Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s incredible what a little magic can do, honestly. Even better when it doesn’t require years of training and experience. Avid felt like he had struck gold when he found an ancient tome that promised a warding crystal hidden in the farthest edge of the pale forest.

It was obvious that he should go find it! Maybe it’s what the beacons were crafted from? He had so many questions. So many ideas. He giggled to himself as he weaved between trees to reach the edge.

“Now, where is it…” he muttered to himself, brushing dirt away from the ground in hopes to unearth the promised gem. The ground was as dry as the air was stale and uncomfortable, but the thought of having such an item was enough to dispel any of his hesitations.

When a shimmer of white flicked in Avid’s vision, he practically jumped for joy, gleefully tearing up dirt with his bare hands. Finally, he thought, as his grin pulled at his face. Something to fight back with!

His smile slowly faded as more of the crystal was unearthed. With every handful of dirt removed, it was becoming increasingly obvious that it was definitely too big for him to lift out of the ground, even if he got the whole town to help. Well, it’s not like telling them was an option anyway.

“Come on!” Avid stood up and kicked the dirt, face burning with frustration. “What am I supposed to do if I can’t move it?”

Avid paced in a circle around the hole in the dirt he had created. What options did he have now? He certainly couldn’t place it in a cell now.

The idea struck him like an arrow. If he couldn’t move it, why not just use the location? He sprung back into action, a wild grin returning to his face as he rushed back to town to get materials.

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“Hey there, bud,” Drift’s puzzled voice came from behind Avid, causing him to jump. “Sorry– what are you doing?”

“Oh, hey, Drift!” Avid’s eyes were wild as he spoke. He piled materials into his steadily heavying bag. “Just making a…” He trailed off. He couldn’t tell her just yet, could he? She’d definitely talk him out of it. No! He won’t tell her. She can know when he has a vampire stuck in his trap, fully proving his warnings. “A shed to hold backup materials in the woods. Hidden from vampires and normal people.”

Drift didn’t look convinced, but continued on her way anyway. “Alright then… Let me know if you need anything!” She waved as she left, a cheery smile on her face. Guilt settled in Avid’s gut, but he stopped it before it could reach his heart or brain.

He didn’t think about it. He wouldn’t.

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Avid stood up and brushed the sweat off of his brow, staring down at the prison-pit he had crafted. Who knows where he got obsidian, but boy was it helpful. He smiled, breathing heavily, admiring the deep obsidian cup he had formed under the earth of the forest. It still needed a little something… just in case, of course.

He placed a block of silver in the far corner. For safety. In case the crystal failed, or was less potent than described.

He hummed to himself as he leisurely made his way to the chest he had placed to hold all of his things as he built. Carrying the heavy blocks along with his food, tools, and weapons while he built would slow him down. He had kept his garlic on him, though. How could he leave something as important as that behind? Well, now his pockets were free. All he was carrying now was a handful of garlic and the wooden stake he kept strapped to his chest.

A twig snapped somewhere closer to the heart of the forest and he froze. He geared up to run back home screaming, but paused. Was it a vampire? Or had Drift followed him? Maybe it was Owen showing up out of nowhere again. The question was which possibility he preferred.

He crouched down and slowly approached the sound. The rustling of leaves and quiet footsteps became clearer with every inch of ground he covered. Soon enough he was peeking out from behind a tree to peer at the one making the noise.

His heartbeat skyrocketed as his gaze fell on Scott. Scott. Of course it was Scott. Avid swallowed hard as he scanned over the vampire’s form. His hair was different now. White as snow. His getup had changed too. His cloak was open and hanging in a cape-like fashion across his shoulders and back. The red suit vest decorated with golden buttons was now visible. He looked really good, as little as Avid wanted to admit that.

He shook his head to rid the trance that was clouding his brain. He shouldn’t be thinking that. He had to focus! Scott was a vampire. Avid could trap him! He just needed to bait him in.

Before he could think it through, Avid found himself jumping up from his spot and shrieking at the top of his lungs. Some of the fear was genuine, but it was entirely overshadowed by the excitement rushing through his veins.

Scott blinked at him, surprised, surely, before a sly grin spread across his radiant face. It was then that Avid noticed just how red Scott’s eyes now were. Goodness, he was gorgeous.

Avid couldn’t be thinking like that right now. He waited for Scott to start the chase before beelining it to the trap he had set.

“Avid~” Scott called from behind him, a singsong tone seasoning his voice. “Don’t run, let’s have a conversation!”

“Stay away from me!” Avid shouted back. “You’re just going to bite me!”

“I would never!” Scott scoffed, mock offense bleeding into the air around them. “Maybe just a nibble. But we can’t talk like this! Slow down.”

Avid was glad he had the lead. If Scott saw his face right then, Avid’s wild grin would have given him away in a heartbeat. His smile widening further as they closed in on the location.

“Ah! Don’t hurt me!” Avid dove behind a dead tree next to the pit and waited for Scott to round the corner. He barely noticed how hard he was breathing, too full of adrenaline to care.

He heard Scott’s footsteps slow as he approached.

“Nonsense!” Scott teased. “I haven’t hurt anyone so far!”

“That’s not true!” Avid snapped, barely managing to mask his rage, as well as his excitement at his plan working thus far. “You turned Shelby! And Pyro!”

Scott rounded the corner. Bingo.

“I’ll have you know that every turn has been–” Scott was cut off by Avid slamming into him, knocking him straight into the pit. Yes! Avid beamed, I did it!

His victory was short lived as a cold, clawed hand snagged his ankle. His face paled… he barely had time to scream as his balance was disturbed. Before he could even begin to attempt to formulate a course of action his face slammed against one of the obsidian walls and the world went dark.

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Scott sighed, his melodrama seeping into the air. He cared about his fledgelings, but they got into too much trouble for his liking. He had simply been in his castle, gossiping to Owen, when Pyro and Shelby burst into the main hall, crying about losing all of their armor and tools. Scott had scolded, sighed, and complained, but ended up giving them the armor off his back and the tools on his belt anyway. Not like he really needed them right now. He was the strongest of them at the moment, the leader, and… unfortunately, he cared about his coven. Owen advised against it, but seeing how Pyro and Shelby lit up when they split his leather between them and the way they swung his tools around with blissful giggles and wide smiles, he lost all of his reservations.

Even though he was strong and had his sharp claws to keep him safe, it would be nice to get some new tools anyway. He still needed to cut down trees and mine for ores.. As much as he hated doing dirty work, he didn’t have enough beings to do all of his labor for him.

He casually strolled through the pale forest, looking for cows, horses, or the perfect tree. Hey! He was allowed to be picky with his lumber choices!

His plans instantly shifted when a familiar shriek stung his ears. He turned and saw Avid, shaking and sweaty. My my! Was he that scared already? Scott relished in the attention and grinned. His favorite person to toy with was here? Alone? Giving the fledglings his tools was the best decision he had ever made since that one night out thousands of years ago. He immediately started after Avid in an exhilarated dart.

He was faster than Scott realized. How was he running that fast? It was honestly impressive, to be running that quickly with what was surely dozens of silver tools on his person. It didn’t matter, it just made the chase more fun. He didn’t actually want to turn Avid, just spook him. Avid being faster than him was no problem to Scott!

“Avid!” He cooed, hands clasping together. “Don’t run. Let’s have a conversation!”

“Stay away from me!” Avid returned in his classically panicked voice. “You’re just going to bite me!”

Scott smiled from ear to ear, soaking in Avid’s terror. “I would never!” Scott’s grin only widened. “Maybe just a little nibble. But we can’t talk like this! Slow down!”

Scott’s eyes were locked on Avid and Avid alone. This game was getting interesting. How on earth was the self proclaimed hunter still running this fast?

“Ah! Don’t hurt me!” Avid called out before ducking behind a tree. Scott slowed his pace and flicked his cloak. Scott could barely contain his joyous laughter as he heard Avid panting, struggling to catch his breath.

“Nonsense!” Scott let his laugh leak into his words. “I haven’t hurt anyone so far!”

“That’s not true!” Avid barked, something strange infecting his cadence. “You turned Shelby! And Pyro!”

Scott’s expression darkened as Avid mentioned Scott’s fledgelings. Avid was still acting as if Shelby was an exception, and the rest of them were heartless monsters. How dare he imply that Shelby and Pyro weren’t happy and cared for. Not after Scott had just given up everything on his back for them. They were enjoying their afterlife! He stormed around the tree to catch Avid’s eyes and give him a piece of his mind.

“I’ll have you know that every turn has been–” Scott let out a silent yelp as Avid’s shoulder slammed directly into his gut with alarming force. Scott stepped back, but his foot failed to catch any ground and he tumbled back. His stomach dropped and he desperately grabbed at anything to keep him from falling. His hand caught something warm, but it quickly gave way and he found himself crashing into obsidian.

He didn’t even get a moment to collect himself before something crushed him directly into a block. His skin screamed and he involuntarily jumped back with a hiss. Silver!? Scott scooched as far as he could into the corner and tried to turn into a bat to get out of there.

It didn’t work. Scott’s face fell and he began desperately trying everything to get out. He couldn’t leap, couldn’t teleport, and he certainly couldn’t fly. He couldn’t even turn invisible! Was he too close to a blessed beacon? No. He was much too far away, and all the nearby beacons were corrupted.

He frantically opened his inventory to search for blocks. Nothing. He had given all of them to Pyro to use on continuing the castle before leaving. He smacked his face with his palm and cursed himself for leaving everything behind. He didn’t even have any food other than two bottles of blood and 3 very useless baked potatoes.

He pushed himself further into the corner as the silver sent another wave of pain and weakness through him. He began to hiss again but stopped when he noticed the other inhabitant of the cramped space.

Avid.

Avid had fallen in too.

This was going to be hell.

Chapter Text

Scott couldn’t do anything for a still moment. If someone saw him right then, they might have thought him to be made of marble.

Scott snapped out of his shock and began giggling to himself. Avid had worked so hard to make a ‘foolproof’ trap, but ended up falling in the very thing he crafted.

“Wow,” Scott sighed as the last of his laughter died off. “You sure fucked up. I love what you’ve done with the place, the color palette is great.” Scott ran his hand over the dark wall, “Onyx, Midnight, and is that a touch of Licorice I see? Tasteful.”

Scott didn’t get a response. He groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Too soon for you?” Scott teased, glancing over to Avid. Avid was still. “Avid?” He didn’t respond. Scott flipped Avid over and examined him. There was a large wound on the side of his head, above his ear and next to his face. He must have hit something on the way down. Should Scott help him? Avid was the reason the two of them were down there in the first place.

Well, he would need Avid as a bartering tool when his friends got there. Scott knew humans. Those horrible creatures. They would assume the worst and try to slaughter him in cold blood. And with the weakness he felt, paired with the pain that sat heavy on his form, they might succeed. Having an alive and well Avid as a hostage was possibly his only chance of not being staked through the heart.

Now that his mind was made, it was time to figure out what to do about the bleeding. Scott didn’t have any bandages, obviously, but maybe Avid was carrying some? Scott grabbed the back of Avid’s shirt and dragged him closer until he could be examined properly.

Scott paused when he noticed the stake attached to Avid’s baldric. That wouldn’t do. Avid would use it in a heartbeat when– if he woke up. Scott scoffed as he slammed the wood against the obsidian, watching the pieces crack and splinter with a loud snap. He looked at the mangled tool and tossed the shattered remnants out of the pit. That was better. Now that the threat was disposed of, Scott opened Avid’s inventory.

How. The thought didn’t deserve a question mark. The absurdity demanded nothing less than stunned aggression. Avid’s inventory was empty. He had 4 bulbs of garlic, an empty bottle, and nothing else. He had no blocks to tower out, no tools to chip away at the volcanic glass walls– no way they’d claw at that horrible stuff for that long. It would take half a day for even one block, and they would need to break at least seven to escape this annoyingly deep pit. Scott wasn’t about to tear up his hands like that. So, they really were stuck.

Well, at least now Scott knew how Avid was running so fast. He didn’t have anything weighing him down.

“Idiot…” Scott said in disbelief, “How are you not dead?” He shook his head in shock as he reoriented his focus back to the wound. What was he supposed to do with no bandages? Scott was certainly not about to press his hands against it. How filthy! Scott shuddered at the idea of his hands being sticky. He would use something else. What could he easily remove to slow the bleeding and maybe soak some of it up?

He studied his own outfit, then Avid’s. There were the bandages on Avid’s neck, but what if those were covering something else? What if they were dirty? Again, he needed Avid to not be dead. Scott did a final once over, sighed, and delicately removed his cravat.

He didn’t want the pristine fabric to get ruined, but he couldn’t find anything better to use. He gave the ivory fabric one last grim look before pressing it against the wound. It probably wasn’t good that Avid didn’t even shift. Scott used his free hand to feel for breathing as he listened for a heartbeat. Slow, shaky but consistent breaths met his hand. Avid’s heartbeat was present, but was slow. Slower than any heartbeat he had heard since Scott woke up.

“That probably isn’t good,” Scott sighed dramatically, talking to nobody. “Shouldn’t do that.” He pulled Avid closer, resting Avid’s head on his thigh to get a better angle to keep the cravat firmly in place. He let out another annoyed exhale as he looked up at the sky. The sun would be hitting his side of the pit soon.

Great. Perfect. This is exactly how Scott planned to spend his morning. The presence of the silver sent another wave of discomfort through him. This was stupid. Hopefully Avid’s friends would get concerned about his absence sooner rather than later.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid awoke to a splitting headache and a shooting pain that radiated through his leg. Why was his bed so inconsistent? His pillow was comfortable, but the mattress was much too solid. He groaned and tried to open his eyes, but his entire body screamed in protest. The light hurt, even with his eyes closed. His head throbbed and felt uncomfortably warm. It was hard to even think properly, his thoughts painfully muffled and melting together. The only thing he could think to do was look around, find out what was wrong, and ask Drift to get Legundo to help him.

He took one last second to brace himself before sitting up. Everything protested with sore, stinging strain following his every move. His head somehow felt even worse, a white hot pain that made it feel heavy. It was hard to keep himself from slumping over.

“Oh, so you didn’t die,” Scott’s voice stung his ears. “I was wondering if you were going to stop breathing on me.”

“I don’t feel like I’m alive,” Avid managed, noting how difficult it was to speak coherently. “What…” He paused as his brain began to catch up. Why was he with Scott? Where was Drift? His eyes shot open, immediately worsening the pounding in his skull. He let out a pained noise and squinted his eyes, which refused to focus properly.

“What happened?” Scott scoffed, but he sounded closer to tired than angry. “Your genius trap backfired on you and now we’re stuck in here until–”

Avid cut him off with a scream, which also worsened his headache– as everything seemed to at the moment. He frantically reached for his wooden stake, a panicked whine escaping him when he couldn’t find it.

“Where–” Avid started hyperventilating, “What did you–”

“How rude!” Scott exclaimed, or at least, attempted to. He sounded exhausted. “No need to interrupt me when I’m trying to be helpful.”

“Where’s my stake?!” Avid yelled, despite knowing that it would only increase the suffering in his skull. “What did you do with it?!”

“What did I do with your weapon?” Scott said, frustration evident in his tone. “I broke it and tossed it out of here. What else would I do with it?”

“How am I supposed to stop you if you decide to eat me?!” Avid scooted himself as close as he could to the silver block. He pulled out a bulb of garlic and shoved it in his mouth, chewing frantically.

“And how was I supposed to protect myself if you decided to stake me in the heart!” Scott rolled his eyes. “I’d also prefer not to die in this stupid pit. Neither of us have any blocks and I can’t fly or teleport.” Avid didn’t have anything to say to that.

Avid clung tighter to the shiny metal beside him, taking comfort in the cold feeling against his face. It was soothing while also drawing the angry heat away from his injuries. The shade covering him and the coolness of the block was his eyes’ saving grace. He squeezed his bruised palms against the surface as he slowed his breathing.

When he felt calm enough, he investigated Scott. What he saw, well, he didn’t know what to make of it. Scott was in the opposite corner to him and the silver, tucked as far as he could against the obsidian walls. His face and posture was tight, cautious, and drained. But his eyes were wide and focused on Avid’s every move. Avid shivered as he continued glancing him over. His eyes caught on the piece of cloth in Scott’s hand that was stained a dark red. He was holding it to his mouth and– was he…

“Are you drinking that?” Avid gawked, disbelief ringing in his ears. “Is that MINE?”

“Yes and yes,” Scott huffed and shook his head, “You were bleeding, I was hungry. You needed to not be bleeding, I needed to not be hungry. So, I took this off and helped you, and now I’m helping myself.”

Avid stared at the bloodied cravat, his emotions a swirl of everything negative. Angry, scared, distressed, and everything in between. He felt confused and broken. Not only in the sense of despair, but in the feeling in his head. Something was seriously wrong.

But there was nothing he could do about it right then. Not with his only company being Scott. He was so tired, but he knew he couldn’t rest. Not with a vampire being mere feet away. He needed a distraction from the waves of fatigue that ran through him every few seconds.

“How long have we been down here?” Avid said, keeping his voice quiet and even so as to not worsen the aches.

“Several hours,” Scott said after a long pause, “At least six.”

“Six?!” Avid sat up straighter, much to his injuries’ dismay. “I’ve been out for six hours?!”

“Probably more,” Scott shrugged, looking at his nails. “The fall shattered my pocket watch, so who’s to say how long it’s really been.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?!” Avid suddenly realized how strange it was that he was alive. “Why haven’t you killed me yet? Or turned me?”

“Because I don’t want to turn you!” Scott let out an exasperated grunt. “And I’ll need a breathing hostage when your friends get here so they don’t try to kill me when they arrive.”

“Huh?” Avid blinked, still dazed and lost, “Why my friends? Won’t your little coven be able to fly around and find us earlier than them?”

“Because my coven doesn’t know where I am right now,” Scott threw his hands up in a dramatic angry movement. “I just told them I was going out for supplies and left. Your friends are bound to get worried about you and check in soon.”

Avid turned to face the wall as shame burned his face. He coughed and adjusted his position against the silver.

Scott’s approaching rage filled the space, his flat voice cutting the tension “...They don’t know where you are.”

“No,” Avid whispered. “No they don’t.”

“Avid.” Scott said his name like many others had been as of late. Stern. Final. Frustrated.

Avid braced himself for the inevitable yelling, but was even more terrified when he heard a bitter laugh escape Scott.

“So,” Scott said on the sigh from the last bitter sound. “No one knows we are here, and we don’t have any way to get out? Is that what you’re saying?”

“...” Avid reached up and fidgeted with the bandage on his neck. “Yes…”

He squeezed his eyes shut as he once again waited for the berating, but yet like before, it never came. He cautiously opened his eyes and saw Scott, who was looking up at the sky with an unreadable expression. Scott was being oddly quiet. Avid would have thought that being trapped with Scott would be almost entirely composed of Scott’s taunts and threats, but the vampire remained so silent that Avid could hear the lake running– despite them being both underground, as well as a good distance away from the water.

A faint sizzle caught Avid’s ear. Right. Scott didn’t have any shade where he was. He was burning in the sun. He was probably in pain, just like Avid. Avid smiled, but it felt foreign and forced. He should be feeling good about this, that Scott was suffering, but all he felt in that moment, other than his own pain, was an ache in his conscience. It felt wrong. He didn’t feel anything positive about Scott appearing to be in pain.

Avid was snapped out of his moping spiral by a sharp hiss from Scott. Avid jolted upright and pressed himself against the far wall, breathing heavily. He stared at Scott as best as he could with his distorted vision, waiting for the slightest twinge of movement. Nothing out of the ordinary came of it.

“What did I do to deserve that?” Avid huffed, a little miffed at the sudden hostile sound.

“Don’t flatter yourself. It’s involuntary,” Scott spat out. “Something that the silver does if we stay too close.”

Avid winced at the frustration in Scott’s voice. It shouldn’t have made him feel guilty. He was supposed to enjoy Scott suffering.

He didn’t like it at all.

“Why don’t we just give each other a boost?” Avid tentatively suggested, his brain throbbed in pain, but he continued, “One of us helps the other out with a boost thing or something with their hands or shoulder– something, and the other pulls them out with reachin’ down right?”

“Slow down, you’re talking nonsense,” Scott sighed, shaking his head. “I think I understand what you meant. But I want you to take a look at both of us, and tell me if you believe we are currently capable at pulling that off.”

Avid considered the state of the two of them. Avid was bruised, disoriented, and definitely had a concussion. Scott looked tired, weak. Both of them were in pain. Avid sucked in a sharp breath. There was no way they’d be able to pull that off. He didn’t reply to Scott’s statement. Avid simply rested his head back down on the silver block and watched as Scott struggled to remove all of the crimson from his cravat.

Avid had never seen Scott look so… vulnerable. If one had asked him to picture it even just ten hours ago, he might have laughed. He would have said it was impossible to picture. But there Avid was, seeing it with his own eyes. It felt deeply and viscerally wrong. Avid couldn’t fully place why. Maybe he was so used to seeing Scott as a powerful and confident manorlord. Perhaps it was something else. Something he didn’t want to name.

Why didn’t he want Scott to suffer?

Why couldn’t he want Scott to suffer?

Chapter Text

Scott was not doing well. Based on the position of the sun, it had been about a day and a half since they had first fallen. That wretched sun. His skin stung and everything felt uncomfortably hot. He had pulled his cloak above himself to try to generate shade, but his arms weren’t able to hold it up for very long. Something about that silver weakened him like nothing else, it must have been pure if it had such a strong effect on him. He didn’t feel like just throwing the fabric over his face and tucking himself under it, either.

He wanted to keep an eye on Avid. Scott wasn’t certain whether Avid had the guts to try to attack him. While Avid was clung tight against the block of silver, Scott didn’t have anything other than his claws and fangs to his defense. And even though Avid wouldn’t be able to actually kill him, Scott was too weak to fight back properly. Scott would probably just end up in even more pain.

So, he continued staring at Avid from the corner, tucked tightly between the walls.

Avid stared back, never loosening his grasp on the silver. Scott shot him a glare. Avid glared back and reached into his inventory and pulled out one of the bulbs of garlic.

“Oh, you cannot be serious,” Scott’s eyes widened. He should have thrown the garlic out too.

“Fully,” Avid took a bite out of the bulb and lobbed the rest at Scott. It was a concerningly inaccurate throw, and Avid looked to be in pain with every movement. By some miracle, the half consumed garlic smacked Scott in the face.

Scott began to screech but cut the noise off as the garlic juice made contact with his skin. The garlic hit the floor and sizzled on the obsidian in front of him. Scott’s hands shot up to his face and he began desperately rubbing the area. The smell hit his nose and he hissed and clicked as it overwhelmed his senses. Every part of his body felt like it had been filled with hot metal. He tried with everything in his being to stop reacting, to look strong, but the combination of the garlic, sun, and silver left him vulnerable and defenseless.

“What is your problem?!” Scott hissed, still struggling to recompose himself from the intense attack on his senses. “I did nothing to you! You call me a freak, but your choices show that the only monster here is you.”

Scott looked at Avid and was caught off guard by the expression he wore. His face was twisted into some mix of terror and something else. Avid couldn’t seriously be the one scared of Scott in this situation. That man was delusional.

“You act scared, but I don’t have the safety net you do,” Scott pointed at the block of silver. “Why are you pretending I’m the biggest threat here when you have a protective bubble of safety and all I have is direct sunlight with no shade and the smallest corner of room to move around in? Clearly I have the best hand of cards here, hm? Is that what you think?”

Avid’s expression intensified, his eyebrows knitted tighter as he broke eye contact. Scott rolled his eyes and scoffed. Yet again, Avid was unremorseful. Whatever.

Scott opened his inventory and took out a bottle of blood. He looked at it grimly before downing the entire thing. His hunger lessened, but his stomach still ached for more. He groaned and drank the second bottle. It did little to soothe the pain from the sun and silver, but at least the burns from the garlic had been appeased.

Perfect. Now he was stuck with no food and no shelter. Wonderful. He tossed the bottles out of the pit– maybe they would make the trap easier to spot. He didn’t want to hold onto them, anyway. Scott didn’t need a reminder of food that he didn’t have.

He hoped someone would find them soon. He didn’t even care who at this point. It could even be Legundo. He’d settle for being stuck in a cell as a prisoner. At least he’d have shade, food, and an easier time escaping.

He was supposed to be sitting in the castle right now, out of the sun, laughing with the other coven members, plotting, drinking enough blood to keep his hunger at bay, and being in charge. He had no control here and he hated it. He was miserable, tired, and oh so hot. And not in a good way! Well, he was always hot in a good way, but this was including the bad way! He wanted to go home.

Scott found that he had been gradually slumping over as his elbow met the hot ground. He was now curled on his side, barely propped up by his arms. Ugh, he probably looked so unsightly right now.

Scott grumbled before giving in, using one arm as a pillow, and fully resting on his side. The adjustment caused him to accidentally shift closer to the silver and the harsh burn sent him recoiling so swiftly he slammed against the wall. He let out a sharp hiss and pressed himself into the corner as far as he could. Avid flinched.

“Do you have to jump back like that every time?” Avid spat, his face twisted in an odd and unfamiliar way.

“Yes,” Scott said as dryly as he felt. “It’s like trying to put your hand to a hot furnace, except everywhere but this miniscule corner is the furnace.”

Avid didn’t say anything, but he stopped gripping the metal and moved away, keeping himself close to the wall, but putting distance between him and the block. Avid crossed his arms and bit his lip in a hesitant manner. Why was he still scared? Scott had literally just explained just how much of a safety net Avid had and he was still nervous? Unbelievable. Scott closed his eyes, too tired to care anymore.

After almost thirty seconds of dead silence, his eyes shot open at the sound of metal screeching. Scott pushed his body up with his hands and stared in astounded silence. What? Scott was in pure disbelief as he watched Avid tear at the metal without a word. Scott stayed completely still, in part because of the fact he was stunned speechless, and also in fear that Avid would stop.

Scott watched as the metal slowly crumbled, useless to the ground. Waves of relief washed over Scott with every fallen chunk. Avid occasionally paused to throw handfuls of ruined shrapnel out of the hole in the ground. Avid shredded the metal until it was gone and his hands were raw with blood.

Avid let out a huff and moved to a corner, leaving room in the shade. Scott stared astonished at the bloodied hunter before swiftly moving to the corner across from him. Scott felt the relief in his flesh as the shadows cloaked his skin. Scott didn’t know why Avid did it, but the solace from the shade was enough to earn Avid some peace as well.

Scott debated within himself for a moment. Should he say anything? It was Avid’s fault that he was in pain in the first place, but Avid didn’t have to sacrifice his hands for Scott’s comfort. Scott could respect that.

“...Thank you,” Scott said with a softness that those words usually lacked when they came from his voice. The usual satisfaction and pride filled the air to his tone completely missing and replaced by something unfamiliar.

Avid stayed silent. Scott didn’t mind, the shade was too nice for him to demand a reply.

“Yeah,” Avid’s voice came in a similarly soft level, but his tone was rigid and uncertain.

Scott nodded and closed his eyes to rest. It didn’t matter if Avid had destroyed the silver to lure him into a false sense of security. Scott didn’t care anymore.

Scott’s situation still wasn’t pleasant, but at least this was a bit nicer.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid regretted throwing the garlic as soon as Scott reacted. The noise Scott made when it hit him, the way he thrashed and rubbed his skin. He let out batlike clicks and hissed as he continued rubbing his face. He looked like he was in pain. Regret and something else unplaceable to him stabbed Avid’s heart as he watched Scott desperately try to cleanse the garlic from himself. The noises hurt his conscience more than the splitting headache.

“What is your problem?!” Scott hissed. Avid noticed how his voice dripped with thinly veiled weakness, he sounded so pained. “I did nothing to you! You call me a freak but your choices show that the only monster here is you.”

Avid’s mind dragged him back to the town meeting a few days ago. Owen’s words rang through his head. I don’t think you’re a vampire, but from my perspective you do have all the makings of a monster in you. Remorse and shame poisoned his blood once more. With how he was acting right now, Owen might be close to the truth.

“You act scared, but I don’t have the safety net you do,” Scott pointed at the block of silver that Avid was clung to. “Why are you pretending I’m the biggest threat here when you have a protective bubble of safety and all I have is direct sunlight with no shade and the smallest corner of room to move around in? Clearly I have the best hand of cards here, hm? Is that what you think?”

The shame that ran through Avid’s nerves intensified. Guilt stung him everywhere. His head swam. God, Avid was in so much pain.

And so was Scott.

Avid flinched when Scott moved again. He watched as Scott dug through his inventory and produced a bottle full of dark red liquid. Scott stared at it for a moment before downing the entire thing. Scott produced another bottle, and by the way he was looking at it, he didn’t have much left. Scott finished the second one and tossed the bottles over the walls.

Avid found that his reasons for staring at Scott 24/7 had shifted. It wasn’t out of fear anymore. It was a strange worry that he really shouldn’t be feeling. He didn’t just see a dangerous monster anymore. He saw someone in pain. Don’t get him wrong, he was still cautious, hell, he was downright terrified, but he could no longer deny that what was happening was wrong.

He scanned over Scott’s form and noticed that he was slumped over, balancing on his forearms. When did that happen?! He had been sitting up straight before– He looked so exhausted.

Scott made a defeated noise and eased himself to the ground before letting out a sudden yet sharp hiss as he recoiled backward. Avid jumped, which left his head screaming.

Avid chewed on the inside of his cheek. The movement was scary. He wanted to know more about it. He wanted to know why they reacted like that every time. Avid tried to ask, but everything fell short. So he slipped back into his consistent habits.

“Do you have to jump back like that every time?” Avid spat in his familiar sharp tone. The one he used to act like he wasn’t scared. That he was demanding an answer, rather than have it sound like he was asking with sincerity.

“Yes,” Scott’s face was blank as he spoke. “It’s like trying to put your hand to a hot furnace, except everywhere but this miniscule corner is the furnace.”

Pain empathy swam uncomfortably between Avid’s shoulders and down his arms as the description repeated in his brain. Avid let go of the silver block. The coolness of the metal no longer soothed him. It felt wrong. He slowly shifted away, the presence feeling more unpleasant by the second.

Avid shot Scott one last look. The vampire had his eyes closed, still not looking well. Avid made up his mind and gave in to the violence that his disease yearned for. Avid ignored the change in his hands as he began tearing at the metal.

It was like tunnel vision. Everything else disappeared from his concerns as soon as he let it ravage the metal. Avid breathed heavily as he scratched, the sharp edges cutting into his flesh. Small pieces of silver confetti littered the ground around him. Avid occasionally paused to gather the shards into a ball and rid of them, not caring about the slices it added to his fingers. He did not stop until only a small chunk was left, which he threw out of the pit with intense strength.

Avid let out a heavy exhale as the pain shocked his body, the trance broken now that the job had been done. He glanced over at Scott, who was staring with wide eyes. It was the most energy Avid had seen in hours, maybe even days.

Avid moved himself to one side of the shaded half of the trap, leaving room for the vampire to sit. Scott didn’t move for a few seconds before he swooped into the other shaded corner with an unexpected burst of strength.

Avid watched as tension left Scott’s body. The faint sound of sizzling that Avid had long tuned out no longer filled the air. Seeing Scott relax ebbed the guilt that wracked Avid’s body and mind. It felt like a tight binding around his torso had been released. Like he could breathe easier.

“Thank you,” The prideful chirp in Scott’s tone that usually coated those words was notably absent from his voice when he said it. It was gentle, grateful. It broke something inside Avid, like he was finally receiving something he didn’t know he yearned for.

Avid sat there, speechless. Something he couldn’t determine as positive or negative flooded his brain. It hurt to think about, so he left it at that.

“Yeah,” Of course. Avid’s voice shook as he said it. It felt terrifying, but it also felt like a rubber band had been cut. A tension he wasn’t aware existed being snapped. It was nice. Avid was glad he said it as soon as his voice met the wind.

Scott nodded at him and resumed the position he had held while in the sun. He looked so peaceful with his eyes closed.

Anxiety still gnawed on Avid’s brain, but it didn’t feel like a mountain anymore. It felt like something climbable.

Avid watched Scott rest for a few minutes before closing his own eyes. His heart pounded and his palms were drenched in sweat as his instincts screamed at him to keep an eye on the threat.

He ignored the internal warnings that screamed of grave danger, and allowed himself to drift to sleep.

Avid had always been pretty self destructive. Maybe it was wrong to feel safe in this situation. His brain certainly told him it was.

He ignored it for once.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

It had been two days since Drift last saw her roommate. At first, she brushed it off. Maybe he got caught up with work, saw that it was dark, and decided to stay in the shed he was making. She’d probably wake up in the morning to find he had come home.

But that didn’t happen.

When he still wasn’t back after twenty-four hours, her concern skyrocketed. She asked everyone in Oakhurst if they had seen him. Nobody had.

Oakhurst was so quiet without him. The silence was deafening. The town grew restless– when the guy who was always preaching about something being wrong, the guy who would panic and flee at the sight of danger, the guy who shoved a vampire off the side of a cliff– went missing without a trace, it tended to cause anxiety.

Even Pearl, who was constantly wandering off and exploring for several hours, hadn’t seen anything of him nor seen any shed in the woods. Alarm bells rung in Drift’s head. Something was wrong.

When he was still missing by the next day, she could no longer explain away her anxieties. When Drift spotted Owen standing on the top of one of the walls, she was certain something was seriously wrong. He looked different, his hair was white, his eyes were red, and his outfit was now crimson and black.

“Hello?” Drift called up to the vampire. “What are you doing up there?”

Her question was met with a scoff as Owen ignored her, leaning and peering forward as if he was trying to look into their houses.

“What are you looking for?” Drift asked, more confused and worried by the second.

“Don’t play stupid with me,” Owen hissed before speaking. “I’m tired of your games. Do not make fun of me or you’ll regret it terribly.”

“I’m not…” Drift paused to think. “I’m going to go get Legundo, okay?”

“I refuse to talk to any of you,” Owen snapped. “The doctor will receive the same treatment as you until you fix this.”

“I genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about,” Drift called, taking a bite of garlic just in case. “Please, tell me. Tell me what’s going on, and I can try to help you. Then… maybe you can help me with something?”

“So this is a ransom situation?” Owen glared from his perch. “How bold.”

Owen then disappeared into a cloud of bats. Drift swallowed anxiously. She needed to find the others and tell them what she saw now. She turned around and ran straight into the center of town.

Before she could speak, her eyes fell on Shelby, who was surrounded by a circle of disgruntled townspeople. Shelby also looked different. Her hair was the same bright white, her eyes vibrant cherry, and her outfit had completely changed. Her green sweater and plaid skirt had been switched for a red vest with a white dress shirt underneath. The skirt had been replaced with a black one with more folds and frills, and her head was adorned with a black circlet with a red gem.

“Oh, hi, Drift,” Shelby said, but her words contained a certain cold edge to them. The sweet-natured vampire’s kind attitude was completely missing, replaced with something sharp and foreign. “Will you at least tell us what you’re trying to get out of this?”

“What are you talking about?” Drift asked, absolutely exasperated already.

“They keep insisting that we have something of theirs,” Cleo groaned, her arms were crossed and their face was twisted into an annoyed glare. “But she won’t tell us what. It’s been really frustrating.”

“It would be less of a problem if you guys would let us know what you did,” Shelby replied coldly, something completely out of character for them. “I don’t know how you guys did it, and I don’t know what you’re trying to get out of it– especially by lying about it– I’d expect some of you to be boasting about it! Is Avid proud of what you’ve done?”

“Don’t think this will come without consequences,” Pyro’s voice echoed from the roof. Drift looked up and watched them appear out of thin air. His skin had gone pale grey, his hair was just as white as the others’, their eyes had turned black and red, and their suit was completely black. “If you don’t make this an issue, we might just be a little less aggressive about this.”

“Let’s not make this a big thing, hm?” Owen appeared on another roof nearby.

“Owen,” Legundo’s tone was even and direct. “What’s going on?”

“Do not lie to me, doctor!” Owen shouted. “All of you are liars. You will suffer as the residents before you did unless you stop playing these games. You know PERFECTLY well why we are here and what we want!”

“We. Don’t. Know. ANYTHING!” Cleo shouted at them, exasperation poisoning the air around her.

“Very well then,” Owen stood up straight. “You have 4 days to make this right, and every day without honesty or action will be twice the carnage. It’s up to you. Make. It. Right.”

Owen turned into a bat and flew away. Pyro disappeared into a puff of smoke. Shelby crouched down to lunge but Drift caught their arm.

“Wait!” Drift realized what she had done and released the vampire’s arm. The action was stupid, but she needed to have more information about her missing housemate. “Sorry– just– do you guys… have him? Did you hurt him? Is he okay?”

“What?” Shelby raised an eyebrow. “Obviously not. We are literally here looking for him.”

“You’re looking for him?” Drift was completely caught off guard. What was this about? “What– why?!”

“Don’t give me that,” Shelby sighed, pulling her hand away. “I thought you were better than this, Drift. I think you can guess why.”

“Wait!” Drift called, but it was too late. Shelby had already jumped clean over the wall and was likely too far already.

“What did Avid do?” Cleo grabbed Drift’s shoulder. “Why are the vampires after him?!”

“I don’t know!” Drift waved her hands and shook her head. “All he told me was that he was going to build a secret shed to hold supplies! I don’t know anything!”

“Aye, I doubt he be telling the truth about that,” Ren spoke up, a grim expression painting his face. “Don’tcha know.”

“I don’t know much of anything right now,” Cleo put their face in her hands. “I think I need a nap.”

“Here,” Pearl put her hands on Cleo’s shoulders and began guiding them back to their home. “Let’s get you a lay down. How about that? I’ll make you some… tea. A nice drink of tea.”

The people of Oakhurst all went to their respective homes, a deep feeling of uncertainty filling the atmosphere of the small town.

Drift had a case to solve. Something about all of this didn’t add up. She had so many things to piece together, so many questions to ask. But only one that stood out more than the others.

What had Avid done?

Chapter Text

The drop-in from the vampires stirred the town’s emotions. Everyone was on edge, even though many denied that their nerves were flaring. In contrast, there were a handful of people who were very vocal of their concerns. Avid would be proud if he saw how loud they were getting.

When the town hadn’t seen or heard anything of Avid for yet another day, the vampires visited once more, somehow even more agitated.

“We already told you!” Apo called up from the ground. This was getting frustrating. “We don’t know where he is!”

“It’s not wise to keep this up,” Owen crossed his arms at the denial of information from the townsfolk. “We expected better from a fellow vampire.”

People around Apo gasped and stepped away from them. Apo groaned and shot a glare up at Owen, who had disappeared.

“What?!” Martyn pulled a stake out of his inventory, a blend of terror and anger shaking in his voice. “Apo, is this true? Are you a vampire?!”

“Ugh,” Apo rolled their eyes before composing herself. “Yes, Martyn. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner.”

Martyn’s face read of broken trust. Apo turned away to avoid facing it. This was going to be discussed later, and Apo was not excited about it.

“That Owen,” Cleo clenched her fists and growled in rage. “When I get my hands on him it’s all over.”

“Let’s all calm down,” Legundo tried to bring down the tension. “Apo hasn’t hurt anyone. If she was against us, they would have done something by now.”

The town fell into an uneasy silence before Drift spoke up with a gasp.

“Wait a second!” Drift walked to the center of the crowd and approached Apo, hope blooming on her face. “You’re a vampire! You can turn into a bat and get intel from the coven!”

The town murmured in uncertainty, but no one spoke up with a solid reason not to. Apo sighed and turned into a bat.

“I’ll be back soon,” Apo promised before taking to the skies. “Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Apo landed softly outside the entrance to the castle. It had changed since they last saw it. Not only was the building finished, but something about the aura was off. It felt colder. More unwelcoming– which she didn’t even know was possible.

Apo took one last moment of mental preparation before they sighed and defeatedly knocked on the door.

Shelby opened the door after a few seconds, hope shining in her eyes, but as soon as their eyes met Apo’s, the light left. The shiny pools of crimson became a dull, slate red.

“What do you want?” Shelby asked dryly, her posture stiffening. Apo watched as Shelby seemed to close themself off, her form becoming less welcoming by the second. “Are you here to finally come clean and tell us where he is?”

“No,” Apo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I just want to talk about all of this. Away from town, if that makes you guys more comfortable. I just want to work this out.”

Shelby squinted at Apo for a few moments before indignantly widening the gap between the door and its frame. “Come in.”

“Sure,” Apo said as they walked inside. The room was the same style, same patterns, but the building felt like it was missing something. Something crucial. Apo couldn’t place what it was, but the whole building felt wrong without it. The castle felt like a hollow shell, but as much as Apo tried, they couldn’t place what was missing among the contents.

“So,” Shelby sat down in one of the chairs at the long oak table and gestured for Apo to do the same. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I have so many questions,” Apo slammed their hands on the table to make a point before sitting down. “Firstly, why do you care so much about his whereabouts? Secondly– hey, where’s Scott? I haven’t seen him anywhere…” The realization that Apo hadn’t seen Scott in days hit her like a stake to the heart. Why wouldn’t he have visited the town with the rest of the coven?

“Oh, haha,” Shelby deadpanned, disdain growing on her expression. “You guys are hilarious. This isn’t funny, Apo. It never was. I expected better from you.” Shelby’s words caught in her throat for a moment before they recovered and continued her thought. “We decided that while you don’t tell us where you’re hiding him, Owen is in charge, and I doubt anyone wants that. We both know how that’s gonna go.”

“I’m so confused…” Apo held her face in their hands. The ‘answers’ they were giving only made her brain hurt. Absolutely nothing had been cleared up. “What does Owen have to do with any of this? What do you guys want with A–”

Apo was cut off as the front doors slammed open. Owen stood in the entrance, rage plastered across his face. The vampire’s entire body shook with anger.

“What is she doing here?!” Owen’s voice echoed off of the walls.

“Asking questions to mock us,” Shelby huffed. “They’re keeping up the ‘we don’t know anything act’, and had the nerve to travel all the way here only to ask us where he is.”

“What business have you?!” Owen hissed. “Why come here just to make a mockery of us? We will not be as kind as Scott would be at this grave offense! What games do you think you are playing?!”

There was something off about all of this, and Apo felt like they were missing something crucial. She analyzed the vampires’ expressions with new eyes. She saw something. Something behind the anger, annoyance, and cold disdain. There was something else. Apo saw stress, panic, and nervousness, all brewing behind the aggressive front they were putting on. A new idea struck. Such a simple concept, it practically fell into her lap. Bingo.

“You’re all acting so suspicious,” Apo thought aloud. Her thoughts took a different approach as they pieced together a puzzle that was still missing most of the pieces. “Do you guys have Avid?”

The long silence that followed told Apo all she needed to know. They did have Avid and were trying to stress the town out by pretending it was the other way around. Why else would their question be met with silence?

Apo tuned in to her vampiric sense of hearing to listen for a heartbeat. Nothing human from the castle, but the steady, swift, small beats of chicken’s hearts could be heard from outside. Avid definitely wasn’t in the castle. He must be being held somewhere else.

“What on earth are you talking about?” Owen said in the most monotone voice Apo had ever heard, but the stress remained in his aura. “Why would we have him?”

“I’ve gotten what I need for you,” Apo huffed as they turned into a bat. “Knock this bullshit off. You’re not fooling me anymore.”

Apo didn’t wait for a response and flew home to report their findings.

The vampires were holding Avid hostage.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Scott woke up completely intact, which he was only half sure would be the case. After Avid’s garlic attack, Scott knew Avid wasn’t against striking. A day had passed, and yet no similar attempts were made. Plus, Avid had cleared the garlic from the ground and tossed it out of the pit at some point.

No matter, Scott felt comfortable resting, and was glad he did. The sun no longer stinging his flesh was nice. It was wonderful being able to move around the small space and hide in the shade. And it turned out that Avid wasn’t the absolute worst company. Their conversations had been more peaceful by the hour. Scott even found himself entertained by their exchanges. Much better than the paranoid, guarded silence they shared before.

“What does the coven do all day?” Avid asked as Scott stretched. Scott looked at Avid’s face, which showed only curiosity. “I mean, us humans spend our days preparing, farming, and whatever. What do you guys do?”

“Hm,” Scott stared at Avid thoughtfully for a moment before responding. “We mostly just rebuild my castle, be stylish, and get blood. It’s really not much more than that.”

“No plotting?” Avid tilted his head.

“Sometimes,” Scott shrugged, leaning back against the wall. “But it’s not our current priority.”

“And holding fashion shows is?” Avid laughed, and what a sweet sound it was. Avid’s laugh was pure joy and sugar.

“Can you blame us?” Scott found himself smiling. “Just look at how fashionable we are!”

“Not really…” Avid said, quieter than usual. “You guys do look great…”

“Thank you!” Scott sat up straighter, basking in the attention. He missed compliments. Attention fueled Scott almost as much as blood. Yikes. He shouldn’t be thinking about food right now. He’d rather not attack his only company, not after they just started finding common ground. As appetizing Avid’s exposed skin looked, he held himself back.

Scott found that Avid must also be hungry as Avid’s stomach growled. Avid opened his bag and Scott moved to the other side of the pit to put as much distance as possible between him and the contents of Avid’s inventory.

“You don’t need to do that,” Avid frowned. “I’m out of garlic.”

“Hm?” Scott tilted his head. He only saw two of the garlic bulbs get used. “You had four to start, what happened?”

“I got really hungry,” Avid turned away sheepishly. “And garlic isn’t really that filling. It goes pretty fast.”

Scott opened his own inventory and pulled out the not so useless baked potatoes. He held them out to Avid, who was looking at Scott like he hung the moon. Avid pointed at himself and then the potatoes, his eyes wide and his mouth hung open. Scott laughed, why was Avid being so ridiculous? It was endearing.

“Yes!” Scott nodded as he continued laughing. “They’re for you! I can’t eat them anyway.”

Avid scooched closer to Scott until he was right beside him and grabbed the potatoes with featherlike delicacy. But as soon as the potatoes were in his grasp he immediately slammed two of them with impressive speed.

“I’m glad you like them,” Scott rested his face on his palm, elbow resting on his knee. “They were really weighing down my inventory.”

“Yeah right,” Avid laughed, his face awfully red for some reason. “I’m sure a few potatoes were no big deal for someone such as yourself.”

“They had no use to me,” Scot hummed. “Less of a weight issue and more of a ‘what do I do with these?’ issue.”

Their conversation was cut off by Scott’s own stomach stabbing with the familiar pang of hunger with a growl. Scott hissed in a breath and looked at Avid, who looked nervous again. His face was twisted into a familiar anxious manner. Great. Back to square one.

“I’m not going to bite you,” Scott reaffirmed. “I won’t drink unless offered.”

“Yeah,” Avid mumbled, crossing his arms across his chest and breaking eye contact. Scott found himself disappointed when Avid moved away from Scott’s side. It shouldn’t have mattered. Why did it?

The reason was beyond him.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

The potatoes from Scott were Avid’s saving grace. After also having such a nice conversation as well, Avid felt more comfortable than he had in weeks. He didn’t even notice his spike in panic as he sat beside Scott and consumed the potatoes. And when Scott laughed, oh God his laugh. Scott’s laugh was magically enchanting.

“I’m glad you like them,” Scott rested his face on his palm, elbow resting on his knee. Avid’s heart started doing backflips at the way Scott’s crimson eyes watched his every move. “They were really weighing down my inventory.”

“Yeah right,” Avid laughed, his face burned. He couldn’t stop looking at Scott’s face, craving to memorize every detail. “I’m sure a few potatoes were no big deal for someone such as yourself.”

“They had no use to me,” Scot hummed, his expression still intoxicatingly sweet. “Less of a weight issue and more of a ‘what do I do with these?’ issue.”

Before Avid could respond, Scott’s stomach let out a growl. The vampire hissed in a breath and looked up at Avid. Scott’s expression looked confused for some reason.

“I’m not going to bite you,” Scott’s fangs were all Avid could look at as he spoke. “I won’t drink unless offered.”

Scott’s words evoked something unknown in Avid. Like he should say something. Like he should do something. He should offer Scott some blood.

But Avid couldn’t bring himself to offer any.

“Yeah,” Avid mumbled, crossing his arms and looking at the wall. Avid moved himself away from the vampire in shame, silently cursing himself. He was such a mess. Why would he even begin to consider giving Scott his blood?

…Why wouldn’t he? Scott gave him food, it was only fair to do the same.

Why did he kind of…

NO!

He would NOT be thinking that thought. Being bit was NOT hot. He did NOT like the idea of Scott’s fangs in his neck.

Avid banished the thought and hugged his knees to his chest.

Goodness gracious. Avid was doomed.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

“Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone.”

Apo’s final request before leaving.

It was abruptly obvious that the people of Oakhurst were not good listeners.

Pearl knew that she certainly wasn’t paying much attention to Apo’s request. What mattered was the information they would bring back. Who cared about any of that before stuff? Not like they could do anything with no information, so why wouldn’t she just tune out all that other useless junk? Pearl only took note of things when it was really important, and she didn’t consider whatever dramatic things Apo had to say before their quest to be anything of the sort.

As soon as Apo left their field of sight, the group crowded together and began whispering amongst themselves. Pearl shrugged and joined the circle. No harm in going over what they did know before getting the new intel.

“If he doesn’t turn up by the deadline, we send out search parties,” Cleo spoke first. “Something tells me that staying away from town when our time runs out is our best bet.”

“And maybe they’ll accept late work?” Pearl interjected with a cheerful smile, trying her best to be helpful. Maybe a little bit of humor would help diffuse a bit of the stress. If Pearl knew anything about going against monsters, it was to stay positive.

“Right,” Cleo nodded at their roommate. “On our ‘due date’ the coven set, I’ll take Apo with me and try to stall the vampires while the rest of you cover as much ground as possible. If you find him, send a smoke signal and we can all come running.”

“Why you...” Abolish whispered to himself, but Pearl’s keen ears caught the quiet words. Pearl noted his suspicions down, but kept it to herself for now.

“This sounds like a bad idea,” Legundo joined in. “Splitting up is dangerous. And…” Legundo waited for everyone to look in his direction before continuing. “... we don’t even know why they want Avid. What if they’re trying to kill him? Are we willing to let him die just to save us?”

“I’d like to see you try to get those vamps to tell you anything,” Martyn spat. “Let us know how far you get. Our best chance at getting information is having Avid here. We can negotiate as soon as we have Avid and can clear this mess up.”

“He’ll know what he did,” Pearl snapped her fingers in certainty. “He can give us the rundown, we can sort it all out, and then we can scold him for being stupid.”

“Emphasis on that last part,” Cleo added, putting a hand on Pearl’s shoulder. “I’d like to have a few words with that fool.”

“This does seem like a bad idea,” Abolish said in his familiar dry tone. “There’s something off about all of this.”

“It might be stupid,” Pearl stepped forward to make a point. “But it’s the best we’ve got. Can’t be more stupid than whatever Avid did to piss those bloodsuckers off so bad.”

Pearl looked around the circle. Abolish and Legs still looked uncertain, but stayed quiet. Cleo looked hesitantly determined, and everyone else was solid with resolution.

Pearl smiled in determination and waited with the town for Apo to return.

They could get through this.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

As soon as a bat flew over the walls of Oakhurst, the town all rushed forward. They had all been waiting outside, their minds were too focused on what Apo discovered to consider anything else.

“What did you find?” Sausage called out before cursing under his breath. “Wait, firstly, are you Apo?”

“Yes,” Apo sighed as they turned back into a humanoid and landed gingerly on the ground. “It’s me.” Finally, some answers. Pearl thought as she moved to be beside her housemate.

“What did you find?” Drift’s voice was laced with concern and a hunger for answers. Pearl smelled the fear wafting off of her. “Did they say anything? Did you see Avid anywhere on the journey?”

“I’ll tell you what I’ve found,” Apo huffed, hands clenched at her sides. Anger clouded the air around them. “Those jerks are holding Avid hostage somewhere hidden!”

Gasps of shock flooded through the town. What? Pearl found herself stunned in disbelief. What sort of game was the coven trying to play here? Apo seemed to wait for everyone to murmur before settling down– Pearl certainly anticipated it– but it became apparent that everyone else was in the same boat of confusion and shock. No murmuring occurred.

“They’re toying with us!” Apo cried, rage cracked through her voice. “I think they’re just looking for an excuse to tear us apart so they can turn more of us. They must be hoping that the stress they’re applying will tear us apart!”

“Those bastards!” Cleo shouted. “I’m sick of them.”

“We need to all calm down,” Legundo brought out his even and direct tone. “If that is really the vampires’ goal, then we need to remain level-headed and stick together. We shouldn’t fall for their plan. This event should bring us closer together. We can get through this.”

“And sticking together means we gotta accept any people of Oakhurst that happen to be vampires,” Martyn added, sounding a bit dejected. “I’m sorry, Apo. I trust you.”

“Thank you,” Apo smiled and let out a small sigh of relief. “I trust you, too.”

“While we’re at it,” Cleo stepped forward. They looked back at Pearl. Pearl smiled and gave her a proud, reassuring nod. I’ve got your back, roomie. “I’m also a vampire. I got turned on the bridge while me and Martyn were fighting the vampires.”

“I had a feeling,” Abolish broke the uneasy silence before it could truly begin.

“Thank you for telling us, Cleo,” Legundo stepped in before anyone else could voice an opinion. “We need everyone to be honest about their status as a human or vampire. The only way we can get through this is if we all have faith and put our wholehearted trust into one another. As soon as this is all over, we can have more conversations about everything. But for now, the coven’s plans should be our main focus.”

Pearl shot Cleo a thumbs up as the vampire smiled and walked back beside her. Pearl reached out and gave Cleo’s hand a squeeze.

“So, that’s it?” Abolish broke the nice moment. “The vampires took Avid and are pretending that we’re keeping him from them?”

“Hold on!” Sausage chimed in. “This whole situation is very weird to me. I’ve been writing everything down and trying to put it all together on my own, but something isn’t adding up.”

Everyone turned their full attention to Sausage, eager to hear more. Pearl knew she was certainly curious. What could they be missing? She tilted her head and tapped a finger to her face in thought.

“What do ya mean, lad?” Ren added, curiosity audible in his thick unidentifiable accent. “What don’tcha know?”

“See,” Sausage pulled out a notebook and flipped through it. “There’s something fishy about our conversations with the vampires. Especially after what Apo’s just told us.” He held up a log of their various exchanges with the coven. Pearl squinted at the areas he’d highlighted, and she noticed it too.

“Why are they acting like Avid is so important to them?” Pearl took the notebook and read through their past exchanges. “I remember how they were talking, and that was genuine stuff. They want– no– they downright need him for something.”

“But why is their anger so genuine if they’re the ones who have him?” Abolish took the book and skimmed through the pages. “Sausage is right. There’s something really weird about all of this. It feels like we’re missing something.”

“Oh, and get this,” Apo suddenly piped up. “Scott wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Has anyone seen him the past few days?”

Apo’s question was met with a lengthy silence before Legundo spoke up.

“He’s more inclined to stay in the castle though,” Legundo took the notes from Abolish and methodically went through Sausage’s logs. “It’s not necessarily absurd for no one to see him around in that long, but…”

“The timing is weird,” Martyn finished. “Do you guys think…”

“Scott’s the one holding Avid hostage somewhere?” Pearl completed, continuing the chain of synced ideas. “Because someone has to keep an eye on him if they’re in a secondary location…”

“That would explain why Owen has been left in charge,” Apo added. Huh? That was certainly an addition. “If Scott is away keeping Avid, they’d need someone aggressive to keep them all on track.”

“Yeah,” Martyn nodded. “Owen as leader is pretty dangerous.”

“Aye, we need to find young Avid as soon as we can,” Ren chimed in. “Those ‘pires be violent, don’tcha know?”

“Do you think they’ve turned him?!” Drift spoke up, sounding awfully distraught. She sure had been quiet for most of this conversation. Pearl didn’t blame her. If Cleo was missing, Pearl would be similarly stressed. “Poor Avid!”

“No,” Cleo interrupted. “He hasn’t been turned, me and Apo would have sensed a new vampire and gone to investigate by now.”

“Vampires can sense new blood,” Apo stepped in to elaborate. “We can tell exactly where they are for a few minutes after the event. It would be more than enough time for me and Cleo to have gotten over there and caught him.”

Drift let out a shaky sigh of relief. At least that was settled. Pearl didn’t mention that the information given couldn’t confirm if Avid was still alive. It wouldn’t be helpful for the moment. They needed to remain hopeful.

Pearl frowned. Despite all the breakthroughs they were making, something was off about them. She couldn’t shake this feeling in her gut that they were getting something wrong. Something in her brain desperately insisted on a fundamental absence in their understanding. Like they were missing the very core of the apple.

But what was that core? Pearl wished she knew.

All she could say for certain was it wouldn’t take long for her to find out.

Whether that be by her own hand, or the falling of the final grains of sand in their metaphorical hourglass; she will find out.

Pearl prayed for the town’s sake that it would be the former.

She went home to brandish her stakes. This was going to get interesting.

Pearl would make sure of it.

Chapter Text

Avid looked up at the stars as night fell. He hadn’t been getting much sleep the past few days. But really, who could blame him? The only place to rest was uneven obsidian flooring. Even when he took off his vest and tried to use it as a pillow, discomfort was all that his skin was met with. Every attempt at sleep had yielded pains in his back, neck, and shoulders. He was sure the lack of rest was horrible for his concussion.

“What’s got you moving so much?” Scott’s voice cut through the quiet night air. Right, Scott was probably very annoyed by his tossing and turning.

“Sorry–” Avid tried to get comfortable once more, but his attempt was in vain. “It’s just– ugh– so uncomfortable! I can’t sleep.”

“Hm…” Scott was quiet for a few moments before continuing softly. “Come here.”

“Okay?” Avid fumbled through the darkness on all fours until he met Scott’s hand.

Scott laughed softly. “I forgot you can’t see in the dark like me.” Scott’s hand found Avid’s shoulder and guided him closer.

“What’s the plan here?” Avid felt his pulse quicken. Anxiety, probably? He felt uncertain on the full nature of his nerves.

“I’m sure I’m more comfortable than the floor,” Scott brought Avid to his side. “I don’t need sleep, it’ll be no trouble for me in that regard.”

“Whoa–” Avid coughed, stifling the fit that threatened to rush through the opening it left. Avid composed himself, discomfort being replaced by a flushed embarrassment. “What?!”

“It will be like day one,” Scott mused. “You can rest your head on my legs. I could even be so generous as to offer you my cloak as a blanket.”

“Huh?!” Avid squeaked. He shoved down his guesses as to why he was having such a reaction to the idea. “I– what?! And– wha… why?!”

“I don’t get what’s confusing about this,” Scott sighed, his hand made its way to Avid’s shoulder and he began idly tracing circles into his skin. The action made Avid’s face burn. “You need to rest if you want to heal and function properly. If it’s that easy, why wouldn’t I make sure that could happen?”

“I– uh,” Avid stifled another cough. Hopefully Scott didn’t notice. “Okay.”

Avid stiffly laid down across Scott’s lap, face definitely redder than Scott’s eyes. He shuffled for a few moments, trying to get comfortable as well as not rest in a way that would be awkward. As soon as he did settle, Scott’s cloak was draped across his back. It wasn’t warm, but it was still nice.

If Avid was being honest, Scott’s lack of body heat was nice in this situation. A consistently cool pillow on his face.

“Can I help you with the blood stuck in your hair?” Scott whispered, carding his hand through Avid’s hair. The action made Avid’s breath hitch. “It’ll be easier for you to deal with when we get out of here.”

“Yeah,” Avid somehow choked out. “That’s fine.”

Scott hummed in approval before delicately moving his hands to the area around Avid’s head wound. Avid felt Scott’s careful fingers delicately pinch and remove any scabbing that had caught in hair and wasn’t attached to flesh. Scott’s other hand gently ran through other sections of Avid’s hair. It was unnervingly calming.

He felt so safe.

Before Avid knew it, his eyes grew heavy and the world around him began to tune itself out.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Scott was glad he could finally fix Avid’s hair. It had been bothering him. Partially because it would drive Scott crazy if he had something stuck in his hair that long, but another part of him just wanted to help Avid. Scott acknowledged that part of him with polite grace, but did not make it a priority.

Scott frowned as he noticed something off about this night in particular. It took him a few minutes to place it, but when he did figure it out, it was all he could focus on.

Avid’s breathing. It was ragged and pained, nothing like when Scott had observed when they had first fallen.

Scott frowned and caressed Avid’s hair in an even softer manner. Avid sighed softly in his sleep, but it did little to aid his breathing difficulties. That can’t be good. Scott hoped he hadn’t injured something crucial, or heaven forbid Avid have an infection.

Well, if Avid wasn’t well, they’d need to get out of the pit as soon as possible. Avid really dug their own grave here, but Scott was determined to get both of them out in one piece.

Plus, it didn’t take a genius to assume the coven was fumbling around. None of them had experience as a vampire for more than a month. While Owen had technically been around for over two-hundred years, he was unconscious for most of that time. Scott was the only vampire there who truly knew what he was doing. The fledglings were no doubt stressed without someone to guide them.

And what was Oakhurst thinking? Were they working together to look for the two of them? Were they fighting and blaming each other? Did the town even care that Avid was missing? The last Scott had heard, Avid wasn’t the most popular at the moment.

Scott looked down at Avid’s sleeping face and smiled softly.

“If they don’t let you back in, I’ll let you stay with me,” Scott promised, despite no one being present to hear it. Avid could learn if it came down to it, but for now, an unknown oath was just fine. “Turns out you’re not the absolute worst, hm?”

Scott continued messing with Avid’s hair and whispering reassurances until his breathing soothed. As soon as Scott was certain was resting safely, he began humming to himself as he waited for day.

This was better than sitting around doing nothing anyway.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

If one assumed that the people of Oakhurst were done with their stupidity, they’d be horribly mistaken.

It was the last day before the hour the vampires declared they would storm town and rain havoc in bloody retribution for a crime uncommitted.

A crime that the coven made up.

Yeah, Pearl didn’t really buy that.

It couldn't be so simple. Pearl thought all night as she readied her stakes. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was some horrible mistake leading to all of these inconsistencies.

Pearl had tried bringing it up, but everyone in town was too stressed to listen. The vampires had made an appearance early that morning to tell the people of Oakhurst that they’d be arriving at midnight. So of course everyone would be too panicked, ergo, distracted to entertain Pearl’s doubts.

It seemed that Pearl would have to take matters into her own hands.

She loaded up a bag with plenty of food, garlic, and silver and set off to leave.

“Bye, Cleo!” Pearl called out before she left the house. She didn’t want to worry her roommate by disappearing out of nowhere! “I’m heading out of town early to look for Avid. Don’t worry about me, ‘kay?”

“Yeah,” Cleo waved a hand dismissively as she rooted through their chests. “Be safe out there.”

“I’m always safe!” Pearl chirped as she closed the door and set out. “I’m Pearl!”

And with that, Pearl skipped out of town towards the castle.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl made her way across the bridge and stopped before the door. She had been hoping that she would find Avid on the way, but she couldn’t complain too much.

Pearl brought her hand up and cheerfully gave the polished wood a few friendly taps.

“Leave this place, Apo,” Owen’s voice came through the door. “We won’t be tolerating your nonsense again.”

“I’m not Apo,” Pearl said, shaking her head, despite Owen not being able to see her. Unless vampires could see through walls... That would be cool! Not likely, but cool! Though, if they could see through walls, he’d know she wasn’t Apo. Eh, oh well.

“...” Owen was silent for a few moments before the door swung open. “Pearl?! Why did they send you here?”

“Oh,” Pearl snorted. “There’s no they that sent me– I’m here on my own! Can I come in?”

“Are you mocking us?” Owen hissed after the question.

“Nah,” Pearl shook her head. “Just being polite. Manners and all that. It would probably be easier to sit down and talk about this if we’re inside anyway.”

Owen stared at Pearl, his glare remaining cold and suspicious.

Pearl stared back, her smile never wavering.

“So…” Pearl coughed awkwardly, still smiling. She held out a hand. “What do you say?”

“Put your hand down,” Owen sighed as he opened the door fully, stepping aside to let Pearl in. “I’m not touching you.”

“Fine by me!” Pearl giggled as she skipped inside the castle. The last time she was here it was in ruin, and boy had it changed since then. “Wow! I love what you guys did with the place. Fancy!”

“Are we going to talk?” Owen grumbled, following behind Pearl.

“We are right now, aren’t we?” Pearl laughed, keeping her lead. She paid no mind to Owen attempting to pass her and lead the way.

“Pearl…” Owen practically growled.

“Right,” Pearl slowed down to let Owen take charge. No reason to keep pissing him off. It wasn’t the time for fun and games. “I’d like to discuss details on this whole deal we’ve got going on.”

“We’ve made ourselves quite clear,” Owen glowered. “Return him today by midnight or you shall see carnage. l–”

“No, no,” Pearl cut him off, ignoring how much it clearly upset Owen. “That’s not what I’m confused about.”

“What?” Owen’s face somehow got even angrier. “What could you possibly find confusing about this? And don’t give me any of that ‘we don’t know where he is’ business. It’s getting old.”

“Why do you guys think it’s a lie?” Pearl questioned. “For arguments sake, please, humor me for just a sec?”

“It’s getting late, Pearl,” Owen scoffed, tossing his hair. “Hurry up with it.”

“Well, there’s a lot of things that are unclear here,” Pearl started, thinking back to the notes Sausage took, the interactions Oakhurst had with the coven, the inconsistencies. “I’d like to know what Avid did that’s made you this upset– I’m sure that’d be helpful to know. Like, I understand that this is a reverse hostage situation, but what’s up with all the genuine feels out there?”

“What?” Owen’s face scrunched up. “Is Avid the one who took him?”

“Woah, okay,” Pearl’s eyes widened. “We’re getting somewhere way off from what we were thinking. Who did Avid take?”

“Scott,” Owen deadpanned. “The whole reason we’re doing this? Because you guys– Avid– took Scott? Do you mean to imply that you were not involved in any of this?”

Pearl couldn’t respond, too shaken and confused by what she was hearing. This changed everything, and she needed to put pieces together fast.

“Your silence brings me doubt,” Owen huffed, his face darkening. “I can’t see any way Avid could have captured such a powerful vampire on his own, anyway.”

“No, no!” Pearl tried to get her bearings back and catch Owen up to speed. “I swear, none of us knew about this!”

“Oh really?” Owen’s expression remained cold. “Prove it.”

“I don’t know how I’m meant to prove it,” Pearl tapped her foot on the ground in thought. “But I need to tell you something that I feel will get us all on the same page– pretty sure I’m in chapter five and everybody else is still in chapter two.”

“Spit it out, then,” Owen raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued, but definitely not convinced of anything. “What is it you mean to tell me?”

“What I mean to tell you,” Pearl begins. “Is that we haven’t seen Av–”

“Owen?!” Shelby’s voice called from the other room. “It’s time to go! It’s almost midnight!”

“This was…” Owen’s fists shook. “Was this a ploy to distract me?!”

“No!” Pearl cried, waving her arms around in desperation to finish her thought. “I think that Avid and Scott are–”

Pearl was cut off by a kick landing right between her shoulderblades. She crashed into the ground with a loud thunk.

She tried to prop herself up but a sharp stabbing pain in her collarbone forced her back down. Shit. The fall had broken it. Pearl glanced behind her and saw Pyro, who was glaring down at her along with Owen.

“We’ll deal with you after we slaughter everyone else,” Pyro stared at Pearl as though she were a cockroach in a kitchen. Disgust, hatred, and annoyance. “I hope that hurt.”

“Suffer,” Owen disappeared with a final, bitter word. Pyro sneered and seemed to dissipate into the air.

“Wait!” Pearl yelled out. “Avid and Scott are both missing! We need to look for them together!”

Pearl waited for a response but was met with silence and pain on the hardwood floor.

They hadn’t heard her.

She needed to make them listen.

Pearl forced herself off the ground, white hot pain shooting through her entire torso.

But pain was dead-last on her list of priorities.

She needed to find Avid and Scott.

Now.

Pearl pulled an axe out of her bag and made her way to the front door.

Time to hunt.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid woke up feeling better than he had in weeks. His sleep was actually restful, and the nightmares that had been present were already lost in his memory. It was nice.

He sighed and turned over to face the sky as he opened his eyes.

“Oh, good!” Scott grinned down at him. “You’re finally awake.”

Scott’s tone was as sassy and unbothered as ever, but Avid had learned to appreciate it. Despite the princess energy it gave off, Avid found comfort in the words being said and the cloudy intentions behind it. Who knew if Scott was being genuine or not with such a consistent cadence.

Avid didn’t really care anymore.

“Morning, Scott,” Avid sat up and stretched. “Did anything happen while I was asleep?”

“Other than you being weird with your breathing?” Scott started. Avid’s blood ran cold. “Nothing much. Oh yeaaaaah! Your breathing was weird. Is that a ‘normal’ for you thing or a ‘tell Legs as soon as you return’ emergency thing?”

“Uh…” Avid coughed, but this time, he couldn’t contain the episode. He hacked and coughed until his throat went raw. His vision darkened, his hearing muffled, and his hands shook.

“Avid,” Scott’s voice cut through the episode and the shaking stopped instantly. Avid’s deep, painful coughs had softened to something passable as a clearing of the throat. “Are you alright? Are you dying?”

“Oof,” Avid started, shaking thanks to nerves rather than sickness this time. “What a question…”

Avid paused for a minute or two. Maybe even five. He lost track. But Scott never pushed, only crossing his arms and watching him carefully with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes,” Avid sighed, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He pushed them back. “I’m sick. But it’s okay. I’m okay. I’ll… I’ll fix this.”

“Being a vampire cures all sickness,” Scott casually checked his claws. “Just something to think about. That’s why Owen turned, you know.”

Avid did not know. Or maybe he did? He hadn’t really been listening to Owen’s desperate depressive monologues.

Vampirism cured all sicknesses..?

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Avid forced a laugh, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. “I’m okay right now.” I’ll think about it.

“Alright,” Scott shrugged. “I don’t blame you, I guess. The perks are great, but not everyone can handle the hunger.”

Right. Scott was probably in agony right now. He hadn’t eaten in a long time. Avid considered his options and his face went red.

“Let me know if you change your mind, though,” Scott mused, apparently not noticing Avid’s turmoil. “Being a vampire is great, and you’ve proven you wouldn’t be miserable to be around for all of eternity.”

“That’s…” Avid coughed, looking anywhere but Scott. “A long time. Thanks?”

“Don’t mention it,” Scott grinned. “You’re the one who proved himself. You should be more proud about your accomplishments,” Scott paused for a moment and squinted at Avid, which only made his chest tighten further. “Your heart’s going really fast. Do you need to lay back down?”

“Are you hungry?” Avid blurted out before he could think about it any longer.

Scott looked taken aback by Avid’s question. His mouth open in shock for a few moments before finally moving again. “Yes? Of course I’m hungry. Wha–”

“You can take some of my blood!” Avid shouted, feeling his face burn. Wow, he must be really nervous about this. “You gave me potatoes! And you’re hungry! You need food too!”

“Are you certain?” Scott’s question sounded sincere, but his body was completely still. No doubt keeping restraint until receiving confirmation.

“Yeah,” Avid looked away, face burning. “It’s fine! I thought about it! You can drink my blood! As long as you don’t kill me or turn me– or whatever! Please, just go for it!”

“You have my word,” Scott’s voice was right next to his ear, making him shiver. Scott had covered so much ground in such a small amount of time. Something about that was driving Avid crazy. Fear. It was definitely fear.

Before Avid could think about rolling up his sleeve or something, he felt cold air hit his shoulder. He jolted and whipped his head around to face Scott.

“Sorry,” Scott started, moving back. “Should I–?”

“Nope!” Avid forced another laugh. “Neck is fine, you can bite my neck! Whatever is easier! … haha…”

Scott raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything on it.

And that’s how Avid found himself wrapped in Scott’s arms, fangs centimeters from the meat of his shoulder.

Avid held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut.

The prick of fangs wasn’t nearly as bad as he expected. It was actually kind of…

NOPE.

Avid wasn’t in the mood for thinking too deeply on things right then. Not with Scott’s teeth in his flesh. He needed to focus on staying calm as Scott fed.

Avid tried to ignore the sensation of his blood being consumed. The feeling of numbness that washed through the area. The way Scott held him so closely. It was… nice.

Avid would have preferred it to be scary.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

As soon as his fangs pierced Avid’s skin, Scott heard Avid’s breath hitch and his heart sped up even more.

It was already incredibly quick, but it was somehow getting even faster. The poor hunter must have been incredibly terrified.

Still, Avid was reacting more positively to the experience than Scott had originally assumed. Scott had been prepared for Avid to immediately back out, maybe before Scott even bit him. But shockingly, Avid seemed to be relaxing into it.

Scott saved the thought for later. Right now, all he could think about was how good it felt to finally eat something. The bottles of blood were gone for what felt like ages, and nothing was as good as human blood.

The red liquid coated his tongue and throat as the agony of weakness Scott had been feeling calmed. He sighed in relief and detached his fangs for a moment.

“Still good?” Scott asked. He certainly didn’t want his company passing out on him.

“Yeah,” Avid responded almost immediately, but his voice shook a bit. “You can keep doing that for a little while.”

“Mm, okay,” Scott brought his mouth back up to the bite and caught the escaped blood with his tongue before continuing his meal. Avid gasped again but Scott was too distracted to care.

Scott continued to drink until Avid tapped him on the shoulder. Scott hummed in acknowledgement and removed his fangs once again. He pulled one last mouthful from the wound and licked it until it stopped bleeding.

“!” Avid made a shocked noise that sounded like a strangled combination of a shriek and a squeak. “Was that necessary?!”

“If you want the bite to heal faster and not hurt for ages, yeah?” Scott raised an eyebrow. Avid was a vampire hunter, shouldn’t he know these things? “Vampire saliva can seal wounds, too. It also acts as a minor painkiller.”

“Oh,” Avid said so quietly it was hard to hear. “I didn’t know that one. Thanks.”

“I should be the one thanking you,” Scott reached over and fixed Avid’s shirt. “Your blood was delicious, and I really needed food.”

“Oh– I–” Avid started stammering. “I, uh, don’t know how to respond to the, um, comment on how my blood tastes– but, um, no problem! …on the food thing. Yeah.”

“Did I take too much?” Scott smirked. Scott knew what was happening now. “You’re acting awfully strange! Perhaps the blood loss is messing with you. Here, lay back down!”

“Okay,” Avid said much too quickly. Avid’s heart started racing again. Scott beamed, he had been correct. “I’m going to eat first though.”

“Of course!” Scott clasped his hands together. “You need food to recover! Eat up and then rest your head, hm?” Scott smiled as he patted his thigh.

Avid pulled out the last baked potato from his inventory and started eating at an alarming speed.

“Thanks, Scott,” Avid blurted as he swiftly rested his head on Scott’s lap. “You’re amazing.”

Compliments? Scott’s day had just gone from good, to better, to best in only an hour or so.

The pit had just become worlds more fun.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Oakhurst had only minutes until midnight. Legundo had hoped it wouldn’t have come down to this, but it had slowly become incredibly obvious that their flimsy plan would have to be set in motion.

Legundo watched as Apo sharped their sword. Everyone else looked around the gathering, grim expressions conveying all everyone needed to know.

“Apo,” Cleo started, her face tight and voice stiff with resolution. “Let’s go meet the vampires in the middle. We can try to talk them out of it. Give our neighbors time to set final preparations for the attack.”

“I–” Apo’s eyebrows furrowed. “… Okay. It’s worth a shot.”

“Yeah,” Martyn’s voice was detached and resigned. “The rest of us will finish setting up. Go buy us some time.”

Legundo found himself nodding along, despite the sourness of the lie invading his gut. He would have preferred if it hadn’t come down to this. If Owen had only listened when he had tried to talk with him, he was sure they could have talked things out.

“Wait!” Sausage called out, looking around frantically. “Where’s Pearl?”

“Oh,” Cleo waved a hand nonchalantly. “She went out to do one last sweep, she’ll be back any moment now.”

The town was dead silent for a viscous minute before horror settled on people’s faces. Cleo’s face darkened and their fists clenched at their sides.

“Apo?” Cleo prepared to leap.

“Yeah?” Apo copied their action.

“Let’s go find my roommate.” Cleo declared, finality in her voice.

“I have a guess as to where she is,” Apo nodded.

“Me too.”

And with that, the two vampires of Oakhurst leapt over the wall and disappeared into the night. Martyn scrambled up the wall and peered over the edge.

“Alright, everyone! Move!” Martyn barked, shoving a bulb of garlic into his mouth. “Go! Go! Go! Cleo and Apo are out of sight!”

Everyone instantly shot into action. Sausage was already running one way, sword in one hand, half consumed garlic in the other. Ren had already snuck out though the back of the town. Martyn hoisted a bag over his shoulder and ran off in his predetermined direction. Abolish grabbed a lantern and stood in front of the tower in the center of town. Drift gave Legs one last nod before running in her direction.

Legundo grumbled a few curses as he picked up his medical bag and began making his way to the obelisk. He hoped he wouldn’t need to use it.

But knowing his luck?

This was going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

Cleo was sick and tired of these damn vampires.

Apo and Cleo had found and stopped Shelby and Pyro on their way to Oakhurst. It deeply concerned Cleo that Owen wasn’t present.

“Stop this,” Apo snarled. “Go back home or tell us what you really want!”

“We’ve told you enough times!” Pyro shrieked. “We want you to tell us where our sire is!”

“Your sire?” Cleo questioned, hands now on her hips. “Changing your story, are we? Don’t toy with us. Where do you have him and why all this nonsense?”

“NONSENSE?!” Pyro screamed. “NONSENSE?! You lot have been nothing but evasive, sneaky, lying worms this entire ordeal. We know you have him, and we are SICK– SICK AND TIRED– of you TOYING with us.”

“Why would we lie about this for so long?” Apo’s voice dripped with exasperation. Cleo shared the feeling. “It would be stupid. Why are you still playing this up?”

“An elder vampire doesn’t just go missing,” Pyro started. “There’s no way you don’t…”

Pyro trailed off and the vampires all fell silent as an instinctual call sank into their skin.

Cleo had never felt it before now, but they knew what it was instantly.

New blood.

Cleo jerked her head toward the origin of the sensation. They glanced around the group and found everyone else staring in the same direction.

The pale oak forest.

“TELEPORT! TELEPORT!” The coven’s voices all mixed together, their desperation and strangled emotion rang through the air.

Did Owen turn someone? It was only Pyro and Shelby in front of them. Or was it Scott?

Shelby and Pyro disappeared, leaving three clouds of smoke.

“Ugh,” Apo groaned, but her face was pale and their eyes were wide. “We can’t teleport, we need to bat over to town and find out who’s missing– now!”

“Why is someone out that far?!” Apo tugged at her hair. “Why would someone go out at a time like this?!”

Cleo turned into a bat and the two of them flew to town as quickly as possible. Panic set into Cleo’s entire body as they rushed through town.

“Town meeting!” Apo shouted. “NOW!”

Abolish stepped out from behind the tower.

“Nobody’s home,” He stated, clear as day. The lantern in his hand created wild shadows on his face, highlighting his grim expression. “They’re all out searching for Avid.”

“What?!” Apo looked furious. “Why?!”

“Fuck! Right!” Cleo put their face in their hands. “Literally everyone is split up in different sections of the woods. We need to follow the trail! There’s no way to tell who it is unless we see them!”

“Are you all idiots?!” Apo yelled.

“We can talk later. We need to move!” Cleo turned into a bat and flew in the direction of the fresh vampire.

The flapping of wings behind them told them that Apo was close behind.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

This was getting old.

Avid grumbled as he leaned up against Scott, who made a performative sound of faux annoyance as he wrapped an arm around Avid.

The fact that Scott didn’t have body heat wasn’t strange to Avid anymore. He found comfort in it now. Maybe he shouldn’t, but he did.

Avid closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the crisp night air.

“Scott?” Avid adjusted his position to fit more comfortably under the vampire’s arm.

“Hm?” Scott turned his head to face Avid. God, his eyes were gorgeous. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” Avid quickly looked away. “I’m just– really bored.”

Scott made a soft sound of recognition. “Makes sense. Not much to do in here.”

“We can talk,” Avid offered.

“That might be nice,” Scott smiled. “What’s on your mind?”

“I guess I’m just concerned about what everyone else has been up to,” Avid began fidgeting with his sleeves as anxiety leaked into his mind. “I mean, we don’t know anything about what Oakhurst or the coven have been doing these past few days– are they even looking for us?! Well, they’d definitely look for you, but would they look for me?! Drift might, but–”

“Shh, shh, slow down,” Scott gently shushed Avid. Avid wanted to hate how well it worked to calm his nerves. He couldn’t. “I have no doubt everyone is worried sick about either one of us. And if they kick you out, you can stay with me.”

“In the castle?” Avid asked incredulously. Was Scott seriously offering that? “Like, join the coven?”

“Only if you want to,” Scott gave a half shrug, careful not to jostle Avid. Avid’s face flushed from the consideration. “I hate being just a backup plan, but…” Scott smiled down at Avid. “You’re fine. You could stay.”

“Oh, wow,” Avid’s face burned. Scott had barely complimented him, but the sweet gesture along with Scott’s own habits on giving out compliments really hit Avid hard. “Thank you, Scott. You’re… amazing.”

“Thank you!” Scott perked up at the compliment, his crimson eyes practically sparkling. His cadence with the words were a familiar cheerful chirp. Avid loved the way it made him swoon. “I know. I’m great.”

“Okay,” Avid sighed, scooting closer to the hot vampire. “But for real, I am concerned about the town. We should talk about it. I’ll be cool.”

“Alright,” Scott pulled Avid closer and cradled him in a hug. “Let’s talk, then.”

“Ah–” Avid’s face went beet red.

“Hm?” Scott loosened his grip. “Is this not fine?”

“No!” Avid shouted, Scott flinched from the sound. “Sorry! I meant– it’s fine! I was just surprised.” Avid laughed awkwardly and laid his head against Scott’s chest, which only worsened the burning in his face.

“Good,” Scott huffed in approval. “Now that we’re comfortable, do tell me what’s on your mind. Calmly, this time.”

“I’m just–” Avid made a noise in frustration. Scott pulled him closer in response. It did wonders to calm him down. “What’s been happening? I know I sound like a broken record here, I really do, but it’s just that– we don’t know anything– now that I think about it, we know nothing!”

“I’m sure Oakhurst has some levelheaded folk to keep everyone’s heads on straight,” Scott mused. “And I’d like to believe that Shelby is keeping Owen and Pyro in check.”

“What if they’re fighting?” Avid wrapped his own arms around Scott. “Oh, god, Scott… What if someone’s been killed? Or turned–?”

“No,” Scott cut him off. “There haven’t been any new vampires. No one has been turned in the time we’ve been down here.”

“But how do you know that?” Avid’s eyebrows furrowed in worry. “As much as I appreciate the positive thinking, we can’t ignore the possibility.”

“Nope,” Scott shook his head. “Vampires can sense new blood. I would know exactly when and where a turning happened, if one occurred.”

“So…” Avid’s brain started running through ideas. “It’s like a tracker? Or a beacon?”

“Of sorts,” Scott shrugs. “You’re drawn to the area. It lasts for a good amount of time, too. Plenty of opportunity to hunt down and find who’s been turned.”

“So you’re saying,” Avid pushed himself up to make eye contact with Scott. “Is that if someone were to be turned right now, all the vampires would immediately go to the area where it happened?”

“More like the new vampire,” said Scott, not quite catching on to Avid’s plan just yet. “But, yes.”

“Scott?”

“Yes?”

“Turn me.”

“What?” Scott straightened his posture and grabbed Avid’s shoulders. “What?!”

“You said it yourself,” Avid held his eye contact. He couldn’t make out much of Scott’s face in the darkness, but his red eyes were easy to see. Maybe it was vampire magic? “All the vampires would know exactly where we are. They’ll come running over and they can get us out of here.”

“Are you sure?” Scott gripped Avid’s shoulders even tighter.

“Yes, Scott,” Avid broke eye contact. “This isn’t just for getting out, either. I’m sick. Sicker than I let on. I… I think I’m out of time anyway. I’ve thought it over enough. Let’s do this. The coven needs you. And… I’m tired and half-dead already.”

Scott stared at him for a few more seconds before plunging his face into the crook of Avid’s neck. Avid gasped as teeth sank into his flesh once again.

His vision got dark and stars flashed through his vision. The experience wasn’t nearly as pleasant as when Scott wasn’t completely draining him.

“Scott–” Avid managed with a wince. “Can you make it fast?”

Scott sharply adjusted and a sudden deep feeling of wrong flooded Avid’s shoulder, neck, and face. He felt blood rush through much quicker. His vision loss quickened and his brain began feeling cloudy. Avid felt the world go cold and dark.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

After what felt like hours, Avid awoke with a hand over his eyes. The pain in his shoulder, neck, and head was completely gone. He reached up to move the hand.

“Oh good,” Scott’s voice whispered, though the sound still made Avid’s now pointed ears flatten against his head. “You’re up faster than I expected. You went down quickly after I cut your artery. I should try that more often when turning.”

“How long was I down?” Avid questioned, trying to move Scott’s hand. “Why are you covering my eyes?”

“About a minute,” Scott whispered, slightly louder this time. “You’re not used to being able to see in the dark, it’s going to be really bright. You’ve still got that concussion most likely, and whatever is muting our powers right now is not going to be kind to your adjustment.”

“Just rip the band-aid off,” Avid sighed.

Scott’s hand hesitantly moved from Avid’s face and he immediately missed it. Scott was right. His eyes instantly started hurting. Avid made a pained noise and turned into Scott’s grasp.

He could see Scott now.

He could see how Scott already had his arms open for him.

He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his face into Scott’s shoulder.

“It’ll be over soon,” Scott soothed. “You’ll adjust. Give it a little time.”

Avid hoped it was the truth.

…

And the truth it was.

In just a few minutes, Avid felt worlds better. It still wasn’t pleasant, but he was more accustomed to it now.

“Scott?!” A faint voice called out in the distance. Avid stood up abruptly and looked at Scott. Scott stood up and grabbed Avid’s arm. The two of them made silent eye contact before scrambling to the side.

“I’m over here!” Scott called out.

Shelby peered over the edge and their face lit up instantly.

“SCOTT!” She practically screamed, relief and joy tearing through her face. “OWEN! PYRO! I FOUND HIM!”

The two other vampires appeared at the edge almost instantly. Avid observed their expressions. Concern, relief, and tears painted their faces. It was surreal. The creatures he had been preaching had no feelings were all worried sick; In literal tears at Scott’s return.

They all looked so different. Their outfits had changed into darker tones with an emphasis on red. Their hair had all turned different shades of shiny white. But their faces, their demeanor– was all the same.

“Why did you turn him?” Owen’s hands shook, his face twisting into hatred.

“Owen,” Avid started. “I’m sorry. I was wrong, and I know you can’t forgive me–”

“He’s fine in my books now,” Scott shrugged, cutting Avid’s apology off as he wrapped an arm around Avid. “So do me a favor and tolerate him until we can have a proper chat about this.”

Pyro reached a hand down towards Scott.

“Nope,” Scott wagged his finger at the group and scooped Avid up into his arms. “Him first. Be nice.”

“WHAT?!” Avid, Shelby, Pyro, and Owen all shouted in tandem.

“Do what I said,” Scott rolled his eyes and held Avid up. The vampires looked around uncertainly before hoisting Avid out of the pit.

As soon as Avid was on the higher ground, the other vampires reached down and pulled Scott out as well.

Avid’s eyes widened as he saw the coven all break into a group hug. Shelby was crying, Pyro looked like he might, and Owen was facing away.

It was a soft moment. Softer than Avid originally thought possible for the coven.

But he had been wrong about a lot of things.

Avid smiled and started walking to town.

“Hold on,” Scott called. “Wait up.”

“Hm?” Avid tilted his head.

“You better turn into a bat and fly with us for a bit,” Scott pulled Avid away from the pit and deeper into the woods. “Unless you want Cleo and Apo to learn that you were the one that just turned.”

“CLEO AND APO ARE VAMPIRES?!” Avid gawked. Avid had heard suspicions on Cleo, but this was his first confirmation. And Apo?

“Yes,” Scott sighed. “And they’re going to know you are too if you don’t run right now.”

Scott turned into a bat, the rest of the coven following suit.

“Stay with us,” Shelby chirped. “We’ll fly around and lose them, that way you can keep it a secret.”

“Um,” Avid looked around before fumbling to turn into a bat. It was easier said than done. “Okay! Okay! I’m doing it!”

He fumbled a few more times before his body morphed into a tiny chiroptera. The coven cheered and welcomed him into the flying formation. This was nicer than he thought!

The wind hitting his skin was like nothing he had ever felt before. The rush of the night fueled him to his core. Maybe it was getting away from that crystal, maybe it was being free of his curse. It didn’t matter. He felt so free. Weightless. He couldn’t help but let out an exhilarated laugh as they soared above the treeline.

“Make sure to be quiet,” Shelby warned from beside him. “Just in case–”

“Stop!” Cleo’s voice rang from over the trees as if on cue. Avid turned and saw two bats speeding towards them. “Who are you?!”

“Time to go!” Scott laughed. The coven sped off, Avid in tow.

Avid did his best to keep up with the coven’s turns and maneuvers. It was thrilling and he was catching on fast.

He caught himself almost cheering multiple times. He would be shrieking with joy if he wasn’t being chased. He needed to keep this a secret, and making any sound with his voice would give him away in a heartbeat.

“On your left,” Owen’s voice hissed.

Avid turned and saw a bat charging straight towards him. He squeaked and swooped down just in time. The bat morphed into Apo, who looked like she had been trying to bodyslam Avid.

“No!” Apo’s voice was muffled by the leaves as her humanoid form fell into the sea of trees.

Avid turned and saw Cleo still on their trail.

“They’ll run out of juice soon,” Pyro mumbled close to Avid. “She can’t chase us forever.”

Avid nodded as best he could as the tiny, winged creature he was and sped up to be closer to the rest of the coven.

The night wind soothed Avid’s skin and cleared his mind.

This wasn’t as bad as he thought.

It was amazing.

“The sense just wore off!” Shelby called. “Scatter!”

Avid swiftly ducked into the lake tower, hoping everyone else swooped in different directions.

“No!” Cleo’s voice screamed from above the trees. “Shit!”

Avid peered from one of the windows and watched as Cleo flew back towards town. As soon as she was out of sight, he morphed back into his humanoid state and leapt to the ground.

The rest of the coven appeared from the trees and met on the small island.

“Great work everyone,” Scott smiled, stretching his arms above his head.

The coven gave a weak cheer in response and followed Scott's lead. They casually stretched their arms and legs, shaking out the stored tension. Their shoulders disengaged, trading their rigid posture for something more nonchalant.

“Are you coming home with us?” Shelby grabbed Avid’s hands, eyes wide with hope. “Since you’re a vampire now? Please?”

“I think I’d better go back to town,” Avid laughed, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “They’ll probably riot if I don’t appear soon.”

“Oh,” Owen looked down. “Yeah, the town is… quite upset at the moment. We sort of thought that they were holding Scott hostage… and have sort of been… threatening them. A lot.”

“Y’know,” Shelby tapped her chin. “Looking back on this, they totally thought the same thing about us, huh?”

“Ah,” Owen and Pyro nodded in sync.

“Oh…” Shelby put their head in their palms. “We messed up real bad…”

“Oh god,” Avid cringed, picking up on their expressions. “Town is going to be interesting, then.”

Shelby, Pyro, and Owen all nodded.

“Great,” Avid groaned. “I don’t want to deal with this today. Everyone’s going to have so many questions, and I’m going to have to act tired because I am drenched in blood and have a concussion– Legs is going to see right through me!”

“I could help you look a bit weaker!” Scott chirped, a mischievous smirk painting his face. “I can siphon just enough to make you look rough, you go into town all genuinely tired, figure yourself out, and work from there.”

“I still don’t understand why we’re so supportive of this rat all of a sudden,” Owen snarled, shooting a glare at Avid. “Why are we helping him of all people?”

“Because I like him,” Scott smiled, keeping his everyday cadence, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Avid blushed– he could still do that?! However, before Avid could think too in depth about it, he felt a kiss being planted on his temple.

Avid would’ve screamed in delight if he wasn’t stunned and flustered to his very core.

Shelby, however, did not have these restrictions and squealed while jumping up and down. Meanwhile, Owen looked mortified, and Pyro wore an unreadable expression.

“Goodness me,” Owen muttered. “This is horrible. Truly dreadful. All kinds of awful. I hate this development.”

“Well,” Scott sighed, shaking his head. “You have an eternity to get used to it. But yeah, he’s mine now.”

Avid had no clue how Scott could say such things without his tone changing once.

It was… really hot, actually.

And he was allowed to think that now!

Being a vampire really wasn’t that bad at all.

“You guys are so cute!” Shelby shrieked. “This is just like a fanfiction I wrote in middle school!”

“You wrote a fanfiction of a vampire and a vampire hunter getting stuck in a miserable pit for like a week and they ended up together?” Scott raised an eyebrow. “That’s very specific.”

“Oh, no,” Shelby grinned. “Not exactly that, but it did have a vampire and a vampire hunter falling in love. It was very cute. And a little more than cute, too.”

“Okay,” Owen looked absolutely done with everything. “That’s it. I’m cutting this conversation off. The town is probably looking for us. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.” Owen turned and pointed at Avid. “You especially! We vampires have had our concerns quelled, but what of the town?! Of you?!”

“You’re right! You’re right!” Avid waved his hands around. “Scott, do your siphon thing or whatever–”

Scott happily obliged, sinking his teeth into Avid’s neck swiftly. Scott took several gulps of blood before sealing the wound with a kiss and a wink. Avid wasn’t sure if the dizziness was from the low blood level or the fact that Scott was flirting with him so openly.

“Is that good enough?” Scott tilted his head. Scott’s gorgeous eyes made Avid almost want to lie and tell him to take more. But Avid knew that was a bad idea.

“Yeah,” Avid stumbled a bit, but Scott caught his arm and steadied him. “I’m feeling pretty weak, but I’m not dying or anything. This is perfect for what I need.”

“Here!” Shelby shoved some glass bottles brimming with blood into Avid’s inventory. “Just in case.”

“Thanks, Shelby,” Avid smiled. He wanted to say more, but Owen began shoving everyone away from Avid.

“We need to leave already!” Owen huffed. “They’re going to come here and see us!”

“Bye, Avid!” Scott cooed as purple smoke began swirling around him. “I hope to see you soon!”

“Goodbye, Handsome! You will!” Avid called out right as Scott disappeared into the night air. Owen, Shelby, and Pyro gave Avid a farewell nod before lunging over the lake and dashing towards the castle.

And right on time, too.

As soon as Avid let out a sigh and prepared to attempt to cross the lake in his weakened state, his newly heightened hearing caught some rustlings coming from the other side of the lake. He whipped his head around, cringing at the way the movement made his brain throb.

His darkvision opened the curtains of the blackness of night to reveal one of the last people from town he wanted to have found him.

“Doctor?”

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Legundo was even more convinced that this was a bad idea when he heard the screeching of bats above him.

The sight of a whole crowd of the small critters darting around the air, movements far too deliberate to not be vampires, almost convinced Legundo to turn back.

Almost.

The fact that the vampires were flying about– and that the group definitely had more than four, which meant it wasn’t just the coven, gave Legs the confirmation he had to keep going.

If the coven was out and about, the town was safe.

For now.

Legundo looked around at the sky, but he saw no smoke signal. No one had found anything yet. He groaned and continued on through the dark night.

When he caught sight of some medicinal mushrooms, he paused to collect them. Might as well, since he’s out here anyway.

As soon as he stood up, satisfied with the amount of mushrooms he gathered, he heard a small splash of water. He instantly straightened and began jogging towards the lake. He met the clearing and squinted as he tried to make anything out in the darkness.

“Doctor?” A weak, rasped voice came from across the river. Legundo’s heart sank when he heard how rough it sounded.

“Who is that?” Legundo called, but he already knew who it was. He knew everything, somehow. Unfortunately.

“It’s me,” The voice now clearly belonged to Avid. The doctor heard an uneven step and a heavy splash. Even without seeing Avid, the doctor could tell that he was in no state to try to cross the river alone.

“Oh my god,” Legundo breathed in disbelief. “Avid, stop. Stay put. I’m coming across and putting you in a boat. You are in no state to swim.”

“Okay,” Avid’s voice was quiet and tired. “I’m just going to sit down for a minute…”

Legundo dove into the water immediately. This patient clearly needed care as fast as possible. He swam across the lake and pulled a lantern out of his inventory to scan the island for Avid.

Avid was propped up against the structure, and even in the low light, he looked rough. His clothes were bloody and he was missing his green vest. His breathing was shallow, and his head had a massive wound across the side. At least it wasn’t actively bleeding.

“Avid,” The doctor was in shock at the state of the self-proclaimed vampire hunter. It was a wonder he was still talking. “What happened to your head?”

“I hit it on something.”

Well, that answer was a little too brief for the doctor's liking.

“On what, Avid?” The doctor sighed.

“Obsidian…” Avid looked down at the ground and fidgeted with his bloodied sleeves.

“Avid!” Legundo held the lantern up to Avid’s face, checking his pupils. They responded a little slowly for the doctor’s liking, and one constricted noticeably slower than the other. “When?”

“Um…” Avid looked back towards the ground. “The day I first disappeared?”

“Avid…” Legundo’s face paled. “That was almost seven days ago! Where were you? Have you eaten recently? Have you been unconscious this whole time? Which one of them did this to you?”

“I want to go home, Doc,” Avid groaned, shaking his head. “I’m tired. I’m so, so tired.”

“…” Legundo looked over Avid one last time before pulling out the boat and placing it next to him. “Okay. Let’s get you back to Oakhurst. You can rest. We can ask questions after you’re properly rested, treated, and fed.”

“I’d like that,” Avid nodded slowly, carefully easing himself into the boat. “Thanks, Doc.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” Legundo pulled out a makeshift smoke signal and lit it. He handed it to Avid. “Hold this while we cross the lake– don’t inhale any of it– I will take it back when we cross and we can slowly make our way to town until someone catches up to us.”

“Okay,” Avid mumbled, looking more tired by the moment. Legundo needed to get him back to his home to treat him now. To Avid’s credit, he held the smoke signal away from his face and tucked himself into a corner of the boat. He was keeping himself impressively stable as they crossed the lake.

“Can you at least tell me which one of them hurt you?” Legs gently prodded. “I’m just asking to keep you safe.”

“None of them hurt me, Legs,” Avid mumbled. “I mean it.”

“Okay.” Legundo didn’t buy it, but he could dig more later.

As soon as the boat hit the sand, Legundo jumped out of the boat and waded into the water to support Avid as he got out. The way Avid wobbled deeply concerned the doctor. Legs swiftly took the smoke signal and made his way to the hunter’s side, wrapping Avid’s arm over his own shoulder to support him. He used his free hand to hold the signal.

“Legs,” Avid spoke after less than a minute of walking, his voice even weaker than before. “I don’t think I can keep walking…”

“It’s okay,” Legundo sighed. He was hoping they’d be able to get further, both for his own sake and in the hopes that Avid was well enough to keep going. But he wouldn’t deny a hurting person rest. “You can rest now. I’ve got you.”

And with that, Avid’s pace slowed and his legs buckled beneath him. Legundo slowly eased him to the ground, taking care to not let him get injured further.

“Are you okay?” Legs gently questioned the man laying on the ground. He received a small sound of acknowledgement but not much else. Deeply concerning. “Can I lift you?”

Avid let out the quietest hum of approval before closing his eyes. Good. He needs to rest. Legs pulled Avid into a fireman’s carry and continued back towards Oakhurst with a quicker pace.

Just why did Oakhurst have to be so far away?

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

This was definitely one of the worst days in Apo’s life.

They had been through horrible things, but this whole exhausting and confusing experience was starting to tear at her limits.

She glanced around and noticed Abolish walking over to the fence where they sat.

“Has anyone entered town from the far entrance?” Apo asked, a drop of hope mixing into her emotional jug of frustration.

“No,” Abolish shook his head with a sigh. “I came to ask the same, but I can guess that it’s been quiet over here, too?”

“Yup,” Apo groaned and pulled on her face. “Everyone is still out there, we don’t know where any of them are, the sky is one-hundred percent clear of smoke, and we have no idea who the new vampire is!”

“After all that’s been happening in town,” Abolish sat down on the fence next to Apo. “I hope they’ll come clean when they get home.”

“No kidding,” Apo forced a laugh. “God, we’re screwed.”

“Back it up on the smoke comment,” Cleo suddenly spoke from behind them. “Look!”

Apo jerked her head to face where Cleo was pointing and saw a small line of smoke coming from the forest.

“Someone found him?” Abolish’s voice was riddled with shock. “Or is that a distress signal?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Cleo shoved the gate open and began jogging towards the signal. “Let’s move!”

Apo and Abolish shared a quick nod before chasing after Cleo.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

It didn’t take them long to run into the doctor, who had an unconscious Avid over his shoulder.

“Oh my god,” Cleo gasped, sounding more exasperated than excited. “You actually found him. What happened?!”

“There will be time for that later!” The doctor continued moving swiftly towards Oakhurst. “He’s in real rough shape– I need to get him back for treatment immediately.”

“Got it,” Cleo nodded before pulling out their sword. She sprinted past them and cleared the bramble to create an even path for the doctor to cross through.

When they reached the field, Apo lunged forward and held open the gates. She waited for the others to pass through before shutting it behind them and tailing the group.

“Come on,” Legundo muttered under his breath, but due to Apo’s vampiric senses, they heard it perfectly. “Let’s get you inside.”

The doctor reached his house and shoved through the door, placing Avid on a couch before rushing to his medicine barrel.

“Can I come in?” Apo asked from the doorframe.

“Best not for now, Apo,” Legundo sighed. “I need to focus on the patient. Crowding everyone in here is not helpful right now. Go gather the rest of town. We’ll talk with him when he’s awake and lucid.”

“Understood,” Apo nodded, closing the door for Legs. She ran to the center of town, where Abolish and Cleo were already tugging on the rope to ring the bell.

So.

They finally had answers.

But questions still plagued her mind.

This was still dumb.

Apo was tired.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl snuck through the bushes. She didn’t even notice the pain anymore. Her only goal was to find someone– anyone– to hear her out.

If she was lucky, an Oakhurst citizen.

If she was luckier, a coven vampire.

If Pearl’s luck was sent by the divine, Scott and Avid.

Maybe there was some divinity on her side. An angel, perhaps. Because she heard Scott’s voice around a corner.

“Scott?!” She yelled out, not caring about noise. “Is that you?!”

“Pearl?” Scott rounded one of the trees and walked over. “What do you want? Avid’s in town by now.”

“She probably doesn’t know what–” Shelby started, but Pearl shook her head.

“No,” Pearl interrupted. “I know what’s happening. You don’t need to fill me in. Good to see they’ve found you. Is Avid alright?”

“In some ways more than others,” Scott shrugged. “But, he’s fine. He’ll live.”

“And none of you hurt him?” Pearl squinted at the coven. “'Cos if any of you hurt him, I’ve got a silver axe and a stake with your names on it.”

“No, no,” Scott laughed. “He’s fine. You can ask him yourself if you don’t believe me.”

“Well, forgive me for not trusting you lot,” Pearl rolled her eyes. “Your little vampire fledglings broke my collarbone! They’ve been absolutely dreadful all week. Every one of them has been nothing but dramatic and crying about you being missing.”

“Aw!” Scott clasped his hands together. Pearl smirked at the way the fledgelings all shot her embarrassed glares. “That’s so sweet of them to care!” Scott’s smile faded slightly and he turned to the rest of the coven. “Although breaking a bone is quite rude. I think someone is owed an apology!”

“… Sorry…” Pyro mumbled after a moment.

“Thank you!” Pearl grinned, happy to rat out the younger vampires to the big boss. “Don’t do it again, though. This is a one chance forgiveness kind of deal, you hear?”

“Got it,” Pyro looked to the ground in shame.

“Why, I think a few of us ought to grace the town with a quick visit!” Scott grabbed Owen’s shoulder and signaled for Shelby and Pyro to continue back to the castle. “We can’t have an injured Pearl walk all the way back home alone after all that grief?”

“Love has changed you,” Owen muttered under his breath. Pearl raised an eyebrow. She would be keeping that comment logged in her mind to decode later. Scott just laughed.

“Just tired,” Scott shook his head. “I’m sure everyone is done with this whole ordeal. Temporary truce until everyone stops throwing angry tantrums.”

“No harm to it,” Pearl shrugged, but kept a hand on a wooden stake– just in case!

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

It turned out that Pearl didn’t need the stake as they approached the town. She sighed in relief seeing the tall wooden walls and the smoke rising from the center of town.

The three of them made their way to the edge of town, where the rest of Oakhurst were already gathered.

“VAMPIRES!” Martyn shrieked as soon as he saw them, yanking a stake from his inventory. “YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM UNTIL YOU TELL US WHY YOU WANT HIM!”

“Nope!” Pearl stepped in front of Scott and Owen. “There was a huge misunderstanding– They’re here to apologize, actually!” Pearl grinned as she looked back at the two vampires behind her. Scott looked dreadfully annoyed and Owen looked furious.

“It’s true,” Scott shrugged. “I didn’t have anything to do with it, so I won’t be apologizing, but Owen will!”

Pearl had to use all of her will not to burst out laughing when she saw how livid Owen was, glaring at both Scott and Pearl.

“No!” Owen stomped his foot and poofed into a cloud of smoke. “Everyone was wrong! Not just me!”

“Close enough,” Legundo groaned. “We can talk about this tomorrow. Now leave.”

“Leaving,” Scott waved with a wink and disappeared into a cloud of bats.

“Oh man,” Pearl shook her head fondly. “Those guys are a riot!” Pearl turned to face the crowd fully. “So, I hear Avid’s back now? ‘He doing alright?”

“Pearl!” Cleo walked out from their house and raced over to embrace Pearl. “You’re okay!”

“Ouch!” Pearl shouted as her injury was compressed. “Watch the collarbone. I had a bit of a slip. Hit the floor pretty bad.”

“Another falling injury?” Legundo sighed, sounding oh so exasperated. “Come here. Let me look at it.”

“Hold on,” Martyn hissed. “I need to know more about what’s happening. I’m sure everyone is confused, and Pearl, you seem to know what’s going on.”

“I do!” Pearl beamed. “Well, I know most of it. The vampires just had a tiny miscommunication with us. No big deal! They thought we had Scott and were holding him hostage. They never had Avid, either. They were telling the truth on that.”

People around town murmured in a disorganized flurry confusion and resolution.

“Well,” Sausage stepped forward. “Where was Avid then?! And Scott too, I guess!”

“Oh,” Pearl shrugged, wincing as her bones screamed in retaliation. “That’s what I’m not sure about. Why don’t you ask Avid?”

“No one will be asking Avid anything until he is fully awake and alert,” Legundo set a firm boundary, voice demanding finality. “He has a concussion, a gaping wound on his head that’s apparently from hitting obsidian–” Sounds of shock rang through the town at the mention of the cause. “–and he passed out on me before we even walked 50 blocks. He is not well and needs to rest.”

“Hm,” Sausage crossed his arms. “I guess that’s fair… but we’re getting answers from him as soon as he’ll give them!”

“Don’t push him,” Legs sighed. “I’m just as desperate for answers as the rest of you, but with the way he was acting when he was conscious, pushing will only close him off more. If we want the full truth, we need to be patient.”

“Aw,” Martyn huffed. “But I hate doing that!”

“You’re certainly not very good at it, either,” Apo punched his arm playfully.

For a moment, the town felt at peace.

“I guess we should all just chillax until Avid can give us answers, then?” Pearl offered. “The coven said that there’s a temporary truce. I’m thinking we all just go home and have ourselves a good night's sleep now that this is all over.”

“Okay, hold on,” Abolish broke the silence. “Who’s the new vampire?”

The town fell into cold silence.

What?

What.

Chapter Text

The town had been a wreck ever since Abolish, Cleo, and Apo dropped the bombshell that they had yet another vampire in their ranks.

Cleo and Apo had explained to the town the run-in they had with the coven and the new vampire as bats, the way they can sense new blood, and the fact they were unable to catch them.

They had whittled down a few details. For one, they knew it must have been either Owen or Scott who turned someone. They had ruled out Abolish being the vampire, as Cleo and Apo had seen him while the sense was still active and he wasn’t the one sending the signal.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t fully rule anyone else out quite yet.

Everyone had split up and run just about everywhere. No one had a buddy until Legs found Avid, and even then, Avid was a shoddy defense. The fact that Avid was still unconscious and weak told the town that it likely wasn’t him.

They had everyone eat garlic, but whoever it was must have been good at keeping a straight face, as no one had an out of place reaction.

The sneaky vampire must have been very set on keeping themself a secret.

Not even Pearl herself was fully off the chopping block! Which was stupid, in her opinion. Especially considering that her broken collarbone was still angry. The town had decided if it was still bad in another day or two, she was safe.

Damn, and right as we started trusting each other.

Back to Avid, he hadn’t shown any signs of waking up in the past thirty hours he’d been sleeping. Pearl didn’t blame him at all; he clearly needed the rest.

The doctor was already preparing the town for when he did wake up, since the concussion was clearly serious. They would need to tread lightly around him.

Legs had strictly forbidden anyone from mentioning the fact that there was a vampire hiding in their midst, or that Apo and Cleo were vampires. It would definitely stress him out too much. Who knew how he would get if he had a head injury on top of his anxiety around vampires.

“Is he doing any better, doc?” Martyn appeared from around a corner where Pearl and the doctor were standing. Pearl had been helping him with his crops.

“His injuries are healing at a comfortable rate,” Legundo sighed, brushing the dirt off of his hands. “They weren’t that deep on the outside– other than a wound on his neck that I had to stitch up– but that concussion is pretty bad. Who knows how much longer he’s going to sleep. I might need to find a way to start an IV.”

“I hope not,” Pearl’s eyes widened. How would they manage to achieve anything like that with their limited resources? “I don’t even know if that’s possible for us to do!”

“I’ll figure something out, Pearl,” Legs shook his head slowly. “You just need to trust me.”

Pearl wasn’t sure if trust was something anyone could offer right now.

An idea struck her.

The vampires would know who was turned!

“I’m going to go on a walk!” Pearl stood up straight and stretched. “It’s so nice out… and I think I need to stretch my legs out a little.”

“Be back soon, Pearl,” The doctor narrowed his eyes at her, but didn’t make a move to stop her. “Tensions are high right now, and if you go missing or something happens… we’re screwed. You understand that, right?”

“Of course I do!” Pearl grinned as she began walking towards the gates. “Be back in a jiff!”

Pearl waved as she pushed through the gates and broke into a sprint.

Off to the castle.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

The coven sat at their table, enjoying a meal together. They had been staying closer to one another ever since Scott’s return. It was really nice! Shelby sure thought so.

“Scott?” Shelby set their book and quill down.

“Yes?” Scott delicately placed his wine glass of blood on the table and turned to face them.

“Can you tell us what happened while you were in that pit?” Shelby clasped her hands together in a pleading manner. “I’ve been dying to know!”

Owen and Pyro nodded along with her request, all eyes on Scott. Just how he liked it.

“I suppose so… I’m sure you’ve been curious,” Scott smiled and adjusted to face between the three of them. “While I was out getting more supplies, I ran into Avid. He was in the middle of constructing a…”

Scott trailed off. Shelby observed his expression. Scott was seemingly thinking back on details. The stress of the situation must be getting to him!

“A bunker. For himself,” Scott continued. “And I, unfortunately, didn’t spot it in time. I ended up slipping and took Avid down with me.”

“Why didn’t you just fly out, sire?” Pyro questioned, eyebrow raised. It was indeed strange that they had just sat there for a week.

“Do you not remember how we couldn’t use our powers near that pit?” Scott grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I tried to leave, but it didn’t work!”

“Why?” Owen huffed, crossing his arms. “It was far from the beacon– which was ours, mind you– and I didn’t see a touch of silver anywhere.”

Scott opened his mouth to say something before closing it again. His brows furrowed in thought. “I don’t know that… We’ll have to ask Avid when he visits.”

“Go back to Avid!” Shelby squealed. “I need to know everything!”

“We weren’t on good terms the first day,” Scott mused with a fond smile. “But Avid came around and realized that he’d been wrong about vampires. Then we just sat around in that miserable place, talking and exchanging resources.”

“What was the turning about, sire?” Pyro leaned forward on the table. “Was it an accident? A fight? Was it to signal us? Tell us about that, please.”

“Ah, that!” Scott grinned, Shelby saw a slight shine to his eyes. “Avid asked me to turn him! He was very understanding of the gift after actually paying attention to all the perks.”

“He ASKED?!” Owen stood up, slamming his palms on the table. “Why on EARTH did he change his tune that fast?!”

“He was ill,” Scott leaned back in his chair. “The benefit of sharing our location was simply a bonus. And worry not, he deserved the gift. I spent enough time with him to say that with certainty.”

“He was ill?” Owen mumbled as he sat down. Shelby offered him a sympathetic smile, but Owen didn’t seem to notice.

“And what is this about him…” Pyro’s face suddenly went blank. “Um. Him being ‘yours’?”

“Oh, yes,” Scott huffed proudly. “He is mine. He will make a great addition to the coven, if he were to join. Consider it.”

“You fell in love?!” Shelby squealed. This was adorable! She would definitely be writing a fanfiction like this some time.

“I didn’t take you for someone to be vulnerable like that, sire,” Pyro said with a straight face and an even tone. “Especially with a vampire hunter.”

“Ex-vampire hunter,” Scott clarified, his comfortable smirk returning to his face, though Shelby could see a softer edge to it. “And in no way am I vulnerable, I just like having belongings, and Avid is more than willing to be just that.”

Shelby noted how he phrased it. He could have said I like owning things; something more likely to be said by him. They beamed, giddy at the details that she refused to miss. Scott did not refer to Avid as a thing. A low bar, but a bar he passed.

“You always did love power, sire,” Pyro’s expression remained blank as he spoke. It was as if paint drying had a voice. Their entire demeanor faded.

Before Scott could continue talking, a knock sounded on the door.

“Who could that be?” Scott stared at the door. “Shelby?”

“On it!” Shelby leapt from their chair and bounded to the door, flinging it open with a smile. “Hello?”

“Hi!” Pearl waved from the doorframe. “Mind if I join y’all to have a nice conversation? Make real sure the air is all cleared about some things?”

Shelby looked back to the other vampires to gauge their opinions. Scott shrugged and waved his hand.

“Sure!” Shelby smiled and stepped back, holding the door open for the cute girl. “You can sit down next to me!” Shelby led Pearl to the seat next to her own. Owen raised an eyebrow from the other side of the table. Pyro retained his reclused attitude. What was up with him today?

“Your careless attitude and lack of fear will be your undoing one day,” Owen starts, glare returning to his face. “Coming over here, to the vampires’ abode. Alone.”

“Don’t threaten our company,” Scott intervenes, taking a long sip of his chicken blood. “While you are right that we are to be feared, we are in a truce for now, so be hospitable. Pearl, do tell us your business here.”

“Thank you!” Pearl smiled with a nod. “I just have one little ol’ question. Who’s the new vampire?”

The table fell silent, the vampires awkwardly looked amongst themselves. Should we tell her?

“That sounds like something they should tell you themself,” Scott finally says, face colder than just seconds ago. “It’s not our place to say. Ask around.”

“They aren’t confessing, is the problem,” Pearl frowned, crossing her arms. “And I’m on the chopping block. It’s causing me problems.”

“But you’re injured,” Pyro’s face scrunched up, finally expressing properly. “Why would they believe it to be you?”

“Me and Avid are being ruled out soon,” Pearl explained. Phew! Good for him. “I’ve got a broken bone that isn’t healing at super speed, which works in my favor. I think I’m ruled out tomorrow! Avid’s still asleep from that awful concussion, which certainly points to him not being a vampire.”

“He’s been asleep?” Owen squinted at Pearl, looking more confused than suspicious. Owen was right. That was strange. Shelby hoped he was alright. “He was fine when we interacted with him?”

“Well,” Pearl crossed her legs and propped them on the table. Shelby watched Scott’s eye twitch at the action, but he didn’t make a move to say anything. Pearl continued; “He was unconscious when the doctor brought him back, and he hasn’t woken up since.”

Shelby made eye contact with Scott. They exchanged glances, communicating without words.

I’ll look into it.

Okay. Shelby nodded before turning their attention back to the conversation at hand.

“That sounds concerning,” Scott folded his hands. “I wasn’t aware it was that severe, he was conscious and mostly coherent in the duration we were trapped.”

“You were trapped in the same place?” Pearl’s eyes widened. “Wow! This whole situation would have been a lot easier if we worked together then, huh?”

“It appears so…” Owen grumbled, leaning heavily on the table.

“You didn’t hurt each other, did you?” Pearl’s tone shifted to deeply serious in a flip of a coin. “What happened?”

“After he exhausted his garlic supply,” Scott grimaced at the mention of the herb. “We were cordial. We understood that we needed to remain calm, and at the very least neutral, to survive until help could arrive.”

“I wouldn’t have anticipated Avid to be calm about anything,” Pearl shook her head, but a small smile sat on her face. She bought it? “But I’m glad to hear that.”

“He probably hit his head too hard,” Pyro huffed, rolling their eyes.

“That’s all I needed to know for now,” Pearl stood up. “I best go back and check if Avid’s awake yet. Thanks for humoring me!”

“No trouble!” Scott laughed, waving his hand.

“I’d disagree…” Owen mumbled under his breath. Shelby shook their head disapprovingly, but Owen didn’t seem to notice. Maybe that was for the best. She didn’t feel like being on the receiving end of Owen’s aggression today.

“Goodbye, Pearl!” Shelby waved as Pearl opened the door to leave. Pearl turned around and offered a beaming smile and kind wave. How sweet!

Pearl paused before running back to Shelby and wrapping them in a tight hug. Shelby flustered for a moment before returning the gesture.

“Goodbye, Shelby!” Pearl returned to the door and carefully closed behind her. The vampires crowded back together as soon as the echo silenced.

“If he’s a vampire, shouldn’t he be fine now?” Pyro whispered. “Why would he still be injured?”

“I have theories,” Scott frowned. “But I will pay a visit to town soon. See what I can learn.”

“Won’t that be suspicious?” Owen tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “Would they not question your visit? With your only reason being to check on Avid?”

“I have invisibility,” Scott tutted. “I won’t stroll right in. And if I do, I’ll make it a big thing– a Q&A type deal. People surrounding me, giving me attention, learning about how the gift is the only way to live.”

“Goodness me,” Owen groaned. “You are all insufferable.”

“That’s not true!” Shelby piped up. “You love us!”

“What?” Owen shot up, glaring at Shelby.

“I didn’t say anything,” Shelby shrugged, looking at the ceiling oh-so-innocently.

“Oh, sure,” Owen growled. He growled! Shelby bit back a laugh and dumped a bag of seeds on the table, which Owen immediately began counting with wide eyes.

Things would be fine.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl felt weightless on her way back to Oakhurst. Knowing the truth was absolutely wonderful.

Well, some of the truths. She still wasn’t informed on who the new town vampire could be.

But it was good to know something rather than nothing at all.

“Pearl?” A voice hissed from a bush, cutting her peace short. Pearl stopped dead in her tracks. “What were you doing in the castle? Are you the new vampire?”

“No,” Pearl whispered as shook her head and approached the bush, crouching beside it and inching herself under cover. “I just went to ask them about it. They wouldn’t tell me who it was.”

“Did they threaten you?” The voice– Abolish– questioned. Pearl could recognize the quiet voice now. “What happened?”

“They told me that Avid and Scott were stuck in the same location,” Pearl explained, moving into the same bush as Abolish.

“It would have been so much easier if we knew what was happening…” Abolish sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yeah… that sucks.”

“That’s what I said!” Pearl exclaimed as she stood up. She offered Abolish a hand, helping him off the ground. She started towards town, Abolish right beside her. “All it would have taken is one use of a name, and this could have been done in less than a day, I bet.”

“Yeah… that’s…” Abolish was silent for a moment. “Really frustrating to know. This whole experience is annoying in every way.”

“We all ought to communicate better,” Pearl sighed, cracking her knuckles.

“Easier said than done, for some god-forsaken reason,” Abolish groaned. “The new vampire has been quiet. We accepted Cleo and Apo, why do they think it would be any different? It concerns me.”

“I’ll keep my guard up, but I hope it’s nothing to be too concerned about,” Pearl sighed and shook her head. This whole situation was all sorts of muddy. “Though, I’ll hear you out and brainstorm if you want to run investigative work. Try to find out who it is.”

“Yeah…” Abolish adjusted his gloves with a long sigh. “That’d be nice.”

“Do you want to do shifts or something?” Pearl tilted her head and weaved between bushes. “Get as much information as possible?”

“I’ll handle nights in town,” Abolish followed Pearl’s path through the bramble. “Since I don’t need the sleep. I’ll let you know if I see anything. Thanks for the help, Pearl. I appreciate it.”

“No problem!” Pearl grinned, bumping Abolish’s shoulder playfully. “I’ll let you know if I see anything, too! We can figure this out!”

“We should see if Drift will help us,” Abolish carefully avoided stepping on the flowers in the fields surrounding the town as they approached. “She’s a detective, I bet she’ll be able to help us put clues together if we get stuck.”

“Good idea!” Pearl cheered. “Ultamite team of secret exposers! We’ll be perfect! You’re the mysterious herald of information, I’m the bold doer, and Drift is the puzzlemaster! We’re all quite smart. We can do this!”

“I hope you’re right…” Abolish’s tone remained monotonous, but a small smile invaded his even and reserved expression.

Pearl hoped so too.

She believed they could figure it out on time, but there was only one way to prove her theory. And this time, she’d figure it out before it became a war.

This time, she had help.

The town’s trust in one another might have been set back to square one, but she and Abolish were ready to send them back to the sweepers*. No red cards necessary.

Time for a different kind of hunt.

Pearl grinned as they approached town.

“Ready to start?” Pearl held out a hand to Abolish. He stared at it for a few seconds before smiling and giving it a firm shake.

Abolish nodded as he opened the gate to the town, letting Pearl cross in first before following behind. The gate locked behind them. “As ever.”

*(A.N. A ‘sweeper’ is a soccer term for the position right before the keeper’s. They are the last set of defense players before the ball enters the goalie’s domain. ‘Back to square one’ is a term that likely stemmed from the grid system that radio commentaries of soccer games in the 1930s used to describe the position of the ball, hence my homage to another soccer term.)

Chapter Text

Avid awoke to a numb feeling in his skull and ears that rang like church bells. Miserable, loud, consistent, and vaguely patterned. He winced softly and pressed his face into the pillows, which did little to aid his suffering.

A blanket wrapped around him made him feel hot and miserable. He grabbed it and threw it at the opposing wall. This action also did nothing to ease his discomfort.

He finally opened his eyes and looked around. It was painfully bright, his eyes screamed the same way his ears did. He let out a quiet hiss before rubbing his eyes.

As if jump-started, his body suddenly began easing his pain. His face scrunched up as he tried to make sense of everything.

His brain fog dissipated and it suddenly all made sense; he was a vampire now! He was healing so fast!

His relief and joy was abruptly cut off by a sting of hunger rippling through his body. Right. He was a vampire now. He needed food.

Avid reached into his bag and pulled out one of the bottles of blood from Shelby. Am I really going to do this? But before he could dwell on it, he had already chugged the entire thing. Right. On top of everything else, he had been siphoned from, so he was extra hungry. There’s no way he could have stopped himself.

And now that he had consumed it, he found he couldn’t even feel the guilt he anticipated he would feel. Before he could have even considered his moral stance on consuming a bottle of blood that was a few days old– honestly, he should have thought that one through– he had already finished it. But it was too late to think about any of that now. He had swallowed it all and he loved it.

It really was too late. He couldn’t go back from this.

Now that his hunger had been soothed, he looked around and got about figuring out where he was. He looked at the wooden and stone walls, the granite counter covered in candles, the barrel of remedies next to the furnace, the fenced windows. This was Legundo’s house.

He sat up on the couch and leaned against the window. A storm swirled in the sky, rain hitting the ground. Why wasn’t the doctor indoors during such a storm?

It didn’t matter. Avid was tired and enjoyed the peaceful sound of the water hitting the dirt. He wasn’t in the mood to get bombarded with questions about his past week. He closed his eyes and rested against the back of the couch.

“Hi~” A chipper yet soft voice spoke from behind him. Scott! “I see you’re awake now. That’s good. How are you feeling?”

“Huh?” Avid opened his eyes, looking around worriedly. As soon as he saw Scott outside, he scrambled to turn around to face him. “Scott! What are you doing in town?!”

“Pretty rude to ignore my question, dear,” Scott leaned against the ledge of the window, grinning cheerily. “It’s okay. I don’t mind all that much at the moment. I’ll ask again. How are you feeling?”

“Um,” Avid pulled his sleeves into a more comfortable position, paling when he realized it was a different shirt. The doc had seen the scar on his neck. “Fine?”

“You don’t sound very sure of that,” Scott stood patient, the rain starting to soak his hair. “Want to try again?”

“Well,” Avid sighed, breaking eye contact. “I’m a little confused? I passed out on my way to town… I don’t remember getting here– Legs clearly bandaged me up– I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep–”

“Do you want me to try to answer any of these?” Scott interrupted with a small laugh. “Or are you just wanting to rant it out?”

“Okay, yeah,” Avid took deep breaths that his body didn’t need. It was more of a mental reset more than anything. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Eh,” Scott shrugged, tapping his chin in thought. “Like, two and a half days now?”

“What?!” Avid’s face twisted in concern. “How is that posible…” Avid looked around. “I thought vampires recovered from these kinds of things faster!”

“I have a theory,” Scott mused, now sopping wet. “I turned you properly in that pit, but you woke up much too fast for that. It takes 12 hours at the least, but it took you less than two minutes,” Scott straightened his posture to something more extravagant and confident. “I think that your human adrenaline combined with the beginnings of your vampire form, which gave you enough time to flee to somewhere safe before taking your transformation nap.”

“That makes sense,” Avid ran his tongue over his new fangs idly, it was something he would have to get used to. “Wait! What was your plan with turning me if I was supposed to sleep for so long after that?!”

“My plan was to bring you to the castle,” Scott looked at the sky, leaning against the windowsill. “Keep you there, near blood, near the beacon, near us coven vampires, until you recovered and could head back. That would’ve been time for us to think of a convincing story of where you’ve been for the town.”

“Sorry,” Avid frowned, looking at Scott’s drenched form, suddenly feeling really guilty. “For making you stand out in the rain just to talk to me.”

“Oh!” Scott laughed a little louder than safe for where they were. “No, no! I summoned this storm. I’d rather be wet than burning in that dreadful sun.”

“You can do that?” Avid gawked at the sky in awe. “You’re amazing!”

“Ah!” Scott bounced on his heels. “Stop~ You’re too sweet, too kind.”

Avid giggled, gazing up at the gorgeous elder vampire. His hair was so shiny when it was wet. You’d expect the water to dull it out, but the hydration only brought it closer to iridescent. Scott looked absolutely ethereal soaked to the bone. What a weird thing to be thinking. But Avid was too distracted by the reflection in Scott’s hair to listen to his thoughts try to reason with him.

“What’s on your mind?” Scott leaned forward and crossed his arms on the windowsill. Avid mimicked the pose.

“You,” Avid winked, reveling in the way Scott immediately perked up at the statement.

“Ah!” Scott exclaimed, grin wider than the sky. “My, my! You flirt!”

Scott leaned closer to the fence separating them and tapped his cheek before pressing his face fully against the wood.

Avid tilted his head in confusion for a moment before snapping out of his trance. He wants me to kiss him!

Avid scrambled forward and pressed a kiss to Scott’s face. Scott moved away from the fence and gave a satisfied nod. Avid sighed softly. Whatever this was, Avid preferred it over hating Scott.

“Good,” Scott smiled, readjusting his lean on the windowsill. “I’m assuming you want this? Want me?”

“Yes!” Avid squeaked, far too loud to be discreet. “I mean– yeah, you’re really cute. I think I like you.”

“Who wouldn’t?!” Scott beamed, absolutely blooming in the praise. “Just look at me!”

“I am looking,” Avid laughed, gazing at Scott through the fence. This kind of interaction was far preferable to what it was before the pit. If Avid from a few weeks ago saw Avid now, he would surely drive a stake through his heart in an instant. ‘Too far gone.’

Maybe he was.

“Hm,” Scott paused, he seemed a bit distracted, glancing around before reaching his hand through the fence to grab Avid’s face and squeeze the side. “I best be going. The storm will clear up soon, and we don’t want anyone catching us, hm? I’ll visit again soon.”

“Um,” Avid’s face twisted nervously, a little confused by Scott’s rapid change of tune. “Okay– Bye! Take care! You’re really cute!”

“I know I am,” Scott flicked his cloak and flew away as a bat.

Avid sighed and sat back on the couch. He needed to think of a story for what happened to him that week. Why didn’t he ask Scott about that while he was here?! They could have matched stories.

Avid decided he would just have to pretend he was still asleep.

He would wait for Scott to return some time soon, and they would exchange details, and then it would all be fine.

Avid tucked the empty bottle back into his inventory and got up to fetch the blanket he had flung to the other side of the room to prepare his nap.

He let out a swift, sharp screech when the doorknob crashed into the dark oak logs around the doorframe.

Avid whirled around, hand half-way to the ground to reach the blanket, frozen like a deer in headlights.

“Avid!” Legundo stood at the door, breathing as if he had run all the way from the forest edge. “You’re awake!”

Aw man :(

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Scott felt giddy as Avid continued complimenting him. This! This is what Scott needed– what he deserved. And it was especially wonderful coming from Avid. If this was a weakness of some sort, Scott didn’t really care. The pros far outweighed the cons.

As he was half-twirling back and forth, something caught the corner of his eye. If his blood was warm, it would have run cold. But since he had no such feeling, he simply paused and weighed his options as swiftly and discreetly as he could manage.

Abolish was watching them from behind one of the houses, face locked onto Avid. That’s no good.

Scott had to think fast. Now that he had spoken with Avid, his main priority was keeping Avid’s cover intact and getting out safely. He needed to make it look like he was taunting the ex-hunter.

“Hm,” Scott cast one more glance at Avid before putting his hand through the fence to pinch Avid’s cheek. The concerned and unsure look it put on Avid’s face was perfect for this. “I best be going. The storm will clear up soon, and we don’t want anyone catching us, hm? I’ll visit again soon.”

“Okay– Bye! Take Care! You’re really cute!” Avid called softly. Scott couldn’t help but grin at his praises. Compliments were sweeter than blood to him.

“I know I am,” Scott tossed his cape, transforming into a bat with the action and flying away before anyone could reach him.

He hoped he bought Avid enough cover.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Legundo let out a long, frustrated sigh as the rain continued pelting down his back. He was just trying to collect herbs to aid in his research of potential cures to vampirism– if not to add to his medicine cabinet.

He had set out because it had been a nice day. The sun was out, there was a nice breeze, and nothing seemed too extreme. But then this storm came out of nowhere.

And a horrible storm it was. Immediately soaking through the dirt, making everything slick, and chilling the doctor’s skin on contact.

This was supposed to be relaxing.

The town had been pestering him every day, asking for details on Avid’s condition, who Legs thought was a vampire, and presenting him with their own injuries– with fluctuating levels of severity. For some of them, it was anxiety, but he felt that a lot of it was them trying to get the doctor to give the green light that they were not a vampire.

Unfortunately, Legundo still had no idea who the hidden vampire could be. Abolish had been cleared, he had just decided in his own mind that Pearl was fine, and he knew for a fact it wasn’t him. Oh, and Avid was deeply unconscious on his couch, so it likely wasn’t him.

Other than that, though? He had not the slightest clue.

Now, instead of relaxing in the beautiful weather, collecting resources, and taking his mind off of the stress of town, he was cold, wet, overthinking, and agitated.

At least he had found all the different types of plants he needed. Some in more quantities than others, but something was better than nothing.

Right as he was grabbing a handful of medicinal mushrooms, he noticed the area around him was bathed in soft yellow light. The doctor turned around to find the source.

“Hey, doc?” Abolish stood behind him, lantern in hand.

“Yes, Abolish?” Legundo sighed, pocketing the mushrooms and brushing the mud off of his hands. “What do you need?”

“I think Avid’s woken up,” Abolish shot glances all around them as he spoke, as if looking for any potential eavesdroppers. “I thought I should tell you before trying to talk to him.”

Abolish hadn’t even finished his sentence before Legs broke into a sprint towards Oakhurst. He didn’t even check if Abolish was behind him. He needed to get back and prevent Avid from doing anything that would worsen his condition. Or stop the rest of town from crowding him.

Legundo vaulted over the gate and rushed through the town to reach his door, slamming it open as soon as he reached it. The sound from the door made him wince, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Hopefully he hadn’t broken anything.

Abolish was correct.

Avid stood next to the barrel, reaching down to grab a blanket, pure stunned silence freezing him in place. At least he seemed alert.

“Avid!” Relief flooded the doctor’s veins. “You’re awake!”

That was one concern off of the doctor’s list.

Now he just needed to make sure no one made anything worse.

If someone told Avid there was a vampire hiding in Oakhurst, he would probably break.

The town didn’t need to lose Avid. Not when they had just gotten him back.

Legundo wouldn’t let them lose anyone else.

He just hoped he wouldn’t be too late.

Not again.

Chapter Text

Abolish walked methodically through town. It was raining, miserable, and wet. His lantern set off fractures of colored light, the raindrops distorting and manipulating the soft golden light into something imperfect and ethereal.

The wet gravel crunched and hissed under his boots as he paraded down various makeshift paths through Oakhurst.

He was cold and soaked to his core, but he needed to keep his eyes peeled for suspicious behavior. The rain kept everyone indoors, but vampires could roam freely. No doubt they were out and about.

He stopped dead in his tracks when his eyes caught a form of red, black, and white outside Legundo’s home.

Scott.

What is he doing here? Abolish shut the windows of his lantern and crouched behind a nearby home. He didn’t even process who it belonged to, all of his focus on the scene in front of him.

Scott was moving around with a dramatic flare, frequently tossing his hair or cape. He was clearly having the time of his life.

Past him, what Abolish saw caused his eyes to widen.

Avid was awake. His face was twisted into a nervous and unsettled frown. He was nervously chattering away, an occasional loud yell could be heard from him. And while Abolish couldn’t make out the words, from a glance, Avid looked scared.

Why would this elder vampire come all the way to town just to mock Avid? There was something odd about this. Weren’t they stuck in that pit for enough time already? Abolish would have thought that the two of them wouldn’t want anything to do with each other for weeks, maybe even longer.

He was pretty sure Pearl mentioned that the two of them were on neutral terms. But by what he was seeing alone, one would assume that they were hostile.

Yeah… Abolish wasn’t fully convinced.

He began noting the information into a file in his mind and continued observing. No sense in acting without being certain.

Soon enough, he watched Scott reach forward and pinch Avid’s face. Avid looked properly confused and stressed. This interaction was likely negative. He’d be mentioning what he’s seen to Pearl later.

Before Abolish could consider anything deeper, Scott turned into a bat and flew off into the storm.

Abolish watched him leave before standing back up and walking towards the doctor’s house. He froze half way there. I should tell Legs first. I don’t think I can handle it if Avid has a medical problem or a mental breakdown of some sort.

Abolish turned around and sped through the woods to find the doctor.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

The doctor ran back far faster than Abolish anticipated, leaving him stunned for a moment. Regardless, he shook himself out of it and followed him close behind.

By the time he did catch up, the doctor was in his house, trying to approach Avid, who looked truly and properly terrified.

“Please, Avid,” The doctor spoke in an even, firm tone, but it had a softer edge than usual. “Let’s go sit back down on the couch so I can check your injuries again.”

“Nope!” Avid said too quickly. “No touching them. I can change the bandages by myself.”

“Avid…” Legundo sighed heavily. “Okay. I won’t touch them. But please let me see if they get uncomfortable so I can keep an eye on how everything is healing.”

“Okay,” Avid straightened from the standoffish crouch he had been in before. “I will. I promise.”

“Now please, Avid,” The doctor sighed yet again. “Go sit back down and I can get you something to eat.”

“Um,” Avid’s face twisted a bit, which Abolish noted. “Okay…”

The doctor nodded and walked over to the barrel. Abolish entered the house and walked Avid back to the couch. The doctor struggled to carry a bowl of the herbal soup back.

“My inventory is stuffed with so many herbs,” The doctor gave a half-hearted laugh. “I can’t even keep track of all this. Organization later is going to be… time consuming.”

“Uh…” Avid spoke up, his voice weirdly chipper. “Could I… count and sort those for you?”

Abolish and Legundo turned to look at Avid, confused by his strange request.

“Gah!” Avid squeaked. “I mean– I’m disoriented and I’m sure you won’t be letting me get up to walk around and stuff for a while. I need something to do. It would probably ground me.”

“Sure, Avid,” The doctor made brief eye contact with Abolish before handing Avid the stash of herbs, placing a spare chest in front of the couch as well. “You go ahead and sort these for me.”

What an odd thing to ask for. He would be keeping that information in mind.

Avid immediately busied himself with sorting the various plants and mushrooms, looking truly enamored with his task.

The doctor handed the soup to Avid, who took a long sip and made a face.

“Is there something wrong with the soup?” Legs questioned, concern lacing his voice.

“No! It’s fine,” Avid swallowed hard. “It’s just got a bit of an aftertaste that I’m not a fan of.”

Abolish watched as Avid forcefully downed the rest of the bowl, looking madly uncomfortable.

“Avid!” Legundo scolded, sounding equally concerned, frustrated, and shocked. “Don’t eat that fast! You haven’t had food in days.”

“Right,” Avid coughed. “Sorry.”

Avid then went straight back to counting and sorting, fully locked in to his work.

“At least he seems to be doing better…” Abolish mumbled to the doctor. “I didn’t expect him to be this… calm about everything.”

“His lack of paranoia and energy is what concerns me,” Legundo whispered. “This is a drastic change to how he behaved before the injury. I fear he might have damaged something.”

“Well,” Abolish shot another glance at Avid. “I don’t think he’s got any memory or logic issues, from what I’ve seen. Maybe he’ll snap out of it and go back to normal soon.”

“One could hope,” Legs sighed, shaking his head slightly. They both stared at Avid, who continued dutifully counting, unaware of how closely he was being studied.

“I take it that we shouldn't ask him anything quite yet?” Abolish looked back over to the doctor. “Since he doesn’t seem that stable?”

“Well he seems stable,” The doctor shook his head. “But that’s one of our concerns; the lack of anxiety. I’m not sure if this shift is positive or negative.”

“We’ll keep off then,” Abolish nodded. “Let you observe him a bit longer. See if you can find anything that might be wrong.”

“That would be best,” The doctor closed his eyes.

“Right,” Abolish walked to the door. “I’ll head home. Do you want me to tell anyone that he’s up?”

“Maybe his housemate,” Legs said after a moment. “I know that Drift has been very concerned. But maybe wait a bit for the others. I have to be certain he’s stable before interacting with too many other people.”

“Got it,” Abolish nodded and gently closed the door behind him. “I’ll get lunch for myself and then go talk to her.”

Abolish looked up to the sky.

The rain had stopped.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl stepped outside and took a deep breath of the still-wet air. The rain had stopped but the chill from the falling water still remained in the air. The floralish copper scent hung in the air. It was pleasant.

Pearl had been officially cleared of being the hidden vampire, despite all of the suspicions against her. Her broken collarbone still being bruised and angry was enough to convince the town of her innocence. Pros and cons!

She began to stretch, but before she could get interrupted by pain from her collarbone, she was halted by a nearby commotion. Pearl stood up straight and walked over to the noise to find out what was happening.

“HE’S AWAKE?!” Drift’s voice yelled from behind another building. Pearl jogged over and saw Abolish and Drift speaking.

“Yeah,” Abolish looked around with fervor, looking a little panicked. “But don’t yell about it, we don’t want the whole town to know just yet…”

But Drift had already taken off to Legundo’s house, leaving Abolish in the dust, looking a little pale.

“A little late for that,” Pearl walked over to Abolish and gave him a sympathetic look. “If I heard that, no way others didn’t.”

“Yeah…” Abolish sucked in a sharp breath. “This could be bad.”

“You said it,” Pearl pulled a carrot out of her inventory, offering one to Abolish before taking a bite. “I’m sure there will be a swarm around him in minutes.”

“Around who?” Avid’s voice sounding from behind Pearl caused her to jump. “Me?”

“Avid?!” Pearl stared in disbelief. “What are you doing up?! I thought you only just woke up. How long has it been?!”

“I’m not sure,” Avid shrugged, way too casual for being Avid. “An hour? Probably less.”

“Does the doctor know you’re not in his house?” Abolish asked, looking just as shocked as Pearl. “Did he approve of you walking around town?”

“Um,” Avid avoided eye contact. “No…? I didn’t really tell him… but my legs felt stiff and I wanted to stretch them.”

“Holy shit!” Martyn’s voice got louder as he approached. “Avid’s awake?! How are you, man?”

“I’m okay,” Avid shrugged, still looking far too peaceful about his current situation. “Oh! Yeah! My injuries still hurt and it’s pretty bright out but overall I’m good… haha…”

“Avid!” The doctor’s voice rang, exasperated and desperate, from the other side of the group. “What are you doing out here?!”

“Getting air,” Avid said sheepishly. “I got bored…”

“You’re not supposed to be out yet, Avid!” Legundo sounded vaguely frantic, like he was trying to conceal it. “You need to rest!”

“I have been,” Avid chirped. “I feel fine and I wanted fresh air.”

“Well since you’re feeling alright,” Pearl smiled cheerfully. “Can you tell us what happened while you were stuck? The vampires haven’t told us anything.”

“Oh,” Avid looked down, face scrunching in thought. Pearl looked up and saw Legundo glaring at her in disbelief. Oh, right. I wasn’t supposed to ask him yet. “I was building…”

Avid paused for a moment. Maybe he was struggling to remember? That couldn’t be good.

“…A bunker. Under my storage shed,” Avid continued. “I sort of… fell in and got stuck there. Also– why would the vampires know anything about it?”

“The vampires said that they were the ones that pulled you out of there,” Pearl explained, raising an eyebrow. “Did they hurt you? Were they involved?”

“No,” Avid smiled and shook his head shockingly fast for someone with a head injury. “I was completely alone in my build! The vampires only helped me out of there.”

Pearl froze. That’s a lie. It had to be. She wondered how many things he said were also lies. She looked over at Abolish, whose eyebrows were similarly knotted in concern.

“…We were just wondering because Scott was missing the entire time you were…” Abolish said, his words were careful and deliberate. He noticed too. “So we assumed that your disappearances were related.”

“Odd!” Avid laughed loudly. “How bizarre! Maybe that’s why they were searching hard enough to actually find me.”

Pearl shot Abolish another glance, who nodded with wide eyes.

Am I hearing this correctly?

Yup.

“Okay, Avid,” The doctor cleared his throat and stepped in. “Let’s go back to my house please. I need to make sure you’re okay to be up and around.”

“I’m okay, though,” Avid waved his hands reassuringly. “I can handle myself.”

Avid’s nonchalance and lack of panicked screaming was extremely unnerving.

“You should listen to the doc,” Martyn started. “You don’t want to be around town in a vulnerable state, especially when the vampire hasn’t been found.”

Three sets of aghast glares directed at Martyn.

Martyn clamped a hand over his mouth and cursed softly.

Pearl braced herself for Avid’s screams, questions, and unruly outburst.

But it never happened.

“What are you talking about?” Avid tilted his head, looking mildly perplexed.

“Uh,” Martyn blinked, looking at Legundo, Abolish, and then Pearl before continuing. “There’s a vampire in town, pretending to be a human. We don’t know who it is.”

“Are you talking about Cleo, or Apo?” Avid asked, much too smoothly.

“How do you know about them?” Abolish asked, sounding as stunned as Pearl felt.

“A feeling,” Avid shrugged. “I’m not worried about them.”

“What has gotten into you?” Pearl walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Aren’t you going to freak out about the vampires in our town?”

“No,” Avid shrugged. “They don’t seem all that bad, actually.”

Pearl looked up and made shocked eye contact with Martyn, Legundo, and especially Abolish.

“I mean,” Avid continued. “They helped me out of that place without hurting me, so they can’t be that bad.”

“Avid…” Legundo reached out and looked like he was going to say something, before looking around at the others and closing his mouth.

“This isn’t about Cleo and Apo, is the thing,” Martyn stammered. “We don’t know who the other vampire is– other than not being you, Abolish, or Pearl.”

“Okay?” Avid tilts his head. “I’ll be on the lookout then? But as long as no one gets hurt it’s not my business.”

“Hey, Avid?” Abolish tentatively spoke up. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay…? You’re acting really… calm… Which isn’t normal for you.”

“I’m just tired,” Avid shrugged. “If it becomes a problem I will gladly help you on a hog hunt, but for now? I don’t think it’s too big of a problem. The beacon is right there, we’ve got silver everywhere, and this place reeks of garlic. I doubt they’d even be able to do anything.”

Those words sound far too familiar. Pearl pondered, but her brain couldn’t quite connect anything. She should start writing things down, like Sausage.

“Oh? You’re tired?” The doctor began herding Avid back to his house. “Then let’s get you back to bed so you can rest. Please, Avid.”

“Alright, alright,” Avid waved his arms around. “I’ll go rest.”

Pearl watched as the doctor, Martyn, and Avid got stopped by Drift right before reaching the doctor’s home. Pearl instantly turned to Abolish and initiated a huddle.

“What was that?!” Pearl hissed, checking to make sure Avid or a vampire wasn’t listening.

“Suspicious,” Abolish whispered back. “Didn’t Scott confirm that they were stuck in the same place?”

“Yeah!” Pearl nodded aggressively. “And I don’t think he was lying!”

“Well,” Abolish squinted around. “What do we think about this?”

“That either Avid is actually convinced,” Pearl mused. “His head injury is worse than we thought, or he’s being blackmailed. But none of those feel right.”

“I know what you mean,” Abolish mumbled. “Oh, and I forgot to tell you something. When I saw Avid awake for the first time… I saw Scott outside the window, talking to him.”

“WHOA!” Pearl shouted before clamping a hand over her mouth. She quickly recovered and rejoined the two-person huddle. “Sorry– What were they talking about?”

“I couldn’t hear them from where I was,” Abolish confessed, looking down. “I was too far away. But Avid looked upset about something, which… doesn’t look good for Scott.”

“We can’t jump to conclusions though,” Pearl added on, which Abolish nodded along to. “We have to be smarter than before. Learn from our mistakes. What do we know? Anything involving Scott and/or Avid is very confusing.”

“You said it,” Abolish stood back up straight, ending the huddle. “We can’t make assumptions until we know more. We need to have solid evidence.”

“Well then!” Pearl smiled, putting both hands on her hips. “Let’s get back to it! Maybe I can talk to the vampires tomorrow.”

“Yeah…” Abolish made a face. “Maybe try to not bother the coven that much…”

“Oh come on,” Pearl waved her hand in casual dismissal. “They love me!”

“Maybe Shelby…” Abolish muttered. “Scott… Pyro… and Owen…? I’m not certain.”

“Oh booooo!” Pearl cackled, lightly punching Abolish’s shoulder. “They won’t be killing me or anything, I’m strong! They haven’t hurt me yet!”

Abolish shot a glance at her collarbone, raising an eyebrow as he reconnected eye contact.

“Hey!” Pearl complained. “That was from a misunderstanding! We’re trying to not have any more of those. It won’t be a problem.”

“Sure…” Abolish sighed and shook his head, but a ghost of a smile covered his face.

Pearl laughed and walked back to her house. As soon as she faced the other way, her face knit into concern and deep thought.

They may have been out of their era of miscommunication…

…But now it had been replaced by something new.

Something wicked.

Straight. Up. Deception.

Here we go again.

Chapter Text

Avid stared at the ceiling of Legundo’s house, bored to his core.

Now that he was a vampire, sleeping was a different process. One that he didn’t know yet.

He tolerated maybe thirty minutes of doing nothing but staring at the ceiling before he got up to walk around town.

He was careful to shut the doctor’s front door as quietly as possible as he stepped onto the path. The cool night air was so refreshing. He hadn’t realized how grating the sun was until he felt how nice the dark felt.

The silver at every corner and the thick garlic scent that filled the air lessened his enjoyment, but one less evil was acceptable for him.

It was really cool to see town during the night time, now that the darkness couldn’t handicap him. Everything was so clear, so easy to see.

Oh! Maybe he could visit the coven! He knew a lot about vampires, but he didn’t know much about being one. He could use the support.

Avid began walking to the front gate before he was suddenly bathed in soft yellow light.

“Avid?” Abolish moved closer to Avid, looking confused. “What are you doing up and about?”

“Abolish!” Avid stammered, feeling very much like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “I couldn’t sleep. What… What about you?”

“Just looking around town to make sure no one is up to no good,” Abolish glanced over Avid’s expression methodically. “You should get back to the doctor’s house. We’re still not sure how stable your condition is.”

“Uh,” Avid turned around and began walking away. He’d just leave through the back gate instead. “Yeah, you’re right! It was pretty stupid of me to go out at this hour. Um. You have a good night, Abolish.”

“Yeah…” Abolish sounded apprehensive, but continued walking in his original path. “You too, Avid.”

That was terrifying…

Avid shook off his anxiety and looked around before exiting through the back gate and sprinting to the woods.

“Oh,” A bat from the top of a tree spoke. “Hi, Avid!”

“Hi!” Avid smiled as the bat morphed into Scott, who gracefully floated down from his place on the trees. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hunting,” Scott gestured at a few wild cows meandering about. “I didn’t expect to find you out of town. You okay?”

“Yeah,” Avid fidgeted with the collar of his shirt. “I just needed some air… air that isn’t ninety percent garlic and silver.”

Scott laughed heartily, an uncommon sound. Avid cherished it dearly. What a beautiful sound it was. “See! The town is just suffocating! You should join us in the coven and feel free! There isn’t a hint of silver and garlic is strictly forbidden.”

“I’ll think about it!” Avid rocked back and forth on his feet. It was indeed very tempting… “But for now… I think Oakhurst would be better off if I stayed for a bit. I don’t think they’d be able to take it well if I went missing again.”

“That’s fine,” Scott accepted, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “You can take your time– as long as we can meet up like this.”

“I’ll try to come visit during the nights when I can!” Avid was elated as he approached the elder vampire further. “I want to see that hot face as often as possible. You’re absolutely glowing– and every time you’re gone, I miss that light.”

“My goodness!” Scott brought his hands underneath his face and twirled one foot on the ground, imitating a flustered schoolgirl. “Stop~ You’re too kind! So sweet!”

Avid giggled and held out a hand, offering it for Scott to hold. Scott stared down at his outstretched palm before grabbing it with a soft smirk.

“Aren’t you just the cutest?” Scott gave Avid’s hand a squeeze and began guiding him into the woods. Oh, right. They probably shouldn’t be right at the forest’s edge.

“Where are we going?” Avid moved himself to be up against Scott.

“Hm,” Scott thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Hunting, I guess. Though maybe we’re just walking around. Being by your side is enough for me.”

“Hurray!” Avid cheered. Scott raised an eyebrow and grinned, which made the glee that flooded Avid’s brain overflow.

“If you continue being this adorable, I might just have to kiss you,” Scott drawled, looking right into Avid’s eyes as he spoke. “So endearing. Like a kitten.”

“Ah!” Avid’s face tingled. If he was alive, he knew it would have been glowing bright red. “I mean… you could– kiss me, if you wanted. I’m cool with you kissing me. That would actually be amazing if…”

Scott cut him off by gently grabbing Avid’s face and turning it toward himself. Avid made a strangled, flustered noise as Scott smiled down at him.

“If that is what you wish,” Scott said so softly it could have been a whisper.

Avid couldn’t even prepare himself mentally before shockingly soft lips met his own and Avid melted. Avid brought his arms around his partner and reciprocated instantly. Everything felt like fire and water all at once. Electricity through his veins where there used to be blood. Everything in that moment was perfect.

When Scott pulled away, it felt like it had lasted both an eternity and an instant simultaneously. Avid craved more and gave Scott a pleading look. Scott shook his head, to which Avid nodded in return and moved back to his side, resting his head against Scott’s shoulder.

Scott led them to a clearing and guided them to sit down. The two sat on the grass and looked up at the burgundy skies. Avid smiled and leaned completely into the other man's arms, nuzzling his affections against Scott’s arm.

“You’re so sweet when you’re not garrulously spouting on about killing all vampires,” Scott ran his hand through Avid’s hair, which felt absolutely wonderful. “It’s nice to have you like this.”

Avid hummed happily, earning him a small kiss to the top of his head.

He could stay like this forever, but even just this was enough.

They had all of eternity to spend together.

Avid was glad he didn’t have to wait.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid’s not going back to the doctor’s house, is he?

Abolish already knew the answer, but closed the windows on his lantern and silently followed Avid anyway.

Of course, Avid walked straight past Legundo’s home and directly out the back gate. Abolish couldn’t help but let out a tired sigh as he watched Avid make his way to the forest edge.

Abolish grumbled to himself, turning around to wake and fetch the doctor, when someone appeared next to Avid. He whirled back around and crouched behind the wall next to the gate, peaking around the side to watch.

This time, Avid was all smiles, moving like bubbles in the air. He looked so very happy to be talking to… Scott.

What?

Abolish was even more confused. They had appeared to be on negative terms the other day, but this was a complete 180 from then. It was downright unnerving to see the difference. But what could have happened? Had Scott brainwashed him? No, when would he have had the time to do that. People had their eyes on Avid all day yesterday, and he began the day looking nervous when interacting with Scott.

Clearly, Abolish was missing something.

Something he was determined to find out.

Abolish’s jaw fell open when he saw Avid reach out his hand, which Scott took. Abolish watched in disbelief as he witnessed the two walk into the forest, hand in hand, standing far too close together.

What?

What the hell happened in that bunker?

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

It was almost sunrise by the time Abolish saw a trace of Avid.

Avid returned to town with a giddy smile and a bounce in his step as he made his way through the gates. Abolish kept himself hidden, simply watching in silence as Avid slowed his skip to a tiptoe as he carefully entered Legundo’s home, looking around suspiciously before entering. Avid shut the door with such softness, Abolish almost didn’t believe it had been closed. Who knew Avid could do something with such care, such silence.

For almost ten minutes, Abolish didn’t leave his hiding place. Only sitting there to try to process and make connections of what he’d seen along with what he already knows.

He had theories, some more elaborate than others, but he didn’t like the implications of most of them.

Unfortunately, the worst case scenarios were the ones that had the most evidence. All he needed was just a little more proof.

Avid was a vampire.

Chapter Text

How the hell hadn’t he seen it before?

Maybe it was denial. Perhaps it was the chaos of everything else around him clouding his mind and preventing him from putting it together.

Being stuck in the same place as Scott for a whole week? Seriously? And the fact that he turned up right after Cleo and Apo sensed the new vampire? That was damning enough.

Avid’s recent behavior only added on to Abolish’s pile of evidence.

No, he had already figured it out. He had just hoped he was wrong.

Over the next three nights, Avid continued the pattern of sneaking out, sometimes with Scott already waiting just outside the gate.

Not only was Avid a vampire, he was… close with the most powerful vampire in all of Oakhurst.

He had mentioned the meetings to Pearl, but Pearl insisted they get more evidence before proceeding. Understandable. Pearl had been the most sensible one during the last mystery, it would only make sense that she made sure everyone was entirely certain of something before jumping to conclusions and accusing. A habit Avid no longer had.

Because Avid was a vampire.

But still, for Pearl’s sake, he said nothing. He just needed a bit more to say for certain.

And that night seemed like the night.

Abolish watched carefully from his hiding place as Avid skipped out of town and directly into the elder vampire’s arms. Scott even spun him around in the hug. Damning indeed.

It was only made even more clear as Avid pulled Scott further in the field and the two began dancing. There was no music, but Avid, very foolishly, was singing. It was a bad idea. If Abolish could hear it, anyone walking out and about could.

Avid was lucky it was just him, instead of someone who might have jumped the two immediately.

Abolish almost immediately forgot the lyrics, but the smile on Avid’s face and the meaning of the song confirmed literally everything Abolish had been suspicious of.

Avid’s song was about him receiving a cure to vampirism, only to be turned by Scott again and again.

Not only was Avid a vampire, he was with with Scott.

Abolish could really see the vampirism now, Avid’s wide smile put his fangs on full display, the red shine of the moon caught the discreet few silvery wisps that ran through Avid’s hair.

All of this was absolutely jarring when taking into account how Avid acted when they had just arrived at Oakhurst. Someone who screamed about how vampires are evil, dangerous monsters– now a vampire himself, dancing with the one he had once hated most.

Scott was equally as shocking in how he was behaving. A man who never smiled in a non-condescending way, a vampire so apathetic and focused on his image, with a huge, soft smile on his face as he looked at Avid and Avid alone as they moved around each other under the stars.

That was all Abolish needed.

Abolish walked over Legundo’s home and knocked on the door.

No one answered, so he knocked again.

And again.

But before he could knock a fourth time, the doctor opened the door and Abolish’s fist met air.

“Abolish…” Legundo sucked in a frustrated gasp of air. “Who’s hurt?”

“Um…” Abolish looked away for a moment. “No one.”

“Then do you mind telling me why you’re standing on my doorstep at this hour?” Legundo grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

“I think you need to have a conversation with Avid,” Abolish stated, observing Legs’ reaction. Legundo raised an eyebrow, but didn’t seem to get it. “Just… talk to him. Really look him over, really analyse what you see.”

“…” Legundo’s face furrowed in thought before responding. “Sounds good. Thank you, Abolish.”

“Check your couch,” Abolish added before walking away. Abolish distantly heard Legundo’s shout as he noticed a distinct lack of Avid in his home as he rounded the corner and went into his own home.

Avid had it coming.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid squealed wildly as he spun around the field with his boyfriend. All he could look at was the shine in Scott’s eyes, the way his white hair moved through the air, the genuine smile making a home on his face. It was the best thing Avid had ever seen.

Avid laughed breathlessly, his lungs still angry from his sweet song. He watched as Scott’s face brightened at the sound.

This.

This is what Avid wanted for eternity.

And eternity he shall get.

Watching Scott’s walls dissolve in his touch was absolutely addicting. Avid was willing to go as slow as Scott needed, but every sweet moment left him hungering more.

Avid giggled as he crashed into Scott’s arms, who laughed in return. Something that only Avid got to see. Scott would never act like this in front of anyone else. The pride and adoration of that fact poisoned Avid’s veins. The best poison he could hope for.

The two of them crashed into the dirt, still embracing. Scott’s clothes were definitely dirty, but he didn’t seem to care. The fact Scott cared more about his arms around Avid rather than the state of his clothes made Avid swoon.

Scott hummed as he pulled Avid closer, running a hand through his lover’s hair. Avid pressed his face against Scott’s chest, his dead heart singing.

“I’m so happy I get eternity with you,” Avid confessed softly. “I’m glad we worked things out so we could have this.”

“Me too,” Scott whispered, as if saying it too loud would shatter the sky.

Avid’s brain broke, too enamored to come up with anything else to say. So he wrapped his arms tighter around his vampire and sighed happily.

Scott chuckled softly, once again running his hand over Avid’s scalp. The soothing motion relaxed Avid’s body even more.

Nothing could ever outperform the perfection of this moment.

Avid silently wished on the stars above that he could have many moments just like this in his eternity of love before him.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid woke up slowly and easily. The lazy morning air was pleasant– other than the sun’s promise of return… the silver… the garlic…

Okay. Objectively, it wasn’t pleasant.

But Avid felt amazing anyway.

He didn’t even remember drifting off. He opened his eyes and looked around. He found himself in the bingo hall, a soft bed had been placed down.

Right. Scott couldn’t go into his house.

Avid would have to give him a blanket invite the next time he saw him.

Avid stretched his arms and stood up. He didn’t need it, as vampirism promised him easy and painless mornings, but the action soothed him. A comforting habit.

He undid the bandages on his hand with a frown. Surely, a human’s hands would have healed by now… right? It had to be safe to take them off now.

It was crazy how little time it took for Avid to lose track of human traits.

Avid sighed and unraveled them before walking into town.

“AVID!” Legundo’s voice shouted before the door to the hall was even closed. Avid jumped and turned around to see the doctor approaching him at full speed.

Shit.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Waves of anxiety washed over Legundo as the hours passed without a trace of Avid. He wished Abolish had told him more.

What did Abolish know? It definitely had something to do with the fact Avid was nowhere to be seen at the moment.

It was almost dawn by the time he saw someone.

Legundo charged straight for the bingo hall as he watched the vampire hunter step into the center of town. What was he doing there?

“AVID!” Legundo shouted before Avid could run off again. He needed to get to the bottom of this. Avid jumped from the sound and froze. Good. “Where on EARTH have you been?! You’re supposed to be asleep on my couch where I can monitor your condition.”

“Right…” Avid laughed a little too hard, a tremble in the sound. “I just needed somewhere colder… Your house got a little too warm…”

That was a lie. Avid was terrible at it.

Legundo remembered what Abolish told him to. Really look at Avid.

There was something missing. The doctor looked over Avid’s form, looking at his body language, his tone, and…

And then he saw something that made everything click into place.

Two sharp fangs where Avid’s canines should have been.

Legundo’s eyes widened and he looked over Avid more thoroughly. The small, faint, almost unnoticeable strands of white through his hair, his pupils being slightly pointed, his skin being smoother, his hands completely healed and unbandaged, the slight edge of crimson his eyes now held…

Legundo reached out and grabbed Avid’s wrist, putting his pointer and middle finger against his pulse point.

Silence.

“Avid…” Legundo’s face dropped.

Avid was the vampire.

Avid’s posture deflated, shame painting his face, his arms hugged his chest.

“Which one of them did this to you…?” Legundo asked softly.

“Look–” Avid put on a more defensive stance. “I didn’t have a choice! I was sick… really sick. I… I needed this.”

“You could have come to me, Avid…” Legundo reached out to try to comfort the vampire, but Avid flinched backward. He didn’t have a choice? “I could have helped you.”

“No,” Avid shook as he spoke. “Doc, I know you want to help me, but there’s nothing you could have done. I tried just about everything. This… this was the only way. And now…” Avid paused, an apprehensive smile enveloped his face. “I feel better. Like I can walk around without feeling like I’ll collapse at any moment. The pain… the pain. It- It’s gone, doc!”

“Avid,” Legundo urged. Avid was desperately trying to prevent the doctor from learning who forced him into this. Was he being blackmailed? “Please, tell me which one of them turned you.”

“I can’t…” Avid broke eye contact, looking at the ground. He’s definitely being blackmailed. He needs help…

“Okay,” Legundo sighed after another moment of silence. The best thing he could do right now was be a safe space and leave it alone.

“You…” Avid looked back up, desperation in his eyes. “You won’t tell anyone… right?! Tell me you won’t.”

“I couldn’t possibly,” Legundo affirmed. “I won’t tell anyone. You have my word.”

Avid let out a relieved laugh and all the tension in his body loosened.

“Thank you,” Avid laughed shakily. “That means the world to me.”

“Go home and rest, Avid,” Legundo sighed.

Avid jumped, but quickly turned and ran to his house.

Legundo watched Avid close the door behind him before putting his head in his hands. This was… a lot. He would have to find out who turned Avid, have a few strong words with them. Avid didn’t deserve this… as much as Avid tried to convince himself and the doc that he was happy with how it ended up, turning someone without permission was a line Legs was upset was crossed.

At least he didn’t have to worry about finding the town vampire anymore.

But now?

Legundo’s patient needed a different kind of help.

Chapter Text

Inviting Scott to enter his house whenever he wished was one of the greatest ideas Avid had ever had. No, it was the greatest idea he had ever had.

Waking up with Scott’s arms around him had to be the best feeling in the world. Second to none. Being near him was incredible, like his soul could rest easy. Scott’s presence was amazing in every way.

Of course, as a vampire, Avid didn’t need the sleep. But he liked resting after a long day anyway. It was far better than wandering around in the dark and being caught by a very suspicious Abolish or staring at the ceiling all night.

Avid let out a content sigh as he leaned further into Scott’s embrace. Scott replied with a pleased hum, running a gentle hand through Avid’s hair. Waves of calm took root under Avid’s flesh.

Scott had been sneaking in through his window to cuddle with him every night for the past three days. After Legundo found out about Avid’s vampirism, the two decided against running around outside, so snuggling up in Avid’s room was how they decided to spend time together.

It was incredible that Scott was spending his nights with him– considering how vampires couldn’t stand the sunlight and all. To be wasting the dark hours just to snuggle up in a town full of silver and garlic was pure adoration, adoration that made Avid weak in the knees. Adoration from the most ethereal man he had ever met.

“Good morning,” Scott spoke so softly as he ran a hand across the back of Avid’s neck. “How did you sleep, darling?”

Avid let out a happy hum and squeezed his arms around the vampire. A low rumbling in Scott’s chest started up and Avid looked up at his lover’s face, wonder in his eyes. The vibrations made joy bubble up through his emotions.

“Are you… purring?” Avid asked, absolutely baffled. “Vampires can purr?”

“Yes and yes,” Scott kissed the top of Avid’s head. “It’s a thing some bats can do. Vampires can do it when they’re content or trying to comfort someone.”

“That’s really cute, actually,” Avid giggled, grinning at the way Scott rolled his eyes at the statement. “Not as cute as you, though!”

“My, my!” Scott preened under the attention, his mood seemed to brighten instantly. Avid couldn’t help but beam at the sight. He adored this vampire more than the moon. Scott’s pattern of blooming under praise gave Avid an impossibly strong craving to give it. “You flatter me so.”

“Every comment is true!” Avid declared, squeezing his lover closer. “I mean every word… and you are the hottest person I have ever seen.”

“So sweet to me,” Scott sighed softly, peppering the top of Avid’s head with kisses.

“I’m so happy I get to be yours for eternity,” Avid mused, pressing his face against Scott’s shoulder. This moment couldn’t get any more perfect.

“And I’m so glad I get to keep you for eternity,” Scott replied. Avid was wrong, the moment could get more perfect. Scott never ceased to exceed his expectations, always becoming impossibly more wonderful.

Avid squealed, doing his best to tighten his hug, but there wasn’t much pressure he could add. They were already impossibly close. Avid had no doubt in his mind that if their hearts were still beating, they’d sing in sync.

They had met because fate knew they belonged together, in each others’ arms, kissing each other softly through the sun rising.

Avid could thank fate every hour for the rest of time and it wouldn’t even touch the amount of gratitude he felt for her grace. How could fate be so kind to someone?

Avid wasn’t sure what he did to earn such a wonderful destiny, but he was glad he did whatever it was.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Drift didn’t mean to snoop.

Honestly! She really didn’t!

But the soft sound of Avid giggling upstairs got her too curious to remember to respect boundaries– she was a detective, after all! And there was a mystery! Her body itched to get to the bottom of this, and the answers were right up a ladder, mere feet from her grasp.

She slowly climbed the ladder of Merp Manor and peaked through the trapdoor, being as quiet as she possibly could.

Her eyes widened at what she saw.

Scott.

Scott was in the middle of Avid’s room, talking about something that Drift couldn’t focus on, her shock too great to process whatever it was. She turned to see that Avid was standing over his desk on the other side of the room, laughing softly at whatever Scott was describing as he rooted through his drawers.

Scott wasn’t wearing his cloak, and Drift soon found that it was draped over Avid’s shoulders instead.

Drift was stunned into silence, wholly unable to move as she watched Avid stride over to Scott and sit on his lap, eyeliner in hand. The smooth confidence of the action only served to further her speechlessness.

“Hold still,” Avid held Scott’s face with one hand, the other carefully drawing thin lines over the ends of the vampire’s eyelids.

“I know, dearest,” Scott laughed, a noise so soft and loving Drift almost couldn’t believe it was from Scott’s mouth. “I’ve done makeup before.”

So that was certainly a result of Avid’s bunker mishap. Those two were… dating?! Surely not…

Drift’s expression softened as she saw just how overjoyed Avid’s expression was. How peaceful Scott looked, his face didn’t read as haughty in that moment. Only content, serene softness painted his face.

She could never be mad at someone for loving. For feeling such joy from nearly being close to one another.

Her eyes widened as they leaned closer together and–

Oh.

Yeah. They were probably together.

Drift also probably shouldn’t have been there. Drift covered her eyes with one hand and started descending the ladder as quietly as possible.

“Are you going to just stand there or are you going to be polite and announce your presence?” Scott’s voice was back to its dull, condescending air.

Drift almost fell down the ladder. She quickly recomposed herself and climbed through the trapdoor.

“Sorry– sorry!” Drift stammered, wobbling a bit from her nerves. “I didn’t mean to snoop or anything. I was just curious! I was just leaving– honest!”

“Hey, Drift!” Avid looked absolutely terrified, already standing up, his face paler than she’d ever seen it.

“Well,” Scott let out a long, defeated sigh. “I guess today I’ll stay in town. Try to talk to the villagers about the benefits of vampirism. I’ve been meaning to do it anyway. And might as well do it before Drift accidentally slips up.”

“Scott won’t hurt you,” Avid’s voice was firm, reassuring. Drift only then realized she was shaking in her boots. Avid’s words did soothe some of her worries, but she still felt uneasy at such a presence in the manor.

“Not unless you try something foolish,” Scott crossed his arms, leaning his weight to one hip. “If you keep your weapons to yourself and don’t fling garlic at me, you have my word you will be untouched.”

“…” Avid made an unreadable face for a moment before turning to Drift. “That means he means no harm to you.”

“Okay,” Drift let out a shaky laugh. “That’s great… wonderful to hear…”

“Uh,” Avid’s face was dusted with a faint pink tone as he handed the cloak to Scott. “Here. I’ll, um, see you in town.”

“You as well,” Scott ruffled Avid’s hair with one hand as he turned into a bat and flew out the window. He was acting much less warm than mere moments prior.

“Are you and Scott… a thing?” Drift asked as soon as the vampire was through the window.

“Um!” Avid turned to face the other direction. “Yeeeeeees?”

“Oh, Avid,” Drift breathed. Despite everything she just saw, it still felt unreal. “It– It’s okay. I’m fine with this! I’m just– I thought you hated him?”

“That was before I was stuck in a pit with him for a week,” Avid crossed his arms defensively, which instantly brought a laugh into Drift’s lungs. “Hey! Not funny! I had a lot of time to talk with him and learn some things, and I did some self reflection. He’s actually a pretty great guy if you let him be one.”

“Okay, bud,” Drift put a hand on Avid’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. “I trust you.”

“Yeah,” Avid beamed brighter than the stars. “I trust you, too.”

Drift wrapped her roommate into a hug.

He would be safe with this.

She did trust him.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Legundo frowned at the elder vampire who stood in the middle of town. Scott had been advertising vampirism to the people of Oakhurst, and he didn’t trust it one bit.

“Come on, Cleo, Apo,” Scott twirled, definitely just trying to make his cloak flutter as much as possible. “Why don’t you tell everyone just how wonderful it is to be a vampire?”

“Seriously,” Apo grumbled, crossing her arms in an aggressive manner. Not helpful, but Legundo would say it was warranted. “What are you doing here, Scott?”

“I’m simply clearing some things up!” Scott seemed strangely cheery as he spoke. “I feel like you all don’t know enough about vampires, hence your negative attitude about it.”

“Well,” Sausage huffed, crossing his arms as well, but in his case, it was more of a dramatic flair. “Go on then, do tell us.”

“Thank you,” Scott flashed a haughty grin. “There are many benefits! You can see in the dark really well, you’re faster, you’re stronger, you don’t get sick…”

Legundo turned to look at Avid, a grim expression on his face. Avid’s expression was unreadable, but he refused to look in the direction of the doctor.

“…your hearing is really great, you don’t get tired,” Scott continued droning on about the so-called ‘benefits’ of being an undead creature of the night. “And you get to live forever! Imagine that. You have all the time in the world to follow all of your passions, fulfill your goals, have fun… you can do whatever without having a menacing clock of death above your head at all times.”

“Oh,” Sausage’s resolve looked like it was crumbling. “That does sound appealing…”

“Yes!” Scott smiled, his sharp fangs shining in the sunlight. “You’d have the rest of eternity to write your books, ‘M’. And you’d know how vampires actually work…” Scott made a face. “Shelby lent me a copy and– seriously? Sparkling in the sunlight? Now that’s just absurd.”

“I thought it was whimsical,” Sausage sighed, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically.

“Am I shining in the sunlight right now?” Scott dramatically turned from side to side. “I don’t think so.”

“Well you are glowing,” Avid chimed in, a nervous laugh seasoned his statement.

Before the doctor could scold Avid for his strange and unhelpful comment, others spoke up in agreement.

“He does look great for his age,” Drift nodded enthusiastically.

“Not a day over eight-hundred…” Cleo stated, their tone could be read as neutral at worst.

“Oh!” Scott seemed to absolutely delight under the praise, turning and striking poses. “Stop~ You are all far too kind! Maybe you guys aren’t so bad after all.”

Legundo looked around the townsfolk, noting how each of them was reacting. Abolish looked uncomfortable, standing the furthest away from the vampire. Avid seemed a little upset at this point, but wouldn’t take his eyes off of Scott. Apo looked downright offended that Scott was there with no repercussions. Cleo seemed far too calm about this– same with Drift. Martyn’s expression was dark, and his hands were stuffed in his pockets. Pearl was casually leaning against the building behind her, not at all bothered by the threat standing in the middle of town. Sausage was looking at the ground, clearly deep in thought– probably about to make a dumb decision. Ren looked… skeptical. He kept making eye contact with Martyn.

What is that about?

Legundo absentmindedly wondered about what everyone’s reactions could mean, an uneasy feeling settling in his bones.

The relative peace was abruptly cut off by the shattering of a glass bottle and a loud hiss. Legundo jerked his attention back in front of him.

Scott was still hissing, looking to be very annoyed. His clothes were wet, and the skin around the wet clothing was red and angry. Holy water.

Legundo looked around and noticed Martyn creeping towards Scott. Pearl made a face and Abolish made a mad dash away from his spot in between Ren and Avid.

“Nope,” Abolish could barely be heard as he ran from the scene.

Martyn lunged at Scott, the stake aimed right at his heart.

But before Legundo could say anything to try to defuse the situation, Avid lunged in front of Scott, taking Martyn to the ground.

Avid was pinning him down, angry, animalistic growls and hisses tore from his throat as he slashed and punched Martyn, a marriage of feral vampiric rage and human passion. The stake was buried deep into Avid’s shoulder, but Avid didn’t even glance at it, his slitted pupils focused only on the tearing of flesh.

Avid looked different. Blood was already running down his face, his hair was completely grey, streaks of white stemming from his roots, his eyes were cherry red, and the ends of his fingers were adorned with sharp claws.

“What the FUCK!” Martyn screeched as Avid continued swiping at him. “AVID?!”

Avid did not grace Martyn with an answer, simply making more angry sounds as he continued slashing.

“Avid!” Legundo let out a sharp shout, hoping to startle Avid enough to stop him. “Cut it out!”

Avid paid no mind to the doctor’s words, his snarling never ceasing. Avid bit down on Martyn’s chest, never stopping his threatening growling.

“Avid…” Scott spoke, quieter than usual. Legundo looked up to see the vampire holding a shield up, his back turned to Avid. “That’s enough. You can let him go.”

Avid huffed before standing up, wiping the blood off of his face, though the blood on his hands caused the action to simply smear the liquid across it. He kicked Martyn sharply in the ribs before slowly backing up, his hands defensively shielding Scott.

Pearl quickly moved up to drag Martyn away from the center. Avid growled and jerked forward threateningly, but held his post protecting Scott.

“Avid what the hell?!” Cleo finally spoke, breaking the spell of silence that settled over the townspeople.

“I won’t let you hurt him,” Avid sniffled. Was he…? Avid was crying. “You stay BACK!” Avid bared his teeth and swiveled his head around, making sure no one was stepping closer to them. The stake was still lodged in his arm. The doctor longed to remove it.

“What is this?!” Sausage gasped, horror haunting his face. “Avid– what’s–” Avid cut him off with a snarl.

“Vampires can get very protective of their partners,” Scott huffed, keeping himself close to Avid. “I recommend not aggravating him further.”

Partner? This was no good. Avid was being manipulated in some way. No way in hell would Avid date Scott willingly.

“Avid, listen to me,” The doctor tried to start, but Avid simply directed his angry fit at him instead.

“I think I’m done listening,” Avid hissed, definitely making sure his fangs were on full display. He looked terrifying like this, blood covering the lower half of his face, the crimson painting the ends of his sleeves and the tips of his fingers. “Let’s get out of here, Scott.”

Legundo opened his mouth to speak, but before anyone could announce their protests, Avid had already wrapped his arms around Scott and lunged over the walls of Oakhurst.

“What…” Apo fumbled, looking between Martyn, the doctor, and Abolish. “What do we– do we– should I go after him…?”

“Don’t follow him,” Drift suddenly entered the conversion, shaking her head firmly. “You heard what Scott said, and saw how he behaved with Martyn… he’s clearly not in a state that can be reasoned with.”

“So Avid was the hidden vampire…” Sausage pulled out one of his notebooks and began jotting things down. “Interesting! Talk about a plot twist!”

“Sausage!” Legundo scolded, storming over to the writer. “Not the time! We need to focus on what the hell just happened.”

“Focus on Martyn first, doc,” Cleo’s voice was very casual for the situation at hand. “Your patient is bleeding out.”

Shit.

Martyn.

Legundo rushed over to the man, who was clearly in shock, and got to work patching his wounds as the town descended into chaos behind him.

This couldn’t have gone worse.

One issue at a time, Legs.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

When Scott turned to see a stake heading straight for his heart, he found he couldn’t move. The shock, the pain and weakness from the holy water, the sun, and the silver must have taken it all out of him.

All he could do was stare with wide eyes as the wood approached his chest.

So this is how it ends?

But before Scott could begin reminiscing, he heard the sound of blood being consumed and a blur tackled his offender to the ground.

It was his Avid.

His sweet honey darling had drunk enough blood to descend to level two, based on his looks. His hair had shimmers of white running through it, and he looked downright ethereal. Too beautiful for this world.

The world was lucky to have him.

Scott, even luckier.

People come and go, but Scott would be having Avid forever.

Scott suddenly realized he didn’t have the time or the safety to gaze lovingly at his precious. Scott pulled a shield out of his inventory, facing one side of the circle and using Avid’s gory display to cover his back. Scott would never admit to fear, but in that moment, he found himself being cautious.

“What the FUCK!” Martyn screamed at the top of his lungs. The noise helped Scott fully snap out of his daze. “AVID?!”

As expected, Avid did not reply with words. Avid continued on with tearing and swiping at Martyn. A beautiful display, Scott was sure, but he had to keep his guard up and make sure the rest of town wouldn’t follow Martyn’s lead.

“Avid!” Legundo let out a sharp shout, stinging Scott’s sensitive ears. The holy water was really doing a number on him. “Cut it out!”

Yet again, Avid was deaf to the townspeople’s concerns. He was scared, protective, angry… Avid would not listen to them no matter how much they pleaded. He couldn’t. Scott glanced around town, letting out a sigh before turning his attention back to the upset fledgling.

“Avid…” Scott spoke, soft as to not scare Avid. Though, part of Scott was still shaken from how close he had come to dying for good. Some of the tenderness was… fear. A feeling unfamiliar to Scott for centuries. “That’s enough. You can let him go.”

Avid let out a sharp huff, and Scott knew that he had listened instantly. Scott glanced behind him just in time to watch Avid drive his boot into Martyn’s side before scrambling backward, arms extended, to guard Scott’s back.

Scott turned back around to face the other side, keeping his shield close to his chest. He heard Avid hiss sharply behind him. Like this, Scott felt a little safer in his vulnerable state.

“Avid what the hell?!” Cleo finally spoke, Scott looked at their face. He recognized the confusion, frustration, and betrayal. He could truly make out every feeling on her face.

“I won’t let you hurt him,” Avid sniffled from behind him. Scott’s face softened, Avid really was more scared than Scott was. Scott longed to hold him, running a hand through his hair and repeating over and over that they were safe. “You stay BACK!”

“What is this?!” Sausage gasped, no doubt shocked and horrified out of his mind. “Avid– what’s–” Avid cut him off with a snarl.

“Vampires can get very protective of their partners,” Scott spoke up, he had to keep his Avid safe. And keeping Avid safe meant lowering the chances of him attacking a townsperson as much as he could. “I recommend not aggravating him further.”

“Avid, listen to me,” The doctor began to speak, but Avid cut him off immediately.

“I think I’m done listening,” Avid hissed, and Scott could feel his body tense from behind him. “Let’s get out of here, Scott.”

Avid grabbed Scott and turned toward the wall. Scott barely had enough time to wrap his arms back around Avid before he had lunged over the spiked trees and begun making a mad dash for the treeline.

Scott didn’t protest much as Avid held him so close. The holy water still burned his hands, and he knew that Avid was still in a panicked state. The best thing to do was let Avid bring them to safety and then reassure him that everything was fine.

When they reached the castle, Avid paused at the door, making frustrated noises as he paced back and forth.

“Can I come in?” Avid huffed after a moment, stress leaking from his voice.

“Yes, Avid,” Scott reached up and ran a hand across Avid’s face. “You are always welcome to enter my place of residence.”

Avid quickly threw open the front door, not bothering to close it behind them as he dashed through the building. Scott wasn’t sure where he was going, what he was looking for, or his overall goal, so he stayed quiet and carefully observed Avid’s actions.

It seemed that Avid didn’t know what he was doing either, as he ran around the castle, poking into rooms, turning around, repeating the process. They eventually ended up down in the crypt, Scott sitting on someone’s bed as Avid paced around.

“Come here,” Scott opened his arms and Avid crashed into his embrace. Something hard hit Scott’s arm and Avid flinched. Scott turned Avid to the side and made a noise when he saw the stake sticking out of his arm. “Oh dear, sweet, sweet Avid…”

Scott wrapped a hand around the stake and placed his head against Avid’s neck, holding the shorter man in place. Scott pulled the wooden weapon out of the flesh with one swift movement, crushing it in his fist as soon as it was freed. Wooden pieces scattered across the floor as splinters marred his hands. Avid flinched back and Scott grabbed his face, peppering it with soft kisses, the taste of Martyn’s blood lingering on Avid’s skin.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” Scott gently shushed Avid, bringing his hand up to stroke Avid’s hair once again. “I’m okay. We’re safe in the castle now. No one is going to hurt either of us.”

“I thought I was going to lose you,” Avid whispered into Scott’s shoulder.

Scott frowned deeply. Seeing his beloved so upset… hurt. It was a feeling long forgotten. He sighed and began purring to soothe his lover. Avid instantly relaxed in his arms, sighing softly. Scott held Avid even closer, not caring about the blood soaking into both of their clothes. It was filthy, and his clothes would be a pain to clean later, but this was more important.

Avid was more important.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Shelby had heard the slamming of doors, the desperate footsteps, the overall panic in the waves of sound. But they knew it was better to not stand in the way of whatever was going on. The commotion was too desperate for her to trust it as safety.

Of course, they were curious– and concerned!

After silence had settled for all but thirty seconds, Shelby bounced from behind the wall and looked around desperately.

The front door had been left ajar. Shelby frowned and walked over, her shoes clicking on the floor all the way over, echoing off the walls. She closed it softly, but when she pulled her hand off the handle, they found their palm sticky with blood.

She felt her undead-face somehow go colder than it already was. They needed to find out who was bleeding now.

“Hello?” She called out desperately. “Who’s there? Do you need help?”

The lack of response made them uneasy. They looked around, hunting for answers or clues. Anything to help her piece things together. Anything to soothe their confused panic.

It seemed that luck had paid her a visit, as they noticed a faint trail of blood leading away from the door. She winced as a sidethought. Scott’s not going to be happy about the oak floors getting stained…

They shook their head to regain as much focus as she could before they followed the winding trail. The bloodied party had been almost feral in their path, constantly doubling back and changing directions in strange, unpredictable patterns. This doesn’t look good… Shelby bit their lip, using the pricks of pain to ground herself.

They followed the path down the spiraling stairs of the crypt, her nerves exploding in anxiety with every step into the cold basement.

She wasn’t sure if they were relieved or more terrified when the trail started thinning. Was it from the bleeding easing off? Or from the absolute loss of blood? They turned the corner and opened the door of one of the rooms.

Waves of relief washed through their body as they took in their surroundings. Avid sitting on the bed, Scott right beside him, bandaging a wound on his arm. Scott was whispering softly as he worked.

Her brain suddenly caught up with the scene around her.

“Avid?!” Shelby rushed forward, still keeping a bubble of distance between them and the pair. “Are you okay?”

“He’s staying with us now,” Scott spoke with a firm, grim tone. “He’s not going back to Oakhurst. None of us are setting foot there again.”

“Oh…” Shelby’s stomach dropped, their eyes widening. “Did… did Oakhurst do… that…?” She pointed at the wound on Avid’s shoulder.

“Yeah…” Avid looked down, shame or terror surrounding him. “Scott was just talking with them and they–” Avid sniffled. “They tried to– they tried–”

“Hey,” Scott grabbed Avid’s face. “It’s okay, they didn’t hurt me. You did so well.”

“What did they do?” Shelby stumbled backward, suddenly anxious yet again.

“Martyn tried to stake me,” Scott let out a shaky exhale, truly uncharacteristic of him. This was bad. “Someone splashed me with holy water and he charged in. Don’t worry, though. Avid stepped in and taught him a lesson.”

Shelby’s eyes immediately welled up with tears at the thought of losing either of them. They couldn’t even begin to imagine how much her heart would ache if either one of them fell.

Scott broke the sound of their sobs with a long sigh, which suddenly made them aware that Avid was also crying.

“Okay,” Scott rolled his eyes, but there was no venom behind it. He spread both of his arms out. “Come here, don’t cry now.”

Shelby crashed into Scott’s other side as Avid clung to him like he was stranded in the middle of the ocean and Scott was a piece of sturdy driftwood. The contact only made the two fledglings cry more, sobbing into Scott’s cloak.

Scott sighed, bringing his hands up to stroke their hair.

“There, there,” Scott sounded deeply uncertain, but continued his comforts. “Let it all out…?”

A laugh broke through Shelby’s sobs and Avid wrapped his arms around her as well. The three of them clung to each other like a lifeline.

Thank the night they were okay.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl had already blocked out the screaming after Avid and Scott had taken off.

The town was in chaos, arguing and yelling. Everyone was distraught and confused. And to be fair, Pearl didn’t know what to think of it all either.

When Abolish had told Pearl that Avid was not only a vampire, but had some sort of relationship with Scott, she had been skeptical but oh boy golly was he proven right.

Pearl didn’t agree with what Avid did. The violence was scarily over the top. But she didn’t agree with Martyn, either. He had attempted to kill Scott, despite him not doing anything to start any conflict. The interaction was peaceful at first. Uneasy, sure, but no ill intentions occurred on Scott's side of the interaction.

“Man,” Pearl shook her head, still not fully processing the scene around her. Everything was too loud, sounds overlapping. The light was suddenly too bright. She could practically feel every muscle, every joint, every bone in her body as the universe closed in around her. “This is way too overstimulating. I’m going out.”

Pearl started walking out of town, but someone grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. White hot searing pain rocked her body and she hissed in a pained breath.

“Sorry,” Abolish mumbled, but continued pulling her backward. “Pearl, it’s not a good idea to go near the vampires right now. Remember what Scott said? Vampires get protective over their partners? Avid’s clearly out of his head right now, and there’s no guarantee he won’t kill you if you get too close.”

“Hm,” Pearl frowned, stepping behind a building to escape the noise. “I guess you’re right. You’re right about a lot of things! Ohhhhhh man! You were right about them dating, too! That’s insane! Sorry for doubting you, mate.”

“Uh…” Abolish looked around, vague disbelief on his face. “I appreciate the lack of…” Abolish gestured in the direction of town, which was still devolved into chaos. “…that, but I feel like you aren’t reacting to this with the seriousness it warrants…”

“Let it sink in for a few minutes,” Pearl shrugged. Her panic hadn’t set in yet– if it would at all. “It might come to me later.”

“Martyn just almost died, Pearl,” Abolish furrowed his eyebrows, looking concerned. “I feel like that should be a sign to you to stop bothering the vampires. It’s clear the treaty is over now.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Pearl shook her head. “Scott called Avid off. He wouldn’t have done that if it was all out war again. I think it will be fine as long as we keep everyone in check.”

“Again,” Abolish looked downright exasperated at this point, even though he kept a mostly blank face and expression. Pearl’s extensive time solving this case with him had tuned her into Abolish’s different ways of expressing. “Martyn could die.”

“He won’t,” Pearl put her hands on her hips. “He was fine when I dragged him out of there. None of the scratches and bites went too deep, and his neck and face were shockingly untouched! His arms took most of the damage, likely because he was using them to protect his neck and face. As long as the doctor patches him up, he’ll heal no problem!”

“Interesting…” Abolish narrowed his eyes, putting a gloved hand against his chin in thought. “A level two vampire that was ‘unable’ to reach a human’s neck? With that amount of inhuman strength? I find that… odd.”

“It’s like I’ve been saying!” Pearl grinned. “I don’t think they’re out for blood– er– wrong phrasing. I don’t think they want an all out war. I think they’re just getting defensive out there.”

“Maybe…” Abolish looked at the sky, face blank. “Do you think the rest of town will accept that though? After what happened?’

“Oof…” Pearl didn’t think about the others’ stances on this situation. “Yeah. I don’t think so.”

“So,” Abolish sighed and folded his hands, still looking at the sky. “I guess this is over then.”

“Just about.”

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

“Just about,” Pearl had a faint smile, but her eyes were blank as the two of them stared at the sky.

“Where do we go from here?” Abolish wondered aloud.

“I’m not sure…” Pearl’s mouth dipped into a small frown. “We’ll just have to wait and see where everyone’s loyalties end up.”

“I guess so…” Abolish trailed off. The quiet corner of Oakhurst where they sat slowly filled with a grim air as the two of them wondered about the future.

“Stay safe,” Pearl offered Abolish a smile as she began walking back to her home, the confusion and panic slowly making its way to her face.

“Stay sane,” Abolish returned with a nod, going out to see what the rest of town was doing. Might as well do his best to do recon and maybe even diffuse a bit of panic.

He approached Cleo first, who was in a very heated conversation with Sausage.

“Why were you even considering this life?!” Cleo hissed, their fangs on full display. “Even after you saw what Avid has done, you are ‘just thinking about’ turning?! Are you MAD?!”

“But Cleo!” Sausage’s eyes welled up with dramatic faux tears. “I could continue writing stories forever! Just a bite, come on…”

“Sausage…” Abolish fully entered the conversation. “This is something you should maybe think about for more than five minutes before begging for it.”

“Absolutely ridiculous!” Cleo pulled at their hair, clearly frustrated. “Pull yourself together, Sausage!”

“Maybe you should both go home and rest,” Abolish offered, fidgeting with his gloves awkwardly. “Cleo, your housemate was pretty overwhelmed last time I saw her… maybe you should check in with her. Sausage, you can sleep on the vampire decision.”

“Fine,” Sausage sighed, making a puppy dog face as he slowly trudged back to his place. “I guess I’ll waste my mortal breaths on useless things… who knows if they’re my last!”

“Ugh…” Cleo rolled her eyes, and Abolish very much understood and resonated with the action. “You said Pearl was upset?”

“Yeah…” Abolish looked in the direction of Cleo and Pearl’s cottage. “She went back home, but before she did, she and I were talking and she said she was pretty overstimulated by everything going on and it seemed like she was only just then processing it.”

“I’ll go check on her, then,” Cleo said, much softer in their tone. “Thank you, Abolish.”

“No problem,” Abolish walked off to the next person he saw.

“Hey, Apo,” Abolish greeted as he watched Ren walk out of town over to his own home. “How are you doing right now?”

“How am I???” Apo made a frustrated noise and paced back and forth. “It was Avid! Avid was the town vampire?! How did no one know that?!”

“There were signs…” Abolish mumbled, looking away.

“Did…” Apo slowly turned, white hot rage painting her face. “Did you… know about this?”

“…” Abolish let out a sigh. “Yeah. Towards the end of it. I had to be certain though.”

“Why– Why would you?!” Apo paced back and forth, rage still taking over her expression. “Why didn’t you?!” She stormed away. “That’s it! I’m going home.”

Abolish sighed sadly. That could have gone better. At least it ended with them going home to cool off. He started toward Legundo’s house.

No.

Not yet.

He needs to focus on Martyn.

Abolish pivoted away from the doc’s house and walked to Merp Manor instead. Every step felt like a death sentence as the dread of the order slipping out of his grasp settled deep into his chest. Everything was going to hell, and Abolish was trying his best to hold it together.

He had the sinking feeling that this was a broken vase that couldn’t be mended.

Drift was standing in front of the home, staring off in the direction of the castle. Surely, she wasn’t–

“Drift?” Abolish approached, a little quicker than before. The gravel crunched louder under his heavier footsteps.

“Hey, Abolish,” Drift’s face remained blank as she spoke, her gaze never left the treeline.

“What’s on your mind?” Abolish slowed his pace and tried to make eye contact with her– get any sign she would listen to him. She made no move to acknowledge him other than words alone.

“Do you ever feel like you’re in the wrong place?” She said so quietly it could have been a whisper.

“Drift…”

“Merp Manor is going to be so empty without him…”

“Think this through, Drift,” Abolish urged, getting more and more frustrated as the chaos started to bleed out of the order he tried to hold.

“Someone once told me that home is where the heart is,” Drift finally turned and looked directly into Abolish’s eyes. He could now see the tears welling up in her eyes. “People say that all the time. Home is where the heart is,” She looked down at the ground and let out a broken sob-laugh hybrid. “My heart… it lies with Shelby. It lies with Avid. They are my heart, Abolish. They’re my family, my… everything…”

“Drift.”

“My heart does not live in Oakhurst anymore,” Drift looked the other way, hiccuping sobs released from the confines of her chest. She took a shaky breath, and all at once she was composed. “My heart has left, and my chest is aching for its return.”

“Drift, don’t do anything rash,” Abolish’s eyes were wide. Drift was in no condition to make such big choices.

“I’m going home,” Drift whispered as she walked into her home, her bag already open to pack her things. “I need my heart.”

“Then I can’t stop you,” Abolish sighed as he walked back to Legundo’s house.

Maybe this couldn’t wait after all.

Chapter Text

Drift was barely thinking as she rushed through the woods. Her head was reeling and the only sensation she could truly feel was how heavy her bag felt as she trudged on; the journey felt both eternally and utterly endless yet shorter than a second simultaneously.

The only thing going through her mind was the concept of returning to her friends, living forever with them. It’s not like she had close friends before coming to Oakhurst, and she couldn’t risk losing the people closest to her.

Eternal life was something she never anticipated herself desiring, but here she was– walking through the trees, approaching the gothic castle surrounded by the peaceful lake, about to beg for it. Her heart depended on it.

She came to the clearing and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. She reminisced on her time in Oakhurst as a human. That first day. All the conversations with Shelby, with Avid. Any reservations that even considered trying to stop her were crushed by these memories.

Drift opened her eyes, and with newfound determination, crossed the bridge, careful to not step near the crumbling sections of the ancient stone. Her ankles and shins stung from the bramble that tried to slow her from reaching her friends, but even through winces, it did not delay her in the slightest. She approached the tall, wooden doors and took a deep breath before tapping on the wood with her knuckles.

It took only moments for the door to swing open, and Drift was met by Pyro’s red and black eyes staring back at her. His eyes widened slightly, but they recomposed himself rather quickly. He was clearly not expecting her.

“Drift,” Pyro sounded quite apprehensive. Does he know what happened in town already? “Mind telling me why you’re here?”

“Pyro!” Drift felt tears already flooding her eyes. “Please, turn me! I need to be with Avid and Shelby, I want to be a vampire! I’ll do what the coven wants me to, I just need to be with my friends!” Her tears devolved into hiccuping sobs, fear and raw emotion racked her body like crystalized honey.

If Pyro looked shocked before, there wasn’t even a word strong enough to even begin to describe just how surprised he appeared after her request. His whole face was rattled with alarm for a few moments before they quickly set themself straight.

“Wow,” Pyro whistled, eyes still as wide as saucers. “Very bold– I was not expecting someone to throw themself over to request the gift just like that…” He paused, mulling it over for a moment before tilting their head in a half-nod. “I can’t blame you though. I’ll make sure it’s quick for you.”

And with that, Pyro’s fangs were already sunk deep in Drift’s neck and her vision began to black out. The bite stung for only a moment before the pain dulled with her vision.

But almost instantly, her vision came back and the world lit up like (those dumb LED headlights) like fire, in both the sense that it was painfully bright and in the feeling of burning in her retinas. She made a pained noise and squeezed her eyes shut to try to block out the overwhelming wave of sensory information.

“Ah, right,” Pyro’s voice boomed through her ears. “Your senses are very advanced now, it can be a bit overstimulating at first. Don’t worry, you get used to it.”

Drift wanted to respond, but her senses were tugging her attention in every direction, every one of them begging for her to only focus on it.

“Here,” Pyro continued speaking after Drift failed to respond. She felt a hand on her shoulder, guiding her inside. “Let’s get you to the basement. It’s nice and dark down there, it will be easier on the eyes.”

“Ow– Thanks, Pyro,” Drift managed through the searing pain of her senses. It really was quite miserable. Being inside was slightly better, as the castle was quite literally designed for vampires, and didn’t have as much lighting.

“I do apologize for not giving you a proper turning,” Pyro’s hand remained on her shoulder, shuffling her through the castle. “I happened to be quite hungry… and I don’t know how to do a proper turning. You won’t be getting a turning sleep.”

“I only know what Avid has told me,” Drift almost tripped, but caught herself with Pyro’s assistance. “I don’t know what a ‘proper turning’ is.”

“Less painful,” Pyro’s hand tensed on her shoulder. “And you sleep for a good while after. When you wake up it’s a bit easier to adjust because it isn’t so sudden.”

“Well,” Drift opened her eyes as they reached the stairs. The light was agony, but she’d rather be in temporary pain than fall down the stairs. “I’m here and I’m a vampire. That’s all I wanted.”

Before they could take the first step, Scott, Shelby, and Avid lunged from the bottom of the steps and landed right beside her.

“DRIFT?!” Avid and Shelby cried in tandem, wrapping their arms around her. She took this opportunity to close her eyes again and lean into the embrace.

“Pyro?” Scott spoke from a few feet away from the hug, leaning away from it as if he might catch a disease. “Why did you turn Drift?”

“She requested to join us, sire,” Pyro explained, and Drift could practically feel the respectful bow that Pyro was surely giving the elder vampire. Pyro sure was over the top when it came to respecting Scott. “Came right to our door and asked me herself. I didn’t want to reject an increase in our numbers.”

“Drift?” Scott addressed her next.

“Yeah,” Drift confirmed, nodding into her friends’ shoulders. “I need to be here. With my friends! With Shelby and Avid. And… Being a vampire seems a little cool.”

“It’s great!” Avid cheered, pulling himself closer. “You’re going to love it!”

“Yay!” Shelby squeezed her tighter. “I get to spend eternity with you guys! I can’t believe this is actually happening!”

The three of them squealed, clutching each other and giggling. If they were any less in shock, Drift had no doubt the three of them would be sobbing wrecks as they clung to one another. The cold, dead temperature from Avid and Shelby sapped the rest of her human warmth out of her, it was soothing. The longer they embraced, the more she felt her chest knit itself back together, the heart it homed finally returned safely to her chest. Drift let out a soft laugh and held the other two impossibly closer.

“Aw,” Scott’s voice was as reserved as it always was, not quite matching the words he spoke. “This is so cute.”

“Welcome to the coven,” Pyro said, his tone soft and a bit prideful. “It’s good to have numbers.”

“It’s good to be here,” Drift let out a broken laugh, holding her dearests impossibly close.

And it was.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Apo groaned as the emptiness of her house tore at their mind. The whole situation was making her head hurt, and she was slowly growing more and more on edge with every grating second. It’s not like there was anything they could really do.

She missed having her roommate. When they were humans. She missed being human. They missed Pyro sharing a house with them.

She missed Cherri.

Fuck it. All this thinking was making her heart ache. Apo threw open the door of her house and marched to the center of town. Abolish could say whatever the hell he wanted, but Apo wouldn’t be forgiving him for keeping his mouth shut. She was going straight to the doc, to Cleo– the reasonable people here, so she could talk with people that could come up with a proper course of action.

Lucky for them, she found that Cleo and Legundo were already talking. She stormed all the way up to them and forced herself into the now-triangle.

“Okay,” Apo didn’t notice nor care if they were interrupting. “We need to actually talk about what the fuck just happened with Avid.”

“We’re working on it,” Cleo grumbled, pinching the bridge of their nose. “Oh, and get this: apparently, the doctor has known about this as well.”

“WHAT?!” Apo could barely contain her rage. “You knew who the secret vampire was and you just sat around and let him lie to all of us?!”

“Sharing that information without his consent would be a breach of patient privacy–” The doctor started. If Apo had blood properly running through their veins, it would be boiling then. The amount of rage that occupied her body was deadly.

“You’re talking about HIPPA while Martyn is dying on a stupid cot?!” Apo had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming. “He clearly wasn’t with us since he lied to all of us, and you’re protecting him?! You let him have the opportunity to try to kill Martyn, and you’re still not acting like this is as serious as it is!”

“I have reason to believe Avid has been manipulated, brainwashed, or blackmailed by Scott,” Legundo’s face was stone cold. “That’s not a villain, that’s a victim.”

“And what are we supposed to do about that?!” Apo insisted, not even acknowledging Abolish as he approached the group. She was far too angry to address the newcomer, and even as he tried to speak up, she only raised her voice to drown his out. She could not care any less in that moment how anyone else felt about it. “Huh?! What do you expect us to…”

Apo trailed off as the sense of new blood filled the air. Her eyes widened and they turned to Cleo, who was similarly pointed in the direction of… the castle?

“What is it?” Legundo prodded, his voice firm yet soft. He most certainly noticed that both Cleo and Apo froze at the same time and turned the same direction.

“Someone’s been turned, doc,” Cleo spoke, ice cracking through their voice. “Over near the castle.”

Apo fought the scream that begged to tear through her throat. They were going to have to go on a hunt for the new vampire again, and they were so tired of all the confusion. She wanted to tear their hair out.

“That would be Drift,” Abolish sighed and looked down. He looked frustrated, his face subtly knitted in stress. “I was trying to tell you she ran off… I didn’t think she’d get there that fast…”

“SERIOUSLY?!” Apo stomped her foot to try to relieve some of the tension, but it barely helped, if at all. “Drift has run off to become a vampire?!”

“That’s what she said,” Abolish sighed yet again, a common occurrence these days. “And that’s what she did… it seems…”

“Well this is just great,” Cleo grumbled, their arms folding across her chest. “One more person in the vampires’ grasp. We’re losing people.”

“Can everything just stop being so… ugh!” Apo allowed herself a quick screech before taking a deep breath and turning to Abolish with a sharp glare. “You! You’re competent, what do you say we do?”

“Take beacons and work on a cure,” Abolish huffed after a beat of silence. “Maybe work on getting the vampires to calm down. We should see if they’re willing to try to talk things out before taking more drastic measures– but I don’t think Avid and Scott are too pleased with us at the moment.”

“Yeah,” Cleo scoffed and rolled their eyes. “If attacking Martyn like that was any indicator.”

“And whose fault was that?” Apo jumped as Pearl added herself to the conversation. She hadn’t even noticed her approach. “I mean, come on…” She shrugged. “Martyn literally tried to stake the man’s boyfriend right in front of him. Of course he’s going to freak out.”

“Don’t call Scott his boyfriend…” Legundo sighed, shaking his head. “I believe that Avid is being manipulated.”

“I don’t know what you’ve seen or heard,” Abolish raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “But I really doubt that. When I saw them without them knowing, they both had stars in their eyes. They love each other, doc.”

“WHAT?!” Apo’s head snapped to glare at Abolish. “You SAW THEM being all lovey dovey?! And didn’t think to say anything?! Did you even talk to them about it?!”

“Well…” Abolish broke eye contact.

“Oh my GOOOOOOD!” Apo dragged her hands down her face. “Are we all STUPID?!”

Nobody replied. Apo threw their head around, facing the conversationists one by one. When silence met their ears, she scoffed and walked back home.

This is so dumb.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

“I am so tired of being stuck in this damn town,” Owen growled. Scott didn’t quite remember when the switch from ‘we have to kill them all’ to ‘I just want to leave’ occurred, but the feeling was entirely mutual.

“Not much we can do with those beacon things,” Shelby sighed, leaning her elbows on the table. “As long as those are consecrated and there are humans around, we’re stuck here forever.”

“I doubt any of us are willing to just wait for those humans to die of natural causes,” Scott sighed, shaking his head. Things had been weird lately. He was… hesitant… to kill the townsfolk. Unfortunately, Shelby and Avid had softened him. Shelby did most of the heavy lifting, but his whole relationship with Avid was the tipping point.

Avid suddenly gasped with much more drama than necessary and slammed both palms on the table with an impressively loud sound.

“I’ve got it!” Avid squealed, jumping up and down, his hands supporting the movement on the table. “The crystal! Maybe it can break the beacons!”

“Avid, dearest,” Scott stared at Avid’s elated expression. “What on earth are you talking about?”

“Yeah,” Owen raised an eyebrow. “What ‘crystal’?”

“Oh–” Avid looked down and froze, looking mighty embarrassed. “Um, you remember that obsidian pit?”

“How could I forget,” Scott teased, rolling his eyes playfully. The small touches of frustration stood no chance against his adoration.

“Did you ever wonder why you couldn’t use your powers in there?” Avid sheepishly mumbled. “It’s because there was a giant crystal right next to it. It blocks the tome powers and vampire abilities.”

“I have no idea what you guys are talking about,” Drift started. “But why didn’t you guys question this before now? Losing your powers…?”

“We were a bit preoccupied…” Pyro stared at Avid, who shrunk back even further.

“Right…” Drift nodded, a glint in her eye and a smirk ghosting her lips.

“My plan, guys!” Avid waved his arms around to bring attention back. “We don’t have to fight if the crystal thing works! No one has to die here!”

“Yeah, yeah!” Shelby cheered, throwing their arms above her head. “See, Owen? Maybe we really don’t need another massacre!"

“Whatever,” Owen scoffed and rolled his eyes. “I’m going off to get more blood for myself. The rest of you can do whatever and see if that works.”

“Bye Owen~” Avid chirped, waving enthusiastically. “Good luck on your hunt!”

“Okay,” Drift bounced happily. The sight of all three of the fledgelings in the room excitedly moving around brought a smile to Scott’s face without his permission. “What’s the plan?”

“Um,” Avid paused, face scrunched in confusion.

“Oh, darling,” Scott shook his head softly. “Me, Shelby, and Drift will go to town and try to make amends as best we can so they don’t try to kill us when we try to destroy the town beacon– if this even works– Avid, Pyro, you go find that crystal and try to make tools out of it and try to destroy that beacon.”

“Of course, sire,” Pyro bowed deeply.

“Okay!” Avid grinned wildly before his expression hardened. “Be careful.”

“I will,” Scott promised. “Shelby and Drift are going to be with me, too.”

“Let’s get going!” Shelby jumped up from their seat and began making her way to the door. Scott and Drift followed close behind.

Time to face the town.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pyro glared at Avid, not even paying attention to whatever the younger man was spouting on about. He gripped the stake hidden in his jacket, stifling a growl. Soon.

The trip through the pale forest wasn’t too bad. They had teleported, since they still had that beacon, so the pit was relatively close.

Despite that, Pyro pretended to be stalking prey to pass the time.

Avid turned to face Pyro, who finally tuned in to what he was saying.

“—Maybe it’s what the beacons were made from!” Avid gasped, his eyes glittering. “And that’s why it was able to nullify the powers!”

“Excellent theory,” Pyro muttered, though Avid certainly hadn’t noticed his bitterness based on the whimsical expression not faltering in the slightest.

“And…” Avid put a hand on his hips and gestured to the pit. “Here we are!”

“Still as depressing as it was when we pulled you from it,” Pyro grimaced, the obsidian was surely broiling hot. “How did you and sire manage?”

“Talking,” Avid giggled and twirled his hair around his finger. Sickening. “And cuddling…”

“Great,” Pyro suppressed his wave of jealousy from making him jump Avid right then and there. “How did you fall in, anyway?”

“We were too close to the edge!” Avid declared, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “We tripped.”

“How close were you?” Pyro could barely contain his excitement. “It’s not wise to be near the edge.”

“About…” Avid stepped right next to the edge. “Here!”

“Oops!” Pyro ‘tripped’ in an attempt to push Avid into the pit, but Avid recovered faster than Pyro anticipated, and soon they found themself stuck in the suffocatingly hot pit. Alone. He looked up in stunned, horrified silence at the younger vampire.

“That was pretty dangerous!” Avid laughed, but his voice shook. He was looking down, but his eyes rested beyond Pyro, his eyes sad with a touch of terror. Pyro looked behind him and saw the stake he had been holding. “… Need a hand?”

Pyro jerked his head back to Avid as the words left his mouth, utter disbelief on his face. He was willing to help? Even though Pyro brought a stake?

“Y-yeah,” Pyro laughed weakly and stood up, crushing the stake with his foot. “That would be great.”

Avid reached his hand down. Pyro took it, and Avid lifted him from the inky black prison.

“Good idea to bring protection for yourself…” Avid looked down in the pit, a shaky, wide eyed smile painting his face. “Smart thinking.”

“Yeah…” Pyro winced, feeling awful already. What did I almost just do? “Too bad I broke it. By mistake.”

“Yeah,” Avid’s smile softened. “Let’s start gathering some of this crystal, shall we?”

Pyro returned the expression and pulled out his pickaxe. The two of them got to work, chipping away at the mass.

This was going to take a while.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid wasn’t stupid.

Well, not that stupid.

He knew Pyro had wanted to kill him just then, but he also knew that Pyro backed out. And if someone is willing to back out like that, maybe they could be saved. Avid really hoped that was true.

Avid had been wrong about a lot of things, especially in regard to the vampires.

His guilt wrapped around him like a snake. He’d have to make it right somehow, someday. He’d show them how sorry he was, how bad he felt for how he had treated them.

“I heard the town tried to kill sire?” Pyro broke their silence as the duo chipped away and the iridescent gem.

“Yeah,” Avid dusted some of the powdered rock on his pants before continuing to chip away. He felt rage bubble up inside him at the thought of the event. “They jumped at him with a stake.”

“And you stopped it?” Pyro questioned, still not looking away from his task.

“Yeah,” Avid nodded, even though he knew that Pyro couldn’t see. “I just– I saw red. I jumped in front and just– started attacking blindly. I was just so– mad– and… scared… I just needed to keep him safe.”

“I didn’t take you as the protective type,” Pyro commented cooly, but the shakiness in their voice betrayed the fear. He was scared for Scott.

“I don’t enjoy watching death,” Avid sucked in a breath, remembering the blood that coated his hands after… “It reminds me… um. It’s not pleasant to watch, I’ve found. Especially people I love.”

“So the town can’t be trusted?” Pyro asked, finally turning to make eye contact.

“They certainly don’t have my trust anymore,” Avid stared deep into Pyro’s slitted pupils. “Especially since Drift just joined us. I don’t have any ties left.”

“Got it,” Pyro nodded, as if they were just told the most precious piece of information in the world. As if it was a secret that could destroy the entire universe if shared carelessly.

The two continued collecting chunks to make new pickaxes with. The material was very durable, and even with the diamond pickaxes Scott gifted them, it was tedious.

The snap of a branch caused Avid to quickly assume a defensive position, his ears perked up to listen, his posture ready to either charge or flee. Pyro was positioned similarly.

A bush rustled and Abolish emerged.

“Damn it,” Abolish muttered, and Avid only saw a black and white blur as Pyro jumped out at him.

Avid could barely react in time as a bottle of holy water was flung through the air. Avid yelped and fumbled with the bottle before catching it without it breaking. Phew! That was extremely lucky…

Avid looked up just in time to watch in horror as Pyro sank his teeth into Abolish’s neck. Avid made eye contact with the well dressed now ex-human as the humanity drained from his body. Avid shook his head to try to communicate that he didn’t agree with what was happening, but Abolish’s expression was overtaken by a calculated rage as he threw Pyro back.

The feeling of new blood filled and overwhelmed Avid’s senses, pointing him directly to Abolish. So that’s what it feels like.

Avid jumped backward to become an inconvenient target as Abolish launched himself back and Pyro, stake in hand. Both vampires hissing wildly. Avid wanted no part in this fight.

But how could he stop it?

Avid’s hands tightened around the holy water, when suddenly, the burn it caused soothed. He looked down and saw that some shards of the crystal had cut into his hands, and the places where both the crystal and the holy water touched… The skin was full of life. Avid quickly brushed his hands off and watched as the feeling of life slowly dissipated as the flesh on his palms began to die yet again.

Could it…

His eyes lit up as he popped open the holy water and ran to the crystal, scooping up as much powder as he could, making sure it was as fine as manageable. He combined the two, shaking the mixture aggressively to combine. His alchemy brain was on and running at full speed as he watched the crystal dissolve. Odd, considering how tough it was to mine, and the fact that regular water did nothing.

He grinned at the shiny mixture.

Bingo!

He jumped to his feet and swiftly approached the battling vampires, cure(?) in his grasp. He watched as they attempted to stab each other with the same stake.

Avid took a deep breath and yanked Pyro away, shoving him hard enough to keep him down for long enough. Avid used the change in balance to shove the bottle into Abolish’s mouth, grabbing his face and tipping it back to ensure he drank every drop.

Abolish choked and sputtered on the first sip, but his eyes widened and he snatched the bottle himself and chugged it without force. Avid’s eyes similarly expanded as the sense of new blood suddenly snapped.

“A cure…” Abolish stared at the empty bottle. “…How did you…? What did you…?”

“The crystal,” Avid pointed at the gem, his nerves still running wild from the rush. “If you mix the powder of the crystals with holy water, it turns you back into a human!”

“Holy shit,” Pyro stood up, every ounce of fight suddenly dissipating. “Breaking the beacons might actually work…”

“Breaking– What?!” Abolish’s eyebrows furrowed, but his body language– which he actually had at the moment– radiated curiosity.

“Avid believes the crystal can break the beacons,” Pyro smiled. “We might be able to get out of here without any more bloodshed..”

“Let’s get to it, then,” Abolish quickly pulled out his own pickaxe and began chipping away, collecting the powder in the empty bottle.

Avid beamed, a laugh bubbling out of his throat. He took out one more chunk before pulling out a crafting bench. He squealed in excitement as it formed a pickaxe.

“I’M GONNA CHECK IF IT WORKS!” Avid screamed as he ran far enough away and morphed into a bat. “KEEP WORKING!”

He didn’t wait for an answer to swoop up to the beacon.

Right as he was about to drive the pick against the glassy surface, he heard the fluttering of wings as Pyro landed next to him.

“Hold on,” Pyro grabbed the handle to stop Avid from swinging. “Let’s do it together.”

“Huh–” Avid pouted for a moment before recomposing himself. “Okay.”

Abolish’s hands appeared from the edge of the structure and he hoisted himself over the edge.

“Stairs exist,” Pyro scoffed, crossing his arms.

“This is faster,” Abolish shrugged, pulling out another pickaxe, which was made of the same material. It looked like the other two had made their pickaxes shortly after Avid had.

“Okay, gang!” Avid chirped, ignoring the look both Abolish and Pyro shot him. “On three!”

Pyro rolled his eyes and pulled out his own tool, and the three of them stood at the ready.

“NOW!” Avid giggled and swung, only slightly disappointed as Abolish and Pyro also swung at the same time. Either they were planning to do it immediately no matter what, or they anticipated Avid’s schemes.

A shockwave shot through the air, and all three of them stood up straight to steady themselves. Avid had almost tipped over, but Abolish caught his arm and propped him back upright.

“Whoa–” Pyro clutched his head. “That was…”

“… Intense…” Abolish finished, shaking his head to clear it.

Avid looked at the beacon and gasped as he saw it.

A crack.

It worked!

“GUYS!” Avid shrieked, pointing at the broken section. “COME ON! WE GOTTA HIT IT AGAIN! IT’S WORKING!”

The three of them made eye contact before swinging again and again, more fervor with every strike. The waves barely threw them off balance anymore.

This was happening.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Okay.

Maybe just showing up in town so soon wasn’t the greatest idea Scott had ever had.

It seemed like the foolishness of his fledgelings was rubbing off on him. Unfortunate.

He hissed as he vaulted himself over Apo as she tried to stake him.

“What?!” Apo growled. “Aren’t you gonna go all feral on me?! Try to rip my throat out?!”

“Ew, no,” Scott scoffed in midair. “I am not that unruly, I care about my appearances! It’s only hot when Avid does it.”

“Shut up!” Apo hissed as they leapt at Scott, stake still firmly clutched in her grasp. Scott wouldn’t lie, she was very intimidating like this.

“Everyone stop!” Shelby cried, desperately trying to convince the town to call Apo off. “We have something really important to discuss!”

“Hell no! I’m not giving you guys the time to–!” Apo froze in midair and landed hard as the sense of new blood filled the air.

“What–?” Drift looked around, confusion and worry combining on her expression. “What is that–?!”

“A new vampire?” Scott was baffled, who could that have been? Who did this?

"Was all this just a distraction?!” Apo screeched, charging at Scott once more. Scott growled as he dodged another strike. “Just to pick us off one by one!”

“I swear,” Scott huffed, shoving Apo down and jumping back. “We know nothing about this. Trust us.”

“How can we?” Legundo’s eyes were cold and finality sank through his voice. “You have shown us nothing to trust.”

“Wait,” Drift waved her hands around. “Who’s out of town right now? We can figure out who it is!”

“Why the hell did we send everyone out again…?” Apo looked around suspiciously before standing up straight. “Pearl, Abolish, Ren, Sausage, and Cleo. It’s not Cleo, obvious–”

Scott’s face twisted in confusion as the new blood sense suddenly ceased, but no sting of death followed.

“Huh?” Shelby was staring in the direction of where it was. “Were they…? Did they die…?”

“No,” Scott shook his head. “We would know if someone died. It hurts. A lot.”

“Then how is there no new blood anymore?!” Apo screamed before suddenly stopping. “… Do you guys think–…”

The group stood in silence, bug eyed and shook from the implications.

“Do you think they were cured?” Drift looked at Scott, wonder in her eyes.

“I don’t know,” Scott scoffed in frustration. “I don’t know what’s h–”

He was cut off by a sudden recoil of energy shot through the group. Everyone winced at the sensation. Scott barely stifled a sound of discomfort as a whole body flinch rippled through his form. He really didn’t like that sensation.

“What was that?” Shelby asked, clutching their head, looking almost in pain. “Was that a death?”

“No,” Scott clutched his ears. Today was too confusing. “This is new.”

“I felt it too,” The doctor added. “That wasn’t a vampire thing.”

Before anyone else could speak, another wave shot through them.

And another.

And another, and another, and another, and another!

It was a surprisingly swift adjustment period, especially considering how uneasy it had made Scott feel originally. But soon, the waves started to almost feel soothing, in a strange sort of way.

“The beacons!” Drift squealed. “It’s working! They’re breaking them!”

“They’re what?!” Legundo shouted, as much as the doctor did express.

“That’s possible?!” Apo cried, stomping for emphasis.

“That’s what we were trying to talk to you about!” Scott scoffed, putting his hands on his hips and rolling his eyes in frustration. “And you just got all stabby AGAIN! You folk have no manners!”

Scott rolled his eyes and batted out to check out the beacon they were breaking. He didn’t want to risk teleporting to a breaking beacon.

Time to see what they were working with.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Abolish let out a breath– a living breath!– as the beacon crumbled to the ground, the light fading and the crystal greying instantly. It felt like a weight he hadn’t known about had been released from his shoulders.

“We did it–!” Avid cheered, pumping a fist in the air. “Let’s go, team!”

“Where to next, ‘team’…” Pyro muttered, turning away.

“It doesn’t matter!” Avid cheered! “Let’s just teleport to the castle and take that one! Abolish, you can go get the one in town! Then let’s meet at the crypt beacon and take the rest out together!”

“Sure,” Abolish nodded and descended the stairs and made his way towards Oakhurst.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

On his way, he ran into Pearl.

“Abolish!” Pearl jogged over to him. “Did you feel that too?”

“Yeah,” Abolish continued his speedwalk, letting Pearl chase after him. “Me, Pyro, and Avid destroyed a beacon.”

“WHAT?!” Pearl shrieked, jogging to be beside him. “How’d you do that?!”

“Avid found a crystal that can nullify powers…” Abolish caught his breath, ignoring the side stitches he was beginning to get from the stress. “And cure vampirism when combined with holy water.”

“No way…” Pearl stared at Abolish’s neck, which surely had a gnarly tearing wound. His hand shot up to feel it, but found the wound was sealed. Huh. His short experience as a vampire must have been enough to just leave him scarred.

“We have to get to town so I can take out the beacon. The others should be–” He flinched as a shockwave rippled through the woods. “Working on the castle one…”

Both Abolish and Pearl jumped as Owen thrashed through a bush.

“The beacons,” Is all Owen said as he stared at the duo.

“I know,” Abolish held up the pickaxe. “Town.”

Owen nodded and began clearing the path with his claws. It seemed like he was just as desperate to leave as the rest of them.

A small smile tugged at Abolish’s lips as he sprinted behind the vampire, Pearl in tow.

They were getting out of here.

He was going to leave as a human.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Avid grinned as the three of them crumbled the final beacon, all of town surrounding it.

“Okay!” Avid let out a breathy laugh. “Now who wants a cure!”

Apo’s hand shot up almost instantly, but no one else raised their hand.

“Cleo?!” Apo squawked, shock riddling their face. “You don’t want the cure?!”

“This is nicer than I originally thought,” Cleo shrugged.

Abolish walked to Apo, pouring the powder into another bottle of holy water. “You’ve earned this, Apo. Enjoy your humanity.”

“Thanks,” Apo smiled warmly for the first time in weeks before downing the bottle in seconds.

The effect was almost instant, her pale skin quickly gaining color once again. Amazed sounds circled the townsfolk as life chiseled its way back into Apo’s body, mother nature re-welcoming her into her arms.

Avid beamed as he looked around the group, elated as he knew that all of them were getting out of there.

Without dying.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Ren and Martyn left first, together in a carriage Ren made in haste.

“I’m going to help Specs find a cure,” Martyn explained, a satisfied smile resting on his face. He still looked exhausted from his run in with Avid, but he seemed peaceful and comfortable enough. “We’ll find a way to fix your tongue, Ren.”

“Aiye,” Ren grinned as he hooked horses to the carriage. “That’s our plan, don’tcha know.”

Martyn wrapped his arms around Ren as he hoisted himself into the steering seat in the front of the carriage, closing his eyes as Ren began encouraging the horses to set off.

“Good’ye lads!” Ren waved. “Good luck to yee all.”

“Bye!” Drift cheered after them, the rest of Oakhurst following suit with their goodbyes, some sweeter than others.

“Cleo and I will stay here– someone’s gotta keep Oakhurst from having another disaster!” Pearl shared, smiling as she took Cleo’s hand. “Scott? May we…?”

“Sure,” Scott rolled his eyes with a scoff, not meaning any of the aggression. “You may live in my castle.”

“Fix the ballroom! It’s been driving us crazy!” Shelby shouted as Pearl and Cleo made their way through the field, towards the manor, hand in hand.

“Bye everyone!” Pearl called back, waving enthusiastically with her free hand. She winced from her shoulder injury, but continued regardless.

“I hated every second of this place,” Apo sighed, dusting off her knees and tossing her bag over their shoulder. The red was already starting to show on the white streaks in their hair, the vampirism wearing off. “I hope I never have to see any of you ever again.”

“Hm,” Scott shrugged. “That’s fair.”

The people remaining all chattered in agreement.

“Owen?” Legundo held out a hand. “Would you join me?”

“W-what?!” Owen practically flinched back.

“We can help people,” Legundo’s expression was soft and inviting. “We can find cures for illnesses like the one that plagued you. We can help.”

Owen stared at the doctor’s hand for a few moments before scoffing and snatching it. “Fine. Let’s leave.”

Shelby made a squealing noise and wrote something in her notebook. Scott raised an eyebrow, but definitely didn’t feel like asking.

“Keep him out of trouble, doc!” Abolish called after the pair. Legundo shot a thumbs up over his shoulder as Owen hissed back and Abolish.

“Alright!” Sausage beamed, flashing his brand new vampire fangs. “I’m heading back home! I finally have inspiration for my next big hit!”

“WAIT!” Shelby ran up and handed him a piece of paper. “Keep in contact with me! This is my address, write to me please! I want to publish my book!”

“And a good book it is!” Sausage grinned. “Will do, Shelby!”

Sausage blew kisses to the remaining people before his face fell.

“Shoot!” He cried, running in the direction Martyn and Ren left in. “I should have gone with them! I’ll never catch them in time! Ren!!! Martyn!!! Wait!!!”

“Bat out, Sausage!” Avid shouted out, beaming when Sausage turned into the small animal and moved much swifter.

“Guys, guys!” Shelby started flapping her hands. “We can be found family!”

“Huh?” Scott tilted his head, eyebrows furrowing at the unfamiliar term.

“Let’s get a place together!” Shelby explained. “We can all live together and be like family. It’s like caring about each other in a family way, even though none of us are related. It’s like friends, but closer. But also not dating. Well, except for you and Avid. And maybe me and Drift if she wants.”

“Sure,” Scott shrugged, doing his best to seem nonchalant about agreeing to such a thing. Secretly, he certainly wasn’t opposed to the idea, to say the least, but he ignored and suppressed that yearning.

“Okay!” Avid giggled, practically bouncing. His arms flapping as he was practically spinning in circles before attaching himself to Scott’s side. “I’m down! This will be so fun!”

“Oh!” Drift clapped, her face flushed red, definitely from Shelby’s proposition. “I like that! We can share rent, hunt together, enjoy each other’s company… It will be perfect! I can’t wait to live with you guys!!! I already love it.”

“Why not,” Abolish sighed, shaking his head in resignation. “I need to keep an eye on you guys anyway.”

“Pardon?” Scott suddenly turned to face Abolish, looking bewildered. Concern and confusion filled the air around him.

“I work for an organization that helps the good vampires…” Abolish’s expression shifted. “And takes care of the bad vampires.”

“And we are…?” Avid shifted uncomfortably, stepping in front of Scott. His hand in front of the elder vampire protectively.

“On thin ice,” Abolish replied, face remaining unphased. “You haven’t been the best, but I believe you can be better.”

“We will,” Scott nodded, but turned away and fidgeted with his sleeve before snapping into eye contact with Abolish. “And if I’m not… make sure I’m dead before I end up enslaving another town, or whatever…”

Abolish’s eyes widened. He wasn’t expecting that response. It seemed like Scott really was dedicated to getting better. “I swear to it.”

“I’ll…” Pyro breathed heavily, stepping forward. “I’ll try to fix things– fix myself. And… I’ll try to get better. With everything.”

“Good,” Abolish nodded. “Let’s… get started then.”

“I know how we’ll get back to my town!” Shelby beamed, excitement bleeding into the air around them. “Scott, you said you wanted to see what a train is like?”

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Shelby couldn’t help but giggle every few seconds as she watched Scott look out the train window with dilated pupils. His head moved to watch trees and small animals much like a cat watching a bird.

“How is it this quick?!” Scott whisper-hissed, making sure not to shift too much so as not to disturb Avid, who was fast asleep against him. Well, as much as a vampire could sleep. Though, Scott’s low volume level was also helpful for Abolish, who really was sleeping in a seat in front of them.

“Um…” Shelby tapped her chin in thought. “I don’t know…? We can visit a library when we get back if you wanna find out.”

“Visit a library?” Scott’s face scrunched up. “How many do you have?”

“Oh,” Shelby realized just how clueless Scott likely was to the state of the economy. “Um, I don’t have a library, we’ll go to a public one.”

“What?!” Scott looked absolutely bewildered. “Why not?!”

“I barely have two rooms in my apartment, Scott,” Shelby giggled, covering their mouth with one hand. “Where would I fit a library?”

“I have a studio!” Drift chimed in. “I only have one room!”

“Where do the chandeliers go?!” Scott barely stammered out. “The– the banquet halls?! The ballroom?!”

“None of that…” Pyro shook his head. “I just lived in my college dorms. Those are also single rooms. And– Oh… Oh god… my thesis paper!” Pyro began muttering as he pulled out a notebook and started writing like his unlife was depending on it. Shelby chuckled to herself at the sight. “I totally forgot about my assignment… I am NOT graduating this semester…”

“You guys are POOR?!” Scott yelped, clutching his pearls– well, his cravat. “I knew Avid wasn’t set based on that hideous outfit he used to wear– but you, Shelby?!”

“Pft,” Shelby let out a laugh, the happy noise filling the air. “Yeah. I don’t even have a job, Scott.”

“We’ll need to fix this,” Scott shook his head disapprovingly. “We will be checking my investments immediately– as soon as I can talk with the vampires I contracted with. There is no way I am going to live in an 'apartment'."

“Oh!” Drift leaned over the seat, clearly fighting a squeal. “We’re gonna be seeeeet!”

This was gonna be awesome!

｡*ﾟ✲*☆ ｡*ﾟ✲*☆ ｡*ﾟ✲*☆

While Martyn and Ren never did find a cure for his cursed tongue, they found solace and peace with one another, and started their own hunting and building business. The two of them were very successful, and able to retire rather swiftly.

It didn’t matter that Ren’s tongue was twisted, as the pronunciation of words and structures of sentences mattered not when it came to love and happiness.

They came back to Oakhurst every once in a while, saying hello to Cleo and Pearl during their stay. They helped the new citizens of Oakhurst get comfortable, and helped establish Cleo and Pearl as the mayors of new Oakhurst.

They even got to participate in Cleo and Pearl’s wedding, Ren giving the most confusing wedding speech any of them had ever heard. However, it was probably better than whatever Martyn would have said.

Sausage visited the two of them often, sometimes joining in on their fun.

They lived comfortably in their retirement years, and Martyn finally taught Ren to read. And while it took years, Martyn’s patience, just like his love, never wavered even once, and Ren was finally able to read for himself.

They lived long and healthily, and they passed on together in one another’s arms. Happily, peacefully, with smiles on their faces.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Apo came back to Cherri in one piece. Alive. Fully alive.

Sure, her hair still had the white streaks, and their clothes were tattered, but Cherri embraced the girl in tears all the same.

“Apo…?” Cherri pulled back and brushed Apo’s matted hair out of their face. “I was told you had died!”

“I did,” Apo laughed wetly. “But I got better.”

Cherri returned the cheery laugh as she pulled Apo back into a hug.

The two of them got married and adopted a pet pig together.

Due to the higher amount of the crystal powder, Apo was fully cured back into a human. She, Cherri, Avid, and Abolish had looked for the crystal to try to help Abolish fully cure, but the crystal had disappeared without a trace when they had returned. After that, Apo never spoke to any of the ex-Oakhurstians ever again.

She died as a human, in her 90s, with her wife Cherri and a legacy.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl and Cleo took over the castle, patching it up rather quickly. Very soon after, Pearl decided that she would also want to be a vampire, and was turned by Cleo.

Though as it turned out, Pearl was also a werewolf.

None of that mattered to the new residents of Oakhurst, though. They were surprisingly accepting of their strange new mayors after Ren and Martyn campaigned for them and helped the town build new houses. The townsfolk raised extra animals so that Pearl and Cleo wouldn’t go hungry if they didn’t manage to hunt enough, not out of fear, but out of community care.

Oakhurst thrived under their care, generations meeting the two and bonding with them almost instantly. The town beloved the two of them deeply, no matter the centuries passing. Pearl and Cleo were kind and treated them fairly, as well as protected them from raiders, monsters, and other threats.

The people of Oakhurst believed in vampires, but more than anything, they believed in love and kindness over all. They believed that anyone can change if they want to change.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Abolish, Avid, Drift, Pyro, Scott, and Shelby got their hands on Scott’s old stocks, which was enough to set them up in a wonderful house. It wasn’t a manor or mansion, by any means, but it was quite big and envying.

They began calling themselves ‘the family’ over ‘the coven’ to clarify that it was the closer group that lived in the house, rather than the coven as a whole, which included Pearl, Cleo, Sausage, and Owen.

Abolish quickly found out that he was not fully cured, most likely due to the smaller dose of crystal powder in his version of the cure, and while he tried to go back to collect more, the crystal was gone when they returned.

Abolish continued his work at the organization, and kept residence in the home ‘for convenience’, but everyone knew he was just a permanent part of the family now.

Avid and Scott paid a visit to Avid’s old base, and found Elle, alive and well! She had been turned into a half demon, so the stake hadn’t killed her. Through embraces, tears, and teasing, Avid told Elle what had happened to him.

Even though Elle was hesitant at first, she was surprisingly quick to change her views on vampires as a whole, especially after moving in with the rest of the family.

Despite everyone’s initial apprehensions towards her, she was quickly accepted and integrated into the family.

The family grew much closer to each other, and casual cuddling and platonic/queerplatonic kissing grew very common under that roof.

They learned about how butchers drain the blood from the meat, and they began partnering with various butcher shops. The family took all the blood that the butchers get rid of, and in exchange, the family helped take out their other trash while they’re there. The family had to start a garden as evidence for their alibi of using the blood for composting.

Avid’s neck wound slowly began returning, but the progression was slow and painless. It came with more bloodlust, but with proper techniques and occasional tranquilization treatments, it became manageable for them.

Drift and Shelby started dating after a literal century of slowburn.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Owen and the doctor traveled to different hospitals around the world, learning different techniques and medicines to help treat the sick.

They traveled around, using their knowledge to heal and learning more every day until Legundo passed.

Owen was obviously very hurt, but because of the support system he now had, he went on no murder sprees. Instead, he wandered around most of the time, frequently stopping at one of the vampire residences.

Abolish kept a very close eye on him, but the vampire therapist they found for him seemed to do wonders for his mental state.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆ ｡*ﾟ✲*☆ ｡*ﾟ✲*☆

2006 was a great year.

With a little bit of hair dye and a lot of charm, not many people commented on his red eyes or hair. A condition called ‘Albanism’ solved most of their issues, though Avid knew Owen struggled to pass this one off more due to his darker skin. For Avid, though? It worked perfectly.

It was nice to have the financial stability from Scott’s money, but Avid did enjoy working for fun. He liked doing something with his day.

He’d taken up music, and while he didn’t use the silly song he sang for Scott all those years ago, he repurposed the melody in secret– a small little Easter Egg for Scott and apparently Abolish to notice and groan at.

Yeah, Abolish had seen Avid and Scott dancing around like two dumb teenagers and neither of them knew! It had taken so long for Avid to be able to look Abolish in the eyes without white hot embarrassment shaking his senses after that.

Avid pivoted away from the embarrassing memory in favor of reminiscing softer thoughts. All the years had drawn out so much honesty from the group.

Most of that honesty had been from the youngest of the groups. Pyro, Drift, Shelby, Elle, and Avid were very quick to spill just about everything.

Oh man, when they had learned what the pit he made was actually intended for, the others looked like they were going to stake him. The amount of scolding he got? Unbelievable. It took them decades to let it go.

It took much longer for other family members to open up, and honestly, even after all those years, both Abolish and Scott were still quite reserved, especially when it came to their own traumas.

Avid didn’t really mind though, he’d rather his family members feel happy and safe rather than pressured. They could open up on their own time– they literally had eternity to wait.

Avid looked both ways before jogging across the street, waving at the drivers for letting him pass through. He sighed contentedly as he reached the biggest house at the end of the street.

Avid whistled to himself as he stuck his key through the lock and removed his hood as soon as the door shut behind him. He kicked off his shoes and pranced into the kitchen, throwing the fresh cuts of steak and the jars of the drained blood from the butcher’s in the fridge. Finally, he pulled off his headphones, unplugged them, and tossed them on a nearby shelf.

“I’m back!” Avid called out, knowing that the soundproof walls probably prevented anyone who wasn’t in the very next room from hearing him. “Who missed me!”

“Welcome home,” Abolish walked past him, typing on his phone. His half black, half white hair fell in front of his eyes.

“Hi, Abolish!” Avid grinned, ruffling the taller man’s hair and pushing it out of his face as he passed by. “Still on break?”

“Yup…” Abolish nodded, turning back to his phone. Probably to play snake. Avid didn’t get why Abolish and Scott were so obsessed with that game. Avid would much rather play guitar savior or the Midnight Princess Zelma game on the house’s shared console.

“Good luck on your game,” Avid clasped his hands together as he pressed a kiss on the side of Abolish’s head with an obnoxious ‘MWAH!’ sound, which earned him an eyeroll and a raised eyebrow.

Avid ignored Abolish’s annoyed reaction to his antics and strode into the living room.

“What do you mean people think that Kai should have been the green ninja!” Scott declared, sounding downright outraged. “He was clearly too immature for the role, his pride and insecurity would be poisoned by the power! And his character would have fallen flat!”

“I know, right?!” Shelby cried, vindication echoed through her exhales. “Any of the other original four would have been more suited– ooooo! Or Nya!”

“Nya would have made a great green ninja!” Scott threw his hands in the air, nodding swiftly. “Lloyd was a good choice, but Nya would have been very interesting.”

“Oh!” Shelby smiled and her eyes brightened as they made eye contact with Avid. “Hi, Avid!”

“Is Scott getting all worked up over cartoons again?” Avid peppered the top of Scott’s head with soft kisses before vaulting over the couch and landing directly under Scott’s arm.

“I wouldn’t be getting so worked up if people were reasonable!” Scott scoffed, but wrapped his arm around Avid and ran the other hand through his hair when Avid cuddled closer. Avid didn’t even care that the fake spikes on Scott’s jacket were pressing into him.

“Is Pyro still out?” Shelby asked, pausing the TV.

“Mhm,” Avid nuzzled Scott contentedly. “He’s still out getting food for Abolish.”

“Dhampir diets are weird,” Scott shook his head, making a face.

“No kidding,” Abolish sat down on the couch in between Shelby and Avid, sipping on a sprite he had mixed with blood. Avid couldn’t imagine that awful combo tasted good to vampires, humans, dhampirs, werewolves, demons… anyone, really.

Their conversation was interrupted by the doorbell ringing and the four of them glanced up in tandem.

“Oh!” Shelby jumped up and began padding to the front door. “That must be Owen– always the early bird! I’ll go bring him inside!”

“Way to go, Pyro,” Scott snickered and rolled his eyes. The vibrations from the noise soothed every cell of Avid’s body. “Arriving later than our guest? If they don’t hurry, Sausage, Cleo, and Pearl will be here before him as well!”

“Oh yeah!” Avid turned his head to the air to shout. “Shelby! Remember to get your book out for Sausage to look at!”

“No need to be yelling,” Owen’s voice grumbled as he sank into the couch. “They’re standing right behind you.”

“Oh!” Shelby smiled and the two of them paid no mind to Owen’s vitriol. “Right! Thank you, Avid! I’ll go grab it now!”

Shelby darted upstairs.

Avid smiled warmly and tucked himself flush against his partner.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

And as expected, Pyro was somehow the last to arrive.

“Finally,” Owen grumbled when Pyro walked through the front door at last. Owen stood up and moved to the dining room. “I was getting hungry.”

“Sorry, everyone,” Pyro placed a grocery bag on the table. “I got stopped on the train. I had to make up some lie about my eyes for security to let me through.”

“You forgot your contacts again?” Abolish looked up from his phone and uncrossed his legs, sitting up straight. “Pyro…”

“Okay, everyone,” Shelby giggled and rolled her eyes at the chaos. “Let’s just set up for dinner so we can eat.”

“I’ll go grab Elle!” Drift walked over to the door leading to the alchemy lab. “Start without us!”

Scott sat up all the way, triggering Avid to sigh sadly as the two of them got up to head to the dining room.

Avid rushed over and practically slid into his seat, tearing into his steak, pouring some of the blood over the cut like pancakes and syrup almost instantly.

“Slow down,” Abolish tutted, pouring some blood into his ramen. Which, like the blood sprite, in no world tasted amazing. “You’ll make a mess.”

“Your fault for getting a white tablecloth,” Avid scolded playfully, pointing a bloody fork accusingly at the dhampir standing across from him. “I’ll eat according to my hunger levels. I’m listening to my body, fighting the bloodlust.”

“Let him eat, Abolish,” Owen huffed. “He gets hungrier than the rest of us, remember?”

Avid nodded as he pulled down his collar, pointing at the black spot that was climbing up and down his neck.

“Don’t show skin at the dinner table when everyone is hungry,” Scott sighed, shaking his head softly. “Especially not necks, dearest.”

“Sorry,” Avid gave a sad look and continued eating.

“Hey everyone!” Elle walked in with Drift with an air that implied she did most of the setup (she did). “How’s the food?”

“This is really good!” Pearl chimed in, her wolf tail wagging and her vampire fangs on full display. “Thank you for hosting this year!”

“Why of course!” Elle grinned as she brought out the alcohol to combine with some of the blood.

“It’s our pleasure!” Drift appeared from behind Elle, carrying a game of charades, balanced on top of Monopoly. “We can’t top what you two did last year, but we have games and drinks!”

“Nope,” Cleo snatched a bottle of vodka and topped off her blood chalice. “The only way I’m playing Monopoly is if I am drunk.”

“Fair enough,” Avid giggled, shrugging as he made a cocktail of wine and pig's blood. “I’ll join you.”

“I guess I’m laying off, then,” Pearl sighed. “Designated driver.”

“Who says you have to leave tonight?” Abolish sighed and shook his head. “Every year with you two… when we say you’re welcome whenever, we mean it.”

Avid nodded, smiling as Drift, Shelby, Elle, and Scott followed suit.

“You can stay with us overnight!” Drift clasped her hands together. “We have multiple guest rooms if Owen and Sausage also wanted their own rooms.”

“That would be wonderful!” Sausage chimed, posing dramatically. “I’ll be oh-so tired by the end of this, and your hospitality shall not be forgotten…”

Avid rolled his eyes playfully. Despite the centuries, people tend to keep the heart of their personality close.

“I’ll pass,” Owen growled, definitely lying. He fell asleep on the couch every year the found family hosted.

“I’ll set up the rooms!” Elle grabbed a pork cut and power walked down the hall. “Same ones as always!”

She didn’t wait for a response, but no one had any reservations about it anyways.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

The game of drunk Monopoly went about as well as one could expect.

In the end, Avid had likely consumed a few pieces to try to cheat, but ended up in second to last place despite these efforts. Owen was terrible, as usual. Scott and Abolish were neck and neck, but the alcohol ruined their score tracking. After disagreeing for half an hour, the two just agreed on a tie.

Elle had left about halfway through the game to take a nap– as she was the only one who need needed sleep– and continue working on her cure.

Scott smiled as he scooped Avid up from the place he was resting on the floor. Avid made a displeased, tired noise, but didn’t protest physically. Scott petted his hair and shushed him soothingly.

He checked to make sure Pyro, Abolish, Shelby, and Drift were helping their guests to bed before heading off to his and Avid’s room.

He carefully closed the door behind him and laid Avid on the bed, removing his slippers and corset before tucking him in.

Scott put more comfortable clothes on and crawled in next to him, Avid’s arms quickly finding his form and tugging him closer.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Pearl gave Shelby and Drift a kiss before kissing her spouse as they entered their guest room.

“Good thing we packed,” Pearl sighed, getting into a nightgown.

“As always,” Cleo smiled, pulling Pearl close and the two closed their eyes to rest.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

Abolish sighed as he placed Owen in his designated guest room. The man had been showing up more often lately, and he believed that the room would soon belong to Owen full time.

Abolish looked down at the sleeping vampire’s face and smiled.

Owen needed the company anyway. Hopefully, he’d stay.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

After guiding Sausage to his room with Pyro, Shelby and Drift went to their own room.

“Same routine?” Shelby giggled, beaming ear to ear.

“Of course!” Drift matched her expression and energy, the two of them in perfect, chaotic sync.

The two laughed as quietly as they could– which was pretty loud– as Shelby opened ao3 and began reading fanfiction out loud through the night.

｡*ﾟ✲*☆

“Hey,” Avid’s tipsy voice giggled from under the duvet. “Scott.”

“Yes, Avid?” Scott smiled, reaching out to run a hand through Avid’s hair.

“Remember when we got stuck in that pit I made?” Avid leaned into the touch, sighing softly. “The one I tried to trap you in?”

“Of course I do,’ Scott rolled his eyes playfully. “That plan of yours was terrible.”

“Yeah,” Avid tittered softly. “Honestly, I should have thought that through.”

“You really should have,” Scott sighed, pulling Avid closer to rest his chin on the top of his head.

“But if I didn’t,” Avid continued, tracing circles on Scott’s shoulder as he wrapped his arms around him. “Maybe we wouldn’t have gotten together, or maybe things would have gone bad.”

“But that’s not what happened,” Scott frowned softly, ruffling Avid’s hair. “You did the stupid thing. No sense in worrying about what would happen if you didn’t.”

“I know,” Avid smiled against Scott’s chest.

“That’s why I’m glad I didn’t.”

Chapter Text

YUP. THAT WAS ME IN THE PIT! I fell in and went 'well, I can't not do this...' and did what I had to...

THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN!! I couldn't hear anything they were saying bc for some reason, but I could tell I was gonna die so I took it in stride.

I hit Pyro with an axe, I hit Apo and Martyn with an axe, I got killed by Avid. I think I did good. LMAOOO TY TO ANYONE WHO RECOGNIZED ME!! ILYSM!!!!