Children of the Night

Chapter Twenty-Three: How to Save a Life

Nikolay leaves the girls and takes Aleksi down the street and into an alley. No one is near and the only thing distracting is the men and women outside of the club.

"Are you an idiot?" Nikolay snaps, his fangs baring at Aleksi. "You could've exposed us!" He shouts before slamming him against the wall.

"I'm sorry," He mumbles with his head hung low.

"No, you aren't. You aren't ready and if you aren't ready, I'm going to keep you locked up until you are." Nikolay threatens, his voice hard and dark.

    "I am," Aleksi promises, glaring into his large blue eyes. "I want her, Nikolay. I want Evangelia and I cannot have her."

    "I know Aleksi."

    "No, you don't because you don't have a heart. You never loved a woman when you were human. I loved her and the pain I'm holding heightens it." Aleksi kicks the closest dumpster and it dents the metal. "I wish I wasn't up there. I wish I didn't fall, Nikolay."

    Nikolay grieves for Aleksi when his head falls into his shoulder. Nikolay runs his hand along his back while Aleksi mutters how much he hates himself.

    "I didn't want to grant you this life, brother. But take is as a second chance."

    "I don't want a second chance. I want Eva."

    Nikolay sighs and watches as Aleksi pulls away from him and leans back on the building. He stares up at the dark sky and listens to the music playing from the balcony upstairs.

    "Aleksi, you can do anything with her. You have the power to do so."

    "No," He waves his hand in the air. "No, I don't want to control her."

    Nikolay smiles, "You don't need to. Don't you smell her around you? Do you see how her blood warms her cheeks and her skin glows with fire? She wants you."

    Aleksi's runs his tongue over his fangs and reminds himself the rhythm of her heartbeat. He grabs his pants and adjusts himself. The man's blood has already thinned and he is going famished by the minute.

    Nikolay studies him as he fidgets in circles and kicks gravel to the side. Aleksi was a good learner in the beginning. But since Eva has returned to the country, he is struggling. It is burning to the point that hunger and lust is swirling into one.

    He hasn't felt like Aleksi has felt in decades. Soon enough, it slowly vanishes and they are nothing but bloodlust, sex crazed creatures. Aleksi has it all and the heart to love the woman he always cared for.

    "Can we go?" Aleksi asks him and before Nikolay can reply, a small body casts a shadow.

    "Niko?" The woman from the club calls. Aleksi groans when she comes closer and approaches Nikolay in a drunken manner. "You were going to leave and not say goodbye?" She presses her front against him, her stomach touching his hard crouch.

    "You found me at the right time." His smile curls like a cruel cat and he wraps his large hand through his hair. "Lliya, I want you to listen closely. Enjoy right now like you'd enjoy any other type of pleasure."

    She blinks once with no words spilling her parted lips. Nikolay brings her closer and gives Aleksi a hard look. Aleksi watches as his mouth thickens with saliva. He pulls her hair to the side and grips her shoulder still. She gasps at the tight hold or maybe the cold.

    Nikolay leans down to the nape of her neck and places a gentle kiss along her shoulder. Aleksi snarls when he still watches him.

    "Is this want you want to do to her?" He whispers along her neck so quiet, it's an echo in Aleksi's mind. "What if I teach you?" He adds before gently sinking his fangs into her neck.