62: 62 Dark humor (AVOT)

62 Dark humor (AVOT)

"You need to cook him good food," Helena said as she carefully set out ingredients on the sleek kitchen counter, her eyes glinting with a motherly resolve. "You know, the saying goes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," she mused, her fingers brushing over fresh vegetables and herbs.

Daisy nearly chuckled. It seemed that saying applied to vampires as well. However, in her peculiar circumstance, the vampire husband preferred to prepare his own meals. He'd hunt, season, and serve all by himself. A completely self-serving spouse - a dream for many wives. Yet, in her life's twisted narrative, she was the intended dish.

She blinked, taken aback by her own dark sense of humor. But it was the new norm.

Helena, ever observant, pulled Daisy from her musings. "This kitchen is exquisite," she remarked, taking a moment to admire the state-of-the-art setup. Her eyes then settled on Daisy. "What foods has he cooked for you?"

"Spinach soup, grilled meat, roasted vegetables, scrambled eggs, hearty porridge... and more," Daisy recounted, a touch of surprise evident in her voice.

Helena's eyebrows arched in intrigue. "And how did he come by such culinary skills?"

Daisy pondered. Rhain hadn't always been a part of this grand household. She remembered him mentioning that he joined the manor at nineteen. "He's knowledgeable about a great many things," she answered, realizing how much of an understatement that was.

Helena's eyes gleamed knowingly as she smiled, "you sound proud of him."

She was. It was remarkable, yet also slightly unnerving when she thought of it deeply. Just how much did he know? 

"And what is his favored dish?" Helena asked, breaking through Daisy's contemplation.

Daisy hesitated for a moment, almost on the verge on answer 'your daughter'. Her blood, or blood in general. "He has a penchant for meat."

Helena chuckled, shaking her head. "Just like your father. Always had a taste for a good steak."

Daisy grimaced internally. The two couldn't be more different. Thoughts of her father nudged at her heart. "Have you seen him recently?"

Helena momentarily paused, a knife hovering over fresh vegetables. Taking a breath, she confessed, "He did visit once, to see how I was doing." Her smile was wistful.

Daisy nodded, pushing away the sting of nostalgia. She didn't need to dwell on her father. He had a new family. "I'll fetch Rhain. Let him know lunch is on the way."

Daisy thought she might warn him, so she scoured the mansion, from his ornate study to the lush gardens, but Rhain was nowhere to be seen. He would leave without telling her, she thought with each empty room she encountered. Where had he disappeared to?

"Rhain!" she called out, her voice tempered, wondering if he could hear her easily like the night he chased her. What else could he do? Could he make himself invisible? That would explain how he knew what she was doing. A chill ran down her spine at the thought. 

Her heart nearly leaped into her throat when something crashed to the floor behind her. Whirling around, Daisy found only a small, fallen candleholder, the victim of a gust from the open hall door. As she moved to close the door, she felt a peculiar sensation, as if something were lurking just out of sight.

She turned sharply, scanning the empty hall. "Rhain?" Her voice wavered as she crept forward, her eyes darting down the intersecting corridors. A fleeting shadow, a quick silhouette in the distance, caught her eye, but when she focused, there was nothing.

"Rhain? Are you there? Don't play games now!" Her words were sharp, reprimanding. The icy chill of an unseen presence was gnawing at her nerves.

"You are not going to scare me!" she defiantly proclaimed, though the tremble in her voice betrayed her. A sudden rustling sound led her to a small figure darting past her and out the door. She let out a shriek, her hand flying to her mouth, and then realized it was only a cat, running out one of the open doors in the hall. 

Her heart still hammering, Daisy closed that door as well. She was getting frightened for no reason. Looking around, she wondered if there were perhaps more open doors that needed to be shut when she recalled how the door to Rhain's balcony shut right before she could step out of it that night. Rhain could do that, she thought with a shudder. 

Ignoring the frightening thoughts she went to look for open doors, and discovered one. As she hurried to close it, it slammed shut before her very eyes. Her heart stopped.

"Dai...sy," that low purring voice, filled with anticipatory delight, sent an icy jolt through her. She spun around to find Rhain leaning against the wall, a sinister smirk playing on his lips, his sharp canines glistening menacingly.

"I thought we weren't scared," he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"That wasn't funny, Rhain," she retorted, her voice breathless.

He chuckled, deep and resonant. "No? Was it exciting?"

"No," she snapped. 

He pushed himself away from the wall, his expression shifting to one of profound interest. He stalked toward her, his movements slow, measured, and predatory, changing the rhythm of her heartbeat against her will. 

He stopped just before her, his presence both entrancing and unnerving. "You never enjoyed anticipating fear?"

"No."

"So you never enjoyed hearing horror stories as a child?" Rhain's voice was gentle, but there was a probing quality to it.

"That doesn't mean I wanted to be in them," Daisy retorted. 

Rhain's eyes narrowed as if not believing her. "What?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"You didn't know from the beginning that I was…  a danger?" He asked. 

"You knew?" Surprise colored her voice.

He smiled. "Of course I did. It was one of the many things I liked about you. Your strong instinct." 

She blinked, taken aback. Who liked someone because of their instinct? 

No! it was the fear!

Because she had a strong instinct and knew he was dangerous, she was apprehensive, and he liked that. Her vampire husband with his peculiar taste in enjoyment. 

"Aside from your instinct..." he continued, circling her, his fingers trailing along one side of her shoulder across her back to the other, where her dress didn't cover her. The cold shiver and apprehension returned, and the sensation of him behind her sent her heart into a frantic rhythm. "I was rather forward, was I not?"

Very forward, she thought, her breath catching.

"It made you a bit more apprehensive, but not enough," he murmured, his breath now ghosting through her hair, sending another wave of shivers down her spine.

"What are you saying?" 

His fingers came around her neck to her throat, and her heart skipped a beat. He leaned in, his voice a soft, intimate whisper in her ear. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, so I will let you come to the answer yourself."

What was he—

Before she could complete the thought, his mouth was on her neck. The sensation was unexpected, breathtaking. His lips pressed lightly at first, a featherlike touch that left her yearning for more. The hold around her throat was just enough to make her hyper-aware of every sensation—the steady beat of her heart, the warmth of his breath, the tantalizing touch of his lips.

His mouth then opened slightly, his tongue tracing a sensual path from her collarbone up to the curve of her jaw. Every stroke sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, each one more intense than the last. She felt the graze of his teeth, teasing, gently biting her skin, then soothing it with the caress of his tongue, before stopping with a lingering kiss at the curve of her jaw.

His fingers lingered at her throat, the other hand tracing a path down her arm. With deliberate slowness, he turned her, then pivoted them both, gently pressing her against the wall. "Do you remember our encounter in the library?" His voice, a seductive murmur, was a memory in itself.

It was when he bit her.

"Like this," he whispered, leaning in and kissing her just in the same way he did in the library as if he had memorized it. She had done it too, she realized. 

As he kissed her, she braced herself for the sting of his fang, yet when it came, the shock was no less intense. His tongue, warm and soothing, caressed the wound, then deepened the kiss, evoking from her a shudder of sensation.

"Do you remember?" he husked. 

She gave a nod, breathless. 

"Daisy," he murmured, caressing her cheek tenderly, "you can't let me take your breath away so easily." He looked rather concerned which made her smile a little. 

He regarded her with playful suspicion. "You find this amusing?"

"You steal my breath and then act surprised," she teased.

He chuckled, taking a step back to study her. "Am I watering the plant too much, perhaps?"

She grinned back. "You're the one with concerns, not me."

His smirk grew wicked. "Of course. We're only just beginning." With a firm grip, he drew her from the wall, his gaze deepening into something wild, igniting a frantic beat in her heart. In a swift motion, he pulled her against him, his embrace unyielding, ensuring she could not even dream of escaping him.

He leaned closer, "You've yet only seen your restrained husband. The one pretending to be human. You have yet to experience what it is like for your Vampire husband to take you to bed."

His words sent a thrilling chill down her spine. Restrained? Would this experience be different?

"Will you… not be gentle?" she whispered, a hint of apprehension lacing her voice.

"Gentleness is but a shade, Daisy. Safe. Yet, I sense you yearn for more," he said.

Her anxiety shifted, changing into a different kind of anticipation. Grasping for a change of subject, she blurted, "Mother's preparing food for you."

His response dripped with sarcasm. "How considerate of her to offer herself."

Daisy recoiled in shock, pushing him away. "Rhain!"

He raised his hands in surrender. "I was joking. I am sorry."

Her eyes shot him a look of disbelief. "If you want leave now is your chance."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Why would I? Your mother expects me."

"You risk sickness."

"That's not new for me," he said, though a hint of weariness crept into his voice.

She offered a solution, "I can excuse you, say you have urgent business."

"And how long will you keep lying like that?" He asked.  "Let me handle the lies and… she's calling for you."

Daisy strained her ears but couldn't discern any sound, yet he gestured for her to leave. "She's been calling for a while," he added with a hint of urgency.

She hesitated, glancing down the echoing hall, then back to him. "I warned you," she remarked with a shrug, already turning to seek out her mother.

But a thought halted her steps. He had heard when she hadn't, and had he just shut the door without touching it? What other abilities did he conceal?

Whirling back around, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Did you shut that door?"

Rhain's brow quirked in a half-amused manner. "Yes."

"You can hear from a distance?"

"Yes."

She swallowed hard, an uneasy glint in her eyes. "Can you... become invisible?"

Attempting to stifle his amusement, Rhain feigned surprise. "How did you know?"

She paled. "You... you can?!"

With a casual posture, he leaned against the wall, enjoying the game. "It's one of my many talents. Though I promise I haven't used it around you. Well, except maybe to get a peek before our wedding." He said, allowing his gaze to rake her body. 

He bit back a chuckle at her horrified expression. "You. Did. Not," she bit out through clenched teeth.

"It's a compliment. After all, I saw and yet chose to marry you."

Now her eyes blazed with anger, utter disbelief, and horror at his words. 

He pushed himself away from the wall and held his hands up again in surrender. "I was joking." He laughed.

Her gaze bore into him, icy and unamused. "I don't believe a word you say anymore. Find a better way to entertain yourself."

"I am sorry." What better way could he find? She was the one who brought him true joy.

"No, you are not." She said. 

Well, no. He wasn't. 

She gave him a look a mother might give her naughty child before turning on her heel and disappearing down the hall. As if entranced, he stared for a moment, smiling a little at how she tromped down the hall. 

As she faded into the distance, his smile was gradually replaced with a pensive frown, the mirth replaced by strategy. He moved in the opposite direction, descending to the basement - or 'underground', as he fondly termed it, considering its vastness.

Surrounded by the cool subterranean air, he began to rummage, searching for weapons not touched in years, meant for both hunters and his own kind. 

Flintlocks, night daggers crafted from dark, lethal metal, and wooden crossbows - he meticulously checked each, placing them in concealed locations throughout the house where they spent most of their time. 

His preparations were interrupted by Armand's arrival. He could hear the purring of wolves, and he knew the man came with what he had asked him. 

Rhain made his way to the mansion's far end, stepping out into the vast backyard. There, Armand stood, accompanied by six formidable bloodwolves. These wolves, enhanced with vampire blood, possessed fur as dark as midnight. The four he bred, bore his personal mark, their golden eyes mirroring his own. It had been a considerable time since he'd seen them last.

Two vigorous brothers, Fenris and Sanguis, stood with a menacing posture. The ravenous leader, Ravager, displayed an unmatched hunger, and then there was Myst, his precious Myst. To others, she was fierce and deadly, but to him, she was a beacon of affection. She immediately leaped to his side, nuzzling against him. He knelt, his fingers sinking into her plush fur.

"It's been too long," he whispered to her. 

He had relocated them to a colder climate, a more suitable habitat for their liking, sparing them from the stifling heat of their current location. Fortunately, a chill had begun to touch the air here too.

Ravager, his first bred, approached next, sniffing and circling him, re-familiarizing himself with Rhain's scent. He paused, likely catching the lingering aroma of Daisy on Rhain.

Rhain's gaze then shifted to the remaining two, Astra and Vesperus. They had not been bred by him, but they were without Masters so Rhain had adopted them.

Straightening up, he turned to Armand. "Thank you you bringing them."

Armand's forehead creased in concern. "Is all well, My Lord?"

Rhain's thoughts flitted to the past. Two centuries prior, he had discovered Armand at death's doorstep. Despite his dire state, Armand had somehow guessed Rhain's true nature and what he could do. He had called him the devil, pleading to save him from death, expressing his urgent need to safeguard his family. Touched by the echo of his own past torments, Rhain had transformed him.

Armand, now immortal, had watched over his kin, ensuring their safety from the shadows. But the bittersweet reality eventually struck: he saw them age and pass on, while he remained trapped in a timeless body. Dread filled him at the memory. He didn't want to experience that with Daisy. 

Pushing the grim thought aside, Rhain spoke, "There's word of hunters in town."

The color drained from Armand's face. "Then I should remain by your side."

Rhain firmly responded, "No. Your safety is paramount. If something were to happen to me, then…"

"My Lord, nothing will happen to you," Armand interjected.

Yet, Rhain, with an authoritative hand on Armand's shoulder, silenced him. "There are crucial tasks I need you to undertake. We'll discuss about them tomorrow. For now, ensure all preparations are in place. The provisions I requested?"

"The food storage is replenished, and firewood has been stocked in the left basement," Armand confirmed.

Rhain nodded, satisfied. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow."

After Armand's departure, Rhain guided the bloodwolves around the mansion's expansive backyard and meticulously manicured front garden. He wanted them to familiarize themselves with the territory they'd be safeguarding. The infusion of vampire blood had heightened their senses, making them exceptional guardians.

From his pocket, Rhain retrieved Daisy's gloves, which he had taken during their ride, and crouched, presenting them to the wolves. "This is Daisy," he told them, "the one you must safeguard."

Fenris responded with an intrigued purr and a curious nose wrinkle. Rhain acknowledged, "Yes, she's human, and no, not eating her."

Ravager circled Rhain momentarily before leaning in, nosing at his forearm, an implicit plea for sustenance. Rhain smirked, reading the wolf's intent. "Hungry, are you?"

Ravager responded with a deep purr, his impatience evident. Recognizing the longing stemming from their extended separation, Rhain generously offered, "Very well, have a taste."

The wolf sought confirmation in Rhain's golden eyes, then sank his teeth into Rhain's wrist. "Gentle now. You don't want to bite my arm off."  0

As Ravager indulged, the others watched, their hunger palpable. Laughing softly at their expressions, Rhain held out his other wrist, causing a viscous fight for who would get to drink first. Sanguis got to him first. 

While Sanguis drank, Rhain gently extricated his wrist from Ravager's grasp, offering it to Myst next. The female wolf's approach was tender, opting to sip from his already bleeding wrist rather than biting anew. Rhain caressed her. "Precious one," he murmured. 

Once their immediate thirst was sated, he briefed them. The wolves, with their uncanny instincts, recognized hunters as naturally as vampires did. Ravager, in particular, seemed eager, nudging Rhain as if urging him to hasten the process. Rhain patted him soothingly, murmuring, "Not like the old days, my friend. Not yet."

There were days when Rhain would savor the blood and let Ravager feast on the flesh. 

Retrieving Daisy's glove once more, Ravager prompted the pack to reacquaint themselves with her scent. 

"Daisy's mother is also here. Helena. She is a guest. Not enemy or food, alright?" He said, pulling out a small shawl he slipped out of her chest without her noticing. He tossed it to them so they could smell it as well. 

Then Ravager took the lead, strategizing with the pack, pacing, and then looking around once more. He was an eager one, and he made the rest just as eager to perform their task. They were already purring, making threats about how they would tear anyone else apart except for Daisy and her mother. 

A bit extreme, but perfect for him. His priority was Daisy, and no one came to his estate except for other Vampires or the hunters that could be looking for him. 

His wolves already knew Armand and Tiberius. Anyone else could become a meal, or at least almost a meal,  but it wasn't something he was ecstatic about. He cared about his wolves and didn't want them to get hurt. 

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