011; AFTER TASTE

011; AFTER TASTE
Cassian feels like he's about to puke his entire guts out as he bends over the restroom sink while the so-called party is in full swing outside.

His hands grip the sink so hard his fingers ache while his stomach twists violently, rolling and churning like it’s trying to crawl out of him.

Fuck. He gags once; it's dry and painful as he spits into the sink, even though nothing comes up, just bitter saliva and the lingering taste of blood that refuses to leave his mouth.

Blood.

His throat burns as if it’s still there; he can still feel it. It’s shocking how he didn't drop dead on the spot.

Cassian turns the tap on and splashes water into his mouth, swishing hard, then spitting it out again, repeating the actions again and again but the metallic taste won’t go away.

“Believe me, petal, you won't die from a little bit of blood.”

Cassian snaps his head up fast. He stares at Lord Alastor through the restroom mirror, finding the vampire watching him with an amused smirk, eyes glinting like he's the devil in human form, his arms crossed over his chest and fuck, Cassian hates him to the core.

The thought makes his eyes harden, murderous intent clouding through them like fire while his knuckles bleed white on the sink. He's going to make them pay for doing this to him.

“Glaring so hard won't make me or any other vampire drop dead, petal.” Alastor reads through his gaze like it's that readable, like he's an open book. Cassian hates it. He averts his gaze.

“When do we leave?” Cassian inquires, wishing he could disappear.

“Until the part is over,”

Cassian turns to him sharply. If looks could kill, the vampire lord would have dropped dead from Cassian's gaze. “I do not wish to be here any longer. You brought me here and you made them force me into drinking blood. I could have been exposed.”

Alastor tilts his head, eyes still twinkling with amusement. “It’s your choice to live among vampires. It's amusing to watch you struggle to survive.”

Cassian's body heats up with anger. It doesn't matter that he knows that he's nothing but prey to the vampire lord but it still fuels his rage. “You should protect me. What do you think they'll do when they find out you’re hiding a human from them? A normal vampire can be tricked, but not Lord Alastor. You're keeping human blood from th—”

Cassian doesn't get to complete his words, because the next second, his throat is grabbed and his back meets the hard wall in a brutal force that makes all his bones and lungs scream for mercy.

Alastor’s gaze burns through his soul, dark and sinister. “Are you threatening me, petal?”

Cassian’s breath leaves him in a harsh gasp as his feet barely touch the ground as Alastor’s hand tightens around his throat, not enough to choke him yet, but enough to remind him how easily it could happen, how easily he can die. Fuck. Cassian’s heart slams wildly in his chest.

“N–no,” Cassian manages, his voice coming out strained. “I’m stating a fact.”

Alastor leans in closer, his face inches away now. The amusement is gone from his eyes and is now replaced with something colder and dangerous. “The only reason I've kept you alive without draining every bit of blood in your body is because I find your stupidity to survive mildly amusing, and until I'm bored and you still wish to breathe, you will control the words coming out of your mouth. Do we have an understanding, petal?”

Cassian stares, his blue eyes hard as stone. He's stubborn; he's here to end the existence of every vampire and find his brother, he isn't scared of a vampire, no matter how powerful they are; he isn't afraid to die but until he achieves his goal, he will yield.

Cassian nods once while his throat and heart burn from Alastor's grip.

“Good,” the lord says calmly, then he lets go of Cassian's throat and steps back like he didn’t just slam a human against a wall.

As soon as he lets go, Cassian draws in air sharply, his hand going up to rub against his throat.

Alastor straightens his coat, unbothered as he looks at Cassian calmly, the spark of amusement in his eyes returning. “I’d hate to lose you so soon.”

Cassian lets out a bitter laugh. “Liar.”

Alastor’s lips twitch. “Perhaps,” he says, then turns toward the door. “We leave soon.”

Cassian blinks. “You said—”

“I said until the party was over,” Alastor interrupts. “And I’ve decided I’m bored. Let's go home, petal.”

Cassian watches Alastor walk out of the restroom and once again, Cassian has decided that the vampire lord is a very sick man.

~

As soon as Cassian enters his bedroom at Alastor's mansion, Oscar is hot on his trail, shutting the door behind him.

“You stink of blood on you is very strong,” Oscar observes and in the next moment, with his vampire speed, he's standing behind Cassian, sniffing his neck but Cassian turns sharply and pushes him off, bearing his teeth at him angrily.

Cassan hates that he can't match their speed and filthy senses.

Oscar chuckles as he throws his hands up and steps back. “Wow, easy there, tiger, just a vampire caring for his little human friend,” he smirks because he doesn't mean it.

Filthy vampires. Cassian hates them all.

“You seem to have had one hell of a night. Did you drink blood, tiger?” Oscar continues to tease him.

Cassian stiffens at the question, his jaw tightening as he recalls the awful event at the party. “No,” he says flatly. “I was forced.”

Oscar raises a brow, interest sparking in his eyes. “Forced?” he repeats lightly, like it’s amusing. “That’s new.”

Cassian advances on him, his gaze burning through him. “You all are the same, stinking, blood-sucking demons that care for no one but yourselves and enjoy the suffering of others. You are all disgusting and will burn in hell!”

Oscar thinks, taken back at the outburst. The little human has always been calm, determined to wipe out the existence of vampires. It's the first time he's seen him so furious. The sight brings a smile to Oscar's face; the other humans they sent were furious and determined but none of them had this crazy spark in their eyes, like they could burn everything with just a touch. Oscar loves this look in Cassian's eyes.

“Not all vampires are evil,” he finally says.

Cassian scoffs. “I’ll believe that when pigs fly.”

Cassian forces himself to calm down but no matter what he does, he can still feel the taste of blood on his tongue and he fears he will never be able to get rid of it.

Just then, a knock comes on the door.

“I'll get it.” Oscar announces and then he goes to open the door; it's one of Alastor's spoiled nieces, Clarissa.

She looks at Oscar like he's sand underneath her feet. “What is a servant doing here? Are you having an affair?” She peeks over Oscar's shoulder to look at Cassian.

“What do you want?” Cassian glares. The longer he lives among vampires, the more he hates them—every single one of them.

“The Duchess asks you to join us for dinner,” she announces, staring at her nails like they are the most important thing in the world. “I don't get why I was asked to get you when the servants are lying around, doing nothing.”

“I'm not coming for dinner,” Cassian tells her, and she whips her head to look at him.

“The Duchess will not be happy.”

Cassian smirks, then he walks over and grabs the door. “I don't give a fuck what she feels, so now, fuck off.”

And the last thing Cassian hears is her gasp of shock before he slams the door in her stupid face.

Bloody brat.

“You're going to die sooner with that attitude,” Oscar shakes his head.