lore ✦ restless

setting

Hundreds of years ago, a faint crack formed in the sky and shortly afterward, black rain fell upon the land beneath it. Anyone exposed became ill within days, and only those exposed for a significant amount of time survived. The incident was later dismissed as mass hysteria due to lack of evidence for the so-called black rain. The deaths were assumed to have been caused by a successfully contained epidemic, and the disappearances of most of the supposed survivors were simply never reported. The event was mostly forgotten, surviving only as various distorted local legends.

The “Curse” is Mist’s name for the finite amount of abyss sustained within a living body after surviving the black rain, as well as the eroding effect it has on its host’s mind. Other survivors may interpret it differently, though none fully understand it.
The abyss is a form of matter driven solely by the instinct to survive and feed. It cannot grow or create more of itself. When enough of it is absorbed, it can reliably feed on the host’s energy for as long as the host survives. In order to prolong this period, the abyss prevents aging and spreads itself through their blood, boosting their strength, resistance and healing.
Its instincts are inevitably reflected in the host, causing them to be unable to harm themselves and over time develop a deep craving. The latter may differ wildly between survivors as it is shaped by the host’s own existing personality and circumstances. When a pattern is established, the abyss continues to optimize its host by naturally eroding psychological barriers that would normally prevent them from continuing the behavior. If necessary, it may also alter the body slightly to facilitate whatever action brings satiation.
Some survivors may find out that they can manipulate the abyss within themselves. It requires practice, focus, and temporarily compromises the host since it draws part of the force that strengthens them out of their body. The ability that they develop is directly shaped by the host’s experiences.

summary

Mist

Kade Robertson grew up in poverty. From a young age, as was the norm at the time, he worked with his parents. His free time was often spent with his neighbor, a kind girl his age. She too worked, except not outdoors; she was a talented seamstress. As they got older, their bond only deepened. It was plain to both families that they would marry when the time came.

It was an afternoon like any other when the black rain poured. Kade was used to the rain, not really noticing the oddity until the dark liquid stained his hands. The whole town, for only a few hours, was drenched in black. A lot of people stepped outside to check it out and Kade’s neighbor was one of those poor souls. No one knew what had just happened to them.
The next day, the entire area where the black rain had been spotted quickly became off-limits when almost all of the households reported severe symptoms in at least one of their own. All of Kade’s family became sick, and so did his neighbor. He helped her care for her parents as they were much older and had already been ill, leaving his own family with one less body to worry about. They waited for outside help, unaware that the zone had been sealed off. They had been left to die just in case whatever it was turned out to be contagious.
She died in his arms two days later. Kade slid in bed with her, seeing as his own state was worsening fast. However, he woke up the next morning still holding the dead body, his own symptoms vanished. He tried to tend to the old couple, both still under the impression that their daughter was only resting. He was hardly responsive, had barely been feeding himself. All he had wanted was to die alongside her. He didn’t understand why he had to wake up and she couldn’t.
After several days, his mother finally came to check on him. She dragged him back to their house and forced him to drink the soup she’d made, or so she had claimed. He felt revitalized within seconds of finishing it. He finally looked up and had the energy required to identify his surroundings. His father lay dead, slowly decaying the same way his neighbor did, in his old rocking chair. His mother and siblings were all preoccupied by their own interests, completely disregarding the bloodstains and discarded clothes and tools lying on the floor. Kade’s gaze shot back to the table under his nose. The empty bowl was coated in red. He wiped his mouth. Red. He remembered where he had last seen the clothes now lying around his home; they belonged to a child who lived just down the street.

Kade spent the following decades trailing behind what remained of his family. Once they were chased out of town following his mother being found out as the child abductor, they began traveling and eventually settled in an entirely different continent. He participated in the frequent “family rituals,” but emotionally, nothing felt real. He had never enjoyed how his life turned out, but he still trusted his mother. Though she had odd beliefs, she was smart. It was thanks to her that they began accumulating wealth.
She even found out that they could use a form of energy inside them and turn it into a weapon. Kade practiced under her guidance, eventually finding his own power in the form of a “veil” which he could use to alter how his surroundings are perceived by others.

It was supposed to be just another night. Another family chosen haphazardly, another attempt at feeling satiated again. It never lasted; it was quickly washed away, but it wasn’t optional anymore. Yet that night, Kade looked into the eyes of the young woman whose life he was robbing as she faded away. For a moment, the self stuck in his neighbor’s bed wishing to join her and his present self blended together. He remembered not just who he had been, but also what he had been doing since, what he had become, and how much it hurt.
The next moment, he fled alone, never to speak with his family again. He sold whatever assets he owned and soon, Kade Robertson disappeared. He bought an isolated lake house and slowly reinvested the remainder of the funds, all under aliases. Just like that, the routines his mother had imposed were gone.
Whenever he tried to harm himself, directly or not, the hunger became too loud to ignore. He tried to find different ways to quiet down the periodic need. Waiting too long caused him to become violent and impulsive, different or less direct sources of blood didn’t appease it at all, keeping the victims alive was both too hard to achieve and dangerous for his identity.
After countless years of failure, he was forced to face the truth that it was too late. He was a monster. From then, he set rules for himself around who exactly would serve as his next meal and made sure to feed often enough to avoid losing himself. It didn’t help him feel better; it was never justice or mercy. He tried to memorize everyone who he had robbed of their life, but the guilt never left.
He spent centuries in a haze, deliberately reminding himself of his own crimes, relocating often to avoid being found out as not only a murderer but also seemingly physically frozen in his twenties. He tried his best to continue living, learning new things and exploring new places. If he had so much time to waste, why not?

It was a series of those little questions that led him to the party where he met Kimi. First struck by the familiarity of a nervous habit he recognized but couldn’t quite place, he forced himself to approach her. The simple question had already been replaced by a knot in his stomach, like letting this one go wasn’t even an option.

Kimi

Kimi Morton was a young girl who liked sneaking out of her lessons to play with another girl her age, her only friend. When she found out Daphne was the daughter of her very teacher and maid, she was ecstatic, believing it would make things much easier. Little Kimi was disappointed when Daphne's mother became protective of her daughter instead of letting them have fun and tried to convince the girls to stop playing together. Neither of them listened.

Kimi’s rose-tinted glasses shattered when Daphne’s father, who also worked for her family, was brutally killed. When she tried to find out why, the adults she had looked up to until then dismissed her. On her own, she pieced together that his life had been taken and Daphne’s heart had been broken for nothing. A poor choice of word at best. He had but bruised someone’s ego on the wrong day.
It was only then that she understood the warning, the cruelty she had been blind to, and the masks people hid behind started to slip. Daphne, her family, and all the others were expendable. Slaves. Kimi’s family only cared for assets and she herself was only respected as one. After all, Daphne’s mother had been warmer to her as her maid than her own biological mother.
With this, Kimi concluded that she needed to become exactly what her family expected from her. The only way to protect Daphne’s life was to gain ownership of her, which Kimi would need leverage to achieve. She knew they couldn’t stay close, at least not publicly. She was forced to distance herself. Behind closed doors, she still tried her best to comfort Daphne after the tragedy.

Playing the social game herself, Kimi came to realize how performative everyone truly was. She learned to read others too well for her own good. In the end, the only truly genuine person she knew was Daphne, and she was forced to put a barrier between them regardless, just to try and protect her authenticity.
At least it succeeded. Daphne’s life became her property. Her own maid, though she was still expected to help with the rest of the chores. She was just as clumsy as she always had been, which often led Kimi to find excuses to keep Daphne busy, away from the tasks she was hopelessly bad at, while spending more time with her in the privacy of her room. More often than not, Kimi even took on the sewing Daphne was tasked with. All she ever managed was to prick her fingers and stain the expensive fabric, no matter how patiently Kimi tried guiding her.

Despite the relief of knowing no one would ever be allowed to harm her again, Kimi could never let her mask drop. This gift could be just as quickly taken away. Throughout the years, the line between the self her family had shaped and the self who longed to leave it all behind with Daphne became increasingly blurred. Though she knew that Kimi was struggling, Daphne never was able to grasp how much her presence truly meant to her. Kimi only communicated her feelings through small actions. All she wanted was to take Daphne somewhere nothing mattered but the two of them. She wanted to be free, she wanted something that felt real. Only she was trapped in a cage she had willingly stepped into, and in a role that she had mastered.

Mist was the first person she had met beside Daphne who didn’t seem to care about how she would perceive him. The only other person in her life who didn’t strictly care about his own benefit or assets in one way or another. His words were simply sincere–almost pathetically so.

meeting

Mist, who had been invited thanks to his new property and only accepted because he had nothing else to do, was left scanning the crowd of a party he didn’t really belong in. He first noticed Kimi as she was fidgeting with her bracelet, continually rotating it with her thumb. Her face occasionally lit up to greet strangers before returning to a more neutral, tired posture as soon as they moved on. He couldn’t place it, but she reminded him of someone.
As time went on, the feeling turned into a knot in his stomach. He needed to do something before the opportunity slipped away. When he finally walked over, he noticed her straighten up the same way she had done repeatedly for the minutes he was watching her.

Kimi caught herself in time when the stranger asked if he could stand by her for a while. Even if she wanted nothing more than to leave, she remained kind and polite as she always was expected to. He relaxed while she tried to figure out if she could recognize him and what he could possibly want from her. Eventually, she admitted defeat, breaking the silence with a simple question; “why?”
He laughed at himself out of embarrassment as he confided in her: he had no idea why he was even at this party. His demeanor took her off-guard completely. She found no mask, no hidden agenda. His answer was sincere, more so than anyone present at an event such as this one would normally ever be. Kimi couldn't suppress a light chuckle as his response sank in.

Mist wasn’t lying, he had no idea how to approach any of this. He simply had to interact with the world, at least occasionally, and he did his best. Yet something about this time was different, though he still couldn't identify what. He was relieved when he saw her smile. It was completely different from the one he had watched her force. She had also stopped playing with her bracelet by the time they began joking about the bad wine neither of them could finish. They would spend the rest of the evening talking casually until both had to leave.
Back in his newly acquired mansion, Mist sat on the side of the bed he hadn’t even planned to sleep in more than once, fighting this new gut feeling. He tapped his foot restlessly, head buried in his hands, occasionally rubbing his face as he sighed. No matter the excuses he found, he couldn’t shake this sudden urge to stay.
By the time the sun rose, he had finished the paperwork needed to shift his plans. He couldn’t remember the last time he had chosen to change them so abruptly, but for the time being, “Mist” would remain here. Even if it was selfish, even if the risks seemed to logically outweigh anything in these circumstances. He wanted more time, so he could see Kimi again.

When Kimi entered her room, Daphne looked up with her bright, happy smile. In just one look, she recognized something was different. Worried, she inquired about the party to which Kimi simply sighed. She reassured Daphne that it had actually taken quite a pleasant turn. Even so, she was disappointed that she might not get the chance to see this surprisingly honest man again. She quietly laughed to herself at how well his name suited him.

Luckily, the two did meet again and again. Being with Mist felt like a breath of fresh air to Kimi. Status and wealth held no worth in his eyes. He took her on walks and showed interest in her, not in what she had tried to represent. When he met Daphne, he treated her no differently than he treated anyone else. The poor maid turned red with embarrassment, but the three of them talked as equals that afternoon. When Mist did have to leave for business, he promised to come see her again as soon as possible. And he did.

It was late at a party Mist accompanied her to, the music and chatter all blending into a gentle murmur as they sat outside. The words slipped right out of his mouth without him even intending to spoil the tranquility. Kimi froze first, then lifted her head from his shoulder and slowly shifted her gaze from the sunset to his face. She opened her mouth to respond but the words seemed stuck in her throat. Her grip tightened around his hand as he felt her thumb lightly rubbing his skin. He smiled.
It was enough.

incident

Now several months into their relationship, Mist was having to plan another restless night in the next couple of days. The hunger was quietly returning, as it always did every few weeks. That day belonged to Kimi, though. They talked in her room as she finished fixing up a dress.

Despite her expertise, her hand slipped. A bead of crimson welled up immediately on her finger. She hissed softly, pulling her hand away from the fabric to avoid staining it. Without thinking, she pressed her lips against her finger to suck the blood from the cut as she looked up at Mist. She was about to laugh it off, but his posture had changed in that instant. He was pale, tense, and looked frightened, eyes fixed on her hand. As he recoiled, Kimi noticed he was already several steps away from his previous location. Without a word, he turned and left the room. Kimi hurried after him only to see him stumble past Daphne, visibly trying to avoid touching her. Kimi couldn’t even tell if he heard her calling his name.

The next three days were unusually lonely. Mist had stayed away for longer periods but this time, there were no promises. So, she decided she would go to him instead. She waited patiently outside of his mansion after knocking. She had never realized until then that he lived alone. She refrained from commenting on the layer of dust covering most of the decorations, leaving only his living space immaculate.
She had noticed the distance he kept from her, the long silence as he nervously looked for the right words. Still, her heart sank when he told her he had to leave. He struggled to word his reasoning, eventually admitting that he believed he would hurt her if he stayed any longer.

When she refused to believe him—refused to let him leave—he finally blurted out the truth. Words never meant to be heard, words he had never planned to say aloud. He wasn't naive enough to think she would believe such impossible claims about having lived for centuries, about his addiction to fresh blood, about the countless people he had killed because of it. He hoped she would leave. A part of him did.
But all she did was joke about his age.
Mist sighed explaining that his craving had surged from seeing the droplet of her blood, that he was afraid of losing control, and that he had already satiated the craving.

There wasn't a trace of pride or joy in his voice. Only shame. To Kimi, he sounded like one of the maids admitting to a mistake, a child confessing they’ve broken a precious item; awaiting judgment. As she struggled to fit his words into her reality, it occurred to her that it didn’t matter. They were true to him, and he was still the man she had come to know. She still didn’t want him to go.
She saw resignation in Mist’s eyes before his expression became that of a stranger. Mist showed her, explained in as much detail as he could bear to recount, whose life he had last stolen. Without contempt, Mist himself emphasized that he had unfairly robbed a man of any more chances at happiness. There was only regret in his voice talking about the man’s loneliness, how easy he had been to isolate.

The veil faded. Mist waited for reckoning, but it never came. Instead, Kimi’s hands found his and he felt her gentle touch like he had many times before. He hesitated before allowing himself to rest in her grasp. He didn’t understand why she would still care so much, he blamed himself for staying so long that she had become this attached to him.

Kimi was the first to speak up after a long pause, she weighed her words as she had him make a promise. Though she knew Mist would believe she was overestimating his restraint, it wasn't blind faith. Every instinct Mist had described was contradicted by what she had witnessed. She chose to trust the man she had spent months getting to know. From then on, he would drink from her.
Eventually, Mist gave in. He made adjustments to his usual schedule, did everything he could to avoid a disaster. His efforts were rewarded, and though he remained obviously worried and still didn’t think her solution wasn’t a good idea, he admitted it was the best one. Slowly, both of them became used to this new way of life. Months passed, peacefully.

curse

One morning, Daphne was a little weary; the next, she was gone. Kimi had been made aware that a servant she didn’t know well had died the day prior, but not that three others had followed since and most of the others were sick. She had been keeping herself busy by sitting in on meetings with her family’s business associates while Mist was on one of his longer trips. She hardly got to talk with Daphne. She didn’t have a chance to say goodbye.
So, that morning, when Kimi learned of her fate, she rushed to Daphne’s side. She was already gone. Kimi had no way to help. She couldn’t even carry her body out of the old, poorly lit room that she had shared with her mother all this time. Kimi held her, stroked her hair as everything she had buried finally broke through. She stubbornly screamed at whoever tried to pull her away as she wept. For the first time as long as she could remember, she couldn’t pretend. She didn’t want to, neither did she have the strength to. When exhaustion caught up to her and she did fall asleep, she was taken back to her room.
The only soul she allowed in afterward was Mist, who had once again kept his promise to come back as soon as he could. Though she didn’t know the details, she had vague ideas of his past. She knew he would understand her better than any of her relatives. He comforted her as best he could, stayed with her, took care of her.

Still, Mist couldn’t help but worry as he watched Kimi’s state worsen. To try and appease the growing anxiety that was starting to make his stomach turn, he asked to taste a drop of her blood. His hunger made itself known, but it was overshadowed by the nauseating dread when he noticed a faint aftertaste beneath its usual flavor. It wasn’t one he recognized, but he knew what it meant.
Kimi was sick. She had spent too long among the servants, too long beside Daphne’s remains.
His waking nightmare—it was back. He couldn’t hide his anguish from Kimi, who quickly understood the implications. She couldn’t help but cry at the thought she would meet the same end as the servants. As panic began to set in, Mist was forced to swallow his apprehension and bring up a topic he had previously shut down. He had never wanted this life for her. He had never wished to watch yet another person he loved become distorted. He would have done anything to prevent her from going through the same unending pain he had endured. But he had theories, observations he had made long ago that the Curse flowing through his veins could be transferred. There was a chance, maybe, that he could help her, and she deserved to know. She deserved to make the choice for herself.

Kimi didn’t want to die. She was scared, still broken from the loss, in disbelief that everything she had tried so hard to protect could be taken away so easily by something she had never even considered. Somewhere deep inside, she almost was relieved she soon wouldn’t have to carry these emotions anymore. And yet, giving up without trying felt wrong. She didn’t want to lose Mist, nor put him through another loss so soon, before they even had a life together. He was offering her a sliver of a chance to remain with him, be like him. Despite who she might become, she chose him.

Mist spent the following hours anxiously getting everything in order to hopefully spare her from the agony he remembered from all the way back then, when this Curse settled inside him. He took her back to his mansion in secret so he could tend to her with his own supplies. When the time came, Kimi seemed content. No matter the outcome, it would be an improvement.
Mist had one last taste of her blood before, for the first time, returning the gesture. Once she fell into a deep slumber, he made sure to keep her asleep and numb the pain whenever drops of sweat began forming on her frail body. He recognized it, the same suffering his neighbor had died from. He himself wasn’t sure if a quiet end would have been more appropriate for Kimi, if it wasn’t too late to let her go. But he couldn’t. He probably wouldn’t be capable of saying goodbye again. Either way, he wouldn’t violate the agency he had given her. She trusted him. No matter what, he wouldn’t betray or leave her. He promised himself Kimi would never have to feel the same loneliness and sorrow he did, if she survived.

The first thing Kimi saw when she awoke was Mist’s loving gaze. Though she didn’t feel so different, she knew it had to have worked. She was… at peace. She saw a certain freedom in this new life she had been offered. That morning was the first time her confession to Mist flowed from her mouth, even before she had time to consider her words. No more barriers.

Night

She never saw her family again, only keeping a few items that reminded her of Daphne with her as Mist took her to his preferred residence; an old lake house nestled in the middle of a forest, overlooking a river. It was comfortable, much warmer than the home she had known, but she couldn’t sleep. Instead, she ended up sitting on the wooden bench outside, wishing Daphne were watching the water gently gliding past her new home with her. Mist called her his little night owl when he found her passed out on the bench in the morning, sometimes with some art supplies she had brought to try and draw the scenery.

Unfortunately, Mist would need to return to his old ways sooner rather than later. He would not risk taking Kimi’s blood when it was so closely tied to her survival. Still, knowing he had shown enough restraint with her, he had decided to try keeping a similar, more frequent schedule and feed less to make sure the person stayed alive. They would be hurt, probably scared, but their life would go on.
Knowing he hated having to do any of this, Kimi had insisted she wanted to come along. She wanted to help. She wanted to find a way to ease his burden like she had already done for a while. He didn’t have to do it all on his own. If something went wrong, she would be there for him, no matter what.

It was almost like being handed a man on a silver platter. He walked into the night alone, clueless that he had become prey. Both of them pinned him down easily. However, Mist’s hood fell back. His blood-soaked face, he knew, would be forever imprinted in the man’s mind. He didn’t want to kill again. In his hesitation, the man managed to slip out of his grip, not realizing Kimi held a knife to his gut. It was too late. Kimi was swift, and the man fell dead.

This first failure weighed heavily on both of them. Kimi had never taken a life. She thought about Daphne, what she would think of her then. This was exactly the scenario Mist had feared. When the time inevitably came again, they had a refined plan. Kimi did her best to avoid letting her own fear through. But it wasn’t enough. A second time, the panic was quickly dealt with. Her own hands, bloodied, shaking. By the fifth attempt, Kimi had managed to develop her own ability using the energy inside her. It was weak still, but the threads she could create were helpful. Sadly, not enough to prevent another loss.

Months passed before Mist finally admitted defeat. It wasn’t working. It was a good idea, but there were too many factors at play. His old routine was simply the safest and prevented the most meaningless deaths. Kimi reluctantly agreed, but stubbornly demanded he take her along anyway. Mist was aware that she simply wanted to help him. The atmosphere was particularly somber that night; they were giving up. There was no chance left that the victim would come out alive.
Mist wondered then, did he only imagine her sigh of relief and gentle smile when the body fell limp? It was only the next day when he replayed the events in his mind that the realization came to him. In his town, the Curse seemed to have grown and set habits relatively quickly, so he had been questioning why Kimi didn’t seem to develop any cravings. But she did.
When he asked her as gently as he could if she had enjoyed it, she seemed genuinely confused about what he could have been talking about. Her expression shifted as she made the connection.

Mist’s gentle reassurance that he still loved her did reach her, but she suddenly thought back to brief the moment of peace, clarity, pure relief that followed an action she couldn’t even forgive herself for. Could Daphne? Why couldn’t she forgive? For a moment, she seemed to forget why she wasn’t supposed to take a life. If it allowed her to silence the pain again, she didn’t mind it so much anymore. Still, she knew Mist despised it. So she shouldn't.

As the years went by, the effects became clearer. While her love for Mist remained seemingly untouched by the Curse, so did her grief for Daphne. Strangers, however, almost stopped holding value in her eyes. When memories flooded back, it was easier to crave the temporary stillness of the aftermath. The moment when the violence gave way to serenity, when the rest of the universe hushed.
She reminded herself often of the way she used to think. It made less sense, but she had never wanted to be like her family. She had found beauty, love and sincerity where they saw a useless little girl. Even if she may never feel the same way about anyone else again, she remembered that people did matter. With Mist, she remembered that all those who perished by their hands had lives and others who cared for them, perhaps just as much as they cared for each other.

Soon, decades slipped away as they settled into their odd routines. Kimi disappeared from history like Kade had before, both original names only to be whispered in the privacy of the lake house. His nickname for her eventually shortened into “Night.” It grew on her. They traveled with borrowed identities but always returned to the comfort of their home. An anchor that was undoubtedly a risk, but neither wanted to let go of.

In time, Mist would show her all the places he had lived in. She was eager to find out about the things he loved, to explore the world. And in all these places, she took the memory of Daphne with her. One day at a time, they helped each other preserve who they wanted to be. They would live in broad daylight as long as this Curse made them, on their own terms.

stories

eyes

“Tonight is your turn.” Kade rolled his eyes when his brother flicked his forehead as if to get him out of his thoughts. It worked. “If you say so.” Kade sighed as he adjusted his gloves and coat. He stepped out of the carriage reluctantly but paid no mind to his sibling who was laughing some more. In the darkness, he approached the estate slowly and confidently, feeling no other eyes on him. After a deep breath, he knocked on the damaged wooden door softly and waited. Inside, he heard noises he could only assume was a chair being pushed against the flooring and steps getting closer. The door cracked open on a middle aged man’s worried face which lit up instantly when he recognized the young man standing in the rain. “My Lord, please come in!” He hastily removed the rusty chain that kept him and his family safe. “I am so sorry, I did not expect your visit!” “I would not hold it against you, good sir, I understand.” As he was allowed in, Kade glanced around the small home. It reminded him of how he and his family used to live; miserably. Kade turned to face the man, and interrupted him as he was closing the door. “Tell me, you do have children, do you not?” “Emma and little Mary are sleeping but I can wake them for you. They would be so very grateful to meet you in person!” Kade grabbed him by the arm before he could leave. “No, no, I couldn’t ask you to disturb them. Let them rest. I would like to meet your wife, however, if that’s alright?” “Of course!” Kade placed a finger on his lips. “Shh, let’s not wake the girls.” The man nodded at Kade’s reminder before quickly disappearing into what seemed to be the bedroom. As he listened to the soft whispering of the older man, Kade pushed the door open. “We are so sorry to keep you waiti-” the old man stopped in his tracks as he and his wife exited the bedroom. He, who was so excited a moment ago, suddenly confused at the figure standing in front of his small collection of glass. “My… Lord?” his wife asked, still a foot in her dreams. “Who…?” The man was perplexed. Before either of them could utter another word, their throats were cut open almost in unison. Kade walked over to the door, held it open for his mother then closed it again. His siblings were already attempting to suck the blood out of the open wounds. “Have some manners, you animals.” Their mother hissed and immediately, they stopped and apologized. Their faces were already painted red. “Get this hag out of my way instead, will you?” The twins hurried and moved the woman’s body to make a path to the bedroom. Soon, the three siblings were left to decide how to split their food. Neither of them truly wanted to discuss their mother’s appetite. “I’ll take him,” Kade announced before dragging the dead man away to have a little privacy. They both shrugged, seeing no point in arguing as they knew Kade usually took the skinnier adult so that they could share more comfortably. As he approached the entrance door however, he noticed the knob turning. He reacted quickly, veiling the room with his curse. A young woman, supposedly an older daughter, walked into the residence quietly, oblivious to the tragedy in the darkness. As soon as she put the chain in place, Kade trapped her in a tight embrace, grabbed her by her neck and jumped at her throat without hesitation. His sharp teeth dug into her skin like butter and the blood filled his mouth as she tried to push him away, her screams muffled by his body. She was helpless against his inhumane strength. Kade pulled away to take a break; enjoy the nectar a little longer. That was when he saw her face, life pouring out of her. She was barely hanging on. With the last of her strength, she looked into the dark eyes of her murderer before taking her final breath.
“Kade…” “Don't speak, you need to save your energy,” he coughed hard, his throat burning as it was slowly torn away. “I’m sure help will be here soon.” “Kade, please…” The young woman tried to pull him away from the dirty window again; he was still hoping to catch sight of any lights approaching . He had been anxiously waiting for hours. “Listen…” she pleaded. Kade could tell that it pained her to speak. He imagined he had only felt a fraction of it so far. He rushed back to her side to sit on the floor next to the old mattress she laid on. “Don't… forget… Take care—” “No, no, no, you're going to get better.” Kade held her hand tightly, kissing it over and over. “Please, rest. I can't…” The tears were getting harder to swallow. “I can't say goodbye.” He knew she had wanted to live so badly. There were hundreds of things she never got to do. “This can’t… It won’t, it won’t be the end, I promise.” He gently rubbed her cheek, caressed her forehead. “I… love you.” She breathed. She closed her eyes, mustering what little energy remained for a weak smile. “I love you too! Please, don't fall asleep,” he begged, “they'll get here any moment now. You'll be okay. You’ll be okay.” Her arm grew heavier and heavier, until she stopped responding. No amount of shaking, crying, begging, praying could bring her back. She was gone. His only comfort that night, as he held her cold body tightly, was that he would surely join her shortly.
Kade’s eyes widened as this sickly sweet smell, the one of his denied eternal rest came back to haunt him, his entire being hurting in a way he couldn’t possibly explain. In a panic and hurry to get out of the confined house, he threw the body across the room and stormed outside, where his tears could be confused with rain and his cries could be lost. There were no traces left of him when his siblings came out to check on him.

blood

The melody of a cello and a piano, although faint as was their soft crackling noise, loudly broke the silence through the speakers, enveloping the ball room. It reminded Kimi of the long nights spent alone in her family’s residence. She was never truly by herself, of course, but no one she had known then was capable of truly understanding her. She longed for… something; a spark in her monotone life. The quiet steps of her spark pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned her head to the wide stairs Mist was descending from and her relief was given away by a weak smile, one she couldn't have faked if she tried. “You should play for me,” Kimi requested as her gaze shifted towards the pristine piano. He was pensive for a moment, observing her as she wearily held herself on the duet bench, leaning on the covered keyboard for support. “I will consider it,” Mist nodded, yet he let his voice waver ever so lightly. “Don’t you know how to play?” Kimi questioned, unconvinced, as he closed the distance between them. “I did a while back,” Mist admitted, gently placing his hand on the polished wood of the instrument. “This one was already here when I bought the place. I haven’t had much time or desire to use it.” As if by second nature, Kimi reached for Mist’s hand. He brought it up to his face to plant a kiss on her pale skin. “Are you ready?” He asked calmly as ever though his eyes revealed his concern. “Any more ready and I might die on the spot, I’m afraid.” Kimi attempted to joke but her grim reality interrupted her under the guise of a coughing fit. She quickly turned away from the piano to avoid staining it. Her two-toned red handkerchief caught most of it, however she couldn’t help leaving a few scarlet traces on the marble floor. Mist shook off the fear. He wrapped his arms around her waist and behind her knees, lifting her up gently to carry her to the room he had prepared. For the first time, he had control over his nightmare. Kimi was uncomfortable forcing Mist to do all the work, her arms were barely strong enough for her to reach around his neck. She knew herself to be fading further away when within mere seconds, he was already laying her down on the dark sheets. The blackouts had started in the evening along with her legs giving out occasionally. She had always hated feeling vulnerable, but all she was able to do was let the soft bedding embrace her. She tried to tighten her grip on Mist when she felt him let go of her. “I’m right here,” he reassured as he picked up a small object from the bedside table before getting on the bed with her, “it’s okay. It’ll be okay.” “I’m glad.” Kimi whispered as he stroked her cheek, letting his fingers run down her neck until they met the small scars he had left. “I’m lucky to be with you,” Kimi confessed. Mist noticed a tear forming and was once again reminded of how fast the clock was ticking when the trail it left on her face was bright red. He left a few pecks on her face as he climbed on top of her, careful not to hurt her. She attempted a smile, reaching up as if to brush a strand of hair from his face. He leaned down to let her and they shared one last kiss. Mist licked the crimson off his lips then took a deep breath as the taste of her overwhelmed him. Her bleeding was spiraling out of control. His preemptive apology didn’t have time to escape his mouth, his head moved on its own and he let his teeth sink into her neck one last time. Kimi whimpered, squirmed under him from the pain she had never gotten used to. Mist did his best to keep from losing himself to his appetite, holding his love tightly in his arms. It was easier to stay focused having already had his last most luscious drink unknowingly, before she had gotten sick. The taste of illness had altered it forever, only subtly enough that it remained an unparalleled delicacy. Though it pained him, as soon as Mist felt the flow slowing down and Kimi’s body desperately attempting to save itself, he pulled away from her and without hesitation, slashed his wrist with the blade he carried. His own blood began pouring as he held his wound above her mouth, gently opened with his other hand.
Mist laid on his side next to Kimi, both of them facing each other when the third morning sun shone through the deep red curtains. At last, they were alone, together, forever. His hand rested gently over hers. The moment she drifted awake, she naturally interlocked her fingers with his. Kimi’s gaze met Mist’s as she finally opened her eyes. They shared a knowing smile before leaning in to meet for a loving kiss, the first one of Kimi’s new life. It was followed by her first words, breaking the silence and stunning him. “I love you.” Kimi allowed herself to finally utter the words that had been stuck in her throat for what felt like centuries. Not only did she know it to be genuine, she also felt safe sharing her true emotions. Her voice, one he had craved these last few days almost more than he ever had blood, couldn’t have made him happier. Mist struggled to speak as he let her words wash over him before he replied. “I love you too.”