Chapter 9: Victor Vincent p1
I race through the night of the forest, with a cross armed and ready to fire at any second. I was running after a vampire who had just slaughtered three families back in town. This vampire was one that is not to be underestimated. She was a young woman who's not as innocent as she looks, blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a pretty face that was hiding a dark murderous blood sucker.
I followed the broken tree branch she snapped and the loud cackling she made, until I reached a clearing in the middle of the forest. Everything was quiet. I looked around pointing my crossbow in every direction my eyes set on.
*Snap*
I heard that. I quickly turned around to see the vampire woman leaping from one of the tree and flying straight towards me. Her eyes were glowing red, foam was oozing from the corners of her mouth, and her dress torn at the hem of the skirt and sleeves and covered with blood and dirt. Just when she was about to pounce on me, I aimed my crossbow at her and shot her in her head, causing her to scream in pain as she tumbled onto the ground. She hollered and rolled around in the grass as she tried to pull the arrow out of her head. Unfortunately, for her she couldn't, the arrow was dunked in holy water before I left. All of my arrows were.
"You Bastard!" She called me. "I'll kill you!" She said as she couldn't to pull at the arrow. "Too late for that." I said as shot her a second time, this time it was in her heart.
As she screamed her body a blazed and turned to ash, her body blew away into the night. After all that, all I wanted to do was go home and rest. I made it back to town, my hunter apparel was ruined, covered in tears, blood, sweat, and dirt. I walked around with several people staring at me like I'm some kind of insane man, but what did I care; I just killed a vampire.
"James!"
I turned to see the person who called out my name. A friendly smile grew on my face.
"Evening Charles."
It was Charles Goldberg, another vampire hunter, and one of my best friends. He had this darkish teal green hair that pretty much everyone in town disapproved of. He came from a wealthy family, but his parents and sister were killed by vampires and the house burned down. Since then, he's had a deep hatred for them.
"James, buddy, glad to see that you're still alive." He said as he slapped me hard on my bruised shoulder. "Ngh! Could you please be more careful when dealing with someone who's injured all over?" I said, hissing and groaning from the pain I felt run through my shoulder. "My apologies. She put up that much of a fight?" He laughed. "More than you know." I told him. "Come on, there should be a doctor nearby." He said as he put my arm around his shoulder and we walked to the nearest doctor.
We walked to almost the edge of town, and just our luck it started to rain before we came across the town doctor. We looked up at the sign, Dr. Audon Vincent. We looked down at the window case and looked inside. There was a dim candle light glowing in the back.
"Looks like someone's home." Said Charles. "Well…hurry up and knock on the door." I said.
Charles knocked three times on the door, no one came. He knock on the door three more times, this time a little harder.
"One second!" We heard a voice answer from the other side.
The door opened and revealed a boy around our size but probably a bit older. He had black hair and icy blue eyes that said "Get the hell out of here."
"Uh...Hi." Charles started. "We're sorry to bother you this time of night, but we're looking for Dr. Vincent. My friend here is injured." He continued. "My father is out right now, checking on another patient." The boy said with French like accent. "Are you two the hunters the town hired?" he asked. "Yes, we are." I said. "…come in. I can help with some of your wounds." He moved out of the way for us to step inside. "There's a spare room upstairs, you both can stay here for the night." He said as he shut the door. "Just keep your voices down, my brother's trying to sleep." He looked up at the stairs. "Will do."
"So what're your names, gents?" The boy asked as he began to wrap me up in bandages. "I'm James Barr and that guy who's invading your pantry is Charles Goldberg." I introduced ourselves. "What about you?" I asked him. "I'm Cornell Vincent." He answered. "Judging by your accent, I say you are French?" Charles stepped in with a mouth full of food. "Yes. My parents and I came to Peach Creek when I was seven. A little bit before my brother was born. If you two don't mind me asking, but aren't you two a bit young to be monster hunters?" He questioned. "Yes…yes we are, but we're more skilled at this than anyone else." I answered. "You wouldn't believe how many of these things we killed." Charles added. "That must be a dangerous job for someone so young."
Cornell, Charles, and I looked to the stairs to see another boy standing at the bottom of the steps. He looked like Cornell, but he was smaller and a bit scrawnier. He was standing there in his white night gown that was too long for his size, so he had to lift the bottom of the gown to keep him from tripping over his own. His hair was black, but you can see the little blue shine in it. Yet, what had really got to me were his blue eyes that reminded me of the ocean that sparkle under the sunlight. I felt my heart pound as I looked at him.
"Victor." Cornell got up from behind me and walked over to the boy. « Que faites-vous sortir du lit ?»* He started speaking in french to the boy. «Je voulais obtenir un peu d'eau quand j'ai entendu des voix venant du bas ici. »* Victor answered back, he looked over at me and Charles. « I am Victor Vincent. » Victor introduced as he walked over to us.
I was about to speak, but Charles beat me to it.
"Evening, lovely. I'm Charles Goldberg, vampire hunter." He bowed to him like he in front of a royalty. "The injured man right behind me is my friend and vampire hunter, James Barr." Said Charles. "It's nice to meet you both." Said Victor.
He let out a small chuckle which showed a gap between his teeth. It was rather…cute. But the chuckle soon turned to coughs, coughs that sounded hoarsely and almost as if he was choking on something. He hunch over coughing into the sleeve of his arm, I got up from my seat and quickly walked over to him. I placed my hand on his back and I could feel the vibrations of his coughs.
"Are you alright, Victor?" I asked him, he coughing started to settle. "Yes, forgive me. I haven't been feeling too well."
When he looked up at me, I felt my heart skip a beat. The way his eyes…long lashes slowly opened to reveal his sapphire blue eyes with little tears that made them sparkle.
"Alright." Cornell interrupted. "Retour à être avec vous, Victor. » « But, brother. » « No, buts » Said Cornell. «I'll bring your water once i get these two settle for the night. So say good night.» He told Victor as he led him back upstairs. «Good night, James. Good night Charles. It was a pleasure meeting both of you.» Said Victor. «It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Victor. Pleasant dreams, dear princess.» Said Charles. «Don't call him that.» Cornell Saïd coldly to Charles.
With that, they vanished up the stairs. I heard a door shut with a small slam.
"My, what did I do wrong?" Said Charles as he folded his arms together. "Probably something, I don't know. Judging by that cough of Victor's, he's probably sick." I looked at the stairs. "I wonder how long he's been like that?"
Later that night, Nat and I were sharing one of the guest room that Cornell set up for us. The only light in the room was from out the window with the shadows of the rain falling from the sky. I looked over at Charles, he was fast asleep. Lucky, bastard. I don't know why I was still awake. Maybe because it was because of the loud sounds of rain dropping on the glass? Maybe it was because-*Shatter glass*
I shot up out of my covers when I heard the noise. I looked over at Charles again, still asleep. I rolled my eyes at him, got my crossbow from out the closet, loaded it, and went into the hallway. I slowly walked around, it was kind of hard to see since it was dark. I saw a something glowing from downstairs, it looked like it was coming from the kitchen. I slowly walked down the step, crossbow ready to fire when I heard Victor's voice.
"Oh dear, I'm in so much trouble."
I saw him picking up glass from of the floor.
"Victor?" he was so surprised by my appearance that a piece of glass slipped and cut his finger. "Ow!" He quickly lifted his hand to his finger mouth and sucked on the blood. "Are you alright?" I asked him as I kneel down beside him. "Yes, I'm alright. You just startled me, that's all." He said. "My apologies. What're you doing out of bed?" I asked him. "I was seeing if my father had return from one of his patient's home, but he might've got caught in the storm. It's more likely a chance he's staying somewhere for the night. I thought since I was up I could go get some water since Cornell forgot to get me some. The lightening scared me and I dropped the glass by accident."
Both James and Victor reached for a big piece of glass on the floor, making their fingers brush against each other. The moment their fingers touch, a rosy pink shade appeared on their faces, and instantly retracted their hands. James looked at Victor, Victor looked at James, the blush on their faces never left. They stared at each other for what had seemed like hours until Victor's eyes shifted back to the piece of glass in between them. James looked over at the window, trying to calm himself and make the blush go away.
"You know…" Victor began to speak. "You and Charles are probably the first people I've met for over eleven years." James looked at Victor with shocked but confused eyes. "Since I fell ill when I was six, I never left this house. I've always been in my room, with my books, and the only way to view the outside world; my window. My father says it's for not only for my protection, but for others as well." Said Victor. "Is what you have…contagious?" James asked. "I'm not sure, honestly. Yet, I know that what I have cannot be cured. I don't know how many days…weeks…or maybe even years, if I'm lucky, I have left in this world…" Victor smiles at James. "…but I'm hoping that maybe, just one more time…I could go outside and see the world before I die."
Victor closed his eyes, feeling the tears in his eyes begin to swell. James cuffed one of Victor's cheeks in his hand and wiped the single tear that was running from his face.
"There's no need to cry, Victor. You'll see the world." Said James. "When?" Victor asked. "…Why not come with me and Charles?" James suggested, Victor blinked in surprised. "What?" Victor asked. "You don't have to stay here, Victor. You could come with us, you could come with me. We travel to so many places, even some overseas. You could meet so many people, learn about new things, and experience what the world has to offer you. Plus, I can teach you how to use hunting weapons, like my crossbow. Or if you prefer something else, that's fine, too." James explained. "…J-James, I don't know…I-I don't know what to say." Said Victor. "Charles and me will be in town for a couple of days. Plus, with my wound healing up we might be here longer than expected. You don't have to answer now, but just think about it." Said James. "Charles and I, Mesiour James. You should learn your grammar correctly." Said Victor, he smiled. "I will think about it, but I'm not sure if my father or my brother will let me go. What if what I have is contagious? I don't want to get anyone else sick." Said Victor. "Well, maybe we can give that a test." Said James.
James then cuffed Victor's other cheek in his other hand, brought Victor's face closer to his, then pressed his lips onto Victor's. Victor's eyes widen in shock and the heat of his body started to rise, but the kiss didn't last long enough for Victor to fully melt into it. After a few seconds, James slowed pulled away, looking at Victor's heated face and wide blue eyes.
"W-W-Why did you do that?" Victor asked. "Because I want to see if I can get sick…and…because I wanted to." Said James. "But, I'm a boy and so are you. Doesn't that seem wrong in a way?" Victor asked nervously, blush still on his face and his fingers brushing against his lips. "…I guess, but…I'm willing to keep it secret if you are." Said James, he smiled. "Come on, I'll take you back to your room." He said as he got up off the floor and extended his hand to Victor.
Victor takes James's hand and James led him upstairs to his bedroom. Victors bedroom was small and rather plain looking, there was a bed near the only window in the room that had a good view of the nightsky and a few town buildings before the forest. There was a small desk and chair that were piled with books and a small candle light that was blown out. Next to the desk was a dresser, wood craven which looked rather old.
"I'm sorry that my room isn't as exciting as yours, but I think of it as my own little world from everyone else." Said Victor as he walked inside his room, he turn around to James who was still standing in the doorway. "I will think about your offer, James, and I hope your wounds heal quickly as possible…and thank you for helping me with the glass downstairs." He said. "It's no problem really, Victor." Said James as he tucked a strand of Victor's inky hair behind his ear. "Good Night, James. Sweet dreams to you." Victor said as he shut his bedroom door. "Good night." James mumbled quietly, the smile on his face never left. "Mesiour James."
James jumped at the sound of another voice in the hallway. He turned around quickly, hissing in pain as he felt his ribs hit his side. Once the pain left, he looked to see that it was Cornell staying by his bedroom door.
"Oh, my apologies, Cornell. We didn't mean to wake you, I was just helping him back to bed, which I'm heading back to right now." James said a bit nervously as he walked down the hall pass Cornell to the guest room. "My brother is sick. It be best if you and everyone else to keep your mouth to yourself." Said Cornell, James looked over his shoulder at Cornell. "Your brother is sick, but you and your father can't keep him locked in this house for whatever long he has left." He said. "I don't think you understand, Mesiour James. Victor's illness is rare, incurable, and possibly a danger to the outside world. If he steps out of this house-" Cornell stops and looks down at the ground for a minute and then back up at James, looking him straight in his eyes. "I want you and Charles to stay away from my brother. Once your wounds have healed, you are to leave immediately." With that, Cornell went back into his room and shut the door behind him, leaving a confused but pissed James standing in the hallway.
-x-
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Victor got up from his bed and walked over to his bedroom door.
"Mesiour Charles? It's so early." Said Victor. "I know, but I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a bit. It seems pretty boring in here, don't you think?" Said Charles.
Victor looked back at his window, the sun was just rising and knowing his brother, he's probably still asleep. This might be my only chance to do something different. Victor thought.
"Alright, let me get changed." Said Victor.
A few minutes later, Charles was sitting against Victor door. Suddenly, the door opened and Charles fell back on the floor with a thud.
"I apologize. Are you alright Mesiour Charles?" Victor asked ad he kneeled down to Charles' side, helping him off the ground. "No need to apologize, darling. I guess I shouldn't have be-" Charles stopped in mid-sentence as he looked up at Victor.
Victor had his hair tied in a ponytail and his bangs were brushed back, giving a clear view of his eyes. Those eyes that shined brighter than the prettiest Sapphire gem in the world. Another shock was that Victor had a small beauty mark under the corner of his left eye, it really made his skin stand out. Victor was wearing a white pirate like shirt with little ruffles at the end of each sleeve, dark grey pants that slightly hugged his waist and legs, black boots that went up pass his ankle, and to top it all off was a black hooded cloak with two white stripes that touch the bottom.
"You…y-you look…different." Said Charles. "I do?" Victor asked embarrassingly. "Yeah…you don't look sick at all to me. Sorry, I kind of over James and your brother talking about you last night." Said Charles. "Oh…no its quite alright. I sort of over heard them as well…Shall we go before they wake up then?" Victor asked, a genuine smile appearing in his face making Charles cheeks heat up. "Sure
