A Tiny Error

Bonus Chapter: Fallacy x Encre

*It's dangerous to go alone! Take this holy water!
Lemons incoming! Brace for impact!*

Encre wiped the sweat from his brow as he guided the brush across the canvas. In the bright, sunlit room that was his art studio, he concentrated on his newest painting as the sun dragged along in the sky. Every once in awhile, Encre would pause, close his eyesockets, and reminisce over the scene he was capturing. It was a beautiful sunset over a lake, surrounded by woods on the very edge on the other side. He remembered sitting down on the grassy knoll above the water, dipping his toes in the cool waves and breathing in the fragrant aroma of the French countryside. He could almost taste the famous wine from the vineyards just down the way, almost taste the fresh, crisp bread the locals would sell. He took those sensations and delivered them onto the canvas, bringing a taste of France into his painting.

Leaned against the jamb of the door, Fallacy watched Encre paint with a slight smile. He had never truly appreciated the artistic world, viewing it as full of wealthy, aristocratic fools carelessly throwing their wealth away to decorate their homes with sheets of paper and linen. When he met Encre, however, his view was slowly changed. The excitement the artist had for his craft was infectious, and Fallacy often broke into a smile as Encre gushed over his favorite pieces. It was no wonder he was in such high demand in France; his enthusiasm combined with his mastery over coloring and shading made him a popular choice in choosing an artist to paint a miniature, or a landscape.

Once again, Encre had closed his eyes to remember some small detail, and Fallacy was struck with an idea. With a casual tip of his head, the drapes closed over the windows, leaving the room dark. Encre seemed not to have noticed, and Fallacy internally laughed at his prank. He strolled up to the artist, intent on spooking him a little.

Encre breathed out and opened his eyes, but tensed up in alarm. The whole room was dark! How had it gotten this dark so quickly?! He carefully put his palette and paintbrush down, then stood up slowly. He was still getting used to the dark, so he bumped into stuff a lot. He cursed under his breath as he knocked over an easel, then kicked into a bucket of paintbrushes, then stepped on something that made a harsh cracking noise. He groaned in frustration, squinting into the darkness, then gasped as he met with a pair of bright, multicolored eyes. He stood frozen, unsure if he was just seeing things, or if those eyes were the ones he'd come to know as belonging to the vampire king. Deciding to test that theory, he stumbled his way over to the eyes, pretending to feel his way around. He finally made his way to the bright eyes, gasping when his hand came to rest on some sort of fabric.

"I was going to startle you," Fallacy's deep voice cut into the silence, "but I see you don't get scared easily."

Encre scoffed in amusement. "What about when we first met? You snuck up on me that time, too."

Fallacy gently pulled Encre's hand away from his chest, smiling. "That time, I made a greater effort to hide."

"Why do you hide in the dark still?" Encre asked, puzzlement clear in his voice. "I can't see you in the dark."

The vampire king chuckled. "You've missed me so much that you want me to reveal myself?"

Encre gave him a wry grin, knowing full well Fallacy could see in the dark. "More like I'd rather face the darkness and assure myself there's nothing to fear in it."

The drapes parted, allowing some sunlight to stream through. Fallacy gazed down at the artist with a look of admiration. Encre chuckled lightly at the vampire's expression, mistaking it for astonishment. Pulling his hand from Fallacy's, he returned to his painting. The vampire king sighed quietly, watching his soulmate pull the drapes back, further restricting Fallacy from the room. He stepped back, grimacing as the light shunned him. He wished he could step into the sunlight without fearing the burns that came with exposure to it. Maybe then he could stay with Encre all the time, get to know him more, and find out what he liked to do.