Lured by the Moon

As they make their way downstairs, the door shuts behind them, although it is more like Atlas following closely behind him.

Sebastian could feel the familiar hunger that grows inside him, slowly and steadily, much like a branch that grows on a tree, its roots digging deeper and its limbs stretching further with each passing day.

He could smell the sweet, tantalizing blood as if he could taste it on the tip of his tongue; every cell in his being craved to have just a little bit of a taste of the person behind him, who was unaware of the inner dilemmas and turmoil he was secretly dealing with.

Sebastian walks into the kitchen, biting his tongue, the slight sting and the metallic taste temporarily easing the cravings, just slightly, as he attempts to distract himself from the overwhelming urge. It was eerily silent; he could only hear the slow, calm, and steady heartbeat that pumped behind him with a rhythmic consistency.

Some parts of him hesitate to open the refrigerator, where the blood bags, a constant reminder of his condition, can be seen. Although it's not human blood, but rather blood from various beasts in the wilderness, including rabbits, foxes, deer, or wolves, that were carefully collected from their natural habitats. Sebastian persistently ignores the faint whispers in the back of his mind that repeatedly warn him to take drastic measures to protect his deepest, darkest secrets.

It's an instinct for his kind to camouflage themselves among the people in the world who don't believe in folklore and fiction. He grabs the blood bag out of the refrigerator as the door clicks shut with a soft, silent sound.

His head turns around as he soon feels a stare, not a threatening stare, but more out of curiosity, a gentle and inquiring gaze that makes him wonder what has caught the other person's attention. Atlas's eyes widen not from fear, but from a deep sense of intrigue and curiosity that sparked within him. He asks, his voice laced with curiosity, as he licks his lips, "I-Is that blood?"

Sebastian arches a brow as he smiles, his expression a mixture of amusement and intrigue, "What do you think?"

He replies in a tone that is more of a statement than a question, his words dripping with confidence, as he ripped the cap off the bag. Cold, thick blood gobbles down his throat.

His face contorts into a grimace as he experiences the terrible taste. The blood didn't have a particularly appealing taste.

It tastes like one of the dead, hairy, gray rats that his father had gathered in the past. He thought to himself that he would have to obtain fresh blood soon. Then he heard Atlas ask with a hint of curiosity, "W-what does it taste like?"

Sebastian tilted his head with a smirk, "Delicious, like a rich, velvety chocolate candy."

He threw the empty blood bag into the trash can before asking, "Are you going to eat?"

Atlas nodded before an awkward smile curved on the corner of his lips, "Uhh… Yeah. I forgot to bring them in with me."

As he listened to his explanation, he wasn't annoyed in the slightest, his expression remaining calm and understanding. It makes perfect sense in this particular situation. He carefully followed him out of the car and into the house, still trying to process the alarming news he had just received from the urgent phone call. He instructs him to wait patiently since he's planning to retrieve the food from the car.

As he walked through the door, he intentionally left Atlas, his loyal dog, waiting patiently in the kitchen. He wasn't concerned in the slightest if the little brat would try to take advantage of the opportunity to make a break for freedom and run away since he has nowhere to go.

After bringing the food back into the kitchen, where Atlas was patiently waiting for him. He saw him gazing intently at the trashcan where he had just thrown away the bag, completely unaware that Sebastian was watching him with the stealth and quietness of a silent snake.

Before he could reach out his hands, he heard a teasing voice that startled him with the same suddenness that a naughty child would experience when caught red-handed. "Hey, don't even think about touching it,"

Sebastian warns him, watching as he turns around, a deep red flush spreading across his cheeks, reddening further under his intense gaze. "I–"

Sebastian raises his hands to his hips, "Were you trying to get the bag?" Atlas shakes his head desperately, "N–N–No, I wasn't," he stammers in response.

Sebastian narrows his eyes playfully, "You sure?"

Atlas nods his head repeatedly, emphasizing his response with a firm, "Yes. YES."

Atlas tries to change the topic; he quickly grabs the bag out of his hands and hastily sits down at the table, where he begins eating in a rapid and eager manner. Sebastian frowns, his brow furrowed, and says, "Slow down, it's not going anywhere, so there's no need to rush."

What should I do with him?He cannot stay with me while I go check out the party that Quinn was attending. I might stumble upon something there, but I can't do that with him, because he will only slow me down.

The sudden sound of a door creaking open is what brought him back to the present; he realized that his sister, Sarah, was finally home, judging by the familiar sound of her voice. He walks out of the kitchen, finding Sarah in someone's throat against the wall. She turns around slowly, revealing blood smeared across her chin.

Her eyes, with their striking crimson irises, flicker with a hint of intensity. A subtle yet unmistakable physical sign of her true nature lies hidden beneath her pale and delicate skin. She grins with bloody teeth, revealing a menacing smile, and says, "Hello, brother." Meanwhile, Sebastian had a spark of an idea that suddenly crossed his mind. She is capable of babysitting Atlas.

With a sweet smile that only puts her on guard, she asks with a suspicious tone, "What do you want?"

"Would you watch over someone for me?"

She tilts her head before asking, "Why? What do I get out of this?"

Sebastian reveals a secret grin, "If you do this for me, I promise you that you won't regret this. In fact, I'll give you a surprise."

She narrows her eyes even further, her gaze intensifying at this. She couldn't deny that she was extremely curious about what she would receive in return for her efforts. So she agrees reluctantly, "Is it that boy, the one I'm babysitting, you're referring to?"

Clapping his hands cheerfully, he exclaimed, "Yep, you got that correct."

Someone then asked, "Where is he?" and received the response, "In the kitchen; he's eating right now."

He responds to her questions, so he gives an appreciative thumbs-up as he tells her, "Don't let him find out that you're feeding on him. He knows what we are, but I don't want him to be frightened. Lastly, don't ever feed on him. If you do, I won't appreciate it, my sweet sister."

He smiles sweetly like a blooming poisonous flower, which only causes a slight chill to run down her spine before heading back to the kitchen casually, where he sees that Atlas is finishing the last bite of the food, savoring every morsel.

He slowly raises his head at the sound of Sebastian's footsteps steadily approaching from a distance. Sebastian reveals a gentle smile, but he isn't aware of the subtle, calculating cunningness that lurks behind his eyes. Sebastian opens his mouth and says, "You'll be staying here while I'm going somewhere else for a little while."

Atlas straightened up his chair in alarm, his eyes widening in surprise as he asked, "Uhh… Where are you going?"

"You're not going to be left alone. You will be staying with my sister for the time being until I manage to finish some personal business that requires my attention."

Atlas scoots off the chair in a hurry and stops right in front of Sebastian, "I've already finished eating, so why can't I come with you? Is it something to do with your brother?"

Sebastian narrows his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the object in front of him. He doesn't like it when anyone tries to force his decision. Regardless of the circumstances, he makes an effort to take a deep breath, determined not to lose his temper with him. He instinctively reached out his hands to grab his cheeks. Clicking his tongue, he admonishes lightly, "Don't be a brat now, and listen to what I have to say. The place I am heading to might not be a safe for you. Just wait for me, I'll be right back. Understand?"

Before releasing the soft, warm cheeks that prove he's alive, not cold like how most vampires' physiques are, which are typically characterized by an unsettling chill. Atlas glares at him, his eyes flashing with anger, as he grits his teeth, extremely annoyed and offended for being treated like a troublemaker. "I'm not a brat!""