UkUs - Village Vampire Ch. 6

 Alfred waved Dr. Wang goodbye, closing the door and resting his head on the wall next to it. 'Rosa's asleep again and he's gone now. It's time to talk to Arthur... I really hope he's calm down some.' Alfred turned and walked towards his bedroom door, hesitantly knocking on it. "Arthur?"

 "Yes?" The vampire faced the door, awaiting his next victim on the bed. Anger clouded his mind and the time passed helped cleared it but Arthur was eager to lashing out at the fool with his silver tongue.  

 "I wanted you to know I'm sorry. I didn't ask him to come, but when I ask him yesterday about large wounds to wanted make sure I was helping you, ok? He decided to come over because he thought that Rosa may have been the one that I was talking about." He bit his lip, staring at the door.

 'That human really cares about me, doesn't he?' The vampire gritted his teeth, remembering said human caused his major heart attack. He opened the doorway between them and returned to his seating. "You may come in. I won't bite." Emphasizing the last word, the scorned monster crossed his arms and legs, closing off the other man.

 The blue eyed smiled slightly and stepped in to the room. "May not want to joke about that at this time." Blue eyes looked down shyly before he glanced up. "I wanted to make sure you would be ok, I didn't mean for him to visit since you said you didn't want him too."

 He smirked, replying with strong bitterness, making sure Alfred heard his venomous tone. "I thought it was funny. I need some humor after that scare."  

 "You were scared? It wasn't cause of the needle, was it? I know I don't like them myself. Or were you scared of the doctor?" Alfred stepped forward, wanting to comfort him but knowing he was still upset. When he first arrived to the village, he told Doctor Wang his bad past with doctors and asked to not have the check ups most villagers had.

 Arthur nodded, feared being revealed and asked lowly. "Have you ever been so frighten for your life?" Honestly, he almost erased the feeling from his mind the first time it knotted in his chest. After the terror of that night, Arthur believed the unknown vampire craved all of his body, ripped apart just like his family members.

 "I have. I had a brother once, Matthew, a year younger then me. We looked so similar many called us twins. When he was fifteen, he caught a terrible illness, small pox." Alfred thought back to late nights of coughing, comforting the crying boy and the stench of burning flesh of dozens of poor people whose lives were ended much to soon. "He died a week later. I never want to experience such a life threatening situation again." He looked away, drawing a deep breath trying to forget the image of Matthew's skin turning into hard rivets. Unnoticed by him his hands shook, voice soften. "I tried to take care of him, but nothing I did worked. That's why I was so worried about you, I don't want you to die too." He glanced at Arthur then at the floor. 'Humans are so weak, a cut like his is fatal to them.'

 Arthur's heart beat slightly harder, affected by the tale of woe he empathized with and also by Alfred. 'Why does he care quickly to strangers?' He felt his anger subside, thinking about his lost of family. His eyes met the floor, ghostly feeling his mother's goodnight kiss on his cheek from that night. The vampire and human shared another similarity, missing dear family members. "Your parents couldn't do anything?"

 "Dad was out sailing at the time. Mom... I don't know where she went after we found out. I woke up the next day and she was gone." Alfred shrugged trying to hide his rage and grief at what happened. 'I never did find her trail after all my search. She's dead by now anyways. Dad died shortly after hearing the news about Matthew.'

 "I'm sorry to hear about that." Feeling Alfred's suffering and his own together, Arthur could almost take him into a tight embrace. 'I think we may have more in common.' "I thought I could trust you. I thought you really asked the doctor to come."

 "I thought we could have gotten along because I like you. I guess I was wrong." Alfred stared back at the floor, frowning. "I understand if you don't want to stay here anymore." He knew he would sulk for weeks after Arthur left, but at the same time, he didn't want him to resent life here if he was forced to stay.

 His heart changed to a stronger pulse on its own. Arthur had not felt this way since the horrific slaughter which he realized he kept remembering. "N-no... I..." He what? Arthur wanted to stay, he wanted to drink him, he told himself. "You've grown to like me already?"

 The other man blushed faintly looking over at him. "How could anyone not like you?" 'Your eyes as green as the forest, hair blonde as the sun, skin white and soft as silk.' Looking further down, blue orbs stared closely onto Athur's lips, he licked his own slowly. 'And those, lips which I... I want to touch, want to taste, want to feel against my mine.'

 Given his paleness, the vampire's redness appeared more prominent, but the darken bedroom helpfully hid it. "I hadn't expect you to. I..." 'I can't believe your kindness. I almost don't want to bite-' No! The demon refused to let himself grow soft already. Blood, it was all about his survival that mattered. This pitiful human was just that, pitiful, nothing else, he meant nothing to Arthur. 'Fool him, lie to him.' He advised himself, sighing lowly. "I haven't given you anything and you have treated me so well, Alfred." He returned the look.

 "You don't need to give me anything. I'm happy just being with you." Alfred faced away, no longer blushing.

 "I'm pleased to hear that." A false smile forced on his lips, he reached out his hand as if grabbing his soul. "Forgive me for doubting you."

 The blue eyed sir stepped closer, grinning back. "As long as you can forgive me. I don't like us being angry at each other or I should say you being angry at me."

 Arthur held his hand again and closed the space between with his arms around Alfred's waist. "I'm not angry." Licking dry lips, Arthur breathed in the scent of sweet iron. 'I'm thirsty.'

 The blonde blushed and wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck, smiling gently. "I'm so happy about that. Thank you."

 "You're welcome." His green eyes stared at the scarf blocking his access to the human's vein pulsing throat. He tried to move it with his nose but it was tied securely. "I've never seen you without this."

 "My mom made it for me, reminds me of better times." Alfred squirmed away from the cold nose, fighting back a laugh.

 Arthur placed his lips boarder-lining a kiss on his neck, a distraction method. "Oh?"

 Alfred nodded bright red. "I picked the color because she said it matched me eyes. Doesn't match them now though." He slowly moved away, not wanting the embrace to end but knowing it had lasted longer than it should.

 "I say it still does, no matter how faded it may become." Arthur's mouth parted against his skin.

 Alfred stepped back face red. "T-thank you. I-I'll go start the food." The blonde hurried out of the room before he jumped the British man.

 Arthur disappointingly exhaled, watching his food run away. 'The dance, I have a full buffet at the dance. I just need a way to be there without drawing attention to myself.' With a missing Alfred, the town's people may be too careful around Arthur to want to be close.

 Calming himself down, the chef slowly cooked the small catch of chipmunks. 'I'll try to find a deer tomorrow for him, to show him how happy I am that he's forgiven me.'

 XXXX

 "Does everyone in the village assist the perpetration for the dance?" Arthur watched as Alfred headed into the night. He observed the villagers earlier clearing away animals with harmless nets and clipping the grass to an even trim. 'After tasting Alfred, I'll have to kidnap a victim, a to go meal as I travel to a new location.' He had to be prepared and a few steps ahead of everyone from now on. 'But who this time?'

 "In a way, yes, some like me go set up the decorations and other such things for the dance, some make food or practice their performances." Alfred grinned.

 "I guess you don't need any of my help then?" His eyes settle on a musical man, from the distance, Arthur couldn't read his features but noticed a long curl standing from his dark hair. 'Not a burly person, he doesn't seem the type to fight his way out of my grasp.' Why not kidnap the blue-eyed man instead, he asked himself.
 
 The blonde tilted his head in thought. "If you want you could come with me. I don't know if they need more people but I'm not usually told such things."

 Not wanting any more people to know his existence, the beast turned down his offer. "You need me to look after your friend." The vampire glanced at the sleeping old woman but thoughts stay on the human. Yes, why not Alfred? 'Not him, because he is very strong against me, then again, I could persuade him to willingly leave?' With the old woman needing constant watch, that didn't seem likely.

 He was sad that his friend said no, but at the same time Rosa did need someone with her. "If you're sure."

 "I am. Someone needs to give her medicine." He waved him good-bye. "Go on and enjoy yourself doing your part in continuing a wonderful tradition." 'I do want him by my side-' He slapped his head quickly. No, no, he didn't mean it like that! 'All I really want are his dry bones picked off by the scavengers when I'm finished with him. That's all!'

 Alfred smiled and waved as he hurried out the to the grassy field. "I'm already late, thank you so much Arthur! I'll make it up to you later!"

 Relaxing himself, Arthur shouted quickly before Alfred ran out of range. "I haven't repaid you though!" The beast had every intention to repay the human but he planed on drinking from him. 'This inner confliction is growing too bothersome.'

 "Whose keeping count? Don't worry about it, Arthur!" Alfred turned so he was running backwards and waved at the house, grinning wildly, his laugh echoing.

 Arthur stared, almost lovingly at the other man. 'He's... amazingly caring... so alive.' He caught himself chuckling and grinning but didn't care, no one was around to see his fangs.

 Alfred slowed to a walk as he caught sight of the hill the dance was held this year. 'I want to ask him to come with me to the dance. But what if he doesn't want to come because he's fearful he'll get hurt again? I don't want to force him to come with me or make him think he has to.'

 "Hurry! Alfred!" Feliciano called out to him like a saving grace, trying to balance plates and glasses on his arms. They were his grandfather's finest dishes, only used for the Starlight Dance. He would hate himself forever if he scratched or broke any of them.

 "Whoa Feli!" The blonde dashed forward and caught the glasses away from the small Italian. "You gotta be a bit more careful! There's not need to rush! The sliver wear isn't going to get up and run away, you know." Alfred smiled down at him, placing the glasses on the near by table.

 "I'ma so excite though!" Even with Ludwig unable to attend, Feliciano managed to count down the days to the dance. This was not the time for sadness over his German lover but a joyous night to remember their previous romances together. The Italian took a deep breath, straightening out the dishes and kissed the blonde's cheek."I thank you a so much, Alfred!"

 "No problem dude. You need anymore help?" 'Funny how he kisses my cheek and I don't even blink but a touch from Arthur will color me red.' Alfred sighed lowly, glancing back towards where the house was.

 "Romano needs some help in setting up the altar and archway for those marrying." He pointed to his brother, who was also surprising the reverend, given his foul language. Romano cursed lowly, grunting and carrying the altar, almost dropping it near Roderich's rehearsing band.

 "I'll go help him real quick then, see you later." Alfred sauntered over to the dark haired Italian. "Your bro said you may want some help?" One thing he had learned about the older twin was if one said he needed help he would get very offend and curse them out in a mixture of Italian and English.

 "I can handled maself!" He grunted louder, trying the erect the heavy archway for decoration by Lily and Elizaveta. "Ack!" Romano's back popped while straining himself but pushed on lifting. 'My damn devotion to the village lovers will send me into an early grave!' Sweat managed to form and trail down his forehead even with only the moon out. 'These young bastards better not divorce or else I'ma throwing them a book!'

 Alfred stood by him waiting for him to either let it fall or move it into place. 'I'll stay here just in case it's too much for him, then I'll swoop in and save the night!'

 The cursing reverend gave Alfred a glare. "I'ma a getting too old for this!" Finally the archway raised ready and Romano rested in one of the chairs, rubbing his lower back.

 "Nah, you did wonderful! Anyone say you're getting old is totally lying." 'You're only twenty-five.' Eyes rolling, Alfred grinned and shook his head. "You should go make sure Feli puts the dishes in the right spot. You remember last year when he got distracted by that kitten of Lily's and didn't do anything?"

 "Since you're lonely, you could have helped him too." Romano stepped over to his twin anyway and fixed the arrangements. "How many a times do I have tell you there's a difference between a dinner fork and a salad fork!?" Waving the utensils, he threaten Feliciano, scolding him hard about table etiquette.

 Elizaveta held Lily around the waist as she looped flower stems into the frame work of the arch. Young Lily giggled, first time in a while, having fun adorning the flowers with a long white cloth.

Alfred smiled to himself. 'I won't be alone this year, if I ever get the courage to ask Arthur to come with me.' Blue eyes watched Elizaveta and Lily for a moment before looking away. 'I don't want to offer my help over there, she hasn't smiled for days.' Alfred wondered over to the musicians, waving at Ravis. "Yo, need any help over here?"

 "Please tell us what you think of this melody." Roderich began to conduct with his violin bow as Ravis and Eduard strummed their string instruments. After swinging lightly, he started playing and singing in perfect pitch. "Together we can make it, oh. The secret is you, it's love. When I smile inside my heart feels so free." His eyes darted at the location of the jail. "All the fears and doubts, they turn into belief."

 Alfred swayed slowly with the beat, smiling softly. "It's great music to dance to, sounds like a falling in love piece to me. Are you going to have that be one of the opening songs?" 'I would love to dance with him during this song.'

 "We can, but we're also playing it for any marriages tomorrow." Eduard looked at the others covering chairs and tables with decorative sheets. 'We won't have as many though.'

 "I can't wait to hear the other pieces then." Alfred waved and hurried over to Elizaveta who he noticed was all alone. "Hey, what are you doing now?"

 "Getting ready, like everyone else." She faced him, adding petals to table tops. "Alfred, do you want to meet me by the band so we can actually have a dance tomorrow?" She laughed to herself. "I'm sorry that I keep getting taken away from you."

 "It's understandable, you have two men after you," Alfred grinned wolfishly at her, then more seriously continued, "but if I ever get up the courage I'll be bringing someone to the dance myself. Unless he flat out rejects me, then I doubt I'll be coming anyway."

 One of the said chasing men overheard them, Gilbert, smirking as widely as his mouth allowed. "Loveless Alfred will stay loveless, heh, heh. He never has a cute woman on his arm." He tapped Elizaveta's arse then rubbed in circles.

 She slapped his hand away in a huff then gripped his fingers. "He's busy taking care of our dear Rosa." She then began interrogating Alfred as Gilbert whined to himself with his hurt digits, failing at prying them free. "So, you're going to ask a man? Who is he? Do I know him?"

Alfred shook his head, grinning slightly. "He's new here, I found him lost near the house. His name is Arthur, he travels the world like I did before I found this place. He was thinking about leaving right away but when he heard about the dance he seemed to want to stay and see it for himself."

 "L'amore~" Eavesdropping about a mystery man he never heard of aroused the curiosity of one certain villager. "Maybe you can give him to moi~?" He threw petals around himself, twirling and placing a lily between his teeth. "I'll show him the best time of the dance especially if he's new!" By new Francis meant virgin and the town knew it. "Honhonhon~"

 "He has better taste than that, I've also already warned him about you." Alfred glared sharpen daggers at the Frenchman, fighting back a growl. 'If you come within ten feet of Arthur I'll dump you in the well and laugh about it.'

 Both Francis and Elizaveta took a step back and stared at each other, amazed by his sudden change in character. "Oh? You want to keep the unknown man all to yourself? I hear the sounds of love~" He snickered at the woman from Hungary, who giggled loudly, both playing off Alfred's defensiveness.

 "Like hell anyone can like that loser." Glibert threw his opinion in which earned himself a tighter squeeze on his near white fingers. "Aie!"

 In addition, Elizaveth also smacked his head. "Well, you did keep him a secret from us. Never mentioning him before. I can't wait to see him tomorrow."

 "Alfred is bringing someone? So sweet!" Katyusha passed them and asked Alfred, immediately interested in the conversation. "What flowers do you think he'll like?"

 "He's originally from England, maybe something from there that will remind him of home? Not roses though, I'm sure you've sold all those by now, right?" Alfred smiled softly, trying to show he was only angry with Francis.

 "I've been sold out for three days and it's been really good business." She tapped his back, smiles all over her features. "Don't worry, I can stop over tomorrow before the dance and give you the most beautiful flowers that I only gift to the newlyweds."

 Alfred fought the blush that wanted to meet his cheeks and shook his head. "D-don't do that! It may pressure him into it. Save those for the actual newlyweds."