#accidentally turned on the overhead lighting then hissed like a vampire

[thebibliosphere]

Holly Mop has decided she is sleeping on my chest tonight. Welp. I am glad one of us is comfy.

[chelsfic]

Leftovers - Part 12/12 - Nandor the Relentless x Female Reader Fanfic

For Previous Parts: WWDITS Masterlist

Summary: The reader shares her last night alive with her new family.

A/N: I realized as I was writing this that this whole fic could really be read as an elongated metaphor for my falling in love with this show and this fandom. I hope you guys like this ending and aren’t disappointed. 

Warnings: Angst, Emotions, Crack humor, Turning into a vampire

---

It’s an hour after sunset and you can hear your housemates stirring. You’re still lying in bed. The ceiling overhead is cracked and peeling in places. You suppose this probably won’t be your bedroom for much longer. Nandor will want you to move into his crypt. Will you have your own coffin? Or will he want to keep sharing? How does one even purchase a coffin for...personal use?

You know you’re stalling. Nandor is being uncharacteristically patient, but he won’t wait all night. You’re not afraid. Okay, you’re afraid. But, you’d be stupid not to be. You saw Guillermo during his transition. He looked like hell for about three whole days. But you know Nandor will take care of you. Well, strike that. You know Nandor will try to take care of you and if he fails, Nadja and Guillermo will be there. 

The night you met...the night you almost became a meal...was your birthday. So much has happened since then. You’ve been kept prisoner, fed upon, attacked, hurt. You’ve also fallen in love with every vampire in this crazy house, even Colin Robinson, bless his heart. Nandor and his bizarre mix of vicious lust and achingly sweet softness has somehow pulled you into this world, into a place you’ve always belonged without even knowing it. So, yeah, you’re afraid. But the idea of not spending every night for the rest of eternity surrounded by these beautiful, damaged, stupid idiots is even more frightening.

A knock comes at your door and Nadja’s voice trills, “Hello, human? May I come in?”

You roll onto your side and sit up, dangling your bare legs over the edge of the bed. You’re wearing one of your few dresses because...well, because you’re going to die tonight and shouldn’t you dress up a little?

Nadja slips inside looking resplendent and deadly as always. She gives you a sympathetic smile and comes to sit next to you.

“Feeling a little nervous about our unholy transition, are we?” she ducks her head and gives you that mama-vampire-knows-best look of hers.

You lean your shoulder into hers, taking comfort in her presence.

“Maybe a little…” you admit. “I’m not having second thoughts or anything it’s just…”

“A little spooky wooky, yes?” Nadja supplies. She wraps her arm around your back and pulls you closer. “Don’t concern your head off, darling. I don’t know if you realize this but I am considered a bit of an expert. I’ve turned many, many humans in my time. Including my dear Laszlo. I’ll make sure Nandor does not slip up and accidentally make you into a zombie monstrosity like my poor Topher.”

You rear back and stare at Nadja with horror stricken eyes, “That’s a possibility!??”

Nadja chuckles and tweaks your nose, “I am giving you sarcasm! To lighten the mood! It’s working, yes?”

You let out a long-suffering sigh that hiccups into nervous laughter.

“I love you, Nadja,” you say with sudden, overwhelming emotion. You dive forward and wrap your arms around her in a fierce hug.

Nadja is stricken for a moment and she pats your back gingerly, “That’s...very nice. You think you want to come downstairs now? Because Nandor is being a real donkey dick down there waiting for you, but his balls are too shriveled to come up here and get you himself.”

You laugh and pull back from the hug, wiping tears from your eyes, “Yeah, let’s go. I’m ready.”

---

“SURPRISE!” 

“HAPPY DEATHDAY!”

“SMASHLEY’S IN DA HOUSE!”

“What’s crack-a-lackin’?”

Nandor looks supremely put out when everyone yells something different as you walk through the door to the fancy room. Does no one listen to him? They had an agreed upon plan! He scowls at at the other vampires, especially fucking Colin Robinson, before sweeping over toward you and taking you from Nadja’s arm.

“Welcome to your Death Day Party! Do you like it?” Nandor looks down at you with those wide, sparkling eyes that make you forget he’s a centuries old blood-sucking fiend who once conquered nations and slaughtered thousands. 

You take in your surroundings with a look of wonder. There’s a giant glitter banner hanging above the fireplace that reads “Congratulations on your Dark Awakening.” You recognize it as Nandor’s handiwork at once. Also, Guillermo has obviously been to Party City because everyone is wearing pointed birthday hats with little Dracula emojis all over them and the whole room is absolutely covered in crepe paper. 

“It’s...so cute!” you squeal, grabbing him around the middle in an enthusiastic hug. This is...just want you needed. A little goofy, human levity before stepping off the edge of the unknown. Your eyes continue wandering over the room until they fall upon a long table set up against the wall. “Oh...my g--gahhhh--is that mac and cheese?”

The table is covered in dish after dish of all your favorite comfort foods. Macaroni and cheese, pizza, lasagna. Apple pie, blueberry pie, cherry pie! There’s a whole giant bowl of Reese’s peanut butter cups. You pull away from Nandor and dash across the room, launching yourself into Guillermo’s arms.

“You’re the sweetest monster I’ve ever known!” you cry, doing your best to squeeze the unlife out of him.

Guillermo laughs, “Listen, you’re going to be puking for days either way. You might as well have one last chance to enjoy human food.”

You roll your eyes, “Thanks for the reminder, Memo.”

“Alrighty!” Nandor is suddenly picking you up from behind and plucking you out of Guillermo’s arms. “That’s enough of that. Why don’t you have some of this--” he turns his head away from you and gags “--yummy food and then we’ll listen to some human musical arrangements that Nadja and Laszlo have prepared.”

Nandor hovers at your side, watching with a wrinkled nose as you pile food onto your plate. You’ve barely made a dent in the impressive spread and you’re feeling guilty about the waste when Colin Robinson ambles up.

“So, nervous about Nandor draining all your blood and killing you tonight?” he asks breezily.

You ignore the question and instead ask one of your own, “Hey, you think you can bring some of the leftovers into your office tomorrow? I’d hate to waste all this…”

Colin’s face lights with a maniacal grin, “Barbara’s on a diet...Yeah...this will be perfect!”

You settle onto one of the couches, sandwiched between Guillermo and Nandor. Both vampires look vaguely nauseated as you tuck into your food, but they’re holding it together.

Laszlo stands up with Nadja and starts strumming a guitar as he addresses everyone, “When I first met our human I assumed she’d soon be fertilizing my vulva garden--”

Nadja slaps his arm and Nandor hisses indignantly.

“But! But!” Laszlo continues, bowing with a flourish in your direction. “I came to realize that this particular human was something special. I decided to accept her into the fold. Mostly because she kept Nandor off my back and also my wife threatened to maim my testicles if I ate her…

“So, here we are, human. The last night of your life and we’ve got just one thing to say…”

The couple launches into a screeching, cloying rendition of “(I’ve had) The Time of my Life” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack (blatantly stolen from Laszlo’s catalogue of compositions). Your face is frozen in horrified laughter and you flick your gaze to Guillermo’s to see that he’s covering his mouth to stifle his own laughs. On your other side, Nandor is clapping along and bobbing his head with the music. Yup, this is your tribe.

The party goes on for another couple hours. Laszlo and Nadja perform several more “hits” before finishing up with “The Girl in the Village with the Very Small Foot.” Nadja’s singing voice is still ringing in your ears when Nandor bends down to whisper, “It’s time, my human.”

The levity of the party has done a lot to calm your nerves, but you can’t help the sudden grip of anxiety around your throat at his words. You look up, falling, once again, into the fathomless depths of his lovely, dark eyes and you think, That’s what this is. You’re going to live in that deep, dark beauty from now on. There’s nothing scary about that. 

You both stand up to leave and say your goodbyes. Laszlo and Colin wish you luck. Guillermo hugs you and presses several quick kisses to your cheeks as Nandor murmurs warningly, “Watch it!”

When he releases you, you’re suddenly engulfed in the arms of a crying Nadja.

“I do love you, you magnificent, ruthless baby!” she sobs. “Nandor, if you fuck this up I’m going to make a hat out of your asshole.”

You laugh into her shoulder and Nandor complains, “Yeesh! Alright, calm down, Nadja!”

By the time you’ve pried yourself from Nadja’s grip you’ve joined her in crying and your face is soaked. Who knew vampires could be so sentimental?

Nandor grimaces in distaste as he brings his hands up to wipe away the tears.

“Ready!?”

---

Nandor’s crypt looks just as it always does. No crepe paper or glitter in sight. Just the warm glow of candles, the rich red and gold accents of the decor, and the solid familiar bulk of the coffin where you’ve spent so many nights wrapped in his protective embrace. He leads you over to the chaise lounge and you both sit, fidgeting nervously and darting shy glances at one another.

Nandor plucks at the fabric of your dress, “This is nice.”

You smile faintly, “Thanks, I--I thought maybe I should dress up for the occasion. Is that stupid? I guess it’ll just get stained…”

“No,” Nandor cuts in, looking earnest and serious. “No, I’ll be careful.”

You nod and fall silent again. The knowledge of what you’re about to do seems to hang like a thick curtain between you. The easy intimacy that you’ve shared is strained with the gravity of what is to come. Nandor finally huffs out an exasperated sigh and pulls you into his lap. At first you think he’s just going to bite the bullet, so to speak, and dig into your neck at once. But instead he grabs your face and pulls you into a searing, all-consuming kiss. 

He tangles his fingers in your hair, pushing his tongue into your mouth with a low groan. You stroke your hands down the long column of his throat, running them across his broad shoulders and down his back. How this man--this perfectly imperfect, wonderfully fragile, fierce warrior man--has come to choose you, you can’t begin to understand. For countless other human souls, catching the eye of Nandor the Relentless has meant grim misfortune. For you, finding yourself the prey of a murderous vampire is the best thing that’s ever happened in your life. 

Except maybe being MVP at last year’s championship bout.

Nandor’s lips fall away and he looks up at you, panting heavily with his hair mussed and tangled. His gaze flicks down to your exposed throat and you see him swallow in anticipation. He reaches for something on an end table and shows you the stainless steel travel mug containing his blood. You take it from him noting the strip of masking tape on the lid with Nandor’s elegant scrawl--his name and the date.

You snort, setting the container down on the cushions beside you and looking back up at Nandor.

“Prepare yourself, my mortal,” he growls, fangs elongating and eyes flashing with a predatory gleam. 

You turn your head, baring your neck for your vampire boyfriend, and answering lightly, “I have a name, you know.”

---

THE END

A/N: Hey, thank you so so so much to everyone who read and supported this fic from the beginning! Your comments and encouragement mean the world to me!

Tags:

@festering-queen, @kandomeresbitch, @strangestdiary, @glitterportrait, @scuzmunkie, @redwoodshadows, @sarasxe, @rileyomalley 

[witteawrites]

Project: Fight Me Hellen

Synopsis

What does a kindly witch who accidentally curses your coffee, a Catholic vampire that's given up rare blood types for Lent and a group of Elves on drugs ("High elves, get it?") all have in common? A lot if you're a shape shifting cop who's job is to keep the magical world and the human world blended without any problems. Hellen loves her job most days but she really wishes all the trouble makers would stop making her job so hard (those over populated vampires from the recruitment surge during Twilight? Yeah apparently all the angst ridden whiny teenage immortal girls get hungry and are pretty mad that being a vampire isn't all sparkles and cheesy lines. Go figure.) She wishes human kind and magical types could just get along and things would calm down. Hellen gets her chance when she's given charge over a Hunter. Her job is to keep them from killing anyone while keeping tabs on them to hopefully find out who their boss is and then maybe the whole hunting ring fiasco can be taken care of once and for all and the people can live a little more easily and in peace. What she didn't ask for was a new friend and the whole thing going sideways when she mistakes the hunter for a new creature in town needing help blending in and spills trade secrets. Can she fix her mistake on time and get the hunter on their side or has she just spelled out death for all of the city's magical inhabitants?

Excerpt

The street light buzzed as it flickered overhead. The wind blew over as a loose missing pet poster across the alleyway as a cool breeze sent a chill down the back of a younger looking woman’s neck. She had walked this path a hundred times at night before but familiarity didn’t make it any more unsettling.

The scar on her neck twinged and she took a deep breath, counting to 10 and reminding herself she was ok. She was in control, this was familiar territory and she would be fine. She flinched slightly as the door to her right slammed against the alley wall and a giggling man came stumbling out. She rolled her eyes.

“Lloyd! What have I told you about the drugs? Do you want to get hunted?” She hissed, walking up to the tall lanky man and tugging on his hear to pull him down to her level.

“Heeeeyyyy! Why you gotta spoil all the fun… you just need a joint Hellen! Then you can come’n chill with me and see that life’s not all that bad!” He said before giggling again and slumping against the woman, her blonde hair fading into green at the tips.

Hellen sighed and helped him sit on the ground. “I’m going to have to take you in Lloyd. I’ve covered for you once. You promised me you would stop and get help but you haven’t and you keep blurting out who you are and taking off your disguise. Someone who’s not on something is going to see you and I can’t let you endanger the rest of us. You know that.” She said.

“Aw Hellen come on! I can’t help it! I’m a high elf. Get it? Huh? Huh? Get it?” He replied before laughing at his own joke so hard he started to throw up.

“These were my favorite shoes.”  Hellen mumbled, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. “Come on big boy, time to get you some help.” She sighed, putting him cuffs and taking him out to her cruiser.  

Stupid elf… She grumbled inwardly, heading back to the station once she had him secured in the back. Why did trouble makers like Lloyd have to make her job so difficult? Hunters were bad enough but then there were people like Lloyd who just became beacons for them. She tried not to take it personally when someone like him got themselves killed but she did and she wished they wouldn’t do that to themselves. Falling to addictions was a bad enough life without the added danger of being hunted.

Hellen rolled into the station a few minutes later but instead of taking the airy elf up the stairs to the main entrance she walked him into a wall around the side. The scene quickly shifted from a dark brick into a lively office, the wall rippling closed behind them.

“Hey Hellen! Sup?” A hairy looking guy called from behind the front desk.

“Not much Richie. How’s the pup unit going?” She asked, somewhat preferring the night crew to the day one. The more nocturnal types seemed easier to deal with in her opinion.

“Really well! So far we’re caught up on the little ‘play biting’ issues in the therapy part but I think we’re going to get there. What are you going to do, kids are going to play.” He shrugged.

“I can see their point though. Can’t have a bunch of new werewolf pups biting kids and turning them when they’re already stressed. Anyways, gotta take this one into the back.” She said, indicating Lloyd who was swatting at the lights above his face and clinking his handcuffs annoyingly.

“So pretty…” he fawned, his eyes getting bigger the longer he starred up at them.

“Alright little John, let’s take it one step at a time. Look, here’s a step…” She said, smirking a bit as he lifted his leg high in the air and then brought it down, thinking there was a set of stairs in front of him.

“Oh here’s another one. And look out! This one’s really high up and really big!” She continued, messing with him. He’d puked on her favorite shoes; he was going to be the laughing stock of the unit for a few days.

Finally, she got him back into the infirmary area and she got him laid down on one of the beds. She got an IV into the now drooling elf. “Alright, I’m going to give you something that’s going to make you feel a lot better.” She said, grabbing a syringe from one of the locked drawers.

Lloyd nodded happily, smiling and jingling his handcuffs lightly.

Oh he’s in for it… again. She thought, grabbing a bottle and sticking the needle into it, drawing out some of the substance and then emptying into his IV.

Lloyd’s smile quickly faded as his high disappeared like a bowling ball crashing into pavement. “Heeeeeyy!” he shouted, feeling ill and the high he’d paid for was gone.

“I told you next time you did drugs there’d be consequences. Now you get to dry up in here and find a new area to live in. You broke your promise.” She shrugged. Turning him over to the attending physicians working in that section.

She looked up at the clock and saw it was just after 9. “Oh thank god…” She muttered, shaking her head a little as she closed her eyes. Her skin faded into a dark ashy color and her hair went from the blonde it had been to jet black. Her eyes were coppery when she opened them again instead of the forest green they’d been a moment before.

She walked to her office and sat down at her desk, looking at a photo of her and another officer. Younger, smiling… alive. She turned guiltily away from it and started filing her reports and paperwork for the evening. After turning it in and making sure she was squared away she clocked out and gathered her things to head home.

“See you in the morning?” Richie asked as she walked by.

“Nah, I have a mid shift tomorrow and then a meeting with the chief. I think they might be switching me to a day group for a bit again while they train the newbie.” She shrugged. “There’s rumors of a hunter situation too, but I shouldn’t have to do much with that being on partial field work leave.” She added.

“Well be careful anyways. It’d be a shame to lose another fine officer, and a shifter, to the likes of those cut throats.” Richie scowled. “A few hundred years and you’d think they’d figure out most of us are alright.” He sighed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just shift into a troll and blast them through a wall before they know what hit them.” Hellen smiled wryly. “It’s not my first rodeo.” She added, subconsciously rubbing the scar that was twinging near her shoulder and collarbone. She tried to keep a wince back as she forced a smile. “Night Richie.” She added, tipping her officer hat and heading back outside, this time to her own car.

“Finally…” She sighed, her appearance changing again. This time her hair turned into a layered brown cut and her skin tone became an average human color. Her clothes changed into something more every day looking instead of her uniform as she looked into the mirror, gently brushing her cheek with her fingers, longing to stay like this.

She parked her car by her apartment complex before she headed to her favorite local bar to get a quick drink and check in on some of the local gossip. It was a short walk there and back, plus it helped her get a feel for if and when humans became aware of anything strange. She also liked pretending to be one sometimes even if it was a magical bar.

“Hey Carl, I’ll take my usual.” She said, taking a seat on an empty stool and leaning against the counter on one elbow.

“Hey Hellen. Good to see you around again. I was starting to wonder if one of those crooks hadn’t gotten you too.” The bar tender said.

“Ah it’d take more than a few law breakers to get me down.” Hellen chuckled dryly. “Besides I just check up on the higher risk ones and make sure parolees are behaving and that no trouble’s starting. It’s not a terrible beat.” She shrugged. “Ah thanks…” She took the glass and swallowed down a sip, letting the burn fill her throat and give her a little momentary jolt.

She looked around the room a bit, observing the people. She picked out a Skinwalker, a Djinn, and a young witch intermingled with the humans. She was trained to see them and make sure they were blending well. These three seemed alright. She knew more of the trouble makers than the ones who hid in plain sight.

“Aren’t you off the clock?” Carl raised an eyebrow, his mild accent getting a bit thicker with concern.

“Habit.” Hellen replied simply, frowning a bit as she saw a younger woman who also seemed to be casing out the magical creatures in the room. Her fingers were tapping lightly on the table and she didn’t seem to have even touched her drink yet. Something about her seemed off to Hellen and she couldn’t quite identify what it was. She seemed human at first glance but something was different.

“Hey.” She waved Carl over. “What do you know about her?” She asked.

“Ah new girl in town from what I hear. Not sure what she is.” He shrugged, cleaning a glass with two arms above the counter, and to anyone watching. Two more were below the counter adjusting cups and taps to make sure they were in order too.

“I got that vibe also but I can’t figure it out.” Hellen tapped her glass lightly.

“Could be a hunter. They’re getting better at the fake creature act.” Carl muttered under his breath, disdain in his tone.

“Eh… either way, I’d better check it out.” She said, ignoring Carl’s incredulous look over he working off the clock again.

She turned to go offer the girl a drink but when she looked she saw her leaving a 20 on the table she’d been sitting on and heading quickly out the front door.

“Well I assume adding ‘super good hearing’ to the list of what she might be, would be wise.” Hellen said.

“Ah well… at least she paid and tipped well.” Carl shrugged. “Who knows, she might come around again. I’ll let you know right away.” He offered.

“Thanks Carl. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Hellen said, finishing off her drink and putting her jacket on.

“I do what I can girl, I do what I can.” He smiled knowingly. “Have a good night.” He added, waving her off once she’d paid.

Hellen headed home, the small chilled feeling tingling down her spine that she was being watched or followed. She took a few side streets and then slipped in the back way into her apartment just to be safe. She locked the door and sighed, kicking off her shoes.

I wonder who that girl was… She thought to herself. She had a bad idea she might be finding out sooner rather than later and she might not like what she discovered.

(©WitTeaWrites)

[nightblogofficialbook]

Chapter Ten

Also available to read on Tapas.io!

Zain’s red eyes met mine with relief, and then he collapsed.

“Zain!” I reacted immediately, my heart thundering, and ran to catch him. He was covered in gashes, his blood all over, churning my stomach but for once not because of my queasiness. His breath was ragged as I pulled him up, and as if purely on instinct he bit desperately into my open neck.

I winced, and everyone finally reacted in panic, crowding around with worry and fear while my vision started getting dizzy with losing blood too quickly.

“Back up, back up!” barked Ruby as she corralled everyone back. “Give em space!” Then she and her daughter knelt down next to us.

Zain disengaged his fangs and wiped his mouth with his torn-up sleeve, still breathing heavily. My eyes widened as I saw the cuts all over his body slowly healing over, regenerating on their own.

“It’s not safe in the forest,” he breathed urgently, holding Ruby’s gaze. “You need to get everyone back to the castle, now.”

She nodded calmly and gave a short whistle. “Saddle up everyone, we’re heading back!”

Murmurs of worried theories filled the group as they went back to their horses. I thought about following them but Zain kept a firm grip on my arms.

“Zain…” Victoria stood where she was as the crowd dispersed around her, her eyes in fearful worry.

He gave her a patient smile. “I’m alright. Go back with the others, okay?”

She held there in hesitation, her eyes darting to me for just a moment, and then went back to her horse.

Amber came back with the black mare’s lead. “Ya two need to get back to the council quickly; this is Shadow, she’s the fastest little lady we have. She’ll get ya home lickity split.”

Zain nodded and climbed on, pulling me up behind them. Rose’s mom pulled her up onto theirs.

“We’ll get this lot home quickly; you two do what you need to,” Ruby said.

“Be safe,” he said, and then coaxed Shadow into full gallop straight through the woods.

My mind raced as fast as the trees passed us by. “Zain-”

“Don’t talk,” he interrupted, the firmness his voice had held up until now wavered with fear. “At least not right now, not here.” His arms were trembling, and the while the shallow cuts had healed up, the gashes hadn’t. His breathing was become labored again; it felt like he could pass out at any moment.

I made a decision in my head before I even needed to think about it. I gripped at his shirt with conviction.

Zain, stop the horse.

He gave a start, not expecting to hear my voice, I’m sure. “What?”

“Stop the horse, now,” I said, out loud now that I had his attention.

“Helen, I’m not slowing down, I need to get back-”

Stop right now or I will throw myself off this horse!

His eyes widened as he turned back to meet mine. The sheer determination seemed to convince him and thankfully he didn’t call my bluff; Zain pulled on the reins and brought Shadow to a careful halt. I hopped off, rolling up my sleeve the moment my feet touched solid ground.

He got off too. “Okay, why the hell are you-”

“Don’t talk right now,” I said, and, before I could lose my conviction, forcefully shoved my forearm into his mouth until I felt his fangs pierce my skin.

His eyes widen in complete comical shock for only a moment, and then he grabbed my arm desperately and bit down hard. I hissed, fighting back the pain, as a soft moan seemed to come from Zain. My vision began to blur again, but I saw the gashes in his body getting better. I tried to keep calm, keep my heart level. It’s okay, everything's okay, it’s just like the normal, weekly feedings you normally do, it’s not at all as if Zain almost DIED or anything and we were still in the middle of the woods. I vaguely felt my knees land in the snow, Zain still attached to my arm. My vision had faded almost completely. It’s okay, everything’s okay…

Something weird was happening.

There was a strange sort of tugging sensation...not the cord pull, that was like something was pulling my body around. This was like something was pulling my… well, myself out of my body. I tried to fight it but I didn’t even know how. Before I knew it I had left and was in darkness.

I wasn’t passed out; that was a very distinct loss of self, like I just stopped existing for a bit. I was definitely still aware of myself, like I was pulled into a dream...or that illusion world Zain had created once.

Suddenly a whole bunch of images switched on all around me, like a bunch of TVs, blinking static in and out between what looked like movie scenes. I saw my face in a few, and many other faces and places and things. Each jittered and shifted into one single scene that engulfed my vision and all my senses.

Trees were passing by in a blur, as if I were moving through the woods at highway speeds. I was running, and it was such a rush! I felt so free and so...powerful. Nothing could catch me. Nothing could outrun me.

Something’s been bothering me; the forest had been too quiet, especially after the influx of thralls. I had to focus; I had to know. Surely...surely I was wrong.

The image jittered again like a bad signal and the scene fast forwarded. There was someone in the woods, I know it, I can smell them. What are they? Fast forward again, I’m being attacked! Pain engulfed me once again, nearly identical to what I had felt only half an hour ago. There was so much distance between me and...everything shifted once more.

I was limping through the woods, unable to run, a really foul taste in my mouth. Those bastards...they knew! They knew how far away I would be...she would be, from me. They knew I hadn’t fed for a while, they knew...I stumbled and fell a moment, trying to hold as much blood in a very large and painful gash in my side. I had to keep going, I need to find her, I need her, now, or I might…

I could feel the distance growing shorter; more of my strength was returning. I groaned and pushed onward; why the hell did she have to be so far out…!

Realization finally dawned on me. This was planned. Their plan A didn’t work so they changed targets. They lured me out from safety, to investigate, at the precise moment she would be the furthest away from me. It wasn’t just someone that would be close to her, it wouldn’t have been just someone around her…it was someone who would know me, too.

Someone I knew was trying to kill me.

My eyes snapped opened with a gasp as suddenly I was back in my own body again. My head spun for a moment, Zain holding me up so I didn’t fall back into the snow. My forearm throbbed, a purple bruise being the only indicator of the bite. My vision straighten out.

“What just happened?” I asked, still just a little dizzy.

“I was going to ask you that,” he replied. “Are you alright?”

My head felt fuzzy and light. “Yeah, something...something weird just happened. I didn't pass out did I?”

“Sorta, it was more like you were in a daze,” he said, and then asked carefully, “Did you...see anything?”

I blinked in surprise by the question. It was enough of an answer.

“I think you accidently performed a Dive.”

“I...what?! Those were your memories?!” Diving was what he had been doing to me when he had searched through my thoughts. “Was that supposed to happen?”

“Not...usually, not like that.” He seemed mildly embarrassed. And then after a moment, “You’re not nauseous.”

“There are more important things to worry about; I’ll throw up later.” I didn’t want to press my luck by over thinking.

He was quiet again but his eyes held my gaze, questioning. “Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

He lifted my arm, the purple bruise slowly fading to a slightly brown.

“Oh.” I scratched my head, making sure I had the right words first. “You...you were about to pass out, I could tell. You might have fooled anyone else but...but you weren’t healing. It just felt like what you needed in the moment.”

His face changed to a patient but confused amusement. “So your first thought was to force-feed me?”

I flushed. “I dunno, for some reason I thought you wouldn’t listen to reason,” I crossed my arms, looking way in mild irritation.

“You don’t know that,” I heard him mirror my words, and stole a glance. He looked deep in thought, worried again. I took a breath.

“Zain…” He looked up at his name. “I...understand for the most part what’s going on, but...but it feels like you know why. If...if this is going to happen again, I need to know why too.”

He stared at me for a moment, and then glanced around, slightly anxious, breathing in. “...you’re right. But not here. We need to get back quickly, I have to tell the council.”

I nodded, trusting him to tell me. We got back on the horse and back to a full gallop, leaning forward to avoid the branches passing overhead. Zain felt warm and stable now, some cuts still remaining but were shallow compared to what they once were.

You know about how Brides are chosen, right? came his voice in my head, startling me.

Yeah, I was told they can happen accidently, when a vampire reaches a certain age or something.

...forget everything you’ve been told then, they’re lies.

My eyes widened. “What?”

Bride’s aren’t created accidentally, not the way you’ve been told at least, they’re deliberately chosen. Deciding to take on a Bride is a huge risk, it puts your life in their hands. But in return you receive an immense amount power.

What do you mean?

Zain demonstrated by holding a hand out where I could see. Lightning crackled between his fingers, and immediately I remembered the convulsions from that thrall a few weeks ago.

I can do more than just that, too. I already had power to begin with because of my heritage; taking on a Bride magnifies it, and the amount by which you get stronger depends on your compatibility.

That’s why everyone was so worried when I showed up, I realized with a start, and he nodded. But...you said what we’ve been told is a lie, does everyone…?

The humans don’t know, but they could sense from the vampires that something was complicated.

But if...if Brides are chosen and not accidental, then why...why me?

I felt his thoughts waver as he tried to find the right words, or an answer in general.

I...I still don’t know, it was never my intention. I wasn’t even supposed to be out there at all; I was supposed to be kept under close watch and stay within the castle until I took on a Bride, especially with my parents being...gone. There was a heavy sadness in that last word. I was stupid and slipped my watch on the eve before I was supposed to be bonded with Victoria, and then I saw you.

I thought about scaring you; it looked like you had ended up here accidentally, and no one is even supposed to be able to get this far thanks to the barriers, so I was just planning to chase you off. But then you cut your arm, and… He struggled again, and sighed in defeat. I had never smelled something so sweet. I had never fed before, and the overwhelming urge to taste it overtook me. Before I knew it you were passed out in my arms and my mouth covered in your blood.

I swallowed and felt the panic of his memory fill him. I didn’t need to see to understand what he probably felt next.

Someone in the castle is trying to kill me, he continued. I’m positive now, the coincidences were too close. They must have seen an opportunity when I accidentally bit you, a possibility that I could be weaker than anticipated since I was pushing you away.

What do you mean?

You’re the source of my strength and power; the proximity between us affects how strong I can be. That’s why there was so much debate on where to put you.

I mean, I get that, but...why? Why are you being targeted?

He was silent for a good moment, and I could feel the sheer gravity from the words he said next.

Because if I die...every single vampire on this planet will be free from my family’s Blood Oath and go feral.

Silence fell between us for a good long moment. The connection with Zain’s thoughts still remained opened but were quiet. He felt tired, and fearful. His answers had been coming unfiltered with no reluctance; I felt like I now knew more about the situation than probably 90% of the castle. It felt strange, like a huge responsibility was just bestowed upon me and I didn’t know if I was right for the job.

Zain...I know I asked for answers, but...why are you telling me all of this?

He seemed to deliberate for just a moment. Because you’re the only one I can completely trust right now.

That caught me completely off guard. Why me?

I know your thoughts; I can be in your head when I need to, and I can see your memories; you’re not trying to kill me, even though it would be in your best interest. You want to run away but are willing to compromise. Despite everything, you’re trying to help me even at the cost of self-harm. And you’re right; you deserve to know what kind of fucked-up scenario you’ve been pulled into.

The trees gave way to a worn-down and hoof-printed trail. Shadow picked up pace, now that the way through was clear and sure. Maybe twenty minutes had passed since we left the springs; the rest of the group won’t be making it back for a good hour. I worried for a moment, but remembered that group was littered with other vampires. Surely they’ll be okay, right?

“There aren’t any more in the woods right now,” Zain murmured to me. “The rest scattered away but they could be back later. They’ll make it back in the barrier safely.”

His voice only gave me a small amount of comfort but it was comfort nonetheless. Zain rode Shadow all the way up to the castle path before wrapping an arm around my waist and hopping off, much to my slight protest. He gave a light pat of thanks and sent the horse off, and then took off running through the halls faster than humanly possible, slinging me up over his shoulder in an awkward and rushed hold. I had to shut my eyes to keep from getting dizzy as I got whipped-lashed with each sharp turn he took.

And in no time flat we were standing in front of those conference rooms once again. Dmitri and that one guy, Mason I think his name was, appeared seemingly out of nowhere as well with a rush of wind. Both their eyes were red.

“Zain! We got your message, what-?” Dmitri’s eyes widened with shock. Zain was still covered in blood and torn clothing. Mason whistled. “Daaaamn, what happened to you?”

He set me down. “Thralls, there were six of them waiting to ambush me in the woods.”

“But...I thought they had moved on, isn’t that what the hunters…?”

“And hunter’s have lied to us before, but I don’t think that’s the case this time.”

Mason’s eyes looked surprised this time. “You think it was…?”

“Undoubtedly. You called the others, right?”

Dmitri nodded. “They’ll be here soon. They’re not too pleased, Zain…”

“I don’t give a damn, Dmitri, I almost DIED.” They flinched. “This NEEDS to be discussed, properly this time.”

I swallowed, unsure what to do with myself. I felt like a tagalong that didn’t belong somewhere, like when a parent takes their child to a family-friend’s birthday party. We had walked into the room and were waiting at the top of the walkway. The air was tense and uncertain.

“They’re here,” Mason said, and not a moment later other doors around the room were opening and the COV made their way down to their seats.

Zain began to make his way to his seat, as did Dmitri. I started to follow but was stopped by Mason.

“We, uh, will have to sit this one out, princess,” he said sheepishly. I looked back towards Zain with worry.

“Go with Mason,” Zain ordered, glancing back to me. “I’ll come get you when we’re done.”

I swallowed and nodded, feeling very uncertain. Mason led the way through a different set of doors into what looked like a small waiting room. He went to lean against a wall, keeping both exits in view it looked like, and I sat down in one of the chairs. The silence was deafening.

“Um,” he began after a minute. “Sorry for, you know, teasing and scaring you that time. Zain’s been a pain in the ass all his life so having all that chaos around then didn’t really put me in the best of moods.”

I smirked a little. “So his jerkness IS inherent then.” He laughed at that.

“Yeah, he’s an idiot, but not a dumb idiot if you get what I’m saying. He’s got a lot on his plate.”

I nodded, and felt worried again. “What do you think is going to happen?”

“That depends; how much do you know?”

“I...I think I understand most of what’s been happening,” I said warily, unsure if Zain might get in trouble. “He’s told me a bit about what’s been happening behind the scenes...and the truth that the humans don’t know about the Brides.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Really…? He told you?” He looked off, smirking incredulously. “Well I’ll be damned…”

Mason shook his head, still smiling. “Well, knowing how the council tends to respond to crisis, they’re going to argue with him. They tend to want to ignore the severity involving danger to the family, mostly ‘cause denial is less stressful, you know.” He sighed. “They’re a bunch of idiots.”

“Then why are they still on the council?”

“‘Cause as dumb as they are they still get things done, and they’ve got the public’s interest. It’s be dumber to demote them.”

Silence fell between us again. I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“So, um, how do you guys…?”

“Know Zain? We all kinda grew up together. Dmitri and I were wee little tots when Zain was born. Our families has been in service to his for a long while; you could almost say we’re his cousins. Soon as he was old enough to socialize our parents had us all meet and we became his guards. We’ve been best friends ever since.” He winked. “That's how we’re able to refer to him by name instead of honorifics. Well, at least privately.”

I nodded, feeling only a little bit more relaxed now; Zain trusts him then, and Dmitri too.

“Hey, if Zain’s such a jerk how come everyone keeps trying to tell me he’s nice?”

Mason laughed. “Oh that’s funny. Well, truth is he is a decent guy. But he’s also a kid, and kids are asses, no offense.”

“None taken.”

“Behind his ‘professional demeanor,’ he’s a bit of a brat, but he’s mature enough not to let that intervene with how he acts around everyone else. Zain was taught to have a pretty good eye for when to be mean and when to be polite, and to be honest he usually prefers to be polite. But he does care about everyone, the poor kid just doesn’t know how to handle it sometimes.”

Suddenly there was a loud BANG and the door burst open. Zain stormed in, furious and cursing as Dmitri followed, trying to pacify him.

“Those fucking idiots!”

“Zain-”

“I was attacked directly! How could they not see--?!”

Mason smirked lightly. “Didn’t go well?” Zain shot a glare at him.

“They believe these incidents were a coincidence,” Dmitri explained to me.

“--calling me paranoid--!”

“What?!” I bristled in alarm. “But you…? They…?” But he was attacked! I was attacked!

“I know!” he snarled furiously. “They wouldn’t even hear me, told me it was too soon for an assassination attempt. Damn it!” Zain kicked a chair and it shattered. My chest clenched and I flinched.

“Zain, calm down,” Dmitri warned, having seen me jump from the violence.

“I’m calm,” Zain growled, but was visibly calming down. His eyes flicked towards me and his expression softened. “Sorry, Helen.”

“I’m okay,” I assured, telling myself to calm down. “I’m...I’m okay.”

Dmitri nodded. “It’s getting late. You should take Helen back to her dorms; we’ll keep an eye on things around the castle.”

“That group should be getting back by now,” Mason said. “Someone’s gotta let them know what’s going on.”

Zain sighed. “Fine. You two take care of that. Let’s go, Helen. I’ll take you back to your room.”

I stiffened, remembering the trip here. “...can we walk this time?”

“Fine,” he obliged irritably.

Mason and Dmitri gave quick nods. “We’ll figure this out, Zain, don’t worry.” And then they vanished with a whoosh of air.

Zain began walking out and down the hall. I followed, quickening my pace to catch up to him. He was looking off in the distance, his eyes narrowed and angrily muttering to himself. I swallowed, feeling strangely awkward again, and fearful. I began to wonder, though...could it be a coincidence? Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, we might be jumping to conclusions?

“Of course not,” Zain spat in a low voice, making me jump. “I know what I saw, Helen.”

“I-I know, I’m just thinking…”

He breathed and sighed. Okay. Fine. Let’s analyze the facts then. You were given a letter that led you directly to a thrall waiting just outside the barrier at just the right time, with the intent to kill you. That letter could only have come from someone within the castle. Someone who can monitor you. Fast forward to well after the fact, I’m lured out of the castle, in the complete opposite direction as where you would be located, in a similar manner, after having to skip a feeding week.

I blinked. You were given a note?

No. But concerns were presented to me; some of our visitors expressed worry about a strange presence in the forest when they arrived. Someone knew I would respond, and had six more thralls laying in wait to ambush me.

With a jolt I remembered what Wendy had said to me earlier. “The eyes are watching…” I whispered. Zain stopped walking.

She knows?

I nodded. I-I think so. She was scared Zain, something was keeping her from saying anything.

“Let me see,” he said out loud, taking my face in his hands. My face flushed and my heart rose to my throat again but I didn’t resist; I let the memory come forward with ease. Zain’s eyes stared into mine, glazed over in that manner that felt like he was looking through me...which he was. His face felt so close to mine, that sweet scent was filling my senses…

And then suddenly he let go and was standing protectively in front of me, looking alarmed. He shushed me quietly before I could make a noise. Be casual, I heard him say, as his demeanor transitioned from one of alarm to one of formality, his expression hard set and cool.

A vampire came rushing up the hall, at normal speed. It wasn’t Dmitri, or Mason, or anyone else I would have expected. Oddly enough it was Greg, looking flustered and worried.

“My Lord, is everything alright? I heard-” He spotted me and noticed the state of Zain’s clothing. “What happened? I heard you were attacked!”

I gave a start; there was no way news would have traveled that fast...would it?

“Everything’s fine,” Zain replied coolly. “There was an altercation, but nothing to worry about. It’s getting late now so I’m escorting my Bride back to her dorm.”

His eyes almost seem to light with an idea. “Shall I assist you? An extra pair of eyes might be useful, in case something happens on the way.” My insides froze; this was way too coincidental. He knows, he knows it’s just Zain and me right now, he knows-

Calm down Helen, he’s not going to do anything. “My presence will be enough, thank you,” Zain replied, a small hint of a protective growl that caused Greg to dip his head in submission.

“My apologies,” he responded. “It was rather presumptuous of me. I shall leave you to it then. Have a good night, Miss Morris. I hope you sleep well.”

We waited until Greg had passed us and went out of sight, and then I let out the breath I had apparently been holding. My heart seemed to stutter as it tried to go back to normal and relax. I looked up to Zain, expecting to maybe see some sort of relief.

Instead he looked concerned and scared.

“...Zain?”

“You can’t stay in the dorms anymore,” he spoke quietly, and began moving again, still in the same direction as we had been going.

I blinked. “I’m sorry what?”

He didn’t answer, and his silence made a new fear rise up in my chest.

“Hold on, hold on…” I quickened my pace to keep up with him. His face was still the same set of concerned fear as before. “What do you mean I can’t stay in the dorms anymore?”

“The safest place for you--for the both of us, is if you stay as close to me as possible.” If I’m right, if someone from within the castle is trying to kill us, to kill me, then they’re going to do it when we’re separated. “I can’t take the risk of something happening to you when I’m not close by.”

I swallowed as I realized what he was getting to. “Wait. Wait, no.”

“Get over it Helen, you can stay tonight but after this, you’re staying with me.” Ignore what I’m saying out loud, I’m not taking any chances. You’re coming back with me tonight.

My mind reeled at the thought of what he was insinuating and the whiplash between hearing his voice out loud and in my head. We had already made it to the Day Wing by now, and were close to the door.

Just go to your room and wait for me by the balcony; grab only what you need and do it quickly.

“Wait, hold on, hold on! What am I supposed to tell the others?!”

“Don’t tell them anything; just act normally.” Just go up to your room and be ready when I get there. He opened the door and shoved me in. “Now go!”

“Zain!” I hissed but he was already gone.

“Helen?”

Claire was sitting at the kitchen table. She stood up immediately. “Hey, is everything alright? We just got back not too long ago, is Lord Zain-?”

“He’s okay,” I replied quickly, hating the fact that I have to come up with a lie. “Zain just...needed healing.”

“Ah, say no more,” she said, to my relief. “You probably want to go lie down. I’ll let the others know, no worries.”

“Thanks Claire. I’ll see you later.” I closed the distance between myself and the stairs, climbing as slow and normal as I dared, and shut the door to my room behind me. Immediately I went into autopilot, pretending to pack things as if I were going to an emergency sleepover. A couple changes of clothes, underwear, toothbrush and bathroom necessities, whatever I could think of that I would need for an overnight stay. Keeping my mind occupied, trying not to think about the danger I might currently be in.

Everything was packed now, though, and panic started coming back.

There’s no telling what’s about to happen. Zain was attacked today, he said they might be back. There’s a spy in the castle that wants to kill us, and that could be Greg. Something about that interaction worried Zain enough to have me pack, have me leave. He was worried enough that if I stayed here I could die. There was no knowing when or where we might be attacked again, or what could happen next. It was like a pit had opened up all around me, and one wrong move, one wrong step will cause me to be swallowed up.

I gripped my arms, trying to stay calm. It was a vampire that attacked him, and likely a vampire trying to kill him. Vampires can get in anywhere they please, they could get into my room, there  could even be one on their way now to finish the job…

I heard a light thud behind me and felt a blast of cold wind, and screamed.

“Helen, shh, it’s me!” came Zain’s voice as he covered my mouth and pulled me back. “Calm down, it’s okay, it’s just me.”

Zain’s clothing was soft and warm; he had changed out of the tattered blood-stain ones already. I slumped into his arms and started to cry.  

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, Helen. I won’t let anything happen, I promise.”

I swallowed and nodded, feeling embarrassed. We heard a light knock on the door and stiffened.

“Helen?” came Claire’s voice through the door. “Yo, you okay in there?”

“Sorry!” I called automatically, trying to mask the rasp in my voice. “Just a spider, I’m okay!”

She walked away after a moment to be sure, and we both relaxed. Zain released his arms from around me as I felt the chill of the air fill their place.

“We need to move quickly now, someone may come here tonight and catch my scent here,” he said. “You have everything ready?”

I nodded, my voice croaking quietly. “Y-yeah, I’ve got what I need.”

“Good. Grab it and come with me.”

I followed him back to the balcony as I started to realized how he planned on getting me out unnoticed. I shivered as we stepped out into the frosted air; the night was quiet and muffled, the sky clear and the moon bright. He knelt down a little bit and held a hand out over his shoulder.

“Climb on,” he ordered.

I was dumbfounded and more than a little nervous. “What?”

He scowled. “Now, Helen.”

This wasn’t the time for my stupidity; I took his hand and hopped onto his back. I could feel every pulse in my body pound as I tried to find the least awkward way of holding on and trying not to think about him touching my legs.

Once he deemed me secure enough he stepped up on the balcony rail with lithe and practiced ballance. “Hold on tight as you can, and don’t scream.”

“What are you—?” The words were thrown right back now my throat as a rush of cold air took my breath from me. My arms around his neck tightened in surprise; he had leapt upwards and was now dangling on the edge of castle with nothing but air between us and the ground far below. I suddenly realized I may have a fear of heights.

Zain seemed to bunch up beneath me, and I realized he was about to jump again. At the very last second I gripped tighter once more as he release powerfully into the night air.

We were practically soaring, flying up along the sheer face of the wall, the cold wind biting at my cheeks and arms. I should have grabbed another jacket. My stomach lifted as we reached the crest of his momentum and then plummeted as he grabbed the ledge and lunged forward across the rooftops. I buried my face in his back and closed my eyes to block the wind as he ran, trying not to think about how high up we were.

Zain moved like liquid; the ride this time was much more gentle and smooth. He jumped between the dips and valleys effortlessly, like I wasn’t even there. I stole a peek, and gasped at the quickly moving landscape around us. It was just like in the memory dive, like we were moving at highway speeds almost.

As we reached the center of the castle rooftops, Zain changed course slightly, spiraling up the side of a tower until everything came to a stop at the top.

I gasped in the cold air as I looked around. The land stretched all around us, the sea of trees far more vast than I thought. They rose and fell in hills in the distance in one direction, and flattening out in the other towards town. Steam was lightly billowing from the hot springs I had just been out at with everyone else. The snow left a quiet, glittering blanket of white across it all.

“It’s hard to believe,” came Zain’s soft voice, startling me, “the world is so much more vast compared to the confines you were raised.” He looked up. “I’ve wondered how different it would be, to see the same sky somewhere else.”

I looked up too, amazed. The sky held so much more depth and color than the sky I was used to seeing. Shades of blue and dots of color-changing light glittered across it, the full moon casting a bright glow from the sky. Our breathes came out in puffs of air, and his body felt very warm against mine. The cold was biting at my cheeks and nose but for the moment I didn’t care. It reminded me of the snowy mornings and evenings I used to walk through the woods, the peaceful lull letting me forget about everything.

Zain’s eyes moved slightly back towards me and met mine; they weren’t red anymore. Before now I had wondered if I had imagined it, but now I was certain. His eyes were green and vast, like a nebula flecked with gold. And for a moment I felt my heart stop. I couldn’t be sure, it was very slight, but Zain...might have been smiling.

And then the moment was gone. His eyes had gone back to red as he looked down at the castle grounds before us.

Vampire’s were darting around the Night Wing courtyard, setting up tables and lights and decorations, getting ready for the Winter Solstice Ball. Some humans looked to be performing magic, and were helping too. Zain looked down at them all with concern.

“It’s getting close,” I commented quietly, thinking about the ball. Everyone was really looking forward to it, but with what just happened...I wonder if it was even a good idea to go through with it. And I wonder if Zain was thinking the same thing.

“Time to hurry,” he murmured. And then we were off again, the air rushing past our faces.

Thoughts of the dance passed and I thought about why we had stopped in the first place. It hadn’t been necessary at all. Even though we were in danger, even though we were in a hurry, he decided to stop and climb that tower. To show me the sky, the view. It felt like something private, something he had never shown anyone. But...he showed me. Why?

“I just thought it’d be something you’d like to see,” I heard him say quietly, then add with a sly smile, “You know, just in case.”

I blinked and then my face flushed. He...he’s teasing me! “That’s not something to joke about!” I hissed angrily. He laughed quietly, and picked up pace. I ducked my face into his back again, my cheeks and nose and fingers beginning to go numb. I wonder if the cold affected him at all, or if it was just something he was used to.

“It’s freezing,” he said, as if in response, and began to slow down. “We’re almost there.”

I peeked over his shoulder and saw the edge of the castle rapidly coming towards us. My chest tightened, remembering just how high up we were and how far down the ground was.

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to jump,” my voice squeaked.

“Alright, I won’t.”

“Zain, that’s not what I--!” Once again my words were thrown back down my throat as his muscles bunched and leaped forward. If it weren’t for my breath being knocked away I probably would have screamed as we began a free fall over the edge. At the last second Zain grabbed a flag pole with one hand and changed momentum, flinging us towards the castle wall at a downward angle. And then, almost effortlessly, we came to a soft stop on the railing of a large stone balcony.

“We’re here,” he said.

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