Cold Skin

"Why would I ask if I already knew?"

He knows something, I just don't know what.

"You should focus on eating something first. We can discuss trivial things later, right?"

Crimson pleaded with a strained smile.

"Y-Yeah, that's fine."

Crimson gave a small nod in agreement and began to walk away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Elijah said this while quickly grabbing Crimson's clean wrist and then tugging him down on the stone ground with him.

"Well apparently no where now."

Crimson said this with a grimace, but he did somewhat feel comforted in the fact that Elijah didn't want him to leave his side.

"I-I didn't mean to be pushy! I just wanted to help with uh-"

Before finishing his sentence, Elijah ripped off a thin piece from his shirt and quickly binded Crimson's slightly bleeding wrist.

"See? I-I meant to do that. I guess I could've said that."

He binded my wound when he's covered in wounds much more severe? Why would he do that-

"Do you wanna look away? Drinking blood makes many a little unnerved."

"Just drink it already."

Crimson said with authority, he was more worried above anything, but it very much sounded like anger above anything.

"S-Sorry, I just-"

Holy hell, his need for being curtious is tiring when his physical health is deteriorating as he speaks.

A low hiss escaped Crimson's lips. He quickly grabbed the large bowl and then grabbed Elijah's chin with his thumb and index finger, quickly he dragged his long nail against his lips and then forced his mouth open and brought the bowl to his lips simultaneously.

"Drink it, now."

Obediently Elijah listened. Finally he took the bowl from Crimson's hand.

The second the blood touched his tongue his eyes clung to life. His eyes turned from a dark yellow to a beaming brilliant shade of yellow. Eagerly he drank the entire bowl. His eye shade dwelled back to black as he neared the last few drinks from the bowl.

Am I terrible for finding it interesting to watch a vampire eat? His fangs are longer than before, it wasn't enough blood to curb his hunger. I knew it wouldn't be. There was a primal desire for blood and blood alone in his eyes the second that drop of blood touched his tounge. You could tell there was a primal reaction when I sliced open my wrist, but obviously he restrained that primal instinct. A vampires sense of smell is truly amazing.

"Your blood- I've never tasted anything like it before. It's sweet. Almost sickly sweet."

Elijah spoke exasperated, he couldn't recall the last time he felt so desperate for blood.

"I haven't drank blood like that in years. It's was like an involuntary action."

He stared at his own hands and licked his fangs that have yet to retract. As if he didn't recognize himself.

"I wouldn't stress about it too much, it's probably the dead man's blood that wants you to drink like that. Your body wants you to heal as quickly as possible and you'll only do so with blood."

Elijah stared at him in shock.

"Y-You think so?"

"Yeah. I believe so."

Elijah couldn't shake the feeling of not being able to recognize himself.

"Do you need any more?"

Crimson said this carefully while touching the thin cloth that binded his wound. He stared at Elijah as if he were seeking permission to remove the thin cloth.

"I- No. I don't need anymore."

Elijah hesitated for a flicker of a moment, of course he wanted more of that sickly sweet blood. He knew to refrain from saying so becuase clearly Crimson would give it to him without regard of his own well being.

"Would other vampires say the same thing?"

Crimson stared at him in a genuinely curious manner. His red eyes lit up in curiosity, practically pleading to hear the asnwer.

"Probably not, so don't be so willing to offer up your blood like that again. I'm thankful, but I can't say that others won't drain you dry."

That was a partially true answer. Some would very much so take advantage of free blood, but Elijah spoke of it with a more intimidating outlook. He more so didn't want any other vampires drinking his intoxicating blood. He already craved more of his blood, but he refused to admit that.

"You have a rather poor outlook on your own species."

He spoke softly, it was an all to familiar feeling to Crimson.

"You should know that most vampires don't coincide all that well together. Call it crazy, but we just don't work well together. Family is the rare exception."

Elijah spoke with a grimace. Digging his fingers into his arms like it was a nervous tick.

"You would think with so many other beings against you that vamps would stick together closely, right?"

He peered at Crimson slowly, almost nervous to get his take on it.

Crimson chuckled heavily and spoke with a bittersweet smile and pained eyes.

"No actually, I understand that feeling all to well."

"With my kind? Not even blood relation will bind you together."

Crimson's blood red eyes fell dark. His long silver hair danced in the wind as the silent pause grew heavy.

Elijah unable to think of the proper response to comfort him found himself unable to speak.

Millions of thoughts rushing through his head, but not a single word escaped his lips.

"I should get you something to help bandage your wounds."

Crimson sighed longingly and spoke quickly. He flung his body from the ground quickly and strided off before Elijah could say a thing.

"There's no need to do that-"

Elijah spoke in a whisper, he knew he was talking to himself. The tall stranger called Crimson rushed off and he was already gone before Elijah could even attempt at following him. He disappeared deeper into the winding and dark cave, that was the extent of Elijah's knowledge.

"Shit..."

Elijah's POV

How could I rope another being into this mess? How could I make someone else bleed for me? I don't even know what he is either!

I've always been the strongest beast in a room, but I feel as if I'm a mere mouse in his presence.

Why would he live out here? Isolated like this? The rumors from this forest coincide with death. Why would he live out here knowing that?

Unless... he is the reason for those rumors? Is he the reaper of this forest? Is he the cause for all the missing people? Many adventures come to this woods to solve the many unexplained disappearances, but they never return. People stopped coming to this forest long ago because of those sole rumors. Even though this land is bountiful with riches, everyone is to afraid to step foot in here. That's the only reason why I came here. I thought this forest alone would scare off the bounty hunter's. They were more resilient than I once thought, or perhaps they were just naive.

"The red eyed devil", until now I didn't even know that a red eyed being even existed. "Devil"? Why would they call him that? What species is he exactly to strike such fear? Why did such a strong being help me? It doesn't make a lick of sense especially if this tall stranger is the reaper of this forest. He couldn't be, could he? Those kind eyes slaughtering people? Could those deep dark eyes have ever witnessed such a slaughter let alone be the reason behind it?

Then again- Why doesn't he look at me with utter disgust? Nor any fear? Why do those eyes look at me with such kindness? Why did I have to travel into such a desolate area to meet someone who can look at me without a flinch of groutese in his eyes? He gaze looks at me as if I'm normal and why do I find that so comforting? I'm a vampire, I should've come to terms with the fact that I'm not normal years ago. Yet it was comforting to see such a calm gaze directed to me. No fear, hatred or even a hint of disgust in his gaze at me. Why would you do that to me tall stranger? Why would you get my hopes up that someone else could ever look at me so calmly like you do?

"How dare you do that to me.."

"Do what?"

Elijah opened his eyes from his entranced state to see Crimson's long legs standing right in front of him. He refused to even look up, he knew there would be a calm set of red eyes waiting to meet with him. Those calm eyes made Elijah more nervous than the thought of the bounty hunter's killing him.

"Y-You're back-"

He said this with his eyes still planted on Crimson's feet. Not looking up for even a second.

"Can you walk?"

"I should be able to soon, your blood helped me greatly. Thank you."

The only thing Crimson heard from that was "soon" hence not yet.

"The dead man's blood in your system has made you rather weakened. I should've known that you couldn't walk yet, even with the blood. My apologies."

"D-Don't apologize! How could you know t-that?"

Crimson's head crooked to one side and peered down at him in curiosity. He couldn't help but give a sweet smile after seeing Elijah so panicked about comforting him.

Quickly Crimson extended his long arm and offered his hand to Elijah. His long talon like nails offered fear to anyone, but Elijah didn't possess even a hint of fear looking at them.

"You are truly an interesting one."

Crimson's red eyes glimmered in admiration.

"I am?"

Elijah grabbed Crimson's large and slender hand so delicately. Crimson's quickly tightened his grip and pulled him off the floor effortlessly. It almost scared Elijah from Crimson's insanely fast reaction time. The second Elijah's connected his fingers to his he was already standing up before he could blink again.

"You're so fast-"

"Sorry, I hope I didn't startle you."

"N-No! Of course not."

Elijah couldn't control his flushed cheeks seeing Crimson's face so closely to his own and feeling his long arm trail against his shoulders. Elijah scurried his body away from Crimson's promptly because it was too much to be so close to him. His scent was overpowering all of Elijah's senses. He was entranced of his scent already. The sweet smell of mint and forest rain radiated off of Crimson. Elijah found this scent suddenly addictive. Elijah wanted to drown himself in it.

He tried with all his being to support himself standing up without the aid of Crimson. Only to stumble to his knees.

Crimson swooped one arm around his stomach and the other around his shoulder quickly before he could fall further.

"I-I lost my footing, sorry!"

Crimson sighed and rolled his eyes at his poor attempt to be self reliant.

"You know, I won't hold it against you for having to lean on me when you are in such a weakened state."

Without a second thought Crimson scooped him up into his arms. Pulling his entire body closer to his.

"W-What are y-you doing?!"

Elijah's cheeks were scarlet red, he couldn't contain his face or his nervous voice.

He gets flustered so easily? He gives off the look that he's extremely intimidating, but he is like a meek mouse. I didn't expect such little things to cause him to be so flustered. His fangs were still elongated, he was gnawing on his bottom lip feroicily. His cheeks were a brilliant red. Tch- don't tell me I seriously find this guy attractive? No no no, I'm confusing my feeling right now. I'm sure of it.

Crimson's wouldn't admit it, but his cheeks matched Elijah's easily.

"It's faster this way, is that okay?"

"I-I mean it's f-fine! Totally fine! I'm not to heavy though? You're so slender compared to me-"

"I assure you that you aren't heavy at all."

Crimson couldn't help but speak with a chuckle.

His skin; it's icy to the touch. Even colder than my own cold-blooded body.

"S-Sorry, I know I'm cold."

He noticed me? He looks so sad saying that. I don't like that at all.

"Why are you apologizing? I'm also a cold-blooded being myself."

"Yeah, but there's still a hint of warmth from your skin. I don't have that."

His face drooped down, disappointly. Suddenly regretting being so willing for the skin to skin contact.

"I've never been fond of heat, you should know that. I'd prefer your cold skin over the hot blooded beings skin any time."

His facial expressions didn't change for a second, he spoke with the most unbothered tone purposely.

"There's no way-"

"Hot and cold never coincide well together, so don't you agree that cold and cold pair beautifully together? I like feeling a cool touch, it's refreshing. Don't you think? Hot and cold clash for a reason, don't you know that?"

Elijah couldn't hide it. Not even for a second. His dark eyes beamed in excitement and his fangs shined beautifully in the light as he smiled wide. His cheeks turned a brilliant pink in ecstacy.

Crimson gave him a warm smile in reassurance.

"Y-Yeah you're right, cold and cold pair beautifully.... "