Vampire Nightlife

The way back to their apartment was quiet and inconspicuous–even the most notorious of thievery and muggering, and there were individuals who did suffer even in Lux, found themselves silenced by the events.

Chelsea was nowhere to be found in the apartment room when they arrived. If Chaerin had gone out and went to find her younger sister, he would have understood completely, but to his surprise, she did the opposite.

Chaerin wrapped her arms across his torso and asked. "Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Will you not search for your sister?" Lukas asked.

"She'll be fine." Chaerin said. "I know she will… but you? You'll be leaving right away tomorrow aren't you?" A smile curled on her lips. "There's not much time to be wasted after all, isn't there?"

"Time is of the essence, yes." Lukas said, but then placed a kiss on her hair. "But that does not mean that I would simply go and abandon you, either. You're important to me too, Chaerin."

"I-I…" A guilty look formed on Chaerin's face. "I wish I hadn't driven her away to look for her father. Maybe if I hadn't… then she would have been okay and none of this would have happened, you know?"

"It might have been Councilman Tenebris instead who ended up poisoned instead." Lukas pointed out. "And if that had happened, I think Lily would have gone in search of the cure for her father, you know? I wouldn't let her go all by herself and endanger her life–"

"Even if it would mean leaving me alone?" Chaerin quietly said.

Lukas felt like he was struck by lightning at that moment. Was that where his priority truly lay? Did Lily Tenebris mattered more to him than Chaerin? Was everything they've done up to this point had simply been because of the heat of his loins and carnal desires?

Lukas shook his head and gently raised Chaerin's chin.

Unfortunately, Chaerin averted her gaze and bit on her bottom lip. She refused to look at him, too much in pain after her own realizations.

"Look at me, Chaerin." Lukas asked.

"I don't want to."

"Okay, that's alright. I just wanted you to see me because in all honesty, if you were in her shoes–and I pray that it never happens to you–but if you had been endangered? I would have left Lily too, you know? If I could save you, I would have done everything that I could."

"... It's just that she needs you more than me, right now?" Chaerin's voice trembled slightly.

Lukas took a deep breath and slowly nodded.

"That's right."

He wondered if Chaerin would understand or if she'd be hurt even more by his declaration that Lily needed him more, but then to his surprise, she grabbed his arm and then looked at him.

"O-okay. I don't think you'll ever understand how much I'm so desperately worried about you right now–how much I want to keep you safe here with me and by my side, but I can't say that I don't understand."

"You do?" Lukas blinked.

"My parents… when they had to leave. They said something similar as you did–but instead of it being just about a single person, they said that it was for everyone. It was not just enough to keep me and my sister safe, but it was to give every kid here in Lux the chance to be safe with their families…" Chaerin's eyes welled up with tears. "How could I not say no to that?"

"Chaerin–"

"Just hold me close tonight and say you won't let go." Chaerin pleaded.

"I won't." Lukas promised and he wouldn't.

The two of them went into Lukas' apartment and immediately made their way to his bed–not even bothering to remove a single article of clothing. Lukas cradled the girl in his arms and kept her close to his chest as Chaerin buried her face into him.

"Lukas…"

"Yes, Chaerin?"

"Do you love me?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

"I love you too," Chaerin said. She looked up to him and slowly raised her body so that she hovered slightly over him. Underneath the lasting night sky of Lux, the stars seemed to pale in comparison to her face.

Lukas took in a deep breath and stared up at Chaerin's face, memorizing every inch of her face. From every eyelash to even the curve of her nose, Lukas stashed it all away in his memory as she watched him back and did the same.

Truth be told, Lukas was unconfident about going outside of Lux.

If Lukas could have made an excuse, then he would have said that he would stay back and be at Chaerin's side–he could investigate what led to such a situation to occur with Lily, but even that was kind of an impossible task in the first place.

He wasn't strong and as powerful as he wished he could be.

Lukas hadn't gotten the opportunity to learn either Charm or Physical Manipulation–and it was because he wanted to tap into the Arcane. Find the old power of the Vampire kind and have it in his hands.

He wanted so much that he failed to get anything at all.

He craved everything deeply and was left empty.

"Lukas…" Chaerin interrupted his thoughts with the sound of her voice. She looked at him and it was almost as if she could read his thoughts, or even if she couldn't–she could at least read the expression on his face.

"Yes, Chaerin?" Lukas smiled.

The expression of troubled thoughts vanished completely and Chaerin almost wondered if she had simply imagined things in the first place. But she bit on her lip and hesitated for a moment, holding it in and reconsidering her own choices.

But then she took a deep breath and smiled evenly.

"What if… what if I came with you?" Chaerin said.

"What?!" Lukas' eyes widened.

"I've considered it. I do not want you to be in danger and the best way that I can assure myself of that is if I come with you, right? I may not be able to do much, but there's a reason why the Guildmaster and everyone in the council wanted me in the first place. I could be of use to you."