Lethal Beauty

XXX - Thick as Blood

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Iris demanded to know why Raviel would give him a red card and now he was being interrogated by his guardian and older brother Dike. "I didn't do anything!"

"When you save that human's life in the Gracebourne Manor, did you or did you not make him drink your blood?" Dike repeated this series of questions. "You are allowed to mark him in order to protect him from other vampires, but you are not to drink his blood or have him drink yours. Raviel seems to be using that argument that's why he gave you a red card."

The meaning of the red card varies, most likely it was given to vampires who broke the rules and punishment depends on the points deducted. Each student was given one hundred moral points, and depending on the gravity of their fault, the guardians and the councils of the academy would decide how many points would be deducted under their name. Having zero points in morals could result in a vampire getting expelled from Saint Constantine.

"I..." Iris couldn't defend himself and Dike could immediately tell that he did exactly what everyone thought he did. There was no way for Abel to have survived that fall, let alone come back without even a broken bone.

"This is thirty points, Iris," Dike reminded him holding the red card. "And you're not allowed to come near Abel until the chairman returns."

"Don't you think that's too much? They could've punished me that day when I returned with Abel."

"Well, oftentimes, guardians need to bring up the subject to the councils and wait until their red card is valid. The final decision lies on the chairman, of course. The chairman approves."

Iris grunted. "This is bull."

"Whether it is bull in your opinion, the fact that the chairman approves the red card means we have to abide by the rules, and this is the condition that has been set," Dike waved the card in front of his face. "Let this be the first and the last that you'll get something like this. We can't afford to have you expelled while we are near the success of what we have worked hard for."

Iris turned away quickly. In his head, he was formulating a plan. He had to get out of here. He was holding on to his composure by main force. "Fine, I'll stay."

But Dike was not easily fooled. At this point, he couldn't tell whether the arrival of Abel in Iris' life was positive. A lot of things changed with the younger and he hated the thought that Iris must've gotten too attached to the human. "The longer you stay with this human, the more convinced I am that you've forgotten about our goal. Has your priorities been altered?" Their eyes met for a bleak moment. "I need you, Iris. I can't do this alone. If you want to be free and protect Lux, then, stick to the plan. The human is not part of the plan. You've been asked to keep an eye on him. Do not get too attached..."

As Dike turned to his heel and strode toward the door, Iris remained seated on his bed wondering about everything that his brother had said. Do not get too attached. Too late. He was already too deep.

⛧☾༺♰༻☽⛧

The Willow Vale Manor had a more grandiose interior in comparison to its ghostly, towering exterior. Outside were gargoyle statues and a courtyard surrounded by dark forest. The moment they entered and passed the foyer, they were ushered around a large central hallway that flowed into a large, wide staircase that provided the means of egress from the other parts of the house to the private rooms located on the second floor.

Despite the modern era, and perhaps to keep the gothic architectural design of the whole of Saint Constantine, the hallways and the front parlor retained the original wallpaper most likely from 1800 with classic Anglo-Japanese asymmetrical and exotic motifs. Although Abel could tell that it was well kept and some parts had been redecorated to approximate the original wallpaper and paint colors.