Princess Bubblegum couldn't understand her draw towards Marceline. There was something beyond her reach that had planted itself in her mind and no matter how she went about trying to unearth it, she came up empty handed every time. Marceline's fanged smile, her lazy posture, her grace; she was captivating somehow. Bubblegum had been studying vampires and they were said to be vicious, unethical, and very, very dangerous creatures. Marceline's reputation proved her to be these things, but none of the books Finn and Jake had brought back provided enough details to help Bubblegum figure out if Marceline's kindness was genuine, or a manipulation.
The books did contain some interesting "facts" about vampires, however. There was said to be two breeds: Mortals and immortals. The mortals were the product of two vampire parents and were capable of aging (slowly after reaching eighteen) and eating more than just shades of red, but lacked many abilities such as flight and shape shifting. The book had continued to say that a vampire rarely chose to remain mortal; they either sold their soul for immortality, or were bitten by an immortal vampire. Either way, the soul would be taken and great power and eternal life would be granted.
Bubblegum had seen the two punctures in Marceline's neck and wondered how rude it would be to ask for details about how the bite was acquired. She also pondered asking Marceline whether any of the things in her books were true, but wasn't sure if she'd be willing to confirm them. So many questions...
Bubblegum was convinced that if she remained courteous and friendly, Marceline might give her some information. Finn and Jake had suggested a different approach and had begged to meet Marceline, to "rough her up" so she'd expose her employer and anything else Bubblegum wanted to know, but it would be unavailing. Whoever had sent Marceline had enough power to keep her quiet. Plus she might not take kindly to being attacked or threatened and the last thing Bubblegum wanted was two injured, or dead, heroes.
The castle guards had relaxed when no further problems arose. They had attended a staged exchange between Marceline and Bubblegum and the vampire not only avoided every question, she sounded very frail when she spoke. She emphasised her "weakened state" by rasping and wheezing when the princess interrogated her. The guards were highly amused, but whenever they spoke against the assassin, Bubblegum would sharply silence them.
When she requested a moment alone with Marceline, they bowed and moved to wait outside of the dungeon, wounded from the lecture Bubblegum had given them about maintaining a professional demeanour no matter the circumstance.
The second they were unaccompanied, Marceline lifted into the air and floated towards the bars, where Bubblegum stood grinning.
"You should become an actress; I actually believed you were dying," the princess complimented.
"Technically, I'm already dead."
Bubblegum glanced at the uncovered window in the cell. Marceline took down the board at night or whenever the guards entered to feed her or check on her condition. "Is it dark enough in here during the day?"
Marceline cleared her throat before replying then rubbed her neck, palm scrubbing nervously at her scars. "Yeah... thanks for... you know," she said, clearly uncomfortable. She hadn't had any recent use for manners and found it difficult to use them after so long. She felt her cheeks gathering heat and was unaware that they visibly changed to a livelier colour.
"Are you blushing?" Bubblegum teased and the vampire huffed and spun around.
"No! Get outta here before your guards realise you're being chummy with the prisoner," she demanded hotly and Bubblegum laughed.
"I'll see you the same time this morning?"
"Whatever you want, Princess," Marceline dismissed.
Bubblegum left, smiling.
Later that night, Bubblegum wrote a letter that would work as a general response to all the kingdoms that had sent her a message about Marceline. She informed them that the Axe Reaper would remain in the Candy Kingdom until she died in her cell or until Bubblegum figured out a method of killing her that wouldn't allow her to return in another form. The princess hinted that the Reaper was thought to wield magic, but because of the restrictive spell on the dungeon, no magic could be used so it may be the only possible way to contain her. She hated lying to everyone, but it didn't feel treacherous or despicable and her people weren't in imminent danger, so it wasn't wrong. Right?
Bubblegum was swamped with uncertainty. She could not deny that Marceline could be charming her until it was safe to escape. Maybe the princess really was too trusting. Maybe it was all a game.
She sighed and scribbled her signature on the letter, then pushed it aside, planning to convert it into a holographic file the next day to send out. She was going to go to bed for a few hours before visiting Marceline, as her sleep deprivation had finally worn her out; her performance wasn't at its usual calibre and Bubblegum wasn't one to let herself slip.
She readied herself for bed and when she checked her reflection in her dresser's mirror, she noticed her tiara was still hugging her head. She reached up to remove it, but started when it lifted off by itself. It floated backwards and when she twisted around, there was Marceline, dangling the golden headpiece playfully.
Bubblegum didn't comment right away, but kept glancing over her shoulder at the mirror and back at Marceline.
"Why is it that I can't see you or your clothes, but I see that vial around your neck?" she asked, stunned.
Marceline placed the tiara on the dresser, tugged the Dragon's Breath out of her shirt, and answered, "It's a spell I had cast on my clothes; I was tired of losing them, or ripping them when I changed form, so I had them enchanted to basically become a part of me. It's called a blending spell, I think. I haven't had it cast on the vial and cord yet."
"It must be some powerful magic," Bubblegum determined and faced Marceline fully, examining the Dragon's Breath before the vampire tucked it away again.
"I'm, uh, sorry to come busting in like this. I can go back to my cell, if you want."
Again, the nervous neck rub.
"I don't mind; it saves me the trip. I already have your food in my nightstand's bottom drawer; help yourself."
Marceline didn't go over to the nightstand. She perched on the corner of Bubblegum's bed and watched her. At least, the princess thought she was watching her.
Bubblegum wasn't sure how to bring up her thirst for the truth. During her trips to the dungeon, she hadn't worried about what she said and so far it always ended in Marceline telling her to get lost, but tonight, she didn't want to stir up the vampire. She wanted peace and that gentle smile she'd seen fleetingly touch Marceline's lips once or twice.
She wordlessly sat beside Marceline, swallowing a yawn as she tried not to unleash her wave of questions. Her inquisitive nature had landed her on the bad side of many, simply because her measures to acquire answers were too "forward". When the prospect of new information arose, passion overtook chivalry. She invaded personal space, asked inappropriate questions, and lost herself in rants about what she already knew about the topic, which, most of the time, was usually something.
Her current obsession: vampires. It wasn't her fault, not at all, that she had developed such a strong liking for them. She turned to the culprit who was smiling expectantly.
"Is there something you want to know?" she invited and Bubblegum brightened instantly.
"There is so much I want to know, Marceline. Where to start?" she exaggerated.
"Don't get your hopes up, Princess."
"I've been researching vampires and was wondering how much of the information is correct. For instance, garlic. Does that harm you?"
"Ah, so this is your way of finding out my true weaknesses," Marceline said, rising from the bed. Before Bubblegum could deny it, the vampire whipped around and pointed at her. "You never cared about me!" she accused.
"No, I do-"
"You just wanted to find out how to destroy me!" she yelled and her body began to ripple, as if small bubbles were growing and popping under her skin. She grew, twitched, contorted; hair exploded and overtook every inch of her. She was hunched over, so Bubblegum was nearly flicked in the face when two pointed ears emerged from the vampire's head. The shift was fast and in only a few moments, the figure in front of Bubblegum was unrecognisable.
When Marceline unfolded herself, Bubblegum was looking at a werewolf with savage red eyes. She wanted to speak, to protest, but she was petrified. Large hands fitted with sharp claws grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her back onto the bed, while a deep rumble vibrated in Marceline's throat. She lowered herself on top of Bubblegum, causing the edge of the bed to sink under her weight, but her knees locked against the princess' hips, keeping her from slipping off as she leant down, opening her jaws.
Bubblegum closed her eyes, preparing for her face to be bitten off by a temperamental vampire-wolf. She should have seen this coming. Something cold and slick ran up her cheek and she assumed it was Marceline's nose. She braced herself, ready for the bite to follow, holding her breath, waiting. But the heaviness atop her disappeared. No teeth shredded her skin and no ghostly breath tickled her face.
She dared to peek open an eye.
Marceline was hovering above her, hair spilling over her shoulders, encasing the princess in shivers of silk. She was smiling, all teeth and creased cheeks.
"Gotcha," she said amicably, poking Bubblegum in the nose.
The princess sat up, glaring furiously.
"That wasn't funny, Marceline! I thought I actually offended you!"
"Really? That's what you were worried about? My feelings?"
Bubblegum shifted, clasping her hands on her lap, lips pursed childishly. "Well...yes."
Marceline dropped back on Bubblegum's bed, arms folded behind her head as she lounged back on a pillow. "Cute," she mocked.
"You never answered my question," the princess pointed out, ignoring the condescension.
"Oh, right. Yeah, garlic stings, but it doesn't kill us. I haven't met many other vampires, but if they're strong enough, beheading them won't kill them, but a stab to the heart will. A stake, a sword, whatever," she disregarded, indifferently cracking one of her knuckles.
"Such mysterious creatures..." Bubblegum said, enthralled.
"I guess so. You better get some sleep now, Bonnibel. I actually came up here to tell you not to bother waking up early to come see me."
"But I'm not fatigued," Bubblegum argued.
"Don't lie to a vampire. We can always tell," Marceline warned in a dark voice, but broke out into laughter afterwards. She felt so at ease around Bubblegum; it was uplifting. "Just sleep in, okay?"
"You'll come back here tomorrow night," Bubblegum stated, standing up and walking towards her nightstand. She opened the bottom draw and produced the familiar purple sack stuffed with food. Marceline took it, drifted up into the air, and bowed.
"As you wish, Your Highness," she said.
Then she was gone. The only indication of her presence was the breeze her exit had caused; it caught a damp area on the princess' face, chilling it briefly. Bubblegum cupped her cheek in bewilderment, but then she recalled what had happened earlier and gasped, horrified.
"Did she lick my face?"
