“Because, immortals die in the sentinel guard Xairin, you're reckless, like your mother, and like my maker. The very moment someone realizes you’re a vampire prince... The heir Lilith has craved, you will be targeted for death, and let's face it, you’ve not been exactly the best at concealing that birthmark… You’re too important to chance death.”

  Ethan sneered at him. “Lilith’s children were all powerful, but not one, made it to grand Alpha, except Sara… You are special. You were bitten by that bat and made you a very strong Delta. I have no doubt, that you will… One day… Become a Grand Alpha, if you live long enough.”

  Xairin rolled his eyes. “I don't want to be released from sentinel duty. And I am no prince...”

  Ethan leaned forward. “Lilith, also known as Lillian Rutherford, is a vampire queen, the one vampire immune to silver. She has enemies everywhere Xairin. So… Yes, you are a prince…”

  “Wait, Lillian Rutherford is my grandmother?”

  “You’re great grandmother…” He said softly.

  Ty spoke up. “Wait, if he was bitten by that bat, is he even immune to silver?”

  Xairin rolled his eyes out of annoyance and spoke up. “I’ve held silver in my bare hands, a silver necklace of mine, it didn’t do anything to my skin whatsoever.”

  Ethan sighed. “I am going to have to find a way to tell your great grandmother who you are, but your grandmother, Sara, feared someone in her nest wasn’t trustworthy. For the time being, your identity remains among us three, and no one else.”

  Xairin looked to the side. “Alex has seen my birthmark, but he thinks it was a coincidence. Since I was bitten by that bat, he figured it was just… A coincidence.”

  Ethan sighed. “Are you sure?”

  Xairin nodded. “Yeah.”

  Ethan looked at him. “You really never had any idea of what you were, or your mother?”

  Xairin shook his head. “No. I had nightmares, but it wasn’t until I turned, that I realized what she was. My father was a sensitive, he knew, she made him use his powers to make me forget. I saw her feeding when I was a kid, I guess she couldn’t do it herself.”

  Ethan nodded. “No… I met your mother once. She didn’t inherit the psychic abilities of a vampire, only the strengths and speed we possess.”

  “You knew my mother?”

  Ethan sat back as the other two remained silent. “I met Sara one night, watching over your mother. She had forbidden me from engaging her. After Sara went missing, let’s just say, I disobeyed that order. I found your mother hunting gorgon. A gorgon used its psychic ability to hold her, and then I intervened. After that, I never saw her again…”

  “For what it is worth, I am sorry about your brother, sister, and your parents.”

  Xairin looked off to the side as Ethan looked at the others. “We are going to teach him everything we know.”

  Griffin cocked an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t he have inherited memories to teach him how to fight and use his powers?”

  Xairin nodded. “My blood has shown me some things.”

  Ethan titled his head. “You were a dhampling, so those memories may be diluted to some degree. Until we know for sure, we will teach you.”

  _____

  The Haze.

  They arrived at the haze, and the four waited in line to enter. Griffin and Ty were still in shock of what Ethan had told them. Xairin however felt more comfortable around Ethan.

  “So, do I really have to drop out of the sentinel program?”

  Ethan sighed. “Do you want to die?”

  Xairin looked at him. “Look, I almost died in that sewer the night I was abducted and raped. I could have died when I fought those gorgons at the hospital. I also almost died when that ghoul bit me, and with everything else that happened in New York, and not to mention the gorgon that came calling and got me evicted. I am tired for running and waiting. If you really want me to learn to fight and protect myself, then wouldn’t this be a great chance for me to try?”

  Ethan scoffed. “You were bitten by a ghoul?”

  Xairin nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Well, then your blood is more potent than I thought. That and each bite of another Immortium you survive, you develop an immunity too.”

  “Wait, so it really could have killed me?”

  Ethan nodded. “Yeah. Most of us can’t survive a ghoul bite, those that can, become immune, well, at least to the breed of ghoul that bit them.”

  Grayson Lane was working tonight. He smiled right as Xairin and his friends reached him. The redheaded bouncer smiled. “Xairin.”

  “Hey Grayson.” Xairin said grinning. Ethan noticed the locked eyes.

  After they were scanned, and imprinted with the barcode, they entered. Ethan patted Xairin on the back as he flirted for a moment with Grayson.

  The club was bustling tonight. Laser lights were set to red beams. The dancing was amped up as a black woman with green hair floated around in her hovering DJ box, slinging techno.

  To Xairin’s surprise, Ethan took point, and began embracing the beats. The man could dance. The sight also took Griffin and Ty by surprise, they hadn’t seen him have fun before.

  While Ethan danced, Xairin slipped away to the bar. Baxter wasn’t working tonight, it was the woman he had seen a few days prior during Topher’s interviews. Xairin smiled. “What types of blood do you all have tonight?”

  The woman had her hair up in a ponytail. She was wearing a purple leather dress. She looked up at the vampire and nodded. “Name the type, the owner has it in stock.”

  “Cloned pigs’ blood? B-?”

  The woman reached under the counter, scanned Xairin’s barcode, and handed him a bottle. He turned around and leaned against the green glass and sipped his drink. He watched Ethan flirting with another man on the dance floor. It was clear based on Ethan’s dancing, he was likely a top, or possibly verse. Xairin smiled. He looked for Griffin, he was also flirting with a blond man off to the side, while Ty was standing guard, the man clearly wasn’t comfortable here.

  Xairin finished his drink and began looking for Topher. He was nowhere to be seen. He finally saw Lucretia and went up to her as she was talking to some other drag queens. She turned to greet him. “Xairin, honey, how are you?”

  “Great, where’s Toph?”

  “Oh, he’s around here somewhere.”

  Lucretia noticed Ethan looking at Xairin, he had left the company of the man he was flirting with and appeared more interested in Xairin.

  “Looks like you have someone checking you out Xairbear.” She said.

  Xairin looked over his shoulder and then back at her. “Nah, just one of my vampire friends that I’m living with.”

  “Living with?”

  Xairin turned back around. “Don’t freak out, but I got evicted for being a vampire. I’m living in a nest. That’s the Alpha.”

  Lucretia squinted her eyes. “You got evicted? Xairin, honey. Why didn’t you let us know earlier?”

  Xairin twitched his lips to the right, as his nose went left, he frowned. “Look, it happened. I’m okay, I’m not homeless, besides, it's kind of nice living with some other vampires. Besides, the Alpha is family if you know what I mean.”

  Lucretia’s eyes widened. “He looks like he’s twenty or younger. He’s an Alpha?”

  Xairin shrugged. “Yep, sure is.”

  Xairin leaned against a wall as he and the drag queen watched Ethan pass by them, the alpha looked at Xairin like an overprotective father, despite his youthful appearance.

  “Why is he looking at you like that?” She asked.

  Xairin eyed him. “You would just have to get to know him I guess.”

  Xairin watched from the side as Ethan continued his prowling, while Griffin was making out in a corner with a beefcake of a man. Part Xairin grew jealous as he stood there with his arms crossed watching the others have fun, all except for Ty of course.

  As Xairin stood there, a blond man approached. He was tall, well built, wearing a grey shirt that read “Your resentment is delicious” across the front of it in white letters. He had a nice smell about him, his cologne had Xairin sniffing. The man’s friendly voice matched his looks. “Allergies?”

  Xairin chuckled. “No, just admiring your cologne.”

  “It's Holochi.” The man informed.

  Xairin had heard of the brand before, it was a rather expensive one. “That's a bit pricey.”

  “I’m a CPA, I can afford it. I’m Andy, Andy Postings. You?”

  Xairin reached out his hand. “Xairin Thunder, massage therapist.”

  “Seriously? I could use a good massage.”

  Xairin smiled. “I can give you my number and you can make an appointment.”

  “So, you’re the real deal then? Not the happy ending type?”

  Xairin shook his head. “I don’t do the happy ending part. And yes, the real deal.”

  The two stood there for a while and chatted. Meanwhile Topher finally emerged on the stage and gave his usual welcoming line. As for Ethan, he had vanished to the metal walkway above, and was watching over Xairin like some dark guardian angel. Griffin was in the bathroom, in a stall with another man, the beefcake. He was doing his best to muffle his moaning as the two men had their pants down to their ankles as Griffin was thrusting inside him slowly.

  Xairin and Andy talked for almost thirty minutes. They both laughed and smiled. He clearly was interested in Xairin. “So, are you here with anyone? I noticed you hanging with some guys when you first came in.”

  Xairin shook his head. “Not really, just some roommates. Why?”

  “We could go back to my place if you wanted? I live about twenty minutes from here.”

  Xairin was flattered. He wasn’t used to being picked up, but after the last time someone made an advance, he was a bit cautious. “You’re not some serial killer, are you?” Xairin listened for the man’s heart rate to speed up.

  Andy was put off. “What kind of question is that?”

  Xairin shrugged. The man’s heart rate didn’t change. “Someone roofied my drink once, never be too cautious.”

  Andy’s head bounced. “Wow, that sucks. I guess I can understand why someone would ask that. And no… Not a serial killer.”

  Ethan stood at the railing with his hands braced. His thoughts reached out to Xairin. “I would prefer you bring him home, you host…”

  Xairin looked to the side. His thoughts spoke back. “What of Griffin?”

  Ethan’s reply was hastily. “Don’t worry about that, I just want you safe, where I know where you are.”

  Xairin nodded and looked back at Andy. “I can host. I live in a mansion, it has a pool, hot tub, we could have some fun.”

  Andy was intrigued. “You... Live in a mansion? I know how much Massage Therapists make, what did you do, inherit a fortune or something?”

  Xairin smiled. “No, I told you, I have roommates.”

  Andy’s face went from friendly, to a paused expression. He thought for a moment. “Before we go anywhere, What’s your status?”

  Xairin thought that question odd. “Status? Like an STD or something. HIV is curable and almost extinct.” He replied while making a frowned face.

  Andy shook his head. “No, I’m talking about are you human? Your status? Are you human?”

  Xairin made a duck face. “Well.. To be honest, no, I’m a vampire.”

  Andy’s pleasant disposition changed drastically. He put both of his hands up. “No offense dude but I ain't sticking my dick into no vamp. Sorry man but I’m not into race traitors.” Andy backed away slowly with his hands in the air, palms facing Xairin.

  “Are you fucking serious? I’m not some fucking walking talking STD.”

  Andy nodded. “Yeah, that's exactly what you people are.” He walked off into the crowd. He brushed Xairin off as if he was a leaper of old.

  Xairin couldn’t get over that. He stood there scratching his head. “Asshole…!” He called out, but Andy was too far away to hear, or even care for that matter.

  Ty overheard it and walked over. Ty had the same thing happen to him here recently on some dating apps he was trying. Some women only wanted him to bite them, others were like Andy. It was something all of them were having to get used to.

  Xairin was standing there with his jaw dropped right as Ty walked up. “You okay?”

  Xairin just looked at him. Ty shook his head. “Vampiric hearing man… Are you okay?”

  “I just can’t believe that shit.” Xairin reminisced. “The last time I felt like that. Well, someone else treated me like I wasn’t even human, and now… This fucking sucks!” Xairin’s mind went right back to that night he was bitten, the way those men made him feel right as they assaulted him. Only instead of whimpering over it, he growled. “FUCKING ASSHOLE!” He yelled out.

  Xairin sulked for about fifteen minutes. Ty wasn’t any help other than telling him he had the same thing happen to him just two nights prior. Meanwhile a familiar face brushed through the crowd, Rory.

  Rory was on a translucent crystal phone, talking. It was the latest, the iPhone crystal, the crystal-52. As soon as he saw Xairin, he quickly wrapped up his conversation and came up to Xairin warmly. He hugged him. “Xair!”

  Xairin pulled back and tapped him on the cheek. “WHY!!!! Have you not been returning anyone’s calls? You’re pulling a me…”

  Rory gave him a smug look. “I’ve been busy. I took that second job at the shelter, I’m working at the blood cloning facility a few days a week, and the shelter one night a week, and to be honest, I’ve been seeing a few guys.”

  Topher came up wearing his tux and top hat. He was also talking on a crystal-52. Rory noticed that first. “DUDE, you have a crystal-52, too?”

  Topher grinned from ear to ear. “I got it this morning. I can’t get over the sound quality on this thing, it completely drowns out any background noise even here in the club with the music thumping. When did you get yours?”

  Rory shot him an annoyed look. “Today… Today...”

  Topher looked over at Xairin. “How’s it going little brother?”

  Xairin shrugged. “I’m okay, and before you find out from someone else, that plastic bitch of a landlord kicked me out for being a vampire.” Topher’s blood pressure shot up, but before he could say a word, Xairin put two of his fingers on his lips. “I’m okay, i was immediately placed into a vampire nest.”

  Topher scoffed. “Again, you shock me with some news.”

  Ty came up beside Xairin. Xairin looked at Rory and Topher, he noticed them eyeballing the muscular man beside them. “Oh, Toph, Rory, this is Ty, one of the vampires I’m living with for now.”

  Rory had to take a second look. “DUDE, he’s a hottie!”

  Xairin put his hand on his friend’s chest right as Ty backed back. “He’s not gay Rory.”

  Meanwhile Topher offered a handshake. “I’m Topher, Topher Haze.”

  Ty shook hands. “Haze... Oh, so you’re the owner?”

  Ethan dropped from above them, landing right beside Xairin. Xairin looked over at the Alpha. The sudden arrival startled Topher and Rory. Xairin shrugged. “Toph, Rory, this is Ethan, he’s the Alpha over the nest that I’m staying in.”

  Topher didn’t know what to say other than being polite and offered his hand. “I’m…”

  Ethan pointed to his ears with his left pointer finger. “Vampiric hearing. You’re Topher Haze.” He looked at Rory. “And your Rory.”

  Topher was curious, “So, you got displaced and you’re living in a nest now?” Xairin nodded. “Are there a lot of vampires in this nest?”

  Ethan nodded and answered. “Quite a few. Over sixty vampires reside in my mansion on Highrose Hill.”

  Topher looked back at Xairin. Highrose Hill was a well-known area of Bastion City, known for being stocked with the lavishly wealthy. Topher was a bit jealous. His words gave it away. “You’re living in Highrose Hill now?”

  “Yep.” He said with a shrug.

  Topher smirked. “You sure do shrug a lot.”

  Ethan looked over at Xairin. “So, this is your club owner friend. He seems nice.”

  Xairin nodded while Topher spoke up, trying to over speak the music. “I’ve known Xairin for years. He’s like...”

  Ethan cocked his head. “I can hear you, you don’t need to shout, super hearing, remember?”

 

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