Malachi's room was his sanctuary, a safe haven from the world's prying eyes. Soft sunlight filtered through the slightly opened curtains, casting a warm radiance on the plush carpet. The scent of old books and leather wafted from the shelves, familiar and comforting.
He spent the day lost in thought, Chase's words echoing in his mind like a mantra. Becoming human for Sabrina's sake was a daunting prospect, but he couldn't shake the desire. He won't let the risks deter him. He won't change his mind.
After all he didn't come this far just to change his mind. Risks or no risks, he will do it.
His solitude was short-lived when Tristan burst into his house, unannounced, as was his custom. Malachi didn't even pick any offense at his friend's careless attitude. He was already used to it after all.
Occasionally, Tristan would always burst into his house like the house was his and even though Malachi enjoyed his peace, he had to teach himself to get used to his friend's attitude.
Tristan's boisterous voice filled the room.
"Hey, man! What's up?" He boomed, dropping onto the bed beside Malachi.
"Do you even know what it means to knock on the door before entering into one's house? You can't just show up uninvited like the house is yours. You need to grow up," Malachi said in a calm tone, but Tristan just rolled his eyes.
"Get used to it, man. I'm not gonna knock when entering your house, because it is also mine. So get used to it," Tristan hissed as he walked out of the bed and towards the fridge, where he poured himself a glass of blood. When he was done, he made his way towards the bed.
"So what's up? What ya doing?"
Malachi raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting from the book in his lap. "Just enjoying the quiet before you interrupted it."
Tristan chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Quiet? You? Never."
"Why aren't you at work today?" Tristan asked.
"I'll ask the same for you." Malachi answered and Tristan just rolled his eyes at him.
"Well, I didn't feel like going," Answered Tristan as he took a sip from the glass of blood in his hand.
"I see," Malachi mouthed.
"Anyways, how's your lover?" When Sabrina's name surfaced, Malachi's eyes sparkled like polished onyx. At once, one could tell that he loves the girl.
"Ah-ha!" Tristan exclaimed, his voice dripping with excitement as he saw the look in his friend's eyes. He concluded within himself that Malachi was so in love with his human lover.
"I'll tell you what, man, You're smitten," Tristan added as he took another sip from the cup in his hands.
Malachi's gaze dropped, his lashes shielding his eyes. But Tristan's grin widened, his teeth gleaming in the soft light.
"I knew it. She's got you wrapped around her fingers. Who knows if she's got you wrapped around her fingers? I wouldn't even be surprised if I found out that she did use black magic on you" Tristan teased, his voice laced with amusement.
Malachi's lips curled into a faint smile, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Who wouldn't love a soul like Sabrina?"
Tristan's expression turned serious, his brow furrowing. "Anyways, that's not why I'm here. Chase sent me a message. He told me about your plans to become human."
Malachi's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. 'That annoying talkative' He cursed angrily under his breath as he stared at the book on his lap.
"You didn't say anything?" Tristan's brows rose in question and Malachi just glared at him.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I thought you'd given up on that idea. I thought you have changed your mind about it," Tristan sighed, his voice tinged with concern.
"But I see you're still hell-bent on it." He added.
Malachi's silence confirmed Tristan's suspicions.
"Listen, Malachi, becoming human is suicidal. It is dangerous. You could die during the process, don't you understand? Aren't you scared that you will die?" Tristan urged, his voice low and urgent.
"I don't care, Tristan. That's what I want to do, no matter the risks involved. Only cowards think about the risks involved in whatever they plan to do"
"Why not turn Sabrina into a vampire instead?" Tristan suggested this because he didn't want his friend to die in his plan of becoming a human. It was way easier for a human to become a vampire, than for a vampire to become a human.
Most humans die when becoming vampires, but it was only one percent of them. But with vampires, it is different. The risks and the percentage involved in the deaths are about seventy or eighty percent.
"She wouldn't survive the transformation." Malachi's response sent a chill down Tristan's spine.
Tristan's eyes widened, his pupils dilating.
"What about you? Will you survive? Will you survive becoming a human? In case you haven't thought about it, I want you to know the risks. You will have to abstain from blood for a hundred days. You will be made to sleep in a coffin for another hundred days….."
"Don't spell it out for me, Tristan. I've thoroughly thought about it and that's what I want to do," Malachi was determined in what he wanted to do.
Tristan sighed. "Please turn that mortal into a vampire. I'm very sure that she won't die"
"You know that's not true. Human to vampire is different from vampire to human. If King Vladimir gets to know about your plans, you are a goner. He wouldn't punish you. You know what that means, huh? A death sentence."
Malachi's resolve remains unshaken, his expression resolute. "Don't give me that shit about that monster, Vladimir. I don't care what he thinks. After all, he is the reason why I'm in this situation. If he hadn't taken my life away from me, I wouldn't be in this mess. I wouldn't be here worrying my ass out about stuffs like this,"
Tristan's persistence only strengthened Malachi's determination. "Please Malachi. Reconsider your decision. It is dangerous. I don't want you to die,"
"It's better to die trying than not trying at all. So please don't be worried about me. Besides, I won't die,"
"I won't lie to you, Malachi, I am worried. Do you know what you are trying to do? Your decision is dangerous. You could die in the process. Heck, you will die in the process. Do you know what it means to stay away from blood for a hundred days? The possibility of you surviving that blood thirst is slim. I'm sure that's the one way for you to die faster. Please, my friend, I don't want you to do this," Tristan pleaded.
When he got the message from the messenger bird last night, he couldn't believe his eyes. He had thought that his best friend had changed his mind about becoming human the last time he talked to him. Who would have thought that he still had the plans and that his mind was already made up?
The last thing Tristan wanted now was to cry over his friend's death. Malachi is the only friend he has. They have been together even since they were humans. He knows how lonely his life was when he realized that he wouldn't get to meet his friend all the time because he was now a vampire.
And that was why he took the bold step to tell Malachi to turn him into a vampire. It was easy for Malachi to turn him into a vampire because he (Malachi) was bitten by a royal Vampire.
That was how strong their bond was. He didn't want to live in a world where Malachi doesn't exist. Now he can't think about living without Malachi, especially now that he is about to embark on a dangerous mission that's as scary as abstaining from water for a long time.
"A vampire needs blood the same way a mortal needs water. It is essential to their existence. Don't you understand? Can a mortal stay away from water for two weeks? Three weeks? One month? Can they?"
"I'm not a mortal. I'm a vampire. An immortal, all thanks to Vladimir,"
Tristan exhaled angrily. He could feel the anger brewing within him like a pot on a stove.
"How long can you stay without blood? Can you even stay two weeks without blood?" Tristan asked, but Malachi didn't answer. His mind was made up already and nothing is gonna make him change his mind. No matter what.
Not even King Vladimir.
"Just know that this isn't over, Malachi. I won't let you walk into your own destruction. I'd rather die than have you do this,"