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After five thousand years, a month and now thanks to you, just till sunset, then destiny will be in his hands again. Were it not for you pinpointing the exact location of the stone, such a fate would have never come to pass. You couldn’t even imagine how agonizing the anticipation must’ve been. Such a tiny gem had enough power to make godlike beings chase it across the world and play everyone else in its presence like a damn puppet. Then again you had no business knowing all of that, as long as people weren’t dying because of you, you were happy with the large pouch of ancient gemstones before you.
After an entire month of research and almost perfect tracking, you helped him in finding the stone and that little container had your reward. Their value had enough worth to last three human lifetimes, as he assured. Even with an entire life’s worth of luxury ahead of you, unrest stirred in your heart. After leaving, the transaction will be complete and you will never see your patron again. And somehow that didn’t feel right, to leave without a proper conversation. He was quite polite and charming in your stay. Certain moments of murderous rage excluded, of course. Otherwise, this was your most interesting job ever involving vampires and vampire consuming Pillar Men.
You glanced at the ghostlike presence near the window, it reminded you of a statue carved under a master sculptor. Had you not known better then you definitely would’ve mistaken it for one. You almost attempted to strike a conversation until that silhouette decided to take that lead.
“Before you go...” as if the stillness had been cut with a velvety knife, if such was even possible, as the silhouette turned to approach you. The faint glow from its enigmatic and catlike eyes raised the hair on your back. Your heart thundered at the sound of every graceful step until the silhouette took the appearance of a man. Kars was his name, and that’s all you knew about him really. Save for his tendency to drain the life of his subjects in front of you and mockingly lift your gaze by your chin when you’d look away. All the while whispering his assurance that he’d never bring such a fate if you kept proving your usefulness.
An ancient and rich smell captured your senses momentarily as he stepped past you. It kept you distracted and lost in certain thoughts that would be rather embarrassing if disclosed. Alas, reality dragged you into its web when a light ‘thud’ sounded against your former desk. Upon closer inspection you saw a dark book, its few pages were bound in the most exquisite leather you had ever seen. Such a fine texture, as you discerned while running your fingers across the cover.
“There’s something you should know about me… and your kind too” he seated himself behind the desk then motioned you to take the spare.
Truth is, you were lost in listening to the lead Pillar Man’s rich, melodious voice rather than paying proper attention to what he actually said. For this reason, you quickly sat down, nodded and started thumbing through the pages.
“I’ve one final task for you” he smiled, leaning against the slender fingers which were curled into a fist “Narrate the contents of that book”
“That’s all? I can leave after that?” Compared to the tedious tasks you’ve been doing this entire month, this seemed deceptively easy.
“Yes, (y/n), after all there will be no use or reason to loiter here then, now would it?” Kars smiled wider while narrowing his mysterious eyes at your confusion. As you turned the pages, you found yourself glimpsing at the Pillar Man and admiring the elegant features which were lightly veiled by the subtle shadows, adding another layer of mystery to them. There was no denying how it suited his elegant features to perfection, even just thinking about him would cause your heart to pound against its bony cage. Denying it felt comforting but the truth was, to some extent, you were enamoured by his mysterious and ruthless ways. You asked yourself how can someone be so dangerous and yet so striking at the same time.
Your heart leapt out of your chest upon noticing him smirking at your adoring stare, it was enough to make you look away and concentrate on the book for now.
About ten minutes passed, you narrated through about five pages. Well, to be accurate, about three. For the other two had drawings, one had a man and a woman who looked very similar to Kars and his comrades. The next drawing had a picture of the stone mask that you had seen near the Pillar Man a couple of times. You never knew it had such significance, you just assumed it was a decoration or antique of some kind that Kars was fond of collecting. But then again, judging by the contents, it was a rare historical book. Unseen in the common libraries. You could even say that this is the first time you were seeing a book covering the extinct race.
However, appreciation for the rare find dampened upon reading the next line of information. Even the slightest noise refused to sound from your throat. Your horrified (e/c) eyes glanced at the man sitting opposite of you, his gaze held a twisted amusement in contrast to yours.
“What’s the matter? Continue...” a sly smile revealed his fangs, the gloomy light of torches made them glint like daggers. Your fingers trembled around the book until you shut the horrible thing “You… you killed everyone” you mumbled as the realization dawned on. All you could do at that moment was to stare at the desk and partly, at the book.
From lowered lashes, you noticed his sculpted torso lifting from the chair then heard the heels of his armored boots clack against the floor.
Footsteps trailed off from behind the desk to you and your shoulders tensed upon noticing that. However, before you could get up a pair of large hands gripping your shoulders hindered you. Your eyes closed when you sensed his robust physique leaning behind you.
“Read” his breath crashed against your ears while his nails dug into your shoulders. Had the circumstances been different, your cheeks would flush at the thought of him being this close but all you felt were the stings of unshed tears.
With great effort you managed to open the book and read through the same paragraph where you left off, or were scared off of. The last ray of hope within your heart was extinguished upon reading the part about the stone mask reacting with the Super Aja. Your voice broke before you could finish reading. It meant only one thing, and you delivered that which spelled doom for everyone, on a silver platter.
Kars’s grip on you loosened as he hummed from the amusement that your grief caused. “Now, now” he twisted your (h/c) locks around his fingers “There’s no reason to cry, you have done a stellar job haven’t you?” Kars held your chin to face him, you couldn’t tell if he was smiling upon seeing tears rolling down your pale cheeks. You clenched your jaw and tried your best to look away, the concern he feigned didn’t help the rage boiling your blood. Yet, what could your rage even do against this monstrous creature and would-be god? At best, you were as strong as a newborn kitten against him and even Kars knew it.
“Your human mind may not see it but these pathetic gems are nothing compared to what you’ve procured for me” he cooed, kissing your cheek. You shuddered when his soft lips contacted your skin. Nothing about him seemed charming anymore and all you wanted was to get as far away from him as possible but his thumb on your chin was enough to nail you down on this chair.
“I promise you, your death will be swift and painless… you deserve this much” he breathed the words while his lips lingered on you. Hopelessness filled up in your heart and exited your lips in quiet sobs, but all your grief did was to feed Kars’s twisted desires. He smiled against your jaw until you felt his tongue sliding up your cheek, savoring the newly formed tears.