pierce the skin, what sweet elixir

Day after day it was constant work for a simply bite to eat. A creature as majestic and alluring as he, working for a meal that he could so easily rip to pieces and dine on its flesh if his hunger was strong enough. For now he played this game of master and pet, somehow finding it exciting? Different? It offered a twist to what had been a dull lifestyle. Perhaps he went along with it so well simply because he knew he was capable of crushing this man's bones between his fingers with a simple twist, though in this state? Panting and sickly due to lack of a meal? He might have difficulty obtaining a meal that would fight back.

A dark complexion full of color and vibrant seemed sickly and pale. Dark circles rest under his eyes and his once round face full of life was beginning to sink, cheeks hollowed as they hid behind a thin piece of fabric. Eyes that were large and ever focused on his constant food source, lost their glimmer and it was replaced with the sharp look of a predator. Hunger burned his throat and gnawed at his stomach.

It was obvious how hungry this creature was and despite how well he provided as entertainment a warm hand had cupped his, fingers hooking just underneath his chin to draw his face close only to tell him, perhaps next time. A flare of fire engulfed his throat. He was so close. So close to that beating life line in that man's throat. So close that his teeth could rip through his flesh, stain the floor with his blood that he could then happily enjoy. That life force he needed to survive, was so close, yet he did not react like his instincts were screaming for him to do. He was old enough to control such an immediate response. Fingers brushed across plump lips, going as far to graze against those sharp fangs. A tease. He could take a bite, a taste, but if he did he wouldn't be able to control himself. Just as he would debate the thought, the hand was pulled away, his face given a slight push back as he was relieved of his duties. The vampire stood there, watching the back of the only man that could feed him leave him for another day without food.

Burning with hunger he was forced to cope. Maybe he was sadistic in his own way, allowing this sort of behavior to go on for so long. Perhaps he liked the way it felt, to be starved for so long and to finally have that taste. To finally indulge himself in what he was constantly craving for. A burning thirst that never seemed to go and was always in the back of his mind.

This was longer than he's ever gone before. His physique was beginning to suffer and he knew that it would not be long before he fed. After all, this little game was no fun if he was not appealing to the eye.

Dark eyes focused lazily forward. Without a proper meal he became lethargic. He would sit himself down, sprawling a thinning frame over the same chair his silly 'master' had seated himself. He began to wonder when this game would grow boring. When would he move on. The hall he was normally called to entertain was now empty.

It would be another sleepless night. Even if he were to close his eyes right now, sleep would evade him. He was too hungry. Perhaps if he went and begged for his meal, he could have it. Though even he had his pride. While he could play and tease, he would never sincerely beg for anything. He was too proud to do so. He was lost in thought now, his focus on nothing in particular as he brushed his tongue across his teeth slowly.

What a wonderful show, the noble thought to himself. A thin, curling smile on his fat, round face was a testament to his enjoyment, and his manhood peaking through the crotch of his thin, cotton bottoms proved his pleasure.

The man approached the dancer and caressed his face with his short, sausage-like fingers, then explored his thinning body with his other hand. He whispered sweet nothings into his ear, using one hand to feel the delicate curves of his body and the other to tease the vampire's lips, tugging at his desires. With his index finger, he parted his lips and traced his teeth, lingering a moment on each of his desperate, protruding fangs before drawing his hand back. He would do this often- tease a meal, but then refuse him at the very last second. It was a game, and he found himself growing more excited the more sickly and desperate the vampire became.

"Marco," the man moaned, his thighs were still wet where he had climaxed earlier. "you've proved yourself worthy tonight. But perhaps tomorrow you may eat," he sighed, as though he had exhausted all energy.

How badly he wanted to bite down on those fingers, remind this man who really was the stronger one here. Sometimes it was good to remind him, otherwise he might get a bit too cocky to the vampire's liking, but it was all a game. An amusing game he would grow tired of at some point.

He was too easy to please. A man as greedy as he was, a simply sway of his hips and he had the older male eating out of the palm of his hand. It was a real wonder on who was the pet in this situation.

That tired voice of his as if he had an excuse to be tired. It would have made the vampire laugh if he was not so tired. A tired look was given to the man as a smile curled upon his lips as though it was something he was pleased to hear, being deprived of another meal. The vampire had snapped his teeth together, teasing the man though the slight aggression laid true to how he was beginning to feel.

"I look forward to what you have to offer," he purred in reply. "I'm sure it will be a most delicious meal."

Marco would shift his position slightly, showing off that thinning frame of his and batting those long lashes. "Now I'm sure you'd love to rest, you sound exhausted. You'll need sleep properly if I'm ever to get my meal." Marco lifted his hand, brushing his fingers along the man's arm in a longing manner. Oh how he wanted to dig his fingers into that flesh and claw at it in hopes of spilling that beautiful crimson color. Though his gentle touch might be interpreted as a bit more loving.

"Will you be sleeping alone tonight?"

"I will not be alone," the man informed him, "but I am done with you for now." Although he enjoyed their time in this entertainment hall, he preferred to sleep with his slaves, who weren't able to kill him in his sleep.

The man stood and spun around, showing off his robes and the bobbles danging from his neck and ears.

"My vicious, beautiful Marco," the man hummed, tracing the vampire's jawline. "Get plenty of sleep, for you will have your meal on the morrow." Of course the man was in no rush to get him his meal, but it would come eventually. He liked keeping him just hungry enough that he would be angry and irritated, but too hungry and he was too dangerous. Even a fool could see that. So, the vampire was sure to get his meal eventually. Just... not yet. Seeing him like this was simply too exciting.

It didn't hurt to hear those words. Marco preferred it and it proved that the man was not as foolish as he seemed. Keeping his bed warm with a hungry vampire was something only a fool would dare try. Though it could be slightly irritating, the way he spoke it was as if he was throwing aside a scrap of paper. It didn't bother him for long, simply because Marco knew that this man couldn't live without him. If Marco were to disappear suddenly one day, he would be furious. He would tear the world apart just to look for him again and Marco enjoyed that bit of power he seemed to hold over him.

He watched him like a cat watching a mouse, taking in every inch of the man's frame and meeting his eye once he was facing him once more. How he longed to rip apart that golden flesh of his.

"Of course," he assured, a smile gracing his lips once more. "Sleep well. I will see you tomorrow." He realized his meal would most likely be later in the day if it was truly going to happen tomorrow, and not in the morning like he would prefer. Still. As long as he had something to quell the burn in his throat and the gnawing in his belly, he would be content.

The man turned and left the scene, feeling rather lethargic. He disappeared through the doors, and thus Marco was left to his own devices.

Marco had waited patiently, even after the man had left the room he remained seated and waited until his footsteps could no longer be heard. It was amusing, how tired he seemed to be when all he did was simply sit there and enjoy the view. Though he supposed it took much effort for the man to pleasure himself. An amused smile graced the vampire's lips before he pulled himself forward, forcing himself to get out of the chair he had been resting in. If he stayed he would have surely fallen asleep there and he had no desire to walk up stiff and sore.

Bare feet padded quietly against the floor. He would not be returning to his own room tonight, not just yet, but instead would bother another. For his own pleasure, though it also might have been because he was simply too tired to make it back to his own room. His lack of a meal was taking more of a toll on him than he had thought.

The vampire had lead himself to the room of another member of the family. The son of the man he was currently playing games with. Of course they were on more friendly terms, he would not simply invite himself into the room unless he had all intentions on eating him.

Whatever he was busy doing, Marco was here to interrupt. The thinning vampire would lay himself across the male's bed, still wearing the clothing that the other's father preferred, revealing every curve that body had to offer. Not that it was his intention to seduce the man's son. Though he was sure he could, without a second thought.

Not a word slipped past his lips. He was much too tired for conversation and perhaps he would take a nap, though instead of closing his eyes he lifted his head, focusing his gaze on the one he was currently bothering, unblinking and clearly hungry. How tempting it was to take a bite.

Tempest, who hadn't really been asleep, stirred only very slightly when the vampire slipped into his private quarters and masked his body over his bed. He need not look at him to know exactly what he was doing and where he came from- the hour was late, and his clothes were silken smooth. It went without saying that he had just entertained his father, but the fact bothered him little anymore.

Of course he had questioned in the beginning why Marco couldn't simply change his lifestyle, but now, at the very least, he understood that doing so was much easier said than done.

The nobleman's son waited a few moments after the vampire lifted his head. Eventually, he rolled himself over and met the vampire's striking, unmoving gaze.

"He denied you food again," was all Tempest said, fixated intently on the dancer's eyes. It was not a question, but a statement of fact. Being his father's son, he knew the man's manner of treating those he considered to be his pets. Marco was unquestionably his favorite, and seeing the vampire suffer was perhaps his favorite game to play; one he indulged in often, and the one Tempest hated the most.

The vampire's stare might have been considered bone chilling to those who were new to his lifestyle. The hungry look was frightening until one realized he was quite tamed. Much different then the lore behind his very species.

Marco was amused at how easily Tempest could announce his father's decisions. Though by now the vampire knew that Tempest was very aware of his father's nature and from the beginning this had always been his favorite game to play, deprive the vampire of food until he was nearly ready to murder a small village to sate it. A dangerous game to play, but it seemed that Tempest father was a man of chance and he liked to push his luck.

"Is it that obvious?" Of course it was. His sickly appearance was even worse in the dim light. If he hid in the shadows he was sure to frighten any who walked by. Pained hunger continued to gnaw at his belly and despite the amusing front he put up, he was obvious he was hungry.

He lifted himself up slightly in order to shrug slim shoulders. "He will not wait much longer. This face can't look too terrible or he will be horribly disappointed," he assured. "Your father loves his games and I love to play along I suppose," he mused with a lazy laugh, brushing his cold touch across the other's blankets.

Tempest watched the vampire's face, tracing its features with his eyes.

"When was the last time you ate?" he asked. Truth be told, he wasn't too sure that his father would actually feed him soon. It might be more fun for him to see how far this game could go, and what Marco would do.

"Who knows?" It was hard to tell whether he was joking or not, a smile tugged at his lips. His fingers continued to trace into the blankets, the vampire closing his eyes just long enough where it might have seemed like he had fallen asleep. Impossible as his throat once more was engulfed in flames. His instincts told him to just kill, kill kill. It was starting to become difficult to ignore.

Marco turned his head slightly. "Your father seems to be going for a new record." It was the only hint he would offer. It was obvious it had been quite some time.

"I have been through worse though. He is nothing I cannot handle," he added as though to quell whatever worries Tempest might be having for him. Which would be foolish of him to worry about a creature like himself. "Are you concerned for me? That's not very wise of you," he scolded with a little click of his tongue.

"Of course I'm concerned," the man sat up and laid both hands on the sheets beside him. He shot the vampire another glance, a quick one that emphasized his worry with his eyes. He thought little of the vampire's hidden threat, and showed no sign of his venomous words affecting him in the slightest. He had known Marco long enough, and was close enough with him to know the dangers of being within close vicinity of him as often as he was.

"I know you have been through worse, but why not slip out now and find a meal?" He knew what he was suggesting, and knew that any potential meal of Marco's might perish. But Marco could not control what he was, and Tempest himself certainly had been no advocate for life in his time on their world. It would be hypocritical of him to suggest otherwise, he thought to his own amusement. More than anything, he wanted Marco to be well- as well as he could possibly be, anyway.

"As I said before, foolish." His tone was not so much scolding now as it was just simply annoyed. What right did he have to care about him? He was capable of taking care of himself, but maybe that was the hunger speaking, as Marco fully enjoyed being pampered and concerned for in most cases. It gave him a lingering sense of power when someone was worried of his well being.

An echoed laugh slipped past the vampire's lips. "Funny tonight, aren't you?" It would be obvious to his father if he were to sneak out and take a meal. He would not be able to control himself with a stranger. He would gorge on a meal till its very last breath and if he were to do that, he would look significantly better than when the man would have last seen him. He would surely notice. Tempest father was not one to share. He would most likely be filled with rage to know his pretty little pet had his lips on another.

"You know as much as I do that's impossible. I'm sure if I were to leave someone would notice. I don't believe it's worth the effort."

He proceeded to seem very uncaring about the situation. Truth was, and Marco was unsure if he would ever admit such a fact, he seemed to like the way a meal tasted when he was deprived of it for so long. Right now this was his own choice. Though that will of choice was beginning to fade and the vampire was sure to take too much if he truly would be allowed to feed tomorrow.

Temptest felt a twinge of annoyance, but made no show of it. Knowing that Marco normally enjoyed being cared for and pampered, Tempest came to the conclusion that the hunger was speaking. It wasn't the vampire's fault that he was being starved. Tempest remembered this as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm not being funny," the desert noble spoke up, in the most asserting voice he could muster. "You were able to slip in here unnoticed, you're more than capable of slipping out. You don't have to go far for a meal, either. There's plenty of rats and things, and slaves that my father wouldn't miss if they died of a sudden sickness," he said, implying that a death could be staged and his father was, indeed, stupid enough to fall for it. "And then you approach him tomorrow feigning hunger." He was a good enough actor anyway, though tonight Tempest dare not say it to his face and tempt his anger.

"Me? Feed on rats? Absolutely horrid." The last time he had to feed of something like rats was in the beginning of this new life. He was far too spoiled now to go back to something like that. They were far from appealing and he wondered if it would make him sick if he were to go back to it. The vampire's nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought.

With his elbows now propped against the mattress he laid his chin in the palms of his hands. "I'm far too important to be feeding off of rats of all things," he spoke firmly.

"I would not kill a slave." He favored them over most. Even though when most realized what he was and they feared him, he preferred their company. The vampire preferred to kill those who thought of themselves to be invincible due to their power or money. Much more satisfying then someone who was at the bottom of the food chain. "Your father, perhaps one day."

Marco was bold to voice those words, but it seemed like a common fact. He was sure that the boy's father was fully aware of this which was maybe why he kept him so weak and when he was hungry, would keep his distance from the alluring creature.

The vampire parted his lips, baring fangs. It wasn't to intimidate. If anything it was more like a silent yawn. "I can only hope it won't be an accident from my lack of a proper meal."

Plump lips pulled up into a smile and once more those dark eyes of his clearly one that belonged to a predator, locked onto the other. "Do my words upset you by chance?" he honestly wondered, tone gentle as he spoke.

Was he upset that Marco sought his father's life? Certainly not. If anything, his father's death would begin a new life for the both of them. Marco would no longer be needlessly starved, and Tempest would never have to see the two of them together again.

"I look forward to the day," Tempest finally answered after taking a moment to collect his thoughts.

Did Marco's words upset him? "No," Tempest insisted, speaking honestly. The only thing that upset him was seeing Marco having to act this way because he couldn't get a proper meal, and that he wouldn't settle.

"I just want you to eat something," he settled.

"I'll be sure to pass the message." There was no doubt of the tension between father and son. Marco was aware of it rather quickly and needless to say he took some advantage of it. He did not think he would enjoy the man's son more.

Marco laughed again, the sound quiet and alluring as he pressing the palm of his hand against his own cheek. "And what do you suppose you'll do about it?" The vampire offered a bit of a hum in thought. "I certainly won't feed off a slave or rats and sneaking out is out of the question. Should I steal a bite from your father as he sleeps? I wonder." The vampire's eyes glimmered a bit. He hinted with a slight look that he was not against attacking the other's father while he slept.

"We wouldn't want that just yet though," he mused with a tired voice. "Shall I take a bite from you? I'm not sure you would be able to handle such a thing," he mocked with another short laugh.

"I wouldn't mind." The tone of his voice suggested that he felt no attachment to the man that gave him birth. "It would help move things along," he pondered aloud, indulging himself in a moment of imagining the world without his father.

Although he made no show of it, Tempest enjoyed Marco's laugh. It was light and charming somehow, deceitfully so. He watched as the vampire pressed his hand against his face, an oddly graceful movement. Sometimes the man stood so still that it seemed as though he wasn't breathing, but when he moved it was as though he was always dancing. Tempest realized that he admired that about the vampire.

"Sure," Tempest responded to Marco's joking request with a smile, a laugh making its way through his pressed lips. But then, he paused for thought. "Why not do it?" Why not, after all?

"Because I doubt you could handle yourself. Or perhaps I could not stop myself? If I killed you here, would you really be okay with that chance?" Marco wouldn't kill him. He was the son of the man he had been feeding from for how long now? He did not doubt the blood was similar in taste. He would be able to control himself. After all he did so well when he was around his father. He needed to, for now at least.

Marco removed his hand from his face to sit himself up. "Has your father ever tried to brag of how it feels?" he wondered out loud.

It was different for each person he imagined. It was different for him after all and even more so when it has been awhile since his last feeding. The vampire drummed his fingers across the blanket. "And what if your father finds out? I'm sure for you it will end terribly," he added with a toying grin.

The nobleman's son gave the situation honest thought. He knew he could not be sure that he could handle it, but knew that Marco could stop himself. His father was living proof of this- if Marco could not stop, then his father would have been long dead. "I know you could stop yourself," Tempest told the man.

"Of course he hasn't tried to explain it," Tempest could have laughed. "He would much rather act as though I don't exist," he emphasized, "and I don't mind."

"You'd have no issue feigning hunger around him. He's a simple-minded fool, and you're a great actor." Tempest eyed him, carefully voicing his thought from much earlier.

"You put too much faith in a creature like me," he once more scolded, though it was a bit more playful this time. Tempest was not his ' master ' or whatever it was his father considered himself to be when it came to Marco. He could kill him and he was sure his father would not be so devastated of the news. He wouldn't though. He enjoyed his company and it was part of the reason he was still around.

The vampire laughed. "Of course I have no problem hiding what I have done. Though I suppose you don't need to hide anything. He never crosses paths with you. He is not very bright when it comes to check for such things. He truly believes he has this power over me. That I won't feed off of anyone else. Though I wonder if he thinks it's because I fear him." Voicing such a thought made the vampire laugh even more. Fearing a greedy human like him. It was a joke and a good one.

Marco's movements were quick. If one had not been paying attention to him closely, it might have seemed like he hadn't moved at all and suddenly transported himself to his next position.

The vampire wasted no time with keeping his hands off of Tempest, cold fingers cupping his face delicately. "I am not one to normally ask questions on if you are okay with this, but I suppose you can be the exception. After all I would hate to lose such an interesting companion." The vampire's voice was a low purr, luring in his attention with his soft spoken words. "You'll have to promise me you won't make any loud sounds, yes?" he added, bringing his face close to Tempest. Personal space was never an issue. He didn't care how close he got or how close others got toward him. With the charm he had, it was rare for someone to be upset to have such a beautiful creature sitting themselves in their lap.

The nobleman paused for thought, considering what Marco said, but didn't linger. There was a high possibility that Tempest was too trusting of him, but he didn't want to think too much about it.

While Marco laughed, Tempest said nothing. They both knew without having to explicitly state it that Tempest's father, in his own greed, believed that Marco feared him. It was laughable, but Tempest couldn't bring himself to join in.

And the next second, Marco had overcome him.

Tempest would have been lying if he said his heart didn't skip a beat. Despite his own training and physical prowess, no amount of human strength or grace compared to that of a vampire. Marco's speed was awe-inspiring, and his grace was a weapon.

Marco's hands were cold and felt stiff, almost as though trying to force them to bend would snap them in half. Tempest knew he should be scared, but surprisingly found himself feeling mostly excited. His chest filled with the pounding of his beating heart.

"I appreciate your concern," Tempest finally managed to say, "but if I wasn't good at keeping quiet, then I wouldn't be very good at my job." This wasn't really a time for jokes, and it was sure to go unacknowledged by the vampire, but it served to steady Tempest's breathing.