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The wind sounded like music to his ears.
That ocean breeze flying past the giant fire— Jesus, it was wonderful. Michael didn’t know how much longer he could take listening to all those goddamn screams. He didn’t know much there were. Didn’t know how much were killed. There was a heavy fog clouding his memory of the past few minutes. At that point, all he could take in were flashes of yells and flesh being torn and flames being shifted by the air.
He couldn’t recall anything else in detail. Maybe because his nose caught on to the stench of blood before the pain in his abdomen overthrew the rest of his senses. It hit like a quick stab to the stomach; that sweet, delicious, intoxicating scent that basically took over his mind. Some tingly sensation flooded the rest of his body and it was as if he began moving on his own.
He couldn’t bear hearing the screams any longer. Not because they were downright horrifying but because he liked it, and he wanted— needed—, to have a taste in it. If he didn’t know any better, he would have jumped off that cliff the moment the first drop spilled.
But he had a certain amount of self-control; there wasn’t a thing in that cesspool of a city that could let him risk hurting Mom and poor little Sammy. No pleasure, no feeling, no person— hell, not even David, as much as he grew to adore the guy. His family didn’t deserve that. Not because of a selfish reason like filling his sick cravings. But then again,
"Couldn’t do it, huh, Michael?"
Michael’s eyes widened, and his head perked up to the figure on his side.
That god forsaken voice. Shit, it sounded better than whatever pleasure drinking some blood could give him.
Michael was sitting by the back of the tree with a tight grip on his stomach before the four had gotten back from their.. dinner. Before he could protest, he nearly flinched at David falling to his level, arms resting on his knees, and eyes not so far away from his own. The stench of the blood on his clothes and on his mouth mere inches away from his nose was driving him mad. The sounds of Paul and Marko’s laughter at the back alongside Dwayne’s steps on the dry grass immediately faded out the moment he spoke;
"Don’t wanna be like us? Fun? Free?"
"Be like you? Killers?" Michael blinked. Despite him backing against the bark even more and sweating heavily amidst the night cold, his brows were furrowed confidently. He managed to utter out, "You’ve gotta be insane."
David’s crooked grin fell to a light, bored frown. Michael’s stomach slightly dropped knowing he’d dissapointed him, but he held his stance. "Well, that’s no good." Then, a small smile crept back up his face, and he didn’t know why but Michael felt some sort of relief from it.
The vampire casually hopped up and waved a hand at the other three, glancing at them, then back at Michael on the ground. "Boys! You ought to get back. Michael and I got more to talk about." Michael didn’t know whether to smile or run at that statement— for all he knew, he could have a good talk with David or get himself killed. He began really questioning his survival instincts the moment the three boys walked away after giving David a few laughs and high fives.
Just to create that small opportunity in the case he needed to start running or fighting, Michael slowly stood from the ground with his eyes wearily locked on the other man. Which might have been a mistake, now that he got to admire his face against the firelight ‘neath the cliff. His relaxed smile, his calm yet striking gaze… He cursed at himself. That was the worst fucking time his heartbeat could’ve started quickening in glee.
Part of him felt he was making a mistake by not immediately retaliating. David may have been real fun to be around and drop-dead mesmerizing, but the blood around his lips spoke a far different message. And that smile— that charming, damning smile— never appeared when he had something kind in mind.
But the moment he motioned his hand forward, gesturing for the other to join him, Michael immediately felt his hand beginning to reach for it. He paused midway, however.
“What the hell do you want from me?” He squinted his eyes in doubt, fingers curling inward.
“You." He tilted his head. Michael’s heart paused for a second. “Just you and your time. It’ll make my night, you know? Won’t you join me?"
As if taken control by something that definitely wasn’t his right mind, Michael placed his hand on David’s, clad in blood and leather. A slight heat faded in on Michael’s face the moment the blonde suddenly held tighter, pulling him towards the side of the cliff. On the other side, next to the beach, was a slight forested portion with a lot more trees not so far away. Michael had only ever glanced at that part before, and his limited knowledge on Santa Carla’s layout couldn’t help much.
David nudged him toward the edge, hand still firmly held on Michael’s. He gestured his head toward the forested area. “That part with a lotta trees— it’s pretty quiet and empty. Usually has a few campers or loners." He stared straight into the other’s eyes. “Looks like a good place to chat, yeah?"
Before he could respond, the bastard just about yanked him off the cliff. “Shit!-" Michael yelled with David nearly passing out from the hearty chuckle he’d just let out. He jumped, carelessly gliding through the air while the brunet held on tight. Michael could feel his descent getting lighter and lighter without David’s help, and the cold breeze passing through his hair was pretty life-changing.
“Didn’t know half-vampires could fly?" David laughed aloud, glancing back into Michael’s astonished gaze.
He chuckled back. “Yeah…! It’s pretty great, huh?"
They fell softly to the forested area, shooting through a gap amongst the dark trees. The dense leaves and the crusted, thick barks told Michael those trees have seen history; probably one of those areas they hadn’t just torn down and industrialized for the people’s amusment. It was pretty pleasing to see, away from all the rides and stalls and streets packed with people and their noise. From the looks of it, though, that wasn’t what the blonde was there for. He got his eyes fixated on something else. Michael heard him whisper “Perfect.” under his breath.
“Follow me. I got something to show ya." He gestured forward, leading Michael deeper through the trees. The silence was wonderful; silence, meaning the sound of wind, rustling leaves and grass, and the faint sounds of singing and shouting from a mile away. That was the most quiet you could get in Santa Carla, he learned.
The two walked for a while with the sounds of crunching leaves for every step they took. The blonde really wouldn’t let go, dragging the other through the small portion of woods. Michael could see a faint light in the distance— something as small as a lantern that contrasted enough against the steep dark of the night. And just like that, he stopped.
“Looks like there’s a camper over there.”
Michael raised a brow. “Can’t go that way, then?”
David rolled his eyes in response and tugged the other a bit closer. “Seriously? Scared of a lone camper?" Michael looked away in, as much as he tried to hide it, slight embarrassment.
Without warning, the vampire pushed Michael up against a nearby tree, getting a soft grunt out of him. Then, with a firm hand on his chest, he leaned in somewhat close to his face.
“I want you to kill him.”
As taken aback as he was by the sudden command, Michael didn’t bother trying to explain any further. No matter what, he’d already told himself he wasn’t going to. He’s resisted his hunger once and he’d do it again. Not even if-
“For me. Won’t you?"
That gaze. Michael’s eyes had wandered into David’s and fell trapped in them. He didn’t know what the hell was happening, but he couldn’t so much as move from that tree. Not when he’s looking into that pretty, dark stare…
With nothing but the wind and David to focus on, he couldn’t help but admire him again. His eyes. His fanged, predatory smile.
The strong hold of his hand on his chest, pointy nails making light dents through his shirt and onto his skin. And good lord, that smell—
David traced a clawed finger up from his chest to collarbone to throat and finally his lips. The aroma of the dried blood on his fingers was practically dancing in front of Michael like a tempting piece of steak to a starving dog. Michael’s mouth involuntarily fell agape, vaguely trembling.
“It’d make me really happy to see you feed for the first time, Michael.” He spoke, voice slow, deep, and very much dangerous. “Unless, all you’re gonna do tonight is offer me dissapointments…"
Michael’s eyes widened, and his sweat began to roll down. “Wait, that’s-"
“Now you’re offering excuses?" David raised his brows, as if shocked. Michael sure as hell had no need to please him— a dissapointment wouldn’t end his life. But something at the back of his head— probably the same thing urging him to get a drink of blood— was telling him that David might offer him something more valuable than anything else if he did as he said.
And he adored the idea.
"… I don’t- I don’t know if…"
“You’re testing my patience.” His voice dropped, and the relaxed smile he always had seemingly disappeared into the air.
“David, I told you, I can’t."
And immediately, the blonde’s hand gripped the back of Michael’s head along with his hair, pulling him to the side to face the camper’s light in the distance. Then, David whispered softly into Michael’s ear, claws digging down into his head. For all he knew, he could be beheaded on the spot if he didn’t listen carefully.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you, Michael?"
He couldn’t bear to let out a word in fear he’d give an unsatisfactory response. David raised his voice; “I’m waiting for an answer."
“Yes.” He weakly let out. What pushed him was David’s demanding, but he couldn’t even lie about it. He was downright starving. For the past few days, he’d been ignoring the incessant pain scraping his abdomen dry. Ignoring every person and every scent. Most especially when Sam or his mom would give him a hug— God, the scent would be shoved into his face. Frankly, he didn’t know how long he could hold it.
As if he could read his mind, David continued; “You don’t have to hold it in anymore. No one’s here to see you. Just me, Michael. Won’t you indulge yourself, just for my eyes?"
Michael’s gaze was stuck on the distant light, but he could tell David put up his smirk just then. He then placed a hand on his stomach, his fingers gripping his shirt. It hurt. It always did, and the bloody scent on David put it close to a deadly pain.
His vision began getting hazy, and the small, human part of Michael’s head was fighting for every image of his life and family that stopped him from feeding then and there. But David’s very breath and touch took hold of him like nothing else— and the final nudge was him simply moving behind Michael, bringing one hand to his stomach and the other to his mouth. He felt David hug him close from the back. Then, the scent of blood flooded his mind, and a finger made its way into his mouth and gave him a slight taste of the dried human blood. His other hand traced his stomach, then shifted downwards, getting a soft whimper out of Michael.
And the final act was a loving embrace and a kiss to his neck. David whispered straight to his ear, “Go, darling.”
As if in a trance, Michael suddenly stepped forward and walked towards the camper by the middle of the small forest. He walked cautiously by instinct, making little noise and with eyes locked onto his target. He could feel his teeth aching and nails— now growing sharper than he remembered— itching to grab something. And the moment he saw the tent and a lone man by the fire, he went for the kill.
David watched. Circling poor Michael tearing into a man’s neck, like a vulture eyeing its prey.
Blood splattered across the tent and camping equipment— some even splashing into the fire. Michael looked even more stunning with all that red on him. It was a pure sight for sore eyes.
Once the screaming and thrashing quietted down and the man barely had any blood left to spare, Michael rested on his knees and licked the blood off his hands.
Despite being as good as dead, he’d never felt so alive.
He felt full, lively, strong, free of worry. Shit, he felt amazing. He didn’t want that feeling to end. That wonderful, sweet taste in his mouth— it was more than just addicting. He needed more.
As he huffed, a figure once again fell to his level and looked him proudly in the eye. Out of all the cocky smiles he’s seen on David, he’d never seen him look so overjoyed before. Inside, he felt a sense of accomplishment seeing his big, toothy grin.
David placed a gentle hand on the other’s head, leaning closer to him. “Good boy, Michael… You did so good.”
Michael couldn’t help but give a small grin, proud. He did it. Somehow, he’s never felt happier.
David’s hand shifted down to Michael’s cheek, then to his chin. He put a thumb over his lip, and Michael’s heart started pounding uncontrollably. “Good behavior ought to be rewarded. Isn’t that right?"