Mortal Enemies: Red Masquerade

There came cold November, and all the trees around proudly wore their warm colored, dazzling coats, whistling wind rushed through dense woods dragging fallen leafs in its dance. Renovated catacombs are showing off with new beautiful arc and cast-ironed gateway. It was nighttime, and Sackville-Bagg family, as always, were on their late walk, around the cemetery. “Rudolph, how are you feeling lately?” it’s was Freda who asked her son a pretty unusual question. “Im feeling pretty well, why would I be feel any different?” he responded asking his own question. “Well, actually…” she wasn’t sure how to start, “Pubertal age, it’s hell of a thing”. “What do you mean?” a slight confusion appeared in Rudy’s question as he walked on the gravel with grunge boots. “Have you not realized yet?” Frederick entered the conversation holding his hands behind his back in a lock. He always walked in this position as some kind of aristocrat. “You are turning 316!” Anna wheezed in excitement jerking on brother’s shoulder. “You’re growing, little brother,” Gregory made a happy hand gesture, “still remember you as a youngster, haha” and then he laughed. “Shut up!” this time Rudolph barked, frustratedly crossing arms on his chest. “Rudy!” Freda hissed in a disappointed-parent voice, “You can’t treat your brother like that!” “You have to pursue some self control” added Anna, she always used these opportunities to show that she’s smart, this and that. “Nobody was talking to you, Anna!” snapped Rudolph, realizing it’s too late to stop and what lecture to expect as soon as they comeback from his parents. Returning back to catacombs with a sunrise, Rudolph got punished. “How dare you to act like this?!” Frederick stood in front of his son, nearly pressing him into the wall behind. “She simply doesn’t need to insert her comments and advises if not asked!” the boy stood for self defense, denuding his fangs in anger. “I don’t recall to ever give you a right to speak!” father’s voice thundered. Rudolph is a fearless, but he really has to remain silent in these kinds of conversations, especially knowing their family rules and expectations. All family members stayed and listened their noisy talk. Anna and Gregory were quiet surprised of father’s reaction on Rudolph’s break down, but similar happened before, only no screams and threats. “I thought you’ve grown mature, smarter and responsible,” he paused for a moment, lightly panting “but— as I’m seeing you obeying your hormones rather than using your brain, huh?!” Frederick finally stopped. Taking a deep breath, he, heavily, pointed on the left. “You’ll stay in your coffins for three night, am I clear?” He again hissed saying last words. Rudy nods and walks away to pointed directions of catacombs, full of unoccupied caskets, and picked the most spacious one, where he will be able to move around. Crawling into the punishment space he took his jackets off, continuing with his dirty green shirt. It got smaller in size: arm muscles began to see through the thin fabric, pressing really bad onto the skin, as well as the sleeves became shorter. “Oh, what is here to do?” he sighed quietly, setting the jacket on the stone floor, aside with the casket, then closing the it with its heavy lid, as all tiny space around his body filled only with pitch black, which encouraged his mind to go places here and there freely. After some time, Rudolph drowned into a deep sleep. *** Altogether, vampires and mortals are all around. And faded sound of clinking glasses. “Where am I?” young vampire asked himself in murmur, noticing an unusual outfits of his: skin-tight black dress shirt, black leather boots, and a red mask. “What a surprise! What for though?” " Where’s our birthday boy?” in a distance he heard familiar voice of his forever-happy auntie as well as her hand claps. “Rudyyyy—” other voices called out his name. “Birthday boy? Am I already turning 316?” suddenly echoed in his confused mind. “Have I— what, been dragged out of that damn coffin without my awareness?” But then something touched his back, yet this touch was not to scare him, it was gentle, calming, careful, affectionate, soft. And suddenly, a neck kiss followed after, that pricking goosebumps spread all over vampire’s body. “Happy birthday, Rudy~” Timid whisper appeared next to his ear, and touching of that mysterious stranger kept going, he could make up arms, strong and warm, and…so crazy gentle! “Who are you?” Rudolph asked in a hissed voice, slightly turning head to where he heard the voice. A figure steps out from behind of brunette, wearing the same skin-tight dress shirt, pulled up sleeves, black pants and bloody red mask. With golden blond hair, and crystal clear blue eyes. “Did you really not recognize me?” it was a long time known voice, and it sounded lower. He, with no rush, set his arm behind his head, pulling a thin, silky ribbon and the other hand — held up the mask. When the node was fully untied, the mask was pulled down. Something clicked in immortal’s head, and he start to do exactly the same. Red mask of stranger opened his face exposing freckles on pinky cheeks, and some of golden air fell and covered his forehead. Rudolph stood before him, his hair looked just as always, glass-like cheekbones, eyes as two glasses of blood. Vampire stood in front of Tony, his the most closest 'friend', if only he could be labeled like that after the neck kiss. Guys looked each other in the eyes, seeing how pupils have dilated. Breathing patterns changed, and hearts begun to pound stronger, yes, even the dead heart of brunette awakened skipping a beat. “I missed you, Tony” let out Rudolph, as his cold hand reaches up to face in front of him, rubbing on a soft cheek. Tony grabbed Rudolph’s wrist and yanked off the spot he stood at for a while, pulling him somewhere different, into the darkness, away from all the possible light, away from everyone present there. Away from all who could interrupt them. He turned the immortal face to face, pressing against the wall, catching that a bit scared out of shock gaze. “Rudy,” another pause followed after, mortal stands so close to him, panting after running, “You know I’m staying here with you, guys, for two weeks?” mortal’s face grew into a charming smile, slowly placing his hands on Rudolph’s waist. “Oh,” he responded to that with quite satisfied look, “So…which means…we…?” Rudolph wised for Tony to finish that sentence. “…Means we’re gonna have some good and fun time…” Tony struggled to say it as innocently as possible, stupidly blushing. “Well,” vampire have interrupted softly, “I’m already having good and fun time ever since you’re h—” Rudolph didn’t get to finish, Tony shut him up with a kiss. Tony’s tongue penetrated Rudy’s, intertwining with his tongue, too. French kiss. Rudolph wrapped his arms around Tony’s shoulders burring one hand in that golden hair, tenderly massaging them. So nice. Boldly, vampire responded to the kiss, pressing mortal close to him, so close he could feel his heartbeat. Air began to gradually decrease in their lungs, they were breathing into the kiss excitedly, sometimes letting small and quiet moans slip off their lips. Tony had a smell of expensive cologne, late night breeze and sweetness of love on him. The kiss was intoxicating, like wine. I’m about to melt… A quick thought loudly echoed in Rudy’s head but disappeared just as quickly, all corners of his mind were emptied. Excitement was strong, and now the kissing sounds mixed with humming. Euphoria. Tony let go off Rudolph’s wet and swollen lips, still holding minimum room between their faces. “Rudy…” he breathed, “I love you”.