A Vampire's Guide To Summoning Demons (BL)

The Shadow Demon stood behind the Vampire’s armchair, paying little attention to the other Vampires in the stifling room. Dulce was hung up on a companion, yet he held aversion for his own kind, which would have been the first and easiest option for a lifetime companion.

Now, while this set of Vampires was filled with self-serving parasites, the Vampire’s reaction to them was telling. Curiosity was an emotion he lacked, but he found himself wondering why the Vampire who completely lacked self-preservation was so cold to his own kind.

Dulce sat stiffly, ignoring the tray of tea and pastries that had been prepared for him. After this, he would make sure to go back to keeping his distance from Vampires, he never did well around them.

After sitting for what he deemed an appropriate amount of time, he rose to his feet. "I apologize, but I have to leave. I’m worried about my companions."

"Perhaps your companions could join us," A Vampire with thin, crafty red eyes spoke up.

"I haven’t seen a Demon in a while, it would make for a titillating conversation." Another chimed in.

Rochefort, who had been the one to prevent the Demons from coming along in the first place scowled, watching his carefully made preparations collapse on themselves. He had pulled a lot of strings to have this many important Vampires gathered on such short notice, and he was supposed to show off his budding relationship with the Lord Dulce Montesserat.

"I-" Dulce started to say, unwelcoming to the idea.

Asael soldified out of nothing without warning, startling some of the Vampires in the room. He simply swept a cold gaze over them, saying nothing to them.

Vampires had grown haughty since the age of magic, fascinating for creatures whose best abilities were running away.

"Asael?" Dulce turned to the Demon in surprise, whispering, although the room could perfectly hear them. "How did you find your way here?"

"Let’s leave." He said simply, starting for the door.

Dulce hurried after him, too relieved to be out of the dark, stifling room to ask any more questions. "Where are the others?" He asked again, walking behind the towering Shadow Demons.

"In their rooms." Asael answered, walking straight to the Vampire’s rooms. When he got to the double doors of Dulce’s room, he stopped. "You don’t have to entertain Vampires for scraps."

Dulce scratched his hair, "It doesn’t matter. It’s only temporary, soon I’ll return to my cottage, and what I have will be enough."

Asael went quiet, realizing that he had been about to offer to give the Vampire whatever he wanted. He could easily buy out the town of Fairwyn without making a dent in his wealth, but it wasn’t just wealth to Shadow Demons, it was proof.

Proof that they had completed endless missions, their hoard of wealth showed status, and giving it out was equivalent to chipping into their social standing. He turned away and left without another word, returning to his own room.

Dulce didn’t notice anything amiss, glad to be back in his own company. He returned to his reading that he had missed, sitting by the fireplace until the hearth was nothing but cooling gray embers.

By late afternoon, the clothes were ready, and although journeying through the night was unpleasant, it was no more unpleasant than spending another night in Rochefort’s manor.

Dulce took a few changes of clothes from the wardrobe full of clothes, his old clothes were unsavory, and he knew that an accident was bound to happen to his poor clothes.

"You’re certainly welcome to spend another night," Rochefort was saying as they gathered around the impressive carriage the Vampire had provided. "My manor is always open to you."

"We had best be on our way," Dulce said without mincing words, "We are short of time, and the roads are treacherous."

Rochefort wanted to protest further, but although the Vampire was completely covered up, the strength of the late afternoon sun was still too much to handle, so he was forced indoors.

They had been provided two coachmen and four horses for the journey, it was generous of the Vampire, a generosity that went completely unappreciated.

In human clothing, the Demons looked even more out of place, but the clothes fit comfortably and were well-made, so it mattered little.

As always, Dulce hung back to wait for everyone to get in before he did. The carriage was spacious enough to fit them all, the roof high enough for comfort, it was worth the trouble he had to endure.

Ruoxi went in first unceremoniously, turning around as soon as he got on to extend a hand to Dulce. The faint smile on his face widened when he felt familiar glares bore holes through him, the cold, proud Demons were too easy of targets.

"T-Thank you," Dulce mumbled, instinctively taking the offered hand.

There were padded benches on both sides, so two could sit on either side. He sat next to Ruoxi, Kath’tan, and Asael taking the opposing bench.

Their next destination was the capital of Mistfall, then they had to travel to the boundary between Mistfall and Alderth, before making their way to the capital of Alderth, where the witch was being held captive by the Queen.

It was to be a long and arduous journey.

It was dangerous for Dulce to present himself to the very person hunting him down, but they all had reasons to find the witch, even Ruoxi, so no one pointed out the obvious, waiting patiently for the carriage to move.

Dulce sat with his travel bag in his arms, the center of attention, although they all had window seats. There was still a while before the sun would set, if they were fortunate, they would get to the capital before they had to stop for the night.

"Y-Your new clothes are all nice," He said hesitantly to the expectant gazes on him.

That only increased the intensity of the stares, Ruoxi responding with a chuckle. "Thank you."

Dulce glanced down, wondering if he had forgotten to put on clothes or something as drastic as to warrant the attention. The carriage started to move then, and his attention was pulled outside the window, catching a last glimpse of the stately manor.