#lacus

While retreating to the main troops alone because your other teammates have died in battle, you faced a vampire who lured you in where you were right now and you've been so distracted that you can't seem to find your way out. But you knew one thing that this was somewhere in the vampire city and if you were able to report back about this place, you'd be ranked higher than your current rank in the army.

The air was cold and spiked against your lungs but you kept running because one moment of stillness could mean the end for you. You halted abruptly your boots skidding on the slightly damp floor, taking a few steps back while holding the hilt of your sword tight, ready to swing. A man with silver hair walked in front of you, his posture composed and arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face, "My my, what a loud bird we have running in the halls today" sarcasm embedded in his tone.

You're panting standing infront of him ready to attack, the cold air spiking against your lungs. His striking beauty caught your eyes but you knew he wasn't as safe as he seemed right now. And by things you've observed so far you could tell that this was the 7th progenitor Ferid Bathory. Did you really have the energy to fight him after all the occurances in the battlefield an hour ago? Perhaps not. This is a lost case, you're out. You spin on your heels running the opposite way your, feeling lightweighted you could almost faint. You felt like your legs will give up on you but you have to keep going if you want to survive this.

Before you even ran a meter a chuckle came from behind you as well as a blurr of white, something gripped your arm tightly stopping you in your tracts. You swung the sword at his neck with the other hand but he caught it, blood seeping from his palms, "Ah ah" he leaned in against your ear, "Running away is so rude especially when someone is trying to greet you so warmly. Tell me, where is the little lamb headed in such a rush, hm? I'm kind enough to welcome you to stay here"

You gasp and pant trying to calm the burning ache in your chest, you twist and turn in his grasp but his fingers don't budge, "Let me go". The others would probably call you pathetic right now for not being able to fight back properly but they're dead. The strength difference between you two was terrifying, your heart hammering against your chest because you believed this is how you end but you have to keep going.

He tilted his head looking at your flushed face, beads of cold sweat, the way your body is heaving, it was as if he was watching you with curiosity of seeing a human for the first time. In all the centuries he has lived he's never seen a human fight for their life even though they're quite certain that they'll die. It was honestly entertaining. "Oh? Look at that expression you have" he inched closer to your face, "Do all humans try to fight back even though they know death is standing in front of them? Or are you just special?" he mocked.

"Stop with this act and do whatever you're going to do and get this over with" you spat at his face, your face displaying anger. A smile broke out on the face of the progenitor, something weird stirred in his heart, he felt it in his stomach too. What is this? He didn't know but it was deeply amusing and it felt good enough for him to crave more of it. Usually you'd be drained dry or handed over to the guards for preparing bloodbags and keeping you captive. But as Ferid looked at the anger pulsing through your veins and the bratty behaviour you had, he doesn't want to do something like that.

"Get it over with? Hells, no. That's such a dreary way to think. It would be a shame to hand you to the guards, they have such dull methods to deal with poeple like you. No appreciation for flavour, spirit or the finer things inside. I think fate brought you here for a reason" as he finished he yanked your sword out of your hands and threw it aside as it slided across the damp floor and he flung you over his shoulder while you were slamming your fists against his back after you let out a cry of shock. "What are you doing? Put me down!" you yelled, "Shh keep it down little lamb, if the other nobles hear you and see us like this they'll ask way too many questions which I am not in the mood to answer today"

He started walking and you stayed quiet, he slowly adjusted you so that you're not hanging on his shoulders anymore, he has both arms under you while you sit on them and your arms are on his shoulders. "I dont want to go anywhere with you, tell me what you want and leave me alone" you whispered and clutched the fabric of his uniform because you fear you may fall. "Why, nothing at all" he replies in a soft voice stripped of his usual sarcasm in his voice as he passes through what seems to be secret passages away from the vampire population.

He looked at you, "You must be very tired from trying to run today, your legs probably hurt and you wouldn't have made it very far either. A gentleman doesn't leave a tired traveller. Think of me as your saviour this afternoon" he said his voice like silk. "Saviour you say? Pure irony there" you said disinterested, "Well if I had let you be caught by the guards and bleed out right there, would that be much better?" his smirk back on his face, you could visibly see your reflection in his red eyes. "Well its fine if you dont think that way, its not as if I care about what you think" he said as he reached the mansion, he opened the door with one hand while carrying you with the other, he closed the door behind him as he walked towards the couch and placed you on top, the moment you were sat down you melted against the softness of the leather. "See? Isn't this better than a cold cell?" Ferid gave a theatrical bow, "I welcome you to my humble abode and as long as you are under my roof you are not viewed as livestock, nor a prisoner, you may make yourself at home here and you are my exclusive guest. I'll see to it that your stay here is an unforgettable one" he stood up and looked at you. Your eyes were a bit wide and shocked as this was not what you were expecting and you had a feeling whatever he said wasn't true but it seemed nice that a progenitor bowed to you. "I-uh..okay", his tall figure looked down upon your form, slopped against his couch. " Comfy now are we?" he asked, "Mhm" you said as you looked away.