Kiss The Morning Sky Goodbye

[b]Gerard's POV[/b]

[b]~One Week Later~[/b]

A quarter till six. That's what the small clock on my table read as I opened my tired eyes. Even though I've been here for a week, I still haven't gotten used to the different sleep cycle. I have a feeling that I never really will. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stood up, almost every bone in my body cracking from the uncomfortable sleeping conditions...which I'll never get used to.. I took my 'uniform' off of the hanger and quickly put it on. My uniform consists of black pants, a long-sleeved button up, and a blood red tie.

Like clockwork..a piece of folded up paper was slid underneath my door, precisely at ten minutes till. Yet another sigh escaped my lips as I bent over to pick it up. I unfolded it and read the instructions that I've read..and done many times; 1. Make yourself look presentable, using the uniform provided, 2. After..and [i]ONLY[/i] after the sun sets, pull back the curtains. 3. Go down to the kitchen and retrieve our morning blood, the boy preferring Apositive, Mrs. Iero wanting B negative, and Mr. Iero preferring the same as his son. 3. Begin cleaning....And the list..had another chore for me to do..one I've never seen before. 4. Feed the humans in the basement, bringing one up to the boy to dispose of....Oh boy..

So..I'm going to have to bring an innocent human to their death? I shook my head and opened the door to my small room and had to strain my eyes a little bit to see as I stepped into the small foyer. Next to me, was a small gas lantern that had a lighter laying next to it. I quickly lit the lantern and waited for the chimes. Now that I've been here for a while..I've learned what the chimes actually mean. It means the sun has set..and it's safe for the vampires to venture out..and the humans to run back home and hide.

A few minutes later, the loud chimes rang out throughout the house. I quickly walked to the curtains and opened them, revealing that the sun was below the horizon. I hastily walked throughout the house, repeating the process until all the main windows were open, the soft glow of the sunset lighting up the house enough for me to see without the lantern. I quickly blew the lantern out and set it back down onto the table, right where it belonged.

A small scream escaped my lips as I turned around and ran straight into Gabriel. I backed away with my head down and closed my eyes, bracing myself for the punishment to come. “You need to watch where you're fucking going, human!” I was about to mumble my apology, but he stopped me by raising his hand. “I don't really want to hear your excuses. After you have finished your chores for the family, you will meet me outside at the front gate. There's something we need to discuss.

And just like that..he was gone. A shaky breath escaped my lips as a shudder ripped its way up my spine. I hated when they 'disappeared' like that. Just another reminder of how powerful they are, and how weak I am. As if I needed a reminder.

With yet another shaky breath I began walking down the hallway until I found the spiral staircase that lead down into the main foyer. I quickly walked behind the staircase and pushed open the swinging door that lead into the kitchen. Laying on the counter, was an ornate silver tray that had the Iero family crest etched onto it.

I ran my fingers over the slightly raised metal before I reached over and opened the small cooler and grabbed the three required bags of blood. At first. I wondered why there was so little bags in here, and why there wasn't a bigger cooler anyways, but Gabriel gave me the answer: The family comes first before everyone else. Us other vampires fend for ourselves and catch our own dinner.

My hand shook furiously as I opened the cabinet and retrieved three drinking glasses and set them onto the silver trey. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I felt my stomach turn uneasily. The next part always bothered me. The smell of blood repulses me.

As I opened the first bag, my stomach lurched as the metallic smell filled my nose. I quickly discarded the spent bag and took a few deep breaths, shaking my head to try and rid myself of the sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that would more than likely never pass.

After a few minutes of deep breathing, my stomach finally settled down. A rather loud groan escaped my lips as I saw the other two bags setting on the counter. I ran a hand through my greasy hair as I picked up one of the two bags. I took one more deep breath, holding it in as I quickly opened the bag and spilled its contents into the glass, doing the same to the last bag, discarding them both after they were empty.

“Fuck!” I groaned as my stomach began to turn again. I quickly ignored it and walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs, seeing as I was already late. Once I reached Linda and Frank's door I knocked twice, as requested, and bowed my head.

“Ah..Gerard. There you are. We were wondering what took you so long.” Linda said as she grabbed her glass along with Frank's. I've never had to tell them who's is who's. They can smell small differences like that. “Try not to take so long next time.” I quickly nodded, not saying a word, knowing it was best. “Now leave and get to work.” She said before slamming the door in my face, causing me to flinch and almost drop the tray. That..would have not been good.

All of a sudden, music began blaring through an open door down the hallway. I gulped and walked towards the door, a little slower than normal. Ever since Franklin..or Frank, rather..has beaten me. I've been afraid of him. I mean, who wouldn't be? Don't get me wrong, I'm afraid of all vampires. It's just that he...his eyes are so full of hate, so full of rage all the time. Such rage would scare the shit out of anyone or anything that crossed his path.

Once I reached the door, with my head down, I knocked two times. No response. I looked up and took a quick peek inside, seeing no one. I took a tentative step forward, getting a better look. Still, no sign of him. “I don't recall inviting you in here.” I jumped at the sound of Frank's voice right be hind me. I quickly spun around and held the tray out to him, which he scoffed at. “How stupid can you possibly be?” He asked as he took the glass from the tray and quickly brought it up to his lips, draining the whole glass quickly before throwing it to the ground, smashing it into tiny pieces.

I watched as a few drops of blood fell down his chin and his bare chest to the white towel that was loosely wrapped around his waist. I gulped and quickly looked back up at him as I began to back away slowly. A loud growl escape his lips as he knocked the tray out of my hands and grabbed me by my throat, his now pitch black eyes boring into mine.

My hands clawed at his, trying to pry them away. He just laughed and shook his head. “Pathetic..” He then raised his other and and brought it down against my cheek harshly. I would have screamed, but his tight grip was blocking my airway. “Now you listen, and you listen good, dumb fuck! If I ever catch your repulsive ass in my room again...I will kill you. All it would take is one...little twitch of my wrist

and boom..your pathetic life would be over.”

He then threw me to the ground harshly, my head banging against the cold hardwood floor as a loud growl erupted from his lips. I instantly began coughing as I rubbed my throat with my hand. “Get out..and don't make me fucking ask you twice.” He ordered as he pointed to the still open door. “And hurry the fuck up with my meal.” He said as I shut the door behind me, rather quickly.

I wasted no time in running down the hallway, as far away from [i]his[/i] room as possible. My chest rose and fell quickly as an overwhelming amount of fear consumed my body. When I reached the kitchen, I lost it. I barely had enough time to put the trey on the table before I fell to my knees. My hands shook furiously as they brushed against the newly forming bruise that littered my cheek. A soft sob escaped my lips as I ran a hand through my slightly greasy hair, tears falling down my cheeks freely.

“Get it together, Gerard. If they see that you're falling apart, they'll get rid of you like all the others..” I said to myself as I wiped my tears with the back of my sleeve. I then grabbed onto the counter's edge and pulled myself up. Another heavy sigh escaped my lips as I turned around and faced the basement door.

Inside, wasn't any garden tools, spare equipment, or some other things that you would find in a normal basement. Oh no. Inside the Iero's basement, was nothing but cages full of humans, some that are an inch from death, whether from their own intention, or as a punishment...I'll never know, and I have no intentions of finding out, either.

With yet another shaky breath I reached my arm out and turned the doorknob that squeaked slightly as I did so. The stairs were only barely illuminated enough for me to see. My eyes widened, as I slowly descended the stairs, my hand dragging along the concrete wall, as if by some chance I could latch onto it if I fell......fat chance.

As I reached the bottom, the stench of rot and feces hit me like a ton of bricks and caused me to stumble backwards a bit as I covered my face with my arm. The humans in the cages all looked up at me, some with hope, and some with pure fear as they backed into their cages. Soft whimpers could be heard from the small room as I walked further into it.

This is only my second time being in here, the first being when Gabriel showed me what was to become of me if I was seen as useless. But no matter how many times I'm to come down here, I'll never get used to it. Never. “A-are you here to save us?” A soft voice asked me as I passed the first cage.

I turned to the boy and frowned as I shook my head. “N-not exactly.” I answered truthfully as I reached into my back pocket, pulling out a set of keys and unlocking his cage. He shook his head furiously as he tried to back away from me. Before he could get too far into the cage, I grabbed him by the arm. “I'm sorry..but..I have to..” I said as I pulled him from the cage and up the basement steps.

In his weakened condition, he was unable to protest much. A few tugs here and a few pulls there, but all to no avail. My grip never loosened in the slightest as I drug him up the spiral staircase. “N-no..p-please don't take me up to him! P-people who go up there, never come back. Please just let me go!” He begged as we reached the top of the stairs.

I once again ignored his request and continued walking in the direction of [i]his[/i] room, loud music still blaring from the slightly cracked door. Once in front of it, I knocked slightly before opening the door, not daring to take a step further. “Hmmm...quicker than I thought.” He said as he looked the small crying boy up and down, licking his lips. “Come in.” He said as he moved aside. I quickly did as I was told, dragging the boy, who was shaking with fear, with me.

“Clean up your fucking mess...and leave..” Frank said as he began circling the shaking, sobbing boy, looking him up and down, dragging his palm against his chest. “Hmm..your heart is strong..” He whispered as he leaned in and sniffed the boys neck, a small growl escaping his lips.

I quickly bent down and began picking up the small glass pieces, making sure to get each and every bit. Once I finished, I stood up and quickly began walking towards his door. “Lock it on your way out..” He said as he circled him once again, more growls leaving his lips.

I nodded quickly and locked the door before shutting it. A heavy breath left my lips as I slid down the wall across form his door, tears falling down my cheeks. I just brought, an innocent human boy to his death. As if on cue, a blood curdling scream could be heard from Frank's door, along with loud snarls and growls. “W-what have I done?”...

Notes