𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭 ~✰ | 18+

Ch. VI [6] ♡

Drake's home was smaller than Cedric would've guessed. the reason being that Drake presented himself as a higher-class citizen through his attitude and his mannerisms. however, there was none of the frills and fancies here. frankly, it was a humble home.

"well, my dear, welcome home," said Drake, bowing in an extravagant way. he smiled hugely, looking at Cedric. "I've been waiting a long while to say that to someone."

Cedric could've sworn that he almost heard Drake sound sincere.

"not really my choice," mumbled Cedric, placing his little amount of things he brought with him on the floor.

"really? but... you came to look for me?" said Drake with a teasing tone. "wasn't that your choice? you could've gone anywhere."

"... no. I couldn't. I didn't have anywhere else to go," Cedric stated quietly.

Drake replied equally as quietly, feeling a semblance of pity for the dark-haired man. "I see. well, my home is yours now. come; I'll show you where you'll sleep."

they stood in the doorway, Drake gesturing towards the room.

"here we are; it's quite a comfortable bed," he said. he sat down on it, encouraging Cedric to follow him. he didn't; he just remained in the doorway, assessing the space.

"are... we sharing this bed?" Cedric suddenly felt quite embarrassed.

Drake chuckled, not answering. finally, Cedric walked into the room, slowly making his way close to the bed, sitting down opposite of Drake who glanced at one of the windows in the room.

"the sun's coming up; it's bedtime," said Drake. "I'll sleep in the main room, until you're more comfortable around me." he made his way to the doorway, but right before he closed the door, he peeked back in.

"have a good sleep, Cedric. I'll see you tonight." he closed the door.

Cedric ran a bath, ready to get cleaned after so much that had happened. this time in the bath was perfect for some thinking and wallowing in self pity. so, this was his new life. he really didn't have anywhere else to go, or did he...?

no, he didn't. briefly, he wondered how his family was doing until he remembered that they couldn't care any less about him. running away when he was 19 was probably the best decision he'd ever made in his life as well as the saddest. he wasn't getting sent to a mental institution simply because he was romantically interested in other men. for years, he cursed the day his father found him with the son of the general store owner. the poor boy got sent away before they could do something, but Cedric knew what he could do-leave. it pained him to leave his family, but to this day, he didn't regret it.

he got out of the bath and on the bed, he saw a long nightshirt sitting there along with a clean blade for shaving. it was a simple, but nice gesture that was done by Drake. Cedric was starting to believe that it wouldn't be so bad to live with him.

Cedric fell asleep quite quickly since it had been a stressful and exhausting night for him. waking up the next night, he sleepily made his way to the attached bathroom and began to use the razor that Drake provided for him the night before. there frankly wasn't much grooming needed, but he figured a touch-up wouldn't hurt.

he got dressed and left the room to find his sire. he was in the main room of the house, scribbling something down in an old book, perhaps a journal.

"hello," said Cedric.

Drake was properly startled, but he hid it well. he closed the journal and placed it back on the shelf with many other books just like it. he approached Cedric.

"hello, my dear; did you sleep well?"

"well enough, I suppose."

"excellent."

Cedric peered down at his own hands and was reminded of something he wanted to address.

"Drake...?"

"yes?"

"do you have a ... file of sorts?"

Drake could feel a smile forming, and he hid it poorly. "a file? you mean one for your fingernails?"

Cedric had noticed that, since his transition into vampirism, his nails had grown long - not enough to be claws, but enough for there to be quite a bit of noticable white free edge, coming to a rounded almond point. only now had he gotten the chance to tend to them and ask Drake about it.

"yes."

"I hate to bear this bad news, Cedric, but your nails aren't getting any shorter than that."

Cedric furrowed his brows. "how come?"

"certain features on you won't change after you've become a vampire. a big one is age, for example. you'll look the way you look when you were turned for as long as you live. cutting nails is another; they won't cut no matter how hard you try. and I've tried." Drake had now busied himself with looking through books as they talked. "and you already know about us and the sun. that's just how it is to be a vampire."

"how long have you been a vampire?" asked Cedric. maybe it was time for them to get background on each other.

"hm, now that is quite a story," replied Drake. he sat down at a table and began to tell his tale.