A/N: IT'S HERE! Sweet bejeezus it took forever to finish this. Those of you wanting a new multiple chapter story will be happy since this puppy has SIX. I will be posting every three days, my oh so kind and loving beta reader suggested this versus my suggested weekly schedule. Lots of thank yous going out to the people who have helped me with this story over the past 2 years. Yeah, like I said this thing has been sitting on the back burner for a LONG while.
This was born out of a request sent to me by a reader who wanted a vampire NanoFate story, I attempted two other starts but this is the one that took hold. Those other two were just too cliched and bored me to pieces before I got 2 pages in. I hope everyone likes this version of "vampirism" and how I handled this premise. Please drop me a review and/or favorite since it tells me people actually want me to continue writing for this pair. Follow me too since I do have more stories coming soon, I PROMISE there is another even meatier story in the wings.
Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN, I make no profit from my writing.
Picking through the brush on a barely visible path, a young woman kept her senses sharp for any signs of danger. Gaps in the dense canopy of the trees allowed thin beams of sunlight to cut into the gloom and provided just enough illumination to navigate. Eyes long used to hunting in this perpetual twilight spotted her first snare trap.
Approaching the trap the hunter noticed the once fat hare that had been caught was already half eaten. The sight of the lost game made the woman curse under her breath. Removing the spoiled carcass from her hand made snare, she examined the remains and found there was no salvaging anything of the animal.
Tossing the bloody body off the trail she hoped that tidbit would be enough to distract any predator who might be thinking of stalking her. The ever present danger of carnivores with a taste for human flesh was a reality she lived with daily. Sometimes something as small as leaving a carcass with some meat on it was enough to persuade the hungry, but ultimately lazy, predators from attacking her.
Wiping off her hands on the rough spun pants she wore the auburn haired woman trudged forward through the brush. The next two traps were full and intact, allowing the woman to breathe easier. Dinner wouldn't be just a mix of vegetables and tough dried tact. Cleaning the small animals, she then tucked them away in her satchel. The next trap was sprung but empty which annoyed her greatly.
Rounding towards her last trap she found her mind wandering as the monotonous task lulled her into a false sense of security. It was a dumb mistake, as she nearly stumbled into a pack of mega-wolves that fought over the remains of the animal that had been captured in that final snare. The deep growling and musky scent of the feral canines froze her in place. Gripping the staff in her hands tightly, she sent up a silent prayer that this wouldn't end up her final demise.
Edging back into the shadows and possible escape it was the ill timed snap of a twig that caught the attention of a slavering mega-wolf waiting its turn to rip at what little of the fawn caught in the spring snare was left. Glowing yellow eyes fixed themselves on this new potential food source before barking out an alert. Soon the pack had abandoned the skimpy meal for the more appetizing entree before them.
A young mega-wolf with little experience dealing with humans jumped forward, his hungry enthusiasm making him foolish. Instantly the would-be victim swung her staff with skull crushing efficiency, but before she could adjust her stance another young starving beast leapt at her and it was pure luck her swing was able to catch him on the temple. The weak spot caved in when the heavy reinforced end of the staff made contact. The thick metallic scent of blood and gore began to saturate the air.
With the two youngest and dumbest of the beasts dead the elders of the pack began to form a more effective hunting stance. The older and more cagey of the pack circled around her, snapping at her heels and barking menacingly. As one moved forward she'd block its bite with a swift blow which would allow another to edge in closer. Exhaustively she tried to batter the hoard but it seemed her luck had fled. While she was able to strike a few on the head, other than knocking out a few teeth or giving the creature a headache she hadn't been able to land another killing blow.
It was only the desperate strength of someone fighting for their lives that allowed her to struggle for as long as she did against the monsters. More hits struck home but nowhere vital or damaging enough to dissuade the pack from their new menu item. The sound of her cloak tearing under swiping claws had her swinging round and finally bashing in the head of another beast.
The mega-wolf pack knew of her distinct scent, immediately aware of the danger from past experiences with her, but they had also eaten more than one human over the years to have developed a taste for them. The feeding frenzy mentality that the easy prey had started meant her stumbling into their midst could only end one of two ways, her death or theirs. The weight of one of the monsters swiping at her back nearly knocked her off her feet. It was only the thick leather of her satchel and cloth of her cloak that prevented her back being ripped open. The lost of both at least distracted one of the animals who was now tearing into the bundle and reaching the two hares she had stored in the bag.
Edging so she had a tree at her back she knew she had no chance of climbing it and escaping. The oversized monsters would just drag her down before she could get high enough to avoid snapping jaws. She gripped her staff with fierce conviction, preparing herself for an honorable death. At least until she was shocked by a flash of lightning. Suddenly, there was a tall figure in black emerging from the pillar of crackling thunder. It wielded a glowing scythe and with a quick and calculated strike it had beheaded three of the ten wolves snarling at them.
The cloying scent of blood in the air enraged the pack and had them disregarding their own safety to attack all at once. There was a terrible crunching noise as one of her savior's arms was caught in a razor toothed mouth. The sound of flesh and cloth being rendered under fierce claws had Nanoha coming out of the shadows to offer what aid she could. It was that movement that had the dark figure fighting harder. Suddenly the oversized beast clamped on the would-be hero's arm was flung into a giant oak. The sound of splintering wood and breaking bones echoed around them.
The black clad assailant called upon the skies and summoned more streaks of lightning, striking four of the wolves they let out pitiful shocked whines before bolting from the clearing. Two more swift movements had the wolf with blood soaked claws impaled on a glowing spear which had appeared from nowhere. The final wolf, the enraged alpha, threw itself forward tackling the figure to the ground. There was a high-pitched scream as the beast bit down on the hero's right shoulder, barely failing to clasp its jaws around the fighter's neck.
Ripping the golden spear out of the dead wolf, Nanoha then rushed the beast as it shook its head trying to rip off her protector's arm. The sharp head of the weapon entered its neck puncturing the jugular vein and causing a fountain of blood to spurt across the ground. The beast in its death throes tried to turn on Nanoha but found itself held fast by its former victim. Finally, it succumbed to blood lost and collapsed on the dark figure crushing it into the ground.
Shaking in the gloom from adrenaline and panic, Nanoha pulled the spear loose once more and scanned the forest for anymore dangers. The catastrophic battle had caused one of the ancient oaks to snap like a twig, its crashing fall hadn't even registered on her consciousness during the struggle. The lost of the tree meant more light flooded in leaving her feeling far too exposed. It would be best to go back to her cabin and stay there until her shock passed.
Just then the mega-wolf moved and she jumped back ready to wield the strange weapon in her hands. It was only when a human moan came from the heap that she realized the person who'd saved her was still alive. Instantly she moved to help shift the beast and it was then she saw what exactly had come to her rescue. The pale face was grimacing in pain and exhaustion, exposing razor sharp eye-teeth that were the calling card of its species. Unearthly red eyes tried to focus on her, despite its predicament there was a sigh of relief when the creature saw Nanoha was unharmed.
The whispered word, "Safe," was all the form was able to speak before its eyes rolled back and it passed out.
Conflicted over the situation, Nanoha thought about abandoning the creature in the forest. There was no way it would be a good idea to take the supernatural being home with her. Yet it had saved her, the least she could do was shift the heavy beast off the fallen hero. Thirty minutes later Nanoha looked down on the battered being and she wasn't sure if the effort had been worthwhile. The harsh light of day was now beating down on them and the unconscious being twitched as if in pain. After a few more moments the pale skin began to turn red and she realized leaving it exposed was causing it more injury.
Not one to allow a helpless being to suffer she thought she could at least move it to a shaded place then realized the creature was incredibly light. With hardly more effort than it would take to pick up a cat she lifted the body and was then faced with a new decision. Could she really leave her savior alone and injured in the forest? Especially when it would be so easy to take it home and properly treat its wounds? Normally letting the monsters of the world kill one another was something she approved of, but the fallen vampire had saved her.
The sound of something shifting in the dark nearby made the decision for her, she couldn't leave the vampire behind. She might live to regret the decision but at least she'd not have a guilty conscious up until that day. Looking around to gather up the creature's weapon she realized it was gone and wondered where it could have disappeared too. Shaking her head she mumbled, "Saint be damned I don't have time for this," then decided to leave it behind. As if she really needed to be salvaging weapons for a monster to use on her when it woke up.
The trip home was unnervingly quiet and she was sure there were things watching her, but because of the scent of the creature in her arms they refused to come close. At least it was providing a service, of course this was a byproduct of the other creepy crawlies knowing how dangerous it is to come closer. Cursing in her head at how stupid she was being yet unable to stop now that she'd made a decision. The words of her mother, 'Stubborn child!' echoed in her head and made her heart ache.
The sight of her cabin coming into view made the growing lump in her throat ease, for better or worse, the die was cast. Climbing up the ramp that led to the deck surrounding the elevated homestead she kicked at a latch and listened for the pulley system lift it so nothing could easily follow her. Nudging open the door, she looked over the open floor plan of her refuge. It was far more spacious than it had any right to be but she could thank her father and brother for that.
A full kitchen with a stove and sink that had water fed to it from cisterns on the roof meant she could have hot food and drink year round. At that moment she really needed both, but that meant putting down the creature she brought home somewhere. The floor near her hearth was one option but seemed so dehumanizing, then again she could find some bedding for the spare cot she had stored away. The thought of all that extra work made her dismiss it and left her with really only one choice, her own bed.
Before she could let the creature rest there though she needed to get it out of the blood soaked armor and clothing. Sitting it down on a wooden chair she was slightly unnerved by the boneless nature of the body. Undoing the straps of the highly ornate chest plate she could see the creature wasn't just effeminate looking it was actually female. Full breasts and a slender figure that would have made her incredibly popular amongst her parents former patrons were now on display. Swallowing hard Nanoha took a deep breath before she started disrobing the female vampire.
Muttering to herself, "This isn't weird, we are both girls. This is a million times better than it being male. I really never want to see one of those things again if I can help it."
Shimmering silvery blonde hair fell over the creature's face and helped protect its modesty by draping over its breasts. Pulling the boots and pants off Nanoha blushed when she saw the small nest of gold tinged hairs at the apex of the vampire's legs. Getting up she went to the kitchen for a bowl of warm water and some towels. Coming back to the unconscious vampire she brushed back the tangled hair and began wiping away the sticky drying blood.
It didn't take long for her to realize there was no wound from the gruesome bite that she'd witnessed only less than an hour ago. Stepping back for a moment she rubbed her neck in worry and tried to figure out what this all meant for her. If this creature was so durable maybe it could just leave when it woke up. But if it was at full strength when it regained consciousness then what was to stop it from draining all of her blood before doing gods knew what to her body. The legends and rumors about the vampire she'd heard made it clear they weren't to be trusted around maidens.
In the end Nanoha could only put the creature in her bed and cover her with a sheet. The way the long hair spilled across her pillow made her fingers itch to play with it. Finding her comb she worked out the tangles as she studied the perfectly sculpted face of supernatural beauty. The coolness of the long locks in her hands made it easier to let them drift over to the wayward fringe. Brushing it back from the smooth brow she felt the incredible softness of the skin with her fingertips. It made her think of how unfair life truly was, her own body was covered with scars and her hands rough from work. Never would she be as beautiful as this being laying so peacefully in her bed.
Getting up she shook her head to shake loose her weird thoughts, then her paranoia kicked in. Was this the beginnings of what the old men called the Vampire Thrall? Was she already entranced with the creature? Moving to a trunk in the corner of the room she began rummaging through it in search of a book she'd found years before.
Finding the leather bound tome she went out to her deck where she could read by the late afternoon light. She read certain passages many times about the more common monsters in her world but this would be the first time she'd be doing more than skim over the section on Vampires. The introduction was dull as dirt, all about their creation, social place in the old empire and mating/breeding methods:
The Vampire was created as the perfect mate to the high mages. Unable to procreate within their own species, they must mate with a mage to have offspring. The resulting offspring have a fifty percent chance of being a mage, a forty percent chance of being a pure Vampire and a ten percent chance of being a Vampiric mage. It was the ultimate goal of the high mages to create a super race of Vampiric mages who could mate with either race and produce more powerful offspring.
Once a Vampire is mated to their mage master they are unable to cause harm to them and will fight unto death to protect them. As such the mages made their ultimate creations highly durable. Even wounds which should have killed any other mortal being can be healed within seconds or hours depending on the magical reserves of the individual creature. The more powerful the innate magic they wield the more impervious they will be to damage.
Groaning at the uselessness of the information she put the book down and went to get her highly needed hot drink. Sipping her tea, she stared at the figure in her bed and shuddered. Apparently the creature in her bed was more dangerous than she originally thought. Reaching down she touched the knife at her hip, it was sharp enough to pierce the heart, then decapitation and burning should ensure the undead creature didn't rise up again.
Moving to get a better look at the creature, she found herself mesmerized by the icy beauty of the female once more. Unconsciously her fingers rubbed against each other as she remembered how soft the pale skin had been. The question of why this legendary being had put itself in harm's way for her bubbled up in her mind again. Maybe there was some good in her. Closing her eyes and shaking her head of strange thoughts she couldn't help berating herself, 'Yeah and maybe your knight in shining armor will ride up and carry you away into a happily ever after. Stupid. You're stupid.'
Even if she was stupid, she wasn't a cold blooded killer. The vampire had saved her life and in exchange, she'd at least give it the benefit of the doubt. Stepping back out to the deck she opened the book again. This time she skimmed the pages until she found a passage about what could actually harm or kill her unorthodox house guest.
The following is a list of the few known weaknesses of the Vampire:
Like those born with Albinism, the Vampire is susceptible to strong sunlight. While it will not outright kill a Vampire, it will over prolonged exposure cause painful burns and lesions to develop. Even if staked out in the sun a full day's exposure will not kill a Vampire but instead be more in line with torture. In order to kill a Vampire by this method one must leave them exposed for many days without sustenance.
Nanoha was about to move on to reading about other methods of harming vampires when she heard the sound of cloth being shuffled. Turning to look through her door she saw the blonde creature had sat up in bed. The sheet that had once covered its naked form was now pooled around its waist. Watching quietly Nanoha saw the blonde stretch and the soft sound of joints popping made her wince. Then the vampire stood up out of the bed and without a hint of bashfulness continued to stretch. Seeing how flexible the creature was made Nanoha blush as the crude lustful stories of some of her family's patrons returned to her.
Once sufficiently limbered up the blonde then stretched out its hand and in a quiet voice said, "Set up."
In a flash of yellow light the blonde was once more fully dressed in black with only that perfectly sculpted face exposed. A long sleeved shirt with buttoned pockets on the chest tucked into a pair of leather pants. A thick red belt with a multitude of pouches hung low on its hips. While rugged calf-high boots protected its feet. Gloves with golden accents on their backs shielded the creature's long fingered hands. The most striking thing was the black cloak it wore which had a blood red lining. It made the crude drawings in her book seem all the more authentic.
The long silvery hair Nanoha had found herself entranced with was now tied back with a black ribbon and in its hand was a wide brimmed hat. Settling the hat on its head the pale being made its way to the entrance of the cabin. Stumbling backwards Nanoha moved into the bright light of day hoping that at least would slow the creature before her.
Instead of escaping she nearly tripped and it was only a strong hand that prevented her from falling disgracefully on her ass. Then an arm was wrapping itself around her waist pulling her in closer to the tall blonde. The feeling of soft supple leather brushed against her cheek then a quiet voice spoke directly into her ear, "Are you alright?"
Shivering at the cool breath against her ear she stuttered, "Uh...Um...Uh."
Sensing the disquiet in the woman the vampire spoke gently, "Shhh I will not harm you. I thank you for your assistance."
Then there was the feeling of silky lips pressing themselves to her cheek before the dark figure retreated. With its hat worn low it was impossible to see its eyes, but the sensual mouth had a small smile to its corners. It stood for a full minute seemingly waiting for her to speak. Unfortunately, Nanoha hadn't a clue what to say and was still reeling from the kiss on her cheek.
With a tilt of its...her head the blonde asked, "Was there any other services My Lady requires?"
Now completely flummoxed Nanoha gave the tall figure a look of utter confusion and asked, "What?!"
Leaning in closer the blonde sniffed and taking in her scent replied, "I received a distress call from a powerful mage. As is my duty I responded and despite my current circumstances I am happy to see I was able to protect the one who called me."
Confused by this Nanoha said, "I never called out for help."
The smirking mouth grinned at this and said, "Of course you did, I heard you telepathically. Your distress was so great I was able to teleport to you."
Looking around the room the vampire said, "Though I do not understand why My Lady's other servants did not come to her assistance."
Blushing Nanoha said, "I live alone."
Stepping closer to the tense woman the blonde's face came into view and there was a worried frown now marring it's perfection, "You should not be alone out here."
Stubborn pride surged forward and the auburn haired woman replied, "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
Blinking in surprise at this the blonde replied, "No doubt, but that is not the point. You are a mage, you should be in the city where your talents will be recognized and you will be treated with the respect you deserve. You should be studying to improve your abilities, not living alone in the forest dealing with the High Mages' playthings."
Rubbing her head that was now aching the auburn haired woman said, "Let me stop you right there, I'm not a mage. I've never done magic, I'm just a simple human, completely normal."
Taking Nanoha's left hand the vampire whispered a foreign word and suddenly a bright pink light was glowing from her palm. Freaking out she tried to pull away but was instead held tightly and pulled in closer.
Covering the glow with her other hand there was a rush of warmth and a faint flash of gold before the honey smooth voice said, "You are a powerful mage, My Lady, if you were not I might never have heard your call. That light was your mana, it sings to me and tells me though untrained you have great potential."
Shaking now with conflicting emotion Nanoha broke the grip and turned away from the monster before her. Escaping onto the deck she gripped the thin rail as she tried to regain her composure. All her life she'd felt different from everyone in her village, was this why?
The figure followed her onto the exposed walkway and came to stand by her. Not touching nor looking directly at her hostess she said, "I do not fully understand your circumstances here nor why you choose to live as you do. But I do know that every mage deserves a chance to learn how to use their Saint given gifts. If you do not wish to go to the city perhaps I can offer myself as a servant and tutor?"
Arms now wrapped tightly around her body Nanoha asked incredulously, "Why would you do such a thing?" Violet eyes stared up at the strange figure with cynical disbelief at its generous offer, defensively she spat out, "I have nothing to pay you with, and NO, I won't give you my blood in exchange."
Amused by this last comment the blonde leaned against the railing before responding in a relaxed manner, "I would never accept your blood as payment for any service I might offer. It is far too sacred to be treated as a token to be bartered with."
Eyes narrowing Nanoha asked, "Are you saying even if I offered it to you right now in exchange for you leaving me alone you'd refuse?"
The vampire's body went rigid and the seriousness of her tone struck a chord with Nanoha, "Never. Blood is for bonding. It isn't merely food. If I were to drink from you that could only mean you were accepting me as your personal servant for life."
Tired and upset Nanoha replied hotly, "Well then you'll never be drinking my blood. I DON'T WANT A SERVANT!"
For an instant the blonde looked as if she might give up on her foolish request to be enslaved. Then sighing she asked in a soft thoughtful voice, "What do you want?"
Nonplussed by the blunt question Nanoha was rocked back. It had been over a year since she'd really thought about anything more than pure survival. Once upon a time she'd thought about finding love, of having a companion she could share her life with and grow old beside but she'd lost all hope of obtaining a partner who she could depend upon and would, more importantly, depend upon her.
Pushing away the growing black cloud of loneliness forming she said in a defeated voice, "I can barely keep myself alive out here, I don't have time to think about more than survival."
The pain on display softened the vampire's stance, in a brief flash of frankness she said, "I can understand that. I have been merely surviving for the past three years."
Dark eyes seemed to grow shiny for a moment before the excess moisture was blinked away. Taking a deep breath to calm herself the blonde pointed into the distance at the great mountain that was the main geological landmark of the continent. Her voice carried more than a tint of loneliness as she said, "I was born on that western face of the great mount, all my family resides there. Yet I cannot return home. Unlike my siblings I could not find a mate in the cities or towns near our estate. So my parents sent me on a quest to find a mage to bond with."
Holding out her gloved hands before Nanoha, the vampire said, "I care neither about wealth or status. With these hands I could build a city and make my master its leader. My kind can't live without the bond, it was how we were made." Lifting a gloved hand to tip up Nanoha's face so their eyes met she said, "Please, give me a new home My Lady and I will serve you faithfully until my dying breath."
Terrified by the way she was being lured by deep burgundy eyes she turned away breaking the link, roughly she said, "How many times do I have to say it, I have no use for a servant or magic."
Sighing the vampire replied, "My Lady…" only to be cut off with a harshly spoken, "I'm not a lady!"
Leaning tiredly against the rail the vampire pointed out, "How else am I to address you? I know not your name."
Feeling very foolish now the auburn haired woman said, "Oh! Um right, I'm Nanoha, Nanoha Takamachi. And you are?"
Picking at the rail the blonde replied, "Only my master may know my true name. But you may call me F."
Biting her lip Nanoha considered this strange convention then said, "Listen Miss F, I thank you for saving me but this whole conversation is just going in circles. It'd be best for you to just leave. Find a proper mage and settle down. This place isn't fit for someone like you."
Rubbing her forehead with frustration the blonde said, "You don't understand, I can't just leave. A vampire is born with certain genetic imperatives. The main one being, we cannot allow a mage to come to harm or suffer needlessly. You living out here alone with all of those monsters out there and barely enough to eat means my instincts are screaming to protect you. If I tried to leave I'd end up walking in circles coming back here endlessly."
Groaning at this comment Nanoha asked, "Are you saying I'm stuck with you?"
Shrugging F said, "If you allowed me to stay with you for a short time and at the very least see you had provisions stocked for winter and a better weapon to deal with the predators in these woods I might be able to leave without my instincts kicking in."
A muscle ticked on Nanoha's face as she realized the creature was basically stating she would have to accept her servitude. Working her jaw as she tried to reduce the tension building up the frustrated woman said, "You will allow me to compensate you for your work. I refuse to accept your pity."
This made the vampire snort a laugh, which annoyed Nanoha since it made her feel like a fool, again. Taking out her agitation by poking the creature's side she growled, "What's so funny?"
Capturing the offending hand F attempted to be dashing by placing a kiss on the back before replying, "Mages do not have to compensate a vampire for anything. We were bred to serve. To die having fulfilled our master's wishes is the highest achievement any of us can strive for."
Yanking herself loose once again Nanoha swiped at her messy hair and nearly howled her frustration, "You will NOT be my servant! Saint King above, look at me F! It'd be more fitting for me to serve you."
Shoulders stiffening the blonde warned, "Be careful of your words My Lady. They border on blasphemy."
Hands on hips the supposed mage bit back, "In who's insane worldview is it right for YOU to serve ME?"
For an instant the figure almost seemed to loom over her then it sagged back against the rail again before saying, "Ancient laws govern my race even now. The high mages made sure we could never rebel. Even I, a vampire with magic am held to the same standards. Without them some of the less scrupulous of my kind would have taken the Cradle and reestablished the empire."
Now there was a disturbing thought. A race of bloodsucking fiends that could live for two or more centuries and were nearly indestructible running the world. The idiot magicians might have done a lot of stupid things but making vampires instinctively subservient to humans was a safeguard she could almost agree with. Preferably they could have just not tinkered with the human genome to create the monsters.
Tipping back her hat enough so Nanoha could see her pleading face F said, "You are alone with no one to support you. I offer myself to you, please let me stay. Let me be of use."
Rubbing her aching head Nanoha muttered, "And to think I thought the worst thing that could happen was being eaten."
Understanding the frustration the vampire said kindly, "For one uninitiated in the ways of a mage I know this is strange. My parents nearly killed one another when they first met," then smiling in gratitude she said, "I thank you for not trying such a thing while I was unconscious."
Worrying her hands together nervously Nanoha admitted, "It would have been wrong, you saved me. I'm not that ungrateful."
Taking this as an opening F said, "I too am grateful. Let me show you how useful I can be. If you are not happy with my help then you can dismiss me. But if you find me to your liking then you can bond me to your service."
Eye twitching again at this repeated offer of servitude Nanoha said, "Please stop, I don't need a servant. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides didn't you say I had no control over rejecting your help since your instincts would force you to provide for me. I don't see why you keep pushing for my permission to demean yourself."
Sighing at the stubbornness on display F retorted, "Saint's Cradle, you know most people would kill for just a chance to lord over a vampire."
Scowling Nanoha cut back, "I'm not most people. I like being self sufficient. If it wasn't earned by my own hand then it isn't mine or worth claiming."
Trying to explain the fundamental laws governing her species would take all day so instead F knelt before the stubborn woman to say, "You saved my life as much as I saved yours. You have every right to claim me as your chattel. As I also have the right to claim a Life Debt. If you would be so kind as to accept my offer of a trial basis cohabitation I would consider your debt to me paid."
Exhausted and head pounding Nanoha stepped back shaking her head, letting out a resigned sigh she said, "You are so strange. Do what you want. Just stay out of my way." Then stepping around the blonde she retreated back into her home.
~"~"~
In spite of the discomfort of having a stranger in her home for the remainder of the evening, Nanoha found she could ignore the vampire. Settling into her routine of cooking her skimpy meal and eating all without saying a word. Cleaning up she looked around the room and realized she'd lost her staff in the forest. Grumbling a bit at the inconvenience she pulled out her broken crossbow.
She'd been putting off repairing the device especially since she needed to also make more arrows before she could use her favorite weapon. It had been painful leaving it behind but there wasn't nearly enough time in the day to handle all she needed to do. Laying out her materials she could feel the eyes of her guest on her. The vampire took in everything with a silent intensity that made Nanoha's teeth clench but she refused to be baited into conversation.
As much as she missed company she wasn't sure she wanted a vampire's attention. Encouraging it to stay wasn't something she was comfortable with. Hours passed and other than the creature observing the room from a dim corner it was like any other evening. The figure was sitting as still as a statue but the soft sound of breathing let Nanoha know it was still alive.
When it got too dark to work she put things away and decided a bath would be a good end to the day. Twenty minutes later coming out she found her room empty and she felt a pang of regret.
'Maybe I could have been nicer to F? No, it's better this way! She was going to leave eventually, the sooner the better. Best for her to go before that creature could mess up my head,' she argued with herself.
She climbed into bed and pulling the sheet around her she couldn't help noticing the strangely sweet scent of the vampire lingered there. Not considering what she was doing she inhaled deeply as she closed her eyes. Sighing she whispered into the dark, "Good night."
In the distance a figure moving in the shadows paused as if it heard something. A faint smile spread across its lips at the nonexistent sound only it could perceive. Then in response it whispered back to the void, "Sweet dreams My Lady."
The night passed uneventfully for F as she collected all manner of things. She was thankful for her device which allowed her to carry loads that would have otherwise been too burdensome. Food was her primary goal for this night. Her master needed better nutrition if she was going to learn to wield her magic properly.
As she hunted for her prospective master she found a few choice morsels to slack her thirst. It wasn't really enough to replace what she'd lost in the battle but it'd keep her going until she bonded. Finding such a powerful mage was a miracle even if she was untrained.
Just as lucky was the mega-buck she found drinking at a nearby stream. Bringing down the magnificent animal she smiled. Here was food enough to keep her master well fed for months. Cleaning the carcass and being sure to save the hide she lifted the body to her shoulders. Returning to her master's camp she found a place clearly used to dry meat.
Hanging the animal from a nearby tree she started the fire. The pit and stack of firewood was larger than anything a single person would ever need. Hanging up the lines she noted the set up showed seating for upwards of five people. Attaching perfectly sliced pieces of meat to the string the vampire contemplated what she knew from observing Nanoha.
She lived alone by choice but was terribly lonely, something she understood far better than most. For three years she'd been on her quest, far longer than most vampires spent searching for a master. She'd met plenty of mages over that period of time but none had called out to her the way Nanoha did.
The auburn haired woman had been betrayed and/or abandoned at some point in recent history. Clearly she'd not been living out here alone for many years or she'd be more streamlined in her methods of survival. She also gave off an aura of pain despite her desperate attempts to completely close herself off. It made the instinctual side of F want to wrap her arms around her and protect her from all harm.
Calling up her magic she set up a barrier to protect the drying meat so she could continue her musings as she worked. Nanoha was stubborn and fiercely independent which meant all her efforts this night could blow up in her face. As much as that would hurt she couldn't stop herself from collecting as much produce of the land as possible. Making three silent trips into the homestead she deposited fruit, vegetables and various herbs into the empty containers she'd seen during her silent observation.
It was nearly dawn when she finished the first set of chores she'd set for herself. There were a few abandoned towns nearby that she'd need to raid in order to get the right raw materials but then she'd be able to truly show her worth. Setting up her tent within eyesight of the raised deck of the habitat F crawled into her sleep sack. She'd rest until Nanoha called her or the sun began to set. Relaxing as much as she could after such a brutally tiring day F whispered, "Be safe My Lady."