Bab 43: 2.13 Bite Down

A/N: in case you missed it, there is a change in the scene and they are now alone in Theodore's room (no parents watching lol)

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Theodore peeked at Raphael through his eyelashes, his mind still lingered on the previous event and he couldn't seem to get the vampire's true form out of his mind. That silver hair and crimson eyes, Theodore was sure that it would haunt his dream from today onward however whether it would be a good dream or nightmare, he couldn't ascertain.

Being left alone just added to the awkwardness of the situation. Even more when Raphael didn't talk and only leaned against the wall to stare at him. Theodore had no idea what he was thinking about. It was ridiculous. This was his own room so why was he even more nervous than the vampire?!

He crossed his arms and stared straight into Raphael's eyes in an attempt to exert momentum. "So you are really a vampire?" Theodore cursed under his breath. Of course he was. What kind of stupid question was that? He had clearly seen how piercing those bloody red eyes were. It was a kind of red he seldom saw, even purer and more brilliant than the deepest shade of red rose. Realization dawned on him abruptly. "Are you a pureblood?"

"I am." Lu Yizhou answered in a quiet voice.

Theodore racked his brain to recall the lesson of pureblood he had received before but it was getting difficult, especially when he stared into those eyes that had gone back to being silver but was still magnetic and ravishing nonetheless. Theodore gulped and Raphael's eyes moved down to follow the movement, sending shudders down his back. He wanted to tell Raphael to stop looking at him but at the same time, he was also elated to receive the vampire's full attention. "H—How old are you?"

He heard the man sighed. "It's been too long that I can no longer remember."

"Is...that so?" Theodore tapped his fingers on his arm and before he could think, the words came out. "So why are you here as a servant? You're a King, you should live surrounded by luxury." He narrowed his eyes and let out a disbelieving scoff. "Don't tell me… are you really coming for me?"

Lu Yizhou fell silent as he pondered how to respond. He had no qualms of admitting but after Callen's question earlier, it became a bit weird to say that the reason he was here was indeed Theodore. What would the teenager think of him? Wouldn't he be more repulsed than he already was?

Every second that ticked by made Theodore more and more restless. Why couldn't he just say it? If...If he confirmed it, what would Theodore do? One thing for certain was, he would be happy, so happy that every other thing seemed dull in comparison. His patience quickly reached its peak and he almost lost his temper when the sound of stomach growling echoed in the room, lengthy and full of vigor. Theodore froze. "You…"

"My apologies." Lu Yizhou grimaced. He held his forehead and straightened his back, intending to end the conversation here. "It seems like we have to do this another day. Tonight, it's a little—"

Raphael was hungry…? Theodore blinked a few times. "How long has it been since you last ate? Didn't I just share my food with you this mor—" His words trailed off and his eyes turned brooding. "...You can't eat human food?"

"Young Master…" Lu Yizhou said helplessly.

"Tell me honestly." Theodore clenched his fists. "You can't eat human food, right?" All these while, he had always forced Raphael to eat in front of him and felt satisfied when he saw food entering the man's mouth. He was a pureblooded vampire and for a pureblood, human food was akin to cow shit, Ben once told him. Theodore paled. What had he done...?

Lu Yizhou let out a sigh. "We should—"

"Tell me!" Theodore bellowed loudly, jaws tightening in apprehension.

Lu Yizhou stared at him silently then gave a small nod which caused Theodore's body to slacken in an instant. "I can't stomach those foods but it's okay as long as I vomit them out."

A wry laugh escaped Theodore's mouth as he rubbed his face. "And all these times I have always thought that I was a great help." He snapped his head up, eyes reddened. "Why didn't you refuse me? Was it fun to see me like that?! Did you pity me—"

"No!" Lu Yizhou turned his heels and approached him. He bent down to Theodore's eye level and emphasized with all earnesty. "I never pitied you nor have I laughed at you before. Young Master…" He lowered his eyes and his eyelashes shook gently. "I think you're very kind. Ben is right. You're a very good child—"

"I am not a child!" He cut in angrily.

The vampire seemed taken aback then he laughed, the sound mellow and velvety that it made his skin tingle. "Okay, you're not a child. My point is, I just couldn't reject your kindness, Young Master." He said with a thin smile on his face.

Why…? Why couldn't Raphael reject him? Why was he so kind and gentle? Why was he still here with Theodore? Why did he become his servant? He was clearly a king who should stand atop of others yet here he was, getting stuck doing tedious assignments and following ridiculous commands from an arrogant human young master…

Theodore bit his lips, his heart soaring by each second. Raphael did it all for him. He was the one who made Raphael stay. Theodore still had no idea what Raphael's purpose was but as a master, he should be responsible for his servant's well-being, right? He made a decision and with a deep inhale, started to unbutton his shirt.

Lu Yizhou's eyes widened at the sight. "What—"

"You're hungry, right?" Theodore's voice was trembling, so were his fingers. His own voice sounded estranged in his own ears yet he could care less. Staring into the vampire's silver eyes, Theodore slipped down his shirt, revealing his neck as he tucked his hair aside. "G—Go on!"

Lu Yizhou's eyes dropped to his neck and he vividly heard the vampire gulp. But in the next second, he had distanced himself a few meters away. "Stop. You have no idea how dangerous this is." He said, his head throbbing in pain.

Theodore forced the words out through gritted teeth. "You don't want to?" He was so nervous. Heck, he was already a bundle of mess right now. He might break down at any moment and die out of embarrassment. This was the first time he attempted to lower his pride, one thing he had never done for anyone before and it was so mortifying that he wished the ground would swallow him whole.

But this was Raphael. His Raphael.

"Ha…" Lu Yizhou pinched his brows, his expression grave and heavy. "Don't. I'm serious, Young Master. I haven't eaten for so long. You haven't got the slightest idea, I might snap your neck off and drink your blood clean—"

"Call me Theo." He stood up.

"...What?"

"I said, call me Theo. Not Theodore. I grant you permission for that." Theodore walked to the table and grabbed the fruit knife and under Lu Yizhou's astounded gaze, slashed on his fingertips. He winced and bit his lips out of pain. He was seldom hurt before and he hated pain like he feared death. Yet right now, as blood oozed out of the open wound, he was filled with thrill and exhilaration, especially as he caught sight of Lu Yizhou's eyes slowly flickered into crimson. His hair stood on its end and he shuddered. "Come here. Or...do you prefer it to go into waste?"

He pressed on the wound and the bead of blood hung on his fingertips, just a little more and it would drip to the floor. But then, Lu Yizhou was in front of him in the next second, pressing him hard against the table. The knife slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a clang. He gasped when the vampire's mouth wrapped around his bleeding finger, sucking and licking with fervor. "Is it delicious?" He asked, his breath turning heavy. It was weird. Raphael was the one who drank blood yet it was as if he could feel the satisfaction and euphoria the man felt. He was intoxicated, utterly.

"Theo…" Lu Yizhou's voice was hoarse as he rasped. One of his hands grabbed the table behind them tightly in an attempt to maintain his sanity and the hard mahogany wood crumpled under the force. "Push me away. Now."

Theodore pulled him closer instead, his flushed eyes filled with allure. Once again, he let his collar down to show his neck, shivering when Lu Yizhou let his finger go with a pop and turned his attention there, spellbound. "I said…" Theodore's hair was yanked from behind and he gasped sharply, his neck arched beautifully like a swan—no, he was a lamb, a sacrificial lamb that offered himself willingly to the devil. Lu Yizhou nuzzled his nose there and sniffed, his shoulders tense like a bowstring that was stretched to its limit. "Push me away now, Theodore. Otherwise I will not know what I might do."

"Why do you keep talking? Your body is more honest than your mouth." He hooked his arms around Lu Yizhou's shoulders and whispered into his ears. "I'm yours to feast upon. Now bite down, Raphael."

It was as if the last string that held the vampire's sanity snapped at that moment. He growled deeply and sank his fangs into Theodore's neck, eliciting a sharp cry from the teenager.

Theodore breathed heavily as he stared up at the ceiling, his eyes misty and dazed. The thick stench of blood permeated the air, mixed with the sweet cloying scent of rose. It was mystifying yet alluring at the same time. The corner of Theodore's lips curled upward as he raked his fingers through Lu Yizhou's hair which gradually changed into pure silver, pressing the man's head closer. "That's right…" He mumbled with a sigh. "You should drink. Drink as much as you want…"