Fantasy Call of the Night (Me x TheDarkButterfly)

[Shy2Infinity]

She'd spoken too much, and now she was staring pointedly at the floor. Her face was on fire, shame burning in the center of her chest. The vampires would surely have regretted saving her now, if they hadn't already. Sensing Tavlar coming close, she sank down into her seat. Her eyes trailed from the tiles to the scars on her feet, standing out starkly against her pale skin. She squeezed her feet together as Tavlar knelt and began speaking. She licked her dry lips and narrowed her eyes. She'd never been a patient person, even before all of this and of course she wouldn't start now.

Peeking up at the vampire and then the other two, she hesitated. Admittingly, it kind of helped that James was also scared (though for different reasons) too. She wasn't quite as scared or uncertain of him as she were the other two. Tavlar was the vampire that she found it hard to convince, in her own mind, that he was okay. Because... he was too cheerful! For some reason, that translated in her mind to him having ulterior motives. It was wrong. Stupid. Ridiculous.

Anyway, hadn't she seen him get angry once? Genuinely angry at the way vampires had treated her? It had been scary at the time, but wasn't that proof enough that he was nice? She nodded, seemingly to herself and hesitatingly touched her hand to Tavlar's.

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

He gave her hand the lightest squeeze ever, still smiling reassuringly. "Thank you, Vanessa. I know you don't trust us, and I can't blame you for it, but thank you for giving us the chance to prove you wrong. We won't let you down." He paused a moment, thinking. "How do the humans do it...." He mumbled softly before brightening. "Ah! Yes! Pinkie Promise!" He said cheerfully, shifting their hands so their pinkies were hooked.

Tavlar looked at her much like a dog would for doing a trick. Patiently waiting with his tail wagging for a pat on the head and a 'good boy'. It was hard to believe that a vampire as old as him could act so much like a child. Deveral was choking back laugher and failing miserably and James looked just about downright horrified.

 

[Shy2Infinity]

It wasn't a harsh squeeze. Tavlar was treating her like she was fragile, and maybe that was the case? She certainly had been acting like it for a majority of the night, when a majority of her interactions with them had mostly been paranoid ramblings. Though she couldn't have expected what came next, as she peeked over at the guy that had acted mostly like an adult so far. As he shifted their hands so their pinkies hooked, she blinked again. And again. A couple of emotions roiled through her mind at the sight. Amusement and embarrassment were only a couple of them.

Her face burned as she peeked up and noticed Deveral and James and their varying reactions at the sight. Then she peeked over at Tavlar's face and anything she might have said died on her lips. He was just so enthusiastic about something so..... Well, human adults didn't normally tend to do this kind of thing. That was normally reserved for kids. But she didn't have the heart, nor was she bold enough, to tell Tavlar that. It was charming in its own way, she supposed.

They... Were probably expecting her to say something, but her tongue was thick in her mouth. "W-Well..." She pulled back, hoping that she hadn't jerked back too quickly. Then her arms wrapped around each other and considered the floor. What a lovely shade of blue the floor is. And that crack is soo much more interesting... "It's not like... I wasn't going to give you a chance..."

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

Tavlar just beamed at her before standing. "Right! Anyways, I'm glad you stumbled into us! It really was a stroke of luck, if I'm honest. Especially how connected we are to the Hunters." He moved back to the couch as he spoke, settling in front of James who quietly latched back onto the other vampire as if he were some kind of security blanket. Perhaps he was, in a way.

Tavlar just quietly reached around and patted his knee a moment. "Anyway, it may be a bit sudden, and perhaps a bit soon for you, but James and I should probably get going now that we know you're safe and well. It's....not the best that we stay here for too long." While he didn't look at him, it was obvious that he was a little concerned for James' wellbeing. He really didn't want to put the other under too much stress.

 

[Shy2Infinity]

As he stood, she blinked and watched him move to the couch. And at his words, she nodded. It really had been quite lucky, even if she'd tried to put a stake right through James' heart -- and once again, that prickly feeling reared its head. She self-consciously rubbed at her chest as she listened. However, when he mentioned leaving with James' she subconsciously straightened, her mouth falling open. But nothing came out, and all she could think was, Already?! Her mouth snapped closed and she squeezed her hands tighter, trying to stop the jittery energy that had consumed them.

If... If they left... She didn't think she could bear staying here, so close to that castle. Not to mention-- They'll want to know if there's someone they can contact. There wasn't. At least, they wouldn't be able to reach her parents - who were currently touring around the country for their jobs. And her friends likely wouldn't answer numbers they didn't know, so in her mind, she had only one choice.

Sucking in a deep breath, she exclaimed, "W-Wait!" The floor was cold beneath her feet as she hopped out of the wheelchair and took a couple of steps forward. Then she paused, wondering if her legs would collapse under her. They didn't, and all she could do was breathe a sigh of relief. They were still a little bit numb, but it was manageable. Setting her gaze on Tavlar specifically, she set her mouth into a stubborn line. "Take me with you."

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

The three vampires blinked at her a moment in surprise. "Vanessa," Tavlar started gently. "I don't know if that's a wise decision. Is...is there anyone that the Hunters could contact for you? James and I, we move around a lot. That's not much of a life for someone your age to live. Or if not, I'm sure the Hunters are more than willing to care for you."

Deveral nodded in agreement. "There's really no telling what you would experience wandering around with those two. The Hunter's can guarantee your safety. No offense, but they won't be able to protect you properly depending on what came up. They can only do so much, even if they are vampires."

"Besides that, you're still healing. What if you get hurt again, or your injuries worsen? James and I, we don't know how to take care of sick humans." Tavlar finished off. "I can't ask James to stay here until you heal. I can't do that to him."

James hesitated a moment before tugging on Tavlar's shirt, earning a surprised look from the other man. "I-I-I can s-stay." He said a little too weakly, a little to softly, for Tavlar to believe him. Bless the younger vampire, though. He was certainly putting on a brave face for her.

 

[Shy2Infinity]

Really, she was an idiot to think that she could have ever had a normal life. With the family she came from...? And the simple fact that she hadn't even kept up with anything her parents had taught her. It was like a muscle, true, but even muscles got weak from disuse. A part of her knew that they were right. That they couldn't properly protect her, not from vampires, and most likely not from humans. They didn't know how to help an ailing human either. Could she really put any of that on them...?

"No," she stated flatly. "My parents have jobs that take them all over the country, there's no telling where they are right now." Though she'd sounded stubborn up 'till now, her voice faltered the slightest bit. She'd wanted a life of stability, so bad that once she was old enough, she got herself an apartment and distanced herself from the family business. It wasn't like she was risking any of that by going with the two vampires. There was no way she could have a normal life now. Besides... When she next spoke, her voice hardened. "I'd longed for a life of normalcy so much I ignored what lurked in the shadows, how could I possibly ignore it now?"

"I'm not... asking for James to stay," she grumbled and tugged at a piece of hair. Them thinking she was fragile was starting to get annoying now. But then, she deflated some as James spoke, feeling strangely resigned at the fact. "No," she sighed and curled a finger around the lock of hair, giving it another firm tug. Even as she was hoping that Tavlar would let her come or wait for her, she couldn't ask for someone so terrified of the people around them to stay. Maybe it was because she felt a strange sort of kinship with the younger vampire, but that was strictly crossing a line that she wouldn't allow herself to cross. "Just... Never mind. Forget I ever brought it up."

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

Deveral and Tavlar exchanged long looks. Tavlar looked away and thought really hard for a moment. And then he spoke and Deveral chuckled a little as if expecting the conclusion the other vampire would come to.

"Well, Vanessa, what would you say if James and I stayed in the city and wait for you to get a little better? The Hunters can take care of you until you're healed, and then maybe with some luck we'll find your parents while we wander around. How does that sound to you? That way you can come with us, but we don't have to stay here with the Hunters. Deveral would easily be able to find us, after all."

 

[Shy2Infinity]

She stared hard at the tiles beneath her feet, relishing the chill as it seeped into her bare feet. It was hard, just waiting. She'd done plenty of that while her ally saved her in that castle, thank you very much. When Tavlar spoke up, however, she had to stop herself from shooting him a look of surprise. Though she doubted that such an old vampire wouldn't see it written across her face. It was just... That was far more than she was expecting from them. She looked from James, to Tavlar, to Deveral, and then back to Tavlar. Some part of her wondered if she was hearing incorrectly.

"That would be great," she only said after she was certain that this wasn't a weird dream. Her eyes sought out Deveral then. She still wasn't quite sure what to think of him. He had the air of an older vampire, much like Tavlar did. Like he's seen quite a lot. She balanced on the heels of her feet, some kind of expression crossing her face as she lifted up her chin. "I heal quickly, so you won't have to worry!" It was becoming increasingly clear that she possessed a stubborn streak...

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

The older vampires smiled at her. "We'll do that, then." Tavlar said. "James and I will stay in the city and wait for you and Deveral will find us whenever you're ready! Now, you just focus on healing up, alright?" He smiled at her. "That is your first job! Priority number one!"

"Right. Tavlar, we can probably get you and James some temporary lodging with the local clan. I'm friends with the leader there. One quick call and we can probably get you there."

Tavlar nodded his thanks. "That would be appreciated. Thank you, Deveral."

 

[Shy2Infinity]

"Ah..." She swallowed any indignant words but the look she probably shot Tavlar was not quite as hidden. Feeling a bit tired from standing for so long, she was starting to feel the numbness creep back into her feet. Like ice, it made her skin prickle. Holding her breath, she took a tentative step back to her wheelchair and sank down onto it. Standing up for that long had been her limit, and she couldn't help casting her feet a look of betrayal, as if they were the reason for her weakness.

And even with Tavlar talking to her, she wasn't quite tuned in. She was thinking about all of the variety of ways she would have to get ready for the trip, once it came to that point. She couldn't expect the vampires to take care of her so much after they left. She had to be self-sufficient, that included being able to use a weapon. These hunters probably had a surplus of weapons at their disposal...

"I'm gonna go back to bed, in that case." She chewed on the inside of her cheek and set her hands on the wheels, steering herself towards the door.

 

[TheDarkButterfly]

"Rest well, Vanessa. If you need us for anything, don't hesitate to ask Deveral, alright? He can find us faster than any of the human Hunters can." Tavlar smiled at her. There was no malice or judging in his voice. It was just a simple fact that a vampire could find other vampires far faster than any human could find them.

Deveral nodded. "If you don't want to stay with the others I'm sure we can find you temporary lodging elsewhere." He told Tavlar who shook his head.

"It wouldn't hurt to do some socializing with the local clan, after all." There was a look between Tavlar and Deveral, a sort of silent agreement that there wouldn't be any harm in having James with other vampires, so of which would be much closer to his own age.