Sympathy for the Undead
By:
Saslyax
Summary: The road to our fragile trust is rocky at best. My genuine trust is something only a few, select individuals have earned over my many years of life. This mortal better not take my gift lightly.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Little Vampire.
Warning: Spoilers for the movie, but then, why would you read fan fiction if you haven't seen it?
Chapter I
"Rookery's Knave"
A nagging apprehension lifts from my heavy heart, the moment I see Rudolph awaiting our return. He knows better than to wander off on his own, for extended periods of time. I feared Rookery had gotten to him; the hunter has been closing in on us recently, with the aid of his damnable, tracking contraptions! I will have to chastise Rudolph for his blatant disregard of my rules and from nearly staking my heart due to all of the worry!
My eyes narrow when Anna makes a snide comment about Rudolph, "sneaking off like some day walker." Rudolph off handedly remarks that he wishes it to be true. My children mean no offense to me. It is just their inane chatter, but the subject is still a sore spot on my soul.
Centuries ago I promised I'd find a way to return our lost mortality after I failed to protect them from the feral vampires raiding our village. I can't afford another failure on my behalf! There is so much at stake here! If don't locate the stone, I will condemn my family to another three centuries of this hellish existence.
Two nights isn't a lot of time, especially since the stone practically fell out of existence. Neither hunter nor vampire has any clue to its whereabouts. Von was our only hope. He was the only one able to get a sniff of the stone's trail. Rumors say he was the stone's last keeper, others say he died with the stone inches from his grasp, either way I have no idea what happened to either of them, but I have to figure it out! I have to become the grand tracker my brother was! I refuse to witness the looks of disappointment on my children's faces if I come back empty-handed.
Hungry hisses reach my sensitive ears. Irritating, fear-drenched screams follow them. Gregory is in a thirst driven frenzy. He only gets that way when it comes to human blood. I fear for the worst.
Rudolph dashes over to his brother and gives him a good shove. Rudolph commands, "No, Gregory! He's my friend!" He puts so much emphasis and power into that one word. Friend.
Dear lord, my eyes and ears must be playing tricks on me. I blink a few times just to be certain they aren't deceiving me. I hastily pursue my youngest son when the human refuses to vanish like a bad dream.
I gasp, "A mortal!"
Rudolph knows better than to associate with humans, never mind bringing one home with him like a stray mutt! I taught him better than that. How many times have I drilled into his head the dangers of mortals?
Humans constantly hunt us down, Rudolph. It will only get worse if more are aware of our existence. They would gather in hysterical mobs driven by fear. They'd kill us all without a second thought. They will never accept us until we become one of them again. That is why we need the stone. Do you understand, Rudolph? My long lectures echo in my mind.
I tower over the small human, and my fierce glare penetrates the mortal's comfort zone. The human shivers and reeks of cowardice, but with my son's reassuring hand on his shoulder the human gains a backbone. He declares, "I'm Rudolph's friend, and he gave me a bite proof guarantee."
The human is bold, disrespectful, and insolent. It's terribly distasteful. I know my son has been especially lonely and distant these past few years, but to be desperate enough to bring home this lowly thing?
I am disgusted with myself for not dealing with the issue earlier. I should have provided more attention to him during the long hours of hiding instead if brooding over the stone, or allowed Rudolph to associate with the other vampire clans. My dislike of other vampires has led my son onto a disastrous path.
"You could be anything to my son. Victimized, slave, dinner perhaps, but you can never be his friend!" My hands wrap around the human's throat as I lift him into the air with my superior strength. The human's eyes widen from terror and twisted awe.
"He likes vampires! He dreams about us!" Rudolph continues to beg for his so called friend's safety.
"Am I in your dreams, mortal?" Oh, god! Is Anna flirting with the human?
Where have I gone wrong in my parenting? Rudolph is plagued by his obsession with this human of his, even going as far as befriending the thing, Anna has become a hopeless romantic willing to sell herself to this mortal, and Gregory desires to drain every last human in Scotland, and wage war against them in his insane crusade.
"And he knows about the amulet!" That catches my attention, and manages to distract me from my sour thoughts.
I smirk as my mind draws satisfying conclusions. "Ah, then he's a spy, Rookery's knave." If the human isn't already Rookery's servant I'm sure he'd sell us out in a heartbeat if the opportunity were present.
The very idea of holding Rookery's lackey by the throat is delectable. I sense Gregory's glee; his lust for revenge, driven by his hunger for sweet, human blood practically mirrors my own desires. How I long to get back at Rookery for threatening our undead lives, at the damn vampires who turned us into monsters. My grip tightens.
Angelic coos resonate in my eardrums. "Darling, he doesn't look like a spy." Freda's calming hand is on my shoulder, trying to snap me out of my senselessness. Her soothing voice eases my rage. It always does. I immediately relinquish my hold on the human, and let his feet slowly touch the ground.
My leash is short, and I can't help but obey her every word like a dog would to its master. Sweet Freda doesn't even need to use compulsion to get others to follow her every beck and call. She holds a great empathy with all living creatures. "Mortal or not he's just a boy, but if you insist on eating him go ahead." And uses that to her advantage.
Freda smiles wily as she delicately pulls my heartstrings. She gently strokes my hand with soft fingertips, and her full lips brush against my skin in a tantalizing sweep. If I were human I'd find myself in an uncomfortable situation right about now. Luckily (sadly) my blood remains as cold and stagnant as ever.
"I-I never said I would. That's impossible!"
Stuttering is beneath me, but Freda manages to turn my brain into mush. Yet, I wonder how my mind still stays as sharp as ever at the same time? Everyone is so keen on trusting this human. I find the very idea to be incredibly foolish. The human must be using trickery! He must use his small stature and young age to wrap Rudolph around his fingertips, advertising the idea of friendship, and he charms Freda and Anna with those wide, puppy eyes. At least Gregory has some reason about the matter.
I can't bear to have this mortal in my company any longer. I will tear my eyes out if I have to witness him fool my family. The longer I allow him to stay the more likely the ramifications will bite me harder in the ass. I growl, "Leave I say!"
"But Rudolph-!" The human whines and protests. It's almost endearing, the way he stays by my son's side. It's almost a believable lie.
I cut off his words with my own. "Should never of befriend you! Leave I say!"
When hiding from the daylight, Freda fills her endless time toying with my emotions, seeing how far she can push and pull. Well, I too enjoy playing games, creating challenges, and power plays. If the mortal can withhold my withering stare, and continue to stand by my son's side with wholehearted loyalty and devotion I might consider letting him stay.
Growling and hissing like a mad beast, I lunge forwards with my fangs erect. I half expect the mortal to grow a set and remain rooted to his spot next to my son, but I am not surprised when he turns tail and runs for his life, screaming all the way as he searches for the quickest path home to mommy and daddy.
I knew it. Humans are all the same: weak, cowardly, and selfish. The brat doesn't deserve my son's company, my undying trust.
A menacing shrill reaches my keen ears. It's a sound I've grown accustomed to, especially over these recent weeks. It's a hunter's vampire-killing weapons. It's terrible how many torturous mechanisms have been invented over the years to make death all the more painful for us and simpler for the hunters to dish out.
I spit, "Rookery!" The name is vile on my tongue.
Wooden stakes buzz past me in a relentless rain. Fear courses through my veins as panic strikes my still heart. I must get my family to safety! I make no hesitation as I herd my family away from the hunter, and behind the nearby ruins of crumbled architecture and ancient tombs.
Crying aloud to Freda, I fiercely order, "Take the family and run!"
Indecision torments my dear Freda. She is unwilling to abandon me, and serve my soul to the hunter on a shiny, silver platter. At the moment, she reeks of weakness and unbreakable loyalty. My eyes harden, and she knows there is no time for games of dominance. I hiss, "Do as I say!"
This time there is no hesitation harassing her; she fully submits to my commands. It is pertinent that the children get out of here with their undead lives intact. Freda understands this, and hushes the children behind the tombstones where the small human hid, as they wait for an opportunity to escape unharmed.
I glower at the messy situation. This is entirely the little human's fault! This cemetery has been our home for weeks. It has been like a king's palace compared to the other hellholes we've been forced to dwell in. It is no coincidence that the night the mortal arrives is also the same night Rookery discovers our hideaway. I knew the little human was Rookery's pet.
Like an endangered bird I fan out my magnificent cape, so it resembles my beautiful bat wings. I put on my last show of fearlessness for my family and ferociousness for my enemy. My eyes lock with the hunter's; our gazes are filled with nothing but utter loathing for the other. I snarl, "Do your worst, human!"
Rookery grows livid at my command, and hastily aligns his stake shooter at my chest cavity. I prepare for the incoming projectile, which will give me an immediate one-way trip to Hell. I fear true death, but I'm perfectly willing to throw my life aside if it buys my family the time and chance to evade the end of a hunter's stake.
Seconds drag on, and the harsh impact never comes. In the heat of the moment, my emotionally high mind barely registers the little human sever the wire of the weapon with one of Rookery's own tools. I don't really care about that. All I care about is the fact that I am still alive, and Rookery is now weaponless.
Fury and bloodlust overtake me. I growl and leap forwards, ready to rip Rookery's icy heart from his chest, and sink my fangs into it. I will revel in my victory, lick my lips as I drain his heart, and smirk at his dead, empty eyes.
Just as I am about to sink my claws into his chest, Rookery whips out a cross he has hidden god knows where, and hides behind his shield. I am blinded, and bellow in pain from the dual weapon; the cross repels me, while the light scorches my pale skin. It feels like I have already died, and I'm drowning in hellfire.
Rookery is aware of the little human who sabotaged his plans, and takes his eyes away from me, believing me to be too weak to do a thing. Big mistake. I seize the moment, and use my dwindling strength to flee, leaving the little human to fend off Rookery on his own.
There's a slight twinge in my heart as I abandon the little human since he did spare my undead life, but this one act of kindness and compassion won't win me over, and have me fawning at his feet with gratitude. I have more pertinent matters to attend to, like my family. They are in danger because of this child. I refuse to worry over a human and his false sympathy.
The child's fright leaves a repulsive tang in my nostrils, and sends shivers across my skin. It has become quite distasteful, the increasing whimpers even more so as Rookery's hatred and rage fill the air. These feelings are not sent my way. Maybe the child's sympathy for the undead is truly genuine.
Doubt and guilt are two emotions I refuse to have for a human, so I flee. I never once look back.
To be continued…
First of all, this fic is dedicated to the little vampire lover who requested a Frederick & Tony fic about what Frederick thinks of Tony after they share their vision.
Everything will pretty much go the same way it did in the movie. Hopefully, since it's in Frederick's POV it will sound like the same familiar storyline, but will also be a new experience since Frederick is telling the story. His thoughts aren't always clear as day; I think the movie only skims the surface of his thoughts. So this is what I think Frederick is thinking.
This is just a short little fic, so there will be one more chapter then this is done.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Posted: 3-07-10
Revised: 8-17-13