The rain was fucking horrible that night. Lucian had been walking through the forest for almost three hours and his boots was completely covered in mud,his coat was wet and his hair kept sticking to his face. He was tired as hell but going back wasn't a option anymore. The church had given him one job and he was gonna finish it even if it killed him.Find the vampire.Kill him.Simple.At least that was what they told him.The old cathedral finally came into view between the trees. It looked like it was gonna collapse any second. Half the roof was broken,the windows was shattered and vines had covered most of the walls. Lucian stood there for a second looking at it before pushing the huge door open.Creeeak.The inside was even worse.Dust was everywhere and broken chairs was laying around like someone had a fight in here. There was old candles on the floor and some weird black stains on the walls which Lucian decided he really didn't wanna know about.He slowly pulled his sword out.
"Aurelius Valerian."
His voice echoed through the empty cathedral.Nothing.Lucian waited.Still nothing.Then someone laughed from upstairs.
"That's a pretty boring way to call someone."
Lucian looked up.A man was sitting on the broken balcony like he had been waiting for him. His black hair was messy and his skin was pale,almost too pale. His eyes was red and he had this stupid little smile on his face that immediately made Lucian dislike him.
"You are Aurelius."
"Maybe."
"Come down."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not climbing up there."
Aurelius blinked.
Then he laughed.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"You're weird."
"Come down."
Aurelius jumped from the balcony and landed infront of him without making much noise. Lucian immediately pointed his sword at his throat.Aurelius looked at the blade.
"Silver."
Lucian didn't say anything.
"Holy markings too."
Still nothing.
"And I'm guessing you're here to kill me."
"Correct."
Aurelius sighed.
"Wow."
Lucian's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"I was expecting someone scarier."
Lucian moved the sword slightly closer.
"You should be scared."
Aurelius smiled.
"I am."
"You don't look scared."
"I'm good at hiding things."
There was something weird about the way he said that. Lucian couldn't explain it,but it made him pause for a second.Then he remembered the report.Thirty seven deaths.Dangerous pure blood.No mercy.He pushed the thought away.
"You killed thirty seven people."
Aurelius's smile disappeared.
"No,I didn't."
"The report says you did."
"The report is wrong."
"Why would the church lie?"
Aurelius looked at him for a few seconds.
"That's a question you should ask yourself."
Lucian didn't like that answer.Not even a little.He attacked.Aurelius moved aside quickly. The sword missed his chest by a few inches and hit one of the old pillars instead. Lucian pulled it back and attacked again.Aurelius kept dodging.
"Fight me."
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't want to hurt you."
Lucian stared at him.
"I'm trying to kill you."
"I know."
"Then stop running."
"No."
Lucian attacked again.Aurelius ducked.Again.He jumped over a broken chair.Lucian followed him.
"You're annoying."
"I've heard that before."
"Probably because you are."
Aurelius laughed.Lucian swung his sword and this time the blade cut his sleeve. A small wound appeared on Aurelius's arm.
The vampire looked down.Then his expression changed.His eyes moved to Lucian's hand.There was a tiny cut across Lucian's palm.
"Cover your hand."
Lucian looked at it.
"It's nothing."
"Cover it."
Aurelius suddenly sounded serious.Lucian frowned.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
A drop of blood fell onto the floor.Everything stopped.The candles flickered.The cross around Lucian's neck started glowing.A silver mark appeared on his palm.Aurelius went completely pale.
"No..."
Lucian stared at the mark.
"What is this?"
Aurelius didn't answer.
"I asked you something."
"You really don't remember."
"Remember what?"
Aurelius looked at him.
"Me."
Lucian felt a strange pain in his chest.
"We've never met."
Aurelius gave a small smile that looked more sad than amused.
"Not in this life."
Lucian didn't lower his sword.
Aurelius took a step closer.
"Three hundred years ago,you were a exorcist too."
Lucian stayed silent.
"You found me in the forest. I was dying. You were supposed to kill me."
Aurelius looked down.
"But you didn't."
Lucian's head suddenly hurt.He saw something.Snow.A forest.A younger version of himself kneeling beside someone.A man with black hair.Blood on his clothes.Then the image disappeared.Lucian grabbed his head.
"What the fuck..."
Aurelius moved toward him.
"Lucian."
"Don't."
"You remembered something."
"I don't know you."
"You did."
Aurelius's voice was quiet now.
"You knew me better than anyone."
Lucian looked at him.Aurelius continued telling him everything.How Lucian had saved him.How they kept meeting secretly.How they went from enemies to friends.And then something more.They fell in love.They even got married in a small hidden chapel because neither of them could tell their families.Lucian listened like he was hearing a story about someone else.Then Aurelius told him about the Church.They had discovered them.They showed Lucian fake evidence.They told him Aurelius was killing humans.They convinced him that the vampire he loved was nothing but a monster.And Lucian believed them.He went to Aurelius's castle.He killed him.Aurelius didn't fight back.Lucian stared at his sword.
"I killed you."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you stop me?"
Aurelius looked at him.
"Because I thought you'd remember."
Lucian's throat felt tight.
"And you waited?"
"For three hundred years."
Before Lucian could answer,there was a loud cracking sound underneath them.Both of them looked down.
"What was that?"
Aurelius sighed.
"Something I was hoping you wouldn't ask."
The floor exploded.A huge black creature crawled out from underneath the cathedral. It had long arms,sharp claws and a mouth that looked completely wrong.Lucian immediately raised his sword.
"Stay behind me."
Aurelius looked at him.
"Still protecting me?"
"Shut up."
The creature attacked.
Lucian blocked the claws with his sword but the impact sent him sliding across the floor. Aurelius appeared behind the creature and ripped into its back with his claws.
Black blood splashed everywhere.The creature screamed.Aurelius jumped away.Lucian attacked again.They started fighting together without even talking much.Lucian moved left.Aurelius was already there.Aurelius jumped.Lucian attacked underneath him.It was strange.Their bodies seemed to remember eachother even when their minds didn't.The creature suddenly grabbed Aurelius and threw him against a pillar.
"Aurelius!"
Lucian ran toward him.
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding."
"I noticed."
"Get up."
Aurelius laughed.
"Bossy as always."
Lucian turned back toward the creature.
"Can you fight?"
"Obviously."
"Then do it."
Aurelius grinned.
"Yes,sir."
"Don't call me that."
The creature attacked again.Aurelius grabbed it from behind.
"Now!"
Lucian raised his sword.Holy light covered the blade.He stabbed the creature straight through its chest.The creature screamed.The entire cathedral shook.Then the creature exploded into black smoke.Silence.Lucian lowered his sword.Aurelius was sitting against the pillar holding his shoulder.Lucian walked toward him.
"You're hurt."
"Little bit."
"Let me see."
Aurelius smiled.
"Are you worried about me?"
"No."
"Liar."
Lucian rolled his eyes and knelt beside him.He ripped some cloth from his sleeve and wrapped it around Aurelius's wound.Aurelius watched him quietly.
"You used to do that."
"What?"
"Take care of me."
Lucian didn't answer.Aurelius lifted his hand and gently touched Lucian's cheek.Lucian froze.
"You really waited all this time?"
Aurelius smiled sadly.
"I didn't know what else to do."
Lucian looked into his eyes.For the first time,he didn't see a monster.He saw someone who had been alone for three hundred years.
"I'm sorry."
Aurelius shook his head.
"Don't be."
"I killed you."
"You didn't know."
"But I should've."
"You were lied to."
Lucian looked away.
Aurelius's fingers were still resting against his cheek.
"You don't have to remember everything."
Lucian looked back at him.
"Why?"
"Because..."
Aurelius hesitated.
"I just want you to choose me this time."
Lucian's heart started beating faster.
He leaned closer.
Aurelius didn't move.
"If I kiss you..."
Lucian whispered.
"...are you gonna complain?"
Aurelius smiled.
"Probably not."
Lucian kissed him.It was soft at first.Almost nervous.Aurelius froze for a moment before slowly kissing him back. His hand moved behind Lucian's neck and Lucian held onto his coat.The kiss wasn't long,but it felt familiar.Too familiar.A memory flashed through Lucian's mind.Snow falling around them.Aurelius smiling.Their hands together.A ring.A promise.
"I'll find you again."
Lucian pulled back.
Aurelius looked worried.
"What happened?"
"I remembered."
Aurelius went still.
"Everything?"
"Not everything."
Lucian touched his face.
"But I remember loving you."
Aurelius's eyes became wet.
He laughed quietly.
"You're really making me cry after three hundred years."
Lucian smiled slightly.
"You're crying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Shut up."
Lucian laughed.It was small,but real.Aurelius stared at him like he had just seen the moon.
"I missed that."
"What?"
"Your smile."
Lucian looked away.
"Don't make it weird."
"Too late."
~|•°•|~
They left the cathedral when the sun started rising.The rain had finally stopped and the forest looked completely different in the morning light. Everything was wet,the leaves shining and the ground covered with little puddles.Aurelius walked beside Lucian.For once he wasn't talking.Lucian glanced at him.
"You're quiet."
"You told me I talk too much."
"I didn't tell you to stop."
Aurelius smiled.
"So you missed me?"
Lucian looked away.
"Maybe."
"That's basically a love confession coming from you."
"Don't push it."
Aurelius laughed.Their hands slowly found eachother.Lucian didn't let go.The Church would come after them.Lucian knew that.They would call him a traitor for protecting a vampire.They would probably try to kill Aurelius again.But this time things were different.Lucian knew the truth now.The monster wasn't always the creature with fangs.Sometimes the real monster was the person who made you believe someone was a monster.Aurelius squeezed his hand.
"Where are we going?"
Lucian looked ahead.
"Somewhere they can't find us."
"Sounds romantic."
"It's not."
"It is to me."
Lucian rolled his eyes.But he smiled anyway.And together they disappeared into the forest.This time Lucian wasn't walking toward Aurelius with a sword.He was walking beside him.And he wasn't planning to let go again.
~|•°THE END°•|~
