<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">"Trust me," Asa said, grabbing hold of Carter's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, "It's better this way." With those final words he retreated to the bedroom, where he pulled on a pair of pants he wouldn't mind being ruined when he went back down to the dungeon. He was sitting on the edge of the bed when Carter finally left the bathroom and stormed past. Asa considered stopping him, pulling him back, to try and make him understand. But it was near impossible when he couldn't give Carter the whole truths as to why their feelings for one another didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.<br/>
<br/>
Instead he left the boy to sulk alone, deciding that giving him space would probably be best in the long run. He'd be back to his usual self come tomorrow. The harsh slam of Carter's bedroom door reverberated through the thick walls and Asa winced against the sound. Lying back on the bed, eyes closed and hands folded on his bare abdomen, he could almost hear Darius, the man's voice crystal clear even after all these years, chiding him for his impulsive, selfish tendencies. "I never claimed to be perfect," he said out into the empty room. <br/>
<br/>
Blowing out a harsh breath and running a hand over his face, he pushed himself up and off the bed. He had a body to dispose of. Padding silently down the halls, he passed Max, stopping the man long enough to let him know, "Carter is in a state, tell Nancy to leave him be until dinner, and to make sure that he eats." <br/>
<br/>
Stopping off in the living room to snatch up his phone and a quick text later, he was making his way back down into the cold, dim underground. The smell of blood, sick, and death already permeating the air before he'd even pushed through the heavy door. <br/>
<br/>
The body had long since lost all of it's color and rigor mortis was beginning to set in. The overhead chains rattled as Asa reached up to undo the shackled wrists, letting the body hit the floor with a meaty thump. Along the back wall--easily missed if one wasn't actively looking--sat yet another door blending into stone wall that Asa now pushed open, returning moments later with a gurney. Hefting up the dead weight, he wheeled the cadaver into the back room. This room set up more like an abattoir. The body was wheeled farther back where a meat cutter machine, heavy duty bags and a large deep freezer waited. <br/>
<br/>
There was a system for these types of situations. Vampires weren't the only supernatural creatures hiding in plain sight. Not the only ones whose prey of choice were humans. <br/>
<br/>
A few hours later, Asa was up to his wrists in blood, the body methodically chopped into easily movable pieces and sorted into heavy duty plastic bags before being stored away in the freezer. He no doubt would need another shower. Body packed for transport, he returned to the main room which was in need of a deep clean. <br/>
<br/>
By the time he heard the approaching footsteps, the room was sparkling. The scalpel now clear of blood and glinting in the low light with the rest of the tools, the tiled floor wet with nothing but water, and only a predatory nose might pick up the hints of blood and death that hid beneath the severe smell of bleach heavy in the air. But that too would fade.<br/>
<br/>
Replacing the shackles to the hook in the center of the ceiling, Asa glanced to the door, his motions freezing as he took in the male who'd had the cheek to invade his home with his vile presence. His day just kept getting better. <br/>
<br/>
"Well, don't look so surprised to see me," came the teasing smoky tenor of the male now leaning against the door frame. His shock of red hair pulled back in a long braid and the scar running the length from eyebrow to cheek left the male with a dead milky eye now covered by a black eye patch, the single uncovered eye a serpent green. The cruel curve of thin lips had Asa clenching his hand into a fist to keep from snatching up the scalpel and taking the man's other eye.<br/>
<br/>
It took effort but Asa managed to unclench his jaw just enough to bite out, "Theron," his tone kept carefully civil.<br/>
<br/>
The male scrunched up his face in a grimace, "I go by Niles now."<br/>
<br/>
Asa lifted a brow but gave no comment. He'd long since come to ignore the other's eccentricities. Not to mention it wasn't uncommon to change one's name every few decades. <br/>
<br/>
"I know you were expecting that pretty little thing...what's her face? Esme, Emilia, Emilin?" The redheaded male shrugged and stepped fully into the room, heavy boots splashing across the wet ground as he stepped into Asa's space, forcing him to either step back or be forced to tilt his head to look him in the eye. Standing at a solid 6 feet 7 inches, Theron--<i>Niles</i>--had always tried to use his considerable height to intimidate others into submission. <br/>
<br/>
Noticing the action for what it was, Asa tilted his head, mismatched gaze boring into the taller male. "How long has it been, Niles?"<br/>
<br/>
"Too long. It hurt when you didn't call. Or write back." Niles' lowered voice carried a hint of what one might mistake for genuine hurt if not for the treacherous glint in his green gaze, "Was I really so forgettable?" The male's gaze darkened, "...Or did that little broken thing you've taken pity on claim  your full and undivided attention?"  <br/>
<br/>
"Where is Emilia?"<br/>
<br/>
Niles waved a hand, as if shooing away the question, "Couldn't make it, I've already said." <br/>
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Asa nodded slowly. "In that case, I'll leave you to it." Stepping around the other male, he headed for the exit. He paused briefly in the entryway, hand coming to rest against the door frame as he glanced to the other, "You're aware of what you're supposed to be doing, yes?"<br/>
<br/>
He didn't wait for the other male to respond, clearly dismissing him as he stepped out and disappeared down the winding passages. His body felt cold and not just from the surrounding temperature. Fucking Theron! How many years had it been since he'd last seen the man? They hadn't parted on the most amicable of terms. Asa had taken his eye after all. <br/>
<br/>
Back up in the safety of his room, Asa ran bloodied hands through his hair, fingers clenching painfully in the dark locks. After everything that had happened recently the last thing he needed was Niles and the trouble the man brought with him. What he needed was to keep his head. Relaxing his grip on a slow exhale, he crossed over to the main door of the bedroom and called for Nancy.<br/>
<br/>
When the woman arrived, she'd find Asa in the shower for the second time that day. "I have a guest tonight, Carter is to take his dinner in his room." His hard gaze fixed on the woman, "No exceptions, am I clear?" Knowing Carter, his demand was somewhat unfair on the woman, but there was no room or time for alternatives. </span>