It had been several days since she had spent the night at Marceline's and she was pleased with the progress the solution was making. The first attempt had been a complete failure with the cells turning to goo the moment even the faintest rays of sun touched them. The second had got as far as the intensity of twilight before it too turned to goo and the third had been still more promising. She could only conclude that either a higher proportion of anti-photons or moonflower dew would further improve her results. The moment of success would be when the cells showed no effect when exposed to direct sunlight.
Marceline had become an almost nightly visitor since their sleepover and soon she hoped she'd be able to see even more of her. Often she would let her mind wander onto various possibilities as she worked, perhaps a picnic on the open grasslands near the Treefort or a walk down by the riverside. Princess Bubblegum knew how much Marceline loved the wilderness but unfortunately her duties at the palace often forbade her from journeying beyond the palace walls after dark, with the exception of their sleepovers of course. But that was a different matter entirely with nothing much akin to danger and adventure other than the high flight to Marceline's cave home.
It was during one of Marceline's night-time visits that it happened. Princess Bubblegum was making more notes on the solution's progression. The only intensity of sunlight the cells could not withstand was the intensity experienced within the hottest hours between 11am and 1pm.
Marceline was playing her axe-bass, providing the busy princess with some background noise which she found helped her work better. Princess Bubblegum put down her pencil and took off her glasses. A smile spread across her face as she double checked her results. Success was so near to being realised. Marceline noticed her cheerful grin and responded with a grin of her own. "Making progress?" she asked.
At last the usually stoic and silent princess could contain her excitement no longer. She got up and bounded across the room to Marceline, putting her arms around her neck and spinning her around. "Better than progress, Mar-Mar," she grinned, "We're almost there!" Marceline smiled, returning the embrace. As the experiment had progressed, despite herself, she too was becoming increasingly hopeful of the results. Spending the day out in the sun without hat or parasol would make the world of difference and finally she could show the bubblegum princess the secrets of the wilderness.
Their celebrations were cut short, however, by a scream that echoed up from the eastern side of the kingdom. "What was that?" asked Bonnibel, mid twirl. Marceline frowned.
"I don't know," she said. She let go of the princess and darted over to the window, looking out. Her keen eyes picked up on a commotion near the market place. She put one foot up on the windowsill, ready to take flight.
"Marceline, what are you-?" began the Princess.
"Stay here, Bonnie," Marceline said firmly. With that she leapt out of the window and flew down over the streets. Ahead of her someone was yelling for help, their voice strained by pain and anguish. As Marceline neared the market place she was greeted by a terrible sight. A candy person was lying prone on the ground. He was a coconut cream by the looks of him, or to be more accurate, what was left of him. His body was torn open and sugar leaked from the deep wounds left by his attacker. The attacker, however, was nowhere in sight. Marceline hurried back to the Castle, fearing the attacker might have gone there. When she returned however everything was just how she'd left it. She flew in through the window and closed it behind her.
"You'd better call out your banana guards," she said to Princess Bubblegum, "One of your citizens was attacked in the market place. I couldn't see any sign of his attacker but-."
"Is he alright?" interrupted Princess Bubblegum. Marceline shook her head.
"He was dead by the time I got there," she replied. Princess Bubblegum sat down on the stool.
"Do you have any idea what attacked him?" she asked.
"It could have been a why wolf," replied Marceline, "There were deep gashes and puncture wounds. It will hopefully be a one off attack. Why wolves don't generally come into urban areas. Even so, you should think about taking some precautions."
"I'll dispatch some guards immediately," said Princess Bubblegum as she made her way to the door. Marceline followed her back to her room where she pulled the bell-pull. A few moments later footsteps were heard on the landing outside the door. The door opened and Peppermint butler came in, carrying a napkin over his arm and holding a tray of crystal glasses. He blanched at the sight of the vampire but quickly covered this up. "You rang, milady?"
"Yes, Peppermint Butler, I need you to dispatch the Banana Guards to patrol the streets. A citizen has been violently attacked," explained Princess Bubblegum. She crossed the room to the window where she stood, looking pensively out at the kingdom.
"Yes, milady, right away," said Peppermint Butler as he hurried out of the room.
"Are you going to be alright?" asked Marceline after he left.
"I'll be fine, Marcy," Princess Bubblegum reassured her, "You just be careful when you're going home." Marceline's lips curved up in a smile, exposing her fangs.
"Princess, I don't have anything to worry about," she replied confidently, "Last time I checked why wolves don't carry garlic or wooden stakes. I'll be fine."
Princess Bubblegum continued to stand at the window. The attack unnerved her and set her mind racing. Above all she cared for her citizens and to have one murdered in cold sugar in the dead of night made her worried and fretful. She felt arms wrap around her from behind and a cool chin on her shoulder, cascades of midnight hair drifting down her arm.
"Come on, Bonnie, your guards can take care of this and you need to sleep," said Marceline matter-of-factly, "Tomorrow we'll contact Finn and Jake and see what they have to say." Princess Bubblegum nodded and Marceline waited while she changed into her night things. She noted with a smile that, just as Princess Bubblegum once said, she was wearing the Vampire Queen's old rock shirt as a pyjama top.
"Goodnight Princess," said Marceline as Princess Bubblegum got into bed.
"Goodnight Marcy," replied Princess Bubblegum.
"And try not to worry," continued Marceline, "Finn and Jake are bound to have some ideas." Princess Bubblegum nodded again. It was easier said than done though. Marceline glided out through the doors to the balcony, closing them behind her for once and flew up into the cool autumn sky.
* * *
But she didn't see Marceline the next day. Or the next. In fact it was a few days before Princess Bubblegum saw Marceline again. She appeared as the last rays of the setting sun were turning the sky a rosy pink.
"Marceline, where have you been?" cried the Princess, "I've been worried sick. I-."
"Geez, Bonnie, not so loud," mumbled Marceline, rubbing a hand over her face.
"Marceline, what's happened?" asked the Princess, her tone changing quickly from worried annoyance to concern, "You look terrible."
"Yeah, I do, don't I?" chuckled Marceline. Her hair was tangled and twigs and leaves stuck out from the black tresses. She had dark grey circles under her eyes and she could barely keep them open."
"When did you last sleep?" asked Princess Bubblegum concernedly.
"Not since the day after I last saw you," replied Marceline, "There's been a major disturbance in the wood. Something's stirring but I can't begin to say what."
"What do you mean?" asked PB.
"Something's moving around in the shadows," explained Marceline, "The wolves are growing agitated." Princess Bubblegum frowned. This was an area she didn't really understand but it was clear something was up.
"You relax," she said, "And I'll run you a hot bath."
"Thanks, Bonnie," replied Marceline, sinking gratefully into an armchair, not floating for once. Princess Bubblegum went into the bathroom where she turned on the metal taps. Soon the air in the room became heavy with steam and the scent of bath oils. She took down some fluffy crimson towels from the airing cupboard and left one on the floor next to the bath.
"Okay, ready," she called into the other room. Marceline floated in and closed the door behind her. She made no remark on the overpowering flowery scent emanating from the bath as she began undressing. She slipped into the bath, submerging herself in the soapy water. The water smelt nice and it reminded the Vampire Queen of Bonnibel herself, the scent of her skin and hair. It soothed her aching muscles and quieted her racing mind.
Bonnibel sat down next to Marceline's head where she took up the brush and began teasing out the tangles and removing the bits of detritus. Her hair flooded across her lap in a seemingly endless cascade. "You've got lovely hair, Marceline, when it hasn't got half the forest in it," she teased as she began washing her hair, kneading in the shampoo. Marceline chuckled, the soothing motions of the Princess' hands nearly sending her to sleep.
Once her hair was washed and the last of her worries sucked down the drain along with the bathwater Marceline got out of the bath and wrapped the towel around herself. The other towel was wrapped around her head. Princess Bubblegum turned away for a moment to gather up the Vampire Queen's clothes. When she turned back she found that the towel covering her body had become a dark shade of grey. "Marceline!" she cried in exasperation, "Those were my best towels."
"I was hungry," protested Marceline.
"I could have got you some proper food," sighed Princess Bubblegum, looking at the monochrome fabric, "Did you get enough to eat?" she asked pointedly.
"Yes, thanks," grinned the vampire, showing her pointed teeth to the princess.
"Well, I suppose we'd better get you off to bed," sighed the Princess, shaking her head and smiling at her friend, pushing the incident of the grey towel to the back of her mind. She lent Marceline some pyjamas which she put on.
"Now, don't go quenching your thirst on these," she cautioned, giving the vampire a warning look.
"Alright, Princess, I won't," replied Marceline as she got into bed. She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow. Princess Bubblegum looked at her, amusement dancing in her eyes. All her antics, her behaviour, her lifestyle, she was certainly what could be described as a wild child, a wanderer. She leaned forwards and pulled the covers up around her shoulders.
"Goodnight, my wild one," she said fondly, resting one hand on Marceline's soft black hair. It smelt firstly of the bath oils but beneath the heady scent was the vampire's own scent. She smelt of the morning dew, the fresh scent of leaves and of rain. She looked so peaceful, nestled in amongst the sheets. For a moment she felt a pang of fear when she noticed her chest was still, without breath or beat, but then she remembered, 'Of course, she's a vampire.'
She snuggled down beneath the sheets and switched off the bedside lamp, nestling down into her pillow. Before long she fell asleep, one hand resting lightly on the Vampire Queen's arm.
* * *
They were awoken the following morning by footsteps hurrying along the landing, Three, maybe four sets of them. Princess Bubblegum stifled a yawn. "Uhh, what's going on?" she muttered, running a hand over her face.
"I dunno," replied Marceline, sounding equally sleepy. She ran her fingers through her hair. A voice sounded outside the door, "Hey Princess, we came as soon as we could."
"It's Finn," squeaked the Princess, pulling the covers up around her chest despite the fact she was wearing a nightdress. Marceline dove beneath the covers as the door burst open and Finn and Jake entered the room, closely followed by a disgruntled-looking Peppermint Butler.
"Hello Finn, Jake," the princess greeted them, "Umm...please excuse my less than formal attire."
"O-oh," said Finn, blushing bright red.
"So, what seems to be the problem, Princess?" asked Jake, flopping down at the foot of the bed. He leapt up in surprise when the bed yelped in pain. Marceline emerged from beneath the covers. "Marceline, what are you doing here?" asked Finn, puzzled.
"Sleepover," Princess Bubblegum explained.
"Yeah, we were having a sleepover," Marceline added quickly.
"Anyway," continued Princess Bubblegum, "The problem you mentioned, Jake. A candy person was attacked and killed in the market place some nights ago. We think it was a why wolf attack but we can't be absolutely certain."
"A why wolf?" said Finn, "In an urban area? That's pretty unusual."
"Exactly," agreed Marceline, "It looked like a savage attack though, whatever did it."
"I've sent banana guards to patrol the city after dark," continued the princess, "So far we've had no word of further attacks but we're keeping our guard up."
"And what do you want us to do?" asked Finn.
"What I want you to do is to see if you can find out who or what is behind these attacks," replied Princess Bubblegum, "Do a little detective work."
"Well, you know you can count on us, Princess," said Finn confidently, puffing out his chest, "Right Jake?"
"Absolutely," added Jake, "A killer that savage won't bother to try and stay hidden. This will be a piece of cake."
"Just be careful, you guys," warned Marceline, "There's been a disturbance in the forest recently. The wolves are growing agitated. I don't think I need to tell you what that means."
"Aren't we always careful?" laughed Finn.
"No," Marceline replied bluntly.
"Well, we promise we will be this time," said Finn, making a crossing motion over his chest, "Cross our hearts." With that they bade the two monarchs farewell.
"I guess I should be going too," said Marceline as she changed back into her day clothes and put on her hat and gloves, "Thanks for letting me stay. I'll be back tonight."
"No problem," smiled Princess Bubblegum, "Just try not to let yourself get in that state again." Marceline laughed. "I can't make any promises there, angel cakes," she smirked. One hand caressed the side of Princess Bubblegum's face. She nipped her chin gently. Her smirk softened into a smile, "But I'll try."
With that she flew out through the balcony doors, disappearing over the horizon. Princess Bubblegum watched her go, blushing a deep shade of crimson.