Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Kath’tan was the first to leave, the Demon walked away from the window after plans had been made, walking out of the door to his own room.

Dulce watched him leave with worry in his deep blue eyes, it had been days since he fed from Kath’tan, so his features were back to being pale, but not in a concerning way. He peeked at Asael, his thoughts written on his face.

Asael right away warped from the room, at risk of reassuring the Vampire then and there that he wouldn’t complete his mission. His failure only stemmed from delay, the Fiend’s head would eventually roll at his feet.

Ruoxi was the only one left, at any other time, he would have basked in the opportunity, but it was rather difficult to ignore how distressed Dulce was about the matter.

"How often do you need to eat, Ruoxi?" The Vampire’s voice stopped him in his steps on his way to the door.

Ruoxi turned around, his eyes widening a fraction. He hadn’t expected Dulce to still have the capacity to worry about him in such a situation. "About once a fortnight." He said honestly.

Now that he was no longer deprived of normal sustenance, he had no need to eat almost daily, full of energy.

Dulce filed the information away for later and then turned to the worries plaguing him. If Miss Moira found a way to have Kath’tan’s summons undone, then the Demon would be assassinated.

He wasn’t obligated to save him, but Kath’tan had been pleasant company on their journey, he had even offered him his blood. He thought deeply about it, it was equally unfair to demand that Asael not do his job. It wasn’t even a demand he could make.

While thinking about it, he was reminded of the conversation Asael and Kath’tan had when the Shadow Demon was summoned. Perhaps he could outbid Kath’tan’s father, his memories were vague, but he was certain that his desert palace was filled with treasure.

He really didn’t want to return there, but he would make the effort for Kath’tan’s sake.

Dulce shot to his feet after thinking up a shaky solution, going right to Asael. The Shadow Demon needed to agree to the concessions before he could be relieved.

Asael wore a wry expression as he opened his door on a knock, unsurprised at the nervous, pale face staring up at him. The Vampire had chased after him.

"You want to stop me from assassinating the Fiend." He said bluntly.

Dulce scratched his head, "Not quite, can I come in?" He requested politely.

Asael hesitated, all he had to do was shut the door in the Vampire’s face, and Dulce wouldn’t press. All he had to do was wait till noon, then he could complete his mission on the burning sands of the Red Plains like he was supposed to.

He took a step back, black bleeding into his eyes again.

Dulce closed the door gingerly behind him, walking forward. "I wouldn’t make the selfish request of asking that you simply not kill Kath’tan," The Vampire spoke softly despite his blunt words.

Asael took a seat, resignation cooling his eyes to their piercing gray. The Vampire completely lacked the ability to be selfish, it seemed to come hand in hand with his lack of self-preservation.

"...Could you tell me how much was paid by his father? I’m certain I could outbid him." He said seriously.

Asael looked the impoverished Vampire over, he had less than a gold coin to his name, even the clothes he wore had been borrowed.

Dulce straightened up and tried to look richer, "Don’t be misled, I don’t have the money with me, but my desert palace is filled with treasure. You can have it all."

Asael instantly knew that the Vampire told the truth, a smile tilting his lips. He had no interest in Dulce’s treasures, more inclined to place the Vampire on his own hoard.

"I was of the opinion you didn’t want to return there." He said discerningly, unable to understand why the Vampire would live in lack when he was so wealthy.

Dulce scratched his head again, averting his eyes to hide how much the thought of the palace troubled him. "To save Kath’tan, it can’t be helped."

Asael’s smile fell off, another bargain on the tip of his tongue. Dulce wouldn’t have to pay, the Vampire wouldn’t have to return to his palace, he just had to dismiss the other summons, and he would keep him company...

He cut off the thought like a festering wound, Dulce wouldn’t do that, and that affected him more than he cared to admit.

"Fine, I’ll let you buy off his death. So what would you like me to do instead? Kill his father?" He asked coldly.

"No, no," Dulce waved his hands in a panic, "I don’t think Kath’tan would appreciate that," He mumbled, fingers drifting to his neck. "Do... Do you have to kill someone else?"

Asael pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don’t, but most like to get their money’s worth. I could even kill the Queen."

Dulce thought about it, equally as cold to the idea. "She’s only human, anyone could easily kill her, it seems rather unfair."

Asael wasn’t surprised by this response either, there was no love lost between Dulce and his kind. Of course, he wouldn’t care about the person ordering an elimination of their species.

He watched the Vampire thank him and leave with a silly smile on his distracted face. Even if Dulce hadn’t generously offered him a way out, he doubted he would have completed his mission so soon. Because after that, his lies to himself would no longer hold water, and he would have to leave.

He glanced out the window at the setting sun, darkness blanketing the sky, a barmaid bringing a platter of food shortly after Dulce left. The Vampire didn’t play fair, and Asael repeatedly fell off sheer cliffs for his sake with only the barest of urging.