Hey guys!
The 5th one-shot is here. Another AU. This is my first time writing Vampire verse. It's so not my forte. But I kinda liked it while writing it. So, if you think I should continue this story, then, please let me know. 😊

Hugs and YuZhou plushies to all of you who left comments and votes. Love ya, babes!😘💗

EDIT- This oneshot has been developed into a multi-chapatered fiction as a separate story by the same name. You can find it in my work list.💗😀

POV- JY

Italics without quotes are inner thoughts. Within quotes are emphasized words.

Hope you enjoy the read!

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“...So cut the rose in full bloom
‘Till the fearless come and the act is done
A love like blood
A love like blood...”

-‘Love Like Blood’ by Killing Joke

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Blood and Roses

“Well well well. Took you longer than I thought.”

JingYu stood at the doorstep as the stooping figure slowly straightened up. The words flew past him for  all his senses were zeroed on the writhing body on the bed.

No.

“Like what you see? Mmmm..he smells divine.”

It took less than a second for JingYu to drag the younger vampire by the throat and slam him to the wall. Sneering mouth showing the growing fangs, elongated nails digging into the windpipe, eyes becoming crimson, heralding his transformation.

“How many times Athair warned us not to bring humans to the Lair, Chao?” He spat the words to Chao’s face, “On what authority do you dare to disobey him?”

Instead of backing away, Chao pushed himself to JingYu’s clutch more and smiled like a Cheshire cat, “But he is not just any human. He is The Human, JingYu. He’s your human.”

JingYu knew he had made a damning mistake when his mask of indifference fell at those words; he tried to collect himself immediately but it was too late already. Chao got his confirmation and cackled in glee.

“My my, never thought I’d see a day when the mighty Huang JingYu will be conquered by a filthy little human!” His face twisted in disgust, “Does Athair know that his son’s loyalty doesn’t lie with him anymore?”

“You. Know. Nothing.” JingYu bared his teeth, “Nothing at all. I am not answerable to a cretin like you. It is only on Athair’s command I am here now. You break the rules of the Coven, endanger the Lair and I will not think twice to slit your throat.” His grip became unyielding, as if to emphasise, “In fact, I will enjoy every minute of it.”

But no matter what he told Chao to convince him, JingYu knew that the reason he was here chocking this cunning bastard to death was not because of his duties to the Coven. It was because of that small body lying on the bed, unaware of all the devilry surrounding him. The reason was his Zhou.

As if sensing JingYu’s thought on him, a moan came from the bed, “P-ple-please...”

JingYu’s head snapped towards the sound. Chao leered at him, “Hear that? That’s for me. He’s begging for me, JingYu. Your precious little boy is be-“ His head was smashed to the wall.

“What did you give him? What in fucking hell did you do to him, Chao?”

“It’s just this funny little thing called Vampire allure, darling. I’m sure you’ve used it enough to know the effect, hmm?”

JingYu released the younger vampire to go to Zhou but this time Chao caught him. One hand holding his nape, the other clutching his robe.

“Why do you want him so much, huh? What does such a weakling can give you which none of your own kind can. Look at him, just look how he’s going out of his mind because of an allure. Such a pathetic creature”

“You were one of them, too, or did you forget that already?” JingYu pulled his head free.

“Yes, I have forgotten. I chose to forget. Who wants to remember of a life full of remorse and regret? I am not that person anymore.” He pressed his body against JingYu, “I want you, JingYu, I want you so much. I can give you everything  that that human can’t even imagine to achieve. I can make you the king. I can satisfy you beyond measure. I’ll put him under allure permanently and we both can enjoy him when the mood strikes. Be mine and rule the world, my love.”

The push came even before the words left his mouth. Chao was flung to the opposite side of the room. He crumpled to the floor, blood and spittle dripped down his mouth from the impact. He looked up to curse at the other vampire but shrunk back at the intensity of the vision before him.

JingYu had transformed, not completely but enough to remind why he was second in command to Athair. His fangs had more prominence than before, like a true predator; eyes all black without a trace of white. And there were the wings. Two huge pinions covered with raven black feathers, dark and ominous and glorious. These wings were a symbol of power. Only the most powerful and seniors could conjure them up. Others had to take the bat form to get access to the wings.

Chao’s entire body shook when it tried to grasp something to keep himself upright.

JingYu turned and went to the bed. He lifted the now limp body to his chest with utmost care, like handling an injured baby bird, and brought him to where Chao sat on the ground. He knelt down with one knee.

“Release him.”

Though spoken quietly, the command curdled Chao’s blood with its viciousness. He hated how his hand trembled when he held it over the human’s face, over his glassy eyes and waved it from left to right just once.

The boy’s breath hitched, he blinked and then closed his eyes. JingYu got up and went to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows, one foot on the pane.

“You touch him ever again and not even the wolves would be able to find your head.”

And jumped down.

XOXOXO

JingYu knew he was taking a big risk leaving the Lair with Zhou without informing Athair, but he would not take any chances with Zhou’s security. The boy had to suffer enough because of JingYu’s inability to cover his own track. It was time to let go. The parting would probably kill him but Zhou would be safe. And he was long dead anyway. If he had to end this cursed existence in order to give his boy a normal life, he would do it with pleasure.

Holding Zhou tight he flew past the cliff not far from the Lair and landed on an empty spot. This was his secret place. He had lost count how many nights he had spent here thinking of the life he once had and never would have again. Thinking of Zhou.

He sat down with one arm beneath Zhou’s shoulder, carefully keeping the head on the crook of his elbow, the other wrapped around the lithe torso of the sleeping boy. He stared at this cherubic face, so young and innocent. So, so very beautiful and pure. So near yet beyond JingYu’s reach. How many times he had seen this face change like seasons, going from a babe to that of a handsome man? Numerous times was the answer.  They were like two straight lines, going and growing side by side without getting the chance to be together.

He blinked the moisture away that had gathered around his eyes. His body had reverted back to its normalcy. He could wake Zhou now. But before doing so he leaned forward and pressed his lips to that soft forehead. Just once.

“Zhou?”

The boy didn’t even stir. JihgYu raised his voice a little.

“Zhou?”

The eyelids fluttered, lips parted.

“Zhou?”

The boy opened his eyes and looked at him. Bewildered.

JingYu had expected the initial bafflement, what he didn’t expect was when recognition crept into those beautiful eyes. What he didn’t expect was when Zhou lifted his hand and cupped one side of his face.

“You....you...”

Those huge eyes got even bigger with the effort he wanted to bring his face closer to JingYu.

“You....”

“Zhou?” JingYu’s couldn’t hide the fine tremor of his voice. Because he didn’t expect this. Didn’t even know what was this.

“I....I know you.... I know you..”

JingYu froze.

“You...do? You can...you..” he didn’t dare to hope, didn’t, but...”You can remember me?”

Zhou nodded slowly, still tracing JingYu’s face with his hand, “I remember...this face.. I remember your voice...I re-member..”

Throwing caution to the wind, JingYu hugged Zhou to his chest, tears rolling down unbidden. He wanted to cry so much, wanted to let out all the agony he was carrying within him for the past decades. This recognition was everything he wanted. But like always time was never with them. He couldn’t have it when it came voluntarily. Not when Zhou’s life was in danger. It felt like ripping his limbs off when he pushed Zhou off his chest to look at him. The boy blinked sluggishly at him. Poor Zhou, he needed rest.......and to forget.

“Zhou, I’m going to take you to your home now, all right? You’ll be okay. The nightmare is over. You won’t remember anything in the morning, all right? Everything will be just the way they were before.” Just the way I never existed for you.

But Zhou’s began to panic, he started to get distressed, “No...no, I don’ want to...no..You, don’t do this...You...why can’t I remember your name? Don’t leave me, please, don’t.”

JingYu’s heart broke as he saw Zhou’s eyes fill. He didn’t know how much Zhou remembered or what triggered the snippets of his memories to come back, but he was sure it would not last. He should not want it to last. But this damned traitorous heart...

“I’ve never left you, Zhou, ever. It’s you who keeps leaving me and I keep on waiting for you. I can never leave you. I won’t.”

“Then don’t leave me now. We are here. Don’t leave.”

A sad smile ghosted over JingYu, “You don’t want that, trust me. You don’t want me, not this me. And it’s better this way.”

New tears began to flood those eyes. JingYu’s heart twisted painfully. How could he deny him anything?

“Shh, love, don’t cry, please, Zhou. Listen to me,” he wiped the tears off those rosy cheeks, “you are too young now, too addled to decide for anything. But maybe someday...when you are grown up..” Don’t do this. Don’t do this. Don’t do this.

“Promise me. Promise me that you will come and find me then. Promise me.”

Don’t do this. Don’t do this. Don’t do this. “I promise.”

When did ever JingYu have any power in front of his Zhou?

“When? When will I see you again? Tell me, when?”

JingYu bit his lips at the eager, desperate expression on the young face. This should not be happening; things should not go this way. But.....

“Four years from now, on your twenty first birthday, I’ll come to you. But if you don’t recognize me I will not remind you and we will part our ways forever.”

There. He nailed his own coffin. Secured Zhou again. There was no way this boy would remember him tomorrow, let alone four years after. Zhou would go back to his own life. And JingYu? He would get five years of borrowed time to watch Zhou from afar. And when the time limit was over, he would end this curse. Forever.

“I will recognize you. I will always remember you.”

JingYu’s vision blurred for a moment. He gave a smile and pinched those soft cheeks.

“My silly Zhou. It’s okay to forget me. I am nothing but a forgotten dream.”

He kissed the forehead one last time, “Sleep now.”

Zhou closed his eyes. A peaceful smile rested on his lips.

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A/N: 'Athair' means 'Father' in Celtic.