A Vampire's Guide To Summoning Demons (BL)

"I asked the coachmen to book a single room," Dulce returned to the carriage to inform the others, wondering if he had been too hasty. It had been a great idea in his head, but now that there were three stares pinning him down, he was beginning to think the better of it.

"Your Lordship?" The coachman whom he had just spoken to interrupted, standing a short distance away, although Dulce was standing right by the open carriage door.

The coachman could only see the good-looking Vampire, but it was difficult to ignore the heavy feeling he got from the monsters seated in the carriage. "I understand you booked only a single room, but I thought it was wise to inform you that the inn is short on rooms, so they only have the one free."

"I-I..." Dulce stumbled over his words, losing the chance to rectify a possible mistake.

"If the arrangements are unsatisfactory, we can journey on to a different inn." The coachman was quick to offer.

"It’s fine." Asael cut in, sending the coachman scurrying off.

Stepping into the inn proved the coachman’s words, the ground floor which held a tavern was teeming with people, and it seemed like some planned to spend the night on the wooden benches.

Despite the crowd, no one paid any attention to them when they walked in, their presence immediately being written off as weary merchants seeking a place to sleep.

A dour-faced barmaid approached their group, "Would you like to eat before going up to your room?" She asked directly without wasting time on pleasantries.

"Do take us up to our room," Dulce spoke for the others, "And don’t bother about a meal." He tagged on. There were no dissents to this arrangment, the barmaid leading them up the stairs.

The room was surprisingly spacious, it wasn’t just a single room but had instead been outfitted for four. There were two double beds in the room, which meant nothing as a single one wouldn’t fit a Demon.

"If you need anything or change your mind about a hot meal, you have to come down to the tavern to make your requests." She said flatly, exhaustion sunken deep into her eyes.

"Naturally, Dulce and I will share a bed, while you two take the other." Ruoxi spoke up, there was no intention behind his words, but it struck the mark anyway.

"What’s natural about that?" Kath’tan shot him a glare.

"Seeing as we’re split in groups," Ruoxi went on baldfacedly, ignoring the Fiend. "We’ll also wash up together in the spirit of camaraderie." He said, going over to place an arm over Dulce’s shoulder.

His arm didn’t make contact, caught by a familiar crushing grip, icy cold emanating from the Demon hovering over his shoulder.

"I doubt the inn has the facilities to wash up properly," Dulce spoke up, walking over to get comfortable on a rocking chair. "It’s just for tonight, by tomorrow we will have gotten to the next town."

Asael let go of the Incubus as soon as they made contact, wondering why he bothered. The Vampire wasn’t even aware of the Incubus’ tactics to eat him, yet he had interfered before he realized it.

Ruoxi remained unbothered by the continued interruptions, humming a discordant tune under his breath as he headed for one of the beds. He dwarfed the sizeable bed, his arms propped behind his head.

Soon, everyone had chosen a spot to spend the night, silence settling in layers over the room. It wasn’t entirely silent, the distant noise from the tavern prevalent although it was close to midnight.

"I heard Shadow Demons didn’t sleep," Ruoxi broke the silence, the only one having a pleasant time since he was summoned.

Asael cut him a look, taking a worn sofa, the only other piece of furniture he could fit in other than the beds.

"It must be nice to not need sleep," The Incubus went on, yawning.

"If Ruoxi is tired, you can sleep," Dulce urged him, "I’ll keep watch over you."

The Vampire’s words made Ruoxi fall silent, "You will?" He asked quietly.

"Of course," Dulce puffed out his chest, "It’s too bad the bed is so uncomfortable..."

Ruoxi laid down properly on the bed, needing to curl up tightly to fit. The Incubus cut a pitiful figure, black hair scattered over his powerful back and shoulders. "It’s fine," He said, that odd tone still clinging to his voice. It was preferable even.

Dulce rose to his feet to get spare sheets to throw over the Incubus, barely covering his tall frame.

To the surprise of the other two Demons, the Incubus fell fast asleep in mere minutes, faint lines of exhaustion visible on his face while he slept.

"Do either of you want to sleep as well?" Dulce whispered, pleased with the responsibility he had been given. "I’ll watch over you as well."

Asael couldn’t sleep even if he tried, but he was sorely tempted. "I’ll keep watch with you." He said instead.

Kath’tan glanced down at the bed he was sitting on, scowling. "It’s too uncomfortable to sleep, I’ll stay up as well." He said generously, finding it easier to sleep now that another did.

"Do Shadow Demons truly not sleep?" He blurted out after a lengthy silence, curiosity brimming in his purple eyes.

Asael didn’t even grace him with a look, blatantly ignoring the Fiend.

Kath’tan scoffed and ignored him in turn, no Demon could go without sleep. Eventually, the Shadow Demon had to sleep, and then they would both be even.

Dulce rocked quietly by the fireplace, it was still early spring, so even an old inn such as this one still went through the trouble of lighting up a fire in the hearth. The warmth was pleasant, he could feel it better. The sensation of cold, however, was lost to him...

He fiddled with his fingers, his silver blue eyes warmed gold by the fire. Speaking about the desert place brought back distant, vague memories, he had no interest in returning. After finding the witch and summoning his hound, he would return to his cottage in Dewmire.

He swallowed back a despondent sigh at the thought of his cottage, his poor animals. They would be left alone for the better part of a month and more, he hoped they would find a way to survive until his return.