Couples Exercises (Part Two)

"Certainly," Mortas replies. "What would you like for me to do?" He asks his parents.

"Well," His mother starts. "We know it may seem sudden, but," She turns to Rona. "Rona, would you mind if Mortas sampled some of your blood?"

"Wh-What?!" Both heirs express their shock.

"He has to bite me?" Rona asks, turning to his parents.

"No, no. He'll only prick you, Rona. It won't even hurt." His father dismisses.

"But, that's not the issue here," Mortas interjects. "You don't just take anyone's blood, it's not something you just-," he pauses. "You only do that with-"

"With someone like a fiancé?" His mother interrupts. "You two are fiancés now, remember? This is perfectly fine."

"But I've never been-" Rona shakes his head. He's never even been face to face with a vampire until yesterday! Of course he's seen them, but never been this close to one. Now he has to let one prick him with its fangs? Preposterous!

"We know, Rona. But Mortas won't hurt you. It's simply an act to bring the two of you closer. Once Mortas tastes your blood, he'll remember it forever." His father says. Rona still looks worridly at his parents. "And no, he isn't going to prick your neck." He adds.

"I didn't think they would make me do this so soon.." Mortas mumbles under his breath. He looks up at his parents. "I must?" They nod.

"Don't be shy, Rona. You've never been afraid of needles. Think of this as a shot." His father urges the wolf to step up to Mortas. But both heirs still hesitate. It isn't until stern looks are given that the boys both meet each other half way. Mortas sighs.

"May I have your arm?" He asks Rona. Rona slowly lifts his arm, and Mortas takes it. "It really won't hurt," He tells Rona. "But it'll be uncomfortable. For us, at least." He mumbles at the end.

Mortas lifts the sleeve of Rona's shirt slightly, to expose the wolf's wrist. "Ready?" He looks up at Rona.

"Just do it," Rona rolls his eyes.

Mortas brings Rona's wrist up to his mouth, pricking the skin lightly. Rona scrunches his nose at the small sting, but it doesn't hurt more than that. Blood starts to flow from Rona's skin, and Mortas uses his tongue to lick it up, momentarily causing Rona to pull back his arm, from getting grossed out. But eventually, the blood stops flowing, and Mortas lets go of Rona. Mortas wipes his mouth, looking at their parents.

"Oh, good day!" Rona's mother claps. "So much we are getting done, indeed. Splendid job, boys!" Rona rolls his sleeve back down.

"Is that all?" Rona asks.

"It's all that we will be doing right here," Rona's father says. "We still have the whole day ahead of us! Come now, we will take you to where the next exercise will be held."

Everyone follows Mr. Lycanis, as he leads them out of the backyard, and to the front of the mansion. There, a single carriage is parked. He turns back to everyone. "As you can see, we have prepared a carriage."

"A carriage?" Mortas asks. "Where are we going?"

"The real question is, where are the two of you going? We shall all stay here," Rona's father looks at all of the adults. "You two will enjoy a lovely carriage ride!"

"A ride in the carriage? Together?" Rona asks, looking at Mortas. How could this day get any worse?

"Well, of course! You two can have the nicest of conversations, as you ride around the lot. After all, if one of you wants to go somewhere, the other is required to go as well." Mortas's mother adds.

"Wonderful," Rona sighs.

The two boys enter the carriage, doors being shut on them. They sit together as the carriage pulls away, but quickly sit opposite of one another as their parents leave their view. Mortas and Rona stare each other down.

"You have dog breath, you know." He says. Rona scoffs.

"Must you always add your two cents into everything?" Mortas rolls his eyes.

"Speaking of cents, your blood tasted like rusty nickles." Mortas sticks his tongue out.

"Do you think I wanted you to touch me, either?" Rona crosses his arms. "Now I have your grotesque fang marks on me."

"Oh, stop being a baby. I barely pricked you."

The two continue bickering the entire carriage ride, Rona eventually growing tired of the back and forth, opting to just ignore Mortas instead. Finally, the carriage comes to a halt, and the heirs are let off.

"Did you enjoy the ride, dears?" Rona's mother asks.

"What did the two of you converse about?" Mortas's mother asks. Mortas looks at Rona.

"Yes, why don't you tell them, Rona?" He smirks. Rona quietly sighs.

"But of course," Rona says, looking directly at Mortas. "We talked about just how lovely Mortas thought my blood tasted, and how he wishes he could always pet me as a wolf." Rona smiles. "Ah, better yet, he said he'd like to do it regardless of my form, isn't that the sweetest?" Rona throws his own smirk back at Mortas. He can tell he's gotten the vampire upset by this. Good.

"Wonderful! Just, wonderful!" Mortas's mother cheers. "Our son, how romantic!"

Everyone now heads inside, as the Dracul's should only be outside for so long, even while wearing sun protection. Rona notices how Mortas has been eyeing him the entire time. Did that little bit he said back there really anger the vampire that much? It couldn't have been any more embarrassing than what he has done to Rona. The werewolf shrugs it off, as lunch has been prepared. Just something simple this time, cucumber sandwiches.

"Okay boys, we only have one last thing for you both to do today, then we'll let you go." Mortas's mother says.

"What is it?" Mortas asks.

"Here it is," His mother turns, picking something up from the coffee table behind her. "A camera!"

"A camera?" The boys ask.

"Yes, with this, we'd like the two of you to take a picture together! This will make your relationship completely official! You may cherish the moment forever." She says, swinging the camera happily in her hands.

"But, we don't show up in pictures?" Mortas states.

"This is a special camera, you see." Mortas's mother says. "It has been developed to have a lens that allows vampires to be seen on its film!"

"Perfect." Mortas crosses his arms.

"Well?" Rona's mother now speaks. "Get together, you two!" Rona and Mortas step an inch closer to each other. "Closer!" They move another inch. "Closer!" She sings. They now bump into each other, standing awkwardly. "Come on, pose!" She says.

Mortas and Rona look at each other, before figuring out what to do. Mortas weakly grabs Rona's waist, and Rona wraps his arms around Mortas's shoulders, in what they assume to be a couple-passing pose. "Alright! One, two, three!" The Countess takes the picture.

The heirs quickly let go of each other, exhausted. Finally, they are free to do as they please. Rona instantly heads into the leisure room, sitting on the couch. Mortas however, goes to take a shower. Ah, that's right. Rona remembers he needs to request more soap for the washroom upstairs. However, he wonders if it's really necessary. Just how long can they get away with not actually sharing the washroom? Mortas did go to the washroom down here, after all.

Ah, well. He'll put it off for now. Rona closes his eyes momentarily, relaxing after this brutal day of exercises. Not even any real physical activity, yet he's out of breath. He opens his eyes when he hears footsteps approaching him.

"Rona dear, I need to give these to you." Rona sits up, turning to see his mother. She holds out her arm, two keys attached to a red and blue string in her hands.

"Ah, our room keys." Rona remembers. They did mention giving each Mortas and he individual room keys. Good thing, Rona has no doubt Mortas would lock him out, if not. "Thank you."

"Of course! And all of Mortas and your belongings have arrived as well. They've already been put into your closet!" She chimes.

"Really? When did this happen?" Rona recalls there being no time for carriages to arrive at the mansion so fast.

"When you and Mortas went on your carriage ride, silly!" She laughs. "Well, enjoy yourself before dinner, Rona. I wanted to have your favorite made again, but your father says I'll spoil you to death. What's so wrong with that? You know, he-" His mother walks out the room, continuing to mumble on, and Rona only shakes his head, smiling. Although his mother can be an airhead at times, she never fails to entertain him.

Rona looks down at the keys she gave him. He places his own around his neck, then stands up.

"I suppose I should go give this to Mortas." He thinks.