33 -- To have or give up.

Lily was going weary. She watched as Baba Kazoh and Hakym went toe to toe, arguing about what should be done to the vampire. She was so tired and she'd do anything for a good night's rest.
She watched Ralph walk up to the elders, whispering something to them. They all turned to look at her and nodded to whatever Ralph had said, going back to their seats.
"It's late. We'd continue this discussion tomorrow. But it doesn't change the fact that he would have to die." Baba Kazoh said and sat down, turning to an elder beside him to say something.
Lily sighed and smiled at Ralph, thanking him for stopping the drawn out meeting. She had been here for up to two hours and they have been arguing about the same thing since. How to do away with the vampire.
"He was always going to, Baba." She rubbed at her temples, wincing when she could feel how heavy and sore she was. "But I'd get the information needed from him before he does. And that doesn't change."
She stood and inclined her head at the high priestess. The high priestess smiled and waved her on, watching as Lily lumbered from the cave.
She had just reached the entrance when she felt a hand take her elbow. She looked over, smiling when she saw that it was Ralph. It was nice to know that even though they had different views on this issue, he still remained her friend. She strolled beside him in silence, simple basking in the noise around the village.
Ralph walked alongside Commander Lily, watching as she toyed with the bottom of her mask. He wondered why she continued to put on a shield over her face, especially as her features were not as grotesque as she thought. She was beautiful. Not that he was into her, but it was an obvious fact.
He watched as she staggered and he steadied her with an arm around her shoulder. She looked worn out and he could imagine the sleep she was about to have once she arrived at her cave.
He was lost in his thoughts, his arm around Commander Lily, when he felt her steer to another path. He looked, shocked, as she moved towards the cave that housed their prisoner. Why she wanted to check up on him before she went to bed, was a mystery to him.
He started to walk after her when she stopped him with a palm on his chest. "Go, Ralph. I just want to make sure that he's still there."
He glanced down at her hand on his chest and back up at her. "And if he isn't. If he has somehow escaped, how would you hold him down."
Her hand fell from his chest and he mourned the loss. It had been months since he'd last sought the company and warmth of someone.
"Then I'd capture him again. Like I did previously, single handedly." She smiled up at him and not waiting for a response from him, walked away. Ralph was left staring at her retreating form.
Lily hurried away from Ralph. She could still feel his eyes boring holes into her skull, like he wanted to know what she was thinking. She would love to know what he discovers because even she didn't know.
As she neared the cave, she heard laughter coming from within. Childish laughter. She ran into the cave, worried that something was happening. She came to halt when she took in the scene in front of her.
Thinking back, it was foolish to have thought that anything was amiss, as she had heard the sharp pearls of laughter that came from the cave.
The vampire was sitting up against the wall, as a tiny Peelah tried to get behind him to braid his hair. The vampire swiped his hand through the air, grabbing him and Lily's heart froze, only calming down when he pulled Peelah to him and ruffled his hair, pushing the boy back to his elder brother, Vakeen, who sat a few paces away from the vampire, his lithe frame shaking from the force of his laughter.
It looked like the second hit she had given the vampire didn't knock him out for as long as the first one.
"Let me go." Peelah laughed, struggling from his brother's hold on him and rushing back to the Vampire's personal space. Lily sighed, she had to educate him on the importance of self preservation.
She watched on as the vampire smiled at him, gently shooing him away, pushing on his behind till Peelah got the message and plopped on the floor beside his brother. Vakeen pulled Peelah closer to him, hugging him to his sides. Lily almost teared up, remembering their mom, Terah, who worked as a physician to the soldiers. She had caught the same infection that assuaged some of her soldiers a few years ago and while her men had gotten better, the single mother never recovered.
"Go and get the fierce lady here." Lily straightened when she heard the drawl from the vampire. She felt stupid for liking the way his voice sounded. Like honey. She frowned, more like his throat had been smoothened by the amount of blood he drank daily.
She suddenly remembered that she had to get the boys away from him and she sprang into action, making noises with her feet and she walked deeper into the cave. Vakeen hurriedly stood up, pulling Peelah up with him.
When Lily walked into their midst, Vakeen and Peelah huddled away from her, closer to the vampire and Lily frowned. They were seeking protection from this vile creature against her. She could almost hear her heart breaking.
Still keeping her gaze from the vampire, she knelt in front of Vakeen and pulled him to her, Peelah following as he was tightly gripping onto Vakeen's hand.
"I warned you guys from straying here. What did I say?" When they failed to reply after a while, she sighed, wrapping her arms around them both and replying lowly, so that the Vampire won't be angered by her next words.
"He's a vile creature and he'll drain you of your blood." She heard a laugh come from the left of her and flushed, knowing that he had heard her.
"He said that he's in control and that he doesn't drink blood anyhow. And besides, his chains are locked tight that they're digging into his skin. He showed us." Peelah pointed at the vampire but Lily didn't turn to look at him.
She tilted Peelah's face to hers. "You know that people lie, Pee. And I told you not to walk in here. It's wrong to disobey orders given."
Vakeen bent his head, looking extremely sorry, but Peelah still looked unsure. She sighed, standing and taking hold of the boy's hands. "It's alright now, but don't do things that'll make me worry."
"We're sorry, Commander."
Vakeen had always been the calmest between the two and it was prominent now with the way he closed in on himself, feeling extra guilty.
She hugged the boys to her side, bussing them on their cheeks and sending them to Elder Ruthe, the old lady that took care of them.
She stood there a while, watching as the boys rushed out of the cave. She could feel the vampire staring at her and squaring her shoulder, she turned, finally meeting his gaze.
He was sprawled on the floor, looking more like he was sitting on the comfiest of bed and giving orders for sweet meat to be brought to him. It infuriated her the more especially as she remembered just how close Peelah and Vakeen were sitting to him.
She decided then that she was going to get rid of him quickly, before her boys became too attached to him and were hurt by his imminent death.
"You are spreading rumors about my diet." His voice sounded weird to her and she shuffled further into the cave, coming toe to toe with him, so he'd see that she wasn't intimidated by him.
"You're telling your people that I'm a hungry and blood sucking vampire, who wants to suck their blood to their marrow."
"Aren't you? So you're telling me that you're not tempted to pull me to you right at this moment and drink from me." She watched as his eyes flickered to her neck and away. He couldn't help himself because he looked back there again.
His brows furrowed in thought and he glared up at her. "Vampire etiquette one oh one, get your blood sucking urges under control. I learnt that when I was five, so rest assured, your people are safe from me."
Lily decided then that they have been skirting over the real reason that she was here. She sat down in front of him, waiting for his angered and confused gaze to leave her neck and come up to her eyes.
"Why don't we talk about what you were doing on our territory. I believe you weren't thought the most basics of all etiquettes; it's rude to spy."
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Nicholas couldn't help but look flabbergasted. This she person sitting in front of him thought that he was a spy. She gave a sharp laughing, causing her to jerk. He had never heard a more ridiculous thing in his entire life.
He spoke before she could get anymore words in. "My name is Prince Nicholas, heir to the Vampire's throne. My Father is King Eric and you can run that through with the minion you sent to shackle me tightly." He pulled again on his bonds.
The Commander just looked at him, bored. "Even a Prince can get in as a spy. That doesn't change or give credence to your supposed innocence."
Nicholas sighed. He was tired of all these. More so, he was wary in her presence. He didn't forget how she had handled him, from the fight and after. And her current calm mood, even after she had seen those two boys with him, didn't look good. It felt like something was simmering beneath her mask.
"I demand that you release me now. I came here on state matters."
She laughed at that, moving towards him till he was forced to retreat a bit. "There was no message sent to notify us of your arrival. You didn't come with a convoy. You don't have any personal guard with you and you definitely do not dress like one."
His skin heated as he felt her eyes run over his body. She shook her head after her short perusal, dismissing the thought that he was a prince.
"Well, I am. Reach out to my people. But believe me when I say that they'd rain hell on your people when they find out that I'm being held captive here."
She stood and he couldn't help but appreciate her form, even though he would really love to see what lay behind her mask.
"Okay. I'd release you. Tomorrow, seeing as it's late now."
Nicholas looked at her uncertainly. No one in their right minds would simply release those they captured after being found lurking around their perimeter.
She huffed, resting her hands on her hips. "It's a promise. If anything, I'd really love for you to get away from my people now. It's obvious that you don't know anything about us."
"Hey!" Was she indirectly saying that he was too much of a weakling to do a very heinous crime. He looked at her as she smirked against her ugly mask, turning away from him and walking out.
"Can you get someone to release these chains. Just a little bit, I'm not asking for total freedom."
The Commander smiled over her shoulder at him, not giving him an answer before she walked out.
Fuck. Nicholas thought. Thankfully, he had been able to talk her into releasing him but the chains weren't going to do anything to ease his mind.
He frowned, settling back against the wall and gritting his teeth as the metal links bit into his chest.
Fuck!