When blood and death embrace

Hi Anon, unfortunately the work is currently on hold, one of us had and still has little time available due to work issues to continue writing the story, let's hope things get back to normal in the future!

Unfortunately, in these past weeks our work had to come to a halt due to personal circumstances. The silver lining is that one of us received an amazing promotion at work but, as wonderful as that is, it also brought our chapter planning and book schedule to an abrupt stop 🥲

At the moment, we don’t know exactly when we’ll be able to resume regular publication. We promise we’ll keep you updated as soon as we have clearer news!

We are truly, deeply sorry. We’ve always said we would never abandon or interrupt this project, and we meant it with all our hearts but sometimes life steps in, and there’s very little you can do but pause and take it as it comes 🥺

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 22 - Paint it Blood

Max had slept for about five hours and had spent the last two shut in his room, stretched out on the bed with his phone while his stomach growled furiously.  If it was exactly hunger or something else entirely, he couldn't tell anymore. All he knew was the nervous restlessness that had made it impossible to stay still since he'd woken up. So he'd tried to focus on something else, scrolling through notifications and Discord, opening and closing apps without really reading anything. And of course, in his endless browsing, he had stumbled upon the video. The clip was everywhere. He wasn't recognisable as Charles had promised. But it still bothered him.  He knew the vampire wouldn't risk his life, not on purpose at least, but there were people who knew he had survived the attack, people he had worked with at the club. How could he be certain that none of Stroll's men would turn up again looking for him? They had already shown up at his apartment once. In the end, if this mess was worth it in any way, it was only for Charles, for his own benefit. It didn’t help Max’s case. On the contrary. Nonetheless, he wasn’t proud of the way he’d left the night before.  He had walked out on Charles, his only words being that he was going to sleep and not even looking back.  Sooner or later, he would have to come clean and talk to Charles to clear the air. Sulking in his room like a teenager wasn't helping anyone. Maybe he should also apologise to Seb for the snappy answer he’d given him on the stairs.  Not wanting to think more about it, Max locked his phone, letting the screen go dark, and closed his eyes for a moment. He tried to shut out his racing thoughts and instead tuned into the house itself: the faint hum of pipes, the distant creak of wood. Footsteps. Soft and careful, drawing closer to his door.

Since, as you know very well, Charles loves rather kitschy clothes, we decided to give him one of the worst outfits in the whole book lol. We're also adding a new location…

As always, we apologize for the delay. Chapters 23 and 24 are already written, and we're working on editing them!

snippet ch. 22 - Paint it Blood

“Ma che cazzo mi stai dicendo Charles?” [What the fuck are you telling me, Charles?!] Antonio shook his head, looking increasingly incredulous. He raised his hands as if to say something, but he probably didn't even know where to begin. “Yeah, it's crazy, but it’s like this.” Charles shrugged, unfazed, and dipped a fry into an unapologetically messy mix of mayo and ketchup. After Max had shot him down with a spectacular cold shoulder—and Charles could pretty much guess where it came from—he’d asked Joris to get him something to eat. He was certain sleep was out of the picture, especially since he didn’t want to go back to his bed and find it empty, Max nowhere to be found. And at five in the morning, the only place open was the kebab shop around the corner. Ironic. So here he was, sitting in the kitchen with Antonio and Joris and, on the table, a greasy box of fries accompanied by some unidentified meat bathed in every condiment possible, along with a glass of O-negative. Max’s comfort food. Repurposed as an excuse to vent to whoever was unlucky enough to be there at that moment. Charles had just finished recounting the last week of his life, interweaving laughter, absurd details and heavy silences, all the while Antonio had just stared at him, unable to decide whether to laugh or punch him, and Joris had seemed more interested in stealing fries than actually listening to him… Typical. “You know, I understand Max a bit,” Antonio said, leaning back in his chair with a crooked smile. “Andrea didn’t exactly ask for my permission before turning me. I mean, yeah, I was dying, there was no time for some loving vampire parenting or gentle guidance, just trenches, corpses everywhere and smuggling blood during the Great War. Hell of a way to start immortal life, huh?” After grilling Charles for every possible detail about Max’s blood power, Antonio was now addressing the elephant in the room. Charles knew it: he was being selfish.

You can catch up on chapter 21!

Sorry, wonderful readers, we're late again.

Chapter 22 is finished, but we're waiting for a read from our @chandelier-s-notebook edit before publishing it!

Hello anon! Unfortunately, one of us is having some work issues and the editing time is taking longer than usual.

Thanks so much for the support!

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 21 - Driving with blood

He was just about to go downstairs to get something to eat when he met Pierre, who was coming down the stairs. “Oh, Max, I was just about to come and get you. Come with me,” said Pierre, not even pausing to wait for Max before turning on his heel and heading back the way he had come. Max froze for a second, blinked, then followed Pierre upstairs. When he saw that they were heading back towards Pierre's room, he assumed it was probably for another Call of Duty session and warned Pierre, “I'm really not in the mood right now—” Pierre stopped at his door, turned his head with a sly little smile, and cut him off, “Oh no, trust me… you’d love this.” Once inside the room, instead of heading towards the far end where the sofa and the large TV were, Pierre veered left, towards an area with two full SIM rigs that were nearly identical to Max’s own setup. Okay… what the hell is going on here? “Well, Max,” Pierre began. “Or Lion, if you want, I know what your real job is, besides being a bartender in Paris's shadiest clubs. I’ve always had an extra rig because Charles and I sometimes have fun with it, but I don’t use it as much as I’d like, so this one on the left? I’ve logged it out from all my accounts. It’s completely clean. You can use it whenever you want. Mi casa es tu casa, as they say.” Max's jaw dropped in that instant. He knew he looked stunned, and Pierre burst out laughing. “Go on,” he said, giving Max a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Get comfortable. I’ve got a meeting to prepare for.” Max still hadn’t been able to utter a word when Pierre paused in the doorway. “Oh, right…something’s missing.” He disappeared into another room and returned seconds later with a wine glass and a blood bag, placing them on the small table next to the SIM rig. “This time, you drink it. And when I get back, I don’t want to see a single drop left.” “What? I don’t… Pierre, thank you, but—” Max tried to say. “Yeah, I know. I’m amazing, thanks.” He gave himself an exaggerated little flourish. “But, as you can imagine, the idea didn’t come from me.” And, with a wink, Pierre left the room, leaving Max alone with a pristine SIM rig and a full bag of O-.

Unfortunately, it's been difficult for us to keep releasing chapters every two weeks lately.

We haven't forgotten about you, the readers, so don't worry!

snippet ch. 21 - Driving with Blood

It had been messy and fast. Charles had been on edge, and Max could tell. But what he didn’t understand was why Charles was treating those three days like the end of the world. Despite everything, Max wouldn’t have had a problem giving Charles his blood again. However, Charles had cut him off, saying that they would have to talk about it and that it couldn't just happen by accident again. Hadn’t Charles himself said that Max had given him a gift? Now he wanted to take it back? What on earth did that mean? Under the shower, Max found himself replaying those moments in the kitchen. They could have been caught at any moment, but that hadn’t stopped them from getting their hands down each other’s pants like a couple of horny teenagers. The thrill of it had been amazing, and they’d both climaxed quickly. Then, Charles told Max he needed to go and meet the others, and that they’d see each other later. Now, for the first time in days, Max was alone, left to think about everything that had happened. Alex, after being half-dead and burned, had found out that the dream of a 'half-human' life had been nothing but an illusion: everything still depended on Max’s blood. He’d become their golden goose, so to speak. Every vampire in the world would try to hunt him if they knew of his existence. The thought of the wrong vampire using his power to walk in daylight sent a shiver down his spine. So right now, the smartest move was to not move at all. He was safe at the mansion. Fucking ironic.

We apologize for the delay during the Christmas holidays, but we couldn't meet the deadline!

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 20 - The blood runs out

Charles could hear the car pull into the driveway. Thankfully, it was still only six in the morning, and Max hadn’t woken up yet. He really didn’t feel like facing the inevitable conversation about what was approaching. The new Italian boss was due to arrive that evening, and it was time to act. Carlos’ antics weren’t just annoying anymore; they were disrupting the whole system. Not only for Charles’ clan but for everybody. He’d spent two days caring only about his new condition, enjoying Max and the pleasure they both shared, but now he had to get back to business. The situation with Stroll was far from resolved.

We'd like to apologize for missing our two-week deadline. 😫

Due to life commitments (tsk!) and our decision to streamline the story to reach the pivotal turning point in chapter 27 sooner, our schedule has been adjusted... Please know the saga is not abandoned!

After chapter 27 is released, we will be taking a short break to focus on building the second part of the story. 😎

Charles and Max have an intense path ahead, and a crucial new character will be introduced soon, where we will finally explore a bit of... magic!

The work continues, so we appreciate your patience if releases are slightly delayed 💙

When Blood and Death Embrace

snippet ch. 20 - The Blood Runs Out

The situation was shit. No point in pretending otherwise. He and Andrea had ended up in an area that had already been cordoned off by the police. The banlieue, that limbo where nobody asked questions and corpses were disposed of quickly.  Carlos’ domain. Pierre scanned the damp asphalt, but despite the lack of any obvious tracks, the scent in the air was enough to know something was wrong.  The aroma of blood. They only had two hours to scan the area before sunrise. Although Lando and Oscar had managed to wipe the video almost completely, Charles was certain the rogue vampire was still around and had to be dealt with. Things had officially hit the fan. “Charles sent us ghost hunting,” Pierre muttered, rubbing his jaw. From under his hood, Andrea looked at him. “It's not a ghost if it leaves corpses in the street. Three deaths in one night is a lot, even for the banlieue.” Andrea crouched down and adjusted the twin pistols at his sides, the silencers already screwed in place. They meant to end things quietly. “Funny, isn’t it?” he added dryly, snapping the holsters shut. “Carlos sends random vampires like they’re matadors. The problem is, he forgets the banlieue is full of bulls. And none of them are wearing red.” Pierre gave him a sideways glance. “That’s not even a good metaphor.” Andrea shrugged. “I didn't say it was,” he said, then grinned, revealing his fangs. “Bad night for poetry. A good night for killing.” He started walking, his boots silent on the broken concrete, and Pierre followed behind.

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 19 - The Responsibility of Blood

First of all, we want to apologize for being so late in publishing this chapter! We know we are totally way off schedule, but things have gotten a little crazy, and it has been impossible for us to publish it.

The good news is we’re almost there! The new chapter is coming very soon (hopefully within the next few days), and we seriously can’t wait for you to read it. Thank you all for being so patient!

For now, here's a snippet that we hope you guys enjoy as much as we did writing it!

Snippet for Chapter 19

It was early afternoon, and a light breeze rolled lazily in the garden, carrying with it the intense, almost dizzying scent of blooming flowers. Max still hadn’t gotten used to it; his enhanced senses made it feel like he was being punched in the nose by a rosebush. Every time the wind shifted, it was a different assault: jasmine, lavender, something citrusy he couldn’t place. It wasn’t unpleasant, just… a lot.

Max lay sprawled on a lounge chair, the Nintendo Switch resting on his stomach, his face twisted in an expression of pure existential pain.

“This game is idiotic,” he declared, mashing a button with theatrical frustration. “Why am I rearranging furniture and catching butterflies for a raccoon?”

From the lounge chair beside him, Charles didn’t even look up from his book. “It’s called Animal Crossing, Max.”

“It’s called psychological torture,” Max muttered. “I owe a mortgage to a tanuki in a Hawaiian shirt, and I’ve spent ten minutes fishing for a sea bass that turned out to be a boot.”

Charles turned a page with infuriating calm. “It’s good for patience. Discipline.”

“It’s good for lobotomies,” was Max’s reply.

A faint smirk ghosted across Charles’ lips, but he didn’t take the bait. Max sighed and let the Switch fall onto his chest with a soft thud.

Tilting his head, he squinted at the book in Charles’s hands.

“What are you even reading?” he asked. “That book looks like it’s been through a war.”

Charles paused, thumb grazing the frayed spine like it held a secret. For a moment, he didn’t answer, his gaze fixed somewhere far behind the words on the page.

“La Nausée, Sartre,” he said at last. “You wouldn’t like it.”

Max frowned. “And you are reading it for fun or just to impress the trees?”

“Oh, I read it for fun. Much like I tolerate your commentary. But unlike you, I don’t need a raccoon in a Hawaiian shirt to feel existential despair.”

Max made a face and returned to the Switch. “I liked you better when you were naked.”

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 18: In Blood, I found you

Charles leaned in, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to Max’s jaw, then used that same motion to shift their positions, turning Max gently by the hips and guiding him backward until he was now the one leaning against the counter.  He took a step back, putting space between them. Just enough to center himself in the room. He reached for the hem of his own sweatpants; the front was stained, clinging where earlier pleasure had left its mark. He peeled them down, inch by inch, deliberately unhurried, letting Max watch him strip. The fabric resisted where it stuck to his skin, making the motion slower, messier, and Max’s gaze followed every inch of exposed flesh like he was memorizing it.  Since becoming a vampire, Charles had never enjoyed being fully naked. Sex was only a faded echo, something unreachable, and his body, once a source of pride, had become something else. Cold. A reminder of everything he'd lost. So he’d stopped undressing fully for anyone long ago. Yet now… He was different.

We have a couple of photos for the description of the bedroom and the bathroom!

snippet ch. 18 - In Blood, I found you

The bathroom door clicked shut behind them. Charles didn’t bother with the main lights. The soft halo of built-in LED came on automatically, casting a faint haze across the cool tile and slick glass. The ensuite was spacious, almost absurdly so for a room meant to be used just for one individual: dual sinks, a deep soaking tub large enough to fit four, and a glass-walled shower with multiple jets. Charles moved first, walking backward into the room with deliberate slowness, pulling Max with him by the waistband of his soaked sweatpants. The fabric sagged on Max’s hips, clinging to his skin in all the right places. As Charles guided him deeper into the space, he let his fingers slip beneath the band and tugged until the pants fell in a damp heap around Max’s ankles. He stepped back to admire him. He could see everything, the faint curve of his pelvic bone, the way he stood there, breathing hard but never looking away.  Charles bent to pull the last of the garment down, dragging it slowly past his knees. He didn’t rush. His fingers skimmed the back of Max’s calves, the curve of his knees, the sculpted strength of his thighs. Then he leaned in and his fangs grazed the inside of Max’s thigh. “…Tease,” said Max, his cock already getting hard again, and as Charles scratched his thighs with his canines, the remaining smell of semen reached him; the scent had not changed from before, but now, due to his own human half, it felt entirely different. Reacting to him, Max shivered, and in response, Charles looked up at him, lips brushing the spot he’d just touched. The blond’s fangs slipped into view as his mouth curled into a smirk. In a sudden display of strength, he grabbed Charles, lifting him effortlessly and pushed him firmly.  Charles loved his initiative and gracefully let himself be manhandled, stumbling back against the marble counter and catching himself with both hands. Behind him, several small items clattered: a few glass bottles, a dish of rings. One cracked sharply against the floor as it fell.  He looked down at the mess, then up at Max with a crooked, breathless smile. “That was Saint-Louis crystal.” Max’s eyes glittered. “You can afford it.” Charles arched an eyebrow, stepping in closer. “And you should really learn to control yourself.” Max gave a casual shrug, but his voice dropped low. “You’ve had two centuries to do so.”  A smile tugged at Charles’ mouth and his hand slid up Max’s side, fingers grazing under his ribs, lingering there. “Then let me teach you everything you need to know about control.”

Hello anon, ty so much <3

Yes there is a lot in storage, we will pass 50/60 chapters probably!

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 17: Hope for a Bloody Sundown

Charles stood quietly in the middle of the great hall. The fading light of the sun streamed through the high windows, painting the stone floors in soft amber, and bathing the room in a surreal aura.  Despite its brilliance being diminished by the enchantment on the crystal, and its warmth not reaching him, the sight alone was enough to make his chest tighten with wonder. It had been so long since sunlight had meant anything to him, anything but the promise of death.  For more than two hundred years, that star had hung high above him, mocking him, constantly reminding him of all he'd lost and how a life could be overturned in the blink of an eye. Just as he had been in that dreaded alleyway in 1789. That day had been the last time he had felt the sun on his skin.  Sometimes, during the endless days spent shut away in the mansion, he had wished he could go back in time, just to tell his former self to cherish those small, ordinary moments while he could. But over time, he understood that you never learn how precious something is until it’s gone.  But now, in some wild twist of fate, that same light filled the room, making his once-still heart pound vividly. And for the first time, he didn't look at the sun with nostalgia or fear, but as a symbol of hope.  Golden and radiant, just like the lion next to him.

This is the idea we have for the garden outside when Charles walks in the sun for the first time.

snippet ch. 17 - Hope for a Bloody Sundown

Now they all stood a short distance away, half-shrouded in the long, creeping darkness of early evening. Watching. Pierre, finally reacting, murmured in French, as a crooked grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "C'est ton moment, mon pote." [It's your moment, mate.] Still, his eyes couldn't hide the worry inside. Charles approached him and gently grabbed his upper arm with one hand, squeezing it lightly and offering him a half-smile. “Ça va aller,” [It’s going to be okay] he said, as secure and steady as he could manage, even if deep inside he was a bit scared himself. The younger man didn’t look completely at ease, but the words seemed to help him relax a little, and nodded in response. "Je sais." [I know] Spinning on his heels, Charles turned to face the door in front of him. He looked at the thin, almost invisible traces of magic that still clung to the frame, and beyond it, at the last rays of golden light stretched across the floor of the beautiful interior garden. But what he was really looking for was something else, someone else. His attention focused again on Max, whose intense blue eyes met his, steady and unflinching. Before Charles could speak, Max took a breath, squared his shoulders, and stepped closer to the door. "I'll go out first," he said. "I'll wait outside, so when you're ready… you won't be alone."It was a promise.

Catch up on AO3

When Blood and Death Embrace

Chapter 16: A Slice of Bloody Life