Vampire Nightlife

If Lukas actually had the Sanguise House dagger–perhaps it would have ended things easily. Maybe all it would have taken was a quick swipe or slash and Theodore had woken up.

Those were what-ifs.

A situation that might have changed things, similar to how Lukas tried to ask for some help from the sealed Dream Eater in the crystal.

"Since you're free, can't you actually just go in the guy's head and wake him up? Seems a lot easier than what we're doing." Lukas said.

He narrowly avoided the blade of Theodore's katana like weapon, the sharp edge cutting at his neck and making it bleed a little. It was taking all of Lukas' effort to not receive a fatal blow, that even talking was such a bad idea.

"Um, can't do that–two Dream Eaters in one brain is like a recipe for madness."

The fact that Theodore could do all of these fighting even whilst he was asleep seemed like a testament to the Vampire's ability and skill to battle. Was it because he hunted and killed humans while they were asleep?

That didn't make sense.

It made more sense that Theodore was attacked in his own sleep and learned how to fight and not the other way around. Whatever the reason may be, Lukas was getting himself served properly.

"Oi! Wake up you oaf!" Lukas shouted to deaf ears.

"I really think you have to hit him properly to wake him up." Rhea advised.

"Or he might end up getting knocked out and dreaming even further." Lukas griped. He tried to land a blow but for some reason the other Vampire dodged with swift efficiency as if he could see all of this.

"Are you sure that…" Lukas frowned and stared harder at Theodore. Surely no Vampire was supposed to be this good right? Lukas would have glanced at Rhea if she was there but then decided to try something.

"You're not Theodore right? You're possessing him or something."

That was what Lukas had in mind. That somehow, despite all the skills and abilities of Theodore–he couldn't fight in real time so smoothly unless someone was redirecting it well.

"Lukas! There's not so much time in your hands." Rhea reminded him.

"I know that!" Lukas shouted aggrieved. He had hoped that he'd come across Chaerin first–he really would have chose the girl over Theodore if he had a choice between saving the two of them.

It was an awful thing to say, but it would leave him with less guilt if Chaerin survived and Theodore died. Naturally this would have hurt Lily, but priorities were priorities.

"Maybe I can still step away and you tell me where Chaerin is." Lukas told Rhea as he dodged another blade and tried to disarm Theodore to no avail. "I mean, if that is that she's the one closest by and not Alexei."

There'd be so much disappointment in Lukas if it was Alexei he had to save next after this.

"You don't have much of a choice. Turn your back and you'll die." Rhea said.

"That's not entirely true, but argh… fine. Snap out of it!" Lukas leapt towards Theodore in a fashion that might have stunned the dreamer or whoever was controlling him.

Even Rhea was shocked but there was a certain level of patience that one had and whether it was bravery, idiocy or a mix of both–Lukas plunged to his certain death. Or what might have been.

Theodore had raised his blade and it struck true, piercing into the flesh of Lukas so much that the man had hissed and winced but he had managed to cross the distance that there was between them.

And now that he did?

"Lukas!" Rhea shouted in alarm.

"Shut up, your voice is more painful than this blade." Lukas hissed. Maybe it was a really crazy idea trying to hurt himself just to achieve his goals but if there was no pain then there was no gain.

Theodore might have tried to pull the blade out but then Lukas imagined his own body trying to hold onto the weapon. It should have slid out easily, especially in the hands of an adept weapon user, but somehow it stuck like glue.

Almost as if Lukas was intentionally using his muscles, or whatever was inside of his body to hold onto the katana. Whether it was actually working or was simply a feverish state of mind was up to anyone's guesses.

Regardless, Lukas quickly set out to work and raised his hands.

"I've always wanted to do this. Really the first time we've met and this urge had already surfaced within me so don't think of it too badly, okay?" Lukas laughed crazily and then smacked his hand across Theodore's oni mask.

The mask held on for a moment but by his second thwack, the oni-mask flew off into the sands and revealed the face of Theodore. He was actually asleep and not just pretending to be asleep in order to be a dick.

A part of Lukas had almost expected that Theodore would have just wanted to fight him, but this was another thing completely.

Lukas then proceeded to give several blows to the man's face and yet there was no immediate response. A fear started to burn through Lukas' head–did this man somehow actually end up going deeper into the dream world?

There was no way that Lukas could tell and Rhea was not saying anything.

But what exactly could have been such a pleasant dream that even despite all the slaps that Lukas was giving–Theodore refused to open his eyes and wake up?

***

"Hide and seek! You're the seeker–"

The Tenebris Mansion was a great accomplishment for the family to even think of imagining. According to what Theodore had heard–their family had come from far away and were not really from Lux.

Lawrence Tenebris and the rest of the family had all come from Umbra. A settlement so far away that it had taken great effort for their family to receive accolades and to be trusted by the community.

This was all a testament of their hard work.

Theodore knew it all by heart because that was what their clan mostly talked about and discussed–mostly thanked the goddess for. Although the city of Lux was one of the most faithless, it didn't matter as long as they were doing their part in making it a better place.

Of course, the kids like him didn't care that much.

At first it was easy to hate having to move so far away, leaving friends and people that you were familiar with and starting anew. They were at least lucky that the Tenebris Clan was rather big and the children all had each other as company.

"That's everyone." one of Theodore's cousins had wiped his sweat and counted for everyone. Each little Vampire, or even the bit older ones had a smile on their face.

Theodore had been one of the last to be seen–he was already developing strange skills and abilities that caught the eye of the Guildmaster of the Hunter's Association and he was actually about to take a test sooner or later.

However, a frown adorned his face and he shook his head.

"No, you're wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"You've forgotten about Lily." Theodore narrowed his eyes on his cousin. The others were also more or less unenthusiastic about it and it kindled something within him. Not because everyone was blood related meant that they cared.

There was the fact that having many children also meant that there was fiercer competition between them–and Theodore was lucky enough that he was just a cousin.

A certain malice and contempt for Lawrence's favorite daughter. It was after all the 'weakest' one that needed and demanded more attention while the rest were expected to uphold the standards necessary for what it meant to be a 'Tenebris'.

Theodore didn't wait for any more excuses and simply went off.

"I'll go find her myself." Theodore said and it actually took a lot of effort to find her. The Tenebris mansion was big and there were so many nooks or crannies for one to hide and for someone as small as Lily? The possibilities were endless.

Maybe she just wanted to win? Who knew? Theodore couldn't exactly know what was on the mind of his cousin, but eventually the reason he found out where she was located was because he had heard the silent sounds.

The sniffing and crying.

Theodore looked up and found the dusty old attic. Nobody had paid attention to it. The maids still haven't actually gotten the time and energy to clean it all up so nobody was supposed to be allowed to go up there.

But Lily must have thought it was the best place to hide.

Theodore sighed and found a way to scramble up. Even when he arrived, it was hard to see her right away because she had hidden herself still. "Lily?" he called out.

"Theodore! Theodore!" a voice cried out.