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In the cold, oppressive silence of the cellar, the impact of Reggie's kick echoed, the door groaning as it swung inward. His heart hammered against his ribs, each beat a frantic plea for an answer he feared. Desperation was a bitter taste in his mouth, the air thick with it. Then, his eyes snagged on a figure suspended in the gloomy room, and a shaky breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaped him.
Luke.
A fleeting wave of relief washed over Reggue, only to be swallowed by a deeper, colder dread.
Luke hung from the ceiling by chains, a macabre puppet in the suffocating darkness. His body was limp, head lolling, a curtain of disheveled hair obscuring his face. He was utterly still, oblivious to Reggie's presence, lost to the world in a troubling, profound unconsciousness.
A visceral fury ignited in Reggie, hot and sharp.
He sprinted forward, the burgeoning sickness in his gut and the deafening thrum of his own pulse fading into background noise. His only focus was Luke, freeing him from this wretched nightmare.
With trembling hands, Reggie cupped Luke's face. The contact sent a jolt of ice through him. Luke's skin was ashen, cold as marble.
“Luke? Luke, hey, wake up. It's me, Reggie. Wake up, baby,” he pleaded, his voice a soft, fractured whisper. He gently shook the unconscious vampire, but Luke's eyes remained stubbornly shut, unresponsive to Reggie's desperate pleas.
Panic clawed at Reggie's throat, threatening to consume him. He shoved it down, a desperate surge of determination overriding the rising tide of fear.
He had to focus.
He had to free Luke.
Releasing Luke's face, Reggie seized the chains. With a single, brutal yank, he shattered them, and Luke slumped into his arms. The unexpected weight sent Reggie stumbling back, but he quickly hooked an arm around Luke's waist, preventing a full collapse as the vampire remained motionless, a dead weight in his arms.
Reggie sank to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him as he cradled Luke close. Desperation carved lines into his face. “Please, baby, I'm here. I'm here now. I'm sorry,” he whispered, shaking Luke gently.
The agonizing hours of not knowing Luke's whereabouts had been a torment for Reggie. Julie, a formidable witch, her power and determination unwavering, had finally pinpointed Caleb's lair, a vampire hunter who had been relentless in his pursuit of Luke. Now, with the location secured, Reggie had burst through the door, Alex and Willie hot on his heels.
Luke, always a bastion of strength, both in mind and body, usually radiated an undeniable power. But now, cradled in Reggie's arms, he was fragile, delicate. Reggie dared not imagine the horrors Caleb had inflicted upon him. A chilling intuition whispered of vervain , its venomous touch a lethal blow to vampires.
A primal growl rumbled in Reggie's chest, a desperate urge to tear into their tormentors. He found a sliver of solace knowing Alex and Willie were already tending to those responsible right now. Because for Reggie, right now, all his attention was on Luke, his well-being paramount.
He swayed, holding Luke close, murmuring entreaties for him to awaken.
A faint flutter of Luke's eyelids caught his attention, and Reggie inhaled sharply, a sliver of hope piercing through his despair. “Luke?” he breathed, his voice laced with trepidation.
Slowly, agonizingly, Luke's eyes drifted open. “Reg…” The word was a mere whisper, a struggle to escape his lips. Their gazes met, but Luke's eyes were glassy, unfocused.
“Yeah,” Reggie said, his voice a hurried, gentle whisper. He reached out, his hand delicately brushing Luke's right cheek. “I'm right here,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I'm sorry for not arriving sooner.”
He froze as Luke's hand shot out, seizing Reggie's wrist with a bone-chilling, almost painful grip. The vampire began pushing his hand away, a desperate plea escaping his lips. “Reg... I need…” A network of inky black veins abruptly materialized beneath Luke's dilated eyes, lending an ominous, unsettling aura to his appearance.
Reggie already knew. “I know,” he said, his voice trembling despite his best efforts at composure.
Because this was uncharted territory. Reggie had known Luke for three years and, in all that time, had never seen Luke drink human blood, not even his own. Luke had always vehemently refused, and Reggie hadn't truly understood why until a month into their relationship.
Bloodlust was an ever-present torment for vampires, but for a select few like Luke, it reached unfathomable depths. Their insatiable thirst seemed insurmountable, as if no amount of drained bodies could ever quench it. These vampires were known as rippers , infamous for their unrelenting hunger. But there were others who desperately sought to avoid such a fate: Luke had valiantly battled his cravings for decades, knowing all too well that succumbing to the allure of human blood might prove woefully inadequate in satiating his relentless appetite.
Reggie was acutely aware of the risks, but he couldn't ignore the dire situation Luke was in. Luke's vitality was rapidly dwindling, his life hanging by a thread. Reggie knew he possessed the sole opportunity to provide Luke with the life-giving blood he desperately needed.
“Take mine,” he commanded Luke in a hushed breath, desperately attempting to guide the wrist Luke had been pushing away toward the vampire's awaiting mouth.
“N-No,” Luke weakly protested, rejecting Reggie's wrist once again.
“Yeah, no, buddy,” Reggie responded firmly, a mix of anger and admiration coursing through him at Luke's unwavering determination, even in his feeble state. “There's no room for discussion here.”
“R-Reggie,” Luke gasped, his voice filled with pain and inner turmoil. He shook his head, torn between his vampiric instincts urging him to seize the opportunity and his heart compelling him to resist. “I-I won't be able to s-stop.”
Reggie believed him. Nevertheless, he was willing to take the risk. “I don't care. Just do it.”
This time, Luke lacked the strength to resist as Reggie forcefully guided his own wrist to Luke's lips.
Both of Luke's hands clutched Reggie's arm, and if Luke possessed even a fraction of his usual vampire strength, Reggie had no doubt bones would have cracked.
And then, Luke's vampiric nature triumphed, and Reggie watched with apprehension as Luke's mouth unhinged, exposing his menacing fangs. Without warning, they punctured Reggie's skin, triggering an immediate surge of excruciating pain that radiated from his wrist throughout his arm. The agony compelled Reggie to involuntarily cry out. In any other circumstance, this would have halted Luke's actions, but not today. Instead, Luke's grip on Reggie tightened, and his fangs delved deeper, relentlessly pursuing the life-giving flow of blood.
Reggie was surprised when Luke abruptly released his wrist, his blood-tinted teeth grazing Reggie's skin in the process. A frown etched across Reggie's face, a pressing inquiry lingering on the precipice of his tongue. However, before he could voice his question, Luke's firm grip seized the nape of his neck, and when Reggie realized what was about to happen, it was too late.
Fangs sank deep into his neck, a voracious assault on his jugular. Reggie gasped, eyes squeezed shut against the pain. Luke, pulling him close by the nape of his neck, brought their chests almost flush. While Luke's body remained cool, Reggie's burned with an intense heat, leaving him lightheaded. It was no surprise, considering his vampire was greedily consuming every precious drop of his blood, sparing none.
“L-Luke,” Reggie gasped, his fingers trembling as they gripped Luke's waist. Reggie’s heartbeat pulsed in his neck, gradually subsiding, while Luke's fangs seemed to penetrate his very being, draining his life force. Every ounce of blood within him seemed to flee. “S-Stop,” he pleaded weakly, his voice quivering.
But Luke didn't stop. He didn't falter once. Reggie was the prey now, trapped at the mercy of a killer, driven by an insatiable hunger for blood.
Shit , Luke was going to kill him. And then Luke would probably want to kill Reggie for killing him. And maybe now wasn't the time to joke, but Reggie felt slightly delirious. He had never envisioned his demise, but at least he was meeting his end in the embrace of his beloved.
Oh fuck , he needed to get a grip.
With a forceful grunt, Reggie seized Luke's arm, attempting to push him away. But his feeble resistance proved futile as Luke swiftly overpowered him, causing Reggie to collapse entirely. It was evident that Luke's vampire agility had returned as he pinned Reggie down with remarkable speed. A menacing display of bared fangs and hissing followed, although Reggie's overwhelmed mind barely processed these details. His vision blurred, leaving him in a dazed state, until Luke lunged once more, sinking his teeth into the untouched side of Reggie's neck.
Perhaps if Reggie just allowed himself to close his eyes, if he ceased his futile struggle...
A sudden, searing pain jolted through his neck, akin to the abrupt yank of a bandage. With great effort, Reggie struggled to open his eyes, his vision blurry as he gazed up at the ceiling. Luke, who had been there moments ago, was nowhere to be seen.
Where had he gone?
An overwhelming sense of panic gripped Reggie, but despite his disorientation, he summoned the strength to prop himself up on his elbows.
“Calm down,” someone grunted, their voice resonating in the tense air.
Reggie's gaze darted toward the source of the new voice, his eyes blinking rapidly to process the unfolding scene.
Alex had arrived, forcefully pinning Luke against the wall with a firm hold on his shoulders. Naturally, Luke resisted, attempting to shove Alex away. Undeterred, the blonde vampire countered with a push of his own, his face contorted in a slight grimace. Luke responded with a loud, menacing hiss, but Alex appeared almost nonchalant in the face of it. Then, with a deft movement, Alex's hands found their way to Luke's neck, resulting in a swift crack that audibly reverberated through the air.
Luke's body went limp, collapsing to the ground in an unconscious heap.
“Reggie? Shit, Reggie, you okay?”
Reggie blinked. Willie had rushed to his side, his eyes wide with concern.
“I'm okay,” he reassured his friend, though his voice sounded feeble even to his own ears.
But in an instant, darkness consumed him, swallowing him whole.
Reggie awoke in the soft light of his and Luke's room. (Though technically Luke's, it had become theirs over the years.) Gentle sunlight filtered through a slender opening in the drawn curtains, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Before the window, Luke stood with his back to Reggie, only a sliver of his profile visible. His head was gently inclined, bathed in the sun's warm glow that softened his skin.
Luke possessed an ethereal allure, a beauty that transcended the typical darkness of his kind. It was beneath the radiant sun, however, that his true beauty flourished. Reggie's heart swelled with gratitude for the magical ring that allowed Luke to walk in daylight, enabling them to create lasting memories. Sometimes, they would embark on idyllic picnics in lush parks, bask in the golden rays while strolling along sandy shores, or revel in the tranquility amidst vast prairies. In the enchanting forest near their home, they would take leisurely walks, hand in hand. Every sunlit adventure became a testament to their bond, to the extraordinary love that flourished between a mortal and an immortal.
Luke stood motionless before the window, his gaze fixed on the outside world. Reggie knew, without a shred of doubt, that Luke had detected the quickened rhythm of his heartbeat since awakening. The vampire was acutely aware of Reggie's consciousness stirring. Yet, Luke remained unmoving, his back steadfastly toward Reggie.
“Luke?” Reggie's voice was a hoarse whisper.
A foggy haze engulfed his mind, leaving him disoriented. How long had he been unconscious? What had happened? He suspected that Julie, with her mystical abilities, had intervened to aid his recovery. It wouldn't be the first time they had relied on each other for such extraordinary measures, engaging in blood transfusions to sustain their complicated lives. Hospitals and mere mortals were often ill-equipped to assist them in their... unique predicaments.
Reggie thought he heard Luke take a deep breath upon the mention of his name, though he wasn't entirely certain. The vampire steadfastly avoided making eye contact, his arms tightly crossed over his chest. It was evident that Luke was immersed in his own contemplations, his demeanor betraying a sense of distress. Reggie could easily surmise the cause of Luke's emotional turmoil.
Reggie raised his body with a deliberate effort, propping himself up on his elbows, luxuriating in the gentle caress of the silk sheets. “Luke?” he whispered once more, his feeble voice hoping to reach its intended recipient.
“You could've died,” Luke's words slipped from his lips. The urgency woven into his tone sent shivers down Reggie's spine, even from a distance. Luke's tension was palpable, radiating like an invisible force. Still, Luke avoided meeting Reggie's gaze.
“Luke… Look at me. Please?”
Reggie anxiously waited, his fingers fidgeting restlessly in his lap, while Luke remained fixated on the view outside. After a moment, Luke took a deep breath and turned around slowly, maintaining a respectful distance with his arms crossed, creating an emotional barrier. Reggie yearned to be enveloped in Luke's embrace, but he understood that what Luke needed at that moment wasn't physical closeness; he needed reassurance. Luke's face displayed profound anguish, as though he was gazing upon Reggie's lifeless body. But Reggie was very much alive.
“I could never have forgiven myself if you had died,” Luke whispered, his voice filled with anguish.
Reggie's heart pounded in his chest as he swallowed hard, closing his eyes momentarily to gather his courage. With silent determination, he slowly extended his hand towards Luke, palm facing up.
Luke hesitated, his restraint palpable, but Reggie persisted, wiggling his fingers and tilting his head, silently urging Luke to bridge the gap.
Then, in that fleeting moment, all resistance dissolved from Luke's weary frame. He released his tense arms, surrendering to the vulnerability, and finally closed the distance between them, his hand intertwining with Reggie's.
With a gentle tug, Reggie guided Luke to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. His voice, soft and filled with conviction, broke the silence. “But I didn't die,” he countered. “I knew Alex would be there, that he would act swiftly enough.”
Attempts to appease Luke proved futile as his scowl returned, etching lines on his face. His gaze darted towards Reggie's neck, where the lingering marks were still evident, or so Reggie assumed.
Meeting Reggie's eyes with a stern expression, Luke spoke tightly, though a quiver betrayed his underlying emotions. “Don't ever do that again, Reg,” he uttered, the weight of his words hanging in the air. His gaze hardened, yet managed to convey a softness as it locked onto Reggie's. “Promise me.” His grip on Reggie's hand tightened, firm but not painful.
Reggie huffed, refusing to break the intense eye contact with his beloved, albeit frustrating, vampire. “Luke, if it comes down to choosing between you and me, I'll always choose you. I'm sorry, but I can't make that promise.”
Luke seemed to find Reggie's response unacceptable, his nostrils flaring in a display of frustration. “You... You're so stubborn,” he muttered, shaking his head in disapproval. But his gaze held a glimmer of admiration, as if he had stumbled upon a captivating creature and found himself appreciating Reggie's defiance.
“Funny,” Reggie remarked with a slight grin, his words punctuated by a small smile. “I could reciprocate the sentiment about you.” But even as Reggie delivered his playful remark, Luke's expression remained unmoved, not even a hint of a smile. Reggie let out a weary sigh, gently clasping Luke's hand and offering a reassuring squeeze. “Luke... You and I both know that you would have done the same for me.”
Luke's mouth fell open, but he remained silent, his eyes scanning every inch of Reggie's face, as if memorizing each feature, confirming his presence. They lingered on Reggie's lips for a moment before locking onto his gaze once again. After a beat, Luke softly admitted, his voice barely a whisper, “Yeah... Yeah, I would have.”
“I'm alright,” Reggie responded in the same hushed tone, now holding Luke's hand with both of his own. He raised it to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss on the back of Luke's hand. “You're alright. We're alright.”
Luke appeared determined to continue arguing, indicating the conversation was far from over. Reggie sensed this and knew there was more to come. But the vampire eventually relented, his eyelids flickering and his eyelashes gently brushing against his cheeks as Reggie kissed his skin once again. In response, Luke's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, if only slightly.
As Reggie's hand caressed Luke's cheek, he belatedly noticed the faint teeth marks on his own wrist. While he didn't mind the marks, he anticipated that Luke would be bothered by them. In an attempt to withdraw his hand, Reggie found it swiftly captured by Luke, who firmly grasped his wrist. With a serious expression, Luke turned Reggie's hand over, his somber eyes fixating on the bite marks.
“I'm so sorry,” Luke whispered apologetically. Before Reggie could offer reassurance, Luke kissed the wound with delicacy. His lips lingered on the skin for a few seconds, and it wasn't until Reggie felt a damp sensation that he realized Luke was crying. A tear had fallen onto his skin, onto the bite mark.
Reggie's heart shattered. He knew better than to pounce on Luke without warning, but he couldn't resist the overwhelming urge. Wrapping his arms tightly around Luke's neck, he clung to him desperately. Luke stiffened for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected embrace, but soon surrendered to the warmth and reciprocated, encircling Reggie in his embrace. A shiver ran down Reggie's spine as Luke gently nuzzled his neck, planting tender kisses on the remnants of previous bites. Squeezing his eyes shut, Reggie's fingers found solace in running through Luke's hair.
No matter the perils that loomed, no matter the lurking danger of Luke's unpredictable impulses... The safest place was still in his arms.