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clickerflight · 5 months ago

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Clove: Part 33 - Home

Author's note: We're almost to the end. The next chapter will be the epilogue. I have so many feels. It will feel good to finish writing a story.

Masterlist - Part 32

Content: Vampire whumpee, vaguely referenced sexual abuse, emotional angst, lost time

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Hyrum ran ahead of the group through the trees, still in that huge wolfdog form, barking and howling with excitement, tail wagging behind himself as he bounded over streams and logs. Ephraim, who had Benny’s arm over his shoulder, felt his energy coming back just watching the pup enjoy the sun streaming through the leaves.

Kortops and Halia walked, arms linked, deft flaps of their wings getting them over obstructions.

Benny had been very quiet since waking up and Ephraim assumed he needed some time to think while he healed from the fight they had. Ephraim didn't mind. He needed time to think as well.

Besides, it was wonderful to look at the normal plantlife, hearing the soft sounds of birds and water, no mists to obscure their vision. It looked like time had moved strangely while they were in the fae realm. That was to be expected. It was well into summer, now, when it had been autumn when he left. He hoped everyone was okay. He hoped that Margaret was still alive.

“How long has it been?” Benny asked softly, apparently having a similar thought process.

“About 53 years if it’s July now,” Ephraim said, and Benny’s head hung a little lower. “It’s not your fault.”

“Feels like it,” he whispered. “If I had been a little stronger. I knew what was happening was wrong. I didn’t even like being her husband, but-”

“You were charmed,” Ephraim said firmly. “And now we can move on. We’re home. You’re home.”

Benny lifted his head, and Ephraim felt sick to his stomach seeing the tears streaming down his cheeks. “Ephraim, I don’t think I belong here anymore. I’m…. I’ve been….”

Ephraim could see the words that wouldn’t come out. Defiled, disgusting, corrupted, sickened, a completely different man lost in a familiar world.

Ephraim sighed. “Benny, do you remember what I told you after you’d recovered from being turned?”

Benny frowned, trying to remember, but his charm-addled mind had caused the memory to completely leave him. His shoulders hitched with a sob as he shook his head.

“That’s okay. I want to tell you,” Ephraim said warmly, trying to keep any worry out of his voice, rubbing his thumb over Benny’s neck. “We live for a very long time, Benny, if everything goes well for us. That gives us a lot of time to change. We are never going to be the same person as we were a decade ago, okay? And that’s okay. It takes a lot of bravery to face that, to try and keep up with the ever changing world and with the change within ourselves. We will live to see horrors beyond anything most mortals can comprehend, and we have to learn how to handle it, okay? I am so sorry it happened so early. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from being taken that day, but we have to take this in stride and we have to keep going.”

Benny was silent for a long moment and Ephraim took another breath. “You know that I was a gladiator once. A long time ago.”

Benny nodded. He felt more awake, especially at the mention of the part of Ephraim’s life that the older vampire quite often refused to talk about. It was still hard to imagine Ephraim as a gladiator. Maybe that was just because Benny had seen him plant too many sunflowers.

“I didn’t want to be a gladiator,” Ephraim sighed. “I had been captured for being a vampire and sold around until I ended up in a gladiator ring. I was trapped there for years, Benny. Fighting and killing just so I could have a meal once every few days. I was sick, but still stronger than the humans they kept sending in to fight me, trying to slay me like some monster…. It took me a long time after I’d won my freedom to figure myself out. I couldn’t make friends for a long time, I acted like the monster they’d trained me to be, and I didn’t even have a safe place to sleep. I know how you feel, and you have to remember that you are the only one in charge of your emotions and actions. You have to take your life into your hands and make it what you will.”

“But I don’t know what-”

“You don’t have to right now. And I’ll let you in on a secret. You never will. You just have to decide what you like from life, what you think it would be fun to be, and go for it.”

Benny thought about that for a moment. That seemed easier said than done, and he didn’t like how lost it still made him feel, but Ephraim was right, Ephraim was almost always right. He’d been around long enough to know things like this.

“Thank you. For the advice and for….. Getting me out of there.”

“Not sure how much help I actually was for that,” Ephraim said with a chuckle. “There’s the cottage.”

Benny looked up and his knees nearly gave out, seeing the beautiful cottage, the garden fairly well tended. It seemed Ephraim had been away for a while but someone had taken the time to put the garden in order.

He saw Hyrum run into the garden, sniffing at everything, stopping to roll in the grass before getting up and dashing into the house, turning into a human on the way in through the door.

Benny could hear voices inside and soon enough Hyrum came back out, wrapped in a blanket. It seemed that his clothing got shredded when he took his large wolf form.

“Eef! Margaret is here!”

Benny perked up, gathering his energy to let go of Ephraim, walking on his own as a man who smelled like herbs and teas stepped out, surprised. Benny felt a pang of sadness, realizing this man was old enough to have kids, but he couldn’t have been alive when Benny left. He would only know the old members of the village.

He pushed that thought inside. He needed to see Margaret.

He stumbled up, past the garden, past the two fae who stopped to look at the flowers, giggling to one another, past the pup and to the cottage stoop, leaning hard on the railing.

He faintly heard Ephraim commenting on everything new as the man stepped aside, surprised.

Benny stepped up onto the stoop, which hadn’t been there before, and through the door.

He looked around so quickly, it made him dizzy. Finally, he spotted a wizened old woman on the couch, only the faintest traces of who she had been marked on her face.

“Margie?” he whispered, looking at who was once his younger sister. Younger? Really? How could he possibly be older!?

She looked up from the medicine pouches she was assembling with a deep frown, only for her eyes to dull with confusion when she looked at him.

“Who…. no…. Benny?”

Benny nodded with a sob, stepping across to the couch where he sat down heavily, wrapping his arms around his sister, kissing the thinning grey hairs on the top of her head.

She grabbed his arm with a gnarled claw, grunting as she weakly pushed him off.

She looked him over more critically. “In the name of Lady Death, Benjamin Ashmaker. What are you wearing?”

He looked down at the tight leathers, split and torn in places from his fight and smelling of werewolf slobber. “I…. I’m not sure, anymore. I’ll change as soon as I can.”

Ephraim stepped through the front door, a tired little smile on his face and Margie looked angry at him more than anything. “There’s the slacker. Where in the world have you been, then? Something to do with Benny here?”

“Yeah. That Sorcerer, Jack, he kidnapped Hyrum and we ended up in the fae realm. Your brother’s been playing spouse to the Queen all this time. Good thing he did, too, or he would have been killed.”

Ephraim came to kneel on the floor, taking Margie’s spotted hands. Benny swallowed hard against tears that tried to rise up when he saw that. She was so…. Old. Lady Death was standing behind her, practically. Ephraim had warned him about this part of being a vampire, and he had been ready to handle it when he thought he would be able to spend all of these years watching these people, his sister, grow old. But no. He’d been taken, gone for what felt like 16 years and came back to find his sister about to return home to the great beyond.

There wasn't enough time.

Margie turned her eyes back to Benjamin, hardened with time and grief, but still the same woman who always called him foolish and a ‘man who attracts trouble like seeds attract birds.’ And despite the pain he saw there, he was glad to see her eyes and mind were clear. “Benny…. I have an apology to make to you and to Ephraim. I had thought you dead. I had lost hope. I am sorry. I should have believed…..”

Ephraim put a hand on her knee. “Don’t you worry, Margie. Hope is painful, and I hoped enough for the both of us.”

“If it helps at all,” Benny said, almost in a whisper, “I… I didn’t feel abandoned.”

“PSHAW! Probably because you were charmed out of your mind!” she said in a high croaking voice. “Foolish man! Trouble maker, that you are. Spouse of the Queen, indeed. Foolish. So very foolish!”

Tears were spilling from her eyes, following the creases and wrinkles as she slowly leaned forward, bones popping and creaking as she wrapped her arms around Benny.

Benny buried his face in her shoulder, the tears and sobs fully escaping. He didn’t want to mourn the lost time. He needed to focus on the time he had now with his sister, with his mentor. But it just wasn’t fair. He’d lost so much time, so much blood and memory, so much innocence, so much of himself, and for what!? For what!?

He felt Ephraim rub his back as he cried. Ephraim understood. He always seemed to understand. It was a small comfort in the abyss of grief and confusion Benny found himself in.

And maybe it would be enough. He wasn’t alone. Not anymore. And he still had time with Margie. He was so very lucky to have been found before she… before-

The man he’d passed at the door cleared his throat. “So, ah, are those fae out in the garden with Hyrum?”

Ephraim started. “Oh, yes. I’ll need to explain that. You two catch up, alright? I’ll come bug you later, Margie. Looks like there’s no rest for the wicked.”

“I should hope not,” Margie huffed. “Making us all worry all winter and spring. You have a lot to answer for.”

Ephraim left with a laugh and a wave, and the door closed on Benny and Margie, years apart and yet still as close as the day Benny was taken to the fae realms.

Epilogue

Hey you! Yes you! I want to have a sort of askathon about this story once this is done. Have questions about this story? Meta or clarifications on cannon? Please send them so I can answer some as a celebration of finishing this series. Thank you so so much for reading this series, and I hope you will enjoy the epilogue. If you are reading this way after the series is over, still feel free to send in asks. It is good for a writer to remember the stories they have created, even if they are over. <3

Clove Taglist: @wolfeyedwitch @the-blind-one-speaks @whumpsday @extrabitterbrain @inkkswhumpandstuff

@honeycollectswhump @whump-blog-reblogs @pigeonwhumps @mj-or-say10 @percy-frayer

@currentlyinthesprial @scoundrelwithboba @whumps-and-bumps @hellodecisionparalysis @scatteriskity

#writing #whump writing #vampire whumpee #clove #ephraim #hyrum #benjamin #emotional angst #lost time #outliving siblings #ahhhhhhhh #guyyyyysssssssss please!#It's almost done!#So bitter sweet #There are so many ideas in my head to continue this #but I know this is the end #This is the story that needed to be told #alas

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clickerflight · 5 months ago

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Clove: Part 32 - Blood in the Mirror

Author's note: I am now fully feral. Thank you for asking.

Masterlist - Part 31

Content: Vampire whumpees, fae whumpers, violent fight (punching, biting, scratching, head injuries, the works), wing injuries, brainwashing, dehumanization, mentioned past abuse (the works), excessive wolf slobber

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Hyrum scuttled off to the side as Ephraim shoved Benny, trying to push past. It was a good thing he did, too, as Benny retaliated with a sharp hiss, shoving Ephraim back so hard the older vampire nearly fell over. Hyrum would have been stepped on if he were still there.

Fae swarmed back, giving them room as their shoving turned into fierce growls and yowls, biting and tearing at each other’s flesh, all the while Ephraim trying to push towards the Queen.

The two were locked up for a moment, blood smeared on their hands and faces before Ephraim shoved Benny back to try and land a blow.

He was just a little slow. Hyrum could see the hesitation in his arm allowing Benny to backhand Ephraim with a crack.

Ephraim fell, lifting his head and gasping for air as blood spilled from an already healing nose. He looked up, caught Hyrum’s gaze, and whirled around on the smooth dance floor, launching himself at Benny.

Benny yelped as he was thrown to the floor, cracking his head on the step that led up to the Queen’s throne.

The fae around the room hollered and cheered, passing money around as they made bets on the fight, seemingly unconcerned. Maybe they thought it was a part of the entertainment. The Queen certainly seemed amused.

Benny pushed Ephraim away and the two clashed again, though Benny was slow, clearly having taken some damage to his brain that would take a bit to heal. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take Ephraim long to batter him backwards, stumbling, towards the Monarch of the Fae courts.

Ephraim leapt, drawing back his fist and slamming it into Benny’s face, clearly revealing a past glimmer of his gladiator days. His fledgling crumpled at the foot of the throne, nearly on top of the Monarch’s feet, though she pulled them back just in time.

Ephraim stood there, panting raggedly for a moment before he turned his burning gaze on the Monarch. Hyrum could see the blood on his cheek trickling strangely, and realized that tears were mixing with the blood smeared across his face. “I am a Guest in this court. You have been avoiding me, Queen Inaris. I want your pledge that you will grant me and my pup safe passage to the mortal realm.”

The room fell silent, the fae staring between the vampire and the Monarch.

Inaris watched him, face blank for long, heavy moment before she practically beamed at him, throwing her head back to laugh so quickly that her horns scraped badly against the chair, setting Hyrum’s teeth on edge.

“Oh! You are truly vibrant, Ephraim!” she called, excited. “You are! So bold too. I shall enjoy having you in my courts.”

Ephraim’s eyes narrowed. “No. You will be letting me leave as soon as possible,” he snarled.

“Mm, you seem to be mistaken, Ephraim. You are no longer a Guest as of an hour ago. The three days are up. And you are very unfortunate indeed. You have broken the rules about hostility and I have your Name.”

Ephraim’s eyes widened and Hyrum slammed his hands over his mouth to muffle a whimper.

Still in shock, Ephraim did not move in time as the golden twins slammed into him from behind on the call of their Queen, pressing him into the polished floor.

Ephraim barely twitched, staring at the reflection in the floor as they laughed and tittered about how stupid he was to not notice earlier. The Queen laughed, her voice so chilling it caused Hyrum’s hackles to raise. The werewolf pup backed up, stumbling, crooked fingers still over his mouth.

He looked around the room, searching for allies and spotted Kortops who caught his gaze and nodded, something there telling Hyrum to be very brave.

Hyrum nodded carefully, looking back to the throne as the Monarch clicked her tongue. “Come now, pet. Sit up.”

The trembling form of Benjamin did so, eyes distant and cloudy, his face a mass of bruises and cuts. She twined her fingers in his bloody hair and looked back down at Ephraim.

“I like the Vampire!” she declared to the room. “I shall keep him as my pet. You will be so fun to break, won’t you, Ephraim.”

Ephraim flinched at the way she said his name. Like she owned every letter of it. It made the carved letters in Hyrum’s own arm itch, and for some reason, instead of instilling more fear in him, it made him angry. Angry in that way he had been when Jack had tried to take him to be sacrificed. Like he would like nothing more than a throat between his teeth.

He looked at Kortops, who seemed to be looking across to wherever Halia was. When Kortops looked back and saw the determination in Hyrum’s eyes, he nodded.

Hryum snarled, taking the Monarch by surprise before whatever she was going to say next.

Hyruym hadn’t Changed very much. Only when the full moon called him out and when he wanted to play with the pups or the kids begged him to. He’d never turned in rage. But he did this time, his body swelling to a size that was completely unfamiliar to him, his fur shining and golden in the lights above, patchy where his scars lay heavily on his skin.

He barked, loud enough for the fae around him to shriek and cover his ears. He saw guards coming for him, but he could care less, plowing through them like an unstoppable log toppling off a pile.

Kortops moved quickly as well as Hallia ushered panicked fae out of the way or out of the room entirely to allow them a quick escape. Kortops rushed the dias, throwing off the twins in their surprise and horror at seeing a huge werewolf rushing them.

Hyrum barked again, stunning the Queen who had gotten up from her throne. He saw her lips moving, but had no fear in his heart. She was small, and she did not have his name.

He snatched her in his mouth, shaking her and shredding her wings before sending her flying across the room, slobbered and bloody.

He grabbed Benny in his mouth next, this time gently. The wounded vampire only trembled and twitched in response.

Kortops helped Ephraim to his feet and soon the four of them were running to the door Halia had cleared where she was waiting.

“EPHRAIM!” The Monarch roared. “YOU SHALL NOT MOVE!”

Ephraim tripped and almost skidded to the floor once again, forced to obey her orders, but Kortops caught him, draping an arm over his shoulder as they left the ballroom past the casket.

They heard the Monarch shriek behind them as they tore down the hall, Halia taking Ephraim’s other arm and flying to match the difference in height.

“She’ll be after us in a moment,” Halia gasped.

Hyrum wuffed around Benny, who shuddered as Hyrum’s teeth grazed his sides.

“We have to get to her rooms. I have no idea how she activates her mirror but that’s the only way back to the mortal realms,” Kortops gasped. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll fly out through a window and escape to the Wilds.”

That was not an option in Hyrum’s mind. They were going home.

He took the lead, following the Monarch and Benny’s scent back to a pair of huge doors, slamming into it with a shoulder. It didn’t open on the first try, but it did on the second.

Hyrum spilled in, trying to be careful of Benny as the others followed.

Kortops dropped Ephraim and pushed the doors closed, muttering a spell. “That won’t hold for long.”

“Help,” Ephraim said in a small voice, face down on the carpet.

Halia hauled him up as Hyrum snuffled forward, past a huge bed and bathroom into a room full of clothing with a huge mirror. Even in his big wolf form, he would have no issue passing through this mirror. He gently set Benny down, nosing at the glass and sides, whining when he couldn’t pass through.

Kortops helped drag Ephraim in, leaning him on the wall close to Benny.

“What sort of magic do you think it requires?” Halia asked, nerves edging into her tone as they heard banging on the doors to the rooms.

“I’m not certain. Perhaps something for fast travel.”

While they talked and Hyrum paced, Benny watched, trembling and rather damp with werewolf spit. He heard banging and screeching. The Monarch would be there soon. He should be relieved. He should be wanting her to get here and rescue him from this madness but he was afraid. He was afraid she would leave him locked in his room to heal, afraid that she would cut up his thighs till they were nothing but scar tissue, afraid that there would be no end to the honey coated cruelty. He wanted something he hadn’t realized he’d lost.

He wanted to feel safe.

He turned his head to look at Ephraim, bloodied and bruised, unable to move. If they stayed here, Ephraim would have the same fate. The Monarch would cut him up and bleed him. She would muzzle him and bind him and lock him up until he broke. She would hurt him and do… things to him. Things that Benny had tried to forget within a charm addled mind despite how often he knew it had to have happened.

Benny swallowed hard against the feeling of tears in his throat and reached out, taking Ephraim’s hand.

Ephraim managed to loll his head in Benny’s direction, eyes wide.

“I’m sorry,” Benny moaned.

Ephraim’s gaze softened to a look of pure love and respect and Benny found strength in his limbs to stand.

He limped to the mirror, past Halia and Kortops who were still arguing. He heard the door slam open, heard his supposed wife scream, but he ignored her, making sure everyone was within his view in the mirror before he turned once, twice, and on the third time, he reached out shoving the mirror out of it’s beautiful, though fragile moorings, watching it tip as they all vanished from view with the sound of a shattered mirror and a lingering scream.

Then, he passed out.

………………………….

Halia woke first. The warm mortal sun streamed down on her through leaves above, the smell of decay and growth all around her. She sat up, gasping. Green! It was all green!

She stood up, realizing they were in a ring of mushrooms, though the obelisk at the center was completely shattered, crumbling as though made of chalk.

She crouched beside Kortops, who glimmered in the sunlight in a way that made her want to kiss him. He was already pretty enough, it was almost unfair the way the sun sparkled in his pearlescent eyelashes as he opened them.

“Halia?”

She nodded. “We made it, Kortops. The mortal realm!” And with that, she threw herself on top of him with a squeal that woke the others.

Part 33

Clove Taglist: @wolfeyedwitch @the-blind-one-speaks @whumpsday @extrabitterbrain @inkkswhumpandstuff

@honeycollectswhump @whump-blog-reblogs @pigeonwhumps @mj-or-say10 @percy-frayer

@currentlyinthesprial @scoundrelwithboba @whumps-and-bumps @hellodecisionparalysis @scatteriskity

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