The Touch of Demise │18+

27: Shouldn't You Go?

DEMISE 

"Is it the blood thirst or the mate thirst?"

Demise failed to hide his annoyance, his eyes darting over to the des where Xerxes sat. He rolled up his shirt sleeve before steadying himself on the table again. Before him were the last six months' expense sheets for the Land of Xerxes. 

"What?"

Xerxes laid down the papers on top of his desk. His golden eyes locked onto the King. "You're grinding your teeth."

Demise didn't acknowledge his statement. 

"You know, a conversation consists of two people making it."

"What gave you the impression that I want to converse with you?"

"I don't know; I just thought taking my powers would draw you closer to me." Sarcasm laced his voice.

"I thought you were smarter."

Xerxes just snickered and gave up. 

Demise groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, and sat down.  "Why are you so interested in speaking with me? The entire time we have been here, you have attempted to make acquaintance with me."

"Because, believe it or not, Demise, I don't hate you, and I like to think that eventually all of us will become friends again."

"We were friends many eons ago, Xerxes. We have changed."

"We have... you especially. Grace-"

"Do you want to know why I can't stand you?"

A grin covered Xerxes' face. "Because you are a miserable man who doesn't make friends easily? Or is it because you know to kill me would take a lot more effort than you'd like to admit?"

"Because I know the reason for my existence is the only reason you can live."

Silence coursed through the office like electricity as the two men stared at each other. For once, that entertained and humorous facade withered away. Xerxes' eyes lowered out of guilt. 

"If I could live on anything other than her blood, I would. I would never intentionally take from your mate. She's yours."

"Is her blood all you want?"

"Are you asking if I want to sleep with your mate?"

Before he had a chance to defend himself, Demise was out of his seat, his fist firmly slamming into the other primus' face. Xerxes winced, a laugh echoing from his chest, as he nurtured his now bleeding lip. 

"Does the matebond affect you that heavily Demise?" A rhetorical question. Xerxes stood straight before his King. He removed himself from behind the desk and went to the door. 

"Where are you going," Demise asked, clearly frustrated with the conversation. 

"If I am going to tell you the truth, I want to be in a place where you can kick my ass and not destroy my home."

They found themselves on the training grounds behind the gothic castle. Snow caped the black mountains behind them and dusted the grass in a sheen. It was dusk, and the skin of the primuses became hot from irritation. Demise was growing sick and tired of these vampiric attributes he acquired. 

Xerxes stood far in front of Demise and spoke loudly enough that Demise could hear. He spoke at a normal volume. Demise listened. 

People surrounded them. 

"I never allowed myself near her."

Demise's brows furrowed at Xerxes' announcement. 

"I knew that if I did go near her, I'd..." he trailed off. "The end of the story would be just like it was with her grandmother." The primus took a large breath. "I want her, yes."