Chapter Text
Everytime he swallowed, it felt like he had a mouthful of ash. He needed to feed, and quickly. He wasn't sure how much longer he could go before snapping, and causing a massacre. Heavens know, they did not need another one of those on their hands. Luckily, it had been a few centuries since the last one. Still, they were messy and a pain to deal with. And it brought their kind much too close to public knowledge for comfort.
He shook his head, getting back to the task at hand. He needed to feed, right. At the very thought, his fangs descended. He needed to leave, and soon. He made his way to the foyeur, and had the front door opened before a voice rang out from across the hall, stopping him.
"Arthur, where are you going?"
He turned, door half-opened, and faced his sister.
"Out. I need to feed, I cannot wait any longer."
Morgana gave him an appraising look. Her eyes suddenly turned clouded, as they did when she had a vision. Within a moment, her eyes cleared, and she nodded, seemingly satisfied with what she had gleamed, whatever it was.
"Adieu then, brother. Do try not to terrorise the locals. Too much, that is. Tonight is an imporant night for you."
With a swish of fabric, she left him. He turned back and went through the door, leaving her and her cryptic words behind.
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He found a man, leaning on the wall of the outside of a cafe that was holding a poetry reading. He was on his phone, frown lines marring his features, and he seemed to be animatedly talking to someone. Arthur licked his lips, not really paying attention to the conversation, and taking in the man's profile. The man had a bad bedhead, a plaid scarf around his neck, a nice jacket wrapped around his wiry frame, and pants that hugged his lean legs quite closely. He was tall, maybe even taller than Arthur, and was quite pale. His cupid bow lips formed around words useless to him, and his blue eyes were staring at a point on the ground.
The poor man had no idea Arthur was there until he finished his phone call and looked up. A visible start went through him as he noticed Arthur, standing there.
"It's rude to eavesdrop on people's conversations, you know."
Arthur laughed.
"I didn't listen to a damn word you said."
The man studied him.
"And who might you be, mate?"
"Do I know you?"
The man looked confused.
"No?"
"Then we are not mates."
The mans stance turned defensive. He raised an accusing finger at Arthur. Before the tirade came out, Arthur rushed forward and pressed him into the wall. Every part of their bodies were aligned, and the warmth coming from his prey caused satisfaction to unfurl in his abdomen. He knew what came next.
"Scream and you die."
The man huffed, but his body remained tight with tension.
"What do you want? I don't have that much money, if that's what you're looking for."
Arthur leered at him, fangs in display.
"Shit, what the fuck kind of kinky rape are you going to do to me?!" The man struggled is his grasp. Arthur just pressed him harder into the wall.
"I am not going to rape you. I'm just going to drink some of your blood."
The man's voice sounded scared when he said, "Shit mate, you are truly bonkers."
He gave the man's jugular a cursory lick before he delved his fangs in and sighed as the warm lifeblood seeped into his mouth. He was eager to drink, to escape from the torture of his eternal thirst, and tried to suck as much into his mouth as quick as he could and swallowed greedily. He was starting in on his second gulp when the taste hit him. He immediately whipped his head back and coughed, using his arm to wipe off the bit of blood on his face. He felt a churning in his stomach, and he thought that he was going to be sick. The feeling eventually passed, and he straightened his stature, turning a glare onto the boy, no, man in front of him.
"What in the world was that!?"
The man stood, shaking, but with a defiant glare in his eyes.
"How am I supposed to know? Is it that I'm anaemic? How much of a git are you, attacking me and sucking my blood, and then accusing me of not being good enough? Who do you think you are?!"
"I'm a vampire. An old, powerful vampire. You should hold your tongue or give me the respect I deserve."
The man stared at him, outraged indignation plain on his face.
"I most certainly will not, you nincompoop!"
Arthur sighed, giving the man a withering look.
"Look, I should probably get going. Just get that looked at, will you? If it's unhealthy for me to drink, it most certainly should not be running through your veins... I'm Arthur, by the way."
The man stared at him, bewildered, until he turned and left. He could feel the man's eyes on his back until he turned out of sight.