The Oldest Dream of Eternal Night
Chapter 41: Barbecue

Chapter 41: Barbecue

Hassan’s villa, perched on a hill overlooking Lewis Center, was a monument to ostentatious luxury. Its white stone walls shimmered in the setting sun, and a marble fountain stood in the courtyard, spraying water in graceful arcs. The impeccably maintained garden stretched for acres, bordered by trimmed hedges and scarlet roses.

A massive exotic wood terrace hosted the barbecue, where a large grill smoked, filling the air with the scent of grilled meat and spices. String lights hung between the trees cast a warm glow, while a rap playlist rumbled from hidden speakers.

Hugo, shirtless under a sauce-stained apron, flipped steaks with tongs, his bulging biceps glistening with sweat. Ben, lounging in a deck chair, sipped a beer. Yuki, as serious as ever, checked his phone, probably a message from Miranda. Kaiser, sprawled on a pouf, chewed a toothpick, his black hoodie contrasting with the vibrant surroundings. Hassan, in an impeccably ironed white shirt, nervously adjusted his glasses, playing the perfect host as he refilled soda glasses.

"Yo, Hassan, are you sure you live here?" Kaiser quipped, his tone sarcastic. "It looks like a rapper’s music video set."

Hassan rolled his eyes, pouring orange juice into a glass. "You’re just jealous because you live in a closet, Kaiser. Enjoy it, it’s not every day I invite you guys over."

"Yeah, you’re right," Kaiser chuckled. "Next time, I’ll bring my tent and camp in your garden."

Hugo burst out laughing, holding up a charred steak. "Kaiser, shut up and come get your meat before I give it to the neighbor’s dogs."

Ben, staring at his beer, looked up with a smirk. "Leave it, Hugo. Kaiser prefers sniffing coke. He’s afraid of getting his junkie chic look dirty."

Kaiser threw a toothpick at him. "Go fuck yourself, Dracula. You’re not one to talk, drinking blood all the time. What does it taste like, actually?"

Ben licked his lips at the mention of blood.

"It’s... exceptional..."

Yuki swallowed, watching him: "I think we should avoid talking about blood, guys."

The mood was light, but an underlying tension lingered, a reminder of the chaos with Ben. Sensing the stares, Ben sighed and spoke his mind. "Alright, I’m not gonna beat around the bush. Sabrina... she saved me, okay? I let go of Lynn. It wasn’t love, just an obsession. With Sabrina, it’s different. I’m learning to love her, and it’s better than suffering for a girl who doesn’t love me back."

Hugo raised an eyebrow, setting down his tongs. "Philosophical, the vampire. Are you sure it’s not the blood bond talking?"

Ben shrugged. "Maybe. But I feel... free, in a way."

Yuki, still on his phone, looked up. "You’re lucky to have sorted out your love life. Me, I’ve got Miranda, and that’s all that matters. Her voice... damn, it’s like a drug."

Kaiser snickered, grabbing a handful of chips. "You’re serious, Yuki? Her voice? Are you in love with a siren or something? Every time we say something about your girl, you freak out."

Hassan giggled, handing out plates. "Yeah, Yuki, you’re two steps away from building her an altar."

Hugo wiped his hands on his apron, a smirk on his face. "I get it, man. Miranda’s hot. I mean, she’s got a body that turns me on."

Yuki cut him off, his tone sharp. "It’s not her looks, Hugo. It’s her voice, the way she talks. You can’t understand."

An amused silence fell. Kaiser raised his hands, feigning innocence. "Okay, okay, to each their own. I’m just saying you’re weird, Yuki."

Hassan, taking a sip of soda, casually remarked: "Me, I like feet."

All eyes turned to him, and an awkward silence filled the terrace. Hugo burst into laughter, nearly spilling his soda. "Damn, Hassan, you just dropped that!"

Ben, shaking his head, chuckled. "Dude, you’re a case. Respect, but... no."

Kaiser, laughing, slammed his fist on the table. "Feet? Seriously?"

Hassan, his cheeks red, tried to defend himself. "What? It’s not weirder than Yuki’s voice thing! Leave me alone!"

Plates were filled with steaks, grilled corn, and salad. Carter was missing, still in the hospital, but Hugo steered the conversation back to Kaiser. "Dude, have you thought about Kathy? One rejection doesn’t mean anything. Don’t let it get you down."

During the day, she’d tried to approach him, but as he suspected, he’d tasted his own medicine.

Kaiser shrugged, his apathetic demeanor unchanged. "Kathy? Whatever. I got her sister Katrina’s number from the school group chat. Testing the waters."

Hugo frowned. "You’re serious? Katrina’s not a consolation prize, man. Be careful not to play the fool."

Ben nodded, setting down his beer. "Hugo’s right. If you’re playing with her, you’re an asshole. But if you’re honest, who knows? You might enjoy it."

Kaiser snickered, but his eyes betrayed thought. "Yeah, yeah, the philosophers. I’m not writing her a poem, but I’ll see how it goes."

Yuki looked up, "Speaking of which, my sister told me some powerful people sent a Manticore here to retrieve something."

Hugo grunted, grabbing another steak. "Great, more trouble. Can’t we just eat and forget about Wunder for one night?"

Ben chuckled, raising his beer. "To that, I’ll drink. But given our luck, it’ll probably show up in five minutes."

Hassan shrugged. "She didn’t say who sent it or what relic it’s after."

Kaiser eyed him suspiciously. Hassan seemed to know something they didn’t; he’d immediately called it a "so-called relic."

Yuki frowned, his tone serious. "If that’s true, it’s no coincidence. Die Hand im Schatten is after relics like this. We need to dig deeper."

"Die Hand im Schatten?"

"Yeah, the five most powerful families in the supernatural world."

"Damn... I really don’t want to get into this mess."

Kaiser, biting into an ear of corn, said: "If it comes, I’ll leave it to Yuki. He seems to have a personal vendetta against anything with claws. You’re the hunter, leave us alone."

Laughter erupted again, but a shadow loomed. The Medusa Coin, the unknown Zodiacs in Lewis, new Wunder, Die Hand im Schatten... it all weighed on them, even in this moment of respite.