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The gentle touches, the humming rumbling through Herbert's chest against Alfred...they are something to cling to, something to focus on. He wants to cry, but there is...a heaviness settling over him.
The wheezes slow, then end in a choke. He tenses up in Herbert's embrace, his heartbeat wrenching once, twice more. His hand snakes up and over the vampire's side, desperately embracing him back.
And then he is still.
Alfred is dead.
The wheezes slow, then end in a choke. He tenses up in Herbert's embrace, his heartbeat wrenching once, twice more. His hand snakes up and over the vampire's side, desperately embracing him back.
And then he is still.
Alfred is dead.
He'll be back. Herbert knows that. Knows from seeing his father's coven grow over the past few centuries, knows from when he died the first time. But it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking. He squeezes his eyes shut and holds Alfred closer.
Too soon he feels the weight of sleep settling over him; sunrise is here and he must sleep. But he clutches Alfred tight to his chest and holds him as tight as he can as he falls asleep.
The moment he wakes up the next evening, he touches Alfred's cheek, his forehead, kissing his cold lips as Kroulock lifts the top off the crypt. "Alfred? Alfred my love, wake up. It's evening now, we can awaken again." He tries to keep the panic out of his voice, but it trembles faintly despite his best efforts. "Alfred? I'll go hunting for us Alfred, and get you something to eat. Anything you like I'll get it for you. But you have to wake up first."
Too soon he feels the weight of sleep settling over him; sunrise is here and he must sleep. But he clutches Alfred tight to his chest and holds him as tight as he can as he falls asleep.
The moment he wakes up the next evening, he touches Alfred's cheek, his forehead, kissing his cold lips as Kroulock lifts the top off the crypt. "Alfred? Alfred my love, wake up. It's evening now, we can awaken again." He tries to keep the panic out of his voice, but it trembles faintly despite his best efforts. "Alfred? I'll go hunting for us Alfred, and get you something to eat. Anything you like I'll get it for you. But you have to wake up first."
Over the night, the boy's body has cooled. He was already fair, but now the color has left him completely, eye sockets sunken and sallow.
He had died with his eyes still a little open, from his position curled against Herbert...but they don't focus. He doesn't move.
His arm is still thrown, cold and heavy, over the larger vampire, rigor mortis in his fingers still clutching the back of his shirt.
No response.
He had died with his eyes still a little open, from his position curled against Herbert...but they don't focus. He doesn't move.
His arm is still thrown, cold and heavy, over the larger vampire, rigor mortis in his fingers still clutching the back of his shirt.
No response.
Oh no, oh no. This can't happen to him. Not again. He whimpers and presses their foreheads together, his fingers brushing Alfred's cold cheek.
"Here, here, I can -- " He bites at his own wrist and presses it to Alfred's lips, making a pathetic noise when Alfred doesn't immediately latch on. "Oh please, please wake up for me, my love. We have so much to do together, still. So much to learn from each other. Oh please, Alfred. I promised to keep you safe."
"Here, here, I can -- " He bites at his own wrist and presses it to Alfred's lips, making a pathetic noise when Alfred doesn't immediately latch on. "Oh please, please wake up for me, my love. We have so much to do together, still. So much to learn from each other. Oh please, Alfred. I promised to keep you safe."
The next thing Alfred knows, he's standing beside the casket, looking around bewildered into the darkness. Everything is fuzzy and cast in dark, velvety shades of blue...looking down at his own hands, he realizes he can't feel them.
He's dead. He's really dead.
A figure leans against the wall facing him - glittering blue eyes set in a lovely face, blonde hair tumbling in short, lush locks around a delicate jawline. They hold out their hand, invitingly, voice like the purr of a panther about to descend upon prey.
"Come, Mister Schreiber. Come dance with me."
Entranced, the young man begins to walk forward towards the stranger in the dark suit, passing pairs of pale-haired, winged beings as if he is a one-man procession. Come to think of it, this person sort of looks like....
Herbert. Alfred remembers now, through the fog.
He can hear the vampire behind him, begging, pleading in the casket. Pleading with him. Turning back, he walks back closer, looking down over...himself. Himself and the one clinging desperately to his body. Listening to him. Watching him.
The figure against the wall scoffs impatiently, the Angels stepping aside as they approach the boy.
"It's your time, Alfred. You need to come with me."
But Alfred can't look away from Herbert.
---
The blood dribbles uselessly down Alfred's lips, his head lolling about.
He's dead. He's really dead.
A figure leans against the wall facing him - glittering blue eyes set in a lovely face, blonde hair tumbling in short, lush locks around a delicate jawline. They hold out their hand, invitingly, voice like the purr of a panther about to descend upon prey.
"Come, Mister Schreiber. Come dance with me."
Entranced, the young man begins to walk forward towards the stranger in the dark suit, passing pairs of pale-haired, winged beings as if he is a one-man procession. Come to think of it, this person sort of looks like....
Herbert. Alfred remembers now, through the fog.
He can hear the vampire behind him, begging, pleading in the casket. Pleading with him. Turning back, he walks back closer, looking down over...himself. Himself and the one clinging desperately to his body. Listening to him. Watching him.
The figure against the wall scoffs impatiently, the Angels stepping aside as they approach the boy.
"It's your time, Alfred. You need to come with me."
But Alfred can't look away from Herbert.
---
The blood dribbles uselessly down Alfred's lips, his head lolling about.
"No, please." There's blood on his sleeve and on Alfred's face and Herbert's cheeks as he cries uselessly. "Oh I wanted this so badly, it should have been me who turned you. I would have done it right. It would have kept and I wouldn't have -- you wouldn't have -- "
He clings to Alfred's lifeless body, his please quieting into little whimpers and whispers as he cries quietly against his neck.
He clings to Alfred's lifeless body, his please quieting into little whimpers and whispers as he cries quietly against his neck.
Alfred reaches his spectral hand out towards Herbert, sorrow sinking deep through him. He moves to pet his head, but his hand goes right through, and he pulls back with a little yelp. The stranger claps an ice cold hand on his shoulder, whirling him around, pulling him against their broad chest and grabbing their wrists.
"...When your moment has come, your expression speaks for you," he hums, quietly, under his breath. The Reaper raises a brow. Alfred suddenly plants his feet, breaking from the grip. Taking the lead. He sings louder now, echoing through the crypt.
"And the person you like understands what you say - and even if you would be silent...."
He dips the Dark Prince, knitting his brows together, resolve in his face.
"...Your heart reveals there is love in you...that doesn't want to keep quiet."
It's then that he notices a dark red ribbon, tied about his throat, trailing into the casket, the other end tied to Herbert's wrist. Helping the Reaper back to their feet, Alfred smiles apologetically. "He needs me. Someone finally needs me."
He grabs the ribbon.
---
Unfortunately for Alfred, all of his impressive, romantic spiritual journey is not what Herbert gets to see. What Herbert gets to see is Alfred suddenly straightening like a bolt, breaking his rigor like the sound of kindling getting snapped, and immediately hitting his head against the side of the stone casket.
"SCHEIZE-"
"...When your moment has come, your expression speaks for you," he hums, quietly, under his breath. The Reaper raises a brow. Alfred suddenly plants his feet, breaking from the grip. Taking the lead. He sings louder now, echoing through the crypt.
"And the person you like understands what you say - and even if you would be silent...."
He dips the Dark Prince, knitting his brows together, resolve in his face.
"...Your heart reveals there is love in you...that doesn't want to keep quiet."
It's then that he notices a dark red ribbon, tied about his throat, trailing into the casket, the other end tied to Herbert's wrist. Helping the Reaper back to their feet, Alfred smiles apologetically. "He needs me. Someone finally needs me."
He grabs the ribbon.
---
Unfortunately for Alfred, all of his impressive, romantic spiritual journey is not what Herbert gets to see. What Herbert gets to see is Alfred suddenly straightening like a bolt, breaking his rigor like the sound of kindling getting snapped, and immediately hitting his head against the side of the stone casket.
"SCHEIZE-"
"Oh -- !" Herbert laughs in relief and a little bit in amusement, poor Alfred. But he wraps his arms around Alfred, all the same, pulling him close and peppering his face with kisses.
"You scared me half to death, you know. If my heart were beating, I would have had a heart attack, honestly. But I'm just glad you're here, and you're alive. More or less."
"You scared me half to death, you know. If my heart were beating, I would have had a heart attack, honestly. But I'm just glad you're here, and you're alive. More or less."
Reaching up to rub at his head, he leans into the kisses and hugs, bewildered and trying to pull his wits back around him. It takes him a couple of tries to speak, learning to make his voice work again. "...I'm - I'm sorry," he rasps, lisping on his fangs.
"I think I...."
He looks down to his throat, to Herbert's bleeding wrist. Absently, he licks his lips, realizing he's a bit of a mess now. The taste is...even better than it was last night, actually. He's really thirsty.
"I think I just met...Death? And I almost went with them, but...but I...heard...you. And there was a...some kind of string connecting us."
"I think I...."
He looks down to his throat, to Herbert's bleeding wrist. Absently, he licks his lips, realizing he's a bit of a mess now. The taste is...even better than it was last night, actually. He's really thirsty.
"I think I just met...Death? And I almost went with them, but...but I...heard...you. And there was a...some kind of string connecting us."
"Oh mon chéri," Herbert sighs, taking Alfred's hands and kissing each fingertip. "I'm glad you came back to me, instead of going with them.
A string, you say? Perhaps we're soulmates."
A string, you say? Perhaps we're soulmates."
It's all a lot to think about - while Herbert kisses him, he struggles to process everything that had just happened. He's looking more like his normal self, at least, just...paler.
He is also, in spite of himself, trying to analyze the situation. At the comment about soulmates, he blushes a little, smiling timidly...before realizing something.
"...it was...around my neck, and...your wris-" A little gasp of excitement. "Wait - wait, Herbert, I think...I think it's because you...because you let me drink...?"
He is also, in spite of himself, trying to analyze the situation. At the comment about soulmates, he blushes a little, smiling timidly...before realizing something.
"...it was...around my neck, and...your wris-" A little gasp of excitement. "Wait - wait, Herbert, I think...I think it's because you...because you let me drink...?"
"Oh!" Hebert presses his hand to his mouth, looking thoughtful. He did it without thinking. Because Alfred needed it. Because his only thought was of helping Alfred, making sure he was safe and warm and comfortable. "Because I let you drink from me, we're connected? Rather than you and -- " He gestures vaguely, to refer to Sarah.
"Even if you're never unafraid, I hope I can help you be less afraid, at least about certain things. I hope that I can help bolster your confidence a little, and be the brave man I know you can be."
He leans in and kisses that tearstained cheek, resting a hand against his knee and squeezing lightly. Just wanting to touch him. To be close. "You make me so happy, Alfred. And even happier to know that you're happy, too. Your happiness means everything to me."
He leans in and kisses that tearstained cheek, resting a hand against his knee and squeezing lightly. Just wanting to touch him. To be close. "You make me so happy, Alfred. And even happier to know that you're happy, too. Your happiness means everything to me."
Alfred nods enthusiastically, momentarily forgetting that he just hit his head pretty hard and regretting the swift motion a little bit afterward. "The ribbon was what I had to grab onto, it's how I came back. I think...."
He pauses, realizing all at once that Herbert's cheeks are also messy with blood. Reaching towards him, he tries to rub some away with his thumbs in gentle little motions - must have been from when he was trying to feed Alfred. (He would learn otherwise later on, after all.)
"I think, if you hadn't done that...I don't think I would have come back." Terror flares in him at the thought, and he shudders, nearly whispering:
"I think you saved me, Herbert."
He pauses, realizing all at once that Herbert's cheeks are also messy with blood. Reaching towards him, he tries to rub some away with his thumbs in gentle little motions - must have been from when he was trying to feed Alfred. (He would learn otherwise later on, after all.)
"I think, if you hadn't done that...I don't think I would have come back." Terror flares in him at the thought, and he shudders, nearly whispering:
"I think you saved me, Herbert."
"...You already have, you know. I...I feel...like myself? Like I'm...me, now. That...probably seems silly."
Setting the paintbrush and palette aside for a moment, he strides right up to where Herbert is sitting, wrapping his arms suddenly around the larger vampire's shoulders and resting his cheek on the top of his head.
"It's nice, feeling...important to someone. It's nice seeing you happy, Engel."
The endearment tumbles out suddenly, and he's glad he's not looking Herbert in the face as he reddens.
Setting the paintbrush and palette aside for a moment, he strides right up to where Herbert is sitting, wrapping his arms suddenly around the larger vampire's shoulders and resting his cheek on the top of his head.
"It's nice, feeling...important to someone. It's nice seeing you happy, Engel."
The endearment tumbles out suddenly, and he's glad he's not looking Herbert in the face as he reddens.
It's not long after arrival - just a few days - that Alfred finally starts to get a little bit more bold in the Castle. Herbert is out hunting, a task that he doesn't quite have the stomach for just yet, and restlessness creeps up on him all too quickly. He lives here now, he knows that, and it's time that he gets used to where things are.
So that's why he is now, trembling faintly, eyes very wide, wandering the halls alone, trying his best not to make a sound.
Until he is startled by a rat scurrying past underfoot, and backs into a suit of armor, which topples - he whips around (wow, he...he's pretty sure he wasn't that fast before?), catching most of it, but the sword still hits the ground with a thunderous clatter, skidding across the floor.
"Oops-"
So that's why he is now, trembling faintly, eyes very wide, wandering the halls alone, trying his best not to make a sound.
Until he is startled by a rat scurrying past underfoot, and backs into a suit of armor, which topples - he whips around (wow, he...he's pretty sure he wasn't that fast before?), catching most of it, but the sword still hits the ground with a thunderous clatter, skidding across the floor.
"Oops-"
"Okay - okay. It's going to be fine. It's going to be fine!"
Alfred snaps the book in his hands shut, setting it aside on the little shelf he had by now filled in his room. It's been about a month now, a month of days almost entirely spent at Herbert's side. They had kissed by now, so many times...time has eroded most of the initial anxiety he felt at the vampire's touch, and he has learned not to flinch away from it, even to take comfort in it.
A few times, these cuddle sessions had gotten a little more heated, bodies winding together, but each time had ended the same way; Alfred stammering an apology, Herbert being sweet and patient about it, and then Alfred bringing himself off thinking about it when he had the privacy. Part of his hesitance is, of course, the fact that he had never been with another man before. Hell, he has never been with ANYONE before.
So he resolved to do the only thing he could think to.
Research.
Sighing to himself, he looks at the row of books on the shelf he just slipped the tome onto - romance novels, dissertations on the nature of sexual health...even a copy of the Kama Sutra he had had to shove behind his back when the Count had found him flushed and staring into the pages in the library. He's still nervous, still not sure what he's really doing...but it's time. He wants to try. He wants it to be special. Because there's something he...really needs to tell Herbert.
He leans against his closed door in the hallway to wait, trying his absolute best to look dashing, but feeling more than a little silly inside. Alfred needn't worry, mind you - he's dressed himself handsomely for this, wearing a deep crimson brocade tailcoat, tight black breeches, and oxblood red boots with a bit of a heel (He had read somewhere that heels accentuate one's rear end, and...well, he knows Herbert enjoys his.)
Doesn't stop his palms from being a bit clammy, though, or his throat from feeling dry. If he had a pulse anymore, it would be a mile a minute.
"You can do this, Alfred," he asserts to himself, furrowing his brow.
Alfred snaps the book in his hands shut, setting it aside on the little shelf he had by now filled in his room. It's been about a month now, a month of days almost entirely spent at Herbert's side. They had kissed by now, so many times...time has eroded most of the initial anxiety he felt at the vampire's touch, and he has learned not to flinch away from it, even to take comfort in it.
A few times, these cuddle sessions had gotten a little more heated, bodies winding together, but each time had ended the same way; Alfred stammering an apology, Herbert being sweet and patient about it, and then Alfred bringing himself off thinking about it when he had the privacy. Part of his hesitance is, of course, the fact that he had never been with another man before. Hell, he has never been with ANYONE before.
So he resolved to do the only thing he could think to.
Research.
Sighing to himself, he looks at the row of books on the shelf he just slipped the tome onto - romance novels, dissertations on the nature of sexual health...even a copy of the Kama Sutra he had had to shove behind his back when the Count had found him flushed and staring into the pages in the library. He's still nervous, still not sure what he's really doing...but it's time. He wants to try. He wants it to be special. Because there's something he...really needs to tell Herbert.
He leans against his closed door in the hallway to wait, trying his absolute best to look dashing, but feeling more than a little silly inside. Alfred needn't worry, mind you - he's dressed himself handsomely for this, wearing a deep crimson brocade tailcoat, tight black breeches, and oxblood red boots with a bit of a heel (He had read somewhere that heels accentuate one's rear end, and...well, he knows Herbert enjoys his.)
Doesn't stop his palms from being a bit clammy, though, or his throat from feeling dry. If he had a pulse anymore, it would be a mile a minute.
"You can do this, Alfred," he asserts to himself, furrowing his brow.
"Then -- " Something, a heat, blooms in his chest and he presses his hands over Alfred's against his cheek. He's trying not to start crying again, because poor Alfred doesn't need to know about vampires crying blood just yet. So he swallows hard and nudges his nose against Alfred's with a soft smile.
"Then I'm very glad I did. I would have hated to have lost you."
"Then I'm very glad I did. I would have hated to have lost you."
"I couldn't have left." He blurts this out without thinking about it, nose to nose with Herbert still, his own hands still cradling his face. It's funny...he doesn't seem so cold anymore, now that Alfred has turned. The reality of it all hasn't quite had time to set in, perhaps, but...for now? For now it's okay.
"I couldn't. You were crying for me, I saw you. And I don't...I don't think I have anyone else in my life who would have done that."
It's a depressing thought, but it's the truth, isn't it? His mother has been dead for a few years, his Father distant and clinical - the Professor would likely have said a word or two, but may well have already replaced him.
He smiles, and it's...bittersweet. His fangs have settled properly now, the same pearly white as the rest of his well-maintained teeth. "So I...told Death no. That you needed me."
"I couldn't. You were crying for me, I saw you. And I don't...I don't think I have anyone else in my life who would have done that."
It's a depressing thought, but it's the truth, isn't it? His mother has been dead for a few years, his Father distant and clinical - the Professor would likely have said a word or two, but may well have already replaced him.
He smiles, and it's...bittersweet. His fangs have settled properly now, the same pearly white as the rest of his well-maintained teeth. "So I...told Death no. That you needed me."
"Engel?" Herbert feels his eyes welling up again and he buries his face in Alfred's chest, wrapping his arms around Alfred's waist and holding him tight. "Oh, mon chéri, no one has ever called me such things. Every moment I'm with you, I adore you more and more. I can't think of an eternity without you by my side, now that you're here with me."
He'd thought he'd been in love before, but it's never been like this. This deep, this passionate and adoring and no one has ever made his heart feel so full.
He'd thought he'd been in love before, but it's never been like this. This deep, this passionate and adoring and no one has ever made his heart feel so full.
"I was, oh I was so worried you might have been gone forever. But you told Death no. You told Death no, for me. And you were right, I do need you. My sweet Alfred, you mean the world to me. I do need you so desperately. You have no idea."
Finally, someone to take away my boredom, he'd said. But truly, he'd been so lonely. Preferring short term lovers who he could leave before they left him. But Alfred, oh. He wanted Alfred to stay.
Finally, someone to take away my boredom, he'd said. But truly, he'd been so lonely. Preferring short term lovers who he could leave before they left him. But Alfred, oh. He wanted Alfred to stay.
When they're not expecting company, Herbert dresses down a little. Casting aside his brocade waistcoats and jackets and settling for a more casual shirt-breeches-and-boots combination. Tonight he's in all black, though the lace at his sleeves is a silvery white.
He'd been on his way to Alfred's room anyway, to see what his lovely boy was up to tonight when he sees him from a few feet away. Slowing his walk to admire Alfred as he draws closer. Admiring the way the crimson cloth looks against his pale skin. Herbert's hand goes to his chest and he pauses in front of Alfred, looking him up and down slooowly.
"Hello, there."
He'd been on his way to Alfred's room anyway, to see what his lovely boy was up to tonight when he sees him from a few feet away. Slowing his walk to admire Alfred as he draws closer. Admiring the way the crimson cloth looks against his pale skin. Herbert's hand goes to his chest and he pauses in front of Alfred, looking him up and down slooowly.
"Hello, there."
"HeLLO-" Immediately, his voice cracks. Wincing, he clears it, trying to recover and sound Cool. "...Good evening, Engel."
Okay. Okay. Just stay calm. Striding forward with as much confidence as he can muster, he grabs Herbert's shoulders, pulling him into a kiss. It's forceful, passionate - and surprises even him.
Pulling back, he smiles, sheepishly.
"...I wanted to...spend some time with you."
Okay. Okay. Just stay calm. Striding forward with as much confidence as he can muster, he grabs Herbert's shoulders, pulling him into a kiss. It's forceful, passionate - and surprises even him.
Pulling back, he smiles, sheepishly.
"...I wanted to...spend some time with you."
Herbert makes a small, surprised noise at the kiss, which melts into a very pleased noise. Oh yes, he quite likes this side of Alfred. He grips the younger man's hips to keep him from going too far away.
"If you kiss me like that, you can spend many, many times with me."
"If you kiss me like that, you can spend many, many times with me."
Tension over what Herbert would say to the endearment gives way to surprise - his hands twitch against his back, then rub little circles there, his voice going a bit softer still.
"...No one? But you're...."
This is still so new, expressing himself like this. He struggles with words at the best of times, and this is...it's hard, even though it's nice. He tightens the embrace a little, wibbling a little before finally settling on a simple statement.
"I'm not going anywhere. I...I think of you as Engel, because you're...you're mine. My guardian."
"...No one? But you're...."
This is still so new, expressing himself like this. He struggles with words at the best of times, and this is...it's hard, even though it's nice. He tightens the embrace a little, wibbling a little before finally settling on a simple statement.
"I'm not going anywhere. I...I think of you as Engel, because you're...you're mine. My guardian."
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