Sebastian placed his hand on his forehead and winced. His teeth grew slightly but he couldn't fathom the reason for it. He sighed and reached for the bottle on the shelf. Human blood should do the trick, it always did, but for some reason when he opened it the smell repulsed him. Why? He swirled the bottle around and sniffed it. His entire body cringed.

The door opened and Vincent stood there, smiling a bit. "Sebastian."

"Vincent," Sebastian spat back.

"Are you not going to drink?" he gestured to the bottle.

"I've suddenly lost my appetite," Sebastian closed the bottle and placed it back onto the shelf. He crossed his arms and stared at Vincent, waiting for the reason for this visit.

"I see," Vincent placed his hand on his chin and closed his eyes for a minute or two. He wondered if Sebastian's bloodlust really was delayed because of the time. Maybe it wasn't going to work after all. Should he sneak some of his blood into Sebastian's blood bottles and wait? No, that would take too long. He had to get rid of the pest as soon as he could. Well, maybe not. He had the rest of eternity, probably.

"Are you going to tell me what you're doing here?" Sebastian frowned.

"Am I not allowed to pay my mate's most trusted advisor a visit from time to time?" Vincent smiled warmly, although his heart wasn't in it.

Sebastian lurched forward and grabbed Vincent's neck. He threw him into the wall and sneered in his face. "I don't like you. I never will like you. I don't know why you think you can walk into here without me wanting to rip your throat out. Don't get in my way. I don't care if you are his mate." He pressed his nails into Vincent's neck but ultimately decided against leaving wounds.

"Sebastian," Vincent grabbed Sebastian's hand and pulled it away from his neck. His eyes filled with rage as he clenched the hand tightly, threatening to break bones. "Let me tell you this one piece of advice," he hissed as Sebastian cried out in pain, falling to his knees. "Do. Not. Underestimate. Me." Vincent stared into those red eyes with disdain. He released his grip on Sebastian's hand and then readjusted his shirt collar. He wiped the dirt that may or may not have been on his vest and then plastered a smile on his face.

"I haven't been around for the past fifty years but that also means what you did to me is fresh in my mind," Vincent folded his hands and leaned down close to Sebastian's face. His smile faded. "I will be watching you closely, every moment, waiting for your true colors to show before a crowd, and then when they do," Vincent grabbed Sebastian's chin and forced his face up, to stare at his eyes, "I will personally send you on a one way trip to hell where you belong."

Sebastian scoffed, "What makes you think you won't be there to join me?"

"You best wish that I'm not there to join you," Vincent released Sebastian's chin but only after he threw him into the ground. "Because if I am there it will only be to torture you further."

The door opened and Adrian stood. He stared at Vincent and then at Sebastian (who had stood up at just the right time). He could smell the lingering scent of fear in the room but was unsure about who was emitting it. "Sebastian."

"Yes, Milord?"

"I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, Milord."

Vincent, extremely curious about the task, forced himself to leave the room. He couldn't stand the sight of the fifty-year relationship those two had built up. Vincent gritted his teeth and walked down the hallway.

"My, my, you don't look very pleased," Blavat poked his head out of a doorway and waved.

"Blavat?" Vincent blinked and stopped in his tracks.

"The one and the same," he grinned. "Would you like to talk about your troubles?"

"Uhm, well-"

"Oh, that's too bad," Blavat grabbed Vincent's wrist and dragged him into the room. "You don't really have a choice in the matter," he snickered. Numerous monsters crowded around Vincent and sat, staring up at him, waiting to be treated with love. "I'm sure these guys will be able to make you feel better," Blavat beamed, quite certain of himself. Vincent stared at the swarm of creatures and try as he might, he couldn't be disgusted with them. The feeling was even weirder now that he was a vampire of sorts. HIs like for them was somewhat stronger.

Vincent knelt down and started patting heads. Each one wagged its tail and begged for more after he switched to another. "Well?" Blavat smiled eagerly, awaiting Vincent's thoughts on his coping mechanism scheme.

"I do admit I feel a bit better."

"Wonderful."

"What made you think that I wasn't pleased?" Vincent asked out of curiosity.

"I have a way with these sorts of things," Blavat answered without really answering. "It's easier to tell with you since you used to be human."

"That's very odd."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think anyone has ever told me that I'm easy to read." Vincent was slightly offended by the notion.

"Well, you are, just a bit," Blavat smiled.