Vampire Nightlife

"What the hell are you thinking, Stacy?!" Alexei's voice echoed in their small shabby house. Located in the outskirts of the city of Lux in the least developed district, this was a place where the young Vampire could shout all he wanted without alerting or disturbing the people.

Alexei dis Vardoken hadn't attended the "anniversary" of the city of Lux–it was nothing more but a cheap way to celebrate the day that their ancestors were betrayed and now he was even more furious to hear his sister's words.

Grabbing the younger sibling by the shoulders, Alexei shook Stacy roughly.

"Do you know what you're doing? Did some Charmer make you say yes into doing this–did they manipulate you into saying yes?"

"Alexei, you of all people should know that we're not easily influenced by anything or anyone." Stacy frowned at her brother and jerked away from him.

"It has to be that vile Weisse woman!" Alexei thundered.

"No. She would hardly intervene in a matter like this…" Stacy averted her gaze. "It's just that… well, it's not fair for that Tenebris girl to have been attacked. It only felt right to share what I know to help–"

"Help?" Alexei laughed. "That's the last thing that you'll ever do. The great and magnificent Stacy dis Vardoken wanting to help? That's ridiculous. You have a heart even colder than me and we both know that."

And it was actually true.

Alexei interacted with the less privileged Vampires in the city of Lux. He learned how to get along well with them and even sympathized with their troubles–it was how they started to "prey" on the least suspecting Vampires with fat stacks of currency to get their fair equal share.

Whatever bullshit the Lux Council proposed didn't actually make any change to everyone's lives. It was why some people like that Weisse girl had an entire mansion to herself while some were barely getting by.

Alexei was no hero or some sort of savior, he was not a Great Overlord that led his people–that much was obvious. He harassed, heckled and did whatever to get his way and even stole from other people.

But the truth of the matter was that he was a "hero" to those who interacted and got along with. They had their own little "clan" so to speak.

It was a great contrary to his sister, Anastastia dis Vardoken. She was someone who had kept to herself and who never complained out loud or publically. She had actually seemed like someone who had given up on their former noble bloodline and had merely resigned to being but a poor member of their society.

But that didn't mean that she was no fighter.

Whenever it came to matters involving their safety, their security and their future–Stacy worked far harder than even Alexei. Had taken a mediocre job at VitaBlood despite how intelligent and amazing she was and how much it brought a light to her eyes whenever she studied old weathered journal notes from their parents.

She had given up nearly everything just for their sake.

Stacy would have never batted an eye at another Vampire in their community suffering, but she did care whenever it came to him. That was why Alexei also cared about her.

And it was why he was absolutely livid at the news that his sister brought home.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Alexei said. "That girl could have died for all she could and you wouldn't even feel sad or cared if she did. She probably lived a far better life than either of us combined so what's there to even feel sorry about? That Councilman is better off knowing what it's like to lose someone anyway. He deserves it."

"How can you be so narrow-minded?" Stacy said quietly. "You say that you care about other people, but there's so much hatred in your heart too. I don't think–"

"Stacy. You can love some people and care for them deeply and hold much rage for those who made your loved ones suffer. I don't think you're that much aware of it since you never really loved someone besides, well, me?"

Alexei watched his sister avert her gaze and rubbed her two shoes together.

He didn't know if it was just his instincts or whether it was because he was an older brother. Then again, he only noticed the sudden shift now and ignored everything else for the past month or so.

Alexei's expression hardened slightly.

"I'm wrong aren't I?"

"What do you mean, wrong?" Stacy's expression turned to confusion.

Alexei laughed and he rubbed his face. "I said that you don't understand what it means to love someone. For the life of me, I can't understand why you chose to volunteer and go out of the city of Lux, but now it's starting to make sense to me. You do love someone–love them enough that you're willing to throw your life away for them."

"W-What the heck are you talking about?!" Stacy balled her fists and looked at him. "You're a big idiot. I really don't know what you're talking about."

Alexei closed his eyes and mulled about it. He hadn't always stuck around VitaBlood with his people because they also had other places to be, but on the occasion that he did go there and check on his sister–he always saw him.

"That boy," Alexei said.

Stacy stayed silent for a heartbeat and then spoke again.

"W-what boy? You're being delusional right now, Alexei–I'm getting worried."

"You know whom I'm talking about." Alexei frowned. "People can get their blood delivered and there's other places to purchase blood, but whenever I go there, I also get to see him there. That boy."

"H-he has a name." Stacy quietly said.

"So what if he has a name?" Alexei scoffed. "He can be a sappy and weak ass Blood Water boy for all I want… and yet… you ended up loving him."

"Love is too much of a word to describe him!" Stacy protested.

"Well, what kind of idiot goes and endangers herself for someone who she feels a slight attraction to, idiot?"