#yes the Sabbat vampire gouged Victor's eyes out

[victorluvsalice]

AU Thursday: Londerland Bloodlines -- Prophetic Nightmare

Another Thursday, another chunk of Londerland Bloodlines. This one’s a long one, focusing on a nightmare Victor has not long before the endgame, with Alice fighting the Sabbat at Hallowbrook Hotel. This isn’t just him worrying about everyone’s safety, though -- one of the “perks” of Malk blood can be an ability to see the future (in your own unique way), and I figured something of that could probably transfer over to a ghoul. Victor’s basically being warned “bad shit gonna go down” -- and fortunately for him, it’ll be a warning Alice takes to heart. (Too bad Lizzie and Victoria don’t get out of town quite quick enough. . .and before any freaks, quick reminder they do not die, they just need to be rescued.)

So, given that the first part of this snippet is a pretty nasty nightmare, I’m going to warn for blood, gore, dismemberment, and eye trauma. Poor Victor, I put him through the wringer. . .fortunately the ending of the fic is another trip to his wooded happy place. Because Alice doesn’t like seeing him unhappy any more than we do. Anyway, you’ve been warned!

"I'm home, everyone! Who wants – hello?"

Victor shifted his grocery bags, peering between them into the apartment. To his surprise, the living room was empty, as was the attached kitchen. "Emily? Lizzie? Wasn't there anything good on TV?"

No response. Victor frowned. It wasn't like them to just vanish like this. . .had they gone out for some reason after he'd left? But he couldn't see a note anywhere. . .he glanced up at the loft level. "Alice? Are you up?"

Silence. Now thoroughly puzzled, he set the bags on the counter, then headed upstairs. The little office nook was empty. Victor bent over the computer and wiggled the mouse. The screen came to life, showing the five of them lined up on the couch. He couldn't help a grin as he took in Emily's enthusiastic wave to the camera, Victoria's shy smile, Alice's sparkling eyes. Knowing just one of them was a privilege. Being the boyfriend of all three? And getting an older sister into the bargain? I really am the luckiest man in the world.

Unfortunately, he couldn't just stand here and stare at his favorite ladies all night – he had a mystery to solve. He opened up the e-mail client and typed in the password. "15 e-mails – 3 unread," popped up. So that definitely meant Alice wasn't up yet – she never left the haven without reading her e-mails. Still, it was rather late for her not to be up – generally she was stumbling to the fridge for a quick morning drink just minutes after sunset. And while she'd assured him vampires couldn't actually get sick from human diseases. . .he put the computer back to sleep and knocked on the bedroom door. "Alice?"

Still nothing. Victor frowned and pushed open the door, flicking on the light switch. "Al – ALICE!"

His hand clamped itself over his mouth practically of his own accord. The bedroom was painted in blood and gore, red dripping off the walls and body parts flung carelessly every which way. A leg draped over the edge of the bed. . .a hand saluting him from the top of the dresser. . .an arm lying right at his feet. . .and a very familiar head watching him from its place on the pillow. No. . .no no nonono –

Dark sister, not dark mistress!

Victor blinked, then forced himself to step over the arm for a closer look at the head. It gaped up at him, an expression of agonized horror on its beautiful features. But – the hair was different, longer and with a fringe of bangs falling across its forehead. The lips were a trifle fuller than the ones he was used to kissing, the nose turned up slightly more. And the eyes were a clear blue instead of a bright green, the sky on a summer's day instead of the grass. Not his dearest beloved – yet someone almost as bad. "Oh no. . .Lizzie. . . ."

His fingers traced the contours of her cheek, tears welling up in his eyes. "Oh Lizzie. . .who did this to you? I thought. . .didn't we get rid of all the local Giovanni?" He sniffled, and wiped his face with his sleeve. "Oh God, I'm so sorry. . .Alice is going to be heartbroken. . . ."

If she's still alive.

Victor's blood turned to ice in his veins. Just because it wasn't Alice here didn't mean – he tore open the door to the master bathroom, hoping against hope there wasn't a similar scene inside.

There was – but again, it wasn't Alice's face that greeted him. Instead, Emily's broken and bloody visage stared up at him from under the toilet, the rest of her body scattered across the floor. The sight of those beautiful deep blue eyes staring sightlessly into space – dead in a way she'd never been, even while living in the Underworld – was almost more than he could bear. He dropped to his knees, gathering up her head and one of her discarded arms – the left, the one that he'd first encountered as a skeletal "branch" back in Burtonsville – and cradled them to his chest, weeping openly. "No. . .no. . .Emily. . . ."

SLAM!

Victor jumped, head whipping around toward the noise. What – was that the front door? Did I leave it open? I don't think I did. . .and I don't think it would close on its own either. Oh God, is Victoria here, I can't let her see this. . . . Carefully setting Emily's abused parts on the floor, he hurried out onto the balcony. "Vi – VICTORIA!"

It was indeed Victoria downstairs – or, rather, what was left of her. His living love was lying on the floor of the apartment, skin now even paler than his. A torn-open throat hinted at the reason for this state of affairs. Victor almost tumbled down the stairs in his haste to get to her. "Victoria. . .oh God no. . . ."

He skidded to a stop beside her, pulling her into his arms. She flopped around like a rag doll, clearly beyond any help. Those bright blue eyes were dim now, filled with fossilized terror. Victor broke down, pressing her head against his chest. Why? Why? I had so little time with all of them. . . .

Dark mistress still lives, the voice in his head whispered, cracking. You must find dark mistress!

Victor touched his chest. Yes. . .Alice still lived. Their blood bond was weak, and fading more with each passing day, but he was sure he would have felt it break entirely. He still wasn't entirely alone. Not yet. But where was she? He couldn't imagine she was responsible for this chaos, and she wouldn't have let it come to pass if she'd been at home. . . . He gently laid Victoria out on the floor, then made for the front door, throwing it open so hard he broke it off its hinges.

An alleyway stretched out before him, longer than any he'd ever seen. He blinked, then groaned. Oh no. . .not now! he scolded the voice in his head. I thought I'd lucked out just hearing you!

Not me, the voice replied, sounding distinctly confused. Not my luck.

Victor blinked again, staring at the concrete below him. But – if it's not you, then –

Dark mistress! the voice cried, and Victor snapped his head up to see a figure dressed in blue, long hair streaming out behind her, running down the other end of the alley. In pursuit of whoever had inflicted such carnage on those they loved? Fleeing same? Victor didn't know and didn't care. All that mattered was that she was there, she was alive –

and he wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He took off down the street, sorrow transforming into rage. You took my loves, he hissed mentally at the invisible culprit behind the slaughter. You took my family. You took almost everything I had that made life worth living here. But you will not get her. You will not get the one I have left. I am going to find you, and I'm going to tear your heart out and feast on your sweet blood. I'm going to commit as close to diablerie as a human can! I am going to hunt you down and suck you – "Ooof!"

Abruptly something jumped on him from behind, dragging him to the pavement like a wolf taking down a deer. Victor struggled and kicked, but its strength was ten times his at the peak of his buffed state, and he hadn't had any blood for a while. Soon he was pinned to the ground. "Let me go! Alice! Alice!!"

But she was already gone, almost as if she'd never been. Moments later, so was the light. Victor felt the beginnings of panic gnawing at his mind as the alley was plunged into deep shadow. No, please no, I don't like the dark. . . .

Claws caressed his face almost lovingly. "What a yummy little bloodbag," a voice rasped in his ear. "We might keep you for a while." Fangs raked his neck, raising painful welts. Victor elbowed the creature, but it didn't even notice. "Let's make you a proper drink, why don't we?"

Victor had exactly one second to wonder what the hell that meant. And then suddenly his eyes were on fire as the claws dug into them, and the darkness deepened to an endless impenetrable void, and there was wetness on his cheeks but it wasn't tears and he couldn't see he couldn't see he couldn't see no no no no no no – "NOOOOOOO!"

He flew bolt upright, eyes flying open – and thank God, they were there to open, he could see the little lamp glowing in the corner of Alice's bedroom, but his sockets still hurt his neck still hurt everything still hurt and he was afraid to move, afraid that if he got up and switched on the light he'd find himself staring at another disembodied head and no no he couldn't go through that again once was enough –

"Victor?"

He jerked his head down to see Alice stirring by his side, eyes opening muzzily to peer up at him. "What was–"

"Victor!"

The door flew open, leaving him blinking as light suddenly intruded on the darkness. It didn't last long, though – Emily, Lizzie, and Victoria all crowded into the doorway, each trying to be the first to get inside. "We heard a scream – what happened?" Emily asked, finally making it to the front.

"Are you both all right?" Victoria added, twisting her hands together.

Victor stared for a moment. They were there. Everyone was there. Everyone was whole, and alive, and – and – and –

The tears were pouring down his face before he even realized he was crying. Victor curled up on himself, pressing his face into his knees as he sobbed. He couldn't help it. He was so, so glad they were all okay. . .and yet he could still see so clearly in his mind's eye Emily and Lizzie's torn-apart bodies, Victoria's violated throat. . .can't let it happen can't let it happen I can't lose them can't lose them. . . .

A cool arm wrapped itself around his shoulders. "Hey, hey, it's all right," Alice said, voice still a little foggy. "You just had a nightmare, all right? Or, well, daymare I suppose. . . ."

He managed a nod, sniffling and gulping down air. He knew that. Knew that the hell he'd just gone through was blessedly unreal. But the biting, gaping sorrow of seeing his friends – his family – torn apart before him, and the sheer, unadulterated terror of the monster in the dark clawing at his face – well, it was hard to wiggle free of either. The bed squeaked as the others crowded around, and more hands joined Alice's in rubbing his back or his hair or his knees. He leaned into the touches, still sobbing uncontrollably. They're here, they're here, they're okay. . .but God, it felt so real. . . .

"Victor." Suddenly Alice's voice was all command. "Look at me a moment."

Victor raised his head. His vision was cloudy with tears, but Alice's green gaze pierced straight through, holding him still. "Is it all right if I – make you calm down a bit?"

Victor was puzzled briefly – then remembered a hospital room suddenly becoming his childhood bedroom. "L-like in the clinic?" She nodded. "Y-yes, please." Anything to make all this pain go away.

Her hand gently cradled the back of his head. "You're in a safe place, Victor. Someplace you like a lot and feel totally comfortable and happy in. Nothing can hurt you there. You're safe."

The world flashed purple, just as before. . .and then, suddenly, the walls were gone, replaced with trees. Victor blinked and looked around. The five of them were now sitting on a mossy log in the middle of a forest, pines and oaks stretching up to a bright blue sky above them. Below was a layer of needles and old leaves, interspersed here and there with patches of stubby grass and a few hardy flowers growing in the dappled light that reached the ground. Nearby, a stream gurgled away happily as it wound between the trees. Car horns and traffic had been replaced with the song of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind. His shoulders slumped as the tension drained out of him. Yes. . .he was safe here. This place, this world – this was all his own. Not even the horrors of his own dreaming mind could reach him while he sat on this log. Especially not while surrounded by the people he loved. He cuddled up to Alice, smiling. "Thanks."

She stroked his hair. "My pleasure."

"Er – what did you just do to him?" Emily asked, watching him with a slightly-concerned frown.

"It's called Dementation – it's a specialty of my clan," Alice explained. "You know how I made those last few Giovanni guards collapse in helpless laughter? This is something like that. Technically I've just made him hallucinate – just in a nicer way than most Malkavians use it." She looked up at him. "What are you seeing? I'm not actually privy to what's going on in your mind when I use this."

"A forest," Victor told her. "Kind of like the one near Burtonsville, but less – gray." He glanced up at the sky. "It's daytime, but don't worry, we're sitting in the shade."

Alice snorted. "Good. I think me bursting into flames would be against the purpose of this little mental trip."