***

“Say, how long are you going to play ‘vampire hunter’ with your younger brother?” Kaine asked, sighing. “You could just come with me; together we’ll leave here and go somewhere far away. I don’t need my master, you know.” He added, toying with a strand of Lucian’s hair.

“Stop moving so quickly!” Lucian said. He decided to ignore Kaine’s question. “You cannot just slide up there… if you do, I won’t-“

“Alright, alright, I’ll move slower.” Kaine said with another sigh. “There, happy now?”

“Ah- I am now.” Lucian said with a delighted smile. “Now, give me just a little bit more… and stop touching me already… just do it…”

“Mmm…”

“Oh, it feels good…”

“What does?”

“To know I’ve beaten you once again at chess!!” Lucian exclaimed. He picked up his black king chess piece and placed it on Kaine’s side of the board, at the end. His smile brightened. “Check and mate, darling.”

“Ugh… don’t call me that.” Kaine said, making a face. “And… damn it, I guess you have won again.” He scowled. “So… when will be the next time I get to see you?”

The question hung in the air between them, causing the atmosphere to become tense. This always happened whenever Kaine asked that question. He was getting tired of asking.

“Hmm…” Lucian knocked over his piece, frowning slightly. “…why did you have to bring that up?”

“Because it’s important!” Kaine snapped. He jumped up and leant across the board. He kissed Lucian, then pulled back, his eyes hard and serious. “I’m tired of playing this game. I know you’re a hunter and shit… but how long am I supposed wait for you? Why do I have to play second to your brother? That little brat’s a wild beast!! Who in hell knows what he’ll do the next time he blows a gasket!!”

“If he really is so ferocious, then aren’t you worried about your master?” Lucian reached across and knocked over Kaine’s lone white knight.

“No.” Kaine’s answer was cold and unfeeling. Honestly, he didn’t care about the master in the slightest. If he ever did care, he’d forgotten about it somewhere in the last century. Kaine had been alone for three quarters of the time, so it wasn’t as if he knew a lot about his so-called “Master”. So, why was he here? For Lucian? “Don’t change the subject. Answer me now. When will be the next time I get to see you?”

Lucian said nothing for a long time. He hated it when an inquiry was directed at him. Finally, he sighed, and knocked over one of his pawns. “…I don’t know.” He knew Kaine wouldn’t be satisfied with that answer.
Kaine was scowling. “…is this the time when you say you have to go?” The atmosphere was asphyxiating; it was smothering him.

“I suppose so.” Lucian said with another sigh. He stood and drew his hair back into its ponytail at the nape of his neck. He turned to walk out the door. “Bye for now, Kaine.” His voice was quiet. The only thing that greeted him was stony silence as he walked out the door.

After staring at the door for what felt like an eternity, Kaine changed back into his inky- black smoke form. The air in the room still felt heavy; he let the wind carry him outside through the window in the back of the room. Once outside, he still didn’t feel any better. He never understood why Lucian treated him like this. Yes, he was a hunter, but… Lucian knew this when he first became involved with Kaine, so why…

Kaine sighed, and floated back inside. He would find out the truth. Somewhere in the manor, he sensed the master was awake. Lucian was still inside; all he had to do was find him. Kaine changed back into his human form, this time invisible. Camille wasn’t even related to Lucian by blood. How could he still be more important than Kaine?
“Damn brat…” Kaine mumbled as he went out the door. One the chess board, a king fell from the table and rolled onto its side on the floor.

Camille was storming out of the ballroom when Lucian made it back downstairs. Lucian hurried to catch up with him, unaware of Kaine following him. “Camille?”
Camille stopped at the bottom of the grand staircase. He didn’t turn to face Lucian, and his hand was firmly on Eli’s hilt. He said nothing.

“Camille… did you kill it? The… vampire?” Lucian said, breathing hard. He’d run too fast down the two flights of stairs. There was still no reply from his brother. “…eh, Camille?” He reached up and touched Camille’s shoulder gently. Camille jerked away.

“Lucian… I do not care for your personal life,” Camille said, his tone was deadly, and his eyes were icy and hard as he whirled to face Lucian. “But… this one thing I will not overlook. How long did you intend to keep your affair going?”

“What… are you talking about?” Lucian said slowly. His insides felt as if they were being squashed together and uneasiness sunk deep in the pit of his stomach. Behind him, Kaine was sneering. So Camille had found out? Well, wasn’t it his lucky day? Kaine wanted to see how Lucian would smooth this over.

“Don’t tell jokes, Lucian, you know I don’t like them.” Camille snapped. “How long did you plan on making a hypocrite out of yourself?!”

“…un…” Lucian felt sick. He felt like he would start throwing up his organs. It hurt so much. He crossed his arms over his waist and bent over slightly. “…nn…” He leant forward onto Camille, but Camille stepped back and Lucian found himself kneeling on the floor instead. “Camille, please…”

“What is it?” Camille’s voice was harsh in Lucian’s ears.

“…please, I’ll do anything for you… I promise to break it off… please don’t tell Mother and Father…” Lucian pleaded. He reached up and gently took

Camille’s hand. “…please, just take it out on my body…”
Kaine’s heart was in his throat. So this was how Lucian felt? “…you just kept on pretending for both of us…? No… for me? Was I just a joke to you?” This was why he hated petty emotions such as these. But when it came to Lucian… Kaine didn’t want to hear anymore.

Camille stared down at Lucian for a few moments. He didn’t feel anything. He could still hear Cameron’s words in his head, clouding his mind. Even if

Cameron wasn’t in his head, he still wouldn’t feel anything. Perhaps he was just as guilty as Lucian, but he would not admit it. Lucian… how long had he been with his lover… Cameron’s familiar? “Nothing can right what you’ve done.” He walked away, leaving Lucian staring after him. He stepped out into the light of day, but the feeling of sunlight on his skin was irritating.

“Good job, Camille. You see, you broke one bond, now finish off the rest. Let’s burn the path that was chosen for you.” Cameron said, appearing beside Camille. He was still wearing that oh-so-proud smile. He was floating in midair, with one leg crossed over the other. He was semi-transparent, like a ghost. “We’ll create a new one for you. Exchange hatred and conflict for loneliness… become free… you will not go of your malice, even if you break your bonds, will you?”

“You will not tell me what I need to let go of.” Camille snapped.