Crumbling

In another world, you came to my small hill to die, but I saw grace and so much sorrow in your heart. I gave you my blood and my loyalty in return to forever stay by your side even when things sat difficultly.

In this world, you met Christian who tried his best with his mortal whims to fight for you, but you still close your heart to us even though we had been stolen away in a world not kind to us.

Dear Alex…how must we reach your frozen soul? Dominique will consume us both if you cannot find peace in yourself, but please whatever you chose make sure it is your best judgment.

Alex stands at the door about to open, "Master Alex, you know you are barred from the outside."

"Maybe I want to go out."

"Is it that you need to hunt Master Alex?"

"Why is it I need a reason Chara?"

"We now have a house volunteer if you need blood Master Alex…"

"I don't need his blood or him at all Chara."

"I thought you both were friends, did you have a fight?"

"I don't have friends…"

"Master Alex, you are sounding unreasonable aren't you?"

Alex glares at Chara who is backing away for a moment, she caresses his face gently kissing him on the top of the head taking his hand, "If you have so much energy you can help me in the kitchen."

He trails behind her to visit the small kitchen she pulls a stool for Alex, she hands him a peeling knife.

They begin to peel a week's worth of potatoes together, "Are you okay Master Alex?"

Chara picks the pot up from inside the oven to toss the potatoes one at a time examining each potato for spots laughing at how badly he trimmed some of them; she takes her knife wilting away from the unshaven parts.

"Can you take out the beef from the fridge please Master Alex?"

Alex sluggishly shuffles to the fridge taking the meat out to slap it on the counter placing his hand over his mouth, "This is horrid smelling!"

"You don't remember how food tastes anymore do you, Master Alex?"

He hushes in observation of Chara and of her preparation skills, the number of spices, and how to make food seeing it being baked in the oven was slowly cheering Alex up.

"Maybe Christian will like knowing for once I helped…maybe I can find things he likes?"

"I go to the supermarket next week if you would like to come along, surely Master Dominique would allow it!"

"That would be fun; I wonder if he misses anything specifically."

"You can always ask him since he is confined to his room."

Alex's expression turns from a big grin to almost a frown, "But…we had a fight…"

Chara places her hand on top of his head, "I know…but you need to make up eventually right?"

"Yeah…"

She looks at her watch timing the food in the oven, "You can come with me to his room then to deliver it with me, Melina is scheduled to check up in a couple of days since the occurrence."

They sit back down; Alex places his head down on the counter quickly falling to sleep till the timer on Chara's phone wakes him up, "Sleepyhead, the food is done."

He helps her pack the dishes up for the week placing them neatly in the fridge taking out only one of the meals and swiping up a bottle of water from the packs stacked against the side of the fridge.

"Are you feeling up to it Master Alex?"

Alex only nods nervously walking with Chara to the room, outside Christian's door is open.

Dominique and Collins are standing there crowding around him, Christian has a vexed look staring at his phone, "Since you are nowhere for life, please consider giving us all your assets including your house, if this didn't ring earlier we would have not known you owned property." Collins says with a look of greed in his eyes.

His contract is shoved into his face, they hand him a small magnifying glass, Christian tenses up the further into the document he read, his body tenses up, and he feels he might faint reading the last words on the page.

You are here for life in this compound forever binding your name as property to the clan of Elijah and kin; in return, you are given shelter, food, and protection.

"When you are free during the day Mr. Collins we will work out transferring papers to your household...also the car right since I don't need it…" Christian replies unsettled by their outburst.

"Fantastic Christian, you are doing us a favor by only producing a stronger clan," Collin explains happily, Dominique snatches the phone back from Christian realizing there are missed calls on his phone from his parents, friends even police all untouched.

"Don't mention it...I am here to serve you…" Christian answers dismayed and disheartened.

Alex and Chara stand in the doorway holding his meal, Dominique and Collin push them out of the way.

Christian sits on the bed with one leg hanging over the side with a look of disbelief on his face.

Chara comes into the room to hand Christian the meal, he takes it gently placing it on the nightstand only smiling, "Thank you, Ms. Chara."

Alex is automatically heartbroken, he knows his life is slowly crumbling away day by day; more of these episodes will occur till they really start to nail it inside his mind he is property.

He realizes Christian had been trying to hide his arm bandaged up high to his elbow, blood is seeping through.

"Look…Christian, I am sorry."

Christian gawks up sadly unable to express how he is feeling dropping his glance back to the floor.

"If you are done you can go now…unless you need blood…"

He crawls back onto the bed lying down to turn to his side ignoring everyone else in the room. "Christian..."

"Leave me alone please…you said enough…" Christian mumbles loudly.

"About earlier!"

Christian gets back up throwing a pillow at Alex, staring straight into his eyes furiously shaking his head to himself in disbelief, he jerks at the hem of his attire.

"There is nothing for me now...you come into my life and now it's all being given away!" He shouts in anger, he climbs out of the bed opening the window to the night sky with no moon only darkness surrounding the grounds.

"Of course you have nothing to say..."

"Why did you come here because you felt sorry for me?"

"I already explained to you, I am meant to protect you, but any good that does like this!"

"You two need to stop bickering right now!"Chara yells stomping her foot several times their attention draws to her.

"Must I dress like a prisoner though?" Christian disputes annoyed, "This is demeaning."

"It was the only way to get you into the house since we do accept outsiders, but there is no way you will be leaving human..."

"So treated like livestock...lovely." Christian whines, "Oh wait, I heard you do magick!"

She turns to Christian stupefied, "I am only partly able to yes, but why do you know?"

"I asked someone, so it's true?"

Completely caught off guard she catches herself redden, "Magick exists, but it doesn't work as easy as you think since it mainly blood-borne kept under lock and key from outsiders."

"You really got Chara this time!" Alex laughs.

"Master Alex, I never expected to be asked, I am a vampire now after all..."

Alex only shrugs unsure why this excites Christian so easily, "My turn Christian!"

"Your turn to what?" Christian asks.

"What do you miss back home! I plan to go with Chara to get things, tell me if you need anything!"

Christian's eyes glow with enthusiasm, "Give me a pen and paper please!"

"Was this a mistake?"Alex wonders out loud apprehensively, Chara giggles handing him a small notebook and pen; he goes to town quickly thinking out to himself before writing.

He hands it back to her, they both scan it not completely sure what it was they were looking at, Alex points at the list, "You need to explain to me half of these things."

The stars in his eyes shine brightly, "Get ready to learn something!"

Alex and Chara stare at each other deadpan scared for their lives that very second, "Do you regret?" Chara confronts him, he gives her a small smile.

"I accept your challenge and I truly do want to be your friend Christian!" Alex accepts beaming a huge smile back at him, Christian takes his hand excitedly.

"Then time to get educated!" Christian says with glee.