"I have only loved once"

-5-

Days have passed — maybe weeks. The Aztec vampire could not get over what happened. How he almost lost Mizrak, almost witnessed his death. How he saw the knight being saved by his past lover. How they talked for the first time in decades. Everything that took place that night, was behind a fog in his memory. It was something he'd rather forget than just accept.

Olrox found himself awakened from daydreaming by the knight's silent voice.

"Are you thinking about him again?" Mizrak asked, scanning the vampire's viper-green eyes. He was pretty sure what explanation would Olrox give.

"Even if, then what?" The long-haired man summed. He looked over at the human next to him, being aware that deep inside, all Mizrak felt for him was guilt and jealousy. Of course, Olrox owed him an explanation, but he found himself incapable of picking this topic up. The vampire barely had any courage to collect his thoughts, drifting somewhere between reality and the past.

The short-haired man lifted himself to his elbows, his presence set right next to the vampire's muscular body. The knight stared at his lover, pretty sure he shouldn't refer to Olrox by this name.

"I'm leaving" He muttered and slowly got up from the bed. The Aztec watched closely and paid attention to every move Mizrak made. He scanned the dark-eyed male's posture, noticing nasty claw-made scars left on his back, which cut his flesh unnaturally. Even after having a long bath, some blood still covered the area surrounding the cuts. It didn't take much time before Mizrak turned around to face the green-eyed vampire. Their sights met for a brief second, only for the knight to rapidly break the eye contact. He pulled the leather gloves on his hands and reached for his sword lying on a chair in the corner of the room. He studied the room's dark cement walls for, as he thought, the last time.

"Mizrak, we need to talk, I am aware of that. But you need to understand that I need some more time to figure out what to do-" Olrox's words disrupted the silence.

"No, vampire. You had your time. I have had enough of waiting for you to stop thinking about him. I'm leaving." He replied and left the room. The knight walked through the horror black hallways of the apartment. As he reached the front door leading to a staircase, some part of him felt regret for not letting Olrox explain himself. This time, however, his mind took over his heart. Soon he found himself walking through the bricked pathways, with rain pouring like mad, hitting his shoulders boldly.

---

The vampire waited for Mizrak to leave his sight. As soon as the knight turned around the corner, the man in a hooded coat left the shadow. He walked down the streets, thankful for the rainy weather.

The young vampire entered one of the pubs in the center of the town and looked around the place. Warm light hugged people's faces, and the scent of alcohol drifted in the air. Some men were smoking cigars, some laughing together, some asking for another round of beer. Then he noticed the blonde waves spread over one man's shoulders, reaching his mid-back. "This must be him" he claimed in his thoughts, coming closer.

"I was pretty sure you would find me here, my dear" The blonde-haired man spoke softly. His voice was surprisingly quiet, yet loud enough for the bloody-eyed vampire to hear clearly. He watched as Alucard raised one of his hands, pointing at a chair next to him.

"Your hair made it easier, Son of Dracula" Kwahu claimed with a laugh. He sat next to the dhampir and took the hood from his head. Alucard could see the young vampire's dark hair, this time, except for the six braids he always had, the rest of his slightly wavy raven hair was put into one, long, thick braid. He made himself comfortable in the chair and looked Alucard up and down.

"Please, call me Alucard. Or instead, I will have to call you Son of Sokanon." The dhampir said, reaching for one of the glasses with beer on the table.

"Not that I would complain. Is the second one mine?" He noticed the glasses and without waiting for Alucard's answer, he grabbed it with his hand and sipped the drink. "Both of them are dead, aren't they? And yes, I know your father was the first vampire to build an army or something-"

Kwahu immediately knew something was not right. The stare Alucard gave him sent shivers down his spine.

"I see you do understand, what I mean. Act like nothing happened, I will wait for you to finish the drink." Alucard whispered, his eyes glancing into the vampire's soul. He was pretty sure Kwahu wouldn't make it by the time Erzsebeth arrived in France, yet he somehow managed to sail in within the next few days after Olrox's arrival. The dhampir could give himself a pat on the back for planning all of the stuff against the Messiah. Meanwhile, Kwahu put an empty glass on the table and subtly scanned the pub, and all the people sitting there. He immediately noticed the powdered wigs and elegant suits of men by the table right across the place.

"As long as you wish. I was thinking about coming here, but as you know, I never miss a chance to go out on a date. Especially, when the man asking me to go out is so astonishing. Seriously, what are you doing to keep your hair in such marvelous condition, dear?" Kwahu felt a wave of confidence running down his body.

"You talk a lot-" The dhampir mentioned, willing to add more, but the young vampire's speech continued.

"I first thought you were a woman, but you know what is better than a long-haired woman? A long-haired man. Especially, when he is handsome, as you are. And your flesh, you look like a living silk scarf. I heard they are becoming more popular nowadays."

In response, he only saw Alucard giggling, the look on his now red face screaming of embarrassment, or maybe disappointment?

"Oh come on, pretty head. Let's find a place more... Comfortable for both of us" He grinned and got up, offering Dracula's son a hand. Alucard noticed the meaning behind it and played along with the idea. Everything to get out of there as fast as possible. He grabbed the Mohican's hand and stood from his chair.

"I feel honored, my dear" Alucard smirked.

Not long after they left the pub, and, of course paying for the drinks, acting like drunk, the long-haired men found themselves walking through the town. The dhampir found Kwahu's behavior quite interesting. He never actually had a chance to talk with such a young vampire before. He acted way different than Olrox, who Alucard also considered young. His decisions, the whole presence, and way of being were all... Immature. It was the only word that described Kwahu in one hundred percent.

"How bad must've it all been for you to drink beer, Alucard?" Kwahu asked briefly, pulling the hood lower on his head, feeling the rain on his back.

"They said it was the best in the whole town. In fact, it was not so bad, but it doesn't change my opinion about wine."

"And I suppose the beer wasn't the reason you brought me there. These vampires were sent there to spy on us, weren't they?" He brought up the topic, just to change it seconds later. "Also, was it your idea to bring both Olrox and me here for a reunion? It didn't seem like a coincidence, and now I think his new relationship is on the verge of setting on fire."

"This is why I wanted to talk with you. You probably are aware of how much it changed Olrox's point of view. He killed a woman in revenge, thinking she sent you to the other world." Alucard said, fixing his now wet hair.

"I understand it, Alucard. I gave them both time to figure it out. But look, it has already been two weeks, and only Mizrak left their place."

"Were you spying on them?"

"Of course not. I walked past him today, saw him leaving Olrox's place. I don't care who he sleeps with, I just thought maybe he already decided to meet and explain each other everything. Turns out - he didn't."

The men walked on the pathway between buildings, where the rain couldn't reach them.

"Give him some more time, Kwahu" The dhampir replied.

"I'm trying, Alucard. But I cannot hold the past inside of me anymore."