Night has fallen and the air feels cold and crisp. The thick layer of snow mutes any noises. Two obscure figures on horseback ride quietly along the river. One of them is actually carrying another, smaller figure, crouching behind them, a young boy. He is sniffling silently, trembling from the cold and the anguish he has been through. The small company stops at a distance from a log cabin, at the edge of the forest.
"We are here." Endymion speaks softly, patting the boy's hands that rest interlocked around his waist. Dal lifts his head. "I don't want my mother to see me like that." His pleading voice sounds hoarse from crying. "Can we go somewhere else please, just for a while?" he begs the dark haired man, choking back a sob. Endymion and Jeongin look at each other. "We can go to my place." Jeongin suggests. Endymion nods in agreement. They turn their horses around and ride quietly away, into the forest again. After a while they reach another small cabin, hidden by the trees. Endymion dismounts and helps the boy too. Jeongin takes the horses. "I will take them to the stable." Endymion takes Dal inside. He lets him sitting on a chair and starts a fire in the hearth. Dal watches him, eyes still teary. "Come." Endymion helps him move to the other room and sit on the bed. He removes the heavy cloak from his back and his tattered shirt. The boy winces. His wounds sting. His entire back is laced with red lines from the whiping. Some of them are deeper, cut into the skin. Endymion feels his anger boil at the sight.
That wretched man! He had a way too easy and quick death!
"We need to clean your wounds." he says quietly. Dal nods weakly. "Do you need any help?" Jeongin's voice comes from the door. He places a small basin of fresh water and a clean cloth near Endymion. "No..." "I will bring a clean shirt then." Endymion takes the cloth and gently begins to clean the wounds. The boy whimpers, trying hard to stifle his sobs. "They will leave marks... Yes?" he chokes on his fresh tears. Endymion bites his lip, looking at Jeongin who just left a shirt, beside them. He casts a sympathetic look at the boy and looks at Endymion. "Do it." He mutters under his breath. "I will leave you." He says louder and walks out.
Endymion takes a deep breath. "Do you trust me, Dal?" The boy turns his head to meet his eyes. "You saved my life... twice." He hesitates for a moment. The dark red eyes and bloodied lips come in to mind again. He is still confused but he trusts that Endymion will not harm him. "Yes... I trust you Min." The latter takes his small dagger and cuts his thumb. He runs his bloodied digit in Dal's wound. The boy shivers at the touch, letting out a small sigh. Miraculously , the wound heals, leaving no scar behind. He repeats the process on each wound, making the boy's skin flawless again. He rests his hand on the boy's back. Dal leans against it, imperceptibly. Despite the cold touch, a warm feeling of comfort and safety spreads through him. Endymion puts the clean shirt on his back and stands up, putting distance between them. Dal turns around to look at him. "What did you do?" "I... I healed the wounds." "You can do that?" Endymion nods. "With my blood." "What are you?" Dal's voice is just a whisper. "Are you a... demon?" But how could he be? He saved him. Again. The tall dark haired man meets the boy's brown eyes with his own dark blue gaze. Specks of red flicker in his irises. "You could say that." He chuckles darkly. "You drink... blood?" the boy asks hesitantly. "Yes." It is the reluctant but honest answer the other gives. Dal doesn't know what to say. He feels drawn to this man. It is a pull beyond his understanding, it feels like destiny. His eyes travel on the man's face. His features are perfect. His pale skin is glowing. His intimidating eyes are hypnotizing. His lips... Those lips make Dal's stomach flutter like it is full of butterflies. He never thought he could like a man this way and this much.
His heart skips a beat every time he stares into those deep blue eyes. The other's tall lean figure with the shoulder length black hair haunts his dreams. His plump red lips mesmerize him. He cannot look away. He has strange lustful thoughts. He longs to touch him and be touched by him.
"How does it feel?" Dal asks, breaking the silence between them. "What exactly?" "How does it feel when you feed on some one's blood? Do you need it all the time?" Endymion looks at him mildly shocked at the direct question. "No, I do not need it all the time. But, it is a necessary evil."
Dal hums. He stands up and comes closer to Endymion, looking intently at him. "I want you to use me... my blood, I mean." "What? No!" Endymion is now visibly shocked by the boy's boldness. "I am not afraid!" Dal cuts him off, hurriedly. "I want us to... erm, connect that way." "There is no need for that between us, Dal." "Please, I am not afraid. I ... I would like you to consider me before others..." He looks at Endymion with his big brown eyes, blushing at his own words. "Be careful what you wish for, Dal." Endymion whispers softly.
Dal is actually not sure what he is offering to the other but still, he repeats his request once more. "I want you to..." His eyes are wide open, staring at Endymion with anticipation mixed with fear and excitement. "What if I lose control?" Endymion asks softly. He must admit, he too yearns to taste the boy, ever since he caught his scent, on that fateful dusk near the river. It haunts and tantalizes him.
"You will not! I am certain, I trust you!" Dal states with as much confidence as he can muster under the circumstances. Endymion looks deep into the boy's eyes. His big brown eyes are innocent and honest. He steps closer and gently takes the hand Dal offers him. Still looking into the boy's eyes, he grips his forearm with both hands and leans down to touch the wrist with his lips. Dal shivers at the contact. His reaction does not go unnoticed by Endymion who looks at him again with dark eyes now tinged with red. He slowly runs his tongue on the smooth skin and gently sucks the spot, feeling the pulsating vein underneath. He grazes it lightly with his teeth. Dal closes his eyes, inhaling deeply. He feels the sting of the bite and lets out a small yelp before slipping into a haze as the blood rushes out of his body.
A strange sense of warmth pools in his groin, making him feel hot and aroused. His heartbeat accelerates. His breathing quickens. He is about to lose himself completely. He grips Endymion's shoulder tightly. Thankfully, this is enough for the other to stop sucking the boy's wrist and loosen his grip. Dal stares at him through his haze. Endymion's eyes are dark red. The boy's blood fills him with desire and memories. Memories of something buried deep inside him. His lips are parted just a little as he breathes heavily, trying to control himself. His fangs are still visible. He has some blood in the corner of his mouth.
He is beautiful!
The boy cannot stop the lustful thoughts. He parts his lips, licking them. He wants more than anything to lick the blood from Endymion's lips and taste himself in the other's mouth."Are you alright?" Endymion asks in a hushed voice, disrupting his sinful thoughts. "Yes, I think so." Dal is still dazed, though.
Endymion bites his thumb and lets a few drops of his blood to fall on the bite mark, on Dal's wrist. The wound is healed almost immediately. The boy's eyes widen in shock. "Does this mean that I will become like you?" There is fear in his voice. Endymion chuckles softly at the boy's naivety. "No, do not worry." "Oh..." Dal is embarrassed. He was practically begging for this and now he is afraid? "You have to ingest the blood, before you die, to become like me." Endymion elaborates to put the boy's mind at ease. Dal lets out a sigh of relief. He avoids Endymion's gaze for now. They remain silent for a few moments.
"You are beautiful when you... you feed." He says this without thinking. Endymion stares at him surprised. He could almost blush at that comment. Almost. But, there is nothing beautiful about drinking someone's blood when the thirst takes over. It can be brutal, cruel. Those unlucky victims may scream and writhe in agony. Of course, it can be different when attraction and emotions are involved.
Are there emotions involved now?
He ponders perplexed. He knows the attraction is there. He knows he longs for the boy. He wants him in many ways. He lifts his gaze to Dal's face and finds the boy's eyes fixed on him again, specifically on his lips.
YOU ARE READING
Heathen
FantasíaIn ancient times they were mere mortals who were given the gift of immortality by the Goddess of the Moon, Night and Magic. Like Endymion, a young man who died in Hekate's arms and came back to life, seemingly forever. Reader discretion is advised.
