Aiden

My eyes took in the refurbished buildings that last time were left in utter dismay. The result of superstition that humans had decided to hold on to, when they found out about us the first time. Their government were hesitant about making it known to the world that we existed, wanting only to work with us in secret. But in truth they were intimidated as hell and I saw it. It manifested in the way they walked, held their glasses in their hands and even the way they talked. Not to mention the fact that their heart beats were all over the place.

Humans claimed they accepted us, claimed we could live together without causing harm, yet at dawn there had been men at our homes with snipers, lasers positioned at their hearts taking their lives or ready to kill. What kind of man would I be delivering my own blood to the slaughter of men less than we were? It was ridiculous.

I couldn’t allow that. I didn’t want to kill humans, we were taught to respect everything that existed in this world, both the simple and the ignorant. But they blamed, cheated, murdered and told lies about us. Lies that made the people fear what we weren’t and while I could and would ignore all their other deviant acts, I wouldn’t ignore the lies. Our aesthetics was built on truth always and I was much too old to change. Especially with the fact that I had dogs at my coat all the time.

The only thing about returning home that placed my mind at ease was the fact that everything seemed to be working out fine- for now. Things had a way of surprising me, whenever I took extended leave. There weren’t people on the road that were dressed rugged, dirty or threw draggers whenever we managed to pass. It was an eye sore but now since everything has been dealt with, things were looking up. I had every intention of making this place beautiful, much more than it had been when I awoke, if their people cooperated as they pretended to be, then things would work in their favour. I wasn’t doing myself or my kind one. They had years left to amass any monetary desire they needed and for temporary gain, they’d work just like the rest of them. I granted no favours and had no friends. Hayden and his games were enough annoyance. I just wanted to sleep.

My mind ran back to Belle, having caught a glimpse of her before I left. Was she still alive? It weighed on my mind even when I visited St. Petersburg and Romania. But even with seeing her, something tugged at my heart telling me it couldn’t be true.

I buried her. I held her dead body in my arms.

A resurrection? Incarnation? That couldn't be.

I tore my eyes away from the blurring sidewalks, realising how caught up I’ve been getting with human affairs. It had been a headache having to do so much for the ungrateful race. They were either trying to tear themselves down or cut roads to undermine my own and that was the last thing I would allow them to do. Undermine my race. We barely survived the last on onslaught, and that was only between vampires. This time I’d ensure it would be different, I’d protect them just as my parents had. Even with my own blood.

I ran a hand through my hair before reaching to unpin the buttons on my shirt. The flight was long, exhausting and I was in dire need of sleep besides the fact that I was starving.

“What is the update on the rebel situation?” I asked Luke.

“Since the last round up after you left sir, there hasn’t been an issue reported since. ”

“Why haven’t I gotten any report?”

“Lord Hayden dealt with everything. ”

I felt a migraine immediately.

“I told the idiots not to let him handle anything. ” I responded.

“Yes well, when he heard, he decided to oversee everything himself. ”

“Any deaths?”

Luke went quiet.

Hayden met me on the steps coming in. He had a mischievous smile on his face, and it was wider than the day I left him. What did he do? My eyes darted around the ground to find broken vases, and drunken people, maybe even naked women if he was hyped enough. Nothing. Everything was as immaculate as I left it. He must have known I was coming. Did Luke tell him? He must have. The older man had nurtured a soft spot for the brat and now it was working to his advantage. No matter, I’d figure it out at a later date.

My brother spun on his heels, signalling for Garnett to continue on without him while he followed me back through the house. We climbed the staircase in silence, my hands finding grip on the golden rails as I walked lazily up. I wasn’t in any haste to get to my room, I had no intention of returning once I went through the door, so entertaining him at the moment wasn’t too much of a problem and there was a matter that needed to be addressed since I’d be skipping dinner.

I paused momentarily gazing down at a woman who was busy dusting and arranging some flowers, racking my mind trying to figure out the familiarity of her face, I shook my head continuing. I didn’t know why I tried, I wasn’t even aware of the number of humans that lived with us.

“A new addition” I comment as we walked on

“Yes, I’ll never know what new talent I might unearth. ” Hayden replies rather pleased with himself. I found it disgusting. “And she’s a damn good florist too. I thought maybe she should open a store. But I’ll talk to you about that later. ”

I waved a hand.

“So whatever you want. I’m not interested. ”

He cocked his head to the side as we got to my room.

“How’s the family?”

I looked towards the door and then back at him as I undid the buttons at my sleeve rolling them up.

“they all want me dead. No better than the Council, ” I answer. “They want you to rule, hoping you’ll be easier to manipulate. Of course that’s where the end of all things would be with you in charge. ”

Hayden smile grew even larger. That was the thing about my brother, it didn’t matter what I said or how insulting, he never took it to heart. Never. I could always count on that and on him. I trusted him. He was all I had.

He shrugged. “And I thought I was the cruel one. ”

“That’s not the only thing. ”

I told myself I wouldn’t mention it but it wouldn’t hurt if he knew, even though I already gave them the answer.

“Marissa proposed a marriage between you and her daughter. Though I did tell her you had no intention of marrying, she still insisted on me passing the message on. ”

Hayden did everything except fall on his back laughing. I knew this would have been the result. The only person except me who could’ve convinced him of marriage was our parents and both were dead, and I had no desire to. Hayden needed to live his life the way he pleased. We were already bound by the chains and responsibilities of being Pure Bloods, and the leaders of the head family. The last thing he needed was another shackle to make his already heavy burden, heavier.

His brown eyes met mine and for a while the nostalgia of when we were children floated back to memory. We had seen so much blood shed through the years, watched many of the people we loved die in a selfish war for power. Putting us to sleep was the last gift our parents could afford us, but we both knew when we woke up, they wouldn’t be there. Hayden smiled once more patting my arm.

“Why did you get yourself involved in the rebel situation?” I asked sternly pushing away the tender moment we just had.

He pushed away from me feeling the air tense suddenly.

“Ah come on, I couldn’t allow them to oversee everything”

“You could’ve assigned someone else if you thought they couldn’t be trusted. I told them not to let you near a damn paper!”

My sibling placed a hand to his heart acting as if my words had pierced him through, the asshole. He stood straight after a a period staring through the window at the end of the corridor.

“The truth is” I glanced at him realising that he was being serious for once. “I couldn’t help myself” he said laughing again pointing at me. I grabbed at his collar but he quickly slipped away continuing to laugh. I knew I was going to kill him. “You should have seen your face Aiden, you thought I was going to be serious didn’t you?”

“You’re a headache, I’m going to sleep” I gazed at him form the corners of my eyes as I moved to close the door. “Don’t disturb me. ”

He waved a hand going back down the stairs.

“I won’t be here brother, I have a date”

“With who?”

The ugly smile I hated so much returned.

“An archaeologist. “

I scoffed. How original. A woman who specially in antique things. I was sure she was only interested in finding out whether he was a vampire or not and what was really keeping him alive.

“It’s noon. ”

He nodded, his hair falling from his shoulder as he stretched.

“She objected to the night thing, since its associated with the fact that we lure people away. As if we're serial killers or something. It kind of hurts”

No, it didn’t you prick. Hayden lived for the weird fantasies that the humans came up with, if I left it up to him, he’d make all of them come true.

"And, ” He turns his head slightly gazing at me at the door. “There’s also been some disappearance during the night. She’s avoiding that. ”

I pulled the remainder of the shirt from my shoulder, then glanced at him, waiting to see him grin like the idiot he was. He didn’t which meant he was being serious. I frowned.

“Kidnappings?”

“Maybe?” he responded. “It could also be nothing. Just people looking to catch our attention or put some blame on us. Not everyone is as happy as they seem. ”

“Or it could be people who are in great danger, ”

“You aren’t a superhero Aiden, ” he snaps, his tone taking me by surprise. “We can’t help everyone. They had their problems before we existed and will long after. Don’t forget who were here for. ”

I shut the door and went to bed. His tone disturbed me though. Maybe he was right, maybe I was getting too caught up in their affairs.

∞

The interior of the house was as bright as morning when I finally descended the stairs at midnight. Hayden was yet to return, I couldn’t sense him in the house. Every other heart beat I heard was for a human. It wasn’t odd that he’s still out at night, but it was odd that none of the other vampires were about. A human boy scurried from one of the room, as if hoping that anyone wouldn’t see him.

I did.

Clearing my throat, he paused in his haste. He didn’t dare look up and from his red hair, I knew it was one of Hayden’s workers.

“At it again Harry?”

“Afraid I am sir. ”

“Do you really like annoying my brother this much? He’ll eventually kill you one day. ”

“Being frank if I may, he does have upsetting qualities likewise. ”

“Agreed. ”

“How long was it this time?”

He shrugged taking a while to answer.

“Maybe a day and a half. ”

I nodded. They were always at each other’s throats about something; I couldn’t fathom why Hayden hadn’t figured out that he actually like being away from him. He was like a little brother he never had, considering the fact that Hayden didn’t really have a childhood per say, having slept right into adulthood. I sighed. Maybe having someone annoy him wasn’t too much of a bad idea. It kept him occupied. I could tell Harry was staring at me. I could feel his eyes at the back of my head.

“She’s really unlucky, ” he mumbled under his breath before his steps dissipated in the other direction.

I walked off heading to the kitchen leaving him about his own business. Chefs were still busy cooking and I raised a brow. Why were they up this late? Only I knew the answer. Hayden. If he was keeping another party in the house, I’d kill him this time. I knew he held one when I was gone. I didn’t need proof. Seeing me they halted their work keeping their eyes down.

“Good evening sir, welcome back. ”

I sighed. I hated this.

“Leave. ”

“Sir?” Asked the chef

“I said to leave! ”

“Am sorry Sir, we have orders from-“

They stiffened as I stared at them. It didn’t matter if they wouldn’t look at me, they could feel it. I walked off to the refrigerator removing a bag with blood, they were all gone by the time I turned away to get a glass. I didn’t want them around, rather I never wanted anyone around whenever I ate. Specifically, the humans. While they had the privilege of working here, I was more than aware of the animosity towards us that some of them treasured, despite the fact that they were all given wages, never treated as slaves and never ill-treated. I ensured to drill into Hayden’s thick skull that they were to receive the same treatment they would have working with their own, if not better and apart from the small punishment of being locked in a darkened room that Hayden utilizes when he’s annoyed enough, they weren’t punished severely to warrant abuse. However, the only person that frequented that room was Harry and by now, I think its only used as an escape to get away from dealing with Hayden.

My fingers tapped against the granite counter top realising something while the glass trailed my lips. I hadn’t asked if everyone had eaten. They had a drunken habit of getting caught up in my brother’s demand that they’d go without eating sometimes. All of them, especially those that didn’t work inside the kitchen. We didn’t allow just anyone to stumble inside and get something, I was well aware of assassination attempts at other households and while I was open to having humans here, I didn’t trust them. I trusted one once and she died.

I spent the rest of the night prowling the grounds ensuring everything was okay, meeting a few of the guards on my way. Some were busy drinking with each other and talking, others just sat watching the moon. I returned grabbing a book, falling into a chair, oddly without Hayden about everything felt too quiet.