Night on the Town
"...And if you read chapter 6 like I told you, you should already know that this resulted in a near cataclysmic disaster for the species as a whole, and ultimately contributed to the formation of better laws to prevent this sort of thing from happening again. These laws, the International Bite Infection Transmission Prevention and Protection Laws, or I.B.I.T.P.P.L, were founded..."
Vivianna sighed as she stared idly out the window of the classroom. It was a lazy Summer day, and the sky outside was a light and beautiful blue with only a few hazy clouds drifting slowly across it. She'd been catching up quickly, according to her tutors. If she kept going at this rate, she'd be able to catch up at Scare School, with extra class sessions. She wouldn't have a lot of free time, probably, but she'd get to be with the other children. Now if only it wasn't so nice out...
"I wonder what Thatch is up to right about now?" She wondered to herself as she zoned out, too restless to continue listening to her history teacher drone, no matter how competently, about the failed zombie apocalypse.
Probably something fun, and not at all about the politics of zombie bites.
"VIVIANNA!"
"Y-yes?!" She jumped, startled, as her heart momentarily skipped a beat. The teacher was glaring at her expectantly.
"Did you hear any of what I just said?"
"I-I, I'm sorry, Ma'am, I..."
After a moment, the teacher's eyes softened with understanding. She sighed, and when she spoke again it was with a softer, kinder voice.
"Vivi... Would you like to take the rest of the day off?"
Her eyes widened.
"R-really? Are... Are you sure...?"
She smiled gently.
"Yes, I'm sure. You obviously aren't retaining any of this, and it would be a waste of both of our time to continue. Now run along."
She didn't have to be told twice. She scooped up what few books she had (they were still in the manor, after all) and flew excitedly from the room. When she was gone, the teacher smiled sadly and shook her head.
"Poor thing..."
Alright. I can do this. It's just Thatch. We used to be friends. I can do this. I can DO this!
Vivianna was currently standing outside Thatch's bedroom door, trying to talk herself into knocking. She was paralyzed with fear, and it took her a long time just to get the nerve to try, hand shaking as she brought her balled fist up, then...
Hesitated. What if he saw her shadow, like before? Did he know she was there?
She shook her head, swallowed, and knocked.
Silence.
Fear gripped her system even as relief flooded her at having done it at all.
Tentatively, she reached out to knock again, instantly regretting this decision.
What did I do? Did I do something wrong? Is he mad at me? Does he... Does he hate me? Oh no, what if he hates me?!
"Oh... Vivianna!"
She jumped, heart stopping at the sound of Mrs. M's voice. She spun around and shrunk away, embarrassed, but Mrs. M simply smiled.
"Good morning, Vivianna. Shouldn't you be in class?"
"I-I got out early today..."
"Did you? How nice!" She glanced between Vivi and the door, and frowned. "Were you looking for Thatch?" She hesitated, then nodded. "Oh, Honey! Thatch isn't here! Didn't he tell you?"
The shock and utter mortification on her face was proof enough that he did not.
"Thatch is out picking out school clothes today. I just got back myself. He wanted to stop and pick up a new game afterwards, so I decided to let the boys have their fun." She stopped, seeing Vivianna's crestfallen face. "Oh, no! Did you want to go, too? I didn't even ask..."
"N-no! No, it's... Fine... I'll just... Go back, to my room then..." Her voice shrank as she spoke, growing quieter and quieter until her lips were moving, but Mrs. M could not hear the sound coming out. She smiled sympathetically.
"Oh, come now! You must be going stir crazy, stuck in the manor all this time... Hey! I know!" She clapped her hands together and grinned. "Go put your shoes back on!"
"W-what?"
"I'm serious! While the boys are having their night out, let's have a night of our own! We'll have a Girl's Night Out, just you and me! Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"With all due respect, Mrs. M..."
"Please, call me Mom!"
"O-oh, okay... Mom... I don't think I really, NEED, any more clothes..."
"Nonsense! And besides, you've been cooped up all Summer, you could use a little fresh air!" She smiled more gently now. "We don't have to go clothes shopping if you don't want to. We can just walk around and explore, if you'd prefer. But it'll do you some good to get out of the house for a while."
"Well..." She had been going a little stir crazy, now that she thought of it... And it was such a nice day out... "A-alright..."
"Great! It's settled then! Go get your shoes!"
Mrs. M had her out the door so fast it nearly made her head spin.
The nearby town was within reasonable flying distance, and it did do Vivianna some good to stretch her wings out like this, even though she'd been able to fly around the manor during her stay there. It didn't take long to reach a somewhat active street, and they alighted and began to walk.
It was a bit strange to be in public again, in the Underworld, where she didn't need to hide. It made her a bit nervous to not have her ears and teeth covered, and she was frightened of getting lost, so she stuck close by Mrs. M and followed her as she led them towards busier and busier streets, until they reached the downtown area and encountered a myriad of shops, all teeming with life.
The presence of so many creatures, and the subsequent lack of fleshies, made her feel a bit more relaxed, and she slowly began to let her guard down, turning away from Mrs. M to peer in the shop windows at all of the enchanted goods and decidedly creaturely merchandise, which made her feel even more at ease, knowing none of this would ever be found on the surface world. She didn't notice the relieved smile that graced Mrs. M's face as she watched her press herself to the glass to watch some freshly hatched glouches tumble and play in their pen within the Full Moon Menagerie. A sign on the window and door stated that, ironically, the shop was closed during full moons.
As they walked, they saw a dizzying amount of shops. Everything from the Bloodspatter Diner to Cat Eye Couture. The Cursed Cauldron and Witch Crafts, to Ghastly Gifts and Bleached Bones Beauty Parlor, Claw Cuts barbershop to Creepy Candies, Kampe's Confections and Bogwater Bakeshop. The crimson Boutique, Vile Phials, Hobbe's Haberdashery, Gorgon Gardening, The Dragonfire Deli, even Sea Cider, which Mrs. M steered her clear of. They stopped by Just 1 Bite to grab something to eat and drink, and it was the best meal she had had in a long time. All in all, it was just a really good day, and she was beginning to feel grateful that she had agreed to come out here, despite her initial misgivings.
It was in the midst of her excitement that Vivianna's attentions wandered off, and as a result, she lost sight of Mrs. M.
At first, she didn't even notice. There were a lot of people around, and her focus was not on any one creature in particular. She had been wandering the isles of a bookstore, with books flapping by overhead, and a few books locked in glass showcases where they couldn't bite, though they tried, snapping at her as she walked by. As it happened, she was sitting on one of the bookshelves reading when an elder vampire bumped into her, sending the book flying again. It swooped upwards before hitting the ground, and soon found its place on the shelf again, settling in to its designated spot and nestling amongst its brothers. The vampire apologized, but she had already been startled, and it was then, as she turned to Mrs. M for comfort, that she realized that she wasn't there.
A panic bloomed in her heart as she flew with the books of the shop, which, though moments ago, had fascinated and delighted her, now only increased her fear and anxieties as she dodged them, searching and scanning the ground level for Mrs. M.
She did not see her because she had gone to buy one of the books Vivi had shown interest in, and in the crowd of other customers, most of them buying textbooks for the return to school, she had not recognized her among them.
She flew out of the store, but Mrs. M was nowhere to be found.
Her heart began to race.
Oh no.
Her pulse pounded. Her breath quickened.
Not here. Not now.
People were noticing her now, noticing the terror stricken little girl who had probably gotten separated from her momma, and they were beginning to approach her, aiming to comfort and assist her, when she let out a startled yelp and flew over their heads, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
An adult vampiress rushed from the nearby bookstore just after she had disappeared, frantically glancing back and forth down the street, a bag in her hand, and began to ask passerby's, in a tone of desperation, if they had seen a little girl matching Vivi's description. Her flight trajectory was pointed out, and the frantic mother took to the skies after her little one.
They hoped she would find her.
Vivianna hurtled to the earth and stepped into a darkened alleyway beside a building of white-painted brick. She had been flying for a while now. Each time she would stop to rest, concerned citizens would try to approach her, and she would flee. The first time, she had tried to tell herself that everything was fine, had repeated her mantra of "I'm safe," until it occurred to her that she might not be safe, and that it was her own fault for flying off in the first place. Her heart had sunk, realized that she should have stayed and the bookstore, because now, she had no idea where she was or what direction she had come from.
She leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, trying manually to control it, to even it out, as the extra oxygen was making her head spin. She was not terribly winded from the flight, but she had begun to cry, and her hiccupping did disrupt her breathing. Her wings ached, and she did not want to fly anymore.
Stifling her tears as best she could, she crept out of the alleyway to read the signs and try to get her bearings. Survival instincts were beginning to kick in, and though her brain was frozen in terror, some part of her was reaching out, comforting her, driving and steering her, telling her what she ought to be doing, instead of that, which was what she was currently doing, moping about on the verge of crying.
She was trying to scrub her eyes clear to read the lettering on the front of the white building when it happened. Again.
A kindly old man, a zombie, had placed his hand on her shoulder. She whipped around so fast that his arm popped off, and fell to the pavement. This did not concern him so much as her expression did, and if he had been worried about her before, he was even more worried now.
She backed away from him, tears beginning to stream down her face, and when someone else, a mother werewolf with a pup on her hip, tried to do the same, and was met with the same results, a crowd began to form.
No.
No.
They were closing in on her now.
It's not real. It's not them. I'm safe. I'm SAFE.
Fingers reaching out to yank her harshly to the ground, ready to force garlic cloves down her throat.
"Are you alright, little girl?"
"You comfortable, monster?"
She had fled for hours, winding her way through the forest, frost dripping from the branches of the trees, collecting on the ground with the inch thick drift of snow, and she was too frightened to feel the cold, or to admire the beauty of the landscape.
Her wings ached too much to fly.
There was no escaping them now. Her aching wings could lift her no further. She could not keep going. Howls were fast approaching, clawed paws crashing through the underbrush. They were coming, and she could not escape them.
She crawled into an empty hollow, shivering with both the cold and fear, and prayed.
"Where's your mother, little one?"
"Where's your precious Momma, demon spawn? Or did we kill the bitch already?"
"Stop touching me," She sobbed, curling herself around her knees on the ground, trying to protect her vitals. Her words were barely distinguishable from the sobs. "Just please stop touching me..."
Rough hands threw her to the ground and pinned her there. A net would not be needed this time.
"I got 'er!" Yelled the heavy weight on top of her, as footsteps pounded closer. Fingers eerily traced her jawline.
"Hey, guys! What'dya say we 'play' with this one before we kill it?"
"You're sick, man. She looks like she can't be older than 9!"
"Yeah, but she's older than us."
"She's a child."
"She's a monster. Don't go getting soft on me, man. She's killed tougher men than you!"
"Still... Shouldn't we give her a quick death?"
"And do you really think she gave any of them a 'quick death?' Don't let her looks fool you; she ain't no helpless child. She's an ancient evil, a killer, and I say she should suffer!"
"Please..." She sobbed, and he slammed her head into the earth beneath her.
"Quiet, freak!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
A gunshot echoed in the woods, and all erupted into chaos.
"What the Hell do you think you're doing?!"
"You fucking shot him!"
"What's wrong with you?!"
She escaped from under the dead weight of her former captor, and flew for her life, and his.
"I, I'm sorry... She was a child, I couldn't... No... Please...!"
The screams chased her through the woods as they turned on their own, and she flew faster, eyes squeezed almost shut as she plunged through the trees, not safe above, not safe below, and not knowing if she would survive the night, not knowing where to go...
"Vivianna?"
That voice... So familiar... Like a pleasant dream amongst the nightmares... But something was wrong. It wasn't him. It couldn't be him. It was never really him. And it was distorted. Was she dreaming? Was she... Was she, maybe, dead? But no, that couldn't be right, because why would he be there if...
"Hey, Dad! It's Vivianna! Vivianna, what're you doing here?"
The crowd backed up a little further as the young boy, likely the same age as the girl, entered the ring. No one had seen him emerge from Ghoulish Games, the nearby game shop, to see what all the commotion was about. His sister was still shaking near to the point of convulsions, and the ground... As well as her now tattered clothing, now streaked with holes... Was hissing as her acidic tears poured forth with no signs of stopping.
The boy seemed to be trying to speak to her, but she pushed him away as she had them, crying out words and phrases that none of them, least of all the boy, seemed to understand. Finally, frantically, he took hold of her arms and tried to steady her, speaking more urgently.
"Hey! Vivi, calm down! It's me, Thatch! What's wrong? What happened?"
For a moment, her gaze seemed to land on him. Then, just as suddenly, she slipped away again, eyes staring past him, straight through him, to something he could not see.
Impatient, Thatch shook her, trying to physically shake her out of her stupor.
"Come on! Snap out of it! It's just me! How did you get here? Why are you crying?!"
"Why are you crying?! Why don't you fight back, you murdering little beastly bitch! SPEAK! I said ANSWER ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!"
"Go to Hell," She spat, with as much venom as she could muster in her fear.
The back of a hand cracked across her cheek, snapping her head to the side. She did not react, though her throat was too swollen to say more, and her cheek stung viciously.
"Want to say that again?" A cruel voice whispered, dangerously quiet, in her ear. She did not respond.
"Good. Now then,"
There was a click, as the cold tip of the gun pressed against her flesh.
"Why don't you meet me there?"
The crowd, which had drawn near again, upsetting her even further, drew back yet again to allow the adult male to land behind his son. It was clear that this was the boy's father, as they were so similar in appearance that but for their difference in style and attire, they might as well have been twins. The father pulled his increasingly frantic son away from his daughter and knelt before her, not touching her, and began to speak.
The murmurs of the crowd fell silent, as he spoke too softly for them to hear. When they could hear, however, they found that they could not understand. What on Earth was he talking about? She was safe?
She was thirsty. So thirsty.
She didn't mean to do it! She didn't mean to hurt him! She'd never meant to hurt anyone! She just, just couldn't help it! She swore, it'd never happen again!
"Vivianna."
A voice, quiet but firm, cut through the memories. Was that...?
"Vivianna. It is me. Mr. Manora."
...Mr. M?
"You are standing by the side of the street in the downtown area of a Transylvanian city in the Underworld. You are surrounded by creatures, but they are not here to hurt you. They are merely concerned. They are not hunters. Thatch and I are both here with you. We won't let them come any closer if you don't wish it. We will protect you. You are safe with us. You are safe."
He continued in this manner, never touching her, simply repeating his words, until her sobs became quieter and her eyes focused solely on him.
A woman, who looked considerably more like her son than her daughter, also entered the ring. Her husband did not turn, but continued to speak clearly and calmly.
"Mrs. Manora is here, too. We are all here. You are safe now. Do you understand? You are safe now."
The tears were slowing now.
"May I touch your hands?"
He had to repeat the question, but she nodded hesitantly, allowing him to gently fold her hands in his.
"You are safe," He repeated.
"I-I'm... I'm safe," she parroted back. "I'm... Safe..."
She looked up at him, screwed up her face, and burst into tears again. But this time, she flung herself forward and buried herself in his chest, and he slowly, so carefully, scooped her up in his arms, so that her head rested against his neck and shoulder, ignoring the hissing of the fabric of his shirt and cape, and began to carry her home. His wife, whose arms were hooked around her son's neck, now grabbed his hand and pulled him, bewildered, after them, apologizing to everyone profusely, harshly telling the boy to quiet down, and to cease his questions, to which he reluctantly complied, and they fell into step behind the other two. The crowd parted as they passed. The drama had unfolded.
It was done.
The door to Vivianna's room fell shut behind him and Mr. M looked up at his wife.
"How is she?"
"Better. What happened?"
"I don't know! One minute she was right, there, and the next, she was gone. Oooh, I shouldn't have left her alone, not even for a minute! But she was reading, I didn't think... I just wanted to surprise her, that's all..."
She buried her face in her hands, trying to keep her voice down. He took her hands in his own and kissed them gently. She nodded, trying not to cry.
"What happened? What's wrong with her?"
Both parents glared down at him. His father sighed.
"Go to your room, Thatch."
"What?! But I didn't..."
"GO." Then, as an afterthought; "Please. It is... Not the time."
"But... But what's wrong with her? I didn't... I didn't do anything, I swear!"
Mr. M came and knelt down by his son, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I know. But she needs to rest right now. It has been a long day."
"What happened?"
He fell silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"Do you remember, when we told you about Uncle Eliaz, and why he... Does some of the things that he does?"
"Yeah...?"
"Vivianna has the same thing. Today, she got separated from your mother. She was frightened, and it set off her symptoms."
"But... But you said he was like that because of the war!"
"There are many wars, son. Vivianna is as much a soldier as Eliaz. She is a survivor."
With that, he got to his feet.
"Go to your room, Thatch. Give her some space. I believe it would be best if she were alone right now. She must rest and recover. We should do the same. We have all had a long day."
Thatch did as he was told, glancing back once in curiosity at the closed, silent door.
Nothing stirred within for many hours.
Vivianna had all but destroyed every inch of bedding that was not tear-proof within her coffin by the time she fell into a deep, troubled sleep. It did not last long, however, and her nightmares did not aid her recovery.
Creeping out as quietly as she could, she made her way to the library, hoping that maybe a good book, or at least the comforting solitude she might find there, would be enough to chase their lingering shadows away.
She was surprised, then, to find that the library was not empty, and she was not alone.
The scarred figure of Eliaz, no doubt having heard of the day before, sat at a table with a mug of steaming coffee in his hand. She struggled with the decision to sneak back out or approach, when he tilted his head strangely, and it took her a moment to realize that he was gesturing her forward. Startled and slightly ashamed to have been caught, but not terribly surprised that it was him, she came forward.
She climbed into the seat opposite him, and they sat in silence for a long time, simply staring down, her at the texture of the wood of the table, him at his coffee, which was untouched, and no doubt quickly growing cold. Neither spoke, because they did not have to, lost in thought as they were, but knowing that their thoughts were alike.
"So." He began at last, raising the mug to his lips, only to set it down again.
"Heard you had a bit of an, 'episode' today."
She simply nodded, unable to meet his gaze in her shame. He closed his eyes, a rare sullenness overtaking his features. Eliaz did not like to show how he was feeling, especially if he was sad, or anxious, or anything other than frustrated or angry. He considered it weakness. And as a soldier, he had learned the dangers of showing one's weakness.
When he spoke, his voice did not raise above a solemn whisper.
"I wish I could say it gets easier, kid. I really do."
And they sat there together in silence, because words were not enough, and they each knew that the other would understand.
(Wow. Just... Wow.
It has been a while.4K words. So long. Okay. So. There are a few changes that have been enacted since I edited the other chapters, which I will... Redo eventually. I will list them below, but first... Yes, Vivianna has a severe case of PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and so does Uncle Eliaz. He is up because the news of her episode, kind of set him on edge himself, and he couldn't sleep, either. Actually, Ashia has a hint of this, too, but it only really manifests in her nightmares, most of the time. She has had a better chance to heal, and she hasn't been through as much. And, yes, I did the research; shaking a person who is struggling like this, is probably the worst possible thing that you can do. It's generally best to ground them, that is, remind them where they really are, what's really going on, and to remind them, calmly, that they are safe from whatever haunts them. And don't touch them without their permission, that's a pretty good rule; especially in Vivianna's case.
Too bad Thatch didn't get the memo.
So, changes:
The house is made up in wings, that is, smaller "apartments," if you will. Thatch's immediate family lives on the top floor, in the corner of one of the large bat wings, so Vivi's room retains its location. The large dining area is for celebrations, and the tables can be cleared away to form a dance hall. Eliaz keeps visiting to check up on Vivi, but after he is satisfied that she is who she says she is, he stops, and now spends most of his time in the coven library.
Thatch's mother has not brought up the renewal of the engagement yet.
Thatch was less of wimp when he first saw her again.
And that's pretty much all I can remember right now, so... I hope you enjoyed! Even if it... Seems a bit rushed, somehow? Wow, even this Author's Note is long. My apologies! ^^" Let me know if you have any questions, and I apologize again for the wait!
Oh, and Mr. M carried her until she was coherent enough to cling to him in flight. This is how mother bats sometimes carry their pups when they fly! The more you know.)