Bats and Wolves Don't Get Along [ Mysteria x Dimitri ]

It was evening - the evening of his nineteenth birthday. His parents were more excited than he was as they rambled on about the ceremony that soon awaited him, giving him advice, telling their own stories of when they went through it. Jayden wasn't sure how to feel, but it didn't take a genius to see his enthusiasm was lacking. The boy was always a solitary person, preferring to be independent and do things on his own, but now that he was receiving his own butler, he didn't look forward to being stalked wherever he went. He knew it was the family tradition - he had been technically raised by four people, given his parents had their own personal bodyguards that remained with them at all times. Apparently the two were the parents of his to-be servant, who was trained his entire life just to serve Jayden. That thought was both intimidating and odd, but he supposed that was what happened when you were of royal blood.

Some time later, the blue-black haired boy was lead to their garden. It was full of guests, mostly vampires with wine mixed with blood as their drinks, chatting away with their aristocratic company. Jay sighed and sat down in the throne that awaited him, his parents watching him from nearby. After a few more moments, his mother turned to her bodyguard, and whispered something to his ear. He nodded obediently and left, so Jay guessed the ceremony would soon begin. All he knew about his bodyguard was that he was male, and not much else. The brunet watched as his father stepped onto the podium that his throne was located on, raising a hand to silence the crowd.

When the noise died down, he smiled at them, blond hair shimmering in the moonlight, his youthful features making him look more like Jay's brother than father. "My friends, you all know why you came here. My son is about to receive his own bodyguard - or should I say butler?" The man paused as the people chuckled submissively. "The ceremony is ready to start. Bring him in."

Jay's gaze shifted to the garden gates, finally some sort of emotion stirring in his chest. Worry, nerves, excitement and anticipation, all mixed into one uncomfortable feeling. He didn't like the silence, he didn't like the fact this was all based on him as if he was some saint, so he tried to focus his thoughts on the task at hand. He didn't have to do much - he just knew he had to extend his hand and have it kissed by the male, but what else would happen, he had no idea.

"Axel. It's time."
Axel turned to see his father standing in front of him. Axel was sitting on a wooden bench outside the garden courtyard. Within he heard the voices of the vampire company, now hushed in waiting. His fists clenched. "I can't go through with this, father."
"You can and you will. This is how it has always been. Will you disgrace us and let your training go to waste?" Axel's father growled. He was a brunette with a slight figure and soft eyes that usually looked submissive, but now hardened into a stern glare. "You are a grown werewolf now."
"I'm not going to serve one of those bats." Axel snarled half under his breath.
"Hush! Do not say such things here." His father sighed and knelt in front of him. "When will you stop being so unreasonable? Come. The young master is a fine young vampire." He patted him on the shoulder once and stood. After a moment Axel reluctantly rose as well. He felt a strange thrill, and an anxiety he couldn't quite push away. His father led him to the garden gates. He turned to his son, straightened his collar for him, and smiled. "Don't you dare get angry in there, or your wolf traits will begin to show. And please, shake that hair out of your eyes." Then he opened the gate.
Axel stepped into the courtyard. It was full of sleek vampires sipping red liquid. a stone path lined with red roses led to the raised platform at the end. All eyes riveted on him.
But Axel's eyes riveted somewhere else.
On a throne at the end of the stone path sat a vampire. THe vampire. He didn't even know his name yet, but at that moment their eyes locked. Axel felt a surge of emotions. The figure exuded a natural, powerful aura that flooded him with conflicting feelings of awe and anger, sudden devotion and disgust. Whatever it was, it was a powerful feeling he could not fully describe. In dead silence, Axel advanced toward the throne. Click. Click. Click. He held himself upright, beneath the glances of the vampires. Slowly. His parents had told him everything he needed to know to do for the ceremony, but now Axel was grasping to remember the rituals. His heart turned. He couldn't tell if it was fear or his own rebellious nature telling him to turn around. But somehow his feet kept marching until he was standing right in front of the blue haired vampire. Up close showed the young royal to be attractive and refined.
Axel took a breath and began the well practiced words. "I have come today to take my place as butler and bodyguard of he who sits on the throne of the vampires." He proclaimed in a rather soft and husky voice. His eyes never left that of the other's. Axel's icy eyes flickered as he knelt with his right hand over his heart. "What is your name, master?"

When the werewolf stepped out, Jayden's eyes instantly locked with his. The vampire glanced the boy over with a quick gaze, taking in his form as the boy approached. This canine seemed unlike his father, and Jay easily picked up on the subtle difference - there wasn't an air of submission around him. Instead, he gave off a rather powerful aura, one filled with the strength of a youth, and the blue-head couldn't help feeling impressed. Observing as the other got closer, he found himself momentarily forgetting the crowd, his chest clutching with yet another mix of apprehension and thrill.

The vampire almost wanted to smile hearing the other's voice. Even that had a wolfish sound to it, though he supposed he could have expected that. Yet he managed to keep his trained poker face on, one he had perfected in the many years of living in the mansion, and luckily for him it didn't budge even from that amass of emotions. 'Master', huh... once more the realization downed on Jayden as he thought about the werewolf in front of him - had Jay not had been born, neither would this male. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to be feeling high and mighty because of this, or pity the canine, but he found himself feeling none of those. Instead he felt a rather overwhelming sense of responsibility for him, even if he was supposed to be the protected here. One thing he could do to act upon this feeling was to accept the wolf.

So it was with his still expressionless face that he continued looking into the other's icy eyes as he responded, only after a second's pause. He selected his words carefully from the advice given to him from his parents, not wanting to displease them or act 'unroyal', as they usually labelled him. "You may call me Jayden." Was that royal enough? The bat's gaze was too busy scanning the werewolf's face to care to look over to his creators. Instead, he reached out a hand gently, his right, a pinky finger sticking out slightly from the rest. He supposed it was posh, but it was a habit that was drilled into his brain since he was little, so he had been forced to grow used to it.

Axel couldn't read the blue-haired bat's emotions. He seemed very good at hiding them. Axel, as his own parents constantly reminded him, had never mastered the skill of hiding his emotions like this vampire had. The vampire's demeaner intrigued him as Jayden extended his hand at the werewolf. Axel stared at it for a moment. In the back of his mind his free spirit flickered. He glanced up and saw his mother and father staring intently at him. His father nodded at him. Axel knew this was the family duty, the fate of the werewolves and of the vampires. Everyone had their place, and this was his place - that was what his father had told him over and over again. Still, the idea...it didn't sit well with him.
But he knew what he had to do. He looked up into the vampires eyes for a split second before reaching forward, taking his hand in his own, not too gently, and raising it to his lips. The gesture made him feel vulnerable, small, somehow. He kissed it slowly, and just as slowly released it. Then Axel stood and took a step back. "Jayden Harper." He let the name roll off his tongue smoothly in his wolf-voice. "I, Axel Luther, before all these witnesses..." as he was speaking, Axel reached into his back pocket and pulled out the ritual knife. It was a small knife, and the wooden hilt was meticulously engraved with scenes of werewolves and vampires in history. The blade shone dully. It was the knife his parents and his grandparents and generations of his family before had used in the ceremony. He took the blade in his right hand and rested the blade on his left palm. "...before all these witnesses do promise to serve and protect you with my life." The words were memorized, and he forced them out, but the weight of them tugged at his heart. In one smooth motion, Axel sliced the knife across his palm, drawing blood. Wincing a little, he tipped his palm and let the blood run onto the ground at Jayden's feet. Then, taking the knife in his bloody hand, he began unbuttoning his shirt with his clean hand. The fabric parted to reveal that the tattoo on his face and hands ran all the way down his neck and right side in a twisting, artistic pattern. It was marked on him since he was a child, a sign of ownership. The tattoo encorporated the vampire family sign - a black butterfly - throughout. Dipping his clean fingers in his other hand's blood, Axel traced the butterflies on his body in blood. Then, stepping forward, Axel took the vampire's hand again and drew the butterfly on Jayden's palm in blood with his finger. Axel let his hand go and knelt again, this time offering the hilt of the knife out to the vampire. "The blood of my family is forever linked to yours."

Jayden made sure to keep very still as his hand was kissed in a sign of respect, and he pulled it back quickly once the gesture was done. Without a word, he observed as the wolf pulled out a knife, and listened to him speak, eyes flickering between his face and the blade. He had heard of it before, briefly mentioned in the occasional conversation his parents had about it during his childhood. The ritual knife all werewolves used during the ceremony since generations ago. Indeed, the metal had spilled the canine's blood over and over during the centuries, and there was something intimidating about that fact.

At the scent of the red liquid, Jay's stomach churned even though he wasn't hungry. He swallowed heavily, watching the boy cut his palm, the blood dripping down to the ground. No, no, werewolf blood was forbidden for a reason, don't even think about it. Glancing back up, the blue-head's gaze swept over the revealed tattoo. It was a beautiful, artistic design, yet there was a bitterness to that beauty - the fact it symbolised ownership, a lack of freedom. Jayden still said nothing, simply watching the other's actions, and when his hand was once again taken, his fingers twitched at the ticklish feeling of his palm being stroked.

Oh, no. He was being offered the knife. With blood on it. Why wasn't he notified this would happen? He'd have prepared himself better. With a deep breath, he reached out a hand and grasped the hilt, pulling it out of the wolf's grasp and bringing it closer. Momentarily his eyes were on the blood, but the wolf's following words distracted him and he looked back at the albino. Attempting to clear his mind, he nodded slowly. Before he got the chance to reply, the gathered crowd began clapping, and Jay was reminded they had an audience. His gaze swept over the gathered vampires who looked on at him with pride, and his father silenced them once again. "Both of them have passed the ceremony - it is over. Everyone, the party shall continue for an hour longer, so please enjoy yourselves." A murmur ran through the crowd and some of the top-class vampires walked over to shake Jay's hand, congratulating him.

His parents approached, and his mother took the knife from his grasp. "I'm glad you didn't give in to that," she giggled, glancing at the blood. "Now, why don't you two go off, get to know each other?" she cooed, and Jay cringed involuntarily. Get to know each other? What were they, a freshly married couple? But his mother's red eyes suggested she would take no objections, so the blue-head nodded, rising from his seat. "You need to know him well. He'll be there for the rest of your life," she hissed into his ear, and Jayden only nodded again half-heartedly, turning to face Axel. "Please follow me," he murmured politely, causing his mother to giggle once more, but he ignored her as he walked past the crowd and back towards the mansion. He didn't know where to take the wolf, so he decided a quick walk around the corridors of his house would be enough.

Axel couldn't help but notice the vampire's reaction to the blood. It was the one breach in the blue-haired bat's emotionless persona. Indeed, the knife ritual was not just a test of the Wolf's loyalty, but also of the Vampire's self control. That was the true purpose of the knife. Axel had never thought about it much before - werewolf blood was forbidden from the vampires. That was the way it had always been.
At Jayden's summons, Axel mutely followed the vampire. Axel's mother gave him a look as he passed, a look he was sure meant "stay out of trouble." His father only smiled. Submissively, in his usual way, but with a glint in his eye. Axel wondered what it meant. He did not smile back. He followed the vampire just a step behind, hastily attempting to button up his shirt on the way, but eventually giving up and leaving it only halfway buttoned. He shook out his hair, letting it fall in its usual shaggy fashion.
Axel examined the vampire as they walked. The blue hair was definitely striking. He was slightly taller than Axel. He carried himself well. He seemed stately and royal. Of course, thought Axel. He is a royal. But Axel had never been this close to one of the bats before. He had spent his life training. Training to be a bodyguard and a butler. He had worked to master the skills of both. All means of fighting and defense, and servants work as well: cleaning, waiting, cooking. He had mastered them all.
Well, except cooking. Never quite got that one down...
Axel shoved his hands in his pockets. The silence was tense. Uncomfortable. He had spent his whole life training to serve this person. Now, he didn't know what to say. They were going to be a pair forever. Forever is a long,long time.
Axel and Jayden entered the royal manor. The gothic architecture had a distincly vampiric flavor. It looked like vampire, smelled like vampire, felt like vampire. Axel's canine nose picked up the smell of blood from somewhere in the place. He cringed. To think I will be serving a bat for the rest of my days...Axel tried not to think about it. He couldn't get agitated now, or his wolf traits would show.
Stained glass windows cast shafts of glimmering light across the corridor. Axel couldn't help but notice the way it reflected off the blue-head's hair. By now the silence was unbearable. Axel took a breath, cleared his throat once, and spoke. "It looks like we're stuck together, eh?" That was probably not the best line to start out this relationship with.

Where usually silence brought comfort and reassurance, now it seemed tense and awkward. Jay couldn't help it though, his social skills were so low, and he didn't know about the wolf, but if he really had spent most of his life training, the vampire assumed they were equals in terms of socialising. He couldn't be sure though, and either way the silence brought on an atmosphere he found himself wincing at. Maybe he should try to say something. But what? What does one say in this situation? 'Hey man, how's life'? Somehow he didn't think that was a good conversation starter for this relationship.

Blessed be, the wolf spoke first. Hearing him clear his throat and noticing the slight tension in his voice, Jay instantly knew he wasn't the only one feeling uncomfortable. It was somewhat relieving, so he slowed down his tempo as they walked through the corridors, so he could walk side by side with the canine. He'd feel better if he wasn't speeding ahead as if he was taking his pet out on a walk. He planned on having a friendly relationship with the wolf if possible, so that hopefully they could at least spend time in each other's presence without that awkwardness. The blue-head wouldn't be able to focus on anything if Axel really did shadow after him wherever he went and they didn't get along.

"I guess," he spoke softly with a small nod. Quick, what else does one say? The vampire looked over towards the wolf, glancing at his chest, and he frowned slightly. "I hope your cut doesn't hurt too badly," he commented, looking away from the wolf. Was a walk really this suitable? At least it gave them something to do, but Jay still had his work. Maybe taking Axel to his room wasn't such a bad idea?

That thought brought a question to his mind. "Ah, excuse my ignorance, but where will you be staying?" he asked, silently cursing his own way of speech. The wolf would probably laugh, and Jay wouldn't blame him. Another cost of being born into royalty was being raised to speak as if he was from centuries past, though the vampire had gotten used to it by now, and so the wolf would probably have to, as well.

(sorry I took so long to respond, I've been kind of busy recently, but I will be able to post frequently again after this.)
Axel walked beside Jayden when the vampire slowed to make room for him. Axel took the opportunity, but stared at the floor awkwardly as they walked. Their footsteps echoed in the spacious interior, amplifying the situation. Axel could still smell the many different scents of the vampire abode with his canine nose, many which he did not understand. Everthing was a new expirience. And he would be here for awhile.
Axel wasn't completely sure what to think of the vampire. He seemed...nice. Axel had grown up disliking the bats, and hating his destiny. He expected to be made a slave and a pet. He had expected all the vampires to be cruel and bloodthirsty. In fact, he almost wanted them to be that way, so that his hate could be justified. But now, he wasn't sure. Here was a young man, like himself, walking next to him and feeling just as awkward.
When the vampire mentioned his cut, Axel looked down at his palm. It was still bleeding. The red liquid was beginning to seep through his fingers. Hastily he wiped it on his shirt. It only made the shirt bloody. The cut did hurt quite a bit, but Axel tried to hide it. Pain was something he had been taught to deal with. The training he had gone through often involved getting hurt. Axel bit his lip. When Jayden asked where he was staying, the wolf almost smiled at his speech. It was archaic, but had a certain suaveness to it. He didn't want to admit to himself that he kindof liked it. "I was told I would be staying in the room next to yours." he replied. He had to stay close to his master at all times. Axel had never seen the room himself, but his father told him that he would live better than he had at their family home.

[no problem, i was actually gone too.]

Jayden nodded in reply to that answer. Indeed, there had always been a door in his room that lead to another, and usually it was unoccupied, save for the few times that he had someone stay over for a night in there, back when he was a child. The so-called sleepovers weren't exactly a way of him making friends with other vampiric children, but rather a way for his parents to better the family relationships, as they liked keeping themselves on the top of the food chain. Having the youngsters interact and spend time together was said to bring good fortune to the bond between the families, so Jay used to be forced into sharing his room more than once as a kid.

Luckily those times had passed, and so the room next to his was empty. He should have known, it was rather expected, given that his parents had similar arrangements in their bedroom for their bodyguards, but a part of him still hoped he'd at least get some privacy. It seemed that he really was stuck with the canine always there, though. The blue-head decided to lead the way to his room - it was on the second floor, hidden rather deep within one of the long corridors, apparently for safety reasons, just in case the mansion was ever under attack. Opening the white doors, Jayden stepped into the vast chamber, feeling rather self-conscious. He wasn't expecting guests, and though his room was squeaky clean, he still felt a bit awkward with the wolf there. It was largely grey and blue themed, with pale walls and a king-sized bed, and countless shelves filled with books for his studies.

"Your room would be there," he murmured, waving a hand towards a dark red door in the corner of the chamber. It was too late that he realized he sounded as if he was trying to get rid of Axel, and he fought back a face-palm, turning to face the albino with some guilt in his eyes. "And-- umm," he struggled to find some words to say, though he really didn't know what sort of things to talk about with the wolf. "Um, how, how was your training?" Oh, great. That was not something to ask. What was he thinking? Questioning the canine about his lifelong service was definitely far from a good topic, and really by now Jayden just wanted to succumb away and not have to socialize ever again. Fat chance, though.

(I'm so sorry I took so long, I was busy with some stuff in the real world)
Axel took in the vampire's room. It had a stark proffessionalism to it. What amazed Axel the most was all the books. He had never seen so many. Well, he had never been much for reading, but apparently this bat was quite the scholar. Axel stepped forward into the room, turning in a circle to see everything and taking note of the side door into his room. Axel was brought back to reality by the vampire's question about his training. He stopped what he was doing. He wasn't expecting a question like that. Someone interested in his training? "I'm qualified, don't worry." the wolf's lips curled into a smile - or something like a smile. More like an amused look. It had been a long time since he had truly smiled. "My training covered all forms of martial arts." Axel remembered the grueling physical workouts, ever since he was a young pup. He had run and climbed and fought until he cried. He soon learned tears were not acceptable. Axel winced at the memory."I know every way to take down an enemy. I become rather scary if I'm awake too late at night." He said, referring to his werewolf transformation that happened at midnight. Many times he was asleep and didn't expirence the change, but too many times he was awake and transformed into his werewolf form, losing all sanity to the raging beast withing. Just to be safe, he had always been tied before going to sleep or before midnight, just in case he was awake for the change. "You wouldn't want to see me then..." he muttered. "I also studied all the things a butler should know." he added, and decided not to mention his dubious cooking skills. Axel glanced around the room. "What kind of things have you been up to here?" He realized he sounded pretty nosy, but he was curious.