in for another addictive kiss, taking his time to pour all of his feelings into it.

The care and attention he gives to Lan Zhan, he can feel it reciprocated back in each lick, each dance of their tongues. The sweetness is coupled with the spicy danger of Lan Zhan's sharp teeth, and even as Wei Ying accidentally licks those razor-sharp canines, he shivers as Lan Zhan growls into his mouth.

Kissing Lan Zhan is like eating the best kind of chocolate.

When they part, Lan Zhan hugs him tightly.

"Are you alright, Sweetheart?" Wei Ying asks him, kissing his hair. He swears it's a little longer in the back.

"Mn. Miss Wei Ying when he's not here." Lan Zhan says quietly.

The fewer words do nothing to mask his sincerity. If anything, it only adds to his true feelings, because Lan Zhan is not loquacious by any means, in either of his lifetimes.

"Well, have I got news for you!" Wei Ying delightedly kisses him all over his face, in between telling him that he's going to quit working at the Coffee Carousel.

"Really?" The look on Lan Zhan's face is priceless.

Wei Ying nods enthusiastically. "I guess I took your words to heart." At Lan Zhan's puzzled look, he adds, "you know, the 'I want the same freedom for Wei Ying' thing. I think even though it's a crazy step, and I'm sort of terrified, I'm excited too, you know? It's like jumping out of an aeroplane." He snickers. "I don't think I've ever been unemployed before."

"Even now, Wei Ying is not unemployed!" Lan Zhan says firmly, raising a brow at him. "Wei Ying is my partner. YouTube." He gestures towards the laptop.

And an alert for messages flashes in the top left hand corner.

F4keSt0ries has something to say.

Lan Zhan's arm tightens around Wei Ying's waist, turning him slightly so that he's more comfortable sitting where he is, and can see the screen better.

"Oooh! Let's see what they have got for us. Who do you think F4keSt0ries is? I mean, what do you think they're like?" Wei Ying wraps an arm around Lan Zhan's broad shoulders in return, both of them resting in a half embrace that leaves one hand free to operate the keyboard.

"Hard to say. We haven't had much contact with them. But my instincts are saying they seem authentic, as a source for information. Otherwise, why the encrypted chat line?" Lan Zhan muses, opening the tab.

"Our last question was about the experiments they mentioned. We asked them what kind of experiments..." Wei Ying's voice drops off as he reads F4keSt0ries' reply.

SORRY FOR GOING AWOL. NO CHOICE, MY LAPTOP WAS LEFT AT WORK ACCIDENTALLY.

No worries, Wei Ying types back, after glancing at Lan Zhan for permission to bring the laptop closer to them both.

Lan Zhan's lips remain at his temple, comforting both of them.

ABOUT THE EXPERIMENTS, IT'S A RICH PEOPLE THING.

What do you mean?

RICH PEOPLE GET BORED EASILY = LET'S PLAY AROUND.

But these are people they're playing with! People's lives!!

"I can't believe they just said that!" Wei Ying is already frowning.

AND THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AND US.

Wei Ying's fingers hover over the keyboard, thinking about what to say.

Lan Zhan turns the laptop towards himself slightly and types fast using his left index finger.

"You can use both hands, my love." Wei Ying tells him, biting his lip to keep from laughing.

"I do not wish to let go of Wei Ying." Lan Zhan murmurs, his gaze locked on the screen.

Wei Ying turns his face so he can plant a kiss on Lan Zhan's cheek.

There's no need to say anything more.

Can you tell us more about the experiments? Lan Zhan has written.

YEP, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS ADVERTISING IN A PAPER. THEY HAVE WEEKLY ADS THAT PROMISE EXORBITANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY, AND THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF CANDIDATES. IT HELPS THAT MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE FOR CASH.

How do they pay the people involved?

DON'T TELL ME, YOU FELL FOR THAT TOO? HAVEN'T YOU HEARD THE PHRASE, 'NO SUCH THING AS A FREE DINNER'? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT ANY OF THIS IS SAFE?

Meaning?

THE STATE OF THE CANDIDATES IS QUESTIONABLE, AND THAT'S IF THEY SURVIVE THE INITIAL ROUND OF TREATMENTS. SO FAR, THE VAMPIRES HAVEN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL. WHOEVER COMES HERE IS DESPERATE TO BEGIN WITH. THEY'RE JUST INTERESTED IN THE MONEY BY THAT POINT.

What's the purpose of these experiments? Why do the vampires do this?

IT'S THE WHOLE EVOLUTION THEORY. AND TO ANSWER YOUR EARLIER QUESTION, NO SURVIVORS = NO PAYMENTS = NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT THE LAST PART YET, AND THEY JUST STARTED BEING MORE CAREFUL. IT'S HARDER TO FIND PROOF THESE DAYS.

Evolution theory?

YES. IF VAMPIRES ARE THE NATURAL NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN RACE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE 'FOOD' RUNS OUT? AND IF THEY ARE THE SUPERIOR RACE TO HUMANS (DOUBTFUL!!) THEN HOW COME THEY'RE HAVING TO LIVE IN SECRECY?

"Oh my God. When food runs out??" Wei Ying cannot help his panicked look at Lan Zhan. "We have to stop them. They're talking about mass murder, here. Innocent people are flocking to these people, just wanting some kind of financial aid...and...and jeez, Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying types before he thinks.

How can we stop them?

NOW YOU'RE TALKING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAVE MADE A FRIEND OF SORTS ON THE OUTSIDE. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO EXPOSE THEM AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING. BUT IT'S HARD.

Why? What's your plan?

NICE TRY. I CAN'T TRUST YOU YET. ;)

....MAYBE IF YOU BUY ME DINNER FIRST, AND A KISS, HEHE

Wei Ying grins at the computer screen, while Lan Zhan huffs out a "shameless!"

We have other questions, too. Since you're here now. Wei Ying types out.

I'M LISTENING...?

The suppressants, what exactly do they do?

DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND THEY'RE TAKING. AND THE PERSON TAKING THEM. THEY HAVE TO DO IT IN ORDER. FOR EXAMPLE, STARTING WITH SUP01 MEANS YOU CAN'T SUDDENLY SKIP TO SUP10. THEY TRIED THAT ALREADY. :(

What happened?

YOU KNOW WHEN ANIMALS GET RABIES? IMAGINE THAT BUT X 100 BAD. IT WAS REALLY BAD. AT LEAST THEY'RE LISTENING TO THE DOCTOR NOW.

There's a doctor involved? What happened to the Hippocratic oath? Aren't they supposed to be saving lives? Wei Ying was typing faster than his brain was catching up.

WOW...SO YOU'RE REALLY INNOCENT. MIND IF I ASK HOW OLD YOU ARE? TELL ME THE NUMBER FIRST.

26

YEAR? IN FIVE SECONDS!

1997

OKAY. AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT A MINOR.

Hardly. Wei Ying laughed. And then he had another thought.

"Lan Zhan? You can totally sense Mrs Lan, right?"

"Mn."

"Well, I've been thinking, everything we've been finding out is kind of pointing towards the Wen laboratories. I'm just wondering, when we went there, did you sense any vampires? Or am I being paranoid? I mean, I'm hoping that this isn't just my brain trying to frame them for everything horrible happening to you. It's easy to shake a fist in their direction, but if there's no proof, then it's just speculation right now."

"We found the Suppressants there. That means they know about Vampires. And they're keeping it secret." Lan Zhan thinks hard, trying to remember their visit last Sunday. "I could not sense anything," he finally admits.

"Do you think it was because you're a fairly new vampire, at least then, you were? Or is it something that can be done immediately?"

"No idea. But we can ask them." Lan Zhan types out Wei Ying's questions without mentioning the Wen laboratories.

It wouldn't do to show all their cards just yet.

POWERFUL VAMPIRES CAN IMMEDIATELY SENSE OTHERS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE APEX PREDATOR. DIRECT DESCENDANTS CAN TOO, BUT IT DEPENDS ON THEM. ALCOHOL SEEMS TO NUMB THIS ABILITY, THOUGH. AND IF A VAMPIRE IS ON THESE SUPPRESSANTS THEN IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT THEM.

How do you know all this? Lan Zhan frowns at the computer.

LET'S JUST SAY, I HAVE MY WAYS.

"Say Lan Zhan! I watched this film once, okay it was a comedy, but it mentioned familiars. They're sort of pets kept by Vampires in order to feed from them, use them in the human world, that sort of thing. And in return, the familiars are turned at a suitable time." Wei Ying was tapping his nose.

"That sounds awful." Lan Zhan made a face. "I would not like to take part in either role."

"I know, I know, but what if they are a familiar?" Wei Ying looks pointedly at the screen, meaning F4keSt0ries. "Think about it for a second! They definitely know too much to be just a person on the sidelines. I bet they're already close to a nest of Vampires."

Are you a Familiar? Wei Ying types in anyway, hoping that F4keSt0ries will answer.

NO! NEVER! I LEARNED MY LESSON A LONG TIME AGO, NEVER TO TRUST THEM. THEY ARE AS CONNIVING AS THEY ARE OLD. AND NO MATTER HOW GLAMOROUS THEY MAKE IT OUT TO BE, DO NOT TRUST THEM!

The response is immediate and absolute; as if F4keSt0ries is shouting at them through the laptop screen.

Alright, we'll be careful.

It seems to pacify F4keSt0ries for now.

HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT VAMPIRES? I MUST KNOW!

Get used to disappointment.

Lan Zhan's face is priceless, disbelieving that Wei Ying would type something like that.

HAHA! THAT'S MY FAVOURITE FILM OF ALL TIME!

"The Princess Bride." Wei Ying explains to Lan Zhan. "Ever watched it?"

Lan Zhan shook his head, only partially relieved.

LIFE IS PAIN, HIGHNESS....

Anyone who says otherwise, is selling something. Wei Ying is smiling for the first time since this conversation began, after he types it out.

OMG! FOR REAL! I HAVE TO SAY, MY OPINION OF YOU JUST WENT UP TEN NOTCHES. MAYBE YOU REALLY ARE GOOD GUYS. I DUNNO...

"Sweetheart, I can't believe you haven't watched it. And it's something we can watch with the children, too! How about tomorrow night?" Wei Ying grins at him, and Lan Zhan isn't really aware of anything else.

That smile can put the sun to shame.

The message on the screen blinks at them and Wei Ying is the first one to break eye contact.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY MORE GLYPHS?

No, other than the one for blood. What other kinds do they use?

THEY'RE MOSTLY FOR COMMON THINGS, RUNES TO DESCRIBE THINGS LIKE THE ELEMENTS, SO FOR WATER, FIRE, EARTH ETC.

Are they used to pass messages on? Like with the Blood Glyph?

YES, THAT'S THE MOST USUAL REASON, A PLACE THAT'S SAFE FOR VAMPIRES TO FEED. BUT I SAW ANOTHER ONE, AND I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS.

What does it look like?

THERE ARE TWO TOGETHER. THE ONE FOR BLOOD IS THERE, A VERTICAL LINE WITH AN UPSIDE DOWN SMILE AND TWO DOTS UNDERNEATH. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER SYMBOL I'VE SEEN IN A PROTECTED AREA. IT'S AN X SIGN BUT MORE ANGULAR AND WITH FLATTER LINES AT THE ENDS AND THEN A HORIZONTAL LINE WHICH PASSES THROUGH THE MIDDLE. I FOUND THE MOON GLYPHS ONLINE, AND THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

Why do you think so?"

ALL THE GLYPHS I'VE SEEN, FEATURE TWO DOTS. BUT THIS ONE, THE ONE THAT I'M SEARCHING THE MEANING FOR, IT HAS THREE DOTS.

Wei Ying has grabbed a napkin and drawn variations of what F4keSt0ries has described. Lan Zhan is keeping one eye on screen and one on what Wei Ying is drawing out, trying to get a feel on which one would be correct.

But then the flashing three dots captures his attention and this time, he gasps.

I KNOW THE VAMPS ARE PLANNING SOMETHING, BUT SO FAR, THEY'RE BEING SECRETIVE. I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE.